Chapter VI: Preface (5)

It was herein enacted, that the number of members should not exceed
150, but that number being very soon filled up, and several men of
quality and fortune, as well as persons of great learning and
eminence, being continually applying to become members, which they
could not be till vacancies should happen by death, the Society
thought proper in the year 1755, to enlarge their number to 180, (to
which they are limited at present) exclusive of Peers, Privy
Councillors and Judges, that should be chosen after that time. A
little before this the Society gave up the management of their estate
and revenues, the payment of monies, and the publication of their
papers and drawings, (which before were in the body in general, and
thereby attended with many inconveniences,) entirely to the care of
their Council, which are now a standing committee for that purpose;
and thereby the government of this Society is become nearly the same
as that of the Royal Society, which was doubtless a proper pattern to
copy after.

On the 23d of April, being St. George’s day, the Society annually
elect their Council and officers, _viz._ a President, a Treasurer, two
Secretaries, and a Director, who has the care of all their
publications. Then the President appoints four of the Council to be
his Deputies or Vice-presidents: and after the election is over, the
Society dine together at their own expence. Martin Folkes, Esq; was
annually elected President till his death in 1754, since which time
the Rt. Hon. Lord Willoughby of Parham has been every year chosen.

Every person desirous to be elected a Fellow of this Society, except
Peers, Privy Counsellors, or Judges of Great Britain or Ireland, must
be recommended by three or more of the members, in a paper signed by
themselves, specifying the name, addition, profession, and chief
qualification of the candidate, and also the place of his abode. When
this has been read at one of the Society’s meetings, and then hung up
in their public room during the time of four other meetings, the
election is determined by ballot. Peers, Privy Counsellors, and judges
of Great Britain or Ireland, if proposed by any single member, must be
balloted for immediately. Every new member must pay an admission fee
of five guineas, and sign the obligation, whereby he promises, that he
will to the utmost of his power promote the honour and interest of the
Society, and observe the statutes and orders thereof. Which being done
he is led up to the chair, when the President or Vice-President
rising, takes him by the hand and says these words, _viz._ I do, by
the authority and in the name of the Society of Antiquaries of London,
admit you a Fellow thereof.

Every member must further pay one guinea annually for the use of the
Society, or ten guineas at once in lieu of all contributions.

The meetings of this Society are on Thursday evenings weekly, from
about six till nine o’clock, at their house in Chancery lane: their
business is to receive, read and consider all informations from their
own members, or others, concerning the Antiquities of all nations,
(for which purpose they admit eminent foreigners to be correspondent
members) but they more particularly attend to the study of the ancient
history, customs, manners, grants, charters, coins, medals, camps,
churches, cities, and all monuments whatever, ecclesiastical,
military, or civil, which are found in or relate to Great Britain and
Ireland. And the communications they have received concerning these
matters must be very valuable, as may be judged by the many curious
remains of antiquity they have caused to be engraven on copper-plates,
and permitted lately to be sold; tho’ as yet they have not thought fit
to publish any of their dissertations. They have a small but choice
library, which is increasing daily, also a fine collection of prints
and drawings.

_A_ TABLE _of the_ ANTIQUITIES _engraved and published by the_ SOCIETY
_of_ ANTIQUARIES _of_ LONDON.

Num. VOLUME _the_ FIRST. │ Price.
│ _l. s.
│ d._

The general title and catalogue in │ 0 1 0
Latin. │

1. A brass lamp, found at St. │ 0 1 0
Leonard’s hill near Windsor, │
presented by Sir Hans Sloane, │
Bart. │

2. Ulphus’s horn, a piece of great │ 0 1 0
antiquity, preserved in the │
cathedral at York. │

3. The font in St. James’s church at │ 0 1 0
Westminster. │

4. The portrait of King Richard II. │ 0 2 0
from an ancient picture in the │
choir of Westminster abbey. │

5. Three ancient seals, with their │ 0 1 0
reverses; the first of Cottingham│
abbey in Yorkshire, the second │
of Clare-hall in Cambridge, and │
the third the chapter seal of │
the church of St. Etheldred at │
Ely. │

