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‘Then I’ll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers,
 With plenty wise pilots to pilot you through.’
‘Oh, the Channel’s as bright as a ballroom already,
 And pilots are thicker than pilchards at Looe.’

‘Then what can I do for you, all you Big Steamers,
 Oh, what can I do for your comfort and good?’
‘Send out your big warships to watch your big waters,
 That no one may stop us from bringing you food.

‘For the bread that you eat and the biscuits you nibble,
 The sweets that you suck: and the joints that you carve,
They are brought to you daily by all us Big Steamers,
 And if any one hinders our coming you’ll starve!’

Free trade.The principle of ‘free trade’ has been carried into all departments of life. When Sir Robert Peel took office in 1841 there were over twelve hundred articles on which duty had to be paid when they were imported from abroad. There are now only sixteen such articles, and the only ones of any importance are wine, spirits and tobacco (all of which are ‘luxuries’, as opposed to ‘necessaries’ of life). When this policy was first adopted it was expected that all other nations would soon adopt ‘free trade’ also, but they have not done so; and we have even allowed our own colonies to put on Customs’ duties against the importation of British woods to their ports. Proposals are now on foot, and are maintained by a large party in Britain, to go back upon this principle of ‘free trade’, and to impose a moderate ‘tariff’ on the importation of goods from all nations which will not admit British goods to their ports without a duty. It is not my business to express an opinion as to whether this would be wise or not. No doubt ‘free trade all round’ would be the most