BRITISH FISHES.

BASSE.
(Perca Labrax.—Linnæus.)

FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK.
(Gasterosteus spinachia.—Linnæus.)

BREAM.
(Sparus Raii.—Bloch.)

JOHN DORY.
(Zeus faber.—Linnæus.)

BLACK GOBY.
(Gobius niger.—Linnæus.)

BALLAN WRASSE.
(Ballan Wrasse.—Pennant.)

BARBEL.
(Cyprinus barbus.—Linnæus.)

GUDGEON.
(Cyprinus gobio.—Linnæus.)

TENCH.
(Cyprinus Tinca.—Bloch.)

DACE OR DARE.
(Cyprinus leuciscus.—Bloch.)

SAURY.
(Esox Saurus.—Pennant.)

GAR FISH.
(Esox Belone.—Linnæus.)

SAMLET OR BRANDLING.
(Salmo Fario.—Linnæus.)

LUMP SUCKER.
(Cyclopterus lumpus.—Linnæus.)

DOG FISH.
(Squalus Acanthias.—Linnæus.)

THE MAIGRE.
(SCIÆNA AQUILA.—Cuvier.)

WEEVER.
(Trachinus draco.—Pennant.)

THE ALARM.[[42]]

The hollow grumblings of the devils on earth having reached the infernal regions, Satan ordered an enquiry immediately to be made into the cause of their outcry, and commanded a trio of his choicest associates forthwith to fly with the velocity of light to see, and to report to him, what was the matter. On their arrival on earth, they were met, during the night, when men were asleep, by a deputation selected from innumerable hosts of imps from every kingdom and state of the uncivilized as well as the civilized world. They soon were given to understand, that an outrageous mutiny, amounting to rebellion, had been going on for some time against their old king, Ignorance, who was accused of having become very remiss and negligent of his duty. For this they resolved to have him hurled from his high station, and to have another ruler appointed in his stead. It was alleged that, owing to his neglect, mankind had lately begun to use their intellectual faculties to such a degree, that it was feared, if they were suffered to go on, Satan would (though very unjustly) lay the blame on them for the loss of his subjects. Old Ignorance was immediately brought to judgment, and at the same time other candidates for his office offered their services to succeed him. The voting instantly took place, and was decided in the twinkling of an eye, when it was found that old Ignorance was re-elected by a great majority; for, on casting up the votes, they stood thus:—

PRINCIPALS.SATELLITES.IMPS.
{ Vanity. }
Ignorance.{ Superstition. }300,000,000.
{ Sensuality. }
{ Arrogance. }
Pride.{ Envy. }100,000,000.
{ Obstinacy. }
{ Blasphemy. }
{ Revenge. }
Malice.{ Injustice. }100,000,000.
{ Cruelty. }
Majority for old Ignorance200,000,000

The candidates who had lately contended with him in aspiring to supreme command, having been appointed his chief ministers, he was sworn to redouble his vigilence: in return for which it was finally decreed that he should, in future, have seven links added to his tail, and his head adorned with six horns, instead of two. His infernal honour being thus pledged, the work of mischief was instantly begun, by his commanding his ministers and their satellites to redouble their vigilence, by throwing the mists of ignorance over the minds of the rulers and teachers of mankind, and to fill their minds with superstition, bigotry, pride, and arrogant zeal. All the imps of minor consideration were also ordered to direct the unreasoning, lazy, envious, wicked, gross, vulgar herd of mankind, high and low, into the paths which lead to misery. Having thus concluded their mission, the innumerable host set off, like a whirlwind, amidst the glare of lightning and the roar of thunder, to take up their abode in the minds of men, where they had been nursed before; but millions of their number, who had been dismissed from the minds of good men, dropped behind, and, in their fall through endless space, by the violence of their motion, ignited, were whirled into balls of fire, and gravitated to the sun. The rest proceeded; their numbers eclipsed the moon, and the effluvia which exhaled from them in their flight caused plague, pestilence, and famine in the countries they passed over, and the concussion they made in the air is said to have shaken the ices from the poles.