Towards the latter end of the year , the celebrated O. P. occupied the public attention. The opening of the theatre , Covent-garden, having been protracted till the , the managers, in consequence of the great expence attending its building, thought proper to make an advance in the prices of admission; but though the whole rise was on the boxes, and sixpence on the pit, this, with the circumstance of having fitted up a number of private boxes, which were thought to infringe upon the room of the galleries, excited a spirit of resistance in the audience which had never before been equalled by its pertinacity and continued duration. As this rise of the prices had necessarily been announced in the papers previous to the opening of the house, the opponents of the managers were prepared to act their parts. Accordingly, on the opening as before mentioned, it appeared that a number of persons were collected in all parts of the house, who, by their noise and riotous behaviour, by barking, shouting, groaning, cat-calls, cries of off! off! old prices, &c. interrupted the performances, or rendered them totally inaudible. A crowd of people also assembled on the outside, actuated with like feelings and designs. This noise and riot having continued with increased violence for successive nights, Mr. Kemble came forward, and announced the intention of the proprietors to shut up the house; having resolved to submit their accounts and concerns to the inspection of a committee of gentlemen of the respectability, who should report their true state to the public. This committee consisted of alderman sir Charles Price, bart. M. P.; sir Thomas Plomer, knt. the solicitor-general; John Sylvester, esq. recorder of the city of London; John Whitmore, esq. governor of the , and John Julius Angerstein, esq. The report of the committee was, that the rate of profit actually received by the proprietors upon an average of the last years, upon the capital embarked, amounted to / per cent. per annum, charging the concern with only the sum actually paid for insurance on such part of the capital as was insured; and that if the whole capital had been insured, the profit would have been reduced to little more than per cent.; further stating the opinion of the committee, that the future profits of the new theatre at the proposed advance, would amount to no more than and a half per cent. per annum, upon the capital expended in the theatre. However, notwithstanding the character of the committee, and the perspicuity of their statements, on re-opening the theatre, much to the surprise and mortification of the managers, the same discordant and hideous noises

Old prices!

No garbled extracts to humbug John Bull!

Bills also of this nature were not only renewed every night, but the noisy performances of the rioters were related in such a manner in most of the daily newspapers, as to give them confidence, and even add to their numbers. For the or nights after the re-opening, these disturbances began at the commencement of the play; but when the rioters were tired of paying the full price, they reserved their opposition till the half price commenced after o'clock; and there seemed at last to have been a conspiracy for the attainment of the end in view. The instruments of noise and uproar were now varied and multiplied; for in addition to laughing, singing, and groaning, there was an accompaniment of coachmen's horns and trumpets, dustman's bells and watchmen's rattles. Many persons came with the symbolical characters of O. P. or in their hats, and upon their clothes, forming rings, and making mock-fights in the pit, and sometimes pushing together in a mass; or otherwise joining in the notable O. P. dance, as it was called, which consisted in the alternate stamping of the feet, accompanied with the regular cry of O. P. in noisy and monotonous cadence. The performances of the house all the while consisted in mere dumb shew and pantomimical representation. The proprietors at length, wearied out with this conduct on the part of the auditors, very improperly sanctioned the introduction of several pugilists and prize-fighters in the house, in order to check the refractory; and among these, a Jew, nick-named Dutch Sam. For a while, on the night the experiment was tried, there was a kind of calm; but no sooner had the curtain been drawn up than the actors were saluted with the customary hisses and groans. The constables and fighting men immediately began to act the parts assigned them, and till the half-pay auditors came in, they had the advantage; but when the pit began to fill, the yell of defiance was renewed, and in minutes hundreds of fists were clenched in savage hostility. The people were exasperated almost to phrenzy at the idea that brutal force was thus employed to compel them to submission, and the evening closed in disgraceful confusion.

Whether these tumults would have subsided if Mr. Clifford, a barrister of distinction, had not made his appearance at , is hard to say; but coming into the pit with the letters O. P. in his hat, he was saluted by the familiar and commendatory address:

Here comes the honest counsellor.

old prices,

Clifford for ever,

At a public dinner at the Crown and Anchor tavern, a committee had been appointed to defend the persons under prosecution for riot; when the proprietors, thus foiled in their attempt at coercion, thought proper to compromise the dispute between themselves and the public; and Mr. Kemble at length agreed, notwithstanding the losing concern made out by the committee of reference,

that the boxes should continue at

7s.

; that the pit should be lowered to the old price,

3s. 6d.

; and that the new tier of private boxes in the front of the house should be thrown open and restored to the public at the end of the present season; and that all prosecutions on both sides should be stopped.

A meeting of the court of common council to consider of an address to his majesty respecting the expedition to the island of Walcheren, gave rise to a numerous meeting of the livery in , and a meeting of the common council to reconsider the address voted before, which, when ultimately presented to his majesty on the , drew forth a reply from the throne as to the Walcheren business, and other subjects of complaint connected with it in the address, that his majesty was the best judge of the propriety or impropriety of the measures adopted by the executive; and, in fact, that parliament only had a right to make inquiry. But, notwithstanding the high language used on this occasion, and the strenuous wishes expressed by a member of the cabinet for the retention of Walcheren, this important island was evacuated by the British forces on the d of , after they had kept possession of it, with Flushing, and several other strong posts, nearly months.

On the , the livery assembled in for the purpose of receiving the report of the sheriffs, relative to the presentation of an address and petition lately voted to his majesty. The lord mayor opened the business of the meeting, after which the crier read the report of the committee ; stating in substance, that it was his majesty's pleasure that their petition should be delivered at the secretary of state's office, in consequence of the public levees having been discontinued for the last years, owing to the defective condition of his majesty's eye sight; and that the liberty to present it at the private levee had been refused. Messrs. Favell and Waithman animadverted in severe terms on the conduct of ministers, and read a series of resolutions, of which was to instruct their representatives in parliament to support all motions of inquiry, and also the reform in parliamentary representation. The whole were carried unanimously.

The city, about this time, received an augmentation of its numerous commercial facilities in the opening of the navigation of the canal from the river Thames to the town of Croydon, in Surrey.

After the investigation of the Walcheren expedition had been nearly brought to a close, Mr. Yorke, on the , gave notice of his intention to enforce the standing order of the house for the exclusion of strangers. This rule, which is settled at the commencement of every session of parliament, led to a train of events which very materially endangered the peace of the city of London.

Mr. Yorke, on the , complained of a breach of privilege, his conduct in that assembly having been made the subject of discussion in a society called the British Forum; and, on the , John Gale Jones, the manager of the society, was summoned to the bar, and committed to Newgate. Though several members expressed their doubts of the policy of his commitment, the power of the house to do so was denied by Sir Francis Burdett alone, who, not having been present at the former debate, moved, on the , for the discharge of Jones, on the ground that the house had exceeded its authority, which was negatived by against . The speech delivered on this occasion, Sir Francis published in a periodical paper on the , with a letter prefixed, addressed to his constituents,

denying the power of the house of commons to imprison the people of England.

The mob, assembled round the house of sir Francis, also committed many outrages in the neighbourhood. On the , a spirited letter sent by sir Francis to the speaker, after the receipt of his warrant, became a topic of debate, and a resolution was unanimously passed, declaring it a high and flagrant breach of the privileges of the house.

Sir Francis Burdett commenced actions against the speaker of the house of commons, for issuing the warrant of his arrest and imprisonment; against the serjeant at arms, for executing the warrant generally, and for breaking open the outer door of his house in its execution; and against earl Moira, the governor of the Tower, for illegal imprisonment; the object of sir Francis being to ascertain whether an appeal lay to a court of law, against proceedings of the house of commons acting as accuser and judge, and affecting the liberty of the subject,--if the punishment could be remitted by a court of law, the privilege claimed would be restricted, if not destroyed; in all which he failed, the plea that the warrant being issued by the authority of the house of commons was a legal instrument, and that therefore the arrest and imprisonment were legal, being admitted. Thus the attempt to overthrow this branch of the privilege of parliament served to confirm it, and gave to the claims of the house of commons a solemn judicial recognition.

A numerous and highly respectable meeting of the livery of London soon after took place at ,

to take into consideration the alarming assumption of privilege by the hon. the house of commons, of arresting and imprisoning, during pleasure, the people of England, for offences cognisable in the usual courts of law.

That the livery of London were impressed with sentiments of regret and indignation at the extraordinary and unconstitutional proceedings of the house of commons, who, by the arrest of a British subject, had superseded the laws of the land, and set up a capricious and arbitrary power; that the livery were called upon, at this important crisis, to express their unqualified disapprobation of a measure contrary to the principles of the constitution, derogatory to the dignity of the house of commons, and to the glory and happiness of the sovereign and the people of these realms; that the house of commons, by the arbitrary imprisonment of Mr. G. Jones and

Sir Francis Burdett, had made themselves accusers, judges, and executioners in their own cause; and that the assumption of such a power was a violation of the bill of rights, which declares that the privileges of the house of commons were for the benefit of the people, and ought not to be converted into instruments for their own annoyance and destruction.

On the , lord Cochrane presented a petition from a meeting at , held that day in Palace-yard, in which the house was called upon to restore to the inhabitants of , their beloved representative. It contrasted, among other contemptuous expressions, the refusal of the house to enquire into the conduct of lord Castlereagh and Mr. Percival, when distinctly charged with the sale of a seat in that house, with the committal of sir Francis Burdett to prison, enforced by military power. This petition, after some debate, being ordered to lie on the table, on the , another was presented by Mr. Byng from Middlesex, which Mr. Perceval looked upon to be a kind of experiment to try how far the forbearance of the house would go in the sufferance of language such as it contained. This petition was rejected, as was also another from the livery of London for the release of sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Gale Jones. Petitions of a similar nature afterwards came in from Berkshire, Reading, Nottingham, Kingston-upon-Hull, Rochester, , and Sheffield.

