excellence; and Coalport furnishes china of all sorts, and also Queen's or Wedgewood's ware. This county has also several mills for dying woollen cloths, and some linen and cotton-manufactories. Ironstone and coal are abundant in Monmouthshire, and numerous iron-works have been erected here. Limestone, brescia for millstones, and valuable building-stone, are also abundant. Flannels, coarse cloths, stockings, and knit-caps, are manufactured to a considerable extent.

Midland District.] Nottinghamshire has been long famed for its manufactures, of which stockings form the staple. Those of thread and British laces have also been long carried on upon an extensive scale. The cotton-trade from Manchester has been widely extended, and is still increasing. There are also worsted-mills, silk-mills, &c.; manufactories of sailcloth, starch, and coarse red earthenware. Nottinghamshire, being a kind of thoroughfare for the neighbouring counties, has a very extensive and lucrative commerce. The manufactures of Leicestershire are chiefly and almost entirely those of its great staple, wool; they consist in the combing and spinning of wool, and making it into stockings. The exports consist of wool, worsted stockings, hats, lace, cattle, sheep, and cheese.-A large proportion of the inhabitants of Derbyshire are occupied in trade and manufactures, which are conducted on a large scale, and consist of iron, woollen, linen, cotton, and silk. Cutting and polishing marble and spar, for useful and ornamental purposes, is here a constant source of employment to a numerous class of artisans.-The clays, which are found of almost every variety in Staffordshire, form the basis of one of the most important manufactures in the kingdom, that of earthen ware, for which Staffordshire is particularly famous. The potteries are carried on in a district near Newcastle-under-Lyne. This district occupies an extent of about 10 square miles, and, though naturally barren, contains a number of populous towns, in which the works are carried on. The soil contains almost every variety of clays, besides covering strata of coal, rich and easily worked. From these natural advantages, the pottery business was early begun here, (at least two centuries back) but the improvements of the late Mr Wedgewood have brought the article to so much perfection, that it has become of national importance. Glass is also a flourishing manufacture here. Manufactories of iron and steel of all descriptions are numerous and extensive. Tin and brass are also among its manufactures, with tapes, cotton, and silk to a considerable extent. Tobacco and snuff-boxes, boots, shoes, and hats, are manufactured in Darlaston, Stafford, Newcastle, and Burton, on a large scale. Trade and manufactures have been greatly advanced in this county by the extensive system of inland navigation, which connects it not only with the metropolis, but with the Severn, the Mersey, the Humber, and the three corresponding ports of Bristol, Liverpool, and Hull. The manufactures of Northamptonshire are inconsiderable, consisting chiefly in the making of shoes, lace, and woollen stuffs. There is a manufactory of whips at Daventry, and one of considerable extent for making silk-hose. The trade of the county is pretty extensive, being greatly facilitated by the canals which have lately been formed in this district, and by which it communicates with every part of the country. Warwickshire is conspicuous for commercial enterprise, and for the spirit with which manufactures are cultivated. These last are of various descriptions. Those of hardware at Birmingham are celebrated throughout Europe. In the city of Coventry and neighbourhood, not less than 16,000 people are employed in the manufacture of ribbons; and for watches, the same place takes the lead even of London. Kenilworth is

