BREAD street ward, so called from Bread street in Cheapside, which was formerly a bread market, is encompassed on the north and north west by Faringdon ward; on the west by Castle Baynard ward; on the south by Queenhithe ward; and on the east by Cordwainers ward.

The principal streets in this ward are, Watling street, Bread street, Friday street, Distaff lane, Basing lane, with the east side of the Old Change, from the corner of St. Austin’s church to Old Fish street, and the north side of Old Fish street, and Trinity lane, with that part of the south side of Cheapside, between Friday street and Bow church.

The most remarkable places are, the parish churches of Allhallows Bread street, and St. Mildred’s; with Cordwainers hall.

This ward is governed by an Alderman, his Deputy, and twelve other Common Council men, thirteen wardmote inquest men, eight scavengers, sixteen constables, and a beadle. The jury returned by the inquest for the ward, are to serve in the several courts at Guildhall in the month of April.

Breakneck alley, in the Minories.

Breakneck court, Blackhorse alley, Fleet street.

Breeches yard, Townsend lane.

Breeze’s hill, Ratcliff highway.

Breme’s buildings, Chancery lane.†

Brentford, a town in Middlesex, situated ten miles from London, received its name from a brook called Brent, which runs through the west part of the town, called Old Brentford, into the Thames. As it is a great thoroughfare to the west, it has a considerable trade, particularly in corn, both by land and the Thames. The church and market-house stand in that part of the town called New Brentford. It has also two charity schools; tho’ the church is only a chapel to Great Eling.

That part of it called Old Brentford is situated upon a fine rising bank close to the Thames, and is naturally capable of being made as beautiful a spot as any thing of the kind. The opposite side of the river is Kew Green, which appears from hence to advantage.

Brentwood, or Burntwood, in Essex, is a pretty large town seventeen miles from London, and being a very great thoroughfare, is chiefly maintained by the multitude of carriers and passengers constantly passing through it to London, with provisions, manufactures, and droves of cattle; tho’ it is one of the four hamlets belonging to the parish of Southwold cum Brent.

Brewers, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King Henry VI. in the year 1438, which were confirmed by Edward IV. in 1480, with the privilege of making by-laws. They are governed by a Master, three Wardens, and twenty-eight Assistants, with 108 Liverymen, who upon their admission pay each the sum of 6l. 13s. 4d.

Brewer’s alley, Shoe lane.

Brewer’s court, 1. Basinghall street. 2. Bedfordbury. 3. Oxford street. 4. St. Thomas’s street.

Brewers Hall, a handsome and commodious building, almost adjoining to Plaisterers Hall in Addle street. It has a genteel entrance into a large court, paved with free stone, and is supported by handsome pillars.

Brewer’s green, Tothill side.†

Brewer’s key, Thames street, the next key to Tower hill.†

Brewer’s lane, 1. Dowgate Hill. 2. Shadwell market. 3. Wapping.

Brewer’s rents, Whitechapel.

Brewer’s street, 1. Bow street, St. Giles’s. 2. Old Soho.

Brewer’s yard, 1. Barnaby street. 2. Cow Cross. 3. Giltspur street. 4. Holiwell lane. 5. By Hungerford market. 6. King street, Westminster. 7. Saffron hill. 8. Shoe lane. 9. Windmill court, Pye corner.

Brewhouse lane, 1. Salisbury court, Fleet street. 2. Wapping.

Brewhouse yard, 1. Battle bridge. 2. Fox lane. 3. At the Hermitage. 4. Leather lane. 5. Saffron hill. 6. St. Catharine’s. 7. Turnmill street. 8. Wapping. 9. Whitechapel. 10. White’s ground, Crucifix lane.

Briant court, Briant street.†

Briant street, Shoreditch.†

Briant’s alley, Shoreditch.†

Brickbuildings court, Snow hill.

Brick court, 1. Brick lane, Old street. 2. College street, Westminster. 3. Middle Temple. 4. Sheer lane.

Brickhill lane, Thames street.

Brick lane, 1. Old street. 2. Spitalfields. 3. Whitechapel: this was formerly a deep dirty road, frequented chiefly by carts fetching bricks that way into Whitechapel, from brick kilns in Spitalfields.

Brick street, 1. Hyde Park road. 2. Tyburn lane.

Brick yard, Brick lane, Spitalfields.

Bricklayers yard, Millbank.

Bricklayers court, Coleman street, Lothbury.

Bride’s alley. Fleet street, so called from St. Bride’s, or St. Bridget’s church.

Bride court, by St. Bride’s church, Fleet street.

Bride lane, 1. By St. Bride’s church, Fleet street. 2. Little Peter street.

St. Bride’s, or rather St. Bridget’s church, is obscurely situated behind the houses on the south side of Fleet street. It has been always dedicated to St. Bridget, but the curious are unable to discover who this saint was. The old church was destroyed by the fire of London, and the present edifice was erected within fourteen years after. This church, which is superior to most of our parish churches in delicacy and true beauty, is 111 feet long, 87 broad, and the steeple is 234 feet high. It has a plain and regular body, the openings all answering one another; the roof is raised on pillars, and the altar piece, like the outside of the church, is very magnificent. The circular pediment over the lower part, is supported by six Corinthian columns. The steeple is a spire of extremely delicate workmanship, raised upon a solid yet light tower, and the several stages by which the spire gradually decreases, are well designed, and executed with all the advantage of the orders.

This church is a vicarage, the advowson of which is in the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The living is worth about 240l. per annum.

Among the several monumental inscriptions in this church, and the church yard, is the following:

Bridewell, so called from its being near a spring called St. Bridget’s, or St. Bride’s well, situated on the west side of Fleet Ditch, near the Thames, was anciently a royal palace, where several of our Kings resided. And here Henry VIII. built a magnificent house for the reception of the Emperor Charles V. who before lodged at Black Friars.

At length at the solicitation of Bishop Ridley, King Edward VI. gave the old palace of Bridewell to the city, for the lodging of poor wayfaring people, the correction of vagabonds, strumpets, and idle persons, and for finding them work; and as the city had appointed the Grey Friars, now called Christ’s Hospital, for the education of poor children; St. Bartholomew’s and also St. Thomas’s in Southwark for the maimed and diseased, his Majesty formed the Governors of these charitable foundations into a corporation; allowed them a proper authority for the exercise of their offices, and constituted himself the founder and patron. For this purpose he gave to the Lord Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens, and their successors for ever, several pieces of land to the yearly value of 450l. and at the same time suppressing the hospital of the Savoy, gave for the above charitable uses a great part of the revenue, together with the bedding and furniture.

