moking and drinking in a large
room on a hot summer's night. I may have my doubts whether all go home
sober--the presence of a policeman in the room indicated that at times
there was need for his services--but I believe the association of song
and drinking and amusements pernicious in the extreme; and, knowing that
man needs relaxation--that he must have his hour of amusement as well as
of work--I cannot too earnestly press upon the advocates of Temperance
reform the desirableness of their out-bidding the public-house in the
attempts to cater for the entertainment of the people. That they do not
do so, is clear. Where once we had a National Hall in Holborn, for the
action of moral influences, a publican has erected a hall--for singing
and drinking--capable, I should think, of holding 1200 people, and
crammed every night. Then the "Lord Raglan" holds as many. Nor are
these alone the only competitors for public patronage; their name is
Legion.

RATCLIFFE-HIGHWAY.

London is several cities rolled into one. If we walk along
Regent-street, it is a city of gorgeous shops,--if you turn into the
West, of parks and palaces,--if you traverse St Giles, of gin and
dirt;--again, in Belgravia it is rich and grand,--in Pimlico it is poor
and pretentious,--in Russell-square it is well to do,--in Islington it is
plain and pious; and, strange as it may seem, the people are equally
localised in their ideas. Jobson, the Stock-broker, lives at Clapham,
and for years he has never set foot in any other streets than those
leading from the Stock Exchange to that select and favoured spot. The
law clerks, who live in Pimlico, seldom stray further than John-street,
Bedford-row. The city gents from Islington and Holloway generally
cluster round the Bank or the Post-office, and for years go in the
morning and return at night by one unvaried route. The races are equally
distinct. The swells in the Park, the millers in Mark-lane, the graziers
in the new cattle-market, the Jews in Houndsditch or Holywell-street, the
prim pale lads in the city, the sailors in Deptford and Wapping, the
German sugar-bakers in Whitechapel, really form distinct communities, and
are as worth studying as any race of

"Red Indians dwelling beyond the sunset,
And the baths of all the Western stars."

I should not like a son of mine to be born and bred in Ratcliffe-highway.
That there would be a charming independence in his character, a spurning
o