The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-13 00:00:00

HIGil PRICE OF GAS IN THE
CITY OF LONDON.

Last evening, at six o'clock, a numerous meeting of
the inhabitants of the ward of Farring-don was held in
the Ohl Court, Old Bailey, to take into consideration the
high price of gas in the City, and to consider the best
means of obtaining a reduction in its price. The court
was crowded in every part. The Lord Mayor (the re-
spected Alderman of the ward) took the chair shortly
after six o'clock, and was loudly cheered.
His Lonasnee said-In consequence of an express
wish on the part of a large number of the inhabitants of
the ward, conveyed to him by requisition, stating that
they were desirous that he should give them an oppor-
tunity of considering a question of vital importance, not
only to them, but to their other fellow-citizens, he had
et once felt great pleasure in calling this meetings,-
(Cheers.) He hoped if any difference of opinion should
arise, that they would give every gentleman a lair
heating.
TbeWard Clerk (Mr. Pontifex) then, at the request
of the Lord Mayor, read the requisition, which was
signed by upwards of 500 householders and rate-payers.
Mr. LOWE proposed the first resolution, which was in
the following terms.-
" That it is the opinion of this meeting that the price
charged for gas in the City of London: is exorbitant, as
t is notorious that good gas can be supplied at little
more than half the price now charged for it. It is,
therefore, the earnest wish of this meeting that the
Corporation of the City of London shout_. adopt the
necessary measures in order a obtain a cheaper supply."
Ile congratulated his Lordship on presiding over
so large a meeting on so important a subject.
The tact that the requisition presented to his
Lordship was signed by 500 persons, the largest re-
quisition ever got up in the ward, evinced the feel-
ing of the inhabitants on the important mate r which
they had met to discuss. Had these interested in the
holding of this meeting delayed its presentation for a
short time longer than they did, it doubtless would have
received an additional number of signatures; 500 names
was, however, a sufficient number to command attention.
-(Cheers ) Before, however, the requisition was got
up, a petition on the subject of the gas monopoly was
presented to the Common Council, signed by
300 of the inhabitants of the ward. This
again showed the interest which they felt in the
matter. He did not wish to say anything
offensivewith respect to the gas companies from whom
they had their supply of gas, many gentlemen from
whom were present, further than this, that they had
been making the best profits they could like other
tradesmen, and that the monopoly being in the hands of
but two companies, they were prevented from deriving
benefit from the competition which would be engendered
if a third company were in existence. These companies
possessed the monopoly of supplying the City with gas,
whereas persons engaged in business as hotel-keepers,
tailors, &c., had to encounter thatcompetition which they
were altogether exempt from, though far better able to
bear it. He would not rely upon his opinions alone,
but would read portions of the report of Mr. Charles
Pearson to the Commissioners of Sewers. The report,
among other things, stated that a clause was inserted,
at the instigation of the City, in the Acts incorporating
the City Gas Company, now thirty years ago, stating that
at the termination of the contracts the Commissioners were
entitled to purchase from the company the pipes,
branches, and other materials, at a fair valuation of sur-
veyors, or, at their option, to give notice for their re-
moval; but this salutary provision had been omitted
from the subsequent Acts, whereas, if it had been in-
serted, they would have had no occasion to go to Par-
liament. It was true they had an officer called the City
Itethembrancer, whose duty it was to sit in the House
of Commons under the gallery; but in respect to these
Acts he must have neglected his duty, or else he would, in
the proper discharge of his duty, have given notice of their
omission, and the consequences thereof to the Corpora-
tion. The report proceeded to say, that the City had a
right to have cheaper gas; to be supplied, in fact, at the
wholesale price, in consequence of the large and dense
population, which, unlike that of the suburbs, or of
many towns, was not scattered and expensive to supply.
The cost of gas, including the works, should net exceed
2s. 6d. per 1,000 cubic feet; the City might, how-
ever, charge 45., which would leave a surplus for the
sewers-rate and sanitary improvements. Doubtless, if'
the company would not sell the mains Parliament would
revoke the Acts which gave them the power to hold
them. He (Mr. Lowe) did not wish to shut out the
existing gas companies from supplying the City, but to
allow them to supply the City, as heretofore, if they
would supply gas as cheap as any one else. Mr. Pear.
son said he had received an ofier from a respectable
firm, offering to supply the City with gas at 2s. 6d. per
100 cubic feet, which he said might be charged 4s. ; and
the officers of the Commissioners of Sewers employed to
collect the rates. He (Mr. Since) did not agree with
that portion of the report which stated that the city of
London should become their own gas manufacturers.
Many, however, agreed that it would be well to buy the
present pipes, or to lay down new ones.-(Cheers.) He was
told that some of the old companies had capital amount.
ing to 100,000/., and that they could easily buy a new
company out of the field, and raise the price higher than
it was before.-(Hear anti cheers.) Now he and the gas
consumers' committee considered that pipes should be
laid down at the expense of the City, and that they
should be let by public tender, under the direction of
the Corporation, who, if they mismanaged the
business, being their representatvies, could easily
be called to account on St. Thomas's-day. I
-(Laughter.) Whilst the London Gas Company
