IRONMONGERS' HALL,

Fenchurch Street. A spacious building of Portland stone, erected in 1748, from designs by Thomas Holden, on the site of the previous hall, having a rusticated basement; above which, in the centre, are four Ionic pilasters supporting a pediment, having instead of supporters, a large cornucopia on each side, pouring out fruit and flowers. The vestibule is spacious, and divided into avenues by six columns of the Tuscan order. The great banqueting hall has recently been decorated in the Elizabethan style, by Jackson and Sons, in papier maché and carton pierre. Here is a portrait of Admiral Lord Viscount Hood, painted on his admission into this company, in 1783 after the freedom of the City of London had been conferred upon him, for his eminent naval services.

GROCERS' HALL,

Grocers' Hall Court, Poultry. Erected from the designs of Thomas Leverton, and opened July 21st, 1802: a plain building with a stone façade, at the upper part of which are sculptures, emblematical of Oriental commerce. It stands on the site of the ancient residence of the Lords Fitzwalter. In the hall is a portrait and statue of Sir John Cutler, and portraits of Lord Chatham and his son, the Right Honourable William Pitt.

This company at one time held high rank among the city companies; in the reign of Henry II., there being no less than twelve aldermen at one time members of this company. It also boasts of having the names of five kings enrolled among its members.

DRAPERS' HALL,

Throgmorton Street. Erected on the site of the mansion formerly the residence of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, from designs by Jarman, architect of the second Exchange. It is a spacious and commodious edifice, with a handsome elevation of the Ionic order, elaborately embellished with foliage, by Adams, one of the architects of the Adelphi. It consists of a spacious quadrangle, with buidings on every side, elevated upon a colonnade, with arches forming a piazza. In the hall are portraits of Fitz-Alwyn, the first Lord Mayor of London; Mary Queen of Scots, attributed to Zucchero; Lord Nelson, by Sir William Beechey; and other fine pictures.

At the back of the hall is a spacious garden, open to the public daily, except on Saturdays and Sundays.

BARBERS' HALL,

33, Monkwell Street, Cripplegate. The building was designed by that great architect, Inigo Jones, and though of a simple construction, is exceedingly elegant, and is considered as one of his masterpieces. The grand entrance is enriched with the company's arms, large fruit, and other decorations. The court room has a fret-work ceiling, and is adorned with several beautiful paintings, particularly a very handsome cne by Hans Holbein, of King Henry VIII. uniting the Barbers and Surgeons into one company, which contains portraits of eighteen of the most eminent of the company at that time; a portrait of Inigo Jones, by Van Dyck; and a portrait of the well-known Countess of Richmond, by Sir Peter Lely.

Amongst the plate is a curiously shaped silver gilt cup, presented by Charles II.: the trunk of the royal oak forms the handle, and the body of the tree, from which hang gilt acorns, the cup itlself; the lid is the royal crown.

Admission, free, by order from any member of the court.

ARMOURERS' HALL,

81, Coleman Street. The hall, a plain substantial brick building, with an attached portico of the Doric order, designed by the late Mr. William Creswick, contains a fine painting, by Northcote, representing the entry of Richard II. and Henry of Bolingbroke into the City. Admission, free, by an order from any of the livery, or by a respectful application.

STATIONERS' HALL,

This

Stationers' Hall Court, on the north side of Ludgate Hill. building stands on the site of a mansion, which anciently belonged to the Dukes of Bretagne. It is a spacious, convenient hall, and is lighted by a single series of windows, over which is placed a neat medallion. The entrance is from a small paved court, enclosed with a dwarf wall, surmounted by an iron railing. It underwent a substantial repair, and the eastern front was cased with Portland stone, in 1805, under the direction of Robert Mylne, Esq. The window of stained glass, by Eginton, was presented to the company by Alderman Cadell. In the hall are portraits of Sir Richard Steele; Prior, the poet; Richardson (the author of "Pamela ") and his wife; Bishop Hoadley; Robert Nelson, Esq., author of "the Whole Duty of Man; and Alderman Boydell, by Graham; also a painting by West, of Alfred and the Pilgrim.

Almanac day at Stationers' Hall (every 22d of November, at twelve o'clock), although not of so much importance since the abolition of the monopoly, is still a sight worth seeing, for the bustle of the porters.

SALTERS' HALL,

St. Swithin's Lane. A handsome and very elaborate elevation, erected in 1829, from the designs of George Smith Esq., on the site of the mansion of the Earls of Oxford. It consists of a tetrastyle Ionic portico, supporting an attic that forms a base or pedestal for the armorial bearings and supporters of the company. The side portions of the elevations have semicircular headed windows, over which are tablets, beautifully sculptured with the Grecian honeysuckle. It is prettily situated in a planted garden, with dwelling-houses and offices on each side.

In the hall are portraits of several of the English monarchs; a very fine portrait of Sir Christopher Wren; and one of Adrian Charpentier, the artist; in the court-room, is a curious bill of fare, the expense of entertaining fifty of the Company of Salters, amounting to £1. 13s. 24d.

