C 799 ] 
was Ihewn above, there has been a decreafe of 
f 6000 fince the year 1 74,9, after the peace ; but if 
the war had been the caufe, there ought rather to 
have been an increafe after it. And as in the whole, 
we could not have loft more than 1 yoooo, in the 
war by land and fea, of which there was not one- 
fifth, or 30000, taken from about the city; this can 
never account for 64000, the decreafe before the 
year 1748. In the former war, between 1702 and 
1 71 1, the city never decreafed, but continually in- 
creafed : from which one would imagine that the 
laft war could not diminifh its numbers. 
Nor can this decreafe in the bills be accounted 
for, from a greater number than formerly leaving 
the town in fummer ; becaufe it does not appear that 
there is a greater number of fuch, than was ten years 
ago. And if it could be allowed that the number 
was greater, it can never be thought that it can 
amount to 120000 more than in year 1743. 
It is true, this decreafe may appear iuprifing to 
fome, when they fee the number of new buildings 
in Weftminfter, continually increafing ; but then, on 
the other hand, it is likewife to be confidered, that 
there are a great number of houfes enlarged, or re- 
built, in place of two or three others, as mentioned 
above ; and others falling in, and empty, about the 
eaftern parts of the city : fo that for the laft twenty 
years the inhabitants feem only to be moving, from 
the eaftern to the weftern parts of the town, and not 
increafing. 
And now. Sir, I am afraid I have tired you with 
this long letter, in which I have endeavoured to re- 
prefent the prefent circumftances of this great city, 
with 