paid but 16s. 2d. for coals, they charged es. per 1,000
feet for their gas. Now, he contended that they
paid a great deal too much for their gas, as it could be
very well manufactured and sold at 2s. 6d. While in
London they were charged 6s. for the thousand cubic
feet of gas, in Liverpool, according to the Parliamentary
return, the price was 4s. 6d., and he had heard, upon
good authority, that they were now paying in that town
only 4s. At Birmingham the price was 4; at Derby,
6s. Gd.; at Nottingham, 55.; at Glasgow, 55.; at Chel-
tenham, 4s. Bd.; at Leeds, 55.; and in all the places the
profits ranged at from 10 to 40 per cent. In Manchester
the price was ss. 6d., which left a profit of fifteen
guineas per cent., which was expended for the benefit of
the town. In the town of Croydon the public lights
were charged at 2s. 6d., and the private lights at 75.,
thus making an average of 4s. 6d. and in that town, let
him observe, the price of coals was 245. 6d. per ton.
Now, from this circumstance the town of Croydon was a
striking case in their favour, and a gentleman from that
part before the Committee of the House of Commons
had expressed it as his opinion that the gas could be
supplied there at 3s. 6d. the thousand cubic feet.
This was two years ago, and coals were much cheaper
now, and therefore they had a greater right to call for
a reduction. Mr. Lowe next referred to the last report
of the Commissioners of Pentonville Prison. It ap-
peared that the prison was formerly supplied by a gas
company, but that they had for some time manufactured
their own gas. The coals, &c., in one year had cost
them 48S1. 17s. 7d.; wages, 1401. 19s. I ld.; repairs, &c.,
1221. 2s 10d.; or a total of 752/. Os. 4d.; and that they
had realised, in the same time, by the sale of coke,
3981. 6-. 3 1.-(Cheers)-leaving the cost of the gas con-
sum, d,2,693,006 cubic feet in that year, 3531. 14s.,leaving
a balance or saving of 588/. 175., or 2s. 7id. per 1,000
cubic feet.-(Cheers.) By a Parliamentary report,
issued under the authority of the Woods and Forests,
with respect to the cost of gas in Ashton, it appeared
that the cost per 1,000 feet was ls. 44d.-(Cheers)-but
as there were other expenses attached to the supply of
the material, interest on capital, &c., the selling price
was set down as 3s. 21d.-(Cheers.) It was further esti-
mated, and he quoted from Parliamentary data, which
must be correct-(Laughter)-that a small town of
14,000 inhabitants could be supplied at 5a 4d., and a
larger one of 140,000 at 3s. 24d.; so that London, with
`te 160,000 inhabitants, could be supplied at a cheaper
rate even than that. Then a Mr. Cox, who was ex-
amined before that Parliamentary Committee, stated
that he supplied the Swindon Station with gas, and that
he charged the company but Is. Bid. The Committee,
surprised at the reply, inquired if be made a profit, upon
which he replied, " Do you think I should work
without a profit ? " And a Mr. Clegg had offered
to make gas at ls. 11d, per thousand cubic feet,
finding his own material, but having the use
of the existing works, and receiving himself the
residue of the profit.-(Hear, hear.) Gas companies
now made an enormous profit. They used coals which
cost 135. a ton, and sold the coke at about 12s. a ton.
One-fourth of the coals were consumed in heating the
retorts, and therefore, to be rather below than over
the mark, he would merely say that the companies got
back 95.; but then the ammonia realised 45., so that they
received 13s. for every ton of coals, for which they paid
135., so that in fact the production of the gas really cost
them nothing. - (Roars of laughter.) Let them
not misunderstood him, the sale of the coke and am-
monia realised as much as was paid for the coals used.
- (Hear, hear.) According to Mr. Pearson, the amount
Field yearly in the city of London for gas was 150,0001.
Now he (Mr. Lowe) maintained that they were paying
one-third more than they ought, as they should not pay
more than 4s. per 1,000 cubic feet, and pay a fair price
too. It this were so, and he had no doubt about it, they
had been improperly mulcted of 150,000/. during
the last three years. Ile was opposed to
the City being supplied by two companies alone, because
the citizens had a right to get their gas from whoever
they liked, on the same principle that they had a right
to go where they chose to buy a joint of meat. He con-
tended that the companies possessed a monopoly, which
they had endured for 30 years. As he had said before,
he did not blame the companies for doing the best busi-
ness they could, but the citizens were alone to blame if
they endured such a system of things longer. But he
thought they should " scotch the snake" now.-(Hear,
hear.) There were about 60 miles of pipes in the City
at present. To lay down the same extent of
pipes would cost 60,000/, which might be borrowed upon
the security of the consolidated rate at 5 per cent.,
which might be repaid by charging an additional 4d.
per 1,000 feet which passed though the pipes ; the con-
sumer alone would, therefore, be charged-not those
who burned no gas in their premises-which would not
only pay the interest but the principal in twenty years.
-(hear, hear.) Having again urged the injustice of
preventing persons from de alieg where they liked, he
concluded by moving the above resolution.
Mr. FLINTOFE rose to second it. He differed with Mr.
Anderton with respect to competition. That gentleman
said, at a recent wardmote, that he hated competition;
Now he (Mr. Flintoff) considered that competition was
the soul of business. He then referred to a return moved
for by Mr. Hume in 1847, which showed that the price
of gas in the small provincial towns averaged from
3s. 9d. to ss. 6d. per 1,000 cubic feet, and that the pro-
prietors of the gas works were rceiving dividends of
10/. per cent. That gas companies were not honest they
Lad abundant proofs, As on die faith of a Parliamentary
return they were informed that the Leeds company
divided in 1838 the enormous dividend of 23 per cent.,
and the Derby company, in 1841, 35 per cent., when in

