1. An Account of the Quantity of the different Sorts of Beer made in England and Wales, in each Year from 1787 to 1825, both inclusive, the Rate of Duty, and the total Produce of the Duties (English Ale Gallons).

II. An Account of the Quantity of all the different Sorts of Beer, stated in Barrels, made in each Year, from 5th of January 1825 to 5th of January 1830, the Rates of Duty per Barrel in each Year, and Total Amount thereof in each Year in England and Scotland.-(Pari. Paper, No. 190. Sess. 1830.)

N. B. The duty on beer being repealed in 1830, there are no later accounts of the quantity brewed.

The stationary consumption of malt and beer during the greater part of last century is, most probably, in great part ascribable to the introduction and rapid diffusion of a taste for tea and coffee, and to the consequent change that was effected in the mode of living of the middle and upper classes. No doubt, however, the oppressive duties with which malt and beer were loaded in the latter part of last century aud down to 1830 narrowed their consumption in an extraordinary degree. After various previous additions the duty on malt was raised in 1804 to 4s. 5d. per bushel, or 35s. 10d. a quarter, the beer dutles being then also raised to 10s. per barrel (old measure); and as a quarter of malt produced about three or three and a half barrels of beer, it follows that the duty on malt used in breweries really amounted at that period to from 658. 10d. to 70s. 10d. a quarter, making the duty on strong beer, exclusive of that on hops, about 20s. a barrel. The duty on malt continued at this exorbitant rate till 1816; and to show its influence it is only necessary to state that during the 12 years ending with 1816 the consumption of malt amounted to no more than 23,197,754 bushels a year, being, notwithstanding the vast increase of wealth and population in the interval, less than it had been a century previously, the consumption having amounted to 24,191,304

*The ale gallon contains 282 cubic inches, and the Imperial gallon 2773: the latter being 1-60th part less than the former.

bushels a year during the 12 years ending with 1720! - (See art. MALT.) The duties had, in fact, been completely overdone; and besides hindering the consumption of malt and malt liquors, they had the mischievous effect of vitiating the public taste and stimulating the consumption of ardent spirits, especially of those made from raw grain. In 1816, however, the duty on malt was reduced to 28, 5d. a bushel, and since 1823 it has amounted to 28. 7d. a bushel, or 20s. 8d. a quarter; and the beer duty having been abolished in 1830, this has been the only duty with which mait liquor has since been affected. And though we are unable, from the want of subsequent returns, to state how much the consumption of beer has increased since 1830, the increase in the consumption of malt shows that it must be very considerable. We subjoin

An Account of the Quantities of Malt brewed by the Twelve principal London Porter and Ale Brewers, during the 5 Years ending with October 1842 (from Slater's Brewers' Malt List).

The duties on beer were even more indefensible from the mode in which they were charged than from their amount. They affected only that description of beer which was brewed for sale; and as all the higher classes brewed their own beer, the duty fell only on the lower and middle ranks of the community, and particularly the former. It is singular that a tax so grossly unequal and oppressive should have been so long submitted to.

But besides the obstacles to the consumption of beer arising from the oppressive duties with which it was burdened, the system formerly in force for granting licences for its sale opposed obstacles that were hardly less formidable. Previously to 1830 no one could open a house for the sale of beer without first obtaining a licence renewable annually from the magistrates; and as these functionaries were accustomed only to grant licences to the occupiers of particular houses, the brewers naturally endeavoured, in order to ensure the sale of their beer, either to buy up those houses or to lend money upon them and in many extensive districts a few large capitalists succeeded in engrosssing most of the public houses, so that even the appearance of competition was destroyed, and a ready market and good prices secured for the very worst beer. We, therefore, look upon the abolition of the beer duties, and the granting of leave to all persons to retail beer on their taking out proper licences, as highly advantageous measures. The conditions under which such licenses are taken out, and the sale of beer conducted, are fixed by the acts 1 Will. 4. c. 64. and the 4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 85. Under the former the commissioners of excise, or other persons duly authorised, were bound to grant licences, costing 21. 28. a year, to all persons not excepted in the act, empowering them to sell ale, beer, porter, cider, &c. to be drunk indifferently either on or off the premises. But in consequence of the complaints (whether well or ill founded it is now needless to inquire) of the increase and bad character of beer shops the act 4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 85. makes the obtaining of a licence to retail beer to be drunk on the premises contingent on the applicant being able to produce a certificate of good character, subscribed by certain persons rated at a certain amount to the poor; it also raised the cost of such licence to 31. 3s., and reduced the cost of a licence to sell beer not to be drunk on the premises to 17. 18. We subjoin an abstract of the acts

