Batson's Coffee House

Batson's. A City coffee-house "against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill,"¹ much "frequented by men of intelligence² for conversation," a house of call for physicians, and a favourite resort of Sir Richard Blackmore.

And therefore far the greatest part of that poem [Prince Arthur] was written in coffee-houses, and in passing up and down the streets, because I had little leisure elsewhere to apply to it.—Blackmore, Pref. to King Arthur, fol. 1697, p. 5.

In the first number of The Connoisseur (January 31, 1754) physicians are spoken of as "the dispensers of life and death, who flock together, like birds of prey, watching for carcases, at Batson's. I never enter this place but it serves as a memento mori to me. What a formal assemblage of sable suits and tremendous perukes. ... Batson's has been reckoned the seat of solemn stupidity: yet is it not totally devoid of taste and common sense.

A haughty bard to fame by volumes rais'd,
At Dick's and Batson's, and through Smithfield prais'd,
Cries out aloud——etc.
E. Smith's Poem to the Memory of John Philips.

In 1795, after a dinner with Dr. Pitcairn, Speaker Abbot records in his Diary that "Dr. Mead used to go into the City to Batson's Coffee-House, and meet all the apothecaries, hear them, and prescribe." "Physicians in those days never visited the wards of hospitals, nor ever saw the greater number of their patients. The business was transacted by consultations, held at the physician's house with the apothecaries, who related the patients' cases. Dr. Friend and Dr. Radcliffe were both of them members of the House of Commons."—Lord Colchester's Diary, vol. i. p. 26.

Sir William Blizard, the eminent surgeon, regularly attended Batson's for consultations, and is said to have been the last medical man in London who did so.³

At the age of eighty, on St. Luke's day, 1771, Sir W. Browne came to Batson's in his laced coat and his fringed white gloves to show himself to Mr. Crosby, then Lord Mayor. A gentleman present observing he looked very well, he replied, "I have neither wife nor debts."

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¹ London Gazette for 1693, No. 2939.

² Hawkins, Life of Johnson, p. 406.

³ Cooke's Memoir of Sir William Blizard.

90. Batson's Coffee House, Cornhill. 'Against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil' (1693); No. 17, Cornhill (1767). Batson's appears to have remained in the same building throughout its existence of about 140 years.

1693

The earliest noted contemporary mention is the London Gazette, No. 2939, 1693.

1694

Subscriptions to John Briscoe's Land Bank were taken in at Batson's Coffee-house, Cornhill, prior to the formation of the National Land Bank in October, 1694.

1694–96

MS. references in my collection mention 'Batson's Coffeehouse agst the Change' 1694, and 'Mr. Batson at his Coffee House in Cornhill' 1696.

1702–14

Batson's is listed by Ashton as Cornhill. The house attracted the quacks of the time; from sundry bills advertising lectures and cures, 'J.L.' draws attention to 'The Right, New, Cold-Drawn Linseed-Oyl, which is so famous for the distempers, Phthisick, colds, and the only remedy for the Plurisie, is drawn by J.L., being the first author who put the same Oyl to be sold, at first at the Rainbow Coffee-house in Fleet Street, but is now sold at Mr. Batson's and at Sam's Coffeehouse by the Custom-House, and Say's on Ludgate Hill at Two shillings a pint bottle.' (Thompson—Quacks of Old London.)

1714

According to ReIton's Early Insurance Companies, the Union Assurance Society (established 1714) made use of Batson's for business meetings.

1720–28

Mentioned in contemporary press: 'Daily Courant' 23 Nov. 1720; 'Daily Journal' 5 Dec. 1724. No. 93 of 'The Craftsman' 13 April 1728 is dated from Batson's Coffee House.

1732

The Sloane MSS, British Museum: 'To Dr. Mead, Batson's Coffee House—Worthy Sir, This morning I left with Mr. Batson a canvass bag sealed with my seal to be delivered to you. The said bag contains four smaller bags of medalls ... I collected in Smyrna—John Purnell.'

