30 MAY 1891, Page 26

The City of London Directory, 1891. (W. H. and L.

Collingridge,) —This volume, as usual, contains a vast amount of useful and in- teresting matter. It gives us, for instance, a complete list of the Livery Companies, with brief history ; the personnel of the Courts of Assistant ; approximate income, divided in some cases into " corporate " and " trust; " foes, &c. (It must be understood that information has not been supplied in all cases.) There is a list of the liverymen voters of the City, with a total of 7,743. It is noteworthy that some of the less wealthy Companies are the most numerous. The Mercers, with 477,143 Ss. 5d., have 104 livery- men (of whom about one-seventh are Watneys) ; the Loriners, with 4500, have 441; the Carmen have four. (It must be under- stood that residence within twenty-five miles of London is a neces- sary qualification.) The directories are "Street," " Alphabetical," "Trades," "Public Companies." There is also a list of schools, which might be made more complete. Christ's Hospital, for in- stance, has just a quarter of a column allotted to it. Why not have given a synopsis of the now scheme P The map of the City, is admirable.