at present admitted are regarded as 'old gentlemen,' comprehending in that significant phrase, in its most popular sense, merchants, officers in the army or navy, literary and professional men, tradesmen and others who have occupied stations of respectability in the world, householders of good reputation. All these classes are acknowledged as qualified now to become candidates for election as members of the Hospital of Charter House."

A few words on the present state of Sutton's Hospital, and we have done. The advantages of the place to the pensioners are these: An apartment (furnished at the cost of the pensioner), a daily dinner in hall, an allowance of bread and butter, and a pension of 251. a-year.

To carry out the intentions of the founder, it is manifest that the first responsibility rests with the governors.

"Their best exertions (says a pensioner writing on this subject) may prove unequal in a degree to supply vacancies as they occur among the brothers, with subjects who from congeniality of tastes, pursuits, and sentiments may realise that picture of unity which the founder evidently contemplated. A little care in the selection by previous inquiry, and a more especial regard to the christian character of their nominees, will prevent, however, those dreadful errors into which their predeces. sors have fallen, and from which many of the present governors are not entirely free. It is in their power to make Charter House an asylum into which a superior class of 'gentlemen in poverty' will be glad to enter. Men may easily be found who, recognising the respect due to lawful authority, not for wrath but for conscience' sake, will relieve authority itself of half its labours by their own example-by selfrestraint, and by their conduct to an offending brother."

In these sentiments we concur, and we respectfully call upon the high and noble who form the governors of Charter House to the consideration of their duties in alliance with the exereise of their patronage. It would be well too if some light were thrown on the extent of the funds at their disposal, and the application of what must be a princely revenue. Let it be seen what are the relative expenses of the hospital and school-what increase bas been made in the salaries of officials, as compared with the pensions of the brothers, since the foundation.

We do not insinuate injustice or abuse; but negligence and carelessness are inherent in all public institutions, and to place them above suspicion should be the first care of those who are intrusted with their management.

Tradesmen's Tokens current in London and its Vicinity between the years 1648 and 1672. Described from the originals in the British Museum, and in several private Collections. By John Yonge Akerman, Fellow and Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries. 8vo.

OUR readers have made some ac

quaintance with the Tradesmen's Tokens of the Seventeenth Century from the remarkable examples published in some of our recent numbers, which have been communicated by a gentleman to whom the work now before us is also materially indebted. Eightyeight of the most interesting London tokens are represented in the plates of Mr. Akerman's catalogue, and they have all been engraved from drawings presented to him by Mr. B. Nightingale, who possesses a large and valu able collection of these and similar curiosities.

The Commonwealth is named by Evelyn as the grand epoch of this pseudal coinage; but apparently it was at least as prevalent in the reign of Charles the Second. Evelyn's notice of it is as follows:

"The Tokens which every tavern and tippling-house (in the days of late anarchy among us) presum'd to stamp and utter for immediate exchange, as they were passable through the neighbourhood, which, tho' seldom reaching further than the next street or two, may happily in after-times come to exercise and busie the learned critic what they should signifie." Numismata, a Discourse of Medals, 1647.

These prophetic words, notwithstanding a very disparaging passage of a later numismatic authority (the dogmatical Mr. Pinkerton), are at length clearly fulfilled in the learned Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, who now presents us with the first critical volume on the subject. The attention these tokens have hitherto received has not been conducted upon any system of utility; though they have not entirely escaped the notice of authors, particularly of

topographers and local historians. In Nichols's History of Leicestershire (vol. i. pl. xxxiii.) is engraved a series of no less than twenty-six tokens issued in the town of Leicester; sixteen belonging to the precinct of St. Katharine's by the Tower are engraved in Ducarel's History of that district; and in less numbers they will be found in many other works. The Tokens of Wiltshire tradesmen have been described by Mr. Akerman himself in the Numismatic Chronicle, and those of the town of Bedford were the groundwork of a very interesting essay by Capt. W. H. Smyth in the Numismatic Journal.

There is no doubt much more to be learned from these Tokens than from the Copper Tokens of the reign of George the Third, which once engaged the pursuit of many collectors, and have formed the subject of more than one published catalogue.* But the multiplicity of types in the earlier series, as well as their comparative rarity, and in many cases their obscurity of appropriation, have probably combined to discourage the labours of the most pains-taking virtuosi.