the city of London the gas companies charged but as.
per 1,000 feet for the street lamps and 6s. per 1,000 feet for
others, he thought it was time to unite to put a stop to
such an anomaly. Having recited the cost and price of
gas in some of the large towns in the country, and
stated that the gas in Manchester was manufactured by
the corporation, the profits from which were applied to
the improvement of the town, he proceeded to say that
the City possessed an advantage over the suburbs, inas-
much as from the shortness of the pipes in the former
there was less leakage, which the companies calculated
at 11 per cent. The City of London Gas Company stood
alone by itself in its dividend; it paid 10 per cent., whilst
others were satisfied with a much less amount. The
speaker offered a calculation, by which it appeared that
the cost per 1,000 feet of gas was but 4d., exclusive of
labour, interest on capital, &c. A large town ought to
have gas ls. cheaper than the smaller one.
Mr. JAMES BLACKETT said he had no interest in any
gas company beyond the sum he was yearly in the habit
of paying for gas ' • but having the interest of his neigh-
bours at heart, he had felt it his duty to attend this
meeting to warn the inhabitants of the ward what they
were about to do. By a Bill which he held in his
hand, and which was proposed to be introduced into
Parliament in the ensuing session by the Commissioners
of Sewers, to enforce them to light the City with gas,
he found, by clause 27, that power was to be taken to
raise a capital of 500,0001., on the security of the con
solidated rates. Now, when such a proposition was
made, he felt it was the duty of every man who could
see a yard before his nose to come and warn the citizens
of what they were asked to do.-(Hear, hear.)
One of the COMMISSIONERS intimated that, since the
framing of the Bill, the capital had been reduced to
100,0001.
Mr. BLACKETT said, nevertheless they had the fact
that the raising of the larger sum was not at first con-
sidered exorbitant. He did not know what kind of men
the Commissioners were, but unless they were unlike
other men, they would blush after the statement of their
brother Commissioners. He was anxious to see his
fellow• citizens have cheap gas, but he did not like to
see them carried away by the impulse of the moment,
and instead of getting cheap gas, obtaining an increase
of the present prices.-(Hear, hear.) Allusion had
been made to Manchester, which was a better lighted
town than any other, but the works were com-
menced with a capital of 43,0001., which had
been since increased to 235,0001. The gas was sold at
ss. 6d., and the last dividend was 15/, 155., which went
to pay the interest on the plant and capital, from which
five per cent. at the least must be deducted, leaving ten
per cent. for the improvement of the town. Why this
fact destroyed at once Mr. Lowe's statement that you
could be profitably supplied at ls. ed. to Is. 11d., and
the statement of the other gentleman that it could be
made for 4d.-(Laughter.) Now, they wanted cheap
gas. The London companies consumed 500,000 tons of
coal per annum. He would like to ask the Lord Mayor
what he got out of that?-(Laughter.) It did not strike
him at the time that his Lordship had been connected
with the coal trade; he meant, what did the City get
out of that.-(Laughter.) Before the coals were put
into the retorts the company hod to pay to the City Is.
Id. per ton.
The LORD MAyoa wished to set his friend right. He
knew that the Corporation had got many sins to account
for-(Laughter)-but he had hoped that the citizens of
London were now well aware that the Government had
taken that money for the improvement of the metro-
polis, and that only 4d. per ton went to the City.-
(Cheers.)
Mr. BLACKETT was much obliged to his Lordship.
At any rate, the gas companies had to pay it. It would
be at once conceded that this was more than was paid
by the Manchester Company-(Hear)-but he was told
upon good authority, that the grounds upon which the
Manchester works was town property, for which they
had to pay no rent, and that neither church nor poor-
rates were charged for the works or pipes.-(Cheers.)
Now _they wanted cheap gas.-(Yes.) The Chancellor
of the Exchequer had taken off the duty upon rushlights
and penny candles , but let them ask him to take
off the enormous duty upon coals used for
gas 'in London, and then they would have cheap gas.
-(No, no.) The City companies paid 100,0001. yearly,
it was said, to their shareholders; if 25,000/. were
taken off, they would no doubt give the citizens the entire
benefit of the reduction. All the companies, of which
there were eleven, were heavily taxed for their
works, and paid large sums in poor-rates-four
were charged 65., five 75., and two Bs. ; yet
they were but enablekto pay 51 15s. per cent. Out
of 120 companies he found that the average dividend
paid was but 5/. 18s., which surely was not too much.
Let them bear in mind that they could not grant com-
petition without a large outlay. At present the
works were sufficient to supply everybody, yet the ex-
penditure of 500,0001. additional had been proposed,by the
construction of new works; they had no occasion to
spend a single farthing. For a while they might get
cheap gas from a competing company, but as the pockets
of the shareholders get lighter their heads get wiser, and
