HOUSES.

1. HOUSES and lodgings in London are let either furniſhed or unfurniſhed, and their prices are according to their ſize, their ſituation, and their man⯑ner of fitting up. In the central parts of London and Weſtminſter, ſuch as the neighbourhood of St. James's, Charing-Croſs, the ſquares, Covent-Garden, the thea⯑tres, St. Paul's Church-yard, Cheapſide, the Royal Ex⯑change, &c. they are high rented; in more diſtant parts they are cheaper, and in by-ſtreets, courts, lanes, alleys, and ſuch obſcure places, cheaper ſtill.

A private houſe 24 feet in front, and about ſeventy deep, two or three rooms on a floor, unfurniſhed, in the beſt ſtreets, will let from 100 guineas a-year to 150; ſuch a houſe, in other places, may be had from 80 to 100 guineas: unfurniſhed lodgings in ſuch houſes are ſeldom to be met with.

In leſs central places, but in good ſtreets, unfurniſh⯑ed houſes of twenty feet in front, two rooms and a light cloſet on a floor, may be had for ſixty or ſeventy guineas a-year; and houſes of eighteen feet in front for forty or thirty guineas, according to the ſituation and conveniencies. Unfurniſhed lodgings in ſuch houſes let proportionably. The firſt floor generally goes at half the net rent of the houſe without taxes; the parlour floor, or ſecond floor, at one fourth.

[2]2. Houſes about twenty-one feet in front will let from four guineas a week furniſhed to eight guineas, according to the ſeaſon of the year and the time they are engaged for. The deareſt ſeaſon is from Chriſtmas to June, when families are in town and the parliament ſitting; the cheapeſt, when families are out of town, and the parliament prorogued. In the winter ſeaſon, ſuch a houſe as I have mentioned, taken for four or five months, may poſſibly be had for ſeven guineas a-week. Thus taken, the tenant pays no taxes, the goods are delivered on inventory, and whatever is deſtroyed is paid for. Furniſhed lodgings, that is, the firſt floor with a ſervant's room, &c. in ſuch a houſe, will let for from two guineas a-week to three and a half, in pro⯑portion to the goodneſs of the furniture, the conveni⯑encies wanted, the trouble given, the time they are engaged for, and the ſeaſon of the year.

Houſes of fifty guineas a-year rent will let furniſhed for from two guineas weekly to five, and the firſt floor furniſhed will let for, from one guinea a week to two guineas; ſecond floors two thirds of the rent of firſt floors, and parlour floors at the price of ſecond floors.

3. It is generally eſtimated, that in lodging-houſes the rent of the firſt floor furniſhed, with other conve⯑niencies, ſuch as kitchen, cellars, garret, &c. ſhall pay the rent and taxes of the whole houſe unfurniſhed.

4. Shops, when let ſeparate, will fetch from 20 l. a-year to 60 l. free of taxes, according to their ſize, ſitu⯑ation, trade of the ſtreet, and ſhew of window.

5. Landlords have now got into a method of making tenants pay guineas for rent inſtead of pounds, and alſo land-tax and repairs; but all theſe outgoings ſhould be conſidered when the agreement is made, as well as the taxes on the houſe, for in ſome pariſhes the poor-rates and land-tax are lower than in others. Perſons who have money may often get the remnant of a leaſe cheap, provided they will pay down a certain ſum of money for ſuch leaſe; for there are always diſtreſſed houſe-keepers in London, trying to procure money by every poſſible means; for which reaſon, ſuch as pur⯑chaſe a leaſe ſhould examine the covenants of that leaſe, and the ſtate of the building, and particularly take care [3] that the rent and taxes are paid up to the time they take poſſeſſion of it, and alſo the ground-rent, by ſee⯑ing the receipts; otherwiſe the tenant may have the arrears of ſuch rent or taxes to pay, and the ſeller of the leaſe may not be found, or, if found, not able to repay.

6. The general conditions of a leaſe are, to leave ſuch fixtures at the end of the term as are given in with the leaſe on ſchedule, and to leave it in ſuch a ſtate as it was in when taken, the wear from time only excepted; to pay the rent half-yearly, under a forfei⯑ture of the leaſe, but with a liberty of aſſigning it dur⯑ing the term.

7. If a tenant purchaſes or takes a leaſe of another tenant, during its term, by aſſignment, he is no longer bound for the rent than whilſt it is in his poſſeſſion; he may aſſign it to another, and, this done, is no longer anſwerable for the rent; but the firſt tenant, aſſigning it without the conſent of his landlord, is held bound for the rent during the whole term, if the occupier does not pay it.

[4]8. TABLE, ſhewing how many Years Purchaſe an An⯑nuity or Leaſe is worth, ſo as to make 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 per cent. of Money. Y. M. D. Years, Months, Days.

Note, F. S. or the Fee Simple, is the Perpetuity.

[5]9. In purchaſing a leaſe of a tenant, it is often ex⯑pected that the purchaſer ſhould alſo buy the fixtures at a fair appraiſement; in doing this, he ſhould exa⯑mine the leaſe, and ſee that he does not give money for thoſe fixtures which belong to the houſe; for land⯑lords will often fit up a houſe with every neceſſary fix⯑ture, and put the tenant to no expence in this matter. But if the fixtures have been put up by the tenant, he has a liberty to remove or ſell all ſuch as are not fixed to the freehold.

Fixtures removeable are locks, bells, ciſterns, grates fixed, coppers, dreſſers, ſhelves, counters, &c. Paper paſted to the wall, buildings erected, new windows, chimney-pieces, &c. or things to beautify the houſe, &c. and fixed to the freehold, muſt go with the houſe, at the end of the term, and cannot be removed.

When goods or fixtures are appraiſed, the ſeller and the buyer each appoints one appraiſer, and the price is fixed between them; if they cannot agree, a third is called in by the other two, and his deciſion is final.— If ſix or eight hours is taken up in this buſineſs, each appraiſer expects a guinea for his trouble; if a few fix⯑tures only are to be appraiſed, the appraiſer will expect only half-a-guinea. However, if you employ him in removing your furniture, repairing it, &c. and you make a prior agreement with him, he will probably not charge you for the appraiſing of a few fixtures. Be careful to have an honeſt man for an appraiſer, for his voice has been known to have been bought over on the other ſide. When goods are appraiſed to a buyer, a greater value is put upon them than they would fetch at a ſale; and if immediately ſold, they would not fetch the appraiſed price by thirty per⯑cent.

10. In taking a houſe of its owner, take care that it is in thorough repair, and give a rent accordingly.

11. It is very dangerous to take unfurniſhed lodg⯑ings in London; for ſhould the tenant of the houſe not pay his rent, your goods will be liable to be ſeized for it; ſo will your carriage and horſes ſtanding at livery, for the rent of the ſtables, if that rent is in arrear.— To avoid this, enquire into the circumſtances of the [6] houſe-keeper, and if you cannot get the landlord of the houſe to give you an agreement in writing, that he will not ſeize your goods for any arrears that may become due by his tenant, aſk to ſee the landlord's receipt for the laſt half-year, before you pay your own rent.

12. Such houſe-keepers who have troubleſome lodg⯑ers, may remove them, if they will not quit otherwiſe, by raiſing the rent weekly upon them; and if they re⯑fuſe to pay, ſuing them for the ſame; if the lodgings are furniſhed, and they do not pay, an opportunity may be taken, when the lodger and all perſons be⯑longing to him are out of the apartments, to lock the door, and keep him from re-entering; if any thing is owing, any effects of the lodger may be detained.

13. If a tenant of an unfurniſhed houſe gives notice to his landlord to quit, and does not quit at the time given in ſuch notice; or if he will not quit the pre⯑miſes on a legal notice from his landlord, but holds poſſeſſion beyond his term, if the landlord has ac⯑quainted him in writing that he expects double rent for his ſo doing, he is obliged to pay double the rent firſt agreed on. 11 Geo. 2. c. 19. ſ. 18. 4 Geo. 2. c. 28. ſ. 1.

If a tenant cannot be removed by any of theſe means, he muſt be ejected out by a courſe of law.

Notice of warning muſt be in writing, directed to the tenant.

14. It is a late determination of the courts, that if it be neceſſary to give a tenant at will half-a-year's notice to quit, the ſaid notice muſt be given half-a-year be⯑fore the expiration of his year; that is to ſay, his year and the notice muſt expire at the ſame time; for if the [...]enant enters upon another year, he may keep poſſeſ⯑ſion the whole of that year, and no ejectment to put him out before will ſtand good.

15. For every dwelling-houſe inhabited, rented from 5 l. to 20 l. the occupier muſt pay 6 d. in the pound, 18 Geo. 3. c. 26.19 Geo. 3. c. 59.

At 20 l. and upwards to any ſum under 40 l. 9 d. in the pound. Ibid.

All at 40 l. and upwards, 1 s. in the pound. Ibid.

[7]The offices, yards, gardens, coach-houſes, brew-houſes, wood-houſes, waſh-houſes, &c. provided they all ſtand within the compaſs of one acre, belonging to the dwelling-houſe, muſt be valued with the dwelling-houſe, and ſhall be charged with the ſame duties. Ibid

Shops and warehouſes, if attached to the dwelling-houſes, ſhall alſo be liable to be reckoned in with the rent, except the warehouſes of wharfingers. Ibid.

But no warehouſe that is a diſtinct building ſhall be liable. Ibid.

No houſe ſhall be deemed inhabited, where only one perſon is leſt in charge of it. Ibid.

Where houſes are let out in tenements, the landlords ſhall pay the duty. Ibid.

Halls and offices that pay other taxes are liable to this. Ibid.

Penalties for refuſing or neglect, to be ſued for in the courts of Weſtminſter, and the proſecutor ſhall have full coſts if he recovers.

SHOPS.

16. Every occupier of a houſe, part of which ſhall be uſed as a ſhop, publickly kept open for carrying on trade, or ſelling any goods by retail; and every build⯑ing or place uſed as a ſhop only ſhall pay a yearly duty as under.

25 Geo. 3. c. 30. ſ. 1.

To be paid by the occupier only, notwithſtanding any agreement with the landlord to the contrary. Ibid. ſ. 5.

The rent of the houſe to be aſcertained by the aſ⯑ſeſſment of the houſe-tax of 19 Geo. 3. c. 59. Ibid. ſ. 6.

[8]No warehouſe for lodging goods, diſtinct from the public ſhop, or adjoining to it, if uſed only as a whole⯑ſale ſhop, ſhall be charged with the duty. Ibid. ſ. 7.

Nor ſhall bakers or venders of flour, meal, bran or rubbles, be liable to this duty. Ibid. ſ. 8.

Where houſes are divided into different apartments amongſt ſeveral occupiers, the ſame ſhall be aſſeſſed as one houſe, and the duty paid by the landlord. Ibid. ſ. 9.

The duties ſhall be aſſeſſed, levied and collected in ſuch manner, and with ſuch allowances, and under ſuch forfeitures, and according to ſuch rules as are pre⯑ſcribed for aſſeſſing, collecting, and levying the win⯑dow-tax. Ibid. ſ. 10. See Windows.

Aſſeſſors are to eſtimate the rent of ſuch houſes, and may examine the pariſh rate-books for that purpoſe.— And perſons refuſing them ſhall forfeit 40 s. Ibid. ſ. 20, 28.

Houſes not to be aſſeſſed at any leſs value yearly than as they ſtand rated to other public taxes. Ibid. ſ. 29.

Perſons overcharged may appeal to the commiſſion⯑ers (without expence) and from them to any juſtice of the King's-Bench in England and Wales Ib. ſ. 32, 35.

Penalties not exceeding 20 l. to be recovered before a juſtice; upwards of that ſum in a court of law. Ibid. ſ. 36, 37.

Perſons aggrieved by a juſtice, may appeal to the quarter-ſeſſions. Ibid. ſ. 38.

Perſons ſummoned by a juſtice to attend as a wit⯑neſs, and not attending, forfeit 40 s. Ibid.

All proſecutions to be commenced within one year of the offence; and perſons ſued for any thing done in virtue of their office, may plead the general iſſue, and if acquitted ſhall have treble coſts. Ibid. ſ 42.

17. Perſons who have no furniture, and to whom it may be inconvenient to purchaſe it, may hire it of bro⯑kers, at the rate of from 15 l. to 30 l. for every hun⯑dred pounds worth of goods, according to the time it is wanted. If hired for one year, they will expect 30 l. per cent. if two years, about 25 l. per cent. if [9] for three or four years, about 20 l. per cent. and ſo on in proportion; at 30l. per cent. if taken for four or five years, upholders will lend new furniture, and make it up to the taſte of the borrower.

18. But if houſe-keepers can make ſhift and furniſh a houſe by degrees, they may for ready money, if they are acquainted with the value of things, purchaſe ar⯑ticles at ſales, frequently at leſs than half their firſt coſt, and often at a third, provided they attend ſuch reſpectable ſales, as are advertiſed ſome days before in all the newſpapers.

19. If you mean to purchaſe any thing of conſequence at an auction, ſuch as an eſtate, a houſe, &c. it is ad⯑viſeable to take ſome intelligent perſon with you, as a witneſs of the tranſaction; you may aſk the auctioneer what queſtions you pleaſe concerning it, and whatever he aſſures you on the ſubject, he is obliged to make good, or the purchaſe is void.

The principal auctioneers in London, whoſe terms generally, for ſelling goods ſeven and an half per cent. paying all expences except the King's duty, which is 6 d. in the pound, are,

• Mr. Alderman Skinner and Co. Alderſgate-ſtreet.
• Mr. Chriſtie, Pall-Mall.
• Mr. Robins, Covent-Garden.
• Mr. Anſel, Spring-Gardens.
• Mr. Spurrier, Copthall-court, Throgmorton-ſtreet.
• Mr. Denew, Charles-ſtreet, Berkley-ſquare.
• Mr. Ridgeway, Fe [...]church-ſtreet.
• Mr. Barford, Leiceſter-ſquare.

• Meſſ. Tatterſall, Hyde-Park Corner.
• Mr. Langhorn, Barbican.
• Mr. Aldridge, St. Martin's-lane.
• Mr. Hopkins, Holborn.
• Mr. Mackenzie, Park-ſtreet, Groſvenor-ſquare.

• Meſſrs. Leigh and Sotheby, York-ſtreet, Covent-garden.
• Mr. Patterſon, King-ſtreet, ditto.
• Meſſ. Egerton, Whitehall.

• Mr. Elderton, Bow-church yard.

But there are a variety of leſſer ones, perhaps equally reſpectable.

INSURANCE-OFFICES FROM FIRE.

20. When your houſe is furniſhed, the next pre⯑caution to be taken is, to inſure it from fire: this may be done at ſeveral public inſurance-offices, and at a very ſmall annual premium. The landlord generally inſures the building.

1. The Sun-Fire Office, near the Royal Exchange, and in Craig's-court, Charing-croſs, has been eſteemed the moſt eligible, becauſe the proprietors act liberally to the inſur⯑ed, and pay the amount of any loſs with little trouble to the ſupplicant. They expect you to give in the beſt eſtimate you can of the loſs ſuſtained, ſwear to the amount, and then they immediately pay; they uſed to deduct three per cent. on the payment, but have lately altered their plan, and pay now the full ſum inſured, if the goods loſt amount to that ſum. The clerks ex⯑pect ſome ſmall fees to the amount of a few guineas.

The Sun-Fire Office, beſides 7 s. 6d. for the policy and mark, has the following annual premiums:—

[11]The common inſurances comprehend all brick and ſtone buildings not occupied by hazardous trades or goods; hazardous inſurances are on timber-buildings and goods, and merchandizes in them called hazard⯑ous; as diſtillers, chemiſts, apothecaries, colour-men, tallow-chandlers, oil-men, inn-holders, &c. The double-hazardous are thatched, timber, or plaſter build⯑ings. If there is any part of the building wood or plaſter on the outſide, hazardous inſurance muſt be paid.

2. The London Aſſurance, Birchin-lane, eſtabliſhed by a royal charter, aſſures houſes and other buildings, goods, wares and merchandiſe, being the property of the aſſured, on commiſſion or in truſt, houſehold goods, furniture, wearing apparel, and printed books, (except writings, books of accompts, notes, bills, bonds, money, jewels, pictures, gun-powder, cattle, hay, ſtraw, and corn [...]nthraſhed,) from loſs or damage by fire, upon the fol⯑lowing terms and conditions:

All brick or ſtone buildings, covered with ſlate, tile or lead, wherein no hazardous goods are depoſited, nor any hazardous trades carried on, will be aſſured at the premiums under common inſurance; ſo will all goods [...]nd wares in ſuch buildings.

Timber or plaſter buildings covered with ſlate, tile or lead, wherein no hazardous goods are depoſited, [...]or any hazardous trades carried on, are conſidered as hazardous inſurances: ſo are all goods and wares not hazardous, if depoſited in ſuch buildings; and all ha⯑zardous trades, ſuch as apothecaries, bread and biſ⯑cuit bakers, colourmen, coopers, ſhip and tallow [...]handlers, inn-holders, malſters, ſail-makers and ſtable [...]eepers, though carried on in brick or ſtone buildings, [...]overed with ſlate, tile or lead; alſo all hazardous [12] goods, ſuch as hemp, flax, tow, pitch, tallow, tar and turpentine, depoſited in brick or ſtone buildings, co⯑vered with ſlate, tile or lead, wherein no hazardous trades are carried on.

Timber or plaſter buildings, covered with ſlate, tile or lead, wherein hazardous goods are depoſited, or any hazardous trades carried on; alſo thatched buildings, wherein are no hazardous goods or trades carried on, and ſhip-carpenters and boat-builders are conſidered as doubly hazardous; alſo hazardous goods depoſited in hazardous buildings, in which hazardous trades are carried on; alſo goods in thatched buildings, glaſs, china and earthen wares.

Chemiſts, diſtillers, ſugar-bakers, and others whoſe trades are attended with extraordinary hazard, from the nature thereof, or other dangerous circumſtances, and alſo deal yards, will be aſſured by ſpecial agree⯑ment.

Dwelling-houſes, out-houſes, and other buildings, goods, wares and merchandiſe, may be aſſured in one policy, provided the ſum aſſured on each be particular⯑ly mentioned.

Perſons aſſuring for ſeven years will be allowed one year's premium, and the like abatement will be made out of the duty payable to government.

Aſſurances on buildings and goods are deemed diſ⯑tinct and ſeparate adventures, ſo that the premium on buildings is not advanced by reaſon of aſſuring goods therein, nor the premium on goods by reaſon of aſſur⯑ing the buildings wherein they are kept.

No loſs or damage happening to plate will be paid, unleſs it be expreſsly mentioned to be aſſured, and in adjuſting loſſes thereon, the ſame ſhall not be valued at more than 6 s. per ounce; and in adjuſting loſſes on houſes, no wainſcot, ſculpture or carved work ſhall be valued at more than 3s. per yard.

This Office allows all reaſonable charges attending the removal of goods in caſe of fire, and pays the loſs of the aſſured, if the goods ſhall be deſtroyed, loſt, or damaged by ſuch removal, without any deduction.

3. The Hand-in-Hand Office, oppoſite St. Sepulchre's church, Snow-hill, inſures for ſeven years at 10 s. de⯑poſit, [13] and 2 s. premium per cent. on brick or ſtone, and double that ſum for timber-houſes, the ſum not exceeding 1500 l. and for any ſum from 1500 l. to 2000 l. 4 s. per cent. on brick or ſtone, and double on timber-houſes, for any term of years not exceeding ſeven. But a ſum not exceeding 2000 l. is not to be inſured on any building, without the approbation of a general court; and the office inſures only three-fourths of the value of each houſe. This office inſures houſes only, on the plan of the Union-Office. See the Union-Office.

4. The Union-Office, Maiden-lane, Cheapſide, is formed on the ſame model as that of the Hand-in-Hand, excepting that, inſtead of houſes, this Office only inſures goods and merchandiſe, not exceeding the ſum of 6000 l. in any one houſe, warehouſe, yard, &c. at the following rates.

Beſides the parliamentary ſtamp-duties, (and the charge of the policy and mark, which is 9 s. 6 d.) for every 100 l. inſured for ſeven years, ſhall be paid a certain premium, and a depoſit as follows:—

Common Inſurances are in houſes built on all ſides with brick or ſtone, and covered with ſtate, tiles or lead, and in which no hazardous trades are carried on.

Hazardous inſurances are goods, not uſually deemed hazardous, in timber or plaſter buildings; and hazar⯑dous goods or trades, ſuch as pitch, tar, tallow, hemp, ſlax, roſin, &c. apothecaries, coopers, bread or biſ⯑cuit bakers, ſhip and tallow chandlers, ſail and rope-makers, colourmen, inn-holders, &c. in brick or ſtone buildings.

Double-hazardous inſurances are, hazardous goods and trades, in timber or plaſter buildings: and alſo [14] chemiſts, ſhip-carpenters, boat-builders, china, glaſs and earthen ware, hay and ſtraw, &c.

Particular caſes, and other inſurances more hazar⯑dous ſtill, are ſubject to the orders and diſcretion of the directors.

The inſurance takes place from the time the charge is paid, and the deed ſubſcribed by the inſurer. If any alteration is made on the premiſes where the goods, &c. are inſured, notice muſt be given at the office, and ſuch alteration approved by the directors, or the poli⯑cy is void.

The depoſit-money is returned on the expiration of the policy; that is, at the end of the ſeven years, with a proportionable dividend of profits (after deduction of loſſes and incidental charges only).

Every member or inſurer ſhall pay a due proportion of all loſſes and charges; and if ſuch proportion ſhall at any time, beyond the depoſit-money, be more than equal to the ſum at firſt depoſited, then any member or inſurer, who by inſurance becomes a member, ſhall be at liberty to quit the ſociety, paying his proportion due at that time.

Any member may transfer his policy; and the exe⯑cutors or adminiſtrators of every member dying, ſhall, within three months, give notice at the office, and have ſuch transfer or draft indorſed upon his policy, in which caſe, the aſſignee, executor, or adminiſtrator, ſhall be entitled to the ſame benefit the original inſurer was; that is, if the directors think proper: if not, they ſhall only have the proportionable profits up to the time of transfer or death.

