Statement of DUTIES paid by the Distilleries in GREAT BRITAIN for the last Seven Years, from 5th Jan. 1804, to 5th Jan. 1811: 5th Jan. 1804, to 5th Jan. 1805 £2,322,509 78 The Consumption of WINE in LONDON, is Sixty-five Thousand PIPES, and the DUTIES for the same Space, upon that Commodity, were, in the EXCISE cess. Spirits Annually distilled appears, by the Returns, to equal the prodigious Amount of 23,720,000 Gallons! The Extraction of Brandy from PEACHES, of an alkoholic Liquid from ELDER, and of Whiskey from Rye, and even Maise, is carried to this alarming ExThe Products of the Distilleries are chiefly consumed among Ourselves, though a Portion of the latter, is converted to GIN, before it reaches the human Stomach. While, therefore, we observe the Increase of these homemade Fluids, we must reflect on their inebriating Effects. It cannot be disguised, that their intoxicating Quality recommends them to such general Employment. Nor ought it be concealed, that in a Country, where a Gallon of this maddening Stimulus may be bought for half a Dollar, a Gill may be obtained at retail for three Cents, and the Seller at the same time, double his Money. The Fondness for this bewitching Beverage, and the Repugnancy to an ExCISE upon it, raise in the Mind a curious Association, between the free Use of it, and of political Freedom; and it deserves the Consideration of all the thinking part of Society, how far Disease, Idleness, Immorality, and other Miseries incidental to strong Potations. may not degrade Freedom, to Rudeness, and something worse." In the Quantity of solid Food, for the Maintenance of the Inhabitants of LONDON, must be comprised, Twenty-one Millions, Five Hundred, Sixty-five Thousand Pounds of BUTTER; and Twentyfive Millions, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds of CHEESE. A considerable, and most valuable Portion of the Aliment consumed in LONDON, that of Fish, requires some Description, and which will conclude the Recital, of the Demand and Supply, of that huge, and populous, CAPITAL. Successive Writers have remarked, that no COUNTRY can be better situated to receive Quantities of FISH, than GREAT BRITAIN, yet it is well known, that in its METROPOLIS, from the high Price it bears, there are, comparatively, a small Number consumed; however, this does not happen from Scarcity, as FISH may be easily procured, from various Parts upon our Coasts, at very little Expence. It has been computed, that not more than Fourteen Thousand five Hundred Boats of Cod, and other Sea Fish, are Annually brought to BILLINGSGATE, and with the Exception of Mackerel, Sprats, and * The total Quantity of Wines, entered at the OPORTO Custom-house in 1811, for Foreign Countries, was 18,536 Pipes and an half; of this Quantity, were sent to ENGLAND, 18,372 Pipes and an half; AMERICA, Sixty-four and an half; GIBRALTAR, Eighty-nine; GALICIA, three and an half. In 1809, there were shipped for Exportation, 53,458 Pipes, of which 42,968 Pipes were for ENGLAND; and in 1810, 41,358 Pipes shipped, of which 40,765, was on English Account. were Herrings, which are caught but for a short Season, the Poor seldom taste it, although Fresh FISH might be sold all the Year, cheaper than Butchers' Meat, if no sinister Arts prevented it. These Arts, have been known chiefly in their Effects. By a Statute of QUEEN ANNE, 1710, for the better Preservation, &c. of the Fishery in the River THAMES, Power was given to the Fishmongers' Company, to enact Bye Laws, under the Controul of the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, to prevent Abuses, these were accordingly made, but from the Year 1727, the Company ceased to act, and few Exertions of any kind, were made on this subject, till 1757, when the Court of Common Council, petitioned the House of Commons, setting forth this Subject, and praying, that as the Office of Bailiff and Conservator of the THAMES and MEDWAY, had been Vested in the MAYOR*, &c. of LONDON, Time out of Mind, a BILL might be brought in for the more Effectual Preservation, of the Fry and pawn of FISH in the said Rivers, for the better regulating the Fisheries thereof, and the speedier Punishment of Offenders. An Acr was in Consequence passed, 30 Geo. 2. C. 21. granting full Authority, for governing and regulating all Persons, Fishing or Dredging in those Rivers and Waters, declaring the Nets and Engines to be Employed, and at what Seasons, for the ascertaining the Assize of the several Fish, and for the Protection of the Fry and Spawn, obliging every common Fisherman, to have his Christian and Sir Name painted in legible Characters on his Boat, also to annex reasonable Penalties and Forfeitures, for the Breach of such Rules, not exceeding Five Pounds, and to amend them, or make new Ones, so as they were first approved