914.21 
 
 L846 
 
Hotttiott tit #ltntature; 
 
 OR, 
 
 A Peep at the Metropolis of Great-Britain 
 
 IN LETTERS FROM A YOUNG GENTLEMAN TO 
 HIS SISTERS IN THE COUNTRY. 
 
 WITH ENGR2L FINGS. 
 
 PRICE SIXPENCE. 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY C. ADY, 
 
 At his Wholesale and Retail Repository of Juvenile Literature 9 
 No. 2, UNION-PASSAGE. 
 
 1814 , 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/londoninminiaturOOmill 
 
3{4‘2l 
 
 LONDON IN MINIATURE. 
 
 X Was extremely gratified at coming 
 J-within view of this magnificent city just as 
 >an universal illumination took place, which 
 continued three nights. Nothing ever ap- 
 peared so beautiful to me before: and you 
 
 N. . ’ 
 
 cannot have a correct idea of its grandeur 
 without seeing it. It was in honour of the 
 repeated successes of our Allies .abroad, of 
 which you will, if you are anxious about news, 
 -inform yourselves by the newspapers. I must 
 first inform you of my companions, who are, 
 of all little folks, the very boys and girls I 
 should have chosen: they have just come 
 home from school. Our cousins, George and 
 
 8 
 
 London, Nov. 17 th, ISIS 
 
 MY DEAR SISTERS. 
 
 A 
 
4 
 
 Maria Sandby, with whom, and their father 
 and mother, we set out to see the Tower of 
 London. Mr. Sandby desired us to remark 
 how it was surrounded with a strong wall and 
 deep ditch, also the cannon on the outside: 
 over the ditch is a strong bridge, with two 
 gates on the outside, and one more inside, 
 which are shut every night, and there is a 
 particular ceremony and form of words, both 
 on opening and shutting them. What is it, 
 pray mamma? asked Maria. 
 
 Mr. Sandby . — An officer, called the yeo- 
 man porter, attended by a serjeant and six 
 soldiers, go to the governor's house for the 
 keys. They pass through the innermost gate, 
 which is immediately shut upon them; and 
 then having opened the outer gates, they re-, 
 turn to it again, and the yeoman calls to the 
 wardens within side to take in King George’s 
 keys. When the gates are shut in the evening, 
 the same formality is repeated; and as the 
 yeoman is returning with the keys to the 
 governor’s house, a part of the main-guard, 
 drawn up under arms, challenge him, by say- 
 ing, Who comes there? The yeoman answers, 
 
The keys; and the challenger replies, Passkeys. 
 The guards rest their firelocks, and as the 
 yeoman porter passes, he says, God save the 
 King! on which the soldiers answer, Amen. 
 
 If people want to go to the Tower after 
 the gates are shut, said Maria,, how can they 
 get in? No person, returned her father, is 
 permitted to go in or out without the watch- 
 word for the night. 
 
 We next visited the wild beasts; and Mr. 
 Sand by led the party into a yard where the 
 beasts were confined, but charged us on no 
 account to venture near their dens. He then 
 pointed to a fine young lion, and several lion- 
 esses, one of which was called Miss Fanny 
 Howe, from its having been whelped in the 
 Tower on the first of June, 1794, the very day 
 that Lord Howe obtained his victory over the 
 French fleet. We were pleased with the bold 
 and intrepid look of these animals, particularly 
 with the shaggy appearance of the lion. I 
 forget, papa, said Maria, in what country it is 
 that lions are found. They are natives, an- 
 swered hen father, of some parts of Asia, but 
 
6 
 
 abound mostly in the deserts of Africa. But 
 observe, said he, that beautiful tiger, whose 
 glossy smoothness of skin, and mildness of 
 aspect, appear inviting to a stranger: it is 
 esteemed the finest animal in the world. The 
 distinct black streaks with which his coat of 
 bright yellow is marked, cannot be beheld 
 without admiration; whilst the size and com- 
 pactness with which he is formed evinces his 
 uncommon strength. This animal, said Mr. 
 Sandby, is found no where but in some parts 
 of Asia, particularly in the East-Indies. He 
 is one of the fiercest of quadrupeds; and his 
 strength is so great, that he will carry off 
 very large animals, with as much facility as a 
 cat will run away with a mouse. 
 
 But see, the man is going on to shew us a 
 a wolf: formerly, Maria, there were many 
 wolves in England. Oh ves, said Maria, I 
 remember to have read about them in the 
 History of England; and one of the kings (I 
 forget which) made a tax of three hundred 
 wolves’ heads every year, which soon destroyed 
 the race. 
 
