Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-10
Correspondence of the Spy.
JourmaI of n Traveller Ina Europe


We came from the Isle of Wight to Southamp-
ton this morning, and thence to London, sixty
miles, in two hours, by the southwestern rail
way, having been absent about three months on
the Continent
London, vast and mi .Atyg LondOn the great
centre of the wealth and power of the world
Able pens have often undertaken its description,
and yet they convey but faint idea of its gran
deur and magnitude. / shall only attempt, in
my poor way, to speak in brief and disjOinted
manner of very few of its many interesting OBJ
jects. -
think q ssasrangess ~Osld be Disappointed
at first, in the appearance of London, it is usual
" so smoky, dark, and gloomy. But, with its
vast extent, its myriads of lofty and elegant
buildings, and its hundr.ds of miles of labyIin-
THAN streets, the stranger is lost IN wonder and
admiration The buildings all have dingy, dirty
look, owing to the atmosphere beng filed with
thick, black smoke, which the thousands of fac
tory and house ehimneys continually belch forth
saw numbers of elegant marble and stone
buildings, in course of erection, the lower story
walls of which were dingy with smoke, before the
upper walls were completed But the Buildings,
how permanent and substantial most of them
are! SO unlike anything of the kind seen in
America. Everything seems to be built to last
for ever.
Some idea of the immense size and extent of
London may be formed, when it is stated, that
the distance across it is about t1oelUe miles $50
that, aperson starting from near its centre,wou'd
have to travel through about six miles of paved
~ nd xrat ie
still rapidly increasing; new and extensive
blocks Of buildings are stretching out into the
suburbs, and swallowing up all the neighboring
towns and villages in its vortex. "London will
soon get to be large place" said one of its cit
liens to US, "if it keeps growing at the pres
ent rate much longer" We thought it might
safely be called large now, as it took US more
than three hours to ride across it. 1t is decided
ly too large for the stranger to make rapid pro-
gress in sight seeing; as, frequently, he will be
obliged to travel several miles to view various
objects of curiosity, even if his lodgings are cen
trally situated. Many persons move from one
hotel to another, in order to accommodate them
selves to the places they wish to visit.
There are no light, frail vehicles to be seen in
the streets; all are ponderous and heavy, being
nearly double the size and weight of onrs. And
the team horses match the vehicles they are har-
messed to, for they are Of elephantne size, fat
perpoises, and with legs as large as mill post
The carriage and saddle horses, however, are not
larger imam ours, but are generally very manu-
some animals.
The London omnibuses, which number more
than three thousand, are similar to ours in style
and appearance, excepting that there are more
seats for passengers on the top. All the drivers
of them wear large brass plate suspended on
their breasts, with "V R." stamped upon it. as
a license badge, for which they obliged to pay
five dollars per annum. And 1 believe all the
drivers of public vehicles are similarly taxed.
Most Of the public carriages in London are
small four-wheeled coaches, Tor cabs, as they are
called and are drawn by one horse, with seats
for two, and sometimes four, persons. They are
usually very easy and comfortable to ride in, and
are similar to those used in Paris and many other
European cities. The cabs stand in the middle
of the widest streets, while waiting for hire, and
generally eight or ten occupy each stand; and
thes are so plentifully distributed all over Lon
don, that usually person need walk but few
rods to find one--making it very convenient to
the stranger as well to the citizen as the
cabs are on the stands at all hours, night and
day. Carriage hire is very cheap in London, as
it is also in Paris, and elsewhere in Europe
The price usually charged, for half mile or so,
is only sixpence, Twelve cents,) but the regular
fare is sixteen cents per mile, anywhere in Lon
don, including baggage, and there is no additional
charge for the second passenger, two riding for
Tharo &c oil &c =,
London, called "Hansom's patent" two-wheel
ed vehicle, hung low, very similar in appearance
to common chaise, with the drivers seat behind,
elevated enough for him to guide and direct his
horse. They are pleasant for the stranger to ride
in. as the front view is unobstrueted.
The cab system, as it is managed in London
and Paris, ought to be introduced into our own
country. There, no previous bargain is neces-
sary; the prices are fixed and immutable, and
at less than one quarter what they are in our
cities BY providing small and cheap, but COM
Portable, onehorse carriages, with the fares at
half the present rates, SO many more people
would ride in them, that the owners would be as
well paid as they now are, besides accommo-
dating the public much better than they ever have
been.
In America,we Turn 10 the right, as the law
directs, but that is not the custom in ENGLAND.
as there the left hand is the lawful way for all
vehicles to pass each other, even railway cars, and
II 10 SO in France. 1t seemed odd to us al 6rst IN
turn 70 the left but II is decidedly the bes. wav.
as the the person driving, sitting, as he usualy
does, on the right hand side, can more oasny
see how near he is 10 the other passing carriage
Many Of the streets in London are very narrow
and crooked. There are, however, hundreds q,
straight and wide avenues Of great length, and
many Of them being lined with elegant buildings
have a magnificent appearance, All the street,
are kept perfectly clean, the litter and dirt il
them being swept up and carried off eaily ever,
morning. There are no cross walks, the street
being so clean, that none are necessary but, II
person should get his boots soiled, in crossing
troet, there are plenty Of boys, dressed in re,
shirts, standing on the corners, with brush /,
hand, ready to brush and black them for cent
pair The principal streets are Of course crowded
with people and vehicles, but not more so. per
haps than are some ofthe streets in Boston apt
New York. A great many Of the streets IN
London have the same name, although
widely apart and distinct from each other 70,
instance, there are twenty-seyen Queen streets
thnty-seven King streets, thiriy.ave Charlie,
streets, sixteen Union streets, and dozens Of
others having names alike ,--whioh makes Il ex.
oeedingly confusing tothe stranger, as we'll as to
the citizen: and ~ necessary to knowits local.
ftv ar 10 be able 70 identifv The st,aa, r. 4. =.