SMITHFIELD, LONDON. 319 



Battle with a ferocity perfectly terrific, and a sagacity almost 

 human ; the bellowing of the cattle, and the bleating of the 

 calves ; forming, if the expression is allowable, a concert of dis 

 cordant sounds utterly indescribable and hideous ; and in the 

 midst of all this confusion, the darting about of hundreds of 

 torches, carried in the hand by men looking for their cattle and 

 sheep, and seeking to identify their marks, all together present 

 an exhibition for which it certainly would be difficult to find a 

 parallel, and sufficiently gratifying to the lovers of the pic 

 turesque in human affairs. The calves and pigs enter the 

 market in a more aristocratic style, in carriages and vans, with 

 the regular attendance of out-riders and footmen ; but in spite of 

 this luxury, after the example of some of their betters, these 

 indulgences do not appear to lessen or quiet all their complaints, 

 and they add their portion to the general harmony. Their 

 owners are quite wise to carry, instead of attempting to drive, 

 them ; for I think no human power would be sufficient to drive 

 and assort a herd of pigs, coming into a scene of this description. 

 When the day dawns, however, every thing is found in order ; 

 ;ill the different parties at their respective posts ; and the 

 immense business is transacted with a despatch, an efficiency, 

 and precision, which are quite remarkable. 



7. ATTEMPTED REMOVAL OF THE MARKET FROM THE CITY. 

 It certainly is not a little surprising that a market of this descrip 

 tion should be held in the midst of such a city as this. Its name 

 implies that, in former times, it was held in the outskirts of the 

 town ; but that time must have long since passed away, and the 

 u field,&quot; so called, is now surrounded with miles of houses in every 

 direction, and in the very centre of a most densely-packed popu 

 lation. It would seem, at first sight, that the obvious and innu 

 merable discomforts of such an arrangement, and the danger to 

 human person and life from driving so many beasts through the 

 crowded streets, were sufficient reasons for transferring the whole 

 business to a more retired and convenient situation in the neigh 

 borhood of London. A wealthy individual by the name of 

 Perkins, under the influence of the best of motives, made an 

 attempt to do this, and erected an establishment for a market at 

 Islington, about two miles from the centre of London, which is 

 well worth looking at for the completeness and excellence of its 



