of age, will be admitted. No money is to be given to the attendants or servants. The reading-room of the Museum is open from ten till four every day, except on Saturdays and Sundays, and for one week at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide; also on thanksgiving and fast days. Persons desirous of admission, are to send in their applications in writing (specifying their Christian and surnames, rank or profession, and places of abode) to the principal librarian, with a recommendation from some persons of known and approved character. Permissions are in general granted by the trustees for three, and none for a longer term than six months: and at the expiration of each term, fresh application is to be made for a renewal. Miss Linwood's Exhibition of Needle Work, THIS exhibition reflects so high an honour on the female talent of the British nation, that a stranger's visit to the metropolis will, assuredly, be incomplete, till he has paid due homage to this interesting display of ingenuity and taste. It consists of copies in needlework of some of the best English and foreign pictures, and cannot fail to excite the liveliest emotions of delight in every breast, which is calculated, to receive pleasure from the finest specimens of the arts. These inimitable works of art are arranged with great judgment and taste, in rooms elegantly fitted up for the purpose, and with every appropriate advantage for their display. General Exhibitions, connected with the intellectual Improvement of the Metropolis. 1. The London Museum, in Piccadilly, the property of Mr. Bullock, who has devoted many years, much exertion, and a great expense, in collecting and arranging the most comprehensive and interesting assemblage of natural and artificial curiosities, that was ever before amassed in England, or perhaps in Europe. The preserved specimens in natural history are select, in the highest preservation, and arranged according to the Linnæan system. They consist of about 15,000 quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, corals, &c. One department of the Museum is peculiarly curious and interesting it is called the Pantherion; in which most of the known animals, in a preserved state, and in natural attitudes, are exhibited as ranging in their native, or appropriate haunts; exact models of exotic plants, rocks, and trees, are dispersed over the apartment. The whole interior of the scene is painted in a panoramic manner, representative of oriental scenery. and 2. Polito's Museum, Exeter 'Change, Strand, containing a choice collection of living beasts and birds, which to students and lovers of natural history cannot fail to be highly interesting. 3. Dubourg's Museum, in Grosvenor Street, for cork models of several temples and ancient buildings in Rome. 4. Barker's Panorama, Leicester Square, represents in circular views, on a large scale, cities, towns, battles, sieges, &c. in so attractive a form, as to entitle him not only to the enjoyment of affluence as the reward of his talents, but to the cordial thanks of the passing generation. To him the public are indebted for the invention of panoramic views. 5. At Wigley's Rooms, Spring Gardens, various, and generally very attractive exhibitions in mechanics, &c. solicit the attention of the inquisitive stranger. But as they are seldom stationary for any length of time, no account can be given on which the reader could depend. 222 CHAPTER X. COMMERCE AND PORT OF LONDON, MANUFAC TURES, GENERAL TRADE, MARKETS, &c. &c. Compressed History of the Commerce of London. LONDON is universally acknowledged to be the first commercial as well as the first manufacturing city in the world. It was, doubtless, a place of considerable trade at a very early period. Tacitus speaks of it as the "nobile emporium" of his time, the great resort of merchants, and, though not a colony at that period, yet as a city celebrated for its commercial intercourse. After this, little is known of its trade until the close of the second century of the Christian era, when it is again mentioned as having become "a great and wealthy city." In the year 359, it is said of England, that its commerce was so extended, that 800 vessels were employed in the port of London for the exportation of corn only. Three centuries after, Bede styles it " an emporium for many nations repairing to it by land and sea." Fitz-Stephen, who lived in the reign of Henry II., says, no city in the world exports its merchandise to such a distance as London." He does not, however, inform us what goods were exported, or to what countries they were carried. But that among the imports, he mentions gold, spices, and frankincense, from Arabia; precious stones from India, and palm oil from Bagdad. Thus it appears, that even in the infancy of European commerce, and at a time when ignorance and barbarism clouded almost every portion of the. world, this city had made no inconsiderable progress towards its present celebrity and importance. The close of the 13th century was a remarkable era in the commercial history of London. In the year 1296, the company of Merchant Adventurers was first incorporated by Edward I. The Hanse merchants also received considerable privileges about the same time. In the year 1504, all the ancient privileges of the Hanse merchants were confirmed to them by statute; and all the previous acts, which had been made in derogation of them, were annulled. In 1553, a great geographical and mercantile discovery was made by a company, instituted for the purpose of prosecuting discoveries, under the direction of Sebastian Cabot, a merchant of Bristol. One of the ships fitted out by this company accidentally fell into the bay of St. Nicholas, in the White Sea, and landing at Archangel, obtained from the czar of Russia peculiar privileges of trade with the subjects of his dominions. The Russia or Museovy merchants were incorporated in the reign of Mary, and had their charter subsequently confirmed in the 8th year of Elizabeth. This princess likewise obtained an exclusive grant to the English of the whole |