"And it is ordered, that the committee for rebuilding do present the particulars aforesaid to the right honourable the lord high chancellor of England and the other lords, and that the same, if they receive his majesty's approbation, shall be forthwith printed and published.

"Which being this day represented to the board by the right honourable the lord high chancellor of England, the same was allowed and approved of: and it was ordered that the same be punctually observed in every part thereof. And all persons concerned are required and commanded to yield due obedience, and conform themselves thereunto."

And about the same time an act of common-council was passed for preventing and suppressing of fires for the future; in which, among other things, it was enacted,

1. That the city be divided into four divisions, and each thereof be provided with eight hundred leathern buckets, fifty ladders of different sizes from twelve to forty-two feet in length, two brazen hand-squirts to each parish, twenty-four pickax sledges, and forty shod shovels.

"2. That each of the twelve companies provide them. selves with an engine, thirty buckets, three ladders, six pickax sledges, and two hand-squirts, to be ready upon all occasions. And the inferior companies, such a number of small engines and buckets, as should be allotted them by the lord mayor and court of aldermen, according to their re spective abilities.

"3. That the aldermen, passed the office of sheriffalty, do provide their several houses with twenty-four buckets, and one hand-squirt each; and those who have not served that office, twelve buckets and one hand-squirt.

"4. And, for the effectual supplying the engines and squirts with water, that pumps be placed in all wells; and fire-plugs in the several main pipes belonging to the New River and Thames water-works.

5. That the several companies of Carpenters, Bricklayers, Plaisterers, Painters, Masons, Smiths, Plumbers, and Paviours, do annually, for each corporation, elect two

master

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master workmen, four journeymen, eight apprentices, and sixteen labourers, to be ready, upon all occasions of fire, to attend the lord mayor and sheriffs for extinguishing the

same.

"6. That all the workmen and labourers belonging to the several water-works within the city, sea coal meters, Blackwell Hall, Leadenhall, ticket, package, and other porters, do constantly attend the lord mayor and sheriffs in all such services."

The citizens of London laboured but a short time under the inconveniences arising from their late calamity; for, by prudent vigilance, it was, to the astonishment of all Europe, rebuilt in the short space of four years, in so different a manner from its original state, that those who beheld it before and after the fire, were no less astonished at the wealth of the citizens who could sustain so considerable a loss, than at the expedition and expence that was laid out in its restoration.

A favourable opportunity also offered, by which the city of London might have been rebuilt so, as to have exceeded in beauty every other city in the universe; had the following plans met with that countenance the ingenuity of the projectors merited.

The first of these plans was formed by Dr. (afterwards Sir} Christopher Wren, who had been appointed surveyor general and principal architect for rebuilding the whole city; the cathedral church of St. Paul; all the parochial churches (in number fifty-one, enacted by parliament, in lieu of those that were burnt and demolished) with other public structures; and for the disposition of the streets. A charge so great and extensive, incumbent on a single person, disposed him to take to his assistance Mr. Robert Hook*, professor

* Robert Hook, a native of Freshwater, in the Isle of Wight, was educated under Dr. Busby, in Westminster school, whence he removed to Christchurch College, Oxford. He was one of the most eminent geometricians of his time, having perfected the air-pump for Mr. Boyle, improved the pendulum for finding the longitude, and contrived

the

professor of geometry in Gresham College, to whom he as signed chiefly the business of measuring, adjusting, and setting out the ground of the private streets to the several proprietors; reserving all the public works to his own peculiar care and direction.

Immediately after the fire he took a survey of the ruined spot, by the king's order, and designed a plan for a new city. In this plan all the deformities and inconveniences of the old capital were to be remedied, by enlarging the streets and lanes, and rendering them as nearly parallel to each other as possible; by seating all the parish churches in a conspicuous and regular manner; by forming the most public places into large piazzas, the centers of eight ways; by uniting the halls of the twelve companies into one regular square annexed to Guildhall; and by making a commodious quay on the whole bank of the river, from Blackfriars to the Tower.

The streets were to be of three magnitudes; the three principal ones to run straight through the city, and one or two cross streets to be at least ninety feet wide; others sixty and the lanes about thirty feet, excluding all narrow dark alleys, thoroughfares, and courts.

The Exchange to stand free in the middle of a piazza, and to be in the center of the town, whence the streets should proceed to all the principal parts of the city; and the building to be formed like a Roman forum, with double porticos.

Many streets were also to radiate upon the bridge. Those of the two first magnitudes to be carried on as straight as possible, and to center in four or five areas surrounded with piazzas.

the circular pendulum, besides his many discoveries in the muscular system; and was the author of numerous mechanical and philosophical discoveries, honourable to himself and to his country, particularly the ingenious construction of watches. Upon his appointment of assistant to Dr. Wren, his co-operation with that great renovator of the city, was essential and highly useful. And by the joint efforts of these great men London assumed its present improved appearance, though nor that elegance and convenience which their wishes suggested.

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