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 BEING AN 
 
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 LONDON. 
 
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 Ornamented with numerous Engravings, 
 
 JLONttON : 
 PRINTED FOR THOMAS rG, 
 
 NO. I II, CHEAPS IDE; 
 
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 ROYAL EXCHANGE. 
 
 JL HE Royal Exchange is situated on 
 the northern side of Cornhill. Its ar- 
 chitecture is of a mixed kind, and ex- 
 ecuted with a bad taste; yet its princi- 
 pal outlines have something elegant in 
 their proportions and appearance. The 
 original structure was founded in 1566, 
 by Sir Thomas Gresham, after the mo- 
 del of that of Antwerp. In 1570, Queen 
 Elizabeth went to the Bourse, as it 
 was called, visited every part of the 
 building, and then, by sound of trumpet, 
 proclaimed it the " Royal Exchange. 5 ' 
 This edifice was destroyed by the 
 great fire in 1666, and re-built in its 
 
 A 
 
6 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 present form by Sir Christopher Wren, 
 at the ex pence of 80,0001. It is 56 feet 
 high, and from the centre rises a wea- 
 ther-cock, of copper, gilt, in the shape 
 of a grasshopper, the arms of the foun- 
 der. In this turret is an excellent 
 clock, with four dials, which goes with 
 chimes, at three, six, nine, and twelve 
 o'clock, on 1 2 bells. It has two fronts, 
 north and south, each of which has a 
 piazza. In the centre of each front is 
 a lofty gate-way, leading to the area, 
 which is iu feet by 117. The whole 
 extent of the building is 203 feet by 171. 
 A staircase in the south front, and 
 another in the north, leading to a gal- 
 lery above, run round the wh Imild- 
 mg, which has a number of rooms. In 
 the original plan, shops filled the build- 
 ing to the top ; but at present, the up- 
 per rooms, are occupied by Lloyd's 
 celebrated subscription coffee-house, 
 for the use of the underwriters and 
 merchants; by the Royal Exchange 
 Assurance Office, &c. 
 
 The Bank of England is situated at 
 the back of the Royal Exchange, to the 
 north. 
 
1 
 
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 i 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 
 NEWGATE. 
 
 Newgate derives its name from one 
 of the gates of the city, generally sup- 
 posed to have been erected in the rei^n 
 of Henry I. several hundred years af- 
 ter the four original gates. A common 
 gaol for felons, taken in the citv of Lon- 
 don, or in the county of Middlesex, is 
 known to have occupied this spot, as 
 far back as the year 1218; and as 
 lately as 1457, Newgate, and not the 
 Tower, was the prison for the nobility 
 and great officers of the state. It was 
 rebuilt in 1422, agreeably to the will 
 of the celebrated Sir Richard Whit- 
 tin gton. 
 
 Newgate was much damaged by the 
 fire of London }666, and was repaired 
 in i6jQ. The first stone of the present 
 prison was laid on the 31st May, 1770, 
 during Beckford's mayoralty. It was 
 nearly destroyed by the rioters in 1780; 
 but has since been restored, and now 
 
NEWGATE. 9 
 
 presents a handsome front to the west, 
 consisting of two wings, the debtor's 
 and felon s side, with the keeper's house 
 in the centre. The north side, appro- 
 priated to debtors, consists of two 
 court yards. The largest, occupied by 
 the men, is 79 feet 6 inches long, by 31 
 feet 6 inches wide ; the women's court 
 is of the same length, and about half 
 the width. They are both considered 
 as too small. The wards, by which 
 they are surrounded, rise three stories 
 above the pavement A wall, 15 feet 
 in height, separates the male and fe- 
 male debtors. The respective appella- 
 tions of the four sides are, the master's 
 side, the cabin (from the cabin bed- 
 steads in it) the common side, and the 
 women's side. The apartments of the 
 men are fourteen in number; all of 
 them, excepting one that occupies in 
 length the whole side of the prison, 
 nearly of the same dimensions, £3 feet 
 by 15. The number of inhabitants in 
 each of these rooms is from 1 2 to 20 ; the 
 largest sometimes containing as many as 
 S.H. The debtor's side seldom contains 
 
 a 3 
 

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 10 LONDON. 
 
