goods, wares and merchandize from fire. This corporation was established
by act of Parliament, at the same time with that of the London
Assurance, when it was enacted, that such as should be admitted members
of these corporations, should be each a distinct and separate body
politic, for the assurance of goods, ships and merchandize at sea, or
for lending money upon bottomry.
That no other society should insure ships, or lend money on bottomry for
the future; though any private person might do it as usual.
And that each of these corporations, in consideration of the many
benefits that might accrue to them by their charters, should pay the sum
of 300,000_l._ into his Majesty’s Exchequer, for discharging the debts
of the civil list.
These corporations however met with so little encouragement at first,
that Maitland says, the crown was obliged to remit most part of the
money.
By a second charter granted to this corporation, they are impowered not
only to insure ships, but houses, goods and lives. _Maitland._
This society therefore, by this last mentioned charter, assure all
buildings, household furniture, wearing apparel by special agreement,
and goods, wares, and merchandize, the property of the assured, except
glass and china ware not in trade, and all manner of writings, books of
accompts, notes, bills, bonds, tallies, ready money, jewels, plate,
pictures, gunpowder, hay, straw, and corn unthreshed, from loss or
damage by fire, upon the following conditions.
I. All manner of stone and brick buildings, covered with slate, tile, or
lead, wherein no hazardous trades are carried on, nor any hazardous
goods deposited, are considered as Common Assurances, and are assured
upon these terms: any sum above 100_l._ and not exceeding 1000_l._ at
2_s._ _per cent. per annum_; any sum above 1000_l._ and not exceeding
3000_l._ at 2_s._ 6_d._ _per cent. per annum_.
II. To accommodate those who are desirous of being assured for a term of
years, this corporation will assure on such buildings or goods, any sum
not exceeding 1000_l._ at the rate of 12_s._ _per cent._ for seven
years, and as far as 2000_l._ at the rate of 14_s._ _per cent._ without
subjecting the assured to any calls or contributions to make good
losses.
III. Assurances on buildings and goods, are deemed distinct and separate
adventures; so that the premium on goods is not advanced by reason of
any assurance on the building wherein the goods are kept, nor the
premium on the building by reason of any assurance on the goods.
IV. Plaister or timber buildings covered with lead, tile, or slate,
wherein no hazardous trades are carried on, nor any hazardous goods
deposited; and goods or merchandize not hazardous in such buildings, are
termed Hazardous Assurances, and insured upon the following terms: any
sum above 100_l._ and not exceeding 1000_l._ at 3_s._ _per cent. per
annum_: any sum above 1000_l._ and not exceeding 2000_l._ at 4_s._ _per
cent. per annum_: and any sum above 2000_l._ and not exceeding 3000_l._
at 5_s._ _per cent. per annum_.
V. Hazardous trades, such as apothecaries, colourmen, bread and bisket
bakers, ship and tallow chandlers, innholders and stable-keepers,
carried on in brick or stone buildings, covered with slate, tile, or
lead; and hazardous goods, such as hemp, flax, pitch, tar, tallow, and
turpentine, deposited in such buildings, may be assured at the annual
premiums, set down under the head of Hazardous Assurances, in the above
article.
VI. Any of the above hazardous trades carried on, or hazardous goods
deposited in timber or plaister buildings; earthen, glass, or china ware
in trade, and thatched buildings, or goods therein, are termed Doubly
Hazardous Assurances, and may be assured on the following premiums: any
sum above 100_l._ and not exceeding 1000_l._ at 5_s._ _per cent. per
annum_: and any sum above 1000_l._ and not exceeding 3000_l._ at 7_s._
6_d._ _per cent. per annum_.
VII. Assurances of mills, wearing apparel, and assurances to chemists,
distillers, and sugar-bakers, or any other assurances more than
ordinarily hazardous, by reason of the trade, nature of the goods,
narrowness of the place, or other dangerous circumstances, may be made
by special agreement.
VIII. Two dwelling houses, or any one dwelling house, and the out-houses
thereunto belonging, or any one dwelling house, and goods therein, may
be included in the sum of 100_l._ But when several buildings, or
buildings and goods are assured in the same policy, the sum assured on
each is to be particularly mentioned.
