Chapter 9

College of Physicians.S. Wale delin.J. Taylor sc.

The College of Physicians is a very noble edifice, situated near the north west corner of Warwick lane. It is built with brick and stone.

The entrance, which is grand, is under an octangular theatre, finishing in a dome, with a cone on the top,making a lantern to it. The inside is elegant, finely enlightened and very capacious. This was built by Sir Christopher Wren. The arches represented in the print are under the theatre thro’ which you enter the area. The central building, which is well worthy of observation, is the design of Inigo Jones, and contains the library and other rooms of state and convenience. The ascent to the door is by a flight of steps, and in the under part is a basement story. The whole front is decorated with pilasters of the Ionic and Corinthian orders; and on one side over the door case, is the statue of King Charles II. placed in a niche, and in the other side that of Sir John Cutler. The buildings at the two sides of the court are uniform, and have the window cases handsomely ornamented. The orders are well executed, and the whole edifice both beautiful and commodious.

The College of Physicians is a building of great delicacy, and eminently deserves to be considered among the noblest ornaments of this city, is yet so unlucky in its situation, in a narrow and dirty part of the lane, that it can never be seen to advantage.

There is here a hall, in which the Physicians sit to give advice to the poorgratis; a committee room; a library, furnished with books by Sir Theodore Mayerne and the Marquis of Dorchester, who was one of the Fellows; a great hall for the quarterly meetings of the Doctors, adorned with pictures and sculpture; a theatre for anatomical dissection; a preparing room, where there are thirteen tables, containing all the muscles in the human body; and over all garrets to dry the herbs for the use of the dispensatory.

Piccadilly, Haymarket. There were formerly no houses in this street, and only one shop for Spanish ruffs, which was called the Piccadilly or Ruff shop. At present there are several noble houses in it. SeeDevonshire House,Burlington House. The last house built in Piccadilly is the Earl of Egremont’s. It is of stone, and tho’ not much adorned, is elegant and well situated for a town house, having a fine view over the Green Park, which would be still more extended if the houses on each side were set farther back.

Pickaxstreet, Aldersgate street.

Pickering’scourt, St. James’s street.†

Pickleherringstairs, Pickleherring street, Southwark.

Pickleherringstreet, near Horselydown, Southwark.

Pictureyard, Back lane, near Rag Fair.

Pie-corner, Giltspur street, Smithfield.

Piepowdercourt, a court of record incident to a fair, as a court baron is to a manor; it is derived from the Frenchpié poudre, and is said to be so called from its expeditious proceedings in the decision of all controversies that happen in fairs; since for the encouragement of all traders, justice is supposed to be as quickly administered asdustcan fall from the feet.Coke’s Institutes.

During the time of Bartholomew fair, this court is held in Cloth fair by the city of London and Mr. Edwards, for hearing and determining all differences committed against the tenor of the proclamation made by the Lord Mayor, on the eve of old St. Bartholomew, for the better regulation of that fair.

Pierpoint’srents, Islington.†

Pierpoint’srow, Islington.†

Pigcourt, St. Catharine’s lane.*

Pigstreet, extends from Threadneedle street to Broad street.

Pillorylane, 1. Butcher row. 2. Fenchurch street.

Pinalley, near Rosemary lane.

Pinder’salley, Shoreditch.†

Pinder’scourt, Gray’s Inn lane.†

Pineapplecourt, Woolpack alley, Houndsditch.*

Pinners, orPinmakers, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1636.

They consist of a Master, two Wardens, and eighteen Assistants; but have no livery.

Their hall is situated near the southeast corner of Great Winchester street, Broad street: and is most noted for being let out for a meeting of Independents, who meet there every Sunday morning. This is the only Independent meeting in London, where the audience are not Calvinists. In the afternoon it is a meeting for a congregation of general Baptists.

Pinner’salley, Shoreditch.

Pinnerscourt, Broad street, leading to Pinners hall.

Pipealley, Broad way, Westminster.

Pipemakersalley, 1. Great St. Anne’s lane. 2. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.

Pipe Office, in Gray’s Inn lane, an office of the Treasury, in which all accounts and debts due to the King are drawn out of the Remembrancer’s office, and charged in a great roll made up like a pipe.

The chief officers are, the Clerk of the Pipe, and the Comptroller of the Pipe. The former makes leases of the King’s lands, on his being warranted so to do by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury,or the Chancellor of the Exchequer: and these leases are sometimes directed to be made under the Great Seal, but for the most part pass the Exchequer: he has under him a Deputy, and eight Attornies, the two first of whom are Secondaries.

All accounts that pass the Remembrancer’s office, are brought to the office of the Clerk of the Pipe, and remain there, to the end if there be any determined debt due by any accomptant or other person, in any such account, it may be inserted in the great roll or the pipes thereof, and taken verbatim by the Comptroller of the Pipe into his roll, and process may be made by him for the recovery thereof by a writ called theSummons of the Pipe, which is in the nature of alevari facias.

All tallies that vouch the payments contained in such accounts, are examined and allowed by the Chief Secondary in the Pipe, and remain for ever after in this office.

The Comptroller of the Pipe writes in his roll all that is in the great roll; and nothing entered in the great roll can be discharged without his privity. He also writes out the summons twice every year to the sheriffs, to levy the debts charged in the great roll of the pipe.Chamberlain’s Present State. He has under him a Deputy Comptroller, and a Clerk.

Pipeyard, Bristol street, Puddle dock.

Piper’sground, College street.

