Part 7

’Tis observable that so lately as the year 1625, there were not above twenty hackney coaches in the city of London and the adjacent parts; and that these did not ply in the streets as at present; but those who had occasion for them sent for them from the stables where they stood: but in 1635, the number of these coaches being greatly increased, they plied in the streets, which being then much narrower in many parts of London than at present, the common passages were obstructed and rendered dangerous; and it was alledged, that by this great increase, the price of hay and other provender was much enhanced. Upon this a proclamation was published by his Majesty King Charles I. on the 19th of January, strictly commanding, that after the 24th of June following, no hackney coach should be used within the city and suburbs of London, except for carrying of people to and from their habitations in the country: and that no person whatsoever should be allowed to keep a coach in this city, except such persons as were capable of keeping four able horses fit for his Majesty’s service, which were at all times to be ready when called for, under a severe penalty. However in 1654, Cromwell published an ordinance, by which he ordered that the hackney coaches, which he limited to two hundred, should be under the care and government of the court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. And in 1662 it was enabled by parliament, that all the hackney coaches, which then amounted to four hundred, should annually pay the sum of 5_l._ each towards the charge of paving and cleaning the streets of London and Westminster. Since which time the number of hackney coaches has been augmented to eight hundred, and both they and the hackney, chairs put under the government of the Hackney coach office. _Maitland._

HACKNEY COACH _Office_, in Surry street in the Strand, was erected according to an act of parliament passed in the year 1696, for licensing hackney coaches and chairs, and to put them under the government of five Commissioners, who have a salary of 150_l._ a year each. The number of coaches is limited to eight hundred; out of which two hundred are to ply every Sunday in their turn, on the forfeiture of 5_l._ for every coachman who plies out of his turn.

For the better government of these coaches and chairs, and preventing the drivers and owners imposing on those who employ them, each coach has its respective number on a tin plate fixed on each side. The price of each licence is 50_l._ no person is allowed to have more than two licences, and every proprietor pays 5_s._ a week by monthly payments, to the receiver of the office. A hackney coachman plying without a licence, using another’s figure, or defacing his own, forfeits 5_l._ And no horse, mare, or gelding, under fourteen hands high, is to be used in drawing hackney coaches.

If any coachman abuses a passenger; exacts more for his fare than he ought to receive; or refuses to go at the following rates, whether by day or night, foul or fair weather; upon complaint belong made to the Commissioners, and the number of the coach delivered in, such coachman will be summoned to appear, and fined for each offence twenty or forty shillings, according to the nature of his crime.

Rates of Hackney Coachmen.

For a day of twelve hours, 10_s._ For one hour, 1_s._ 6_d._ For every hour after the first, 1_s._ For any distance nor exceeding a mile and a half, 1_s._ For any distance not exceeding two miles, 1_s._ 6_d._

For the better ascertaining the fares between the most remarkable places of this city and suburbs, the Commissioners of the Hackney Coach office have caused the distance between the following parts to be measured, and the several rates fixed accordingly.

Rates for Hackney Coaches, one shilling.

From any of the Inns to Court to any part of St. James’s or Westminster, except beyond Tothill street.

From any of the Inns of Court, or thereabouts, to the Royal Exchange.

From Westminster Hall to Marlborough street, Albemarle street, Bolton street, Bloomsbury square, Soho square, or Little Queen street, Holborn.

From St. James’s gate to Queen Anne’s square, Westminster; or the nearest corner of Red Lion square.

From Golden square to Red Lion square.

From the Haymarket play house to Red Lion square, Queen’s square Westminster, Thavies Inn, or Bloomsbury square.

From Guildhall to Red Lion square.

From the upper end of Fetter lane, Holborn, to Aldgate.

From the Royal Exchange to Hoxton square.

From Newgate to the middle of Greek street near Soho square.

From the Bridge foot, Southwark, to Sir William Walworth’s Head at Walworth.

From Gray’s Inn gate to Sadler’s Wells near Islington.

From Covent garden to Clerkenwell church.

From Temple Bar to Billingsgate.

From Aldgate to Shadwell church.

Rates for Hackney Coaches, eighteen pence.