6. The ruins of Walsingham priory in │ 0 0 9
Norfolk. │

7. Waltham cross in Middlesex. │ 0 1 0

8. A plan of the remaining walls and │ 0 1 0
city of Verulam. │

9–12. Four views of the ruins of Fountain│ 0 3 0
abbey in Yorkshire. │

13, 14. Three views of the gate of St. │ 0 2 6
Bennet’s abbey in Norfolk. │

15. The tomb of Robart Colles and │ 0 0 6
Cecili his wife at Foulsham in │
Norfolk. │

16. The shrine of King Edward the │ 0 2 0
Confessor in Westminster abbey. │

17. The north front of the gate at │ 0 1 0
Whitehall. │

18. The north front of King’s street │ 0 1 0
gate in Westminster. │

19. Plans of the two preceding gates. │ 0 0 6

20. Coins of King Henry VIII, Edward │ 0 1 0
VI, Q. Elizabeth, and K. James │
I. Also a portrait of Q. Eliz. │
from a painting in enamel. │

21–26. The tournament of K. Henry VIII, │ 0 6 0
Feb. 12, 1510; from an ancient │
roll in the Heralds office. │

27. The ruins of Furness abbey in │ 0 1 6
Lancashire. │

28–33. The Barons letter in the reign of │ 0 6 0
King Edward I, Feb. 12, 1300, to│
Pope Boniface VIII; with the │
seals appendent thereto. │

34. An antique brass head, dug up at │ 0 1 0
Bath in 1727. │

35, 36. Three views of Colchester castle in│ 0 2 0
Essex, with a ground plot │
thereof. │

37, 38. Tables of English gold and silver │ 0 3 0
coins, shewing the several │
species coined in each reign. │

39. Tutbury castle in Staffordshire. │ 0 1 0

40. Melbourn castle in Derbyshire. │ 0 1 0

41. Lancaster castle. │ 0 1 0

42. Pontefract castle in Yorkshire. │ 0 1 0

43. A gold seal of Pope Alexander IV; │ 0 1 0
with gold and silver coins, │
struck in France and Flanders, │
relating to the history of │
England. │

44. Knaresborough castle in Yorkshire. │ 0 1 0

45. A portrait of Dr. Tanner, Bishop │ 0 1 0
of St. Asaph. │

46. Tickhill castle in Yorkshire. │ 0 1 0

47. A plan of the Roman roads in │ 0 1 0
Yorkshire. │

48. A Roman tessellated pavement, found│ 0 1 6
near Cotterstock in │
Northamptonshire in 1736. │

49. A ancient chapel, adjoining to the │ 0 1 0
Bishop’s palace at Hereford. │

50–52. Three Roman tessellated pavements, │ 0 5 0
found at Wellow near Bath in │
1737. │

53, 54. Ancient seals and their reverses, │ 0 2 6
from the Dutchy office of │
Lancaster. │

55. Gold and silver medals of Mary │ 0 1 3
Queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley;│
with others of Queen Anne, Prince│
Henry, and K. Charles I. │

56. Gold and silver coins of several │ 0 1 3
English Kings, Prince Edward, and│
Q. Elizabeth. │

57. A Roman sudatory, lately found at │ 0 1 0
Lincoln. │

58–60. Ancient seals, from the Dutchy │ 0 4 6
office at Lancaster. │

61. Winchester cross. │ 0 1 0

62. The decree of the university of │ 0 2 6
Oxford in 1534, against the │
jurisdiction of the Pope in │
England. │

63. A plan of the Tower liberties, from│ 0 2 0
a survey in 1597. │

64. Chichester cross. │ 0 1 0

65. Three views of the Roman │ 0 1 0
_Retiarii_. │

66–68. The portrait of Sir Robert Cotton, │ 0 5 0
Bart. with two plates of │
fragments of an ancient copy of │
the book of Genesis, illuminated│
with elegant figures; and an │
historical dissertation on the │
said book. │

