Part 3
This society from time to time publish an account of the progress they have made, by which it appears, that they have prosecuted above an hundred thousand persons; and sermons are preached quarterly before the members, by some of the most eminent preachers of this city, at Bow church.
In short, what is most surprizing, the fame of this society, which had so small a beginning, has produced amazing effects; after their example, other societies of the same kind have arisen, not only in the different parts of England and Scotland; but in several of our plantations in America, in Holland, Germany, the several cantons of Swisserland, the Grisons, in Sweden and Denmark: and the book which contains an account of this society, has been translated into Latin, French, High-Dutch, the Danish and Swedish languages.
SOHO, St. Giles’s.
SOHO SQUARE, or KING’S SQUARE, is of considerable extent, and has an area surrounded with high palisado pales, enclosing a garden, in which is a statue of King Charles II. standing upon a pedestal placed in the midst of a small bason, at his Majesty’s feet lie the representations of the four principal rivers, the Thames, Trent, Humber and Severn, pouring out their waters. On the south side of this square are Frith street and Greek street, on the east Sutton street, on the north Charles street, and on the west, Denmark street.
There is not much taste or regularity in the Buildings of this square, but the place, if it has nothing to excite our praise does not appear to have any thing to provoke censure. My Lord Bateman’s house on the south side is the most remarkable. It has the appearance of grandeur and magnificence, and though it may have some defects, it has elegance sufficient to make us excuse them.
SOMERSET HOUSE, on the south side of the Strand, near the new church, is esteemed one of the royal palaces. It was built about the year 1549 by the Duke of Somerset, uncle to Edward VI. and protector of England, who demolished the palaces of the bishops of Chester and Worcester, an Inn of Chancery called Strand Inn, with the church of St. Mary le Strand, that stood there, and building this palace with the materials, it from him obtained the name of Somerset House. But the Duke soon after being attainted, it fell to the crown, and has usually been assigned for the residence of the Queen Dowager. In this palace Anne of Denmark, King James the First’s Queen, kept her court, upon which account, it was called Denmark house during that reign; but it soon after recovered the name of its first founder.
The front towards the Strand is adorned with columns and other decorations, which are much defaced by time and the smoke of the city, the principal ornaments having mouldered away. This front together with the quadrangle, seem to have been the first attempts to restore the ancient architecture in England. In the middle of the Strand front is a handsome gate which opens into the quadrangle, adorned with a piazza, perhaps more in taste than any other in the kingdom of the same antiquity, and the whole building on this side, has an air of grandeur. But the most beautiful front is that towards the garden, situated upon an elevation, part of which has been new built, with a fine piazza and lofty apartments over it. This part of the building is however irregular, and left unfinished; some of the old building being still standing on that side. The garden is extremely pleasant, it leading down to the Thames, from which it is separated by a parapet wall, and there is here a handsome landing-place, with stairs, which lead up to the principal walk to the palace.
This garden used to be public, and any person might have the liberty of walking in it; but since the Foot-guards have been quartered in the palace we are informed this privilege is discontinued, the passage to the garden through the palace is extremely disagreeable, the broken staircase, the appearance of the walls, the darkness, and the filth, render it like the descent into a prison; however the pleasantness of the garden, and the fine view it affords of the Thames, give a full recompence for whatever is disagreeable in our way to it. The view we have here given of Somerset house, is the garden front taken from the Thames, and shews the whole extent of the front that way, and consequently the old part of the building as well as the modern. The appearance altogether is picturesque. The new part, which is of stone, contains the royal apartments built by Inigo Jones, and was no doubt only a part of his design, the stairs and gate to the water shewing where he intended the center.
SOMERSET _stable yard_, a large yard to the west of Somerset house, in which are coach-houses, stables and a guard-room, where a detachment of foot guards do duty daily, as well as at Somerset house, to which it belongs.
SOMERSET _stairs_, Strand.†
SOMERSET WATER-GATE _stairs_, Strand.†
SOMERSET _street_, Whitechapel.
SOMMER’S _key_, near Thames street.†
SOMMER’S _rents_, Old Gravel Lane, Ratcliff Highway.†
SOMMER’S _street_, Hockley in the Hole.†
SOPE _yard_, Harrow Corner Deadman’s Place.
