Chapter M: DCC LXI (6)

The clergy, finding it impossible to root out the municipal law,
withdrew by degrees from the temporal courts; and in 1217, they passed
a canon in a national synod, forbidding all ecclesiastics to appear as
advocates _in foro sæculari_[1]; nor did they long continue to act as
judges there, not caring to take the oath of office which was then
found necessary to be administered, that they should in all things
determine according to the law and custom of this realm; though they
still kept possession of the high office of Chancellor, an office then
of little juridical power; and afterwards as its business increased by
degrees, they modelled the process of the court at their own
discretion.

Footnote 1:

Sir H. Spelman conjectures (Glossar 335.) that coifs were introduced
to hide the tonsure of such renegade clerks, as were still tempted
to remain in the secular courts in the quality of advocates or
judges, notwithstanding their prohibition by canon.

But wherever they retired, and wherever their authority extended, they
carried with them the same zeal to introduce the rules of the civil,
in exclusion of the municipal law. This appears in a particular manner
from the spiritual courts of all denominations, from the Chancellor’s
courts in both our universities, and from the high court of Chancery;
in all of which the proceedings are to this day in a course much
conformed to the civil law. And if it be considered, that our
universities began about that period to receive their present form of
scholastic discipline; that they were then, and continued to be till
the time of the reformation, entirely under the influence of the
Popish clergy; this will lead us to perceive the reason, why the study
of the Roman laws was in those days of bigotry[2] pursued with such
alacrity in these seats of learning.

Since the reformation, the principal reason that has hindered the
introduction of this branch of learning, is, that the study of the
common law, being banished from hence in the times of Popery, has
fallen into a quite different channel, and has hitherto been wholly
cultivated in another place.

As the common law was no longer taught, as formerly, in any part of
the kingdom, it perhaps would have been gradually lost and over-run by
the civil, had it not been for the peculiar incident which happened at
a very critical time, of fixing the court of Common Pleas, the grand
tribunal for disputes of property, to be held in one certain spot;
that the seat of ordinary justice might be permanent and notorious to
all the nation. Formerly that, in conjunction with all the other
superior courts, was held before the King’s justiciary of England, in
the _aula regis_, or such of his palaces wherein his royal person
resided, and removed with his houshold from one end of the kingdom to
the other. This was found to occasion great inconvenience to the
suitors; to remedy which it was made an article of the great charter
of liberties, both that of King John and King Henry the Third, that,
“Common Pleas should no longer follow the King’s court, but be held in
some certain place:” in consequence of which they have ever since been
held (a few necessary removals in times of the plague excepted) in the
palace of Westminster only. This brought together the professors of
the municipal law, who before were dispersed about the kingdom, and
formed them into an aggregate body; whereby a society was established
of persons, who (as Spelman observes) addicted themselves wholly to
the study of the laws of the land.

Footnote 2:

There cannot be a stronger instance of the absurd and superstitious
veneration that was paid to these laws, than that the most learned
writers of the times thought they could not form a perfect
character, even of the blessed Virgin, without making her a Civilian
and a Canonist. Which Albertus Magnus, the renowned Dominican Doctor
of the thirteenth century, thus proves in his _Summa de laudibus
Christiferæ Virginis (divinum magis quam humanum opus) qu. 23. §.
5_. “_Item quod jura civilia, & leges, & decreta scivit in summo,
probatur hoc modo: sapientia advocati manifestatur in tribus; unum,
quod obtineat omnia contra judicem justum & sapientem; secundo, quod
contra adversarium astutum & sagacem; tertio, quod in causa
desperata: sed beatissima Virgo, contra judicem sapientissimum,
Dominum; contra adversarium callidissimum, dyabolum; in causa nostra
desperata; sententiam optatam obtinuit._“

They naturally fell into a kind of collegiate order; and, being
excluded from Oxford and Cambridge, established a new university of
their own, by purchasing certain houses (now called the Inns of Court
and Chancery) between the city of Westminster, the place of holding
the King’s courts, and the city of London; for advantage of ready
access to the one, and plenty of provisions in the other.

In this juridical university (for such it is insisted to have been by
Fortescue and Sir Edward Coke) there are two sorts of collegiate
houses; one called Inns of Chancery, in which the younger students of
the law used to be placed, “learning and studying, says Fortescue, the
originals, and as it were, the elements of the law; who, profiting
therein, as they grow to ripeness so are they admitted into the
greater Inns of the same study, called the Inns of Court.” And in
these Inns of both kinds, he goes on to tell us, the knights and
barons, with other grandees and noblemen of the realm, did use to
place their children, though they did not desire to have them
thoroughly learned in the law, or to get their living by its practice;
and that in his time there were about two thousand students at these
several Inns, all of whom he informs us were _filii nobilium_, or
gentlemen born.

But in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Edward Coke does not reckon
above a thousand students, and the number at present is very
considerably less: ‘Which seems principally owing to these reasons;
first, because the Inns of Chancery being now almost totally filled by
the inferior branch of the profession, they are neither commodious nor
proper for the resort of gentlemen of any rank or figure; so that
there are now very rarely any young students entered at the Inns of
Chancery: secondly, because in the Inns of Court all sorts of regimen
and academical superintendance, either with regard to morals or
studies, are found impracticable, and therefore entirely neglected:
lastly, because persons of birth and fortune, after having finished
their usual courses at the universities, have seldom leisure or
resolution sufficient to enter upon a new scheme of study at a new
place of instruction. Wherefore few gentlemen now resort to the Inns
of Court, but such for whom the knowledge of practice is absolutely
necessary: such, I mean, as are intended for the profession.’

INOCULATION HOSPITAL for the smallpox, in the Lower street, Islington,
beyond the church; in an old building situated backwards, out of the
view of the street. This hospital is under the direction of the
Small-pox hospital, in Cold Bath fields. See the article SMALL-POX
HOSPITAL.

