Eagle and Child alley, Shoe lane.*

Eagle and Child yard, Broad street, St. Giles’s.*

Eagle court, 1. In the Strand.* 2. St. John’s street, West Smithfield.*

Eagle street, 1. Piccadilly.* 2. Plumtree street.* 3. Red Lion street, Holborn.

Earl’s court, 1. Drury lane. 2. Great Earl’s street. 3. Little Newport street.

Earl’s passage, Earl street.

Earl street, Seven Dials.

East court, Spitalfields market.§

East Harding street, New street, Shoe lane.§

East India Company, was first incorporated by a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1601, when the first subscription for carrying on this trade amounted to 739,782l. 10s. and a year or two after by an additional subscription of 834,826l. the stock was raised to 1,574,608l. 10s. and with this capital they established a commerce by the Red sea to Arabia, and to Persia, India, China, and several of the East India islands. But about the beginning of the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, it being imagined that the laying open the trade to the East Indies would be of advantage to the whole nation, that commerce was made general, and thus continued till the year 1657, when it being found that the separate trade was of disadvantage to the undertakers, they were for the good of the whole united to the company by the legislature. Stow’s Survey, last edit.

However in the year 1698, a new East India company was established, by virtue of which the old company was to be dissolved after the expiration of a certain term allowed them for the disposing of their effects. This new company immediately advanced two millions sterling to the government, at eight per cent. However, by the kind offices of friends, the two companies were united in the year 1702, when a new charter was granted them under the title of The united Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies, and the old company had their share of the two millions. In the 6th of Queen Anne, the united company lent the government 1,200,000l. which made their whole loan to amount to 3,200,000l. the interest of part of which was a few years ago reduced to 3l. 10s. per cent. and part to 3l. per cent. the first of these is now called the 3 1-half per cent. annuities, and the last the 3 per cent. annuities.

As to India stock, it is the trading stock of the company, and the proprietors, instead of receiving regular annuities for money at interest, have dividends of the profits arising from the company’s trade, which being more valuable, these shares generally sell much above the original value. Pocket Library.

The transfer days of India stock, are now Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and of India annuities on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, except on Holidays, which are the same as at the Bank. See Bank of England.

The hour of payment of dividends is from nine o’clock to eleven, and from twelve o’clock to three; and the hour of transfer from twelve to one.

As to the management of this company, 500l. in the company’s stock gives the owner a vote in the general courts, and 2000l. qualifies a person to be chosen a Director. The Directors are twenty-four in number, including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, who may be reelected four years successively. The Chairman has a salary of 200l. a year, and each of the Directors 150l. A court of the Directors is held at least once a week, at the East India House; but they are commonly held oftener, they being summoned as occasions require.

Out of the body of Directors are chosen several committees, who have the peculiar inspection of separate branches of the company’s business; as the committee of buying, committee of correspondence, committee of accounts, committee of the treasury, a house committee, a warehouse committee, a committee of shipping, a committee to prevent the growth of private trade, and a committee of law suits.

The East India company export bullion to a very great value, with woollen cloth, lead, and some other English commodities; and import China ware, tea, cabinets, raw and wrought silks, calicoes, chints, pepper, &c. but all the wrought silks, and calicoes, are to be exported again.

All the goods imported by the company are to be sold openly by inch of candle, on pain of forfeiting one half to the King, and the other to the prosecutor.

East India stock is esteemed in law, personal estate, and the shares exempt from taxes.

East India House, on the south side of Leadenhall street, and a little to the west of Lime street. This edifice was built on the place where anciently stood the city house of the Lord Craven, and his ancestors. The present structure was erected by the company in the year 1726. It is a plain Doric on a rustic basement, and has not much to be found fault with or commended. It might have been justly considered as a very fine edifice, had it been the house of a single Director; but it is not at all equal to the grandeur of this company, and the great figure they make in the trading world; nor bears any proportion to the idea we conceive of this body, when we consider, that the Directors who meet here, appoint or remove Governors who are their servants, and yet have all the dignity and state of Kings, some of whom seldom stir abroad without their guards and a numerous retinue, or eat, but upon gilt plate, or the finest China.

