was partly owing to chance, and partly to the frank and courteous way which is fo natural to the Earl of Cr-m-rty. For some days ago, walking flowly and alone in the Mell, the Earl and Sir Chr-ft-ph-r overtook me: And though during the whole time I was laft in Scotland, I had not waited on the Earl, he with a very obliging air faid to me, That if I expected not other company, they would be glad of mine; afking me withal if I was acquainted with Sir Chr. I faid I had formerly the honour of fome fmall acquaintance with him, which I should be very willing to renew. And after fome compliments paffed on all fides, finding I was not engaged, he invited me to dine with him, telling me he would give me the opportunity of doing as I defired; and therefore we should pass the time together till the hour of dinner. So we prefently went to his lodgings in Whitehall, and entring into a room from whence we had a full view of the Thames and city of London, You have here, Gentlemen, faid the Earl, two of the nobleft objects that can entertain the eye, the finest river, and the greatest city in the world. Where natural things are in the greatest perfection, they never fail to produce most wonderful effects. This moft gentle and navigable river, with the excellent genius and industrious incli❤ nation of the English people, have raised this glorious city to such a height, that if all things be rightly confidered, we shall find it very far to furpass any other. Besides the beauty and conveniences of the river, the fituation of this city is fuch, that I am perfuaded if the wifeft men of the nation had been many years employed to chuse the most advantageous, they could not have found a better: and as the prosperity of a country depends in a great measure upon the fituation of the capital city, the good fortune of this nation in that particular, has chiefly contributed to the great riches and power they now have. My lord, faid Sir Chr-, you are fo'fully in the right, that notwithstanding the extent, and particularly the great length of the buildings; yet yet should they be removed but one halfmile either east or weft, fuch an alteration would be disadvantageous. For to the eastward fome rows of buildings do in a ftreight line cross the fields, and meet the river again at Blackwall; and to the weftward the buildings run along a rifing ground which overlooks Hide-park, and the adjacent fields. The whole town lies upon a shelving fituation, defcending eafily, and as it were in the form of a theatre towards the fouth and river, covered from the north, northeast and northwest winds: fo that in very cold and stormy weather, by means of the buildings of the city and on the bridge, 'tis both warm and calm upon the river; which being as it were the string to the bow, affords the great conveniency of a cheap and speedy conveyance from one part to the other. The shelving fituation of the city is not only most fitted to receive the kind influences of the fun, but to carry off by common-shores and other ways the fnow and dirt of the streets into the river, which is cleansed by the tides twice great every day. But above all, the ground on which the city stands being a gravel, renders the inhabitants healthful, and the adjacent country wholfome and beautiful. The county of Kent furnishes us with the choiceft fruit; Hertfordshire and Cambridgfhire with corn; Lincolnshire, Effex, and Surrey with beef, veal and mutton; Buckinghamshire with wood for fuel, and the river with all that the seas and the rest of the world affords. And this in fo plenty, that in times of peace, the common fuel, though brought two hundred miles by fea, is yet fold at a reasonable rate; and in fo great variety, that we may find more forts of wine in London than in the countries which produce the richest and the most. In a word, all the useful and fuperfluous things that nature produces, or the wit of man has invented, are to be found here, either made by our artificers, or imported by our merchants. That which is to be admired, faid I, is the perfect peace and tranquillity in which the inhabitants live; proceeding either from their natural Bb temper, temper, or the good order and plenty of the place, and the security they enjoy from the attempts of any enemy by being fituated in an ifland. So that this great city without walls or guards is as acceffible at all hours of the night as the most inconfiderable village. But that which charms me most is the liberty and rights they are poffeffed of in matters civil and religious. To these advantages I might add many things which render this city great, convenient, and agreeable; fuch are, the important tranfactions of a parliament; the judgments in Westminster-hall; the bufinefs of the Exchange, navigation and commerce; the affairs and diverfions of the court, together with the recreations and pleasures of the town. These last words have spoiled all, said Sir Chr. and unluckily revived in me the image of that corruption of manners which reigns in this place, has infected the whole nation, and must at length bring both the city and nation to ruin. And if one may judge by the greatness of the corruption, this fatal pe |