Chapter M: DCC LXI (2)

The debt due from the government upon this and other accounts unprovided for by parliament, amounted to 9,177,967_l._ 15_s._ 4_d._ and these people taking it into their hands, were incorporated by act of parliament in the year 1710; the following year the company, after the discharge of the debt due to them from the government, was made perpetual; and in 1714, lending the government an additional sum of 822,032_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._ the capital of the company was, by act of parliament, enlarged to ten millions; for which the members received six _per cent._ interest, or 600,000_l._ _per annum_.

But in 1720 an act of parliament was passed, by which the company were granted the sole privilege of trading to the South Seas within certain limits, and enabled to increase their capital, by redeeming several of the public debts, but by the arts used on this occasion the capital stock of the company was soon raised to thirty-three millions, five hundred and forty-three thousand, two hundred and sixty-three pounds. It would take up too much room were we to enter here into an account of the measures by which this iniquitous scheme was carried on; many wealthy persons lost their estates, and others acquired immense fortunes; and, in short, a considerable number of the directors, were obliged by parliament to refund their ill-gotten treasures.

By an act passed in the sixth year of the reign of his present Majesty, it was enacted, that after the 24th of June 1733, the capital stock of the company, which then amounted to 14,651,103_l._ 8_s._ 1_d._ and the shares of the respective proprietors, should be divided into four equal parts, three fourths of which should be converted into a joint stock, attended with annuities, after the rate of 4 _per cent._ till redemption by parliament, and should be called the new South Sea annuities, and the other fourth part should remain in the company as a trading capital stock, attended with the residue of the annuities or funds payable at the Exchequer to the company till redemption, and that the company’s accomptant should twice every year, at Christmas and Midsummer, or within one month after, state an account of the company’s affairs, which should be laid before the next general court, in order to their declaring a dividend, but that such dividend should not exceed 4_l._ _per cent. per annum_, till their debts were discharged. That the South Sea company, and their trading stock should, exclusively from the new joint stock of annuities, be liable to all the debts and incumbrances of the company; and that the company should cause to be kept within the city of London, an office, and books, in which all transfers of the new annuities, should be entered and signed by the party making such transfer, or his attorney; and the person to whom such transfer should be made, or his attorney, should underwrite his acceptance, and no other method of transferring annuities should be good in law. The annuities of this company are some of them reduced to 3_l._ 10_s._ _per cent._ and others to 3_l._

It is necessary to observe with respect to this company, that they have never carried on any considerable trade; however by the assiento contract they had for some years the privilege of furnishing the Spaniards with negroe slaves for their mines and plantations in America, and of sending a large ship annually with European goods, consisting chiefly of our woollen manufactures, to the Spanish West Indies; and for nine years they annually sent a small number of ships to fish for Whales on the coast of Greenland. As they have now no trade, they only receive interest for their capital, which is in the hands of the government, and also 8000_l._ a year out of the treasury, towards the expence attending the management of their affairs.

The hours of payment of dividends are from nine o’clock till eleven, and the hours of transfer from twelve o’clock till one.

The days of transferring South Sea stock are Monday and Friday.

Old annuities Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

New annuities Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Three _per cent._ 1751, Tuesday and Thursday. Except on holidays, which are in general the same as at the Bank.

The business of this company is managed by a governor, subgovernor, deputy governor, and twenty-one directors, annually chosen before the 6th of February, by a majority of votes: such members of the company as have 1000_l._ in the capital stock in their own names, having one vote; such as have 3000_l._ two votes; such as have 5000_l._ three votes, and such as have 10,000_l._ stock or more, four votes, and none above: but no person can be governor, subgovernor, deputy governor, or director, while governor, deputy governor, or director of the bank of England.

SOUTH SEA HOUSE, a very neat brick building at the north-west corner of Threadneedle street, opposite the church of St. Martin’s Outwich. In this building the South Sea company transact their affairs.

The front is very large and plain, and is a modern edifice with stone copings, rustic quoins, and window cases. The entrance has no relation to it, and is much too fine and principal, a fault not often committed, but is only so by being in the extreme; over the entrance is raised a handsome well proportioned window, ornamented with rustic work, in conformity to the angles of the building, and crowned with a pediment: and on the inside of the gate is a handsome square court, surrounded with a piazza formed by columns of the Doric order.

SOUTH SEA _court_, Lumbard street.

SOUTH SEA _passage_, Broad street, leading through the South Sea house into Threadneedle street.

SOUTH SEA _yard_, Threadneedle street.☐

SOUTH _street_, 1. Audley street 2. Spitalfields market.§

SOUTH-WEST _yard_, Spitalfields market.§

SOUTHWARK, a considerable part of this great metropolis on the south side of the Thames, consists of the parishes of St. Olave, St. Saviour, St. George and St. Thomas, and for its extent and number of inhabitants is inferior to few cities in England.

It is mentioned in history in the year 1052, when Earl Godwin arrived there with a powerful fleet, and having cast anchor till the return of the tide, passed London Bridge without opposition, in order to engage the royal navy, which consisted of fifty ships of war, and then lay opposite to Westminster; but matters being accommodated between the King and Earl Godwin, the latter returned, and repassed the bridge, which was then of wood.

Southwark was governed by its own bailiffs till the year 1327. The city however found great inconveniences from its neighbourhood, malifactors escaping thither out of the reach and cognizance of the city magistrates. This made the city long desirous of getting Southwark under her subjection, and a grant was made of that town to the city in the last mentioned period, when the mayor of London was constituted bailiff of Southwark, and impowered to govern it by his deputy.

The inhabitants some time after recovered their former privileges; but in the fourth year of the reign of Edward VI. the crown granted it to the city of London for the sum of 647_l._ 2_s._ 1_d._ and within about a month after the passing of that patent, in consideration of the farther sum of 500 marks, paid to the crown by the city, Southwark was made one of the city wards, named Bridge Ward without, when the number of the aldermen being increased from twenty-five to twenty-six, a new one was chosen to govern that borough: In virtue of the above grant, Southwark has ever since been subject to the Lord Mayor, who has under him a steward and bailiff, the former of whom holds a court of record every Monday at St. Margaret’s hill, for all debts, damages, and trespasses, within his limits, and the Lord Mayor proclaims Southwark fair on the 19th of September.

