London, the metropolis of Great Britain, and one of the largest and richest cities upon earth, is of such antiquity that it is impossible to give any certain account of its origin. It probably existed in the time of the ancient Britons, before the art of writing was brought into England, and when there were no other monuments of ancient facts, than what were found in the songs of the bards, which were preserved only by memory. It would be ridiculous therefore to lay any stress on the fabulous tales of Geffry of Monmouth, who pretends that it was founded by Brutus, the second nephew of the famous Æneas, and called Trinovantum, or New Troy, and that it was at length walled by King Lud, when it obtained the name of Caer Lud, or But to leave these fabulous tales. Camden supposes that this city derived the name of London from the British words Llhwn a wood, and Dinas a town; by which etymology of the word, London signifies a town in a wood: this exactly agrees with the manner in which the Britons formed their towns, by building them in the midst of woods, and fencing them with trees cut down: but lest this derivation should not please, the same learned writer gives another, from the British word Lhong, a ship, and Dinas a city, and then the word London will signify a city or harbour for ships: and indeed it has been supposed by many learned authors, that before CÆsar’s time London was the ancient emporium or mart of the British trade with the Phoenicians, Greeks and Gauls. London had however no buildings either of brick or stone, till it was inhabited by the Romans; for the dwellings of the Britons were only huts formed of London soon recovered from this dreadful catastrophe, and in a few years increased so much in the number of its inhabitants, its trade and buildings, that Herodian, in the life of the Emperor Severus, calls it a great and wealthy city, and about this time it changed the name of Londinum, for that of Augusta; probably from its being the capital of the British dominions, and was made a prefecture by the Romans, in imitation of Rome itself: but it soon after changed the name of Augusta for that of Caer-Llundain. It will not be improper here to observe, that a dispute has arisen about the situation of this city in these early times; the Rev. and learned Dr. Gale, Dean of York, and Mr. Salmon, having offered many The time when the city wall was first erected, is very uncertain, some authors ascribing this work to Constantine the Great, and others to his mother Helena; but Mr. Maitland brings several arguments to prove, that it was erected by Valentinian, about the year 368, and that it entirely surrounded the city, to secure it from being invaded by water as well as by land. This wall was composed alternately of layers of flat Roman brick, and rag stones, and had many lofty towers. Those on the land side were fifteen in number. The remains of one of these is still to be seen in Shoemaker row, fronting the passage into Duke’s Place; and there is another a little nearer Aldgate, twenty-one feet high. From the remains of the Roman work in the city wall, Mr. Maitland During the Saxon heptarchy, London was the metropolis of the kingdom of the East Saxons, and was then, as we are told by Bede, a princely mart-town, governed by a magistrate called a Portreve, that is, a governor or guardian of a port. We find this city then first called London-Byrig, which they soon after changed into Lunden-Ceaster, Lunden-Wye, Lundenne, Lunden-Berk, or Lunden-Burgh. At length Augustine the Monk, having introduced christianity into England, in the year 400, he was made Archbishop of Canterbury, when he ordained Mellitus bishop of the East Saxons, who had a church erected for him in this city by Ethelbert, King of Kent. Thus London first became the seat of a bishop; but this prelate was afterwards expelled, and paganism again for some time publicly established. The history of the heptarchy is so very defective, that no mention is made of this city from the year 616, to that of 764. After this last period we find that London frequently suffered by fires, and was twice plundered by the Danes; the last time But between the years 993, and 1016, a wooden bridge was erected. This great work was performed in the reign of Ethelred, and in the last mentioned year, Canute King of Denmark sailing up the river, in order to plunder the city, and finding that he could not pass the bridge with his ships, caused a canal to be cut through the marshes on the south side of Canute now, resolving to win the hearts of his new subjects, disbanded his army, and threw himself entirely upon the affections of the English, at which the above parliament were so pleased, that they granted him 83,000l. a prodigious sum at that time! for, according to the price of land and provisions then, it must But we are not writing a history of England, but of its capital, we shall therefore pass over the following reigns, till we come to the invasion of William the Conqueror, who laid Southwark in ashes; but the Londoners afterwards submitting to him, he, in the year 1067, granted them his first charter in their own language, which consists of little more than four lines, beautifully written in the Saxon character on a slip of parchment, six inches long, and one broad, and is still preserved in the city archives. In 1077 happened the greatest casual fire, that till this time ever befel the city, by which the greatest part of it was laid in ashes; and about two years after, the Conqueror beginning to suspect the fidelity of his subjects, caused the present square tower of London to be erected, to keep them in awe. See the Tower of London. In this reign were several other dreadful fires, and London bridge was in 1091 We have already mentioned the first charter granted by William the Conqueror to the city; he afterwards granted them another; but London obtained one much more extensive from Henry I. by which the citizens not only had their ancient customs and immunities confirmed, but the county of Middlesex added to their jurisdiction, on paying the quit rent of 300l. a year; with a power of appointing not only a Sheriff but a Justiciary from among themselves. This was granted to prevent that county’s being any longer an asylum for bankrupts, and fraudulent By this charter the citizens were allowed the privilege of not being compelled to plead without the walls of the city, and excused from paying scot, lot, and danegelt, duties payable to the King by all his other subjects. The city was not to be amerced for the escape of a murderer; nor any citizen, when accused of a crime, be obliged to vindicate his innocence by a duel. They were exempted from paying toll in fairs or markets in any part of the kingdom; and if any was exacted, they might make reprisals in London, upon the inhabitants of the town where it was exacted, &c. Before the grant of this charter, London seems to have been entirely subject to the arbitrary will of the King. But the liberties of the citizens being now guarded by so strong a fence, they endeavoured to secure their customs by converting them into written laws; and the several bodies professing the arts and mysteries of trade and manufacture, which had hitherto been kept up by prescription only, were now strengthened by being formed into established companies. The Upon the death of Henry I. the citizens assisted King Stephen in his endeavours to obtain the crown, and in 1135 received him into the city; but the next year, a dreadful fire laid the greatest part of the city in ashes; for according to Mr. Stow, it began near London Stone, and consumed all the buildings east to Aldgate, and west to St. Erkenwald’s shrine in St. Paul’s cathedral; both of which it destroyed, together with London bridge, which was then of wood. In the year 1139, the citizens purchased of King Stephen, for an hundred marks of silver, the right of chusing their own Sheriffs; but that prince being soon after defeated and taken prisoner by the Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I. she resolved to be revenged on the citizens, for the assistance they had given to that usurper; and therefore, entering into a convention with Geffrey, Earl of Essex, she granted him all the possessions and places which either his grandfather, father, or himself had held of the crown, among which were the sheriffwicks of London and Middlesex: and also the office of Judiciary of the city and county, The citizens soon after humbly entreated Matilda to re-establish the laws of King Edward the Confessor, which had been confirmed to them by the Conqueror’s charter, and to ease them of their insupportable taxes: but instead of granting either of these requests, she, with a disdainful countenance, told them, that since they had assisted her enemy to the utmost of their power, they were to expect no favour from her. From this haughty answer, they concluded that they had no other treatment to expect from this imperious Princess, than that of slaves. To prevent this, it was resolved, to seize her person; she however escaped; but the populace plundered her palace; after which Stephen was restored, and she compelled to fly the kingdom. King Henry II. some years after, granted the citizens a charter, by which he confirmed their liberties and immunities. The 2d of September 1189, the day preceding the coronation of Richard I. In the year 1197, the citizens purchased of King Richard a charter, for 15,000 marks, by which they were impowered to remove all wears out of the river Thames, and the King resigned all his right to the annual duties arising from them. This is the first charter from which the city claims its jurisdiction and conservacy of that river. In the year 1211, the citizens, as an additional security, began to encompass the wall with a deep ditch 200 feet wide; a work in which a vast number of hands was employed. The same year London bridge was consumed by a dreadful fire. In the beginning of the reign of King Henry III. the city obtained from that Prince five charters, on condition of paying him a fifteenth of their personal estates, by which all their former privileges were confirmed, and some others added. But these were only made to be broken; for this perfidious Monarch frequently extorted money from the citizens, and upon the slightest pretences imprisoned the Mayor and Sheriffs. He seized the charters he had granted, and made the citizens purchase new ones; and in the whole of his behaviour acted like a sharper, void of every principle of honour and justice, or the least regard to his word, his promises, or his oaths. It will not be unentertaining if we give a description of the city as it appeared about this time. The houses were mostly built of wood, and thatched with straw or reeds, which was the occasion of very frequent fires; and the city was supplied with water by men who brought it in carriages from the Thames, and from the brooks which ran through many of the principal streets. Thus the river of Wells, so called from many springs or wells uniting to supply its stream, arose in the north west part of the city, and ran into Fleet Ditch, at the bottom of Holborn hill. This small river, or brook, supplied several water mills, and at length from thence obtained the name of Turnmill Brook. The Olborn, or Holborn, which arose where Middle row now stands, and flowed down the hill, also fell into Fleet Ditch; and a few houses on its banks Wall brook entered the city through the wall between Bishopsgate and Moorgate, and after many turnings emptied itself into the Thames at Dowgate. The brook Langbourn rose near the east end of Fenchurch street, where mixing with the soil, it rendered it marshy; but ran from thence with a swift current to Sherborne lane, and then dividing into several rills, was lost in the Wall brook on Dowgate hill. The springs from whence all these streams arose were pretty numerous, and several of them at their source formed deep ponds; particularly there was a large pond in Smithfield, supplied by its own spring; and near Cripplegate a deep and dangerous pool, formed by Crowder’s Well. At length the citizens being deprived of their usual supplies of water from the above brooks, by the encroachments of buildings, and other ways, water was brought from six springs in the town of Tyburn, by a leaden pipe of a six-inch bore, which was made to supply leaden cisterns castellated with stone. The first About this time the city was divided into twenty four wards, under the government of the Aldermen; and each ward chose some of the inhabitants as Common Council men, who were sworn into their office; these were to be consulted by the Aldermen, and their advice followed, in all public affairs relating to the city. The above regulation was made in the reign of King Edward I. who also granted the citizens a charter, by which he confirmed all their ancient privileges. Some years before their receiving this favour, the Lord Treasurer summoned the Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens, to attend him in the Tower, to give an account how the peace of the city had been kept; but Gregory Rockesley, the Mayor, resolving not to attend in that quality, laid aside the In 1306, sea-coal beginning to be much used in the suburbs of London, by brewers, dyers, and others requiring great fires; the nobility and gentry complained to King Edward II. that the air was infected by the noisome smell, and the thick clouds of smoke it occasioned, to the endangering of the health of the inhabitants; upon which a proclamation was issued; forbidding it to be used: but little regard being paid to it, the King appointed a commission of oyer and terminer, to enquire after those who had acted in open defiance of this injunction. In the beginning of the next reign, the city obtained a very great addition to its privileges; for in the year 1327, King Edward III. granted the citizens two charters; the first of which contained not only a confirmation of the ancient and valuable 1. That the Mayor shall be constantly one of the Judges of oyer and terminer, for the trial of criminals confined in Newgate. 2. The citizens to have the privilege of trying a thief or robber within the jurisdiction of the city, and the power of reclaiming a citizen apprehended elsewhere for felony, in order to try him within the city; with a right to all the goods and chattels of all felons, convicted within the jurisdiction of the city. 3. The office of Escheator is conferred upon, and given in perpetuity to the Mayor. 4. The King’s Marshal, Steward, and Clerk of the houshold, are exempted from having any authority in the city. 5. For the greater convenience of citizens resorting to country fairs, they are granted the privilege of holding a court of Pye-powder in such places, for the determination of all contests that happen in each of those fairs. 6. That the citizens should be only assessed in common with their fellow subjects, towards general subsidies, grants, and contributions. 8. And that the city liberties shall not be seized for a personal offence, or iniquitous judgment of any of its magistrates, &c. By the second charter, Southwark is granted for the good and benefit of the citizens. The same Prince, in the year 1354, granted the city the privilege of having gold or silver maces carried before the chief magistrate; a privilege then peculiar to London; for all other cities and towns in the kingdom were, by a royal precept, expresly commanded not to use maces of any other metal than copper; and this is the time when, it is supposed by some, that the title of Lord was first added to that of Mayor. In the year 1348, the city was visited by a most terrible pestilence, which continued to rage till the church yards were found not capacious enough to receive the bodies. This induced several persons to purchase ground to supply that defect; and in one of these burying grounds, bought by Sir Walter Manny, were interred the next year 50,000 persons; an amazing number, considering the small extent of this metropolis at that time: by this dreadful By this terrible pestilence provisions were reduced so low, that the best fed ox was sold for 4s. the best cow at 1s. the best heifer or steer at 6d. the best wether at 4d. the best ewe at 3d. the best lamb at 2d. the best hog at 5d. and a fine horse, formerly worth 40s. at 6s. 8d. Arnold’s Chronicle. But notwithstanding this deplorable calamity, the wealth and dignity of the city were soon after so great, that in the year 1363, the Kings of Scotland, France, and Cyprus, who came into England to visit King Edward III. were entertained at dinner, with his Majesty, the Prince of Wales his son, and most of the nobility, by Henry Picard, late Mayor of London. In the fifth year of the reign of King Richard II. the city suffered greatly by the rebellion of Wat Hilliard, commonly called Wat Tyler, from his employment; he being a tyler of Dartford in Kent. This fellow, exasperated at the impudence and insolence of the collectors of the poll tax, one of whom pulled up his daughter’s cloaths to see if she was arrived at the age of puberty; after killing the collector, This prodigious mob entered Southwark on the 10th of June 1381, set at liberty the prisoners in the King’s Bench and Marshalsea prisons, and levelled to the ground the houses of all lawyers and questmen, and while one party went to Lambeth, where they burnt the archiepiscopal palace, with the rich furniture, books and registers, another destroyed the common stews along the bankside, then kept by Flemish bawds, who farmed them of the city. In this dreadful confusion, the Lord Mayor caused the bridge gate to be shut, and fortified; but the next day they were admitted into the city, and the shambles and wine cellars set open for their accommodation. Being now joined by the city rabble, they hasted to the Savoy, the Duke of Lancaster’s palace, which was the most magnificent edifice in the kingdom, and setting fire to it, caused proclamation to be made, that none should appropriate any thing to his own use, upon pain of death. They then ran to the Temple, which at After this, dividing themselves into three bodies, one proceeded to the rich priory of St. John of Jerusalem, near Smithfield, which they likewise burnt; and then marching to the stately mansion house at Highbury, beyond Islington, set fire to that edifice, through hatred to Sir Robert Hales, the High Treasurer, who was prior of the one, and proprietor of the other. The second division marched to the Tower, which they entered, notwithstanding its being guarded by six hundred men at arms, and the same number of archers, and there seizing Simon Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the above Sir Robert Hales, caused them both to be beheaded on Tower hill. The third division, which were the Essex party, proceeded to Mile-end, where being met by the King, who agreed to all their demands, they the same day dispersed, and returned home. Wat Tyler, with the rest of his desperate crew, however, continued committing At length King Richard, encouraged by his success at Mile-end, sent to let Wat Tyler know that he would have a conference with him in Smithfield, upon which that rebel marched slowly thither, at the head of his forces; but no sooner saw the King, than setting spurs to his horse, he boldly rode up to his Majesty, leaving all his companions behind. His behaviour and proposals were equally brutish and absurd, for he would be satisfied with nothing less than a commission to behead all lawyers, and the abolition of all the ancient laws of the kingdom; at which, William Walworth, the Lord The rebels, in the mean time, observing what was done, cried out, Our Captain is murdered, let us revenge his death, and immediately bent their bows: when Richard, though but fifteen years of age, with astonishing prudence and bravery rode up to them, crying, “My friends, will you kill your King? be not troubled for the loss of your leader. I will be your captain, and grant what you desire.” Upon which they changed their resolution, and marched under his conduct to St. George’s Fields, where finding a thousand citizens completely armed, they were struck with such an amazing panic, that, throwing down their arms, they begged for mercy, which being granted, they immediately dispersed. Several writers ascribe to the action of this day, the addition of the dagger to the arms of the city, in remembrance of the good service done by them, and particularly by the Lord Mayor. This, and other rebellions, being suppressed, King Richard, in the year 1390, appointed a great tournament to be held Two years after, the city refusing to lend the King a sum of money, and some of the citizens beating and abusing a Lombard merchant, for offering to advance the sum required, the King was so exasperated, that he sent for the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and twenty However, upon payment of the fine of 3000 marks, all the city liberties were restored, except the privilege of chusing her own Mayor. And the King, returning to London, was met at Shene, or Richmond Heath, by four hundred citizens on horseback, dressed in a rich uniform, with the Recorder at their head, who made a speech, in which he humbly begged pardon for their past offences, and earnestly Never was the city more richly embellished than on this occasion, for the citizens of all ranks strove to outvie each other, in honour of their reconciled Sovereign; the streets were lined with the city companies in their formalities, and the conduits all the while ran with variety of wines. At the standard in Cheapside, a boy dressed in white, to represent an angel, stood in a magnificent pageant, and upon the King’s approach, presented him with wine in a gold cup, and placed on his head a crown of gold, adorned with a variety of pearls and precious stones, and likewise another on the head of the Queen. After which their Majesties were conducted to their palace at Westminster, by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, The King, and his royal consort Isabella, a daughter of France, were some years after again conducted, with extraordinary magnificence, thro’ the city; but in 1398, the citizens petitioning to have their taxes taken off, and against entering into a treaty with the French King, about the delivering up of Calais, Richard was so exasperated against them, that he obliged many of the richest of the citizens to sign and seal several blank papers sent them by the ministry, who afterwards filled them up at their pleasure, with such sums as would effectually drain them; and this rendered him so odious to the citizens, that when Henry Duke of Lancaster arrived from France, they received him with open gates, and expressed their joy by magnificent shews, solemn processions of the clergy, and loud acclamations; and, in short, after the late King was made prisoner, Henry was received in great pomp The reign of Henry IV. was not distinguished by any remarkable disputes between that King and the citizens; but in the year 1407, a dreadful plague carried off 30,000 of the inhabitants, whereby corn became so cheap, that wheat sold at 3s. 4d. the quarter. In the reign of Henry V. the citizens chiefly distinguished themselves by the splendid cavalcade, with which they conducted that brave Prince through the city, after the glorious battle of Agincourt, In this reign Moorgate was first built, and Sir Henry Barton, the Lord Mayor, first ordered lanthorns to be hung out, for illuminating the streets by night. Indeed it is surprizing, that so useful and necessary a regulation was not made much earlier, considering the multitude and wealth of the inhabitants, the brooks which still ran through some of the streets, and the dirt occasioned by their lying much lower than at present. After the death of this great conqueror, his young son Henry VI. being crowned King of France at Paris, the citizens, on his return, expressed their loyalty in a very extraordinary manner; for the royal It is impossible, in the short compass allotted to this part of the work, to give an account of the several rebellions and King Edward IV. therefore, in the second year of his reign, shewed his gratitude for the favours he had received from them, by granting the city a charter, by which all the ancient rights and privileges of the citizens were confirmed, and the following additional privileges bestowed. 