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.
[Illustration]
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.
[Illustration:
_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.