supplied with its water, by conveyances of wooden pipes in the streets, and small leaden ones to the houses, and the New River Company incorporated in 1620. So late as queen Ann's time, there were water-carriers at Aldgate-pump as now at Edinburgh.

BRIDGE-HOUSE ESTATES.

"Towards the support and repairs of London Bridge, which was built as before stated, in the reign of Henry 2d, king John, his son, gave divers parcels of ground, in London and its vicinity, to build upon, the profits whereof were to be continually employed as above stated. Hence this property has been called the Bridge Estates, or Bridge House Estates.-Maitland's London.

ROYAL EXCHANGE.

This building owes its origin to Sir Thomas Gresham, who lived in the reign of Elizabeth. He was called the Royal Merchant, forasmuch as her highness was used to lodge many of her princely visitors with him, which was considered a masterly honour. It was commenced June 7th, 1565, and finished 1567.

STATUES, ROYAL EXCHANGE.

"The pious work of names once famed."

As the origin of the statues in the Royal Exchange may not be generally known, the original precept issued by the Court of Aldermen for the erection of the one to Charles 2d, is here introduced, and which, also alludes to the origin of the other statues therein placed.

SMITH, MAYOR.

Martis Vndecimo Die Novembr' 1684, Annoque Regni Regis CAROLI Secundi, Angl', &c. Tricessimo Sexto.

Whereas, the statue of king CHARLES the First, (of blessed memory) is already set up in the Royal Exchange, and the Company of Grocers have undertaken to set up the statue of his present MAJESTY, and the Company of Clothworkers that of king JAMES, and the Companies of Mercers and Fishmongers the statues of queen MARY and queen ELIZABETH, and the Company of Drapers that of EDWARD the Sixth, this court doth recommend it to the several companies of this city hereafter named, viz. the Companies of Goldsmiths, Skinners, Merchant Tailors, Haberdashers, Salters, Ironmongers, Vintners, Dyers, Brewers, Leathersellers, Pewterers, Barber-Chirurgeons, Cutlers, Bakers, Wax Chandlers, Tallow Chandlers, Armourers, Girdlers, Butchers, Sadlers, to raise money by contributions, or otherwise, for setting up the statues of the rest of the kings of England, (each company one), beginning at the CONQUEROR, as the same were there set up before the Great Fire. And for the better order of their proceeding herein, the master and wardens, or some members of the said respective companies, are desired within some convenient time to appear before this court, and receive the further directions of this court therein.

And in regard of the inability of the Chamber of London to advance monies for the carrying on and finishing the Conduit, begun to be set up with His MAJESTIES approbation, at the upper end of Cheapside, it is earnestly recommended from this Court to all the rest of the Companies of this City, (other than those before-named) to raise moneys likewise by contributions, or otherwise, for the

carrying on and finishing the said work, so necessary to the ornament of this city; and to pay the same into the Chamber, to be laid out and employed for the said purpose.—Wagstaffe.

GRASSHOPPER.

The grasshopper on the top of the Royal Exchange, was the crest of Sir Thomas Gresham.

GRESHAM COLLEGE AND LECTURES.

So denominated from Sir Thomas Gresham, who founded the A writer says.

same.

To Sir Thomas Gresham, who lived in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and who was styled the Royal Merchant, in consequence of feasting ambassadors, and entertaining princes, the city of London is indebted for the Royal Exchange, which he erected at his own expence, and liberally endowed a College for Lectures, which are now almost a dead letter, as few persons ever think of attending the Gresham Lectures, which are given during the law terms. When the Gresham Lectures were established, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons left in trust to see proper persons appointed, sent letters to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, stating, that for want of judgment to discern men of most sufficiency in the said faculties, they might make default, and commit some error in the election; they therefore prayed each University to nominate two proper persons to fill the offices of professors. Strange as it may seem, the heads of Cambridge were jealous of these lectures, nor was it until lord Burleigh gave them leave, that they consented to act.

CHARTER HOUSE.

This celebrated school, &c. derives its cognomen from the Order of Carthusian Monks, of whom St. Bruno was the founder. He is styled by writers of his own age, Master of the Chartreuse; and from his order, continues the writer, comes our Charter House at London.