Persons applying for a Licence to sell Beer to be drunk on the Premises, to deposit a Certificate of good Character, &c. — Every person applying for a licence to sell beer or cider by retail, to be drunk in the house or on the premises, shall annually produce to and deposit with the commissioners of excise, collector, or other person authorised to grant such licence within the parish or place in which the person applying intends to sell beer or cider by retail, a certificate signed by 6 persons residing in and being and describing themselves to be inhabitants of such parish, place, &c., and respectively rated therein to the poor at not less than 6l., or occupying a house therein rated to the poor at not less than 61., none of whom shall be maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors or beer or cider by retail, nor owners or proprietors of any houses licensed to sell liquors, beer, or cider by retail, stating that the person applying for the licence is of good character; and at the foot of such certificate one of the overseers of the parish, township, or place shall certify (of the fact be so) that such 6 persons are inhabitants respectively rated as aforesaid; and such certificate shall respectively be in the form of the schedule annexed to this act: provided always, that in any parish, township, or district maintaining its own poor, in which there are not 10 inhabitants rated to their relief to the amount of 6. each, or not occupying houses respectively rated to the poor at 6. each (not being maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors or beer or cider by retail), the certificate of the majority of the inhabitants of such parish, township, or district maintaining its own poor, as are rated to the amount of 61. each, shall be deemed to be a sufficient certificate for the purposes of this act.-4 & 5 WEI. 4. $2.

Penalty on Overseers. — Any overseer who shall, without due cause, refuse to certify that the persons who have signed the certificate are respectively rated to the poor's rate as aforesaid, to forfeit not more than 5. § 3.

Beer drunk in Sheds. - Any persons licensed under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 61, to sell beer, cider, &c. not to be consumed on the premises, who shall employ, permit, or suffer any person or persons to take or carry any beer, &c. from his house or premises, to be drunk or consumed for his benefit or profit, in any other house, tent, shed, &c. belonging to, or hired, used, or occupied by such licensed person, such beer, &c. shalt be held to have been consumed on the premises, and the person selling the same shati be subject to the like forfeitures and penalties as if it had been actually drunk or consumed in a house or upon premises licensed only for the sale thereof. 64.

Billetting Provisions for billetting soldiers under mutiny acts to extend only to those licensed to sell beer or cider to be drunk in the house or on the premises, and not to extend to those licensed to sell beer not to be consumed on the premises. - § 5. Justices to regulate the Opening and Closing of Houses. — Justices in petty sessions are authorised to fix the hours at which houses and premises licensed to sell beer under this act shall be opened and closed; but any person thinking himself aggrieved by any such order may appeal at any time, within 4 months from its date, to the justices in quarter sessions, on giving the jus

tices making the order 14 days' notice of his intention; and the decision of the justices in quarter sessions shall be final: pro. vided, however, that the hour to be fixed for opening any house shall not in any case be earlier than 5 o'clock in the morning, nor for closing the same later than 11 o'clock at night, or before 1 o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving; and the hours so fixed by the justices, with reference to the districts within their jurisdictions, hdi be taken to be the hours to be observed and comphed with under this act as fully as if the same had been specially appointed by it. — § 6.

