Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

536 A View of the West-Indian and North-American Trades.

confiderable addition to what Britain
is to acquire by the peace now in agi-
tation. It has been afferted by a late
molt extraordinary pamphleteer, and
quondam alderman of London, that
France employed in her fishery 1500
fail, and 30,000 men; now, without
mentioning how exaggertated his ac- A
count is, it is certain, that whatever
were the numbers they had in that
fervice, their fishing trade muft receive
a mortal wound from the ceffion of
this ifland and the river of St Lan-
rence, infomuch that their marine may
now be faid to be completely reduced, B
while that of Great Britain is likely to
flourish more than ever.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

ther fervants of the crown, he obferves, that the charge is fupported folely by the word guide in his famous letter, and that guide there is confined to the measures to be taken against Spain. That Spain is in the department of the Southern fecretary, and every dispatch to Madrid muft have been drawn up and figned by Mr Pitt if he had continued in that office, in direct oppofition to what he then clearly faw was the honour of the crown, and the intereft of the nation. It may, however, be asked, whether they would have been figned by Mr Pitt in his own right, or in the right of his master, in whofe hand he was and ought to be no more than an inftrument: As a minifter, it was his place to be guided and not to guide; the measure he propofed, was difapproved by the perfon whofe fervant he was, and it was not likely nor poffible that he fhould be called to answer for the not taking a measure which he advised to be taken; for, it must not be forgotten, that he thought fit to refign, not because he would have been made the inftrument of a positive meafure, which he thought wrong, but because the king and his council refused to be made the inftrument under him, of a pofitive measure which they thought wrong: He would not acquiefce in a mere negative, he expected them implicitly to adopt a posifitive measure.

Mr URBAN,

[ocr errors]

was foon laid afide. He fays too, that Mr Pitt has been unjustly charged with deferting his country at a critical period, for that he nobly fupported her caufe, and that of her ally the K. of Portugal, through the laft feffion of parliament, exerting his eloquence to strengthen the hands of government, and to give refolution and fpirit to a feeble and irrefolute admini

fenfe of the Prince of Wales's motto, in the common acceptance, Ich dien, i. e. I ferve; and asks why the PrinFces of Wales fhould, for a motto, have

G

itration. It may, however, be asked,
whether Mr Pitt's influence, with ref-
pect to public meafures, is equal now
to what it was when he was in the mi-
niftry; if not, he gave away that in-
fluence when he refigned, and fuppo-
fing it to be employed in the fervice of
his country, it is till true, that he e- H
ventually deferted that fervice: That
he did it at a critical period no body
can doubt.

To defend Mr Pitt against the charge et dictating to and controlling all a

recourfe to a language quite foreign to them? Really, Sir, all writers who have come in my way, (though errors by being copied may become general) fay, it was the motto of a king of Bohemia, who ferved under the King of France, at the battle of Creffy, and was killed. The Black Prince who alfo ferved there under his father Edward III. took the motto as an expreffion of duty to his father, and a commemoration of that victory: A very honourable origin, I think ; and moft heartily wish that the prefent little one may prove as fmart a fcourge to that arrogant, perfidious, turbulent, and infatiable power. Yours, &c.

A. B. Perut

Prefent State of the Land Carriage Fishery.

Prefent State of the Land Carriage Fifbery in London; fubmitted to the Publick by the Superintendant.

A

537

the public, left it fhould be imagined that fuch alteration of measures proceeds from lucrative views, which is not the cafe, as the fish which remains after the fale of the first day is over, will be fold the next day at proper prices, according to the ftate and condition thereof; and care will be taken to distribute what remains unfold, while it is wholfome and fit for use; and which, he can with confidence affure the public, has hitherto been done; fo that out of forty-five tons, Bor nine hundred and feventeen hundred weight, (the quantity brought from the commencement of this undertaking, between the 16th of May and the 30th of September last, both inclufive) there has not been one hundred weight loft, and that unavoidable. Moreover, he may venture to affert, that the prices firft affixed in the morning, have been at least one third, or rather one half less than thofe for which fuch fish were usually fold before this undertaking was fet on foot; not to mention the furtiver benefit which has accrued to the middle and lower rank of people, by the reduced prices, and to the poor, by what has been given away, amounting together to 9311. 9. 10 d. within the above-mentioned time, as appears in the monthly account annexed.

