B.

Bab’salley, Mint street, Southwark.†

Bab’smays, ormews, Jermain street.†

Backalley. 1. Back hill, Hatton wall.§ 2. Back hill, Southwark.§ 3. Bear alley, Fleet ditch.§ 4. Bowling alley, Westminster.§ 5. Bridge yard, Tooley street.§ 6. St. Catharine’s lane.§ 7. Church lane, Tooley street.§ 8. Church lane, Whitechapel.§ 9. Churchyard alley, Tooley street.§ 10. Cloth fair, West Smithfield.§ 11. Crown court, King’s street, Tooley street.§ 12. East lane, Rotherhith.§ 13. Great garden, St. Catharine’s lane.§ 14. Green bank, Wapping.§ 15. March street, Wapping.§ 16. St. Martin’s le Grand.§ 17. Mill street.§ 18. Playhouse yard, Whitecross street, Cripplegate.§ 19. Three Foxes court, Long lane, West Smithfield.§

Backcourt, Symond’s Inn, Chancery lane.

Backhill. 1. Hatton wall.§ 2. Southwark.§

Backlane. 1. Bethnal green.§ 2. Elephant lane, Rotherhith.§ 3. Hackney.§ 4. Islington.§ 5. Lambeth Butts.* 6. Lambeth marsh.§ 7. Near Rag fair, Rosemary lane.§ 8. Near Sun Tavern fields.§ 9. Three Hammer alley, Tooley street.§

BackRound courtin the Strand.§

Backside. 1. St. Clement’s in the Strand.§ 2. Middle Shadwell.§

Backstreet. 1. Cloth fair.§ 2. Horsley down.§ 3. Lambeth.§ 4. St. Clement’s Danes.§ 5. Old street square.§

Back Street School, at Lambeth, was founded by Archbishop Tenison, about the year 1704, for the education of poor girls, who are cloathed and taught: they are at present twenty; but their number is to be increased according to the improvement of the estate.Maitland.

Backway, near Shepherd’s Market, Curzon street.§

Backyard. 1. Angel alley, Little Moorfields.§ 2. Bell alley, Coleman street, Lothbury.§ 3. Brick lane, Old street.§ 4. Bullhead court, Jewin street.§ 5. Great Garden, St. Catharine’s.§ 6. Little Bartholomew close.§ 7. Marigold lane.§ 8. Newcastle street.§ 9. Nightingale lane.§ 10. Old Gravel lane.§ 11. Pelican court, Little Britain.§ 12. Peter lane, St. John’s street.§ 13. Pickleherring street. 14. Redcross alley, Jewin street.§ 15. Richmond street.§ 16. Ropemaker’s fields, Limehouse.§ 17. Rotherhith wall.§ 18. Rupert street.§ 19. Saltpetre bank. 20. Shakespear’s walk.§ 21. Shipwright street, Rotherhith.§ 22. Short’s street.§ 23. Silver street, Tooley street.§ 24. St. Margaret’s hill.§ 25. St. Saviour’s Dock head.§ 26. Stamford buildings.§ 27. Star street, Wapping wall.§ 28. Sun alley, Golden lane.§ 29. Swan alley, Golden lane. 30. Three Colt street.§ 31. Tooley street.§ 32. Turnmill street, Cowcross.§ 33. Vineyard.§ 34. Upper Ground street.§ 35. Upper Well alley, Wapping.§ 36. Wentworth street.§ 37. White’s yard, Rosemary lane.§ 38. Woolpack alley, Houndsditch.§

Back Cloisteryard, Westminster.§

BackBrook street, David street, by Grosvenor square.

Baconalley, Woolpack alley, Shoreditch.

Baconstreet. 1. Brick lane, Spitalfields.* 2. Club row, Spitalfields.

Badger’salley, Shoreditch.†

Badger’sAlmshouse, at Hoxton, was founded by Mrs. Allen Badger, in the year 1698, for six poor men and their wives, who are only allowed twenty shillings a year each couple.

Badger’srents, St. John’s passage, St. John’s street.†

Bag and Bottlealley, Old street.*

Bag and Bottleyard, Old street.*

Bagnel’srents, Denmark street.†

Bagniocourt, Newgate street, thus named from the Bagnio there.

Bagniolane, leading into Bagnio court, Newgate street.