There are five prisons in Southwark, the King’s Bench, just finished in St. George’s fields; the Marshalsea; the New prison, which is the county jail for felons; the Clinke, and the Compter: and also two hospitals, that of St. Thomas, and Guy’s. All which see under their respective names. And for the most remarkable passages in the history of this borough, see the article LONDON.

SOUTHWICK’S _rents_, Bett’s street.†

SPARK’S _court_, Duke’s place, Aldgate.

SPARROW’S NEST _yard_, Oxford street.

SPAW _field_, a field near the New-river-head, Islington road: so called from a famous mineral spring.

SPECTACLEMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1630.

They are governed by a master, two wardens and fifteen assistants; but have neither livery nor hall.

SPECTACLES _alley_, Shoe lane, Fleet street.*

MR. SPENCER’S. See GREEN-PARK.

SPICER _street_, Brick lane Spitalfields.†

SPINGEL’S _alley_, Cable street, Ragfair.†

SPINNERS _yard_, Windmill hill.†

SPIT _alley_, St. Giles’s pound.

SPITALFIELDS, a place of very considerable extent on the east side of Bishopsgate street, formerly fields belonging to St. Mary Spital; but now formed into a great number of streets, lanes, and alleys, wherein the weaving business is carried to the greatest perfection by the descendents of French refugees, especially silks, and the richest brocades.

SPITALFIELDS _market_, by Spitalfields church, is a very great market chiefly for roots and greens.

SPITAL _square_, Bishopsgate street without.

SPITAL SQUARE _passage_, Lamb street, Spitalfields.

SPITAL _street_, Pelham street, Spitalfields.

SPRAT’S ALMSHOUSE, in College church-yard, Deadman’s place, Southwark, was founded by Mr. Henry Sprat, in the year 1709, for two poor old men, who have an allowance of 4_l._ _per annum_, each.

SPREAD EAGLE _alley_, 1. Kingsland road.* 2. Whitechapel.*

SPREAD EAGLE _court_, 1. Bread street, Cheapside.* 2. Church lane, Rotherhith.* 3. Gray’s Inn lane, Holbourn.* 4. Hand alley, Petticoat lane.* 5. Kingsland road.* 6. Threadneedle street.*

SPREAD EAGLE _yard_, Kingsland road.*

SPRING GARDEN, Charing cross.

SPRING GARDEN _mews_, Spring Garden.

SPRING _street_, Fox lane, Upper Shadwell: 2. Middle Shadwell.

SPUR _inn yard_, St. Margaret’s Hill.*

SPUR _street_, Leicester Fields.*

SPURSTOWE’S ALMSHOUSE, in Back lane, Hackney, was founded by Mr. William Spurstowe, in the year 1666; but dying before it was endowed, his brother Henry, settled lands upon it, for the payment of 4_l._ _per annum_, to each of the six poor widows therein. _Maitland._

SQUIRREL _alley_, in the Minories.*

SQUIRRIES, a fine seat near Westerham. See the article WESTERHAM.

STABLE _yard_, 1. Jockey Fields, near Grays Inn: 2. St. James’s street Pallmall: 3. Northumberland alley, Fenchurch street: 4. near Smith’s street, Marsham street: 5. Warner street, Cold Bath Fields.

STACEY’S _street_, Monmouth street.†

STAFFORD’S ALMSHOUSE, at the lower end of Gray’s Inn lane, was founded by Alexander Stafford, Esq; in the year 1633, for four poor men and six women, who have an annual allowance of 6_l._ and half a chaldron of coals each, besides a coat and gown every other year.

STAFFORD _street_, Bond street.

STAG’S _alley_, Bedfordbury.*

STAINING _lane_, 1. Maiden lane: 2. near Wood street, Cheapside.

STAINS, or STANES, a populous town in Middlesex, situated on the Thames, nineteen miles from London, it obtained its name from the Saxon word _Stana_ or stone, because there anciently stood a boundary stone in this place to denote the extent of the city of London’s jurisdiction upon the river. It has a bridge over the Thames, and is governed by two constables, and four headboroughs appointed by his Majesty’s steward, on account of its being a lordship belonging to the crown. The church stands alone, at almost half a mile distance from the town.

STAMFORD HILL, a hill with a small village on its side between Newington, and Tottenham Highcross.

STAMFORD’S _buildings_, Old street.†

STAMP _corner_, Old street.

STAMP OFFICE, on the west side of Lincoln’s Inn Square, extends from the passage leading to Lincoln’s Inn Fields to near the south-west corner.

This office is under the government of five commissioners who have 400 _l._ a year each. There are besides a receiver general who has 500_l._ _per annum_, under whom are four clerks, one who has 100_l._ a year, and three who have 60_l._ A secretary, who has 300_l._ a year, who has four clerks, one of whom has 130_l._ _per annum_, another 70_l._ another 60_l._ and another 50_l._ a year. A comptroller, who has 400_l._ _per annum_, and has three clerks, one who has 100_l._ and two others who have 60_l._ a year each.

The other officers are an accomptant clerk, a sollicitor, a teller of stamps, three inspectors of courts and corporations in the country, and one inspector of courts in town, and also a supervisor of the stamps, each of whom has a salary of 100_l._ a year. There are likewise a register and comptroller of the apprentice duty, who has 150_l._ a year; a register of warrants, who has 140_l._ and a warehouse keeper of stampt goods who has 160_l._ a year: and besides these there are many inferior officers, who have smaller sallaries.

STANBURY’S _court_, Picadilly.

STANES, a town in Middlesex. See STAINS.

STANGATE _stairs_, Lambeth.

STANGATE _street_, Lambeth.

STANHOPE’S _court_, Charing Cross.†

STANHOPE’S _street_, Clare Market.†

STANLEY’S _yard_, Stony lane.†

STANBURY’S _court_, Picadilly.†

STANTON’S _rents_, Rotherhith Wall.†

STANTON’S _Wharf_, near Stony lane, Southwark.†

STAPLES _court_, Beck street.†

STAPLES INN, one of the inns of chancery, is seated on the south side of Holbourn, near the bars, and consists of two large courts surrounded with good buildings.