T carriage fint plan, in order that HE fuperintendant of the landall ranks of people might reap the benefit thereof, did, at the commencement of this undertaking, direct certain prices for the feveral kinds and fizes of fish to be publickly fixed, at as moderate rates as the nature thereof admitted; at which they continued till four o'clock in the afternoon, and from that hour till feven they were reduced to one third, in order that families of middling rank might partake of this defirable food, as well as the great and opulent, and at leffer prices; and what remained after the lait mentioned hour, were further reduced to half price, for the benefit of perfons of lower degree; and moreover, any furplus quantity left at the shutting up the places of fale at night (as has often been the cafe) were directed to be fprinkled with falt, and expofed to fale the next morning, at two thirds lefs than the first price the day before, for the benefit of poor families and if not fold D by twelve at noon the fecond day. were then given to the prifons and workhouses, fo that no part thereof might be wasted.

C

Thefe methods hve been hitherto continued; but the fuperintendant has found that this proceeding, which was calculated for general benefit, has been perverted to very oppolite pu- E pofes, and greatly to the difadvantage of this undertaking; feveral dealers in fish having made it these practice (efpecially tince the weather has been fo cool for the fih to keep good till the next, or fucceeding day) to wait for the bour of half price, and F then to purchafe the tifo; whica, be is informed, they fell in their shop? the next day, at the fame (and often at a lefs) price, than that affixed in the places morning at the land carria.

of fale for fish newly arrived; and by this means have had en opportunity G of underfelling this plan with its own fish; or, in caf, no harrived ogland carriage, to get extrordinary prices for the fame; befle, leaving a door open to impofitions of another kind.

For thefe reasons the superintendent finds himself nor fiaited to mo kelan 14 alteration in his endures, and lo direct that no m. fid at reduced price on the day their arrival; and

thinks it proper to pive this notice to g

The fuperintendant conceiving it
may be fome fatisfaction to the public,
to be acquainted with the ftate and
progrefs of this undertaking, bastaken
this early opportunity to give an ac
count of the feveral fpecies of fith
brought in confequence of this pian.
within the time above-mentioned, with
the tale and weight of the fame, which
are as follow:
39518 Pair of Soals
14190 Mackerel

867 Bill or Pearl
286 Turbots
1423 Thornback
135 Salmon
4518 Hurrings

-

04 Pipers and Carnets

G. grs. th.

694

[ocr errors]

2.

4

5

2

24

2

18

[ocr errors]

I

25

--

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

15

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

497 Crab.

3

1-0 Dorries

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

1983 Plaid and Dals

[blocks in formation]

40300 Prawns

[blocks in formation]

136 Lobters

[blocks in formation]

249 Trust

[blocks in formation]

122 Fe's

1426 Cray fish
51 Red Mellats
Flounders, &r.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

538

Prefent State of the Land Carriage Fishery.

The MONTHLY ACCOUNT whereof ftands as underneath i

[blocks in formation]

165

16

783 2

In July

[blocks in formation]

In Auguft

[blocks in formation]

In September

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

1771 16 O 1400 8 3 1695 O 8

611 O I 1545 6 10 1260 19

[blocks in formation]

8

139 8 7

1327 9 10

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

917 I 2 From this account it appears, that the fith fent to the markets at its first charge, amounted nearly to 6000l. and if admitted (as it may in juftice be) that they were rated at the firit price, one half lefs than what they uled to be fold for; it will follow that the publick have reaped a benefit equal to the above mentioned fum by this undertaking, betides a plentiful supply, and fome variety of hth, little known in this metropolis before; fuch as brills, pipers, dories, and red mullet; and to thefe advantages may be added near 1000 l. more, by what was fold at reduced prices, and given away as before-mentioned.

The above having been communicated to fome friends of the plan, they were of opinion, that the publick would be glad to fee fome ftate of the general expences, &c. conceiving many perfons might, through miitake, conclude, that the deficiency of the firit price fent to the markets, amounting to 931. gs. 10 d. was a fum funk in the capital granted by the fociety: The fuperintendant, therefore, defirous to give all the fatisfaction in his power, bath hereunto annexed,

A Sketch of the State of the Land Carriage Fishery, from its Commencement, to the 30th of September inclufive. Cath advanced by the fociety

Cah engaged by the fu

perintendant

Cath received for fish

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

5957 14 415026 4 5 market-Rents-Travelling expences for fettling the fithery at the fea ports aud on the roads-Coals, candles, and stationary— porterage, cryers, and difperfing handhills-Baskets for the carriages, Sc.Scales, weights, and other utenfils Advertising, printing, and fundry incidental expences; toge ther with cash paid for 23 new machines, and repairs done to the fame