The house, however, though too small in front, extends far backwards, and is very spacious, having large rooms for the use of the Directors, and offices for the clerks. It has a spacious hall and court yard for the reception of those who have business, and who attend on the company on court days, which are every Wednesday. There also belongs to it a garden, with warehouses in the back part toward Lime street, to which there is a back gate for the entrance of carts to bring in goods. These warehouses were rebuilt in a very handsome manner in the year 1725, and are now greatly enlarged. The company have likewise warehouses in Seething lane, the Steel yard, and at the Royal Exchange, particularly under the last they have spacious cellars entirely for pepper. Stow, Maitland, &c.

Eastland Company. These merchants were first incorporated by a charter granted them by Queen Elizabeth in the year 1579, and their factory being first settled at Elbing in Prussia, they obtained the name of the merchants of Elbing. By their charter they were impowered to trade to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Prussia, and all the other parts of the Baltic, exclusive of the city of Narva, which had been previously granted to the Russia company; but the smallness of the river Elbing rendering it very incommodious for navigation, the factory removed, and settled at Dantzick, Koningsberg, Riga, and other cities of the Baltic.

This company was confirmed by a charter granted by King Charles II. but by a late act of parliament any persons are allowed to trade to Norway and Sweden, though not of this company: and the Eastland commerce in general is in a manner laid open.

Our commodities exported to these countries, are woollen cloths, serges, kersies, Norwich stuffs, perpetuanoes, cottons, stockings, hats, tin, pewter, lead, &c. and in return they import to England timber, deals, masts, oars, clap boards, balks, bomspars, cantspars, pipe-staves, flax, pitch, tar, tallow, pot-ashes, wheat, rye, rich furrs, bees wax, and several other commodities. This trade is however generally allowed to be of great disadvantage to England, as the balance against us annually amounts to several hundred thousand pounds: which is the more extraordinary, as all these articles might be had from our own American plantations.

For the management of the affairs of this company, they have a Governor, Deputy Governor, and court of Assistants, consisting of twenty-four of the members, annually chosen on the first Wednesday after Michaelmas day, and they have their meetings monthly; or as occasion requires, at Founders Hall in Lothbury. Stow’s Survey.

East lane, Rotherhith Wall.§

East lane stairs, Rotherhith.§

East rents, Barnaby street, Southwark.§

East Shene, a village about a mile and a half in the coach road from Richmond, where the Lord Viscount Palmerston, a descendant of Sir William Temple, has a fine seat and gardens. These gardens were laid out and finished by the great genius of Sir William, and were his principal delight at the close of his life.

East Smithfield, a small square near Little Tower Hill, surrounded with but indifferent buildings.

East Smithfield Courts. In this liberty two courts are held, viz. a court leet and court baron; in the first officers are chosen, and nuisances presented; and in the second pleas are held to the amount of forty shillings.

East Smithfield double passage, Tower hill.

East Smithfield School, was founded in the year 1673, by Sir Samuel Sterling, Knight and Alderman of this city, who endowed it with certain lands and tenements in East Smithfield, of the yearly value of 20l. for educating sixteen poor boys of the parish of St. Botolph Aldgate, viz. eight in the city liberty, and eight in that of East Smithfield.

East street, 1. Red Lion street, Holborn. 2. Spitalfields market.

Ebbgate lane, Thames street.†

Eccle’s yard, In the Minories.†

Eden court, New street, Shoe lane.

Edgeware, a town twelve miles from London, in the road to St. Alban’s, Watford, and Harrow on the Hill, is situated on the very edge of the county of Middlesex. The old Roman way called Watling Street passes by here from London.

The late Duke of Chandos built near this town one of the most noble seats in England, which he adorned and furnished at such vast expence, that it had scarce its equal in the kingdom. The great saloon or hall was painted by Paolucci, and the plaistering and gilding of the house was done by the famous Italian Pergotti. The columns supporting the building were all of marble: the grand stair-case was extremely fine; the steps were marble, and every step was one whole piece twenty-two feet in length.

The avenue was spacious and majestic, and as it afforded the view of two fronts, joined as it were in one, the distance not permitting you to see the angle that was in the center, so you were agreeably deceived into the opinion, that the front of the house was twice as large as it really was. And yet on approaching nearer, you were again surprized, by perceiving a winding passage opening, as it were, a new front to the eye of near an hundred and twenty feet wide, which you imagined not to have seen before.

