THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

OR

LONDON IN MINIATURE VOL. II

THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

OR

LONDON IN MINIATURE

VOLUME II

WITH THIRTY-TWO ILLUSTRATIONS BY PUCIN AND ROWLANDSON

METHUEN & CO.

LONDON

1904

l'/ 1 >

NOTE

' I "HIS Issue is founded on the original Edition published by Rudolph Ackermann.

Bfi

/•£

f

R.ACKEaiMANN.

INTKODUCTION

AT the commencement of a second volume, the proprietor of the MICROCOSM OF LONDON presents himself to the public with a confidence resulting from the kind pro- tection which they have extended to the work, and from a strong conviction with which he is impressed, that their satisfaction is mutual.

When the proposals for this work were first published, he could offer no other pledge in return for the confidence he solicited, but what might be supposed to arise from the execu- tion of other works in which he had been engaged, and from the acknowledged merit of the persons employed ; but he flatters himself he shall not at this period be accused of vanity, if he appeals to the work itself for a proof of the anxious punctuality with which he has endeavoured to discharge his engagements, and to merit a continuance of public approbation. That patronage which has already been so generously extended to him, and the high honour of being permitted to dedicate this work to one of the best judges, as well as the most liberal encouragers of the polite arts, so far from permitting the pro- prietor to relax in his efforts, will, on the contrary, excite him

x INTRODUCTION

to leave no means unemployed to communicate pleasure and information to his readers, and to present them with a second volume equally distinguished for the elegance of the plates with which it is embellished, the accuracy of the information it conveys, and the variety of entertainment as well as novelty it affords, so far as the subjects which his plan embraces will permit.

He has to apologize for two deviations from the plan originally proposed. The one by exchanging some of the subjects for others which have been considered as more interesting, either from the information by which they may be accompanied, or as affording more picturesque subjects for the plates. The other alteration is, the having formed the work into three volumes instead of four, although the number of plates is the same, and the letter-press, both in importance and quantity, more consider- able than was originally proposed : the reasons for this were stated to the subscribers when the sixth number was published.

There has been another alteration indeed, of which it becomes the proprietor to say a few words. He was anxious to render this work to the public at as moderate a price as possible, and therefore proposed the subscriptions at only seven shillings per number, but he had not then sufficiently calculated the expence of so considerable an undertaking ; notwithstanding which he continued to keep pace, and even to emulate the patronage of the public, by increasing the value of the MICROCOSM as the number of his subscribers increased : but there was a point at which this

INTRODUCTION xi

emulation ceased to be any longer a virtue, and he was at length obliged to raise the subscriptions to ten shillings and sixpence per number to those who became subscribers after the publication of the first volume ; and he flatters himself, that the manner in which he has performed his engagement to near one thousand of his old subscribers, without any additional expence, will entitle him to some credit with the nobility and others who have become subscribers since that period, when he assures them, it is, even at the present subscription, not only very inadequate to its real value, but that there is no work at present issuing from the press and the pencil so cheap and so complete.

To compare it with other works of a similar nature, would prove a task equally irksome and disagreeable ; it is far otherwise when the proprietor has to express his thanks to those whose assistance he is proud to acknowledge, and to the artists and others, who have contributed by their zeal, abilities, and attention, to the success of the undertaking.

If in the hurry incident to a publication which requires to be delivered on a certain day, any inaccuracies have escaped the particular attention which is bestowed, it is hoped that a candid allowance will be made, and the intimation of such inaccuracies will be thankfully received.

CONTENTS

OF VOL. II

PAGE

CORN EXCHANGE, THE - 13

EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS 25

FIRE IN LONDON - 36

FLEET PRISON - 44

FOUNDLING HOSPITAL - - 6l

FREE-MASONS' HALL - - 79

GAMING-HOUSE - 94

GUILDHALL 103

- COUNCIL-CHAMBER - 114

- MEETING OF CREDITORS - - 123 HERALDS' COLLEGE - - 125 MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL - 133 EAST INDIA COMPANY - 139 KING'S BENCH PRISON - 161 KING'S MEWS - - 162 LAMBETH PALACE - - 163 LLOYD'S - - - - 174 LEADENHALL MARKET - 176 LORD MAYOR'S HOUSE - - 181 LORDS, HOUSE OF - 183

LOTTERY ,- - 193

xiv CONTENTS

PAGE

MAGDALEN - - 196

MINT - 2°3

MOUNTING GUARD, ST. JAMES'S PARK - 2°6

NEWGATE - - 2°9

OLD BAILEY

OPERA-HOUSE 2I3

PANTHEON - - 215

PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY

PILLORY - " 22^

POST-OFFICE

QUAKERS' MEETING - ' 236

N.B. The binder is requested to note the above, as furnishing him with directions for the arrangement of the plates.

THE

MICROCOSM OF LONDON

OR

LONDON IN MINIATURE

DEBATING SOCIETY

CONTINUED

IN our last number we promised to resume this subject, in order to gratify our readers by what information we could procure respecting societies of this nature, and to say a few words upon the state of eloquence in this country.

We can only trace their first appearance a little way into the last century, and, notwithstanding it has been said that several distinguished characters made their first attempts in oratory, and tried the infant powers of their eloquence, at some of the popular forums, in order to acquire confidence* by practice and frequent

* A student at law, who studied at Poitiers, had tolerably improved himself in cases of equity, not that he was overburthened with learning, but his chief deficiency was a want of assurance and confidence to display the little knowledge he had ; his father recommended him to read aloud, and to render his memory more prompt by a continued exercise of it. To effect this, he determined to read at the Ministery. In order to obtain a certain degree of assurance, he went every day into a garden, which was very retired, and where there grew a number of fine cabbages : thus for a long time, as he n. — B

2 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

exertion ; yet neither history or tradition furnish us with materials to assign a great degree of celebrity to any one in particular. The English nation are said to be partial to amusements of this nature, and considering the extent to which the discussion of all political subjects may be carried in this country above all others, even with safety to the constitution, we may cease to wonder at this circumstance. It was well observed by the lord chief justice, at the trials for high treason at the Old Bailey in 1796, "That among the objects of the attention of freemen, the principles of government, the constitutions of particular govern- ments, and, above all, of the government under which they live, will naturally engage their attention and provoke speculation." The power of communication of thoughts and opinions is the gift of God, and the freedom of it, is the source of all science, the first fruit, and the ultimate happiness of society ; and therefore it seems to follow, that human laws ought not to interpose, nay, cannot interpose to prevent the communication of sentiments and opinions in voluntary assemblies of men. And yet circumstances have arisen in this country which made it expedient, if not absolutely necessary, to restrain that freedom of discussion, which degenerating into licentiousness, had nearly involved this country

pursued his studies, he went to repeat his lesson to these cabbages, addressing them by the title of gentlemen, and dealing out his sentences as if they had composed an audience of scholars at a lecture. After having prepared himself in this manner for some time, he began to think he might take the chair : he accordingly ventures, comes forward, and commences his oration ; proceeding the length of a single sentence, he becomes confused — then dumb altogether ; — making a last effort, he at length exclaims, "Domini, ego bene -video quod non estes caules;" or, in plain English, "Gentlemen, I clearly perceive you are no cabbages."

DEBATING SOCIETY 3

in a scene of murder and desolation, similar to that by which France had been afflicted. At the period to which we allude, clubs and societies were formed, in which were publicly discussed and disseminated principles more extensive in their influence and effects than any which had ever divided the opinions of mankind — principles utterly subversive of all the ancient laws and con- stitutions, and inimical to the moral and religious order of things established for centuries — principles which excited a desire of property among the lower orders, and a disposition to obtain it by plunder: accordingly two bills were passed in the year 1796, which put all meetings of more than fifty persons under the controul of a magistrate, who was authorized to dissolve them instantly, if any subject was brought forward, which, in his opinion, was unlawful or of a seditious tendency ; and if twelve persons remained one hour after being ordered to disperse, they were adjudged guilty of felony without benefit of clergy. These two bills, on which the public bestowed the appellation of the Pitt and Grenville Acts, or the Gagging Bills, were received by the nation with the most evident and general marks of dis- approbation, as being more restrictive upon the rights and un- doubted privileges of Englishmen, than any which had passed since the reigns of the Tudors. On the other hand, it has been urged, that they were necessary to the preservation of the lives and property of individuals, and the security of the constitution, and ultimately, of the liberties of the people.*

* Mr. Burke has well observed, " That the faults which grow out of the luxuriance of freedom, appear much more shocking to us, than those vices which are generated from the rankness of servitude."

4 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

In an exposition of the object and intention of one of these societies, called The British Forum, published by a manager, it is stated, that although the acts against seditious assemblies had expired above five years, yet such were the general alarm and universal ignorance that prevailed on this subject (namely, that these acts bore no reference, nor were ever applied to the suppression of societies for debate !) that scarcely one proprietor of a room could be found, from one extremity of London to the other, that would hire it for the purpose of public discussion. It is farther stated (after having with difficulty procured a room), that on the fourth evening's discussion, on the question whether Mr. Pope's assertion be true or false, " That every woman is at heart a rake" between six and seven hundred of the most elegant and fashionable of both sexes attended. On the question, " Which is more deserving the appellation of a British patriot, Mr. Pitt or Mr. Fox?" about five hundred persons assembled, among whom were several of the most eminent and distinguished literary and political characters in the' country. On the question respecting Mr. Cobbett's assertion, that, "As a part of general education, the learned languages are worse than useless," the discussion continued for two evenings before an assembly of upwards of eight hundred persons inclusive.

Upon the investigation of Sir Francis Burdett's address to the electors of Westminster, the room was crowded with elegance, beauty, and fashion. On the subject of vaccination a crowded assembly attended, consisting for the most part of the medical profession, among whom were Dr. Squirrell, Dr. Thornton, Dr. Lipscombe, Mr. Chamberlayne, Mr. Blair, &c. all of whom offered their sentiments upon this truly interesting subject. We

DEBATING SOCIETY 5

shall conclude this account with a copy of the regulations of the British Forum, from the same publication, observing, that there are several institutions of this description, and principally governed by regulations of a similar nature.

i st. The debate commences at eight o'clock, and concludes at ten.

and. Any gentleman is at liberty to propose a question, but the proposer is expected to open and conclude the debate ; unless in the event of a gentleman wishing to speak, the proposer, to accommodate him, may wave his privilege of reply.

3d. No gentleman is to be permitted by the chairman to speak longer than a quarter of an hour, unless with the consent of a majority of the audience. Any gentleman may remind the chairman that the time is expired. Any improper person who may intrude himself on the audience, or whose sentiments are manifestly disagreeable to them, may be prevented from speaking at all ; this must be determined by a vote of the assembly.

4th. At a quarter before ten o'clock, the chairman must call upon the gentle- man who opened the question to conclude the evening's debate.

5th. After the opener has been called upon for his reply, no other gentleman can be heard on that evening, unless a motion of adjournment be made, seconded, and carried by a majority of the audience; in which case any gentleman may conclude that evening's debate instead of the opener, and the debate is necessarily adjourned to a future evening.

6th. Upon an adjourned question, any gentleman may resume the discussion ; but such as have not spoken on the preceding evening claim the preference before such as have already delivered their sentiments. The original opener must conclude the debate.

7th. All personalities, indelicate language, or improper allusions, are to be carefully avoided.

The antiquity of eloquence in England has been usually proved by a line of Juvenal,

Gallia causidicos docuit facunda Britannos. It happens unfortunately, that, when united with the context, it

6 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

proves no such thing ; on the contrary, it is only an ironical panegyric on a people, who, in a language they were scarce able to pronounce, affected to vie with Pliny and Cicero. The true sense appears from what immediately follows :

De conducendo loquitur jam rhetore Thule.

The state of eloquence in this country may be divided into that of the theatre, the pulpit, the bar, and the parliament. In the first Mr. John Kemble is certainly unrivalled : if he is not possessed of those versatile powers which distinguished Garrick, and enabled him to personate with equal excellence an Hamlet or Abel Drugger, he is peculiarly gifted with powers, which make him in some respects superior to that great actor. It is not his form, however, but his elocution, to which our attention is now directed. His performance of Orestes in the Distrest Mother, is a chef d'ceuvre in acting ; the agonies of disappointed affection, the struggles between honour and ambition, the majesty of his action, the alternate softness and energy of his expression, and, lastly, the grandeur and sublimity with which he portrays the awful wildness of a disordered intellect, place him beyond all comparison the first actor of the present day.

In the performance of Rolla he is also unrivalled. We have seen Othello, Beverly, and perhaps Macbeth, performed as well ; and certainly Mr. Cooke performs Richard the Third better than Mr. Kemble. In Hamlet again Mr. Kemble exhibits his great powers to advantage.

In the speech wherein Shakespeare has so charmingly portrayed our nature, beginning with

" What a piece of work is man ! "

DEBATING SOCIETY 7

Mr. K. gives a fine specimen of theatric declamation, universally admired ; there is a distinctness in his articulation, and richness in his expression, which command the attention, and seldom fail to excite a high degree of public sensibility.

Mr. Kemble reminds us of Demosthenes, who is said to have had a weak voice, a thick way of speaking, and a short breath, to correct which, the accounts we have of his efforts seem incredible : at length, however, he became the most enchanting, nervous, majestic orator of antiquity.

Mr. Cooke is an instance of how much may be effected without the appearance of labour. His features are strongly marked, and the expression of them is varied with the utmost rapidity and ease. His soliloquies are great, and he speaks them with less appearance of acting than any other performer upon the stage. He has certainly acquired a knowledge which may be useful to others, that absence of effort is among the latest acquisitions of taste.

Mr. Elliston unites more versatility of powers than either of the preceding gentlemen ; there is a chasteness in his delivery that wants only the addition of that mellowness which is the effect of experience, rather than genius. If he is not uniformly as great as Mr. J. Kemble, there are flashes of genius which occasionally burst forth, and tell us, that he may be in some parts greater. He is particularly to be admired in tragedy, for avoiding that insufferable rant and fustian of elocution, which tear a passion to tatters. His under tones are managed with great skill and sensibility.

In speaking of the eloquence of the stage, it would be un- pardonable not to mention Mrs. Siddons, who unites in the

8 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

highest degree all the great powers of this art. To particularize would be to lessen what the limits of our design will not admit of our doing justice to.

It was observed by a respectable foreigner some years ago, that the declamation of the English pulpit was in general a most tedious monotony. The ministers of the church have adopted this peculiarity of manner out of respect to religion, which they contend, will prove, defend, and support itself, without having any occasion for the assistance of oratory. For the truth of this assertion, we appeal to themselves for the progress which religion thus inculcated makes among the people of this country. The curious observer of the present state of pulpit oratory, will perhaps discover a higher degree of improvement in the manner of de- livery, than in the elegance of style, or the matter of composition.

The oratory of the bar is comparatively at a low ebb : the sweetness of Murray, and the eloquence of Erskine, are ex- changed for the unblushing persiflage of Garrow, and the close, logical precision of Gibbs. Indeed, the discussions in our courts of law turning either upon the elucidation of facts, or the applica- tion of the law to those facts, so as to bring the point at issue to decision, requires less of eloquence, than subtilty and know- ledge of law ; and as there occur but few instances in which the former can be as useful as the latter, there is less inducement for the cultivation of this peculiar talent. In the courts of equity eloquence is even less necessary. The pleadings there seem to be formed upon the model of the ancient Norman customs or laws, which confined the eloquence of the bar within the narrowest bounds, or to what was absolutely essential to the cause. By this law, pleaders are called conteurs, or relaters. But this should

DEBATING SOCIETY 9

certainly not preclude the cultivation of elegance in manner or language, or the suppression of those defects which take away from the pleasure with which we attend to, and therefore from the effect of eloquence.

Demosthenes, we are told, took no less care of his action than he did of his voice. To correct a fault of shrugging up his shoulders, he practised standing upright in a narrow pulpit, over which hung a point in such a manner, that if in the heat of his action that motion escaped him, he might be admonished, and correct it.

But it is in the two Houses of Parliament that real eloquence is displayed ; it is here the most important interests of the nation are discussed with all that energy and animation which the love of their country, or the spirit of party, can excite. If this miscellany had been written a very few years since, we should have been tempted to rate the eloquence of the British senate very high indeed ; when Pitt, Fox, Burke, and Sheridan, together illumined the political horizon. The first distinguished by that calm and easy-flowing eloquence, which was always accompanied with propriety, occasionally warm, splendid, and animated, but seldom lively or pathetic ; uncommonly clear and accurate in stating the points to which he spoke, and in collecting the substance of what had been stated either by his opponent or himself: he possessed an elegant choice of words, which flowed in periods so harmonious and correct, that the omission of a single word would seem to destroy them ; a copious elocution, with a sonorous voice, for which he was indebted to a fine natural capacity, improved by constant exercise and attention.

His great opponent possessed powers of a very different

io THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

nature : without effort and without art, his manner was warm, animated, and pathetic ; more violent in his style and action, and abounding with redundancies and repetitions : his ideas were so pregnant, that, crowding altogether as it were to the gate of utterance, they appeared to jostle each other in the passage. But this was the man, whose eloquence at once rapid and con- vincing, every one gazed at and admired ; this was the man, whose eloquence sometimes bore every thing before it like a torrent, and at others stole imperceptibly upon the senses, and probed the inmost recesses of the heart.

It is more difficult to characterize the eloquence of Mr. Burke. It was neither the eloquence of Cicero or Demosthenes, but occasionally rivalled both. It was often great, but sometimes very unequal ; the alacrity of his imagination was seldom sufficiently subdued by his judgment, and he too often suffered the vivacity of his fancy to run away with his more correct taste : but no man possessed a more intimate acquaintance with those parts of literature which feed the springs of eloquence — no one had been more thoroughly nurtured at the breast of philosophy — no one was better acquainted with the genius and spirit of the laws and constitution of his country — no one was more com- pletely a master of its history, which so often enabled him to teach by example, and bring the venerable dead to the instruction of the living — no one knew how to dilate his subject with more propriety, to enliven it by agreeable digression, or by telling the tale of sorrow, to draw forth the tear of sympathy and compassion.

Mr. Sheridan has exhibited perhaps altogether the most splendid specimen of eloquence which this country affords. It is embellished with all the brilliant figures of rhetoric, and

DEBATING SOCIETY n

studded with sentiment. It is a florid, picturesque species of oratory, interwoven with the most elegant language, and embroidered with the most beautiful expressions : it leaves us nothing to regret, but that talents so great and estimable, are not rendered more useful to his country, or more frequently exerted.