_Clerk of the_ INROLLMENTS OF FINES AND RECOVERIES, an officer under the
three puisne judges of the court of Common Pleas. The inrollments here
filed are by statute valid in law, and are of great use in preventing
law-suits. This office is kept in the Inner Temple.

JOAN HARDING’S, near Oakey street, Thames street.

JOCKEY FIELD _row_, Near Gray’s Inn.

JOHN DEVER’S _yard_, Seething lane.†

JOHN’S _alley_, Budge row.

_St._ JOHN’S _alley_, St. Martin’s le Grand.

_St._ JOHN _the Baptist_, a church which stood on the west side of
Dowgate; but being destroyed by the fire of London in 1666, and not
since rebuilt, the parish is annexed to the church of St. Antholin.

_St._ JOHN _the Evangelist_, a church that was seated in Watling street,
at the north east corner of Friday street; but being consumed by the
fire of London, and not rebuilt, the parish is united to that of
Allhallows Bread street.

_St._ JOHN _the Evangelist_, Southwark, like several other churches in
the suburbs, owed its rise to the great increase of buildings and
inhabitants, and is one of the fifty new churches ordered to be built
by act of parliament. It was finished in 1732, and the district of
Horselydown, being separated from St. Olave’s, was by act of
parliament constituted its parish. The sum of 3500_l._ was also
granted by parliament to be laid out in lands, tenements, &c. in fee
simple, and as a farther provision, the church wardens are to pay him
the additional sum of 60_l._ to be raised by fees arising from
burials. _Maitland._

The body of this church is enlightened by two ranges of windows, with
a Venetian in the center; the tower which rises square has a
balustrade on the top, and from thence rises the spire, which is very
properly diminished and well wrought; but the architect having
absurdly resolved to give it some resemblance to a column, has not
only fluted it; but placed on the top an Ionic capital, which last
gives the whole edifice an aukward whimsical appearance.

This church, which is situated near the lower end of Fair street, is
in the gift of the Crown, as well as that of St. Olave’s, from whence
this parish was taken. _Stow._

_St._ JOHN’S _Wapping_, situated on the north side of the street near
the Thames, was built in the year 1617, when the increase of houses in
the parish of St. Mary Whitechapel, rendered such an edifice
necessary. It was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and as there were
other churches under the patronage of the same saint, it was
distinguished, from its situation, by the name of Wapping. Originally
it was no more than a chapel of ease to St. Mary’s parish; but in
1694, the hamlet of Wapping was constituted a distinct parish; the
inhabitants were impowered to purchase 30_l._ _per annum_ in mortmain,
and as a farther provision for the Rector, he was allowed to receive
all ecclesiastical dues, except tithes, instead of which the Rector
has 130_l._ a year raised upon the inhabitants by an equal pound rate.
_Maitland._

This church, which was built at the expence of 1600_l._ is a very mean
building, it consisting of a plain body, a tower which scarcely
deserves the name, and a spire that might be taken for a lengthened
chimney. _English Architecture._

The advowson of this church is in the principal and scholars of King’s
hall and Brazen Nose college, Oxford.

_St._ JOHN’S _Westminster_. The parish of St. Margaret’s Westminster
being greatly increased in the number of houses and inhabitants, it
was judged necessary to erect one of the fifty new churches within it;
this church being finished, was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist;
a parish was taken out of St. Margaret’s, and the parliament granted
the sum of 2500_l._ to be laid out in the purchase of lands,
tenements, &c. for the maintenance of the Rector: but besides the
profits arising from this purchase, it was also enacted that as a
farther provision for the Rector, the sum of 125_l._ should be
annually raised by an equal pound rate upon the inhabitants.
_Maitland._

This church was finished in the year 1728. The chief aim of the
architect was to give an uncommon, yet elegant outline, and to shew
the orders in their greatest dignity and perfection; and indeed the
outline is so variously broken, that there results a diversity of
light and shadow, which is very uncommon, and very elegant. The
principal objections against the structure are, that it is so much
decorated that it appears encumbered with ornament; and that the
compass being too small for the design, it appears too heavy. In the
front is an elegant portico supported by Doric columns, which order is
continued in pilasters round the building. Above the portico are two
towers crowned with well-proportioned turrets, and adorned with
columns of the Corinthian order, which are supported on pedestals, and
stand free, with corresponding columns behind. _English Architect._

The advowson of this church is in the Dean and Chapter of Westminster:
and to prevent this rectory being held in commendam, all licences and
dispensations for holding it are by act of parliament declared null
and void.

_St._ JOHN ZACHARY’S, a church that was situated at the north west
corner of Maiden lane, Wood street; but being destroyed by the fire of
London in 1666, and not rebuilt, the parish is annexed to that of St.
Anne’s Aldersgate. _Maitland._

JOHN’S _court_, 1. Cable street. 2. Cats hole, Tower ditch. 3. East
Smithfield. 4. Hannoway street. 5. John’s street. 6. Nightingale lane.

_St._ JOHN’S _court_, 1. Addle hill. 2. Cow lane. 3. Great Hart street.
4. Little Hart street, by Covent garden. 5. St. John’s square. 6.
Somerset street, Whitechapel. 7. Stepney.

_St._ JOHN’S _gate_, St. John’s lane; the south gate of the hospital of
St. John of Jerusalem.

JOHN’S _hill_, Ratcliff highway.

_St._ JOHN’S _lane_, vulgarly called St. Joans’s lane, from Hicks’s hall
to St. John’s gate.

_St._ JOHN’S _passage_, St. John’s street, West Smithfield.