Bagshaw’srents, Portpool lane, Leather lane.†

Bailey’salley, in the Strand.†

Bailey’scourt, 1. Bell yard, Fleet street.† 2. Cock hill.† 3. Fashion street.† 4. Sheer lane.† 5. In the Strand.†

Bailey’splace, Little Tower hill.†

Bailey’syard, Broadway, Westminster.†

Bainham’sstreet, Southwark.†

Bain’shill, Upper Shadwell.†

Bakehousecourt, Godalmin street.

Bakers, this company is very ancient, though it does not appear to have been incorporated till about the year 1307. It is governed by a Master, four Wardens, thirty Assistants, and 195 Livery men, whose fine is 10l.

Bakers Hall, a plain edifice in Hart lane, Tower street, and formerly the dwelling house of John Chicheley, Chamberlain of London.

Baker’salley. 1. Church lane, Whitechapel.† 2. Farmer’s street, Shadwell.† 3. Goswell street.† 4. Hart street.† 5. King’s street, Westminster.† 6. Monkwell street.† 7. St. John’s street.† 8. In the Strand. 9. Stony lane.† 10. Swallow street.†

Baker’s Armsalley, Rosemary lane.*

Baker’sbuildings, Old Bethlem.†

Baker’scourt, Halfmoon alley, Bishopsgate street.†

Baker’spassage, Jermain street.†

Baker’srow. 1. Cold Bath fields.† 2. Whitechapel.†

Baker’syard. 1. Tower hill. 2. Milford lane.

Balaam’scourt, King David’s Fort.

Baldwin’scourt. 1. Baldwin’s gardens.† 2. White street.* 3. Cloak lane, Dowgate hill.†

Baldwin’sgardens, Leather lane.†

Baldwin’ssquare, Baldwin’s gardens.†

Baldwin’sstreet, Old street.†

Baldwin’syard. 1. Baldwin’s gardens. 2. Narrow alley, Stone lane.†

Bale’scourt, Cow cross, Smithfield.†

Ballalley. 1. Aldersgate street.* 2. Cannon street.* 3. Kingsland road.* 4. Lime street, Leadenhall street.* 5. Lombard street.* 6. London Wall.* 7. Long alley, Moorfields.* 8. St. Catharine’s lane.* 9. Wheeler street, Spitalfields.*

Ballcourt. 1. Giltspur street, without Newgate.* 2. Mincing lane, Fenchurch street.* 3. Old Bailey.* 4. Poor Jury lane, within Aldgate.*

Ballyard. 1. Beech lane.* 2. Giltspur street.* 3. Golden lane.*

Ballastwharf. 1. Cock hill, Ratcliff. 2. Lower Shadwell.

Balsoverstreet, Oxford street.†

Bamburycourt, Long Acre.

Bancroft’sbeautiful Almshouse, School and Chapel at Mile End, were erected by the Drapers company in the year 1735, pursuant to the will of Mr. Francis Bancroft, who bequeathed to that company the sum of 28,000l.and upwards, in real and personal estates, for purchasing a site, and building upon it an almshouse, with convenient apartments for twenty-four almsmen, a chapel, and school room for 100 poor boys, and two dwelling-houses for the schoolmasters, and endowing the same. He also ordered that each of the almsmen should have 8l.and half a chaldron of coals yearly, and a gown of baize every third year; that the school boys should be cloathed and taught reading, writing and arithmetic; that each of the masters, besides their houses, should have a salary of 30l.per annum, and the yearly sum of 20l.for coals and candles, for their use, and that of the school; with a sufficient allowance for books, paper, pens and ink; that the committee of the court of assistants should have 5l.for a dinner, at their annual visitation of the almshouse and school; and that 3l.10s.should be given for two half yearly sermons to be preached in the parish churches of St. Helen and St. Michael Cornhill, or elsewhere, in commemoration of this foundation, at which the almsmen and boys were to be present. To each of these boys, when put out apprentices, he gave 4l.but if they were put to service they were to have no more than 2l.10s.to buy them cloaths.

