architect who erected that magnificent cathedral, would have conceived an exalted idea of the religion of England at the beginning of the nineteenth century, had he known that the superb dome, so justly admired by all lovers of architecture, would serve merely as a fingerpost to the gay citizens in their pedestrian excursions.

On a general survey it appears that the grand characteristics of the inhabitants of London are an indefatigable pursuit of business or pleasure, a ridiculous passion for notoriety among the higher, and an affectation of gentility among the subordinate classes of the community. Indeed a passion for "pleasure, fame, or pelf,” agitates the bosom of the multitude, from the titled fool of quality and his extravagant mistress, down through the various gradations of society, to the rout of the washerwoman and the Sunday evening musical party of the hackney-coachman.

ENGLISHMEN.

A considerable part of this great community is composed of the natives of England, who come from the different provinces to reside in London. They are in general healthy, active, industrious men, whose assistance in the more laborious avocations is highly conducive to the ease and comfort of the citizens.

Many of them are shopkeepers, whose probity rerequires no eulogium. Mechanics form another division of those settlers; and almost the whole weight of the drudgery of London rests on stout young men from the country, who are allured to town by the expectation of higher wages than the farmers can afford to give. These adventurers find ample scope for the exercise of their corporeal and mental powers in this metropolis, into which they incessantly flow like streams into a reservoir.

They are distinguishable by the peculiarity of their provincial dialect, so different from the language of the Cockney; while their florid countenances, and muscular forms, sufficiently evince that they are not natives of a city.

That good sense which has ever been the characteristic of the English nation, is the most conspicuous trait of these honest men, whose activity contributes so much to the prosperity of London. A firmness which sometimes borders on obstinacy marks the unsophisticated countryman, who is more sincere, though less polished, than the luxurious citizen.

B

Goldsmith has distinctly characterised this description of Englishmen in the following lines:

-A thoughtful band,

"By forms unfashion'd fresh from Nature's hand!
"Fierce in their native hardiness of soul,

"True to imagin'd right—above controul.
"While e'en the peasant boasts those rights to scan,
"And learns to venerate himself as man."

WELCHMEN.

Most of the Welch residents in London have imperceptibly adopted the manners of their English neighbours, yet their characteristic sincerity is still perceptible to the reflecting observer.

Honest in their dealings, proud of their ancestry, and inflated with an imaginary superiority which they feel as ancient Britons, they are too apt to have a contemptuous opinion of the rest of mankind; but they are generally distinguished by that simple dignity of conduct which is ever the companion of integrity.

Among our modern writers, the name of Pennant appears with honour to himself and his birth-place; and Wales can boast of a lawyer who has perhaps never been

excelled in adherence to justice. Lord Kenyon was indeed an ornament to his country, and entitled to the applause of every honest man. Unawed by those vicious characters in high life who encourage licentiousness by their voice and example, his virtue was too exalted to associate or coincide with titled voluptuaries, and his name will be celebrated by the historian, when L--d W******, now M. of L-, the M. of B-, and the rest of the elegant circle of modern adulterers and adultresses, with **** himself at their head, will only be recorded as instances of profligacy.

SCOTCHMEN.

The principal motive of a North Briton's visit to London is a desire to profit by his learning and genius.Frugal, temperate, and religious, his natural sagacity is preserved amidst the enervating allurements of the town; hence he pursues his avocations with steadiness, and appropriates the fruits of his industry with the strictest economy. His success is facilitated by that national partiality for which Scotchmen are remarkable. Their readiness to promote a reciprocation of benefits is like he brotherly-love of the Quakers, and highly praise-worthy; though it has a tendency to suppress that universal benevolence which should ever actuate the human mind.

Scotchmen have been long reproached with national prejudice; but, as that is a species of self-love which exists in different degrees in every mind, perhaps they are not more reprehensible in that respect than the people of other nations. Indeed the resentment which they generally express against the most elegant tourist who ever explored their country is irrational.

Dr. Johnson travelled to observe the appearance of the country, and the manners of its inhabitants; every unprejudiced mind is delighted with his narrative, but unfortunately, as he was defective in the organs of vision, many of the majestic woods of Caledonia escaped his observation.

To compensate for this deficiency, however, another tourist, professor St. Fond, has described Scotland in such a manner as must be very gratifying to every lover of natural history. As the French philosophers have ever been remarkable for their adherence to truth, and aversion to hyperbolical description, we may conclude that St. Fond's account is accurate. According to him, the face of the country is much improved since Dr. Johnson visited it. He describes the soil as fertile, and the people remarkable for their hospitality, learning, piety, and refinement of manners. This ac