Members may attend general meetings, which are held twice a year, and may at any time ſee the orders and proceedings of the directions, books of accounts, &c.

5. The Weſtminſter Fire-Office, Bedford-ſtreet, Co⯑vent-garden, inſures houſes only, and on the following terms:—

Every perſon inſuring for one year ſhall pay for ſuch inſurance, for every hundred pounds. two ſhillings for brick, and four ſhillings for timber buildings, exclu⯑ſive of all preſent and future Parliamentary impoſiti⯑ons, [15] provided the premiſes are ſituate within ten miles from the office.

Perſons inſuring for ſeven years become proprietors of the office; and in conſideration of their payment for the whole term in advance, will be allowed one year's inſurance in ſeven. They are to pay a pre⯑mium at the rate of two ſhillings per cent. and a depo⯑ſit of ten ſhillings per cent. on brick, and double thoſe ſums on timber buildings within five miles from the office.

All ſeptennial inſurers ſhall contribute to making good the loſſes in proportion to their inſurance; but none to be charged above ten ſhillings per cent. for brick, and double for timber houſes, &c. which if any loſs ſhall ever require, any member, firſt paying his ſaid ſhare, and remitting the depoſit-money, may ſur⯑render his policy, and be diſcharged.

The depoſit-money to be returned to every inſurer at the expiration of his policy, together with the yearly dividends of profit, except what ſhall be neceſſary to defray incident charges and loſſes by fire, which ſhall be firſt deducted out of the ſame.

Houſes and buildings having the fronts and back fronts built with brick or ſtone, and having alſo ſuffi⯑cient brick party-walls, are to be deemed brick; and others not ſo built, to be deemed timber.

All buildings inſured to be viewed by the ſurveyor of the office, who is to determine their quality, whe⯑ther brick or timber.

Every policy to be charged four-pence, and every mark to fix on the houſe one ſhilling and four-pence.

This office inſures to the full value on all houſes.

Gilding, car [...]ing, and hiſtory painting, are not in⯑cluded in the inſurance; nor will more than 75 l. be allowed for any marble chimney-piece; nor more than 75 l. for an ornamental [...]eling; nor more than two ſhillings and ſix pence per foot running for ſtucco cor⯑mices and entablature; nor more than ſixpence per yard running for papering.

[16]6 The Phoenix Company, or New Fire-Office, in [...]ombard-ſtreet, inſures houſes, goods, and merchan⯑diſe, to any amount, on the following terms:—

Buildings and goods are here conſidered as ſeparate riſks, and therefore the premium or money paid annu⯑ally will not increaſe, as ſet forth in the above table, unleſs the property inſured is in one riſk, and ſhall exceed 1000l.

Large ſums may be inſured by ſpecial agreement.

The price of the policy and mark is 8 s. 6 d.

On death the policy may be continued to the heir, provided the policy is brought to the office to be in⯑dorſed. Perſons changing their habitations may have their policies indorſed, which keeps them in force.

This office, in caſe of loſs, pays the full value for chimney-pieces, carving, ſtucco-work, and other de⯑corations.

Perſons inſuring for ſeven years will be charged for ſix years only, and if they inſure for a number of years more or leſs than ſeven, will be allowed a rea⯑ſonable diſcount, both in the premium and inſurance tax.

7. The Royal Exchange Aſſurance Office, over the Ex⯑change, eſtabliſhed by royal charter, inſures from loſs or damage by fire, houſes and other buildings, houſe-hold furniture, wearing apparel, printed books, goods, wares and merchandiſes, being the property of the aſ⯑ſured or on commiſſion, (except all manner of writing books of accompts, notes, bills, bonds, tallies, ready money, and gun-powder) upon the following terms and conditions: [17]

Any larger ſums may be aſſured by ſpecial agree⯑ment.

Aſſurances on jewels, plate, medals, watches, prints not in trade, pictures, drawings, and ſtatuary-work; alſo aſſurances to chemiſts, diſtillers, and ſugar-refiners; or any other aſſurances more than ordinarily hazardous, by reaſon of the trade, nature of the goods, narrowneſs of the place, or other dangerous circumſtances, muſt be particularly ſpecified, and may be made by ſpecial agreement.

Any number of dwelling-houſes, and the out-houſes thereunto belonging, together with the goods therein, may be aſſured in one policy, provided the ſum to be aſſured on each is particularly mentioned.

Aſſurances on buildings and goods are deemed diſ⯑tinct and ſeparate adventures, ſo that the premium on goods is not advanced by reaſon of any aſſurance on the building wherein the goods are kept, nor the pre⯑mium on the building by reaſon of any aſſurance on the goods.

For accommodation of ſuch perſons as are deſirous of being aſſured for more than one year. a diſcount of 5 l. per cent. per annum, on the yearly premium will be allowed for all years except the firſt, and perſons ſo aſſured are not ſubject to any calls or contribution to make good loſſes.

Every perſon upon application to be aſſured with this Company, is to depoſit 2 s. and 6 d. for the mark, and 6 s. for the Policy, on ſums not exceeding 1000 l. and 11 s. for the Policy, on ſums exceeding 1000 l. [18] which money is to be returned, if the aſſurance pro⯑poſed is not agreed to. No Policy is to be of any force till the premium for one year is paid.

In adjuſting loſſes, no plate is to be valued at more than ſix ſhillings per ounce, except by ſpecial agree⯑ment.

Perſons aſſured by this corporation do not depend upon an uncertain fund or contribution, nor are they ſubject to any covenants or calls to make good loſſes which may happen to themſelves or others; the capital ſtock of this corporation being an unqueſtionable ſe⯑curity to the aſſured, in caſe of loſs or damage by fire. And in caſe of diſpute, the aſſureds have a more ready and effectual method of recovery, than can be had a⯑gainſt any ſocieties who do not act under a common ſeal.

This corporation will, in caſe of fire, allow all rea⯑ſonable charges attending the removal of goods, and pay the ſufferer's loſs, whether the goods are deſtroyed, loſt, or damaged by ſuch removal, without any deduction.

9 As an addition to the expence of inſurance, go⯑vernment has laid a tax of 1 s. 6 d. on every 100 l. inſured, which muſt be paid at the time you pay your inſurance, which is always a year in advance.

10. It is cuſtomary for theſe offices to have inſert⯑ed in the body of the policy the particular articles you inſure, and how much upon each; as for example: Cloaths 50 l. books 30 l. furniture 150 l. plate 70 l. &c. and though you were to inſure to the amount of 1000 l. they never pay more than you can make ap⯑pear you have loſt. If inſuring as above, you have loſt 100 l. of cloaths, they will pay no more than 50 l. the ſum inſured, and the ſame in other articles. It is folly, therefore, to inſure beyond the value of your real property. If your property increaſes at any [...] ⯑ture time, and you wiſh to inſure more, you can have a new policy for 6 s. 6 d.

11. In caſe of removal, the ſame policy will do, with the addition of an indorſement, for which they charge one ſhilling.

12. All theſe offices pay for the removal of goods, in caſe of an adjoining fire.

BAKERS, BREAD AND MILK.

1. EVERY peck loaf ſhall weigh 17 lb. 6 oz. averdupois weight; every half peck 8 lb. 11 oz. and every quartern loaf 4 lb. 5 oz. and an half; to be weighed within twenty-four hours after baking or being ſold, under the penalty of from 1 s. to 5 s. for every ounce deficient, at the diſcretion of the magiſ⯑trate, the bread to be taken and weighed in his pre⯑ſence; for every deficiency of weight under one ounce, the penalty is from 6 d. to 2 s. 6 d. 31 Geo. 2. c. 39. 3 Geo. 3. c. 11.

2. Bread made for ſale ſhall be fairly marked; wheaten-bread with a large Roman W, and houſehold-bread with an H, to aſcertain under what denomina⯑tion it was made, under a penalty not exceeding 20 s. nor under 5 s. Ibid.

3. Any baker or other perſon demanding or taking a higher price for bread, than what the ſame ſhall be ſet at by the aſſize, or refuſing to ſell to any perſon any of the ſorts allowed or ordered to be made; when he ſhall have more than is neceſſary for the immediate uſe of his family or cuſtomers, forfeits not exceeding 40 s. nor leſs than 10 s. Ibid.

4. If a certain weight of wheaten-bread coſts 8 d. the ſame weight of ſtandard wheaten (to be marked S. W.) ſhall be ſold for 7 d. and the ſame weight of [27] houſehold-bread ſhall be ſold for 6 d. on penalty of from 10 s. to 40 s. Ibid.

Bread inferior to wheaten is not to be ſold at a higher price than houſehold-bread is ſet at, on penalty of 20 s. Ibid. Applications to a magiſtrate.

5. Bakers' men, who carry the bread round to their cuſtomers, will ſometimes, if families run up a bill, ſell a loaf or two by the way, and put the money into their own pockets, telling their maſters, that they left them at ſuch houſes. The maſter, of courſe, charges the cuſtomer for bread he never had; and, when the bill comes to be paid, it perhaps occaſions a diſpute, and the buyer finds himſelf obliged to pay for it after all. To avoid this, the beſt method is, never to run a bill with a baker, but pay for the bread as it is left; or, if this be inconvenient, order the bill in every Monday morning, while the occurrences of the week are in the memory: theſe bills, examined and filed, will prevent your being cheated. Bakers, like milk-women, will ſometimes leave tallies, on which they daily chalk what is left, but a mark is eaſily added, while the ſervant is inattentive, which robs you of the price of a loaf, or a pint of milk. Theſe marks are ſometimes made on the door-poſt, oftener without the door than within; of courſe an addition can be made unknown to your ſervant, as the baker or milk-woman paſſes the door; or they may be wholly rubbed out, by wanton boys or others, as is frequently the caſe; and when the ſcore is gone, the baker or milk-woman may charge what they pleaſe; and as they can ſell a loaf or a pint of milk to thoſe who pay ready money, and ſe⯑crete that money; to conceal this fraud from their maſ⯑ters, they will ſcore it up to their cuſtomers on credit.

6. With reſpect to milk, though ſold at 3 d. a quart, it is always mixed with water. There are cows that are driven into the ſtreets, about the weſt end of the town, from which you may have your milk, and ſee it milked, at 4 d. a quart, but the milk of theſe is not very good, as the cows are driven about all the day; yet it is better than what is brought by milk-women.

BUTCHERS AND MEAT.

1. IT is by no means adviſeable to deal with one butcher, unleſs you can agree to have all your meat, viz. beef, mutton, veal, lamb and pork, weigh⯑ed in, at one and the ſame price, all the year round; which ſome butchers will do at 5 d. a pound, and occaſionally give you, at the ſame price, a quarter of houſe-lamb. If you enter into ſuch an agreement, take care to have a bill of the weight always ſent home with the meat, and order it to be weighed by your own people.

If you make no ſuch agreement, and deal regularly with one butcher, you will frequently be charged for a joint you never had; and for half a pound, or a quarter of a pound more than the joint weighs: and you will always pay a halfpenny, or a farthing more per pound, than was you to go to market and cheapen it yourſelf. In buying a joint at market, of ſeven pounds and an half, you may often deduct the half pound, but when ſent home by a butcher who credits you, never. This conduct in a family will occaſion a great ſaving at the year's end. If you pay your butcher but once a quarter, be ſure to have a bill of the weight and price ſent in with your meat, and a re⯑gular bill of the week's meat every Monday morning. In this caſe you will ſee what you are about, and not be liable to be impoſed upon.

2. Good meat ſhould not look lean, dry, or ſhrivel⯑led; the fleſhy part ſhould be of a bright red, and the fat of a clear white. When the fleſh looks pale, and the fat yellow, the meat is not good. Cow beef is worth a penny a pound leſs than ox beef, except it be the meat of a maiden heiſer. In a buttock you may know it by the udder.

3. The average price of beef is from 4d. a pound to 5d. The prime boiling parts are the rump, buttock edge-bone, briſkit, thick and thin flank; roaſting pie⯑ces, the ſurloin and ribs.

[29]Butchers make a difference in price between pieces of beef to roaſt and boil; if you take a piece of each, they will ſell prime beef for 4d. halfpenny; if a boil⯑ling piece alone 4d. if roaſting alone 5d.

If you want rump-ſteaks in any quantity, it is cheap⯑er to give 7d. a pound without bone than 4d. halfpenny for the whole rump. A buttock is the cheapeſt joint, as it is free from bone; for if you wiſh it, the butcher will ſell it you without the marrow-bone, which is worth its weight for the marrow.

In buying a buttock of beef, be careful you do not buy the mouſe-buttock for the prime one. The differ⯑ence is eaſily known; the prime buttock is firſt cut off the leg, and is the thickeſt; the mouſe-buttock is thin⯑ner, and cut off the legs between the buttock and the leg bone, is coarſe meat, and not worth ſo much by one penny a pound.

A bullock's tongue will ſell from 2s. to 4s. 6d. ac⯑cording to its ſize and goodneſs. A good tongue ſhould look plump, clear and bright, not of a blackiſh hue.

4. The fleſh of mutton ſhould be of a bright red, and its fat of a clear white; and unleſs it is very fat it is worth little. Ewe mutton is not worth ſo much as weather by a penny in the pound; mutton five years old, if it can be got, is the moſt delicious; its natural gravy is brown. A leg of ewe mutton may be known by the udder on its ſkirt. The average price of prime weather mutton is 4d. halfpenny per pound, though it will ſell often for 5d. halfpenny.

5. The average price of veal is 6d. though it will often ſell for 8d. particularly the fillet. Large veal is ſeldom good. Veal ſhould be fat and very white, like rabbit or chicken, not red, or look as if it was much blown up.

6. The average price of graſs lamb is 6d. a pound, that of pig-pork the ſame, though pork chops will of⯑ten ſell for 7d. or 8d.

Houſe lamb at Chriſtmas is dear, and if fine and ſat will ſell for 7s. 6d. a quarter, the leg 5s. At other times it may be bought ſo low as 3s. 6d. a quarter.

7. If your butcher ſends you any tainted meat, he may be fined, by complaining to a magiſtrate; but the [30] readieſt and leaſt troubleſome method of redreſs, is [...] put up with a trifling loſs, and deal with ſuch a butche no more.

8. The beſt markets in town are, St. James's, New port, Clare-market, Newgate, Honey-lane, and Leaden hall, for meat; for vegetables, Covent-Garden and Leaden-hall; for freſh butter, Leaden-hall, particular⯑ly for Epping butter and cream cheeſe.

POULTRY.

1. POULTRY of all ſorts may be purchaſed cheape [...] of the higlers at the ſeveral markets, than at the Poulterer's ſhops; but of the higlers you muſt take care what you buy: fowls and chickens ſhould be fat plump and white, particularly white legged. Chicken may be known by their ſize, and fowls are young, if they have no ſpurs.

By the ſame marks you may judge of turkeys. A large cock-turkey at Chriſtmas cannot be bought for leſs than 6s. or 7s. at other times 5s.; a hen turkey from 4s. to 5s. 6d. Fat crammed chickens, about ten weeks old, on or about Lady-day, are worth about 3s. 6d. each, and a fine fowl at Midſummer is worth 3s. 6d. at other times chicken may be bought of higlers for 3s. or 4s. a couple, and fowls at the ſame price.

Ducks and geeſe ſhould look white, very plump, and broad over the breaſt. A fat gooſe, weight about 10 lb. on Michaelmas-day, is worth 5 s. at other times about 3 s. 6 d. A green gooſe in May is worth 4 s. The price of ducks is from 3 s. a couple to 5 s. Wild ducks, in froſty weather, may be bought in Fleet-market for 2 s. 6 d. a couple; at other times they are worth 2 s. each. If they ſmell fiſhy they are of little value; to know this, take one of the pen-feathers from the wing, and put it down the throat; if it ſmells fiſhy in draw⯑ing it out, the bird will taſte ſo. Dove-houſe pidge⯑ons, in May or June, may be bought for 3 s. 6 d. or 4 s. a dozen. In winter time, poulterers will aſk 1 s. 6 d. a piece. Larks, in hard weather, may be [31] had for 1 s. 6 d. a dozen. They are beſt ſoon after harveſt. Guinea fowls are beſt in Spring, when they get fat without feeding. At this time they are worth from 7 s. to 10 s. each; at other times they are worth little: theſe laſt can be bought only of the poulterers, of whom quails alſo may be had after harveſt, at 2 s. 6d. each. Woodcocks are from 2 s. to 4 s. each, accord⯑ing to the plenty or ſcarcity.

2. Eggs are from three a groat to eight, according to the time of the year; they are deareſt in winter: but ſuch as wiſh for new-laid eggs may frequently get them at the livery-ſtables, for one penny or three-half⯑pence each.

FISH.

FISH is generally deareſt and beſt, when in ſea⯑ſon.

1. Fiſh-mongers charge a price for fiſh according to their cuſtomers; to deal with one man regularly, and pay him once or twice a year, is as bad as dealing with butchers in the ſame way. A fiſh-monger near the ſquares will charge 2 s. 6 d. for a mackrell, which may be bought for half the money at Charing-croſs; and for one-third of the money from thoſe who cry them about.

To ſuch as live convenient, Billingſgate is the place to buy ſea-fiſh at, whether you want little or much.— Market-days there are Mondays, Wedneſdays, and Fridays; but market-days are the deareſt days.— You may often buy them freſh, and forty per cent. cheaper, on the intermediate days. By purchaſing at Billingſgate, you may buy at one-third of the price which fiſh-mongers charge, and if you lay out a few ſhillings, it will pay for a perſon to carry them home: fiſh-mongers, at this market, purchaſe at break of day; and, when the market is not glutted, they will, at thoſe times, buy up all the largeſt fiſh, but there is always ſuf⯑ficient leſt to ſerve private families. There is an act of parliament to oblige fiſh-mongers to ſell brill, bret, or [...]mall turbot, not exceeding 16 inches from eye to tail, [32] for 6 d. a pound, under a penalty of 20 s. to the in⯑former; for aſking more or refuſing to weigh or mea⯑ſure it, any perſon may ſeize the fiſh-monger, and deliver him to a conſtable, to carry him before a juſ⯑tice, who will not only fine him, but make him return the money. 33 Geo. 2. c. 27. But when turbit is in ſeaſon, as in May and June, one of 6 lb. weight may be bought at Billingſgate for 3 s. 6 d. or 4 s. other fiſh in proportion.

3. Mackrell, in June and July, are in great plenty, and may be bought at Billingſgate by the quarter of a hundred, for 2 d. or 3 d. a piece. Mackrell and her⯑rings, if freſh, will look bright, their gills red, and their eyes clear. Mackrell are reckoned cheap at 4 d. or 5 d. each. If fiſh is firm, not flabby or ſlimy, the gills ruddy or bleeding, and the eyes bright, you may depend on it it is freſh; but if otherwiſe, not ſo. Sal⯑mon, when cut, ſhould look red and bleeding freſh.— But, put your noſe to the gills, and you will ſoon find if it is ſtale.

Thames ſalmon is always double the price of other ſalmon; not that it is better taſted, but being later out of the water, it can be crimped, which gives it a firm⯑neſs. The price of ſea-ſalmon is from 9 d. to 3 s. a pound.

Lobſters and crabs ſhould always be bought alive.— Thoſe of the middling ſize are always the beſt. No overgrown animal food is delicious.

The average price of ſoals is about 1 s. a pound, though they are not ſold by the pound, but the pair. Herrings are bought for about 1 s. a dozen; whitings 2 s. a dozen; haddocks according to their ſize, for about 6 d. a pound. Large cod, at the deareſt time, may be purchaſed for about 1 s. or 1 s. 3 d. a pound; at the cheapeſt for one-third of the money. Skate at about 6 d. a pound, and barrel cod, in Lent, for about 6 d. a pound. If a family could diſpenſe with a quan⯑tity of ſalt fiſh, dried cod may be bought at the dry fiſh-mongers, in Thames-ſtreet, in winter, for about 5 s. for 28 lb. and barrel cod, or pickled ſalmon by the kit, at a very reaſonable price. The price of a barrel of the beſt oyſters, Colcheſter or Milton, is [33] 3s. 6 d. Dutch eels 4 d. or 6 d. a pound. Smelts from 2 s. a hundred to 5 s. Prawns from 1 s. 6 d. to 3 s. a hundred.

Freſh-water fiſh is in price as follows: Eels, jack, carp and perch, 1 s. a pound; trout and tench 1 s. 6 d. gudgeons 6 d. or 9 d. a dozen; flounders from 9 d. to 3 d. a piece, according to their ſize. Freſh-water fiſh are kept by fiſh-mongers, in ciſterns, and ſhould be bought alive.

Small turbots are eaſily diſtinguiſhed from Dutch plaice; for plaice have many yellow ſpots on their back, turbots have none.

Haddock may be known from ſmall cod, by two black ſpots, one on each ſhoulder. Small cod is a bad fiſh, but the haddock is a good one.

Half a kit of pickled ſalmon, neat weight about 16 lb. may be purchaſed at the dry fiſh-mongers, in Thames-ſtreet, in ſummer time, May, June, July, &c. for 9 s. and in September, &c. when it is equally good, for 5 s. In winter-time it will keep a long while.

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

1. FOR freſh butter, Leadenhall market is the beſt and cheapeſt in London. The beſt freſh lump butter, in ſummer, may be bought for 9 d. halfpenny or 10 d. a pound; in winter for 11 d. or 12 d. Ep⯑ping butter, which is the fineſt in flavour, may be there bought for 2 d. a pound more than lump butter. Butter-ſhops ſell this for 1 s. 6 d. a pound.

2. In winter time, Cambridge and Dorſetſhire ſalt but⯑ter arrives freſh in London twice a week, and is with⯑in one penny or a halfpenny a pound as dear as freſh; but the beſt way for a family is to buy a half firkin, which weighs 28 lb. of the beſt Yorkſhire butter — This may be bought for 17 s. or 18 s. the half firkin, leſs than 8 d. a pound, and may be bought agreeable to the palate of the buyer; but when you taſte it, taſte a piece on the outſide, next the tub; if this is good, and free from any rankneſs, you may be certain the [34] middle is. But the middle ſhall often be ſweet, when the outſides are rank; and butter-men, knowing this, always give a taſte out of the middle. The Dorſetſhire butter, in tubs with broad hoops, weight about 80 lb. rather fetches the beſt price, but for keeping it is the beſt butter.

