BOOK CLIII. Cathedral. rishioners. The cathedral had been many times destroyed by fire, when in 1714 that structure was commenced which remains at present; it was finished in the beginning of the 15th century under Henry V, Cromwell turned it into a stable for his cavalry, but after the restoration it was carefully repaired. Its shape is that of a Greek cross: the portal and oriel are the finest in England. The largest river in this county, without reckoning the Thames which bounds it on the north, is the Medway, which flows into the Thames near its embouchure between Rochester. the isles of Sheppey and Grain, a few leagues below Rochester, a town with a beautiful stone bridge and magnificent Chatham. cathedral. In the vicinity is Chatham which may be considered as one of its suburbs: this place is remarkable for its docks where vessels of the largest size are constructed, and its magazines and immense buildings which are alone sufficient to convey an idea of the naval power of England. The town although founded by Charles II, has none of the regularity of new cities. Its fortifications are sufficient to prevent another Ruyter from burning the place and carrying off the ships. In a narrow spot on the bank of the Thames, it is impossible to avoid being struck with admiWoolwich. ration at the sight of the great arsenal of Woolwich, its magnificent artillery barracks, and its fine naval school built in the gothic style and containing a canal and basin for the exhibition of naval manœuvres. At Greenwich is to be seen the splendid Marine Hospital established in the palace of Charles II, and the Observatory, from which the British astronomers compute their meridian. Deptford. Ancient Inhabitants. At Deptford are extensive magazines for the provisioning of ships, and the dock yards in which Peter the Great laboured. Kent has retained the name of the people that inhabited the county at the landing of Julius Cæsar; these were the Cantii: their territory formed four petty kingdoms: under the Heptarchy these were united into one: the Saxon kings held their court at Canterbury. After the Norman conquest, the inhabitants retained their ancient privileges, the chief of which were an entire exemption from vassalage, and the custom of gavelkind, or the equal division of land among children at the death of the father. Few of the English counties contain more numerous antiquities, such as castles, and the gothic dwellings of the nobility of the mid dle ages. BOOK CLIII. The lively verdure and beautiful gardens which border Middlesex. the Thames, from the sea to the great capital of England, and the busy scenes every where presented by the river, form one of the noblest spectacles ever exhibited. Crowds of vessels passing each other up and down the stream; an immense forest of masts, which strikes the view before reaching the city wagons and carriages innumerable rolling along the roads, all announce the capital of a mighty empire, the most populous city of Europe, and the greatest commercial mart in the world: such is London. A little London. arithmetic will establish these assertions, which might otherwise appear exaggerated. The loading and unloading of vessels employ annually at London 3000 lighters, 8000 seamen, and 4000 porters. The average number of vessels moored at once in the docks and canals, and at the wharves of the Thames, is 15,000. More than 900 steamboats arrive and depart in the course of a year. The annual value of Commerce the goods laden and unladen, amounts to 70 millions sterling this immense sum is the result of foreign commerce. The interior trade employs 4000 wagons and other vehicles, transporting nearly 50 millions sterling value of merchandize: add to this, 10 millions for cattle and other property, transported by different channels: 1500 carriages a day leaving the city at stated hours, to say nothing of the post, and there results a total of 130 millions sterling, the amount of the annual commerce of London.* of London. London. London existed previous to the Christian era. According History of to Tacitus, it was in his time the chief commercial town in Britain. The Romans named it Londinium. The Trinobantes, the Atrebates, and other British tribes called it Lundayn. Under the Saxon dominion it received the names of Londenceaster, Lunden Byrig, Lunden Wye, and finally that of London. The history of its growth, and of the privileges which it obtained, is not without interest. In the sixth cen * Capper's Topographical Dictionary. BOOK CLIII. tury it was the capital of the kingdom of Essex or the east Saxons; under Alfred it became the metropolis of all England, and its rights and immunities were confirmed by William the Conqueror. Henry I, in extending its jurisdiction over the county of Middlesex, granted the city the privilege of choosing from its own citizens a sheriff and judge, and reserved to himself the right of nominating the port reeve or mayor: but at the death of this monarch the Londoners purchased the right of choosing their own magistrates. Finally, under Richard I, the municipal constitution of the city took the form, which, with a few modifications, it wears at the present day. In the beginning of the reign of King John, the chief magistrate changed his title of custos and bailiff for that of mayor. The city was despoiled of its charter by Henry III, and obliged to purchase a new one. In the reign of Edward I, it was divided into 24 wards, each having at its head an alderman and councillors chosen by the citizens. Edward III added the southern bank of the Thames to the city, conferred upon the mayor the title of lord, and granted him the privilege of having a gold or silver mace borne before him. His successor, Richard II, took away the franchises of the city, and restored them only Lighting of upon the payment of