_St._ JOHN’S _square_, Clerkenwell. Where the present square is situated
anciently stood the house of St. John of Jerusalem, founded by Jordan
Briset, who for that purpose purchased of the nuns of Clerkenwell ten
acres of land, for which he gave twenty acres in his lordship of
Willinghale in Kent, and erected that hospital on this spot about the
year 1110: but the church belonging to it was not dedicated to St.
John the Baptist till 1185. By the profuse liberality of bigots and
enthusiasts, these Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem soon
attained to that degree of riches and honour, that they not only built
a magnificent structure in this spot, that became the chief seat in
England of those of their order, but their Prior was esteemed the
first Baron in the kingdom, and in state and grandeur vied with the
King. The populace however had an extreme antipathy to these imperious
Knights; and in 1381, the rebels under Jack Straw and Wat Tyler
consumed this stately edifice by fire. However it was rebuilt in a
still more magnificent manner, and thus continued till the year 1541,
when it was suppressed by Henry VIII.

This spacious and stately edifice was soon after converted into a
repository for martial stores, and of the royal hunting equipage; and
to this use it was applied till the year 1550; when Edward Seymour
Duke of Somerset, and protector of the kingdom, caused the church,
with its lofty and beautiful steeple, to be demolished, and the stones
employed in building his magnificent palace of Somerset House in the
Strand. _Camden’s Britannia._

This square, which is an oblong, chiefly consists of two rows of good
houses, at the east end of which is a chapel of ease to the
neighbouring church of St. James Clerkenwell. It is entered by two
gates, which bear evident marks of great antiquity; the largest and
most remarkable of which is that to the south, called St. John’s Gate.

_St._ JOHN’S _street_, 1. Brick lane, Spitalfields. 2. Long ditch. 3.
West Smithfield, near St. John’s square.

JOHN’S _street_, 1. David’s street. 2. Gainsford street. 3. Golden
square. 4. By Mount street, Westminster. 5. Ratcliff highway. 6.
Windmill street.

JOHNSON’S _court_, 1. Charing Cross.† 2. Fleet street.†

JOHNSON’S _street_, Old Gravel lane.†

JOHNSON’S _yard_, Three needle alley, Moorfields.

JOINERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by Queen
Elizabeth in the year 1565. They are governed by a Master, two
Wardens, and twenty-four Assistants, with a livery of 323 members, who
upon their admission pay a fine of 8_l._

They have a convenient hall in Friars lane, Thames street, remarkable
for a curious screen finely carved at the entrance into it. The great
parlour is wainscotted with cedar. _Maitland._

JOINERS _court_, 1. Houndsditch. 2. Jacob street, Mill street.

JOINERS HALL _alley_, Thames street.

JOINERS _street_, Tooley street.

JOLLY _court_, Durham yard, in the Strand.†

JONES’ _court_, Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.†

JONES’ _yard_, 1. Stony lane, Petticoat lane. 2. Little Swan alley.

INIGO JONES, the celebrated architect, several of whose best designs are
described in different parts of this work, has therefore a just claim
to our regard in this place. And we are obliged to the ingenious
authors of the _Biographia Britannica_ for the following particulars
relating to his life and works in general. He was born about the year
1572, in the neighbourhood of St. Paul’s in London, of which city his
father, Mr. Ignatius Jones, was a citizen and clothworker. Nothing
certain being delivered concerning his education, some very different
conjectures have been advanced upon that subject, some having
suggested that his education was liberal, and others that he was bound
apprentice to a joiner, of which latter opinion was Sir Christopher
Wren. But in whatever way he was bred, his natural inclination leading
him to the study of the arts of drawing and designing, he
distinguished himself early by the extraordinary progress he made in
those polite and useful arts, and was particularly taken notice of for
his skill in the practice of landscape painting. These admirable
talents introduced him to the knowledge of William Earl of Pembroke,
who was a great patron of all liberal sciences. His Lordship admiring
Mr. Jones’s genius, took him into his patronage, and sent him abroad
with a handsome allowance, in order to perfect himself, by viewing and
studying the works of the best masters ancient and modern, in Italy
and the politer parts of Europe. Thus supported, he spent many years
in compleating his education; to which end, chusing the city of Venice
for the chief place of his residence, he suffered nothing of real
value or merit any where to escape his industry; and the improvements
he made thereby gave such an eclat to his reputation all over Europe,
that Christian IV. King of Denmark sent for him thence, and appointed
him his Architect-general. He had enjoyed this post some years, when
that Prince, whose sister Anne had married King James I. made a visit
to England in 1606. Mr. Jones took this opportunity of returning home;
and expressing a desire to continue in his native country, the Queen
appointed him her architect; and being not long after taken in the
same character into the service of Prince Henry, he discharged his
trust with so much fidelity, that the King gave him the reversion of
the place of Surveyor-general of his works. After the death of Prince
Henry in 1612, our architect made a second tour to Italy, and
continued some years there, improving himself still further in his
favourite art, till the Surveyor’s place fell to him. He then returned
to England to enrich his country with the fruits of his studies. Soon
after his arrival, the office of works being found several thousand
pounds in debt, he voluntarily gave up his own dues, and prevailed
with the Comptroller and Paymaster to do the like, whereby the whole
arrears were absolutely cleared. In 1620, by the King’s command, he
took an accurate survey of the surprizing group of stones upon
Salisbury-Plain, commonly called Stone-henge, and drew up an account
with his opinion of that famous monument of antiquity, which he
presented to his royal master, and it was printed. In this account,
after much reasoning and a long series of authorities, he concludes at
last that this ancient and stupendous pile must have been originally a
Roman temple, inscribed to _Cœlus_ the senior of the heathen gods, and
built after the Tuscan order, and that it was erected when the Romans
flourished here in peace and prosperity in Britain, and probably
betwixt the time of Agricola’s government and the reign of Constantine
the Great, about 1650 years ago.

