of their king and country, and hoped that the result would be such as should do honour to the city by proving the sincerity of their professions to his majesty. In consequence of his lordship's proposition, the court, among other considerations, resolved and ordered, "that voluntary subscriptions should be received in the chamber of London, to be appropriated as bounty-money to such persons as entered into his majesty's service, and that the city should subscribe 1000l. for that purpose." It was also resolved, "that a committee of twelve aldermen, and twentyfour commoners, should be appointed to attend at Guildhall, to dispose of the said bounty-money to persons who should apply for the same; and, as a farther encouragement, every person so entering should be entitled to the freedom of the city of London at the expiration of three years, or sooner, if the war should end before that time :" and the town-clerk was ordered by the court to wait on the right honourable Mr. Pitt with the said resolutions, and to desire him to inform his majesty of the same. Some of the committee were ordered to wait on Lord Ligonier, to desire him to send proper officers to Guildhall to receive such persons as should be enlisted. The town-clerk, agreeably to the order of the court, waited on Mr. Pitt, who, the next day, sent the following letter: To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London. "MY LORD, Whitehall, Aug. 15, 1759. "Having, in consequence of the desire of the court of common council, had the honour to lay before the king their resolutions of yesterday, for offering certain bounties and encouragements to such able-bodied men as shall enlist themselves at the Guildhall of London, to serve in his majesty's land forces, upon the terms contained in his majesty's order in council; I am commanded by the king to acquaint your lordship, that his majesty thanks the city of London for this fresh testimony of their zeal and affection 3 for for his royal person and government. I am farther commanded by the king to express his majesty's most entire satisfaction in this signal proof of the unshaken resolution of the city of London to support a just and necessary war, undertaken in defence of the rights and honour of his crown, and for the security of the colonies, trade and navigation of Great Britain. "I am, with great truth and respect, "My Lord, "Your lordship's most obedient humble servant, A subscription was immediately opened at Guildhall, which met with such universal encouragement as to answer the purposes of the scheme projected; for by giving five guineas to each person who should voluntarily offer himself for his majesty's service, and a promise that he should be admitted a freeman of London without fee or reward, upon producing a testimonial of his good behaviour from a ge neral officer, great numbers immediately offered and were enlisted; and by an account afterwards published, it ap peared that the Guildhall subscription amounted to 70391. 78. which procured one thousand two hundred and thirty-five recruits for his majesty's service. This example was followed by the city of Westminster and county of Middlesex. On the nineteenth of September, a great number of the nobility, gentry, &c. met at the St. Alban's tavern, when a subscription was raised, amounting to 47261. for the same purpose, with this restriction in favour of the men so enlisted: that they should not be sent out of Great Britain; and that they should have their discharge in three years, or at the close of the war. The debates, which had so long engaged the common council concerning the new bridge, at last operated upon the understanding of the ruling part of the city; and they soon perceived that, unless proper measures were taken to make the city of London more airy and commodious for the mercantile and genteel part of its inhabitants before the proposed bridge should be finished, they might be compelled to resort resort to the new buildings on the Surrey side of the river, whereby the estates in the city would inevitably be ruined; it was found expedient, therefore, immediately to adopt such measures as should be thought most advantageous for preserving the health and comfort of the inhabitants. For this purpose the new common council, at their first meeting on the 22d of January 1760, came to a resolution, "that an application should be made to parliament for a bill to empower the city to make such alterations in regard to the avenues leading into it, as should be thought necessary, and might tend to its advantage. A petition was therefore presented, and parliament immediately granted their request. By the act which passed this sessions for openings in various parts of the city, the following improvements were ordered, but have not been altogether completed. In Aldersgate Ward. A passage twenty feet wide, from the east side of Aldersgate Street (opposite to Little