The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-21 00:00:00

SUN, NOvEmBER 13, 1850.
),41:110rig the many products of British industry, none, perhaps, will
'miter deserve a place in the Exhibition of 1851, than this mammoth
volume, in itself a specimen of industry, research, accuracy, and
,typography, which has rarely, if ever been creaalled, and which can
the
be surpassed, whilst, at the same time, it is the guide to, and
"'le record of, all those great and magnificent industrial establish-
raeurs to the existence of which in London she owes the proud posi-
tion
which she holds as the metropolis of the civilized world, which
tCI_,tIPY buildings covering a space of ground larger than the territo-
i74 of many a German or Italian independent Prince, and which
five employment to individuals whose numbers exceed those of the
armles of many of the first-rate powers of the world. As a not no-
, worthy specimen of British industry itself, and as a copious, and ac-
curate, and complete index to every other species of metropolitan in-
'uarrY, "Kelly's Post Office London Directory" is certainly entitled to
.15, Place in the Exhibition which is to take place in the ass Palace of
..4ndtistry in the year 1851. This publication of the " Post Office
Directory" commenced in the year 1799, and the present
consequently, the fifty-second annual publication ; and it is a
matter of curious research to compare the present with the early
editions of the work, and to mark the vast improvement which hat
peen' effected ; in fact the present resembles the earlier editions
name merely. The work, in order to facilitate reference, is
now divided into no less than ten Directories : —viz., an " Official
44'ectory." a " Street Directory," a " Commercial Directory," a
Trades Directory," a" Law Directory," a " Court Directory," a
, Parliamentary Directory," a " Postal Directory," a " City Direc-
tory," a " Conveyance Directory," and a " Banking Directory" ;
and the whole is so admirably indexed that a person desiring any
Information with regard to the great metropolis or its inhabitants,
cannot experience the slightest difficulty in at once laying his finger
on the page of the '2,091 pages of which this book is composed,
which contains the information he requires. The present edition of
LT) Directory contains a list of the principal hotels and commercial
"um throughout England and Wales, with the names of the occu-
piers, and the population. In this we see only another proof of the
anxiety of the proprietor to make his work es complete, as
'4_eftlit and as perfect as .posaible. As he himself well observes in
,„"
r, Preface :—" Copiousness, accuracy, and appropriate clay •Ifica-
"on, so that everything which msy reasonably be exoected in such
:li, 140 k may not only'be found, but fouad without difficulty, are in- •
'aPensable to perfection. These advantages can in any Directory
O4lily be attained gradually, and not completely until, as in this ewe,
e work enjoys the entire circulation. While rivals existed pa-
tronage was divided between books which were, or should have
n, counterparts of each other ; the public, thererore, bad to pay
more than they need have done for such werks as were brought
out, and besides to submit to inferior productions, the total receipts
not being sufficient to sustain two Directories of London, each as
I()lnPrehensive as the present. And that the case was precisely as
,ere stated is proved by the fact that this volume—to say nothing of
4 superior accuracy, classification, and general arrangement—
' contains about double the quantity of mere letter-press contained in
theo closing volume of its latest annual competitor, and is published
i
its subscribers at a lower price. So that the public, as well as
the Proprietor of the Post Office London Directory; benefit by the
circumstance that the work is—as it has for several years past been
--without a competitor. It may be safely predicted that this fa-
vourable position will be continued—firmly established as this Di-
rectory is in pubre favour, it can only be necessary that an equal
arneunt of diligence to that which has led to so gratifying a result
"411 Le continued, in order to sustain it; on this the public may with
irinlidence rely." The public have for years past relied with confi-
ence on the exertions of the proprietors of the " Post Office London
Directory," and have invariably found their confidence responded
to, so that year by year the work has become more copious, more
,eottrate, and better classified, until now it has attained that which
15 to all appearance a state of absolute perfection, and is, in every
sense of the phrase, without a rival.

TIMES, NOVEMBER 14, 1850.
...The volume for the year 1851 has just been published by Messrs.
4-eity and Co , Boswell-court, Temple•bar, and is the 52d of a most
Valuable series. This volume, like its predecessors, contains a mass
ZCl,,v,ery useful, and in the present state of the community almost
otsDensable, information, compiled with indefatigable industry,
and with an accuracy of research which may be relied on. The
present volume is in arrangement and distribution of matter similar
1° those by which it has been preceded. It is remarkably well
Drinted, and made in appearance as handsome as a book of such a
p‘ss can be made. What can be said of few books of the same
hilt may fairly be said of it—that no part could be taken from it
Without doing it an injury, and its very bulk is a security for its
eo Piousness. There is, as usual, a good map of London prefixed to
the letter-press. and a variety of emendations which render it as
Dertect as sack a work can be made.

