d on the north side of
the Coloured Cloth Hall, is used chiefly for the sale of ladies' cloths in
their undyed state. The White Cloth Hall is nearly as large as the Coloured
Cloth Hall, and on the same plan. The markets are held on Tuesdays and
Saturdays, on which days alone the merchants are permitted to buy in the
Halls. The time of the sale is in the forenoon, and commences by the ringing
of a bell, when each manufacturer is at his stand, the merchants go in, and
the sales commence. At the end of an hour the bell warns the buyers and
sellers that the market is about to close, and in another quarter of an hour
the bell rings a third time, and the business of the day is terminated. The
White Cloth Hall opens immediately after the other is closed, and the
transactions are carried on in a similar manner.

The public buildings of Leeds are not externally imposing, and it is, without
exception, one of the most disagreeable-looking towns in England--worse than
Manchester; it has also the reputation of being very unhealthy to certain
constitutions from the prevalence of dye-works.

The wealthy and employing classes in Leeds (we know no better term) have a
reputation for charity, and good management of charitable institutions.
Howard the philanthropist visited the workhouse, and praised the management,
at a period when to deserve such praise was rare. The subscriptions to
public charities are large, and there is an ancient fund for pious uses, said
to amount to upwards of 5000 pounds a-year, managed by a close self-elected
corporation, about the distribution of which they do not consider themselves
bound to give any detailed information. Dr. Hook, the Vicar of Leeds, has
organized a system of house-to-house visitation, for the purpose of affording
aid, in poverty and sickness, to the deserving and religious, and educational
instruction to all, which has effected a great deal of good, and would have
done more, had not well known circumstances shaken the confidence of the
Leeds public in the honesty of some of the teachers. All parties agree,
however differing in opinions, that Dr. Hook himself is a most excellent,
charitable, self-sacrificing man.

A New Grammar School--first founded in 1552 by the Rev. Sir William Sheafield,
and since endowed by several other persons--is lodged in a building of ample
size, with residence for the head master, and enjoys an income of 2000 pounds
a-year; and there are four Exhibitions of