The Royal-Exchange is fituated on the north fide of Cornhill, about the middle of the street, forming an oblong open fquare, the infide whereof is an hundred and fortyfour feet in length from east to west, and an hundred and feventeen in breadth from north to fouth; the area fixty-one fquare poles, on every fide whereof is a noble piazza or cloifler, confifting of twenty-eight columns and arches that support the galleries above.

The length of the building on the outside is two hundred and three feet, the breadth an hundred and feventy-one, and the height fifty-fix. On the front towards Cornhill alfo is a noble piazza, consisting of ten pillars; and another on the opposite fide next Threadneedle-ftreet, of as many; and in the middle of each a magnificent gate: over the Cornhill gate is a beautiful tower, an hundred and feventy-eight feet high, furnished with twelve fmall bells for chimes; and underneath the piazzas are capacious cellars, which ferve for warehouses.

The whole building is of Portland stone, ruftick work; above the arches the inward piazza is an entablament, with fine enrichments; and on the cornifh a range of pilafters, with entablature, and a fpacious compafs pediment in the middle of the corners of each of the four fides. Under the pediment on the north fide, are the king's arms; on the south, those of the city; and on the eaft, the arms of Sir Thomas Gresham. And under the pediment on the weft fide, the arms of the company of mercers, with their refpective enrichments. The intercolumns of the upper range are twenty-four niches, nineteen of which are filled with the statues of the kings and queens regent of England, standing erect with their robes and regalia, except that of King James II. and King George II. which are habited like the Cæfars.

On the fouth fide are seven niches, of which four are filled, viz.

1. The most easterly figure, which has this infcription in gold letters, Edvardus Primus Rex, Anno Dom. 1272. 2. Weftward, Edvardus III. Rex, Anno Dom. 1329. 3. Henricus V. Rex, Anno Domini 1412. 4. Henricus VI. Rex, Anno Domini 1422. On the weft fide five niches, four of which are filled, viz.

1. Under the most foutherly figures is fubfcribed in gold letters, Edvardus IV. Rex, Anno Domini 1460. 2. Northward (the crown pendant over his head) Edvardus V. Rex, Anno Domini 1483. 3. Henricus VII. Rex, Anno Domini 1487. 4. Henricus VIII. Rex, Anno Domini 1508.

On the north fide seven niches are filled, viz.

1. The most westerly, fubfcribed in golden characters, Edvardus VI. Rex, Anno Domini 1547. 2. Maria Regina, Anno Domini 1553. 3. Elizabetha Regina, Anno Domini 1558. 4. Is fubfcribed, Sereniffim' & Potentiffim' Princip' Jacobo Primo, Mag. Brit' Fran & Hibern' Reg. Fid. Defenfori, Societas Pannitonforum pofuit, A. D. 1684. 5. EIKON BAZIAIKH Sereniffimi & Religiofiffimi Principis Caroli Primi, Anglia, Scotia, Francia & Hibernia Regis, Fidei Defenforis; Bis Martyris (in Corpore & Effigie) Impiis Rebellium Manibus, ex hoc loco deturbata & confracta, Anno Dom. 1647. Reftituta & bic demum collocata, Anno Dom. 1683. Gloria Martyrii qui te fregére Rebelles non potuere ipfum quem voluere Deum. 6. Carolus Secundus, Rex, Anno Domini 1648. 7. Jacobus II. Rex, Anno Domini 1685.

On the eaft fide five niches, one of which is vacant, the other filled, viz.

1. The most northerly contains two ftatues, viz. of King William and Queen Mary, fubfcribed Gulielmus III. Rex, & Maria II. Regina, A. D. 1688. S. P. Q. Londin' Optim' Principibus, P. C. 1695. 2. Anna Regina Dei Gratia Mag. Britan' Francia & Hibernia, 1701. 3. George I. infcribed Georgius D. G. Magna Britan' Francia & Hiberniæ Rex, Anno Dom. 1714. S. P. Q. L. 4. Southerly, the statue of King George II.

in the habiliment of a Cæfar, wreathed on the head, and a battoon or truncheon in his hand, little differing from that of Charles II. in the center of the area, only in looking northward; infcribed Georgius II. D. G. Mag. Brit. Fra. & Hib. Rex, Anno Dom. 1727. S. P. Q. L.