Cicero, in giving an account of the studies and labour which he employed in order to attain the excellence to which he at length arrived, has drawn a picture of his contemporary, Hortensius, which seems very applicable to Mr. Sheridan.

" Hortensius, after his appointment to the consulship, had begun to remit the intense application which he had hitherto persevered in from his childhood. In the three succeeding years, the beauty of his colouring was so much impaired, as to be very perceptible to a skilful, though not to a common observer. After that he grew every day more unlike himself than before, not only in other parts of eloquence, but by a gradual decay of the former celerity and elegant texture of his language. When Hortensius therefore, the once eloquent and admired Hortensius, had almost vanished from the forum, my appointment to the consulship, which happened about six years after his own promotion to that office, revived his dying emula- tion ; for he was unwilling, that, after I had equalled him in rank and dignity, I should become his superior in any other respect."

There are a number of our commoners who possess an elegant and easy flow of words, uncommon perspicuity of language, and who treat the subjects under discussion with great soundness of argument ; but there are few whose powers are calculated to dazzle or surprise, or to carry us away with a force of eloquence

12 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

commanding and irresistible. There are many who can treat common subjects with simplicity and neatness, but none who are equal to the task of developing great and weighty matters with energy and pathos, unless we sometimes except Mr. Windham, and occasionally Mr. Whitbread. In the House of Lords the late Chancellor Erskine is without dispute the most brilliant orator ; but certainly his eloquence, and the sources which feed it, are more adapted to forensic than parliamentary debate. Lord Grenville employs a nervous, chastised, and dignified species of oratory, but seldom approaches the highest regions of the art, and is interesting without being splendid or pathetic ; he takes an ample and comprehensive view of his subject, is argumentative without fluency, and sincere without being animated. He divides his subject with great exactness, and seldom overlooks any thing that is proper to support his own argument, or refute his opponent's ; and he unites qualities which are seldom found together, great strength with a superior elegance. There are many other noble- men whose eloquence belongs to the highest class, but which it is impossible for us to characterize particularly : among whom, the present chancellor Lord Eldon, the Lords Hawkesbury, Holland, Lauderdale, Suffolk, Sidmouth, and Redesdale, are particularly distinguished ; nor must we forget that eloquence which so long distinguished my Lord Melville.

THE COEN-EXCHANGE

IS a very handsome building on the east side of Mark-lane. Next the street is an ascent of three steps to a range of eight lofty Doric columns, those at the corners being coupled ; between them are iron rails, and three iron gates. These columns, with two others on the inside, support a plain building two stories high, which contains two coffee-houses, to which there are ascents by a flight of handsome stone steps on each side of the edifice. On entering the iron gates, you pass by these steps into a small square (paved with broad stones,) which is surrounded by a colon- nade, composed of six columns on each side, and four at the end, reckoning the corners twice. Above the entablature is a hand- some balustrade, surrounding the whole square, with an elegant vase placed over each column. The space around within the colonnade is very broad, with sash windows on the top, to give the greater light to the corn-factors, who sit round the court below. Each has a kind of desk before him (as shewn in the plate), on which are several handfuls of corn, and from these small samples are every market - day sold many thousand quarters.

THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

A TABLE of the Corn exported from England during five years, distinguishing the species thereof, with the bounties payable thereon laid before Parliament.

YEARS.	BARLEY.	MALT.	OATMEAL.	RYE.	WHEAT.		QUANTITY.	BOUNTY.
	Quarters.	Quarters.	Quarters.	Quarters.	Quarters.		Quarters.	£
1744	20090	219862	1657	74169	231984	Barley .	449289	56159
1745	95878	219354	9770	83966	324839	Malt . .	1426264	184195
1/46	158719	282024	20203	45782	130646	Oatmeal	37366	4668
1747	103140	361280	2122	92718	266906	Rye . .	339883	69977
1748	73857	349363	3768	103891	543387	Wheat .	1455642	363908
Totals	451684	1431883	37520	400526	1497762	Totals	3768444	678907

N.B. The difference between the quantity of corn exported, and that of corn exported for bounty, is occasioned by some that has been exported to Alderney, Guernsey, and Jersey, and some in foreign ships, which is not entitled to bounty.

These great exports have been principally from the ports of London, Ipswich, Yarmouth, Wales, Lynn Regis, Hull, Bristol, Southampton, Cowes, Chichester, and Shoreham ; and the chief countries exported to are, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, and the Mediterranean ; but France and Flanders, on account of the war, had not any transmitted, except a certain supply sent to fill the French magazines previous to opening the campaign, which was a main cause of the precipitate and ill- considered treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

The total exports of the above period of five years being 3,768,444 quarters of different species of corn, may be supposed to have produced,

at 35*. per quarter .£6,594,777

at 405 7,536,888

at45-r 8,478,999

at 505. , 9,421,110

CORN-EXCHANGE 15

or the medium of these sums being 8,007, 94&/. in either case it is an immense sum to flow immediately from the produce of the earth and the labour of the people, enriching our merchants, and increasing an invaluable brood of seamen.

Prices of Grain per quarter at BEAR-QUAY and MARK-LANE for fifteen successive years.

JAN.	WHEAT.	BARLEY.	OATS.
	s. s.	s. s.	s. s. d.
1742	26 to 29	15 tO 20	12 tO 15 0
1743	20 „ 23	15 .. 20	13 „ 16 o
1744	19 „ 21	II ,, 13	9 „ 12 o
1745	18 „ 20	12 „ IS	12 „ l6 0
1746	17 I, 24	10 „ 13	12 „ 14 0
1747	27 „ 3°	8 „ 12	7 „ ii o
1748	26 „ 28	13 .. J4	9 „ 12 o
1749	27 ,, 32	17 „ 18	14 „ 16 o
I7SO	24 „ 27	14 ,, i?	12 „ 13 0
I7S1	24 „ 27	14 ,. 17	12 „ 13 0
i7S2	20 „ 25	10 „ 13	9 „ ii o
J753	29 ,, 35	17 „ 18	IO ,, 12 O
i7S4	27 ,, 33	i7 .. 19	12 „ 13 0
I75S	24 ., 26	12 „ 14	10 „ IJ 0
i7S6	22 „ 26	14 ,, 15	12 „ 13 6

The two following pages exhibit an account of the weekly quantities of BRITISH CORN sold in the port of London, eastward of London bridge, with the average prices per quarter for one year, ending 25th June, 1808, under an act of 3ist George III. cap. 30.

i6

THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

WEEKS.	ENDING.	BARLEY.	BEANS.	OATS.
Quarters.	Average.	Quarters.	Average.	Quarters.	Average.
			£ s. <l.		£ *. d.		f. t. d.
I	4 July, 1807	2991	15 3	1327	i 19 5	7789	9 i
2	II	1915	15 6	740	209	9195	10 7
3	It	1703	16 9	1343	2 4 s	5463	9 2
4	25	1065	19 2	958	264	4926	9 10
S	i August	654	0 0	1535	247	4267	9 o
6	8	IIOO	18 9	I223	269	4753	8 4
7	'5	1259	18 8	1971	2 8 7	2410	10 0
8	22	946	17 u	1925	2 7 i	5645	8 7
9	29	569	18 i	II5I	264	3325	8 o
10	5 September	1307	18 5	IIOI	294	2766	8 9
ii	12	93°	19 o	1024	2 12 3	2453	1° 3
12	19	IIOI	19 8	1369	2 12 II	6045	12 8
13	26	1907	2 0 5	2149	2 12 2	8258	12 0
14	3 October	1243	2 I II	1425	2 12 O	10162	II O
15	10	3920	220	2933	2 13 2	7926	ii 9
16	17	57°5	208	2113	2 14 4	14634	II O
17	24	5118	2 O O	1330	3 on	13811	II I
18	3i	4117	2 I 0	1272	2 16 o	13345	IO II
19	7 November	4491	226	1189	2 16 5	10160	10 II
20	14	5804	247	2162	2 17 9	8969	ii 5
21	21	5241	2 S 8	2287	2 17 2	6838	12 5
22	28	5167	2 5 10	827	2 IS 9	3473	13 4
23	S December	4134	2 8 I	2569	2 16 4	7971	16 9
24	12	13059	272	2357	2 17 2	11639	18 4
25	19	9346	255	2146	2 16 II	1 1 774	18 ii
26	26	10624	247	1352	2 18 3	5558	O IO
27	2 Jan. 1808	5802	2 4 I	1591	2 17 8	6194	18 i
28	9	7151	2311	133°	2 16 8	8586	18 9
29	16	10461	234	I7S6	2 16 4	17533	17 10
30	23	11126	232	1758	2 15 8	17223	17 2
3'	3°	7523	233	I2O7	2 15 9	I5634	15 10
32	6 February	5708	232	1128	2 l6 IO	14491	16 3
33	13	4955	248	'347	2 16 7	8374	17 o
34	20	8606	2 5 7	1237	2 15 8	10224	16 7
35	27	6854	2 4 10	1409	2 14 IO	10878	15 7
36	5 March	6535	240	I6o8	2 16 6	12165	IS 7
37	12	7930	2 3 i	I6o8	2 15 8	14250	15 2
38	19	9200	233	1289	2 14 3	16185	15 II
39	26	5372	224	1056	2 14 S	10062	16 8
40	2 April	2478	243	1178	2 14 10	2724	16 ii
4i	9	5709	2 4 II	946	2 13 II	11532	17 i
42	16	53'°	2 4 10	1166	2 14 4	18398	16 i
43	23	6611	246	1176	2 14 2	15965	17 3
44	30	4233	267	857	2 14 8	12662	17 3
45	7 May	3082	2 7 8	1109	2 16 3	8754	18 9
46	14	3301	2 8 I	1206	2 16 8	9399	211
47	21	2941	282	1491	3 o i	1 201 1	234
48	28	1602	286	622	348	17339	243
49	4 June	792	284	1266	3 5 5	8917	2 5 10
50	ii	1741	275	1010	354	9850	262
Si	18	1460	2 5 IO	"73	346	10669	2 5 4
52	25	308	262	819	33°	10399	243

London, i^th August, 1808.

E. E.

CORN-EXCHANGE

WEEKS.	ENDING.	PEAS.	RYE.	WHEAT.
Quarters.	Average.	Quarters.	Average.	Quarters.	Average.
			£ *. d.		£ s. d.		£ >. d.
I	4 July, 1807	1 2O	393	23	240	4173	3 9 ii
2	II	29	2 12 0	O	000	2960	3 13 o
3	18	322	3 II O	24	2 5 0	2971	3 12 7
4	25	298	4 10 i	2	280	2227	3 18 8
5	i August	159	442	41	260	2032	3 17 3
6	8	215	4 13 ii	22	297	3434	3 12 10
7	15	267	3 12 I	O	o o o	5512	3 ii 9
8	22	175	5 o 7	35	240	5208	372
9	29	225	402	44	2 5 o	3750	355
IO	5 September	283	4 17 o	45	2 6 II	3576	3 6 5
ii	12	173	422	267	2 3 8	3635	3 5 4
12	19	1 88	5 o 4	56	2 3 8	4183	389
13	26	200	495	142	249	4275	384
14	3 October	228	4 14 10	ii	240	3767	372
IS	10	390	5 ii 3	20	222	5722	3 5 10
16	17	434	7 4 5	0	O O O	6552	347
17	24	298	694	5	240	6359	346
18		191	7 13 i	5	243	4212	3 4 10
19	7 November	296	799	0	O O O	4140	3 2 I
20	14	293	6 15 7	o	0 0 O	5329	322
21	21	429	5 8 5	41	260	6337	370
22	28	331	6 15 7	o	o o o	3491	3 7 6
23	5 December	248	6 4 ii	20	260	6194	3 8 9
24	12	518	734	34	2 10 0	7359	3 10 8
25	19	297	687	192	258	6370	3 13 10
26	26	455	663	IO	2 10 0	5372	3 15 6
27	2 Jan. 1808	423	6 18 5	39	299	4900	3 IS °
28	9	433	6 6 ii	o	000	6087	3 13 10
29	16	524	744	41	290	9803	3 12 o
30	23	402	5 19 6	5°	2 10 I	9140	3 12 7
31	30	368	6 18 o	108	265	4681	3 13 4
32	6 February	35 1	742	32	2 10 4	6449	3 12 7
33	13	239	6 5 7	58	2 12 0	5317	3 12 2
34	20	487	6 17 4	194	288	8587	3 12 7
35	27	36i	686	5	280	6193	3 ii ii
36	5 March	386	5 o 3	92	2 9 II	5434	3 12 3
37	12	640	6 10 5	o	O O O	6992	3 10 6
38	19	453	5 17 8	o	o o o	6196	3 ii ii
39	26	224	646	25	2 II 0	4731	3 10 ii
40	2 April	238	5 17 8	63	2 9 5	3263	3 13 8
41	9	254	6 S i	58	2 10 0	5752	3 ii i
42	16	36i	5 2 10	217	299	6311	3 12 i
43	23	246	696	119	294	5207	3 ii 6
44	30	169	5 5 9	ii	290	5754	3 12 10
45	7 May	85	6 4 10	88	2 9 10	7223	3 12 II
46	14	259	5 II 2	32	2 9 10	6215	3 14 10
47	21	184	5 7 8	44	2 10 3	7910	3 14 8
48	28	107	422	17	284	6240	3 16 8
49	4 June	80	3 ii 9	47	2 13 7	5259	4 o 10
SO	ii	95	3 16 o	20	2 14 0	4032	4 3 ii
51	18	167	3 12 8	164	2 14 5	4862	424
52	25	51	463	62	2 13 6	4637	416

II. — C

JOHN SMITON, inspector of corn returns for the port of London.

i8 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

In the year 1770, an act passed for registering the prices at which corn is sold in the several counties in Great Britain, and the quantity exported and imported. By this act, the justices of peace for each county are required, at their quarter sessions next after the 2Qth September annually, to direct returns to be made weekly of the prices of wheat, rye, barley, oats, and beans, from so many market towns within their respective counties as they shall think proper, not being less than two, nor more than six, and to appoint a proper person to send the same to a person to be named to receive them.

By this act, the meal-weighers of the city of London are to take the account of the prices at the markets within the said city, and to return the average weekly to the person appointed to receive the same.

The lord high treasurer is also empowered to appoint a fit person to receive the returns, and to enter them fairly in a book kept for that purpose ; and all exports and imports of grain from and into Great Britain, with the bounties paid and received thereon, are directed to be transmitted annually to the same person, and registered in proper books by the person appointed to receive the returns of the prices from the several counties.

The following tables will exhibit at one view the quantities of corn exported and imported from England and Scotland, and the average prices thereof, from the commencement of this act, drawn up from the returns made in pursuance thereof; and likewise the average price of the several sorts of grain in each year respectively.

CORN-EXCHANGE

Table of Corn exported from England and Scotland.

	WHEAT AND WHEAT FLOUR.	BARLEY, BEER, MALT, AND MEAL.	)ATS AND OAT- MEAL.	BEANS.	PEAS.	RYE.	BOUNTIES AND DRAWBACKS PAID.
	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	£. s. d.
1771. England	10089	3II66	23364	13345	3701		6170 7 6
Scotland	—	3050	11869	3	3	—	—
1772. England	6959	13789	23511	13321	3775	—	—
Scotland	—	242	87	—		—	—
1773. England	7637	2445	18671	10733	4430	—	—
Scotland	—	3°	106	18	—	—	—
1774. England	IS928	2416	16311	10240	3318	2260
Indian corn	l88o	—	—	—		—	596l 12 0
Buck wheat	50	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland		495	122	9	—	—	6 1 ii 10
1775. England Indian corn	90997 4323	51394	26366	14418	4929	2722	9641 7 7
Scotland	40	20	119	2	—	— .	—
1776. England Indian corn	207407 I9S7	131264	30622	40344	14605	10999	5I7II 15 2
Scotland	3247	4850	4365	543	543	—	1322 13 9
1777. England Indian corn	85034 8	132992	2938!	29941	I337I	946	43352 2 5
Scotland	2652	9733	7233	422	422	—	2426 15 to
1778. England	137775	(02211	28853	21749	15620	1706	40326 4 9
Scotland	3295	1719	27690	653	653	—	3704 ii 6
1779. England	212765	8l8l8	29430	25459	18236	3199	51446 3 8
Scotland	9495	3959	2857	897	—	—	3157 o o
1780. England	208178	170440	18995	14911	6648	6305	70513 10 6|
Scotland	15874	2II2I	8026	1380	—
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						7232 3 6£
Biscuit . .	12613 I 23	—	—	—	—	—
1781. England	93601	129639	34886	15678	3116	2700	26663 13 °i
Scotland	9418	20009	6831	550	—	—
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						5653 10 9^
Biscuit . .	6383 I o	—	—	—	—	—
1782. England	133364	107720	19726	19719	5993	4003	42336 ii oi
Scotland	II787	20025	3590	416		—	5633 3 5i
1783. England	45169	52635	II576	10191	2701	3304	13579 o 6J
Scotland	6773	1430	249	67	— .	60	179 IS 5
1784. England	83387	66838	12366	7922	2865	5821	22925 i 8£
Scotland	5880	2790	1144	189	—	no	950 6 3
1785. England	I3"OS	149577	15253	6563	8821	12889	22672 i 8 6J
Scotland	1480	21640	10020	460	—	274	3848 8 10
1786. England	204160	96052	14880	10337	5494	6736	51053 17 lof
Scotland	1305	25780	4413	478		—	2830 i 10
1787. England	II9736	132224	14372	11007	6695	12683	55892 3 4
Scotland	798	6484	2727	558		—	1097 i 4j
1788. England	82586	208638	12969	9930	4583	30929
Buck wheat	121						44206 i ii j
Indian corn	I	—		—	—	—
Scotland	384	6022	1449	622	—	291	976 10 4

20 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

Table of Corn exported from England and Scotland. . .continued.