STAPLES _rents_, Love lane.†

STAR _alley_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. East Smithfield, Tower Hill.* 3. Fenchurch street.* 4. in the Minories.*

STAR _court_, 1. Bread street, Cheapside.* 2. Bread street hill, Thames street.* 3. Butcher Row, Temple Bar.* 4. Castle street.* 5. Chancery lane.* 6. Cheapside.* 7. Compton street.* 8. Cross lane, Parker’s lane.* 9. Great Eastcheap.* 10. Grub street, Fore street.* 11. Little Britain.* 12. London Wall.* 13. in the Minories.* 14. Old Fish street.*

STAR _street_, Wapping Wall.*

STAR _yard_, 1. Barnaby street.* 2. Huggen lane, Thames street.* 3. Kingsland road.* 4. Moor lane.*

STARCH _alley_, 1. Greenback, Southwark: 2. Rotten Row, Goswell street.

STARCH _yard_, 1. Back lane, Lambeth: 2. Old Gravel lane.

STARCHMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King James I. in the year 1622. They are governed by a master, two wardens, and twenty-four assistants, but have neither livery nor hall.

STARLING SCHOOL, on Little Tower Hill, was founded in the year 1673, by Sir Samuel Starling, knt. and alderman, for forty boys, and thirty girls, of the parish of St. Botolph without Aldgate, who are taught reading, writing and arithmetic, and also instructed in the principles of the Christian religion. _Maitland._

STATIONERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted in the third and fourth of Philip and Mary, in the year 1557. They are governed by a master, two wardens, and thirty-six assistants, with a livery of 280 members, who upon their admission, pay a fine of 20_l._

This company has stock of about 15000_l._ denominated the English stock, which is employed in printing almanacks, hornbooks, primmers, psaltars, and some school books, the sole printing whereof is confirmed to them by letters patent granted by several kings.

This stock consists of twenty whole shares of 320_l._ each, which are generally possessed by those who are of the court of assistants: the second are forty half shares, of 160_l._ each, the third are eighty quarter shares, of 80_l._ each, and the fourth are one hundred and sixty half quarter shares, of 40_l._ each; all which are divided among those who have fined for or served the office of renter-warden.

Upon the death of any of the married possessors of this stock, the profits arising from his share devolve to his widow, which she enjoys during her widowhood or life: but at the expiration of either, another person is chosen to enjoy the profits of her share; and he is no sooner elected, than he pays the deposit-money to the late widow, her husband, or executors.

The dividends upon the stock are made at Christmas, and increased or decreased according to the expence of the preceding year; however, it is seldom less than 40_l._ upon a whole share, or 320_l._

The master and wardens of the company are always in the direction of the stock, to whom are joined six other members annually elected; who adjust all accounts relating to it, and at Christmas report the state thereof to the board, who regulate the dividends accordingly.

The stationers company have also a share in the Irish estate, and other considerable estates, out of which they pay about 300_l._ _per annum_ in pensions, and other charities. _Maitland._

STATIONERS HALL, a spacious brick building near Amen Corner. There is an ascent to it by a flight of steps, and the light is thrown in by two series of windows, the lower large and upright, and the upper of an elliptical form. Underneath it, and at the north end are the warehouses for the company’s stock. This hall has but few ornaments; but it is however extremely convenient.

STATIONERS _court_, in which stationers hall is placed, has three passages into it one from Ludgate street; one from Ave Mary lane, and one from Amen Corner. This court, and the passages into it, are inhabited by eminent booksellers.

STAYMAKERS _alley_, Booth street, Spitalfields.

STEBBING’S _rents_, Portpool lane, Leather lane, Holbourn.†

STEEDWELL _street_, Hog lane, St. Giles’s.†

STEEL’S _court_, Bread street, Cheapside.†

STEEL _yard_, in Thames street above the Bridge. Here was originally the hall of the Anseatic merchants, and the warehouses where they used to stow their steel, flax, hemp, pitch, tar, masts, cables, linen cloth, wheat, rye and other grain. And in this place are still large warehouses for iron, in bars, &c.

STEEL _yard stairs_, by the Steel yard.

STEEL _yard wharf_, at the end of the Steel yard.

STEEP’S _garden_, Kent street, near St. George’s church, Southwark.

_St._ STEPHEN’S _chapel_, at the south-east corner of Westminster hall, was founded by King Stephen, who dedicated it to St. Stephen the Proto martyr. See _House of_ COMMONS.

_St._ STEPHEN’S _Coleman street_, is situated on the west side of that street, and in the ward of the same name. It is of great antiquity, and was originally a chapel belonging to the dean and chapter of St. Paul’s, who between the years 1171, and 1181, granted the church of St. Olave Jewry, together with this chapel, as an appendage to it, to the prior and abbot of Butley in Suffolk.

This chapel was made parochial in the year 1456, but continued under the patronage of the prior and canons of Butley, till the suppression of that convent, when it came to the crown. However in the year 1577, Queen Elizabeth granted the patronage, together with the church and rectory to Thomas Paskins and others, and in 1590 to William Daniel, serjeant at law, and other parishioners; which rectory impropriate, and right of advowson, have been held by the parish in fee farm of the crown ever since. _Newc. Repert. Eccless._

This church sharing the common fate in the dreadful fire of London, the present structure was erected in its stead about four years after. It is a plain and solid building strengthened with rustic at the corners, and enlightened by one series of large windows. The steeple is a square tower crowned with a lanthorn which has four faces.

The rector, besides several annual donations, and other advantages, receives 110_l._ _per annum_.

Mr. Munday, in his edition of Stow’s Survey, mentions several monumental inscriptions in this church, among which are the following.

1. Our life is all but death; time that ensueth,
Is but the death of time that went before:
Youth is the death of childhood; age of youth.
Die once to God, and then thou diest no more.

2. Agnes, the wife of Leonard Darr, whose sight,
By sickness much impair’d, in heav’nly light,
Look’d, liv’d and died, as dimness her were giv’n,
That her soul’s eyes might better look to heav’n.

