London was the largest city in the world by 1800, and would hold that title for over a century.
In her poem "Eighteen Hundred and Eleven", Barbauld describes London as part of Britain's great empire, both in how it is experienced by those in the future great civilizations who make pilgrimages to London for inspiration and meditation, and also how it might be in her day, a leader in art, science, commerce, and wisdom. The city is certainly highly praised, and yet cannot hide it's dark underside, with references to imperial plunder, for instance, or supposedly being a place of "Plenty" when she writes during a time of low crop yields and food shortage.
But who their mingled feelings shall pursue
When London's faded glories rise to view? (lines 157-158)
And when midst fallen London, they survey
The stone where Alexander's ashes lay,
Shall own with humbled pride the lesson just
By Time's slow finger written in the dust. (lines 211-214)
London exults:—on London Art bestows
Her summer ices and her winter rose;
Gems of the East her mural crown adorn,
And Plenty at her feet pours forth her horn;
While even the exiles her just laws disclaim,
People a continent, and build a name:
August she sits, and with extended hands
Holds forth the book of life to distant lands. (lines 305-312)
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