On the , colonel Wardle attended at , to receive the thanks and the freedom of the city, in consequence of the part which he took in prosecuting the inquiry into the conduct of the duke of York, and his unfortunate connection with Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke.

The trial of Mr. Cobbett, in the court of King's Bench, in , for a libel on the German legion, excited a great deal of interest. Some of the Cambridgeshire militia having been mutinous, were flogged by these foreigners; and being found guilty of a libel, he was sentenced to years imprisonment in Newgate, and to pay to the king.

During sir Francis Burdett's confinement in the Tower, a deputation from the livery of London, to the number of a , proceeded from in their civic costume, and

The last business of importance which occupied the attention of the common council, at the close of this year, was the regulations proposed for the city militia, or rather the abuses connected with this establishment. The report of a committee appointed to examine the subject being brought forward, it appeared they had agreed that it was expedient to petition parliament to enable them to do away the militia acts altogether. The militia system in the city had been carried on at an enormous expence, and no practical benefits arose from it; the actual expenditure being independent of the trophy tax. The committee further stated, that the information required was peremptorily refused by the colonel, sir John Eamer, and alderman Hunter, who said that they were only responsible to the court of lieutenancy, which was appointed by the crown and of which they were the members! The situation of those gentlemen had become more lucrative than that of any other colonels of militia, or even of the regular regiments. In the West London regiment, there was a balance of more than in a stock-purse, which the lieutenant-colonel offered to hand over, if sir John Eamer would, in like manner, hand over the balance for his regiment of East London. The sole and entire controul of this stock-purse, was exercised by sir John Eamer himself, who neither allowed the lieutenant-colonel or the major to interfere. The committee could not conceive any reason for sir John Eamer refusing to give them the information

On the , Mr. Lyon Levy, a diamond merchant, precipitated himself from the east side of the gallery of the monument, and was killed on the spot; he cleared the rails, but struck against the pedestal. The fall from the top of the gallery enclosure to the ground is about feet. This was the instance of the kind that had happened within the last years. On the , about o'clock in the afternoon, a man, supposed to be a weaver, fell from the top. He struck the pedestal, and pitched on a post, which laid open his skull, and he was otherwise most terribly shattered. The next instance was in , , when John Cradock, a baker, threw himself over the north side of the monument; he cleared the pediment and iron railing, by falling just on the outside of them, near the north-west corner.

An extraordinary circumstance took place in the night of the , or rather, early in the morning of that day, when an attempt was made to assassinate his royal highness, the duke of Cumberland. On the Wednesday, the day before, the duke had been dining at Greenwich, and returned to town in the evening. He came home to his apartments in about half-past , and went to bed about . About half-past , he received violent blows and cuts on the head. The impression upon his mind was, that a bat had got into the room, and was beating about his head: he was soon convinced to the contrary by receiving a blow; he jumped out of bed, when he received a number of other blows: from the glimmering light, reflected from a dull lamp in the fire-place, playing on the moving instrument that inflicted the wounds, they appeared like flashes of lightning before his eyes. He hastened toward a door, near the head of his bed, leading to a small room, to which the assassin followed him, and cut him across his thighs. His royal highness, not being able to find his alarm bells, which there is no doubt the villain had concealed, called with a loud voice for Neale, his valet in waiting, several times, who came

the duke is murdered.

On the , the earl of Northesk and sir Richard Strachan received at the Mansion-house the swords voted them by the city of London. They were accompanied by the earl of St. Vincent. Appropriate speeches were made by the chamberlain, and answered by the admirals. After this ceremony, they staid and dined with the lord mayor.

An accident, rather alarming to the commercial interest, occurred on the ; the coffer-dam at the entrance of the , erected for the purpose of keeping out the water, while the building of the wing wall of the lock was going on, gave way. At nearly high water, in the afternoon, the workmen employed in excavating the earth for the foundation, having observed the water to burst underneath the piles, were ordered to remove immediately from the dam. The confidence, however,

Early in the month of November, the malady which had fixed upon his majesty in October, could no longer be concealed. After the unwelcome intelligence had been announced to the public, in terms as delicate as possible, preparations were made for issuing daily bulletins at St. James's and the Mansion-house. So early as the , it had also been announced by the secretary of state to the lord mayor, that in consequence of the continuing indisposition of his majesty, no chief magistrate of the city could be submitted for the royal approbation, and that his lordship would, of course, be expected to continue in the discharge of the duties of his high office, until his majesty's pleasure could be taken on the appointment of his successor.

On the meeting of both houses of parliament, on the , a report of the physicians on the state of the king's health was brought in, and laid before the members. The final issue of all the debates that followed was, that the prince of Wales should be regent, under certain restrictions; and that the queen should have the care of the king's person; her majesty being assisted by a council. of the acts of the regent, after his being sworn in in due form before the privy council, was to receive the address of the lord mayor and common council of the city of London on the occasion: and as he on the same day held a council, all the ministers of state were present, when it was read in a very solemn manner. The address of the city was partly condoling and partly congratulatory. Among the grievances was specified

the present representation in the commons house of parliament, a reform in which was necessary for the safety of the crown, the happiness of the people, and the independence of the country.

The conclusion of was marked by an act of sacrilege and robbery in the cathedral of , scarcely parallelled in the

Several of these articles were used but a few days before at a private ordination, by the bishop of London, and after they were done with were locked up in the plate room, immediately over the vestry, in iron chests, which had on them padlocks, as well as other locks. There are doors to the room, an inner and an outer ; the former is entirely iron, the other plated and of uncommon strength. To these principal doors, there are several passages leading, all of which have doors always locked, through which persons must pass before they enter the plate-room; and it was only known to a few persons to what apartment these passages led. All these doors remained locked, and it was not till Sunday morning, when the plate was wanted for the church service, that the robbery was discovered. The person who had the plate under his care, opened the passage doors with the keys belonging to them, but the lock of the main door he could not open until he had procured the master-key. He then found that the chests containing the plate had been broken open with an iron crow, or some such instrument, the padlocks haying been opened in the usual way. When the police-officers came from to examine the premises, they were of opinion, that the quantity and value of the plate were all previously known, and the crime committed by persons perfectly acquainted with the place. The weight of the whole was ounces. It had been doubly gilt but a very short time before, which gave it the appearance of gold. The robbers must have passed doors or gates, before they could get at the property, The master-key was kept in a closet, where of the vergers usually placed his silver staff; but that was stolen, although it is probable the key was used to effect the robbery. An attempt to steal the plate from this cathedral had

The state of the currency having rendered some alterations in it necessary, on the , a rise of per cent. in the value of the stamped dollars took place. The increase in the price of silver had become so great, that the dollars, or tokens issued by the bank, had sold for more as bullion, than they would pass for as coin. The directors of the bank, consequently, gave notice that they would in future receive in payment all bank-dollar-tokens at the rate of each; and that all such tokens would in future be issued at the same increased rate, About this time, a new dock was opened at , near the king's victualling-office, called the east country dock, capable of holding about ships, intended for those from America, the Baltic, the fisheries, and others, containing naval stores. At a common council, holden on the this year, the recommendation of the Committee of General Purposes for adding per annum, to the allowance of the late, present, and future lord mayors, was agreed to. The annual expences of the chief magistrates were ascertained to be and the receipts about In another court of common council, Mr. Quin, after paying some high compliments to the prince regent, moved that the freedom of the city should be presented to his royal highness, in a box of heart of oak, which was agreed to unanimously; but, at a subsequent meeting, the deputation that had waited on his royal highness, informed them, that after expressing very sincere gratification from the proofs of the corporation's attachment, he had, on account of the high situation he was placed in, declined accepting the freedom. A singular circumstance relative to the arrest of a dead body occurred this year in the neighbourhood of , where a writ of arrest was served upon a dead body by a sheriffs officer and his assistants, as the friends of the deceased were conveying it to burial ground. The officer and his assistants presenting the writ, forcibly removed the body into a shell, and conveyed it away. However, as the friends of the deceased did not come forward to pay the debt, the officer the next day applied to the minister of to inter the corpse, which he very properly refused, unless service was read over it, which would ensure the security of the body in holy ground. The sheriffs of London soon after, caused an enquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case; and finding, that though the officer did not disturb the body himself, he improperly left it with the plaintiff, without having made any communication at the sheriff's office, they therefore dismissed him from his employment. In fact, an action of this

The committee of the corporation of London for carrying into execution the acts of parliament for the improvement of the entrance at Temple-bar and , having come to a resolution that the new street, leading northwards from Picket-street, should, as a memento of respect to their chairman, the alderman, be called Domville-street; he having declined the honour, it was agreed it should be called Pickett-place.

After nearly months experiment on his majesty's health, about the latter end of October, the report from the queen's council almost extinguished the last hope entertained in favor of his recovery. It was then stated that his majesty's health was not such as to enable him to resume the exercise of his royal authority. His bodily health did not appear to be essentially altered since the date of the last report; but, from the protraction of the disorder, the duration of its accessions, and the peculiar character it had assumed, of his majesty's physicians thought his recovery improbable, and the other very much so; yet, from his majesty's health and powers of mind, from his memory and perception, from the remaining vigor of his constitution and his bodily health, some of the medical persons in attendance did not entirely despair of his recovery.