MORNING HERALD, NOVEMBHEL 13. 1850.
The fifty-second publication of this stupendous annual has just
Made its appearance, exhibiting no remission of that intelligent and
sYsternatic industry which has hitherto given the book so specific a
character for unique and comprehensive utility. Within this large
and plethoric volume every name and residence, every trade and
Profession, imident to the metropolis is to be found arranged
upon such a clear and orderly plan as to place it within in-
stant reach. Every succeeding issue has suggested some lin-
trrovemcnt in the methods of retail, as well as in the completion of
the machinery by which such a multitudinous assemblage of facts
might
be revised and corrected at intervals; and the book may now
, pronounced perfect. The experience of the last few years has
,Toßht us to put the most implicit filth in the records of the " Post
Mace Directory." Error can scarcely be said to exist at all, so
efficient is the process by which the separate lists are edited by
special emissaries ; while the wants of any sort of inquirer, whether
referring to the Government official or the City merchant, the
Zirofessional man or the shopkeeper, are met by the judicious mature
of the sub-divisions and the facility afforded by the treble Directories
of streets, trade, and persons. But the char icteristics of Mr. Kelly's
mammoth periodical are well known, for no book is subjected to
.ore frequent reference. It has now become a public necessity ;
it...!1(1, to be without it would be an inconvenience the public would but
Fl like to encounter. We have ofte,i been called upon to applaud the
211Men,e amount of laborious enterpr se bestowed upon the prepare-
mon of this volume. Every fresh instance suggests the same species
of apostrophe; and no one can turn over the two thousand pages of
Which it consists, every page a mass of small solid typography, with-
!ot being struck with the magnitude of the undertaking, and its
measurable usefulness to the public at large. We have 'loth ng now
• add to our former commendations. The volume for 1851 contains
.e
Usual number of Directories, besides a variety of information
ttiru every subject either remotely or immediately connected with
e occupancy of London. Remark beyond this i superfluous.

MORNING CHRONICLE, NOVEMBER 13, 1850.
The fifty-second annual publication of this most useful work has
4
Vst been sent to as. The public, generally speaking, are fully alive
Vlile merits of this enormous volume. extending to upwards of
_OO closely printed pages, and nearly every person engaged in com-
Zrcial or professional pursuits In this great metropolis regards it
being necessary to him in his avocation in consequence of the
'"iastant, reference he is (towelled to make to it It is possible,
l bleever, that there are some who may suppose that the " Post Office
Directory" is merely a list of names of persons engaged in trade ;
Whereas, we can assure them that it comprises, under separate beads,
'lumber of different Directories, each of which furnishes a large
'pees of information, so admirably arranged that any matter apper-
abling to the distinct subjects may be readily found ranged under
-",„ ue of the following titles :—The " Official," the " Street," the
nrnmercial," the " Trades," the " Law," the " Court," the " Par-
'ainentary," the " Postal," the " City," the " Conveyance," and the
Lis'anking" Directories. The proprietors state that, " copiousness,
;:brany, and appropriate classification, so that everything that may
'&Bonably be expected in such a book may not only be found, but
found without difficulty, are indispensable to perfection ;" and as far
rWA have been enabled to test this large volume we can congratu-
late them on having attained to that perfection.

MORNING POST, NOVEMBER 16, 1850.
This remarkable publication has reached its fifty-second year, and,
"11tI as it is, it does net contain a superabundant line, or an item
of
information which might have been withheld without detracting
urn its complet• ness. This is good evidence that utility rather
ark display has been aimed at ; and the remark carries along wttli
It high compliment to the discretion, ability and public spirit of
r. Belly. Although competition has ceased, the circumstance has
'M no relaxing effect upon the efforts of the proprietor to preserve
iRe Character of his publication, as will be abundantly seen by all
v I'o have occasion to refer to its pages. The great streams of in-
-IPflation are, as usual, the " Official," the "Street," the "Commer-
ttal." the " Trades," the "Law,' the "Court," the " Parliamen-
FY," the " Post.l," the " Conveyance," and the "Banking
Directories. As affording an index to the commercial greatness of
,London, as well as to many other of its characteristic's, a perusal of
the lists cannot be deemed uninteresting ; on the contrary, it may
invite the application of some time and trouble to work out a few
resulta• Without aiming at anything beyond a fair approximation
to the truth, the following facts may be stated :—Of persons holding
°facial situations under the Crown, in the East India House, the
Ilank of England, and other public offices, 7,000 names are insertel.
In 7.350 streets, the names of 110,000 persons are ment'oned as en-
Vged +0 business, or as householders, In the " Commercial Diree-
TY." when, the names appear without the street classification, and
art limited mainly to those engaged in business, 80,000 may be taken
as the number. In the analysis which is given of the persons en-
'Aged in trades and professions (excluding the law), 90,080 names
rear. In the " Court Directory" 26,000 names ara :.iven. Taking
e religious characteristics of London as the subject of analysis, we
have: 264 churches and 84 chapels belonging to the National
`Lurch ; and 291 Diss Ming meetin -houses. The last are very
vatted in name, and unequal in point of number. The Independents
Vve 21 paces of worship • the Wesleyan., 44; Baptists, 69; RO-
r:t't Catholics, 19 ; Unitarians, 4 ; Irvingitos, 3; Society of Friends,
Jews, 7 • connected with Scotch system, 8 ; of foreign ehapels,
thiere are Bavarian,' Danish, German, French, Greek, Swedish, and
~I4uan. The "Directory" contains a minute, but clearly engraved
""al) of London, on a scale of three inches to the mile.