3. Bad butter is not to be mixed with good, on pain of forfeiting double the value. Buyers of butter ſhould ſet their mark on the tub, &c. and if the ſellers open the tubs, or put in other butter, after the tubs are thus marked, they are liable to a penalty of 10 s. for every hundred weight. Application to a magiſtrate. 13 & 14 Car. 2. c. 16. 4 and 5 W. & M. c. 7.

4. Every firkin of butter ſhall weigh 56 lb. without the caſk.

5. Cheeſe is always the better for keeping two or three years, provided it be kept dry. Families who like good old cheeſe ſhould buy it one year under ano⯑ther, as they do their wine, &c. Old cheeſe good for any thing can ſeldom be met with; and if it is, cheeſe-mongers aſk a large price for it. Cheeſe, a year and a half old, of the beſt dairies, (and the beſt is always the moſt delicious, and in the end the cheapeſt) can be bought from 4 d. halfpenny a pound to 6 d. In buy⯑ing of this, every houſe-keeper ſhould pleaſe his own palate. Though decayed cheeſe will pleaſe many pa⯑lates beſt, it may be bought a halfpenny, and ſome⯑times a penny a pound under the price of ſound cheeſe. Gloceſter cheeſe is generally a penny a pound under the price of Cheſhire.

6. In buying of bacon, the Wiltſhire is reckoned the beſt, and may be bought at capital ſhops for 6 d. halfpenny or 7 d. a pound, by the flitch: ſmall bacon, ſuch as weighs about 40 lb. the ſlitch, is the moſt deli⯑cate. In buying it, have the flitch cut through, and if the fat looks red, and the ſkin is thin, it will pro⯑bably turn out well, and boil firm; but if you make an agreement, the ſeller will change it, if you diſlike it. Ruſty bacon looks brown when cut, particularly at the inſide edge.

7. You may judge of hams by running a knife into the body of them, and ſmelling them. Yorkſhire [35] hams are ſold for about 7 d. a pound, and Weſtmore⯑land hams for 7 d. halfpenny. Weſtmoreland hams are the higheſt flavoured. Dried and pickled tongues may be bought from 3 s. 6 d. to 4 s. 6 d. a piece, ac⯑cording to the ſize, at the oil and pickle-ſhops.

VEGETABLES.

PERSONS uſed to the country will not reliſh the vegetables and fruits generally ſold in London; ſuch perſons as wiſh for delicates of this kind; namely, young peas and beans, half-grown cucumbers, &c. and fruit with the bloom on, muſt not purchaſe the gene⯑ral run of the market, but either apply to a fruiterer in Covent-garden, or ſome of the gardeners there, a day or two before they are wanted; and then, by pay⯑ing a little extra price, they may have ſuch things as they wiſh for.

BREWERS AND BEER.

1. SMALL beer may be bought of different qualitie and prices, from 10 s. a barrel to 16 s. each bar⯑rel 36 gallons; 14 s. a barrel is the general run; an [...] brewers, if applied to for the purpoſe, will lay in th [...] quantity a family may uſe throughout the year, in th [...] winter, and engage it ſhall keep good and freſh th [...] year round; if it turns four, they will take it back an [...] change it for ſuch as is not ſo; this is the beſt method of having good beer.

2. The only caution neceſſary on this head, is to tak [...] care that the barrels are full, and that you have you [...] quantity for your money, as it often works out and i [...] ſpilt in the carriage.

3. The ſervants of all theſe tradeſmen expect, and will call on you at Chriſtmas for a Chriſtmas-box, (which is a bad cuſtom and ought to be aboliſhed) as will the ſcavengers, duſt-men, poſt-man, watch-man, and beadle of the pariſh. To the watch-man it may not be a ſhilling ill diſpoſed of, as it may make him more at⯑tentive to ſee that your out-ſide ſhutters are faſt, keep noiſy women and others from your door, &c. but drink-money to others, or the ſervants of thoſe who will give nothing to yours, is money in my opinion ill beſtowed.

WINE.

1. MERCHANTS ſelling wines, who ſhall adulte⯑rate the ſame, or utter any adulterated wines, are liable to the penalty of 100 l. and retailers of mixed adulterated wine forfeit 50 l. 12 Car. 2. c. 25. 1 W. & M. c. 84. And yet this is conſtantly done.

2. Two hundred and thirty-one cubical inches ſhall be a wine gallon; 63 gallons a hogſhead, 126 gallons a butt or pipe, and 252 gallons a tun. 5 Ann. c. 27, 231.

[37]3. Private families, not dealing in foreign wine, muſt have a permit, as with ſpirits, with every quantity ſent to them above three gallons, ſpecifying the kind of wine, quantity, where bought, and the time allowed for con⯑veying it, otherwiſe it is liable to be ſeized; but if your wine merchant omits to ſend ſuch permit with the wine, the loſs will be his. 26 Geo. 3. c. 59.

4. Private families, wiſhing to remove wine exceed⯑ing three gallons from one place to another, muſt ap⯑ply to the exciſeman of their diſtrict (by a note in writing) from whence ſuch wines are to be removed, and on proving to the ſatisfaction of the collector or ſuperviſor of the ſaid diſtrict that the duties of the ſaid wines have been paid, (for which purpoſe it will be neceſſary to keep the permits and produce them) and at the ſame time ſpecifying the quantity of each ſort of foreign wine to be removed; ſaying whether it be French red wine or French white wine, or foreign white wine not French, or foreign red wine not French; alſo the number and contents of caſks, bottles, or veſſels containing the ſame; and likewiſe whether it is to be removed by water or by land, and by what mode of con⯑veyance. Doing this, the ſuperviſor &c. ſhall grant a permit to remove the ſame without fee or reward, but limiting and expreſſing in that permit, the time within which it ſhall be removed, and delivered at the place where it is to be ſent. Wine ſent without ſuch permit is liable to be ſeized, as alſo the machine conveying it, and the horſes &c. drawing ſuch machine. Ibid.

5. And in caſe ſuch wine permitted to be removed, is not ſent away and actually delivered within the time expreſſed and limited in the permit, it ſhall be deemed to be removed without a permit, unleſs pro⯑ved to the ſatisfaction of the commiſſioners of exciſe that ſuch wine, through unavoidable accidents, could not have been ſo delivered.

6. And ſhould any wine be ſeized, in conſequence of it's not being removed and delivered in time, the ſame ſhall be reſtored to the owner or perſon who had charge of it by the officer who ſeized it, if ſuch perſon ſhall enter into recognizance before a juſtice of the peace, reſiding near the place where it was ſeized, with [38] one ſufficient ſurety, engaging to prove within one month, to the ſatisfaction of the commiſſioners of exciſe, that ſuch wine, through unavoidable accident, could not have been ſo delivered; in which caſe the juſtice ſhall indorſe the permit and allow further time for the removal.

7. Where any permit is granted for the removal of wine, and the wine not ſent away in conſequence of it, the permit muſt be returned within the time limited for the removal of the wine, to the officer who granted it, on pain of forfeiting treble the value of the wine ſo de⯑ſigned to be removed, according to the beſt price it will fell for in London.

8. Forging a juſtice's certificate of a recognizance and indorſement, as before ſpecified, is a penalty of 500 l.

9. Licenſed auctioneers may ſell wine by auction, with leave of the commiſſioners of exciſe, on their proving, that all the duties for ſuch wine have been paid.

COALS AND OTHER FUEL.

1. THE price of coals in London is from 32 s. a chaldron to 50 s. In long froſts, they have ri⯑ſen ſo high as 5 l. but, on an average, they may be bought in ſummer time at 33 s. or 34 s. a chaldron.— Houſe-keepers ſhould endeavour to lay them in at the cheapeſt time: there are advertiſing coal-merchants, who, for ready money, will ſell 39 buſhels for two or three ſhillings under the price that others ſell 38 buſhels for; but in dealing with theſe, and indeed with other ſellers, it is prudent to ſee the coals at the wharf, be⯑fore they are ſent in; and when they are ſent in, to take care you have your meaſure, otherwiſe you may have your year's coals that will not burn, or pay a larger price for them than you expected. Good coals are generally large, black and ſhining: the Pontops are the beſt. If you truſt to your coal-merchant, with re⯑ſpect to the meaſurement, it will however be neceſſary [39] that the number of ſacks are counted when the coals are ſhot. Advertiſing coal-ſellers go often by fictitious names, to avoid the penalties for ſhort meaſure: it is proper, therefore, to be on your guard, particularly againſt thoſe.

2. By the ſeveral coal-acts paſſed this year, 1786, for the cities of London and Weſtminſter, and the Bo⯑rough of Southwark, coal-meters are appointed to meaſure coals when firſt carted, and re-meaſure them afterwards, if the buyer requeſts it: the coal-meters office for the city of London and its liberties, is in Earl-ſtreet, Blackfriar's-bridge; that for Weſtminſter and its liberties at the bottom of Northumberland-ſtreet, in the Strand; and thoſe for the Borough of Southwark and its diſtricts at Marigold-ſtairs, Surry-ſide of Blackfriar's-bridge, and at the Sun and Hat-Block, in the Maize, Tooley-ſtreet. Theſe offices are open all day, to hear complaints and give redreſs.

3. Coals, when taken out of the barge, and ſold as wharf-meaſure, are to be meaſured in the preſence of a coal-meter. The ſeller to pay 4 d. a chaldron for meaſuring, which the buyer is to re-pay, on a ticket of ſuch meaſurement being produced by the carman, under the penalty of 10 s. for the carter not delivering ſuch ticket. But when brought in, if the buyer de⯑clares himſelf diſſatisfied with the meaſure, the driver of the cart ſhall not depart, till a coal-meter can be procured from the above offices to re-meaſure them, on pain of his forfeiting 20 s. and the owner of the cart 5 l.

4. The carman ſhall be paid 2 s. 6 d. an hour for the time he waits, and the meaſurer ſhall be paid 6 d. for meaſuring each chaldron, by the buyer; but if, on re-meaſuring, they are found deficient, the ſeller ſhall pay the expences of re-meaſuring, and alſo forfeit 5 l. a buſhel for every buſhel deficient, and forfeit the chaldron of coals to the poor; the meter ſhall forfeit 5 l. a buſhel, and the coal-porter that meaſured them 2 s. 6 d. a buſhel.

5. But to ſave the half-crown an hour paid for waiting, it is beſt to appoint a meter to attend at the time you expect the coals. If families would keep a [40] buſhel-meaſure, and one may be bought for 7 s. 6 d. a ſack or two of the coals might be meaſured without much trouble.

6. A labouring coal-meter, delivering tickets for coals which he was not preſent at the meaſuring of, ſhall forfeit 40s. and be incapacitated, and the principal ſhall forfeit 5 l. if the 40s. penalty is not paid by the labour⯑ing meter in one month.

7. A carter fraudulently delivering, or ſuffering coals to be taken from his cart, ſhall forfeit 40 s. or be whipped and impriſoned from one to three months.

8. To puniſh offences, application muſt be made to a magiſtrate.

9. All contracts for coals, not being leſs than five chaldrons, ſhall be for pool-meaſure, including the in⯑grain or addition of one chaldron in twenty, though the term of pool-meaſure ſhall not be mentioned in the contract; that is, nine buſhels or three ſacks ſhall be given in with every five chaldrons, (though ſellers now, if you buy but one chaldron, will profeſs to give you 38 buſhels). 19 Geo. 2. c. 35.

10. Wharfingers bribing a coal-meter ſhall forfeit 50 l.

11. Sacks ſhall be, when empty, four feet long, and two feet wide; and none other ſhall be uſed, on pain of the wharfinger's forfeiting 5 l. and the coal-meter 40 s.

12. Scotch coal is always in large pieces, and is bought by the [...]wt. at about 40 s. a ton. This burns free, and to a white aſh, of courſe clean burning, but is not ſo durable as Newcaſtle coals.

13. Charcoal is ſold retail at 1 s. 4 d. a buſhel, or 3 s. a ſack, that is three buſhels; but if had from the country, by the load, which is 60 ſacks, it may be bought for 2 s. 6 d. a ſack.

14. Billet-wood may be bought at the wharfs for 40 s. or two guineas a load, delivered home any where on the ſtones; a load conſiſts of 300 pieces or billets.

Billet-wood, (except beech-wood) ſhall be three feet four inches long, and meaſure ſeven inches in circumference, in the ſmalleſt girth, on pain of for⯑feiting them to the poor. 9 Ann. c. 18.

[41]15. All faggots to be ſold, ſhall contain in compaſs, beſides the knot of the bond, 24 inches of aſſize; and every faggot-ſtick, within the bond, ſhall be three feet long, except one ſtick of one foot in length, to harden the binding. 43 Eliz. c. 14.

CANDLES.

1. THE average price of dipped candles are 8 s. 4 d. a dozen; of mould candles, 9 s. 4 d. But there are tallow-chandlers, that, on taking a box of candles half one and half the other, will ſell the whole at 8 s. 4 d. and for ready money will allow five per cent. diſcount.

2. To be white they ſhould be one year old; but if they are older, they will gutter.

3. The beſt wax-candles are to be bought for 2 s. 10 d. a pound. There are people who advertiſe them at 2 s. 6 d. but ſuch are mixed with tallow.

4. Train-oil, for out-door lamps, is 3 s. a gallon; and ſpermaceti-oil for chambers 4 s. a gallon: to be bought of the oil-men.—Note, One lamp burns about a halfpenny worth of ſpermaceti-oil in an hour.

HAIR-DRESSERS

MAY be had at all prices, from 7 s. a month to one guinea, attendance daily; and frequently thoſe at 7 s. will dreſs better, and more expeditiouſly, than others who demand a larger price.

TAYLORS.

ADvertiſing taylors always make up your cloaths ſcanty, piece them, and make them of inferior materials; of courſe they can afford them cheaper.

[42]2. No perſon ſhall uſe or wear on any cloaths (velvet excepted) any buttons or button-holes covered of the ſtuff that the cloaths are made of, on pain of 40 s. a dozen, on conviction, on the oath of one witneſs, in one month after the offence, half to the informer.— But perſons aggrieved may appeal to the next quarter-ſeſſions, giving eight day's notice. 7 Geo. ſt. 1. c. 12.

3. No perſon ſhall uſe or wear, in any apparel, any foreign printed or dyed callicoe, except ſuch as is dyed all blue, on pain of forfeiting 5 l. to the informer, nor uſe any in houſehold-furniture, on pain of 20 l. 7 G. ſt. 1. c. 7.

SHOE-MAKERS.

BEST beſpoke ſhoes, if not bound, and the heels not ſtitched, may be had for 8 s. a pair; if bound and ſtitched, 8 s. 6 d. Beſt made boots, from 27 s. to a guinea and a half a pair.

Women's beſpoke calimanco ſhoes from 5 s. 6 d. to 6 s. 6 d. a pair; Morocco leather 7 s. 6 d. ſattin 10 s. 6 d. though ſome will charge 15 s.

LEATHER-BREECHES MAKERS.

THE beſt makers, according to their cuſtomers, charge from 1 l. 11 s. 6 d. to two guineas a pair. Thoſe who make for leſs money, make them of bad ſkins, rough and full of ſhot-holes, which, when brought home, the eye will not perceive.

STAY-MAKERS

CHARGE from one guinea and a half, for women's ſtays, to two guineas and a half, according to their cuſtomers.

LAUNDRESSES,

IN London, charge as reaſonably for waſhing, as in the country; and families who put out their linen would do well to employ a laundreſs living a little way out of town. Such perſons are to be found, who will ſend for the linen once a week, and bring it home again; for where there are good conveniencies for drying, the linen muſt certainly be better got up. See Pawn-brokers.

MARKETING TABLES.

A TABLE to ſhew if ſo much per YARD, OUNCE, &c. how much for any Number of the ſame.

[44]

[45]A TABLE to ſhew, if ſo much per pound, how much per ſtone, &c.—The Stone 8 lb.

By Addition and Multiplication, you may make theſe an⯑ſwer any Price from 1 s. to 5 l. and upwards.

[46]A TABLE to ſhew, if ſo much per 12 lb. how muc [...] per quarter, ſtone, &c.—The Stone 14 lb.

Fractions are here unneceſſary.

SERVANTS.

1. IN the choice of ſervants, a houſe-keeper cannot be too particular. London is ſo much the ſink of vice, that the lower claſs of people are very much corrupted. Thoſe brought from the country are ſoon infected with the diſſolute manners of town-ſervants, and become equally bad with them. To expect at⯑tachment from a ſervant is idle, and betrays an igno⯑rance of the world. Servants will now and then af⯑fect it, in order to gain the confidence of their em⯑ployers, and thus forward their own intereſt; but, if we ſuppoſe them in our intereſt, it is becauſe we do not thoroughly know them. Economy in a family, ſer⯑vants do not like. The more extravagant a maſter or miſtreſs is, the better they live, and the more they can purloin; and ſhould, what they call, a generous maſter or miſtreſs fail in the world, owing to a waſte or an in⯑attention to domeſtic concerns, they will cry to their fellow-ſervants, "It is a pity! he was a good-natured generous man!—Come, let us go look for another place!" This being conſidered, we are to expect no⯑thing from them but a performance of their duty, keep them whilſt they do it, and diſcharge them when they neglect it.

2. The firſt thing, then, is to endeavour to get good ones, if we do not bring them out of the country with us. There are, in different parts of the town, regiſter-offices, or places where ſervants of all denominations attend at certain hours, and where a maſter may ſee them, at the expence of one ſhilling, and hire them; or, by ſending a ſhilling to the keepers of ſuch offices, and a deſcription of the ſervant wanted, they will ſend you one, day after day, till you are ſuited; but as it is the refuſe of ſervants in general that apply to theſe offices, you muſt not take the recommendation of the office-keeper, who is paid alſo by the ſervant for pro⯑curing the place; nor any written character; for ſuch [...]hings in London are procured from friends, and often [...]orged; nay ſervants of bad character will often go fur⯑ther, [48] they will refer you to perſons ſeemingly of cre⯑dit, who perhaps know little of them. It is proper therefore, that the maſter or miſtreſs ſhould apply for the character themſelves, make ſome enquiry concern⯑ing the perſon they apply to, and aſk all thoſe queſti⯑ons they think neceſſary. There are few ſervant-maids in London, or indeed in the country, but what are whores; it is perhaps an uncharitable ſuppoſition, but it is nevertheleſs true. To expect, therefore, to meet with an innocent virtuous girl, is next to impoſſible; it is ſufficient if ſhe is orderly, and conducts herſelf with decorum. If a houſe-keeper cannot get a ſervant recommended by a friend, or ſome tradeſman with whom he deals, ſuch as the baker, butcher, poulterer, green-grocer, tallow-chandler, publican, or the like, I would recommend papers deſcribing the ſervant want⯑ed, and where to apply, being ſent or left at the chandler's ſhops in the neighbourhood, which ſeldom fails of ſucceſs; others will have recourſe to advertiſe⯑ments in the public newſpapers, an inſertion for which, once, coſts 3 s. 6 d. If this mode is adopted, the beſt paper to advertiſe in is the Daily Advertiſer in Fleet-ſtreet, which is taken in by almoſt all the publi⯑cans in London. Such an advertiſement will bring you ſcores of ſervants; and here you muſt be very careful in your choice, and particular as to charac⯑ter; for an advertiſement will bring with the good a number of diſreputable people.

3. The general wages of ſervants are as follow:— Steward, valet, butler, 30 l. a-year; women-cooks, 1 [...] l. lady's-maids, from 12 l. to 20 l. inferior women ſervants, from 7 l. to 9 l. foot-men 14 l. and a livery: women-ſervants to provide their own tea and ſugar.— Board-wages of an upper ſervant 10 s. 6 d. a week, with fire and candle, and 7 s. a week to an under-ſer⯑vant.

4. They generally agree for a month's wages, or a month's warning, which is a bad method; as there are few ſervants, when warning is given, but will be very impertinent and untractable, it is far the beſt, when you mean to part with them, to get rid of them at once, be it ever ſo inconvenient: by enquiry an honeſt chair⯑woman, [49] to ſupply the place of a woman-ſervant, may be procured for 1 s. a day. If ſuch are hired to waſh, their wages are larger: 1 s. 6 d. with tea and a dram twice a day, and ſtrong beer at dinner and ſup⯑per; but for this they ſlave hard, will begin work at two in the morning, and continue it till nine the next evening. If ſuch a perſon is wanted, employ none of your own ſervant's recommending, but apply for their character to thoſe houſe-keepers who have employed them, and on whom you can better rely.

5. Women cooks, and ſervants of all work, when they hire themſelves, will endeavour to get the kitch⯑en-ſtuff allowed them as a perquiſite; if you would not be robbed, never comply with this; nor allow your coachman the old wheels; for as the one will, to ſerve herſelf, ſtrip your meat of its fat, melt more but⯑ter than neceſſary, and convey the ends of candles, &c. into the greaſe-pot, to increaſe its weight; ſo will the other often injure the wheels, if they are likely to laſt too long.

6. If you deliver into the cuſtody of ſervants, plate, china, linen, &c. to keep; and tell them, before wit⯑neſs, they muſt be reſponſible for it; if they loſe any part of it, the law will oblige them, as far as they are able, to make it good; but not elſe: to enable them, therefore, to pay for any thing miſſing, it is adviſe⯑able to keep part of their wages in hand. As they are hired by the year, they ſhould always be paid one half year under another, reſerving half-a-year in hand. As to breaking of china, &c. you cannot compel a ſervant to pay for it, unleſs it was ſo agreed on the hiring, or done deſignedly.

7. To avoid diſputes reſpecting wages, it is prudent to have the agreement in writing, and a receipt for what you pay; for (ſorry am I to ſay it) this claſs of people make as little ceremony of taking a falſe oath, where there is no proof to the contrary, as of telling a lie.

