In 1578, Mr. Walcot states only six persons were rated by the St. Margaret’s overseers in Knightsbridge and Kensington; and in 1687 only five people are rated in St. Martin’s books for the whole of Pimlico. The progress of building appears to have taken place not so much progressively as in two distinct movements. The first was from 1770 to 1780, and the other from 1825 to our own time; on examination, it will be found that few of our streets were built at other periods. A letter before me of a skilled carpenter, written in 1783, tells his friends in the country he gets 2s. 8d. per day for his labour, and that he is allowed to make seven days per week, “and if the peace continueth” he shall be able to realise 20s. or a guinea per week; for his lodging he paid 2s. per week. If this was a fair sample of the rate of wages then, the mechanic’s financial condition must have improved to an extent little credited perhaps by themselves. The air of Knightsbridge has always been considered pure and salubrious. Swift brought Harrison to the place for the benefit of pure air; and fifty years since it still maintained the character, for Lady Hester Stanhope sent a faithful footman here for the same relief. Constitution Hill and Montpelier Square derived their names from this fact. The main street of Knightsbridge, from Hyde Park Corner to Kensington, stands on a peculiar but well-defined terrace of the London clay, which separates the gravels of Hyde Park from those more southward, {269} and is rather more than thirty feet deep. The yellow gravel of Hyde Park, says Sir Charles Lyell, is, comparatively speaking, of modern date, consisting of slightly rolled angular fragments, in which portions of the white opaque coating of the original chalk-flint remain uncovered. Southward of the clayey line just mentioned the surface soil is a “made” one. Underneath the native earth are thick layers of sand, beneath which is a blue clayey earth, and then a sediment, consisting chiefly of cockle and oyster shells, which beautifully retain their appearance. Thus the soil of our locality is a porous one, and rapidly absorbs the surface water; an advantage greatly tending to the health of the inhabitants, for parts of Pimlico are but slightly above high-water mark, and the air would consequently be very moist and relaxing. In a sanitary point of view all is not fair, even in Belgravia; behind its imposing mansions many a foul spot is hypocritically hidden; and although much has been done by the medical officer, there yet remains plenty of work on hand for him: too many spots yet requiring thorough transformation, and a vigilant watch to be kept, that selfishness be not permitted to triumph over public good. {270}