The edifice is not only neat but extremely elegant, consisting of two wings and a center detached from both of them. In the middle of the front is the chapel, before which is a noble portico, with Ionic columns, and coupled pilasters at the corners, supporting a pediment, in the plane of which is the dial. There is an ascent to the portico by a flight of steps, and over the chapel is a handsome turret. On each side of the portico, are two houses like those in the wings. The construction of the wings is uniform, lofty and convenient: twelve doors in each open in a regular series, and the windows are of a moderate size, numerous, and proportioned to the apartments they are to enlighten. The square is surrounded with gravel walks. with a large grass plat in the middle, and next the road the wall is adorned with handsome iron rails and gates. In short, the ends of the wings next the road being placed at a considerable distance from it, the whole is seen in a proper point of view, and appears to the greatest advantage.

It is worthy of remark, that this Bancroft, who left so large a sum for erecting and endowing this fine hospital, and even ordered two sermons to be annually preached in commemoration of his charity, was, according to the last edition ofStow’s Survey, one of the Lord Mayor’s officers, and by informations and summoning the citizens before the Lord Mayor, upon the most trifling occasions, and other things not belonging to his office, not only pillaged the poor but also many of the rich, who rather than lose time in appearing before that Magistrate, gave money to get rid of this common pest of the citizens, which, together with his numerous quarterages from the brokers, &c. enabled him to amass annually a considerable sum of money. But by these and other mercenary practices, he so incurred the hatred and ill-will of the citizens of all ranks and denominations, that the persons who attended his funeral obsequies, with great difficulty saved his corpse from being jostled off the bearers shoulders in the church, by the enraged populace, who seizing the bells, rang them for joy at his unlamented death.

Bandylegalley, Fleet ditch.║

Bandylegwalk. 1. Maiden lane, near Deadman’s place.║ 2. Queen street, in the Park, Southwark.║

Banecourt, Cold Bath square.

Bangorcourt. 1. Shoe lane. 2. White street.

S. WaleJ. Green sc. Oxon.The Bank.

Bank of England.This is a noble edifice, situated at the east of St. Christopher’s church, near the west end of Threadneedle street. The front next the street is about 80 feet in length, and is of the Ionic order raised on a rustic basement, as is represented in the print, and is in a good style. Through this you pass into the court yard, in which is the hall. This is of the Corinthian order, and in the middle is a pediment. The top of the building is adorned with a balustrade and handsome vases, and in the face of the above pediment is engraved, in relievo, the Company’s seal, Britannia sitting with her shield and spear, and at her feet a Cornucopia, pouring out fruit. The hall, which is in this last building, is 79 feet in length, and 40 in breadth; it is wainscoted about eight feet high; has a fine fretwork ceiling, and is adorned with the statue of King William III. which stands in a nich at the upper end; on the pedestal of which is the following inscription:

ObLegibus vim,Judiciis Auctoritatem,Senatui Dignitatem,Civibus universis Jura sua,Tam Sacra, quam Civilia Restituta,Et illustrissimæ Domus HannoverianæIn Imperium Britannicum SuccessionePosteris confirmata,Optimo Principi,Gulielmo Tertio,Conditiori suo,Grato Animo posuit, dicavitqueHujus Ærarii Societas,A. C. MDCCXXXIV. harumque Ædium. I.

Legibus vim,

Judiciis Auctoritatem,

Senatui Dignitatem,

Civibus universis Jura sua,

Tam Sacra, quam Civilia Restituta,

Et illustrissimæ Domus Hannoverianæ

In Imperium Britannicum Successione

Posteris confirmata,

Optimo Principi,

Gulielmo Tertio,

Conditiori suo,

Grato Animo posuit, dicavitque

Hujus Ærarii Societas,

A. C. MDCCXXXIV. harumque Ædium. I.

In English thus:

For restoring efficacy to the Laws,Authority to the Courts of Justice,Dignity to the Parliament,To all his Subjects their Religion and Liberties,And confirming these to Posterity,By the succession of the illustrious House of HanoverTo the British Throne,To the best of Princes,William the Third,Founder of the Bank,This Corporation, from a Sense of Gratitude,Has erected this Statue,And dedicated it to his Memory,In the Year of our Lord MDCCXXXIV.And the first Year of this Building.

For restoring efficacy to the Laws,

Authority to the Courts of Justice,

Dignity to the Parliament,

To all his Subjects their Religion and Liberties,

And confirming these to Posterity,

By the succession of the illustrious House of Hanover

To the British Throne,

To the best of Princes,William the Third,

Founder of the Bank,

This Corporation, from a Sense of Gratitude,

Has erected this Statue,

And dedicated it to his Memory,

In the Year of our Lord MDCCXXXIV.