 fewer than two hundred, and sometimes 
 as many as three hundred. The women 
 have two rooms; one of them the whole 
 I length of the debtor's court, the other 
 much smaller. The inhabitants of 
 these, though seldom numerous, are 
 sometimes crowded. The painted 
 room, so called from having been 
 painted by a prisoner, has been occu- 
 pied by one who is not a debtor, ever 
 since the prison was repaired, after the 
 riots of 1780. This apartment serves 
 as a room for case of conscience debt- 
 ors. Two very close rooms, one at the 
 bottom of the master's side, and another 
 of the common side, are used as chand- 
 ler's shops by day, and sleeping rooms 
 by night The 'windows of" all the 
 rooms are only toward the court; con- 
 sequently the air which is breathed by 
 the prisoners is extremely impure. The 
 daily allowance of each debtor is ten 
 ounces of bread, .and a pound and a 
 half of potatoes. Those on the poor 
 women's sides have eight stone of beef 
 weekly, without bone, sent in by the 
 sheriff. They also enjoy the benefit of 
 
NEWGATE. \i 
 
 several legacies, to the amount of fifty- 
 two pounds five shillings and sixpence 
 a year. On the master's side, debtors 
 pay half a guinea, eighteen pence of 
 which is spent in beer, and the remain- 
 der appropriated to the purchase of 
 coals, candles, wood, mops, brooms, 
 pails, &c. Those who plead poverty 
 are employed in keeping the rooms 
 clean. Tables of fees, rules, and notice 
 to prisoners, informing them that they 
 may send their children to school, free 
 of expence, are hung up in the court 
 On the south side of the prison, felons, 
 libellers, offenders against government, 
 and persons for small offences are con- 
 fined. The court in this side is about 
 the same size as the former; and the 
 rooms are generally in good condition, 
 being frequently let as single rooms to 
 the better sort of prisoners, who can 
 afford to pay. Some years ago, the 
 bottom room was inhabited by Lord 
 George Gordon, who, after several vears 
 
 O 7 7 J 
 
 close confinement, for libelling the late 
 queen of France, died there of the gaol 
 distemper. In four other yards, felons 
 
 a 4 
 
■^M^Vi 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 are lodged, and in another women fe- 
 lons; among, them, however, are some 
 persons fined. On the felons side, the 
 prisoners amount from a hundred and 
 forty to nearly three hundred in num- 
 ber. They receive fewer legacies than 
 the debtors do. 
 
 
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 14 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL, 
 
 
 This is a magnificent building of 
 stone, situated between Christ's Hospi- 
 tal and Smithfield, frjoni which last it 
 has an entrance, under a spacious 
 arched gateway, which leads into a 
 square court, surrounded with four no- 
 ble buildings, of very good architecture. 
 The grand stair-case was painted by 
 Hogarth, at his own co&t. Among the 
 paintings are, the Good Samaritan ; the 
 Pool of JBethesda; and Rahere (the 
 original founder of the hospital) laying 
 the foundations ; with a sick man carried 
 on a JBierj attended by Monks. The 
 great hall is at the head of the stair- 
 case, in which is a full length portrait 
 of Henry VIII. the royal founder of the 
 present institution. Here is also a full 
 length portrait of Dr. Ratcliflfe, who 
 left 100L per annum to this hospital, for 
 the improvement of the diet; and JOOl. 
 per annum for providing linen. In this 
 
st. Bartholomew's hospital. 15 
 
 room is a fine piece of St. Bartholomew, 
 with a knife (the symbol of his martyr- 
 dom) in his hand. On one of the win- 
 dows is painted Henry VIII. deliver- 
 ing the charter to the lord mayor. Th ere 
 is also a very fine portrait in this room 
 of Bercival Pott, many years surgeon 
 of this hospital. It was painted by Sir 
 Joshua Reynolds: and is esteemed a 
 
 striking likeness of that eminent sur- 
 geon. 
 
 St. Bartholomew's Hospital was 
 founded in 1 102, by Rahere, minstrel 
 to Henry I. Rahere, retiring from the 
 gay offices of his situation, founded a 
 priory, which he dedicated to St. Bar- 
 tholomew, of which he was the first 
 prior. He afterwards obtained from 
 the king a piece of waste ground near 
 his priory, on which he founded this 
 hospital for the sick and maimed, plac- 
 ing it under the care of "the priory. The 
 priory and hospital was surrendered to 
 Henry VIII. and that monarch in the 
 last year of his r< \, granted the hos- 
 pital to the city, tor the relief of the 
 sick and maimed. 
 
 a 6 
 
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 16 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 
 
 The present building was erected in 
 the reign of George II. (in 1730) Sir 
 Richard Brocas, Knight, being lord 
 mayor, and president of the hospital. 
 Belonging to the establishment of this 
 hospital, are three physicians, three 
 surgeons, three assistant-surgeons, and 
 an apothecary, besides dressers, &c. 
 
