The same in low and high estate,

Ne'er vex'd with this, ne'er mov'd with that.

Go, ladies, now, and if you'd be

As fair, as great, and good as she,

Go learn of her humility."

The benefice of Stepney now constitutes a rectory, in the gift of the principal and fellows of Brazen-nose College, Oxford. Among the former rectors, or vicars, of this parish, may be named the following eminent persons: Stephen Segrave, afterwards Archbishop of Armagh, who died in 1333. Richard Fox, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, and founder of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. The learned John Colet, afterwards Dean of St. Paul's, and founder of St. Paul's School. Richard Pace, who was employed in several transactions of state by King Henry VIII. and was the intimate friend of Erasmus. In consequence of an offence given to Cardinal Wolsey he was confined for two years in the Tower, and laboured for the short remainder of his life under a disorder of understanding. Pace died at Stepney, and was buried in the church, but there is not any monument to his memory.

In the western part of the village is a spacious meetinghouse for the class of Dissenters termed Independents, which was erected in the year 1674, for Matthew Mead, the eminent puritan divine who has been noticed in a previous page. The late Mr. Brewer was for some time pastor of this congregation. There are, likewise, two other meeting-houses for the Independents.

In different parts of the parish are several ranges of almshouses. Those belonging to the East India Company are situated at Poplar, and contain thirty-eight habitations for invalided petty officers of the Company's ships, or their widows. In the same neighbourhood are eighteen dwellings, erected by the East India Company, for the reception of invalid Commanders and Mates of ships, or their widows. The allowance to the pensioners

of

Alms

of both these institutions is of a very liberal character. houses for six poor ship-carpenters were founded by Sir Henry Johnson, in 1633. Mrs. Esther Hawes, in 1686, founded an almshouse for six poor widows, which she endowed with ·91. per ann. In the hamlet of Ratcliffe are almshouses for seven poor persons, supported by the Independents.

Near the church are the Mercers' almshouses, founded by Dame Jane Mico for twelve widows, each of whom receives 301. per ann.

At Stepney was born, August 11th, 1673, Dr. Richard Mead, one of the most able physicians of the 18th century, and an eminent lover and patron of literature and the fine arts. After studying at Leyden Dr. Mead commenced his professional life at Stepney, and occupied for seven years the house in which he was born. He was the intimate friend, and successor in practice, of the celebrated Dr. Radcliffe; and lived on terms of familiarity with some of the most distinguished characters of the age. His splendid library, and gailery of antiquities and natural curiosities, together with a fine collection of pictures, were sold by auction after his decease; an event which occurred, to the regret of the learned of all Europe, on the 16th of Feb. 1754. Dr. Mead was author of several publications connected with his professional pursuits, the most es teemed of which are the "Mechanical Account of Poisons;" and "Monita Medicą."

Stepney, likewise, claims as a native William King, LL. D. who was born on the 5th of March, 1685. At a proper age he was entered of Balliol College, Oxford; and proceeding on the law line he took his doctor's degree in 1715. Three years afterwards he was made Master of St. Mary Hall, a situation which he long enjoyed with much scholastic respectability, though not without creating many personal and political enemies. He was much celebrated for the elegance of his Latin compositions, and was chosen to deliver a Latin oration in the Theatre, on the dedication of the Radcliffe Library, Oxford,

in 1749. It is to be regretted that he did not confine his pen to classical subjects, but condescended to become the author of several publications on the fleeting politics of the day. He was warmly attached to the old interest, and is said to have been the author of some intemperate jacobite pamphlets. On every subject which admitted of satirical remark his pen was fearfully keen and vigorous; but he is now chiefly known for the ease and politeness of his Latin compositions, and as the editor of the five last volumes of Dr. South's Sermons. Dr King died in 1763.*

The hamlet of RATCLIFFET is about two miles and a half in circumference, and in this portion of the parish is situated the church of Stepney. The calamitous fire which occurred at Ratcliffe in the year 1794, and consumed 455 houses, and 36 warehouses, has already been noticed. Dean Colet possessed a house at the north end of White-horse Street, Ratcliffe, in which he continued to reside after he had resigned the vicarage of this parish. The rural character of the neighbourhood in the 16th century is proved by a letter from Sir Thomas More to Dr. Colet, who was then abroad, in which are mentioned the "delights of the country about the parish of Stepney." When Dr. Colet founded St. Paul's School, he gave this house to the head-master, as a place of retirement. The site is now occupied by two handsome dwellings, termed Colet (or as it is written on these houses, Collet) Place. On the front is a bust of the Dean, The Master of St. Paul's School receives the rent of these premises.

