New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-03
THE TR I 3 = n E. 5.
girst tmpressions of 1onoon.
Correspondence of The Nsw-York Tribune

And there thou art, London thou prince OF
.;,;es,-thou soul OF Commerce thou wonder
among human congregations By whatever de-
e;rnation Others have called thee, / call thee a
wonderful city. According to one thou art IN
enormous sponge. Surely there is some rescm-
Nance for thou absorbest not only wcath-tal-
snt-earning, but cannibal-llke, thy own species
also. for towns, and even cities, have not escaped
thee And by some species Of capillary attrac-
ion. or rather retention, thou holdest in thy en-
hrace beings and classes and conditions innumcr-
able-lnanv or most Of whom, in their turn, be-
come sponges like thysclf, saturated with thy
island beyerage-Alc locomotive vortces, which
absorb whatever may contribute to appease their
cravings. What wonder that SO many ate-ments
should affect thee, London! not alimcnt as some
sssevoratc.
It's now night-fal and as wheel through thy
bedizzening streets, the lamps one after another
bccom,e lighted, and appear like ignus latul IN
amc marsh or graveyard, enveoped in iog. As
pass those splendid succeed buildings, so richly
enumerated, and appearing like whitcd scpulchrcs,
see numbers making their nightly pilgrimages
10 thy Satanic shrnes. The mahogany panel
ed doors, with polished brass handles, arc left alar,
Displaying within, not only the well known cata-
logue of Ms, but another article Of unbounded
traffic Reader, these are the Gin Palaces, of
which YOU have read--thc legaiZed places of eX-
scution where the surplus population Of Merrie
England is disposed of with as much certainty as
il pestilence and famine were let loose among
them. Truly thou art wonderful city, London,
and hylaw- givers are phllanthroplsts-ase vinced
BY the concern they feel III thus administering to
the senses OF the million Behold affixed to that
old wall the evidence of their tender solicltude-
4d the qaartera,' which, but for the low import
duty, might have been cd or Sd and thus confined
the use of the article to the upper classes.
Driver, where are we now My good sir, this
is Feetstree1; just in there Doctor Johnson
wrote Rasselas. Do you not know that the Doc
tor lived in I5olt Court All and who was Ras-
selas said 1, thinking to puzzle him. He was
the hero OF poem, SAID he, much-much adj
mred Fully satisfied with the profundity of my
informant, | thought would drop the CONVEX
satlon.
You are an American should think, said he,
as pulled off my hat to adjust my hair. Yes.
Beg pardon-I hope you will not be offended at
the inquiry-but have observed that your coun-
rymen carry loads in their hats; pray, are these
articles made roomy III your country, with spc-
cial reference to transportation? Exactly we
have them partitione,: off inside, and adapted to
the profession OF the wearer, as follows: if for
lawyers they are adjusted with pigeon holes foc
6fa's, money counts, &c. If for merchants, they
are made the deposito. s fot bills, checks, or IN
deed any light merchandise. 1t is singular
continued, that your nation has not adopted the
Practice Oh, said nc, we abominate Amcri-
canisms; they are here esteemed exceedingly vul-
gar replied that we substituted hats Tor peck
es-these latter we regarded as vulgar in Ameri-
Ca they have gone on. OF use altogether.
A leok Of establishment followed, and before |
could impress upon his mind my iocuar propen-
sty, we were in front of the Spread Eagle in
Grace Church-s street and such a contention for
trunks, and pet-bags-such tramplmg OF
horses and rafting of vehicles-such shouting
scoding-never before greeted human eyes or
ears
Something for the waiter, please" sad a tall
gauntlooking chap, as put down shilling for
my tea, and had taken my hat to saunter abroad.
Is not that right % Notwithstanding Gus
,om-is''- Here quickly pet an end to his
embarrassment by an additional fourpence, and in
two minutes found myself strolllng along Corn
hill toward that wonderful structure OF this Won
derful place-St. Paul,s for | needed no other
direction but the huge cupola, which, rising over
the buildings, like a fools cap crown, according
to Byron, pointed out the fabric with sufficient
palnness.
Here am at It's base 1t is moon light and
distinctly visible. Thrice have | walked around
1t and am yet undecided as to It's architectural
merits. 4 picture to be seen to advantage must
be placed not only in a good light but at proper
distance. If the same rule applies TO public build
ngs, you must stand some hundred feet from St.
Paufs to Obtain proper view but--vexation =
where shall one stand without having his vision
intercepted by dngy buildings and chimney pots
tried the view from Ludgatc Hill, but in the
best position, could only portion of the facade.
which has certainly some pretensions to merit.
The cupola, taken by ITSELF is rather pleasing
object for the eye TO rest on; but the tout ensem.
ae-the building taken all in all, when seen from
such close proximity as the yard around it.
Produced upon me no positive impression. Sil
Christopher must have had the organ of ,ceighl
largely developed during its construction.
The tower clock has just tolled nine, and the
whole is envelopcd in shadow except the Cross
upon which the moen's light Is yet falling. How
cheering the cmblenl-how instlnctive-calIin
NM anl.