ter; and the corporation made to consist of a President, twe Deans, and four Assistants, (to be chosen on Tuesday three weeks after Easter, yearly) and all the rectors, vicars, licenced lecturers, and curates, within the city of London, and the suburbs thereof; and the president, deans, and assistants, were appointed governors and rectors of the almshouses and alms-people, and to elect proper objects. Dr. White not living to see the foundation, which he had intended in his life time, completed, left the execution of his benevolence to the Reverend Mr. JOHN SIMPSON, rector of St. Olave, Hart Street, who not only fulfilled the important trust, but, at his own cost of 2000l. added a spacious library, one hundred and twenty feet long by twenty-five feet broad; and erected a building on the south side for the residence of the governors. In the year 1632, the corporation fixed on a common seal, which represented the Good Samaritan, with this inscription: Vade et sac Similiter, and round it, Sigillum Collegii de Sion, Londini. The books were given by various benefactors, and particularly a great many were brought thither from the old cathedral of St. Paul, in the year 1647. But, in 1666, one third part of the books, the alms-houses, several chambers for students, and the apartments reserved for the governors and fellows to meet in, and for the residence of the librarian and the clerk, were destroyed by the great fire of London. However, this whole edifice was afterwards rebuilt in a plain manner, with brick-work; and the library has been from time to time improved by a part of the Jesuits books seized in the year 1679; by the donation of Lord Berkley, who half of his uncle Sir Robert Cooke's books to the ligave brary; by several legacies, to be laid out yearly in books; by a great number of private benefactors; by the copies of new publications, which booksellers are obliged, by an act of the tenth of queen Anne, to give to this library, in order to secure their own copy right and property; and by the books, which has been some time a custom, given by every incumbent within the city and suburbs, upon his taking pos session session of his living, who presents a book to this library of at least ten shillings value. For the care and preservation of this library, there is one librarian, who has a genteel apartment at the south side of the college, that communicates by a door with the library. The LIBRARY and HALL, which were repaired and beautified in the year 1800, is adorned with the following pic tures: I. A curious piece of antiquity bearing on one side the image of the Deity, with the following Saxon inseription: ELO SVM ALPPA ET N. On the other side the decollation of St. John the Baptist.-Probably the painting of an altar belonging to the old priory.* II. Charles I.; a very melancholy countenance. III. "Georgius comes de Berkeley." The nobleman who was a benefactor to the library. IV. "Edwardus, baro de Cherbury, obiit 1678." V. "Robertus Cooke, miles." The gentleman who was possessor of the above books. VI. "Samuel Brewer, armiger." This gentleman was a member of the Inner Temple, and intended that Sion College should have had his books; but his intentions were frustrated; and it was not till after a suit in Chancery that they had obtained an estate which he had bequeathed. VII. "Thomas James, S. T. P. 1627, æt. 57." This gentleman was the first keeper of the Bodleian library. VIII." Thomas James, Typogr." An eminent printer, who left his books, by will, to the use of the public. The college were therefore infinitely obliged to his widow, for preferring them to the benefaction. IX. "Eleonora, conjux Thomæ James." X. "Tho. Secker, archiep. Cantuar. 1758," in his robes. XIV. A whole length of Charles II. XV. "Richard Terrick, ep. Lond. 1761." XVI. "Thomas Sherlock, ep. Lond. 1718.", Malcolm. The The alms-houses are built under the library, on the west side of the square; ten rooms for the ten poor men, within the college; and ten rooms for as many poor women, without the college wall, opening into Philip Lane, at the west side of the college. Four of these alms-people are nominated by the city of Bristol, where Dr. White was born; eight by the Merchant Taylors company; six by the parish of St. Dunstan in the west, where he was minister forty-nine years; and two by St. Gregory's parish, in which he lived twenty years; except any of the kindred of either of his wives should appear, who were first to be considered; provided they did not exceed four at a time. The principal regulations of the almsfolk are, that they shall attend private morning and evening prayers daily, regularly to attend on Wednesdays and