Houses, churches, mixed together; Streets unpleasant in all weather; / Prisons, palaces contiguous, / Gates, a bridge, the Thames irriguous.
[ . . . ]
Many a beau without a shilling, / Many a widow not unwilling; / Many a bargain, if you strike it: / This is London! How d’ye like it?
John Bancks (1709-1751), A Description of London
CabbieBlog 
Not a very flattering description is it?
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Bet he didn’t sell many poems!
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He got it dead right for the 18th century, and it hadn’t changed that much by the 20th.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It might improve in the 21st century. Thanks for the comment.
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