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CHAP. III.
Of its Increase, Magnitude, Inhabi∣tants, Publick Structures, &c.
AS it was said of the People of Rome, that e parva origine, from a small beginning they grew to a vast greatness, so we may truly say of this Famous City (the Metropolis of our Monarchy) which even in Neroes days was Renowned for Concourse of Merchants, and provision of all things, (as Speed informs us,) and must Consequently be Great and Populous. That it has received an accession and in∣crease in the Respective Ages, is certain; and in our Memory, we have seen it to multiply exceedingly in beautiful Structures and number of Inhabitants. So that it is at present of vast extent, being from Lime-House to the end of Tuttle-steet, from East to West, above 7500 Geometrical paces, that is, above seven Miles and ahalf; And from the further end of Black∣man-street in Southwark, to the end of St. Leonard-Shore-Ditch is 2500 paces, that is two Miles and a half.
The Principal Streets, Lanes, and Alleys, in this great City, are above 500 in number, and yet some of them above half a measured Mile in length. Be∣fore the dreadful Conflagration in 1666, there were computed within the Walls above 15000 Houses, which is but one fifth of the whole City, as appears by the Weekly Bills of Mortality, so that the Total of Houses may be 75000, which are mightily increased since the Rebuilding of the City, enlarg∣ing it self every way, especially, about St. James's and Sohoe-Fields, where it has received such Additions of beautiful Buildings, as by themselves would make a brave City. So that now London for fair and state∣ly