Pissingalley, St. John’s street, Smithfield.‖

Pitcher’scourt, White’s alley, Coleman street.†

Pitfieldstreet, Hoxton.†

Pitman’salley, Gardener’s lane, Westminster.†

Plaisterers, a company incorporated by letters patent, granted by King Henry VIII. in the year 1501, and confirmed by a charter granted by Charles II. in 1667, by the name ofThe Master, and Wardens of the guild or fraternity of the blessed Mary, of Plaisterers, London.

This company is governed by a Master, two Wardens, and thirty-two Assistants, and has seventy-seven Liverymen, who upon their admission pay a fine of 8l.They have a neat hall on the north west side of Addle street.

Plaistow, a village in Essex, in the parish of West Ham.

Plaistow, a village near Bromley in Kent.

Plantation Officein the treasury. Seethe articleTradeandPlantation Office.

Playhousepassage, 1. Bow street; leading to Covent Garden playhouse. 2. Drury lane, leading to the playhouse there.

Playhouseyard, 1. Black Friars, where a playhouse was formerly situated. 2. Whitecross street, Old street, where, according to Maitland, the first playhouse in London was erected; on the east side of that yard are still to be seen the ruins of the theatre.

Clerk of thePleas Office, in Lincoln’s Inn. In this office all the officers of the Exchequer, and other privileged persons, as debtors to the King, &c. are to have their privilege to plead, and be impleaded as to all matters at the common law: and the proceedings are accordingly by declarations, pleas, and trials as at the common law; because they should not be drawn out of their own court, where their attendance is required. In this office are four sworn Attornies.Chamberlain’s Present State.

CommonPleas. SeeCourt ofCommon Pleas.

Ploughalley, 1. Bankside, Southwark.* 2. Barbican.* 3. Carey street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.* 4. Wapping.

Ploughcourt, 1. Fetter lane. 2. Gray’s Inn lane.* 3. Lombard street.*

Plough and Harrowwalk, Nag’s Head Buildings, Hackney road.*

Ploughman’srents, 1. Cow cross, near Smithfield.† 2. Turnmill street.†

Ploughstreet, Whitechapel.*

Ploughyard, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. Brown’s gardens, St. Giles’s.* 3. Holborn hill.* 4. Harrow yard, Green bank.* 5. Seething lane, Tower street.* 6. Tower ditch.*

Plough yardSchool, in Plough yard, Seething lane, was founded by James Hickson, Esq; about the year 1689, for the education of twenty boys; for the instruction of whom he allowed the head Master 20l.per annum, a dwelling house, and two chaldrons of coals yearly; and to a Writing Master 8l.a year. Fourteen of the children are to be of the parish of Allhallows, Barking, and six of the hamlet of Wapping.Maitland.

Plumbers, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King James I. in the year 1611. This corporation is governed by a Master, two Wardens, and twenty-four Assistants; with a livery of fifty-seven members, who upon their admission pay a fine of 10l.They have asmall hall in Chequer yard, Dowgate hill.Maitland.

Plumber’scourt, High Holborn.†

Plumtreecourt, Plumtree street, Shoe lane.†

Plumtreesquare, Plumtree street, St. Giles’s.

Plumtreestreet, 1. St. Giles’s. 2. Shoe lane.†

Polandcourt, Poland street.

Polandstreet, Oxford street.

Polandyard, Oxford street.

Pollin’sstreet, Hanover street.

ThePondyard, Bankside, Southwark.

Poor Jewrylane, Aldgate; so called from its being inhabited by the Jews, on their return to England, after being expelled the kingdom by Edward I. SeeOld Jewry.

Pope’s Headalley, 1. Broad street.* 2. A neat passage from Cornhill into Lombard street, next to ‘Change alley.*

Pope’s Headcourt, in the Minories.*

Popish Chapels, of these there are but few in the city of London; for as Popery is esteemed inconsistent with the liberties of a free people, they are therefore in a manner confined to the ambassadors, who keep them open for those of their own religion. These are,

1. In Butler’s alley meeting house, Grub street.2. Imperial ambassador’s, Hanover square.3. Portuguese ambassador’s chapel.4. Sardinian ambassador’s chapel, by Lincoln’s Inn Fields.5. Venetian ambassador’s chapel, Suffolk street.

1. In Butler’s alley meeting house, Grub street.

2. Imperial ambassador’s, Hanover square.

3. Portuguese ambassador’s chapel.

4. Sardinian ambassador’s chapel, by Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

5. Venetian ambassador’s chapel, Suffolk street.

Poplar, a hamlet of Stepney, is situated on the Thames to the east of Limehouse, and obtained its name from the great number of poplar trees that anciently grew there. The chapel of Poplar was erected in the year 1654, when the ground upon which it was built, together with the church yard, were given by the East India company, and the edifice erected by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants and others; since which time that Company has not only allowed the Minister a convenient dwelling house, with a garden and field containing about three acres, but has allowed him 20l.per annumduring pleasure; wherefore this chapel for want of an endowment continues unconsecrated.

Poplar Marsh, called the Isle of Dogs, from the great noise made by the King’s hounds that were kept there during the residence of the royal family at Greenwich, is rather an isthmus than an island,and is reckoned one of the richest spots of ground in England; for it not only raises the largest cattle, but the grass it bears is esteemed a great restorative of all distempered cattle.

Here are two almshouses besides an hospital belonging to the East India company.

Popler’salley, Greenbank.†

Poppetcourt, Shoe lane, Fleet street.