IX. To prevent frauds, if any buildings or goods assured by this
corporation, are, or shall be assured with any other corporation or
society, the policy granted by this corporation is to be null and void,
unless such other assurance is allowed by endorsement on the policy.
X. Every person upon application to be assured with this company, is to
deposite 8_s._ 6_d._ for the policy and mark, which 8_s._ 6_d._ is to be
returned, if the assurance proposed is not agreed to. No policy is to be
of any force, till the premium for one year is paid. And for all
subsequent annual payments made at the office, the assured are to take
receipts, stamped with the seal of the corporation, no other being
allowed of.
XI. No policy is to be extended, or construed to extend to the assurance
of any hazardous buildings or goods, unless they are expressly mentioned
in the policy, and the respective premium for such assurances be paid
for the same.
XII. No loss or damage by fire happening by any invasion, foreign enemy,
or any military or usurped power whatsoever, is to be made good.
XIII. All persons assured by this corporation, are, upon any loss or
damage by fire, forthwith to give notice thereof by letter or otherwise,
to the Directors or Secretary, at their office in the Royal Exchange,
London; and within fifteen days after such fire, deliver in as
particular an account of their loss or damage, as the nature of the case
will admit of, and make proof of the same, by the oath or affirmation of
themselves, and their domestics, or servants, and by their books of
accompts, or other proper vouchers, as shall be required; and also to
procure a certificate under the hands of the Minister and
Church-wardens, together with some other reputable inhabitants of the
parish, not concerned in such loss, importing, that they are well
acquainted with the character and circumstances of the sufferer or
sufferers; and do know, or verily believe, that he, she, or they, have
really and by misfortune, sustained by such fire, the loss and damage
therein mentioned. And in case any difference shall arise between the
corporation and the assured, touching any loss or damage, such
difference shall be submitted to the judgment and determination of
arbitrators indifferently chosen, whose award in writing shall be
conclusive and binding to all parties. And when any loss or damage is
settled and adjusted, the sufferer or sufferers are to receive immediate
satisfaction for the same.
In adjusting losses on houses, no wainscot, painting, sculpture, or
carved work, is to be valued at more than three shillings _per_ yard.
Any larger sum, and some of the goods excepted in the preamble, may be
assured by special agreement.
For the timely assistance of such as are assured, this corporation has
several engines and men, with proper instruments to extinguish fires,
and also porters for removing goods, each of whom has a badge, upon
which is the figure of the Royal Exchange, and the badges are all
numbered; of which all persons are desired to take notice who intrust
them with goods, or have any complaint to make. The same figure is fixed
on buildings assured by this corporation.
The Royal Exchange Assurance office is under the management of a
Governor, Sub-Governor, Deputy-Governor, and twenty-four Directors;
besides whom there are a Treasurer, a Secretary, an Accomptant, and
several Clerks.
ROYAL MEWS. See the article MEWS.
ROYAL OAK _alley_, 1. Barnaby street. 2. Ratcliff.
ROYAL OAK _court_, 1. Kent street, Southwark.* 2. Parker’s lane, Drury
lane.* 3. Peak street, Swallow street.*
ROYAL OAK _yard_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. Hockley in the Hole.*
3. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.*
ROYAL _row_, 1. Lambeth marsh. 2. Near Windmill hill.
ROYAL’S _court_, Horselydown lane, Southwark.
ROYAL SOCIETY, in Crane court, Fleet street. This society, which took its
rise from a private society of learned and ingenious men, was founded
for the improvement of natural knowledge. The honourable Robert Boyle,
Sir William Petty, Dr. Seth Ward, Dr. Wilkins, Dr. Wallis, Dr. Goddard,
Dr. Willis, Dr. Bathurst, and Dr. Wren, together with Mr. Matthew Wren
and Mr. Rook, frequently met in the apartments of Dr. Wilkins, in Wadham
College, at Oxford, to discourse on philosophical subjects; and there
the learned productions of these gentlemen, not only eminently
distinguished that society at home, but also rendered it highly revered
by the _literati_ abroad.
The meetings of these _literati_, which began about the year 1650,
continued at Oxford till 1658, when the members being called to
different parts of the kingdom, on account of their respective
functions; and the majority coming to this city, they constantly
attended the astronomical and geometrical lectures at Gresham college,
where, being joined by several persons of the greatest learning and
distinction, they continued to meet there once or twice a week, till the
death of Oliver Cromwell: when anarchy succeeding, they were obliged to
quit their place of meeting, on account of its being converted into
military quarters for the reception of soldiers.
