The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-30 00:00:00

EXAIVIINER, DECEMBER 1, 1849.

This most useful and admirable book has entered on its second
half-century. This is its fifty-first publication. But age adds to its
strength and resources, and it was never so elaborate or so accurate
as now. It comprises, as we have often said, many Directories, and
contains ample information for inquirers of every class. There is no
information wanting in it which such a book ought to give, or which
dwellers in this great city are likely to require. Its " Official Di-
rectory" gives the name of every pub is employe, and all needful
detail as to the public offices. Its " Street Directory" comprises
every class and kind of London resident—an attempt never before
made in such a compilation. Under its "Commercial and Trades'
Directories" are arranged, in all classes, all who pursue the two
thousand various business-occupations with which London is so
grievously overstocked. The " CJurt and Law Directories," and
those of "Banking and Assurance," have the like merit in their
several departments. In the " Postal Directory" we have the some-
what complex machinery of St. Martin's-le-Grand, and the countless
offices and duties therewith connected, made clear and easy of com-
prehension. Nor is the " Conveyance Directory" less useful. It is
obvious that without a strict arrangement and classification such
ample and various information as this would be cumbrous and un-
serviceable. But in its order, divisions, arid condensation, we have
perhaps the most characteristic features of this extraordinary com-
pilation. The " Street Directory" is worth consulting with a view
to this. It not only tells you the number of the house you want,
but it indicates its position and whereabouts. Let us add that Mr.
Kelly's information is brought down to the very latest date, com-
prising even the present Lords Albemarle and Alranley, and the
last election for Cork.

BRITANNIA, DECEMBER 1, 1849.
Of all the wonders of industry and skill produced by England in
the course of the year it would be difficult to single out any one so
remarkable as this. We should pronounce the effort impossible,
were not its successful ace implishment before us. Let any one con-
sider the extent of our metropolis from east to west and from north
to south—let him traverse some of its more crowded districts, and,
passing from broad open lines of thoroughfare, dive down into
winding lanes and cross courts, imperfectly known to even the most
diligent seeker of " short cuts"—let him then stretch out into the
suburbs, and mark the innumerab'e lines of roads branching out in
all direction—let him glance as he goest at the various trades and
occupations which everywhere meet his eye—and then ask himself
what must be the amount of labour required to collect into one book
and range alphabetically the name, the abode, and the occupation of
every holder of every house in this mighty city. And not only so,
but to give, as it were, a chart of every square, street, and alley,
indicating every turning, and describing the character of every
house, and the name and calling of its inhabitant. Further yet,
to collect together every member of every craft in this huge
hive of industry, and to exhibit then, scattered as they are and
unknown to each other, in a compact form together, so that
any one tradesman, be he a butcher, baker, or candlestick-
maker, may be picked out, without an instant's loss of time,
from the crowd of his fellows. The production of such a work,
so perfect in all its parts, and so minutely accurate, is a
striking proof of our social progress, and, by showing how far the
science of human classification may may be carried when men are
most thickly packed together, seems to indicate a more advanced
stage of social fellowship than we have yet reached. The most ad-
mir,.ble feature sn this marvellous work is, that its size only adds to
its clearness and precision, Exhibiting so readily the humblest
name, whi e embracing the metropolis, it puts one-in mind of the
trunk of on elephant, which can pick up a needle or root up a tree.
One of its peculiarities is. that the whole book seems to have been
compiled only the day before it is issued, so lately is every change
recorded. Even the typographical execution :is a wonder of accu-
racy ; and the appearance of the whole work, throughout its two
thousand pages and upwards, Is ..fair and uniform, reflecting great
credit on the press of the Messrs. Kelly. Success so complete as to
drive every competitor from the field has in no way relaxed the ex-
ertions of the Proprietors to consult the public convenience. The ,
volume expands with the metropolis itself, and notes every change
with the fide,Py of truth itself. Every person who has had occasion
to consult it must bear testimony to its judicious arrangement and
its inestimable usefulness for ail the varied aims of London busi-
ness ; and to the great saving of time it effects for all purposes of re-
ference. In a word, it is the largest collection of facts in the world,
and the most complete exposition of the life and industry of the me-
tropolis that could possibly be desired.

