It contains more Roman Catholics than Rome itself, more Jews than the whole of Palestine, more Irish than Belfast, more Scotchmen than Aberdeen, and more Welshmen than Cardiff. Its beershops and gin-palaces are so numerous that their frontages, if placed side by side, would stretch from Charing-cross to Chichester, a distance of sixty-two miles. If all the dwellings in London could thus have their frontages placed side by side they would extend beyond the city of York. London has sufficient paupers to occupy every house in Brighton. The society which advocates the cessation of Sunday labour will be surprised to learn that sixty miles of shops are open every Sunday. With regard to churches and chapels, the Bishop of London, examined before the House of Lords in the year 1840, said:―― “If you proceed a mile to the eastward of St. Paul’s you will find yourself in the midst of a population, the most wretched and destitute of mankind, consisting of artificers, labourers, beggars, and thieves, to the amount of from three to four hundred thousand souls. Throughout this entire quarter there is not more than one church for every ten thousand inhabitants, and in two districts there is but one church for forty-five thousand persons.” Peace, who had but a slender knowledge of the great metropolis, put up at a snug hotel which was frequented by many of his townsmen. He had at this time no very clear idea as to his movements or future plan of action, and therefore, like Mr. Micawber, thought it best to wait patiently for “something to turn up.” He had abundance of ready cash for his necessities for some time to come, and when that was gone he was perfectly well assured he would find the way to obtain more. He was never very long in making new acquaintances. At the hotel where he was stopping he fell into the company of a young man named Kempshead, with whom he at once fraternised. Kempshead was rather a go-a-head sort of young gentleman, and was therefore well adapted as a companion to Peace. He was well acquainted with every phase of London life, was well up in all the cant terms and slang sayings which, unfortunately for the moral tone of society are considered requisite by the young men of the present day to indulge in and make use of. The word “awful” had not come into fashion at the time of which we are writing, but there were others of an equally objectionable character. The English language is assuredly sufficiently comprehensive far the expression of thoughts or ideas without being supplemented by slang or Americanisms. We shall have to dilate upon this subject in a future chapter of this work. “Well, governor,” said Joe Kempshead to Peace, as they were seated at the table in the public room of the hotel, “what’s to be your little game to-day――the exhibition, a morning performance, or what?”