paved, and every perfon was to maintain the pavement before his own ground, or forfeit fix-pence for every fquare yard. A fimilar act was paffed in 1541, directing the following streets to be paved, viz. the ftreet leading from Aldgate to Whitechapel-church; the upper part of Chancerylane; the way leading from Holborn-bars weftward, towards St. Giles's in the Fields, as far as there were any houses on both fides of the street; Gray's inn-lane; Shoelane; and Fetter-lane; which are all defcribed as 66 very foul, and full of pits and floughs; very perilous and noisome, as well for the king's fubjects on horie back, as on foot, and with carriages.” Another act was paffed about three years after, for paving feveral other streets in the out-parts of London, and in each instance it was done, not by a rate or affeffment, but by obliging the owners of the lands and tenements adjoining the streets to pave the length of their property, and put it annually in repair. This attention to the ftate of the ways feems to indicate an increase of the traffic and wealth of the city, and therefore probably alfo of the number of the inhabitants. From the map of London about the year 1558, re-published by Mr. Nichols, in his collection of the Progreffes and public Proceffions of Queen Elizabeth, it appears that at that time there were few houfes at Charing Crofs; and though the Strand was built on each fide, open fields `extended behind it from St. James's park to Holborn, almoft down to Chancery lane. At Moorgate there were but few houses without the city wall, or in the now populous parish of Shoreditch; ftill lefs in Spitalfields, Bethnal-green, &c. Though fo much lefs extenfive than at prefent, it appears to have been far more unhealthy, as it was feldom long free from the plague, in a greater or lefs degree. In 1563, there died in the city and liberties, containing 108 parifhes, of all difeafes 20,372 perfons, of which number 17,404 died of the plague; and in the eleven outparishes, there died of all difeafes 3288 perfons, of whom 2732 died of the plague; in the whole, therefore, there died of the plague 20,136, and of other diforders 3524 the latter number, however, muft have been much less than the ufual number of deaths in years free from the plague; from which it may be prefumed, that the whole number of inhabitants at this peried could not be lefs than 110,000. 1564 the plague ceafed; and though it has always been found that the population of London has recovered very speedily from the effects of this calamity, its restoration nuft, in this inftance, have been confiderably promoted by the fettlement of many : In of the French and Flemish protestants, who took refuge in this country, and by the improvements they introduced in many of the arts and manufactures contributed much to draw additional hands to London and other manufacturing towns. In 1567, there were found, on inquiry, to be 4851 ftrangers, of all nations, in London; and, on a fimilar inquifition, taken in 1580, of all foreigners refiding in the city and liberties, they were found to be 6492. It appears that at this time the fuburbs of the city were increafing confiderably, as it was thought necessary to issue a proclamation, forbidding any buildings to be erected on new foundations, within three miles of the city gates, and ordering that only one family fhould inhabit each house. On the plague breaking out again, in March 1592, a regular account of the number of deaths was begun; and in 1 594 the weekly bills of mortality were first publifhed, probably to convince the people of the decrease of the plague, as they were difcontinued as foon as it entirely ceafed ; the number of perfons that died of the plague in 1592, was 11,503; and in the following year 10,662 its re-appearance feemed to the parliament to justify the apprehenfions that had been entertained of the ill confequences of the increase of the metropolis; they accordingly enacted, that no new buildings fhould be erected within three miles of London or Weftminfter, nor any one dwelling-house converted into more, that there should be no inmates or under-fitters, and that commons or wafte lands lying within three miles of London fhould not be inclofed. On the plague increafing again in 1603, another proclamation was iffued, for more effectually reftraining the increase of the city; and the publication of the bills of mortality was renewed, which has been regularly continued ever fince. Thele bills, though very deficient and incorrect, are almost the only documents from which any estimate of the population of London can be formed; but though they are too incomplete to furnish the means of determining with accuracy the whole number of inhabitants, they fhew with much greater certainty the increase or decline of the population, from