LONDON. 167 



as far as Epsora, one group of houses succeeds the other, and only at intervals do 

 we catch a glimpse of what can truly be described as " country." Thousands are 

 born in London, live and die there, whose horizon has ever been bounded by bricks 

 and mortar. The only forests they have seen are the plantations in the public 

 squares, and the sky above them has ever been tarnished by the smoke ascending 

 from innumerable chimneys. 



It is by no means easy to ascertain the real extent of London, and to settle 

 upon a boundary which may fairly claim to embrace the whole of it. Officially 

 there are no less than seventeen distinct Londons, each differing from the other in 

 area and delimitation. Every public department has traced boundaries and 

 subdivided the area included within them to suit its own convenience, and the 

 population of the metropolis differs to the extent of several hundred thousand 

 souls, according to whether we accept one or the other of these divisions, the most 

 extensive of all being the London of the Police authorities, which includes all 

 Middlesex, together with Kent and Surrey, within a circuit of 12 miles.* 



The concentration of so great a multitude of human beings is explained by the 

 evident advantages of London's geographical position. The site which it occupies 

 has made it a great agricultural market, a place of transit for passengers and 

 merchandise, a fluvial and maritime port, and a city of commerce centrally situated 

 with reference to all parts of the world. It enjoys every possible advantage except 

 that of a serene sky. 



London is, above all, the natural outlet of the rich valley of the Thames, the 

 most fertile of England, and that which is most accessible throughout the year. 

 The deep yet gentle river which drains that basin has from time immemorial 

 carried on its back the produce intended for the maritine emporium established 

 at the head of its estuary. No other town along the river could have taken 

 the place of London in this respect. Near it the last hills die away on either 

 side, and communication between the two banks is still easy. Lower down the 

 Thames winds between marshy banks, frequently flooded, and finally expands into 

 a wide gulf. Crossing the latter was sometimes attended with danger, and 

 frequently the dwellers on the liower Thames, desirous of crossing from shore to 

 shore, preferred to journey up to London in order that they might effect their 

 purpose with ease and safety. Its site presented peculiar facilities for the 

 establishment of ferries and the construction of bridges, in addition to which it 

 afforded considerable security against foreign aggression. Like Paris, it is pro- 

 tected by the winding reaches of its river, and this is a capital advantage in the 



* Area and population of London within the under-mentioned limits: — 



Area. Inhabitants. 



Sq. MUea. 1861. 1871. 



Parliamentary boroughs .... 60 2,610,2.53 3,024,066 



Registrar-General's District . . . .118 2,803,989 3,2.54,'260 



District of the Metropolitan Board of AVorks . 122 2,808,862 3,266.987 



Postal Districts 452 2,967,956 3,536,129 



8chool Board District 3,265,005 



Metropolitan and City Police Districts . . 687 3,222,720 3,883,092 

 In 1880 London within the Registrar-General's limits had a population of 3,680,000 souls. 



