an appeal to the lords of the Admiralty, or the judgment of the court of Admiralty.

To this company belongs the ballast office for clearing and deepening the river Thames, by taking from thence a sufficient quantity of ballast for the supply of all ships that sail out of that river; in which service sixty barges, with two men in each, are constantly employed; and all ships that take in ballast pay them one shilling a ton, for which it is brought to the ships sides.

In consideration of the great increase of the poor of this fraternity, they are by their charter impowered to purchase in mortmain lands, tenements, &c. to the amount of 500l. per annum; and also to receive charitable benefactions of well-disposed persons to the like amount of 500l. per annum, clear of reprizes.

There are annually relieved by this company about three thousand poor seamen, their widows and orphans, at the expence of about 6000/.

Their meetings are generally on Wednesdays and Saturdays; but their courts are not constantly fixed to a set time.

The area before the Trinity House, formerly the awful scene of public executions and of midnight plunder, is now very handsomely railed in, and encloses a very beautiful shrubbery. So that Great Tower Hill is formed into an airy and beautiful square.

Near Catharine Court, is the house which was appointed for the reception of state malefactors, previously to their execution on the scaffold opposite. The last who underwent this awful sentence of the law which they had offended, were the lords Kilmarnock, Balmerino, and Lovatt, for the rebellion in 1745, and of whom we have already spoken more particularly.

In Barking Alley stands the church of

THIS is an antient, spacious, and beautiful church, and is denominated Barking, as belonging to the abbess and convent of that name in Essex, who possessed a field in this parish called Berkinges Haw; and they were the patronesses of the living till the dissolution of the abbey. On the north side of the church was built a chapel, founded by Richard I. whose heart is supposed to have been buried here. This chapel was confirmed and augmented by Ed. ward I. Edward IV. gave license for founding a brotherhood of a master and brethren, and appointed it to be called the King's Chapel, or Chantry in Capelle Beate Maria de Barking. King Richard III. rebuilt it, and founded a college of priests.

Newcourt mentions a curious circumstance relating to this religious foundation. He says, "But what was most remarkable in the said chapel, was the image of the glorious Virgin, erected there by Edward I." The story of which, as I find it among the archives of the bishops of London, you may read at large in the original instrument. (Lib. Gilb. f. 194.) The purport whereof is as followeth :

"In the chapel abovementioned king Edward I. before the death of king Henry III. his father, being directed by a vision

5

vision in his sleep, caused the image of the glorious Virgin to be erected; upon his visiting whereof five times every year, when in England, and keeping the chapel in repair, he was assured by the said vision to be most victorious over all nations wherever he was; to be king of England when his father was dead; and to be a subduer of the Welsh, and all Scotland. The like success was promised to every just English monarch upon the like performances. After this, the said king Edward voluntarily maketh oath before the pope's legate, that all things shewn unto him in his sleep as aforesaid, he had hitherto found to be most true; they thereupon, that the said chapel might with due honour be frequented, released forty days penance to all true confessing penitents, who out of devotion should come and contribute to the lights, repairs, and ornaments of the said chapel, and for the soul of king Richard, whose heart lay buried there under the high altar, and for the souls of all the faithful deceased; and should say the Lord's Prayer, with the Salutation in English, as often as they were piously inclined."

The generality of English historians have written that Richard's heart was buried at Roan, in Normandy. The above words of the instrument, however, contradict most. positively their assertion. Be this as it may, the image of our Lady of Barking was of such repute, that crowds of pilgrims constantly resorted to pay their devotions here. There were other chantries founded by devotees in this church.

The college was suppressed and pulled down in the year 1548, the second of Edward VI.; and in queen Elizabeth's reign was converted to storehouses for merchants.

