The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 133: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XI AGAR TOWN Every one at all acquainted with London knows King’s Cross, where until very lately stood the fever hospital, behind which was the quarter we are about to describe. But ere entering upon this description, we must observe that the fever hospital has been pulled down, and at this present time the principal station of the Great Northern Railway is being built upon the spot. The railway itself, running through the district which is about to occupy our attention, has necessarily led to some innovatory improvements therein, but many of the worst features of that densely popu- lated neighbourhood still exist just as they were in the year 1844, the date of this portion of our tale. At that time Agar Town might be described as a sort of peculiar colony or inde- pendent settlement, cut off, as 1t were, from the adjacent quarters. Turning out of the King’s Road close by St. Pancras Workhouse, the explorer of that region ascends a narrow rising pathway, passes by a row of wretched little huts, with little pieces of garden, the borders of which are edged with large stones, and continuing his way, is speedily in the midst of a maze of streets and alleys constituting Agar Town. A canal intersects the district, some of the houses overhang the towing paths, and the little back yards of others are walled or fenced off on the brink of the cutting through which the stream flows. From the appearance of the place it would seem as if no such things as paving-rates were known there; or if they be, it is a downright robbery to levy them in a quarter where not a bit of pavement is to be seen. Yet the unpaved thoroughfares cannot even be described as roads, for so far from being kept in order, it does not seem as 1f the 116 EONNIE NOOO KS