In selecting that portion of the subject which belongs to "London and its vicinity," Mr. Akerman has probably chosen a field more productive in points of interest than any other, not only because a metropolis naturally furnishes an epitome of the trades, the manners and customs of the country at large, but because London has been especially subject to change during the last two centuries, which carry us back to a time when, in fact, a differ

*A Descriptive List of the Provincial Copper Coins or Tokens, issued between 1786 and 1796. By Samuel Birchall of Leeds. 1797.

An Arrangement of Provincial Coins, Tokens, and Medals. By James Conder. 1797. 8vo.

Provincial Coins and Tokens issued from 1787 to 1801; engraved in 55 Plates. By Charles Pye. 1802. 8vo.

A Catalogue of Provincial Copper Coins, Tokens, Tickets, and Medalets issued in Great Britain and the Colonies, during the 18th and 19th Centuries, described from the originals in the Collection of Sir George Chetwynd, Bart. By Thomas Sharp, of Coventry. 1834. Privately printed in 4to.

ent city stood upon its site, before the Great Fire of 1666; and we thus encounter striking contrasts to its modern features. Mr. Akerman's introductory observations will effectually disabuse any reader who is sceptical with respect to the amount of instruction which can be derived from objects apparently so worthless and insignificant as farthing tokens. Their history as a class is first shown to be important in connection with commercial and monetary statistics. The allusions to matters of general or political history, contained in their devices, are, occasionally at least, indicative of popular sentiment, and curious if not important. With regard to localities, they furnish evidence of positive value: and occasionally they may throw some light on genealogical matters, though this is more likely to occur in country towns than among the ever-shifting tradesmen of the metropolis. Lastly, as to manners and fashions, and the trades or productions which they have successively introduced or encouraged, the information that may be derived from this source is obvious.

The numismatic view of the subject which Mr. Akerman has given in his introductory remarks shows how materially this private coinage originated from the deficiency of that supplied by the authority of the state.

The coinage of the realm was principally of silver; and from Saxon times until the end of the sixteenth century the smallest authentic coin, with few and occasional exceptions, was the silver penny. King John coined halfpence and farthings for Ireland, but there were none in England until the year 1279, when a large mintage of them was made by Edward the First, but of which specimens are now rare. In the reign of Richard II. their deficiency was a grievance among the poor, who complained that they were driven to spend a whole penny at a time. They were coined by Henry IV., V., and VI., but never, it seems, in sufficient abundance for the wants of the community. The consequence was that recourse was had to other contrivances for small change. Sometimes pennies were divided into halfs and quarters, but this was an occasional and troublesome expedient. Great quantities of inferior coins were

imported from the continent; the pieces now generally called counters were probably used to some extent, others were made of lead, tin, latten, and even of leather. Leaden tokens were seen by Erasmus current in England, and they continued in partial use during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. Even throughout the seventeenth century, such tokens were made for oblation at the holy communion, as is shown by the parish accounts of St. Peter's Mancroft at Norwich.

The first legitimate farthings of copper were issued by James 1. in the year 1613; but, like almost every thing else at that period, they were hampered with a patent for private emolument. The power of issuing them was granted to the lord Harrington of Exton,* and in consequence they obtained the name of Harringtons, by which they are mentioned by sundry old dramatists.

Still these Harringtons by no means superseded other farthing tokens, as it was intended they should. On the contrary, they seem rather to have set the example of private coining, for the profit upon their manufacture was so large that there were counterfeits without end. In the year 1644, when the Parliament adopted measures to stop the manufacture of more (i. e. by the authorised patentees), it was supposed

that there was the sum of 100,000l. in

farthings dispersed throughout the

kingdom.

made from the royal mint,† and that date is fixed as the terminus of the private series of tokens.

Mr. Akerman has described about 2,500 London tokens in the present catalogue. They are arranged under their utterers' places of residence alphabetically, and an index of surnames is appended. Here and there are interspersed interesting anecdotes and commentaries, as a specimen of which we may quote the following :

"711. JAMES FARR, 1666. A rainbow.-Rev. IN FLEET STREET. In the centre, HIS HALF PENY.

