The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-30
Ray- Minutes of 1852. General Assem:
LONDON
Editorial Correspondence
LONDON, August 10Th, Is


steamer came direct to London. 1t was
about 5 o'clock in the morning when we
sighted Lands End, and we heard some
one, as he passed our state-room, cry,
Get up America, and see England -
and when l dressed and got on deck we
were passing Lizard Point. Soon after
breakfast we passed the Eddystone Light
house-and then Start Point-Po Portland
Bill-and about 5 P. M. the Isle of
Wight. When l went above early the
next morning 1 deserted the white chalk
cliffs of Sussex. At Dungeness we took
on pilot, and passing Folkestone,
steamed by Dover with its famous castle
perched on high chf-then by the
South Foreland and North Foreland into
the estuary of the Tens, as they call it
here. 1t was l o'clock before we reached
the Victoria Docks, and thence by rail
to the Liverpool Street Station, whence
we sought the nearest hotel in Bishops
gate Sire et-which is far down in the
eastern part of the city, near Leadenhall
Street, running to London Bridge
Bishopsgate Street is superb street,
about midway between the eastern and
western limits of London, and yet after
we had travelled three miles due west
the next day to the vicinity of Regent
Street, one-third of London still lay to
the west of US. Although 1 used to be
familiar with London, never before
realised its size. In fact, a million of in
habitants have been added to it since I
was last here, Q858). 1t can only be
compared to the ocean-you drive, and
drive, and drive, and there is the same
unending stream of life, and network OF
streets, and lines of cabs and omnibuses
The city has changed greatly in twenty
four years. 1t has LOST much of the as
pect of old London-the old, narrow,
dirty streets are replaced by splendid
open streets, with new palatial buildings
that remind you OF the best streets in
New York. But New York is like a
pigmy by the side of London. There is
no street here, perhaps, like Broadway,
but there is no end to the fine streets
you find something comparable to Broad
way in many places-and so of the shops
here, as l am told there may not be
one, possibly, equal to Tifany's, but
there are scores of splendid shops of the
same rank. There is a shop in Bond
Street where they sell only articles OF
pure gold. You will see there Candida
bra, vases, walters, and breakfast sets, of
solid gold. There is little street called
H street, where the traffic is chiefly
wholesale one in diamonds, which proba-
bly, contains more wealth than any other
equal area in the world
London has been Americanised in some
respects in recent years. The beard is
worn-formerly a moustache was esteem
ed the mark of an adventurer. The stiff
beaver hat has also given way largely to
the multitudinous rowdy shapes which
we see in America. There is also gas.
But still no ice; the water one drinks is
tepid-and the explanation, Isuppose is,
that the true Briton never drinks water
bat beer or wine.
l am, as have said, greatly impressed
with the extent Of London; I am equally
impressed with its magoifcence 1t is
beyond all competition the capital of the
world. When 1 go to New York-or
even to Washington-from Richmond, I
realise how much of the world there is
outside of Richmond, and how little
thought the busy thousands Of the North
spend on the South-we seem to be for
gotten like Guatemala and Yucatan
And SO here, TIE world seems hardly
aware that there is such country as the
United States, or such place as New
York The morning papers give only
three or four lines Of news from America,
and we are regarded as sort Of outlying
barbarians who are growing rich and
speculating in stocks.
lwentto hear Sturgeon preach the first
Sunday after my arrival-at the Metro
Pohtan Tabernacle, Newington Butts, on
the south side Of the river, near the Ele-
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