Constables, &c. to visit licensed Houses. — All constables and officers of police are authorised to enter into all houses licensed to sell heer or spirituous liquors to be consumed upon the premises whenever they shall think proper: and if any person licensed as aforesaid, or any servant or person in his employ or by his direction, shall refuse to admit such constables, &c. into such house or premises, the person having the licence shall for the first offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding 5., together with the ents of conviction, to be recovered within 20 days before 1 or more justices; and it shall be lawful for any 2 or more justices, apon any person being convicted of such offence for the second time, to adjudge (if they think fit) that such offender be disquali fied from selling beer, ale, porter, cider, or perry, by retail, for 2 years after such conviction, or for such shorter space as they may think proper. - §7.

Penalty for making or using false Certificates. Persons certifying any matter having reference to this act as true, who know the same to be false, or using any certificate, knowing the same to be forged, shal', on conviction of such offence before 2 or more justices, forfeit and pay the sum of 21.; and every licence granted to any person making use of any certicate to obtain the same, such person knowing such certificate to be forged, or the matters certified therein to be false, shall be void to all intents and purposes; and any person using such certificate shall be disqualified for from obtaining a licence to sell beer or cider by retail. $8.

No Licence to be granted without a Certificate. — No licence for the sale of beer or rider by retail to be consumed or drunk in the house or on the premises shall be granted, except upon the certificate hereby required provided, that in all extra parochial places the certificate required by this act may be signed and given by inhabitants rated to the poor at 64. in any adjoining parish or parishes. — § 9.

Retailers to produce their Licences on Requisition of 2 Magistrates. In case any complaint be laid before 2 justices against any licensed person for an offence against the tenor of his licence, or against this act or the act 1 Wili. 4. c. 64., the said justices may require such person to produce his li ence before them for their examination, and if he wilfully neglect or refuse so to do, he shal forfeit for such offence any sum, not exceeding 57, the said justices shall think proper; and such person may be convicted, proceeded against, and dealt with for such cffence in the same manner, mututis mutandis, as is directed by the act 1 Will. 4. e. 64. with regard to persons guilty of a first offence against said act; and the penalty imposed for such offence is to be applied In the manner that a penalty for first offence against said act is directed to be applied. - § 10. Continuance of Powers, &c. The powers, provi ions, and penalties of 1 Will. 4. c. 64. to apply to persons licensed under this

act, and to their sureties, &c. - § 11.

Duties on Beer Licences. There shall be paid upon the licences hereby authorised to be granted the duties following; viz. For and upon every licence to be taken out by any person for For and upon every licence to be taken out by any person for the sale of beer hy retail, not to be drunk or consumed in or the sale of beer by retail, to be drunk or consumed in or upon the house or premises where sold, the annual sum of upon the house or premises where sold, the annual sum of Jl. 1. 31. 3. § 13.

The duties to be under the management of commissioners of excise, and to be recovered and accounted for under the provi sions of the act 1 Will. 1. c. 64. $14.

Nt to affect Duty on Licences to retail Cider and Perry. Nothing in this act shall affect the amount of duty payable under the 1 Will. 4. c. 64. on licences to retail cider and perry; but every such licence shall specify whether it be granted for the sale of cider and prry by retail not to be drunk in the house or premises where sold, or for the retail of the same to be drunk in the house or premises where sold. — § 15.

Licences under this Act not to authorise Persons to sell Wine. - No licence granted under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. and this act shall authorise any person to take out or hold any licence for the sale of wine, spirits, or sweets or made wines, or mead or metheglin; and if any person licensed under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. and this act shall permit or suffer any wine, spirits, &c. to be brought into his house or premises to be drunk or consumed there, or shall suffer them to be drunk or consumed in his house or premises, he shall, over and above any excise penalties to which he may be subject, forfent 207. — § 16.

Penalty on unlicensed Persons. — Such persons selling beer and cider by retail to be drunk off the premises, 107.; to be drunk on the premises, 202.-17.

Board user the Door. - Every person licensed to sell beer, cider, or perry, by retail, under the authority of the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64, and this act, shall, on the board required by the former act to be placed over his door, paint and keep thereon, after the words "licensed to sell beer or cider by retail," the additional words, "not to be drunk on the premises," or "to be drunk on the premises,' as the case may be, on pain of forfeiting the penalty imposed by such act for not having such board over the door -$18.

