In 1872

Front matter

ADVERTISEMENTS. NOTICE. On and after the 1st of January, 1873, ALL BOXES issued by the Proprietors will have the Government Stamp pasted over each box instead of being on the outside wrappers as heretofore; and on each respective box and on the outside wrappers there will be printed the name and the TRADE MARK of the Firm, thus : — Are warranted not to contain a single particle of MERCURY, or any other MINERAL SUBSTANCE ; but to consist entirely of Medicinal Matters, PURELY VEGETABLE. During the last thirty-seven years they have proved their value in thousands of instances in Diseases of the Head, Chest, Bowels, Liver, and Kidneys; and in all Skin Complaints are one of the BEST MEDICINES KNOWN. Sold in Boxes, price 7|d., Is. l^d., & 2s. 9d. each, by G. WHELPTON & SON, 3, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London ; And by all Chemists and Medicine Vendors.

Sent free on receipt of 8, 14, or 33 Stamps ; and can be obtained of all Wholesale Houses in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York, Hull, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Glasgow, Edinburgh' Dublin, &c, &c. ADVERTISEMENTS. BAILEY'S IMPROVED BELTS Prize Medal, 1862, awarded FOR SUPERIORITY OF CONSTRUCTION. Prices from 15s. to 42s. Instructions for measurement :— Send the circuui ierences at A, B, C. ELASTIC STOCKINGS, f KNEECAPS, &c. jA For a Stocking, send the circumferences at A, D, r C, D, E ; length from A to B. ILLUSTRATED PRICE LIST of every article for the use of Invalids, and in the Sick Room. "OT. XX. B-A.XI-EY «S& SON, 418, Oxford Street, London, W. ADVERTISEMENT!*. fiiifiii ft mmm* SPECIAL NOTICE. CHARLES H. STAKBURT, MANUFACTURER OF Jitter dtafe OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, TRAVELLING BAGS, WRITING CASES, JEWEL BOXES, LADIES' WORK BASKETS, BILL CASES, PURSES, &c, &c, 91, FLEET STREET, LONDON, E.G., Begs respectfully to draw the attention of Tourists and Travellers to his large and varied stock of the above articles, the whole of which he can confidently recommend as being of the very best manufacture.

THE MOST EFFECTUAL & SAFE DISINFECTANT. MARTINI CO.'S Jnternafomat DISINFECTANT. Typhoid Fever, Small-Pox, Cholera, and all other infectious Diseases prevented by using the above Disinfectant and Deodorizing Powder. The following are its peculiarly favorable Qualities and Uses:— It Destroys all Infection. Adapted for, and retains its properties in any climate. It has no poisonous qualities, but has a pleasant aud refreshing odour. It is highly recommended for Disinfecting Sick Rooms in cases of Typhus Fever, Choleba, Small- Pox, and all contagious diseases. FOR DISINFECTING LINEN, BEDDING, &c, it will be found invaluable, especially as it docs not in any way stain or leave marks, which many other disinfectants now used do. Farmers, Cattle Dealers, Livery Stablekeepers, Dairymen, &c., will find MARTIN & CO.'s INTERNATIONAL DISINFECTANT an invaluable and efficient remedy, and certain preventive in many cases of the most serious disease in Cattle, and also in the Stable, Cow-sheds, Dog kennel, or Poultry -yard.

Introduction

. In issuing a Third Edition of The Post Office Guide to London the Proprietors have adhered to the original design, viz., that of producing a work that should not only be a Guide to the Objects of Interest at the present time, but a Standard Work of Reference hereafter. With this view, a vast amount of statistical information has been collected and arranged in as detailed and readable a form as the limits of the work would admit, and the Proprietors believe the work contains an amount of information not to be found in any other of the kind. The unusual resources for obtaining accurate information of Modern London — acquired by more than a quarter of a century's experience in compiling the " Post Office Directory of London " year by year, the carefully-trained staff of assistants, together with the methods of organization and of systematic arrangement — have been made available with the idea of rendering The Post Office Guide to London as trustworthy and as useful to every Visitor as is the Directory to every Merchant aud Tradesman in the Metropolis.