On the 16th of November the same year, Mr. Jones was appointed, among
others, a Commissioner for repairing the cathedral of St. Paul’s in
London. Upon the demise of King James, he was continued in his posts
by King Charles I. whose consort also entertained him in the like
station. And he soon after formed that most stately and elegant
pavilion, the Banquetting-house at Whitehall, which was at first
designed for the reception of foreign Ambassadors. The ceiling was
painted some years after with the Felicities of King James’s reign, by
Sir Peter Paul Rubens, and prints from these by Simon Gribelin were
published in 1724. The late Lord Burlington about the year 1740
published _a north west view of the palace designed for Whitehall, by
Inigo Jones_, which is what is called a bird’s eye prospect, or as it
is seen by a bird in flying over it, by which artifice all the parts
are brought distinctly into view; and in this view the pavilion or
banquetting-house appears in its proper place as part of that palace.
Several other designs of Mr. Jones’s were executed in this reign, such
as Surgeon’s hall, the Queen’s chapel at St. James’s palace, and her
Majesty’s new building fronting the gardens at Somerset House in the
Strand; the church and piazza of Covent Garden; the first of which is
universally allowed to be a master-piece of the Tuscan order, the
portico at the west end, majestic in its plainness, and the roof so
happily contrived, by extending itself beyond the wall, as both to
cast a shade, which adds to the solemnity of the sacred edifice, and
at the same time serves to strengthen the wall, by resting thereon its
center of gravity. In the last performance he had in view the piazza
of Leghorn, but has vastly surpassed the original in the beauty and
largeness of his pillars. Our architect also laid out the ground plot
of Lincoln’s Inn fields, and designed the Duke of Ancaster’s house,
which stands on the west side of that noble square, and which is no
inconsiderable instance of the _softness_ and _sweetness_ of his
touches. The royal chapel at Denmark House, the King’s house at
Newmarket, and the Queen’s buildings at Greenwich, were also of his
design. But it does not come within our plan to describe the number or
form a judgment upon the excellence of all his buildings, though views
and descriptions of the principal of them we have given, which may be
seen under their several names, to which we refer.

In 1633 Mr. Jones began the reparation of St. Paul’s cathedral, the
first stone was laid by Dr. Laud then Bishop of London, and the fourth
by Mr. Jones; and, in carrying them on, he added a magnificent portico
at the west end, which excited the envy of all Christendom on his
country, for a piece of architecture not to be parallelled in modern
times. While he was raising these noble monuments of his extraordinary
genius as an architect, he employed his leisure hours in designing
decorations for dramatic entertainments; and there appeared a fine
intermixture of fancy and judgment in his pompous machinery of masques
and interludes, which were the vogue in his time. Several of these
representations are still extant in the works of Chapman, D’Avenant,
Daniel, and particularly Ben Johnson. The subject was chosen by the
Poet, and the speeches and songs were also of his composing; but the
invention of the scenes, ornaments, and dresses of the figures, were
the contrivance of Mr. Jones. By these means he acquired a handsome
fortune. But his loyalty, the effect both of his integrity and
gratitude, exposed him to considerable losses; and he bore a part in
the ruins of his royal master. Upon the opening of the Long Parliament
in November 1640, he was called before the house of Lords, upon a
complaint of the parishioners of St. Gregory’s in London against him,
for damages done to that church; and afterwards, during the
usurpation, he was constrained to pay 400_l._ by way of composition
for his estate, as a malignant. After the death of King Charles I. he
was continued in his post by King Charles II. But grief, in one of his
years, for the fatal calamity of the former, prevented him from doing
the latter any actual service, by cutting him off many years before
the restoration. He died most probably about Midsummer 1652, and was
interred June 26, in the chancel of St. Benet’s church, near St.
Paul’s Wharf, London, where there was a monument erected to his memory
upon the north wall, at some distance from his grave; but it suffered
greatly in the fire of London, Sept. 1666. His age was about
seventy-nine years. Mr. Jones left several manuscripts, which have
been published since his death. With respect to his character, we are
told by Mr. Webb, that his abilities in all human sciences surpassed
most of his age. However that be, ’tis certain he was perfectly well
skilled in the mathematics, and had some insight into the two learned
languages, Greek and Latin, especially the latter, and he had a taste
for poetry. However, these accomplishments were no more than the
decorations and counterpart of his proper character, which was,
indeed, that of an architect, the most eminent in his time.
Accordingly he was then, and is still, generally stiled the _British
Vitruvius_; and it is observable that the art of design, little known
in England before, was brought into use and esteem by him, under the
patronage of King Charles I. and Thomas Earl of Arundel. In short, Mr.
Jones was generally learned, eminent for architecture, a great
geometrician, and, in designing with his pen (as Sir Anthony Vandyke
used to say) not to be equalled by whatever great master in his time,
for the _boldness_, _softness_, _sweetness_, and _sureness_ of his
touches.

IRELAND _yard_, Black Friars.

IRISH _court_, Whitechapel.

IRISH SOCIETY, meeting in the Irish chamber in Guildhall. In order to
convey a clear idea of this society, it is necessary to trace it from
its origin. It must therefore be observed, that in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, the province of Ulster, in the north of Ireland, had been
greatly depopulated by the suppression of several insurrections in
that part of the kingdom; and in particular, the city of Derry and
town of Colerain were quite ruined.

To prevent such insurrections for the future, it was thought proper to
repeople that part of the country with protestant families; and soon
after the accession of King James I. to the throne of England, that
Prince, considering this as an affair worthy of his attention,
signified his pleasure to some of the Aldermen and Commoners, by means
of several of his Privy Council, upon which a court of Common Council
was called, and a deputation sent over to view the place of the
intended plantation. These deputies being returned, it was agreed in
December 1609, that 15,000_l._ should be expended on the plantation,
and 5000_l._ in the purchase of private interests.

