London, Middlesex


A Picture of London for 1802; being a Correct Guide to all the Curiosities, Amusements ,Exhibitions ,Public Establishments and remarkable Objects in and near London with a Collection of Appropriate Tables of the use of Strangers , Foreigners and all Persons who are not Intimately Acquainted with the British Metropolis by R Phillips.

LONDON is situated in the latitude of 51 degrees 31 minutes north; at the distance of 500 miles south-west of Copenhagen; 190 west of Amsterdam; 660 north-west of Vienna; 225 northwest of Paris; 690 north-east of Madrid; 750 north-west of Rome; and 1500 north-west of Constantinople.

It extends, from west to east, along the banks of the river Thames; at the distance of 60 miles from the sea. It consists of three principal divisions; the city of London; the city of Westminster; and the borough of Southwark, with their respective suburbs. The two former divisions are situated on the northern side of the Thames, in the county of Middlesex, great part of them lying on hills, and forming a grand and beautiful amphitheatre round the water; the latter, on the southern bank, in the county of Surry, on level ground, antiently an entire morass.

The length of London is about seven miles, exclusive of houses that on each side line the principal roads to the distance of several miles in every direction: the breadth is irregular; being, at the narrowest part, not more than two miles; and, at the broadest, almost four miles. The soil is chiefly a bed of gravel, in many places mixed with clay. The air and climate are neither so constant nor temperate as in some other parts of the world; yet London is, perhaps, the most healthy city of Europe, from a variety of circumstances we shall have occasion soon to notice. The tide in the river flows 15 miles higher than London; but the water is not salt in any part of the town, and it is naturally very sweet and pure. The river is secured in its channels by embankments, where it does not touch the foot of the hills. When it is not swelled by the tide or rains, the river is not more than a quarter of a mile broad, nor in general more than 12 feet in depth; at spring tides it rises 12, and sometimes 14 feet above this level, and its breadth is increased to something more than a quarter of a mile. The principal streets are wide and airy; and exceed every thing in Europe, for the convenience of trade, and for the accommodation of passengers of every description: they are paved in the middle, for carriages, with large stones, in a very compact manner, forming a small convexity to pass the water off by channels; and at each side is a broad level path, formed of flags, raised a little above the center, for the convenience of foot passengers. Underneath the pavement, are large vaulted channels called sewers, which communicate with each house by smaller ones, and with every street by convenient openings and gratings, to carry off all filth that can be conveyed in that manner, into the river. All mud or other rubbish that accumulates on the surface of the streets is taken away by persona employed by the public for the purpose. London does not excel in the number of buildings celebrated for grandeur or beauty; but in all the principal streets, this metropolis is distinguished by an appearance of neatness and comfort. Most of the great streets appropriated to shops for retail trade, have an unrivalled aspect of wealth and splendor. The shops themselves are handsomely fitted up, and decorated with taste ; but the manufactures with which they are stored form their chief ornament. London abounds with markets, warehouses, and shops, for all articles of necessity or pleasure ; and, perhaps, there is no town in which an inhabitant who possesses the universal medium of exchange, can be so freely supplied as here with the produce of nature or art from every quarter of the globe.

Most of the houses in London are built on a uniform plan. They consist of three or four stories above ground, with one under the level of the streets, containing the kitchens. In each story is a large room in front, and in the back is a small room, and the space occupied by the staircase. Water is conveyed, three times a week, into almost every house, by leaden pipes, and preserved in cisterns or tubs, in such quantities, that the inhabitants have a constant and even lavish supply. Nothing can be more commodious or cleanly than the interior of the houses; and this character extends generally to lodging-hotels, taverns, coffee-houses, and other like places.

London is less populous, for its extent, than many other great cities. The streets are wider, and the inhabitants of every class, below the highest rank, enjoy more room for themselves and families than is usual for the same classes in foreign countries; not only she merchant, the wealthy trader, and persons in liberal employments, occupy each an entire house, but most shopkeepers of the middling class, and some even of the lowest, have their houses to themselves; and from all these circumstances his plain, that a given number of people is spread over a larger space in London, than in most foreign cities. Every mode of calculating she inhabitants of London is uncertain, and the result varies, in different hands, from 600,000 to 1,200,000. A comparison of the various calculations, and an examination of their data, induce us to state the population at 800,000. Those who think the honour of London affected by taking the population at a lower number than the popular opinion, will recollect, that it is creditable to the manners of the country, and the equity of the laws, that the middling and lower classes in London occupy the extent of ground that is ascribed to them by our calculation

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Quotations
 Chapter 3 
She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be.
 Chapter 6 
"I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself -- for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."
 Chapter 7 
She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father, and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.
 Chapter 7 
Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.
 Chapter 9 
"I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places"
 Chapter 15 
The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed.
 Chapter 15 
...she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the -- -- shire.
 Chapter 16 
"Since her father's death, her home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her education."
 Chapter 18 
Bingley was all grateful pleasure, and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on her after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go the next day for a short time.
 Chapter 21 
"Miss Bingley looks forward may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by them."
 Chapter 21 
"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London might be concluded in three or four days;"
 Chapter 23 
...by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.
 Chapter 23 
The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and of his overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and the amusements of London, might be too much, she feared, for the strength of his attachment.
 Chapter 24 
Miss Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter,
 Chapter 25 
"And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such a part of London!"
 Chapter 26 
Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their safe arrival in London.... She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley. "I did not think Caroline in spirits," were her words; "but she was very glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to London."
 Chapter 27 
The improvement of spending a night in London was added in time, and the plan became perfect as plan could be.
 Chapter 28 
After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden,
 Chapter 29 
"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."
 Chapter 31 
"Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the advantage of a London master."
 Chapter 32 
"He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London."
 Chapter 33 
"There were some very strong objections against the lady," were Colonel Fitzwilliam's words; and these strong objections probably were, her having one uncle who was a country attorney, and another who was in business in London."
 Chapter 35 
"He left Netherfield for London, on the day following, as you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning."
 Chapter 35 
"About a year ago she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London;"
 Chapter 37 
"And if you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London,"
 Chapter 40 
"But I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London."
 Chapter 42 
Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from setting out till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again within a month;
 Chapter 45 
In this room they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London.
 Chapter 46 
My father is going to London with Colonel Forster instantly, to try to discover her.
 Chapter 46 
"Oh yes! They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and were traced almost to London, but not beyond: they are certainly not gone to Scotland."
 Chapter 46 
"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance;"
 Chapter 47 
"it might strike them that they could be more economically, though less expeditiously, married in London than in Scotland."
 Chapter 47 
It had come with a fare from London; and as he thought the circumstance of a gentleman and lady's removing from one carriage into another might be remarked, he meant to make enquiries at Clapham.
 Chapter 48 
"And Lydia used to want to go to London," added Kitty.
 Chapter 51 
Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them. Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he left London, and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.
 Chapter 52 
""When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding took place"
 Chapter 55 
A few days after this visit Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in ten days' time.
 Chapter 58 
She soon learnt that they were indebted for their present good understanding to the efforts of his aunt, who did call on him in her return through London,
 Chapter 58 
"On the evening before my going to London," said he, "I made a confession to him which I believe I ought to have made long ago.
 Chapter 61 
Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him farther in his profession. Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath;
 

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