arched sewers or drains, constructed beneath the streets (and communicating by smaller drains with the houses) and having various outlets through larger sewers into the Thames. Through these means, and from the ample supply of water which the inhabitants derive from different sources, the general cleanliness is very considerable, and greatly contributes to the present salubrity of the Metropolis.

The charges of constructing and keeping in repair the sewers, drains, &c. and of paving the streets, are defrayed by levies of a small sum per pound on the rents of all inhabited houses; and the expenses of lighting and watching are likewise discharged in the same manner. The sewer tax is collected every two or three years under the direction of the Commissioners of Sewers; the taxes for paving, lighting, and watching are, in general, assessed by the authority of magistrates and other officers, acting in the different districts and parishes, under the express regulations of various acts of Parliament, obtained for local purposes.

The manner in which the Streets are Lighted very much conduces to the public safety, and on dark nights has a most striking effect, particularly at a distance, and to strangers. The lamps are very numerous: in the more respectable neighbourhoods, (in addition to those fixed up before the larger mansions, and at almost every door, at the private charge of individuals,) they are hung in front of every dwelling, by means of iron frame-work, connected with the railings of the areas; in all the principal streets and avenues also, they are ranged before every second or third house.† The roads immediately contiguous to the Metropolis are likewise enlightened

B 4

* Pennant mentions an anecdote of a foreign Ambassador, who, on entering London through St. George's Fields, at night, conceived the idea that the town was illuminated in honour of his arrival, and with humorous naiveté remarked, that it was "more than he could have expected!"

The Lamps are of glass, of a globular form, and about ten inches in diameter: within these are hung the burners (for the consumption of oil, with cotton wicks) each of which has two lights, one on each side, and the whole is covered by a tin top, partly conical, and partly cylindrical, having small apertures

enlightened by lamps hung upon strong posts, about eight feet high fixed in the ground at regular distances along the edge of the footpaths. In some parishes, of late years, the lamps have each been furnished with two solid glass lenses, being segments of globes, through which the light is greatly increased by refraction; yet these are by many regarded as objectionable, from their dazzling the sight at a distance, and yet leaving the space immediately beneath the lamps in darkness.

The Watching of the Metropolis is chiefly entrusted to aged men, who are mostly hired at small weekly salaries by the different parishes, and provided with a great coat, a lanthorn, a pole or staff, a rattle and a watch-box. Each watchman has a regular beat or walk, which it is his duty to go twice round every hour during the night, and to proclaim aloud the time, and the state of the wea ther. The whole number of these nightly guardians, including the patroles, (who are much fewer, but are armed with cutlasses, firearms, &c.) does not exceed 2,200, according to a late estimate

made

apertures to give vent to the smoke. These tops, also, prevent the lights from being extinguished by rain or wind, unless the weather should be very squally. From the mode in which the private lamps are generally hung, their appearance becomes ornamental, the iron-work frequently displaying considerable taste in the design or pattern,

"The following is an estimate of the Watchmen and Patroles employed to protect the inhabitants of the Metropolis during the night against acts of violence and depredation.

City of London, watchmen and patroles, about.....

City and Liberty of Westminster, ditto,.

Division of Holborn, ditto,...

Division of Finsbury, ditto,...

Division of the Tower Hamlets and Tower Liberty, ditto,..

.785

..300

.370

.130

....

290

65

80

2,020

Private watchmen in different parts of the Metropolis, ditto, 180

2,200

Vide Treatise on the Functions,&c. of a Constable,' by P. Colquhoun, Esq.

L. L. D.

made by Dr. Colquhoun. In the winter season, the roads adjacent to London are additionally guarded by horse-patroles, and on extraordinary occasions, the officers of the Police are likewise ordered out, or kept in readiness, to assist in the preservation of the public peace.

The width of the streets, and the moderate height of the buildings, which are hardly ever run up into six and seven or even more stories, as in some other cities, highly contribute to the healthfulness of London. Few of the streets are so narrow as to prevent two carriages from passing, and many others, especially in the new parts of the town, are wide enough for four or five to pass without inconvenience. The general width of the principal trading streets may be stated at from thirty to fifty and sixty feet; others, particularly westward, measure from sixty to a hundred feet and upwards; the width of Parliament Street, at the Treasury, is about 120 feet; and that of Portland Place somewhat more than 350.