In the following reigns granaries and storehouses for coals were erected at the expence of the city within this hospital, and the poor were employed in grinding corn with hand-mills; which were greatly improved in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when a citizen invented a mill, by which two men might grind as much corn in a day as could be ground by ten men with the other mills, and being to be worked either by the hands or feet, if the poor were lame in the arms, they earned their living with their feet, and if they were lame in their legs, they earned their living with their arms.

In the year 1666, this edifice was entirely consumed by fire, and likewise all the dwelling houses in the precinct of Bridewell, from whence had arisen two thirds of its revenue; the hospital however was rebuilt in 1668, in the manner in which it at present appears.

It consists of two courts, in which the buildings are convenient, and not very irregular. The chapel has a square roof, and galleries on the north and west side, supported by columns of the Tuscan order, and the floor is paved with black and white marble. At the west end are places for the hospital boys, and others for the prisoners. The wainscoting and finishing are very neat. The altar piece is adorned with two pilasters, with their entablature and a circular pediment of the Corinthian order, between which the commandments are done in gold upon a black ground, and the Lord’s prayer and the creed wrote on a blue ground; these pieces are enriched with gilt cherubims, leaves and fruit, and placed in gilt frames. The court room is adorned with columns of the Composite order, a gallery, and the names of all the benefactors to the hospital wrote in gold. There is here a chair for the President, and convenient seats for the Governors.

In this hospital are generally about a hundred youths, that are apprentices to glovers, flaxdressers, weavers, &c. who reside there. These youths are under particular regulations, and distinguish themselves at all dangerous fires, by the dexterity with which they work an excellent fire engine belonging to the hospital, and the expedition and regularity with which they supply it with water. They are cloathed in blue doublets and white hats; and having faithfully served their apprenticeship, are not only free of the city, but have 10l. towards enabling them to carry on their respective trades.

This hospital is likewise used as a house of correction for all strumpets, nightwalkers, pickpockets, vagrants, and incorrigible and disobedient servants, who are committed by the Lord Mayor, and Aldermen; as are also apprentices by the Chamberlain of the city, who are obliged to beat hemp, and if the nature of their offence requires it, to undergo the correction of whipping.

All the affairs of this hospital are managed by the Governors, who are above three hundred, besides the Lord Mayor and court of Aldermen, all of whom are likewise Governors of Bethlem hospital; for these hospitals being one corporation, they have the same President, Governors, Clerk, Physician, Surgeon, and Apothecary. This hospital has however its own steward, a porter, a matron, and four beadles, the youngest of whom has the task of correcting the criminals.

There are several other places also called by the name of Bridewell, as in Clerkenwell, St. Margaret’s hill, and Tothill fields; but as these are merely houses of correction, they do not deserve a particular description.

Bridewell alley, by the side of Bridewell on St. Margaret’s hill.

Bridewell precinct, Fleet ditch.

Bridewell rents, Vine street.

Bridewell walk, Clerkenwell.

Bridge. See Black Friars Bridge, London Bridge, and Westminster Bridge.

Bridge House, several large buildings, erected as storehouses for timber, stone, or whatever is proper for building or repairing London bridge. It seems to have had its foundation with the bridge itself, and is situated on a considerable spot of ground on the south bank of the Thames, near St. Olave’s church. It had formerly several granaries, for the service of the city in a time of scarcity; and also ten ovens for baking bread, for the relief of the poor citizens: but these granaries are now applied to the use of the cornfactors, who here lay in considerable quantities of corn. The Bridge house is under the management of the Bridge-master, whose office is to look after the reparation of the bridge, and is allowed a considerable salary.

Bridge street, Westminster, so called from its situation with respect to Westminster bridge.

Bridge Ward within, is thus named from London bridge, and is bounded on the south by Southwark, and the river Thames; on the east, by Billingsgate ward; on the north, by Langborne ward; and on the west, by Candlewick and Dowgate wards. It begins at the south end of London bridge, from which it extends northward up Gracechurch street, to the corner of Lombard street, including all the bridge, the greatest part of the alleys and courts on the east side, and on the west, all the alleys, courts and lanes in Thames street, on both sides to New key, part of Michael’s lane, and part of Crooked lane. The principal streets are New Fish street and Gracechurch street; and the principal buildings, London bridge, the parish churches of St. Magnus, and St. Bennet’s Gracechurch street; Fishmongers hall, and the Monument.

This ward is governed by an Alderman, and his Deputy, fourteen other Common Council men, sixteen wardmote inquest men, six scavengers, fifteen constables, and a beadle; and the jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest serve in the several courts of Guildhall in the month of July.

Bridge Ward without, contains the whole borough of Southwark, extending southward from the bridge to Newington; to the south west almost to Lambeth; and to the east to Rotherhith. The principal streets are, the Borough, Blackman street, Long lane, Kent street, Tooley street, St. Olave’s street, and Bermondsey street; and the most remarkable buildings are the parish churches of St. Olave, St. Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, St. Saviour, St. George, and St. Thomas; the prisons of the King’s bench, the Marshalsea, the New prison, and the Clink; St. Thomas’s hospital, Guy’s hospital and the Lock.

This ward is only nominally governed by an Alderman and three Deputies, but has no Common Council men; it has, however, twenty wardmote inquest men, sixteen constables and a bailiff. Stow’s Survey.

Bridge yard, Tooley street.

Bridge yard passage, Tooley street.

Bridge’s rents, in Fair street, Horselydown.†

Bridge’s street, Russel street, Covent Garden.†

Bridgeman’s yard, Water lane, Black Friars.†

Bridgewater gardens, Bridgewater square, a street so called from its being built on the spot where was the Earl of Bridgewater’s gardens.

Bridgewater passage, Bridgewater square.

Bridgewater square, Barbican, a small neat square, surrounded with plain, but not unhandsome houses. In the area is a grass plat encompassed with iron rails, within which the trees are set thick in the manner of a grove. This square, and several of the adjoining streets, were built on the ground where the Earl of Bridgewater had a large house and garden fronting Barbican.

Bridgewater street, Bridgewater square.

Bridle lane, Brewer’s street.

Brigg’s alley, Thrall street, Spitalfields.†

Brigham’s yard, Chandois street.†

Brimstone court, Rosemary lane.

Brimstone yard, Rosemary lane.

Bristol street, Puddle dock.

Britain court, Water lane, Fleet street.

Brite’s alley, St. Swithin’s lane.†

British court, Tottenham Court road.

British Museum. Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. (who died 11th Jan. 1753) may not improperly be accounted the founder of the British Museum: for its being established by Parliament was only in consequence of his leaving by will his noble collection of natural history, his large library, and his numerous curiosities, which cost him 50000l. to the use of the Public, on condition that the Parliament would pay 20000l. to his Executors. And indeed this disposition of Sir Hans was extremely well calculated to answer his generous design; for had he given the whole to the Public, without any payment at all, it could have been of little use, without the assistance of Parliament, to settle a fund for the support of officers, &c.