Soon after articles of agreement were entered into between the Lords
of the Privy Council, and a committee chosen by the Lord Mayor and
Commonalty of the city, and it was agreed for the better managing of
the plantation, there should be a company constituted in London, to
consist of a Governor, Deputy Governor, and twenty-four Assistants, to
direct what ought to be done on the part of the city, relating to the
plantation; and in pursuance of this agreement, the King, by his
letters patent, changed the name of Derry to that of Londonderry, and
incorporated the committee nominated by the city, by the name of _The
society of the Governor and Assistants in London of the new plantation
in Ulster within the realm of Ireland_, directing that it should
consist of a Governor, Deputy Governor, and twenty-four Assistants;
whereof the Governor and five of the Assistants were to be Aldermen,
the Recorder for the time being to be an Assistant, and the Deputy
Governor, with the rest of the Assistants, to be Commoners. By this
charter, the King also granted to the society and their successors,
the city, fort and town of Londonderry, the whole island of Derry, and
all the castles, towns, villages and lands in the county of
Londonderry, particularly mentioned in the charter.

The society now immediately set about rebuilding Londonderry and
Colerain, and improving and planting the other parts of the county.
And, in order to reimburse the twelve principal companies, and other
inferior companies that had contributed to the expence of the
plantation, the society divided the whole county of Londonderry into
thirteen parts; the first consisting of the city of Londonderry and
town of Colerain, with some of the adjoining lands, and the fisheries,
was retained by the society in their own possession, to defray the
charge of the general work of the plantation, and the surplus was from
time to time divided among the twelve companies by the society.

The rest of the county being divided into twelve parts, as equal in
value as possible, the twelve companies drew lots for them, and each
company had the part which fell to its share. The society then erected
each lot into a manor, and obtained a charter of the Crown to convey
to each of the companies the lands fallen to it, to hold the same in
perpetuity.

King Charles I. however ordered his Attorney General to prosecute the
society in the Star-chamber, under the pretence that the charter had
been surreptitiously obtained; upon which it was cancelled by a decree
of that court, and the lands seized into the King’s hands: but the
society were reinstated in their possessions by Oliver Cromwell, who
granted the city a new charter; and Charles II. incorporated the
society anew, and the companies have enjoyed their possessions ever
since.

The Governor and Deputy Governor of the society are by this, as well
as the former charters, chosen annually. Twelve of the Assistants go
off every year, and twelve new members are chosen in their stead by
the Common Council, out of each of the twelve principal companies of
the city; who by the appointment of the Governor or Deputy Governor
meet as often as required in the Irish chamber at Guildhall, where
nine of them, the Governor or Deputy Governor being one, make a court.

They have a Secretary and a messenger of their own appointment to
attend them. They have also a Treasurer, who is chosen annually, and
gives security to account with the society for what money he receives.
All by-laws made by the corporation of Londonderry must be confirmed
by the society, before they can be of force. The society has the right
of presentation to the churches of Londonderry and Colerain: they
likewise appoint a general agent in Ireland to correspond with them,
and transact their affairs in that kingdom; and also a receiver to
receive their rents. _Maitland._ In short, the citizens of London have
the privilege of being free of the city of Londonderry.

IRON GATE, Tower wharf.

IRON GATE _stairs_, Iron Gate, Tower wharf.

IRONMONGER _lane_, Cheapside; so called from its being once chiefly
inhabited by those of that trade. _Stow._

IRONMONGER _row_, Old street; so called from the school belonging to
that company.

IRONMONGER ROW SCHOOL, was founded in the year 1727, by Mr. John Fuller,
for the education of twenty boys and upwards, for the support of which
he bequeathed the sum of 1600_l._ to be laid out in a purchase.
_Maitland._

IRONMONGERS, one of the twelve principal companies, was incorporated by
letters patent granted by King Edward IV. in the year 1464. This
corporation is governed by a Master, two Wardens, and the whole
livery, which consists of eighty-four, who are assistants, and whose
fine upon admission is 15_l._

This company has a very great estate, out of which is annually paid,
according to the direction of the several donors, about 1800_l._
Besides these charities, Mr. Thomas Betton, a Turkey merchant, left
this company, in trust, in the year 1724, about 26,000_l._ one moiety
of the profits thereof to be perpetually employed in the redemption of
British captives from Moorish slavery; and the other half to be
equally distributed between the poor of the company, and the several
charity schools within the bills of mortality. _Maitland._

IRONMONGERS _Almshouse_, in Kingsland road. See JEFFERIES’S _Almshouse_.

IRONMONGERS HALL, a very noble modern building in Fenchurch street. This
edifice is entirely fronted with stone, and was erected in the year
1748. The whole lower story is wrought in rustic; the center part of
the building projects a little, and in this are a large arched
entrance, and two windows, with two others on each side. Over this
rustic story rises the superstructure, which has a light rustic at the
corners, to keep up a correspondence with the rest of the building;
the part which projects is here ornamented with four Ionic pilasters
coupled, but with a large inter-columniation. In the middle is a very
noble Venetian window, and over it, a circular one. In each space
between the pilasters, is a smaller window, with an angular pediment;
and over these are also circular ones; but the side parts have arched
windows with square ones over them. The central part is crowned with a
pediment supported by these pilasters, and in its plain is the arms of
the company with handsome decorations in relievo. The rest of the
building is terminated by a balustrade crowned with vases.

ISAAC’S _rents_, Shoe lane.

ISLAND HEAD _lane_, Wapping.

ISLE OF DOGS, a part of Poplar marsh. When our Sovereigns had a palace
at Greenwich, they used it as a hunting seat, and it is said, kept the
kennels for their hounds in this marsh, which lies on the other side
of the river; these hounds frequently making a great noise, the seamen
and others called the place the Isle of Dogs, though it is so far from
being an island, that it can scarcely be called a peninsula. _Stow._

ISLEWORTH or THISTLEWORTH, a village in Middlesex, pleasantly situated
on the Thames opposite to Richmond. Here are two charity schools, and
in its neighbourhood are the seats of several persons of distinction.