Popping’salley, Fleet street.†

Popping’scourt, Popping’s alley, Fleet street.†

Porridge potalley, Aldersgate street.*

Porters.The London porters are divided into brotherhoods, and consist of four sorts, viz. Companies porters, Fellowship porters, Ticket porters, and Tackle porters.

I. The companies porters land and ship off all goods and merchandizes exported and imported to and from all parts near the west side of the Sound, in the Baltic sea, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and towards or beyond the Cape of Good Hope.

II. Fellowship porters, whose business is to land, ship off, carry or house, all merchandize, as corn, salt, coals, and other commodities, measurable by dry measure. They are upward of 700 in number, and their chief governor is the Alderman ofBillingsgate ward. Their quarterage is 12d.whereas the Ticket porters pay but 4d.each.

There is a very remarkable custom among the Fellowship porters, which is as follows, viz.

By an act of Common Council, a sermon is preached to them, in the parish church of St. Mary at Hill, the next Sunday after every Midsummer day; when overnight they furnish the merchants and families about Billingsgate with nosegays, and in the morning they proceed from their place of meeting in good order, each having a nosegay in his hand: walking through the middle isle to the communion table, every one offers something into the two basons, for the relief of the poor, and towards the charges of the day; and after they have passed, the deputy, the merchants, their wives, children, and servants walk in order from their seats, and bestow their offerings also; which is a ceremony of much variety. The charges of their nosegays have amounted sometimes to near 20l.in one year.

III. The Ticket porters land and ship off goods imported or exported to all parts of America, &c. and house all merchants goods, metals, &c. They give ample security for their fidelity andhonesty, and such as employ them need only take notice of their names stamped on a ticket that hangs at their girdles; that upon complaint being made to their Governor, satisfaction may be given to such as have been injured by them.

IV. Tackle porters are such of the Ticket porters as are furnished with weights, scales, &c. and their business is to weigh goods.

Rates taken byPortersfor shipping, landing, houseing and weighing.

Sugar the hogshead, 3d.—For weighing 4d.

Sugar the tierce or barrel, 2d.—For weighing 3d.

Sugar the butt, 6d.—For weighing 8d.

Cotton, wool, the bag, 3d.—The same for weighing.

Ginger, the bag, 1d.—The same for weighing.

Melasses, the hogshead, 3d.—For weighing 4d.

Logwood, the ton, 1s.—The same for weighing.

Fustick, the ton, 1s.—The same for weighing.

Young fustick, the ton, 1s.6d.—The same for weighing.

Lignum rhodium, the ton, 1s.6d.—The same for weighing.

Lignum vitæ, the ton, 1s.—The same for weighing.

Tobacco, the hogshead, 2d.—The same for weighing.

Tobacco, the bundle, 1d.—The same for weighing.

Danish, or Swedish iron, the ton, 1s.—The same for weighing.

Narva and Riga hemp, the bundle, 6d.—The same for weighing.

Any porter has the liberty of bringing goods into London; but may not carry any out of the city, or from one part of it to another, unless he be a freeman; otherwise he is liable to be arrested.

Portersalley, Basinghall street.

Portersblock, Smithfield bars.

Porter’scourt, Basinghall street.†

Porter’sfield, Porter’s street.†

Porterskey, Thames street.

Porter’sstreet, 1. Blossom’s street.† 2. Newport market.†

Porter’syard, 1. Holiwell lane, Shoreditch.† 2. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.†

Portlandstreet, Oxford street.

Portpoollane, extends from Gray’s Inn lane to Leather lane.

Portsmouthcorner, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Portsoken Ward.The word Portsoken, according to Maitland, signifies a franchise at the gate: this ward is therefore situated entirely without Aldgate, and contains all Whitechapel as far as the bars; Petticoat lane, Houndsditch and the Minories. It is bounded on the east, by the parishes of Spitalfields, Stepney, and St. George’s in the east; on the south by Tower hill; on the west by Aldgate ward, from which it is separated by the city wall; and on the north by Bishopsgate ward.

Its principal streets are, Whitechapel up to the bars, the Minories, and Houndsditch; and its most remarkable buildings, the parish churches of St. Botolph’s Aldgate, and Trinity Minories,

This ward is governed by an Alderman and five Common Council men, including the Alderman’s Deputy; twenty-two inquest men, five scavengers, five constables, and a beadle. The jurors returned by the wardmote inquest serve in the several courts of Guildhall in the month of January.Maitland.

Portugalrow, 1. St James’s street. 2. Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Portugalstreet, 1. Piccadilly. 2. Searle’s street, Carey street.

GeneralPost Office, a handsome and commodious building near the south west extremity of Lombard street, facing Pope’s Head alley.

Of what antiquity the post is in this kingdom, is not easy to determine. Anciently the management of the foreign mails was under the direction of a stranger, who by the permission of the government was chosen by the foreigners dwelling in this city, who even pretended to have a right by prescription of chusing their own post master. However, in the year 1568 a difference arising between the Spaniards and Flemings in London, each chose their separate post master; and this contest occasioned a representation from the citizens to the Privy Council, to beseech her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, to fill that important post with one of her English subjects.

By the first accounts we find of the posts established for the convenience of this kingdom, it appears to have been managed by several private officers, who had their respective districts. But great inconveniences arising from their different methods of proceeding, they were suppressed, and a certain number of publicofficers erected in their room: but these also not answering the end proposed, a General Post Office was erected by act of parliament in the 12th of King Charles II. in the year 1660, to be kept within the city of London, under the direction of a Post Master appointed by the King.

