LONDON. 



ne London Afoiiument. — This noble pillar, perhaps the 

 finelt in the world, Hands on the call lide of Filh-llreet-hill, 

 about two hundred yards from the north end of Londo« 

 bridge. It was ereClcd by the celebrated lir Chrillopiicr 

 Wren, to commemorate the dreadful lire of 1666, which 

 dellroyed a great part of the city, and commented near this 

 fpot. This monument is a fluted column of the Doric order, 

 withabafeand capital, furmounted by a ball. Its diame- 

 ter at the bafe is fifteen feet. The malfy pedeHal meafnres 

 4ofeet,.the column 120, the cone above it, witli its urn, 42, 

 fo that the entire height of the pillar is ?02 feet. The in- 

 terior contains a flight of 345 Heps, afceudinji to a bal- 

 cony, from which the vifuor has a very exteiifive prof- 

 peft of tiie metropolis and the adjacent, country. The 

 obfcure fituation of this beautiful and m.ijeftic pillar is 

 much to be lamented, for were it placed in a confpicuous 

 pofition, it would form a great and linking ornament to the 

 metropolis. 



T/ji Po/l-OJice' is fituated in an area on the fouth fide of 

 Lombard-ilrcet. As a building, it is not only unworthy of 

 notice, but when the importance and magnitude of its con- 

 cerns are confidered, is really a difgrace to th'> country 

 and the metropolis. Such an important ellablidiment Ibould 

 be well and properly accommodated. As a national inftitu- 

 tion, however, it deferves particular attention, being per- 

 haps the moll perfed fyllem of internal economy, of its 

 kind, in the world : it keeps up a conllant communica- 

 tion, direftly or indireftly, with every town in the united 

 kingdom, as well as with every foreign port in the moil re- 

 mote degree conneded with the Britilh empire. It polTeffes 

 likewife the double advantage of being incalculably ufeful 

 to individuals, and affording a large revenue to the govern- 

 ment. Indeed, of all the means of finance any miniller ever 

 employed, it is beyond companion the bell ; while at the 

 fame time it may juilly be regarded as the foul ol commerce. 

 The prefeiit poll-office was built in 1 760, but fince that time 

 great additions have been made to the building. At the 

 commencement of the poll-ofilce fyllem, the whole was 

 veiled in private ptrfons, and was irregular, defeat ive, and 

 infecure. A few years back a very import:.nt plan was fug- 

 gefted by Mr. Palmer, of conveying letters to all parts of 

 the kingdom by means of mail couclies ; whereby a fpeedy 

 communication,, and fccurity from robbery were effected. 

 See M-ML CoACHKs, and Post-ofiIce. 



Thel'rinity HouJ'c. — On the north fide of Tower-hill is a 

 large, handlbme, regular buildini)-, which was erefted irom 

 dehgns by Samuel Wyatt, architcft. The chief bufinefs 

 of the Trinity-houfe corporation, which was founded in 

 151 2, is conduced here, though the old eftabliflied lioufe is 

 at Deptford. The corporation confills of one mailer, four 

 wardens, eight affillants, and tweuly-cieht elder brethren, 

 who are ftvled " the guild, or fraternity of the moH glorious 

 and undivided Trinity, and of St. Clement, in the parifli of 

 Deptford-Strond, in the county of Kent." The objecl of 

 tliis corporation is to fuperintei.d and guard the interells of 

 the Britilli fliipping, both military and commercial. Tlieir 

 powers are exlei.five ; and their objeds important. They 

 have to examine the children who are inftrufted in mathema- 

 tics in Chrift's liofpital ; examine the mailers of the king's 

 fliips ; appoint pilots for the Thames ; eredl light-houfcs and 

 fca-marks in the Britilb feas ; grant hcentes to poor fea- 

 men who are not free of the city, to ply for fares on the 

 Timmes ; fuperintend the deepening and cleanfing of the 

 river, &c. The Trinity-houfe contains fome handforne 

 apartments, particularly the hall, the Hair-cafe, and tlie 

 •ourt-room ; in one of wlach is a fine uiodel of the "lio 



called the Royal William ; alfo portraits of twenty-four of 

 the elder brethren, and of other eminent perfons. 