 Of this establishment we may justly 
 speak with the warmest admiration. 
 That most urgent and helpless of all 
 cases, of a poor person, mangled in his 
 body, or limbs, by accident, without 
 means, in himself or friends, of procur- 
 ing medical aid, is relieved without re- 
 serve or delay, and is as skilfully treated 
 as if he commanded the wealth of the 
 richest inhabitant of London. 
 
 Of the other hospital's in the metropo- 
 lis, the same maybe generally observed ; 
 but we take the opportunity of speak- 
 ing of St. Bartholomew's, to mention 
 these topics, which ought not, for the 
 honour of London, to be forgotten. 
 
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 IB LONDON. 
 
 SOMERSET HOUSE. 
 
 This magnificent palace, was built 
 by the Protector Somerset, upon the 
 ruins of a number of bishop's houses, 
 and the old church of St. Mary le 
 Strand, which. Mr. Pennant says, fell 
 victims to sacrilise in the reisjn of Ed- 
 ward VI. No atonement was made, 
 no compensation to the owners. Part 
 of the church of St John of Jerusalem, 
 at Clerkenwell, and the tower of the 
 same, were blown up for the materials 
 for Somerset-house, The cloisters on 
 the north side of St. Paul's underwent 
 the same fate with the charnel house 
 and the chapel, and the bones were 
 flung into Finsbury fields. This pa- 
 lace, however, the Protector Somerset 
 never enjoyed, as he fell a victim on 
 the scaffold in 1552. After his death 
 this palace fell to the crown. Lord 
 Hunsdon too had the use of it, and 
 here it is probable Queen Elizabeth 
 
SOMERSET HOUSE. 19 
 
 lived sometime at his expence. Anne 
 of Denmark ;>t he]* court here, and 
 Catharine, tJ of Charles II. 
 
 lived here some time during the life 
 of her unfaithful spouse, and after- 
 wards, till she retiri ^o Portugal. 
 
 Sir William' C e Ar- 
 
 chitect of the p ent 
 
 buildup. The navy-office is here, and 
 indeed almost all the public-officer, ex- 
 cepting the treasury, the secretary of 
 state's, the admiralty, the war-office, 
 the excise, &e. 
 
 The Royal Society, and the Society 
 of Antiquarians, hold their meetings in 
 different suits of apartments in Somer- 
 set-house. The Royal Academy, is 
 also held here, and the room on the 
 ground floor, during the annual exhibi- 
 tion, contains statues, plans, elevations, 
 and drawings. The exhibition, when 
 the paintings are shewn generally, 
 opens in the last week in April, when 
 every person pays a shilling for ad- 
 mission, and a lliqg for a catalogue; 
 but the last is optional. 
 
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CARLTON HOUSE. 21 
 
 CARLTON HOUSE. 
 
 On the south side of Pall Mall is 
 Carl ton-house, the residence of the 
 Prince of Wales, It was built bv Hoi- 
 land, and has several magnificent apart- 
 ments, and the finest armory in the 
 world. The collection is so extensive 
 as to occupy three or four large rooms, 
 where are to be seen the rarest speci- 
 mens of arms and other things from all 
 nations. Considerable additions have 
 lately been made by presents, which 
 his Koyal Highness has received from 
 India, Egypt, and other places. The 
 plan is not, however, yet completed. 
 The principal front of Carlton-house 
 faces Pall Mall, from which the court 
 before it is divided bv a low screen, 
 surmounted with a beautiful colonnade, 
 

 
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23 
 
 THE HORSE GUARDS, ADMIRALTY, 
 
 TREASURY 
 
 i\C. 
 
 of 
 
 The Horse Guards is a 
 stone that divides Parliament-street 
 from the eastern end of St. James's 
 Park, to which it is the principal en- 
 trance. The architect was Vardy, and 
 the building cost upwards of 30,0001. 
 It derives its name from the two regi- 
 ments of life guards (usually called the 
 horse-guards) mounting guard there. 
 Of this structure little can be said in its 
 commendation or dispraise. Its effect 
 is, perhaps equally removed from every 
 thing mean and every thing grand, but 
 it is much too regular. Under two 
 small pavilions, centinels, mounted, and 
 in uniform, constantly do duty. 
 
 The Admiralty is a brick building, 
 containing the office and apartments of 
 
 of the Lords Commissioners of the 
 
HHH 
 
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 24 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 Admiralty, who superintend the marine 
 department; and is contiguous to the 
 Horse Guards, on the north. The 
 principal front, facing Parliament- 
 street, is a disgraceful piece of archi- 
 tecture, and ought to be replaced by 
 something better, for the honour of the 
 nation. 
 
