Then as to Bankruptcies, and other Villanies of that Nature, the City of London is so full of privileg’d Places, where such Thieves may take Shelter, that upon the whole it must be Confess’d there is much less Danger in being wicked at London than at Paris.

Henri Misson (c.1650-1722)

So all that great foul city of London there, – rattling, growling, smoking, stinking, – a ghastly heap of fermenting brickwork pouring out poison at every pore . . . you fancy it is a city of work? Not a street of it! It is a great city of play; very nasty play and very hard play, but still play.

John Ruskin (1819-1900)

London; a nation, not a city.

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881)

Gin . . . is the principal Sustenance (if it may be so called) of more than an hundred thousand People in this Metropolis.

Henry Fielding (1708-1754)

Sir, the spirits which I have in London make me do every thing with more readiness and vigour. I can talk twice as much in London as any where else.

James Boswell (1740-1795)