A high breach of private trust was about this time committed by Mr. Walsh, a member of the British parliament, and a stock-broker, who absconded with the property of the solicitor-general, for which he was apprehended and committed for trial. The affair, however, owing to some informality, was not followed by any punishment, except that of his being expelled the house of commons.

The session of parliament was opened on the , by commissioners from the prince regent. The address from the throne, after lamenting the disappointment of the hopes so confidently entertained of his majesty's speedy recovery, congratulated parliament on the skill and valour displayed by the British army in the peninsula of Spain and Portugal, as well as upon the extinction of the colonial power of the enemy in the east; and concluded with an assurance, on the part of the regent, that he would continue to employ all such means of conciliation, for adjusting the existing differences between Great Britain and America, as might be consistent with the honour and dignity of his majesty's crown.

The king's symptoms had gradually become more discouraging, until, in the beginning of the present year, there remained little hope of his restoration. As separate establishments for the regent and the king were now necessary, the chancellor of the exchequer proposed that an addition of per annum should be made to the civil list out of the consolidated fund; that

On the , when the regency restrictions were on the eve of their termination, the prince addressed a letter to the duke of York, expressing his approbation of the conduct of ministers, but intimating a wish that some of those persons with whom the early habits of his public life were formed would strengthen his hands, and constitute a part of his government. days after the date of this letter, lords Grey and Grenville, to whom the duke of York had, in compliance with the request of the prince regent, communicated his sentiments, addressed a reply to his royal highness, in which they expressed on public grounds alone, the impossibility of their uniting with the existing government, their differences of opinion embracing almost all the leading features of the actual policy of the empire. On subject their sentiments were especially at variance : they were so firmly persuaded of the necessity of a total change in the system of governing Ireland, and of the immediate repeal of those civil disabilities under which so large a portion of the people laboured, on account of their religious opinions, that to recommend to parliament that repeal would be the advice which they would feel it their duty to offer to his royal highness. All hope of forming an extended administration was therefore at an end.

The ministry now consisted of parties; at the head of of which was Mr. Perceval, and of the other the marquis of Wellesley. The differences between these statesmen were partly personal, and partly political: the high and aspiring views of the marquis would not permit him to serve under Mr. Perceval, though he had no objection to serve with him, or to serve under either the earl of Moira or lord Holland; and when it appeared that the regent intended to continue Mr. Perceval at the head of his councils, the marquis resigned his office, and the seals of the foreign department were transferred to lord Castlereagh. On the lord Borington moved an address to the prince regent, beseeching him to form such an administration as might most effectually call forth the entire confidence and energies of the united kingdom, and afford to his royal highness additional means of conducting to a successful termination, a war, in which were involved the safety, honour, and

as we ought never to go to war for a profitable wrong, so we ought never to go to war for an unprofitable right.

The power of the administration appeared now more firmly established than ever, when it was deprived of its leader by a tragical and extraordinary event. On the , as Mr. Perceval, chancellor of the exchequer, was entering the lobby of the house of commons, a man, named John Bellingham, shot him through the heart. He staggered, fell, and in a few minutes expired. The assassin, who made no attempt to escape, was examined at the bar of the house of commons, where it was apprehended that this was only the act of a deep and extensive conspiracy; but it soon appeared that the act was merely in revenge of a supposed private injury. Bellingham having, in a commercial visit to Russia, undergone imprisonment for debt unjustly, as he asserted, and for which he thought the British government was bound to procure him redress, its refusal to take any cognizance of his case made such an impression on his mind, constitutionally disposed to dark melancholy, that he resolved to make a sacrifice of some conspicuous member of the government. On his trial, which took place days after the commission of the deed, he displayed great self-possession, yet his sanity was involved in doubt; he discovered intellectual powers capable of discerning all the tendencies of human actions; he was found guilty, and was executed opposite Newgate, .

The day after the assassination of Mr. Perceval a message was sent down to parliament by the prince regent, expressing the wish of his royal highness that a suitable provision should be made for his family. A grant of a year was accordingly conferred on his widow, and the sum of voted to her children. It was afterwards proposed, and agreed to,

On , the lord mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and common council of the city of London, waited upon his royal highness at Carlton-house, with the following address and petition; which was read by the recorder:

May it please your royal highness,

We, the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled, humbly approach your royal highness, dutifully to represent our deep sense of the difficulties and dangers impending over the country, and anxiously to invite your beneficent attention to the complaints and grievances of your afflicted but faithful subjects. Fourteen months have elapsed since your royal highness acceded to the regency of these kingdoms; at which time, we felt it our duty to submit to you a statement of abuses, which had taken root in the various departments of the government, the speedy correction and removal of which we deemed essential to the prosperity and safety of the empire; and we now again present ourselves before your royal highness, to express our unfeigned sorrow, that during this interval, no efficient measures have been adopted by your ministers, calculated to satisfy the wishes and wants of your people; but that, on the contrary, the same mal-practices and the same false principles of government have been tenaciously pursued and enforced, thereby adding contumely to injury, and extinguishing the spring of public energy in a free nation. We have continued to witness the same system of profligacy in the expenditure of the public money; the same system of governing by undue influence and corruption; the same system of delusion in regard to the circulating medium and finances of the country; the same system of arbitrary and grievous assessment and collection of taxes, by which industry is thwarted, and liberty violated; the same system of introducing into the heart of the country foreign troops; the same system of persecuting the press, by which the value of free discussion on national topics is lost to prince and people; and finally, the same system of coercive restrictions on the freedom of commerce, by which many of our merchants and manufacturers have been involved in ruin, and flourishing districts reduced to beggary. As faithful and loyal subjects, and as the representatives of the first city in your empire, we feel the deepest affliction in being thus compelled to reiterate this enumeration of the mal-practices and mistaken principles of your ministry: we should, however, compromise that sense of public duty, and that character of frankness, which appertains to us as freemen and Britons, were we to disguise the truth, and forbear to express our conviction that your confidential advisers have plunged this great and once flourishing empire into an abyss, from which we can be rescued only by radical reforms, and a total change in our domestic government and foreign policy. In a crisis, therefore, which involves the destiny of the greatest empire of these or past times, and of an empire which is blessed by Providence with unequalled natural advantages, and which possesses a people that in all ages have bravely secured their prosperity on the solid basis of public liberty, we feel that we should justly merit the reproaches of our country and of posterity, if, at such a crisis, we were to refrain from laying before your royal highness a faithful representation of the public grievances, and expressing our painful apprehensions for the welfare and the very existence of the nation. We therefore pray, that your royal highness will be graciously pleased to dismiss from your councils those ministers, who have proved themselves so undeserving of the confidence of your people, and call to the administration of the government men of public character and patriotic principles, whose enlarged and liberal policy, if suited to the enlightened character of the nation, whose wisdom and energy would prove equal to the exigencies of the times; whose inclinations would lead them to secure the affections of the people; and whose public spirit would stimulate them to effect those reforms in the commons house of parliament, and in the various branches of the state, which, at this perilous crisis, are absolutely necessary to the restoration of national prosperity, and not less essential to the honour and true interest of the crown, than to the greatness and true glory of the empire.

To which his royal highness was pleased to return the following gracious answer:

It must always be my inclination to listen with attention to the petitions of any part of his majesty's subjects. For the redress of any grievances of which they can reasonably complain, I have full confidence in the wisdom of parliament, the great council of the nation.

Being firmly of opinion that the total change in the domestic government and foreign policy of the country, the declared object of your petition to accomplish, would only serve to increase the dangers against which we have to contend, I should be wanting to myself, and to the great interests committed to my charge, if I did not steadily persevere in those endeavours which appear to me best calculated to support the just rights of the nation abroad, and to preserve inviolate the constitution at home. These endeavours can only be attended with success, when seconded by the zeal and loyalty of his majesty's people, upon which I shall continue to place the strongest reliance.

A dreadful high wind occurred on the this year, by which a lamplighter was blown over the balustrades of Blackfriar's-bridge, and was unfortunately drowned. About in the morning, the large iron pipe, affixed on the chimney of colonel

The prosperous state of affairs at home in the year , was closed by the official publication of a treaty of peace between Great Britain and Russia, in which it was agreed that the relations of amity and commerce between the countries should be re-established on each side on the footing of the most favoured nations, the perpetuity of which was now rising in probability every day, from the reiterated defeats and distresses of the French army in Russia, accounts and confirmations of which arrived almost with every post. And if any event served to cast a degree of shade on the brightening prospect, it was on the opening of parliament in December, when, with the deepest concern, the prince regent announced the continuance of his majesty's lamented indisposition, and the diminution of the hopes he had most anxiously entertained for his recovery. The speech also noticed the relations of peace and friendship, restored between his majesty and the courts of St. Petersburgh and Stockholm, and the additional proof of the confidence which the regent had received from his imperial majesty, in the measure which he had adopted of sending his fleets to the ports of this country: a tacit acknowledgement that Britain was almost the only point in Europe invulnerable to the common enemy.

On the , the monument erected by the corporation of London to the memory of the right honorable William Pitt, in , was opened to public view, placed on the south side of that edifice, exactly facing that of his father, the great earl of Chatham. Mr. Canning, attended by lord George Leveson Gower, attended the corporation committee, and, after viewing it, expressed his satisfaction with its design and execution.