The gardens were well designed, and the canals large and noble. The chapel was a singularity both in its building and the beauty of the workmanship, and the late Duke maintained there at one time a full choir, and had divine worship performed with the best music, after the manner of the chapel royal. But all this grandeur was soon at an end. The furniture and curiosities were brought to public auction; and this superb edifice quite demolished. Tour through Great Britain.

The land whereon this structure was erected was lately purchased by Mr. Hallet, an eminent cabinet-maker, who acquired a large fortune in that business, and he has built an elegant small house upon the ruins of the Duke of Chandos’s large and magnificent seat.

Edlin’s gate, Tooley’s street.

Edmonton, a village in Middlesex, in the road to Ware, seven miles and a half from London.

Edmund’s court, Prince’s street, Soho.

St. Edmund the King, a church situated on the north side of Lombard street, in Langborne ward, and thus denominated from its dedication to St. Edmund King of the East Angles, who was barbarously murdered by the Pagan Danes in the year 870, for his steadfast adherence to the Christian religion. The name Grasschurch was once added to this; but it is now disused: this last name took its rise from an herb market near the church.

The first sacred edifice in this place, and of this name, was built under the Saxon heptarchy: but the last old church was destroyed in the fire of 1666, and the present structure was finished in 1690. The length of this structure from north to south is 69 feet, and the breadth from east to west 39. The altar is placed at the north end. It has a square tower, upon which a short spire rises, with its base fixed on a broad lanthorn.

This church is a rectory in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury; but in ecclesiastical affairs it is subject to the Archdeacon of London; and the parish of St. Nicholas Acons being united to it, the profits of the Rector are almost doubled; he receives in lieu of tithes 180l. a year.

Edwards’s Almshouse, in the parish of Christ Church, Surry, was built and endowed by the trustees of Mr. Edward Edwards, a citizen and mason of London, for such poor persons of that parish as receive no alms from that or any other parish. Each person has one room, an allowance of 40s. a year; and once in two years a purple gown of twenty shillings value.

Edward’s court, 1. Oxendon street.† 2. Panton street.†

Edward’s rents, Islington.†

Edward’s street, 1. Berwick street.† 2. Hare street, Spitalfields.†

Edward’s wharf, Durham yard in the Strand.†

Eel’s yard, in the Minories.†

Egglin’s gateway, Tooley street.†

Egham, a town in Surry, situated on the bank of the Thames almost opposite to Stanes, and three miles on this side of Windsor. It has several good inns, a noble charity school, and an almshouse built and endowed by Baron Denham, Surveyor of the works to King Charles II. for five poor old women, each of whom have an orchard. The parsonage house was formerly the seat of Sir John Denham, who rebuilt it. This Sir John was the father of the poet of that name, who took great delight in this place.

Elbow lane, 1. Dowgate hill; this lane running west, and suddenly turning short into Thames street, was from this bending called Elbow lane. 2. New Gravel lane. For Great and Little Elbow lane, see Great and Little.

Elder lane, Upper Millbank.‡

Elder street, White Lion street, Norton Falgate.‡

Elephant court, Whitechapel.*

Elephant lane, Rotherhith wall.*

Elephant stairs, Rotherhith.*

Eling, Great and Little, are situated in Middlesex, between Brentford and the Oxford road. Great Eling lies to the east of the other, and has a work house and a charity school, with a pretty church that has eight musical bells, and is the mother church of that of Old Brentford.

Elizabeth court, Whitecross street.

Elliot’s court, Little Old Bailey.†

Elliot’s rents, Stepney Causeway.†

Ellman street, Long Acre.†

Elm court, 1. Elm street.‡ 2. Middle Temple.‡

Elm row, Sun Tavern fields.‡

Elm street, Gray’s Inn lane.‡

Elstree, a village in Hertfordshire, situated on an eminence, within a mile of Stanmore, and in the road from Watford to High Barnet. It is also called Eaglestree, Illstree, and Idlestree.

