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ticed, making a total of 700,000, to which may be added the weekly proportion of the magazines which are published monthly. The number of Sheets thus used appears, from the accounts which we have been able to collect, to be about 280,000 monthly, which would be 70,000 weekly: this added to 700,900, would make a total of 770,000 weekly, or 40,040, 000 annually, without reference to books, pamphlets, or any productions not stiretly periodical. This number reduced into reams, would make 80, 080, which, at an average of thirty shillings per ream, would be £120, 920 expended for paper, annually; to which may be added, at least £100, 000 for the expenses of editing and printing. Our sum total of expendi tare by the periodical press, annually, will, therefore, be as follows:

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expended annually by the periodical press, exclusive of the duty paid to government, as duty upon advertisements. If we carry the statement further, by way of curiosity, we shall find that the number of sheets printed upon annually, in this kingdom, in periodical works, would, if laid together, cover a space of nearly 19,000 niles, taking the average size of the sheet at about two feet and a half. From all that we have stated, it will readily be conceived, that the present improved state of society, and perfection which we witness in the various departments of life, are entirely to be ascribed to the mighty engine-the press. It must, of course, strike every one with wonder that so immense a number of periodical works should be published, when the population is considered; but as there is no such thing as setting up an opinion with success, agaiust a fact, we can only observe, that our calculation proves

at least, that we live in a reading and a thinking country.

LONDON TOPOGRAPHER.

NO. VIII.

BLACK BOY AND CAMEL, in Leadenhall Street. This tavern, situated up a narrow passage, a few yards westward of the East-India House, is one of the oldest in London, and is said to be one of the places where Guy Fawkes and his associates assembled to concert means for carrying the Powder-Plot into effect.

GUNPOWDER PLOT.-The house in which Lord Monteagle resided at the time of his receiving the letter respecting the Gunpowder-Plot in the year 1605, is yet, in part, standing. It is situated in Monteagle Close, in the Borough, and is occupied by a cooper, who has converted what ground remains attached to it, to the purpose of his business.

COCK LANE.-The house in this lane, rendered famous by the visits of the ghost, is (or lately was) inhabited by a plaster-figure-maker.

LONG STREETS.-The longest streets in London without coach-turnings, are Sackville Street, Piccadilly, and Bedford Place, Russell Square.

BROARD STREETS.--Though the southern end of George Street, Hanover Square, is rather narrow, the nortern end is wider than Portland Place.

PRINCES SQUARE, between Little Queen Street, Holborn, and Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, contains one house only.

BANK STREET, CORNHILL, though one of the greatest thoroughfares in the world, has but two doors that open into it; and Engine Street, Piccadilly, has but one.

HIGH HOUSE.-The house which consists of more Stories than any other in London, is in Cheapside, next to Bow Church.

BRIDGE WARD. Though an alderman is returned for the Ward of "Bridge Without," the Ward does not contain a single inhabitant, and therefore I am at a loss to know by whom he is chosen. The cause is, that in former days the electors consisted of the inhabitants of houses standing on London Bridge, all of which have long since been pulled down.

DECREASE OF POPULATION.-From the circumstance just noticed, and various other concurring causes, that part of London called the City contains fewer inhabitants now (1825) than it did in 1700. The fondness of the citizens for country boxes is the principal of these. I was looking the other day at a plan of London, as proposed by Sir C. Wren to be rebuilt after the great fire, some comments subjoined to which, after deploring its rejection, observed, "If the City had been built in this magnificent and useful form, would the merchants and other great tradesmen move out so frequently as they do to other parts of the town, more commodious and healthy, which in time must render the City little better

than a warehouse ?"

LONDON BRIDGE." The London Chronicle," of August 16, 1760, says, "In pulling down the house, called the Chapel-house, on London Bridge, there has been found this week a very antique marble font, &c. &c. The stones used in the building of this structure, were so strongly cemented with different kinds of mortar, and strong iron clamps, that the workmen have found a most difficult task in

the demolition of it, which is not yet completed."

KING'S ARMS, FENCHURCH STREET.

The following extract from Hughson's London may induce some of my readers to take a dinner at the above tavern- -as I did the other day, when I found things remaining just as described, and got clear off for Is. 6d.