In this church Munday himself lies, and on his monument is the following inscription.

3. To the Memory of that ancient servant to the city with his pen in divers employments, especially the _Survey of London_, master _Anthony Munday_, citizen and draper of London.

He that hath many an antient Tombstone read,
(I’th’ labour seeming more among the dead
To live, than with the living) that survey’d
Obstruse antiquities, and o’er them laid
Such vive and beauteous colours with his pen,
That (spite of time) those old are new again,
Under this marble lies interr’d; his tomb
Claiming (as worthily it may) this room,
Among those many monuments his quill
Has so reviv’d, helping now to fill
A place (with those) in his Survey; in which
He has a monument, more fair, more rich
Than polish’d stones could make him, where he lies,
Though dead, still living, and in that ne’er dies.

_St._ STEPHEN’S HOSPITAL, situated in the Woolstaple at Westminster, was founded by Henry VIII. in the year 1544, for eight maimed soldiers, who have each a convenient room, and an allowance of 5_l._ _per annum_ out of the Exchequer.

_St._ STEPHEN’S _Walbrook_, behind the Mansion-house of the Lord Mayor, in Walbrook ward. We read of a church near the same spot dedicated to the same patron so early as the year 1135; but it then stood on the other side of the street. However about the year 1428, Robert Chichely, Mayor of London, purchased the ground of the present church and cemetry of the Grocers company, and the first stone of the new structure was laid in 1429; but the work advanced so slowly, that it was not finished, till the year 1439.

The old structure was destroyed by the fire of London in the year 1666, and the present noble edifice was erected in its place by the great Sir Christopher Wren. The steeple rises square to a considerable height, and is then surrounded with a balustrade, within which rises a very light and elegant tower in two stages, the first adorned with Corinthian, and the second with Composite columns, and covered with a dome, whence rises the vane.

The outside of the church is plain and void of ornament, but in the center of the roof is a large dome; which cannot be seen to advantage, on account of its being in a manner hid by the Mansion-house. The principal beauties of this justly admired edifice are on the inside; where this dome, which is spacious and noble, is finely proportioned to the church, and divided into small compartments decorated with great elegance, and crowned with a lanthorn, while the roof, which is also divided into compartments, is supported by very noble Corinthian columns, raised on their pedestals. It has three isles and a cross isle; is seventy-five feet in length, and thirty-six in breadth, the height of the middle roof is thirty-four feet, and of the cupola and lanthorn fifty-eight feet. On the sides under the lower roofs are only circular windows, but those which enlighten the upper roof are small arched ones; and at the east end are three very noble arched windows.

In the opinion of some persons this is Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. It is even thought that Italy itself can produce no modern structure equal to this in taste, proportion, elegance and beauty. It is certain that foreigners, to whom it is well known, might very justly call our judgments in question, were we not to allow it as high a degree both of merit and fame as they have bestowed upon it. It is one of the happy productions of Sir Christopher Wren’s great genius without a strict observance of the rules of art. It has a very striking effect at entering, every part coming at once to your eye, except the bases of the columns, which are injudiciously eclipsed by the carving on the top of the pews (these are not represented in the print) and was not the design of the architect. The outside is now in part hid by the Mansion house. The plate also represents a plan and section.

To this church that of St. Bennet Sherehog is annexed, whereby the profits of the rector are much increased: besides other advantages, he receives 100_l._ a year in lieu of tithes.

STEPNEY, a very ancient village near London; but as it not joined to it by contiguous buildings, we shall not, after the example of some of our late compilers, represent it as a part of this metropolis.

This parish was of such a vast extent, and so amazingly increased in buildings, as to produce the parishes of St. Mary Stratford at Bow, St. Mary Whitechapel, St. Ann’s Limehouse, St. John’s at Wapping, St. Paul’s Shadwell, St. George’s Ratcliff Highway, Christ Church Spitalfields, and St. Matthew’s Bethnal Green; all which have been separated from it, and yet it still remains one of the largest parishes within the bills of mortality, and contains the hamlets of Mile-end, Old and New Towns, Ratcliff and Poplar.

The village of Stepney, is remarkable for its church, and the great number of tombstones, both in that edifice and its spacious cemetry. It has also an independant meeting-house, and an almshouse. The village, however, is but small, and consists of few houses besides those of public entertainment; vast crowds of people of both sexes resorting thither on Sundays, and at Easter and Whitsun holidays, to eat Stepney buns, and to regale themselves with ale, cyder, _&c._

There was a church here so long ago as the time of the Saxons, when it was called the church of all Saints, _Ecclesia omnium Sanctorum_, and we read of the manor of Stepney under the reign of William the Conqueror, by the name of _Stibenhede_, or Stiben’s-heath; but it does not appear when the church changed its name by being dedicated to St. Dunstan, the name it at present bears. To this church belong both a rectory and vicarage; the former, which was a sinecure, was in the gift of the bishop of London, and the latter, in the gift of the rector, till Ridley, bishop of London, gave the manor of Stepney, and the advowson of the church to Edward VI. who, in his turn, granted them to Sir Thomas Wentworth, Lord Chamberlain of his houshold. But the advowson being afterwards purchased by the principal and scholars of King’s Hall and Brazen-Nose college in Oxford, they presented two persons to the rectory and vicarage by the name of the Portionists of Ratcliff and Spitalfields, till the year 1744, when the hamlet of Bethnal Green being separated from it, and made a new parish by act of parliament, Stepney became possessed by only one rector.

As this is at present a rectory impropriate, the above principal and scholars receive the great tithes, and the incumbent the small, together with Easter offerings, garden pennies, and surplice fees, which are very considerable. _Newc. Repert. Eccles._

When the present church was erected is not recorded; the wall and battlements are built of brick and wrought stone, plastered over; and the roof is covered with lead. It is of a very considerable extent, for it is an hundred and four feet long, though it is no more than fifty-four broad; the height of the roof is thirty-five feet, and that of the tower, with its turret, ninety-two feet. The pillars, arches and windows, are of the modern Gothic, and the west porch, built in 1610, has no resemblance to the rest of the building, it being of the Tuscan order. The tower, which is plain and heavy, is supported at the corners by a kind of double buttresses; it is crowned with square plain battlements, without pinnacles, and with a small mean turret; and the same kind of battlements are carried round the body of the church.

