/ 
 
 DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 FRANK BAKER COLLECTION 
 
 OF 
 
 WESLEYANA 
 
 AND 
 
 BRITISH METHODISM 
 
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 '^"*""» ^^m^t^lH-i 
 
 e* >' 
 
HIS 'r o i\ Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 lew mstl^jip ^B^^^ ^ 
 
 AXD ITSTICINITT ^ 
 
 rrminn'liendinji an 
 
 .Arror.\To/>V:v O/ugia; PoprL.iTioA] Co.ytL, 
 ('a>lSTL^ (;, Sc FOREIGA ' Tr.^de. 
 tooi'thcr «ntli 
 
 
 1801. 
 
>X"77-v <? ->^, 
 
 u. 
 
R5R 
 
 TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL 
 
 THE MAYOR, 
 
 RECORDER, ALDERMEN, 
 
 SHERIFF, 
 
 GOMkON COUNCIL, 
 
 AND 
 
 FREE BURGESSES, 
 
 OP 
 
 NEWCASTLE UPON TTNE, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 IMPARTIAL HISTORY 
 
 OF THEIR ANCIENT AND RESPECTABLE TOWN, 
 IS, WITH THE UTMOST DEFERENCE, INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY THEIR PEVOTED HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 THE PUBLISHER. 
 
ADDRESS to the PUBLIC. 
 
 T 
 
 HE inquisitive mind, assisted by 
 history, explores the transactions of ages 
 past, and, by analogy, forms conjectures of 
 what probably is, in future, to be achieved 
 on the busy scenes of human aflairs. It is 
 obvious that faithful history is highly useful 
 and of the utmost importance. Indeed, with- 
 out it, ages would revolve, and events great 
 and consequential take place ; but, if not 
 recorded in the historic page, they would all 
 be carried down the stream of time, into the 
 dark abyss of oblivion, forgotten and \\\\- 
 know^n. The honest historian, therefore, un- 
 warped by prejudice, and superior to circum- 
 stances of hcality, who considers the world 
 as his country, and all men iiis brethren, is a 
 friend to human kind. Hence, when Hero- 
 dotus, Thucydides, Diodorus Siculus, Li- 
 vius, and other renowned names, recited their 
 immortal compositions, in the Forum and 
 pubhc places, before their enlightened and 
 exulting countrymen, the honours. paid tliem 
 
 A 2 were 
 
ADDRESS TO 
 
 were next to divine, and their works and 
 statues were placed in the highest niches of 
 fame. Thus, had not tlieir noble and en- 
 chanting works been handed down, ages past 
 would have been to us a chaos of inexplicable 
 confusion, of loose conjecture, and fantastic 
 reverie. But by the pictures of these grand 
 efforts of genius, held up by the hand of his- 
 tory, a noble ambition is kindled ; and the 
 philosopher, the statesman, the warrior, and 
 the artist, are filled with a generous ardour> 
 if not to emulate, at least to imitate, such il- 
 lustrious examples, 
 
 But universal history is, like universal mo- 
 narchy, a subject too vast for the human 
 mind. The narrative, even of all the trans*- 
 actions which have happened in a single na- 
 tion, such as our own, must be defective and 
 incomplete. Topographical history, therefore* 
 as the learned Dr. Whitaker, in his history of 
 Manchester, justly observes, must make the 
 nearest approaches to historical perfection. 
 
 The account, which we presume to offer to 
 the public of Newcastle upon Tyne, and its 
 environs, is of this species. The subject is 
 of high importance, as it embraces a period of 
 above a thousand years, during which many 
 transactions and events took place, interesting 
 
 at 
 
THE PUBLIC. 
 
 at those remote periods, and whose influence 
 extends to the aggrandizement and felicity 
 of this opulent and flourishing mart of trade, 
 to the present times. It is true, the history 
 of this very important place has been at- 
 tempted by others ; and candour must ac- 
 knowledge, that the authors are far from be- 
 ing destitute of merit. The reverend Messrs. 
 Bourne and Brand have each puUished a 
 history of Newcastle ; but it has been a ge- 
 neral complaint, that most authors unhappily 
 fall into one of these extremes, either of ob- 
 scure, uninforming brevity, or minute, tedi^ 
 ous, and unimportant details. How justly the 
 latter of these gentlemen merited the censure 
 of the learned Reviewers, on account of this 
 historical defect, is not for us to decide. De- 
 preciation is not only the offspring of an un- 
 discerning head, but is also the sure criterion 
 of a malevolent heart. Nor sliall we, by 
 dwelling on the defects found in the works of 
 others, thereby wish to anticipate the par- 
 tiahty of the public in favour of our own; but 
 we are, however, responsible to the public for 
 the reasons and motives which have induced 
 us to the present undertaking. They are 
 simply these; — To obviate the obscurities; 
 to retrench the tedious and irksome details to 
 
 be 
 
J4DDRESS 70 
 
 be found in other histories of this interesting 
 town and county, and carefully excluding co- 
 pies of old, musty grants, written in uncouth, 
 iinclassical Latin, which, indeed, occupy 
 many pages of Mr Brand's work, and usefu 
 only to few readers. 
 
 Another motive for our holding out to the 
 public a history in the present form, is, that 
 as we live in times when oeconomy becomes a 
 virtue, so peculiarly necessary, we would, 
 therefore, wish to condense the subject into 
 as small a compass as we can with propriety, 
 and so make brevity and precision the basis 
 of our work. Two guineas for the history of 
 a single town, to the greater number of 
 people, has the appearance of extravagance ; 
 but we hope to afford equally gratifying his- 
 torical entertainment for a fourth part of that 
 sum. 
 
 Another powerful incentive, is, the vast in- 
 crease of trade, manufactories, iron-founderies, 
 new streets, and magnificent buildings, by 
 which Newcastle is enriched and adorned, all 
 since Mr Brand published his history in 1788. 
 
 It would have crowned our wishes, had it 
 been put in our power to have added, that a 
 particular description is subjoined of the 
 Canal which, from Newcastle to the western 
 
 shores, 
 
rHE PUBLIC, vli 
 
 shores, divides the island, and joins the Ger- 
 man Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. But, with a 
 sigh, we presume only to hope, that, upon 
 the return of a general peace, this truly nohle, 
 patriotic, and incalculably beneficial design, 
 will be resumed. ^ 
 
 A circumstance highly favourable for throw- 
 ing light upon a principal divisionof our work, 
 is, that by the recent digging up of the vast 
 fossa, or ditch, of the Roman wall, from near 
 Byker to Wallsend, curious discoveries have 
 been made of arms, altars, bones of sacrificed 
 animals, and other pieces of antiquity. Two 
 gentlemen, the Messrs. Buddle, at Wallsend, 
 whose house is upon the very site of the 
 ancient Roman castrum, have generously fa- 
 voured us with their discoveries. And we 
 feel ourselves highly gratified and encou- 
 raged by a variety of curious and interesting 
 observations communicated to us by several 
 other ingenious and learned gentlemen, to 
 whom we offer our most grateful respects. 
 
 In fine, in the execution of the work, we 
 claim no indulgence from the candid public 
 on the stale pretence, that it was a hasty com- 
 pilation, indigestedly put together, the off- 
 spring of occasional vacant time.— No; we 
 mean not in this manner to insult the good 
 
 sense 
 
ADDRESS, iffe. 
 
 sense of an enlightened public ; but, on the 
 contrary, to assure them, that to render the 
 production worthy of their attention and pa- 
 tronage, the talents, learning, and assistance 
 of several literary gentlemen have been em- 
 ployed. 
 
 As we hereby candidly acknowledge, that 
 we have made free \vith such sentiments in 
 the works of Messrs. Bourne, Brand, and 
 others who have written upon this town, as 
 to us appeared useful ; we will not, therefore^ 
 trouble our readers with references to the 
 pages, &c. of these gentlemen's works. 
 
 To command success n any undertaking^ 
 is not the lot of humanity; but the editor, 
 by diligence, and employing his most stre- 
 nuous endeavours, humbly hopes, at least, 
 to deserve it 
 
 HISTORY 
 
i 
 
 H ISTORY 
 
 OP 
 
 NEWCASTLE UPON TTNE, 
 
 ^-'m^i 
 
 THE hiftory of the town and county of New- 
 caflle upon Tyno, on account of its relative 
 confequence and advantage to fociety, is highly in- 
 tcrefting. Previous, however, to our entering upon 
 this agreeable, but arduous undertaking, it will be 
 neceflary to remark, that the richeft domains of the 
 three then known quarters of the globe were indebt- 
 ed to the Romans tor their civilization and improve- 
 ments in the arts of life. It is true, that mighty 
 people were as boundlefs in their ambition, as they 
 were irrefiflible in their arms ; and not contented 
 with the fairefl: and mod fertile provinces of the 
 Avorld, they extended their vatl empire from the 
 banks of the Tygris to the frozen (bores of the Ca* 
 ^edonian fea. And fo, by either finding or making 
 all nations hoftile to their arrogant claims, they, by 
 policy, difcipline, and valour, in the courfe of fix 
 centuries, fubdued Afia, Africa, and Eu*rope to 
 their dominion. It was from this love of conqueft, 
 fatal to the repofe and independence of nations who 
 had not before heard of the Roman name, that a 
 
 B large 
 
10 impartial I^iftorgof 
 
 large proportion of the human kind were fubjugated 
 or deftroyed. It was peculiarly fo with our ifland of 
 Britain, with the hiflory of which we are beft ac- 
 quainted, and in which we are mofl immediately in- 
 terefted. Thus realifmg the defcriptive lines of the 
 poet : 
 
 Of rougher front, a mighty people came ! 
 A race of heroes ! in thofe virtuous times 
 Which knew no ftain, fave that with partial fiame. 
 Their dearejl country, they too fondly lov'd. 
 
 Thomson's winter. 
 
 But» as a late enlightened hiflorian obferves, the 
 Romans, after having fubdued, or exterminated, the 
 nations, and given mankind time to breathe, fet 
 about civilizing the countries they had conquered ; 
 and, by inftruding them in their language, laws^ 
 arts, and arms, they made feme atonement lor the 
 fanguinary excelTes to which their infatiable an;bi. 
 tion had compelled themf. 
 
 But that warlike people, intending their empire 
 
 fhould run on in the long line of ages coeval with 
 
 time itfelf, have accordingly left, to the admiration 
 
 of mankind, the mofl flupendous monuments of 
 
 their unrivalled power and profound policy. And 
 
 in no country, in the extenfive bounds of their once 
 
 mighty empire, are left, to the inveftigation of the 
 
 antiquary and the hiflorian, more flriking remains 
 
 ot their prifline greatnefs than in Britain ; nor in 
 
 any part of the country, greater or more noble than 
 
 thofe in Newcaflle and its vicinity, as will fully 
 
 appear when we prefent our readers with a detailed 
 
 delineation of this town. 
 
 The 
 
 t See Dr Robertlon'b Hill, ot Charles V. emperor of Germany. 
 
3i5etx3ca{Jle upon c^ne* 1 1 
 
 The uniform teflimony of ancient hiftory informs 
 us, that Juhus C^far was the firfl Roman general 
 who invaded Britain ; nor was the undertaking un- 
 worthy of the-greatefl hero, and the moft accorapHfh- 
 ed warrior. This event happened in his third con- 
 fulate, and about fifty-two years previous to the 
 Chriftian aere. Casfar having fubdued all antient 
 Gaul, or modern France, and having^ tranfported his 
 victorious legions over the Rhine by forming a bridge 
 of ftupendous ftrufture, He, the firft of the Roman 
 name, invaded the warlike nations of Germany, and 
 having overthrown them in many bloody battlesj 
 broke their power, almoft exterminated many of their 
 moft powerful nations, and brought them under the 
 domination of Rome. 
 
 Having achieved thefe warlike and mighty enter- 
 prizes, he refolved to invade Britain. We are told 
 that his motives for this invafion was the hopes which 
 he entertained of obtaining pearls of vail fize and 
 beauty.* And althou'^h this intrepid commander 
 made good his landing, by two fucceflive invafions, 
 yet he foon -perceived that he owed his fuccefs over 
 thefe fierce barbarians more to his diicipline and 
 arms, than to any fuperiority in point of courage 
 and refoluticn. Cp^far. finding tiis legions thinned 
 with fo many bloody engagements with Germans, 
 Gauls, and Britons, fired with ambition to be at the 
 head of the world, overthrew his rival Pompey in the 
 plains of Pharfalia, and, aiTuming abfolute power, 
 was aflafiinated in the fcnate-houfe by the chief men 
 of that illuftrious body. Auguflus, his fucceflbr, 
 feems to have paid little attention to Britain ; a^id 
 more than a century revolved from its firfl; invafion 
 
 B 2 by 
 
 * Suet. vit. Jul. C«f. 
 
12 Ttrti'^rtf "Jl j^iftorp of 
 
 by Caefar,' bef< re it was further difquieted by the hof- 
 tile arms of Rome. It was , then, >however, ferioufly 
 invaded, in fevcral parts at once, by the Roman le- 
 gions ; fo that a large portion of the ifland, extend- 
 ing from the Humbcr to the Tyne, and now known 
 by the name of the counties of York, Durham, 
 Lancafter Wi^ftmoreland, and CumberJand, after 
 many bloody battles, was obliged to yield to the 
 fuperior defcipline of the Roman arms. It was 
 during this period, in the reign of Claudius, that 
 Caradacus, generaliffimo of the Britons, and queen 
 Boadicea, difplayed Xuch herqifm and love of inde- 
 pendence. At laft, under Vefpafian, the greateft 
 part of the country of the Brigantes, poflefTors of the 
 counties mentioned above, was over-run and con, 
 quered by the vi£torious Romans ; and the complete 
 conquefl of that warlike people was achieved under 
 the reign of Titus : Julius i^grico.h, one of the moft 
 enterprifmg and fuccefsful leaders of antiquity, com- 
 manded the legions under that emperor, and led 
 his viftorious troops from the Tyne through Nor- 
 thumberland, and the moll fertile parts of North Bri- 
 tain, till they encamped on the heights of Aberne- 
 thy which overlook the river Tay, about iive miles 
 fouth eaft from Perth. It is faid by the beft informed 
 Scotch hiftorians, that when the Roman legions, 
 from the elevated fituation of iheir camp, beheld the 
 windings of that beautiful river, the enchanting 
 plains on its banks, and the rude grandeur of the 
 Grampian hills at a diltance, they were ftruck with 
 l>leafant afloniflinunt, and cried .out in ecftacy, 
 y Ecce Tybet? .i'.^i f riJehold the^ Ty ber ! 
 
 The 
 
i:5e\5)caftlc upon €L)nc, i ^j 
 
 The political and fagacious Romans, beginning to 
 difcern how important the province of Britain migLt 
 prove to their empire, fet about fecuring the con- 
 quefts which they had made in this ifiand. For this 
 purpofe, Agricola drew a ftrong line of garrifons 
 acrofs the ifthmus which runs between the rivers 
 Vorth and Clyde j and, as Tacitus informs us, the 
 Romans were thus lords of incomparably the bed 
 and mod fertile parts of the country ; while the abo' 
 rigincs^ or natives, were conhned by woods, rocks, 
 and hills, as it were, within another illand.J 
 
 The reftlefs Caledonians, impatient of the galling 
 reltraints of their cruel mafters, gave them no repofe, 
 but by frequent incurfions into the Roman provinces, 
 rendered another, and ftronger, rampart neceflary. 
 This vvas effeded in the year 117 of the chriftiau 
 sera. We are informed by vSpartian, that they drew 
 a uali of eighty miics in length, and completely di- 
 vided the Romans from the barbarians. The vef- 
 tiges of this once mighty mound are ftill vifible, at 
 Calender-houfe, near Falkirk, where it terminated a 
 little to the eaftward, and from the Carron to the 
 Clyde if extended from Tea to fea. The vulgar affix 
 to that rampart the appellation of " Graham's Dyke.^* 
 But upon the recal of Agricola, and the command of 
 the Roman legions being committed to lefs ikilful 
 hands, the Caledonians eafily burfl: over the barrier, 
 conftruded only of earth and pallifadoes, faced up 
 with {lone ; and. pouring their hordes of fierce war- 
 riors into the fertile plains of the Lothians, and from 
 thence crofling the Tweed, they over-ran Northum- 
 berland, and continued their vidorious career to the 
 ilumber, and the confines of the city of York. 
 
 But 
 
 X Vide Taciturn in vita Agricolx. Fordunum. Buchannanum. 
 
14 Jmpartml ipiftor^ of 
 
 But Severus, acquiring the imperial purple, put 
 a flop to their defolaiing incurfions. This emperor 
 was juflly termed one of the greatell of the Romans ; 
 if thofe talents which form the accomplifhed warrior 
 and profound ftatefman merit that title. He was, 
 however, of unbounded ambiton, which he fup- 
 ported by a£ls of the mod atrocious cruelty, and re- 
 Jentlefs hatred, againfl fuch as gave him the fmallefl 
 offence.* He carried his arms almoft to the fhores 
 of the Indus in the eafl:, and the mod diflant na- 
 tions of the north felt their power. The Caledonians 
 revolted under his government, and, as has been 
 obferved, drove the Romans beyond Adrian's Wall, 
 filling the whole province with terror and confufion, 
 Severus, who could brook no oppofition, collected a 
 mighty army, which he brought in tranfports to Bri- 
 tain, and after many blocdy battles, over-ran the 
 .whole ifland, obliging the Caledonians to furrender 
 to him the moft fertile parts of their country, parti- 
 cularly the lowlands, on the fouth of the river 
 Forth. 
 
 But, well knowing the refllefs turn of that war- 
 like people, he refolved to fecure his conqueft by 
 fome ftrong rampart, that (hould effeftually prevent 
 their incurfions for the future. For this purpofe, 
 from about the year 197 to 207, by the labours 
 of his foldiers, and afliftance of the wellaft'efted na- 
 tives, he built a ftrong barrier, confiding of a ftone- 
 wall, of great height and thicknefs, while another, 
 at about twenty yards diftance, of earth faced with 
 done, ran parallel' with it, from the diores of the 
 Irifli fea acrofs the whole ifland, terminating at 
 Wallfend, a little village, about three miles eaft 
 
 from 
 
 '^ Herodianus in Vita Seveii. 
 
ji^ctMceiftlc upon Cync, 
 
 from Newcaftle.* The former of thefe was built by 
 Severus ; the latter by Adrain ; but this having 
 been often, in many parts, thrown down, occafioned 
 the rearing of that wall by Severus, to proteft his 
 civilized fubjcfts in their poifelTions, and alfo, by 
 fuch a mighty undertaking, to perpetuate his name 
 and renown through fucceeding ages. 
 
 This ftupendous work ran through Newcaftle ; 
 and as that of Severus formed part of the town- 
 wall, which we fhall fliew when treating more cir- 
 cumflantially of the public edifices, we claim the 
 indulgence of our readers, in making fome fur- 
 ther obfervations on this augufl; monument of the 
 Roman power and greatntfs. '' During my refi. 
 " dence at Newcaftle upon Tyne," fays Mr. Brand 
 in his hiftory, " prompted by an ardour of curiofity 
 *' bordering on enthufiafm, 1 occafionally madefeve- 
 *' ral excurfions, to examine the ftill remaining vef- 
 *' tiges of thole ftupcndous works, raifed here, by a 
 '' people who were juftly ftyled the conquerors of 
 *' the world." We fhall therefore avail ourfelves 
 of the privilege of prcfenting our readers with 
 the fubftance of fome of the obfervations of that 
 author. 
 
 Agricola appears to have fuggefted the firfl: idea 
 of building thcfe, by eretting, A. D. 79, a row of 
 forts acrofs the ifland, from Tynmouth, on the 
 German ocean, to the Irifh fea. 
 
 To connect thefe, and to condenfe their ftrength, 
 the emperor Adrian, firft: in the year 120, and af- 
 terwards Severus, A. D. 207. raifed their feparate 
 walls, along the fame tracl of country, running from 
 ilation to flation, till an unfordable frith on one fide, 
 
 and 
 * Camden's Britiannia. 
 
1 G J mpartiat f^iilor|) of 
 
 and a broad and deep river on the other, rendered 
 it unneceflary to extend them any further. 
 
 We fliall not fervilely copy or tranfcribe the l,efs 
 intercfling obfervations in Mr. Brand's hiftory, but 
 fhaM avail ourfelves of fome of his more curious re»- 
 marks, as well as of other antiquarians, who have ein»- 
 ployed their invefbigations in tracing and defcribing 
 the ancient remains of Roman grandeur. All confent 
 that Wallfend derives its etymology from its being 
 the eaftern termination of Severn's wall, and 
 
 S E G E D UN U AI 
 
 feems to have been the firft (iation of the Roman 
 troops, appointed to guard, and to garrifon the 
 wall. It was, perhaps, the ftation of the firft cohort 
 of the Lergi, and flood at a fmall diflanee from the 
 prefent village of Wallfend, and a little to the eaft 
 of a gentleman's houfe, now called Carville. The 
 houfe built for the viewer of the colliery (lands pa- 
 rallel to the weft rampart of the flation, and near 
 the fouth-weft angle. 
 
 The fire-engine (lands about fix yards to the 
 north of the wall, the foundations of which were 
 found here fix feet beneath the level of the ground. 
 ** In 1783," fays Mr. Brand, " I faw part of a wall 
 *' compofed of Roman bricks, cemented clofe toge- 
 " ther with lime. I found a fibula, fome Roman 
 " tegula and coins, a ring, &c. Immenfe quanti- 
 ** ties of bones, horns, and teeth of animals, that had 
 ** been facrificed, are continually turning up. Alfo 
 *' two Roman querns, or hand-mills, by which the 
 ** foldiers ground their corn, were found in this fta- 
 " tion." .To this may be added the obfervations of 
 rhat ingenious gentleman, Mr. Buddie, viewer of 
 
 Wallf- 
 
3f5etocaftle upon C^ne^ n 
 
 Wallfend colliery, who politely obliged us with a 
 fight of feveral very great curiofities, which he and 
 his fon have colleded, and preferved with great care. 
 The firft objea in this colledion, which ftruck us, 
 was a deer's or buck's horn, of large dimenfions, 
 extremely folid and weighty. Its length is two feet 
 and a half, with a fpace of fifteen inches betwixt the 
 extreme points of the antlers, and indicates the 
 animal to have been of great fize and ftrength. 
 This horn is different from thofe of the tame fpe- 
 cies with which we are acquainted, and probably of 
 one of thofe kinds fo frequently mentioned by the 
 ancients, which are exterminated in this part of the 
 ifland, but flill exifl in many places of the High- 
 lands. The place where this natural curiofity was 
 difcovered, was a kind of pit, near Mr. Buddie's 
 houfe, like an inverted cone, artfully conflruded, 
 of nine feet diameter at the top, nine feet in depth, 
 and two feet diameter at the bottom. It is probable, 
 that this animal had been facrificed in fome of the 
 religions rites of the army encamped here. 
 
 The next article we viewed was the fkeleton of a 
 cow's head, which has loft the maxilla inferior, and 
 the frontal bone only remains entire, with a fmall 
 part of the maxilla fuperior. The conftru£tion of this 
 ikeleton, however, is fo fingular, and fo different from 
 that of any of the domefticated kind of the prefent 
 time, that it is highly probable it may be the remams 
 of one of a fpecies that ufed to run wild, in ancient 
 times. Of this kind, there is perhaps none to be 
 found, at leaft in the northern parts of the ifland, 
 but in Chillingham Park, in Northumberland, be- 
 longing to the earl of Tankerville. And as many, 
 prompted by curiofity, come from a great diftance, 
 
 C ^« 
 
i« Impartial !pmor^ of 
 
 =:y: 
 
 to fee this fingular fpecies of cattle, we hope a 
 jQiort defcription of them will not be unacceptable to 
 our readers ; efpecially as they have frequented that 
 part of the country from time immemorial, and pro- 
 bably were that very fpecies which the Romans ufed 
 for religious oblations, as well as for domeftic pur- 
 pofes, in their encampments. 
 
 Their colour (fays Dr. Fuller in his hiftory of Ber- 
 wick) is invariably white, muzzle black ; the v.^hole 
 of the infide of the ear, and about one-third of the 
 outfide, from the tip downwards, red. Horns white 
 with black tips, very fine, and bent upwards. Some 
 of the bulls have a thin, upright mane, about two 
 inches long. The weight of the oxen is from thirty- 
 five to forty-five ftone, the whole carcafe. The beef 
 is finely marbled, and of exquifite flavour. They 
 never are very fat, from the nature of their paflure, 
 and the frequent agitations they are put into, by the 
 Curiofity of ftrangers. 
 
 At the firfl appearance of any perfon, they fet off 
 in full gallop, and, at the diftance of two or three 
 hundred yards, make a wheel round, and come 
 boldly up again, tofling their heads in a menacing 
 manner. On a fudden they make a full flop, at thg 
 diftance of forty or fifty yards, looking wildly at the 
 objedl of their furprife ; and, upon the leafl motion 
 being made, they all tarn round again, and gallop 
 off with equal fpeed, but not to .the fame diflance ; 
 forming a fhorter circle, and again returning with a 
 bolder and more threatening afpecl:, they approach 
 much n?arcr, about thirty yards, and once more 
 gallop off. Thcfe circuitous motions are repeated, 
 lill they come within a few yards, when the fpeaa- 
 
 tors 
 
Betocaille upon €:i>ne, ] o 
 
 tors think it highly prudent to decamp, and to leave 
 them mafters of the field. 
 
 If any perfon happens to come near the calves, 
 the clap their heads clofe to the ground, and lie 
 like a hare, to hide themfelves. The Dodor adds, 
 that he hinifelf traverfing the park, found one of 
 their calves, which, although weak, inflantly got 
 up, and bolted at him with all its force, and bellow- 
 ing aloud, alarmed the whole herd, who, rufhing 
 with impetuofity a^ainft the fuppofed aggreflbr, 
 obliged the fon of iEfculapius to make a percipitate 
 retreat. 
 
 It is remarkable of thefe gregarious and highly 
 focial animals, that when any one happens to be 
 wounded with the (hots of the huntfman, or has be- 
 come weak through age or ficknefs, the reft of the 
 herd fct upon it, and gore it to death ! — Porpoifes, 
 and various other creatures, do the fame to their 
 wounded aifociates. 
 
 The jaw bone, feemingly of a cow, or ox, of vaft 
 fize and folidlty, is among Mr, Buddie's natural cu- 
 iiolities, and was found deep in the fite of the Ro- 
 man camp, or caftrum. He has likewife a fheep's or 
 goat's {kull. of very fmgular fhape and dimenfion ; 
 alio urns of pottery, very curious, of red, yellow, 
 and dark brown colours. One is beautifully adorned 
 with figures, in different compartments, like females 
 carrying balkets of flowers, fruits, &c. on their heads. 
 Many handles of urns, &c. but much fliattered and 
 mutilated. A ftone, about fix inches fquare, perfo- 
 rated with round holes, with curious devices, appa- 
 rently ufed for colours, fome of which are yet per- 
 fectly vifible, 
 
 'IVIeifis. 
 
20 impartial il^iftctg of 
 
 Meflrs buddle informed us, that in digging a 
 foundation for their dwelling-houfe, out-houfes, and 
 garden, fcarcely a fpade or mattock turned up the 
 foil, but along with it bones, horns, fragments of vef- 
 fels, arms, &c. appeared. 
 
 What was particularly interefting, among other 
 pieces of information, thefe gentleman told us, that, 
 in turning up the foil, about eighteen months ago, 
 they difcovered a cauieway leading to a wharf, on 
 the bank of the river, perfedly vifible and diftinft. 
 
 As the Roman W2(ll terminated here, the fouth 
 and eaft fides of the fort, or caftrum, were traced 
 "while the fofla, on the eaft fide, was quite eafily dif- 
 cerned," 
 
 About fixty or eighty yards to the fouth-wefl: of 
 Mr. Buddie's houfe, on digging deep for clay to 
 make bricks, many foundations of buildings were 
 difcovered J and falling among fome deep trenches, 
 or ditches, numbers of human bones and fkeletons 
 were found. 
 
 This probably was the cametenum* or burying- 
 place, belonging to the camp, which feems to have 
 been very extenfive at this place, and where they 
 depofited the bodies of their deceafed friends, either 
 by inhumating the corpfes, or felefting their bones 
 from the funeral piles, and putting them in urns, 
 placed them in this recefs of filence, and of death ! 
 
 Coins, of different diriienfions, have likewife been 
 found ; but their legends afe utterly defaced by 
 time. ' . ■ 
 
 ' " All writers on Roman antiquities, Ptolemy, Gro- 
 novius, Lrpfius, Kennct, Dempftei*, and others, uni- 
 formly obferve, that thofe martial pt?ople, in their 
 encampments, always chofe a declivity, or fome 
 *■ ' emi- 
 
i^e^caaie upon C})ne» n 
 
 eminence, floping down towards a river, or running 
 water : and Dr. Horfley fays, that the Romans, in 
 choofmg the fituation for the vaft undertaking now 
 under review, fixed " the ftation at Wallfend with 
 " its fouthern rampart facing the fun, and floping 
 ** quite down to the river Tyne." 
 
 The next was, where Bees-houfes flood, now 
 called Store-houfes, near Walker, where the veftiges 
 of Severus' wall were perfedlly difcernable ; but, by a 
 late refclution of the proprietors of the lands through 
 which the wall had its diredion, the foffa, and the 
 whole fite of the wall, are dug up, and converted 
 into valuable arable land, from Wallfend to Byker- 
 hill. The antiquary views thefe deveftations of the 
 labours of ancient times with a figh, while the huf- 
 bandmen drives his plow-fhare with unconcern thro' 
 thofe ditches and mounds, where once gleamed hof* 
 tile arms. Thefe former fcenes of death are now 
 covered with the yellow harvefl. — A transformation 
 furely infinitely better for the felicity of mankind ! 
 
 But, in tracing the diredion of the Roman wall, 
 we find that it ran quite through Newcaftle. Cam- 
 den, in his Britannia, makes no doubt of this having 
 been the cafe, and fays, " It is mofl: certain, that 
 *' the rampart, and afterwards the wall of Severus, 
 " paffed through this town, viz. Newcaflle ; and 
 ** at Pampedon, or Pandon-gate, there flill re- 
 " mains, as it is thought, one of the little turrets of that 
 " very wall.'* There was, indeed, a turret of fingu* 
 lar ftructure over the gate at Pandon ; the mafonry 
 of which was quite different from that of the town 
 wall. That it was ancient to a proverb, is well 
 known among the commonalty of Newcaflle ; no- 
 thing being more general than, when they would 
 
 de. 
 
22 3lnapartial Jl;iftor^of 
 
 defcribe the great antiquity of any thing, to fay, 
 '' It's as old as Pandon-gate»* This venerable re- 
 main of antiquity, forming part of Severus' wall, 
 was taken down by an order of the magiftrates of 
 Newcaflle, to widen the paflage, in the year 1 796. 
 
 Near where this turret flood is the Wall Knoll, a 
 very ancient place; which, Mr. Grey pofitively fays, 
 was part of the Roman Wall. The name iifelf feems 
 to indicate as much ; for the wall upon the kmll^ or 
 eminence, can only be underftood of the Roman 
 wall; becaufe it had this name from very ancient 
 times, fays. Bourne, long before the building of the 
 town wall, to which it lies quite contiguous. 
 
 A little above Pandon, on the height, ftands the 
 Carpenters' Tower. This too, fays the fame author, 
 was one of the Roman towers, as could eafily be dif- 
 cerned before the taking down of the turrets, which 
 was done to build a commodious room for the com- 
 pany of Shipwrights, or Carpenters. 
 
 Ancient tradition fays, that the Roman wall went 
 through the Weft Gate, and the vicar's garden, 
 along that ground where St. Nicholas' church now 
 (lands, by the Wall Knoll, Sally-port, and fo on to 
 Wallfend. 
 
 This is extremely probable, as it may flill be in 
 the recoUeaion of many of the inhabitants of New- 
 caftle, that from the weft end of the narrow ftreet 
 called the Low-bridge, to the eaft end of St. Nicho- 
 las' church.yard, a bridge, conftrufted of large and 
 maffive ftones, of vaft height, and evidently of Ro- 
 man architedure, was thrown over a frightful dean, 
 now a fpacious and beautiful ftreet, full of fplendid 
 ihops and dwelling-houfes. 
 
Bdoc^Gle upon c^ne. ss 
 
 Hollingfhead, in tracing the courfe of the Roman 
 wall, in his defcription of Britain, lays, that its moft: 
 weft em extent was at Bolnefs upon Burgh, and fol- 
 lowing the refpedive ftations for the cohorts, he 
 brings it to Rutchcfter ; it then paffes to Heddon, 
 Walbottle, Denton, and from thence to Newcaftle. 
 
 In a manufcript of the late John Milbank, Efq. and 
 communicated to Mr. Bourne, there is given a fliort 
 and circumftantial account of this celebrated monu- 
 ment of ancient Roman greatnefs, ** Adrain," fays 
 this gentleman, " built a wall of truf or fods, from 
 ** the fea-fide, beyond Carlifle, unto Tynemouth. It 
 " was overthrown by the inroads of the northern 
 '' nations, after the emperor had left the ifland ; but 
 *' Severus built, near the fame fite, another wall of 
 '' ftone, and ere£led towers and other places for 
 " watching at every mile's end, and a paflage ran 
 '* through the whole extent of the wall, by which, 
 ** with a horn, or fome hollow inftrument, they could 
 " give intelligence of the approach of the enemy, 
 " from ftation to ftation, almoft in an inftant, for the 
 *« courfe of eighty miles. I myfelf," adds Mr. Mil- 
 bank, " have feen the wall, at Thirlwall, and it takes 
 *' its diredion by Portgate, near Staglhawbank, by 
 «' Halton, near the Long Lane, where both the walls 
 " are apparent ; as alfo at Denton, over Benwell- 
 *' hill, down to the Weft Gate, in Newcaftle.*' And 
 he concludes by obferving, ** You may fee it down 
 «' the hill, by Mr Leonard Carr's houfe, (in Pilgrim- 
 *' ftreet, near where Mr. Robfon s inn now ftands) 
 *' and over Walker Moor to Wallfend." 
 
 As it does not fall within the plan of our work, 
 which is principally confined to a defcriptive and 
 fuccin(5t account ot Newcaftle, we Ihall not trefpafs 
 
 much 
 
^•t jmpartial 5:)iaotj) of 
 
 much farther, by following and defcribing the vari- 
 ous Roman ftations that were all along contiguous to 
 this ancient and ftupendous work. We (hall only 
 obfen'e, from Bede, the venerable hiftorian of Jai*- 
 row, that, upon Severus* wall being broke down 
 in feveral places by the barbarians, another was 
 built, with turrets at intervening diftances, by the 
 Romans, to defend the feeble and enervated inha- 
 bitants of their provinces* And as ths empire was 
 convulfed through the competition of feveral rivals 
 at once for the fupreme power, the Roman troops 
 took leave of the ifland, about four hundred and 
 feventy-eight years from its being firft invaded by 
 Julius Ccefar. Twenty years afterwards, the Britons 
 finding the Scots and Picts too powerful for then>, 
 focicited the Romans to come to Britain to aflift 
 them ; but they never returned. 
 
 This laft wall is faid by Bede to have been eight 
 feet broad, and twelve high, and was ereded on the 
 very fite of the walls of Adrian and Severus. It 
 had a great number of towers, or little caftles, a mile 
 from each other, now called cajile-jieads ; and on 
 the infide, fortified little towns or camps, called 
 ^hejiers. The inhabitants tell you, that there was 
 alfo a brazen trumpet, or pipe, of which they now 
 and then found pieces, fo artificially laid in the wall, 
 between each caftle and tower, that upon the ap- 
 prehenfion of danger, at any fingle place, by the 
 founding of it, notice might be given to the''next 
 tower, and fo on through the whole breadth of the 
 ifland. Vide Bede, as quoted by Camden. 
 
 Mr. Brand, who, accompanied by the ingenious 
 Mr. R Bellby, in the year 1 783, traced the whole 
 extent of the Roman wall, has minutely recorded, 
 
 in 
 
ji5et3caSfe upon ^"^nt* 
 
 25 
 
 ^ in Northumberland. 
 
 in the appendix to his hiftory of Newcaf-tle, his dis- 
 coveries of fragments of altars, urns, coins, &c. and 
 fums up the whole of his obfervations with giving us, 
 the names of the various ftations along the wall, viz : 
 
 1. Walker, or Wallfend, in Northumberland. 
 
 2. Wall Knoll, ' in Newcaftle. 
 
 3. Benwell, alias Benwall, 
 
 4. Wall-Bottle, 
 
 5 . Heddon on the Wall, 
 
 6. Wall tioufes, 
 
 7. Wall Fell, near Byvirell, 
 
 8. Wall Side, 
 
 9. Wall, 
 
 10. Walwick-Chefters, 
 
 11. Walwick-Grange, 
 
 12. Walwick, 
 
 13. Walwick New Houfes, 
 
 14. Wall-Shiels, 
 
 15. Walton- Mill, 
 
 16. Wall-Town, 
 
 17. Thirlwall-Caftle, 
 
 1 8. Burnt. Wall, 
 
 19. Wallbours, 
 2C. Walhome, 
 
 21. Wall, 
 
 22. Wall-Town, 
 
 23. Walton-Ridge, 
 
 24. Old- Wall, 
 
 25. Wall-Head, ' j 
 
 26. Wallby, I 
 
 27. Wall-houfe, j 
 
 28. Wall -Know, J 
 
 Upon viewing the ruins of thefe once mighty 
 efforts of human art, to fee the broken fragments ot 
 caftles, temples, palaces, and lofty ftruftures, the 
 mind is (truck with ftrong emotions of a kind of 
 melancholy fympathy j and it carries our reflections 
 
 D for- 
 
 \ in Cumberland, 
 
26 JmpartialpGor^ Of 
 
 forward to the confummation of all things, as de* 
 fcribed by the unrivalled Shakefpeare.— - 
 
 *« The cloud-clapt towers, the gorgeous palaces^ 
 The folemn temples, the great globe itfelf. 
 Yea, all that it inherit, ftiall diflblve ! 
 And, like the bafelefs fabric of a viflon^ 
 Leave not a wreck behind ! " 
 
 But our fenfations are relieved, when we fee 
 beautiful and fertile fields, covered with golden har* 
 vefts, where once flood the rampart of huge ftones 
 cramped with iron : and where fierce warriors con* 
 Aided in mortal combat, now the fcenes of harmlefs 
 bleating flocks, and of fportive lambs, gambolling in 
 wanton play, along the venerable ruins of camps 
 and entrenchments: as finely pidured by a great 
 poet of nature. 
 
 <* And leads me to the mountain's brow, 
 Where fits the fhepherd on the grafly turf. 
 Inhaling, healthful, the defcending fun ; 
 Around him feeds his many bleating flock, *^- 
 
 Of various cadence ; and his fportive lambs, • " 
 
 This way and that convolved, in friflcful glee. 
 Their frolics play ; and now the fprightly race 
 Invites them forth ; when fwift the fignal given, 
 They ftart away, and fweep the mofly mound, .' 
 
 That runs around the hill ; the rampart once f 
 
 Of iron war, in ancient barbarous times. 
 When difunited Britain ever bled, 
 I^oft in eternal broil : ere yet flie grew 
 To this deep laid indiiToluble ftate. 
 Where lueahh and commerce lift their golden head ; 
 And o'er our labours liberty and /aiy, ' "' - 
 Impartial watch j the wonder of a world ;** 
 
 Thomson's srRitie. 
 
 c^i5*mSITUAT10N 
 
jQetDCille upon Cpnc. 27 
 
 SITUATION AND EXTENT. 
 
 This town, which has made, for ages, a confpicu- 
 ous figure among the commercial marts for trade, 
 manufadures, and bufmefs of various kinds, does 
 not imprefs the ftranger, who approaches it from 
 any direction, with ideas prepoffeffing in its favour. 
 A very ingenious correfpondent of the editors of the 
 Monthly Magazine, in his account of it, fays : 
 
 ** The fituation of modern Newcaftle has probably 
 been determined by its bridge, which, having been 
 originally built by the Romans at this termination 
 of their great north-eaftern road, has been, from 
 time to time, ^-enewed upon the fame fite. This 
 warlike people feem to have preferred palling over 
 the tops of hills, probably for the fake of ftations, 
 from which to overlook and keep in devotion the 
 furrounding country. But the objeds to be an- 
 fwered by a military nation are very different from 
 thofe of a commercial one, which are beft promoted 
 by the eafe and expedition with which goods and 
 paflengers can be conveyed from one part of a coun- 
 try to another. The great obftruftion to this free 
 communication, and the enormous needlefs wafte of 
 the powers of that noble animal on whofe exertions 
 we chiefly depend in thefe refpetts, occafioned by 
 the fervility with which we ftill continue to follow 
 the traft of our predeceflbrs over the elevated bar- 
 ren ridge of Gatefhead Fell, is a fource of daily mor- 
 tification to the travellers upon this road. More 
 efpecially when the view of that fingular edifice 
 lately built for a patent-fhot tower at the white-lead 
 works,. a few hundred yards above the bridge, which 
 
 D 2 prefents 
 
 r- 
 
28 Impartial JpiGorp of 
 
 prefents itfelf to the paflenger about two miles north 
 of Chefter-lc-flreet, cannot fail to convince him of 
 the eafe with which a perfectly level road might be 
 carried in a ftraight line from that point to the weft- 
 cm extremity of the town. The noble profpecl up 
 the vale of Tyne, which regales the eye of the tra- 
 veller as he defcends towards the town from the 
 fummit of the ridge, may perhaps be pleaded as 
 fome compenfation for the trouble of its afcent 
 
 " After the Romans had retired from Britain, i'^ 
 appears that the works which they had here con- 
 flrudted were at leaft fo far maintained as to conti- 
 nue it a place of confiderable ftrength ; and that 
 many religious fraternities in the later Saxon times 
 had found in it a fecure fheher. 
 
 " But whatever caufes may have determined the 
 fituation of Newcaftle, and however well chofen it 
 may once have been for the purpofes of fecurity, it 
 muft be acknowledged to be Angularly ill adapted to 
 anfwer thofe of neatnefs or convenience. To the 
 llranger who arrives from the fouth, after he has 
 been aftonifhed, and in fome degree terrified, by his 
 rapid defcent through Gatefhead, (now indeed confi- 
 derably mitigated by the circuitous diredion of the 
 new fireet), immediately on his turning upon the 
 bridge, a precipitous eminence prefents itfelf, which 
 extends along the river weltward to the extremity of 
 the town, leaving only room for a narrow ftreet, very 
 properly denominated The Clofe ; but cluftercd all 
 the way to the very fummit of its alraoft perpendi- 
 cular banks, with houfes built during the turbulent 
 times which preceded the union of the crowns, when 
 the inhabitants naturally crowded as clofe as poflible 
 under the proteclion of the Caftle. Amidft thefe 
 
 houfes 
 
J!5cti3caft!e upon Cpn?, gg 
 
 houfes an afcent is gained to the Callle-yard and its 
 precincts by feveral lofty flights of flairs. This 
 eminence terminates exaftly in front of the bridge, 
 which was formerly defended by a half-moon bat- 
 tery, an outwork from the Caftle, placed upon its 
 fummit ; but this is now loaded with an unfightly 
 mafs of miferable tenements, five flories high, which 
 feems to threaten deftrudion to the houfes and flreet 
 below. The eaftern and north-eaflern fides of the 
 Caftle-Mount are in like manner crowded with build- 
 ings, which being all the way ftuck clofe one above 
 another to the very gate of the Caftle, have ob, 
 tained, from this circumflance, the appropriate name 
 of The Side, 
 
 " The eaftern parts of the town were feparated 
 from the Clofe and Side by a deep ravine, formed 
 by a fmall brook or rivulet, which falls into the 
 river a little below the bridge. The lower part of 
 this dean or burn (for both thefe provincial terms are 
 applied to it) mufl have been arched over for feveral 
 centuries, at leaft as long fince as the open market- 
 place, called the Sand-hill, has been embanked from 
 the river, and enclofed with buildings, The upper 
 part was left in its original ftate till about fifteen 
 years ago, when the courfe of its channel was judi- 
 cioufly chofen to form a pafTage through the town 
 on which palVengers fliould not be liable to the in- 
 convenience of afcending either the weftern bank 
 through a narrow winding palliige in the Side, or the 
 eaftern (ftiortly to be mentioned) by a fimilar ftrait 
 and fteep approach. If the ingenious projedor had 
 been allowed to begin his plan a little lower, the 
 afcent would have been more gradual, and the im- 
 provement more complete. 
 
 ** Qppo- 
 
30 Impartial !J)iftorp of 
 
 « Oppofite to the Caftle Mount, but at a greater 
 diftance from the river, the eaftem ridge terminates 
 with the handfome modern edifice of All Saints' 
 church : and along th£ back of it, whiih runs nearly 
 north, is built (within and without the jwalls) the 
 longeft and mod regular ftreet in the town. Farther 
 eaftward, another deep ravine is formed by a fome- 
 what more confiderable brook, which, after running 
 for fome time, enters the town for a fliort fpace, 
 though it nearly feparates the whole of Newcaftle, 
 properly fo called, from its extenfive eaftem fub- 
 urbs. 
 
 "The whole of the level tra£l within the walls, 
 between All Saints' church and the river, is, per- 
 haps, more clofely crowded with buildings than any 
 equal fpace of ground in his majefty's dominions. It 
 is occupied by no lefs than twenty-one wynds or 
 alleys (here called chares*), only one of which* 
 called, by pre-eminence, the Broad-ohzre, will ad- 
 mit the paflage pf carts. All the reft may eafily be 
 reached acrofs by the extended arms of a middle- 
 fized man, and many even with a fmgle arm. In 
 feveral of them, however, are fome of (till lately) 
 the beft houfes in the town, which in the laft age 
 were inhabited by the more opulent merchants; 
 particularly thofe engaged in the coal-trade. One 
 of thefe chares can boaft of being the birth-place 
 
 of 
 
 * A laughable mifunderftanding happened at our affizes fome 
 years ago, when one of the witnefTes in a criminal trial fwore, * 
 diat '* hefaiv three men come out of the foot of a chare P* — ** Geritle-: 
 men of the Jury," exclaimed the learned judge, « you muft pay 
 no regard to that man's evidence ; he muft be infane." But the 
 foreman, fmiling, aflured the judge, that they underftood him 
 verjE well i jind that he fpoke the words of truth and fobernefs. 
 
iQelocaftl^ upon C))ne> si 
 
 of the prefent Lord Chancellor, and his able bro' 
 ther, Sir William Scott. But, of late years, the 
 fuburbs have been widely extended in all diredions, 
 particularly to the north and eaft ; and the buildings 
 in the chares are every day fall converting into 
 offices, warehoufes, breweries, &c. Many of them 
 are ftill inhabited by thofe more immediately en- 
 gaged in the bufinefs on the quay, as well as by 
 failors, keelmen, and carpenters ; thofe latter claifes 
 chiefly djvell in the eaftern fuburbs. 
 
 ** The town may fairly be reckoned to extend 
 along the banks of the river (from the Skinner Burn 
 to St Peter's Quay) at lead two miles from eafl: to 
 weft : about one-half of this may be taken for the 
 bafe of a triangle, the northernmoft point of which 
 is near a mile from the bridge ; within which, though 
 with feveral irregularities and vacant fpaces, the 
 great body of the town may be conceived to be 
 comprehended. The ftreets in the upper part, at a 
 diftance from the river, are fpacious and well built ; 
 particularly Weftgate, Pilgrim, and Northumber- 
 land ftreets, and the rows and fquares which adjoin 
 them. The grey colour, however, ot the bricks, and 
 the general (though not now univerfal) covering of 
 bright red pantile roofs, certainly take off tnuch 
 from their appearance. The pavements are in ge- 
 neral very good, and there are excellent accommo- 
 dations for foot paffengers ; but it muft be acknow- 
 ledged, that too little attention is paid to the en- 
 forcement of the regulations eftabliflied by ad of 
 parliament for keeping them clean and neat. Nor 
 can it be faid that it is well lighted ; the few lamps 
 fcattered here and there ferving, as has been well 
 obferved, onlv to make " darknefs 'viftble** 
 
 It 
 
S3 Jmpartii^T fMotpot 
 
 It is certain, that, from. its lite, which rifes gra- 
 dually, and in fome places more bpltjly, frpm the 
 Tyne, the regularity of., thp.. buildings., is ia. a -grta* 
 raeaiure rendered iuipra«2;ible;-^., .^^ 
 
 "' GEOGR .ITUAtfeR 
 
 Grey, in his Chorograpfila, page 27, tells us, that 
 Canidcii makes Newcarde upon Ty'Ae^ 22 degrees 
 30 minutes loiigliiide, atld '54 d^gfees 51 mfa'i^'rV]^' 
 latitude. But', by Dr. Hutton's plan of Newturtl'^, 
 it is placed precifely in 5.^ degrees north latitude^ 
 and about 1 degree 17 minutes longitude, weft from 
 London. 
 
 NAMK. 
 
 About the year 4 4.7 of the Chriflian a;ra, this 
 town occurs utadei^ the appellacicn of Pons Jiiii^ a 
 Roman ftation, where a cohort of the Gornovii was/ 
 then in garrifon. . This name is. eyidendy derived 
 from that of Mlius liadnia.w.s, i\\Q founder pftise/ 
 firfi: wall, which .thai warlike prince ;al5xed ;frfir: 
 quenHy to his works. 
 
 - ^ After a filence of near two hundred; years, ^nieo*,, 
 tic^ (fays Mr Brand) again gcurs of this placei,-,iiny.», 
 der the new appeilarion of Ad Mui-ufn {di the W^jJl)^^ 
 and- the *efidence -of a Northiim&rkn li^'g'n!irife|i% 
 probable, that in the time of the Romans, it coq^-.' 
 fifted only ofa-^^few ftraggiing:houfeSj -on the banks 
 of thf» Tyhe> and before the difcovery of :theiCoaU 
 inm>S,-and^ tether luinerals, the,rprincipai .eflaploy. 
 ment of the' inhabitanis might, be iifhing. But, 
 upon the *'R«mins iquictiiig the ifland,, the weak, ^nd 
 feeble natives (who- tander the protection of ^their 
 
 maiters^ 
 
jactocalilc upon ^r^m* 
 
 mafters, enjoyed pofieffion of the more fertile pro- 
 vinces, but were, by their cruel policy, deprived of 
 ihe ufe of arms) eafily became a prey to foreign 
 invaders, and to none more than the Saxons and 
 Danes. The Ghrillian religion had been for a long 
 feries of years introduced into the ifland ; but in the 
 fifth and fixth centuries, had aiTumed the gloomy 
 form of lolitude and retirement, from the bufy and 
 civil haunts of man, to caves and deferts, and its 
 mod rigid votaries afiumed the name of Mcnachif or 
 Monks. The town we are now defcribing, from the 
 vinding of the Tyne, whofe banks were covered 
 with woods, drew a number of thefe reclufes to the 
 places, and from this circumftance, and its vicinity 
 to the Roman wall, all antiquaries agree that it got 
 ihe name oi Monkchcjler, 
 
 It was not (fays Mr. Bourne) till after the depar- 
 ture of the Romans, that the town got the name of 
 Monkchefter, as being a place of ftrenglh, or garri- 
 foned fort, during the invafions of the Danes and 
 Saxons. It is to ^e obferved, once for all, that the 
 names of all towns or places ending with chejler got 
 that appellation from being a Roman encampment, 
 €oJlrum, or Ciijlra^ being the Latin words from 
 whence chejler is derived. He adds, that this name 
 is retained, till after the conqueft by William the 
 Norman. 
 
 An eccelefiaftical hiftorian, (Eachard) in his hif- 
 tory of England, fays, that Mcnkchcjler was fo called 
 from certain monks, who lived in great auflerity 
 there. And the Monaflicon gives us the following 
 account ; **In tlie year 1074-, a certain monk, named 
 Aldwin, a prior from the province of the Mercians, 
 preferring a voluntary poverty and contempt of the 
 
 Ji world 
 
34 Jmpavtiai Ipiftotji) of 
 
 world to all its riches and grandeur, hearing, from 
 the hiHory of the Northumbers, that their country 
 was inhabited by vafl numbers of monks and reli- 
 gious men, defired greatly to vifit the mondlleries of 
 tbofe places, (though he knew that, by the ravages 
 ^f the pagan Danes and Saxons, they were forfaken 
 and Ich defolate) and there, in imitation of thofe 
 pious men, to lead a life of poverty and retirement. 
 Coming with this defign, as far as the monaftery of 
 Evefliam, he made known his purpofe to certain of 
 the brethren ; upon which, two of them aiTociated 
 with him, one named Elfwie, a deacon, the other 
 Renifrid ; but he was quite unacquainted with any 
 part of literature. Having obtained leave from 
 their abbot to accompany Aldwin in his pious 
 expedition, the care of the other two being com- 
 mitted to him, they fet out on foot, having an afs 
 to carry their books, fecerdotal veftments, and all 
 other necelTaries. At length they came to York, 
 requeuing of Hugh, fon of Baldrick, then fherift', 
 that he would procure them a guide to Monk- 
 chefter, that is, the city of monks ; whither being 
 brought by their guides, they ftaid a while, but 
 found no remains of its former fanclity, no fooilleps 
 of tlie religious people, who. had formerly dwelt 
 there. Walcher, bifhop of Durham, hearing of this, 
 ^ent for tlicm, and gave them the monaftery of Jar- 
 ray, or Jarrow, which at that time was unroofed, 
 and had fcarce any thing remaining of its ancient 
 grandeur." 
 
 Hollingihead tells us, that " the Danes, having to- 
 tally laid wafte the northern provinces with fire and 
 IviTord, burned down almofl: all the church^' and 
 
 mona- 
 
j!5etBC«aie upon Cpne. s,^ 
 
 monafteries, and exterminated the priefts and de- 
 votees for the fpace of two hundred years ; fo, that 
 the people, who furvivcd thefe frightful ravages, be- 
 came fo ignorant of religion, that they did not 
 know what the name of ?nonk meant ; and if they 
 faw any, they wondered at the ftrangenefs of the 
 fight." He goes on : " One place there was in this 
 country, famous for the habitation of uwiks^ from, 
 whence it was called Monkchefter, but that alfo was 
 fo ruinated and deftroyed, that when the monks of 
 Mercia (the monks before mentioned) ca^ne to it, 
 they found no token or remnant of any religious per- 
 fons, who had had an habitation there ; all was de- 
 faced and gone." — Ma^. Brit. Nov, ^ Aiitiq. ex 
 HolL 
 
 Mr. Bourne adds, that, " with refpe£t to Monk- 
 chefter, this feems to be punctually true. It was 
 two hundred years from the ruin of the monafteries, 
 to this time, after the conqueft ; and in the fourth 
 year of the reign of king Alfred, the Danes, after 
 invading the country, divided their hordes of dc- 
 ftroyers. King Plaldon, in the year 875, with a 
 large divifion, went to Northumberland, and lay in 
 the winter feafoix near the Tyne, where he divided 
 the country among his followers, making not only 
 the whole a defolaticn, but by frequent incurfions 
 into the countries of the Scots and Pi£ls, obtained 
 from them alfo abundance of plunder." 
 
 Thus it appears from this ancient record, that the 
 monafteries of Monkcheftcr had been in ruins about 
 ^wo hundred years, ^vs. from the year 875 to the 
 year 1074, the time of the coming of the Mercian 
 
 monk. 
 
 E 2. This 
 
^6 'Irafiartial rpiftoii) of 
 
 This may aifid our enquiries in forming a conjee-' 
 ture u-hcn NcwcaiUe firft; got the name of Monkchef- 
 ter. The above mentioned hiftorian thinks that it 
 was ill ft fo named towards the latter end of the fe- 
 venth century. It was at this period that the mo^ 
 vojlic hfe was introduced among the Northumbers 
 by Aidan, who was that year made bifhop of Nor- 
 t'lumbeiland, and had his feat at Lindisfern. The 
 bifhop of Hexham, Eata, mightily promoted this 
 pious work, and the country feemed filled with mo- 
 iiafteries, particularly the kingdom of Northumber- 
 land. 
 
 Bourne adds, that when the work of religion went 
 on fo briilvly throughout the whole country, it is 
 natural to fuppofe that //;>/> place (Newcaflle), as it 
 was convenient for the monaftic life, on account of 
 its retirement, fo it was no lefs eligible on account 
 of its ilrength and fortifications. Cotemporary hif- 
 tprians fpeak with enthufiafm of the numbers, fanc- 
 tity, and devotion of the monks wHo inhabited New- 
 caflle and Gatefliead j and on thefe accounts, it 
 became fo famous as to change its name to Monk- 
 chefler. Indeed, the prodigious number of the re- 
 wains of monaftcrics, and other religious edifices, to 
 be found at this day in the town, feems to juflify 
 the ccnjt<^ure of Bourne, that it \\as from this it 
 bad, for feveral centuries, the name of Wonkchefler. 
 Very trivial and accidintal circumftances have given 
 rife to great events, and, not feldom, to the names 
 of countries and cities. 
 
 Hifiory, however, informs us, that Uns place re- 
 tained the name of Monkchcflcr till the building of 
 the caflle, when it again got another ?ppcllaiicn 
 'i.'/a. Newcaflle, which it retains to this day. 
 
 K\^^\l - The 
 
jSetJDcaftle upon C|)nc, 
 
 The occafion of building this once Itro'ng caflle, 
 and the circumjacent fortifications, is varioufly ac- 
 counted for. All, who have treated of the hi{tory 
 of this celebrated town, agree, that the caftle was 
 built in the reign, and by one of the family, of Wil- 
 liam the CoDqueror. As that fierce and intrepid 
 prince had obtained the crown of England by inva- 
 ding the country, nnd overthrowing Harold in the 
 terrible battle of Ilaftlngs, where that unfortunate 
 prince was killed by an arrow, which transfixed hfs 
 brain, it was alio his cruel policy to retain his 
 conqucfls by violence and opprcflion. For this pur- 
 pofe, he not only kept a (landing force, confiding of 
 fity thoufand men at arms, and other numerous bo- 
 dies of infantry, but filled the whole kingdom with 
 forts and cafiles, which he kept flrongly garrifoned. 
 Frequent were the revolts of the opprefled and do- 
 o-raded Angles, or Englifh ; but always onfuccefsful. 
 In one of thefe infurredions, of which the duke of 
 Northumberland was the chief, the ftandard of rebel- 
 lion waved upon the walls of the caftle of Prud- 
 hoe, about ten miles above Monkchefler. William 
 fent his fon Rufus, with an army, to crufh the rebel- 
 lion : but the rainy fcafon fetting in, he found him- 
 Xelf obliged to defer befieging that fortrefs, which 
 wasvery ftrong, till the enfuing fpring ; and, win- 
 tering his troops in Monkchefier, in order to keep- 
 them en. ployed, fet about building the caftle, fay- 
 ing, " if we cannot take the cA/,* we will, at lealt, 
 build a new caftle ;" from whence the town is faid 
 to have got its name. ■ 14 .(ir)i;ii; 
 
 O'hcrs, with more probability, ac<?6ttilt"''f6r the 
 creeling of this vaft fortrefs in a different manner. 
 .yr.;.' /i:ij oj ?.fifn::>-). n ri^uiw Miifo?; They 
 * The old caftle of Prudhoe. 
 
S8 3'inpcirtJal MHor^at 
 
 They tell us, that- Malcolm (furnamed Can-more* 
 from his large head) king of Scotland, having in- 
 vaded Northumberland with a powerful army, laid 
 wade the whole country to the banks of the river 
 Tyne. - At this time William was in Normandy, 
 along with his Ton Robert, quelling fome rebellion in 
 that parr of his paternal dominions. Upon his ar- 
 rival in England, being apprifcd of Malcolm's inva- 
 fion, he immediately fent that prince with a power- 
 ful army againfl the Scottilh chief. Unable, or un- 
 willing to cope with R.obert, who led a well appointed 
 army, Malcolm retreated towards his own country, 
 kobert\s inftrudions limiting his duty only to drive 
 back the invaders, and not to retaliate, he fet about 
 building this mighty place of (Irength, with the de- 
 f]gn, not only to be a powerful barrier againft the 
 incurrions of the warlike Scots, bnt alfo a place of 
 r.rms for fecurity againft any infurredion that might 
 happen among the inhabitants of the north. 
 
 The ancient Chronicle of Mailrofs fays, " that the 
 Conqueror fent his fon Robert into Scotland againft 
 Malcolm, in the year 1080, who having done no- 
 thing worth notice, upon his return, built AV^c'-caf- 
 lle.'* Hence we may conclude, that the caftle was 
 founded the fame feafon, towards the latter end of 
 the year. Dugdale's Monafticon likewife informs us, 
 that king William (the Conqueror) in the latter end 
 of the year 1080, fent his fon Robert into Scotland 
 againft Malcolm ; but, having marched as far as 
 Kgglefbrethjjie returned, (having done no exploit) 
 arid built the ^c""^ caftle upon the river Tyne. Such 
 is the fubftancc of thefe refpedable authorities, ai to 
 the occafion of building the caftle, and, in- confe- 
 
 ' Derived from the Gaelic, Cemnj head, and mor, large. 
 
jaetocaftle upon C^nc* m 
 
 quence, changing the name of the place from Monk, 
 cbejier to that of Ncwdi/ik. 
 
 William, on this cccafion, fhewed a rcodcrailou 
 not ufual in his political conduct -, for although he 
 ha,d been at vafl: expence in budduig this fortrels, he 
 was fo far from levying it upon the town's people, 
 that, on the contrary, he encrcaied and enlarged 
 their liberties and privileges. 
 
 From that period, Newcadle rapidly encrcafed in 
 population, trade, and wealth ; whilft William, and 
 fucceeding kings, conferred upon it many privileges 
 and immunities; building both for ufe and orna- 
 ment, walls, monafleries, churches, and bridges ; of 
 which, with what other public buildings have fmce 
 been created, we intend to prefent our readers with 
 ^ circumftantial detail, in their order. 
 
 THE WALLS. 
 
 The wars and tumults, which in early tinies prer 
 vailed in this ifland, made it neceflary to have rc- 
 courfe to the aid of walls, gates, and bars, not only 
 for the proieclion of cities and towns, but almofl of 
 every private^^uilding of any confequence. The ifland 
 being unhappily divided into two didinft indepen- 
 dent kingdoms, by the river Tweed towards the caft, 
 and by an imaginary line in the weflern part, jca- 
 loufy, interfering interefts, national pride, and am- 
 bition, often were the caufes of fierce and bloody 
 battles between the two rival nations. Tlie open 
 country was foon over-run, while villages and un- 
 walicd tpwns fell an eafy prey.,. ,Newcait|e^ by its 
 trade and encreafirg commercial confequence, being 
 fituatcd near the northern borders of the kifigdcm, it 
 
 WuS 
 
40 Jmpatt^'al iJ)iGorj) of 
 
 ■was judged a part of political wifiom to make it a 
 powerful barrier againft the incurfions of the Scots, 
 a formidable enemy that the Englifh had long to 
 contend with. 
 
 At fo early a period, therefore, as in the reign of 
 William Rufus, Hardying, in his Chronicle, informs 
 us, that Newcaltle upon fyne was fo inclofed with a 
 wall. It was built of ftone, of great ht;ighth and 
 thicknefs, and for many ages was undoubtedly of 
 great ftrength. As a proof of this, we have only to 
 obferve, that although the northern counties were 
 often invaded, and even over-run, by the Scots, yet 
 they were leldom able, during the courfe of a cen- 
 tury, to make themfeivcs maftcrs of Newcaflle. it 
 had feveral gates, wonderfully flrong and mafiive ; 
 and was flrengthened with towers and fquare turrets, 
 which we will notice in their order. The wall was 
 furrounded by a fols or ditch on the land fide, which 
 in fome places is ftill vifible, as on the cuifide of the 
 wall that furrounds -the Carliol Croft ; but in moft 
 places it is at prefent level with t-he adjoining ground. 
 The fpace, however, which is occupied, is ftill called 
 the " King^s Dykes,*' It appears to have been uni- 
 formly twenty-two feet, or a chain, in width. It 
 is claimed as the property of the corporation, to 
 whom every wafle within their jurifdidion devolves, 
 by the authority of their charter. 
 
 King John, who refided frequently in Newcaflle, 
 was a great l^enefi^or to it, as he not only afiifted 
 the townfmen to ftrengthen their walls, but gave 
 ihem charters for working coal, and for other articles 
 of commerce. In the year 1299, during the reign ot 
 Edward I. a grant was obtained from that prince, 
 io unite Pampedon, or Pandon, with Newcaflle. 
 
 King 
 
BetDcaftle upon ^^nt, 41 
 
 King Edward III. granted the cuftom of goods 
 fold at Newcaftle upon Tyne for feven years, to con- 
 tribute towards the reparation of the walls. The 
 fame king alio repaired them during his refidence 
 here, anno 1334. 
 
 In the feveral fubfequent reigns, grants for repair- 
 ing the walls were obtained. 
 
 On the 17th of November, 1762, the corporation 
 of Newcaftle upon Tyne, having ftated in a petition 
 to government, that that part of the town wall, 
 which extended from the Sand-hill to Sandgate, was 
 no longer neceffary, nor of any ufe for defence, but 
 a great obftrudion to carriages, and hindrance to the 
 difpatch of bufmefs, obtained an order of the privy* 
 council to remove it, but at their own coft. 
 
 TOWERS AND GATES. 
 
 When the walls had been completed, the town 
 was divided into twenty-four wards, according to the 
 number of gates and round towers in them, which 
 were wont to be defended, in times of hoftility, by 
 their particular warders. The names of the towers 
 were — 
 
 1. Clofe Gate. 14. New Gate. 
 
 2. White I""riar Tower. 1 j. Bertram Mowbouchar 
 
 3. Denton, or Nevil Tower. Tower. 
 
 4. Weft Spiial Tower. 16. Picket Tower. 
 
 5. Stank lower. 17. Pilgrim-ftrcet Gate. 
 
 6. Gunner lower. 18. Carliol Tower. 
 
 7. Pink Tower. 19. PI ummcr Tower. 
 
 8. Weft Gate. 20. Auftin Tower. 
 
 9. Durham Tower. 21. Corner Tower. 
 
 10. Herber Tower. 22. Pandon Gate. 
 
 11. Morden Tower. 13. Wall- Knoll Tower. 
 
 12. Ever Tower. ^ 24. Habkia Tower. 
 
 13. Andrew Tower, 
 
 F At 
 
42 3!mpartial ipiftot^ of 
 
 At this period, fo remote from the time of the 
 building of thefc towers, and when fome of them have 
 decayed through age, and others converted to places 
 of public meetings for the different companies of 
 freeman, it is unneceflary, and unentertaining, to 
 give detailed accounts refpeding them. We fhaU 
 only take notice of fome of the mod remarkable. 
 
 There was a turret, or tower, fifty-two yards to 
 the fouth of the Clofe Gate, adjoining to the river 
 Tyne. The Clofe Gate, after the fall of the bridgej 
 iq 1771, was converted into a temporary prifon, but 
 was lately taken down, by which the flreet is much 
 more commodious for the pafTage of large waggons, 
 and other carriages, though yet far too narrow. 
 
 From the Clofe Gate, there are one hundred and 
 forty fleps, on the top of the wall, as it afcends a 
 very fleep hill to Whife-Friar Tower, at the diftance 
 of fixty-nine yards. The common name of thefe 
 \% Break-neck Stairs^ and is of very obvious etymo- 
 
 iogy. ^ ^ 
 
 White-Friar Tower had its name from its vicinity 
 tP the houfe of the Carmelites, or White Friars. The 
 fraternity of mafons had their hall in the upper 
 apartment of this tower ; in the lower one was the 
 meeting-houfe of bricklayers and meters. From 
 the White-Friar Tower to the Poftern Gate is two 
 hundred and fourteen yards. 
 
 It is fuppofed by Bourne, that it was from this- 
 
 ^gate, m the reign of Edward III. that three hundred 
 
 valiant townfmen fallied forth fuddenly, in the night, 
 
 /%ipon a great army of Scots, who then lay encamped^ 
 
 'fcefieging the town, put them to- flight, and^^Jook 
 
 earl Murray prifoner, in his teat. 
 
 '■ ^.„;V - r-,..v - • • , Next 
 
33e)33caftle upon Cgne. ^s 
 
 Next follows Spital Tower, from its vicinity to 
 Weft Spital, fuppofed by Bourne to have been buik 
 by the mafter and brelhrei) of that hofpital, for their 
 proleftion. 
 