 ■• > 
 
 :-h 
 
 
 The Treasury is an extensive build- 
 ing, facing Parliament-street, on the 
 east, and the Park on the north. The 
 principal front, which is of stone, is in 
 the park; and although rather too 
 massive, is a noble pile. Vaulted pas- 
 sages run beneath the offices, from the 
 park to Parliament-street, and Down- 
 ing-street. A variety of offices are un- 
 der the roof, generally called the Trea 
 sury, among which is the Council- 
 chamber, commonly called the Cock- 
 pit. 
 

 I 
 
 26 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 HOUSE OF LORDS. 
 
 The present House of Lords is the 
 old court of requests, so called because 
 the masters of this court, in this place, 
 anciently received the petitions of the 
 subjects of the king, advising them in 
 what manner to proceed. This court 
 or hall, was fitted up for the present 
 purpose, on the occasion of the late 
 union of Great Britain and Ireland. 
 The celebrated tapestry of the old 
 House of Lords, representing the defeat 
 of the Spanish Armada, after being 
 taken down and cleaned, was used to 
 decorate the walls of the present house, 
 where it is judiciously set off by large 
 frames of brown stained wood, that 
 divide it into compartments, respec- 
 tively containing the several portions of 
 the storv. The heads, which form a 
 border to each design, are portraits of 
 the gallant officers who commanded in 
 the English fleet on that memorable 
 
 
HOUSE OF LORDS. £7 
 
 occasion. This room does not occupy 
 the whole of the court of requests, part 
 of tne northern end being formed into 
 a lobby, by which the commons pass 
 to the upper house; and the height 
 being reduced by an elevated floor of 
 wood over the original stone pavement. 
 1 he old canopy of state, under which 
 the throne is placed, remains as it was 
 before the union, except that its tar- 
 nished and decayed condition is made 
 more conspicuous by the arms of the 
 United Kingdoms being inserted, em- 
 broidered in silk, and the supporters in 
 silver. The throne is an armed chair, 
 elegantly carved and gilt, and orna- 
 mented with crimson velvet and silver 
 embroidery. The House of Lords is 
 a very handsome, but not a splendid, 
 room ; although it is said to be prepa- 
 red merely for temporary use, a new 
 parliament house being in contempla- 
 tion. Strangers may see the house at 
 any time; and may attend, below the 
 bar, while the house is sitting, either 
 by the introduction of a peer, or by 
 application to the door-keepers. No 
 
■m 
 
 
 28 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 persons are admitted in boots or great- 
 coats, except members of the House 
 
 of Commons. 
 
 Refreshments may be had at an ad- 
 joining coffee-house. 
 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
 
 The House of Commons was for- 
 merly a chapel, originally built by King 
 Stephen, and dedicated to St. Stephen. 
 It was rebuilt in 1347, by Edward III. 
 and erected by that monarch into a 
 collegiate church, under the govern- 
 ment of a dean and twelve secular 
 priests. Being surrendered to Henry 
 VI. he gave it to the Commons for their 
 sittings, to which use it is at present 
 applied. The old house was formed 
 within the chapel, chiefly by a floor 
 raised above the pavement and an in- 
 ner roof, considerably below the ancient 
 one. On the union the house was en- 
 larged, by taking down the entire side 
 
HOUSE OF COMMONS. gQ. 
 
 walk, except the buttresses that sup- 
 ported the original roof; and erecting 
 others beyond, so as to give one seat 
 in each of j the recesses thus formed, 
 by throwing back part of the walls! 
 The present house is still too small, 
 but in all other respects is peculiarly 
 adapted to its use, and it is fitted up in 
 a very good style. A handsome gallery 
 runs along the west end, and the north 
 and south sides are supported by slen- 
 der iron pillars, crowned with gilt Co- 
 rinthian capitals. The whole of the 
 house is lined with wainscoat. 
 
 The speaker's chair stands at some 
 distance from the wall, at the upper end 
 of the room; it is slightly ornamented 
 With gilding, with the king's arms at 
 the top. The speaker is usually dress- 
 ed in a train black silk gown, with a 
 full bottomed wig. On occasions of 
 state he wear; a robe, similar to the 
 state robe of the lord chancellor. Be- 
 fore him, with a small interval, is a ta- 
 ble, at which sit three clerks of the 
 house, with minutes of the proceedings 
 of the house, read the titles of bills, in 
 
30 
 
 LONDON 
 
 their several stages, hand them up to 
 the speaker, &c. On this table, iu 
 front, the speaker's mace always lies, 
 when the house is sitting; except when 
 the house is in a committee, and then 
 it is placed under the table, and the 
 bar is an extensive area. The member's 
 seats occupy each side, and both ends 
 of the room, with the exception of the 
 passages. There are five rows of seats, 
 rising above each other, with two short 
 backs and green morocco cushions. 
 