Without overcharging The Guide with Pleasant Gossip about Old London, or with Antiquarian and Archæological speculations, the principal Facts to be remembered in the City's Annals are correctly, though briefly, stated. Places of Pilgrimage are pointed out, and all that is worth seeing on account of Historical Associations indicated. INTRODTJCTION. Such objects of interest as the Palaces, Public Buildings, Monuments, Art- Collections (National, Corporate, and Private), Museums, Docks, and Banks, as well as the Exhibition of 1872 and the Industrial Pursuits of the Kingdom as represented therein, are particularly dwelt upon, so as to make The Post Office Guide to London a Visitor's Handbook and also a work of reference hereafter. While fully acknowledging, as in the First Edition, their obligations to previous writers on the Metropolis of the British Empire — to Stow, Strype, Maitland, and Pennant ; to the " Percy Histories," " Knight's London," " Peter Cunningham's Hand book," and " Leeds' Public Buildings " — the Proprietors deem themselves justified in calling attention to the fact that the Statistical Information relative to the London of to-day has been obtained by original research ; by applications to the authorities, whose courtesy they take this opportunity of gratefully acknow ledging ; by personal observation ; and from analytical investi gation of statistical returns printed by order of Parliament : the facts and figures may consequently be relied upon implicitly.

If the necessities of space have shorn the work of some ornamental -features — poetical quotations, amusing gossip and witticisms — its usefulness, they trust, remains unimpaired. In conclusion, the Proprietors take this opportunity of acknow ledging the courtesy with which information has been uniformly afforded, and also for the suggestions for the improvement of the work which have been made (these have been carried out where found practicable), and they solicit the favor of any further information or suggestions that may improve the work either in utility or interest. 51, Great Queen street, W.C, May, 1872. THE COIIERCIAL AGENCY OF BRAZIL, 1S8, LEADENHALL ST., LONDON, E.C., UNDERTAKE THE PROMPT EXECUTION OF ALL ORDERS FOR THE PURCHASE OF BRAZILIAN PRODUCE, AXD THE PURCHASE OF GOODS 1ST ALL EUROPEAN MARKETS.

The sale in Brazil, South America, England, India, and Spam of all consignments of Produce, Goods, Earthenware, Machinery, Railway and Telegraph Plant, Galvanised Ironwork, Agricultural Implements of all kinds, Cement, Coals, &c. Furnishes information and assistance to all those desirous of emigrating to Brazil, and contracts for the settlement of emigrants in any part of the Empire. Has several landed estates in Brazil to dispose of, suitable for capitalists and emigrants. The Agency also undertakes the collection of bills payable at any part of the Empire — realisation and adjustment of all claims. OFFICE HOURS :-TEN TILL FOUR. J. DE A. PORTUGAL. Bg itional Jiritrrs Uatflit ?£cr fKlajfOtB's THE HOUSEKEEPER'S FRIEND! MABWS POLISH, THIS POLISH IS STRONGLY RECOMMENCED TO THE PUBLIC FOR CLEANING PLATE, PLATED GOODS, GLASS, Ac.

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION By the use of this Paste 75 per Cent, of labour, time and expense will be saved, and it produces a far more brilliant appearance than any other article ever used, without the least injury. used in the ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, ARMY AND NAVY MESS-ROOMS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND THE PRINCIPAL OF THE NOBILITY AND PRIVATE FAMILIES. SOLD EVERYWHERE, In Tin Boxes, Gd. $ Is. each, by Oilmen, Grocers, Druggists, $■ Ironmongers, Wholesale at the Manufactory of H. YARROW7 1, BROUGHAM ROAD, QUEEN'S ROAD, DALSTON, LONDON, E. Testimonials received frcm Buckingham Palace, Mappin Brothers, South Eastern Railway Company, and otheis tco numerous to mention. PURCHASERS' GUIDE. Bagatelle Table Manufacturer. Despatch Box Manufacturers. Ayres Thos. C, 28, Great Bath-street, Farringdon-roaiJ,e.c. ; bagatelle, backgammon, chess, ic cribbage boards, Sec.

