There is one great change that of late years has been gradually made in the management of this prison, which deserves the highest praise, namely, the total disuse of irons or fetters, except in cases of extreme refractoriness; and even then, the daring offender is more frequently shut up for a time within a solitary cell, than restrained by manacles. Not even condemned criminals are now made to suffer this degrading coercion, though formerly it was the con stant practice to keep them in irons to the very foot of the gallows*

Debtors were formerly confined here; but since the building of the new prison in Whitecross Street, in 1815, it has been wholly appropriated for felons. The average number of commitments to Newgate, during the last seven years, has been about 2250 annually.

IRONMONGERS' COMPANY And hall.

The Ironmongers, although forming a very ancient Fraternity, were not regularly incorporated till 1464, when Edward the Fourth granted the Members his letters patent, under the style of "The Master, and Keepers, or Wardens, and Commonalty of the Art, or Mystery, of the Ironmongers of London ;" and confirmations were subsequently obtained from Philip and Mary, in 1558; Queen Elizabeth, in 1560; and James the Second, in 1685.

*This change, which was commenced by Mr. Brown, the late keeper, under the direction of the Court of Aldermen, has been entirely accomplished during the active and judicious management of Mr. Wontner, the present keeper.,

The Ironmongers were originally called Ferones, and by that denomination were complained of to the Lord Mayor, Elyas Russel, as early as the year 1300. During the middle ages, they united the professions both of Merchant and Factor, "for while they had large warehouses and yards, whence they exported and sold bar iron, and iron rods, they had also shops, wherein they displayed abundance of manufactured articles, which they purchased of workmen in town and country, and of which they afterwards became the general retailers."

*

IRONMONGERS' HALL is a stately modern edifice, situated on the north side of Fenchurch Street, and is either the third or fourth which has been raised upon that spot. The original Hall was rebuilt in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and the ground on which it stands was then given to the Company by Sir Christopher Draper, Lord Mayor in 1566, of whom there is a small whole length, painted on glass, in a window of the state room. The present Hall was erected by Thos. Holden, architect, whose name, with the date 1748, appears on the front, which is of Portland stone; the interior walls are principally of brick. The basement story is wrought in rustic, and has in the centre an arched

the

* In the Churchwarden's account of Alhallows, Staining, in which parish the Hall stands, is the following entry, under year 1494.-" Payd for a Kylcherkyn of good ale, weche was drunkyn in the Iryumongars hall, all chargs born 12s. 2d." may be inferred, therefore, that the price of good ale at that period, was but little more than 3d. per gallon.

It

doorway, with a window on each side; in each of the retiring parts, or wings, are two other windows. The superstructure displays four pilasters of the Ionic order, sustaining a corresponding entablature and pediment. In the central, and largest intercolumniation, over the entrance, is a spacious Venetian window, and above it an oval one within an arch; the spaces between the outer pilasters contain smaller windows, (with angular pediments) and over them are circular ones. Within the pediment are the Company's arms,* having instead of supporters, a large cornucopia on each side, in bold relievo, pouring out fruits and flowers; the whole building is terminated by a neat balustrade, crowned with vases. The vestibule is spacious, and divided into avenues, by six columns of the Tuscan order; on the right is the entrance to the Court-Room, a handsome apartment, containing a well-carved statue of Edward the Fourth, in a small niche; and below it two antique Chairs, with heavy carvings of the Company's arms.

The Hall, or State Room, is a capacious and magnificent apartment. The entrance, which opens by folding-doors, is decorated with Ionic ornaments,

The Ironmongers' arms are argent, on a chevron gules, three shackles, or manacles, between three steel gads, azure: crest, two scaly lizards combatant, proper, each gorged with a collar, or, the collars chained together: supported by lizards, same as the crest: motto " God is our Strength.”— The arms were granted in 1455, by Lancaster, King at Arms; the supporters by William Harvey, Clarencieux, King at Arms, in 1560.