Little Tower Street, occupied by Messrs. Julon and Lidner, to make a convenient passage. Not done.

The house in Mark Lane, which adjoins to Alballows Staining, and projects twelve feet before the other houses, to make it range in a line with the other houses, and enlarge the passage.

In Vintry Ward. The houses on the north end of Thames Street, which reach from Elbow Lane to College Hill, and also those on the south side of the said street, which reach from Vintner's Hall to Bull Wharf Lane, in order to make the street forty feet wide.

The house at the corner of Tower Royal, facing College Hill, to be pulled down, and the ground laid into the street. Not done.

In Wallbrook Ward. The house at the north east corner of Bucklersbury, which projects before the other buildings. Not done.

In Bishopsgate Ward. The two houses between New Broad Street, and New Broad Street Buildings. This has been adopted.

Besides the improvements proposed to be made in this city by widening certain streets, lanes, and passages, pursuant to an act obtained for that purpose, the committee of City Lands came to a resolution to take down London Wall from Moorgate to Cripplegate, and all the houses from that side of Fore Street, and build a row of new houses on London Wall, widening the whole street twelve feet. There was no necessity for inserting this in the act, it being all in the city's

estate.

This year was rendered remarkable by the calamities of fire, a violent hurricane, and by the execution of Earl Ferrers, for the murder of his steward; but as the recapitulation of similarity is irrelevant to our more immediate object, we proceed to relate, that the several plans having been presented to the committee appointed for managing the new bridge to be erected at Blackfriars, they at length gave the preference to that of Mr. Mylne; and the first pile for the bridge was driven in the middle of the river, one the 7th of June, 1760.

Among

:

Among other regulations, the city gates were ordered to be pulled down; and the committee sold Aldgate for 1777. 10s. Cripplegate for 917. and Ludgate for 1487. to be pulled down and taken away by the purchaser within a limited time. The ftatue of queen Elizabeth, which stood on the west side of Ludgate, was purchased by Sir Francis Gosling, alderman of Farringdon Ward Without, and set up against the east end of Saint Dunstan's church, in Fleet Street; where it still continues*.

But

* Several Essays appeared at this time, containing excellent plans for the improvement of various parts of the city, agreeably to the opportunity which then offered. One of these suggested fountains at convenient stations; which, at the same time that they were useful in caseș of sudden accidents by fire, would conduce very materially to the ornament of the metropolis. The other was a plan for making squares, and large open streets within the city; which, as many parts of it might at the present day be adopted, we have detailed; as follows:

"White Friars it at present in a very ruinous condition, and of little value to the proprietors; yet there is room to build a stately square, with a garden, in the manner of the Inner Temple, and a beautiful terras might be formed by wharfing in twenty or thirty yards of the river, which at low water is dry for fifty or sixty yards; and if the ground was raised as in Norfolk Street, there would be no descent to it from Flect Street.

"In Black Friars, there is room for a large square, on the same plan and thence through Doctors Commons, Old Fish Street, Trinity Lane, St. Thomas Apostles, and Cloak Lane, as fine a street as any in Westminster, might be formed to Dowgate Hill, which will not only be a nearer, but a better way, from the squares to the Change, than going up Ludgate Hill, and round St. Paul's. It is almost needless to mention that the communication with Surrey and Kent, by Black Friars Bridge, and with Middlesex, Essex, and Hertfordshire, by the New Road, will render the squares not only agreeable to merchants, but also to gentlemen of fortune in the law, who at present live in a very inconvenient manner in chambers, lanes, courts, &c. for the sake of being near the inns of court, and public offices.

"Another good square might be formed in New Street, which by its nearness to Fleet Street, and the inns of court, would let well.

"Another square might be formed in Finsbury, which at present is of little value, and which if the sides next Moorfields, were to be left open

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But whilst the city was profiting by embellishment, and the country exulted in success; whilst the subjects were enjoying the gratification of seeing the arms of Great Britain triumphant over those of the common enemy; whilst mutual unreserved declarations of loyalty, protection, and confidence subsisted between an affectionate sovereign, and an obedient and faithful people; and whilst that people, particularly the citizens of London, were in the midst of joyful exultations for the conquest of Canada, and others recently. gained, the whole atmosphere of expanding happiness was clouded by the sudden death of the king.

On Saturday, October 25th, this great and good monarch departed this life, after a glorious and happy reign of thirty-three years, four months, and three days; and wanting only sixteen days of completing the seventy-seventh year of his age. from the world which he had propassage

His

open, and the upper fields railed in and planted; would by its nearness to the Change, and the conveniency of passing immediately into the country, without going over the stones, be a great inducement to the merchants to settle there.

"A square equal to Devonshire Square might be formed in Duke's Place, which at present brings as little profit as it does honour to the city.

It has been objected, "That the income of the corporation estate is not sufficient to enable them to make every desirable improvement." To which it might be replied, "that if the corporation were empowered to purchase the ruinous buildings upon these premisses, there would not be wanting persons to purchase the ground at such a rate as would indemnify them from any expence, as certainly would be the case in regard to the improvements of Billiter Lane and Threadneedle Street. But admitting that the improvements recommended would be attended with such expence, an additional duty of two pence or three pence per chaldron, on coals, might furnish an ample fund for every purpose, and in regard to private families, would not deserve the name of a tax, which might afterwards be applied to the paying off the money borrowed on Black Friars Bridge, and thereby make it free.

"To conclude, the advantage arising to the citizens from the great sums that must be expended in the city; beside the ease in poors rates and land tax, if the above improvements take place, are too obvious to renderit necessary to expatiate thereon."