On the inside are three galleries and an organ, and the altar-piece is adorned with four Corinthian pilasters, with their entablature and a pediment; these have gilt capitals; with the arms of Queen Anne carved: but what is most singular is a stone on the east side of the portico, leading up to the gallery, on which is the following inscription.

Of Carthage great I was a stone,
O mortals read with pity!
Time consumes all, it spareth none,
Men, mountains, towns, nor city:
Therefore O mortals! all bethink
You where unto you must,
Since now such stately buildings
Lie buried in the dust.

It is probable this stone was really brought from Carthage, otherwise this inscription would scarcely be permitted to be there; but as a modern author observes, it is to be hoped, that he who ordered it to be fixed there, did not go to Carthage on purpose to fetch it.

At the east end of the church-yard near the church is a monument of white marble, adorned with a cherub, urn, palm-branches and a coat of arms, under which is the following inscription:

Here lieth interred the body of Dame Rebecca Berry, the wife of Thomas

Elton of Stratford Bow, gent. who departed this life April 16, 1696,
aged 52.

Come ladies, you that would appear
Like angels fair, come dress you here;
Come dress you at this marble stone
And make that humble Grace your own,
Which once adorn’d as fair a mind,
As e’er yet lodg’d in womankind.
So she was dress’d, whose humble life
Was free from pride, was free from strife:
Free from all envious brawls and jars
(Of human life the civil wars)
These ne’er disturb’d her peaceful mind,
Which still was gentle, still was kind.
Her very looks, her garb, her mien,
Disclos’d the humble soul within.
Trace her through ev’ry scene of life,
View her as widow, virgin, wife,
Still the same humble she appears,
The same in youth, the same in years;
The same in low and high estate,
Ne’er vex’d with this, ne’er mov’d with that.
Go, Ladies, now, and if you’d be }
As fair, as great, as good as she,}
Go learn of her humility. }

On another grave-stone near the south-east corner of the church-yard, is the following inscription on Mary Angel:

To say an angel here interr’d doth lie,
May be thought strange, for angels never die.
Indeed some fell from heav’n to hell.
Are lost, and rise no more:
This only fell by death to earth,
Not lost but gone before.
Her dust lodg’d here, her soul perfect in grace,
’Mongst saints and angels now hath took its place.

Near the south side of the church on a marble tomb-stone, adorned with a coat of arms, are the following lines on capt. Thomas Chevers, his wife, and a son who died at five days old.

Reader, consider well how poor a span,
And how uncertain is the life of man:
Here lie the husband, wife, and child, by death
All three in five days time deprived of breath.
The child dies first, the mother on the morrow
Follows, and then the father dies with sorrow.
A Cæsar falls by many wounds, well may
Two stabs at heart the stoutest captain slay.

On a stone near the foot path on the north-west side, is the following inscription:

Whoever treadeth on this stone,
I pray you tread most neatly,
For underneath the same doth lye
Your honest friend Will. Wheatly.

The last inscription we shall mention is the following short one on the south-west side of the church.

Here lies the body of Daniel Saul,
Spittlefields weaver, and that is all.

STEPNEY _causeway_, Whitehorse lane.☐

STEPNEY _green_, Stepney.☐

STEPNEY _rents_, Shoreditch.☐

STERN’S _yard_, Kent street, Southwark.†

STERRY’S _rents_, in the Minories.†

STEVENS’S _alley_, Chanel row, New Palace yard.† 2. King’s street, Westminster.†

STEVENS’S _court_, New Palace yard, Westminster.†

STEVENS’S _yard_, Poplar.†

STEWARD’S _court_, Clerkenwell green.†

STEWARD’S _rents_, Great Wild street.†

STEWARD’S _street_, Artillery lane, Spitalfields.†

STEWART’S SCHOOL, for the benefit of twenty poor boys of the parish of St. George Hanover square, was founded and endowed by lieut. general Stewart, who about the year 1728, bequeathed the sum of 500_l._ for that purpose. _Maitland._

STEW _lane_, High Timber street.

STEWS, a number of brothels anciently situated on the Bank-side, Southwark, and licensed by the bishop of Winchester. There were at first eighteen of these houses, but afterwards only twelve were allowed: they stood in a row, and had signs on their fronts towards the Thames, not hung out, but painted on the walls, as the Boar’s Head, the Cross Keys, the Castle, the Cardinal’s Hat, the Bell, the Swan, _&c._ These houses which were frequently kept by Flemish bawds, were under very strict regulations, among which were the following, confirmed by act of parliament, in the reign of Henry II.

That no stewholder or his wife should hinder any single woman from going and coming as often as she pleased.

That no stewholder should board any single woman; but she should board abroad at her pleasure, and that no more should be taken for the woman’s chamber than 14_d._ a week.

That the doors should be shut up on all holidays, and no single woman suffered in the house.

That no single woman desirous of forsaking her sins, should be kept against her will.

That no stewholder should receive a nun, or any man’s wife.

That no man should be drawn or inticed into any of these houses, nor any single woman take money for lying with a man, unless he lay all night.

That no stewholder should keep any woman that had the perilous infirmity of burning; [the venereal disease;] nor sell bread, flesh, fish, ale, wood, coals, or any kind of food; and that the constables, bailiffs and others should search every stewhouse weekly.

These and many other orders were to be observed, under the penalty of suffering great pains and punishments; and any woman leading a life of lewdness was forbidden the rights of the church, and denied Christian burial, if she was not reconciled before her death. And therefore there was a plot of ground called the single woman’s church-yard, appointed for these women at a distance from the parish church.

These stews were put down by order of Henry VIII. in the year 1546, when it was proclaimed by sound of trumpet, that this row of stews was no longer to be privileged, and used as a common brothel. _Stow’s Survey._

STICHBONE’S _court_, High Holbourn.†

STILL _alley_, Bishopsgate street without.* 2. Bluegate field, Upper Shadwell.† 3. George street.* 4. Houndsditch.† 5. Long alley, Moorfields.* 6. New street, St. Thomas’s.* 7. Petticoat lane, Whitechapel.*

STILL _stairs_, Pickleherring street.*

STILL _yard_, 1. Liquorpond street, Leather lane.* 2. Maze Pond street, Southwark.* See STEEL _yard_.

