Yee V.6 40.587 works of their munificence. Their object was, to accom modate the merchants with dwellings, and create a respec table neighbourhood near the city; but so little prospect was there of benefit to the builder, even at the low prices for which the lotted ground was let, that the person who took the three first lots of ground, petitioned to be released from his bargain, after the foundations and part of the houses were built, though they became ultimately a profit to him of 5000l.! To the disgrace of the builders, two houses on the south side fell down almost as soon as they were built, and the rest of that side lay in a most perilous state. The corporation upon this caused a survey to be taken, and took such efféctual measures, that at present FINSBURY SQUARE does hot give place in beauty, and not much in size, to the most boasted at the west end of the metropolis *. Mr. Gwynne, among his other improvements †, proposed, that a convenient street should be formed from Moorfields to Throgmorton Street, through Austin Friars, to the Royal Exchange, Bank, &c. with streets of communication into Broad Street, and Coleman Street. He also proposed that Bethlem Hospital should be removed, and the area formed into a most beautiful square. Part of his plan has been adopted, the hospital is nearly levelled with the ground, and a large street is intended to continue from the City Road to the Mansion House. X At the south-west angle of this square, is a large building, constructed for a bookseller's shop upon an extensive scale, by JAMES LACKINGTON, Esq. who, from a very small capital, raised himself by indefatigable endeavours to opulence and celebrity. He was originally a shoemaker in Bunhill Row, where he commenced bookseller of pamphlets, &c. He then removed to Chiswell Street, and having purchased the present shop, through which a coach and six horses might pass, retired to enjoy the wealth he had accumulated. The catalogue of Lackington, Allen, and Có. sells at the vast price of two shillings and sixpence. Pennant. Europ. Mag. 1802. From From Finsbury Square, we pass down CHISWELL Street, on the north side of which stands the Artillery House, which shall be described in its due place. On the south side stood the antient MANOR HOUSE OF FINSBURY; which, having suffered many delapidations, was let out as a carpet warehouse, and taken down to make way for the respectable houses which occupy its site. Near Bunhill Row, is a large house, in which letterfounding was brought to great perfection by WILLIAM CASLON. This ingenious artist served a regular apprenticeship to an engraver of ornaments on gun barrels, and, after the expiration of his time, carried on that trade for some time; but without confining his ingenuity to embellishing instru ments of war, he diverted himself in making tools for bookbinders, and for chasing silver plate. Mr. William Bowyer, the elder, having accidentally seen the lettering of a book remarkably neat, enquired out the artist who had cut the letters, and thence commenced an acquaintance with Mr. Caslon, whom he soon after took to James's letterfoundery, in Bartholomew Close. Caslon was an entire stranger to the process; but being asked by Mr. Bowyer, whether he could undertake to cut types, requested a day for consideration, and then replied in the affirmative. Such an answer induced Mr. Bowyer to consult two other eminent printers, and they had such confidence in Mr. Caslon's abi lities that they lent him 500l. Thé The choice they made evinced their judgment; for Caslon applied himself with equal assiduity and success. Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, in consequence of a representation from Mr. Solomon Negri, a native of Damascus, in Syria, who was well skilled in the oriental tongues, and had been professor of Arabic, deemed it expedient to print, in 1720, for the use of the eastern churches, the New Testament and Psalter in the Arabic language. Upon this occasion Mr. Caslon was appointed to cut the fount; which he denominated the Arabic English. After he had finished this fount, he cut the letters of his own name in Pica Roman, at the bottom of one of the Arabic specimens; this being seen by Mr. Palmer, a printer, he advised to cut the whole fount of Pica; some circumstances intervening, Palmer retracted his advice, and attempted to discourage what he had suggested. This justly offended Mr. Caslon, and he applied to the liberal triumvirate who had been his first patrons, and under Mr. Bowyer's inspection he cut, in 722, the beautiful fount of English which was used in printing the works of Selden, and the Coptic types, made use of for Dr. Wilkins's edition of the Pentateuch. Mr. Bowyer was always acknowledged by him to be his master, from whom he had learned his art; in which he arrived at length to such perfection, that he not only freed England from the necessity of importing types from Holland, but in the beauty and elegance of those cast by him, he so far exceeded the productions of the best artificers, that his workmanship was frequently exported to the Continent, as, with great justice and confidence it might be asserted, that