	WHEAT AND WHEAT FLOUR.	BARLEY, BEER, MALT, AND MEAL.	OATS AND OATMEAL.	BEANS.	PEAS.	RYB.	BOUNTIES AND DRAWBACKS PAID.
	Qrs.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	£. *. d.
1789. England	262883	315606 o	36162 o	18500 o	9169 o	39807 o	76551 16 \\
Scotland Groats . .	5635	40059 o	6520 o 12 0	222 0	—	139 o	5999 5 o
1790. England	24256	50579 0	13642 o	10079 °	7116 o	47 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						IOI73 15 2
	12434 o 18	—	—	—	—	—
Indian corn	5496	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland Groats . .	239°	585 o	633 o IO O	382 o	—	—	464 13 lof
1791. England	66163	36799 o	15281 o	7906 o	5388 o	3528 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						7168 19 4i
	11834 3 7				—
Indian corn	1246	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	2424	5260 o	1078 o	370 0	57 o	—
Biscuit . .	405	—	—			—	—
Groats . .		—	IO O			—
1792. England	291820	44898 o	23875 o	11593 o	5551 o	16150 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs						69426 o 4
	nroi I 14	—	—	—	—	—
Biscuit . .	48560 o o	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	5773	4229 o	1479 0	63 o	82 o	—
	cwt. qrs. Ibs		cwt. q. Ib.
	2609 o 7	—	52S 2 3	—	—	—
Groats . .	—	—	12 0 0	—	—	—	1039 i 3
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.
Biscuit . .	2232 3 o	—	—	—	—	—
Groats . .	— -	—	3 °	—	—	—
1793. England	66622	4315 o	17023 o	8839 o	4508 o	511 o
	cwt.						5226 13 o
	40322	—	—	—	—	—
Biscuit . .	24572	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	654	146 o	385 o	61 o	72 o	—
			cwt.
Groats . .	cwt.	~	241 3 o	—	__		385 2 1^
Biscuit . .	1131	—	—	—	—	—
	qrs. Ibs.
1794. England	75032 3	6328 7	12350 2	—	3240 2	842 3
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.		cwt. q. Ibs.
	133770 2 2	—	3552 3 15	—	—	—	5078 7 2
	qrs. Ibs.		bolls. Ibs.
Indian corn	1448 2	—	87 56	—	—
Scotland	1446 4	3075 o	qrs. Ibs.	290 5	39 2	—
	cwt. qrs. Ibs. 1360 2 2O	—	1037 5 cwt. q. Ibs.	i		—	715 16 4
	qrs. Ibs.		533 2 6	—	—	—
Groats . .	37 2		—		___	~

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

CORN-EXCHANGE

Table of Corn imported into England and Scotland,

21

	WHEAT AND WHEAT FLOUR.	RYE & RYE FLOUR.	BARLEY, BEER, AND MALT.	OATS AND OATMEAL.	BEANS.	PEAS.	DUTIES RECEIVED.
	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	Qrs.	£. s. d.
1771. England Indian corn	2509 3	2179	228	198072	67	64	I3I70 2 I
Scotland	2	—	—	14255	—	—	547 8 II
1772. England	23134	4799	2107	70542	469	17
Indian corn	3		—				2393 6 10
Buck wheat	i		—
Scotland	2340		961	36277		4
Buck wheat	i		—				1372 14 II
1773. England	50312	9253	51221	234366	49858	3254
Indian corn	6322		—	—			Duty free.
Buck wheat	S3	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	6545	2	12695	95088	4002	4002	Duty free.
1774. England Indian corn	269235 5945	41427	155148	312908	16401	2780	12379 4 3
Scotland Buck wheat	19914 4	—	16360	86591	2505	2705	1336 ii 8
1775. England Indian corn	544641 9638	33574	126332	283827	29862	11275	18442 18 2
Scotland	16347	—	I3II9	IOIII5	1657	1658	J355 i 5
1776. England	20148	3415	8O2O	373707	19055	19776	3658 5 5
Scotland	43°		479	4859		12	30 12 7
1777. England Buck wheat	233069 10	18454	7981	366155	35127	28702	8835 13 9
Scotland	254	—	—	291		—	o 14 9
1778. England	106394	9327	42514	199680	30165	27768	4890 5 7
Scotland	—	—	200	1490		—	!4 3 9
1779. England	4611	1693	7085	332527	I459I	29154	2849 18 7
Scotland	425	—	—	15984			139 18 2j
1780. England	3040	—	352	190576	7406	I77I9	1067 o ii
Scotland	873	—		4667		—
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						60 ii oj
Biscuit . .	284 o 17	—	—	—	—	—
1781. England	159696	i°743	56	55869	3244	14508	4275 4 9
Scotland	99	—	—	53576	—	—
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						447 6 3}
Biscuit . .	43 o 27	—	—	—	—	—
1782. England	79779	—	11954	33758	3619	4553	2270 2 7
Scotland	916	—	1638	4804		386	79 H 6
1783. England Indian corn	505161 2	74589	87884	166231	17435	1087	17062 9 2
Scotland Barley meal	79022	6706	57030 12	627II	13093	—	3547 4 3
1784. England Indian corn	174593 46	23722	43729	176413	28047	2915	7406 15 5
Scotland	42354	1057	3453	90585	14854	—	2522 15 3

22 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

Table of Corn imported into England and Scotland. . .continued.

	WHEAT AND WHEAT FLOUR.	RYE.	BARLEY, BEER, AND MALT.	OATS AND OATMEAL.	BEANS.	PEAS.	DUTIES RECEIVED.
	Qrs.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	Qrs. b.	£. s. d.
1785. England Indian wheat	97S74 15	28738 o	63666 o	285449 o	9355 o	6736 o	6249 15 6
Scotland	13289	23 o	3546 o	88639 °	722 o	—	1119 i 8
1786. England	51463	311 o	50143 o	412097 o	33912 0	1617 o	5556 2 9
Scotland		I O	12231 o	66376 o	180 o	—	714 8 o
1787. England Indian corn	49408 28	2702 o	17783 o	395979 o	36913 o	2267 o	5061 12 2j
Scotland	993i	4352 o	25461 o	116025 o	3705 o	—	1564 7 7
1788. England Indian corn	123238 17		10685 °	333139 o	9190 o	1092 o	5344 3 4
Scotland	25472	_	7794 o	80687 o	619 o	—	1321 ii 6
1789. England Indian corn	88551 54	14844 o	8749 o	365967 o	162 o	99 °	4814 3 7l
Scotland	21950	—	2378 o	63754 o	130 o	—	1334 * 9
1790. England	174534	21683 °	24267 o	622566 o	39446 o	3548 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs. 65862 0 12						10856 17 3
Indian corn	10546	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	25374	—	5850 o	112607 °	192 o	—	1630 6 2\
1791. England	357999	56124 o	43718 o	638968 o	12615 o	1939 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs. 113258 i 7				—	—	15561 18 o
Indian corn	1240	—	. —	. —	—	—
Scotland	72798	254 o	17417 o	151585 o	127 o	45 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.						3248 3 5
	1517 3 25	—	—	—	—	—
1792. England	I75I5	13026 o	87915 o	818670 o	38451 o	4800 o
	cwt. qrs. Ibs. 7756 3 6					—	18284 12 IO
Indian corn	5677	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	2676	—	30610 o	189729 o	—	6 o	6327 16 4
1793. England	400458	55118 o	117439 o	587043 o	29270 o	15847 o
	Cwt. 213671			bolls. 7523	—	—	19892 ii 5
Indian corn	2	—	—		—	—
Scotland	5723	5 o	29878 o	112416 o	450 o	2705 o
	cwt.			bolls.			1821 15 8j
	49	—	—	21474	—	—
1794. England	175021 66.	20895 2	119289 I	813814 7	89899 o	39490 6
	cwt. qrs. Ibs.			bolls. Ibs.			13881 5 2
	1 1 103 o 3	—	—	7 61	—	—
Indian corn	151 66.	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	20209 5*-	I 2	6466 5	73692 2	313 5	298 I
	cwt. qrs. Ibs. 13 2 2O			—	—	—	2800 19 9f
Buck wheat	8?rs.	—	—		~

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

CORN-EXCHANGE

The following is an account of the average price of Corn in England and Wales, by the standard Winchester bushel, from the commencement of the Corn Register Act in the year 1770.

	WHEAT.	RYE.	BARLEY.	OATS.	BEANS.
	s. d.	s. d.	s. d.	J. </.	s. d.
1771	5 iof	4 3i	3 *\	2 I	3 6J
1772	6 4	4 7	3 2	2 Oi	3 9
1773	6 4*	4 2	3 6J	2 It	4 4
1774	6 7	4 3l	3 6f	2 2j	3 i°f
1775	6 Q\	4 ij	3 3	2 Oj	3 7
1776	4 9i	3 4t	2 6i	i io£	3 3l
1777	5 »J	3 6	2 6|	«J	3 6f
1778	5 3	3 61	2 IO	i of	3 Si
1779	4 2|	2 II	2 Si	9	3 oi
1780	4 5*	2 gi	2 4	7i	2 9i
1781	5 7	3 4t	2 Ij	8|	2 I0j
1782	5 "I	3 7i	2 gf	rof	3 3
1783	6 7	4 Si	3 9l	.2 Si	4 4i
1784	6 ij	4 o£	3 Si	2 3*	4 oj
1785	5 2f	3 6	3 °	2 If	3 10
1786	4 io£	3 4*	3 oj	2 3	4 if
1787	5 if	3 Si	2 IO	2 I	3 "I
1788	5 7i	3 Si	2 9	I "J	3 4i
1789	6 4f	3 8f	2 IOJ	2 O	3 4i
1790	6 i\	4 3	3 2	2 4	3 10
1791	5 io|	3 ii	3 zf	2 si	3 9f
1792	5 3i	3 i°i	3 4	2 3i	3 "
1793	6 o£	4 4i	3 "1	2 8}	4 8
1794	6 4*	0 0	4 o|	2 7i	5 2j
1795	9 2f	o o	4 8	0 O	0 0
1796	9 7i	0 0	4 Si	2 8J	4 10
1797	6 6	O 0	3 6	2 I	3 3
1798	6 2£	0 0	3 7	2 S	3 9
1799	8 5	O 0	4 Si	3 5	5 6J
1800	14 i	0 O	7 6	5 2	8 7

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

24 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

The great increase of business at Bear Quay, and the incon- venience which necessarily attended its transactions, from want of room, and a proper situation for the factors and dealers who attended the market, induced a number of corn-factors to propose building, about the year 1750, an Exchange for their own use. A plan was soon arranged, the money raised by a subscription (which was divided into eighty shares), and the present building soon afterwards erected, which has since been appropriated to the corn and seed trade, but principally to the former. The pro- prietors delegate the powers of management to a committee, of whom it is necessary there should be five present to form an efficient meeting. The shares are at present worth something more than five hundred pounds. The income of this proprietary is derived from letting the stands, or small boxes, to the different factors and dealers, who pay about ten guineas per annum : the number of these boxes is about sixty-four, and they are usually in great request. Indeed the increase of this trade has been such within the period of a few years, that the seed trade could not be accommodated with sufficient conveniences at this market ; in consequence of which another Exchange has been erected, nearly opposite to the old one, in Mark-lane, by a spirited individual (Mr. Bryan Cocoran), which is distinguished by the title of the New Seed and Corn Market.

Prior to the establishment of the latter, the seedsmen had no stands. There is nothing particular in the architecture or plan of this market; convenience and simplicity seem principally to have been studied. It is entirely covered, and lighted by a large skylight, and is in other respects extremely well calculated for the intended purpose. There are fifty boxes or stands, which

a a

'•;

EXHIBITION OF WATER COLOURS 25

let from fourteen to twenty guineas per annum, and amply re- munerate the proprietor for the expence of completing this useful undertaking.

It was opened on the i6th September, 1804.

There is a duty of two-pence per last paid to the city for all corn sold in the Exchange, upon the first sale.

EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY OF PAINTEES IN WATEE COLOUKS,

ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER, 1 804,

Now in Bond-Street

IT has been observed by foreign writers upon the polite arts, that so long as the impulse of religious enthusiasm to excite emulation among artists, and a taste for decorating sacred edifices with their productions, are wanting, so long will a school of painting be wanted in England.

The Abbe" Winkelmann, in his History of Arts among the Ancients, (torn. i. sect. 2.) treating of the influence of climate upon the disposition of a people so far as it respects the arts, says, that owing to the absence of this disposition and the effect of climate, the English have never yet had a single painter of eminence. The French, he says, are in the same predicament (excepting only two painters, one of whom is Poussin), notwith-

26 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

standing the great sums which have been expended, and the endeavours they have used to obtain perfection. The fallacy of this reasoning has been abundantly proved by the progressive improvement which has taken place among the artists who have flourished in these kingdoms since the period at which this was written (about the year 1770) : at the same time, we cannot dis- cover any considerable alteration in the sentiments of the nation in general as to the propriety of ornamenting our churches with paintings ; nor have we experienced any considerable ameliora- tion of the climate, that can justify this improvement upon the principles laid down by the learned abbe. We can more readily account for, by ascribing it to that taste for paintings which has been disseminated through this country by the great accession of wealth, which, introducing luxury, creates new sources for its own gratification, and is the effect as well as the cause of refinement*

Extract of a letter from GESNER to his son, then on his travels at Rome.

* "At Rome, no doubt, the wonders of art, the beauties of nature, every thing, in short, is calculated to excite enthusiasm, and develop the mind : but look over the history of artists in former centuries ; observe also those painters who are still living, who have raised themselves to superior eminence ; collect all those of different nations, who, like you, aspire to reach that goal which our predecessors have attained, and who approach it with hasty strides, and learn from them with what continued efforts and unremitted labour that artist must pursue his profession who aims at perfection. You will doubtless occasionally meet with some fiery spirits, who only advance by sudden leaps, whose vanity will not submit to a regular, though troublesome progress ; but you will always observe, that by deviating from the right path, they get further from the object, instead of approaching it.

" Lose no time in beginning your studies, and let the principal one be that of the human figure, under its most beautiful form ; bestow particular attention also on the harmony, truth, and delicacy of colouring ; copy detached groups, single figures, and sometimes even parts of figures : but in these different studies always proceed with

EXHIBITION OF WATER COLOURS 27

All the arts which have drawing for their common basis, were cultivated in England during the middle ages with a superiority and success, to which the writers of those times bear ample testimony. The discoveries which took place when the altera- tion was made in St. Stephen's Chapel, prove something more than was even suspected of their merit at a period long before the supposed invention of painting in oil by Van Eych. Leo of Ostia, in his Chronicle of Mount Cassin, written early in the twelfth century (book II. chap, xxxiv.), speaks of a shrine which made part of the treasure of that monastery. — "Loculus iste mirificus argento, auro, gemmisque, Anglico opere subtiliter ac pulcherime decoratus."

The book of the Anniversaries of the Vatican Basilica, page 345, mentions five suits of silver embroidery, of which three were de opere Cypriensi, et unum de opere Anglicano. If the treasures of these monasteries and basilicas, which preserved the most precious remains of antiquity, and which, at the re- vival of the arts, furnished their first models, were thought to be honoured by the works of English artists, we may fairly presume that these performances struck the eye from their

unremitting diligence and scrupulous exactness. In a word, exert yourself to the utmost, for you have no time to lose."

This advice, so necessary to be impressed upon the mind of every young artist, seems to have been thrown away upon young Gesner ; his studies were of the most desultory nature, and his success was, as might be expected, in a proportionate ratio. He was one of those fiery spirits that would not submit to a regular, though troublesome progress : this will be evident from the inspection of a work published by the proprietor of the Microcosm a few years since, when C. Gesner was in London, under the title of "Military Evolutions? which bears unequivocal marks of extraordinary genius without the necessary attention to labour and study.

28 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

superior fineness, brilliancy, or that elegance of execution which at the present period continues so decidedly to characterize the works of this nation. Even the partial writer of the exploits of William the Conqueror, bears testimony to the skill of the English women, and the general excellence of the English artists. — "Anglicce nationis fcemince multum acer et auri textura, egregie viri in omni valent artificio."

The ornamental splendour of the Romish religion was sup- posed to be subservient in some degree to the improvement of painting during the time it existed as the national religion : on the other hand, it is said, the simplicity which characterizes the Protestant faith gives little employment or encouragement to the professors of this art. It is true, the fanaticism of the Independents banished paintings altogether, even upon glass, from the churches where they had survived the rude hands of the Reformers. More liberal ideas have since prevailed ; the decoration of sacred edifices seems to be less violently opposed by fanaticism, and it has ceased to be considered as a breach of the second commandment. There is certainly no ground for supposing the respect that may be paid in this country to such ornaments, will exceed the admiration which is usually excited by an inspection of the exquisite performances of our most eminent artists.

One of the most formidable obstacles to the improvement of painting (at least in the higher departments), was the great encouragement given to portrait-painting, which, from the revival of this art about the time of Charles II. to the accession of George III. was almost exclusively patronised and rewarded. This may be owing, in some measure, to the personal vanity

EXHIBITION OF WATER COLOURS 29

of individuals, and the disposition of artists to make their works a source of profit rather than fame, which led them to cultivate a branch of their profession that returned their assiduities with emolument, instead of embodying upon their canvass the splen- did achievements which confer immortality upon those who have performed, and almost equal honour upon those who record them in representations executed with taste, spirit, and expression.

Whilst artists are content with that remuneration which por- trait-painting affords, we shall in vain look for the sublime features of bold composition, or the imposing graces of chaste and decided elegance.

But wealth, the parent of luxury, introduces refinement, which, whatever may be its effect upon the morals of a people, generally contributes to the promotion of the fine arts, by the encourage- ment which it affords ; this excites competition, which can alone produce excellence. The establishment of the Royal Academy afforded the opportunity of a more general acquaintance with the arts in this country, and the annual exhibitions were not only a spur to the artists, but soon became a medium through which a more extensive taste for its productions was excited and en- couraged. It is not wonderful, that, in a commercial country like Great Britain, even this exhibition should be associated with the idea of making it a source of profit as well as honour.

At the commencement of this sera (for so it may be considered with respect to the English school), the state of painting in water colours was certainly at a very low ebb, and might perhaps have justified a law of the society, which excluded from academic honours those painters who exhibited works in water colours only. In the present state of this branch of the art, it may

30 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

be worth while to consider, whether the reasons which prevailed at the period to which we allude, are still in existence. We are the more inclined to press this subject upon the consideration of the parties concerned, when we recollect, that some of the most eminent of the academy owe no small portion of their celebrity to performances in water colours.