"The Princess Elizabeth, after her

imprisonment in the Tower, on the day she was released, entered the first church she found open which was Allhallows Staining. She then went, with her attendants, to the house (then and now) called The King's Arms Fenchurch Street, No. 53, where she dined on pork and pease pudding. The dish and cover, of a mixed metal, yet hang over the fire place, and a portrait of the Queen, copied from a painting by Hans Helbein. The event is celebrated by an annual dinner, on the 17th of Nov., her birth day, which has been selected, because the real day is lost"*.

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COALS.-In 1823 a Committee was appointed by the Common Council of London, to inquire into the cause of the high price of Coals. From their Report (which was presented in January 1824) it appeared that in 1800 one million chaldrons, Winchester measure (i.e. 36 bushels) were brought into the Port of London, while in the following years the quantity decreased. A member, however, asserted that 100,000 chaldrons more were brought in 1823 than in 1822.

ROADS.-The, summit of the hill ou the Highgate Archway road, is 338 feet above Trinity High-water Mark, at Blackfriars Bridge." (First Report of 1824.) the Holyhead Road Commissioners,

VALUE OF HOUSES.--In May 1824 a mansion at Leeds, which had previ

Nicholls, in his " Progresses," says she came out of the Tower in May.

ously been the residence of the PostMaster, was pulled down, and sold, when the materials produced more, than the house had cost in building, 120 years before.

THE HOUR GLASS, OR THE TOMв OF ALCIPPUS.-Among the poems of the Amalthei, three poetical brothers, in the sixteenth century, and perhaps the best Latin poets and most elegant scholars of their age, there is a very pretty Epigram on the ashes of a lover, made into sand for an hourglass, which may be thus imitated :

The dust that here divides the flight of time,

And to and fro, with ceaseless motion hies,

Was once Alcippus ; in his youth's fond

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LEGAL WIT.-A barrister having taken up his quarters at an inn, with the landlord of which he was acquain ted, was consulted by the host what he should do in the case of a man who had brought an action against him, though he had in return a demand upon his creditor. The barrister desired time to consider of it, as he said it was a nice case, and would give his opinion in the morning. When day broke, he mounted his house; and, without troubling the landlord for his bill, left the following solution :-" I am of opinion, that the best thing you can do, is to follow my example-make a set off."

CLAIMING ACQUAINTANCE.-A'gentle'man boasting, in company that he always arose at four o'clock, a wag replied, "I am sorry to hear you claim an acquaintance with the gallows." (gallus.*)

P. P.

*The Latin word for a Cock.

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A SIMILE.

"Why can," quoth Grig,
"Yon little pig,

"With tail in curly trim,

"A likeness boast "To Hamlet's ghost, "So ghastly and so grim?"

"Zooks!" cried Tom Dodd, "Your question's odd; ""Twould sages pose of old." "Why, 'cause," quoth Grig, "You silly prig, "It could A TAIL UNFOLD."

-

MEMENTO MORI -The following appropriate inscription is affixed to the window of an Undertaker's shop in the vicinity of Golden Square

66

Lodgings for Single Gentlemen."

QUIBBLE. A deserter, lately brought up handcuffed from Exeter, assured his brother-soldiers on his arrival, that he came by “forced marches" to join them.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received the further communications of Jenny Trapes-PriapusG. Sneyd-Larry-T. T.-and X. Y. Is there nothing we can do to express our sense of the kindness Javan has displayed towards us. Priapus won't do.

LONDON--Printed and Published by T. Wallis Camden Town; and, also Published by C. Harris, Bow Street, Covent Garden, by whom Communications for the Editor are received.

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It may be recollected that a few years ago a disturbance took place between the Americans and the Chinese, of the same nature as has two or three times occurred between the English and the Chinese, on allegation of murder, or some other charge. The complaints against the English sailors have usually been of the most vague and frivolous nature, and occasioned more by the wish of exacting money, than by any belief that the crimes had been committed. The firmness of the Company's officers has on every occasion resisted these attempts to impose, and the best results have followed; but the conduct of the Americans on the late occasion is likely, in the opinion of those best acquainted with the character of the Chinese, to threaten very serious evils to the English and other Europeans at a future time. We have seen several accounts of the transaction, but we believe the following to be the most correct account of the affair:

A seaman, a native of Italy, then acting second officer on board an American vessel, observing a woman band some samsoo (spirits) into one of the ports of the ship, threw a small stone jar at her, which struck her on one of the temples. The woman, either stunned by the blow, fell overboard and immediately sunk, or fell overboard in consequence of the pin, on which the oar was fastened, breaking on her pulling away from the ships: both accounts are given. She was found next morning at some distance from the ship, with a small

wound, as the Chinese asserted, on one of the temples, but this was stated by the Americans to have been made by the Chinese after she was found drowned. The family to which the woman belonged, threatened, next morning, to represent the alleged murder to the Chinese authorities, and to demand the murderer to be delivered up for trial; but at the same time gave them to understand, that all would be hushed up if the Americans would give them three or four' hundred dollars. This was refused, and on some of the inferior Mandarins getting notice of it, the demand was encreased to as many thousand dollars. The Americans still refusing to pay this douceur or bribe (as the unfortunate man had no money), although they were aware the affair was taking a serious turn, the Mandarins at Canton were informed of it, who immediately demanded the man for trial. All trade with the American ships in Canton river was imme diately stopped.

The Americans, at first, steadily refused to give the man up, and the Chinese came to the resolution of trying him on board his own ship, to which the Americans consented. During the mock trial, not one witness was examined for the defendant, and the Chinese also refused admittance to Dr. Morrison, who volunteered his services as interpreter at the trial. The man was of course found guilty by such a tribunal, and it was now more insisted on that he should be given up. It was likewise demanded that he should be confined in irons, which

was complied with. About a week afterwards the Americans began to waver, and at last it was agreed that he should be given up for a 2nd trial at Canton, which, it was said, would be public, and fairly conducted, with examination of witnesses for and against the prisoner.

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The man was accordingly taken out of the ship by a party of Chinese soldiers, and conveyed to Canton, where, a few days afterwards, the trial took place. During the mock trial, not an American or any person on the man's part was present. body of Captains and officers of the Hon. East-India Company's ships went to the Chinchwo or Courthouse, and demanded admittance, in order to see justice done to the unfortunate man, but they were refused it, on the plea that as the prisoner was an American, it was no affair of theirs as Englishmen.

It is understood from some of the Chinese who were present, that after a few questions put to the poor man, and the examination of two witnesses, they produced a paper, which they advised him to sign, by imprinting the mark of his open hand upon it, with red ink. They represented to him that it was merely a statement of the trial, which must be sent to Pekin for inspection, before they could proceed further, and that it was likely, on its being sent, and an answer returned, he would be immediately acquitted.

The unfortunate man, surrounded with strangers, without any other advice, and put off his guard by the fair promises of a security merchant of high rank, and two China street merchants who acted as interpreters, and who pretended to be his friends, imprinted his hand on the paper. All further proceedings were immediately stopped. It was a confession of his guilt, which was immediately forwarded to Pekin, and completely screened the Viceroy and Mandarins, in the event of any disturbance with the American Government. The poor man, still ignorant of his fate, was, taken back to prison; and, according

to the Chinese custom, his irons were taken off, and he had plenty to eat and drink. From the flattering assurances of the Chinese, and this kindness, he hoped to be liberated in a few days.

On the 4th or 5th day after the trial, about four o'clock in the morning, the security and China street merchants, who attended him on his trial, visited him, and told him that they had heard from Pekin, and that it was necessary he should go into the city, in order to hear the contents of the dispatches, not alluding in the most distant way to their purport. The unfortunate man, in high hopes of being soon liberated, cheerfully obeyed. He was taken into the heart of the city in a sedan-chair, attended by the merchants, and put into a room, where he was told he must remain a short time. Soon after, some Chinese soldiers entered and took him out at another door; and the first intimation he had of his cruel fate, was the executioner and implements of death before him, and the heads of decapitated Chinese hung round a kind of square, crowded with spectators. He uttered a yell of despair, raised his hands to Heaven, and was understood to protest his innocence, and to implore the sight of an European or American-(perhaps the priest, as he was a Roman Catholic, and had previously, when on board ship, seen the Chaplain of the Imperial frigate, then lying in Whampoa reach). The executioner paid no attention to his cries, but immediately proceeded to strangle him according to the usual horrid way directed by the Chinese law.

Ropes were first tied round his ancles and wrists, and then gradually round the more vital and sensible parts; and finally round the neck, until he expired by a languishing and cruel death. His body was next day given up to the Americans, who buried him on Dane's island.

The something worse than indiferent conduct of the American Consul and captains of the 30 ships then in the river, was considered highly

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