In the course of the spring, as a number of gross and unfounded calumnies had been disseminated against the princess of Wales, the spouse of his royal highness the prince regent, the city thought proper to present an address to her on the , expressing that the sentiments of profound veneration and ardent affection which they entertained for her, had never experienced diminution or change, and assuring her that they should always feel, and be ready to give proof of their most anxious solicitude for her health, prosperity, and happiness. To this, her royal highness replied, that it was a great consolation for her to learn, that during so many years of unmerited persecution, the kind and favourable sentiments with which the city of London had at received her, had undergone no change. Their sense of abhorrence against the foul and detestable conspiracy which perjured and suborned traducers had carried on against her life and honour, she said, was worthy of them. The consciousness of her innocence had supported her through her long,

This year, vaccine inoculation, the practice of which had met with some obstacles, from a disagreement of opinion in a number of individuals belonging to the faculty, received the unqualified sanction of the Royal , who entered into an engagement between themselves and with the public, not to inoculate for the small-pox, unless for some special reason, after vaccination; but to pursue, and to the utmost of their power promote, the practice of vaccination, concluding with their recommendation to all the members of the college of correspondent opinions and sentiments of duty, to enter into similar engagements.

On the , the city of London, feeling in common with the country at large, the benefits acquired by the successes obtained by marquis Wellington, determined upon an address to his royal highness the prince regent, in which they offered their heart-felt congratulations on the brilliant and decisive victory obtained over the French forces in the neighbourhood of Vittoria, on the ; a victory, they observed, so complete and decisive, that it could not fail to produce the happiest effects on the liberties and independence of Europe; and concluding with their earnest hope that it might promote, and finally secure an honourable and lasting peace. To this loyal and patriotic address, his royal highness gave the following answer:

I return you my warmest thanks for your dutiful and loyal address. The victory with which it has pleased Almighty God to bless the operations of the allied army under its illustrious commander, field-marshal Wellington, cannot fail to have excited, in every part of the united kingdom, the strongest emotions of exultation and gratitude; and it is with the utmost satisfaction that I receive such a testimony of feelings which animate the metropolis of the empire, on this most interesting and important occasion. Success so splendid and decisive, so glorious in all respects to the arms of his majesty and his allies, is calculated to contribute most essentially to the establishment of the independence of the peninsula on a firm and lasting foundation, and to the improvement of our prospects in all other parts of the world.

About this time, the foundation of the new prison in , near Cripplegate, was laid. This extensive building is

The expression of the public mind on the subject of the recent victories was not confined to addresses. The metropolis was illuminated, more or less, on the nights of the , , and . The fronts of Carlton-house and Somerset-house, exhibited each a blaze of light, with the name of Wellington formed with lamps, and allusions to the hero's exploits. The India-house, the Mansion-house, Apsley-house, (marquis Wellesley's, ,) with the houses of the Spanish ambassador, and the Spanish consul, were illuminated with much spirit and elegance: and many individuals made displays not less honourable to their patriotism, than to their taste and judgment.

At a common-hall on the , Mr. alderman Domville and Mr. alderman Wood being returned by the livery of London as proper persons to fill the important office of lord mayor of London, the court of aldermen having proceeded to a scrutiny, Mr. Domville was declared duly and unanimously elected.

In the beginning of October Dr. Howley's election to the bishopric of London, was confirmed at Bow church, , being the oldest church in the diocese, by sir William Scott, the vicar-general of the province of Canterbury, with, the usual ceremonies. On the morning of the d, Dr. Howley was consecrated bishop of London at . At half past the queen, (who had expressed a wish to be present,) with of the princesses, were received at by the archbishop, who conducted them into the drawing-room, where Dr. Howley, the bishop elect, the bishops of Oxford, Gloucester, and Salisbury, the vicar-general, in their full robes, and other distinguished characters, paid their respects to them, after which they proceeded to his grace's chapel. The queen and princesses were conducted into Mrs. Sutton's family gallery. No person was admitted into the body of the chapel except those engaged in the ceremony.. Dr. Howley took his seat the last on the right of the altar. The morning service was read by of the archbishop's chaplains the bishop of Gloucester read the epistle; the bishop of Oxford the gospel: the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Goddard, who took a general view of the established church from the period of the reformation; and dwelt upon the divine institution and expediency of the episcopal order.

On Saturday, , the whole city of London was thrown, as it were, into a state of temporary delirium; the heart cheering news of a counter-revolution in Holland, in which the French were every where ejected, while the allies were marching in to the assistance of the natives, reached town this afternoon. This

Orange Boven

That no time might be lost, on Thursday the , his serene highness the prince of Orange left London, and embarked with the earl of Clancarty, and was joyfully received by his ancient and faithful subjects.

On the a proclamation for a general thanksgiving was issued from Carlton-house, to be observed in England, Ireland, and Scotland, on the following, for the series of signal and glorious victories over the enemy, and the inestimable benefits which this kingdom had received at the hands of Almighty God, &c. This drew forth an ardent and loyal address from the city of London to the prince regent on the late glorious events; highly congratulating him on his recent declaration on the opening of parliament,

that no disposition to require from France sacrifices inconsistent with her honour, or just pretensions as a nation, would ever on the part of his royal highness or his allies, be an obstacle to peace.

This year, , had scarcely commenced, when it became generally known that the prince regent and his ministers, acting up to the spirit of those pacific professions so recently made, had dispatched lord Castlereagh to the head quarters of the allies at Chatillon-sur-Seine, in France, which country he never quitted till he had happily completed the object of his mission. If any thing ominous had, as usual in the darker ages, been attached to the appearances of the weather when his lordship set out from London,

It was remarked that the winter of , in several particulars, resembled the present: but there was nothing in the memory of man to equal the continued fall of snow for nearly days, in the beginning of the winter of -. Almost weeks the wind blew continually from the north and north-east, and was intensely cold. A short thaw also, which scarcely lasted day, only rendered the state of the streets times worse. Hence the masses of snow and water became so thick that it was with difficulty that hackney coaches with an additional horse, could plough their way through. In some streets in the city men were employed on the Sundays to remove the snow. Almost all trades and callings carried on in the streets were stopped, which considerably increased the distresses of the lower orders. Few carriages, even stages, could travel on the roads, which even about town seemed deserted. From many buildings, icicles full a yard and a half long, were seen suspended. The house water pipes were mostly frozen, whence it became necessary to have plugs in the streets for the supply of all ranks of people. fall of snow continued hours incessantly, after the ground had been covered with a condensation, the result nearly of weeks' continued frost.

In the meanwhile, the river Thames, in consequence of the continuance of the severe weather, began to assume a singular appearance: vast quantities of snow were seen almost every where on the surface, and being carried up and down by the tide and the stream, or collected where the banks or the bridges supported the accumulation, a sort of glaciers were formed, united moment, and crashing, cracking, and dashing away the next. At times too, when the flood became elevated by the spring tides, and the current ran strongly, the small ice islands floated away, passing through the arches with a rapidity scarcely to be conceived, according as the wind or tide prevailed. In fact, the conglomeration upon the whole, presented more of the appearance of the rudeness of the desert, than that of a broad surface, to which the eye of the observer had been mostly accustomed.

Paths were formed by strewing ashes, &c. direct and diagonal from shore to shore, and frequent cautions were given to those heroines whose curiosity induced them to venture on the glassy plain,

that several feet adjoining his premises were to be let on a building lease.

Among the most rational of the oddities collected on the Thames on this occasion were a number of printers, who, with their presses, pulled off various impressions of names, verses, &c. which they sold for a trifle.

On Saturday, , notwithstanding there were evident signs of the breaking of the ice, and even very early on the Sunday morning some imprudent persons passed over from to . About in the morning also some persons carousing in a booth opposite Brooke's wharf, were very near losing their lives; the tide beginning to flow at , and being assisted by the thaw, the booth was hurried along with the quickness of lightning. The men in their alarm neglected the fire and candle, which communicating with the covering, set it in a flame. In this singular situation they succeeded in getting into a lighter, which had broken from its moorings; but this was dashed to pieces against of the piers of ; upon this some of the men got out, and were taken off safely; the rest had thrown themselves into a barge while passing . Long before noon, on Sunday, the whole mass of the ice had given way, and forcing itself through the bridges, carried every thing before it. Numbers of boats were now busily employed saving rafts of timber, and towing drifted barges, &c. on shore. The passage of the river at length became quite free, though the coldness of the weather, and the snow was not clear off the surface of the ground in the environs of the city before Sunday, , when the wind finally changed from the north-east.

Upon the whole, it did not appear that the late winter, notwithstanding its length, was remarkable for intensity of cold. Fahrenheit's thermometer had been frequently observed at , several times at , more than once at , once at , and once so low as below , that is--to say degrees below the freezing point. This happened on the morning of Christmas day, , supposed to have been the most intense degree of cold ever known in England.

On Saturday morning, , about a quarter past o'clock, a fire began to issue from the Custom-house, and to burn with such violence, as to threaten the most destructive consequences. Numerous engines soon arrived; but about o'clock, the flames had made so rapid a spread, that little hope was entertained of saving

A fraud of a most extraordinary kind was played off in the metropolis on Monday, the , when between and in the forenoon, a person wearing a white cockade passed rapidly by the in a post chaise, drawn by horses, and decorated with sprigs of laurel. Much about the same time, a chaise similarly decorated, and a person of the same description within, was seen in the vicinity of ; not proceeding directly thither, but wandering about, apparently in want of a guide. All the city and all the west end of the town were in a tumult of joy. The approaches to the public offices were crowded with persons anxiously intent upon learning the cause of this

It appeared certain that a chaise and decorated as before related, came towards from ; afterwards got back over that bridge again, as it is sometimes done on the return after landing the fare; then went round by the Borough over , as if to gratify the city with the sight in passing to the westward. At length being set down at the Marsh gate, , the pretended messenger, whose name was De Berenger, stepped into a hackney coach, and was traced to a house then recently taken by lord Cochrane, in , .

