CHAPTER XII.

THE PROGRESS OF THE NATION DURING THE REIGNS OF GEORGE IV. AND WILLIAM IV.

Increase of Population--Nature of its Employment--Wealth of the Nation--The Cotton Trade--Hosiery--The Silk and Woollen Trades--Linen Goods--Minerals and Coal--Hardware and Cutlery--Roads--Railways--Steamboats--The Coasting Trade--Traffic between England and Ireland--Imports and Exports--Coffee and Tea--The Revenue--Houses and Carriages--Real Property and Savings-banks--Popular Education--Amelioration of Criminal Legislation--Effect of Education on Crime--The Religious Bodies--The Irvingites--Religious Leaders in England, Scotland, and Ireland--Progress of Science--Mathematicians--Astronomers: Herschel and Lord Rosse--Discoveries in Light by Brewster and others--Irish Men of Science--Mrs. Somerville, Wheatstone, Daguerre, and Fox Talbot--Cavendish and Dalton--Mechanicians: Sir Marc Brunel--Babbage--The Fine Arts: Turner--Lawrence and Wilkie--Haydon--Sculpture--Architects: Soane, Barry, and the Pugins--Historians: Mackintosh, Lingard, and Hallam--Napier and Gurwood--Biographers: Moore and Lockhart--Miscellaneous Writers--Cheap Literature--Sir Walter Scott--Lady Blessington and Lady Morgan--Mrs. Hemans--L. E. L.--Pollok--Professor Wilson ("Christopher North")--Sheridan Knowles and Bulwer Lytton--Manners and Morals--Almack's--Other Amusements--English Cookery--Hyde Park--Male and Female Costume 416