Part 11

In the year 1585, the city being put to great trouble and expence by the continual musters and training of soldiers, some brave and active citizens, who had obtained experience both at home and abroad, voluntarily exercised themselves, and trained up others in the use of arms, so that within two years there were almost three hundred merchants, and other persons of distinction, qualified to teach the common soldiers the management of their guns, pikes, and halberts, as well as to march and countermarch. These met every Thursday, each person by turns bearing office from the corporal to the captain, and some of these gentlemen had the honour of having a body of forces under their command at the great camp of Tilbury, in the year 1588, when the Spaniards sent against us their pretended invincible Armada, and these commanders were generally called Captains of the Artillery Garden.

This noble exercise became afterwards discontinued for a long time, but was renewed in the year 1610, when several gentlemen having obtained the permission of King James I. undertook at their private expence a weekly exercise in the same artillery ground, and in the year 1662, erected an armoury, in which they placed 500 sets of arms, of extraordinary beauty and workmanship. The Artillery company now greatly increased, and the people resorted to the artillery ground to learn to defend themselves and their country; and even many gentlemen from every county went thither to learn martial exercises, in order to teach them to the militia, in the distant parts of the kingdom.

At length this company being so much increased that this artillery ground was scarcely able to contain them, for they amounted to about 6000: they removed to the New Artillery Ground near the upper end of Moorfields, where they still continue to assemble.

King Charles II. when Prince of Wales enlisted himself into this company, as did his brother James Duke of York, at the same time; who after the restoration took upon himself the command, and named it his own company.

The Artillery company consists of about 300 men. It is governed by a President, Vice-president, Treasurer and Court of Assistants. The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs for the time being, &c. with the Field Officers of the militia or trained bands, are of the honorary court, these with 24 gentlemen annually elected, compose the court of Assistants. His Majesty is Captain-General, and all the other officers are elected annually, and serve by rotation.

The New Artillery Ground is a spacious square walled round. In the center of the north side is the Armoury, a neat building of brick and stone strengthened with rustic quoins at the corners; before it is a flight of steps, and there are a few others at the door, which is in the center, and is large, lofty, and adorned with a porch formed by two Tuscan columns and two pilasters supporting a balcony. The front is ornamented with a pediment supported at the corners by quoins. On the top are placed several large balls, and on the apex of the pediment is a lofty flag staff. On each side the main building, stands at some distance backwards a small edifice, where the provisions are dress’d at the company’s feasts. The hall of the armoury is hung round with breast-plates, helmets and drums; and fronting the entrance is a handsome pair of iron gates which lead to a spacious staircase, painted with military ornaments, and adorned with the statue of a man dressed in a compleat suit of armour. This staircase leads into a very spacious room, which has the King’s arms over one fire place, and those of the company over the other. It has two chandeliers, and is adorned with very fine guns, swords and bayonets, presented by the officers of the company, and handsomely disposed on the walls. There are here also tables hung up, containing the names of the subscribers to the iron gates and other ornaments, among whom is King George I. who gave 500_l._ Besides the rooms already mentioned, there are two others above, and two below.

ARTILLERY _court_, Prince’s row, Finsbury, so called from the artillery ground near it.

ARTILLERY _lane_. 1. Bishopsgate street without, thus named from its being built on the Old Artillery ground. 2. Fair street, Horsley down.

ARTILLERY _street_, near Bishopsgate without, Spitalfields. It had also its name from its being built on the old artillery ground there.

_Society for the encouragement of_ ARTS, MANUFACTURES _and_ COMMERCE. The public spirit of this age is perhaps in no instance more remarkably shewn than in the flourishing condition of this valuable Society, whose sole object is the improvement of the polite and commercial arts in all their various branches, by exciting industry and emulation amongst all who can be moved either by honorary or pecuniary rewards. It was set on foot by Lord Folkstone, Lord Romney, Dr. Hales, and seven or eight private gentlemen, who were brought together by the unwearied pains of Mr. William Shipley, a person little known, who had long laboured to reduce into practice a scheme he had projected for this purpose. Their first meeting was at Rathmill’s coffee-house, March 22d 1754, when those noble Lords approved and patronized the undertaking. At their next meeting they determined to make a beginning, by proposing rewards for the discovery of cobalt, for the encouragement of boys and girls in the art of drawing, (thereby to improve manufactures in taste and elegance,) and for the planting of madder in this kingdom. And now money being wanted, a voluntary subscription was begun, to which the two noblemen before named, did not only generously contribute much more than they would let appear, but engaged moreover to make good the deficiencies at the end of the year: a promise they most honourably fulfilled. Soon after this, a plan was drawn up by one of the members (Mr. Baker) for forming, regulating and governing the Society, which being printed and dispersed, the great utility of such a society became so well understood, that immediately several noblemen and gentlemen offered themselves as members, and ever since that time its increase has been so extraordinary, that it consists at present of above 1000 members, many of whom are of the greatest quality and fortune: and it can now afford to offer premiums to the amount of near 2000_l._ _per annum_.