1736–67

From 1736, the London directories indicate the variety of traders using Batson's as a business address. These are mainly described as merchants, Turkey merchants, brokers, yarn throwsters, silk-brokers, exchange brokers, and in particular Russia merchants, and brokers.

1741–46

Mention in the press is to be found in 1741, 1742, 1744 and 1746. The 'London Evening Post' 12–15 June 1742 announces: 'Joseph Witts from Batson's Coffee-house in Cornhill, now living at Daniel's Coffee-house near Temple Bar has taken Brown's Coffee-house in Mitre Court Fleet Street where he hopes for the favour of acquaintances.'

1758–64

In 1758, the second meeting of the Committee of the Magdalen Hospital was held here on 19th April. Six years later, a notice dated 10 Feb. 1764 issued by the Magdalen House Charity, Prescot Street, announces: 'The Anniversary Feast of the Governors ... 18th March ... at Drapers-Hall in Throgmorton-street. ... Tickets at five shillings each ... at the following Coffee-houses ... Batson's Cornhill.' The announcement adds 'The Hall will be properly aired ... .'

1764

A Subscription List was opened at Batson's in 1764, to aid some 600 Germans and others, all Protestants, men women and children, en route to settle in the Island of St. John and Le Croix in America, left stranded in the fields near Bow by a German who could not proceed with his undertaking. According to Malcolm's 'Manners & Customs' the sum of £800 was 'instantly subscribed' at Batson's. The Government sent tents, &c. from the Tower, and with the help of collections made in several parish churches, the party was able to leave for America on the 6th November 1764.

1767–70

The directories for 1767, list Batson's as No. 17, Cornhill. On Horwood's map 1799, No. 17 is shewn on the south side of Cornhill about opposite the western end of the Royal Exchange. In 1770 directories, the traders using the house, mainly described as merchants, shew a preponderance of Russia and Turkey Merchants.

1771

On St. Luke's Day 1771, Sir William Browne at the age of 80 visited 'Batson's in his laced coat and his fringed white gloves to show himself to Mr. Crosby, then Lord Mayor'. A gentleman present observing that he looked very well, was answered 'I have neither wife nor debts'.

1774–77

The directories of the 1770s indicate that Batson's was a busy and well patronised house frequented by a variety of merchants. The house is mentioned in Wales Pocket Book, 1777.

1780–83

'Public Advertiser' 12 May 1780 carries a notice concerning the Maritime School at Chelsea, and three years later, the 'Morning Chronicle & London Advertiser' 3 May, 1783, announces a Quarterly Court of the Governors of the Maritime School, Chelsea, to be held at Batson's Coffee-House in Cornhill on 5th May.

1789–93

Batson's is mentioned in Wales Pocket Book, 1789. Listed in Roaches London Pocket Pilot, 1793.

1793

'The Times' 15 ApI. 1793 advertises: 'PLACE under Government. To be Disposed of a Genteel Place under Government present Salary £100 a year, with the chance of rising and other advantages: the next rise will be a considerable one. Any Young Gentleman, who can command from £500 to £1000 will be treated with: and by addressing a line to A—Batson's Coffee-House, with real name and place of abode, will be informed of further particulars. N.B. No Brokers will be attended to.'

1798

In 1798, Mr. Flood is listed as Proprietor of Batson's, described as 'Frequented by the Russian and Swedish merchants in general and the brokers, owners and commanders of ships in the trade of Russia and Sweden also by the brokers and dealers in the produce of those places.'

1803

In 1803 'Picture of London' described as 'Frequented by merchants in general. Dinners at four o'clock, and beds made up or procured.'

1805–07
1809–24

Mr. Flood still listed as Proprietor 1805–07; in 1809–11 Stephen Clinch takes his place in the directories and remains unti1 1824.

