A tour thro' the whole island of Great Britain: Divided into circuits or journeys. Giving a particular and entertaining account of whatever is curious, and worth observation; ... By a gentleman. ... [pt.2]

LETTER II. CONTAINING A Description of the City of LONDON, as taking in the City of Westminster, Borough of Southwark, and the Build|ings circumjacent.

SIR,

_I Am now to describe the City of LONDON, and Parts adjacent: a Work infinitely difficult to be perform'd in the narrow Compass of a Letter, since we see it so fully takes up Two large Volumes in Folio, which yet, if I may venture to give an Opinion of it, is very imperfectly executed, and has imploy'd since another very large one in Folio, written by Mr. W. Maitland, F. R. S. which has much more Merit than the Two Volumes, and contains many Things needful to be known by the Curious, which are in|compatible with the Brevity to which our narrow Limits confine us.

LONDON, as a City only, and as its Walls and Liberties line it out, might indeed be viewed in a smaller Compass, than what we propose to consider it in; for when I speak of London, in the modern

Acceptation, I take in all that vast Mass of Buildings reaching from Blackwall in the East, to Tothill-fields in the West; and extended in an unequal Breadth from the Bridge or River in the South, to Islington North; and from Peterborough-house on the Bank|side in Westminster, to Cavendish-square; and all the new Buildings by and beyond Grosvenor and Hanover Squares to the Brentford Road one way, to the Acton Road another; a Prodigy of Buildings, that nothing in the World does, or ever did, surpass, except old Rome in Trajan's Time, when the Walls of that City were 50 Miles in Compass, and the Number of Inhabitants 6,800,000 Souls.

London, as to its Figure, must be owned to be very irregular, as it is stretch'd out in Buildings just at the Pleasure of every Undertaker of them, and as the Convenience of the People directs, whether for Trade, or otherwise. This has given it a very confused Face, and made it uncompact and unequal, being properly neither long or broad, round or square; whereas the City of Rome, was, in a man|ner, round, with very few Irregularities in its Shape.

One sees London, including the Buildings on both Sides the Water, in some Places Three Miles broad, as from St. George's in Southwark, to Shoreditch in Middlesex; or Two Miles, as from Peterborough-house to Montague-house; and in some Places not half a Mile, as in Wapping; and less in Rotherhith.

We see several Villages, formerly standing, as it were, in the Country, and at a great Distance, now joined to the Streets by continued Buildings, and more making haste to meet in the like manner; for Example,

1. Deptford: This Town was formerly reckoned at least Two Miles from Rotherhith, and that over the Marshes too, a Place unlikely ever to be inha|bited; and yet now, by the Increase of Buildings in that Town itself, and the many Streets erected at

Rotherhith, and by the Docks and Building-yards on the River-side, which stand between both, the Town of Deptford, and the Streets of Rotherhith, are in a manner joined, and the Buildings daily increasing; so that Deptford may be reckoned a Part of the great Mass, and infinitely full of People also; and were the Town of Deptford now separated, and rated by itself, I believe it contains more People, and stands upon more Ground than the City of Wells.

2. The Town of Islington, on the North-side of the City, is in like manner joined to the Streets of Lon|don, excepting one small Field, and which is in itself so small, that there is no Doubt but in a very few Years they will be intirely joined. And the same may be said,

3. Of Mile-end, on the East End of the Town.

4. Newington-butts, in Surrey, reaches out her Hand North, and is so joining to Southwark, that it cannot now be properly called a Town by itself, but a kind of Suburb to the Borough; and if, as once was talk'd of, St. George's-fields should be built into Squares and Streets, Newington, Lambeth, and the Borough, would make but one Southwark.

That Westminster is in a fair way to shake Hands with Chelsea, as St. Gyles's is with Marybone; and Great Russel-street by Montague-house, with Totten|ham-court, is very evident; and yet all these put together, may still be called London: Whither will this City then extend, and where must a Circum|vallation Line of it be placed?

I have, as near as I could, caused a Measure to be taken of this mighty Body; and for the Satis|faction of your Curiosity, I have here given as accurate a Description of it, as I can do in so narrow a Com|pass, or without drawing a Plan of the Places.

As I am forced, in many Places, to take in some unbuilt Ground, so I have, on the other hand, been obliged to leave a great many whole Streets of Build|ings

out of my Line: so that I have really not stretched my Calculations, to make it seem bigger than it is; nor is there any Occasion for it.

A LINE of Measurement, drawn about all the continued Buildings of the City of London, and Parts adjacent, including Westminster and Southwark, &c.

N.B. I shall sum up by Figures, 1, 2, 3, &c. the Particulars at last.

The Line begins, for the MIDDLESEX Side of the BUILDINGS,

1. AT Peterborough-house, the farthest House West upon the River Thames, and runs North-west by West by the Marshes to Tothill-fields, and passing by the Neat-houses and Arnold's Brewhouse, ends at Chelsea Road. Measured, 1 Mile, 6 Furlongs, 16 Rods.

2. Then, allowing an Interval from Buckingham-house cross the Park, about one Furlong and half to the Corner of my Lord Godolphin's Garden-Wall, the Line goes North behind the Stable-yard Build|ings, and behind Park-place, and on the Park-wall behind the Buildings, on the West Side of St. James's-street, to the Corner in Soho, or Piccadilly; then crossing the Road, goes along the North Side of the Road West, Hyde-park Gate. 1 Mile, 2 Fur|longs, 11 Rods.

3. Then the Line turns North-east by East, and taking in the Buildings and Streets, called May-fair, holds on East, till the new Streets, formed out of Hyde-house Garden, cause it to turn away North, a Point West reaching to Tyburn-road, a little to the East of the great Mother Conduit; then it goes North, and crossing the Road, takes in the West Side of Cavendish-square, and the Streets adjoining,

and leaving Marybone, goes away East, till it reaches to Hampstead-road, near a little Village called Tot|tenham-court. 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs, 20 Rods.

4. From Tottenham-court the Line comes in a little South, to meet the Bloomsbury Buildings; then turning East, runs behind Montague and South|ampton Houses, to the North-east Corner of South|ampton-house; then crossing the Path, meets the Buildings called Queen's-square; then turning North, till it comes to the North-west Corner of the Square; thence it goes away East, behind the Buildings on the North Side of Ormond-street, till it comes to Lamb's Conduit. 1 Mile, 1 Furlong, 13 Rods.

5. Here the Line turns South, and indents to the Corner of Bedford-row; and leaving some few Houses, with the Cock-pit and Bowling-green, goes on the Back of Gray's-inn Wall to Gray's-inn-lane; then turns on the Outside of the Buildings, which are on the West Side of Gray's-inn-lane, going North to the Stone's End, when turning East, it passes to the New River Bridge without Liquor-pond-street; so taking in the Cold-bath and the Bear-garden, but leaving out * 2.1 Sir John Oldcastle's and the Spaw, goes on East by the Ducking-pond to the End of New Bridewell, and crossing the Fair-field, comes into the Islington Road by the Distiller's House, formerly Justice Fuller's. 1 Mile, 2 Furlongs, 6 Rods.

6. Here, to take in all the Buildings which join Islington to the Streets, the Line goes North on the East Side of the Road to the Turk's-head Alehouse; then turning North-west, passes to the New River House; but leaving it to the West, passes by Sadler's-wells, from thence to Busby's-house, and keeping on the West Side of Islington, till it comes opposite to Canbury-house-lane, turns into the Road, and passes

South almost to the Lane which turns East down to the lower Street; but then turns East without the Houses, and goes to the Cowkeeper's in the lower Street crossing the Road, and thro' the Cowkeeper's Yard into Frog-lane; then turning West on the South Side of the Town, just without the Buildings, joins again to the Buildings on the West Side of Wood's-close, passing behind the Sheep-market Wall. 2 Miles, 4 Furlongs, 39 Rods.

7. From Wood's-close the Line goes due East to Mount-mill, where, leaving several Buildings to the North, it passes on, crossing all the Roads to Brick|lane, to the North Side of the great new Square in Oldstreet, and taking in the Pesthouse Wall, turns South at the North-east Corner of the said Wall to Oldstreet Road; then going away East till it meets the Buildings near Hoxton-square, it turns North to the North-west Corner of the Wall of Ask's Hospital; then sloping North-east, it passes by Pimlico, the Cyder-house, and the two Walls to the North End of Hoxton, when it turns East, and inclosing the Garden-walls, comes into the Ware Road just at the King's-head in the New Buildings by the Land of Promise. 2 Miles, 16 Rods.

8. From the King's-head the Line turns South, running to the Stone's End in Shoreditch; then turn|ing East, it takes in a Burying-ground, and some Buildings in the Hackney Road, when sloping South-east by South, it goes away by the Virginia-house to a great Brewhouse, and then still more East to the Back of Wheeler-street, and then East by South to Brick-lane, crossing which, it goes away East to|wards Bethnal-green; but then turning short South, it goes towards White-chapel Mount; but being intercepted by new Streets, it goes quite up to the South End of the Dog-row at Mile-end. 1 Mile, 6 Furlongs, 19 Rods.

9. From the Dog-row the Line crosses the Road, and takes in a Hamlet of Houses, called Stepney; and coming back West to the Street's End at White|chapel Mill, goes away South by the Hog-houses into Church-lane, and to Rag-fair; when turning again East, it continues in a strait Line on the North Side of Ratcliff Highway, till it comes almost to the farthe•…•… Glass-houses; then turning North, it sur|rounds all Stepney, and Stepney-causway, to Mile-end Road; then turning East again, and afterwards South, comes back to the new Streets on the North Side of Limehouse, and joining the Marsh, comes down to the Water-side at the Lower Shipwright Dock in Limehouse-hole. 3 Miles, 7 Furlongs, 1 Rod.

The Particulars of the Middlesex Side, put toge|ther, are as follows; viz.

	Miles.	Furl.	Rods.
1.	1 :	6 :	16
2.	1 :	2 :	11
3.	2 :	5 :	20
4.	1 :	1 :	13
5.	1 :	2 :	6
6.	2 :	4 :	39
7.	2 :	0 :	16
8.	1 :	6 :	19
9.	3 :	7 :	1
Total	18 :	4 :	21

* 2.2

For the Southwark Side of the Buildings, the Line is as follows:

HAving ended the Circumference of the Middle|sex Building at Lime-house, and the Street ex|tending towards Poplar, the Hamlets of Poplar and Blackwall, tho' very near contiguous in Buildings, being excluded, I allow an Interval of two Miles, from Poplar, cross the Isle of Dogs, and over the Thames, to the Lower Water-gate at Deptford; and tho' in measuring the Circumference of all Cities, the River, where any such runs thro' Part of the Buildings, is always measured; yet, that I may not be said to stretch the Extent of the Buildings which I include in this Account, I omit the River from Limehouse to Deptford, (where, if included, it ought to begin) and begin my Line as above.

1. From the said Water-gate at Deptford, the Line goes East to the Corner next the Thames, where the Shipwright's Yard now is, and where I find a continued Range of Buildings begins by the Side of a little Creek or River, which runs into the Thames there, and reaches quite up the said River, to the Bridge in the great Kentish Road, and over the Street there, taking in the South Side of the Street to the West Corner of the Buildings in that Street, and then measuring down on the West Side of the long Street, which runs to the Thames Side, till you come to the new Street which passes from Deptford to Rotherhith; then turning to the Left, passing on the Back-side of the King's Yard to Mr. Evelin's House, including the new Church of Deptford, and all the new Streets or Buildings made on the Fields Side, which are very many, this amounts in the Whole, to 3 Miles, 1 Furlong, 16 Rods.

2. From Mr. Evelin's Garden-gate the Line goes North-west, taking in all the new Docks and Yards, the Red-house, and several large Streets of Houses, which have been lately built, and by which the said Town of Deptford is effectually joined to the Build|ings, reaching from Cuckolds-point Eastward, and which are carried out, as if Rotherhith stretched forth its Arm to embrace Deptford; then for some Length Rotherhith continues narrow till you come to Church-street, where several Streets are also lately built South, and others parallel with the Street, till gra|dually the Buildings thicken, and extend farther and farther to the South, and South by East, till they cross over the East End of Horslydown to Bermondsey Church, and thence East to the Sign of the World's-end, over-against the great Fort, being the Remains of the Fortifications drawn round these Parts of Southwark in the late Civil Wars. This Extent is, by Computation, Four Miles; but being measured as the Streets indented, the Circuit proved 5 Miles, 6 Furlongs, 12 Rods.

3. From this Fort to the Corner of Long-lane, and thro' Long-lane to the Lock, at the End of Kent-street, is 1 Mile, 7 Furlongs, 2 Rods.

4. From the Corner of Kent-street to the Town of Newington-butts, drawing the Line behind all the Buildings as they stand, and round the said Village of Newington to the Haberdashers Alms-houses, and thence by the Road to the Windmill at Blackman street, is 3 Miles, 2 Furlongs, 16 Rods.

5. From the Windmill crossing St. George's-fields, on the Back of the Mint, to the Fighting Cocks, thence to the Restoration Gardens, and thence on the Outside of all the Buildings to Lambeth-wells, and on to Vaux-hall Bridge, over-against the other Fort of the old Fortifications, being just the same Length that those old Fortifications extended, tho' infinitely fuller of Buildings. This last Circuit measures 3 Miles, 5 Furlongs, 12 Rods.

The Particulars of the Southwark Side, put toge|ther* 2.3, are as follow; viz.