From Drury lane play house to Queen square, Westminster.

From Westminster Hall to St. Paul’s.

From Westminster Hall to Queen square, Red Lion fields.

From St. James’s gate to Hatton garden.

From the New Exchange in the Strand to the Royal Exchange.

From the Haymarket play house to Hatton garden.

From Red Lion square to Westminster hall.

From any of the Inns of Court to the Tower, Aldgate, Bishopsgate street, or thereabouts.

From St. James’s to Marybone church.

From the Royal Exchange to Bloomsbury square.

From the Royal Exchange to the watch house at Mile-end.

From the outside of Aldgate to Stepney church.

From Bedford street, Covent garden, to Coleman street.

From Bread street to Hoxton square.

From the middle of Broad street to Hart street, Bloomsbury.

From St. Martin’s lane in the Strand to Gold street, by Wood street.

From the middle of Gracechurch street to Somerset house.

From Guildhall to Brownlow street, Drury lane.

From the Royal Exchange to Newington church, Surry.

From Covent garden to the Royal Exchange.

From Stocks market to Charing Cross.

From Aldgate to Ratcliff Cross.

HACKNEY CHAIRMEN, are subject to the same regulations as the Hackney Coachmen; and if they behave ill, any person may have them fined or punished by producing the number of the chair, and making complaint at the Hackney Coach office in Surry street. The only difference between them and the Hackney Coachmen is, that they are obliged to go the same distance for eighteen pence, which the coachmen perform for a shilling; they are to take no more than one shilling for any distance not exceeding a mile; and no more than eighteen pence for any distance not exceeding a mile and a half.

Rates for Hackney Chairmen, one shilling.

From Westminster to Covent garden, or Exeter Exchange.

From St. James’s gate through the Park to Westminster Hall.

From the Haymarket play house to the entrance of Lincoln’s Inn fields.

From the Haymarket play house to Bolton street.

From St. James’s gate to Somerset house.

From Somerset house to the upper end of Hatton garden.

From the Haymarket play house to Soho square.

From the nearest corner of Golden square to Drury lane play house.

Rates for Hackney Chairmen, eighteen pence.

From Westminster Hall to Marlborough street, Soho square, Bolton street, or Temple Bar.

From St. James’s gate to Queen Anne’s square, Westminster.

From Golden square to Red Lion square.

From Red Lion square to the Haymarket play house.

From Queen’s square to the Haymarket play house.

From the Haymarket play house to Bloomsbury square.

From the Haymarket play house to Gray’s Inn.

HACKNEY _road_, near Shoreditch.☐

HAGLE’S _court_, Silver street, Tooley street.†

HAINS’S _court_; Swallow street.†

HAIRBRAIN’D _court_, 1. Blue Anchor yard, Rosemary lane.‖ 2. Scotland yard.‖

HALBOURN _yard_, Mews, Duke street, Piccadilly.†

HALFMOON _alley_, 1. Bishopsgate street without.* 2. By the Halfmoon tavern, Cheapside.* 3. Green Bank, Wapping.* 4. Grub street, Fore street.* 5. Jewin street, Aldersgate street.* 6. Little Bartholomew close, leading to the Halfmoon tavern. 7. Little Moorfields.* 8. Saltpetre Bank.* 9. Seven Stars alley, Golden lane.* 10. Whitechapel.* 11. Whitecross street, Cripplegate.*

HALFMOON _court_, 1. Aldersgate street.* 2. Bow lane.* 3. Hermitage, Wapping.* 4. Long alley, Moorfields.* 5. Ludgate hill.* 6. Portpool lane.* 7. Saltpetre Bank.* 8. Wiltshire lane.* 9. East Smithfield.*

HALFMOON AND SEVEN STARS _court_, Old street.*

HALFMOON _passage_, Foster lane, Cheapside.*

HALFMOON _street_, 1. Hyde Park road.* 2. In the Strand.* 3. West street, Soho.*

HALF NICOL _street_, New Turnmill street, Shoreditch fields.

HALF-PAVED _court_, Dorset street, Fleet str.

HALFPENNY _alley_. 1. Jacob street. 2. Sharp’s alley, Cow Cross. 3. Halfway house lane, Stepney fields.

