london in 1731-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　he　meets　the　twelve　judges　and　invites　them　to　dinner　after　divine　service　is　ended。

The　sheriffs　are　chosen　into　their　office　on　Midsummer　day　annually　by　the　liverymen　also；　to　which　end　the　Lord　Mayor；　aldermen；　and　sheriffs　meet　in　the　council…chamber　at　Guildhall；　about　eight　in　the　morning；　and　coming　down　afterwards　into　the　Court　of　Hustings；　the　recorder　declares　to　the　livery　men　assembled　in　the　hall　that　this　is　the　day　prescribed　for　the　election　of　these　magistrates　for　the　year　ensuing：　　then　the　Court　of　Aldermen　go　up　to　the　Lord　Mayor's　Court　till　the　sheriffs　are　chosen；　the　old　sheriffs；　the　chamberlain；　common　serjeant；　town　clerk；　and　other　City　officers　remaining　in　the　Court　of　Hustings；　to　attend　the　election。　　After　the　sheriffs　are　chosen；　the　commons　proceed　to　elect　a　chamberlain；　bridge…masters；　auditors　of　the　city　and　bridge…house　accounts；　and　the　surveyors　of　beer　and　ale；　according　to　custom。　　The　old　sheriffs　are　judges　of　these　elections；　and　declare　by　the　common　serjeant　who　are　duly　chosen。　　The　sheriffs　thus　elected　take　the　usual　oaths　in　this　court　on　Michaelmas　eve；　and　the　day　after　Michaelmas　day　are　presented　to　the　Barons　of　the　Exchequer；　where　they　take　the　oath　of　office；　the　oaths　of　allegiance；　&c。　　The　chamberlains　and　bridge…masters　are　sworn　in　the　court　of　aldermen。

Where　a　Lord　Mayor　elect　refuses　to　serve；　he　is　liable　to　be　fined；　and　if　a　person　chosen　sheriff　refuses　to　serve；　he　is　fined　413　pounds　6s。　8d。；　unless　he　makes　oath　he　is　not　worth　10；000　pounds。

When　the　alderman　of　any　ward　dies；　another　is　within　a　few　days　elected　in　his　room；　at　a　wardmote　held　for　that　purpose；　at　which　the　Lord　Mayor　usually　presides。　　Every　alderman　has　his　deputy；　who　supplies　his　place　in　his　absence。　　These　deputies　are　always　taken　from　among　the　Common　Council。　　The　aldermen　above　the　chair；　and　the　three　eldest　aldermen　beneath　it；　are　justices　of　peace　in　the　City　by　the　charter。

The　Lord…Mayor's　jurisdiction　in　some　cases　extends　a　great　way　beyond　the　City；　upon　the　river　Thames　eastward　as　far　as　the　conflux　of　the　two　rivers　Thames　and　Medway；　and　up　the　river　Lea　as　far　as　Temple　Mills；　being　about　three　miles；　and　westward　as　far　as　Colney　Ditch　above　Staine　Bridge：　　he　names　a　deputy　called　the　water…bailiff；　whose　business　is　to　prevent　any　encroachments；　nuisances；　and　frauds　used　by　fishermen　or　others；　destructive　to　the　fishery；　or　hurtful　to　the　navigation　of　the　said　waters；　and　yearly　keeps　courts　for　the　conservation　of　the　river　in　the　counties　it　borders　upon　within　the　said　limits。

