Travels in England in 1782 | Page 9

got it out of the ship. As it was quite dark when I came
back the first evening, I was astonished at the admirable manner in
which the streets are lighted up; compared to which our streets in
Berlin make a most miserable show. The lamps are lighted whilst it is
still daylight, and are so near each other, that even on the most ordinary

and common nights, the city has the appearance of a festive
illumination, for which some German prince, who came to London for
the first time, once, they say, actually took it, and seriously believed it
to have been particularly ordered on account of his arrival.

CHAPTER IV
.

The 9th June, 1782.
I preached this day at the German church on Ludgate Hill, for the Rev.
Mr. Wendeborn. He is the author of "Die statischen Beytrage zur
nahern Kentniss Grossbrittaniens." This valuable book has already been
of uncommon service to me, and I cannot but recommend it to
everyone who goes to England. It is the more useful, as you can with
ease carry it in your pocket, and you find in it information on every
subject. It is natural to suppose that Mr. Wendeborn, who has now been
a length of time in England, must have been able more frequently, and
with greater exactness to make his observations, than those who only
pass through, or make a very short stay. It is almost impossible for
anyone, who has this book always at hand, to omit anything worthy of
notice in or about London; or not to learn all that is most material to
know of the state and situation of the kingdom in general.
Mr. Wendeborn lives in New Inn, near Temple Bar, in a philosophical,
but not unimproving, retirement. He is almost become a native; and his
library consists chiefly of English books. Before I proceed, I must just
mention, that he has not hired, but bought his apartments in this great
building, called New Inn: and this, I believe, is pretty generally the case
with the lodgings in this place. A purchaser of any of these rooms is
considered as a proprietor; and one who has got a house and home, and
has a right, in parliamentary or other elections, to give his vote, if he is
not a foreigner, which is the case with Mr. Wendeborn, who,
nevertheless, was visited by Mr. Fox when he was to be chosen
member for Westminster.
I saw, for the first time, at Mr. Wendeborn's, a very useful machine,
which is little known in Germany, or at least not much used.
This is a press in which, by means of very strong iron springs, a written

paper may be printed on another blank paper, and you thus save
yourself the trouble of copying; and at the same time multiply your
own handwriting. Mr. Wendeborn makes use of this machine every
time he sends manuscripts abroad, of which he wishes to keep a copy.
This machine was of mahogany, and cost pretty high. I suppose it is
because the inhabitants of London rise so late, that divine service begin
only at half-past ten o'clock. I missed Mr. Wendeborn this morning,
and was therefore obliged to enquire of the door-keeper at St. Paul's for
a direction to the German church, where I was to preach. He did not
know it. I then asked at another church, not far from thence. Here I was
directed right, and after I had passed through an iron gate to the end of
a long passage, I arrived just in time at the church, where, after the
sermon, I was obliged to read a public thanksgiving for the safe arrival
of our ship. The German clergy here dress exactly the same as the
English clergy--i.e., in long robes with wide sleeves--in which I
likewise was obliged to wrap myself. Mr. Wendeborn wears his own
hair, which curls naturally, and the toupee is combed up.
The other German clergymen whom I have seen wear wigs, as well as
many of the English.
I yesterday waited on our ambassador, Count Lucy, and was agreeably
surprised at the simplicity of his manner of living. He lives in a small
private house. His secretary lives upstairs, where also I met with the
Prussian consul, who happened just then to be paying him a visit.
Below, on the right hand, I was immediately shown into his
Excellency's room, without being obliged to pass through an
antechamber. He wore a blue coat, with a red collar and red facings. He
conversed with me, as we drank a dish of coffee, on various learned
topics; and when I told him of the great dispute now going on about the
tacismus or stacismus, he declared himself, as a born Greek,