taking, presented to the Flag Association their silver medal, set in a broad gold border. This undertaking was also calculated to revive what is called the Draught work, the most difficult and ingenious branch in the weaving business.

The Mathematical Society has long distinguished the vicinity of Crispin Street, Spital Fields. It was begun nearly a century since, having its origin with some journeymen mechanics at a public-house; and before it was finally fixed in Crispin Street, was successively held at the Old Sun, in Bishopsgate Street, at the Black Swan, in Brown's Lane, &c. It was then highly gratifying to have seen men in humble life manifesting a love for the Sciences, and engaged, after the labours of the day, as the custom was, in solving questions in algebra and geometry. This association, in its early days, was joined by an historical society, who added books to the air-pumps, globes, microscopes, &c. which the society was able to purchase after some time. On their feast day, which was annual, they used to mingle some science with their amusement, and employed themselves in surveying a field, &c. About the beginning of the late revolutionary war, the members of the Mathematical Society wished to make an electrical experiment through some medium that was to be attached to the steeple of Spital Fields Church; but, on account of strong murmurs exhibited by the populace about that time relative to the dearness of provisions, the design of the society was laid aside.

SHOREDITCH, Sordig, Soresditch; for by these names this parish is called in ancient records, the adjacent parish to that of Spital Fields, is of very imperfect origin; but with respect to the idle story of Jane Shore dying there for want, in the reign of Richard the Third, and this parish being named from that cir- . cumstance, the testimony of Sir Thomas More, in the reign of Henry VIII. expresses that there were persons then living who knew Jane Shore in her youth, and were in the habit of seeing her after she was old, who could not be persuaded that she had

ever been beautiful; because, though fair, she was rather low of stature*. The manor of Shoreditch gave name to a very eminent family, of whom Sir John de Sordig was ambassador from Edward III. to the Pope, to remonstrate to his Holiness on account of his claim to present foreigners to English livings, and were non residents. He was buried in Hackney church. At length the turbulent John de Northampton, Lord Mayor of London, in 1381 and 1382, got possession of this manor; but he did not enjoy it above a year, for in 1383, this manor was granted to Edmund, Duke of York, and Earl of Cambridge; Isabel, his wife, and Edward, Earl of Rutland, their son. The family of Shoreditch, afterwards removed to Ickenham, in Middlesex, where Elizabeth Shoreditch, of Ickenham Hall, was born in 1784.

But if Shoreditch did not, as we have seen, derive its name from its being the residence of the husband of the ill-fated Jane Shore, who was by trade a silversmith, it certainly acquired much celebrity from another person of the name of Barlo, an inhabitant of this place, and a citizen, who acquired so much honour as an archer, by his success in a shooting match at Windsor, before Henry VIII. that the King named him on the spot, Duke of Shoreditch. For many years after this, the Captain of the ArchCrs of London retained the title. On the 17th of September,

1563,

Mr. Pennant relates, that the late Rev. Michael Tyson made him a present of an etching of this unfortunate fair, done from the supposed original in the provosts lodgings in King's College, Cambridge. "Her hair is curled in short high curls, high above her neck; and mixed with chains of jewels set in a lozenge form; her neck and body, far beneath her arms, are naked: the first has two strings of pearls hanging loose round it; over her shoulders is a rich chain of jewels, set in circles: and pendent from the middle, which hangs down her breast, is a rich lozenge of jewels, and to each link is affixed one or more pearls. In her countenance is no appearance of charms; she must have attracted the hearts of her lovers by her intellectual beauties." She lived to a great age, but in great distress and miserable poverty, and dragged on a wretched life to the time of Sir Thomas Μυτο.

1583, the Duke, at the expense of the city, had a magnificent trial of skill; he sent a summons to all his officers and titular nobility, in and about Loudon, to be ready with all their train of archery to accompany him to Smithfield. Consequently, we read that the Marquis of Barlo, the Marquis of Clerkenwell, with hunters who sounded their horns; the Marquisses of Islington, Hodgson, Pankridge, and Shacklewell, marched thither with their train fantastically habited. Nearly a thousand had gold chains, and all were gorgeously attired.

The number of archers in the whole was three thousand; and their guards armed with bills, four thousand. According to Strype, the Duke went out to meet them from Merchant Taylors' Hall, when a sight was exhibited, of which there has since been no parallel, though the practice of shooting at butts in the fields. about Shoreditch, and in the other environs of the city, was occasionally continued long after this period.

Of the ancient history of Shoreditch we further learn, that in 1352, the prior of St. John of Jerusalem granted a capital mansion or place in Hackney parish, called Beaulieu, late the property of John de Banbury, to John Blaunch and Nicholas. Shordych, to be held by an annual quit rent of six shillings and eightpence. The site of this mansion Mr. Lysons supposes to have been the same which Stow calls Shoreditch Place, but says that he knows not how it acquired the name. Since Stow's time, it has been called Shore Place, and a tradition has prevailed, that it was the residence of Jane Shore, and a portrait said to be her's, was formerly shewn there. The old mansion has been pulled down within the last fifty years; and the name of Shore Place has been given to a row of houses on or near its site. Among these, is a small neat chapel for some years belonging to a congregation of Baptists; but at present in possession of Mr. John Wesley's connection of Methodists.

Facing the end of Old Street Road, is situated the parish church of St. LEONARD, SHOREDITCH, so called from its dedication to St. Leonard, Bishop of Limoges, in France. On