In the annual exhibition at Somerset- House, it is well known that the best room (indeed the only one calculated to exhibit a numerous assemblage of paintings,) is solely appropriated for pictures in oil. If this had been the only circumstance by which the professors of this department had felt themselves aggrieved, their complaints might have been considered as un- reasonable ; but, besides that their works were disposed in the smaller rooms, they often suffered by an arrangement (over which they had no controul, and in which they were thus excluded any participation,) that brought their pictures in con- tact with many oil paintings, which either want of space or influence had likewise driven from the great room. It is almost unnecessary to mention the obvious disadvantage which must attend paintings in water colours exhibited under such circum- stances. It cannot escape the most careless observer, that a painting, unavoidably circumscribed by the size and expence of the glass, the materials of which it is composed not admitting of that depth of shade, or force of colouring, which produces effect at a certain distance, and a considerable portion of whose beauty is derived from a minute attention to parts, accuracy of delineation, and a combination of latent excellences, that require to be investigated before they are enjoyed, must suffer consider- ably in the estimation even of good judges, when opposed to

EXHIBITION OF WATER COLOURS 3'

half an acre of canvass, covered with the strongest tints, enriched with the most gaudy colours, and glazed with a varnish calculated to heighten the already too powerful effect. We are informed, that artists who have finished even oil paintings of considerable merit, and sent them to the exhibition, having discovered that they were placed in so dangerous and offensive a neighbourhood, have been obliged to retouch their pictures, and "give a browner horror to the shade" merely to counteract the effect of this juxta- position.

The great assemblage of chefs d'ceuvre being always looked for in the principal room, was likewise calculated to excite a degree of prejudice in the minds of the less enlightened, against works of a description invariably excluded from the place of honour. We do not mean to insinuate, that influence has any share in determining the situation where the paintings are re- spectively placed, although we have certainly observed works of the greatest merit find their way to the inferior rooms.

We can fairly suppose, that considerations such as these may have influenced the persons who proposed the original design of the present establishment ; in addition to which, without any reflection upon the artists, we may suppose the possibility of deriving some profit from the exhibition of their works, after defraying the expences of the establishment, to have had its particular influence. The circumstance of exhibiting their works to greater advantage, and thereby increasing the facility of sale by such arrangements as the first page of their catalogue announces, has, we are given to understand, been attended with a success beyond the most sanguine expectation of the artists concerned.

32 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

Among the rewards which have attended these exertions (we include the result of their four exhibitions in the years 1805- 6-7-8), perhaps we ought not to reckon as the least flattering, those expressions of almost involuntary surprise and satisfaction with which foreigners have accompanied their view of works produced by materials hitherto considered as insufficient to pro- duce a picture. But the patronage of the rich and the liberal has been extended in a more substantial manner ; the sums they have given for many of the works exhibited by this society, rival the prices paid for any other kind of paintings.

We have been favoured by one of the members with a general outline of the constitution of this society. — Its affairs are under the management of a president, treasurer, secretary, and com- mittee, who are chosen annually by ballot. Every member usually resident within a certain distance of town, is eligible, though the first three officers may be re-elected from year to year. The two junior members of the committee relinquish their seats at every anniversary, in order to make way for two others, and cannot again be elected till every other eligible member has served. The present members are,

Mr. J. GLOVER, President. Mr. R. R. REINAGLE, Treasurer. Mr. R. HILLS, Secretary.

Mr. G. Barrett. Mr. W. Havell. Mr. N. Pocock. Mr. J. Smith. J. J. Chalon. T. Heaphy. W. H. Pyne. J. Varley.

J. Christall. J. Holworthy. S. Rigaud. C. Varley.

W. S. Gilpin. F. Nicholson. S. Shelley. W. F. Wells.

ASSOCIATE EXHIBITORS.

Miss Byrne. Mr. W. Delamotte. Mr. A. Pugin. Mr. W. Turner.

Mr. J. A. Atkinson. P. S. Munn. F. Stevens.

EXHIBITION OF WATER COLOURS 33

The society, when its number is completed, will consist of twenty-four members and twelve associate exhibitors : these last stand in the same sort of relative situation with the mem- bers, that the associates of the Royal Academy do with the academicians.

They have no share in the management of the society's concerns, nor in the profits of the exhibition, but they are never called on to contribute to any of the expences ; their works have the same chance of sale with those of the members, and from this list, as vacancies occur, the new members are always elected.

Every candidate for associate exhibitorship must be proposed by a member, and a majority of two thirds of the members present at the ballot, is necessary for the election of the candidate.

They reserve the power, as in most other societies, of ex- pelling obnoxious members ; but this can never be done except by the concurring votes, by ballot, of at least three fourths of the members.

The profits of the exhibition, after the payment of contingent expences, are divided into as many shares as there are members, each member's share being proportioned to the aggregate value of his works.

Ladies associate exhibitors, as they can never share actively in the management of the society's affairs, are not eligible as members ; but from the moment of their election, they become entitled to partake of the profits of the exhibition in the same proportion as the members, while they are exempt from the trouble of official duties, and from every responsibility whatever on account of any losses incurred by the society.

II. — D

34 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

If the object of this exhibition had merely been to promote the cultivation of this particular branch of the art, or if this object had been simply connected with another (which seems very fairly to have arisen out of the preceding), namely, the making it a source of profit to the artists concerned, we should have been inclined to recommend a plan more extensive in its nature, and more liberal in its arrangements, and we think as likely to have answered as well, if not better, even in these points : for it appears to us, that however convenient it may have been to restrict the number of persons who should compose the society originally, or to limit at a subsequent period the number who should derive benefit from the exhibition ; yet we cannot discover upon what principle other artists of great eminence and respectability have been prevented from exhibit- ing their works, who did not wish to derive any advantage from the institution beyond the means which it afforded of shewing their performances to the public, and thereby increasing the opportunities of selling them. We can readily conceive, that when such an arrangement was first proposed, many artists who were less sanguine in their dispositions than the original pro- jectors, might hesitate to come forward and engage in an undertaking, the expence of which was certain, whilst its success was doubtful ; but when the approbation of the public had sanctioned the plan, and there was great probability of its continuing to merit that approbation, we think it would have been judicious to have admitted a greater number of members, or at least to have opened their doors to a greater number of exhibitors. The public must be fed with variety as well as excellence ; and the limited number of artists who compose this

EXHIBITION OF WATER COLOURS 35

society, notwithstanding the utmost exertions of their talents and industry united, cannot be expected to compete with success, for any long period, with other societies who increase the number of their exhibitors by a more enlarged plan. The effect of this has been already felt, and a society upon a more comprehensive scale has been formed in the spring of the present year, under the title of Associated Artists in Water Colours. Their first exhibition was held at the great rooms No. 20, Lower Brook- street, Grosvenor-square, and met with encouragement similar to that which the prior establishment had experienced.

The laws of this society do not limit the number of its mem- bers, which is proposed to be increased by those among the associate exhibitors whose works are most conspicuous. Per- formances in miniature form a distinguished part in the catalogue of their works ; and ladies are admitted members, who are en- titled to a vote on all occasions, which vote may be given in writing. Its laws in other respects are very similar to those of the other society. The members are,

Mr. W. WOOD, President. Mr. J. GREEN, Treasurer. Mr. J. PAPWORTH, Secretary. Mr. W. S. Bennett. Mr. J. Holmes. Mr. A. Robertson. Mr. W. Walker. P. Dewint. J. Laporte. C. Smith. W. Westall.

Mrs. Green. S. Owen. Miss E. Smith. H. W. Williams.

Mr. Huet Villiers. F. Nash. Mr.W.J. Thompson. A.Wilson.

Many artists of great merit in the country, whose works might have been otherwise confined to the small circle of their friends and acquaintance, or whose merits could not be fairly appreciated at a great distance from the capital, will now be able to call the public attention to their paintings ; and the man of taste and fortune will have the opportunity of drawing forth modest genius from obscurity, and of gratifying those exquisite feelings which

36 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

accompany the pleasure of encouraging and rewarding indigent merit. In every point of view the public are benefitted by this rivalship, and are certainly much indebted to the spirit of the first projectors, for a plan which is likely to prove ultimately beneficial to the artists and to the country.

FIKE IN LONDON

THE print is intended to represent the dreadful fire which took place on the $d March, 1791, at the Albion Mills, on the Surry side of Blackfriars bridge. We have selected this from the many objects of a similar nature which frequently occur in this great metropolis, because the representa- tion afforded an opportunity of more picturesque effect ; the termination of the bridge, the extensive area in front, and St. Paul's in the back ground, contribute so many interesting parts to a representation which is altogether great and awful.

This fire raged with such unabating fury, that in about half an hour the whole of that extensive edifice, together with an immense quantity of flour and grain, was reduced to ashes ; the corner wing, occupied as the house and offices of the superin- tendent, only escaping the sad calamity, from the thickness of the party-wall. It was low water at the time the fire was first discovered, and before the engines were collected, their assistance was ineffectual ; for the flames burst out in so many different directions, and with such incredible fury and intolerable heat,

FIRE IN LONDON 37

that it was impossible to approach on any side, till the roof and interior part of the building tumbling in, completed the general conflagration in a column of fire so awfully grand, as to illuminate for a while the whole horizon. The wind being easterly, the flames were blown across Albion-place, the houses on the west side of which were considerably scorched, and the inhabitants greatly alarmed. In the lane adjoining the mills, one house was burnt to the ground, and others considerably damaged.

Fortunately no lives were lost, but the property consumed was very great ; four thousand sacks of corn were on the premises, of which only thirty were not destroyed.

The property was insured as follows :

At the Hand-in-Hand ... .£.6000 Brought forward £.21000

Sun 5000 At the Royal Exchange 5000

Phoenix 5000 On Stock 1 5000

Union 5000

41000

Carried over 21000

But the largest insurance was at Lloyd's, to the amount of

2O,OOO/.

In a political sense, there is no country upon earth where the security for life and property is so complete and extensive as in Great Britain, and of the peculiar facility with which property of all kinds, from the most trifling to the most extensive, is insured against fire, foreigners can form but a very inadequate idea from any establishments of this nature in their own country. That our readers may form some idea of the extent of the insurance business, and its progressive increase, in this country, we have subjoined a table of the duties paid by the respective companies since the year 1782.

THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

Account of Duty received on Insurances by the several FIRE-OFFICES of LONDON and WESTMINSTER, from the Commencement, Midsummer 1782, to Christmas 1807.

YEARS.	SUN.	PHCENIX.	ROYAL EXCHANGE.	HAND-IN- HAND.	WESTMINSTER.	LONDON ASSURANCE.	UNION.
	£. j. d.	£• t. d.	£. ,. d.	£. *. d.	£. s. d.	£. i. d.	£•	s. d.
1782	28517 7 8	585 2 I	6461 14 9	11763 3 6	4250 4 i	3361 9 8	2959	15 2
1783	59032 19 6	2943 o 10	11977 16 ii	17300 13 4	879014 5	4442 i 7	6058	0 8
1784	47451 i 10	4125 3 4	9991 10 ii	1179518 5	7633 4 7	3012 2 II	5503	15 o
1785	51486 13 ii	655015 9	1134019 2	10409 18 7	7729 2 7	317019 3	4679	9 5
1786	48067 2 10	8925 10 i	12125 7 i	9400 8 8	7368 3 4	3128 12 10	4163	15 8
1787	48656 7 I	11710 7 o	1329919 2	8463 3 10	7246 n 4	2901 14 6	3819	7 5
1788	49520 16 9	14707 8 7	13673 7 3	8019 5 6	703015 7	2996 1 6 o	3240	15 6
1789	49529 2 4	17035 I 4	14703 9 10	7698 i 2	6633 5 o	2991 i 8	2891	19 2
1790	5138813 7	18598 2 10	1605719 3	8231 18 4	6701 19 o	3012 12 3	2556	10 8
1791	53572H 4	20197 4 o	16388 10 o	8229 10 7	6831 311	321511 4	2640	12 7
1792	56640 1 8 8	24655 4 2	20050 3 3	8591 o i	7088 1 6 7	3206 13 n	2451	3 o
1793	56704 i 5	25921 9 8	20299 I2 6	757719 9	6178 14 o	3285 3 3	2309	II 0
1794	5762917 9	27781 13 i	20742 i 8	7050 1 8 4	6583 on	3096 8 i	2136	13 8
1795	58559 7 9	28780 3 4	22773 3 8	682413 6	6291 9 10	3268 ii 4	2154	i i
1796	595" 3 9	3097816 7	22701 17 4	6488 i o	5759 7 o	3355 4 6	1723	18 2
1797	64245 9 10	34405 15 6	26845 I2 8	10051 17 5	7921 17 9	4166 on	2474	2 8
1798	82690 3 6	44881 2 I	32450 10 7	Io66l II 2	981619 2	5579 H 4	2859	7 7
1799	77065 o 7	43691 3 o	33058 3 6	8384 6 ii	8441 14 6	494415 9	1984	i 5
1800	77628 4 i	48025 17 II	35475 19 o	8564 3 5	755713 5	5297 2 9	2472	I 0
1801	80314 6 4	5'36s 4 5	36729 6 10	7951 n 8	7524 18 6	5677 710	2073	6 3
1802	81705 ii ii	49954 oio	3771017 6	7665 3 2	7907 13 7	5933 18 10	2582	19 6
1803	77589 8 3	5055619 4	37844 i 7	7961 311	8251 2 9	5102 10 4	2035	13 o
1804	80205 3 5	4953317 3	3818211 5	9069 14 2	867012 3	47I5I5 6	22IO	12 8
1805	92845 3 i i	59162 3 10	44095 13 3	I2I2OII 3	12277 13 3	6210 3 5	4783	3 i
1806	95269 8 8	60767 10 2	449731311	9728 6 i	10602 3 5	6117 18 o	5399	4 4
1807	92443 6 2	61765 2 5	45067 1 6 5	9940 0 2	10525 10 o	6852 6 2	5697	10 3
YEARS.	BRITISH.	IMPERIAL.	GLOBE.	COUNTY.	HOPE.	ATLAS. i	ALBION.	EAGLE.
	£. *. d.	£. *. d.	£. i. d.	£• *. d.	£. s. d.	£. s. d.
1799	5319 9"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1800	10651 12 5	—	—	—	—	—		— .
1801	13848 3 3	—	—	—	—	—		—
1802	17364 12 2	—	—	—	—	—		—
1803	16814 4 4	7624 1 1 10	372617 9	—	—	—	.	—
1804	16691 o o	14626 19 5	119431511	—	- —	—		—
1805	18744 2 6	23141 511	17248 IO 2	1675 3 i	—	—		—
1806	19731 16 8	27731 17 8	19738 8 i	8179 i 4	—	—		—
1807	20281 10 n	30018 8 4	20465 19 2	11192 10 8	3031 211	1631 ii 9		- —

FIRE IN LONDON 39

With respect to the terms* of each office, we may observe generally, that insurances can be effected upon the same terms at either of them ; the only distinction that we are aware of is, that in some offices, out of the profits arising from the general business, a fund is created, of which the insurers themselves become entitled to a dividend, in proportion to the amount of the premiums they have paid, after a certain period. So long

* Terms of Insurance of Buildings, Farming Stock, Shipping, and all other Property, from Loss or Damage by Fire.

COMMON INSURANCES. — Brick or stone buildings, with party-walls, covered with slate, tile, or metal, in which no hazardous trades are carried on, or hazardous goods deposited.

Goods not hazardous. — Goods not hazardous in brick or stone buildings, with party- walls, covered with slate, tile, or metal, in which no hazardous trades are carried on. Wearing apparel, linen, printed books, plate, and liquors in private use, may be insured under the general description or denomination of furniture, without a specification of each. Watches, jewels, and trinkets, in private use, must be separately described, but the premium on them does not exceed the premium on goods not hazardous.

HAZARDOUS INSURANCES. — Timber or plaster buildings, brick and timber buildings, and buildings without party-walls of stone or brick, covered with slate, tile, or metal, in which no hazardous trades are carried on, or hazardous goods deposited. Brick or stone buildings, in which hazardous trades are carried on. Thatched buildings not having a chimney, and not adjoining to any building having a chimney.

Hazardous Goods. — Goods not hazardous deposited in hazardous buildings. The stock of hazardous trades in brick or stone buildings. Pictures, horses, harness, car- riages, and fodder, in buildings not hazardous. Ships in port, and their cargoes, ships building or repairing, barges, and other small craft, on rivers and canals, and goods on board.

DOUBLY HAZARDOUS INSURANCES. — Hazardous buildings, in which hazardous trades are carried on. Thatched buildings having a chimney, or adjoining to a building con- taining one.

Doubly hazardous Goods. — The stock of hazardous trades in hazardous buildings. Pictures, horses, carriages, and fodder, in hazardous buildings. China and glass.

Upon common insurances is charged an annual premium of 2s. per cent. — hazardous insurances, 35. per cent. — and doubly hazardous insurances, 55. per cent.

40 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

as the business of the offices is carried on with prudence, and therefore with success, this plan operates in reduction of such premiums ; but should loss to any considerable amount take place beyond the capital retained to answer such events, it has the effect of involving a general partnership of the insurers, who become (of course) liable to a mutual contribution to make up any deficiency.

Other offices, again, are entitled by charters to be called upon for losses to no greater extent than the sum originally pledged as capital.

Others, again, are formed by a subscription for shares, ex- tending to a certain sum only, and the parties are mutually bound to contribute in proportion to the number of shares they hold ; but in the event before supposed, this agreement among them- selves does not deprive the public who insure at such offices, of the right to call upon the proprietor even of a single share for the whole amount of their loss, in case the capital subscribed should be insufficient.

It is very far from our intention by this statement to insinuate any thing to the prejudice of offices formed upon this plan, but state it, because a contrary opinion respecting joint-stock companies has pretty generally prevailed ; and although from institutions of this nature very distant indeed must be any such apprehension, yet the ephemeral establishments which we hear every day proposed, and respecting which the public cannot be too cautious, incline us to be among the number of those who are desirous of putting them upon their guard against specula- tions of so doubtful, and, it would appear, of so dangerous a nature. — We subjoin a list of fires within the bills of mortality

FIRE IN LONDON 41

during the year 1807, which affords the strongest proof of the necessity and advantage of these establishments.

1807. Fires. ~£Z£ l^>7- Fires.

January 42 48 Brought forward... 193 217

February 38 54 July 37 20

March 36 42 August 28 15

April 32 36 September 28 17

May 29 22 October 24 23

June 16 15 November 29 21

December 36 43

Carried over 193 217

375 356

The number of fires may be considered nearly correct, but the chimney alarms are not probably more than a third of the true number.

The above statement is given from the books of the British Fire-Office, for the year ending December 31, 1807.

