Next to the raising of coal, the most important trade carried on here is that of copper smelting. The circumstances that originally determined the settlement of cooper smelting in and around Swansea, are that it is possessed of an excellent and well-sheltered harbour, has an almost unlimited supply of the proper description of coal in the immediate neighbourhood, and is the nearest Welsh port of any rank to the Coast of Cornwall, from whence is obtained the principal part of the supply of copper ores. Some idea of the extent of the trade may be formed from the following particulars. The quantity of ore annually sent from Cornwall is about 150,000 tons, of the value of nearly £1,000,000. Irish, about 15,000 tons. Foreign—from Cuba, Chili, Australia, &c., about 50,000 tons: these contain about double the per centage of copper as compared with that of Cornwall, and are therefore proportionately valuable. This will give upwards of a million-and-a-half of money as the amount annually paid for ores alone. In addition to the copper works, there are extensive works for silver, iron, tin-plate, zinc, alkali, and patent fuel. Potteries, breweries, and ship building yards; and these together with bituminous, freeburning and stone coal are the articles which go to form the great export trade of Swansea. The imports are principally metallic ores, timber, flour, &c., &c. Under these favorable circumstances, the shipping, the general trade, and the limits of the town have for many years past been greatly extended. In the coasting trade, the shipping has nearly trebled itself within about thirty years, whilst in the foreign trade the increase has been in a much greater ratio. The rate of increase in the population has been found to correspond with the general improvements of the town; in 1821 it was rather above 10,000, whilst it now amounts to nearly 35,000.