Asser & Slierwin, 81, Strand, ice, Sc 69, Oxford-street, w. Domestic Machinery Manufactur. Billiard Table Manufacturers. Topham Charles, Coleman-street, Bunhill-row, e.c. See advertisement. Thurston Sc Company, offices & showrooms, 14, Catherine-street, Strand, w.c; factory , Waterloo billiard works, Cheyne walk,«.to. (Established 1814.) By appointment. Lamp makers & gas fitters. Dressing Case Manufacturers. Asser Sc Sherwin, 81, Strand, w.c, k 69, Oxford-street, w. Boiler Tube Brush Manufacturer. Furniture Polish, &c. Manufacturer. Topham Charles, Coleman-street. Bunhill-row, e.c. See advertisement. Adams John, Victoria-park, Sheffield. Sold by Burton & Sanger, Oxford-st. , Haynes, Edgware-road; Walton, Hasseli& Port, & by all druggists, grocers, ironmongers, &e. See advertisement. Chemist — Pharmaceutical.

Cooper W. T., 26, Oxford-street, w Manufacturer of the Anti-eptic Carnation Tooth Paste, & of the new " Persian Perfume." Galvanized Iron Manufacturers. Tupper & Co., 61, Moorgate-street, e c (John J. Ginham, sole agent). Cigar Importers. Carlin C. A. (late D. Soutter,, Sc tobacconist, 145, Regent-street, w. General Drapers. Carreras J. Joaquin (by appointment to the Embassies of Frances Spain), 61, Princes-street, Leicester-square, w. ; Sc 98, Regent-street, iv. Simpson Z. & Co. 65 & 66 (late 48, 49, 50, Sc 53), Farringdon-street, e.c Swan Sc Edgar, 9 to 1], Piccadilly, & 39 to 53, Regent-street, w. Wolff, Phillips & Co., 77, Regent-street, «!. Cigar & tobacco manufacturers. Gilt Moulding Manufacturer. Coffee Dealers — Wholesale. Hieronimus W., 58 & 59, Aldersgate-street, e.c Rothwell T. T., Scott's-square, Bush-lane, London, e.c Hotels, Clubs, &c, supplied on the best terms.

See advertisement. Glovers. Piver L. T. (Jouvins), 160, Regentstreet, w. Corrugated Iron Roof Builders. Tupper Sc Co., 61, Moorgate-street, e.c (John J. Ginham, sole agent). Haberdashers. Stagg & Mantle, 1, 2, 3 & 4, Leicester' square, Sc 8, Leicester-street, w.c Croquet and Cricket Bat, &c. Manufacturers . Harness Composition— Blacking . PropertJohn,22,South Audley -street ,«! Asser & Shernin, 81, Strand, w.c, Sc 69, Oxford-street, ic. THE PURCHASERS' GUIDE. Lacemen. Hat Manufacturers. Lincoln, Bennett & Co., 1, Sackville-street, Piccadilly, w. Allison J. Sc Co., 238, 240 & 242, Regentstreet, Sc 20 Sc 27, Argyll-street, w. Robinson Peter, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 & 108, Oxford-street, & 1 to 3, Great Portland-street, w. Hosiers. Allison J . & Co., 238, 240 k 242, Regentstreet, & 26 & 27, Argyll -street, w. Simpson Z. Sc Co. 65 & 66 (late 48, 49, 50 Sc 53), Farringdon-street, e,c. Robinson Peter, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 k 108, Oxford street, & 1 to 8, Great Portland-street, w. Ladies' Outfitters.