And the first Year of this Building.

Farther backward is another quadrangle, with an arcade on the east and west sides of it; and on the north side is the accomptant’s office, which is 60 feet long, and 28 feet broad. Over this, and the other sides of the quadrangle, are handsome apartments, with a fine staircase adorned with fretwork, and under it are large vaults, that have strong walls and iron gates, for the preservation of the cash. The back entrance from Bartholomew lane is by a grand gateway, which opens into a commodious and spacious court yard for coaches, or waggons, that frequently come loaded with gold and silver bullion; and in the room fronting the gate the transfer office is kept.

The Bank was established by act of Parliament in the year 1693, under the title ofThe Governor and Company of the Bank of England, in consideration of a loan of 1,200,000l.granted to the government, for which the subscribers received eightper cent.By this charter, the Company are not to borrow under their common seal, unless by act of parliament; they are not to trade, or suffer any person in trust for them to trade in goods or merchandize; but may deal in bills of exchange, in buying or selling bullion, and foreign gold, or silver coin, &c.

By an act passed in the 8th and 9th years of the reign of King William III. they were empowered to enlarge their capital to 2,201,171l.10s.It was then also enacted, that bank stock should be a personal and not a real estate; that no contract, either in word or writing, for buying or selling bank stock, should be good in law, unless registered in the books of the bank within seven days, and the stock transferred within fourteen days; and that it should be felony, without benefit of clergy, to counterfeit the common seal of the Bank, any sealed bank bill, any bank note, or to alter or erase such bills or notes.

In the 7th of Queen Anne, the Company were, by another act, impowered to increase their capital to 4,402,343l.and at the same time they advanced 400,000l.more to the government; and in 1714, they advanced the sum of 1,500,000l.

In the third year of the reign of King George I. the interest of their capital was reduced to 5l.per cent.when the Bank agreed to deliver up as many Exchequer bills as amounted to two millions, and to accept of an annuity of 100,000l.per annum. It was also declared lawful for the Bank to call for from their members, in proportion to their interests in the capital stock, such sums, as in a general court should be found necessary; but if any member should neglect to pay his share of the money so called for, at the time appointed, by notice in the London Gazette and fixed up in the Royal Exchange, it should be lawful for the Bank, not only to stop the dividend of such member, and to apply it towards the payment of the money so called for, but also to stop the transfers of such defaulter, and to charge him with an interest of 5l.per cent.per annum, for the money so omitted to be paid; and if the principal and interest should be three months unpaid, the Bank should have power to sell so much of the stock belonging to the defaulter as would satisfy the same. This stock is now called Bank Circulation, every proprietor of which receives 5l.per cent.per annum, but is obliged to advance, if called for, 1000l.for every 100l.so paid in.

The Bank afterwards consented to have the interest of two millions still due from the government, reduced from 5 to 4per cent.The Company also purchased several other annuities, that were afterwards redeemed by the government, and the national debt due to the Bank was reduced to 1,600,000.

At length in 1742, the Company agreed to supply the government with 1,600,000l.at 3l.per cent., by which means the government became indebted to the Company 3,200,000l.the one half carrying 4, and the other 3per cent.

In 1746, the Company consented that the sum of 986,800l.due to them in Exchequer bills unsatisfied, on the duties for licences to sell spirituous liquors by retail, should be cancelled, and in lieu thereof to accept of an annuity of 39,442l.the interest of that sum at 4l.per cent.The Company also agreed to advance the farther sum of 1,000,000l.upon the credit of the duties arising by the malt and land tax, at 4l.per cent.for Exchequer bills to be issued for that purpose, in consideration of which the Company were enabled to augment their capital with 986,800l.the interest of which, as well as that of the other annuities, was reduced to 3l.10s.per cent.till the 25th of December 1757, and from that time they carry only 3l.per cent.

In short, several other sums have since been raised by the Bank for the service of the government: but the above is sufficient to give a full idea of the nature of the several species of annuities; only it may be proper to add, that what is called Bank Stock is entirely distinct from these, and may not improperly be termed, the trading stock of the Company, since with this they discount bills, and deal very largely in foreign gold, &c. which they only buy by weight, which trade is so very considerable, as to render a share in this stock very valuable, tho’ it is not equal in value to the East India stock. The Company make dividends of the profits half yearly.Pocket Library.