B. F. O. August 13, 1808. WILLIAM KING, Inspector.

To extinguish fires with a greater expedition than by the means usually employed, has long been a desideratum with the public, and persons of considerable talents, in various parts, have directed their attention to this object. Zachary Greyl was the first whose projects for this purpose were attended with any success. He contrived an engine of sufficient power, and man- aged without much difficulty, with which he extinguished the fire in buildings (to the satisfaction of many respectable persons of the first rank who attended the experiment), by means of explosion ; and he offered to make the secret public, in con- sideration of a considerable sum of money, for which he

42 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

stipulated : but this proposal was not attended with any success, and he died without disclosing it. A short time after his death, the method was discovered by a person who had possessed himself of Greyl's papers. The plan was tried before the King of Poland, and a considerable number of the nobility, at Dresden, and the secret was purchased for a large sum. It was afterwards tried at Paris, and at several other places. The process was simple : a vessel was provided large enough to contain a con- siderable quantity of water, in the middle of which an iron case was placed, filled with gunpowder, and properly secured against wet, from which a tube communicated (through the head of the vessel) with a match made of materials easily combustible. This vessel was to be conveyed into the building on fire : the con- sequence was, that the explosion occasioned by the gunpowder, drove the water with considerable force every way, and although the room might be flaming in every part at the instant of its going off, the fire was immediately extinguished. But although great expectations were formed, yet the benefit was by no means general ; the fire in a room was easily put out, but when the roof had fallen in, or the flames had communicated very far, or the top was open, it must be obvious this plan could not succeed.

Chimneys on fire are readily extinguished by completely stopping up the throat or breast of the chimney with a wet blanket, or by means of a register or chimney-board, or indeed any thing which will entirely prevent the current of air passing upwards.

Various plans have likewise been suggested with the view to check the progress of fire. Dr. Hales proposed to stop it by

FIRE IN LONDON 43

covering the floors of the adjoining rooms with earth about an inch thick. In the years 1775 and 1776, Mr. David Hartley made several experiments to prove the efficacy of a plan which he had invented, and for which he obtained a patent, and Parlia- ment voted a certain sum to defray the expence of the numerous experiments which were made with a view to restrain the spread of fire in buildings. For this purpose thin iron plates were well nailed to the top of the joists, &c. the edges of the sides and ends being lapped over, folded together, and hammered close. Par- titions, stairs, and doors, have been defended in the same manner, and plates applied to one side have been found sufficient. The plates are so thin as not to prevent the floor from being nailed on the joists, in the same manner as if this preventive had not been employed. The plates are kept from rust by being painted, or varnished with oil and turpentine. The expence of this addition, when extended through a whole building, does not exceed 5 per cent. This patent has long since expired. The same preventive may be applied to ships, and to many of the machines employed in our manufactories.*

* The Earl of Stanhope also discovered and published a very simple and effectual method of securing every kind of building against fire. This method he has divided into three parts, viz. under-flooring, extra-lathing, and inter-securing. The method of under-flooring is either single or double. In single under-flooring, a common strong lath of oak or fir, about one fourth of an inch thick, should be nailed against each side of every joist, and of every main timber supporting the floor which is to be secured ; other similar laths are then to be nailed along the whole length of the joists, with their ends butting against each other. The top of each of these laths or fillets ought to be at one inch and a half below the top of the joists or timbers against which they are nailed, and they will thus form a sort of small ledge on each side of the joists. These fillets are to be well bedded in a rough plaster hereafter mentioned, when they are nailed on, so

44

FLEET PKISON

THE Fleet Prison is situated on the east side of Fleet market, a little to the south of Fleet-lane, and was originally so called from the river Fleet running by it. It was destroyed in the riots of 1780, and was immediately

that there may be no interval between them and the joists ; and the same plaster ought to be spread with a trowel upon the tops of all the fillets, and along the sides of that part of the joists which is between the top of the fillets and the upper edge of the joists. In order to fill up the intervals between the joists that support the floor, short pieces of common lath, whose lengths are equal to the width of these intervals, should be laid in the contrary direction to the joists, and close together in a row, so as to touch one another ; their ends must rest upon the fillets, and they ought to be well bedded in the rough plaster, but are not to be fastened with nails. They must then be covered with one thick coat of the rough plaster, which is to be spread over them to the level of the tops of the joists, and in a day or two this plaster should be trowelled over close to the sides of the joists, without covering the tops of the joists with it. — In the method of double-flooring, the fillets and short pieces of laths are applied in the manner already described ; but the coat of rough plaster ought to be little more than half as thick as that in the former method. Whilst this rough plaster is laid on, some more of the short pieces of laths above-mentioned must be laid in the intervals between the joists upon the first coat, and be dipped deep in it ; they should be laid as close as possible to each other, and in the same direction with the first layer of short laths. Over this second layer of short laths there must be spread another coat of rough plaster, which should be trowelled level with the tops of the joists, without rising above them. The rough plaster may be made of coarse lime and hair ; or, instead of hair, hay chopped to about three inches in length, may be substituted with advantage. One measure of common rough sand, two measures of slaked lime, and three measures of chopped hay, will form in general a very good

FLEET PRISON 45

rebuilt in its present state with brick and stone. The court into which you enter is the whole length of the building, which is about ninety feet. Passing through the lobby, you enter the inner court, where the prisoners entertain themselves with tennis, fives, and other amusements, as represented in the plate. The building is separated into five divisions :

ist. The cellar floor, containing the kitchen, cellar, and fourteen apartments.

proportion when sufficiently beaten up together in the manner of common mortar : the hay should be put in after the two other ingredients are well beaten up together with water. This plaster should be made stiff ; and when the flooring-boards are required to be laid down very soon, a fourth or fifth part of quicklime in powder, formed by dropping a small quantity of water on the limestone a little while before it is used, and well mixed with this rough plaster, will cause it to be very fast. If any cracks appear in the rough plaster-work near the joist when it is thoroughly dry, they ought to be closed by washing them over with a brush wet with mortar-wash : this wash may be prepared by putting two measures of quicklime, and one of common sand, in a pail, and stirring the mixture with water, till the water becomes of the consistence of a thin jelly. Before the flooring- boards are laid, a small quantity of very dry common sand should be strewed over the plaster-work, and struck smooth with a hollow rule, moved in the direction of the joists, so that it may lie rounding between each pair of joists. The plaster-work and sand should be perfectly dry before the boards are laid, for fear of the dry rot. The method of under-flooring may be successfully applied to a wooden staircase, but no sand is to be laid upon the rough plaster-work. The method of extra-lathing may be applied to ceil- ing joists, to sloping roofs, and to wooden partitions. — The third method, which is that of inter-securing, is very similar to that of under-flooring, but no sand is afterwards to be laid upon it. Inter-securing is applicable to the same parts of a building as the method of extra-lathing, but it is seldom necessary. The author of this invention made several experiments, in order to demonstrate the efficacy of these methods. In most houses it is only necessary to secure the floors ; and the extra expence of under-flooring, including all materials, was at that time only about nine-pence per square yard, and with the use of quicklime, a little more. The extra expence of extra-lathing is no more than sixpence per square yard for the timber side, wall, and partitions ; but for the ceiling, about nine- pence per square yard : but in most houses no extra-lathing is necessary.

46 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

2nd. The chapel gallery, which contains the tap-rooms and

fourteen rooms.

3d. The coffee-room gallery, and twenty-four rooms. 4th. The infirmary gallery, and twenty-seven rooms. 5th. The upper gallery, which contains twenty-seven rooms.

The passages or galleries run the whole length of the building. The rooms measure fourteen feet and a half by twelve and a half.

The number of prisoners usually confined in the Fleet is about two hundred and fifty, and the number who have the benefit of the rules is about fifty more.

The keeper is called the warden of the Fleet, and his fees from the prisoners, for turning the key, for chamber-rent, &c. amount to a considerable sum.

This prison belongs to the Court of Common Pleas, and hither persons are committed for contempt of orders, &c. in the High Court of Chancery ; or upon debt, when, by a writ of habeas corpus, they remove themselves thither from any other prison.

The rules or liberties of the Fleet are, all the north side of Ludgate-hill, and the Old Bailey up to Fleet-lane ; down that lane into the market, and then turning the corner on the left, all the east side along the Fleet Prison to the bottom of Ludgate- hill.

The ditch was cleansed some years since at a considerable expence, in the performing of which work, at the depth of fourteen feet, were found several Roman utensils ; and a little deeper, a great quantity of Roman coins, in silver, copper, brass, and other metals, but none in gold. At Holborn bridge were found two brazen lares, about four inches long, one a Bacchus,

FLEET PRISON 47

the other a Ceres. It is a probable conjecture, that these were thrown in by the affrighted Romans at the approach of the en- raged Boadicea, who soon took ample revenge on her insulting conquerors. Here were also found numbers of Saxon antiquities, spurs, weapons, keys, seals, &c. ; also medals, crosses, and cruci- fixes, which might likewise have been flung in on occasion of some alarm. This canal was afterwards neglected, and becoming a nuisance, was filled up, and a sewer formed beneath, to convey the water to the river. The fine market which extends the whole length of the old ditch, rose in its place, in 1733, in which year an act was passed, to empower the lord mayor and citizens to fill the ditch at their own expence, and to vest the fee simple of the ground in them and their successors for ever. The present noble approach to Blackfriars bridge, and the well-built opening of Chatham-place, were but a few years since a muddy ditch. This had been the mouth of the creek, which, as Stow informs us, in 1307 was of depth and width sufficient, "that ten or twelve ships navies at once, with merchandizes, were wont to come to the aforesaid bridge Fleete." It must be recollected, that at this period there were drawbridges upon London bridge, through which ships of a certain size might pass, and discharge their cargoes in the mouth of the river.

This prison was founded as early as the first of Richard I. ; it was also the place of confinement for such as had incurred the displeasure of that arbitrary court, the Star Chamber. This prison became such a scene of cruelty, that, in the year 1729, a most benevolent set of gentlemen, prototypes of the good Howard, formed themselves into a committee, to search into the horrors of the gloomy gaol.

48 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

Unpitied and unheard, where misery moans, Where sickness pines, where thirst and hunger burn, And poor misfortune feels the lash of vice : While in the land of liberty (the land Whose every street and public meeting glow With open freedom,) little tyrants rag'd, Snatch'd the lean morsel from the starving mouth ; Tore from cold wint'ry limbs the tatter'd weed, Even robb'd them of the last of comforts, sleep ; The freeborn Briton to the dungeon chain'd, Or, as the lust of cruelty prevail'd, At pleasure mark'd him with inglorious stripes, And crush'd out lives by secret, barbarous ways.

THOMSON.

All these barbarities were realized. The House of Commons, the year preceding, had taken up the enquiries, and found that Huggins, warden of the Fleet, and Bambridge, his deputy, and William Action, turnkey, had exercised most shocking cruelties. Those monsters were tried for the murder of five unhappy men, who died under the most horrid treatment from them : yet, not- withstanding the prosecution was recommended from the throne, and conducted by the ablest lawyers, to the concern of all good men, these wretches escaped their merited punishment. Since this period the management of the prison has undergone a material alteration for the better ; indeed the laudable philan- thropy of Mr. Howard has excited a spirit of enquiry into these receptacles of misery and wickedness, which is an honour to the age we live in, and to human nature itself.

The tapster is no longer permitted to rent the tap, nor to hold any rooms in the prison to let out to hire, but is merely a servant of the warden, dismissable at his pleasure.

FLEET PRISON 49

We add a copy of the rules and orders for the government of this prison.

RULES AND ORDERS.— HILARY TERM, 3 GEORGE II. 1729.

IT is ordered, That all and singular the orders or rules here under wrote and established, pursuant to an act of Parliament made and published in the second year of the reign of our said lord the king, intituled An Act for the Relief of Debtors with respect to the Imprisonment of their Persons, be well, strictly, and truly observed and kept, as well by the warden of the prison of our lord the king of the Fleet, and all his officers and servants, as by all prisoners who now are, or at any time hereafter shall be, committed to the custody of the said warden.

And it is further ordered, That this rule, with all and every the rules or orders aforesaid, shall be fixed up in the hall of the said prison, for the use, benefit, and inspection of the prisoners detained in the aforesaid prison.

BY THE COURT.

Constitutions and orders renewed and established touching the government of the Fleet Prison, by Sir Robert Catlyn, Knt. chief justice of the King's Bench ; Sir William Cordell, Knt. master of the Rolls ; Sir James Dyer, Knt. chief justice of the Common Pleas; Sir Edward Saunders, Knt. chief baron of the Exchequer; and others, by virtue of a commission under the great seal of England, bearing date the 3d day of June, in the third year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; and afterwards reviewed and exemplified under the great seal, the ist day of February, in the thirty-seventh year of the same reign ; and again declared and established as rules and orders by which the said prison of the Fleet should be governed, by letters patent granted to Sir Jeremy Whichcot, of the office of warden of the Fleet, in the nineteenth year of the reign of King Charles the Second.

i. That it may be lawful to the said warden, or his deputy, to appoint so many of the household servants as to either of them shall seem good, to open and shut the two utter gates of the Fleet at such hours as the gates of Ludgate and Newgate are accustomed to be opened and shut; and the said persons to carry in their hands halberts, bills, or any other weapon, as shall seem good unto the said warden or deputy, within his precinct or liberty.

ii. That it is and shall be lawful to the said warden and his deputy, to take order from time to time, that no person coming there do carry any weapon further than n. — E

50 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

the porter's lodge there, be he a stranger or other, unless they be licensed so to do by the discretion of such as the same warden shall appoint to keep the gate there.

in. That it may be lawful for the said warden, or his deputy, and so many of his household as shall be thought needful, to keep watch in harness or otherwise within his precinct at all times, as he shall see cause for his better safeguard, if he shall suspect any prisoner within his custody to intend to make an escape.

iv. That it may be lawful for the said warden to take order at all times for such money as shall be gathered at the box, or otherwise generously given to poor men there for the distribution thereof amongst them, if any contention shall arise ; and that the said poor men shall always keep one key of the said box, and another key to be at the warden's appointment.

Orders made by the Right Honourable Sir Edward Herbert, Knt. lord chief justice of his majesty's Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, and the rest of the justices of the said court, Friday, the i yth day of February, anno Domini 1687, concerning his majesty's prison of the Fleet.

v. If the prisoners on the master's side refuse, or be not able to pay their chamber-rent, then and in such case the warden has liberty to turn them out of his or her chamber into the wards ; but no prisoner whatsoever to be confined under the pretence of non-payment of chamber-rent, but all of them to have liberty of walking in the fore-yard, hall, and cellar of the house in the day-time without interruption ; the ward gates in the day-time to stand constantly open, and to be opened (viz.) at five o'clock in the morning in the summer, and seven in the winter.

And the said justices do further order, that the warden shall be at liberty to shut the ward gates at nine of the clock at night in the winter time, and ten in the summer, if he so think fit, provided he keep a watchman constantly to attend there, to let out and in such persons as shall have occasion to go to the necessary- house, they returning as soon as he or she has done there.

vi. That the warden shall not for the future detain or imbezil any prisoner's goods, but that the said warden has liberty to detain the person of such prisoner or prisoners after they are discharged by their creditors, until all lawful fees and dues shall be fully paid and satisfied.

vii. That the warden shall with all convenient speed make and provide a confined room or dungeon in the wards, as it was before the great fire of London,

FLEET PRISON 51

for the confinement of persons endeavouring to make their escapes, or guilty of any other great misdemeanor, that the general quietness and liberty of the rest of their fellow prisoners may not be restrained or suffer thereby.

And the persons whose names are hereunto subscribed, having reviewed and considered the said rules and orders, and being informed that a confined room was provided, according to the said last-mentioned order, and that the same is boarded, wholesome, and dry, do order and declare, that the rules and orders before- mentioned, shall continue to be rules and orders for the better government of the Fleet Prison, and be observed accordingly.

And whereas some farther regulations are proper and necessary to be made for the better government of the said prison, the persons whose names are hereunto subscribed do further order,

vni. That the warden of the Fleet do keep the chapel of the Fleet in good repair, and take care that divine service be performed, and the sacrament of the Lord's supper administered therein at the usual and proper times, according to the rites and ceremonies of the church of England ; and all prisoners are required to attend at the times aforesaid.

ix. And it is hereby further ordered, that no chaplain of the Fleet, or any clergyman being a prisoner within the walls or rules of the Fleet, do presume to marry any person without licence within the prison or rules of the Fleet, and that the warden and his officers do use their utmost diligence to prevent all such marriages.

x. That the warden do cause the stocks to be kept up in the said prison (as has been anciently practised) for the punishment of such prisoners as shall blaspheme the name of God, be guilty of prophane cursing or swearing, or shall behave themselves in a disorderly manner.

xi. That no prisoner do take possession of any chamber within the prison, but with the consent of the warden, or his deputy, or pull down any partition, or make any other material alteration there, without the consent of the warden or his deputy ; but that the disposal and appointment of the chambers or rooms within the said prison be in the warden, or his deputy, only ; yet so as neither of them -do turn any prisoner out of possession, who shall be rightfully possessed of a chamber, without reasonable cause : and that every prisoner, on his or her dis- charge, do deliver over to the warden, his deputy, or chamberlain, the key of his chamber, and all the warden's furniture therein.

