Still We Went On, And Drew Nearer And Nearer
With Amazing Velocity, And The Surrounding Objects Became Every
Moment More Distinct.
Westminster Abbey, the Tower, a steeple, one
church, and then another, presented themselves to our view; and we
could now plainly distinguish the high round chimneys on the tops of
the houses, which yet seemed to us to form an innumerable number of
smaller spires, or steeples.
The road from Greenwich to London is actually busier and far more
alive than the most frequented streets in Berlin. At every step we
met people on horseback, in carriages, and foot passengers; and
everywhere also, and on each side of the road, well-built and noble
houses, whilst all along, at proper distances, the road was lined
with lamp-posts. One thing, in particular, struck and surprised me
not a little. This was the number of people we met riding and
walking with spectacles on, among whom were many who appeared stout,
healthy, and young. We were stopped at least three times at
barriers or gates, here called turnpikes, to pay a duty or toll
which, however small, as being generally paid in their copper
coinage, in the end amounted to some shillings.
At length we arrived at the magnificent bridge of Westminster. The
prospect from this bridge alone seems to afford one the epitome of a
journey, or a voyage in miniature, as containing something of
everything that mostly occurs on a journey. It is a little
assemblage of contrasts and contrarieties.
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