Simpson Z.k Co., 65 k 66 (late 48, 49, 50 & 53), Farringdon-street, e.c Stagg & Mantle, 1, 2, 3 & 4, Leicester-square, & 8, Leicester-street, w.c. Stagg k Mantle, 1, 2, 3 & 4, Leicester-square, & 8, Leicester-street, w.c. Leather Goods Manufacturer. Stanbury Charles H., 91, Fleet-st., e.c. Importers of Shawls. Swan k Edgar, 9 to 11, Piccadilly, & 39 to 53, Regent-street, w. Liqueurs and Brandies. Morel Brothers, 210 & 211, Piccadilly, w. ; k 31, Church-street, Inverness, N.B. Importers of Wines and Foreign Produce. Mantle Manufacturers. Morel Brothers, 210 & 211, Piccadilly, w. ; k 31, Church-street, Inverness, N.B. Allison J.& Co., 238, 240 & 242, Regentstreet, & 26 & 27, Argyll-street, w. Robinson Peter, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 k 108, Oxford-street, & 1 to 3 Great Portland-street, w. Iron Church, Chapel and School Builder.

Ginham John J., 61, Moorgate-street,e.c. Stagg k Mantle, 1, 2, 3 & 4, Leicester-square, k 8, Leicester-street, w.c. Iron Koof Manufacturers. Ginham John J. ,61, Moorgate-street, e.c. Merchant Tailors. Jones, Harris & Shingleton, 31P & 119, Oxford-street, w. West End Styles at City prices. Tupper & Co., 61, Moorgate-street, e.c (John J. Ginham, sole agent). Iron Roofing Tile Manufacturers. Money Exchanges — Foreign. Tupper & Co., 61, Moorgate-street, e.c. (John J. Ginham, sole agent). Peirson & Co., 1, Cranbourne-st., w.c. Reinhardt Charles & Co., Foreign Banking k Exchange Office, 14, Coventrystreet, Leicester-square, we. Iron Tank and Cistern Manufacturer. Ginham John J. ,61, Moorgate-street,e.c. Parasols. Italian Warehouses. Robinson Peter, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 & 108, Oxford-street, & 1 to 3, Great Portland-street, w. Morel Brothers, 210 k 211, Piccadilly, w. ; & 31, Church-street, Inverness, N.B. Perfumer.

Italian Warehousemen. Rimmel Eugene,96, Strand; 128,Regentstreet, & 24, Cornbill, London; also at the Perfume Fountains, Crystal Palace ; 76, King's-road, Brighton ; 17, Boulevard des Italiens, Paris ; 25 Hoogstraat, The Hague; & 20, ViJ Tornauuoni, Florence. Neighbour Geo. k Sons, 149, Regentstreet, w.,k 127, High Holborn,u).c. Jewellers. White k Campbell, 133, New Bond-street, w. Jewellers & silversmiths. "DRAGON CHOP" TEAS. Biases SAI«B 1IIWIE1 IMPORTERS AND CONSUMERS. DRAGON CHOP TEAS, PRICE 3s. & 2s. 6d. PER LB. IN 1 ft., i lb. k | lb. PACKETS. DELIVERED WEEKLY BY CARTS IN LONDON AND SUBURBS, Or will be forwarded, carriage free, in quantities' of not less than 6 lbs., to any Railway Station in England, on receipt of Post Office Order ; Cheques crossed London Joint Stock Bank. SAMPLES MAT BE OBTAINED FROM OR WILL BE FORWARDED ON APPLICATION TO wilch k mm, SCOTT'S YARD, BUSH LANE, CANNON STREET, LONDO 3XT.

THE PURCHASERS' GUIDE. XI Photographic Artist. Steel Pen Manufacturer. Lenthall Henry, photographer to the Queen, 222, Regent-street, ic. Mitchell William, all kinds of stationers sundries, 44, Cannon-street, e.c. Portable Iron House Builder. Ginham John J., 61, Moorgate-street, e.c. Tea Dealers — Wholesale. Rothwell T. T., Scott's-square, Bush-lane, London, e.c. Portmanteau Manufacturer. Hotels, Clubs, &c, supplied on the best terms. See advertisement. Graham James, leather portmanteau, sample case k travelling bag maker, 40, Gresham-street, e.c Tea Importers. Welch k Co., importers of "The Dragon Chop " Teas, Seott's-yard, Bush-lane, London, e.c. See advertisement. Ready-made Costumes. Allison J. k Co., 238, 240 k 242, Regentstreet; & 26 & 27, Argyll-street, w. Robinson Peter, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 & 108, Oxford-street; & 1 to 3, Great Portland -street, jo.