"It is well known that James Farr kept the Rainbow in Fleet-street at the time of the Great Fire, the very year of which is marked on this token; or some might be disposed to question the propriety of our designating the unetherial object on the obverse as a rainbow. Farr was a barber, and, in the year 1657, was presented by the inquest of St. Dunstan's in the West for making and selling a sort of liquor called coffee, which was described as a great nuisance and prejudice to the neighbourhood. The house known by the sign of the Rainbow appears to have been let off into tenements, for there were books printed at this very time for Samuel Speed, at the sign of the Rainbow, near the Inner Temple-gate, in Fleet-street.' This kind of division appears to have been not uncommon. Izaac Walton, whose place of business was at the sign of the Harrow, just opposite, occupied the house jointly with a brother tradesman."

6

Occasionally, but not often, the tokens present the view of some public building. The token of the Exchangetavern in 1651 represented the interior of Gresham's Exchange; in 1668 the interior of the new quadrangle as rebuilt after the Fire. The penny of

and sometimes as half-pennies or pennies. They usually bear the name and trade of their utterers, with a device either representing the sign of his house, or the coat of arms of his company, or rarely some more fanciful design. On the reverse, if he was a married man, the initial of his wife's name generally accompanied his own.

In 1672 an issue of farthings was

Not Exeter, as misprinted in Mr. Akerman's book.

GENT. MAG. VOL. XXXII,

66

THOMAS STROUD AT LUDGAT COFFEE HOVSE

There had, indeed, been a somewhat earlier supply in the year 1665. These bore on one side the king's head, inscribed CAROLUS A CAROLO, and on the other Britannia, with the motto or legend QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO, which is said to have been withdrawn as offensive to Louis XIV. and Ruding doubts that they were ever in circulation; but Mr. Akerman remarks (p. vi.) that "the fact that they are, at this time, very common, and that many are much worn, shows that they must have been current."

I

centre, and only one side entrance for foot passengers. (Engraving, No. 2.)

THE PAGEANT TAVERNE AT CHARING CROSSE, kepe by 1. w. exhibits a triumphal arch very much resembling the present Temple Bar. It does not appear what particular pageant this was intended to commemorate. (Engraving, No. 19.)

On THOMAS MORICE IN CHANELL ROW HIS HALFE PENY 1666 is a view of the front of Westminster hall, with a traitor's head fixed on a pole rising from each tower. (Engraving, No. 81.) The halfpenny of John Ludgall at Banke-side in 1668 has on one side the Watermen's Arms, and on the other a curved line, which our author doubtfully describes as a rainbow. It appears to us to represent the form of the original embankment of the river "IN SOUTHWARKE which gave name to the Bank-side. (Engraving, No. 84.) Among a few tokens unplaced at the end of the Catalogue as being uncertain, are two of "John Bannister, at the Matron's seller in the Hospitall." We believe by this general term Christ's Hospital was always intended. It was formerly usual to allow tapsters to ply their trade on the premises of pubfic institutions, as the suttling rooms have continued in barracks until our own day: thus in p. 143 we find this practised even at the prison of Newgate. The token No. 1357 has this inscrip

66

tion : BELONGING TO YE CELLOR ON THE MASTER'S SIDE AT NEWGATE. 1669." with a representation of the building.

The token of "Richard Barnes of Markett Street” (No. 1256) we should assign, not to London, but to the roadside town lying between the counties of Bedford and Hertford.

With respect to the coffee-house kept by Henry Muscut against Brook house in Holborn," we differ from Mr. Akerman (p. 105) in concluding it "must have been on the opposite side of Holborn, near the gateway of Staples Inn." The term " against" had surely a contrary meaning to "over against," and this coffee-shop was probably a pentice or adjunct of Brook house, an incumbrance which was fre

have room to enumerate.* One is the long duration of the signs of taverns. Among these is the Salutation still remaining at Billingsgate. This sign is certainly older than the Reformation, and was originally the Salutation of the Blessed Virgin. Daniel Grey at the Salutation tavern in Holborn (No. 915) retained the old device; but the landlord of the former house altered it to two gentlemen "bowing and scraping." (No. 164.) So again at the Salutation tavern in Tower street. (No. 2236.)

The Maidenhead was originally the head of the Virgin (see No. 1539) and it was not an unfrequent sign, because it was the arms of the Mercers' Company. It was not improbably from an ancient inn bearing this sign that the road-side town of Maidenhead, built in the parishes of Cookham and Bray, derived its designation: though Lysons supposed it was originally Maidenhithe, from a timber-wharf on the Thames.

Here and there Saints of the Roman Kalendar still figured on signs even in the Puritan times.