The Lumilic HnfpUal, called St. Luke's, in Old-flreet, a 

 large pile of building, was credled from defigns by George 

 Dance, who alio built the prifons of Newgate and the 

 city Compter. In all tliefe he manifeiled much ilvill and 

 judg.ment ; but there is a great want of both in the new 

 front. 



The Guildhall of t!ie city is a piece of architcftural 

 ablurdity. — it is appropriated to the chief public offices 

 of the corporation of London . the principal of thefe is 

 the great hall, • 153 feet long, by 48 broad and ^t, high,) 

 in which the large city fealls are held, where public meet- 

 ings areaffembied, and the lord-mayor and members of par- 

 liament elerted. Here are feveral portraits of fovereigns, 

 judges, lord-mayors, &c. ; alfo large marble monuments to 

 the julUy elleemed lord-mayor, Becklord, the great lord 

 Chatham, &c. Behdes the hall, the follovring offices are 

 included in the prefent buildinij; ; chamberlain's-office, the 

 court of kmg's bench, in v\'hich the lord-mayor's court and 

 feffions of the peace for the city are lield ; a court of common 

 pleas, and court of exchequer ; a court, called common coun- 

 cil chamber, for the lord-mayor, aldermen, and common 

 council. Attached to the Guiidhall is an ol^l chapel, which 

 formerly belonged to a religious eltablilhment, but is now 

 ufed as ajuftice-room for the aldermen. 



The Bank of England, an immenfc pile of building, is more 

 extenfive in its range of offices, and more eminent for its ar- 

 chiteflural adornment and interior arrangement, than any 

 fingle pubhc edifice in the metropoUs : for Somerfet-houfe, 

 or place, confills of various offices, dwelling. honfes, &c. 

 It prefenta an irregular and incongruous medley of llyles 

 and forms ; having been built at various periods by three dif- 

 ferent architects. The oldeft part^ i.e. thecentreof the prin- 

 cipal, or fouth front, with fome apartments on the fame fide, 

 was deligned and ereSed by George Sampfoii, in the year 

 1733 : and the lateral wings of this facade, and the returns 

 OH the ealt and well fides, with feveral offices immediately 

 attached, were built by fir Robert Taylor, between 1770 

 and 1786 : but the great alterations and additions that have 

 been made fince the year 1788 by Mr. Soane, eonftitute the 

 prominent features of this noble edifice. It would occupy 

 a volume to dcftribe the whole arrangement and extent of 

 tlie bank : it mull luffice on the prefent occafion to mention 

 a few of its leading charafterillics. The whole buildings-- 

 are included in an area of an irregular form, the exterior 

 wall of which mealures 365 feet in front, or on the fouth 

 fide ; 440 feet ou the well fide ; 410 feet on the north fide, 

 and 24) feet on the eall fide. This area comprifes eight 

 open courts, one rotunda, or circular room, feveral large 

 public offices, committee rooms, and private apartinei;ts 

 for the refidence of officers and fervants. The principal fuite 

 of rooms is on iho ground-floor, and there is no floor over 

 the chief offices ; but it is neceffary to Hate, that beneath 

 this floor, and even below the furface of the groui.d, there 

 is more building, and more rooms than above-ground. Part 

 of the edifice is raifed on a niarfhy, foft foil, for the ftreain 

 called Wallbrooke ran here, and it has been necellary to pile 

 the foundation, and conllrucl counter arches beneath the 

 walls. The following is a iill of the principal public rooms, 

 vvidi their dimenfions : on the fouthern fide, dividendrpay 

 office, 44 by 40 feet ; the three per cent, reduced office, 

 50 by 40 feet ; pay-hall, 40 by 70 feet ; llock-office, 60 by 

 4^ feet : three others of nearly the fame dimeiifions ; the 

 rotunda, ^$ feet in diameter ; the confol office, 80 feet 

 by 48, is a noble room ; court-room, 60 by 30 feet, ad- 



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