By this act the General Post Master was impowered to appoint post houses in the several parts of the country hitherto unprovided, both in post and by-roads: the postage of letters to and from all places therein mentioned was not only ascertained, but likewise the rates of post horses to be paid by all such as should ride post.

At length, upon the union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland, a General Post Office was established by act of parliament in the year 1710, not only for the united kingdom of Great Britain, but likewise for that of Ireland, and her Majesty’s plantations in North America and the West Indies.

The office of Post Master is at present under the direction of two Commissioners who have 2000l.per annum, and are assisted by a Secretary of 200l.a year, who has four Clerks, two of 60l.a year, one of 50l.and one of 30l.

The other officers under the direction of the Post Master General are, a Receiver General, who has 300l.per annum, under whom are two clerks, who have 50l.a year each.

An Accomptant General who has 300l.per annum, and has a Deputy of 90l.a year, and three Clerks who have 50l.a year each.

A Comptroller of the inland office who has 200l.a year, and has a Deputy of 90l.a year. A Solicitor to the post office who has 200l.a year; a Resident Surveyor, who has 300l.a year; and two Inspectors of the mis-sent letters who have 100l.a year each.

Six Clerks of the roads, viz. Chester, 100l.per annum; Assistant, 60l.West, 60l.and Assistant, 60l.North, 60l.a year, and Assistant, 60l.Bristol, 60l.a year, and Assistant 60l.Yarmouth, 60l.a year, and Assistant, 60l.Kent, 60l.a year, and Assistant, 50l.Notwithstanding the smallness of these salaries; the perquisite of franking news papers, &c. into the country renders the profits of the Clerks of the roads very considerable.

A Court Post who has 2l.a day; and a deliverer of the letters to the House of Commons, who has 6s.8d.a day.

There is also a Clerk of the by-nights,who has 60l.a year, and his Assistant, 60l.Ten sorters, seven of whom have 50l.a year, and three 40l.a year each, seven, supernumerary sorters, three at 30l.and four at 25l.each. A window man and alphabet keeper, who has 60l.a year; and several other officers and servants, among whom are sixty-seven letter carriers at 11s.a week.

In the foreign office is a Comptroller, who has 150l.a year; an alphabet keeper, who has 100l.per annum, a Secretary who has 50l.a year; and six Clerks, five of whom have 50l.a year each, and one 40l.a year.

Rates for carrying Letters by the Post, to any part of Great Britain and Ireland.

Double letters to be paid twice as much as single, treble letters three times as much, and the ounce four times as much as single letters.

Every single letter not exceeding one sheet, to or from any place not exceeding eighty miles, 3d.

Every single letter above eighty miles, 4d.

Every single letter from London to Berwick, or from Berwick to London, 4d.

Every single letter from Berwick to any place within forty miles distance, 3d.

Carriage of every single letter a greater distance than one hundred and forty miles 6d.

The port of every single letter to or from Edinburgh, and to and from Dumfries or Cockburnsperth, and between either of those places and Edinburgh, not coming from on ship-board, 6d.

The port of every single letter from Edinburgh to or from any place within fifty miles distance in Scotland, 2d.

The port of every single letter a farther distance, and not exceeding eighty miles within Scotland, 3d.

The port of every single letter above eighty miles within Scotland, 4d.

Between Donachaddee in Ireland and Port-Patrick in Scotland for port of letters and packets (over and above the inland rates) to be paid at the place where delivered; single letter, 2d.

The carriage of every single letter from England to Dublin, in Ireland, or from Dublin into England, 6d.

The carriage of every single letter from Dublin to any place within forty miles distance, or from any place within the like distance to Dublin, 2d.

The carriage of every letter a farther distance than forty miles, 4d.

And for the port of all and every the letters and packets directed or brought from on ship-board, over and above the said rates, 1d.

The several rates for the carriage of Letters, Packets, and Parcels; to or from any parts or places beyond the seas, are as follow; viz.

Double letters to be paid for twice as much as single, treble letters three times as much, the ounce four times as much as the single letters.

All letters and packets coming from any part of France to London. Single 10d.

All letters or packets passing from London through France, to any part of Spain or Portugal (port paid to Bayonne) and from Spain and Portugal through France to London, 1s.6d.single, double 3s.

All letters and packets passing from London through France, to any part of Italy or Sicily by the way of Lyons, or to any part of Turky, by the way of Marseilles, and from any of those parts thro’ France to London. Single 1s.3d.

All letters and packets coming from any part of the Spanish Netherlands to London. Single 10d.

All letters and packets passing from London through the Spanish Netherlands to any part of Italy or Sicily (port paid to Antwerp), and from any port of Italy or Sicily, through the Spanish Netherlands unto London. Single 1s.

All letters and packets passing from London through the Spanish Netherlands to any part of Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, and all parts of the North, and from any of those parts through the Spanish Netherlands unto London. Single 1s.

All letters and packets passing from London through the Spanish Netherlands to any part of Spain or Portugal; and from any part of Spain or Portugal, through the Spanish Netherlands to London. Single 1s.6d.

All letters and packets passing from any part of the United Provinces to London. Single 10d.

All letters and packets passing from London through the United Provinces, for any part of Italy or Sicily, and from any part of Italy or Sicily, through the United Provinces, to London. Single 1s.

All letters and packets passing from London through the United Provinces, to any part of Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, and all parts of the North; and from any of those parts and places, through the United Provinces, to London. Single 1s.

All letters and packets passing from London through the United Provinces, to any part of Spain or Portugal; and from any part of Spain or Portugal, through the United Provinces, to London. Single 1s.6d.

