‡*‡ _A Person will be sent to paint the Numbers_ (_as pointed out in this Directory_) _on Houses in any Street of the City_, _at_ 3_d_ or 6_d_ _each_, _by applying at the Publishers_, W. CHASE _and_ Co. No. 12, Cockey-Lane. Introduction. The utility of a DIRECTORY in so extensive and populous a city as Norwich, is so very obvious, that little need be said on its eligibility. The contents are so fully expressed in the title-page, and the arrangement of matter so well adapted to every capacity, that any explanation here would be offering an insult to the understandings of our fellow-citizens; as well as to the intelligent stranger, and inhabitant of any of the commercial towns, among whom, no doubt, a work of this kind cannot fail of being in great request. This city, though abounding in opulence and fashion, has long laboured under great inconvenience on account of the difficulty of ascertaining, precisely, the address of its inhabitants, whether in trade or independent: and this has been chiefly owing to want of PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. The vague and general name of a parish being the only direction to persons of every denomination; so that the enquirer may perambulate the boundaries of three or four adjoining parishes before he can ultimately determine; as it frequently happens that one side of a street is in one parish, the other in another. To remedy this, in some degree, the names of the streets have been put up in a few of the parishes; but even this has been done in so partial and improper a manner, that little benefit can accrue to the complainant. That spirit of improvement so generally felt, has been greatly damped by the attention to, and gloomy appearance of, national affairs; but now that PEACE, the much-favoured handmaid of Heaven, smiles on the industry of the citizens of Norwich, we hope they will, again, turn their thoughts to that very desirable object. We are well aware that there are persons who, holding every species of rational and polite advancement in contempt, are willing to creep through life without a single ray of light, that does not center in their own narrow focus of human perfection! To these, as lumber thrown from the stock of mankind, we recommend an emigration to the sandy plains of Arabia, or to the craggy mountains of Lapland. To be serious: the present publication has not only the merit of being highly useful to the mercantile and curious of _this day_, but may _hereafter_ be remembered as having tended to the ease and ornament of posterity. To find fault with the present without amending the future, is like discovering an evil we cannot specificly cure. We stoop not to such negative virtues; but will freely and respectfully submit our ideas to the consideration of the Police of this city, and to such other bodies and individuals as are therein concerned—under the appellation of _Hints for Public Improvements_.