JOHN BULL, NOVEMBER 24, 1849.
As often as this gigantic volume meets the eye in its annually
renewed form, the question rises in the mind, how it is possible to
trace, in the ever-shifting stream of London life, each unit of the
countless multitude, and to identify on each Individual spot the
beings that house and nestle there. And another question follows
naturally in the train of the former —how is it possible that such an
undertaking can repay the enormous outlay which of necessity it
must occasion, at a price, for the size of the volume, so exceedingly
moderate. On the latter point, however, the annual re-appearance
of the volume, in an ever improved and enlarged form, is a sufficient
answer. Patriotic as his laborious undertaking proves Mr. Kelly to
be, we apprehend he is too wite a man to push his patriotism to the
extreme of making the public a present of 'the volume ; and on the
other hand the public is hardly to be supposed so insensible to its
own interest and inconvenience, as not to give the abundant encou-
ragement it deserves to a work so eminently useful. As for the
accuracy of the information, down to the latest practicable moment,
it se happens that the present year affords several remarkable tests.
Two Noble Lords, the Earl of Albemarle and Lord Alvanley, have
died within the last month, the Cork election has only just been
gazetted, and two Bishops have been created, though neither of
them is as yet consecrated. Nevertheless we find, on turning to the
Peerage, the two noblemen who have recently succeeded, in their
proper places ; Dr. Hind and Dr. 011ivant settled in their sees ; and
in the " Parliamentary Directory," Colonel Chat'erton, the new
Member for Cork, duly registered.

CIIURCII OF ENGLAND QUARTERLY REVIEW,
JANUARY, 1850.

We well remember a gentleman of a somewhat unimaginative
turn, on being appealed to for his opinion of Mr. Dickens's works,
replied that they did not appear to him to contain much general in-
formation. This would have been the very book for him, for it is
full of general information. We recollect " Kent's Directory," the
first of the family to which this work belongs ; and we also remem-
ber the " Post-office Directory " in its cradle, and a somewhat
weakly and rickety bantling it was. We never thought it would
have attained to the fair proportions of the volume before us, or have
displayed the intelligence which we find in its pages. Exclusively of a
" Street," " Commercial," and " Court Directory," it contains all
sorts of information desirable to the merchant and the tradesman ;
while the Post-office regulations, in addition to their fulness, have
the crowning recommendation of authenticity. Among the number-
less competitors for public favour at this time, we know none more
valuable to a mercantile man as a " Christmas or New Year's Gift.'

CHURCH AND STATE GAZETTE, DECEMBER 28, 1849.
Here is an annual which has completed its first half century, and
which is almost load enough for a moderately strong man to carry.
From the excellent map of London, at the beginning, to the last
page—(and there are upwards of two thouzand of them) —there is
not a word in this gigantic volume which a critic can cavil at : his
occupation is gone. In the pages before us there is no flattery—as
little of foolish argument—and nothing but truth. Nothin; but
truth l—and yet it is a guide to our national offices—a Directory for
our streets and all who therein dwell—as well as for Trade, Law,
the Court, the Parliament, and the City. In short it is a book that
everybody, at some time or other, stands in need of; and, as we have
said before, it not only tells nothing but truth, but is the only unin-
spired book of which such a character can be given.
SPECTATOR, XovEstnna 24, 1849.
This has no new features of any importance, but its utility and
completeness are enforced afresh at each examination. We say
nothing of direct and obvious uses for reference, because we have
often spoken of them ; but whether for the purpose of discovering
the domicil. or busines o a person of whom the inquirer has but
slender trace, or for to stir lthe apparent respectability of a man by
tracing his whereabo forseveral years, or for going direct to your
point in a neighbour or street to which you are a stranger, this
book and its back volumes are unrivalled. For example, Black-