Eltham, a town in Kent, seven miles from London in the road to Maidstone. Here a palace was built by Anthony Beck, Bishop of Durham, who bestowed it upon Queen Eleanor, the wife of Edward I. King Edward II. constantly resided in this place, and his son being born here, was on that account called John of Eltham. The palace here was afterwards much enlarged by the succeeding Kings, who when the court was kept at Greenwich often retired hither; and here were made the statutes of Eltham by which the King’s house is still governed. There are however no traces of the palace left. The town has the honour of giving the title of Earl to the Prince of Wales; and there are here the houses of several rich citizens, and two charity schools.

Ely court, Holborn; so called from the Bishop of Ely’s house, which is not far from it.

Ely House, the city mansion of the Bishop of Ely, was formerly called Ely’s Inn. It is situated in Holborn, and stands on a large piece of ground. Before it is a spacious court, and behind it a garden of considerable extent; but it is so ill kept that it scarcely deserves the name. The buildings are very old; and consist of a large hall, several spacious rooms, and a good chapel.

Emanuel Hospital, at Tothill side in Westminster, was founded by the Lady Dacres, in the year 1601, for twenty old bachelors and maids, sixteen of whom to be of St. Margaret’s parish Westminster, two of Hayes, and two of Chelsea parishes; each of whom have an allowance of 10l. per annum, with the liberty of bringing up a poor child. According to certain constitutions formed by the foundress’s executors, no person of ill fame, or that cannot say the creed and ten commandments in English; or are under fifty years of age; or have not lived three years in the said parishes, are to be admitted upon this foundation.

The city of London is intrusted with the management of this charity, and is to receive annually 200l. for its support, out of an estate in Yorkshire, till the expiration of a lease of 199 years, when the produce of the whole manor, which is said to amount to above 600l. per annum, is to be appropriated to the augmentation of this foundation.

Some time ago the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen caused to be erected at the upper end of this hospital, a handsome school house and dormitory, for the reception of twenty poor boys and girls, who were first admitted in the year 1735. They are supplied with the necessaries of life; the boys are taught reading, writing, and accounts; and the girls reading, writing, and plain work.

Embroiderers, incorporated by the name of Broderers. See an account of this company under the article Broderers.

Emm’s yard, Broad street, Ratcliff.†

Emperor’s Head lane, Thames street.*

Enfield, a town in Middlesex near eleven miles from London. Almost in the center of Enfield Chace, are the ruins of an old house, said to have belonged to the Earls of Essex. Here is a fine lodge for the ranger, and the skirts of the chace abound with handsome country houses belonging to the citizens of London. When King James I. resided at Theobalds, this chace was well stocked with deer, and all sorts of game; but in the civil wars it was stripped both of the game and timber, and even let out in farms: however, after the restoration it was again laid open, woods were planted, and the whole chace afresh stocked with deer.

Engine street, Hyde Park road.

Englefield Green, a village in Berkshire, in the parish of Egham, where are several pleasant seats.

Epping, a town in Essex, seventeen miles from London. The markets, which are on Thursday for cattle, and on Friday for provisions, are kept in Epping street, a hamlet about a mile and a half from the church. There are several fine seats in Epping Forest, which is a royal chace, and extends from the town almost to London.

Epsom, a well-built and handsome town in Surry, sixteen miles from London, abounds with very genteel houses, which are principally the retreats of the merchants and citizens of London, and is a delightful place open to Bansted Downs. Its mineral waters, which issue from a rising ground nearer Ashted than Epsom, were discovered in 1618, and soon became extremely famous; but though they are not impaired in virtue, they are far from being in the same repute as formerly; however, the salt made of them is valued all over Europe. The hall, galleries, and other public apartments, are now run to decay, and there remains only one house on the spot, which is inhabited by a countryman and his wife, who carry the waters in bottles to the adjacent places. Horse races are annually held on the neighbouring downs. The town extends about a mile and a half in a semicircle from the church to Lord Guilford’s fine seat at Durdans; and, as Mr. Whatley observes, there are here so many fields, meadows, orchards and gardens, that a stranger would be at a loss to know whether this was a town in a wood, or a wood in a town. There are many fine seats in this neighbourhood, besides Durdans, already mentioned, as Lord Baltimore’s, the Lady Fielding’s, Earl of Berkshire’s, &c.

Erith, a village in Kent, situated on the banks of the Thames below Woolwich, and about fourteen miles from London. For Mr. Gideon’s house here, see Belvedere.

