esquires, the then trustees of the Cotton library, and their successors, should be nominated by that family, as perpetual representatives in the same manner as those of Sir Hans Sloane.

The trustees of the late Lord Oxford, also generously offered the grand collection of manuscripts, formerly belonging to that nobleman, said to have cost above 100,000l. for a tenth part of that sum. These were readily purchased in consequence of the power granted to the trustees by the act of parliament; and the Earl of Oxford, the Duke of Portland, and their successors, to be chosen by themselves, or the Harley family, were made perpetual trustees for the

same.

All these trustees were made a body corporate, by the name of the "Trustees of the British Museum," with power to make statutes, rules and ordinances; to chuse librarians, officers and servants, and to appoint their several salaries; upon this special trust and confidence," that a free access to the said general repository, and to the collections therein contained, shall be given to all studious and curious persons, at such times and in such manner, and under such regulations, for inspecting and consulting the said collections, as by the said trustees, or the major part of them, in any general meeting assembled, shall be limited for that purpose."

A short time after the passing of the act for establishing this noble Museum, and whilst the trustees were at a loss where to purchase or build a proper repository, another offer was made by the two heiresses of the Montague family, of the noble house and garden of that name, in Great Russel Street, Bloomsbury. This offer was readily accepted, and Montague House was purchased for 10,000 7. Besides which, the trustees immediately laid out between twenty and thirty thousand pounds on necessary repairs, alterations, and conveniences for the reception of all the collections united.

This repository, after its completion was so judiciously contrived for the arrangement of its extensive contents, as well as their advantageous disposition in the several rooms adapted

for

for public inspection, that the British Museum may justly claim the honour of being a principal ornament to the English nation.

Passing the melancholy narration of Dr. Archibald Cameron, who, for the rebellion in 1745, was executed at Tyburn, on the 7th of June 1753, we hasten to relate circumstances of a more congenial nature.

A court of common council having been held on the 20th of December, at which a motion for erecting a new bridge between London and Westminster, was carried by a majority of seven; but the consideration of the best plan, situation, &c. being postponed to a future court, the mouth of Fleet Ditch was fixed upon, which met with great approbation. But when the question came again to be canvassed before the court of common council, on the 22d of February, 1754, a motion was made to repeal the resolution of the 20th of December, relating to the building of a new bridge from London to Southwark and upon a division, there appeared, for the question ninety-three, against it ninety-five: upon which a committee was appointed of the aldermen, all the deputies, and one commoner out of every ward, to carry it into execution. Thus, by a small majority of only two, was carried a vote for a future improvement and utility of incalculable benefit to the city. A resolution was passed at the same time, to remove the houses, &c. on London Bridge, which had long been an incumbrance and nuisance *.

This year also was propitious to useful science. A noble voluntary association was formed by Lords Folkstone and Romney, the Rev. Dr. Hales, Mr. Shipley, and other liberal minded persons: hence the origin of that noble institution, "The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce."

* An act passed this year for the relief of Constables labouring under great difficulties, by loss of time and expence in attending upon and conveying offenders to gaol; it was enacted, "That in the county of Middlesex, the overseers of the poor of the parish where the offender shall be apprehended, should pay all charges for conveying him to gaol, and for poor persons bound to give evidence."

On

On the 10th of December, a committee having been appointed, by common council, to prepare a petition to parliament, for removing the Borough Market, then held in the High Street. The petition was drawn up, and immediatey presented to the house; and, on the 20th of March following, an act was passed, representing, "That king Edward the Sixth did, by charter, grant to the corporation of London, the right of having a market in the Borough of Southwark; but that the High Street, from London Bridge to St. Margaret's Hill, where that market was kept, being the great thoroughfare from the counties of Surrey, Kent and Sussex, the holding the market there was found an inconvenient stoppage of carriages, and an obstruction to trade: the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty, being therefore desirous of giving up the market, with the profits thereof, it was enacted, that no stands for the sale of provisions should for the future be held in the said High Street, in the Borough of Southwark and that no coaches or other carriages should stand or ply there for hire." This act was followed by another, on the petition of the inhabitants of Southwark, "enabling the church-wardens, overseers, and inhabitants of the parish of St. Saviour, in the Borough of Southwark, to hold a market near the former spot, but not interfering with the High Street, in a piece of ground called the Triangle.”— Many of the houses where the market was kept before the passing of the above act, are still preserved as butchers shops, but the market is held behind the west side of the High Street.

