Through the kindness of Mr. Docker, to whom I am much indebted for very valuable local information, I had the pleasure of hearing the girls and boys read, and witnessing the accuracy with which they answered, generally, the questions put to them by their worthy Minister. It was evident that both Mr. Docker, Mr. Nixon, and the Superintendent of the girls' department, had paid unremitting attention to the improvement of the children. They acquitted themselves with great credit, and the scene altogether was highly gratifying.

Schools.

The CLASSIC and COMMERCIAL INSTITUTION, under the direction of the Rev. William Docker, Minister of Christ's Church, has been established some years at Southport, and is deservedly held in great estimation. Young gentlemen are educated for the highest mercantile or professional situations. Board and Tuition, Thirty-five guineas per annum. Such pupils as may enter at an advanced age, merely to be completed for the University, or the Church, are charged One Hundred guineas per annum.

There are also two LADIES' BOARDING SCHOOLS. One kept by Miss Seddon, and the other by Miss M. A. Greatbatch. Terms, Board and Instruction, including Reading, English Grammar, Geography, History and Needle-work, Thirty guineas per annum. In both these, the usual accomplishments are taught, and strict attention paid to the Scholars. One great convenience to families staying for a number of weeks at Southport is, that, pupils are admitted for short periods.

Miss Houghton has a day-school in East-bank-lane, where Reading, Grammar and Geography, and Plain and Fancy Needle-work are taught. Terms, Reading, &c. with Plain Needle-work, 10s. per quarter-with Fancy Needle-work 15s. per quarter.

Mr. Henry Fogg is employed both as a public and private teacher.

Mr. Walker's ACADEMY, Row Lane, has already been noticed, (p. 56) and needs only to be mentioned now, as possessing, in common with all the above establishments, the advantage of sea-air and bathing. Mr. Walker's terins

are,

For Pupils under ten years of age 26 guineas per annum.

The accommodation for visitors, is equal to any Wateringplace in the kingdom. Independent of the HOTELS, there are a number of DWELLINGS, furnished and fitted up elegantly. These let from one guinea, to eight guineas per week, being generally charged, according to the number of beds, at the rate of half a guinea per week, each bed.

There are also many respectable "BOARDING AND LODGING HOUSES." At these, the terms are five shillings per day,-exclusive of wine and liquors. At the Hotels, the charge for board, exclusive of wine and liquors, is five shillings per day. Beds form a separate expence in all instances.

A choice, as to residence, is thus afforded to those who visit Southport, either in pursuit of health or pleasure, to be decided only by themselves.

The BATHING MACHINES used, of which there are forty and upwards, are of a superior kind. They are mounted on wheels, and so constructed, as not to require turning in the water. Hence they conduce as much to the comfort and security of the bathers, as the rules and regulations now enforced do, to the maintenance of order and decorum.

During the bathing season, the "ECLIPSE " COACH, runs to LIVERPOOL every morning at eight, and returns at seven in the evening.

Two COACHES run alternately, through Bolton, Chorley, &c. so as to form a daily, and speedy communication, between Southport and MANCHESTER. Time of leaving Southport, 12; ―of arrival at Chorley, about 2, at Bolton, half past 3, and at Manchester about 5. Time of leaving Manchester, 12;of arrival at Bolton, 2, at Chorley, a little after 3, and at Southport about 5 in the evening.

CARRIAGES every day, from the Hesketh's Arms, the Union Hotel, and the Royal Hotel, to Scarisbrick bridge, to meet the boats from Manchester, Wigan and Liverpool, and to convey passengers to Southport.

The Boat from Liverpool, for Wigan, &c. arrives at Scarisbrick bridge at 11, A. M.

The Boat from Wigan, for Liverpool, arrives at Scarisbrick bridge at 4, P. M.

Letters.

A few years ago, a regular penny post was established between Southport and Ormskirk, which has been of great importance to the place. The Posт arrives, daily, at one o'clock. The Letters, &c. are delivered immediately, and the Bags forwarded again, at a quarter before three o'clock. Three halfpence is paid on the delivery of each letter and newspaper. Until this arrangement took place, twopence was paid on the delivery of letters, &c. and the same sum on forwarding them. At that time a letter could not be answered until the day after its receipt. Mr. R. TYRER, Postmaster.

Population.

SOUTHPORT is in the district of South-Hawes, and is included in conjunction with the Township of Birkdale, Church Town, Crossons, Banks, and the Hamlets of Little London, Higher and Lower Blowick, in the parish of NORTH MEOLS. The parish Church is situated at CHURCH Town, formerly, the principal village. In March 1824, a census was taken, and the population of the district, exclusive of visitors, was as follows:

It has been stated, that there are, upon an average, 1300 visitors, during the season. Consequently, if this be correct, as it is supposed to be, the gross population, in the summer months, must be very considerable,

The Sand-hills.

Blown together in most irregular shapes, and held in these positions, by the matted roots of the Arundo Arenaria,-Star, Sea Reed, Marram, or Sea Mat-weed; the sand hills present to a stranger, a very singular appearance, not unaccompanied with wishes for their removal, when personal, momentary convenience, is alone considered. But these barriers are

most essential, during the storms and high tides, in the winter months, at which season of the year, the scene is, at times, really terrific. The breaking of the surf over the beach, when the tide flows with a high westerly wind, is awfully grand. Rising higher as they approach the shore, the waves dash their impetuous head against the sand-hills, placed most providentially, as preservatives from inundation.

Government, by an Act passed 15 Geo. II. has, very properly, "prohibited the cutting, pulling up, or carrying away, any Star, or Bent, planted or set, on the hills or banks, on the north west coast of England, under a penalty of twenty shillings, or three months imprisonment for the first offence; and a year's imprisonment, for the second or additional offence. And if any Star be found in the possession of any person within five miles of any such Star, Bent, or Sandhills, he is thereby liable to the same penalty (with an exception in favour of all those who had, or have, any antient prescriptive right to cut star, or bent, upon the sea-coasts in the county of Cumberland.")

Though such restraint is yet in force, a considerable quantity is surreptitiously and clandestinely cut, and when dried, most ingeniously worked into baskets, table-mats, bosses, &c. by the poorer inhabitants of this healthy spot. It would be cruel to enforce the law too rigidly, but it would be well, and indeed is absolutely requisite, that great care should be taken, when cutting the culm, not to injure the roots, for on these, the preservation of the sand-hills, entirely depends, and their essential service as embankments to prevent the encroachment of the sea.

The amazing extent of beach, stretching nearly N. E. and S. W. almost as far as the eye can command, is bounded on the N. E. by the estuary of the Ribble, and on the S. W. by the Liverpool channel.