up, by means principally of steam-engines, from very deep wells, is collected in reservoirs, where it is sometimes saturated, or strengthened, by an admixture of crushed rock salt. It is then conveyed into large, broad, shallow pans placed over furnaces, and the water being evaporated, the salt is taken out. Different qualities of salt, such as the stoved or lump salt, common salt, large-grained flaky salt, large-grained fishery salt, &c., are produced according to the mode in which the heat is applied, and the evaporation conducted. Animal jelly, butter, and other foreign substances, are sometimes made use of to assist in clearing the brine, and in the granulation of the salt.

The coal used at the salt works at Northwich, Winsford, and other places, is obtained from the collieries in the southern part of Lancashire, near St. Helen's. The flat-bottomed boats (flats) which convey the salt from the different works to Liverpool, after discharging their cargoes, return loaded with coal; so that few channels of communication are more crowded than the Weaver.

During the 10 years ending with 1806, the average quantity of white, or manufactured salt, brought down the Weaver, amounted to 139,317 tons a year. (Holland's Cheshire, p. 321.) But the business has been since very greatly increased; so much so that, during the 3 years ending with 1834, the average annual supply of white salt, sent down the Weaver, for home consumption and exportation, amounted to 368,594 tons, exclusive of about 15,000 tons a year sent by canals into different parts of the interior, and of about 27,000 tons a year sent down the river to be used at the Gartshore and Dungeon works, on the Lancashire side of the Mersey, and at Frodsham. Of this vast quantity, Northwich furnishes about 220,000 and Winsford about 150,000 tons. -(Private Information.)

During the 10 years ending with 1806, 51,109 tons of rock salt was sent down the Weaver, being destined mostly for Ireland, and for exportation.(Holland's Cheshire, p. 317.) This department of the business has also greatly increased in the interval, though not so much as the other. The supply of rock salt at present brought down the Weaver, varies from about 90,000 to 95,000 tons a year; but as a part of it is used at the Gartshore and Dungeon works, where fine salt is prepared, it is not possible accurately to estimate the quantity exported and sent coastwise to Ireland, and other parts; but it may probably amount to from 70,000 to 80,000 tons a year.

In 1805, the manufacturers of white salt, with the proprietors of the fossil beds, and others interested in the salt trade of Cheshire, presented a memorial to Mr. Pitt, against the duty which it was understood he intended to propose on salt when exported. In it they stated, that the capital vested in salt works, rock pits, and lighters, amounted to 436,000l. over and above the capital employed in carrying on the trade; and that 2,950 individuals were engaged in the works, exclusive of those dependent on them.-(Holland's Cheshire, p. 316.) At present the trade employs about 300 flats, or lighters, measuring at an average, about 70 tons each, employing in all, inclusive of carpenters and builders, about 1,200 men. Altogether there are about 8,000 individuals directly employed in the salt trade of Cheshire; and the capital embarked in it, may be estimated at from 600,000l. to

Salt has been obtained from the brine pits at Droitwich in Worces shire, for at least, 1000 years. When dug to a proper depth, the brine ascends to the surface of the pit. A canal has been constructe from Droitwich to the Severn, navigable by vessels of 60 tons burther, which convey the salt to Gloucester, and other ports, and return laden with the coal required in the works. The quantity of white salt made at Droitwich is very inferior, as compared with that produced in Cheshire, and it does not furnish any supplies of rock salt.

Exclusive of the salt produced in Cheshire and Worcestershire, a good deal was formerly obtained by the evaporation of sea water, principally at Lymington, and other places on the Hampshire coast; but also in various other parts. But since the abolition of the duties, most of these works have been either wholly abandoned, or much reduced. Part of the rock salt shipped at Cheshire is refined at Newcastle and other places.

Consumption of Salt. The consumption of salt in this country is immense. Necker estimated the consumption in those provinces of France, which had purchased an exemption from the Gabelle (Pays francs redimées) at about 19 lbs. (Eng.) for each individual. — (Administration des Finances, tom. ii. p. 12.) From all that we have been able to learn on the subject, we believe that the consumption of the people of this country may be estimated a little higher, or at 22 lbs; the difference in our food and habits, as compared with the French, fully accounting for this increased allowance. On this supposition, and taking the population at 18,000,000, the entire consumption of Great Britain only, exclusive of Ireland, will amount to 396,000,000 lbs., or 177,000 tons.

