prelate, Bishop Berkeley, to whom Pope attributed & every virtue under heaven."

Returning through the archway of the new buildings we come to Little Shire-Lane, and into New-Court: the latter contains an Independent Meeting House, which had for its pastors Mr. Daniel Burgess, Mr. Thomas Bradbury, and Mr. Richard Winter, all eminent preachers. Hence crossing Carey-Street, the avenue of Serle-Street leads to Lincoln's-Inn Fields. This is allowed to be the largest and most beautiful square in London, if not in Europe. It was formerly called Ficquets-Field and Whetstone Park, being then a dan gerous place on account of robberies; though it seems to have been partially covered with buildings in 1580, when Queen Elizabeth issued a proclamation, forbidding the laying of foundations of houses about London. However, within six years, a contrary mode of proceeding was adopted; the government revoked its order; and in 1618, a commission from James the First was entrusted to the care of Lord Chancellor Bacon, and other noblemen and gentry for the better disposal of these grounds. The commission alleged, "That more public works near and about the city of London had been undertaken in the sixteen years of that reign than in ages heretofore; that Lincoln's-Inn Fields was much planted round with dwellings and lodgings of noblemen and gentlemen of quality, but 'at the same time was so deformed by cottages, mean buildings, and encroachments on the fields, that the Commissioners were directed to reform them, according to the plan of Inigo Jones, recited in the Commission, and accordingly drawn up by way of map, &c." Thus authorized, it was the intention of this eminent architect to have built all in the same style; but the taste of the projectors not according with his great genius and abilities, the work was unaccomplished. A specimen

of the whole, however, is exhibited in the centre house on the west side, formerly inhabited by the Earls of Lindsey, and their descendants the Dukes of Ancaster, but now divided into two dwellings, possessing that simple grandeur for which the designs of Inigo Jones have been so much celebrated. The four sides of the vast square were thus named: the north, Newman's Row; the west, Arch Row; the south, Portugal Row; and the east, Lincoln's-Inn Wall.

But since the great families have deserted the square, some of their houses have been divided. The great one at the corner near Queen-Street was called Powis House, having been built for the Marquis of Powis in 1686. It was the residence of Sir Nathan Wright, and that eminent statesman, Lord Chancellor Somers; after his decease it was inhabited by Thomas Pelham Holles, Duke of Newcastle, and is usually called Newcastle House. On this side were also the town houses of Sir Fletcher Norton, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Sardinian Ambassador, &c.

On the north side the houses of John Soane, Esq. and others, form a good row of buildings in varied architecture. The south side has been distinguished by the residence of eminent legal characters, Lord Chancellors Camden, Loughborough and Erskine; Lord Chief Justice Kenyon, Sir Henry Gould, Serjeant Adair, &c.

No. 13, the house of Mr. Soane, the architect, has within these few years been almost rebuilt with a new and singular projecting front, and in the small court before it, is to be seen the curious Roman Altar represented in the following wood cut.

A gateway on the west side, of a singular dirty and mean appearance, leads to Duke-Street, in which is the entrance to the Sardinian Chapel, a Roman Catholic place of worship, which suffered greatly in the disgraceful riots of 1780. Before we quit Lincoln's-Inn Fields it is necessary to observe, that on the south side stands the newly-erected Surgeon's Hall, or Royal College and Theatre, one of the most elegant structures in the metropolis. It is of the Ionic order, with suitable embellishments. Lincoln's-Inn Fields was the last stage on which was closed the patriotic lives of Lord William Russel and Algernon Sydney. The virtuous Russel lost his head in the middle of the square on the 21st of July 1683. Sydney was executed the latter end of the same year. The eastern side of this square is now graced with the prospect of the New Chancery, in Lincoln'sInn, a stuccoed building in the modern Gothic taste, with pointed windows, and an embattled roof.

Portugal-Street is famous for having a Dramatic Theatre, first built on the site of a tennis-court, and opened by Sir William D'Avenant. It has for some years

west side, of a singular dirty and ads to Duke-Street, in which is the dinian Chapel, a Roman Catholic which suffered greatly in the disgraceful new of 1780. Before we quit Lincoln's-Inn Fields it is memsary to observe, that on the south side stands the newly-rected Surgeon's Hall, or Royal ColLogo wwe of the most elegant structures in the metampons of the Ionic order, with suitable ensiehstments. colo's-Ian Fields was the last stage on which was closed the patriotic lives of Lord William Russel and Algernon Sydney. The virtuous Russel lost his head in the middle of the square on the 21st of July 1683. Sydney was executed the latter end of the same year. The eastern side of this square is now graced act of the ..

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