Esher, a village in Surry, situated near Walton upon Thames and Hampton Court, of which last it affords a fine prospect, as well as of the other parts of Middlesex.

Esher Place, was the seat of the late Henry Pelham, Esq; The house is a Gothic structure built of a brownish red brick, with stone facings to the doors, windows, &c. It stands upon almost the lowest ground belonging to it, and has the river Mole gliding close by it and through the grounds. This house was originally one of those built by Cardinal Wolsey; but the late Mr. Pelham rebuilt the whole, except the two towers in the body of the house, which are the same that belonged to the old building, and the whole is rebuilt in the same style of architecture it was before, which uniformity is certainly better than an unnatural mixture of Gothic and modern too often practised. There is a fine summer house built upon a hill on the left hand as you enter, which commands the view of the house, park, and country round on both sides the Thames for many miles. The park or ground in which the house is situated appears quite plain and unadorned; yet perhaps not a little art has been used to give it this natural and simple appearance, which is certainly very pleasing. But in one part of it there is a pretty wilderness laid out in walks, and planted with a variety of ever-green trees and plants, with a grotto in it, and seats in different places. The wood in the park is well disposed, and consists of fine oak, elm, and other trees, and the whole country round appears finely shaded with wood.

The grand floor of the house is elegantly finished, and consists of six rooms. The great parlour is carved and gilt in a taste suitable to the style of the house, with curious marble chimney pieces and slab. In this room are the portraits of Mr. Pelham, Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford, Lord Townshend, Duke of Rutland, the late Duke of Devonshire, and the late Duke of Grafton; a picture of Lady Catharine Pelham and her son is over the chimney. In the drawing room over the chimney there is a picture of King Charles II. when only eleven years old, by Vandyke. The library is curiously finished, and there is a good collection of books in it. Some say it was at this house Cardinal Wolsey was first seized by order of Henry VIII. on his refusing to annul his marriage with Queen Catharine, that he might marry Ann Boleyn, and which refusal brought on his fall.

Essex court, 1. Middle Temple. 2. Whitechapel. 3. White Friars.

Essex stairs, Essex street, in the Strand.?

Essex street, 1. In Ratcliff Highway. 2. In the Strand; so called from the Lord Essex’s house formerly there. 3. White Friars.

Clerk of the Essoins, or excuses for lawful cause of absence; an officer belonging to the court of Common Pleas, whose office is in Searle street, Lincoln’s Inn.

St. Ethelburga’s Church, on the east side of Bishopsgate street, is so denominated from the first Christian Princess in Britain, the daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent. It escaped the fire in 1666. The body is irregular and in the Gothic style, with very large windows; and the steeple is a tall spire supported on a square tower.

This church is a rectory, the advowson of which was in the Prioress and Nuns of St. Helen’s in Bishopsgate street, till the suppression of their convent in 1536, when falling to the Crown, it was afterwards granted to the Bishop of London, who has ever since collated and inducted to it. The Rector receives about 60l. a year in lieu of tithes.

Eton College, justly celebrated for the many learned men it has produced, is situated in Buckinghamshire on the banks of the Thames opposite to Windsor, and was founded by Henry VI. for the support of a Provost and seven Fellows, one of whom is Vice-Provost, and for the education of seventy King’s scholars, as those are called, who are on the foundation. These when properly qualified, are elected, on the first Tuesday in August, to King’s College, Cambridge, but they are not removed, till there are vacancies in the college, and then they are called according to seniority; and after they have been three years at Cambridge, they claim a fellowship. Besides those on the foundation, there are seldom less than three hundred scholars, at this time there are many more, who board at the masters houses, or within the bounds of the college. The school is divided into upper and lower, and each of these into three classes. To each school there is a master and four assistants or ushers. The revenue of the college is about 5000l. a year. Here is a noble library enriched by a fine collection of books left by Dr. Waddington, Bishop of Chester, valued at 2000l. and Lord Chief Justice Reeves presented to this library the collection left him by Richard Topham, Esq; keeper of the records in the Tower. In the great court is a fine statue of the founder, erected at the expence of the late Provost Dr. Godolphin, Dean of St. Paul’s. The chapel is in a good style of Gothic architecture. The schools and other parts, which are in the other style of building, are equally well, and seem like the design of Inigo Jones.