Sir Hans appointed a number of Trustees, on whose application to Parliament an act was passed for the raising 300000l. by way of lottery; 200000l. thereof to be divided amongst the adventurers, 20000l. to be paid to Sir Hans Sloane’s executors, 10000l. to purchase Lord Oxford’s manuscripts, 30000l. to be vested in the funds for supplying salaries for officers, and other necessary expences, and the residue for providing a general repository, &c. In this act it is also ordered, that Sir Hans Sloane’s collection, the Cottonian library, the Harleian manuscripts, and a collection of books given by the late Major Edwards, should be placed together in the general repository, which was to be called the British Museum: 7000l. left by the said Major Edwards, after the decease of Elizabeth Mills, are also given to the British Museum, for the purchasing of manuscripts, books, medals, and other curiosities.

It happened very fortunately soon after, whilst the Trustees were at a loss where to purchase or build a proper repository, an offer was made them of Montague House in Great Russel street, Bloomsbury, a large and magnificent building, finely ornamented with paintings, situated in the most convenient part of the whole town, and having an extensive garden of near eight acres. This they purchased for the sum of 10000l. Repairs, alterations, book-cases, cabinets, and all other conveniences for placing the whole collection properly, and the making apartments for the officers, have cost 15000l. more. And every part is now so excellently contrived for holding this noble collection, and the disposition of it in the several rooms is so orderly and well designed, that the British Museum may justly be esteemed an honour and ornament to this nation. His Majesty, in consideration of its great usefulness, has also been graciously pleased to add thereto the royal libraries of books and manuscripts collected by the several Kings of England.

The Sloanian collection consists of an amazing number of curiosities, among which are,

A catalogue of all the above is written in 38 volumes in folio and 8 in quarto.

As this noble collection of curiosities, and these excellent libraries are now chiefly designed for the use of learned and studious men, both natives and foreigners, in their researches into the several parts of knowledge, the Trustees have thought fit to ordain the following statutes, with respect to the use of the Museum.

I. That the Museum be kept open every day in the week except Saturday and Sunday in each week; and likewise except Christmas day and one week after; one week after Easter day and Whitsunday respectively, Good Friday, and all days which shall hereafter be appointed for Thanksgivings and Fasts by publick Authority.

II. That at all other times the Museum be set open in the manner following: that is, from nine o’clock in the morning till three in the afternoon, from Monday to Friday, between the months of September and April inclusive; and also at the same hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, in May, June, July, and August; but on Monday and Friday, only from four o’clock to eight in the afternoon, during those four months.

III. That such studious and curious persons, who are desirous to see the Museum, be admitted by printed tickets, to be delivered by the porter upon their application in writing; which writing shall contain their names, condition, and places of abode; as also the day and hour at which they desire to be admitted: and that the said names be inserted in the tickets, and, together with their respective additions, entered in a register to be kept by the porter. And the porter is to lay such register every night before the principal Librarian; or, in his absence, before the under Librarian, who shall officiate as Secretary for the time being; or, in his absence, before one of the under Librarians; to the end that the principal or under Librarian may be informed, whether the persons so applying be proper to be admitted according to the regulations made, or to be made, by the Trustees for that purpose. And if he shall judge them proper, he shall direct the porter to deliver tickets to them, according to their request, on their applying a second time for the said tickets.

IV. That no more than ten tickets be delivered out for each hour of admittance, which tickets, when brought by the respective persons therein named, are to be shewn to the porter; who is thereupon to direct them to a proper room appointed for their reception, till their hour of seeing the Museum be come, at which time they are to deliver their tickets to the proper officer of the first department: and that five of the persons producing such tickets be attended by the under Librarian, and the other five by the assistant in each department.

V. That the said number of tickets be delivered for the admission of company at the hours of nine, ten, eleven, and twelve respectively in the morning; and for the hours of four and five in the afternoon of those days in which the Museum is to be open at that time: and that if application be made for a greater number of tickets, the persons last applying be desired to name some other day and hour, which will be most convenient to them.

VI. That if the number of persons producing tickets for any particular hour does not exceed five, they be desired to join in one company; which may be attended either by the under Librarian, or assistant, as shall be agreed on between them.

VII. That if any persons having obtained tickets, be prevented from making use of them, they be desired to send them back to the porter in time; that other persons wanting to see the Museum may not be excluded.

VIII. That the spectators may view the whole Museum in a regular order, they are first to be conducted through apartment of manuscripts and medals; then the department of natural and artificial productions; and afterwards the department of printed books, by the particular officers assigned to each department.

IX. That one hour only be allowed to the several companies, for gratifying their curiosity in viewing each apartment, and that each company keep together in that room, in which the officer, who attends them, shall then be.

X. That in passing through the rooms, if any of the inspectors desire to see any book, or other part of the collection, not herein after excepted, it be handed to them by the officer, who is to restore it to its place, before they leave the room; that no more than one such book, or other part of the collection, be delivered at a time; and that the officer be ready to give the company any information they shall desire, relating to that part of the collection under his care.

XI. That upon the expiration of each hour, notice be given of it; at which time the several companies shall remove out of the apartment, in which they then are, to make room for fresh companies.

XII. That if any of the persons who have tickets, come after the hour marked in the said tickets, but before the three hours allotted them are expired; they be permitted to join the company appointed for the same hour, in order to see the remaining part of the collection, if they desire it.

XIII. That a catalogue of the respective printed books, manuscripts, and other parts of the collection, distinguished by numbers, be deposited in some one room of each department, to which the same shall respectively belong, as soon as the same can be prepared.

XIV. That written numbers, answering to those in the catalogues, be affixed both to the books, and other parts of the collection, as far as can conveniently be done.

XV. That the coins and medals, except such as the standing Committee shall order, from time to time, to be placed in glass cases, be not exposed to view, but by leave of the Trustees, in a general meeting; or the standing Committee; or of the principal Librarian: that they be shewn between the hours of one and three in the afternoon by one of the officers, who have the custody of them: that no more than two persons be admitted into the room to see them at the same time, unless by particular leave of the principal Librarian; who in such case is required to attend together with the said officer, the whole time: and that but one thing be taken or continue out of the cabinets and drawers at a time, which is to be done by the officer, who shall replace it, before any person present goes out of the room.

XVI. That the Museum be constantly shut up at all other times, but those above mentioned.

XVII. That if any persons are desirous of visiting the Museum more than once, they may apply for tickets in the manner above mentioned, at any other times, and as often as they please: provided that no one person has tickets at the same time for more days than one.

XVIII. That no children be admitted into the Museum.

XIX. That no officer or servant shall take any fee or reward of any person whatsoever, for his attendance in the discharge of his duty, except in the cases hereafter mentioned, under the penalty of immediate dismission.

The manner of admitting persons who desire to make use of the Museum for study, or have occasion to consult it for information.

