nd quality of silk from British India. But no matter where
it grows, we can buy it and bring it to our own doors nearly as cheap as the
natives of the country, often cheaper.

In Macclesfield every kind of silk article is produced, including ribbons,
narrow and richly-ornamented satin, velvet, silk embroidered for waistcoats
and gown pieces.

FROM CHESHIRE TO NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.

On leaving Macclesfield we are, as usual, embarrassed by a choice of routes,
due to the perseverance of Mr. Ricardo, one of the members for the Potteries,
who has endowed his constituents with a set of railways, which cut through
their district in all manner of ways. These North Staffordshire lines, Tria
juncta in uno, form an engineering continuation of the Trent Valley, and are
invaluable to the manufacturers of porcelain and pottery in that district. To
the shareholders they have proved rather a disappointment. The ten per cent.
secured to the Trent Valley Company, by the fears of the London and North-
Western, has not yet rewarded the patriotism of the North Staffordshire
shareholders. But to our route, we may either make our way by Leek, Cheadle,
Alton, and Uttoxeter to Burton, famous for the ale of Bass and game of
cricket nourished on it, and through Burton to Derby. (The learned and
lively author of the "Cricket Field" remarks, that the game of cricket
follows malt and hops--no ale, no bowlers or batsmen. It began at Farnham
hops, and has never rolled further north than Edinburgh ale.) Or by
Congleton, Burslem, Hanley, and Stoke upon Trent (the very heart of the
Potteries), then either pushing on to Uttoxeter to the north, or keeping the
south arm past Trentham to Norton Bridge, which will convey you to the Trent
Valley Line, the shortest way to London.

* * * * *

CONGLETON is an ancient borough of Cheshire, on the borders of Staffordshire,
containing a number of those black and white oak frame and plaster houses,
which are peculiar to that county, and well worth examining. It is situated
in a deep romantic valley on the banks of the river Dane, and enjoys a
greater reputation for health than commercial progress. The population does
not appear to have increased between the two last census. The Municipal
Corporation dates from a remote period. It appears from the Corporation
Books that the Mayor and Aldermen patronised every kind of sport--plays, cock
fights, bear baiting, morris dancing. So fond were they of be