HALLAM _street_, Gray’s Inn lane. †

HALL’S _court_, 1. Compton street.† 2. Deadman’s place.†

HALL’S _rents_, Helmet court, St. Catharine’s.†

HALL’S _stairs_, Narrow street, Ratcliff.†

HALLMOTE, a court so denominated from the place in which it is kept, belongs to the several companies of citizens, by whom it is occasionally held in their respective halls, wherein the affairs of each of the companies are respectively transacted.

HALSEY’S _court_, Blackman street.†

HALSTED, a village in Essex, between Cray and Sevenoak, near which is the seat of the Duke of Richmond, called Halsted Place.

HAM (EAST) a village in Essex, south east of Plaistow, and six miles from London.

HAM (WEST) a village in Essex, between Stratford and Little Ilford.

HAMBURGH MERCHANTS, a company incorporated by Edward I. in the year 1269, by the name of _Merchant Adventurers_. This being the first company of merchants incorporated in this kingdom, they soon obtained ample privileges of John Duke of Brabant, for establishing a factory at Antwerp.

As these merchants proved of great advantage to the nation, their privileges were confirmed and enlarged by several succeeding Princes, particularly by Queen Elizabeth, who impowered the members of this company to extend their commerce to all parts of Germany. This was no sooner known, than very great privileges were offered them by the merchants of Hamburgh, as an encouragement to settle in their city, which being accepted, the factory repaired thither, where they still continue, and are at present known by the appellation of the _Hamburgh Company_, the ancient name being now never used but in deeds, and other writings.

This society, since the diminishing of their privileges, and laying open their trade in the reign of King William III. is greatly reduced. _Strype’s edit. of Stow._

HAM FARM, is the seat of the Earl of Portmore at Weybridge in Surry. It is situated between the Earl of Lincoln’s and the late Mr. Southcote’s. The house is a large handsome structure built regularly of brick, with a fine lawn before the garden front. The grounds about it consist of about 500 acres, 130 of which are laid out for pleasure, besides a paddock of about 60 acres. Here is a fine command of water, there being two navigable rivers, the Thames, which comes with a fine bending course by the side of the terrace, and the Wye, which runs direct]y through the grounds, and joins the Thames at the terrace. There is a swing bridge over the Wye, which may be turned aside at pleasure to let boats and other vessels pass. The Wye is navigable up to Guildford and other places. What is called the Virginia Water, runs from Windsor great park, and flows through Mr. Southcote’s grounds hither. The terrace next the Thames is beautiful; and though it lies upon a flat, there are some good views from it, and from other parts of the gardens. This place was first beautified by the Countess of Dorchester, in the reign of James II.

HAM HOUSE. See PETERSHAM.

HAMILTON _street_, Hyde Park road.†

HAMILTON’S _yard_, Upper Shadwell.†

HAMMER AND CROWN _court_, Broad street, Ratcliff.*

HAMMER _court_, In the Minories.*

HAMMERSMITH, a village in Middlesex, four miles west from London. There are a number of pretty seats about it, especially towards the Thames, among which the most remarkable is Mr. Doddington’s. It has a church, a Presbyterian meeting house, two charity schools, a work house, and a kind of nunnery.

HAMMOND’S _Almshouse_, in Almshouse yard, Snow hill, consists of six neat rooms, and was founded by Edmund Hammond, Esq; in the year 1651, for as many poor batchelors or widowers, with an allowance 10_l._ a year each: but the estate appropriated for its support being reduced by the fire of London, the Haberdashers company, to which the care of this charitable foundation was intrusted, at present only pay the pensioners the annual sum of 7_l._ 10_s._ each.

HAMMOND’S _court_, Haymarket.†

HAMMOND’S _key_, Thames street.†

HAMMOND’S _lane_, Thames street.†

HAMPSHIRE _court_, Whitechapel.

HAMPSHIRE HOG _yard_, Broad St. Giles’s.*

HAMPSHIRE _yard_, Whitechapel.