The transfer days at the Bank altered in 1758, are now as follows:

Bank stock, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Reduced annuities, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.Threeper cent.1726, }Consolidated annuities, } ditto.Threeper cent.1757, }Three ½per cent.1756, }Three ½per cent.1758, } Tu. and T

Bank stock, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Reduced annuities, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Threeper cent.1726, }

Consolidated annuities, } ditto.

Threeper cent.1757, }

Three ½per cent.1756, }

Three ½per cent.1758, } Tu. and T

The hour of transfer is from eleven to twelve o’clock, and the hours of payment of dividends from nine to eleven, and from twelve to one; except on the following Holidays.

Holidays at the Bank.

Moveable Holidays.

Shrove Tuesday.Ash Wednesday.Good Friday.Easter Monday.Easter Tuesday.Easter Wednesday.Ascension Day.Whitsun Monday.Whitsun Tuesday.Whitsun Wednesday.

Shrove Tuesday.

Ash Wednesday.

Good Friday.

Easter Monday.

Easter Tuesday.

Easter Wednesday.

Ascension Day.

Whitsun Monday.

Whitsun Tuesday.

Whitsun Wednesday.

This Company is under the direction of a Governor, Deputy Governor and twenty-four Directors, who are annually elected at a general court, in the same manner as the Governor and the Directors of the East India company. Thirteen are sufficient to compose a court of Directors, for managing the affairs of the Company; but if both the Governor and Deputy Governor should be absent two hours after the usual time of proceeding to business, the Directors may chuse a chairman by majority, all their acts being equally valid, as if the Governor or Deputy Governor were present.

Bank Endstairs, Bank side.

Bank Siderow. 1. Millbank. 2. Vine street, Southwark.

Bank’scourt. Knave’s acre.†

Bank’syard, Bunhill row.†

Banner’srents, Portpool lane.†

Bannister’syard, Water lane, Black Friars.†

Bannister’salley. 1. Broad St. Giles’s.† 2. Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.†

S. Wales delin.J. Green sc. Oxon.Banqueting House.

Banqueting House, Whitehall, so called from there being originally in this place an edifice in which our Kings had public entertainments. This was a small part of the ancient palace of Whitehall, which was destroyed by fire in 1697, and only the Banqueting House, and one court left standing. See the articleWhitehall.

In the reign of King James I. the Banqueting House being in a ruinous condition, that Monarch formed the design of erecting a palace on the spot, worthy the residence of the Kings of England. The celebrated Inigo Jones was employed to draw the plan of a noble edifice; this was done, and the present structure erected, as a small part of the great intended work, for the reception of ambassadors, and other audiences of state. The engraved view of it, which is here given, will best illustrate what follows.

This is a regular and august building which has three stories. The lowest has a rustic wall, with small square windows, and by its strength happily serves for a basis for the orders. Upon this is raised the Ionic, with columns and pilasters, and between the columns are well-proportioned windows, with arched and pointed pediments. Over these is placed the proper entablature, and on this is raised a second series of the Corinthian order, consisting of columns and pilasters like the other; column being placed over column, and pilaster over pilaster. From the capitals are carried festoons, which meet with masks and other ornaments in the middle. This series is also crowned with its proper entablature, on which is raised the balustrade with Attic pedestals between, which crown the work. Every thing in this building is finely proportioned, and as happily executed. The projection of the columns from the wall has a fine effect in the entablatures, which being brought forward in the same proportion, gives that happy diversity of light and shade so essential to fine architecture.English Architecture.

To render this edifice as perfect as possible, the ceiling is finely painted by the celebrated Sir Peter Paul Rubens, who was ambassador here in the time of Charles I. The subject is the entrance, inauguration, and coronation of King James I. represented by Pagan emblems. It is esteemed one of his most capital performances, and may be justly esteemed one of the finest ceilings in the world. This great apartment is at present converted into a chapel, for the service of which certain select preachers were appointed out of each university, by King George I. to preach here every Sunday; for this each are allowed a stipend of 30l.a year.

Bansted, a village in Surrey, situated between Dorking and Croydon, famous for producing a great number of walnuts; but much more for its neighbouring Downs, one of the most delightful spots in England, on account of the agreeable seats in that neighbourhood; for the extensive prospect of several counties on both sides the Thames, and even of the royal palaces of Windsor and Hampton Court; and for the fineness of the turf, covered with a short grass intermixed with thyme, and other fragrant herbs, that render the mutton of this tract, though small, remarkable for its sweetness. In these Downs there is a four miles course for horse races, which is much frequented.