Remains

4918 ir 3

3607 13

In giving this ftate to the publick, the fuperintendant thinks it neceffary to take notice, that though there appears but 107 l. 13 s. 2 d. over and above the capital of 3500 1. yet it is to be confidered that there were at the drawing up this sketch 23 fish machines paid for, and then in use, befides including the fundry expences as above to the 30th of September laft; and this appears to him beyond what he could have expected from fuch an undertaking in its infancy, and with the many difficulties to be encountered. It is moreover to be obferved, that the above flum of 3607 l. 13 5. 2 d. is not to be understood as caíh in hand, the whole being engaged by the fuperintendant for the purposes of fupporting and extending this undertak ing, by opening fome other ports on the fea coaft, for procuring a greater variety of fish, which the town feems to defire and expect; and to that end he has now in ufe fifty-four machines, befides twenty-fix made, and making, to complete the number eighty; with which, and fuch further encouragement as the publick may think proper to give, fifh of inferior forts may be brought for the benefit of labouring perions at moderate prices; more ef pecially if he fall be affiited with a

proper

Some Account of the late proper place of general fale, where dealers and hawkers may be fupplied out of the quantities that may occafionally be brought, beyond what the prefent eftablished place of fale can find vent for, agreeable to his original A plan; the want of which has hitherto been the greatest disadvantage he has laboured under in the profecution of this undertaking.

[blocks in formation]

THE amufements of Bath being

thus improved under Mr Nafb's administration, it became the fummer refort of people of fashion, and confequently of the wealthy and the idle of every denomination. The magif. C trates, who found him not only ufeful, but neceffary, gave a fanction to his affumed royalty, by recognizing it themselves, and he was univerfally admired as an extraordinary character: His vanity was gratified, and at length he affected fomething particu. D lar in his dress, behaviour, and converfation.

In his journeys from Bath to Tunbridge, and from Tunbridge to Bath, he ufually rode in a chariot and fix greys, with out riders, running footmen, french horns, and every other appendage of expenfive parade: His drefs was always fhewy, but for the last 30 or 40 years, he in fome measure mixed the fashions of the last age with thofe of the prefent; to the fashion of his youthful days, as has before been obferved, he punctually conformed, and having contracted a ftrong attach ment to what was then elegant, he quitted it with reluctance, and but in part; and it may be obferved, that moft of the perfons who are fingular in their drefs, by not adopting the modes that fucceffively prevail and decline, were once remarkable for dreifing to the height of that fashion which prevailed in the prime of their G life, with an attention and precifion which thewed they made drefs of too much importance; for thofe who regard it only as it merits to be regard. ed, never think it worth while to have any thing fingular in it, either by exaggerating reigning modes into ex- H travagances, or retaining thofe which have been quitted by other people. Nah, however, had fome peculiarities of drefs that were properly his own; he wore the buckle of his ftock, which (Gent. Mag. Nov. 1761.)

Richard Nash, Efq;

539 was of diamonds, before, and diftin guifhed himself by a white hat; the first of thefe fingularities he left off many years ago, but he continued to wear a white hat till his death, as he faid, for other reafon, But to pre-o vent its being ftolen. Nab, however, perfectly understood elegant expences and generally paft his time in the company of perfons of the firft diftinction, though the revenue which fupported him in all this fplendor, had its fourc, only in play: His gain, however, arofe merely from his fuperior skill, and difpaffionate attention, for he defrauded no man, nor would he, knowingly, fuffer any man to be defrauded by others: Whenever he found a novice in the hands of a sharper, he failed not to warn him of his danger, and whenever he found a perfon willing te play, yet ignorant of the game, he would offer his service, and play for

him.

He once admonished a thoughtless young fellow, who, by a mere run of fortune had won a fum fufficient to make him eafy for life, to be content with his prefent gains, and play no more; telling him frankly, that if he had the Bank of England at his command, he was fo ignorant of gaming, that if he continued to game he would inevitably lose the whole in a fhort time: As a proof of his fincerity, he offered to give the young gentleman fifty guineas, upon condition that he would forfeit twenty every time he loft two hundred at one fitting. This offer he refufed, and was foon after undone.

