New-York tribune., 1902-10-17
LONDON.
MILES THROUGH IT'S SiOhED
STREETS.

CHELSEA. BY c. E Milton. Edited by sir Mal- @
Ter Besani- l6mo, pp. tx loo The Macmillan
WESTMINSTER. By Sir Walter Bessspt and G 5 z
Milton. With Chspler on on 'nt - Ertss Nsc-
milan Company.
THE STRAND DISTRICT. by Sir Walter Beesant
and G. F. Milton l6mo pp IA IL me Mac
milan Company
These three small volumes. Of a handy size for
the pocket are the forerunners Of that work on
the City Of London n Sir Walter Besant was
engaged upon Al the time Of his death II was
his plan 10 have regular and systematic per
anabulation Of London made by different per
sons and thus present the history Of each parish
complete in itself A book IS announced TO fol-
low on Hampstead Each volume is provided
with an index and map. For the title Of the
series the publishes have chosen, from an eX-
rression Of the editor in speaking Of his interest
in the work The Fascination of London"
Kings Road divides Chelsea into two similar
triangles living 80 the north and south The
frst recorded mention Of the district relates 10
the mission OF Pope Adrian's legates IN 80, and
their holding a synod at "Cealchythe-" The
tract from the time of Edward the Confessor
down has been held by grants and transfers 10y
abbots, men Of title and the crown, and Is now
vested in the Cadogans. A number Of insttu-
tions, asylums. hospitals and what not Of more
OF less antiquity. chief Of which is the Royal
80 most remarkable for the many and various
men and women OF note in public life and letters
who have lived there. Cheyne Walk. on the
Embankment. has old houses designed by Wren
and decorated by Pugin. George Eliot died
here. and IN Queens House lived for a time IN
1862 the two Rosettis, Meredith and Swinburne-
The memory of Nell Gwynne is there, and the
names OF Sir Thomas More. Dean Swift. Thomas
shadweu, Dr. Smollett, Carlyle and Leigh Hunt
are also associated with Chelsea The volume
on Westminster follows similar division, with
victoria-st. as an axis, and contains descrip-
lions Of Westminster Abbey St. Margaret IS
Church. the Westminster School Houses Of Par
nament and Whitehall Palace. The district Is
marked to-day as in olden times by its close in
fermlngling OF poverty and riches. The right
Of sanctuary possessed by the Abbey drew
thieves and fugitives TO the spot. the court had
sts small army OF followers. attendants and
work people TO the number Of twenty thousand
On the fourteenth century, and the sittings OF
Parliament, particularly in the days when travel
was dangerous and members lodged in the Vi
r3nitv kept Westminster always overrun with g
shifting population. Dick Turpin is said TO have
lived In a small alley of the Broadway. John
Milton suffered the loss Of HIS sight in the house
at No l9 York-st. But in general the region IS
remarkable for the affairs Of state conducted
there. high ceremonies and famous trials
The Strand District is taken up IN three parts
west and north OF Charing Cross. Piccaoilly and
ST James's SQUARE, and the Strand proper. The
Srst division includes 81. Jamess Palace, the
Chapel Royal where the roof is decorated HTitE
panels by Holbein. and Marlborough Sc
across the way. designed by Sir Chr1stopher
Wren. Charing Cross itself has, perhaps, SUI
fered more change than any other part Of Lon
don. In Frth-st. MI. Mozart the father OF the
celebrated Young Musical Family" as his ao-
vertisement read, gave music lessons IN l'o',
ard Mrs Inchbald author and actress ana
ffiend of tn X mOles. wrote he. simple StOrs-