by Leland at the dissolution of abbeys, and intended for the studies of the princes of the blood. Our English kings had also several other libraries; as one at Whitehall, another at Hampton-court, at Nonesuch, Windsor, Oatland, Greenwich, &c.; but this at the palace of St. James seems to have been the chief. The keeping of it in the several kings' reigns has been by Leland, Delayne, Traherne, Ascham, Patrick, Young, and Dr. Bentley. Most of the papers on this subject are interlarded with pieces of printed paper, carrying on the account in the following manner, and seem to have been intended for the press. Such as appeared worth while, I have detached, and arranged in chronological procession, as follows:

At Lambeth Palace, over the cloister, is a well-furnished library. The oldest of the books were the Lord Dudley's, Earl of Leicester; which from time to time have been augmented by several archbishops of that see. It had a great loss in being deprived of Archbishop Sheldon's, an admirable collection of Missals, Breviaries, Psalters, Primers, &c. relating to the service of the church; as also of Archbishop Sancroft's.

There was formerly a piece of ground taken in and walled, not far from St. James's, near Leicester Fields, by the procurement of Prince Henry, for the exercise of arms, which he much delighted in; and there was a house built at one end of it for an armory, and a well-furnished library of all sorts of books relating to feats of arms, chivalry, military affairs, encamping, fortification, the best that could be got of that kind, and in all languages, at the cost and charge of the prince, who had a learned librarian, whose name I have forgot. It was called the Artillery Ground, and continued till the Restoration of King Charles II. and then fell into the hands of the Lord Gerrard, who let the ground out to build on about the year 1677.

Gray's Inn had a library for the use of the students of that society, most of them relating to the laws and history of this kingdom.

In the church yard of St. Martin's in the Fields, Dr. Thomas Tenison, then rector, since Archbishop of Canterbury, built a noble structure, extremely well contrived for the placing of the books and lights. It was begun and finished in the year 168--, and by him well furnished with the best modern books in most faculties, the best of its kind in England. There any student, of what country soever (first giving in his name and place of abode), may be admitted to study.

Lincoln's Inn library was much augmented by Lord Chief Justice Hale, amongst which are many valuable MSS. of his own hand-writing.

The two Temples have each a library. Lord Chief Justice Coke, gave most (if not all) of his excellent MSS. of law and history to the Inner Temple. The Middle Temple is frequently resorted to; Walter Williams, Esq. is the present library-keeper there.

In the Guildhall of the City of London, is the treasury of their records, charters, laws, privileges, acts of common council, their paper books in the Chamberlain's office; some are very ancient, and most of them are in the custody of their town-clerk. There are great variety, and worthy the sight of the curious.

Sion College was founded by Dr. White, Vicar of St. Dunstan in the West; but most of their books were destroyed by the fire of 1666. The few that exist from that time were saved by the industry of the librarian. It has since been re-built, and is situate in London Wall. A catalogue of the books was taken some years ago, and printed in 4to. for the use of the London clergy, and is open at this day.

It is

The library of St. Paul's school is another within the walls, and was founded by Dean Colet, and re-built by the Company of Mercers. It is at present supplied by contributions from the scholars and others; but, upon the whole is on the decay.

In the days of King Edward VI. in the chapel called the Lord Mayor's chapel, adjoining to the Guildhall, was a large Jibrary, all MSS; they were borrowed (with an intent never to be returned) by the Duke of Somerset, to furnish his study in his pompous house in the Strand. They are reported to be five cart loads. I mention this to inform my reader, that the city had then a public library, besides others that were within the walls, as at the Grey Friars in Newgate-street, now called Christ church; containing a great many MSS; to which Whittington was a benefactor, as by a gift of a Lyra, mentioned by Dr. Fuller.

In the Herald's office is a curious collection of books relating to heraldry, arms, ceremonies, coronations, marriages, funerals, christenings, and visitations, of several counties in England. Many of their best books were stolen during the civil wars; but they have been since furnished with others by the munificence of the Earl of Arundel, the Duke of Norfolk, Mr. Vincent's collection, bought and presented by Mr. Sheldon, of Weston, in Warwickshire. They have au ancient Nennus on vellum, and Robert of Gloucester, an

old rhymer, who lived in the days of King Edward III.; it is a chronicle of England from its first inhabiting to his time, and the only ancient copy we have in England. It were to be wished they had all the French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Flemish books, on the like subjects. Their books are kept in cupboards with shutters, or doors locked up very neatly. Several particular persons belonging to the office have good collections. Mr. Gore printed a catalogue at Oxford, in quarto, of all their books relating to heraldry and antiquities. The books in the Prerogative-office are too well known to be mentioned here, and their utility too obvious to be pointed-out.

The White Friars spared no cost to procure books, and their collection must be large and choice. Bale, one of their fraternity, saith, that no book was to be sold but they had their emissaries to buy it. The Carmelites engrossed all the books they could lay their hands on; and it is probable all other orders did the like; so that a layman, though he had both money and learning, had but very few fall into his hands; so that books and learning were seldom to be found out of a monastery.

