or Cathedral of this City was formerly the Collegiate Church of St. Auguftin's Monastery, which, when diffolved by H. VIII. and erected into the See of a Bishop, he applied its Revenues to the Maintenance of a Bishop, Dean, fix Prebendaries, and other Officers. Some of the Earls of Berkley have chosen to be interred in this Church, as one of their Ancestors viz. the Lord Fitzharding, was its Founder, Anno 1148.

The chief Parish Church of this City is St. Mary Radcliff's, without the Walls, built in the Reign of H. VI. by William Cannings Alderman of this City. 'Tis a magnificent Structure, in the Gothic Tafte, the Workmanship is fo exquifite, the Roof fo artificially vaulted with Stone, and the Tower fo high, that we may fay with Mr. Camden, 'tis the finest Parish Church in the Kingdom. As it ftands on the Brow of a Hill, there's a ftately Afcent to it by Stone Steps: In it are two Monuments to the Honour of the Founder; one in the Habit of a Magiftrate, denoting that he was five Times Mayor of the City; and the other is his Effigies in Prieft's Robes cut in Marble; for in his latter Days he took Orders. This Gentleman fettled Lands to pay 44 Pounds yearly to the Sheriffs, in Lieu of Toll demanded by them at the Gates of the City, and directed, that the Mayor of Bristol fhould have the placing of one of the poor Men, and the Mayorefs one of the poor Women, in an Alms-houfe, which he built at Weflbury in Gloucestershire. Its Altar-Piece is finely painted, in part by the excellent Pencil of Mr. Thornbill. In the year 1757, the Altar was decorated with three large Paintings reprefenting the Refurrection &c. of JESUS, by the inimitable Hogarth..

2. Temple Church, in Temple-Street, is a large Edifice, worth visiting.

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3. St. Stephen's, is worthy Obfervation, for the curi ous Workmanship of its beautiful and ftately Tower.

4. All Saints Church, has a Steeple in Imitation of Bow Church in Lond. and in Compliment to Mr. Colton, the great Benefactor to this City, the Dolphin, which is his Arms, is placed on it, as the Dragon is on Bow Steeple.

Here

Here is a Stone Bridge built over the Avon with four broad Arches, and Houses on both Sides of it, more lofty and fpacious than thofe lately on London Bridge; but as it is not fo wide, Passengers are often incommcded, and fometimes endangered by the Colliers, Carriers, and Coachmen; there being no Room for Pofts, and the Pavement rendered flippery by the conftant Draught of their Sledges over it; for Carts are not admitted in this City, for Fear of shaking and damaging the Arches of the Vaults and Gutters that are made under Ground for carrying the Filth of the City into the River.

The Place which in Mr. Camden's Time was called the Marsh, and had Rope Walks on all Sides of it, is now Queen's Square, having been of late Years built almost all round with very good Houfes, faced partly with Brick and partly with Stone; it is reckoned larger than any in Lond. except Lincoln's Inn Square. On the N. Side of it is the Cuftom Houfe, and in the Middle Walks of Trees, which lead to the Centre, where is a curious Equeftrian Statue of King Will. III. carved by that excellent Statuary Mr. Rybrack.

The Walls of this City were raised in the Reign of Will. Rufus, yet Part of them ftill remain, called the Port Wall, between Harraz Tower by Temple Back, and the Glass House on Ratcliff Back, near the Avon. This Wall has 2 Gates, Ratcliff Gate, and the Temple Gate, at the Head of 2 long Streets of the fame Name, betwixt which St. Thomas's Street runs parallel with them towards the Bridge.

The other Gates are St. Nicholas, at the N. End of the Bridge, over which is the Tower of St. Nicholas Church, Back fireet Gate, and Marsh Gate, St. Leonard's and St. Giles Gate, St. John's Gate, Needlefs Gate, Pithay Gate, and Newgate, the Prifon both for Malefactors and Debtors; Cafile Gate, where the Caftle ftood, leading to a very broad Street, called the old Market, which terminates at Lawford's Gate, the Entrance from the Lond. and Gloucester Roads. This City, which with the Suburbs lies compact, being almost as broad as long, is, according to a Survey made in 1736, 4 M. and a half in Circumfer

ence

rence on the Gloucester Side, and 2 M. and a half on the Somerfet Side; which in the whole is 7 M. in Circumference. The Houses are close and pretty much crowded, especially towards the Bridge, and the Heart of the City, where many of them are five or fix Stories high. The Afcent to St. Michael's Hill, is fo fteep, that near 100 Steps are laid at proper Places.

Of its Hospitals we fhall mention only the chief. Ift, Queen Elizabeth's, which, before the Diffolution of the Abbey, was a Collegiate Church, called Gaunt's, from its Founder Sir Henry Gaunt, who entered himself a Reclufe in it. 'Twas afterwards converted into an Hospital by T. Carre, a wealthy Citizen, who is supposed to have lived in that Reign, and to have named it after the Queen. In 1706 it was rebuilt by the Contribution of the Mayor, Aldermen, Mr. Colton, and other private Benefactors, and is large enough for 100 Boys; who are taught Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Navigation, &c. and when qualified to go out, either by Age or Education, have Liberty to chufe a Master, either for Land or Sea Service, and 81. 8 s. given to put them Apprentice. Six of these Boys that are upon Mr. Colton's Eftablishment have 10/

2. The Hofpital founded by Edward Colston, Efq. on St. Auftin's Back, where 100 Boys are maintained for feven Years, and taught and apprenticed as thofe are at Queen Elizabeth's; for maintaining thefe Boys the Mafter is allowed 1000l. a Year, for which Lands were purchased to perpetuate it.