The officers of this Society are a President, eight Vice-presidents, a Register, and a Secretary; and these are to be chosen by ballot annually on the first Tuesday in March. Every person desiring to be a member of this Society, must be proposed by some member of the same at one of their meetings, by delivering in the name, addition, and place of abode of such person, signed by himself; which must be read by the Secretary, and balloted for at the next meeting, and if two thirds of the members then present are for admitting such person, he shall be deemed a perpetual member on payment of twenty guineas, or a subscribing member on payment of any sum not less than two guineas, and continuing such payment annually: but tho’ two guineas a year is the most common subscription, all the members that are noblemen, and even some gentlemen, subscribe five guineas, and several others four or three. There are also ladies that are subscribers; eminent foreigners are likewise admitted to be honorary members. At first they had a Treasurer, but now their money is placed in the Bank of England, in the names of the President and Vice-presidents, three whereof are impowered to draw any sum the Society shall order to be paid. And the accounts of the receipts and payments are constantly examined and balanced on the last day of every month, by a committee appointed for that purpose. Their proceedings are regulated by a body of rules and orders established by the whole Society, and printed for the use of the members. All questions and debates are determined by holding up of hands, or by ballot if required, and no matter can be confirmed without the assent of a majority at two meetings. They invite all the world to propose subjects for encouragement, and whatever is deemed deserving attention is referred to the consideration of a committee, which after due enquiry and deliberation make their report to the whole Society, where it is approved, rejected or altered. A list is printed and published every year, of the matters for which they propose to give premiums, which premiums are either sums of money, and those sometimes very considerable ones, or the Society’s medal in gold or silver[1], which they consider as the greatest honour they can bestow. All possible care is taken to prevent partiality in the distribution of their premiums, by desiring the claimants names may be concealed, and by appointing committees, (who when they find occasion call to their assistance the most skilful artists) for the strict examination of the real merit of all matters and things brought before them, in consequence of their premiums.

Footnote 1:

The weight of the Society’s medal in gold is about six guineas, and proportionably in silver. On one side Minerva, as Goddess of Wisdom, is represented introducing Mercury with a purse in his hand, as the God of commercial arts, to Britannia sitting on a globe: the inscription in the Circle, ARTS. AND. COMMERCE. PROMOTED. at the Bottom, SOCIETY. INST. LONDON. MDCCLIIII. on the reverse is only a wreath of laurel, the rest being left blank, that the name of the person to whom, and the occasion for which each medal is given, may be engraved thereon. The dye was made by Mr. Pingo, and is thought to be well done.

The Society’s office is opposite to Beaufort Buildings in the Strand: their meetings are every Wednesday evening at six o’clock, from the second Wednesday in November to the last Wednesday in May, and at other times on the first and third Wednesday of every month. They are exceedingly well attended, and ’tis pleasing to behold with how laudable a zeal every one endeavours to promote the public good, by encouraging whatever may improve the arts and manufactures, or increase the commerce of this kingdom and its colonies. They are not incorporated, nor seem much to want a charter, as their business can be carried on very well without one, and the expence would be too considerable; but it is hoped their generous disinterested intentions, and their extensive views to promote the trade, the riches and honour of their country, will in time recommend them to partake the royal bounty, and that they will long continue to prove themselves to be, what they are at present, as respectable and useful a society as ever was established in any nation.

ARUNDEL _stairs_, Arundel street.†

ARUNDEL _street_, Strand, so called from Lord Arundel’s house there.

ARUNDELIAN LIBRARY. See ROYAL SOCIETY.

ASHENTREE _court_. 1. White Friars. 2. Shoreditch.

ASHFORD, a village near Stains in Middlesex, adorned with the seats of the Earl of Kinoul, and the Duke of Argyle.

ASHTED, a village in Surrey, near Epsom Wells, in one of the finest situations in England, was lately in the possession of Sir Robert Howard, brother to the Earl of Berkshire, who erected a noble edifice in this place, which he enclosed with a park. This afterwards became the estate and seat of Mr. Fielding, uncle to the late Earl of Denbigh. The church, which stands on the side of the park, has several fine monuments.