69. The standard of ancient weights and│ 0 2 6
measures, from a table in the│
Exchequer. │

70. A view of the court of wards and │ 0 5 0
liveries, as fitting; with a │
brief historical account of that │
court. │

│ ——

Total│ 4 7 9

N. B. This FIRST VOLUME may be had together for _four pounds_.

Num. VOLUME _the_ SECOND. │ Price.
│ _l. s.
│ d._

1, 2. Plans for rebuilding the city of │ 0 2 0
London after the great fire. │

3. A portrait of Mr. Holmes, keeper of│ 0 1 0
the records in the Tower. │

4. Ancient deeds and seals. │ 0 1 0

5. A view of the Savoy from the river │ 0 1 0
Thames. │

6. The warrant for beheading K. │ 0 1 6
Charles. │

7. An ancient wooden church at │ 0 1 0
Greensted in Essex, the shrine of│
St. Edmund the King and Martyr, │
and the seal of the abbot of St. │
Edmund’s Bury in Suffolk. │

8. Gloucester cross. │ 0 1 0

9. Three tessellated Roman pavements, │ 0 2 0
found at Winterton in │
Lincolnshire, in 1747; with one │
at Roxby, a town in that │
neighbourhood. │

10. Doncaster cross. │ 0 1 0

11. Sandal castle in Yorkshire. │ 0 1 0

12. The Savoy hospital in the Strand, │ 0 1 0
with the chapel. │

13. Clithero castle in Lancashire. │ 0 1 0

14. A plan of the ground and buildings │ 0 1 0
of the Savoy. │

15, 16. A view of the cathedral church and │ 0 3 0
priory of Benedictines at │
Canterbury, with the effigies of │
Eadwin a monk of that convent, │
between the years 1130 and 1174, │
both drawn by himself; with a │
printed account of the said │
drawings. │

17. An ancient lamp in two views, a │ 0 1 0
vase, and two bells, all of │
brass. │

│ ———

Total│ 0 19 6

N. B. All these numbers of the SECOND VOLUME may be had together for
_seventeen shillings_.

Complete sets, or any single numbers, of these prints may be had at Mr.
_Tovey’s_ in _Westminster-hall_, and Mr. _Boydell’s_ the corner of
_Queen street, Cheapside_; and at the Society’s house in _Chancery
lane_.

APOLLO _court_, Fleet street.

APOTHECARIES COMPANY. This company was incorporated with that of the
Grocers by King James I. in the year 1606; but they were soon
separated, and in 1617 incorporated by the name of the Master, Wardens
and Society of the art and mystery of Apothecaries of the city of
London, at which time there were only 104 Apothecaries shops within
the city and suburbs.

This company is governed by a Master, two Wardens, and twenty-one
Assistants, to whom belong a livery of 144 members, whose fine is
16_l._ The Apothecaries have the privilege of being exempt from parish
and ward offices.

APOTHECARIES HALL. This edifice is situated in Blackfriars, and has a
pair of gates leading into an open court handsomely paved with broad
stones, at the upper end of which is the hall built with brick and
stone, and adorned with columns of the Tuscan order. The ceiling of
the court room and hall is ornamented with fret work, and the latter
wainscotted fourteen feet high. In the hall room is the portraiture of
King James I. and also the bust of Dr. Gideon Delaun, that King’s
apothecary, who was a considerable benefactor to the company. In this
building are two large laboratories, one chemical, and the other for
galenical preparations, where vast quantities of the best medicines
are prepared, for the use of apothecaries and others, and particularly
of the Surgeons of the royal navy, who here make up their chests.

The Apothecaries company have a spacious and beautiful physic garden
at Chelsea, which contains almost four acres, and is enriched with a
vast variety of plants both domestic and exotic. This was given by Sir
Hans Sloane, Bart. on condition of their paying a quit rent of 5_l._
_per annum_, and annually delivering to the President and Fellows of
the Royal Society, at one of their public meetings, fifty specimens of
different sorts of plants, well cured, and of the growth of this
garden, till the number of specimens amounts to 2000.