All letters and packets passing from London through the Spanish Netherlands or the United Provinces, to Hamburgh (port paid to Antwerp or Amsterdam) and from Hamburgh through the Spanish Netherlands, or the United Provinces, to London. Single 10d.

All letters and packets passing between London, Spain, or Portugal, by packet boats. Single 1s.6d.

All letters and packets passing from London to Jamaica, Barbadoes, Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, and St. Christopher’s, in America, and from any of those parts to London. Single 1s.6d.

All letters and packets from London to New York, in North America, and from thence to London. Single 1s.

All letters and packets from any part of the West Indies, to New York aforesaid. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from New York to any place within sixty English miles thereof, and thence back to New York. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from New York to Perth Amboy, the chief town in East New Jersey, and to Bridlington, the chief town in West New Jersey, and from each of those places back to New York, and from New York to any place not exceeding one hundred English miles, and from each of those places to New York. Single 6d.

All letters and packets from Perth Amboy and Bridlington, to any place not exceeding sixty English miles, and thence back again. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from Perth Amboy and Bridlington, to any place not exceeding one hundred English miles, and thence back again. Single 6d.

All letters and packets from New York to New London, the chief town in Connecticut in New England, and to Philadelphia, the chief town in Pensilvania, and from those places back to New York. Single 9d.

All letters and packets from New London and Philadelphia, to any place not exceeding sixty English miles, and thence back again. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from New York and Philadelphia, to any place not exceeding one hundred English miles, and so back again. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from New York aforesaid, to Newport the chief town in Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation in New England, and to Boston, the chief town in Massachusett’s bay, in New England aforesaid; and to Portsmouth, the chief town in New Hampshire, in New England aforesaid; and to Annapolis, the chief town in Maryland, and from every of those places to New York. Single 1s.

All letters and packets from Newport, Boston, Portsmouth, and Annapolis aforesaid, to any place not exceeding sixty English miles, and thence back again. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from Newport, Boston, Portsmouth, and Annapolis aforesaid, to any place not exceeding one hundred English miles, and thence back again. Single 6d.

All letters and packets from New Yorkaforesaid, to the chief offices in Salem and Ipswich, and to the chief office in Piscataway, and to Williamsburgh, the chief office in Virginia, and from every of those places to New York. Single 1s.3d.

All letters and packets from the chief offices in Salem, Ipswich, and Piscataway, and Williamsburgh aforesaid, to any place not exceeding sixty English miles, and thence back again. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from the chief offices in Salem, Ipswich, Piscataway, and Williamsburgh aforesaid, not exceeding one hundred English miles, and thence back again. Single 6d.

All letters and packets from New York aforesaid, to Charles Town, the chief town in North and South Carolina, and from Charles Town aforesaid to New York. Single 1s.6d.

All letters and packets from Charles Town aforesaid, to any place not exceeding sixty English miles, and thence back again. Single 4d.

All letters and packets from Charles Town aforesaid, to any place not exceeding one hundred English miles, and thence back again. Single 6d.

Post letters may be sent from London every night to

AbingdonAmpthillAshburtonAttleboroughBathBecclesBeconsfieldBirminghamBridgewaterBristolBromsgroveBurntwoodBury St. EdmundsCambridgeCampdenCanterburyChathamChelmsfordChertseyChesterChipping NortonCirencesterClaremontCobhamColchesterCroydonDarkingDartfordDealDerbyDoverEnfieldEpsomEsher in SurryEveshamExeterFaringdonFevershamGerard’s CrossGloucesterGravesendGraysGuildfordHam in SurryHampton CourtHampton TownHamwick in SurryHanworthHarboroughHertfordHigh WickhamIngatestonIpswichIsleworthKelvedonKingstonKingston WickLalamLeatherheadLeicesterLittletonLiverpoolLoughboroughLowstoffLynnMaidstoneManchesterMiddlewichMoulsey in SurryNamptwichNewmarketNewport PagnellNorthamptonNorthwichNorwichNottinghamOxfordPetershamPlymouthPortsmouthPrescotQueenboroughRichmondRipleyRochesterRoystonRumfordSandwichSaxmundhamSheppertonShiffnalShrewsburySittingbournSouthallStaffordStoke in NorfolkStoneSunburyTauntonTeddingtonThameThames DittonThanetThetfordTivertonTwickenhamUxbridgeWalsallWaltonWarringtonWellingtonWellsWeybridgeWindham in NorfolkWindsorWingham in KentWithamWittonWolverhamptonWoodburnWorcesterYarmouthTunbridge bag every night from Midsummer to Michaelmas only