STOCKDON’S _yard_, Vine yard, Horselydown lane.†

STOCKING FRAME _alley_, Shoreditch.*

STOCKS MARKET, stood at the north-east corner of Walbrook, where the Mansion House of the Lord Mayor is now erected. This was made a market about the year 1282, at which time was a pair of stocks there, for the punishment of offenders, the first set up in the city of London.

This market was about 230 feet long from north to south, and about 180 feet broad, besides the room left for passengers on each side. On the east side were planted rows of trees, and on the north were twenty-two stalls covered over for fruit, as well on market days, as at other times. The rest of the market was taken up by gardeners, only at the south-west corner were two ranges of stalls for butchers.

But what was most singular in this market, was, there being placed at the north end, a pretended Equestrian statue of King Charles II. set up at the expence of Sir Robert Viner, alderman, knt. and baronet. This statue was originally made for John Sobieski King of Poland, but, by some accident, was left upon the workman’s hands: about the same time the city was loyal enough to pay their devoirs to King Charles, immediately upon his restoration; and, finding this statue ready made to their hands, resolved to do it the cheapest way, and convert the Polander into a Briton, and the Turk, underneath his horse, into Oliver Cromwell, to make their compliment compleat. In this very manner it appeared, and the turbant upon the last mentioned figure was an undeniable proof of the truth of the story.

The above statue and all the stalls were removed in the year 1738, in order to lay the foundation of the present Mansion-house.

STOKE GREEN, a village in Buckinghamshire, a little to the north of Windsor. Sir Thomas Stapleton has here a very handsome house, and large and most beautiful gardens.

In the neighbourhood of this village is Stoke House, which belongs to the Lady Cobham, and is a noble and large edifice, with a pleasant park. Adjoining to the house is the parish church of Stoke, and a neat hospital, built and endowed by —— Countess of Huntingdon, for the support and maintenance of 12 ancient poor people of both sexes.

STOKE POGES, a village so called from the Poges, its ancient Lords, is situated a little to the north of Stoke Green. Here Edward Lord Hastings, in the reign of Queen Mary, erected a chapel and hospital, adorned with a portico supported by pillars, that still remain on the east end of this ancient seat. The entrance to the house, is like that of the Villa Borghese at Rome, by a great hall paved with marble, and adorned with many fine ancient busts of the Roman Emperors, some of marble, some of granate, and others of porphyry, brought from Rome by the late Sir Robert Gayer. At the bottom of this hall is a pretty little chapel paved with marble, seeming to rise like steps. From this hall there is an entrance into a fine park, with seven avenues in the form of a star; from each of which there is a delightful prospect, and from one of them a good view of Windsor Castle.

STONE _alley_, Broad street, Ratcliff.

STONE _court_, 1. Aldersgate street: 2. St. Catharine’s by the Tower: 3. Lower East Smithfield: 4. New street, Fetter lane.

STONE CUTTERS _alley_, 1. Black Friars: 2. Fleet ditch: 3. Little Queen street: 4. Pallmall.

STONE CUTTERS _court_, 1. Gutter lane, Cheapside: 2. Old street. 3. Pallmall.

STONE CUTTER _street_, next to Harp ally, in the Fleet market.

STONE CUTTER _yard_, 1. Blackman street: 2. Butcher row, Ratcliff: 3. near Castle street: 4. Great stone stairs, Ratcliff: 5. St. Martin’s lane, Charing Cross: 6. Kent street, by St. George’s church, Southwark: 7. Millbank, Westminster horse-ferry: 8. Peter’s street: 9. Poor Jewry lane, Aldgate.

STONE’S _rents_, Limehouse.†

STONE _stairs_, near Ratcliff cross.

STONE _yard_, 1. Lower East Smithfield: 2. Tooley street, Southwark.

STONY _lane_, St. Olave street, Southwark: 2. Old horselydown, Southwark: 3. Petticoat lane.

STONY _street_, near Deadman’s Place, Southwark: 2. Cock lane, Shoreditch.

STOREHOUSE _yard_, New Rag Fair, East Smithfield.

STOREY’S _passage_, and STOREY’S _gate_, by Storey’s coffee-house; both removed in order to extend the view through Great George street into St. James’s Park.†

STRAFFORD _street_, Albemarle street.

STRAND, a street which extends from Temple bar to the corner of St. Martin’s lane, Charing cross. Maitland observes that the Strand was anciently a village, which took its name from its being placed on the bank of the Thames, and that its ancient situation was not much higher than that river; as upon digging the foundation of the New church called St. Mary le Strand, the virgin earth was discovered at the depth of nineteen feet.

In this street formerly resided many of the Nobility, whose gardens extended to the Thames, among which there are still remaining Northumberland house, Somerset house, and the ruins of the Savoy.

As this is the grand channel of communication between the city of London and Westminster it would have been a great ornament to both, had it been a spacious, straight and uniform street, without that incumberance which begins at Butcher Row, and ends at the New Church. In this case, the prospect from Temple Bar would have afforded a noble vista, terminated by Charing Cross, and this might have been still enlarged, by letting in the more distant view of the park, through a street of the same breadth with itself.

STRAND BRIDGE, a handsome structure formerly erected a little to the east of Catharine street. It was raised over a brook which ran from the fields, and crossing the Strand fell into the Thames, near Somerset stairs.

STRAND _bridge_, Strand lane.

STRAND BRIDGE _stairs_, near Strand lane.

STRAND _lane_, a narrow passage leading from the Strand towards the Thames.

STRANGEWAY’S _street_, Saffron hill.†

STRATFORD LE BOW, a village to the east of Mile-end. See the article BOW.

