iltm ENGLAND. 



carriages by land and water are constantly employed ; and from 

 hence arises the circulation in the national body, which renders eve- 

 ry part healthful, vigorous, and in a prosperous condition ; a circula- 

 tion that is equally beneficial to the head and the most distant mem- 

 bers. Merchants are here as rich as noblemen ; witness their large 

 and numerous loans to government : and there is no place in the 

 world where the shops of tradesmen make such a noble and elegant 

 appearance, or are better stocked. 



It is situated on the banks of the Thames, a river which, though 

 not the largest, is the l'ichest and most commodious for commerce of 

 any in the world ; it being continually filled with fleets sailing to or 

 from the most distant climates ; and its banks, from London-bridge to 

 Blackwall, are almost one continued great magazine of naval stores, 

 containing three large wet docks, 32 dry docks, and 33 yards for the 

 building of ships for the use of the merchants, besides the places al- 

 lotted for the building of boats and lighters, and the king's yards. 

 down the river, for the building of men of war. As this city is about 

 60 miles distant from the sea, it enjoys, by means of this noble river, 

 all the benefits of navigation, without the danger of being surprised 

 by foreign fleets, or of being annoyed by the moist vapours of the 

 ocean. It rises regularly from the water-side, and, extending itself 

 on both sides along its banks, reaches a prodigious length from east 

 to west, in a kind of amphitheatre towards the north, and is conti- 

 nued for near 20 miles on all sides, in a succession of magnificent 

 villas and populous villages, the country seats of gentlemen and 

 tradesmen; whither the latter retire for the benefit of fresh air, and 

 to l-eiax their minds from the hurry of business. The regard paid 

 by the legislature to the property of the subject has hitherto pre- 

 vented any bounds being fixed for its extension. 



The irregular form of this city makes it difficult to ascertain its 

 extent. However, its length from east to west is generally allowed 

 to be above seven miles, from Hyde-park Corner to Poplar : and its 

 breadth in some places three, in others two, and in others, again, not 

 much above half a mile. Hence the circumference of the whole is 

 almost 18 miles; or, according to a modern measurement, the ex- 

 tent of continued and still increasing buildings is 35 miles, 2 fur- 

 longs, and 39 roods. But it is much easier to form an idea of the 

 large extent of a city so irregularly built, by the number of the peo- 

 ple, amounting, by the returns under the census of 1810, to 1,099,104; 

 and from the number of edifices devoted to the service of religion. 



Of these, besides St. Paul's cathedral, and the collegiate church at 

 Westminster, here are 102 parish churches, and 69 chapels, of the 

 established religion; 21 French protestant chapels; 11 chapels be- 

 longing to the Germans, Dutch, Danes, Sec; 26 independent meet- 

 ings; 34 presbyterian meetings; 20 baptist meetings; 19 popish 

 chapels, and meeting-houses for the use of foreign ambassadors, and 

 people of various sects ; and three Jews synagogues. So that there 

 are 305 places devoted to religious worship, in the compass of this 

 vast pile of buildings, without reckoning the 21 out-parishes usually 

 included in the bills of mortality, and a great number of methodist 

 tabernacles. 



There are also in and near this city 100 alms-houses; about 20 

 hospitals and infirmaries ; 3 colleges; 10 public prisons; 15 fiesh- 

 tnavkets ; 1 market for live cattle ; 2 other markets more particular- 

 ly for herbs ; and 23 other markets for corn 3 coals, hay, &c. , 15 inns 