On the 4th of January 1649, about sixty houses were blown up by an explosion of twenty-seven barrels of gunpowder, which accidentally took fire at a ship-chandler's in Tower Street. It unfortunately happened, that a parish feast was then held at the Rose Tavern, next door but one to the church, at which the principal part of the parishioners were assembled; all of whom perished, and were mangled

in a most dreadful manner, except the mistress of the tavern, who was found sitting upright in the bar, and a drawer standing without it, with a pot in his hand, both being suffocated with smoke and dust, and preserved in these postures by the casual falling of timber, without the least sign either of fracture or contusion. But the most remarkable circumstance was, a cradle with a child in it, blown upon the upper leads of this church, and was taken down next day, without receiving the least damage. The church, however, escaped the fury of the great fire.

The construction of this edifice is in the modern Gothic stile; but some of the pillars on the west and south sides are Tuscan. The roof is neatly ceiled with timber, a handsome organ graces the west end, the case of which is ornamented with the figures of Time and Death. There are also very handsome screens, door-cases, and other appropriate ornaments of wainscot, with fluted Corinthian pillars. The altar is of the same order of architecture, and is richly carved.

Among the monuments are the following: A small white marble, to the memory of the excellent divine Mr. John Kettlewell, who died April 12, 1695, aged 42 years. A long Latin inscription records his many virtues.

On the south side, a spacious white marble tomb thus inscribed:

"Near this place lyeth the body of James Hickson, Esq. who died 16 of June, in the year of our Lord 1689, of his age 82. Who in his life time built an alms-house for six poor people in the parish of S. Mims, in the county of Middlesex, and at his death endowed the said alms house with a salary of 241. per ann. with some other advantages.

He also founded a school in Plough-yard in this parish, for the educating 20 poor children; to the head master of which he appointed 201. per ann. his dwelling house and two chaldron of sea cole, and to a writing master 81. per ann.

He also gave to the poor freemen of the Brewers Company 101. per ann. to the poor of the hamlets of Wapping, White-Chappel, 31. per ann. And to 15 poor people of this parish two shifts, one pair of hose, and one pair of shoes yearly.

Also

Also to the minister of this parish, 20s. per ann, for a sermon to be preached yearly on new-year's day, and to the clerk and sex

ton 5s.

For the performing of which, he gave all his manor of Williats : and certain other lands and tenements in S. Mims aforesaid, in trust: to the worshipful company of brewers in London.

He also gave several other charitable legacies to be paid by his executors, in memory of which pious and charitable acts, and as a testimony of their gratitude; Elizabeth Peach and Dorothy Wright. executors of his last will, erected this monument."

Near the last is the monument of a man and woman in praying attitudes, and thus inscribed:

son.

lyeth the body of Francis Covell He lived in this parish 52 years, had issue by her Thomas his only

"In the ile against this place citizen and skinner of London. was married to his wife 42 years, He had born all offices in his company and this ward with good reputation; was in his life religious, peaceable and charitable, and at his death gave clothing to the poor of this parish yearly for ever, he lived 69 years, and rendered his soul in peace to God, Sept. 7th. 1625.

"As also in the same ile lyeth Margery his wife, who lived a widow by the space of 19 years, and having attained to the age ot 85 years peaceably surrendered her soul into the hands of her Redeemer the 20th of Feb. 1643, leaving behind her a good remembrance of her pious life to the poor of this parish for ever upon record."

On the north side, a white marble monument, from the centre of which rises a large Tuscan column, surmounted by an urn. The shaft of the column has the following inscription:

"Near this place lyeth the body of Giles Lytcott, late of Stratford Langthorne, in the county of Essex, Esq. younger son of Sir John Lytcott of Maulsey, in the county of Surry, by Mary daughter of Sir Nicholas Overbury, and sister to Sir Thomas Overbury who was poison'd in the Tower. He was born 21 of Nov. 1633, and dyed Aug. 11. 1696. in the 63 year of his age. He was the first comptroler general of all the accompts of the customs of England, and of all the English colonies in America; which office he executed from Michaelmas, Anno 1671. to the time of his death. He married Sarah daughter and heir of Richard Culling of Woodlands,