John Leighton

“ This is an evening cry in winter, reminding us of a cheerful fire, curtains drawn, pleasant company, the hissing urn, and a goodly pile of these toasted luxuries hot and tempting. They are sold by boys or men, who carry a small bell, which they ring between the times of calling out their wares. ”

“ The origin of the market was casual. Persons came here, and stood in the centre of the square, until it grew to the establishment of a market, which consisted of rough sheds until about 1830, when the present market was built by the Duke of Bedford. One part is devoted to vegetables, and others to fruits, flowers, and plants.{12}
THE COSTARD-MONGER (so called from an apple of that name) is an itinerant vendor of garden stuff. He mostly transports his vegetable wares in a cart drawn by a donkey. ”

“ Of cherries there are a great variety; most come from the county of Kent, and are sold in the streets of London, sometimes as low as one penny per pound! the sellers of which are often addicted to giving short weight, as their customers apprehend, hence the cry of “full weight.”
COVENT-GARDEN MARKET.
The ground on which this market stands belonged to the Abbots of Westminster, and was called Convent Garden. ”

“ How VERY cold it is! the Potato-merchant jumps about to warm his feet. It is fine time for the boys; they are pelting each other with snowballs. The drayman leads his team with care, lest they should slip on the icy road. ”

“ As the vendor approaches, the cats or dogs bound out at the well-known cry, often forming such a group as we have here, in
SMITHFIELD; which is the only cattle market in London. It was formerly situated just without the city walls. It has been used as a cattle market since 1150, and was then, as we have stated, in the fields, but is now in the very heart of London. Our view was taken on Friday afternoon, during the horse market. Hay and straw are sold here on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. In the background may be seen the tower of the church of St. ”

“ The merchants used, in olden times, to meet in Lombard Street, until Sir Thomas Gresham built the first edifice here, in 1567, from the designs of Henrick, a Fleming, who, it is said, made constant journeys from London to Flanders, to obtain materials and workmen. ”

“ Lincoln’s Inn is one of the principal inns of court.{22}
SWEEP!—SOOT OH!
This trade was, until of late, performed by small boys, who used to climb up chimneys, brushing away the soot as they went, until they arrived at the top, where they performed a rattle of triumph on the sides of the pot. Poor little sweep! your “occupation’s gone;” the term “climbing boy” will soon become obselete, for chimneys are now swept by machines, such as the one on the shoulders of the boy in our picture. ”

“ The class of subjects sold in the streets were formerly of common-place interest, such as a parrot, horse, cat, or cow, but our vendor has some of a higher class—the Farnese Hercules, Baily’s Eve at the Fountain, Cupid and Psyche, Chantrey’s bust of Sir Walter Scott, &c. ”

“ Clo!!” This is the abbreviated cry of the old clothesman, when going his rounds. The trade is mostly conducted by Jews, who take the morning purchases to Rosemary Lane, (commonly called Rag Fair,) near Tower Hill, where they dispose of them to dealers, who patch, mend, and sell again to the public. Our Jew, judging from his beard and band round his waist, is some dignitary of the synagogue; he has just made a purchase of an old court suit at
ST. JAMES’S PALACE.
It is a plain brick building, and was erected by Henry VIII. in 1551. ”

“ George I. converted it into a Chapel Royal, for which it is now used: the ceiling was painted by Rubens, in 1629; the subject is the Apotheosis of James I., for which he received £3000. In the square behind is a bronze statue of James II., by Gibbons. The Banqueting House cost about £17,000; and Inigo Jones, the architect, received but 8s. 4d. per day, with £46 per annum for house-rent. The master mason, Nicholas Stone, received 4s. 10d. per day. Such were the wages of architectural labour in those days ”

“ Lord Burlington’s proposal was rejected, and the design of a freeman and Protestant adopted. The architect was originally a shipwright, and it has been likened to a deep-laden Indiaman. The portico is supported by six Corinthian columns. On the pediment is an allegory of the wealth of London. ”

“ He sells cabbage-nets, kettle-holders, or laces, doubtless the work of his own hands in the evenings, which we term “blindman’s holiday.”—We are proceeding along Fleet Street, soon to pass under
TEMPLE BAR, which is the only remaining city gate. It was built in 1670, by Sir Christopher Wren, after the great fire. On this, the city side, are statues of James and Anne of Denmark ”