The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-22 00:00:00

Tv'th you on this cccasion, your and their faithful and
affectionate brcther in Christ,
"The Rev. Dr. Spiy."

"H. EXETER.

WHOLESALE FISIIMARKETS, AND A
BATH FOR BILLINGbGATE AGAIN.

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

may perhaps be necessary to employ
some philosophy, reasor, logic, and patience, to in-
quire into, to examine, and arrange a machine that
will point out the easiest, the most direct, and most
unobstructed method for improving all fisheries and
fishmarketing systems ; whatever trouble, however,
may be required, all will agree that it is a subject
that claims public consideration.

As a means of assisting the promotion of fishery
improvements throughout Great Britain, it has
been suggested in The Sun that were there whole-
sale fishmarkets established at all large cities
and towns, Vial factors and :salesmen transacting
their duties according to the spirit of their
calling; standing in a position betwixt the fishermen
and the public to see that justice is done to both parties.;
selling the fish for the highest price bid, that the fisher-
men might be advantaged ; and seeing that the fish are
in prime condition before dispasing of them to the
public. Toe factors and salesmen being paid by
commission, upon the amount received from quantity
and quality disposed of, have a direct interest in
looking into fishery improvements, and stimulating
fishermen to industrial pursuits.
The longer I think over a wholesale fishmarketing
system, particularly if the regulations are to be
abided by as they once were at Billingsgate :—"That
all fish brought to the city must be taken to Billings-
gate market and sold by wholesale to retail dealers,
and that the market must be clean-scrubbed and
washed out every day at one P.M."—the more I
am satisfied that the wholesale marketing system adds
to the value and respectability of the trade.
Fish in its uncured state is an article of food that soon
periahes. Arriving in market early in the morning,
the sooner it is all disposed of by wholesale, the sooner
retail dealers have it in their power to supply their cus-
tomers with the fish in an entirely fresh state; and for
this reason I believe the regulation was framed, " that
the market must be clean scrubbed and washed out
every day at one rah"
When large quantities of fish arrive at a market
where there is no restriction as regards time for sales
(or if there be restrictions, but they are not attended
to), the fishermen and salesmen stickling about prices,
anxious of course to keep them up as long as possible,
allow time to pass ; all that while, the dead fish are
not improving in quality, and as I have oftentimes
before stated, "stale fish are dear as a gift." The
problem to be solved, will be found simply to resolve
itself into these few words :—" Ought the fishermen
be allowed to dispose of their own catchinga ? or
ought that duty be left to men independent of the
trade, beyond the commission they receive for sales
effected, and who have a name to uphold for probity
and equity ?"
The plan suggested in a former letter for the erec-
tion of a bath at Billingsgate, I have been happy to
find is much approved cf. It is supposed, were baths
erected in the neighbourhood of Billingsgate, not only
the fishermen and hawkers would be accommodated
thereby, but many of the sailors from colliers, coal.
heavers and bargemen would avail themselves of a
wash at Billingsgate Baths.
I have been told latterly that the model bath-
house for the working classes at Giulston-square,
which contains 94 baths, is so well attended during
summer, that although the price for the first class is
only sixpence for a warm and threepence fur a cold
bath, and for the second class, twopence for a warm
and a penny for a cold one, they have actually col-
lected nineteen pounds sterling on a summer day.
From this it may be supposed that a bath at Bil-
lingsgate would ultimately pay fur its erection.
I am, Sir, &c ,
11. DEMPSTER.

