and healthful. In traversing Moorfields, Finsbury square, and the elegant streets in their vicinity, a person would scarcely suppose himself to be treading on ground that was once an impassable morass. Such are the changes, which civilization and commerce, produce on the surface of this terraqueous globe.

London is about 6 miles long, and from one to 3 broad; and about eighteen miles in circumference, It is supplied with excellent water from the Thames, the New River, and the spring near Hampstead. Although the swell of the tide is perceptible in the Thames as far as Staines, its waters, at London, have no brackish taste, and being raised by machinery, and conducted by pipes to all the contiguous parts of the town, serve for every domestic use.

The irregularity of many of the streets, with the narrow and disgusting lanes and avenues, which lead to several parts of London, tend greatly to diminish the grandeur of its appearance. These blemishes are more or less observable in all great cities, which being constructed by parts, and receiving occasional aggrandizements, can seldom admit of a regular, uniform, and comprehensive plan. The rebuilding of the city, after the great conflagration in 1666, was certainly the best possible opportunity for its general improvement. Much was then done, and though all was not, which might have been, we ought not to wonder, that in so pressing an emergency, both public and private attention should have been directed to conveniency and despatch, rather than to elegance. The good taste which at present prevails, promises in some measure to compensate former defects. The new streets are spacious, regular, and elegant. No city in the world can vie with London in the multitude of its shops, and the rich display of their various commodities. The nocturnal illuminations, besides their conveniency, form an embellishment of the grandest style. They extend on all sides to the distance of three or four miles; and, when viewed from advantageous stands, exhibit a brilliant spectacle, impressing on the mind the idea, and combining in the eye the effects, of grandeur and elegance.

Westminster abbey, a venerable gothic pile, the sacred repository of the remains of princes, statesmen, warriors, poets, philosophers, and other eminent persons of all periods, ranks, and professions, is an impressive object; and the view of its sepulchral monuments is eminently adapted to excite in the contemplative mind, a just sense of the transitory nature of all sublunary things. It was first founded about A. D. 610, and rebuilt A. D. 1049. The present edifice was the work of Henry III. On the other side of the street, nearly opposite to the abbey, are the two houses of parliament, and Westminster hall. The latter is supposed to be the largest room in Europe, being 270 feet long, and 74 wide. It has a Gothic roof consisting, chiefly, of chestnut wood.

The tower, venerable from ancient fame, and remarkable for the curiosities which it contains, was founded by William the Conqueror. Near London bridge the monument, a pillar 193 feet high, commemorates the great conflagration. The East India House, the Royal Exchange, the Bank, and the Mansion House, are less to be considered for their magnificence than for their importance, and the ideas of commerce and opulence which they excite. Somerset house, in the Strand, is an elegant specimen of modern architecture, and, being the seat of the public offices, and of the Royal Society and Academy, inspire ideas of the power of the nation, and the splendour of the sciences and arts. The Pantheon, an elegant edifice, constructed on the model of the ancient temple of that name at Rome, is dedicated to public amusement. The three great bridges over the Thames, constitute a mag-` nificent feature of the British metropolis. The first bridge was of wood; but one of stone was begun in 1176, and finished in 1209. Westminster bridge was completed in 1747, at an expense of 389,500l. Its length is 1223 feet.

London cannot vie with Paris in the number of places of amusement, but there is not, perhaps, in any part of the globe, a more brilliant assemblage of dramatic talents than is at this period displayed on the British stage. Two royal theatres, Drury-lane and Covent-garden, which are open nine months in the year, may, in some respects, vie with any in Europe.

The Opera house is open in winter, and until midsummer, for Italian operas and French ballets, in which are combined all the charms of music, dancing, scenery, and decoration. Ranelagh and Vauxhall are scenes of amusement, equally splendid and pleasing.

The population of London was variously estimated, and generally over-rated, until the late census afforded a correct statement. The actual returns, with conjectural estimates for sailors and strangers, extend the total population to 900,000; but a population of 1,000,000 is comprised within a circle extended to the distance of eight miles round St. Paul's cathedral. Although the population of the whole metropolis has, in the last century, increased more than one-fourth part, that of the old city of London has diminished nearly one half. The suburbs being extended on all sides, the gentry, and opu lent merchants, remove from the city to those parts that are more airy, salubrious, and pleasant; and although the metropolis increases so rapidly in extent, its population does not increase in the same proportion as that of the kingdom in general. At the commencement of the last century, London con tained about an eighth; while, at the present period, it contains, somewhat less than a tenth part of the whole population of England and Wales. From the late bills of mortality it appears, that the annual deaths, on five years average, amounted only to one in thirty-one, a less proportion of mortality than can be met with in any other great capital. It appears that in the middle of the last century, the proportion was about one in twenty-three. These variations may sometimes be the result of accidental and temporary causes; but the extension of its formerly crowded population, over so much larger a space, has undoubtedly had a most salutary effect on the health of the British metropolis.

