London (1701)

LONDON, the most Famous and the most Trading City, not only of England, but of the whole World, is call'd in Latin Londinum, by Tacitus Londinium, by the Britains Lundayn or Caer-Lud, by the Saxons Londenceaster; by foreigners Londra and Londres. 'Tis supposed the name is deriv'd from the British Words Lhong a Ship and Dinas or Dinum a City or Harbor for Ships, because it admits of Ships of the greatest Burden that the Tide brings up to its Houses.

Name.

'Tis built upon the Banks of the River of Thames; its first Founder is not so well known as its Antiquity, for Tacitus mentions it as a Rich and Trading City in his time. Constantine first Fortified it with a Wall at the request of his Mother Helena. It had 7 Gates to the Land, Ludgate and Newgate in the West, on the North Aldersgate, Cripplegate, Moregate and Bishopsgate, on the East Aldgate, two more were on the Riverside, Belingsgate and Dowgate. But the number of the Citizens and their Warlike Courage is such, that as the Primitive Spartans they trust more to their Arms than to their Walls. It stands in a wholesome Air upon a rising Ground, most of it Gravel, having a stately Bridge of 19 Arches of Stone, with a Draw-bridge that leads over the River into Surrey.

Situation.

Gates.

Since its first Foundation, it hath suffer'd much by War and Fire; Q. Boadicia and her party destroy'd it in hatred of the Romans. A. 830. It felt the Danish fury, and in the Years 851, 872, 1013, 1016, it could not escape again their Rage. But accidental Fire as well as War, has often laid it desolate. Besides the frequent Fires that have destroyed some particular Streets, in the Years 983, 1077, 1086, 1175, 1212, memorable Fires happened in this City which reduc'd to Ashes its principal Streets, and one time Burnt the Bridge that was formerly of Wood, with the Church of St. Pauls. But the last Fire was the fiercest and the greatest that ever befell this City, A. 1666 the 2d. of September. It began in Pudding Lane, where now stands a Monument erected A. 1671, &c. in the Mayoralty of Sir Richard Ford Knt. and in his Successors, of White Stone, 202 Foot high, 15 Foot Diameter, the Pedestal is 40 Foot high and 21 Foot square, with winding Stairs to the top, where is an Iron Balcony, and a Brass representing the Flames. This dreadful Fire in three days time consum'd 89 Churches, the Guild-Hall, the Schools, Libraries, Hospitals, 15 entire Wards of 26, 8 of the other were much Shatter'd, 400 Streets, 13200 Houses. So that there appear'd nothing from the Bridge to the Temple and Holborn, but a sad and lamentable Desolation. But that which is more wonderful, as it was Burnt in 3 days time, It was rebuilt again in 3 Years time, with more State and Glory, and within a few Years more, the Additions to the City have been as large and as considerable as the Body of it, and perhaps more; this bespeaks the Riches, Wealth, and Power of London.

History.

Its length from Lime-house to Mill-bank, is 7500 Paces, about 7 Miles and a half; its breadth, from White-chappel to St. George's fields, about 3 Miles. It contains 600 Streets and Lanes, above 100000 Houses, upwards of 800000 Souls, besides the Multitude of Strangers, and Mariners of all Nations. It can bring into the Field above 150000 fighting Men.

Extent.

The Tower is the first place to be consider'd. 'Twas built as 'tis reported by Julius Cesar. It has a Mile in compass well furnish'd with Guns and Arms for 60000 Men. Here the Jewels and Regalia of the Crown are kept, and the Records of the Kingdom in Wakefield Tower, the latter by a Keeper, whose Salary is 500 l. per Annum, his place is at the disposal of the Master of the Rolls; from 7 to 11 a Clock liberty is grated to search the Records, except Sundays, &c. In this Tower is the Mint of England, and several Houses appointed for the Officers, and one Parish Church call'd Sancti Petri ad vincula infra Turrim. 'Tis under the command of a Constable and a Lieutenant of the Tower, whose Jurisdiction reaches over 21 Hamlets call'd the Liberties of the Tower. The next Officers are the Gentleman Porter, 24 Yeomen Warders, and the Gunners.

From the Tower along Thames-street, we meet with the Custom-House, a noble, stately, and convenient Fabrick, for receiving the King's Customes, of all Goods Exported and Imported, which in London alone amounts to above 400000 per Annum. The River presents to the Eye a delightful prospect of many Ships, till we come to the Bridge, a noble Structure with a fair street over the River. From thence the spacious streets are, Grace-Church-street, and Fish-street Hill, and turning upon the left, Thames-street, Canon-street, Lombard-street, Cheapside, Fleet-street and Holborn, &c. leading to Westminster, and the Western part, where we may take notice of Bowsteeple in Cheapside of curious Workmanship, with a pleasant Ring or Bells, and Guild-hall where the City Courts of Judicature are kept, and all publick Meetings of the Mayor and Aldermen.

Description.

