The present state of London: or, Memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof. By Tho. De-Laune, Gent

Of Docks.

THese Docks or Harbours are cut into the Land without further Current, and are useful for the convenient lying of Vessels, Hoys, Lighters, Barges, Boats, &c. in order to the convenient Delivery of Provision, as Victual, Fuel, &c. to the adjacent In∣habitants. They are in number very many.—Some of the chief are, Scotland-Dock, adjoyning to White-Hall. —White-Fryars-Dock: Puddle-Dock, at the West-end of Thames-street.—Queen-Hith-Dock, a place of much Trade for ground Corn, or Meal, which is brought out of the West Country thither in great Quantities; Billingsgate-Dock, a place of great Trade, and where ships of considerable Bur∣then may Harbour.—Sabbs-Dock, Tower-Dock, St. Katharines-Dock,—Hermitage-Dock,—Execution-Dock, which though it be of later years, fitted up re∣tains to this day the former name which it received, because it was the only place for Executing Pyrats, and Sea-Robberts, which is usually done by Hanging them on a Gibbet erected at Low-water-mark— Limehouse-Dock. And on the South-shore are Clink-Dock, and St. Saviours-Dock—There are besides these, many Docks for private use, as for repairing of Ships and Vessels, which we omit.

Under this head of TRADE, and in this place, it may not be improper to give a Brief Account of the Porters of London, who are not incorporate Com∣panies, but Brotherhoods, whose Original and Go∣vernment are by Acts of Common-Councel.—They are of two sorts.

1. Ticket-Porters, who do take up, weigh, load, and ouse all Merchants Goods, as Cloath, Fruit, Sugars, Oyls, Wines, Mettals, &c. and have to their Governour Sir Thomas Allen: These are very nume∣rous; their Quarteridge is 4 d. each.

2. Fellowship Porters.—To these belong the sho∣ring, or landing, housing, carrying, or recarrying all measurable Goods, as Corn, Salt, Coals, &c. Their chief Governour is the Alderman of Billingsgate Ward, who is at present Sir John Peak. These are in Number about 700 and their Quarterige is 12 d. each.—These and the former have very good Go∣vernment and Orders among themselves, and before any is admitted to that Employ among them, they pay a Fine.—The Ticket-Porters give good secu∣rity for their Honesty and Fidelity, so that no more need be done, but to take notice of his Name, which is s••ampt on his Ticket that hangs at his Girdle, and repairing to their Governor, satisfaction may be had for any wrong or mis-behaviour, &c.

There is a very remarkable Custom among the Fellowship Porters, as an Ingenious person that be∣longs to their Society informed me, which is thus:

The next Sunday after every Midsummer-day, they have a Sermon preached to them, so order'd by an Act of Common-Councel, in the Parish-Church of St. Mary-On-the-Hill, preparative to which, this Order is observed, they furnish the Mer∣chants and their Families about Billings-gate with Noseg••ys or Posies over-night, and in the morning they go from their Common-Hall, or place of Meet∣ing in good Order, each having a Posie or Nose∣gay in his hand; They walk through the middle Isse to the Communion-Table, where are two Basons, and every one offers something to the Relief of the Poor, and towards the Charges of the Day. After they have all past, the Deputy, the Merchants, their Wives, Children, and Servants, do all come in Order from their Seats, and bestow their Offerings also; which is a Ceremony of much variety. I am certainly informed, that the very charges of their Nosegays cost them, in one year, not long ago, near 20 l.