7 
 
 We were next shown an ant-bear, a native 
 of America, whose only way to procure food 
 is to extend his long clammy tongue in the 
 path of the ants, and when it is covered with 
 those insects it rolls it back into his mouth, 
 and feeds upon them. 
 
 There were some leopards, and several 
 other animals, which Mr. Sandby told his 
 children they might read an account of in 
 Goldsmith’s and other books of Natural His- 
 tory; for, said he, if we stand talking of them 
 all' we shall not get forward. 
 
 We next visited the armoury called the 
 small one, which is three hundred and forty- 
 five feet in length, and contains, in general, 
 arms for no less than two hundred thousand 
 men: they are disposed in a variety of figures, 
 and in a very elegant manner. From the 
 small armoury they proceeded to the horse 
 armoury, a noble room, in which are repre- 
 sented, on horseback, the effigies of seventeen 
 of our English kings, clothed in complete 
 armour. This sight afforded particular plea- 
 sure to the young Sandbys, who said they had 
 often read of coats of mail, and men being 
 
8 
 
 dressed in armour, but had never before been 
 able to understand how it was contrived, nor 
 what appearance they made in it. Amongst 
 the rest were some thumb-screws, and other 
 instruments of torture, which, it is said, the 
 Spaniards intended to have used upon the 
 English, had they been able to effect a land- 
 ing, in order to extort from them a confession 
 of where they had concealed their money. 
 An effigy of Queen Elizabeth, standing by a 
 cream-coloured horse, and attended by a page, 
 is also to be seen in this room. She is dressed 
 in the very armour, covered with a white silk 
 petticoat, which she wore when she addressed 
 her brave troops, at the time of the expected 
 invasion. We next visited the jewel-office, 
 as it is called: here we were shewn the impe- 
 rial crown, with which the kings of England 
 are crowned ; it is made of gold, and enriched 
 with diamonds, rubies, pearls, and other pre- 
 cious stones. A golden globe and golden 
 sceptre are also shewn, which are put into the 
 king’s hands at the time of the coronation. 
 Having sufficiently examined these curiosities, 
 Mr. Sanclby was very desirous to be allowed 
 
9 
 
 to see the Mint, which is the place where all 
 the money used in the kingdom is coined; 
 but as strangers are not permitted to see it, 
 and he had no acquaintance with any one 
 concerned in the business, he was obliged to 
 give that up. 
 
 We then proceeded to the Tower wharf, 
 which is a walk by the side of the river 
 Thames, on which are mounted sixty-one 
 pieces of cannon, that are fired on the king’s 
 birth-day, after every victory that has been 
 gained by the British arms, and on other days 
 of rejoicing. Under the part of the wharf 
 on which we are now walking, said Mr. 
 Sandby, is a passage that leads from the river 
 to the Tower: it is called Traitor’s Gate, be- 
 cause state prisoners confined in the Tower 
 were formerly conveyed by this passage to 
 take their trials at Westminster; which, con- 
 tinued he, we will next visit, and have a fine 
 sail on the Thames; then calling a boat, we 
 all embarked, and in about half an hour Avere 
 rowed under the three bridges, which greatly 
 delighted us, to be so close to them, but as 
 we passed under it appeared very strange, and 
 
10 
 
 of which I send you the views, whereby you 
 will see they are very handsome. 
 
 After examining the monuments in West- 
 minster Abbey, which are very superb, we 
 went to see the several chapels contained 
 within the walls ; some of which are very 
 gloomy recesses, and appear to have nothing 
 remarkable in them, excepting the tombs of 
 some distinguished personages. With King 
 Henry the Seventh’s chapel, however, every 
 one was struck, as it is a piece of very curious 
 workmanship. The banners of the knights 
 of the garter are suspended round it, and it is 
 the burial-place for the present Royal Family. 
 
 In one part of the church a rude wooden 
 chair was pointed out, as being the seat on 
 which the Kings of England are crowned. In 
 the middle of the seat is a large marble stone, 
 which was formerly the coronation-stone of 
 the Kings of Scotland, but it was brought 
 away by King Edward the First, when he 
 conquered 1 that kingdom. 
 
 The last thing that we were taken to see, 
 before leaving the Abbey, was some wax 
 effigies, which are turned yellow by time, and 
 
11 
 
 are not very curious. To the young Sandbys, 
 however, they gave great amusement, for 
 they had never before seen any figures in 
 wax larger than a wax doll. 
 
 Having pretty well tired ourselves for this 
 day, we returned home: after dinner I sat 
 down to write you of all we saw to-day, and 
 now being called to supper I conclude. 
 
