this science, that the student should be supplied with actual and living specimens. The imperfections of language to give an adequate idea of any vegetable production must be generally admitted; and the most beautiful and accurate drawings fall infinitely short of that delicacy and minuteness of parts on which its scientific distinctions essentially depend. Even the plants themselves, when collected and attempted to be preserved, are deprived of so many peculiarities incident to their habit and growth, that it is only from living plants that we can flatter ourselves with the hope of obtaining those substantial distinctions which are necessary to discriminate these numerous productions, or of extending the science itself.

"Without public institutions for the purpose of preserving such plants as are imported into the country, and in the acquisition of which so many men of great learning and talents have devoted themselves to long and dangerous voyages and expeditions, there is every reason to believe that considerable numbers will be lost to us.

"The great repositories are at present those of nurserymen in the vicinity of London; but when profit is the chief object, it is to be feared those plants alone will be propagated which will best re-pay the attention of the cultivator. Many scientific and opulent individuals, in different parts of the kingdom, have contributed not only

to encourage this study by their wealth, but to extend it by their talents; yet the taste of an individual may be supposed to attach to some favourite class of productions; and at all events, a private collection cannot be expected, either in copiousness or permanency, to contend with a public institution, which is calculated to comprehend every known vegetable production, and to preserve them for a continued series of years, which, in many instances, is indispensably necessary to their perfection."

The excellence of these remarks we deem a sufficient apology for having made so copious a quotation. We are informed that a piece of ground near to Edge-lane has lately been purchased, whither it is intended shortly to remove the present establishment, owing to its becoming so much surrounded by buildings.

ST. JAMES'S WALK.

This public promenade, commonly called the Mount, is situate on the south side of the upper part of Duke-street. The mayor of this town in the year 1767 employed the poor people in its construction. The elevated spot on which it stands affords an extensive view of the town, and particularly of the opposite part of Cheshire, and the Welsh mountains. Adjoining there is a shrubbery, which is neatly laid out with serpentine walks, and is kept in excellent order.

THE FLOATING BATH.

This is a great public accommodation, provided at the sole expense and risk of the proprietor, Mr. Thomas Coglan, and is said to be the largest establishment known of the kind. It is constructed similarly to the hull of a vessel, and is buoyed up by air-tight chambers. The water being admitted through an iron trellis, and escaping through a corresponding one at the opposite end, is perpetually changing with the current in the river. The extreme length of the vessel upon the deck is 82 feet, the width 34 feet, and the dimensions of the bath are 80 feet by 27 feet. The bottom is an inclined plane, and gradually varies in depth from 34 feet at the shallow end, to 6 feet at the deeper end. No bath could be better adapted for learning the art of swimming than this is, which has all the advantages of a running and sufficiently deep stream, without the slightest danger. Around the bath are gangways, which communicate with numerous neat and convenient dressing-rooms; and for the purposes of private bathing a screen is placed in front of a portion of the dressing-rooms, so that individuals may descend into the water unobserved. Besides this there is a small private bath, and those gentlemen who prefer swimming in the river are allowed to go through the door on the side of the vessel which may happen to be opposite to the Cheshire coast. There are

two spacious cabins, one at the stern, and the other in the middle, regularly supplied with newspapers. A variety of excellent refreshments may at all times be had here. The upper deck, which is surrounded with rails, and commodiously furnished with seats and tables, affords a most pleasing and ever-varying prospect.

During the summer the bath is usually moored opposite to the Prince's Parade, and in the winter is stationed in Wallasey pool. It was launched on the 11th of June, 1816.

STEAM NAVIGATION.

It was in the month of July, 1815, that the first steam vessel employed on the river Mersey arrived here, and compared with the present splendid and swift sailing steam packets, was truly a very inferior production. The expeditious and regular communication occasioned by steam navigation has conduced much to the influx of strangers and the transacting of business, for ordinarily a person may leave Liverpool in the evening and be seated at breakfast the following morning in Dublin; and a similar facility of transit at present exists to most of the principal towns and cities on the coasts of Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Distances that formerly required a voyage of six

or seven days, are now passed over in little more than so many hours; and if we compare the amount of business at the present time carried on in this port with that of any former period, we shall perceive that the consequent increase of trade is at least commensurate with the means of conveyance.

But the advantages arising from this improvement are most strikingly demonstrated by that class of steam vessels, which from morning to night are unceasingly passing from the piers on this side to the opposite part of Cheshire, by means of which thousands of persons are daily going to and fro, with nearly the same ease and certainty as if a bridge were thrown across. Hence have arisen in the hundred of Wirrall,

within a very short space of time, numerous habi

tations, and many of them elegant, besides several manufactories, that otherwise would in all probability have never been called into existence.

Every day, from an early hour in the morning until dusk in the evening, numerous steam boats are constantly sailing between the several parades on this side the river, and the following ferries in Cheshire, viz. Tranmere, Birkenhead, Woodside, Seacombe, and Egremont.

INLAND NAVIGATION.

This town is scarcely less indebted to inland