Since the demolition of Gresham College, the books have not been so fairly displayed as they were when this survey seems to have been taken. However, as some other correspondent can better represent their present state, we shall pass over to

The College of Physicians, in Warwick-lane, who have a numerous collection, among which are Mr. Selden's books, with the library of the Marquis of Doncaster, and others of their members, left them in remembrance.

Christ-church, formerly the Grey Friars, hath a neat library for the use of the masters and scholars, besides a collection of mathematical instruments, globes, ships, with all their rigging, for the instruction of the lads designed for the sea; and in their counting-house is the picture of Edward VI. their founder, by Hans Holbein; and in the great hall a noble representation of King James II. sitting on his throne, with most of the nobility, privy council, chancellor, governors, lord mayor and aldermen of the city, the officers of the house, boys and girls on their knees, &c. all done from the life, by the famous Signior Verrio.

The Dutch and Flemish merchants have a church in Austin Friars, for which Edward VI. granted a patent. They have a neat library for the use of foreign Protestants and their clergy, containing many original letters in MS. never yet printed, of the first Reformers. The Ten Commandments.

there are said to be written by the hand of Sir Peter Paul Rubens.

The French church in Threadneedle-street, granted also by patent in the reign of Edward VI. had a library before the Fire of London; and Minshew mentions them to have subscribed to his Dictionary. What remains of this original collection, with the libraries of some of their divines, and other literary gifts, are now deposited in the vestry of the new French church, belonging to the same congregation, meeting at the corner of Church-street, in Brick-lane, Spital-fields.

Dulwich College, erected by John Alleyn, who formerly had been a strolling player. There is a library, in which is a collection of plays given by Mr. Cartwright, who was bred a bookseller, and kept a shop at the end of Turnstile-alley, which was at first designed for a 'Change for the vending of Welsh frizes, flannels, &c. as is still visible to be seen by the left side as you go from Lincoln's Inn Fields, which is now divided; it is turned with arches. Cartwright was an excellent player, and, besides his plays, gave them many excellent pictures. I have seen there a view of London, taken by Mr. Norden in 1603; on the bottom is the view of the Lord Mayor's Show. I never saw another of them.

The Jews, in Bevis Marks, had a library of considerable value in their synagogue, relating to their ceremonials and Talmudical worship; but some narrow minds among them. conceiving that, if these books should get into the hands of Christians, they would be disgraced by shameful translations, agreed among themselves to cause them to be burnt; for which purpose they employed some of their scribes, or tephilim writers, to examine into the correctness of the copies; and receiving a report agreeable to their wishes, they had them conveyed to Mile End, where they were all destroyed in a kiln; for it is contrary to their maxim ever to make waste paper of the Sacred Language.

The Barber-surgeons have made a collection of books relating to anatomy, which is in their hall in Monkwell-street. There is the picture of King Henry VIII. giving the charter to the masters, wardens, and assistants, and sitting on his throne. It was painted by Hans Holbein, and is an admirable piece.

William Petyt, of the Inner Temple, Esq. Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London, who died in 1707, left by his last will and testament a most valuable collection of MSS. and printed books to the society of which he was a member, as also 1501. for erecting a room for depositing them in;

VOL. I.

Ff

and they have built a very curious room adjoining to their hall, which is almost finished. This collection consists of many great curiosities in antiquity, history and parliamentary affairs. It is hoped that public generosity will improve this noble beginning. It would soon be a very complete library, if every member of that honourable society would only present one book every year.

Books sold by auction by good catalogues, and classical arrangements of great libraries, which have been published from time to time, have disseminated more bibliographical knowledge, and served the general cause of letters much better, than all the enormous collections avariciously withheld in the monasteries and convents of our Gothic ancestors. However, we must thank them for preserving, at least, the seeds of that knowledge which so brightly distinguishes the present period.

1790, July.

HENRY LEMOINE.

CXIX. Curiosities in London at the end of the Seventeenth

MR. URBAN,

Century.

IF you do not deem the following desultory remarks on the ancient state of London an intrusion upon more important matter, the transcriber will, and some of your readers may, thank you for their insertion. Minutia, though in themselves trifling, afford pleasure, and are of some importance, when we consider that we are often more affected by small and imperceptible objects, than by such as by their magnitude ingross our whole attention for a while.

Yours, &c.

HENRY LEMOINE.

When Henry VIII. took possession of York Palace, finished by Cardinal Wolsey, he left the new palace at Westminster, but first he made it a city by act of parliament. He also built the Cock-pit and the Tennis-court; cockfighting being peculiar to England; but tennis was a diversion introduced from France about the time of Henry V. To beautify this new palace of Whitehall, he built the gateway next the Banqueting-house, to have the convenience of a gallery into the Park, for the accommodation of ladies, to see the sport of tilts and tournaments, which was performed