 From your very affectionate brother, 
 ARTHUR SANDBY. 
 
n 
 
 London , Nov. 20 th, 1813. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTERS, 
 
 I Again renew our correspondence; and 
 first I have to tell you that we have added to 
 our party Miss Barfields, and her governess, 
 Miss Thornhill, who all send you their loves, 
 and wish you were with us. This morning 
 we went to the Guildhall. It seems to be a 
 very old place, said Maria, as they turned 
 into King-street. 
 
 Mr. Sandby . — It was originally built, my 
 dear, in the year 1410; and, at different times, 
 several useful buildings were added to it; all 
 which being much damaged by the great fire 
 of London, were repaired in the year 1669 : 
 but the front, which appears to you so old, 
 has been finished within the last twenty years. 
 
 George . — And pray, papa, what use is 
 made of it. 
 
 Mr. Sandby . — It may be said to be the 
 town-hall ; and several city courts and feasts 
 are kept there. 
 
13 
 
 On entering the hall, the children were 
 struck with two gigantic figures, that were 
 placed on each side of a balcony, over some 
 steps ascending to the Lord Mayor’s court. 
 
 What monstrous figures ! exclaimed Maria, 
 laughing. Do, pray sir, tell me what they 
 are meant for? They are commonly called 
 Gog and Magog, returned her father, and are 
 supposed to represent an ancient Briton and a 
 Saxon; but for what reason their effigies were 
 erected in this place, I never was able to learn. 
 
 Next we proceeded to the Court of King’s- 
 Bench, where are held the sessions of the 
 peace for the city of London, and the Lord 
 Mayor’s court. 
 
 Mr. Sandby afterwards led the way to the 
 Common Council-Chamber, where are several 
 very fine paintings. The largest of them was 
 painted by Copley, and represents the fortress 
 of Gibraltar the morning after the destruc- 
 tion of the Spanish floating battery. It is 
 executed in a very capital style, and the 
 figures in the fore-ground are all reckoned ex- 
 cellent likenesses of the officers they represent. 
 
 B 
 
14 
 
 Leaving Guildhall, they proceeded to the 
 Bank through Cateaton-street; and entered the 
 Rotunda, a spacious apartment, in the centre 
 of which is a noble dome. The throngs of 
 people collected in this room, the busy coun- 
 tenances they wore, and the confusion, noise, 
 and bustle that prevailed, were very diverting 
 to the young Sandbys, though they could un- 
 derstand no part of the business that was 
 going forward. As they were quitting the 
 Rotunda, Mr. Sandby met with a gentleman 
 belonging to the Bank, with whom he had a 
 slight acquaintance, who offered to take them 
 to the Bullion-Office, where bullion, or gold 
 not yet coined into money, is kept. Here 
 they were shewn lumps of gold, called ingots, 
 that were worth a thousand guineas each, and 
 which were so heavy that the children were 
 scarcely able to lift them. 
 
 Paper money, said one of the clerks, who 
 attended, is of easier carriage; and then put- 
 ting into the hands of Maria a small packet 
 of bank-notes, he told her she was in posses- 
 sion of an hundred thousand pounds. An 
 hundred thousand pounds! exclaimed Maria, 
 
15 
 
 laughing: then I am sure I am a person of 
 consequence. But I believe, papa, you must 
 take my riches off my hands, for I do not 
 know what I should do with them. Mr. 
 Sandby smiled, and returned the notes to 
 the clerk. 
 
 Leaving the Bank, we passed through the 
 Exchange; and after walking down Fish-street 
 hill we came to the famous Monument, that 
 was built to commemorate the great fire of 
 London, which began at the house of a baker, 
 near this spot. 
 
 A great deal of mischief was done by that 
 fire, was there not? said George. 
 
 Indeed there was, answered his father. 
 It broke out on the 2d of September, in the 
 year 1 666 , and raged three days, in which 
 time were destroyed the cathedral of St. Paul’s, 
 eighty-eight parish churches, fifty Companies’ 
 halls, and four hundred streets, containing 
 about thirteen thousand two hundred dwell- 
 ing-houses. The whole loss was computed 
 to amount to about ten millions sterling, but 
 providentially only six persons lost their lives. 
 
 B 2 
 
16 
 
 Passing on we came to London bridge, 
 and looking over the east side, were struck 
 with wonder at seeing so many ships, which 
 extended about three or four miles below the 
 bridge ; and contained, on an average, eleven 
 hundred ships, besides barges and other small 
 craft. Satisfied with looking at the ships, 
 they crossed over to take a survey to the west. 
 Some large water-wheels now attracted their 
 notice, and George inquired for what purpose 
 they were employed. 
 
