bigger than any city of the world, should escape uncontradicted; and
'tis also expected that I (if continuing in the same persuasion),
should make some reply to those contradictions. In order whereunto,

I begin with the ingenious author of the "Republique des Lettres,"
who saith that Rey in Persia is far bigger than London, for that in
the sixth century of Christianity (I suppose, A.D. 550 the middle of
that century), it had 15,000, or rather 44,000 mosques or Mahometan
temples; to which I reply, that I hope this objector is but in jest,
for that Mahomet was not born till about the year 570, and had no
mosques till about 50 years after.

In the next place I reply to the excellent Monsieur Auzout's
"Letters from Rome," who is content that London, Westminster, and
Southwark may have as many people as Paris and its suburbs; and but
faintly denieth, that all the housing within the bills may have
almost as many people as Paris and Rouen, but saith that several
parishes inserted into these bills are distant from, and not
contiguous with London, and that Grant so understood it.

To which (as his main if not his only objection) we answer: --(l)
That the London bills appear in Grant's book to have been always,
since the year 1636; as they now are; (2) That about fifty years
since, three or four parishes, formerly somewhat distant, were
joined by interposed buildings to the bulk of the city, and
therefore then inserted into the bills; (3) That since fifty years
the whole buildings being more than double have perfected that
union, so as there is no house within the said bills from which one
may not call to some other house; (4) All this is confirmed by
authority of the king and city, and the custom of fifty years; (5)