, 1878-08-17

! return from European tour was asked
by friend what his impressions had
been on visiting Rome. The traveller
after much hesitation said, "well-well to
tell the truth, | did not spend much
time in Rome; arrived there one day
and lett the next.
A great city like London Can only be
studied in detail; generaliza.ions are apt
to be superficial, and it is impossible TO
arrive at full and true conception OF
the distinguishing features of IL metropo-
lis, sucl. as London is, without carefully
noting life aud society in all their phases.
There are portions OF LonGon that are
wholly distinct from the rest, and all
powerful in themselves, and in the in
tluence that they exert upon matters and
things within their province.
The western, eastern and central dis
tricts of London all present widely diff.
erent aspects. The western portion of
the city shows at once the wealth, high
civilization, and social and political im
portance of the country. In this quar-
ter are seen the splendid mansions OF the
nobility and rich commoners; the mag
nificent club houses stand here, and the
museums, the galleries OF art, and the
public institutions for the spread of all
branches of knowledge. Here are the
royal palaces, the houses of Parliament
and the law-courts. The broad public
parks are also in this portion Of London
Hyde Park, Regents Park, and Ken
sington Gardens; and thronged, as they
are, on an afternoon in the season, with
brilliant equipages and highly dressed
and fashionable people, y scene OF great
gaiety is presented.
If person were to enter London from
the east the first impressions received
would be of its world. wide COMMERCIAL
Importance. He would be convinced OF
this by the broad array OF shipping in
view, flying the flags of all nations. and
the extensive docks and Immense ware
houses.
The heart of the city proper see ms
wholly given up to the manipulation OF
those tremendous financial schemes
which control tho fortunes OF so many
men, and even nations. In the different
offices clustering around this Bank of
England, there is the utmost activity
and countless enterprises are set on foot,
in which wealth is gained and lost.
We find this unwearying labour in pur-
suit OF money by no means confined to
the last named portion of the city. II
is the common characteristic of all those
who are engaged in trade; and We can
discover, in the Jew clothes dealer of
Houusditch the same unceasing devotion
to business that is shown by the Roths.
childs of New Court, or the Barings of
Bishopgate street.
There are, OF course, many contrasts
in London life. II is not all shown by
the crowds on Regent street. the brilli
ant pictures Of Hyde Park or Rotten
Row, or by the grand houses in Belgrayia
There are dark spots to be found or the
otherwise beautiful canvas In certain
districts of the city, such for example as
Billingsgate, Clerkenwcll and Houns.
ditch, there hive, huddled together, mas.
ses of poorly paid, lily fed and scantily
clothed men, women and children. 1t
must, in justice, be said that mnch has
been done of late years to improve the
condition of these people; and our own
countryman, George Peabody, contrib
uted in no small degree, by the erection
ofimproved tenements, toward whatever
change for the better that has taken
place.
The streets OF London are sight in
themselves, and there is no better way
TO obtain full conception Of the ex.
tent of the city, than by taking seat
ON the outside of one of the numerous
buses that ply the principal thoroug-
fares, and ride for an hour or two. The
throngs OF people, the long lines of We
hicles of every description, often
jammed in confused mass, the large
shops with their rich display OF goods
and wares of all kinds and values