a more beautiful specimen of letter-founding, was not to be found in any part of the world. His first foundery was in a small house in Helmet Row, Old Street; afterwards in Ironmonger Row, and ultimately, in 1735, it was removed to Chiswell Street, where he became preeminent in his ingenious profession. Having acquired opulence by his industry, he was put into the commission of the peace for the county of Middlesex, and consigned the active part of his business to his son; he then retired to a rural residence at Bethnal Green, where he died January 23, 1766, aged seventy-four; leaving the character of a first-rate artist, a tender master, and an honest, friendly, and benevolent man. He was buried at St. Luke's church, Old Street. Sir John Hawkins particularly celebrated his hospitality, his social qualities, and his love of music. The foundery is still carried on by the family*. TYPE STREET, is so denominated from another letter foundery, recently established by Messrs. FRY AND Co. who Biographical Dict. have published a very ingenious specimen of the various types in an elegant manner. we Nothing further is worthy of notice in Chiswell Street, till come to WHITBREAD's BREWHOUSE. The history of this brewery is involved in the personal anecdotes of its late founder and proprietor. SAMUEL WHITBREAD, Esq. was the son of a yeoman, who lived at the Barns at Cardington, in Bedfordshire, on an estate of 100l. per annum. This estate devolving to the son at the old gentleman's decease, he improved it by building; and from one gradual propitious circumstance to another, he arrived to the possession of, at least, a MILLION OF MONEY. His extensive establishments in this brewery were long unrivalled; and, perhaps in a great degree, still remain so. After having sat member of parliament for several sessions, as representative of Bedford, in which he maintained an independence and integrity uniform and unostentatious, he died on the 11th of June, 1796 His liberal benevolence was experienced in every parish where he had any property, and his charity was as extensive as it was judicious; his private distributions exceeded the sum of 3000l. annually; for no proper application was repulsed. During his life he settled a perpetual rent charge on these premises to the amount of one hundred guineas, for the use of St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics. The following are some of the principal heads of his "Will: To his son, Samuel Whitbread, Esq. he bequeathed the whole of his freehold estates, together with all the brewery concerns, except a part to his daughter, wife of George Grey, captain of the Boyne man of war, and brother to Lord Howick, which was secured to her as a marriage settlement. To his son-in-law, James Gordon, Esq. to his nephews, Jacob Whitbread, and John Wingate Jennings, Esqrs. 3000l. each; also 10,000l. the amount of several bonds given by Lord St. John, his son-in-law, to whom he left 1000l. the amount of another bond, also given by him. To To his three head clerks he left 500l. each, they are also trustees for the Brewery. To his private clerk 500l. To his butler 100l. and to every servant throughout his concerns, including clerks, domestics, draymen, and every other description, he left tokens of his regard, besides various sums, from 100l. to 107. in annuities to old servants, and widows of servants. He also made a clause in his Will, "that should his clerks Messrs. Green, Yellowly and Sangster, at any time be desirous of purchasing a share in the brewery concerns, his son should accede to the proposal, and give them credit for any sum they might want for that purpose, on their own bonds, not exceeding 100,000l. To the different hospitals in the metropolis and elsewhere, he bequeathed upwards of 15,000/, among which are St. Bartholomew's, Bethlem, Lying-in, St. George's, and St. Luke's. To two charity schools for boys and girls in the parish of St. Luke, 500l. each. To repairing the gaol of Bedford, 300l. also towards building an infirmary 4000l. and for its maintenance 4000/. more. Besides these, the many legacies left to old acquaintances, friends, rectors, curates, tenants, and distant relations, are incredible, all accumulated from the vast concern of the CHISWELL STREET BREWERY; the extent and celebrity of which induced king George III. his queen, and the royal family to pay Mr. Whitbread a visit, on the 26th of May, 1787. The steam engine, then lately erected, and first applied by Mr. Whitbread to the purposes of the brewery took up much of their attention. In the great store were three thousand and seven barrels of beer. They also viewed the amazing stone cistern, of such vast magnitude as to hold four thousand barrels of liquor; and two hundred men and eighty horses at their various occupations. After having inspected every part of the premises in a minute manner, the royal visitants retired into the dwellinghouse, and partook of a cold collation, as magnificent as affluence and arrangement could make it. The whole service was plate, and there was an assortment of every wine in the world; but that the board might not be incomplete, some of |