 Then we fucceflively come to Stank Tower, Gun- 
 ner Tower, and Pink Tower, and from thence to the 
 Weft Gate. The three firft having nothing remark- 
 able to recommend them to attention, we ftiall omit 
 further notice of them. 
 
 Weft Gate is ftill one of thofe ftrong entrances 
 through the town wall. It had been, in former 
 times, fecured with maffive gates^ of oak beams, and 
 iron doors. Through this lay the track of the Ro- 
 man wall. This gate confifts of four wards, and is 
 faid to ha.ve been built by Roger de Thornton,* a 
 irterchant, whp. from very fmall beginnings, became 
 equally diftinguiflied for his wealth and munifi- 
 cence. This place was formerly a prifon for unruly 
 apprentices, and is at prefent the hall of the houfe- 
 carpenters. In the year 1782, a foot- way was opened 
 on the north fide, of this gate. 
 
 The hiftorian ,Leland calls this gate "a mighty 
 ftrong thing, of four wards, and an iron gate" 
 
 The next on the walls, from the Weft Gate, is 
 Durham Tower, and the diftance between them 
 nieafures one hundred and one yards. 
 
 The next in order is Herber Tower ; from 
 
 tjhence to Mprden Tower is one hundred and fifteen 
 
 .yards.. This, in the year 17P0, was fitted up as a 
 
 F 2 meeting- 
 
 * Ihe litt/e -wtu of tbofe tiroes, envying his good fortune 
 '^pleafed the lefs opulent, or probably lefs induftrious neighbours 
 of Mr. Thot-nton, with the following farc^ftic diaich : — 
 « At the Weft Gate came Thornton in, 
 jX:^ ■ 6< ^ijj, 2 jjgp^ ^^ 2 halfpenny, and a lamb-fkin." 
 
44 Jm^artial i^tftor^ of 
 
 meeting-houfe, or hall, for the glaziers, plumbers, 
 pewterers, and painters. 
 
 We then come to Ever Tower, and the interven- 
 ing diftance is ninety.nme yards. 
 
 The next on the walls is Andrew Tower, and th6 
 diftance from Ever Tower is one hundred yards. It 
 probably derived its name from its vicinity to St 
 Andrew's church. 
 
 The next tower was built over New-yate, or New- 
 gate. This has been one of the principal paflages 
 through the walls, and in confequence ftrongly for. 
 tified. It probably derived the name of New-gate 
 from its being built on the fite of an old one, which 
 appears to have been called Berwick-gate. There 
 is fome rude fculpture on the north fide of the gate ; 
 there are alfo three ancient fhield of arms, — St. 
 Oeorge*s crofs — arms of England, with the fleurs de 
 lis femee— and the Newcaftle arms. 
 
 A French antiquary, Troijfart, tells us that the 
 bifhop of Durham, going with a ftrong body ot troops 
 to join the Englifh army then marchipg againft the 
 Scots, when a bloody battle was fought at Otterburn, 
 iffued out of Newcaftle at Berwick-gate, now New- 
 gate. This memorable battle was fought in the year 
 1388. 
 
 There is a ftatue over the gate, in royal attire, 
 with a truncheon or fceptre in its hand, and a crown 
 upon its head ; it is within a niche, or arch, of 
 Roman archite£ture, and is fuppofed to have been 
 glaced there in commemoration of James I. who 
 pafled through Newcaftle on his way to London, at 
 his acceftion to the throne. j;; a '.i^^.i nJ' 
 
 Here is the common prifon, which is very ftfong : 
 the condemned hold is truly frightful. Thearoia- 
 
 ble 
 
BtW^Mt upon C^ne. 4f$^ 
 
 ble philanthropift, Howard, difapproves of this priibn-, 
 both for its fituation and inconvenience ; but ap- 
 plauds the benignity of the late worthy Sir Walter 
 Blackett, out of the rents of whofe ample eftate this 
 place of confinement is plentifully fupplied with 
 coals. The names ef the refpedive gaolers are un*. 
 interefting ; fufficient is it to add, that they have ijj 
 general been men of humanity and fympathy to- 
 wards thofe who were configned to their care by 
 the laws. 
 
 Mr. Brand obferves, that Newgate feems to have 
 been built before Newcaftle was made a county of 
 Ufelf, and took cuftody of its own prifoners, who, no 
 doubt, before that lime, were confined in the old 
 caflle of the town, in common with other delin- 
 quents of the county of Northumberland. The ad- 
 ditional wings or flanks, on each fide of the fouth 
 front of this ftru6ture, appear to have been erected 
 about the beginning of the lafl century : the port- 
 cullis of this gate flill remains entire. 
 
 The common-council of Newcaftle, in the year 
 1676, appointed a minifter to read prayers eVery 
 Wednefday and Friday, and to preach a f?rmon to 
 the unfortunate prifoners there once a month, p:rant- 
 ing, for fuch benevolent iervices, an annual falaf y of 
 ten pounds. "^^ ofit "t'lVrS «i'. rp-f> f. ^< ^^^i-^^ ' 
 
 In the year 1 765, a foot-way was opened into Sid- 
 gate, on the eaft fide of Newgate, through the town 
 wall, for the convenietice of the public ; the paifagei 
 through Newgate being, efpecially in winter, dark, 
 dangerous, and nafty. 
 
 The next place of ftrength to Newgate is Ber- 
 tram-Mowboucher Tower ; the diftance between 
 them is one hundred and twenty.fix yards. The 
 
 name 
 
46 Impajctial 5>iaor^ of 
 
 name is evidently derived from Bertram Mowbou^ 
 cher, who was repeatedly high Iheriff of Northum- 
 berland. The names of public benefactors are juftly 
 perpetuated, and defervedly and gratefully reraemp 
 bered. 
 
 The next is Ficket Tower, and meafures, from 
 the lafl mentioned, one hundred and thirty-two 
 yards. This tower has nothing remarkable to claim 
 our notice. 
 
 The next worthy of mention is Pilgrim ftreet 
 Gate, and the diftance from Ficket Tower is 137 
 yards. This being one of the mod public gates of 
 the town, towards the north, and from whence the 
 greateft danger generally came, was, accordingly, 
 ftrongiy fortified. As dividing one of the mod fpa- 
 cious and longeft ftreets of Newcaftle, the view of 
 this gate has an ynpleafing effed, for as trade and 
 bufinefs increafed, large carriages, waggons, &;c. find 
 it very difficult to pafs. It is remarkable, that th e 
 inhabitants of this fireet, fome years fince, petitioned 
 the town-coyncil for liberty to pull down the gate, 
 xvhichi It feems, was refufed. Since then the inha- 
 bitants of Pilgrim and North umberland ftreets have 
 been applied to by the magi ft rates to remove the 
 fame gate, and to defray the expence, but they, on 
 jheir part refufed to comply with thefe propofals. 
 It was called, fays Bourne, Pil^rim-Jireet, from the 
 great number of pilgrims, who, in the days of fuper- 
 ftition, lodged in this ftreet, coming from every pjirt 
 of the kingdom, to vifit the ftirine of the Virgin 
 Mary at Jefmond. Over the gate is the hall of; the 
 joi^iers, who repaired it in the year 1716. ji 
 
 /.IS'iextfe Carliol Toweir, JFrom Pilgrim-ftrect gate 
 tp this tpwer is one hundred and fifty.feven yards. 
 
 Three 
 
Bctocaaie ugon Cpne, 47 
 
 Three ftnaller ones intervene between thefe two 
 large towers. Here is the weavers' hall. 
 
 The next is Auftin Tower. This was built by 
 the friars of St. Aiiguftine, and the order went by 
 that name. It feems to have been erefted in the 
 reign of Edward I. The hall is the meeting houfe 
 of the mafons' focicty. From Carliol Tower to Auf- 
 tin Tower is one hundred and fifty-feven yards. 
 
 The next is Corner Tower. The diftance from 
 Audin Tower to Corner Tower is one hnndred and 
 thirty-two yards. From this lafl to Pandon Gate is 
 ninety-five yards. From Pandon Gate to the Car- 
 penter's, or Wall Knoll Tower, is ninety-five yards. 
 This was evidently of Roman architecture, as the 
 Roman wall ran crofs here, by the Low-bridge, St. 
 Nicholas' church-yard, and through Weftgate, &c« 
 as has been already obferved. 
 
 From Carpenter's Tower to Sand Gate is the dif- 
 ^S4ance of two hundred and thirty-two yards. It was 
 jjt this gate that the eafl: end of a flrong wall, which 
 ran parallel with the river Tyne, joined to Sandgate, 
 and formed an angle. That gate was taken down 
 in the year 1798, by order of the magiflrates, to 
 widen the llreet, which, on account of the vafl 
 number of carriages, was exceedingly inconvenient 
 and dangerous to foot paflengers. The wall along 
 the Quayfide had many gates, oppofite to the feveral 
 chares, or lane?, leading into the town. Thefe gates 
 were very ftrong, and were all fliut every night, ex- 
 cepting two, which were left open for fcamen, keel- 
 men Sec. and thefe were well guarded. 
 
 It was obferved by Mr Milbank, in the MSS which 
 he left, that between each of thefe large towers there 
 were generally two leffer ones, of a fquare form, with 
 
 the 
 
^48 2Jttpactial f^iiXov^ of 
 
 the effigies of men cut in (tone upon their tops, as 
 in a watching poflure, and they were called Garrets 
 having fqiiare holes, or apertures, through which 
 to dilcharge arrows, Hones, and other miffiles, at a 
 befieging enemy. 
 
 Such a general account of the once famous 
 walls, inclofing the town and county of Newcaftle 
 upon Tyne, being about two miles in length. Le- 
 land, in his Itenerary, fays, they were the ftrongeft 
 and mod magnificent of almoft: any in Europe. This 
 is poffibly faying too much ; but, from what remains 
 of them any way entire, they rauft have been ex- 
 ceedingly ftrong, and perfedly capable of fetting at 
 defiance any enemy, before the invention of artil- 
 lery. They were at once the ornament and fecurity 
 of the town. The eye of the antiquary furveys them 
 with complacency ; the architecl applauds the maf- 
 five ftones, compad: cement, iron cranlps, folid and 
 flrong gates, portcuUifes of iron &c. that have once 
 compofed this mighty barrier. Curiofity views the 
 majeftic ruins with delight, whilft the delicate vale- 
 tudinary, panting for breath, reprobates them, as 
 obftruding the more free circulation of the ambient 
 air. The man of bufmefs wiflies them level with the 
 ground, as hindering the paflage of his waggons, 
 tranfporting valuable bales of goods from one part of 
 the ifland to another. But, fome centuries ago, had 
 they then lived within their bounds, had they feen 
 the adjacent fields gleaming with hoftle arms, while 
 maffes of flone, arrows and other weapons of de- 
 flrudion, in vain were hurled at their gates, and the 
 daring invaders repelled by the courage, and refolu- 
 tion of the wardours of the refpeftive towers ; they 
 would have viewed thefe noble efforts of patriotic 
 
 art 
 
Ji^c^caftlc u^m Cpnc, 49 
 
 art and induftry, with fentiments very contrary to 
 thofe of indiflference, or of contempt. But, alas I 
 fince the invention of artillery, the fafliion of the 
 fight (as the poet fays) has altered the whole theory 
 of war: and thefe once mighty walls, which two 
 hundred thoufand befieging warriors could not make 
 ihemfelves maflers of in the courfe of many months, 
 half a dozen battering cannon, of thirty-two pound 
 (hot, would drive to dufl in a few hours. The ufe, 
 therefore, of fortifying towns and cities with (lone 
 walls, is now, in general, unavailing. Scarcely any 
 fortification on earth is impregnable, if we except: 
 Malta, which engineers affure us is completely fo. 
 That the gentlemen, who at prefent direft the affairs 
 of the corporation, judge the exiftence of the town, 
 walls to be no longer neceflfary, appears evident, as 
 from time to time they are {till diminifhing them. 
 Now a gate is pulled down, then the wall perforated 
 by fome new pafTage. At this moment workmen 
 are bufy in ftriking through a large paflage for car- 
 riages, half way between the Carpenter's Tower and 
 where Pandon Gate once flood. Such changes are 
 incident to all human affairs ! Omnia mutantur, ct 
 nos muiamur cum illh I All things change and we 
 are changed with them. 
 
 HOUSES. 
 
 In the year 1781, by the window-cefs books, if 
 appears, that there were, in the four parlfiies of 
 Newcaftle, two thoufand three hundred and eighty- 
 nine houfes ; but it is to be confidered, that a great 
 many of thefe were marked as " poor,'* and were 
 not taken into this general account, 
 
 G SC 
 
JO jmi^artial fptftovj) of 
 
 Houfci. 
 
 St. Nicholas' paiifli _--,-- ^^^^ 
 
 r Sandgate quarter - 495 
 
 .„„ . -n. 5 Pilgrim- ftreeet quarter 312 
 
 All Samts panfli i „ j , ^ ^ 
 
 ^ randon quarter - 2 ©2 
 
 |_ Sand-hill quarter •* 1.37 — 
 Total of All Saints - 1146 
 
 St. John's parifh (within the gates - _ - 43 j 
 
 St. Andrew's- pariflv - - ^ - - - 366 
 
 Total of the four pariflies ^3^9 
 
 If this account was accurate, we may warrantably 
 fay, that by the numerous buildings, all around the 
 town, the number of houfes is vaftly encreafed in 
 thefe twenty years pa ft. 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 In confequence of an aQ: of parliament paffed iir 
 thefefTion of 1801, for taking an exaft enumeratidiv 
 of the inhabitants of Great Britain, the following 
 returns have been made for Newcaftle and Gatef« 
 head : 
 
 ST. NICHOLAS* PARISH. 
 
 Inhabited houfe5 501 — occupied by 1074 families. 
 
 Uninhabited houfes 44 
 
 Total - - - 545 
 
 Males - - 2222") 
 
 Females 
 
 2581 ! Employed in tfade 1037, in huf- 
 — — I bandry 2, independent of trade 8. 
 Total . - '-i^A'^^'hl 
 
 PARISH 
 
ji^ctocaitie upon Cj^nc. £i 
 
 PARISH OF ALL SAINTS. 
 Inhabited houfes 15 77r~Occupied by 3795 families. 
 Uninhabited houfes 66 
 
 Total - . - 1643 
 
 Males - .- - |3 19] Of \vhich number iS are employe** 
 Females . - - S077 ^ in agriculture, 2995 in trade, and 
 
 „ , Z\ 56 are independent of trade. 
 
 Total - - . I4>396j ^ ^ 
 
 ST. JOHN'S PARISH. 
 Inhabited houfes 619 — Occupied by 798 fanjilies. 
 Uninhabited houfes 1 1 
 
 Total - - - 630 
 
 Males . - . 20371 Of thefe, 15 are employed In huf. 
 Females , -. t^QS «, bandry, and 9 are independent of 
 
 rr. 1 ~< I trade. 
 
 Total - . - 4<535J 
 
 ST. ANDREW'S PARISH. 
 
 Inhabiued houfes 446 — Occupied by 998 families, 
 
 Uninhabited ho.ufes 1 2 
 
 Total - - - 458 
 
 Males . - . 1 77 O pf thefe, 847 are engaged In trade. 
 Femai«3 - - ^689 ' »- ^^ .^ agriculture, and 36 inde- 
 Total . . .. 4460 j P^^dent of trade. 
 
 So -that, according to thefe returns, the prefent 
 population amounts only to the following numbers ; 
 
 All Saints I4>395 
 
 St. Nicholas' ... - 4,yo3 
 
 St. John's . - - - - 4,635 
 
 St. Andrew's .... 4,460 
 
 Total .»-..-. 28,294 
 
 P 2 
 
 PARISH 
 
Jmpattiai ipitlor^ of 
 
 PARISH OF' 6ATESHiEAD. 
 
 !>!CLVtllH& THE rF.ll OR C0MM6V. 
 t ■ 
 
 Inhabited houfes 1 03 7— Occupied by 20^9 famili.c». 
 Uninhabited houfes 64 ■ - . . 
 
 ^tal 
 
 es 
 
 3.9741 
 
 Femaks - - 4623 )Einpl(>yed ^'tt'«g;)iQuUuje (^©,.anjJ in 
 
 } trade if'.- 9. 
 
 Total . - . 8557 J 
 
 I'OTAJL POPUI.ALION. 
 
 Newcaftle . - . - - 28,254 
 Gateflieavi . - . , - S^jyy 
 
 The above returns of the populatk»n of Kewcaftle 
 and Gatclhead have excited univerfal furprife, the 
 number of inhabitants, upwards of forty years ago, 
 being reckoned at fifty thoufand ; ai)d it is well 
 known the ,town has encreafed in buildings, both 
 ufeful and ornamental, above ojie-third within the 
 lafl: twenty years. 
 
 It is therefore maniteft, that, there muft have been 
 fome great miflake either in the former calculation?, 
 or in the recent ones. No blame, we are certain* 
 qan attach to the refpectable gentlemen employed 
 in making the enumeration : they could have n,p 
 motive in deceiving the legiflature refpcding the^ 
 real population. If, then, there is aji error in the 
 grofs return, we are inclined to believe it originated 
 with the people themfelvcs; for, as the buftle of 
 bnfinefs in Newcaftle puts it out of the power of the 
 inhabitants to attend much to aOs of parliament, 
 witidxl>e lower clafs being unacquainted with the real 
 intention in making this general furvey, a confider. 
 
3^tifccafi!e n^an vSrime. 
 
 able part of them erioneouily imagined that it was 
 to be followed up by a capitatlon-tas ! Imprefled with 
 this frightful idea, very many peifons are fuppofed 
 to have given returns of at lead one-third lefs than 
 the aftual number. Added to this, inmates, travel- 
 lers, foldiers, and vaft numbers of fea-faring men, 
 were generally omitted. 
 
 Another argument, which flrongly tends to prove 
 the inaccuracy of the recent enumeration, is, that 
 Newcaftle has for many years pad ranked as the 
 third or fourth town in England, both for wealth and 
 commercial importance, and of courfe for popula- 
 tion. Befides, fuch has been the influx of people 
 from the interior, in thefe times of preflure, that it 
 is with the utmofl: di/Hculty dwelling-houfes can be 
 obtained, even at very advanced rents. 
 
 Thefe obfervations, we prefume, may judify the 
 former calculations of the population at fifty thou- 
 fand to have been founded in truth ; and, for the 
 above reafon^, we may venture to flate the real 
 number of the inhabitants of Newcadle, with the 
 populous borough of Gatefhead, to be near fixty 
 thoufand. 
 
 Dr. Hutton fays, that this great number of people 
 is fupplied with all kinds of provifions from the very 
 plentiful markets of the town ; here being ufed an- 
 nually, in his time, above 5,000 beeves, or oxen and 
 cows, 10,000, calves, 143,000 (heep and Iambs, with 
 fwine, fidi, poultry, eggs, butter, hams, bacon,. Sec, 
 from the neighbouring counties in prodigious abun- 
 dance. The market days for corn are Tuefday and 
 iSattu-day* See his Survey of Ne'-xcajllc, 
 
 STREETS. 
 
5^ Jmpattial ipittot^ of 
 
 STREETS, &c. 
 
 From the local situation of Newcaflle, the old 
 flreets and alleys feera to have been very irregular ; 
 thofe of a more modern date are a little beticjr 
 planned, paved, and executed. 
 
 QUAY, oji KEY-SIDE. 
 
 The wall that viras here being ttken down, the 
 quay, in confcquence, has been fo enlarged and im- 
 proved as to become one of the largeft, longed, and 
 moft commodious wharfs in the kingdom. It vtieim 
 fures, fays Bourne, 103 rods ; yet fo prodigious has 
 the (hipping of the port of Newcaflle encreafed of 
 late years, from almoft all nations, particularly the 
 northren, that, extenfive as it is, it is found often 
 infu^cient, and the veflels can only come to the 
 Quayfide to unload in their turns, A fcheme has 
 lately been handed about, to make it ftill more 
 commodious, by ordering all the wherries to unload 
 above the bridge, making a quay from the Skinner- 
 bourn foundery to the Lead Stairs, to include two 
 arches of the bridge, and to have the dwelling-houfes 
 there converted into warehoufes. The above plan 
 would be more efpecially neceflary, fhould a canal 
 from the eaft to the weil fea ever be cut. The names 
 of the chares leading from this place to the Butcher 
 Bank, Pandon, &c. are familiar enough to the inha- 
 bitants ; and it would afford fmall gratification to 
 others to be told that one is called Broad Chare, ahOr 
 ther Grindon Chare, another Peppercorn Chare, &c. 
 They are twenty-one in number j but, although 
 
 -7^^^;. ; u'Jiiiq-JJiitiia. their 
 
i3elDcaftle upon Cj?nc. 
 
 their appearance has little to recommend them, yet 
 there are abundance of (lorehoufes and lofts for corn, 
 and indeed for valuable commodities of every kind. 
 The weft end joins the bridge, and about the mid- 
 dle of the quay is the cuftom-houfe, a {lately build- 
 ing, which fliall be defcribed in its proper place, 
 
 SAND-HILL. 
 
 This part of the town, the fcene of fo much bufi- 
 nefs, derives its name, we are told, from its being a 
 bill of naked fandf where the inhabitants ufcd to af- 
 femble for recreation. We are alfo informed, that 
 at high water the tide ufcd to carry fmall veliels up 
 part of the fide to the toot of the Dean, (now Dean- 
 lireet) over which the Roman wall pafled, by the 
 Low Bridge. By this it would appear that the Tyne 
 was. broader and larger in former times than it is now. 
 Nor is this at all improbable. We all know that the 
 whole ifland was almoft covered with wood, when 
 the Romans tirft invaded Britain, Philofophers 
 tell us, that trees and foreQs are powerful alembics, 
 and that their foliage ilrongly attracts the moifture 
 in the clouds, which, diflilling on the ground, forms 
 rills, rivulets, and flowing inceffantly into rivers, 
 greatly encreafes their quantity of water. We are 
 told, that fmce the cutting down of the huge forefts 
 of America, and clearing the grounds, on the banks 
 of their large rivers, the waters are conftantly de-. 
 creafmg, in proportion as thefe natural alembics are 
 removed. This may have been the cafe with the 
 river Tyne, However, the Sand-hill has fuffered a 
 happy transformation,, ae from a hill of barren fea^ 
 iand, .it has become the great market-place of New- 
 
 caftlc. 
 
sn jiiipattial fi^ iltarg ef 
 
 caftle, furrounded with rich and fpacious fhops, a. 
 bounding with every kind of valuable and ufeful 
 merchandize. 
 
 On tlie fouth fide of the Sand-hill flood the hofpital 
 called Maifon de Dieu, or Houfe of God. Here were 
 maintained a warden, being a pried, nine poor men, 
 brethren, and four poor women, fillers. This an- 
 cient edifice was founded about the beginning of the 
 reign of Henry the Fourth. The celebrated Roger 
 de Thornton, the munificent benefa£lor of Newcaf- 
 tle, and its reprefentative in Parliament, was the 
 founder of this charitable inllitution. The houfe 
 was dedicated to St. Catharine. 
 
 A royal licence was obtained from king Henry IV. 
 dated February 12th, 1403, to enable Roger de 
 Thornton, burgefs of Newcaflle upon Tyne, to alien 
 in mortmain, to the mayor, fheriff, aldermen, and 
 commonalty of that town, a piece of ground, one 
 hundred feet in length, and twenty-four in breadth, 
 within faid town, wherein certain poor perfons were 
 to be provided with meat and clothing, in a " Houfe 
 of God," to be built by the iaid Thornton; and 
 where they fhould pray daily for the health of the 
 faid mayor, fheriff, &c. ; as alfo that of the foun- 
 der, while he lived ; and, after their refpedive 
 deaths, for their fouls, and the fouls of the father 
 and mother of the founder, and thofe of all the be- 
 nefa6lors of that intended hofpital. 
 
 By the name of the warden, brethren, and fiflers 
 of the hofpital of St. Cathrine, called Thornton's 
 Hofpital, they might plead, and be impleaded, in all 
 courts, and have a common feal. In fubfequent 
 reigns, there were additional emoluments bellowed 
 upon the Maifon de Dieu of Thornton, till fir Rich- 
 
 ard 
 
3i5clDcaftle upon Cpne. 57 
 
 ard Lumley, of Lumley Caftle, in the county of 
 Durham, knight, a defcendant of Thornton, by the 
 female line, conveyed, June the ill, 1624, to the 
 mayor and burgelles of Newcaltle upon Tyne, and 
 their fucceflbrs, forever, all that building of rtone, 
 covered with lead, {landing near to the water of 
 Tyne, and to the eaft part of the chamber of the 
 faid town of Newcafhle, being anciently part of and 
 belonging to the hofpital of St. Catharine the virgin, 
 commonly called Thornton's hofpital. This grant is 
 Evidently ma&!e after the diffolution of the hofpital 
 irfelf 
 
 It feems by Speed's plan of Newcaftle, that the 
 Maifon de Dieii was the firil public place, or build- 
 ing, marked on the Sand-hill, through which Lork- 
 burn is reprefented as palling, on the call fide. It 
 has lince that time been arched over. 
 
 In this place Hand the Exchange and Town-court, 
 (fee public huU dings) built between the years 1655 
 and 1658. Bouine fays, that an old town-houfe 
 was firll built, wdiere the prefent one (lands, by the 
 fame powerful and benevolent Roger Thornton. 
 
 In the middle of the Sand-hill, fronting the Ex- 
 change, there was eredcd a llatue of king James II. 
 call in copper, of the fize of the famous equeftrian 
 llatue of Charles I. at Charingrcrofs, London. In 
 the convulfed ilate of the nation, the inhabitants, 
 incenfed at the tyranny of James, pulled down his 
 llatue, and threw it into .the river, in the year ;683, 
 the celebrated aera of the reftoration of B^tiih li- 
 berty. The llatue, however, was faid to be a m.af- 
 terly piece of art, caft by Mr. William Larfon, and 
 approved of by Sir Chriftopher Wren. It c>,<ll the 
 town eight hundred pounds. Upon the acceflion of 
 
 H ■ W^illiam 
 
5§ Impartial ipiftorp of 
 
 William prince of Orange to the throne of Britain, 
 when the ferment of men's minds had fiibfided, the 
 magiilrates ordered the ftatue to be taken out of the 
 river ; but not thinking it prudent to rephice it in its 
 former fituation, they probably put it to a better 
 ufe, by converting it into a fet of bells. Before the 
 alterations made upon the Exchange, a few years 
 ago, and while the fteeple was (landing, a llatue of 
 Charles II. in Roman habit was placed in a niche 
 upon a pedeftal, in the front of the Town-houfe. 
 On pulling down the fleeple, the ftatue was re- 
 moved, and placed in the weft end of the Exchange, 
 in the area where gentlemen meet for bufinefs and 
 converfation. 
 
 PdjGlng the entrance to the quay, where was the 
 Water-gate, there is now a lofty pile of buildings, 
 eight ftories high, for the purpofe of depofiting 
 goods of different kinds, which, by means of a power- 
 ful crane, are eafily either taken on board the flnps 
 at the quay, or conveyed to the wharf. The pre- 
 fent vvarehoufes were erecfted in confequence of the 
 former buildings being, a few years ago, nearly de- 
 ftroyed by fire. 
 
 Adjoining to the Exchange, and clofe to the 
 bridge, is the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr. — 
 (See churches, l^c. 
 
 THE OLD BRIDGE. 
 
 It is obferved by Mr. Bourne, that the building 
 now under confideration w^as of great antiquity, un- 
 doubtedly as old as the times of the Romans. It was 
 an invariable rule in the pohcy of that people to 
 cement all the provinces of their va/t empire by mo- 
 ral 
 
ji^elDcaSIc upon Ci)nc. 59 
 
 lal and natural means. Hence it. is, that wherever 
 then- vidorious legions extended their dominions, 
 there we find military ways, arches, bridges, forts, 
 and caftles, not only to facilitate the march of their 
 troops to the reniotefl parts of their empire, but to 
 find ufeful employment for their foldiers during the 
 intervals of war, and to compenfate the natives, in 
 forae degree, for the lots of their liberty. The Tyna 
 being a large river, interfering the Roman province, 
 this political people would, no doubt, fecure a paf- 
 fage over that river, by a bridge, in the conllruclion 
 of which clafs of architedure they were great mat- 
 ters. Accordingly, we find (by the laudable re- 
 fearches of feveral antiquaries, as eminent for their 
 veracity, as for their erudition) this matter fettled to 
 a demonftration. Dr. Hunter, a great modern anti- 
 quarian, affirms, that he had obferved a military 
 way, going olf from Wathng-flreet, near Binchefter ; 
 which, he fuppofes, went to Che(ter-le-llreet, and 
 that it ran on towards Newcaflle. 
 
 Dr. Stukeley, in his Iter Boreale, or Northern 
 Journey, fpeaking of Gutediead, fiiys, " the Roman 
 road here, which is the true Herman-ilreet, coming 
 from SulTex, and running down Gatelhead Fell, paffes 
 in a ftraight line to the bridge." Another Itinerary, 
 by Richard of Cirencefter, traces *' the Roman mili- 
 tary way from Catterick, in Yorklhire, to Binchefter, 
 in the county of Durham, where it branches out 
 into two difterent itinera, or ways, one of which 
 fiiretches out towards Falkirk, in Scotland, by the 
 way of Corbrldge, Ebchefter, &-c. while the other, 
 pafiing through Ghefter-le-ftreet, terminates in the 
 Roman wall, at Ncwcaftle upon Tyne." 
 
 H 2 Feii.. 
 
6o Jmpartial Jpiilovj) of 
 
 Pennant, in liis tour, lays : " I cannot help think- 
 ing, that part of the Roman bridge remained there 
 (at Newcallle) till very lately ; for, from the obfer- 
 vation of workmen upon the old piers, they feemed 
 to have been originally formed without any fprings 
 for arches, which was the manner of building ufed by 
 the Romans." Here alfo were found coins and me- 
 dals, of Trajan and feveral other Roman emperors, in 
 the innermoft parts of the ruins of the old bridge j* 
 all which demonftrate it to have been of Roman 
 work. The emperor ^Elius Adrianus fpent moft of 
 the years of his reign in viiiting, ornamenting, and 
 fortifying all the provinces of the empire ; and it 
 was this prince who counedted the forts eredled by 
 Agricola, in Britain, by railing the great vallum, 
 that in this part of the ifland extends nearly from fea 
 to fea, and was probably the firfl who built the 
 bridge at Newcaltle. From which circumftance, 
 (fays Mr. Brand) the flation it led to, from the Ro- 
 man road, was afterwards called Pons ^hi, and, at 
 this day, Ponteland, from his own name JElius. 
 
 Matthew Paris informs us, that in the year 1248, 
 a terrible fire happened at Newcaltle upon Tyne, by 
 which the greatell part of the town and the bridge 
 were deltroyed. From this dreadful event, Mr. 
 Bourne tells us, the town of Newcaltle joined the 
 bifhop of Durham in eredting a bridge of (tone, that 
 deltroyed by the fire having been conftrudted of 
 wood. For this purpofe, a method was fallen upon, 
 very common at that time, viz. by felling indul- 
 gences to all perfons, who would aflift them, either 
 with money or labour, to rebuild the bridge. Ac- 
 cordingly, numbers, from the remotefl parts in Scot- 
 land to the land's-end, readily made purchafes of in- 
 dulgences ', 
 
5i5e\))caGie upon Cpnc 6i 
 
 diligences ; by which, together with numerous do- 
 nations from the opulent and liberal, both in New- 
 caftle and other parts, the bridge was built a-frefli. 
 It is froiii this period, that the bifliops of Durham 
 were firlt bound to keep in repair a third part of the 
 bridge at Newcaftle. 
 
 The archbilhop of York, the bifhops of Durham, 
 Caithnefs, (in Scotland), and Vv'^aterford, (in Ire- 
 land), all contributed, in the year 1257, by the fale 
 of indulgences, towards this common benefit, of 
 building Tynp bridge. 
 
 In the year 1339, part of this bridge was carried 
 away by a fudden inundation, and from a curious 
 fragment of parchment, accidentally found, having 
 efcaped the deilrudtive fury of the riot in 1740, it 
 appears, that one hundred and twenty perfons were 
 drowned on this awful occalion. 
 
 But, although the advantage and neceflity of this 
 bridge were obvious to all, we find in the hiftory of 
 thofe times repeated complaint-s of its ruinous and 
 dangerous ftate, and a reprefentation holds out, iu 
 the year 1370, that it would take more than a thour 
 fand pounds to repair it. 
 
 In the year 1416, Thomas Langley, bifhop of Dur- 
 ham, recovered from the mayor and burgelTcs of New- 
 caftle upon Tyne, the third part of this bridge, ad- 
 joinmg to Gateihead, in the county of Durham, to- 
 gether with a tower, which that body had built there- 
 upon. 
 
 To fix the proper boundaries between the counties 
 of Newcaftle and Durham, a blue ftone was placed, 
 which being carried away by the flood, 1771, in pav- 
 ing the new bridge, a layer of larger ftones is laid 
 
 quite 
 
62 Impartial Dtaor^ of 
 
 tjuite acrofs the bridge ; which fixes the boundary of 
 Newcallle Ibulhwards. 
 
 It is remarkable, that in the year 1429, a reclufe 
 •appears to have lived in a hermitage upon Tyne 
 bridge ; and the good Roger Thornton, in his will, 
 appointed liim one of the thirty prielb he had ordered 
 To ling for his foul, with a bequeft of fix marks an- 
 nually. The fame year, the above-mentioned wor- 
 thy gentleman left an hundred marks for the repara- 
 tion of this bridge, on this fmgular condition, " if fo 
 that the mayor and commons will releafe me of all 
 actions, as that I never hindered them, nor nought 
 aw them, at my witting ; but this I delire, for the 
 efchewing of clamour." So that malice might even 
 level its fliafts againft good Mr. Thornton himfelf. 
 
 About the year 1550, fays Mr. Brand, the very 
 marvellous event, related by Bourne and others, con- 
 cerning Mr. Anderfon's ring dropping by accident 
 over the bridge as he was fingering it, is faid to have 
 happened ; and this very identical ring was brought 
 back again, fome time after, in a fiQi bought in New- 
 eaftle market by a fervant of the above gentleman, 
 and moft unexpectedly reftored to its owner. 
 
 Bourne tells us, that the " gentleman, from whofe 
 finger the ring fell, was mayor of Newcaftle, and an- 
 ceilor of the prefent Mr. Abraham Anderfon, mer- 
 chant, on the Sandhill. The faid Francis Anderfon 
 made over his eftate to his fon Henry Anderfon, who 
 was the father of the faid Abraham Anderfon's grand- 
 father." He adds, " On the infide of the ring, juft 
 under the fignet, is the pi6.ure of a falmon, in com- 
 memoration of the fifli and the tranfadion ; on the 
 one fide is the letter F. and on the other the letter A. 
 in commemoration of tht perfon ; calling it, at the 
 
 fame 
 
53}cVucgaie upon Cpnc. 63 
 
 fame time, a curiolity lo great, that not only the whole 
 kingdom cannot fliew the like of it, but the whole 
 world befide." 
 
 This ring, fays Brand, is at prefent, A. D. 1733, in 
 the pofleflion of Mr. Edward Anderfon, merchant, 
 ^vho permitted him to take a drawing of it, with an 
 imprellion on wax of the fignet. This Mr. Edward 
 Anderfon is a defcendant of the pcrfon to whom the 
 accident happened, and has a deed of family pro- 
 perty, the fcal of which exhibits an impreflion of the 
 fignet of this memorable ring, and is of a date prior 
 to the fuppofed date of this moft extraordinary, but 
 by no means incredible, event. 
 
 But to return to our hiftory of the old bridge. As 
 this was a chief entrance from the fouth into New- 
 caftle, it was, of confequence, ftrongly fortified at 
 both ends. Near the middle was a tower, with a 
 large ftone, having the town's arms on it, placed oa 
 the fouth front. There is thought to have been an- 
 ciently a chapel in this tower ; for, on taking it down, 
 after the fall of the bridge, a ftone coffin and a fkele- 
 ton were found. Tiiis tower ferved as an ordinary 
 prifon, where diforderly and loofe perfons were kept, 
 till they were examined by the mayor ; and if their 
 crimes were of confiderable magnitude, they were 
 committed to Newgate, till the quarter feffions or the 
 affizes. 
 
 Grey's account of Tyne-bridge, in his Chorogra- 
 phia, is to the following effedl : — It confifleth of nine 
 arches, high and broad, having many houfes and 
 fliops, and three towers upon it. The firll on the 
 fouth end, the fecond on the middle, and the third 
 on Newcaftle fide, lately built upon an arch in the 
 bridge, ufed for a magazine for the town, and an old 
 , chapel. 
 
64 Jinpartia! fpiCtori) of 
 
 chapel. Such is a general account of this very an- 
 cient bridge, founded at firll by the Romans, and 
 repaired and rebuilt afterwards by the inhabitants on 
 both lides of the river. We now go on to relate its 
 final cataftrophe. This memorable event happened 
 on Saturday night, preceding the 17th of November, 
 1771. There had been a prodigious fall of rain, 
 chiefly in the weft, filling all the brooks, and rufliing 
 from the higher grounds into the Tyne, fo fwelled the 
 river, as to make it overflow its ufual boundaries, 
 and every where carrying deftrudlion in its irrefiftible 
 progrefs. It was about eleven at night the water be- 
 gan to rife at Newcaftle, and conflantly encreafed till 
 feven the next morning. About three o'clock the 
 arches of the bridge were filled up with floats of wood, 
 fwept away by the flood from the adjacent banks ; 
 and between three and four in the morning, two of 
 the arches on the fouth fide were driven down, and 
 one, which was the northernmoft, adjoining to the 
 toll-fliop, fell iiboXn foiir o'clock, burying the houfes 
 which had, for many years, been erected on them, 
 together with feveral of their inhabitants, in the 
 ruins. Imagination can more ealily fancy, than 
 words defcribe, the terror and amazement with which 
 the people were feized, on feeing their friends and 
 acquaintances, from the houfes yet (landing on the 
 remaining arches, ftretching out their hands, and 
 with fliouts of diftrefs imploring alliftance, expecting 
 every moment to be overwhelmed in the watery 
 wafl:e! The lives of Mr. Peter Weatherly, flioe- 
 raaker, and his family, were fortunately favcd by 
 the humanity and intrepidity of two bricklayers from 
 Gatefhead, who, at the moft imminent perfonal ha- 
 zard, broke through the walls of fomc buildings that 
 
 hung 
 
BetocaGle upon Cpe. 65 
 
 hung together by the aid of the thnbers after the 
 arches had fallen, and fucceeded in refcuing them 
 from their mod perilous lituation. The waters gra- 
 dually lubfiding, other perlbns were providentially 
 brought oflf in boats. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that a houfe built of wood, 
 inhabited by a family named Patten, was carried 
 down the impetuous ilream to Jarrow-flake, a dif- 
 tance of feven miles, in an entire (late, with a dog 
 and cat, both alive, in one of the rooms. The fa- 
 mily had happily effeCled their efcape previoufly to 
 the arches falling. 
 
 So general had this florm been in the northera 
 and indeed in molt parts, of the kingdom, that 
 melancholy accounts of its ravages were publifhed 
 every where. Solway Mofs, in Cumberland, was 
 raifed from its bed, and, by a prodigious fall of rain, 
 was impetuoully forced towards the fea, and covered 
 feveral hundred acres of land about eighteen feet 
 deep, to the ruin of many families. All the bridges 
 upon the river Tyne (Corbridge excepted) were 
 carried away. From Alllon-moor to Shields, fcarce- 
 ly a village efcaped its fury. Prodigious was the 
 lofs to many individuals, in horfes, cows, fheep, corn, 
 wood, &-C. But in Newcaftle, by the arches of the 
 bridge being filled, the waters burft through the 
 alleys into the Clofe, and, rufliing down that narrow 
 flreet, overflowed the Sand-hill for feveral feet deep, 
 filling many cellars and lliops, fo that the lofs was 
 eftimated at above two hundred thoufand pounds. 
 Such was the fate of the old bridge of Newcaftle. 
 Refpeding the new erection, and the improvements 
 now making, fee public buildings, 
 
 1 The 
 
66 Impartial Ipittor^ of 
 
 The common-council of Newcaftle, January 20th, 
 1772, framed a petition to parliament for leave to 
 bring in a bill, for eredling a temporary bridge, and 
 another of ftone, over the river Tyne ; as alfo for 
 monies to be granted them, to defray the expences 
 neceflary for fuch a work. Another, limilar to this, 
 was agreed on February 6th, 1772, and prefented to 
 parliament. 
 
 In the fame year, an acl of parliament pafled to 
 enable the lord bifliop of Durham, and his fucceflbrs, 
 to raife a competent fum of money, to be applied to 
 the repairing, rebuilding, and improving fuch part of 
 Tyne bridge as belongs to the fee of Durham. This 
 was to be done by railing twelve thoufand pounds, 
 to be fecured by granting annuities upon lives, not 
 exceeding ten per cent. 
 
 A committee of gentlemen, by the name of the 
 bridge committee, entered upon terms with Mr. Ste- 
 phenfon, carpenter, to eredl a temporary bridge, 
 limiting the time for its execution to four months, 
 to be reckoned from June iBth, 1772, under a heavy 
 penalty. On the 17th of July following, the work- 
 men began to drive the piles, and the bridge was 
 opened O(flober 27th, the fame year. It anfwered 
 almoft every purpofe of the inhabitants. Waggons, 
 however, fully loaded, were not allowed to pafs 
 over it. 
 
 THE CLOSE. 
 
 Purfuing our courfe of obfervations weftward, and 
 paffing the bridge- end on the north, we arrive in a 
 ftreet called the Clofe. It probably had this name 
 from its narrownefs. At this day it prefents us with 
 
 nothing 
 
j5ctncnGle upon €^nt. 67 
 
 nothing (Iriking, either as to its fituation or build- 
 ings : yet Mr. Bourne aflures us, that in former 
 times it was the reftdence of feveral noble families, 
 and opulent inhabitants. Sir John Marley, Sir Wil- 
 liam Blackett, Sir Mark Milbank, and the houfes of 
 many other gentlemen of diilindion, he adds, are flill 
 remembered by the ancient inhabitants. The in- 
 fides of the houfes befpeak their former magnificence 
 and grandeur ; the rooms being very large and ftate- 
 ly, and, for the moil part, adorned with curious 
 carvings. Of late, he obferves, thole houfes have 
 been forfaken, and their wealthier inhabitants have 
 chofen the higher parts of the town. 
 
 The houfes of the earl of Northumberland ftood on 
 the fide of this fireet next the river, bounded on the 
 eafl: by Bower-chare, between Tyne bridge and the 
 Javel Groop. Bourne fays, even in his time it had a 
 great gate at its entrance, with a large round ball of 
 ilone ; and hence the entry has been vulgarly called 
 the " Round Stone Entry ;" and that in the lower 
 part of the building, towards the water, were mani- 
 fefl tokens of antiquity. In the year 1482, Henry 
 earl of Northumberland demifed it to his fervant,. 
 George Bird, by the name of the Earl's Inn, under 
 an annual rent of thirteen fiiillings and four-pence. 
 As the Northumberland family have lon;^ polfeired 
 large demefnes on the river Tyne, it is poflible, that 
 the caule of that noble family having a houfe in a 
 ftrong fituation in Newcaftle might be, to be in rea- 
 dinefs to defend, by collecting their tenants and vaf- 
 fuls, their collieries and lands, and other property, 
 againft the inroads of the mofs-troopers, and other 
 defperate marauders, very common in thofe days. 
 
 I 2 The 
 
68 3impartial i!)iGoti) of 
 
 The next opening to the river Tyne, from the 
 ftreet, is called the Javel Groop ; where the ftreet, of 
 late years, lias been greatly widened. The etymo- 
 logy of this word is, fays Mr Brand, from groope, or 
 grype, which fignifi.-s a ditch ; and Javel, is only a 
 corruption of jail, or gaol. The old caftle was, for 
 ages, the common prifon for the county of Northum- 
 berland, and here has probably been, anciently, the 
 communication between the ditch orfofs of the caftle 
 and the river Tyne. 
 
 On the right hand, after paffing along the Clofe, 
 we obferve a flight of ftairs, called Caftle-Stairs. On 
 eacn fide, as we afcend, are fliops, principally for old 
 clothes, old fhoes, boots, &c. and, after a tirefome 
 afcent, by many a weary ftep, we arrive at a poftern, 
 where had been gates, and pieces of fortification, in 
 defence of the caftle. Another flight of llone fteps, 
 fome paces further to the weftward, is called the 
 Long-Stairs ; remarkable only for their gloominefs 
 and nuifances; but they terminate, on the upper 
 end, with feveral good houfes, handfomely built. 
 
 further along is another flight of flairs, exadly 
 oppofite the manfion-houfe, called the Tuthill-Stairs, 
 terminating at the foot of Weftgate-ftreet. Bourne 
 imagines it Ihould be called Touthill, from the tout- 
 ing or winding a horn upon it, when an enemy was 
 at hand. Mr Brand will have it, that it properly 
 Ihould be called Toothill, or Hill of Obfervation. 
 
 One of the moft early meeting- houfes for worfhip 
 in Newcaftle, was half-way up thefe flairs, in which 
 fome baptifls ufed to alTemble, with a well for immer- 
 iing adults. It is now a dwelling-houfe. And a 
 little higher up the fleps, a new baptift chapel, with 
 a fine commanding profpedl, was lately ereded by 
 
 that 
 
Bclocaaie upon C^ne. 69 
 
 that people. The congregation is faid to be nume* 
 rous, and of decent deportment, with a ftated paftor 
 among them, — See churches and chapels. 
 
 Ahnoft adjoining to the manfion. houfe, is another 
 meeting-houlb, or place of worfliip, in which afTemble 
 a congregation, with their minifter, attached to the 
 principles of the church of Scotland, and is faid to be 
 numerous and refpedable. Their terms of com- 
 munion differ from tbofe of the othej: diflenters in 
 Newcaftle. 
 
 But the edifice that principally draws the attention 
 
 in the Clofe, is the 1VL\nsion-House. See public^ 
 
 buildings. 
 
 This building Mr Bourne terms, *' A building 
 grand and ftately, and, conlidering its fituation, is 
 very ornamental." Its foundation was laid in the 
 year 1691, and coft the corporation 6oool. befides 
 the neceflary furniture and utenfils. Upon the elec- 
 tion of a new mayor, annually at Michaelmas, he ge- 
 nerally quits, for the year of his mayoralty, his own 
 private houfe, and takes up his refidence in the man- 
 fion-houfe, commonly making no change among the 
 male fervants there. He is allowed a handfome ftate- 
 coach, a barge, in which he, attended by numbers 
 of other gentlemen of the corporation, perambulate 
 the river, on AfcenfionThurfday, and is fupplied 
 with a genteel falary, to fuppoit his expences, by 
 the corporation. 
 
 It is in this manfion that the judges of affize, with 
 their attendants, are entertained, during the time 
 of their refidence here on their circuit. 
 
 There ufed to be given by the newly elected 
 mayor, a public entertainment, on Michaelmas Mon- 
 day. The body of freemen at large generally thought 
 
 them- 
 
70 Jmpnrtial fMotp of 
 
 tliemlelves entitled to fliare in its good things; fo. 
 that, on many occalions, Ihameful excefles happened: 
 to pievent which, the common council refolved, 
 July 7, 1773, ^^ difcontinue the cuftom ; the pro- 
 priety of \vhich was acknowledged by the Ibber and 
 decent among the free burgefles of the town. 
 
 The regalia, or magifterial robes, are kept in the 
 
 manfion-houfe, and ufed on public occafions. 
 
 They Gonfift of a large mace of filver, gilt, having 
 on it the following infcription : •' Made for the 
 corporation of Newcaftle upon Tyne, anno regni 
 Jacobi Secundi, tertio, annoq. Domini 1687, Ni- 
 cholas Cole, Efq. mayor ; Thomas Pace, Efq. fhe- 
 riff. The arms of the town, with thofe of Cole, on 
 the knob at the bottom : on the part under the crown, 
 the rofe, thiille, and fleurs-de-lis, and the harp, with 
 a crown over each, and the initials I. R. — Under the 
 niound, the king's arms, with I. 2. R. This princi- 
 p'al piece of the regalia is carried before the mayor, 
 on proccilions, by the water-bailiff. Here alio are 
 kept two fwords of Hate, of elegant workmanfhip ; 
 the one is covered with black, the other with fcarlet, 
 velvet : the former is ufed in ordinary proceffions, 
 the latter on fcftivals : it is then that the magillrates 
 wear fcarlet gowns. 
 
 The manlion-houfe is likewifefurnifhed witha rich 
 and elegant fervice of plate. 
 
 On a lilver bafon and ewer, are the following in- 
 fcriptions : '' This bafon and ewer were, by Sir Gil- 
 bert Gerrard, Bart, and his two fons, Gilbert and 
 ,Samuel Gerrard, Efqrs. grand-children to the Rev. 
 Father in God Dr. John Cofins, late bilhop of Dur- 
 ham, prefented to the right worlhipful Sir Nathaniel 
 Johnlon, of the court of aldermen of the ancient town 
 
 ' of 
 
jaelocaQIc upon Cgne. yi 
 
 of Newcaftle, and is defigned for the ufe of the mayor 
 that annually governs ; accordingly, to be delivered 
 by the prefent mayor to the court of aldermen, and 
 by them to the next mayor that fliall be chofen, and 
 fo fucceffively for ever. June 8, i6Si." The arms 
 of Newcaftle, and of the family of Cole, are alfo 
 engraven on thefe pieces of plate. On the ewer is 
 the following infcription : " This ewer, with a bafon, 
 was preiented by Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Bart, and his 
 two fons, Gilbert and Samuel Gerrard, Efqrs. to the 
 ufe of the annual mayor of the ancient town of New- 
 caftle, for ever. June 8, i68i." Arms alfo of John- 
 fon and Gerrard, with thofe of the corporation, are 
 engraven on the ewer. Here is alfo a large iilver 
 bafon, with the following infcription : " Ex dono 
 Lionel! Vane armigeri, majori et burgenlibus, villic 
 &. comitatus Novi Caftri fuper Tynam." Anns of 
 the town, and thofe of Vane and Fenwick. 
 
 On a lilver bowl, given by Mr Bowes, is infcribed, 
 ** The iirft royal purle of one hundred guineas run 
 .for at Newcaftle upon Tyne, was won, June 25, 1753, 
 by a bay horfe, called Cato, belonging to George 
 Bowes, Efq. who generoufly prefented it to the cor- 
 poration, to purchafe a piece of plate, in remembrance 
 of his majerty's grace and favour." The king's arms, 
 with thofe of the town and of Bowes 
 
 The manfion-houfe has alfo a gilt ftlver cup, of 
 very elegant defign and execu»:ion, in which it is 
 ufual to prefent mulled wine to the new mayor, at 
 his firft entrance into the manficn : for which purpofe 
 it is faid to have been given to the corporation. 
 
 In the grand faloon of tK'C manfion-ho'ifeare placed 
 the fire-arms belonging to. the corporation. Over the 
 
 chimney- 
 
72 Impartial M^ot]} of 
 
 chimney-piece, fome fragments of ancient armour are 
 well worth being feen by the curious antiquary. 
 
 The hiftory of feveral other houfes in the Clofe, 
 which bear the marks of venerable antiquity, and 
 probably were once the abodes of feftivity and opu- 
 lence, having fallen into decay, or been converted 
 
 into warehoufes, is, of confequence, uninterelling. 
 
 But it is to be obferved, that it is near the place 
 where the Clofe-gate Hood, that the extenlive glais- 
 manufadories are to be feen, and where the white- 
 glafs is made in the mofl beautiful manner ; which 
 not only brings a large revenue to government, (as 
 will be feen in its place) but, next to the coal, is a 
 chief fource of the wealth of this opulent town. 
 
 WEST GATE, 
 
 Or the Street that leads to the Wejl Gate, 
 
 It has been already obferved, that on account of 
 the vaft number of religious that flocked to the 
 town, the fubjedl of this hiftory, it got the name of 
 Monkchefter, or the town of the monks, with which 
 it feems to have abounded, of all orders and deno- 
 minations. In modern times, after the ancient and 
 opulent families, for the moft part, had quitted the 
 lower ftreets on the Quay and in the Clofe, and retired 
 to the higher parts of the town, both for the circu- 
 lation of purer air, and for other conveniences, they 
 chiefly fettled in Weflgate, which, till the build- 
 ings in Pilgrim- ftreet, Savile Row, &c. was the 
 principal place of refidence. The ftreet itfelf is airy, 
 and has many handfome and well-finiflied houfes, 
 generally inhabited by a Angle family, now having 
 
 beautiful 
 
3i!)etocaftle upon Cpne. 73 
 
 beautiful pieces of ground flower plots, 6m:. back- 
 wards. We will only make fome curfory remarks 
 upon the private buildings. In this part of the town 
 ftood the 
 
 BLACK FRIARS. 
 
 This order, named, fays Bourne, Black Friars y 
 Preaching Friars, and Jacohine Friars, arrived in 
 England A. D. 1262 and 1268. They took their 
 name from St. Dominick, the founder of the order, 
 a Spaniard by birth. Their monaftery ftood near the 
 foot of Weftgate-ftreet, near to White Friar Tower, 
 and was called the Houfe of the Friars of the Sac, 
 or of the penance of Chrift. 
 
 This very ancient monaftery was founded by Sir 
 Peter Scott, who was the firft mayor of Newcaftle 
 in the year 1251, and by Sir Nicholas Scott, his fon, 
 who was one of the four bailiffs of the town. But 
 the lite was given by three fifters, whofe names Mr 
 Bourne laments are ungratefully loft. 
 
 The exact time of its being founded and fmiflied 
 is uncertain ; but it muft, adds the fame autho- 
 rity, have been earlier than the 8th of the reign of 
 Edward I. as that prince granted a licence to the 
 black friars to break a door through the new wall 
 into their garden, and fo their piiory muft have been 
 built fome time before. The fame author obferves, 
 that it had been a ftately and very beautiful build- 
 ing, as appears by its prefent remains. The area, or 
 grafs-plot, is about 87 feet in length, and the fame 
 in breadth. On the eaft fide was the chapel, which 
 is now the hall of the company of fmiths. On the 
 weft fide was a curious old well, which ferved the 
 
 K monaftery 
 
74 Impartial fpiftorp of 
 
 monaftery with water, and was called our Lady's 
 Well. On the north was their garden, before the 
 building of the town wall, in that ward. Their garth 
 extended from Weflgate to Tynefide, fays Leland. 
 
 Many were the gifts and endowments conferred 
 upon this ancient monaftery, by kings, nobles, bilhops, 
 and opulent private perfuns ; among the latter was 
 the beneficent Roger Thornton, whogeneroufly fup- 
 plied them with lead for repairing the roof of the 
 priory ; but it would be uninterelling to the gene- 
 rality of our readers to inform them of their names 
 and families. 
 
 It is to be obferved, however, that notwithftand- 
 ing the darknefs which fuperftition had fpread over 
 the Chriflian world in the 12th century, when few 
 of the clergy could read their breviary, much lefs 
 interpret the fcriptures to their flocks; ypt fome 
 gleams of the light of learning began to dawn, and 
 dilpel the gloom ; and in this receptacle of reclufes 
 therewere fome men of talents far from being con- 
 temptible. 
 
 Among the more enlightened, fays the famous 
 John Knoje, of Scotland, in his valuable hiftory of the 
 reformation, was one Richard Marflial, prior of the 
 Black Friars in Newcaftle upon Tyne. Happening 
 to come to St. Andrew's, in Scotland, about the year 
 I5;;i, he chofe for the fubjed: of his difcourfc a moft 
 material point of dodrine, viz. Whether the Pater- 
 nq/fer lliould be addrefled to faints departed ? which 
 he confidered as implying fupreme adoration, but 
 which he decided to be applicable only to the fu- 
 preme Being. This difcourfe raifed a great ferment 
 in the minds of many of the great dodlors of that 
 univerfity : while they faw, with concern, that the 
 
 opinion 
 
ii^etocaGlc upon Ci^ne. 75 
 
 opinion of prior Marihal was exceedingly agreeable 
 
 to many of the principal people of the audience. 
 
 To crufh this embryo of herefy, they employed one 
 Tofts, a white friar, to impugn the pofitions of Mar- 
 flial ; who accordingly mounted the facred roftrum, 
 and obferved, " When we fee an old man, we lay 
 to him, pater, or father ; and if he be a relation 
 in the family, we fay, our father, or pater -mftcr; 
 and in the fubfequent parts of that addrefs, he was 
 Hill more infufferably ridiculous, lb much fo, that the 
 whole audience run out of the church with indigna- 
 tion ; and having become the fcoft'and jeil of the 
 town, he quitted it with fliame and difgrace. 
 
 Mr Knox mentions another incident upon this 
 doughty conteft, equally diverting, and no lefs deci- 
 live. The prior, in preparing to go to the cathedra), 
 was modeftly afked by his fervant, who was helping 
 him on with his canonicals, what might be the caufe 
 that feemed to give him fo much uneafiiiels ? He re- 
 plied, with a tjgh, '' We are, Tom, quite at a lofs, 
 whether we (hould fay the Pater to departed faints. 
 " Hut, hut," replies Tom, brufliing his revered mader, 
 '• fay the Pater to God alone, and give the faints 
 a~oes and credos their fill, and with fuch they may 
 think themfelves very well oli'." The prior, laugh- 
 ing heartily at Tom's divinity, added, " I do not 
 know but you may be right." 
 
 When Henry VIII. actuated by enmity to the 
 pope, and ftill more by a love to the immenfe trea- 
 fures found in the dens of thefe poor brethren^ was 
 fiipprefling all the monafleries in his doininions, this 
 of Black Friars fufFered the fame fate of the^othcrs. 
 Accordingly it was furrendered, as it was termed, on 
 January lOth, 1551, to tiie king, and the prior and 
 
 ■ K 2 brethren 
 
76 3inipartial !i;iGor^ of 
 
 brethren turned out. But his Majefty was pleafed 
 to make a grant of the Bhick Friars' monaftery to the 
 town of Newcaftle, in confideration of their paying 
 fifty-three pounds feven fhiUings and fixpence ; toge- 
 ther with the houfe, chapel, and other conveniences, 
 the two gardens, the whole clofe within the Weft- 
 gate, another clofe of three acres of land, and a houfe 
 called the Gate-houfe. 
 
 As the fuppreflion of the monafteries throughout 
 England was an event little expeded by the fee of 
 Rome, and efpecially by Henry, a zealous papift, we 
 fliall here fubjoin a copy of the furrender, by the 
 priors, abbots of the monarteries, unto the king's 
 power ; which ftrongly defcribes the terror with 
 which that mighty tyrant ftruck the whole clergy of 
 his realm. 
 
 A COPY. 
 
 " Forafmuch as we, the prior and friars of this 
 houfe of brethren, called Black Friars, in Newcaftle, 
 do profoundly conlider, that the perfeclion of Chrif- 
 tian living does not confift in fome ceremonies, wear- 
 ing of a black cloak or coat, difguifing of ourfelves 
 after ftrange fafhions, docking, and becking, wearing 
 fcapulars and hoods, and other like papiftical cere- 
 monies, wherein we have been moft principally prac- 
 tifed and nofe-led in times pail ; but the very true 
 way to pleafe God, and to live a true Chriftian man, 
 without hypocrify, and feigned difHmuIation, is fin- 
 cerely declared to us by our Mafter Chrift, his evan- 
 gehfts and apoftles ; being minded hereafter to follow 
 the fame, conforming ourfelves to the will and plea- 
 fure of our fupreme head, under God, on earth, the 
 king's majefty ; and are not to follow, henceforth, the 
 
 fuper- 
 
jeetocaRle upon HL^nt. 77 
 
 fuperftitioiis traditions of any forenfical potentate or 
 power — with mutual aflent and confent, do fubmit 
 ourfelves unto our laid fovereign lord ; and, with the 
 like affent and conlent, do furrender," &c. Stc. 
 
 Signed by the prior and fix friars. 
 How mortifying muft it have been to the clergy 
 of thofe times to comply with fuch an arbitrary man- 
 date, to be driven from their rich and fumptuous re- 
 lidences, and expofed to the contempt and hootings 
 
 of the verfatile and indifcriminating multitude I 
 
 Yet even this alternative was preferable to being in- 
 ftantly put to a cruel and dreadful death ; which 
 would infallibly have been the reward of difobedience 
 to the royal will and pleafurc, as fome fatally found. 
 
 ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL. 
 
 This religious foundation is of high antiquity, al- 
 though the year in which it was erected is not exactly 
 known ; but it is certain that it was during fome pe- 
 riod of the long reign of Henry II. Originally it 
 conliited of an hofpital and a chapel, and, hke innu- 
 merable other religious ftruclures, was dedicated, in 
 thefe days of fuperftition, to the Virgin Mary. It 
 owed its exiftence to the pious and benevolent Afe- 
 lack, of Kilhnghowe, or Killingworth ; who gave, by 
 charter, the ground on which it was built, with other 
 endowments, for the maintenance of two friars regu- 
 lar, and a chaphn, to ferve God and the poor. This 
 amiable philanthropift had obferved, with concern, 
 that genuine w^orth, in the loiver orders of the clergy, 
 was often neglected, and the afflicting lituations of 
 the indigent clafles of mankind were too often over- 
 looked : to ameliorate the condition of both, as far ai 
 it was in his power, was good Mr Afelack's defign in 
 
 found- 
 
78 3inipaitial IMotp^ of 
 
 founding this aiVluni. The wandering pilgrims too, 
 here found refreflnnent and repofe. The generous 
 inhabitants of Newcaftle thought fo favourably of 
 this charitable inftitution, that they made a large ad- 
 dition to the Hofpital of Our Lr.dy, for fupporting a 
 mailer and a chaplain, to fay divine fervice for fix 
 bede-folk in the alms-houfe, to lodge poor and way- 
 taring people, and to bury thofe who happened to die 
 there ; and to fence them againft the rigours of win- 
 ter, nine chaldrons of coals were diftributed among 
 them, to the value of thirty-three pounds fifteen fhil- 
 lings. 
 
 With fuch a favourable eye did the public at large 
 view this humane inflitution, that numerous and 
 ample benefadlions to it poured in from all quarters. 
 Princes, prelates, nobles, merchants, opulent tradef- 
 men, whofe names are minutely recorded by Mr 
 Brand, dedicated lands, houfes, fliops, &.c. to the 
 fraternity of this hofpital. And in the courfe of 
 fome centuries, frorn its being founded by Mr Afe- 
 lack, we find, by a rental taken of it previous to the 
 abolition ot" the order by Henry VIII. that it had 
 property in Weflgate, Denton-chare, Pudding-chare, 
 Meal-market, Flefli-market, Bigg-market, Middle- 
 flreet, without Newgate, in St. Nicholas' Church- 
 yard, before the Caftle-gate, in the Side, on the 
 Sandhill, in the Clofe, in Pilgrim-ftreet, Manor-chare, 
 Pandon, All- Saints-ftreet, White crofs, rents of gar- 
 dens without the Clofe- gate and in the Forth ; all in 
 or contiguous to Newcaftle. But it extended its in- 
 tereft far and wide in the adjacent counties ; to Jef- 
 mond, Whickham, Whittonftale, Fenhara, Newfliam, 
 Bolam, Old Heaton, Woffington, Mearsfen, Horton, 
 and Stewkley, Newbiggen on the Moor, Byngfield, 
 
 Stam- 
 
ji5elDceiftle upon Cpnc. 79 
 
 Stamfordham, Hewght, Little Babington, and ia 
 Riddefdale. 
 
 We have been the more particular in this enume- 
 ration of the fources of the wealth of this religious 
 inftitution, as it was not then more famous for its hof- 
 pitaliry, (and probably too, in later times, for its mo- 
 nadic indolence and luxury) than for a feries of years 
 paft it has been more jullly celebrated as a feat of 
 learning, for acquiring fcience and poHfhed manners. 
 
 As the revenues of this hofpital increafed, (o the 
 number of brethren, bede-men, pilgrims, &-c. was 
 proportionably enlarged ; and for the better govern- 
 ment of whom, mafters or priors prefided in St. Mary's. 
 
 Tiiat this foundation was of very remote anti- 
 quity, appears from the donation to it made by Lord 
 de Bolbec ; where, among the witnefles to the deed, 
 no mention is made of any mayor of Newcaftle as 
 attefting it ; and indeed it was previous to the exift- 
 ence of a fupreme magillrate in that corporation. 
 
 To this we may add, that at a period fo diftant as 
 A. D. 1290, we find the brethren of this hofpital pe- 
 titioning the king in parliament, and fetting forth, 
 that, as the new town-wall of Newcaftle had been 
 built through the middle of their court-yard, leaving 
 the greater part of their edifices on the outfide there- 
 of, humbly praying permifiion to make a poflern-gate 
 of communication through the faid wall ; which was 
 granted them, and which gate exiils to this day, by 
 the name of the Poftern Gate. 
 
 But all human inflitutions have, fooner or later, a 
 termination ; and this among others, where it is to 
 be fuppofed, fcenes of charity and benevolence were 
 exhibited for ages, was overthrown by the flern Henry 
 Vin. who was, by thefe means of violence and rapine, 
 
 giving 
 
«o 3lmpartial J!)iaorp of 
 
 giving incurable wounds tx) the papal power, while 
 he was daily fwearing by the Moth et- of God, (his 
 common oath) that he would maintain it with all his 
 might. So inconfiftent is often the condud of ty- 
 rants I but which are fo frequently over-ruled by the 
 Sovereign of the univerfe, to promote the belt inte- 
 refts of the human kind. 
 
 This was particularly exemplified in the happy 
 transformation which the Hofpital or Spital fuffered, 
 in being converted to a feat of ufeful knowledge, 
 under the title of 
 
 THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 
 
 This celebrated fchool was at firft fituated on the 
 north-eaft fide of St. Nicholas church, in the large 
 area, called the church-yard, and before the burying- 
 place was railed in. In the 42d year of queen Eli- 
 zabeth's reign, it by charter from that princefs be- 
 came a royal foundation, and was removed to the 
 hofpital of St Mary, its prefent fituation Eliza- 
 beth was, on many occafions, an encourager of learn- 
 ing, and fhe poffefied a large fliare of erudition 
 herfelf. In this charter, flie exprefles her motive 
 for encouraging the grammar fchool in Newcaftle, 
 was, her regard for the inftruftion of youth 'from 
 their tender years in the rudiments of the true Chrif- 
 tian religion, in learning and good manners. She 
 enads, that the foundation be ftyled the Free Gram- 
 mar School of queen Elizabeth ; the mailer and 
 fcholars whereof are to be a body corporate in law, 
 with perpetual fucceffion ; to have a common feal, 
 and a legal capacity of purchafing and holding lands 
 to themfelves and fucceflbrs in fee limple, or for a 
 
 term 
 
l5etocaGlc upon Ci^nc 8i 
 
 term of years, provided they exceed not the value of 
 forty pounds, are not held of the crown in chief, or 
 by mihtary fervlce, nocwithflanding the adl of mort- 
 main. Seven of the governing part of the cor- 
 poration, (the mayor and fix aldermen^ are ap- 
 pointed the patrons of this fchool, with the power 
 of electing a mailer and ufher thereof; whofe offices 
 are held under their pleafure, and, on every vacancy 
 or removal by death, are to be filled up by them." 
 
 Such is the charter, which fandions all the privi- 
 leges of the free grammar-fchool of Newcaftle. 
 
 Anmiated by this royal encouragement, and know- 
 ing that future fuccefs to their newlypereded inllitu- 
 tion greatly depended upon a prudent eledion of 
 their mafher, the patrons invited Robert Fowberry, 
 A. M. to be the iirlt m that office. He is faid, by his 
 cotemporaries, to have been a gentleman of great 
 eminence for learning, and attention to the improve- 
 ment of the fcholars. 
 
 Edward Wigham fucceeded Mr Fowberry, who, 
 on his death, was fucceeded by Francis Grey, A. M. 
 
 It was under this gentleman that the famous lieut. 
 colonel John Lilburn received part of his education. 
 ♦' I was brought up, fays he, (in his Innocency and 
 Truth Juftitied) well nigh ten years together, in the 
 beft fchools in the North, namely, at Auckland and 
 Newcaftle ; in both which places / was not one of 
 the dronefejl fchool -boys there : and befides my know- 
 ledge of the Latin tongue, I was a little entered into 
 the Greek alfo. And at Newcaftle, I did not only 
 know, but alfo was known of the principal men 
 there." 
 