52 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

xii. That the warden, or his deputy, may turn any prisoner out of his chamber to the common side, that shall refuse or neglect to pay his or her chamber-rent for the space of three months ; and that the warden, or his deputy, shall, in such case, cause an inventory to be made of the prisoner's goods and effects (if any), signed by two witnesses, and shall immediately deliver such goods and effects to such prisoner; but the warden may still detain the person of such prisoner, though discharged by the plaintiff, or in any other manner, until his arrears of chamber-rent shall be fully satisfied and paid.

xm. That no prisoner, or other person, shall keep any public room within the said prison for selling any victuals, wine, brandy, punch, beer, ale, or other liquor, without leave of the warden, or his deputy; and if any prisoner, or prisoners, shall offend in the premises, it shall be lawful for the warden, or his deputy, to turn him, her, or them, out of their room or rooms to the common side ; and the warden and his deputy are hereby required to take care that good order be kept in such public room or rooms, as shall be allowed by either of them to be used as aforesaid.

xiv. That the warden do take effectual care that every prisoner committed to his custody be conveyed to the prison of the Fleet, without being carried to any public victualling or drinking-house, or the private house of any tipstaff, officer, or minister of the Fleet, or of any tenant or relation of his, without the voluntary consent of the person or persons so in custody ; and that no garnish, or money, shall be extorted by any prisoner or prisoners from any person committed, for his coming into the said prison.

xv. That the warden do cause a table of the gifts and bequests made for the benefit of the prisoners of the Fleet, expressing the particular purposes for which the same are given, to be fairly writ in a plain and legible hand, to be hung up in the hall of the said prison ; and that the warden take care that no prisoner, or prisoners, be deprived or defrauded of his, her, or their shares, dues, or dividends, of the charities so given ; and that no cellarman, turnkey, or other officer, or servant of the warden, shall have any share or part in any charity given to the prisoners, or bear any office in the said prison which may entitle him to any power in receipt or disposition of such charity.

xvi. That every prisoner who shall make oath before one of the judges of the court from whence the process issued upon which he or she shall be taken, or charged, or before a commissioner empowered by such court, that he or she is not

FLEET PRISON 53

worth five pounds, and cannot subsist without the charities belonging to the prisoners of the Fleet, shall immediately be admitted to all shares, dividends, and profits arising from such charities.

xvn. That two rooms marked 9 and 10 up the chapel stairs, shall be kept as an infirmary for the use of the prisoners on the common side, who shall fall sick of such diseases as shall require their being removed, to prevent infection, or for necessary care and relief; and that no prisoner shall be obliged to lie in the same bed with a diseased person.

xvni. That the warden shall keep the prison-house and windows in good and necessary repair, and keep the drains, bog-houses, and dunghill, as clean and free from stench and noisomeness as possible.

xix. That when any prisoner dies within the said prison, the said warden shall forthwith give notice of such death to the coroner, that the said coroner may enquire, according to law, how such prisoner came by his death ; and that the said warden shall detain the body no longer than till the coroner's inquest have made their inquisition, which shall be done with all convenient speed, and that imme- diately afterwards the dead body shall be delivered to the prisoner's friends or relations, if they desire it, without fee or reward.

xx. That the warden do not sue, or procure to be sued out any writ of habeas corpus to remove any prisoner from the prison of the Fleet to the prison of the King's Bench.

xxi. That the warden shall keep a book, in which all commitments shall be fairly entered in the words of such commitment within fourteen days after any prisoner shall be committed.

xxn. That the warden shall keep another book, containing the names of every prisoner actually brought into the Fleet, and taken into the house, with the name of the party at whose suit he shall be committed, and the time when the prisoner was brought to the Fleet, and received into the prison, specifying withal the court or judge by whose authority he shall be committed.

xxni. That every tipstaff, to whom any prisoner shall be delivered in custody at a judge's chamber, shall keep a book, containing the name of such prisoner, the time when he was taken into custody, to be signed by such judge's clerk ; and such judge's clerk shall keep another book, in which the like entry shall be made, signed by the tipstaff.

54 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

xxiv. That the warden shall keep a book, in which memorandums shall be entered of all declarations delivered to the turnkey or porter, against any prisoner in the Fleet Prison, containing the names of the parties, the cause of action, and the time when such declaration shall be delivered.

xxv. That the warden shall keep a book, in which all discharges of prisoners shall be fairly entered, which entry shall specify how such discharge was made, whether by the plaintiff, by suptrsedcas, or otherwise, and such entry shall be made within five days after every discharge.

xxvi. That the warden shall keep a book, in which every writ of habeas corpus, upon which the prisoner shall not be committed or the custody altered, with the return of every such writ of habeas corpus, shall be fairly entered.

xxvn. That all the books before-mentioned, except the tipstaffs book, shall be kept in the public office of the clerk of the papers of the Fleet ; and that all persons shall have liberty to resort to them, and to take copies, as there shall be occasion.

xxvin. That no clerk, officer, or servant whatsoever, belonging to any judge of this court, shall directly or indirectly demand, receive, or take any gratuity, fee, or reward, for, or by reason of any petition, complaint, or application, that shall be made by any prisoner or prisoners of the said prison, pursuant to, or founded upon any of the rules and orders herein before-mentioned, or concerning any misgovernment in the Fleet.

xxix. Lastly, that the said warden and his officers do treat the several prisoners in his custody with all tenderness and humanity, and that such prisoners do behave themselves towards the warden with that submission and regard which the law requires.

R. EYRE, ROB. PRICE, ALEX. DENTON, J. FORTESCUE A.

FLEET PRISON

55

AN EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK OF FEES KEPT IN THE FIRST

PROTHONOTARIES' OFFICE OF THE COURT OF

COMMON PLEAS.

Termino Hillar. 21° Jacobi regis, 1625, a comic"1 having issued from his maj'* to enquire into fees, &c. taken from the yzth of

Q. Eli?

Inter alia,

Fees due and belonging to the warden of the Fleet, and his under officers, as appeareth by a commission, under the great seal of England, from the late Queen Eliza in the $rd year of her reign, and confirmed in the 37'* year of Eli^ what every in their several degree ought to pay.

d.

An arch bishop, A duke, A dutchess,

A marquess, A marquessess, An earl, A countess, A vice countess,

' are to pay for their comitm| fee to the warden of the Fleet, and his officers, hav- ing the first weeks' dyett . also they are to pay for their ordinary comons weekly, with wine .... are to pay for their comitm' fee to the warden of the Fleet, and his officers, hav- ing the first week's dyett . also they are to pay for their ordinary comons weekly,

. with wine ....

21 IO O

3 6 8

ii ii

THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

A lord spiritual or^teni- poral, a lady the wife ^ of a baron or a lord,

A knight, a lady tlie wife of a knight, a d" of divinity, a dr of law, and others of like callings,

An esq'agent*agentlew. that shall sit at the parlour comons, or any person or persons, un- der that degree, that shall be at the same ordinary comons of the parlour,

A yeoman, or any other that shall be at the hall comons, man or woman,

are to pay for their comitm| fee to the warden of the Fleet, and his officers, hav- ing the first week's dyett also they are to pay for their ordinary comons weekly, with wine .... are to pay for their comitm' fee to the warden of the Fleet, and his officers, hav- ing the first week's dyett also they are to pay for their . ordinary comons weekly are to pay for their comitm' fee to the warden of the Fleet, and his officers, hav- ing the first week's dyett and lodging

also they are to pay for their ordinary weekly comons, with wine .... are to pay for their comitm! fee to the warden and his officers, having the first week's dyett

also they are to pay for their ordinary weekly comons, with wine .

£

d.

to 5 10

I 10 O

o 18 6

6 8

O IO O

i 14 4

FLEET PRISON 57

£ *• *•

A poor man in the wards \ .

is to pay for his fee, having that hath a part at the \

no dyett . . . .074 box, }

Also there is due to the warden of the Fleet zod. per diem for the whole day, and lod. for the half day, for every man that the warden may lawfully license to go abroad.

Moreover, the warden of the Fleet hath return of writs, as the sheriffs and bayliffs of libertys have, for which he hath for allowance and return of every warr| or attaching . . . . . . .024

Also for every habeas corpus cum causa there are fees for returning the causes, viz.

For allowance of the writt . . . . .024

For returning the first cause . . . . .024 and after every execution . . . . .020

To the warden's clerk for every acc°" . . .010

And to the warden's servant to bring the prisoner

safe to the barr . . . . .050

At Whitehall, the 9'* Jan. 1629.

PRESENT,

THE KING'S MAJESTY,

Ld Keeper, Ld Marshall, Earl of Holland,

Ld Cha^ Ld Steward, Ld Visc| Dorchester,

Ld Presid| Earl of Dorsett, Mr. Vice Chamberlane,

Ld Privy Seal, Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Secretary Cooke.

5« THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

It is this day thoht fitt and ordered (inter alia), that the jurors, and such others by whom the truth may be best discovered, shall present their full knowledge of perticuler exactions and extortions comitted by the officers, attorneys, clerks, and ministers of and belonging to the Courts of Chancery and Comon Pleas, and perticulerly by whom, how much, of whom, when, and wherefore, any new or unwarrantable fees or rewards have been exacted or received, and that speedy return be made thereof, for his maj'y'8 most effectual and important service upon the comission for enquiry after exacted fees and inovated offices.

Ext P- JO. BIBLE Y,

Ckcn. Diet Comission.

" Altho' the warden for severall kings' and queens' reigns since discontinued keeping any table in the prison, and the prisoners provided for themselves, yet the fee of 3/. 6s. 8d. as a comitm' fee was continued to be paid to all the wardens, and is continued to be paid to this day for all prisoners comitted by the councell, secretarys of state, High Court of Chancery, and Court of Excheq' and the same fee is paid to the black rodd, and all serj'.s at armes : but in the last year of King James the Second, the judges of the Comon Pleas, taking notice of a clause in an act made for the discharge of poor prisoners, allowing prisoners to send out of the prison for their necessary food, who before had been forc't to take it at the celler of the prison at un- reasonable rates, applied that clause to the lessening of the warden's fee ; for that, by the establishm! of the 3'? of Eliz? the week's comons was part of the fee ; and reduced the fee on the master's side to 2/. 4$. ^d. and i/. js. $d. on the comon side,

FLEET PRISON 59

wc.h hath ever since been paid for every comitm' or render in discharge of bayle where the prisoner or his bayle have been able ; and the fees to y? judges, their clerks, and the tipstaffs, are likewise distintly paid for every render, as if the prison" were bro! upp by severall habeas corpuses to discharge their severall bayles, as they formerly used to do : but now the attorneys have found out how to save so many habeas corpuses ; and Mr. Ford and Mr. Stone, who acted long before Mr. Grindall's time, have made affid'? hereof; and there is another affid* that Mr. Dixon, who was clerk of the papers of the Fleet for above eighteen years, gave the present warden, at the time of his comeing into this office, an account of these fees due and paid in all his time : Mr. Brampton, Judge Tracy's clerk, Mr. Whiten, the L? Cheife Justice King's clerk, Mr. Mason, the L? Parker's clerk, Mr. Watts, the clerk of the papers of the King's Bench, give the like account, and that such fees were paid before the prisoners turned over ; and the now warden is ready to make oath, that, between twenty and thirty years since, when he was a practising attorney in the city of London, he paid the like fees for tenn renders at a time, and well remembers in w' clyents' cases such fees were paid."

Mr. Nixon relates, that when they took down the old houses in the market in the year 1 793, in order to build the present wall, at the depth of about twenty feet from the surface, they found a stone door-way standing complete, which Sir William Chambers (the king's surveyor general) and Mr. N. imagined to have been an entrance into the prison, as it communicated therewith by means of a flight of stone steps. They also thought, that at the time this table of fees existed, it was probable that such

60 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

prisoners as were committed to the Fleet by the Star Chamber and other arbitrary authorities, were put into a covered boat, and conveyed down the Thames, and thence up the river Hoi born (which was then navigable), and put into the prison by this door : the ancient foundation of the old houses went considerably below it, the oak planking whereof (although perhaps it had lain there five hundred years) was as perfect and sound as if just put down, and actually forms a part of the planking of the foundation of the present wall.

The Fleet Prison, it is believed, after the fire of London in 1666, was removed to that site of ground upon which the alms- houses through Vauxhall turnpike, on the Wandsworth road, now stand, until the old prison was rebuilt, Sir Jeremy Whichcott, then warden, having his family seat there, which he converted into a prison ; for which patriotic act, and rebuilding the old one at his own expence, he and his heirs were wardens as long as they lived. The office of warden of the Fleet was formerly of such consequence, that a brother of one of the Edwards is said to have been in the list of wardens.

1

3

53

6i

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL

THE instinct which protects our helpless offspring, and which is denominated parental affection, is bestowed upon all animated nature : but HUMANITY, the desire of assisting our fellow-creatures, of relieving their distresses, and promoting their happiness, belongs exclusively to the human race. In the infancy of society, individual benevolence may be adequate to the relief of individual distress ; but when millions are united in one community, it is then that individual efforts are incapable, not only of affording adequate relief to the unfortunate, but even of distinguishing and selecting the proper objects of benevolence. But when the exertions of many individuals are directed by one spirit, to one object, they acquire a momentum of power, which never can be attained by an unconnected individual : having one single point in view, to which they devote all their efforts, they act with an accumulating degree of zeal, perseverance, and emulation, till each individual acquires the same interest in the happiness of others, that he possesses in his own ; and thus the best and the purest species of public spirit is generated and preserved in a great country.

The impulse of this principle is one of the most honourable and characteristic traits which distinguishes the British nation ; a nation affording examples of a greater variety of noble and

62 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

useful establishments, in their nature purely disinterested, than any nation in Europe. Indeed it appears scarcely credible, that there should ever have existed a period, when hospitals for the preservation of exposed and deserted infants, had been opened at Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome, Venice, and Amsterdam, and no charity of that kind existing in England. In the reign of Queen Anne a scheme of this nature had been projected, but had not succeeded.

In 1713, Mr. Addison, in one of his periodical essays (No. 105 of The Guardian), directed the public attention again to the subject. But it was near ten years after, that Mr. Thomas Coram, master of a trading vessel to the American colonies, undertook, and, after a labour of seventeen years, succeeded in the establishment of the Foundling Hospital.

On the 1 7th day of October, 1739, the king granted his charter to the governors and guardians of the Foundling Hospital, constituting them a corporate body, authorizing the purchase of real estates not exceeding 4OOO/. a year, and appointing courts (at which the presence of thirteen governors at least should be required) for the election of committees, a president, and other officers, and for the general acts of the corporation.

It may be necessary to shew how far the Foundling Hospital differs from all foreign charities for foundlings ; and to explain why a limited establishment of this kind is proper in England, although the system of general reception is rendered unnecessary, by the institution of our poor laws. — The existence of such a code, and the establishment of a permanent and certain provision for the aged and the helpless, not of occasional bounty, but of uncontrovertible right, and the anxious care which has watched,

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 63

though not with equal success, over every abuse or neglect in the execution of them, may be placed in competition with the greatest of our national achievements. To those, however, who have paid much attention to the execution of these laws, it must have occurred, that there are some cases in which, from the necessary imperfection of all human establishments, the remedy is rendered very inadequate : such, among others, is the instance of those unhappy females, who, by broken faith, by unprincipled seduction, or by some unfortunate circumstance, are placed in a situation, where indigence and excess of bodily pain are aggravated by the prospect of hopeless contumely and irretrievable disgrace ; and who have sometimes been driven to a crime, which no mother could ever have imagined, who was not first reduced to the utmost extreme of agony and despair.

These are the objects to which the benefits of this charity are peculiarly directed. In such a city as London, there always will be some instances, in which the existence of the child, and the future welfare and good conduct of the mother, can only be secured by such an establishment as that of the Foundling Hospital ; and it may be questioned, in many instances, whether even the preservation of the helpless and unoffending infant is so meritorious and beneficial an act of charity, as the rescuing its wretched mother from a course of infamy and prostitution, and restoring her to character and the means of honest industry.

The selection of such cases, with a patient investigation of circumstances, is one of the most important duties of the acting guardians of this charity. In one respect, this Hospital differs from those in other countries, where the law has not appointed any peculiar provision for the poor. Theirs are necessarily open

64 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

and universal : this, except during a short period, when the system was totally and very improperly changed, extended only to those cases where the poor laws do not afford competent relief.

The inconvenience to be apprehended from such an asylum is, the encouragement that may be given in some instances to licentious habits of life, by the ease of providing for the con- sequences of it. But no such ill effects could ever ensue, if the sufferings of these penitent and unhappy women were fully known to those who might otherwise have been inclined to follow their example. And it is deserving of observation, that no instance has come to the knowledge of the committee, of any woman so relieved, who has not been thereby saved from (what she would in all probability have been involved in) a course of vice and prostitution. The detail of their wretched and deserted situation, sometimes too well confirmed by the almost starving condition in which some of the infants are brought into the Hospital, is one (I might say the only) painful circumstance to those who attend as the acting administrators of the charity ; a detail which, if it could be given to the world without injury to the unhappy subjects of it, would serve to deter from vice those who might otherwise become the victims of seduction.

The first general court of the new corporation was held at Somerset- House, on the 2Oth of November, 1739; the chairman being the Duke of Bedford, who, for a period of above thirty years, continued to act as President of the Hospital, until his death in 1771.

Soon after the governors applied for and obtained an act of Parliament, confirming their charter, with the addition of some

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 65

further powers, and the exemption of the Hospital from parochial jurisdiction and interference.

The securing of an healthy and convenient site for the Hospital, was a subject to which the governors had paid an early attention. In October 1740, the committee had been authorized to purchase of the Earl of Salisbury the two fields on the northern side of Ormond-street, the situation appearing to be extremely eligible for the charity. His lordship declined treating, unless all his land there, extending to Gray's Inn-lane, was included in the purchase ; and named as a price for the whole, what his agent stated to have been already offered, the sum of 7ooo/. Difficulties however arising, on the part of the governors, with respect to the amount of the sum, the earl very liberally obviated them, by a donation of 5OO/. towards the purchase, reducing it thereby to 6^ooL The general court im- mediately accepted the offer, and gave orders for a completion of the contract.

The land purchased of Lord Salisbury appeared so desirable a situation for the Hospital, and benefactions for the intended building flowed in with so liberal a current, that the corporation very speedily took into consideration the erection of an Hospital on their new estate ; and on the i6th day of September, 1742, the foundation stone of the western wing was laid, and the building begun, upon a design prepared by Mr. Jacobsen, one of the governors and first benefactors to the charity ; the estimate of it amounting to 6555/. 17^. id.

The western wing of the new Hospital was finished, and the houses in Hatton-Garden given up, in October 1745. In March 1 746, a subscription was opened for the building of the chapel ;

II. — F

66 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

and, the next year, the general committee was authorized to contract for the immediate erection of it, upon a plan presented by Mr. Jacobsen, the estimate of which was 4I95/. 17^. 40!. And in 1749, the general committee (in order that the girls might be kept separate from the boys) was authorized to proceed to the building of the eastern wing; which, together with the treasurer's house, appears to have been ready for habitation in 1752.

The whole of the building (originally calculated to hold four hundred children) was intended to be plain and without decoration ; but the talents and public spirit of several artists benevolently varied the intention, and many ornaments were presented by them to the charity. To Mr. Hogarth, who was an active governor and an early benefactor, the Hospital is indebted for three pictures ; one his March to Finchley, which, in the opinion of some judges, stands first in the catalogue of his works ; and another, the portrait of the founder, Mr. Coram, an excellent and well painted picture. A list and description of these donations, taken from the original printed account of the Hospital, are inserted in a note.*

The charity is under very great obligation to the benevolence

* In the court-room were placed four capital figures, the subjects being parts of the sacred history, suitable to the place for which they were designed.

The first, painted by Mr. Hayman, and taken from the 2d chapter of Exodus, ver. 8, 9. the words of which are, "The maid went and called the child's mother, and " Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will "give you wages."

The ensuing verse is the subject of the next picture, viz. " And the child grew, and " she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son, and she called his "name Moses." This picture is painted by Mr. Hogarth.