Diſputes with ſervants, about wages under [...]0 l. and other things, if they cannot amicably be ſettled, ſhould be referred to a neighbouring magiſtrate, who is autho⯑riſed to hear the complaint and redreſs it; the expence [50] but trifling; but the wages of coachmen, grooms, and the like, magiſtrates can take no cognizance of.

8. Where ſervants are hired for a year, they cannot be put away before the expiration of that term, with⯑out ſome reaſonable cauſe to be allowed by one juſtice; nor after the end of the term, without a quarter's warn⯑ing given before witneſs; if a maſter diſcharges a ſer⯑vant otherwiſe, he is liable to a penalty of 40 s.— 5 Eliz. c. 4.

If a ſervant refuſe to ſerve his term, he may be com⯑mitted till he give ſecurity to ſerve the time; or he may be ſent to the houſe of correction, and puniſhed there as a diſorderly perſon. 5 Eliz. c. 4. 7 Jac. c. 4.

A yearly ſervant is not to be diſcharged by reaſon of ſickneſs, or any other diſability by the act of God; not may his wages for thoſe cauſes be abated. Dalt. 129. All hiring without ſtipulation of time is, ſtrictly ſpeak⯑ing, hiring for a year, and the law ſo conſtrues it.

Both maſter and ſervant may however part by mu⯑tual conſent, and then the allowance of the cauſe by a juſtice of peace is not neceſſary. A maſter's detaining wages, or not allowing ſufficient meat, drink, &c. is good cauſe for a ſervant's departure; but it muſt be al⯑lowed by a juſtice. Dalt.

If a ſervant, hired for a term, quits his ſervice be⯑fore the end of his term, he loſes all his wages; but if the maſter puts him away, he ſhall be paid to the time he ſerved.

A woman-ſervant who marries is obliged to ſerve out her time; and if both man and wife agree to ſerve, they muſt perform the agreement. Dalt. 92.

If a ſervant be retained for a year, according to the ſtatute 5 Eliz. c. 4, and the maſter die within that time, the executor muſt pay the wages; but not ſo if the retainer was not for a year.

A ſervant hired at a month's wages, or a month's warning, cannot quit his place, nor be diſcharged, a day before the expiration of the month, without the whole month's wages be paid, unleſs by the authority of a juſtice, for ſome reaſonable complaint. If a ſer⯑vant, after warning given, is inſolent, or refuſes to do his duty, a magiſtrate, on complaint, will commit him [51] to priſon, for the time he has to ſerve; but the maſter will be ordered to pay him his wages whilſt there.

9. If a ſervant or workman aſſault his maſter or miſtreſs, or any other having charge over them, he may be bound to his good behaviour, or be committed for a year, or leſs, at the diſcretion of two magiſtrates. 5 Eliz. c. 4. ſ. 21.

10. If any ſervant ſhall purloin, or make away with his maſter's goods, to the value of 40 s. it is felony.— 12 Ann. c. 7.

11. Should a woman with child procure herſelf to be retained with a maſter for a term, who knows no⯑thing thereof, this is good cauſe to diſcharge her from her ſervice; if ſhe prove with child during her ſervice it is the ſame; but if he does not diſcharge her before a magiſtrate, when he knows of it, and keeps her on, he muſt provide for her till her delivery, and one month after, and then ſhe is to be ſent to her place of ſettle⯑ment. Dalt.

12. A ſervant ſetting fire careleſsly to a houſe, is liable to pay, on the oath of one witneſs, a hundred pounds to the ſufferer, or be committed to hard labour for 18 months. 14 Geo. 3. c. 78.

13. By the 25th of Geo. 3. c. 43, every perſon keeping one male-ſervant, ſhall pay annually for him

Every man aged 21 and upwards, and a batchelor, ſhall pay an additional one pound five ſhillings for eve⯑ry male ſervant he keeps. Ibid. ſ. 3.

Theſe duties are to extend to ſervants of the follow⯑ing deſcriptions, viz. maitre d'hotel, houſe ſteward, maſter of the horſe, groom of the chamber, valet de chambre, butler, under butler, clerk of the kitchen, confectioner, cook, houſe porter, footman, running footman, coachman, groom, poſtilion, ſtable boy, help⯑ers in ſtables, gardeners not being day labourers, park-keepers, gamekeeper, huntſman, whipper-in, waiters [52] at taverns, coffeehouſes, inns, alehouſes, or any other houſes licenſed to ſell wine, beer, ale, or other liquors, by retail, (other than occaſional waiters) or by what⯑ever name or names male ſervants acting in any of ſaid capacities ſhall be called. Ibid. ſ. 4.

Every perſon keeping a woman ſervant, ſhall pay annually, for one, 2s. 6d. for two, 5s. each, for three or more, 10s. each. Ibid.

A batchelor in all caſes pays double theſe duties. Ib.

Servants employed bona fide for the purpoſes of huſ⯑bandry, farming, dairy, or manufacture, or of any trade by which the maſter or miſtreſs gain a livelihood, ex⯑cepted. Ibid. ſ. 6.

Such perſons as ſhall have living in their houſes two or more lawful children, or grand-children, under 14 years of age, ſhall be allowed one woman ſervant duty free; ſuch as have four children ſhall be allowed two women ſervants, and ſuch as have ſix, three women ſervants. Thus, he who has four children pays but 2s. 6d. for the third ſervant, if he keeps three; if he has four ſervants, he pays 5s. each for two. Ib. ſ. 13.

Female ſervants under the age of 14, or above 60, are not to be aſſeſſed; pariſh certificates of the age to be produced. Ibid. ſ. 14.

No duty is to be paid for any ſervant employed for the purpoſe of huſbandry, manufactures or trade.

Pariſh apprentices impoſed on maſters or miſtreſſes to the number of two, ſhall be allowed, unleſs they are employed as livery ſervants, or in the capacity of other ſervants. Ibid. ſ. 8.

Coachmen, grooms, poſtilions, or helpers, let out to hire by way of job, ſhall be paid for by thoſe who em⯑ploy them. Gardeners alſo, who ſhall contract for keeping any garden in order, ſhall be paid for by thoſe who employ them. Ibid. ſ. 7.

Every officer of horſe under the rank and not receiv⯑ing the pay of a field-officer, is to be allowed one man ſervant, whether ſuch ſervant is a private ſoldier in his regiment or not. Ibid. ſ. 11.

Every officer without diſtinction in the land ſervice, of every deſcription, including marines, who employs ſome ſoldier of the regiment or company to which he [53] belongs as a ſervant, and every officer in the navy un⯑der the rank of a maſter and commander, in actual ſer⯑vice, who employs one ſailor as a ſervant, that is actu⯑ally born upon the books of the ſhip to which ſuch officer belongs, are for ſuch ſervants exempt from this duty. Ibid.

Diſabled officers on half-pay are to be allowed one ſervant on application to the commiſſioners and proof given. Ibid. ſ. 12.

The window and houſe-tax collectors to collect theſe duties, and the duties to be paid quarterly. Ibid.

Aſſeſſors ſhall give or leave notice in writing yearly, at the dwelling-houſes of all maſters and miſtreſſes within their diſtrict, requiring them to prepare and produce, within 14 days from ſuch notice, ſeparate liſts in writing of all their men and women ſervants, their chriſtian and ſirnames, and the capacity in which they are employed, ſuch liſt to contain the greateſt number of ſervants, male and female, retained by ſuch maſter or miſtreſs, at any one time in the year, ending on the 5th of April preceding ſuch notice, to be ſigned by the maſter or miſtreſs, and to be delivered to the aſſeſſors who is to call for it; and if ſuch liſt be refuſed or ne⯑glected to be delivered, then the aſſeſſors are to pro⯑ceed to make out, from the information they can get, an aſſeſſment of their own, from which there ſhall be no appeal, unleſs the perſon to aſſeſſed ſhall prove that they were not at home from the time of notice to the day for the delivery of the liſts to the aſſeſſors, or ſhall aſſign ſome other ſubſtantial cauſe ſatisfactory to the commiſſioners, Ibid. ſ. 26.

All maſters or miſtreſſes muſt accompany their liſts with a declaration, whether they mean to pay for any, and how many ſervants, in any other place or pariſh, and to ſpecify in what place or places. S. 28.

As this is an annual tax, if a perſon keeps at any one time two ſervants, for example, and enters theſe two, that is, aſſerts in his written notice that he had two before the 5th of April, ſhould one of theſe ſer⯑vants quit his ſervice a month afterwards, he muſt pay for the two, till 5th April following.

[54]If aſſeſſors diſcover any deficiency in the liſts deli⯑vered to them, they may ſurcharge or add to thoſe liſts S. 29.

Perſons refuſing or neglecting to furniſh the liſts and declarations required as above, forfeit 10 l. S. 32.

All ſervants omitted in the ſaid liſts, and added in the ſurcharge, are to be rated double; one half of which ſhall go to the aſſeſſor or ſurveyor ſo ſurcharging them, S. 33.

Every perſon having a lodger in his houſe keeping a ſervant or ſervants, muſt on a week's notice deliver liſts ſimilar to thoſe required of houſekeepers, with the addition of the chriſtian and ſirname of the lodger, as well as of his ſervants, under the penalty of 10 l. Ib. ſ. 34.

Appeals for redreſs muſt be made to the commiſſion⯑ers; and perſons diſſatisfied with their deciſions may reſort to a judge of the court of King's-Bench, as in the act on Windows, which ſee. S. 35, 39.

14. If you never deal with tradeſmen upon credit, ſhould your ſervants to whom you give money to pur⯑chaſe things, put the money in their pockets, and order them to be ſet down to you, you are not obliged to pay for them; but if you ſometimes ſend money, and ſome⯑times deal upon credit, though you ſhould ſend the money for any article, if your ſervant does not pay it, you will be obliged to pay it again; for your tradeſman cannot be ſuppoſed to know whether the money was ſent or not.

15. If you would avoid being robbed, never ſuffer your ſervants to take acquaintances down into the kit⯑chen with them. Many inſtances have occurred where villains have made acquaintance with incautious ſer⯑vants, purpoſely to find a method of breaking into the houſe, and learning what there is worth coming for.

16. To ſave trouble to the maſter and ſervants, where many are not kept, it is a good method to have in your ſitting room, near the bell, a paper poſted, with the ne⯑ceſſary articles on it, in diviſions, that are chiefly want⯑ed, ſuch as, Coals, Candles, Beer, Water, Broom, Lay the Cloth, Go to the Door, &c. with a pin, to [55] which a line is fixed with a lead going down into the kitchen to a ſimilar paper fixed there; then, by fixing this pin in a hole in either of the diviſions above, the weight will drop or riſe to the ſame diviſion below. Do this before you ring your bell, and order your ſer⯑vant to look at the index; ſhe will then know what is wanted before ſhe comes, and bring it with her. The expence of this index is trifling.

17. It may alſo in ſome families be worth while to have a line from the parlour to the ſtreet door, to open it without going out of the parlour. This, where there is but one ſervant, ſaves a great deal of trouble.

[56]A TABLE to ſhew, if ſo much per Year, how much per Month.

[57]A TABLE to ſhew, if ſo much per Day, how much per Week, &c.

PARISH-OFFICERS, JURYMEN, AND MILITIA

VESTRIES.

1. THE church-wardens rate muſt be made with the conſent of the major part of the pariſhioners, houſe-keepers, or occupiers of land. In order to which public notice of a veſtry ought to be given the Sunday before, either in the church, after divine ſervice is end⯑ed, or at the church-door, as the pariſhioners come out, both of the calling of the ſaid meeting, and alſo of the time and place of its aſſembling. And it is uſu⯑al, that for half an hour before it begins, one of the church-bells be tolled, to give the pariſhioners notice when they are met. Par. L. 54.

2. The major part of them that appear, ſhall bind the pariſh. But in large populous pariſhes, a cuſtom has obtained of yearly chuſing a certain number of the moſt reſpectable men to repreſent all the reſt, who are called a ſelect veſtry. Such a veſtry exiſts at Mary-le⯑bone, St. George's, Hanover-ſquare, St. Mary Hill, &c. and no pariſhioner who does not pay to the church-rates has a vote, except the parſon or vicar.

3. If any perſon finds himſelf aggrieved at the irre⯑gularity of the church-wardens aſſeſſment for the re⯑pairs of the church, his appeal muſt be to the eccleſiaſ⯑tical judge. Degge 172.

4. And if any refuſe to pay the rates, they are to be ſued for in the eccleſiaſtical courts. Degge 171. A Quakers may be proſecuted before the juſtices of the peace. Burn.

5. The poor's-rate is made by the church-wardens and overſeers, and allowed by the juſtices. 43 Eliz. c. 2.

6. Any inhabitant may inſpect the poor's-rate book, at all ſeaſonable times, paying 1 s. and the church-war⯑dens ſhall give copies on demand, being paid 8 d. for every 24 names, on pain of 20 l. to the party grieved. 17 Geo. 2. c. 3.

7. Parties aggrieved by an aſſeſſment may, by giving notice to the church-wardens, appeal to the next ſeſſi⯑ons of the peace, 17 Geo. 2. c. 38.

[63]8. The goods of any perſon aſſeſſed, and refuſing to pay, may be diſtrained by a juſtice's warrant; but the mode is to ſummon the party firſt, before a magiſtrate, to ſhew cauſe why he will not pay. Ibid.

9. The veſtry clerk and beadles are choſen by the veſtry, and all complaints againſt them muſt there be made.

10. There is always a veſtry held in or about Eaſ⯑ter week, for chuſing pariſh-officers; and at other times it may be known when veſtries meet, by enquir⯑ing of the veſtry-clerk, who is their regiſter and ſecre⯑tary, or of the beadle, who is their meſſenger.

PAWN-BROKERS

ARE uſeful men in their way, but they are properly under certain reſtrictions.

1. Whoever ſhall pawn goods or property they are entruſted with, without the conſent of the owner, ſhall, on conviction of one witneſs, or on confeſſion, forfeit 20 s. or be committed to hard labour for four⯑teen days; and if the money is not paid within three days of the expiration of the fourteen days, on appli⯑cation of the proſecutor, the juſtice ſhall order the of⯑fender to be publickly whipped; the ſaid 20 s. to be applied towards making ſatisfaction to the party in⯑jured.

2. And any pawn-broker knowingly taking in, as a pledge, any linen or apparel entruſted to any one, to waſh, mend, or make up, ſhall, on the oath of one wit⯑neſs, forfeit double the ſum given or lent on the ſame to the poor; and the owner, proving his property, on the oath of one witneſs, ſhall have them again; and a ſearch-warrant may be procured, to ſearch any pawn-brokers houſe for this purpoſe. 30 Geo. 2. c. 24.

ASSURANCES FOR LIVES.

1. THE terms of the Laudable Society for the bene fit of widows; office at No. 1, Surry-ſtreet Strand, open every day except holidays.

This Society conſiſted, at Lady-day, 1785, of 45 [...] members, each of whom pays five guineas per annum by half-yearly payments; this ſum amounts to

They have a capital ſtock of 45,450 l. in the four per cents. the intereſt of which is

There were at Lady-day 165 widows, to whom were paid penſions to the amount of

But as at laſt Michaelmas there were ſeven widows more added to the liſt, amounting to 240 l. a year, i [...] reduces the clear income of the Society to 10 l. 13 s. 11 d.

The widow of each member, during her widow⯑hood, is entitled to an annuity payable half-yearly at Lady-day and Michaelmas, as follows:—

The general price of admiſſion is 5 l. 5 s. paid down, and 5 l. 5 s. a year, paid quarterly, during the life of the huſband.

No victualler can be admitted, nor any one who has not had the ſmall pox; and every member now ad⯑mitted muſt pay two guineas on admiſſion, for every year, above two, that his age exceeds that of his wife; if above five years, three guineas for each year; and no perſon ſhall be admitted a member who ſhall be more than ten years older than his wiſe.

[65]To become a member, the perſon, or ſome friend for him, muſt enter his name at the office above, with his age, place of abode, title or profeſſion; the age of his wife, with her chriſtian and ſirname before mar⯑riage, and pay 7 s. 6 d. and when the perſon is ap⯑proved, he will have the proper affidavit, &c. ſent to him to be ſigned. If he is not approved, the 7 s. 6 d. will be returned.

Each member, in default of paying his half-yearly payment, at Lady-day and Michaelmas, or within 14 days after each day, ſhall forfeit to the joint ſtock, for the firſt half-year's neglect 5 s. 3 d. for 28 days after every Lady-day or Michaelmas 10 s. 6 d. after two ſuc⯑ceſſive half-year's negligence 21 s. and in caſe he is in arrears two ſucceſſive half years, and does not pay his arrears, together with his forfeits, within 28 days after the ſecond of the two ſucceſſive half-years, he ſhall be then excluded from the Society, and his widow have no advantage therefrom.

Widows of members guilty of ſuicide ſhall receive no benefit from the Society.

As an encouragement to widows to marry again, if her ſecond huſband ſhall, within one month after the ſecond marriage, pay to the joint ſtock half-a-year's annuity, which the widow was entitled to, then the woman, if ſhe ſurvives her huſband, ſhall be entitled to the ſame annuity as ſhe enjoyed before her ſecond marriage.

In fifteen truſtees of this Society, choſen by the general body, the capital ſtock, divided into three parts, is veſted. Each part in the name of five truſ⯑tees.

2. The Royal Exchange Aſſurance Office, whoſe office is over the Change (where attendance is daily given from eleven to two, and from five to ſeven, Saturday in the afternoon excepted) aſſures lives on the follow⯑ing terms:—

On ſingle lives, this corporation will pay 100 l. for the following premiums, paid yearly, for one year, ſeven years, or the whole life of the perſon aſſured, according to his age at the time of aſſuring. From the age of ten to fourteen, the premium is the ſame.

[66]

[67]They will alſo pay 100 l. on the death of one perſon named out of two, for the following premiums, ſet a⯑gainſt the reſpective ages aſſured.

[68]

[69]The conditions of the policy and agreement are, that the aſſurance ſhall be void, if the perſon whoſe life is aſſured ſhall depart the kingdom of Great Bri⯑tain, or enter into the army or navy, without the pre⯑vious conſent of the company, or ſhall die by ſuicide, duelling, or the hand of juſtice.—This corporation does not grant any annuities on lives.

3. The terms of aſſurance at the Amicable Society, Ser⯑jeant's-inn, Fleet-ſtreet, are as follow:—

July 25, 1706, Queen Anne incorporated William, then Lord Biſhop of Oxon, Sir Thomas Aleyn, Bart. and others, and every other perſon who ſhould be then after admitted a ſubſcriber, (not exceeding 2000 in the whole) by the name of the Amicable Society, with power to purchaſe and alien lands, not exceeding the yearly value of 2000 l. to acquire any goods and chat⯑tels whatſoever, to ſue, and be ſued, and to have a com⯑mon ſeal.

Every perſon afterwards admitted, is to be eſteemed a member of the corporation, and is to pay on his and her own life 6 l. 4 s. per annum, in ſuch manner as the directors of the ſaid corporation, for the time be⯑ing, ſhall think fit; on whoſe deceaſe the nominee, &c. is to be entitled to an equal ſhare of 10,000 l. when there are 2000 ſubſcribers, or of a ſum in proportion, if the Society ſhall conſiſt of a leſſer number.

Twelve perſons were appointed directors, with power for any ſeven, or more of them, to hold courts; and the major part of them aſſembled were to manage the affairs of the corporation according to the charter, and to the by-laws to be made by the major part of the members in a general court, which court may not con⯑ſiſt of leſs than twenty members; and for a ſucceſſion of directors, twelve members (living within the bills of mortality) were to be choſen yearly, within forty days after Lady-day, to be directors for one year, and until others ſhould be choſen in their places; and one of the members of the corporation was appointed re⯑giſter, to be ſucceeded, from time to time, by another member.

January 16, 1729, George II. granted additional [70] powers and authorities as were not contained in the original charter.

No perſon can be admitted a member under the age of twelve, or above the age of forty-five years, (except in exchange) and perſons above the age of forty-three are required to procure authentic certificates of their ages.

Perſons in London, or within fifteen miles thereof, muſt appear before a court of directors, and there vo⯑luntarily make oath, "That he or ſhe is in a good ſtate of health, and hath no diſtemper, which, accord⯑ing to the beſt of his or her knowledge, judgement or belief, may tend to the ſhortening of his or her days."

Perſons living above fifteen miles from London, and not appearing before a court of directors, may be ad⯑mitted members (after they are upon enquiry other⯑wiſe approved of) by certificates and affidavits.

Not more than three numbers or ſhares can be had upon any one life.

Every perſon, on admiſſion, is to pay a premium of 7 l. 10 s. for each number or ſhare, together with 7 s. 6 d. for the policy.

A dividend of 1 l. 4 s. is allowed to each member, out of the profits of the corporation, whereby the char⯑ter payment of 6 l. 4 s. is reduced to 5 l. per annum, which 5 l. is to be paid quarterly, under certain pe⯑nalties for every ſhare.

The death of every member muſt be proved by cer⯑tificate of burial; together with an affidavit of his or her death, and identity.

If a member dies out of England, ſecurity muſt be given to indemnify the corporation, before any claim is paid.

Any perſon above the age of forty-five, if in good health, may be admitted in exchange for a member who is older than himſelf.

By a reſolution of the general court, the 10th day of May, 1770, the claims are not to be leſs than 150 l. upon each number or ſhare; but they have been con⯑ſiderably larger, as will appear by the following ac⯑count: [71]

N. B. Upon application to become a member, each perſon is required to leave in writing. at the office, his or her name, place of abode, profeſſion and age; and likewiſe the names of at leaſt two perſons of repute liv⯑ing within the cities of London or Weſtminſter, to whom ſuch perſon is, and for ſome time paſt hath been well known, in order that ſatisfactory enquiries may be made as to his or her ſtate of health; but thoſe who live at a diſtance from London are required (if they can) to give the names of at leaſt two reputable perſons living in London or Weſtminſter, to whom they are well known; but if they have no ſuch ac⯑quaintances in London or Weſtminſter, they muſt give ſuch as live near their places of abode, and who know them well; and if upon enquiry they are approved of, they may then be admitted members by certificates and affidavits, the forms of which are to be had at the office.