Fridays at church; they must be single persons, and more than fifty years of age. The front, next London Wall, as well as part of the structure next Philip Lane, was found to be so ruinous and unsafe, that it was taken down in 1800, and rebuilt in a substantial manner. Opposite the college is a small burial ground, once attached to the east end of the mother church of St. Alphage, and abuts on the antient city wall. The church-yard wall next the street is guarded by buttresses; and on a gate, with a pediment, is inscribed: "This gateway was erected at the proper cost and charge of Ralph Holbrook, husband to Elizabeth Holbrook, niece to Jeremiah Copping, gent. who lieth intombed within, A. D. 1687." Opposite the ends of Basinghall Street, and Aldermanbury, were two narrow posterns through the wall; the passages are now widened into handsome streets. In Aldermanbury Postern is a neat meeting house for Protestant Dis. senters. At the north-west corner of ALDERMANBURY, antiently called Gayspur Lane, stands the parish church of ST. THE canonized prelate to whom this church is dedicated was bishop of Winchester, and afterwards archbishop of Canterbury. He was put to death by the Danes at Greenwich, on the 17th of April, 1014; soon after which a church was dedicated to his memory, near the wall by Cripplegate. At the Dissolution that fabric was pulled down, and converted to a carpenters' yard. The south aisle of the priory church belonging to Elsing-spital, was appropriated as the parish church of St. Alphage; the north aisle having been pulled down, and a frame of four houses set up in its stead. This structure escaped the fire of London, but had nothing to recommend it to notice. In the year 1774, the church was declared to be in such a decayed and dangerous state, that a committee was appointed for rebuilding it. Mr. now Sir William, Staines, offered to take down the old fabric, and construct the new, for the sum of 1350l.; his offer was accepted, and the new church was opened in 1777. It consists of two fronts, one in Aldermanbury, the other facing London Wall; the former consists of a pediment, supported by pillars, a Venetian and other windows. The latter of a lofty pediment, supported by oval pillars; a plain window and door-case. The interior is without pillars, and devoid of ornament. It is however very neat. The only particular worth notice in the church is the monument of Sir Rowland Haywood, Clothworker, lord mayor of London, in 1570, and 1590, and a benefactor to the parish, on the north wall. VOL. III. No. 62. His His effigy is carved in a kneeling posture, with one wife and eight children in the same posture at his right hand, and his second wife and eight children at his left; and under the image of Sir Rowland, is the following inscription: Here lyeth the Body of Sir Rowland Hayward, Kt. twice Lord Mayor of this City of London; living an Alderman the space of 30 years, and at his Death the ancientest Alderman of the said City. He lived beloved of all good men, and died in great Credit and Reputation the 5th day of Dec. Ann. Dom. 1593, and the 36 year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth: He had 2 virtuous Wives, and by them many happy Children. The arms of the Clothworkers company are under the figures. The monument has this additional inscription: "On rebuilding this church, in 1777, this monument was repaired and beautified at the expence of the parish. Sir R. Hayward having been a liberal benefactor, this monument was again erected to perpetuate his memory." A tablet, on the same wall, is dedicated Mrs. "To Benjamin Russell, common council man, 1715, aged 48. Mrs. Christian Russell, his widow, 1724. And Mr. William Molyneux, of Liverpool, her nephew, 1722, aged 38. Russell, surviving her husband, disposed of her estate to pious and charitable uses. To the repair of this church, 100%. To the charity-school, 201. To the corporation for the relief of clergymen's widows, 1001. To the Wire-drawers company, a silver salver. 100l. to relieve poor widows. And to Bethlehem Hospital, 501. Besides a great number of private charities. Grant them, O Lord, a blessed resurrection." Among the eminent ministers of St. Alphage, was THOMAS DOOLITTLE, A. M. a native of Kidderminster. Mr. Richard Baxter, who thought him a promising youth, sent him to Pembroke Hall, in Cambridge; where he made such a proficiency in learning, as fully answered his expectation. Having succeeded Mr. Samuel Fawcett, in this living, in the year 1643, he continued till he was expelled for nonconformity in the year 1662, " a serious, useful, and awakeping preacher, and was very assiduous in catechising." After |