The　sheriffs　also　are　sheriffs　of　the　county　of　Middlesex　as　well　as　of　London。　　And　here　I　shall　take　an　opportunity　to　observe；　that　the　number　of　aldermen　are　twenty…six；　the　number　of　Common…Council　men　two　hundred　and　thirty…four；　the　number　of　companies　eighty…　four；　and　the　number　of　citizens　on　the　livery；　who　have　a　voice　in　their　elections；　are　computed　to　be　between　seven　and　eight　thousand。　　The　twelve　principal　companies　are：…　1。　The　Mercers；　2。　Grocers；　3。　Drapers；　4。　Fishmongers；　5。　Goldsmiths；　6。　Skinners；　7。　Merchant…Tailors；　8。　Haberdashers；　9。　Salters；　10。　Ironmongers；　11。　Vintners；　12。　Clothworkers。　　The　others：…　are　13。　The　Dyers；　14。　Brewers；　15。　Leather…Sellers；　16。　Pewterers；　17。　Barber…Surgeons；　18。　Cutlers；　19。　Bakers；　20。　Wax…Chandlers；　21。　Tallow…Chandlers；　22。　Armourers；　23。　Girdlers；　24。　Butchers；　25。　Saddlers；　26。　Carpenters；　27。　Cord…wainers；　28。　Painter…stainers；　29。　Curriers；　30。　Masons；　31。　Plumbers；　32。　Innholders；　33。　Founders；　34。　Poulterers；　35。　Cooks；　36。　Coopers；　37。　Tilers　and　Bricklayers；　38。　Bowyers；　39。　Fletchers；　40。　Blacksmiths；　41。　Joiners；　42。　Weavers；　43。　Woolmen；　44。　Scriveners；　45。　Fruiterers；　46。　Plasterers；　47。　Stationers；　48。　Embroiderers；　49。　Upholders；　50。　Musicians；　51。　Turners；　52。　*Basket…makers；　53。　Glaziers；　54。　*Horners；　55。　Farriers；　56。　*Paviours；　57。　Lorimers；　58。　Apothecaries；　59。　Shipwrights；　60。　*Spectacle…makers；　61。　*Clock…makers；　62。　*Glovers；　63。　*Comb…makers；　64。　*Felt…makers；　65。　Frame…work　Knitters；　66。　*Silk　throwers；　67。　Carmen；　68。　*Pin…makers；　69。　Needle…makers；　70。　Gardeners；　71。　Soap…makers；　72。　Tin…plate　Workers；　73。　Wheelwrights；　74。　Distillers；　75。　Hatband…makers；　76。　Patten…makers；　77。　Glasssellers；　78。　Tobacco…pipe　makers；　79。　Coach　and　Coach…harness　makers；　80。　Gun…makers；　81。　Gold　and　Silver　Wire…Drawers；　82。　Long　Bow…string　makers；　83。　Card…makers；　84。　Fan…makers。

The　companies　marked　with　an　*　before　them　have　no　liverymen；　and　all　the　freemen　of　the　rest　are　not　upon　the　livery；　that　is；　entitled　to　wear　the　gowns　belonging　to　the　respective　companies；　and　vote　in　elections；　but　a　select　number　of　freemen　only。　　Every　company　is　a　distinct　corporation；　being　incorporated　by　grants　from　the　crown；　or　acts　of　parliament；　and　having　certain　rules；　liberties；　and　privileges；　for　the　better　support　and　government　of　their　several　trades　and　mysteries：　　many　of　them　are　endowed　with　lands　to　a　great　value；　and　have　their　masters；　wardens；　assistants；　clerks；　and　other　officers；　to　direct　and　regulate　their　affairs；　and　to　restrain　and　punish　abuses　incident　to　their　several　trades；　and　when　any　disputes　arise　concerning　the　due　execution　of　these　charters；　the　Lord　Mayor　has　a　supreme　power　to　determine　the　case　and　to　punish　the　offenders。

The　military　government　of　the　City　of　London　is　lodged　in　the　lieutenancy；　consisting　of　the　Lord　Mayor；　aldermen；　and　other　principal　citizens；　who　receive　their　authority　from　his　majesty's　commission；　which　he　revokes　and　alters　as　often　as　he　sees　fit。　These　have　under　their　command　six　regiments　of　foot；　viz。：…　1；　The　White；　2；　the　Orange；　3；　the　Yellow；　4；　the　Blue；　5；　the　Green；　and　6；　the　Red　Regimentin　every　one　of　which　are　eight　companies；　consisting　of　one　hundred　and　fifty　men　each；　in　all；　seven　thousand　two　hundred　men：　　besides　which　there　is　a　kind　of　independent　company；　called　the　artillery　company；　consisting　of　seven　or　eight　hundred　volunteers；　whose　skill　in　military　discipline　is　much　admired　by　their　fellow…citizens。　　These　exercise　frequently　in　the　artillery　ground；　engage　in　mock　fights　and　sieges；　and　storm　the　dunghills　with　great　address。

