The position to. which London attained in the nineteenth century is extraordinarily complex, and can here be presented only, in outline. The city finally achieved the rank of the financial centre of the world. In 1816 England, first of all commercial nations, adopted the gold standard. In 1844 the Bank Act of Sir Robert Peel ended the issue by the Bank of England of notes for which there was not sufficient cover in specie ; and since that date, except when in ... Read More

In the eighteenth century, as gradually it was made clear how stable was the court which was established at St. James's, the London season came to figure largely in the life of the nation.    The wife and daughters of the squire, whose parents had known no more of the world than they found in their market town, wearied of the long winters when almost impassable roads imprisoned them within the distance which, on fine days, they could walk on their pattens, when ... Read More

Among these Suburbian Territories, in the way /^    towards   Tyburn,"    wrote   Strype   in   1720, /-^ "there are certain new and splendid Build-"*~ -^- ings, called, in Honour of his present Majesty, Hanover Square : Some finished, and some erecting; consisting of many complete, noble Houses. One whereof is taking by my Lord Cowper, late Lord High Chancellor of England. And it is reported, that the common Place of Execution of Malefactors at Tyburn, shall be appointed elsewhere . . . . ; ... Read More