What is retailing of Beer, &c. - Every sale of beer, or of cider or perry, in any less quantity than 4 gallons, shall be deemed and taken to be a safe by retail. — § 19.

Penalties for selling Spirits or Wine without a Licence. Persons licensed to sell beer or cider under the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64, and this act, who sell pirits or wine, sweets, &c. without being licensed, are liable to the penalties imposed by the laws of excise for selling spirits or wine, sweets, &c. without licence. - § 20.

Certificate not to be required for Houses in certain Situations, if Population exceed 5,000. — The before-mentioned certificate shall not be required as to any house situated within the cities of London and Westminster, or within any parish or place within the bills of mortality, nor within any city or town corporate, nor within the distance of 1 nile from the place used at the last election as the place of election or polling place of any town returning a member to parliament, provided that the population, deteriom d according to the last parliamentary census taken in such city, town, &c. shall exceed 5,000: provided, that no licence for the sale of beer, ale, porter, cider, or perry by retail on the premises in the cities of London and Westminster, or in any parish within the bits of imortality, or in any such city or town corporate, or town returning a member to parliament as before mentioned, shall be granted after the 5th day of April, 1836, unless the house or premises specified as those in which beer or cider is intended to be sold shall be of the value of 10. per annum. - § 21.

Form of Certificate referred to in § 2.

and

We, the undersigned, being inhabitants of the parish (or township, as the case may be] of respectively rated to the poor at not less than 67. per annum, and none of us being maitstrs, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors, or being licensed to sell beer or cider by retail, do hereby certify, That 4. B., dweiling in street, [here specify the street, lane, &c.] in the said parish (or township, &c.] is a person of good character.

[Here insert the day of signing the certificate.]
(Signed)

E. F.)
G. H.
I. K.
L. M.
N. 0.

[Here state the residence of each of the persons signing.]

P.Q.)

1 do hereby certify, That all the above-mentioned persons whose names are subscribed to this certificate are inhabitants of the parish (er township, &c.] of rated to 61. to the relief of the poor of the said parish. C. D. [Overseer of the parish or township, &c.] Dute

In addition to the above the following clauses of the act 1 Will. 4. c. 64. are still in force:

Persons trading in partnership, and in one house, shall not be obliged to take out more than one licence in any one year, provided also, that no one licence shall authorise any person to sell beer, in any other than the house mentioned in such licence. 10.

In cases of riot or expected riot or tumult, every person licensed under this act, and keeping any house situate within their Jurisdictions, shall close his house at any time which the justice or justices shall direct; and every such person who shall keep open his house at or after any hour at which such justices shall have so ordered or directed such house to be closed, shall be deemed to have not maintained good order and rule therein, and to be guilty of an offence against the tenor of his licence.-11. Every person licensed to sell beer by retail, shall sell (except in quantities less than a half pint) by the gallon, quart, pint, or half pint measure, sized according to the standard; and in default thereof, he shall for every such offence forfeit the illegal measure, and pay not exceeding 408, together with the costs of the conviction, to be recovered within thirty days next after that on which such offence was committed, before two justices; such penalty to be over and above all penalties to which the offender may be liable under say other act. 12.

Every seiler of beer by retail, having a licence under this act, who shall permit any person to be guilty of drunkenness, or disorderly conduct, in the house mentioned in such licence, shall forfeit the surns following: for the first offence, not less than 404. nor more than 54., as the justices, before whom such retailer shall be convicted, shall arijudge; and for the second offence, any sum not less than 34. nor more than 10; and for the third offence, any sum not less than 20, nor more than 5 I.; and it shall be lawful for the justices, before whom any such conviction for such third offence shall take place, to adjudge, if they shall think fit, that such offender shall be disqualified from selling beer by retail for the space of two years next ensuing such conviction, and also that no beer shall be sold by retail, by any person in the house mentioned in the licence of such offender; and if any person so licensed shall, knowingly, sell any beer, ale, or porter, made otherwise than from malt and hops, or shali mix, or cause to be mixed, any drugs or other pernicious ingredient, with any beer sold in his house, or shall fraudulently dilute, or

