The Present State of London, Treatise · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of its Increaſe, Magnitude, Inhabitants, Publick Structures, &c.
AS it was ſaid of the People of Rome, that e parva origine, from a ſmall beginning they grew to a vaſt greatneſs, ſo we may truly ſay of this Famous City (the Metropolis of our Monarchy) which even in Neroes days was Renowned for Concourſe of Merchants, and proviſion of all things, (as Speed informs us,) and muſt Conſequently be Great and Populous. That it has received an acceſſion and increaſe in the Reſpective Ages, is certain; and in our Memory, we have ſeen it to multiply exceedingly in beautiful Structures and number of Inhabitants. So that it is at preſent of vaſt extent, being from Lime-Houſe to the end of Tuttle-ſteet, from Eaſt to West, above 7500 Geometrical paces, that is, above ſeven Miles and ahalf; And from the further end of Blackman-street in Southwark, to the end of St. Leonard-Shore-Ditch is 2500 paces, that is two Miles and a half.
The Principal Streets, Lanes, and Alleys, in this great City, are above 500 in number, and yet ſome of them above half a meaſured Mile in length. Before the dreadful Conflagration in 1666, there were computed within the Walls above 15000 Houſes, which is but one fifth of the whole City, as appears by the Weekly Bills of Mortality, ſo that the Total of Houſes may be 75000, which are mightily increaſed ſince the Rebuilding of the City, enlarging it ſelf every way, eſpecially, about St. James's and Sohoe-Fields, where it has received ſuch Additions of beautiful Buildings, as by themſelves would make a brave City. So that now London for fair and ſtately Edifices, uniform and Regular buildings, and other publick Structures, does not only excel its former State, but (all things conſidered) may outvie the moſt Magnificent Cities of the Univerſe, as ſhall be Demonſtrated more particularly.
As to the number of Inhabitants when London was by more than a fourth part leſs than it is now, there were computed to be eaten 67500 Beefs yearly there, ten times as many Sheep, that is 675000, beſides abundance of Calves, Lamb, Swine, all ſorts of Poultry, Foul, Fiſh, Roots, Milk, &c. And that every year to ſupply the City with Coals, there is brought into the River about 300000 Chaldrons, every Chaldron being 36 Buſhels.
The Bills of Mortality in times of no Infection, do yearly amount to 20000 and odd, which is three times more than Amſterdam; and equal to, if not beyond Paris, as by the Bills themſelves may be ſeen.
In the year 1667. when the greateſt part of the City lay in Aſhes within the Walls, and much without, and conſequently many of the Inhabitants forced to retire into the Countrey for Habitation, according to exact computation there were brewed that year in London 452563 Barrels of Beer, 580421 Barrels of Ale, and 489797 Barrels of Table-Beer, (or Small Beer.) The Strong Beer 36 gallons to the Barrel, ſold at 12 s. 6 d. the Small Beer alſo 36 gallons to the Barrel, ſold at 6 s. 6 d. the Ale 32 gallons to the Barrel, ſold at 16 s. But now there is a vaſt greater quantity (beſides abundance of Spaniſh, French, and Rheniſh Wines, Cyder, and other Liquors) conſumed. The Exciſe of Beer and Ale, though very moderate, is (or has lately been) Farmed of the King at above 120000 l. a year.
Pariſh Churches, beſides Chappels, there are in all 132, which is twice more then any City in Chriſtendom hath; which leads us to take a View of the Publick Structures, which for methods ſake ſhall be deſcribed in this order.
NEW-GATE.
LUD-GATE.
CRIPPLE-GATE.
ALDERS-GATE
WESTMINSTER ABBY 25 PARLAMENT HOVS…
THE MON VMENT
St MARY OVERIE…S▪ CHVRCH
BOW STEEPLE
BISHOPS-GATE.
MOORE-GATE.
THE TOWER.
ALD-GATE.
1. The Walls, Towers, Gates, &c.
2. Churches and Monuments.
3. Hoſpitals and Work-Houſes.
4. Palaces, and the Houſes of the Nobility.
5. Exchanges and Publick Halls.
6. Colledge and Inns of Court.
7. Bridges, and the New River.
8. Markets.