The mansions of the Nobility, and principal Commoners, display great variety, as well in their exterior architecture, as in their internal decorations and arrangements. Generally speaking, their exterior is characterized by a simplicity and plainness, by no means consonant with the taste and elegance exhibited in the interiors. In some instances, as will be more particularly adverted to hereafter, the designs are magnificent, and the buildings themselves sufficiently capacious and splendid, to deserve the appellation of palaces. The same general description, also, appertains to the public buildings connected with the administration of go. vernment; and the internal construction of the whole exemplifies that judicious disposition of parts, and commodiousness of arrangement and fitting up, which distinguishes modern architecture. The houses of the next rank are more uniform; principally through the operation of different acts of Parliament that have been made within the last 150 years, for regulating buildings, and securing the public convenience and safety. They consist of three or four stories above ground, with one below, under the level of the streets, containing the kitchen, cellars, &c. On each

principal

principal story is a large room in front, and one or two others, with the stair-case, behind: the attics are commonly divided into smaller rooms for servants. Below the kitchens are the drains; and in front is an open area, secured by an iron railing, and communicating with the coal vaults: these are dug under the streets, and have a circular aperture, communicating with the pavement, through which the coals are let down, and which, at other times, is covered with an iron plate. Every house of modern erection is separated from the contiguous ones by a party wall, the better to prevent the spreading of fires.*

The situation of London is so favourable, that springs, which might yield large quantities of water, are found on digging almost every where, yet the main sources of that plentiful supply which the inhabitants receive, are the Thames and the New River;

In the principal Streets and great Squares, Houses let in proportion to their size, &c. at from 200 to 5001. per annum. The next class let at from 100 to 2001. and, in the third and fourth rate streets, the annual rent varies from 40 to 1001. When a Lease is granted, which is seldom for a longer term than twenty-one years, and more frequently for seven or fourteen, the rental is lower than when let for a single year; but in these cases a premium is commonly given for the Lease. In the principal trading Streets, the rents vary from 100 to 400 l. per annum; and in the second and third rate trading Streets, they average at from 40 to 601. and upwards to 1001. per annum.

+ "The waters of these springs contain a small portion of sea salt, and a larger quantity of magnesia vitriolata, so as to be sensible to the taste, and so as, in some places, to act as a purgative. They also contain gas, sometimes in quantity sufficient to give them briskness, and render them agrecable to the taste. The Thames water is very pure some miles above the town; near the town it is mixed with sand, and contains a sufficient quantity of mucilaginous matter to putrify. When preserved in casks, it purifies itself, by putrefaction, and remains afterwards more pure, but it never purifies sensibly in the river, nor in the cisterns in which it is sometimes kept a few days for use. At the lower part of the town it contains a little sea salt when the tide is at its height. Its specific gravity is nearly the same with that of distilled water; and the New River water is of similar quality. This is likewise pure, unless after heavy rains; and is bright and clear, and does not putrify on keeping." Fordyce,

ver; this arises from the comparative cheapness with which those waters are conveyed into the very houses themselves, and which is effected by means of iron or wooden pipes, laid beneath all the ' streets, from one to three feet below the surface, and having small bores connected with leaden pipes, that lead to the kitchens and cisterns. In these pipes also, at convenient distances in the streets, plugs are fixed, to be opened in case of fires; and occasionally, to give issue to the water in times of frost, when the smaller pipes become frozen. In various parts of the town, also, over the ancient wells that have been preserved, pumps are fixed, having iron ladles attached, for the convenience of the populace.*

"London," says Dr. Colquhoun, in his valuable Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis, "is not only the first commercial city that is known at present to exist, but is also one of the greatest and most extensive manufacturing towns, perhaps, in the universe; combining, in one spot, every attribute that can occasion an assemblage of moving property, unparalleled in point of extent, magnitude, and value, in the whole world." In another

"

place,

The following extract from Stow's Survey of London, p. 10. Edit. 1598, gives a curious picture of ancient London, in regard to its supply of ' water. Aunciently, untill the Conqueror's time, and 200 years after, the Citie of London was watered, besides the famous River of Thames on the south part, with the River of the Wels, (or Fleet) as it was then cailed, on the west, with a water called Walbrooke, running through the middest of the Citie into the River of Thames, serving the hart thereof, and with a fourth water, or boorne, which ran within the Citie, through Lungbourne Warde, watering that parte in the east. In the west suburbes was also an other greate water, called Oldborne, which had his fall into the River of Wels: then was there three principall Fountaines, or Wels, in the other suburbes, to wit, Holly Well, Clement's Well, and Clarkes Well. Neare unto this last named fountaine, were divers other Wels, to wit, Skinner's Well, Fag's Well, Tode Well, Leder's Well, and Rad-Well. In West Smithfield there was a Poole, in Recordes called Horse poole; and one other Poole near unto the Parish Church of S. Giles, without Criplegate. Besides all which, they had in every streete and lane of the Citie divers fayre wels and fresh springes: and after this manner was this Citie then served with sweete and fresh waters."