We are enabled, after many experiments, to present our readers with a plan of the Liverpool Docks, executed by a new process--namely, by a union of lines cut upon wood, and of moveable type. The completion of our wishes, in this respect, will enable us to illustrate any subject of geography or topography, by maps and plans, executed with more precision than we could have attained by any other means. We subjoin to this plan a short account of these extraordinary public works, which the growing commerce of Liverpool has created:-- The town of Liverpool was originally a small fishing-village, till Henry the Second, in 1172, first used its port as a station for the embarkation of troops to Ireland. This circumstance, with the gradually increasing commerce consequent on the connection ever since maintained between the two countries, and the excellence of its port, doubtlessly laid the foundation of its present magnitude and prosperity. Yet its growth for a long period was slow, and even at times seemed to retrograde. In 1571 the inhabitants of the “poor decayed town of Liverpool” petitioned Queen Elizabeth to be relieved from a subsidy imposed on them; and in 1630, while Bristol was assessed at 1,000_l._ for ship-money by Charles I., Liverpool was rated at only 26_l._ [Illustration: Map of the Liverpool docks, showing the old docks and the planned new docks] The first great increase which took place in the importance of Liverpool appears to have been shortly after the commencement of the war with France in 1778, in the first year of which one hundred and twenty privateers, manned by eight thousand seven hundred and fifty seamen, issued from this port. Since that period its increase has been constant and wonderfully rapid. The population, which in 1801 was 77,653, in 1831 amounted to 165,175. In the year ending June, 1830, the number of vessels, entered inwards and outwards, amounted to 11,214, of which the tonnage was 1,411,964, and the customs duties 3,123,758_l._ 8_s._ 10_d_. To provide facilities for this immense traffic great exertions have been made, and vast expense incurred, in the construction of docks and the erection of warehouses. The plan we have given shows their position; and the following account, extracted from Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of England, a valuable work recently completed in four quarto volumes, affords such information as may render the plan perfectly intelligible:--