I. That no one be admitted to such use of the Museum for study, but by leave of the Trustees, in a general meeting, or the standing Committee; which leave is not to be granted for a longer term than half a year, without a fresh application.

II. That a book be kept in the reading room, under the custody of the officer of the said room; who is to enter therein the names of the several persons who have leave of admission, together with the respective dates of the orders of the Trustees for that purpose, and the duration of the same.

III. That a particular room be allotted for the persons so admitted, in which they may sit, and read or write, without interruption, during the time the Museum is kept open: that a proper officer do constantly attend in the said room, so long as any such person or persons shall be there: and for the greater ease and convenience of the said persons, as well as security of the collection, it is expected, that notice be given in writing the day before, by each person, to the said officer, what book or manuscript he will be desirous of perusing the following day; which book or manuscript on such request, will be lodged in some convenient place in the said room, and will from thence be delivered to him by the officer of the said room: excepting however some books or manuscripts of great value, or very liable to be damaged, and on that account judged by the Trustees not fit to be removed out of the library to which they belong; without particular leave obtained, of the Trustees, in a general meeting, or a standing Committee, for that purpose; a catalogue whereof will be kept by the officer of the reading room.

IV. That such persons be allowed to take one or more extracts from any printed book or manuscript; and that either of the officers of the department to which such printed book or manuscript belongs, be at liberty to do it for them, upon such terms, as shall be agreed on between them.

V. That the transcriber do not lay the paper, on which he writes, upon any part of the book, or manuscript, he is using.

VI. That no whole manuscript, nor the greater part of any, be transcribed, without leave from the Trustees, in a general meeting, or standing Committee.

VII. That every person so intrusted with the use of any book, or manuscript, return the same to the officer attending, before he leaves the room.

VIII. That if any person engaged in a work of learning, have occasion to make a drawing of any thing contained in the department of natural and artificial productions, or to examine it more carefully than can be done in the common way of viewing the Museum; he is to apply to the Trustees in a general meeting, or the standing Committee, for particular leave for that purpose: it not being thought proper, unless in particular cases, to have them removed from their places, and out of the sight of the officer who has the care of them.

IX. That whensoever, and as often as any person shall have occasion to consult or inspect any book, charter, deed, or other manuscript for evidence or information, other than for studying, which is herein before provided for; he is to apply for leave so to do, to the Trustees in a general meeting, or the standing Committee. But if the case should require such dispatch as that time cannot be allowed for making such application, the person is to apply for such leave to the principal Librarian; or, in case of his death or absence, such of the under Librarians as shall officiate as Secretary for the time being: which leave the principal Librarian, or the under Librarian officiating as Secretary for the time being, as aforesaid, is hereby impowered to grant. Provided always, that no such person shall be permitted to consult or inspect any such book, charter, deed, or other manuscript, except in the presence of the principal Librarian, or of one the principal officers of that department to which such book, deed, charter, or other manuscript shall belong.

X. That no part of the collection or collections belonging to this Museum, be at any time carried out of the general repository; except such books, charters, deeds, or other manuscripts as may be wanted to be made use of in evidence. And that when any such book, charter, deed, or other manuscript shall be wanted to be made use of in evidence, application shall be made in writing for that purpose, to the Trustees in a general meeting, or the standing Committee: and if the case should require such dispatch, as not to admit of an application to the Trustees in a general meeting, or the standing Committee, then to the principal Librarian; or in case of his death or absence, then to such of the under Librarians as shall officiate as Secretary for the time being: and thereupon by their or his direction, the same shall and may be carried out of the general repository, to be made use of as evidence as aforesaid, by the under Librarian or assistant of the department to which such book, charter, deed, or other manuscript shall belong. And in case the said under Librarian, or assistant of the said department be disabled, or cannot attend; then by such other of the under Librarians, or assistants, as shall be appointed by the Trustees, in a general meeting, or the standing Committee, or by the chief Librarian, or by such of the under Librarians as shall officiate as Secretary for the time being aforesaid. And the person who shall be appointed to carry out the same, shall attend the whole time, and bring it back with him again; for which extraordinary trouble and attendance it is expected that a proper satisfaction be made to him.

Altho’ it may be presumed, that persons who shall be admitted to see the Museum, will in general conform themselves to the rules and orders above mentioned; yet as it may happen, that these rules may not always be duly observed: the Trustees think it necessary, for the safety and preservation of the Museum, and do hereby order, That in case any persons shall behave in any improper manner, and contrary to the said rules, and shall continue such misbehaviour after having been admonished by one of the officers; such persons shall be obliged forthwith to withdraw from the Museum; and their names shall be entered in a book to be kept by the porter: who is hereby ordered not to deliver tickets to them for their admission for the future; without a special direction from the Trustees in a general meeting.

We shall now give a plan of the whole Museum, with the contents of each room, and the order in which they are shewn, &c.

Having giving in at the porter’s lodge mark’d g in the plan No. 1. your name, addition, and place of abode, you have notice given what day and hour to attend, and a ticket given you. By shewing this you are admitted, and entering the hall (i) you ascend a magnificent stair-case, nobly painted by La Fosse. The subject of the ceiling, Phaeton requesting Apollo to permit him to drive his chariot for a day. On the inside walls a landskip, by Rousseau: this brings you into the vestibule(I No. 2) the ceiling represents the fall of Phaeton; in this is a mummy and some other antiquities. The saloon D is a most magnificent room, the ceiling and side walls painted by the abovementioned painter La Fosse, the landskips by Rousseau, and the flowers by the celebrated Baptist.

You are then admitted into the room E, which contains the Cottonian and royal manuscripts, in about 750 volumes. F and G contain the Harleian manuscripts, in about 7620 volumes; and M the Harleian charters in number about 16000. O is the room of medals, which are upwards of 22000 in number. L has Sir Hans Sloane’s manuscripts, and K contains the antiquities.

This brings you again into the vestibule, and passing thro’ the saloon, you enter the room C, which contains minerals and fossils, B shells, A vegetables and insects, H animals in spirits, and N artificial curiosities.

You now descend the small stair-case adjoining, and passing thro’ the room (n), in which is the magnetic apparatus given by Dr. Knight, you come to the rooms (h a) which contain the royal libraries, collected by the Kings and Queens of England from Henry VII. to Charles II. Then you enter the rooms b c d e f and g, which contain the library of Sir Hans Sloane, consisting of not less than 40000 volumes. From hence you enter into (m), which is a withdrawing room for the Trustees, then into (l), which contains Major Edwards’s library, consisting of about 3000 volumes, and lastly enter the room (k), that contains a part of the King’s library, which in the whole consists of about 12000 volumes.

The wings marked (o o) are the apartments of the officers, and (p p) is the colonade.