In alluding to St. Bruno, there is a pleasant story of one bishop Bruno, related in Heywood's Hierarchie of the Blessed Angels; it is as follows.

Bruno, the bishop of Herbipolitanum, sailing in the river Danubius, with Henry the Third, then emperour, being not far from a place which the Germanes call Ben Strudel, or the devouring gulfe, which is neere unto Grinon, a castle in Austria, a spirit was heard clamouring aloud, “Ho! ho! bishop Bruno, whither art thou travelling? but dispose of thyself how thou pleasest, thou shalt be my prey and spoile." At the hearing of these words they were all stupified, and the bishop with the rest crost and blest themselves. The issue was, that within a short time after, the bishop feasting with the emperor, in a castle belonging to the countesse of Esburch, a rafter fell from the roof of the chamber wherein they sate, and struck him dead at the table.

LLOYD'S COFFEE HOUSE.

It is not, we believe,* generally known, that in the year 1720, at a coffee-house in Lombard Street, kept by a Mr. Lloyd, the first dish of tea ever made in London was drank.

* Times.

At the above period tea was unknown as a beverage in this kingdom, when a mate of an Indiaman, having brought some home from China on speculation, gave it to a waterman's apprentice to dispose of for him, and after hawking it about for some days, carried it to Mr. Lloyd, in Lombard Street, who, out of curiosity, purchased it, and thus first brought it into use. This Mr. Lloyd is the same individual who gave his name to the coffee house, which still retains it, though long since removed to the Royal Exchange.*

GERARD'S HALL.

In Baising Lane, says Maitland, anciently stood a spacious and stately stone edifice, belonging to the family of Gisor, from which it was denominated Gisor's Hall, which in process of time, has not only by corruption been changed to Gerrard's Hall, but it has likewise been said to have belonged to a giant of that name; which false tradition is still preserved by a wooden statue, placed at the door of the house called Gerrard's Hall, (which stands on the site of the ancient Gisor's Hall) now a public inn!

BASING HALL.

Basing Hall Street owes its origin to Basing's Haugh, or Hall, built by one of that name, now called Blackwell Hall. See following.

BLACKWELL HALL.

This hall, once famed as a cloth hall, was founded by Sir Ralph Blackwell, a tailor, who distinguished himself at the battle of Poictiers, and in consideration of his bravery, was knighted by Edward 3d. He founded the market for woollen cloth, now held in Basing Hall Street.

HICKS'S HALL.

This building formerly stood in Saint John Street, facing West Smithfield; it was built by Sir Baptist Hicks, afterwards viscount Campden, who was for some time a merchant in Cheapside, and died 1629. It was named after the builder; and the new building erected, as the County Hall of Middlesex, in Clerkenwell Green, still retains its name.

SALTER'S HALL.

This hall, which is in the vicinity of Swithin's Lane, belongs to the Company of Dry Salters.

Some imagine that it derives its name from John Salter, who died in 1605. Certainly, the coincidence in name is indisputable, and what is more so, he was one of the Company, and was a good benefactor to them. It is said, that the beadles and servants of the Worshipful Company of Salters are to attend divine service at St. Magnus Church, London Bridge, pursuant to the will of Sir John Salter in the first week in October, and each person is to say,

* This anecdote is all very well as showing the origin of Lloyd's Coffee House, but probably inaccurate as regards Tea; lord Arlington having introduced it from Holland as early as See Tea.

Editor.

three times, "How do you do, Brother Salter? I hope you are well!" The Salter's Company was incorporated 1558.

GUY'S HOSPITAL.

This celebrated hospital derives its name from Thomas Guy, a bookseller of Cornhill, who made an immense fortune by the cele brated South Sea Bubble. It is said of him, that when consulting with a friend relative to his will, the latter advised him to search the South Sea Books, and return, as had been done by one or two individuals, possessing heroic virtues, the money to the perishing families that were undone by the purchase of his stock. This advice he rejected, although by acting upon it, he was told he would have raised a monument to his memory, as much to his glory as the hos pital, and added the praise of justice to his fame. The hospital was built 1721. He died 1724.