they would raise their prices to a remunerative profit.
So that if twenty new companies were to start they
would all unite. At Devenport, where gas was
charged 65., a new opposition company was formed,
which supplied the gas at a lower rate than the
other ; but they ultimately combined, and the
one gave 27,0001. for the other, but what
they bought was not worth a farthing. Mr.
Blackett having adverted to the prices of gas at Not-
tingham, Manchester, and other places, concluded by
calling upon the inhabitants, whatever they did, to get
cheap gas-not to trust the Commissioners of Sewers
with 100,0004 or even one hundred pence. He trusted
that they would take care not to get their feet into a trap
under the specious pretext of getting a cheap supply of
gas.-(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON said he was delighted to find, from
Mr. Carpenter's statement of the surplus profits of the
City, Imperial, Chartered and London Gas Companies
(averaging about 60,000/.), that there was a good pros-
pect of a considerable reduction in the price of gas ; but,
happening afterwards to take up, at his broker's, a
Share List (vide Crosley's, of the 6th of January), he
found that the shares of almost all the metropolitan gas
companies were at a heavy discount. This caused him to
make inquiries as to the facts of the case, and he felt
bound to communicate the particulars to his brother
wardsmen, but,; by their too hastily proceeding on inac-
curate data, they might be entailing upon themselves a
permanent burden, rather than alleviating the exist-
ing one. It appears, from the result of all his inquiries, that
the gas property in the metropolis was in a very depre-
ciated state, and that it was extremely doubtful if the
present dividends (not averaging five per cent.) could be
maintained. That the price has only been reduced
from 7s. to 6s. per 1,000 cubic feet since Jane
last, a reduction, be it remembered, of one-seventh of
the whole rental. That the London-one of the most
recent companies, with a large paid up capital of
400,0001., and one of those alluded to as having a surplus
profit of 60,0001,-had already-been obliged to suspend
paying any dividend. It was possible the City Gas
Company, with its fine district, covered with lights,
might continue to pay the projectors, or shareholders,
handsomely ; but he would like to have a little more ex-
perience of what could be done akthe 6s. price, before he
lent himself to the introduction of another company to
divide the business with them; for if it be true that gas
cannot be supplied, except under the most favourable
circumstances, below the present price, it must neces-
sarily follow that the introduction of a new capital into
the City will tend to enhance the price, as the consumers
will have to pay the interest on both capitals. That it
appears, by reference to the Share List, that
The Gas Light and Coke Company's
shatiritiri ... 50/. paid 481. per share.
The British ..• ... 18/. - 13/. -
City... ... ... 1501. - 2401. -
Commercial 251. - 25/. -
Equitable ... 50/. -33 L -
European ... . . ... 20/. - 84 -
United General ... 504 - 121.
Imperial ... ... 50/. - 621. -
Independent .... ... 401. - 601. -
London Preference ... 50/. - 20/. to 301. -
Ditto ... •.• ... 50/. - 10/. to 201. --
Phrenix ••• 471. - 281. -
Ratcliffe
... 90/. - 724 -
South Metropolitan . 251. - 211. -
So that, out of all this list, three only are at a premium,
and those three, it would appear, have what is called
entire districts, i. e., the whole of their property in
mains, &c., is productive. It may be worth while to in-
quire how the City Gas Company ranks so much higher
than the other companies in the share market. He had
been informed that that company purchased their works
and pipes, &c., at halt the original cost, which may, in
some measure, account for their present prosperous state,
and he doubted very much, with the slender information
the ward had got, the policy of taking away from the
City the means of reducing the price. It was all very well
to say. that they bad got offers from Messrs. Joy and
Co., and Messrs. Croll and Co., bat who were these gen-
tlemen?
raaayrgi
ngisTit.unahclgtecitoe7fiossa.rfsmuaf
lot ei
likewise
rptonkhdhaeatcuanwhthcdcei
metrsini
aareooopsnmmt
s,
eefgi
anratot
sim:o
nt
est what he could learn,
undertakings;dihmebiiyrl
a emrawnrtnd.
Atwthhneeadr
tlheanrst
Anderton
aew
going on in the City, was nrt
raised in the parishes of St.
mMianraytleedbonine andthe
iSntt.
no mf
tehye e
pa
irpse as gee; wa hniecwh tgear s-
company into the latter parish. The result is, that the
price of the public lights in that parish have since been
raised from 3/. 10s. to five and six guineas, and the com-
pany (the London Gas Company), is unable to pay any
dividend ; whereas in the parish of St., Marylebone,
where the vestry refused to admit the pipes of the new
company, the price of the public lights has never varied
from 41. 4s. for the large, and 3/. I Is. for the small
burners, while the price given for gas supplied to the
private consumersinMarylebone has always been as low,
and generally lower, than in any other part of the me-
tropolis. (Mr. Anderton in the course of his speech
was several times interrupted by persons in the gallery
and body of the court, which the treated with the
utmost good nature and temper.)_