1. The Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen past the chair, are appointed perpetual justices of peace in the city; and are constituted justices of oyer and terminer, for the trial of all malefactors within their own jurisdiction. 2. For the better ascertaining the customs of the city, when a plea is brought in any of the superior courts, relating to those customs, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen are impowered to declare, by the mouth of their Recorder, whether the point in controversy be a custom of London, or not; and if, upon enquiry, it be found to be such, then it is to be recorded, 3. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen are for ever exempted from serving in all foreign assizes, juries, or attaints, and from the offices of assessor, collector of taxes, overseer, or comptroller of all public duties without the jurisdiction of the city. 4. The citizens are allowed the privilege of holding an annual fair in the borough of Southwark, together with a court of Pye-powder, with the rights and customs thereto belonging, &c. all at the ancient fee farm of 10l. per annum. Afterwards, in the year 1479, the city gave the same Prince 1923l. 19s. 8d. for the liberty of purchasing lands, &c. in mortmain, to the value of 200 marks per annum; and also purchased of the King, for 7000l. the offices of package, portage, garbling, gauging, wine-drawer and coroner, to be enjoyed by them and their successors for ever. In the same year, a dreadful pestilence raged in London, which swept away an incredible number of people. On the death of Edward IV. the Duke of Buckingham strove in vain to make the citizens join in raising the Duke of Gloucester to the throne, to the prejudice In the beginning of the reign of Henry VII. the sweating sickness first raged in London, carrying off great numbers within twenty-four hours; but those who survived that time generally recovered; and of this disease died two Lord Mayors and one of the Sheriffs, in the space of the year. The next year the privileges of the citizens were struck at by their own magistrates, in a very extraordinary act of Common Council, which enjoined the citizens, under the penalty of an hundred pounds, not to carry any goods or merchandize to any fair or market within the kingdom, for the term of seven years; but this scandalous and unjust by-law was In the year 1500, the plague carried off 20,000 persons in London; and during this reign the city also suffered greatly by the oppressions of the King’s ministers Empson and Dudley; Alderman Capel was, upon several penal laws, condemned to pay a fine of 2700l. but by the intercession of friends, it was mitigated to 1600l. Thomas Knesworth, who had been Mayor, with Richard Shoare and Roger Grove, his Sheriffs, were accused of abuses committed in their offices, for which they were dragged to the Marshalsea, and confined without any legal process, till they redeemed themselves by paying 14,000l. and, in short, Sir Laurence Aylmer was, in the next year after he had served the office of Mayor, also imprisoned by these rapacious ministers, in order to extort a sum of money for his liberty: but the death of Henry VII. delivered him and many others from their troubles. King Henry VIII. the year after his accession to the throne, came in the habit of one of the yeomen of the guard, to see the march of the city watch; it being an ancient custom for the watch, who were The march was begun by the city music, followed by the Lord Mayor’s officers, in party-coloured liveries; then the swordbearer, on horseback, in beautiful armour, preceded the Lord Mayor, mounted on a stately horse adorned with rich trappings, attended by a giant and two pages on horseback, three pageants, morrice dancers and footmen; next came the Sheriffs, preceded by their officers, and attended by their giants, pages, pageants, and morrice dancers. Then marched a great body of demi-lancers in bright armour, on stately horses: next followed a body of carabineers in white fustian coats, with the city arms on their backs and breasts: then marched a body of archers with their bows bent, and shafts of arrows by their sides; followed by a party of pikemen with their corslets and helmets; after whom marched a body of halberdiers in their corslets The whole body, which consisted of about 2000 men, had between every division a certain number of musicians, who were answered in their proper places by the like number of drums, with standards and ensigns, in the same manner as veteran troops. This nocturnal march was lighted by 940 cressets, which were large lanthorns fixed at the end of poles, and carried over mens shoulders; two hundred of which were at the city expence, five hundred at that of the companies, and two hundred and forty were found by the city constables. The march began at the conduit in Cheapside, and passed through that street, Cornhill, and Leadenhall street to Aldgate; whence it returned by Fenchurch street, Gracechurch street, Cornhill, and Cheapside, to the conduit. During this march, the houses on each side the streets were decorated with greens and flowers wrought into garlands, and intermixed with a great number of lamps. Stow. This splendid procession constantly repeated twice a year, is not only a proof of the fondness for shew which then prevailed, The same year, Sir William Fitz-William, Alderman of Bread street ward, was disfranchised for refusing to serve the office of Sheriff. Fabian’s Chronicle. And in 1512, the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were first impowered to impannel juries for the city courts, each juror so impannelled to be a citizen worth an hundred marks. As the history of the city of London must necessarily include that of the manners of the inhabitants, we have given some instances of their fondness for pompous and splendid processions, and it may hereafter be necessary to add others, to enable the reader to form an idea of the difference between the past times and the present. I shall here mention amusements of a different kind, graced with the presence of a sovereign Prince, and which cannot fail of entertaining the reader. It was usual, on the first of May, for all the citizens who were able, to divert themselves in the woods and meadows with May-games, diversions not confined to the lower class, but equally the entertainment About two years after an event happened, Suddenly a rumour arose, that on Mayday all the foreigners would be assassinated, and several strangers fled; this coming to the knowledge of the King’s Council, Cardinal Wolsey sent for the Lord Mayor and several of the City Council, told them what he had heard, and exhorted them to preserve the peace. Upon this affair a court of Common Council was assembled at Guildhall, on the evening before Mayday, in which it was resolved to order every man to shut up his doors and keep his servants at home; and this advice being immediately communicated to the Cardinal, met with his approbation. Upon this every Alderman sent to inform his ward, that no man should stir out of his house after nine o’clock, but keep his doors shut and his servants within, till nine in the morning. This order had not On the 4th of May, the Lord Mayor, the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Surry, and others, sate upon the trial of the offenders On the 7th of May several others were found guilty, and received the same sentence as the former, and soon after were drawn upon hurdles to the standard in Cheapside; but when one was executed, and the rest about to be turned off, a respite came, and they were remanded back to prison. After this the soldiers who had kept watch in the city were withdrawn, which making the citizens flatter themselves that the King’s displeasure against them was not so great as they had imagined, the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and several Aldermen, went in mourning gowns to wait upon the King at Greenwich, when, having attended for some time at the privy chamber door, his Majesty with several of the nobility came forth, upon which, all of them falling upon their knees, the Recorder, in the name of the rest, in the most humble and submissive Being informed that the King was to be at Westminster Hall on the 22d of May, they resolved to repair thither, which they did with the consent of Cardinal Wolsey Lord High Chancellor. The King sat at the upper end of Westminster Hall, under a cloth of state, with the Cardinal and several of the nobility: and the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and several of the Common-Council attended; the prisoners, who then amounted to about 400, were brought in their shirts bound together with cords, and with halters about their necks, and among these were eleven women. The Cardinal, having sharply rebuked By the following account the reader will see, that our hospitable ancestors were not less fond of the pleasures of the table, than of outward pomp. Mr. Stow observes, that in the year 1531, eleven gentlemen of the law being promoted to the dignity of the coif, they gave a splendid and elegant entertainment in the Bishop of Ely’s palace in Holborn, for five days successively, at which were present the King, Queen, foreign Ministers, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, the Judges, the Master of the rolls, the Masters in chancery, the Serjeants at law, the principal Merchants of London, with many Knights and Esquires, and a certain number This being one of the greatest entertainments recorded in history, an account of it cannot be unacceptable to the reader: but as there were three poulterers concerned in providing the poultry, and only one of their accounts which we are able to communicate, it will be very deficient; however, as this great entertainment was given but about two hundred and thirty years ago, the subjoined account will shew the vast disparity between the prices of provisions then and now, and consequently the great disproportion between the scarcity of money at that time, and its plenty at present. Twenty-four large oxen, at 1l. 6s. 8d. each. The carcase of a large ox from the market, 1l. 4s. One hundred sheep, at 2s. 10d. each. Fifty-one calves, at 4s. 8d. each. Thirty-four hogs, at 3s. 8d. each. Ninety-one pigs, at 6d. each. Fourteen dozen of swans, no price set down. Capons of Greece, ten dozen, each at 1s. 8d. Kentish capons, nine dozen and a half, at 1s. each. Seven dozen and nine heathcocks, at 8d. each. Fourteen dozen and eight common cocks, at 3d. each. The best pullets (no number mentioned) at 2½d. each. Common ditto, 2d. each. Thirty-seven dozen of pigeons, at 10d. a dozen. Three hundred and forty dozen of larks, at 5d. a dozen. In the year 1532, a general muster of the citizens was held at Mile-End, when the names of all capable of bearing arms were taken down, from the age of sixteen to that of sixty; as were also an account of the weapons, armour, and other military accoutrements belonging to the city. Upon this occasion the principal citizens were dressed in white, with caps and feathers of the same colour; the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Recorder, and Sheriffs, wore white armour, and coats of black velvet, embroidered with the city arms; they had velvet caps on their heads, and rode on fine horses adorned with magnificent trappings, with gold chains about their necks, and battle-axes The citizens rendezvoused and were mustered early in the morning at Mile End, and before nine in the forenoon began their march, when entering Aldgate, they proceeded through the city, in admirable order, to Westminster; where they passed in review before the King and most of the nobility, who were highly delighted at their splendid appearance. From thence they marched round St. James’s Park, and down Holborn to Leadenhall, where they separated at five o’clock in the evening. So far our author. The King having divorced Queen Catharine, and married Anne Boleyn, or Boloine, who was descended from Godfrey Boloine, Mayor of this city, and intending her coronation, sent to order the Lord Mayor, not only to make all the preparations necessary for conducting his royal consort from Greenwich, by water, to the Tower of London; but to adorn the city after the most magnificent manner, for her passage through it to Westminster. On the 29th of May, the time prefixed for this pompous procession by water, the Mayor, Aldermen and Commons assembled at St. Mary Hill; the Mayor and Aldermen in scarlet, with gold chains, and those who were knights, with the collars of SS. At one they went on board the city barge at Billingsgate, which was most magnificently decorated; and attended by fifty noble barges, belonging to the several companies of the city, with each its own corporation on board; and, for the better regulation of this procession, it was ordered, that each barge should keep twice their lengths asunder. Thus regulated, the city barge was preceded by another mounted with ordnance, and the figures of dragons and other monsters, incessantly emitting fire Two days after, the Lord Mayor, in a gown of crimson velvet, and a rich collar of SS, attended by the Sheriffs and two domestics in red and white damask, went to receive the Queen at the Tower of London, whence the Sheriffs returned to see that every thing was in order. The streets were just before new gravelled from the Tower to Temple Bar, and railed in on each side; within the rails near Grasschurch, stood a body of Anseatic merchants, and next to them the several corporations of the city in their formalities, reaching to the Aldermens station at the upper end of Cheapside. On the opposite side were placed the city constables dressed in silk and velvet, with staffs in their hands, to prevent the breaking in of the mob, or any other disturbance. On this occasion, Gracechurch street and Cornhill were hung with crimson and scarlet cloth, and the sides of the houses of a place then called Goldsmith’s row, in Cheapside, were adorned with gold brocades, velvet and rich tapestry. The procession began from the Tower with twelve of the French Ambassador’s domestics in blue velvet, the trappings of The Queen was dressed in silver brocade, with a mantle of the same furred with ermine; her hair was dishevelled, and she wore a chaplet upon her head set with jewels of inestimable value. She sat After her Majesty came her Chamberlain, followed by her Master of Horse, leading a beautiful pad, with a side-saddle and trappings of silver tissue. Next came seven ladies in crimson velvet, faced with gold brocade, mounted on beautiful horses with gold trappings. Then followed two chariots covered with cloth of gold, in the first of which were the Duchess of Norfolk and the Marchioness of Dorset, and in the second four ladies in crimson velvet; then followed seven ladies dressed in the same manner, on horseback, with magnificent trappings, followed by another chariot all in white, with six ladies in crimson velvet; this was followed by another all in red, with eight ladies in the same dress with the former: next came thirty gentlewomen, attendants to the Ladies of honour; they were on horseback, dressed in silks and velvet; and the cavalcade was closed by the horse guards. This pompous procession being arrived in Fenchurch street, the Queen stopped Thence she proceeded to Grace church corner, where was erected a very magnificent pageant, at the expence of the company of Anseatic Merchants, in which was represented Mount Parnassus, with the fountain of Helicon, of white marble, out of which arose four springs about four feet high, centering at the top in a small globe, from which issued plenty of Rhenish wine till night. On the Mount sat Apollo, at his feet was Calliope, and beneath were the rest of the Muses, surrounding the Mount, and playing upon a variety of musical instruments, at whose feet were inscribed several epigrams suitable to the occasion, in letters of gold. Her Majesty then proceeded to Leadenhall, where stood a pageant, representing a hill encompassed with red and white roses; and above it was a golden stump, upon which a white falcon, descending from above, perched, and was quickly followed by an angel, who put a crown of gold upon his head. A little lower on the hilloc sat St. Anne, surrounded by her progeny, one of whom made an oration, The procession then advanced to the conduit in Cornhill; where the Graces sat enthroned, with a fountain before them incessantly discharging wine; and underneath, a Poet, who described the qualities peculiar to each of these amiable deities, and presented the Queen with their several gifts. The cavalcade thence proceeded to a great conduit that stood opposite to Mercers Hall in Cheapside, and, upon that occasion, was painted with a variety of emblems, and during the solemnity and remaining part of the day, ran with different sorts of wine, for the entertainment of the populace. At the end of Wood street, the standard there was finely embellished with royal portraitures and a number of flags, on which were painted coats of arms and trophies, and above was a concert of vocal and instrumental music. At the upper end of Cheapside was the Aldermens station, where the Recorder addressed the Queen in a very elegant oration, and, in the name of the citizens, presented her with a thousand marks in a purse of gold tissue, which her Majesty very gracefully received. At St. Paul’s gate was a fine pageant, in which sat three ladies richly dressed, with each a chaplet on her head, and a tablet in her hand, containing Latin inscriptions. At the east end of St. Paul’s cathedral, the Queen was entertained by some of the scholars belonging to St. Paul’s school, with verses in praise of the King and her Majesty, with which she seemed highly delighted. Thence proceeding to Ludgate, which was finely decorated, her Majesty was entertained with several songs adapted to the occasion, sung in concert by men and boys upon the leads over the gate. At the end of Shoe lane, in Fleet street, a handsome tower with four turrets was erected upon the conduit, in each of which stood one of the cardinal Virtues, with their several symbols; who, addressing themselves to the Queen, promised they would never leave her, but be always her constant attendants. Within the tower was an excellent concert of music, and At Temple Bar she was again entertained with songs, sung in concert by a choir of men and boys; and having from thence proceeded to Westminster, she returned the Lord Mayor thanks for his good offices, and those of the citizens that day. Stow’s Annals. The day after, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, performed their several offices at the coronation; and, in return for the great expence the city had been at upon the above occasion, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and forty of the principal citizens, had the honour of being afterwards invited to the christening of the Princess Elizabeth. In the year 1551, King Edward VI. gave the city a charter, by which he not only confirmed all its former privileges, but granted the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens, several lands and tenements in Southwark, with the manor thereof, and its appurtenances; the assize of bread, wine, beer, and ale; a fair for three days; and the offices of Coroner, Escheator, and Clerk of the market, which are for ever vested in the Lord Mayor and his successors. In the beginning of the year 1552, Upon the breaking out of the rebellion under Sir Thomas Wyat, occasioned by the report of Queen Mary’s intended marriage with Philip of Spain, the city was thrown into a violent commotion, and on his marching to