Abingdon

Ampthill

Ashburton

Attleborough

Bath

Beccles

Beconsfield

Birmingham

Bridgewater

Bristol

Bromsgrove

Burntwood

Bury St. Edmunds

Cambridge

Campden

Canterbury

Chatham

Chelmsford

Chertsey

Chester

Chipping Norton

Cirencester

Claremont

Cobham

Colchester

Croydon

Darking

Dartford

Deal

Derby

Dover

Enfield

Epsom

Esher in Surry

Evesham

Exeter

Faringdon

Feversham

Gerard’s Cross

Gloucester

Gravesend

Grays

Guildford

Ham in Surry

Hampton Court

Hampton Town

Hamwick in Surry

Hanworth

Harborough

Hertford

High Wickham

Ingateston

Ipswich

Isleworth

Kelvedon

Kingston

Kingston Wick

Lalam

Leatherhead

Leicester

Littleton

Liverpool

Loughborough

Lowstoff

Lynn

Maidstone

Manchester

Middlewich

Moulsey in Surry

Namptwich

Newmarket

Newport Pagnell

Northampton

Northwich

Norwich

Nottingham

Oxford

Petersham

Plymouth

Portsmouth

Prescot

Queenborough

Richmond

Ripley

Rochester

Royston

Rumford

Sandwich

Saxmundham

Shepperton

Shiffnal

Shrewsbury

Sittingbourn

Southall

Stafford

Stoke in Norfolk

Stone

Sunbury

Taunton

Teddington

Thame

Thames Ditton

Thanet

Thetford

Tiverton

Twickenham

Uxbridge

Walsall

Walton

Warrington

Wellington

Wells

Weybridge

Windham in Norfolk

Windsor

Wingham in Kent

Witham

Witton

Wolverhampton

Woodburn

Worcester

Yarmouth

Tunbridge bag every night from Midsummer to Michaelmas only

Bags for the following towns are dispatched Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and the returns are delivered Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; Arundel, Brighthelmston, Chichester, East Grinstead, Godalmin, Haslemere, Lewes, Midhurst, Petworth, Ryegate, Steyning, Shoreham.

On Mondays.] To France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Flanders, Sweden, Denmark.

On Tuesdays.] To Holland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, and all parts of England and Wales.

N.B. One Tuesday the packet goes to Lisbon, and the next Tuesday to the Groyn, and so on.

On Thursdays.] To France, Spain, Italy, and all parts of England and Scotland.

On Fridays.] To Flanders, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Holland.

On Saturdays.] To all parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

Letters are returned from all parts ofEngland and Scotland certainly, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and from Wales every Monday and Friday. But their coming from foreign parts is more uncertain on account of the seas.

Post Officecourt, a small but neat court in Lombard street, in which is the post office.

Posternpassage, Shoemaker row.

Postern, Bakers row.

Postern Gate, an ancient gate which stood at the east end of Postern row on Tower hill. It was erected soon after the Conquest in a beautiful manner with stones brought from Kent and Normandy, for the convenience of the neighbouring inhabitants, both within and without the walls; but in the second year of the reign of Richard I. William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely, and Chancellor of England, having resolved to enlarge and strengthen the Tower of London with an additional fortification, he caused a part of the city wall, which extended about 300 feet from the Tower to this gate, to be taken down, in order to make way for a strong wall and a spacious ditch: by which means the postern being deprived of its support on that side, fell down in the year 1440. It was afterwards replaced by a mean building of timber, laths and loam, with anarrow passage; but this also decayed, and has been many years removed quite away; nothing remaining at present to preserve the name, but a few posts to guard a narrow foot way from the encroachments of horses and carriages.

A little to the south of the place where the gate stood, is a descent by several stone steps to an excellent spring, much admired, which is still called the Postern Spring.

Posternrow, a row of houses on Tower hill, leading from the place where the postern gate formerly stood.

Pottersfields, 1. Back lane, Southwark. 2. Pickleherring lane.

Pottlepotalley, St. Catharine’s by the Tower.*

Povertylane, Brook street.‖

Poultneycourt, Cambridge street.

Poulton’scourt, near Broad street.†

Poulterers, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by Henry VII. in the year 1504.

They have a Master, two Wardens, twenty-three Assistants, and a livery of an hundred and six members, who on their admission pay a fine of 20l.but they have no hall.

Poultry, a street which extends from the Mansion house to Cheapside, and was so denominated from the Poulterers stallswhich anciently extended along that street from Stocks market.Maitland.SeeScaldingalley.

Poultry Compter, one of the city prisons, so denominated from its use and situation: for this prison belonging to one of the Sheriffs, Maitland supposes, might possibly be named the Compter, from the prisoners being obliged to account for the cause of their commitment before their discharge: and the addition of Poultry is added from its situation in that street, to distinguish it from the Compter in Wood street.

For an account of the several officers belonging to the two Compters, see the articleCompter.

Powdered Beefcourt, Cabbage lane.

Powell’salley, Chiswell street, Moorfields.†

Powell’scourt, Queen street.†

Powell’syard, Upper Ground street, Southwark.†

Prat’swharf, Millbank, Westminster Horseferry.†

Prebendsof St. Paul’s. See the articleCanons.

PrecentororChanter of St. Paul’s, an officer who superintends the church music, and has a sub-chanter to officiate in his absence. To him belongs the second stall on the north side of the choir: he is perpetual Rector of the church ofStortford, proprietor of the same, and patron of the vicarage.Newc. Repert.

Prerogative Courtin Doctors Commons; this court is thus denominated from the prerogative of the Archbishop of Canterbury; who by a special privilege beyond those of his suffragans, can here try all disputes that happen to arise concerning the last wills of persons within his province, who have left goods to the value of 5l.and upwards, unless such things are settled by composition between the metropolitan and his suffragans; as in the diocese of London, where it is 10l.

This court, which was formerly held in the consistory of St. Paul’s, is kept in Doctors Commons in the afternoon, the next day after the court of Arches. The Judge is attended by the Register and his Deputy, who sets down the decrees and acts of the court, and keeps the records.

Prerogative Officein Doctors Commons, an office belonging to the above court, in which copies of all wills deposited in the office are wrote in large folio volumes, and any person may have the privilege of searching a particular will for a shilling, and of having a copy of thewhole, or of any part of it, for a moderate fee.