by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or Commissioners of the Great Seal, the Two Lords Chief Justices, and the Lord Chief Baron, or any Two of them. This ACT was further confirmed by By the Statute of 4 HENRY VII. Chap. 15. A. D. 1489. the Statute 33 Geo. 2. C. 27. The Execution of such Parts of both these ACTs, as relate to the Sale of Fresh Fish at BILLINGSGATE to the Chastisement of Persons having unsizeable Fish, or * Billingsgate was a Portal leading to the THAMES, but is now an indented Wharf, where Gravesend Passage Boats, Fishing, and other small Vessels, are moored. The Name, however derived, is of vulgar Notoriety, and the Flowers of Rhetoric exhibited by the Fish Dealers, to one another, and sometimes to their Customers, are proverbial throughout the Kingdom. It was declared a Free Market for FISH, A. D. 1699, subsequent to which Time, the Journals of the House of Commons, furnish the following Information. "The Market was free and open, in 1758, and any Person might then buy any Quantity of FISH. In Summer, the Market began at Three o'Clock, in Winter, at Five in the Morning, and continued till about Eleven." Turbots and other Fish were sold in Lots from the Forms, or Stalls, and a single Fish might be purchased, though such a Purchase was not usual. Cod, were laid in Lots from four to five Dozen, and sold to the best Bidder: a single Fish could not be bought Early in the Morning, but at the latter End of the Market, it might. The Fishmongers selected the Best, and the Basket People purchased the Remainder. JOHN KITTERMASTER, Fisherman, Salesman, and Fishmonger, at the above Period, possessed Six Fishing Vessels, which carried Eight or Nine Men each, and cost Six Hundred Pounds, a-piece, and employed from Thirteen to Fifteen Hundred Men, in the different Branches of the Fishing Trade, for Six Months in the Year. These Vessels, were sometimes Fourteen Days on a Voyage, and at others Sir Weeks, and from the Twenty-sixth of November to the First of June, 1757, he brought above Five hundred Thousand Lobsters to LONDON, Fourteen Thousand Kits of Pickled Salmon, from SCOTLAND, in the same Year, and from Fifteen Hundred to Two Thousand Salmon Trouts, per Week. Eight Hundred and Eighty Fishing Vessels, paid Duty at Gravesend, from 25th June, 1756, to the same Date 1757. The Trade is now, very Extensively increased. Some of the ancient Laws and Regulations respecting FISH, and the Fishmongers' Company, may be here inserted. “A. D. 1274, Ordinance of EDWARD I. prohibits Partnership in FISH with Foreigners, who bring the same in their Ships. "No Fish, except Salt Fish, to be kept in LONDON beyond the Second Day, on Forfeiture of the Fish, and Fine at the KING'S Pleasure. Spawn, &c. and to the Penalties, against Regraters or Forestallers of Fish, is specially committed by the ACT, to the Under Water "1386. In the Mayoralty of JOHN NORTHAMPTON, an ACT of Parliament was obtained, for laying open the Trade to all Foreigners, in Amity with the KING, the said JOHN NORTHAMPTON, compelled them to acknowledge, that their Occupation was a Craft, and therefore unworthy to be reckoned among the other Mysteries. 1400. Charter of HENRY IV. grants the Tolls of BILLINGSGATE, to the City of LONDON. The Tolls and Duties of the CITY Markets were let to Farm for Seven Years following 1692, at 3600l. per Annum. They then estimated their Interest in Queenhithe Meal Market, at Sixty pounds; the Groundage of BILLINGSGATE, at Fifty; and the Standings at Bartholomew Fair; rented, in some Years, for One Hundred Pounds. "1495. The Fishmongers' Company endeavouring to monopolize FISH, Parliament enacted, that no Person should hinder any Fisherman (Foreign or Domestic) from disposing of their Fish, on Penalty of Ten pounds. "A. D. 1536. Charter of HENRY VIII. incorporated Stock Fishmongers, and Salt Fishmongers, by the Name of the Wardens and Commonalty of Fishmongers, of the City of LONDON. They are governed by a Prime, and Five other Wardens, and a Court of Assistants. By 5th ELIZABETH, C. 5. S. 43. Fishermen could not be impressed, without the Authority of a Justice of the Peace. "13th ELIZABETH, C. 5. S. 6. prohibits Foreign-taken Fish, from being dried for Sale, in ENGLAND." We may here concisely describe the Corn Market, in Mark-lane, and which was originally held at Bear Quay, on the THAMES, but several artful Persons, wishing to rapidly increase their Finances, entered into a Subscription, and with the Produce erected the present Market, which they termed a CORN EXCHANGE, thus intending to hold it as private Property. The Dealers, invited by the Convenience of the Edifice, would have frequented it as a Market, but the PROPRIETORS insisted upon their leaving the Premises, and even sent a Person, whom they called a Beadle, to beat the Sam |