the period of their establishment to the prefent time. London, Dec. 9, 1799. J. J. G. IF SIR, F the following account of the progrefs of the population of LONDON, previous to the time from which the bills of mortality commence, is thought deferving a place in your Magazine, it fhall be continued to the prefent time at fome future opportunity. The time of the foundation of London is naturally involved in obfcurity. It moft probably must look for its origin to a few miterable huts of the firft inhabitants of the island, whom the advantages of the fituation drew together, and who little thought, when they reared their rude habitations, that the infant village would in time become the metropolis of England, and one of the most confiderable cities of the world. If it exifted at all at the time of the invasion under Julius Cæfar, it was too infignificant to attract his notice; but within a century from that time it became a place of fome consequence, and probably of confiderable extent; for in the year 62, Suetonius found his army, which is faid to have confifted of 10,000 men, infufficient to defend it, and was obliged to abandon the city to Boadicea, by whom it was reduced to afhes, and all the inhabitants maffacred. The local advantages which had induced the first inhabitants to make choice of this fpot, had the fame effect upon others, and the new fettlers continued gradually to increase fo much, that after the fettlement of the Eaft Saxons it became the chief town of their kingdom. In the year 798, London, with many of its inhabitants, was destroyed by fire; and in the next century it fuffered much from the depredations of the Danes, till the year 886, about which time it was repaired by .11. fred, who afterwards made it the capital of all England. Under the care of this monarch, it was in 895 fo far recovered from the devaftations of the Danes, as to be capable of fending out forces againft them. In 982, the city was again deftroyed by fire; but in eleven years after this calamity it was able to fend out a fleet against the Danes, and to defend itself effectually when befieged by them. From this period to the time of the Norman invafion, it was frequently attacked by the Danes, but without fuccefs; and as this caufed the people of the neighbouring villages to confider it as a place of fecurity, it must have contributed to increase the number of its inhabitants; the growth of the city was, however, frequently checked by the ravages of fire, particularly in 1077, 1087, and 1092, when it fuffered feverely from this calamity; to which, like all large cities confifting of ill-conftructed wooden houfes, it was in continual danger of becoming a prey. About the year 1140, according to Peter of Blois, London contained 40,000 inhabitants. If the accounts of W. FitzStephen were to be depended on, the population must have been much greater; but as he appears to have paid little attention to correctnels in other particulars, his affertions in this refpect may be juftly doubted. Confidering the number juft mentioned as the neareft to the truth that can be now afcertained, it will appear, that in the course of the next two hundred years, notwithstanding fome fevere calamities, the population must have increafed very confiderably, otherwife the lofs of more than 50,coo inhabitants, who were carried off by the plague, which broke out towards the end of the year 1348, would have intirely depopulated the city. The privileges granted by Henry III. and several of his fucceffors, probably allured great numbers from the country, and from foreign parts, to fettle in London; and had it not been continually fubject to peftilential difeafes, the increate of inhabitants must have been very rapid. In 1407, about 30,000 perfons are faid to have died of the plague in London, and nearly as many in 1478, by the fame diforder. In 1485, the epidemic disease called the fweating fickness raged with much violence; and in 1499, the plague again fwept away about 30,000 perfons. The frequent returns of this terrible fcourge feem to warrant a fufpicion, that in fome inftances it was engendered by the filthy and confined state of the metropolis, which at least must have confiderably increased its malignity, and prolonged its continuance. At length fome steps were taken for putting a few of the principal ftreets into a better condition: in 1533, an act was paffed for paving the high street from Holborn bridge to Holborn-bars; the streets of Southwark were, by the fame ftatute, alfo directed to be 6 D 2 paved paved, and every perfon was to maintain the pavement before his own ground, or forfeit fix-pence for every fquare yard. A fimilar act was paffed in 1541, directing the following streets to be paved, viz. the ftreet leading from Aldgate to Whitechapel-church; the