 This celebrated charadler, who made a confiderablc 
 figure in the long parliament, was, however, of a fin- 
 
 L gular 
 
8i impartial !|)iGorg of 
 
 gularcaft of temper. If colonel Lilbuin learned logic 
 among his other acquirements at Nevvcaftle, he cer- 
 tainly had made great proficiency. Being of fuch a 
 difputatious turn, that having written againfl: almoft 
 every public perfon, he at lait wrote againfl: himfelf, 
 which occalioned the wits of thofe times to obferve, 
 that if Lilburn was confined to a defart he would 
 ftill write, were it only John againfl: Lilburn, and 
 Lilburn againfl, John, which the fatyrical lines in Hu- 
 dibras probably allude to, viz. 
 
 So keenly given to difpute, 
 
 Tho' changing fides, he'd ftill refute. 
 
 About the year 1637, Amor Oxley was appointed 
 mafter in this royal feminary ; but living in the con- 
 vulfed times of Charles L and on his efpoufing 
 the royal fide, the lords and commons, dreading his 
 infufing principles hofl:ile, as they faid, to liberty, 
 difplaced Mr Oxley from his matlerfliip of this gram- 
 niar-fchool. 
 
 JLittle is faid of his fucceflbr, Nicholas Augur, who 
 reiigned his charge in 1647 on account of his ill ftate 
 of health ; but he was fucceeded by one of the great- 
 eft and worthieft characters that adorned this femi- 
 nary of learning. His name was George Ritchel, who 
 was indudled into the mafl:erfliip of this fchool in the 
 year 1648. An account of the life of this very ex- 
 traordinary perfon is given at great length, by that 
 indefatigable biographer, Wood, in his Athence Oxo- 
 nienfis, of which it would be a fhameful omiffion not 
 to prefent our readers with an abftrad. 
 
 "George Ritchel was born in Bohemia, 1616, and 
 at the age of feventeen years was fent to the univer- 
 lity of Strafburg, where he ftudied feven years. Upon 
 
 Fer- 
 
I3)etocaiilc upon €:i)ne. 83 
 
 Ferdinand U. from a millaken zeal, banifhing all his 
 protellants from his dominions, Mr Ritchel, prefer- 
 ing a good confcience to the enjoyment of a fine 
 eftate, made it over to his younger brother, referring 
 only out of it as much money as would fupport him 
 on his journey. He then came to England, and tor 
 fome time fettled at Oxford. But the civil war in 
 England breaking out, he went to the Hague, 
 Leyden, and Amfterdam ; and after vifiting many 
 countries on the continent, he again came over to 
 England, and arriving at Oxford, he entered himfelf a 
 member of Trinity College in Kettle-Hall. Here he 
 fpent mod of his time in the Bodleian hbrary, in the 
 molt ardent purfuit after knowledge. From this 
 univerfity he was invited to be head mader of the 
 grammar-fchool in Newcaflle. The corporation were 
 fo pleafed with his peribn and fervices that tliey ad- 
 ded lol. to his falary yearly. From Newcaiile he 
 got an invitation to the church at Hexham, where 
 he was both minifler and ledurer for twenty-eight 
 years. The humility of this learned and great man 
 was one of his moll ihining virtues. Born of genteel 
 parents, heir to a fine eftate, and, for fome time tutor 
 to the fons of the prince of Tranfylvania, of the im- 
 perial family of Auftria; in tiie enjoyment of all 
 thefe he became daily more humble, un.ifTaiiiing, and 
 ufeful, in every part of his life. He departed this 
 life at Hexham, December 28, 1683, where he lies 
 buried in the chancel of the church. He wrote many- 
 learned and critical works." 
 
 Upon the reftoration of the Stuart family, Amor 
 Oxley was appointed a fecond time mafter to the 
 grammar-fchool in Newcaflle, and for his loyalty 
 
 L 2 his 
 
U Impartial iE)fftor^ of 
 
 his falaiy was increafed to one hundred pounds per 
 annum, with other perquifites. 
 
 Pufling over the names of feveral others, we fliall 
 only mention the following : 
 
 Jaiies Jurin, M. A., was appointed mafter of the 
 grammar- fchool inNewcaftle in 1710, where he gave 
 ledures on experimental philofophy. During his 
 refi.lence there he amaifed near loool. and obtaining 
 a degree in phylic, he became M. D. F, R, S. and 
 Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and pre- 
 lident of the College of Phyficians. After pafling 
 through many honourable ftations in the learned 
 world, he died in Lincoln's-inn-fields in 1750, and 
 bequeathed a large legacy to Chrift's Hofpital, where 
 he had been educated by that noble charity. 
 
 Sept. 26, 1715, Edmund Lodge, clerk, was ap- 
 pointed mafter, on the refignation of Dr. Jurin, 
 
 Mr George Carr was under-uflier to Mr Lodge. 
 He was afterwards removed to the new epifcopal 
 chapel in Edinburgh, where, for a feries of years, he 
 performed all the facred duties of his ftation with 
 univerfal approbation, and left behind him, on his 
 death a coUcdion of fermons which did him great 
 honour, both as a fcholar and a chriilian. 
 
 In the fame year the Rev. Robert Tomlinfon, 
 B. D. was appointed mafter of this Hofpital. He 
 was alfo prebendary of St. Paul's in London, redtor 
 of Whickham, mailer of the chapel of St Tho- 
 mas upon the Biidge-end, likewife of the hofpital 
 of St Mary Magdalene at the Barras-bridge, and 
 the great literary benefactor of Newcaftle, by the 
 donation of his :neftimable library, of which, with 
 the copy of bis will, &c. we intend to gratify our 
 readers with a faithful account, in its proper place. 
 
 Richard 
 
Bclocattle upon C^nc 8 
 
 J 
 
 Richard Dawes, A. M. fucceeded Mr Lodge, on 
 his refignation. He was a man of confiderable learn- 
 ing, but had wild and extravagant notions, w^hich, 
 with a refractory temper, occalioned the fchool to 
 be almoft totally deferted. 
 
 In 1749, Hugh Moifes, A. M. was appointed head 
 ninfter. That reverend and amiable character de- 
 monftrated, by a fweetnefs of temper (the very re- 
 verfe of his predeceffor) by folid and poliflied learn- 
 ing, and by an uniform tenor of conduct, how win- 
 ning thefe accomplilhments are ; for they endeared 
 him to the warmeft and moft refpecftful efteem of his 
 numerous pupils, to the marked approbation of the 
 patrons in the magiftracy, and to the veneration of 
 all ranks and conditions of the inhabitants. 
 
 In the year 1778, John Brand, A. B. the celebrated 
 antiquarian, and author of the Hiftory of NewCaftle, 
 in 2 vols. 4to. was appointed firft under-uflier, and in 
 1 78 1, ulher in this grammar-fchool. 
 
 He was fucceeded, 1784, in his uflierfliip, by Mofes 
 Manners, A. M. and foon after, Robert Wilfon, A. B. 
 was appointed under-uflier. 
 
 In June, 1787, Edw. Moifes, A. M. was appointed 
 head-mafter, on the refignation of his worthy and 
 niuch-efteemed uncle. As Mefiis Moifes and WiJ- 
 fon are fiill officiating in then* refpedive ftations, 
 we have only to exprefs our warmeft wifhes for their 
 fuccefs in the difcharge of their duties, emulating the 
 virtues of fome of their illuftrious predeceflbrs. 
 
 To cheriHi this admirable inftitution, Lord Crewe 
 left a large legacy for fcholars taught in Newcaftle 
 grammar-fchool, to be fent to any of the two univer- 
 fities of England. 
 
 Dr, 
 
86 Impartial Diftoti) of 
 
 Dr. Smith bequeathed the intered of 800I. to 
 Emanuel College, in Cambridge ; half of which is for 
 the maintenance of a fcholar, either from Durham or 
 Newcaftle fchool. Other legacies and donations have 
 been made for the fame purpofe. 
 
 We hoj)e our candid readers will not think us tedi- 
 ous in our defcription of this ancient feminary of 
 learning. If the eye of the naturahft is dazzled with 
 beholding beds and plots of flowers and plants, fpring- 
 ing, blooming, and ripening into maturity ; how fur- 
 paffing is the view of a well-governed nurfery of 
 young pupils, gradually acquiring and floring up in 
 their tender minds, thofe principles of fcience and oi 
 virtue which, when properly cherifned, burft forth 
 with energy and lullre on the ftage of human affairs I 
 Or, as the poet 
 
 ' Delightful tafk ; to rear the tender tliought, 
 To teach the young idea how to fhoot, 
 To pour the frefh inftrudioa o'er the naind. 
 To breadie th' enlivening fpirit, and to fix 
 The gen'rous purpofe in the glowing bread ? 
 
 Thomson's Spring. 
 
 Or, with another poet, — 
 
 Yet, nurs'd with fkill, Avhat dazzling fruits appear ? 
 
 E'en now, fagacious forefight points to fhow 
 
 A little bench of heedlefs bifjops here, 
 
 And there a chancellor in embryo. 
 
 Or bard fublime. Shenstone. 
 
 To omit the numerous and diftinguiflied charaders 
 who have received their firfl; principles of erudition 
 at this famous fchool, we fliall only obferve, that it 
 was faid, that here the great bifliop Ridley, the mar- 
 tyr, was educated ; afterwards, Akenfide the poet ; 
 and, among many others, who now fill confpicuous 
 
 nations 
 
Bciocndle upon ^i^nt. 87 
 
 ftations in public life, are the prefent lord high chan- 
 cellor, with his learned brother, Sir William Scott ; fo 
 very applicable are the three lafl lines of Shenllone 1 
 
 HOUSE OF THE CARMELITES, or WHITE 
 FRIARS. 
 
 For fecurity, in the earlier ages, mod part of the 
 religious houfes were lituated nigh the Roman wall; 
 and, after Newcaille was walled round, they were 
 commonly founded adjacent to that barrier. Ac- 
 cordingly we lind, in the topography of Newcaftle, 
 that numbers of the religious had their refidences on 
 the Wall- Knoll; a fituation eligible, as well for 
 fafety as for health, and commanding alfo a beautiful 
 profpedt of the circumjacent country. Here, hiflory 
 tells us, the Carmelites, or White Friars, firft fettled, 
 upon their arrival at Monkcheller, now Newcaftle. 
 They were termed Carmelites, from Mount Carmel, 
 in Syria, where the founder of their order had his firil 
 relidence. They are faid to have firll come to Eng- 
 land A. D. 1240, and fettled at Ailesford, in Kent, 
 and there to have had their firft chapter. Others 
 hold, that they landed in Northumberland A. D. 
 1250; and fettled at Holm.e, now called Huln-Ab- 
 bey, near Alnwick, which the noble family there 
 keeps in good repair. In the neighbourhood is a hill, 
 called Mount Carmel, which travellers afTure us 'has 
 a great refemblance to that in Paleftine. Here a 
 hermit had his refidence, of whom thirre is a ftatue of 
 ftone placed where his cell formerly was. The Car- 
 melites, fays Bourne, were firft brought into the north 
 of England by Ralph Freeborne, and by him fixed 
 near Alnwick, in a place called Holm, in a wildernef?, 
 
 which 
 
88 Jmpartial fMotp^ of 
 
 which their condudor imagined to be a place that 
 bore a ftrong refemblance to Mount Carmel, in Syria, 
 He himfelf was, adds the fame author, the firft pro- 
 \incial of this order, and began his rule A. D. 1240, 
 and ruled fourteen years. He lies buried at Alnwick. 
 
 On their arrival at Wall-Knoll, they received feve- 
 ral marks of royal bounty ; but, being flraitened for 
 room in this fituation, and finding their houfe too 
 fmall, as part of their premiiTes were pulled down to 
 make a lite for the town-wall, then building, King 
 Edward I. granted to the White Friars of Newcaftle 
 this place of the Friars of the Penance of Chrift, on 
 condition of their granting to Walter de Carlton, the 
 then only furviving brother of that order, a decent 
 maintenance. Mention is made of their having re- 
 ceived feveral donations, called pittances, in thofe 
 days, from King Edward I. and King John : one 
 day, fixteen HiilHngs and eightpence ; another pit- 
 tance of nine fhillings, from king Edward I. on his 
 pafling through the town of Newcaftle. Thefe fums 
 from royal munificence, found trifling in our ears; 
 but the value of money was high to what it is now; 
 and by gifts, rents of lands, houfes, &-c. thefe begging 
 brethren wallowed in wealth, luxury, and indolence. 
 
 Even here, however, where ignorance reigned, 
 there feems to have been fome men of learning. In 
 the year 1450, Edward Dynley, as Bayle informs us, 
 born of a good family in Newcaftle upon Tyne, amjl 
 a learned writer of the order, flouriftied in this mo- 
 naftery. The fubjeds on which he treated, are, how- 
 ever, at this day, accounted trifling and unimportant. 
 Dodor Nicholas Durham, who rendered himfelf 
 famous among his cotemporaries, for his zeal againft 
 the tenets of Wickliff, had alfo his refidence in this 
 convent, A. D. 136c. The 
 
 \ 
 
j8x^U3caGl^ uflon ^\im. Jig 
 
 The convent of the White Friars fuffered the fate 
 of all the other convents and monafteries in England, 
 being fuppreiVed by Henr^ VIII. 
 
 The White Friars* Tower derived its name from 
 being oppolite to this monaftery ; and were it not 
 for this tower, we would find it difficult to afcertain 
 where it formerly tlopd, as fcarcely a vellige of it now 
 remains. 
 
 It was dedicated to St. Mary ; who, as Speed in- 
 forms us, was patronefs of above thirty priories, of 
 the order of the Carmelites, or White Friars, in 
 England. Indeed, that holy brotherhood, pre- 
 tended to have had more than human intercourfe 
 with the Biefled Virgin; they had juftly then more 
 than an ordinary claim upon her protedion. But, 
 alas I they found it of little avail againfl; the rapa- 
 cious hand of Henry VI II. 
 
 Further up Wellgate, on the fide of the ftreet next 
 the town-wall, is a large houfe, with a front and two 
 wings, of great antiquity. It was termed Bolbeck- 
 Hall, but changed its name, upon its founder being 
 created Earl of yVellmoreland, to that of Weftmore- 
 land- Place, where that nobleman fixed his town refi- 
 dence. It Hands nearly oppofite the end of Pudding- 
 chare ; and was purchafed by the late Geo. Ander- 
 fon, an enterprifing and opulent mailer- builder, in 
 whofe family it Hill remains. 
 
 THE GREY FRIARS, or MINORS, called also 
 FRANCISCAN FRIARS. 
 
 The fituation of this religious foundation can now 
 fcarcely, be known. However, it is probable its 
 fiite may be nearly traced; for we find, a ftreet 
 
 M which 
 
90 impartial Jpiftor)) of 
 
 which leads from Newgate-rtreet, near the New- 
 Gate, to Pilgrim-ftreet, and which ftill retains the 
 name of High Friar-chare, to diftinguifli it from 
 Low P'riar-chare, which communicated with the 
 Weft-Gate. Here, it is moft likely, the monaftery 
 of the Black Friars formerly ftood. 
 
 Leland informs us, that the " Obfervant Friars* 
 Houfe ftood by Pandon-Gate. (He miftook it for 
 Pilgrim Gate) And the building, he adds, is a very 
 fair thing." 
 
 It was adjoining to the High Friar-chare that the 
 houfe of Grey Friars, or Mmors, called alio Francifcan 
 Friars, ftood, and from whom the ftreet derives its 
 name. They ivere one of the moft eminent of the 
 four orders of Mendicants. The celebrated St. Fran- 
 cis was their founder ; and from him this order was 
 honoured with the derivative Francifcan, from his 
 name Francis ; which, in that reign of Monkifti do- 
 minion, was accounted an honour fuperior to that of 
 imperial, or any civil title on earth. Yet no infti- 
 tution could be, apparently, more fclf-denying, more 
 mortifying to the gaieties, and even the conveniences of 
 life. They were termed Mendicants, (beggars) from 
 depending entirely upon the benevolence and charity 
 of the generous and humane. Before any could be 
 admitted into this order, they were obliged to give a 
 convincing proof of the difintereftedncfs of their mo- 
 tives, by " felling all they had, and giving it to the 
 poor." They were termed Friars Minor, that is, lefs ; 
 lefs than all others I And, no doubt, like the apoftle 
 Paul, " lefs than the leaft of all faints I" Truly mo- 
 deft ! 
 
 That they might indifputably appear to be fo, they 
 wore a loofe garment, of coarfe cloth, reaching to the 
 
 ancles. 
 
BcVocaftlc upon ^^)ne. 91 
 
 ancles, with a cowl, and a grey cloak over it, when 
 they went abroad. They girded themfelves with cords, 
 and went bare-footed, and thus obtained the name 
 of Bare-footed Friars ; while the Black, and Carme- 
 lite, or White Friars, who wore fiiocs, were termed 
 §hod Friars. It is well known that there is a large 
 church at this day in London, called Crutched Friars, 
 whei-e a iiecejfary part of the sccoutrenients of the 
 holy brotherhood was, a pair of crutches I 
 
 But, under all this humble guile, under this veil of 
 felf-denial, a world of pride lay concealed. For, by 
 a thorough knowledge of the human heart, and inh- 
 nuating themfelves into the favour of the great and 
 powerful, they thereby direded, at pleafure, moft of 
 the temporal as well as fpiritual concerns of Chriften- 
 dom : and the moil powerful engine of papal art 
 which they employed was, getting themfelves con- 
 feffors to princes, nobles, and, indeed, to all the weal- 
 thy and the great. By this means, the Mendicant 
 became not only the moft powerful, but the moft 
 opulent of all the numerous orders of the papal hier- 
 archy. For what perfon, however exalted his rank 
 in Society, would rhk damnation, by refufing con- 
 fefiion of all his tranfaclions to a prie[l. However, 
 the order of the Frjncifcan Mendicants had their efta- 
 blilliment firft m Newcaille, under the patronage of 
 the opulent family of the Carliols, who were wealthy 
 merchants, in the. reign of Henry III. 
 
 The lite of their monallery muft have been fome- 
 where in the garden of the late Sir Walter Blackett, 
 Bart, and moll probably in that part of it which lies 
 oppofite to Ficket-Tower. Mr Bourne alVures us, 
 from ancient records, that they were a conftitutcd 
 body fo remote as anno Mb-j. 
 
 M 2 To 
 
9^ Impeitfal fptSorp of 
 
 To give a further proof, how deeply Newcartl<* 
 was inierefled in raonaflic inflitutions : at a general 
 chapter of this order, held at Narbonne, in I^rance, 
 A. D. 1258, it appeared, that the Englifli provificfe 
 had feven cuftodies, whereof the cuflody of Newcaftl^ 
 containing nine convents, was one ; and were all a^ 
 follow, viz. Newcaflle monaftery, in Northumberland, 
 Dundee, Dumfries, and Haddington, in Scotland ; 
 Carlille, in Cumberland ; Hartlepool, in Durham ; 
 Berwick, in Northumberland ; Roxburgh, in Scot- 
 land ; and Richmond, in Yorkfhire. Alas ! New- 
 caftie, how forely haft thou been prieft-ridden, in 
 thofe times of monkifh domination I 
 
 It is of little confequence to our readers to be ac- 
 quainted with the names of the priors, &.c. who re- 
 iided in this monaftery. But that it was not altoge- 
 ther barren of learned men, appears from our being 
 informed, that Hugh of Newcallle, termed by the 
 critical Bayle, the fcbolq/lic do5lor, and whofe fame 
 was celebrated through all Chriftendom, flouriflied in 
 . this houfe A. D. 1284. 
 
 But the moft lingular and renowned character of 
 that age was alfo one of the minors in this houfe be- 
 fore A, D. J 300. And, if it is not intereiting, it is 
 atleall amufmg, to be acquainted with his name, his 
 country, and a few fpecimens of his talents, by which 
 he acquired fuch hard-earned reputation, 
 
 , Hifi name was John Scott, or Dr John Scott. The 
 epithet of diftinciion by which he was honoured, was 
 that of Subt'ilis Do^or. And his patronymic name 
 was that of Duns, to which was added Scotus, or 
 Duns Scotus. 
 
 Leland, from certain old records in Merton college, 
 Oxford, gathered, that this celebrated dodor was 
 
 born 
 
Ji^evocadle upon ^im. 95 
 
 born in the parifli of Emeldon, in a hamlet or manor- 
 place belonging to that college, called Dunftan, in 
 Northumberland ; from whence, by contradion, he 
 ^ot the name of Duns : his father's name was Scott. 
 What is curious, the place belongs to Merton college 
 to this day. Such is the Englilh account of the ety- 
 mology of the name and place of birth of this cele- 
 brated perfon. 
 
 But the Scots, fo tenacious of their national ho- 
 nour, and zealous for the reputation of their learned 
 men, will by no means yield the palm to their Englifli 
 rivals in fame, and to this day infifl: that the town 
 of Dunfe, in the county of Berwick, give birth to this 
 illuftrious, literary luminary ; can fliew the houfe 
 where he was born ; who was the inidwife ! and, 
 wZ>^/ w/z/Z/Zcr baptized him ; and, forages, the ftrife 
 for the honour of giving birth to Duns Scotus was as 
 fierce as the contention among the five fliates of 
 Greece was of old for the honour of giving birth to 
 Homer. We, poor editors, dare not venture upon 
 the mighty fubjecl to offer a conjecture, far lefs a 
 decifion of the high contell:, and we truly ^::y^ 
 
 Non nollrum inter vos tantas componere lites. 
 We dare not prefume to decide in the mighty ftrife. 
 
 But with the mod profound reverence, and 
 humble refpecl, we cannot but obferve the Cala- 
 donians feem to have the ftrongeft evidence in their 
 favour, as the infcription on his tomb " Scotia ms 
 genuit" Scotland gave me birth ^ feems inconteftibly to 
 prove that he was a Scotfman. Yet even here we 
 are checked, and again reminded by the learned 
 Fuller^ that nothing was more common than to con- 
 fider, anciently, Northumberland as comprehending 
 all the lands from the Plumber to Edinburgh Frith. 
 
 SO 
 
94 Impartial MHovp^ of 
 
 So here, ue are loft again, and involved in almoft 
 worfe than Egyptian darknefs I Adhuc fub judice 
 lis eft ; the matter refts quite undecided ftill I " I be- 
 lieve, faid a lady, in Scotland, looking gravely at two 
 vaft volumns of evidence, on the tea table, on the 
 Douglas' caufe, one affirming that the claimant of 
 that princely dukedom was the legitimate fon of Sir 
 John Stuart, and of Lady Jane Douglas, and fo the 
 duke's nephew; the other, proving that his re- 
 puted father was a monftrous liar, and that the 
 child was a barber's brat of the city of Reims. I 
 believe faid the good lady, that this aflair (and we 
 may fay fo too with a figh, of the birth of Scotus) 
 will never be fettled till the day of judgment I And I 
 am afraid, my dear, faid her hufband, with a fmile a- 
 crofs the table, there will be fo many other caufes of 
 much higher concern, to be tried, that the court 
 will be clofed before the Douglas caufe comes on. 
 
 It only remains to give fome account of the lite- 
 rary abilities of Doctor Subtilis. The title of doclor 
 he juftly merited, as he was a great mafter of the 
 learned languages, and wrote huge volumes of Com- 
 mentaries, not only on the fcriptures, but upon the 
 Maftcr of Sentences, Ariftotle's ten Catagories, Slc 
 
 He was julUy termed Subtilis, ns he had the pecu- 
 liar talent of making every fubjecfl appear myfteri- 
 oiis ; or to be known only by logical, or dialectical 
 difquifitions. He could puzzle the profoundeft 
 doclor to foive fuch important queftions as Whe- 
 ther Adam was formed with an umbilical cord, 
 or not ? Whether Eve was formed of a rib 
 froc\ Adam's risj^ht or left fide ? Whether this 
 rib was one of the abdominal, or thoraical ribs ? 
 
 Whether Eve conceived in a ftate of innocence, 
 
 or 
 
3!5clDca5lc upon ^ytic. 95 
 
 or not? With fuch difquilitions did he fo ftrike 
 the learned of the middle ages, that he divided 
 the whole fchools in Europe into two great clafll^s, 
 the Scotijls, of which he was the head or leader, aod 
 the Thomifts, the followers of Thomas Aquinas, an 
 equally formidable leader. 
 
 The monaftery of the Francifcans was difT^lved 
 with others in the year 1539, It then confifted of 
 the prior, John Crayforth, eight friars, and two 
 novices. Their monaftery was found quite deftitute 
 of the abundance of luxuries found in other convents. 
 So that they did not fallify their appellation of Friar- 
 Mendicants. 
 
 ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL 
 
 For the Nuns of Newcajlle, 
 
 Already we have obferved that Chriftianity fixed 
 its refidence in Monkchefter, at a very early period. 
 The fervour of the zeal, the fimplicity and dif- 
 intereftednels of the lives of its teachers, attracted the 
 notice, not only of the mafs of the people in general, 
 but, Bede, the father of our ecclefiaftical hiftory, af- 
 fures us, that, to vaft numbers of converts were ad- 
 ded, Ofwy, the king of Northumberland, who had his 
 refidence at Ad Murum^ (now Newcaftle) and who by 
 his perfuafion, prevailed upon Penda, king of Mercia, 
 as alfo Sigibert, king of the Eaft Angles, to receive 
 the initiatory rite of baptifm. From that period, aL 
 mod the whole ifland, adds the fame venerable au- 
 thority, renounced paganifm, and received a dodrir^e, 
 fo worthy of the Supreme Being, breathing good Tvill 
 to men. 
 
 But 
 
96 Jmpartial Jptftoi*^ of 
 
 But, unhappily for its converts, devotion affumecl 
 a new form ; and from frequenting the chief places 
 of concourfe, it retired from the bufy fcenes of life, to 
 woods, caves, and folitary retreats. And in no part of 
 England did this take place more than at Newcaille; 
 the adjacent woods, the windings of the Tyne ; and 
 the fecurity of an afylum by the ftrong fortifications 
 of the place, all contributed to draw numbers of devo- 
 tees to Monkchefter, the name by which the town was 
 known fome centuries before the Norman conqueft. 
 
 On the introdudion of monaftlc orders, with 
 whom not only the reliques of faints (fays Mr Brand) 
 but alfo the fcenes of great confequence to religion, 
 were held in the higheft eflimation, it feems no im- 
 probable conjedlure that a place confecrated to the 
 warm imaginations of thefe well meaning zealots, by 
 circumftances fo remarkable as then took place, 
 lliould be accounted facred in more than a common 
 degree ; if we farther unite the idea of perfonal fafe- 
 ty, expedled in what had been fo recently a Roman 
 fortification, and fo often reforted to in times of the 
 Daniih invafion, with that of (andity affixed tp it by 
 fomething not unlike fuperftition, it feems natural to 
 fuppofe that thefe ancient devotees w.ould prefer it pii 
 both thefe accounts. Hiftory indeed informs us, that 
 Monks in vatl numbers crowded to it from variovtf 
 ^parts, not only of this iiland, but alfo from foreign na- 
 tions. But the ruthlefs bands of DaniQi invaders, 
 vlefpifingthe idea of local fandity, with which its 
 tl len inhabitants were.imprelTed, and undaunted fit 
 tho military works, left for the defence of the feeble 
 nati'vcs, like an irrefiftible torrent, carried all before 
 then ^ marking their deftruaive progrefs with havoc 
 
 and t ^efolation. 
 
 Matthew 
 
j5clocaftlc upon Cvnc. 97 
 
 Matthew Paris, of Weflimialter, informs us, " that 
 in the year of grace 800 an army of Danifli pagans 
 ravaged and fpoiled the church of Tynemouth, (as 
 we will fee when treating of that once magnificent 
 priory) carrying off the fpoil initantly to their fhips. 
 That lixty-feven years afterwards the fame cruel vic- 
 tors depopulated the whole province of Northumber- 
 land, to the mouth of the river Tyne, and fubjugated 
 the whole country. As alfo, three years afterwards, 
 the noble monafteries on our coaft, of Lindisfern, 
 Tynemouth, Gyrway, (Jarrowj and Weremouth, 
 were utterly plundered and deftroyed." 
 
 The monafteries of Monkchefter being thus deftroy- 
 ed, with almort every memorial of their former exift- 
 ence, by the bloody Danes, who exerted their ruthlefs 
 fury principally upon edifices confecrated to religion, 
 the ruins of that place feem to have been unnoticed 
 and forgot, till about the middle of the eleventh cen- 
 tury, when they were vifited from motives of religious 
 zeal, by Aldwine, monk and prior of the monaftery 
 of Winchelfea, accompanied in this perilous journey 
 by Elwins and Reinfridus, two monks of Evefham, 
 as we have defcribed in a former page. By the 
 zeal and energetic exhortations of thefe devout 
 ftrangers, the inhabitants were aroufcd from their 
 criminal apathy ; and a revival was given to 
 monkery in this part of the illand, after it had been 
 extinguillied for about two hundred years. 
 
 It has ever been obferved, that the devotion of the 
 female fex is, in general, more fervent and lively 
 than that of the male ; accordingly, in Monkchefter, 
 many of the former, quitting the world, fouglit for a 
 retreat, where they might, undifquieted by the cares 
 and anxieties of life, fpend their days in mortification,' 
 
 N and 
 
98 Impartial $)iftor|) of 
 
 and in what to them appeared the fubhme contem- 
 plation of celeflial objeds. 
 
 To cherifli fentiments at that day thought fo de- 
 vout, and to give full fcope to the pradice of the 
 whole round of religious exercifes, feveral princes, 
 prelates, and nobles, believed it to be a neceflary and 
 meritorious duty to found a convent, or nunnery, for 
 thefe female reclufes. Accordingly we find ftill fome 
 vefliges of the once famous monaftery of St Bartho- 
 lomew to this day. A little above the Scotch inn, 
 where, during the interval of hoftilities, the kings 
 and nobles of that nation, upon coming toNewcaftle, 
 generally refided, on the oppofite fide of the ftreet, 
 there ftill remains part of the arch to the great en- 
 trance to the nunnery of St. Bartholomew. What 
 Us extent, or the number of accommodations for its 
 fair refidents, no trace in hiftory remains to inform 
 us. But all ecclefiaftical hiftorians are unanimous in 
 afliiring u<;, that it was the oldeft of all the monaftic 
 buildings in this place. 
 
 From the White-crofs fouthvvard the ftreet leads to 
 the Nun-gate, which gives name to a fmall part of 
 the flreet in its neighbourhood. This gate (which, 
 feveral years ago, was entirely taken down by the 
 corporation} was not the great gate of the nunnery, 
 but a fort of back paiTage to it; for the nunnery was 
 fituated lower down, as may be feen by the ruins of 
 fome old walls in their garden, which ftill go by the 
 name of the nan's garden. 
 
 Speed, in his hiftory, informs us, that it \va^ 
 king Henry I, who founded the hofpital of St. 
 Bartholomew, for the nuns of Newcaftle. The 
 Scottifh hiftorians, Boethius, Fordun, and others, 
 aflert^ that David, king of Scotland, who was 
 
Ce^ucaftie upon Ct^ne. 99 
 
 a great builder of churches, durhig his refidence in 
 this town, A. D. 1 135, founded this nunnery. Whe- 
 ther thefc royal perfonages were, either jointly or in- 
 dividually, the founders of this convent, it feems, 
 however, from hillory, pretty certain, that they were 
 both munificent benefactors to the inftitution. 
 
 Ridpath, in his high!y-infi)rming Border Hillory, 
 fays, that Agas, the mother of Margaret, queen of 
 Scotland, and Chriftian, her filler, after king Mal- 
 colm was killed at Alnwick, anno 1086, incapable of 
 enjoying fociety after that fatal catuftrophe, retired 
 to this nunnery, and took the facred veil. 
 
 Benefactions, donations, and grants, numerous and 
 valuable, poured into this receptacle of fair devotees. 
 
 Large quantities of wheat, rich and fertile lands, 
 villages, Sf-c. all were chearfuUy grunted to the de- 
 vout nuns of St. Bartholomew ; walles, and houfes in 
 the Side, Pilgrim-ftreet, Flefli-market, Oat-market, 
 Darn-crook, and almoft all over the town, belonged 
 to them. That piece of fine land adjacent to the 
 town-moor, called to this day the Nun's-moor, or 
 Leazowes, was alfo the property of thefc fillers, 
 which, after paffing through feveial hands, was at 
 lall, by the abbefs, veiled in the corporation of New- 
 caftle, where it fi:'.!! continues. 
 
 But, in proportion as the convent became opulent, 
 the fillerhood, it is faid, felt an irrefillible propenfity 
 towards the oppofite lex. And fame favs, (but file 
 often lies) that fome of the frail fair ones, by 
 means of a fubterraneous communication with the 
 neighbouring monaflery, became mammas, without 
 the trouble of the marriage ceremony. Mr Bourne 
 fays, that Mr Blackett's ft:eward, Mr Richmond, hf- 
 fured him, that he had feen the eatrance into this 
 
 N 2 fubter- 
 
ICO Impartial IMovp of 
 
 fubterraneous vault, but that it was then filled up 
 with earth. 
 
 Charity, however, which " thinketh no evil," 
 obliges us to view the defign of this vault (if fuch 
 ever exifted) with a more favourable eye : it very 
 probably was a depofirary for wines and other ftorcs, 
 which tlie fair devotees wifhed to be concealed 
 from the views of the cenforious public. How- 
 ever, we well know, that, upon the intention of the 
 relentlefs Henry VIII. of pulling down and Itripping 
 the rich abbeys and monafteries being known, the 
 courtiers and minions of the royal plunderer inftantly 
 fet on to load the faUing priellhood with the blackeft 
 calumnies and fouleft imputations ; fo that, inflead 
 of their being facred receffes of devotion, and fublime 
 medication, they were too truly reprefented as 
 hciving been the filthy dens of hideous impurities, 
 links of frightful pollucions, gluttony, lufts, murders, 
 and particularly of myriads of infanticides, and of 
 other monfhous crimes, wiiich called for the venge- 
 ance of God and rnan I In confequence of this the 
 nunnery of Newcallle amongft others was fully fup- 
 prefTed in the y .=>ar 1 540 : at the time of its diflb- 
 lution it confilled of a priorefs and nine other 
 nuns. 
 
 Such was the overthrow of the numerous and rich- 
 ly endowed rnonafleiies, with which Newcafile for 
 ages had abounded. The fuperftitious devotee may 
 poffibly lament the mighty change, and the in- 
 curable wound given to the papal power in Britain; 
 but the buriling forth of the light of fcience, and 
 civil and religious liberty, flript of their galling 
 chains, appearing to blefs mankind with their be- 
 nign influence, and to Ihed on them their choiceft 
 
 bUbflings, 
 
3^eltic?^ftle upon Cj^ne. loi 
 
 bleffings, powerfully demonflrate, that the change 
 has been wonderfully for the amelioration of the con- 
 dition of mankind. 
 
 ST. MARY MAGDALEN'S HOSPITAL for. 
 LEPERS. 
 
 The leprofy was a loathfome, foul, and painful 
 difeafe. It was, in ancient times, very common 
 among the Afiatics, Egyptians, and other eaftern 
 and fouthern nations. It feems to have been parti- 
 cularly prevalent, as we find in facred writ, among 
 the ancient Ifraelites ; and we read of the numerous 
 precautions to prevent the fpreading of its infectious 
 influence, by excluding the perfon aJected with this 
 dreadful malady from all intercourfe with fociety, 
 till he fliould either recover, or die. 
 
 Phyfiologills tell us, that it was hereditary, and in- 
 fe<!lious ; that it might be caught by the fahva of a 
 leper, if a found perfon drank after him, by contact, 
 or touch ; by lying in the fame bed ; or, by uitercourfe 
 between the fexes. 
 
 That it was common in our own country, appears 
 from this, that hofpitals for lepers were erected al- 
 moft in every town of any confequence in the king- 
 dom. In general, it baffled the power of medicine, 
 and of confequence the patient dragged out a life of 
 the moll exquilite and confunimate mifery. What 
 is very particular however is, that although the fa- 
 tal lift of difeafes which afflict human kind, rather en- 
 creafes in our times ; yet the dreadful one of le- 
 profy is almoil altogether unknown in our favoui'd 
 illand. Monf. St. Fond, that amiable philofopher, 
 and one of the mo(t eminent members of the French 
 
 National 
 
1C2 
 
 Impartial Iptftory of 
 
 National Inftitute, and, to heighten his celebrity, a 
 particular favourite of the Firft Conful, who 
 vifited Newcaflle a few years ago, fpeaking 
 of the many and vaft advantages refulting from 
 the life of coal fuel, has this remarkable obfervation, 
 *' And there can be little doubt, but that it is 
 from the confumption of fo much coal, in the nume- 
 rous great manufadlories in Britain, as well as the 
 plenty of that ufeful mineral employed in domeftic 
 purpofes, that the leprofy, that horribly loathfome 
 diibrder, fo common in other countries, and alfo in 
 England until coal became the general fuel there, 
 has now totally difappeared." 
 
 To afford an afylum for perfons afflicted with this 
 dreadful contagious difeafe, the hofpital of St. Mary 
 Magdalen was founded, and endowed, near the Bar- 
 ras-Bridge, at the northern extremity of the town of 
 Newcaftle. It was placed on a riling ground, and 
 the term Barras was originally Barrows, tumuli, or 
 heights, probably the burying-place of the patients 
 who died of this diforder. No veftiges now remain 
 of that humane inftitution. It was a priory, or hof- 
 pital, for a mailer, brethren, and lifters, to receive 
 and accommodate lepers. 
 
 Pope Alexander III. confirmed the mafter and bre- 
 thren in the polTeflion oi' fuch houfes, gardens, rents, 
 woods, and other property as might be made over to 
 them with an exemption from all tythes. 
 
 King Edward I. confirmed to them a hoiife be- 
 queathed to them by John de Hercelaw. 
 
 John Bland was a great benefadlor to this hofpital, 
 by giving and leaving them many valuable dona- 
 tions, and was buried in their chancel. 
 
 The 
 
I3etDcaille upon fcijnc 103 
 
 The good Roger Thornton, ever among the fair hil 
 of the charitable and humane, left, by his will, two 
 pounds to the " leper men" of Newcallle. 
 
 Fourteen perfons, fays Bourne, reliding in the 
 houfe, were each allowed a room, coals, and eight 
 ihillings per month. Fifteen others, were a 
 fort of out-patients, with different allowances, fome 
 of eight fliillings, fome of five fliillings, and others of 
 two (hiUings and fixpence per month. Upon its dif- 
 folution by a ftatute of Henry VIII. king James 
 1. incorporated it with St Thomas' chapel, on 
 Tyne-bridge, conRituting the mayor and common 
 council patrons. 
 
 Happy has it been for Newcaftle, that the neccf- 
 fity of luch an afylum haa long fince ceafed. a 
 leper being a charader alaioit altogether unknown 
 in our times. 
 
 The monastery of the ST. AUSTIN 
 FRIARS. 
 
 This feems to have been one of the moft beautiful 
 and magnificent of all the religious llrudures, of the 
 monadic orders, in Newcafile. It was fituated on 
 the left hand in going down the Manor-chare, on 
 that extenfive piece of ground, on which have been 
 fince ereded the Freemen's Hofpital, Barber Sur- 
 geon's Hall, &-C. of which we will give an account 
 when defcfibing the Public Buildings, Charitable 
 foundations, &.c. It was founded (fays Wallis in his 
 valuable account of the antiquities of Northumber- 
 land) by William Lord Ros, baron of Wark, upon 
 Tweed, about the year 1290. 
 
 He was one of the moft potent cliieftains of the 
 north, and the branches of his family were rendered 
 
 illuf- 
 
104 3Inipartial Jpifiorp of 
 
 illuilrious by their intermarriages with perfonages of 
 ■ royal dt^-fcent, as Robert de Rds in the reign of Hen- 
 ry II. married one of the daughters of Wilhum king 
 of Scotland, of whom Lord WiUiam defcended in di- 
 red hneage. It was a handfome building, adorned 
 with cloifters, and had a curious chapel. When the 
 ifland was unhappily divided into two diftind, and, 
 too often, rival kingdoms, the Englirti monarchs, 
 when on .their march northwards, with their armies, 
 generally took up their relidence in this facred recefs. 
 It was honoured by Margaret, eldeft daughter of 
 king Henry VII. who was fumptuoufly entertained 
 at this houfe, along with the mayor and principal 
 people of Newcaftle. 1 hat princefs was then af- 
 fianced to the king of Scotland, and was here, with a 
 fplendid retinue, on her journey to that kingdom, on 
 the 24th and 25th of July, 1503. Bourne fays, that 
 in his time, there was ftill a complete quadrangle to 
 be feen, the fouth fide of which has undoubtedly 
 been the chapel. This feems to have been 
 the ancient building, for Grey fpeaks of feme fump- 
 tuous additions that were made to this magnificent 
 monaftery, " In fucceeding ages, fays he, it was en- 
 larged and beautified, with {lately buildings, cloifters, 
 and a fair church." The kings of England, 
 fince the conqueft, fays Bourne, kept houfe in it, 
 when they came with a royal army againft Scot- 
 land. And fince the fuppreflion of mcnafteries in 
 the kingdom, it has been a magazine and ftore- 
 houfe for the north parts. Of late, that prince- 
 ly fabric has been laid level with the ground. 
 ** The pride, covetoufnefs, luxury, and idolatry, of 
 thefe houfes, adds the reverend author, brought 
 
 fudden 
 
3i5)etocaftie upon Ci^ne. 105 
 
 iudden ruin upon theiulelves, and their abodes of in- 
 dolence and voluptuous luxury." 
 
 The order was that of St. Auguiline, contraded 
 Auilin. The name reiletied honour upon the order ; 
 it is a pity, if, as Bourne fays, the order refleded dif- 
 grace upon the name. St. Auguftine \vas the moil 
 celebrated of all the Latin fathers. His language is 
 fo pure and claiTical, his fentiments fo original, fo 
 pious, fo fublime, that, let any one read, and enter 
 into the fpirit of his trad, De civitate Dei, he will 
 imagine himfclf tranfported into the ceieibal abodes. 
 
 They were of the hermits, (inhabitants of the de- 
 fert) and were fent into England, by Lanfrank, of 
 Milan, the firll general of the hermits of St. Auftin, 
 in the year 1252. And from wandering mendicants, 
 they had the addrefs to fecure the favour of the 
 great and powerful, and fo became one of the weal- 
 thieft, and moll; potent orders, under the hierarchy of 
 Rome. 
 
 The celebrity of their name, and the reputed fanc- 
 tity of their order, procured them the fiiendlliip of 
 princes, nobles, barons, wealthy citizens, and mer- 
 chants ; fo that they had lands, houfes, rents, tythes 
 of manors, &c. uninterefting to our readers, and 
 irkfome to ourfelves to enumerate, chiefly as we find 
 thefe holy bcg^^ers made fuch a Iharaeful ufe of the 
 well-intended benevolence of the charitable, and 
 the virtuous. 
 
 By an ordinary of the fraternity of weavers in 
 Newcallle-upon-Tyne, dated the 31(1 of Auguft, 
 ^S^S^ every brother of that iociety is enjoined to be 
 " At the Sante Auguftine's, in the daye of the exalta- 
 cion of the holy crolTe, in every year, and on the 
 none of the fame to go to the dirge and fowle maffe 
 
 O to 
 
io6 Impartial Jpiftorp of 
 
 to be done for the breders and fuflers (brothers and 
 fiflers) of the faid fellowfhips. We will fee curious 
 fpecimens of this farlical mummery, when we come to 
 treat of the different companies. 
 It is remarkable that we find no record of any men 
 of learning among Auguftine friars, in Newcaftle ; 
 although there may have been fuch, but their 
 names and memorial perifhed in the general deftruc^ 
 tion of the monaftery. 
 
 Be that as it may, this houfe was fuppreffed by 
 Henry VIII. in the 30th year of his reign. Andrew 
 Kell, prior, feven brethren, and three novices, fur- 
 rendering their houfe January 9, 1539. 
 
 The Milbank MSS. informs us, that when king 
 James I. came to the throne of England, in the firfl 
 year of his reign, this monaftery was adorned with 
 cloifters, and a fair church, which a Scot, one of his 
 attendants, begged of James. The king granting it, 
 the rapacious Scotfman immediately ftripped it of its 
 fine roof of lead, and fold it I But mark the juft retri- 
 bution of heaven, the fhip that was carrying to a fo- 
 reign market the facrilegious cargo, was itfelf cafl 
 away I The ftones of the monaftery, the fame 
 prophane Caledonian fold to Sir Peter Riddle, 
 who, w'ith them built the fouth front of his 
 fine houfe. But mark again the divine difpleafure, 
 the property is wrefted, (fays good Mr Bourne} 
 from the pofterity of Sir Peter, and has devolved 
 upon captain Dykes. What impiety have we left un- 
 touched 1 
 
 Out of its ruins has fince arofe a workhoufe for the 
 employment of the poor ; a houfe of corredlicn for 
 the unruly, a charity fchool for the indigent children 
 of All Saints, and a dwelling for the mafter, built 
 
 1723; 
 
5[5etDcaGle upon C]mc. 107 
 
 1723 ; all, by the corporation, to whofe pofleflion 
 came the monallery and the adjacent grounds be- 
 longing to it, after the dilTolution of the order. The 
 furgeon's fine hall, and two of the public hofpitals, 
 ftand on part of the ground where were the gardens 
 of the monaflery. Of all which we intend giving an 
 account in their proper place. 
 
 PRIORY OF ST. MICHAEL DE WALL-KlVOLL, 
 Styled, Of the Order of the Holy Trinity, 
 
 We have already obfervedjthat the Carmelites, or 
 White-Friars, upon their arrival in Monkchefter or 
 Newcaftle, had a fituation granted them upon Wall- 
 Knoll, where they founded a inonaftery, which, in 
 procefs of time, was found inaderjuate for their ac- 
 commodation, as the members of their order had pro- 
 digioufly increafed. They therefore deferted this 
 fituation, and chofe one large and fpacious, near the 
 Poftern-gate, in Weftgate-ftreet. 
 
 The brethren of St Michael de WolI-KnoII, were 
 alfo termed Trinitarians or Maturines, ftyled, Of the 
 Holy Trinity, for the redemption of captives ; and 
 were brought into England A. D. 1 224. 
 
 Their rule was that of St. Aullin, with fome pecu- 
 liar conllitutions. And inftead of difguiiing them-" 
 felves with black or grey gowns, cloaks, cowls, &c. 
 like the fpirit of their truly laudable inftitution, they 
 were attired in white robes, with a red and blue crofs 
 upon their breads. 
 
 Their revenues, which foon became ample, were 
 divided into three parts : the firft was for their own 
 maintenance ; the fecond for that of the poor ; and 
 the third for the redemption of chriftians taken 
 
 O 2 captives 
 
io8 impartial fMnvp of 
 
 captives by the Turks, Algerines, and other barba- 
 rous infidels ; amongft whom it was accounted, in 
 thefe dark ages, meritorious to torture fuch chriftians 
 as fell into their hands, with every dreadful fpecies of 
 cruelty. 
 
 There were ten or twelve houfes of this humane 
 and benevolent order, in England and Wales. 
 
 The following Angular circumitance will help us 
 to difcover the foundation charter of this houfe. 
 The celebrated Leland in his Itinerary, tells us " that 
 there was a houfe in Barwyke, ocdinis S. Trinitatis, 
 of the order of the Holy Trinity : But Antony- 
 Beke, byfhope of Durefme (Duvhani) deftrgyed it, 
 (the more fliame to a bifhop I) and th«;n one Wilhani 
 Wakefelde, mailer of the houfe in Barwyke, at the 
 defacing of it came to Newcallle, and by aid of Gul. 
 and Laurence Afton,brethrene, both raerchaunts of 
 Newcaflell, builded within the town of Newcaftell, a 
 houfe of the religion of S. Trinitatis, where Wake- 
 felde himfelf was firft mafter," Leland's Xtiner. 
 vol. 8. Accordingly, we find the foundation charter 
 of this houfe is dated the Wednefday before Pente- 
 coft A. D. 1360. It was confirmed by the bilhop of 
 Durham, (furely not Antony Bekej Odober 2, 1361, 
 and by the dean and chapter there, April 20, 1363. 
 
 The founder was the generous William de Adlon^ 
 burgels of Newcaftle This houfe was dedicated to 
 St. Michael ; and the place where it flood, from its 
 elevated fituation, was called St Michael's Mount. 
 
 William de Wakefelde was very defervedly ap- 
 pointed the firft warden. The fociety were to conlift 
 of tia-ee chaplains of this order ; one whereof was to 
 be tne warden 3 and three poor and infirm perfons, 
 
 and 
 
Ji^etocaftle upon C)?ne. 1^9 
 
 and three clerks to teach fchool and inftrud: in the 
 chapel of the houfe. 
 
 Their Iburces of fupport were, a tenement which 
 belonged to Hugh de Haldenby, two cellars oppolite 
 to Cale-crofs, a piece of ground near the town-wall, 
 a rent of thirty-three (hillings and fourpence (worth 
 fifty pounds now) from a houfe near Lorkburn ; a 
 rent of fifty-feven (hillings and fourpence, from a 
 tenement in Fleflier-rawe I and another of ten (liil- 
 Itngs, from a tenement oppolite Cale-crofs : all given 
 by the truly benevolent founder, good William de 
 Acton, mfrankalmoigne^ free alms-gift. 
 
 The mafter of St. Robert's (another inftitution of 
 the fame order, at Knarelburgh, in Yorkfliire) was 
 appointed vilitor, to vifit them annually, about Tri- 
 nity Sunday ; on which occalion, the maimer of St. 
 Michael was to prefent him with a horfe-load of fifli, 
 and defray the expences of his journey. Failing him, 
 the mayor and baihfts of Newcaftle were to be his 
 vifitors. Three beds were alio to be kept prepared 
 for accidental guefts. 
 
 King Edward HI. 1361, granted a licence of mort- 
 main, to enable William de A6ton to found the hof- 
 pital of St. Trinity anew, and to aflign property to it, 
 to the value of lix pounds three (hillings and four- 
 pence ; all in Newcaftle, in part of their fupport, and 
 for the maintenance of their fuccelTors, for ever. 
 To obtain which licence, the good William de Aclon 
 paid to the king a fine of twenty pounds. 
 
 The fame king Edward III. 13 70, granted a licence 
 of mortmain to Thomas Beutele, chaplain, to enable 
 him to a(Egn a certain void place, and thnteen (hil- 
 lings and fourpence of rent in Newcaftle, to W^illiam 
 de Wakefelde, keeper or warden, and minifter of the 
 
 Holy 
 
no impartial fpiftorj) of 
 
 Holy Trinity, for the redemption of captives, of the 
 Wall-Knoll there, and the brethren of that houfe, in 
 aid of the fupport of a chaplain, to perform divine 
 fervice for the louls of Thomas and William Thorold, 
 their fathers, mothers, and anceftors ; and all the 
 faithful departed, daily, in St. Nicholas' church, in 
 that town. 
 
 Richard II. 1394, granted a licence of mortmain to 
 John de Bamburgh, chaplain, and John de Refham, 
 of Newcallle, to empower them to grant three mef- 
 fuages, fourteen cottages, one toft, three gardens, and 
 thirteen ihiUings of rent, in that town, held of the 
 Icing in free burgage, and by Agnes de Rippon, for 
 her life, to fupport for ever certain charges, accorduig 
 to the ordering of the faid John and John, on this 
 behalf. 
 
 Richaid II. 1397, granted a licence to John Gaudes 
 and Robert de Alnewyk, chaplains, to enable them 
 to affign a meffuage, with its appurtenances, in New- 
 caftle, held in burgage of the king, to the mailer 
 and brethren of this hofpital, in aid of their fupport 
 for ever. 
 
 And the excellent Roger de Thornton (never want- 
 ing in a good adtion) bequeathed two fothers of lead 
 to the reparation of their houfe. 
 
 Other patent grants of tenements in Gallewey- 
 crnft, ill Shelde-felde, and Bjker, were made to this 
 humane inftitution. 
 
 We hope cur candid readers will excufe us for 
 once, and for the laft time too, in being circumftan- 
 tial in the detail of the origin, intention, and means 
 of fupport, for ages, of this truly excellent and highly 
 laudable foundation ; nor do we find a fingle charge 
 againft any of the order, one frail brother excepted ; 
 
 he 
 
BctDcaGIe upon Cjinc. m 
 
 he was convicled of improper intercourie with one 
 married and one unmarried woman. His name was 
 John Felle ; and probably, next to the avarice of 
 Henry VIII. was the caufe of the total diflblution of 
 the order. 
 
 It furrendered on the loth of January, f^^o, an^ 
 was finally dilTolved, and all its valuable lands, gar- 
 dens, melTuages, &.c. were veiled in the corporation, 
 in whofe polleflion they ftill remain. 
 
 Thus we have, in the preceding pages, given a iuc- 
 cincft account of the ancient Roman wall, which ran 
 through Nevvcaflle ; and, by its ftrength, and the 
 fecurity which it prefented to an enterprifing people, 
 laid the foundation of all the fubfequent grandeur 
 and increafing wealth, of this vafl mart of domeliic 
 and foreign trade and commerce with mod civilized 
 nations of the world. We have briefly delineated its 
 walls, towers, and gates, by which it fet at defiance, 
 for ages, hollile invafion ; and, by the valour of its 
 wardours and townfmen, fecured domeftic property 
 and undiflurbed repofe. 
 
 But we have been defignedly more particular in 
 defcribing the numerous religious foundations, monaf- 
 teries, and convents, with which this town abounded 
 for centuries, probably more than any other town 
 or city, of its extent, in the kingdom. The ame- 
 nity of its fituation drew numbers of religious from 
 all parts ; the Ihong and formidable walls, nigh which 
 all the monafteries were built, preferved them, in 
 general, in fecurity ; and the fuavity of manners, and 
 hofpitalicy of diipoiition, peculiar to the people of 
 Newcaftle to this day, retained and engaged them. 
 
 But about the 13th and 14th centuries there arofe 
 a general difcontent in the minds of thoughtful and 
 
 intelligent 
 
112 JnUJattial fMox^ of 
 
 intelligent men, when they obferved the vices oi'the 
 facred order burft forth, without difguife or reflraint. 
 Germany and France called aloud for reformation ; 
 but the papal ear was deaf to their too well founded 
 remonftrances ; while fire and fi^ggot was the threa- 
 tened reward of their audacity and infolence : and 
 the flames of John Hufs, and Jerome of Prague, were 
 kindled, as a dreadful caution to all fuch, let their 
 condition of life be ever fo exalted, as fhould dare to 
 call in queflion, even the moft glaring and the moft 
 flagitious coudu6t of the clerical orders. This violent 
 procedure of the papal court precipitated the over- 
 throw of its power in many of the moft enlightened, 
 as well as warlike, nations of Europe ; while the con- 
 tempt with which the centum gravamina (the hun- 
 dred grievances) of the Germans, and the loud com- 
 plaints of other nations, were treated, together with 
 the cruel deaths inflifted on the beft of men, by bar- 
 barous, bloody, clerical butchers, excited the indig- 
 nation of all the confiderate and virtuous in Chriften- 
 dom. Nor were the ears of Britons inattentive to 
 the powerful call for a reform in the whole fyftem of 
 rehgion, and particularly in the lives and deportment 
 of its teachers, fo ofFenfive and criminal in the eyes 
 of the world. The cry was particularly loud againft 
 the monaftic orders, of both faxes. Orders, for whofe 
 exiflence there is neither the leaft veftige of founda- 
 tion in facred writ, nor do they derive any counte- 
 nance from reafon or the conftitution of human na- 
 ture : while the celebate vow, and unnatural reftraints 
 upon the innocent propenlities of mankind, incited 
 thefe reclufes to pra6lices foul and flagitious, by the 
 moft deteftable gratifications. But, while the Ger- 
 man remonftrants obtained their religious liberty at 
 » " the 
 
Betocamc u))on Cpne. 
 
 the point of the fword, Providence employed a new 
 and very unexpefled mode of fecuring this celcilial 
 ble/Ting to Britain ; and this was by over-ruling the 
 luft, and direding the fiery paffions of that ftern 
 and furious tyrant, Henry Vlll. againft that op- 
 preflive power, of whofe faith he gloried in being 
 the defender. Meantime the fpiritual and temporal 
 tyrants were both too proud to make the finalleft re- 
 ciprocal concefTion : the one entrenched in his bulls 
 and anathemas ; the other in his powerful armies 
 and well appointed fleets. Nor did Henry ima- 
 gine that he could give a more effeclual blow either 
 to the pontifical pride, the infatiable avarice, or the 
 boundlefs luxuries of his haughty rival, than, by 
 one bold flroke, to overthrow the monafteries, nun- 
 neries, and cloifters, in his whole dominions ; and 
 this the royal barbarian immediately put in execu- 
 tion, quartering alive, in their own convents, any 
 who dared to make the fmalleft refiftance. But to 
 vindicate, to the furrounding and aftonifhed nations, 
 in fome meafure, the violence, or, as he alledged, 
 the propriety of his procedure, he caufed to be pub- 
 liihed to the world fuch a lift of crimes, that were 
 difcovered (as has already been obferved) in thefe 
 manfions offan6lity^ as filled all men with horror. 
 Be that as it may, the monks and nuns were ex- 
 pelled ; the monfteries, containing treafures of pro- 
 digious value, were plundered ; and, to confummate 
 the cataftrophe, the abbeys were ftripped of their 
 lands, containing at leaft one-fourth part of the 
 laireft and moft fertile domains of the kingdom, which 
 were annexed to the crown, or reftored to ancient 
 and illuftrious families, reduced to indigence by the 
 art and addrefs of their tyrannical confeflbrs, 
 
 P Nor 
 
.i,if . impartial !!)iftcrp of -—- 
 
 Nor did the monaderies, priories, and nuDnerics ot 
 Newcaflle, numerous and rich as ihcy were, efcape 
 :the rapacity of the royal, rough reformer ; and wha^ 
 had eipployed the unremitting energy and the pro- 
 ioundelt addrcfs of that powerful body, the clergy, 
 to rear and maintain, was, as if by a fudden political 
 cxplofion, in a moment laid in ruins. The devotee, 
 and the votary of clerical power, join in execrating 
 *the arm that dealt the deadly blow. Even Mr* 
 Brand, in his Hiftory of Newcaftle, defcribing the 
 ruinated condition of the once flately monaftcry of 
 the Black Friars, obferves : " The weft window of 
 the chapel, now partly built up, flill difcovers it to 
 have been a mod elegant defign, and beautiful exe- 
 cution. The whole pile has ftill a monaftic appear- 
 ance, and affords a mournful inllance of the vicifli- 
 fude of all human things. Once the reccfs of a. re. 
 Ipedable order of religious, who were the fole patrons 
 :ind poiTeffors of the learning of their times, it is now 
 tenanted by ignorant old vomen : fome of it is con- 
 verted into flablingj and its out-offices are appropri- 
 afed'^to tlie feeding of hogs." — Brand's liiJi.voL 1. 
 
 '''Upon which pa fifage, the ingenious Reviewers 
 
 '^apoftrophize which too much truth :— ^" As to the 
 
 ^earning and theological knowledge, which:, (he re- 
 
 X'byend author alTerfs weVe monopolized by thefe 
 
 -jrhoftly tenants of cloffters, and tlie deftfu£lIon of 
 
 -which he feems fo pathetically to^'kment, we have a 
 
 •Wi-efched fpecimi-ert, as iq^oted by himfelf, ift the 
 
 ■ doughty '(^lfp\3te among the doctors of St. Andtetx^'s, 
 
 - whether the Fatcr Nojier (the Lord's Prayed) fiiould 
 
 ■b€ addrefled to ibe fafnt?, or not ; or, if it fliould, 
 
 with what degree of devotion ought it to be ad- 
 
 drelTcd 
 
lact^acaGle upon Cinic, us 
 
 d reded ; — whether to God, primario (firflly, aiid to 
 the faints, facundario (fecondly) ; — to God, prlnd- 
 faliter ' (principally), to the faints, in'mus principalis 
 ter (lefs principally). What a fund of theological 
 learning, loft ! gone, forever !" . As to thefe halls of 
 grey renown being tenanted now by ** ignorant old 
 women,'* they add :• '*' Yet there is not an old wo- 
 man there, that is fo ignorant as not to know that 
 God Almighty is alone the obje<^ of worfliip. That 
 the venerable pile is inhabited by decayed tradefmen 
 and mechanics, who have virtuoufly fpent the vi- 
 gour of their days in bufmcffes ufeful to fociety, and 
 have fitted up decent rooms in thefe defolated man- 
 ilons, as calm retreats in their evening of life, is pro- 
 bably ferving an equally valuable purpofe, as when, 
 in the former times of their fplendor and affluence, a 
 black fvvarm of lazy drones of monks rioted there in 
 'guorance, luxury, and vice!" 
 . TbuSf we have attempted an account of things ihgi 
 are new no more. It is proper, then, to proceed in 
 the profecution of our plan, by giving a delineation 
 of things that now exjjl. Previous, however to our 
 hiftory, it will be proper to prefent our readers with 
 a diftinci account of the ftreets, lanes, &c. which 
 communicate with the principal ftreets, and likewife 
 fon^e of the new buildings that are more particularly- 
 worthy of notice. 
 
 We have already made fome remarks on Weft- 
 
 gate-ftreet ; near the head of which, to the 2-ight, is 
 
 a beautiful new fquare, called Charlotte-fquare, fpa- 
 
 ciotss and airy, and containing many elegant houfes, 
 
 pofTefled by opulent and fafliionable inhabitants. It 
 
 ...was. b»ilf.by Jklr. JtoytoA,-.ai:chite^, Avho likewife 
 
 .hfi/ofH "•♦ If ,-fo i Jo/I lo jp^^.^'A '>':\ -> \ built 
 
 .•dguo'floJJovab 
 
ii^ Impartial itviGor^ of 
 
 built St. Anne*s chapel and the New AfTembly 
 Rooms, and who died very lately. 
 "From a divifion of Weftgate-flreet, fronting tlie 
 Aflembly Rooms, the (hort flreet next that beauti- 
 fy! building is called Fenkle-ftreet ; from which, ^' 
 the right, is a pretty long winding ftreet, called 
 Shod-Friar-chare, from its vicinity to the Black- 
 Friars* m.onaftery, whofe fraternity wore fhoes, as 
 thofe of the Grey-Friars went bare-footed. But it i5 
 now ufually called Low-Friar-chare, in contradif- 
 tin.£Vion to the upper, or High-Friar-chare, near 
 Newgate. 
 
 In this flreet, which contains feveral valuable tan- 
 neries, the property of Alderman Yielder, &c. is 
 an edifice worthy of a particular and minute de- 
 fcription ; we mean the public difpenfary for the 
 relief of indigent patients at their own houfes. In- 
 oculation, not only gratis for the operation, but 
 attended with a gratuity, (no where elfe granted, 
 \ye believe) to enable the relations to attend the pa- 
 tients till they recover. We are prevented, how- 
 eyer, by our plan, from gratifying our readers with 
 a full account of this truly excellent and humane 
 inftitution, till we come to that material divifion o^ 
 our work. Charitable Foundations, ^c. 
 
 In coming down "Weflgate-ftreet, by the weft end 
 &f St. John's church, there is a fmall but clean ftreet, 
 called St. John's-lane, inhabited moftly by private 
 perfons. It commufiicates with the Bigg-market, 
 Ijear the Nun-gate. " ' 
 
 ■"Further down, mil bM'te'Teft,-xv¥cBrile'to Pud- 
 ding-chare. It ought to be named, fays Bourne, 
 Bqdding-chare ; and tJiat formerly there -was a"' tha- 
 ^"^-^^ . ■ Htable 
 
 sd3 
 
Bctocaftlc upon Cync. 1 1 7 
 
 ritable inftitution here for /the poor, but it has long 
 been erazed. This ftreet has nothing to recommend 
 H to notice, being in general unfightly, dark, and 
 dirty. It communicates with St. John's church-yard, 
 or rather with a foot- way, railed off at the end of it, 
 called, from i'.s vicinity to a large repofitory of the 
 dead, " Graves-end walkjf*, bjf-^ another^ frn^U (trect, 
 
 called Rofemary-lane. --,1 l-'.-y .".!!'<- 
 
 But our attention is here arrefted by feeing in this 
 pleanfant recefs the front of the Lying-in Hofpital for 
 Poor married woman ; and, to complete the benevo- 
 lent eftablifhment, an additional charity was infti- 
 tuled in 1761 for poor lying-in women at their own 
 habitations, in Newcaftle and Gatefiiead. When 
 we come to defcribe the public charitable inflitu^- 
 rions, we fhall, with particular fatisfa^tion, give a 
 full detail of this truly laudable one. Pudding.^ 
 chare joins the head of Groat-market-flreet. 
 
 Further down, on the fame fide, is a chare, or lane 
 called Denton-chare ; and leads by a (Irait line to 
 
 the weft end of St. Nicholas church. It is narrow, 
 »■ 
 
 but the houfes on each iide are not high, and there, 
 fore it is light, and handfomely paved with flag-ftones. 
 It is almofl one continued fhop of fruits, of the moll 
 ufeful and pleafant kinds. 
 
 On the fame fide of the ftreet, further down, we 
 come to a fnort wide ftreet, called Back-Row. It 
 leads from the foot of Weftgate, weftward, to the 
 Poftern in the town wall called White-Friar-gate^ 
 The Poflern-ftreet contains nothing particular, ex- 
 cept a neat chapel, which has lately been erc£led for 
 the diffenters formerly in. connexion with the late 
 CGuntefs of Huntingdon, of which an account will be 
 giyen under the bpad of churches and chapels, Nex^ 
 
 the 
 
118 ImpartinT Ipiftorp of 
 
 the gate, by the righi hand, is a row of mofl: delight- 
 ful houfes, near to the town-wall, but quite overlook- 
 ing it, and commanding a charming profpe^t towards 
 Ravenfworthcaftle, Windmill-hills, &c. It is called 
 (not improperly) Paradife-row. It extends wefl ward 
 to a fme open green area, belonging to the Spital, 
 and appropriated to the ufe of the fcholars of the 
 Royal Grammar-fchool, as a place of amufemeht in 
 the intervals of learning. 
 
 Back-row extends eaftward to the gate of the caftle, 
 (not mis-called) the Black-gate. It was, in old 
 times, named the Gallow gate j as prifoners found 
 guilty are brought from the county prifon, in the old 
 caftle, by this flreet, in tiulr way to the gallows with- 
 out Weflgate. 
 
 Next to the Back-row is Bayly-gate, or Bailiff-gate. 
 It leads towards the caftle, into which it has anciently 
 conducted by a poftern-gate. Bourne fays, that it 
 obtained this name from the felons of the county of 
 Northumberland coming along this flreet, attended 
 by the county bailiffs. It is not altogether impro- 
 bable that this might have been the occafion of fo 
 naming it ; as, in thofe days of turbulence and dif- 
 fention, it would require a little hoft of bailiffs, well 
 armed, to guard and convey half a fcore of thofe fons 
 of violence to the frightful place of confinement in 
 the caftle. Dr. Robertfon, in his admirable Hiftory 
 of Scotland, tells us, that in the days of the unfortu- 
 nate, beautiful Mary, when regent Murray went on 
 a judiciary progrefs towards the borders, in order, to 
 rid the toixtitr^' of marauders,' JYe'-tvas attended by 
 an arrny of ten thoufand men, with all the flierifi^^ 
 and their refpeftive attendants^ X)f ■the difier^nt, ggi^- 
 ties through whjsh h^^p^^egf,;,' ;V;,"^„ ,,2m,-^^^^ 
 
5i5clDca(lIc upon Ci)nc» 119 
 
 But Mr, Brand is not pleafed with this derivation, 
 and fays, that it plainly had its name from the Bal- 
 h'um of the caflle. It is, however, of little or no 
 confequence, what was its true etymon. 
 
 The eaft end of this ftreet is interfe£led by the 
 paflage from the defcent into the Clofe, called Lonori 
 flairs, which, from thence to the eaft end of the Back- 
 row, is at prefent called Queen-ftreet. There is a 
 communication between the head of Long-flairs and 
 Caflle-flairs, called Bank-fide, and a flill fhortcr by a 
 fubterraneous or arched paflage called Shcep-Hcad- 
 al!ey. 
 
 The names of thefe places feem uncouth and con- 
 temptible to the modern and poliflied inhabitants of 
 Newcaflle ; but in former times, when the caflle, 
 with its flrong environs, commanded and defended 
 the town, they were then of great confequence. 
 
