Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/236

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. vm. SEPT. 7, iw.

selves in the neighbourhood, occasions a constant accumulation of sand, mud, and rubbish, which not only destroys great part of the navigation at low water, but renders the wharfs inaccessible by the loaded craft even at high water, unless at soring tides. The mud and filth thus accumulating, not- withstanding the frequent expense the wharfingers are at to clear it away, is, when not covered with water, extremely offensive, and in summer time <>ften dangerous to the health of the neighbouring inhabitants.

"This alteration, therefore, is recommended as not only advantageous for the trade of London and Westminster and navigation of the river, but greatly conducive to the health of those two populous cities. To this end it is proposed that the landowners on the north side of the said river be- tween the west corner of Mr. Powel's Wharf near Puddle Dock and the east corner of Mr. Roberts's Wharf near Milford Lane be at liberty to embank, in the line and manner to be prescribed, and that the ground thereby acquired be vested to the use and trusts of the original property, subject to the quit-rent of one farthing per foot superficial, re- deemable at 20 years' purchase ; and that where any of the said owners shall desire the City to -embank for them, the said acquired ground shall be subject to a quit-rent of one penny per foot superficial, redeemable as aforesaid, the said quit- rents or purchase monies to be part of a fund: for lighting, watching, cleansing, and repairing the new bridge, in lieu of the toll proposed to be taken away."

John Paterson took great interest in both London and Blackfriars bridges, and in June, 1767, the Common Council voted 200 guineas for a piece of plate to be pre- sented to him in recognition of his services generally to the City, and in particular for his plan to raise 282,0002. to pay off the debt remaining on London Bridge.

The Guildhall Library is full of valuable records of the various companies. Among those relating to the Stationers are ' Orders, Rules, and Ordinances,' 1678, and another pamphlet, ' The Charters and Grants, with an Account of their Freemen's Rights and Privileges,' 1754. I cannot say too much of the kindness I have received from the librarians at the Guildhall Library, who have cheerfully made search to afford me the information I required. They tell me that, so far as they remember as regards the histories of livery companies, the earliest complete account is Heath's ' History of the Grocers' Company,' 1829, if we except a short account of the same company by William Ravenhill, Clerk of the company, issued in 1689. There is a very elaborate history of the Ooldsmiths' Company by the cousin of our well-known contributor COL. PRIDEATJX. This is beautifully printed for private circu- lation, and contains many illustrations. The title-page runs : " Memorials of the Goldsmiths' Company, being

Gleanings from their Records between the Years 1335 and 1815. Compiled by Sir Walter Sherburne Prideaux, Clerk of the Company. 2 vols." The author in his preface modestly says that the work makes no pretension to be an exhaustive history, but that he " has found Herbert's History untrustworthy, and that many of his statements have required verification and correction." It must be remembered that when Herbert wrote his great work, there was not the easy access to records we now enjoy. Herbert's book did for the livery companies what Stow did for London.

Among suggestions of more recent date was one made in 1825, when a ' Lithographic Sketch of the North Bank of the Thames, from Westminster Bridge to London Bridge,' was published. This was by Lieut.-Col. Trench, and showed the proposed quay and some other improvements, a survey of the river being given. JOHN C. FRANCIS.

MORAVIAN CHAPEL, FETTER LANE (10 S. viii. 26, 111). My friend MR. WATKINSON is wrong in associating Thomas Goodwin with Miles Lane. The history is a little difficul to trace, but, so far as I can make out, the society now represented by the City Temple was gathered by Thomas Goodwin before or during the Civil War, and met in some unknown place in the parish of St. Dun- stan's-in-the-East. Goodwin left them in 1650, on his appointment to the presidency of Magdalen College, Oxford ; and was succeeded by Harrison, Mallory, Collins, &c.

After the Restoration Goodwin gathered another church, consisting largely of friends and admirers who had followed him from Oxford to London. This was the society that occupied the ancient meeting-house (and later the newer chapel) in Fetter Lane. At the time of the Indulgence (1672) he was licensed to preach in his own house in Cripplegate (2 April) ; and there seems no definite information when the society entered on the occupancy of the Fetter Lane pre- mises. The first certain connexion is in the time of Stephen Lobb, 1681. Most likely, however, the place was referred to in the licence, 17 April, to J. Turner to ? preach in his own house " near Fetter Lane."

The earlier church, now represented by the City Temple, met for many years in Paved Alley, Lime Street. When the meeting-house there was pulled down, in 1755, the congregation divided, part going to Artillery Street, and part to Miles Lane. The latter place they occupied for ten years, in the afternoon only, and then built a