6

PREFACE.

THE Pen and Pencil Series' has hitherto included, with the exception of Sea Pictures, only volumes devoted to the description of a country. But many representations have been made to the publishers of the desirability of devoting a volume to London. The present book is an attempt to meet adequately that desire. The number of books dealing with the multifarious life and the antiquarian wealth of London is enormous, and the reader may at first be inclined to ask, 'Why add another to the long list?' And the reply must be to the effect that no work exactly suited to the place which this is intended to fill is in existence.

The author wishes here to acknowledge his indebtedness to many of the writers who have preceded him in this field. No attempt whatever at original research has been made, but the author has himself carefully inspected almost every place referred to in the volume; and he has consulted, so far as possible, all the easily accessible books on those portions of London with which he deals. He has also laid under contribution a great many books not easily accessible. It is hopeless to expect that amid such a multitude of detail all inaccuracy has been avoided, but his constant aim has been to make no statement of fact or history for which good authority is not forthcoming.

A superficial glance will show that many things the reader might naturally expect to find in the volume are omitted. This is due first to limitations of space, and secondly, to the author's conviction that it was better to try and treat a few well-defined chapters adequately rather than hastily to glance at a larger number. Hence the reader will find that whole subjects, like the city companies, the great museums, the art life of London, and many others, are entirely omitted. Perhaps, if this volume proves to

meet a literary need, these may be included in some future work. The author's aim in this has been to try and give the reader a satisfactory and

accurate sketch of the present condition and the past history of the great City in relation to such subjects as the civic and commercial life, the Tower, the great ecclesiastical and governmental buildings, the legal and literary life. Each separate item in this, list already possesses a library upon its special features, and hence the difficulty of trying to compress them all into a volume of 224 pages.

Special acknowledgments must be given to the Library Committee of the City of London for permission to copy some engravings from their Descriptive Account of the Guildhall, to Messrs. Longman & Co., for the use of the woodcuts on pages 118, 120, 121, and 127, to Mr. John Murray for the woodcuts on pages 93, 96, 100, and 101, to the London Stereoscopic Company for the photographs from which the engravings on pages 129, 180, and 202 were reproduced, and to the proprietors of the Graphic for permission to copy the admirable pictures of London scenes by Mr. Logsdail given on pages 12, 34, and 48.

The book goes forth with the author's earnest desire that it may recall many well-known haunts and pleasant experiences to those who already know and love London well, and that it may perhaps stimulate many who live within reach of her nearly inexhaustible stores of interest and information to avail themselves more freely of these treasures.