London

is much the largest city in the world, with a population of practically 6,000,000. It has two defects as a port the channels up the estuary are not veiy goo a, and: it has no coal or iron. The latter want is ruining its shipbuilding industry in these days of steel steamers. It has, on the other hand, many merits. It commands the great international trade route through the Dover Straits it is just opposite the important Continental harbours; of Antwerp and Rotter dam it has double tide, which goes 80 miles up the river, and; the largest ve els afloat can reach the heart of the city. It is also the centre of the land of the world it is far enough from the west coast to have a dry, ( healthy climate (see DEATH-RATE above), ana it has supremely good communication inland in all directions — by a canal. (Cf. the names of the railways North Western, Midland, Great Northern, Great Eastern, South Eastern, Great Western, South Western, etc.) The hops of Kent and the barley of the eastern counties feed its breweries, as the fruit of Kent and Surrey feeds its jam factories. There are about i million foreigners LOURDES in the city, most of whom live in Soho or about Ratcliff Highway, except the Italian ice-cream and organ-gnnding people, who have a colony of their own near Hatton Garden.