- erected in 1-5m the designs of Mr. Tac Ths argerstin was founded in 1515, ims Spert, cumpruder of the navy, who was master, and ded in 1541. It has the superinence of the shipping interest, examines and licenses s for the Thames, creets light-houses and sea-marks, d many other matters connected with maritime affairs. In the secretary's office is a beautiful model of the Royal William; and in the court-room are portraits of several eminent naval characters, as also a flag taken from the Spaniards, in 1598, by Sir Francis Drake. Open daily. Admission by an order from the secretary. HALL OF COMMERCE, Threadneedle-street: erected in 1841, by Mr. Moxay. The front is ninety-two feet in length, and fifty-four feet in height; having a doorway, with two windows on each side, which from their noble proportions give it an imposing appearance. The upper part of the front is enriched with a bas-relief, seventy-three feet in length, designed by Mr. L. Watson, illustrative of the influence of commerce on the fine arts, the figures being life-size : and the elevation is terminated by a richly sculptured cornice. NEW CORN EXCHANGE, Mark-lane erected in 1827, from the designs of Mr. George Smith. It has a receding hexastyle Grecian Doric portico, having the arms of the United Kingdom, with agricultural emblems and an inscription. Adjoining is the Old Corn Exchange. COAL EXCHANGE, Lower Thames-street: erected in 1849, from the designs of Mr. Bunning, the architect of the corporation. It presents two distinct elevations, connected by a circular G tower one hundred feet high, within the re-entering angle formed by the two fronts. The building is faced throughout with Portland stone, and contains on the ground floor, in addition to suits of offices, an area of upwards of four thousand superficial feet, for the meeting of the merchants, including a circle sixty feet in diameter, the whole height of the building, covered with a glazed dome of cast-iron ribs, supported on each story by ornamented cast-iron stauncheons. This, from its magnitude and novelty of design, forms a prominent feature of the building. The height from the floor to the top of the dome is about seventy feet. THE AUCTION MART, Lothbury: erected by a company composed principally of auctioneers, between the years 1808 and 1810, from the designs of Mr. John Walters. The architecture is of a simply beautiful character; the attached portico of the principal entrance being composed of two stories, the lower of the Doric and the upper of the Ionic order, surmounted by a pediment. The interior is very conveniently disposed, and contains a spacious saloon, a coffee room, and various apartments and offices. THE STOCK EXCHANGE, Capel-court A neat plain building, erected in 1801, from the design of Mr. James Peacock: the expense being defrayed by a subscription amongst the principal stockbrokers of fifty pounds transferable shares. No person is allowed to transact business here unless balotted for annually by a committee: persons so chosen subscribe fifteen guineas each. The hours of business are from ten to four o'clock. COMMERCIAL HALL, Mincing-lane: erected by subscription in 1811, for the sale of colonial produce of every description, from the designs of Mr. Joseph Woods, and contains five public sale ooms, a large coffee-room, several show-rooms, and numerous counting-houses, let out to various merchants. The front is ornamented with six Ionic columns, between which are introduced five emblematical devices, in bassorelievo, executed by Bubb; representing Husbandry, Science, Britannia, Commerce, and Navigation. 100 CHAPTER IX. THE BRIDGES AND THE TUNNEL. In splendour with those famous cities old Southey. |