Part 15
Thus the government of Westminster has but little resemblance to that of an opulent and noble city; it being much more like that of a little country borough, since its representatives are chosen by its householders, and it has not the power of making freemen; has no trading companies; nor any other courts, besides those of the leet, the sessions, and a court of requests lately erected, and yet, according to Maitland, it contains 15,445 houses; many of which are laid out in handsome streets and squares, and pays annually 11,870_l._ 8_s._ 9_d._ on account of the church; and 20,723_l._ 17_s._ 3_d._ on account of the poor.
Besides the above officers, there are in Westminster, and its liberties, 52 inquestmen, 12 surveyors of the highways, 55 constables, 31 beadles, 236 watch-men, and 80 scavengers, who pay to the rakers 4127_l._ _per annum_ for cleaning the streets.
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. The horse-ferry at Westminster was perhaps one of the most frequented passages over the river of Thames, ever since the building of London Bridge, and laying aside the ancient ferry there. From the multitude of coaches, carriages and horses continually passing and repassing at all hours, times, and seasons, many inconveniences and accidents unavoidably happened, and in a course of time many lives were lost. To prevent these inconveniences and dangers the Archbishop of Canterbury and several other noblemen, in the year 1736, procured an act of parliament for building a bridge across the Thames, from New Palace yard, to the opposite shore in the county of Surry: but this act was not obtained without great opposition from the people of London and Southwark, and some fainter efforts used by the bargemen and watermen of the Thames; but private interest was obliged to give way to the public advantage, and preparations were made for carrying on this great work under the sanction of the legislature.
At length the ballastmen of Trinity house were employed to open a large hole for the foundation of the first pier to the depth of five feet under the bed of the river, and this being finished and levelled at the bottom, it was kept to a level by a proper inclosure of strong piles. Mean while, a strong case of oak, secured and strengthened with large beams, was prepared of the form and dimensions of the intended pier in the clear; this was made water proof and being brought over the place, was secured within the piles.
In this wooden case the first stone was laid on the 29th of January, 1738–9, by the late Earl of Pembroke; the case of boards was above the high-water mark, and it sinking gradually by the weight of the prodigious blocks of stone strongly cemented to its bottom, the men continued to work as on dry ground, though at a great depth under water. Thus the western middle pier was first formed, and in the same manner were all the other piers erected, and when finished, the planks on the sides being taken off, the stone work appeared entire. The superstructure was added in the common method, and the whole finished in the most neat and elegant manner, and with such simplicity and grandeur, that whether viewed from the water, or more closely examined by the passenger who goes over it, it fills the mind with an agreeable surprise.
This bridge is universally allowed to be one of the finest in the world. It is adorned and secured on each side by a very lofty and noble balustrade, there are recesses over every pier, which is a semioctogan. Twelve of them are covered with half domes, _viz._, four at each end, and four in the middle. Between these in the middle are pedestals on which was intended a group of figures; this would greatly add to the magnificence by making the centre more principal (which it ought to be) and giving it an air of magnificence and grandeur suitable to the city to which it belongs; a great number of lamps are so agreeably disposed on the top of the recesses as at once to contribute to the purposes of use and beauty. This magnificent structure is 1223 feet in length, and above three hundred feet longer than London Bridge. The ascent at the top is extremely well managed, and the room allowed for passengers, consists of a commodious foot way seven feet broad on each side, paved with broad Moor stone, and raised above the road allowed for carriages. This last is thirty feet wide, and is sufficient to admit the passage of three carriages and two horses on a breast, without the least danger.
The construction and distance of the piers from each other are so managed, that the vacancies under the arches allowed for the water-way, are four times as much as at London Bridge, and in consequence of this, there is no fall, nor can the least danger arrive to boats in passing through the arches. The piers, which are fourteen, have thirteen large and two small arches, all semicircular. These with two abutments constitute the bridge, whose strength is not inferior to its elegance.
The length of every pier is seventy feet, and each end is terminated with a saliant angle against either stream. The breadth of the two middle piers is seventeen feet at the springing of the arches, and contain three thousand cubic feet, or near two hundred tons of solid stone; and the others on each side, regularly decrease one foot in breadth, so that the two next to the largest are each sixteen feet, and so on to the two least next the sides, which are no more than twelve feet wide at the springing of the arches.
The centre arch is seventy-six feet wide, and the others decrease in width four feet on each side, so that the two next to the centre arch are seventy-two feet wide, and so on to the least of the large arches, which are each fifty-two feet wide, and the two small ones in the abutments close to the shore, are about twenty feet in width.
