LONDON.

ng

s one of the greatest s an office established of the customs. It river Thames, situated, way that the ships can ar it. Behind it is the

every respect it is very which it is intended. one, and a little account o those who are unacof commerce. Almost part of the wealth and from the constant and with foreign countries. that is, in bringing the nd selling our own in of any consequence in has been a great comne; its commerce has han that of any other 2, is connected with t consequence to all re apt to think but are not themselves

THE CUSTOM-HOUSE IN LONDON.

THIS extensive building, which is one of the greatest ornaments to the city of London, is an office established by the Government for the collecting of the customs. It stands upon the north bank of the river Thames, situated, as the print will show, in such a way that the ships can come to a convenient position near it. Behind it is the thickest part of London, so that in every respect it is very commodious for the business for which it is intended. This business is a very important one, and a little account of it may not be uninteresting to those who are unacquainted with the proceedings of commerce. Almost every one is aware that a great part of the wealth and prosperity of England is derived from the constant and extensive trade which is kept up with foreign countries. We have intercourse of this kind, that is, in bringing the productions which they furnish, and selling our own in return, with nearly all the nations of any consequence in every part of the world. England has been a great commercial country from a very early time; its commerce has been more extensive and successful than that of any other in the globe. Whatever, therefore, is connected with trade has always been of the greatest consequence to all classes, although very often persons are apt to think but little of those affairs in which they are not themselves personally engaged.

The wealth for which England is famous has been in a large degree acquired by bold and persevering exertions in this employment: the sea has always been both our protection and support. As it was said of the city of Tyre in the Bible, that "her merchants are princes," so it may also of this country, for the largest fortunes have been earned by successful trading. It might be an interesting subject to illustrate in what manner the great profits of commerce arise, without making poorer either of the countries between which it is carried on; but at present we are only concerned with the customs. Trading is not only a great source of gain to the particular merchants who conduct it, but also is a great source of revenue to the country at large. The laws require that

VOL. XXII.

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a certain duty should be paid upon the productions of foreign countries when they are admitted into our harbours, and also upon many of those things which are carried out of the same port. Those which go from us to other nations are called exports, and those which we receive from them in return are called imports. Both are required to pay a considerable sum of money, a kind of tax or rate, according to their value, which is a very reasonable payment, because it is but a small part of the gains which each party will make by the transaction. is something given to their country in return for the protection and privileges which all subjects receive from Government. No kind of tax is so easy to those who pay it, if properly regulated and managed. It acts as a check upon our receiving too much from other countries, and so injuring our own countrymen at home; and also prevents the carrying away of what may be wanted for our own use and consumption. This is the meaning of the customs, and the greater they are, the less occasion there is for burdening the people with other taxes. Money must be raised in some way for the business of the state, and for the good of us all; and this is one very good way of collecting it.

The customs, when they are high, do certainly raise the price of the articles which are required to pay them; but then, as it must be paid in some form or other, there can be no better than this; for most of the articles of commerce are things which people can live without if they are very poor. A great part are luxuries, rather than necessaries, of life; and therefore those who can afford luxuries pay most to the customs. Although many of them, such as tea, sugar, &c. are very great comforts to all classes of people, yet we ought not to think them so necessary that we cannot do without them; and a prudent person, if very poor, will prefer, while he continues so, to do as much without expensive things as he can. So we pay our little share of the customs when we are able, and then we get these comforts in return; and when we are not able to afford them, we escape the payment of the customs altogether.

The place in which the principal business connected

with this department is carried on is one of the largest rooms in England, suited to contain the great number of clerks employed there, and the persons who attend on business. On one occasion the whole floor of this building suddenly fell through, on account of the sinking of the foundation; but the clerks, who were at their desks all round it, near the wall, most wonderfully escaped. It was difficult to know how the damage could be repaired without the expense of building it all again; but by the skill and courage of the architect, they were able to take away the whole foundation from under it, and to prop it up upon pillars. Then they built up a strong foundation to reach the walls, and thus made the whole entirely secure by an astonishing effort of genius and perseverance.

ON PRAYING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.

WITH regard to praying in the name of Jesus Christ, the method appointed by God in Scripture will be made clear, if we refer it to human things as an example and model. What do we mean among ourselves, when we use the same expression? Is it not a frequent occurrence that when we desire to obtain some favour of another, we request a third person, who has more influence with him than we have ourselves, to present our request in our stead? Do we not often fear to ask a thing in our own We may name, and get some other to ask it for us? doubt whether our authority or merits would be of sufficient weight to obtain it; or we may not have any hope of an access to the presence of those whom we desire to petition. In this way, most of those who desire anything from a great king are obliged to attempt it. They get some person who is high in authority, and near the person of the sovereign, to present their petition; and if they can induce him to make it a personal request on his own part, they consider it a great means and hope of success; that is, if he will present it in his own name, instead of theirs, they know it will come more favourably before the monarch. Now, for what reason do they not go at once before him themselves, and tell their wants? Why, because in the first place they could not approach