Mr. fSuLLEN then addressed the meeting in support
of the resolution ; he deprecated the enormous price of
gas in the City, and adverted to instances where parties
who lived almost close together paid a very different
price for their gas, because one party resided in the
City and the other out of it. He had no objection to
Mr. Anderton having gas-lights at his door, but he ob-
jected to pay for it.—(Laughter.).
Mr. HYDE also supported the resolution. Mr. An-
derton had told them that gas was a luxury. He
might just as well have told him that he
could not speak plain English.—(Laughter.) The
gas that was supplied to them in the City was of the
most infamous description and quality.—(Hear, hear.)
He had paid 95., 75., and 6s. a thousand cubic feet for gas,
and that for which he had paid 65,, was of the most in-
famous quality.—(Hear, hear.) It was to him evident
from the facts that had been adduced that gas could be
supplied to 150,000 persons much cheaper than it was
done in London. As an instance of that he might
refer to the town of Liverpool, where they had the
'best gas in England, and at a very cheap - rate.—

Mr. 'ikst. PUGH moved the next resolution, which was
to the effect that the whole of the resolutions should be
embodied in a petition to the Court of Common Council.
He wished to know whether Mr. Anderton would support
the petition in the Court of Common Council.
Mr. ANDERTON said that this he would promise, that
he would not oppose it in the Court of Common Council.
Mr. PUGH said that they Ranted nothing but what
was right. Why could not the gas company come for-
ward and say that they would supply them at 4s. If
they would, he had no doubt matters would be easily
settled.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. WADE seconded the resolution.
The LORD MAYOR then put the resolution to the
meeting, and declared it to be carried unanimously, amid
much cheering.
Thanks were then voted to the Lord Mayor, who
briefly responded to it, and the meeting broke up at a
late hour.

