THE METROPOLIS. XXV exuberant emanations of benevolence are not to be found in any other city throughout the world.* As to the history of LONDON, the earlier accounts are involved in obscurity. It is supposed to have been founded prior to the invasion of Julius Cæsar, who visited this island about fifty years before the birth of Christ; but Cæsar in his Commentaries says not a word about it. Tacitus first mentions it in history. He speaks of it as being sacked in the year 61, under the Emperor Nero, by the British Queen Boadicea, of heroic memory. And even then this historian pronounces it to be the chief residence of merchants, and the great mart of trade and commerce! It cannot, therefore, be a matter of surprise, that in the course of so many revolving centuries this City should have enlarged itself to an extent, that it exceeds all other cities in the number, opulence, and activity of its inhabitants Then spans the graceful arch the roaring tide, * Among public buildings of inferior note may be mentioned Sion College, London Wall, an ancient structure with a good collection of books, where the metropolitan clergy meet for public business-and Dr. Williams's Library, Red-cross street, where the Dissenting Ministers of the three denominations assemble to transact their public concerns. It is enriched with a considerable number of ancient and modern volumes, several paintings of non-conformist ministers, together with a skeleton and mummy both in admirable preservation. My worthy friend the librarian, the Rev. Thomas Morgan, is well known in the literary and religious world. b xxvi MINIATURE SKETCH OF Saints, Heroes, Sages, who the land adorn, MRS. BARBAULD. Besides, there is an incredible number of Villages, with which London is surrounded, and where the habitations of citizens shew themselves in every direction. Among the chief of these may be reckoned Islington, Pentonville, Kingsland, Stoke Newington, Hackney, Homerton, Clapton, Camberwell, Newington-Butts, Vauxhall, Chelsea, Kensington, Paddington, Highgate, Hampstead, Walthamstow, and others which need not be here enumerated. Thus Johnson, alluding to these villages, exclaims: Resolv'd at length from vice and London far To breathe in distant fields a purer air! Whilst Cowper has characterized London and its vicinity with his usual accuracy— LONDON, opulent, enlarged, and still Like a swarth Indian, with his belt of beads, The Commerce of LONDON is great; the annual value of exports and imports may be estimated at about SIXTY MILLIONS, and the amount of the customs at SIX MILLIONS! On an average there are upwards of a Thousand ships in the river, 3000 THE METROPOLIS. xxvii barges and other small craft lading and unlading them. The inland trade also employs about 2000 barges, and there are 3000 wherries or small boats for passengers. We may also add, that there are near 8000 watermen, 4000 labourers, and 1200 revenue officers on duty on the river Thames, beside the crews in the several vessels. Should the reader wish to form an adequate idea of this statement, let him ascend THE MONUMENT, near London Bridge. There the river presents itself as a forest of masts. The watery element is hid from the eye by the multitude of vessels covering its surface, laden with the treasures of every part of the globe! I have mentioned the view from the Monument on account of its vicinity to that part of the Thames where the shipping lies; otherwise, St. Paul's, standing upon higher ground, and in a more centrical situation, must afford a more extensive prospect. The effect produced upon the eye of the spectator from the gallery surrounding the foot of the lanthern is more easily conceived than described. The form of the metropolis, and the complexion of the adjacent country, are clearly ascertained. LONDON, mighty LONDON, is seen in miniature, as from a balloon; and its active inhabitants, whether on foot or in carriages, appear like emmets on a mole-hill, intent on the object of pursuit; though seeing them pass to and fro, we may be disposed to inquire what could produce the incessant agitation. I once ascended the fearful height, and looking around me, I seemed an inhabitant of the ætherial regions. xxviii MINIATURE SKETCH OF Upon quitting this religious temple, I gazed at its mighty bulk, and admired its finished proportions. The remains of the architect lie in one of the excavated recesses beneath the church, and a small marble tablet has these words: Si Quæris Monumen-. tum-CIRCUMSPICE! Do you seek his monumentlook around you! The sententiousness of the inscription is finely indicative of the genius of Sir Christopher Wren, characterizing at once its elevation and sublimity. Nor must we omit mentioning the LONDON, with the EAST, and WEST INDIA DOCKS. The London Docks are large excavations made in Wapping, and for this purpose whole streets of poor, mean, miserable habitations were laid even with the ground. The largest dock will hold near 200 ships, and another about fifty vessels! The entrance from the Thames is by means of three basins, which will contain an immense quantity of small craft. The East India Docks, at Blackwall, are yery spacious and convenient, belonging of course to the East India Company. The West India Docks are in the Isle of Dogs, having entrances to them from Blackwall and Limehouse-hole. The northern dock, for loading inward, covers 30 acres, and will contain from 200 to 300 sail of ships! The smaller southern dock will cover 24 acres, and is devoted to loading outwards. Both these docks are surrounded with gigantic warehouses. The West India trade arriving in fleets, used to occasion much inconvenience in the river. It is now drained off, and the ordinary overgrowing THE METROPOLIS. xxix trade of the port of London may be carried on with facility Pleas'd like a traveller upon the strand Arriv'd of bright AUGUSTA! wild he roves From deck to deck, through groves immense of masts, His raptur'd mind, or scan in order'd course DYER. Immense also is the wholesale and retail trade of this vast city. The former is conveyed by coaches, waggons, barges, &c. to all parts of the kingdom. The latter is dispersed through the following public STREETS, where handsome shops exhibit all the necessaries, as well as the luxuries, of life.-New Bond Street, Pall Mall, Piccadilly, Charing Cross, the Strand, Fleet Street, Ludgatehill, Holborn, Cheapside, and Cornhill. And here should be noticed THE NEW STREET, now only in contemplation, which with a magnificent breadth is to reach from Pall Mall up to the REGENT'S PARK! When completed with all its embellishments and ramifications, it will prove (according to Telford's Report) a most essential improvement of the west end of the town. Even in its present condition the Metropolis far surpasses any other city in the World O! thou resort and mart of all the earth, |