SOPEMAKERS, a fraternity incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1638. This company is governed by a master, two wardens, and eighteen assistants; they have however neither livery nor hall, and therefore, manage their affairs in Guildhall.
SOPER’S _alley_, Whitecross street, Cripplegate.†
SOPER’S _yard_, Harrow Corner, Deadman’s Place.†
SOUTHAMPTON _buildings_, 1. Chancery Lane: 2. in High Holbourn, where the Bishop of Lincoln had his city mansion; but that edifice afterwards coming to the Earls of Southampton, it was taken down, and on the site thereof was erected the above buildings. _Stow’s Survey._
SOUTHAMPTON _court_, 1. Southampton Buildings: 2. Southampton row.
SOUTHAMPTON _row_, Queen’s square, Bloomsbury.
SOUTHAMPTON _street_, 1. High Holbourn: 2. in the Strand.
SOUTHAMPTON’S ALMSHOUSE, near Monmouth street. The ground upon which this house stands, together with a piece of ground adjoining, were granted by lease to the parish of St. Giles’s in the Fields, by the Earl of Southampton, in the year 1656, for the use of the poor, for the term of five hundred years. And towards the support of twenty poor inhabitants, Henry Carter, in the year 1674, gave the sum of 50_l._ the profits whereof to be destributed among them, out of which, and the produce of the ground which is now built upon, each of the poor women have an allowance of 2_l._ 8_s._ and twelve bushels of coals annually. They also receive out of the Lady Dudly’s gift at Christmas and Whitsuntide 20_s._ _Maitland._
SOUTHMOULTON _row_, David street.
SOUTHMOULTON _street_, Hanover square.
SOUTH SEA _alley_, in the Mint, Southwark.
SOUTH SEA COMPANY. This company had the following origin: in the glorious and successful war against France, in the reign of Queen Anne, due care was not taken of the regular payment of seamen employed in the royal navy; for those necessitous and useful men, had tickets granted them instead of pay; which they were frequently obliged to get discounted at 40_l._ and sometimes 50_l._ _per cent._ to avaricious men, who taking advantage of the necessities of those brave fellows, raised great estates upon their ruin.
The debt due from the government upon this and other accounts unprovided for by parliament, amounted to 9,177,967_l._ 15_s._ 4_d._ and these people taking it into their hands, were incorporated by act of parliament in the year 1710; the following year the company, after the discharge of the debt due to them from the government, was made perpetual; and in 1714, lending the government an additional sum of 822,032_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._ the capital of the company was, by act of parliament, enlarged to ten millions; for which the members received six _per cent._ interest, or 600,000_l._ _per annum_.
But in 1720 an act of parliament was passed, by which the company were granted the sole privilege of trading to the South Seas within certain limits, and enabled to increase their capital, by redeeming several of the public debts, but by the arts used on this occasion the capital stock of the company was soon raised to thirty-three millions, five hundred and forty-three thousand, two hundred and sixty-three pounds. It would take up too much room were we to enter here into an account of the measures by which this iniquitous scheme was carried on; many wealthy persons lost their estates, and others acquired immense fortunes; and, in short, a considerable number of the directors, were obliged by parliament to refund their ill-gotten treasures.
By an act passed in the sixth year of the reign of his present Majesty, it was enacted, that after the 24th of June 1733, the capital stock of the company, which then amounted to 14,651,103_l._ 8_s._ 1_d._ and the shares of the respective proprietors, should be divided into four equal parts, three fourths of which should be converted into a joint stock, attended with annuities, after the rate of 4 _per cent._ till redemption by parliament, and should be called the new South Sea annuities, and the other fourth part should remain in the company as a trading capital stock, attended with the residue of the annuities or funds payable at the Exchequer to the company till redemption, and that the company’s accomptant should twice every year, at Christmas and Midsummer, or within one month after, state an account of the company’s affairs, which should be laid before the next general court, in order to their declaring a dividend, but that such dividend should not exceed 4_l._ _per cent. per annum_, till their debts were discharged. That the South Sea company, and their trading stock should, exclusively from the new joint stock of annuities, be liable to all the debts and incumbrances of the company; and that the company should cause to be kept within the city of London, an office, and books, in which all transfers of the new annuities, should be entered and signed by the party making such transfer, or his attorney; and the person to whom such transfer should be made, or his attorney, should underwrite his acceptance, and no other method of transferring annuities should be good in law. The annuities of this company are some of them reduced to 3_l._ 10_s._ _per cent._ and others to 3_l._
It is necessary to observe with respect to this company, that they have never carried on any considerable trade; however by the assiento contract they had for some years the privilege of furnishing the Spaniards with negroe slaves for their mines and plantations in America, and of sending a large ship annually with European goods, consisting chiefly of our woollen manufactures, to the Spanish West Indies; and for nine years they annually sent a small number of ships to fish for Whales on the coast of Greenland. As they have now no trade, they only receive interest for their capital, which is in the hands of the government, and also 8000_l._ a year out of the treasury, towards the expence attending the management of their affairs.