In

* See more extended memoirs of Dr. King and Dr. Mead in Nichols's Literary Anecdotes. See Dr. King mentioned, also, in the Beauties of England for Oxfordshire, p. 230, and in the account of the parish of Ealing, contained in the present volume.

The name of this hamlet was anciently written Redclyve, signifying a red cliff, or bank.

‡ Part I. of London and Middlesex, p. 557,

In this hamlet is a cemetery, belonging to the Independents, and a school instituted in the year 1783, by persons of that religious denomination. A free-school was founded here by Nicholas Gibson, Sheriff of London; and a subscription charity school was established in the year 1710. A spacious building has recently been constructed by the inhabitants of Stepney,* for the gratuitous education of poor children, according to the method introduced by Dr. Bell. The school-room on the ground-floor is calculated to receive 200 boys, and a room above is sufficiently capacious for the instruction of 100 girls. The expense of this establishment is defrayed by voluntary contributions.

The hamlet of POPLAR, which includes Blackwall, is on the south-east side of the parish of Stepney, and is about seven miles in circumference. The reversion of the manor of Popeler, or Poplar, was granted, in the year 1396, by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, and others, to the abbey of St. Mary de Graces, near the tower of London. After the Dissolution of monastic houses this manor remained long vested in the crown, and was one of the manors settled on Charles I. when Prince of Wales. By this monarch it was, in the fourth year of his reign, granted to certain persons, trustees. for the city of London; by whom it was again sold to Sir John

Jacob,

The schools for charitable education in this neighbourhood are deeply indebted to the exertions of the late Rev. George Harper, D. D. Rector of Stepney. In our account of the parish of Stratford-Bow, the name of Dr. Harper again occurs, as the friend of humanity and the advocate of the poor. This amiable divine died, after an illness of only a few days, in May 1815. We must be permitted to observe that those of our pages which contain a notice of Stepney were then in his possession, he having kindly undertaken to revise what was written. The melancholy event of his decease allows us to render that just tribute to his benevolence, by associating his name with the very extensive recent institutions for gratuitous education in this parish, which his apprehensive modesty would otherwise have prevented.

Jacob, and has since passed through various private hands. Lands in this manor descend according to the custom of Gavel. kind. The manor-house (which has been long separated from the demesne) was formerly possessed and occupied by Sir Gilbert and Sir William Dethick, successively Garter Kings of Arms.

The Chapel of Poplar is a brick building, with a wooden turret at the west end. The outside has lately been covered with cement. This structure was commenced before the year 1650, and was completed in 1654. The expense was defrayed by a subscription, to which the East India Company were liberal contributors; and by this powerful and opulent associa tion the chapel was nearly rebuilt in 1776. The first Chaplain of Poplar was appointed by the Vicar of Stepney; but the privilege of nominating to the chaplaincy was proffered by the inhabitants to the East India Company, so early as 1656. This privilege, however, was at different times subject to some dispute; but, in 1721, the question was finally decided, and the right formally vested in the company, on condition of their repairing the chapel, and consenting to keep it in repair for the future.

The interior of the building is divided into a nave, chancel, and two aisles. In the windows are the armorial bearings of some contributors to the structure, among which occur those of Dethick. On the east wall are the monuments of Robert Ainsworth, the lexicographer, who kept a school in this neighbourhood for many years; and of Susanna, the widow of John Hoole, the translator of Tasso and Ariosto. In the north aisle is a monument, by Flaxman, to the memory of " George Steevens, Esq. who cheerfully employed a considerable portion of his life and fortune in the illustration of Shakespeare." Mr. Steevens (who will briefly claim notice as a native of this hamlet) died on the 22nd of Jan. 1800, in his 64th year. The deceased is represented in bas-relief, sitting before a bust of Shakspeare, which he is ardently contemplating. In the back

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ground