Beside the regulations which took place respecting London Bridge, and of which due mention will be made; an act of great public utility was passed at this sessions of parliament, for making a new road from Islington to Paddington, lead. ing round the suburbs of the city, at a proper distance.

The public spirited Mr. Holland, whom we have already noticed with deserved respect, further exerted himself this year upon a trial of privilege, of the utmost importance to every citizen. Having obtained verdicts in his favour concerning the tolls which had been imposed in an oppressive

and

and arbitrary manner; his example induced other citizens to a determination of opposing the exaction of tolls in the several markets, by which they had been annually robbed to a considerable amount.

The opposition was first made in Newgate Market, by Mr. Ralph Twyford, a butcher, and a freeman of the city; but who, for some years, had declined that business, and carried on the selling of dead victuals by commission, which were sent up to him from different counties, by common carriers, and brought to his house in Newgate Market, by porters in packs, hampers, and baskets, the rent of the house being 30 l. per annum.

The toll demanded by the farmers, of the housekeepers who sold such goods by commission, was four pence for every pack of victuals, and one penny for every hamper, basket, or ped. The manner of collecting this money was very uncertain; sometimes they would demand a sum in gross, and to ascertain it, would form a certain number of packs, hampers, and peds, so to make it up the sum demanded, whereas the people of whom these demands were made, often had more or less: of some was taken, no more than four pence a pack; of others six pence; of others, what they would be pleased to give, and of others nothing.

These exactions led the inhabitants to reflect, that they were freemen of London; that they were housekeepers, and paid large rents; and, as freemen and housekeepers, they had (agreeable to the method Mr. Holland was then taking) an indisputable right to sell their commodities free and exempt from any kind of toll whatsoever; therefore, they determined to pay no exaction for the future.

The consequence of this determination and refusal to pay, produced no less than twelve actions at law, against the housekeepers in this market, who resolved to defend their rights and privileges.

In order to their defence, they had recourse to an act of parliament made the twenty-second of Charles the Second,

* Ped, a small pack saddle; hence Pedlar, a carrier of goods in small quantities.

VOL. I. No. 18.

3 I

intitled,

intituled, "An act for the building of the city of London, uniting of parishes, and rebuilding of the cathedral and parochial churches within the said city," in which is the following clause:

"That for ever hereafter, the lord mayor and commonalty, and citizens of London, may and shall have a market to be kept three or four days in the week, as to them shall seem convenient, upon the ground now set out by the assent of the dean and chapter of the cathedral of Saint Paul's, London, for a market place within Newgate, and that the said dean and chapter shall make and give one or more lease or leases of the said ground to the said mayor and commonalty, and citizens; and also of the wall of the said church yard abutting severally upon Pater Noster Row and the Old Change, for the sum of forty pounds per year, reserving the yearly rent of four pounds for every superficial foot of ground or soil of the said wall as it is now set out by the surveyors of the city, and of the dean and chapter, and so from forty years for ever, at the like yearly rent; and one year's rent, after the rates aforesaid, to be paid by way of fine for each of the said grounds respectively, upon the making every new lease thereof, which said lease and leases shall be good and effectual in the law, as against the said dean and chapter, and their successors, and all persons claiming by, from, or under them; and that no house, shed, or other building, shall stand or hereafter be erected and fixed upon the said market place, other than the market house already built, without the consent of the said dean and chapter, any thing in this or any other act to the contrary notwithstanding."

In pursuance of this act, the dean and chapter of Saint Paul's, from time to time, had granted leases of the said market to the lord mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London. An abstract of the last lease is as follows:

"Indenture, dated April 6, 1749, between the right reverend father in God Joseph, lord bishop of Bristol, dean of the cathedral church of St. Paul, in London, and the chapter of the same church, of one part; and the mayor, commonalty,