Chamberlayne says:--“In the most excellent situation of London the profound wisdom of our ancestors is very conspicuous and admirable. It is seated in a pleasant evergreen valley, upon a gentle rising bank in an excellent air, in a wholesome soil mixed with gravel and sand upon the famous navigable river Thames, at a place where it is cast into a crescent, that so each part of the City might enjoy the benefit of the river, and yet not be far distant one from the other; about sixty miles from the sea; not so near, that it might be in danger of surprise by the fleets of foreign enemies, or be annoyed by the boisterous wind and unwholesome vapours of the sea; yet not so far but that by the help of the tide every twelve hours, ships of great burden may be brought into her heaving bosom; nor yet so far but that it may enjoy the milder, warmer vapours of the eastern, southern, and western seas; yet so far up in the country as it might also easily partake even of all the country commodities; in an excellent air upon the north side of the river (for the villages seated on the south side are noted to be unhealthy in regard of the vapours drawn upon them by the sun), but roughed by gentle hills from the north and south winds. “The highways leading from all parts to this noble city are large, smooth, straight and fair; no mountains nor rocks, no marshes nor lakes to hinder carriages and passengers.” * * * Chamberlayne, in speaking of the Thames, is, as well he may be, loud in its praise: “The river whereon is seated this great city, for its breadth, depth, gentle, straight, even course, extraordinary wholesome water, and tides, is more commodious for navigation than any other river in the world. * * * This river opening _eastward_ towards Germany and France, is much more advantageous for traffic than any other river of England. To say nothing of the variety of excellent fish within this river--above all of the incomparable salmon--the fruitful, fat soil, the pleasant rich meadows and innumerable stately palaces on both sides thereof; in a word, the Thames seems to be the very radical moisture of this city, and in some sense, the natural heat too; for almost all the fuel for firing is brought up this river from Newcastle, Scotland, Kent, Essex, etc., or else down the river from Surrey, Middlesex, etc.”