*⁎* Perſons in the Army or Navy, whoſe buſineſs requires them to reſide in foreign parts, tavern-keepers and inn-keepers, and thoſe whoſe occupations or em⯑ployments are attended with danger or injury to their conſtitutions, are not admitted members.

As this ſociety is confined to a certain number, per⯑ [...]ons muſt frequently wait ſome time before they can be admitted.

4. Blackfriar's Aſſurance-Office, at Blackfriar's-bridge, where attendance is daily given from nine till three.

Aſſurances may be made for any ſum from 20 l. [...] 2000 l. for any certain time, or for the whole con⯑ [...]nuance of the life, on payment of a groſs ſum, or an [...]nnual premium proportionable to the hazard of the [...]ge at which the life begins to be aſſured, and to the [...]me the aſſurance is to continue, on the following [...]rms:—

[72]TABLE of PREMIUMS for aſſuring 100 l. upon the Li [...] of any healthy Perſon, from Eight to Sixty-Seve [...]

[73]A TABLE of PREMIUMS for aſſuring the ſum of One Hundred Pounds upon the Life of any healthy Per⯑ſon, from the age of Eight to Sixty-Seven, conti⯑nued.

[74]An addition of twenty-two per cent. computed up⯑on the premium, is charged upon military perſons; and the ſmall addition of eleven per cent. upon per⯑ſons not having had the ſmall-pox.

The court of directors have a diſcretionary power of fixing the premium, when any peculiar hazard attends the life upon which the aſſurance is made.

Perſons preferring the payment of a groſs ſum or ſingle premium upon an aſſurance for any certain term, are chargeable in a due proportion to the annual premium for ſuch term.

Every perſon making any aſſurance with the ſociety pays five ſhillings in the name of entrance-money; and if the ſum aſſured exceed one hundred pounds, the en⯑trance-money is charged after the rate of five ſhillings for every hundred pounds.

Alſo, every perſon propoſing any aſſurance, is re⯑quired to make a depoſit of five ſhillings, and in caſe the ſum propoſed to be aſſured ſhall exceed one hun⯑dred pounds, the depoſit will be increaſed after the rate of two ſhillings and ſixpence for every hundred; which depoſit, if the party afterwards, or neglects to com⯑plete the ſame, for the ſpace of twenty-eight days, is forfeited to the uſe of the ſociety; but if the court of directors refuſe making ſuch aſſurance, the money de⯑poſited is returned.

Every policy becomes void, upon the party, whoſe life is aſſured, going beyond the limits of Europe, (without leave of the directors) or dying upon the ſeas, or dying by their own hands, or the hands of juſtice.

[75]TABLE of Annual Premiums payable during the joint continuance of the Lives of the Expectant and Poſ⯑ſeſſor for inſuring One Hundred Pounds ^*, if the Life in Expectation ſhall ſurvive the Life in Poſſeſſion.

[76]A TABLE of ANNUAL PREMIUMS payable during the continuance of two joint Lives, for aſſuring One Hundred Pounds, to be paid when either of the Lives ſhall drop.

N. B. From the above ſpecimen, which ſhews the premium for every tenth year, the reader will eaſi⯑ly judge of the proportional premium for any in⯑termediate age.

Every perſon deſiring to make aſſurance with the ſo⯑ciety, muſt ſign a declaration by himſelf or agent, ſet⯑ting forth the age, ſtate of health, profeſſion, occupa⯑tion, and other circumſtances of the perſons whoſe lives are propoſed to be aſſured: and alſo, in caſe ſuch aſſurance is made upon the life of another perſon, that the intereſt which he has in ſuch life is equal to the ſum aſſured. This declaration is the baſis of the con⯑tract between the ſociety and the perſon deſirous to make ſuch aſſurance: and if any artful, falſe, or frau⯑dulent repreſentation ſhall be uſed therein, all claim, on account of any policy ſo obtained, ſhall ceaſe, de⯑termine, and be void, and the monies which ſhall [77] have been paid upon account of ſuch aſſurance, ſhall be forfeited to the uſe of the ſociety.

Every perſon making aſſurance with the ſociety be⯑comes a member, and enters into a covenant that he will conform to, obſerve, and keep the ſtatutes, bye-laws, rules, orders, and ordinances of the ſociety.— But no member has a right to vote at a general court, who is not aſſured in the ſum of 100 l. or upwards, upon a life or lives, for the whole continuance there⯑of.

The buſineſs of the ſociety is conducted and carried on by fifteen directors, annually choſen out of thoſe members, who are aſſured with the ſociety in the ſum of 300 l. or upwards, upon a life or lives, for the whole continuance thereof.

Four general courts are held every year, on the firſt Thurſday of March, June, September and December, or as often as nine members qualified to vote ſhall think proper, at which times the accounts and ſtate of the ſociety are laid before the perſons preſent.

If at any time it ſhall appear to a General Court of the Society, that the premiums received, and to be received, will not be ſufficient to pay the claims, then the General Court are to direct a call to be made upon the ſeveral members of the Society, in proportion to the ſums by them aſſured, for making good the defi⯑ciency; for which call credit is to be given, and the call afterwards to be repaid; with intereſt, at the rate of 3 per cent.

If a call ſhould at any time be requiſite, (which is highly improbable) the members aſſured for a ſingle year will be rated towards ſuch call in the proportion of one ſixth part, and the members aſſured for a number of years certain, in the proportion of two third parts of the ſum charged upon the members aſſured for the whole continuance of life, for every 100 l. by them reſpectively aſſured.

As often as it ſhall appear to a General Court, that the ſtock of the Society is more than ſufficient to pay the claims liable to be made, then the General Court is to declare a dividend of the ſurplus, or of ſuch part thereof as ſhall be judged convenient, amongſt the [78] members of the ſociety liable to contribute towards a call in proportion to the ſums in which they are aſſu⯑red, and to the number of years of their ſtanding in the ſociety.

The court of directors are impowered to aſſure either a groſs ſum, or an annuity, to be paid to children after they ſhall have attained an age aſſigned.

The court of directors are impowered to aſſure an⯑nuities for a life or lives, on the payment of a groſs ſum.

So as the amount of any annuity or annuities to be granted upon any one life do not exceed one hundred pounds:

And towards ſecuring the payment of the ſeveral annuities, a fund is reſerved of two-thirds of the ſums originally paid for the purchaſe.

There are two or three other ſocieties for aſſurance on lives, that pay annuities to widows and children, but they are not ſufficiently eſtabliſhed to put any great dependence on them, of courſe they are not here no⯑ticed.

GENERAL POST-OFFICE, LOMBARD-STREET.

1. ALL letters and newſpapers muſt be put into the receiving-houſes in different parts of the town, before five in the evening, or they cannot be forward⯑ed by that day's poſt. After five theſe offices are ſhut. Bell-men then go about the ſtreets till ſix, who carry ſuch letters as they collect, to the General Poſt-Office in Lombard-ſtreet, for which they expect one penny each letter. If a letter be carried by your own ſer⯑vant, this penny may be ſaved: the General Poſt-Of⯑fice will take them in any time before ſeven. After ſeven, till eight, a letter will be taken in for 6 d. ex⯑traordinary.

2. All perſons about the Poſt-Office ſhall take an oath not to embezzle or delay any letters, nor to open any, except by an expreſs warrant from one of the ſe⯑cretaries of ſtate, for that purpoſe; or except in ſuch [79] caſes where the parties to whom they are addreſſed re⯑fuſe payment for the ſame; or except ſuch letters are returned for want of true directions; or when the party to whom the ſame is directed cannot be found.— 9 Ann. c. 10.

• From any poſt-office in England, to any place not exceeding one ſtage from ſuch office, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 2
• From any poſt-office in England, to any place above one, and not exceeding two ſtages from ſuch office, and not paſſing through London, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 3
• From any poſt-office in England, to any place above two ſtages, and not exceeding 80 miles, and not paſſing through London, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 4
• From any poſt-office in England, to any place above 80, and not exceeding 150 miles, and not paſſing through London, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 5
• From any poſt-office in England, to any place above 150 miles, not paſſing through London, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 6

• Between London and Edinburgh, Dumfries or Cockburnſpeth, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 7
• From any poſt-office in Scotland, to any place not exceeding one ſtage from ſuch office, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 2
• From any poſt-office in Scotland, to any place in the ſame kingdom above one ſtage, and not exceeding 50 miles, and not paſſing through Edinburgh, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 3
• From any poſt-office in Scotland, to any place in the ſame kingdom above 50, and not exceeding 80 miles, and not paſſing through Edinburgh, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 4
• From any poſt-office in Scotland, to any place in the ſame kingdom above 80, and not exceeding 150 miles, and not paſſing through Edinburgh, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 5
• From any poſt-office in Scotland, to any place above 150 miles, and not paſſing through Edin⯑burgh, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 6
• Between Port-Patrick in Scotland, and Donagha⯑dee in Ireland, by packet-boats, over and above all other rates, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 2
• [80]Letters to and from any part of England and any part of Scotland, not paſſing through London, Edinburgh, Dumfries or Cockburnſpeth, are not chargeable, if ſingle, higher than Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 7
• Letters to and from Glaſgow, or the intermediate places by Carliſle, are not to pay a higher rate of poſtage, than if ſent through Edinburgh.

• Between London and Dublin, by way of Holy-head. Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 6
• Between London and Donaghadee, by way of Carliſle and Port-Patrick, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 12

• Between Great Britain and the Iſle of Man, by packet-boats, over and above all other rates, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 2

• For the port of every letter or packet of letters in any part of his Majeſty's dominions directed to, or coming from, on board of any ſhip, over and above the rates before mentioned, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 1
• For every letter or packet coming from on ſhip⯑board for the town where landed, or the deli⯑very thereof, one penny, with the penny paid to the maſter, mariner, or paſſenger bringing the ſame, being for every ſuch letter or pac⯑ket, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 2

• For letters conveyed by packet-boats, between London and any port in his Majeſty's Weſt-India iſlands, or North-America, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 12
• For letters conveyed by packet-boats from any port in the Weſt-India iſlands, or his Majeſty's dominions in North-America, to any other port thereof, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 4
• For the inland conveyance of letters in the ſaid dominions between any office and any place, not exceeding 60 Engliſh miles, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 4
• For any diſtance above 60 Engliſh miles, and not exceeding 100 miles, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 6
• [81]For any diſtance above 100, and not exceeding 200 Engliſh miles, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 8
• And ſo in proportion, the poſtage increaſing two-pence a ſingle letter, for any diſtance above eve⯑ry 100 miles.

• Letters from London to any part of Holland, France or Flanders, pay no foreign poſtage.
• From any part of Holland, France or Flanders, to London, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 10
• Between London and any part of Spain or Portu⯑gal, through France, or by Liſbon, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 18
• Between London and any part of Italy, Sicily, Turkey and Switzerland, through France, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 15
• Between London and any part of Italy, Sicily, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Ruſſia, and all parts of the North, through Holland and Flanders, Poſtage of a Single Letter. d. 12

5. Letters and packets from any part of Great Bri⯑tain or Ireland, for any of the places under the title Foreign Letters, before mentioned, and for North-Ame⯑rica, are, beſides the ſaid foreign rates and packet-poſtage to North-America, to pay at the office where they are put in, the full port to London, without which they cannot be forwarded; therefore, all per⯑ſons are to take particular notice thereof, to prevent the neceſſity of their letters being opened and returned for the poſtage.

6. All merchants accompts, not exceeding one ſheet of paper, and all bills of exchange, invoices, and bills of lading, to or from any of the foreign parts or pla⯑ces before mentioned, and the covers of letters to or from Turkey, not exceeding one quarter of a ſheet of paper, are allowed to paſs without payment of the fo⯑reign poſtage, but are to pay the full inland port to and from London.

7. All double, treble, and other letters and packets whatever (except by the penny-poſt) pay in proportion to the reſpective rates of ſingle letters before ſpecified; but no letter or packet to and from places within the king⯑dom [82] of Great Britain, together with the contents thereof, ſhall be charged more than as a treble letter, unleſs the ſame ſhall weigh an ounce, when it is to be rated as four ſingle letters, and ſo in proportion for every quarter of an ounce above that weight, reckon⯑ing each quarter as a ſingle letter.

8. Letters to all parts of Europe are diſpatched from London every Tueſday and Friday, except thoſe to Portugal, which are forwarded by the Liſbon mails on Tueſdays only.

9. Letters to the Weſt-Indies and to North-Ame⯑rica are diſpatched from London the firſt Wedneſday in every month.

10. No letter, under one ounce, to be charged high⯑er than as a treble letter.

11. All maſters of veſſels bringing letters from a⯑broad, ſhall deliver the ſame (except in the caſe of quarentine) at the poſt-office where they break bulk, for which the poſt-maſter ſhall receive 1 d. extra for each letter. 5 Geo. 3. c. 25, ſ. 3, 4.

12. Bills of exchange, written on the ſame piece of paper with a letter, and ſeveral letters to ſeveral per⯑ſons, written on the ſame piece of paper, ſhall pay as ſo many diſtinct letters. 26 G. c. 21. ſ. 51.

13. Writs, and other proceedings at law, incloſed or written on the ſame piece of paper with a letter, ſhall pay as ſo many diſtinct letters. 26 G. 2. c. 13. ſ. 6.

14. But merchants accompts not exceeding one ſheet, bills of exchange, invoices, bills of lading (ſent or brought over ſea; 6 G. c. 21. ſ. 52), ſhall be allow⯑ed without rate in the price of the letters. 9 Ann. c. 10. ſ. 13.

15. But patterns or ſamples of goods, or pieces of any thing, though not paper, incloſed in a letter, of affixed thereto, if under an ounce weight, ſhall pay as a double letter. 26 G. 2. c. 13. ſ. 7.

16. No letters or packets ſhall be exempted from poſtage, except ſuch as ſhall be ſent to the king; and ſuch as not exceeding the weight of two ounces, ſhall be ſent during the ſitting of parliament, or within 40 days before or after any ſummons or prorogation, [83] which ſhall be ſigned on the outſide thereof, by any member, and by whom the whole ſuperſcription ſhall be written; and alſo the name of the poſt-town from which the ſame is intended to be ſent, and the day, month and year, when the ſame ſhall be put into the poſt-office (the day of the month to be in words at length)—or directed to any member at the place where he ſhall actually be at the time of the delivery thereof, or at his uſual place of reſidence in London, or at the lobby of the houſe of parliament of which he is a member; or to the offices of the Treaſury, Admiralty, War-office, General Poſt-office, ſecretaries of ſtate, paymaſter-general of the forces, clerk of the parlia⯑ments, clerk of the Houſe of Commons; or upon his Majeſty's ſervice (indorſed by the proper officer).— 4 Geo. 3. c. 24. ſ. 1, 4. 5 Geo. 3. c. 25. ſ. 26. 25 Geo. 3.

17. Counterfeiting the ſuperſcription of any letters to evade the poſtage, is tranſportation for ſeven years. 25 Geo. 3.

18. Printed votes or proceedings in parliament, or printed newſpapers ſent without cover, or in covers open at the ends, ſigned on the outſide by any member of parliament, or directed to a member at any place, whereof he ſhall have given notice to the Poſtmaſter-General, ſhall be exempted from poſtage in England; 4 G. 3. c. 24. ſ. 5. and ſhall paſs from Great Britain and Ireland at the rate of 1 d. only for each printed vote, proceeding in parliament, or newſpaper. 25 Geo. 3.

19. If any perſon entruſted to take in letters and re⯑ceive the poſtage thereof, ſhould embezzle the money, burn or deſtroy the letters, or advance the rates and not duly account for ſuch advanced rates, he ſhall be guilty of felony. 5 Geo. 3. c. 25. ſ. 19.

20. All ſums not exceeding 5 l. due for poſtage may [...]e recovered before juſtices of the peace, in the ſame manner as ſmall tithes. 9 An. c. 10. ſ. 30.

21. All ſums overcharged for letters will be returned [...] the Poſt-Office, Lombard-ſtreet. If on good terms with your poſtman, he will get this done for you; on [84] this account it may not be impolitic to give him a ſhil⯑ling at Chriſtmas.

22. Any complaint made of miſconduct to the Secre⯑tary of the Poſt-Office, by letter or otherwiſe, will be immediately attended to.

23. No one is obliged to receive a letter from the poſtman, though directed to him, unleſs he thinks pro⯑per.

THE PENNY-POST

1. HAS five principal offices; viz. the chief Penny-poſt office in Throgmorton-ſtreet; the Weſt⯑minſter, in Coventry-ſtreet; St. Clements, in Black⯑moor-ſtreet, Clare-market; the Hermitage, in Queen-ſtreet, Little Tower-hill; the Southwark, St. Saviour's Church-yard, Borough.

2. Letters to be ſent out of town muſt be put into theſe offices before ten at night, to be forwarded by the firſt delivery the next day.

3. To prevent the frequent delays of Penny-poſt let⯑ters, the public are requeſted to be particularly careful to ſend them to the Penny-poſt receiving-houſes, from whence they are collected every four hours, and deli⯑vered four times a day to all parts of London; for when they are put by miſtake into the General Poſt-office, or the receiving-houſes for general-poſt letters, they cannot be collected till late in the evening, and beſides the delay thereby, the penny which ought to have been paid with them muſt of neceſſity be charged to the per⯑ſons they are directed to.

4. Letters are much accelerated by being put in at any of the five principal offices, inſtead of the receiv⯑ing-houſes, from whence they muſt be collected and ſent to thoſe offices.

5. For the port of every letter or packet, paſſing or repaſſing within the cities of London or Weſtminſter, the Borough of Southwark and their ſuburbs, (which letter or packet is not to exceed the weight of 4 ounces▪ [85] unleſs coming from or paſſing to the General-Poſt) one penny upon putting in the ſame, as alſo a penny upon the delivery of ſuch as are directed to any place beyond the ſaid cities, borough, or ſuburbs, within the diſtrict of the penny-poſt delivery.

6. The triangular ſtamp on all Penny-poſt letters ſhews the day they are brought to one of theſe princi⯑pal offices; and the round ſtamp the hour they are gi⯑ven to the letter carriers.

7. This poſt carries parcels under four ounces to moſt places within ten miles of London.

8. To expedite the delivery, it is adviſeable to write on the outſide, the day of the week, and the hour the letter is put into the office.

9. If you ſend any thing of value by the poſt, it is proper that the perſon who delivers it at the office ſhould be able to prove the contents; but the office has given the following directions concerning this mat⯑ter. Unleſs letters containing things of value be left open, to be ſo carried to one of the five principal offi⯑ces above-mentioned, there to be ſeen and entered, the letter-carrier will no ways be made anſwerable for their miſcarriage.

10. Thoſe who ſend bank-notes by the poſt, are ad⯑viſed by the poſt-office to cut them in two pieces, ob⯑liquely, ſo as to have the words on the left, as below, in one piece, and thoſe on the right in the other, and ſend them at two different times, one half at one time and one at another, as a ſecurity, in caſe the mail is robbed.

In caſe of loſs the Bank will pay the money, on producing one half of the note.

11. With reſpect to the Penny-poſt. the public are de⯑ſired to be very diſtinct in their directions, particularly to lodgers, by mentioning their landlord's ſign and [86] name, for want of which many cannot be delivered. And as a check on the letter-carrier, thoſe that he re⯑turns after three days enquiry will be ſent to the writer gratis, if their reſidence can be diſcovered.

12. Nothing above four ounces will be conveyed by the penny-poſt, except paſſing to or from the general poſt-office.

13. Thoſe who wiſh to find perſons in London, not having their directions, may often find them out by enquiring at the poſt-office among the letter-carriers, at the time the letters are delivered to them.

MAIL COACHES.

THE following (excluſive of thoſe on the croſs poſt roads) are the Mail Coaches already eſtabliſhed.

1. To Bath and Briſtol, from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly

2. To Bath and Briſtol, through Andover and Devi⯑zes, from ditto, ditto.

3. To Carliſle, by way of Mancheſter, from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane.

4. To Cheſter and Holyhead, from ditto.

5. To Dover, from the George and Blue Boar, Hol⯑born, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly, to York Houſe, Dover.

6. To Exeter, through Saliſbury, Blandford, and Dorcheſter, from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly.

7. To Exeter, through Marlborough, Devizes, Froom, Wells, Bridgewater and Taunton, from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane.

8. To Glouceſter, Swanſea, and Carmarthen, from the Angel Inn, behind St. Clement's Church, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly.

9. To Hereford, [...]recknock, Carmarthen, and Milford Haven, from ditto, ditto.

[87]10. To Liverpool, through Coventry and Litchfield, from the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane.

11. To Mancheſter, through Derby, from ditto.

12. To Nottingham and Leeds, from the Bull and Mouth, in Bull and Mouth Street.

13. To Norwich and Yarmouth, through Newmarket and Thetford, from the White Horſe, Fetter-lane.

14. To Norwich, through Colcheſter and Ipſwich, from ditto.

15. To Portſmouth, from the Angel Inn, behind St. Clement's Church.

16. To Shrewſbury, and to Birmingham, Kidderminſter, and Bewdley, from the Bull and Mouth, Bull and Mouth Street.

17. To Southampton and Poole, from the Bell and Crown, Holborn, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly.

18. To Windſor, from the Three Cups, Bread-ſtreet, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly.

19. To Worceſter and Ludlow, from the George and Blue Boar, Holborn, and the Glouceſter Coffee-houſe, Piccadilly.

Theſe coaches ſet off every night at eight o'clock, with a guard, and go at the rate of ſeven miles an hour, with a pair of horſes. The fare for each paſſenger about 4 d. a mile, 14 lb. of luggage allowed.

STAGE COACHES

1. GO from different parts of London to all parts of the kingdom, almoſt every day. The places they ſet out from, and the days they go, may be found in a book printed for that purpoſe. This book alſo gives an account of the Waggons and Hoys.