THE COINAGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—At a time when America has just promulgated
a most daring fiction as to the existence of a prolific
gold region in the southern hemisphere, viz., in Cali-
fornia, it would be well to exhibit to them the existence
of a fertile gold region on Tower-hill, London, by show-
ing that there has been coined in the eleven years from
1837 to 1847,
373 tons of gold, amounting in value to
the sum of ... £34,877,667
4311 tons of silver, amounting in value to
the sum of 3,329,718
322 tons and 2 cwts. of copper, amounting
in value to the sum of 68,103

making a total of the enormous sum of ... £38,275,486
as the figures I have annexed will show; and all this
quantity of metals is not the produce of California.
Their gold coast must vanish before the presence of
so much wealth from other climes than those beyond
the Rocky Mountains.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Near Guildhall, Jan. 11, 1849. 11. jr.

STATEMENT OF THE VALUE ARISING FROM THE
COINAGE DURING THE ELEVEN YEARS ',Rom 1837
To 1847.
TOTAL WEIGHT COINED IN EACH YEAR.

Gold. Silver.
lbs. lbs.
1837 .. 26,818 23,064 22 15 lec
1838 ... 61,110 60,960 7 0
3 Tons. - Ti
1839 ... 10,793 120,980 0 co
1840 ... Nil. 65,580 Copper.
Cwt.
al4 0 mt
1841 ... 8,100 29,144 33 0 St
1842 ... 127,919 58,440 8 0 int
1843 ... 141,420 83,720 68 10 24
1844 ... 76,275 189,900 36 17 Li
1845 ... 90,842 196,260 31 0
1846 ... 92,775 196,560 29 0 nu
1847 ... 110,400 38,100' 40 0 dis
Totals... 746,452 1,062,708 322 2 au,
TOTAL VALUE COINED IN EACH YEAH. COI
bet
Gold. Silver. Copper. cle
ab]
£ X £ • gal
1837 ... 1,253,071 76,111 5,096 wa
1838 ... 2,855,364 101,168 1,568 the
1839 ... 504,303 399,234 7,168
1840 ... Nil. 216,414 3,136 are
1841 ... 378,472 96,175 7,392 etc
1842 ... 5,977,015 204,732 1,792 vis:
1843 ... 6,607,850 276,276 15,344 his
1844 ... 3,563,949 626,670 8,207 he
1845 ... 4,244,506 647,658 6,944 ton
1846 ... 4,334,697 559,548 6,496 ask
1847 ... 5,158,440 125,730 4,960 of
she
Totals... 34,877,667 3,329,716 68,103 "D

THE CALIFORNIANS ARE DIGGING UP
OUR LEGAL TENDER!!
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The Californian adventurers are not digging
for so much yellow metal—No ! They are digging fur
the 3/. 17s. 10d. an ounce which our Mint is bound to
give them.
This gold will all come here. Why ? Because we
offer the highest price.—l am, yours, &c.

MIDAS.

- --
NEW BRlDGE.—Llandillo-bridge, Carmarthenshire,
is completed. The bridge, which is the third largest in
the kingdom, being nearly 150 feet span, is built prin
cipally of black marble, at an expense of about 18,000/.
Gloucester-bridge cost 60,000/, and Chester 40,000/.
According to Professor Adelung, there are 3,664
known languages and dialects in the world, of which
937 are Asiatic, 587 European, 276 African, and 1,624
American.