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Besides the water brought from the Thames and the New River； there are a great many good springs； pumps； and conduits about the town； which afford excellent water for drinking。 There are also mineral waters on the side of Islington and Pancras。
This capital also is well supplied with firing； particularly coals from Newcastle； and pit…coals from Scotland； and other parts； but wood is excessively dear； and used by nobody for firing； unless bakers； and some few persons of quality in their chambers and drawing…rooms。
As for bread…corn； it is for the most part brought to London after it is converted into flour； and both bread and flour are extremely reasonable： we here buy as much good white bread for three… halfpence or twopence； as will serve an Englishman a whole day； and flour in proportion。 Good strong beer also may be had of the brewer； for about twopence a quart； and of the alehouses that retail it for threepence a quart。 Bear Quay； below bridge； is a great market for malt； wheat； and horse…corn； and Queenhithe； above the bridge； for malt； wheat； flour； and other grain。
The butchers here compute that there are about one thousand oxen sold in Smithfield Market one week with another the year round； besides many thousand sheep； hogs； calves； pigs； and lambs； in this and other parts of the town； and a great variety of venison； game；
and poultry。 Fruit； roots； herbs； and other garden stuff are very cheap and good。
Fish also are plentiful； such as fresh cod； plaice； flounders； soles； whitings； smelts； sturgeon； oysters； lobsters； crabs； shrimps； mackerel； and herrings in the season； but it must be confessed that salmon； turbot； and some other sea…fish are dear； as well as fresh…water fish。
Wine is imported from foreign countries； and is dear。 The port wine which is usually drunk； and is the cheapest； is two shillings a quart； retailed in taverns； and not much less than eighteen or twenty pounds the hogshead； when purchased at the best hand； and as to French wines； the duties are so high upon them that they are double the price of the other at least。 White wine is about the same price as red port； and canary about a third dearer。
It is computed that there are in London some part of the year； when the nobility and gentry are in town； 15；000 or 16；000 large horses for draught； used in coaches； carts； or drays； besides some thousands of saddle…horses； and yet is the town so well supplied with hay； straw； and corn； that there is seldom any want of them。 Hay generally is not more than forty shillings the load； and from twenty pence to two shillings the bushel is the usual price of oats。
The opportunity of passing from one part of the town to the other； by coach； chair； or boat； is a very great convenience； especially in the winter； or in very hot weather。 A servant calls a coach or a chair in any of the principal streets； which attends at a minute's warning； and carries one to any part of the town； within a mile and a half distance； for a shilling； but to a chair is paid one…third more； the coaches also will wait for eighteenpence the first hour； and a shilling every succeeding hour all day long； or you may hire a coach and a pair of horses all day； in or out of town； for ten shillings per day； there are coaches also that go to every village almost about town； within four or five miles； in which a passenger pays but one shilling； and in some but sixpence； for his passage with other company。
The pleasantest way of moving from one end of the town to the other in summer time is by water； on that spacious gentle stream the Thames； on which you travel two miles for sixpence； if you have two watermen； and for threepence if you have but one； and to any village up or down the river you go with company for a trifle。 But the greatest advantage reaped from this noble river is that it brings whatever this or other countries afford。 Down the river from Oxfordshire； Berkshire； Bucks； &c。； come corn and all manner of provision of English growth； as has been observed already； and up the river； everything that the coasts and the maritime counties of England； Scotland； or Ireland afford； this way also are received the treasures and merchandise of the East and West Indies； and indeed of the four quarters of the world。
Carts are hired as coaches； to remove goods and merchandise from one part of the town to the other； whose rates are also fixed； and are very reasonable； and for small burdens or parcels； and to send on messages； there are porters at every corner of the streets； those within the City of London and liberties thereof being licensed by authority； and wearing a badge or ticket； in whose hands goods of any value； and even bills of exchange or sums of money； may be safely trusted； they being obliged at their admission to give security。 There is also a post that goes from one part of the town to the other several times a day； and once a day to the neighbouring villages； with letters and small parcels； for the carriage of which is given no more than a penny the letter or parcel。 And I should have remembered that every coach； chair； and boat that plies for hire has its number upon it； and if the number be taken by any friend or servant； at the place you set out from； the proprietor of the vehicle will be obliged to make good any loss or damage that may happen to the person carried in it； through the default of the people that carry him； and to make him satisfaction for any abuse or ill…language he may receive from them。
The high streets from one end of the town to the other are kept clean by scavengers in the winter； and in summer the dust in some wide streets is laid by water…carts： they are so wide and spacious； that several lines of coaches and carts may pass by each other without interruption。 Foot…passengers in the high streets go about their business with abundance of ease and pleasure； they walk upon a fine smooth pavement； defended by posts from the coaches and wheel… carriages； and though they are jostled sometimes in the throng； yet as this seldom happens out of design； few are offended at it； the variety of beautiful objects； animate and inanimate； he meets with in the streets and shops； inspires the passenger with joy； and makes him slight the trifling inconvenience of being crowded now and then。 The lights also in the shops till eight or nine in the evening； especially in those of toymen and pastry…cooks； in the winter； make the night appear even brighter and more agreeable than the day itself。
From the lights I come very naturally to speak of the night…guards or watch。 Each watch consists of a constable and a certain number of watchmen； who have a guard…room or watch…house in some certain place； from whence watchmen are despatched every hour； to patrol in the streets and places in each constable's district； to see if all be safe from fire and thieves； and as they pass they give the hour of the night； and with their staves strike at the door of every house。
If they meet with any persons they suspect of ill designs； quarrelsome people； or lewd women in the streets； they are empowered to carry them before the constable at his watch…house； who confines them till morning； when they are brought before a justice of the peace； who commits them to prison or releases them； according as the circumstances of the case are。
Mobs and tumults were formerly very terrible in this great city； not only private men have been insulted and abused； and their houses demolished； but even the Court and Parliament have been influenced or awed by them。 But there is now seldom seen a multitude of people assembled； unless it be to attend some malefactor to his execution； or to pelt a villain in the pillory； the last of which being an outrage that the Government has ever seemed to wink at； and it is observed by some that the mob are pretty just upon these occasions； they seldom falling upon any but notorious rascals； such as are guilty of perjury； forgery； scandalous practices； or keeping of low houses； and these with rotten eggs； apples； and turnips； they frequently maul unmercifully； unless the offender has money enough to bribe the constables and officers to protect him。
The London inns； though they are as commodious for the most part as those we meet with in other places； yet few people choose to take up their quarters in them for any long time； for； if their business requires them to make any stay in London； they choose to leave their horses at the inn or some livery…stable； and take lodgings in a private house。 At livery stables they lodge no travellers； only take care of their horses； which fare better here than usually at inns； and at these places it is that gentlemen hire saddle…horses for a journey。 At the best of them are found very good horses and furniture： they will let out a good horse for 4s。 a day； and an ordinary hackney for 2s。 6d。； and for 5s。 you may have a hunter for the city hounds have the liberty of hunting； in Enfield Chase and round the town； and go out constantly every week in the season； followed by a great many young gentlemen and tradesmen。 They have an opportunity also of hunting with the King's hounds at Richmond and Windsor： and such exercises seem very necessary for people who ar