The general run of ſtage-coaches is 3 d. halfpenny per mile each inſide paſſenger, who is allowed 14 lb. of luggage, all above is paid extra for.

2. Moſt of theſe coaches have a guard, and go as expe⯑ditiouſly as the mail coaches. The proprietors of ſtage coaches and waggons now advertiſe, that they will pay [88] for no luggage worth more than 5 l. unleſs firſt mad acquainted with its value, and paid for accordingly This is idle, for if they take in the parcel without ex⯑ceptions, and it is loſt, and the contents can be proved they will be obliged to make it good. See CAUTION [...] 3, 4.

HORSES AND CARRIAGES.

1. FOR every ſaddle-horſe, mare or gelding, uſe for riding or drawing any carriage for which a exciſe-duty is payable, ſhall be paid annually 10 s. [...] Geo. 3. c. 31.

2. Horſes belonging to non-commiſſioned office: and ſoldiers of cavalry, alſo horſes belonging to dealer kept for ſale only, and all horſes let to hire by poſt maſters for travelling poſt, are exempted from th [...] duty. Ibid.

3. For every coach, chariot, chaiſe, &c. with fo [...] wheels, kept by any perſon for his own uſe, or to b [...] let out for hire, (except hackney-coaches) ſhall be pa [...] the yearly ſum of ſeven pounds; and for every chaiſ [...] chair, gig, whiſkey, &c. having two or three wheel drawn by one or more horſes, the annual ſum [...] 3 l. 10 s. Ibid.

4. Aſſeſſors ſhall give notice in writing to pe [...] keeping horſes and carriages, to produce, in [...] days after ſuch notice, liſts of the numbers kept [...] them, on pain of forfeiting 10 l. to be recovered [...] ſore two juſtices; and in caſe ſuch liſts are not [...] ⯑vered when called for, the aſſeſſor ſhall, from the [...]e [...] information he can obtain, make an aſſeſſment on ſ [...] perſon ſo refuſing, which ſhall be final, unleſs th [...] perſon aſſeſſed ſhall prove a ſufficient excuſe before th [...] commiſſioners; and in caſe the liſt delivered to the a⯑ſeſſors ſhall be deficient, they may ſurcharge the ſame and the perſons giving in ſuch defective liſts ſhall [...] double duty for all deficient, one-half of which the [...] ⯑ſeſſor [89] or ſurveyor ſhall have for ſurcharging the ſame. Ibid.

5. Houſeholders ſhall deliver liſts of lodgers who keep horſes or carriages, containing the names of ſuch lodgers, on pain of forfeiting 10 l. to be recovered before two juſtices. Ibid.

6. Perſons over-rated may appeal to the commiſ⯑ſioners, but they muſt then deliver their liſts upon oath. Ibid.

7. Surveyor or aſſeſſor making a falſe ſurcharge, ſhall be fined as in the window-act, from 40 s. to 5 l. Ibid.

8. The annual payment of the duty to take place always from the 5th of April in each year; ſo that if a perſon has a horſe and carriage on the 6th of April, and ſells it the 7th, he muſt pay a whole year's tax, it being an annual tax. Ibid.

9. By the cuſtom of London, if a horſe ſtands at an inn, till he eat out his value, the inn-keeper may take him as his own, upon the reaſonable appraiſement of four of his neighbours; provided the horſe was never out of his poſſeſſion from the time the debt com⯑menced. A horſe cannot be detained on his coming again, for what was due before. Bac. Abr. Inn. D. Strange, 556.

HACKNEY COACHES.

1. HACKNEY coaches are not to ſtand nearer to each other than twelve yards, leaving a paſſage for carriages between them; nor within twelve yards of any croſs ſtreet, on pain of the coachman's forfeit⯑ing 10 s.

2. No more than the following number of coaches ſhall ſtand in the places ſpecified, on pain of the coach⯑man's forfeiting 10 s. for each offence: Eight coaches ſhall ſtand in Cornhill; viz. Seven between the end of Gracechurch-ſtreet and Finch-lane, and one be⯑tween the end of Freeman's-court and Finch-lane.

[90]In Leadenhall-ſtreet, three coaches between the weſt end of the India-houſe and the paſſage leading to the green-market, Leaden-hall.

In Cheapſide, between the end of Bucklerſbury and the end of Ironmonger-lane, three coaches.

In King-ſtreet, Guildhall, five coaches, viz. Three beginning at the end of Trump-ſtreet, towards Catea⯑ton-ſtreet, and two on the other ſide of Trump-ſtreet, towards Cheapſide.

In Aldermanbury, four coaches, viz. Two in the broad part, near the church, and two at the eaſt end of the church.

Two coaches only in that part of Fleet-ſtreet between Temple-bar and Chancery-lane, and not more than one coach between the ſaid lane and the weſt end of Dun⯑ſtan's-church.

3. Coachmen, if left to themſelves, can charge only for the neareſt way, go which way they will, unleſs the neareſt road is ſtopped.

4. Coachmen may chuſe whether they will be paid for the time or the ground; the ground they go is to be meaſured from the ſtand from whence they are called.

5. If a coach is on the ſtand, the driver is obliged to go with his fare at any hour, not exceeding ten miles from London, under the penalty of 40 s.

6. No coachman need take in more than four; but if he takes five without making terms, he can take no more than his uſual fare.

7. If he is inſolent, he will be fined from 10 s. to 40 s. but generally 40 s.

8. Every coachman is obliged to have a check ſtring, which he is to hold in his hand as he drives, and to en⯑ter the coach, ſo as to ſtop him without calling, or for⯑feit 5 s.

9. Coachmen are obliged to trot their horſes, except up hill.

10. If a coachman takes more than his fare, he for⯑feits 10 s.

11. If a coach breaks down with you, you may re⯑fuſe to pay the fare.

12. If you think, when paying him, he aſks too much, tender what he aſks, and bid him, at his peril, take more than his fare; then take his number, which is fixed on the coach-door, and, on application to a juſtice of peace, or to the commiſſioners of the Hack⯑ney-coach office, who ſit every Friday, at twelve, at the office in Somerſet-place, you may obtain redreſs. The latter is the beſt place to appl [...] to, as the coach-office is acquainted with the meaſur [...] of all the ſtreets: and when you have made your complaint, if he has [96] taken more than his fare, they will ſummon him to meet you there on the next day of ſitting, and on your ſwearing to the offence, he will be fined, and the com⯑miſſioners will give you half the penalty; if he has taken no more than his fare you will be told ſo, when you call again, and that he is not ſummoned; but this is not attended with any expence. Note, Half the pe⯑nalties are given to the informer.

14. Chairmen may chuſe whether they will be paid for the ground or the time.

15. If a chair is on the ſtand, the men are obliged to go any where on the ſtones, or forfeit 40 s. They are not obliged to carry goods on wooden horſes, but will on the chair fares; however bargain with them firſt.

16. If they take more than their fare, the penalty is 40 s.

17. If they inſult you, the penalty is 40 s.

18. Act as with coachmen, take the number of the chair, which is fixed juſt under the the top, near the hinge, and complain at the hackney-coach office, as above: if they are fined, half the fine will be given to you. No expence to you if they are not fined.

19. At the hackney-coach office they are well ac⯑quainted with the meaſure of all the ſtreets; but [...] there is any doubt, they will have the ground meaſur⯑ed: in this caſe they expect the complainant to dep [...] ſix or eight ſhillings. If on meaſuring the ground the chairman is ſound right, the complainant pays the ex⯑pence of meaſuring; if wrong, they pay the expence, and are fined.

20. Any one may meaſure the ground they go accu⯑rately enough to aſcertain the fare by a good map of London, and a pair of compaſſes.

PORTERS.

AT the weſt end of the town there are no regula⯑tions among porters; chairmen are chiefly em⯑ployed in carrying goods and going of errands. See CHAIRMEN, No. 18. Chairmen are very unreaſonable in their demands, they will not go a hundred yards with a letter for leſs than ſixpence, and if they go a mile they expect a ſhilling. But in the city they are under very good regulations.

The city porters are divided into brotherhoods, and conſiſt of four ſorts, viz. Ticket Porters, Fellowſhip Porters, Tackle Porters, and Companies Porters.

1. Ticket Porters are all freemen, and their buſineſs is to land and ſhip off goods, exported or imported, to all parts of America, &c. alſo to houſe all merchants goods, metals, &c. go of meſſages, &c. They give a hundred pounds ſecurity for their fidelity and honeſty, and ſuch as employ them need only take notice of the names ſtamped on the ticket that hangs to their girdle, and on complaint made to their Governor at Founders Hall, Lothbury, ſatisfaction will be made to ſuch as they have injured.

2. Fellowſhip Porters are employed alſo as ticket porters. Their chief Governor is the Alderman of Billingſgate Ward, to whom complaint is to be made.

3. Tackle Porters, or ſuch ticket porters as are fur⯑niſhed with weights, ſcales, &c. and their buſineſs is to weigh goods, &c.

4. The Companies Porters land and ſhip off all goods and merchandiſe exported and imported to and from all ports near the weſt ſide of the Sound in the Baltic, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey, and all towards and beyond the Cape of Good Hope.

CARMEN AND CARTS.

1. IF the empty cart of any carman ſhall be ſet or found ſtanding in any other place of the city or liberties thereof, than thoſe appointed for the ſtanding thereof (unleſs while loading or unloading goods into or from the ſame), or if the number of carts, in the pla⯑ces already or hereafter to be appointed, ſhall, at any time, be found to exceed the number allowed by the court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, or by the ſeſſions in London, for the ſtanding thereof, the owner of eve⯑ry cart offending ſhall, for the firſt offence, forfeit 5 s. for the ſecond 10 s. and for the third and every other offence, 20 s. And the beadles and conſtables, or any of the inhabitants of this city, on ſeeing any carts ſtand⯑ing in any places in the city or liberties thereof not ap⯑pointed for their ſtands, or a greater number of carts at any ſtand than what are or ſhall be allowed of in that behalf, may take any ſuch cart, and the horſes thereunto belonging, or any or either of them, to the Greenyard, and ſhall there have the ſame impounded and kept, until the owner thereof ſhall have paid the penalty incurred, and the charges of impounding and detaining every ſuch cart or horſes.

2. No driver of any cart ſhall hereafter come into Thames-ſtreet by St. Magnus Church, eaſtward, with [99] his or their empty cart, before ſuch time as he or they ſhall be hired to come into the ſame ſtreet, for lading or carrying goods, but that the lanes and paſſages here⯑after mentioned ſhall be uſed only for ſuch empty carts to paſs and take their way through into the ſaid Thames-ſtreet, and no other, that is to ſay, the lane leading down to Tower-dock, Bear-lane, Harp-lane, Botolph-lane, Pudding-lane, St. Michael's-lane, Lawrence Poult⯑ney-lane, Buſh-lane, Trinity-lane, and all other lanes weſtward, except the lanes and paſſages herein after limited for loaded carts to paſs through from the ſaid Thames-ſtreet, under the penalty of 5 s. for the firſt offence, and for the ſecond and every other offence 10 s.

3. The commiſſioners of the hackney-coach office are empowered to puniſh the miſbehaviour of carmen. See HACKNEY-COACHES, No. 11.

ON WALKING LONDON STREETS.

1. IN walking through London, you may always find your way, if, before you ſet out, you will con⯑ſult a map of London, and attend to the names of the ſtreets and courts, which are always painted on a board againſt the houſes, at the corner of each ſtreet or court.

2. If you wiſh to walk ſafe, never paſs under any goods, &c. that are drawing up to the top of a houſe by a crane, nor paſs a houſe where the bricklayers are at work, leſt any thing ſhould fall on your head; it is adviſeable, on ſuch occaſions, to croſs the way: and if you would ſave your clothes, never paſs under a lamp, whilſt the lamp-lighter is triming it, nor go near any rails, &c. freſh painted; or conteſt the way with a baker, barber, chimney-ſweeper, barrow-woman, &c.

3. If the wall or houſes are on your right hand, keep the wall and you will have no interruption, every one will give way.

4. But don't diſpute the wall with a cart or carriage, leſt you ſhould be cruſhed.

5. Never ſtop in a crowd, or to look at the windows of a print-ſhop or ſhew-glaſs, if you would not have your pocket picked.

6. Do not walk under a pent-houſe, leſt perſons watering flower-pots, or other ſlops, ſhould drop upon your head.

7. Be careful, if you meet a porter carrying a load upon his head, that you do not get a blow that may be fatal.

8. If you walk with an umbrella, and meet a ſimilar machine, lower yours in time, leſt you either break it, or get entangled with the other.

9 One ſide of the way is generally ſhady; it is not neceſſary perhaps to recommend croſſing to the ſhady ſide in ſultry weather, or keeping to windward when the duſt flies.

10. In wet weather look where you ſtep; if you would not be ſplaſhed, don't tread on a looſe ſtone.

[116]11. Don't haſtily croſs a ſtreet when a coach is com⯑ing up, leſt your foot ſhould ſlip and you be run over.

12. In froſty weather it is adviſeable to walk in the coach-ways, which are not ſo ſlippery as the foot-paths; and to bind a piece of cloth-liſt round one of your ſhoes, it will ſave you many a fall.

13. It is very dangerous walking in a thick fog, as you cannot ſee the danger before you; people who walk in London ſhould always look before them, both above and below.

14. It would be prudent for the men to have their coat-pockets open in the lining within; this will often prevent them from being picked. At leaſt every one ſhould attend to his pocket at night, or as he paſſes a crowd.

WATERMEN's RATES.

[117]

2. No more than ſix perſons to be taken in for one fare.

3. If a waterman plys you, he is obliged to carry you; but as his number is on his boat and out of ſight, don't tell him where you are going till you are in the boat; if he refuſes to carry you after this, he forfeits 20 s. to the waterman's company. If he takes more than his fare, or inſults you, the penalty is 40 s. Any complaint to be made at Waterman's Hall, near London Bridge: here you attend twice, once to ſum⯑mon him, and again to have the complaint heard. The beſt method is to have him before the Lord Mayor, who will fine him, or perhaps commit him to priſon, according to the offence. As he will be found out by his number, which is painted on the ſide of the boat within, be ſure to examine this, and remember it.

4. No waterman, if you take the boat to yourſelf, can take any other perſon in without your leave, or on pain of being fined.

5. No waterman ſhall uſe his boat on the Thames on Sundays, without a licence from a juſtice, under the [118] penalty of 5 s. 11 & 12 W. c. 21. except ferrymen b [...] ⯑tween Vauxhall and Limehouſe.

6. No tilt-boat, row-barge, or wherry, to take at o [...] time more than thirty-ſeven paſſengers, and three mo [...] by the way; nor in any other boat or wherry mo [...] than eight, and two more by the way; nor in any fe [...] ⯑ry-boat or wherry, allowed to work on Sundays, an [...] more than eight paſſengers, on pain of forfeiting f [...] the firſt offence 5 l. for the ſecond offence 10 l. an [...] for the third offence to be disfranchiſed for twelv [...] months from working on the river, and from enjoyin [...] the privileges of the company: and in caſe any perſo [...] ſhall be drowned, where a greater number of paſſenge [...] is taken in than is allowed, the watermen ſhall [...] deemed guilty of felony, and tranſported as felons.

7. Any waterman or wherryman, who wilfully o [...] negligently loſe their tide from Billingſgate to Grave ſend, or from thence to Billingſgate, by putting aſhor [...] for other paſſengers, or by waiting or loitering by th [...] way, ſo that the firſt paſſengers ſhall be ſet on ſhor [...] two miles ſhort of the place to which they are bound ſuch paſſengers ſhall be diſcharged from paying an [...] thing for their paſſage.

8. Any waterman who ſets up a ſail between Lam⯑beth and London-bridge, upon complaining, as befor [...] mentioned, forfeits, for each offence, 5 s.

POST-HORSES, as far as relates to Travellers.

1. EVERY perſon letting horſes for travelling poſt, ſhall take, for the King, three halfpence for every mile each horſe is to travel; for which he ſhall deliver a ticket to the traveller, ſpecifying the number of horſes employed, and the miles they are to go, ſign⯑ed by the maſter of the houſe: if hired by the day, the words, "for a day," and the amount of the duty paid, to be on the ticket, which is 1 s. 9 d. for each horſe. 25 Geo. 3. c. 51.

[119]2. Travellers are to deliver ſuch tickets at the firſt turnpike they paſs through, or pay 1 s. 9 d. for each horſe; if the horſe and carriage be hired for the day, the turnpike keeper ſhall give the traveller a ticket in exchange, with the words "received day-ticket" on it, which ticket ſhall be ſhewn at every gate the traveller paſſes through that day, or he ſhall pay 1 s. 9 d. for each horſe, which the toll gatherer ſhall have to his own uſe. Ibid.

3. If the horſes, &c. be hired for two or more days, no duty is paid for them, but the innkeeper, &c. muſt deliver the traveller a certificate, with the words ‘hir⯑ed for two or more days’ on it, and ſigned with his name, the day of the month, and place of his abode; and the perſon travelling in ſuch carriage, or the driver, ſhall deliver ſuch certificate at the firſt turnpike, for which the gate-keeper ſhall give a check ticket in re⯑turn, with the words on it, "certificate delivered." This ticket to be ſhewn at every turnpike gate through which the carriage paſſes, or the traveller ſhall pay 1 s. 9 d. for each horſe, which the gate-keeper ſhall have for himſelf. Penalty on perſons iſſuing falſe or erroneous certificates to evade the duty, 20 l. Ibid.

4. No traveller ſhall pay for more miles than ſpeci⯑fied on the ticket. Filling up tickets falſely ſubjects the filler to a penalty of 10 l. Ibid.

5. Horſes hired for leſs time than two days, are deemed hired for the day. Ibid. ſ. 25.

6. No perſon at whoſe houſe any traveller ſhall change horſes, ſhall let them otherwiſe than by the mile or ſtage, on pain of 10 l. Ibid.

7. Where innkeepers, &c. cannot furniſh horſes to travellers, and they go on with the ſame horſes, they ſhall nevertheleſs give the traveller a freſh ticket, pro⯑perly filled up, and receive the duty thereon. Ibid.

8. All horſes hired by a mile or ſtage ſhall be deem⯑ed hired to travel poſt. Ibid. ſ. 42.

9. Poſtmaſters ſhall furniſh horſes to travel poſt, and ſhall charge 3 d. a mile for each horſe riding poſt ^*, and [120] 4 d. a mile for the perſon riding as guide, and ſhall not charge for any bundle of goods not exceeding eighty pounds weight, to be laid on the horſe rid by the guide, and ſhall not be obliged to carry above that weight, 9 Ann. c. 10. ſ. 14.

10. If any poſt-maſter doth not or cannot furniſh perſons riding poſt with horſes in half an hour after demand, ſuch perſons may furniſh themſelves elſewhere, and the poſtmaſter ſhall forfeit 5 l. half to the king, and half to him that ſhall ſue, with full coſts. Ibid. ſ. 20, 21, 28.

11. The price of poſt-chaiſes in London is generally 1 s. a mile, excluſive of the duty, and they generally charge a mile or two more, the firſt ſtage, than the ground meaſures, under a pretence of the ground on the ſtones. By the day a poſt-chaiſe may be hired for to go fifteen or eighteen miles, and back, for a guinea, independent of the duty; if let for more than one day they will ſometimes take leſs, perhaps 18 s. or even leſs, if taken for a longer time.

12. The hire of a one-horſe chaiſe, with the horſe, is half-a-guinea, including the duty; without a horſe, 3 s. 6 d. or 4 s. The hire of a ſaddle-horſe, including the duty, 6 s. or 7 s. according to the diſtance he is to go.

13. The hire of two chairmen by the week, is 24s. and they are always at your command.

CONVENIENCES IN LONDON.

A Man may live like a gentleman in London at a very eaſy rate, and have every indulgence he can wiſh for.

1. If he does not keep a carriage, he may hire one by the month, or week, or even by the day. A genteel coach, with glaſs windows, may be hired for the day, of thoſe who keep hackney-coaches, if beſpoke, at the price of a hackney-coach, and if you have a great-coat [121] and hat for the coachman to put on, it will be equally the ſame as if he was your own ſervant.

2. Hackney-chairs may be had at a moment's notice, paying them either for the time or ground they go, ac⯑cording to the cuſtomary rates, or by the week; and if you have two great coats and hats to lend the men for the time, they may be always well equipped. For la⯑dies, a lady's chair ſhould be kept in the hall, it pays no duty. Theſe chairmen in conſtant pay will call three or four times a day for orders, and will go on meſ⯑ſages alſo.

3. Good wine may be had of the wine-merchants, red or white, at 26 s. a dozen, or 2 s. 3 d. a bottle; other wines in proportion. Good bottled beer or cy⯑der can always be bought.

4. There are bookſellers who lend books to read by the quarter. The principal Circulating Libraries in town are,

• Hookham, in Bond-ſtreet. Here are moſt foreign books.
• Bell, oppoſite Catherine-ſtreet in the Strand.
• Noble, Middle-row, Holborn.
• Vernon, Birchin-lane.
• Boozey, King-ſtreet, Cheapſide.
• Deſbrow, St. Martin's Court, St. Martin's-lane.

At theſe libraries you may have new publications, if volumes, to read at 3 d. a volume, have the reading of all new books, and that of their whole library, of which they have catalogues at 6 d. each, for 12 s. a year, or 4 s. a quarter, and have two books at a time, and change them every day; but at B [...]ll's, for one guinea a year, you may read all the new pamphlets and books of any value.

5. The Library of the Britiſh Muſeum, in Great Ruſſel-ſtreet, Bloomſbury, is open to the public from eleven to three, where the books may be read, and any part of them copied, in a good reading-room, with fires in winter, without any expence. Apply for ad⯑miſſion to any of the truſtees, by giving in your name, and if approved of, you will receive an anſwer for that purpoſe at the next committee-day.

[122]6. The Library at Sion-College, by London-wall, is a public one, but confined to the clergy of the city of London only.