 From the fouth weft corner of BaililF-gate to the 
 Tuthill-flairs, at the foot of Weftgate-flreet, is a beau- 
 tiful termination of it by fpacious and fplendid houfes, 
 which have the name of Clavcring-place ; furpnfled 
 Hill by thofe on the oppofite fide, in point of regula- 
 nty and fituation, called Hanover- fquare. No pan 
 jjn or about Newcaflle excels, or indeed equals, th^ 
 ;charming profped which thefe delightful abodes com- 
 mand, from the vicinity of White-Friar tower, of the 
 river, Wickham, Axwell Park-houfe, Sec, 
 * Nearly at the end of Puddlng-chare, the flreet 
 called Bigg, or Groat-market, branches out into three 
 dlviflons. That next to Weftgate-flreet is called the 
 Meal or Groat-market ; that next to it is named the 
 Middle-ftre'et ; and that next to Pllgrim-ftreet. the 
 nefh-markct, or now Old Flefli-markeil "S^^^"'^' •'" • 
 
 The 
 
120 Impartial fpiftori) of 
 
 The Bigg-market was fo named, not for its fpacious 
 extent of area, which indeed is very large, but from 
 a kind oi grain dialled bigg being fold here. 
 
 Meal-m^.rket, or Oatmcal-markct, was fo named 
 as being the daily market for that commodity. It 
 was called alfo Groat-market, from this article being 
 fold here. Thefe neceffaries of life are not now con- 
 fined to any particular ftreet, but may bf. h;' 1 in the 
 flour-fhops in every quarter of the tow :. What 
 name it had formerly, fays Mr. Bourne, I k/ovv not, 
 but this is certain, that it has retained its prefent 
 name of the Groat-market sbove two hundred yearsi 
 It contains many fhops for hardware, linen and 
 woollen-drapers, bookfellers, &c. It has long been 
 known as the ftreet where houfehold furniture of all 
 kinds may at any time be purchafed. Here alfo v.ere 
 the Old Affembly Rooms, which are now appropri- 
 ated to the ufe of the Literary and Philofophical Sa- 
 ciety, as a place of meeting, and a repofitory for 
 their valuable and extenfive library, inftruments, na- 
 tural curiofities, &c. — A particular account of this 
 will be given when we come to defcribe the other 
 public inftitutions. 
 
 The Middle- ftreet is fo called from being between 
 the Groat market and the Old Flefii-market. It has no- 
 thing ftriking in its appearance. It had formerly 
 three names ; the upper part was called Skinner- 
 gate, the lower parts Spurrier- gate and Sadler- gate. 
 It is a place where all forts of artificers have their 
 Ihops and houfes. 
 
 Between the foot of this ftreet and the Groat-mar- 
 ket, is the Wool-market, kept for that commodity 
 every Saturday. 
 
 The 
 
3i5clDcallle upon <!i.^nz. m 
 
 The FledMiiarket is on the north-eaft fide, next to 
 PilgTim.ftreet. It is large and broad at the bottom, 
 but it gradually narrows towards the High-Bridge, 
 where it terminates. As it is a place of great confe- 
 quence, we will be the more particular in our defcrip- 
 tion of it. 
 
 Grey tells us us, " that when the good men of this 
 town began to trade, and venture abroad beyond the 
 feas, they built many fliips, and procured a charter 
 from the kings of England, to carry felt beyond feas, 
 and to bring in foreign commodities. The ftaple 
 was then at Antwerp, in Brabant, called Commune 
 totius Europte Emporium, The common Emporium of 
 all Europe. The charter of the Merchant Adven- 
 turers in Newcadle was the firft charter that was 
 granted by any king to any town. 
 
 " After this grant, this town flouriflied in trading, 
 built many fair houfes in the Flefh -market, then 
 called the Cloth-market. The merchants had their 
 fhops and warehoufes in the back part of their 
 houfes. The river Tyne flowed and ebbed here, 
 and boats came uj) with commodities ; which trade 
 continued many years. 
 
 " In this ftreet, the mayors, (before the manfion- 
 houfe was eredcd) aldermen, and richeft men of the 
 town, lived." 
 
 Part of the prefent Flefli-market was called the 
 Cloth-market, and part of it the Flefli-market and 
 Filb-market. This, adds Mr. Bourne, was the mar- 
 ket for the fi(h which came up in boats to the Ne^ 
 ther-dean-bridge, or Low-bridge, before the em- 
 bankment of the Tyne, by the large and commo- 
 dious quay. The market for all kinds of flerti-meat, 
 held here every Saturday, is probably the largeft 
 and beft ftored fingle market of any in die kingdom. 
 
 Q_ A 
 
122 impartial Jpiftoii) of 
 
 A ftranger is llruck with furprlfe when he views the 
 long and extended rows cf butchers' ftalls, loaded 
 with meat of the riclieft and moll delicious kinds ; 
 the mutton, beef, 8j.c. being moftiy of the Scotch or 
 Northumberland breed, and fattened in the rich 
 paflures of the graziers in the vicinity of Newcadle, 
 poflefs a fl;ivour unknown in the more fouthern 
 counties. But we will fpeak of this more fully af- 
 terwards, when defcribing the fupplies and provi- 
 fions of Newcaflle, lairs, markets, &-c. 
 
 At the foot of the Fleili-market flood the Cord- 
 wainers' meeting-houfe, v/hich, in the year 1789, 
 was pulled down, and a new hall for the meetings of 
 that numerous body, as alio a leathcr-houfe, were 
 built in the middle of the High-bridge. A weigh- 
 houfe, conftrudled of wood, for afcertaining difputed 
 weight of butcher's meat, and for weighing large 
 joints, is fitted up on the fite of the former Cord- 
 wainers' Hall. 
 
 On the upper or north end of the Flefli-market is 
 the High-britlge, or Upper-dean-bridge, to diftin- 
 guilh it from the Nether, or Low-bridge, and con- 
 ducts from the foot of the Bigg-market to Pilgrim- 
 ftreet. It had this name of High-bridge from its 
 having a bridge over a bourn or runner, that Hill 
 flows pall the Poft-oflice and under Dean-flreet. 
 The arch of the High-bridge was probably level with 
 the ftreet; but befoVe the great alteration further 
 down the dean, the banks on each lide of the bourn 
 were of a great afcent ; fo that when the Roman 
 wall ran over this ftream, by the Low.bridge, to the 
 eaft end of St. Nicholas' church-yard, that commu_ 
 niciition was of great height, and, like all the works 
 of that mighty people, flrongly built. 
 
 The corporation of Newcallle built, feme years 
 
 ago, 
 
j|?)eloca(llc upon Ci)ne. 123 
 
 ago, on the fouth fide ot the weft end of this ftreet, 
 a covered place for a market for poultry, &c. and 
 another adjoining for the fale of butter, which mar- 
 kets are held here accordingly every Saturday. 
 
 During the prefent war, the Poultry-market has 
 been fitted up for a temporary guard-houfe, and for 
 horfe-artillery, (lores, &.c. while the call extremity 
 has been, during the fevere months of two winters 
 part, converted into a large foup-kitchen, where 
 thoufunds, ready to perifli, Inve been comfortably 
 relieved. Of which an account will afterwards be 
 given. 
 
 From Nun-gate we come along a large, wide, well- 
 paved ftreet, with ninny handfome houfcs on both 
 fides. It has the general name of the White Crofs, 
 from a crofs of that name placed in the middle of 
 the (treet. See afterwards. 
 
 Approaching St. Andrew's church, we come to 
 Darn-crook, The buildings are moftly tanneries, 
 which, however ufeful to a large commercial town, 
 have notinng to attrad: the attention of the hillorian. 
 Acrofs the ftreet is a little ruuiier, arched over, 
 which fixes the limits of liberty to walk, by debtors 
 not confined to clofe prifon, and is known by the 
 name of Execution-Dock.* Ail this vicmity is 
 named, in general, Newgate-ftreet. Here are ibme 
 0^2 plea fa nt 
 
 * The word Dock, or Dde, in a gloflary of the Eilex diale(fl:, 
 fii^nifies rivulet, or runner; which, indeed, is extremely proba- 
 ble. It is remarkable, that the abbey or palace of HoUyrood, 
 
 in hdinburgh, and the adjacent houfes, have for ages ferved as 
 an afylum for Great Villains, felony and treafon excepted ; and 
 when once the fugitive from juftice fteps over die Jbhey-Jlrand, he 
 can fet at defiance all the peace-officers in Scotland. Little 
 
 Rogues, 
 
124 Impartial fpiQorp of 
 
 pleafant buildings, particularly in Green-court, Sf-c. 
 A long winding ftreet, with very few houfes on 
 the fouth fide, while the town wall, mouldering into 
 ruin, prefents its defolations on the north, is called 
 High.Friar.ftreet, and leads to Pilgrim-ftreet Gate. 
 
 The suburbs of NEWGATE. 
 
 Without Newgate, over which is the town prifon, 
 to the left, is the llreet called Gallovv-gate. Its ety- 
 mology, if not very high founding, is of eafy deri- 
 vation, it being the road by which malefadors under 
 the jurifdiction of Newcallle are condud;ed to the 
 gallows. This difmal place, where the fatal tree 
 Hands, is very low, and is named the Gallows. Hole. 
 Adjacent are fome wind-jnills belonging to Mr. Dar- 
 nell, of large conftrucftion, for grindmg corn. 
 
 The Gallow-gate has nothing to recommend it, 
 either for its name to pleafe the ear, or its houfes to 
 pleafe the eye. 
 
 To the honour, however, of the inhabitants of 
 Newcaftle, there are fewer culprits pafs this lament, 
 able road, to receive the legal reward of their crimes, 
 than probably in any town in England of its fize 
 and numerous employments. 
 
 At the top of this llreet is a lane, which brings us 
 clofe almolt by the walls, to the great military road 
 that leads to Carlifle. 
 
 The fuburbs, both of New- gate and of Pilgrim- gate, 
 Grey informs us, were ruined in the civil wars, or, as 
 
 Mr. 
 
 Rogues, who cannot pay for lodgings in the privileged royal 
 refidence, muft fufFer imprifonment. 
 
 " Small rogues hang, that-greater ones may dine." — Pope. 
 
Ji5c\ncanie upon Cwic i? 
 
 IVIr. Brand terms it, the grand rebellion by the Scots .» 
 — When that nation refented the encroachments on 
 their religious liberties, and were invited to join their 
 forces witii their brethren on the icuth of the Tweed, 
 who were equally jealous of the infringements made 
 upon their civil liberties, it was little wonder that 
 Newcaftle, which zealoully flood by the royal caufe, 
 fuffered in the mighty conflid : and it is probable 
 that the befieging army, fmding refiftance from Sir 
 John Marley, the mayor, and a powerful party, de- 
 ftroyed the fuburbs, in order that their battering can- 
 non might play upon the walls with more eftcdl. 
 
 To the right-hand, without Newgate, is a Itreet, 
 called formerly Sidgate, now Pefcy-llreet, that, how- 
 ever contemptible in Mr. Bourne's time, bids fair, by 
 recent improvements, to beco'.ne one ot tlie molt 
 falhionable parts of the town. The line and produc- 
 tive gardens and nuri'eries of the late Mr. Michael 
 Callender have been converted into areas for building 
 by his fon ; and already a new llreet runs up from 
 Percy-rtreet to Strawberry-lane. Building, all along 
 a lane called BHndman's-lane, goes rapidly forward. 
 On the left hand of Percy- llreet, a little higher up, 
 was formerly a burying-place for difTenters In this 
 ground feveral eminent and worthy clergymen of 
 that denomination, and many other refpedable cha- 
 .ra(5lers, lie interred. It is rather curious to be 
 informed by Mr. Brand, that he read a public regif- 
 
 ter 
 
 * But let us hear who was the real dedroyer of the fuburbs of 
 Newcaftle. Wallis fays, that when General Leflie commanded 
 the Scots, who were, in 1643, befieging Newcaftle, the Marquis 
 of Newcaftle, tlicn governor for the king, burnt down one hun- 
 dred houfes in the fuburbs. 
 
126 Jiui^actial i^idicx^ of 
 
 ter in St. Andrew's church veftiy, intimating, that 
 there was a burying-place in Sidgate of the " qiiigs," 
 (whigs.) And to this day, diffenters, in many parts of 
 
 Northiunberland, are termed whigs the higheft 
 
 title of honour, as Lord North faid in ParHament, 
 that can be beilovved on a Briton, and he boailcd 
 that he was fincerely a whig himfelf. 
 
 In Percy-ftreet are many elegant houfes, with plea- 
 fant gardens towards the Leifovves. The llreet is 
 wide and airy ; the fituation, all the way to the Bar- 
 ras-bridge, is exceedingly delightful and healthy. 
 This bridge, over a fteep dean, was formerly nar- 
 row, ill-built, and in dark nights dangerous to paflen- 
 gers, efpecially on horfeback. Of late it, has been 
 widened about double its former extent, with a flag- 
 ged foot-way on each fide, and is now made exceed- 
 ingly convenient. 
 
 In turning to the right hand from the north end 
 of Percy-flreet we enter the town again by the long- 
 ell, lighteft, and molt elegant ftreet in NewcaRle. It 
 is in general called Pilgriin-llreet, from the number 
 of pilgrims who took up their refidence in this 
 llreet, on their road to perform their devotions at jef- 
 mond, that. is, Jefus' Mount. Immediately upon our 
 entering into this llreet, on the left, there is a hand- 
 fome lane, called Vine-lane, with a i'^w agreeable 
 houfes; but paiiing down into what is called the 
 Dean, or Fandon-dean, we literally have, what Mr. 
 Bourne \^ifiled, to this retired vale, a fmall dream, 
 with a pleafant walk ; for this long winding hollow 
 piece of ground, which was wafte and wild, covered 
 with bi ambles and thorns, is now totally converted, 
 by the hand of indullry, into a vaft number of plea- 
 lant though fmall gardens, for the recreation of 
 
 many 
 
3i35e\i3cnllle upon Cmie. 127 
 
 many of the iiiduilrious tradefmen of Newcaftle. In 
 a fine morning of May, to a lover of retirement, 
 few walks can be more friendly to rational reflexion, 
 than that of Pandon-dean. 
 
 From the top of Pilgriin-flreet to Pilgrim-gate, it 
 is named Northumberland-flreet ; part of which was 
 called Pedlar or Pethar-row, from its being built by 
 a fuccefsful man of bufinels, whofe younger days 
 were fpent as a pedeftrian merchant, and who, get- 
 ting forward in life, built a number of thefe pleafant 
 houfes, which Hill go by that appellation, with fine 
 fmall gardens adjoining. Newcaftle does not, in 
 any of its ftreets, prefent more elegant, fpacious, and 
 finely built houfes, than are to be found in this. 
 
 The late Alderman Hedley's' houfe generally at- 
 tradls the attention of the ftranger. It is conrtru6ted 
 with the exacleft fyinmetry of deiign, and having 
 the advantage of a fpacious Iheet in front, has a fine 
 effed:. Since the death of that gentleman, it is ge- 
 nerally rented by the commanding officer of the 
 troops llationcd in Newcaftle, who finds it conveni- 
 ent, as they commonly parade in this ftreet. But the 
 pride and boaft of Northumberland-ftreet is Saville- 
 row. This is truly a range of grand buildings. It 
 had its name from the late amiable and excellent 
 Sir George Saville, who, during the x\merican war, 
 in the years 1776 and 1777, refided here as colonel 
 of the W. York militia. He endeared himfelf to all 
 ranks of people in this country. Indeed, his pa- 
 triotifm as a fenator, his talents as a philofopher, his 
 humanity, condefcenfion, and liberahty as a man, 
 (while his ample fortune gave full fcope to the exer- 
 tion of his benevolence) made him the darling of the 
 regiment he commanded, and the objedl of univerfal 
 
 efteem ; 
 
128 Impartial fpiftorg of 
 
 efteem ; a few interefted courtiers excepted. From 
 this illuftrioiis charadter Saville-row had its name. 
 At the end of Saville-row is a neat little place, called 
 Saville-court ; and adjoining to it are fome hand- 
 fonie buildings, named Queen.fquare, of which only 
 two angles are yet conflruded. A little further 
 down Northumberland-llreet, on the fame fide, is 
 Liile-ftreet, which is lefs ftiowy than Saville-row, but 
 it leads to a number of line houfes, and one leflTer 
 ftreet, interfeding it, called Princes-ftreet, running 
 into Saville-row, and confiding of very commodious 
 dwellings. At the foot of Northumberland-ftreet, 
 near to Pilgrim-ftreet Gate, is a range of very neat 
 houfes, which bears the name of Northumberland- 
 place, and diredly on the oppolite fide is Northum- 
 berland-court, forming a pafTage into the grounds be- 
 hind. Many of the houfes in Northumberland- 
 flreet, efpecially thofe on the eall fide, being on an 
 elevated fituation, command a fine profped north- 
 ward and eaftward ; Shieldfield, Byker, Heaton-hall, 
 and places adjacent, with part of the county of 
 Durham, being in full view. In former times, they 
 built for itrength and fafety. Hollile invafions, ma- 
 rauding free-booters, and mofs-troopers, ceafing now 
 to exift, the gentlemen of Newcaflle, after trarfadl- 
 ing buiinefs for tboufands, retire from their compt- 
 ing-houfes to thofe delightful habitations, to the 
 enjoyment of the fruits of their indullrious adivity, 
 undifquieted, amidft their fmiling, happy families. 
 
 When we come within Pilgrim. ftreet Gate, to 
 the left is a lane that leads clofe by the wall, 
 which here is nearly entire, to the field called Car- 
 liol Croft. Through this extenfive field there is a 
 walk, prefenting a profped of many hanging gar- 
 dens 
 
BetoeaSIe upon Cjinc 129 
 
 dens on the right ; while from the walls we have a 
 truly pidlurefqiie and extenlive view almoft in all 
 diredlions. Palling the large brewery (of which an 
 account will be given) belonging to Graham Clark, 
 Efi]. a gentleman of extenlive concerns, pofTeffing 
 great talents for bufinefs, and to whom the town has 
 been as much indebted, for the extenfion of its fo- 
 reign commerce and enterprizing adventure, as to 
 any other of its fpirited men of trade and bufinefs, 
 we meet with nothing fingular, on either fide, but 
 one continuation of fine, elegant houfes ; all on the 
 eafl fide having pleafant and extenfive gardens, flop- 
 ing down to the runner that feparates them from 
 Carliol- croft, and fenced in by a long high wall. 
 
 But the glory of Pilgrim-ftreet, and indeed of New- 
 caftle, is the magnificent houfe belonging to the late 
 Sir Walter Blackett. 
 
 This noble manlion ftrikes all ftrangers, at fiifl 
 fight. It was built on the ruins of the Francifcaii 
 monafiery ; only the north and fouth wings were 
 added to the body of the fabric, by Sir Wm. Blackett, 
 Bart. Sir Walter's grandfather. 
 
 Grey fays, that it is a princely houfe ; and " indeed 
 (adds Bourne) it is no lefs than very ftately and mag- 
 nificent, being fuppofed the mol\ fo of any houfe in 
 the whole kingdom, within a walled town, k is fur- 
 rounded with a vafl: quantity of ground. That part 
 of it which faces the ftreet is thrown into walks and 
 grafs plats, beautified with images, and befet with 
 trees, which afford a pleafant fiiade. The ground on 
 the well fide is a garden, exceedingly neat, adorned 
 with many beautiful ftatues, and other curiofities." 
 It has indeed a commanding appearance ; and from 
 the fpacious avenue being, as Mr. Bourne fays, fhaded 
 
 R with 
 
130 Impartial MWov^ of 
 
 with trees, it was ufually, till Sir Walter's death, cal- 
 led The Trees. And, " to be at the Trees," was only 
 another term for indulging in the higheft ftile of ge- 
 nial conviviality ; for Sir Walter was truly a noble 
 and generous landlord. 
 
 This fplendid, hofpitable manfion, was honoured 
 with a gueft, no lefs illullrious for his private virtues, 
 than for his misfortunes. The reader will at once 
 anticipate the neceility of our mentioning Charles I. 
 Here the royal prifoner was entertained, and kept, at 
 large indeed, but (Irictly watched, till the period of 
 his being delivered up to the army of the parhament. 
 
 As Sir Walter Blackett made fuch a dillinguiflied 
 figure ill the town of Newcallle, during a long and 
 adive life, let us deviate a moment from the more 
 immediate fubjecl of our hillory, to delineate the 
 charader of one of its faireft ornaments and moft mu- 
 nificent patrons, 
 
 Walter Caverley, of Caverley, Efq. was fon and 
 heir of Sir Walter Caverley, of Caverley, in York- 
 fhire, Bart. He married the daughter and fole heir- 
 efs of Sir William Blackett, Bart, fon to the fecond 
 Sir' William Blackett, Bart, of Newcaftle upon Tyne, 
 and who was high ilierift' of Northumberland, 1689. 
 By this alliance he came to a large fortune, and alfo 
 to the title of knighthood, being created Sir Walter 
 Caverley Blackett, Bart, anno 1729. He was high 
 fherifF of Northumberland 1732. In February 1734 
 Sir Walter was chofen one of the reprefentatives in 
 parliament for the corporation of Newcaftle upon 
 Tyne ; which high flation, notwithllanding fome con- 
 tefted elections, he kept, by a great majority of votes, 
 for the long period of forty years, indeed till his death. 
 
 Although 
 
3!5e\i3ca(llc upon Cimc. 131 
 
 Although Sir Walter made no figure in the houfe, 
 as an orator, yet he had confiderable influence in that 
 illuflrious body. He was truly independent. But, 
 during the reign of George II. when whatever feem- 
 ed to deviate in the fmalleft degree from the interefls 
 of the houfe of Hanover, was branded with the name 
 of Toryifm and difaffedion, he ftrenuoufly fupported 
 the counter-party, in oppofition to the minifter. But, 
 upon the demife of the prince, the acceflion of 
 his grandfon, George III. who hud received the prin- 
 ciples of his education from Lord Bute, and along 
 with thefe, impreflions very difterent from thole of 
 his royal grandfather, caufed a mighty change in 
 the political fyfl:em of Britain. Be that as it may, 
 from that period Sir Walter Blackett changed fides, 
 and ever after remained a ftrenuous fupporter of the 
 court party. 
 
 But if Sir Walter did not fhine as a fena- 
 tor, all who knew him will readily acknowledge, 
 that in canvaffing at elections he was unrivalled. 
 His fine open countenance, and courtly deportment, 
 his affability, and, if report does not miflead us, his 
 liberal manner of diftributirig what the wifeft of men 
 faid commands all thinjs, his flridl mtegrity in keep, 
 ing his eledlioneering promifes, had great weight 
 with eledlors who had convenient confcicnces. Be. 
 fides which, he was, on thefe occafions, attended 
 often by above five hundred gentlemen, tradefmen, 
 &c. fome of whom had weight with almofl every 
 free. nan. 
 
 This powerful combination of circum^ances, as 
 Captain Phipps, his rival, obferved, fet all competi- 
 tion with Sir Walter Blackett, for the reprefeiitition 
 ofNewcaftle, at defiance. The point of view, hovv- 
 
 R I ever. 
 
132 Jmpartial !piftotp of 
 
 ever, in which this gentleman's charader fhone with 
 peculiar lulke, was his ahiioft unbounded benevo- 
 lence, diffufing its influence in public and private 
 charities; not, like Sir Balaam, in '' giving farthings 
 to the poor y Sir Walter's charities were fubftantial, 
 corrcfponding to the exigencies of the cafe. The 
 Infumary, Charity-fchools, h-z. point to the amiable 
 churacter from whom they almoft all had their exifl- 
 ence. Hexham too, on every occalion, felt the be- 
 nign influence of his generous difpolition. His pri- 
 vate charities, uninfcribed on marble, but " recorded 
 elfe where," were uncealing ; and what Roger 
 Thornton was in ancient times. Sir Walter was in 
 ours : both were fathers to the fatherlefs and huf- 
 bands to the widows, and the blefling of them who 
 were ready to perifli came upon both thefe friends 
 of human kind. — Ye rich, ye great, go and do like- 
 wife. 
 
 On the death of Sir Walter Blackett, as he left no 
 dired heirs, his ample eftates devolved on his 
 relations ; and his noble dome, long the abode of 
 fplendid hofpitahty, was publicly fold. It was pur- 
 chafed by Mr George Anderfon, and now con- 
 verted into three refpedlable houfes. 
 
 Further down, on the oppoflte flde of the ftreet, is 
 a lane, or ilreet, called Manor- chare, which prefents 
 us with a dired view of the noble and well-endowed 
 charitable inftitutions, an account of which will 
 be given in their proper place. By a large gate 
 is an entrance to Mr William Anderfon's warc- 
 houfes, where goods of vaft value, both from London, 
 Leeds, &c. fouthward, and alfo fiom the great com- 
 mercial towns of Glafgow, Edinburgh, &-c, are fafely 
 
 depo- 
 
3i3etocaftle upon Cgne. 133 
 
 depofited, and forwarded according to their refpec- 
 tive diredions, with great fidelity and attention. 
 
 A Httle further down is a new chapel for the wor- 
 (liip of the Methodifts of the New Itinerancy. See 
 churches^ %Sc, 
 
 This flreet was anciently, fays Bourne, called Cow- 
 gate, fo named, very probably, from the large dioves 
 of cattle palling through it from the north to the 
 fouth ; for, till the building of Mofley and Dean 
 Streets, all carriages, wac^^gons, &c. to avoid the 
 narrow and inconvenient itreet, the Side, went by 
 Manor- chare, Cowgate ami the Q^iay, to the bridge. 
 
 This flreet, however unimportant it is now, in for- 
 mer times mull have been of great confequcnce, as 
 it was the boundary or divifion between the two 
 towns of Newcaftle, properly fo called, and the an- 
 cient town of Pandon, which were united in the 
 reign of Edward I. anno. 1299. 
 
 Whence this fmall part of modern Newcaftle 
 had the name of Pandon, has mightily puzzled anti- 
 quarians. Mr Bourne, among other conjedurers, 
 fays, that it had this name from one of the gates of 
 Rome named Pandana, becaufe that gate (food al- 
 ways open. Others, adds he, will have its derivation 
 from one Pandara, a Scottifli virgin faint ; but for 
 what reafon they bell know : and gravely adds, " for 
 my part I never faw one yet 1" It is a great pity, 
 that this witticifm is enveloped in ambiguity. The 
 difficulty lies here, whether the good man thought it 
 impoilible for a Scotch virgin to be a faint, or a fiint 
 to be a Scotch virgin. Or as Home Took lately in 
 parliament told of a reverend gentleman, the chap- 
 lain of the Magdalen, who informed a young girl 
 feeking admiffion, and declaring herfelf a maid as 
 
 her 
 
134 Jnipartial ipiftori? of 
 
 her mother bore her, that Die aiull: firft go and qua- 
 lify^ before (lie could be admitted ; fo the reverend 
 hiilorian probably meant, that a Scotcli virgin mud 
 ceafe to be one before fhe can become a faint. But 
 we will let this palTage remain as we found it, and 
 refume our fubjecl. 
 
 At the head of Manor-chare, but a little lower 
 dovrn, on the oppoiite fide, is what is called Low- 
 bridge, or Nether-dean-bridge. U was formerly a 
 conveyance to St. Nicholas' church-yard, ov^er the 
 Dean. The bridge was ftrongly cramped with iron, 
 and was evidently of Roman work, as the wall ex- 
 tended at this place, by St. Nicholas' church-yard 
 
 This narrow ftreet confifls principally of fliopsfor old 
 cloaths, &c. 
 
 A little lower down, on the fame fide, the Pain- 
 ter-Hugh, or Heugh, by a fleep defcent, conduds us 
 to nearly the foot of Dean-ftreet. There is a flight 
 of ftone fleps on one fide, for the accommodation of 
 foot palTengers. Mr. Bourne derives this Angular 
 name from painter, a rope by which boats are moored 
 or made fail ; and hugh, or heugh, a deep hill or bank. 
 This indeed may have been the occafion of this com- 
 pound name, in old times ; as it is well known that, 
 before the river was embanked by the Quay, and 
 adjacent buildings, the tide flowed up the Dean to 
 the High -bridge. 
 
 On the oppofite fide, lower down, is Silver-ftreet, 
 which leads down a very fleep hill, from Piigrim- 
 ftreet to Pandon, which was anciently called All- 
 Hallow-gate; it was likewife called Temple-gate- 
 No doubt it had thefe names from its vicinity to All- 
 Saints' ciiurch. The late Mr. Stokoe, attorney, who 
 lived in Silver-ftreet, had a title-deed, in which it is 
 
 there 
 
BeVMC^Gle upon <ILmt. 135 
 
 there called " Jew-gate, on the north fide of the fame 
 flreet." It is probable that this flreet was called 
 Jew-gate, from its being the refidence of Jews, in 
 former times : and dealing, as that people ftill do, in 
 lilver ware, or plate, gave it the nameof Silver-flreet. 
 
 At the very fouthern extremity of Pilgrim-llreet, 
 to the right hand, is another lleep llreet, called the 
 Dog-bank : it joins Cow-gate, which runs into the 
 Broad-chare. Here old cloaths, kitchen uteniils, 
 furniture, &c. are fold. 
 
 On the right hand, at the foot of Pilgrim-ftreet, is 
 the Butcher-bank. It is fo named from numbers of 
 that profeffion dwelling here, and having their ftalls 
 and flaughter-hoLifes in it. There is a daily flefh- 
 market kept in this place ; which is found neceflary, 
 as there is no butcher-meat fold in the great Flefh- 
 market but on Saturdays ; and from the number and 
 opulence of the inhabitants, the demand for this ne- 
 ceflary article is very great. 
 
 But before we quit defcribing the public ftrcets, 
 and proceed to the ancient town of Pandon, and its 
 vicinity, we, with high fatisfadlion, come to delineate 
 the new ones of 
 
 MOSLEY-STREET and DEAN-STREET. 
 
 In no inltance of improvement, in this increafing 
 town, have the magiftrates been more fuccefsful, than 
 in this alteration made on the public paflages. It is 
 in the recoUeclion of aluioft every one, what niiferable 
 communications there were, in former times, between 
 Pilgrim-ftreet and the Flefti-market. The alleys 
 were all narrow, dark, and terminated, mid -way be- 
 tween thefe two principal ftreets, by a fteep, fright- 
 ful 
 
136 3iinpartial Ipiflorp of 
 
 ful defcenr, called a Dean, a receptacle of all the 
 filth, butcher's ofials, &c. of the neighbourhood ; 
 oficnfive to all the fenfes, and highly injurious to 
 health, efpecially in fumnier, when the air was charged 
 with the putrid efiluvia {learning from this fink of 
 filthinefs ! 
 
 For above forty years back, (as we are informed 
 by an intelligent friend) the magiftrates had it in 
 contemplation to remedy this intolerable grievance, 
 and rid the town of fo great a nuifance. For this 
 purpofe, they made feveral purchafes of houfes, 
 which they meant to pull down, and form a com- 
 inunication between the extremities of the town, 
 from the town-wall above Sandgate, (which they 
 have now adlually begun in that quarterj to Weft- 
 gate-ftreet. The execution of this defign was retarded 
 by the unforefeen cataftrophe of the falling of the 
 old bridge over the Tyne ; and urgent neceflity re- 
 quiring a new one, near thirty thoufand pounds of 
 the public revenue were expended in finilhing that 
 extenfive undertaking. 
 
 However, in the year 1789, the corporation fet 
 ferioufly about profecuting the intended improve- 
 ments. For this purpofe, an adt of parUament was 
 obtained. The defign was committed to Mr. David 
 Stephenfon, architect ; who, in the execution of it, 
 has done much honour to himfelf, and the molt fub- 
 ftantiul fervice to the public at large : and it is on 
 this occafion we take an opportunity of returning 
 that gentleman our fincere thanks for his many in- 
 forming communications, with which we mean to 
 enrich our work. This truly excellent improvement 
 was finifhed to the higheft fatisfaftion, both of ftran- 
 
 gers and of the inhabitants. 
 
 This 
 
BzWn^ilt upon Ci)ne. 137 
 
 This ftreet, extending from Pilgrim-rtreet to the 
 font of tiie Flefli- market, is handfome and well-built, 
 of great width, with, a foot-way of flag-ilones on each 
 lide, which perfectly fecures palfengers againlt dan- 
 ger from the numeroas waggons, coaches, and car- 
 riages, which are inceifantly pafling and repailing. 
 
 It is called Mofley-lbeet in compliment to the late 
 very worthy alderman of that name ; who, though 
 he did not fliine us a fpeaker, in the magifterial body, 
 yet having an aniple fortune, and no direct heirs, he 
 advanced large funis to defray the expences attend- 
 ing thefe ufeful works. 
 
 On both tides of Molley-flreet, is one continued row 
 of elegant fhops and warehoufes. About the mid- 
 dle of the north lide of this ftreet is a neat Theatre. 
 Separated from it by a large area lo: the conveni- 
 encies of the mail coaches, is the Poft-office. See 
 rublic Buildinjs, 
 
 To complete the defign, the Dean was arched 
 over, and the valley filled up, upon which was 
 formed a convenient and beautiful llreet, wide, airy, 
 and well paved with a broad foot, way of fine flag- 
 ftones on each fide. What a transformation ! for- 
 merly a horrid, vart, naufeous hollow, changed as by 
 magic, into a fair row of magnificent houfes, fiiops, 
 and depolitaries of rich and valuable commodities, 
 the productions of every region of the globe ! " All is 
 the gift of induftry," fays the Poet, which is won- 
 derfully realized in the conilrudtion of thefe two 
 firects. 
 
 The fouth-end, or foot of Dean-fheet, falls into 
 the ftreet called the Side. It is fo named from its Hop- 
 ing fituation down from the caftle, with which the 
 upper part of the houfes and narrow dark lanes are 
 
 S joined. 
 
138 Impartial }?monj of 
 
 joined There is a fteep defcent from the head of 
 the Side to about the middle of it. About half-way 
 down, it becomes more than double the width of the 
 higher part. There was a poftern, called the Eaft- 
 ern-poftern of the caflle, that communicated by a 
 very narrow and deep flight of fl:eps with the Side, a 
 little above the middle of that ftreet. It is vulgarly 
 called the Do^-Joup, or leap. At the Foot of the 
 Side in the middle of the ftreet, is Cale-crofs. See 
 Public Buildings. 
 
 From the foot of Dean-flreet, to the foot of the 
 Butcher-bank, the Side is large and extenlive, 
 abounding with fliops, warehoufes, compting-houfes, 
 6tc. it is one of the mod public ilreets of the 
 town. 
 
 At the lower end of Mancr_chare, there is a large 
 area, nigh to which, fays Bourne, was a place called 
 the Ifland in former times, and in times of that hifto- 
 rian it was called Alvey's Ifland, from the proprie- 
 tor's name, Alvey. It was fo named, becaufe upon 
 the return of the tide, which regularly flowed here, 
 it left a hill of fand which it firfl: furrounded, 
 and then overflowed. The fifli-market was held 
 here, and the gate adjoining was called Fifliergate. 
 Before the alterations made about Stock-bridge, 
 there were feveral ftreets, which do not now exift ; par- 
 ticularly one named Crofs- well-gate. It is reported, 
 fays Bourne, that the dwelling-houfe of the famous 
 Roger Thornton was between Stock-bridge and 
 Blyth's Nook. And incredible as it may appear, that 
 incomparably the greateft man in Newcaftle fliould 
 live in fuch an obfcure fpot, yet he feems to prove 
 the fad, by obferving that in his own days, Lord 
 
 Scar- 
 
3i5ctocaGle upon C^ne. 139 
 
 Scarborough, into whofe family the grand daughter 
 of Roger Thornton was married, drew annual rents 
 from many houfes nigh Stock-bridge. 
 
 Nor is it impoffible ; Augullus, emperor of the 
 world, never would change the fimple and moderate 
 houfe, in which he dwelt many years, nor ever wore 
 a toga, or gown, but what his emprefs Livia fpun 
 with her own hands. 
 
 The ftreets, all about this obfcure part of the town, 
 are narrow, winding, ill paved, and dirty: they are 
 however conitantly, though flowly, improving. 
 
 A Itreet which winds up an high hill, from the an- 
 cient Fiflier-gate, ftill retains the name of Wall-knoll, 
 which it no doubt derived from the circumftance of 
 the Roman wall having gone over the top of it. 
 
 The suburbs of PANDON. 
 
 Without where the gate formerly was, to the left, 
 we turn into what is called Pandon-Dcan. A new 
 flreet is faft building, and many neat houfes are 
 ere6led here. Some have fuppofed, that it is intend- 
 ed to run this row of houfes up the Dean, and join 
 another new flopinr; ftreet from the ealt end of Sa- 
 ville-row. Time will difcover whether or no this 
 was ever ferioully intended. 
 
 Straight forward, without Pandon-gate, we afcend 
 by a pretty fteep ilreet, towards Shield-field, it is 
 indifferently called Pandon-bank and Pandon-caufe- 
 way. It is quite built, on the left, from tlie lite of 
 the old gate to the very top of the bank. The houfes 
 are airy and pleafant. The buildings on this fide are 
 terminated by an elegant houfe, jud finifhed, the 
 property of Mr. Head. The eaft fide is confined by 
 
 S 2 u 
 
14^ Jmpartial fMtit^ of 
 
 a high brick wall, inclofing an extenfive garden, at 
 the top of which is a large and commodious houfe, all 
 belonging to Mr. Middleton Hewitfon. Adjacent to 
 this are a number of beautiful houfes, forming two- 
 thirds of a fquare, named Wilkinfon's Buildings ; the 
 property of the late IVIr. Thomas Wilkinfon, joiner 
 and cabinet-maker, and one of the many fuccefsful 
 tradefmen of this town. 
 
 This place is, in general, called Conduit-head, from 
 the water being conveyed by pipes to fupply the 
 pants of the louer parts of the town, from a ciftern 
 in a garden at this place. 
 
 Dircclly north, by a paved way, we come to Shield- 
 field. Thefe houles are the property of Mr. 
 Samuel Lawton, Mr. Page, and other gentlemen ; 
 and form the mod pleafant and airy retreat for men 
 
 of bulinefs, of any in the vicinity of Newcaflle. 
 
 They command a moll extenlive and entertaining 
 profped, and have beautiful gardens adjoining. Why 
 it obtained the name of Shield-field will be given in 
 the Hi/lory of events. 
 
 The suburbs of SANDGATE. 
 
 The town-wall, from Sand-gate to the Carpenter's 
 Tower, has been very high and flrong; which may 
 have been the reafon, (as Bourne fays,) why the fu> 
 burbs or houfes without the walls, in this part of the 
 town, fullered lefs by the fury of the civil wars than 
 the other buildings adjacent to the walls. 
 
 Sandgate-flreet has its name from its fituation on 
 the fand by the river's lide. It feems to be of no 
 great antiquity j as we find, in an accurate plan of 
 
 New- 
 
j:*:c\jaca{ile upon €pe. 141 
 
 Newcaftle, taken by Speed, 1610, no appearance of 
 houfes or buildings of any kind on the iite of Sand- 
 gate. As the town-wall did not extend in this direc- 
 tion, and as the river, before its being embanked by 
 the quay would overflow thefe places, it would, of 
 conlequence, be an improper fitu:Uion. 
 
 Juft witiiout the gate is a large area, called the 
 MUk-market, where great quantities of that ncceflary 
 of life are daily fold. On Saturdays the whole ftreet 
 is covered, and the town-wall hung with old clothes, 
 boots, flioes, &-C. for fale. Here reapers are hired for 
 the harvell, as alio at the Barras-bridge ; frequently 
 on Sundays, to the oifence of fome of the ferious ; 
 while others, equally well difpofed, conrt;nd, that even 
 the reaping and gathering in of the harvell ought not 
 on any day to be prevented. 
 
 Here alfo is a daily Butcher-market, for the accom^ 
 modation of the inhabitants in the lower parts of the 
 town, which is very well fupplied with that article ; 
 for this purpole, fome covered Halls were erected, a 
 few years ago, contiguous to the town- wall. 
 
 Sandgate-ftreet, which contains many thoufand 
 fouls, is more crowded with inhabitants than any 
 other place, either within or w'ithout the walls of the 
 town. The lanes run from the ftreet, on the right, 
 down to the river ; and on the k-ft, up, by a very 
 fteep afcent, to what is called the Garth-heads, and 
 Sandgate New road. Tliey are datk, narrow, ill- 
 paved, and noifome. And in winter, as there are no 
 lamps in Sandgate, nothing can be more difigreeable 
 than pafiing through this dark ilreet, often ankle- 
 deep in mud and filth at every ftep. 
 
 A runner of water, called anciently, the Swirle, at 
 prefent, vulgarly, the Squirrel, divides Sandgite, near 
 
 the 
 
142 Jinpartial fptftori) of 
 
 — ■■!■■ ■. ■■■ — ■■■■^■W I Bi. ■ » ■MM»^W.^^^M^W^^M^MM—i ^^1 I ■ ■ ■ ^^^^—^^i^^— — —— — > 
 
 the middle, from St. Anne's, which, in appearance, is 
 only a continuation of the fame flreet. 
 
 On the Garth-heads, above Sandgate, are two 
 luecting-hoiifes for Diflenters, and the Keelmen's 
 Hofpital.— 6'(f<? churches, chapels, and public buildings. 
 
 Sandgate is principally inhabited by thofe who 
 work in keels or lighters, of which clafs there are 
 feveral thoufands on the river Tyne. They are a 
 hardy and laborious race of men ; and as they live 
 almoft entirely upon flelh-meat and flour, of the beft 
 kinds, which the ftrong exertions in their employ- 
 ment require, they polfefs a combination of nervous 
 and mufcular flrength not to be found in any other 
 clafs of men. Their children generally follow the 
 fame employment during their younger years, then 
 go to fea ; and w^hen a war t^reaks out, thefe hardy 
 and bold failors, who had the firft rudiments of fea. 
 nianihip in a coal-keel, form tlie pride and ftrength of 
 the Britiih navy. 
 
 They have been generally reprefented as turbulent 
 and mutinous. Dr. Smollet, in the continuation of 
 his hiftory of England, when defcribing the unhappy 
 riot which took place at Hexham, refpeding the mode 
 of lotting for men, adds, " and the mob, from the 
 lenity of the olliccrs, acquiring additional infolence, 
 and being reinforced hy a Jlrong body of defperate 
 keehtien from N ewe ajlle, became iniufTerably outrage- 
 ous," &c. It is a pity that the doctor dignified with 
 the title of hiflory fuch an ill-founded and indifcri- 
 minate flander upon fuch an ufeful and, in general, 
 peaceable, body of men ; as, upon enquiry, in that 
 vaft mob of country people, there was not a fingle 
 l^eelman among them. It is true, they have a noify», 
 blunt, rough manner of expreffing themfelves ; and, 
 
 from 
 
J!5clocnftle upon Cyne. 1^3 
 
 from the practice of hailing one another on the river, 
 efpecially in the night tides, they are loud and voci- 
 ferous, but perfedlly inoffenfive ; and they fcorn to 
 fliew what they think incivihty or rudenefs to any 
 perfon. As they are the llrength and finews of the 
 coal trade, rich and poor in Newcaftle, in general, 
 refpedl the keelmen. 
 
 But a circumftance which reflects particular ho- 
 nour upon tliis valuable body, is, that although they 
 coniiil of many thoufands, yet amidlt all thefe, in the 
 courle of many years, a conviEled felon among keel- 
 men is unknown. And what is equally pleafing, is, 
 that they are daily loling that ferocity and favage 
 roughneis, by which they were c!iarad:eri'z,ed not 
 many years ago. Scarcely a day, and chiefly a Sun- 
 day, pafTed, but feveral bloody duels happened, de- 
 cided by the fills of the fierce and hardy combatants ; 
 now, a battle among them is feldom or never {^qw. 
 This amelioration of their morals may be owing to 
 two powerful caufes. The firft is a change in. their 
 religious deportment. The great encreafe of diflen- 
 ters, particularly of methodifts, has had influence 
 with many keelmen to join in their focieties. The 
 other caufe of this happy change, is owing to the ex- 
 cellent regulations obferved in their boxes, or benefit 
 focieties. By thefe, to fi:rike or ill-treat a brother, 
 either with the hand or tongue, is a fine ; to Avear a 
 profane oath makes them liable to a fine ; to profane 
 the Lord's day, or get drunk, is a fine ; to Ileal, or 
 commit any adt of injufiice, is expulfion. Thefe, 
 and fuch other rules, which they rigoroufly put in 
 pradtice, have totally changed the whole civil and 
 religious conduct of the keelmen of Newcaftle. We 
 have been the more circumftantial in our delineation 
 
 of 
 
144 impartial foidorp cf 
 
 of this labcrious clufs, as the keehnen forin a very 
 conftquential part of tlie inhabitants.of this vaft mirt 
 of trade, of which the cor.l trade is the foul and 
 fpring of every other branch of bufinefs. 
 
 This ufeful body of men appear fo far back as the 
 year 1539, to have been a conftituted fraternity. 
 They are there termed, in a decree of the Star-cham- 
 ber, " The craft of keelmen." In the year 1556 
 they appear to have been an independent fociety. 
 
 In the year 1649, they occur as petitioning the 
 hollmen to provide them with a chapel for worfliip, 
 and a minifter. Religion was then the falliion of the 
 times. 
 
 The number of gentlemen's carriages, as well 
 as carriages for the various branches of trade and 
 bufmefs, rapidly encreafmg in Newcaftle and its vi- 
 cinity, and as the paflage through Sandgate was ex- 
 tremely inconvenient and hazardous, a new road, ia 
 the vear 1776, for carriages leading pafl the keel- 
 men's hofpital, and behind the ftreets of Sandgate, 
 and St. Ann's, towards the north, was made by the 
 commiffioners and trullees of the turnpike road lead- 
 ing from Newcaille to North Shields, having obtain- 
 ed, as appears from the common- council books, a 
 leafe of the ground neceflary for that purpofe, at the 
 yearly rent of one Ihilling, from the mayor and bur- 
 gelfes of Newcartle. This improvement has been 
 attended with the beft effects ; as the parents of 
 numbeilefs children, with which Sandgate fwarms, 
 were in continual terror of their being run down and 
 crufhed to death, by the carriages conftantly driving 
 through that ftreet. Befides the fpeed of ftage 
 coaches, private carriages, St-c is greatly accelerated 
 without dread or interruption. 
 
 The 
 
BeldcaCtle upon ^^ne. 145 
 
 The delighrfal and airy fitu.iticui of the New- 
 Road has induced many genteel people to build 
 elegant houfes there. And during theie late years, 
 when fuch immenfe qu?.ntities of foreign corn were 
 imported, large granaries were erected on both iides 
 of the road. Thefe the people quaintly termed 
 " Egypt y no doubt in alluiion to thofe ereded by 
 Jofeph in ancient Egypt. The proprietors, how- 
 ever, la far from viewing this appellation as im- 
 plying any difgraceful idea, have actually given the 
 name of " Egypt" to this new row of dwelling- 
 houfes. 
 
 A little beyond thefe eredlions on the New- Road is 
 a ropery upon a ballalt-hill, which is faid to have 
 been the firft ballad -111 ore without the town of NeW' 
 caflle. For which purpofe, and that of building Ume- 
 kilns upon it, it appears by records in the Hoftmen's 
 books, to have been purchafed by the mayor and 
 burgefles of the lord of the manor of Byker. 
 
 Oppoiite St. Ann's chapel, (fee Churches, i^c.J ad- 
 jacent to it, is a row of good houfes, agreeably litu- 
 ated both for air and a delightful view of the river 
 and fliipping, called St. Ann's Row. Going down by 
 the turnpike roaJ, we come to Oufe -bourn, over which 
 is a wide ftone bridge, of one arch, with a convenient 
 foot-path on both fides. 
 
 But as the tide flows up this rivulet, and confe- 
 quently affords the convenience of water carriage, 
 enterprizing tradefmen have availed themfelves of 
 this advantage, and have converted a large fpace of 
 almofl: ufelefs ground, containing a few wretched 
 houfes for pitmen, &c. into what has the appearance 
 of a large town. On the weft lide of the bourn, 
 (land a large fpinning fadlory, a newly eredcd 
 
 T fteam 
 
146 3impactial fpiGor^ of 
 
 fleam corn-mill, 8ic. on the other fide are large ma- 
 nufacftories of all kinds of pottery-ware, giving em- 
 ployment to hundreds of people. 
 
 What is curious, in digging a foundation for the 
 fleam-mill above-mentioned, there was found a flone 
 of about three feet in length, and about two feet 
 fquare. On the end of it is an infcription, evi- 
 dently Roman ; but it is fo much effaced, that it is 
 next to impoffible to decypher it. One gentleman, 
 (killed in the Latin language, feemed to think it 
 intimated that from the termination of the Roman 
 wall on the weft, or Soleway Firth, to this llation, 
 was Co miles. There is no doubt but that mighty 
 barrier, in coming down Byker turnpike road, ran 
 acrofs the rivulet at this place, and diredly up to 
 Red-barns and Wall-knoll ; and as they no doubt 
 had a bridge over this rivulet, which polfibly was 
 much broader in ancient times, this flone might have 
 been one of thofe placed on the bridge, diredive of 
 the dlftances, &c. This curiofity is now placed in 
 Mr, Yellowley's garden above Bufy Cottage. 
 
 Going down by Oufe. bourn, we come to a little 
 narrow flone bridge, called, the Glafs-houfe bridge. 
 In the neighbourhood are feveral dock.yards where 
 many fhips are built ; paffing over the bridge, we 
 come to the glafs-houfes, and further down on the 
 river fide is another large manufadtory of the fame 
 kind. See accoimt of Glafs. works. 
 
 Adjoining to the upper glafs-houfes, is the diffen- 
 ter's large burying-place. See Chapels. 
 
 Further down from the low glafs-houfes, after 
 paffmg more docks for fliip-building, we come to 
 St. Peter's Quay. It is there where Mr. William 
 
 Row 
 
j^clDcaftlc upon Ci?nr. 147 
 
 Rov/ is planning a dry dock, and where he is now 
 building a new quay. 
 
 The rtreets are paved chiefly with Scotch blue, 
 or grey granite flones, heavy, compact, and ex- 
 tremely hard. They aie found to be the moll du- 
 rable, and fitted to bear the preflure of the vafl: 
 number of waggons and heavy carriages which pafs 
 here from all parts. 
 
 Yet it is remarkable, that, in a town of fo much 
 trade, with warehoufes fo full of valuable commodi- 
 ties, the corporation was fo long in adopting that ad- 
 mirable branch of municipal police, the great conve- 
 nience of having nightly lamps in the ftreets. 
 
 A propofal was made and publiHied in the year 
 1 7 55, for lighting the town with one hundred and 
 fifty lamps I But it was not till a fublequent period 
 that even this took place, as we find by the follow- 
 ing extract from the Newcaftle Courant. 
 
 October I, 1763. " Thurfday the lamps put up 
 in the lireets of the town were lighted up for the firil 
 time." This was in confequence of an act lateiy 
 paiTed, " for lighting the ftreets and other places, and 
 maintaining a regular and nightly watch, within the 
 town and county of Newcaftle upon Tyne, for regu^ 
 lating the hackney coachmen, chairmen, cartmen, 
 porters, and watermen, within the fame." The f nail 
 number of lamps, and quantity of oil, have been a 
 fubject of complaint ; bow juftly, is not for us to de- 
 cide : it certainly would be more agreeable was the 
 quantity of both doubled. To defray the expence 
 attending this great convenience, the inhabitants are 
 charged, in proportion to their rentals, at the rate of 
 fixpence per pound. 
 
 Such is a general view of the public ftreets, and of 
 T 2 the 
 
148 Impartial fpiftor)) of 
 
 the moii remarkable private buildings in Newcaflle 
 and its fuburbs. 
 
 Of the Means offupplying the Town with Water. 
 
 To obtain a fufliciency of this abfolute neceflary 
 of life, has ever claimed the attention of rulers and 
 niagiftrates, in cities, towns, and even villages, in 
 every country and in every age of the world. The 
 ancient Greeks and Romans were careful in the 
 extreme to have abundance of light, fueet, whole- 
 fome water. In their encampments, fites of their 
 cities, Sec. they made choice of the fituation always 
 ■with a view to their obtaininp; an abundance of this 
 element. And when the delart, or ridges of moun- 
 tains, waftes, and folitudes, intervened, they then 
 reared the rnighty aqueducl, arch upon arch, to con- 
 vey the falutary ilream to the thirfty inhabitants of 
 the crowded city. It is remarkable, that with ail 
 their knowledge in geometry, and other branches 
 of fcience, they were ignorant of this grand princi- 
 ple in hydroflatics, that water will rife horizontally 
 to its level. Hence their lofty aqueducts, raifed at 
 vaft expence, and always level with the fource or 
 fpring; whereas, by obferving the invariable law of 
 nature, water, by leaden pipes, can be conveyed 
 over mountains, through morafles, along bridges, 
 nay, even beneath the beds of rivers, iq any quan- 
 tity, and at a thoufandth part of the expence. 
 But a mighty advantage refulted to mankmd from 
 the ignorance of the ancients in hydroflatics; and 
 that is, the thorough knowledge which they have 
 communicated to the moderns of the arch, in all its 
 form&, circular, eliptital, catenarian, &c. by which 
 
 thefe 
 
j*)cVDcattle upon C^nc 149 
 
 thefe magnificent aqueducts, thefe prodigies of art, 
 were reared ; fuch as that at Niimes, in France, 
 which feems one of the wonders of the world. 
 
 That the inhabitants of Newcaflle have been par- 
 ticularly attentive to procure a fufficiency of water, 
 appears from the numerous ciflerns and wells all 
 round the town, both within and without the walls. 
 We have the fine wells which fupplied both the Black 
 and White Friars' monaftenes, with their large fprings 
 of excellent water, to this, day. The eminences 
 that almoll furround NewcalUe, would feem to indi- 
 cate that plenty of good water might eafily be pro- 
 cured; and this, upon trial, has been found to be 
 the cafe. 
 
 The top of Pandon-bank is commonly called '' Con- 
 duit-head." A refervoir ftill remains here, upon the 
 grounds belonging to the late Rev. Nathaniel EUifon, 
 behind fome buildings, which fupplies Sandgate pant 
 with water. There are many fine fpnngs about this 
 eminence ; and it is a conjecture, not at all impro- 
 bable, that about Conduit-head there has been, in 
 ancient times, a large relervoir for fu^p tying the 
 palace of the Saxon kings, and after that, tiie lump- 
 tuous and ftately monaftery of the Carmelites, with 
 water. If I might hazard a conjecture on the true 
 etymon of Pandon, (fays Brand) l would dtfine it to 
 inean. The Hill of tlie Pand, Pond, or Refervoir. 
 Dr. Thomas Henfiiaw, in Skinner's Etymology, on 
 the word pant, or pand, tells us, that pond was an- 
 ciently pronovmced pand, from a Saxon woxd pyndan, 
 to enclofe or fliut up. So that pant, the ufuul nam:; 
 given to the erections over the wells in Newcaltle, is 
 no more than pand, by a very fmall corruption, mean- 
 ing a little refervoir or pond. 
 
 But 
 
15^ Impartial fpiftoq) of 
 
 But as the coal trade became rapidly more confe- 
 quential, commerce and bufinefs increafing in pro- 
 portion, numbers of people came to fix their refidence 
 at New callle. The wells of water, in and about the 
 town, were found inadequate to the demands of the 
 inhabitants, and afforded, at befl, only a precarious 
 fupply. The mayor and burgeffes let to work, fo 
 early as the reign of Edward III. anno 1349, to pro- 
 cure a permanent and fufficient quantity, at Ibme 
 diftance without the walls ; which is the earliell: ac- 
 count to be found of aqueduds bringing water into 
 this town. 
 
 Leiand tells us, that when he vifited this place, in 
 the reign of Henry Vlll. " there be three hedds of 
 condutes for frefch water to the town.'* 
 
 More particularly we find, in July 26, 1647, an 
 agieement between the corporation of Newcallle and 
 Mr. William Gray, concerning water to be conveyed 
 from his conduit in Pandon-bank to Sandgate. It 
 appears, that part of the waftes called King's-dikes 
 liad been granted to the faid Mr. Gray, by way of 
 recom pence. The mayor and burgeffes are men- 
 tioned at the fame time, as having a right to brmg 
 part of that water to the Manors, accordmg to its an- 
 cient and accuftomed courfe. 
 
 The common-council books of 1708 mention a li- 
 berty referved to the mayor and burgeffes to dig and 
 delve for water, and to take what part of Mr. Ni- 
 chol's lands and grounds at Red Barnes, as fhall feem 
 meet for the advantage of water for the pants in 
 Sandgate and the Keelmen's Hofpital. 
 
 February 4th, 1654, there is an order of common- 
 council for conveying the water from Cowgate, that 
 
 came 
 
i^etocaftlc upon Cpnc. 151 
 
 came under ground from All-Kallows' church-end, 
 and had become a nuiHince to that llreet. 
 
 Marched, 1656, there was an order of common- 
 council to treat concerning fome water in Gallow- 
 gate, which was intended to be brought in, to fuppl/ 
 the pants of Newcaftle. 
 
 June 3d, 1657, there was a complaint before the 
 common-council againft Mr. Ralph Jennifon, and 
 Mr. William Wallis, coal owners, for having diverted 
 a third part of the water ufually coming to tiie pants 
 in Newcaftle, by finking below the level of the 
 water-courfe. Mr. Jennifon was threatened with a 
 profecution on tliis occalion ; but on his fubmillion, 
 and flaying the workings, the common-council flop- 
 ped their proceedings againfl him. 
 
 Similar comphiints were made againfl other gen- 
 tlemen, for working coal-pits, and digging quarries, 
 by which the fupply of water to the town was 
 drained away. 
 
 December i6th, 1675, loud complaints were made 
 of a total fcarcity of water, owing to vaft numbers 
 of private famihcs having pipes and cocks to their 
 houfes. The common-council ordered the cocks to 
 be flopped, or cut oif. 
 
 January 1675, there was a committee of the com- 
 mon-council to confider of a proper place for another 
 pant, beiides that at Sandgate, about the Swirle, or 
 or fome convenient fituation. It was eredled at the 
 eafl end of Sandgate, where it now ftands. 
 
 Augufl 8, 1677, there was an order of common- 
 council for the town's furveyor to build a well at 
 Gallowgate, for the benefit of the burgefles and 
 other inhabitants. It is there flill, and affords a 
 large fupply of good wholefome water. 
 
 oao- 
 
15* Jnipartial fpidorp of 
 
 October 4, 1680, a propofal was laid before the 
 comuion-council, by a Mr. Cuthbert Dikes, to ereA 
 a water-engine for fupplying the town of Newcpftle 
 with water from the river Tyne, for the convenience 
 of brew-houfes, vidualling-houres, &c. and thus fave 
 a great part of the fpring water taken from the pants, 
 A committee, appointed for this purpofe, fixed on a 
 place without Sandgate, where it was aduallyeredl- 
 ed. This building was afterwards converted to large 
 ftore-houfes, 8t.c. and is now called the " i'oley," or 
 commonly " Folly." 
 
 January 20, i68g, a pant was ereded for the in- 
 habitants of the Clofe. 
 
 September 15, 1702, the building committee were 
 ordered to take care to bring water into the town 
 from the Caftle Leazes. It was brought from thence 
 in 1704, to a pant at the head of the Side, and alfo 
 to one at Newgate. 
 
 June 29, 1709, a committee was ordered to eredl 
 a ciftern at the end of the Caftle Leazes, to renew 
 and keep the water coming from thence to the pants 
 of Newcaftle. 
 
 Still the inhabitants increafing, and confequently 
 the demand for water ; therefore, finding the fup- 
 plies, mentioned above, to have been infufficient, 
 they looked acrofs the river for an additional fupply 
 from Gatefliead-Fell, which, from its rocky and 
 fandy foil, feemed to afford what quantity might be 
 neceffary of wholefome, well- filtered water. 
 
 We find, however, there was an order of common- 
 council for a leafe to be granted to Mr. William Yar- 
 nold, 1697, according to the covenants there viewed 
 and agreed on, for erecting cifterns and laying pipes 
 in tne town's liberties, in order to bring good and 
 
 whole- 
 
3i5clDcaIlle tipcn C|)ne. 
 
 :*j> 
 
 wholefoLTie water to t.'ie lutiaoiiaurs ot Neu'caflle. 
 This was calleJ the New- water, and came i\om 
 Gatefnead-Fcll, fioni a refcrvoir which was Tapphed 
 by three fprings in Great Ulworth moor. 
 
 In the year 1700, the common council granted 
 leave to WilUam Yarnold, Gent, towered: a ci-tern on 
 the top of Cale-crofs, carrying a pillar up in the 
 middle, and laying on it a new roof of lead, at his 
 pwn expence. He was allowed ro creel a cifteni at 
 the White-crofs, on columns, removing the then 
 pillar and dial. Both thefe crofTes have been pulled 
 down, and new ones creeled, but no ciUerns, as be- 
 fore. 
 
 June 29, 1700, the new water was ordered to be 
 brought out at a pillar, to be placed at the Head of 
 the Side pant, vvh^jre three fpouts were to be lixed. 
 
 In the year i-jz6, a pant was erecltd at Weft- 
 gate, petitioned for by the inhabitants o( that (Ireef. 
 
 In confequence of the inceffant complaints, from 
 year to year, of the fcarcity of water, in the year 
 J 737 there was an order of the common-council that 
 the public water Ihould not be conveyed into the 
 houfes of any of the inhabitants of Newcaftle, except 
 thofe of the mayor, recorder, aldermen, IheriiT, and 
 town-clerk. 
 
 In 1743, the water being conveyed to the brewcrv 
 of Mr. Chriftopher Rutter, which ought to fupply 
 the pant near the houfe of Sir Walter Blackctt. was 
 ordered to be cut oil, and conveyed to the public 
 pant there. 
 
 December ly, 1^6-/, a committee was appointed 
 by the common-council to confider bow the town 
 might be fupplied witli good and wholefome water. 
 That the corporation might proceed on folid princi- 
 
 U pies, 
 
154 Impartial Diftorj) of 
 
 pies, they invited, by public advertifement, gentle- 
 men of fcience, particularly in chemical analyfis, 
 to examine the qualities of the refpedlive waters in 
 the vicinity of NewcalUe. This drew forth the 
 talents of Drs. Rotheram, Wilfon, Hall, and others, 
 on the fubjecl of jLhe comparative qualities of water, 
 for lightnefs, fweetnefs, and attainable quantity. Dr. 
 Rotheram publilhed his fentiments on the fubjecl in 
 a pamphlet, price 2s. 6d. This was attacked with 
 great ability, but alfo witii fome afperity, by a 
 Mr. Tytler, chemiH:, at tliat time in Gatefliead. 
 Dodors Wilfon and Hall alfo publilhed their joint 
 fentiments on the fubjecl ; as did Mr, Tytler his ob- 
 fervations on the quality of waters in and near this 
 town, in which he charged Dr. Rotheram with hav- 
 ing prejudiced the public againll Coxlodge water, 
 .which had on a memorable occafion, at Bath, been 
 called " throwing a toad into the fpring " 
 
 The magiflrates, however, not confining the infor- 
 mation they might receive by the enquiries of thefe 
 profeffional gentlemen, efpecially as, which is not 
 feldom the cafe, the " Do(£lors difagreed," had the 
 precaution to tranfmit fampks of the different waters 
 in and about Nevvcaftle to Dr. Black, profeffor of 
 chcmiflry, at Edinburgh, and to Dr. Saunders, lec- 
 turer on chemiflry, at London. The refult of all 
 which was, that they gave the preference to Cox- 
 lodge w^ter. This report Mr. Richard Lambert, 
 furgeon, was direded to publiOi in the Newcaftle 
 Courant, which was accordingly inferted in that 
 news- paper, November 3, 1770. 
 
 The opinions of thefe chemical philofophers, the 
 lirft of their profeffion in Europe, determined the 
 choice of the magiflrates of Newcaftle. 
 
 Accord- 
 
BetDcadle upon C)?ne. 155 
 
 Accordingly, on the lytli of September, 1770, 
 the common- council ordered a leale, under their 
 feal, to be granted to Mr. Ralph Lodge, and the 
 other proprietors of the undertaking, to iupply 
 the town of Newcaflle with good water, of a piece 
 of ground at the foot or fouth end of the Town- 
 moor, with liberty to dig and make a refervoir there, 
 and to ered, fet up, and make one hundred lire- 
 plugs, or fuch further number as fhould be wanted, 
 in convenient and proper parts of the town, within 
 or without the walls, at tlie direcT:ion of the com- 
 mon-council, to be ufed for extinguifliing cafual 
 fires ; as alfo to make a proper pipe- trench, and lay 
 and keep pipes therein, for bringing water from 
 Coxlodge grounds, through the Town-moor, to the 
 fiiid refervoir, and from thence into the town, for the 
 term of two hundred and twenty-feven years, from 
 the xith day of Odober following, at the annual 
 rent of thirteen fliillings and fourpence. On condi- 
 tion alfo, that the mayor and burgefles fliould pay 
 fifty pounds per annum to the laid proprietors for 
 the above h undred fire-plugs, and ten Ibillings 
 a-piece yearly for any others that might be 
 wanted. 
 
 December 18, 1777, there was an order of com- 
 mon-council to empower Mr. Richard Brown, col- 
 liery viewer, and Mr. John Fenwick, town's fur- 
 veyor, to proceed in the neceflary works for convey- 
 ing the water in Spring Gardens, at the head ot 
 Gallowgate, into the town of Newcaftle, for the ufe 
 of tlie public at large, agreeable to the particulars 
 and eftimate that had been laid before them. 
 
 This water had been generoully proffered to the 
 public by George Stephenfon, Efq. of Elf wick, in a 
 
 U 2 letter 
 
156 Jmparttai fplflorp cf 
 
 letter addreiTed tc^ the coinmnn-rouncil, who ac- 
 cepted h\s kind o'ilvv, and are fciid to hitve expended 
 five bundled pounds in preparin,^ aquedu(5ts for con- 
 veying it into the town. 
 
 We hops to be excufed in being rather copious in 
 the detailed account which we have prefented to 
 our readers, of the attempts which the corporation 
 of this town have made, for a number of years, 
 nav centuries palt, to obtain and feCure a futlicient 
 fupply of this molt necelTary of all elements, for the 
 fupport and comfort of human life. The linen, the 
 complt-.xlon, the livelinefs of the inhabitants of any 
 large town, like this, are known by the quality of the 
 water which they eiijoy. And if we cannot aflent to 
 the nu xi;u of the Grecian fage, who afiirmed, that 
 " water is not only the beft of all the elements, but it 
 is the firft principle and origin of all things ;" yet we 
 can fay with him, it is a pure, pleafant, and delight- 
 ful element, ap.d without which man could not exift. 
 It mingles with, and forms the greatefl part of the 
 mafs ot our blood ; it penetrates our arteries, veins, 
 nerves, and, in a word, pervades our whole animal 
 frame : the magiftrates, therefore, who are affiduous 
 in procuring an ample fupply of this moll necellary 
 fluid deferve well of their fellow citizens. It is re- 
 markable what prodigious pains and expencfe the 
 magifttates of the fiilf city in the world, London, 
 have employed to procure, at any cxpence, and from 
 any diltance, fuch abundance of loft, delicious wa- 
 ter, as is not to be equalled in any capital in the 
 \\o\.d. 
 
 It has long been the pride aiid boaft of Nevvcaflle, 
 thai the ip':abitants enjoy, with no very great ex- 
 pencc, tbe ivay, th& ivat'er^ and the worxL 
 
 Before 
 
i^elDcaftlc upon Ci)nc. 157 
 
 Before we proceed to the more interefting branches 
 of our hidory, we may, to avoid confufion, in this 
 place, give an account of the 
 
 Boundaries of the Town ofNewcqftk. 
 