Evangelists court, Stonecutters alley, Black Friars.

Evan’s court, Basinghall street.†

Evan’s rents, Grub street.†

Evan’s row, Old Bond street.†

Evans yard, Church street, Rotherhith.†

Eveny Farm, in Middlesex, is situated between the streams of the Coln, on the north side of Stanes, and belongs to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

Eunuch court, Near Goodman’s yard.‡

Ewel, a town near Epsom in Surry, fourteen miles from London. Here a plentiful spring breaks out in several different spots, and becomes the head of a fine stream as clear as crystal, that runs over Epsom meadows, and falls into the Thames at Kingston.

St. Ewen, or Owen, a parish church which anciently stood near the north east corner of Warwick lane in Newgate street, the remains of which are still to be seen in the cellars of Mr. Hinton, a bookseller, and the next house to the west. This was one of the churches given by Henry VIII. towards the erecting of Christ Church.

Ewer’s street, Gravel lane.†

Exchange. See Royal Exchange, Old Change, and Exeter Exchange.

Exchange, or Change alley, 1. Cornhill; so called from its being situated opposite to the Royal Exchange. 2. In the Mint.

Exchange court, 1. In the Strand.? 2. By Exeter Exchange.?

Exchequer, one of the four great courts of the kingdom, is held in a room contiguous to the north west corner of Westminster hall, and is so named from a chequered cloth, which anciently covered the table where the Judges, or chief officers sat. This court was first erected by William the Conqueror, for the trial of all causes relating to the revenues of the crown; and in the same court there are now also tried matters of equity between subject and subject.

The Judges of this court are, the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and three other Judges called Barons of the Exchequer; who are all created by letters patent to hold their offices quamdiu se bene gesserint. There is also the Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer, who administers the oath to the Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, bailiffs, searchers, surveyors, &c. of the Custom house; but is no Judge. When at any time the Barons are of different opinions concerning the decision of any cause, they call to their assistance the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who decides in favour of one of the parties by his casting vote. Dugdale’s Orig. Jurid.

Long after the conquest there sat in the Exchequer both spiritual and temporal Barons, whence in later times those who sat there, tho’ they were not Peers, were stiled Barons.

Exchequer, or the Office of the receipt of his Majesty’s Exchequer, a plain old building formed of wood and plaister, at the south end of New Palace yard, where the King’s revenue is received and disbursed. This important office is under the direction of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has the custody of the Exchequer seal; he has also the comptrollment of the rolls of the Lords of the Treasury, and sits in the court above the Barons of the Exchequer. He has the gift of the office of Comptroller of the Pipe, and of that of Clerk of the Nihils.

The Auditor of the receipts of the Exchequer, is another great officer. He files the bills of the Tellers, and draws all orders to be signed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, for issuing forth all money, in virtue of privy seals, which are recorded by the Clerk of the Pells, and entered and lodged in the Auditor’s office. He also, by warrant from the Lords of the Treasury, makes debentures to the several persons who have fees, annuities or pensions, by letters patent from the King, out of the Exchequer, and directs them for payment to the Tellers. He daily receives the state of each Teller’s account, and weekly certifies the whole to the Lords Commissioners, who immediately present the estimate, or balance to the King. He makes half yearly, at Michaelmas and Lady-day, a book called A Declaration, containing a methodical abstract of all the accounts and payments made the preceding half year, and delivers one of them to the Lords of the Treasury, and another to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and by him are kept the registers appointed for paying all persons in course, upon several branches of the King’s revenue. For the discharge of these offices, he has a chief clerk, a clerk of the debentures, a clerk of the registers and issues, a clerk of the cash book, and a clerk for making out Exchequer bills; and in the offices for annuities under the Auditor are two chief clerks, and nine clerks under them.

The other great officers are the four Tellers of the Exchequer, each of whom has his deputy, his first clerk, and four other clerks. Their office is to receive all moneys due to the King, and thereupon to throw down a bill through a pipe into the tally court, where it is received by the Auditor’s clerk, who there attends to write the words of the bill upon a tally, and then delivers the same to be entered by the Clerk of the Pells, or his under clerk, who attends to enter it in his book; then the tally is cloven by the two Deputy Chamberlains, and while the senior deputy reads one part, the junior examines the other part with the two clerks.