STRATFORD or STRATFORD LONG-THORN, the first village in Essex, next to London, in the parish of Westham. It had an abbey which together with the church was given by King Henry VIII. to Sir Peter Meautys of Westham. This parish has greatly increased of late years in buildings and inhabitants, every vacancy being in a manner filled up, by the addition of two little new built hamlets, if they may be thus called, on the forest side of the town; these are Maryland Point, and the Gravel Pits, one facing the road to Woodford and Epping, and the other that to Ilford: while the hither part, in spite of rivers, canals, and marshy grounds, is almost joined to Bow.

STRATTON’S _ground_, near Tothil Fields, Westminster.†

STRETHAM, a village in Surry, six miles south-west of London, and three miles to the north of Croydon, used to be much frequented for its medicinal waters. It has a charity school, and a seat belonging to the Duke of Bedford, Lord of the manor.

STRETTON’S _grounds_, Westminster.†

STRETTON’S _street_, 1. Hyde Park Road, from the Lord Berkley of Stretton’s mansion-house. 2. Berkley street, Westminster.†

STRAWBERRY _court_, Tower Royal, near St. Thomas Apostles.

STREUD’S _court_, St. James’s.†

STROUD’S _court_, Leather lane, Holbourn.†

STRUMBELS, Chelsea.

STRYPE’S _yard_, Petticoat lane.†

STUBB’S _rents_, 1. Charter house lane.† 2. Saffron hill, near Snow hill.†

STUT’S _alley_, Kent street, near St. George’s church, Southwark.†

SUBPÆNA OFFICE, in Symmond’s Inn Chancery lane. In this office writs are issued to summon persons to appear in Chancery.

SUFFOLK _lane_, by Little Bush lane, Thames street.

SUFFOLK _street_, Pallmall: 2. in the Mint Southwark.

SUGARBAKER’S _lane_, Duke’s Place, near Aldgate.

SUGARBAKER’S _yard_, Duke’s Place.

SUGARHOUSE _yard_, Butcher Row.

SUGARLOAF _alley_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. Garlick hill, Thames street.* 3. Mark lane, Fenchurch street.* 4. Moses and Aaron alley, Whitechapel.* 5. Portpool lane, Leather lane.* 6. Wentworth street, Petticoat lane, Spitalfields.*

SUGARLOAF _court_, 1. Angel alley, Bishopsgate street.* 2. Catharine Wheel alley.* 3. Dorset street.* 4. Garlick hill, Thames street.* 5. Goodman’s yard, Whitechapel.* 6. Halfmoon alley, Bishopsgate street without.* 7. Holiwell street.* 8. Lamb alley, Bishopsgate street.* 9. Leadenhall street.* 10. Little Distaff lane, Old Change.* 11. Little Elbow lane, Thames street.* 12. Moor lane, Cripplegate.* 13. Peter’s street, Hicks’s hall.* 14. Spitalfields.* 15. Wentworth street, Petticoat lane.* 16. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.*

SUGARLOAF _yard_, Holiwell lane, Shoreditch.*

SUN _alley_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. Chick lane, Smithfield.* 3. Cowcross, near Smithfield.* 4. East Smithfield.* 5. Golden lane, Redcross street.* 6. Grub street, Fore street.* 7. St. John’s street, Westminster.* 8. Kent street, Southwark.* 9. King street, Cheapside.* 10. Old Gravel lane, Ratcliff Highway.*

SUN AND GUN _yard_, Narrow street, Limehouse.*

SUN AND RAVEN _yard_, Five Feet lane.*

SUN AND TRUMPET _alley_, Whitechapel.*

SUN _court_, 1. Bow lane, Cheapside.* 2. Cock lane, Shoreditch.* 3. Cornhill.* 4. Deadman’s Place, Southwark.* 5. East Smithfield.* 6. Ivy lane, Newgate street.* 7. King street, Covent garden.* 8. Petticoat lane.* 9. Saffron hill.* 10. Sutton’s street, St. John’s street, Smithfield.* 11. Threadneedle street.* 12. Whitechapel.* 13. Wood street, Cheapside.* 14. Sun Dial alley, Moorfields.*

SUN FIRE OFFICE, in Threadneedle street, near the Royal Exchange, and in Craig’s court, Charing Cross, for insuring houses and other buildings, goods, wares, and merchandize from loss and damage by fire.

This office, which was the first that attempted the insurance of goods and that of houses beyond the bills of mortality, was according to Maitland projected by Mr. John Povey about the year 1706, who having carried it on for sometime with success, conveyed his right to certain purchasers; who by a deed of settlement of the 7th of April 1710, erected themselves into a society; and that all persons may, with the greater security insure in this office, the proprietors have raised an hundred thousand pounds, as a fund for that purpose.

_Insurances may be made in this office on the following terms._

I. All policies shall be signed and sealed by three or more trustees, or acting members: by which policies may be insured houses, and other buildings, houshold furniture, goods, wares, merchandize, and utensils and implements in trade, being the property of the persons insuring; except all manner of writings, books of accompts, bills, bonds, tallies, ready money, jewels, pictures, and gunpowder.

II. Houses, buildings, and goods in trust, and merchandize on commission, (except as aforesaid) may be insured, provided the same are declared in the policy to be in trust or on commission, but not otherwise.

III. On bespeaking policies, all persons are to deposite 7_s._ 6_d._ for the policy, stamp-duty and mark; and shall pay the premium to the next quarter-day, and from thence for one year more at least, and shall, as long as the managers agree to accept the same, make all future payments annually at the said office, within fifteen days after the day limited by their respective policies, upon forfeiture of the benefit thereof; and no insurance is to take place till the premium be actually paid by the insured, his, her or their agent or agents.

IV. The several heads of insurance are, 1. Common insurances, which are buildings covered with slate, tile, or lead, and built on all sides with brick, or stone; where no hazardous trades are carried on, or hazardous goods and merchandize deposited. On such houses and goods, any sum not exceeding 200_l._ is insured for 4_s._ _per annum_; any sum from 200_l._ to 1000_l._ for 2_s._ _per cent. per annum_; and any sum from 1000_l._ to 3000_l._ at 2_s._ 6_d._ _per cent. per annum_.