APPLEBY’S _court_, Barnaby street.†

APPLEBEE’S SCHOOL is kept in St. Saviour’s churchyard in Southwark, and
was founded in 1681 by Mrs. Dorothy Applebee, who endowed it with
20_l._ _per annum_, for instructing thirty poor boys in reading,
writing and arithmetic.

APPLETREE _yard_, York street, St. James’s square.‡

ARCH _row_, the west side of Lincoln’s inn fields.

ARCHBISHOP’S _wall_, near Lambeth.

ARCH _yard_, Harrison’s court, near Brook street.

ARCHDEACON. As the bishopric of London includes the ancient kingdom of
the East Saxons, which contained the counties of Middlesex, Essex, and
part of Hertfordshire, it has five archdeaconries, _viz._ those of
London, Essex, Middlesex, Colchester, and St. Alban’s. It is the
office of these Archdeacons to visit annually the several cures in
their respective archdeaconries, in order to enquire into the
deportment of the several incumbents, as well as parish officers; to
advise them gravely to reform what is amiss, and in case of contumacy
to inflict pains and penalties, for which they receive procuration
from every parish priest within their jurisdiction.

ARCHES, an ecclesiastical court in Doctors Commons, formerly kept in Bow
church Cheapside, where the church and tower being arched, the court
was from thence called _The Arches_, and still retains the name. As
this is the highest court belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury,
hither all appeals in ecclesiastical matters within that province are
directed. The judge of this court is stiled the _Dean of the Arches_,
from his having a jurisdiction over a Deanry in London, consisting of
13 parishes or peculiars exempt from the Bishop of London’s
jurisdiction. The other officers are a register, or examiner, an
actuary, a beadle or crier, and an apparitor; besides advocates,
procurators, or proctors. See DOCTORS COMMONS.

ARCHER’S _alley_, Peter street, near Bishopsgate street.†

ARCHER _street_, Great Windmill street.†

ARGYLE _buildings_, a new and very handsome street, regularly built,
between Oxford road and Marlborough street; near the center is the
Duke of Argyle’s house, a very plain edifice, with a small area, and a
wall before it.

ARGYLE _street_, great Marlborough street.†

ARLINGTON _street_, runs parallel to the upper end of St. James’s
street, it having Park Place on the south, and Portugal street on the
north. It is magnificently built.

ARMOURERS, a company incorporated by King Henry VI. about the year 1423,
by the title of _The Master and Wardens, Brothers and Sisters of the
fraternity of or guild of St. George, of the men of the mysteries of
the Armourers of the city of London_. The same Prince also honour’d
the company by becoming one of their members. To this company, which
formerly made coats of mail, is united that of the brasiers, who are
jointly governed by a Master, two Wardens, and 21 Assistants. Their
livery consists of eighty members, whose fine is 25_l._

The armourers and brasiers hall is an old plain brick building near
the north east corner of Coleman street.

ARNOLD’S _court_. 1. Barbican. 2. New lane, Shad Thames.†

ARNOLD’S _yard_, Barbican, Aldersgate street.†

ARTICHOKE _alley_. 1. Barnaby street.* 2. Holiwell street, Shoreditch.*

ARTICHOKE _court_. 1. Cannon street, Walbrook.* 2. Whitecross street.*

ARTICHOKE _hill_, Ratcliff Highway.*

ARTICHOKE _lane_. 1. Virginia street.* 2. Near the Hermitage, Wapping.*
3. Newington Causeway, Southwark.*

ARTICHOKE HEAD _lane_, near the Hermitage.*

ARTICHOKE _yard_. 1. Shoreditch.* 2. Newington Causeway, Southwark.*

ARTILLERY GROUND. The Old Artillery Ground was a little north east of
what is now Devonshire square in Bishopsgate street. This was
originally a spacious field called Tassel Close, from its being
planted with tassels for the use of the clothworkers. It was
afterwards let to the cross-bow makers, who used to shoot there; but
being at length inclosed with a brick wall, served as an artillery
ground, to which the gunners of the Tower repaired every Thursday,
when they levelled brass pieces of large artillery against a butt of
earth raised for that purpose. The last Prior of St. Mary Spital
granted to the gunners of the Tower this artillery ground for thrice
ninety nine years, for the use and practice of great and small
artillery; and King Henry VIII. gave the company a charter. Hence this
artillery ground became subject to the Tower; the streets, &c. compose
one of the Tower hamlets, and the inhabitants are still summoned on
juries belonging to the courts held on Tower hill.

