LONDON. 



part of what it does now, the commiflioners of the cuftoms MunufaSuirs of London. — London has long been cele- 



recommendcd to government to make a legal quay at Bridge brated fur its mancifaihires as well as for its commerce. In 



yard, on the fouth fide of the river; but it was never exe- the year 1327 the Skinners were a very numerous and rich 



cutcd. About the year 1763, the court of exchequer di- ciafs of citizens, manufacturing " fables, lueerns, and other 



refted a part of the Tower wharf to be converted into a rich furs." Cloth-workers of different kinds were alfo 



legal quay; but this plan was rehnquiHied. The conftruc- nottfl for the excellence of their goods.' in ISJ*) a manu- 



tion of Wet docks had been recommended as the bell faftory for the finer fort of glaffes was eftablidicd in CrutcheJ 



expedient for obviating the vaft lofs and embarraffment Friars, and flint glafs, not exceeded by that of Venice, 



arifing from the encujnbered ftate of the quays and wharfs, was at the fame time made at the Savoy. About five' 



and from the imuienfe crowding of the vefTels on the river ; years fubfeqnent the manufaiSure of knit llockings was in- 



and through the various fchemes which were about this time trodnced by one William Rider, an apprentice in London, 



cffeVed for the purpofe, kc. the lioufe of commons was in- wlio happening to fee a pair from Mantua at the houfe of 



duced to appoint a committee ; the bufmefs of which has an Italian, made another exaflly fimilar to them, which lie 



been to mquire into the beft mode of improving the port, prefcnted to William car! of Pembroke. (See Hose and 



and render it completely adequate to the prefent and proba- Stockincjs.) A manufafturc of knives was lliortly after 



ble commirce of London. The n-oft (kilful engineers and begun by Tliomas Matthews of Fleet-ftrtet, and this has 



furveyors have been employed ; whofe reports, plans, &c. 

 with the opinions and ftatoments of various merchants and 

 other perfons, have been printed by orde^ of the houfe of 

 commons. Thefe reports conftitute feveral volumes in 

 folio; and are peculia.ly interelling and curious. Sir Fre- 



ever iince been a flourifliing trade. Silk llockings were 

 firll made in England in the reign of queen EUzabeth. In 

 the fourth year of that princels, " John Rofe, dwelling iu 

 Bridewell, duviled and made an inllrument witii wyer llringes, 

 called the Bandora, and he left a foii far excelling him in 



deric Eden piibllflied a pamphlet on the fame fubjed, en- making bandoras, viol de gamboles, and other inltruments." 



titled " Porto-Bello, or a plan for the improvement of the Coaches were introduced in 1564, and in kfs than 20 years 



port and city of London ; illullrated by plates,'' Svo. became an article of great manufatture. The following 



179S. For a particular account of the various branches of year the manutaCl'ire of pins was ellabli (lied, and fliortly after 



commerce, commercial companies, and other objedls con- that of needles. The making of " earthen furnaces, earthen 



ne<Eled with the fame, the reader is referred to the words 



Docks, Companies, East India Zraat, Wiest IndiaZ'^^^. 



Cujlom Houfe. — On the north bank of the Thames, well 



of the Tower, is a large building, appropriated to fuch 



fire-pots, and earthen ovens, tranfportable," began about 

 the tenth year of Elizabeth, one Richard Dyer, an Enghlli- 

 man, having brought the art from Spain. Women's matks, 

 buHcs, mufis, fans, bodkins, and periwigs were introduced 



officers, clerks, tide-waiters, &c. as are immediately con- and made in London ihorlly after the maflacre at Paris in 



cerned in received the king's duties on the exports and iin- the year 1572, and in 1577 pocket watches were brought 



ports of commerce. The prefent building was ereAed in from Nuremberg in Germany, and the manufadliire of them 



1718, on the fcite of another which had been dellroyed by aln.oll immediately commenced. In the reigil of Charles I. 



fire. It is 260 feet in front; and when ereCled was deemed fallpetre was made in iuch quantity, as not only to fupply 



amply fufficient for its dcllination. It has proved, however, all England, but the greater part of the contincrrt. The 



very inadequate to the increafed cuftoms and bufmefs of the manufactures of filk had hkewife become extremely pre- 



port ; and to the vail commerce of London. After various valont, as well as the manufadure of various filver articles. 



furvevs and reports made on the fubjeft, it has been recently 

 determined by the commifiioners of the culloms, that a new 

 -cuftom-houfe (hall be creAed, upon fuch a fcale, and 

 provided with fuch numerous and various accommodations, 

 as to meet the exigencies and demands of government. Mr. 

 David Laing, architect to the cufloms, having furnifhed de- 



Theprintiiigof calicoes commenced here in 1676, and about 

 the fame time the weavers' loom was introduced from Hol- 

 land. The revocation of the edidt of Nantes in 1 68 j, having 

 driven many indullrious Frenchmen from their native land, 

 a confiderable number came over to England and fettled in 

 Spitalfields. Bv them fevei-al of our mauufaftures, but 



figns for a new edifice, and the fame being approved, it is particularly that of lilk, were greatly improved, and many- 

 intended to proceed with the building immediately. The others introduced. Since then the productions of London 

 fcite is from the wellern fide of the prefent edifice to Bil- have greatly increafed both in extent and value. They 

 lingfgate quay ; and its whole extent will conflitute a range now confiil chiefly of fine goods, and articles of elegant ufe, 

 of 480 by 96 feet. In the centre is to be the long room, brought to the grealeft perfetlion, fuch as cutlery, jewellery, 

 of 190 feet by 67. The whole building will accommodate articles of gold and filver, japan ware, cut glals, books, ca- 

 6jo officers and clerks, the number employed here; alfo lojo binet work, and gentlemen's carnages; together with fuch 

 tide-waiters, and other inferior fervants. The lower floor is to particular articles as require a metropolis, or a port, or great 

 confi ft of bondage vaults, over vvliich are to be numerous mart for their confumplion, export, or fale ; viz. porter, 

 apartments for officers and offices ; and above thefe are to be EngHlli wines, vinegar, refined lugar, foap, &c. The filk 

 feveral others, with the long room already noticed. The manufaftories of Spitalfields, Shoreditch, and Bethnal-green 

 water front is. to be of llone,'with Ionic columns at each wing, parilhes, alone employ upwards of 7000 perlons. In Cierken- 

 and the centre will be crowned with a large dome over the weil a like number are engaged in the different branches of 

 long room, with (Icy-hghts and ventilators. It is but jultice watch-making. Coach builders and liarnels makers arc very 

 to fay that the deiigns are creditable to the tafte and fcience numerous, and have brought their relpeclive works to a 

 of the architect. The quay in front of the building is to higher degree of perfection and elegance than any in 

 be enlarged by filling up a part of the river. A r.ew wall the world. Intimately connefted with this lubject is the 

 and quay are to be formed from the Tower to Billinglgate Trade of London, which is vail, various, and of extenfive 

 wharf, and numerous improvements will be made in the con- effect. It may be divided intothe wholefale and retail bufinefs; 

 tiguous llreets and lanes. The river, at this place, is about for thefe are dilrerent, and under different fyllems of managc- 

 20 feet deep at high water mark. The builnefs of the ment. The great number and vanety of fhops that are 

 cufloms is managed by nine commiffioners, whole Jurifdic- difperfed over the metrupohs, the diverfity, nchnefs, and 

 tion extends over all the ports of England. multitude of articles difplayed for falcj and the^reat coii- 



courfe 