It was not, indeed, very likely to have the defired effect, if it had been accepted: The lofs of 20. was not motive fufficient to reftrain a gametter from proceeding to play af ter his paffions were ftrongly excited, and he had already loft near 200. These are not the terms upon which perfons who cannot trust themselves with their own money, do what they call tye themselves up from play; as will appear from the following ftory, the truth of which is too generally known to be doubted,

A late noble Duke having loft a confiderable fum, prefled Mr Nash to tie bim up from play; Nash confented, and gave his grace 100 guineas upon condition that the thould pay him 10,000, whenever he fhould fofe 10,000 at one fitting: This was, "indeed, a contract likely to answer its intention; yet fach was the Duke's

infatua

540
infatuation, that, having loft 8000
guineas at Hazard, he had lifted up
his hand to throw for 3000 more, when
Nab, catching hold of the dice-box,
entreated him to reflect upon the pe-
nalty if he loft; the Duke for that
time defifted, yet, very foon after, he A
incurred the penalty at New-market.

Some Account of the late Richard Nash, Efq;

A late Earl, when he was very young was paffionately fond of play, and was never better pleafed than when he had Nafh for his antagonist; but Nafb, inftead of turning his great fuperiority to his own advantage, made it fubfervient to the intereft of the young nobleman, by using it fo as not only to fhew him, but to make him feel the danger to which he expofed himself: He engaged him in angle play, and winning indulged him in raifing the ftakes, till his lofs of temper made the lofs of his money more certain, as encreafing the fums for which they played, rendered it more fpeedy. Nah, at length, won his whole eftate, and the writings were put into his poffeffion, his lordship's very equi. page was the last stake, and he lost even that. When he had fuffered the

distraction and anguish which his folly had thus brought upon him, till Nab thought he had felt too much to incur them again, he returned all that he had won, only ftipulating that he fhould be paid 5000l. whenever he fhould think proper to demand it.

rooms of Bath and Tunbridge, the laft public game being what was called the EO, the profits of which Nafh fhared with the perfons who kept the table and the rooms. But as he had always fpent his whole income when it was greateft, he was foon reduced to great diftrefs, by the fuppreffion of that fpecies of gaming which had fupplied his finances: The money he got at private gaming was inconfiderable, and the opportunities precarious. As he grew poor, he loft alike his influence and his reputation; he was reproached as having been the confederate of fharpers, and even accused of embezzling the fubfcription money: That he embezzled the fubfcription-money, was not true; how far he was confederate with fharpers, will appear from the following meCmorial, which was found among his papers, in his own hand-writing.

[ocr errors]

D

E

This demand, however, he never made during his lordship's life, but fome time after his death, Mr Nah's affairs being in the wane, he demanded the money of his lordship's heirs, who honourably paid it without hefitation. As yet there was no law by which, gaming was prohibited, but the great encreafe of the practice by the eltab- F lishment of Bath and Tunbridge, as places of publick refort, and the pernicious confequences which refulted from it, now made fuch a law indif penfibly neceflary.

By an act of parliament paffed in the 12th year of the late King George the IId, the games at which a particular perfon prefided and kept the Bank, were named and declared fraudulent and unlawful, and those who fet them up, were made liable to forfeit 200 1. and all perfons were prohibited from playing, except in the royal palace, under the penalty of so. This law was at fift evaded, but being several times amended, and a new act made in 1745, a top was at laft put to all nblick gaming (except cards) in the

G

EO was firft fet up in Ae's room, the profits divided between one C-k (the inventor of the game) and A—e.

The next year, A-e finding the game fo advantageous, turned Cout of his room, and fet the game up himself; but C-k and his friends hired the crier to cry the game down; upon which A-e came running to me to ftop it, after he had cried it once, which I immediately did, and turned the crier off the walks.

Then A-e afked me to go a fourth with him in the bank, which I confented to; C-k next day took me into his room which he had hired, and proffered me to go half with him, which I refufed, being engaged before to A-e.

7- then fet up the fame game, and complained that he had not half play at his room; upon which I made them agree to join their banks, and divide equally the gain and lofs, and I to go the like thare in the bank.

I taking them to be honest, never enquired what was won or loft; and thought they paid me honeftly, till it was difcovered that they had defrauded me of 2000 guineas.

I then arrested A—e, who told me I must go into Chancery, and that I fhould begin with the people of Bath, who had cheated me of ten times as much and told my attorney, that He had cheated me of 500, and wrote me word that I had not under his hand, which never was fed in play.

:

Upon my arresting A—e, I received a letter not to profecute 7-e, for he would

« AnteriorContinuar »