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After all, we are naturally led to enquire into the cause of these deviations. How does it happen that there are such different stiles of building in the modern exterior of this edifice? It is fair to conjecture, that it is in Mr. Soane's contemplation, by degrees, to connect his work with the centre building, which professional men say is very practicable; and we think the intention not far-fetched when we consider the other parts, which are in a mouldering and delapidated state; this, we are sorry to say, is very apparent in some principal parts of the southern wings.

But when the vast scale of erection is completed, the Bank will form one of the most magnificent, extensive, and beautiful temples dedicated to the God Plutus, that has been ever contrived.

The order introduced in the outside of the last new buildings is exactly copied, in every respect, in dimension as well as in forms, from the Temple at Tivoli.

The first stone of the principal building was laid upon the scite of the house and garden of their first governor, Sir John Houblon: it then only comprized the present centre building, with the court-yard, the hall, the Bullion Court, with the buildings which surround it, extending almost to Lothbury.

The eastern wing was added in 1770; the western, extending to Prince's Street, and north front in Lothbury, commenced building in 1789.

In the fourth and sixth years of the reign of George III. two acts passed, enabling the directors to purchase premises adjoining their buildings, in order to enlarge them; and in the intermediate year another act passed, which vested the glebe land, parsonage, &c. belonging to the rector of St. Christopher's church, in the governor and company; besides houses and land they had at other times purchased. During the year 1781 they became possessed of the whole of St. Christopher's parish, except seven houses in Prince's Street, and a few offices under the Royal Exchange, and paid five-sixth parts of the parish rates and taxes: still,

however,

however, finding themselves restricted for room to carry on their vast concern, and recollecting that in the riots of 1780, the adjoining church was a dangerous fortress had an attack been made on this repository of the public treasure, the company entered into an agreement with the patron and rector; and obtaining the sanction of parliament, the scite of the church, as we have before mentioned, became enclosed in the western end of this structure, and the parish united to St. Margaret, Lothbury.

ROUTE VI.

From the Royal Exchange, through Walbrook, to Dowgate Hill, Thames Street, Bread Street Hill, Bread Street, Cheapside, and the Poultry, to Walbrook.

N this route, we pass down the west side of Walbrook,

possessor, whose name was Buckle; at the corner of which stood a former church of St. Stephen, in place of that which was afterwards erected on the opposite side of the Brook. Walbrook, besides being inhabited by the persons already mentioned, contained the mansions of Sir Richard Baker, and of Sir Samuel Moyer, Bart. 1701, of Pitsey Hall, in Essex, and an eminent merchant of London: this street was also famous for the dwelling houses of furriers.

Sir Richard Baker, was the noted author of "A Chronicle of the Kings of England; a book formerly in great vogue; but which was ever more esteemed by readers of a lower class, than by such as had a critical knowledge of history. The language of it in the reign of Charles I. was deemed polite; and it long maintained its reputation, especially among country gentlemen. Sir Richard himself says, "that it was collected with so great care and diligence, that if all other of our Chronicles were lost, this only would be sufficient to inform posterity of all passages memorable or

2

worthy

worthy to be known." Yet the author feems to have been sometimes more studious to please than to inform; and with a view to have sacrificed even chronology to method*.

The Hon. Daines Barrington observes +, that Baker is by no means so contemptible a writer as he is generally supposed to be; "it is believed," says that author, "that the ridicule on this Chronicle arises from its being part of the furniture of Sir Roger de Coverley's Hall," as described in the Spectator.

Sir Richard was grandson of Sir John Baker, one of the privy council to Queen Mary I. who had a grant of the capital messuage and manor of East Farleigh, near Maidstone, in Kent, upon the attainder of Sir Thomas Wyatt, to whom it had formerly belonged. Sir John devised it to his son John, whose son Sir Richard alienated this and all his other estates toward the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth, in consequence of an engagement which he had made to pay the debts of his wife's family. He afterwards threw himself into the Fleet Prison, to avoid the importunity of his creditors; and having composed, in that prison, his Chronicle, and feveral books on Divinity, besides trans. lating Malvezzi's Discourses on Tacitus, and Balzac's Letters, died in confinement, overwhelmed with poverty and distress. He was buried in St. Bride's church, Fleet Street, February 19, 1644-51.

At the south end of Walbrook was a conduit, rebuilt at the charge of the City in 1568; but having been consumed by the Great Fire, its site has been laid into the street. This was denominated" the Conduit upon Dowgate," The descent of the street from this conduit to the water-gate, called Dowgate, was so precipitate, that in consequence of a flood, a lad, eighteen years of age, was drowned, as has been before related $.

BUDGE Row, was so called from being the residence of those citizens who dealt in budge, or lamb-skin fur, and of skinners. In this street is the parish church of

Granger.

↑ Granger, Hasted's Kent, Malcolm's London.

+ Observation on the Statutes.

§ Vol. II. p. 50%.

ST.

ST. ANTHONY, VULGARLY CALLED ST. ANTHOLIN.

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WHEN this church was first founded, is uncertain; but it appears that a cell of St. Anthony, of Vienna, was founded by Henry the Second. The church was re-edified by Thomas Knowles, grocer, mayor, and his son, about the year 1399. John de Wells, mayor, in the year 1431, built the south isle of the church; and John Tate, citizen and mercer, rebuilt the church in the year 1513.

It was repaired and beautified in 1616, at the cost of 1000l. toward which Mr. Henry Jay, alderman, Sir William Craven, and others, bountifully contributed. This fabric was demolished by the fire in 1666, and the present structure finished in 1682.

The church is built of stone, and covered with lead, the outside being of the Tuscan order; but the roof within, an ecliptical cupola, with four port-hole windows, is supported by eight pillars of the Composite order.

This cupola is adorned with fret-work of festoons, &c. the walls are lined with wainscot seven feet high, and the whole is well pewed.

A beautiful

A beautiful gallery at the west end, of wainscot, contains a good organ.

The pulpit is veneered, and ornamented with cherubims, fruit, &c.

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The altar-piece is of wainscot, and confists of four colamns of the Corinthian order, fluted, with entablatures and two pediments; the inter-columns are the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and in the centre the Commandments, in frames carved and gilt, surmounted by a glory, and three gilt cherubims; above these are the arms of England, on each side of which are two lamps, &c. the whole beautifully enriched with festoons, fruit, palm branches, &c.

The Communion table, a large marble slab placed on a carved frame, is inclosed by a rail and bannister, and the choir paved with black and white marble; on the north fide of the church stands a marble font, with a carved cover. A large branch is suspended from the centre of the roof.

The length of the church is sixty-six feet, breadth fiftyfour, and heigth forty-four feet.

A neat tower, terminated by a beautiful spire, highly ornamented with port-holes, pannels, crockets, &c.; in altitude about one hundred and fifty-four feet, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and built by Mr. Cartwright.

Among the benefactors, besides those already mentioned, Stow records Henry Colett, mercer, mayor, and Thomas Hind, mercer, but not the sums they gave.

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A MONUMENT in the old church, had the following epi

taph:

VOL. III. No. 55.

P

Here

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