The foundation of the bridge is laid on a solid and firm mass of gravel which lies at the bottom of the bed of the river; but at a much greater depth on the Surry, than the Westminster side; and this inequality of the ground, required the heights of the several piers to be very different; as some have their foundations laid at five feet, and others at fourteen feet under the bed of the river. The piers are all four feet wider at their foundation than at the top, and are founded on the bottoms of the above mentioned wooden cases formed of the most substantial work, eighty feet in length, twenty-eight in breadth, and these timbers are two feet in thickness. The caisson or wooden case, in which the first pier was built, contained an hundred and fifty loads of timber; and forty thousand pound weight is computed to be always under water in stone and timber.
The materials are much superior to those commonly used on such occasions: the inside is usually filled up with chalk, small stones, or rubbish; but here all the piers are the same on the inside as without, of solid blocks of Portland stone, many of which are four or five tons weight, and none less than a ton, except the closers, or smaller ones, intended for fastening the others, one of which has its place between every four of the large ones. These vast blocks are perfectly well wrought for uniting; they are laid in Dutch terrace, and also fastened together with iron cramps run in with lead. All this iron work is however entirely concealed, and so placed that none of them can be affected by the water.
It is also worthy of remark, that the soffit of every arch is turned and built quite through with blocks of Portland stone, over which is built and bonded in with it, another arch of Purbeck stone, four or five times thicker on the reins than over the key; and by this secondary arch, together with the incumbent load of materials, all the parts of every arch are in equilibrio, and the whole weight so happily adjusted, that each arch can stand single, without affecting, or being affected by the other arches. In short, between every two arches a drain is contrived to carry off the water and filth, that might in time penetrate and accumulate in those places, to the great detriment of the arches.
Though the greatest care was taken in laying the foundation deep in the gravel, and using every probable method to prevent the sinking of the piers, yet all this was in some degree ineffectual, for one of them sunk so considerably when the work was very near compleated, as to retard the finishing it a considerable time. This gave the highest satisfaction to those who had opposed this noble work: but the commissioners for building the bridge, immediately ordered the arch supported by that pier, on the side where it had sunk, to be taken down, and then caused the base of the pier to be loaded with incredible weights, till all the settlement that could be forced was made. After this the arch was rebuilt, and has ever since been as secure as the rest.
In short the last stone was laid in November 1747, eleven years and nine months from the beginning of the construction; a very short period, considering the vastness of the undertaking, the prodigious quantity of stone made use of, hewn out of the quarry, and brought by sea; the interruptions of winter, the damage frequently done by the ice to the piles and scaffolding, and the unavoidable interruptions occasioned twice a day by the tide, which for two years together, reduced the time of labour to only five hours a day. The expence of erecting this bridge, and of procuring all the requisite conveniences was defrayed by parliament, and amounted to 389,000_l._ which was raised by several lotteries.
This bridge, considered in itself, is not only a great ornament to this metropolis, and of the most singular advantage to the city of Westminster; but it has entirely changed the appearance of that city; new and beautiful streets have been erected; those that were before narrow, crooked and ill built, have been widened, rendered straight and rebuilt with regularity and elegance. And new plans of improvement are daily formed, and continually putting in execution.
WESTMINSTER FIRE OFFICE, in Bedford street, Covent Garden, was originally kept at Tom’s coffee-house, in St. Martin’s lane; the deed of settlement was executed on the 13th of February, 1717, and two days after was inrolled in the high court of chancery. _Maitland._
This office was erected for insuring only houses from fire, and, like the Hand-in-Hand fire office, is a joint copartnership, every one insuring becoming an equal sharer in the profits and loss, in proportion to his or her respective insurance.
The conditions of insurance are,
I. No house is insured at more than 2000_l._ but such sums of money as the directors, or any three or more of them shall think proper, may be insured upon the wing or wings of any house, having a brick wall between the wings and the body of the house, by a separate policy; provided such sum do not exceed three fourths of the value of the wings.
II. New houses may be insured when tiled in; but not at more than two thirds of their value.
III. The limits of insurance in this office extend to twenty-five miles distance from it; but the proprietors of all houses that are five miles, or a greater distance, are to defray the charge of the surveyor and messenger’s journey, to survey the premises, and set up the mark; and also to defray the charge of the director’s journey to estimate a damage, when and after such loss happens, and the directors are impowered to deduct the charges out of the money due on such loss.
IV. All whose houses are insured pay 12_s._ deposit and 4_s._ _per cent._ premium, on all brick houses, and double for all timber buildings; as a pledge for the performance of their covenants, to be returned at the expiration of their policies, with the yearly dividends of profits, incident charges and contribution to losses first deducted. Persons paying for each policy, besides the stamps; 4_d._ for all houses within, and 1_s._ without the bills of mortality.