upper part of Chancerylane; the way leading from Holborn-bars weftward, towards St. Giles's in the Fields, as far as there were any houses on both fides of the street; Gray's inn-lane; Shoelane; and Fetter-lane; which are all described as "very foul, and full of pits and floughs; very perilous and noisome, as well for the king's fubjects on horse back, as on foot, and with carriages." Another act was paffed about three years after, for paving feveral other streets in the out-parts of London, and in each instance it was done, not by a rate or affeffment, but by obliging the owners of the lands and tenements adjoining the streets to pave the length of their property, and put it annually in repair. This attention to the ftate of the ways feems to indicate an increase of the traffic and wealth of the city, and therefore probably also of the number of the inhabitants. From the map of London about the year 1558, re-published by Mr. Nichols, in his collection of the Progreffes and public Proceffions of Queen Elizabeth, it appears that at that time there were few houfes at Charing Crofs; and though the Strand was built on each fide, open fields `extended behind it from St. James's park to Holborn, almost down to Chancery lane. At Moorgate there were but few houses without the city wall, or in the now populous parish of Shoreditch; ftill lefs in Spitalfields, Bethnal-green, &c. Though fo much lefs extenfive than at prefent, it appears to have been far more unhealthy, as it was feldom long free from the plague, in a greater or lefs degree. In 1563, there died in the city and liberties, containing 108 parishes, of all difeafes 20,372 perfons, of which number 17,404 died of the plague; and in the eleven outparishes, there died of all difeafes 3288 perfons, of whom 2732 died of the plague, in the whole, therefore, there died of the plague 20,136, and of other diforders 3524: the latter number, however, muft have been much less than the ufual number of deaths in years free from the plague; from which it may be prefumed, that the whole number of inhabitants at this peried could not be less than 110,000. 1564 the plague ceafed ; and though it has. always been found that the population of London has recovered very ipeedily from the effects of this calamity, its restoration nuft, in this inftance, have been confiderably promoted by the fettlement of many In of the French and Flemish protestants, who took refuge in this country, and by the improvements they introduced in many of the arts and manufactures contributed much to draw additional hands to London and other manufacturing towns. In 1567, there were found, on inquiry, to be 4851 ftrangers, of all nations, in London; and, on a fimilar inquifition, taken in 1580, of all foreigners refiding in the city and liberties, they were found to be 6492. It appears that at this time the fuburbs of the city were increasing confiderably, as it was thought neceffary to iffue a proclamation, forbidding any buildings to be erected on new foundations, within three miles of the city gates, and ordering that only one family fhould inhabit each house. On the plague breaking out again, in March 1592, a regular account of the number of deaths was begun ; and in 1594 the weekly bills of mortality were first publifed, probably to convince the people of the decrease of the plague, as they were difcontinued as foon as it entirely ceased; the number of perfons that died of the plague in 1592, was 11,503; and in the following year 10,662 its re-appearance feemed to the parliament to justify the apprehenfions that had been entertained of the ill confequences of the increase of the metropolis; they accordingly enacted, that no new buildings fhould be erected within three miles of London or Weltminfter, nor any one dwelling-house converted into more, that there should be no inmates or under-fitters, and that commons or wafte lands lying within three miles of London fhould not be inclofed. On the plague increasing again in 1603, another proclamation was iffued, for. more effectually reftraining the increase of the city; and the publication of the bills of mortality was renewed, which has been regularly continued ever fince. Thele bills, though very deficient and incorrect, are almost the only documents from which any estimate of the population of London can be formed; but though they are too incomplete to furnish the means of deter mining with accuracy the whole number of inhabitants, they fhew with much greater certainty the increase or decline of the population, from the period of their establishment to the prefent time. London, Dec. 9, 1799. J. J. G. lent at lively defcription, and can tell a pretty little ftory well. One additional piece of information may be communicated, if it should be confidered as any favourable