9th of July of the same year, the illustrious Wellington was received by the lord mayor and corporation with almost equal magnificence; on which occasion he received the freedom of the city in a gold box, and a handsome sword. The account of these visits was printed by order of and for the corporation of the city of London, by Nichols, Son, and Bentley, Red Lion Passage, Fleet Street, and merits the perusal of every foreign and native visitor of London.

In the renewal of the war, and the final overthrow of the continental despot in the field of Waterloo, the city of London felt and expressed a common sentiment with the rest of the country, and with the whole civilized world. No event, possessing an exclusive reference to the metropolis, has since taken place, except the nomination and choice of Matthew Wood, Esq. to fill a second time in succession the municipal chair of this powerful and far-famed city. And also the magnificent opening of the Waterloo Bridge, by his royal highness the Prince Regent, accompanied by the duke of York, the duke of Wellington, and the great officers of state, the particulars of which are given under the head of Waterloo Bridge.'

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CHAPTER II.

SITE AND GENERAL OUTLINES OF THE

METROPOLIS.

THE site of the British metropolis is better adapted for the facilities of mercantile transactions, than the displays of architectural magnificence. It consists of a gentle slope on the north bank of the River Thames, and of an almost uniform flat surface on the southern side of this celebrated river. It presents no advantage of neighbouring hills, from which the spectator might look down on distinct, and striking masses of buildings, those of sufficient altitude being too remote for this specific purpose. The spectator is, therefore, compelled to contemplate this wonderful city more in reference to its amplitude and vastness, than to the effects produced by its separate and distinct parts.

Hampstead. Heath, indeed, commands a fine and delightful view, combining the greatest variety of interesting objects, connected with the metropolis but this position is too distant for uniting all that might be wished. Greenwich Park exhibits another fine view, including a different set of objects, but which are subject to similar observations. Putney Common too presents a charming picture; limited and con

fused, indeed, eastward; but highly attractive and interesting, as it regards the river, Westminster, and parts adjacent, in the west. The new parts of the town are seen to singular advantage from Primrose Hill.

These four points of examination are strongly recommended to the foreign or native visitor of London; not merely for the purpose of viewing it from the most picturesque positions, but for the local interest which they possess in other respects..

Geographical Situation.

GEOGRAPHICALLY considered, the centre of London, or the Cathedral of St. Paul's, is ascertained to be 51° 31′ N. L. and 5′ 37′′ W. L. reckoning the first degree of longitude from the Observatory at Greenwich.

Relative Situation.

THE distance of London from the principal cities of Europe is nearly as follows:

General Divisions and Population..

LONDON, aggregately considered, comprises the city and its liberties, the city and liberties of Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and a considerable number of adjacent and populous villages connected with it, in Middlesex and Şurrey.

The greatest portion is built on the northern bank of the Thames, or in Middlesex. But Southwark, with Lambeth, and several connecting villages, extend along the southern shore of the same river, in the county of Surrey.

The extent of London, from west to east, or from Knightsbridge to Poplar, is about seven miles and a half. Its breadth, from north to south, or from Newington Butts to Islington, is nearly five miles. The circumference of the whole, allowing for various inequalities in the extension of streets, &c. at the extremities, cannot be less than thirty miles. Hence it may be fairly estimated, that the buildings of this metropolis cover, at least, eighteen square miles. Out of these must be deducted the space occupied by the River Thames, which extends about seven miles in length, and about a quarter of a mile in breadth.

Independent of various local and civil divisions, London may be said to consist of five distinguishing parts, or popular divisions:-the west end of the town, the city, the east end of the town, Westminster, and the borough.

The "west end of the town" consists of various handsome squares and streets, occupied by the town-houses of the nobility and gentry, and the most fashionable shops.

The "city" includes the central part and most ancient division of the metropolis. This is the emporium of commerce and business of all descriptions, and is occupied by shops, warehouses, public offices, and houses of tradesmen, and others connected with business.

The "east end of the town,” and its inhabitants, are devoted to commerce, to ship-building, and to every collateral branch connected with merchandise. This division of London has assumed а novel character, within the last century, in consequence of the vast commercial docks and warehouses which have been formed and constructed here.

"Southwark," and the whole of the southern banks of the Thames, from Deptford to Lambeth, bears some resemblance to the "east end" of the town, being occupied by persons engaged in commercial and maritime concerns. But this part of London has one distinguishing feature from any other, as it abounds with numerous and various manufactories, iron-foundries, glasshouses, soap-boiling and dye-houses, shot and hat manufactories, &c., and many other similar

D