In the year 1585, the city being put to great trouble and expence by
the continual musters and training of soldiers, some brave and active
citizens, who had obtained experience both at home and abroad,
voluntarily exercised themselves, and trained up others in the use of
arms, so that within two years there were almost three hundred
merchants, and other persons of distinction, qualified to teach the
common soldiers the management of their guns, pikes, and halberts, as
well as to march and countermarch. These met every Thursday, each
person by turns bearing office from the corporal to the captain, and
some of these gentlemen had the honour of having a body of forces
under their command at the great camp of Tilbury, in the year 1588,
when the Spaniards sent against us their pretended invincible Armada,
and these commanders were generally called Captains of the Artillery
Garden.

This noble exercise became afterwards discontinued for a long time,
but was renewed in the year 1610, when several gentlemen having
obtained the permission of King James I. undertook at their private
expence a weekly exercise in the same artillery ground, and in the
year 1662, erected an armoury, in which they placed 500 sets of arms,
of extraordinary beauty and workmanship. The Artillery company now
greatly increased, and the people resorted to the artillery ground to
learn to defend themselves and their country; and even many gentlemen
from every county went thither to learn martial exercises, in order to
teach them to the militia, in the distant parts of the kingdom.

At length this company being so much increased that this artillery
ground was scarcely able to contain them, for they amounted to about
6000: they removed to the New Artillery Ground near the upper end of
Moorfields, where they still continue to assemble.

King Charles II. when Prince of Wales enlisted himself into this
company, as did his brother James Duke of York, at the same time; who
after the restoration took upon himself the command, and named it his
own company.

The Artillery company consists of about 300 men. It is governed by a
President, Vice-president, Treasurer and Court of Assistants. The Lord
Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs for the time being, &c. with the Field
Officers of the militia or trained bands, are of the honorary court,
these with 24 gentlemen annually elected, compose the court of
Assistants. His Majesty is Captain-General, and all the other officers
are elected annually, and serve by rotation.

The New Artillery Ground is a spacious square walled round. In the
center of the north side is the Armoury, a neat building of brick and
stone strengthened with rustic quoins at the corners; before it is a
flight of steps, and there are a few others at the door, which is in
the center, and is large, lofty, and adorned with a porch formed by
two Tuscan columns and two pilasters supporting a balcony. The front
is ornamented with a pediment supported at the corners by quoins. On
the top are placed several large balls, and on the apex of the
pediment is a lofty flag staff. On each side the main building, stands
at some distance backwards a small edifice, where the provisions are
dress’d at the company’s feasts. The hall of the armoury is hung round
with breast-plates, helmets and drums; and fronting the entrance is a
handsome pair of iron gates which lead to a spacious staircase,
painted with military ornaments, and adorned with the statue of a man
dressed in a compleat suit of armour. This staircase leads into a very
spacious room, which has the King’s arms over one fire place, and
those of the company over the other. It has two chandeliers, and is
adorned with very fine guns, swords and bayonets, presented by the
officers of the company, and handsomely disposed on the walls. There
are here also tables hung up, containing the names of the subscribers
to the iron gates and other ornaments, among whom is King George I.
who gave 500_l._ Besides the rooms already mentioned, there are two
others above, and two below.

ARTILLERY _court_, Prince’s row, Finsbury, so called from the artillery
ground near it.

ARTILLERY _lane_. 1. Bishopsgate street without, thus named from its
being built on the Old Artillery ground. 2. Fair street, Horsley down.

ARTILLERY _street_, near Bishopsgate without, Spitalfields. It had also
its name from its being built on the old artillery ground there.