On Wednesday, , as lord Cochrane and others had been implicated in this popular deception, in consequence of the investigations of the committee appointed by the Stock Exchange, their trial came on for conspiring to defraud that body, by circulating false news of Bonaparte's defeat, his being killed by the Cossacks, &c. to raise the funds to a higher price than they would otherwise have borne, to the injury of the public, and to the benefit of the conspirators. Mr. Gurney called witnesses to prove that colonel de Bourg, who pretended to have been conveyed in an open boat from France, and landed at Dover, was Random de Berenger, that he wrote to admiral Foley, who but for the haziness of the weather, would have telegraphed the intelligence to the Admiralty. The effects of this news in town was proved to have raised the premium on omnium from to per cent. But no confirmation having been received at the Admiralty, omnium began again to get down, when an important auxiliary to this fraudulent contrivance appeared. This was the arrival of apparently military officers in a post chaise and from Northfleet, having the drivers and horses decorated with laurel. These persons were named Sandon, M'Rae,

The war which had been carried on in France by the allies after the breaking up of the negociations opened at Chatillon, with unexampled success, having excited a general expectation of its conclusion in the overthrow of Bonaparte; on Tuesday, , the news that the allies had entered Paris, burst upon the citizens of London from all quarters; and on Friday, , the intelligence of Bonaparte's resignation was received, when a notice being given by lord Bathurst that the public offices would be illuminated during successive nights, this became general on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, following. The principal streets

During the interval occupied by these rejoicings, as Louis the Eighteenth, who had long resided at Hartwell, in Buckinghamshire, had been invited to London by the prince regent, it was observed, that upwards of years had elapsed since the metropolis of the British empire had beheld an acknowledged king of France within its walls. The French king having been indisposed, on Monday, , found himself so much recovered, that he sent an express to the prince regent and his own relatives that he would undertake the journey on Wednesday the . Every court arrangement was made to suit his convenience in coming to London. The duchess of Oldenburgh, who had been some time in town, postponed her intended journey to Windsor; and the queen and princesses, on receiving notice of the king of France's intention to be in town, also signified their royal pleasure to have the honour of meeting him in London.

Louis was received with every mark of respect, and on his arrival at Grillon's hotel in , he invested the prince regent, who had accompanied him from Stanmore, with the order of On the succeeding Saturday he departed in a private travelling carriage, escorted by a detachment of horse from the d regiment; he was received at Dover by the prince regent, who, after seeing him on board, returned to London.

The restoration of peace, after so long and arduous a struggle, was hailed in London, and the empire generally, with the most lively satisfaction; and the metropolis was converted into a scene of gaiety never surpassed on any other occasion, by the arrival, on , of the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia; the latter, accompanied by his eldest sons, prince

It was soon apparent that the pursuits of the emperor Alexander were similar to those of his sister, the duchess of Oldenburgh, having a perfect indifference to show and parade; and that, to observe him well, it would be necessary to be as early a riser as himself. On Tuesday morning, the , he breakfasted by , and walked in Kensington-gardens with his sister. He returned to the Pulteney Hotel at , and then proceeded in of the prince regent's carriages to view Westminster-hall and the abbey. His sister and himself next visited the . At , he held a levee at Cumberland-house, and was visited by the prince regent. Between and , he attended her majesty's court; and at , her majesty, the princesses, the allied sovereigns, their families, &c. dined with the prince regent at Carlton house.

On Wednesday, , the emperor Alexander rode in , between and o'clock in the morning, accompanied by lord Yarmouth and colonel Bloomfield. From thence they rode to , crossed the bridge, passing through the Borough into the city. They passed the Mansion-house and the Exchange before in the morning, and turning round by the Bank and the Excise-office, proceeded through , along the City-road, and the New-road towards Paddington, and returned down the Edgeware-road and Hyde-park, to the Pulteney Hotel. After breakfasting, the emperor, the duchess of Oldenburgh, and a party of distinction, left the hotel in their carriages, without military escort, and proceeded along and to . After viewing this, they proceeded to the , and returned through .

On Thursday, the , the allied sovereigns breakfasted together at , at the Pulteney hotel, with the grand duchess of Oldenburgh, and afterwards set out, accompanied by marshal Blucher, general Platoff, and a numerous suite, for Ascot-heath races; and, arriving at Richmond-hill at , the whole party walked on the terrace, and expressed themselves quite delighted with the beauty of the scene. They afterwards visited Hampton-court, with as much attention as the shortness of the time would admit, assuming no character of pomp, but conversing familiarly with all.

On Saturday, the , about , the emperor and his sister again rode through into the city, to visit the Bank. They entered by the Lothbury-gate, and attended by the governor, deputy-governor, and court of directors, were conducted through the various departments of that extensive building, and afterwards partook of a cold collation. The emperor, returning to his state apartments, in the duke of Cumberland's house at St. James's, was waited on about by the lord mayor, recorder, sheriffs, and the whole of the aldermen and common council, in their civic robes. On the same evening, the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia visited the king's theatre, as before mentioned; and on Sunday attended Hyde-park. Here the sovereigns, the princes, with the venerable Blucher, making their appearance on the ride, it seemed as if every horse in the metropolis had been furnished with a rider to meet them. The pressure was intolerable; the horses were so jammed together, that many noblemen and gentlemen had their knees crushed, and their boots torn. Blucher was so cruelly persecuted with kindness, that he alighted and took refuge in Kensington gardens, declaring this to be more formidable to him than all the enemies he ever encountered. In the confusion and pressure which occasioned it, all sense of courtesy was abandoned, and each individual was, in a manner, compelled to fight his own battle. Many were of course seriously injured. In place was seen a lady in hysterics; in another, a beautiful female torn from her protector, entreating mercy from the overwhelming throng; in a place, were parents who had lost their children, and again, children who had lost their parents. It was in this state of things, the approach of the emperor of Russia and his suite was announced. That crowd which had before almost reached the acme of alarm and apprehension, had now new evils to endure. The horse-guards being constrained to obtain a passage for the approaching cavalcade, many were the severe contusions which the shins and toes of the populace received from their horses' hoofs; when, in order to avoid this, many were obliged to take refuge under the carriages, and there, in trembling anxiety, await the moment of their liberation.

An aquatic excursion being planned for Monday, the , by in the morning, the admiralty, navy, and ordnance barges, were collected at , gaily dressed with

God save the king,

On Tuesday the , the royal party left London for Oxford, where they were received with all possible distinction. Here, with his characteristic activity, Alexander, after looking at his apartments at Merton-college, and the gardens behind it, was walking in the public streets before o'clock, accompanied by several noblemen, with whom he made a tour to the most distinguished colleges and public edifices.

Early next morning, the royal party returned to London; the emperor, before he went to bed, attended a ball at lady Jersey's. At , he repaired to , where he witnessed the annual assemblage of the charity children, belonging to the different parishes of the metropolis. His Prussian majesty and his sons were also present; and the august party were every where greeted, both in going and returning, with cheers and acclamations.

In the evening, after dining with lord Castlereagh, the sovereigns visited theatre; and, when the play was over, went to the marchioness of . At , on Friday the , they set out to visit the military asylum, commonly called the duke of York's school. The emperor afterwards accompanied his sister to see Greenwich Hospital and the Royal Observatory.

On the evening of the same day, the allied sovereigns did the Merchant-taylors' company the honour of dining at their hall in . Almost the whole of the afternoon, every avenue to the place was thronged, so that a regiment of the London militia, under sir John Eamer, could scarcely keep the ground. Before o'clock, nearly ladies of rank and distinction had assembled at the house of Mr. Teasdale, the clerk, who had fitted up a kind of platform in the court-yard, to enable them to see the great visitors as they passed. The appointed dinner-hour was ; but,

God save the king.

the king;

The emperor of Russia

The king of Prussia

The prince regent

emperor of Austria

Lord Castlereagh, and thanks to him for his exertions in concluding a safe and honourable peace,

the allied sovereigns, and their brave generals.

The duchess of Oldenburgh

A court of common council was held on the , to vote addresses to the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia, and subsequently to invite them and the prince regent to a sumptuous entertainment in the , which was graciously accepted; and, on the , a banquet was given by the corporation that must have equally surprised and delighted the noble visitants. From an account printed by order of the corporation, the following extracts are taken :

The following illustrious, noble, and distinguished personages were present at this festival:

The prince regent's list.-Their royal highnesses, the dukes of York, Kent, Cambridge, Gloucester; the duke of Montrose, master of the horse to his majesty; the marquis of Hertford, lord chamberlain of his majesty's household; the marquis of Winchester, groom of the stole to his majesty; the earl of Cholmondeley, lord steward of his majesty's household; the earl of Macclesfield, captain of the yeomen of the guard; the earl of Harrington, gold stick; the viscount Jocelyn, vice chamberlain of his majesty's household; the lord Charles Bentinck, treasurer of his majesty's household; the lord George Beresford, comptroller of his majesty's household; the lord Boston, lord of the bedchamber in waiting; general Barton, silver stick; sir William Congreve, bart.; colonel Bloomfield; the groom of the bed-chamber in waiting; the equerry in waiting; the page in waiting; William Adam, esq. chancellor to his royal highness, the prince regent; Joseph Jekyll, esq. attorney-general to his royal highness, the prince regent; William Draper Best, esq. solicitor-general to his royal highness the prince regent.