Deptford, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and citizens, had not only recourse to arms; but, it being term time, the Judges sat, and the Council pleaded in Westminster Hall in armour. In this general confusion the Queen came to Guildhall, where she was attended by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and several of the city companies in their formalities, to whom she made a long and flattering speech, in which she professed, that she loved them as a mother loves her child, and that she would not engage in this marriage, if she thought it inconsistent with the happiness of her loving subjects: but that she desired to leave some fruit of her body to be their governor. The rest of this reign exhibited a dreadful scene of religious bigotry, by a most cruel persecution of the Protestants; for the principal instance she gave of her tender maternal love to the citizens, was, her causing many of them to be burnt in Smithfield, in order to put a stop to the reformation begun by her father, and continued by her brother: but Providence soon interposed; her reign was short; and the fires which were then kindled for the holy martyrs, who sealed their faith with their blood, were the last effort, under the sanction of law, made by religious tyranny in this kingdom to overthrow the reformation. Happy would it have been for the Protestants, if this cruel spirit had never prevailed amongst them; if, upon this change, universal benevolence had taken place, and every Briton would have allowed his neighbour the same liberty of We are now come to the period when our streets were no longer to be crouded with monks and friars of various orders, and in very different and uncouth habits, walking with their heads shaven and bare, with long beards, and a rosary hanging at their girdles; when our nobility and gentry were to be no longer affronted in the streets by Cardinals, attended by a great retinue of servants: by the lordly Knights of religious orders, or the wealthy Priors of convents: when our streets were no longer to be adorned with crosses and the images of the saints, the objects of much superstition; and when many of our largest, most conspicuous, and stately buildings, were no longer to consist of priories, friaries, nunneries, and guilds of religious fraternities. The priories then were, that of St. John of Jerusalem, near Clerkenwell. That of the Holy Trinity of Christ church, or Creechurch, within Aldgate. That of St. Bartholomew the Great, between Newgate street and West Smithfield. The priory or abbey of Bermondsey, Southwark. The priory of the Knights Templars, in Fleet street. And The old Temple of Holborn. The friaries were, that of the crutched or crossed friars, in St. Olave’s, Hart street. That of the brethren de sacca, or de poenitentia Jesu Christi, in the Old Jewry. The Charter house monks, or the house of the Carthusians, between St. John’s street and Goswell street. And that of Westminster Abbey. The five following were convents of begging friars; Black friars in Holborn, and The black friars, Dominicans, or preaching friars, near Ludgate. The gray friars, or Franciscans, near Newgate. The Augustine friars, in Broad street. And the white friars, or Carmelites, in Fleet street. The convents of women were, that of Clerkenwell. That of St. Helen, within Bishopsgate. That of St. Clare, in the Minories. And that of Holiwell by Shoreditch. The guilds or fraternities were, the brotherhood of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, in St. Botolph’s, Aldgate. The fraternity and chapel of the Holy Trinity, in Leadenhall; and innumerable others, founded in most churches. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the far greatest part of this metropolis was contained within the walls, and even in these narrow limits were many gardens, which have been since converted into lanes, courts, and alleys. The buildings of London were, on the west, bounded by the monastery of St. Catharine’s; But on leaving the city walls, the buildings were much less extensive; for though the village of Holborn was now joined to If we turn to the Strand, we also find, that spacious street had gardens on each side, and to the north, fields behind those gardens, except a few houses where is now the west end of Drury lane. On the south side of the street, the gardens generally extended to the Thames; though some of the nobility had houses on the back of their gardens, next the water side. Covent Garden, so called from its belonging to the convent at Westminster, extended to St. Martin’s lane, and the field behind it reached to St. Giles’s. That lane had few edifices besides the church; for Covent Garden wall was on one side, and a wall which inclosed the Mews, on the other, and all the upper part was a lane between two hedges, which extended a little to the west of the village of St. Giles’s. Hedge lane was also a lane between two hedges; the extensive street now called the Hay Market, had a hedge on one side, and a few bushes on the other. Lambeth was, at that time, a little village at a considerable distance from Southwark, and there were no buildings on the south bank of the Thames, till a row of houses began opposite to White Friars, and extended along the river, with gardens, fields, or groves behind them, till almost opposite the Steel Yard, where several streets began: the Borough extended a considerable distance from the bridge to the south, and the buildings to the east as far as the Tower. This was the state of this great metropolis, so lately as in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and how inconsiderable soever it must appear, when compared with its present dimensions, yet, by order of that Queen, a proclamation was published, by which all persons were forbid to build upon new foundations, and this order was twice repeated in the following reign. On the 1st of January 1559, the Litany, as now used, was first read in all the churches of London; and about this time the populace not only destroyed all the In the year 1582, expence in dress having prevailed in the city, among people of all ranks, particularly among apprentices, which was then apprehended might prove of dangerous consequence to their masters, the following orders were published by the Lord Mayor and Common Council, which will be now thought very extraordinary, viz. That from thence forward no apprentice whatsoever should presume, To wear any apparel but what he receives from his master. To wear no hat within the city and liberty thereof, nor any thing instead of it but a woollen cap, without any silk about it. To wear no ruffles, cuffs, loose collar, nor any thing more than a ruff at the collar, and that only of a yard and a half long. To wear no doublets but what were made of canvas, sackcloth, fustian, English leather, or woollen cloth, without being enriched in any manner with gold, silver, or silk. To wear no other coloured cloth or kersey, in hose or stockings, than white, blue, or russet. To wear a plain upper coat of cloth or leather, without pinking, stitching, guarding, lace, or silk about it. To wear no other surtout than a cloth gown or cloak, lined or faced with cloth, cotton, or bays, with a fixed round collar, without stitching, guarding, lace, or silk. To wear no pumps, slippers, nor shoes, but of English leather, without being pinked, edged, or stitched; nor girdles nor garters except of crewel, woollen, thread, or leather, without being garnished. And to wear no sword, dagger, or other weapon, but a knife; nor neither a ring, nor a jewel, gold, silver, nor silk in any part of his apparel. Rigorous as these laws were, and unsufferable as they would be now thought, yet any apprentice offending against any of the above particulars, was, for the first offence, to be punished at the discretion of his master; for the second he was to be publickly whipped at the hall of his company; and for the third, to serve six months longer than specified in his indentures. And every master conniving at his apprentice’s violating the above severe The plague, which had broke out many times in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, appeared afresh in 1603, on the accession of King James I. to the throne, and made such dreadful devastation, that, within the space of a year, it swept away 30,578 persons: but it having at length happily ceased, the King, Queen, and Prince Henry, made their public entry from the Tower on the 15th of March 1604, on which occasion the city was embellished with seven magnificent triumphal arches, numerous pageants, and other pompous decorations. The streets were adorned with the richest silks and carpets, and lined with the stands of the several corporations, with their flags and bands of music. In the year 1608, King James I. granted the city a charter, by which he not only confirmed all the ancient rights, liberties, and immunities of the citizens, but added to the bounds and jurisdiction of the city the precincts of Duke’s Place, St. Bartholomew’s the Great and Less, Black and White Friars, and Cold Harbour. That King also granted the city two other charters. In 1613, the water of the New River, In the year 1625, when King Charles I. ascended the throne, a most dreadful pestilence raged in London; the fatal effects of this distemper had been frequently felt; but it now carried off, within the space of a year, in the city and suburbs, 35,417 persons, besides those who died of other distempers, which, in the whole, amounted to 54,265, said to be one third of the inhabitants. It is remarkable that in the year 1629, the goldsmiths shops in the south row of Cheapside, reached from the Old Change to Buckler’s Bury, exclusive of only four shops of other trades in all that space; but these four shops gave King Charles I. and his Privy Council such offence, that they sent an order to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, commanding them to turn out the tenants, and to oblige all the goldsmiths In 1633, King Charles I. being returned from his progress into Scotland, the gentlemen of the four Inns of Court entertained their Majesties with a pompous masque, which excelled every thing of the kind that had been seen in England, the expence amounting to 21,000l. the greatest sum probably ever expended in this kingdom in mere shew, except at a coronation; we shall therefore give it our readers, as a specimen of the taste of the times; the following account being the more curious, as these kinds of entertainments are now entirely laid aside. The masquers, musicians, and all who were actors, met on Candlemas day in the afternoon, at Ely House in Holborn, The march began with twenty footmen in scarlet liveries, trimmed with silver lace, each having his sword by his side, a baton in one hand, and a lighted torch in the other. These were the Marshal’s men, who cleared the streets, and were about the Marshal, waiting his commands. After them, and sometimes in the midst of them, came Mr. Darrel the Marshal, a very handsome gentleman, of Lincoln’s Inn, mounted upon one of the King’s best horses, and richest saddles. He was magnificently dressed, and, besides his Marshal’s men, had two lacquies who carried torches, and a page in livery carrying his cloak. He was followed by an hundred of the handsomest young gentlemen of the Inns of Court, twenty-five chosen out of each house, all of them mounted on the best horses, and with the best furniture that the King’s stables, and those of all the noblemen in town could afford. These hundred gentlemen were so richly dressed, that scarce any thing but gold and silver lace could be seen, and every one of them had two lacquies, in his own livery, carrying After this noble troop, came the antimasquers; preceded by the sound of keys and tongs, playing in concert. The first antimasque consisted of beggars and cripples, mounted on the poorest leanest jades that could be got out of the dust carts or elsewhere, a change, which from the nobleness of the music, the fineness of the horses, and the magnificent appearance of the gentlemen, afforded a very odd and surprizing contrast; the habits and every thing belonging to these cripples and beggars being ingeniously fitted by the direction of the commissioners, among whom were Mr. Attorney Noy, Sir John Finch, Sir Edward Herbert, and Mr. Selden. After the beggars antimasque, came men on horseback, playing upon pipes, whistles, and instruments, imitating the notes of all sorts of birds, and playing in excellent concert. These were followed by an antimasque of birds, consisting of an owl in an ivy bush, with many different sorts of birds, in a cluster gazing upon her; these were little boys put in covers in the shape of those birds, nicely fitted, sitting on small After this antimasque, came other musicians on horseback, playing upon bagpipes and other kinds of Northern music, to shew that the following projectors were Scots; and these, like the rest, had many footmen with torches waiting on them. First in this antimasque rode a fellow upon a little horse with a great bit in his mouth, carrying upon his head a bit with a headstall and reins; a projector, who begged a patent, that none in the kingdom might ride their horses, without such bits as they should buy of him. Then came another fellow with a capon upon his fist, and a bunch of carrots upon his head, representing a projector, who begged a patent of monopoly, as the first inventor of the art of feeding capons fat with carrots. Several other projectors were personated in this antimasque, which pleased the spectators the more, because an information was thus covertly given to the King, of the unfitness and ridiculousness of these projects against the law. The Attorney Noy, who had most knowledge of them, had a great hand in this antimasque of the projectors. This chariot was followed by six more of the musicians on horseback, dressed and attended with torches like the former, proceeding before another large open chariot, drawn by six fine horses, with feathers, liveries, and torches, like the other. Within it were twelve musicians, as variously dressed as the others, to represent, like them, Pagan deities. These chariots were made for this occasion, and, preceding the grand masquers chariots, played upon excellent loud music all the way. After this chariot came six more musicians, dressed and attended like the former, followed by the first chariot of the grand masquers, which was not so large as those that went before, but was curiously carved and painted. It was in the form of a Roman triumphal chariot, and richly painted with crimson and silver On each side of the chariot were four footmen, in liveries of the colour of the chariot, carrying huge flambeaus, which, with the torches, gave the greatest lustre to the paintings, spangles and habits. After this chariot came six more musicians, in habits like the former, followed by the second chariot, which differed only from the other in its being painted silver and blue. The chariot and horses were covered with tissue of blue and silver, as the former was with silver and crimson. In this second triumphal chariot were four grand masquers of the Middle After these followed the third and fourth triumphal chariots, with six musicians between each; both they and their horses dressed as before. The triumphal chariots were all of the same make, and alike carved and painted, only differing in the colours. In the third of these chariots rode the grand masquers of the Inner Temple, and in the fourth those of Lincoln’s Inn; each taking the place assigned them by lot. In this order they proceeded to Whitehall, where the King and Queen, from a window of the Banquetting house, beheld this procession, and were so highly delighted with it, that the King sent to desire the Marshal to take a turn round the Tilt Yard, that he and his consort might have a second view of this pompous procession; which being accordingly performed, they entered the palace, and were conducted to several apartments prepared for their entertainment; where the Ladies of honour, and even the Queen herself, danced with the principal masquers. With this fine cavalcade her Majesty was so delighted, that she desired to have it repeated, which being intimated to the During this unhappy reign, great disputes arose between the King and the city, in relation to ship-money, loans, &c. the city was deprived not only of the new plantation of Ulster in Ireland, which had been granted to the Lord Mayor and citizens by King James I. but fined 50,000l. Several of the Aldermen were imprisoned, for neglecting to send to court an account of such persons as were able to lend his Majesty money, and the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs prosecuted in the Star-chamber; the five members whom the King himself went with a guard to seize in the Parliament House, took refuge in the city, and were conducted back by water to the House of Commons, by a great number of citizens, while the Trained-Bands, as a farther guard, marched by land to Westminster. But even in the midst of these disputes, while the King was actually opposing the liberties of the There being some time after but little prospect of an agreement between the King and Parliament, and the greatest part of the city being averse to all thoughts of an accommodation, the Common Council passed an act for fortifying the city with out-works; agreed that all the ways leading to the city should be shut up, except those entering at Charing Cross, St. Giles’s in the Fields, St. John’s street, Shoreditch, and Whitechapel, and that the exterior ends of those streets should be fortified with breastworks and turnpikes, musket proof; that the several courts of guards, and rails at the extreme parts of the liberty of the city, should be fortified with turnpikes, musket proof; that all the sheds and buildings contiguous to the This act of Common Council being soon after confirmed by an order of Parliament, the following forts were raised, 1. A bulwark and a half, at the north end of Gravel lane. 2. A hornwork, near the windmill in Whitechapel road. 3. A redoubt with two flanks, near Brick lane. 4. A redoubt with four flanks, in Hackney road, Shoreditch. 5. A redoubt with four flanks, in Kingsland road. 6. A battery and breast-work, at Mountmill. 7. A battery and breast-work, at the end of St. John’s street. 8. A small redoubt, near Islington pound. 9. A large fort with four half bulwarks, near New River head. 10. A battery and breast-work, on the hill, east of the place afterwards called Black Mary’s Hole. 11. Two batteries and a breast-work, at Southampton, now Bedford-house. 12. A redoubt with two flanks, near St. Giles’s pound. 13. A small fort, at the east end of Tyburn road. 14. A large fort with four half bulwarks, across the road where Wardour street is now built. 15. A These forts were all joined by a line of communication, formed by a rampart of earth, which on all sides surrounded the cities of London and Westminster, and the borough of Southwark, This was done at the expence of the city, and the whole was immediately executed with the greatest alacrity. After this, the city entered heartily into the measures of the Parliament, though the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council frequently sollicited that body to settle the peace of the kingdom: but soon after the King’s death, an order being sent to the Lord Mayor and Sheriff, to proclaim the abolition of monarchy, he refused to comply, upon which he was At the inauguration of Cromwell in 1657, as Lord Protector, the Lord Mayor carried the city sword before him, accompanied by the Earl of Warwick, who carried the sword of state, and during the ceremony stood on the right side of Cromwell’s chair, while the Lord Mayor stood on the left. But after the death of Cromwell, the Common Council opposing the Committee of Safety, declaring for a free Parliament, and refusing to pay or advance money to the Parliament, General Monk was ordered to march with his army into the city, and the streets became planted with soldiers; when several of the Aldermen and Common Council were taken into custody, the whole body disqualified, and a new Common Council ordered to be chosen; after which the city gates were broke and cut to pieces, the portcullises taken down and destroyed, and the posts and chains taken down. After this, the city heartily and zealously joined with General Monk, in bringing about the restoration. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen, on the 29th of In the year 1663, King Charles II. granted the city a confirmation of all their former charters, privileges, liberties, rights and customs; and the next year the city, in return, advanced several considerable sums for his Majesty, to enable him to carry on a war with the Dutch, for which the citizens received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament. About the beginning of May 1665, one of the most terrible plagues that ever was inflicted on this, or perhaps any other kingdom, broke out in this city: and as this was happily the last visitation of this The week wherein this most dreadful distemper was first discovered, it carried off nine persons, whereby the citizens were so greatly alarmed, that an universal dread diffused itself amongst people of all ranks: but the week after, the number, according to the bill of mortality, being reduced to three, the fears of the citizens were greatly alleviated. The next week, however, the number increasing to fourteen, and progressively to forty-three, the people were struck with consternation, and many of them had thoughts of leaving the city: but in the month of June, the number having gradually increased to 470 a week, the nobility, gentry, and principal citizens fled for safety, all being instantly in an amazing hurry, and the city emptying itself into the country, the streets and roads were excessively crouded with carriages and passengers. In July the bill increasing to 2010, all houses were shut up, the streets deserted, and scarce any thing to be seen therein but grass growing, innumerable fires made to purify the air, coffins, pest-carts, red crosses upon doors, with the inscription of Lord, have mercy upon us! and poor women in tears, with dismal aspects, and woeful lamentations, carrying Under these deplorable circumstances, the citizens, when in the greatest want of spiritual guides, were forsaken by their parochial Ministers, when those who had been just before ejected from the pulpits, considering their indispensible duty in this dreadful visitation, were induced, though contrary to law, to supply their place; upon which the people, laying aside the distinction of churchmen and dissenters, joyfully resorted to church, where the concourse was so exceeding great, that these non-conformist Ministers were frequently obliged to clamber over the pews to get to the pulpit; and if ever preaching had a better effect than ordinary, it was at this time, when the people listened with the utmost eagerness, and attended In the month of September Death rode triumphant, for the burials then amounted in one week to 6988; but the week after the bill falling to 6544, gave some glimmering hopes that this dreadful distemper was past its crisis: however, the great increase the week following to 7165, re-immerged the survivors into an abyss of horror and despair; for now they were struck with the dreadful apprehensions, that in a few days the living would not be sufficient to bury the dead. They were, however, happily mistaken; for after this, the contagion gradually decreased, till it pleased the Almighty to restore this desolate city to its pristine state of health; after the direful ravages of this distemper had swept off 68,596 persons, which, together with those who died of other diseases, made the bill of mortality for this year amount to 97,306. Echard’s Hist. Vincent’s God’s terrible voice. As to the natural causes of this pestilence, Physicians differ greatly; however, Dr. Baynard observes, that during the havock made by it, there was a general calmness and serenity of weather, without the least wind or rain; that through the The above calamity was scarcely ceased, and those who had fled returned to their houses, when on Sunday the 2d of September 1666, a dreadful fire broke out at one in the morning, in the house of Mr. Farryner, a baker, in Pudding lane; a time when the eyes and senses of all were locked in sleep. The house was a wooden building pitched on the outside, as were all the rest in the lane, which was exceeding narrow, and by the jutting over of the several stories, the buildings on each side almost met at the top; and in this manner were built most of the houses in this metropolis. The house in which the fire began, containing much brush and faggot wood, the fire soon got ahead, and furiously seized on the neighbouring houses on all sides, running four ways at once; it presently set New Fish street all in a flame; while another branch raging down Pudding lane, laid hold on Thames street, the repository of all combustibles, as hemp, flax, rosin, oil, butter, pitch, tar, The pulling down houses every way, at some distance, was first proposed; and this was the only method that could have been of any service in stopping the progress of the flames; for had there been water, the fire was too fierce to be mastered by engines, or to suffer any body to work near it; but this was objected to, and while the affair was debated, the flames spread still farther. Unhappily they were increased by a violent easterly wind; and that day and the following night spread up Gracechurch street, and downwards from Cannon street to the water side, as far as the Three Cranes. The people in all parts were distracted at seeing the progress of the fire, and by the care of carrying off their goods. However, The wind, however, slackened a little on Tuesday night, when the fire, meeting at the Temple with brick buildings, it by little and little lost its force on that side, so that on Wednesday morning a stop was put to it on the west, at the Temple church, and also at Holborn bridge and Pye corner. On the north, it stopped at Aldersgate, Cripplegate, near the north end of Basinghall street, and in Coleman street: on the east, at the south corner of Bishopsgate street and Leadenhall street, at the church in Fenchurch street, and at the Tower dock, after its having consumed all the buildings within these limits, quite down to the water side. On Thursday the flames were extinguished; By this dreadful conflagration were consumed 400 streets and lanes, 13,200 houses, the cathedral church of St. Paul, 86 parish churches, 6 chapels, the Royal Exchange, Blackwell Hall, and the Custom House, several hospitals and libraries, 52 of the Companies halls, and a vast number of other stately edifices, together with three of the city gates, four stone bridges, and four prisons; the loss of which, with that of the merchandize and houshold furniture, amounted, according to the best calculation, to ten millions, seven hundred and thirty thousand, five hundred pounds: but it is amazing, that in this terrible devastation, only six persons lost their lives by the fire. As by the dreadful ravages of the plague the preceding year, the city was depopulated, and the houses deprived of their inhabitants, so by this conflagration the surviving citizens were deprived of their habitations, and many thousands of them compelled to retire to the fields, with such of their effects as they were able to It has been much disputed, whether this dismal catastrophe was occasioned by accident or design. An attempt was first made to fix it upon the dissenters, who suffered as much by this calamity, as any other body of men; but having not the least colour for such a pretence, it dropped of course; and the English being then at war with the French and the Dutch, the latter were charged with concerting this diabolical scheme; but this was found to be only an injurious aspersion: however, Robert Hubert, a Frenchman, of the Romish church, confessed, that he, at the sollicitation of one Stephen Piedloe, set fire to the baker’s house in Pudding lane, by means of a fire-ball which he fixed to the end of a long pole, and lighting it It is observable, that the preceding spring and summer had been the dryest in the memory of man; whereby the houses, which were all built of wood, and without party walls, were prepared, as it were, by Heaven, to become fuel for this terrible conflagration, which, together with the east wind abovementioned, might possibly be alone sufficient to reduce the city to a heap of ashes. But whatever the unhappy citizens of London might then suffer; it is evident, that this was one of the greatest blessings that could have happened for the good of posterity; for, instead of very narrow and incommodious streets; instead of dark, irregular, and ill contrived wooden houses, with their several stories projecting over, obstructing the circulation of the air, and harbouring those noxious particles that The reduction of this great and opulent city to a heap of rubbish, greatly affected the whole nation; and the King desiring it should be now erected with greater magnificence, uniformity, and safety than before, prohibited for some time the rebuilding of the houses; and the Judges were ordered by Parliament to hear and determine all disputes between landlords, tenants, and lessees, concerning the rebuilding and repairing of houses, &c. without fee or reward. London indeed might now have been rebuilt in such a manner, as to have exceeded in beauty all the cities upon earth; and this would have been the case, had either of the following plans been followed. The first was formed by Sir Christopher Wren, who, pursuant to the royal commands, traced over the great plain of ashes and ruins, and thence formed his The streets were to be of three magnitudes; the three principal leading straight through the city, and one or two cross streets to be at least ninety feet wide; others sixty feet, and the lanes about thirty feet, excluding all narrow dark alleys, thoroughfairs, and courts. The Exchange to stand free in the middle of a piazza, and to be the center of the town, from whence the streets should proceed to all the principal parts of the city; the building to be after the form of a Roman forum, with double porticos. Many streets were also to radiate upon the bridge. Those of the first and second The churches were to be designed according to the best forms for capacity and hearing; and those of the larger parishes adorned with porticos and lofty ornamental towers and steeples: but all church yards, gardens, and unnecessary vacuities, and all trades that use great fires, or yield noisome smells, were to be placed out of the town. This plan, which that great architect laid before the King and the House of Commons, is thus explained: from that part of Fleet street which remained unburned, a straight street of 90 feet wide was to extend, and, passing by the south side of Ludgate, was to end gracefully in a piazza on Tower hill. In the middle of Fleet street was to be a circular area surrounded with a piazza, the center of eight ways, where, at one station, were to meet the following streets. The first, straight forward, quite thro’ the city: the second, obliquely towards the right hand, to the beginning of the key that was to be run from Bridewell dock to the Tower: the third, obliquely on the left, to Smithfield: the fourth, Passing down Fleet street, at the bottom of which the ditch was to be rendered a beautiful canal, passable by as many bridges as there were streets to cross it, and leaving Ludgate prison on the left side of the street; where a triumphal arch was to be formed, instead of the gate, in honour of King Charles II. the founder of the new city: St. Paul’s was to be situated where it is at present, and surrounded by a triangular piazza. On leaving that cathedral on the left, a straight street was to extend directly to the Tower, adorned all the way, at proper distances, with parish churches; and leaving that edifice to the right, the other great branch was to lead to the Royal Exchange, which was to be seated in the middle of a piazza, between two great streets; the one from Ludgate leading to the south front, and another from Holborn, thro’ Newgate, and thence straight to the north front of the Exchange. This noble scheme was demonstrated to Soon after this, Sir John Evelyn produced another plan, in which he proposed that some of the deepest vallies should be filled up, or at least made with less sudden declivities. That a new and spacious key should run from the Tower to the Temple, and extend itself as far as the low water mark; by which means the channel of the river would be kept constantly full; the irregularity and deformity of the stairs, and the dirt and nastiness left at every ebb would also be prevented. Among these he would have the parochial churches, which he thought might be reduced to half the number, as some of the parishes were then no less than two hundred times larger than others: and these he would have so interspersed as to adorn the profile of the city at all its avenues. Most of them he would have in the center of spacious areas, adorned with piazzas, &c. so as to be seen from several streets, and others at the abutments and extremities of them. About the church piazzas, the stationers and booksellers were to have their The College of Physicians he would have in one of the best parts of the town, incircled with a handsome piazza, for the dwellings of those learned persons, with the surgeons, apothecaries, and druggists in the streets about them; for he would have all of a mystery in the same quarters: those of the better sort of the shopkeepers in the sweetest and most eminent streets and piazzas; and the artificers in the more ordinary houses, in the intermediate and narrow passages; the taverns and victualling houses were to be placed amongst them, and be built accordingly; but so as to preserve the most perfect uniformity. Between the piazzas, market places, and churches, might be placed the halls The Royal Exchange he thought might front the Thames about the Steelyard, in an area surrounded on three sides with piazzas, with vaults for warehouses underneath; and for such merchandize as could not be well preserved under ground, might be erected buildings fronting the Thames on the other side of the river, with wharfs before and yards behind for the placing of cranes; the laying of timber, coals, &c. and other gross commodities, while the key over against it should be built for the owners, and the dwellings of the principal merchants: but if the warehouses must needs be on this side, they should be made to front Thames street rather than the river, because of the dull and heavy aspect of those buildings. The little bay at Queenhithe should have the key continued around it, and Four great streets were to extend along the city: the first from Fleet ditch, (which was to be formed into a noble canal) to the Tower: the second, from the Strand to the most eastern part of the city, where should be a noble triumphal arch in honour of Charles II. the third, from Newgate to Aldgate: and the fourth and shortest, from Aldersgate to Bishopsgate. He proposed that five principal cross streets should extend from Black Friars stairs into West Smithfield; from the Thames east of St. Paul’s to Aldersgate; from Queenhithe to Cripplegate; and from the Royal Exchange to Moorgate: that the street from the bridge should extend to Bishopsgate: that one from Billingsgate should extend near as far: and one from the Custom house to Aldgate. Instead of houses on the bridge, he proposed to have it adorned with a substantial iron baluster, decorated, at convenient distances, with statues on their pedestals, with a footway on each side. The hospitals, workhouses to employ the poor, and the prisons, being built The gates were to be in the form of triumphal arches, adorned with statues, relievos, and apposite inscriptions, not obstructed by sheds, or mean houses joined to them. This gentleman also proposed, that along the wall betwixt Cripplegate and Aldgate, should be the church-yards of the several parishes, while the houses opposite to them formed a large street for the common inns, and served as a station for carriers, &c. These being on the north part of the city, and nearest the confines of the fields and roads, would least incumber the town; and there would be a far more commodious and free access to them, by reason of their immediate approaches through the traverse streets, than if they were scattered up and down without distinction. But this scheme, which was designed as an improvement of Sir Christopher’s, also fell to nothing; and by the obstinacy of the citizens, the opportunity was lost of However, it was ordered by act of Parliament, that many of the streets and lanes should be widened, and the city was impowered to make a new street from Cheapside to Guildhall, which obtained the name of King street, and another from Threadneedle street to Lothbury, called Prince’s street. And the markets, which till then were held in Newgate street and Cheapside, were ordered to be removed behind the houses into commodious market places to be prepared for that purpose. It was also enacted that all the houses should be built with stone or brick, with party walls, and the whole finished within three years: that the ground in several places should be raised, and that a column of brass or stone should be erected on or near the place where the above dreadful fire began; whence arose that noble column called the Monument: but had it been raised near the place where the fire ceased, and in the center of the fine circular area proposed by Sir Christopher Wren, in Fleet street, where eight streets would radiate upon it, and where it would be seen to terminate the view, The reader has just seen the city under two of the most dreadful calamities that could fall upon a people, pestilence, and a general destruction by fire; he will now see the citizens suffering calamities of a very different kind, and deprived of all their boasted privileges. This affair it is necessary to trace from its origin. In the beginning of May 1679, a conspiracy of the papists was discovered, for destroying the city again by fire, occasioned by the burning of one Bird’s house in Fetter lane; for Elizabeth Oxley, the servant, being suspected, was committed to prison; where she not only confessed the fact, but declared, that she was prevailed upon to fire it by one Stubbs, a papist, upon the promise of 5l. Stubbs being secured, confessed that he had been excited to this by Father Gifford, his confessor, who told him, that instead of its being a sin, it would be a great service to the church to burn and destroy all the houses of heretics; and that he had several conferences with Gifford, and two In revenge, the Romish party trumped up what was called the Meal Tub plot, to bring an odium upon the presbyterians and the heads of the country party; but Dangerfield, the chief actor in this farce, being committed to prison, applied himself to the Lord Mayor, and in an ample confession laid open the whole scene of iniquity, discovering the persons who set him to work. The citizens not only vigorously pressed the prosecution of all the persons they had reason to think concerned in the popish plot, in opposition to the court, who endeavoured to skreen them; but the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council presented a petition to his Majesty, desiring, that all the persons who had been impeached by the Commons, might be brought to their trials; the Duke of York, as being a papist, excluded from succeeding to the throne; and the Parliament continued, in order to make The Parliament being soon after dissolved, and writs issued for a new election, the citizens chose their former members, and gave them directions in writing to continue their search into the popish plot; to promote the bill of exclusion, and to grant no supplies of money till they had effectually secured them against popery and arbitrary power; which example was followed by most of the electors of the kingdom. The court now threw the city into confusion, by interfering in the election of Sheriffs; those the city had chosen, and one of the Aldermen, were committed to the Tower; while other Sheriffs were elected by the Lord Mayor, without the consent of the Commons; and soon after a quo warranto was brought against the city, contrary to justice, the charters of the city, and the rights of the citizens: the plea and rejoinder brought by the citizens, were as full and as nervous, as the arguments After this the King granted the office of Lord Mayor to be held during pleasure, appointed the Sheriffs, the Recorder, and sixteen of his favourite Aldermen; degraded eight of those that were in the country interest, and appointed eight others in their room. The death of King Charles II. was far from putting a stop to the arbitrary measures of the court: for James II. immediately singled out as a sacrifice to popery, Mr. Cornish, an Alderman of this city, who, when Sheriff, had exerted himself in an uncommon manner in the detection and prosecution of those concerned in the popish plot. This gentleman was apprehended, and committed to Newgate, without the use of pen, ink, or paper, till Saturday noon, when he received notice, During this short but iniquitous reign, in which the boldest attempts were made for extirpating the protestant religion, and the religious and civil liberties of the people, the citizens and the whole nation cast their eyes on the Prince of Orange as their deliverer. That Prince’s resolution to grant them his assistance was no sooner known at Whitehall, than the deluded, weak, and pusillanimous King, prompted Upon this, a new Lord Mayor was chosen; the Aldermen restored to their respective wards; and the Liverymen of the several Companies at the time when judgment was given against the city upon the quo warranto, were also restored. It may be proper to observe, before we conclude this reign, that about the beginning of December 1683, was a severe frost, which continued till the 5th of February; the Thames being froze, a great number of streets with shops were erected upon it. In the year 1687, a dreadful persecution raging in France against the distressed protestants, 13,500 of them came over and settled in this city, and the parts contiguous, particularly in Spitalfields, by which they greatly enriched the city and kingdom, by introducing among us new arts and manufactures. As the citizens had contributed very much to the revolution, King William After the peace of Ryswick, King William III. at the desire of the Lord Mayor and citizens, made his public entry into the city, with great magnificence, the Lord Mayor carrying the city sword before his Majesty. In the reign of Queen Anne, her Majesty came several times in great state to St. Paul’s, to return thanks for the glorious victories of the great Duke of Marlborough; and after the victory of Blenheim, his Grace, with the Prince of Hesse and many of the nobility, dined with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen at Goldsmith’s Hall. On Friday the 26th of November 1703, happened the most dreadful storm of wind that perhaps was ever known in any age or nation. For, beginning about eleven at night, and increasing till about seven in the morning, it committed the most terrible and amazing devastations, By the impetuosity of this storm, many spires and turrets were destroyed; upon the churches and other public buildings, the lead was rolled up like scrolls, and blown to a considerable distance. At the approach of day, the houses appeared like so many skeletons, and being mostly stripped, the damage done to the roofs was so great, that the price of tiles rose from 1l. 1s. to 6l. a thousand. It is not easy to conceive the surprize that appeared in all countenances in the morning; for the streets were covered The damage at sea, however, far exceeded that