_Society for the encouragement of_ ARTS, MANUFACTURES _and_ COMMERCE.
The public spirit of this age is perhaps in no instance more
remarkably shewn than in the flourishing condition of this valuable
Society, whose sole object is the improvement of the polite and
commercial arts in all their various branches, by exciting industry
and emulation amongst all who can be moved either by honorary or
pecuniary rewards. It was set on foot by Lord Folkstone, Lord Romney,
Dr. Hales, and seven or eight private gentlemen, who were brought
together by the unwearied pains of Mr. William Shipley, a person
little known, who had long laboured to reduce into practice a scheme
he had projected for this purpose. Their first meeting was at
Rathmill’s coffee-house, March 22d 1754, when those noble Lords
approved and patronized the undertaking. At their next meeting they
determined to make a beginning, by proposing rewards for the discovery
of cobalt, for the encouragement of boys and girls in the art of
drawing, (thereby to improve manufactures in taste and elegance,) and
for the planting of madder in this kingdom. And now money being
wanted, a voluntary subscription was begun, to which the two noblemen
before named, did not only generously contribute much more than they
would let appear, but engaged moreover to make good the deficiencies
at the end of the year: a promise they most honourably fulfilled. Soon
after this, a plan was drawn up by one of the members (Mr. Baker) for
forming, regulating and governing the Society, which being printed and
dispersed, the great utility of such a society became so well
understood, that immediately several noblemen and gentlemen offered
themselves as members, and ever since that time its increase has been
so extraordinary, that it consists at present of above 1000 members,
many of whom are of the greatest quality and fortune: and it can now
afford to offer premiums to the amount of near 2000_l._ _per annum_.

The officers of this Society are a President, eight Vice-presidents, a
Register, and a Secretary; and these are to be chosen by ballot
annually on the first Tuesday in March. Every person desiring to be a
member of this Society, must be proposed by some member of the same at
one of their meetings, by delivering in the name, addition, and place
of abode of such person, signed by himself; which must be read by the
Secretary, and balloted for at the next meeting, and if two thirds of
the members then present are for admitting such person, he shall be
deemed a perpetual member on payment of twenty guineas, or a
subscribing member on payment of any sum not less than two guineas,
and continuing such payment annually: but tho’ two guineas a year is
the most common subscription, all the members that are noblemen, and
even some gentlemen, subscribe five guineas, and several others four
or three. There are also ladies that are subscribers; eminent
foreigners are likewise admitted to be honorary members. At first they
had a Treasurer, but now their money is placed in the Bank of England,
in the names of the President and Vice-presidents, three whereof are
impowered to draw any sum the Society shall order to be paid. And the
accounts of the receipts and payments are constantly examined and
balanced on the last day of every month, by a committee appointed for
that purpose. Their proceedings are regulated by a body of rules and
orders established by the whole Society, and printed for the use of
the members. All questions and debates are determined by holding up of
hands, or by ballot if required, and no matter can be confirmed
without the assent of a majority at two meetings. They invite all the
world to propose subjects for encouragement, and whatever is deemed
deserving attention is referred to the consideration of a committee,
which after due enquiry and deliberation make their report to the
whole Society, where it is approved, rejected or altered. A list is
printed and published every year, of the matters for which they
propose to give premiums, which premiums are either sums of money, and
those sometimes very considerable ones, or the Society’s medal in gold
or silver[1], which they consider as the greatest honour they can
bestow. All possible care is taken to prevent partiality in the
distribution of their premiums, by desiring the claimants names may be
concealed, and by appointing committees, (who when they find occasion
call to their assistance the most skilful artists) for the strict
examination of the real merit of all matters and things brought before
them, in consequence of their premiums.

Footnote 1:

The weight of the Society’s medal in gold is about six guineas, and
proportionably in silver. On one side Minerva, as Goddess of Wisdom,
is represented introducing Mercury with a purse in his hand, as the
God of commercial arts, to Britannia sitting on a globe: the
inscription in the Circle, ARTS. AND. COMMERCE. PROMOTED. at the
Bottom, SOCIETY. INST. LONDON. MDCCLIIII. on the reverse is only a
wreath of laurel, the rest being left blank, that the name of the
person to whom, and the occasion for which each medal is given, may
be engraved thereon. The dye was made by Mr. Pingo, and is thought
to be well done.