FOUNDLING HOSPITAL.

The first Foundling Hospital was erected in Paris, in 1677. The London Foundling Hospital, which was projected and endowed by captain Thomas Coram, was founded in 1736; began to receive children, 1756; let part of their estate in 1797; which yields 2,000l. a year in addition to their income.

The celebrated Handel used to preside at the organ of the chapel of this institution; and it may not be generally known, that his celebrated "Messiah" was concocted by him within this said chapel; and which even now, at the present day, can boast of a musical choir equal to most of our cathedrals.

BONNER'S FIELDS.

Bonner's Fields, so called after the celebrated Bonner, bishop of London, who had a palace there. He entered at Oxford about 1512; bishop of London, 1539; deprived, May, 1550; and died in the Marshalsea Prison, Sept. 5th, 1569!

BANCROFT'S ALMS HOUSES.

Bancroft's Alms Houses, so called, after one Thomas Bancroft, their founder; he was a Lord Mayor's Officer, and died worth 80,000% in 1729.

He was a most eccentric character, and desired that the lid of his coffin should have a square of glass in it, that it should not be fastened down, and that it should remain above ground. This was conformed to, a conditional bequest being attached to the fulfilment of it. He lies in Saint Helen's Church, Great Saint Helen's, Bishops. gate Street.

WARDS.

Though I cannot ascertain the time, says Maitland, when this city (London) was at first divided into wards, yet I am of opinion, that the first division thereof was not on account of the government, but rather, that London, like other cities and towns of the kingdom, was anciently held of the Saxon kings and nobility in demean, and whose several properties therein, being so many sokes or liberties, were under the immediate dominion of their respective lords, who

were the governors or wardens thereof; whence, I imagine, arose the Saxon appellation, ward, which signifies a quarter or district: this opinion is not only corroborated by the wards of Baynard's Castle, Faringdon, Coleman Street, and Basinghall 'or Bassishaw's, still retaining the names of their ancient proprietors, but also by the other wards of the city being alienable; which upon alienation, the purchaser or purchasers, became the proprietor or proprietors thereof, with the additional epithets of alderman, or aldermen.

ALDGATE WARD.

When the Saxons first possessed themselves of this city, they found this gate sorely decayed, and more ruinous than any of the rest; therefore, they imposed the epithet of eald, or ald, upon it; i.e. old.

QUEEN-HITHE WARD.

The original name of Queen-hithe was Edrid's hithe, or harbour. In Henry the Third's time, it fell to the crown, and was called Ripa Regence, or the Queen's Wharf. It was probably part of her majesty's pin-money, by the attention paid to her interest.

CHEAP WARD.

Cheap Ward, derives its name from the Saxon word chepe, a market, once applied to our Cheapside, which was formerly called West Cheap, in order to distinguish it from East Cheap.

VINTRY WARD.

Vintry Ward, comprises a part of the north bank of the Thames, where the merchants of Bordeaux, formerly bonded, and sold their wines the word vintry, is derived from vine-tree.

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BILLINGSGATE WARD.

Billingsgate, which "the ladies of the British Fishery," (as Addison has humourously designated them) have rendered of such notoriety, boasts of having had for an alderman, the patriotic Beckford, a great scolder! The derivation of Billingsgate is very ancient, being from Bilenus, king of Britain, who assisted Breneus, king of Gaul, at the siege of Rome.

BISHOPSGATE WARD.

A modern author conjectures this ward, says Maitland, to have derived its appellation from Erkenwald, bishop of London, who first erected it, about anno 675; but I suppose it to have been so called, out of compliment to that excellent bishop, William Norman, who seems to have delighted in nothing more than doing good to the citizens.

CRIPPLEGATE WARD.

Westward from Moorgate, stood Cripplegate, from whence this ward takes its name. It was so denominated from the number of cripples who anciently begged there.

ALDERSGATE WARD.

The name of this ward is derived from the gate which stood here; which gate, some writers say, received its name from Aldrich, a Saxon; others that seniors, or old men, were the builders thereof;