Drawn up from the dreary mine,
See the black and shining coal;
Where the sun can never shine,
Through the deep and dismal hole.There the sooty miners stay,
Digging at their work forlorn;
Or, to see the light of day,
In a swinging bucket drawn.Then along the roaring tide,
Where the tempest bellow’d keen,
Did the laden vessel ride,
Toss’d among the waters green.Wide were spread her canvass sails,
Tall and taper rose her mast:
Now, before the northern gales,
She has reach’d her port at last.
10. The Custom House.
Adjoining Billingsgate stands the New Custom House, which is the office where the duties are collected on goods exported or imported. The building is situated in Lower Thames-street, fronting the river, occupying an immense space of ground. The dimensions of it are upwards of 480 feet long, by 107 feet wide. The first stone was laid on the 25th of October, 1813, being the 53d anniversary of king George the Third’s accession; and it was opened for public business on the 12th of May, 1817.
The long room is of extraordinary size, being 190 feet long, by 66 wide, and proportionably high. This is the principal place for all foreign business.
The former Custom House having been burnt down, precautions have been taken to prevent the recurrence of a similar accident in the new building; and fire-proof rooms are provided on each floor, where the books and papers are deposited every evening.
11. The Press-gang.
From the Custom House it is but a few steps to Tower-hill. Well, there is a view of it, and of the Tender, which is an old man-of-war, riding at anchor on the Thames, for the purpose of receiving impressed men for the king’s service.
Say, Mr. Lieutenant, before I surrender,
By what right you take me on board of your tender?
In the peaceable trader I rather would be,
And no man-of-war, Sir, I thank you, for me.