The Society’s office is opposite to Beaufort Buildings in the Strand:
their meetings are every Wednesday evening at six o’clock, from the
second Wednesday in November to the last Wednesday in May, and at
other times on the first and third Wednesday of every month. They are
exceedingly well attended, and ’tis pleasing to behold with how
laudable a zeal every one endeavours to promote the public good, by
encouraging whatever may improve the arts and manufactures, or
increase the commerce of this kingdom and its colonies. They are not
incorporated, nor seem much to want a charter, as their business can
be carried on very well without one, and the expence would be too
considerable; but it is hoped their generous disinterested intentions,
and their extensive views to promote the trade, the riches and honour
of their country, will in time recommend them to partake the royal
bounty, and that they will long continue to prove themselves to be,
what they are at present, as respectable and useful a society as ever
was established in any nation.

ARUNDEL _stairs_, Arundel street.†

ARUNDEL _street_, Strand, so called from Lord Arundel’s house there.

ARUNDELIAN LIBRARY. See ROYAL SOCIETY.

ASHENTREE _court_. 1. White Friars. 2. Shoreditch.

ASHFORD, a village near Stains in Middlesex, adorned with the seats of
the Earl of Kinoul, and the Duke of Argyle.

ASHTED, a village in Surrey, near Epsom Wells, in one of the finest
situations in England, was lately in the possession of Sir Robert
Howard, brother to the Earl of Berkshire, who erected a noble edifice
in this place, which he enclosed with a park. This afterwards became
the estate and seat of Mr. Fielding, uncle to the late Earl of
Denbigh. The church, which stands on the side of the park, has several
fine monuments.

ASKE’S HOSPITAL, a handsome edifice at Hoxton, erected by the
Haberdasher’s company in the year 1692, pursuant to the will of Robert
Aske, Esq; who left 30,000_l._ for building and endowing it, in order
to afford lodging and board for twenty poor men of that company, and
for as many boys to be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Each of the pensioners hath an apartment consisting of three neat
rooms, with proper diet at a common table, and firing; the annual sum
of 3_l._ and a gown every second year: which, together with the
salaries of the chaplain, clerk, butler, porter, and other domestics,
amount to about 800_l._ _per annum_.

A plan of the building was drawn by Dr. Hook, a learned mathematician
of Gresham College, and upon his model it was erected in an
advantageous situation, fronting the east, with grass plats before it,
adorned with rows of lime trees, and inclosed with a handsome wall and
iron gates. On the piers of the great gates at the south end, are two
stone statues, representing two of Aske’s Hospital men, in full
proportion. The principal part of the building is only one story high
with garrets; where a portico with twenty-one stone pillars extends on
a line on each side of the chapel, which is placed in the middle, and
on each side above these pillars is a range of twenty-two very small
windows. The pillars of the chapel extend to the top of the first
story, and that edifice rising considerably above the rest of the
building, is terminated by a handsome pediment; with a clock, under
which is the effigies of the founder in stone, cloathed in his gown,
and holding in his hand a roll of parchment, which seems to be his
last will. Under him is the following inscription:

ROBERTO ASKE _Armigero, hujus Hospitii
Fundatori, Socie. Haberda. B. M. P. C._

And on one side of him is this inscription:

_Anno Christi_ MDCLXXXII. _Societas
Haberdasheorum_ de London _hoc Hospitium
condiderunt, ex Legato & Testamento_
ROBERTI ASKE _Armigeri, ejusdem Societatis;
ad viginti Senum Alimenta, &
totidem Puerorum Educationem._

On the other side this inscription:

_The worshipful Company of Haberdashers
built this Hospital, pursuant to the gift
and trust of_ R. ASKE, _Esq; a late
worthy Member of it, for the relief of
twenty poor Members, and for the Education
of twenty Boys, sons of decayed Freemen
of that company._

Fronting the entrance of the chapel is a large pair of very handsome
iron gates, and at each end of the hospital is an edifice of the same
height as the chapel.