Travelling Bag Manufacturers. Asser & Sherwin, 81, Strand, w.c; k 69, Oxford-street, w. Ribbon Manufacturers. Allison J. & Co., 238, 240 & 242, Regent street ; k 26 & 27, Argyll-street, w. Trimming Manufacturers. Evans Richard & Co., prize exhibitors. 1851 & 1862, manufacturers &. importers of mantle, dress k upholstery trimmings of every description ; the trade k shippers only supplied, 24, 25 &26, Watling-street, e.c. Sausage Machine Manufacturer. Topham Charles, Coleman-street, Bun hill-row, e.c See advertisement. Silk Mercers. Allison J. & Co., 238, 240 & 242, Regentstreet; & 26 & 27, Argyll-street, w. Trusses. White John (Moc-Main), 228, Piccadilly, w. Nicholson D. & Co., 50, 51 & 52, St, PauFs-churchyard, e.c. Silk mercers, mantles, shawls, dresses, costumes, juvenile clothing, parasols, kc.

Wedding Outfitters. Swan & Edgar, !) to 11, Piccadilly ; &39 to 53, Regent-street, w. Robinson Peter, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 & 108, Oxford-street ; & 1 to 3, Great Portland-street, w. Wedding Presents Manufacturers. Asser k Sherwin, 81, Strand, w.c. ; &69, Oxford-street, w. Simpson Z. & Co., 05 k 66 (late 48, 49, 50 & 53), Farringdon-street, e.c Stagg k Mantle, 1, 2, 3 & 4, Leicester-square; &8, Leicester-street, w.c. Whip Manufacturers. Swaine & Adeney (to the Queen), 185, Piccadilly, ic. Swan& Edgar, 9 to 11, Piccadilly ; &39 to 53, Regent-street, w. Window Cornice and Room Bordering Manufacturer. Stationers' Sundries. Mitchell William, penholders, inkstands k sundries, French goods, &c, 44, Cannon-street, e.c. Hieronimus W., 58 k 59, Aldersgate-street, e.c. LONDON," 191, FLEET-STREET, TEMPLE BAR REED & NIGHOLES (Late Manager and Obef of the LONDON TAVERN), PROPRIETORS.

THE FAMOUS LONDON DINNER at 3s.; consisting of two Soups, two Fish, two En trees, Joint and Poultry, Sweets, Cheese, &c, served from 4 till 8. DINNERS from the JOINT, includingVegetables and Cheese, at 2s , served from 1 till 8. DINNERS A LA CARTE, From 1 o'clock till 8. DINNERS for large or small parties in private rooms, from 6s. per head. Ladies' Dining Rooms and Lavatories. A HANDSOME SMOKING AND BILLIARD SALOON. This Establishment is open on Sundays from 4 till S. GRAND RESTAURANT "THE CONTEXTS,

Chapter I Rise And Growth Of

MEDIÆVAL LONDON. SECTIOS riGP i. British London . . . . .1 ii. Roman „ . . . . 3 in. Saxon „ . . . .7 iv. Norman „ . . . . . 12 v. Plantagenet ... . . . .15 vi. Tudor „ . . . . . 25

Chapter II. London As It Is

AMUSEMENTS OF LONDON. i. Music and Concerts . . . .36 h. Theatres . . . . 41 in. Exhibitions and Entertainments . . 44 rv. Public Gardens and Parks . . 45 v. Museums . . . . . .52 vi. Public Picture Galleries . . 66 National Gallery -.— Foreign Schools . . . .67 Vernon Collection . . 68 Turner Collection . . . .69 Sheepshanks' Collection . . 69 National Portrait Gallery . 70 Dulwich Gallery . . .71 Hampton Court . . . . . CONTENTS. XIV

