number, quality, and price of books. Hence we learn, that, in 1853, there were three times as many books published as in 1828; that the comparative increase in the number of volumes was not so great, showing that of the new books more single volumes were published; that the total cost of one set of the new publications had increased by more than one-half of the former cost; that the average price of each new work had been reduced nearly one-half; and that the average price per volume had fallen about 5s. below the price of 1828. A further analysis of this Annual List shows that, of the 2530 books published in 1853, only 287 were published at a guinea and upwards; and that of these only 206 were books of general information; while 28 were lawbooks, and 53 of the well-accustomed dear class of guineaand-a-half novels. Decidedly the Quarto Dynasty had died out.

As a supplement to the "London Catalogue, 1816-1851," there is published a "Classified Index." Through this we are enabled to estimate in round numbers the sort of books which the people were buying, or reading, or neglecting, in these 36 years. We find that they were invited to purchase in the following proportion of classes :—

CHAPTER X.

HAT division of each decennial Census which relates to the Occupations of the People, has always appeared to me the most complete as well as minute exhibition of their social condition which is to be found in any statistical document bearing upon national progress, whether domestic or foreign. My curiosity has often been excited to know more than I could find in these significant figures; to see something of the inner life of masses of the population, whether large or small, of whose characters and habits we know little or nothing. There are many handicrafts, for example, which are found only in particular localities and nowhere else. Thus at Christchurch in Hampshire, the minute steel chains for the interior of watches are made by women. The links and rivets are furnished from Sheffield and Birmingham. Look at the little chain in your watch which you wind up every night; you can hardly see the rivets, and yet, as I am assured, these female artisans of Christchurch rarely wear glasses. It would be worth a visit to this town, not only to look upon its noble church, but to see how the patient diligence of the watch-chain makers can attain to perfection in a branch of industry which demands the most exquisite nicety of manipulation. How many of the curious operations of handicraft I should desire to examine

if "stealing age" had not " caught me in his clutch. " The interesting description by M. Audiganne, in a recent number of the "Revue des Deux Mondes," might once have induced me to make a trip to the Jura Mountains to look at the domestic manufacture of turnery, known as articles of Saint Claude, which has existed for centuries. Here the snuff-boxes which once employed the labour of the district have given place to the briar-root pipes.. England is the greatest importer of these pipes, next to the United States. Do many of our youths who display their genuine briar-root on the top of an omnibus, know where these pipes are made; or con-sider that when they paid five shillings for a warranted article, the cottager who is producing it sits. for twelve hours a day at his lathe, turning out dozens for the reward of two or three francs?

The official Report on the Census of 1851 had told me that "straw-plait, lace, and shoes, employ the people in the South Midland Counties." These non-factory employments had commanded little attention from. statists and tourists; but it appeared to me that there must be some points of interest connected with them, especially in calling forth a large amount of female industry. I wanted in 1860 relaxation from my habitual pursuits, and I sought it in a little tour of twelve days. By a regulated activity, uniting the speed of the railway with the moderate pace of the wheeled-carriage and the occasional walk, I was enabled to obtain some acquaintance with the Strawplait manufacture, as carried on at St. Alban's, at Luton, at Dunstable; with the Boot and Shoe-trade, as pursued in Northamptonshire, and at Cookham ;. with the Pillow-lace handicraft, in its organized

industry round Bedford and Northampton, spreading through the Valley of the Ouse, and long seated on the banks of the Thames. I also saw, what were in some respects to me more novel, the Wooden-Ware and Chair-making trades, employing some thousands of the people amidst towns and villages of Buckinghamshire, which lie between the hills crowned with the beech-woods from which the county derives its name. I had that real holiday, in which body and mind are employed without exhaustion in a constant change of scene, and of varied observation.

On a bright frosty morning in the middle of October, the North-Western Railway bore me in an hour and a quarter to St. Alban's. Time, and the changes of society, cannot obliterate the noble associations of this famous spot. To this place, suggesting thoughts of memorable persons and events, I came to inquire into the occupations and habits of a new population of straw-plaiters and bonnet-makers, who, after the lapse of three hundred and fifty years, have succeeded to those who received their dole at the great Abbey gates. These new comers have settled here within a very recent period, and by their industry have restored some life to the thoroughfare which railways had rendered a deserted street of shut-up inns. And yet, unpoetical and humble as such an inquiry may seem, it is perhaps more important to the interests of the country that a large female population, profitably employed, should present the example of a virtuous and happy community, than that the Abbey should become a cathedral, and a new bishop here hold his seat, as some desire. I should rejoice to see the grand old pile restored in a worthy manner; but I should more rejoice to know