Briton’s alley, Freeman’s lane.†

Britt’s court, Nightingale lane.†

Broad Arrow court, Grub street, Cripplegate.*

Broad Bridge, Shadwell.

Broad Bridge lane, Upper Shadwell.

Broad court, 1 Drury lane. 2 Duke’s Place. 3 Shoemaker row, Aldgate. 4 Turnmill street.

Broad Place, 1 Flower and Dean street, Spitalfields. 2 King’s street. 3 Broad St. Giles’s.

Broad Sanctuary row, near the Abbey, Westminster: is thus called from its being formerly a sanctuary or place of refuge. It is now called by the vulgar the Century.

Broad Street, 1. extends from Pig street to London wall, and was thus named from there being few streets within the walls of such a breadth before the fire of London. 2. Near Old Gravel lane. 3. Poland street. 4. Ratcliff.

Broad Street buildings, a very handsome street regularly built, leading from Moorfields to Broad street.

Broad Street Ward, so called from Broad street lying in the center of it, is bounded on the north and east by Bishopsgate ward; on the west by Coleman street ward; and on the south by Cornhill ward. The principal streets in this ward are, Threadneedle street, Prince’s street almost as far as Catharine court, Lothbury from the church to Bartholomew lane, Throgmorton street, Broad street from St. Bennet Fink church to London wall, London wall street as far as a little to the eastward of Cross Keys court Augustine Friars, Winchester street, and Wormwood street as far as Helmet court. The most remarkable buildings are, the parish churches of St. Christopher’s, St. Bartholomew, St. Bennet’s Fink, St. Martin’s Outwich, St. Peter’s le Poor, and Allhallows in the Wall; Carpenters hall, Drapers hall, Merchant Taylors hall, and Pinners hall; the Bank of England, the South Sea House, and the Pay Office.

This ward is under the government of an Alderman, his Deputy, and nine other Common Council men; thirteen wardmote inquest men, eight scavengers, ten constables, and a beadle. The jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest serve in the several courts of Guildhall in the month of August.

Broad walk, 1. In the Tower. 2. Bargehouse, Southwark.

Broad wall, near the Upper Ground, Southwark.

Broad way, 1. Bishopsgate street. 2. Black Friars. 3. Privy Garden. 4. Tothill street.

Broad yard, 1. Coleman’s alley, Brown street. 2. Crow alley, Whitecross street, Cripplegate. 3. Dirty lane Blackman street. 4. Green Dragon alley, Wapping. 5. Holiwell court, Holiwell lane, 6. Islington. 7. Milk yard, Wapping. 8. St. John’s street. 9. Soper’s alley, Whitecross street. 10. Swan alley, Golden lane. 11. Upper Ground street.

Broderers, or Embroiderers, a company incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1591, by the title of The Keepers or Wardens, and Company of the art and mystery of the Broderers of the city of London. They are governed by two Keepers, or Wardens, and forty Assistants. The Livery consists of 115 members, whose fine upon admission is 5l. They have a small convenient hall in Gutter lane.

Broken cross, Tothill street.

Broken wharf, Thames street.

Brockley’s rents, Artillery row.†

Bromley, a town in Kent, situated on the river Ravensbourn nine miles from London, in the road to Tunbridge. Here is a palace of the Bishop of Rochester, to whom King Edgar gave the manor in the year 700; and here also is an hospital erected by Dr. Warner Bishop of that see, in the reign of King Charles II. for twenty poor Clergymen’s widows, with an allowance of 20l. a year, and 50l. a year to the Chaplain.

Bromley, a pleasant village near Bow, in Middlesex, where was formerly a monastery. The great house here was built by Sir John Jacob, Bart, Commissioner of the customs at the restoration, and afterwards became the seat of Sir William Benson, Sheriff of London in the reign of Queen Anne, the father to William Benson, Esq; Auditor of the Imprest, who some years ago sold it, with the manor and rectory, to Mr. Lloyd, a gentleman of Wales.

Bromley street, Holborn.†

Brook alley, 1. Rotten row. 2. Noble street.

Brook’s court, 1. Holborn. 2. Heneage lane. 3. In the Minories. 4. Thames street.†

Brook’s market, by Brook street, Holborn: so denominated from the Lord Brook’s city mansion, at the north corner of the market.

Brook’s mews, Brook street, near Bond street.†

Brook’s rents, Fore street, Cripplegate.†

Brook’s street, 1. Holborn.† 2. New Bond street.† 3. Ratcliff.†

Brook’s wharf, near Queenhithe.†

Brook’s Wharf lane, High Timber street, Broken wharf.†

Brook’s yard, 1. Old Fish street hill.† 2. Fore street, Lambeth.†

Broomstick alley, 1. Bunhill row. 2. Field lane. 3. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.

Broughton’s rents, Harrow alley.†

Brown Bear alley, East Smithfield.

Brownlow street, Drury lane.†

Brown’s alley, 1. Gravel street.† 2. King’s street.† 3. Norton Falgate.†

Brown’s buildings, St. Mary Ax.†

Brown’s court 1. Angel alley, Houndsditch.† 2. Billiter lane.† 3. Brick lane, Spitalfields.† 4. Brown street.† 5. St. Catharine’s lane.† 6. Crutched friars.† 7. Gracechurch street,† 8. Near Grosvenor square.† 9. Holiwell court, Shoreditch.† 10. Little Old Bailey.† 11. Long alley, Moorfields.† 12. Marlborough street.† 13. In the Minories.† 14. Rotherhith.† 15. Shoe lane.† 16. Shug lane, near Piccadilly.† 17. Thieving lane.†

Brown’s gardens, Hog lane, St. Giles’s.†

Brown’s lane, Red Lion street, Spitalfields.†

Brown’s passage, Green street.†

Brown’s rents, 1. Brick lane, Spitalfields.† 2. St. Catharine’s lane.†

Brown street, 1. New Bond street.† 2. Bunhill fields.†

Brown’s wharf 1. St. Catharine’s.† 2. White Friar’s Dock.†

Brown’s yard, 1. in the Minories.† 2. Near Holiwell lane.† 3. Whitecross street.† 4. Woodroffe lane.

Brownson’s court, Ayliss street, Goodman’s fields.†

Broxbourn, a small but pleasant village near Hoddesdon, in Hertfordshire, situated on a rising ground, with pleasant meadows down to the river Lee.

Broxbournbury, the seat of the Lord Monson, situated by the above village of Broxbourn. The house is a large Gothic structure in the midst of the park, which has lately been planted and beautified, and at a small distance from the house are new offices, erected in a quadrangle, on the same plan with the royal Mews at Charing Cross. They are placed behind a large plantation of trees, so that they do not appear till you come near them, and yet are at a convenient distance from the principal edifice, which, it is said, his Lordship proposes to rebuild.