The emperor of Russia's list.--Her imperial highness, the grand duchess of Oldenburgh; his serene highness the prince of Oldenburgh; his serene highness, the prince of Cobourg,

His excellency count Lieven, his imperial majesty's ambassador at this court; countess Lieven.

Field-marshal Barclay de Tolly; prince Walkonsky, quartermaster-general of the army; general count Platoff; general count Woronzow; general count Michael Woronzow; general Ouvaroff; general Tchernicheff; general Ozaroffsky; general Potemkin; general prince Volkonsky; princess Volkonsky; general Benkendorff; colonel Brozine, aide-de-camp to the emperor; sir James Wyllie, &c. &c.

Prince Razumnoffsky, minister of state; count Tolstoy, lord steward; prince Czartorinsky; count Nesselrode, secretary of state; countess Nesselrode; count Orlow, privy councillor and senator; Monsieur d'Anstedt, minister; counts Potocki and Woronzow Dashkoff, chamberlains; Monsieur de Bulgakow, counsellor of state; the princess Volkonsky, Mademoiselle d'Aledensky, prince Gagazine, and colonel Arsenieff, for the grand duchess.

Baron Nicolay, secretary of embassy; Monsieur de Doubatcheffsky, consul-general; the Rev. James Smirnove, chaplain.

The king of Prussia's list.-Prince royal of Prussia; prince William, son of the king; prince Frederick, nephew of the king; prince Henry, brother of the king; prince William, brother of the king; prince Augustus, cousin of the king; prince Charles of Mecklenburgh; prince Anton Radzivil.

Marshal prince Blucher of Wahlstadt; general count York of Wartenburg; general count Bulow of Dennewitz; lieutenant-general de Fagow, grand equerry; lieutenant-general de Knesebeck; lieutenant-general de Hacke; general de Raugh; colonel count de Schwerin, colonel de Natzmer, lieutenant-colonel de Thile; major de Brauschitsch, major count Brandenburg, major de Hedeman, major de Roeder, major count Nostitz, aides-de-camp.

Prince Hardenberg, chancellor of state; baron de Jacobi Kloest, minister of state; baron de Humboldt, minister of state; baron de Bulow, minister of finance; baron de Humboldt, baron de Arnim, count de Bruhl, chamberlains; Monsieur Albrecht, counsellor of the cabinet; Monsieur Ancillon, counsellor of state.

Great officers of state.-The archbishop of Canterbury, the earl of Harrowby, lord president of the council, the earl of Westmoreland, lord privy seal, the marquis Camden, the earl of Buckinghamshire, president of the Board of Controul, the earl Bathurst, his majesty's principal secretary of state, war department, the earl of Liverpool first lord commissioner of his majesty's treasury, the earl Mulgrave, master general of the ordnance, the viscount Sidmouth, his majesty's principal secretary of state, home department--the viscount Melville, first lord commissioner of the Admiralty, the viscount Castlereagh, his majesty's principal secretary of state, foreign department, the viscount Palmerston, secretary at war, the lord bishop of London, the right hon. Charles Abbot, speaker of the house of commons, the right hon. Nicholas Vansittart, chancellor of his majesty's exchequer, the right hon. sir William Grant, master of the rolls, the right hon. Charles Bathurst, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, the right hon. George Rose, treasurer of the navy, the right. hon. Charles Long, joint paymaster of his majesty's forces, the right hon. Frederick John Robinson, joint paymaster of his majesty's forces, the right hon. sir Thomas Plumer, knt. vice chancellor of England, the right hon. Robert Peel, secretary to the lord lieutenant of Ireland, the right hon. William Fitzgerald, chancellor of his majesty's exchequer in Ireland, the hon. Berkeley Paget, lord commissioner of the treasury, the viscount Lowther, lord commissioner of the treasury, Charles Grant, jun. esq. lord commissioner of the treasury, admiral sir Joseph Sidney Yorke, K. B. lord commissioner of the Admiralty, the right hon. William Dundas, lord commissioner of the Admiralty, admiral sir George Johnson Hope, K. B. lord commissioner of the Admiralty, sir George Warrender, bart. lord commissioner of the Admiralty, John Osborn, esq. lord commissioner of the Admiralty, the lord Henry Paulet, lord commissioner of the Admiralty.

The judges of the realm, &c.-The right hon. lord Ellenborough, lord chief justice of his majesty's court of King's Bench; the right hon. sir Vicary Gibbs, knt., lord chief justice of his majesty's court of Common Pleas; the right hon. sir Alexander Thomson, knt., lord chief baron of his majesty's court of Exchequer; Mr. justice Heath, sir Simon Le Blanc, knt. sir Robert Graham, knt. sir Alan Chambre, knt. sir George Wood, knt. sir John Bayley, knt. sir Henry Dampier, knt. sir Robert Dallas, knt. sir Richard Richards, knt.; the right hon. sir John Nicholl, knt. judge of the Ecclesiastial court; the right hon. sir William Scott, knt. judge of the High Court of Admiralty.-Sir William Garrow, knt. his majesty's attorney general; sir Samuel Shepherd, knt. his majesty's solicitor general.

English nobility and persons of distinction.-The dukes of Devonshire and Atholl; the marquisses of Lansdowne, Strafford, Wellesley, and Huntley; the countess of Liverpool; the earls of Chichester, Grey, Upper Ossory, Aberdeen, and Yarmouth; the viscountess Castlereagh; lords Holland, Erskine, Beresford, Lynedoch, Combermere, Hill, Stewart, and Burghersh; the right hon. sir John Borlase Warren, bart.; the right hon. John Hiley Addington, under secretary of state; the right hon. George Tierney; the right hon. Charles Arbuthnot, secretary of the treasury; the right hon. George Ponsonby; the right hon. Warren Hastings; sir Arthur Pigott, knt.; Samuel Whitbread, esq.; Thomas William Coke, esq.; Stephen Rumbold Lushington, esq. secretary of the treasury; George Harrison, esq. secretary of the treasury; John Becket, esq. under secretary of state; William Hamilton, esq. under secretary of state; major-general Bunbury, under secretary of state; Henry Goulburn, esq. under secretary of state; admiral Blackwood; major-general Turner; Francis Freeling, esq.; William Domville, esq. son of the lord mayor, and the Rev. Samuel Birch, son of the chairman of the committee.

Foreign nobility and persons of distinction.-His serene highness the prince of Orange; his royal highness the prince royal of Wirtemberg; his royal highness the prince royal of Bavaria; his royal highness the duke of Saxe Weimar; his highness the duke of Orleans; prince Metternich (Austrian); prince Lichtenstein (Austrian); prince Tcherbetsoff (Russian); count Hardenberg (Hanoverian).

Foreign ambassadors and ministers.

Ambassadors.

Count de Fernan Nunez, duke of Montellano (Spanish); count Lieven (Russian); baron Fagel (Dutch); count Merveldt (Austrian); count L'Chastre (French); baron de Jacobi Kloest (Prussian).

Ministers.

Baron de Rehausen (Swedish); count St. Martin d'Aglie (Sardinia); baron Vander Duyn de Maasdam (Dutch); Monsieurde Pfeffel (Bavarian); count de Beroldingen (Wirtemberg); Monsieur de Bourke (Danish); count Munster (Hanoverian); Monsieur Ramadani (Turkish).

Robert Chester, esq. assistant master of the ceremonies.

Public companies.-William Mellish, esq. governor of the Bank of England; Jeremiah Harman, esq. deputy governor of the Bank of England; John Inglis, esq. deputy chairman of the honourable East India company; Samuel Thornton, esq. chairman of the Russian company; Alexander Henry Sutherland, esq. deputy chairman of the Russian company.

In consequence of the grand duchess of Oldenberg and several Russian ladies of distinction having been included in the list sent by order of the emperor of Russia, it was thought proper that the lady mayoress should be present, to receive the grand duchess and the other Russian ladies; and her ladyship was accordingly present, as also the countess of Liverpool, the viscountess Castlereagh, and Miss Elizabeth Domville, sister of the lady mayoress, who were invited on the occasion.

The following royal personages, noblemen, and gentlemen of distinction, were invited, but could not be present in consequence of indisposition or other peculiar circumstances:

His royal highness the duke of Clarence; his royal highness the duke of Cumberland (on the continent); his royal highness the duke of Sussex; the lord high chancellor; the dukes of Norfolk and Richmond; lords Grenville and Niddry; count de Funchal, Portuguese ambassador; prince of Castelcicala, Sicilian minister; baron Doernberg, Hessian minister; right hon. George Canning; right hon. John M'Mahon; honourable F. Elphinstone, chairman of the honourable East India company; sir Samuel Romilly; Edward Cooke, esq. under secretary of state: John Wilson Croker, esq. secretary to the Admiralty; Thomas Brooksbank, esq. private secretary to the lord of the treasury; Anthony Rosenhagen, esq. private secretary to the chancellor of the exchequer.

His royal highness the prince regent, to give a proper effect to this magnificent banquet, determined on going in state, with the full splendour of his court. Orders were accordingly issued to all the officers to be in readiness at , to attend his royal highness.

