fronted with stone; among these was to be Guildhall, distinguished from the rest by its being more pompous and magnificent, and adjoining to this edifice was to be a magnificent house for the lord mayor, and two others for the sheriffs.

The Royal Exchange to front the Thames about the Steel Yard, in an area surrounded on three sides with piazzas, with vaults for warehouses beneath; and for such merchandize as could not be here preserved, might be erected buildings fronting the Thames on the other side the river, with wharfs before and yards behind for the placing of cranes, the laying of timber, coals, &c. and other gross commodities, while the quay over-against it should be built for the owners, and the dwellings of the principal merchants; but if the warehouses must be on this side, they were to front Thames Street rather than the river, because of the dull and heavy appearance of those buildings.

The little bay at Queenhithe was to have the quay continued round it, and cloistered about for market people and fruiterers; and where the wharf then was, a stately avenue was to extend to St. Paul's cathedral.

Four great streets were to extend along the city: the first, from Fleet Ditch to the Tower: the second, from the Strand to the most eastern part of the city, where was to be a noble triumphal arch, in honour of the king: the third, from Newgate to Aldgate: and the fourth and shortest, from Aldersgate to Bishopsgate. He also proposed that five prin cipal cross streets should extend from Blackfriars into West Smithfield; from the Thames east of St. Paul's to Aldersgate; from Queenhithe to Cripplegate; and from the Royal Exchange to Moorgate. That the street from the bridge should extend to Bishopsgate, and another from the Custom House to Aldgate.

Instead of houses on the bridge, he proposed to have it adorned with a substantial iron balustrade, ornamented, at convenient distances, with statues on their pedestals, and a footway on each side for the convenience of passengers.

The

The hospitals, workhouses and prisons were to be situated în convenient quarters of the city. The hospitals to form one of the principal streets; but the prisons, and court for the trial of criminals, to be built near the entrance of the city.

The gates of the city were to be in the form of triumphal arches, adorned with statues, relievos, and apposite inscriptions, not obstructed by sheds, or mean houses joined to them.

Sir John also proposed, that along the wall between Cripplegate and Aldgate, should be the church-yards of the several parishes, while the houses opposite to them formed a large street for the common inns, and served also as stations for carriers, &c. These being on the north part of the city, and nearest the confines of the fields and roads, would least encumber the town; and there would be a far more commo dious and free access to them, by reason of their immediate approaches through the traverse streets, than if they were scattered up and down without distinction.

A third, and very excellent plan for rebuilding the city was suggested by the ingenious Dr. Newcourt, father of Richard Newcourt, the learned author of the Repertorium, or Ecclesiastical History of the Diocese of London.

By the indulgence of Richard Bull, Esq. to whom the editors of this work are under infinite obligations, they give the whole from the original MS. in his possession, which is intitled, "NEW AND OLD LONDON:"

"In designinge a plattforme for the new building of the city of London (lately consumed by ffire) I should offer myne opinion for the modellinge of it in this manner.

"First. Whereas in regard of the wonderfull population of the place, and close croudinge of the streets and howses one en the neck of another, soe that there was scarce breathinge for the inhabitants; there must of necessity (to make the eity wholesome and comodious, and to retayne the inhabitants within the same) be a greate expatiation and inlargement both of the streets and city; which by the modell thereof (herewith set forth) may more playnly appeare;

which

which modell I have drawne by the same scale, by which L drew the mapp of the old city, which is a scale of yards of three foote to the yard.

"And the better to discover the new erection, how and over what parts of the old city the new streets and buildings are to passe, I have in one map delineated by black pricks the walls and gates, and by lines and figures the very streets, lanes, and churches of the former city, as they stood before they were burnt; and by redd lines the scope both of the length and latitude of the new.

"Therefore ye shall understand, I have runn the wall or lyne of a new city, from about some thirtie yards on the east side of Bridewell Dock, directly north to the upper end of St. John's Streete, and somewhat farther into the fields, being in length about a measured mile; from thence, I have drawn the wall or line directly east, which passeth. near the Windmills in Finsbury Fields; and thence onward, cutting Shoreditch Street by north, St. Mary's Spital, and so on eastward; so that this whole north line contains about the space of near a mile in length, which is to answer the length of the Old City from Bridewell Dock to the Postern Gate above the Tower; from which Postern Gate I have drawn a straight line or wall of about three quarters of a mile or more, which meets with the north line, and cast the city, into a handsome oblong square, as by the model thereof appears.