by land; for in that dreadful night twelve men of war were lost, with above 1800 men on board; besides the prodigious loss of merchant ships, computed at ten times the value. At that time the roads near our coast were filled with ships, especially the Downs, where most of them were swallowed up by the waves; and even in the Thames, only four from London bridge to Limehouse, rode it out; for the rest being driven to Limehouse, lay there, beating against each other, by the irresistible fury of the tempest, by which they suffered inconceivable damage. Maitland. The French having unmercifully destroyed the Palatinate, by burning the cities and towns, near 12,000 Palatines arrived at London, where they met with the most charitable assistance. Above 3000 of them were sent to Ireland, and the rest to our plantations, where they have made very great improvements. Soon after the death of Queen Anne, King George I. made his public entry into London, the Lord Mayor carrying the city sword before him, from St. Margaret’s hill to St. James’s palace. In 1715 happened a total eclipse; and the same year a severe frost began in November, and continued with short intermissions till the middle of February; by which the Thames was frozen over, and a great number of booths erected upon it. The next year great disturbances were caused by the enemies of the government, who, on the King’s birth day, accession to the crown, and coronation, assembled in the streets in a tumultuous manner, and with the most amazing assurance, by expressions and representations, in the grossest manner dishonoured his Majesty. This induced the friends of the government, under some persons of the highest distinction, It is observable, that in 1716, by a long dry season, the river Thames was reduced so low, that by a violent storm of wind at west south west, it was blown so dry, during the recess of the tide, that many thousands of people passed it on foot, both above and below bridge, and walked thro’ most of the arches. The year 1720 will be ever famous in this city, for the destructive South Sea scheme, by which many thousands of the wealthy citizens and others were impoverished, The year 1733 was rendered memorable by the effectual opposition made by the citizens against a scheme for a general excise. In 1734, two spacious arches, ten feet high and six wide, were erected as a common sewer over the Fleet ditch, from Holborn to the end of Fleet street; and a neat market house being since erected in the same place, by the name of Fleet market, was opened in the year 1737; and the next year the buildings and sheds of Stocks market, at the end of the Poultry, were cleared away, in order to lay the foundation of a mansion house for the Lord Mayor, which was afterwards erected. See Mansion House. The present reign is indeed rendered remarkable by the multitude of magnificent buildings, fine streets, and spacious squares, that have been added, and still are adding to this metropolis. A taste for elegance in architecture, and a desire to improve and adorn the city, have produced one of the finest bridges in the world at Westminster; have caused London bridge to be stripped of its ruinous buildings that encumbered the passage, and will soon render it as commodious But this is not all; charity and humanity now triumph over bigotry and superstition, and the rage of party is on all sides ready to expire; churchmen and dissenters mingle in the same company without animosity, and friendships are contracted between those of different sentiments, both with respect to religion and government; while party zeal is almost confined to the ignorant and the vulgar. During this reign the wealthy have shewn their humanity and pity for the distresses of their fellow creatures, by erecting a great number of infirmaries and hospitals, for the relief of those afflicted with any of the diseases to which human nature is subject; while others are appropriated to the cure of particular distempers. The deserted infant is received into an hospital founded for its education and support; the young, innocent, friendless girl finds an asylum; even the repenting The arms of the City of London are, Argent, a cross Gules, with a sword the same. Some say this was the sword of St. Paul; and others, that it is the sword of William Walworth Lord Mayor of London, who killed the rebel Wat Tyler, anno 1381, in the presence and defence of Richard II. London Assurance, in Birchin lane, Cornhill, for assuring houses and other buildings, houshold furniture, goods, wares, and merchandize, from loss or damage by fire: except glass and china ware, not in trade, and all manner of writings, books of accompts, notes, bills, bonds, tallies, ready money, jewels, plate, pictures, gunpowder, hay, straw, and corn unthreshed; and for assurance of lives. This society was incorporated by letters patent granted by King George I. for assuring ships and merchandize at sea; and for lending money upon bottomry; in consideration of which grant the Corporation were to advance his Majesty 300,000l. without interest, for the term of thirty years: towards the raising of which, and paying the just demands that might be made upon their respective policies, the Company were impowered to raise a sum, This society is under the direction of a Governor, Sub-governor, and Deputy Governor, and twenty-four directors. They assure houses and goods upon the following terms and conditions. I. All manner of brick and stone buildings covered with slate, tile, or lead, wherein no hazardous trades are carried on, nor any hazardous goods deposited, are termed Common assurances, and are assured for the following premiums, viz. any sum not exceeding 200l. at 4s. per annum; any sum above 200l. and not exceeding 1000l. at 2s. per cent. per annum; and any sum above 1000l. and not exceeding 3000l. at 2s. 6d. per cent. per annum; and goods and merchandize not hazardous, in brick or stone buildings, after the same rates. II. For the accommodation of such persons as are desirous of being assured for a term of years, this Corporation will assure (on such buildings or goods as aforesaid) any sum not exceeding 1000l. at the rate of 12s. per cent. for seven years, and III. Assurances on buildings and goods, are deemed distinct and separate adventures; so that the premium on goods is not advanced by reason of any assurance on the building wherein the goods are kept, nor the premium on the building by reason of any assurance on the goods. IV. Timber or plaister buildings covered with slate, tile, or lead, wherein no hazardous trades are carried on, nor any hazardous goods deposited: and goods or merchandize not hazardous, in such buildings, are termed Hazardous assurances, and assured as follows; any sum not exceeding 200l. at 6s. per annum: any sum above 200l. and not exceeding 1000l. at 3s. per cent. per annum: any sum above 1000l. and not exceeding 2000l. at 4s. per cent. per annum: and any sum above 2000l. and not exceeding 3000l. at 5s. per cent. per annum. V. Hazardous trades, such as apothecaries, bread and bisket bakers, colourmen, ship and tallow-chandlers, innholders and stable-keepers, carried on in brick or stone buildings, covered with slate, tile, or lead; and hazardous goods, VI. Any of the above hazardous trades carried on, or hazardous goods deposited in timber or plaister buildings; earthen, glass, and china ware, in trade; and thatched buildings, or goods therein, are termed Double hazardous assurances, and may be assured upon the following conditions: any sum not exceeding 200l. at 10s. per annum: any sum above 200l. and not exceeding 1000l. at 5s. per cent. per annum: and any sum above 1000l. and not exceeding 2000l. at 7s. 6d. per cent. per annum. VII. Deal yards, also chymists, distillers, sugar-bakers, maltsters, or any other assurances more than ordinarily hazardous, by reason of the trade, nature of the goods, narrowness of the place, or other dangerous circumstances, may be made by special agreement. VIII. Two dwelling-houses, or any one dwelling-house, and the out-houses thereunto belonging, or any one dwelling-house and goods therein, may be included in the sum of 200l. But when several buildings, or buildings and goods, are assured IX. To prevent frauds, if any buildings or goods assured with this Corporation, are, or shall be assured with any other corporation or society, the policy granted by this Corporation is to be null and void, unless such other assurance is allowed by endorsement on the policy. X. No policy is to be of any force, till the premium for one year is paid. And for all subsequent annual premiums, the assured are to take receipts, stamped with the seal of the Corporation, no other being allowed of. XI. No policy is to be extended, or construed to extend to the assurance of any hazardous buildings or goods, unless they are expressly mentioned in the policy, and the proper premium for such assurances be paid for the same. XII. No loss or damage by fire happening by any invasion, foreign enemy, or any military or usurped power whatsoever, is to be made good. XIII. All persons assured by this Corporation, are upon any loss or damage by fire, forthwith to give notice thereof, by letter, or otherwise, to the Directors or Secretary, at their house in London: and within fifteen days after such fire, deliver XIV. In adjusting losses on houses, no wainscot, sculpture or carved-work, is to be valued at more than 3s. per yard. Persons assured by this Corporation do not depend upon an uncertain fund or contribution, nor are they subject to any covenants or calls to make good losses which may happen to themselves or others. The capital stock of this Corporation being an unquestionable security to the assured in case of loss or damage by fire, and in case of such loss or damage the assured have as easy methods of recovery as can be had against any person or society whatsoever. For the timely assistance of such as are assured by this Corporation, they have provided several engines and watermen, with proper instruments to extinguish fires, and porters for removing goods, all cloathed in green; and having every one a badge, with the figure of Britannia, holding a harp, and supported by the London arms, to distinguish them from servants belonging to other offices, and the badges are all numbered; of which all persons are desired to take notice, who intrust The same figure as on the badges is affixed on buildings, &c. assured by this Corporation. The proposals printed for the Corporation, in 1758. London Bridge, appears to have been originally built between the years 993, and 1016, since in the first-mentioned year, Anlaf, the Dane, sailed up the Thames, with a fleet of ninety-three ships, as far as Stanes; and in the last, Canute, King of Denmark, caused a canal to be formed on the south side of the Thames, for conveying his ships above the bridge. If the traditionary account of the origin of the ancient wooden bridge, delivered by Bartholomew Linstead, alias Fowle, the last Prior of St. Mary Overy’s convent, is worthy of credit, we are indebted to the public spirit of that religious house for this structure: “A ferrie being kept, says he, in a place where now the bridge is builded; at length the ferrieman and his wife deceasing, left the same ferrie to their only daughter, a maiden, named Marie, which, with the goods left by her parents, as also from the profits arising from the ferrie, builded a house of sisters in a place where now standeth the east part of St. Mary However, the continuators of Stow imagine, that Linstead, in this account, exceeds the truth, in ascribing all the praise of so public a work to a small house of religious, who might probably only consent to its being built, upon the monks receiving a sufficient recompence for the loss of the ferry, by which they had always been supported; the probability of this appears from there being lands appropriated for the repairs of the bridge so early as in the reign of Henry I. Besides, it can scarcely be supposed, that a petty convent could be able to erect and support such an edifice, which, besides other accidents, was burnt down in 1136, and was again so ruinous in 1163, that it was obliged to be new built, under the inspection of Peter, Curate of St. Mary Colechurch, At length, the continual and large expence in maintaining a wooden bridge becoming burthensome to the people, who, when the lands appropriated to that use fell short of their produce, were taxed to make up the deficiencies, it was resolved in 1176, to build one of stone, a little to the west of the other, which in the time of William the Conqueror began at Botolph’s wharf; and this structure was completed in 1209. The foundation is, by the vulgar, generally believed to be laid upon woolpacks, which opinion probably arose from a tax being laid upon every pack of wool, towards its construction. Mr. Stow is of opinion, that before the bridge was erected, they were obliged to turn the Thames into a large canal made for that purpose, which began at Battersea, and returned into the bed of the river at Rotherhithe; but this supposition has not the least foundation. Mr. Maitland justly observes, that the purchase of the ground through which this spacious water course was to run; the expence of digging and raising the banks of sufficient strength; and the prodigious expence of damming off the The same gentleman observes, that having carefully surveyed the bridge in the year 1730, in company with Mr. Sparruck, the water carpenter thereof, he observed in many places where the stones were washed from the sterlings, the vast frames of piles, whereon the stone piers were founded. The exterior part of these piles were extremely large, and driven as close as art could effect, and on the top were laid long beams of timber of the thickness of ten inches, strongly bolted; whereon was placed the base of the stone piers, nine feet above the bed of the river, and three below the sterlings; and that on the outside of this foundation were driven the piles called the sterlings. Mr. Sparruck informed him, that he and the bridge-mason had frequently taken out of the lowermost layers of stones It is remarkable, that the master mason of this great work erected at his own expence a chapel on the east side of the ninth pier from the north end, and endowed it for two priests, four clerks, &c. This chapel, which was dedicated to St. Thomas, was a beautiful arched Gothic structure, sixty-five feet long, twenty feet and a half broad, and fourteen in height. Great part of this edifice lately remained very perfect; it was paved with black and white marble, and in the middle was a sepulchral monument in which was probably interred Peter, curate of Colechurch, the architect, or master mason, who began the work, but died before it was completed. Clusters of small pillars arise at equal distances on the sides, and bending over the roof, meet in the center of the arch, where they are bound together by But notwithstanding all this art and expence in building the bridge with stone, it was soon in great want of repairs: for about four years after it was finished, a fire broke out in Southwark, which taking hold of the church of our Lady of the Canons, or St. Mary Overy’s, a south wind communicated the flames to the By this dreadful accident, and other circumstances, this new stone bridge was in so ruinous a condition, that King Edward I. granted the bridgekeeper a brief to ask and receive the charity of his subjects throughout the kingdom, towards repairing it: besides which, he caused letters to be wrote to the clergy of all degrees, earnestly pressing them to contribute to so laudable a work; but these methods proving ineffectual, he granted a toll, by which every foot passenger carrying merchandize over the bridge, was to pay one farthing; every horseman with merchandize, 1d. and every saleable pack carried and palling over, a halfpenny. However, the drawbridge, which had at first a tower on the north side, and was contrived to afford a passage for ships with provisions to Queenhithe, as well as to prevent the attempts of an enemy, was begun to be built in the year 1426; but about ten years after two of the arches at the south end, together with the bridgegate, fell down; and the ruins of the latter still remaining, one of the locks or passages for the water, was almost rendered useless; whence it received the name of the rock lock, which has occasioned the citizens to take it for a natural rock; and indeed though these ruins have lain in the water for above three centuries, they are still as impenetrable as a solid rock. From that time the buildings on the bridge increased slowly; for in 1471, when Thomas Fauconbridge the Bastard, besieged the bridge, there were no more than thirteen houses besides the gate, and a few other buildings erected upon it. However, in Stow’s time, both sides Thus we see that the bridge in Stow’s time nearly resembled what it was before the houses were lately pulled down: and the continuator of Mr. Stow observes, that it continued in the same state till the year 1632; when on the 13th of February, the buildings on the north end of the bridge to the vacancy on both sides, containing forty-two houses, were burnt down by a maid servant’s carelessness, in setting a tub of hot sea-coal ashes under a pair of stairs, at a needle-maker’s near St. Magnus’s church: this fire burnt very furiously, and there being a scarcity of water, occasioned by the Thames being almost frozen over, these buildings were all consumed within eight hours. In this condition the bridge continued for several years; the confusions in the state interrupting the government of the city, and putting a stop to all farther improvements. However, some of the houses next the city were rebuilt of timber in the years 1645 and 1646; these edifices were The bridge had not indeed intirely recovered from its ruinous condition in 1666, when it again suffered in the general conflagration of the city, most of the buildings being totally consumed, except a few at the south end, erected in the reign of King John; and the very stone work of the bridge was so injured and weakened by this melancholy event, that it cost the bridge-house 1500l. to make good the damage of the piers and arches. The stone work was, however, no sooner secured, than a sufficient number of tenants offered, who agreed with the bridge-house for building leases of sixty-one years, paying to the city the annual rent of ten shillings per foot running, and to build in such a form and manner as was prescribed. This was carried into execution with such dispatch, that within five years the north end was completely finished, with houses four stories high, and a street twenty feet broad between side and side: after which all the old buildings at the south end were rebuilt in the same manner. In the year 1722, the Lord Mayor, Three years after this order, the gate at the south end being greatly damaged by a fire which broke out at a brush-maker’s, and destroyed several of the adjacent houses, it was built with stone, with two posterns for the convenience of foot passengers. This gate was finished at the expence of the city in the year 1728. At length the building leases being expired, the city was sensible of the inconvenience of not having a footway, which had occasioned the loss of many lives, from the number of carriages continually passing and repassing, projected a plan for rebuilding the street over the bridge with colonades on each side, by which foot passengers might be both secured from the horses and carriages, and sheltered from the weather. Part of this plan was a However, in 1746 the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, considering the many lives that were lost thro’ the streightness of the arches, and the enormous size of the sterlings, which took up one fourth of the water way, and occasioned the fall at low water to be no less than five feet; as well as the great expence of repairing the bridge, which for several years had annually amounted to 2000l. came to the resolution of taking down all the houses, and to widen and enlarge one or more of the arches. Accordingly the Court ordered their surveyor to draw a plan, and make an estimate of the expence; which having done, the total amounted to 95,000l. when it was immediately agreed not to grant or renew any lease or leases of the houses, but to let those unexpired run out, and consequently the houses run to ruin. Stow. Maitland. Indeed this scheme was in part proposed immediately after the fire of London, by both Sir Christopher Wren and Sir John Evelyn; these ingenious gentlemen proposing, instead of houses, to have a substantial At length the leaning houses on each side seemed ready to fall into the river, and the passenger could scarcely forbear shuddering, when he observed that any of them was inhabited. At the same time, the structure of the noble bridge at Westminster, These measures being taken, orders were soon given for taking down the houses on both sides of the way, for a considerable distance north of the gate. This not only pleased every inhabitant of the city of London and the borough of Southwark, but every one who had occasion to pass and repass over this useful bridge; and all whose business leads them to pass in any kind of craft thro’ the arches, began to please themselves with the thought, that their lives would hereafter be secure in the exercise of their lawful employments. But when the pavement was dug up, and an opening made into the cavities of all the piers; when some of them were demolished almost to the water’s edge, and the whole space where the houses had been taken down was a confused heap of ruins, that had not the least resemblance of a bridge, the temporary structure burst into a flame, and was intirely consumed. The fire began on Tuesday the 11th of April 1758, at about eleven at night; and by nine o’clock the next morning, the whole temporary bridge was consumed; though the drawbridge and some pieces of timber among the ruins of the