Chapter III. Exhibition Of

1871. SECTION PAOK Fine Arts . . . 77 Cotton and Cotton Fabrics . . 79 Jewellery ... .80 Musical Instruments . . .82 Acoustic Apparatus, etc. . . . 83 Paper, Stationery, etc. . . . .83 Typography . . ... 84 Paper Manufacture . . . .84 Cotton Manufacture . . . . . 95

Chapter IV

, THE INHABITANTS OF LONDON. i. The Population and their Dwellings . . 104 ii. Climate and Health of London . . 109 in. Occupations and Dialect. . . .117 iv. Gas Supply . . . . . 119 v. London Fires .... 122

Chapter V. The Food Of London

i. Supplies, and their Adulteration . . 126 ii. Markets . ... 128 in. Breweries and Distilleries . . . 134 iv. Water Supply . . . . .138 CONTENTS. XV

Chapter VI. The Local Government Of London

SECTION P*OE I. The City Corporation . . . 146 ii. Sources of Revenue, Income and Expenditure . 152 in. The Metropolitan Board of Works— Its Composition and Jurisdiction .... 153 rv. Rates and Taxes . . . . . 157 v. Drainage .... .158

Chapter VII. Religion In London

i. Spiritual Instruction . . • 166 ii. Cathedrals . • • • .168 in. Churches . • ■ ■ . . 181 iv. Chapels ....■■ 20° v. Missionary Societies . . ■ . . 206 vi. Cemeteries . ... 210

Chapter VIII. The Wealth Of London

i. Property and Income. . 213 ii. The Mint . - • ■ 21<1 in. Bank of England . . . . 218 iv. Private and Joint-Stock Banks . . .222 v. Insurance Companies . . . . 224 vi. Savings Banks, Friendly and Loan Societies . CONTENTS. XVI

Chapter IX. Official And Legal London

SECTION PM.E i. Westminster Palace . . . 227 ii. Offices of Civil Administration . . . 230 m. Inns of Court . . . . .237 iv. Law Courts and Offices . . . 240 v. Prisons and Reformatories . . .241 vi. Lunacy . . . . . 247 vii. Criminals and the Police . . . 250 viii. Pauperism . .... 252

Chapter X. Charity Of London

i. Endowed Schools and Educational Asylums . 257 ii. Hospitals, Medical Schools and Dispensaries . 264 in. Almshouses . . . . .275 iv. Benevolent Societies . . . 281

Chapter XI. Education, Literature And Science Of London

i. Colleges . . . . . .296 n. Schools . . . . . . 301 iv. Learned Societies .... 305 v. Libraries . . . . . CONTENTS. XVII

Chapter XII. Architecture And Fine Art In London

SECTION PAGE I. Palaces and their Contents . ' . 316 ii. Mansions and their Contents . . 330 in. Memorials and Statues .... 333 iv. Clubhouses . . . . . 338 v. Hotels . .... 343 vi. Art Exhibitions . . . . . 335

Chapter XIII. Military And Naval London

i. Offices of Military and Naval Administration . 355 ii. Barracks ...... 355 in. The Tower, Arsenals and Dockyards . . 356 iv. Volunteers ..... 358 v. militia . . . . . 361 vi. Military and Naval Asylums . . . 362

Section I

— BRITISH LONDON. The great architect of modern London, in digging deep into the soil to lay the foundations of his matchless cathedral — which, standing upon the central hill of the city, overlooks the whole — laid bare the remains of nations and of generations of men that had dwelt successively in the " City of the Lake," in "Augusta," and in London. He first uncovered the graves of early Mediæval Londoners. Lower down he came upon the remains of our Saxon ancestors, from the days of Ethelbert and St. Austin ; some of which were contained in coffins composed of flags arranged in vertical and horizontal positions, and others — the majority — in cavities lined with chalk stones, in style not unlike the Phœnician tombs round about Ba'albeck, though the material was different. Next were found the remains of Romano-Britons — of those who occupied the city between the two periods of history marked by the departure of the Romans and the invasion of the Saxons ; and in the debris were discovered pins, six inches long, of turned ivory and box-wood, which had fastened cerecloths round the dead.

