which the biscuits are made by the aid of the machinery is very astonishing.

The first process is the mixing of flour and water into what is called dough; this is done by putting a quantity of flour into a cylinder of about 5 feet in length and 3 feet in diameter, and the water is supplied from a cistern close to the cylinder, the quantity being regulated by a gauge. The cylinder is divided into two parts, so that when the upper half is removed, the other part forms a trough from which the dough is easily removed. A shaft armed with knives passes through the cylinder and put in motion by the engine, mixes the meal and water, and produces five hundred weight of dough in two minutes. The dough is afterwards taken to the breaking machine, that is two large and heavy rollers moving backwards and forwards, which pass very quickly over the dough and reduce it to one uniform consistency and thickness. It is then cut into small pieces preparatory to being rolled to the thickness of the biscuit. The latter process is carried on by placing the pieces on a board of 3 feet in width and 6 feet in length, and which by means of a series of friction rollers are reduced to the thickness of the biscuits, and expanded into a sheet or square of nearly the same dimensions as the table. This sheet is now brought under a stamping press, at the lower part of which a series of knives are so placed as to stamp but not separate the sheet

into about forty hexagonal biscuits, which are then removed into large ovens to be baked. As soon as the biscuits are baked, they are stowed away into a large room over the stoves, which is always well aired, in order that they may be thoroughly dried, when they are filled into bags containing one hundred and twelve pounds of biscuits, ready to be supplied to the ships.

Before the erection of the machinery, the biscuits were made by manual labour, and a great inconvenience was experienced in insuring a sufficient and timely supply in cases of emergency. Here the biscuits are manufactured at the rate of 51d. per hundred weight! There are similar machinery and bakehouses at Deptford and Plymouth, and these with the one at Gosport will produce annually upwards of seven thousand tons of biscuits, which quantity, if made by hand, would cost about 20d. per hundred weight; it will therefore be seen that the machinery saves a large amount of money to the Government.

We afterwards saw the store warehouses, they were very large buildings, some of them 500 feet in length, in which were deposited an enormous quantity of salt beef, ham, chocolate, casks of rum, water-tanks and such other articles for the navy; it took us nearly two hours to inspect the whole, and we were very much gratified in seeing it, but especially the machinery.

Near the town of Gosport is the well known

Haslar Hospital, for the sick and wounded marines and seamen. The building consists of a front more than 550 feet in length, and wings of nearly the same dimensions. It is a royal endowment, and is capable of containing two thousand patients. The hospital is surrounded with high walls, within which are inclosed residences for the officers, surgeons, &c.; there is also a very good anatomical museum. We had a letter from our friend Mr. Rice to Dr. Richardson, of Haslar Hospital; we received much kindness from him and his family, and we had the pleasure of spending a very agreeable evening with them. We saw some of the wards and the museum in the hospital, but they were nearly the same as those in Guy's Hospital, which we have described elsewhere.

On the 29th of October we left Portsmouth at ten in the morning by the Brunswick steamer, a more miserable and uncomfortable steam-boat than her we never saw during our entire sojourn in England; she is an old vessel, and her engines very much out of order. The accommodations are, if we may use the term, very unprofessionally planned, as there is no bulkhead or even screen to detach the main saloon from the bed places, it is in consequence very unpleasant for all passengers; this plan would do very well where the trip is only for a few hours, but where the passengers have to remain the night on board, the

berths ought to be separated from the saloon in order to make them private. And with all this imperfection she was a very dull sailer, and very uneasy in her motions. We arrived at Plymouth in twenty-four hours, the distance being only about 130 miles, so that with a powerful and wellconstructed vessel the trip can with ease be performed in twelve or fourteen hours. We were told that she was to be repaired very shortly; we think she ought to have been condemned, and a new vessel substituted in her stead. The passage-money for the after cabin was 25s., and the fore cabin 15s.

We arrived at Southampton in two hours, and having taken some more passengers which came from London by the railway train, as well as a carriage, a pair of horses, and about fifty large packages belonging to the Earl of Brownlow, we started again at three o'clock. At six next morning we reached Torquay, where we landed the things belonging to the above nobleman, and proceeded onwards. We had just time to land and look about a little. Torquay is situated on the coast of Devonshire, and from its lonely position, it is a very dear place. The houses appeared to us to be very neat, many of them standing on an eminence overlooking the sea. It is a watering place in summer; many fashionable people from the west of England principally resort here for the benefit of the salt baths. We sailed all along

the coast of Devonshire, from Torquay to Plymouth; the cliffs are very bold, perpendicular, and difficult of access. The county of Devonshire is considered one of the most picturesque in England. The harbour is called the Hamoaze, and the view on entering it is remarkably fine. The Drake Islands, situated in the centre of the harbour, Mount Edgecombe, the seat of Lord Mount Edgecombe on the left, the victualling office, which is a modern work, consisting of a beautiful wharf, and capacious and lofty storehouses on the right, together with that gigantic work, the breakwater, give a beautiful and varied effect. Mount Edgecombe is a small mount covered with fine shady trees, and affords to the people of Plymouth and Devonport one of the most delightful walks. We landed at the place called Admiral's Stairs, and took our quarters at a lodging-house in George Street, which is a very quiet and respectable street in Devonport, and a great many lodgings are always to be had here, as there is few houses that are not intended for the accommodation of the strangers. We, immediately after dinner, went and paid our respects to the admiral superintendent, and the master shipwrights of the yard. Admiral Warren very kindly gave directions that every facility should be afforded us, and we here beg to convey our grateful sentiments to him and the worthy master shipwright, T. F. Hawkes, Esq., together with all