 When the mayor and burgelTes perambulate the 
 boundaries of their liberties, they proceed as follows. 
 They go from the Guildhall to the blue ftone on 
 the bridge ; from thence, along the Clofe, to the 
 boundary-ftone Handing againll the eaft corner of the 
 iron foundery, immediately on the weft: fide of the 
 runner called Skinner's-bourn ; up that bourn, on 
 the weft fide of the grouttd belonging to the Infirm- 
 ary, and tlirough the garden of the late Mr. Geo. 
 Anderfon, to the Weft-gate ; from thence, up the 
 lane, to a ftone nearly oppofite to St. John's poor- 
 houfe : from thence eaihvard, down the lane to 
 Gallowgate ; thence crofting a low houfe near the 
 pant, through a part of the ground called Spring- 
 gardens ; thence onward, by the infide of tht dykes, 
 by the boundary-ftones in the lands of Elfwick ; from 
 thence, on the infide of the hedge on the weft fide of 
 the Town-moor, by the boundary-ftones on the lands 
 of Fenham : crofs the Ponteland turnpike-road, then 
 by the infide of the hedges, to the north-weft corner 
 of the Nun's-moor, in the lands of Kenton and Cox- 
 lodge; by the north fide of the Nun's and Town-moor, 
 to the Morpeth turnpike ; crofllng which, by the 
 boundary-ftones, in the infide of the hedges, of the 
 lands of Gosforth, on the north-eaft corner of the 
 Town-moor; then croftSng the road leading to Kil- 
 lingworth, &.c. fouthward by the boundary-ftones on 
 the infide of the hedges of the lands of Jefmond^ to 
 
 the 
 
158 Impartial fMov^ of 
 
 the Barras-biidge ; thence, along the lane, to SandU 
 ford-bridge ; thence fouthward, through the Shield- 
 field, over a houfe there, adjoining to the road lead- 
 ing to Oufe-bourn ; thence on a line fouthward, by 
 the eaft fide of the Red-barns pond, to the boundary, 
 flone at theeafl corner of the garden-wall of the Red- 
 barns ; then eaftvvard, by the boundary-ftones, to the 
 Oufe-bourn, croffing a little above the Gib, the boun- 
 dary-line trends fouth-eaft to the fouth fide of the 
 houfes on the fouth fide of Shields turnpike, near to 
 the gate : from tlience, by the lands of Byker, to 
 St. Lawrence's Dyke ; then fouthward, to the boun- 
 dary fione (landing on the eaft fide of the runner 
 near the gate leading from St. Peter's Quay to the 
 Mufhroom glafshoufes ; thence by the Glafshoufe- 
 bridge, up the road, to the Shields turnpike ; thence 
 through St. Ann's-ftreet, to the Swdrle, the ancient 
 boundary eaftward of the town ; through Sandgate, 
 along the Quayfide and the Sandhill, to Guildhall. 
 
 Such are the boundaries of this famous and ancient 
 town ; which is ten miles and fifty yards in circum- 
 ference. 
 
 In the year 1751, an order of common-council was 
 made, that the boundaries of the town, by land, 
 lliould be perambulated once in three years ; which 
 has been obferved, in general, ever fince. 
 
 The day appointed for riding the boundaries is, 
 ■when the weather happens to be favourable, devoted 
 to general feftivity and amufement, efpecially by 
 the younger part of the inhabitants. They at- 
 tend in crowds ; and when the boundary-ftones 
 are faluted, by the mayor and his fuite, with parcels 
 of cunants, raifins, confections, &c. the conteft for a 
 participation in the delicious fcramble is arduous and 
 
 violent ; 
 
jl5etocaflle upon Cpne. 159 
 
 violent ; fo that often a young competitor is over- 
 thrown in the unequal ftruggle; who, however, foon 
 recovers his former pofition, ready for a frefh exertion 
 of adivity at the next boundary-ftone. 
 
 Thefe exteniive poflellions of the free burgefles of 
 Newcaftle are continually increafing in value and 
 confequence. — See Public Revenues of the town. 
 
 It would be an omiflion highly reprehenlible, if 
 we did not give a particular account of this extenfive 
 public property. To proceed regularly, we begin 
 with that part which lies farthelt fouth, and fo on 
 northward. 
 
 The forth. 
 
 From Skinner-bourn to the top of the hill, includ- 
 ing the lite of the Infiniiary, (for an account of which 
 fee Public Inflitutions ) is the place called the Forth, 
 anciently named (fays Bourne) the Firth ; which 
 lies without the walls of the town, adjoining, on the 
 fouth, to a certain httle clofe, called Goofe-green- 
 clofe ; then it extends to another inclofure, named 
 Dove-cote-clofe ; and from thence weftward, to the 
 farthelt ditch of that clofe, which is the common way 
 that leads into what is properly named the Forth. 
 It contains eleven acres of ground, was furveyed 
 by order of the long parliament, in the year 1649, 
 and then valued at twelve pounds per annum. 
 
 It was valued tithe-free. The corporation paid 
 four pounds per annum to the king for it. 
 
 How it obtained this particular name of Forth, an- 
 ciently called Firth, is not eafy to form any certain 
 conjecture. For the term forth, or firth, is ufually, 
 if not always, apphed to an exteniive inlet or arm of 
 the fea. 
 
 Bourne's 
 
j6o 3imptirtial fi)iaor^ of 
 
 Bourne's conjedure is amufing, if it be not cor- 
 redl. He quotes from Blount's law diftionary, or 
 the etymology of the word forth or frith, tliat it is 
 derived from the Saxon word frith, which fignifies 
 peace ; as if a portion of the fea, retiring from 
 the tempeftuous ocean, feeks a calm retreat 
 in the bofom of forae winding bay. For the 
 Saxons held feveral woods to be facred ; and that 
 people, who were then poflefled of Northumberland, 
 and this place particularly, inhabiting about thofe 
 parts of the wall where the town now is, gave the 
 name oi frith, ox peace, to this fequeftered fituation ; 
 as, by the glcominefs of the trees, with which it then 
 abounded, a kind of melancholy devotion was there- 
 by excited in the fuperftitious minds of thofe blinded 
 heathens. 
 
 However that be, fo remote as the reign of Henry 
 III. a licence was granted to the townfmen of New- 
 caftle to dig coals and ftones in this place called the 
 Forth. And here it was, as fonie imagine, that the 
 firft coals about Newcaftle were wrought. Others 
 think that this mineral, afterwards fo univerfally ufed, 
 and, to this town, fo advmtageous, was firft dif- 
 covered and applied to the purpoies of fuel, in th? 
 Caftle Leazes. 
 
 This pleafant piece of ground has been ever em- 
 ployed as a place for drying linen, as well as for the 
 recreation of the town's-people. This appears to be 
 the cafe ; for, in the year 1657, a bowling-green was 
 made, and a tavern built, with a balcony projecting 
 from the front, and a parapet wall ; from whenc« 
 the fpectators, calmly fmoking their pipes and enjoy- 
 ing their glaflfes, beheld the fportfmen. 
 
 And 
 
j^cVucaftlc upon Ci?ne. 16 1 
 
 To heighten the pleafantnefs of the Forth, a 
 wall, forming a fquare, was built all around it, and 
 two rows of lime trees, at equal diftances, were plant- 
 ed within the wall ; which, in a iliort time, formed a 
 complete fliade for the inhabitants, who frequent. 
 ed this kind of Lyceum, in their morning and 
 evening walks. Thefe trees were brought from Hol- 
 land ; fince they were cut fquare over, at about fif- 
 teen feet from the groimd, for years they fliot out 
 afrelh, but they are now going fall to decay. 
 
 It feems all along, fays Bourne, to have been a 
 place of recreation. For it was an ancient cuftom 
 for the mayor, aldermen, and fherilf of Newcaftle, 
 accompanied by a great number of burgefles, to 
 proceed every year, at the feafts of Eafter and Whit- 
 funtide, to this place, with the maces, fword, and cap 
 of maintenance, carried before them. The great 
 concourfe Itill, efpeciuUy of the younger part of the 
 community, at thele fcafons, and at this place in par- 
 ticular, are the remains of this ancient and fimple 
 cuflom. 
 
 The elevated fituation of this delightful fpot, its 
 vicinity to the town, its commanding profpedl of the 
 adjacent country, all tend to render it exceedingly 
 pleafant. 
 
 But of late, the conftant exercifing of troops on 
 the green, and putting horfes and cattle upon the 
 neighbouring field, have greatly defaced the beauty 
 of the place, and entirely fubverted its original and 
 peaceful intention. 
 
 Here are fome fine private dwelling-houfes, with 
 elegant gardens before them; alfo a large public 
 building, clofe to the Forth-houfe, called the Circus, 
 eredled for a place of exercife to inftrucl young gen, 
 
 X tlemen 
 
i62 Jnipartial !!)iflorL) of 
 
 tlemen in the manly pradice of horfemanfliip. .Mr. 
 Jones did not meet with adequate encouragement, 
 and the Circus is now converted into a large work- 
 fliop, by Mr, Thomas Dudgeon, an ingenious milU 
 Wright and engineer. 
 
 Grey fays, that the Forth was given to the towns- 
 men by Edward III. for fervices done to that prince. 
 Bourne thinks, if this is corredt, it was for the bold 
 exploit 'of fallying out, defeating the Earl of Mur- 
 ray's army, wlio then were befieging Newcallle, and 
 taking him prifoner, anno 1342. 
 
 A little farther north is 
 
 WARDEN'S CLOSE. 
 
 This portion of the town's lands formerly belonged 
 to the warden of Tynemouth Priory. Here, fays Grey, 
 he had his houfe, garden, and fiih-pond. This might 
 be the cafe, as the mcnaftery of Black-friars was ad- 
 jacent to Warden's Clofe, and was dependent on the 
 Priory of Tynemouth ; and from that field, that bro- 
 therhood had their ciftern of water. The Lunatic 
 Hofpital is built here, of which, and of the beautiful 
 New Medical Baths, fee Public Fomidations, l^c. 
 
 Still northward, another field adjoining to War- 
 den's Clofe was, from its fliape, called Shoulder of 
 Mutton Clofe. In it, in former times, was a ciftern 
 of fine water. This field, or clofe, is now converted 
 into a large kitchen garden, and a number of fmall 
 pleafant fpots, let out to different perfons. 
 
 We now come to the moll valuable and extenfive 
 of the land-property of the free burgeffes of New- 
 caflle, viz. 
 
 The 
 
j3)elocame upon C^nc. 16 
 
 D 
 
 The castle -LEAZES, &c. 
 
 This large trad of ground belongs to the town, 
 and contains (lays Bourne) one hundred and forty- 
 one acres of valuable land. Grey informs us, that 
 the Caftle-Lcazes, or Caftle-Field, was the gift of 
 king John to the good men of Newcaflle. He adds, 
 " However this be, it is certain that it had been the 
 property of the town, even fo far back as m the 
 reign of king Edward III. ; for, in the ^il\ year of 
 that prince's reign, the town of Newcallle took an 
 inquifition, in the Caftle-Field, on a Palm-Sunday 
 eve, deliring the confirmation of the Caille-lMoor 
 
 and Field, and the privileges belonging to them. 
 
 And the king, by his letters patent, dated at Well- 
 minftcr, confirmed to the burgefles of Newcaftle 
 the other charters they had obtained, and alfo the 
 pofleffion of the Caftle-Moor and Callle-Fieid. — 
 He alfo, as appears by the faid charters, confirmed 
 to the burgefl^es, and their heirs, the liberty of dig- 
 ging coals, ftone, and all other advantages arifing 
 from the faid Caftle-Moor." 
 
 This important charter, the bafis of the burgefles' 
 rights to the Town-Moor, Si-c. runs thus : — " Nos 
 cGnceJJinius pro ?iobis ct heredibiis nojlris, bC" " IVe 
 grant for us and our heirs, that the aforefaid burgejfes 
 and their heirs have and hold the aforefaid moor and 
 lands, l^cr 
 
 The mill in t'le CaPde-Leazes, commonly called 
 Chimley-mill, upon the rivulet named Bailiff-bourn, 
 and the other, called Little Mill, were valued by an 
 inquifition, and ordered by parliament, 1649. at ten 
 pounds per annum for each mill. The whole Forth 
 X 2 and 
 
i64 Jnipnrtial fMovp of 
 
 and Town-Moor were valued, at the fame time, at 
 twenty-feven pounds per annum. This ground was 
 alwavs valued tvthe-free. 
 
 On this trad of the town's ground, the late Mr. 
 Smith built, a few years ago, an extenfive manufac- 
 tory for tobacco and fnuff, with fome elegant dwel- 
 ling-houfes and gardens. They are flill poflefled by 
 Mr. Harrifon, his fon -in-law. 
 
 Another material and extenfive part of the town- 
 lands is 
 
 The TOWN-MOOR. 
 
 It is, fays Bourne, a very fpacious piece of ground, 
 containing 1037 acres i rood 2 perches. In very re- 
 mote times, it is faid to have been a wood, famous for 
 oaks, out of which have been built many hundreds 
 of lliips, and alfo all the houfes of the old town of 
 Newcaftle. Whether the houfes were built from 
 oaks cut upon the Town-moor or not, is not eafily 
 afcertained ; but that moil of the houfes on the Sand- 
 hill, the Clofe, &c. were built with that wood, is cer- 
 tainly true ; fo.r, from dates on fome of them, they 
 are of great antiquity. 
 
 The Moor, together with the Caftle-Leazes, called 
 alfo the Caftle-moor and Caftle-field, were the right 
 of the town, and accounted fo, in the reign of king 
 Edward III. who, in the frefh charter which he gave 
 the town, confirmed to the burgeffes all their former 
 privileges, their holdlpg of thofe lands, working coal, 
 {tones, &c. in them, together with all the profits arif- 
 ing from them, in the fame manner he had confirm- 
 ed all t'le immunities and privilege's which had been 
 granted by the kings, his predecefiois, to the bur- 
 gefles- of Newcaftle. 
 
 The 
 
ji!JeVDcnmc upon Cpne. 165 
 
 The ancient bounds of the Town-moor, which are 
 the fame at this day, are thus defcribed in the above 
 charter of king Edward III. viz. " From a certain 
 place called Thorn-bufli, near the Crofs ; (which 
 leems to have been on the north fide of the Barras- 
 bridge, near a Crofs which was eredted there before 
 St. James's chapel, and which was thrown down by 
 the town-furveyor, no doubt to prevent what he 
 thought idolatry) and then, by certain divifions, fet 
 up towards the faid town of Nevvcaftle, as far as the 
 gallows, one pod of which flood on the boundary be- 
 tween the land of the prior of Tynemouth, and the 
 other on that of the town of Newcaftle ; and fo on 
 by the Quarrel- dyke, (that is, the Quarry-dyke) and 
 thence, by tlie king's way, to the faid town." 
 
 By an inqiiifition taken at the CaiUe of NewcaRle 
 upon Tync, Augull 13, in the iSth year of the reign 
 of James I. Caftle-moor appears to have contained 
 848 acres ; and the boundaries are defcribed, at that 
 time, as beginning at a certain houfe, called Sick- 
 man's-houfe, on the fouth, and fo extending to the 
 fields of Jefmond on the eaft, to a certain corner 
 there ; and from thence turning weftvvard, to the 
 gate leading from Newcaftle to Morpeth, and [o on 
 weftward, near the limits of Coxlodge, on tlie north, 
 to the corner of the Nun's-moor : on the well, to a 
 certain corner, where a hedge was anciently, near tiie 
 Covv_gate, leading from Newcatlle to Hexham ; by 
 the boundaries of the fields of Elfwick, on the fouth, 
 to the gallows ; and from thence turning weftward 
 and north, by the bounds and territories of Eaft-field 
 on the weft, to a certain corner of the Caftle-field • 
 and turning fouth and eaft, by the boundaries of the 
 Caftle-field on the fouth, to the faid houfe, called 
 Sick-raan's-houfe. 
 
 In 
 
J 06 Jmpartial ipiUori) of 
 
 In the times of the commonwealth, it was reported, 
 fays Bourne, that the coal-mine, or colliery, in the 
 Town-moor extended itfelf one hundred acres, and 
 that the value of it was to the town tiiiity-five pounds 
 per annum. 
 
 In the year 1739, an advertifement appeared in 
 the Courant paper, to *' let the colliery of the Town- 
 moor." By this it would appear, that the defign en- 
 tertained by the corporation, of " claiming the roy- 
 alty, minerals, and furface of this extenlive proper- 
 ty," was not fuddenly taken up, in 1770 ; the open 
 avowal of which occafioned the famous trial, of which 
 we will give an impartial account. 
 
 Upon the petition of Humphrey Gill and John 
 Cooke, dated Odlober 28, 1657, to make a way, and 
 bring coals out of Fenham-tields, over the Town- 
 moor, at the diftance of fixty yards from the high- 
 way leading over the faid moor ; leave was given by 
 the common council, to caufe a gate to be hung, and 
 the way to be paved from the gate, to the faid high- 
 way, upon Mr. Ord, of P^nham, paying annually one 
 fliilling. This, and other limilar grants, gave great 
 offence to the burgcfles, and produced great conten- 
 ticn in the public meetings. 
 
 In the year 1747, the turnpike- road, over the 
 Town-moor, on the way leading to Morpeth, was be- 
 gun by the corporation, at their own expence. It 
 was in the form of a large caufeway, eleven yards in 
 breadth, well paved with whinllones, and was com- 
 pleted in the year i 749 ; William Joyce, furveyor. 
 That from Gallowgate to Weft Cowgate, was made 
 anno 1753. 
 
 Newcaflle has not, like towns of lefs confequence 
 and opulence, affected taking the lead in fafhionable 
 
 amufe- 
 
5!5eVDca(lle upon CLnic. 167 
 
 amufements. Horfe-races, which at prefent are an- 
 nually run upon the Town- moor, app..^ar formerly to 
 have been run upon Killingworth-moor, in the vici_ 
 nity of that town. But, by an acl of common-coun- 
 cil, a race-ground was formed on the Town-moor ; 
 and in the year 1 756, another order, by the fame au- 
 thority, was given, for feventy-five pounds to be laid 
 out towards putting the race-ground in good condi- 
 tion. The courfe is two miles in circumference, and 
 is excellently calculated for that amufement. 
 
 But as the races always take place in June, and 
 about the fummer folflice, it frequently happens to 
 be rainy w^eather ; luckily for viduallers, but luck- 
 lefs indeed for pedeftrian fpedators, who are often 
 completely drenched. 
 
 This year, 1801, the races at Newcaftle were at- 
 tended by the greateft number of running horfes 
 ever known north of Newmarket and York; near 
 fifty being entered for the various fweepftakes, plates, 
 and matches, during the week. 
 
 Adjacent to the llarting-poft, Mr. Loftus has 
 eredled an elegant edifice, two (lories high, now 
 called the Grand Stand, which, being built of flone, 
 prefents a very finking appearance. It is intended, 
 not merely as a place of accommodation for fpedators 
 at the races, but as a public tavern during the fum- 
 mer feafon, being handfomely furniflied and fitted 
 up for that purpofe. The external afpe6l of the 
 building is equal to that of any gentleman*s manlion 
 in the neighbourhood, and from the galleries on its 
 roof the fpedlators command a view nearly all round 
 the courfe. 
 
 The firfl: king's purfe of an hundred guineas, run 
 for upon the Town^moor, was won by a horfe called 
 
 Cato, 
 
i68 Impartial fpiftot]) of 
 
 Cato, the property of George Bowes, Efq, June 5th, 
 1753- 
 
 NUN'S MOOR. 
 
 This large trad lies between the thorn-bufli 
 and the hedge that feparates it from the grounds 
 of Kenton. Richard I, confirmed to St. Mary's 
 and the nuns of St. Bartholomew, the lands which 
 had been granted them by Afelack, the foun- 
 der of that hofpital. The land, from its becoming 
 the property of thefe nuns, got the name of Nun's 
 Field, or Nun's Moor. In the fourth year of Henry 
 VIII. Dame Joan, priorefs of the monaftery of St. 
 Bartholomew, and the convent of the fame, granted 
 a leafe of the Nun's Moor for one hundred years, at 
 the annual rent of twenty-three iliillings and four- 
 pence, to the mayor and commonalty of Newcaflle. 
 
 After the difTolution of the aforefaid monaliery, it 
 became the property, by royal grants, of feveral gen- 
 tlemen ; and, in the year 1651, it was purchafed from 
 Mr. Charles Brandling, of Gatefhead, by the corpo- 
 ration of Newcaitle, who have annexed it to the 
 Town-moor. 
 
 Thus this vafl extent of uncultivated land generally 
 named the Town-moor has been conveyed down from 
 time immemorial to the free burgefles of Newcaflle, 
 to this day, and who confider it not only as the 
 niofl: fubftantial mark of the paternal regard of their 
 forefathers for the real interefts of their pofterity, but 
 alfo, as it conftitutes the moft unalienable, fo it is 
 the moft valuable of their franchifes and property, 
 as burgefles and freemen I 
 
 The value of lands, however, continually rifing, 
 and it being well known that the feams of coal in 
 
 the 
 
jl^ctoc^^GIe upon Cj.mc. 169 
 
 the Town-moor might, if wrought, be of prodigious 
 value, that extenfivc tract of ground became, a few 
 years fince, an object of general attention, both on 
 account of the improveablenefs of its foil, and of the 
 valuable minerals which it contains. 
 
 From motives which we do not pretend to be ac- 
 quainted with, the common-council inferted an ad- 
 vertifement in the Newcai'tle Courant, December 31, 
 1771, intimating that that part of the Town-moor 
 lying on the weftern turnpike road, from Gallowgate 
 quarry to the Weft Cowgate, containing about eighty- 
 nine acres, was to be let, for the purpofe of benig 
 cultivated and improved. Such was the tenor of 
 this memorable advertifement. 
 
 We fliall give the fentiments of Mr. 15 rand upon 
 
 this tranfadlion. " Tiiis matter (fays that hifto- 
 
 rian) occalioned a violent difpute between the mayor 
 and common-council, and fome of the burgefles. 
 Serjeant Glynn, recorder of London, was invited 
 down toNevvcaftle, on behalf of the burgefles in this 
 affair; and by his mediation at the aflizes, Auguft 
 10, 1773, it was agreed that the leafing of the Town- 
 moor lliould be fettled by adt of parliament. The 
 burgefles (adds he) in the oppofition called the 
 agreement made on this occafion a vidlory, and ap- 
 pointed a committee of delegates from each com- 
 pany to carry on the heads of a bill to be prefented. 
 to parliament, in the adjuftlng of which they had 
 no fmall altercation with the magiftrates. The a6l 
 pafled for this purpofe A. D. 1774, 14 Geo. III." — 
 BramVs Hlfl. vol. i. p. 436. 
 
 The fentence of the court was in the following 
 terms. 
 
 Y Town 
 
170 Slinp^^tial fi^idori) of 
 
 To'u:n and County of Ne-wcq/lle upon Tyni,! At tlie afTizes held 
 ar.(l County of the fame Toivn. 3 "^^ the Guildhall of the 
 
 faid town, in and lor the faid town and county of the fame, 
 on Saturday the 7th day of Augufl, 13 of Geo. III. &c. be- 
 fore the hon. Sir Henry Gould, knight, one of tlie juflices 
 of his majeftv's court of Common Pl-as, and the hon. Sir 
 William Blackrtone, knight, one of the juftices of the fame 
 court, tM'o of his majeily's judices afligned to take the 
 affizes according to the ftatute. &c. 
 
 Hopper verfusl It is ordered by die confent of faid parties, 
 Bayles tf alios, y their counfel and attornies, that the laft juror of 
 the jury empannelled and fworn in this caufc fhidl he withdrawn 
 from the pannel ; and by tlie like confent, and by the confent of 
 William Gibfon, Efq. town-clerk of Newcaftle aforefaid, on be- 
 half of the common-council aforefaid. Sec. it is agreed and or- 
 dered, that an application fhall be made for an aft of parliament 
 to eftablifli forever to refident freemen, and the refident widows 
 of deccafed freemen of the town of Newcaftle aforefaid, tlie full 
 right and benefit to the herbage of the Town-moor for two milk 
 cows, in the manner in which it has been ufed, fubje<ft to fuch 
 reftriftions and regulations as fliall be judged neccfTary for the 
 culture and improvement of the common, and fliall be prefcribed 
 in the act, which are to be fettled and agreed upon by two per- 
 fons, one to be named by the common-council, and the other by 
 the ftewards of the companies, or the major part of them. Such 
 two pcrfons to be named before the firft day of Novem.ber next ; 
 and in cafe they cannot agree, they two are to chufe a third per- 
 fon for the purpofe aforefaid, by agreement, or ballot. And it 
 is further ordered, tliat the rents to arife from the leafcs of parts 
 of the Town-moor aforefaid (which may be made for improving 
 the common) fliall be applied to the ufe of the ppor freemen, 
 and poor widows of freemen, in the manner to be prefcribed by 
 the faid aft. And it is alfo ordered, that the quantity to be in- 
 ^lofed for improvement, at any one period, fliall not exceed one 
 liundred acres ; and that fuch rights fliall be reftored to the cor- 
 poration of Newcaftle as owners of the foil, as they are intitled 
 unto. And it is alfo ordered, that the expences of the faid aft, 
 an i alfo the cofts in tliis aftion of the plaintiff, and the cofts not 
 exceeding 300I. of the defendants, fliall be paid out of the public 
 revenue of the faid corporation. 
 
 And 
 
s^eVacaUIe luion Cpne. 171 
 
 And laftly, it is ordered, that all parties perform tliis order, 
 and that tliis order Ihall be made a rule of his majelly's court 
 of Common Pleas, if the julliccs of faid court Iliall i'o pleafe. 
 
 By the court, 
 
 RICGE. 
 
 *• In commemoration of this event," Uiys Brand, 
 " and as a reward to the above coininittee, who 
 conduced the caufe of the burgeilcs, the members 
 thereof were unanimoully prefented uitii the tree, 
 dora of feveral of the companies. That of the Tay- 
 lors prefented each of the committee with a gold 
 ring, in the fignet of each of wliicii, under a cryfhil, 
 was reprefented Liberty ftepping out of her temple, 
 with a label proceeding from her mouth, inlcribed 
 '* Town-moor faved Augiijl lotb, 1773." On the in- 
 fide, " Concordia parvtE res crefcunt :" '' By concord 
 fviall things encreafe." Round the inner verge, 
 
 *' Taylor's Camp, to " (naming each member). 
 
 And round the outer verge this motto : " Vox populi^ 
 vox Dei ;" " The voice of the people is the voice of 
 
 Godr 
 
 Such is the account given by Mr. Brand of tiiis 
 famous trial, the happy effects of which, it is to be 
 hoped, Will be enjoyed by all parties to the remotelt 
 ages. 
 
 But, as that hiitorian was, and flill continues to 
 be, charged w-ith courtly partiality towards thole in 
 power, (although his hirtory occalioned the hcavieft 
 blow being given to the corporation that it ever re- 
 ceived iince its exigence) we fhall fubjoin another 
 account of that caufe, and the ilTue of it, by one of 
 tlie mod enlightened burgeflfes, who was thoroughly 
 acquainted with the whole procedure, and was an 
 eye-witnefs to the caufe in every llage of its pro- 
 
 Y 2 ■ grefs ; 
 
17^ Impartial IMovi} of 
 
 grefs; and alfo the fubftance of the acl of parlia- 
 ment, which Mr. Brand has not inferted in his hif- 
 tory. 
 
 •' Mr. Brand, fpeaking of the advertifement for 
 letting part of the moor, fays, ' a limilar defign had 
 been in agitation fome time before, but was fet aiide 
 by tlie mayor and common-council, as impraflica- 
 ble.' Happy would it have been (adds our anony- 
 mous author) had they continued in that opinion. 
 This, however, they altered, and actually let the 
 premifes to one Hopper, a quaker, for a term of 
 years. The burgefies, deeming this an illegal act, 
 took the advice of able counfel in London, who re- 
 commended them to commit a trefpafs upon the 
 alterations made by Hopper, which they did, by 
 breaking down the hedge incloling the lield then 
 growing corn, and turning their own cattle into the 
 inclofure. On this, an adion was brought againft 
 certain of the burgelTes for the trefpafs, before judge 
 Gould, at the affizes held ai Newcaftle, anno 1773. 
 Serjeant Glynn, then recorder of London, and mem- 
 ber of parliament for the county of Middlefex, was 
 retained by the burgefles, or rather benevolently 
 came to free them from their opprefTors. 
 
 *' The caufe was opened by counfellor Wallace, 
 (afterwards attorney-general) on behalf of the profe- 
 cation. Serjeant Glynn admitted the trefpafs, and 
 claimed the right of pleading to the cuftom, which 
 being allowed, he proved by the charter of king 
 John, confirmed by Edvvnrd IIL and other fucceed- 
 ing monarchs of England, to the town of Newcaflle 
 upon Tyne, that the Town-moor had been unalien- 
 abh granted to the burgcfTes of Newcaftle, and their 
 fuccclTors, forever, under a certain fee-farm rent, 
 
 paid 
 
jBelDcaaie upon Cync 173 
 
 paid by them to the crown previous to the reign of 
 king John, which Edward III, had fully confinned, 
 with the farther privilege of digging coals, ftones, 
 mines, minerals, &.c. therein, to their own ufe and 
 benefit, without any lett or hindrance, from him, his 
 heirs, and fucctifTors ; and alfo of the later cuftom of 
 the refident burgefles, and the relident widows of 
 burgefles, depafturing their milk-cows thereon, un- 
 der certain regulations for the benefit of the general 
 pafturage. This the learned counfel demonftrated in 
 fuch a full, explicit, and impreirivc manner, to the 
 fatisfadlion of a numerous audience, that when he 
 had doled his eloquent defence, and counfellor Wal- 
 lace was alked if he did not mean to make a reply, 
 the latter returned this memorable anfwer : ' How 
 can I reply P He has pounded mj m n common, and I 
 cannot get out.' This is what Mr. Brand calls the 
 * Serjeant's mediation' But it was manifell to every 
 one prefent, that the corponition had not a fingle 
 foot to (land on in fupport of their claim of a right 
 to let the moor, which was what they contended for; 
 nor could fuch of the magiftrates as were called upon 
 give any fatisfadory anfvvers to the quedions put to 
 them, but feemed to be all entirely difconcerted : one 
 indeed was fo completely at a lofs, that he defired 
 permiffion of the court to go home to obtain fome 
 minutes to refrefli his memory, which was granted ; 
 but the bufinefs was compromifed by agreement be- 
 fore his return; by withdrawing a juror, the corpo- 
 ration agree.-ng to pay every expencc, and that 
 alfo of obtaining an adt of parliament for a perma- 
 nent fettlement of the bufinefs. 
 
 " The fubfiance of the act obtained in confequcnce 
 of the verdicl paiTed at the affixes was, th[tt tlie di- 
 
 reclion 
 
174 Impartial Diftori) of 
 
 rcdion of the piefcribed management of the tillage 
 was vefled in the ftewards ot the incorporated com- 
 panies, who receive and diftribute the profits ariling 
 theretrom, as the ad directs. That part, weil of the 
 weft turnpike, which had been let to Mr. Hopper, 
 with a parcel of ground to the eaftward thereof, ma- 
 king together an hundred acres, was publicly let in 
 the Guildhall, according to the new ad for that pur- 
 pofe, to Mr. Richard Chambers, tanner, for (tven 
 years, at fo much per acre. 
 
 '' Another parcel of equal fpace was next let to 
 Mr, Coulfon of Jefmond, for the like term, and at a 
 fixed rate per acre. But a difpute ariiing between 
 the lefTors and lefiee, relative to the mode of culti- 
 vation, it was terminated by a trial at the affizes, 
 when the leflbrs, v/ho were the profecutors, obtained 
 a verdict with damages. After this, it being con- 
 ceived that the beft means to effect the real improve- 
 riicnt of the foil of the moor, would be to let the 
 leafes upon very low terms ; and that part of the 
 Nun's Moor, next to Hali's Gate, was then let at the 
 very low rate of one Ihilling per acre, which had the 
 defired effed ; the land having had great juftice 
 done to it, the tenant reaped an ample reward for 
 his induftry. 
 
 *'.In the year 1796, another hundred acres v/ere let 
 to Mr. Ralph Watlon of the Cuftoms, and others, at 
 diff;;rent prices per acre, according to the value of 
 the land, and its quality. 
 
 " The committee of ftewards having employed the 
 money obtamed as damages of Mr. Coulfon to the 
 improvement of the common in general, it is now 
 in a better ftate than ever it was known to be be- 
 fore 3 and it is but juftice to fay, that they have paid 
 
 the 
 
jl5elocaGlc upon Cpe. 175 
 
 the ftrideft attention to the advancement thereof, 
 and that then- care has been amply recompenfed. 
 
 *' Since the obtaining the above acl of parhament, 
 the ftewards of the different companies have formed 
 themlelves into a kind of aflbciated body, to watch 
 over the Town-moor, and the rights of the burgefles 
 at large ; for which purpofe they appoint an annual 
 committee, who eledl a chairman ; which committee 
 affemble the whole body of ftewards occafionally, 
 under the penalty of a fine for non-attendance, &c. 
 The different ftewards take the fenfe of their compa- 
 nies on any matter of public import, and report the 
 fame at the next appointed meeting of ftewards, 
 when the buiinefs is fettled according to the opinion 
 of the majority preient, who are to vote agreeable to 
 the diredtion of the company whom they reprefent. 
 Certain it is, that this body of men, although un- 
 authoiifed by either law or charter to act as a body, 
 except in the particular inftances pointed out by the 
 acl for the improvement of the common, have yet, 
 by their prudent conduct and fteady attention to the 
 rights and interefts of the burgeffes in general, ob- 
 tained the confidence of the companies and refident 
 freemen, who look upon them as a kind of third 
 eftate, or intermediate body between the magiftracy, 
 the common-council, and the community of bur- 
 geffes at large : and they will continue to be refpect- 
 ed fo long as they make no attempt in public affairs, 
 of the church or ftate. One tiling is obvious, that 
 it certainly would render the feveral companies more 
 truly refpedable, were they to confider how much it 
 is their intercft to elect the moft prudent and dif- 
 creet of their refpedtive brotherhoods to reprefent 
 them as ftewards, not only at thofe meetings which 
 
 more 
 
176 Jnipatrtial fpiaory of 
 
 more immediately concern their own pecuniary wel- 
 fare, but at fuch alfo which may be of a more pub- 
 lic nature." 
 
 The fame able and well-informed burgefs, lately 
 deceafed, goes on to obferve : — 
 
 *' The Castle-Leazes continues to be appropriated 
 to the purpofes of depalluring the milch-cows of re- 
 fident burgeffes and refident widows, and it is for 
 that reafon annuiUy ' hained,^ or kept from pafturing 
 thereupon, till the grafs becomes full of nourifliment 
 and juice, 
 
 " There is certainly a want of agricultural affifl- 
 ance to render this valuable large tract of ground as 
 prolific as it might, and indeed ought, to be ; and it 
 is to be hoped the public attention will be fhortly 
 called thereto, particularly as the moor is now in 
 fuch an i:nproved ftate, that the Leazes may in a 
 little tune be difpenfed with, and appropriated to 
 fuch a courfe of regular cultivation, as may tend to 
 improve the pafturage to a high degree. The Nun's- 
 Mcor, as has been obferved, was laid do\vn from till- 
 age for paflure, and is now in the molt excellent 
 condition. 
 
 '' But the greateil advantage which ever poffibly 
 could accrue to the burgeifes of Newcaftle, from the 
 Town-Moor, or the Callle-Leazes, would ariie from 
 working that valuable feam of main-coal which lies 
 under its furface, and which, the public fays, is of 
 the very bed quality of that mineral. This right, 
 the late acl has clearly afcertained to be vefted in 
 the burgeifes at large, and which, by their charter 
 of the 3111 of Edward III. is put beyond all difpute. 
 
 " But fuch is, and perhaps ever has been, the jea- 
 loufy reigning between the governing and the go- 
 verned 
 
j^elDcaftlc upon Cpe. 177 
 
 verned party, that it can never be fuppofed to be 
 brought about, but under the direclion of an act of 
 parhament, by which it might be fettled that the 
 nett profics ariiing iTom fuch an undertaking were 
 folely to be appropriated to the fupport of old and 
 decayed burgelfes, their widows, children, or or- 
 phans, under the management of a committee, to 
 be annually cholcn from the leveral companies ; of 
 which committee the mayor, recorder, and Iheriff, 
 for the time being, always to be three ; to ad totally 
 independent of the body corporate, under certain 
 determinate rules and regulations. It might perhaps 
 be good policy to give the preference to fuch appli- 
 cants for the benefit to be bellowed on indigence 
 who are themfelves, or whole hufbands or fathers 
 were members of iome of the incorporated compa- 
 nies. This meafure would render the franchifes of 
 the companies more dehrable, and confequently 
 make the feveral brotherhoods more numerous and 
 refpedable. 
 
 *' Tiie prodigious advantage that w'ould certainly 
 refult to the community at large, from fuch a niea- 
 fuie being adopted, is almofl: inconceivable. What 
 foundations for alleviating and reheving the neceffi- 
 ties and diftreffes of human nature might not be ex- 
 pected to arife from fuch a regulation, when di reded 
 by a jull and prudent adminillration I Happy the 
 charader, who may be fo fortunate as to prove the 
 means of bringing about fuch an arrangement; which 
 certainly might be etTeded without any depreciation 
 of the revenues of the corporition, and would be an 
 afylum for indigence and diftrefs, for a long, a very 
 long courfc of years I But this delirable event is 
 not to be expeded till the narrow pohcy of the go- 
 
 Z verning 
 
17S Impartial ipiftoii) of 
 
 verninp: part, of indeed all corporate bodies, fliall 
 give place to ideas more liberal and humane. Then 
 this, and many more generous appropriations of 
 [ public revenues, which were ever intended, when 
 granted, to be for public benefit, — then, and not 
 till then, will be brought forward, and fuccefsfully 
 adopted." 
 
 Such are the obfervations of this late enlightened 
 and patriotic burgefs, left in fair autograph, inter- 
 leaving a copy of Mr. Bourne's Hiftory of Newcaltle, 
 and for which we (land fo juftly indebted to his 
 memory. They are fo lucid, fo impreffive on this 
 remarkable part of the Hillory of Newcaille, that 
 they have only to be read, in order to be felt. 
 
 In this town and its vicinity, the public mind, at 
 the above period, was agitated in the extreme, and 
 party fpirit ran high among all clafles, efpecialiy be- 
 tween the abettors of the magiftrates and thofe of 
 the freemen. Some of the former boldly aflerted, 
 that tlie decifions of the court fubftantiated all the 
 claims of the governing party, as they were declared 
 lords of the foil, &tc. while the more moderate and 
 virtuous part of the corporation confefTed that the 
 decifion met their warmed approbation, as thereby 
 the indigent burgelTes, widows, and orphans, had 
 now a legal claim upon the produdlion both of the 
 furface and minerals of that vaft trad: of ground, 
 left them as an inheritance by their forefathers, by 
 which they would not only ceafe to be a parochial 
 burthen, but, by prudent adminiftration, they might 
 enjoy the fweets, if not of an opulent, at lead of an 
 eafy independence, in the advanced or helplefs pe- 
 riod of their lives. 
 
 On 
 
Jl^elocaGlc upon €yne. 179 
 
 On the other hand, the exultation of the freemen 
 was alinoft boundlefs on this important occafion ; and 
 they gave full vent to their refentment, in terms the 
 moll exafperating and acrimonious. They declared 
 openly, that they had been too long fubjected to the 
 *' infolcnce of office^ and that now, by the powerful 
 influence of an incomparable counfel, the clear dif- 
 ccrnment of an impartial jury, and the firmnels of 
 an upright and enligucened judge, they had elcaped 
 from the fangs of an unprincipled, avaricious junto, 
 who meant to rob them and their hclplefs widows 
 and orphans, firft of the prodacl of the furface, and 
 then of the minerals in the bowels of their paternal 
 inheritance, Thefe lentimehts were echoed, not 
 only in every place of public concourfe, but were 
 conveyed in pamphlets, farcallic lampoons, Freemen s 
 Catechifms, Freemeii's Magazines, and fuch other 
 compofitions, highly calculated to irritate and in- 
 flame the public mind; and although the impetuo- 
 fity of tumultuous conunotion gradually kiolided, 
 yet the eftecls of it were long felt afterwards. One 
 prominent characler, Sir Walter Blackett, in this 
 violent Itruggle for power and domination on the 
 one hand, and refiftance crowned with fucceis on 
 the other, fullered ieverely ; and froiii the exprei- 
 fions of the molt contumelious contempt which he 
 daily experienced from the undifcriminating multi- 
 tude, his mind was, 'no doubt, agitated with the 
 keeneft and mofl: agonizing feniations ; which indeed 
 were afcribed by his friends as the means of fliorten- 
 ing his ufeful life. All his unceaiing acls of benefi- 
 cence, his courtly and winning deportment, his affa- 
 bility and condefcenfion,— all were forgot I and it 
 was fuppofed, that defigning men, taking the advan- 
 
 Z 2 tage 
 
I So Impartial Jl-mocp of 
 
 tage of Sir Walter's popularity and love of power, by 
 the long habit of his leading influence in the corpo- 
 ration, artfully placed rhat gentleman in the front of 
 the conteft, and fo expofed him to the whole pref- 
 fure of oppofition and popular refentment. 
 
 Another embittering circumftance befel that once 
 defervedly popular charadler in the year 1774. Up- 
 on tiie dilTolution of the parliament, Mr. Ridley re- 
 figning his feat, an oppofition took place to Sir Wal- 
 ter Blackett, long one of the members for Nevvcaftle, 
 and Sir Matthew White Ridley, who had become 
 a candidate to fucceed his father. A number of the 
 moft fpirited and active free burgeffes invited the 
 honourable Conflantine John Phipps, a captain in 
 the royal navy, and Thomas Delaval, Efcj- brother 
 of Sir John (now Lord) Delaval, to ftand candidates 
 for the reprefenlation of Newcaftle in Parliament, 
 Sir Walter once more took the field, and, accompa- 
 nied by the young baronet. Sir Matthew, fecured in 
 their cunvafs a great majority of voters, who com- 
 pletely triumphed over their competitors. Yet this 
 vidory was not obtained by Sir Walter without be- 
 ing hourly expofed to all the virulence of the moft 
 rancorous oppofition, and terms of the moft marked 
 and infufterable contempt. On this occafion, and 
 in the ferment of popular commotion, the aftliir of 
 the Town-moor was not forgot. That veteran in 
 eledlioneering bufinefs had the mortification to fee 
 many burgeflTes under the banners of the popular 
 candidates whom he little expeded, and fome of 
 whom he had ferved in the moft fubftantial manner. 
 To confummate his chagrin, he found it was the ge- 
 neral wifli that he fli(^uld decline the conteft, and 
 refign the reprefentation into younger and more vi- 
 gorous 
 
i^ctDcaHIc upon C^nc. iSr 
 
 gorous hands ; and however attached the great body 
 of the burgeffes were to his intercfls, yet he per- 
 ceived that a (igh of regret efcaped from their breafts 
 upon the event of their being deprived of the oppor- 
 tunity of having fo able a reprefentative as captain 
 Phipps joined with Sir Matthew White Ridley, the 
 two gentlemen whom all parties fccretly willied in 
 the reprefentation ; nor could the burgeffes of New- 
 caftle have poffibly made a better and more fuituble 
 choice. Both gentlemen young, popular, of grace- 
 ful figures, and well conneded. The former, cap- 
 tain Phipps, of high birth, and a fplendid fortune, of 
 the moft confummate profeflional knowledge in ma- 
 ritime affairs, and who on all occalions during his 
 canvafs, and upon the hudings, declared his warmed 
 attachment to the bed iiiterefts of Newcaftle, and 
 ejpecially to the improvement of the river Tyne, which 
 he coiijidered as being capable of becoming one of the 
 fineft rivers in t}je world, but which ignorance, in- 
 attention, and AVARICE, had converted into what 
 he called " a cursed horse-pond !" That, fhould 
 he have the fupreme fehcity of being elected their 
 reprefentative, he would exert all his influence with 
 the admiralty, to whom he was perfonally known, 
 to protect, cherifh, and aggrandize tiie important and 
 numerous branches of trade on the river Tyne. — 
 Thefe profellions the candid and intelligent part of 
 the burgeffes were fully convinced he would realize, 
 and therefore the lofs of having fuch a reprefentative 
 as captain Phipps excited in them the liveliefl: fenfa- 
 tions of painful regret. 
 
 The other gentleman. Sir Matthew White Ridley, 
 was in the vigour and bloom of youth, formed under, 
 a father who knew all the forms of parliamentary 
 
 bufinefs, 
 
1 82 Impartial fpiftory of 
 
 bufinefs, and who himlelf knew all the interefts of 
 the corporation, was deeply concerned in the mod 
 fubrtantial branches of their trade ; was of an inde- 
 pendent fpirit, and could exprefs his fentiments with 
 firmnels and animation, which he has realized in his 
 whole parliamentary condud, while he daily rifes in 
 the elleem and atfeclion of his conftituents. 
 
 Such was the refult of the folemn trial refpecling 
 the Town-moor, with fome of the advantageous ef- 
 feds that have accrued, or may Hill follow, in confe- 
 quence of the clear and explicit a^ of parliament^ 
 that has piecluded the poffibility of future difputes 
 on that important branch of the franchifes of the 
 Newcaftle burgeffes. We have intentionally been 
 the more full upon this, as, from the rapid progrefs 
 which agriculture is making, in every part of the 
 kingdom, the fame fpirit may ftimulate the commit- 
 tee empowered to let and cultivate this large piece 
 of ground, and fo raife its value threefold to what it 
 has ever yet been. And while this numerous body 
 fee fome of their privileges, which they accounted 
 exclufive, daily frittering away, they may with con- 
 fidence look to the fruits of the improvement of the 
 Town-moor, as a fubllantial refource to themfelves 
 in advanced life, and to their widows and orphans, 
 when they thernfelves (hall have ceafed to acl upon 
 the ftage of human affairs. 
 
 From curforily taking a view of the ftreets and 
 private buildings ; and having traced the outlines or 
 boundaries of the lands and property of the freemen 
 of Newcaftle, of more extent and value than that 
 poffeffed by any other lingle town or corporation in 
 the kingdom, London alone excepted ; we fliall now 
 proceed to defcribe the public buildings. 
 
 PUBLIC 
 
Ji^ctDcaftle upon Cpnc 1S3 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 The castle. 
 
 In this large emporium of trade, adorned with fpa- 
 cious ftreets, and numerous elegant buildings, the eye 
 of humanity is pained to behold, nearly in its centre, 
 the remains of a once formidable fortrefs, now a loath- 
 fome gaol for the county priloners ; on its w-alls a 
 large prilbn, and in its precinds the gallows I— 
 Whether exemplary puniJJjmeiit is neceffary, or to be 
 preferred to exemplary reformation^ in this place we 
 muft not difcufs; but we would afk merely, Whether 
 the world can be better warned by ai body in gibbets, 
 or even the fufpenfion till death of a fellow-being, 
 than by the adive virtues of a once mifguided, but 
 now enlightened underllanding ? The gibbet will 
 remain an object of terror to the traveller, who dreads 
 being robbed and murdered, but an incitement to 
 defpair in the mind of the murderer I Experience 
 indeed proves the truth of the affirmative. In many 
 of the prifons of America, (Philadelphia, &.c.) where 
 capital punifhment is entirely done away, and thofe 
 confined made to %vork, or no food given them, a ca- 
 pital crime is rarely to be met with. In England, 
 and fome neighbouring countries,^W'here punifhment 
 is fo very frequently had recourfe to, crime increafes 
 in proportion to the increafe of feverity. The end 
 propofed in puniflimcnt, we will only add ought to 
 be, the correction of the guilty, and lliould include 
 
 the means of amendment. 
 
 The 
 
1 84 impartial Diftori) of 
 
 This once fiimous Caftle ilands on an eminence, 
 and was built, not only with the delign of repelling 
 the invafions of foreign foes, but of keeping the in- 
 habitants of the town and country in a ftate of terror 
 and fubjedion. It ftili feems to frown defiance, and 
 throw a kind of horrific lour at the peaceable palTen- 
 ger walking along the ftreets. 
 
 This fortrefs, in ancient times, commanded the 
 principal entrance from the fouth, and was encom- 
 pafled with two walls, of great flrength and height. 
 In the exterior wall were four gates; one large, with 
 two portcullifes : the ground within this outer wall 
 meafured three acres and one rood. But let us be 
 a little more particular in defcribing this ancient 
 Caftle, which gave a name to the town, and not 
 the town to the Caftle. 
 
 The date of its firft founding, and of its being com- 
 pleted, is not agreed on by hiftorians. But the moll 
 correct and authentic fix the period of the commence- 
 ment of its being built in the year 1079, and finiftied 
 about three years after that date. 
 
 But fcarcely anyone has doubted, that this mighty 
 work was undertaken under the aufpices of William 
 the Norman, conqueror of England, and by the im- 
 mediate direction of his eldeft fon, Robert, furnamed 
 Curthofe. It has already been flightly obferved, 
 when we treated of the origin of the name of New- 
 caftle, that the occafion of building this ftrong place 
 was, to keep his troops employed, and likewife to 
 ferve as an impregnable barrier againft any future 
 hoftile vifit from their Caledonian neighbours. This 
 laft purpofe it fully anfwered, as, during the revolu- 
 tion of hundreds of years, it feldom or ever was taken 
 by an invading foe. 
 
 Its 
 
j^eVDcaaic upon €^\\t. 185 
 
 Its name of " Newcaftle" would feeni to convey 
 an idea, that it had been built on the lite of fome 
 former place of llrength, from which, by contradif- 
 tinclion, it derived a name that extended afterward 
 to the adjacent to^vn, and \vhich it retains to this day. 
 
 The Milbank MS. tells us, " thr.t this Mewcaille 
 may be diilinguilhed from the old one, that is, the 
 Round Tower, fince called the Haif-rpocn Battery ; 
 which is fuppolcd to have been a Roman fortrefs, to 
 command the pafs of the bridge over the river Tyne, 
 built by the emperor Hadrian, and which gave its 
 name to the Roman flation, that is. Pons ^lii." 
 
 But the llrength of this mighty fortrefs was put 
 to the'proof almoll as foon as its works were com- 
 pleted. Rebellion is mod frequently the effe6t of 
 tyranny and oppreffion ; and the Norman family, 
 the conqueror and his Tons, employed no methods to 
 gain the affections of his vanquilhed fubjed:s ; but, 
 on the contrary, in order to break their fpirits, and 
 extinguifli every fp.uk of fenfe of their priftine great- 
 nefs and independence, exercifed the moft brutal 
 and oppreffive tyranny. Whether this was the cafe 
 with refpe^l to earl Mowbray is what hiftory does 
 not inform us. But it is certain, that this powerful 
 nobleman raifed the llandard of rebellion againft Wil- 
 liam Rufus, the fon and fucceflur of William the 
 Conqueror, made choice of this ftrong Caflle as 
 a place of arms, and filled it with troops. Rufus, 
 who knew its importance, loll no time, but with a 
 great army marched againft the rebels, laid liege to 
 Newcaftle, and, in a few days, made himfelf mafter 
 of the place. Mowbray had found means to efcape, 
 and got fafe to Balmbrough caftle. Hither the king 
 inftantly diredled his march ; but, after a tedious and 
 
 A a fruitlels 
 
1 86 impartial MfJtot]) of 
 
 fruitlefs liege, he converted it into a blockade, leaving 
 a powerful body of troops before the Caftle, in a new 
 fortrefs, which he termed (juftly enough) Malvoifin, 
 ** bad neighbour." Mowbray efcaped a fecond time, 
 and, inftead of returning to Newcaftle, whither he 
 had been invited by fome of his faithful partizans, he 
 thought a religious afylum would be the mofl eligible, 
 and took fanduary in the church of St. Ofwin, at 
 Tynemouth. But, alas I the conqueror's family paid 
 httle refped; to altars and flirines ; for the furious fol- 
 diers of Rufus dragged the unfortunate Mowbray 
 from the altar, and carried him to a fortrefs, in the 
 fouthern part of the kingdom ; where, after fuffcring 
 all the hardlliips of a rigorous captivity, he was igno- 
 minioufly put to death. 
 
 This flrong fortrefs appeared of vafl confequence, 
 not only to the family of William, but likewife to 
 fucceeding monarchs, for a long courfe of centuries. 
 
 King John, who had a great predilection for New-. 
 caftle, fixed his refidence in it during a confiderable 
 part of his reign ; nor was he inattentive to increafe 
 its ftrength. For this purpofe, A. D. 12 13, that prince 
 made a vaft fofs or trench round the Cadle, and alfo 
 ftrengthened it with fome new and additional works 
 towards the river Tyne. 
 
 In the year 1292, John Baliol, king of Scotland, 
 did homage, for the crown of that kingdom, to Ed- 
 ward I. king of England, in the great hall of his pa- 
 lace, within the Caille of Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 It would be tedious and unentertaining, to give 
 a detail of all the grants of monies, for repairing, 
 floring, and viftualling this extenfive fortrefs; and 
 for fubfifting a numerous body of troops, with which 
 it was conftantly garrifoned. 
 
 Sufficient 
 
Jl5clBC?:(llc upon Cpne. 187 
 
 Sufficient is it to add, that the mod powerful, and 
 the richeft baronies of the north, were afleffed accord- 
 ing to their valuation, in Doomfday Book, for the 
 maintenance of the caflle and garrifon. Among 
 others was the baronies of Dilllone, Walton, Bolam, 
 Bothal, Delaval, Copuri, &.c. Bcfides thefe extenlive 
 baronies, including their refpedive dependencies, 
 there were rents, houfes, clofcs, gardens, all the pro- 
 perty of the Caftle. 
 
 But, in proportion as artillery came to be employed 
 in befieging or defending places of Ibengtli, this 
 once almoft impregnable place gradually loll its for- 
 mer confequence. It is remarkable that, from the 
 year 1605 to i6it), this formerly auguft Caflle, often 
 the temporary refidence of kings, and for the defence 
 of which the great barons, Heron, Delaval, Clavering, 
 Bolbeck, Bertram of Bothal, Ros, Gaugy, Clifford, 
 and Dilllone, had each a houfe within its liberties, — 
 had loit (o completely its prilline grandeur, that it 
 was let to the incorporated company of taylors, at the 
 yearly rent of one pound ! 
 
 To complete its downfal, the Caflle, and circum- 
 jacent grounds, were granted, by king James I. to 
 one Alexander Stephenfon, a Scotchman, who beg- 
 ged it of iiim. He was, fays Mr. Bourne, (rather in 
 uncourtly phrafe) one of bis clofcflool. And fure 
 enough, the good inhabitants of the Cadle-garth feem 
 to have taken a hint from this Scotchman's office ; 
 for, by the fame author we are told, that, in the 18th 
 year of this king's reign, an inquifition was held about 
 the Caflle, wherein complaint was made of a dung- 
 hill within its bounds, containing an enormous mafs 
 of excrementitious filth, being 98 yards in length, 
 10 in depth, and 32 in breadth 1 Its prejQTure was fo 
 
 A a 2 great 
 
i88 Jniparttal Cifionj of 
 
 great upon tlie wall, on the weft fide of the Caftle, 
 which was 40 yards in length, 10 yards in height, 
 and 2 yards broad, that it threw down a large part 
 
 of it. 
 
 To confummate its ruin, its fine covering of lead 
 was carried ofT; fo that the poor prifoners lodged for 
 trial in their doleful manlion within the Caftle, were 
 expofed to all the feverities of the weather, and all 
 the other miferies of a moft horrible dungeon! 
 
 Such was the eld Caftle, famous, for ages, as a 
 place of ftrength and magnificence. But the inven- 
 tion of artillery, thefe dreadful engines of deftrudlion, 
 the accefiion of James VI. of Scotland to the crown 
 of England, and the union of the two kingdoms un- 
 der queen Anne, precluding all danger from the 
 north, this once barrier-fortrefs loft its ufefalnefs, and 
 with this its coniequence, and fo became neglecled. 
 
 Before we quit the fubjedt, it may not be unaccep- 
 table to our readers to prefent to their view a fuccind: 
 and accurate view of the Gaftle, in its prefent ftate. 
 
 The great tower, termed by antiquaries, the Keep, 
 meafures twenty-eight yards and a quarter in height. 
 The celebrated Mr- Pennant, in his Tour to Scotland, 
 defcribing its dimenfions, as tdken by himfelf, fays. 
 The walls of Robert's Tower are thirteen feet thick, 
 with galleries gained out of them ; the height of this 
 tower was eighty-two, and the fquare on the outfide 
 fixty- two by fifty-four feet." 
 
 The main entrance, like the ftrudure of all ancient 
 caftles, is at a great height from the ground. No 
 entrances, fays Mr. King, in his ingenious Effiy on 
 ancient Caftles, are to be found in the lower ftory, or 
 upon the- ground, but always at a confiderable height, 
 to which we aicend by a grand ftaircafe, about the 
 
 middle, 
 
53ctocaftle upon tlL^nc. 
 
 middle oF which there generally was a llrong gate. 
 In this old caftle, two portals mufl; be pafTed before 
 we arrive at the main entrance ; from the firft of 
 thefe, which is on the fouth, and in a great wall, hav- 
 ing, at a few yards dillance, encloled the whole tower, 
 we mount, by eleven fteps, to the fecond one, which 
 is of prodigious ftrength, and from the top of it the 
 beiieged appear to have had great power to annoy 
 the aflailants. 
 
 To the entrance from this fecond portal are eigh- 
 teen fteps, part leading from fouth to north, and part 
 from eaft to weft. No grooves Un' portculiifes are to 
 be feen in any of thefc portals; but they may have 
 been eftaced, either by the hanus of violence or time. 
 
 In mentioning a portculli>^, which we have fre- 
 quently done in defcribing the gates of the town walls, 
 we ftiall, in a few words, give a dcfpription of this 
 eflential part of defence in the gates of walled towns. 
 
 " The horfe, or portcullis, was a ftrong grating of 
 timber, fenced with iron, made to llide up and down 
 in a groove of folid ftone-work, within the arch of the 
 portal, juft as a fafh window moves in its frame ; and 
 its bottom was furnilhed with Ihai-p iron fpikes, de- 
 figncd both to ftrike into the ground, or floor, for the 
 fake of greater firmnefs and folidity, and alio to de- 
 ftroy or break whatever ftiould be under it at the 
 time of its fall ; and its groove was always contrived 
 fo deep in the ftone-work, that it could not be injured 
 or removed without pulling down the whole wall. — 
 See Ki?ij on Cajlles,p. 370. 
 
 The grand entrance, which is towards the eaft, has 
 had a moft magnificent arch, adorned with Saxon or 
 Semi-faxon ornaihents. 
 
 Near 
 
u)o Tmpartial fMov]) of 
 
 Near this entrance, and in front as you afcend to 
 it from louth to north, is a door-way leading into a 
 little apartment, which on the infide has been richly 
 adorned : it (lands over a crypt or vault, of confide- 
 rable height, on two great arches, that interfecl each 
 other of beautiful Gothic mafonry. This had a dif- 
 tind roof, and the whole forms a projedion eaftvvard, 
 on the north-eaft angle, againft the eaft end of which 
 a modern houfe has been built. From the garret of 
 this houfe there is at prelent an entrance into it, 
 through an arched pafllige, where there mufl: have 
 been anciently a window. At prefent it is a currier's 
 fhop. From the richnefs of its interior ornaments, 
 it probably had been the chapel of the Caftle ; and 
 its direclion from eaft to weft feems to fupport the 
 conjedlure. Mr. Bourne, however, fuppofes the cha- 
 pel to have been on the ground floor, within the walls 
 of the Caftle, in a place which at prefent compofes 
 a part of Mrs. Burns's very curious and extenlive 
 cellars. 
 
 The grand entrance led immediately into the ftate 
 apartments, which had been lighted from the eaft, 
 by the moft magnificent window in the whole build- 
 ing. Near this, and in the body of the wall, is an 
 apartment with a curious draw-well in it. It is full 
 fixteen yards before we reach the water. The depth 
 in all is thirty-one and a quarter. The water is 
 hard, and exceedingly cold. It no doubt was made 
 to fupply the Caftle in cafe of a liege. There are 
 fquare cavities in the wall on each fide of the well, 
 in which are round holes for pipes, ufed in former 
 times to convey the water to the feveral apartments. 
 It meafures eleven yards to the ground from the 
 window of the apartment that contains the well. 
 
 The 
 
laeVocaUle upon tinj)nc. 191 
 
 The only way to afcend to the top of this ancient 
 fortrefs, at prefent, is by one winding ftair-cafs, 
 about two yards wide, in the north-eaft angle. There 
 is another ftair-cafe in the fouth-eaft angle, but it is 
 now built up at the top. When we arrive, by many 
 winding and uneafy fteps, at the top of the Caflle, 
 we are agreeably furpvifed to find a little artificial 
 garden, planted with apple-trees, rofe-bufhes, &c. 
 
 in the whole height of the Caftle there feems to 
 have been five (lories, from the fquare apertures 
 where the beams of the floors have reiled, of which 
 the grand hall or laloon, and (late-rooms, were the 
 lowefi. 
 
 In the centre, or thicknefs of the wall, there is a 
 gallery of communication, on all the four fides of it, 
 about five yards and a half from the top. This paf- 
 fage is about two yards and a half high, and has 
 three or four loop-holes on each fide, all widening 
 gradually inwards. 
 
 In the ibuth front, below this, is a gallery in the 
 centre of the wall, about fifteen yards from the 
 ground, in which there have been two large orna- 
 mented windows. Nearly on a level with which, in 
 the north front, is another window of the like form. 
 
 The grand hall of the Cafile has been lighted by 
 two great windows ; that in the fouth front, near 
 the fouth-weft angle, having had the pillar or divi- 
 fion of it broken away, has now the appearance of a 
 door-way. A door fcarcely half its fize is hung in 
 it. The other window is very obfervable ; it is on 
 the weft fide, near the fouth-weft angle. 
 
 The kitchen of this great tower has been in the 
 north wall : it contains a much larger fire-place than 
 any other of the apartments. The chimney appears 
 
 on 
 
192 Impartial f^iftor)) of 
 
 on the outfide of the wall, by a fquare projedtion, 
 and terminates rather abruptly. Part of this once 
 grand kitchen has been converted into a joiner's 
 Ihop. 
 
 The north-weft angle of the Callle is hexagonal, 
 and projeds in a manner different from any of the 
 others. 
 
 All the apartments on the ground floor, and the 
 county piifon itfelf, except at the time of the affizes, 
 have been converted into cellars ; a purpofe for which 
 their great coolnefs renders them very fit. There is 
 a place here, into which if water be poured, in the 
 largeft quantities, it immediately difappears : no 
 doubt it communicates with fome of the fubterrane- 
 ous drains. 
 
 In the center of the county prifon is a remarkable 
 pillar, from which arches branch out very beautifully 
 in all diredions. It is hollow, and a pipe has con- 
 duced water down through it, from the well before- 
 mentioned. There is a very obfervable window in 
 this place, with an arch turned in the inlide, to repel 
 miilile weapons. It is to be obferved, that thefe win- 
 dows were fo conftruded, that it was almoft impof- 
 fible for any weapon to be lliot into the room, fo as 
 to do any harm; for, if it went at all afcending, it 
 would ftrike againft a low arch, purpofely contrived 
 over every window, and fo could not, by any direc- 
 tion, enter, or do the leaft injury. 
 
 To thefe obfervations on both the interior and ex- 
 terior of this ancient and once commanding fortrefs, 
 we fhall fubjoin a few remarks on the whole fite of 
 this formidable place. 
 
 We have already obferved, that the Caftle, or main 
 tower, ftrong in itfelf, was rendered ftill more fo, by 
 
 the 
 
Betocaftlc upon Cgne. 193 
 
 the circumjacent fortilications. " There were two 
 great ftrong walls, (fays Boiirne) which lurrouncled 
 the Caftle. The interior wall was at no great dii- 
 tance from the Callle iifelf, as may, in feveral phices, 
 be dill feen. Tlie exterior wall furrounds the verge 
 of the Cattle boundaries. From this outer wall were 
 four gates ; the great gate, and three pollerns. On 
 the north fide of the C.iflle is the niain gate, now 
 called the Black-gate. It has had two portcullifes ; 
 one without the gate, which is Itill to be feen ; and 
 another within, at a little diilance from it, the ruins 
 of which were to be feen a few years ago. On the 
 eaft fide of the Caflle is another gate, which leads 
 down the Callle-rtairs to the Clofe. This was called 
 the fouth pollern. There was an old building upon 
 it, which was the county gaoler's houfe. On the 
 weft fide was the poftern facing Bailiff-gate. There 
 is a houfe in the Caftle-yard, where, they fay, was 
 the chapel of the garrifon, which is called the Cha- 
 pel-houfe to this day. It is now converted into an 
 inn, named the Three Bulls' Heads." 
 
 \"\'e fiiall juft add, that the extenfive area, the 
 Caftle-yard, where formerly the greateft barons of 
 the north had their temporary refidence, is now fo 
 crowded with Ihops. all along the lite of the grand 
 outer wall, that it is almoft impoirible to trace its for- 
 mer fituation; the precindts of the Moothall except- 
 ed. But the whole north and eaftern part is one 
 continued range of fliops, principally for old clothes, 
 boots, flioes, &-C. dug backwards out of the wall.— • 
 The boundaries of the Caftle contain, at prefent, 
 fome hundreds of inhabitants, many of whom are 
 aclive and induftrious. A few years ago, this area 
 was a principal place for trade, before it removed to 
 
 B b the 
 
194 Jnipaitia! f^iGorp of 
 
 the new ftrects. There are, however, rtill fome re- 
 mains of the old wall vifible, particularly on the louth 
 and weft, from the lane called Sheep-head-alley, by 
 the Bank-head, and the ancient fouth poftern, to the 
 old Half moon Battery ; and likewife by the head of 
 the ftcep alley, that is called Dog-leap, which was a 
 poflern from the north lide of the Caftle. 
 
 The eld Round Tower, commonly called the Half- 
 moon Battery, was, in the year 1785, built half 
 round with houfes. The back wall of thefe circular 
 buildings, which are let into tenements of fingle 
 rooms, are three ftories in height ; the accefs to the 
 two uppermoft is by means of wooden ftairs, com- 
 municating with two galleries, which furround the 
 building. The whole has a very Jinking effect on 
 travellers coming from the fouth, as feen from Gates- 
 head and along tlie Bridge. 
 
 The view from the old Caftle is very extenlive ; 
 not only the whole town is in profpecfl, but the 
 circumjacent country, for many miles diftant ; and, 
 however now difmantled, and fpoiled of its priftine 
 greatnefs, the liberties and privileges of the Caftle 
 once extended northward to the river Tweed, and 
 fouthward to the river Tees. 
 
 The County Prison, which is on the lower floor 
 of the old Caftle, is ftiU a frightful fight to humanity. 
 The unhappy, and not unfrequently innocent, pri- 
 foners, brought from their homes, are immured in 
 this hideous dungeon, to take their trials at the 
 affizes. '* Its gieat coo^nefs mnkes it very lit"— for 
 what ? — " for being a beer cellar throughout the year, 
 and f^ prifun for felons during the affizes," fays the 
 reverend hiftorian, Mr. Brand 1 1 
 
 The 
 
lac^caaie upon Cj^ne. 195 
 
 Tiie ' eternal fi^^nefs of things," was a favourite 
 doclrine among the llluminati, feme years ago ; even 
 the rijlng hopes of the Scotch Jerufcdem, (church of 
 Scotland} by this wonderful maxim folved all the 
 unintelligibles of their theology, and verbofe difficul- 
 ties of their metapliyfics, We are not very certain, 
 however, had this preacher of good-will towards men 
 been fo unfortunate, through malice, mifinfonmtion, 
 or falfe fufpicion, as to have been brought on a cart, 
 thrown into this horrible dungeon, and chained to its 
 dreary walls, if he would have perceived much of 
 beauty in this fitnefs refpccling his fituation. It is 
 not improbable but his reverence would perceive, to 
 the full, as mnc\\ Jit ncfs in a good prebend' sjlall. 
 
