The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Post Office London Directory for 1860. Kelly

and Co.

The appearance of another of these stupendous
volumes is a proof of the waning year. It returns
with its familiar features, and though truly " an
old friend with a new:face," on each occasion, we
find little change in its general character. If we
have fewer alterations to remark than formerly,
it is because the indefatigable industry of
the proprietors his left less room for improve-
ment, and it would be difficult for the most capti-
ons of critics to suggest a change for the better.
Indeed, when we consider the immense size of the
volume, its oareful subdivisions and classifications,
its faithful record of all the varying official and
parliamentary authorities, its authentic analy-
sis of the highways and thoroughfares of
the modern Babylon, and the wonderful care and
correctness with which this vast amount of labour
is accomplished, we shall consider the absence of
defects and deficiencies as a positive marvel. A
volume, which extends over 2,300 pages, and
whose index is nearly seven pages long, deserves
certainly to be ranked among the achieve-
ments of modern enterprise. In the brief preface,
the compilers, whose experience extends over 23
years, speak as follows :—" One great advantage is
that the entire contents of this huge volume are
always kept standing in type ; this not only affords
the opportunity of passing the sheets through the
press with rallch celerity,but prevents a large amount
of typographical error, which would be unavoid-
able.: in a work of the nature of the present
all newly composed. It may be doubtful whether
any periodical issues from the press in which there
is less obvious proof of the amount of labour involved
in its production, a considerable proportion of the
contents appearing as in former editions ; yet every
line of each of the elaborate classifications has been
tested as carefully as though it had been entirely
fresh matter. Among the various minor emenda-
tions it may be mentioned, that the surgeons who
have registered under the new act of Parliament
are distingu:shed at page 1832, and that in cases in
which streets have been renamed or renumbered
by the Metropolitan Board of Works, the old name
and number, as well as the corresponding new num-
ber for each house, are shown ; also that the recent
alterations which have been made in the postal dis-
tricts are shown in the Map of London, which is as
usual prefixed to the volume." It would be a work of
superfluity to commend this Directory to the notice of
the public, since it is an indispensable auxiliary to
every man of business in these days of constant
change and rapid communication. We need only
assure the subscribers that their old friend is as
deserving of their patronage as ever, and congratu7
late the proprietors on its proved efficiency and
e.tablished character in the sixty-first year of its
existence. The map, too, is worthy of all praise.

Post Office Directory of liampshire, Wiltshire,
and Dorsetshire. Kelly.

This is another of Messrs. Kelly and Co.'s valua-
ble series of county directories. It comprises the
three southern counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire,
and Dorsetshire. The plan on which it is conducted
is familiar to most readers, and considering the
clearness and bomprehensiveneSs of its arrangement
we are not surprised to learn that its predecessors
have given general satisfaction. We are assured
by the compilers that no expense has been spared ;
experienced agents having visited every town, vil-
lage, and hamlet throughout the localities described.
The research and expense necessitated by the com-
prehensiveness of its details must, indeed, have
been considerable, and the advantages which such
a volume presents to a stranger in visiting these
parts of the country are innumerable. An efficient
index prevents delay or perplexity in turning to
auy particular spot; a list of the principal streets
in each neighbourhood are given, and the nearest
money-order office has l'een added to every villave
not possessing one. We have only to add that
imps engraved for the work, and corrected to the
time of publication, offer additional assistance to
the inexperienced traveller.