Brunswick court, 1. Artillery row. 2. Queen square, Ormond street. 3. Crucifix lane.

Brush alley, 1. St. Catharine’s lane. 2. East Smithfield.

Brush court, East Smithfield.

Brush yard, Kent street.

Brutton mews, Brutton street.†

Brutton street, New Bond street.†

Buckeridge street, Dyot street.†

Buckingham court, Charing Cross.

Buckingham House, is finely situated at the west end of the Park. In the front, which is towards the Mall and the grand canal, it has a court inclosed with iron rails. At the entrance of the edifice, which is built with brick and stone, is a very broad flight of steps, upon which are four tall Corinthian pilasters, that are fluted and reach to the top of the second story, and at each corner is a plain pilaster of the same order. Within this compass are two series of very large and lofty windows, over which is the entablature, and in the middle this inscription in large gold characters:

Thus situated may the houshold Gods rejoice.

Over this is an Attic story with square windows and Tuscan pilasters, over which was an Acroteria of figures representing Mercury, Secrecy, Equity, Liberty &c. but these figures were taken away soon after the death of the late Duke of Buckingham. On each side of the building are bending colonades with columns of the Ionic order, crowned with a balustrade and vases. These colonades join the offices at the extremity of the wings to the main building, and each of these offices is crowned with a turret, supporting a dome, from which rises a weathercock.

Behind the house is a garden and terrace, from whence there is a fine prospect of the adjacent country, which gave occasion to the following inscription on that side of the house,

Intimating that it has the advantage of both city and country; above which were figures representing the four Seasons.

The hall is paved with marble and adorned with pilasters, and during the life of the late Duchess, with a great variety of good paintings, and on a pedestal at the foot of the grand stair-case there was a marble figure of Cain killing his brother Abel.

To this account of Buckingham House we shall add the following letter, written by the Duke of Buckingham himself to the D—— of Sh—— containing a farther description of it, &c.

“You accuse me of singularity in resigning the Privy Seal with a good pension added to it, and yet afterwards staying in town at a season when every body else leaves it, which you say is despising at once both Court and Country. You desire me therefore to defend myself, if I can, by describing very particularly in what manner I spend so many hours, that appear long to you who know nothing of the matter, and yet, methinks, are but too short for me.

“No part of this talk which you impose is uneasy; except the necessity of using the singular number so often. That one letter (I) is a most dangerous monosyllable, and gives an air of vanity to the modestest discourse whatsoever. But you will remember I write this only by way of apology; and that, under accusation, it is allowable to plead any thing for defence, though a little tending to our own commendation.

“To begin then without more preamble: I rise, now in summer, about seven a clock, from a very large bedchamber (entirely quiet, high, and free from the early sun) to walk in the garden; or, if rainy, in a saloon filled with pictures, some good, but none disagreeable: there also, in a row above them, I have so many portraits of famous persons in several kinds, as are enough to excite ambition in any man less lazy, or less at ease, than myself.

“Instead of a little closet (according to the unwholesome custom of most people) I chuse this spacious room for all my small affairs, reading books or writing letters; where I am never in the least tired, by the help of stretching my legs sometimes in so large a room, and of looking into the pleasantest park in the world just underneath it.

“Visits, after a certain hour, are not to be avoided; some of which I own to be a little fatiguing (tho’ thanks to the town’s laziness, they come pretty late) if the garden was not so near, as to give a seasonable refreshment between those ceremonious interruptions. And I am more sorry than my coachman himself, if I am forced to go abroad any part of the morning. For though my garden is such, as by not pretending to rarities or curiosities, has nothing in it to inveagle ones thoughts; yet by the advantage of situation and prospect, it is able to suggest the noblest that can be; in presenting at once to view a vast town, a palace, and a magnificent cathedral. I confess the last, with all its splendor, has less share in exciting my devotion, than the most common shrub in my garden; for though I am apt to be sincerely devout in any sort of religious assemblies, from the very best (that of our own church) even to those of Jews, Turks, and Indians: yet the works of nature appear to me the better sort of sermons; and every flower contains in it the most edifying rhetorick, to fill us with admiration of its omnipotent Creator. After I have dined (either agreeably with friends, or at worst with better company than your country neighbours) I drive away to a place of air and exercise; which some constitutions are in absolute need of: agitation of the body and diversion of the mind, being a composition of health above all the skill of Hippocrates.

“The small distance of this place from London, is just enough for recovering my weariness, and recruiting my spirits so as to make me better than before I set out, for either business or pleasure. At the mentioning the last of these, methinks I see you smile; but I confess myself so changed (which you maliciously, I know, will call decayed) as to my former enchanting delights, that the company I commonly find at home is agreeable enough to make me conclude the evening on a delightful terrace, or in a place free from late visits except of familiar acquaintance.

“By this account you will see that most of my time is conjugally spent at home; and consequently you will blame my laziness more than ever, for not employing it in a way which your partiality is wont to think me capable of: therefore I am obliged to go on with this trifling description, as some excuse for my idleness. But how such a description itself is excusable, is what I should be very much in pain about, if I thought any body could see it besides yourself, who are too good a judge in all things to mistake a friend’s compliance in a private letter, for the least touch of vanity.

“The avenues to this house are along St. James’s Park, through rows of goodly elms on one hand, and gay flourishing limes on the other; that for coaches, this for walking; with the Mall lying betwixt them. This reaches to my iron pallisade that encompasses a square court, which has in the midst a great basin with statues and water-works; and from its entrance rises all the way imperceptibly, till we mount to a terrace in the front of a large hall, paved with square white stones mixed with a dark-colour’d marble; the walls of it covered with a set of pictures done in the school of Raphael. Out of this on the right hand we go into a parlour thirty-three feet by thirty-nine, with a niche fifteen feet broad for a beausette, paved with white marble, and placed within an arch with pilasters of divers colours, the upper part of which as high as the ceiling is painted by Ricci.

“From hence we pass through a suite of large rooms, into a bedchamber of thirty-four feet by twenty-seven; within it a large closet, that opens into a green-house. On the left hand of the hall are three stone arches supported by three Corinthian pillars, under one of which we go up eight and forty steps, ten feet broad, each step of one entire Portland stone. These stairs by the help of two resting places, are so very easy, there is no need of leaning on the iron baluster. The walls are painted with the story of Dido; whom though the poet was obliged to dispatch away mournfully in order to make room for Lavinia, the better natur’d painter has brought no farther than to that fatal cave, where the lovers appear just entering, and languishing with desire. The roof of this stair-case, which is fifty-five feet from the ground, is forty feet by thirty-six, filled with the figures of Gods and Goddesses. In the midst is Juno, condescending to bed assistance from Venus, to bring about a marriage which the Fates intended should be the ruin of her own darling queen and people. By which that sublime poet intimates, that we should never be over eager for any thing, either in our pursuits, or our prayers; lest what we endeavour or ask too violently for our interest, should be granted us by Providence only in order to our ruin.