Exclusive of this immense home consumption, we annually export from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 bushels, which, at 56 lbs. a bushel, are equivalent to about 300,000 tons. The Americans are the largest consumers of British salt; the exports to the United States, in 1833, having amounted to 3,924,386 bushels. During the same year, we exported to Holland and Belgium 1,570,825 bushels; to the British North American colonies, 1,647,171 do. ; to Russia, 1,413,052 do.; to Denmark, 1,050,748 do., &c.

The cheapness of this important necessary is not less remarkable than its diffusion. Its present cost may be estimated, at a medium, at from 14s. to 16s. a ton.

Duties on Salt. In ancient Rome salt was subject to a duty (Vectigal salinarum; see Burman, Dissertatio de Vectigalibus Pop. Rom. c. 6.); and it has been heavily taxed in most modern states. The gabelle or code of salt laws, formerly established in France, was most oppressive. From 4,000 to 5,000 persons are calculated to have been sent annually to prison and the galleys for offences connected with these laws, the severity of which had no inconsiderable share in bringing about the Revolution. —(Young's Travels in France, vol. i. p. 598.) In this country duties upon salt were imposed in the reign of William III. In 1798 they amounted to 5s. a bushel; but were subsequently increased to 15s. a bushel, or about forty times the cost of the salt! So exorbitant a duty was productive of the worst effects; and occasioned, by its magnitude, and the regulations for allowing salt, duty free, to the fisheries, a vast deal of smuggling. The opinion of the

public, and of the House of Commons, having been strongly pronounced against the tax, it was finally repealed in 1823.-(Commercial Dictionary, art. SALT.)

7. MANGANESE, a metal of considerable consequence in the arts, is found principally in Devonshire, the eastern part of Cornwall, and in Warwickshire. The quantity raised is from 3,000 to 4,000 tons a year. Zinc is obtained from the Derbyshire mines; but Flintshire and the Isle of Man furnish ores of the best quality. It is produced, but in very small quantities, in England, the metal being imported in great abundance and at a very cheap rate from Silesia.

8. QUARRIES (STONE). — The quarries of England are not of any great value or importance; and, in consequence, the greater number of buildings in most parts of the country are constructed of brick. The principal quarries are situated in the Isle of Portland, and in the neighbourhood of Bath. The former, which are the most important, have supplied the stone used in the construction of St. Paul's, and most other public buildings in London. The annual produce of the Portland quarries may at present be estimated at about 18,000 tons. The best blocks bring from 18s. to 22s. a ton, and the inferior from 6s. to 8s. The quarries are wrought partly by owners and partly by lessees, who pay the proprietors at the rate of 1s. 6d. a ton on the superior stones, and of 11d. on the coarse or inferior. In all, about 300 men and boys are employed in the quarries.-(Private information.)

The quarries of Gateshead Fell, near Newcastle, furnish the grindstones known in all parts of the world by the name of "Newcastle grindstones," from the port of shipment.

There are some very excellent quarries in Scotland. That of Craigleith, near Edinburgh, Cullalo, in Fife, and some others, are amongst the most celebrated. The beauty of the houses in the new town of Edinburgh attest the excellence of the quarry (Craigleith) which furnishes the stone of which they are built. Large quantities of granite are shipped from Aberdeen for London, where it is employed in paving the streets. The docks at Liverpool are partly constructed of granite brought from Kirkcudbrightshire.

Quarries (Slate). The principal slate quarries in Great Britain are in Caernarvonshire. Those belonging to Mr. Pennant (formerly Lord Penrhyn's), near Bangor, are the most extensive and valuable. They furnish employment for about 1500 men and boys. The other slate quarries in Caernarvonshire and North Wales generally employ about 1820 men and boys. There are also extensive quarries in different parts of South Wales, at Ulverstone in Lancashire, &c.

The principal slate quarries of Scotland are in the island of Easdale and at Balachulish in Argyleshire. Speaking generally, they do not furnish slates of the size and smoothness of those obtained from the Welsh quarries.