On the four fides of the piazza within the Exchange, are twenty-eight niches, which are all vacant yet, except one near the north-weft angle, where is the figure of Sir Thomas Gresham. The piazza itself is paved with black and white marble, and the court, or area, pitched with pebbles; in the middle whereof is the ftatue of King Charles II. in a Roman habit, with a battoon in his hand, erected on a marble pedestal about eight feet high, and looking fouthward; on which fide of the pedestal, under an imperial crown, wings, trumpets of fame, fcepter and fword, palm branches, &c. are these words infcribed,. viz.

Carolo II. Cæfari Britannico, Patria Patri, Regum Optimo Clementiffimo Auguftiffimo, Generis Humani Deliciis, Utriufq; Fortuna Victori, Pacis Europa Arbitro, Marium Domino, ac Vindici Societatis Mercatorum Adventur' Angliæ, quæ per CCCC jam prope Annos Regia benignitate floret, Fidei Intemerata & Gratitudinis æternæ hoc Teftimonium venerabunda pofuit, Anno Salutis Humana 1684.

On the weft fide of the pedestal is neatly cut in relievo, the figure of a cupid repofing his right hand on a fhield containing the arms of England and France quartered, and in his left hand a rose.

On the north fide are the arms of Ireland on a fhield, fupported by a cupid.

On the east fide the arms of Scotland, with a cupid holding a thistle, all in relievo. The inner piazza and court are divided into feveral ftations, or walks, where the merchants of the respective nations, and those who have business with them, affemble distinctly; so that any merchant or commander of a veffel is readily found, if it be known to what country he trades. The feveral walks are described in the following ground-plot of the Exchange.

Near the fouth gate is a fpacious ftaircafe, and near the north gate another, that lead up to the galleries, on each fide whereof are hops for milliners and other trades, to the number of near two hundred, which brought in a good revenue at first, nothing being thought fafhionable that was not purchased there; but the milliners are now dif perfed all over the town, and the fhops in the Exchange almoft deferted.

8. Langbourn ward, fo called of a burne, or brook, that had its fource in it, and run down Fenchurch-ftreet, contains thefe principal streets; part of Lombard-street, part of Fenchurch-ftreet, part of Lime-ftreet, and part of Gracechurch-street; with part of the courts, lanes, and alleys in them, particularly White-hart-court, Exchangealley, Sherbourn-lane, Abchurch-lane, St. Nicholas-lane, Mark-lane, Mincing-lane, Rood-lane, Cullum-court, Philpot-lane, and Braben-court.

The publick buildings in this ward are, the Poft-office, Ironmongers'-hall, Pewterers'hall; the churches of Allhallows Lombard-ftreet, St. Edmund's Lombard-ftreet, St. Mary Woolnoth, St. Dionis Backchurch, and St. Allhallows Staining.

The Poft office is fituated on the fouth fide of Lombard ftreet, near Stocks-market. It was the dwelling-houfe of Sir Robert Vyner, in the reign of King Charles II. The principal entrance is out of Lombard-ftreet, through a great gate and paffage that leads into a handfome paved court, about which are the feveral offices for receiving and diftributing letters, extremely well contrived..

Letters and packets are dispatched from hence every Monday to France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Flanders, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Kent, and the Downs.

Every Tuefday to the United Netherlands, Germany, Swedeland, Denmark, and to all parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Every Wednesday to Kent only, and the Downs.

Every Thurfday to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and all parts of England and Scotland.

Every Friday to the Auftrian and United Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and to Kent and the Downs.

Every Saturday to all parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The poft goes alfo every day to thofe places where the court refides, as also to the ufual ftations and rendezvous of his majefty's fleet, as the Downs, Spithead, and to Tunbridge during the feafon for drinking the waters, &c.

Letters and packets are received from all parts of England and Scotland, except Wales, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; from Wales every Monday and Friday; and from Kent and the Downs every day.