The hours of payment of dividends are from nine o’clock till eleven, and the hours of transfer from twelve o’clock till one.
The days of transferring South Sea stock are Monday and Friday.
Old annuities Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
New annuities Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Three _per cent._ 1751, Tuesday and Thursday. Except on holidays, which are in general the same as at the Bank.
The business of this company is managed by a governor, subgovernor, deputy governor, and twenty-one directors, annually chosen before the 6th of February, by a majority of votes: such members of the company as have 1000_l._ in the capital stock in their own names, having one vote; such as have 3000_l._ two votes; such as have 5000_l._ three votes, and such as have 10,000_l._ stock or more, four votes, and none above: but no person can be governor, subgovernor, deputy governor, or director, while governor, deputy governor, or director of the bank of England.
SOUTH SEA HOUSE, a very neat brick building at the north-west corner of Threadneedle street, opposite the church of St. Martin’s Outwich. In this building the South Sea company transact their affairs.
The front is very large and plain, and is a modern edifice with stone copings, rustic quoins, and window cases. The entrance has no relation to it, and is much too fine and principal, a fault not often committed, but is only so by being in the extreme; over the entrance is raised a handsome well proportioned window, ornamented with rustic work, in conformity to the angles of the building, and crowned with a pediment: and on the inside of the gate is a handsome square court, surrounded with a piazza formed by columns of the Doric order.
SOUTH SEA _court_, Lumbard street.
SOUTH SEA _passage_, Broad street, leading through the South Sea house into Threadneedle street.
SOUTH SEA _yard_, Threadneedle street.☐
SOUTH _street_, 1. Audley street 2. Spitalfields market.§
SOUTH-WEST _yard_, Spitalfields market.§
SOUTHWARK, a considerable part of this great metropolis on the south side of the Thames, consists of the parishes of St. Olave, St. Saviour, St. George and St. Thomas, and for its extent and number of inhabitants is inferior to few cities in England.
It is mentioned in history in the year 1052, when Earl Godwin arrived there with a powerful fleet, and having cast anchor till the return of the tide, passed London Bridge without opposition, in order to engage the royal navy, which consisted of fifty ships of war, and then lay opposite to Westminster; but matters being accommodated between the King and Earl Godwin, the latter returned, and repassed the bridge, which was then of wood.
Southwark was governed by its own bailiffs till the year 1327. The city however found great inconveniences from its neighbourhood, malifactors escaping thither out of the reach and cognizance of the city magistrates. This made the city long desirous of getting Southwark under her subjection, and a grant was made of that town to the city in the last mentioned period, when the mayor of London was constituted bailiff of Southwark, and impowered to govern it by his deputy.
The inhabitants some time after recovered their former privileges; but in the fourth year of the reign of Edward VI. the crown granted it to the city of London for the sum of 647_l._ 2_s._ 1_d._ and within about a month after the passing of that patent, in consideration of the farther sum of 500 marks, paid to the crown by the city, Southwark was made one of the city wards, named Bridge Ward without, when the number of the aldermen being increased from twenty-five to twenty-six, a new one was chosen to govern that borough: In virtue of the above grant, Southwark has ever since been subject to the Lord Mayor, who has under him a steward and bailiff, the former of whom holds a court of record every Monday at St. Margaret’s hill, for all debts, damages, and trespasses, within his limits, and the Lord Mayor proclaims Southwark fair on the 19th of September.
There are five prisons in Southwark, the King’s Bench, just finished in St. George’s fields; the Marshalsea; the New prison, which is the county jail for felons; the Clinke, and the Compter: and also two hospitals, that of St. Thomas, and Guy’s. All which see under their respective names. And for the most remarkable passages in the history of this borough, see the article LONDON.
