§6 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAP. The fire of London, though at that time aixiv. great calamity, has proved in the issue beneficial1066. both to the city and the kingdom. The citywas rebuilt in a very little time ; and care wastaken to make the streets wider and more regu-lar than before. A discretionary power wasassumed by the king to regulate the distributionof the buildings, and to forbid the use of lathand timber, the materials, of which the houseswere formerly composed. The necessity was sourgent, and the occasion so extraordinary, thatno exceptions were taken at an exercise of au-thority , which otherwise might have been deemedillegal. Had the king been enabled to carry hispower still farther, and made the houses be re-built with perfect regularity, and entirely uponone plan; he had much contributed to the con-venience, as well as embellishment of the city.Great advantages, however, have resulted fromthe alterations; though not carried to the fulllength. London became much more healthy afterthe fire. The plague, which used to break out-with great fury twice or thrice every century,and indeed was always lurking in some corneror other of the city, has scarcely ever appearedsince that calamity.

The parliament met soon after, and gave thesanction of law to those regulations made byroyal authority ; as well as appointed commission-ers for deciding all such questions of property,as might arise from the fire. They likewise voteda supply of i,800,coo pounds to be levied, partly