CITY OP WORCESTER. 371

the city famous for this branch of its manufacture. The Royal Porcelain Works are now carried on by a joint-stock company, under the management of Messrs. Phillips and Binns; and Messrs. Grainger are the only other manufacturers. The Vinegar Works of Messrs. Hill, Evans, and Co., are the most extensive in this country, the establishment having grown till it has absorbed several streets. One of their casks is 23 feet high, 102 feet round, and holds 114,643 gallons! Then there are the Engine Works, founded recently by a joint-stock company on a gigantic scale for the manufacture of railway engines, bridges, &c.; Messrs. M'Kenzie, Clunes, and Holland's works for brass castings, &c.; Messrs. Lea and Perrins' famous "Worcestershire sauce" establishment; Messrs. Lewis and Co.'s mustard, pickles, and preserves; Mr. Webb's horse-hair weaving establishment; Messrs. Hardy and Padmore's old-established iron foundry; Alderman Stallard's distillery and wine and spirit vaults, among the largest out of London; M'Naught and Smith's carriage manufactory; Mr. Willis's wholesale boot and shoe establishment; and we must not forget the hop trade, which in some seasons brings 20,000 or 30,000 "pockets" of that article into the city, and has a separate market devoted to it, under the management of an admirable corporation, of whom the governor is Mr. John Hughes. The Severn has been for ages the highway of a great carrying trade to and beyond Worcester - to say nothing of its world-renowned salmon and potted lampreys - but the traffic on the river was severely checked by the introduction of railways and the defects in the navigation. Many thousands of pounds have since been spent in the erection of locks and weirs, dredging, and so forth, but the thing is not complete yet, and a heavy debt depresses the energies of the Commissioners. A Chamber of Commerce has existed in Worcester since 1839; and there are six banks, including two for savings. Worcester boasted of a newspaper - the "Worcester Postman" - as early as 1709. Five newspapers exist here now.