The city of London, within the walls, occupies a space of only 370 acres, and is but the hundred and fortieth part of the extent covered by the whole metropolis.

“Buy buy buy buy buy-- bu-u-uy!” cries the butcher. The Punch years gave Mayhew the opportunity to meet talented illustrators who he later employed to work from daguerreotypes on London Labour and the London Poor. ” “Here‘s ha‘p‘orths” shouts the perambulating confectioner.

Henry Mayhew (25 November 1812 – 25 July 1887) was an English social researcher journalist playwright and advocate of reform. He is also known for his work as a social researcher publishing an extensive series of newspaper articles in the Morning Chronicle that was later compiled into the book series London Labour and the London Poor (1851) a groundbreaking and influential survey of the city's poor.