stones, pottery, glass, &c.-The manufactures of Cumberland are neither numerous nor extensive. They consist chiefly of ginghams, calicoes, cor duroys, and other cotton-goods, sail-cloth, carpets, paper, pottery, and glass-bottles. The harbours are few, considering the great extent of coast, but commerce is rapidly improving. The chief ports are Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, and Harrington.-Manufactures have made little progress in Westmoreland. Its wool is wrought up in the manufactures of Kendal, and of Bradford in Yorkshire; part of it is also wrought into knitstockings, about Kirby-Stephen, Orton, and Ravenstonedale.--Manufactories are conducted on a large scale in Durham. About 11,000 tons of salt are made yearly from a salt spring near Birsley. At Smallwell and Winlaton are founderies and forges,—the former producing anchors, mooring chains, &c. &c. the latter files, edge-tools, and all such hardware as is necessary for artificers. A manufactory for sword-blades has been long established at Shotly. There are several establishments for the fabrication of copperas and sal-ammoniac, on the rivers Tyne and Wear. Ship-building is carried on to a considerable extent, together with the manufacture of cordage. Glass, pottery, and other goods, are made both for home-consumpt and exportation. The greater part of the exports of the county are made from Sunderland, which possesses from 50,000 to 60,000 tons of shipping.-The East Riding of Yorkshire furnishes wool in large quantities to the West Riding clothiers; and great numbers of horses are purchased at the York and Howden fairs by the London dealers. Hull is its grand emporium of foreign trade. chief manufactures are established at Wansford, near Driffield, for carpets and spinning cotton. The West Riding of Yorkshire may safely be pronounced one of the greatest manufacturing districts in the world. The manufactures carried on at Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, and places adjacent, comprise broad and narrow cloths of all qualities, shalloons, calimancoes, and flannels, with every kind of woollen goods. From Sheffield, cutlery and plated goods are exported to all parts of the globe. The finer articles of Sheffield cutlery have been pronounced equal in polish and hardness to the finest Indian wootz.--The manufactures of Lancashire are most extensive and various, consisting of silk, woollen, linen, hats, stock. ings, pins, needles, nails, watch-tools and movements, tobacco and snuff, earthenware, porcelain, paper, &c. But the cotton-trade especially has risen here with a rapidity and to an extent beyond all example. Of this vast manufacture, Manchester is the principal seat. Thence it spreads on all sides, to the S. and E. into Cheshire and Yorkshire, but especially to the N. and W. over the greatest part of Lancashire,-extending from Furness to Derby on the one hand, and from Liverpool to Halifax on the other. variety of other employments, as those of bleachers, dyers, printers' toolmakers, engine and machine-makers, &c. depend for their existence on this manufacture; and there are also in this county large works for smelting iron and copper, for blowing common and casting plate-glass, and for manufacturing white lead, lamp black, vitriolic acid, &c.

Its

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Counties bordering on Wales.] In various parts of Cheshire, manufactures are carried on extensively in silk, cotton, and linen, ribbons, thread, buttons, and tanning leather.-The exports are lead, calamine, cast-iron, copper-plates, brass, salt, and cheese. The principal manufactures of Shropshire are the ironworks in the coal and iron-district east of Shrewsbury, chiefly at Ketley, Oakengates, and in Colebrook Dale, which has also potteries and a coal-tar work. Brosely has a manufacture of garden-pots, and excellent tobacco-pipes. Caughley has a china-manufactory of great

excellence; and Coalport furnishes china of all sorts, and also Queen's or Wedgewood's ware. This county has also several mills for dying woollen cloths, and some linen and cotton-manufactories. Ironstone and coal are abundant in Monmouthshire, and numerous iron-works have been erected here. Limestone, brescia for millstones, and valuable building-stone, are also abundant. Flannels, coarse cloths, stockings, and knit-caps, are manufactured to a considerable extent.