in any way adulterate, any such beer, uch offender shall for the first offence forfeit not less than 101. nor more than 204., and for the second such offence such offender shall be adjudged to be disqualified rom selling beer, ale, or porter, by retail, for the terin of two years, or to for feit not less than 207. nor more than 507., and shall be subject to a like penalty at every house where he shall commit such offence; and if any person shall during any term in which it shall not be lawful for beer to be sold by retail on the premises of any offender, sell any beer by retail on such premises, knowing that it was not lawful to be sold, such offender shall forfeit not less than 10!, nor more than 20.; every person suffering the conditions of the licence to be infringed to be deemed guilty of disorderly conduct. - § 13.

Retailers' houses not to be open before four in the morning, nor after ten in the evening: nor between the bours of ten in the forenoon and one in the afternoon, nor at any time between the hours of three and five in the afternoon, on any Sunday, God Friday, Christmas-day, or any day appointed for a public fast or thanksgiving: and any person offending herein shall forfeit 404. for every offence; every separate sale to be deemed a separate offence. - § 11.

All penalties under this act, except for selling beer by any person not duly licensed, shall be recovered, upon the information of any person before two justices in petty sessions; and every such penalty shall be prosecuted for within three calendar months next after the offence; and every person licensed under this act, who shall be convicted before two justices, shall, unless proof te adduced to the satisfaction of such justices, that such person had been theretofore convicted before two justices, within the space of twelve calendar months next precesling, be adjudged by such justices to be guilty of a first offence against this at, and to forfeit and pay any penalty by this act imposed for such offence, or if no specific penalty be imposed, then any sum not exceeding 5., together with the costs of the conviction; and if proof be adduced to the satisfaction of such justices that such person had been previously convicted, within the space of twelve calendar months next preceding, of one such offence only, such person to be adjudged guilty of a second offence against this act, and to forfeit and pay any penalty by this act imposed for such offence, or if no specitic penalty be so imposed, then any sun not exceeding 10%, together with the costs of conviction; and if proof shall be adduced that such person had been previously convicted within the space of eighteen calendar months next pre eding, of two such separate offences, and if proof be adduced that such person, so charged, is guilty of the offence charged against him, such person shall be adjudged to be guilty of a third offence against this act, and to forfeit and pay any penalty imposed by this at, in respect of such offence, or if no such specific penalty shall be imposed, then to forfeit and pay the sum of 50%., together with the costs of conviction. $15.

The party, convicted of any such third offence, may appeal to the general sessions, or quarter sessions then next ensuing, unless held within twelve days after conviction, and in that case, to the then next subsequent sessions; and, in such case, the p rty convicted shall enter into a recognizance, with two sureties, personally to appear at the said general or quarter sessions, to abide the judgment of the court; and to pay such cots as shall be by the court awarded; or, in failure of the party convic.ed entering into such recognizance, such conviction shall remain good and valid; and the said justices who shall take such recognizance, are also required to bind the person who shall make such charges to appear at such general or quarter sessions, then and there to give evidence against the person charged, and, in like manner, to bind any other person who shall have any knowledge of suca offence; and it shall be lawful for the said general or quarter sessions to adjudge such person to be guilty of such third offence against this act, and such adjudication shall be final; and it shall be lawful for such general or quarter sessions to punish such offender by fine, not exceeding 1004., together with the custs of such appeal, or to adjudge the licence to be forfeited, or that no beer be sold by retail in the house for the term of two years, and if such licence shall be adjudged to be forfeited, it shall hence forth be void; and whenever, in such case, the licence of such offender shall be adjudged to be void, such offender shall be deemed incapable of selling beer, ale, or porter, by retail, in any house kept by him, for the space of two years, to be computed from the time of such adjudication; and any licence granted to such person during such term shall be void. — § 16.

