The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-16 00:00:00

MARCH EDITION OF THE LONDON
POST-OFFICE DIRECTORY.

Formerly the March edition of this elaborate and use-
ful work differed from the Christmas one only in the
addition of supplemental names, and in the reprinting
of the " Postal" and " Parliamentary" directories, with
corrections up to the end of February. This year, how-
ever, a different course has been pursued by Messrs.
Kelly, the proprietors. The whole copies of the first
edition, although greater in number than those of any
preceding year, having been disposed of, it became
necessary to reprint the entire book, and in doing this
advantage has been taken of the opportunity afforded of
recompiling and correcting a considerable portion of the
contents. Of course the time was too limited to allow
all to undergo the same operation, but we may mention
that the revision extends over some of the most impor-
tant departments of the Directory. The preface states:—

" As compared with the March edition for 1853 the
Street Directory,' in the present volume, has been in-
creased by upwards of SIXTEEN THOUSAND names, all
carried into the various classifications—Commercial Direc-
tory—Trades' Directory—Law Dii 3ctory and Court Direc-
tory—all of which have been proportionately increased.
The effect of this great addition to the number of names,
and of the other improvements introduced, is to increase
the work by nu less than TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHT of
its imperial octavo rages."
A novel and very excellent improvement has been intro-
duced into the present issue, which will no doubt be
duly appreciated, by the commercial community. Each
division of the book is distinguished by a different co-
lour on the outer surface of the pages, and on these co-
lours is printed the name applying to such division. An
arrangement of this kind will considerably assist refer-
ence to the pages of this monstrous tome, for you have
only to place it on its back, and at a glance you 0211
.
pick out any one of the numerous guides of which . is
made up. As regards typography, the March edition
is infinitely superior to any of its predecessors.

PROVISION FOR THE WIVES AND FaIfILIES OP TIM
COAST-GUARD VOLUNTEERS.—The Lords of the Trea-
sury having been pleased to approve of arrangements
made by the Lords of the Admiralty to enable the men
lately belonging to the Coast-guard, who have been re-
quired to serve on board her Majesty's ships to make
one month's allotment of pay in advance to their wives
and families, the Commissioners of Customs have
directed the collectors and comptrollers of the revenue at
the several ports throughout the United Kingdom to
and families of the men who
pay to the inspecting commander of the Coast-guard, at
their respective ports, such sums as will enable him to
distribute amongst the wives
withdrawn
from
toro themstatniootusezwceetdhiinngthtweior
ports, thethan one shilling may have been
amountallotted
shillings or less and sixpence per day,
for one month, from the date of each man's discharge,
observing that the respective sums demanded are to be
treated as advances, to be afterwards accounted for by
the inspecting commander of the district.
THE NAVY ORDNANCE.—A somewhat invidious com-
parison between the comforts provided for the army at
sea, and those of " Jack" who has to live thereon,
appeared last week. If,
however, Jack in the absence
of marine soap finds a difficulty to keep his muzzle clean,
it would seem that the guns are better cared for, the
deck and other guns of the flag-ships St. Jean D'Acre,
the Amphion, aud the hfl
g yer having the appearance
of highly-wrought burnished steel, this being effected by
a patent black-lead, the discovery of a Mr. Nizey, of
Soho, and which has been found impervious to all
weathers. Who knows but that there may arise some
association in the mind of the British tar between the
great exploits to be won by these highly polished " fire-
irona" on board, and his sweetheart's brilliant deeds with
the same black-lead upon the grate at home.
THE ELECTRIC POWER LIGHT AND COLOUR COMPANY.
—This company held their first general meeting of share-
holders on the Bth instant, at the offices of the company,
Bucklersbury, at which a dividend at the rate of 15 per
cent. per annum was declared and paid out of the profits
arising from the working of Dr. Watson's patents for elec.
tric colours, dunng the two months prior to the present
constitution of the company under the Joint-stock Act.
It was announced that in consequence of the success now
attending the operations of the company, especially in the
sale of colours, and the arrangements now completed for
illuminating some of the principal metropolitan railway
tatious with the electric light, a further dividend of a
higher rate per cent. per annum would be paid in June.
Neta.