In the arrangement of this work, the Author has embraced the financial condition of Foreign nations, first giving prominence to the finances of the United Kingdom, under the various forms in which they present themselves. To Banks, and Banking, in the United Kingdom, is devoted a special chapter, with a historical sketch of the Metropolitan Joint Stock Banks, and the state of the law for regulating Banks to the present time. A chapter is also devoted to Foreign Banks and Banking: these establishments are now become so numerous, especially in France, Spain, and Germany, that they occupy a very important place in Foreign finances; indeed, so numerous are they, that they have done much to change the entire state of credit throughout the continent of Europe within the last few years. In giving an account of these institutions, the Author has studied less to define the extent of their operations, than to enunciate the governing principles by which they are conducted in each country, in order to show the various systems upon which different nations have based their credit. With regard to the Debts and Revenues of Foreign Nations, connected with this country, the Author has arranged them in alphabetical order, and has brought down the information concerning them to a recent period.