Hi,

Looking at it again, I think we'd get a closer match if the trip to London Bridge was actually going in the other direction. With one penny to get into the boat, if that was done at the time, you'd get fairly well matching distances for the rest of the fares from a point somewhat west of Southwark Bridge. In that case the point of departure could be Bank Side, as I understand it for centuries the entertainment quarter of the London. That would certainly be a point where Watermen would offer their services.

It does mean a larger difference between the waterman and the steamer, though, as the waterman would probably charge 5 pence to get from London Bridge to Whitehall Stairs or Westminster Bridge, while travelling with the steamer would cost only 1 penny.

I wonder what made travelling to Greenwich per steamer so expensive, though. The distance can't be that much greater than to Chelsea. But I also can't imagine a 200% inflation in 8 years.

Anyway, my current best guess for the point of departure is Bank Side.
(The quote of the price of female entertainment would appear to be appropriate for Bank Side as well.)

Bye
                                                                Mysha