The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-16 00:00:00

ift"

i.

POST- OFFICE LOXD ON DIRECTORY,
for 1849, being the Fiftieth Annual Publication, is now pub-
Harking in 2,000 royal octavo pages, price '6s. ; Srnallar Edition, 153.
It has already received the following highly gratifying notice in
the leading Metropolitan Journals:—
SUN, NOVEMBER 30, 1848.
The year 1849 Is the jubilee of this most useful, most meritorious,
and most carefully compiled work of reference. It is now just half a
century since the " Post-office Landon Directory" first became a
candidate for public favour, and for many years it waged an unequal
War with other publications of a similar character. Fortnnatdy,
however, for the public, it became, in 1836, the property of its pre-
sent proprietor, who, with that energy and enterprise which, in
ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, commands success, determined
to make it in reality what it was in name—a directory and guide to
the streets, the professions, and the trades of London—to make it a
mirror of the metropolis of the commercial world. To accomplish
this, neither pains nor expense were spared ; the work was extended
to nearly double the usual size, accuracy was secured by establishing
a system of collecting information, and a system of checking and
comparing the results of the information thus collected. A map of
London was added; and thus the " Post-office London Directory,"
Ur the greater extent and greater accuracy of its information, and by
the more lucid arrangement of its contents, was enabled to drive-
every rival trom the field.

THE TIMES, NOVEMBER 3., 1848.
The volume for the approaching year, 1849, being the 50th volume
of thlipublication, has just been published by Messrs. Kelly all Co.,
of Old Boswell-court. This volume contains all the matter which
enriched those of the present and preceding years, with all such im-
provements as increased activity of research and careful investiga-
tion can supply. It appears to be as accurate a compilation for the
offices, trades, occupations, and residences of thousands of persons
as the most minute inquiry and the most methodical arrangement
can furnish. Perhaps no book more effectually answers the purposes
for which it is intended than this does. It is necessarily a bulky
volume ; but its bulk, contrary to the general role, is an advantage,
and it may be said to contain no superfluous pages whatever. It is
well printed, and well get up, and has a map of London prefixed to
it, which will be found useful. The proprietor has had for many
years an arduous task in carrying out his object, but his labours have
terminated in complete success. He has conferred a benefit on the
and it is their duty, as well as their interest, to patronise his

MORNING HERALD, Novzatima 30, 1848.
This stupendous and indispensable book has, with honourable
Mettlelity, again made its appearance, having completed 50 years
of its existence—a lapse of time that has imperceptibly added to the
experience of those who have been engaged in its production, and
given it, by the accumulation of resources, every conceivable feature
of utility. Although comprising such a myriad of isolated facts, il-
lustrative of the commercial and professional pursuits of the inhabi-
tants of this.vast metropolis, we do not remember any case of error,
and the care which has thus been bestowed upon its preparation has
established it as an authoritative Directory of the capital of Great
liritaia, laughing rivalry to scorn. How such an enormous body of
IsPecifie intelligence could be got together at all is a matter of wonder,
but how the masses of detail brought in from the army of labourers
employed to collect it could have been so adroitly digested, and placed
bra shape so immediately adapted for reference, is more surprising
still. There, however, is a book of upwards of two thousand royal
octavo pages, taking the whole of London within its grasp, and exhi-
biting its streets and the avocations of its residents, in treble alpha-
bet, whereby the convenience of the searcher after an unknown
whereabouts" is met at all points. The " Post-office Directory" is,
In short, a monument of most valuable enterprise, and achieved, as
it now is, by private machinery, without the aid that was formerly
accorded it by the iettercarriers, presents a matchless example of
Well-directed diligence and perseverance.
The arrangements of the present volume are similar to those which
have distinguished the work for the last two or three years, the com-
Pleteness which the proprietor has accomplished hardly admitting of
anY further extension. We find, kowever, that the entire surface of
the metropolis has been revised, and such alterations made that
changes of address and the opening of new establishments rendered
necessary, while the suburban neighbourhoods, which are generally
swelling into importance and becoming fresh hives of human exist-
ence and human industry, are vigilantly detected and submitted to
the governing modes of analysis.

MORNING CHRONICLE, DECEMBER 1, 1848.
This valuable work is so well known and appreciated, that it would
be a work of supererogation to enter into any explanation as to its
stature and merits. It is sufficient to state that this is the fiftieth
—annual publication under the aaove title, and it contains a mass of
Information which can nowhere else be obtained, relative to the
euraffifircial, professional, and other interest. In this great metropolis,
Be as to render its possession almost absolutely necessary to any one
residing in London, and who takes an active part in the business of
life. The present volume extents to upwards of 2,000 pages ; but not-
Withstanding its bulky appearance, it contains such an enormous
quantity of details, as really to render it surprising hew it could be
condensed into such a compass, and at the same time be so admirably
digested and arranged, that any reference may be found out with the
greatest facility. When this publication was first started, it was little
snore than an alphabetical list of names and addresses ; but within
the last few years the whole plan has been so expanded as to com-
prise not less than twelve separate parts, under the titles of the Offi-
cial, the Street, the Commercial, the Trades. the Law, the Court, the
Parliamentary, the Postal, the City, the Conveyance, the Banking,
and the Assurance Directories. Under each of these heads every re-
quisite information is given, so that any tact which can p-operly
come under any one Of these categories can at once be ascertained.
The arrangement of the present volume is similar to those which
have been published for the last three sr four years, but the whole of
the contents have been carefully revised, and such alterations have
been made since last year as the changes which have taken place in
the residences, appointments, and arrangements under the classes
which we have mentioned have rendered necessary to secure ac-
curacy. There has also been a considerable extension in many of its
departments. An extremely well-engraved new map of London,
Prepared expressly for this work, faces the title-page.

- MORNING POST, NOVEMBER 30, 1848.
It is jest half a century since the " Post-office London Directory's
Trot made its appearance. But:how small, how limited in its objects,
how inefficient in its attainments it then was, compared with what
it novr is ! London itself, with its commerce, its extensions, its
Population, its improvements of all sorts, does not so far outstrip
the London of-1800 as the " Post-office Directory" of 1849 does
that of the first year of its publication. To the energy, the enter-
Mee/ and the nitwearying exertions of the Messrs. Kelly this great
tlietropolis is indebted for having a directory worthy of the gigantic
interests contained within its circumference. Such a directory no
ether city in the world can boast of possessing. It is really amazing
to open this huge volume and contemplate the mass of information
contained therein ; and whoa its accuracy is tested by referring to
details within oar own personal cognizance, it is impossible to
Withhold the expression of our admiration for the stupendous corn •
Dilation, and of our belief in its general truthfulness. The classifica-
tion is most complete, and under the heads of " Official." " Street,"
" Commercial?, " Trades," " Law," " Court," " Parliamentary,"
" Postal," " City," " Conveyance," " Banking," &e.' all the per-
/46nel and other information which the most copious directory can
Impart is found with the greatest facility. This work is really a
fine monument of our country's commercial greatness and persever-
ing industry.