are governed by a master, four wardens, and thirty-eight assistants; with a livery. SHAFTESBURY HOUSE, SHAFTESBURY House is situated in Aldersgate Street, near St. Martin's le-grand; it is built of brick, and ornamented with stone in a most noble and elegant manner; performed by the celebrated Inigo Jones, for the residence of the earls of Thanet, and was first called Thanet House. It was afterwards purchased by Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury. The front facing the street is adorned with pilasters of the Ionic order. Upon the fashion for the polite inhabitants of this part of the metropolis to breathe the air of St. James's Court, this beautiful palace was let out for several mechanical uses, and is at present occupied by tradesmen. THE ALBANY HOTEL, PICCADILLY. ADJOINING to Burlington House, eastward, is the Albany Hotel, which derives its name from the second title of the late Duke of York, and exchanged by him with Lord Melbourne; when his royal highness had left it the gardens were covered with buildings, which are let out as lodgings to the nobility, members of parliament, and others, who have not any fixed town residence. This fine range of buildings extends from Piccadilly to Burlington Gardens. At each end is a porter's lodge; but it is not a regular thoroughfare. SALTERS' HALL. On the western side of St. Swithin's church formerly stood the mansion and gardens of the prior of Tortington; on the back of which, in Walbrook, during the reign of Henry VII., were two, houses adjoining, inhabited by the infamous peculators belonging to that monarch, Sir Richard Empson, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and Robert Dudley, Esq., who had each of them doors of communication into Tortington Gardens, where they usually contrived their schemes of depredation against their fellow-subjects at the suppression of monasteries. Tortington House came to the crown; and Henry VIII. granted it, with the church and church-yard of St. Swithin, as the property of the dissolved priory, to John de Vere, Earl of Oxford; and it then changed its name to Oxford Place, which the adjoining court still preserves. John de Vere was one of those who subscribed the articles against Cardinal Wolsey. Oxford Place was again granted by Queen Elizabeth to Edward, Earl of Oxford, grandson of the former. The earl, being highly incensed against Cecil Lord Burleigh (whose daughter he had married), for not preserving Thomas Duke of Norfolk from destruction, when condemned for his correspondence with Mary Queen of Scots, and believing it to be in the power of Burleigh to save him, broke out into the most unreserved indignation against the minister. He declared he would do all in his power to ruin the countess, his daughter; and he kept his word; for he not only separated from her, but consumed or sold his estate, leaving very little to his son and successor in the title. Such hard and undeserved treatment broke the lady's heart, and she died soon after. Among other portions of his estate, Oxford Place was disposed of, to Sir John Hart, who kept his mayoralty here, in 1389. Joan, his eldest daughter, having married Sir George Bolles, this place came into his possession, and he also kept his mayoralty here, in the year 1617. From the descendants of Sir George, the premises were purchased by the company of Salters. The Salters form the ninth company, in point of precedence, in the city of London; and are of such an ancient date that they had a grant of a livery in the reign of Richard II., A.D. 1394; although their present charter of incorporation is no older than April 28, 1578. They are rich in estates; and are governed by a master, two wardens, and a court of assistants. The Lord Mayor's members of this company are as follow: Sir Robert Basset, in the year 1476. Sir William Welsh, 1495. Sir Charles Peers, 1531. Sir R. Carr Glyn, 1592. James Smith, Esq., on the 22nd and 23rd of July, 1661, a citizen and salter of London, conveyed to the Salters' Company certain alms-houses, (eight in number) at Maidenhead, and endowed them with a farm in the parishes of Bury and Cookham, called Norden. In the alms-houses, eight poor men and their wives are maintained: they must be fifty years of age at least, inhabitants of Cookham, and recommended by the minister and inhabitants assembled in vestry, to the court of assistants of the Salters' Company, who select some fit objects for admission out of those so nominated. A farther endowment was made for the better support of these alms-houses by two ladies, relations of the founder. These almshouses are well supported; and once in three years the court of assistants of the Salters' Company take a view of them, make orders for their good government, and correct irregularities, if they find any, in the conduct of the alms-people. The company have also twelve alms-houses in Monkwell Street, London, founded by Sir Ambrose Nicholas, an alderman of London, for twelve widows or daughters of salters, for the support whereof he left an estate in houses, adjoining to the alms-houses; the rents of which are appropriated for the maintenance of the alms-women; but the company! make a considerable addition to the stipends out of their own funds; and have an apothecary, at an annual salary, to attend and take care of the sick. : In Salters' Rents, Bow Lane, there are alms-houses for six alms-men, partly supported by legacies and bequests of different benefactors; and partly by the bounty of the company. These alms-men are always chosen out of poor decayed Freemen of the Company. The Company distribute about £750 per annum, in support of these alms-houses, and to different charitable purposes, beside public donations, and subscriptions on great and particular occasions. The late Hall of the company was a plain brick building, commodious and well calculated for business. In it were pictures of Mr. John Ireland, the first master of the company, and a considerable benefactor; also, of Mr. William Robson, and Mr. Bernard Hyde, two great bene. factors. The former gave £5000, for charitable purposes; and the latter, the sum of £1500 for the same use; and a fine picture of William III. on horseback. But a curiosity was exhibited in the Court Room, framed and glazed being, |