 No wonder that the philanthropift Howard, a few 
 years ago, when viewing this dreadful abode, turned 
 away with horror at the profpecft, wondering that the 
 gentlemen of the county of Northumberland, fo cba- 
 raderiftically diftinguiflied for hofpitility, humanity, 
 and every ornamental virtue, fhould allow fuch a 
 fliade to be thrown on all thefe, by fuffering fuch a 
 legal nuifance to continue unremovcd. The late 
 high-flicriffs tor the county, the excellent Sir John 
 Swinburne, and the amiable Sir Charles Monck, were 
 certainly unacquainted with this annual outrage on 
 juftice and humanity ; otherwife they would have 
 immediately made an alteration in the county prilbn. 
 It is an outrage owjujlice ; as it is an everlafting 
 maxim in jurifprudence, that every perfon is to be 
 accounted i?inocent, till he be found legally guilty ; 
 and that no fpecies of puniflimcnt is to precede convic- 
 tion. But here is an entire invertion of this equitable 
 procedure.-— A man is to be accounted guilty till he 
 is legally proven to be innocent, which is frequently 
 
 the 
 
196 Jmpartial fMot]) of 
 
 the cafe. His puninimcnt, viz. being manacled, 
 conveyed thii^ugh the public ftreets fixed on a cart, 
 thrown into this den of filth, covered only with a 
 little ftraw, chained to the wall, and fhewn, like a 
 wild bead, to the gaping mob, by a rapacious gaoler, 
 at twopence a- piece ; his punilhment, fuppofing him 
 acquitted, is then only to ceafe I 
 
 To the credit, however, of the prefent county 
 gaoler, Mr. Blake, it is at lead juftice to remark, that 
 the unfeeling and fordid pradlice of expofing the un- 
 happy prifoners to public view has been for fome 
 years difcontinued. 
 
 Within, or rather adjoining the outer wall of the 
 Cadle, is 
 
 The MOOT-HALL. 
 
 This iS a large and capacious ftrudure, and is pro- 
 bably coeval with the Callle itfelf. The name of 
 Moot or Moat, is of Saxon derivation, and fignifies an 
 eminence, commonly in the open air. It was in 
 fuch confpicuous places that the ancient Saxons held 
 their wittenagemots, or courts of legiflation ; from 
 v.hich that glorious palladium of Britifli freedom, 
 trial by jury, took its origin. The original intention 
 of the Moothall was, to ailemble the lords and barons 
 of the northern diftrids upon any particular emer- 
 gency, during the feudal times. The architedure in 
 no refpecl claims the attention of the curious. 
 
 Here annually the Judges of allize fit for deciding 
 caufes ; thofe for n[/i prius, in an inclofed court 
 in the north ; and for felonies, &c. in another in the 
 fouth end of the hall. In a gallery above the court, 
 looking towards the area, the grand juries are fworn. 
 
 The 
 
 
Jl3e\i3caGle upon Cjjnc. 197 
 
 The entrance fov the high-lheriff's coach, conveying 
 the judges to and from the Moothall, with their nu- 
 merous attendants, is through the Black-gate; a 
 moil aukward, uniightly, and fometimes dangerous 
 paflage. 
 
 NEWGATE GAOL. 
 
 The external parts of this large and ftrong build- 
 ing we have occalionally defcribed, when mentioning 
 the towers and gates of the town-wall. Newgate 
 being built before NevvcalUe was made a county of 
 itfelf, took cuftody of its own prifoners, who, no 
 doubt, before that period, were confined in the prifon 
 of the Calile of the town, in common with other de- 
 linquents of the county of Northumberland. The 
 additional wings, on each lide of the fouth front of 
 this flrudure, appear to have been ereded about the 
 beginning of the lall century. 
 
 The walls are very thick and ftrong, the apart- 
 ments for debtors are light, and well aired. Sir Wal- 
 ter Blackett charged his ample eftate with fupplying 
 this place of confinement with plenty of coals ; a 
 great alleviation no doubt, of the drearinefs of the 
 fituation, efpecially in cold ftormy weather. Mr 
 Howard approved of its cleanlinefs, its good 
 fires, its humane jailor, but ftill reprobated its con- 
 fined fituation. No open area or walled field, for the 
 recreation and health of the prifoners — every thing 
 upon the old principle of making it a place of punijh' 
 rneiit, tvQn previous to trial or conviction. 
 
 In the Manor- chair, or Manors, is a Houfe of Cor- 
 rection, where offenders are confined, generally for a 
 fhort period, at moft till the fitting of the quarter 
 
 fefiions, 
 
198 Jinpaitial rpiftary of 
 
 fellions, wlien they are tried and receive fentence. 
 Here is lately built a Penitentiary, for foUtary con- 
 finement, where the unhappy offender is fecluded 
 from every tafle of the fweets of fociety, un pitied, 
 and alone I 
 
 But we willingly quit the contemplation of thefe 
 doleful manfions, which ferve only as powerful proofs 
 of the want of knowledge and benevolence amongft 
 mankind, to coniider, with fupreme fatisfad:ion, fa- 
 bricks devoted to induftry, convenience, or devotion. 
 
 That which firft claims our attention is the 
 
 EXCHANGE and TOWN- COURT. 
 
 The firfl: public building on the Sandhill was an 
 ancient hofpital called the Maifon dc Dleu, or Houfe 
 of God. Roger Thornton, the munificent benePadlor 
 of Newcaftle, was the founder of this building, fo re- 
 mote, as in the reign of King Henry IV. Upon the 
 death of his wife, he carried his affedion for the part- 
 ner of his fortunes and fliarer of his domeftic con- 
 cerns, beyond the verge of mortality by inftituting 
 this religious foundation for a chaplain to pray for 
 the foul of Agnes his late wife, for thofe of his father 
 and mother, both deceafed, for his own while alive, 
 and alfo when he too fhould be numbered with 
 " thefe honoured dead.'' This pried (fays Mr. 
 Bourne) was called the guardian or keeper of the 
 faid hofpital ; being intrulled with the care of nine 
 poor meii, and four poor 'wo?nen^ who relided there. 
 They were called brethren and filters of St. Katha- 
 ri?ie's Hofpital. St. Katharine being the tutelary 
 faint of this rehgious foundation. It fuffered the fate 
 of all their religious inftitutions, in the reign of Henry 
 
 VIII. 
 
n^etDCf'ftle upon Cpne. 199 
 
 VJII. And by royal grant it had been transferred to 
 Sir Richard Lumley, who, anno i6_9 conveyed to the 
 mayor and burgefles of Newcadle, and their fuccef- 
 fors, for ever, all that ftone building covered with 
 lead called the Maifon Dieu^ Handing near the 
 Tyne, and to the eailern part of the Town's Cham- 
 ber, being lixteen yards in length, and anciently be- 
 ing part of the hofpiral of St. Katharine the virgin, in 
 confideration of one hundred pounds. 
 
 This building is now converted into cellars, &c. A 
 part of it towards the Sandhill, was, fjme years ago, 
 taken down and rebuilt. It confiits of a row of Piaz- 
 zas, where the Salmon-market is held, having apart- 
 ments over them tor dA'elling-houfes. Adjoining to 
 this is the Mcrchant^'s Court, or Hall, which we will 
 defcribe when wc give the hiltory of that ancient and 
 opulent body. 
 
 But what claims particular attention is, the Town- 
 Court. We fliall preient our readers with Mr. 
 Bourne's account of it in its ancient ftate, and before 
 it was beautified with the late alterations. This pub- 
 lic ftrudure owes its origin to that generous patron of 
 almoft every laudable foundation in Newcadle, Ro- 
 ger Thornton. What that great and good man built 
 for tranfading public bufinefs, was pulled down, and 
 the late one creeled in its place, anno 165S. Alder- 
 man Weymoth, by will, dated April ir, 1658, gave 
 1200 pounds towards it, and tne town was at the reft 
 of the charge, which amounted to above 10,000 
 pounds more. 
 
 The architeft was Robert Trollop, and his charge 
 for building the couct was 9771 pounds. To com- 
 plete wliich the town clerk was ordered to advance 
 to him 900 pounds more. 
 
 To 
 
200 Impartial Diftorp of 
 
 To this, Mr. Trollop had 50 pounds in addition for 
 creeling the King's arnns in the court, and on the 
 bridge, the fume fum for finilliing them, and for 
 making the conduit on the Sandhill. 
 
 This building (fays Mr. Bourne, and indeed which 
 he very accurately defcribes) as to its form and 
 model, is of great beauty. That part of it, 
 which is the court itfelf, is a very Itately hall, 
 whole lofty cieling is adorned with various paint- 
 ings, and its floor inlaid with chequered marble. On 
 the eall fide is a dial, and the entrance into the 
 Merchants' Court. On the weft are the benches 
 where the magillrates hold their quarter felHons, 
 Court of Confcience, and Courts of Guild, meet- 
 ings of the burgelles, and other public bufinefs. 
 And it is in this ipacious court where his Majef- 
 ty's judges hold the annual aflizes, for the town 
 and county of Newcaftle. The windows of this 
 building are to the fouth, and command a view of 
 the bridge and river, crowded often with fliips from 
 all nations. One of thefe windows is in the form of 
 a Catharine wheel, in which is a large fun-dial of 
 beautifully p:iinted glafs, over which the affeding ex- 
 clamation of Horace, Eheu Fugaces I Ah, how fwift- 
 ly fly our years ! 
 
 Above the Court hang the portraits of Charles II. 
 and of his royal brother and lucceflrn-, James II. at 
 full length, and as large as life. By whom thefe 
 portraits were drawn, is not recorded m the common 
 council books. But they have, like their originals, 
 been rather unfortunate. For, in, the riot that hap- 
 pened at Newcaftle in 1 740, the drapery of thefe 
 pictures, of the brother kings, was miferabiy torn ; 
 the fcattered fragments, however, were colledled and 
 
 remitted 
 
Bctocamc upon Cgne. 201 
 
 remitted to London. Thefe pid;.ii:es were done 
 afreOi, and elegantly fitted up in their prefent frames, 
 richly guilt and moulded, and placed in their former 
 fituation, till a fecond difafter befel them by the great 
 fire which happened in the adjacent warehoules, in 
 1 791, on the fouth fide of St, Thomas' Chapel, when 
 the flames having caught the roof of the Guild-hall, 
 and melting the lead on the roof, it fell on the paint- 
 ings, one of tiie hands of that of Charles II. was 
 burnt, and other injuries done. Thefe however 
 were repaired by the late Mr. Bell, a native of New- 
 caftle, who by vigour of genius became t!ie molt emi- 
 nent portrait painter which this town ever produced. 
 At the low end of the hall is a fine portrait painting 
 of his prefent Majefty George HI, in his robes of 
 ftate, by Allan Ramfay, and prefented to the town 
 in 1779 by Sir Matthew White Ridley. 
 
 On the north fide of this hall is, fays Mr. Bourne, 
 a magnificent entrance into a paflTage which leads in- 
 to a large room, called the Towns Cliamber. Here 
 it iij that the mayor tranfads the common bufinefs of 
 the town. Here alfo the common council is held, where 
 the mayor fits on a bench dirtinguillied from the 
 others, the aldermen on each fide, the common coun- 
 cil below upon chairs placed on each fide of the 
 room. Here, upon royal biith days, or of public re- 
 joicings, it is that the mayor, magifirates, and bur- 
 gefies afl^cmble. \n the well end of the Town's- 
 chamber is a fmall room, where the ancient records 
 and archives of the town are kept. 
 
 The afcent to the entrance of the hall, was by two 
 
 ftaircafes, one from the eafl and another from the well, 
 
 without the building, and met at a platform fronting 
 
 the main entry. In the fiont over the ftrudlure, 
 
 C c was 
 
202 Impartial Jpiftorp of 
 
 was built a fleeplc, in which was the town clock, 
 which was kept exadly regulated. 
 
 In the MS. life of Alderman Barnes, we have the 
 following account A. D. 1658, " The Exchange 
 was finifhed, which is an handfome, neat Rrucflure, 
 well coritrived for the conveniency of merchants, 
 and for the courts of jullice, in memory whereof, 
 every alderman had his name caft in one of the 
 chimes fet in the fteeple of that edifice. That bell 
 which had Alderman Barnes' name upon it, was af- 
 terwards removed, and put up in a new chapel 
 eredled without the walls, which was St. Ann's 
 Chapel.". 
 
 Avery uncommon circumftance in natural hiftory 
 li'appened, which we cannot refufe ourfelves the 
 jilehfure of relating. 
 
 In iMarch 1783, a pair of crows who had been ex- 
 pelled by their invidious neighbours from captain 
 Stevenfon's trees near the bridge end, on which they 
 had, with others, regularly built their nefts, and not 
 willing to quit the town, actually built and reared 
 their young above the weather-cock of the fteeple. 
 It was fecured on the very top of the iron fpire, about 
 which the wer.ther cock moved, by a piece of (lick 
 thrult through a fmall aperture, upon this they laid 
 a foundation fo ftrongly twilled, that although ex- 
 pofed to every blall, and moved round with the 
 weather-cock in all points, it braved every ilorm ; 
 and, for four years, they repeatedly built in the fame 
 critical fituation. The novelty of this fpedacle drew 
 at firll thoufands of fpedtators, fome of whom 
 imagined it portentous I However, the year before 
 the Iteeple gave way, through age, they quitted 
 the dangerous pofition. 
 
 The 
 
3i3ctxicaQlc upon Cj^ne. 203 
 
 The Town-court, or Guild-hall in tho* year 
 1794, underwent a complete alteration, chiefly in that, 
 part which looks towards the Smdhill. Tne whole 
 of the front was entirely cafed a-new with ftone. as 
 were alio the pillars in the Exchange. The remains 
 of the old fteeple and ftuir-cafe were entirely 
 taken down ; and the prefent front newly built. 
 It has a good efTcd; as we enter the Sandhill 
 by the Cale-crofs. The clock is placed in the front 
 of the building, and chimes at every quarter of an 
 hour. 
 
 The flatue of Charles II. which flood in tlie front 
 of the fleeple, having been removed there from the 
 Magazine-gate on the bridge, is now pUiced on the 
 weft corner of the front walk in the Exchange. 
 The cieling has been newly painted, and the court on 
 the U'hole has a refpedable appearance. 
 
 The BRIDGE. 
 
 We have in the preceding part of our undertaking, 
 traced the origin of Newcaltlc to a remote antiquity ; 
 and as the river Tyne, which was probably larger 
 then, than now, is impallible for foot or horfe, it is 
 rational to fuppofe that a paflage over the river was 
 among the earlieft of their efforts. That it was fo, 
 is an indilputed fad recorded in the moft authentic 
 hiftorics of the town. It is aflerted by antiquari- 
 ans who have attentively traced the Roman mili- 
 tary ways, that the original bridge, conflituted 
 a part of that road leading from Chefler-le-ftreet 
 a-crofs the Tyne, and lb into the moft northerly 
 parts of Scotland. Wc have already obferved that 
 
 the 
 
2CJ4 3fnu^5^'ttni f:iaov|) cf 
 
 the old bridge whicli had been moflly conftrucl- 
 ed of wood, had the misfortune to be deltroyed by 
 fire 33d Henry HI. It was rebuilt partly by fub- 
 fcriptions from the inhabitants of Newcartle and Gatef- 
 head ; but tlie principal part of tlie money neceffary 
 for the undertaking, arofe from imlulgencies granted 
 by Sewald archbiflicp of York, Walter bifliop of 
 Durham, and Walter bifhop of Rochefter. By indul- 
 gencies, we are not to fuppofe that the church of 
 Rome was then fo criminally prefumptuous as to 
 pretend, for money, to give indulgence to Jin. 
 They tell us it was only that the church of which the 
 Pope was the heed, had, from her plenary power, 
 and as having the keys of the kiugdoin of heaven, au- 
 thority to relax penances impofed for real and fup- 
 pofed violations of her impious laws. This bridge 
 had at firll (fays Wallis) twelve bold arches, after- 
 wards only nine, the three on the Newcaille lide 
 were converted into cellars or ftore-rooms ; and 
 as it conftituted a part of the fortifications of 
 Newcaftle, it was (irongly fecured by towers, 
 gates, &-C. All of which were deftroyed either by 
 the great inundation in 177I, or in confequence 
 of it. 
 
 Upon this cataftrophe happening, the magiftrates 
 immediately fet about taking proper ftcps for 
 having the palfage open by a new bridge. But 
 as the communication by the fall of the old was en- 
 tirely cut off, a temporary new one was abfolutely 
 receffary. And to conducfl: matters with the greatelt 
 regularity and difpatch, a committee of gentlemen 
 was chofen for thefe purpofes, entrufted with full 
 powers, named the Bridge Coinmittee. A temporary 
 
 one 
 
jaelDcallle upon C^ne. 205 
 
 one ftrongly conllrudied, was built by Mr John 
 Stephenfon, carpenter, which gave very general fatis- 
 fadlion. Thus far we proceeded (page 66) in our ac- 
 count of this ufelul public building. 
 
 Early in 1774, the Bridge Committee advertifed 
 for mafons to undertake the rebuilding of fuch part 
 of a new intended llone bridge over the river Tyne, 
 as belonged to the town of Nevvcaftle ; having, from 
 a quarry at Elfwick, provided a great quantity of 
 large blocks of llone for that purpofe, which were then 
 lying on Felhng and EUwick quays. 
 
 A work of fuch confequence, thus publicly 
 advertifed, drew the attention of fome of "the 
 firft architects and engineers in the kingdom ; 
 and MefTrs Smeaton, Wooler, and Mylne, gave in 
 their refpedive reports. Thefe gentlemen were all 
 men of the iirll abilities, and well known ; the 
 lad had his architeftural education at the moft 
 eminent academy in Rome, and although a 
 youth, was chofen by the magillrates of Lon- 
 don, to build that light and magnificent ftruflure, 
 Blackfriars Bridge. 
 
 The bilhop of Durham obtained I'lkewife an ad of 
 Parliament " to enable him and his fucceffors to raife 
 a competent fum of money, to be applied to repair- 
 ing, rebuilding, and improving fuch part of Tyne- 
 bridge as belongs to the fee of Durham. This to 
 he done by raifmg 12,000!. to be fecured by granting 
 annuities upon lives, not exceeding ten per cent." 
 
 But it happened, as is reported, that in framing 
 the outlines of the adt to be procured, the magillrates 
 had fecretly inflructed their members to enforce an 
 alteration, which they intended, reipeding the lite of 
 
 the 
 
=c6 impartial Ipiaorp of 
 
 the piopofed new bridge. As this was a matter of 
 public notoriety at that time, we fhall give the ac- 
 count of it as left by the deceafed gentleman, for 
 whofc informing notes we owe fuch obligations. 
 
 " Tlie bridge over Tyne at Newcaflle, being a party 
 concern, between the corporation of Newcaflle and 
 the bilhop of Durham, was likely to be the fubject of 
 much altercation. It being rumoured abroad that 
 the corporation of Newcaflle had an intention of hav- 
 ing the fite of the intended new bridge removed from 
 that un which the old one flood, running the north 
 end fiom the Javel-Group, to about the middle of 
 I*ipev\el]gate, in Gatefliead. This projeded plan 
 would have been not only very inconvenient for all 
 the inhabitants of the mofl populous parts of New. 
 Cciflle, but, on the fouth lide, it would carry the end 
 of the bridge to the bottom of a vafl hill, and from 
 thence, by a ileep afcent, the pafiage would be car- 
 ried weflward, quite without Gatefliead altogether." 
 
 What gave weight to this fuipicion was, that, up- 
 on a deputation being fent to enquire if this alteration 
 was intended, the corporation refufed to give any in- 
 formation on that head. As this projed would, 
 if carried into efFecl, materially injure the property 
 of many individuals, on both fides of the river, a ge- 
 reral meeting was called, on Sunday afternoon, the 
 31a of January, 1772, at the Three Kings tavern, 
 Q^iayfide, to confider what ftepswere to be taken on 
 fo interefling an occalion. The refult of the meeting 
 was an unanimous rcfolution to ufe every eflbrt to 
 oppofe the intended bill being fmuggled into Parha- 
 ment. Dr. Hall had been chofen to the chair, and 
 prefided in this important difcuITion ; and fifty- 
 pounds 
 
5i5ctric?:»{tle iipcn Ci^nc. 107 
 
 pounds were immediately fubfcribecf, to iuii\ver con- 
 tingencies. 
 
 On the intention of this meeting being made pub- 
 lic, and the refolutions they had formed of oppofmg 
 a meafure, fo arbitrary in itfelt, fo injurious to many, 
 and lb inconvenient to all; they were not only joined 
 by the people of Gatefhead in general, but alio bv 
 many gentlemen of the counties of Darham and 
 Northumberland. This oppolition foon became fo 
 very formidable, as to induce the corporation to aban- 
 don their favourite plan, and to call a general meet- 
 ing of the inhabitants of Newcaftle, Gatefliead, and 
 vicinity. A vail number of refpectable perfons met 
 accordingly, in Mr. Parker's long- room, Turk's-head 
 inn, Newcaftle ; when William Lowes, Efq. of Rid- 
 ley-hall, was unanimoufly called to the chair. At 
 this meeting it was agreed upon, without one diffent- 
 ing voice, " That the beO: and mofl equitable fitua- 
 tion for a new bridge was the fite of the former one ; 
 and that any material deviation therefrom would be 
 highly injurious to the property of numbers of indi- 
 viduals." The bidiop of Durham adopting thele re- 
 folutions, the corporation coincided alfo with them, 
 and joined with the bilhop and inhabitants of the 
 town and neighbourhood in a general application to 
 Parliament. 
 
 We have given an account of this tranfadlion, as 
 we find it accurately written down in the notes of a 
 gentleman well informed on the fubjed; who, if our 
 recolledion does not miflead us, officiated as clerk 
 at this very general meeting. We record it in the 
 Hillory of Newcaftle, as it was viewed, at that time, 
 confequential, in the higheft degree, to the liberties 
 and property of very many concerned, and a daring 
 
 infringe- 
 
2o8 Jmpartial fpiftorp of 
 
 infringement on the rights of the burgefles, that they 
 were not confalted on matters that fo deeply intereft- 
 ed them and their pofterity. The public fpirit then 
 ran high, and was not to be intimi.lated by the " in- 
 folence of office ;" nor were tiiey to obferve, with a 
 paflive filence, their deareft rights and mod valuable 
 interefts facrificed, by any defcription of men what- 
 ever. We have recorded it, becaufe Mr. Brand is 
 either too courtly or Loo ill-informed, refpecling thefe 
 important tranfactions, to take any further notice of 
 them, than in a flight manner, inferted in 2ifmall 
 note of his hiftory, vol. i. p. 52. 
 
 To proceed. An act of Parliament, for a matter of 
 fuch general concern, was eafily obtained ; but with 
 the exprefs injundlion, to eredl no houfes, fhops, or 
 buildings of any kind, on the new bridge ; nor were 
 the commiffioners to take tollage from foot people, 
 on the temporary one, but for a limited time. 
 
 In confequence of which, the foundation-ftone of 
 the bifliop of Durham's part of Tyne-bridge was laid 
 on Friday, October 14, 1774. And on the 8th July, 
 
 J 775. ^^^ ^^"^ '^^^^ ^"^^ clofed in. 
 
 Tuefday evening, April 25, 1775, the firft ftone on 
 the Newcaltle fide was laid by Sir Matthew White 
 Ridley, bart. mayor, amidft a great concourfe of peo- 
 ple, who ardently wifhed profperity and permanency 
 to the undertaking. 
 
 July 8th, 1776, a medal was depofited in the firft 
 new pier, and the boundary of that part of the 
 bridge that belongs to the corporation fouthward, by 
 the mayor and Iheriff of this town. Over the device 
 which exhibited the Newcaftle Exchange, with the 
 genius of commerce fitting by it, fupporting the arms 
 of the corporation, and prefentlng a purfe to a figure 
 
 in 
 
BclucaCclc upon C^nc 209 
 
 in the robes of magiltracy, dircdling his attention to 
 a profped: of fome rifing piers, with Ihippirtg and 
 lighters on the river, is the following motto : " ^ F. 
 F. ^ S. .%iod f^dix faiijlumque //."—May it be 
 happy and propitious 1 On the rcverfe is this in- 
 fcription, '' This flone, being the boundary of the 
 corporation of Newcallle fouthward, was laid Anno 
 Domini 177(1, in the mayoralty of Charles Atkinfon, 
 Eiq. William Cramlington, Eiq. iherilT. This me- 
 dal was of copper, about four inches diameter; and, 
 l)eing inclofed in a thick glafs cafe, was placed in the 
 fouth-eail corner of the north pier. 
 
 March 22, 1769, there was an order of common- 
 council, for a thoufand pounds to be expended in 
 purchafing the property that was on the weft lide of 
 the north avenue ; on condition, that the adl of Par- 
 liament, for which that body were then petitioning, 
 
 could be obtained. This adl paffed accordingly. 
 
 By it, no houies, except tolKriiops, were to be erecled 
 on the new bridge ; and the tolls were to be raifed 
 npon it for twelve years, and no longer, from June 
 
 ^4, 17:9- 
 
 September 13, 1779, ^^^^ ^\^^^ and lafl arch of 
 the Newcallle part of the new ftone bridge, was 
 clofed. 
 
 Thus have we attempted a detailed and accurate 
 account of the meafares puriued by the corporation, 
 to accomplidi this undertaking. Removing the pro- 
 digious maffes of the old bridge, either with levers, 
 iron wedges, or blaftin«: them with gunpowder ; then 
 driving piles, lliod with iron, deep into the bed of the 
 river; thefe having their tops ftrongly bound with 
 iron, to form foundations for the piers, coft great 
 labour and expence. 
 
 Dd It 
 
2IO Jmpartial !J)iftor2 of 
 
 It appears, as dated by the common-council, in 
 petitioning for an extenfion of the ad for taking tolls, 
 gtc. that the corporation had expended, of their own 
 money, December 29, 1778, the fum of 21,042]. los. 
 I id. including 18381. 9s. 8d. the price of property 
 on the old bridge ; and that it was fuppofed, before 
 it was finifhed, it would coll them lo.cool. more. — 
 It alio appears, that they had expended above the 
 fum of 24C0I. as the charge in building the tem- 
 porary bridge; being a balance of 321I. iBs. 9d. 
 above the money produced by the tolls on the latter. 
 It was, upon the whole, fuppoled, that the expence 
 of this new bridge was not Icfs than 30,000!. 
 
 This fabric, though not beautiful, is exceedingly 
 firong. It confifts of nine arches ; and is in length, 
 from north to fouth, 300 feet and a few inches ; its 
 breadth is 1 8 feet, including 3 feet on each iide for 
 a foot- way. 
 
 The piers which fupport the lix arches on the 
 Newcaille fide of the bridge, are rufticated, which 
 have a fine effecl : thofc on the biftiop's fide are plain, 
 which caufe a diflimilarity in the whole ftructure ; 
 and fuggells the idea, to a llranger, that either 
 there nvas a want of harmony in the plan, or in the 
 execution. The parapet wall is about four feet from 
 the level of the foot-path, on each fide of the bridge. 
 
 This fabric nii^ht h.aye anfwered the purpofe of 
 being the paflage for foot, horfes, or poflibly, a fingle 
 carriage, occafionally, over ibme fequellered part of 
 the river; but when it was to be a communication, 
 crowded with paflengers, horfemen, heavy waggons,, 
 iinceafing driving of carriages, and multitudes of 
 people, the inconvenience attending the narrovvnefs 
 
 of 
 
i^elocaftlc upon Cpnc m 
 
 of the main ftreet of the bridj,e, with great difficulty 
 fufTering two waggons, or larger carriages, to pafs 
 each other, when they happen to meet, which is al- 
 inofl incefldntly ; while the foot-path fcarcely fufters 
 two people to pafs along together, or to pafs each 
 other, was univerfally complained of and feverely 
 felt. 
 
 It is faid, that the corporation intended, by the ad- 
 vice of the architeds, that, as they were building a 
 bridge, to lalt probably for ages, to make the whole 
 as wide as that part on entcrmg it by the north end ; 
 but they were thwarted in their laudable intentions 
 by the bifhop, who would on no account be prevailed 
 upon to extend his part to the fame width ; and thus 
 the beauty and ufefulnefs of the whole were in a great 
 meafure loll. 
 
 Be that as it may, the prefent magiftracy, much 
 to their honour, have fet ferioufly about remedying 
 this great inconvenience. For this purpofi, they 
 have contracled with Mr. D. Stepheufon, architect, 
 to widen the bridge five feet on each Irde. This 
 work is now (September 24, 1801) going on, and, it 
 is hoped, will be completed in the courfe of next 
 year. Tliat gentleman propofes, we underhand, to 
 alter the llniclure of the parapet wall, and ere6t bal- 
 luftrades, or fome other piece of architecture, fuitablc 
 to the building. 
 
 The MANSION-HOUSE. 
 
 Before we enter upon the defciiption of this refi- 
 dence of the chief magiftrate, we hope our readers 
 will permit us to lay before them a few remarks, 
 communicated by an ingenious and well-intorined 
 
 1) d 2 cor- 
 
212 JJ'U'nrtral f:ifion> of 
 
 correfponclent, on tlie Close, where the Maniion- 
 hoLife Hands. 
 
 " This ftreet has been confideiably widened, from, 
 the Manfion-houle to the Javcl-Group, by taking off 
 feveral feet from the front of the houfes on the fouth 
 lide, and adding ii ta the llreet, which has rendered 
 that part adjoining to the Manfion-houfe rather more^ 
 commodious. It is faid to be in contemplation to 
 extend this improvement weft ward from the Man- 
 fion-houfe to Skinner-bourn. It would, of confe- 
 quence, be found neceffary to carry the fame altera- 
 tion eaftward to the Bridge-end. Nay, it is the wifh 
 and fanguiue expectation of many trading inhabi- 
 tants, to fee the Qj.iay carried all along upwards to 
 Skinner-bourn, above the bridge ; and from Sand- 
 gate, where it now terininates, eaftward, to St. Peter's 
 (properly Sir Peter's) Qviay. This would form a 
 good ftreet, of itt leall a mile and a half in length, 
 Avhere commodious warehoufes and fliops might be 
 ereded. Vaft and chimerical as thefe improvements 
 may feem to be at prefent, yet, fliould the happy 
 period of a peace return, and the intended canal, lb 
 long delayed, be fet about in earneft, we fliould not 
 at all be aftonifned, under an enterprifmg and public - 
 fpirited mag\jtracy, to iee them all, in a very few 
 years, realized. No town in the empire is more 
 capable of improvemt nt than Newcaftle, and no 
 corporation has it more in their power, or, we hope, 
 inciuiation, to etl'ed: it." 
 
 Mr Bourne tells us, that many of the houfes, now 
 converted into glazier's ihops, cooper's work-ftiops, 
 foap manufactories, &-c. were once the abodes of the 
 great and wealthy of Newcaftle. Here dwelt Sir 
 
BelocaCtle upon Cj^nc. 213 
 
 John Morley, one of the moft eminent charaiflers that 
 ever direded the affairs of this town; and that when 
 the widening of the ftreet ah-eady mentioned, took 
 place, much curious old pannelling and carved work 
 was taken down ; and, in one room, oppofite to the 
 lon^ Hairs, were places for the mace, fword of flate, 
 and cap of maintenance to be fixed in, which proves 
 the houfe to have been the refidence of a mayor, 
 many years, likely, before the nianlion-houfe had 
 exillence. 
 
 The ftate-houfe of the corporation ffiys Mr. 
 Wallis) is on the edge of the river Tync, in the har- 
 row ftreet called the Clofe. It is a modern building, 
 very handl'ome, with an area or court before it, en- 
 tered by a flight of fleps ; within, not only conveni- 
 ent, but elegant, correfponding with the grandeur 
 and hofpitality kept up in this itately manlion. Its 
 fituation and appearance are not comparable indeed 
 to the palace of the late Sir Walter Blackett, and 
 which, it is reported to have been the intention of 
 the corporation to purchafe, and convert into the 
 town or manlion-houfe ; but when we confider that 
 the office of mayor in this place of trade, is not mere- 
 ly nominal like many inland towns, but that it obliges 
 the chief magirtrate to a conllant relidence, being 
 almofl inceffantly engaged in bufinefs, a central, 
 and convenient lituation near the Exchange, Town- 
 court, Cuftom-houfe, Quay, S^-c, is abfolutely necef- 
 fary. " I will neither hear, nor redrefsyou," was the 
 haughty reply of Philip, father of Alexander the 
 Great, to a poor woman making application for that 
 purpofs to him—-" You wont hear me I" replied the 
 
 fpirite4 
 
214 Jmpartial rpillor^ of 
 
 fpirited petitioner, " No, I wont," faid Philip, 
 Then f/.>i BaviKujijTo. King it no more, added flie. 
 The reproof had the defired efFed. for he inftant- 
 ]y examined the cafe with patience, and redref- 
 ied lier wrongs. In the Maniion-houfe, fuch a 
 ftern reply is feldoni heard, to the meanelt peti- 
 tioner. Indeed, as the magirtrates of this town are 
 almoft all men of bufinefs, and as all clafles of the 
 inhabitants are deeply concerned in trade in its nu- 
 merous ramifications, they confider (and juflly too) 
 that the interefls of the governors and the governed 
 aie infeparably connecled. 
 
 We have rather anticipated in a former part of our 
 work, fome obfervations on the furniture, regalia, old 
 armour, rooms of ftate, and of convenience in the 
 Manfion-houfe. We fliall not therefore repeat any 
 further details of thefe articles of lefs concern. 
 
 We have jufl only to add, that for the fake of fome 
 improvements in the front of the Manfion-houfe, fome 
 years ago, the corporation purchafed the building eaffc- 
 ward of it, where they creeled what is now called the 
 new room, which is very fpacious, where public enter- 
 tainments at the aflizes, quarter fcflions, guilds, &-c. 
 are given by the mayor. 
 
 CUSTOM-HOUSE. 
 
 The houfe which many years ago was appropriated 
 to receiving the cudoms, was at the head of live quay. 
 It appears to have been of great antiquity, and pro- 
 bably built almoft as early as the embanking of the 
 river. But in proportion as commerce rapidly in- 
 cre5fed, it was found inconvenient. The corporation 
 therefore, having procured a central fituation on the 
 
 middle 
 
3act)caak upon c^nc 215 
 
 middle of the quay, the workmen begun on the zotl 
 of May 1765, to clear the ground for building a new 
 Cuftom-houfe. This was accordingly finiflied. In 
 has a handfome front towards the river, is four ftories 
 high, and contains a great many Icparate and conve- 
 nient apartments, for tranfadling the exteniive bull- 
 nefs daily done. 
 
 AS^E 
 
 MBLY ROOMS. 
 
 Trade has long been the principal purfuit of the 
 people of this town. By the tenor of the indentures 
 of the youth, (as we will afterwards fee) by thek pre- 
 fcribed drefs, vicluals, and above all, the powerful 
 influence of example, in which they had conllantly 
 fet before their eyes, the frugality, indutlry, charity, 
 and fimplicity of the manners of their virtuous pa- 
 rents, the richnefs of attire, the foft and delicious 
 luxuries of life, and chiefly the more elegant refine« 
 ments were confined to the higher ranks of fociety ; 
 and therefore balls, aflTembhes, mafquerades, routs, 
 St-c. were kept from the eyes and ears of the youth, 
 of this^un with a wary and jealous attention. So 
 that foiHUl^ years th^roJJm appropriated to dancing, 
 airembiies,^c. vv.i^ in the Groat-market, (for which 
 lee page rW^ and is far fi'om being either very ex- 
 tenfive, or feemingly adapted for a concourfe of po- 
 liflied and opulent people. It has, indeed, been con- 
 verted of late, as we will fee, to a purpofe truly ufeful. 
 But in proportion as civilization, learning, and fo- 
 reign intercourfe, diffufed their infl^^nce, a taile for 
 the pohte amufements of the drama, the dance, the 
 poliih of refined manners, rapidly took place in New- 
 caftle. 
 
 It 
 
ii6 JmiiattirJ Oiftorj) of 
 
 It was therefore a general fentiment to have places 
 defined to thefe elegant amiifements. The AfTem- 
 bly Rooms were for thofe purpofeS agreed to be built 
 by fubfcription. The fituation fixed on by the com- 
 mittee, was on part of the garden belonging to the 
 vicarage of this town, near the head of Wellgate- 
 llreet. For this purpofe an a6l of parliament was ob- 
 tained 14 George 1)1. to enable Doctor Fawcett, then 
 vicar, to grant a leafe of fome part of the ground be- 
 longing to this vicarage for 999 years, referving to 
 himfelf and fuccelTors, an annual ground -rent of 
 twenty pounds. 
 
 A. D. 1773, the fubfcription for building the new 
 Afl'embly Rooms was opened, when the corporation 
 of this town fubfcribed loo pounds, and numbers, 
 both in the town and neighbouring counties, came 
 forward with their fupporc. The building was finifii- 
 ed and coft in all 6701 pounds. * 
 
 This monument of the tafte and liberality of the 
 people of this town was built under the direction of 
 the late Mr. WiUiam Newton of Charlotte-fquare, 
 architect, and furpaffes every other public building 
 
 in 
 
 * Monday May 16, 177+1 at noon, the found.-ition ftone was. 
 laid by William Lowes, Efq. in the prefence of a great company 
 o^ ladles and gendemen. A plate with the following infcriptiya 
 was put under the llone. 
 
 In an age 
 
 When the polite arts 
 
 By general encouragement and emulation. 
 
 Have advanced to a ftate of perfection 
 
 Unknown in any former period 4 
 
 The firft ftone of this edifice, 
 
 Dedicated to the moft elegant recreation, 
 
 Was laid by William Lowes, Efq. 
 
 On the 16th of May 1774. 
 
3i5cVDca^vlc upon Ci?ne. 217 
 
 in Newcallle for elegance of defign and execution 
 of workmanfliip. It prefents a front adorned with a 
 colonade of fix beautiful pillars, and two handfome 
 wings. A fine gnifs plot, with a circular gravel 
 road for carriages in the front. This again is en- 
 clofed with painted iron paHlades, with lamps. The 
 great room is decorated with feveral fplendid chryftal 
 lullres, manufaclured at the glafs-houfes here, which 
 coft, as is faid, fome hundred poL»nds each, and give 
 the room, when illuminated, an elegant appearance. 
 Befides the grand faloon, there are a coil'ee-room, a 
 card-room, and a well chofen but fmall coUecflion of 
 books. Moft of the public daily prints are taken in 
 at the firft of thefe rooms for the ufe of fubfcribers. 
 Such is a fhort description of the Nevvcaftle Alfembly- 
 rooms, and of which our readers have a corredt and 
 elegantly executed engraving, in the 3d Number 
 of this work, 
 
 THEATRE-ROYAL. 
 
 The advocates for the drama aflert, that this fpecics 
 of entertainment is the moll refined and elevated of 
 all others ; and while it charms and delights, it at the 
 fame time refines and improves, the human heart. 
 There are others, however, endowed witli an equal 
 portion of underftanding, who do not heiitate to af- 
 firm, that an excejjive attachment to theatrical exhi- 
 bitions has been the ruin of empires, the fubverlion 
 of morals, and the bane of indullry, as well as of do- 
 meflic fociety. From the many fevere laws and 
 reltriclions, enaded by our virtuous and prudent 
 forefathers, againfl ll:age-plays, interludes, &c. we 
 can eiilily judge in what light they viewed theatrical 
 E e exhibitions ; 
 
21 8 Impartial Ji^iftorp of 
 
 exhibitions ; though we alfo well know the kind of 
 plays they condemn ; it is an aftecling truth that the 
 venal pens of Dryden, Congreve, &.c. contributed, 
 though in a very Imall degree, to poifon the loofe, 
 laughing, licentious age of Charles II. by their dra- 
 matical compofitions. In the more virtuous reign of 
 queen Anne, immortalized by the produdions of the 
 greatelt heroes, poets, and philoibphers that ever 
 adorned the Britifli annuls, the entertainment of the 
 drama afiumed a more rational, chafte, and dignified 
 form. Addifon, Pope, Steel, anj others, united their 
 efforts to expel the lufcious but baneful dramatical 
 entertainments, formerly exhibited, and to replace 
 them by others more worthy the rational mind ; and 
 they happily fucceeded. The preient reign has been 
 diftinguifh'^d for the chaftity of theatrical produc- 
 tions ; nor do any of an immoral or licentious ten- 
 dency, receive the royal countenance or approbation. 
 The theatre of NFewcaftle for many years, was in 
 the Bigg-market, behind the Turk's Head Inn. 
 But upon the late Improvements made in the ftreets, 
 8ic. a new theatre was judged to be necellary, 
 both to anfwer the purpofe of convenience, and to 
 heighten the embeliiihments of the town. For 
 this purpofe, propofals and a plan were given in by 
 Mr. D.ivid Steplienlbn, archited, in confequence of 
 which he was employed to build the new theatre in 
 the middle of Molley-ftreet. It is an elegant and 
 commodious fituation, and if not the mod capacious, 
 it is poUibly as convenient for a moderate audience, 
 as any theatre in the north of England. Yet it is a 
 remark of the late ingenious and well informed bur- 
 o-efs we fo often quote, that it is rather unluckily 
 placed too far ealf ward, and will caufe a bend in the 
 
 intended 
 
Ji^clncaaic upon ^^nt. 219 
 
 intended new (Irset to be carried due north towards 
 the High-bridge, &c. Its front is adorned with 
 feitoons and dramatical emblems, beautifully formed. 
 An adl of parliament was obtained for authority to 
 reprefent dramatical productions upon this ftage, 
 and to transform the aclors, who by law are unluckily 
 clafled with rogues, vagabonds, and Jliirdy beggars, 
 into his MaJ;.sty's Servants of the Iheatre Royal, 
 of Newcadie upon Tyne, So omnipotent is an act 
 of Parliament I Yet there are fome growling male- 
 contents, (but there is not a pollibility in pleafing 
 every one) who whimper fomething about an income- 
 tax, that his maj'jfly has oxhtxjlurdy begging fervants, 
 befides the poor players, who oddly enough amufe 
 people by "fuming and fretting their part" and tiien 
 are gone. 
 
 For feveral feafons pafl the theatre here has been 
 well attended ; and the powers ot" Kemble, Cooke, 
 &.C. have drawn overflowing houfes. Acrols the 
 llreet eaftward is the 
 
 POST-OFFICE. 
 
 It was long in the Biirg-market, afterwards re- 
 moved to the Side. But that llreet being lb exceed- 
 ingly incommodious, in every refpecl. and the new 
 ones of Mofley and Dean-flreets being central 
 and fpacioas, and particularly convenient for the 
 mail coaches, which occupy a deal of roo'U, the ma. 
 giftrates transferred the poft-office to M fley-flrett. 
 It is a building perfectly calculated for the purpofe, 
 is full of conveniences for the port mafter, Sj-c. as alto 
 for the trading people in receiving and delivering 
 letters, unjollled by paflengers, which formerly was 
 frequently the cafe. 
 
 E e 2 CALE- 
 
220 Jmpartial VMat^ of 
 
 CALE-CROSS. 
 
 On the north fide of Lork-Barn, near the Sandhill, 
 ftood the Cale-crols, which Grev in his chorographia, 
 defcribes as a " fair one, with columns of hewn ftone 
 covered with lead." Not many years ago, there was 
 a ciilern at the top of it, to hold what was then called 
 the new water. It was taken down in the year 
 1723. This ancient Crofs was rebuilt A. D. 1713, 
 after a defign by Mr. David Stephenfon, architect. 
 It is fupported by columns beautifully adorned, as 
 well as the top with various emblematical aflemblages 
 of the town's arius, hoiiis of plenty, S^c. On the 
 fouth-weft coiner, on the top', is a lion couchant, 
 which tinely f-^'ts out the ftructure, and was a prefent 
 from Sir JVIattbew Wfiite Ridley. Tne infcription as 
 follows : " Sir Matthew AVhite Ridley, bart. mayor, 
 Richard Bell, Elq. nic-rift; ' 
 
 It got the name of Cale-crofs, fays Bourne, from 
 the kail or broth whicli was fold here in former times. 
 This, adds he, " feems to have been its original name, 
 for I met with it by this name in the reign of king 
 Richard II. and alfo in a writing, dated in the ^ime 
 of king Edwaid III. 
 
 In a confirmation of the Wall-Knowl hofpital, A. 
 D. /360, It is called " Cale-crofs." 
 
 Kere, efpccially on market days, are fold eggs, 
 milk, butter, cheefe, &c.' And at this Crofs the two 
 great fairs are proclaimed. 
 
 Without Nun-gate, half way to New -gate, 
 flands the 
 
 WHITE-CROSS. 
 
 This too is of great antiquity, as there are accounts 
 of it fo diftant as A. D. 1410. nth of Henry ]V-. 
 
 • Mr. 
 
^^ JT ^J^ S^yiCIfOLAS Cum CM, 
 
 — - — From tbe JSTorth Haft 
 
i^elocaCtle upon Cmic. 221 
 
 Mr, Bourne fays, " On the place where the Crofs 
 formerly ftood, was a ciftern for receiving the water, 
 which was called the New -water. This too, he adds, 
 was pulled down, and there is now, on the place 
 where the Crofs then flood, a pillar of ftone-work." 
 
 In the year 1773, a Milk-market was ellabliflied at 
 the White-crofs. In the year 1783 it was pulled 
 down, and rebuilt after a deiign by Mr. David Ste- 
 phenfon, archited, in the mayoralty of the late wor- 
 thy alderman Atkinfon, whofe name it bears infcrib- 
 ed. It is a neat but low fabric, with a good clock, 
 in a little pretty fpire, which is of great fervice to 
 that part qf the to\yn. 
 
 The fairs are alfo proclainied at this Crofs. 
 
 We have given a general account of the ancient 
 places of ftrength, of reftraint for the unruly, and of 
 amufement for the gay and lively part of the inhabi- 
 tants of the town and its vicinity. We now turn our 
 attention to the defcription of the numerous places of 
 wordiip, for which it has been celebrated, during the 
 revolution of many centuries. 
 
 We fliall begin with an account of 
 
 ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH, 
 
 The propriety of ftructures dedicated to the pur- 
 pofes of devotion has been denied and ridiculed by a 
 Certain clafs, many of whom are otherwife men of 
 fcience and intelligence. Yet we prefuine to obferve, 
 audit may do no ifblcnce to metaphyiical invelliga- 
 tion to aflert, that religion is natural to man ; and 
 that you may as well divelt him of *his exiRence, as 
 attempt to efface this indelible impreffion (lamped on 
 |]is mind. It js interwoven in the conflitution of the 
 
 en]ip:ht* 
 
-^^ 
 
 222 impartial 5)iaor|) of 
 
 enlightened fage, antl of the uncultivated barbarian. 
 It pervades human nature in every age and clime ; 
 though the external exprellions of it may be found 
 widely ditlerent, according to the education of the 
 mind. Man certainly (lands high in the fcale of be- 
 ing. His fublime afpedl, his ardent afpiration after 
 fuperior degrees of mental improvement, and confe- 
 quently enjoyment, demonfirate him to have been 
 formed the nobleft and moft perfedl of all the works 
 of the Deity, in the fyftem with which we are ac- 
 quainted. So true is the obfervation of the old chro- 
 nicler, of the debaucheries of his gods : 
 
 Pronaque cum fpcHent an'imalia cetera terrain; 
 
 Os homlni fublime dedit^ calumque tueri 
 
 Jujpty et eredos ad Jidera toUere vultus. Ovro. 
 
 And whilft they (the gods) beheld other animals groveling 
 upon the earth, to man was given an ereft countenance ; 
 he was ordered to look up towards heaven, to lift his lace 
 towards the liars. 
 
 The wide univerfe is one vad volume, fpread out 
 for his inftruclion, and a motive for his devotion. 
 
 Yet, to mortify his pride, he cannot fail to ob- 
 
 ferve, that, in feveral refpccls, he is furpaiTed by 
 
 the brute. — In his long imbecility, in infancy ; his 
 
 nc-ceffity, through cuftom, for drefs ; the neceility of 
 
 his food being transformed, by the adtion of fire, ^c. 
 
 In all thefe circumftances, his inferiority to the brute 
 
 is inconteftible. But the principle termed inllindl in 
 
 the brute, and which regulates its whole routine of 
 
 actions, becornes reafon in man ; and the powers of 
 
 his mindjvvfo vaft, fo boundlefs, fet him at once, at 
 
 the head of creation, and demonftrate him formed for 
 
 the moil fubhme contemplation, and the pared in- 
 
 telledual pleafures. 
 
 Indeed. 
 
i^elDc^lll0 upon Cime. 223 
 
 Indeed, no one can confider the grand (Irudare of 
 the heavens without having his mind filled with the 
 mod fupreme veneration for its glorious Author. He 
 cannot fail to obferve, that even every portion of this 
 earth, fea, and air, is full of fenfitive beings, capable, 
 in their refpeclive orders, of enjoying the good things 
 God has prepared for their comfort. When philofo- 
 phy informs us of the motion of a comet, running be- 
 yond thcorbit of the Georgian ftar, attempting to efcape 
 into the pathlefs regions of boundlefs fpace ; yet feel- 
 ing, at its utmoft diltance, the attradive influence of 
 the fun, hearing, as it were, the voice of God arrefl- 
 ing its progrefs, and compelling it, after a lapfe of 
 ages, to reiterate its ancient courfe ! The incompre. 
 henfible diftance of the liars from the earth, and frorai 
 each other I Oar imaginations are confounded and 
 loft, when we are told, that a ray of light, which 
 moves at the rate of above ten millions of miles in a 
 minute, will not, though emitted at this inftant, from 
 the brighteft ftar, reach the earth in lefs than lix 
 years I 
 
 But we are ftill more confounded in contemplating 
 the goodnefs and condelcenfion of the Supreme Be- 
 ing, in redifying the fatal errors which had convulfed 
 and ruined the moral world. Thefe excite, in a well- 
 difpofed mind, the mmgled emotions of " wonder, 
 love, and praife." He, therefore, who confiders, that 
 " in Him we live, move, and have our being, may 
 readily yield his afl^tnt to the propriety of either pub- 
 licly or privately acknowledging his dependence up- 
 on that independent Being, and his humble fubmiflion 
 to all the divine difpcnfations. Hence arifes the 
 propriety of public or focial worfhip, and thankful- 
 nefs to that great Firft Caufe, from whom we derive 
 
 aU 
 
124 Impartial j!)inor^ of 
 
 all our benefits ; nor can man be engaged in an em, 
 ployment fo dignifying, fo fublime, and fo truly 
 noble. 
 
 Contemplations fuch as thefe fill the mind with 
 humble benevolence and piety. 
 
 It arofe, as we ought charitably to fuppofe, from 
 thefe and fimilar confiderations, that the early inha- 
 bitants of Newcaftle crowded the town with places 
 of worfhip. The river, the hills, the dales, and the 
 adjacent ocean, would all tend to imprefs them with 
 ideas at once fublime and devout. They might be 
 miftaken in the leffer circumflances of mode and form, 
 but the grand principle, the continued fenfation of 
 acknowledgments of the power and benevolence of 
 the Supreme Being, ever remains the fame. 
 
 When we fee the names of Roger Thornton, Law- 
 rence Adon, Robert Rhodes, and many others, in- 
 fcribed in public places of devotion, in marble and 
 on brafs, but " whofe record is on high," we are in- 
 fpired with a veneration for the fandity of their cha- 
 radlers and the fplendour of their virtues ; and yet 
 who Tmaugre the ample fortunes which they acquiied 
 and the high honours to which they attained) knew 
 how to " ufe the world as not abufing it," as well as 
 2Li\y fcoffing infidel, either in their own times or in ours. 
 
 Thefe introductory remarks on this important 
 branch of our work, may not feem unneceflary, when 
 "we confider the ufes and defigns of churches; as, 
 when we i^t large and convenient firu6lures, with 
 curious and ingenious pieces of machinery, and are 
 informed that they are intended for calling iron, 
 fmelting metals, fabricating filk, cotton, linen, wool- 
 len, &c. for the fervice of man, fo churches are for 
 that of the Moll High, who inhabits that which is 
 " not made mth hands." The 
 
BtWaUlt upon Ctrne. 225 
 
 The ancient Perfians reprobated the idea of includ- 
 ing the omniprefence of the Deity in temples made 
 of ftone or marble, accounting the uiiiverfe his 
 temple. It was on that account that Xerxes, the 
 Peifian emperor, upon his inviiding Greece, burnt 
 down all the temples, as blafphemoufly reflecling 
 upon the Divine Omniprefence ; the Magian priefts, 
 who attended him in this expedition, inciting that 
 prince to this ad of religious zeal. And it is very 
 remarkable, that the ancient Druids, had the places 
 of their limple, yet fublime worfhip, open at top : 
 but their more general clach-Jl€achda\ or " flone 
 of worfliip," was in a circular arrangement of 
 huge ftones, and always on fome eminence, fromi 
 whence they might have a profped: of the expanfe 
 of the heavens, and the circumjacent country, in 
 order to enlarge their ideas and elevate their ado- 
 ration. 
 
 It is a very curious circumftance, that at Calen- 
 der, about twenty miles north of StirUng, is the 
 mountain of Benledy,* one of the higheft in Scot- 
 land ; on the very fummit of which was a Druidical 
 temple, confiding of huge ftones, in a circular form, 
 and which probably have been erected for two thou- 
 fand years. Thither, at fet times, all the inhabitants 
 ufed to attend, for the purpofes of devotion ; and to 
 this day, as the worthy minifter (Mr. Robertfon, of 
 Calender) informed us, when the people enquire of 
 one another, on Sunday mornings, if they mean to go 
 to church ? they fay, in Gaelic, " Are you going Cdo 
 clachan) to the fioncs to-day ?" Referring, no doubt, 
 to the pradice of their progenitors, before the intro- 
 dudion of Chriftianity into the ifland. 
 
 • Bm, hill, U Diu, of God ;— Hill of God. Gaelick. 
 
 F f Still 
 
2 26 Impartial fMotp^ of 
 
 It may be objecfled, that the ubiquity of the Deity 
 forbids the idea of local worfliip. In reply we would 
 obferve, that, as by temples and churches we cannot 
 include, fo the very term ubiquity implies, that it is 
 equally impoflible to exclude the Divine Prefence. 
 
 We now proceed to delbribe St. Nicholas' church, 
 and efpecially its beautiful and magnificent fpire, 
 the pride and chief ornament of Newcartle. 
 
 This moll elegant (tructure is juftly the objed of 
 admiration to all llrangers, as well as it is the pride 
 and boafl of the inhabitants ; who you will not eafily 
 perfuade, that, for lightnefs, fymmetry, loftinefs, and 
 architectural grandeur, any fteeple in the world is 
 like theirs; and, to fay the truth, it will not eafily 
 be found. From whatever quarter we approach the 
 town, St. Nicholas prefents its beautiful fpire. 
 
 It was termed " the Church of Newcafile upon 
 Tyne:" either intimating that it had been ereded ' 
 before any other church was built in the town ; or 
 elk, per excellentiam, by way of dignity. According 
 to the fuperftition of the times, it w^as dedicated to 
 Saint Nicholas. But we are not from the name to 
 conclude, that this was the fame Saint Nicholas, 
 who was one of the feven apofiolic deacons, and who, 
 renouncing the pure and fimple doctrines of Chrifti- 
 anity, founded a feet of the Gaoftics, which became 
 for ages the bane of the church, and whofe infamous 
 doctrine, throwing down all reltraints refpecting in- 
 tercourfe between the fexes, is fo feverely reprobated, 
 Rev. ii. V. 15. The Saint Nicholas, to whom this 
 noble ilructure was dedicated, was, according to 
 ecclefialtical hiftory, bifliop of Myra, a city in Lycia. 
 a province of Afia Minor. He lived about the be- 
 ginning of the fourth century, and, during the perfe- 
 
 cation 
 
Ji^elacaftle upon Cpc 2.27 
 
 tion under Liciiiius the Roman emperor, was fent 
 into banilhment : but after the death of that tyrant, 
 he revifited his diocefe, and threw out all the idols 
 which he found. He is hiid to have affifted at the 
 famous general council of Nice, and appeared a ftre- 
 nuous opponent to the Arians. His fellival is on the 
 6th of December. 
 
 In Mr. Bourne's time, a large flag, which was 
 the firll itep into the church, at the north door, 
 was cut all along the furface witii uneven lines, 
 in imitation of the waves of the fea, as a filent re- 
 membrancer of this faint, fo famous among fome for 
 his miracles and apparitions by fea, that he has me- 
 rited the title of the " patron of the failors." If this 
 was the cafe, it feems as if predictive of the number 
 and confequence of that ufeful body of men, wiiich 
 one day was to prove the ilrength and opulence of 
 NewcaiUe. 
 
 Who the founder of this noble building was, is not 
 dillinclly handed down. It is rather mortifying to 
 human pride, to coniider, that the names of thofe 
 who have reared the moft magnificent and ftupen- 
 dous tlruclures in the world have been utterly iwal- 
 lowed up and loft. Of this the Egyptian pyramids 
 are a memorable example. Thefe wonderful efforts 
 of art have exifted nearly entire for four thoufand 
 years, yet the names of their original founders is a 
 fubjecl of continued difpute. It is the cafe with this 
 more ufeful and beautiful fabric ; fome afcribing its 
 exiftence to Henry I. others to Ofmund, biiliop of 
 Salifljury, anno IC91. This Ofmund was by biith a 
 Norman, and attended the conqueror in his fuccefs- 
 ful invafion of England; was created, by that pnnce, 
 earl of Duifct, and, according to Godwin, elevated 
 V f 2 to 
 
228 Jnipattial fotftot:!) of 
 
 to the chancelloi-niip of England. So meritorious 
 was this prince-prelate, that he was enrolled in the 
 calendar of the faints, being canonized upon his 
 death, anno 1099. 
 
 King Henry made over the church of Newcaftle, 
 with that of Newburn, to the bifhop of Carlifle, who 
 to this day is the impropriator and patron. The 
 other churches are dependent upon it, and yet 
 they are termed three diftindl parifhes. The vicar 
 receives dues from them all. 
 
 In the year 1194, in the reign of king Stephen, 
 Hugh Pudfey, bilhop of Durham, affigned to the 
 minifter of St. Nicholas' church all the fruits, annual 
 profits, oblations, and obventions, belonging to that 
 church, except the great tythes. 
 
 It (lands in an advantageous and elevated fitua- 
 tion, almoll in the centre of the town. It is feventy- 
 nine yards, two feet, and nine inches in length ; and 
 of a height in which the mofl exacl proportion has 
 been obferved. But the principal objedt of admi- 
 ration in this mother-church is its curious and lofty 
 ileeple. Four images cut in (lone, at full length, 
 are placed in the four corners of the fquare tower, 
 out of which rifes a curious fteeple, fixty-four yards, 
 one foot, and nine inches in height, adorned wath 
 thirteen pinnacles, two bold flone arches fupporting 
 a large and beautiful lanthorn, on which is a tall 
 and ftately fpire. It has eight mufical bells, on 
 which occafionally are rung a variety of* changes, 
 and are heard at a great dillance. The great bell 
 Wfis new call at Colchefter. It weighed 3129 pounds. 
 The prefent tenor, or great bell, was put up in 1734, 
 the old one having been cracked in ringing. 
 
 It 
 
i^etocaftlc upon Cpne. 229 
 
 It is a note of the lute celebrated Dr. Warburton, 
 bifhop of Gloiicefter, that as the early Ghriftians 
 worfhipped in groves, and amidlt thick and fliady 
 trees, fo the firft converts among the Goths built 
 their churches fo, as to bear fome relemblance to theie 
 original places of worlhip ; the ftrong pillars which 
 I'upported them were arranged in parallel rows, whofe 
 tops diverged along the roof like the fpreading tops 
 of trees. St. Nicholas' churcii, and indeed almoil all 
 old churches, are conftrucled in this form. 
 
 In the year 1359, this church is faid to have been 
 re-built ; probably having decayed through age. 
 
 At the bottom of the belfrey is this inlcription : 
 
 Orate pro anima Roberti Rhodes. 
 Pray for the foul of Robert Rhodes. 
 
 This Robert Rhodes, it is highly probable, was the 
 munificent contributor towards building the lantiiorn 
 and the pinnacles of the fteeple, as he is mentioned 
 with great refped by Harding, mayor, in 1453, 
 who was his cotemporary. This fine piece of archi- 
 tedure has undergone feveral repairs. So lately as 
 1 796, it had a thorough one ; when a new vane, en- 
 tirely of copper, was put upon the upper fpire, and 
 the whole painted in oil, of a ftone colour, to the crofs 
 leads. The roof, which is lofty and grand, is fupport- 
 ed by Gothic pillars, well cut, mafly, and Ilrong. 
 
 In the organ-gallery is a double organ. On the 
 north fide of this gallery is St. George's porch. It is 
 vaulted underneath, and cieied above; was anciently 
 adorned u'ith curious carvings in wood, and the win- 
 dov.'s with paintings on the glafs. 
 
 St. Mary's porch is railed in, and employed for the 
 daily burial fervice. 
 
 Saint 
 
23^ Impartial IMov}} of 
 
 Saint Margaret's porch is the burial-place of the 
 Bewick family, of Clofe-houfe. Robert died Sept. 
 3d, lyj!, aged 44. He was knighted by king Geo. 
 III. when high (hcriff of Northumberland. 
 
 The wliole area of this fpacious church was covered 
 with infcriptions on tiag-ftones, commemorative of 
 the dead who fleep below. But when it had an en- 
 tire alteration, in the year 1783, being transformed 
 into a kind of cathedral, mod of the monumental 
 ftones were removed, broken, llolen, or loft : which 
 (lays Mr. Brand) the antiquarian nmft deeply la- 
 ment. 
 
 At that time, the pulpit, and the whole of the 
 pews, galleries, &.c. were taken away. The chancel 
 was quite difmantled, the altar fkreen removed back- 
 ward to the great eaft window. In fliort, every old 
 erection was levelled, except the organ gallery. — 
 Since then no burials are permitted in the place ap- 
 pointed for divine fervice. 
 
 In the middle, and on the crofs-roof, are the coats 
 of arms of the kings, princes, bifliops, abbots, the town 
 mnynr> and benefadlors, affixed to the joinings of the 
 timbers at the top. It would be tedious to enumerate 
 the monuments and infcriptions with which this fa- 
 mous church abounds. We ihall therefore onlyfeledl 
 a few of the moft confpicuous. 
 
 On the fouth wall is a moft magnificent mural 
 monument, with the figure of the late alderman Rid- 
 ley, beautifully cut in marble, which prefents a ftrik- 
 ing appearance, and is worthy of a place in Wcftmin- 
 ller Abbey : it docs great credit to the architect, and 
 reflects honour upon the filial duty of his furviving 
 fon, the prefent Sir M, W. Ridley. 
 
 To 
 
5i5clDC«ftI^ upon Cjmc. 131 
 
 To the Memory of MATTHEW RIDLEY, Efq. 
 
 of Blagdon and Heaton, in the county of NorthumbsiLmd, 
 
 Senior Alderman of the Town, 
 
 and Governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers. 
 
 He four times ferved the office of Mayor ; 
 
 in which ftation, in the year i 745, 
 
 he rendered effential fervice to Ills country, 
 
 averting, by his prudence and aftivity, 
 
 the attack meditated againfl this town 
 
 by the enemies of the houfe of Brunfwlck, 
 
 and thereby materially checking the progrefs of their arms. 
 
 He was unanimoufly elcfted, by his fellow burgefles, 
 
 to reprefent them in five fucceflive Parliaments, 
 
 and retired from that fituation 
 
 when the declining ftatc of his health 
 
 rendered him incapable ot fulfilling the duties of it. 
 
 He lived refpetled and beloved, 
 
 and died, univerfally lamented, April 6th, 1778, 
 
 aged 66. 
 
 On the fouth wall, above the veftry door ; 
 Sacred to the Memory 
 of SARAH BLACKETT, 
 who departed this life July 14, 1775, 
 
 aged 35. ^ 
 
 This monument is erefted in teftimony 
 
 of the tender remembrance 
 
 of an affeifllonate hufband, 
 
 whofe grief for the lofs of an amiable wife 
 
 can only find comfort 
 
 in full aflurancc 
 
 of that promifed reward 
 
 which virtue inherits 
 
 in the regions of immortality. 
 
 In Saint George's porch are interred 
 
 tlie remains of MATTHEW DUANE, 
 
 of Lincoln's Inn, London, Efq. 
 
 Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies, 
 
 and a Truftee of the Britilh Mufeum. 
 
 He 
 
232 Jnipartial fpiftorg of 
 
 He was of great eminence in the knowledge of the law, 
 
 and of the ftridteft integrity and liberality in the pradice of it. 
 
 At the fame time, 
 
 the friend and tlie patron of the polite and fine arts, 
 
 And particularly diftinguifhed 
 
 by his fmgular fkill, judgment, and tafte, 
 
 in choofing and coUeding a moft complete feries 
 
 of Syrian, Phoenician, Grecian, Roman, and other coins, 
 
 now depofited in tlie mufcum of the late William Hunter, M. D. 
 
 for the illuftration and confirmation of hiftory. 
 
 The virtues of his heart were equal to 
 
 the endowments of his mind. 
 
 Juftice, benevolence, and charity, dictated his fentiments, 
 
 in promoting the happinefs of mankind. 
 
 He died the 6th day of Februar}-, 1785, aged 78. 
 
 In teftimony of affeiflion and fmcere efteem, 
 his widow erc<5ted this monument to his memory. 
 
 On a pillar, fouth fide of the prefent middle aifle : 
 
 Near this place lie interred, 
 
 tlie remains of THOMAS DOCKWRAY, A. M. 
 
 many years lefturer of this church ; 
 
 Who, after a life worn out in learned and religious fervices, 
 
 departed, to the mercy of God, on the 15th of May, 1 760, 
 
 in the 71ft year of his age. 
 
 He had nn able head and an upright heart. 
 
 As a preacher, he was inflrudive, nervous, eloquent ; 
 
 in private life, he was adorned with thofe virtues 
 
 which diftinguifli the worthy man and the good Chriftian. 
 
 His nephew, Thomas Dockwray, placed this monument 
 
 of his gratitude to tlie memory of the beft of friends. 
 
 Mural, in Saint George's porch : 
 
 In Memory of WILLIAM PEARETH, Efq. 
 
 of Ufworth-Houfc, in the county of Durham j 
 
 a man of abilities and worth, 
 
 whofe amiable qualities endeared him to his family and friends. 
 
 He ferved this Corporation, witli afflduity and integrity, 
 
 as Clerk of the Town's Chamber and Alderman, 
 
 near fifty years, always declining the office of Mayor. 
 
 He 
 
X5clocatlle upon C]t)nE!. 0.7,^ 
 
 He married, in 1731, Ann, younge ft daughter of Richard 
 Jenners, Efq. of Warwickfliire ; by whom he had iffue fifteen 
 children. Of thofe, two fons furvived him, WiUiam and Richard 
 Thomas, and fix daughters. Sufannah, married to Henry 
 Wright, Efq. of Northamptonihirc ; Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, 
 Henrietta, and Barbary. He did May 20, 1775, aged 72 years. 
 His widow, in tellimony of her affeflion and gratitude, 
 caufed this monument to be erefted. 
 
 Mural monument, north wall : 
 
 In St. Gcfirge's porcli lie interred, 
 
 the remains of Mrs. BARBARA DAWSON, 
 
 the widow of Mr. Thomas Dawfon. 
 
 She died in the year 1736, aged 38 years. 
 
 And of Mrs. Sufannah Peareth, her fifter, 
 
 who died in the year 1769, aged 71 years. 
 
 Both were the daughters of Henry Peareth, Efq. 
 
 by Elizabeth Jackfon his wife. 
 
 This monument of filial duty and refpedl 
 
 for one of the beft of mothers, 
 
 and a fincere regard for an affedtionate aunt, 
 
 was erected by Dorothy, 
 
 daughter of tlie laid Barbara Dawfon, 
 
 and wife of Matthew Duane, Efq. 
 
 in the year 1776. 
 
 On the wall of St. George's porch is a beautiful 
 TTiarble monument, with the following infcription : 
 
 Hie fit3E funt exuvias 
 
 ROBERTl SHAFTO, Equitis aurati, 
 
 nee non ad legem fervientis, 
 
 et hujus municipii proprstoris. 
 
 In defideratifimi patris memoriam 
 
 hoc marmor pofult unicus defundi filius 
 
 Marcus Shafio de Whitworth 
 
 in comitatu Dunelmen' Arm'. 
 
 Obii Mail 2i"», 
 
 A. D. 1705. 
 
 Vixit annos 72. 
 
 G g En^IiJhed: 
 
-34 impartial !l)tGorp of 
 
 EngUJIjed : 
 
 Here lie buried the remains 
 
 Of Robert Shafto, Bart 
 
 bred to the law, 
 
 and Mayor of this town. 
 
 In memory of a moft beloved father, 
 
 Mark Shafto, of Whitworth, 
 
 in the county of Durham, Efq. 
 
 the only fon of the deceafed, 
 
 placed this monumental marble. 
 
 He died May 2 i , 
 
 in the year 1705. 
 
 He lived 72 years. 
 