The Church of St. Paul deserves our next Observation, a most Magnificent Fabrick rising out of its Ashes. It was first built by Sebert a Saxon Prince, and dedicated to St. Paul, where stood formerly Diana's Temple. The Area was reckon'd to be 690 Foot long, 130 Foot broad, and its Spire formerly cover'd with Lead 534 Foot high. It has often been consum'd by Celestial and Casual Fires, as A. 1087, 'twas burnt by Lightning. But now when this Fabrick is rebuilt, 'twill be the most magnificent and glorious Structure of the World. To this Church belong besides the Bishop, a Dean, a Precentor, a Chancellor, a Treasurer, 5 Arch-deacons 30 Prebendaries and other Officers. We must return to the Royal Exchange, first erected by Sir Tho. Gresham, and named by Q. Eliz. appointed for the meeting of Merchants, the Mercer's Company have the greatest Propriety in it. I pass over the several Halls of the several Companies which are stately Fabricks, as Mercer's-Hall, Grocer's-Hall, Draper's-Hall, Fishmonger's-Hall, Goldsmith's, Skinner's, Merchant-Taylor's, Halls, &c. To these Structures we may add such as are design'd for Charity, as Christ's-Church Hospital founded by Edw. 6. St. Bartholomew's, the Charter-House, Bridewell, Bedlam, or Bethlehem, for such as are out of their Sences, a famous Building facing Moor-fields resembling a Prince's Pallace rather than an Infirmary. This City stands in 51 deg. and 30 min. Latitude; I might wish good reason boast of all the Neat and Beautiful Churches erected since the Fire of Portland Stone.

A. 610.

The Inns of Court are not to be forgotten, they are 14, 2 Sergeant's Inns, 4 Inns of Court, and 8 Inns of Chancery, appointed for the Students of the Law, the chief are the Temple, Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, New Inn, Clement's Inn, Lyon's Inn, &c.

The Inns of Court.

The Civil Government of the City, is by a Lord Mayor chosen Annually on Michaelmas day out of the 26 Aldermen by the Livery Men. After he is elected Proclaim'd and Sworn, he is install'd the 29th of October, in great State; after that, he is row'd in Pomp to Westminster Hall to be sworn before the Barons of the Exchequer. The Ceremonies in this Case are sufficiently known. The other Officers of this City, are 26 Aldermen over the 26 Wards, 2 Sheriffs and a Recorder and a Chamberlain; under them are Common-Councilmen, Constables, Scavengers, Beadles, &c. Each Sheriff has under him an under-Sheriff, a Secondary and 5 other Clerks, &c. The Citizens are divided into 70 Companies, of them there are 12 Principal Companies Mercers, Grocers, &c. considerable Privileges are granted to the Freemen all over England, they have an excellent Government among themselves, subordinate to the Lord Mayor.

Government.

The City Militia consists of 6 Regiments of Foot, making about 9000 Men, the Hamlets, of the Tower 2 Regiments, and one Regiment in Southwark, two Regiments of Westminster, each of 2000 Men, in all there are 11 Regiments, besides the Auxiliaries raised from the Apprentices in time of need. For a supply of Commanders, there is the Artillery Company, who are to exercise every Tuesday Fortnight, in the Artillery Ground.

Militia.

Westminster, is a City of it self, under the Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, who has within his Precincts, St. Martin le Grand and other places in Essex and elsewhere. The chief Officer is, the Steward of Westminster, who is commonly a Noble Man; under him are a Deputy-Steward, a Bayliff, and two Burgesses Annually chosen.

Westminster.

The first thing that offers it self to our View in Westminster, is the famous Abbey-Church dedicated to St. Peter, a stately Pile where are the Tombs of our Kings and Princes and of the Prime Nobility, and a curious Chappel erected and adorned by Hen. VII. To this Foundation belong a Dean and 12 Prebendaries, besides other Officers who have large Revenues. Next is Westminster-Hall, for our Courts of Judicature, to which belong 12 Judges, the King's Bench, Chancery; Common-pleas, Exchequer; and White-Hall built by Cardinal Wolsey, but now by an unhappy Fire it lies in Ruins. It has been the Habitation, since its Building, of our Kings and Queens. Adjoyning to it is a pleasant Park, well furnish'd with Trees, Deer, Tame and Wild Foul; St. Jame's Pallace, belonging to the Royal Family, stands on the North-East side, with another Park at the end call'd Hide Park. 'Tis not possible in this narrow compass to contain or mention the 100dth part of the many Sumptuous Pallaces, stately Buildings, &c. within these two Noble Cities, in Soho-Square, in the Golden-Square, in Red-Lyon-Square, in Lincolns-Inn-Square, in Southampton-Square, in St. James-Square, &c.

The Abbey.

There are belonging to both Cities within the Liberties, and without, 134 Parishes besides several Chappels, 97 within the Walls, 16 without the Walls, 14 out Parishes, in Middlesex and Surrey, 7 Parishes in the City and Liberties of Westminster.

Parishes.

The Publick Schools are Westminster, a Royal Foundation, with a Master, 2 Ushers, 40 King's Schollars, and 4 Lord's Schollars. Paul's-School, Merchant-Taylor's-School, the Charter-House, Mercer's-Chappel, &c. all well Endowed by several Benefactors.

Schools.