7. The London Library, Ludgate-hill, is an inſtitu⯑tion of late date, but likely to be a very valuable one. It conſiſts at preſent of 140 ſubſcribers, twelve of whom are a committee, and ſit once a week, on Tueſ⯑days, to determine on the purchaſe of books, &c. which any ſubſcriber may recommend to their conſi⯑deration. They do not buy all the traſh that is pub⯑liſhed, but books of character, and ſuch as are worth reading, French or Engliſh, with the foreign Reviews, &c. it being the deſign of this Library to contain all thoſe great works of ſcience which it is difficult for in⯑dividuals to procure, and every other work of taſte and entertainment.

Any perſon paying one guinea entrance, and one guinea per annum, becomes a member of the ſociety, and has an intereſt in the property of the whole.

Any perſon paying ten guineas si a member for life.

The Library is opened every day, Sundays ex⯑cepted, from March 25, to September 29, from eleven to four, and from five to eight; and from Sep⯑tember 29 to March 25, from eleven to four only; du⯑ring which time the members may conſult any books, or ſend for them to their own houſes. A reading-room and a fire in winter.

Every member may have two books at a time, in his or her poſſeſſion; the time of keeping which is regu⯑lated by the committee, as follows:—A folio ſix weeks, a quarto one month, and an octavo a week; keeping them beyond the time is a forfeit of a trifle to the fund.

If any books be loſt or damaged, that book, or the ſet, if it belongs to a ſet, muſt be re-placed by the per⯑ſon to whom it was delivered.

Subſcribers to this Library will have the pleaſure of reading clean books, which is ſeldom the caſe at cir⯑culating libraries.

8. The French bookſellers are,

• Becket, in Pall-mall;
• Elmſley, oppoſite Southampton-ſtreet, Strand;
• Hookham, in Bond-ſtreet.

[123]9. Law-books, in great variety, are to be found at Brooke's, in Bell-yard, Temple-bar, where copies of private acts of parliament may be met with which cannot be had at other places.

10. Perſons fond of whiſt will find, on enquiry among their friends, a number of card-clubs in diffe⯑rent parts of London, that meet on an evening, where, if properly introduced, they may be admitted; as alſo to many reſpectable billiard-tables: there are three at No. 30, Charing-croſs.

11. If he is fond of diſcuſſion, by ſubſcribing two guineas a year, he may be admitted as a member of the Arts and Sciences, whoſe aſſembly-room is in the Adel⯑phi, (but he muſt be ballotted in) where there is a ge⯑neral meeting every Wedneſday evening, from the firſt Wedneſday in October to the laſt in June, and where gentlemen give their opinion publicly, on the various inventions and improvements in huſbandry, &c. that are brought before them. A member muſt be propoſed by three ſubſcribers, one Wedneſday, and ballotted for the next: two-thirds of thoſe who ballot muſt be in his favour. Twenty guineas conſtitutes a member for life: each member is entitled to a volume of the Tranſactions.

12. When the parliament is ſitting. 2 s. 6 d. will admit a perſon into the gallery to hear the debates.

13. But there are debating ſocieties, where a man may be amuſed for an hour or two, occaſionally: but as the price of admiſſion is but 6 d. the company is in general none of the beſt; and of courſe, what is there heard to a ſenſible man will not prove the moſt inte⯑reſting or entertaining.

14. If a man is fond of muſic, he may ſubſcribe to a variety of concerts, as ſet forth under the head of AMUSEMENTS; and in fine weather he may be agree⯑ably entertained between ten and twelve every morn⯑ing at the Horſe-Guards in St. James's Park, where the wind-muſic of the Guards play many good pieces. Muſical inſtruments may be hired by the week; the price of a Spine [...] is 5 s. a month, of a Piano Forte or Harpſichord 10 s. other inſtruments in proportion.

[124]15. For his health there are hot-baths, at 3 s. 6 d. a time, and cold-baths at 1 s. in many parts of the town; and for his recreation, in ſummer, there are bathing-baſons of fine water—one at the Dog and Duck, in St. George's-fields—and another at Peerleſs-pool, Old ſtreet; the ſubſcription but one guinea for the ſeaſon.

A LIST of the NEWS-PAPERS publiſhed in LONDON.

ON GOING TO PUBLICK WORSHIP.

I Believe, in this degenerate age, the beſt method of inducing people to attend the ſervice of the church, is to point out to them the penalties they are liable to for non-attendance, and to ſhew them how much they lie at the mercy of an ill-natured neighbour or a mer⯑cenary informer.

1. All perſons, having no lawful or reaſonable ex⯑cuſe for being abſent, ſhall reſort to their pariſh church or chapel, or, upon reaſonable let thereof, to ſome uſual place where divine ſervice ſhall be performed, according to the liturgy and practice of the church of England, upon every Sunday and holiday, on pain of puniſhment by the cenſures of the church, or of for⯑feiting 1 s. for every offence to the poor, to be levied by the churchwardens by diſtreſs. 1 Eliz. c. 2. Ex⯑cept Diſſenters tolerated. 1 W. c. 18. Proſecution to be in one month after default. 3 J. c. 4.

2. And he who is abſent from his own pariſh church ſhall be put to prove, where he went to church. 1 Haw 13.

3. Every perſon above the age of ſixteen years, who ſhall not repair to ſome church, chapel, or uſual place of common prayer, on conviction, ſhall fofeit 20 l. a month, one third to him who ſhall ſue. 23 Eliz. c. 1.

4. And this penalty of 20 l. a month diſpenſeth not with the forfeiture of 12 d. a Sunday. 1 Haw. 13.

5. And every offender in not repairing to divine ſervice, having been once convicted (and not conform⯑ing) ſhall pay 20 l. a month into the Exchequer, in the term of Eaſter or Michaelmas, next after ſuch convic⯑tion, and alſo ſhall, without any other indictment or conviction, for every month after ſuch conviction, ſo long as he ſhall not conform, pay as much as ſhall then remain unpaid, after ſuch rate of 20 l. a month; and, in default of any part of ſuch payments, the King may by proceſs ſeize all the goods and two parts of the land of ſuch offender. 29 Eliz. c. 6. 3 J. c. 4.

6. Or the King may refuſe the 20 l. a month, though [128] duly tendered, and ſeize two parts of the lands at his option. 3 Jac. c. 4.

7. But copyhold lands are not within the ſtatute, 1 Haw. 14.

8. And every perſon who ſhall uſually on Sundays have in his ho [...]ſe divine ſervice as eſtabliſhed by law, and be thereat himſelf uſually preſent, and ſhall four times a year go to the pariſh church, or other common church or chapel, ſhall not incur any penalty for not repairing to church. 23 Eliz c. 1.

9. But this ſhall not extend to [...]alified Proteſtant diſſenters, who reſort to ſome place of religious wor⯑ſhip allowed by the act of toleration. 1 W c. 18.

10. Every perſon who ſhall retain in [...] ſervice, or ſhall relieve, keep, or harbour in his ho [...]ſe, any ſer⯑vant, ſojourner, or ſtranger, who ſhall n [...] repair to church, but ſhall forbear for a month together, not ha⯑ving reaſonable excuſe, ſhall forfeit 10 l. for every month he ſhall continue in his houſe ſuch perſon ſo for⯑bearing. 3 J. c. 4.

11. No recuſant convict (that is a perſon once con⯑victed and not conforming) ſhall practice law or phy⯑ſic, nor ſhall be judge or miniſter of any court, or have any military office by ſea or land, and ſhall forfeit for every offence 100 l. 3 J. c. 5.

12. And the church-wardens and conſtables ſhall (on pain of 20 l.) preſent at the quarter-ſeſſions, once a year, the monthly abſence from church of all re [...]uſants, and the names and ages of their children above nine years of age, and the names of their ſervants. And if the party preſented ſhall be indicted and convicted, ſuch church-warden or conſtable ſhall have a reward of 40s. to be levied on the recuſant's goods. 3 J. c. 4.

13. It is difficult for new comers in to any pariſh to obtain a pew in the pariſh church: but churches are ſeldom ſo full but they may find a ſeat in the pew, of others. Indeed the pew openers, for a ſhilling now and then given them, will ſea [...] a perſon commodiouſly.

14. But at the private chapels about town, a pew to hold ſix may be rented for about 5 l. or 6 l. a year, or one perſon may be ſeated agreeable to his wiſhes for [129] 20 s. a year, and at theſe places there are generally ce⯑lebrated preachers.

15. In order to obtain a pew in any of the pariſh churches, application muſt be made to the church-war⯑dens for the time being.

NUSANCES.

1. IF the driver of any cart, car, dray or waggon, ſhall ride upon any carriage in a ſtreet or high⯑way, not having ſome perſon on foot or horſeback to guide the ſame (ſuch carriages excepted, as are con⯑ducted by ſome perſon holding the reins of the horſes drawing the ſame); or if the driver of ſuch carriage ſhall, by negligence or wilful miſbehaviour, cauſe any hurt or damage to any perſon or carriage, in ſuch ſtreet or highway, or ſhall wilfully be at ſuch a diſtance, or in ſuch a ſituation, whilſt it ſhall be paſſing on the highway, that he cannot have the government of his horſes, or ſhall wilfully or negligently obſtruct the free paſſage of any other carriage; or if the driver of any empty or unloaded waggon, cart or carriage, ſhall re⯑fuſe to make way for any coach, chariot, chaiſe, load⯑ed waggon, cart or loaded carriage; or if any perſon ſhall drive any coach, poſt-chaiſe, or carriage let for hire, or waggon, wain or cart, not having the owner's name, as required, painted thereon, or ſhall refuſe to diſcover the chriſtian and ſirname of the owner, every ſuch offender ſhall forfeit a ſum not exceeding 10 s. (or not exceeding 20 s. if the driver of the ſaid car⯑riage be the owner); and in default of payment, the offender ſhall be committed to the houſe of correction, for a time not exceeding one month, unleſs ſuch for⯑feiture be ſooner paid. And any perſon may appre⯑hend ſuch driver, without a warrant, and deliver him to a conſtable, to be conveyed before a magiſtrate; and if ſuch driver ſhall refuſe to tell his name, the juſtice may commit him for a time not exceeding three months, and may proceed againſt him for the penalty nevertheleſs. 13 Geo. 3. c. 84.

[130]2. Drivers of hackney-coaches are to give way to gentlemen's carriages, under the penalty of 10 s.— 1 Geo. 1. c. 57.

3. The penalty may be recovered before a juſtice, Ibid.

4. Aſſaulting in the ſtreet or highway, with intent to ſpoil people's clothes, and ſo ſpoiling them, is fe⯑lony and tranſportation. 6 Geo. c. 23.

5. A perſon may juſtify an aſſault in defence of his perſon, his wife, his maſter, parent or child, within age, and even a wounding in defence of his perſon, but not of his poſſeſſion. 3 Salk. 46.

6. A perſon may juſtify an aſſault of another who menaces him, or aſſaults him, and attempts to beat him from his lawful water-courſe or highway. Pult. 48.

7. Likewiſe, if a perſon comes into my houſe, and will not go out, I may juſtify laying hold of him and turning him out. Nelſ. Aſſault.

8. Where a man is aſſaulted, and hath not witneſſes to prove the ſame, the party aſſaulted may bring an in⯑formation in the Crown-office, in which caſe, the of⯑fence being indicted at the ſuit of the king, the party grieved may be admitted an evidence. 4 & 5 W. & M. c. 18.

But by this mode of proceſs, the party grieved can only puniſh the offender corporally, he cannot recover damages

9. If a man ſtrikes you, the moſt ſummary method of puniſhing him, is to have a warrant for him, and take him before a magiſtrate, where he muſt make ſa⯑tisfaction, or be bound over to the ſeſſions.

10. No words whatever can amount to an aſſault, but any injury done to the perſon of a man, in an an⯑gry inſolent manner, be it ever ſo ſmall, is actionable; for example, ſpitting in his face, joſtling him, treading on his toes, or any way touching him in anger. Ibid. Even offering to ſtrike, or threatening with any ſtaff or weapon, is an aſſault in law. Lamb libel.

11. Where a man is threatened to be beaten, or can ſwear that he goes in fear of his life, he may, before a juſtice, bind his advetſary over to keep the peace.— 1 Haw. 126. Crom. 118.

[131]12. Porters, chairmen, chimney-ſweepers, barbers, butchers, bakers, &c. joſtling people in the ſtreets, and throwing down children and infirm people, if known, may be taken before a magiſtrate by a war⯑rant, and puniſhed, by obliging them to ſatisfy the in⯑jured party, or be committed. If not known, they may be found out by following them home.

13. The conſtable of the diſtrict, on the information in writing, of two inhabitants paying ſcot and lot, of any body keeping a bawdy-houſe, gaming-houſe, or any other diſorderly houſe in ſuch pariſh, muſt go forthwith, with ſuch inhabitants, before a juſtice, and on their making oath that they believe the ſame to be true, &c. and entering into a recognizance of 20 l. each, to produce evidence againſt ſuch perſon for ſuch offence, the conſtable muſt enter into a recognizance of 30 l. to proſecute, on pain of forfeiting 20 l. to ſuch inhabitant as gave him the notice. He ſhall be paid all expences attending the ſame by the overſeers of the poor. 28 Geo. 2.

14. Perſons appearing and acting as the maſter and miſtreſs of ſuch a houſe, ſhall be deemed the keeper. Ibid.

15. Every perſon ſhall apprehend, or cauſe to be apprehended, ſuch beggars as he ſhall ſee come to his houſe to beg, and ſhall cauſe them to be carried to the next conſtable, on pain of forfeiting 10 s. If the con⯑ſtable does not take charge of them he forfeits 5 l.— 1 Jac. 1. c. 7. 39 Eliz. c 4.

16. Perſons affecting infirmities, to excite compaſ⯑ſion, and begging, may be indicted and fined. Co. Lit. 127.

17. Night-walkers of ill fame may be taken up by a conſtable, impriſoned in the watch-houſe, and taken the next morning before a magiſtrate; 5 Edw. 3. c. 14. and ſhall be bound to their good behaviour. Hawk. P. C. 132.

But though they may arreſt night-walkers by the 5th Edw. 3. c. 14. yet it has been held, that it is not law⯑ful for a conſtable to take up any woman upon bare ſuſpicion of being of ill fame, unleſs ſhe be guilty of a breach of the peace, or ſome unlawful act, or be found by him miſdoing. 2 Hale's Pil. 89.

[132]18. If conſtables do not do their duty, magiſtrates, on complaint, will puniſh them.

19. All nuſances, not otherwiſe puniſhable, if pub⯑lic, are indictable at the quarter-ſeſſions; if private, are actionable.

20. Public nuſances are noiſes, ſuch as blowing of horns, &c. and offenſive trades. Private nuſances are pidgeons, pigs, foul drains, privies, overflowing ciſ⯑terns, rotten water-pipes, decayed vegetables thrown out in foot-ways, obſtructions in foot-ways, flower-pots dropping on people's heads, &c. &c. Stoppage of ſtreets, by coaches ſtanding at places of entertainment, &c. &c. are public nuſances, and indictable. In ſmells, it is not neceſſary that they ſhould be unwhole⯑ſome, to make them a nuſance, ſo that they render the enjoyment of life and property uncomfortable.

21. A maſter is indictable for a nuſance done by his ſervant. Ld. Raymond, 264.

22. Furniture or other things, if leſt an unreaſon able time on footways, ſo as to obſtruct the paſſage may be ſhoved into the ſtreet.

23. Barrows ſtanding before the door, if not remo⯑ved when directed, may be overthrown.

24. Pidgeons, or poultry, if kept in the neighbour⯑hood, and treſpaſs on your premiſes, may be ſhot.

25. Strange dogs coming on your premiſes may b [...] killed.

26. Pigs, if they treſpaſs on your premiſes, may b [...] pounded in your own premiſes; in which caſe th [...] owner muſt be made acquainted with it, and muſt ei⯑ther pay the damage or replevy them.

27. The owner of a maſtiff going in the ſtreet un⯑muzzled, (which is a nuſance from his ferocity) may be indicted. Burn, Dog.

28. If a maſtiſſ falls on another dog, the owner o [...] that dog cannot juſtify the killing him, unleſs there w [...] no other way to ſave his dog. 1 Saund. 84. 3 Salk.

29. Deſerted children left at people's doors ſhould b [...] taken to the pariſh officers, who are bound to provid [...] for them; if they refuſe to receive them, apply to [...] magiſtrate, who will give an order for that purpoſe and the perſon that deſerts them is liable to be puniſh⯑ed. [133] Cro. Eliz. 217. Owen. 98. He or ſhe ſhould be delivered into the charge of a conſtable.

30. Throwing things out of a window on a perſon's head is actionable.

31. Ballad-ſingers may be taken up by any man, as idle diſorderly perſons, and the apprehender will be entitled to 10 s. by order of a juſtice, for every vagrant ſo brought before him. And if they eſcape from the perſon apprehending them, they ſhall be puniſhed as rogues and vagabonds. Beggars may be committed to hard labour for a month, and rogues ſhall be whipped and impriſoned. 7 Jac. c. 4.

31. Coaches or carts obſtructing a footway, or a way to a man's door, the driver of them, by having him before a magiſtrate, may be fined 10 s. 13 Geo. 3. c. 78. And any perſon may apprehend ſuch offender, without a warrant, and deliver him to a conſtable. 30 Geo. 2. c. 22.

32. A proper number of conſtables, beadles, and watchmen, are to be appointed yearly, on the 1ſt day of October, by the court of Common Council for the city of London and it's liberties, and the aldermen and common-council of wards are to make aſſeſſments on the inhabitants to bear the charge thereof. 10 G. 2.

33. Perſons aggrieved by ſuch aſſeſſment may appeal to the Lord Mayor, &c. 11 Geo. 1. c. 18.

3 [...]. Any neglect of duty to be complained of to the ſitting Alderman.

35. Theſe conſtables are to watch the city, from the 10th of September to the 10th of March, frome nine o'clock in the evening to ſeven in the morning, and the reſt of the year from ten o'clock at night till five in the morning; and are to uſe their beſt endeavours to prevent fires, robberies, and diſorders; they are to go twice, or oftener, each night about their ward.

36. In the pariſhes of St. James, Weſtminſter, St. Martin in the fields, St. Paul, Covent-Garden, St. Margaret, St. John, St. Anne, Weſtminſter, and St. Andrew, Holborn; veſtries are authorized to appoint beadles and watchmen, to watch the pariſhes by night, as in the city; and the houſekeepers in their ſaid pariſhes are to defray the charges, ſo as the aſſeſſ⯑ment [134] yearly does not exceed 4 d. in the pound. 8 G. 2. c. 15. 9 G. 2. c. 8, 13, 17, and 19. 10 G. 2. c. 25. If theſe men are remiſs in their duty, complain to the veſtries, and when theſe meet, may be learned of the veſtry-clerks.

37. A power of paving, lighting and cleanſing the ſtreets of London is given, in a variety of paving acts, to the veſtries of the ſeveral pariſhes, which veſtries appoint a committee of the inhabitants to carry the ſame into execution.

1. Houſeholders making complaints of bad pave⯑ments, &c. in writing to the ſurveyor appointed by the committee, he ſhall give an order to the pavier or o⯑ther perſon contracting to do the buſineſs, to repair it, and if he does not in the appointed time, he ſhall for⯑feit 20 s. a day for every day's neglect, half to the com⯑plainant.

2. Perſons removing lamp-irons, or breaking up pavements, except in caſes of fires, without the conſent of the committee, ſhall forfeit from 10 s. to 40 s.

3. The committee may order houſes to be numbered, and perſons defacing them ſhall forfeit 5 s.

4. Perſons breaking the public lamps deſignedly, ſhall make good the damage and forfeit 20 s. half to the apprehender and half to the contracter, or be com⯑mitted from ſeven days to one month, at the diſcretion of the juſtice. Perſons accidentally breaking them ſhall make them good.

5. The committee may order ſigns to be fixed flat on the houſes, and the water to be conveyed from the roof in trunks down the houſe; if not done, may em⯑ploy people to do it, and charge the owner with the expence.

6. Perſons placing obſtructions or filth in the ſtreets, ſuch as coal-aſhes, dirt, rubbiſh, &c. or any ſtall-boards, baſket-wares, or merchandiſe of any kind; perſons waſhing barrels in the carriage or footways, or placing any carriage ſo as to obſtruct, except during the time of waſhing ſuch carriage, where they uſed to be waſhed before the act took place, and not removing the ſame immediately on the complaint of any one, or placing any carriage in the croſſing of the foot-ways [135] for loading or unloading, and continuing ſo longer than neceſſary; or any materials for building, unleſs inclo⯑ſed with boards, ſhall forfeit from 5 s. to 10 s. And any of the committee may ſeize ſuch obſtructions, re⯑move and retain them, till the penalty and expences are paid, and if not claimed or paid in five days, may ſell the ſame, pay ſuch expences, and return the overplus to the owner.

7. Any one may apprehend a perſon without a war⯑rant, whom they ſee laying any filth or rubbiſh in the ſtreets, and take him before a juſtice, who ſhall fine him as above, or commit him on the oath of the ap⯑prehender, for a time not leſs than ſeven days, or more than one month, to hard labour, unleſs the fine is ſooner paid.

8. No board or hoards, to repair houſes, ſhall be erected without the conſent of the ſurveyor of the com⯑mittee.

9. No perſon ſhall drive or draw any wheel-barrow or other carriage on the foot-ways, nor lead or ride any horſe, aſs, &c. on them.

10. No ſcavenger ſhall leave any rubbiſh or dirt in the ſtreets, &c. and no other perſon than a ſcavenger of the committee ſhall go about to carry away dirt, &c. If any one does, he may be apprehended and taken before a magiſtrate, who ſhall fine him from 5 s. to 20 s. half to the apprehender; and in caſe any perſon ſo carrying the duſt cannot be apprehended, the owner of the cart that carried it ſhall pay the fine. Owners may however carry away their own duſt, &c.

11. No night-ſoil ſhall be moved before twelve, and after four in ſummer, and five in winter, on pain of commitment to hard labour, for a term from ten days to one month. The apprehender ſhall be rewarded by the committee, from 10 s. to 20 s.