Lower again, by eighteen feet, were human remains mingled with fragments of Roman urns, marking the time of " the colony when Romans and Britons lived and died together ;" and last of all came the remains of those who knew not Cæsar. Thus we have presented the order (inverted) of the succession of Londoners, which will be the most natural and the safest guide to follow in tracing their history. Under the accumulations which tell of the existence of man upon the site are evidences that, at remoter periods, it was entirely B submerged. The beds of clay and gravel contain marine deposits, and beneath them, in the stratum of London clay — from 100 to 150 feet in thickness here — have been found and recognised 400 distinct species of shells, aud the remains of about fifty distinct species of fish.

The lower part of the clay is interstratified by layers of sand, pebbles, and shells. In the first of these layers, from one to three feet thick, are, besides the remains of fossil shells, traces of vegetable matter. In the vast drifts, which may have resulted from the action of some ancient deluge, or from the denudation of the high country round London — as in the case of Primrose-hill and Stratford, where the clay is left bare — have been found remains of elephants, tigers, rhinoceros, and hippopotami. "Were these creatures of African and Asiatic wilds our predecessors, or were they wafted hither by mighty currents when " the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days ?" The natural advantages of the site ; the security afforded by its inaccessibility on several, sides, and the ease with which it could be defended where accessible ; its proximity to waters filled with fish ; its belt of forest filled with game and watered by pleasant streams ; and its standing on a river that afforded means of communication with the interior and the seaboard, first attracted the attention of the Britons.

The high ground which is defined by St. Paul's and the Tower was surrounded by water, marsh, and forest. An immense inland lake, formed by the spreading out of the Thames, extended, on the south side, over the sites of Battersea, Wands worth, Deptford, Lambeth, Southwark, Greenwich, and Woolwich, to Plaistow, which is still marsh, and inland, back to the foot of the Surrey and Kentish hills that overlook the river. On the east the lake flowed up to the base of the Essex high lands. On the north were morasses — indicated by the names of Finsbury and Fenchurch — and forests, filled, up to the reign of Henry II., with beasts of chase. All the land round Westminster Abbey was a fen, which extended beyond Fulham. At a later date there were on the east forests, or rather continuations of the northern ones, of which Epping and Hainault are the remains.

Besides these was an inner line of defence, composed of the Fleet — once a navigable stream — of Old Bourne, and Walbrook. Pennant suggests that a ravine, similar to the Fleet valley, existed on the east, formed by Walbrook ; and Dr. Stukeley describes British London as being an oblong square, reaching from the Thames to the sites of Maiden-lane, Lad-lane, and Cateaton-street on the north, to Walbrook on the east, and to the Fleet on the west, with the Thames for the southern boundary. Another writer defines the ROMAN LONDON. 3 "town as occupying the south slope and summit of the bank, rising from the river — between Billingsgate and the Tower in the east and Dowgate in the west — and extending back to the line of Lombard-street and Fenchurch-street. Here the city was built — a collection of huts constructed of stakes and wattles ; and it fulfilled the conditions of all British towns described by Cæsar and Strabo.

It was, in fact, a collection of huts set down on a dry spot in the midst of marshes, and also on a cleared space within a dense wood. In addition to these natural protections, it was encompassed by the artificial defences of mounds and ditches. Within them cattle were stalled for a few months' consumption. That the inhabitants carried on commerce by means of the river appears more than probable, for Cæsar assigns among his reasons for invasion that supplies were sent from Britain to his enemies in Gaul, though Suetonius asserts his true motive was a desire to .possess the pearl fisheries, from which he obtained subsequently the ornaments for the breast-plate he offered to Venus, the ancestor of one of his aunts. They were, it is feasible to believe, less an agricultural people than their brethren on the south coast.

