It has by some been supposed of British origin, a kind of solemn boundary, or some other object probably of a religious nature, which through every change and convulsion of the State has been preserved with reverential care.

But this is the very place," said he.
Bob stared about him with surprise, to discover this curious and apparently valuable relic, without finding it, till at length his Cousin directed his attention to the spot, which at present is under a pitching-block, or resting-place for persons carrying heavy loads, and almost burst into laughter, for he had raised his Cousin's expectation by the previous description.
"How!" said Tallyho, "and is this your curiosity ?" "Even so," replied Tom, "that is the celebrated London Stone; it formerly stood nearer the middle of the street, was placed deep in the ground, and strongly fixed with iron bars.

According to account, the first mention of it was in the reign of Ethelstan, king of the West Saxons, and it has been usually viewed by our antiquaries as a military stone, from which the Romans began the computation of their miles, a conjecture which certainly appears very reasonable, not only from the discovery of the Roman road after the year 1666, running directly to this stone from Watling Street, but from the exact coincidence which its distance bears with the neighbouring station, mentioned in Antonine's Itinerary, the principal of whose Journeys either begin or end with London." The sound of a horn interrupted this conversation.
"Apropos," said Tom, "we can take the Post Office in our way, a place of considerable importance; so allons." They now pursued their way to Lombard Street.
"This collection of buildings," said Dashall, as they entered, "important as its concerns are to the nation, claims no praise as a building.

It stands behind Lombard ~423~~ Street, from which, on the south side of the street, there is a passage leading to it, under an arched gateway.
"A plan has, however, been adopted for erecting a building worthy of this great establishment, on the site now called St.Martin's-le-grand, and to improve the access to it by pulling down the east ends of Newgate Street and Paternoster-Row.

It is now proceeding rapidly.
"The Post-office system is, however, one of the most perfect regulations of finance and convenience existing under any government.