The places belonging to this court are in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Presbyterians, a considerable body of Protestant dissenters; their religious sentiments are in general pretty far from Calvinism, they have now scarcely any resemblance to the church of Scotland; and every congregation in this city, is in a manner as independent of each other as the independents themselves. The meeting houses within the bills of mortality are as follows:

1. Bethnal green. 2. Broad street, Wapping. 3. Brook house, Clapton. 4. Church street, Hoxton. 5. Crosby square, Bishopsgate street. 6. Crown court, Russel street. 7. Founders hall, Lothbury. 8. Grafton street, Seven dials. 9. Gravel lane, Houndsditch. 10. Great St. Thomas Apostle’s. 11. Hanover street, Long Acre. 12. King John’s court, Bermondsey. 13. King’s Weigh-house, Little Eastcheap. 14. Leather lane, Holborn. 15. Little Carter lane. 16. Little Eastcheap, near Tower street. 17. Little St. Helen’s Bishopsgate street. 18. Long ditch, Westminster. 19. Maiden lane, Deadman’splace. 20. Middlesex court, Bartholomew close. 21. Mourning lane, Hackney. 22. New Broad street, London wall. 23. Near Nightingale lane. 24. Old Jewry, Poultry. 25. Parish street, Horselydown. 26. Poor Jewry lane, near Aldgate. 27. Queen street, near Cuckolds point. 28. Rampant lion yard, Nightingale lane. 29. Ryder’s court, near Leicester fields. 30. Salisbury street, Rotherhithe. 31. St. Thomas, Southwark. 32. Salters hall, Swithin’s lane. 33. Shakespear’s walk, Upper Shadwell. 34. Silver street, Wood street. 35. Spitalfields. 36. Swallow street, Piccadilly. 37. Windsor court, Monkwell street.

Prescotcourt, St. John’s street, Smithfield.†

Prescotstreet, Goodman’s fields.†

Preston’syard, in the Minories.†

Price’salley, 1. Brewer’s street. 2. Knave’s Acre, Wardour street.† 3. Queen street, in the Park, Southwark.†

Price’sbuildings, Gravel lane.†

Price’scourt, Gravel lane.†

Price’syard, Long lane.†

Priest’salley, 1. Foster lane, Cheapside.† 2. Tower hill.†

Priest’syard, Dancing lane, Southwark.†

Primrosealley, 1. Bishopsgate street. 2.Long alley, Moorfields. 3. St. Mary Overies dock, Southwark.

Primrose Hill, a very pleasant hill between Kilburn and Hampstead; also called Green Berry Hill, from the names of the three assassins of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, who brought him hither after they had murdered him at Somerset house.

Primroserow, Primrose alley.

Primrosestreet, Bishopsgate street.

Prince’scourt. Several of these courts and streets received their name, as well as those of King street and Queen street, after the restoration, in honour of the return of the royal family. 1. Duke street, St. James’s. 2. Drury lane. 3. Gravel lane, Southwark. 4. Hedge lane, Charing Cross. 5. Long Ditch, Westminster. 6. Lothbury. 7. Newport market. 8. Old Gravel lane, Ratcliff highway. 9. Tower hill. 10. Wentworth street.

Prince’ssquare, Ratcliff highway, is a neat square, principally inhabited by the families of gentlemen who belong to the sea. Its chief ornament is the church and church yard belonging to the Swedes, surrounded with iron rails and well planted with trees. The front of the church is carried up flat with niches and ornaments, and on the summit is a pediment.The body is divided into a central part projecting forwarder than the rest, and two sides. The central part has two tall windows, terminated by a pediment, and in the midst of that is an oval window; but in the sides there is only a compartment below with a circular window above. The corners of the building are wrought in a bold, plain rustic. The tower rises square from the roof, and at the corners are placed urns with flames: from thence rises a turret in the lanthorn form with flaming urns at the corners: this turret is covered with a dome, from which rises a ball, supporting the fane, in the form of a rampant lion.

Prince’sstairs, Rotherhith.

Prince’sstreet, 1. St. Anne’s street, Soho. 2. Barbican. 3. Brick lane, Spitalfields. 4. Charles street, Old Gravel lane, Ratcliff. 5. Drury lane. 6. Duke street, St. James’s. 7. Duke street, Southwark. 8. Hanover square. 9. Little Queen street. 10. Oxford street. 11. Queen street. 12. Ratcliff Highway. 13. Red Lion square, Holborn. 14. Rotherhith Wall. 15. Sun Tavern fields, Shadwell. 16. The west end of Threadneedle street; first built by act of Parliament after the fire of London, in which it was called by this name beforeit was erected. 17. Upper Moorfields. 18. Whitcomb street, Hedge lane. 19. Wood street, Spitalfields.

Printing Houselane, leading to the King’s printing house in Black friars.

Printing Housestreet, Water lane.

Printing Houseyard, 1. Water lane. 2. By White’s alley, Coleman street; thus named from a large printing house there for woollens.

Pritchard’salley, Fair street, Horselydown.†

Privy Council, held at the Cockpit. This great and honourable assembly meet in order to consult upon those measures that are most likely to contribute to the honour, defence, safety and benefit of his Majesty’s dominions.

The members of this body are chosen by the King, and are, or ought to be distinguished by their wisdom, courage, integrity, and political knowledge. A Privy Counsellor, though but a Gentleman, has precedence of all Knights, Baronets, and the younger sons of all Barons and Viscounts. They sit at the council board bareheaded, when his Majesty presides; at all debates the lowest delivers his opinion first; and the King last of all declareshis judgment, and thereby determines the matter in debate.