In default of payment of penalties, proceedings may be had against the sureties. - § 19.

Any person summoned as a witness, who shall neglect or refuse to appear, and not make such reasonable excuse for such neglect, &c. as shall be admitted by such justices of sessions, or who, appearing, shall refuse to be examined, shali, on conviction, forfeit not exceeding 104. § 20.

Offenders refusing or neglecting, within seven days after conviction, to pay the penalty imposed, and any costs assessed, such jus tices may issue their warrant, to levy the amount by distress and sale, together with the costs of distress and sale; and in every such case, such otienders, if in custody, shail be forthwith discharged; but if the goods and chattels are not sufficient, such jus tices may commit the offender to the common gaol or house of correction for not exceeding one calendar month, the penalty shall not be above 51.; for not exceeding three calendar months, if the penalty shall be above 51, and not more than 101; and for not exceeding six calendar months, if the penalty shall be above 101. provided, that whenever such offender shall pay to the gaoler or keeper, or to whomsoever such justices shall have appointed, the penalty and costs, together with all the costs of apprehension and conveyance to gaol, at any time previous to the expiration of the time for which such offender shail have been committed, such offender shall be forthwith discharged —§ 21.

No conviction under this act, nor any adjudication made upon appeal therefrom, shall be quashed for want of form, nor removed by certiorari. - § 27.

Every action against any justice, constable, or other person, for any thing done in execution of his duty under this act, to be commenced within three calendar months, and not afterwards; and if any person be sued, he may plead the general issue, and give the special matter in evidence. - § 28.

This act not to affect the two universities, nor the vintners' company in London; nor to prohibit the sale of beer at fairs, as heretofore.

11. Scotch Ale and Beer Duties.-The duties on ale and beer in Scotland have been for a lengthened period the same as in England.

At the union in 1707, the English duties on ale and beer were introduced into Scotland. But, besides strong and small beer, the Scotch had an intermediate species, which they called two-penny, and which was their favourite beverage. The duty on this description of beer was fixed, at the union, at 28. 147. a barrel. For thirty years after its imposition, the quantity of two-penny that paid duty was always above 400,000, and sometimes exceeded 500,000 barrels a year. But in 1760 the duty on two-penny was increased to 3s. 44d. and the consumption immediately fell off to between 100,000 and 200,000 barrels ! The quantity that paid duty in 1800 amounted to 149,803 barrels. The manufacture of this species of beer ceased entirely in 1802.

No account has been kept of the quantity of beer brewed in Ireland since 1809, when it amounted to 960,300 barrels. (Morewood on Intoxicating Liquors, p. 353.) Perhaps it may now amount to from 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 barrels.

An Account of the Number of Barrels of Beer exported from the United Kingdom to Foreign Countries in 1841 and 1842; specifying the Countries to which they were principally sent. No. 175. Sess. 1843.)

(Pari. Papers,

12. Regulations as to the Exportation of Beer. -- Ale or beer exported to foreign parts as merchandise is allowed a drawback of 53, the barrel of 36 gallons, Inp. meas. But before any debenture for the above drawback shall be paid, the exporter or his principal clerk or manager shall make oath thereon, before the Froper officer of excise, that such ale or beer was put on board the exporting ship as merchandise to be sent beyond seas, and no part thereof for the ship's use; and that, according to the best of his knowledge and belief, the same has been brewed

wholly from malt which has been charged with and paid the duty of 25. 7d. a bushel, and shall also specify in such oath the time when and the place where; and the brewer, being an entered and licensed brewer for sale, by whom such beit or ale was brewed, and that the quantity of malt used in brewing was not less than 2 bushels (Imp. meas.) for every 36 gallons of such beer or ale. Persons making false statements forfeit the sum of 2007., and the debenture is void. (1 Will. 4. cap. 51. 11.)

