virtues which render Nobility still more illustrious may your Lordship long continue, one of the ornaments of that superb "Corinthian Column," which adorns, while supports the national edifice. it I remain, My Lord, Your Lordship's grateful, and most obedient Servant, JOHN CORRY. London, March 1, 1820. THE ENGLISH METROPOLIS; OR, LONDON IN THE YEAR 1820. , A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF LONDON. ALL the researches of our antiquaries have failed to discover the precise time when London was founded. Some authors trace its origin to the Aborigines, whom they assert were Goths, who settled in Britain long before this island was invaded by the Romans. Even the etymology of this city is attributed to those settlers, in whose language lun signified a grove, and den a town, or the town in the wood: other writers derive its name from the language of the ancient Britons, in which leyn is a lake, and din a town, or the town on the lake; but it must be evident to common sense, that both these conjectures are arbitrary, vague, and unsatisfactory. The first historical account of London is that recorded by the Romans, whose common prac tice it was to give new names to the places which they conquered. They first called this city Londinum, and afterwards Augusta. London is mentioned by Tacitus as a place of some importance in the first century. Suetonius," says he, "marched through the country as far as London, a place not dignified with the name of a colony, but the chief residence of merchants, and the great mart of trade and commerce.' Among the few remains of antiquity in this city, may be mentioned, London Stone, near St. Swithin's church, in Cannon-street. It is supposed to have been the Milliarium of the Romans, from which they measured distances to their stations in Britain. Watling-street was one of the Roman military ways, and Old-street another. The first erection of the Tower of London was ascribed to Julius Cæsar by FitzStephen, an historian of very doubtful authority; but it is certain that William I. erected a fortress on the present site of the Tower, to overawe his new subjects, the citizens of London, Westminster Abbey was built by King Edgar, in the year 958, and Westminster Hall by William. II., about the latter end of the eleventh century. Some remains of the religious houses sup-: pressed by Henry VIII. are to be found in the city, but they are inconsiderable, and neglected. This great metropolis has undoubtedly existed |