SOUTHWICK’S _rents_, Bett’s street.†
SPARK’S _court_, Duke’s place, Aldgate.
SPARROW’S NEST _yard_, Oxford street.
SPAW _field_, a field near the New-river-head, Islington road: so called from a famous mineral spring.
SPECTACLEMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1630.
They are governed by a master, two wardens and fifteen assistants; but have neither livery nor hall.
SPECTACLES _alley_, Shoe lane, Fleet street.*
MR. SPENCER’S. See GREEN-PARK.
SPICER _street_, Brick lane Spitalfields.†
SPINGEL’S _alley_, Cable street, Ragfair.†
SPINNERS _yard_, Windmill hill.†
SPIT _alley_, St. Giles’s pound.
SPITALFIELDS, a place of very considerable extent on the east side of Bishopsgate street, formerly fields belonging to St. Mary Spital; but now formed into a great number of streets, lanes, and alleys, wherein the weaving business is carried to the greatest perfection by the descendents of French refugees, especially silks, and the richest brocades.
SPITALFIELDS _market_, by Spitalfields church, is a very great market chiefly for roots and greens.
SPITAL _square_, Bishopsgate street without.
SPITAL SQUARE _passage_, Lamb street, Spitalfields.
SPITAL _street_, Pelham street, Spitalfields.
SPRAT’S ALMSHOUSE, in College church-yard, Deadman’s place, Southwark, was founded by Mr. Henry Sprat, in the year 1709, for two poor old men, who have an allowance of 4_l._ _per annum_, each.
SPREAD EAGLE _alley_, 1. Kingsland road.* 2. Whitechapel.*
SPREAD EAGLE _court_, 1. Bread street, Cheapside.* 2. Church lane, Rotherhith.* 3. Gray’s Inn lane, Holbourn.* 4. Hand alley, Petticoat lane.* 5. Kingsland road.* 6. Threadneedle street.*
SPREAD EAGLE _yard_, Kingsland road.*
SPRING GARDEN, Charing cross.
SPRING GARDEN _mews_, Spring Garden.
SPRING _street_, Fox lane, Upper Shadwell: 2. Middle Shadwell.
SPUR _inn yard_, St. Margaret’s Hill.*
SPUR _street_, Leicester Fields.*
SPURSTOWE’S ALMSHOUSE, in Back lane, Hackney, was founded by Mr. William Spurstowe, in the year 1666; but dying before it was endowed, his brother Henry, settled lands upon it, for the payment of 4_l._ _per annum_, to each of the six poor widows therein. _Maitland._
SQUIRREL _alley_, in the Minories.*
SQUIRRIES, a fine seat near Westerham. See the article WESTERHAM.
STABLE _yard_, 1. Jockey Fields, near Grays Inn: 2. St. James’s street Pallmall: 3. Northumberland alley, Fenchurch street: 4. near Smith’s street, Marsham street: 5. Warner street, Cold Bath Fields.
STACEY’S _street_, Monmouth street.†
STAFFORD’S ALMSHOUSE, at the lower end of Gray’s Inn lane, was founded by Alexander Stafford, Esq; in the year 1633, for four poor men and six women, who have an annual allowance of 6_l._ and half a chaldron of coals each, besides a coat and gown every other year.
STAFFORD _street_, Bond street.
STAG’S _alley_, Bedfordbury.*
STAINING _lane_, 1. Maiden lane: 2. near Wood street, Cheapside.
STAINS, or STANES, a populous town in Middlesex, situated on the Thames, nineteen miles from London, it obtained its name from the Saxon word _Stana_ or stone, because there anciently stood a boundary stone in this place to denote the extent of the city of London’s jurisdiction upon the river. It has a bridge over the Thames, and is governed by two constables, and four headboroughs appointed by his Majesty’s steward, on account of its being a lordship belonging to the crown. The church stands alone, at almost half a mile distance from the town.
STAMFORD HILL, a hill with a small village on its side between Newington, and Tottenham Highcross.
STAMFORD’S _buildings_, Old street.†
STAMP _corner_, Old street.
STAMP OFFICE, on the west side of Lincoln’s Inn Square, extends from the passage leading to Lincoln’s Inn Fields to near the south-west corner.
