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sitors of this corporation； whose privileges are established by several Acts of Parliament。
22。 Bread Street Ward contains Bread Street； Friday Street； Distaff Lane； Basing Lane； part of the Old Change； part of Watling Street； part of Old Fish Street； and Trinity Lane； and part of Cheapside。
The only public buildings in this ward are the churches of Allhallows； Bread Street； and St。 Mildred； Bread Street。
23。 Queenhithe Ward includes part of Thames Street； Queenhithe； with the several lanes running southward to the Thames； Lambeth Hill； Fish Street Hill； Five Foot Lane； Little Trinity Lane； Bread Street Hill； Huggin Lane； with the south side of Great Trinity Lane； and part of Old Fish Streets。
Queenhithe lies to the westward of the Three Cranes； and is a harbour for barges； lighters； and other vessels； that bring meal； malt； and other provisions down the Thames； being a square inlet； with wharves on three sides of it； where the greatest market in England for meal； malt； &c。； is held every day in the week； but chiefly on Mondays； Wednesdays； and Fridays。 It received the name of Queenhithe； or harbour； from the duties anciently paid here to the Queens of England。
24。 Baynard's Castle Ward contains Peter's Hill； Bennet's Hill； part of Thames Street； Paul's Wharf； Puddle Dock； Addle Hill； Knightrider Street； Carter Lane； Wardrobe Court； Paul's Chain； part of St。 Paul's Churchyard； Dean's Court； part of Creed Lane； and part of Warwick Lane。
The public buildings in this ward are Doctors' Commons； the Heralds' Office； the churches of St。 Bennet； Paul's Wharf； St。 Andrew； Wardrobe； and St。 Mary Magdalen； Old Fish Street。
Doctors' Commons； so called from the doctors of the civil law commoning together here as in a college； is situated on the west side of Bennet's Hill； and consists chiefly of one handsome square court。 And here are held the Court of Admiralty； Court of Arches； and the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury。 Near the Commons are the Prerogative Office and Faculty Office。
The Heralds' College or office is situated on the east side of Bennet's Hill； almost against Doctors' Commons。 It is a spacious building； with a square court in the middle of it； on the north side whereof is the Court…room； where the Earl Marshal sits to hear causes lying in the court of honour concerning arms； achievements； titles of honour； &c。
25。 The Ward of Farringdon Without includes Ludgate Hill； Fleet Street and Fleet Ditch； Sheer Lane； Bell Yard； Chancery Lane； Fetter Lane； Dean Street； New Street； Plough Yard； East and West Harding Street； Fleur…de…Lis Court； Crane Court； Red Lion Court； Johnson's Court； Dunstan's Court； Bolt Court； Hind Court； Wine Office Court； Shoe Lane； Racquet Court； Whitefriars； the Temples； Dorset or Salisbury Court； Dorset Street； Bridewell； the Old Bailey； Harp Alley； Holborn Hill； Castle Street or Yard； Cursitor Alley； Bartlett's Buildings； Holborn Bridge； Snow Hill； Pye Corner； Giltspur Street； Cow Lane； Cock Lane； Hosier Lane； Chick Lane； Smithfield； Long Lane； Bartholomew Close； Cloth Fair； and Duck Lane。
West Smithfieldor； rather； Smoothfield； according to Stowis an open place； containing little more than three acres of ground at present； of an irregular figure； surrounded with buildings of various kinds。 Here is held one of the greatest markets of oxen and sheep in Europe； as may easily be imagined when it appears to be the only market for live cattle in this great city； which is held on Mondays and Fridays。 There is also a market for horses on Fridays； nor is there anywhere better riding…horses to be purchased； if the buyer has skill； though it must be confessed there is a great deal of jockeying and sharping used by the dealers in horseflesh。 As for coach…horses； and those fit for troopers； they are usually purchased in the counties to the northward of the town。 The famous fair on the feast of St。 Bartholomew also is held in this place； which lasts three days； and； by the indulgence of the City magistrates； sometimes a fortnight。 The first three days were heretofore assigned for business； as the sale of cattle； leather； &c。； but now only for diversion； the players filling the area of the field with their booths； whither the young citizens resort in crowds。
The public buildings in this ward are Bridewell； Serjeants' Inn in Fleet Street； the Temple； the Six Clerks' Office； the Rolls； Serjeants' Inn in Chancery Lane； Clifford's Inn； the House of the Royal Society； Staple's Inn； Bernards' Inn； and Thavie's Inn； Justice Hall in the Old Bailey； and the Fleet Prison； with the churches of St。 Bartholomew； and the hospital adjoining； the churches of St。 Sepulchre； St。 Andrew； Holborn； St。 Bride's； and St。 Dunstan's…in…the…West。