9. LIME.Limestone is very widely diffused over Great Britain and Ireland; and being, when calcined, used largely both in the building of houses and as a manure, its consumption must be immense. There are not, however, any means of accurately estimating its amount. 10. FULLER'S EARTH. This is a species of clay used in the

woollen manufacture, being once deemed of so much importance that its exportation was prohibited under a heavy penalty. At present, however, it is not employed to nearly the same extent as formerly, many of the clothiers using soap in preference to it. Malcolm, in his Survey of Surrey, published in 1809, says, that he was at considerable pains in endeavouring to ascertain the consumption of Fuller's earth, and that he found it to amount to about 6,300 tons a year for the whole kingdom, of which about 4,000 tons a year were furnished by Surrey.

11. BRICKS AND TILES.-These, though manufactured articles, may perhaps, be more properly noticed here than in any other place. By far the greater number of houses in London, and other English towns, as well as in most country districts, are built of brick, so that the consumption is immense. Tiles, also, though inferior to slates as a roof, are used in large quantities; and they are now, also, largely consumed in draining. Owing to the general use of stone in buildings in Scotland, the consumption of bricks in that part of the empire is comparatively limited.

Both tiles and bricks have been subjected to an excise duty; that on tiles was, however, repealed in 1833. But the duty on bricks is still continued. It produces from 450,000l. to 480,000l. a year. Sound policy would suggest its repeal; for no duty being laid on stone, the use of bricks is unfairly limited, and an injury done to those engaged in their manufacture. We subjoin a

RETURN of the Number of Bricks upon which Duty has been paid, between 5th
January, 1836, and 5th January, 1838, in England and Scotland; with the
Amount of Duty paid thereon :-

Sir Charles Lemon has subjoined to his valuable Paper, in the Statistical Journal, on the Copper Mines of Cornwall, the following estimate of the value of the minerals annually produced in Great Britain. It differs in some respects from the previous statements, but in general it agrees pretty closely with them:

Estimate of the Mineral Produce of Great Britain, on an Average of Years and

Prices.

Subjoined is an account of the &c. in 1814-1815 as ascertained The increase in the interval

Profits of Mines, Iron Works, &c. produce of quarries, mines, iron works, by the Property-Tax Commissioners. has, however, been very great; and, on the whole, we should think that the under-mentioned sums may be safely increased fully 50 per cent. to get the total profit at present.

Account of the Profits of Mines, Quarries, and Iron Works, as assessed by the Property-Tax Commissioners in 1814 and 1815.

THE supply of fish in the seas round Britain is most abundant, or rather quite inexhaustable. "The coasts of Great Britain," says Sir John Burroughs, "do yield such a continued sea harvest of gain and benefit to all those that with diligence doe labour in the same, that no time or season of the year passeth away without some apparent means of profitable employment, especially to such as apply themselves to fishing; which from the beginning of the year unto the latter end, continueth upon some part or other upon our coastes; and these, in such infinite shoales and multitudes of fishes, are offered to the takers, as may justly move admiration, not only to strangers, but to those that daily are employed amongst them."- "That this harvest," says Sir John Barrow, "ripe for gathering at all seasons of the year, without the labour of tillage, without the expense of seed or manure, without the payment of rent or taxes, is inexhaustable, the extraordinary fecundity of the most valuable kinds of fish would alone afford abundant proof. To enumerate the thousands and even millions of eggs which are impregnated in the herring, the cod, the ling, and, indeed, in almost the whole of the esculent fishes, would give but an inadequate idea of the prodigious multitudes in which they flock to our shores the shoals themselves must be seen, in order to convey to the mind any just idea of their aggregate mass." — (Ency. Britannica, vol. ix. p. 590. new ed.)

This abundance of fish, coupled with the predilection of a large portion of the population for a maritime life, would naturally make one anticipate that the fisheries would be prosecuted on a very large scale, and be in a very flourishing state; but such is not really the case: except in London, and a few seaport towns, the consumption of fish is not great. It is found, to be, on the whole, rather more expensive than most other sorts of food. And hence, notwithstanding all the efforts that have been made, by bounties and otherwise, to sti