2. Hazardous insurances are either timber or plaster buildings, containing goods and merchandize not hazardous; and in which no hazardous trades are carried on: or brick or stone buildings wherein hazardous goods are deposited or hazardous trades carried on. These hazardous trades and goods are apothecaries, chemists, bread and biscuit bakers, colourmen, ship and tallow chandlers, stable-keepers, innholders, malthouses, hemp, flax, tallow, pitch, tar, and turpentine. On such houses and goods this office insures any sum not exceeding 200_l._ at 6_s._ _per annum_: any sum from 200_l._ to 1000_l._ at 3_s._ _per cent. per annum_; any sum from 1000_l._ to 2000_l._ at 4_s._ _per cent. per annum_; and any sum from 2000_l._ to 3000_l._ at 5_s._ _per cent. per annum_.

3. Double hazardous insurances are thatch’d buildings, and goods and merchandize therein; timber or plaster buildings, wherein hazardous goods are deposited, or hazardous trades carried on; and also plate, china, glass, or earthen wares, hay, straw, all manner of fodder, and corn unthrash’d. Such houses and goods are insured upon the following terms, any sum not exceeding 200_l._ at 10_s._ _per annum_; any sum from 200_l._ to 1000_l._ at 5_s._ _per cent. per annum_; and any sum from 1000 _l._ to 2000_l._ at 7_s._ 6_d._ _per cent. per annum_.

V. Any number of houses, out-houses, with goods or wearing apparel therein may be insured in one policy, provided the sum insured on each is particularly mentioned; but in all insurances the premium is to be paid for even hundred pounds.

If insurances are desired for mills, or for any larger sums than are specified in the above articles; or for any other insurances more hazardous than those already described, as sugarbakers, distillers, or the like; or by reason of the nature of the trade or goods, the narrowness of the place, or other dangerous circumstances, it may be done by special agreement.

VI. To prevent frauds, persons insured by this office shall receive no benefit from their policies, if the same houses or goods are insured in any other office, unless such insurance be first specify’d and allow’d by an indorsement on the back of the policy, in which case this office will pay their ratable proportion on any loss or damage; and if any person or persons shall insure his, her, or their houses, goods, wares or merchandize, and shall cause the same to be described in the policy otherwise than as they really are, so as the same be insured at a lower premium than proposed in the table, such insurance shall be of no force nor the person insuring receive any benefit by such policy, in case of any loss or damage.

VII. No loss or damage to be paid on fire happening by any invasion, foreign enemy, civil commotion, or any military or usurped power whatsoever.

VIII. When any person dies, the policy and interest therein shall continue to the heir, executor, or administrator respectively, to whom the right of the premises insured shall belong; provided, before any new payment made, such heir, executor, or administrator, do procure his or her right to be indorsed on the policy at the said office, or the premium be paid in the name of the said heir, executor, or administrator.

IX. Persons changing the habitations or wherehouses, may preserve the benefit of their policies, if the nature and circumstance of such policy is not alter’d; but such insurance will be of no force, till such removal or alteration is allow’d at the office by indorsement on the policy. Insurances on buildings and goods are deemed distinct and separate risks; so that the premium on goods is not advanced by reason of any insurance on the building wherein the goods are kept, nor the premium on the buildings by reason of any insurance on the goods.

X. Persons insured, sustaining any loss or damage by fire, are forthwith to give notice thereof at the office, and as soon as possible afterwards deliver in as particular an account of their loss and damage, as the nature of the case will admit of, and make proof of the same by their oath or affirmation, according to the form practis’d in the said office, and by their books of accounts, or other proper vouchers, as shall be reasonably required, and procure a certificate under the hands of the minister and church wardens, together with some other reputable inhabitants of the parish, not concern’d in such loss, importing, that they are well acquainted with the character and circumstances of the person or persons insured, and do know or verily believe, that he, she, or they, really and by misfortune, without any fraud or evil practice, have sustain’d by such fire, the loss and damage, as his, her, or their loss, to the value therein mention’d; but till such affidavit and certificate of such the insured’s loss shall be made and produced, the loss-money shall not be payable. And if there appear any fraud or false swearing, such sufferers shall be excluded from all benefit by their policies. And in case any difference arise between the office and the insured, touching any loss or damage, such difference shall be submitted to the judgment and determination of arbitrators indifferently chosen, whole award in writing shall be conclusive and binding to all parties: And when any loss or damage is settled and adjusted, the insured are to receive immediate satisfaction for the same, deducting only the usual allowance of 3_l._ _per cent._

_N. B._ In adjusting losses on houses or goods, no wainscot, or any sculpture or carving-work, is to be valu’d at more than 3_s._ _per_ yard, or plate at more than 5_s._ 6_d._ _per_ ounce.

XI. No receipts are to be taken for any premiums of insurance, but such as are printed, and issued from the office, and witnessed by one of the clerks or agents of the office.

Persons may insure for any number of years more than one; and in such case, there will be an abatement of 6_d._ in the pound _per annum_ on the premiums agreed for, for every year except the first: As to instance, in a common insurance of 1000_l._ for seven years, the premium to be paid by the table will be 7_l._ from which 6_d._ in the pound _per annum_ is to be deducted for the last six years, that is, 3_s._ and 6_d._ _per annum_, which amounts to 1_l._ 1_s._ and reduces the sum to be paid to 5_l._ 19_s._ and in the same proportion for any other sums or number of years; and persons insuring can never be subject to any calls or contributions to make good losses.

_N. B._ For the farther encouragement of persons insuring, there are provided several fire engines, and there are also employ’d in the service of the said office, (within the bills of mortality) thirty ablebody’d firemen, cloath’d in blue liveries, having silver badges with the Sun mark upon their arms, and twenty able porters, likewise wearing silver badges with the Sun mark, who are always ready to assist in quenching fires and removing goods, having given bonds for their fidelity: And also, all cities and great towns may receive assistance and encouragement for purchasing engines and proper machines for putting out fires, upon application to the said office, agreeable to the number of insurances made by this office in such respective cities or great towns. From the _proposal delivered by the office in_ Threadneedle _street_, September 21, 1758.

This office is governed by twenty-four directors, under whom is a secretary, and several clerks.

SUN _street_, Bishopsgate street without.*