Of historical personages on signs these tokens afford remarkable records. All the English sovereigns from Henry the Eighth lingered upon them: bluff Harry remained "at Chancery lane end,” also in the Strand, and probably at many other localities. In Leadenhall street figured "the Grave Moryes,' Maurice Prince of Nassau ; the Palgrave, who married the daughter of James I. was at Temple Bar, and still gives name to Palsgrave Place; the Lord Craven in Bishopsgate With

---

chancery.' Large taverns had signs not only to the house, but to each of their rooms: see in the Gentleman's Magazine for July 1788 (vol. LVIII. p. 582) the inventory of "The Mouthe Taverne without

and even churches (St. Dunstan's in Fleet-street for instance).

With respect to signs there are more curious things to be observed than we

of which were called the Parcullis, the Pomgrannett, the Three Tuns, the Crosse Keys, the Vyne, the King's Head, the Crowne, the Dolphin, and the Bell; besides which there was the Barre.

out; whilst the Duke of Albemarle in the Tilt-yard is a sign evidently new in the very year of the Restoration.

But still more curious, perhaps, are the personages immortalised for the entertainment they had afforded to the people. Will Somers, the famous jester of Henry VIII.'s court, was portrayed at the back-side of Ould Fish Street, just as he appears in a wellknown engraving; "The Tarlton," long before the Carlton was dreamt of, was fashionable in Wheeler Street. Joseph Hall, a smith at Newington Butts, in 1667 exhibited "Old Smuggs," probably identical with Smug the Smith, commemorated in The Merry Devil of Edmonton. William Kimbel in Lambeth Marsh represented our old friend Punch in a guise somewhat similar to the well-known title-page of which so many millions have been printed to inclose the weekly delight of the present generation: he is described as 66 a figure crowned with laurel, seated in a chair," incircled with this inscription, PUNCHNELLY YO.

Heraldic signs, that is, signs representing the cognizances or badges of the king and the great nobility, were perhaps of higher antiquity than any. Even now, scarcely any sign is more common than the White Hart of Richard II. How many public houses still exhibit the Rose and Crown of the Tudor æra! Among the Tokens the Prince's Feathers, sometimes called the Feathers only, frequently occurs. In Lambeth was the Bear and Ragged Staff, the cognizance of the Dudleys, and probably dating from the days of Elizabeth's favourite. The coats of arms are nearly limited to the trading companies. George Vavasour on the Bankside displays the arms of that family, differenced by a crescent; but we do not imagine many other examples will be found of private arms. The following, however, is remarkable:

2457. HENRY CHAPMAN. The sun.Rev. QUONDAM ESQUIRE. In the field

H. C.

This shows that the rule "Once a squire always a squire" was certainly not then acknowledged; and is an instance resembling that of the Lord Dudley, who a century earlier, as Dugdale tells us, was called My Lord Quondam.

But generally speaking, as we have already intimated, we do not think the London tokens will be found to contribute materially to gentilitial antiquities.

Here we must stop, aware that we have neither done justice to Mr. Akerman's own annotations by our single example, nor discovered all the notabilia that a further perusal of the catalogue might suggest to ourselves; but we have exhausted our present space, and our pages will be open to further contributions in illustration of the present subject.

Se Gefylsta (The Helper): An AngloSaxon Delectus, serving as a First Class-Book of the Language. By the Rev. W. Barnes, of St. John's College, Cambridge. pp. 78.

THE ingenious author of "Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect," has rendered an acceptable service to students of Anglo-Saxon, the venerable parent of numerous dialects. His learned introduction to the poems gave assurance of something judicious and practical in any philological work which he might produce, and "The Helper" has not disappointed our expectation. As a first class-book it supplies such initiatory guidance as every one commencing the study will find highly useful, and calculated both to alleviate the toil and to enhance the pleasure of his course.

With so complete an apparatus, including grammars in abundance, Bosworth's dictionary, cheap, comprehensive, accurate, a genuine vade mecum for travellers on the Saxon line, and now leading-strings for such as cannot trust to their own locomotive powers, nothing but idleness or indifference can any longer keep Englishmen in ignorance of the language and literature of their illustrious ancestors.

After a concise view of the changes produced by inflection, Mr. Barnes illustrates the process of immutation which words undergo by syncope, crasis, &c. and thus accounts for the form assumed by many Saxon words in modern English, with examples of analogous changes in Greek, Latin, and modern dialects of the latter.

But the most interesting section of the work is the tabular list of verbs, especially those which in modern gram