Britain) to the west of Noble Street, opposite to Oat Lane; and through Wood Street, opposite to Love Lane. This has not been done, though an opening has been since made, now called Falcon Square. In Aldgate Ward. A passage fifty feet wide, from the mason's shop facing Crutched Friars, in a direct line to the Minories. Now a fine street through America Square. A passage twenty-five feet wide, through Northumberland Alley, into Crutched Friars. Not done. In Bishopsgate Ward. A passage twenty-five feet wide, through Angel Court, in Bishopsgate Street, into Little St. Helen's. Not done. A passage twenty feet wide, from Broad Street, through Union Court, into Bishopsgate Street. Not done. In Coleman Street Ward. A passage fifty feet wide, from Tokenhouse Yard to London Wall. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Without. A passage thirty feet wide, in the middle of Snow Hill to the Fleet Market. This improvement has recently taken place in Skinner Street, &c. A passage twenty-five feet wide, from Butcherhall Lane into Little Britain. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Within. A passage through Cock Alley, on Ludgate Hill, opposite to the Old Bailey, forty feet wide, into Blackfriars. Not done. THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES TO BE IMPROVED AND ENLARGED. In Aldgate Ward. The east side of Billiter Lane, to enlarge the passage thirty feet. The east end of Leadenhall Street to be thirty-five feet wide. Part of the houses on the east side of Poor Jury Lane, beginning at the north side of the Horse and Trumpet, and extending to Gould Square, to range in a line with that end of the lane next to Aldgate; the passage to be made thirtyfive feet wide. In Broad Street Ward. The house to be pulled down at the west end of the buildings, between Cornhill and Threadneedle Street, opposite to the south end of Prince's Street, and the ground laid into the street. The improvements at the Bank have obviated this. Houses to be pulled down on the south side of Threadneedle Street, extending from the houses before-mentioned eastward, till that part of the street opposite to the Bank gates; and the passage there to be enlarged to thirty-five feet in width. This done in Bank Buildings, &c. In Coleman Street Ward. One house on the north-east corner of the Old Jury; and another house at the south-west corner of Coleman Street, and the ground laid into the street. In Cordwainer's Ward. The house at the north-east corner of Trinity Lane, near the Dog tavern, to be pulled down, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Cornhill Ward. The house at the west end of the buildings, between Cornhill and Lombard Street, and the ground into the street. Not done, and is at present a great obstruction. In Cripplegate Ward Within. The houses which project forwards at the west end of Silver Street, from the end of Monkwell Monkwell Street, quite through into Aldersgate-street, to make a street forty feet wide. Partially done. The houses at the corner of Aldermanbury, facing Milkstreet, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Within. The tin shop and the trunkmaker's house, at the south-west corner of Cheapside, leading into St. Paul's church-yard, and the ground laid into the street. Partially complied with, by a sweep at the trunk shop. Such part of the houses in Creed Lane, as are necessary to widen the passage to thirty feet. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Without. All the houses in Middle Row, between the paved alley adjoining to St. Sepulchre's church and Giltspur Street, from the north end quite through to the south end, facing Hart Street, and the ground laid into the street; and all the houses in the Middle Row, between the Great and Little Old Bailey, from the north end, facing Hart Street, to the Baptist's Head at the south end, facing the Great Old Bailey, and the ground laid into the street. Perfectly complied with, and is an excellent improvement. The shops under St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet Street, and the ground laid into the street. All removed, except at the east end. In Langbourn Ward. Such part of the houses at the end of Mark Lane, next to Fenchurch Street, as will make the passage there thirty feet wide. Such part of the houses at the east end of Lombard Street, as will make the passage there thirty feet. Not done. In Portsoken Ward. The houses at the north-east corner of Hounsditch, adjoining to the church yard, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Tower Ward. Such part of the houses on St. Dunstan's Hill, adjoining to the George public house, and opposite to the Chain; and such part of the warehouses opposite to the end of St. Dunstan's church, as will make the passage thirty feet wide. Not done. The house on the north-west corner of Great Tower Street; and also the house on the south-east corner of VOL. I. No. 19. 3 L Little |