A Conversation for Lloyd's of London
coffee houses
brandy a fine girl Started conversation Aug 8, 2000
I've been collecting material on London coffee houses because the phenomenon is so similar to the effect the Internet is having on society today. The coffee houses provided a place to freely trade information of all sorts---at Lloyd's it was underwriting, at Jonathan's it was stock trades (it eventually became the London Stock Exchange). Other coffee houses hosted groups of writers, actors, etc. In addition to the ungoverned conversations that took place there, they were focal points for the distribution of information sheets and hand bills. In fact, the government wasn't too crazy about the fact that educated men were getting together and talking to each other---Charles II tried to close the coffee houses down. Sound eerily familiar? When I get the chance, I'll get my material together and write a Guide Entry....
coffee houses
Sam Posted Aug 8, 2000
Please do. I think this would make a really good entry, and we look forward to it 
coffee houses
Fragilis - h2g2 Cured My Tabular Obsession Posted Aug 8, 2000
I'd be very interested in this also.
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