 Columnal, or fixed to a pillar, on the north fide of 
 the foiith aifle. This monument is of- marble, and 
 has been painted and gilded fince its firft eredion. 
 At the top are the images of faith, hope, and charity, 
 with their ufual attributes. Below thefe are the 
 ilatues of three perfons of each fex, on their knees, 
 in fuppliant attitudes. The two on each fide of 
 the delk, in front, are evidently meant for Henry 
 Maddifon and Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of 
 Robert Barker : over them a fliield. Infcription as 
 follows : 
 
 Here reft, in Chriftian hope, the bodies of LIONEL MAD- 
 DISON, fon of Rowland Maddifon, of the county of Durham, 
 Ttfq. and of JANE his wife. She died July 9, 161 1. He, 
 having been thrice Mayor of this town, departed December 6, 
 1624, aged 94 years. He lived to fee his only fon Henry father 
 to a fair and numerous ilfue. 
 
 Here lie interred alfo the bodies of HENRY MADDISON 
 and ELIZABETH his wife, who lived together moft comfor- 
 tably 40 years. Elizabeth, his only wife, had iifue to bira ten 
 fons and fix daughters. Their eldeft fon, Sir Lionel Maddifon, 
 knight, Robert, Ralph, &c. 
 
 Under- 
 
j^etocHUlc upon Cpnc. 235 
 
 Underneath the fixteen finaller figures of the chil- 
 dren of Henry and EHzabeth MaJdifon, is a beauti- 
 ful feries of fmall fliields, pointing out their inter- 
 marriages. 
 
 In the fouth aifle, againfl one of the pillars, is a 
 marble monument, with this infonption : 
 
 McmorijE PATRICII CROWE, 
 olim de AJhlington, Armigeri, 
 
 cujus corpus huud procul 
 
 maimore clifto fepultum jacet. 
 
 Obii die Januarii 3 1*', 
 
 Anno Domini 1694. 
 
 Etiglijhed : 
 
 To the memory of Patrick Crowe, 
 
 of Aihlington, Efq. 
 
 whofe body lies buried 
 
 not far from this marble. 
 
 He died January 31, 
 
 in the year 1 694. 
 
 Mural : 
 
 Near this place 
 
 are interred the remains 
 
 of ALICE INGHAM, 
 
 Widow of William Ingham, 
 
 late of Whitby, in Yorklhire, furgeon. 
 
 He died the nth of November, 1794. 
 
 This monument 
 
 is ercded 
 
 to her memory 
 
 by her fon, 
 
 William Ingham, 
 
 furgeon in this town. 
 
 Sacred to the memory of 
 
 The Rev. NATHANIEL ELLISON, NewcaRle, 
 
 formerly fellow in Merton College, Oxford, 
 
 late Vicar of Bolam, 
 
 and le(fturer of St. Andrew's, Newcaftle. 
 
 Gg 2 W« 
 
236 Impaitial IpiUoii) of 
 
 He refigncd his foul into die hands of his Creator, 
 
 the I ft of Augiifi, 1798, 
 
 in the 62d year of his age. 
 
 His remains lie interred in this place. 
 
 He lived univerfally beloved, 
 
 and died unfeignedly regretted. 
 
 Mr. Robinfon's burial place. 
 
 Here lie buried under this ftone, 
 Of JOHN BENNET both body and bone, 
 Late of thefe north parts, mafter of the ordnance, 
 Which deceafed by God's Providence, 
 The eighth day of the montli of July, 
 In perfecfl faith, love, and charity, 
 A thoufand five hundred fixty and eight, 
 Whofe foul to heaven he trufted went ftraight. 
 Through God's great mercy, bloodflied, and death, 
 
 Which only he trulled to durrng his breath. 
 
 So truft we liis Wife and Children, who caufed this, 
 
 And Captain Carvel, a friend of his. 
 
 We will not further trtfpafs on the time and pa- 
 tience of our readers by enlarging the enumeration 
 of thefe laemorials, with which this noble ftruclure 
 (notwithflanding the vail number fwept away by the 
 late alteration) llill abounds. But the mind which 
 ferioLifly looks forward to the terminarion of all things, 
 may, ni this magnilicent, facred recefs, learn a leflbn 
 of lupreme wifdom. And when we tread on the 
 tombs of magillrates, miniilers in the facred oflice, 
 generals, feamen, artifts, ilatefmen, all, all blended 
 together in one common niafs of mortality ; and 
 when fitting over the " mighty dead," in the afTem- 
 bly of the living,— 
 
 <' Where through the long-drawn aiile and fretted vault 
 " The pealing anthem fwells the note of praife." Gray. 
 
 how 
 
3l?)i>lDca3:le upon Cyne. 237 
 
 bow are we Itnick with revert;n.e in refleding on the 
 folemnity of our iituation I — " But a ftep, a fliort ftep 
 too, between us and deatb 1" 
 
 " I know, fays Addifon, (the fvvcetell writer in 
 queen Anne's reign) that contemplations of that na- 
 ture are apt to raife dark and difmal thoughts in ti- 
 morous minds and gloomy imaginations ; bur for ^^y 
 part, though I am always ferious, I do not know what 
 it is to be melancholy ; and can therefore take a 
 view of nature, in her deep and folemn fcenes, with 
 the fame pleafure as in her mod gay and delightful 
 ones. By this means I can improve myfelf wjtli 
 thofe objeds which others confider with terror.-— 
 When 1 look upon the tombs of the great, every 
 emotion of envy dies in me ; when I read the epi- 
 taphs of the beautiful, every immoderate defire goes 
 out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a 
 tomb-ftone, my heart melts with compallion ; when 
 I fee the tomb of the parents themfelves, I conlider 
 the vanity of grieving for thofe \vho:n \ve mufl 
 quickly follow. When I fee kings (in Wellminfter 
 abbey) lying by thofe who depofed them ; when I 
 confider rival wits placed fide by fide, or the holy 
 men that divided the world with their conteils and 
 difpi: cs, 1 refled with forrow and altonifliment on 
 the lirtle competitions, fadions, and debates of man- 
 kind. When I read the feveral dates of the tombs, 
 of fome that died yefterday, and fome fix hundred 
 years ago, I confider that great day when we fliall 
 all of us be cotemporaries, and make our appearance 
 Xo^tx.hcw'"— Spectator^ No. 26. 
 
 CHAN- 
 
238 Impartial fpiftory of 
 
 CHANTRIES IN ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH. 
 
 It was the fafliion, fays Mr. Brand, in the times of 
 the papal fuperilition, for lords of manors, and other 
 perfons of great wealth and importance, to build 
 fmall chapels, or lide aifles, in their parilh churches, 
 defigned for burying- places for their families ; which 
 they frequently endowed with lands, &.c. for the 
 fupport of chantry priefts, to pray daily, at altars 
 ereded therein, for the fouls of the founders, and 
 thofe of their anceftors and pofterity. 
 
 Where thefe fuperflitious papifts, as Mr, B. here 
 fomevvhat unhandfomely terms "Sijijler churchy could 
 make fuch a grand difcovery as that of purgatory, 
 we editors, not prefuming to clafs ourfelves with fuch 
 redoubtable doctors, dare not fay ; yet we venture to 
 aflir.m where they have not found it, and that is, nei- 
 ther in the wide field oi fcripture nor of reafon. And 
 we may fafely add, that this frightful fiction has 
 brought more pence into .S*^. Peter's coffers than any 
 other fource of fpiritual revenue whatever. 
 
 However, in this capacious church, there were 
 nine, fome fay ten chantries. We will only (lightly 
 glance at them, as it is long fince they have been 
 aboliflied. 
 
 I. The chantry of St. John the Baptifl: and St. 
 John the Apoftle. It was fituated on the north lide 
 of the church. Its foundation is fo remote as 1149. 
 Laurentius, prior of Durham, founded it ; and, two 
 centuries after, it was re-founded by Richard de 
 Embleton, a magiftrate of Newcaftle, who made a 
 great figure in thofe times. He was fo liberal as to 
 provide for three chaplains to this chantry. 
 
 This 
 
53eloca(lle upon ^\int. 239 
 
 This celebrated Richard de Emeldon had been 
 above twelve times chief magiflrate in Newcaftle. 
 He obtained letters patent from king Edward the 
 Third, to build upon a vacant piece of ground, 
 over againfl: the chapel of St. Thomas the martyr, 
 that he might prefent it to three chaplains, to pro- 
 cure their prayers for him while he was living, and 
 after he was dead, and alfo for the fouls of his wives 
 and his father and mother, every day, at the altar of 
 St. Nicholas, which was dedicated to John the Bap- 
 tifl and John the apoftle and evangelirt. 
 
 The priefts fet apart to attend this altar were, 
 every day, to pray for his foul and thofe of his rela- 
 tions. And by an order from Richard, lord bifhop 
 of Durham, the chaplains for the time being, on the 
 anniverfary of his death, every year for ever, to cele- 
 brate his memory by a folemn tolling of bells, and 
 devoutly linging by note, in the evenmg of the anni- 
 verfiiry, and folemnly to ling mafs, for the foul of 
 Pvichard himfelf, the fouls above-mentioned, and the 
 fouls of all the faithful departed ; and after mafs 
 one of the chaplains was to diftribute among one 
 hundred and fixty poor people the fum of fix fliil- 
 lings and eightpence, and this annually for ever. 
 
 This chantry was enriched alfo by Robert Rhodes; 
 and, after the death of that worthy charader, the 
 corporation of Nevvcaftle gave feven pounds feven 
 fliillings and tenpence with a houfe, as a maintenance 
 for one chaplain, to pray for his foul, for whofe me- 
 mory they had the highell refped, and to whom the 
 town owed many obligation^. 
 
 The other chantries, dedicated to our Lady, to St. 
 Peter and St. Paul, to St. Margaret, to St. Loye, &.c. 
 in this church, were all founded with the fame inten- 
 tions ; 
 
240 
 
 Jntparttal f^iftorp of 
 
 tions ; but which the light breaking in upon Europe, 
 at the reformation, difcovered to be completely ridi- 
 culous. We will, there [ore, readily be forgiven iri 
 omitting any further account of thefe receffes of ig- 
 norance and miftaken devotion. 
 
 GALLERIES AND PEWS. 
 
 The immenfe maffes of huge (lone pillars greatly 
 tend to obftrucf the hearing, in this and all the 
 churches built in the old flile of architedure. In 
 the year 1785, an entire new fet of pews was ereded 
 in St. Nicholas' church ; yet the alteration is faid to 
 have increafed, rather than diminifhed, the ufual in- 
 convenience of low voices in the minifters. 
 
 The gallery, commonly called the head-fchool gal- 
 lery, was moved from its ancient fituation to the 
 front of St. George's porch. 
 
 THE CHANCEL. 
 
 The altar was fometimes made of wood, and, dur- 
 ing the reign of popery, of ftone. It was even ac- 
 counted a matter of confequence, and required the 
 dccifion of general councils, to determine in what 
 part of the church the communion table was to be 
 placed. The chancel of St. Nicholas, where that 
 part of the worfliip was performed, has been thrown 
 entirely open, and ihe communion table removed 
 clofe under the great eaftsrn window. 
 
 THE FONT. 
 
 In the limple and pureft times of Chriftianity, the 
 initiatory rite of baptifm was performed, by immerjiont 
 in rivers and fountains, efpecially in the warm cli- 
 mates of the eaft. V/hen it aflumed a more magnu 
 
 ficent 
 
jl5ctoc?^Glc upon Cpne. 241 
 
 ficent form, fonts were invented, and firft uled 
 in private houfes, afterwards placed in the church 
 porch, and laftly within the church itfelf, but near 
 the door, expreflive of its nature, as an ordinance ot 
 initiation. Yet myllery in matters of faith encreaf- 
 ing, the buffooneries of fplendor and ornament de- 
 graded the fimple river and the gratuitous immerfion 
 of- the adult convert, into the artificial font, and the 
 priellly and hired fprinkling of every new-born ^-/^r//^ 
 tian child I 
 
 The font of St. Nicholas is of light and elegant 
 workmanfliip. It had been either made or repaired 
 by Robert Rhodes, the builder or repairer of the 
 upper part of the ileeple ; as his coat of arms, with 
 another, probably his wife's, is fculptured on the 
 bafis of this ancient and curious religious velTci. 
 
 WINDOWS. 
 
 A ftrudure fo lofty and capacious as St. Nicholas* 
 church required large and ample conveniences for 
 light. Mr. Bourne fays, " in this church are many 
 fumptuous windows, but that in the call furpafleth 
 all the red in height, largtnefs, and beauty." Grey 
 fays, there were in this window the twelve apoitles, 
 and the feven deeds of charity, painted on the 
 glafs ; that it was built by the beneficent Roger 
 Thornton ; and that this infcription was on it : 
 " Orate pro anima Rojeri de Thornton^ et pro anima- 
 bus filiorum X^ jiliarum. Fray for the foul of Roger 
 I'hornton, and for the fouls cfhisfons andof his daugh- 
 ters.^* Thefe, by time and alterations, are now ef- 
 faced. The figure of our Saviour, of milerable exe- 
 cution, in modern Itained glafs, h^s been alio hap- 
 pily removed. 
 
 H h THE 
 
242 Impartial pOorji of 
 
 THE ORGAN. 
 
 This magnificent inftrument is faid to have been 
 invented and employed in religious worfhip in the 
 eaft ; the firfl organ ufed in the wellern chuiclics 
 being fent from Greece to Pepin king of France, 
 anno 766. In its conftrudlion, approximation to the 
 human voice has been ftudioully regarded ; and yet 
 it has ever been acknowledged, that a well-toned 
 voice, in which the power's of melody hive been 
 cultivat«-,d, infinitely excels the beft infl;rument ever 
 formed by the ingenuity of man. Whether by the 
 pipes of which it is compofed, fuch as the vox leoiiis, 
 (the voice of the lion), the vox ho7jihiis, (the voice 
 of man, &c.) the oriental Chrifliians meant to con- 
 vey the idea of awful terror, powerful reafoning, 
 fweet perfuafion, celeilial harmony, with which di- 
 vine worfiiip every where abounds, we prefume not 
 to fay ; but when attended with a number of melo- 
 dious voices, it has a powerful effect : 
 
 " The pealing organ fwells the note of praife." — Gray. 
 And yet, ornamental and harmonious as this noble 
 inftrument is, no perfuafion could ever induce the 
 church of Scotland to adopt it in their worfhip. 
 Tell a plain Scotchman that an organ is abfolutely 
 proper in divine worfiiip ; that it is naked, unadorn- 
 ed, and inharmonious without it ; he would likely 
 reply — " Sir, I read in the worcl, that we are to fing 
 wi' grace, making melody in our hearts; but I 
 wad like to ken what grace is in the hearts of a 
 bunch 0' whijiles ^'^ 
 
 About the year 1676, the corporation of New- 
 caflle contributed three hundred pounds towards the 
 
 eredtion 
 
5!5ctocaflle upon Cinie. 24: 
 
 eredlion of the prefent organ. They added a trum- 
 pet flop to it, anno 1699. In 1710, the back front 
 of this organ was finillied, which coll the faid corpo- 
 ration two hundred pounds, together with the ex- 
 pence of cleaning and repairing the whole inlhument. 
 In 1749, a fvvell Hop was added to it. 
 
 In the veftry are preferved the parifh regiders.— 
 That of baptifms begins A. D. 1558: that of mar- 
 riages and burials, in 1574. 
 
 Parochial regiileis, throughout the kingdom, were 
 appointed in the year I538. They are of fignal fer- 
 vice to the community. 
 
 CHURCH-YARD OF . ST. NICHOLAS. 
 
 It was fo late as the year 1761, that this recefs of 
 the dead was inclofed, by fubfcription, with a brick 
 wall, with ilrong wooden rails thereon. Tiiere is a 
 convenient foot-path, well paved, and of fulKcient 
 breadth, all round it. 
 
 The tomb and head-ftones are no way remarkable, 
 only, in general, informing the pafTenger of the time 
 when fuch an one was born and died. 
 
 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES TO THE POOR. 
 
 The number of thefe ads of charity, by the hu- 
 mane and generous of St. Nicholas' parifh, reflects 
 unfading honours upon their memory. But, how- 
 ever laudable, diredly conlidered, yet the practice 
 of thefe, and every -other fpecies of indif&rimhuite 
 charity, indiredly tends to decreafe indultry, and 
 give the poor a fawning, fnppliant, dependent fpirit. 
 H h 2 It 
 
244 Jmpnrtial fpiGcrp of 
 
 annum 
 
 L-Ar 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 ditto 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 ditto 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ditto 
 
 6 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ditto 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ditto 
 
 I 
 
 lO 
 
 o 
 
 ditto 
 
 ^ 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 It would engrofs too large a portion of our work 
 minutely to particularize them all. Among many 
 others are the following : 
 
 Henry Hilton, Efq. of Hilton, per annum £.^ 
 
 Thomas Davifon, Efq. 
 
 Sir Alexander Davifon 
 
 Sir Mark Milbank . , . 
 
 Sir William Blackett 
 
 Nicholas Ridley, Efq. 
 
 William Grey, Efq. of Back worth 
 
 But, as their pious donations are '• recorded elfe- 
 where," we are the lefs folicitous to infert them. 
 
 Of the charity fchool belonging to this parifh we 
 will treat afterwards.— iJ^^ Public Charities. 
 
 VICARS OF ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH. 
 
 It is a jufl obfervatioii, that grand and fplendid 
 as the fineft church may be, yet its brighteft orna- 
 ment is an enlightened and ufeful minijiry. That 
 there have been fuch in the long lift of clergymen 
 who have prefided in this mother church, we may 
 readily fuppofe. We will name only a few. 
 
 Richard de Aurea Valle, or of Gold-bourn, was 
 minifler of this church in the reign of king Henry I. 
 Nothing particular is handed down concerning him; 
 nor of Gilbert de Lacy, in the time of Henry III — 
 During the revolution of three hundred years, we 
 have the names of the fucceflive vicars of NewcalUe, 
 but nothing memorable of their lives and minif- 
 trations. 
 
 Anno 1623, Thonas Jackfon, S. T. P. was infti- 
 tuted to this vicarage, in which he continued ten 
 years. His parts and learning were fo confpicuous, 
 that he was invited, by the Chancellor of Oxford, to 
 
 the 
 
jacVDcaaic upon C^ne. 24: 
 
 the high dignity of prefident of Corpus Chrifti col- 
 lege. He died December 21, 1640, and was buried 
 in the inner chapel of that college. This gentleman 
 was defcended from a very worthy family of the 
 county of Durham ; and was firfl: deiigned, by his 
 parents, for the mercantile life, in this town, where 
 many of his connexions principally lived, in great 
 wealth and profperity. At the inftance of a noble 
 lord, he was fent to the univerfity of Oxford, where 
 he entered at (Queen's college, under the celebrated 
 Dr. Crankenthorp, and there made great progrefs in 
 learning. Going one day to bathe in the river, he 
 had a narrow efcape from death, having lain long 
 under water ; but was providentially reftored by the 
 (kill of Dr. Channel, an eminent phyfician of that 
 place. 
 
 Anno 1630, Yeldred Alvey, S. T. P. facceeded 
 Dr. Jackfon in this vicarage. He was depofed from 
 his charge, in 1645, by order of the lords and com- 
 mons, and was buried in this church 1648. The 
 celebrated Prynne, who wrote the HiJIrio Majlp:^ 
 or Player's Scourge, (for which, by order of the Star 
 Chamber, he was deprived of both his ears) in his 
 famous book, entitled " Hidden Works of Darknefs," 
 calls vicar Alvey " the Arminian and fuperftitious 
 vicar of Nevvcaftle." 
 
 Robert Jennifon, D. D. was, by a refolution of 
 the houfe of commons, appointed to the vicarage 
 of Newcafle, in the room of Y. Alvey, removed for 
 his delinquency. He was allowed, by the fame high 
 authority, a falary of one hundred pounds per annum. 
 His pohtical principles, and religious deportment, 
 were fo acceptable to the houfe, that they ordered 
 his falary to be augmented to one hundred and forty 
 
 j)cunds 
 
24'^ Jmpartial fMftoi'j? of 
 
 pounds per annum. Dr. Jennifon died November 
 6, i6:;2, and was buried in the church of St, Nicholas, 
 
 He was not only a celebrated preacher, but alfo 
 a pious and jwpular writer. He wrote a book " con- 
 cerning the Idolatry ot the Ifraelites;" another enti- 
 tled "Newcaftle's Call to her Neighbour and Sifter 
 Towns and Cities, occalioned by the Pcftilence." 
 
 Anno 1652, Mr Samuel Hammond was, by an 
 order of the common council, appointed to preach 
 at St. Nicholas on Sunday forenoons, and to ledure 
 on Thurfdays, with an annual falary of one hundred 
 and fifty pounds. He was of the feet called '' The 
 Congregational Judgment.** Upon the relloration 
 of Charles II. he would not conform. When he had 
 a call, or invitation, to preach at Newcallle, his an- 
 fwer was, " that he was ready, with all chearfulnefs, 
 to embrace their call, and ferve God and the town 
 in that great work, finding himfelf and the people 
 much in the hearts of one another." He was to 
 preach every Sunday at Nicholas' church in the fore- 
 noon, upon every Thurfday to lecture in the morn- 
 ing, and at other times, as occafion required : Saint 
 was accounted fuperftitious by the Puritans of the 
 paft times, and is thought abfurd by many people of 
 the prefent. 
 
 The manufcript Life of Barnes fays, that Mr. 
 Hammond was a butcher's fon, of York, but raifed 
 the meannefs of his birth by the eminency of his 
 qualifications. He was colleague with Mr. Weld, of 
 Gatefliead. 
 
 John March, B. D, was inducted v'car of New- 
 caftle, anno 1679. He died 1692, and was buried 
 in St. Nicholas' church. 
 
 Mr: 
 
k 
 
 Bctocaiile upon Cyne. 247 
 
 Mr. Bourne gives an excellent charatler of this 
 divine. •' John March, B. D. ffays he) was born in 
 this town. He was an admirable fcholar, a man of 
 ftricl piety, and a moil powerful inllrudlor. The lall 
 fermon he preached was from the epiille to the He- 
 brews, ch. ii. V. 3. Howjljall^ve efcape if we neg- 
 l eel fo great falvation? It was on a Sunday morn- 
 ing, and on the Sunday following he was buried." 
 This, and eleven more, were publiilied in the year 
 ^^9}i-> ^y ^^'- J^^*^^ Scott, the celebrated author of 
 the Chrillian Life, with a recommendatory preface 
 to them. 
 " A Vindication of the prefent great Revolution ia 
 England, in five letters betwixt James Welwood, 
 M. D. and Mr. John March, vicar of Newcaille 
 uponTyne, occafionedby a fermon preached by him 
 on January 30, 1689, before the mayor and alder- 
 nien, on pallive obedience and non-refiltance." 
 
 Several fermons of his were publiflied in his life- 
 time, viz. The Falfe Prophet unmafked, or the 
 Wolf ftripped of his Sheep's Cloathing, preached on 
 the 30th of January, 16B3, before the mayor, &c. 
 and dedicated to them ; with many others, in which 
 Mr. Marcli difcovcrs much reading and learning. 
 
 Yet the common-council books contain a curious 
 entry, July 15, 1690. " Mr. March, vicar—Or- 
 dered, that Mr Mayor, &c. acquaint him, that his 
 falary will be flopped, unlefs he pray for king Wil- 
 liam and queen Mary by name." By this, it feems 
 that their uorlliips wanted to make a PI ear of Bray 
 of good Mr. March. This, indeed, is no *' new thing 
 on tlie earth I" 
 
 Nathaniel Ellifon, D. I), was appointed vicar of 
 St. Nicholas, April 30, 1695. With confent of the 
 
 patron 
 
248 Jinpatrtial foi^ov^ of 
 
 patron, his falary from the corporation to be eighty 
 pounds per annum, with ten pounds more forThurf- 
 day ledures. He had been inftalled archdeacon of 
 Stafford in 16S2. He was, belides, redior of Whit- 
 burn, in the county of Durham, a piebend in that 
 cathedral, and alfo in that of Litchfield. 
 
 In the year 1700, he publidied, at London, a fer- 
 mon preached before the mayor and magiftrates of 
 Newcaftle, on the Sunday after the eledtion of the 
 mayor, &c. " The Magiftrate's Obligation to punifli 
 Vice." A. D. 1 70 1, his fermon on confirmation, 
 preached June 23, 1700, before lord Crewe, bifliop 
 of Durham, (who made him his chaplain) at St. Ni- 
 cholas' church in Newcaftle, was printed at London. 
 
 In the year 1710, he printed a fermon at London, 
 which was preached in All Saints' church, Newcaftle, 
 on All Saints' day, 1709, at the opening of a cha- 
 rity-fchool in that parifli. It is a mafterly difcourfe, 
 entitled " The Obligations and Opportunities of do- 
 ing Good to the Poor," 4to. 
 
 He died May 4, 1721, aged 64 years, and was 
 buried under the eaft window of the fouth aifle of 
 St. Nicholas' church.t 
 
 He left in manufcript a colledlion of interefting 
 notes on the Hiftory of Newcaftle, from which we 
 
 derive 
 
 f An extraordinary inftance gf good luck befel the family of 
 the EUilbns. Sir Benjamin llawling, knight, IheriiF of London, 
 dying inteltate in 1775, his confiderable real eftate devolved to 
 Mrs. Miles Corney, bookleller, in Penrith, Cumberland ; and his 
 perfonal effects, amounting, it is faid, to upwards of I20,oool, 
 to Mrs. Elizabeth Ellilon, of Weftgate-ftreet, Newcaftle, the 
 only furviving fifter of Dr. Ellifon. This prodigious fortune, as 
 fhe died unmarried, (he prudently left equally divided among 
 her furviving nephews and nieces, in 1776. 
 
ji5ctDcaGlc upon Cyne. 249 
 
 derive mucii infonnaLion, and which we cite as Dr. 
 EHilon's muiiufcript. 
 
 Anno Dom. 1761, John Brown, D. D. was in- 
 dudeJ into this vicarage. He was born at Rothbary, 
 in Northumberland, and was educated at the grum- 
 mar-fchool in Wigton, Cumberland, of which place 
 his father was vicar. After purfuing his (Indies at 
 Cambridge, he returned to Wigton, and in due time 
 received deacon's and prieft's orders from Sir George 
 Fleming, then bifliop of Carlifle. His attachment 
 to whig principles foon obtained him the living of 
 Morland, in the county of Weftmoreland, whicti, 
 however, he afterwards religned. He was ingenious 
 and learned, and excelled in compofitions, both in 
 profe and verie. His " Ellimate of the IVIanners and 
 Principles of the Times" acquired him high reputa- 
 tion. He was author of feveral works of celebrity; 
 among which were two tragedies, viz. Barbaroff.i 
 and Athelftan ; the former of which is well known 
 and much admired by the lovers of the drama. He 
 was paffionately fond of mulic, and a very confider- 
 able mafler in that enchanting fcience. But to 
 thefe qualifications were joined uncommon pride and 
 weaknefs. He was a bigh-church-man, and, of confc- 
 qucnce, intolerant to dilTenters, and rigorous in the 
 cxadion of his dues. Though afpiring to a mitre, 
 yet could he not avoid treating his inferiors with 
 contempt, and his fuperiors with infolence. 
 
 Dr. Brown's ambition- was not a little flattered by 
 an invitation which he received from the. late emprefs 
 of Ruffia, in the year 1766, to vifit the court of St 
 Peterfburgh, in order to aflill in an extenfive plan fo 
 improving the manners and morals of the uncivilize* 
 Ruffians. Various reports have been circulated re 
 
 I i Jpedin;. 
 
1::D 
 
 impartial fpiaorj) of 
 
 fpeding the iffue of this tranfadtion, and the mater 
 feems not to have been generally underftood. The 
 fad is, the dodlor's health would not permit him to 
 undertake the journey to fo inhofpitable a climate as 
 that of Ruffici ; and, agreeable to the advice of his 
 friends, he declined the imperial invitation. f This 
 difiippointment, however, concurring with his fcvere 
 indifpohtion, and accompanied by a recollection of 
 other failures in his expedtations, was fucceeded by a 
 dejedlion of fpirits, which caufed him to commit an 
 act of fuicide, by cutting the jugular vein with a 
 ralor, at his apaitments in Pall-mall, on the 23d of 
 September, 1766, in the 51ft year of his age. 
 
 Richard Fawcett, D. D. was induded to this vicar- 
 age, Jan. 3, 1767. He was the fon of John Fawcett, 
 efq. recorder of Durham. Dr. Fawcett was bred at 
 Oxfjrd,. and had feveral livings previous to his ap- 
 pointment to Newcaftle. He was one of his majef- 
 ty's chaplains in ordinary, and chaplain to the billiop 
 of Durham, by w^hom he was collated to the redory 
 of Gatelliead, which he held by a difpenfation with 
 this vicarage. He was alfo one of the prebendaries 
 of Durham ; at which city he died in 1782. He had 
 no. animation in his manner of preaching, but was 
 highly diftinguilhed for a clear, nervous ftrain of folid. 
 reafoning. 
 
 Anno 
 
 f The emprefs of RufTia had fent a fimiiar requefl:, about the 
 end of the year 1762, to M. D'Alembert, through the medium of 
 M- De SoltikofF,.t\'ho then refided at Paris, offering that profound 
 riiathematician one hundred thoufand livres per year, which he 
 refufed ; whereupon the emprefs renewed her felicitation, by a 
 letter under her o\m liand, inviting him to come " with all his 
 friends :" this the philofopher alfo withflood, as he did the ear- 
 neft folicitalions of the Great Frederick of Pruffia, through the 
 lord Marcfchal, his ambafTadoi at the fame place. 
 
3l5eVuca{lIc upon Cpnc 251 
 
 Anno Doiii. 1782, Stephen Lufliington, A M. 
 was inducted into this vicarage. He rejicled very 
 little at NewcajVe, and died in iSoi. 
 
 His fucceffji, the reverend J. D. Carlyle, B. D. 
 F. R. S. E. chancellor oK Carlifle, cliapiain to the bi- 
 fliop of Durham, and profeiror of Arabic in the uni- 
 verfity of Canibridt;;e, is a gentleman of poll (bed 
 manners and extenfis^e erudition. In his late jour- 
 ney into Et;vpt, and his intercourfe with the leaders 
 of the contending armies, he hsLS proved to his ortho- 
 dox brethren, that learning is of no political party: 
 
 Tros ^Tyriufque m'lht nulla d'lfcrimine agetur. 
 
 Trojans and Tyrians are alike to me. Virgiu 
 
 Whilfl: from thefe his extenlive and laborious journies 
 in fearch of that fpecies of knowledge attached to 
 his profeiToriiiip, that may be truly applied to him 
 which Homer, from the extent of his travels, favs of 
 UlylTes, the favourite of Minerva : 
 
 Wand'ring from clime to clime, obfeivant ArayM, 
 Their manners noted, and their dates iurvey'd. 
 
 Pope's Homer.. 
 
 But this gentleman having only lately accepted 
 the office of which we now treat, we Hiall clofe this 
 account with obferving, that as vicar he is alfo one of 
 the truftees for the extenfive library of Dr. Thomlin- 
 fon, mentioned btfore ; and we do not furely flatter 
 ourfelves too much by hoping, that the character of 
 a hero in one of his favourite authors may be alfo 
 applied toProfefTor Cariyle : 
 
 tvamohajfwiin yotht'i alifkarcho hhahhaha 
 
 ivamogaJhmirin I'lhhokuk'iha hadhamoba 
 He diftributes equal fhares : he difpenfes juftice to the tribes: 
 he is indignant, when their right is diminifhed : and, to eftablifli 
 their right, often relinquifhes his own. Poem of Lebeid. 
 
 I i 2 AFTER- 
 
23'^ Jmpartial ipiftorp of 
 
 AFTERNOON LECTURERS AT ST. NICHOLAS. 
 
 We will be very lliort in this enumeration ; altho' 
 we find among the afternoon lediurers men of great 
 worth and high talents. Upon the firft appointment 
 of this office, the town paid for the fervice of the 
 forenoon, and the parifii for that of the afternoon. 
 Some time after, tiie corporation augmented the fa- 
 laries of both, upon which the parifii withdrew their 
 contributions. In this ftate is the ledurelliip at 
 this time. 
 
 May 30, 1645, the common-council appointed 
 Mr. William Durant and Mr. Cuthbert Sydenham 
 the former with a falary of eighty, the latter of one 
 hundred pounds per annum. 
 
 Mr. Sydenham was afterwards fettled fingly, with 
 a falary of one hundred and forty pounds per annum. 
 
 The biographer Wood, however hoftile to pun- 
 tans and prefiDyterians, yet gives Sydenham an ex- 
 cellent charader. 
 
 " He was (fays that writer) ledurer of St. Nicho- 
 las' church in Newcaftle, without any orders, unlefs 
 thofe of prefbytery ; a great ftatefman, yet a greater 
 divine ; and though no commiflloner to the Weft- 
 minfler fynod, yet he privately drew up the pa- 
 pers that pafled in the debates between that vafl 
 body of divines and the five difiienting brethren, of 
 the independent perfuafion." 
 
 The manufcript Life of Barnes fays, that he was 
 of an ancient family in Cornwall, had a genteel and 
 comely perjbn. His aqueline nofe called to remem- 
 brance the defcription given by Lucian of St. Paul, 
 when he calls him that hawk-nofed Galilean, who 
 mounted up to the third heaven, and thence brought 
 
 thofe 
 
3f3clDcaGle upon Ci^ne. 253 
 
 thofe goodly notions, which he preached to the 
 world." — He publiflied a book, entitled " The Myf- 
 tery of Godlinefs." 
 
 Anno 1679, ^^^' J^^^" Ravvlett was appointed, 
 with a falary of ninety, which was afterwards raifed 
 to one hundred and twenty pounds per annum. He 
 died in 1686, aged 44 years, and was buried in this 
 church. 
 
 There is a curious anecdote of this gentlemen in 
 the manufcript Life of Barnes, " Mr, Butler left a 
 daughter, who married Mr, John Ravvlett. He was 
 a conforniifl minifter, a devout and laborious leclurer 
 in St. Nicholas' church. They had been fome time 
 mutually in love ; but he falling flck, married her 
 upon his death-bed, at her own requefl, that fhe 
 might bear his name, and left her a maid, a wife, 
 and a widow." He was author of many works, viz. 
 " ATreatife of Sacramental Covenanting with Chrift." 
 ** An Explication of the Chriil," " The Chriftian 
 Monitor," &c. 
 
 In the year 1695, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Thomlin- 
 fon was appointed : the falary one hundred and 
 twenty pounds per annum He died on the 24th of 
 March, 1747. We have had repeated occafion, (of 
 which fee in particular page 84) and diall have at 
 lead another very eminent one, of mentioning this 
 good and great man. 
 
 Dr. Dockwray was afterwards appointed, anno 
 1 75-, with a falary of one hundred pounds per ann. 
 He died December 18, 1783, 
 
 At his death Henry Ridley, A. M. brother to Sir 
 Matthew White Ridley, fucceeded. 
 
 On the late refignation of this gentleman, the 
 Rev. John Forfter was appqinted. 
 
 This, 
 
254 Impartial fpifiorg of 
 
 This, as we Ihall Tee afterwards, is another of 
 thole ofiices that give to the poflelTor the right of a 
 trultec ill Dr. Thomlinfon's Ubrary, 
 
 Chapels of Eafe to St. Nicholas. 
 
 BRIDGE-END CHAPEL. 
 
 We have, already, given fome account of this 
 religious foundation, under the title of St. Thomas's 
 Chapel and the Magdalen Hofpital. After having 
 been conveniently pewed, it was fet apart to be a 
 chapel of eafe to St. Nicholas' church, anno 1732, 
 the whole body of magiflrates attending in form on 
 the occafion ! It is unnecelTary to enumerate the 
 names of thofe appointed to perform the rites of this 
 chapel, for which they receive ten pounds per an- 
 num, it being, in general, the lowed ftep in the cle- 
 rical climax of preferment ; as we have noticed, and 
 fliall afterwards have occafion to do fo, their names 
 a great many fteps higher. 
 
 SOUTH GOSFORTH, OR GOSFORD CHAPEL. 
 
 This place is of great antiquity, and is mentioned 
 as far back as the reign of Henry II. The names of 
 the officiating curates we omit, as they generally ob- 
 tained curacies in the town, where we meet with 
 ,them in other fituations, more comfortable to their 
 feehngs. 
 
 NORTH GOSFORTH CHAPEL. 
 
 This has been pulled down. Nothing remains 
 but a few folitary grave-ftones, infcribed with memo- 
 rials, in the chapel-yard. 
 
 CRAM- 
 
30elDcaGIe upon Ci^ne. 255 
 
 CRAMLINGTON CHURCH. 
 
 This is about eight miles diftant from Nevvcaftle, 
 and dedicated to St. Nicholas. It is a perpetual 
 curacy. Patrons, by turns, Sir M W. Ridley, bart. 
 and Lawfon, efq. formerly of Cramlington. 
 
 There have been a conliderable number of well- 
 known characters, who have officiated here, viz. MefT. 
 Potter, Steve nfon, Alderfon, Brand, (the hiftorian of 
 this town) and Mr. Falcon, who fliil holds the curacy. 
 Salary twenty pounds per annum. 
 
 Tlius have we taken a general view of St. Nicho- 
 las' church, its flrudure, its endowments, its long 
 
 line of clergy, and, laflly, its dependent chapels. 
 
 Amongft its minifters we have recorded fome, vvhofe 
 charaders for learning and piety were eminent while 
 they lived, and whofe memories will be treated with 
 veneration and efteem to the remotefl; periods of time, 
 amongft whom Dr. Thomlinson ftands confpicuous. 
 When meditating on the ineftimable treafure he has 
 left to us in his Library, we would recommend his 
 example to the rich and to the powerful. But, alas I 
 for us to advife, is ealier than for fuch to praclife — 
 according to the Welfh proverb, 
 
 Haivdd yjj cPivedyd dacctv^r IVyddva 
 Nid e'lr drojl'i ond yn ard' f 
 
 To fpeak of Snowdon's height, fublime, 
 Is far more eafy than to climb ! 
 
 Jones's Relics of the Welch Bards. 
 
 Should, however, any be inchned to follow a pre- 
 cedent fo truly illultrious, we hope they will benefit 
 by experience, and leave their libraries fo, as to fecure 
 them to the town, againft the innovations of prieftly 
 indolence and avarice. 
 
 ST. 
 
256 Impartial ipiftori) of 
 
 St. JOHN'S CHURCH. 
 
 This ancient church (lands in the pleafant ftreet 
 of Weftgate, near the vicarage. Ir owes fome of its 
 chief ornaments to the hberal fpirit of a pious tradef- 
 men, one of its parifliioners, Mr. Robert Percival, 
 pin-manufadurer.— He beautified the altar, 1710, 
 and built, at the fame time, the north gallery, to 
 contain thirty people. On taking down the three 
 old bells, 1707, and procuring, by public fubfcrip- 
 tion, fix new ones, he gave three pounds. But his 
 beneficence did not terminate with his exiftence; 
 for, at his death, 1729, he left a houfe in the Wool- 
 market, to his beloved pariih, at the rent of twenty 
 pounds per annum. Thefe benefadions refledl a 
 iuftre on his memory, and fliew that he poflefled an 
 elevated foul. 
 
 The communion plate was the gift of another of 
 its pious friends, Mr Robert Rymer. He prefented 
 this church with a large flagon, a chahce, and a falver, 
 valued at fixty pounds, anno 1722. 
 
 At the welt end of the church is another gallery, 
 in which is the organ, ereded at the expence of the 
 parifliioners. 
 
 This church had three chantries, all founded by 
 liberal and pioufly difpofed men ; among whom we 
 find Richard de Emeldon, mayor, Richard de Adton, 
 &c. names ever to be revered by the people of New- 
 caftle. They were in honour of, and dedicated to, 
 
 1. St. Thomas the Martyr. 
 
 2. St. Mary the Blefl:ed Virgin. 
 
 3. The Holy Trinity. 
 
 The intention and ufes of thefe little fequeftered 
 chapels have been mentioned before, in our account 
 of St. Nicholas' church. The 
 
i^eVocaftle upon C)?nc. 257 
 
 The temporalities arifing to the minifter of this 
 parifh are, from the vicar three pounds, from the 
 crown five pounds, and from the corporation for be- 
 ing leclurer ninety pounds. 
 
 The facrament is adminiftered on the third Sun- 
 day in every month ; and prayers three times in the 
 week. At Eader the corporation ufed in former 
 times to give fifteen gallons of wine to this church. 
 
 There is more painted glafs remaining in St. John's 
 church, than in any other in the town. The great 
 eaftern window abounds with fpecimens, but of too 
 fmall confequence to enumerate. 
 
 Anno Domini 1762, the church-yard was inclofed 
 by fubfcription with a brick wall railed above, and 
 planted round in the inlide with lime and elm trees. 
 
 Cunningham, the palloral poet, was buried here. 
 On his m.onument is the following infcription : 
 
 Here lie the remains o^ 
 
 JOHN CUNNINGHAM. 
 
 Of his excellence 
 
 As a pafloral poet, 
 
 His works will remain a monument 
 
 For ages, 
 
 After this temporary tribute of elleem 
 
 is in dull forgotten. 
 
 He died Sept. 18, 1773, aged 44. 
 
 He cuU'd tke eflence of fimplicity. 
 And arrang'd it in paftoral verfe. 
 
 LEGACIES AND DONA-piONS TO THE POOR. 
 
 St. John's church being fituated in the middle of 
 Weftgate-ftreet, which has been long the reljdence 
 of the mod opulent inhabitants, they have not for- 
 gotten their brethren, to whom Providence has 
 been lefs liberal. Among the many worthy and re- 
 
 K k fpedlable 
 
^5^ Impartial ri)ifton) of 
 
 fpedable names, we fhall, however, only felecl a few 
 of the principal : 
 
 Henry Hilton, Efq. 
 
 per 
 
 annum 
 
 £ 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Sir William Blackett 
 
 - 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Sir Alexander Davifon 
 
 . 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Sir Thomas Davifon 
 
 . 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 Sir Mark Milbank - 
 
 . 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Air. John Rumney 
 
 - 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 e 
 
 St. ANDREW'S CHURCH. 
 
 This church flands near T^w-gate, on the weft 
 lide of the ftreet. From the flyle of the architec- 
 ture, and its fituation, where old Monkchefter chiefly 
 ilood, it feems to claim priority to the reft, for anti- 
 quity. 
 
 The old bells were taken down in 1726, and fix 
 new ones replaced them, by a contribution among 
 the inhabitants, the corporation giving fifty pounds. 
 A new porch was built at the fame time to the 
 church. At the weft: end is a handfome gallery, 
 ereded at the expence of the parifli in 1711. 
 
 Three chantries were founded in it, in Jionour of 
 
 1. St. Mary, the Blefl^ed Vugin. 
 
 2. The Holy Trinity. 
 
 3. St, Thomas, 
 
 Thefe chapels contain the remains of many " illuf- 
 Trlous dead ;" among whom are thofe of Sir Adami 
 de AthoU, knight, and of his lady, with a Latin in- 
 fcription. 
 
 In the year 1783, tiie inhabitants purchafed fomc 
 houles and wafte ground to enlarge the church-yard, 
 which is walled, pallilUdoed round, and planted with 
 trees. A new gallery and veftry were built at the 
 fame time. The ehurch was beautified, and the 
 
 whole. 
 
 'i 
 
iSclocartic upon Cpnc. 259 
 
 whole, from the Whlte-crofs, has a cleanly, light 
 appearance. 
 
 The miniftcr of this church receives annually from 
 the V car three pounds ; from the crown live pounds 
 two ihillings and fixpeiice ; and from the corpora- 
 tion, for being lefturer, one hundred pounds. The 
 facrament is every fourth Sunday ; prayers twice a 
 week. At Eifter, in former times, ten gallons of 
 wine were given by the corporation. 
 
 An organ, purchafed by a voluntary fubfcription 
 of the parilhioners, utts erecled in this church A. D. 
 1783 ; and a falary or twenty pounds a year fettled 
 by the common-council on the organill. 
 
 The legacies left to the poor of St. Andrew's pa- 
 rifli are ample and many ; among whom are : 
 
 Sir Mark Milbank - . 
 
 per 
 
 annum 
 
 £■ 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry Hilton, Efq. 
 
 - 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sir Alexander Davifon 
 
 . 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dame Jane Ciavering 
 
 . 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 z 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Mrs. IfabcUa Wrightfon 
 
 - 
 
 ditto 
 
 
 z 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 The names of many of the curates and lecturers of 
 St. Andrew's have occurred ah-eady in tae account 
 of St. Nicholas' church ; we (hall therefore omit 
 them here. 
 
 Chapels of Eafe to St, Ar/dreit^'s Farifi. 
 ST. James's chapel, 
 
 Formerly flood on the nortli fide of the Barrow's 
 or Barras-bridge. It has been long in ruins. 
 
 ST. Mary's chapel at jesmond. 
 
 This ancient chapel, now alfo in ruins, got the 
 name of Jef'mont,.z. c. Jefus Mount, or Mount of 
 Jefus. There 
 
 A 
 
26d Impartial ipidor^ of 
 
 There yet remains one of the little windows of the 
 hofpital, in the veft gable of a public-houfe. The 
 chapel had an aiile northward, which is now a liable I 
 It is itfelf become a barn I 
 
 In the 3d of Edward VI. the town of Newcaftle 
 got a grant of the chapel of the Blelled Virgin Mary 
 ofjeftiiond, and fonie mefiuages and lands in Jcf- 
 mond, under an annual rent of three fliillings and 
 fourpence. 
 
 In the fame year, the mayor and burgelTes granted 
 the hofpital of the Bleffed Virgin Mary of Jefn;ond, 
 with the lands belonging to it, to Sir John Brandling, 
 his heirs and ailigns, for ever. It is now in the pof- 
 feffion of William Coulfon, efcj. 
 
 St. Mary's Weil in this village, which is faid to 
 have had as many fteps down to it as there are arti- 
 cles m the creed, was lately incloled by Mr, Coulfon 
 for a batlfing-place, which was no fooner done, than 
 the water left it ! The fuperltitious people fuppofed 
 that this was the immediate vengeance of heaven for 
 the violation of the fanctity of the place ; but the 
 Divine wrath was foon fufpended ; for, lo I the water 
 iliortly returned into the bathing-place in greater 
 abundance than ever. 
 
 i'rom Jefmond is a delightful profped ; in turning 
 our eyes up the Oufe-bourn, we behold the happy 
 eifeds of induflry in Bufy-cottage, the property of 
 Mr. Mailin Sorfbie ; and further up, in Mr. Yello- 
 ley's mill and improvements. To Jefmond, in a 
 fummer morning, is one of the fweetelt walks in the 
 vicinity of Newcaftle ; and if this pleafant village has 
 loft its beauty of imaginary fandlity, it is amply com- 
 penfated by the improvements made there, efpecially 
 in that little fpot of ground occupied by Mr. Devvar, 
 
 as 
 
1i 
 
>A' noj^ U^/^ * Xalxi's Cum ch 
 
I5c\33caaic upon ZpjK. 2^1 
 
 as a common garden, which in a few years, by his 
 incluftry and unwearied attention, he has improved 
 to fuca a degree of perfedion, as to enable him to 
 fupport a large family in a comfortable manner, al- 
 though it does not contain quite two acres of land. 
 It is now much relorted to as a place of recreation 
 during the fummer, and the vilitors are agreeably 
 accommodated with tea, cider, &c. as well as with 
 the moll delicious fruits in rhca- feafon. 
 
 ALL-SAINTS' ok ALL-HALLOWS' CHURCH. 
 
 We enter upon the hiHory of this church lad, not 
 becaufe it is of the lead importance, but on account 
 of its total renovation ; the original church being 
 razed from its foundation, on which it had Oood for 
 ages ; and on irs fite has been ere(n:ed a 7?iajmfiL\'.it 
 religious ftruclure. 
 
 As to the origin of its name, Mr. Brand, although 
 he acknowledges that he is ignorant, both of the 
 name and time when this church was firll built, yec 
 adds, witb^fome afperity, *' the conjecture of Grey, in 
 his Chorographia, that this church was dedicated to 
 Ail-Sahits or All-Hallows, from the ancient naine of 
 that part of th& town ^ Pampedon ; which, he adds, 
 was fo called from the panttieon at Rome, appears to 
 be too ridiculous to deferve either to be conlidercd 
 or confuted." 
 
 This unquahfied cenfure appears not only to be 
 fevcrc, but alfo ill-founded. For. in the llruclure of 
 the Greek word PamhFon, the i^CdeltaJ miglit eafily 
 flip mto the infcription on the temple for the 9 (theta) 
 thus making the word Fandeon, inllead oi Pantheon, 
 the name of that part of the town in which All-Saints 
 church was originally built. It is well known, that 
 
 the 
 
z6i Impartial ipiftoi-p of 
 
 the early Chriiliaiis adopted feveral of the names and 
 culloms of ttie heathens, both to allure new converts, 
 and not too feverely to pain the feelings of fiich as 
 hud but recently adopted the Chiiftian fyltem.— 
 Thus the merriments of the Saturnalia, in Decem- 
 ber, were replaced by others under a relig ious veil, 
 not lefs voluptuous, or with lefs pageantry, in the 
 feltival of Chrilbiias, 
 
 We may alfo alTume another derivation which 
 Dean SvAitt gives us the hint of in his celebrated 
 *' Tale of a Tub," where he tells us, that upon the 
 calendar of the faints increaling fo rapidly, that 
 all the days of the year were infufficient to give 
 every faint a day to hinilelf, the conclave of Rome, 
 after very long deiiberanon, agreed to appropriate 
 one day to the honour of All Saints. So that, if the 
 other three churches were dedicated to St. Nicholas, 
 to St John, and to St. Andrew, why might not this 
 be dedicated to " All the Saints?" 
 
 We know that trifling incidents have given names 
 to things of vaft importance. When the prime mi- 
 riiiler of England propofes his plan for applying ma- 
 ny niillions of money, and his ways and means, to 
 enable him to do it, he is laid to '' open the budget/' 
 This word has fo puzzled the French politicians, fome 
 terming it bouge, a lantern I olhtx'i, pocbe, a i)ocket I 
 that, after all, they were obliged to renounce it, as 
 inexphcable : little knowing that it has an alluiion to 
 a tinker's leathern wallet, which he calls his budget, 
 where he keeps the tools with which, when he 
 mends one hole in fome good unfulpicious houle- 
 wiie's pan, he makes two. Mr. Fox fays, that our 
 ftate-tinkers have no: only ftruck holes in the na- 
 tional pot, but that they have left it ivitbout a bot- 
 tom. Should 
 
li^elocaQle upon C^ncr 263 
 
 Should neither of the above derivations of the 
 name of All-Saints' church fatisfy our readers, we 
 will venture at a third. What if the piety of the 
 early Chriftians fuggefted, that the worlhippeirs of the 
 
 Molt High either are, or ought to be, all faints P 
 
 If "■ Procul ejle profani! Ye impious, keep at a 
 diltance I" was engraven on the front of the heathen 
 temples, luch an infcription is much more applicable 
 to thofe of the true God. 
 
 The original of this church was at the eaft 
 fide of the foot of Pilgrim- ftreet, on an eminence 
 nearly on a level with St. Mary's, in Gatelhead 
 It was not fo hrge as St, Nicholas' church, being 
 only 166 feet in length, and in breadth 77. Its 
 ftrudlure was tlu- from commanding admiiation, 
 being qaite plain, and rather low in proportion to its 
 fize. It had, for a fteeple, a low fquare tower, at the 
 weft end, with one fpire, of very inditferent architec- 
 ture, riling from the tower. It was adorn'd with a 
 clock, and fix good bells, which were call out of the 
 itatue of king James II. as mentioned before. 
 
 In fome of the v»indows were anciently feveral 
 curious portraitures, painted on glafs ; one of our 
 Saviour, at full length, in the fouth call window, at 
 the eaft end of the chancel ; his twelve apollles, in 
 the window ncareft but one to the porch-door; the 
 pious and worthy family of Roi-er Thornton, two 
 fons and three daughters, m a devout kneeling pol- 
 ture, before the altars, in the window above the foutli 
 
 door, leading into the choir, towards the porch. 
 
 Moft of thefe were carried off or defaced, during the 
 tumults of the civil wars. 
 
 In the weft end of the church was a handfome 
 gallery, built in 1712 ; an organ in the middle ; the 
 
 north 
 
264 Jmpartial IpiGor)) of 
 
 north end devoted to the accommodation of the nu- 
 merous children of the charity-fchool. At the ealt 
 end was another gallery, the property of the com- 
 pany of butchers. There was another built in the 
 north aille of tlie church, by the Tiinity-houfe, for 
 the accommodation of mariners, John Holburne maf- 
 ter, 1618. It was beautified with paintings, in 1720, 
 reprefenthig Our BlelTt^d Saviour afleep in a ftorm ; 
 his taking St. Peter by the hand when he was link- 
 ing irv the waves ; and Jonah vomited up on the dry 
 land. 
 
 The chancel flood upon a large vault, of a fquare 
 figure, and fpacious ; a llrong pillar in it, which fup- 
 ported eight large (tone arches, the entrance on the 
 north fide of the churcli-yard. The altar-table was 
 of marble, the donation of a perfon unknown. On 
 the fouth fide of it was a prothefis, or fide altar. The 
 chancel was adorned with wainfcot flails, after the 
 cathedral flile. 
 
 There were feven chantries belonging to this 
 church, viz. 
 
 1. St. Thomas. 
 
 2. Our Lady. 
 
 3. St. John the Evangehft. 
 
 4. St. Peter. 
 
 5. St. Catherine. 
 
 6. St. Loye. 
 
 7. John the Baplifl. 
 
 Thefe were early foundations, and well endowed. 
 
 That dedicated to St. Peter was founded by Roger 
 de Thornton, oppofite to the tomb of that worthy 
 man. It w^as ereded about the year i4rr, in the 
 reign of Henry IV. with a licence from that prince, 
 that he might be prayed for while he hved ; and for 
 
 his 
 
ii^clDcaillc upon ^]m. 26s 
 
 his foul, with that of Agnes his wife, his father and 
 mother, his anceftors, and alfo his pollerity, with the 
 whole company of the faithful departed. 
 
 Monuments formerly in All-Saints Church and Church- 
 
 Tard. 
 
 Of thefe we fliall felecl a very few, although this 
 large and populous parifli had a great many memo- 
 rials of this melancholy though inllrudive kind. 
 
 Oppolite to the veftry, on the fouth fide of the 
 altar, was a large ftone raifed above the level, co- 
 vered A' ith brafs on the top, on which were cut 
 the effigies of Roger Thornton and his wife, toge- 
 ther with his family arms and thofe of the family of 
 the Lumleys, and alfo the figures of the apoflles and 
 other faints. 
 
 When the old church was taken down, the tomb- 
 ftone of Roger Thornton was carefully taken away, 
 and lodged at Alderman Cramlington's houfe, in Pil. 
 giim-ftreet. 
 
 On the tomb-ftone of George Bulman, baker and 
 brewer, 1710, is the following epitaph : 
 
 Nought can exempt from death's Imperious Hand, 
 When it arrefls the foul, at God's command : 
 Each ftate and fex, as well the high as low, 
 Muft once falute the grave, and thither go. 
 
 A mural marble monument was fixed on the wall 
 of the church, under which was interred the body of 
 Thomas Wrangham, at that time a famous (hip- 
 builder in this town : he built forty-five fail of fhips ; 
 and died of a fever, in the 42d year of his age, May 
 26, 1689. 
 
 He was a man of a moil generous difpofition, of a 
 plain and unaflf'eded converfation, and a fincere and 
 hearty lover of his friend. 
 
 L 1 On 
 
266 Jmpartial fMSoru of 
 
 On the chancel was a very large {tone, infculp- 
 tured with brafs, of which, leveral year ago, no 
 more could be read than " Hie tumulatus—dono 
 Dei datus mitis clcro--'promotor ccclcfiantm.'" From 
 this perfon being a great "promoter of churches" it 
 was conjedured that Robert Rhodes was the per- 
 fon here buried. However, Robert Rhodes had 
 erecled a chantry in St. Nicholas' church, where, 
 mod probably, he was interred Mr. Bourne adds, 
 that, whoever it was, from the grandeur of the 
 grave-ftone, he thinks it mull have been the burying- 
 place of lome eminent perfon ; and from his being 
 *' promotor ecclejiarumy that he was alfo religious.- — 
 The effigies were very tall, and fiirrounded with 
 very curious pidtures of the faints and other emblems, 
 but the brafs and ornaments were decaying fall. It 
 is a pity, the good man adds, that more care was not 
 taken of this monument, both as it was ornamental 
 to the church, and a memorial of its benefactor. The 
 *' promoters of churches" ihould be always remem- 
 bered with the n>olt grateful refpect, that they may 
 be fifming lights to the molt diltant ages. 
 
 Upon Robert W.iUis, formerly clerk of All-Saints ; 
 
 Here lies Robin Wallis, 
 
 The king of good fellows, 
 
 Clerk of All- Hallows, 
 
 And maker of bellows : 
 He bellows did make till the day of his death ; 
 But he that iTiade bellows could never make breatli. 
 
 This being a large and extenflve parilh, and many 
 wealthy merchants and other opulent people refiding 
 in it, of confequence the legacies left to the poor 
 were numerous and liberal ; among which were the 
 following ; 
 
 Mr. 
 
Ji^ctncflftlc upon C|)ne. 267 
 
 Mr. William Harrifon, hoaflman £-^50 O o 
 
 Mr. William Wrightlbn - - 50 o o 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Ramfey - - 20 o o 
 
 Mrs. Anne Handcock - • - 50 o o 
 
 The benefadions for the inftitution of the frec- 
 fchooi of All-Saints are very large, of which in its 
 place. 
 
 The minifter of this church is paid four pounds hy 
 the vicar, and five pounds by the crown, annually; 
 the reft of his income arifes from his furplice-fee^, 
 regifters, &c. 
 
 Here are two lecturers, allowed each one hundred 
 pounds per annum by the corporation. Formerly 
 they were prefented with twenty one gallons of wine 
 at Eafter by the fame. Sacrament every fecond 
 Sunday in the month ; prayers every day twice, 
 morning and afternoon. 
 
 LECTURERS OF ALL-SAINTS. 
 
 Jlobert Jennifon, S. T. P. was lecturer in this 
 church in the year 1622 In 1639 he was fufpended 
 for non-conformity ; but was afterwards retlored to 
 his facred funclions, and appointed vicar of St. Ni- 
 cholas. 
 
 Dr. Wifliart fucceeded Dr. Jennifon, by order of 
 king Charles 1. to this leclurefliip. 
 
 1 641, Mr. William Morton was invited to be paf- 
 tor of this church. " He was (fays the manulcript 
 Life of Barnes) a very worthy .nan ; he left New- 
 caftle, went into the parhament's army, and was 
 chofen one of the divines in the celebrated aflembly 
 at Weftminller." 
 
 Mr. John Durant was appointed morning leclnrer 
 of All-Saints, along with Mr. Richard Prideaux, anno. 
 
 1647. 
 
2f^8 Jmparttal ipiaor;) of 
 
 1647. He wrote certain fermons on the Woman of 
 Canaan, or the Trial and Triumph of Faith, and de- 
 dicated them to the magiflrates, miniilers, and inha- 
 bitants of Newcaltle upon Tyne, thanking them for 
 their fingular refped: to his dear brother William Du- 
 rant, who was carrying on the work of the gofpel 
 among them in that town. Granger's Biogi-aphical 
 Hijlory^ V. ii. p. 27. 
 
 William Durant married the fifter of Sir James 
 Clavering, bart. 
 
 Anno 1663, Mr. Thomas Davifon was appointed 
 ledurer of All-Saints, with a falary of one hundred 
 and fifty pounds per annum. He is, fays the bio- 
 grapher Wood, fuppofed to have publilhed a fermon 
 on " The Fall of Angels," preached before the mayor 
 and magiftrates of Newcaflle upon Tyne, 1685, 4I0. 
 
 April 24, 1761, Hugh Moifes, A. M. morning 
 lecturer. The common-council, on giving him this 
 appointment, politely added, that " Mr. Moifes was 
 appointed to this leclurelhip as an acknowledgment 
 of his good fervices to the grammar-fchool of the 
 town, and that it was a fmall reward for his eminent 
 induftry, and the exertion of his very diftinguiflied 
 abilities." 
 
 CURATES OF ALL-SAINTS. 
 
 This is reputed one of the largeft cures in the 
 kingdom ; but we will not trouble our readers with 
 a detailed lift of the names of all who have filled that 
 office. 
 
 A. D. 1380, John de Harpham is named as curate 
 in this church. 
 
 Robert Croft, in the year 1407, was appointed 
 
 curate. 
 
 After 
 
Ji^clocaftlc upon tn^ynt. 261) 
 
 After a fucceflion of many others, we find, 
 A. D. 170B, Cuthbert EUifon, M. A. chofen cu- 
 rate, and afterwards removed to the vicarage of 
 Stannington. He was the author of two fermons, 
 entitled " The Babler ;" alfo of a paftoral between 
 Corydon and Thyrlis, and anotlier little pleafant 
 piece, named *' A Trip to Benwell." Svo. 
 
 Henry Bourne, A. M. lucceedcd in 1722. He 
 was author of " Antiquitates Vulgares," and " The 
 Hiftory of Newcaftle." As this work is in many 
 hands, and is upon the whole an informing book on 
 the fubjecl, we fliall add a few notes refpeding the life 
 of this reverend author. Gyll's interleaved copy of 
 Bourne's iFTiftory fays, that " Henry Bourne was the 
 Ion of a taylor, and, after fome time fpent.at fchool, 
 was bound an apprentice to a glazier iji the Side, in 
 Newcaftle ; but, difcovering a difpoiition towards 
 letters, was, after he had lived two or three years 
 with his mafter, emancipated from his fervice, 
 again fent to fchool, and from thence he was re- 
 moved by the aid of fome perfons who knew him, 
 and admitted a lizar, about the year 1720, at Cam- 
 bridge ; where obtaining orders, he was appointed 
 curate of this church, in which place he remained 
 till his death in the year 1733. 
 
 THE NEW CHURCH. 
 
 The occafion of building this handfome ftruclure 
 is fet forth in the preamble to the ad of parliament 
 as follows : 
 
 " Whereas the church or parochial chapel of the parifh of All- 
 Saints, in the town and county of Newc:iiile upon Tyne, and 
 which p;irilh extends into the county of Northumberland, is a 
 very ancient building, and is become [o decayed and ruinous, 
 
 tliUt 
 
2-jo impartial IpiGori) of 
 
 that it is unfafe for die parifhioners to attend divine fervice there- 
 in ; and it is neccffary the fame Ihould be taken dov^Ti, and a new 
 church built, and alfo that the cemetry, or church-yard, which 
 is too fmall, Ihould be enlarged, and proper avenues made there- 
 to ; and whereas, for the purpofes aforefaid, it will be neceflary 
 to purchafc certain lands, houfes, or tenements j may it therefore 
 pleafe your majefty," &c. &c. 
 
 In confequence of the above, an advertifement was 
 inferted in the Newcaflle papers, fqr plans of a church 
 capable of holding fifteen hundred people. The 
 candidates were, Mr. Stephenfon, of this town, Mr. 
 Harrifon, of Lancafter, and fome others. As the 
 contell lay between ihefe two gentlemen, a ihort de- 
 icripiion of their plans, (made by a friend to fcience 
 at the time) may not be out of place. 
 
 He begins by obferving, that he thinks he has feen 
 the fenographical, or ground part of both, at Rome, 
 being that of two noble ftrudures in that Miftrefs of 
 the fine arts. 
 
 The plan of Mr. Harrifon, he obferves, is a femi- 
 circle ; before the chord-line of which is a portico of 
 four Doric columns, fupporting a pediment, on the 
 two extremities of which is a finall minaret or (leeple. 
 
 Mr. Stephef' Ion's plan is an elipfe, with a colonade 
 of coupkd columns, of the Ionic order, the length of 
 the wijole fouth front ; over the colonade an attic, 
 from which rifes a dome. 
 
 It is the fartheft from our wifli to give offence to 
 thefe gentlemen, (who have arifen to eminence in 
 their profeffion) as the fine remains of Grecian an4 
 Roman architedure are confidered as the pureft 
 fource from which the prefent artills can take their 
 ideas. 
 
 We (hall now proceed to defcribe the church, as 
 
 it 
 
il5e^ca0le upon Cpnc 271 
 
 it is finiihed, the plan having been confiderably al- 
 tered from what was at iirll intended. 
 
 This truly grand church is condrudted in a (lile 
 Very different from the ancient Gothic churches. It 
 is of a circular form, adorned, quite round, with orna- 
 mental architedlure, exceedingly beautiful and rich. 
 —-The front is towards the fouth, and fet off with a 
 grand colonade, fupporting a porch lofty and fp^- 
 cious, with fuperb columns of the Ionic order. A 
 fteeple or fpire rifes above the front, nearly of a height 
 with St. Nicholas' iteeple, but conflruded in a 
 different manner. It gradually rifes from the fquars 
 tower, or bafe, by feveral ftages of mod beautiful 
 pillars, and terminates by a large gilded vane. 
 
 The fteeple is adorned with a clock, made by Mr. 
 Thwaites, of London, and of fuch ingenious work- 
 manfliip as to excite univerfal admiration. It has 
 three dial-plates, with gnomons and hour-figures, 
 richly gilded, fo large as may be feen at a great dif. 
 tance. In the front, the hours are diflinctly feen 
 from Gatefliead. It chimes every quarter of an hour, 
 repeating the number of quarters after the hour. 
 
 The fet of bells were call on purpofe, in London ; 
 and being formed of the bell: proportion of metals, 
 their found is fweer and harmonious, and they are 
 capable of ringing a great variety of changes. 
 
 The mafon-work was condudcd by Mr. Thomp- 
 fon, and the carpeniry-woik by Mr. Peter Paxton. 
 
 In fliort, this church is one of the mofl fliiking re- 
 femblances of the Grecian and Roman architedare, 
 is a chief ornament in the modern improvements of 
 Newcaflle, and will be, for ages, a proof of the good 
 tafte and munificence of the parifliioners of that parifh. 
 The expence (which is faid to be great) in building 
 
 this 
 
272 Impartial Diftorj) of 
 
 this new church, was raifed by a poundage, accord- 
 ing to the above act of Parhainent, upon the inha- 
 bitants of the parifh. 
 
 Inhere is a beautiful area, fovvn with grafs, and 
 planted with poplar and other ornamental trees, 
 with a border of flowering flirubs, which give a light- 
 nefs and elegance to the whole building. 
 
 The church-yard is eaflward from the church ; it 
 is full of tomb-flones, infcribed to the memory of 
 many of the firft charaders in Newcaille, both of an- 
 cient and modern times. It is fupported, on the eafl 
 and north, by a wall of va(t height. 
 
 Chapel ofEafe to All-Sabits. 
 
 ST. ANN*S * 
 
 Stands in the vicinity of Sandgate-ftreet, on a 
 gentle declivity. After the reformation, it was neg- 
 kded and fell into decay, but was repaired in 1682. 
 A ledurer was then appointed, who was to preach 
 every Sunday morning, and expound the cathechifm 
 in the afternoon, fur which he was to have thirty 
 pounds per annum. At prefent it has two lecturers, 
 one allowed forty, and the other fifty pounds per 
 annum, by the corporation. This chapel was 
 rebuilt by Mr. Newton, archited, with the ftones 
 of the old wall which formerly ran along the 
 Quay-fide. The defign is plain, with a light fteeple, 
 and a good clock. It was confecrated by bifhop 
 Trevor in 1768, having been built and endowed by 
 the corporation. 
 
 Dr. Faw cett preached and publiflied the confecra- 
 tion fermon. 
 
 From the firfl: preacher in this chapel, Mr. John 
 Rawlett, in 1682, to the prefent, the Rev. Mofes Man- 
 ners, 
 
l^cUuafllc upcm ^pnt. lys 
 
 ners, A. M. is a confiderable lift of names, many of 
 them refpedable for their learning and talents. 
 
 DISSENTING MEETING-HOUSES. 
 
 The DifTenters in tliis populous town are numerous 
 and refpedtable. 
 
 Adjoining to TuthilUftairs, near the top, is a new 
 and handlbme chapeJ, lately credled. The congre, 
 gation are of the Particular or Calvinidic Baptill per- 
 fuafion. They liave a large refervoir for the immer- 
 fion of their members in receiving the rite of baptifm; 
 with a neat and capacio\is veftry, where they have 
 fermon on week. day evenings. The name ot the 
 prefent niinifler is Mr. Crachcrode. 
 