3. Another which he founded on St. Michael's Hill in 1691, the Front and Sides whereof are faced with Free Stone, with 24 Apartments, for 12 poor Men and 12 poor Women; an Allowance of 3 s. a Week each, and 24 Sacks of Coals a Year: but the elder Brother has 6 s. a Week. The Governor has an Apartment and Garden, and handsome Allowance: here is also a neat Chapel, the Minifter has 10l. per Annum for reading Prayers every Day, except when they are read at St. Michael's Church, at which every Penfioner is to attend.

4. Another adjoining to Merchant's Hall, in Kingfreet, founded partly by Edward Colston, Efq. and partly

by the Merchants, for 18 Men on acccount of the Merchants, and 12 Men and Women on account of Mr. Colton. The Penfioners have 2s. per Week, and the Merchants find them Coals.

5. A large School and dwelling-Houfe in Templefreet, built and maintained by the faid Mr. Colton, where 40 Boys are taught Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, and clothed in fhort grey Coats, with Caps and Bands, the Parents finding other Neceffaries.

6. Fofter's Hofpital, on St. Michael's Hill, for fix Men and eight Women, whofe Allowance is 2 s. per Week.

7. St. Nicholas Alms Houfe in King-freet, founded by Mr. Daniel Adams, where are 16 Rooms for 13 Women and three Men, with the weekly Allowance of I s. 10 d. each.

8. An Hospital in Peter-freet, built by Alderman Ald worth, for eight Widows, but no Allowance.

9. Merchant Taylors Hofpital, in Merchant Street, where 2 Men and 9 Women have each 2 s. 6 d. per Week, befides a Dinner and I s. a Piece once a Quarter.

10. St. John's Hospital in the old Market, where 12 Women are allowed 2 s. a Week each, befides a Sack of Coals and Is. a Piece at Christmas.

11. Another Hospital over against it, for 12 Men and 12 Women, who are allowed 2s. 4 d. per Week, and Washing.

12. Alderman Stephen's Hofpital in the fame Street, for 12 Women, whofe only Allowance is 1s. 6d. per Week.

13. Another on Ratcliff Hill, for 14 Men and Women, founded by Sir William Penn; fome of the Poor here have an Allowance, others none.

14. An Hofpital or Workhouse, built by the People called Quakers, near the Narrow Weir.

15. Dr. White's Hospital in Temple-Street, for 9 Men and three Women, at an Allowance of 2 s. 6 d. a Week. each, and new Gowns once in three Years.

16. An Infirmary opened on St. Peter's Day, 1738, at the Mint, for Sick, Lame, and diftreffed Poor of his City, called St. Peter's Hofpital; to which there have been very bountiful Subfcriptions.

The

The Guildhall for the Seffions and Affizes, and the Mayor and Sheriffs Courts are in Broad-street and adjoining to it is a spacious lofty Room, called St. George's Chapel, where the Mayor and Sheriff are annually chofe on the 15th Day of September. In the Front of the Guildhall is a Statue of Ch. II. At the upper End of Corn-Street is a large Council Houfe lately rebuilt, where the Mayor and Aldermen meet every Day, except Sundays, to adminifter Juftice; and below it is

the

Tholfey, where are fhort Stone Pillars with broad Plates on them. They were erected by the Merchants for the Benefit of writing or counting Money. They ufed to meet here as the London Merchants do on their Exchange, but were fo expofed to Weather and the Annoyance of Sleds and Coaches to and from the Key, &c. that in 1733 the Citizens obtained an Act of Parliament, and have in the fame Street built a regular Exchange, with 4 Entrances into it, and Rooms for Shops over it, about two thirds as large as the Royal Exchange at London. The Buildings pulled down to make room for it cost the City 20000l. The firft Stone of it was laid by the Mayor the 10th of March 1749, with feveral Pieces of Gold and Silver Coin under it, and on it a Latin Infcription. This Structure, which is all of Free Stone, with 2 fpacious Apartments at the Entrance, one for a Tavern, the other for a Coffee-Houfe, is the compleatest of the Kind in Europe.

The Key here, which is upon the River Froome, is near half a M. in Length from its Bridge to its Conflux with the Avon, and the most commodious in Engl. for fhipping and landing of Merchants Goods, having feveral Cranes on it for this Purpofe; one of which, the Workmanship of Mr. Padmore, is not to be equalled in Europe for the extraordinary Difpatch with which it clears Ships. There is a large handfome Sun Dial on this Key, and a Draw-Bridge over the River Froome, which preferves the Communication between the Parts of the City on both Sides of that River, and is drawnup gratis

by Officers paid by the City.2

The