ASS _park_, Wheeler street, Spitalfields.

ASSURANCE OFFICE, for granting annuities to be paid to the heirs of a
person after his death. See AMICABLE SOCIETY. For the offices of
Assurance from fire, &c. see the names by which they are
distinguished, as HAND IN HAND, LONDON, UNION, SUN FIRE OFFICE, &c.

ASYLUM, or House of Refuge for Orphans and other deserted girls of the
poor, within the bills of mortality, situated near Westminster-bridge,
on the Surrey side. Underneath the article MAGDALEN HOSPITAL, the
reader will find a noble foundation formed for the reception of those
unhappy women, who have been abandoned to vice; but wisely repenting
of their folly, resolve to reform. This charitable foundation of which
we are now going to give a description, was founded at the same time,
in order to preserve poor friendless and deserted girls, from the
miseries and dangers to which they would be exposed, and from the
guilt of prostitution.

The evils this charity is intended to prevent, are not chimerical, but
founded on facts. It too often happens, that by the death of the
father, a mother intitled to no relief from any parish, is left with
several helpless children, to be supplied from her industry; her
resource for subsistence is usually to some low occupation, scarcely
sufficient to afford bread and cloathing, and rarely the means of
instruction. What then must become of the daughters of such parents,
poor and illiterate as they are, and thereby exposed to every
temptation? Necessity may make them prostitutes, even before their
passions can have any share in their guilt. Among these unhappy
objects, very agreeable features are frequently seen disguised amidst
dirt and rags, and this still exposes them to greater hazards; for
these are the girls which the vile procuress seeks after; she trepans
them to her brothel, even while they are yet children, and she cleans
and dresses them up for prostitution. But what is still more dreadful,
maternal duty and affection have been so thoroughly obliterated, that
even mothers themselves have been the seducers: they have insnared
their children to the house of the procuress, and shared with her the
infamous gain of initiating their daughters in lewdness: or if this
has not been the case, they have too often been prevailed on, for a
trifling consideration, to conceal and forgive the crime of the
infamous bawd.

These and other considerations induced a number of Noblemen and
Gentlemen, who had approved of a proposal from John Fielding, Esq; one
of the Justices for the Liberties of Westminster, to hold their first
meeting on the 10th of May 1758, for carrying into execution a plan of
this Asylum. Several other meetings were soon after held, in which the
rules and orders for the reception and management of the children were
established, and the lease of a house, lately the Hercules Inn near
Westminster-bridge, agreed for. This house was soon fitted up, and
furnished, and the first children admitted on the 5th of July
following.

The rules and orders established are as follows:

I. The qualification of a perpetual Guardian is a benefaction of
thirty guineas or upwards, at one payment.

II. That of an annual Guardian is a subscription of three guineas or
upwards per annum.

III. Ladies subscribing the said sums, will be considered as Guardians
of this charity, and have a right of voting at all general elections,
by proxy, such proxy being a Guardian, or they may send a letter to
the board, naming therein the person they vote for, which shall be
considered as their vote. It is esteemed by the Guardians a benefit to
the charity, for the Ladies occasionally to visit the house, and
inspect the management of the children; the matron being ordered to
attend such Ladies, and to give them all necessary information: and,
whatever observations they may then make, or whatever hints, at other
times, may occur to them, for the good of the charity, if they will be
pleased to transmit them by letter to the Secretary, or to the
Committee, who meet every Wednesday in the forenoon at the Asylum,
they will be immediately taken into consideration, and have all
respectful regard shewn to them.

IV. Those Gentlemen and Ladies, who have already subscribed lesser
sums than thirty guineas, by making up their subscriptions to that
sum, within a year, will be entered in the subscription book as
perpetual Guardians.

V. There is to be an annual general meeting of the Guardians on the
second Wednesday in March.

VI. A general quarterly meeting is to be held on the second Wednesday
in July, the second Wednesday in January, the second Wednesday in
April, and the second Wednesday in October, for auditing the accounts,
and making laws and rules for the government of the charity, and for
other business.