About o'clock the streets east of were lined on both sides with nearly troops, regulars, militia, and volunteers, aided by detachments of cavalry.

Soon after o'clock the cavalcade departed from Carlton house in the following order:

About o'clock the prince regent was followed by the emperor of Russia, in the following order:

The lord mayor and sheriffs, in state carriages, with the aldermen and city officers, had previously arrived at ; and, until the approach of the procession, they were accommodated in the house of Messrs. Child and Co. bankers. On its arrival they mounted horses, which were decorated for the occasion with crimson ribbons. The part of the cavalcade having entered the city; on the carriage of his royal highness the prince regent drawing up, the lord mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, &c. advanced; and the lord mayor presented the sword of state to his royal highness, who was graciously pleased to return the same to his lordship. They then joined the procession, immediately preceding his royal highness's carriage, in the following order:

Sheriff's Officers.

The City Marshals.

The Lord Mayor's Footmen.

The Band of the London Militia, playing

God save the King.

The City Officers.

Aldermen, in their Robes, bare-headed.

The Common Crier bearing the City Mace, and the

Sword Bearer wearing the Cap of Maintenance,

The Lord Mayor, bare-headed, carrying the Sword of State, and dressed in a rich Crimson Velvet Robe, trimmed with Ermine.

In this order the procession moved on to , cheered as they went, by the spectators in the houses and streets.

In order to insure the convenient and safe conveyance of the company, the whole carriage way from was spread over with bright gravel; and to prevent any interruption, the ends of the several streets and carriage ways leading thereto, were, by order of the court of lord mayor and aldermen, secured with posts and bars: a measure which not only enabled the

Your committee, also, with a view to prevent the possibility of interruption to the line of procession, directed the admission of the ladies into the galleries to take place between the hours of and , through a passage made for that purpose, from the principal entrance of the hall, to the comptroller's house. By these means, and the attendance of some of the members of your committee, not only to receive the ladies, but to conduct them to the galleries, they were all seated, and their carriages drawn off, long previous to the arrival of the royal and illustrious guests.

A temporary passage was erected from the principal entrance of the hall to the middle of Guildhall-yard, in order that the carriages might readily pass from thence through Blackwell-hall. This passage, lined with green cloth, and the flooring covered with matting, was illuminated by a profusion of lamps, and led to the porch of the hall, which was also lined with green cloth, and converted into a temporary arbour, in which were displayed the most costly exotics, with flowering and aromatic shrubs, fancifully arranged, and ornamented with moss. This arbour extended into the hall, and being illuminated with variegated lamps, had a most beautiful and pleasing effect.

The grand gothic hall, with its superbly painted windows, suggested to the architect the appropriate decorations of the interior, and within the short space of time allowed, an effect was produced, highly creditable to his taste and exertions. The simplicity of the design, the magnitude of the parts, and, above all, the harmony of the colour, diffused a lustre over the whole, upon which the eye reposed with the most satisfied delight; the combination had an unity, a character of strength, and a breadth and tone, the most attractive. The painted windows were externally illuminated, so as to throw into the hall the rich and warm influence of the immense body of light, by which all the Gothic divisions of the windows were articulated, and which, striking on the brilliant circle of ladies in the galleries, produced an effect as enchanting as novel.

The walls of the hall to the underside of the capitals of the clustered columns, and the fronts of the galleries, were covered with bright crimson cloth, elegantly and boldly fluted throughout, and so formed and festooned as to represent grand arcades; in the recesses of which were placed tables, illuminated with cut glass chandeliers; reflected by handsome mirrors at the back, giving to the whole a most finished appearance. Above the range of galleries, were suspended large superb cut-glass chandeliers, and over the great cornice, and resting thereon, was a beautiful cordon of uncoloured lamps, by which the entire length of the

In order to increase the effect of the illuminations, the windows in the upper part of the hall, above the great cornice, were darkened; and some of them were made to open, that full and complete ventilation might be obtained, which was most amply afforded as occasion required, by men stationed on the roofs for the purpose; and means were adopted for an abundant supply of water to various parts of the hall.

The committee having been under the necessity of directing the music gallery from the Irish chamber to be removed, forthe more convenient accommodation of the ladies, and that the line of the fronts of their galleries might not lose its effect, by being broken or interrupted; other galleries were erected for full military bands over the entrance leading to the council chamber, and above the ladies' galleries. This was effected by removing the great clock, and had this advantage, that from the height of the bands, the effect was more imposing; and the ladies' gallery on this side of the hall corresponded with the opposite, and was not interfered with by the arrangements, as the access to the music galleries was obtained from the roof.

Orchestras for the vocal performers were erected at the upper end of the hall, under the ladies' galleries, which, projecting in a small degree beyond them, rather relieved than interrupted the uniformity of the fronts of the galleries.

Immediately adjoining these orchestras, at the circular returns of the galleries, fronting the royal table, were affixed white satin banners, with the arms of England, Russia, and Prussia united: these banners your committee have since directed to be suspended in the , to convey to posterity the circumstance of this glorious union of great nations. At the upper or eastern end of the Hall, on a platform elevated above the level of the floor, covered with Turkey carpeting, was placed a very large table, at which stood massive carved and gilt chairs covered with crimson velvet, decorated with gold fringes, under a lofty canopy of rich crimson velvet, lined with crimson sarsnet, and rich velvet draperies reaching to the floor, tied back with gold ropes. In front of the dome of the canopy were placed the sword and sceptre; and on the top the royal crown of the united kingdom, boldly carved on a large scale, and gilt; over which hovered a dove with the olive branch in

The members of the common council, in their mazarine gowns, arranged themselves in lines across the , and from thence to the common council and new council chambers, which were richly fitted up as drawing rooms for the occasion; and the whole of the floor, from the entrance into the great hall to these rooms, was covered with crimson carpeting.

The court of King's Bench was also fitted up as a drawing-room, the end of which was filled with a beautiful transparent painting, by the late James Barry, R.A. In the centre opening, between naval and military trophies, was a portrait of his most gracious majesty, in stained and painted glass; on the right and left, whole length figures, representing Britannia and Fame; in the frieze of the entablature, the words , and over the whole, the figure of Peace descending upon the terrestrial globe.

The royal procession began to arrive at about o'clock. The lord mayor and aldermen, having dismounted, preceded his royal highness, the prince regent, the lord mayor carrying the sword of state immediately before him. On the entrance of the royal and illustrious personages, they were severally announced and conducted through the hall, attended by the aldermen, the chairman and gentlemen of the committee, to the common council and new council chambers, between the lines formed by the members of the corporation, and with shouts of welcome and appropriate music: our own princes of the blood royal with the national air of

God save the king,

See the conquering hero comes.

The prince regent and the sovereigns being received in the common council chamber by the lord mayor, were conducted to the state chairs placed at the upper end. The lady mayoress received the grand duchess and those ladies who were to dine in the hall, as they entered the room. When the prince regent seated, the lord mayor, having laid aside his crimson velvet robes, and put on his embroidered state or entertaining gown, advanced with the aldermen and Mr. recorder, who addressed his royal highness as follows:

May your royal highness be pleased to accept our heartfelt thanks for the honour conferred by this royal visit; and to receive the sincere welcome of his majesty's most faithful and loyal citizens, into the ancient metropolis of these realms.

The gracious condescension of your royal highness, and of the high and illustrious sovereigns, your visitors, in receiving at our hands such entertainments as the time has permitted us to provide, makes this a proud and glorious day for the city. It is an unparallelled honour, which will sit close and dear for ever to our hearts.

Britons, sir, boast, that their energies were cheerfully combined with your royal highness's wisdom and perseverance, to inspirit the continental powers to force Europe into peace, and that they gave effect to the arms and valour of the mighty potentates, whose auspicious presence we this day hail. After England's example, the glorious victories achieved by them put the finishing stroke to the dreadful scourge of war; and the world, blessed by a long reign of peace, will transmit your united names with thanksgiving, with honour, and with glory, to ages yet unborn.

Permit me, sir, in the name of the corporation of London, thus highly distinguished, to entreat of your royal highness, and of your royal and illustrious visitors, that whatever you shall find of defect in preparing things worthy of your reception, may be imputed not to neglect, not to insensibility; for the heart that would not be overcome by such gracious condescension, or would forbear to exert its every power humbly to acknowledge it, could not inhabit, as we believe, an English bosom: our heads alone, and our means must be in fault, our loyalty and love can never fail.

His royal highness was pleased to make a most gracious reply; and then addressed himself to the lord mayor to the following effect:

It has always been the custom, when the sovereign paid a visit to his faithful city of London, to confer a mark of favour on its chief magistrate. At no period could this be more properly done, than on an occasion so advantageous to the country as the present, when the long desired return of peace, which was the sole object of all our efforts, has been so gloriously achieved by the valour of his majesty's arms, in conjunction with those of his illustrious allies nor could it be conferred on a person more truly worthy of it, by every public and private virtue than your lordship; and I have great satisfaction in having the power to confer a signal mark of the royal favour upon you.

His royal highness was then graciously pleased to order letters patent to be prepared, for granting the dignity of a baronet to the lord mayor, who kissed hands on the occasion.

At o'clock dinner was announced, and the royal and illustrious company passed from the drawing rooms into the hall in regular state procession, the bands of their royal highnesses the prince regent and the duke of York, in the music galleries, playing national and appropriate airs. The city officers, the

The gentlemen pensioners and yeomen of the guard were stationed on the elevated platform, and on the steps leading threreto, in regular order, and at proper distances. The royal party were seated in the following order:

.-The prince regent, with the emperor of Russia on his right hand and the king of Prussia on his left.