However, the storm being soon after allayed by the restoration of King
Charles II. the society began to resume their meetings, and for the more
effectually carrying them on, entered into an obligation to pay each one
shilling a week, towards the defraying of occasional charges.
From these small beginnings, this society soon arose to be one of the
most celebrated in all Europe: for their design being favoured by some
ingenious men who had followed the King in his exile, his Majesty
granted them a charter, dated the 15th of July 1662, and then a second
charter, dated the 22d of April 1663, whereby they were denominated,
_The Royal Society_, and made a corporation, to consist of a President,
Council, and Fellows, for promoting natural knowledge and useful arts,
by experiments; in this charter his Majesty declared himself their
founder and patron, giving them power to make laws for the government of
themselves; to purchase lands and houses; to have a common seal, and a
coat of arms.
No sooner was this Royal Society thus incorporated by King Charles II.
than that Prince made them a present of a fine silver mace gilt, to be
carried before the President; and as a farther mark of favour, their
royal patron, by his letters patent of the 8th of April 1667, gave them
Chelsea college with its appurtenances, and twenty-six or twenty-seven
acres of land surrounding it. But afterwards the society neglecting to
convert a part of it into a physic garden, as was intended, and the King
being resolved to erect an hospital for old and maimed soldiers, thought
no place more proper for such a design than this college; he therefore
purchased it again of them for a considerable sum.
A little before the society received these letters patent from his
Majesty, the honourable Henry Howard, afterwards Duke of Norfolk, made
them a present of a very valuable library, on the 2d of January 1666.
This collection was part of the royal library belonging to the Kings of
Hungary, originally kept at the city of Buda. Upon the decease of
Matthias Corvinus, the last King of the Hungarian race, it was disposed
of, and about two thirds of the books were bought by the Emperor, and
are now in the imperial library at Vienna: the remaining part coming to
Bilibaldus Perkeymherus of Nuremberg, it was purchased of him by the
Earl of Arundel, on his return from his embassy to the imperial court.
This fine collection consists of 3287 printed books in most languages
and faculties; chiefly the first editions soon after the invention of
printing; and a valuable collection of manuscripts in Hebrew, Greek,
Latin, and Turkish, amounting to 554 volumes, which, together with the
former, are thought to be of such value as not to be parallelled, for
the smallness of their number.
The noble benefactor, at the time of his donation, desired that the
inscription of, _Ex dono Henrici Howard Norfolkciensis_, might be put in
each book: and that in case the society should happen to fail, the
library should revert to his family. This the society not only readily
complied with, but some years after caused the following inscription to
be set up in the library:
Bibliotheca Norfolciana.
Excellentissimus Princeps Henricus Howard,
Angliæ, Comes Arundeliæ, Suriæ,
Norfolciæ, & Norwici, &c. Heros,
propter familiæ antiquitatem, animi dotes,
corporis dignitatem, pene incomparabilis,
bibliothecam hanc instructissimam
(quæ hactenus Arundeliana appellabatur)
Regiæ Societati dono dedit,
& perpetuo sacram esse voluit.
Huic,
Pro eximia erga se liberalitate, Societas
Regia tabulam hanc, devotæ
Mentis testem, fixit;
Præside Josepho Williamson,
Equite Aurato.
A. D. M.DC.LXXIX.
Besides this Arundelian or Norfolk library, which takes up a large room,
another curious and valuable collection was left the society in the year
1715, by their Secretary Francis Aston, Esq; which together with the
numerous benefactions of the works of the learned members, in all
faculties, but more especially in natural and experimental philosophy,
amount to above 3600, and are placed in glass cases in another room.
The museum belonging to the society, was founded by Daniel Colwall, Esq;
in the year 1677, who gave his excellent collection of natural and
artificial curiosities, which compose the greatest part of the catalogue
published in the year 1681, by Dr. Grew, under the title of _Museum
Regalis Societatis_. But these curiosities, by the generous benefactions
of other curious persons, are now increased to above six times the
number of those mentioned in the catalogue.
