116 THE FISHERIES. 



times. Vast armaments will move over the seas, 

 regardless of the winds or tides; new and dread en- 

 gines of destruction will change the whole face of 

 war, and all bravery and martial spirit must yield 

 before the modern improvements of military science. 

 Death will revolve in many shapes ; space be calcu- 

 lated nicely, but not for humanising ends ; and the 

 deadly Minie do its fell and fatal work of sure and 

 distant assassination. 



But in our comments we would eschew war : we 

 hate war ; it is not our subject, and it has none of 

 our sympathies: but we say to Britannia — duly and 

 impartially develop our resources ; give to a people 

 perishing for want of employment, a field for indus- 

 trial exertion ; cultivate and foster the Fisheries of 

 Ireland for economic purposes, and if it answers any 

 other purpose — tant micux. 



But we cannot doubt that in the ensuing session 

 of Parliament, a wise, liberal, and humane policy 

 towards this country will be unfolded; if much 

 longer delayed, our green Erin will run the risk of 

 becoming one vast Sahara, or unpeopled desert. Na- 

 tional spirit has almost died out amongst us : political 

 individuahty we have none : our brightest names, 

 and most gifted sons; our bravest and noblest enthu- 

 siasts, have tried that question in vain ; but there is 

 a path by which we can gain a moral victory over 

 England, and this, nothing prevents us from obtain- 

 ing, but our own unattainable desires, and endless 

 polemical dissensions. 



