rt dock is 780 feet long, 520 feet wide, and 30 feet
deep, covering nine acres and a half, with good wharf, and warehouse
room for loading and unloading."

"Pray," said Bob, "what are those immense caravans, do they belong
to the shew-folk, the collectors of wild beasts and curiosities for
exhibition at the fair? or------"

"They are vehicles of considerable utility, Sir," replied Mr. M.; "for
by means of those covered waggons, all the goods and merchandize of the
East India Company are conveyed to and from their warehouses in town,
under lock and key, so as to prevent fraud and smuggling. They are very
capacious, and although they have a heavy and cumbrous appearance, they
move along the road ~~389~~~ with more celerity than may be imagined;
and the high wall with which the docks are surrounded, prevents the
possibility of any serious peculation being carried on within them. The
Company are paid by a tonnage duty, which they charge to the owners.
Coopers, carpenters, and blacksmiths, are continually employed in
repairing the packages of goods, landing, and snipping; and a numerous
party of labourers are at all times engaged in conveying the merchandize
to and from the shipping, by which means hundreds of families are
provided for. The Company is established by Act of Parliament, and for
the convenience of the merchants they have an office for the transaction
of business in town."

"It is a very extensive concern," said Tallyho, "and is doubtless of
very great utility."

Having satisfied themselves by looking over these extensive works, Mr.
M. informed them, that adjoining the Docks was a ship-building yard,
formerly well known as Perry's Yard, but now the property of Sir Robert
Wigram. "Probably you would like to take a view round it."

To this having replied in the affirmative, they were quickly introduced.

"Sir Robert," said Mr. M. "has been, and I believe still is, a
considerable managing owner of East India Shipping, whose fortune
appears to have advanced as his family increased, and perhaps few men
have deserved better success; he was born at Wexford, in Ireland, in the
year 1744, and was brought up under his father to the profession of
a surgeon: he left Ireland early in life, to pursue his studies in
England, and afterwards obtained an appointment as surgeon of an East
Indiaman, and remained some years in the service: he married Miss
Broadhurst, the youngest daughter of Francis Broadhurst, of Mansfield,