 The seat on the floor, on the speak- 
 er's right hand, is that which is called 
 the Treasury Bench , on which the 
 chief members of the administration 
 sit; and the opposite seat is usually 
 occupied by the leading members of 
 Opposition. The speaker sits with his 
 hat off, except on particular occasions. 
 All the members must be seated, ex- 
 cept he who is addressing the chair, 
 but they wear their hats or not at plea- 
 sure, except when speaking. The 
 gallery on each side is reserved for 
 members. 
 
HOUSE OF COMMON*. 3 \ 
 
 Beneath the house, in passages or 
 apartments, appropriated to various 
 uses, are considerable remains, in great 
 perfection, of an under chapel of cu- 
 rious workmanship; and the entire side 
 of a cloister, the roof of which is not 
 surpassed in beauty by Henry the Se- 
 venth's chapel. A small court of the 
 palace is also left entire ; and is, with 
 its buildings, part of the dwelling of the 
 speaker of the House of Commons. 
 -Between the house and the river, is at 
 present a garden belonging to the 
 speaker. 
 
 The house may be viewed by stran- 
 gers at any time, and access to the 
 gallery obtained during the sitting, 
 either by the introduction or order ofa 
 member, or by a douceur of from two 
 to five shillings to the door-keeper. 
 
 On extraordinary occasions it is ne- 
 cessary for strangers to be at the house 
 
 as early as ten and twelve o'clock. 
 
 No ladies are admitted into the house 
 during its sittings. 
 
 Under the same roof with the House 
 of Commons is a coffee-room, for the 
 
;-^- — *.' ffrnfom - 
 
 32 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 accommodation of the members. — 
 Strangers may also dine here, or take 
 other refreshment in an outer room 
 used as a kitchen. On a day of great 
 debate, it will repay the curious stran- 
 ger to take his dinner in this room, 
 which he may with convenience do, as 
 persons in the gallery of the house are 
 permitted (after the debate is com- 
 menced) by the custom of the place, 
 to retain their seats while they take 
 refreshment, and the way to the coffee- 
 room will be shewn by any of the mes- 
 sengers of the house, or door-keepers. 
 
p -lLIgg- ■ 
 
 "" . ■ 
 
 M 
 
 TUIi FOUNDLING HOSPITAL. 
 
 This hospital is situated at the end 
 of Lamb's Conduit-street, about a quar- 
 ter of a mile in a northerly direction 
 from the end of lied Lion-street, Hol- 
 bora. It is also contiguous to Bruns- 
 wick and Russel-squares ; the greater 
 jart of the former having built on the 
 ' ands belonging to the hospital. This 
 trul v humane institution owes its esta- 
 blishment to the exertions of a private 
 and obscure individual. 
 
 About the year 1722, Captain Tho- 
 mas Coram, the master-of a merchant 
 ship in the American trade, a man sin- 
 gularly endowed with every benevolent 
 affection, undertook the arduous task 
 of founding an hospital for this purpose, 
 and finally succeeded, after the labour 
 of seventeen years. Before he pre- 
 sented his petition to the king, he was 
 advised to procure a recommendation 
 
FOUNDLING HOSPITAL, 35 
 
 from some persons of rank; and being 
 presented to his majesty, a royal char- 
 ter was granted, On the 17th of Octo- 
 ber, 1739, authorizing the governors of 
 this charity to purchase real estates, 
 not exceeding 40001. per annum. 
 
 The number of children received 
 into the hospital, before the end of the 
 year, 1752, was 1040, of which 559 
 were at that time maintained by the 
 charity, at an expence to which its 
 income was by no means adequate. 
 In 1756, therefore, the parliament voted 
 the sum of 10,000!. to the hospital, and 
 large sums were afterwards granted. 
 It was found, however, that the 
 scheme extended too far; numerous 
 abuses crept in; the governors were 
 finally obliged to contract their views; 
 and, at present, from the income of 
 their landed and funded property, and 
 the collections of the chapel, sufficient 
 is raised to maintain 400 children. 
 
 FIN' IS. 
 
 
 I'lu and Bre wis, Printers, Love Lant,Easi 
 
1 
 
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