 They raise the water from the river, said 
 Mr. Sandby, by working large forcing-pumps; 
 and it is conveyed by pipes, in all directions, 
 to a considerable distance, and laid into the 
 houses for domestic purposes. 
 
 They then left the bridge, and took a boat 
 at the nearest stairs, when my father ordered 
 the man to go to Limehouse, and very much 
 entertained we were with going through the 
 Pool (the name of that part of the river where 
 the shipping lies) ; only, to be sure now and 
 then I thought we should have been overset, 
 when we passed so near the great ships, which 
 looked like mountains ready to overwhelm us. 
 
17 
 
 However, the waterman managed very dexte- 
 rously, and kept us clear of every thing. 
 
 We next came to the new West-India 
 Docks, the entrance to which is very hand- 
 some, My father had business with a, Mr. 
 Jones, who has something to do with those 
 docks, and as he was with us, we had no diffi- 
 culty in getting in. 
 
 In the first place we saw a fine piece of 
 water, that covers thirty acres of land, and 
 will contain, they say, from two to three hun- 
 dred sail of ships. On one side of the dock 
 are very handsome and immense large ware- 
 houses, and between the warehouses and the 
 water is a fine broad walk, called the Quays, 
 where a vast number of men were hard at work. 
 
 They are very great undertakings, said 
 Mrs. Sandby. 
 
 They are, indeed, returned her husband. 
 It appears almost incredible, that such a large 
 space, which is now filled with water and 
 covered with ships, should have been dug out 
 of fields and meadow land, so lately as since 
 the beginning of the year 1799. But astonish- 
 B 3 
 
18 
 
 ing as this work appears, another, on a much 
 more extensive scale, was undertaken in the 
 year 1 802. The largest of the London Docks, 
 as they are called, being calculated to contain 
 five hundred ships, and to allow them room 
 for shifting their situation. 
 
 We then crossed the water to Greenwich 
 Hospital, a noble building, and the superb 
 park adjoining; where the old seamen live out 
 the last remnant of their lives. Here we 
 mounted a hill, and had a most magnificent 
 view of all London, which I have endeavoured 
 to sketch for you, and expect it will give 
 some idea, though a faint one, of the extent 
 of this great city. Adieu for the present. 
 
19 
 
 London , Nov. 24>th, 1813. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTERS , 
 
 I Resume my hasty sketches of London. 
 Yesterday we visited the largest cathedral in 
 the kingdom, viz. St. Paul’s; the history of 
 which Mr. Sandby thus describes: — 
 
 There has been several cathedrals erected 
 here, one after the other. The Saxons, who 
 were pagans, destroyed the first when they 
 conquered Britain; but some years afterwards, 
 when the nation was again converted to 
 Christianity, it was rebuilt by King Ethelbert, 
 and dedicated to St. Paul. That edifice, 
 however, was destroyed by fire ; and the same 
 fate befel three others, which were succes- 
 sively erected in its room. By the accounts 
 we have of the two last, they must have been 
 very magnificent buildings. The last was 
 burnt down before it was completely finished, 
 in the great fire of London, which happened 
 in the year 1666. 
 
£0 
 
 Maria . — I think, after having met with 
 so many accidents, the people must have been 
 almost discouraged from building it again. 
 
 Mr. Sandby . — That does not appear to 
 have been the case. Sir Christopher Wren, 
 anarchitectof uncommon abilities, undertook 
 the business. 
 
 Maria . — Do you know, sir, how long it 
 was before this cathedral was finished? 
 
 Mr. Sandby. — Thirty-six years, Maria; 
 which, for so large a work, is reckoned a very 
 short space of time, and it was completed by 
 one mason, whose name was Strong. 
 
 The first place we were taken to see was 
 the library, the floor of which is very curious, 
 on account of its being inlaid without either 
 nail or peg: but the books are neither nume- 
 rous or valuable. Near the library is the 
 geometrical staircase, as it is commonly called, 
 whose construction is so artful, that the steps, 
 though securely laid, seem to hang without 
 any support. In a room on the north side, 
 we saw a curious and elegant model of a 
 cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, 
 who wished to adopt it instead of the one he 
 
21 
 
 did; but although it is more perfect, he could 
 not get. leave from those who had the direction 
 of the business. 
 