	Miles.	Furl.	Rods.
1.	3 :	1 :	16
2.	5 :	6 :	12
3.	1 :	7 :	2
4.	3 :	2 :	16
5.	3 :	5 :	12
	17 :	6 :	18
Middlesex Side	18 :	4 :	21
Total	36 :	2 :	39

Were it possible to reduce all these Buildings to a compact Situation, 'tis generally thought, that the whole Body so put together, allowing the necessary Ground, which they now imploy for the several Trades in the Out-parts, such as the Building-yards by the River for Shipwrights, Tanners Yards, Dyers, Whitsters, &c. would take up 28 Miles in Circum|ference, very compactly built.

The Guesses that are made at the Number of Inhabitants, have been variously formed; Mr. Mait|land above-mentioned (Anno 1739) computes, that within the Walls, and the Bars, as I may say, it contains 725, 903; but Sir William Petty, famous for his Political Arithmetick, supposed the City, at his last Calculation, to contain a Million of People, and this he judges from the Number of Births and Burials; but he must take in a greater Compass than Mr. Maitland, to make up this Number; and according to this Rule, as well by what is well known of the

Increase of the said Births and Burials, as of the prodigious Increase of Buildings, it may be very reasonable to conclude the present Number of In|habitants within the Circumference I have mentioned in my Line, to amount to about 1,500,000 Souls.

The Government of this great Mass of Building, and of such a vast collected Body of People, tho' it consists of various Parts, is perhaps the best regulated that any City can pretend to; and of late Years it boasts of several new Regulations, as to Beggars, Lights, Pavements, &c. which turn out greatly to its Advantage.

The Government of the City of London in par|ticular, and abstractedly considered, is by the Lord-Mayor, Twenty-four Aldermen, Two Sheriffs, the Recorder, and Common Council; but the Juris|diction of these is confined to that Part only which they call the City and its Liberties, which are mark'd out, except the Borough, by the Walls and the Bars, as they are called.

Besides this, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London have a Right Presidial in Southwark, and hold frequent Courts at St. Mary-hill in the Borough: they are also Conservators of the Bridge, and the Bridge itself is their particular Jurisdiction.

Also the Lord Mayor, &c. is Conservator of the River Thames, from Stanes Bridge in Surrey and Middlesex, to the River Medway in Kent, and, as some insist, up the Medway to Rochester Bridge.

The Government of the Out-parts is by Justices of the Peace, and by the Sheriffs of London, who are likewise Sheriffs of Middlesex; and the Govern|ment of Westminster is by a High-bailiff, constituted by the Dean and Chapter, to whom the Civil Ad|ministration is committed, and who presides in Elections of Parliament for the City of Westminster, and returns the Candidates who are chosen.

The remaining Part of Southwark Side, where the City Jurisdiction does not obtain, is governed also by a Bench of Justices, and their proper substituted Peace-officers; excepting out of this the Privileges of the Marshalseas, or of the Marshal's Court, the Privilege of the Marshal of the King's-bench, and the like.

That I may observe some Method in the Descrip|tion of this noble Metropolis, and avoid Repe|titions, I will divide my Subject into the following Branches.

• I. I will give a brief Account of what the City was before the Fire, and how improved when rebuilt, and within a few Years after it.
• II. Of the prodigious Increase of Buildings within our own Memory, down to the Year 1740,
• III. Of the Publick Offices, and City Corporations.
• IV. Of the Mansion-house, and other most noted Edifices, Structures and Squares, in and about London.
• V. Of the principal Hospitals, and other charitable Institutions in about London.
• VI. Of the Churches of London and Westminster, Southwark, &c.
• VII. Of St. James's Palace, the Parliament-house, Westminster-hall, &c.
• VIII. Of the Statues, and other Publick Orna|ments.
• IX. Of the Gates of London and Westminster.
• X. Of the Publick and Private Prisons.
• XI. Of the Markets of London, &c.
• XII. Of the Publick Schools and Libraries.
• XIII. Of the Shipping in the Thames, and the Trade carry'd on by means of that noble River.
• XIV. Of the Manner by which the City is supply'd with Water.
• ...

• XV. Of the Christenings and Burials in London. The Importance of the City of London to the whole Kingdom: Of its comparative Proportion to the Publick Expence, and the disproportionate Number of Members it returns.
• XVI. The Benefit to the Publick of a good Under|standing between the Court and City.

To begin then with the first; viz.

I. I. A brief Account of what the City was before the Fire, and how improved when rebuilt, and within a few Years after it.

TAKE the City, and its adjacent Buildings, to stand as described by Mr. Stow, or by any other Au|thor, who wrote before the Fire of London; and the Difference between what it was then, and what it is now, may be observed thus:

Before the Fire of London, Anno 1666, the Build|ings look'd as if they had been formed to make one general Bonfire, whenever any wicked Incendiaries should think fit to attempt it; for the Streets were not only narrow, and the Houses all built with Tim|ber, Lath, and Plaster; but the Manner of the Building in those Days, one Story projecting out beyond another, was such, that in some narrow Streets the Houses almost touch'd one another at the Top; insomuch that it often happened, that if a House was on Fire, the opposite House was in more Danger, according as the Wind stood, than the Houses adjoin|ing on either Side.

And tho' by the new Buildings after the Fire much Ground was given up to inlarge the Streets, yet it is to be observed, that the old Houses stood generally upon more Ground, were much larger upon the Flat,

and in many Places Gardens and large Yards about them, so that there are many more Houses built than stood before on the same Ground. For Example:

Swithen's Alleys by the Royal Exchange were all, before the Fire, taken up with one single Merchant's House, Mr. Swithen by Name; whereas, upon the same Ground where the House stood, stand now about 22 or 24 Houses, which belong to his Posterity.

Copt-hall Court in Throgmorton-street was also, before the Fire, a single House, inhabited by a Dutch Merchant: likewise Three more Courts in the same Streets were single Houses, Two on the same Side of the Way, and one on the other.

The several Alleys behind St. Christopher's Church, now vulgarly called St. Christopher's Church-yard, were likewise, before the Fire, one great House, with Ware-houses, in which Mr. Kendrick lived; whom I have mentioned in my Account of Reading and Newbury, and took up almost all the Ground, on which now a Street of Houses is erected, called Prince's-street, going thro' into Loth|bury.

King's-Arms Yard in Coleman-street, now built into fine large Houses, and inhabited by eminent Merchants, was, before the Fire, a Stable-yard for Horses, and an Inn, which gave the Sign of the King's Arms.

I might give many more Instances; but these will account for what some assert; viz. That so many great Houses were converted into Streets, Courts, Alleys and Buildings, that near 4000 Houses stand on the Ground which the Fire left desolate, more than stood on the same Ground before.

Another Increase of Buildings in the City, is to be taken from the Inhabitants in the unburnt Parts following the same Example, of pulling down great old Buildings, which took up large Tracks of Ground in some of the well inhabited Places, and building

on the same Ground not only several Houses, but even whole Streets of Houses, which are since fully inhabited: For Example,

Crosby-square, within Bishopsgate, formerly the House of Sir James Langham, Merchant.

Devonshire-Square and Street, with several back Streets, and Passages into Petticoat-lane one Way, and Houndsditch another, all built on the Ground where the old Earl of Devonshire had an House and Garden.

Bridgwater-square, and several Streets adjoining, built on the Ground where the Earl of Bridgwater had a large House and Garden in Barbican.

Billeter-square, and several Passages adjoining, built upon the Grounds of one great House, in which one Merchant only lived.

All those Palaces of the Nobility, formerly make|ing a most beautiful Range of Buildings fronting the Strand, with their Gardens reaching to the Thames, where they had their particular Water-gates and Stairs, have had the same Fate, such as Essex, Arun|del, Norfolk, Salisbury, Worcester, Exeter, Hunger|ford, and York Houses; the Lord Brook's House in Holbourn, in the Place of which are now so many noble Streets and Houses erected, as are in themselves equal to a large City; all which extend from the Temple to Northumberland-house, Somerset-house and the Savoy only intervening; and the latter of these may be said to be, not an House, but a little Town, being sepa|rated into innumerable Tenements and Apartments.

These are prodigious Inlargements to the City, even upon that which I call inhabited Ground, and where infinite Numbers of People now live, more than lived upon the same Spot of Ground before.

Suoh was the State of London before the Fire in 1666, and so prodigious were the Improvements made in it, within the Course of a few Years after that Disaster. But what are these, compared to what has been done since within our own Memory? And this brings me to my second Article,

II. Of the prodigious Increase of Buildings within our own Memory, down to the Year 1740.

NOT to enter on a particular Description of the Buildings, I shall only take notice of the Places where such Inlargements are made: As,

1. All those numberless Ranges of Building, called Spital-fields, reaching from Spital-yard at Northern Fallgate, and from Artillery-lane in Bishopsgate-street, with all the new Streets, beginning at Hoxton and the Back of Shoreditch Church North, and reaching to Brick-lane, and to the End of Hare-street, on the Way to Bethnal-green East; then sloping away quite to Whitechapel Road South-east, containing, as some People say, above 320 Acres of Ground, which are now close built, and inhabited with an infinite Number of People.

The Lanes were deep, dirty and unfrequented; that Part now called Spitalfields-market was a Field of Grass, with Cows feeding on it, since the Year 1670. The Old Artillery-ground (where the Parliament listed their first Soldiers against the King) took up all those long Streets leading out of Artillery-lane to Spital-yard Back gate, and so on to the End of Wheeler-street. Brick-lane, which is now a long well-paved Street, was a deep dirty Road, frequented chiefly by Carts fetching Bricks that way into Whitechapel from Brick-kilns in those Fields, whence it had its Name.

2. On the more Eastern Part the same Increase goes on in Proportion; namely, all Goodman's-fields, and the many Streets between Whitechapel and Rose|mary-lane, all built since the Year 1678. Well-close, now called Marine square, all the hither or West End of Ratcliff-highway, from the Corner of Gravel-lane to the East End of East Smithfield, was a Road over the Fields; likewise those Buildings now called

Virginia-street, and all the Streets on the Side of Ratcliff-highway to Gravel-lane above-named, which of late Years extends so far, that the End of Lime-house stands a Chance to be soon joined to the Be|ginning of Poplar.

3. To come to the North Side of the Town, and beginning at Shoreditch West, and Hoxton square, and Charles-square adjoining, those were all open Fields, from Agnes St. Clare, to Hoxton Town, till the Year 1689, or thereabout. Pitfield-street was a Bank, parting two Pasture-grounds, and Ask's Hospital was another open Field. Farther West the like Addition of Buildings begins at the Foot-way by the Pest-house, and includes the French Hospital, Old-street Two Squares, and several Streets, extend|ing from Brick-lane to Mount-mill and the Road to Islington, and from that Road, still West, to Wood's-close, and to St. John's and Clerkenwell, all which Streets and Squares are built since the Years 1688 and 1689, and were before that, and some for a long Time after, open Fields or Gardens, and never built on till after that Time; and moreover, within these few Years, all those open Grounds, called Bunhill-fields, adjoining to the Dissenters Burying-ground, are now built upon, and are complete Streets of Houses to the very Road, and generally well inhabited.

From hence we go on still West, and beginning at Gray's-Inn, and going on to those formerly called Red-lion Fields, and Lamb's-conduit Fields, we see there prodigious Piles of Buildings; they begin at Gray's-Inn-Wall towards Red-lion-street, from whence, in a strait Line, they go quite to Lamb's-conduit Fields North, including a great Range of Buildings reaching to Bedford-row and the Cockpit East, and including Red-lion-square, Ormond-street, Great and Little Marlborough-streets, Queen's-square, and all the Streets between the Square and King's-gate in Holbourn. These Piles are very great, and the

Houses so magnificent and large, that abundance of Persons of Quality are found among them.

Farther West in the same Line is Southampton great Square, called Bloomsbury, with Kingstreet on the East Side of it, and all the numberless Streets West of the Square to the Market-place, and thro' Great Russel-street by Montagu-house quite into the Hampstead Road; all which Buildings, except Southampton-house, and some of the Square, have been formed from the open Fields since the Time above-mentioned, and contain several Thousands of Houses.

The Increase of the Buildings in St. Gyles's and St. Martin's in the Fields, is really a kind of Prodigy; comprising all the Buildings North of Long-acre, up to the Seven Dials; all the Streets from Leicester|fields and St. Martin's-lane, both North and West, to the Hay-market and Scho, and from the Hay-market to St. James's-street inclusive, and to the Park-wall; then all the Buildings on the North Side of the Street, called Picadilly, and the Road to Knights-bridge, and between that and the South Side of Tyburn Road, including Soho-square, Golden-square, Hanover-square 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Two Bond-streets, George's-street, and that new 〈…〉〈…〉 out to Tyburn Road, called Gros|v••••••••square, and Cavendish-square, and all the 〈…〉〈…〉 them. Some Part of which will be briefly mentioned under the Head of Squares.

This last Addition is by Calculation more in Bulk than the Cities of Bristol, Exeter and York, if they were all put together; all which Places were, a few Years ago, mere Fields of Grass, and imployed only to feed Cattle.

In Spring-gardens, near Charing-cross, are lately erected several very handsome new Buildings, and a neat Chapel.

