_Soho Square._--Your correspondent "NASO" (p. 244.) has anticipated me
in noticing Mr. Cunningham's mistake about Mrs. Cornellys' house in this
square; but he has left unnoticed some particulars which deserve to be
recorded. Mrs. Cornellys', or _Carlisle House_ as it was called, was
pulled down at the beginning of the present century (1803 or 1804), and
_two_ houses built upon its site, now _Jeffery's Music Warehouse_ and
_Weston's Printing Office_. Some curious old paintings representing
banqueting scenes, formerly in _Carlisle House_ were carefully preserved
until the last few years, in the drawing-room of the corner house, when
they were removed to make room for some needed "elegancies" of the
modern print shops. The Catholic Chapel in Sutton Street was the
banquetting-room of Carlisle House; and the connecting passage between
it and the house in Soho Square was originally the "Chinese bridge."
"Teresa Cornelys, Carlisle House, St. Ann, Soho, dealer" appears in the
bankrupt list of _The London Gazette_ of November, 1772; and in December
of the same year, this temple of festivity, and all its gorgeous
contents, were thus advertised to be sold by public auction:--
"_Carlisle House, Soho._--At twelve o'clock on Monday the 14th
instant, by Order of the Assignees, Mr. Marshall will sell by
Auction on the Premises, in one Lot, All that extensive,
commodious, and magnificent House in Soho Square, lately
occupied by Mrs. Cornelys, and used for the Public Assemblies of
the Nobility and Gentry. Together with all the rich and elegant
Furniture, Decorations, China, &c., thereunto belonging, too
well-known and universally admired for their aptness and taste
to require here any public and extraordinary description
thereof. Catalogues to be had at the House, and at Mr.
Marshall's, in St. Martin's Lane. The curiosity of many to see
the house, to prevent improper crowds, and the great damage that
might happen therefrom (and the badness of this season) by
admitting indifferent and disinterested people, must be an
excuse to the public for the Assignees ordering the Catalogues
to be sold at 5s. each, which will admit two to see the house,
&c., from Monday the 7th instant to the time of sale, Sundays
excepted, from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon, and
they hope no person or persons will take amiss being refused
admittance without Catalogues."
In December 1774, the nobility and gentry were informed (by
advertisement), "That the Assemblies at Carlisle House will commence
soon, under the conduct and direction of a _New_ Manager;" but
notwithstanding the efforts of this person, we find that Mrs. Cornellys
resumed her revels here with great spirit in 1776. In 1778, Carlisle
House was again publicly advertised to be sold by private contract, or
"to be hired as usual;" and subsequently, after having been used as a
common exhibition room of "Monstrosities," a "School of Eloquence," and
"An Infant School of Genius," it closed its public career through the
interference of the magistracy in 1797.
A full and particular account of the rise and fall of "Mrs. Cornelys'
Entertainments at Carlisle House, Soho," was privately printed two or
three years ago, by Thomas Mackinlay, Esq., of the firm of Dalmaine and
Co., Soho Square.
_Carlisle Street, Soho Square._--The large house at the end of this
street, looking into the square, was formerly called _Carlisle House_.
In 1770 it was purchased of Lord Delaval by the elder Angelo; who
resided in it many years, and built a large riding-school at the back.
Bach and Abel, of "Concert" notoriety, resided in the adjoining house.
Carlisle Street was then called _King's Square Court_. {451}
_Catherine Street, Strand._--In 1714, a tract was published with the
following title:--_The Maypole's New Year's Gift or Thanks returned to
his Benefactors, humbly inscribed to the Two Corners of_ Catherine
Street, Strand; _written by a Parishioner of St. Mary, Savoy_.
_Maiden Lane, Covent Garden._--The well known "Cider Cellar" in this
lane was opened about 1730. There is a curious tract, entitled
_Adventures under Ground_, 1750, which contains some strange notices of
this "Midnight Concert Room."
_Salisbury Change._--Cibber, in the amusing _Apology for his Life_, has
the following:--
"Taste and fashion, with us, have always had wings, and fly from
one public spectacle to another so wantonly, that I have been
informed by those who remember it, that a famous puppet-show in
_Salisbury Change_ (then standing where _Cecil Street_ now is),
so far distressed these two celebrated companies, that they were
reduced to petition the king for relief against it."
_The New Exchange._--A good description of this once popular mart may be
found in Lodwick Rowzee's _Treatise on the Queene's Welles_, Lond. 1632.
It is as follows:--
"We went to see the _New Exchange_, which is not far from the
place of the Common Garden, in the great street called the
Strand. The building has a facade of stone, built after the
Gothic style, which has lost its colour from age, and is
becoming blackish. It contains two long and double galleries,
one above the other, in which are distributed several rows great
numbers of very rich shops, of drapers and mercers, filled with
goods of every kind, and with manufactures of the most beautiful
description. There are, for the most part, under the care of
well-dressed women, who are busily employed in work, although
many are served by young men, called apprentices."
_The Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden._--In 1763 appeared a small
volume under the title of _Memoirs of the Bedford Coffee House, by
Genius, dedicated to the most Impudent Man alive_.