 After seeing the clock, and hearing it 
 strike, which has been heard at a distance of 
 twenty miles, we went to the whispering-gal- 
 lery, which is so constructed that the lowest 
 whisper may be distinctly heard on the oppo- 
 site side; and sounds are so surprisingly mag- 
 nified, that the shutting of the door makes a 
 noise like thunder. From the whispering- 
 gallery they saw to great advantage eight fine 
 pictures, painted on the upper part of the 
 dome; each of which represent some circum- 
 stance in the history of St. Paul. They 
 would have been glad to have examined them 
 particularly; but as it was late, Mr. Sandby 
 said they must make haste, if they wished to 
 see the view from the top of the building. 
 On this they proceeded onward, and very 
 fatiguing did they find it to mount so many 
 stairs; but they were amply repaid for their 
 trouble when they came out upon the iron 
 gallery, which goes round the top of the dome 
 
oo 
 
 on the outside, and has its name from being 
 guarded by an iron railing. 
 
 Being now raised between two and three 
 hundred feet from the ground, they had a 
 very fine view, not only of London but of the 
 country for many miles around; and the river 
 Thames, in all its windings, was a very 
 pleasing object. We stopped outside to look 
 at several large stone figures, that were placed 
 on different parts of the building, and which 
 represented the different Apostles. The sta- 
 tue of St. Paul himself is over the centre of 
 the west entrance. A statue of Queen Anne, 
 in whose reign the cathedral was completed, 
 is placed in the churchyard; in the front of 
 the west door. 
 
 What a sum of money, said Maria, as they 
 were walking away, must this great church 
 have cost! Cau you tell, papa, how much 
 it was? Seven hundred and thirty-six thou- 
 sand pounds, two shillings, and three-pence 
 farthing, answered Mr. Sand by. 
 
 Adieu for the present. 
 
23 
 
 London, Nov. 23</, 1813. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTERS , 
 
 IN my last I informed you of our 
 visit to St. Paul’s cathedral, the chief orna- 
 ment of London, and 1 have now to add its 
 surprising dimensions; viz. the length is 500 
 feet, the breadth 250, the height 340, and the 
 circumference of the whole building is 2,292 
 feet, which you know is more than half a mile. 
 The body of it is in the form of a cross; but 
 its greatest beauty is its stately dome, from 
 the top of which springs a lantern adorned 
 with Corinthian columns, and surrounded at 
 its base by a balcony : on the lantern rests a 
 gilded ball, and on that a cross, which crowns 
 this beautiful building. In the inside are 
 some fine statues of Dr. Johnson, Sir William 
 Jones, the celebrated Howard, &c. and monu- 
 ments to the memory of Captains Burgess, 
 Faulkner, Westcote, Riou, and Moss, also of 
 General Dundas ; and there are numerous 
 flags, of different nations, which have been 
 taken by our army and navy. 
 
24 
 
 We were now proceeding towards Bedlam 
 Hospital, when Mr. Sandby informed us that 
 Bedlam was built and endowed (meaning that 
 a large sum of money was given towards its 
 support) by King Henry the Eighth, and that 
 it was intended for the reception of unfortu- 
 nate lunatics, whose friends were too poor to 
 be able to pay for their having proper care 
 and relief. The greatest part of the hospital 
 is inclosed by high walls, but there are large 
 iron gates in front, through which it may be 
 seen to advantage. On the pillars that sup- 
 port the gates are the figures of two lunatics, 
 admirably carved in stone. The fields in the 
 front of this building had been once a very 
 deep morass, so that it was scarcely passable, 
 notwithstanding large sums had been laid out 
 by the city in raising bridges and causeways 
 over it. However, added he, the moor was 
 properly drained about two hundred years 
 ago, and was then divided into fields and 
 planted with trees; but great part of it has 
 since been built upon, and we shall soon, I 
 fancy, see no more traces of the fields than 
 of the moor. 
 
25 
 
 After crossing Finsbury-square, they went 
 to the Artillery-Ground, which is a large field 
 for exercising, belonging to a very respectable 
 and long-established bodv of volunteer sol- 
 diers, called the Artillery Company. 
 
 We next took the way to St. Bartholo- 
 mew’s Hospital, which was founded for the 
 relief of the poor so long ago as the year 1 102; 
 but the ancient building being.quite in decay, 
 it was rebuilt about seventy years since as it 
 now stands, in the form of a quadrangle, and 
 is calculated to receive about 400 patients at 
 once. Adjoining to it is the Blue-Coat School, 
 which is the best regulated public school I 
 know of. The boys are kept under strict 
 discipline, so that they dare not transgress, as 
 is often the case when so many are together; 
 but they are afr the same time treated with 
 kindness, which makes them on the whole 
 very happy. 
 
 Pray, papa, why do they wear those 
 strange blue gowns? asked Maria. Do the 
 parents like it? 
 