The new Buildings in the End of Broad-street, near Bishopsgate, formerly called Petty-France, de|serve

to be mentioned here. It is in every one's Memory, what a poor and decay'd Place Petty-France was; but now the Spot where it stood, is called New Broad-street, and consists of regular and stately Houses, built after the Manner of those by Hanover-square, and are the most elegant Buildings in the City. They are increased quite into Old Bethlehem, which consisted of mean and ruinous Houses, and there may be said to be a new and stately Town of Buildings erected here.

And it would be endless to enumerate the other new Buildings, that have taken Place in and about this great City, of old and ruinous Houses and Streets. See the Articles of Churches, Squares, &c.

III. Of the Publick Offices, and City Corporations.

THE EXCISE-OFFICE is kept in the Old Jewry, in a very large House, formerly the Dwelling of Sir John Frederick, and afterwards of Sir John Hern, very considerable Merchants. In this one Office is managed an immense Weight of Business, and they have in Pay several Thousands of Officers. The whole Kingdom is divided by them into pro|per Districts, and to every District a Collector, a Supervisor, and a certain Number of Gaugers, called, by the Vulgar, Excise-men.

Under the Management of this Office are now brought not only the Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, as formerly, but also the Duties on Malt and Candles, Hops, Soap, and Leather, Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate; all which we managed in seve|ral Classes.

The Act lately passed against retailing spirituous Liquors in less Quantities than Two Gallons, which had become so pernicious a Trade, that the lower Class of People was almost wholly debauched and

enervated by it, has very much increased the Con|sequence, as well as the Business, of this Office; for the Commissioners for what relates to this Matter, are a kind of absolute Judges in the Cases brought before them.

The POST-OFFICE is kept in Lombard-street in a large House, formerly Sir Robert Viner's, and is under an admirable Management. The Peny-post is a Branch of it, and a most useful Addition to Trade and Business; for by it Letters are delivered at the remotest Corners of the Town, almost as soon as they could be fent by a Messenger, and that from Four, Five, Six, to Eight times a Day, according as the Distance of the Place makes it practicable; insomuch that you may send a Letter from Limehouse in the East, to the farthest Part of Westminster, for a Peny, several times in the same Day; and to the neighbouring Villages, as Kensington, Hamersmith, Chiswick, &c. Westward; Newington, Islington, Kentish-town, Hampstead, Holloway, High|gate, &c. Northward; to Newington-butts, Camber|well, &c. Southward; and Stepney, Poplar, Bow, Strat|ford, Deptford, Greenwich, &c. Eastward, once a Day.

Nor are you tied up to a single Piece of Paper, as in the General Post-office; but any Packet under a Pound-weight goes at the same Price.

The CUSTOM-HOUSE comes next to be men|tioned. The Long Room is like an Exchange every Morning, and the Croud of People who appear there, and the Business they do, is not to be explained by Words. The whole Building is very convenient, but not like what it might or ought to have been; and moreover, the Quays thereabouts are so throng'd and crouded, that they are much too little for the Business continually carrying on there.

Between the Horse-guards at Whitehall and Cha|ring-cross, at an huge Expence, but with very little Taste, is seen the new-erected ADMIRALTY-OFFICE. This Office is, perhaps, of the most Importance of

any of the publick Parts of the Administration; the Royal Navy being the Sinews of our Strength.

The NAVY-OFFICE, a neat and convenient Building in Cruched-fryars, and the VICTUALLING-OFFICE on Tower-hill, near East Smithfield, both which, had we room, deserve a particular Description, are but Branches of this Administration, and receive their Orders from hence; as do likewise the Docks and Yards theirs from the Navy-office: the Whole being carried on with the most exquisite Order and Dispatch. The Admiralty has been in Commission ever since the Death of Prince George of Denmark. The Commissioners so often change by Deaths or Removals, that it will be of very little Use to insert them in a Work like this.

Tho' his MAJESTY resides all the Winter at St. James's, yet the Business of the Government is chiefly carried on at the Cockpit, Whitehall. Near which is lately finished a magnificent Building, with a very grand Front looking to the Parade in St. James's-park, for the TREASURY-OFFICE; and, it being a lofty Structure, over that is the OFFICE of the SECRETARIES OF STATE.

The OFFICE for the BOARD OF TRADE is held just by the Upper-end of the Privy-garden, adjoining to an old Gate at the Entrance of King-street, which is now demolish'd. It is a large House, and convenient for the Purpose.

At the Horse-guards is a Building commodious enough, built as a Barrack for a large Detachment of the Horse-guards, who keep Post here; over it are Offices belonging to the Judge-advocate for holding Councils of War for Trial of Deserters and others, according to the Articles of War.

A new Office and House is very lately erected, adjoining to the Horse-guards, for the Paymaster-general of the Army.

The BANK used to be kept in Grocers-hall; but is within these few Years removed to an intire new Edifice, built for that thriving Corporation in Thread|needle-street, adjoining to St. Christopher's Church. It is a noble Structure; but I have not room for a particular Description of it.

The EAST INDIA HOUSE, situated where for|merly was that of Sir William Craven, was rebuilt in the Year 1726. It is very convenient within; but without makes not the Appearance that is worthy of the Company's Trade and Figure in the World, its Front being not extended enough. In the back Part towards Lime-street, they have also Warehouses, which were rebuilt in a very handsome manner, Anno 1725.

The AFRICAN COMPANY'S HOUSE is in the same Street; a convenient House, which serves for all the Offices their Business requires.

The SOUTH-SEA HOUSE is situate in a large Spot of Ground between Broad-street and Threadneedle-street. At first two large Houses were taken in to form the whole Office; but, as they were streighten'd for Room, and were obliged to summon their General Courts at Merchant Taylors-hall, hard by; so they have lately erected a new Building for the whole Business, which my Limits will not permit me par|ticularly to describe.

The YORK-BUILDINGS COMPANY has been struggling for some Years past with the great Diffi|culties into which it has been plunged by the Fatality attending some late Transactions, and I shall say no more of it here.

Here are also several great Offices for Societies of INSURERS, where almost all Hazards may be insured. The Four principal are called, 1. The Royal Exchange Insurance, kept in a Part of the Royal Exchange. 2. The Royal Insurance, kept in Cornhill. 3. The

Hand-in-hand Fire-office, kept on Snow-hill. 4. The Sun Fire-office, in Threadneedle-street.

In the Two first, all Hazards by Sea of Ships and Goods, not Lives, are insured; as also Houses and Goods are insured from Fire.

In the last Two, only Houses and Goods.

In all which Offices the Premio is so small, and the Recovery, in case of Loss, so easy and certain, that nothing can be shewn like it in the World.

There are also Offices of INSURANCE ON LIVES, the Union Fire-office in Gutter-lane, the Westminster Fire-office, and others, which manage a great deal of Business in the same way.

The CHARITABLE CORPORATION OFFICE is in Spring-garden. A Society that set out with laud|able Pretensions; but many Hundreds of People have found to their Cost, that the best Pretences are often made a Cloak for the worst Practices. Fair and Softly is now the Word with them: and 'tis fit a profound Stilness should succeed the boisterous Storm they occasioned, in which the Fortunes of Multitudes of innocent Subjects suffered a Wreck, which they will never recover.

The Offices of ORDNANCE and the MINT for Coining Money, are kept in the Tower of London.

IV. Of the Mansion-house, and other most noted Edifices, Squares, and Publick Structures in and about London.

1. THAT beautiful Column, called the Monument, erected at the Charge of the City, to per|petuate the fatal Burning of the Whole, cannot be mentioned but with some due Respect to the Build|ing itself, as well as to the City. It is 202 Feet high, and exceeds all the Obelisks and Pillars of the Antients. There is a Stair-case in the Middle,

to ascend to the Balcony, which is about 30 Feet short of the Top, and whence there are other Steps made even to look out at the Top of all, which is fashioned like an Urn, with a Flame issuing from it.

The Lord Mayors of this famous Metropolis have been hitherto forced to content themselves with re|siding in some one or other of the stately Halls of the City Companies, hired for that Purpose; an In|convenience which was equally unworthy of the Grandeur of the great Officer, and of the City over which he presided, and which now will be soon remedied; for on the 25th Day of October 1739, the chief Corner-stone of the Mansion-house was laid by the Right Honourable Micajah Perry, Esq then Lord Mayor, and by the Committee ap|pointed for that Purpose, in the Place where Stocks-market used to be kept, with an Inscription on it signifying as much, and giving the Names of the Gentlemen of the said Committee, the Sheriffs, and the Architect; but perhaps it may be as much to the latter Gentleman's Credit, not to name him, as to name him; for Connoisseurs find so many Faults with the Design, that if what they say is true, tho' it may be a costly Building, yet will it not do any great Honour to this famous Metropolis, among good Judges.

The Royal Exchange is the greatest Burse in the World. It is so well known, and has been so often described, that it is unnecessary for me to enter upon it here. 'Tis said, that it cost above 80,000l. in building; and yet the Interest of the Money was a great while answered by the Rent made of the Shops and Vaults: but now the Trade that used to be carried on there, is so dispersed in other Places, that it cannot be supposed to do so. According to Archi|tectural Criticism, the Building has numerous Faults: the Turret is egregiously bad, tho' a very expensive Part of the Structure.

The Hospital of Bethlehem is a noble Pile; but we shall take notice of it under the Head of HOSPITALS.

The South-Sea House, the Bank, the East-India House, &c. also the Treasury, the Admiralty, the Custom-house, the Excise, and other Publick Offices, are taken notice of under the preceding Article of PUBLICK OFFICES, &c.

The College of Physicians in Warwick-lane is a beautiful and magnificent Structure, built of Brick and Stone, and is one of the finest Ornaments of the City, tho' built in a Place where all its Beauties are in a manner buried. We have not room to be so particular in its Description as it very well deserves; but we shall take notice, that in the Front of the Hall towards the Court, is a Statue of King Charles II. well cut in Stone.

On the West-side of the Theatre is another, of Sir John Cutler; and in June 1739, a very fine Busto, carved out of a Block of White Marble, was erected in the great Hall of this College, to the Honour of the famous Dr. Harvey, with the follow|ing Inscription on its Marble Pediment.

Hanc magni illius
GULIELMI HARVEIJ
Senis Octogenar•…•… Imaginem
Qui Sanguinis Circuitum
Primus monstravit,
Medicinamque rationalem instituit,
Ad Picturam Archetypam,
Quam in suo servat M••se••, effi••tam,
Hororis Causá
Hic p••nendam curavit
RICHARDUSMEAD, Med. Reg.
A. D. M.DCC.XXXIX.

In English thus:

Richard Mead, Physician to his Majesty, caused this Statue of the Great William Harvey, who first demonstrated the Circulation of the Blood, and instituted a ra|tional Course of Medicine, to be here erected in the Year 1739, in Token of his Veneration, ac|cording to the original Picture, drawn at 80 Years of Age, which he keeps in his own Library.

The Surgeons Theatre in Monkwell-street is a fine Piece of Architecture, admirably disposed for Seeing and Hearing; the Work of the famous Inigo Jones. The noble Earl of Burlington, out of Love to the

Memory of this Architect, was pleased to repair it at his own Charge.

In the Hall of this Theatre is a capital Picture of Hans Holbein, in which is the Portrait of King Henry VIII. sitting in his Chair, delivering the Charter which he granted to the College of Phy|sicians, &c. It is said, the Company have been offered 800l. for this Piece; for it is highly valuable as it is the only remaining Picture of the first Painter of Note in this Kingdom (his celebrated Piece, called The Dance of Death, being destroy'd by Fire); and not only presents the King taken from the Life, but also the most eminent Physicians of that Time, when the Incorporation was granted; and excepting the famous Family-piece, by Titian, in the Possession of the Duke of Somerset, and another of the Pem|broke Family, at Wilton, painted by Vandyke, it is esteemed the most valuable Portrait-picture in the Kingdom.

Thanet-house, in Aldersgate-street, built by Inigo Jones, is intirely worthy of him; but it is now let out to a Tavern, and other Trades, as unworthy of its Founder, as of its Architect.

The Palace of the Bishop of London is over-against it. It is an old Building, and no otherwise remark|able, than that it is let out to Tradesmen chiefly, and has not been for a great while the Residence of its Bishop, who has a Country Palace at Fulham; and the Air of the Court being judged better than that of the City, Whitehall has been preferred to it for a Town-residence.

Several Acts of Parliament have passed within these few Years, for building a new Bridge over the Thames at Westminster, and Three successive Lotteries have been given for that End. It was at first re|solved to be built at the Horse-ferry over to Lam|beth; but those who had most Influence changing their Minds, the Design was altered, and it is now

begun at the Woolstaple, near Palace-yard, and is to be carry'd to Stangate on the opposite Side. Great Powers are given by this Act to Commissioners to agree with Persons who own Houses and Lands on either Shore: and they intend to pull down whole Streets about Palace-yard, and Channing-row, besides what they are to do on the Surry Side, for the more commodious Passage to it. In short, if the Plan be pursued that is proposed, it will be a very considerable Work: but yet, we must say, that the greatest Part of the Expence would have been saved, had it been built where first proposed; and as the Money is raised by Lotteries, which are always of pernicious Con|sequence to Trade, it had been perhaps as well, in the present Juncture of the publick Affairs, that the nearest way had been followed: and I may presume to intimate, that tho' the Horse-ferry were to be rejected, yet Scotland-yard, which is a great Body of ruinous or decaying Buildings, and joins to Whitehall, and to which the main Streets point, leading down from Pall-mall, Picadilly, &c. by Charing-cross, would have been, in my humble Opinion, a preferable Situation. 'Tis certain it might have been effected there, not only with more Conveniency, but at an easy Expence to what now must be the Case; and there had been no need to have pulled down the Houses of Tradesmen, and others, which brought in tolerable Rents, by their Vicinity to Westminster-hall, and the Two Houses of Parliament. Several Stone Piers are already erected in the Thames, and they are proceeding with one of the noblest Streets of Houses, that are any where to be seen, fronting Palace-yard. And here we shall leave it for this time, chusing rather to describe what is, than what is designed to be; since the Time this Work will take up still, may subject it to several Alterations, now not easy to be foreseen.