The third picture is the History of Ishmael, painted by Mr. Highmore. The subject taken from the 2ist chapter of Genesis, ver. 17. "And the angel of the Lord called to

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 67

of Mr. Handel, who, upon the building of the chapel, gave the Hospital an organ, and the benefit of his oratorio of the Messiah, the performance of which he conducted himself. This he repeated for several years, with an advantage to the funds of the charity, amounting in the whole to upwards of 6jool. ; and at his death, in 1759, bequeathed his property in the music of that oratorio to the Hospital.

In March 1751, Mr. Coram, the benevolent founder of the Hospital, died, in the 84th year of his age. In consequence of a

" Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, What aileth thee, Hagar ? Fear not, for God "hath heard the voice of the lad where he is ! "

The fourth picture was painted by Mr. Willes ; its subject taken from the i8th chapter of Luke, ver. 16. "Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them "not ; for of such is the kingdom of God." On each side of these pictures are placed smaller pictures, in circular frames, representing the most considerable Hospitals in and about London.

1. The view of the Foundling Hospital, by Mr. Wilson.

2. The view of the hospital at Hyde Park Corner, called St. George's Hospital, also by Mr. Wilson.

3. The view of Chelsea Hospital, by Mr. Haytley.

4. The view of Bethlem Hospital, also by Mr. Haytley.

5. The view of St. Thomas's Hospital, by Mr. Whale.

6. The view of Greenwich Hospital, by Mr. Whale.

7. The view of the Blue Coat Hospital, also by Mr. Whale.

8. The view of Suttorfs Hospital, called the Charter- House, by Mr Gainsborough. Over the chimney is placed a very curious bass-relief, carved by Mr. Rysbrack, and

presented by him, representing children employed in navigation and husbandry ; being the employments to which the children of this hospital are destined.

The other ornaments of the room were also given by several ingenious workmen, who had been employed in building the Hospital, and were desirous to contribute to its establishment.

The stucco work was given by Mr. William Wilton ; the marble chimney by Mr. Deval ; the table with its frame enriched with carving, by Mr. John Sanderson, and the glass by Mr. Hallet.

In the other rooms of the Hospital are the following pictures : — His Most Sacred

68 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

wish expressed in his lifetime, he was interred under the chapel, in the midst of that charity which he had founded ; a monument more noble and dignified than ever pride or wealth obtained. His life had been so totally devoid of self-interest, that he left behind him property hardly sufficient to discharge the expences of his funeral.

The increase of the income arising from the chapel, was an object of importance in point of revenue ; and in this the charity was more early in its success. The general committee, in order to ensure a maintenance to a blind boy of the Hospital, had, in 1758, been induced to give directions for his being regularly in- structed in music, at the expence of the charity : a similar order was made in 1768, and again in 1771 ; and the seeds of benevolence in these, as in most instances, have been returned with tenfold produce into the bosom of the charity. The attention of the governors to the management of the chapel, and to the instruction of the children in sacred music, has, from that time, been attended with great emolument to the charity. From the annual sum of 37/. 4.?. id. the whole receipt from the chapel in 1766, it had in 1776 increased to 34O/. 15^. $d. ; in 1786, to 88i/. ^s. id.; in T795. to I594/. is. $d. ; and the produce of the chapel in 1806, was 28i6/. i is. 6ct.

Majesty King George the Second, Patron of this Hospital, by Mr. Shakleton, painter to his majesty. The Right Honourable the Earl of Dartmouth, one of the vice-presidents of the Hospital, by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Taylor White, Esq. treasurer of the Hospital, in crayons, by Mr. Coates. Mr. Thomas Coram, and The March of the Guards to Finchley, by Mr. Hogarth ; Mr. Milner and Mr. Jacobsen, by Mr. Hudson ; Dr. Mead, by Mr. Ramsay ; Mr. Emerson, by Mr. Highmore ; Francis Fauquier, Esq. lieutenant governor of Virginia, by Mr. Wilson. A large sea-piece, by Mr. Brooking ; and a fine landscape, by Mr. Lambert.

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 69

A kitchen has been fitted up at the Foundling Hospital, upon the plan, and under the direction, of Count Rumford. It has now been in constant and daily use for thirteen years ; and, the direction with regard to the quantity of fuel having been strictly adhered to, it has been found to answer very completely. The saving in coals to the charity has been 25 chaldrons a year. Two cooks were employed before, and in very warm service ; there is now only one, and (the first instruction properly attended to) she finds it an easy duty. The iron work requires occasionally some repair ; but not so much as the old kitchen did, or so much as would be required by any common kitchen, from whence two hundred and fifty persons were to be supplied with their daily food. During warm weather, the flues retain the heat so well, that half a peck of coals, with cinders, is as much as is now used for either the boiler or roaster. In winter it amounts to about a peck of coals, of the inferior and smaller sort, that will not burn in common fires.

Music had been a source of very considerable benefit to the charity ; and by the benevolence of Mr. Handel, very large sums had been added to the funds of the corporation. In July 1774, Doctor Burney and Mr. Giardini presented to the general court a plan for establishing a public music-school at the Hospital ; a plan which promised considerable, though no immediate, ad- vantage to the charity ; but the proposal was rejected, * as not warranted by the Act of Parliament.

* This may be a proper subject for reconsideration. The scheme, as then offered, seems to have been chiefly exceptionable, because the projectors extended it too far. How far, cannot now be precisely stated, as the plan was returned to the projectors, and

70 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

To the plan of re-establishing the finances, and perpetuating the funds of the charity, by granting building leases, objections had always been made, which, for a series of years, had prevented the improvement of the hospital estate. However, in May 1785, the governors being alarmed by the circumstance of the expences of the Hospital having for some time exceeded the income, a committee of enquiry was appointed; and, in March 1786, after a lapse of above ten years, the consideration of the improvement of their estate was resumed. In March 1787, the general com- mittee was empowered to receive proposals, for taking any part of the hospital land on building leases.

In December 1787, it was resolved, that such part of the estate as laid south of, and adjoining to, the road leading from the gates of the Hospital to Gray's Inn-lane, should be let on building leases ; and the general committee was desired to advertise the same, and to lay all proposals, which they should receive relating thereto, before the next court. — This was confirmed in March 1788; and the ground of the Hospital was then ordered to be advertised generally, to be let on building leases, and the most speedy and effectual measures to be taken for letting the same.

The building committee, with the aid of Mr. Cockerell, prepared a general and very full report on the subject ; and (in case of the success of the measure) stated the probable accession of ground

no copy kept. A musical school within the Hospital, for the children incapable of any other means of livelihood, might, under proper limitations, prove a benefit to the funds of the Hospital, and a source of inestimable charity ; by giving comfort and independence to any of the hospital children whose sight may fail, and, in some cases, to children deprived of sight, the peculiarity of whose distress may entitle them to the protection of the charity.

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 71

rents at the annual sum of at least 4OOO/. What has been since let, amounts to 30457. I2S. ^d. exclusive of 5 5 2/. i$s. under a pepper-corn rent, but which will be receivable in 1808 and 1809.

The gradual restoration of the finances of the Hospital, and the late increase of benefactions and legacies, have enabled the governors to replace stock which they had been compelled to sell for the maintenance of the children ; to set about that general and thorough repair of the Hospital, which it had long wanted ; to liquidate its outstanding debts ; and, at the same time, gradually to increase the establishment of its children, with a prospect of a further augmentation. In March 1799 (in order to open the doors equally and impartially to all proper objects), the general court directed, that public notice be given, that there are, at present, vacancies for several children, to be admitted into the Foundling Hospital ; — that the ordinary age of reception (except in very particular cases) is within twelve months from the birth ; — that, in order to the reception of the child, the previous good character and the present necessity of the mother, and the de- sertion of the father, must be enquired into ; and also, whether the reception of the child, together with the secrecy observed as to the misfortune of the mother, will be attended with the consequence of her being replaced in a course of virtue, and in a way of obtaining an honest livelihood ; — that where these concurrent circumstances can be ascertained on the testimony of credible persons, the unfortunate mother is requested to apply herself, with her own petition ; and to be assured, that both recommendation and patronage will be unnecessary and useless. It was at the same time notified, that the general committee

72 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

continued to sit for examination of petitions for admission of children, every Wednesday morning, precisely at ten o'clock.

The reception for children at the Foundling Hospital in London, is on the Saturday at noon preceding a public baptism ; the circumstances of each case having been investigated and ascer- tained during the preceding month, and proper nurses sent up by the inspectors in the country for the children to be admitted. The age of admittance is, generally, within six weeks from the birth ; and, unless in some very few cases of peculiar distress, is limited by the rules of the charity to twelve months.

The children are publicly christened the next day, in the Foundling chapel, during the Sunday evening service ; and on Monday morning they are conveyed, under the care of their nurses, to their respective cottages, in the neighbourhood of the inspectors, about twenty or thirty miles from London. Care is taken that no nurse shall have more than one wet-nurse child at a time ; and in case of the death of a child, the nurse, by the regulations of the charity, is not to be entrusted with another child ; unless, upon enquiry as to the attention she has paid it, the circumstances appear to be very favourable to her. The nurse is allowed three shillings a week ; and, if the child is living at the end of the first year, she is entitled to a reward of ten shillings. The mortality among the children at nurse is very small,* compared with that of infants in almost any other situation of life.

* It appears, by reference to the books of the Hospital, that there has been, since the end of the year 1770, the number of 1666 children received into the Hospital, of whom 482 children died under the age of twelve months, being rather more than the proportion

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 73

The principal objects of this charitable institution are,

1. To prevent the murder or destruction of illegitimate infants at their birth, or soon after, by their own mothers ; who are often led to these unnatural crimes in the first agonies of despair, from the dread of infamy and ruin.

2. To give those unhappy women who may have been seduced and forsaken, an opportunity of retrieving their characters, by returning to habits of honest industry and a virtuous course of life ; for want of which they are often exposed to contempt within the circle of their acquaintance, and have frequently recourse to a state of prostitution, or dishonesty, in consequence of being excluded from every reputable connection and employment.

3. To protect and educate a great number of helpless infants, who otherwise, if not wilfully destroyed, might perish with hunger and disease ; or become a burden and nuisance to society, from their decrepitude, their ignorance, and their crimes, instead of being, what they generally prove to be, useful subjects, good Christians, and faithful servants. Within the walls of the Foundling Hospital they grow up healthy, innocent, and strong ; they are wholly excluded from the contagion of bad example, and are not only instructed during their childhood in the principles of revealed religion, but are bred up to habits of useful industry.

These three important objects have all been accomplished with the greatest success.

of one in four. The present management and care of the children is more successful ; the average of those who have died under twelve months in the preceding ten years, being only one in six ; and, for the last four or five years, even less than that proportion. The number of children admitted since the commencement of this institution is upwards of 18,800, to the present time.

74 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

MANNER OF ADMISSION. — Women whose infants are proper objects of the Foundling Charity, and not above a year old, may apply on any Wednesday, before ten o'clock, to the secretary at the Hospital, with petitions, which may be prepared by them- selves if they can write ; if not, by a friend. No particular form is required, and no interest or recommendation is necessary to procure for them the benefit of the Hospital. The circumstances which every woman will be required to prove, by reference to credible persons, are,

1. That the child is her own, and who is the father; both which circumstances must, if required, be attested on the oath of the mother herself.

2. What is become of the father of the infant, to the best of her knowledge.

3. That her general character and conduct, before her offence, have been honest and reputable.

4. That she is not able to provide for her child herself, without being reduced to extreme indigence, and without exposure of her guilt. And,

5. That by providing for her infant, and concealing her shame, there is a prospect of her returning to a virtuous course of life, and preserving her former station in society.

It may not be improper to add, that the committee are particu- larly attentive in their enquiries as to the conduct and character of the mother previous and subsequent to her seduction. That the circumstance of her having remained only a short time in place, or having frequented the company of the idle and profligate when out of place, operate very much against her ; and they are, with great propriety, extremely indignant at any references to

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 75

persons against whom a well founded suspicion can arise of having been partakers of the wages of prostitution. Indeed, references to persons who are inclined to speak well from motives of commiseration, rather than knowledge, or warranted good opinion, injure the cause they are intended to support.

On the other hand, cases that come recommended by previous length of service, good and honest characters, cases of seduction by fellow servants, or persons in a similar degree of life, under solemn promises of marriage, followed by unprincipled desertion, and accompanied with that indescribable conflict of mind which a young person necessarily undergoes, who, notwithstanding her loss of innocence, retains a virtuous heart — who, plunged from the elevation of character, to the depth of shame and remorse, still feels the anxieties and anguish of maternal affection — who anticipates even the success of a petition which is to separate the child from her bosom, with a pang almost of annihilation — such cases want no patronage, no other recommendations to interest the governors of this charity ; on the contrary, they frequently assist such mothers by an allowance from private funds equal to the redemption of her clothes if pawned, or enable her to pur- chase what she stands in need of.

TREATMENT OF INFANTS AFTER ADMISSION.

When any child is admitted into the Hospital, the mother receives a receipt, which entitles her to enquire after the child ; and to claim it, if she, or her husband, is in a situation to main- tain it. The time for receiving children into the Hospital, is generally the first Saturday in every month ; and on the following

76 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

day they are publicly baptized during the evening service. The next morning they are sent into the country, about twenty or thirty miles from London, to their nurses, who are under the observance and controul of inspectors, living in the neighbour- hood, and appointed by the general committee. No wet-nurse is permitted to have more than one child at a time : she receives her weekly allowance from the inspectors, and a gratuity besides, if the child under her care is living at the end of a twelvemonth. The children, while in the country, are frequently visited by persons sent, without notice, by the general committee ; and when they are about four years old, they return to the Hospital.

EDUCATION. — They are taught reading, writing, and accounts ; they are also instructed in the church catechism, and learn to sing the Foundling Hymns and Anthems. The girls, in addition to this, are taught knitting and plain work.

EMPLOYMENT. — The girls are chiefly employed in needle-work, which the Hospital takes in ; in making their own clothes, and all the linen of the Hospital, and in such household work as is calcu- lated to make them good servants.

The boys occasionally work in the garden, keep the court-yard and chapel clean, and do such household work as may serve to make them useful, and give them habits of industry.

APPRENTICESHIP. — The boys are apprenticed at twelve or thirteen, and the girls at fourteen years of age. The former are generally placed with London shopkeepers, to whom their being able to write and keep accounts, is of considerable im- portance.

Some are taken as house servants, or employed in husbandry ; others are articled to such trades as they are capable of learning,

THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 77

and some go to sea. The girls are in general apprenticed to persons in town or country, as servants.

RULES RELATING TO THE APPRENTICING OF CHILDREN.

1. No boy, or girl, is apprenticed to any person but a house- keeper, of whose character and situation a strict enquiry is pre- viously made.

2. No girl is apprenticed to an unmarried man, nor to any married man, without the concurrence of the wife.

3. In general, the girls are not apprenticed to any person who lets lodgings, and who does not keep, at least, one established servant in the house.

4. The children are frequently visited during their apprentice- ship, the girls by the matron, and the boys by the schoolmaster. The house committee, which sits on a Saturday, at half-past nine o'clock, is ready to hear any complaint, and to redress any grievance between the apprentices and their respective masters or mistresses, and do not consider their duty as guardians fulfilled till they are twenty-one years of age.

It appears from a report of the treasurer's, made in May 1798, that out of 252 children then serving their apprenticeships,

There were found to be doing well 166

In distant situations of whom there had been no complaint 27

Apprenticed to their own relations 23

Of doubtful conduct requiring judicious management 21

Who had turned out ill, only 15

252

78 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

It appears also by the report, that the proportion of good servants in place, and of industrious apprentices in trade, among the children of the Foundling Hospital, is as great as from any other class of young persons ; and that there are many respect- able persons in London, married and settled in business, who have been educated and apprenticed by this charity.

We cannot leave this subject without expressing the satisfac- tion we have felt in pursuing our enquiries into the details of this excellent institution, and we add with sincere pleasure our feeble testimony to the active and successful benevolence with which its concerns are administered.

J J < L

79

THE FKEE MASONS' HALL

GREAT QUEEN-STREET

THIS plate represents the Hall of the (BnmlJ ?Lo!njC belonging to the Free- Masons of England. It is situated in Great Queen-street, and attached to the Free-Masons' Tavern. It represents the company on the day of the annual dinner, when the female children who are supported by this society, move in procession through the Hall. In pursuance of a resolution of the Grand Lodge, a committee was appointed, in the year 1773, for the purpose of procuring a proper situation to erect a new Hall, suitable to the increased respectability of this society. The committee having succeeded in this object, during the year 1774, and the plan of the new Hall having been pre- pared and approved of, in the year 1775 a fund of 5ooo/. was raised by a tontine, towards erecting the same.

On the ist of May 1775, Lord Petre, accompanied by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Masons of England, laid the foundation-stone of the present building, with the following cere- monies : — The grand master, preceded by the grand stewards, past and present grand officers, in their regalia, and an excellent band of martial music, came in procession to the ground, about twelve o'clock ; when his lordship, attended by his deputy,

8o THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

wardens, secretary, treasurer, and architect, went down into the trench, and laid the stone with the usual forms. An anthem was then sung by Brother Du Bellamy, and an oration pronounced by Brother James Bottomly. The company then returned in procession in coaches to Leather-Sellers' Hall, where an elegant entertainment was provided. In the month of May 1776, upon Holy Thursday, the new Hall was dedicated with considerable solemnity, a great number of strangers being present, particularly ladies, who were treated with the utmost politeness and attention. The celebrated and at that time the popular Dr. Dodd preached the sermon upon this occasion.

The society of Free and Accepted Masons lays claim to con- siderable antiquity : the origin of their association was probably nothing more than a meeting of persons in the same profession, led by a similarity of pursuits and habits to associate together, for the common and usual purposes of society. The distinctions of master, prentices, and fellow-craft, naturally occurred, without connecting any thing more with the names than they obviously import ; and, in the earlier periods, it is impossible to suppose a society so perfectly modelled, and the degrees of subordination so perfectly arranged, as some sticklers for the antiquity of Free- Masonry contend.