old structure continued burning all the next day. Various have been the reports of the manner in which this useful structure was At this disaster the citizens were filled with consternation, imagining that the communication between the city and borough of Southwark would for a long time be in a great measure cut off; and every body naturally concluded, that this dreadful disaster was occasioned by some vile incendiaries. The Lord Mayor, who had attended almost the whole time of the conflagration, and did his utmost to stop This prudent step being first taken, the builders of the bridge were asked, how soon they could possibly render it passable for carriages; when they promised to complete it within three weeks, on condition of being allowed to work on Sundays, and to employ a sufficient number of men. This news filled the people with equal joy and surprize; but this surprize was greatly increased, when they found that by keeping men constantly at work day and night, this great work was completed and the old bridge opened again in less than a fortnight; and that in this short time those arches that had been taken down, and the deep cavities in all the piers lately used for cellars, were covered over; the piers which had been demolished had stages formed of large beams This great work was no sooner finished with such amazing expedition, than preparations were made for a new temporary bridge, which was soon after begun, and in a short time was opened. The great loss the city had suffered by the burning of the temporary bridge, induced the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, to apply to Parliament for relief; when that body, rendering the repairing and the beautifying of London bridge a national concern, an act was passed the same year for granting the city 15,000l. towards the carrying on of that work; upon which two toll booths that had been erected for receiving the toll granted by a former act, were immediately taken down, and all horses and carriages suffered to go toll free. To prevent posterity being deceived by the pompous elogiums bestowed on this It has been already observed, that this street had three openings on each side, adorned with iron rails, to afford the passengers a view of the river, and placed over three of the widest arches, called navigable locks; because vessels of considerable burthen have been used to pass thro’ them. That arch next the gate has obtained the name of the rock lock, from the cause already mentioned: that under the drawbridge was called the drawbridge lock; and the third, near the chapel (which could not easily be distinguished from the rest of the houses) was called St. Mary’s lock: and there was a fourth between St. Magnus’s church at the foot of the bridge, and the first vacancy northward, called the King’s lock; from its being customary for the King to go thro’ it in his passage through the bridge. Thus the street on the bridge had nothing to distinguish it from a common handsome narrow street; but the high arches towards the middle, and the three openings on each side, which afforded an agreeable view of the river. But on the outside the view from the water, and from the keys, was as disagreeable as possible. But most of these deformities will be soon removed. Instead of a narrow street of twenty feet wide, there will be a passage of thirty-one feet broad for carriages; with a handsome raised pavement of stone London Bridge Water Works. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth were erected in the arches at the south end of this bridge, mills for grinding corn, in order that the city might supply the poor with meal, at a reasonable rate, in a time of scarcity, or when the price was unjustly raised by avaricious badgers and mealmen. Afterwards, in the year 1582, Peter Morice, a Dutchman, contrived a water engine to supply the citizens with Thames water: this was, about fifty years ago, improved by Mr. Sorocold; and, since that time, by that great master of hydraulics, Mr. Hadley, who rendered it far superior to the so much famed water-engine at Marli in France; which is so ill contrived in its cranks, that it is said to cost 25,000l. sterling per annum to keep it in repair. This machine was at first made to force The wheels placed under the arches are moved by the common stream of the tidewater of the river Thames. The axle-tree of the water wheel is nineteen feet The wheel lies, with its two gudgeons or center pins, upon two brasses, fixed on two great levers, whose fulcrum or top, is an arched piece of timber, the levers being made circular on their lower sides to an arch, and kept in their places by two arching studs, fixed with a sock through two mortises in the lever. By these levers the wheel is thus made to rise and fall with the tide: the levers are sixteen feet long, that is, from the fulcrum to the gudgeon of the water wheel six feet, and thence to the arch ten feet. To the bottom of this arch is fixed a strong triple chain, made like a watch chain, but the links are arched to a circle of one foot diameter, having notches or teeth to take hold of the leaves of a pinion of cast iron, ten inches diameter, with eight teeth in it, moving on an axis. The other loose end of this chain has a large weight hanging at it, to help to counterpoise the wheel, and to preserve the chain from sliding on the pinion. On the same axis is fixed a cog-wheel, six feet in diameter, By means of this machine, the strength of an ordinary man will raise about fifty tons weight. But, besides these levers and wheels, there is a cog-wheel eight feet diameter, fixed near the end of the great axis, and working into a trundle of four feet and a half diameter, and twenty rounds; whose axis or spindle is of cast iron, four inches diameter, and lying in brass at each end: a quadruple crank of cast iron, six inches square, each of the necks being turned one foot from the center, which is fixed in brass at each end, in two head-stocks fastened down by caps. The end of one of these cranks is placed close abutting to the end of the axle-tree last mentioned, and fixed thereunto by an iron wedge drove through a slit in them both for that purpose. The four necks of the crank have each an iron spear or rod fixed at their upper ends to the respective lever, within three feet of the end; which levers are twenty-four feet long, moving From the lower part of these cylinders come out necks, turning upwards archwise, whose upper parts are cast with flanches to screw up to a trunk; which necks have bores of seven inches diameter, and holes in the trunk above, communicating with each of them; at which joining are placed four valves. This trunk is cast with four bosses, or protuberances, standing out against the valves, to give room for their opening and shutting; and on the upper side are four holes stopped with plugs, which take out, on occasion, to cleanse the valves. One end of the trunk is stopped by a plug; and iron pipes are joined by flanches to the other end, thro’ which the water is forced up to any height or place required. Besides these four forcers, there are four In the first arch next the city, is one wheel with double work of sixteen forcers. In the third arch, where the first wheel has double work at the one end, and single at the other, there are twelve forcers: the second wheel, placed in the middle, has eight forcers; and the third wheel sixteen forcers. In all fifty-two forcers. One turn of the four wheels makes 114 strokes; and when the river is at best, the wheels go six times round in a minute, and but four and a half at middle water; so that the number of strokes in a minute are 684; and as the stroke is two feet and a half in a seven inch bore, which raises three ale gallons, they raise 2052 gallons in a minute; that is, 123,120 gallons, or 1954 hogsheads in an hour, which is at the rate of 46,896 hogsheads per day, to the height of 120 feet, including the London Bridge yard, Tooley street. London court, 1. London street. 2. Rosemary lane. London House, on the west side of Aldersgate street, was anciently called Dorchester House, and afterwards Petre’s House, from its having been possessed by the Marquis of Dorchester, and afterwards by the Lord Petre: but after the restoration being purchased for the residence of the Bishop of London, it obtained the name of London House. It is a large commodious brick building, with a neat chapel belonging to it; but being deserted by the Prelates of this see, is now let out into several tenements and warehouses. London House yard, 1. Aldersgate street. 2. St. Paul’s church yard. London Infirmary, on the south side of Whitechapel, is one of the many foundations that distinguish our country and the present age. It is supported by charitable and voluntary contributions, for the relief of all sick and diseased persons; and, in particular, manufacturers, seamen in the merchants service, and their wives and children. This charity was instituted on the 2d of This is a very neat brick building, contrived to be plain and yet elegant, without being very expensive; and it consisting of one extended front, without either wings or inner courts, the whole is seen at one view. To the middle door is an ascent by a flight of steps, and over this part extends a very large angular pediment, within which is a dial. Above the ground floor extend two series, of each twenty-three sash windows, their number and the length of the building giving it an air of dignity. The architect has properly considered the use for which it is designed, and has suited every thing to convenience. It is properly furnished, and fitted up with about 160 beds for the reception of the patients. The society for carrying on this laudable undertaking, consists of a President, two Vice Presidents, and a Treasurer, annually elected out of the most considerable A general court of Governors is held in the months of March, June, September, and December, to take the report of the committees, elect a house committee for the ensuing quarter, inspect accounts, and transact such other business as may be then laid before them. The anniversary feast of this charity is held between the first of February and the last day of April, when a printed account of the general state of the hospital, the number of patients received and discharged, and an abstract of the accounts for the year past, is laid before them. A house committee of thirteen Governors is appointed at every general quarterly court, who at their first meeting elect a Chairman to preside for the first quarter; who meet at the hospital, on Tuesdays weekly, at eleven in the forenoon, to receive and dismiss patients, to order and inspect the provisions and furniture sent in, and such necessaries that may be wanting, and to examine and regulate the conduct of the servants and patients; and A committee of accounts, consisting of twelve Governors, is appointed at the general quarterly court in June, for one year, who meet at the hospital once a quarter, to examine and audit tradesmens bills, which are paid by the Treasurer within a fortnight after. The accounts are open at all times for the inspection of the Governors, A physical committee, consisting of all such Governors who practise physic, surgery, or pharmacy, or are conversant in the knowledge of drugs or medicines (excepting such as shall be directly or indirectly concerned in serving the hospital with such necessaries) are summoned by order of the Chairman of the house committee for the time being every first Thursday in the month, and have power to order and inspect the necessary drugs and medicines, and report their proceedings to the general quarterly court by their Chairman. Two Governors are appointed visitors by the house committee, for one fortnight, to attend twice a week, or oftener, if they A Clergyman of the church of England reads prayers every day, and preaches every Sunday, and reads prayers morning and afternoon; administers the sacrament regularly every month; and is ready to visit, pray by, and administer the sacrament at all times when required, to the patients in the wards. Three Physicians attend alternately; two of the Surgeons daily, from eleven o’clock till one, without fee or reward, and give their advice and assistance to all such objects as come within those hours, whether recommended or accidental. A Surgeon extraordinary attends in consultation, in all dangerous cases. The Surgeons in waiting have an apprentice, or pupil, constantly in the house, to receive, and, if necessary, to call the Surgeon to such accidents as shall be brought in at any hour of the day or night. An apothecary (with an assistant) constantly resides at the hospital, who compounds and dispenses all medicines used there, and solely attends the business thereof. A steward, (for whose fidelity proper No officers or servants are permitted upon pain of expulsion to take of any tradesmen, patients, or other persons, any fee, reward, or gratuity of any kind, directly or indirectly, for any service done, or to be done, on account of this hospital. Every Governor is intitled to send one in-patient at a time, and out-patients without limitation. Subscribers of smaller sums may likewise send what number of out-patients they please. All subscriptions The poor objects recommended as in-patients, if there are beds empty, are received at any hour without difficulty or expence, and are supplied with advice, medicine, diet, washing, lodging, and every comfortable assistance during their cure; nor is any security required against future contingencies, they being, in case of death, buried at the expence of the charity, if not removed by their friends. All out-patients have advice and medicines administered from eleven till one. All accidents, whether recommended or not, are received at any hour of the day or night. This is the plan of this noble charity; and though this work has subsisted but eighteen years, yet such has been the extraordinary encouragement given to it, that since the 3d of November 1740, to the 1st of January 1759, the sums generously contributed to its support amount to 79,153l. a great part of which is laid out in government securities. But what is still more extraordinary, 137,252 distressed The subscribers are desired to take notice, that if any patients do not conform to the rules of the house, or are guilty of any misbehaviour, they will be discharged, and never more relieved by this charity: and not to send any patient unable to walk, till they are first assured of room in the house; and when they recommend an in-patient, whose settlement is in the country, it is further requested, that they will satisfy the house committee, concerning the removal of such patient, when cured or judged incurable. “No persons of known ability to pay for their cure, are allowed to partake of The patients, being admitted without any expence, are required to be constant in their attendance on the Physicians, or Surgeons, at the hospital, before eleven o’clock; and, at nine o’clock, to return thanks at the chapel, and at the weekly committee next after their cure; and those only who attend their cure, and return thanks, will receive a certificate thereof, which will entitle them to future relief. The Account published by order of the Governors in 1759. London Lying in Hospital, at Shaftesbury house, on the east side of Aldersgate street; an edifice built with brick and ornamented with stone, in a most noble and elegant taste. The front to the street is adorned with Ionic pilasters; the door is arched, and has a balcony supported by scrolls. This opens into a small area encompassed with buildings, within which are accommodations for the patients. This house, which was built by the masterly hand of Inigo Jones, was formerly the residence of the Earls of Shaftesbury, and deserves a much better situation. The polite part of the town is now so far removed from hence, that this edifice is neither known nor admired so much as it deserves. This structure, having been converted to several mechanic uses, was going to decay, but has, however, been thoroughly repaired, and happily applied to this noble charity; and in this house, support and every necessary accommodation and assistance are furnished for married women in the last stage of their pregnancy, time of labour, and month of lying-in. The Centre of the West Side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, late the Duke of Ancaster’s, by Inigo Jones. Shaftesbury House, now the Lying-in Hospital, by Inigo Jones. II. Those who subscribe five or three guineas per annum, are Governors so long as they continue their subscriptions, and intitled to recommend as in the first article. III. Annual Governors may make up their subscriptions thirty guineas, within one year from their last payment, and thereupon become Governors for life. IV. All ladies are at liberty in all elections of officers, to vote by proxy signified in writing. N. B. All lesser benefactions are thankfully received. And for the satisfaction of the public, that the women are well and properly taken care of, ladies, though not Governesses, are permitted to go into the wards. Rules of the Hospital. A general court of the Governors is held four times a year; namely, in the months of March, June, September, and December, to receive the report of the quarterly committees, elect a new committee, and transact such other business as may then be laid before them. A house committee is appointed at The number of beds at present in the hospital is thirty-three. A Physician, a Man-midwife, and a Surgeon in ordinary, attend daily at the hospital; besides whom the house is supplied with a Physician and Man-midwife extraordinary, a Surgeon extraordinary, and an apothecary, who supplies the patients with such medicines as shall be found necessary in their respective cases. And that the patients may not want necessary comfort under their afflictions, a Clergyman has undertaken the kind and charitable office of attending the house as Chaplain, baptizes the children born there, churches the women, and reads prayers publickly twice a week. All these gentlemen attend without fee or reward. There are a sufficient number of nurses and other servants to take care of the lying-in women, and do the common business of the house. Also a beadle, who constantly resides at the hospital, to be ready to go on all messages, on sudden emergencies, and summon the Governors, &c. Note, the servants of the house are forbid to take any fee or reward from the lying-in women, on any pretence whatsoever, on pain of being discharged. Married women admitted into this hospital, must previously produce a certificate of their marriage from a lawful Minister, or in case they cannot, then an affidavit of their being married, and the time when and the place where, and also of the settlement of their husbands, and by what means such settlement was obtained. And no woman is to be taken into the house, who hath any contagious distemper, or has been accustomed to receive alms of a parish. Such gentlemen and ladies as chuse to favour this laudable charity, are desired to send their subscriptions, with their names and places of abode, to the Treasurer, Charles Maynard, Esq; in Aldersgate