. MORNIN4 ADVERTISER, NovasszEn 16, 1850.
Arneng the proofs of England's commercial, social, and political
greatness—the last named being a necessary sequent of the two
Tofoter—we can certainly point with pride to the huge volume be-
fore
as. It is, like the people whose avocations, professions, resi-
dences, and names it so accurately catalogues and classifies, labori-
.
112. able, energetic practical, and solid. A microcosm of society,
y and unattractive at the first view, but full of utility, nay, an
'od;spensable guide to him who seeks to track individuality in the
vast labyrinth of London, which, if, in his ignorance, he supposes to
.I._be a confused hive of hurrying money-seekers, an understand-
n examination is Messrs. Kelly's stupendous Directory will show
to be

" A mighty maze, 3 et not without a plan."
Sere in this storehouse of multitudinous facts, even the foreigner
~
-4'43' gleam some idea of the vast variety of industrial pursuits,
Wind, 'have made England great, and keep her so. The num-
ber
of merchants, manufacturers, shopkeepers, professional men,
voverument officials, the butterflies of fashion, the peerage,
443 even those whom fortune has elevated to the questionable
Privilege of

" Nati consumere fruges,"
!1.1113, here be approximately guessed ; and a picture in little of
who
la' our and battle of life in this country be drawn by t
v.'''. Possess the requisite application and perspicacity.
" On the
61e, " The Post Office Directory " is an honour to the direc-
4.rs of so much systematic and intelligent industry, and its fifty-
ad issue " moults no featha r " of its previous fame. Every
!_ubJect remotely or immediately bearing upon the object of the
Work seems to he foreseen and contrived for, and as the re-
. 24 of " a million of facts," it is the only volume we hav ever
n to which we'could, without reservation, fairly apply' thate often
"us-used title. •

DAILY NEWS, NOVEMBER 14, 1850.
" The Post Office London Directery" for 1851 has just been
,
fted ; and after an examination of its multifarious contents, we
flay declare it to deserve a continuance of the extensive patronage
it has hitherto so long received. More than 2,000 pages, divided
11214 somewhere about 5,000 columns of close type, contain a mass
In information about London and its people to be found in no other
nook. To estimate this Directory fairly. one shoul
egree cf attention through its pages, and then try todo gcalcwith sulate the
ome
%Mount of fabonr bestowed on its production, and the great amount
of time it saves to those for whose use it is intended. Haying done
that—no rapid task—an attempt may be made to see how far it is
accurate. Turn to the name of any person who, in trade or pro-
fession, has recently removed from one prominent part of London to
another, and see if the name be posted up. After submitting the
Volume to a test of this kind, which it stood most completely, we
reel no hesitation in bearing witness to Its accuracrand complete-
'lea& And we may add, that among the many things that may fall
finder the notice of our foreign friends who come to see the Ex-
hibition of 1851, few are adapted to convey a more exact idea of the
Titaness of the metropolis of England than this huge volume with
t*o thousand pages filled with the names, addresses, and occupa-
tions of her chief residents and citizens.

STANDARD, DECEMBER 2, 1850.
This publication is one of the marvels of our age —a work as much
exceeding the celebrated " Annua re of Didot" as London exceed
Faris in wealth, population, and exitent. Our readers may remember
_to a late number of the " Quarterly Review" a remarkable article
o.._escribing the wonderful machinery of the General Post Offiee.
Now, the " Post Office Directory" is really a counterpart of that
'Wonderful machinery4Suppose a man to stand of a clear morning
Ed the top of Highgate-hill. and to look round upon the bounless sea
of brick which actually fills the whole horizon, and then to be told
that he might in one minute, by referring to a portable book, find
not merely the name of every, even the minutest, street, lane, or
alley in the prodigious accumulation sf dwellings, but even the
Caine of every householder among the two millions of inhabitants.
Such is, however, the fact. The " Post Office Directory" will tell
lot all this and more ; for. besides the names *f streets, lanes, and
alloys, it will supply a distinct index to all professions and trades.
Lad to all establishments about which any one can have occasion to
?quire. The librarians'of the British Museum have been some ten
at' twenty years trying to catalogue some 300,000 or 400,000 books,
and they are not yet one quarter through the work. Would it not
me "ell to send them to the compilers of the " Post Office Directory,'
bave found out a way to catalogue some two millions of items
' " •
InPfIINO AND MERCANTILtiGAZETTE, DECEMBER 6, 1850.
The voluine of this -important and 'indispensable work' for the
~MhComing year has just made its appearance, and exhibits no fall-
f_ off, either in bulk or utility. when compared with the large
rattily of volumes which have preceded it. The same principles of