Privy Garden, Whitehall, was formerly used as a private garden, though it extended almost to the Cockpit. The wall joined the arch still standing by the Cockpit, and ran on in a line to King street.Plan of London drawn in Queen Elizabeth’s time.

Privy Gardenstairs, Privy Garden.

Privy Seal Office, Whitehall. An office under the government of the Lord Privy Seal, a great officer, next in dignity to the Lord President of the Council, who keeps the King’s privy seal, which is set to such grants as pass the great seal of England. The Lord Privy Seal has a salary of 3000l.per annum. Under him are three Deputies, a Secretary, and three Clerks; but these Clerks have no salaries; they have however considerable fees, and 30l.a year board wages.

Probin’syard, Blackman street, Southwark.†

Protonotaries, orProthonotaries, in the court of Common Pleas. The word is derived fromProtonotarius, a chief Notary or Clerk; and they are accordingly the chief Clerks of this court.They enter and enrol all declarations, pleadings, assizes, judgments, and actions; and make out judicial writs, &c. for all English counties, except Monmouth. They are three in number, and have each separate offices, one in the Middle Temple, another in King’s Bench Walks, and the other in Searle’s court, Lincoln’s Inn. In these offices all the Attorneys of the court of Common Pleas enter their causes.

Each of these Protonotaries has a Secondary, whose office is, to draw up the rules of court, and these were formerly the ancientest and ablest Clerks or Attorneys of the court.

Protonotary’s, orProthonotary’sOffice in Chancery, is kept in Middle Temple lane, and is chiefly to expedite commissions for embassies.

Providencecourt, North Audley street.

Providenceyard, Peter street, Westminster.

Prujean’scourt, in the Old Bailey.†

Pruson’sisland, Near New Gravel lane.†

Puddinglane, Thames street. In this lane the fire of London broke out, at a house situated exactly at the same distance from the Monument as that is high. Upon this house, which is rebuilt in a veryhandsome manner, was set up by authority the following inscription:

‘Here by the permission of Heaven, Hell broke loose upon this protestant city, from the malicious hearts of barbarous papists, by the hand of their agentHubert: who confessed, and on the ruins of this place declared his fact, for which he was hanged, viz. That here began the dreadful fire, which is described and perpetuated, on and by the neighbouring pillar, erected 1681—in the mayoralty of Sir Patience Ward, Knt.’

But the inhabitants being incommoded by the many people who came to look at the house, and read this board, it was taken down a few years ago.

Puddledock, Thames street. There was anciently a descent into the Thames in this place, where horses used to be watered; who raising the mud with their feet, made the place like a puddle; from this circumstance, and from a person named Puddle dwelling there, this dock, according to Maitland, obtained its present name.

Puddle Dockhill, Great Carter lane.

Puddle Dockstairs, Puddle dock.

Pultneycourt, Little Windmill street.

Pultneystreet, 1. Brewer’s street.† 2. Knave’s Acre.†

Pumpalley, 1. Brown’s street.☐ 2. Gardener’s lane, Petty France, Westminster.☐ 3. Green bank, Wapping.☐ 4. Perkins’s rents, Peter street, Soho.☐ 5. Quaker street, Spitalfields.☐ 6. Queen street in the Park, Southwark.☐ 7. Red lion street, Wapping dock.☐ 8. Near Whitecross street, Cripplegate.☐

Pumpcourt, 1. Bridgewater gardens.☐ 2. Charing Cross.☐ 3. Crutched Friars.☐ 4. Glasshouse yard.☐ 5. Holland street.† 6. Jacob’s street, Mill street.☐ 7. Inner Temple.☐ 8. Long alley, Shoreditch.☐ 9. The Minories.☐ 10. Noble street, Foster lane.☐ 11. Rose and Crown court.☐ 12. Portpool lane.☐ 13. Queenhithe.☐ 14. Three Foxes court, Longlane, Smithfield.☐ 15. White Hart yard, Drury lane.☐ 16. White’s alley.☐

Pumpyard, 1. Near Aldersgate Bars.☐ 2. Church lane.☐ 3. Golden lane.☐ 4. Gravel lane.☐ 5. King John’s court, Southwark.☐ 6. Newington Butts.☐ 7. In the Orchard, Ratcliff.☐ 8. Pump alley, Chequer alley.☐ 9. Three Colts street.† 10. Whitehorse alley, Cow Cross.☐

Punch Bowlalley, Moorfields Quarters.*

Punchcourt, Thrall street, Spitalfields.

Purford.SeePyrford.

Pursecourt, 1. Fore street, Cripplegate.* 2. Old Change, Cheapside.*

Putney, a village in Surry, situated on the Thames, five miles south west of London, famous for being the birth place of Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex, whose father was a blacksmith here. About this village the citizens of London have many pretty seats; and on Putney Heath is a public house, noted for polite assemblies, and in the summer season for breakfasting and dancing, and for one of the pleasantest bowling greens in England. Here is an old church erected after the same model with that of Fulham, on the opposite shore, and they are both said to have been built by two sisters.

That part of Putney which joins to the Heath, commands a fine view both up and down the river Thames.

Pyecorner, Smithfield.

Pyegarden, near Willow street, Bank side, Southwark.

Pyestreet, Westminster.

Pyrford, orPurford, in Surry, the fine seat of the late Denzil Onslow, Esq; situated two miles from Guilford, on the banks of the Wey. It is rendered extremely pleasant, by the beautiful intermixture of wood and water, in the park,gardens, and grounds adjoining. By the park is a decoy, the first of the kind in this part of England.

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