The　Tower　Hamlets；　it　has　been　observed　already；　are　commanded　by　the　lieutenant　of　the　Tower；　and　consist　of　two　regiments　of　foot；　eight　hundred　each：　　so　that　the　whole　militia　of　London；　exclusive　of　Westminster　and　Southwark；　amount　to　near　ten　thousand　men。

London；　like　other　cities　of　the　kingdom；　is；　or　ought　to　be；　governed　by　its　bishop　in　spirituals；　though　his　authority　is　very　little　regarded　at　present。　　The　justices　of　peace　at　their　sessions　may　empower　any　man　to　preach　and　administer　the　sacraments；　let　his　occupation　or　qualifications　be　never　so　mean；　nor　do　they　ever　refuse　it　to　a　person　who　is　able　to　raise　the　small　sum　of　　pence　being　less　a　great　deal　than　is　paid　for　licensing　a　common　alehouse。　　A　clergyman　indeed　cannot　be　entitled　to　a　benefice　without　being；　in　some　measure；　subject　to　his　diocesan；　but　he　may　throw　off　his　gown；　and　assemble　a　congregation　that　shall　be　much　more　beneficial　to　him；　and　propagate　what　doctrines　he　sees　fit　（as　is　evident　in　the　case　of　orator　Henley）：　　but　to　proceed。

The　diocese　of　London　is　in　the　province　of　Canterbury；　and　comprehends　the　counties　of　Middlesex　and　Essex；　and　part　of　Hertfordshire；　the　British　plantations　in　America　are　also　subject　to　this　bishop。　　To　the　cathedral　of　St。　Paul　belongs　a　dean；　three　residentiaries；　a　treasurer；　chancellor；　precentor；　and　thirty　prebendaries。　　The　Bishop　of　London　takes　place　next　to　the　Archbishops　of　Canterbury　and　York；　but　his　revenues　are　not　equal　to　those　of　Durham　or　Winchester。　　The　deanery　of　St。　Paul's　is　said　to　be　worth　a　thousand　pounds　per　annum；　and　each　of　the　residentiaries　about　three　hundred　pounds　per　annum。

The　parishes　within　the　walls　of　London　are　ninety…seven；　but　several　of　them　having　been　united　since　the　Fire；　there　are　at　present　but　sixty…two　parish　churches；　and　consequently　the　same　number　of　parish　priests：　　the　revenues　of　these　gentlemen　are　seldom　less　than　100　pounds　per　annum；　and　none　more　than　200　pounds　per　annum。　　They　appear　to　be　most　of　them　about　150　pounds　per　annum；　besides　their　several　parsonage　houses　and　surplice　fees；　and　most　of　them　have　lectureships　in　town；　or　livings　in　the　country；　or　some　other　spiritual　preferment　of　equal　value。

The　city　of　Westminster；　the　western　part　of　the　town；　comes　next　under　consideration　which　received　its　name　from　the　abbey　or　minster　situated　to　the　westward　of　London。　　This　city；　if　we　comprehend　the　district　or　liberties　belonging　to　it；　lies　along　the　banks　of　the　Thames　in　the　form　of　a　bow　or　crescent；　extending　from　Temple　Bar　in　the　east　to　Millbank　in　the　south…west；　the　inside　of　this　bow　being　about　a　mile　and　a　half　in　length；　and　the　outside　two　miles　and　a　half　at　least；　the　breadth；　one　place　with　another；　from　the　Thames　to　the　fields　on　the　north…west　side　of　the　town；　about　a　mile；　and　I　am　apt　to　think　a　square　of　two　miles　in　length　and　one　in　breadth　would　contain　all　the　buildings　within　the　liberty　of　Westminster。　　That　part　of　the　town