Another great officer is the Clerk of the Pells, who enters the Tellers bills on a parchment skin, in latin Pellis, and likewise all receipts and payment for the King; this officer is in the nature of a comptroller; he has a deputy, a clerk for the introitus, and another for the exitus. There are also a clerk of the declarations, and a clerk of the patents. In this office there are likewise three vouchers of the Tellers.

Tally Court in the Exchequer. In order to give a more perfect idea of this office, it will be proper to say something of the nature of tallies. The word tally is derived from the French word tailler, to cut, a tally being a piece of wood wrote upon on both sides, containing an acquittance for money received, which being cloven asunder by the Deputy Chamberlains, one part, called the stock, is delivered to the person who pays or lends any money to the government; and the other part, called the counter-stock or counter-foil, remains in the office, to be kept till called for, and joined with the stock. This method of striking tallies is very ancient, and has been found by long experience to be the best way of preventing frauds that ever was invented; for it is morrally impossible so to counterfeit a tally, but upon rejoining it with the counter-foil, the intended fraud will be obvious to every eye, either in the notches or the cleaving, in the length or in the breadth, in the natural growth, or in the shape of the counter-foil.

To the tally court belong the two Chamberlains of the Exchequer, in whose custody are many ancient records, leagues, and treaties with foreign princes, the standards of money, weights, and measures, those ancient books called the Black Book of the Exchequer, and Doomsday Book, which last contains an account of all the cities, towns, villages and families in the reign of William the Conqueror. This book is kept under three locks and keys, and cannot be examined for less than 6s. 8d. and for every line transcribed is paid 4d.

Under these officers are four Deputy Chamberlains, in whose office are preserved all the counter-foils of the above tallies, so exactly ranked by months or years, that they may be easily found out, in order to be joined with their respective tallies, which being done and proved true, they deliver it attested for a lawful tally to the Clerk of the Pipe, to be allowed in the great roll.

The other officers of this court, are the Usher of the Exchequer, his deputy and clerk; three Paymasters of Exchequer bills, their deputy, and a Comptroller of Exchequer bills; a tally writer for the Auditor, who has two assistant clerks, and a tally cutter. Chamberlain’s Present State.

There are several other offices belonging to the Exchequer, as the pipe office in Gray’s Inn; Foreign Apposer’s office, and King’s Remembrancer’s office, in the Temple; Clerk of the pleas office, in Lincoln’s Inn, &c. See the articles Pipe Office, Foreign Apposer’s Office, &c. See also the article Treasurer.

Execution dock, Wapping; thus named from its being the place where pirates and others who have committed capital crimes at sea, are executed on a gallows which leans over the water.

Excise Office, in the Old Jewry, is a large brick building near the paved court on the south side of the church, formerly the dwelling house of Sir John Frederick. This office was, till lately, managed by seven Commissioners; but the many new excisable commodities brought under their care, have occasioned their number to be increased to nine. These receive the produce of the excise of beer, ale, and other liquors, of coffee, tea, and chocolate, of malt, hops, soap, starch, candles, paper, calicoes, gold and silver wire, vellum, parchment, hides and skins, collected all over England, and pay it into the Exchequer. They have each a salary of 1000l. a year, and are obliged by oath to take no fee or reward, but from the King only.

Before the Commissioners of Excise are tried all frauds committed in the several branches of the revenue under their direction; and if any person thinks himself injured by their sentence, he may appeal to the Commissioners of Appeal for a rehearing.

At the desire of the Commissioners of this office, a very laudable practice is lately set on foot, for the support of the valetudenary and aged clerks and officers belonging to the same; for which purpose the several clerks and officers contribute 3d. per pound out of their respective salaries, which is said to amount to about 3000l. per annum. Chamberlain’s Present State. Maitland’s Survey.

Exeter ’Change, an edifice in the Strand, erected for the sake of trade, consisting of a long room with a row of shops on each side, and a large room above, now used for auctions. This edifice received its name from the mansion of the Earls of Exeter, which stood near it. Maitland.

Exeter ’Change court, Exeter street.

Exeter street, Catharine street, so called from its being situated near Exeter ’Change.