12. Scavengers ſhall attend once a week in every ſtreet, to cleanſe it, giving notice to the ſurveyor of the day; and the ſurveyor ſhall attend to ſee it pro⯑perly done, and ſhall, at the deſire of the inhabitant, look and ſee that the duſt, &c. is carried clean off, on pain of the ſcavenger forfeiting from 5 s. to 20 s. for every neglect, half to the inhabitant complaining.

[136]13. No bow-window or projection beyond the line of the ſtreet ſhall be added to any houſe, without leave of the committee. If it be, they may pull it down.

38. All perſons within the weekly bills are to ſweep the ſtreets before their doors every Wedneſday and Sa⯑turday, on pain of forfeiting 3 s. 4 d. and perſons lay⯑ing dirt, aſhes, &c. before their houſes, incur a forfei⯑ture of 5 s. 2 W. c. 2. Complaints to be made to a magi⯑ſtrate. Ibid. Snow, ice, decayed vegetables, &c. ly⯑ing before doors, are equally puniſhable as dirt or aſhes.

39. The Lord Mayor or any alderman may preſent upon view any offence of the above kind in the city of London, and aſſeſs fines not exceeding 20 s. to be paid to the chamberlain for the uſe of the city, &c. 1 G. 1. c. 48.

40. Chairmen carrying empty chairs ſhall not go on the foot pavement. Complaint to be made to the hack⯑ney-coach office, Somerſet-place.

41. It ſhall not be lawful for any perſon to make▪ ſell or fire ſquibs, rockets, ſerpents, or other fire-works, or permit the ſame to be fired from his houſe, into any public ſtreet or road, or to throw or fire, or be aiding in the ſame, in any public ſtreet, houſe, ſhop, &c. and ſuch offence ſhall be deemed a common nuſance. 9 & 10 W. c. 7.

Makers or ſellers of fire-works ſhall, on conviction, on the oath of two witneſſes, forfeit 5 l. half to the poor and half to the proſecutor. Ibid. And whoever caſts or fires them, or permits them to be fired from his premiſes, into any public ſtreet or road, or any other houſe or place, or aiding in the firing and caſting, ſhall forfeit 20 s. in like manner, or be committed for a time, not exceeding a month. Ibid. But this ſhall not ex⯑tend to the officers of the ordnance or artillery com⯑panies.

42. If any publican do ſuffer any perſon to continue drinking at his houſe, (except ſuch as ſhall be invited by any traveller, and ſhall accompany him only during his neceſſary abode there, and except labouring and handicraftſmen in cities, &c. upon the uſual working days, for one hour at dinner time, to take their diet in [137] an alehouſe, and except labourers and workmen, which for the following of their work by the day or by the great, ſhall for the time of their continuance on work in the neighbourhood, lodge and victual in any public houſe, and except for any urgent and neceſſary occa⯑ſions, to be allowed by two juſtices) he ſhall, on con⯑viction thereof before a magiſtrate, on the oath of one witneſs, forfeit 10 s. to the poor, and ſuch alehouſe-keeper ſhall be diſabled, for the ſpace of three years, to keep any ſuch alehouſe. 1 Jac. c. 9. 1 Car. c. 4. 21 Jac. c. 7.

If any alehouſe-keeper ſhall be convicted of being drunk, on the oath of one witneſs, he ſhall be diſabled to keep any ſuch alehouſe for the ſpace of three years. 7 Jac. c. 10. 1 Car. c. 4.

If any publican ſhall knowingly ſuffer any gaming in his houſe or ground, with cards, dice, draughts, ſhuffle-boards, Miſſiſſippi, or billiard-tables, ſkittles, nine-pins, or with any other implement of gaming, by any journeymen, labourers, ſervants, or apprentices, he ſhall, on the oath of one witneſs, before a juſtice, with⯑in ſix days of the offence, forfeit for the firſt time 40s. and for every other offence 10 l. one fourth to the in⯑former. 30 Geo. 2. c. 24. And the perſons ſo gam⯑ing, on complaint to a juſtice, ſhall be apprehended, and forfeit from 5 s. to 20 s. one fourth to the inform⯑er, or be committed to hard labour for a time, not ex⯑ceeding a month, unleſs the penalty is ſooner paid. Ibid.

Now as all alehouſe-keepers offend in one or other of the above points, if you are annoyed by ſuch ale⯑houſe, or by any perſons tippling there, you have only to ſend the maſter of ſuch houſe a copy of the above abſtract of the law, with notice, that if you are offend⯑ed in like manner again, you will inform againſt him, and the nuſance will in all likelihood ceaſe.

43. All open lewdneſs, groſsly ſcandalous, is puniſh⯑able by fine, impriſonment, &c. upon indictment at common law. 1 Haw. 7.

A wife may be indicted together with her huſband, and condemned to the pillory with him, for keeping a bawdy-houſe. 1 Haw. 2.

[138]44. Common ſcolds may be indicted. 1 Haw. 198.

45. Every perſon who ſhall be drunk, and thereof convicted before one juſtice, on the oath of one wit⯑neſs, ſhall forfeit to the poor 5 s. for the firſt offence, or be ſet in the ſtocks for ſix hours; for the ſecond offence ſhall be bound in 10 l. with two ſureties, not to commit the ſame again: the offence to be proſecuted in ſix months. 4 J. c. 5. 21 J. c. 7.

46. Drovers inhumanly treating cattle in their way to or from market, and thus, or by negligence, occa⯑ſioning miſchief, ſhall be taken by a conſtable, on com⯑plaint to him, before a magiſtrate, who, on the oath of one perſon, ſhall fine him from 5 s. to 20 s. at his diſ⯑cretion, to be paid to the informer, and, in default of payment, he ſhall be committed for a month, and pub⯑licly whipped: proſecution in twenty-four days. 14 Geo. 3. c. 87.

47. Milk and mackrell are allowed to be cried about the ſtreets on Sundays, before nine in the morning and after four in the afternoon, but at no other time of the day, on pain of forfeiting the things ſo cried. Alſo, no other perſon ſhall cry, or expoſe to ſale, any fruit, herbs, wares, &c. on any part of the Lord's day, on pain of forfeiting them. 10 & 11 W. c. 24.

48. If any perſon ſhall curſe or ſwear, and be con⯑victed on the oath of one witneſs, before one juſtice, within eight days of the offence, he ſhall forfeit as fol⯑lows: Every day-labourer, common ſoldier, or ſeaman, 1 s. every other perſon under the degree of a gentle⯑man, 2 s. and every gentleman 5 s. for the firſt offence, to the poor, and all charges; double the ſums for the ſecond, after conviction, and treble for every offence after a ſecond conviction, or be committed to hard la⯑bour for ten days. Soldiers and ſeamen, inſtead of being committed, ſhall be ſet in the ſtocks one hour for a ſingle offence, and two hours for more offences than one. 19 Geo. 2. c. 21.

ROTATION OFFICES.

THERE are ſeveral Rotation Offices in London, where two or more magiſtrates ſit daily, in the morning, from ten to three, to hear complaints, but where the fees of office muſt be paid. They are in the following ſtreets:

• For Weſtmiſter and the County of Middleſex:
  • Bow-Street, Covent-Garden;
  • Litchfield-Street;
  • Clerkenwell;
  • Hyde-Street, Bloomſbury;
  • St. Martin's-Street, Leiceſter-fields.
• For the City.
  • Guildhall;
  • The Manſion-houſe.
• For Southwark.
  • Union-Hall, Union-ſtreet, Borough.
• For the Tower Diſtrict, and below.
  • Tower-Hill.

The expences of hearing at theſe offices is ſeldom above a few ſhillings.

STAMPS USED ON SUNDRY OCCASIONS.

Sundry CAUTIONS againſt ROBBERIES, FRAUDS, IMPOSITIONS and INSULTS.

1. PERSONS travelling to or from London ſhould be careful not to take too much money with them. Bank poſt-bills, made payable to the holder or order, is the ſafeſt conveyance; for theſe are of no va⯑lue till indorſed by the perſon they are made payable to; and if loſt, as the bank does not pay them till ſeven days after ſight, there is time to give notice of the loſs.

2. Trunks, &c. ſhould not be faſtened behind car⯑riages, unleſs with chains, or unleſs ſervants ride be⯑hind, and will attend to them till they are ten or twelve miles from the metropolis; for there are thieves fre⯑quently waiting at the outſkirts of the town, particular⯑ly in the evening, to cut ſuch luggage from behind.

3. If trunks, boxes, or packages are to be ſent by coaches or waggons into the country, it is prudent to let ſome perſon be preſent at the packing up, as a wit⯑neſs of the contents, and to take a liſt of what the trunk, &c. contains. This perſon ſhould then take it to the warehouſe of the coach or waggon himſelf, and deliver it to the book-keeper, ſee it booked, and pay for the booking, which is 2 d. In this caſe, if it be loſt, you will be able to prove the contents, and reco⯑ver the value from the owner of the coach or waggon. See STAGE-COACHES, 2.

4. But let your ſervant be very careful not to leave the trunk, &c. with any perſon ſtanding at the door of the inn, or in the inn-yard; but to enquire for the book-keeper, and not part with his load till he can de⯑liver it into the cuſtody of the book-keeper, and ſee it booked. On this account the porter ſhould be able to read writing, to know what he is about. Rogues are very often about inn-yards, to caſe ſuch meſſengers of their loads.

5. Such perſons as you ſend with parcels from one part of the town to another, ſhould be cautioned not to be led into a public houſe by the way, to drink with any ſuppoſed countryman, nor to ſuffer any good-na⯑tured [147] perſon in the ſtreet, to give them a hand and help them on the way with their bundle or load; for there are many of theſe obliging people in London ſtreets, that when they get poſſeſſion of the bundle, &c. will run away with it.

6. If you hire a baſket-woman at market, or a porter to carry any thing for you home, which you may have bought, tell ſuch perſon where they are to carry it, and make them walk before you all the way. Your eye will then be upon them, and if they ſlip away from you it will he your own fault. If it be inconvenient to attend them, employ no ſuch perſon but whom you know, or is known to the perſon with whom you deal. But if you buy of a ſhop-keeper, they will always ſend the goods home.

7. Never ſtop in a crowd in the ſtreets, to ſee what occaſions it: if you do, it is two to one but you either loſe your watch or your pocket-handkerchief. There are fellows who create diſturbances for this purpoſe.

8. Never carry any bank-notes or bills about you, without firſt entering, in ſome book at home, the num⯑ber and date, and particulars of ſuch notes, that in caſe you loſe them, or your pocket is picked of your book, you ſtand ſome chance of recovering them, or ſtop the payment.

9. Alſo enter, in ſome book at home, the number, maker's name, &c. and deſcription of your watch, and whatever elſe of value you carry about you, that you may know how to deſcribe it, if loſt.

10. Never part with ſuch articles out of your hands, to perſons you are unacquainted with.

11. If you would walk ſafe, you would always avoid crowds, ſtopping to look at the pictures in a print-ſhop, &c. See p. 115, No. 5, 14.

12. If by chance you ſhould drop any thing of va⯑lue in the ſtreet, whilſt you are looking for it, you will have many aſk you what you have loſt, and offer to aſſiſt you in the ſearch. Tell them it is nothing of any conſequence: if you acquaint them, you are likely never to find it, as they will probably find it for you and keep it.

[148]13. Give directions to your ſervants, on no condi⯑tion to deliver any thing from your houſe to a ſtranger, under a pretence of your having ſent for it; for in⯑ſtance, a great coat or any other thing: there are al⯑ways villains ready to take advantage of their igno⯑rance.

14. For the ſame reaſon, never let them take in a parcel for you, under an idea that it came by ſuch a carriage, if they are to pay any thing for it; for ſuch packages have been ſound to contain nothing but brick⯑bats, &c. In ſhort, never let them pay any thing without your knowledge or order ſo to do, to any one. Perſons bringing things will often take the money be⯑fore hand, and aſk for it again at the houſe they carry it to.

15. Before you get into a hackney-coach or chair, always take the number, as, if you leave any thing therein, you may then, by ſummoning the coachman, or chairman, to the Hackney-coach office, probably re⯑cover it. They may ſay they never ſaw it, and poſ⯑ſibly their next fare might find it and take it: poſſibly ſo. This is a lie, for they always look, when they ſet down a fare, before they ſhut the door. To be truly ſafe in this matter, every one ſhould look round the coach or chair before they quit it.

16. Thieves have lately made a practice of knock⯑ing at doors in an evening, under a pretence of deli⯑vering a letter, and, when the door is open, if in a retired place, have ruſhed in, in numbers, and robbed the family. To avoid this, a chain ſhould be always put acroſs the door within, (ſo as to admit the door to open a little way) before duſk, and the door not open⯑ed to a ſtranger, but the letter, if any, taken in.

17. If you do not ſit in your front-parlour in an evening, take care the windows are faſtened down, for men have been known to enter a houſe this way, ſecrete themſelves till the family is aſleep, and then rob the houſe; or they have robbed that room only, while the family have been backwards, and decamped the ſame way.

18. If the houſe next door to you is empty, be cau⯑ [...]ous and faſten your back-doors, and inſide-ſhutters of [149] the upper windows; for villains will now and then ſe⯑crete themſelves in ſuch empty houſes, and, in the night, get into the adjoining houſe, by the back-doors or windows, or from the leads. Your garret-windows therefore ſhould always be ſecured, and trap-doors opening to the leads well bolted.

19. Before you come out of any play-houſe, or place of public entertainment, take care to ſecure your watch and your pockets, for pick-pockets are always about at ſuch places.

20. Never ſuffer any beggars to be begging at your door, particularly if you live in any retired place, for, under a pretence of begging, if they ſee no one in the way, they will be ſure to rob you of ſomething.

21. Do not ſuffer yourſelf to be impoſed on by beg⯑gars in the ſtreets, for they have all their arts, and will affect diſtreſs to excite your humanity; if you have any thing to give, it would be beſt beſtowed to poor diſ⯑treſſed families; it is a miſtaken charity to give to beg⯑gars in the ſtreets, whom the laws have provided for.

22. Auctions in great thorough-fares, in the day-time, where men ſtand at the door and invite paſſen⯑gers, are great impoſitions. Slight ill-made goods are made up for ſuch auctions, and if you buy, it is ten to one but you are cheated, and give twice the value of the article purchaſed. Never buy at an auction, but where the auctioneer is known to be a reputable man. At auctions of linen-drapery, they will put, perhaps, ſufficient painted muſlin for a gown, and a piece of dowlas, worth 7 d. a yard, and ſell the two at one price per yard; from an opinion that there may not be above thirty yards of dowlas, you bid accordingly, but, when meaſured, there ſhall be ſixty, of courſe you are deceived and cheated.

23. For the ſame reaſon, never buy at a pawn-brokers ſuch articles as they diſplay at their windows; for a notion of buying things cheap, has drawn many to buy at theſe places; and this has led the pawn-bro⯑kers to get things made up purpoſely for ſale, in a ſlight manner. Half the things at their windows are new, and ſold as ſecond-hand.

[150]24. Indeed, in purchaſing, it will be always ſound beſt to purchaſe of, and employ people of credit, though you pay rather a greater price, for they have a cha⯑racter at ſtake, and will uſe you well, in hopes of hav⯑ing your cuſtom in future; but if you buy in general of thoſe who underſell the fair trader, and advertiſe things at a very low price, depend upon it, unleſs you are a very good judge of the articles you buy, and take eſpecial care, you will be taken in.

25. People in diſtreſs are always wanting to borrow money, and hold out advantageous terms in advertiſe⯑ments to lenders. Be ever on your guard in this mat⯑ter, and alſo againſt thoſe who publicly, by adver⯑tiſement, offer to raiſe money on ſecurities. They will get the ſecurities into their hands, ſuch as bonds, notes, &c. and will frequently ſhuffle you out of them. To theſe the public have given the denomination of ſwindlers. If you are in trade, be cautious how you are taken in by cuſtomers you are a ſtranger to. There are a number of people in town, who live by getting goods on credit, and taking in the incautious ſhop-keeper.

26. Be very circumſpect and cautious of having any thing to do with notes of hand or accepted drafts, drawn by people you are unacquainted with, for it is by ſuch modes that the unwary are duped and robbed of their property.

27. If you keep an open ſhop, never ſuffer a ſtran⯑ger to leave a parcel in your ſhop, (under a pretence of having further to go, and wiſhing it to be taken care of till his return) unleſs you know the contents of the parcel. Men have been known to leave contraband goods, in this manner, and go and inform againſt the ſhop-keeper, in order to get the penalty. In like manner, a ſack of unroaſted coffee has been left at a grocer's, and he has been exchequered in conſequence of it.

28. Never ſtep in between perſons quarrelling in the ſtreet, unleſs you chuſe to have your pocket picked. Theſe are often ſham-quarrels, to collect people toge⯑ther for the opportunity of plundering them.

[151]29. Any one may arreſt a felon, even without a warrant.

30. Where perſons, by fraud in gaming, win above 10 l. they ſhall forfeit five times the value, and ſuffer ſuch corporal puniſhment as in caſes of wilful perjury. 9 Ann. c. 14.

31. Shop-keepers ſhould be on their guard againſt perſons coming in and looking over a great quantity of goods, without purchaſing. Sharpers often, making a genteel appearance, will take an opportunity, on theſe occaſions, when the ſhop-keeper's back is turned, to pilſer and purloin.

32. In return, buyers ſhould always be careful that they are not impoſed on by ſhop-keepers, for they will often ſurvey you from head to foot, and aſk a price ac⯑cording to their cuſtomer. They will often aſk 10 s. for an article at a coach-ſide, which they will ſell for, to a perſon on foot, for half the money.

33. Shop-keepers who have the reputation of ſel⯑ling cheap, will evidently do ſo, in ſome ſmall articles, the price of which every buyer is acquainted with; but they take care to bring up the lee-way, as the ſea⯑man's phraſe is, and make you pay handſomely in other things. In ſhort, every tradeſman muſt live, and there are ſuch numbers of the ſame profeſſion in Lon⯑don, that they are obliged to make uſe of a variety of artifices to get cuſtom; and the buyer, with all his cle⯑verneſs and care, ſhall not often be able to avoid being taken in.

34. It often happens, that if a parcel is ſent in from the country, by a waggon, and ordered to be left till called for, and you ſend for it, that they will tell you no ſuch thing is brought, and then the porter of the inn will bring it, in order to get a ſhilling or two: in this caſe give him nothing, but before you give him to un⯑derſtand ſo, take poſſeſſion of it, otherwiſe he will take it back again: ſhould this fellow, by way of re⯑venge, if any game is ſent you, and not ordered to be delivered, not bring it, and it ſpoils, and the maſter of the waggon does not diſcharge him, ſummon the maſ⯑ter to the Court of Conſcience, for the value of the thing ſpoilt, and you will be never ſerved ſo again. [152] Porters of inns are in general very exorbitant in their demands, and very inſolent. If they aſk too much for bringing a thing, never pay it, but tell them they may take it back again, and you will ſend for it.

35. Perſons would do well to be careful of their hats in public companies; for want of ſuch care, many a perſon has brought home an old hat for a new one. There are well-looking men who will take an oppor⯑tunity to exchange with you. I knew a gentleman who always preſerved his hat, by paſting a paper [...]n the inſide the crown, on which he wrote his name, and the words Stolen from over it. Canes and great coats are at times in ſimilar danger.

See TAYLORS, page 41, and WALKING LONDON STREETS, page 115 ^*.

There is a Society of Tradeſmen, &c. inſtituted in 1767, for the protection of their property againſt the inroads of felons, forgers, cheats, &c. and to ſave the charges of proſecutions, rewards and advertiſements, which are paid out of the public ſtock, raiſed annually at five ſhillings each member; which ſubſcription, tho' ſmall, has not only been found ſufficient for the pur⯑poſes intended, but has enabled the Society to veſt a ſum in the funds, beſides leaving a conſiderable balance in the treaſurer's hands.

The intent of this Society, is to prevent, as far as poſſible, the loſſes which tradeſmen and others frequent⯑ly ſuffer from the depredations of thoſe miſcreants, who get their infamous livelihoods by robbing, plundering, and defrauding the honeſt and induſtrious part of man⯑kind; [153] and to purſue the moſt vigorous and effectual methods to bring ſuch offenders to juſtice; as they fre⯑quently eſcape the puniſhment their crimes deſerve, through the inability, timidity, avarice, or indolence of thoſe they injure, which encourages them to con⯑tinue their mal-practices; although ſuch perſons ought in duty to themſelves and the public in general, to uſe their utmoſt endeavours to put a ſtop to the career of ſuch villains, as otherwiſe they are, in ſome meaſure, by their omiſſion, the cauſe of the next robbery or fraud they commit.

The ſecretary, who is a Mr. J. Leigh, of Shepherd's-court, Upper Brook-ſtreet, Groſvenor-ſquare, is im⯑powered to receive ſubſcriptions.

Where there are two or more partners in trade, if five ſhillings only be ſubſcribed, they are intitled to the benefit of this Society, when goods, the joint property of the partners, are ſtolen or obtained from them by fraud; but not in caſes of robbery on the highway, or other robberies of their ſeparate private property, un⯑leſs each partner ſubſcribes five ſhillings.

When any of the Society is robbed or defrauded, he is immediately to apply to one of the committee whoſe names are given in a printed liſt, and who will take ſuch ſteps to purſue, advertiſe, or otherwiſe, as ſhall be thought proper on the occaſion.

COURTS OF CONSCIENCE

ARE eſtabliſhed in different parts of the town, for the recovery of debts under 40 s.

1. There is one in Vine-ſtreet, Piccadilly, for the pariſhes of St. James's, St. Anne's, and St. George's, Hanover-ſquare. Day of hearing Thurſday, after⯑noon.

2. There is another in Caſtle-ſtreet, Leiceſter-fields, for the pariſhes of St. Paul's Covent-garden, St. Mary Le Strand, St. Clement's, St. Martin's, St. Margaret's, St. John's Weſtminſter, and the Duchy of Lancaſter. Day of hearing, Thurſday, in the afternoon.

[154]The above offices are open every day, from nine to one, to iſſue ſummonſes. See No. 13, below.