118 



THE FISHERIES. 



Anglesea was " agitate, agitate, agitate." The word 

 of Lord Eglinton is — ^justice. 



If we read our history in events, or on the pages 

 of the statute book, we shall see a sad and chequered 

 story ; it is easy to ascribe our misfortunes, and our 

 prostration, to a hundred causes, and yet omit the 

 true ones : let by-gones be by-gones ; but as regards 

 this forlorn isle, let the practical issue to be now put 

 upon England, in the approaching session, emphati- 

 cally be — Is this country to be resuscitated — to be 

 at length released from her cruel sufferino^s — become 

 the co-equal in arts, in industry, and arms — the par- 

 ticipator in the prosperity, the companion and sister 

 of happy Albion? — Or is she to be dragged, without 

 concern and without remorse, suffering and prostrate 

 at her chariot wheels. 



Hopefully ; nay, under present auspices, almost 

 confidently, we await that issue : we are now as a na- 

 tion in transition ; our destinies, are, in the balance : 

 — Let us here pause, and Mirza-like, throw a hurried 

 glance around our social and political horizon, endea- 

 vouring briefly to shadow forth its manifestations. 



Foremost, our polemical dissensions ; do they not 

 blast for us all word of promise, all germ and hope 

 of national regeneration ? Religion — we almost fear 

 to touch upon a subject of such controversy ; so preg- 

 nant is it, and fraught, with sectarian bitterness. 

 Too often do we see it made the mere tocsin, and 

 talisman of discord ; the watch word of party, the 

 rallying cry of zealots. Now on one side, fresh seeds 