HAMPSTEAD, a pleasant village in Middlesex, situated near the top of a hill about four miles on the north west side of London. On the summit of this hill is a heath, which is adorned with many gentlemen’s houses, and extends about a mile every way, affording a most extensive and delightful prospect over the city as far as Shooter’s Hill, and into the counties all around it. This village used to be formerly resorted to for its mineral waters; and there is here a fine assembly room for dancing. Its old ruinous church, which was a chapel belonging to the Lord of the manor, has been lately pulled down, and a new one is just erected in its room. There is besides a handsome chapel near the wells, built by the contribution of the inhabitants, who are chiefly citizens and merchants of London; and also a meeting house.

HAMPSTEAD WATER OFFICE, in Denmark street, St. Giles’s. To this office belong two main pipes of a seven inch bore, which bring water from the ponds at Highgate and Hampstead to supply that neighbourhood.

HAMPSTEAD _yard_, Gray’s Inn lane.

HAM’S _corner_, Old street.†

HAM’S _rents_, Ratcliff highway.†

HAM’S _yard_, 1. Brook street.† 2. Great Windmill street.†

HAMPTON COURT, is delightfully situated on the north bank of the river Thames, about two miles from Kingston, and at a small distance from a village called Hampton. This palace was magnificently built with brick by Cardinal Wolsey, who here set up two hundred and eighty silk beds for strangers only, and richly stored it with gold and silver plate; but it raised so much envy against him, that to screen himself from its effects, he gave it to King Henry VIII. who, in return, suffered him to live in his palace of Richmond. King Henry greatly enlarged it, and it had then five spacious courts adorned with buildings, which in that age were so greatly admired by all foreigners as well as the natives, that the learned Grotius says of this place:

Si quis opes nescit (sed quis tamen ille?) Britannus, Hampton Curia, tuos consultat ille Lares; Contulerit toto cum sparsa palatia mundo, Dicet, Ibi Reges, hic habitare Deos.

That is,

_If e’er a Briton what is wealth don’t know; let him repair to Hampton Court, and then view all the palaces of the earth, when he will say, Those are the residence of Kings, but this of the Gods._

In order to give a more perfect idea of this grandeur, we shall give a description of the ornaments of this palace, as they appeared in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, from an author who describes what he himself saw.

“The chief area, says he, is paved with square stone; in its center is a fountain that throws up water, covered with a gilt crown, on the top of which is a statue of Justice, supported by columns of black and white marble. The chapel of this palace is most splendid, in which the Queen’s closet is quite transparent, having its windows of crystal. We were led into two chambers called the presence, or chambers of audience, which shone with tapestry of gold and silver, and silk of different colours: under the canopy of state are these words embroidered in pearl, VIVAT HENRICUS OCTAVUS. Here is besides a small chapel richly hung with tapestry, where the Queen performs her devotions. In her bedchamber the bed was covered with very costly coverlids of silk. At no great distance from this room we were shewn a bed, the teaster of which was worked by Anne Boleyn, and presented by her to her husband Henry VIII. All the other rooms being very numerous, are adorned with tapestry of gold, silver, and velvet, in some of which were woven history pieces, in others Turkish and American dresses, all extremely natural.

“In the hall are these curiosities: a very clear looking glass, ornamented with columns and little images of alabaster; a portrait of Edward VI. brother to Queen Elizabeth; the true portrait of Lucretia; a picture of the battle of Pavia; the history of Christ’s passion, carved in mother of pearl; the portrait of Mary Queen of Scots; the picture of Ferdinand Prince of Spain, and of Philip his son; that of Henry VIII. under which was placed the Bible curiously written upon parchment; an artificial sphere; several musical instruments: in the tapestry are represented negroes riding upon elephants; the bed in which Edward VI. is said to have been born, and where his mother Jane Seymour died in childbed. In one chamber were several excessively rich tapestries, which are hung up when the Queen gives audience to foreign ambassadors; there were numbers of cushions ornamented with gold and silver; many counterpanes and coverlids of beds lined with ermine. In short, all the walls of the palace shine with gold and silver. Here is besides a certain cabinet called Paradise, where besides that every thing glitters so with silver, gold, and jewels, as to dazzle one’s eyes, there is a musical instrument made all of glass, except the strings. Afterwards we were led into the gardens, which are most pleasant.”