ASKE’S HOSPITAL, a handsome edifice at Hoxton, erected by the Haberdasher’s company in the year 1692, pursuant to the will of Robert Aske, Esq; who left 30,000_l._ for building and endowing it, in order to afford lodging and board for twenty poor men of that company, and for as many boys to be instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Each of the pensioners hath an apartment consisting of three neat rooms, with proper diet at a common table, and firing; the annual sum of 3_l._ and a gown every second year: which, together with the salaries of the chaplain, clerk, butler, porter, and other domestics, amount to about 800_l._ _per annum_.

A plan of the building was drawn by Dr. Hook, a learned mathematician of Gresham College, and upon his model it was erected in an advantageous situation, fronting the east, with grass plats before it, adorned with rows of lime trees, and inclosed with a handsome wall and iron gates. On the piers of the great gates at the south end, are two stone statues, representing two of Aske’s Hospital men, in full proportion. The principal part of the building is only one story high with garrets; where a portico with twenty-one stone pillars extends on a line on each side of the chapel, which is placed in the middle, and on each side above these pillars is a range of twenty-two very small windows. The pillars of the chapel extend to the top of the first story, and that edifice rising considerably above the rest of the building, is terminated by a handsome pediment; with a clock, under which is the effigies of the founder in stone, cloathed in his gown, and holding in his hand a roll of parchment, which seems to be his last will. Under him is the following inscription:

ROBERTO ASKE _Armigero, hujus Hospitii Fundatori, Socie. Haberda. B. M. P. C._

And on one side of him is this inscription:

_Anno Christi_ MDCLXXXII. _Societas Haberdasheorum_ de London _hoc Hospitium condiderunt, ex Legato & Testamento_ ROBERTI ASKE _Armigeri, ejusdem Societatis; ad viginti Senum Alimenta, & totidem Puerorum Educationem._

On the other side this inscription:

_The worshipful Company of Haberdashers built this Hospital, pursuant to the gift and trust of_ R. ASKE, _Esq; a late worthy Member of it, for the relief of twenty poor Members, and for the Education of twenty Boys, sons of decayed Freemen of that company._

Fronting the entrance of the chapel is a large pair of very handsome iron gates, and at each end of the hospital is an edifice of the same height as the chapel.

ASS _park_, Wheeler street, Spitalfields.

ASSURANCE OFFICE, for granting annuities to be paid to the heirs of a person after his death. See AMICABLE SOCIETY. For the offices of Assurance from fire, &c. see the names by which they are distinguished, as HAND IN HAND, LONDON, UNION, SUN FIRE OFFICE, &c.

ASYLUM, or House of Refuge for Orphans and other deserted girls of the poor, within the bills of mortality, situated near Westminster-bridge, on the Surrey side. Underneath the article MAGDALEN HOSPITAL, the reader will find a noble foundation formed for the reception of those unhappy women, who have been abandoned to vice; but wisely repenting of their folly, resolve to reform. This charitable foundation of which we are now going to give a description, was founded at the same time, in order to preserve poor friendless and deserted girls, from the miseries and dangers to which they would be exposed, and from the guilt of prostitution.

The evils this charity is intended to prevent, are not chimerical, but founded on facts. It too often happens, that by the death of the father, a mother intitled to no relief from any parish, is left with several helpless children, to be supplied from her industry; her resource for subsistence is usually to some low occupation, scarcely sufficient to afford bread and cloathing, and rarely the means of instruction. What then must become of the daughters of such parents, poor and illiterate as they are, and thereby exposed to every temptation? Necessity may make them prostitutes, even before their passions can have any share in their guilt. Among these unhappy objects, very agreeable features are frequently seen disguised amidst dirt and rags, and this still exposes them to greater hazards; for these are the girls which the vile procuress seeks after; she trepans them to her brothel, even while they are yet children, and she cleans and dresses them up for prostitution. But what is still more dreadful, maternal duty and affection have been so thoroughly obliterated, that even mothers themselves have been the seducers: they have insnared their children to the house of the procuress, and shared with her the infamous gain of initiating their daughters in lewdness: or if this has not been the case, they have too often been prevailed on, for a trifling consideration, to conceal and forgive the crime of the infamous bawd.

These and other considerations induced a number of Noblemen and Gentlemen, who had approved of a proposal from John Fielding, Esq; one of the Justices for the Liberties of Westminster, to hold their first meeting on the 10th of May 1758, for carrying into execution a plan of this Asylum. Several other meetings were soon after held, in which the rules and orders for the reception and management of the children were established, and the lease of a house, lately the Hercules Inn near Westminster-bridge, agreed for. This house was soon fitted up, and furnished, and the first children admitted on the 5th of July following.