ISLINGTON, a large village in Middlesex, on the north side of London, to
which it is almost contiguous. It appears to have been built by the
Saxons, and in the time of William the Conqueror was called Isendon or
Isledon. By the south west side of this village, is a fine reservoir
called New River Head, which consists of a large bason, into which the
New River discharges itself; part of the water is from thence conveyed
by pipes to London, while another part is thrown by an engine through
other pipes up hill to a reservoir, which lies much higher, in order
to supply the highest parts of London.

The church is one of the prebends of St. Paul’s; the old Gothic
structure lately taken down was erected in the year 1503, and stood
till 1751, when it being in a ruinous condition, the inhabitants
applied to parliament for leave to rebuild it, and soon after erected
the present structure, which is a very substantial brick edifice,
though it does not want an air of lightness. The body is well
enlightened, and the angles strengthened and decorated with a plain
rustic. The floor is raised considerably above the level of the church
yard, and the door in the front is adorned with a portico, which
consists of a dome supported by four Doric columns; but both the door
and the portico appear too small for the rest of the building. The
steeple consists of a tower, which rises square to a considerable
height, terminated by a cornice supporting four vases, at the corners.
Upon this part is placed an octangular balustrade, from within which
rises the base of the dome in the same form, supporting Corinthian
columns with their shafts wrought with rustic. Upon these rests the
dome, and from its crown rises the spire, which is terminated by a
ball and its fane. Though the body of the church is very large, the
roof is supported without pillars, and the inside is extremely
commodious, and adorned with an elegant plainness.

This parish is very extensive, and includes Upper and Lower Holloway,
three sides of Newington Green, and part of Kingsland. There are in
Islington two Independent meeting houses, and a charity school founded
in the year 1613, by Dame Alice Owen, for educating thirty children:
this foundation, together with that of a row of almshouses, are under
the care of the Brewers company. There is here also a spring of
chalybeat water in a very pleasant garden, which for some years was
honoured by the constant attendance of the late Princess Amelia and
many persons of quality, who drank the waters: to this place, which is
called New Tunbridge Wells, many people resort, particularly during
the summer, the price of drinking the waters being 3_d._ for each
person. Near this place is a house of entertainment called Sadler’s
Wells, where during the summer season people are amused with balance
masters, walking on the wire, rope dancing, tumbling, and pantomime
entertainments.

ISLINGTON _road_, 1. Goswell street. 2. St. John’s street, West
Smithfield.

JULIAN _court_, Angel alley.

_Clerk of the_ JURIES OFFICE, in Hind court, Fleet street. The Clerk of
the juries is an officer of the court of Common Pleas, who makes out
writs called _Habeas Corpora_, and _Distringas Juratorum_, for
appearance of the jury, either in that court, or at the assizes in the
country. This office is executed by a deputy. _Chamb. Pres. State._

JUSTICE HALL, on the north east side of the Old Bailey, stands backwards
in a yard to which there is an entrance through a gateway. Had the
building therefore been a fine one, it could not have been viewed to
advantage; but it is a plain brick edifice, that has nothing to
recommend it. A flight of plain steps lead up into the court room,
which has a gallery at each end for the accommodation of spectators.
The prisoners are brought to this court from Newgate, by a passage
backwards which leads to that prison, and there are two places where
they are kept till called to their trials, the one for the men and the
other for the women. There are also rooms for the grand and petty jury
and other accommodations.

An author, whose opinion we have given on other subjects, condemns
this, and all the other courts of justice in England, as wanting that
grandeur and augustness which might strike offenders and mankind in
general with an awe for the place; and he recommends the form of a
theatre as most proper, the stage for the bench, the pit for the
council, prisoners, &c. and the circle round for the spectators.
Whether this writer’s idea of the form of a court of judicature is
just and well founded, we shall not determine.

It seems however to be wished, that these public edifices had more of
the appearance of grandeur and magnificence, especially in the
metropolis of the kingdom.

This court is held eight times a year by the King’s commission of oyer
and terminer, for the tryal of criminals for crimes committed within
the city of London and county of Middlesex. The Judges are, the Lord
Mayor, the Aldermen past the chair, and the Recorder, who, on all such
occasions, are attended by both the Sheriffs, and by one or more of
the national Judges. The offences in the city are tried by a jury of
citizens, and those committed in the county by one formed of the
housekeepers in the county. The crimes tried in this court are high
and petty treason, murder, felony, forgery, petty larceny, burglary,
cheating, libelling, the using of false weights and measures, &c. the
penalties incurred by which are the loss of life, corporal punishment,
transportation, amerciaments, &c. _Stow_, _Maitland_.

IVY _Bridge_, In the Strand.

IVY BRIDGE _lane_, In the Strand.

IVY BRIDGE _stairs_, Near the Strand.

IVY _lane_, runs from Pater Noster Row into Newgate street. This lane
took its name from the Ivy which grew on the walls of the prebends
houses, formerly situated here. _Stow._

IVY _street_, Dyot street, St. Giles’s.

K.

_St._ KATHARINE’S. See St. CATHARINE’S.

KEAT _street_, Dean and Flown street, Spitalfields.†

KEBB’S _yard_, In the Minories.†

KEMP’S _court_, Berwick street.†

KEMPTON _court_, Vine street.†

KENNINGTON, a village near Lambeth, in Surry, and one of the eight
precincts of that parish. It has the honour of giving the title of
Earl to the Duke of Cumberland.

KENNINGTON COMMON, a small spot of ground, on the side of the road to
Camberwell, and about a mile and a half from London. Upon this spot is
the gallows for the county of Surry.

KENNINGTON _lane_, Newington Butts.