 My dear, returned her father, the dress 
 has been nearly the same ever since this school 
 c 
 
or hospital (for it is likewise called Christ’s 
 hospital) was first founded. It is a charitable 
 institution, intended for the. education of the 
 children of poor freemen of the city of Lon- 
 don; and though the dress is not pretty, yet 
 there are always a great many people who 
 would be glad to have their children so well 
 provided for. . The head boy is every year 
 sent to the University, that he may be quali- 
 fied for a clergyman; ten out of those who 
 are taught mathematics and navigation are 
 yearly sent to sea; and the other boys, at the 
 age of 15 , are apprenticed to different trades. 
 
 Plow many boys are there? inquired Maria. 
 
 About a thousand, my dear, answered Mr. 
 Sandby, the greater part of whom live in this, 
 house; but a small proportion are brought up, 
 at the school that is at Ware. 
 
 Having sufficiently gratified our curiosity] 
 with a view of Christ’s hospital, we took 
 the main street, and were highly grati- 
 fied with the superb shops all along Newgate- 
 streetand Cheapside; consistingof goldsmitns, 
 jewellers, drapers, silk-mercers, booksellets, 
 &c. &c. which all shew the most elegant and 
 
newest patterns at their windows. We next 
 passed by the Mansion-House, which is the 
 palace (if it might be so called) belonging to 
 the Lord-Mayor, whom we soon after saw in 
 the -state coach, which is a very line affair, 
 being gilt all over, and is drawn by six horses 
 covered with trappings. Next followed the 
 Sheriffs’ chariots, with their horses also finely 
 decorated with ribbons. Afterwards came 
 the Aldermen in their coaches. Some of the 
 City Companies likewise followed the proces- 
 sion: and the sight closed by a long train of 
 gentlemen in their carriages, who were going 
 to dine with the Lord-Mayor at the Guildhall. 
 
 The Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and 
 Common-Serjeant, who are the principal law 
 officers in the city, are the king’s judges to 
 try capital offences for the city of London and 
 county of Middlesex; and the Aldermen are 
 perpetual justices of peace for the city. 
 
 We next stepped into the Royal-Exchange, 
 ahandsome building, with piazzas outside and 
 colonnades inside; where the merchants meet 
 daily to transact business. Here were statues 
 
of all the Kings and Queens of England, Sir 
 Thomas Gresharn, the founder of the building, 
 and of Sir John Barnard, a celebrated member 
 of parliament for the city. In the centre is a 
 marble statue of King Charles the Second in 
 a Roman habit, fixed on a marble pedestal: 
 it is a fine bold figure. At the upper parts of 
 the building are the celebrated Lloyd’s Coffee- 
 House and Fire-Offices. The crowd of mer- 
 chants now assembled here (three o’clock) 
 give me very enlarged ideas of the commerce 
 of London. We afterwards visited the Excise- 
 office, a large handsome stone building, de- 
 voted exclusively to the collection of the 
 Excise duties, which are managed by twelve 
 commissioners and a multitude of clerks. 
 
 We next went to the South-Sea House, 
 a substantial handsome building of brick, 
 ornamented with Portland stone: its entrance 
 has a noble front, with a piazza formed of 
 Doric pillars. We then passed through the 
 post-office, which deserves no praise as a 
 building, but as a financial scheme, it is per- 
 haps the most perfect of any thing in exist- 
 ence; as it not only supplies Government 
 
29 
 
 % 
 
 & 
 
 with an immense revenue, but accomplishes 
 it by means extremely beneficial to individuals 
 and burthensome to none. This most impor- 
 tant spot of ground in the earth is like the 
 brain of the world: it is hidden in a narrow 
 alley, mis-shapen even to deformity, and 
 scarcely accessible to the mail-coaches which 
 collect there for their nightly freights. 
 
 After seeing the East-India House, a very 
 handsome edifice, and some of its warehouses, 
 which are extremely large, we came to the 
 Trinity-House, a new stone building, on a 
 rising ground: it has an elegant area in front, 
 and is tastefully laid out with shrubberies 
 and walks. Passing on, we (fame to the Corn- 
 Exchange, which is likewise a handsome new 
 building; and proceeding down the water- 
 side we saw Billingsgate, a famous fish-market; 
 after which we found ourselves sufficiently 
 tired to take a hackney coach and drive home. 
 
 Adieu for the present. 
 