The new-built Houses of the Dukes of Montagu and Richmond, in the Privy-Garden, are convenient and noble Structures.

The Meuse, near Charing-Cross, where the King's Horses are kept, and the Coaches of State set up, is a very large kind of Square; but the Buildings being old, and unworthy of the Situation, as well as of the Use, are, as 'tis said, to be pulled down, and built in a beautiful manner. The principal Range at the upper End is already finish'd; and when the other Parts are completed, it will be one of the finest Things of its kind in Europe.

On the right Side of the Street, coming from Whitehall, is Northumberland-house, belonging to the Duke of Somerset in Right of Marriage.

It is an antient, but large and well-design'd Build|ing, and fit to receive a Retinue of One hundred in Family; nor does the Duke's Family come so far short of the Number, as not very handsomely to fill the House.

Carlton House and Gardens, adjoining to St. James's Park, belong to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; who has built an Octagon at the West-end of his Garden, which is elegantly fur|nished. The lower Part is a Grotto, or fine Bathe|ing-room; over which is a Dining-room finely adorn'd with Pictures, &c. and with Four Marble Busto's of Shakespear, Milton, Dryden, and Mr. Pope. On the Outside over the Door, one on each Side, are placed the Busto's of the renown'd King Alfred and Edward the Black Prince, both so famous in English History, with Inscriptions to their Ho|nour, which, at the same time, are equally so to that of the Royal Erector of them, who gives a glorious Specimen therein of what Examples he thinks most worthy of his heroick Imitation.

The noble Houses of the late Dukes of Marlbo|rough and Buckinghamshire in St. James's Park, are

too well known to need any particular Descrip|tion.

The new-built House of the Duke of Devonshire in Picadilly (that noble one built by the famous Inigo Jones, being destroy'd by Fire in 1733); the newly beautified one of the Duke of Bedford in Bloomsbury-Square; those of the Lord Bateman, the Duke of Queensbury, General Wade, and the late Lord Bing|ley; the noble and extensive Streets of Buildings about Soho, Grosvenor, Cavendish, and Hanover-squares, with those noble Squares themselves, and the new Alterations in St. James's-square, Red-lion-square, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; the new Buildings about Jockey-Fields, Chancery-lane, Fetter-lane, Serjeants-Inn, Craven-street, and the New-Exchange in the Strand, now all built into fine Houses, would take up too much of my Room to particularize; and I can there|fore only name them, having so many curious Mat|ters to add in these Letters.

But yet I cannot forbear particularly to mention one Beauty, because it is an Honour to our Coun|try; and that is the great Piazza in Covent-Garden, the noblest Square in Europe, for Grandeur of the Design, especially with the Beauty of the East Front of that elegant Church, the only Piece the Moderns have yet produced, that can admit of a just Comparison with the Works of Antiquity; where a majestick Simplicity commands the Appro|bation of the Judicious. The rustick Arcade round the Square is of an excellent Composition; above which is a grand Story and an Attick, and the Win|dows dress'd with a regular Entablature.

I must but slightly mention, for the Reasons already given, the new Road in Hyde-park, the Re|servoirs in the Two Parks, the late Queen's Library, &c. which may just serve as a Hint to Travellers who have less upon their Hands than I have upon mine.

V. Of the principal Hospitals and other Charitable Institutions in and about the City of London.

NO City in the World can shew the like Num|ber of private and publick Charities, as the Cities of London and Westminster.

I have not Room particularly to describe them; and must therefore content myself with giving little more than their Names, and those of their muni|ficent Founders, referring to those larger Works where more ample Accounts and Descriptions may be expected.

1. then, I will mention Bethlehem Hospital in Moorfields, erected at the Charge of the City, Anno 16 6, and said to be built after the Model of Ver|sailles. This has lately received very great Additions, and is design'd for the Reception of Lunaticks.

2. Bridewell is as well an House of Correction as an Hospital. It was formerly the King's City Palace, but given to the City by King Edward VI. for the reclaiming of idle Persons, Vagrants, &c. and for bringing up Lads to Handicraft Businesses.

There are Two other Houses of Correction, call'd Bridewells, one at Clerkenwell, for Middlesex, the other in To••hill-fields for Westminster.

3. Christ's-Hospital, originally founded by King Edward VI. (at the Request of the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen of London, and of the pious Martyr Dr. Ridley, then Bishop of London) for entertaining, educating, nourishing, and bringing up the poor Children of the Citizens, such as, their Parents (or Fathers, at least) being dead, have no other way of Support.

This noble Charity maintains near 1000 poor Children, who have Food, Cloathing, and Instru|ction, useful and sufficient Learning, and an exceed|ing good Discipline observ'd; and at the proper Ages they are put out to Trades suitable to their several Genius's and Capacities; and others are taught Mathematicks, Navigation, and Arithmetick, to fit them for private and publick Service. The seeing of these Children at Church on a Sunday at Christ-Church, and at Supper on Sunday Evening, may be reckon'd as fine a Sight as any in London, and occa|sions a constant Resort of People of all Ranks, who admire the Neatness of their Appearance, and the good Management of the House. Dependent on this noble Charity is also an House at Hertford, where Diet, Schooling, &c. are given to the younger Boys.

4. St. Bartholomew's Hospital adjoins to Christ's Hospital. Its first Foundation may be said to be owing to King Henry VIII. whose Statue in Stone, very well done, is, for that Reason, erected in the new Front, over the Entrance to the Cloyster in West-Smithfield, with Two Cripples, no mean Pieces of Sculpture, on the Top of the Pediment over his Head. This Hospital has received very great Additions of late Years, and they are going on building still, and 'tis well if they do not overdo it; for they demolish their Houses, and reduce their Estates by it, and leave it upon the Generosity of future Benefactors to sup|port what they are about.

This Hospital relieves about 600 Patients daily with Lodging, Diet, Physick, and Chirurgery.

The Locke at Kingsland, and that in Southwark, belong to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and are used for such as have the foul Disease only.

There generally is under the Care of this Hospital upwards of 5000 poor sick and lame Persons, desti|tute of other Relief.

5. St. Thomas's Hospital in Southwark is also a noble Piece of Charity, of the like Nature with that of St. Bartholomew. The Church and most of the Hospital was rebuilt in a beautiful manner from the Year 1701 to 1706. It was founded by Edw. VI. and Inscriptions are set up in it to the Honour of Mr. Guy, Mr. Frederick, Sir Robert Clayton, the last of whom has his Statue there, as has King Edw. VI. lately erected by Charles Joy, Esq late Treasurer of this Hospital.

6. Guy's Hospital is situated very near St. Thomas's Hospital, and is perhaps one of the greatest private Charities that was ever known. Its Founder, Tho|mas Guy, was a Bookseller in Lombard-street. He lived to see this Work in great Forwardness, and at his Death, Anno 1724, left about 200,000l. to finish and endow it. Anno 1734, Mr. Guy's Statue was erected in the principal Square.

Tho' this Hospital is said to be for Incurables, it is not for such as are absolutely so; for the Founder used to say, That he would not have his Hospital made an Alms-house.

Over and above the 200,000l. left to this Hospi|tal, the Founder left as many Legacies, and other Dispositions, as were computed to amount to near 150,000l. more.

7. The London Workhouse, as it is called, founded on an Act of Parliament passed in the 13th Year of King Charles II. is situated without Bishopsgate, and is an Edifice consisting of several Work-rooms and Lodging-rooms for Vagrants and Parish-Children.

They have a handsome Chapel built at the upper End of the Yard belonging to the House, where they go to Prayers twice a Day, at Seven in the Morn|ing, and at Seven in the Evening. On Sundays they all go to St. Helen's, where they have Seats.

The Charity-schools and Workhouses set up in almost every Parish of this prodigious City, have in

some measure pursued the Design of this laudable Workhouse; and if they have thereby interfered with it, and taken off some Benefactions that otherwise might have flowed into that Canal, it will be the less to be wondered at.

8. The Hospital called the Charter-House, or Sutton's Hospital, must be recorded to be the greatest and noblest Gift that ever was given for Charity, by any one Man, publick or private, in this Nation, since History gives us any Account of Things; ex|cept we give a Preference to that of Mr. Guy. The Revenue of Mr. Sutton's Hospital being, besides the Purchase of the Place, and the Building of the House, and other Expences, little less than 6000l. per Annum Revenue: it is of so long standing, and its Government, &c. so well known, that we shall afford it no further Mention.

The Royal Hospitals of Greenwich and Chelsea are also not mentioned in this Account, as not be|ing within the Reach of the extended Bounds of the City of London, as we have laid them down, and are therefore taken Notice of in their proper Places.

The Greycoat and Greencoat Hospital in Tothill|fields, Emanuel Hospital, Westminster; that for the Poor of the French Refugees, near Islington; the Ironmongers Alms-houses near Shoreditch; Alderman Aske's at Hoxton; those stately ones of the Trinity-house, the Vintners, and several others in the Way to Mile-End; as also those handsome ones, lately erected by the Will of Mr. Francis Bancroft, a Lord-Mayor's Officer, in the same Road, all de|serve particular Mention, had I room for it.

But I must say a Word or two of those useful Charities, the Two Infirmaries, one in James's-street, Westminster, and the other at Hyde-park Corner, which have given Birth to the like laudable Institu|tions in other Parts of the Kingdom. The Design of them is to supply the Places of the Hospitals of

St. Bartholomew and St. Thomas's aforemention'd, there being no such charitable Foundations in the City of Westminster. And here the best Order is observ'd, the best Medicines dispensed, and the best Assistances given, as well by Physicians, as Surgeons and Apothecaries, to all who are admitted into these Charities. I shall refer you to the Accounts pub|lish'd by each every Year, for further Particulars of their Institutions, Progress and Success.

In August 1732, a Corporation was erected for the Relief of poor Officers Widows belonging to the Navy, which allots 45l. per Ann. to a Captain's Widow; 30l. to a Lieutenant's; and 20l. to the Widows of Boatswains, Gunners, Carpenters, Pur|sers, Surgeons, Second Master of a Yacht, or Ma|ster of a Naval Vessel, warranted by the Navy-board; provided the annual Incomes of their Real and Personal Estates do not amount to the aforesaid yearly Sums. To this Charity all Admirals, Cap|tains, Lieutenants and Warrant Officers, pay 3d. per Pound out of their Salaries; and his Majesty King George II. graciously contributed 10,000l. as a Foundation for it.

In the Year 1739, a most useful and long-wish'd-for Charity was establish'd by Royal Charter, in order to found an Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of exposed and deserted young Children, otherwise called Foundlings.

An Act of Parliament has passed for confirming and inlarging the Powers granted by this Charter, and to enable them to execute the good Purposes thereof; and several Meetings of the Governors and Guardians have been held, and Sixty Children have been determined to be admitted for a Beginning; and as many Gentlemen have already subscribed, it is to be hoped, that Succes•• will attend this praise|worthy and long-wish'd-for Undertaking. The Governors have hired the House in Hatton-Garden,

wherein the late Sir Fisher Tench lived, till they shall be able to build a proper Hospital, which they intend to do on the North Side of Ormond-street, and Lamb's Conduit, having purchased of the Earl of Salisbury Four Fields of Pasture Land, contain|ing Fifty-six Acres, at the Rate of 7000l. for the Purpose.

The Corporation for Clergymens Sons deserves also to be taken Notice of, as an excellent Institu|tion; but we must draw to a Conclusion of this Article.

We shall only further observe in general, That those noble Foundations, added to the innumerable Alms-houses which are to be seen in almost every Part of London, make it certain, that there is no City in the World can shew the like Number of Charities from private Hands, there being not less than Twenty thousand People maintain'd of Cha|rity, besides the Charities of Schooling for Chil|dren, and besides the Collections at the annual Feasts of several Kinds, where Money is given for putting out Children Apprentices, &c. a great Number of which owe their Rise to the Period of Time included in 40 Years past; so that the Papists have no Reason to boast, that there were greater Benefactions and Acts of Charity to the Poor given in their Days, than in our Protestant Times. And this is, indeed, one of the principal Reasons for my making mention of it in this Place; for let any par|ticular Age be singled out, and let the Charities of this Age, for about 40 Years past, and the Sums of Money bestowed by Protestants in this Nation on mere Acts of Charity to the Poor, not reckon|ing Gifts to the Church, be cast up, it will appear they are greater by far, than can be found in Eng|land in any the like Number of Years, take the Time when we will.

Nor do I include in this, the Money collected by Briefs all over England, upon Casualties by Fire, though that is an eminent Act of Charity as any can be; nor the Money given either in publick or private, for Rebuilding St. Paul's and other Churches demolished by the Fire of London, or the Augmen|tation of poor Benefices by the Bounty of Queen Anne, and many other such Gifts.

VI. Of the Churches of London, Westminster, and Southwark.

THERE are within the Walls of London, 97 Parishes; without the Walls, 17; in the Out-Parishes in Middlesex and Surrey, in the Bills of Mortality, 21; and in the City and Liberty of West|minster, 10; in all, 145. We shall as briefly as possible touch upon the most remarkable Churches.

