Among the places of amusement are a theatre, two sets of assembly rooms, billiard-rooms, and a racecourse. There are also bathing-rooms and a:botanic garden. The Royal Yacht Club-house is a handsome structure. Little remains of the ancient castle, but a tower has been built on the site from the materials of the keep.
Southampton was anciently a place of great trade ; wool and tin were exported; but it declined very much when the export of wool was prohibited. During the 18th century it revived, and since the beginning of the present century it has more than quadrupled its population. It is much frequented as a watering-place. The harbour, which is secure, affords good anchorage. Ship-building is extensively carried ou; and extensive docks have been constructed. The tidal dock is paved with granite, and is lined on three sides with extensive warehouses. It is chiefly used by the large steam-vessels which frequent the port. The area of the basin is 16 acres ; and it has 18 feet at low-water of spring-tides. The inner dock is for colliers and sailing vessels. Timber is imported from the Baltic and from America; coals from the north of Euglaud ; atone from the western counties ; and wine and brandy from Spain, Portugal, and France. There is a con siderable Irish trade. A new custom-house has been erected iu the vicinity of the docks.
The number and tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the port of Southampton on December 31st, 1853, were as follows :—Of and under 50 tons, 136 vessels, tonnage 3588 ; above 50 tons, 85, tonnage 10,744; with 21 steamers of 2129 tons burden. During 1853 there entered
the port in the coasting trade 1757 sailing-vessels of 169,418 tons, and 172 steam-vessels of 48,243 tons; and there cleared 115 steam-vessels of 19,015 tons. In the colonial trade there entered 63 sailing-vessels of 4097 tons, and 252 steam-vessels of 63,127 tons; and cleared 70 sailing-vessels of 7533 tons, and 268 steam-vessels of 73,407 tons. In the foreign trade 236 sailing-vessels of 29,828 tons, and 861 steam vessels of 150,124 tons entered; and 195 sailing-vessels of 21,172 tons, and 347 steam-vessels of 152,245 tons cleared during the year.
Southampton is now the largest packet port in the kingdom. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam-Packet company, the Royal West India Mail-Packet company, and several other eteam-packet companies make the port their place of arrival and departure. The town pos sesses a large and increasing retail trade, chiefly in connection with the shipping. There are coach factories, a large iron-fonndry, breweries, and an extensive sugar refinery. There are general markets on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday ; a fish-market every day ; and two yearly fairs, at one of which a great number of cattle are sold.