356 
of the north. There, if I am rightly in- 
formed, the parish minister enjoys an in- 
come of about 100]. per annum. Were the 
income of the parish priest in Ireland to be 
fixed at 80]. per amnum, it may be found 
sufficient to raise him above the contempt of 
poverty, and to supply him with those com- 
forts and aecommodations essential to the 
independence and effectual performance of 
his clerical funetions. In great towns, where 
the dearness of provisions and house-rent 
make a greater expence necessaay, it may 
be fight to advance the income to 1001. per 
annum. With regard to the bishops, who 
doubtless would be men of respectability, 
their revenues, perhaps, ought not to be 
less than 300]. per annum. A minute ac- 
curacy is-not necessary in a general outline 
of a plan which I shall offer, merely to show 
the easy practicability of the proposed mea- 
sure. J have endeavoured to be as correct 
as my materials would allow; at the same 
time ‘I consider the establishment of the 
principle the main desideratum. Agree to 
the measure, and the means will suggest 
themselves. ‘There are in Irclend about 1200 
parishes, including unions, which are no 
more. than exteusive parishes. Now the 
number of parishes, multiplied by a hundred, 
gives 120,0001. This sum, divided by cighty, 
the average income proposed for cach priest 
fesiding if the country, leaves 24,0001.; a 
stim which may be found sufficient to pay 
the bixbops, and such additional priests:as 
may be judged necessary for the very exten- 
sive parishes or unions. Now, to raise this 
sum I propose that a tax be laid upon all 
Art. LV. Hints for the Improvement of the Trish Fishery. By Gerorce N. WHATELY 
8vo. pp. 45. , 
DICTYNNA, a nymph of Diana, in 
other words, an old maid, invented, if 
cértain antients may be trusted, the art 
‘of making ‘nets. She is said to have 
been beloved by Minos, the wise law- 
giver, and had temples on the shores of 
Crete. To Dictynna then the human 
race’is indebted. for that vast supply of 
dood, and demand for labour, which 
-derive from the use of the fishing-net; 
‘nor should the modern legislator omit 
‘to offer homage to her art, or to collect 
on the shores of his empire the establish- 
ments of her votaries. 2 
It happens-however that many things 
aye needful to make fishing thrive, be- 
sides the good-will of the magistrate 
and the coasters. A country must have 
‘become very populous, for the contigu- 
ous district to consume what the coast 
can catch, at a price worth pursuing. 
“Sannazarius no where déscribes fishwo- 
“men indifferent about what their wares 
will fetch. The market of a large lux. 
wrious town should be, within reach. 
HISTORY, POLITICS, AND STATISTICS. 
tythes, somewhat similar to the income tax, 
and to make up the deficiency by a rate om 
the neat or profit rent of land. Now, if 800 
of the 1200 parishes be taken at 500]. per 
annum, a tax of 10 per cent. will gine the 
sun of 40,000].- In like manner, if the re- i} 
maining 400 parishes be taken at $001. per 
annum each, they will give 12,000]. making 
together 52,0001. ; which will leave the’ sum 
ef 68,000}. to be raised by assessment, being 
561. for each parish—a very inconsiderable , 
sum, compared to the poor-rates raised in the 
best-administered parishes of England.” 
This proposed taxation of the tythe 
will not be very acceptable to the estab- 
lished clergy ; this poor’s rate for the 
new priest will not be very acceptable 
to the parishioner; and the whole plan 
proceeds on the supposition of a rivality 
or competition of religious in every 
parish. Why should the catholic priest 
stop at his ten per cent. on the tythe? 
Will not he perceive that it only de- 
pends on his zealotry and activity next 
to halve it? Let parishes be encouraged 
to buy in their advowsons, and let 
them elect teachers of any description: 
it is for the minority, if they choose a 
different faith, to provide for their own 
pastors. 
It is much to be wished, that some 
person of weight in the religious world 
would formally propose a repeal of the 
act of uniformity. 
If fish are caught for distant markets, 
and are salted up for exportation, the — 
capital requisite to provide the work — 
and warehouses, the barrels, andtackle; 
and shipping, is immense; and an es= 
tablished mercantile interest must pre- 
exist to forward every thing to its proper 
destination. How should these things 
be every where found in so rude and so 
unsettled a country as Ireland? Unless 
some evangelical christians will subscribe 
largely to buy in the produce of the 
fishery; and distribute it in gratuitous 
meals ta any 4 or 5000, whom hunger, 
patriotism, or piety might convene, there 
1s no prospect of an effectual demand. 
The artificial consumption of a catholic — 
religion, which sets apart a hundred _ 
days in the year for the eating of fish, 
is not sufficient to overcome these na- 
tural disadvantages. Until capital be 
moré abundant and more diffused, a St. 
Francis might plead for the improvement _ 
of the Irish fishery, and the fishesawould — 
hearken unalarmed. a 
. 