Bridewell is situated on the west side of Fleet Ditch； a little to the southward of Fleet Street； having two fronts； one to the east； and the other to the north； with a handsome great gate in each of them。 It consists chiefly of two courts； the innermost being the largest and best built； four or five storeys high； on the south side whereof is a noble hall； adorned with the pictures of King Edward VI。 and his Privy Council； King Charles； and King James II。； Sir William Turner； Sir William Jeffreys； and other benefactors。
It was one of the palaces of the Kings of England till the reign of King Edward VI。； who gave it to the City of London for the use of their poor； with lands of the value of 700 marks per annum； and bedding and furniture out of the Hospital of the Savoy； then suppressed。
Here are lodgings and several privileges for certain tradesmen； such as flax…dressers； tailors； shoemakers； &c。； called art masters； who are allowed to take servants and apprentices to the number of about 140； who are clothed in blue vests at the charge of the house； their masters having the profit of their labour。 These boys having served their times； have their freedom； and ten pound each given them towards carrying on their trades； and some of them have arrived to the honour of being governors of the house where they served。
This Hospital is at present under the direction of a president； and some hundreds of the most eminent and substantial citizens； with their inferior officers； and a court is held every Friday； where such vagrants and lewd people are ordered to receive correction in the sight of the Court； as are adjudged to deserve it。
Among the public buildings of this ward； that belonging to the Royal Society； situate at the north end of Two Crane Court； in Fleet Street； must not be omitted； though it be much more considerable on account of the learned members who assemble there； and the great advances that have been made by them of late years in natural philosophy； &c。； than for the elegancy of the building。
During the grand rebellion； when the estates of the prime nobility and gentry were sequestered； and there was no court for them to resort to； the then powers encouraging only the maddest enthusiast； or the basest of the people； whom they looked upon as the fittest instruments to support their tyranny； some ingenious gentlemen； who had applied themselves chiefly to their studies； and abhorred the usurpation； proposed the erecting a society for the improvement of natural knowledge； which might be an innocent and inoffensive exercise to themselves in those troublesome times； and of lasting benefit to the nation。 Their first meeting； it is said； were at the chambers of Mr。 Wilkins （afterwards Bishop of Chester） in Wadham College； in Oxford； about the year 1650； and the members consisted of the Honourable Robert Boyle； Esq。； Dr。 Ward （afterwards Bishop of Salisbury）； Sir Christopher Wren； Sir William Petty； Dr。 Wallis； Dr。 Goddard； and Dr。 Hook （late Professor of Geometry）； the above…named Bishop Wilkins； and others。 In the year 1658 we find them assembling in Gresham College； in London； when were added to their number the Lord Brounker （their first president）； Sir Robert Murray； John Evelyng； Esq。； Sir George Ent； Dr。 Croon； Henry Shingsby； Esq。； and many others。 And after the Restoration； his Majesty King Charles II。 appeared so well pleased with the design； that he granted them a charter of incorporation； bearing date the 22nd of April； 15 Charles II。； anno 1663； wherein he styled himself their founder； patron； and companion； and the society was from thenceforward to consist of a president； a council of twenty； and as many fellows as should be thought worthy of admission； with a treasurer； secretary； curators； and other officers。
When a gentleman desires to be admitted to the society； he procures one of the Corporation to recommend him as a person duly qualified； whereupon his name is entered in a book； and proper inquiries made concerning his merit and abilities； and if the gentleman is approved of； he appears in some following assembly； and subscribes a paper； wherein he promises that he will endeavour to promote the welfare of the society： and the president formally admits him by saying； 〃I do； by the authority and in the name of the Royal Society of London for improving of natural knowledge； admit you a member thereof。〃 Whereupon the new fellow pays forty shillings to the treasurer； and two…and…fifty shillings per annum afterwar