_Kensington Palace_
_S. Wale delin._ _B. Green sculp._
]

KENSINGTON, a large and populous village in Middlesex, about two miles
from Hyde Park Corner, part of which, from the palace gate to the
Bell, is in the parish of St. Margaret’s, Westminster. The palace,
which was the seat of the Lord Chancellor Finch, afterwards Earl of
Nottingham, was purchased by King William, who greatly improved it,
and caused a royal road to be made to it, through St. James’s and Hyde
Parks, with lamp posts erected at equal distances on each side. Queen
Mary enlarged the gardens; her sister Queen Anne improved what Mary
had begun, and was so pleased with the place, that she frequently
supped during the summer in the Green house, which is a very beautiful
one: but her late excellent Majesty Queen Caroline completed the
design, by extending the gardens from the great road in Kennington to
Acton; by bringing what is called the Serpentine river into them, and
by taking in some aires out of Hyde Park, on which she caused a mount
to be raised, with a chair upon it, that could be easily turned round,
so as to afford shelter from the wind. This mount is surrounded with a
grove of ever-greens, and commands a fine view over the gardens to the
south and west. In short these gardens, which are three miles and a
half in compass, are kept in great order, and in summer-time, when the
court is not there, are resorted to by great numbers of people. The
palace indeed has none of that grandeur, which ought to appear in the
residence of a British Monarch; its nearness to the town makes it very
convenient, but it is very irregular in point of architecture. However
the royal apartments are grand, and some of the pictures are good.

On passing the base court, you enter through a large portico into a
stone gallery, that leads to the great stair case, which is a very
fine one, and consists of several flights of black marble steps,
adorned with iron balusters finely wrought. The painting here affords
the view of several balconies with groups of figures representing
yeomen of the guard, and spectators, among whom are drawn Mr. Ulrick,
commonly called the young Turk, in the Polonese dress in which he
waited on his late Majesty King George I. Peter, the wild youth, &c.
The stair case is richly decorated and painted by Mr. Kent.

The first room is hung with very fine tapestry, representing the
goddess Diana, hunting and killing the wild boar. Over the chimney is
a picture in a grand taste, representing one of the Graces in the
character of Painting, receiving instructions from Cupid. This piece
is said to be done by Guido Reni. In one corner of the room is a
marble statue of Venus, with an apple in her hand; and in another is
the statue of Bacchus, whose head is finely executed; but the body,
which is inferior to it, seems to be done by another hand.

The second room has its ceiling painted with Minerva, surrounded by
the arts and sciences, by Mr. Kent. Over the chimney is a very fine
piece representing Cupid admiring Psyche, while she is asleep, by
Vandyck. On each side of the room are hung several pictures, as King
Henry VIII. and the Comptroller of his houshold, by Holbein: a three
quarter picture of King Charles I. and another of his Queen, by
Vandyck: the Duke and Duchess of York, by Sir Peter Lely: as also King
William and Queen Mary, when Prince and Princess of Orange, over the
doors, by the same hand.

The third room, which was the late Queen’s apartment, is adorned with
very beautiful tapestry, representing a Dutch winter piece, and the
various diversions peculiar to the natives of Holland, done by Mr.
Vanderbank. Over the chimney is an admirable picture of King Charles
II. King James II. and their sister the Princess of Orange, when
children, by Vandyck.

In the fourth room is the picture of a battle or skirmish between the
Germans and Italians, by Holbein. Another of Danae descending in a
shower of gold, and another of the widow Eliot finely executed by our
countryman Riley.

In the fifth room is a picture of the crucifixion, and another of our
Saviour laid on the cross, both by Titian: of our Saviour calling St.
Matthew from the receipt of customs, by Annibal Caracci; and of his
healing the sick in the temple, by Verrio: a picture of Henry IV. of
France, by Titian: two heads of Queen Mary I. and Queen Elizabeth,
when children, by Holbein: the late Queen Anne, when an infant, by Sir
Peter Lely: and several heads by Raphael.

In the sixth room, or rather gallery, are the pictures of King Henry
VIII. and Queen Katharine of Arragon, both by Holbein: King Philip of
Spain, and Queen Mary, by the same hand: King James I. by Vandyck:
King Charles II. the face by Sir Peter Lely: Queen Elizabeth in a
Chinese dress, drawn when she was a prisoner at Woodstock: King James
II. when Duke of York, and another of his Queen, both by Sir Peter
Lely: King William and Queen Mary in their coronation robes, by Sir
Godfrey Kneller. Sir Godfrey was knighted on his painting these
pictures; King William being doubtless pleased with so fine a picture
of his Queen. The next is Queen Anne, after Sir Godfrey Kneller; and a
picture of Queen Caroline, which is but poorly executed. In this room
is a curious amber cabinet, in a glass case; and at the upper end a
beautiful orrery, likewise in a glass case.

The seventh, which is called the Cupola room, has a star in the
center, and the ceiling all around is adorned with paintings in
mosaic: round the room are placed at proper distances, eight bustos of
ancient poets, and six statues of the heathen gods and goddesses at
full length, gilt. Over the chimney piece is a curious bas-relief in
marble, representing a Roman marriage, with a busto of Cleopatra, by
Mr. Rysbrack.

In the King’s great drawing room, over the chimney, is a very fine
picture of St. Francis adoring the infant Jesus, held in the lap of
the Virgin Mary, Joseph attending, the whole performed by Sir Peter
Paul Rubens. In this room are also the holy family, finely painted by
Paul Veronese: three priests, by Tintoret: a noble picture of St.
Agnes over one of the doors, by Domenichino: St. John Baptist’s head,
Mary Magdalen, and a naked Venus, all by Titian: a Venus in a supine
posture, stealing an arrow out of Cupid’s quiver, with beautiful
ornaments in the high gusto of the Greek antique, representing Love
and the Drama, by Jacobo da Puntormo; upon the original out-lines of
the great Michelangelo Buonarroti: a picture of Villars, Duke of
Buckingham, and his younger brother, when boys, one of the capital
pieces of Vandyck: two large pictures by Guido Reni, one of Venus
dressing by the Graces; the other of Andromeda chained to a rock: our
Saviour in the manger by Bassan; and a picture of part of the holy
family, by Palma the elder.