Baptists, a sect of dissenters, thus denominated from their baptizing by immersing the body all over, and from their not considering infants as proper subjects of baptism. They are principally divided into two classes, termed general and particular. The general Baptists, who with Arminius maintain the doctrine of universal redemption, consist of only six congregations, who have their meeting-houses as follows:

1. Fair street, Horsely down. 2. Glasshouse yard, Pickax street, near Aldersgate bars. 3. Mill yard, Rosemary lane. 4. Pinner’s hall, Broad street, in the afternoon. 5. Paul’s alley, Redcross street, where are two different congregations, who maintain their own Minister. 6. Queen street, in the Park, Southwark.

The particular Baptists, who with Calvin believe that none will be saved but the elect, and that all the rest of mankind are doomed to eternal misery, are much more numerous, and have the following meetings.

1. Angel alley, Whitechapel. 2. Artillery street, Spitalfields. 3. Brewers hall, Addle street. 4. Cherry Garden lane, Rotherhith. 5. Church lane, Limehouse. 6. Collier’s rents, White street, Southwark. 7. Curriers court, near Cripplegate. 8. Devonshire square, Bishopsgate street without. 9. Dipping alley, Horselydown, Southwark. 10. Duke’s street, near Pepper street. 11. Eagle street, Red lion street, Holborn. 12. Flower de luce yard, Tooley street. 13. Glasshouse street, Swallow street. 14. Goat yard passage, Horselydown. 15. Johnson’s street, Old Gravel lane. 16. Little Wild street, Great Wild street. 17. Little Wood street, Cripplegate. 18. Maze Pond street, Southwark. 19. Maidenhead court, Great Eastcheap. 20. New Way, Maze, Southwark. 21. Pennington’s street, Virginia street. 22. Pepper street, Southwark. 23. Rose lane, Limehouse. 24. Rosemary branch alley, Rosemary lane. 25. Rotherhith. 26. St. John’s court, Little Hart street. 27. Sheer’s alley, White street, Southwark. 28. Snow fields. 29. Unicorn yard, St. Olave’s. 30. Union yard, Horselydown lane. 31. Vinegar row, Shoreditch.

Baptistcourt, by Boswell court, Carey street.*

Baptist’s Headcourt, Whitecross street.*

Barbers.The art of surgery was anciently practised in this city by none but the Barbers, who were incorporated by letters patent granted by King Edward IV. in the Year 1461, and in 1512 an act was passed to prevent any persons besides the Barbers practising surgery within the city of London, and seven miles round. At length several persons, who were not Barbers, being examined and admitted as practitioners in the art of surgery, the parliament united them in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Henry VIII. by the appellation ofthe Masters or Governors of the mystery or commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons of the city of London; and by this act all persons practising the art of shaving, are strictly enjoined not to intermeddle with that of surgery, except what belongs to drawing of teeth. Thus this company obtained the name of Barber-Surgeons, which they continued to enjoy till the eighteenth year of the reign of his present Majesty King George II. when the Surgeons applying to Parliament to have this union dissolved, were formed into a separate company; though the Barbers were left in possession of the hall and theatre, and were constituted a body politic, under the name ofthe Master, Governors and Commonalty of the mystery of Barbers of London.

This company has a Master and three other Governors, a court of Assistants of twenty-four members, and a very numerous livery.

Barbers Hall, a fine edifice on the west side of Monkwell street, consisting of a spacious hall room, a court room, theatre, library, and other commodious offices. The grand entrance from Monkwell street is enriched with the company’s arms, large fruit, and other decorations. The court room has a fretwork ceiling, and is also adorned with the pictures of King Henry VIII. and the court of Assistants, in one fine piece; a portrait of King Charles II. and other paintings. The theatre contains four degrees of cedar seats, one above another, in an elliptical form, and the roof is an elliptical cupola; this room is adorned with a bust of King Charles I. the figures of the seven liberal sciences, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac; the skins of a man and woman on wooden frames, in imitation of Adam and Eve; the figure of a man flayed, done after the life, all the muscles appearing in their due place, and proportion; the skeleton of an ostrich; an human skeleton, with copper joints, and five other skeletons of human bodies. But as this furniture was introduced by the Surgeons, it is now of no use, and the theatre is entirely deserted.

