been effected towards the execution of this plan. According to the present system, that part of the port below the lower pool serves as a place of anchorage for the colliers, only a certain number of which are allowed to be in the pool at once, and a flag is hoisted to notify when it is full. On the flag being hauled down, the first collier in rank enters the pool, and the others follow, until the number is completed, when the flag is again hoisted; the rest wait their turn. The following statement of the quantities of coal and culm brought into the port at different periods, from 1820 to 1849, both inclusive, shows the consumption of coal in London. The great increase within the last dozen years is chiefly owing to the introduction of steam navigation and gas lighting.

Account of the Coal imported into London in 1849; specifying the Ports whence the Coal was shipped, and the Number of Cargoes and Tons imported from each.

Exclusive of the above, a small quantity of coal, amounting in 1849 to 41,640 tons, is brought to London by inland navigation and by railway.

The new Coal Exchange, in Lower Thames Street, is a magnificent, though rather incongruous, building. The great hall, which is circular, is 60 feet in diameter, and 74 feet to the apex of the glazed dome by which it is covered. The structure cost about 40,000%.

The Custom House, a large building by the river-side, between London Bridge and the Tower, was opened for business in 1817. The old one was burnt down in 1814, though not before the present building was begun, the former having been inconveniently small. The river-front, 480 feet in length, is built of Portland stone, and, though rather plain, is decorated by three porticoes, each supported by six Ionic columns. The long room, where the public business is transacted, is 185 feet in length, 66 feet in width, and 55 feet in height. Owing to the insufficiency of its foundations this structure became insecure, and had to undergo some very extensive repairs in 1825.

The immense extent of the trade of London will be apparent from the subjoined statement of the gross customs revenue of the port in the undermentioned years:

£

11,773,616. 1847

11,088,053 11,033,806 - 10,885,156

Now, as the total gross customs revenue of the United Kingdom amounted, in 1849, to 22,483,9567., it would seem from this statement that the import trade of London only equalled that of st of the kingdom! This, however, would be a most

ference. The imports into several of the other Including Liverpool, Hull, Dundee, &c., consist

principally of cotton, wool, flax, and other raw materials of our manufactures, which are mostly admitted free of duty; whereas the imports into London consist principally of articles of consumption, including tobacco, sugar, tea, coffee, wine, timber, &c., on which high duties are paid. Hence it is that the amounts of the import duties collected in different ports afford no fair criterion, or, indeed, any criterion at all, of the real extent of their import trade. In regard to exports, the articles produced in London are intended more for the home than for foreign demand, and do not constitute any very large proportion of the shipments to foreign parts. These, however, are notwithstanding very large; for, owing to the extreme facility of communication between London and the manufacturing districts, and the low rates at which goods may be lodged in the dock warehouses, London has greater facilities than any other port for the making up of mixed or assorted cargoes, and has, in consequence, a large export trade. Thus, in 1849, the declared value of the goods exported from London amounted to 11,748,833l., being, we believe, about the same as the value of the exports from Hull. But during the same year the declared value of the exports from Liverpool amounted to no less than 32,341,9187., or to nearly three times the value of the exports from London. There can, therefore, be no doubt that as respects foreign trade London is surpassed by Liverpool, and, perhaps, also, by New York. But as regards foreign and home trade taken together, London is at least equal to any other place. She may be truly said to be universi orbis terrarum emporium; and owing to her being the grand mart of all the rich, extensive, and densely-peopled districts included within the basin of the Thames, we do not think, provided the country continue to prosper, that there is any ground for apprehending any falling off in the commerce of London. It is impossible to form any accurate estimate of the total value of the produce conveyed into and from London;

but, including the home and foreign markets, we believe it will not be overrated at the prodigious sum of sixty-five millions sterling.

Some idea, however imperfect, may be formed of the extent and distribution of the trade of London from the following state

ments.

An Account of the Number and Tonnage of those ships that entered the Port of London with Cargoes from Foreign Parts, in 1848, distinguishing the Countries whence they came.

Account of the Ships entering the Port of London from 1825 to 1845, both inclusive, distinguishing between British and Foreign Ships from Foreign Parts, and Coasters.

An Account of the Number and Tonnage of Coasting Vessels that have entered the Port of London, in each Year from 1835 to 1844, both inclusive.