30 
 
 London , Nov. 2,5th, 1813. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTERS , 
 
 I Will conclude my brief account of 
 this stupendous city with a list of the most 
 remarkable things that attracted our attention: 
 Its extent, from east to west, is about seven 
 miles, and the tide flows twice a-day all through 
 it, and even fifteen miles beyond, through a 
 fine country richly embossed with palaces ancl 
 seats, and the river is above a quarter of a 
 mile broad. The principal streets are wide 
 and airy, paved -with large stones, and the 
 footways with flat ones, which is very com- 
 modious to passengers; and underneath them 
 are large vaulted channels, called sewers, 
 which convey all dirt and filth down into the 
 river. It is estimated that London contains 
 about 8000 streets, lanes, alleys, and courts, 
 60 squares, -1 60,000 houses, warehouses, and 
 other buildings, and nearly a million of inha- 
 bitants. Water is also conveyed by leaden 
 pipes into every house, which generally con- 
 
31 
 
 sists of three or four stories above ground, 
 with kitchens and vaults underneath: each 
 story has a large room in front and a small 
 one behind. There are eleven hundred hack- 
 ney coaches employed, besides private car- 
 riages, waggons, carts, &c. The number of 
 bollocks annually consumed in London is 
 110 , 000 , 770,000 sheep, 250,000 lambs, 
 
 250,000 calves, 200,000 hogs, 6 , 280,000 gal- 
 lons of milk, 50 , 000,000 gallons of beer and 
 porter, 251 , 000,000 lbs. of cheese, besides 
 fish, poultry, &c. of which there are an abun- 
 dance. The large breweries are worth a 
 stranger’s notice; some of them employing 
 near a million of money in capital. The 
 annual consumption of wheat com is 900,000 
 quarters. Upwards of 10,000 acres of land 
 are annually cultivated for vegetables, and 
 3000 for fruit, together with 800,000 chal- 
 drons of coals, which last trade is so immense 
 as to acquire the character of a nursery for 
 seamen for the navy. There are about 346 
 places of public worship, twenty-four large 
 hospitals, 165 parish schools, and numerous 
 other public schools. There are likewise 
 
3'J 
 
 four palaces belonging to the crown, nine 
 supreme courts of justice, thirty-eight inferior 
 courts, and four ecclesiastical; as also twelve 
 inns of courts for the study of law, nine pri- 
 sons, sixteen theatres and places of public 
 amusement, eighteen public exhibitions of 
 natural and artificial curiosities, thirty-four 
 private collections of the same, 150 coffee- 
 houses, besides eating and public houses, 
 which are almost numberless; there are like- 
 wise one hundred good inns and livery-stables, 
 some of which are in most principal streets. 
 
 I could fill a volume with the description 
 of this wonderful city, had I leisure and room; 
 but I shall doubtless make you very cheerful 
 over our fireside during the ensuing winter 
 evenings, with the many curious subjects I 
 shall have to communicate. I remain &c. 
 
 FIXIS. 
 
 ■r r r //>// 
 
 WOOD AND CO. 
 CITY PRINTING-OFFICE. 
 
ADDENDA TO 
 
 €. ADY’s 
 
 CATALOGUE OF BOOKS * 
 
 ART of Wholesome Cookery, stitched, new edition, Is. 
 
 Bible in Miniature, 6d, Is. 6d. and 2s. 
 
 Small-print Bible, 4s. 4s. 6d. 5s. 6d. and other prices up to 41. 4s. 
 Baby Tales, with 8 plates, Is. 
 
 Christmas Recess, or Pleasing and Instructive Tales, Is. 
 
 Croxall’s /Esop’s Fables, bound, 3s. 6d. 
 
 Church Catechism, Id. each or 8s. per hundred. 
 
 Chesterfield’s Advice to his Son, Is. bound. 
 
 Letters, 3 vols. boards, 12s. 
 
 Dairyman’s Daughter, Is. 6d. and 3d. stitched. 
 
 Dodd's Reflections on Death, Sec. Is. 6d. stitched. 
 
 Prison Thoughts, ditto. 
 
 Death of Abel, Is. 6d. stitched. 
 
 Enfield’s Speaker, 4s. bound. 
 
 Enigmas on History, Biography, Sec. new edition, 2s. half-bound. 
 Elizabeth, or the Exiles of Siberia, Is. 2s. 6d. See. 
 
 Fisher’s Young Man’s Best Companion, 3s. 6d. bound. 
 
 Fenwick’s Lessons, syllables divided, 2s. 6d. ditto. 
 
 Franklin’s Works, 2 vols. boards, 6s. 
 
 Way to Wealth, 6d. sticlied. 
 
 Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, with plates and notes, 5s. bound. 
 
 Holy War, 3s. 6d. 
 
 Barren Fig-Tree, Is. 
 
 Children in the Wood and Blue Beard, with coloured plates, 6d, 
 Cinderella, with 3 coloured plates, 6d. 
 