His majefty keeps conftantly, for the tranfport of the faid letters and packets, in times of peace,

Between England and France, three packet-boats; Spain, one in a fortnight; Portugal, one ditto; Flanders, two packet-boats; Holland, three packet-boats; Ireland, three packet-boats.

And at Deal, two packet-boats for the Downs.

Not to mention the extraordinary packet-boats in time of war with France and Spain, to the Leeward Iflands, &c.

A letter containing a whole fheet of paper is conveyed 80 miles for 3d. and two fheets 6d. and an ounce of letters but is. And above 80 miles a fingle letter is 4d. a double letter Sd. and an ounce is. 4d.

9. Billingfgate ward is bounded by Langbourn ward towards the north, by Towerftreet ward on the east, by the river Thames on the fouth, and by Bridge wad within on the weft. The principal ftreets and places in this ward are, Thames ftreet, Little Eaftcheap, Pudding-lane, Botolph-lane, Love-lane, St. Mary-hill, and Rood-lane.

The

.

The wharfs, or keys, as they lie on the Thames-fide from eaft to weft, are Smart's key, Billing/gate, Little Somer's key, Great Somer's key, Botolph wharf, Cox's key, and Fresh wharf, which laft is the next key to the Bridge; of which Billingfgate is much the most reforted to. It is a kind of square dock, or inlet, having keys on three fides of it, to which the veffels lie clofe while they are unloading. By a ftatute of the 10th and 11th of William III. it was enacted, That Billingfgate fhould be a free market for fifh every day in the week, except Sundays: That a fishing veffel fhould pay no other toll or duty than the act prescribes, viz. every falt-fish vessel, for groundage, 8d. per diem, and 2cd. per voyage; a lobster boat 2d. a day groundage, and 1 3d. the voyage; every dogger boat, or finack with fea-fifh, 2d. per diem groundage, and 13d. the voyage; every oyfter veffel 2d. a-day groundage, and a halfpenny per bufhel metage. And that it fhould be lawful for any perfon, who fhould buy fifh in the faid market, to fell the fame in any other market or place in London, or elsewhere, by retail.' And because the fifhmongers ufed to buy up great part of the fish at Billingsgate, and then divide the fame among themfelves, in order to fet an extravagant price upon them, it was enacted, That no perfon fhould buy, or caufe to be bought, in the • faid market of Billingsgate, any quantity of fifh, to be divided by lot among the fishmongers, or other perfons, with an intent to fell them afterwards by retail; and that no fifhmonger fhould buy any more than for his own ufe, on pain of 2cl. And by the 6th Anna it was enacted, That no perfon fhould buy fifh at Billingsgate to fell again in the fame market; and that none but fishermen, their wives, or fervants, fhould fell fish by retail at Billingfgate; and that none fhould buy or fell fish there before the ringing of the market-bell.'

The publick buildings in this ward are Butchers'-hall, and the churches of St. Mary Hill, St. Margaret Pattons, and St. George in Botolph-lane.

10. Bridge ward within contains London-bridge, New Fifh-ftreet, Gracechurchftreet as far as Fenchurch-street, Thames-street from Fish-street to the Cld-fwan, part of St. Martin's-lane, part of St. Michael's-lane, and part of Crooked lane.

The publick buildings in this ward are London-bridge, the Monument, Fishmongers' hall, and the churches of St. Magnus and St. Bennet Gracechurch-street.

The Monument ftands on the weft fide of Fish-street-hill, a little to the northward of the Bridge, and was erected by the legislative authority, in memory of the fire anno 1666, and was defigned by Sir Chriftopher Wren. It has a fluted column, 202 feet high from the ground; the greateft diameter of the fhaft 15 feet, and the plinth, or lowest part of the pedeftal, 28 feet fquare, and 40 feet high; the whole being of Portland ftone, except the ftair-cafe within, which is of black marble, containing 345 steps, ten inches and an half broad, and fix inches deep; and a balcony on the outfide 32 feet from the top, on which is a gilded flame. The front of the pedestal, towards the weft, contains a reprefentation of the fire, and the refurrection of the prefent city out of the ruins of the former.