Midland District.] Nottinghamshire has been long famed for its manufactures, of which stockings form the staple. Those of thread and British laces have also been long carried on upon an extensive scale. The cotton-trade from Manchester has been widely extended, and is still increasing. There are also worsted-mills, silk-mills, &c.; manufactories of sailcloth, starch, and coarse red earthenware. Nottinghamshire, being a kind of thoroughfare for the neighbouring counties, has a very extensive and lucrative commerce. The manufactures of Leicestershire are chiefly and almost entirely those of its great staple, wool; they consist in the combing and spinning of wool, and making it into stockings. The exports consist of wool, worsted stockings, hats, lace, cattle, sheep, and cheese.-A large proportion of the inhabitants of Derbyshire are occupied in trade and manufactures, which are conducted on a large scale, and consist of iron, woollen, linen, cotton, and silk. Cutting and polishing marble and spar, for useful and ornamental purposes, is here a constant source of employment to a numerous class of artisans.-The clays, which are found of almost every variety in Staffordshire, form the basis of one of the most important manufactures in the kingdom, that of earthen ware, for which Staffordshire is particularly famous. The potteries are carried on in a district near Newcastle-under-Lyne. This district occupies an extent of about 10 square miles, and, though naturally barren, contains a number of populous towns, in which the works are carried on. The soil contains almost every variety of clays, besides covering strata of coal, rich and easily worked. From these natural advantages, the pottery business was early begun here, (at least two centuries back) but the improvements of the late Mr Wedgewood have brought the article to so much perfection, that it has become of national importance. Glass is also a flourishing manufacture here. Manufactories of iron and steel of all descriptions are numerous and extensive. Tin and brass are also among its manufactures, with tapes, cotton, and silk to a considerable extent. Tobacco and snuff-boxes, boots, shoes, and hats, are manufactured in Darlaston, Stafford, Newcastle, and Burton, on a large scale. Trade and manufactures have been greatly advanced in this county by the extensive system of inland navigation, which connects it not only with the metropolis, but with the Severn, the Mersey, the Humber, and the three corresponding ports of Bristol, Liverpool, and Hull. The manufactures of Northamptonshire are inconsiderable, consisting chiefly in the making of shoes, lace, and woollen stuffs. There is a manufactory of whips at Daventry, and one of considerable extent for making silk-hose. The trade of the county is pretty extensive, being greatly facilitated by the canals which have lately been formed in this district, and by which it communicates with every part of the country. Warwickshire is conspicuous for commercial enterprise, and for the spirit with which manufactures are cultivated. These last are of various descriptions. Those of hardware at Birmingham are celebrated throughout Europe. In the city of Coventry and neighbourhood, not less than 16,000 people are employed in the manufacture of ribbons; and for watches, the same place takes the lead even of London. Kenilworth is

famous for horn-combs; Warwick for hosiery, calicoes, and other cottongoods. In other places there are flax-manufactures, and much linen-yarn is spun. Alcester employs 900 persons in making needles.-Worcestershire exports gloves, Kidderminster goods, china and glassware, nails, and the smaller articles of iron-work, as well as bar and sheet-iron.-The abundance of coal has drawn extensive iron-works to the Forest of Gloucestershire, which, though they are in the midst of ironstone, are yet supplied from the richer ore of Lancashire. Tinplate is made at Fromilade, and edge-tools, brass-wire, wire-cards, pins and nails. Spanish wool is manufactured into superfine broad cloth in a district of which the town of Stroud is the centre. The waters of the Stroud are here supposed to possess peculiar properties for dyeing scarlet, blue, and black. Thin worsted stuffs and carpets are made at Cirencester, and stockings at Tewkesbury.-The chief manufactures of Buckinghamshire are lace and paper. Most of the poorer class of females are employed in lace-making, which, with plaiting straw, employs nearly all the working females in the county.-The manufactures of Bedfordshire are confined to the plaiting of straw, and making threadlace, in which three-fourths of the female population are employed.

South-eastern District.] Kent has few manufactures, and these mostly of the coarser kind. The clothing-trade, formerly extensive, is now nearly annihilated, and silk, which was long manufactured at Canterbury, has given place to cotton. At Maidstone and Dover are extensive paper-mills; at Deptford and the Isle of Grain, salt-works. There are large copperasworks at Deptford and Whitestapple; and various iron-furnaces in the Weald bordering on Sussex. Gunpowder is manufactured at Deptford and Faversham; calicoes are printed and bleached at Craigford; and sacking and hop-bagging are made in various parts of the county. At Canterbury there is one of the largest flour-mills in the kingdom. The various dockyards at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, &c. employ numerous hands, and ship-building is also carried on at different parts of the coast.