V. Each policy is to contain but one house, unless where two, three or more small houses stand together, in which case 500_l._ may be insured upon them, each being distinctly valued.
VI. Every insurance is for seven years; and such insurance is to continue in force till six o’clock of the evening of that day seven years, on which the same is dated; and in the mean time such insurers property in the premises insured ceases, when such insurer or legal representative, may receive the return of deposit due upon the respective policy or policies, the same being delivered up to the office to be cancelled. But the deposit-money on policies expired, not demanded within two years after, is sunk to the society, and all policies either new or to be renewed, directed to be made out and not taken away in three months after, are cancelled. The earned money paid for such new policies is sunk; and the stamp and charge of such renewed policies are deducted out of every insurer’s deposit-money.
VII. Every house that is by reason of fire destroyed from the first floor upwards, is deemed as demolished, and the directors are impowered either to pay the money insured thereon within sixty days after notice given to them at their office, or to rebuild the same with all convenient speed; but no more than 30_l._ is allowed for any chimney piece destroyed by fire; and gilding, history, painting and carving are excepted from the insurance.
VIII. Every member, upon any loss, is to certify the same to the directors within thirty days after such loss happened, that skilful persons may view and report the same, and a rate of contributions be made thereon; otherwise the society is not obliged to make good such losses.
IX. Every member neglecting to pay his rate towards any loss for twenty-five days after publication in the Gazette, or otherwise, forfeits double the said rates; and neglecting to pay these forfeits, for five days more, forfeits all his right and deposit-money, and may be excluded by the directors from the society, and the benefit of his insurance; his covenant nevertheless, to abide in force.
X. Contributions to losses are dated annually, and every person insuring in the same year contributes in proportion to his insurance, to the losses, and receives a dividend of the profits of that year, arising from interest, _&c._ also in proportion to the sum insured. Every year’s account commencing on the first of October, and ending on the 30th of September following: but the contribution of no member is to be charged above 10_s._ _per cent._ for brick, and double for timber houses.
XI. If any house is insured in any other office at the same time it is insured in this such insurance is void.
XII. Twenty-four firemen are employed by this office in extinguishing fires, all of whom are cloathed by the office, and have badges bearing the mark of the office, which is a portcullis, crowned with the Prince of Wales’s coronet. _Settlement of the Westminster contributionship._
WESTMINSTER HALL, was first built by William Rufus, as an addition to the palace of Westminster, and that Prince at his return from Normandy kept the high festival of Christmas in this room, which for several reigns was used for great feasts, whenever our Kings entertained in a splendid manner the nobility and clergy: of this we find many instances; but what appears most remarkable, King Henry III. on New Year’s Day 1236, gave a public entertainment to 6000 poor men, women and children in this hall and the other rooms of the palace.
At length this great hall becoming very ruinous, it was rebuilt by Richard II. in the year 1397, as it at present appears, together with the buildings on the east and west sides; and it was no sooner finished than it received the appellation of the new palace, to distinguish it from the old palace, where the house of Lords and Commons at present assemble.
In the year 1399, the King kept his Christmas here, during which time 10000 persons were plentifully entertained in this spacious hall, and the other rooms of the palace; for whose supply were daily killed about eighty oxen, and three hundred sheep, besides a vast number of fowls. It is still used for our coronation feasts; and for the three great courts of justice, the chancery, king’s bench, and common pleas, besides the court of exchequer which adjoins to it.
The front of this hall is extremely narrow, it is built with stone in the gothic taste, with a tower on each side the entrance, adorned with abundance of carved work. The print represents this front. The hall itself is esteemed the largest room in Europe unsupported by pillars, it being 270 feet in length and 74 broad. The roof is admired for the excellence of the workmanship, and the sides contain a number of shops belonging to booksellers, _&c._ It is paved with stone, and to the courts of justice at the end is an assent by a flight of steps. The inside is most remarkable for being so wide and having no columns to support a roof so large. It is a regular Gothic, and gives us a good idea of the skill in architecture of our fore fathers so early as the time of Richard II.
WESTMINSTER HALL _court_, Dunning’s alley, Bishopsgate street.
