say, the other day, that he was sure a
resident of the suburbs could scarcely lie down after dinner, and take
a nap, without finding, when he awoke, that a new row of buildings had
started up since he closed his eyes. It is certainly astonishing: one
would think the builders used magic, or steam at least, and it would be
curious to ask those gentlemen in what part of the neighbouring counties
they intend London should end. Not content with separate streets,
squares, and rows, they are actually the founders of new towns, which in
the space of a few months become finished and inhabited. The precincts
of London have more the appearance of a newly-discovered colony than
~72~~the suburbs of an ancient city.{5} And what, sir, will be the
pleasant consequences of all this to posterity? Instead of having houses
built to encumber the earth for a century or two, it is ten to one but
they disencumber the mortgagee, by falling down with a terrible crash
during the first half life, and, perhaps, burying a host of persons in
their ruins. Mere paste-board palaces are the structures of the present
times, composed of lath and plaster, and Parker's cement, a few coloured
bricks, a fanciful viranda, and a balcony, embellished within by the
_decorateur_, and stuccoed or whitewashed without, to give them a
light appearance, and hide the defects of an ignorant architect or an
unskilful builder; while a very few years introduces the occupant to
all the delightful sensations of cracked walls, swagged floors, bulged
fronts, sinking roofs, leaking gutters, inadequate drains, and other
innumerable ills, the effects of an originally bad constitution, which
dispels any thing like the hopes of a reversionary interest, and
clearly proves that without a renovation equal to resurrection, both
the building and the occupant are very likely to fall victims to a rapid
consumption." In this way did Crony contrive to beguile the time, until
we found ourselves entering the arena in front of the Dean's house,
Westminster. "Here, alone," said my old friend, "the hand of the
innovator has not been permitted to intrude; this spot remains
unpolluted; but, for the neighbourhood, alas!" sighed Crony, "that is
changed indeed. The tavern in Union-street,

5 For instance: in what a very short time back were the
Bays-water-fields, there is now a populous district, called
by the inhabitants "Moscow;" and at the foot of Primrose-
hill we are amazed by