symptom of improvement, that, fince your traveller's vifit, there has been a circulating library established in the town of-Basingstoke. And, perhaps, even be fore the time of his vitit, the inhabitants were deferving of a better character, as readers of books (though not, perhaps, of novels and romances), than has been given them. There is another matter on which I beg leave to fay a word or two. An epigram, among thofe translated from the German, No. 17, (in your last Magazine) is introduced, as if it were an original one from the pen of Leffing. But, if I mistake not, it will most probably frike your claffical readers, as it does myfelf, by comparing one with the other, that Leffing's is no more than a tranflation from the following Latin epigram of Pafchafius, which may be met with in Epigrammatum Delectus, P. 590. PASCHASIUS. Omnia pauperibus moriens dedit Harpalus, hæres, Ut fe non fictas exprimat in lachrymas. LESSING, IN ENGLISH. Grudge leaves the poor his whole poffeffions nearly; He means his next of kin shall weep fincerely. If the above remarks, refpectfully offered to your readers, fhould be thought not unworthy of a place, by inferting them in your Magazine you will oblige, Your's, &c. Bafingftoke, Nov. 25, 1799. J. JEFFERSON. For the Monthly Magazine. "Incipe, parve puer! rifu cognofcere "" matrem." A SSUREDLY, the nurfing mother has the enjoyment of an additional fenfe; nor can nature, in all her extent and variety, prefent a spectacle more inter efting, than the maternal nurfe in the performance of this moft delightful of duties, looking down on the infant that draws life from her bofom, and yields in return a fweeteft, pureft, but most indefcribable fenfation, partly revealed in the eyes and attitude, but which can neither be tranflated by the pencil of Raphael, nor the pen of Rofcoe. It is this ferene fenfation, this placid but confunimate love, which repays the mother for much previous fuffering (fuffering that perhaps heightens fucceed. ing pleasure); and this is the compenfation ordained for the daily cares, the nightly That molt affecting transport which, at one highly contrafted moment (perhaps the most fo in human life) when a female is at once delivered from agony the most excruciating, and terror the most impreffive, and hears the cry of her first-born, and exclaims feebly, yet forcibly-My darling child-that affecting transport then felt and manifefted by the generality of mothers, gradually fubfides into the quiet and retired delight which bleffes the nurse; but this fecondary fenfation, or rather fentiment, I am unwillingly obliged to ob serve, is by no means to common, or fo conformable to the minds or habits of many mothers. Let me affure thofe ladies who have read Rofcoe, that it is much eafier to be a mother than a nurse. Let not poetry excite feelings, tranfient tendernefs, romantic fondels for a plain, ferious, fweet, laborious occupation-let not, I fay, the pleasures of the ftate well paraphrafed by the poet, feduce every one who has the happinets of being a mother, to think the has alfo the virtue to be a nurfe. And is it no virtue to stay at home from evening parties; to be careful and vigilant by night as well as by day, with eyes that open, with heart that is aroufed at every uneafy cry; is it no virtue to regnlate with the niceft attention every minute article of regimen, to be cautious in giving medicines, and ftill more cautious in preventing their neceffity; to pacify the little impatient; to get by heart all the language of nature, various and comprehenfive as it is, even in the earliest life to diftinguish pain from pettifhnefs, and erroneous regimen from real malady; is it no virtue to live only, and at all times, for that child, who lives only by you to keep the temper ever ferene and unruffled, the mind, like the milk, fweet and fair, and bland and balmy; to keep yourfelf facred from the contamination of ftrong liquors; in fhort, to keep the mind at home, always pure, always patient, alto furrender itself to the magic of any old ways prepared, always ftrong enough not female ?--Oh! Believe me it is not on woman, whether of the male lex, or of the verifh folicitude for fome new pleafure, that breast, at one time panting with fefome change without variety, at another time chilled with indifference and ennuiit is not on that bofom, whofe milk is poifoned by anger, or thofe accurfed cordials that rob women of their hearts, without immediately deranging their heads-noit is not on that bosom, however fair, I fhould lay an infant, even though it were the breast of a mother. She who roves after tumultuous and public joys, can only pretend a relish for the fecret, flent, fabbath ftate of enjoyment, which dilates the heart of the natural nurfe. Save the infant from the mo. ther, however healthy, who has no equanimity, the virtue of a nurse-whofe heart is never at home, who is full of fictitious, fenfibility, and who can leave in its cradle the waking and wailing child, to shed tears over a novel.