THE FISHERIES. 75 



demand that culture and care of a great national pro- 

 perty, which a landed proprietor would bestow upon 

 his private estate. The clauses in the Bill, which 

 relate to the coast fisheries, have especiallj'- our 

 warmest sympathy, as without government aid those 

 fisheries must continue to be a sealed book : Lord 

 Clarendon's attention has been frequently called to 

 this important subject, by memorials and deputations 

 from public meetings, but he has not as yet indicated 

 his intentions : still the prestige is favourable, and 

 every anticipation of his approval and support may 

 reasonably be formed : history will survey the events 

 of his time, and may acknowledge prouder services 

 of his, but none more useful than his unceasing efforts 

 to improve our social position. — The sacred duty has 

 ever been present to his mind and councils, to deve- 

 lop our internal resources, instruct our industry, 

 and foster and encourage eyerj effort or enterprise 

 calculated to advance our national prosperity : we 

 are therefore sanguine in our hope for the fisheries : 

 the ensuing session, however, will decide : if the 

 Government will not support the Bill, the clauses 

 having reference to the coast fisheries must be ex- 

 punged ; if so, those fisheries will again languish and 

 collapse, and a long and dreary inanition will ensue. 

 With respect to the general merits of the Bill 

 which we have here (too tediously, we fear) discussed, 

 we shall not offer any opinion, nor is it our province 

 to do so — it is before the public ; great care has 

 evidently been bestowed upon it, and the consoli- 



