Dewm Notes and Queries. 141 But it would appear that the disappearance of the dogs is but the herald of an universal disappearance. " Soon Hall- sands and the blue-eyed fishermen will disappear," but the words that follow this Jeremiac prophecy scarcely account for catastrophe, unless, indeed, education and religion are un- usually destructive in Start Bay. " A few years ago the inhabitants could not read, save George, and he stammered in his speech ! Only one man ever got intoxicated *' (this is a startling statement, not to call it an outrageous libel) " and he "■"■^ ' half-saved * ; but now the huts are crumbling and the ^der is drawing near ; the mission hall is approaching, and je public-house " (the second one ?) " has arrived ; the crabs will grow smaller, and the salmon bass will know the rocks no more." A Rosa Dartle might enquire why this will be : is it because the rocks will vanish, or alter so much that the fish will fail to recognise them, or is it because a bass hates a public-house and mission hall ? •' But the sea will always be hungry." And with these mysterious and gloomy words the article concludes. It is because the present writer is also hungry, hungry for an explana- tion of these various statements, that he refers the matter to the united wisdom of the readers and the writers of the Devon Notes and Queries. J. J. Cornish. 105. Petition to the Mayor &c., of Exeter. — I have recently become possessed of a curious Broadside, dated 1641, a copy of which I append ; it will be seen it relates to the downfall of trade which was supposed to spring from the Popish party. There is a reference to depression of trade, especially in the manufacture of serges or perpetuanies. Edward Windeatt. to the right honourable the lords and commons in parliament. The Hamble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Councell of the City of EXETER. Humbly sheweth, THAT they have received late Petitions from the Commons of the said City and County, signed by very many hands, wherein they present the great decay and deadness in the Trades of the said City ; especially in the manufacture of Serges and Perpetuanies ; as also the distresses of our Brethren in Ireland, which Kingdome hath afforded great reliefe and trade