--Save the child-give it a truer mother, a domestic nurie, who poffeffes the equanimity of humble station ; whofe felf-intereft is more vigilant and attentive, and (fuch is the providence of nature) whofe attachment often grows more maternal than that of the mother herfelf. Give her the child--and take it from the natural parent.-Medea, who is faid to have murdered her own children, was an unnatural nurfe, a fashionable nurfe-a mother, and not a nurfe-a NURSE!-the confummate loveliness of a lovely woman, the excellence of every mental qualification, and the enjoyment of the most enraptured fenfe, without the smalleft fenfuality! ---The wife men of the East might do obeifance to fuch a character, without attaching any divine attribute to the child. vain exertions, by fruitless anxiety, by obftinately keeping an improper refolution, or åt leaft fhe faps her health, and contracts evil habits from the injudicious experiment." Often, when I plough my low ground, I place my little boy on a chair which screws to the beam of the plough : its motion, and that of the horfes, please him. He is perfectly happy, and begins to chat. As I lean over the handle, vaious are the thoughts which crowd into my mind." What a fubject for a picture is this nurfing father, an American farmer, who takes the child from the arms of its nurfing mother, an American female !— But is it in a crowded, contaminated city of Europe, of Britain, or of Ireland, where ripeness, rottennefs, and immaturity are compreffed together-where the female breaft heaves not fo much with love and tenderness, as with anxious folicitude to rank with a higher station, never casting its reflection on the rank below, and deriving at least comfort from the comparifon-is it in a city, where we see in the Streets wretched infants fufpended, I may literally fay hanged, from the arms of infenfible and intoxicated mothers; where in higher rank we see infants brought into Ladies are ambitious-They will, and company themselves, under the influence therefore they must be nurfes. For fome of intoxicating draughts-Is it where——I weeks it does well. Such a mother, and cannot, or rather will not proceed farther fuch a child, are fubject for a painter and a-miferable mothers !-unfortunate childpoet, who can fketch in the lucky minute, but not for the domeftic hiftorian who is to record the annals of the house. Fatigue begins to be felt at night, and laffitude in the day. It is felt as a fhame to drep on a fudden what had been fo firmly refolved. Fits of fretfulness begin to dry up the fountains of life. To increase quantity, recourte is had to wine-wheys, to malt liquors, which are fuppofed nutritive, and which produce an artificial fleep, heavy and fhort, both to mother and child; and fometimes (1 trust, not often) the fpirits are kept up to the undertaking by cordials, effences of peppermint, drops diluted into drams-cordials, I repeat it, which may give the heart a tranfient warmth, but which gradually rob it of its mental worth, its beft affections. The child of this delicate, fashionable, and feeling nurfe pines away for want of proper nourishment; and then begins the fupplementary diet of thick gruel and panada, totally unfit for thofe digeftive powers which languifh for the want of the diet of nature. Yet the little one lives, and in the intervals of cholic it fmiles, and preffes with its hands the bofom that ought to fupply its only nourishment. The delicate mother often fucks herself into a premature decline by ren!— D. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR, Request you will allow me a few words upon the fubject of grain in this country, and to point out what I conceive to be the duty of the executive authority relative thereto; fince it is a fubject that, at the prefent period, claims the attention of every individual; and about which, it may be prefumed, all muft in a particular manner feel themfelves concerned. In the northern counties they have only very lately houfed their corn, and the harveft weather has not only been, in general, uniformly inconvenient and detrimental to the farmer, and the crops have been badly got; but I fear they will not yield upon the whole under the flail more than half the quantity of corn they formerly did, when the fummer was favourable and the crops fooner cut. Bread is now above one fourth dearer than it was in 1795 and 1796, when fo much scarcity prevailed; what then may we expect to be the cafe before another harveft, unlefs timely and proper regulations be administered, and economical arrangements immediately take place! |