Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-10-25
THE vAsTNEss OF LONDON,

We Americans are so accustomed TO
expatiating on the rapid growth of our
cities, that most of us are surprised TO
hear that the capitals of Europe increase
nearly as fast. The growth of Paris,
Vienna and Berlin, on the continent, and
of London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Man
chester, in England, have been especially
rapid. But no city in the old world has
thrived like the great British metropolis.
In 1901, for example, the population of
London was 958. .S03; now it is two mil
lions and half; in other words, at the
beginning of the century, it was hardly
more than third as large as it is at pres
ent. We think Philadel phia, with its half
a million of inhabitants, a large town; but
London is five time as large. Ia fact, the
latter city contains yearly as many in
habitants as the State of Pennsylvania,
and more than all the great cities of the
United States together. Nor does there
seem, at present any likelihood of this
enormous metropolis decreasing in size.
On the contrary, there is every Indication
Of It's continued growth. The sewerage
commissioners, in view of its probable
necessities in the future, are already pro-
jecting drainage for six millions of in
habltants, a population which London
will yet Contain, if the increase goes on
for half a century, at the present ratio.
1t is curious to examine the statistics in
detail of such vast metropolis. Every
year, there are 5000 children born in
London, according to the Edinburg Re-
vlew-a competent authority, Yet the
majority of the adult population, in spite
OF this, is country born, there having been,
nt the last census, out of ,O0O,395 per-
sons, twenty years old and upwards, only
645, 900 persons born in London. Every
sixteenth person of full age, is native of
Ireland. There is always permanent
stock on hand, SO to speak, of 35O, 1000
manageable, but unmarried women
There are 600, 900 scholars, 6, 900 schools.
1000 places of worship, and a million
church-going people. Fifty thousand per-
sous are always resident in poor houses,
prisons, and other institutions, where they
are fed out of public or private resources.
Twenty thousand individuals are engaged
constantly in killing and selling animal
food; 81, ,OOOin making and vending bever
age; and 25,OOO in doctoring, preaching,
and managing lawsuits. To complete
the catalogue, there are $4,000 clerks;
zoos 900 domestic servants; sc. 900 tailors:
10000 chair makers, and loo, 900 needle
women.
In Horace Mayhew's work, and in O.
Tiers OF similar character, may be found
statistics as to how this enormous popula-
ton is fed. London has the richest as
Wen as the poorest people in the world
among its inhabitants. Thousands of
persons get up every morning, without
knowing how they are to buy breakfast
On the other hand, there are, during the
fashionable season, seventy thousand peo-
pie IN London, who have nothing to do
but amuse themselves. Several wealthy
men, most of them noblemen, own whole
squares of houses and stores, and receive
incomes of above a million of dollars, an
nualiy, from this source. There is one
acre of ground in the British metropolis,
which pays the interest, on long lease,
OF four millions of dollars; and several that
are worth, estimated in this not excessive
way, from two or three millions. Ancient
Rome has always been thought to have
been the richest and most populous city
that ever existed. But the best historical
students concede that London already
surpasses what that city was, even in its
Palmiest days; and even those who rate
the population of Rome at a higher figure.
confess that London, before the end of
the century, will be ahead.--[ Phil. Led
ger.