This Hall is one of the works of that great architect Inigo Jones, and is a masterpiece in its kind, that elegant simplicity which characterises all his works, giving the spectator the highest satisfaction.

Barber’salley, Brown’s lane, Spitalfields.*

Barber’s Polealley, St. Margaret’s hill, Southwark.*

Barbican, Aldersgate street, so called from a high watch tower which stood there, from which a view might be taken of the whole city. Barbican, according to Camden, being an Arabic word signifying a watch tower.

Barelane, Gravel lane.

Baremere’s Almshouse, in Almshouse yard, Hoxton, which was built about the year 1701, by the Rev. Mr. Baremere, a Presbyterian Minister, for eight poor women, who have no other allowance but half a chaldron of coals eachper annum.Maitland.

Bareyard, Bucklersbury.

Barehouseyard, Silver street, Wood street.

Barker’srents, Paul’s alley, Red cross street.†

Barking, a large market town in Essex, situated ten miles from London, on a creek that leads to the Thames, from whence fish is sent up in boats to London, the town being chiefly inhabited by fishermen. The parish has been so much enlarged by lands recovered from the Thames, and the river Rothing, which runs on the west side of the town, that it has two chapels of ease, one at Ilford, and another called New chapel, on the side of Epping forest, and the great and small tithes are computed at above 600l.per annum. At a small distance from the town, in the way to Dagenham, stood a large old house, where the gunpowder plot is said to have been formed.

Barkingalley, Tower street, by Tower hill, so called from the church of Allhallows, Barking.

Barlam’smews, New Bond street.†

Barlow’scourt, Coal yard, Broad St. Giles’s.

Barnabystreet, Tooley street, Southwark.

Barnes, a village in Surrey, almost encompassed by the Thames. It lies between Mortlake and Barn Elms, and is seven miles from London, and five from Kingston.

Barnet, a market town in Hertfordshire, situated in the road to St. Alban’s, eleven miles from London, on the top of a hill, whence it is called High Barnet, and also Chipping, or Cheaping Barnet, from King Henry the Second’s granting the monks of St. Alban’s the privilege of holding a market here; the word Cheap, or Chepe, being an ancient word for a market. As this place is a great thoroughfare, it is well supplied with inns. The church is a chapel of ease to the village of East Barnet. Here is a free school founded by Q. Elizabeth, and endowed partly by that Princess, and partly by Alderman Owen, of London, whose additional endowment is paid by the Fishmongers company, who appoint 24 governors, by whom the master and usher are chosen to teach seven children gratis, and all the other children of the parish for 5sa quarter. Here is also an almshouse founded and endowed by James Ravenscroft, Esq; for six widows.

This place is remarkable for the decisive battle fought there between the houses of York and Lancaster, on Easter day, 1468, in which the great Earl of Warwick, stiledthe Setter up, and Puller down of Kings, was slain, with many others of the principal nobility. The place supposed to be the field of battle, is a green spot, a little before the meeting of the St. Alban’s and Hatfield roads: and here, in the year 1740, a stone column was erected, on which is inscribed a long account of that battle.

Barnet(East) a pleasant village in Hertfordshire, near Whetstone and Enfield Chace, formerly much frequented on account of its medicinal spring, which was discovered in a neighbouring common about an hundred years ago. The church is a mean edifice; but the rectory is very beneficial.

Here is the fine seat of the Lord Trevor, to which Queen Elizabeth gave the name of Mount Pleasant.

Barnet’syard, Mill bank.†

Baron’s Almshouse, in Elbow lane, Shadwell, was founded in the year 1682, by George Baron, for fifteen poor women, who also endowed it with 5l.4s.per annumfor bread.

Barrat’srents, Stepney Causeway.†

Barret’scourt, Horselydown, Fair street.†

Barrow’srents, Windmill hill.†

Bartholomewclose, near Smithfield, so called from its being situated near the church of St. Bartholomew the Great.

Bartholomewcourt. 1. Houndsditch. 2. Throgmorton street.

St.Bartholomew’sChurch, situated at the south east corner of Bartholomew lane, behind the Royal Exchange, was one of the churches consumed in the general conflagration in 1666, and this structure arose in its place. It consists of a very irregular body, with a tower suited to it, the top of which, instead of pinnacles, a spire, or turrets, is crowned with arches, supported by columns of the Corinthian order. It is a rectory, in the gift of the Crown, and the Rector receives 100l.a year in lieu of tithes.