ALEXANDRIA, so called from its illustrious founder, Alexander the Great, the principal seaport of Egypt, on the coast of the Mediterranean, about 14 miles W. S. W. of the Canopic mouth of the Nile; the lighthouse being in lat. 31° 11′ 31′′ N., long. 29° 51′ 28′′ E. The situation of this famous city was admirably chosen. Until the discovery of the route to India by the Cape of Good Hope, Egypt formed the centre of the commerce between the eastern and western worlds; and Alexandria was placed in the most favourable position in Egypt for an emporium, being the only port on its northern coast, where there is, at once, deep water, and security for shipping throughout the year. The ports of Rosetta and Damietta, the former on the west, and the

latter on the eastern arm of the Nile, are both difficult of entrance, each having a bar, upon which there is always a dangerous surf. Ships bound for Alexandria avoid this serious inconvenience; and by means of an artificial navigation, stretching from the city to the western branch of the Nile, it has almost the same facilities for internal navigation that are enjoyed by the cities referred to.

It may be proper, however, to mention that this artificial communication with the Nile has not always been open. It existed in antiquity, but fell into decay during the barbarism of more modern times. After being shut up for some centuries, it has been re-opened by Mehemet Ali, who dug the Mahmoudie canal from Alexandria to Atfeh on the Nile, about 27 miles above Rosetta. This important work is 44 miles in length, 90 feet in breadth, and from 15 to 18 feet deep. It was opened in 1819; but owing partly to the nature of the ground, partly to some defects in its construction, and partly to the mud deposited by the water of the Nile, it is difficult to keep in repair; and can only be navigated by boats that draw little water, and are not suitable for the navigation of the Nile. But, with all its defects, the construction of this canal has been of the greatest advantage, not to Alexandria only, but to Egypt and even Europe.

Ports, &c.-The ancient city was situated a little more inland than the modern one, opposite to the small island of Pharos, on which was erected the lighthouse, so celebrated in antiquity. -- (Cæsar, de Bello Civili, lib. iii. cap. 112.) This island was, partly by artificial means, and partly by natural causes, gradually joined to the land by a mound, and on this the modern town is principally built. The isthmus and island have now the form of a T, its head being N. E. and S. W. A square castle, or tower, built on a small islet or rock, at the extremity of a mole projecting from the north-east angle of the city, is still called the Pharos, and may, perhaps, occupy the site of the ancient lighthouse: a light was exhibited on it down to 1842, when it ceased. On each side of the city there is a port. That on the western, or African side, called the Old Port, the Eunostos of the ancients, is by far the largest and best. It stretches from the town westwards to Marabout, about 6 miles, and is about 14 miles in width. It is bounded on the north, partly by the western tongue or angle of the island on which the city is partially built, at the extremity of which is the new lighthouse, and partly by rocks and sand banks. It has three entrances. The first, or that nearest the city, having 17 feet water, is about 1 miles S. W. from the lighthouse; but it is too narrow and difficult to be attempted by any one not thoroughly acquainted with the port. The eastern side of the second or middle entrance is marked by buoys which lie about 2 miles S.W. from the lighthouse; it is about a quarter of a mile wide, and has, where shallowest, 27 feet water. The third or western entrance has its western boundary within about three-eighths of a mile from the east end of Marabout island; it is about half a mile wide, and has from 25 to 27 feet water in its shallowest places. This last is the best entrance. Ships, when in, may anchor close to the town in from 22 to 40 feet water, and there is good anchorage in deep water all along the shore. Foreigners were formerly excluded from this port; but this prohibition no longer exists, and it is now principally resorted to by the shipping frequenting the port.

What is called the New (though it be really the oldest) or Asiatic harbour is on the eastern side of the town. A rock called the Diamond lies a little to the east of the Pharos tower, and ships entering the port ought to have this rock about a cable's length on the right. If they get much further to the left, they will come in contact with a shoal which stretches westward from the Pharillon, or little tower, on the east side of the port. The water immediately within the port S. W. from the Pharos is from 30 to 40 feet deep; but the space for anchorage is very limited, and is exposed to the northerly gales; and the ground being foul and rocky, hempen cables are very apt to chafe, and several accidents have happened in consequence to ships unprovided with iron cables. Ordinary tides rise 2 feet; but during the overflow of the Nile the rise is 4 feet. Variation 13° west.— (See Plan of Alexandria, by Lieut. Falbe.)