The duke of York, prince Henry of Prussia, the duke of Cambridge, the duke of Orleans, the duke of Saxe Weimer, prince Augustus of Prussia, the duke of Oldenburg, count de Merveldt, prince of Hardenberg, count Fernan Nunez, duke of Montellano.

.-The grand duchess of Oldenburg, the hereditary prince of Wirtemberg the countess of Lieven, the duke of Kent, the prince of Bavaria, prince Metternich, the prince de Cobourg, the duke of Glocester, the prince William of Prussia, the prince of Orange, princess Volkonske.

This table was so formed, that all the royal party had a full view of the company in the hall. The lord mayor stood behind the chair of the prince regent, with the marquis of Winchester, lord Boston, and other state attendants of his royal highness, and continued there, until graciously desired by his royal highness to take his seat; when he retired to the right hand of the central table, immediately below the royal table, against the upper end of which the city sword and mace were placed. The lady mayoress sat on the left hand, opposite to the lord mayor; and at the same table were placed the countess of Liverpool, the viscountess Castlereagh, and Miss Elizabeth Domville, the lady mayoress's sister; which table, together with those on

The residue of the tables to the westward of the entrance, were appropriated by lot to the members of this court and principal city officers; in consequence of which, each member knew the place allotted to him, and the inconveniences which frequently arise from the want of such arrangement were altogether prevented.

The dinner was as sumptuous as expence or skill could make it, and wholly served on plate, which the committee were enabled to do, by using the city plate from the Mansion-house, the plate of several distinguished noblemen and gentlemen, and some of the companies of this city, who very handsomely and voluntarily offered the same for the occasion, and by procuring other massive services, sufficient for the purpose.

Samuel Turner, esq. a West India merchant, and of the directors of the , very handsomely presented a fine turtle for the occasion, which was the only that could be procured, and was the imported in the season, and arrived in time to be served at the royal table.

A large baron of beef, with the royal standard, was placed on a stage at the upper end of the hall, in view of the royal table, attended by the serjeant carvers, and of the principal cooks, in proper costume.

After dinner, , was finely sung by the vocal performers in the Orchestras, the whole of the company in the hall, and the whole of the company standing. Mr. common crier then advanced, by the directions of the lord mayor, to his station on the elevated platform, in front of the royal table; and, after a flourish of trumpets, from the royal trumpeters stationed at each end of the hall, proposed, in the name of the lord mayor, as the toast,

THE KING,

The succeeding toasts were,

His royal highness, the prince regent;

her majesty, the queen, and the royal family ;

his imperial majesty, the emperor of all the Russias;

his majesty, the king of Prussia;

his imperial majesty, the emperor of Austria;

her imperial highness, the grand duchess Catherina, princess of Oldenburg;

his most Christian majesty, Louis the Eighteenth, king of France and Navarre;

his catholic majesty, Ferdinand the

Seventh

, king of Spain ;

the sovereign prince of the Netherlands;

his serene highness, the hereditary prince of Orange.

All of which were announced by a previous flourish of trumpets, and were received with shouts of applause.

The next toast was given by command of his royal highness the prince regent,

Our brave heroes by sea and land, who have so nobly fought for their country ;

the generals of the allied armies and the illustrious foreign heroes, who have contributed so much to the glory of their respective countries.

His royal highness the prince regent also commanded the following toast to be given,

The right honourable the lord mayor, and thanks to his lordship and the city of London for their magnificent entertainment.

In the course of the evening, various songs and glees, amongst which, were the national songs of

God save the king,

Rule Britannia,

Britons strike home,

Hail Star of Brunswick,

Blest isle, with matchless beauty crowned,

Rule Britannia,

His royal highness the prince regent happily seized the opportunity, and proposed as a toast

The lady mayoress and the ladies in the hall,

About o'clock, his royal highness the prince regent, with the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia, rose from the table, and were conducted to the common council chamber, by the lord mayor as before; his lordship immediately preceding the prince regent with the sword of state; and his royal highness was pleased, when about to take his departure, to address himself to Mr. recorder as follows :

My reception has given me great pleasure; every thing that has been done, merits my entire approbation; indeed, I must command you to express to the corporation, the high gratification I have experienced this day.

About o'clock, the prince regent, and the other royal and illustrious personages, were accompanied by the lord mayor and aldermen to their respective carriages, and returned in state to , before o'clock. All the knights marshalmen and attendants, except the coachmen and postillions, bearing large flambeaux in their hands, added to the grandeur of the procession, and produced a novel and most brilliant effect.

After his royal highness the prince regent had retired, the ladies

the the by order of your committee, at the New London tavern, for the general of the district, and the field-officers of the regiments and corps on duty, and the heralds and officers of arms; at the coffee-house, for the lord chancellor's and judges' suites, and the officers of the lord mayor's household; likewise for the vocal performers and the royal military bands, previous to their attendance in the hall, Provisions were also made in the various taverns and inns in the neighbourhood, for the band of gentlemen pensioners, the yeomen of the guard, and other persons in attendance upon the royal personages, as well as for their horses and carriages; and the great room in , belonging to the late Paul's Head tavern, was appropriated to the livery servants, where they were furnished with every proper refreshment.

The principal attendants upon the company in the hall were not hired waiters, but composed of citizens and other gentlemen of respectability, dressed alike, in black with white waistcoats, who gratuitously offered their services upon the occasion, and not only acted as waiters, but superintended and took care of the great quantity of plate that was used, the value of which was estimated to exceed ; and to whom, we, your committee, have to express our acknowledgements for the able assistance they afforded, which greatly contributed to the order and regularity that prevailed throughout the day.

The magnificence and splendour of the entertainment on this glorious occasion having greatly excited the public curiosity to view the decorations and fittings up of the hall; the numerous applications for that purpose induced your committee, as far as they consistently could, to comply with their wishes. They therefore directed that the plate and ornaments should remain on the various tables, and every convenient facility of ingress and egress through the galleries to be afforded; by which means, thousands of persons, (many of whom were of high distinction and great respectability,) were gratified with a view of the magnificent decorations, during the days your committee were enabled to continue the accommodation, without materially interrupting public business.

The committee appointed to conduct this magnificent entertainment, made a report as to the expences, to the court of common council, on the ; which was ordered to be

the expences of altering and fitting--up the

Guildhall

, together with the entertainment to his royal highness the prince regent, amounted to the sum of

twenty thousand and thirty-eight pounds seven shillings and ten-pence

, independent of the sum of

three hundred and eight pounds seventeen shillings and four-pence

paid in pursuance of sundry orders of the court of aldermen for bills and expences incurred in placing bars, &c. at the end of streets to prevent interruptions to the processions; for providing a crimson velvet robe for sir William Domville, bart. (the then lord mayor); and for decorations, &c. for horses; which being added to the aforementioned sum, makes the whole expence for that entertainment

twenty thousand three hundred and forty seven pounds five shillings and two-pence

.

The time between this and Wednesday, , the day appointed for the departure of the sovereigns, was occupied by excursions, and some entertainments of less importance; of these was on Sunday the , to see the Quaker's meeting in Peter's court, ; and another to the duchess of York at Oatland; and a to Chiswick to see the duke of Devonshire.

Monday, , was, however, a day of no small importance: a review of troops in was uncommonly splendid, and better attended than any other had been for a number of years. This day was also chosen for the formal proclamation of peace between Great Britain and France; but a poorer procession was never witnessed. This being an event long anticipated, all its importance was worn off, and therefore it was the less surprising that not a single sound of joy, vocal or instrumental, was heard on this occasion. As no persons of any eminence attended this ceremony, it was not till in the afternoon that the heralds and the military left St. James's; and it was before they reached the . Even the lord mayor was kept waiting at Temple-bar for several hours. The princess Charlotte of Wales, the only person of distinction that condescended to look at the procession, viewed it as a private person from the window of Mr. Child, the banker, near Temple-bar. Under an idea of the magnificence of this spectacle, however, a number of persons paid considerable sums for window room; and many others, who had been standing in the streets several hours, were completely disappointed.

On the evening the peace was proclaimed, both the sovereigns, with the prince regent, attended White's fete at , , where, about in the morning, nearly persons sat down to a dinner. On the same evening, the king of Prussia and his sons had been a short time in the house of lords; and the emperor and his sister were likewise in the gallery of the house of commons.

[] Continuation of Brayley's History of London, forming Vol. x, Part II. of the Beauties of England and Wales, edited by the Rev. J. Nightingale,

[] History of London continued by the Rev. J. Nightingale, pt. ii. p. 27.

[] Frostiana; or, a History of the River Thames in a Frozen State, &c. &c. Printed and published on the Ice on the River Thames.

[] Rev. J. Nightingale's Hist. of Lond. ii. 89.

[] An account of the visit of his royal highness, the prince regent, with their imperial and royal majesties, the emperor of all the Russias, and the king of Prussia, to the corporation of London, in June, 1814. London: printed by order of, and for, the corporation of the city of London, by Nichols, Son, and Bentley, Red Lion passage, Fleet-street. Royal quarto, pp. 79.

[] The public were admitted through Mr. Comptroller's house, in the front of the hall, into the galleries, and went out at the back of the hall into Basinghall-street, by the means of temporary stairs erected at each of the upper ends of the galleries those on the north side leading to the passage by the office of works, and those on the south side to the passage by the hall-keeper's house.