_Hentzner’s Journey into England._

This palace, which was afterwards the prison of King Charles I. is, with the parks, encompassed in a semicircle by the Thames. King William and Queen Mary were so greatly pleased with its situation, which rendered it capable of great improvements, and of being made one of the noblest palaces in Europe, that while the former was causing the old apartments to be pulled down, and rebuilt in the more beautiful manner in which they now appear, her Majesty impatient to enjoy so agreeable a retreat, fixed upon a building near the river, called the Water Gallery, and suiting it to her convenience, adorned it with the utmost elegance, though its situation would not allow it to stand after the principal building was completed.

Since the pulling down of the Water Gallery, which stood before the fine stone front that faces the river, the ground to the south west received considerable improvements. This spot is laid out in small inclosures, surrounded with tall hedges, in order to break the violence of the winds, and render them proper for the reception of such exotic plants as were moved thither in summer out of the conservatories. Here are two basons constantly supplied with water, for the support of these plants in dry weather; and as these are situated near the great apartments, most of the plants may be viewed from the window.

At a small distance to the west, stood a large hot house, for preserving such tender exotic plants as require a greater share of warmth than is generally felt in this climate. Of this part of gardening Queen Mary was so fond, that she allowed a handsome salary to Dr. Plukenet, a very learned botanist, for overlooking and registering the curious collection of plants she caused to be brought into the garden; but since her Majesty’s death they have been much neglected, and very few of the most curious plants are now to be found there.

The park and gardens, with the ground on which the palace now stands, are about three miles in circumference. On a pediment at the front of the palace on this side, is a bas-relief of the triumphs of Hercules over Envy; and facing it a large oval bason, answering to the form of this part of the garden, which is a large oval divided into gravel walks and parterres, laid out in an elegant manner, by those two eminent gardeners, London and Wise.

At the entrance of the grand walk, are two large marble vases, of exquisite workmanship, one said to be performed by Mr. Cibber, the father of the poet laureat, and the other by a foreigner; these pieces are reported to be done as a trial of skill; but it is difficult to determine which is the finest performance. They are beautifully adorned with bas-relief; that on the right hand, representing the triumphs of Bacchus, and the other on the left, Amphitrite and the Nereides. At the bottom of this walk, facing a large canal which runs into the park, are two other large vases, the bas-relief on one representing the judgment of Paris; and that of the other, Meleager hunting the wild boar.

In four of the parterres are four fine brass statues. The first is a gladiator, which formerly stood in the parade of St. James’s Park, at the foot of the canal, and was removed thither in the reign of Queen Anne. The original was performed by Agasias Desitheus of Ephesus, and is in the Borghesian palace at Rome. The second is a young Apollo; the third a Diana; and the fourth, Saturn going to devour one of his children: all after fine originals.

On the south side of the palace is the privy garden, which was sunk ten feet, to open a view from the apartments to the river Thames; in this garden is a fine fountain, and two grand terrace walks.

On the north side of the palace is a tennis court; and beyond that a gate which leads into the wilderness: farther on is the great gate of the gardens, on the sides of which are large stone piers, with the lion and unicorn couchant, in stone.

We shall now, leaving the gardens, take a view of the palace, and several apartments, with their noble furniture and fine paintings, performed by the most eminent masters.

To begin with the first entrance into the palace, at the gates of which are four large brick piers, adorned with the lion and unicorn, each of them holding a shield, whereon are the arms of Great Britain, with several trophies of war well carved on stone.

Passing through a long court yard, on each side of which are stabling for the officers of his Majesty’s houshold, we come next to the first portal, which is strongly built of brick, and decorated by Wolfey with the heads of four of the Cæsars, Trajan and Adrian on one side, and on the other Tiberius and Vitellius.

Thro’ this portal we pass into a large quadrangle, remarkable for nothing extraordinary, but its spaciousness and uniformity. This leads to a second quadrangle, where over the portal is a beautiful astronomical clock, made by the celebrated Tompion, on which are curiously represented the twelve signs of the zodiac, with the rising and setting of the sun, the various phases of the moon, and other ornaments, and indications of time.