"For the framing of the streets, I have drawn two several maps; one of which may haply sort more commodiously and convenient for the city than the other.

"In the first (to begin upon the river) I would wish there might be one straight goodly row of noble buildings, which should face the river; the front of which row facing the river, should be built upon arches, in the same manner as is the piatzo in Covent Garden; and this row to extend from the very corner of the city at Bridewell Dock, in a continued direct line, unto the Tower Wharf; which row of buildings should not be intersected by any street which is to come down to the wharfs or water's side; but the streets should issue out through the arches.

"Next, before this row of buildings, there should extend a fair wharf of sixty yards broad to the water's side, which wharf should no ways at all, be pestered with any buildings or other impediments to obscure the beauty of the arched work, but only with cranes for craning up of goods at convenient hithes and landings, made at fitting places for that purpose, which I conceive to be best made against the end of the streets or some of them.

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Thirdly, as to the body of the city itself; in the first map, I have drawn seven straight streets, from the west to the east, composed of an equal distance one from the other, which seven streets, I have crossed with seven other streets leading from north to south, cutting the eastern seven at rectangles, each street consisting of eighty foot broad, which divides the whole body of the city into sixty-four equal portions; out of which I have set apart nine parcels, (one only to Tower Hill, as not meddling with the greater part of that,) the other eight I have set apart for the uses hereafter expressed.

"As for the other portions being fifty-five in number, I have alloted them into so many parishes; and for the more methodical ordering of them, for the easiest advantage of the parishioners, I have seated the church in the very centre or the middle point of that parish; allowing to such church one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty foot in length, for the tower, church and chancel, and about fifty or sixty foot in breadth; and the church-yard environing the same, double the proportion both in breadth and length, viz. about two hundred and sixty foot in length, and about one hundred and thirty or one hundred and forty foot in breadth, which I suppose may serve for a sufficient reception of the dead in each parish.

"I have likewise proportioned four several handsome streets or lanes, to lead from each quarter of the main street into the church; each of which lanes may contain about twenty or twenty-four foot in width, which lead into a lane of like breadth, which inclofeth the whole church-yard. By which lane, the sullage of the houses, any wares or commodities

may

may easily be brought in or carried forth: likewise the lanes and backways may be safely kept under gates and bars, and this by the map, and the explanation thereof, may easily be understood.

"As to the buildings towards each main street, Iwould wish they might all be of upright work, of one and the same form, with paynthouses of about five or six foot broad, under which there may be an easy walk of about four foot over, of smooth hewn stone, for the easier passing to and again of the people, specially of such as are old or diseased in their feet; over which paynthouses, the inhabitants may erect balconies, if they please.

"Concerning the eight quarters or portions formerly spoken of, I have set them all apart for these uses following:

"First, in general, as piatzos, for the lustre and glory of the city, all and each of them should be environed with buildings upon arches, as is the piatzo of Covent Garden.

"Next as touching the great piatzo or square, which contains four portions or quarters, with their streets, and is in length from west to east about six hundred and seventy yards, and in breadth four hundred and sixty, as it is seated in the very heart of the city; so should it be beautified with the most noble and most magnificent structures of all other.

"As first, in the centre of the same, should be erected a most stately Guildhall, (it being removed but a little distance from the former Guildhall) with all the noble rooms, courts, and chambers belonging to the same: and then to be of that largeness, as may serve (upon any occasion) to feast the king's majesty, or any great potentate, prince, or peer, either foreign or native; and also for his majesty, if at any time, he be so graciously pleased to call thither his parliament.

"To this may be added, on the east side, a noble palace, (if the citizens so please) furnished likewise at the public charge, for the lord mayor to keep his mayoralty yearly therein. On the west side thither may be translated the Royal Exchange, being but a small distance from the former, with some other additions thereunto also; and on the north