“The bas reliefs and all the little squares above are all episodical paintings of the same story: and the largeness of the whole had admitted of a sure remedy against any decay of the colours from salt petre in the wall, by making another of oak laths four inches within it, and so primed over like a picture.

“From a wide landing place on the stairs head, a great double door opens into an apartment of the same dimensions with that below, only three feet higher; notwithstanding which it would appear too low, if the higher saloon had not been divided from it. The first room of this floor has within it a closet of original pictures, which yet are not so entertaining as the delightful prospect from the windows. Out of the second room a pair of great doors give entrance into the saloon, which is thirty-five feet high, thirty-six broad, and forty-five long. In the midst of its roof a round picture of Gentileschi, eighteen feet in diameter, represents the Muses playing in concert to Apollo lying along on a cloud to hear them. The rest of the room is adorned with paintings relating to arts and sciences; and underneath divers original pictures hang all in good lights, by the help of an upper row of windows which drown the glaring.

“Much of this seems appertaining to parade, and therefore I am glad to leave it to describe the rest, which is all for conveniency. As first, a covered passage from the kitchen without doors; and another down to the cellars and all the offices within. Near this, a large and lightsome back stairs leads up to such an entry above, as secures our private bedchambers both from noise and cold. Here we have necessary dressing rooms, servants rooms, and closets, from which are the pleasantest views of all the house, with a little door for communication betwixt this private apartment and the great one.

“These stairs, and those of the same kind at the other end of the house, carry us up to the highest story, fitted for the women and children, with the floors so contrived as to prevent all noise over my wife’s head, during the mysteries of Lucina.

“In mentioning the court at first, I forgot the two wings in it, built on stone arches which join the house by corridores supported by Ionic pillars. In one of these wings is a large kitchen thirty feet high, with an open cupulo on the top; near it a larder, brew-house, and laundry, with rooms over them for servants; the upper sort of servants are lodged in the other wing, which has also two wardrobes and a store-room for fruit. On the top of all a leaden cistern holding fifty tuns of water, driven up by an engine from the Thames, supplies all the water-works^[1] in the courts and gardens, which lie quite round the house; through one of which a grass walk conducts to the stables, built round a court, with six coach houses and forty stalls. I will add but one thing before I carry you into the garden, and that is about walking too, but ’tis on the top of all the house; which being covered with smooth milled lead, and defended by a parapet of balusters from all apprehension as well as danger, entertains the eye with a far distant prospect of hills and dales, and a near one of parks and gardens. To these gardens we go down from the house by seven steps, into a gravel walk that reaches cross the garden, with a covered arbour at each end of it. Another of thirty feet broad leads from the front of the house, and lies between two groves of tall lime trees, planted in several equal ranks upon a carpet of grass: the outsides of these groves are bordered with tubs of bays and orange trees. At the end of this broad walk, you go up to a terrace four hundred paces long, with a large semicircle in the middle, from whence is beheld the Queen’s two parks, and a great part of Surry; then going down a few steps, you walk on the bank of a canal six hundred yards long, and seventeen broad, with two rows of limes on each side of it.

“On one side of this terrace, a wall covered with roses and jessamines is made low, to admit the view of a meadow full of cattle just under it, (no disagreeable object in the midst of a great city) and at each end a descent into parterres, with fountains and water-works. From the biggest of these parterres we pass into a little square garden, that has a fountain in the middle, and two green-houses on the sides, with a convenient bathing apartment in one of them; and near another part of it lies a flower garden. Below all this a kitchen garden, full of the best sorts of fruits, has several walks in it fit for the coldest weather.

“Thus I have done with a tedious description; only one thing I forgot, though of more satisfaction to me than all the rest, which I fancy you guess already; and ’tis a little closet of books at the end of that green-house which joins the best apartment, which besides their being so very near, are ranked in such a method, that by its mark a very Irish footman may fetch any book I want. Under the windows of this closet and green-house, is a little wilderness full of blackbirds and nightingales. The trees, tho’ planted by myself, require lopping already, to prevent their hindring the view of that fine canal in the Park.

“After all this, to a friend I’ll expose my weakness, as an instance of the mind’s unquietness under the most pleasing enjoyments. I am oftener missing a pretty gallery in the old house I pulled down, than pleased with a saloon which I built in its stead, though a thousand times better after in all manner of respects.

“And now (pour fair bonne bouche, with a grave reflection) it were well for us, if this incapacity of being entirely contented was as sure a proof of our being reserved for happiness in another world, as it is of our frailty and imperfection in this. I confess the divines tell us so, but tho’ I believe a future state more firmly than a great many of them appear to do, by their inordinate desires of the good things in this; yet I own my faith is founded, not on those fallacious arguments of preachers, but on that adorable conjunction of unbounded power and goodness, which certainly must some way recompense hereafter so many thousand of innocent wretches created to be so miserable here.”

Buckingham street, a handsome street, and well inhabited, extends from the Strand to the river Thames, where for the convenience of taking water are built those fine stairs called York stairs. The street is thus called from John Villars Duke of Buckingham. See York Buildings, and York Stairs.

Buckle street, Red Lion street, Whitechapel.

Bucklersbury, Cheapside. Mr. Maitland observes that it is more properly Bucklesbury, as it was originally so named, from a manor and tenements belonging to one Buckles, who dwelt and kept his courts there.

Buckler’s rents, Rotherhith wall.†

Buckridge alley, George street, Spitalfields.†

Buckridge court, Bembridge street.

Buck’s Head court, Great Distaff lane.*

Buck’s rents, Rosemary lane.†

Budge row, Watling street.

Bufford’s buildings, St. John street, Smithfield.†

Bull alley, 1. Back alley, in Three hammer alley, Tooley street.* 2. Brick lane, Old street.* 3. Broad street, London wall.* 4. Bull stairs, Upper Ground street, Southwark.* 5. Fore street, Lambeth.* 6. Kent street, Southwark.* 7. Nicholas lane, Lombard street.* 8. Turnmill street.* 9. Upper Ground, Southwark.* 10. Whitechapel.*

Bull bridge, 1. Horselydown. 2. Limehouse.