a sum of money. In 1416 the streets were for the first time lighted with lamps. In the 15th and 16th centuries London was invested with greater privileges than ever. After the sacrifices which it had made for the preservation of its liberties, the reign of Elizabeth formed a new era in the history of the city. This princess built the Exchange, and encouraged industry: the capital, to make a grateful return, furnished, during the war with Philip II, in 1588, an army of 10,000 men, 16 large ships, and four small vessels of war, all equipped and paid during the war. In 1615, the side walks of the chief streets, which till then had only a footing of pebbles, were paved anew with flag stones. Charles I, while he set himself in opposition to the liberties of England, confirmed by several charters, the privileges of the capital, and even granted it new ones. The zeal with which London embraced the revolutionary party is well known. In 1660 the same city was no less zealous in promoting the restoration of Charles II, who afterwards he streets. showed a great readiness to extend its privileges. After the revolution of 1688, in which it had so large a share, London found no difficulty in obtaining from William and Mary a confirmation of its ancient rights. In the reign of Queen Anne the city was empowered to build 50 new churches. To the long reign of George III, it is indebted for many important establishments and improvements. This long series of privileges, which may be looked upon as so many concessions granted by arbitrary power to the spirit of liberty, is an effect of the progress of civilization. Let us observe, in passing, for it is a circumstance worthy of remark, that the judicial murder of Charles I, the Protectorate of Cromwell, the restoration of Charles II, the expulsion of James II, and the accession of William III, events so important in the history of London and of England, and which all happened within the space of 40 years, ought to take from the English the privilege of taxing the French people with fickleness. BOOK CLIII. diseases. London has been often laid waste by fires and ten sev- Ravages of eral times has it suffered the horrible ravages of epidemics. epidemical The latest and most terrible of these is known by the name of the great plague. It occurred in 1666 and destroyed above 68,000 persons. Hardly had its ravages ceased, when, on a Sunday, the 2d of September 1666, a fire broke Great fire. out in the city which aided by a violent east wind, raged uncontrolled for 4 days, and consumed 13,200 houses, 400 streets, St Paul's church and 86 others, 6 chapels, the Exchange, the Custom House, many hospitals and libraries, 4 prisons, 3 city gates, 4 stone bridges with the houses upon them, and a vast number of beautiful structures of every description. The loss of goods, furniture, &c, was estimated at 10,500,000 pounds sterling. The most remarkable circumstance attending this terrible conflagration is, that That of 1318 destroyed, it is said, 100,000 persons. That of 1461 was more terrible still. About the year 1487 the sweating sickness appeared first in London, and carried off an immense number. In 1500, the plague destroyed above 20,000 of the inhabitants. In 1518, the sweating sickness re-appeared and renewed its ravages. It returned a third time in 1528, and was so virulent that the immense numbers of its victims died in 5 or hours after being seized. In 1603 a species of the plague destroyed more than 30,000 persons, The plague of 1625 killed more than 35,000. BOOK CLIII. Municipal organiza tion. View of the city. only six persons perished in it. To preserve the memory of this misfortune, a magnificent column, 200 feet high, was erected upon a narrow spot of ground, and called the London monument. London is divided into 26 wards, each ward being under the direction of an alderman elected by the liverymen in the assemblies called wardmotes. One of these magistrates is chosen annually at Michaelmas to be Lord Mayor: the two sheriffs and the chamberlain are also chosen annually by the liverymen the recorder, who is generally an eminent lawyer, is chosen by the Lord Mayor and aldermen to assist them in legal matters; this magistrate makes all addresses in the name of the city, and when sitting upon the bench, the duty of pronouncing sentence upon criminals belongs to him. There are many other municipal officers, as a coroner, a common sergeant, a city attorney, a city remembrancer or keeper of the archives, &c. Those suburbs of London which pertain to the county of Middlesex, are under the jurisdiction of the justices of that county. The police of the city is confided to magistrates who hold their courts every day for the hearing of causes. In taking a view of the city with the design of pointing out the chief edifices, it may be remarked that its form is altogether irregular: it extends parallel to the Thames, but lies more upon the right bank than on the left. Taking in Westminster and Southwark, its length is seven miles, and its greatest breadth 4, its narrowest 2. The streets are generally wide: few are so narrow as not to admit of two carriages abreast; many are sufficiently wide for 5 or 6: this is particularly the case in Westminster and at the west end, the residence of the nobility and the rich. The narrowest streets are in that part called the city, the central and oldest part of London. Here the chief business is transacted: the east end is also inhabited by shopkeepers, principally those connected with commerce. Here are immense timber yards, docks, stores and magazines. Southwark, which in point of jurisdiction belongs to the county of Surrey, has also many shops and stores, but abounds chiefly in manufactures of every kind. In the north are several new quarters which have been built within a few years, and |