London ’Prentice yard, in the Minories.* London Stone, a very great piece of antiquity, that has been carefully preserved from age to age, and is mentioned by the same name so early as in the time of Ethelstan, King of the West Saxons. This stone, which stands close under the south wall of St. Swithin’s church, was formerly a little nearer the channel facing the same place, and being fixed very deep in the ground was so strongly fastened by bars of iron, as to be in no danger from the carriages. It seems very surprizing that so great a piece of antiquity has been constantly preserved with such care, and yet so little has been said of it, that the original cause of its erection, and the use for which it was intended, are entirely unknown. A very ingenious author observes, that as London appears to have been a Roman city, it will be no improbable conjecture, that this stone was the center, from whence they extended its dimensions, and might serve as the standard at which they began to compute their miles. Of this London street, 1. A spacious, handsome, and well-built street, on the south side of Fenchurch street. 2. Mill street, Rotherhith. 3. Rose lane, Ratcliff. London Wall, the wall which formerly surrounded the city of London, as a defence against the attacks of an enemy. It was strengthened with lofty towers, and had originally only four gates, tho’ the making of new roads has increased the number to seven, which are now standing, viz. Aldgate, Bishopsgate, Moorgate, Cripplegate, Aldersgate, Newgate, and Ludgate. See each of these described in their proper places. This wall, which is by some supposed to have been built by Constantine the Great, and by others by his mother Helena, was probably not erected till the time of Valentinian I. about the year 368. Britain had been reduced to very great misery, by the joint attacks of the Scots, Picts, Attacots, Saxons, and Franks; and the Romans, till the arrival of Theodosius Dr. Woodward, in the year 1707, had an opportunity of narrowly observing its fabrick and composition, by a part of the wall near Bishopsgate being pulled down, to make way for new buildings; and this learned antiquary observes, that “From the foundation, which lay eight feet below the present surface, quite up to the top of the oldest part, which was in all near ten feet, it was compiled alternately of layers of broad flat bricks and rag-stones. The bricks lay in double ranges, and each brick being but one inch and three tenths in thickness, the whole layer, with the mortar, exceeded not three inches. The layers of stone were not two feet thick of our measure. It is probable they were intended for two of the Roman, their rule being somewhat shorter than ours. “The old wall, on its being repaired, was carried up of the same thickness to eight or nine feet in height; or if higher, there was no more of that work now standing. All this was apparently additional, and of a make later than the other part underneath it, which was levelled and brought to a plane for the raising of this new work upon it. The outside, or that towards the suburbs, was faced with a coarse sort of stone, not compiled with any great care or skill, nor disposed into a regular method; but on the inside there appeared more marks of workmanship “Upon the additional work now described, was raised a wall wholly of brick, only that it terminating in battlements, these were topped with copings of stone. It was two feet four inches in thickness, and somewhat above eight feet in height. The bricks of these were of the same module and size with those of the part underneath, How long they have been in use is uncertain.” Woodward’s Roman Antiquities, and Present State of London. A tower of the same construction, twenty-six feet in height, is still remaining, and is situated almost opposite the end of Gravel lane, on the west side of Houndsditch, tho’ much decayed. There is a door within the wall of this tower, in Shoemaker row, fronting the passage into Duke’s Place. Mr. Maitland observes, that in searching for this tower, about eighty paces south east, towards Aldgate, he discovered another of the same construction, twenty-one feet high, perfectly found, and much more beautiful than the former; the bricks being as found as if but newly laid, while the stones in most parts are become a sacrifice to time. The remains of the walls are at present much more extensive than is generally imagined. They still subsist in part between the houses on the east side of Poor Jewry lane, and the Minories, almost all the way along the back of Houndsditch, from Aldgate to Bishopsgate. The ruins of the wall are from thence visible to every passenger in the street, from where Little Moorgate lately stood to the end of Aldermanbury, and from thence extending behind the houses, it reaches to Cripplegate; from whence it extends on the back of St. Giles’s church, and runs along the back of the houses in Crowder’s well alley, where several lofty towers are still to be seen, and is visible almost to Aldersgate; London Wall, a long street, so called from its fronting the city wall; it having a range of houses on the south, and the ruins of the wall on the north. This street, which extends from Wormwood street to Cripplegate, is the only place where the wall is not concealed by buildings: but here the wall may be justly considered as a nuisance, it being little better than a disagreeable heap of rubbish, in which hardly any of the Roman structure is now to be seen. London Workhouse, a large and commodious brick building, at the south east corner of Half Moon alley in Bishopsgate street, was founded by act of Parliament in the year 1649, for the relief and employment of the poor, and the punishing of vagrants and other disorderly persons, within the city and liberties of London. However, in the year 1662, the continual increase of the poor, and the defects in the laws relating to the settlement of them, However, it was agreed by the Governors, that no child should be received from any benefactor who gave a less sum than 50l. but whoever gave 70l. might put in a child from any place he thought fit. Account of this Corporation published in 1713. The several parishes, besides their assessments, formerly paid 1s. a week for parish children; but in 1751 the Governors came to a resolution, that no more children paid for by the parishes to which they belong, should be taken into the house; and since that time it has been resolved, that only such children should be taken in, as were committed by the These once poor abandoned children are educated according to the usage of the church of England, and meet at six in the morning and evening in a large room, which serves them both for a chapel and dining room, where they hear prayers: they are taught the Catechism; have a Minister who attends upon them; and on Sundays they all go to church at Great St. Helen’s. A part of the day is appropriated to their learning to read, write, and to their obtaining some knowledge of arithmetic; the rest of their time is spent in weaving nets for the British fishery; and the girls are employed in sewing, knitting, and other labour, by which they are qualified for service. The boys making twenty-five yards of netting a week, at 1s. 6d. for twenty yards; and, as an encouragement to industry, every boy who makes above twenty-four yards, receives a penny a week. There are here seldom less than four hundred children thus employed, all of whom are dressed in russet cloth, and wear a round badge upon their breasts, representing a poor These children thus saved from the miseries of vice and beggary; from becoming pick-pockets and house-breakers, and from ending their days at the gallows; after being thus instructed and inured to labour, are put out apprentice, the boys to the sea service or to trades, and the girls to service in honest families. It will be no unpleasing amusement, if we here give the speech of John Trusty, one of these poor boys, to her Majesty Queen Anne, upon her coming to dine at Guildhall, on Thursday the 29th of October 1702, the Lord Mayor’s day; nor can we better conclude what we have said of these children. “May it please your most excellent Majesty, to pardon this great presumption in us poor children, who throw ourselves at your royal feet, among the rest of your glad subjects, that here in crouds appear to behold your sacred Majesty. “We, Madam, have no fathers, no mothers, no friends; or, which is next to none, those who, through their extreme poverty, cannot help us. God’s providence is our inheritance [pointing to the motto on his breast.] All the support “These threads, Madam, [holding out some yarn, which he held in his hand] are some of the early fruits of our industry. We are all daily employed on the staple manufacture of England, learning betimes to be useful to the world. And there seemed nothing wanting to complete our happiness, but the opportunity which this day affords us, of being the objects of your tender pity and compassion. One gracious smile from your Majesty on this new foundation will make us live——and live to call you blessed. “And may God Almighty long preserve your Majesty, for the good of these your kingdoms, and your Royal Consort the Prince. So pray we, your little children: and let all your people say, Amen.” In another part of the house, called the Keeper’s Side, are kept beggars, vagrants, dissolute and abandoned sturdy fellows, who have no honest means of support; and the lewd women who are taken up in the All these are not only supported, but in case of sickness, broken limbs, sores, or wounds, have advice, physic and surgery gratis. Some years ago the Governors built a very large, strong and useful building, with three long rooms or galleries one over another, which are filled with boys and girls at work, who have a proper number of men and women to instruct them. They have here also a large and convenient brewhouse for brewing their own drink, and over that a malthouse. In short, every thing here is managed with the greatest prudence and oeconomy. Maitland. London Workhouse yard, by the London Workhouse in Bishopsgate street. Long Acre, so called from its being built on a long narrow piece of ground, anciently called The Seven Acres. It begins at Drury lane, by the end of Great Queen street, and reaches to St. Martin’s lane. Long Bow String Makers, a company by prescription, and not by charter: but which still subsists, though bows and arrows have been so long out of use. It has, however, a coat of arms, and is governed by two Wardens and nineteen Assistants; but this fraternity have neither hall nor livery. Maitland. Long Cellar court, 1. Lower East Smithfield. 2. St. Catharine’s. Long court, near Whitechapel. Long ditch, Tothill street, Westminster. This street took its name from a water course there so called. Maitland. Long lane, 1. Aldersgate street. 2. Barnaby street. 3. Shoreditch. Long walk, 1. Christ’s hospital. 2. Cross Keys court, Whitecross street, Cripplegate. 3. King John’s court, Barnaby street. Long’s alley, Roper lane in Crucifix lane, Barnaby street.† Long’s court, 1. Jamaica street, Rotherhith.† 2. Near Leicester fields.† Long’s yard, 1. East Smithfield.† 2. In the Green Walk.† Looker’s court, King’s street, Oxford street.† Loom alley, Old Bethlem. Lord Mayor’s court. See Lord Mayor’s Court. Lord Mayor and Aldermens Court. Also see under the article Mayor. House of Lords, an edifice situated near Westminster Hall, by the Painted Chamber and Court of Requests. The print represents the stairs up which his Majesty enters, and adjoining is the office of ordnance. Formerly the parliaments of England were held in Westminster Hall; but King Richard II. having occasion to call one in the year 1397, when that building was in a very ruinous condition, erected an house on purpose in the middle of the palace court, at a small distance from the gate of the old Hall. This was a plain and mean structure, open to the common people, that all might hear what passed; while the King’s person, and those assembled there for the service of the nation, were secured by a guard of archers maintained at the public expence. Two years after, Westminster Hall being rebuilt and sufficiently accommodated for the meeting of this great assembly, they met there again; till at length a taste for regularity and magnificence increasing with our improvements in arts, this noble room was This room is spacious, lofty, and every thing within it is disposed with great regularity. It is hung with tapestry, representing the defeat of the Spanish armada, which is shewn in various designs; as, the first appearance of the Spanish fleet; the several forms in which it lay at different times on our coasts, and before the comparatively handful of English which pursued it; the place and disposition of the fleets when engaged; and, in fine, its departure. These are the great subjects. The whole is excellently performed, and as the materials in that original state are perishable, the late Mr. Pine has perpetuated them in very fine engravings. English Architecture. These designs are certainly well adapted to the place, as they perpetually present to view the importance of our navy, on which our principal strength depends. At the upper end of the room is the throne, upon which the King is seated on solemn occasions, in his robes, with the crown on his head, and adorned with all the ensigns of majesty. On the right hand of the throne is a seat for the Prince of Wales, and on the Behind the throne are places for the young Peers who have no votes in the house. At a small distance below the throne, on the King’s right hand, are the seats of the two Archbishops, and a little below them the bench of Bishops. On the opposite side of the house, sit those Peers who rank above Barons; the President of the King’s Council, and the Lord Privy Seal, if they are Barons, here sit above all Dukes, Marquises, and Earls; and the Marshal, Lord Steward, and Lord Chamberlain, sit above all others of the same degree of nobility with themselves. Just before the throne are the woolpacks across the room, on which are seated the Dignitaries of the law. The Lord High Chancellor, or Keeper of the Great Seal, sits on that nearest the throne, with his great seal and mace by him; he is Speaker of the house of Lords. On the other two woolpacks which are placed parallel to this, sit the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, and the other Judges. These have no vote in the house, but they are advised with in points of law, on all occasions wherein a knowledge of the laws is necessary. The reason The Clerk of the Crown, who is concerned in all writs of Parliament, and the Clerk of the Parliament, who records every thing done there, sit on a form behind a table. Without the bar sits the King’s first Gentleman Usher, called the Black Rod, from a black wand he carries in his hand. Under him is a Yeoman Usher, who waits at the inside of the door, a Crier without, and a Serjeant at Mace, who always attends the Lord Chancellor. When the King is present with the crown on his head, the Lords sit uncovered, and the Judges stand till his Majesty gives them leave to sit. In the King’s absence the Lords, at their entrance, do reverence to the throne, as is done by all who enter the presence chamber. The Judges then may sit, but may not be covered, till the Lord Chancellor or Keeper signifies to them, that the Lords give them leave to be so. The King’s Counsel and Masters in Chancery also sit; but may on no account be covered. Upon the days when the King goes in A stranger cannot any way form a more just notion of the dignity of the English nation, than by attending this noble and august Assembly, when the King is present, with the crown upon his head, and not only his Majesty, but all the Lords are in their robes, and the Commons attending without the bar. This house, in conjunction with the King and Commons, has the power not only of making and repealing laws; but of constituting the supreme judicature of the All the Lords Spiritual and Temporal have the peculiar privilege of appointing proxies to vote in their stead, when from sickness or any other cause, they cannot conveniently appear: but such as would make proxies are obliged, at the beginning of every Parliament, to enter them in person. The Lords give their suffrages or votes, beginning at the puisne, or lowest Baron, and then proceeding in a regular series, every one answering apart, Content, or Not content. If the affirmatives and negatives are equal, it passes in the negative, the Speaker not being allowed a voice, unless he be a Peer of the realm. Chamberlain’s Present State. See House of Commons. Loriners, or Bitt-makers, appear to have been an ancient company, though they They have a small but convenient hall, adjoining to London Wall, at the end of Basinghall street. Lothbury, extends from Cateaton street to Throgmorton street. This street, which Mr. Stow says was anciently called Lathbery and Loadbery, he imagines took its name from its being chiefly possessed by founders, who cast candlesticks, chafing dishes, &c. which they afterwards turned with the foot to make them smooth and bright; and making a loathsome noise in the opinion of the passengers who were unused to it, the street was thence called Loathbury: but it more probably took its name from these things being turned by the lath, as they evidently were, even from his description; and that Lathbery was afterwards corrupted to Loathbury. Love court, 1. George alley, Shoe lane. 2. Gravel lane. 3. Love lane, Mutton lane. 4. Old Horselydown. 5. Petticoat lane. 6. St. Olave street. Lovel’s court, Pater noster row, so called from the family of the Lovels, who had a large house in Ivy lane, called Lovel’s Inn, which formerly belonged to the Earls of Britain. Stow. Lovel’s rents, Gravel lane.† Lovel’s yard, Whitecross street, Old street.† Lover Gun alley, Green Bank, Wapping. Love’s yard, Old Horselydown lane.† Low Leyton or Leighton, a village pleasantly situated on the side of a hill near Walthamstow, at the foot of which runs the river Lee. In this parish are several handsome seats belonging to wealthy citizens, and other gentlemen; especially the ancient manor house and seat of Ruckholts, which some time ago belonged to Benjamin Collyer, Esq; of whom it was purchased by the Earl Tylney: but of late years this seat has been deserted by its owners, and not long since was converted into a public breakfasting house, and so continued for about six years, during which it was much frequented by gentlemen Goring House, also called the Forest House, is loftily situated fronting the forest. It once belonged to the Abbot of Waltham, and afterwards came to the Gorings Earls of Norwich; after which it was in the possession of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, whole descendant sold it to Mr. Bosanquet of London, merchant. The beautiful seat of the late Sir Fisher Tench, Bart. is a more modern structure, adorned with large and delightful gardens, with plantations, walks, groves, mounts, and canals stocked with fish and fowl: but Sir Fisher’s successors have lately sold it to Mr. John Stanniland of London, haberdasher. The manor house of Leyton has a fine prospect over the marsh and river towards Hackney; this, together with a paddock, was sold by Mr. David Gansel, Lord of the manor, to the late Sir John Strange, who improved this seat with additional buildings and handsome gardens; but his son John Strange, Esq; has lately parted with his interest in it to Mr. Bladen. This parish is washed on one side by the river Lee or Ley, from which the village obtains its name, and rises in a gentle ascent for about two miles, from the river The parish church is a small building consisting of a chancel and two isles. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and the patronage of the vicarage is vested in Mr. Gansel. Lower court, Little Minories. Lower Gun alley, Green Bank, Wapping. Lower Shadwell, near Shadwell dock. Lower street, 1. East Smithfield. 2. Islington. 3. Shadwell. Lower Turning lane, Shadwell. Lower Well alley, Green Bank, Wapping. Lower Wet Dock, near Deptford. Lower’s yard, Long Walk, King John’s court.† Lowman’s pond, a narrow street or lane in Southwark, so called from its being built on a spot which was before a pond. In this street is the house of ——— Clark, Esq; the front of which faces the garden. It is remarkable, that this front, which has a mixture of Gothic and modern architecture, is completely covered with Lowman’s street, Gravel lane.† Lucas’s alley, Quaker street, Spitalfields.† Lucas’s street, Rotherhith.† Lucas’s yard, Cock alley, Wapping.† Ludgate, is situated 797 feet south of Newgate, and according to Geffry of Monmouth, took its name from King Lud; but as that historian has justly forfeited all credit among the learned, his assertion has no weight; for it is certain that the ancient Britons had no walled towns. The name of this gate is therefore with much greater propriety derived from its situation near the rivulet Flood, Flud, Vloet, Fleote or Fleet, which ran into Fleet Ditch. The present gate was erected in the year 1586, with the statue of Queen Elizabeth on the west front, and those of the pretended King Lud, and his two sons Androgeus and Theomantius or Temanticus on the east. Strypes edit. of Stow. Ludgate Prison. This gate was in the year 1373, constituted a prison for poor These worthy founders not only settled a salary for a Chaplain of this prison, which our author supposes is in the hands of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, or some others by their appointment; but ordered that all the rooms in these additional buildings should be for ever free to all unfortunate citizens, and that they, on providing their own bedding, should pay nothing at their discharge for lodging or chamber rent: but the avaricious keepers have long ago broke thro’ this appointment, and contrary to the express orders of the donor, take rent for the rooms he built for the sole use of the poor. As the domestic government of this prison is very singular and remarkable, we shall give a compendious account of it, from a work published some time ago, by one who had been long a prisoner there. For the government of the prison, and the punishment of crimes and misdemeanors The reader is chosen by the master keeper, stewards, and assistants, and not at a general election, as the other officers are. Besides reading prayers, he was formerly obliged to ring the bell twice a day for prayers, and also for the space of a quarter of an hour before nine at night, as a warning for all strangers to depart the prison; but on account of the dignity of his office, he is now exempted from these servile employments, and others in his stead are appointed to perform them. The reader’s salary is 2s. 8d. per month; a penny of every prisoner at his entrance, if his garnish amount to sixteen pence; and a dish of meat out of the Lord Mayor’s basket. The upper steward, or master of the box, is by all the prisoners held in equal esteem with the keeper of the prison. To him is committed the keeping of all the This officer, with the under steward, assistants, and church-wardens, are elected monthly by the suffrages of the prisoners; but all the other officers, except the chamberlain, are appointed by the master keeper, stewards, and assistants. These frequent elections are designed to prevent frauds and abuses in the respective officers; but when they are known to be men of probity, they are generally re-elected, The under steward is an assistant to the upper steward, in whose absence or indisposition, he performs the several functions of his office. The assistants, who are seven in number, are chosen monthly with the stewards, and one of them officiates daily. His business is, to attend in the hall, to enter all charities, and keep an account of the money taken out of the boxes, which are opened at five o’clock in the afternoon, and at nine at night. This money he pays to the upper steward, at the passing of whose accounts the stewards are auditors. Every person nominated for the office of an assistant, on refusing to serve, forfeits one shilling to the use of the public, or instead thereof is put in fetters for three days. The officiating assistant is invested with the power of a magistrate, and can commit a prisoner to the stocks or shackles, for the abuse of any person. He is to see the cellar cleared every night, by ten o’clock, of all the prisoners; for which he receives 6d. out of the charity money; 2d. of which is for his own use; 2d. for the upper steward; and 2d. for the running assistant. This office was anciently The running assistant attends upon the criers at the grates to change money; he opens the boxes; puts up candles in their respective places; attends upon the stewards and