ÑñLondon became a key centre of commerce and the arts in the 18th century, reflecting Britain's importance as a major world power.ñ
During the 18th century, London developed into the most important city in Europe. In 1700, the city's population was already close to half a million people; but by 1750 this had grown steadily to 675,000, making London the largest city in Europe after Istanbul. By the end of the century, it had reached 1.1 million. Containing over 10 per cent of the population of England and Wales, London dominated the country. It was the principal port and commercial centre, the seat of government, the trendsetter when it came to fashion, and the focus of intellectual and social life.
The concentration of wealthy people within London with both money and time to spare encouraged entertainment and the arts. The best playwrights and actors, including Richard Sheridan (1751-1816) and David Garrick (1717-79), became part of a golden age of English theatre. London was a cultural magnet that attracted artists and writers eager to establish a reputation. The many coffee houses which sprang up in the city became important centres of intellectual and commercial life: Dr. Johnson (1709-84) and his friend and biographer James Boswell (1740-95) regularly frequented coffee houses; and the owner of a coffee house gave his name to the great insurance institution, Lloyds.
The lively commercial and artistic life of the capital existed side by side with a seamy underbelly, where poverty, crime, and disease were an everyday fact of life for many. Little or no provision was made to help the poor, and, given the concentration of people in the capital, their sufferings were there for all to see. Many of London's poor turned to alcohol to relieve their sufferings, and with easy access to cheap gin, mass drunkenness was common. Crime was rife. In the absence of a proper police force, order was maintained by bodyguards acting for wealthy individuals. In extreme cases, the army was called out to counter serious disturbances. London was a volatile city. Riots were a common feature of urban life, a consequence of the frustrations of people crushed by hopeless poverty amidst great luxury.╫ l ┴ ╩ ⌡⌡⌡
