The National Register.
London, England, 1819-09-27 00:00:00

THE STREETS tAF LONDOM

UR. EDITOR.--Y :Ur Readers in general at%
pretty well acquaintel with the manners the Me-
tropolis Jisplayol in the streets 1,11,1,n, yet you
will perhaps consi.:er certain ,tuteils I.lll,lishul in the
Gazette t: France of th,: 13th inst. onsubject,
rather amusing. 'll2 writer, it apvears, left 1). ris
a few t. eels since, to scrutiniz,: Oi leitits and be-
haviour of Jahn to descent oviii his debriaity,
awl hes: i.ritiae where it is thie. fur ha has
faithfully uischarsed that tusk, your intelligent.
readers ju 'se. The writer lies headed his
letter " Les rues du Londres."

Ile says—" The first thing that strut!: n.;?. in my
walk throughout the metropolis of England, was a
thick stoolc from sea-coal, whicli obscured the sky.
This affected my throat in a tlisah-reeable
manner. The English are not sensible of the same
inconvenience, because habit has reconciled them to
it. All the English, without distinction, us., this
combustible ; the fire of which is wore equal, ar-
dent, and lively than any other. If it was inju-
rious to health, the rich would expel it from their
houses. I walked over the pave, not kvowing
where I went. Every street was indifferent to
me, because all that I wished to we, au,l all that
was presented to me, hail the appearance of no-
velty. I read the names of the streets, and viewed
the sli.ps and equipages with an air of astonishment.
In less than twenty minutes I arrived at Piccadilly,
covered with dust, having been jostled by at least
a thousand persons, who forced me to wake way
quicker than I wished.
The English, and particularly those born iu
London, are as rank badaubs (Cockneys) as the
Parisians ; but 1 must do them the justice to admit,
that they do not show their cockneyism in any
thing so much as their public pleasures and diver-
sions. Business is the leading feature of an Eng-
lishman's character. He goes out in the morning
to transact matters of trade or commerce, and he
does not expect to meet in the street one idle per-
son. Front ten in the morning to three in the after.
noun, every body is busy. The man who walks
out between those hours from curiosity only, is un.
fortunate. He is pushed rudely by all he meets.
Every one knows how to use his elbows and his
firsts. They allow no time ti)r excuses. They dis-
pense with civility in the streets as superfluous,
own I was astonished to find the people of Lon-
don in that respect nut so ridiculous us the Pari-
sians cast my eyes upon a great street half built,
which appeared to be composed of magnificent ho-
tels. I asked an Englishman to tell me the name.
He answered Waterloo, anl supposing I did not
understand him, repeated the word. the English
have multiplied that word in a singu'ar manner.
They have rinsed many monuments to its glory.
They have Waterloo Bridge, ‘Vatcrloo-place, Wa-
terloo-house, &c. &e. We have in Paris similar
instances of baptisms. We have had Places de
Jennuapes, of Fleuris, and of Wagram. The bridges
of Austerlitz and Jena, the Barriers of Marengo,
Lodi, payola, and Arcole streets.
Piccadilly is one of the most brilliant streets of
the English capital. It is a fashionable street,
having at its extremity the two fine promenades,
the Green Park and Hyde Park. 'I he hotel of
Lord Burlington is remarkable for taste and ele-
fance---it would do honour to a French architect.
wo doors modestly open in the English style, at
the residence of the Marlborough of tSIS. If a
crowd of lazy servants, in livery, indicate the
abode of a great man, we may look in vain tiir him
here. Curio ity made me enter the hall of this
palace. which I had been told, contained the finest
chefs d'eauvres of art. There must be many, since
the proprietor has placed one the finest works of
Canova, the statue of Buonaparte, tiirinerly in-
tended for the Salle de Alareellaux, at the foot of
the staircase in that part of the hotel, appropriated
to servants.

This want of taste struck me with disgust. I did
not expect to find other ofjects of :art better ar-
ranged, and t lett the hotcl. A short tlistatiLe titan
this illustrious Palace, I tinind Albemarle-street,

and the modest hotel, oceuried by Louis the Eigh-
teenth, when the wishes of France called him to the
Throne of his Ancestors. Here he remained after
he lett Hartwell—here he was saluted by the ac-
clamations of a tree people at the niment he pro-
ceeded to give liberty to Franoe--here a deputation
from the Citizens of London came to otter their ho-
mage to the grandam of Louis the Fourteenth. It
was one o'clock, and I had taken no other refreih-
ment than some tea and rolls (slices of bread and
butter) ! I saw persons passing about ate, catini,
fruit in a wicker basket. I wet an Englishman,
who lodged in my hotel ; he informed rue that I
was in New Bond-greet, and that it was the cul-
t. of England, at that hour, to take what ht
culled a lunch. He told me if I entered the shop
of the first pastry-cook, I should be sure to bud not
reties! :Lunt, but the best company in London.

31:i

Tlrc persons who ortinri,litetl the ;wive T. ere ket th
same time men of high oistiretion. lers nt'the
Cominoli., Pc_rs of the Arabi], mil Ladies of ae
lint class; the latter in pl,ia dresses attended
by f otmen in splendid liveries. I 'cu:. surprised to
see these Court Ladies addressed ...Atli i.uteh fa.
lailiurity by the Lords and young fitshionables, who
nr.ver tuoved their hats.

In Englund they never take oil their hats to uny
person. Tills politeness, so habitual to a Frvi;sll-
- is consilercd ,debian, and the characteristic of
a servant. Footmen alone have ti r: of be.
mil pate, told they never abuse it.
The Hotel Marlborough, near et..ismes•s, is oc-
cupied b. Prince Leopol,l of Sex. Colottri.. I
stoFped before this Palace, but could se_ nothing
worthy the companion of Prince Eugene. I sto,nped
before a Pals e of dismal appeanince, with
sentinels stationed at both gates. A range
of column, tinned a screen in tc, nt, ....lid en-
closed die court of a building of tolerable architec-
ture. This was Carlton House, the residence of
Cie heir presumptive to th,.: crown of the Three
Kingdoms.—The Prince Regent receives huh com-
pany. His friends alone have the privilegl o:* vi-
siting him. His ministers arrive generally on foot,
and without servants. Carlton Louse stood so: c
years ago, amidst old delapiduted houses. They have
been removed to build the Circus of Waterloo, the
walls of which being white, arc covered by inscrip-
lions written by the canaille of London. The
Prince may open his window and cast his eyes upon
the devices which convey ideas of liberty. Upon
the walls of the palace of the future sovereigns or
England appear in large characters, not two paces
from the c4,atinals on guard.—" Long live Sir Fran-
cis Bortlet‘"—" Burdeit and liberty"—Liberty or
death."

rizo. Trf.SDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, SEPT. eo.

ilia Royal Highness the Prince 11.4ei.t high been pleas.d, in
the name and on the behalf of his Majesty. to nominate uid rips
point the Bight Hon. Sir William A'Court, Bart. his Nla.b.sty's
Envoy Littiiiiirdinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Colin
of N.ples, to be a Knight Grand Cioso of ill,. Most I liminuable
Military Older of the Bath.