resort to the new buildings on the Surrey side of the river, whereby the estates in the city would inevitably be ruined; it was found expedient, therefore, immediately to adopt such measures as should be thought most advantageous for preserving the health and comfort of the inhabitants. For this purpose the new common council, at their first meeting on the 22d of January 1760, came to a resolution," that an application should be made to parliament for a bill to empower the city to make such alterations in regard to the avenues leading into it, as should be thought necessary, and might tend to its advantage. A petition was therefore presented, and parliament immediately granted their request. By the act which passed this sessions for openings in va→ rious parts of the city, the following improvements were ordered, but have not been altogether completed. In Aldersgate Ward. A passage twenty feet wide, from the east side of Aldersgate Street (opposite to Little Britain) to the west of Noble Street, opposite to Oat Lane; and through Wood Street, opposite to Love Lane. This has not been done, though an opening has been since made, now called Falcon Square. In Aldgate Ward. A passage fifty feet wide, from the mason's shop facing Crutched Friars, in a direct line to the Minories. Now a fine street through America Square. A passage twenty-five feet wide, through Northumberland Alley, into Crutched Friars. Not done. In Bishopsgate Ward. A passage twenty-five feet wide, through Angel Court, in Bishopsgate Street, into Little St. Helen's. Not done. A passage twenty feet wide, from Broad Street, through Union Court, into Bishopsgate Street. Not done. In Coleman Street Ward. A passage fifty feet wide, from Tokenhouse Yard to London Wall. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Without. A passage thirty feet wide, in the middle of Snow Hill to the Fleet Market. This improvement has recently taken place in Skinner Street, &c. A passage twenty-five feet wide, from Butcherhall Lane into Little Britain. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Within. A passage through Cock Alley, on Ludgate Hill, opposite to the Old Bailey, forty feet wide, into Blackfriars. Not done. THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES TO BE IMPROVED AND ENLARGED. In Aldgate Ward. The east side of Billiter Lane, to en large the passage thirty feet. The east end of Leadenhall Street to be thirty-five feet wide. Part of the houses on the cast side of Poor Jury Lane, beginning at the north side of the Horse and Trumpet, and extending to Gould Square, to range in a line with that end of the lane next to Aldgate; the passage to be made thirtyfive feet wide. In Broad Street Ward. The house to be pulled down at the west end of the buildings, between Cornhill and Threadneedle Street, opposite to the south end of Prince's Street, and the ground laid into the street. The improvements at the Bank have obviated this. Houses to be pulled down on the south side of Threadneedle Street, extending from the houses before-mentioned eastward, till that part of the street opposite to the Bank gates; and the passage there to be enlarged to thirty-five feet in width. This done in Bank Buildings, &c. In Coleman Street Ward. One house on the north-east corner of the Old Jury; and another house at the south-west corner of Coleman Street, and the ground laid into the street. In Cordwainer's Ward. The house at the north-east corner of Trinity Lane, near the Dog tavern, to be pulled down, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Cornhill Ward. The house at the west end of the buildings, between Cornhill and Lombard Street, and the ground into the street. Not done, and is at present a great obstruction. In Cripplegate Ward Within. The houses which project forwards at the west end of Silver Street, from the end of Monkwell Monkwell Street, quite through into Aldersgate-street, to make a street forty feet wide. Partially done. The houses at the corner of Aldermanbury, facing Milkstreet, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Within. The tin shop and the trunkmaker's house, at the south-west corner of Cheapside, leading into St. Paul's church-yard, and the ground laid into the street. Partially complied with, by a sweep at the trunk shop. Such part of the houses in Creed Lane, as are necessary to widen the passage to thirty feet. Not done. In Farringdon Ward Without. All the houses in Middle Row, between the paved alley adjoining to St. Sepulchre's church and Giltspur Street, from the north end quite through to the south end, facing Hart Street, and the ground laid into the street; and all the houses in the Middle Row, between the Great and Little Old Bailey, from the north end, facing Hart Street, to the Baptist's Head at the south end, facing the Great Old Bailey, and the ground laid into the street. Perfectly complied with, and is an excellent improvement. The shops under St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet Street, and the ground laid into the street. All removed, except at the east end. In Langbourn Ward. Such part of the houses at the end of Mark Lane, next to Fenchurch Street, as will make the passage there thirty feet wide. Such part of the houses at the east end of Lombard Street, as will make the passage there thirty feet. Not done. In Portsoken Ward. The houses at the north-east corner of Hounsditch, adjoining to the church yard, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Tower Ward. Such part of the houses on St. Dunstan's Hill, adjoining to the George public house, and opposite to the Chain; and such part of the warehouses opposite to the end of St. Dunstan's church, as will make the passage thirty feet wide. Not done. The house on the north-west corner of Great Tower Street; and also the house on the south-east corner of VOL. I. No. 19. 3 L Little Little Tower Street, occupied by Messrs. Julon and Lidner, to make a convenient passage. Not done. The house in Mark Lane, which adjoins to Alhallows Staining, and projects twelve feet before the other houses, to make it range in a line with the other houses, and enlarge the passage. In Vintry Ward. The houses on the north end of Thames Street, which reach from Elbow Lane to College Hill, and also those on the south side of the said street, which reach from Vintner's Hall to Bull Wharf Lane, in order to make the street forty feet wide. The house at the corner of Tower Royal, facing College Hill, to be pulled down, and the ground laid into the street. Not done. In Wallbrook Ward. The house at the north east corner of Bucklersbury, which projects before the other buildings. Not done. In Bishopsgate Ward. The two houses between New Broad Street, and New Broad Street Buildings. This has been adopted. Besides the improvements proposed to be made in this city by widening certain streets, lanes, and passages, pursuant to an act obtained for that purpose, the committee of City Lands came to a resolution to take down London Wall from Moorgate to Cripplegate, and all the houses from that side of Fore Street, and build a row of new houses on London Wall, widening the whole street twelve feet. There was no necessity for inserting this in the act, it being all in the city's estate. This year was rendered remarkable by the calamities of fire, a violent hurricane, and by the execution of Earl Ferrers, for the murder of his steward; but as the recapitulation of similarity is irrelevant to our more immediate object, we proceed to relate, that the several plans having been presented to the committee appointed for managing the new bridge to be erected at Blackfriars, they at length gave the preference to that of Mr. Mylne; and the first pile for the bridge was driven in the middle of the river, one the 7th of June, 1760. Among |