Bull court, 1. Bishopsgate street.* 2. Nightingale lane.* 3. Petticoat lane.* 4. Ragged row, Goswell street.*

Bull Head alley, Rag street, Hockley in the Hole.*

Bull Head court, 1. Broad street, London wall.* 2. Cow lane.* 3. Great Queen street, Drury lane.* 4. Jewin street, Aldersgate street.* 5. Laurence lane.* 6. Newgate street.* 7. Peter street, Cow Cross.* 8. Wood street, Cheapside.*

Bull Head passage, Gracechurch street.*

Bull Head yard, near Blackman street, Southwark.*

Bull Inn court, in the Strand.*

Bull lane, Stepney.*

Bull and Mouth street, St. Martin’s le Grand.*

Bull stairs, Bull alley, Upper Ground street, Southwark.*

Bull Stake alley, Whitechapel.*

Bull Wharf, near Brook’s wharf.*

Bull Wharf lane, Thames street.*

Bull yard, 1. Dunning’s alley, Bishopsgate street without.* 2. Goswell street.* 3. St. John’s street, near Clerkenwell.* 4. Kingsland road, Shoreditch.* 5. Old Horselydown.*

Bullen’s rents, Shoe lane, Fleet street.†

Bulliford court, Fenchurch street.

Bullocks court, 1. Chequer alley, Old Bethlem. 2. Minories.

Bullock’s yard, 1. Shoreditch. 2. Nightingale lane.†

Bull’s rents, 1. Freeman’s lane.† 2. Lambeth marsh.†

Bulstrode, the seat of the Duke of Portland, near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire. It is a large handsome house finely situated in a pleasant park, and you have a good view of it from the road to Beaconsfield, which goes close to the park gate.

Bunch’s alley, Thrall street.

Bunhill court, Bunhill fields.

Bunhill Fields, formerly called Bonhill fields, was anciently a tract of ground of considerable extent, reaching from the north side of Chiswell street to Old street.

Bunhill Fields Burial ground, a large piece of ground near Upper Moorfields. Maitland says it was formerly called Bonhill, or Goodhill. It was set apart, consecrated and walled at the expence of the city, in 1665, the dreadful year of pestilence, as a common cemetery for the interment of such corps as could not have room in their parochial burial grounds: but it not being used on this occasion, Mr. Tindal took a lease of it, and converted into a burial ground for the use of the dissenters. There are a great number of raised monuments with vaults underneath belonging to particular families, and a multitude of gravestones with inscriptions. The price of opening the ground, or of interment, is 15s.

Bunhill Fields School, was erected by the company of Haberdashers, in the year 1673, pursuant to the gift of Mr. Throgmorton, who endowed it with 80l. per annum, for the education of thirty poor boys of the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate.

Bunhill row, near Bunhill fields.

Burden’s street, David’s street.†

Burge’s court, Wood street, Cheapside.†

Burial yard, Mill yard, Rosemary lane.

Burleigh court, Burleigh street.

Burleigh street, in the Strand, near the house which formerly belonged to the great Lord Treasurer Burleigh.

Burlington gardens, a street by Bond street; took its name from its being built on the spot, which was formerly the Earl of Burlington’s garden.

Burlington House, in Piccadilly. The front of this house, which is of stone, is remarkable for the beauty of the design and workmanship. The print representing the body of the house and a part of the wings, was all that could be taken into the visual angle. The circular colonade of the Doric order which joins the wings, is very noble and striking. The house is hardly grand enough for the colonade, and seems to want something in the center to make the entrance more conspicuous. The house is of an older date than the front, which was built by the late Earl of Burlington. The rooms within are in a fine taste, and the stair-case is painted by Seb. Ricci, with great spirit and freedom.

Burlington mews, Great Swallow street.

Burlington street, Great Swallow street.

The Earl of Burlington’s seat at Chiswick. See the article Chiswick.

Burntwood. See Brentwood.

Burr street, Lower East Smithfield.

Burton’s rents, Holiwell street.†

Bury court, St. Mary Ax.†

Bury street, 1. Duke’s place. 2. Piccadilly.

Bush alley, St. Catharine’s lane.

Bush lane, Canon street, Walbrook.

Bushe’s rents, St. John’s court, Cow lane.†

Bushell court, Lothbury.

Bushell’s rents, Wapping.†

Bushy, a small village near Watford in Hertfordshire, adjoining to which is a spacious common, called Bushy Heath, extending towards Stanmore, in the county of Middlesex. This heath rises to a considerable height, and from its top affords a most delightful prospect. On the one hand we have a view of St. Alban’s, and of all the space between, which appears like a garden: the inclosed corn fields seem like one grand parterre: the thick planted hedges resemble a wilderness or labyrinth: the villages interspersed thro’ the landscape, appear at a distance like a multitude of gentlemen’s seats. To the south east is seen Westminster Abbey, more to the south appears Hampton Court, and on the south west Windsor Castle, with the Thames winding between both, through the most beautiful parts of Middlesex and Surry, its banks adorned with towns, and a multitude of magnificent seats of the nobility.

Butcherhall lane, Newgate street. Formerly a market being kept in Newgate street, the slaughter houses of the butchers were in this lane, when from the nastiness of the place it was called stinking lane: but the market being removed after the fire, and this lane rebuilt, here the company of butchers had their hall, whence it took its name.

Butcher row, 1. East Smithfield. 2. Ratcliff cross. 3. Without Temple Bar.

Butchers, a fraternity that seems to have been very ancient, since they were fined by Henry II. in the year 1180, as an adulterine guild, for being set up without the King’s licence; though they were not incorporated till the year 1605. This company consists of a Master, five Wardens, twenty-one Assistants, and two hundred and fourteen Liverymen, who pay a fine of 2l. each upon their admission into the livery. They have a neat and convenient hall in Pudding lane, in which are three handsome rooms neatly wainscoted and adorned with fretwork.

Butcher’s alley, 1. Cable street. 2. St. John street, West Smithfield. 3. Windmill hill, Moorfields.

Butchers Arms yard, Goswell street.*

Butcher’s close, King street, Moorfields.

Butcher’s dock, Rotherhith wall†

Butcher’s yard, Brick lane.

Butler’s alley, 1. Grub street, Cripplegate.† 2. Windmill hill row.†

Butler’s Almshouse, in Little Chapel street, Westminster, was founded by Mr. Nicholas Butler, in the year 1675, who endowed it with 12l. per annum. It consists of only two large rooms, for two poor men and their wives.

Butler’s court, Houndsditch.†

Butler’s yard, Monkwell street.†

Butterfly court, Grub street, Cripplegate.*

Buttermilk alley, Phenix street, Spitalfields.

Butt’s street, Lambeth.†

Buttonmould row, Dean’s court, St. Martin’s le Grand.

Byas rents, Crucifix lane.

Byfield’s passage, Petticoat lane.†

Byfield’s rents, Petticoat lane.†

Byfleet, a village in Surry, situated on a branch of the river Mole, adorned with several gentlemen’s seats, and a fine park in its neighbourhood. At this place is a handsome house belonging to Lieut. Gen. Cornwall; and at a place at a small distance the Rev. Mr. Spence has made many neat and elegant improvements. The river Mole flows by the side of Byfleet park, and forming a great number of windings, renders its course near four miles within the compass of the inclosure.