With regard to the great secrets to which these societies pre- tend, they are supposed to relate either to some extraordinary knowledge in masonry or building, to the particular objects of the institution itself, or the words, signs, or means by which Free- Masons distinguish each other from those who are not initiated. If we are of the elect, it must be obvious, that we ought not to divulge a secret which has been preserved with so much fidelity

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 81

from age to age ; and if we are not of this society (a society distinguished for character as well as number in every country of Europe, and consisting chiefly of princes and persons of the greatest merit and consideration), it must be equally obvious, that we cannot impart to our readers a knowledge that we do not possess. But in either case, we may be allowed to observe, that architecture appears to be the least likely of all the arts or pro- fessions, to involve, either in its elements or history, any thing like mystery. According to the Mosaic account, Cain built a city (about 3875 years before the Christian sera), and called it after his son Enoch — DEDICATE or CONSECRATE ; that JABAL, the son of Lamech, was the first who erected tents, or movable houses. It must be very clear, that architecture had made considerable pro- gress when Noah constructed the ark, of strength to resist the waters raging over the face of the whole earth. Nineveh and other cities were built by Ashur. The city and tower of Babel, built by the sons of Noah, when they were ordered to disperse, as they were built of brick and cemented with slime, is evidence of considerable improvement in this art, whether we deny or admit with Herodotus and Strabo, that this was the Babylon described by them. It is certainly a fanciful conceit, to attribute the rise of the Masonic Faculty, and their universal practice of conversing without speaking, and of knowing each other by signs and tokens, to the dispersion which took place about fifty- three years after the tower of Babel was begun. We know with more certainty, that the practice of masonry, and the knowledge of architecture, were carried to Egypt, where it flourished at least two thousand years before the Christian sera. The cities of Memphis, Heliopolis, and Thebes, the colossal statue of SPHINX,

II. — G

82 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

and those huge pyramids, at the remains of which modern travel- lers still gaze with wonder and astonishment, bear ample testi- mony of the skill of the Egyptians in architecture, although their knowledge seems to have been confined to a few of its most simple principles, and they appear to have been altogether ignor- ant of the use of the arch. Indeed, those enormous blocks of granite which composed the walls of their temples, baffle the powers even of modern mechanism, although employed with the utmost skill, and with all the assistance afforded by modern improvements.

In India too we have the remains of architecture (of a different nature), which rival even the powers and skill of the Egyptians : indeed, the knowledge and practice of this art in India, is, by some learned men, supposed to have been anterior to its cultiva- tion in Egypt.

The walls of Nineveh and Babylon, built by the Assyrians, are reckoned among the seven wonders of the world ; and as the bricks with which they were built, were cemented with bitumen and straw or reeds, it is presumed they were at this period ignorant of the art of converting stones into lime.

The famous temple of Dagon at Gaza, supported by only two slender columns, not too large for the grasp of Samson, affords no slight proof of the excellence of the Phoenicians, and their progress in the art of building. This city was afterwards re- paired by Hiram, King of Tyre, and joined to the temple of Jupiter, that stood upon an island : he likewise beautified the city by two noble temples, one dedicated to Hercules, the other to Astarte.

At this period the artists of Tyre and Sidon were of great

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 83

celebrity ; and the Jews, from their vicinity and intercourse, had the opportunity of learning those arts which were so highly cultivated by their neighbours.

Upon the accession of Solomon to the throne of David, he lost no time in carrying into execution the design of his father, to build a magnificent house for the ark of God ; and applied to Hiram, his friend and ally, for assistance. In addition to other aids, Hiram sent him a man of his own name, a Tyrian, of Israelitish descent, who was called HIRAM ABBIF ; a name that is seldom mentioned by Masons without the highest respect and enthusiasm.

To carry on this stupendous work with greater ease and speed, Solomon caused all the craftsmen to be numbered, as well natives as foreigners, and classed as follows :

1. HARODIM — Princes and rulers 300

2. MENATZCHIM — Overseers and comforters of the

people in working 3300

3. GHIBLIM — Stone-squarers, polishers, and sculptors ;

— and ISHCHOTZEB — men of hewing ; — and BENAI

— setters, layers, or builders 80000

4. The levy out of Israel appointed to work in Lebanon

one month in three, 10,000 every month, under

the direction of ADONIRAM 30000

Besides the ISH SABBAL, or men of burthen, the remains

of the Canaanites, amounting to 70000

183600

From Egypt, architecture travelled into Greece, where the arts, fostered by a genial climate and an ingenious people, soon began

84 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

to flourish, and at length arrived at a maturity and perfection which have rarely been equalled, and never excelled, by- succeeding nations. In the arts of design the Grecians had no rivals ; and for a period of at least three centuries (from the time of Solon to the death of Alexander), they maintained a superiority of excellence so great, that the most perfect models of sculpture which exist at this time, are the production of artists who flourished during that period.

The arch appears to have been the invention of the Greeks ; and we are certainly indebted to them for the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders.

In Greece, no slave was permitted by law to learn the seven sciences of the freedom, viz. i. Grammar — 2. Rhetoric — 3. Logic — 4. Arithmetic — 5. Geometry — 6. Music — 7. Astronomy.

Now as Geometry is the foundation of Masonry, it has been ingeniously contended by the advocates for the antiquity of Masonic Societies, that Free -Masons, even in Greece, were distinguished by that appellation, as well as by their lodges ; and that these learned people (properly considering that the rules of the beautiful proportions in architecture, were taken from the proportions of the human body), wisely determined, that their fine painters and statuaries should be considered as architects ; and they were accordingly accepted as brothers. It is from this period, therefore, they date the strict union between the Free and Accepted Masons, which has since subsisted in all regular lodges.

The Sicilians, descended from the Greeks, inherited from them a knowledge of architecture, and followed their instructions. The name of Archimedes, who defended Syracuse against the Romans, is held by Masons in little less respect than that of

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 85

Euclid. From Sicily we pass to Italy, where the Tuscans had many monuments of taste in architecture : they had learned from the Greeks the three orders ; to these they added their own, or the Tuscan order, which it does not appear the Greeks had ever been acquainted with. Turrenus, the last king of the Tuscans, bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans, who employed their more skilful neighbours in building the Capitol, and likewise the Cloaca Maxima, the remains of which are highly curious and extraordinary. The Tuscans are said to have been the inventors of the method of building with small stones and mortar. — It does not appear that the Romans made any great progress in building, or in the style of their architecture, till about the year of Rome 559, when Scipio Asiaticus deprived the king of Syria of all his dominions west of mount Taurus.

It was at this period the Romans became acquainted with the beauties of Grecian architecture, and beheld with astonishment and pleasure the productions of taste, grandeur, and simplicity. But if the Romans seem to have wasted five or six centuries in a perpetual succession of wars, they afterwards cultivated archi- tecture with a zeal and attachment, that promised, and indeed obtained, a high degree of excellence. In the number, variety, and magnificence of their public and private buildings, they successfully compete with their Grecian masters : but in the most flourishing periods of Roman greatness, from the days of Augustus to the reign of Constantine, we shall in vain look for the simplicity of design, and purity of taste, which have rendered the Grecian architecture an object of continued admiration with succeeding ages. To the three orders which they derived from Greece, and the Tuscan, which they learned from their neigh-

86 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

bours, the Romans added the Composite, or Roman order. — The Egyptians, in their vast structures, considered vastness of design, and immensity of parts, more than ornament or utility ; and even the Grecians, with all their taste and elegance, seem never to have forgotten, that they were building for posterity. It is to the circumstance of their employing large and weighty stones in the construction of their buildings, jointed with the greatest accuracy, and fitted together without cement, that the remains of them are at this day in a state of so much perfection. But previous to the extinction of the Roman Empire, purity of taste in all the arts of design had rapidly declined, and the imposing magnificence of a grand exterior had long been sacrificed to costly ornaments and interior decoration.

The northern nations of Europe, the Goths, Vandals, &c. had become numerous and powerful, as the Roman power declined ; and at length bursting forth like a torrent, invaded and over-ran the fairest provinces of the empire, and at last Italy itself; destroying the finest monuments of arts and architecture, and involving the whole empire of the West in the most gross and profound ignorance. The Mahometans, at no distant period, completed the destruction of the Eastern empire.

The Goths soon became converts to Christianity, and having no principles or rules of architecture, either converted the Roman basilicas into churches, or formed new ones after the models of such as had been erected in the latter ages of the Roman empire. Very little alteration therefore took place during their govern- ment ; and it requires but little to satisfy the learned and judicious, that the term GOTHIC is very improperly applied to a style of building, which originated at a period long subsequent

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 87

to the existence of the Goths as a nation. The fact really is, that the style of building which prevailed in Italy during their power, was the debased Roman. The restorers of the Grecian style in Italy, and the followers of Palladio and Inigo Jones, with a view to degrade the beautiful edifices which were erected between the early part of the twelfth, and the end of the fifteenth century, stigmatized them all with the epithet of Gothic. — The first certain accounts we have of Britain, is from Caesar's Com- mentaries. He landed in this island about fifty years before the birth of Christ. We hear little more of the Romans till the year 77, when Julius Agricola conquered as far as the isthmus between the friths of Clyde and Forth, which he fortified with a wall of earth against the Picts. A succession of emperors and their lieutenants visited the island, of whom little is necessary to be said, so far as the history of Masonry is concerned, till the time of Carausius, who was employed by the joint Emperors Dioclesian and Maximilian against the Saxon pirates. About this period, A.D. 287, Albanus is said to have formed the first grand lodge in Great Britain.*

The Romans continued to interfere in the affairs of Britain during a period of about 486 years, if we reckon from the landing of Caesar to the departure of the last legion under Gallio, A.D. 430. The northern nations hearing that the Romans were never to return, invaded the south, and ravaged it the more easily, as the southern nations were divided under several kings, until they

* The old constitutions affirm, and the old English Masons as firmly believe it, that Carausius employed St. Alban to " environ the city of Verulam with a stone wall, and to "build him a fine palace ; for which that British king made St. Alban the steward of his " household, and chief ruler of the realm."

88 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

were united under Vortigern, who, with the consent of his nobles, invited the Saxons of Lower Germany to assist them ; which they did, sending more than 2000 troops under Prince Hengist ; and having succeeded in driving the Scots and Picts beyond the H umber, determined to settle themselves in the country of their new ally ; which, after many battles with the natives, they ac- complished, and founded the Heptarchy.

The first Saxon churches were built about the latter end of the fifth, and beginning of the sixth century ; among the principal were, the cathedrals of Canterbury and Rochester, St. Paul's London, and St. Peter's Westminster. They appear to have been constructed after models of Roman temples ; the style itself was called Roman, and the term Gothic, as already observed, was not known till many centuries afterwards. The principal entrance was at the west end, into the nave ; on each side was an aisle ; at the other extremity of the nave was a cross, ex- tending north and south ; towards the east was situated the choir : over the center of the cross was usually a tower, and another was generally erected to contain the bells. This style is easily recognized by its semicircular arches and massy pillars, which were either polygonal, square, or circular, and by the three tiers or stories, which divided the side aisles. Mr. Britton, in his Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, has classed the several styles in the following order: — i. Anglo-Saxon — 2. Anglo- Norman — 3. English — 4. Decorated English — 5. Highly deco- rated florid English.*

* i. A.-S. This will embrace all buildings that were erected between the times of the conversion of the Saxons and the Norman conquest.

2. A.-N. by which is meant that style which prevailed from 1066 to 1189, including

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 89

From the beginning of Henry VIII. our intercourse with the Italians begat a mixed and debased species of architecture, which continued to disfigure the buildings erected during this and the succeeding reigns of Edward VI. Mary I. and Elizabeth : the latter hearing that Free- Masons had certain secrets which could not be revealed to her, and being jealous of all secret assemblies, she sent an armed force to break up their annual grand lodge at York, on St. John's day, 27th December, 1561.

But the ancient architecture was soon after restored in this country by Inigo Jones, who was born A.D. 1572. His principal works are the Banqueting-room Whitehall, Greenwich, Covent- Garden, Bloomsbury - House (late the Duke of Bedford's), Gunnesbury-House, Wilton-House, &c.

the reigns of William I. and II. Henry I. Stephen, and Henry II. During this period the arch, from being circular, was slightly pointed, and the heavy pillars were formed into pilastered clusters, which gradually assumed a more elegant and ornamental appearance.

3. English, from 1189 to 1272, ^including the reigns of Richard I. John, and Henry III. At this time pointed and circular arches were frequently mixed in the same building, till the taste for pointed arches becoming more general, uniformity, proportion, and elegance began to prevail ; a higher degree of decoration was introduced, and the buttresses formed in stages, diminishing towards the top, and ornamented with pinnacles.

4. D. E. from 1272 to 1461, including the reigns of Edward I. II. and III. Richard II. Henry IV. V. and VI. During this period the east and west windows were considerably enlarged, and carried up almost the whole height of the vaulting and nearly the breadth of the nave, and were highly ornamented with painted glass. The pillars became more tall and slender, the columns which formed the cluster were of different diameters, and the capitals more complicated. The vaulting was richly studded with knots of foliage. The canopies were purfled, and terminated with a rich knot of flowers. The flying buttresses were formed on segments of circles, uniting at the same time lightness and strength.

5. H. d.f. E. from 1461 to 1509, including the reigns of Edward IV. V. Richard HI. and Henry VII.

90 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

To Inigo Jones succeeded Sir Christopher Wren, who was principal architect for rebuilding the city of London, and the parochial churches enacted by Parliament to be built in lieu of those destroyed at the great fire. But the work that will per- petuate his name as an architect, is St. Paul's Cathedral, a work inferior only in size to St. Peter's at Rome. "This noble "structure, began in the year 1675, was finished A.D. 1710, by "one architect, and under one Bishop of London (Dr. Henry "Compton): whereas St. Peter's was 145 years in building, "carried on by twelve architects, successively assisted by the "policy and interest of the Papal See, the ready acquisition of " marble, and attended by the best artists of the world in "sculpture, statuary, painting, and mosaic work, during the reign "of nineteen popes."

In following the progress of architecture from the rude designs of the first cottage, through the several seras of the massy Egyptian, the splendid Jewish, the elegant Grecian, the more varied Roman, the heavy Saxon, the debased Italian, the orna- mented English, the revival of the ancient styles, up to the present age of motley buildings, we have in fact traced the progress of Masonic Societies, which have fluctuated between the extremes of princely patronage and political persecution, as the caprice, ignorance, or suspicions of those who possessed the power, led them either to encourage or depreciate establishments of this nature. Wicked and designing men there are in all numerous societies ; but, notwithstanding the reflections which have been thrown out upon Free-Masons, and the object of their institutions (as supposed to be connected with the projects of certain Illuminatt], so far as we are able to judge of human

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 91

societies by the common means of human observation, the Free- Masons appear rather to merit the encouragement and protection of all good governments, than to be branded as objects of suspicion. We shall add, for the entertainment, and possibly for the information, of some of our readers, certayne questyons, wyth awnsweres to the same, concernynge the mystery of Mafonrye ; wrytenne by the hande of Kynge Henrye the Sixthe of the name, and faithfullye copyed by me John Leylande, antiquariiis, by the cammaunde of His Highnesse. They be as folloivethe :

Quest. What mote ytt be?

Answ. Ytt beeth the skylle of nature, the understondynge of the myghte that ys hereynne, and its sondrye wreckynges ; sonder- lyche, the skylle of rectenyngs, of waightes, and metynges, and the treu manere of faconnynge all thynges for mannes use, headlye, dwellynges, and buyldyngs of alle kinds, and alle odher thynges that make gudde to manne.

Quest. Where dyd ytt begynne ?

Answ. Ytt dyd begynne with the fyrste menne yn the Este, which were before the ffyrste manne of the Weste, and comynge westlye, ytt hathe brought herwyth alle comfortes to the ivylde and comfortlesse.

Quest. Who dyd brynge ytt westlye ?

Answ. The Venetians, who being grate merchaundes, corned ffyrst ffromme the Este ynn Venetia, ffor the commodytye of marchandysynge beithe Este and Weste, by the Redde and Myddleyonde Sees.

Quest, Howe comede ytt yn Engelonde ?

Answ. Peter Gower, a Grecian, journeyedde ffor kunnynge yn Egypte, and yn Syria, and yn everyche lond whereas the

92 THE MICROCOSM OF LONDON

Venetians hadde plauntedde Magonrye, and wynnage entraunces yn al lodges of Magonnes, he lerned muche, and retournedde, and waned yn Grecia Magna wachsynge, and becommynge a myghtye wyseacre, and gratelyche renowned, and her he framed a grate lodge at Groton, and maked manye Magonnes, some whereoffe dyd journeye in Fraunce, and maked manye Magonnes, wherefromme, yn processe of tyme, the arte passed yn Engelonde.

Quest. Dothe Magonnes descouer there arts unto odhers ?

Answ. Peter Gower, when he journeyedde to lernne, was ffyrste made, and anonne techedde ; evenne soe shulde all odhers beyn recht. Natheless, Magonnes haueth always yn everyche tyme from tyme to tyme communicatedde to mankynde soche of her secrettes as generallyche myghte be usefulle ; they haueth keped backe soche allein as shulde be harmfulle yff they commed yn euylle haundes, oder soche as ne myght be holpynge wythouten the techynges to be joynedde herwythe in the lodge ; oder soche as do bynde the Freres more strongelyche together, bey the proffyte and commodytye comynge to the Confrerie herfromme.

Quest. Whatte arts haueth the Magonnes techedde mankynde?

Answ. The arts AGRICULTURA, ARCHITECTURA, ASTRONOMIA,

GEOMETRIA, NUMERES, MUSICA, POESIE, KYMISTRYE, GOVERNMENTE, and RELYGYONNE.

Quest. Howe commeth Magonnes more teachers than odher menne ?

Answ. The hemselfe haueth allein in arte of fyndynge neue artes, whyche art the ffyrste Magonnes receaued from Godde ; by the whyche they fyndethe what artes hem plesethe, and the treu way of techynge the same. Whatt odher menne doethe ffynde out, ys onelyche by chaunce, and herefore but lytle I tro.

THE FREE-MASONS' HALL 93

Quest. Whatte dothe the Ma9onnes concele and hyde ?

Answ. They concelethe the art of ffynding new arts, and thatt ys for here own proffytte, and preise : they concelethe the art of kepynge secrettes, thatt so the worlde mayeth nothinge concele from them. They concelethe the art of wunderwerckynge, and of sore sayinge thynges to comme, thatt so thay same artes may not be usedde of the wyckedde to an euylle ende ; they also concelethe the arte of chaunges, the wey of wynnynge the facultye of A brae, the skille of becomynge gude and parfyghte wythouten the holpynges of fere and hope ; and the universalle longage of Ma£onnes.

Quest. Wylle he teche me thay same artes ?

Answ. Ye shalle be techedde yff ye be werthye, and able to lerne.

Quest. Dothe alle Ma9onnes kunne more than odher menne ?

Answ. Not so. Thay onlyche haueth recht and occasyonne more than odher menne to kunne, butt many doeth fale yn capacity, and many more doth want industrye, thatt