The Essays of Elia
Charles Lamb
Paperback
(Forgotten Books, May 26, 2012)
Keader, in thy passage from theB ank where thou hast been receiving thy half-yearly dividends (supposing thou art a lean annuitant like myself) to the Flower Pot, to secure a place forD alston, orS hacklewell, or some other suburban retreat northerly, didst thou never observe a melancholy-looking, handsome, bricfc-and-stone edifice, to the left where Threadneedle Street abuts upon Bishopsgate? I dare say thou hast often admired its magnificent portals ever gaping wide and disclosing to view a grave court, with cloisters, and pillars, with few or no traces of goers-in or comers-out a desolation something like Balclutha s. This was once a house of trade a centre of busy interests. The throng of merchants was here the quick pulse of gain and here some forms of business are still kept up, though the soul be long since fled. Here are etill to be seen stately porticoes ;imposing staircases, offices roomy as the state apartments in palaces deserted, or thinly peopled with a few straggling clerks; the still more sacred interiors of court and committee-rooms, I passed by the walls of Balclutha, and they were desolate -OSSIAN.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at