assistants; looks after the clock; rings the bell for prayers, and is crier at the sale of provisions. His salary is 4s. 8d. per month, and an eighth part of the garnish. The church-wardens are chosen from among the youngest prisoners. The upper warden’s business is to call to prayers on Sundays, after the bell has done ringing; and the under warden’s is to call the prisoners to prayers all other days. They likewise take cognizance of all persons upon the charitable foundation; who in default of attendance are fined one penny each. For this service the under warden has a salary of 4d. per month; and when duly elected, the penalty for not serving is 4d. The scavenger’s office is to keep clean the prison, and to fetter, or put offenders in the stocks: for which he is intitled to receive one penny from each criminal, together The chamberlain, who is chosen by the keeper of the prison, takes care of all the bedding and linen belonging to the keeper; places men at their coming in; furnishes them with sheets, and gives notice to the strangers to leave the prison by ten o’clock at night. This officer was formerly obliged to make the charity mens beds, for which he received two pence a month. The running post’s employment is fetching in a basket the broken meat from the Lord Mayor’s table, provisions from the clerk of the market, private families, and charities given in the streets; which when so inconsiderable as not to admit of being divided among them all, are publicly sold, as before. The salary annexed to this office is 4s. a month; one penny out of each man’s dividend, and one penny out of every sixteen pence of garnish money. The criers are six in number; two of whom daily beg at the grates: he at the grate within, is allowed one fourth of what is given, and he at that on Blackfriars side, one half of what is given there. It is, however, necessary to inform the reader, that this account was printed many years ago; and indeed it is to be hoped that these grievances are already remedied; if they are not, it is high time that they were; for here justice and humanity loudly call for a reformation. The annual sums paid to this prison by the several companies, and other regular benefactions, amount to upwards of 62l. besides a hind quarter of beef and a peck of oatmeal from the tallow chandlers The fees to be taken by the keeper of Ludgate, and the turnkeys under him, allowed of, and confirmed at a court of Aldermen, held on the 19th of January 1686. At the coming in of every prisoner 1s. to the turnkey, and 2d. to the officer who conducts him thither. The keeper finding and providing beds, bedding, mats and cords, sheets, blankets, and coverlets, the prisoners pay him for the bed lodging 3d. per night; for the second lodging 2d. and for the third or meanest lodging 1d. per night. The keeper is to provide clean sheets every month for all his beds, and the prisoners who lie in them are to pay monthly to the chamberlain for washing them, 8d. between them, and no more. But when the prisoners find their own beds and bedding, which the keeper is by no means to hinder, the prisoner is only to pay 3d. per week for bed-room; or for chamber-room 4d. at the most per week; and not above two to lie in a bed. If the prisoner by his inability can go For every prisoner’s discharge the keeper is to receive 2s. and no more. For all actions and writs against him he is to pay the keeper only 1s. and not 1s. for every action, and 2s. 6d. for every writ, as was formerly taken. The keeper shall not presume to take any other fees upon any pretence, demand, or allowance whatsover, for execution-money, action-money, or writ-money. By the following account the reader may see how these orders are now obeyed. The charges of prisoners at their entrance into Ludgate; and dismission from thence. A freeman of London being arrested by an action entered in either of the Compters, may refuse to go thither, and insist on being carried immediately to Ludgate; but the officers will extort from him 4 or 5s. as their fee for carrying him thither, though their due is but 2d. On his being brought to Ludgate, the turnkey enters his name and addition in a book kept for that purpose; for which entry the prisoner pays 1s. 2d. after which He is however allowed the liberty of going abroad; which he may do either with a keeper, or upon giving good security to return at night. If he goes out with a keeper, he must pay 2s. 6d. to the head turnkey, and 1s. 6d. to the keeper who attends him; and every day he goes abroad afterwards, 1s. to the keeper, and as much to the turnkey. A bond is also given for the payment of his lodging to the master keeper, for which the turnkey takes at least 5s. as his fee. If the prisoner pays the debt, and discharges all other actions against him in either Compter, he, upon his dismission, pays 2s. to the master keeper; 1s. 2d. to the turnkey; 1s. for every action entered against him; and if he is charged in execution, 2s. 6d. for every action against him. These fees and his lodging sometimes Ludgate hill, a spacious and handsome street, which extends from Ludgate down to Fleet bridge. Ludgate street, begins at the west end of St. Paul’s, and ends at Ludgate. It is a very spacious and handsome street, chiefly inhabited by silk mercers and woollen drapers. St. Luke’s, in Old street, was erected on account of the great increase of buildings in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate; for notwithstanding there being a chapel of ease, and several meeting-houses, the parish church could not contain half the inhabitants who were desirous of assembling there to attend divine worship. The Commissioners for erecting the fifty new churches taking this into consideration, purchased a piece of ground in this parish, and erected one of those churches upon it; after which the inhabitants applying to Parliament, had the Middlesex liberty of St. Giles appointed for the parish; and by the same act 3500l. was granted to be laid out in fee simple, for the support of a Rector, besides the profits of which the church-wardens were to pay him annually 120l. to be raised by burial fees. The advowson of this church is in the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, and it is St. Luke’s Hospital for lunatics, a neat and very plain structure, at the north end of Moorfields. Nothing is here expended in ornament, and we only see a building of considerable length plaistered over and whitened, with ranges of small square windows, on which no decorations have been bestowed. This hospital, which takes its name from its being situated in St. Luke’s parish, is supported by private subscriptions, and is designed as an improvement upon Bethlem, which was incapable of receiving and providing for the relief of all the unhappy objects for whom application was made. Some of the reasons for setting on foot this kind and generous design, were, the expence and difficulty attending the admission of a patient into the hospital of Bethlem, which had discouraged many applications for the benefit of that charity, particularly on the behalf of the more necessitous objects, and of such who resided in the remote parts of this kingdom. By this unavoidable exclusion and delay many useful members have been lost to society, either by the disease gaining In this hospital patients are taken in according to the order of time in which the petitions of their friends have been delivered to the Secretary, without favour or partiality. They are even admitted without any expence, except only such as are parish poor must have their bedding provided, and this they are at liberty to take away at their discharge. On the admission of every patient, two responsible housekeepers, residing within the bills of mortality, must enter into a bond to the Treasurer for the time being, The patients in this hospital are not exposed to public view; and no money received for the use of this charity, is expended in entertaining the general court of committee at any of their meetings. But no person is to be admitted who has been a lunatic above twelve calendar months; or has been discharged as incurable from any other hospital for the reception of lunatics; or who has the venereal disease; is troubled with epileptic or convulsive fits, or is deemed an ideot; nor any woman with child. The general committee receive immediately into the hospital any patient who shall have been discharged cured, in case such patient relapses within two months. The general committee also take in by rotation such patients as are discharged uncured; but each of them is to pay 5s. per week, till the charity is enabled to lessen I. Every person paying twenty guineas or upwards, or paying five guineas, and signing an agreement to pay the same sum for the four next succeeding years, is admitted a Governor, except all persons acting as Physician, Surgeon, Apothecary, or Secretary to this hospital, (other than the six Apothecaries declared Governors at the general meeting held on the 29th of June 1750.) II. For transacting the business of this hospital, a general court is held twice every year, viz. on the second Wednesday in the months of February and August, and at such general courts as are herein after mentioned, and every general court consists of nine Governors. III. At the general court held annually on the second Wednesday in the month of February, one President, four Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a general Committee, Physician, Surgeon, Apothecary, and Secretary, are elected for the year ensuing. And no person acting as Physician, Surgeon, or Apothecary to any other hospital or infirmary, can be Physician, Surgeon, or Apothecary to this hospital. V. At the general court to be held annually on the second Wednesday in August, a special committee of seven Governors, who are not of the general committee, are appointed to audit and examine the several accounts relating to this hospital, and report their opinion of such accounts to the general court held on the second Wednesday in February following, VI. The President has power to order special general courts to be summoned as often as he thinks necessary: and, upon every vacancy in the office of Treasurer, Physician, Surgeon, Apothecary, or Secretary, a general court is summoned to meet, in order to fill up the vacancy. But no person is intitled to vote at such general court, unless he has paid his subscription VII. The general committee consists of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer for the time being, and of the five Governors named as lessees in the lease of the ground on which the hospital is built, and of all persons who have paid 100l. or upwards for the use of the hospital; and of such twenty-four Governors residing within the bills of mortality, as are annually elected for that purpose at the general court held on the second Wednesday in February, of which committee five at least are necessary to do business. They meet one stated day in every month, or oftener if they see convenient, and at such other times as the Treasurer, or any sub-committee for the time being appoint. And have power to hire, govern, and discharge the domestic servants of this hospital, to keep the buildings properly repaired, and purchase provisions, furniture, and other necessaries for the same: To admit and discharge patients: To see that the several books relating to the hospital be regularly kept: That all debts, legacies, annual subscriptions, and other revenues of this hospital be received and recovered as the same shall respectively become due: That all VIII. For the more easy dispatch of business, this committee has power to summon sub-committees, one of which is called the house committee; and such sub-committees have power to summon the general committee as often as they think proper. IX. All purchases of provisions, and other materials for the use of the hospital, are to be made as often as possible by contract. But no contract is to be made by which any member of the committee is directly or indirectly concerned, X. A book intitled The Visitor’s book, is kept in the hospital, for the Governors to enter complaints of any neglect or misconduct XI. The Physician, who is allowed to have the liberty of pupils, attends every committee day, and one other day in the week, and as often otherwise as there is occasion. The Surgeon also attends the hospital every weekly committee day, and as often as there is occasion; and the six Apothecaries who generously attend and administer their medicines gratis, are there monthly by rotation, attending every weekly committee day, and two other days in the week, and as often at other times as there is occasion. XII. That every officer or servant who shall take any fee, gratuity or reward, directly or indirectly, from any tradesman or other person dealing with this hospital, patient, or friend of any patient, in respect of any service done or to be done, shall forthwith be discharged, and rendered incapable of being received again into the service of this hospital. Except that it shall be lawful for the Secretary of this hospital, upon his waiting on every Governor with a staff and a printed copy of the rules and orders of this hospital, to accept of a fee not exceeding one guinea. Lukener’s lane, Drury lane.† Lumber court, West street, Soho. Lumley’s Almshouse, in Pest-house fields, near Old street, was erected by the Viscountess Lumley, in the year 1672, for the accommodation of six poor women of the parishes of Bishopsgate and Aldgate; to each of whom she granted an allowance of 4l. and twelve bushels of coals per annum. Lumley’s court, in the Strand.† Lumley’s street, Marsham street.† Lunn’s court, White’s yard.† Lutkin’s corner, Mill street.† Lying-in Hospital, for married women, in Brownlow street, Long Acre. Amidst the variety of charities that are the distinction By the plan of this hospital, every convenience these distressed objects can require, is amply provided; commodious apartments and beds, good nursing, plain suitable diet, proper medicines, the charitable Between the 7th of December 1749, when women were first admitted, and the 12th of April 1751, 299 patients received orders of admission; and the number of patients greatly increasing, four small houses contiguous to the back of the hospital were added to it, and fitted up at a great expence. Women are received into this hospital in the last month of their pregnancy, on producing a letter of recommendation from a Governor, and making an affidavit of their marriage and their husband’s settlement, which affidavit is prepared for them gratis by the Secretary; and where the husband cohabits with the wife, he is to join in the affidavit, unless prevented by sickness, or some other reasonable impediment. It is also required, that the women produce a testimonial of their honesty and poverty, under the hands of two substantial housekeepers in the neighbourhood where they lodge or reside, in case the weekly board shall, on examination, doubt of their being in such circumstances as to be proper objects of the charity. Friday being the day appointed for the During their continuance in the house, necessaries are provided for them and their children, at the sole charge of the hospital; no money or other gratuity is to be taken of them by the nurses, or by any of the officers or servants of the house, on any pretence whatsoever. That this excellent charity may be rendered more extensively useful to the public, and that not only this great metropolis, but the remotest parts of the kingdom may be supplied with well-instructed and experienced midwives, four female pupils at a time are permitted to attend the hospital, in order to their being instructed in midwifery. These pupils must be widows or married women, not less than twenty-five years of age, of a sober character, and such as are approved of by the committee. These are allowed to stay and board six months in the hospital, during which they dine at the steward’s The officers of this hospital, are, a perpetual President, four Vice-Presidents, and a Treasurer, who are chosen annually. Two Physicians, and two Surgeons, practising midwifery, deliver the women in difficult cases. These gentlemen also meet at the hospital in consultation every Tuesday morning. A Chaplain reads divine service in the hospital, baptizes the children, churches the women, and performs the necessary duties belonging to his function. An Apothecary prepares such medicines A Secretary keeps the accounts of the hospital, attends at general meetings, and weekly boards, and does all other business commonly done by the Secretaries, Clerks, or Registers at other hospitals. A Steward takes care of the provisions and furniture, and does such other business as belongs to his office. A Matron, well skilled in midwifery, delivers the women in easy, natural labours, takes care of the women, superintends the nurses, and sees every thing necessary for the women and children provided according to the direction of the Physicians and Surgeons. She has under her an assistant matron. All officers and servants of the hospital, above the rank of assistant matron, a messenger, and nurses, are elected by ballot at a general court of the Governors: and on any vacancy, the day of election for filling it up is appointed at least one month, and not more than three months, from the day such vacancy happens, unless directed otherwise by an express order of a general court: but the inferior servants are appointed by a weekly committee. The qualification of an annual Governor Ladies subscribing the like sums have the privilege of recommending women in the same manner as Governors. They have likewise a right of voting in all elections at general courts, for officers and servants, by proxy, provided such proxy be a Governor of this charity; or they may send a letter to the board without a proxy, naming the person they vote for, which is regarded as their vote: but no Governor is to be proxy for more than one lady at a time. Benefactions or subscriptions of smaller sums than those abovementioned, are thankfully received, and properly applied to the use of the charity. A general meeting of the Governors is held every quarter; and the sole power of making laws and rules for the government of the hospital is lodged in this general court. A special general court may, on a fortnight’s notice, be called at any time between the quarterly courts, either by order of a general court, or of the weekly committee; or at the demand of the Treasurer, or of any five of the Governors; this demand being delivered in writing at the weekly board, and signed with their respective names; the business of such special court to be expressed in this writing, and in the summons to the Governors. From the account of this hospital published This, and the London hospital for lying-in women, must be allowed to be truly noble charities; but many have thought them too limited, as the relief afforded to poor distressed women in a situation that calls upon humanity to lend them help, ease, and comfort, is confined to those who are married: and the more unhappy women, who have the sting of guilt added to pain, are excluded from receiving the least benefit from those foundations. The following hospital has therefore been founded on a more extensive plan. Lying-in Hospital, in Duke street, Grosvenor square, for unmarried as well as married women, who are here received and relieved, in order to prevent the unhappy consequences that too often proceed from their situation; such as perjuries, false affidavits, and that most formidable and unnatural of all crimes, the murder of their poor guiltless infants. To prevent these dreadful effects, every convenience is here amply provided for them, commodious apartments and beds, good nursing, plain, suitable diet, proper medicines, the charitable assistance of gentlemen of skill and experience in midwifery, and, This hospital, which first began in Jermyn street, St. James’s, and was from thence removed into Duke street, is governed by a President, a Vice-President, and a Treasurer, annually elected out of the Governors, greatest benefactors to this charity; by a general court of Governors held in the months of March, June, September, and December, to take the reports of the committees; and by a house committee who inspect accounts and transact such business as is laid before them. At the general quarterly courts a physical committee is appointed out of the Physicians, Men-midwives, Surgeons, and Apothecaries, who are to meet once a month to examine the medicines and drugs brought into the dispensatory, and none are suffered to be used without their approbation. Two Physicians and two Surgeons attend twice a week on extraordinary cases; a Surgeon and Man-midwife, in great business in the neighbourhood, gives attendance at any hour of the day or night he is called for, particularly from eleven of the clock till one, every day; and such objects as come within these hours, have No officers or servants are permitted, on pain of expulsion, to take any fee, reward, or gratuity whatsoever, of patients or other persons, for any service done or to be done in this hospital. Every Governor or subscriber is intitled to send one in-patient at a time, and out-patients without limitation. All subscriptions are during pleasure; but all persons are requested to pay at the time of subscribing. Those who contribute two guineas a year are Governors while they continue their subscription, and those who give 20l. at one payment, are Governors during life, and have a vote and interest at the committees, and their attendance is esteemed a favour; but those who subscribe less than two guineas per annum, are only subscribers. The poor women recommended by the Governors and subscribers are received on Wednesdays and Fridays, from eleven o’clock till one. From the account of this hospital published by order of the Governors. For the other lying-in hospitals, besides the two above mentioned, see the articles Lyon’s Inn. See Lion’s Inn. |