says "I have been this morning at the Tower, and passed under the new heads at Temple Bar, where people make a trade of letting spying-glasses at a halfpenny a look." There is an ancient and absurd custom connected with Temple Bar which may not be known generally. The gates are invariably closed by the city authorities whenever the sovereign has occasion to enter the city, and at no other time. The visit of the sovereign is, indeed, a rare occurrence, confined to a thanksgiving in St. Paul's for some important victory, or the opening of a public building like the New Royal Exchange. A herald sounds a trumpet before the gate another herald knocks-a parley ensues-the gates are then thrown open, and the Lord Mayor for the time being makes over the sword of the city to the sovereign, who graciously returns it. Stow describes a scene like this, when Queen Elizabeth was on her way to St. Paul's to return thanks for the defeat of the Armada. "Over the gate of Temple Bar were placed the waites of the citie: and at the same bar the Lord Mayor and his brethren the Aldermen, in scarlet, received and welcomed her Majesty to her City and Chamber, delivering to her hands the sceptre [sword], which after certain speeches had, her Highness redelivered to the Mayor, and he again taking his horse,

bare the same before her."

When Cromwell and

city in state, on the

the Parliament dined in the 17th of June, 1649, the same ceremony was observed; "the Mayor delivering up the sword to the speaker," says Whitelocke," as he used to do to the king." Queen Anne went through the same ceremony on her way to St. Paul's to return thanks for the Duke of Marlborough's victories, and recently Queen Victoria, on her way to Cornhill to open the Royal Exchange.

Fleet-street and the Strand, be it remembered, are named from the fact, that in early times the former had a rivulet, now running under ground, and the latter was then the bank of the Thames

Pleasant memories cluster around the precincts of Fleet-street and its numerous courts and alleys, for Johnson, Dryden, Cowper, Goldsmith, Richardson, and Lamb have made these places classic ground. Booksellers' shops also there were formerly not a few in this vicinity.

Wynkyn de Worde, the celebrated printer, lived at the sign of the "Falcon," in Fleet-street, and the house over Falcon Court yet exists with the date, 1667, upon it; Murray, the successor to Miller, lived here, when he published Irving's Sketch Book; Byron's Childe Harold, and the earliest Nos. of the Quarterly Review. The first English

tragedy, strictly so called, was printed at the sign of the Falcon, in 1561. Curll, the eminent publisher, kept his shop "over against " St. Dunstan's Church, with the sign of the "Dial and Bible."

On the south side of Fleet-street, between the Temple Gates, may be seen an ancient house, once occupied by the no less celebrated bookseller Bernard Lintot. The sign of his shop was the "Cross Keys." Pinson also lived in this street. Near the junction of Chancery-lane and Fleet-street lived Cowley, Drayton, and Isaac Walton. The celebrated orientalist, Sir William Jones, lived in Lamb's-buildings, Temple, which Goldsmith and Johnson have immortalized by their presence and their pens. The Rainbow, the Mitre, the Cock, and other celebrated taverns in Fleet-street and its vicinity, were among the places of most frequent resort of the literati of those days.

Dr. Johnson seems to have had a fickle fancy for changing his lodgings; it has been estimated from first to last he occupied no less than seventeen different houses or apartments, in or near London. At one time he lived at No. 4 Gough Square; it was here he compiled, in part, his Dictionary, and other works. Bolt Court is also another locality rendered classic by his name, and the Mitre Tavern was where the Doctor was accustomed to

keep such late hours. It was here he so frequently met with his especial friends, Boswell and Goldsmith.

In Fleet-street, near Temple Bar, still exists the banking-house of Child and Co., the most ancient in London. The private banking account of Charles II. was kept here, and is still extant.

No. 37 Fleet-street presents one of the most superb edifices of its class in London-it is the banking establishment of Messrs. Hoare; and like that of Messrs. Child, boasts great antiquity. It was originated by Richard Hoare, in 1693.

CHAPTER VII.

Ticket Porters-the Temple-Temple Church-Hall of Middle Temple-Anecdotes of Goldsmith and Johnson-St. Dunstan's Church-Bolt Court -Booksellers of Fleet-street-St. Bride's Church-Salisbury SquareBridewell Monastery of the Blackfriars-Blackfriars' Bridge-Playhouse Yard-Printing-house Square-the "Times "-Baynard CastleLudgate Hill-Old Bailey-Green Arbor Court-St, Sepulchre's Church -Stationers' Hall-Paternoster Row-The Chapter Coffee House-Panyer Alley-Warwick Lane-Newgate Market.

ROWDED as this busy thoroughfare is, let us linger a moment to catch a glimpse of the many phases of life that are presented to our view. We are now in the very heart of the mighty Babel: here are all the various members of society eagerly pressing their way in pursuit of their several occupa tions from the rich merchant to the "ticket porter," while the half famished beggar boy is contentedly feasting upon the meagre crust which the hand of charity has sparingly bestowed. We well