 Conversation and Puzzle Cards, 6d. or Is. 
 
 Fortunatus, with 3 coloured plates, 6d. 
 
 Griselda, with 3 coloured plates, 6d. 
 
 Gulliver’s Travels, 4 parts, coloured plates, 6d. each part. 
 
 Good Boy’s Soliloquy, many plates, Is. 
 
 Hieroglyphic Bible, new edition, Is. 
 
 Harvey’s Meditations and Contemplations, 3s. boards, 5s. Sec. 
 Harry and his Mother, a monitory tale in verse, Is. 
 
 Industry and Idleness, a tale for girls, Is. 
 
 Juvenile Plutarch, half-bound, with plates, Is. 6d. each part. 
 Janaway’s Token for Children, Is. 
 
 Innocent Poetry for Young Minds, Is. many plates. 
 
 London Letter- Writer, Is. stitched and 2s. 6d. bound in red. 
 London in Miniature, or a Peep at the Metropolis, 6d. 
 
 Lectures at my School, or Playground Conversation, 50 cuts, 2s. 6d. 
 
2 
 
 Modern London, many plates, 31. 3s. boards. 
 
 Modern Arabia, in 4 tales, 4s. bound. 
 
 Mice and tiieir Pic-Nic, coloured plates, Is. 
 
 New Week’s Preparation, 2 parts in 1, various prices. 
 
 Pamphlets, Plays, Jest-Books, Song-Books, See. 6d. each. 
 Pinnock’s Reader’s Sequel and First Books, 2s. 3s. See. 
 
 Orphan Boy and Orphan Girl, or Sweets of Benevolence, 2s. 6d. 
 Paul and Virginia, or the Shipwreck, Is. stitched. 
 
 Precept and Example, or Midsummer Holidays, Is. 6d. half-bound. 
 Portraits of Curious Characters in London, Is. 6d. ditto. 
 
 Pamela, or Virtue Triumphant, Is. stitched. 
 
 Psalters, or Psalms of David, Is. 6d. bound. 
 
 Reading Made Easy, 6d. 8d. See. 
 
 Ready Reckoner, Is. 6d. bound. 
 
 Rasselas, by Dr. Johnson, 2s. 3s. 6d. See. 
 
 Popular Stories, 4 vols. 10s. 6d. or odd vols. at Is. 6d. each. 
 
 Sinbad the Sailor, 4 parts, 6d. each, with coloured plates. 
 
 Sterne’s Sentimental Journey, 2s. 6d. or 3s. 6d. 
 
 Beauties of Sterne, 3s. 6d. half-bound, coloured plates. 
 
 Sturm’s Reflections, 3 vols. 9s. half-bound. 
 
 Simple Truths, in verse, Is. 6d. half-bound. 
 
 The Scripture Alphabet, Is. many plates. 
 
 The History of Tommy Dellow when stolen away, Is. 
 
 Talcs of other Realms, 2 vols. 7s. boards. 
 
 Comic, Instructive, and Amusing Tales, 2 vols. 12s. boards. 
 
 Temple of Pleasure, 5s. boards. 
 
 The Three Birth-Days, or Cure for Ill-Temper, 2s. 
 
 Toy Books, as follows, Is. 6d. coloured and is plain, viz. Pedlar 
 and Little Woman, Monsieur Tonson, Peter Prim’s Pride, 
 Profitable Present, Practical Principles of Pronunciation, 
 Sophy, or Punishment of Disobedience, James and Mary, 
 Jack Horner, Cock Robin, Execution of Sparrow, Old Dame 
 Trot and ;her Cat, Hubbard and her Dog, Ditto continued. 
 The Three Wishes, Little Nancy, or Punishment of Greedi- 
 ness, Baby Tales, Sc c-. &c. 
 
 Thomson’s Seasons, Is. Is. 6d. 2s. 6d. Sc c. 
 
 Tom Thumb, a tale for the Nursery, 6d. coloured plates. 
 
 The White Cat, 6d. 
 
 The Seven Champions of Christendom, 6d. 
 
 Voyages and Travels of a Bible, Is. 
 
 Whittington and his Cat, with coloured plates, 6d. 
 
 Walkinghame’s Tutor’s Assistant, 2s. bound. 
 
 Key to ditto, 2s. 6d. 
 
 Whole Duty of Man, 6d.— Ditto of Woman, 6d. 
 
 Wesley Hymns, various bindings. 
 
 Valentines. and Valentine-Writers, 6d. is. &c. 
 Eastcourt’s Criterion Razor-Straps, from 2s. 6d. to 12s. 
 Real Indian Blue, for laundresses, &c.