We must observe in the first Place, That the Churches in London are rather convenient than fine, not adorn'd with Pomp and Pageantry, as in Popish Countries; but, like the true Protestant Plainness, have very little Ornament either within or with|out.

But the most famous of all the Churches in the City, and of all the Protestant Churches in the World, is the Cathedral of St. Paul; an Edifice exceeding|ly beautiful and magnificent, with fewer Faults than are to be found in any Building of the like Nature and Extent; tho' some, who would be thought to have Skill in Architecture, are pleased to say there are many, and particularly censure it for its Heavi|ness, tho' perhaps it would be found, that the Fault is in their not considering separately the Beauty and Proportion of every Part, in order to enter into the Nature and Design of the whole Composition.

The vast Extent of the horizontal Arch of the Cupola, which supports a Stone Lantern near 70 Feet high, may well account for the Strength of the Piers and Butments below: Eight of which sup|port the Whole of that prodigious Weight. And tho' common Observers assert, that those Piers, as also the Piers of all the Arches within-side, are too thick and heavy, yet, whoever knows any thing of the Rules of Architecture, must allow them to be as slender as the Strictness of those Rules would admit of; for the Thickness of each Pier is not one Third Part of the Void of each Arch. And as to the Piers which support the Dome, they, when com|par'd with those that support the Cupola of St. Peter's at Rome, come out to be but one Third Part of the Bigness of the latter, the one measuring 240 Feet in Circumference, the other not quite 80; yet there is not a great deal of Difference in the Dimensions and Weight of the Two Cupola's. For that of St. Paul's is considerably larger and higher in Propor|tion to the Piers that support it, and to the Body of the Church, than that of St. Peter's. Wherefore I may venture, upon the whole, to assert, that were we to compare every Part of the Two Buildings together, we shall find St. Paul's to be much less liable to the Objection of being a heavy Pile, than St. Peter's.

The chief Reason, as I imagine, why this Church is censur'd for Heaviness, is, not that it is really so in itself, but appears so, compar'd with the Gothick Architecture, which is more familiar to some Per|sons than the other, and admits of an extravagant Airiness and Lightness In that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Building the Designer is bound down to no Rules of Proportion but what his own F••ncy sug••••sts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whereas in the other, the Dimens••••ns of every individual Member are ascertained, which cannot be deviated from with|out occasioning a Fault. The Height of every

Arch hath a fix'd Proportion to its Breadth; the Doors, Windows and their Ornaments are the same; the Intercolumniations and their Intablatures are all confin'd to certain Admeasurement. But who ever found that Exactness observ'd in any Gothick Stru|cture? It must be allowed there are Pieces of that Sort of Architecture, that, in the Whole, look very august and venerable. Yet let any one view the vast Stone Buttresses round the Outside of Westminster Abbey, and see what Confusion of Lines, and Breaks they occasion in the Perspective, and they will then easily account for the Lightness of the Inside of that Building; for they are those Buttresses, which by extending so far out, support the whole Structure, more than its Walls or Pillars. This I mention for the sake of common Observers only; for to the Judicious it is altogether unnecessary.

Sir Christopher Wren had the Satisfaction to find the injudicious Reprovers of his Work confuted by the Approbation of the best Masters in Europe, who allow'd, That the Church of St. Peter's at Rome, which is the most stupendous Structure in the World, only exceeds St. Paul's with respect to the Large|ness of its Dimensions, its rich Mosaick Work, the beautiful Marble, of which both its Outside and In|side intirely consist, the latter in different Colours, its Statues, Paintings, Gildings, Altars, and Ora|tories; Ornaments not allowed of in Protestant Churches.

Had the Inside of St. Paul's been adorned in as profuse and pompous a Manner as St. Peter's, it would have attracted the Admiration of superficial Criticks, so that they would never have been able to discover the Faults they now pretend to find; Faults which can only be attributed to the Plainness of its Materials. But to such as are real Judges, the Harmony, Proportion and Beauty of Buildings are equally admirable, whether they be executed in plain

Free-stone, or the most beautiful Marble; whether the Carvings or Mouldings be gilt or not; the Re|cesses or Panels in the Walls be curiously painted, or only plaister'd.

In the Year 1707, the House of Commons had it under Consideration, whether the Cupola should be cover'd with * 3.1 Copper or Lead; and upon Inquiry into which was most expedient and least expensive, it appear'd, that the Covering of Lead would amount to about 170 Tons, and the Expence thereof, in|cluding Workmanship, was estimated at 2500l.

The Copper Covering was computed at Eleven Tons, Three hundred, Three Quarters and odd Pounds, and the Expence was estimated at 3050l. Upon which the House fixed upon a Copper Cover|ing.

But when the Bill which had a Clause in it for that Purpose, went up to the Lords, their Lordships left out the Clause; upon which the Commons de|sired a Conference, alleging, that Copper was pre|ferable to any other Covering, as well in respect of Duration as Lightness; for that Lead being sub|ject to frequent Repairs, the necessary Scaffolding for that Purpose at any one time, would exceed the Difference of Charge between that and Copper: besides, that frequent Scaffolding would very much prejudice the Building. But the Sessions closing the same Day, put an End to the Affair, and there were no Conferences; tho' the preceding Reasons were what the Commons intended to offer, if there had been one.

It very probably was upon this Occasion, that Sir Christopher is said to have declared his Opinion in the House of Commons, when some Gentlemen doubted whether the Cupola would bear the Leaden Covering, that it was able to bear 7000 Tons more than what is now upon it, and that he would under|take

to raise a Spire of Stone upon the whole 100 Feet higher than the Cross now stands.

The Expence of this magnificent Structure, as it was laid before the Parliament Anno 1711, including the Building of the Chapter-house near it, a neat and elegant Fabrick, purchasing of Property, together with the Estimate of what was necessary to com|plete the whole, in which was concluded a Ring of Twelve Bells, not yet put up, nor cast, as also the Furniture for the Choir, amounted to 810,380l. 4s.

These Things, that were not so easy for every one to know, we have thought it necessary to inlarge upon. Our Bounds will not permit us to say all that the Subject requires, and we would not dwell upon Points which every one knows, or may easily inform himself of by his own Observation, or from other Writers, in relation to this famous Structure.

But one thing it will be requisite to observe further, which every one does not know, and which there|fore I shall mention.

This able Architect, Sir Christopher Wren, at the first setting about the Church, would have had its Situation removed a little to the North, to stand just on the Spot of Ground which is taken up by Pater-noster Row, and the Buildings on either Side; so that the North-side of the Church should have stood open to Newgate-street, and the South-side to the Ground on which the Church now stands.

By this Situation, the East-end of the Church, would have looked directly down the main Street of the City, Cheapside; and for the West-end, Lud|gate having been removed a little North, the main Street called Ludgate-street, and Ludgate-hill, would only have sloped a little W. S. W. as they do now irregularly Two Ways, one within, and the other without the Gate, and all the Street beyond Fleet-Bridge would have received no Alteration at all.

By this Situation, the common Thorough-fare of the City would have been removed at a little far|ther Distance from the Work, and we should not then have been obliged to walk just under the very Wall, as we do now, which makes the Work appear out of all Perspective, and is the chief Reason of the Objections I have mention'd, as to the outside Appearance; whereas, had it been viewed at a little Distance, the Building would have been seen infi|nitely to more Advantage.

Had Sir Christopher been allowed this Situation, he would then, also, have had more room for the Ornament of the West-end, which, tho' a most beautiful Work, would have been much more so then, and he would have added a circular Piazza to it, after the Model of that of Rome, but much more magnificent, and an Obelisk of Marble in the Centre of the Circle, exceeding any thing that the World can shew of its Kind, of modern Work.

But the Circumstance of Things hindered this noble Design, and the City being almost rebuilt before he obtain'd an Order and Provision for laying the Foundation, he was prescribed to the narrow Spot where it now stands, in which the Building, however magnificent in itself, stands with great Dis|advantage as to the Prospect of it. The Inconve|niencies of this were so apparent when the Church was finish'd, that Leave was at length, tho' not without Difficulty, obtain'd, to pull down one whole Row of Houses on the North-side of the Body of the Church, to make Way for the noble Balustrade of cast Iron, raised upon an handsome Stone Wall of above a Yard high, that surrounds the Church-yard; and, indeed, to admit Light into the Church, as well as to preserve it from the Danger of Fire.

That admirable Architect met with no better Suc|cess in a Plan which was one of the most beautiful

that could enter the Mind of Man, and would have made this City the noblest on Earth: this I shall relate in the Words of a certain Author, viz.

"The Fire of London furnish'd the most perfect Occasion that can ever happen in any City, to rebuild it with Pomp and Regularity. This Sir Christopher Wren foresaw, and, 'tis said, offer'd a Scheme which would have made it the Wonder of the World. He proposed to have laid out one large Street from Aldgate to Temple-Bar; in the middle of which was to have been a large Square capable of containing the new Church of St. Paul's, with a proper Distance for the View all round; whereby that huge Building would not have been cooped up, as 'tis at present, in such a manner, as no-where to be seen to Advantage at all; but would have had a long and ample Vista at each End, to have reconcil'd it to a proper Point of View, and give it one great Benefit, which in all Probability, it must now want for ever. He far|ther proposed to rebuild all the Parish-churches in such a Manner, as to be seen at the End of every Vista of Houses, and dispersed in such Distances from each other, as to appear neither too thick, nor thin in Prospect, and give a proper Heighten|ing to the whole Bulk of the City, as it filled the Landschape. Lastly, he proposed to build all the Houses uniform, and supported on a Piazza, like that of Covent-Garden: and by the Water-side from the Bridge to the Temple, he had planned a long and broad Wharf, or Quay, where he de|signed to have ranged all the Halls that belong to the several Companies of the City, with proper Ware-houses for Merchants between, to vary the Edifices, and make it at once one of the most beautiful and most useful Ranges of Structure in the World. But the Hurry of Rebuilding, and

the Disputes of Property, prevented this glorious Scheme from taking Place."

When this great Man found he could not carry this Point, he proposed what we have already men|tion'd; but, as we have observ'd, with as little Suc|cess as the above grand Scheme; private Property, on this Occasion, as it does on most others, get|ting the better both of publick Utility and publick Spirit.

The new Churches at Lime-house, Ratcliffe-highway, Spital-fields, Old-street, the Strand, Or|mond-street, Hanover-square, the Horse-ferry, Blooms|bury, I can but just mention, tho' they deserve to be taken notice of by Travellers. But the latter, I must observe, was the first Building, wherein was in|troduced a Portico after the Manner of the antient Temples. The Body of the Church is a masterly Performance; but the placing, for a Weather-cock, the Statue of a Prince famous for good Sense and Steadiness, is an Absurdity peculiar to the Church of Bloomsbury.

The new-built Steeples or Towers of St. Marga|ret's Westminster, St. Michael's Cornhill, St. Mary Aldermary, St. Sepulchre's, St. Christopher's, St. Dunstan's in the East, St. Clement's-Danes, and the new-built Churches of St. Mary Woolnoth, Bishops-gate, St. Leonard Shoreditch, St. Catharine Cole|man, St. Martin's in the Fields, St. Giles's, I can only mention.

Among the Beauties of London, must be num|bered the admirable Church of St. Stephen Wal|brooke, the Temple-Church, Bow-Church, St. Cle|ment's-Danes, St. Paul Covent-Garden; and that incomparable Piece called The Banqueting-house at Whitehall, now made use of as a Chapel. This was the Design of Inigo Jones, as one Pavilion for that admirable Model he gave for a Palace. And if this Specimen has justly commanded the Admiration of

Mankind, what must the finish'd Piece have done! It is to be hoped Britain will one Day have the Glory to accomplish it, according to this Plan, and then it will far exceed all the Palaces of the Universe. Here is Strength with Politeness, Ornament with Simplicity, and Beauty with Majesty. It is without Dispute one of the noblest Structures in the World. The Ceiling is an admirable fine Piece of Painting by Rubens.

The Abbey or Collegiate Church of Westminster is a venerable old Pile of Building; but begins to appears with a new Face; for a Tower is actually finish'd at the West-end, and another is about. The Beginning of a fine and costly Spire was also laid some time ago, near the Middle of the Edifice, which however is yet uncertain whether it will be proceeded on or not. The West Window fronting these Towers is one of the most beautiful in Glass Painting that has been done of late Years; and the Window also fronting King-street, finish'd in the Deanry of the late Bishop Atterbury, is one of the finest modern Performances of its kind.

We are also assur'd, that the Houses adjoining to this venerable Building will be all pull'd down, and the Building left clear: an Action that will be as laudable when done, as it was scandalous when begun; the Effect of private Avarice, whereby that vene|rable Pile is subjected to the Hazards of Fire, and other Accidents, whenever an idle Servant shall get in a sottish, a careless, or sleepy Fit.

But after all, this Building, tho' very expensive, is far less elegant than several other Gothick Stru|ctures. Its Outside can never be made beautiful; and within, it is extravagantly out of Proportion, with regard to the Height and Breadth of the middle Nef and Side-Ayles. The high Altar withinside is a noble Piece, and had a wonderful fine Effect from the

West Door, before the Organ lately erected inter|cepted its View.