Upon the society’s removal from Gresham college to their house in Crane
court, Richard Waller, Esq; one of the Secretaries, erected in the year
1711, at his own expence, the repository in the garden for the reception
of the above curiosities, which consist of the following species, viz.
human, quadrupedes, birds, eggs, nests, fishes, insects, reptiles,
woods, stalks and roots; fruits of all sorts; mosses, mushrooms, plants,
spunges, &c. animal and vegetable bodies petrified; corals, and other
marine productions; fossils, gems, stones, metals, antimony, mercury,
and other metallic bodies, salts, sulphurs, oils, and earths;
philosophical and mathematical instruments; Indian, American, and other
weapons, with a variety of apparel, &c.
In short, by the above Royal and other benefactions, the admission
money, and annual contributions of the members, this society was at
length in so flourishing a condition, that they applied to his late
Majesty King George I. for an additional privilege to purchase in
mortmain 1000_l._ instead of 200_l._ _per annum_, which he was pleased
to grant by his letters patent, in 1725. Among the Fellows of this
society are his Majesty King George II. and many of the greatest Princes
in Europe.
This learned body is governed by a President and Council, consisting of
twenty-one Fellows, distinguished by their rank and learning.
The officers chosen from among the members, are, the President, who
calls and dissolves the meetings, proposes the subjects of consultation,
puts questions, calls for experiments, and admits the members that are
from time to time received into the society.
The Treasurer, who receives and disburses all the money.
The two Secretaries, who read all letters and informations; reply to all
addresses or letters from foreign parts, or at home; register all
experiments and conclusions, and publish what is ordered by the society.
The Curators, who have the charge of making experiments, receive the
directions of the society, and at another meeting bring all to the test.
Every person to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, must be
propounded and recommended at a meeting of the society, by three or more
members; who must then deliver to one of the Secretaries a paper signed
by themselves with their own names, specifying the name, addition,
profession, occupation, and chief qualifications; the inventions,
discoveries, works, writings, or other productions of the candidate for
election; as also notifying the usual place of his abode, and
recommending him on their own personal knowledge. A fair copy of which
paper, with the date of the day when delivered, shall be fixed up in the
common meeting room of the society, at ten several ordinary meetings,
before the said candidate shall be put to the ballot: but it shall be
free for every one of his Majesty’s subjects, who is a Peer, or the son
of a Peer, of Great Britain or Ireland, and for every one of his
Majesty’s Privy Council of either of the said kingdoms, and for every
foreign Prince or Ambassador, to be propounded by any single person, and
to be put to the ballot for election on the same day, there being
present a competent number for making elections. And at every such
ballot, unless two thirds at least of the members present give their
bills in favour of the candidate, he cannot be elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society; nor can any candidate be balloted for, unless twenty-one
members at the least be present.
After a candidate has been elected, he may at that, or the next meeting
of the society, be introduced, and solemnly admitted by the President,
after having previously subscribed the obligation, whereby he promises,
“That he will endeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of
London, for the improvement of natural knowledge.”
When any one is admitted, he pays a fee of five guineas, and afterwards
13_s._ a quarter, as long as he continues a member, towards defraying
the expences of the society; and for the payment thereof he gives a
bond; but most of the members on their first admittance chuse to pay
down twenty guineas, which discharges them from any future payments.
Any Fellow may however free himself from these obligations, by only
writing to the President, that he desires to withdraw from the society.
When the President takes the chair, the rest of the Fellows take their
seats, and those who are not of the society withdraw: except any Baron
of England, Scotland, and Ireland, any person of a higher title, or any
of his Majesty’s Privy Council of any of his three kingdoms, and any
foreigner of eminent repute, may stay, with the allowance of the
President, for that time; and upon leave obtained of the President and
Fellows present, or the major part of them, any other person may be
permitted to stay for that time: but the name of every person thus
permitted to stay, that of the person who moved for him, and the
allowance, are to be entered in the journal book.
The business of the society in their ordinary meetings, is, to order,
take account, consider and discourse of philosophical experiments and
observations; to read, hear, and discourse upon letters, reports, and
other papers, containing philosophical matters; as also to view and
discourse upon the rarities of nature and art, and to consider what may
be deduced from them, and how far they may be improved for use or
discovery.
