branches of trade that have ceased to exist, for example, the loriners, the girdlers, the patten-makers, and the bowyers. It will be inferred that they now retain little of the influence they once possessed. Only about forty of them have halls. Of these, twelve are known as the Great Livery Companies. They are wealthy associations, whose halls are for the most part conspicuous amongst city edifices, where the members meet, not only to transact the business of the companies, the great bulk of which relates to charitable trusts, but to enjoy good eating and drinking. Most of them have founded alms-houses, where decayed members may retire in the evening of life, protected from want, and free from anxiety as to the morrow. Their annals contain curious records of their feasts, revels, and pageants, in bygone centuries. It must be remarked that the majority of the members of any company do not exercise the trade indicated by the company; and that it is only in one company, the stationers, that the members are restricted to the craft.

The halls of the twelve companies will now be mentioned :— 1. MERCERS' HALL stands on the north side of Cheapside, between Ironmonger Lane and Old Jewry, on the site of an ancient hospital which had been erected on the spot where stood the house of the father of Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. The hospital was built by his sister after the murder, and fell a victim to the great fire. Wren designed the chapel, but only the front of his work remains, a richly decorated façade. The hall is over the ante-chapel. Here are original portraits of Sir Thomas Gresham and Dean Colet. The Mercers' ranks first of the city companies, and can boast of having had amongst its members kings and princes. Richard II., who granted the first charter, was a mercer, and Queen Elizabeth was free of this company; also Caxton, Whittington, and Gresham. The last made the company joint-trustees with the corporation, of the funds with which he founded his college. The Golden Lectureship is in their gift. Amongst their treasures are the silver-gilt election cup, and some other silver-gilt vessels of the sixteenth century.

2. GROCERS' HALL, in the Poultry, only dates from the beginning of this century. It was erected on the site of older halls, in one of which Cromwell and Fairfax were feasted. The statue and portrait of Sir John Cutler (Pope's "sage Cutler”), who was four times master of the company, are in the hall. Sir

Philip Sidney was free of the Grocers, who attended his public burial in St. Paul's, preceded by Lord Mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs in purple. Charles II. and William III. were masters of the company, originally termed Pepperers, and afterwards united with the Apothecaries!

3. DRAPERS' HALL is in Throgmorton Street. It was erected after the great fire on the site of a house built by Cromwell, Earl of Essex, after whose attainder the company (in 1541) purchased it from the crown. Alterations and additions were made by the brothers Adam. The company itself dates from 1332. Notice Beechy's portrait of Lord Nelson, George IV. by Lawrence, and a whole-length, attributed to Zucchero, of Mary Queen of Scots, and her son James I. when four years old. According to tradition, this picture was thrown over the wall into the Drapers' garden during the great fire, and never afterwards claimed. In the hall is a curiously carved screen, and an old but not cotemporary portrait of Fitz-Alwin, the first Mayor of London.

4. FISHMONGERS' HALL, at the north-west foot of London Bridge, was built in 1832 on the site of an older hall. The basement contains fire-proof warehouses, and the river front has a balustraded terrace. The banqueting hall is 73 feet long by 38 feet. The company claims to possess the dagger with which Sir William Walworth, a member, stabbed Wat Tyler, and a funeral pall of cloth of gold, called Walworth's, but really of the period of Henry VIII. Notice Pierce's statue in wood of Walworth; portraits of William and Mary by Murray; of George II. and his Queen by Shackleton; the Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria's father, by Beechy; Admiral Earl St. Vincent by Beechy, and Queen Victoria by Herbert Smith. In the court dining-room is a silver chandelier weighing 1350 ounces. Dogget, the actor, was a member of this company, and bequeathed to its care a coat and silver badge to be rowed for on the Thames on the 1st of August annually, in commemoration of the accession of George I. The present company was founded by the incorporation, in Henry VIII.'s reign, of two older companies-the Salt Fishmongers and the Stock Fishmongers. Its head is styled Pume Warden. Grand banquets are occasionally given in their hall to the ministers or distinguished individuals.

5. GOLDSMITHS' HALL is in Foster Lane, Cheapside, at the back of the General Post-Office. It is a handsome structure, built

in 1834, from the designs of Ph. Hardwick, but in a situation so bad, being almost hidden from view, that one is left to wonder how they could bring themselves to place it there. It has a frontage of 180 feet, and the style is Italian. The grand staircase is one of the finest in the metropolis. Here is a portrait bust of William IV. by Chantrey, and portraits of George III. and his Queen by Ramsay, and George IV. by Northcote. The banqueting hall is a superb room, 80 feet by 40, having busts of George III. and George IV. by Chantrey, and portraits of Queen Adelaide by Shee; of William IV., Queen Victoria by Hayter, and Prince Albert by Smith. In the court-room is preserved, under glass, a Roman altar, bearing figures of Apollo, a dog, and a lyre, discovered when the foundations of the hall were being excavated. Here also is a portrait by Janssen of Sir Hugh Middleton, who brought the New River to London; a portrait of Sir Martin Bowes, Lord Mayor in 1545, with the cup he bequeathed to the company, which is still preserved; a painting of St. Dunstan, the patron saint of the goldsmiths. The marble chimneypiece was brought from Canons, the Duke of Chandos' mansion; its terminal busts are attributed to Roubiliac. In the livery tearoom is a conversation piece by Hudson (Sir Joshua's master), with portraits of six Lord Mayors, members of the company. The plate possessed by the company is very valuable. Amongst it is a gold chandelier, weighing 1000 ounces. The goldsmiths acquired the site of the hall so far back as 1323, and were incorporated by Edward III. seven years later. They have altogether fifteen charters. From 1641 to the Restoration, the hall was employed by the Parliamentarians to receive the money obtained by sequestrations. Under several Acts of Parliament all articles of gold and silver manufacture must be assayed and stamped by the company before being sold. When plate is passed it is stamped with certain marks indicating the place of manufacture, the payment of the duty, the date of the assay, and the quality of the metal.