CLOTH WORKERS' HALL,

On the east side of Mincing Lane, Tower Street. It is a neat brick building, with fluted columns of the same, having Corinthian capitals of stone. The hall is lofty, and adorned with wainscot to the ceiling, which is of curious fretwork.

At the west end are figures of James I. and Charles I., richly carved, life-size, in their robes, with regalia, all gilt and highly finished; and a spacious window of stained glass. Pepys, who was master in 1677, presented a richly chased silver cup, still used as the "loving cup," on all festive occasions.

SADDLERS' HALL,

Cheapside. A small, but very handsome hall, erected in 1823, having a neat entrance-front in Cheapside.

The Saddlers' Company, which is twenty-fifth on the list of the city companies, is, nevertheless, one of the most wealthy of the minor companies. Frederic Prince of Wales (father of George III.), was master of this company, and in the hall is a portrait of him, by T. Frye. The well known Sir Peter Laurie is a member of this company.

APOTHECARIES' HALL,

Water Lane, Blackfriars. A spacious edifice, erected in 1670, with a plain front to the street; a gate leads to an open court, at the upper end of which, a grand flight of stairs leads into the hall.

In the hall is a portrait of James I., and a bust of Gideon De Laune, a Frenchman, apothecary to James I., and the cause of the incorporation of the Apothecaries' Company, in 1606; Robert Gower, Esq., master in 1726; and several other persons of eminence.

VINTNERS' HALL,

On the South side of Upper Thames Street, on the west of the approach to Southwark Bridge. It consists of three sides of a quadrangle, enlosing a square court, the north side of which is enclosed by lofty iron gates, hung on rusticated piers. The south portion of the quadrangle contains the hall; this side, like the other two, is divided by pilasters, into three divisions, the intercolumniations containing windows of stained glass, which light the hall. Over this is an entablature, carried through the entire building. Each side of the quadrangle is surmounted by a pediment, the tympanum of the centre division being charged with a shield, bearing the company's arms-three tuns and a chevron. The walls of the council chamber are beautifully carved work, having the arms of previous members emblazoned on the sides, surmounted by wreaths of flowers. In the hall is a richly carved oak chair, said to have been preserved from the Great Fire; also full-length portraits of Charles II., by Sir Peter Lely; James II. and his Queen; and Prince George of Denmark; and a statue of St. Martin, the patron saint of this company; and over the chimney-piece, is a copy of Rubens' picture of St. Martin Dividing his Cloak with the Beggar.

SKINNERS' HALL,

Dowgate Hill. A spacious building, with an elevation of the Ionic order, designed by Robert Adam, Esq., one of the architects of the Adelphi. This company was incorporated 1327, and stands sixth of the twelve great companies. The drawing-room is a richly fitted apartment, lined wholly with cedar, finely carved and enriched. It has recently been restored, under the direction of the company's architect, Mr. John Moore, F.R.S.

The dining hall is a noble apartment, in the Italian style, lighted from the roof, capable of dining at least one hundred and fifty persons, with a recess for the side-board at the dais end, and an Ionic gallery for the minstrels at the other.

PAINTER STAINERS' HALL,

9, Little Trinity Lane. A neat building, having a garden on the north side. The hall-room is adorned with a handsome screen, arches, pillars, and pilasters of the Corinthian order, painted in imitation of porphyry, with gilt capitals. The panels are of wainscot, and the ceiling is embellished with historic and other paintings, amongst which are portraits of Charles II. and his Queen Catherine, by Houseman. In the hall is also a painting of the Great Fire of London, and a portrait of Camden, the antiquarian, who presented the company with a cup and cover, still used by them on St. Luke's day.

Admission by an introduction from any of the livery.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE CLUB HOUSES.

These establishments, which have of late years assumed a splendour unknown to the ideas of their originators, are the resorts of the political, fashionable, and literary characters, for the purposes of conversation, reading, or refreshment. Persons desirous of admission, must be proposed by members, and ballotted for. The subscriptions vary according to the character of the Club, from twenty to thirty guineas entrance, and from five to ten guineas per annum,

The Clubs of London, have had a very decided influence on the state of society, and on the interests of hotels and taverns. These once flourishing resorts of men in the upper grades of society have been abandoned for the club houses, where the advantages of cooperation have been so conspicuously displayed, that the humbler purveyors of comfort have sunk in the unequal contest, and their establishments are now frequented by scarcely any other than temporary sojourners. The effect of this change on the domestic characters of these grades is conspicuous; those who have discovered sources of gratification where a moderate expenditure ensures a splendid entertainment, cannot help contrasting the sober hue of domesticity with the cheerful and inspiriting tone of extended communion. To such as possess homes without the usual endearing associations, club houses present advantages not to be resisted; and, we accordingly find their comforts fully appreciated, and their affairs highly prosperous.

THE UNION,

South-west corner of Trafalgar Square. Erected in 1824, from the designs of Sir Robert Smirke, R.A. It is a plain substantial building, in the Grecian style, and forms, in connection with the College of Physicians, a continuous frontage to Trafalgar Square. The members consist of merchants, lawyers, and members of parliament.