No experiment can be made at the charge of the society, but by order of
the society or council. And in order to the propounding and making
experiments for the society, the importance of such experiment is to be
considered with respect to the discovery of any truth, or to the use and
benefit of mankind.
The Philosophical Transactions are printed at the charge of the society,
and the Clerk delivers _gratis_ one of the copies to every Fellow of the
Society who shall demand it, either in person, or by letter under the
hand of such Fellow, within one year after the Clerk has begun to
deliver such copies.
If any Fellow of the society shall contemptuously or contumaciously
disobey the statutes or orders of the society; or shall by speaking,
writing, or printing, publicly defame the society, or maliciously do any
thing to the detriment thereof, he shall be ejected.
The meetings of the Royal Society are on Thursdays, at five o’clock in
the afternoon.
The members of the Council are elected out of the Fellows, upon the
feast of St. Andrew in the morning; when after the election they all
dine together.
Eleven of the old council are chosen for the ensuing year; and ten are
elected out of the other members. Then the President, Treasurer, and
Secretary are elected out of these. But the same persons are usually
rechosen into these offices.
ROYAL _vineyard_, St. James’s Park.
RUG _row_, Cloth fair, Smithfield.
RUMFORD, a town in Essex, 12 miles from London, and 5 from Burntwood, is a
very great thoroughfare, and is governed by a Bailiff and Wardens, who
are by patent impowered to hold a weekly court for the trial of
treasons, felonies, debts, &c. and to execute offenders. It has a market
on Mondays and Tuesdays for hogs and calves, and on Wednesday for corn,
all of which are chiefly bought up for the use of London.
RUMMER _court_, Charing Cross.
RUN-HORSE _yard_, David street, Grosvenor square.*
RUPERT _street_, 1. Coventry street. 2. Goodman’s fields.
RUSSEL _court_, 1. Blue Anchor alley, Rosemary lane.† 2. Cleveland row,
St. James’s.† 3. Drury lane.† 4. Ratcliff highway.†
RUSSEL’S MILL _stairs_, Rotherhith.†
RUSSEL _street_, Covent Garden; so called from the Duke of Bedford, upon
whose estate it is built.
RUSSIA COMPANY, a body of merchants incorporated by letters patent,
granted by Queen Mary on the 6th of February 1555, by which they were
not only impowered to carry on an exclusive trade to all parts of the
Russian empire, but to all such countries as they should discover in
those northern parts. In consequence of this charter, they soon after
discovered the Cherry Islands, Greenland, Nova Zembla, Newfoundland,
Davis’s Streights, and Hudson’s Bay; and their first Governor was that
celebrated mariner Sebastian Cabot.
In consideration of these valuable discoveries, their privileges were
confirmed by Parliament; and in the year 1614 enlarged by King James I.
In the year 1742, the Russia company obtained leave of the present
Czarina Elizabeth, to trade with Persia thro’ Russia, and between the
years 1743 and 1749, Mr. Hanway observes, they imported raw silk to the
amount of 93,375_l._ value in Persia: but Mr. Elton, one of the
company’s agents, being employed by Kouli Khan, who then sat on the
Persian throne, to build some ships of force on the Caspian sea, the
Russians apprehended they should be disturbed by the Persians in their
navigation over that sea, and therefore put an end to the traffic of the
British Russia company through Russia to Persia.
This company exports cloth of all sorts, both dressed and dyed; kersies,
baize, cottons, fustians, perpetuanoes, Norwich stuffs, lace, thread,
lead, tin, pewter, allum, copper, and most other sorts of English
commodities: and we import from thence, cordage, tar, tallow, potashes,
cable yarn, bees wax, linen cloth, isinglass, hides of several sorts,
both tanned and raw; hogs bristles, linseed, several sorts of rich
furrs, train oil, flax, hemp, caviare, stock fish, cod fish, salmon, &c.
This company is under the management of a Governor, four Consuls, and
twenty-four Assistants, annually chosen on the 1st of March, who keep
their courts monthly, or as occasion requires, in a large room in the
Old East India house in Leadenhall street: but considered as a company,
their trade at present is not very considerable; it being carried on
chiefly by private merchants, who are admitted to reap the profit of
trading to Russia, on paying 5_l._ each.