11. Candlewick or Cannon-ftreet ward contains part of Great Eaftcheap, part of Candlewick now called Cannon-street, part of Abchurch-lane, St. Nicholas-lane, St.. Clement's-lane, St. Michael's-lane, Crooked-lane, St. Martin's-lane, St. Lawrence Poultney-lane, with the courts and alleys that fall into them.

In Cannon-ftreet is that remarkable ftone called London-ftone, which has remained fixed in the ground many hundred years, but for what end is uncertain; though fuppofed by fome to be the place from whence the Romans began to compute the number of miles anciently to any part of the kingdom,

12. Walbrook ward contains the belt part of Walbrook, part of Buck'erfbury, the east end of Budge-row, the north end of Dowgate, part of Cannon-firect, moit of Swithin's.

Swithin's-lane, moft of Bearbinder-lane, part of Bush lane, part of Suffolk-lane, part of Green-lattice-lane, and part of Abchurch-lane, with feveral courts and lanes that fall into them.

Stocks-market confifts of a pretty large fquare, having Cornhill and Lombard-street on the north-eaft, the Poultry on the north-weft, and Walbrook on the fouth east. Before the fire it was a market chiefly for fish and flesh, and afterwards for fruit and gar

den-fluff.

In this market Sir Robert Vyner, bart. and alderman, erected a marble equestrian statue of King Charles II. ftanding on a pedestal eighteen feet high, and trampling on

his enemies.*

The publick buildings in this ward are Salters'-hall, the churches of St. Swithin and St. Stephen Walbrook.

13. Dowgate or Downgate ward, fo called from the principal-street, which has a steep defcent or fall into the Thames, contains part of Thames-ftreet, part of St. LawrencePoultney-hill, part of Duxford-lane, part of Suffolk lane, part of Bufh-lane, part of Dowgate hill, Checquer-yard, Elbow lane, and Cloak-lane; and the fouthward of Thames-street, Old Swan-lane, Cole-harbour, Alhallows-lane, Campion-lane, Friarslane, Cozens-lane, Dowgate dock, and the Steel-yard.

The publick buildings in this ward are Tallow-chandlers'-hall, Skinners'-Hall, Innholders'-hall, Plumbers'-hall, Joiners'-hall, Watermens'-hall, and the church of Alhallows the Great.

14. Vintry ward (which was fo called from the wine-merchants who landed and fold their wines here) contains part of Thames-street, New Queen-ftreet, Garlick hill, College-hill, and St. Thomas-Apoftles.

The publick buildings in this ward are, Vintners'-hall, Cutlers'-hall, the churches of St. Michael Royal, and St. James Garlick-hill.

Vintners'-hall is fituated on the fouth-fide of Thames-street, between Queen-ftreet and Garlick hill, being built on three fides of a quadrangle fronting the street. The rooms are large, finely wainscoted and carved, particularly the magnificent skreen at the east-end of the great hall, which is adorned with two columns, their entablature and pediment; and on acroters are placed the figure of Bacchus between feveral Fames, with other embellishments; and they have a garden backwards towards the Thames.

15. Cordwainers'-ftreet ward, fo called from the cordwainers (fhoemakers) curriers, and other dealers in leather that inhabited that part of the town anciently, includes Bowlane, New Queen-street, Budge-row, Tower-royal-ftreet, Little St. Thomas Apoftles, Pancras-lane, a finall part of Watling-street, a little part of Bafing-lane, and St. Sythe's

lane.

The publick buildings in this ward are the church of St. Anthony, St. Mary Aldermary, and St. Mary-le-Bow.

16. Cheap ward. The principal streets and places in this ward are Cheapfide, the Poultry, part of Honey-lane market, part of the Old-Jewry, part of Bucklerbury, part of Pancras-lane, part of Queen-street, all Ironmonger-lane, King-ftreet, and St. Lawrence lane, and part of Cateaton-street, part of Bow-lane, and all Guildhall.

The publick buildings in this ward are, Guildhall, Mercers'-chapel and hall, Grocers' hall, the Poultry-compter, the churches of St. Mildred Poultry, and St. Lawrence Jewry.

• This market has fince been removed to Fleet-ditch, and a grand manfion-house for the lord-mayor is now erecting on the ground where Stocks-market was then kept, at the expence of the city.