1809–11

S. Gregg, described as Commissioner to the Russian Navy, used Batson's as his business address; in the same directory the Russia Company is listed over the Royal Exchange. In view of the many entries in the directories of Russia merchants, and brokers, there is little doubt that a great deal of the Russia trade was centred in Batson's Coffee-house from the 1730s until well into the following century.

1824–27

Stephen Clinch is Proprietor according to 1824 directories. In 1826–27 he is replaced by Benjamin Critchet.

1833

Batson's is still listed in 'Picture of London' 1833, 28th edition, but does not appear in Pigot's for 1833–34, nor in Robson's, 1838.

90 Batson's Coffee-house "against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill". No. 17 Cornhill. c1677–1830s.

Batson's Coffee House, 17 Cornhill. Established in the 1690s it was, according to the London Gazette, "much frequented by men of intelligence for conversation." It was also used as a business address by a variety of traders including Turkey merchants, silk brokers, exchange brokers and Russia merchants. It was, in addition, a house of call for physicians who, in the words of the Connoisseur, "flock together like birds of prey watching for carcases at Batson's." Sir William Blizard, the distinguished surgeon, regularly attended here for consultations, and was said to have been the last medical man in London to do so. It also attracted quacks; at one time the "Right New Cold Drawn Linseed-Oyl which is so famous for the distempers, Pthisick, colds and the only remedy for the plurisie" was available here. Sir William Brown the physician continued to be a customer in his eighties. One day in 1771 he presented himself in his fine lace coat and fringed white gloves to show himself to the Lord Mayor. Another customer commented that he looked very well. "I have," he explained, "neither wife nor debts." The house is believed to have closed in the 1830s.

Batson's Coffeehouse, across from the Royal Exchange, Cornhill.

These are to give Notice, That Rider's Lozenges, so famous for the cure of the Heart-burning, and any Pain in the Stomoch, &c. that hath been experimented both by Sea and Land. And never failed any Person that ever tried them for these fie Years last past, may be had both Wholesale and Retale at Mrs. Lidiard's a Tin-shop upon Ludgate-Hill, or at Mr. Batson's Coffee-House near the Royal Exchange.
Flying Post 1057, February 12–14, 1702

The Volatile Spirit of Bohee-Tea; the first of this Kind that ever was made in England; which hath been found the most absolute Cure for Consumptions, inward Wastings, all other Decays of Nature incident to Mankind: Two Shillings Six Pence the Bottle, with Directions; sold at Robin's Coffee-house, Exchange-Alley; and now at Batson's Coffee-House, against the Royal Exchange; also at Waghorn's Coffee-House next the House of Lords. Seal'd with black Wax, having a double Coat of Arms, to distinguish it from Counterfeits.
Post Boy 2161, March 19–22, 1709

From Garraway's it is but a short step to a gloomy class of mortals, not less intent on gain than the Stockjobber: I mean the dispensers of life and death, who flock together, like birds of prey watching for carcases, at Bat∣son's. I never enter this place, but it serves as a memento mori to me. What a formal assemblage of sable suits, and tremendous perukes! I have often met here a most intimate acquaintance, whom I have scarce known again; a sprightly young fellow, with whom I have spent many a jolly hour; but being just dubb'd a Graduate in Physick, he has gain'd such an entire conquest over the risible muscles, that he hardly vouchsafes at any time to smile. I have heard him harangue, with all the oracular importance of a veteran, on the possibility of Canning's subsisting for a whole month on a few bits of bread; and he is now preparing a treatise, in which will be set forth a new and infallible method to prevent the spreading of the plague from France into England. Batson's has been reckon'd the seat of solemn stupidity: yet is it not totally devoid of taste and common sense. They have among them Physicians who can cope with the most eminent Lawyers or Divines; and Critics, who can relish the sal volatile of a witty composition, or determine how much fire is requisite to sublimate a tragedy secundùm artem.
—The Connoisseur. By Mr. Town, Critic and Censor-General I, Thursday, January 31, 1754