The rules and orders established are as follows:

I. The qualification of a perpetual Guardian is a benefaction of thirty guineas or upwards, at one payment.

II. That of an annual Guardian is a subscription of three guineas or upwards per annum.

III. Ladies subscribing the said sums, will be considered as Guardians of this charity, and have a right of voting at all general elections, by proxy, such proxy being a Guardian, or they may send a letter to the board, naming therein the person they vote for, which shall be considered as their vote. It is esteemed by the Guardians a benefit to the charity, for the Ladies occasionally to visit the house, and inspect the management of the children; the matron being ordered to attend such Ladies, and to give them all necessary information: and, whatever observations they may then make, or whatever hints, at other times, may occur to them, for the good of the charity, if they will be pleased to transmit them by letter to the Secretary, or to the Committee, who meet every Wednesday in the forenoon at the Asylum, they will be immediately taken into consideration, and have all respectful regard shewn to them.

IV. Those Gentlemen and Ladies, who have already subscribed lesser sums than thirty guineas, by making up their subscriptions to that sum, within a year, will be entered in the subscription book as perpetual Guardians.

V. There is to be an annual general meeting of the Guardians on the second Wednesday in March.

VI. A general quarterly meeting is to be held on the second Wednesday in July, the second Wednesday in January, the second Wednesday in April, and the second Wednesday in October, for auditing the accounts, and making laws and rules for the government of the charity, and for other business.

VII. A Committee is appointed, to consist of thirty Guardians, who are to meet every Wednesday at eleven o’clock in the forenoon at the Asylum, to transact the business of the charity; and they are, from time to time, to report their proceedings to the following general court, and any three of the said gentlemen constitute a quorum. In these Committees are a President, Vice-president, and a Treasurer.

VIII. The officers and servants of the house, are a Physician, two Surgeons, an Apothecary and a Chaplain.

A Secretary, who keeps the accounts of the hospital, and does all such other business as is commonly done by Secretaries, Clerks, and Registers, at other charities.

A Matron, who superintends the affairs of the house, takes care of the provisions and furniture, delivers an account of the current expences weekly to the Secretary, to be laid before the Committee. She is to see that the children are properly employed, that they are attentive to their learning, and that they behave with decency; that the teachers do their duty, and that they treat the children with humanity. The servants under her, are teachers of reading, knitting, sewing, &c. a cook, a house-maid, and a servant man.

IX. The objects to be admitted are Orphans, the daughters of necessitous parents, residing in parishes where they have no relief, and deserted girls within the bills of mortality, from eight to twelve years of age; but infirm children are not admitted, as the objects of this charity are to be constantly employed in every branch of good housewifry.

X. Each object applying for admission, must produce such certificate of her age and necessity, as shall be satisfactory to the Guardians then present; and in all cases, wherein, during the infancy of this Asylum, more objects shall apply for admission than the Asylum can at once receive, the names of the objects not admitted are entered in a book kept for that purpose, and a notice is sent to the persons, signifying the certificate of each child, of the first opportunity of taking in such children that shall happen afterwards; in filling up all which, the children, before refused, have the preference as they stand upon the entry: each of the above certificates must be signed by two substantial housekeepers, of the parish where the object resides.

XI. The children are regularly and alternately employed in reading, knitting, sewing, and in the business of the kitchen, to which latter employment four are appointed weekly, to be with the cook, to assist her, and to receive from her the necessary instructions in plain cookery, curing provisions, and other employments of the kitchen. They likewise make the beds, clean the rooms, assist in washing, and ironing the linen, and in other household business, according to their respective ages and abilities, at the discretion of the matron.

XII. The Chaplain on Sundays preaches, and performs the other parts of divine service, and catechises the children. Prayers also are read on the other days of the week, by the matron or teacher; and some portion of scripture is read by those of the children who are best able. They have also, each of them, a common prayer book, and the new testament; and other good books are likewise provided for them.

The number of children in the house in April 1759, were forty-two, and the sums raised for the support of this charitable foundation, at the same time, amounted to 2032_l._ 4_s._ 9_d._

AUDLEY’S _rents_, Whitecross street.†

AUDLEY _street_, Grosvenor square.†

AVE-MARY _lane_, Ludgate street. See PATER-NOSTER ROW.

AVERY _farm_, Chelsea.

AVERY _row_, by May-fair.