The ceiling of this room, in which there is such a mixture of sacred
and prophane pieces, is painted with the story of Jupiter and Semele.

In the state chamber, the bed is of crimson damask; and over the
chimney is a picture of our Saviour and St. John Baptist, by Raphael.

In the state dressing room the hangings are all of needle work; a
present from the Queen of Prussia. Here is a picture of Edward VI. by
Holbein; of a young nobleman of Venice, by Tintoret; another young
nobleman of the same place, by Tintoret; and Titian’s lady, painted by
himself.

The Painted gallery is adorned with many admirable pieces. At one end
is King Charles I. on a white horse, with the Duke d’Espernon holding
his helmet; the King is an august and noble figure, with some
dejection in his countenance; the triumphal arch, curtain, and other
parts of the back ground, are finely executed, and so kept, that the
King is the principal figure that strikes the eye; at a little
distance it has more of the life than a picture, and one is almost
ready to get out of the horse’s way, and bow to the King.

Fronting this picture, at the other end of the gallery, is the same
King, with his Queen, and two children, King Charles II. when a child,
and King James II. an infant in the Queen’s lap. The King’s paternal
tenderness is finely expressed, his son standing at his knee: the
Queen’s countenance is expressive of an affectionate obedience to his
Majesty, and a fond care of her child, which she seems to desire the
King to look on. The infant is exquisitely performed; the vacancy of
thought in the face, and the inactivity of the hands, are equal to
life itself at that age. These two admirable pieces were done by
Vandyck.

One of the next capital pictures in this gallery is Esther fainting
before King Ahasuerus, painted by Tintoret. All the figures are finely
drawn and richly dressed in the Venetian manner; for the Venetian
school painted all their historical figures in their own habits,
thinking them more noble and picturesque than any other.

The next piece is the nine muses in concert, finely drawn by the same
master.

Midas preferring Pan to Apollo, is a fine piece, by Andrea Schiavone;
but it is a good deal hurt by time; the figures however are well drawn
and coloured; and the affectation of judgment in Midas is finely
expressed.

The shepherds offering gifts to Christ, St. John in prison, the story
of the woman of Samaria, and John Baptist’s head, are fine pieces, by
Old Palma.

Noah’s flood, by Bassan, is a masterly performance.

Over the chimney is a Madona, by Raphael, which, though a small piece,
gives a very high idea of that great master’s abilities. There is also
in this gallery a Madona by Vandyck, which is exquisitely performed.

The other pictures here are, the birth of Jupiter, a fine piece, by
Giulio Romano; a Cupid whetting his arrow, by Annibal Caracci; and a
Venus and Cupid, by Titian.

KENT _road_, At the upper end of Kent street.

KENT _street_, extends from the end of Long lane, near St. George’s
church, Southwark, to Kent road. It is observable that the principal
business of this street is making of birch brooms, in which the
masters are such great dealers, that in some of their yards several
stacks of brooms may be seen of a considerable extent, and rising as
high as the most lofty houses.

KENT’S _yard_, Angel alley.†

KETTLEBY’S _rents_, at Kennington.†

KETTLE _yard_, Redcross street.

KEW, a town in Surry, situated on the Thames, opposite to Old Brentford.
Here is a chapel of ease, erected at the expence of several of the
nobility and gentry in the neighbourhood, on a piece of ground that
was given for that purpose by the late Queen Anne. Here the late Mr.
Molineux, Secretary to his present Majesty when Prince of Wales, had a
very fine seat on the Green, the gardens of which are said to produce
the best fruit in England. This house belonged to the late Prince of
Wales. Her late Majesty Queen Caroline here purchased Lady Eyre’s
seat, for the Duke of Cumberland, and Sir Thomas Abney’s for the
Princesses Amelia and Caroline.

In the sessions of parliament in 1758, an act passed for building a
bridge cross the Thames opposite to Kew Green; and this act is now
executed, and a bridge is built of eleven arches. The two piers and
their dependent arches on each side next the shore are built of brick
and stone, the intermediate arches, which are seven in number, are
entirely wood. The center arch is fifty feet wide, and the road over
the bridge is thirty feet wide.

KEY _court_, 1. Little St. Thomas Apostles.* 2. St. John street, West
Smithfield.*

KIDDER’S _yard_, Petty France, Westminster.†

KIDNEY _stairs_, Narrow street.

KIFFORD’S _Almshouse_, at Tothill side, Westminster, was founded by Mrs.
Judith Kifford, in the year 1705, for two decayed gentlewomen, each of
whom has one room, and 5_l._ _per annum_.

KILBORN, a village in Middlesex, in the road from London to Edgworth,
and in the parish of Hampstead.

KILHAM’S _wharf_, Millbank.†

KILL _court_, St. John’s street.

KILLIGREW _court_, Scotland yard.†

KING AND QUEEN _stairs_, Rotherhith.*

KING DAVID’S _court_, Whitechapel.*

KING DAVID’S FORT, Near Bluegate fields.*

KING DAVID’S FORT _lane_, King David’s lane.*

KING DAVID’S _lane_, Upper Shadwell.*

KING EDWARD’S _row_, Coverley’s fields.*

KING EDWARD’S _stairs_, Wapping.*

KING EDWARD’S _street_, 1. Tudor street.* 2. Wapping.*

KING HENRY’S _yard_, Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.*

KING JAMES’S _stairs_, Wapping wall.*