hospital and school with fifteen manors and other lands, to the annual value of 4,4931.; which es tate, since that period, has been greatly improved.

In this house are maintained 80 pensioners, who, according to the institution, ought to be, gentlemen, merchants, or soldiers, who have been reduced by misfortune. These are provided with handsome, apartments, and all the necessaries of life, except clothes; instead of which, each of them is allowed a cloak, and 71. per annum. Forty-four boys, also, are supported in the house, where they have good lodgings, and are instructed in classical learning, &c. Out of these, there are 29 students at the universities, who have each an allowance of 201. per annum for the term of eight years. Others are apprenticed to trades, and the sum of 40%. is given with each of them. As a farther encouragement to the scholars, there are nine ecclesiastical preferments in the patronage of the governors, who, according to the constitution of the hospital, are to confer them upon those who were educated there. The buildings are extremely irregular, and have nothing but their convenience and situation to recommend them.

Master, Rev. P. Fisher, D. D.-Schoolmaster, Rev. J. Russell, M. A.-Usher, Rev. R. Watkinson, B. D.

Private Schools.

THE number of private schools for all the various branches of male and female education, is estimated at 3780, including some for children, who are deaf and dumb.

CHAPTER IX.

GENERAL STATE OF LITERATURE AND THE ARTS IN THE METROPOLIS.

Preliminary Observations.

To give a view of the literature of the British metropolis, and to point out its present state, compared with that of any former period, would be to develop one of the most interesting traits, not only of London, but of the present age. The number and variety of works which annually issue from the metropolitan press, are truly astonishing; while in point of ability and usefulness, they were probably never exceeded. There is not a department, either in science or general literature, which has not made considerable progress within a few years. The publishing and bookselling businesses are conducted upon a very extended scale; and, in spite of a long and devastating war, a succession of new and interesting volumes is continually issuing from the press.

The character and extent of periodical literature form a prominent feature of the present age; for the number of reviews, magazines, and newspapers, and other periodical journals, far exceed those of any former period. Hence much poli

tical and general knowledge has been disseminated through the country; a spirit of inquiry and investigation has been excited, and a literary turn has been given to the higher and middle classes of society. Even mechanics and servants are now much accustomed to reading; in consequence of which we frequently hear of men of genius and talents starting up from humble stations, and displaying to the world much originality of thinking. In proof of this, it is sufficient to mention the names of Burns, Dermody, and Bloomfield, the poets; and of Drewe, the Cornish metaphysician.

Publishing Business.

NEARLY the whole business of publishing books was confined to the metropolis, till within a very few years past. But the number of books printed and published at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin, has recently been more extended than is generally imagined; and their value may, perhaps, be considered as keeping a fair proportional pace with their increased and increasing number. The Encyclopædia Britannica, and other works of nearly equal importance, might be mentioned in proof of this position; and the printing offices of Ramsay, Ballantyne, and others, may be brought into just competition with the most esteemed of the metropolitan press. Notwithstanding this concession, however, it must be confessed, that all the publications which issue from provincial offices bear

but a very inconsiderable proportion to the works which are printed and published in London.

No branch of the publishing business has increased in a more extraordinary degree, during the last ten years, than that of republishing, in weekly numbers, and in a cheap form, works of established reputation. The incalculable bene fits connected with this practice, will be duly appreciated by comprehensive and liberal minds; and especially in regard to those works which have a reference to the diffusion of religious knowledge among the lower orders of society. And we take pleasure in here noticing the very cheap and well printed edition of the "Holy Scriptures," published by the " Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," containing well selected, occasionally original, but altogether highly judicious and interesting notes, by eminent characters in the established church, and chiefly under the management of Dr. Mant and the Rev. Mr. D'Oyley. This excellent work is published at 6d. per number, and contains more letter-press, for the price, than will be found in any similar work. The plates are given in a masterly style of outline, and the maps are correctly drawn and neatly engraved. It is an important work to all heads of families.

LIST OF BOOKSELLERS AND PUBLISHERS, ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF

BUSINESS IN WHICH THEY ARE SEPARATELY ENGAGED

N.B. the names of those who engage in several different departments must necessarily appear more than once.

1.-Wholesale Booksellers and Publishers who supply the town and country trade, and execute foreign orders for books of every description. Messrs. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy; Rivingtons; Law and Whittaker; Sherwood, Neely, and Jones; Fenner.

2.-Wholesale Booksellers and Publishers, who chiefly confine themselves to their own publications. Messrs. Cadell and Davies; Murray.

3.-Wholesale Booksellers who chiefly supply the town and country Booksellers.

Messrs. Law and Whittaker, (particularly school books); Wilkie and Robinson; John Robinson; Kerby; Scholey; Hamilton; John Richardson; Scatcherd and Letterman.

4.-Retail Booksellers and Publishers.

Messrs. Rivingtons; Hatchard; J. and A. Arch; Rodwell & Martin; Black & Son; Black, Parbury, & Allen; J. J. Stockdale; Taylor and Hessey; Colburn; Carpenter; Egerton, (chiefly military books); Lackington and Co.; J. M. Richardson; Seeley; Mawman; Hunter; Ridgway; Harding; Souter; Martin; Clarke, (Bond-street); Allman; Booth; Tegg.

5.-Booksellers who chiefly sell modern publications. Messrs. Lindsell; Lloyd; Stodart; Walker; Lepard; Jennings; J. M. Richardson; Underwood; Asperne; Effingham; Wilson; Harpur; Thomas Wilson; Budd and Calkin; Clarke (Piccadilly); Highley and Son;