The Towers at the West-end, which I have just mention'd, as they stand so close together, are not sufficiently contracted in the carrying them up. The Four Pinacles have a very wretched Effect, when viewed in a diagonal Line. The Style of the Build|ing, so far as is intire new Work, is a sort of Med|ley, neither Gothick, nor any thing else. As so many beautiful Structures of this Kind are to be seen, it is amazing, that any Architect should be above imitating them, when 'tis plain he cannot equal, much less excel them.

This Abbey is the Repository of the deceas'd Bri|tish Kings and Nobility, and very fine Monuments are seen over the Graves of our antient Sovereigns: the Particulars are too long to enter into here.

The Monarchs of Great Britain are likewise al|ways crown'd here.

The Churches in Southwark are as follow:

• 1. The Church of St. Mary, vulgarly called St. Mary Overy, and St. Saviour in Southwark, is a noble Gothick Pile; having Three Ayles running from East to West, and a Cross Ayle after the Manner of a Cathedral.
• 2. The new-built Church of St. George South|wark makes a handsome Appearance.
• 3. St. Thomas's is a neat and convenient Build|ing.
• 4. St. Olave's is also new-built.
• 5. St. John's, vulgarly call'd Horsley-down Church, is one of the Fifty new ones.
• 6. The Church of St. Mary Magdalen Bermond|sey is a neat Structure.
• 7. Christ-Church is new-built; as is also,
• 8. Rotherhith-Church; but the particular De|scription I have not room for.

VII. Of St. James's Palace, the Parliament-House, Westminster-Hall, &c.

THE Palace of St. James's, tho' the Winter Receptacle of all the Pomp and Glory of this Kingdom, is really mean, in Comparison of the glorious Court of Great Britain. The Splendor of the Nobility, the Wealth and Greatness of the At|tendants, the Oeconomy of the House, and the real Grandeur of the whole Royal Family, out-does all the Courts of Europe; and yet this Palace comes beneath those of the most petty Princes in it; altho' there cannot be in the World a nobler Situation for a Royal Palace than Whitehall. And it is with some Concern, that we see so fine a Spot become a Sacri|fice to private Spirit, so much of it being given away to particular Families, as makes more remote than we might otherwise expect it to be, the Hope we might justly have entertained, of seeing a Palace built there, worthy of the Glory of our Monarchs.

Many Plans have been drawn for the rebuilding of this Palace; but the most celebrated Draughts are those of Inigo Jones, and may be seen in Mr. Camp|bell's Vitruvius Britannicus, and Mr. Kent's Edition of Jones's Works. The last of these, if executed, would, for Magnificence and Beauty, transcend even the Temple of Solomon, if we are to form a Judg|ment from the Plans given of that famous Edifice. But 'tis a Question whether the Expence would not exceed that of St. Peter's at Rome, which cost Forty Millions of Roman Crowns.

As the Court is now stated, all the Offices and Places for Business are scatter'd about, here and there.

The Parliament meets as they used to do, while the Court was at Westminster, in the King's Old Palace; nor can it be said but the Place is made

tolerably convenient for them, and is still more so of late Years than it used to be; for the Court of Re|quests is intirely new-built, and made a noble Room; and other Conveniencies are added. The House of Commons meet in the Chapel of the Palace at West|minster, dedicated to St. Stephen, and fitted for this Purpose by that admirable Architect Sir Christopher Wren.

The House of Lords is a venerable old Place, tho' it must be said to be much streightened in the several Avenues to it, and Rooms above it; and particular|ly the matted Gallery, the Lobby, the back Ways the King goes to it, are very short of the requisite Dignity or Convenience of the Place, and of the Glory of a King of Great Britain, who there meets the Peers and Commons of his Realm, who toge|ther constitute the most august Assembly in the World.

Westminster-Hall, a very noble Gothick Building, in which are held the Courts of Justice, is said to be the largest Room in the World: its Roof, which is the finest of its Kind that can be seen, is 100 Feet wide. And here is held the Coronation-Feast of the Kings and Queens of England; also the Courts of Chancery, King's Bench and Common Pleas; and above Stairs, that of the Exchequer. But it must be confess'd, that it makes no very advantageous Appearance without, resembling at a Distance a great Barn, of 300 Feet long; within, it is filled with Booksellers Shops, and those of other Trades; tho' the Alteration lately made in the Chancery and King's Bench Courts, at the upper End of the Hall, and those for the Common Pleas on the Right-hand of it, give it a much better Appearance than it had before.

Adjoining to the Hall are kept the numerous Of|fices belonging to the Exchequer of England, some of them very dark and inconvenient; and such as to

a Stranger would afford a no very remote Idea (par|ticularly in some of the Avenues from Office to Office) of the dismal Mansions to which Money-Transactions often are thought to bring the devoted Subjects of Plutus.

VIII. Of the Statues and other publick Ornaments in and about the Cities of London and West|minster.

THIS Article we insert rather for the sake of the Number of the Statues, &c. than their Excellency; tho' some of them must be allow'd to be very valuable.

The Brass Statue of K. James II. in the Habit of a Roman Caesar, in the Privy-Garden at White-hall, is a very beautiful one, and can hardly be out-done by any modern Performance of that Kind in Europe.

A fine Brass Bust of King Charles I. done by Panini, a famous Italian Master of Sculpture, is placed over the Passage at the upper End of West|minster-Hall, adjoining to the Court of King's Bench, which, tho' little observed, is very curious.

The Statue in Brass of King Charles I. on Horse|back, at Charing-Cross, is a curious Piece, tho' not perfect according to the Notion of some Criticks.

In the Centre of Soho-square, is the Statue of King William III. with Four Figures representing the Thames, the Medway, the Severn, and the Hum|ber; but the Piece is not extraordinary.

On the Front of Montagu-house, the Four Car|dinal Virtues. Also in the Garden, in Metal, a curious Figure of a Gladiator, and likewise a Venus and a Satyr.

The Busts over the Entrance of the Prince of Wales's Octagon, at Carlton-house, are fine.

In Grosvenor-square, an Equestrian Statue of King George I. finely gilded; but that is its chief Beauty.

In Queen's-square, Westminster, is a Statue of Queen Anne, at full Proportion, on a Pedestal.

At Somerset-house, on the South Front, in a Niche, Apollo, finely done in Marble, with a Bow, Arrows and Dogs; a neat Figure in Brass of a Cleopatra, with her Asps invironing one Arm, and fix'd on her Breast: also in an Alto-Relievo, on the Front of the Water-gate, Two Figures representing Isis and Thame. Also in the Garden a naked Venus, with a Dolphin, and a Cupid, and a Boy on his Back.

In the Gardens of Lincoln's-Inn, are the Figures of Julius Caesar, Pompey, Augustus Caesar, Mark Antony, and an Hercules and a Neptune in the Benchers Garden.

At Temple-Bar, Anne, Queen to King James I. finely cut in a Niche: also King James I. Charles I. and Charles II. in other Niches.

King Lud, and his Two Sons, on the East-side of Ludgate: Queen Elizabeth on the West-side.

At St. Paul's the Figures of the Apostles and Evangelists, on the West, North, and South Fronts; and in the Middle of the Area, the Statue of her late Majesty Queen Anne, at full Length, crown'd, with a Sceptre in one Hand, and a Globe in the other, round the Pedestal of which, are the Figures of Britannia, France in a pensive Attitude, Ireland, and America: also St. Paul, with a Group of other Figures expressing his Conversion, finely done in Relievo, over the Door in the West Front.

On the Front of the Hall of the College of Phy|sicians, toward the Court, is a Statue of King Charles II. well cut in Stone. On the West-side of the Theatre is also the Statue of Sir John Cutler, carv'd in Stone. A fine Busto of Dr. Harvey is also newly erected in the Front of the Hall.

Another of King Charles II. in a Niche, is also to be seen in that Part of Christ's-Hospital fronting Grey-friers; as are also Two of King Edward VI.

in different Parts of that Hospital. Also the Statue of Sir J. More.

In the Front of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, next Smithfield, which is a very handsome Gate-way, is a Statue of King Henry VIII. done in a very good Taste.

In Aldersgate, King James I. on Horseback, well carv'd in Alto-Relievo: also the Prophets Samuel and Jeremiah.

On Newgate, in both Fronts, are the Figures of Justice, Liberty, Mercy, Peace, Plenty, and Truth.

In Mercers-Chapel, in the Front, Charity, and her Three Children.

In Clothworkers-hall, is a curious Figure of King James I. and King Charles I.

At the Chapel by Guildhall, the Statues of King Edward VI. Queen Elizabeth, with a Phoenix under her, and King Charles I. treading upon a Globe, &c.

In the Royal Exchange, the Statues of Edward I. Edward III. Henry V. Henry VI. Edward IV. Ed|ward V. Henry VII. Henry VIII. Edward VI. Queen Mary I. Queen Elizabeth, King James I. King Charles I. King Charles II. King James II. King William III. and Queen Mary, Queen Anne, King George I. and King George II. Also on the South-side are Two fine Statues of King Charles I. and King Charles II. A Statue of King Charles II. in a Roman Habit, in the Centre of the Area, is a very noble Performance. Also in Two Places of the Exchange, Statues of Sir Thomas Gresham; one of them deserves a better Situation than the dark Corner in which it is placed, under the Piazza of the North-west Angle, just regarding the Turkey Walk, with a Bale of Silk by him.

The Two Figures over the Gate of Bethlem Ho|spital, one representing a Person melancholy mad, the one raving, are inimitable Performances, by Cibber.

On the Pediment over the outer Door of St. Mag|nus Church, by London-Bridge, the Figure of Atlas, in a cumbent Posture, is curiously carved and gilt.

In St. Thomas's-Hospital, Southwark, a Statue of Sir Robert Clayton, in Marble; another in Brass of King Edward VI.

In Mr. Guy's Hospital a Statue in Brass of that Gentleman.

On the South-side of the Sessions-house in South|wark, is a fine Stone Statue of King James II. in his Royal Habiliments.

A good Statue of King Charles II. in Brass, in a Roman Habit, is in the Quadrangle before Chelsea College.

In the publick Office of the Bank, is set up a curious Marble Statue of King William III. with the following Inscription on its Pedestal:

Ob Legibus Vim,
Judiciis Auctoritatem,
Senatui Dignitatem,
Civibus Universis Jura sua
Tam Sacra quam Civilia restituta,
Et Illustrissimae Domus HANOVERIANAE
In Imperium Britannicum Successionem
Posteris confirmatam,
Optimo Principi
GULIELMO TERTIO
Conditori suo
Grato Animo posuit dicavitque
HUJUS AERARII SOCIETAS,
A. C. MDCCXXXIV. Harumque Aedium I.

Which may be render'd thus:

In Remembrance of Vigour restored to the Laws, Authority to the Courts of Judicature, Reve|rence to the Parliament, and to all Britons their Civil and Religious Rights, and assuring to Po|sterity the Succession of the most illustrious House of HANOVER to the Throne of Great Britain;

The Society of this BANK has gratefully placed and dedicated this Statue to the most excellent Prince, WILLIAM III. their Founder; in the Year of Christ 1734, and of this Building the First.

The noble Collections made by several of our English Nobility and Gentry, from abroad, would afford a curious Article in this Place; but our De|sign is to give an Account of Things as they are in and about this great City.

IX. Of the Gates of London and Westminster.

THE Gates of the City of London are seven, besides Posterns. Two of them were demo|lish'd at the Fire, but beautifully rebuilt. These are Ludgate and Newgate.

Ludgate is a Prison for Debt, for Freemen of the City only.

Newgate is a Prison for Criminals, both in London and Middlesex, and for Debtors also for Middlesex, being the County Gaol.

Moregate is also rebuilt, and is a very beautiful Gateway, the Arch being near Twenty Feet high, which was done to give room for the City Train'd-bands to go through to the Artillery Ground, where they muster, and that they might march with their Pikes advanced; for then they had Pikemen in every Regiment, as well in the Army as in the Militia, which since that, is quite left off. This makes the Gate look a little out of Proportion, to those who know not the Occasion of it.

Cripplegate is very old, and makes but a mean Figure.

Bishopsgate is newly rebuilt, but not with the Elegance that might have been wish'd.

Aldersgate and Aldgate both make a very hand|some Appearance.

Most of these Gates are given by the City to the chief Officers to live in, and are very convenient Dwellings.

Temple-Bar is the only Gate which is erected at the Extent of the City Liberties, and this was occa|sion'd by some needful Ceremonies, as at the Proclaim|ing any King or Queen of England, at which Time the Gates are shut. The Herald at Arms knocks hard at the Door, the Sheriffs of the City call back, ask|ing, Who is there? Then the Herald answers, I come to proclaim, &c. according to the Name of the Prince who is to succeed to the Crown, and repeat|ing the Titles of Great Britain, France, and Ire|land, &c. at which the Sheriffs open, and bid them welcome; and so they go on to the Exchange, where they make the last Proclamation.

There was formerly another Gate belonging to the City of London, called the Postern-Gate at Tower-hill; but it being partly demolish'd by Time, it is now turned into private Buildings.

Westminster had no less than Five Gates, and all standing within a small Compass of Ground; as, first, The noble Gothick Gate at Whitehall, which is left standing for the Beauty of its Workmanship. Se|condly, A Gate a little farther, where King-street begins, which was a good old Structure, and pull'd down a few Years ago to inlarge the Passage. Thirdly, A Gate where now Union-street is, com|municating King-street with the New Palace-yard; and this has been several Years demolish'd, and the said little Street built where it stood. Fourthly, A Gate leading from New Palace-yard to St. Mar|garet's-lane, which has been lately demolish'd, to inlarge that Passage, by which the King goes to the House of Lords. Fifthly, The Gate-house, near the West-end of the Abbey, which is an old Building,

used for the publick Gaol of the City of West|minster.

