namely" in the House given unto them by the Lord Fanhope, [Sir John Cornewell] in the parish of St. Michael, Crooked Lane." The fabric here mentioned was destroyed by the Fire of London, after which the present FISHMONGERS' HALL, was erected from the stately designs of Sir Christopher Wren, and it may be considered as a noble specimen of his intention to ornament the banks of the river Thames, had his entire plan for rebuilding the City been carried into effect. This Hall occupies an extensive plot of ground between Thames Street and the river, at a short distance from the north end of London Bridge, the chief front being towards the river, of which it commands a fine view. The entrance from Thames Street, is under a short passage, ornamented in front with sculptured pilasters, sustaining an open pediment, in which are the Company's arms, and on each side a dolphin. The buildings environ a square court, paved, with flat stones; the Hall, which forms the south side of the court, is a very spacious and lofty apartment, handsomely fitted up, with a capacious gallery going round the whole interior. At the upper end, behind the seat of the Prime-warden, is an ornamental niche, wherein is a full sized statue, carved in wood, and painted, of the brave Sir William Walworth, Knt. who was a member of this Company, and is represented in the dress of his time, his right hand grasping a real dagger, reputed to be the identical weapon with which he struck Wat Tyler from his horse. Below the niche are inscribed the following lines:-

Brave WALWORTH, Knight, Lord Mayor, yt slew

Rebellious Tyler in his alarmes,

The King therefore did give in lieu

The dagger to the Cytyes armes.

In the 4th yeare of Richard II. Anno Domini, 1381.

There

If there be not much poetry in this artless verse, there is at least some fiction; for the dagger as it is called, in the first quarter of the City arms, was certainly intended for the sword of St. Paul, the chosen patron of the Corporation, and was borne centuries previous to the age of Walworth, and his compatriots. Walpole says that the above statue was made by Edward Pierce, the Statuary and Architect, who died in 1698,

There is an expression of strong muscular energy in the countenance of this statue, which was probably carved from some genuine likeness: the eyes are large, and the beard dark and bushy, with whiskers. Sir William was buried in the neighbouring Church of St. Michael: his funeral Pall which is cuririously embroidered with gold, is yet carefully preserved by this Company; who have likewise an exact plan of the splendid Show that was exhibited at the time of his inauguration as Mayor, in 1380. In the windows at this end of the Hall, is some good painted glass, displaying the arms of different benefactors; and under the gallery are numerous shields properly emblazoned, of the arms of the successive Prime-Wardens.* In front of the gallery, also, is a very large and clever picture of the gallant Admiral, EARL ST. VINCENT, which was put up at the expense of the Company, in veneration of his great talents and services. It ought to be remarked that the great Nelson, and many other of the brave chieftains, whose heroism and ability have entwined the naval annals of this country with never-fading laurels, acquired the major part of their sea-education, under the command of this much esteemed Veteran.

In the Court Room, are full lengths of the Sovereigns Wil liam the Third, Mary, his consort, &c. and eight curious pictures apparently from the Dutch School, of various kinds of Fish, which are grouped with much skill, and excellently coloured. An apartment above, contains two other pictures, full lengths, of the late Margrave, and the present Margravine, of Anspach, executed in 1797, by Romney: these are in a loose, sketchy style, but of colouring, are regarded as good likenesses: the connection of the Margravine with the Company, arose from a ball, and the assembly

The Fishmongers' arms are azure, three dolphins, naiant in pale, between two pair of Lucies saltirewise, proper, crowned, or; on a chief, gules, three couple of keys crossed, as the crowns; supported on the dexter side by a merman armed, and on the sinister a mermaid, holding a mirror in her left hand; crest, two arms sustaining a crown; the motto, All Worship be to God only.'

assembly formerly held in the great Hall, under the patronage of this Lady. The chief part of this edifice, is of brick, but the front next the Thames, is ornamented with stone window cases, quoins, &c. the latter being wrought in rustic: and the summit of the building is terminated by a cornice, having a large central pediment, in the tympanum of which are the Royal arms of Charles the Second: from the wharf, is an ascent to the portal of the Hall, by a high flight of stone steps. This Company consists of a Prime, and five other Wardens, a Court of Assistants, and a Livery. About fifty Lord Mayors have been members of it, and many persons of eminent distinction are enrolled among its freemen. Their expenditure for benevolent purposes, as the support of Alms-Houses, Hospitals, &c. is stated to amount to about 8001. yearly. The Fishmongers were anciently accustomed to make a considerable display of pageantry, whenever a member of their Company was advanced to the Mayoralty.

for

THE GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY is of very remote institution, as already noticed, it having been fined as adulterine so early as the year 1180; yet it was not incorporated till 1327 when Edward the Third, in consideration of the sum of ten marks, granted the members his Letters Patent, under the title of The Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Goldsmiths,' &c. with power to purchase estates to the value of 201. annually, the support of their indigent and superannuated brethren. This grant was confirmed by Richard the Second, in 1394, on the further payment of twenty marks; and a further confirmation was granted in 1462, by Edward the Fourth, who also constituted this Company a body politic,' &c. By the last grant also, they were invested with the privilege of inspecting, trying, and regulating all gold and silver wares, not only within the City, but also in all other parts of the Kingdom; with the power of punishing all offenders in working adulterated gold and silver. This appears to have been an extension of a statute made in the twenty-third of Edward the First, which empowered the Warden to assay gold and

2 B

silver