This office is under the government of five commissioners who have 400 _l._ a year each. There are besides a receiver general who has 500_l._ _per annum_, under whom are four clerks, one who has 100_l._ a year, and three who have 60_l._ A secretary, who has 300_l._ a year, who has four clerks, one of whom has 130_l._ _per annum_, another 70_l._ another 60_l._ and another 50_l._ a year. A comptroller, who has 400_l._ _per annum_, and has three clerks, one who has 100_l._ and two others who have 60_l._ a year each.
The other officers are an accomptant clerk, a sollicitor, a teller of stamps, three inspectors of courts and corporations in the country, and one inspector of courts in town, and also a supervisor of the stamps, each of whom has a salary of 100_l._ a year. There are likewise a register and comptroller of the apprentice duty, who has 150_l._ a year; a register of warrants, who has 140_l._ and a warehouse keeper of stampt goods who has 160_l._ a year: and besides these there are many inferior officers, who have smaller sallaries.
STANBURY’S _court_, Picadilly.
STANES, a town in Middlesex. See STAINS.
STANGATE _stairs_, Lambeth.
STANGATE _street_, Lambeth.
STANHOPE’S _court_, Charing Cross.†
STANHOPE’S _street_, Clare Market.†
STANLEY’S _yard_, Stony lane.†
STANBURY’S _court_, Picadilly.†
STANTON’S _rents_, Rotherhith Wall.†
STANTON’S _Wharf_, near Stony lane, Southwark.†
STAPLES _court_, Beck street.†
STAPLES INN, one of the inns of chancery, is seated on the south side of Holbourn, near the bars, and consists of two large courts surrounded with good buildings.
STAPLES _rents_, Love lane.†
STAR _alley_, 1. Barnaby street, Southwark.* 2. East Smithfield, Tower Hill.* 3. Fenchurch street.* 4. in the Minories.*
STAR _court_, 1. Bread street, Cheapside.* 2. Bread street hill, Thames street.* 3. Butcher Row, Temple Bar.* 4. Castle street.* 5. Chancery lane.* 6. Cheapside.* 7. Compton street.* 8. Cross lane, Parker’s lane.* 9. Great Eastcheap.* 10. Grub street, Fore street.* 11. Little Britain.* 12. London Wall.* 13. in the Minories.* 14. Old Fish street.*
STAR _street_, Wapping Wall.*
STAR _yard_, 1. Barnaby street.* 2. Huggen lane, Thames street.* 3. Kingsland road.* 4. Moor lane.*
STARCH _alley_, 1. Greenback, Southwark: 2. Rotten Row, Goswell street.
STARCH _yard_, 1. Back lane, Lambeth: 2. Old Gravel lane.
STARCHMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King James I. in the year 1622. They are governed by a master, two wardens, and twenty-four assistants, but have neither livery nor hall.
STARLING SCHOOL, on Little Tower Hill, was founded in the year 1673, by Sir Samuel Starling, knt. and alderman, for forty boys, and thirty girls, of the parish of St. Botolph without Aldgate, who are taught reading, writing and arithmetic, and also instructed in the principles of the Christian religion. _Maitland._
STATIONERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted in the third and fourth of Philip and Mary, in the year 1557. They are governed by a master, two wardens, and thirty-six assistants, with a livery of 280 members, who upon their admission, pay a fine of 20_l._
This company has stock of about 15000_l._ denominated the English stock, which is employed in printing almanacks, hornbooks, primmers, psaltars, and some school books, the sole printing whereof is confirmed to them by letters patent granted by several kings.
This stock consists of twenty whole shares of 320_l._ each, which are generally possessed by those who are of the court of assistants: the second are forty half shares, of 160_l._ each, the third are eighty quarter shares, of 80_l._ each, and the fourth are one hundred and sixty half quarter shares, of 40_l._ each; all which are divided among those who have fined for or served the office of renter-warden.
Upon the death of any of the married possessors of this stock, the profits arising from his share devolve to his widow, which she enjoys during her widowhood or life: but at the expiration of either, another person is chosen to enjoy the profits of her share; and he is no sooner elected, than he pays the deposit-money to the late widow, her husband, or executors.
The dividends upon the stock are made at Christmas, and increased or decreased according to the expence of the preceding year; however, it is seldom less than 40_l._ upon a whole share, or 320_l._