Southern Counties.] Cotton, sacking, paper, and blankets, are manufactured in different places of Berkshire; and at Temple-Mills there are extensive works for the manufacture of copper, where it is converted into sheathings, ship-bolts, pans, and stills. The ore is carried from Anglesea to Swansea to be smelted; and thence in barges to the mills, where from 600 to 1,000 tons are manufactured yearly.—The manufactures of Wiltshire are valuable and extensive. Salisbury is famous for flannels and fancy-woollens. Excellent steel-goods are also produced here. Broad cloths, kerseymeres, and fancy-cloths, are the principal produce of Bradford, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Melksham, Chippenham, and all the adjacent towns and villages. Fustians and thicksets are made at Albourn; and Swindown is famous for its manufactory of gloves. A considerable quantity of hemp is grown in Dorsetshire, and manufactured into twine, cordage, netting, sacking, and sailcloth. More than 10,000 people are employed in these manufactures. At Loders, and some other places, young girls are employed in the weaving of sailcloth, and many of the women, along the coast towards Weymouth, fabricate strong nets for the Newfoundland fishery. A kind of coarse white woollen cloth or flannel, called swanskin or swansdown, is made at Starminster-Newton; and a number of persons of both sexes are employed in the manufacture of silk. However inconsiderable the manufacture may appear at first sight, the females of this county derive much profit from the working of shirt

buttons.

South-western Counties.] The manufactures of Somersetshire are considerable, consisting of stockings, woollen cloth, coarse linen, such as dowlas and tick, gloves, &c. The woollen manufactures of Devonshire, once considerable, have now greatly declined. Serge is woven at Totness, chiefly by women; and coarse stuffs are sent thence to be dyed at Exeter. Many females of the lower classes are employed in making bone-lace. An ironfoundery, and works for cutlery, are established upon a large scale at Tavistock. Ship-building is carried on at the various ports, particularly at that great naval depot, Plymouth.-Cornwall can boast of few manufactures except its metals. These few are cloths, nails for ship-building, carpets, crucibles, and paper. Its exports are tin, copper, moorstone, china stone, fish, cattle, and wheat.

Eastern District.] The manufactures of Lincolnshire are inconsiderable. There are several great fairs in the county; that of Horncastle is especially celebrated for the number and quality of its horses.-Woollen manufactures were once extensive in Essex; but they are now rather on the decline. Excepting in the metropolis, and its immediate vicinity, few manufactures are carried on to any great extent in Middlesex. Within the metropolis nearly every kind of British goods is manufactured, especially the finer articles of upholstery, jewellery, and the whole of those which may be comprehended under the general name of articles of luxury. Large calico-printing manufactories are established near the metropolis; and, on the Lea, there are mills for making sheet-lead. Straw-plaiting employs many women and girls; and the oyster-fishery employs a great number of the inhabitants. About 200 vessels of from 8 to 50 tons are engaged in dredging, near the mouths of the Crouch, the Colne, the Blackwater, &c. and 20,000 bushels are annually taken.—The manufactures of Hertfordshire are inconsiderable. Plaiting of straw is common among the women and girls; the trade is almost confined to malt. The town of Ware exports more malt than any town in England, and it always finds a preference in the London market.

Wales.] Flannels are the great article of Welsh manufacture. In Flintshire, Glamorganshire, and Monmouthshire, the mines afford employment to a considerable number of hands.

CHAP. VI.-CHIEF CITIES AND TOWNS.

To describe particularly all the large towns of England, would extend this article much beyond the limits to which we must confine it. A slight notice of the most important of them is all that we can here attempt.

CITY OF LONDON.] London, the metropolis of England, and consequently of the British dominions, claims our first attention. It consists of three cities, each of them large and opulent, but so united as to form one great capital: the city of London, properly so called,—the city of Westminster, and the borough or city of Southwark. London is situated upon both banks of the Thames, about 60 miles from the sea. Its dimensions have been differently estimated. According to the most recent accounts, its length, from Hydepark corner on the W., to Poplar on the E., is about 7, and its greatest breadth 5 miles. Its superficial extent has been estimated at nearly 30 square miles.

Name and History.] London is supposed to have derived its name from the Gothic lun, 'a grove,' and den, a town.' Others are of opinion that