Bartholomewlane, extends from Threadneedle street to Lothbury, and is so named from St. Bartholomew’s church at the corner.

St.Bartholomewthe Great, situated near the east end of Duck lane, on the north east side of Smithfield, escaped the flames in 1666, and is a large plain church, with a tower crowned with a turret. It is a rectory in the patronage of the Earl of Holland, The Rector’s profits, besides casualties, amount to about 60l.per annum.

St.Bartholomewthe Less, is seated on the south east side of Smithfield, adjoining to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. It was founded in the year 1102, and belonged to the neighbouring convent of the same name; but as it was not destroyed by the fire in 1666, it remains in the same state it was in before that dreadful calamity. It is a low building, composed of brick and rough stone plaistered; and consists of a roofed body with Gothic windows, and a tower with a corner turret. This church is a vicarage, in the gift of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, who upon receiving the grant of the church and hospital, covenanted to pay the Vicar 13l.6s.8d.per annum, which, with an allowance from the hospital, and casualties, amounts to about 120l.per annum.

St.Bartholomew’s Hospital, on the south east of Smithfield, for the cure of the poor, sick and lame, formerly belonged to the Priory of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield; but both the priory and hospital being dissolved by K. Henry VIII. that Monarch, in the last year of his reign, founded the hospital anew, and endowed it with the annual revenue of 500 marks, upon condition that the city should pay the same sum, which proposal was readily embraced, and the managers of this foundation were incorporated by the name ofThe Hospital of the Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of London, Governors for the poor, called Little St. Bartholomew’s, near West Smithfield. Since that time the hospital has received prodigious benefactions from great numbers of charitable persons, by which means not only the poor of London and Southwark, but the distressed of any other parts of the King’s dominions, and from foreign countries, are taken in, whether sick or maimed, and have lodging, food, attendance, and medicines, with the advice and assistance of some of the best Physicians and Surgeons in the kingdom, who belong to the hospital, and attend the patients as occasion requires; they have also matrons and nurses, to look after and assist them; and at their discharge when cured, some, who live at a considerable distance, are relieved with money, cloaths, and other necessaries, to enable them to return to their several habitations. Pity it is that so noble and humane a foundation should want any thing to render it perfect, and that every sick person who is admitted, except such as have suffered by sudden accidents, as the fracture or dislocation of a bone, should be obliged to deposit or give security for the payment of a guinea, in case of death, in order to defray the expence of the funeral; for by this some of the poorest and most miserable, and consequently the most proper objects, are unhappily excluded from reaping the benefit they might otherwise receive from it: but this is also the case of several of the other hospitals of this city; however many thousands of persons labouring under the most dreadful diseases and wounds, are annually cured at this hospital, and in those of Kent street in Southwark, and the Lock at Kingsland, both of which are dependent on it. Besides all this, there are great numbers of out-patients, who receive advice and medicines gratis.

The ancient hospital which escaped the fire of London becoming ruinous, it was found absolutely necessary in the year 1729 to rebuild it; a plan for that purpose was formed, and a grand edifice erected, by subscription, which was designed to be only one out of four noble detached piles of building, to be afterwards raised, about a court or area 250 feet in length, and 60 in breadth.

The original design is now nearly compleated, and this hospital altogether forms a very elegant building, or rather buildings, for the sides which compose the quadrangle do not join at the angles, as is usual, but by four walls, each having a large gate which admits you into the area, as may be seen in the print. Here is a staircase painted and given by Mr. Hogarth, containing two pictures with figures large as the life, which for truth of colouring and expression may vie with any thing of its kind in Europe. The subject of the one is the Good Samaritan, the other the Pool of Bethesda.

Bartlet’sbuildings, Holborn.†

Bartlet’scourt. 1. Bartlet’s street.† 2. Holborn hill.†

Bartlet’spassage, Fetter lane.†

Bartlet’sstreet, Red Lion street, Clerkenwell.†

Bartonstreet, Cowley street, Westminster.†

Barton’srents, Shoreditch.†

Bartram’syard, Nightingale lane.†

Basinghall, a very ancient building now called Blackwell hall, which see.

Basinghallcourt, Basinghall street.†

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