Another cause of the salubrity of London may be discovered in the food of its inhabitants. No other great city exists in the eastern continent, where the middle and lower classes of people enjoy so great a share of the necessaries and comforts of life. 10,000 acres of ground in the vicinity are

cultivated for vegetables, and four thousand acres for fruits to supply the consumption of the metropolis.

Visionary writers have often complained of the increasing magnitude of London, representing it as a head too large for the body. Laws have, in former ages, been repeatedly made to restrain its extension. Experience, however, has invariably demonstrated that the flourishing state of the capital has ever been the best criterion of the prosperity of the nation.

extent.

The distinguishing feature of London is its extensive and multifarious commerce, of which no description can raise adequate ideas. Of a picture so vast, so complex, and so various, it would here be in vain to attempt to trace so much as the outlines; the slightest glance on its most prominent traits is sufficient to confound the mind in contemplating its grandeur and A view of the East India house (leading us to reflect on the vast Asiatic possessions of Britain) excites the most sublime ideas on the effects of commercial enterprise, and the revolutions of mundane affairs, when we recollect that which Britain now reigns over. In that, the affairs of the Ganges are decided on the banks of the Thames, and that the British monarch extends his dominion, in Asia, beyond the limits to which Alexander extended his conquests. The West India docks exhibit a spectacle, not less attractive and astonishing, nor less calculated to excite a magnificent idea of the commercial greatness of London.

To particularise the various branches of the foreign trade, would exceed all reasonable limits. A view of the port of London can alone enable us to form any general conception of the subject. The annual value of its exports and imports are at present stated at sixty millions; and the annual value of its customs at six millions. This immense commerce employs 3500 ships, British and foreign; of which there are, on an average, 1,100 always in the river and docks, together with 3,419 barges and other small craft, employed in lading and unlading them; while 2,288 of the latter description, with 3000 wherries, or small boats, are engaged in the inland trade. The cargoes, which arrive annually in the port, are not fewer than 13,400; 8000 watermen are constantly employ

ed in navigating the wherries and craft, and 4000 labourers, in lading and unlading ships. These, with 1200 revenue officers, attending their duty on the river, besides the crews of the several vessels, exhibit an active scene, extending the space of six miles on the Thames.

The manufactures of London are often overlooked amidst its more prominent features of commerce. In respect, however, both of magnitude and value, they are very important. Under this head, the brewing of porter deserves to be mentioned. Of this, about 1,200,000 barrels, of 36 gallons, are, on an average, annually produced, chiefly by twelve principal brewers. This salubrious and invigorating liquor was invented A. D. 1730, by one Harwood. Being found a hearty and nourishing liquor for porters and other laborious people, it obtained the name of porter, by which it is now so celebrated. A great London brewery exhibits a stupendous and magnificent spectacle. In Mr. Whitbread's brewery, there is a stone cistern which contains 3,600 barrels, and 49 oak vats, some of which contain 3,500 barrels. There are three boilers, each of which contains 5000 gallons. The casks of ordinary dimensions are in number about 20,000; 200 workmen are employed, with 80 horses of a very large size. In the upper part of the building are cooling cisterns, that would cover five acres of land, they are only six inches deep, but very tight, and kept very clean. The porter cools in these, generally, in six hours. The machinery which pumps the water, wort, and beer; grinds the malt; stirs the mash tubs, when requisite; and raises the casks out of the cellars, is wrought by one of Mr. Watt's steam engines; it is able to do the work of 70 horses, although it is of a small size, and does not make more noise than a spinning wheel. This brewery, in respect both of magnitude and ingenious contrivance, may be justly considered as one of the greatest curiosities that is any where to be seen. Near half a million of pounds sterling is employed in the buildings, machinery, and utensils, which constitute the whole appa

ratus.

The cotton, furs, sugar, and fish, from the continent of America, and its adjacent islands, are sources of national