Their trade may have consisted in trafficking the fish caught in the lake at their feet and the produce of the chase in the forests, which led to the thresholds of their homes, against the agricultural produce of others. With respect to the derivation of the name of London, writers are divided ; but all agree that it is of British or Celtic origin. The termination dun or tlvan, in Welsh din, signifies a town or place of refuge by reason of natural or artificial defences. The first syllable is less susceptible of having its origin determined. According to some it is derived from llyn, lake ; and Lli/ndin, the " city on the lake," which defined its position, was easily Latinised into Londinium. Others have derived it from llwyn, a wood ; Uawn, populous, and Ion, plain ; while one in particular insists that the source is /long, ship, making the name " city of ships."

Corroboration of the last proposition is sought in the form Longidinium, given in the " Itinerary" of Antoninus, and in Camden's assertion that London was called by an ancient Welsh bard Uong-portk, " harbour for ships."

Section II

— ROMAN LONDON. Geoffrey of Monmouth relates that London was founded by Brute, a descendant of Æneas, 1108 B.C., and that he called it Trov Novant, whence came the name of Trinovantes, or Trinobantes. The" fable, ingenious as it may be, is too ridiculous to be enterb tained for serious refutation by appealing to the absence of all remains of " the strong wall, numerous towers, and splendid public edifices," which, he said, made it " excel all other cities in the world." When Cæsar advanced upon the Thames, the Trinobantes were the first of the tribes to the north of the river to submit, and to solicit his aid against Cassevellaunus, in whose place he installed their chief Mandrubatius. Their place of refuge, or town, was London. However, neither Cæsar, nor Strabo, nor Pliny the Elder, mentions the city by name.

But, with the exception of the chief town of Cassevellaunus, supposed to be Verulamium — modern St. Alban's — Cæsar mentions no British town. Where he forded the Thames has been in dispute for ages, and the question can scarcely be said to have made much progress towards solution by the arguments of Professor Airy and Mr. Lewin. Camden and others say the ford was at Shepperton, and that what were called Cowey Stakes were planted by the Britons to obstruct his advance. Acting on the hint, a cutler made a fortune a few years ago by selling knives and forks with handles cut out of the stakes. Maitland discovered a ford 90 feet west of the south-west angle of Chelsea College garden, where the greatest depth of the channel was 4 feet 7 inches. But there were fords nearer London. At York Stairs there was a ford which had been used within the memory of people living at the commencement of the last century.

At the bottom of Milford-lane was another ford. Bagford, in a letter to Hearne (1714), declares the Romans forded the Thames opposite Dowgate. The same attraction which led the Britons to settle in London induced the Romans to establish a colony here — not, as usual, a military colony exclusively Roman, but a maritime and commercial settlement, where the two nations lived in peace and amity — in short, a free city. The Romans, with their great engineering and constructional capabilities, speedily effected a transformation in the appearance of the city. One of their first works was to confine the river by artificial embankments, which reclaimed the fertile lands lying on the Surrey and Essex sides. They acclimatised here wheat; the plane, lime, elm, and poplar; the pear, damson, cherry, peach, apricot, medlar, quince, figtree, mulberry, walnut, and chestnut ; the rosemary, varieties of the rose, thyme, bay, and arbutus.

They introduced brickmaking, built temples, courts, baths, houses, and walls to the city, constructed causeways, and opened roads into the interior in various directions. It was the residence of Roman prefects ; and, though York was the capital of Roman Britain, London was the more important city. Tacitus, writing of London ROMAN LONDON. 5 as it was in the time of Nero, a.d. 62, says that Londinium was at that period a place of great importance, " not, indeed, dignified by the name of colony, but yet of the first distinction for abundance of resident merchants and of traffic with other places." The exports were cattle, hides, dogs, and slaves ; the imports were salt, earthenware, brass goods, polished bonework, harness, amber, and glass toys. When the Britons rose under Boadicea, they destroyed the city and inflicted cruel punishments on the inhabitants — slaying, it is reported, 70,000, which, after allowing for exaggerations, proves tlie importance and populousness of the town.