Lighthouse. The new lighthouse, on the most westerly point of the island (an. Pharos) on which the city is partly built, was erected in 1842. It exhibits a fixed light, elevated 180 feet above the level of the sea, and is visible in clear weather at a distance of nearly 20 miles. This light must, of course, be kept on the left by those entering the great or western harbour, and on the right by those entering the small or eastern harbour. We may mention that a British vessel was totally lost in attempting to enter the W. harbour by night, in December, 1844. The captain trusted to a chart which identified the lighthouse with the old tower at the entrance to the E. harbour. But the light on the latter has, as already stated, ceased to be exhibited since 1842, and all charts should be corrected accordingly.

Ancient and Modern City. - Under the Ptolemies and Romans, Alexandria was the first commercial city in the world. It suffered greatly by its reduction by the Saracens in 640; but it continued to be a place of considerable commercial importance till the despotism of the Mamelukes and Turks, and the discovery of the route to India by the Cape of Good Hope completed its ruin. Under the Ptolemies, the population is believed to have amounted to about 300,000, and the city was adorned by a vast number of magnificent structures. At present the population varies with the seasons of the year, but, when greatest, it is not supposed to exceed 100,000; and may vary between this amount and 80,000. The appearance of the modern town is most unpromising. "It may be justly said, that in the new city of Alexandria we find a poor orphan, whose sole inheritance has been the venerable name of its father. The vast extent f the ancient city is contracted in the new to a little neck of land, between the two ports. The most superb temples are changed into plain mosques; the most magnificent palaces into houses of a bad structure; the royal seat is become a prison for slaves; an opulent and numerous people have given way to a small number of foreign traders, and to a multitude of wretches, that are the servants of those on whom they depend: a place formerly so famous for the extent of its commerce, is no longer any thing more than a mere place of embarking; in fine, it is not a phoenix that revives from its own ashes, it is, at most, a reptile, sprung from the dirt, the dust, and corruption with which the Alcoran has infected the whole country."-(Norden's Travels, Eng. trans. 8vo. ed. p. 37.) But this striking description, though accurate at the time when it was written (1737), conveys too unfavourable an idea of the present state of Alexandria. The vigorous government of Mehemet Ali, by introducing comparative security and good order into Egypt, revived the commerce of Alexandria, which has again become a place of much importance in the trading world; and many new warehouses and other buildings have been constructed. Trade of Alexandria. — The imports principally consist of cotton stuffs, timber, woollen and silk stuffs, iron and hardware, including copper and tin plates, jewellery, machinery, ammunition, paper, and stationery, cutlery, &c., &c. The exports consist principally of raw cotton, rice, wheat and barley, beans, linseed, senna, and other drugs and gums brought from the interior; indigo, opium, ostrich feathers, dates, soda, linen cloth, coffee from Arabia, &c. The exports of wheat, barley, and pulse for a while declined in consequence of the superior encouragement given to the growth of cotton, but they have again increased, and in 1849 we brought from Alexandria 129,954 grs. wheat, 247,594 qrs. beans, and 13,151 qrs. Indian corn. The culture of flax has declined: formerly from 50,000 to 60,000 quarters of linseed have been exported from Alexandria in a single season, but the exports are now much less. Sugar has been long cultivated in Egypt; but not to any great extent, though the soil and climate of Upper Egypt are said to be especially favourable to its growth. Indigo and madder are among the articles of culture introduced by the late Pacha.

Cotton has been grown in Egypt from a very remote period; previously, nowever, to the ascendancy of Mehemet Ali it was but little cultivated, and that little was of inferior quality, short-stapled, and closely resembling "Surats," under which name the small quantities exported from the country were usually sold. But, in 1820, a Frenchman of the name of Juinel accidentally observed a very valuable