We see several Villages, formerly standing, as it were, in the County and at a great Distance, now joyn'd to the Streets by continued Buildings, and more making haste to meet in the like Manner; for Example, 1. _Deptford_, This Town was formerly reckoned at least Two Miles off from _Redriff_, and that over the Marshes too, a Place unlikely ever to be inhabited; and yet now, by the Encrease of Buildings in that Town itself, and by the Docks and Buildings-Yard on the River Side, which stand between both the Town of _Deptford_, and the Streets of _Redriff_ (or Rotherhith as they write it) are effectually joyn'd, and the Buildings daily increasing; so that _Deptford_ is now more a separated Town, but is become a Part of the great Mass, and infinitely full of People also; Here they have, within the last Two or Three Years, built a fine new Church, and were the Town of Deptford now separated, and rated by itself. I believe it contains more People, and stands upon more Ground, than the City of _Wells_. The Town of _Islington_ on the _North_ side of the City, is in like Manner joyn'd to the Streets of _London_, excepting one small Field, and which is in itself so small, that there is no Doubt, but in a very few years, they will be intirely joyn'd, and the same may be said of _Mile-End_, on the _East_ End of the Town. _Newington_, called _Newington Butts_, in _Surrey_, reaches out her Hand _North_, and is so near joining to _Southwark_, that it cannot now be properly called a Town by itself, but a Suburb to the Burrough, and if, _as they now tell us is undertaken_, St. _George's Fields_ should be built with Squares and Streets, a very little Time will shew us _Newington_, _Lambeth_, and the _Burrough_, all making but one _Southwark_. The Westminster is in a fair Way to shake Hands with Chelsea, as St. _Gyles's_ is with _Marybone_; and Great _Russel Street_ by _Montague House_, with _Tottenham Court_: all this is very evident, and yet all these put together are still to be called _London_: Whither will this monstrous City then extend? and where must a Circumvallation or Communication Line of it be placed? THE PRESENTMENT OF THE MIDDLESEX GRAND JURY, JANUARY SESSION (1735-1736). +Source.+--_Distilled Spirituous Liquors the Bane of the Nation_, 1736. We the Grand Jury for the County of _Middlesex_ taking notice of the vast number of _Brandy_ and _Geneva-Shops_, _Sheds_, and _Cellars_, of late set up and opened, for the retailing of _Gin_ and other _Spirituous Liquors_, which being sold at a very low Rate, the Meaner, though Useful, Part of the Nation, as Day-Labourers, Men and Women Servants, and common Soldiers, nay even Children, are enticed and seduced to taste, like, and approve of those pernicious _Liquors_ sold for such small Sums of Money, whereby they are daily intoxicated and get drunk, and are frequently seen in our streets in a Condition abhorrent to reasonable Creatures.