formed by Queen Elizabeth, in 1600, principally for the purpose of procuring spices at a cheap rate, which were advanced in price by the Dutch.  From traders they became conquerors of the natives, and having obtained a footing in the country, usurped the sovereignty over considerable districts; and war, with oppression, have too often befallen the harmless natives.  The India ships bring home tea, coffee, silks both raw and manufactured, cottons, muslins, calicoes, drugs, China-ware, rice, sago, saltpetre, pepper, indigo, &c &c.

29.  London Stone.

This is to be seen in Cannon Street, against the wall of St. Swithin’s church, where it has long been preserved.  It is now cased with stone-work, and guarded by an iron bar and spikes, but still remains open to view.  It has been supposed to be a standard, from which the Romans, when in England, computed their miles.  Proclamations were formerly delivered from this stone to the people.

30.  Guildhall.

This is the place where the public business of the corporation of London is transacted; and where the judges sit to hear and determine causes.  In this hall the Court of Aldermen and Common Council have a very handsome chamber, or court-room, which is ornamented with a capital collection of paintings, presented to the City of London by the late worthy Alderman Boydell, who greatly promoted the arts.  The fine painting by Mr. Copley, representing the siege of Gibraltar by the Spanish flotilla, and likewise an elegant marble statue of George III. our late venerable monarch, are well worth seeing by every admirer of the arts of painting and statuary.

Nearly opposite to the entrance of this fine building, and on each side of the clock, formerly stood two gigantic statues, commonly called Gog and Magog, supposed to be the figures of a Briton and a Saxon; but they are now removed to the west end of the hall, as they are seen in the picture, No. 31.

Two modern painted windows complete the decorations of this venerable building; the one representing the royal arms, the other those of the city of London.

32.  The Mansion House,

Well, here are the Lord Mayor’s coach and six horses, standing opposite the Mansion House, which is the place of residence for every chief magistrate during his mayoralty.  It is a stone building of magnificence, but appears the more heavy and gloomy from its confined situation.

33.  The Bank of England.

Not far from the Mansion House stands the Bank of England.  This building fills a space enclosed by the four streets, Bartholomew Lane, Lothbury, Prince’s Street, and Bank Buildings.  It is truly interesting to behold the busy scene that daily passes in the rotunda, amongst the buyers and sellers of stock, or those who are engaged in transferring it, all so eagerly occupied with their affairs, and showing their anxiety by their countenances.  Where money is, there the crowd will be; and persons who go to the Bank should be careful lest their pockets be picked of such money as they may have received.

34.  St. Paul’s Cathedral.

This is a wonderfully fine building! and the countryman’s amazement on first seeing it, is very naturally expressed in the following lines:

Of all the brave churches I ever did see,
Sure this seems the greatest and grandest to me!
What a wonderful place!  I am full of surprise,
And hardly know how to believe my own eyes.
Why sure that gold cross at the top is so high,
That it must, now and then, prick a hole in the sky;
And, for my part, I should not be much in amaze,
If the moon should run foul of it, one of these days.

It is not only the outside of this fine building that commands attention, but the inside also.  The whispering gallery, the great bell, the library, and so many other curiosities are to be seen, that even to name the whole would require more space than we can afford in our little work.

A young country gentleman, who was never before on any thing higher than a haystack, has now reached the top of St. Paul’s, and is admiring the prospect from the iron gallery.

Well, certainly, this is a wonderful sight;
And pays one for climbing up here such a height.
Dear, what a large city! and full, in all parts,
Of churches and houses, of horses and carts.
What hundreds of coaches, and thousands of folk!
And then, above all, what a very thick smoke!
I could stand here all day to behold this fine town;
Tho’, as night’s coming on, I had better go down.

I think so too, young gentleman: and mind how you go along the dark staircase, for it would be a sad thing to fall down among that frightful scaffolding.  Walk gently, and lay hold of the rail as you go along, and you will be safe enough.

35.  The Blue-coat School, called Christ’s Hospital.

There are nearly one thousand children educated here at a time.  The boys continue to wear the dress worn in the days of the virtuous and youthful prince, Edward the Sixth, who founded this school for orphans and other poor children.

Their singular dress consists of a coat of blue cloth, formed something similar to a woman’s gown; and in winter they wear a yellow woollen petticoat.  Their stockings are of yellow worsted, and round their waist they buckle a red-leather girdle.  They are also furnished with a round, flat woollen cap, about the size of a tea-saucer, which they generally carry under their arm.  A pewter badge on their breast, and a clergyman’s band round their neck, complete their antique uniform.

36.  The enraged Ox.

This is what might have been expected, my lad!  You have been teasing and worrying that animal, till it is become quite furious, and now you must take the consequence.  It was as tame