To these we may also add, the Water-gate at Westminster, in New Palace-yard, near which is begun to be erected the new Bridge.

X. Of the publick and private Prisons.

THERE are in London, and its far extended Bounds, notwithstanding we are a Nation so fond of Liberty, more publick and private Prisons, and Houses of Confinement, than in any City in Europe. The Publick ones are as follow:

• Publick Gaols.
  • The Tower.
  • ...Newgate.
  • ...Ludgate.
  • ...King's Bench.
  • The Fleet.
  • ...Bridewell.
  • ...Marshalseas.
  • The Gatehouse.
  • Two Counters in the City.
  • One Counter in the Bur|rough.
  • ...St. Martin's le Grand.
  • The Clink, formerly the Prison to the Stews.
  • ...Whitechapel.
  • ...Finsbury.
  • The Duchy.
  • ...St. Catharine's.
  • ...Bale-dock.
  • ...Little-ease.
  • ...New Prison.
  • ...New Bridewell.
  • ...Tothill-fields Bridewell.
  • Night Prisons, called Round-houses, &c.
• Tolerated Prisons.
  • Bethlem or Bedlam.
  • Above 100 Sponging-houses.
  • 15 Private Madhouses.
  • The Serjeant at Arms's Officers Houses.
  • The Black-rod Officers Houses, &c.
  • The Admiralty Officers Houses, &c.
  • 3 Pesthouses.
  • Tipstaffs Houses.
  • Chancery Officers Houses.

These private Houses of Confinement are pre|tended to be like little Purgatories, between Prison and Liberty, Places of Advantage for the keeping of Prisoners at their own Request, till they can get Friends to deliver them, and so avoid going into publick Prisons; tho' in some of them the Extor|tion is such, and the Accommodation so bad, that Men chuse to be carried to Prison directly.

XI. Of the Markets of London.

AND, 1. That of Smithfield for Cattle is, with|out question, the greatest in the World: no Calculation of the Numbers of Horses, Oxen, Cows, Calves, Sheep, &c. can be made. This Market is held every Monday and Friday.

There is also a great Market, or rather Fair for Horses, in Smithfield, every Friday in the Afternoon, where very great Numbers of Horses, and those of the highest Price, are sold weekly.

The Flesh Markets are Leaden-hall, Honey-lane, Newgate, Clare, Shadwell, Southwark, Westminster, Spitalfields, Whitechapel, Brook, Bloomsbury, New|port, St. James's, Hungerford; and now lately the new Market, at Fleet-ditch: as also another, for which a Patent was granted, May 1740, to be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, weekly, at Brook-field by May-fair, in the Parish of St. George Hanover-square, for Meat, Herbage, &c.

At all these Markets, a Part is set by for a Fish|market, and a Part for an Herb-market; notwith|standing which, there are the following particular Fish and Herb-markets, viz.

Fish-markets, at Billinsgate, Fishstreet-hill, and Old Fishstreet.

Herb-markets, Covent-garden, and till within this little while Stocks-market, which is removed to the

new one at Fleet-ditch, to make room for a Mansion-house for the Lord Mayor of this City.

At the Three Cranes, are also Markets for Cher|ries, Apples, and other Fruits.

Corn-markets, are at Bear Quay, and Queen|hith.

Meal-markets, at Queenhith, Hungerford, Ditch|side, and Whitecross-street.

Hay-markets, at Whitechapel, Smithfield, South|wark, the Hay-market-street, Westminster, and Bloomsbury.

Leather-market, at Leaden-hall.

Hides and Skins, at Leaden-hall, and Wood's-close.

Coal-markets, at Room-land, and Billinsgate.

Bay-market, at Leaden-hall.

Broad-cloth-market, at Blackwell-hall* 3.2.

The last Three are, without Doubt, the greatest in the World of those Kinds.—There are more|over Multitudes of Coal-merchants, who have Coal|wharfs, from the Hermitage one Way, to the Horse|ferry and Westminster another, which may be deemed so many Markets, tho' not publick ones.

These Markets are so considerable in themselves, that they merit a larger and more particular Descrip|tion, than I have room for. I shall, however, briefly observe of them, That of the fifteen Flesh|markets for Provisions, Seven of them are of antient Standing; but the others are erected since the Increase of the City. The old ones are, Leaden-hall, White|chapel, Newgate-market, Southwark, Clare, St. James's, and Westminster; to which some add Honey|lane, and these are so considerable, have such Numbers of Buyers, and such an infinite Quantity of Provisions of all Sorts, Flesh, Fish, and Fowl, that especially, with regard to Leaden-hall, no City in the World can equal them.

The great Market called Leaden-hall (of which a certain Spanish Embassador said, There was as much Meat sold in it in one Month, as would suffice all Spain for a Year) contains Three large Squares, every Square having several Outlets into divers Streets, and all into one another. The first, and chief, is called the Beef-market, which has two large Gates, one into Leaden-hall-street, one into Grace-church-street; and two smaller, viz. one by a long paved Passage leading into Lime-street, and one under a Gateway from the second Square. In this Square, every Wednesday, is kept a Market for raw Hides, tann'd Leather, and Shoemakers Tools; and in the Ware-houses, up Stairs, on the East and South-sides of the Square, is the great Market for Colchester Bays.

The second Square is divided into two Oblongs: in the first is the Fish-market, and in the other, a Market for Country Higglers, who bring small Things, as Pork, Butter, Eggs, Pigs, Rabbets, Fowls, &c.

In the North Part of the Fish-market, the Place being too large for the Fishmongers Use, are the Stalls of the Town Butchers for Mutton and Veal, the best and largest of which, that England can pro|duce, are to be bought there; and the East Part is a Flesh-market for Country Butchers.

The third and last Square, which is also very large, is divided into Three Parts: round the Circumference, is the Butter-market, with all the Sorts of Higglery Goods, as before: the South Part is the Poultry-market, and the Bacon-market; and the Centre is an Herb-market. And there have been, lately, still more Conveniences and Additions made to this prodigious Market, which we have not room to particularize.

All the other Markets follow the same Method in proportion to the Room they have for it.

There are Two Corn-markets; viz. Bear-quay and Queenhith. To the first comes all the vast Quantity

of Corn that is brought into the City by Sea, from the Counties which lie commodious for that Carriage; and here Corn may be said not to be sold by Cart-loads, or Horse-loads, but by Ship-loads; and except the Corn-chambers and Magazines in Holland, when the Fleets come in from Dantzick and England, the whole World cannot equal the Quantity bought and sold here; for no Quantity can be wanted either for Home Consumption, or for Foreign Exportation, but the Corn-factors, who are the Managers of this Market, are ready to supply it.

Queenhith is chiefly for Malt; the Barley of which takes up the Ground of so many Hundred thousand Acres of Land in the Counties of Surrey, Bucks, Berks, Oxford, Southampton, and Wilts, and is called West Country Malt.

It is true, there is a very great Quantity of Malt, and of other Corn too, brought to some other Places on the River, and sold there; viz. to Milford-lane, above the Bridge, and the Hermitage, below the Bridge; but this is but, in general, a Branch of the Trade of the other Places.

It must not be omitted, that Queenhith is also a very great Market for Meal, as well as Malt, and, perhaps, the greatest in England.

The Vessels which bring this Malt and Meal to Queenhith, are worthy Observation. They are remarkable for the Length of the Vessel, and the Burden they carry, and yet the little Water they draw; for some of those Barges carry above a Thou|sand Quarters of Malt at a time, and yet do not draw Two Feet of Water; and a Thousand Quarters of Malt must be granted to be, at least, a Hundred Tons Burden; and some of these large Barges come as far as from Abington, which is about One hundred and Fifty Miles from London, if we measure by the River.

The next Market, which is more than ordinary remarkable, is the Coal-market at Billinsgate. This is kept every Morning on the broad Place just at the Head of Billinsgate-dock, and the Place is called Room-land: from what old forgotten Original it has that Name, History is silent. I need not, except for the sake of Strangers, take Notice, that the City of London, and Parts adjacent, as also all the South of England, is supplied with Coals, called therefore Sea-coal, from Newcastle upon Tine, and from the Coast of Durham, and Northumberland. This Trade is so considerable, that it is esteemed the great Nursery of our Seamen. I shall have occasion to say more of it in my Account of the Northern Parts of England. The Quantity of Coals, which, one Year with an|other, are burnt and consumed in and about this City, is supposed to be about 500,000 Chalders, every Chalder containing 36 Bushels, and generally weigh|ing 3000 Weight.

Most of these Coals are bought and sold on this little Spot of Room-land; and tho' sometimes, espe|cially in case of a War, or of contrary Winds, a Fleet of 500 to 700 Sail of Ships, comes up the River at a time, yet they never want a Market. The Brokers of these Coals, are called Crimps; the Vessels they load their Ships with at Newcastle, Keels; and the Ships that bring them, Cats, and Hags, or Hag-boats, Fly-boats, and the like.

The Increase of this Consumption of Coals is another Evidence of the great Increase of the City of London; for, within a few Years past, the Import of Coals was not, in the River of Thames, so great by very near half.

It must be observed, that as the City of London occasions the Consumption of so great a Quantity of Corn and Coals, so the Measurement of them is under the Inspection of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen; and for the Direction of it, there is

allowed a certain Number of Corn-meters, and Coal-meters, whose Places are for Life, and bring them in a very considerable Income.

They have abundance of poor Men imploy'd under them, who are also called Meters, and are or ought to be Freemen of the City.

This is, indeed, a kind of Tax, as well upon the Coals as Corn; but the Buyer is abundantly recom|pensed, by being ascertained in his Measure; for the sworn Meters are so placed between the Buyer and the Seller, and have so many Eyes upon them, (being besides Men of Character) that there is hardly ever any room for Complaint on this Head.

XII. Of the Publick Schools and Libraries.

WE must be very brief in this Article; nor have we room to say anything of the private Schools, which are hardly to be number'd.

Near the Abbey at Westminster is the Royal Free-school, founded by Queen Elizabeth; it is not out|done even by those of Winchester and Eton, for the excellent Scholars it has produced, and is in a very flourishing Condition. Several good Houses, and even Streets, are lately built in its Neighbourhood.

St. Paul's School, founded by Dr. Colet, Dean of St. Paul's, is a fair Foundation for 153 Boys, to be taught gratis.

Merchant Taylors School was founded by Sir Thomas White, Founder of St. John's College, Oxon, for 100 Scholars to be taught gratis, 100 more for Half a Crown, and another 100 for Five Shillings a Quarter; and has 46 Fellowships established in St. John's College, for Scholars elected from this School.

Another excellent School was founded at Mercers-chapel, by that Company.

To say nothing of upwards of 70 Charity Schools upheld by the benevolent Contributions of charitable Persons; also the Mathematical, and other Schools, at Christ's Hospital, which I have not room to be more particular in.

As to the LIBRARIES, I can only mention 'em likewise in a cursory manner. Those at Sion-college, the Temple, and other Inns of Court, Castle-yard, near the Meuse, the King's, &c. deserve more par|ticular Mention than we can give them. In Red|cross-street, near Cripplegate, an handsome Building was erected, Ann. 1727, by the late Dr. Daniel Williams, a Dissenting Divine, for a publick Library for the Use of the Dissenting Ministers of London.

The valuable Collections, called the Cotton Library, is so well known, that we shall only mention the great Disaster that befel it in the Year 1730, when a Fire happened, not thro' Over-care, we may be sure, which burnt and defaced a great Number of valuable Manuscripts. But most happily it was dis|covered and extinguished, before it made so great a Destruction as was at first apprehended. The learned Keeper of this inestimable Treasure, Dr. Bentley, Master of Trinity-college, Cambridge, whose Labours have done so much Honour to the Commonwealth of Learning, was the first, we are told, to express to some of his Friends, who came to condole with him the publick Loss, the great Joy he conceived that all his own Works had escaped the Ravages of that furious Element, which had been so little com|plaisant to many curious Pieces of Antiquity. I would studiously avoid all ill-natur'd Insinuations; but wish, that with all the Excellencies which adorn this learned Man's Character, the Age in which he lives might be able to hand down his Fame to suc|ceeding Times, free from that private Spirit and Narrowness of Mind, of which his Enemies accuse him. If he deserves not the Ill-will of such, he

has to comfort himself, that Envy always pursues true Merit, and so may make himself easy: If he does, we will venture to say, that 'tis a Pity that any Man's listing himself either on this or that Side, as to Party, should shield him from deserved Censure.

The inestimable Collections made by the Earl of Oxford, the late Lord Sunderland, &c. are rather private than publick, and so come not under our Notice.

XIII. Of the Shipping in the Thames, and the Trade carry'd on by means of that noble River.

THE whole River from London-bridge to Black-wall, is one great Arsenal: nothing in the World can be like it. The great Building-yards at Schedam near Amsterdam, are said to out-do them in the Number of Ships which are built there; and they tell us, that there are more Ships generally seen at Amsterdam, than in the Thames.

