City Scenes Part 4

The inside of the Exchange affords a busy scene: Englishmen, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, Spaniards, Russians, Turks, Americans, and Jews. How intent every one appears to be on business, and what a general buzz and din we hear: yet the figure of one individual stands very silently in the midst of all, I mean the statue of Charles the Second, on a pedestal. In a few years, every one of these active merchants will be as motionless as this marble statue. It may be of service to the busy Englishman, sprightly Frenchman, lazy Spaniard, plodding-Dutchman, rough Russian, proud Turk, and rich Jew, to reflect on this; and to endeavour, with all their gettings, to get understanding.

26. The Fire-engine.

[Picture: The Fire-engine]

We know of no place better supplied with engines for putting out fire, than London; and though fires are very frequent, they seldom do so much damage as formerly, when houses were built of wood, or without party-walls.

An engine is a very clever contrivance: the pipes convey the water over the tops of the houses; and if an engine arrives in time, it frequently prevents the flames from spreading further. {29}

27. Drawing Goods in a Truck.

[Picture: Drawing Goods in a Truck]

Well done, my good boy! and well done, my good dog! Why the dog works as hard as the boy, and seems to do it with quite as much ease.

In drawing that truck, boy, you now feel a part Of what ev'ry horse feels, when drawing a cart.

Come, my lad, haste away, to make room for a fine coach, full of gay people, coming to the East India House.

28. The East India House.

The East India Company is one of the most powerful and wealthy a.s.sociations in Europe; and their house in Leadenhall Street is a very elegant building. The Company was originally formed by Queen Elizabeth, in 1600, princ.i.p.ally for the purpose of procuring spices at a cheap rate, which were advanced in price by the Dutch. From traders they became conquerors of the natives, and having obtained a footing in the country, usurped the sovereignty over considerable districts; and war, with oppression, have too often befallen the harmless natives. The India s.h.i.+ps bring home tea, coffee, silks both raw and manufactured, cottons, muslins, calicoes, drugs, China-ware, rice, sago, saltpetre, pepper, indigo, &c &c.

29. London Stone.

[Picture: London Stone]

This is to be seen in Cannon Street, against the wall of St. Swithin's church, where it has long been preserved. It is now cased with stone-work, and guarded by an iron bar and spikes, but still remains open to view. It has been supposed to be a standard, from which the Romans, when in England, computed their miles. Proclamations were formerly delivered from this stone to the people.

30. Guildhall.

[Picture: The Guildhall]

This is the place where the public business of the corporation of London is transacted; and where the judges sit to hear and determine causes. In this hall the Court of Aldermen and Common Council have a very handsome chamber, or court-room, which is ornamented with a capital collection of paintings, presented to the City of London by the late worthy Alderman Boydell, who greatly promoted the arts. The fine painting by Mr. Copley, representing the siege of Gibraltar by the Spanish flotilla, and likewise an elegant marble statue of George III. our late venerable monarch, are well worth seeing by every admirer of the arts of painting and statuary.

Nearly opposite to the entrance of this fine building, and on each side of the clock, formerly stood two gigantic statues, commonly called Gog and Magog, supposed to be the figures of a Briton and a Saxon; but they are now removed to the west end of the hall, as they are seen in the picture, No. 31.

Two modern painted windows complete the decorations of this venerable building; the one representing the royal arms, the other those of the city of London.

32. The Mansion House,

[Picture: The Mansion House]

Well, here are the Lord Mayor's coach and six horses, standing opposite the Mansion House, which is the place of residence for every chief magistrate during his mayoralty. It is a stone building of magnificence, but appears the more heavy and gloomy from its confined situation.

33. The Bank of England.

[Picture: The Bank of England]

Not far from the Mansion House stands the Bank of England. This building fills a s.p.a.ce enclosed by the four streets, Bartholomew Lane, Lothbury, Prince's Street, and Bank Buildings. It is truly interesting to behold the busy scene that daily pa.s.ses in the rotunda, amongst the buyers and sellers of stock, or those who are engaged in transferring it, all so eagerly occupied with their affairs, and showing their anxiety by their countenances. Where money is, there the crowd will be; and persons who go to the Bank should be careful lest their pockets be picked of such money as they may have received.

34. St. Paul's Cathedral.

[Picture: St. Paul's Cathedral]

This is a wonderfully fine building! and the countryman's amazement on first seeing it, is very naturally expressed in the following lines:

Of all the brave churches I ever did see, Sure this seems the greatest and grandest to me!

What a wonderful place! I am full of surprise, And hardly know how to believe my own eyes.

Why sure that gold cross at the top is so high, That it must, now and then, p.r.i.c.k a hole in the sky; And, for my part, I should not be much in amaze, If the moon should run foul of it, one of these days.

It is not only the outside of this fine building that commands attention, but the inside also. The whispering gallery, the great bell, the library, and so many other curiosities are to be seen, that even to name the whole would require more s.p.a.ce than we can afford in our little work.

A young country gentleman, who was never before on any thing higher than a haystack, has now reached the top of St. Paul's, and is admiring the prospect from the iron gallery.

Well, certainly, this is a wonderful sight; And pays one for climbing up here such a height.

Dear, what a large city! and full, in all parts, Of churches and houses, of horses and carts.

What hundreds of coaches, and thousands of folk!

And then, _above all_, what a very thick smoke!

I could stand here all _day_ to behold this fine town; Tho', as night's coming on, I had better go down.

I think so too, young gentleman: and mind how you go along the dark staircase, for it would be a sad thing to fall down among that frightful scaffolding. Walk gently, and lay hold of the rail as you go along, and you will be safe enough.