6. SKINNERS' HALL, Dowgate Hill, Upper Thames Street, was a building subsequent to the great fire, and since refronted. It contains a drawing-room lined with cedar, and a portrait of Sir Andrew Judd, a member of the company, and Lord Mayor in 1551, who founded Tunbridge School, and made the Skinners trustees. They were incorporated in 1327. The chief officer is called Master, and next under him are four wardens, in whose election a singular custom is pursued. A cap of maintenance,

made to fit a particular individual, is brought with great formality into the hall, and being tried on by the retiring master, to pronounce that it does not fit him, trials are then made by other persons until it reaches the person for whom it was made, who declares it to be a fit, and is thereupon inducted into the office. A similar proceeding takes place with regard to the wardens.

7. MERCHANT TAILORS' HALL is in Threadneedle Street, but is not seen from the street. It was built shortly after the great fire of 1666. Upon the walls of the banqueting hall, the largest of the halls possessed by city companies, are portraits of several of our sovereigns; including a head of Henry VIII. by Paris Bordone, head of Charles I., three quarters and full length of Charles II., James II., Queen Anne, and George III. and his Queen, by Ramsay. There are also the Duke of York by Lawrence, Lord Chancellor Eldon by Briggs, the Duke of Wellington by Wilkie, Mr. Pott by Hoppner, and an old picture of Sir Thomas White, Master of the Company in 1561, the founder of St. John's College, Oxford, besides of several Lord Mayors who have been merchant tailors. This company was originally incorporated by Edward IV. in 1466, and was then styled "Taylors and Linen Armourers." They can boast of having had sovereigns and many distinguished persons amongst their members. Several grand political dinners have been given by them to the conservative party. In the old hall James I. and his son Prince Henry were entertained, for which occasion Ben Jonson had "devised" some verses. For admission apply to the clerk at the hall.

8. HABERDASHERS' HALL, Gresham Street, West, was rebuilt in 1855. The site was acquired in 1478, a year after their incorporation. They were then called Hurrers. Several por

traits hang in the hall, but none of much value.

9. SALTERS' HALL, St. Swithin's Lane, Cannon Street, was opened in 1827, being the fifth hall of the company. In the election hall are portraits of several sovereigns, and of Adrian Charpentier, painted by himself in 1760. The Salters, i.e., Drysalters, were not regularly incorporated until 1558, but they had existed as a company for a considerable period before that date.

10. IRONMONGERS' HALL, north side of Fenchurch Street, was erected in 1748. The banqueting hall has been decorated of late years with papier mâché and carton pierre ornaments in the

style of Louis Quatorze. Amongst the portraits there is one of Mr. Thomas Betton, who, in 1724, left the company £26,000, and directed that half the interest should be laid out in ransoming British subjects, captives in Barbary or Turkey. Also a portrait of Admiral Hood by Gainsborough, presented by the admiral when admitted an ironmonger in testimony of his distinguished naval services. This company was incorporated in 1464.

11. VINTNERS' HALL, Upper Thames Street, near Southwark Bridge, was rebuilt by Wren after the great fire, and it has since been refronted. In the court room are some portraits of royal personages. The Wine Tunners, afterwards Vintners, were incorporated in 1437.

12. CLOTHWORKERS' HALL, in Mincing Lane, Fenchurch Street, has been lately rebuilt, and is an elegant edifice, with a noble banqueting hall 80 feet long by 50 wide, and 40 high. The Shearmen were incorporated in 1482; and when they united with the Fullers, and received another charter from Henry VIII., ` they were styled Cloth workers. James I. was admitted into the company; and Pepys, the diarist, was master in 1677, which time he presented a silver cup, which is still used at the company's banquets. A Mr. Thwaites left £30,000 to this company a few years back, and directed half the income to be laid out in charities, and half on feasting.

Amongst the halls of the minor companies the following deserve notice.

APOTHECARIES' HALL, in Water Lane, Blackfriars, was erected in 1670; and here pure drugs are sold to the public on behalf of the company. All the drugs for the army and navy are procured at the hall. Here are some portraits of James I. (good), Charles I., and others. The apothecaries were at first joined with the grocers, but they obtained a charter as a separate company in 1617. The company has a botanic garden at Chelsea.

ARMOURERS' AND BRAZIERS' HALL, Coleman Street, a modern building. In the banqueting-hall, which is decorated with armour, is Northcote's painting representing the Entry of Richard II. and Bolingbroke into London, painted for Alderman Boydell. This company has a fine collection of mazers, hanaps, and silver cups. It was incorporated in 1422 by Henry VI., a member.

BARBER-SURGEONS' HALL, Monkwell Street, was built after the great fire which destroyed the old hall. In the Court-room