I will not say, but that there may be more Vessels built at Schedam, and the Parts adjacent, than in the River Thames; but then it must be observed,

1. That the English build for themselves princi|pally, the Dutch for all the World,

2. That almost all the Ships the Dutch have, are built there, whereas not one fifth Part of our Ship|ping is built in the Thames; but abundance of Ships are built at the Sea-ports in England, such as, at Newcastle, Sunderland, Stockton, Whitby, Hull, Gainsborough, Grimsby, Lynn, Liverpole, Yarmouth, Alborough, Walderswick, Ipswich and Harwich, upon the East Coast; and at Shoreham, Arundel, Bright|helmston, Portsmouth, Southampton, Pool, Weymouth, Dartmouth, Plymouth, besides other Places, on the South Coast.

3. That we see more Vessels in less Room at Amsterdam; but setting aside their Hoys, Bilanders, and Schouts, which are in great Numbers always there, being Vessels peculiar to their Inland and Coasting Navigation, you do not see more Ships, nor near so many Ships of Force at Amsterdam, as at London.

That Part of the River Thames which is properly the Harbour, and where the Ships usually deliver or unload their Cargoes, is called the Pool, and begins at the Turning of the River out of Limehouse Reach, and extends to the Custom-house Quays: In this Compass I have had the Curiosity to count the Ships as well as I could, en passant, and have found about 2000 Sail of all Sorts, not reckoning Barges, Lighters or Pleasure-boats, and Yachts; but of Vessels that really go to Sea.

It is true, the River or Pool seemed at that time to be pretty full of Ships; as also that I included the Ships which lay in Deptford and Blackwall Reaches, and in the Wet Docks; but then I did not include the Men of War at the King's-yard, and in the Wet Dock at Deptford, which were not a few.

In the River there are, from Battle-bridge, on the Southwark Side; and the Hermitage-bridge, on the City Side; reckoning to Blackwall, inclusive,

• 3 Wet Docks for laying up Merchant-ships.
• 22 Dry Docks for Repairing Merchant-ships.
• 33 Yards for Building Merchant-ships.

Including the Buildings of Lighters, Hoys, &c. but excluding all Boat-builders, Wherry-builders, and above Bridge, Barge-builders.

To enter into any Description of the great Maga|zines of all manner of Naval Stores, for the fur|nishing those Builders, would be endless; 'tis suffi|cient to add, That England is an inexhaustible Store-house of Timber; and all the Oak Timber, and ge|nerally

the Plank also, used in the Building these Ships, is found in England only; and that prin|cipally in the Southern Counties near us; as parti|cularly Berks, Bucks, Surrey, Kent, Sussex and Suffolk; and very little is brought farther.

XIV. Of the Manner by which the City is supply'd with Water.

NO City in the World is so well furnished with Water as London, for their necessary Occasions there, as well as for the extinguishing of Fires, when they happen.

1. By the great Convenience of Water, which be|ing every-where laid in the Streets in large Timber Pipes, as well from the Thames as the New River, those Pipes are furnished with a Fire Plug, of which the Parish Officers have the Key; and when opened, let out not a Pipe, but, as one may say, a River of Water into the Streets; so that making but a Dam in the Chanel, the whole Street is im|mediately under Water to supply the Engines.

2. By the great Number of admirable Engines, of which almost every Parish has one, and some Halls also, and several private Citizens, have them of their own; so that no sooner does a Fire break out, but the House is surrounded with Engines, and a Flood of Water poured upon it, till it is extinguished.

3. The several Insurance Offices, of which I have spoken in Article III. have each of them a certain Set of Men, whom they keep in constant Pay, and furnish with Tools proper for their Work, and to whom they give Jack Caps of Leather, able to keep them from Hurt, if Brick or Timber, or any thing not of too great a Bulk, should fall upon them. These Men, whom they call Firemen, make it their

Business to be ready at Call, all Hours, to assist in case of Fire; and it must be acknowledged, they are very dexterous, bold, diligent and successful.

There are two great Engines for the raising the Thames Water, one at the Bridge, and the other near Broken-wharf; and these raise so great a Quan|tity of Water, that 'tis said, they are able to supply every House throughout the whole City, with a running Pipe of Water up to the uppermost Story.

However, the New River, which is brought by an artificial Stream from Ware, continues to supply the greater Part of the City; and that with more Ease than the Thames Engines. Of this River I shall take farther Notice in my Description of Hertford|shire, where it takes its Rise.

The Chelsea Water-works, as they are called, are also of no small Use for the new Buildings at that End of the Town; and a noble Cut, being a large, tho' not long River of itself, from the Thames to near Buckingham Garden-wall, and a great Reservoir of Water, in Hyde-park, produced by the same Undertaking, are no small Additions to the great Convenience we are speaking of, for the Parts which they respectively serve.

Formerly there were several beautiful Conduits in London, the Water of which was very sweet and good, and brought to them at a vast Expence from several distant Springs in large Leaden Pipes: some of these were rebuilt since the Fire; but now the City is so well supplied with Water, that they are either quite demolish'd, or intirely out of Use. That in Cheapside was pull'd down but very lately, and a Statue proposed to be built in its Place, in Honour to the great King William III. and it must be own'd, that it is one of the most commodious Places for such a Purpose in the whole City. But it being set on Foot, as some thought, by Party on one Side,

was rejected, from far less laudable Motives, by Party on the other.

It is a well known Fact, that the bringing the New River to Islington, for the Benefit of the City, was the Ruin of the first Attempter Sir Hugh Middleton.

The Society of the Temple neglected to lay in Water till the Year 1737, when a terrible Fire hap|pening in it, which burnt down several Houses, and the Middle Temple Kitchen among the rest, that Society agreed with the New River Water Company, and there are nowfine Conveniencies built for that Purpose in every Court and open Place, which are only to be uncovered on occasion of such Accidents. This Fire happened Jan. 3. 1736-7, and in it was consumed one of the most valuable Collections of Antiquity in England, belonging to James West, Esq except the Cotton and Harleian Library.

To sum up my Description of London, take the following Heads: There are in this great Mass of Buildings thus called London,

• Two Cathedrals.
• 4 Choirs for Musick Wor|ship.
• 145 Parishes.
• 69 Chapels, where the Church of England Service is performed.
• 2 Churches at Deptford, not taken into the Li|mits now described.
• 28 Foreign Churches.
• Besides Dissenters Meet|ings of all Persuasions.
• Popish Chapels; and 2 Jews Synagogues.
• There are also 13 Hospi|tals, besides lesser Chari|ties, call'd Alms-houses, of which they reckon 100, many of which have Chapels for Di|vine Service.
• 3 Colleges.
• 27 Publick Prisons.
• 8 Publick Schools, called Free-schools.
• 131 Charity-schools, in London and Westmin|ster, and 10 Miles round.
• 15 Markets for Flesh.
• 2 for live Cattle.
• 2 Herb-markets.
• 23 Other Markets.
• ...

• 15 Inns of Court.
• 4 Fairs.
• 27 Squares besides those within any single Build|ing, as the Temple, Somerset-house, &c.
• 5 Publick Bridges, and a new one now Building.
• A Town-house, or Guild-hall.
• A Royal Exchange.
• Another Exchange for Shops.
• A Custom-house.
• 3 Artillery-grounds.
• 4 Pest-houses.
• 2 Bishops Palaces.
• 3 Royal Palaces.

XV. Of the Christenings and Burials in London, &c. Of the Importance of the City of London to the whole Kingdom. Of its comparative Pro|portion to the Publick Expence of the Kingdom, and the disproportionate Number of Members it returns.

LET us now mention something briefly in relation to the yearly Births and Burials of this extended Ci••y: from an Account of which Sir William Petty thought he might make some Calculations of the Numbers of the Inhabitants. And I shall only take Notice, that whereas the general Number of the Burials in the Year 1666, and farther back, were from 17000 to 19000 in a Year, the yearly Bill for the Year 1736, amounted as follows:

Parishes.	Christen'd	Bury'd
In the 97 Parishes within the Walls	1279	2580
In the 17 Parishes without the Walls	3852	8001
In the 21 Out-parishes in Middlesex and Surry	6141	13250
In the 10 Parishes in the City and Liberty of Westminster	3955	6980
145	15227	39811

Here is to be observed, that the Number of Burials exceeding so much the Number of Births, is, be|cause as it is not the Number born, but the Number christened that are set down, which is taken from the Parish Register; so all the Children of Dissenters of every Sort, Protestant, Popish and Jewish, are omitted, also all the Children of Foreigners, French, Dutch, &c. which are baptized in their own Churches, and all the Children of those who are so poor, that they cannot get them registered: so that if a due Estimate be made, the Births may be very well supposed to exceed the Burials, one Year with another, by many Thousands.

London returns Four Members to Parliament, Westminster two; and these Six, with Two for the County of Middlesex, make the Eight, which is all that this exceeding populous County returns, altho' every single Ward in London is far superior to most of the Boroughs in England, and really to many of the greater Towns, that are represented by Two Members, and contributes infinitely more to the Publick Charge: and indeed one may ask, What are the greatest Part of the Boroughs of Cornwall, and many in that of Devon, which Two Counties alone return 70 Members, compared to 20 populous Villages one might name in the Neighbourhood of London? Some of which, no doubt, would be con|sider'd, were a new Repartition of this kind practi|cable, and many of those peddling Boroughs be obliged to give up to them: a Scheme that must be set on foot under a very undesigning and honourable Administration, for Reasons too obvious to need particularizing.

The following Scheme, tho' calculated before the Union, and consequently before the 45 Members, which represent North Britain, were added to the 513, returned for England and Wales, will set this Matter in a still clearer Light.

A SCHEME of the Proportions the several Counties in England paid to the Three Shillings AID, 1699, compared with the Number of Members they send to Parliament.

In this Scheme the Proportions are thus considered, viz. That as the whole Kingdom send 513 Members to Parliament, so the whole Tax is divided into 513 equal Parts;

The

• 1. Column shews the Name of the County.
• 2. How many Parts of the of 513 each County paid.
• 3. How many Members of the 513 each County send.

COUNTIES.	P.	M
Bedford	7	4
Berks	10	9
Bucks	12	14
Cambridge	9	6
Chester	7	4
Cornwall *	8	44
Cumberland *	1	6
Derby	6	4
Devon *	21	26
Dorset *	9	20
Du••ham *	3	4
Essex	24	8
Gloucester	12	8
Hereford	5	8
Hertford	11	6
Huntingdon	4	4
Kent	22	18
Lancaster *	5	14
Leicester	9	4
Lincoln	19	12
Midd••esex	80	8
Monmouth	3	3
Norfolk	22	12
Northampton	12	9
Northumberland *	4	8
Nottingham	7	8
Oxon	10	9
Rutland	2	2
Salop	7	12
Somerset	19	18
Southampton *	14	26
Stafford	7	10
Suffolk	20	16
Surrey	18	14
Sussex	18	28
Warwick	10	6
Westmorland *	1	4
Wilts *	13	34
Worcester	9	9
York *	24	30
Wales	11	24
All England and Wales	513	513
	P.	M.
Note, That the Proportion of the Six Northern, and Five Western Counties, marked thus, *, are . . .	103	216
And that Middlesex and Essex are . . . . . .	104	16

Cities are included in their respective Counties.

XVI. The Benefit to the Publick of a good Under|standing between the COURT and CITY.

HAVING shewn the Grandeur and Importance of this great Metropolis, it remains only to ob|serve, How necessary it is for the Good of the whole

Kingdom, that there should be a right Understanding cultivated between the Administration and that, For,

There has formerly been a great Emulation between the Court-end of the Town, and the City; and it was seriously proposed in a certain Reign, how the Court should humble the City: nor was it an im|practicable Thing at that time, had the pernicious Scheme been carry'd on. Indeed it was carried fur|ther than consisted with the Prudence of a good Government, or of a wise People: for the Court envy'd the City's Riches, and the Citizens were ever jealous of the Court's Designs. The most fatal Steps the Court took at that Time to humble the City, were, 1. The shutting up the Exchequer: And, 2. The bringing a Quo Warranto against their Charter. But these Things can but be touch'd at here. The City has outliv'd it all, and both the At|tempts turned to the Discredit of the Party who pushed them on. The City is indeed, and at all times must be, so necessary to the Court, that no prudent Administration will ever seek Occasions for Misunderstandings with it: but will, if not infatu|ated, do all in its Power to incourage and increase the Opulence of the City, which upon any Emer|gency will be able and willing, if not disobliged, to support the Court, and furnish Means to protect the Kingdom, against either Foreign or Domestick Enemies.

And here having exceeded all Bounds of a Letter, for which however the Subject is an Excuse, I will close my Account of this famous Metropolis, and with it my Letter: being, Sir,

Yours, &c.

Notes

• * 2.1

  A large Mass of Buildings has been erected since our Author drew this Line, consisting of many Streets and Passages, the whole Cold-bath-fields being built upon, quite up to Sir John Oldcastle's.
• * 2.2

  N.B. This Line leaves out all the North Side of Mile-end Town, from the End of the Dog-row to the Jews Burying-Ground, which is all built; also all the North Part of the Dog-row, and all Bethnal-green; also Poplar and Black-wall, which are indeed contiguous, a Trifle of Ground excepted, and very populous.
• * 2.3

  The Town of Greenwich, which may indeed be said to be contiguous to Deptford, might be also called a Part of the Measurement; but I omit it, as I have the Towns of Chelsea and Knightsbridge on the other Side, tho' the latter actually joins the Town, and the other, as also Kensington, very nearly.
• * 3.1

  This is an authentick Account of the Matter.
• * 3.2

  A Grant for a new Market near Grosvenor-square is now (Anno 1741.) obtained.