178 



Smithfield, London. 



Vol. X. 



ments, almost treading upon the heels of 

 each other, begin to make their way to the 

 place of rendezvous through the winding 

 streets of this wilderness of houses, and 

 enter the great market-place by different 

 and opposite avenues, and, like hostile par- 

 ties, often meet each otiier in the very cen- 

 tre. Then comes the conflict: the driving 

 of so many thousands of sheep into their se- 

 veral pens; the assorting and tying up, or 

 arranging, so many thousands of cattle, driven 

 into a state of terror and frenzy by the men 

 and dogs; the struggles of the different own- 

 ers or drovers to keep their own, and prevent 

 their intermingling with others; the occa- 

 sional leaping the barriers, and the escape 

 of some straggler, who is to be brought back 

 by violence; the sounds of the heavy blows 

 over the heads, and horns, and sides, of the 

 poor crazed animals; the shrieks of the 

 men ; the yelling and barking of hundreds 

 of dogs, who look after the sheep and cattle 

 with a ferocity perfectly terrific, and a sa- 

 gacity almost human ; the bellowing of the 

 cattle, and the bleating of the calves; form- 

 ino-, if the expression is allowable, a concert 

 of discordant 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 picturesque 

 in human affairs. The calves and pigs enter 

 the market in a more aristocratic style, in 

 carriages and vans, with the regular attend- 

 ance of out-riders and footmen ; but in spite 

 of this luxury, after the example of some of 

 their betters, these indulgences do not ap- 

 pear to lessen or quiet all their complaints, 

 and they add their portion to the general 

 harmon}^ Their owners are quite wise to 

 carry, instead of attempting to drive, them ; 

 for I think no human power would be suffi- 

 cient 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; all the different parties at 

 their respective posts; and the immense bu- 

 siness is transacted with a despatch, an effi- 

 ciency, and precision, Vihich are quite re- 

 markable. 



Attempted removal of the Market from 

 the City. — It certainly is not a little surpris- 

 ing that a market of this description should 



simple justice, that London, as well as every other 

 part of England which I have visited, is remarkable 

 for its sober and decorous observance of the Lord's 

 day. 



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 "field," so called, is now surrounded 

 with miles of houses in every direction, and 

 in the very centre of a most densely-packed 

 population. It would seem, at first sight, 

 that the obvious and innumerable discom- 

 forts of such an arrangement, and the dan- 

 ger to human person and 1 fd from driving 

 so many beasts through the crowded streets, 

 were sufficient reasons for transferring the 

 whole business to a more retired and conve- 

 nient situation in the neighbourliood of Lon- 

 don. 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 lor a market at Is- 

 lington, about two miles from the centre of 

 London, which is well worth looking at for 

 tlie completeness and excellence of its ar- 

 rangements. The cost of the establishment 

 is said to have been £100,000, or half a mil- 

 lion of dollars. It forms a hollow square, 

 and embraces a space of more than twenty 

 acres, completely enclosed by high brick 

 walls, which form the backs of deep sheds, 

 slated, and open in front, furnished with 

 mangers, and with water troughs supplied 

 from two very large tanks in the centre of 

 the yard, which are kept constantly filled by 

 machinery from wells sunk in the neighbour- 

 hood. The sheds are capable of accommo- 

 dating 4000 beasts; and here they might 

 remain from day to day until sold, without 

 inconvenience. In the centre of this im- 

 mense quadrangle are four extensive squares, 

 all neatly paved with flat stones, and divided 

 into several compartments, railed in with 

 neat iron railings, and capable of accommo- 

 dating 40,000 sheep. Other pens are con- 

 structed for calves, pigs, and other animals 

 usually brought to market; and all are ar- 

 ranged in the most simple and convenient 

 method, with ample passages furnishing easy 

 access to every part of the enclosure. Be- 

 sides these, there are convenient and ample 

 offices for all the various clerks, salesmen, 

 bankers. Sec, connected with the business; 

 and it was designed to erect commodious 

 hotels for the accommodation of persons at- 

 tending the market, and extensive slaugh- 

 ter-houses for the killing of the cattle, di- 

 rectly in the neighbourhood. The wliole 

 space is entered under a handsome archway; 

 and for its particular purposes, it would be 

 difficult to conceive of any thing more com- 

 modious or better arranged. 



In spite of all these obvious advantages, 

 the market could not be removed from 

 Smithfield, The persons in the neighbour- 



