VAUXHALL BRIDGE.

VAUXHALL BRIDGE, the first iron bridge erected over the Thames, was the project of Mr. Ralph Dodd (the father of the projector of Waterloo Bridge); but they were alike in their fates, as he also was deprived of the satisfaction of his design. On his dismissal, in consequence of some disagreement with the committee of persons who subscribed for its erection, the aid of Mr. Rennie was called in, and an act of parliament procured for the construction of a bridge according to a design which he proposed, and which was universally approved of at the time. Before operations commenced, however, a new plan was brought under the notice of the committee by Sir Samuel Bentham'; and after much discussion, and it is said not a little intrigue, it was resolved to adopt it in preference to the other. Mr. Rennie, on this, withdrew from any further concern in the undertaking, and the work was commenced under the direction of Sir Samuel Bentham. In a short time, however, the successful knight was dismissed in his turn, and it was left to Mr. J. Walker, an engineer of eminence, to complete the structure. The first stone was laid in 1813, by Prince Charles, afterwards Duke of Brunswick. The expense of its erection is said to have amounted to 300,000%.

SUSSEX PLACE, REGENT'S PARK,

ERECTED from designs by Mr. Nash, is a singular and picturesque pile of buildings, affording a strong contrast to the chaste edifices with which it is surrounded. It is completely in disunion with the rules of architecture; but the cupolus surmounting the structure have a very beautiful appearance, particularly when viewed from the varied plantations of the park, with the intervention of the lake, which reflects the principal features of the façade on its glassy surface.

GUILDHALL, WESTMINSTER.

THIS building was designed and executed by the late Sir Samuel Pepy Cockerell, Esq. (a pupil of Sir Robert Taylor's), for the use of the municipality of Westminster, and is situated on the south side of the ancient sanctuary near the Abbey. It is built of brick in a quadrangular form, with recesses at the angles, so that it resembles what continental architects term a Greek cross. The principal part is ornamented by a tetrastyle portico of the Doric order, surmounted by a pediment. The centre of the building is crowned by an octangular tower, with semicircular windows in every face, which give light to the courts below. At each angle of the building, instead of a buttress, is a pier, with a connecting moulding running round and crowning the whole: upon this

are raised a blocking course and lofty but light balustrade. The roof meets in a point over the centre of the building, on which is placed a lantern and vane.

OLD GOLDSMITHS' HALL.

THE antiquity of this corporation must be very great, as it is recorded in the year 1180, during the reign of Henry II., that it was fined among other guilds for being adulterious or setting up without the royal licence. In 1327, in consideration of the sum of ten marks, Edward III. incorporated this company by letters patent, and granted them the privilege of purchasing an estate of twenty pounds per annum in mortmain, for the support of their valetudinary members, which was confirmed for the sum of twenty marks by Richard II., and afterwards by Edward IV. in the year 1462, who also constituted this society a body politic and corporate, to have a perpetual succcession and a common seal. By the said grant they had likewise the privilege of inspecting, trying, and regulating all gold and silver wares, not only in this city, but in all other parts of the kingdom, with the power of punishing all offenders concerned in working adulterated gold and silver; and the power of making by-laws for their better government.

The Old Hall founded in 1407, by Sir Drew Barentine, for the use of the company, having been burnt in the year 1666, the late fabric was erected on its site, and was an irregular structure of brick with stone corners wrought in rustic. The door was large, arched, and decorated with columns of the Doric order, supporting an arched pediment containing the arms of the company.

The dining hall was ornamented with a screen of composite columns and antæ, with a balustrade and handsome vases terminated with branches for lights, between which were placed the banner used on public occasions. The room was wainscoted very beautifully, and a beaufet of considerable size ornamented with white and gold graced the eastern side of the room. The ceiling and its appendage were finely stuccoed, and carved with the city and company's arms, and an enormous rich flower in the centre. The pavement was of white and black marble. The walls of the staircase abounded with reliefs of scrolls, flowers, and instruments of music, and the balustrade was elegantly carved.

The court-room had a magnificent statuary marble chimney piece, supported by male Caryatides, and enriched by scrolls and festoons. Over the chimney-piece was a painting representing St. Dunstan the patron saint of the company in conversation with the Holy Virgin, the background representing the saint burning the devil's nose when

the fiend came to tempt him. The ceiling of this room was loaded with embellishments of carved work, and had a grand though heavy effect.

Although foreign to the institution, the goldsmiths were the first who commenced banking. Mr. Pennant observes, "Regarding banking by private persons in 1643, from the calamity of the time, when the seditious spirit was incited by the acts of the parliamentary leaders, the merchants and tradesmen, who before trusted their cash to their servants and apprentices, found that no longer safe; neither did they dare to leave it in the Mint at the Tower, by reason of the distress of majesty itself, which before was a place of public deposit. In the year 1645, they began to place it in the hands of goldsmiths, when they began publicly to exercise both professions." The first regular banker was Mr. Thomas Child, goldsmith, who commenced business soon after the Restoration. He was the father of the profession, a person of large fortune, and most respectable character. Between the years 1665 and 1675, he married Martha, only daughter of Robert Blanchard, by whom he had twelve children.

The next ancient shop was that possessed by Messrs. Snow and Denne, a few doors to the west of Mr. Childs, who were goldsmiths of consequence in the latter part of the reign of Charles II. Mr. Gay celebrates the predecessor of these gentlemen, for his sagacity in escaping the ruin of the fatal year 1728, in his epistle to Mr. Thomas Snow, goldsmith, near Temple Bar.

"O thou whose penetrative wisdom found

The South Sea rocks, and shelves, where thousands drown'd,
When credit sunk, and commerce gasping lay,

Thou stood'st, nor sent one bill unpaid away."

To the west of Temple Bar, the only one was that of Messrs. Middleton and Campbell, goldsmiths, who flourished in 1692, and is now continued with great credit by Coutts and Co., from thence to the extremity of the western end of the town; these were there until the year 1759, when the respectable name of Backwell rose again, conjoined to those of Darel, Hart, and Croft, who with great reputation opened their shop in Pall-Mall.

It appears by Stowe, that Leafstone, goldsmith, was provost of London in the reign of Henry I.; that Henry Fitz Alewin Fitz Leafstone, goldsmith, was mayor of London in the first year of the reign of Richard I. and continued mayor twenty-five years; that Gregory Rakesly, assay master of all the King's mint within England, was mayor in the third year of the reign of Edward I., and continued in the office seven years; and that the firm of Farringdons, of whom two wards took their name, were all goldsmiths.