tance as to demand the deliberations of
the parliament, but think they naturally fall within the cognizance of
the municipal magistracy. After all, perhaps, the most effectual method
for supplying Westminster with plenty of fish at reasonable rates, would
be to execute with rigour the laws already enacted against forestalling
and regrating, an expedient that would soon dissolve all monopolies and
combinations among the traders; to increase the number of markets in
London and Westminster, and to establish two general markets at the
Nore, one on each side of the river, where the fishing vessels might
unload their cargoes, and return to sea without delay. A number of light
boats might be employed to convey fresh fish from these marts to
London and Westminster, where all the different fish-markets might be
plentifully supplied at a reasonable expense; for it cannot be supposed
that, while the fresh fish are brought up the river in the fishing
smacks themselves, which can hardly save the tides, to Billingsgate,
they will ever dream of carrying their cargoes above bridge, or that
the price of fish can be considerably lowered, while the fishing vessels
lose so much time in running up to Gravesend or Billingsgate.

ACT FOR ASCERTAINING the QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

The annual committee being appointed to inquire what laws were expired
or near expiring, agreed to certain resolutions; upon which a bill was
prepared, and obtained the royal assent, importing a continuation of
several laws, namely, the several clauses mentioned of the acts in
the fifth and eighth of George I. against the clandestine running of
uncustomed goods, except the clauses relating to quarantine; the act
passed in the third of George II. relating to the carrying rice from
Carolina; the act of the seventh of the same reign, re-fating to
cochineal and indigo; and that of the twelfth of George II. so far as
it related to the importation of printed books. There was also a law
enacted, to continue to the twenty-ninth day of September in the year
one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven, an act passed in the twelfth
year of queen Anne, for encouraging the making of sail-cloth, by a duty
of one penny per ell laid upon all foreign-made sails and sail-cloth
imported; and a bounty in the same proportion granted upon all home-made
sail-cloth and canvass fit for or made into sails, and exported; another
act was passed, for continuing certain laws