WESTMINSTER INFIRMARY, a plain neat building in James street, by Petty France, Westminster; founded for the relief of the sick, and of those who suffer by any of the unavoidable accidents to which the human frame is always liable. This charitable and noble foundation was first set on foot on the second of December, 1719, when the subscription was first opened, and trustees appointed. Benefactions were soon procured, and several of the most eminent Physicians and Surgeons not only became subscribers, but generously offered their assistance gratis. About the beginning of April 1720, a house was taken in Petty France, and fitted up with all the necessary accommodations for an infirmary; but it being soon found too small to contain the number of miserable objects brought thither, they four years after were removed to a larger house in Chapel street, where they continued till the present edifice in James street was erected.
The standing orders of this noble charity are as follow.
I. All persons who shall subscribe 2_l._ 2_s._ or more _per annum_, are trustees of this charity: but any trustee or subscriber neglecting to pay his subscription for the space of two years, is no longer deemed a trustee or subscriber, or to have any vote or privilege till his arrears are paid.
II. Every person giving a benefaction of 30_l._ or upwards, immediately becomes a trustee.
III. Every person who, by will, bequeaths a legacy of 50_l._ or upwards, may nominate another person, who, immediately after payment of the said legacy, is deemed a trustee.
IV. Each trustee may have one in-patient and one out-patient at a time; every person who becomes a subscriber of 2_l._ 2_s._ _per annum_, may have two in-patients and four out-patients in a year, and every person who becomes a subscriber of 1_l._ 1_s._ _per annum_, may have one in-patient and two out-patients in a year; but the treasurer, physicians, and surgeons, may have each two in-patients and two out-patients at a time, or four out-patients.
V. No person is to act as a trustee during the time that he, or any other person for his benefit, is employed as a tradesman, or appointed to work for, or supply the charity with provisions, or any other commodity, nor for the space of six months after his having been so employed.
VI. No person who has the venereal disease is to be admitted as a patient: And if any such person shall obtain admission under pretence of some other distemper; he or she, upon the discovery, is to be immediately discharged.
VII. Four quarterly general boards are held every year; and the weekly board, on the Wednesday after each quarter-day, is to appoint such quarterly board, within forty days after each quarter-day, and to nominate a committee of three, five, or more trustees, to prepare the business to be laid before such board.
VIII. The weekly board may, as often as they see occasion, appoint special general boards to be held (during the intervals between the quarterly general boards;) and may call a special general board when required by any seven trustees; giving notice in the summons of the occasion of calling such special board.
IX. If a ballot be demanded by three or more trustees at any quarterly or special general board, the chairman is to appoint a special general board for taking the same, at any time after fourteen days, and not exceeding twenty-one days, from the demand of such ballot; which is to begin at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, and be closed at two in the afternoon: And notice of such ballot, and the question on which it was demanded, is to be given to the trustees in the summons, and be advertised in some of the public papers.
X. All general boards are to consist of at least thirteen trustees.
XI. No standing order of this society is to be repealed, or altered, or any new one be in force, without the approbation of two general boards.
XII. The treasurer is chosen annually at the first general board after the general audit, proposed to the weekly board three weeks before his election.
XIII. The accounts of this society are to be annually closed upon the 31st of December.
XIV. All bonds, or other securities, for money belonging to the society, are secured in an iron chest under three different keys, kept by the vice-president and treasurer for the time being, and a third person nominated by a general board.
XV. The physicians, surgeons, apothecary, clerk, and matron, are appointed by the general board; and no addition is to be made to the salary of the apothecary, clerk, or matron, or any gratuity given them, without the consent of a general board. The inferior servants of the house, and tradesmen to be employed, are also appointed by the weekly board: And any gentleman may be candidate for physician, who has been educated, and taken his degrees in physick, in any university, or is a fellow or member of a college of physicians, in Great Britain or Ireland. A general board is to appoint the day for election of a treasurer, physician, surgeon, apothecary, clerk, or matron; and the first weekly board is to appoint a special general board to declare such vacancy by death or resignation; and in the mean time, the weekly board is impowered, in case of necessity, to employ such person or persons to officiate as treasurer, physicians, surgeons, apothecary, clerk, or matron, as occasion requires, till a proper person is chosen by a general board.
XVI. When any extraordinary operation in surgery is to be performed, all surgeons, who are trustees, have liberty to attend.
XVII. Pursuant to the will of a considerable benefactor to this charity, none but Protestants are at any time to be admitted into any service or employ in or about this infirmary.
XVIII. A weekly board, consisting of as many trustees as please to attend, meet at the infirmary every Wednesday; and have power, from time to time, to make such rules, and give such instructions and orders, as they find necessary for the immediate direction of the several officers, servants, and others, employed in this charity; for the admitting or dismissing of patients; and regulating every thing relating to the good management of the house: But no new order of the weekly board is to be of force (if objected to by any two trustees present,) till it be approved of by the majority at the next weekly board.