THE CANADA QUESTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WA'.
Sra,—ln the letter you were kind enough to in-
sert in your paper, on the 11th March, headed as
above, several errors were made, arising, no doubt,
from my hurried way of writing and careless way
of correcting the manuscript. I shall endeavour,
therefore, on this occasion, to be more particular.
With your permission, Sir, I will now continue my
remarks upon t'ae " Montreal Annexation Circular,"
for we ought to kill and not merely scotch so fatal an
enemy to the progress of Canada, and to the security
ci the empire.
This annexation document complains of Canada
Railway Stock being at a " depreciation of 50 to 80
per cent." Alas ! have we no complaints from rail-
way shareholders in England ? Are there no (aim •
plaints in France or elsewhere ?—and is it not just
possible that the fault may have been with the
speculators in Canada themselves, and not with the
people of England, that these colonial railways are
at a depreciated value ? May it not have been a
mistake to have attempted a railway from Montreal
to Portland—an American port, be it remembered,
and not one with the best approach, in the western
world?
It is the opinion of many men, no doubt with
all due submission to that of Mr. Arthur Wel-
lington Hart, that the whole of the available
capital, and all the energies of the people of
the North American provinces, should have been
brought to bear, in the first instance, upon the Mon-
treal, Quebec, and Halifax line of railway, Mr. Hart
is pleased to call the Quebec and Halifax Railway a
visionary scheme of Lord Grey. Unfortunately for
Lord Grey he does not, in this instance, deserve the
blame of Mr. Hart, for " the establishment of a steam-
packet communication between Halifax and England
was strongly advocated by the Governor-General
(Lord Durham) ; and also the formation of a rail-
road from Halifax to Quebec." Had Lord Grey,
upon his own responsibility (strengthened as he was
by Lord Durham's well-known opinion), and upon
the receipt of M;sjor Henderson's very favour-
able report on the Quebec and Halifax proposed
railway, boldly encouraged that undertaking,
he could well have afforded to have borne all the blame
that could have been attached to him far such a mea-
sure. A railway to Montreal would soon have fol-
lowed, and Canada would thus have had an outlet
from her capital to the ocean at all times of the
year. The great terminus for all the North Ameri-
can continental railways will, there can be no manner
of doubt, be at the port nearest Europe that can be ap-
proached at all seasons. It will be the great object if the
American people both of the United States and of the
North American provinces, to make the ocean passage
as short as possible, and the people of Canada may
depend upon it that any general plan of railways
must always have in view the shortest possible sea
voyage. Halifax appears to be the port to which they
will all bend their course, at all events it wall, fur
many reasons, certainly not be Portland, and this
railway, therefore, as a general North American or
imperial project, must hill.
Most sincerely, however, do I hope that the specu-
lation ofthe Montrealand Portland Railway may answer
the original expectations of those who engaged in it,
and I have no doubt that it will ultimately do so,
particularly if Mr. Hart's suggestions regarding the
eastern townships are carried into effect, for the funds
arising from the sale of the lands, if properly ma-
naged, will become highly valuable. (Here follow
some remarks showing the importance and value of
the eastern townships.)
Well indeed, Sir, may Lord Durham have said,
" I see no reason for doubting that by good govern-
ment and the adoption of a sound system of coloniza-
tion the British possessions in North America may
be made the means of conferring on the suffering
classes of the mother country many of the blessings
which have hitherto been supposed to be peculiar to
the social state of the new world," and well indeed
might Charles Buller urge upon Government the de-
velopment of such resources.
To continue my remarks on the " Annex-
ation Circular," which further complains that
" the Provincial Government is cumbrous and
expensive." This I am not prepared to deny,
but it does not follow, I think, as a matter
of course, that annexation to the United States would
remedy any such evils. Few people have not in former
times made this complaint, and certainly there are
hardly any in the present time who do not find fault
with the form and expense of their various Govern-
ments, and I would ask the people of Canada whether
they consider those of the United Staten as perfectly
satisfied ? Is there no native party ; no anti-slave
party ? At all events " their constitution, such as
it may be, was made here, not there ;" and even
here since those days Englishmen have thought
that they could improve the noble fabric of their far •
famed glorious Constitution. The immortal Junius
told the people that he questioned "the power de
jure of the Legislature to disfranchise a number of
boroughs, upon the general ground of improving the
Constitution," and when such a proceeding was in
later days contemplated, the Duke of Wellington de-
clared that "if he were to invent a constitution fur
Parliament over again, he would not say that he
would adopt the same as it now existed, because
the invention of man could not accomplish
it." In spite, however, of the opinion of Junius,
away went the rotten boroughs, and, in spite of the
opinion of the Duke of Wellington, on came the
change, at the bidding of the Genius of Morn),
whether for good or fur evil, has yet to be proved;
but surely the people of Canada, or those of any of
the British colonies, cannot for an instant suppose
that Great Britain would wish for a moment to with-
hold from them any of those rights or privileges, to
enjoy which she herself has made so many sacri-
fices ; let the Canadians, however, :beware of that
fatal malady, a restless spirit of innovation. Have
they as yet had sufficient experience of the form of
government they now enjoy to be able to say exactly
what change will be of advantage to them. Would
they not, let me ask, be thrown at the present time

into the highest state of rebellion if a rotten borough
existed amongst them ; and yet, it was under such a
system that England reached her highest pinnacle of
glory ; and without meaning any disrespect to these
whose duty it is to mend or make the constitutions
fur the present age, I cannot do otherwise here than
remind the Canadians cf the liees of Pope—
" For forms of government let fools contest,
1 •hA which is lies: administered is best."
Let the Canadians pause, then, before they attempt
to throw themselves out of the arms of a kind parent,
thinking. to better themselves by annexation to the
United States. " Sure enough, America is a great,
and in many respects, a blessed and hopeful pheno-
menon, but as a model republic, or a model anything,
the wise among themselves know too well that there
is nothing to he said. Cease to brag of America and
its model inititutions and constitutions."
Canadans,—Many men are at work in this country
to assist you, but your dissensions and 3 our RIM( XII.
tion question alarm the cspitalists of this country,
and enable other colonies to get the start of you ;
whereas, pieced as you are, within a few days' sail of
England, the development of the immense resources
of your country would be certain if you would only be
united to assist in that. measure; by a contrary pro-
everiing you arm 3-our enemies, and the enemies of
England, with weapons they know well bow to use.
But I trust now, Sir, conclude for the present, as I
find that I have already trespassed too largely on
your time and space.

I sm, Sir, &c.,
ROBERT CARMICHAEL SMYTH.
15, Charles street, Haymarket,
March 15, 1850.