 In Hanover.fquare^is a large and well-built chapel 
 for Unitarian DifTenters : the Rev. VViUiam Turner is 
 the prefent miniller. In the veftry, which has been 
 lately built, is an excellent library, of fome extent, 
 for the ufe of the congregation. This fociety has 
 fubfifted during more than a century, and has been 
 ferved by many eminent men. Though ufually 
 clalTed under the denomination of Prefbyterians, it is 
 believed they never exercifed the prefbyterian difci- 
 pline, or joined any other focieties in forming a clafs 
 or fynod, or ever prefcribed any creed or confeliion 
 as a term of communion among themfelves. 
 
 Near the old caftle is a nieeting of the church of 
 Scotland, of long Itanding ; the prefent minifter's 
 name is the Rev. David Gellatly. 
 
 In Poilern-rtreet is another old meeting houfe, 
 of the fame defcription of diflenters, which is opened 
 occahonally. 
 
 Nearly oppofite the lad-mentioned, is a new and 
 elegant chapel, lately built. The congregation is of 
 
 M m lady 
 
274 Impartial 5!)i(torp of 
 
 lady Huntingdon's (or lady Ann Erfkine'sj denomi- 
 nation, originally founded by the late celebrated 
 George Whitlield, A. M.— -Mr. Lee, a native of this 
 town, is at prefent ininifter. Before the building of 
 this chapel, they occupied, for many years, the old 
 meeting-houfe la(t mentioned. 
 
 In the Gruat-market is a meeting-houfe of Prefby- 
 terians ; the Rev. David MIndoe, minifter. 
 
 In the High Bridge is another large Prefbyterian 
 meeting-houfe ; the Rev. John Hutton, mi oilier. 
 
 In Silver-flreet is a numerous congregation of Pref- 
 byterians ; the Rev. Adam Laidlaw, miniller. 
 
 At the head of the Wall Knoll is a Prejfbyte, 
 rian meeting ; the prefent miniftei's name is Mr. 
 Robertfon. 
 
 Without Sally Port is another Prefbyterian meet- 
 ing-houfe, for Seceders of the Burgher perfuafion ; 
 the Rev. John Smith, miniller. 
 
 On the Garth-heads is another Prefbyterian meet- 
 ing-houfe ; the Rev. Robert Cowan, minifter. 
 
 In the Clofe is a Prelbyterian meeting-houfe, for 
 Seceders of the Antiburgher perfuafion j the Rev. 
 William Syme, miniller. 
 
 Clofe by the opening of the town-wall for the new 
 paflfage, half way down from the Carpenter's Tower, 
 is a fmall fociety of dilTenters from the church of Scot- 
 land, which, from adopting the tenets of tlie late John 
 Glafs, are called Glallites. Their fpeakers are various. 
 
 There are three Methodift chapels ; one in North- 
 iimberland-ftreet, another in Manor-chare, called 
 Bethel, of the New Itinerancy ; a third on the New 
 Road, near Egypt granaries. 
 
 In Pilgrim-ftreet, nearly oppolite to Mofley-ftreet, 
 is a meeting-houfe for the people called Quakers. 
 
 There 
 
3i5eti3c?.GIe U3;on Cpne. 275 
 
 There are two Roman Catholic chapels in New- 
 callle ; one in Pilgrim-flreet, oppofite the High- 
 bridge, Rev. Mr. Worl'wick, minidcr ; the other at 
 the foot of Weflg'ite-ftreet, the Rev. Mr. Warilow, 
 minifter. 
 
 We may fam up the dilFcrent clafles of DiiTcnters, 
 and clofe our account of Religious Inftitutions, in 
 the words of an able correfpondent of the IVIonthly 
 Magazine: vol. xi. p. 310. 
 
 " Six congregations of Prefbyterians, properly fo 
 called, united in doctrine, difcipline, aiid communion 
 with the church of Scotland ; and one of each of the 
 clafles of the fecelllon from that church, ftiled Burgh- 
 ers and ■ Antiburghers : a numerous and refpectable 
 body of Unitarian worflnppers : a congregation of 
 Independents, and another of Farticuhir or Calviniftic 
 Baptifts : two large focieties of the old Weilleian 
 Methodifts ; and one connedled with the New Itine- 
 rancy, commonly called Kilhamites, who are very 
 numerous. There are alfo two Roman Catholic cha- 
 pels, a numerous and refp^clable body of Friends, 
 commonly called Quakers; and a few worthy per- 
 fons attached to the tenets of Mr. John Glafs, whence 
 they are ufually denominated Glalfites. 
 
 " All thefe live together, on the whole, very peace- 
 ably ; and while they maintain, with fufficient zeal, 
 their refpeclive tenets and modes, they can often, 
 with great harmony, join with each other in plans 
 for.tlie public benefit, either in a charitable or a lite, 
 rary way ; and as feldom, perhaps, as any where, 
 dillurb either public or private peace by the violence 
 of their difputes on their feveral diftintflions. 
 
 " Such would, doubtlefs, be the cafe univerfally, if 
 M m 2 men 
 
2 7^ Impartial ipidorj] of 
 
 men were left to the J'ree exercife of tb.-ir reafoii in 
 matters of religion^ and I'o much needlei's pains were 
 not taken by thofe in power to " prevent diverfity of 
 opinions," a thing impoffible among creatures of fuch 
 limited powers, expofed to fuch a variety of influ- 
 ences, from birth, education, and connections in life. 
 That kind of Chriftian knowledge which is the refult 
 of free enquiry, is indeed the only ground that can 
 be fecurely relied on as the foundation of a conljilent 
 and virtuous condud. On various fpeculative points 
 there cannot be a unity of faith, but in the bonds of 
 ignorance and prefumption; but, araidll great diver- 
 fity of opinions, there may be a " unity of the fpirit 
 in the bond of peace," which is all that Chrilliauity 
 requires," 
 
 BALLAST-HILLS BURYING GROUND. 
 
 This place is principally appropriated t© the ufe of 
 Diflenters, though (the expence of interment being 
 lower) the poor of the eftabhdied church are likewife 
 frequently buried here. It is one of the largeft 
 pieces of ground devoted to this melancholy fervice 
 we can meet with almolt any where, Bunhill-fields 
 burying-ground, in London, alone excepted. There 
 are from twelve to eighteen, and fometimes double 
 that number, brought here weekly. A regifter of 
 the dead interred in this place is kept by the corpo- 
 ration. It was formerly uninclofed ; but, on account 
 of frequent depredations, both by man and beaft, be- 
 ing the fubject of much complaint, it was, a few years 
 ago, encompafled by a Hone wall, built by publi* 
 fubfcription. 
 
 MONU- 
 
ii^ctocafllc upon t^t^nt, 277 
 
 MONUMENTS IN THE BALLAST-HILLS. 
 
 On a table-monument is the following infcription: 
 In memory of the late Rev. Alex. Nimmo, minifter in the 
 Clofe, Newcaftle. Obiit 5th February, 1770, in the i8tli year 
 cf his miniftry, aged 44. 
 
 How vain th' attempt to celebrate on (lone 
 His chararter : his hearers hearts alone 
 Are monuments, which longer ihall proclaim 
 His praiie, than marble, rock, or ihort-liv'd fame. 
 Here are depofited the remains of four of his children, viz. 
 Cbriftian, Margaret, Helen, and Alexander. 
 
 Lo, here mix in one grave, the dull 
 
 Of father, fon, and fire : 
 Their kindred fouls adornM with crowns, 
 To heavenly fongs confpire. 
 
 On an upright Hone : 
 
 Here lies the body of the Rev. James Robertson, minifter 
 of the gofpel in Sallyport-meeting ; who departed this life Sept. 
 ?3» 17^7» aged 39 years. 
 
 Ambitious not of man's, but God's applaufc ; 
 
 Modefl yet refolute in virtue's caufe. 
 
 Swift was his race, with health and vigour bleft ; 
 
 Soft was his paffage to the land cf red. 
 
 PUBLIC 
 
£78 Impartial fptaori) of 
 
 PUBLIC CHARITIES. 
 
 CHARITY-SCHOOL of ST. NICHOLAS. 
 
 This mode of benefiting mankind is the moft laud- 
 able and fubftantial of almofl all others. The pri- 
 mary intention of ere(Sting charity fchools was to defeat 
 the pernicious efFeds of the feminaries fet up by the 
 papills, during the fliort and inglorious reign of that 
 furious bigot, James II. about the year 1688. 
 
 But the power of Rome, by the glorious revolu- 
 tion, falhng inio contempt, the generous and hu-- 
 mane, perceiving the happy effects of fuch ufeful in- 
 llitutions, not only continued their afliftance when 
 the fears of popery had fablided, but encreafed 
 their number and their means of iupport ; and 
 it refleds no fmall degree of luftre upon the times in 
 which we live, that there is fcarcely a town or vil- 
 Jage where we may not find charity fchools, in which 
 numbers of poor, fatherlefs, fnendlefs orphans are 
 carefully inflructed in the moft neceflary branches of 
 nfeful education. 
 
 This honourable and laudable foundation in St. 
 Nicholas had its exiflence from the pious benevo- 
 lence of a worthy lady, Mrs. Eleanor Allan, of New- 
 caftle, who founded this fchool February 20th, 1705, 
 for the education of forty boys and twenty girls, 
 born in the parifh, and in the chapelry of St. John. 
 
 EfTeclually to endow this charity, Mrs. Allan, by 
 her deed of gift, dated as above, afligned a farm- 
 hold and tenant-right in Wall's End, of the yearly 
 value of fixty-one pounds nineteen fliillings and five- 
 pence, 
 
XiJelocaGle upon C^nc 279 
 
 pence, to the truftces in truft to herfelf for life, and 
 after her death, for fetting up a fchool for teaching 
 forty boys and twenty girls, in the faid pariih of St. 
 Nicholas. The boys are taught reading, writing, 
 and accompts, and after that are put out by the truf- 
 tees to fome trade or handicraft, or to fea, and have 
 forty (hillings a piece for that purpofe, with a Bible 
 and Prayer-book bound together, a Whole Duty of 
 Man, and Lewis's Explanation of the Catechifm. 
 
 Tlie girls are taught to read, write, few, and knit, 
 and then apprenticed out or pat to fervice, and have 
 twenty lliilhngs allowed theui, with the fame books 
 as the boys. 
 
 The maOer's falary is twenty-five pounds per an- 
 num, and twenty fliillings for coals. That of the 
 miftrefs is ten pounds per annum, and ten fhillings 
 for coals. 
 
 The parifliioners were fo well pleafed with the ufe- 
 fulnefs of this foundation, and the progrefs made by 
 the fcholars, that they entered into an annual fub- 
 fcription to cloath, decently, the children of the 
 fchool. 
 
 Liberal and ample acceflions were made to this en- 
 dowment from various quarters. 
 
 A. D. 1723, Mr. Gilbert Campbell, innholder, left 
 by will the fum of twenty pounds, and Mr. Samuel 
 Nichols, organift, ten pounds, to be put out at inte- 
 reft for the benefit of this fchool. 
 
 Mre. Chi(holm, reli6l of the reverend Mr. Chif- 
 holm, of Wooler, bequeathed it for ever the intereft 
 of five hundred pounds. 
 
 A. D. 1738, John He wit, goldfmith, left it by 
 will the fum ot two hundred and fifty pounds, which 
 
 was 
 
28a Jnipartial Jpifiori? of 
 
 was lent to the corporation of Newcaftle, at four per 
 cent. 
 
 John Fenwick, efq. of Newcaftle, gave in perpe- 
 tuity fifty pounds to the corporation, for the annual 
 payment of twenty fliillings to the charity fchool of 
 St. Nicholas, and twenty fliillings to the prifoncrs in 
 Newgate, to be made feven days before Chriftmas 
 for ever. 
 
 A. D. 1 786, the corporation of Newcaftle built a 
 new charity fchool for this parifh in Manor-chare, It 
 has a fine front towards the ftreet, well lighted and 
 aired, having more the appearance of the dwelfing- 
 houfe of fome wealthy family, than that of a femi- 
 rary for charity children. The more credit is due 
 t)n that account to the worthy patrons of the inftitu* 
 tion. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S CHARITY-SCHOOL. 
 
 This was founded and endowed in the year 1705 • 
 but the name of the munificent founder was then 
 unknown ; nor was it difcovered till after the death 
 of that worthy charader, Mr. John Ord, who was the 
 perfon, and who had entrufted the late Dr. Thomlin- 
 fon alone with the fecret. This gentleman did not 
 difclofe it, agreeable to his engagement, till after Mr. 
 Ord's deceafe. 
 
 This charity fchool is for forty-four boys, b ut no 
 girls. For its fupport Mr. Ord bequeathed a large 
 field, called Great Magdalen-clofe, or Mill-clofe, 
 without Pilgrim-ftreet Gate. The clofe was let in 
 Mr. Bourne's time at twenty-five pounds per annum, 
 but probably lets now at double that fum. 
 
 In the year T707, Mrs. Margaret Allgood, widow, 
 bequeathed one hundred pounds to be put out at in- 
 tereft for the benefit of St. John's charity fchool j and 
 
 an 
 
j^ctocaliie upon ^}m. 
 
 an annual fubfciiprion of thirty-three pounds four- 
 teen fliillinj^s is alfo raifed for its maintenance. 
 
 There is likewife an anniverfary fermon preached 
 for the benefit of the fchoul, which is generally pro- 
 ductive. 
 
 The boys are annually cloathed, and have llioes 
 and (lockings twice a year. 
 
 The fchool-houfe was built and is kept in repair 
 by the corporation. The mafter's falary is twenty- 
 four pounds per annum, forty fliillings for teaching 
 the boys church mufic, and lixteen ihillings a year 
 for paper, pens, and ink. 
 
 The patrons of the fchool are, the heir of Mr. Ord, 
 the mayor of Nevvcaftle, the vicar, the ledlurers of 
 All-Saints, St. John's, and St. Andrew's, or any five 
 of them, to choole a mafter for the fchool. 
 
 The private benefadtions to this charity are : 
 
 Lady Claverlng - - - per annum £-2 20 
 Mrs. Swinhurn ... - ditto 100 
 
 George Grey, Efq. ... ditto 100 
 
 with feveral others : and the following fixteen com- 
 panies one pDund each : 
 
 Bakers and Brewers 
 
 Rope-makers 
 
 Taylors 
 
 Smiths 
 
 Barber- Surgeons 
 
 Joiners 
 
 Sadlers 
 
 Slaters 
 
 Glaziers 
 
 Butchers 
 
 Cordwainers 
 
 Bricklayers 
 
 Tanners 
 
 Hatters 
 
 Houfe-Carpenters 
 
 Weavers 
 
 lARlTY-SCHOOL 
 
 OF ST. ANDREW, 
 
 The charity-fchool of this parifli was founded by 
 
 irWilliam Blackett, baronet. It is for thirty boys, 
 
 N n and 
 
282 Jmpartial ipiftorp of 
 
 and was firfl opened in the year 1708. A. D. 1719, 
 Sir William Blackett, baronet, fon of the founder of 
 the fchool, ordered cloathing for the fcholars. 
 
 The mafter's falary is twenty pounds per annum. 
 The patrons for choofing a mafler are, the vicar and 
 the churchwardens of the parifh. 
 
 A. D. 1792, a handfome fchool-houfe was built 
 without Newgate, by fubfcription, for girls, and a 
 gallery was alfo erected for them in the fouth porch 
 of the church. 
 
 CHARITY-SCHOOL of ALL-SAINTS. 
 
 This ufeful foundation was raifed by a voluntary 
 fubfcriptinn, in the year 1709. It is for forty-one 
 boys, and feventeen girls. The boys are taught to 
 read, write, and call accounts ; the girls to read, 
 write, knit, few, and make and mend their own 
 cloaths. 
 
 The fubfcribers are very numerous, and many of 
 the donations liberal and ample ; but our limits pre- 
 clude the infertion of all the names : among others, 
 
 Walter Blackett, efq. - per annum £- S ° ° 
 
 Nicholas Fenwick, efq. - - ditto - 7 o • 
 
 The whole fum was /". 783 12 o 
 
 CHARITY-SCHOOL of ST. ANN's CHAPEL, 
 
 This fchool (lands at the eafl end of Sandgate, in 
 the corner of the field adjacent to the chapel. It is 
 a large, airy, light room ; has two mailers, and a 
 grsat number of fcho'ar?. 
 
 SUNDAY 
 
Belucnllle upon Cync. 283 
 
 SUND.VY SCHOOLS. 
 
 The benevolent Father of All has raifed up and 
 qualified fome ditlinguiQisd characters to promote 
 the bell interells ot" mankind in every age. So- 
 crates, in one part of the pagan world, taught with 
 unwearied zeal, in the forum, in the temples, in the 
 flreets of Athens, the rr.oll noble of all fciences, the 
 fcience uf morals, and, by his fublinie precepts, 
 formed the moll renowned characters of antiquity ; 
 enlightening the foaring minds of Plato, of the Sta- 
 gyrite, aud many others, whole wi'itings (till conti- 
 nue to charm and inltruct the world ; and his lole 
 reward was, a conjcioufnefs of doing good : whilft 
 Confucius exerted equally an unwearied zeal in the 
 eaftern regions, whofc whole doctrine tended " to 
 reltorc human nature to its former luitre, and that 
 firft beauty it had received from heav-n, wiiich (he 
 faid) had been iuilied by the darknefs of ignorance 
 and the contagion of vice," 
 
 In modem times, when VvC behold a Hov.'ard, 
 whole brealt flowed with the milk of human kind- 
 nefs, traverfnig the globe, and ramacking loathfonie 
 gaols, to pour the od and wme of confulation into 
 the wounds of the folitary prifoner, wliich misfor- 
 tune, defedt of moral principle, or relentlefs cruelty, 
 had, with unpitying hands, inilicted ; — we are tranf- 
 ported with the emotions of admiration, and almoll 
 ready to think his " Hiltory of Frilbns" a pleating 
 illufion I More recently, another philanthropilt has 
 Itept forward with a plan, the bed calculated that 
 the mind of man ever conceived, for preventing fu- 
 ture Howards from being employed in alleviating 
 the fatal effects of ignorance, and of depraved mo- 
 rals, and thus difarming the hand of ttcrn jullicc ; 
 N n 2 wc 
 
284 Jinpartial fMovp of 
 
 we mean Mr. Ratkes, of Gloucefter, with his excel- 
 lent inllirution of Sunday Schools. Here, diirin;^ 
 the intervals of divine worfliip, on Sunday, youth 
 are taught, with care and affiduity, the firft piinci- 
 ples of learning and of religion. It is here that into 
 their tender minds are inllilled, without expence, 
 thofe primary, thole moft noble principles, which, 
 when they " ripen into man," influence their whole 
 lives, and pervade their moral and civil conduct. 
 The patrons of thefe benevolent inllitutions are fomc 
 of the moft exalted and virtuous characters in the 
 kingdom. " Biftiop Auckland is a beautiful place,'* 
 faid a gentleman lately; " but the moll enchanting 
 fight to me was, on a Sunday morning, the prefent 
 lord bifhop of Durham, and his lady, plainly dreffed, 
 afliduoufly attending, and inftrucling perfonally a 
 numerous Sunday School V'—Ncwcajlle Courant, May 
 i8ot. 
 
 Nor are the happy effefts of this humane and 
 highly ufeful plan more vifible in any town in Eng- 
 land than in Newcaftile. Inftead of feeing our ftreets 
 fwarming with the offspring of penury, indolence, or 
 vice, with minds untutored, and fall receiving the 
 imprelfion of evil habits, we behold, with emotions 
 of heart-felt complacency, long proceffions of youths 
 preceded by their inftruclors, and attended by gen- 
 tlemen eminent for their virtues and adive ftations 
 in hfe, walking along to worlhip the Most High, in 
 our Chrifl:ian temples. The bleflings of thoufands, 
 ready to perifli " through lack of knowledge,'' muft, 
 while virtue and learning enhghten the world, at- 
 tend Mr. RaikesI 
 
 Thefe fchools are now confined to no feci or party 
 of Chriftians. The four parifh chmchcs, and feveral 
 
 dif. 
 
JT^cUuaflle upon Cpc. 285 
 
 diffenting meeting-houfes, have opened them, ajid 
 particularly at the chapel of tlie Rev. William Tnr* 
 ner, in Hanover-iqiiare, there are two, one for boys, 
 the other for girls, which were the firil cftabliQiCd in 
 this town, (in December 1784) and have been in 
 general well regulated and fuccefsful. One civcum- 
 ftance attended to in the management of the boys* 
 fchool appears worthy of imitation ; viz. that thofe 
 who have behaved well in this are ufually chofen to 
 fill up the vacancies, as they fiill out, in the regular 
 charity-fchool fupported by the lame fociety. 
 
 The people denominated Methodifis, in Newcaftle, 
 who are laudably active in whatever concerns the 
 interefts of religion and of morals, employ zeal and 
 afliduity in inftru<iling their very numerous Sundaj 
 fchool. 
 
 PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 
 
 In a large commercial town, fach as Newcaftle, 
 where trade is carried on to a vaft extent, not only 
 at home, but witii foreign countries, a knowledge of 
 accompts is altogether necefTury, in order to tranfact 
 bufinefs with certainty and pron)ptitude ; and as 
 capital to a large amount is in continual circulation 
 in Nevvcaille, what interefts debtor and creditor 
 ought to be well known. It is, therefor?, but doiiuj 
 juftice to that ufeful clafs of men (ichool-arafters) r.) 
 fay, that th3 town is well provided with able and 
 diligent teachers, m the various branches of litt ra- 
 ture and fcience ; viz. 
 
 Rev. W. Turner - . . Djrras-brldgc. 
 Rev. E. Frowitt . . Pilgrim-Rreer. 
 
 Mr. Diyfdale - - . Trinity-houfc. 
 
 • Mr. SomervUIc . . Pilgrlm-ftrecf. 
 
 ^^'' I^^y - - - Pilgrim-Rr.ci. 
 
 Mr. 
 
286 
 
 Jmpartial ipiftor]) of 
 
 Mr. Maule 
 
 , 
 
 Weftgate-ftrect. 
 
 Mr. Thompfon 
 
 - 
 
 Pilgrim-ftreet. 
 
 Mr. Brown 
 
 - 
 
 Bigg- market. 
 
 Mr. Murray 
 
 - 
 
 Denton-chare. 
 
 Mr. Clarke 
 
 - 
 
 High-bridge. 
 
 Mr. Tinwell 
 
 - 
 
 Rofemary-lane. 
 
 Mr. Richardfon 
 
 . 
 
 St. Nicholas' Church-yard 
 
 Mr. Afkcw 
 
 - 
 
 Spital. 
 
 Mr. Falconar 
 
 • 
 
 Rofemary-lane. 
 
 Mr. G. Richardfon 
 
 . 
 
 High Friar-flreet. 
 
 Mr. Nicholfon 
 
 • 
 
 Forth Houfe. 
 
 Mr. Kerr 
 
 - 
 
 Weftgate-ftreet. 
 
 Meflrs. Brown and Co 
 
 - - 
 
 St. Ann's, New Road. 
 
 Mr. Robfon (Catholic 
 
 Chapel) 
 
 Pilgrim-dreet. 
 
 Mr. Charlton 
 
 • 
 
 Caftle-garth. 
 
 Mr. Crawford 
 
 - 
 
 Sally-port Meeting-houfe. 
 
 The firft two are boarding- 
 
 fchools : there are alfo 
 
 other fchools of lefs note. 
 
 DANCING-MASTERS. 
 
 Mr. Banks 
 Mr. Kinloch 
 Mr. Mackintofh 
 
 High-bridge. 
 Bigg-market. 
 Newgate-ftreet. 
 
 SCHOOL-MISTRESSES. 
 
 To form the manners, to inllrud: and accomplifli 
 the fofter fex in the ufeful and ornamental branches 
 of education, requires a large fliare of acquaintance 
 with tlic human heart, and no lefs fkill and addrefs. 
 
 There are feveral fchool-miltrefles in Newcaftle, 
 who all excel in their profefTion. The ladies who 
 make the moft confpicuous figure are the follow- 
 ing; vi-z. 
 
 Mrs. Wilfon 
 Mrs. Smith 
 Mrs. Waters 
 Mifs Kitteridge 
 Mrb. Bateman 
 
 Saville-row. 
 
 Weftgate-ftreet. 
 
 Pilgrim-ftreet. 
 
 Pilgrim-ftreet. 
 
 Pilgrim-ftreet. 
 
 Mifs 
 
j3el35caGle upon HL^nz. 
 
 287 
 
 Mlfs Bonncl 
 
 Mrs. Hymers 
 
 Mrs. Taylor 
 
 Mifs Hogg - - - 
 
 Mifs Yelloley 
 
 Mrs. Skinner 
 
 Mrs. Dikus 
 
 Mifs Richardfon 
 
 Mifs Neale 
 
 Mefdms. Donaldfon and Co. 
 
 The firft fix are board 
 
 the others, are all well patronized. Their boarders 
 
 and pupils are taught, w 
 
 Pilgrim-ftreet. 
 
 Darn-crook. 
 
 Newgate-ftreet. 
 
 Newgate- ftreet 
 
 Newgate-ftreet. 
 
 Newgate-ftreet. 
 
 Pilgrim- ftreet 
 
 Clofe. 
 
 Silver-ftreet. 
 
 Dean-ftreet. 
 
 ng-fchools, which, with 
 
 th afliduity and fuccefs, 
 
 the various branches of education. And although 
 the young ladies are indulged fometimes in attend- 
 ing fafliionable amufements, yet their governefles 
 accompany them on thefe occafions, with indulgence 
 indeed, but alfo with circumfpedlion. It is certainly 
 impoflible to employ too much attention in forming 
 the female mind; as future domeftic felicity depends 
 very frequently on the early impreffions received at 
 boarding and other fchools. 
 
 The principal feminaries for young ladies are at- 
 tended by writing, dancing, and drawing-mafters, all 
 eminent in their profeffions. 
 
 PUBLIC 
 
 r 
 
288 Jinpaitial M^ov]) of 
 
 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 LITERARY and PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, 
 In the Old AJJembly-Rooms, Groat-Market. 
 
 The numerous focreties for the promotion of litera- 
 ture and philofophy which have been formed in dif- 
 ferent parts of Europe in the courfe of the two lad 
 centuries, have not only been the means of diffufing 
 knowledge more exteniively, but have contributed 
 to produce a greater number of important difcoveries 
 than have been effeded in any other equal fpace of 
 time. The progrefs that has been made in phyfics 
 and the belles lettres, owes its rapidity, if not its ori- 
 gin, to the encouragement which thefe focieties have 
 given to fuch purfuits, and to the emulation which 
 has been excited between different academical bodies, 
 as well as among the individual members of fuch in- 
 ftitutions. The colleding and publifhing the more 
 important communications which have been delivered 
 to them, have faved from oblivion many very valua- 
 ble difcoveries or improvements in the arts, and much 
 ufeful information in the various branches of fcience. 
 
 It is obvious thatNewcaftle is afituation peculiarly 
 well adapted for a literary inftitution, not only as it 
 poffeffes extraordinary advantages for the cultivation 
 of mineral knowledge, in the inveltigation of its two 
 great natural exports, coal and lead, with their va- 
 rious accompanying ftrata and matrices, offering fo 
 wide a field for the application of mechanical inven- 
 tions 
 
5i3clriC^.lilc upon Cpnc. 289 
 
 tions to the working of the mines and the conveyance 
 of their products; but alfo as it ufTords peculiar ad- 
 v.mtagcs for chemical invelligation, for the etlabliQi- 
 jiient and improvement of the various manufadlures 
 and aits which dep'jnd upon the plenty and cheap- 
 nefs of fuel, and the facility of receiving and tranf- 
 ir.itting their feveral materials and produds, by an cx- 
 tenfive commercial intercourl'e ; and confequently as 
 this very intercourfe furniilies the curious enquirer 
 with the opportunity of carrying on an extenfive 
 literary correfpondence, and of colle^fting from every 
 country its important or interelling producflions. The 
 ample field, too, which is here ftill open to the re- 
 fearches of the antiquary and hiilorian, muft be ob- 
 vious to every reader of the former part of this work. 
 
 Thefe, and other circumftances having been ftated 
 at coniiderable length, in a paper printed and circu- 
 lated in December, 1792, under the title of "Specu- 
 lations on a Literary Society," a meeting was held 
 at the Ailembly Rooms, January 24, 1793 ; where a 
 com,mittee was appointed to prepare a plan for the 
 formation and government of fuch a fociety : which 
 benig prefenied to a more general meeting, at the 
 Dilpenfary, February 7, (the Rev. Edward Moifes, 
 M. A. in the chair) was unanimoufly approved; and 
 John Widdrington, Efq. was elecT;ed the iirft preli- 
 dent. 
 
 The fociety continued to meet in the Governors'- 
 Hall of the Difpenfiry, till the adoption of Mr. 
 Moifes' propofal for the ellabliiliment of a general 
 library ; when it became neceiiarv to engage apart, 
 ments tor their exclufive ufe. Thcie were at firfl 
 taken in St. Nicholas' church-yard ; but the Old 
 Affcmbly -rooms in the Groat-market falling vacant, 
 
 O o the 
 
290 Jnipattial Jl)iftorj) of 
 
 ■■I - . I 
 
 the fociety removed thither in 1798 ; and are likely 
 to continue in apartments which afford them fuch 
 fuitable and convenient accommodation. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Widdrington, in 1798, Sir 
 J. E. Swinburne, bart. was elected prefident, who 
 continues to fill that office with great advantage to 
 the fociety. 
 
 This fociety is compofed of tlie following cbfTes, 
 viz. I. Ordinary members, who fubfcribe one guinea 
 aimually ; to whom is confined the whole manage- 
 ment of the bufinefs of the fociety, and the eledion 
 of officers and members. 2. Honorary members, 
 who refide at a difiance, and correfpond with the fo- 
 ciety, but are not liable to any expence. 3. Hono- 
 rary members, with the privileges of ordinary ones. 
 Only four of this defcription are allowed at one time. 
 The intention of the fociety in inftituting this clafs 
 was for the laudable purpofe of encouraging the exer- 
 tions of deferving perfons who difcover a tafle for 
 literature, but whofe circumflances render it incon. 
 venient to incur the expence of the ordinary contri- 
 bution. Of this lafl: clafs there are at prefent three 
 members: of the firft clafs, about three hundred; 
 of the fecond, upwards of one hundred and eighty. 
 —To tiiis number another new clafs was inftituted, 
 in the year 1799, under the denomination of reading 
 members, who do not attend the meetings of the fo- 
 ciety, but have the ufe of the library ; to which clafs 
 ladies are eligible. 
 
 The fociety is governed by a prefident, four vice- 
 preiidents, two fecretaries, and a committee of eight; 
 all chofen annually out of the clafs of ordinary mem- 
 bers. To thefe are entrufted the expenditure of the 
 funds, the ordering of books, and the domeilic eco- 
 nomy of the inditution. The 
 
j^ctocaftle upon C^nc. 191 
 
 The general meetings of the fociety are held in the 
 evening of the firfl Tuefday of every month. The 
 fubjects for tiieir converfation and inveftigation com- 
 prehend the mathematics, natural philofophy and 
 hiftory, chemillry, polite literature, antiquities, civil 
 hiftory, biography, quedions of general law and policy, 
 commerce, and the arts ; but religion, the pradical 
 branches of law and phylic, Britilh politics, and in- 
 deed all politics of the day, are fubjedls diredly pro- 
 hibited by a very flrong claufe in their regulations. 
 
 A large and valuable library is already colleded, 
 and the funds for increafmg it are fo confiderable, 
 that it may be expeded, in a few years, to compre- 
 hend every work of importance on the various fub- 
 jects which come within the plan of the fociety. 
 
 Amongft the books lately added to the library is that 
 learned and extenfive work, the Encyclopedic Me. 
 thodique, now publifning in Paris, 238 volumes of 
 which are juft tiniflied. Belides the ordinary funds 
 for the purchafe of books, many interelling works 
 have been prefented to the fociety. The magazines, 
 reviews, and mofl: periodical publications of merit, lie 
 on the reading table, for the ufe of the members who 
 daily refort thither. The librarian attends lix hours 
 every day, (Sunday excepted) viz. from twelve till 
 three o'clock in the afiernoon, and again from fix to 
 nine in the evening. 
 
 The cabinet of the fociety contains many curiofi- 
 ties, both of nature and art, from different quarters 
 of the globe ; to particularize which would greatly 
 
 exceed our limits ; fufficice it to mention a few. 
 
 A rich variety of foffil and mineral produdions, with 
 a curious colledion of gold, lilver. quick filver. and 
 lead ores and fpars. A fedion of the flrata of the 
 
 low 
 
292 Imt^arttal fpiftorj) of 
 
 low main coal of St. Anthonv's colliery, wliich is 13'; 
 fathoms an J one quarter in depth ; and a fedion of 
 the flrata i';.ath ot" the main dike in Montagu main 
 colUery ; with fpecimen- of e:ich. metliodically ar- 
 ranged : alfo fections of ftrata in Denton and Pontop 
 Pike colHeries, with fpecimens. A large coilcdioii 
 of fpecimens of the feveral hard and foft coals in the 
 counties of Nottingham and Derby, and of the ftrata 
 accompanying them. Ali') a feclion of ftrata met 
 with in working t^e lead mines of Alilon M )or and 
 Dufton Fell, in the counties of Cumberland and 
 Weftmoreland, to the depth of 241 fathom r foot, 
 with a large colh6lion of fpeciniens, illuftrative of 
 the pioducts of the lead-mine diftridls. Several fpe- 
 cimens of cloth msde by the natives of the South 
 Sea iflands from the bark of trees, with their dreftes, 
 implements of war, &c. A collection of coins, me- 
 dals, &c. &.C. 
 
 The purchafe of a philofophical and chemical ap- 
 paratus, and the coUedion of a cabinet of natural 
 hiftory, are alfo in contemplation. The completion 
 of theie objeds cannot fail to have the moft bene- 
 ficial eftecls on the minds of the rifing generation ; 
 for whofe benefit, in the mean time, the fociety has 
 always fliewn itfelf ready to forward any plans for 
 public inftruclion, particularly by the encourage- 
 ment of ledurers in chemiftry and experimental 
 philofophy. 
 
 Although, in fome important refpedls, this excel- 
 lent inftitution has not had all the fuccefs which its 
 members might reafonably have expedled, particu- 
 larly, through the multiplied engagements of feveral 
 of the moft eminent coal-viewers and others con- 
 cerned in the coal-trade, having prevented them from 
 
 afford- 
 
J35e^caaic upon Cjinc 193 
 
 affording all the ailiilance that had been hoped for, 
 in executing a plan propofed in ly^jj^, for the full 
 invefligation of the natural hiltory of this important 
 mineral, yet many valuable communications have 
 been received, from time to time, on thefe fubjed.s ; 
 and many other excellent papers have been read at 
 the monthly meetings of the fociety, which have 
 greatly contribu'.ed to the information and entertain- 
 ment of its members ; and fome of them, by fubfe- 
 quent publication, to the imlrudion of the public at 
 large. 
 
 ST. NICHOLAS' LIBRARY. 
 
 During the dark ages of popery, books were, in 
 general, accounted ufelefs, and, in fome cafes, dan- 
 gerous : for, whatever writing feemed to glance at 
 that ghoftly power, the book was put into the Index 
 expurgatorious, (a fort of literary inquidtion) and the 
 pofleffor was liable to be turned over to the fecular 
 arm. No wonder, then, that, for ages, men trem- 
 bled to have a book, efoccially of rational religipn, 
 in their hands. But, when the great Ruler of all 
 events empioyed tl.-e fierce, imperious pailions of king 
 Henry VIll. to combat the fj>iritu2l tyranny of Rome, 
 in his dominions, who, by pu'olilhing an edition of 
 the facred fcriptures in Engliili, gave a deadly blow 
 to that ghoftly power in this country. And fo eager 
 were all clafiesof men to perufe this invaluable trea- 
 fure, that the clergy, aided by the magiftrates, were 
 obliged to have bibles chained to th^ choirs, where 
 the parifliioners might come and read them. This, 
 it is well known, conflituted the ancient libraries of 
 our churches. Such a coUedion, efpecially of devo- 
 tional books, have origaially, without doubt, been in 
 
 St, 
 
294 Jmpgrtial fMot}) of 
 
 St. Nicholas' church ; but at what time they were 
 firft fhut up in fepaiate private apartments, is not 
 handed down. There feems, however, to be a kind 
 of indired prooF, by St. Nicholas' regifter, that, as 
 early as 1598, a perfon occurs as being buried " be- 
 fore the library door " 
 
 An enlightened alderman of Nevvcaftle, Mr. John 
 Cofins, draper, bequeathed, in the year 1661, one 
 hundred volumes (fixty folios and forty quartos) to 
 St. Nicholas' church library. A. D. 1677, the com- 
 mon-council ordered three pounds per annum, as a 
 falary to a librarian to fuperintend this library, in its 
 infant ttate. 
 
 But this trifling colledion fcarcely deferved the 
 dignified name of a library, till the Rev. Dr. Tom- 
 linfon, reclor of Whickham, left by will a truly no- 
 ble colledion of moft valuable books, handfomely 
 bound, and of the beft editions. This ineftimable 
 literary treafure, worthy of a prince, was bequeathed 
 by the reverend and generous donor to the people of 
 NewcalUe for ever, with the laudable delign of dif- 
 fufing knowledge among the numerous inhabitants 
 of this riling mart of commerce and trade. That 
 the bequeft might not be mifapplied, a librarian was 
 appointed, as we fhall fee, with a fixed falary of 
 twenty- five pounds per annum. A rent-charge of 
 five pounds yearly was alfo purchafed by the worthy 
 divine, for ti.e puipoie of encieafing this valuable 
 coiiedtion with the n.olt uleful works. 
 
 The books of the old library are kept in a feparate 
 large room beiow that which contains Dr. Toinlin- 
 fon's collection. — Brand. 
 
 We w ill take this opportunity, therefore, of per- 
 forming our proqiife at page 84; and, in addition, 
 
 give 
 
3i3c\i3caaie upon CL^ie. 295 
 
 give a copy of the letters, and a detail of the endea- 
 vours which have been ufed to gain for the public a 
 re-enjoyment of their privileges. They are commu- 
 nicated to us by a friend of uncontrouled enquiry. 
 Few comments will be neceffary : tlie fiicts are pal- 
 pable J and he only waits an opportunity to prove 
 their truth ! for repetition, as in this cafe it would be 
 impollible to avoid, fo is it unnecefTiry to apologize. 
 It is a well-known fact, that by viewing the fame 
 objed through different media we more juftly efti- 
 mate its confequence. 
 
 CODICIL. 
 
 WHEREAS I, the Rev. Robert Tomlinfon, doaor of di- 
 vinity, have made and duly executed my laft will and teftament 
 in writing, bearing date the i8ih d:iy of this inftant November, 
 in the year of our Lord 1745 : Now, I hereby ratify and con- 
 firm the fame. And whereas my worthy and generous friend, 
 Walter Blackett, of Wallington, in the county of Northumber- 
 land, efq. hath, at his own expence, built over the veftrv of the 
 church of St. Nicholas, in NewcaiUe upon Tyne, a handfome 
 fabrick, confiding of two ftories, for the reception of my books 
 and thofe of other benefaftors, and has endowed the fame with 
 a rent-charge of twenty-five pounds a year, to be paid to a li- 
 brary-keeper, to be named and appointed in fuch manner as I 
 fhall, by any deed or will attefted by two or more credible wit- 
 neffes, dired and appoint : And whereas 1 have, by an inftru- 
 ment under my hand and feal, duly appointed the Rev. Natha- 
 niel Clayton, bachelor of divinity, to be the firft librarian, on 
 fuch conditions as therein mentioned : And whereas I have put 
 into the faid fabiick or Vibrary above one thoufand fix hundred 
 books ; and, for the increafe of the faid library, have purchafed 
 of the laid Walter Blackect a rent-cherge of five pounds a year, 
 to be a perpetual fund to fupply the faid library with books. 
 Now, I hereby give ?nd devife unto the faid Walter Blackett, 
 and the Rev. Thomas Sharp, dodor in divinity, and archdeacon 
 of Northumberland, all the books which I have already put into 
 the faid library aforefaid ; and alfo all the refidue and remainder 
 
 placed 
 
^9^ Jnipartial M^ovv of 
 
 ef my books, except duplicates of Englifli books, in truft, to be 
 placed in the library aforefaid, for fuch ufes, intents, and pur- 
 pofes, as are mentioned and exprefTsd in the orders and ftatutes 
 of the faid library, made, appointed, and fubfcribed by the faid 
 Walter Blackett and me : And alfo I give and devife unto them 
 my faid truftees as many of the twenty-four prelfes in my (lady 
 at Wiiickham as can be placed in the upper and lower library, 
 in truft, to be placed therein ; and according to the power and 
 autliority to me given as aforefaid, I hereby direft and appoint 
 that each librarian, or keeper of the library aforefaid, after my 
 deatli, Ihall from time to time be elefted, nominated, and ap- 
 pointed, and alfo removed and difplaced, by fuch perfon and 
 perfons, and in fuch manner as is hereinafter mentioned ; that is 
 to fay, that the faid Walter Blackett, for and during his natural 
 life, fhall from time to time have the fole nomination and 
 appointment of the library-keeper or librarian of the library 
 aforefaid ; and alfo full power and authority, for juft: caufe, to 
 remove and difplace th-e prefent or any other librarian, and ele<a, 
 nominate, and appoint another in the room and place and Head 
 of him who fliall be fo removed. And after the death of the faid 
 Walter Blackett, that the heirs male of the body of the faid Wal- 
 ter Blackett Ihall from time to time have the like power of elec- 
 tion, nomination, and appointment of fuch library-keeper, and 
 ylfo the like power, for reafonahle caufe, to remove and difplace 
 the fame, and to e\c&. and appoint otiiers in the room of fuch 
 who fliall be fo difplaced. And I hereby dire»5t and appoint 
 further, tliat failing the {-Aid Walter Blackett and the heirs male 
 of his body, then the mayor of Newcaftle upon Tyne aforefaid 
 for the lime being, the archdeacon of Northumberland for the 
 lime being, the vicar of Newcaftle upon Tyne for the time being, 
 and the ledurei of Saint Nicholas' church aforefaid for the time 
 being;, or the majority of them, fhall from time to time have the 
 eledion, nomination, and appointment of fuch library-keeper j 
 and alfo fliall have the power, for juft caufe, to remove and dif- 
 place the fame, and elei5l, nominate, and appoint others in the 
 room and place of thofe who fhall be fu removed,. And it at 
 any time the four truftees ihould be equally divided, then the 
 mayor of Newcaftle to liave the cafting vote. And my mind 
 and will further is, and 1 hereby direft and appoint, that after 
 the death or removal of any librarian, another librarian lliall 
 within twent)' days be choftn from and amongft the then licenfed 
 
 curates 
 
i^c^rsc'iftlc upon d>ne. 297 
 
 surates of the churches of St. Nicholas, All-Saints, St. John's, 
 and St Andrew's, in Ncwca.lle upon T/ne aforefaid, preference 
 beinor given to thof- of St. Nicholas : .-\nd in default of making 
 fu'h elcflion of a librarian within twenty days in manner afore- 
 faid, then my will is, that the redlor of Wiiickham for thetimc 
 being;, tlie reflor of llyron for the time being, and the re<5lor of 
 Gatefhead for thj time being, or the majority of them, fhall 
 have power to cL(ft, nominat >. and appoint fuch library-keeper 
 for that turn onl;- ; and af ccrwards i'ach librarian or library- 
 keeper of the faid library (hall from L'.m • to time be ele<5ted, no- 
 minated, and appointed, and alfo removed and difplaced by fuch 
 other pcrf )n or perfons, and In fuch m .nfier, as herein before 
 mentioned, and nor by tlie faid reCtors of Whickham, Ryton, and 
 Gatefhead ; it being my mind and will that the faid redors fhall 
 not have the eleifbion, nomination, and appointment of the li- 
 brary-keeper at any time other than when default of making 
 election of a librarian wichin twenty days fhall happen ; and that 
 then the faid redors (hall have the election for that turn only, 
 and (hall have no power to elecft afterwards until the like default 
 fliall happen again. And .my mind and will is, that each libra- 
 rian Ihall give fuch ficurity, and be fubjeft to fuch rules, orders, 
 and regulations, as are already made and ordained, or lliall 
 hereaftvrr be made or ordained for that purpofe by the fliid Wal- 
 ter Blackett and me. And it is my mind and will that tlie faid 
 Walter Blackett, during his life, and the archdeacon of North- 
 umberland for the time being, fhall be vifitors jointly of the faid 
 books ; and after the faid Walter Blackett's death, that the heirs 
 male of his body, together wiih the archdeacon of Northumber- 
 land for the time being, ihall be vifitors ; and failing the faid 
 Walter Blackett and his heirs male, that the mayor of Newcaftle 
 aforefaid for the time being, and the archdeacon of Northurtn- 
 berland aforefaid for the lime being, jointly, fliall be vifitors for 
 ever. And I do hereby declare, direifl, and appoint that the 
 bufincfs of the faid vifitors ihall be to vifit the faid books once a 
 year at lead, and to examine the catalogue of books, and iee 
 that .all the books are there, and to corrcd and redify all abufes, 
 and to hear and determine all complaints, and to punifh the 
 breach of the faid rules, orders, and llatutcs. And my will is, 
 that the time and manner of vi filing be according to the ftatutes 
 or rules aforefaid. And it is my mind and will, that this be 
 aud h<i deemed and taken to be 'a codicil to and a par: or parcel 
 
 P p «f 
 
298 Impartial JptGorp of 
 
 of my faid laft will and teflament. In witnsfs whereof, I have 
 hereunto fee my hand and feal, this 20th day of November, in 
 the year of our Lord 1 745. 
 
 R. TOMLINSON, (L.S.) 
 Signed, fealcd, publifhed, and declared by 
 
 the above named Dr. Robert Tomlinfon, 
 
 as and for a crdicil to his laft will and 
 
 teftament, in the prefence of us, who at 
 
 his requeft, and in his prefence, and alfo 
 
 in the prefence of each other, have fet 
 
 our names as witneffes. 
 
 ROBERT CHAMBERS. 
 CUTHBERT TAYLOR. 
 GEORGE DODS. 
 
 The above is the firft codicil to Dr. Tomlinfon's 
 
 will, on which the right of the inhabitants refts. 
 
 How they caaie to lofe their privileges will he feen 
 by the following letters that pafTed on the fiibjedl, 
 feveral of which have never before been made pub- 
 lic. 
 
 Rev. Dr. — I have often thought of WTiring to you relative to 
 Dr. Tomlinfon's library, at St. Nicholas' church, which I doubt 
 not you know very well has been fiiut up for many years ; and 
 by a hint I got lall week, I have reafon to believe many of the 
 books are much injured by damp. I did not know till very 
 lately, that you as archdeacon, Mr. lAiOiington as vicar of New- 
 caPtlc, and the mayor for the time l)eing, were the three truftees 
 of the library. Mr. Alderman Hornby told me laft .Saturday, 
 that he had in his pofiltlion the minutes of a vifitation of the li- 
 brary, when his late brother, Mr. Clayton, was librarian, held by 
 the late vicar, Mr. Turner, Mr. Featherftonhaugh, and Mr. 
 Dockwray, to examine that all the books were there agreeing 
 with the catidogue, and that only two were found wanting, 
 one of which, by a memorandum at the bottom, was found mif- 
 placed, aiid the other Mr. Clayton recoIle«5ted he had lent to one 
 of the clergy, and got it again. Mr. Hornby alfo told me he had 
 fit copy of the codicil to my late friend Dr. Tomlinfon's will, 
 
 w^hereia 
 
Si^ctocaftie upon C|nie. 299 
 
 wherein an annual vifitation by fonie of the truRees is dire<5led. I 
 hope you will therefore apply to the Vicar and Mr. Mayor for 
 their concurrence, and not let fo valuable a collecflion of books 
 any longer remain ufelefs to the public, and liable to be entirely 
 fpoiled. You may perhaps wqnder at my taking fo much 
 notice of this matter, but I icceived fo many marks of real friend- 
 fhip from Dr. Tonilinfon, when an apprentice to Mr. Bryfon, that 
 I fhall always revere his memory ; and Sir Walter Blackett was 
 alfoavery good friend to me. I cannot, tlierefore, ht-lp thinking 
 that the long negledl of this library is (hewing very little regard to 
 the memory of the donor of the books and bailder of the library. 
 I remember often going when an apprentice with books Mr. 
 Clayton had ordered for the libruiy, as he always took care to lay 
 oat the five pounds Lft by Dr. Tomlinfon to purchafe new books 
 and complete fets, and often found five or fix clergy and gentle- 
 men with him reacjing at different deiks ; and 1 make no doubt, 
 if tlie library v.-as again opened, that many not only of the clergy, 
 but alfo gentlemen, would fpend their leafure hours there. I hope 
 you will excufe the freedom I have taken — And am, Rev. Dr. 
 
 your obliged humble fervant, 
 
 W. CHARNLEY. 
 r Ne-wcaJlU, May 12, 1788. 
 
 The forgoing letter not beincj noticed in that ^^n- 
 tleman-like manner Mr. Charnley lud every reafun 
 to exped, he addrefl'ed the following to the Right 
 Rev. the Lord Bifliop of Durham, Auckland C.aftle. 
 
 My Lord. — Sometime {\\\cq I wrote a letter to Dr. Sharp, 
 archdeacon of Noithumberland, relative to my worthy friend 
 Dr. Tomlinfon's library at St. Nicholas' church, of which your 
 lordihip has a copy below. 1 lliould not have tliought of trou- 
 bling your lordihip with this, if Dr. Sharp, v.'ith whom I have 
 been long acquainted, had given me any anfwer ; but as he has not 
 I wouli be much obliged to your lordihip, if, when you are in 
 the vcftry either before or after your vifitation, you would dtfire 
 Mr. EUifon, the keeper of the library, to iKew it to your lordihip. 
 The books are in a large room above the vcftry. I beg leave to 
 afllire your lordlliip that I have no interefted view in wilhing to 
 hiive the library again opened for the ufe of the public ; it pro- 
 
 P p 2 ceeds 
 
S^-i Jmpcrtin! !5irtorii of 
 
 ceeds entirely from a principle of gratitude in the generous donor, 
 who in my youth took as miich notice of me as if 1 liad been his 
 own child. 1 fliould not have taken the lii)erty of addrcding 
 your lordfhip in a matter which docs not properly come under 
 your cognizance, if 1 had not twice haJ the pleafure of feeing 
 tlie queries you have put to your clergy, which convinces me 
 that you sire determined to do all the good you can in that ele- 
 vated ftation in which Providence has been pleafed to place 
 you.— I am, my lord, your lordfhip's 
 
 moft obedient humble forvant, 
 Newcajlle, July ^, I 788. W. CHARNLEY. 
 
 P. S. Your lordfhip will defire Mr. Ellifon, the keeper, to fhew 
 you the library, and point out to you the books he has purchafed 
 for the laft twenty years with the five pounds he receives annu:dly 
 with his falary for that purpofe. There is another old library in 
 the room below Dr. Tomlinfon's, which Mr. Ellifon has alfo the 
 charge of ; his falary for both is twenty-five pounds per annum. 
 
 The following letters, relative to this fubject, are 
 copied from the Newcaftle Advertifer. 
 
 To the Trujlees of Dr. TomJ'tnfon's Library. 
 
 DO you believe, when Dr. Tomlinfon left his books, and five 
 
 pounds a ye-ir for ever, to purchafe more ; and when Sir Walter 
 
 Blackett, bart. built the library, and fettled twenty pounds a year 
 
 for ever on tlie librarian, that they intended the library for the 
 
 ufe of the public, or merely as a finecure to the librarian ? If 
 
 you believe tlie former, what good reafon can you affign to the 
 public for fuffering the prefent librarian totally to negled his duty 
 for twenty years pafl, and not purchafing any books during that 
 time with the five pounds he has annually received ? 
 
 April 16, 1789. I am, yours, &c, LECTOR. 
 
 IT is generally acknowledged that a newfpaper, properly 
 ■'ted, >•, o( great utiliry ; for, if rhe conduft of individuals 
 .'' be antmadvtried upon, avA expofed to public cenfure, 
 ippM)bation, the overbearing would tyrannize over 
 ; and the virtuous would neither be applauded nor 
 ■- 'vc-y convenience has its correfpondent inconve- 
 ai-.d the greatefl blefllngs, by an iipproper ufe, may pro- 
 duce 
 
3i3c\T3ca{Hc upon C^nc. ^or 
 
 duce the greateft mifery. The charader of the virtuous may be 
 mifieprefented, lufpicioa may fuggeft crimes that only exiil in its 
 jaundiced mind, and malevolence may blaft the fair fame of the 
 raoft virtuous perfon ; and tliere is no vehicle fo proper for the 
 accomplifhing fuch injuriou-s purpofes as a newfpaper. The 
 conduiftor of a newfpaper fliould therefore be very cautious in 
 admitting paragraphs which refled upon the charader of indivi- 
 duals ; and he ihould always give the accufed an opportunity of 
 defending themfelves from the attacks of the ignorant or defign- 
 ing : for though innocence may fatisfy the guiltlefs mind, who 
 may difregard an accufation, yet filence is no proof of innocence, 
 becaufe the moft atrocious need not reply to an anonymous ac- 
 cufation. 
 
 The preceding fcntlments occurred to mt on reading the queries 
 in your entertaining paper of lafl Saturday. Admitting ihem to 
 be true, they are unanfwerable, or rather anfwer themfelves. But 
 is it poffible that men of a liberal education, and in fituations fu- 
 perior to the vulgar or unprincipled, can be fo regardlefs of their 
 charafter ? Suppofing they may, are all the parties concerned 
 alike culpable ? 1 am perfuaded they are not. One of them 
 is only a truftee fpr a year, when his time is fufficlently employed 
 in difcharging the duties of an arduous and an fconourable office. 
 Another refpeiftable gentleman, I am informed, did not, a few 
 weeks ago, know that he was a truftee. Certainly, Mr. Printer, 
 thefe gentlemen are neitlier culpable nor criminal. 
 
 Happy fhould I be could I exculpate the prefcnt ti-uftees and 
 the librarian, who have repeatedly been reque(ted to do their 
 duty ; the former ought to know tliat the books are mouldering 
 into dull, for want of being kept clean, and the room well aiied; 
 the latter, I hope, is incapable of appropriating the five pounds 
 per annum to his own ufe, and of neglcding to pnrchafe the P/ji/<>- 
 Jopbical Tranfa&'ions, and other works which arc annually publilhcd, 
 and were added to tiie library by his predecslfors. Should he 
 continue to keep the library locked up, and refufe to do his duty, 
 the clergy and inhabitants fhould petition Sir J. Trevelyan to 
 withhold the falary ; at the fame time pledging themfehvs to de- 
 fray the expence of an) profecution he might comm.nce. The 
 judge and the jury who could give him damages, would, by their 
 Verdid, fay, " VVe are the advocates of injullice, and the patrons 
 of ignorance; it is our opinion, that the inhabitants of Newcalllc 
 ftould have no knov/ledgc of books, or of literary fubjcvSls ; and 
 
 that 
 
302 Jmpartial fp-illori) of 
 
 that the peifoa who accepts of an appointment with a falary ought 
 not to pcrloim thc4"e duties for whicli ho receives an adequate rc- 
 Vi"ard." 
 
 JprU 22, 17S9. APOLOGIST. 
 
 LECTOR, the Apologift, and more particularly you, Mr. 
 Printer, are intitled to the th:inks of the inhabitants of this po- 
 pulous town. Whether the library will be opened, or xemaiu 
 inaccefllble, you have done your duty. 
 
 '1 o Ledor's fpirited queries no obje(ftion can be made ; but 
 allow me to fay that the Apologift appears to be miftaken, or is 
 not fufficiently informed in feme particulars. He fays one of the 
 truftees did not, a few weeks ago, know that he was one. I ra- 
 ther fuppofe the gentleman alluded to is one of the fecondary 
 truftees, empowered to aft if thofe firft mentioned refufed to do 
 their duty. There are other refpeftablo gfntlemen alfo ap- 
 pointed to aft widi him : how far they difcharge their duty I 
 prefume not to determine. That they and the public may know 
 the merits of this bufinefs, that part of Dr. Tomlinfon's will re- 
 lative to the library, and the ftatutes, fhould be publiflied. This 
 intimation, it is prefumed, will not be difregarded ; and it is re- 
 c^uefted that fome gentleman who has a copy will communicate 
 it lO the public, through the channel of your refpeftable paper. 
 
 The advice of the Apologift is perhaps not the moft proper. 
 The late Sir Walter Blackett, whofe memory muft be held in high 
 eftimation, while the many charitable inftitutions in this town re- 
 main, to which he was fo liberal a contributor, confidering the 
 fluftuating ftate of property, and that Wallington might not al- 
 ways belong to his generous relatives, has fo fecured the payment 
 of the falary, that it cannot be, withheld, particularly from the 
 prefent librarian, who was appointed by himfelf. 
 
 Yet let not the public defpond ; if the librarian keep the books 
 locked up ; if the truilecs relufe to aft, the lord chancellor be- 
 comes the legal and conftitutlonal truftee : a petition from the 
 clergy and principal inhabitants, ftating the faft, would induc» 
 him to reinftate them in the wi'e of the library. He would alfo 
 compel the perfon who retains the five pounds a year, (if Leftor 
 is not miftaken, and it has been laid out in books) to relmburfe 
 tl>e money, and to appropriate it to the purpofes of the generous 
 teftator. 
 
 If the books remain (hut up ; if the inhabitants do not petition 
 
 the 
 
3i!)elDcamc upon €:i?nc. 303 
 
 the chancellor, let them not blame the truftecs ; let them not cen- 
 fure the librarian ; thef, and they only, will be to blame : their 
 exertions will (hew, whether they deferve the ufe of io valuible 
 a library or not. 
 
 Newcajk, May i, 1789. MODERATOR. 
 
 n 
 
 THE unaccountablenefs of firnames, and their not being ap- 
 plicable or defcriptive of the difpofition or faculties of their pof- 
 lefTois, have fiequently employed my thoughts, and have made 
 the vacant heurs pafs as agreeably as caltle-buildino;, or a gam« 
 at cards, and perhaps more ufefully. How many Whites do wc 
 know, whofe complexion and conduct are black ? How many 
 Blacks, who are remarkable for beauly and fa'ir-deal'iug ? Hovr 
 many Strongs, who are delicate? And how many Bro<zotis, who 
 are fair ? Even the perfon, whofe name was Jujlue, has been 
 tranjporlcd, or finiflied his career at the fatal tree. The Chrillian 
 name Ihould remind us of our profeffion ; and from the firname, 
 the contemplative mind will derive hints and maxims to correS 
 its vicioub propenfiiies, and to promote its happinefs, and the 
 happinefs of mankind. 
 
 When anonymous writers voluntarily endeavour to amufe or 
 inftrudi the public, their fignatures ihould at lead be defcriptive 
 of their perlbns or fentlments. An elT.ij on urbanity fhould not 
 be figned Findex ; nor Ihould the advocate of chicanery call 
 hxmkXi' Juflice. If thefe remarks are proper, what (hall we think 
 of the writer whofe fignature is Moderator, in your paper of the 
 2d inftant ^. He fays, " to Le.5tor's fpirited queries no obje(51ion 
 can be made." 
 
 Is this the language of moderation ? — Is it the languao-e of 
 truth ? — What, fh.ill the Querift charge a moft refpedlable charac- 
 ter with a breach of truR, and ftiall no objedion be made to it ? 
 Will not every generous mind alike defpife the calumny and the 
 calumniator I Thofe who know the refpe<ftable gentleman al- 
 luded to, are convinced, that his innocence, and placid temper, 
 prevent him from juftifying himfelf. But for fake of the profef- 
 fion to which he is an ornament, it would give his friends tlie 
 greateft pleafure if he would fdence his calumniators by publifting, 
 in your excellent paper, a lirt of the new books he has purchafed 
 the lad twenty years for the library of St. Nicholas. 
 
 Neuu-ajllc, May S, I'ji^g. ' CLERICUS. 
 
 Mr. 
 
3*^4 Impartial ipiftocjt) of 
 
 Mr. Printer. — It appears by the infcription upon Dr. Tom- 
 linfon's monument in Whickham church, that he left his hbrary 
 to the corporation of Newcaftle, for public ufe. What follows 
 is copied from the marble : 
 
 " He alfo bequeathed his library, a large and mod valuable 
 " collection of books, in all branches of literature, to the corpo- 
 " ration of Newcaftle, for public ufe, with a rent-charge of five 
 " pounds a year for ever, as a fund to buy new books." 
 
 From this extradl any perfon would fuppofe, that the corpora- 
 tion, as a body, muU h:\ve fome part of the truil verted in them 
 by the doner's will ; and if they have, they will next week have 
 a. fine opportunity of feeing the archdeacon and vicar, at the vifi- 
 tation, which will be held at St. Nicholas' church on Wednefday 
 next, the loth inftant, when the librarian may be ordered to Ihew 
 the truftees the condition the books are at prefent in, and direded 
 immediately to open the library for the ufe of the public. 
 
 yune 5, i7i<9. LECTOR. 
 
 To t/je Stewards of the iTUorporated Companies in Ncwcajile. 
 
 Gentlemen. — The following hints are fubmitted to your con- 
 sideration, without any apology, becaufe you cannot be unac- 
 quainted with the ineiScacy of the meafures that have been taken 
 to compel the librarian of Dr. Tomlinfon's library to open it for 
 the benefit of the public. 
 
 The law of this country will not compel a truftee to execute 
 the will of another, unlefs he thinks proper. The majority of 
 the trullees under the will of the late Dr. Tomlinfon either refufs 
 to a<fl, or the librarian refufes to comply with their diredlions, 
 and difregards the ftatutes of the library, though he is paid the 
 falary, to which he cannot be entitled uolefs he difcharges his 
 duty. This being an indifputable fad, the bufinefs comes pro- 
 perly before the burgeifes afftmbled in guild, becaufe the library 
 toas bequeathed to the corporation of this totvii. 
 
 To introduce this buflnefs before the guild, give me leave to 
 fugged to you the propriety of a previous meeting, that you may 
 be mafters of the fubjeift. Would there be any impropriety in 
 Mr. Mayor and the burgcffes fending a card to the librarian, tr> 
 attend them at the guild ; and in publicly a{kinghim why he does 
 not do his duty ? If he do not attend, apply to Sir Thomas 
 Blackett, to appoint another librarian ; and infift on the prefent 
 librarian's paying the damages tlie books may have fuftained by 
 
 his 
 
jBclucHGle upon Cinie. 305 
 
 his neglefl, and accounting for the money hz h.is received to pur- 
 chafe new books. 
 
 Some of you, perhaps will far, This has no relation to our rights 
 or privileges: Let fuch remember, that the library is bequeathed, 
 not to the traftees, but to the corporation. That burgeifes have, 
 pr may have, fons to be educated for the church, or for fomc of 
 tlie liberal faiences, and that fuch ftudents have a right to the ufe 
 of the library. If you difrcgard this addrefs, you will deprive 
 the inhabitants of iliis town, and your pofterity, of an advantage 
 no private fortune can procure, or opulence itfelf obtain, becaufc 
 many of die books are extremely fcarce, and cannot be bought. 
 
 A BURGESS. 
 
 The followln:^ is an extract of a letter from a 
 gentleman of this town, addrefltd to Dr. Barrington, 
 bifliop of Durham. 
 
 KetucaJIle, Miy 7, 1801. 
 My Lord, — Yourlordfhip will find in the 61 ft page of Bourne's 
 Hiftory of Newcaftle, in the 2d volume of Wallis's Hiftory of 
 Northumberland, and in Hutchinfon's Hiilory of Durham, ar- 
 ticle Whickham, in a note, that tliere was an old library in St. 
 Nicholas' church ; and that, in addition, a very extenfive one 
 (for the north of England) was left to this town by the late Dr. 
 Tomlinfon, of Whickham, that a building was ercifted for them 
 by the late .Sir W. Blackett, (fee Brand's Hiftory of iNewcaftle) : 
 the lower part of this building is occupied as a veftry ; the two 
 upper rooms, which would each contain ten thoufand volumes, 
 were dedicated to the ufe of the old and new library. My lord, 
 for twenty years this invaluable colletftion was locked up, by the 
 Rev. John EUifon ; and the falary and th: money for buying 
 books fpent— he knows beft in what manner. He was only 
 brought back to his duty by a public cenfure in the Ncwcaftle 
 Adverlifer, for April and the following months, in 1789 1 un- 
 dorftand, from undoubted authority, that, in the regulations of 
 that library, the hours of attendance are from ten to twelve in the 
 forenoon, and from two to four in the afternoon oi every day, 
 Sunday excepted. The prefent librarian attends from nine to 
 twelve in the morning only, and in every holiday this library is 
 fhut up f nay more, my lord, admittance is abfolutely refufed to 
 the old one My lord, the public neiiher know when to go, what 
 power to ufe when there, nor what books they contain. Your 
 
 Q_q lord- 
 
so6 Impartial Ipiftotp of 
 
 lordfhip's interference, and publication of the rules and the cata- 
 logue, are tlie only cures left. I beg your Lordfhip's pardon for 
 the freedom of this letter, if your lordfhip fhould find too much 
 in it ; but, in the caufe of knowledge, I would be afliamed to be 
 otherwife. I am, my lord, &c. * * • 
 
 P. S. A fub-librarian has been appointed, (by Mr. EUifon) who 
 has to attend prayers every other day at eleven, and frequently at 
 the bridge-end chapel at ten o'clock, when the doors are ftiut for 
 that day. Should you, my lord, recommend a catalogue and the 
 rules being publifhcd, I would, witli great pleafure, take the trou- 
 ble (if the truftees chufe to appoint me, and allow me to name 
 my own affiftant) of comparing the books with the catalogue; 
 (for it isfaidfome of them are loft fmce Mr. EUifon was librarian) 
 and overlooking the prefsj — my own coafcience will be my re- 
 t\'ard. 
 
 To which his lordfhip was pleafed to return the 
 following anfwer. 
 
 Cent. Square, May li. l8oi. 
 
 Sir, — If the abufes, of which you complain, can be proved^ 
 and I have any authority to redrefs them, you may reft aflured 
 jhat I will enter upon the enquiry. The beft time for the pur* 
 pofe, in cafe I have the autliority which your complaint implies^ 
 will be in the evening of the 6th of July, when the bufinefs o£ 
 my vifitation at Newcaille is finifhed. 
 
 I am, Sir, with regard. 
 
 Your humble feivant, 
 
 S. DUNELM. 
 
 It is no wonder that the attempts which have been 
 made within the lafl twelve months were ineffectual. 
 The greutell part of our townfmen being unconfcious 
 of their privileges, mis-ftatement and evafive apology 
 were exhibited and received in the place of fadls. — 
 It was f^id thiit the prefent librarian is an old man, 
 and that great indulgence ought conl'equently to be 
 allowed. Surely the public not obferving his non- 
 attendance for above twenty years, is an indulgence 
 
 of 
 
j!5etDcaftle upon €^nt. 3^7 
 
 of the mod extraordinary kind I It is faid by Mr. 
 Brand, in his letter- to a gentleman in this town, 
 v,'hQ wrote to him on the fubjefl in qaeftinn, that the 
 falary is fhamefully inadequate to fuch duties as the 
 regulations require. In reply, it may be obferved, 
 firft, that at the appointment, in 1747, the fum was 
 quite fufficient : fecondly, that very many, even at 
 the prefent day, would be glad to have iuch an ofike 
 with fuch a falary : thirdly, that if the librarian 
 think it too little, his refource is obvious, rejtgnation. 
 But the prefent librarian took the office, knowing the 
 duties and the com pen Cation : his continuance is, 
 therefore, an acknowledgment of the fufficiency of 
 the income. 
 
 But let us fuppofe a regular attendance. Where 
 are the regulations ? Not upon any of the tables ; 
 not exhibited as publicly as the library they diredtl 
 not (hewn to any of the vilitants I but with the fixty 
 folios and forty quartos of Cofins, with the books of 
 many others, as at page 294; with the manulcripts, 
 with many even of Dr. Tomiinfon's books, and with 
 the privileges of the inhabitants ;— they are quickly 
 going, if not gone already to decay I 
 
 A gentleman who holds one of the offices that give 
 to the poiTefTor the right of a truftee, has declared 
 that he faw nothing to be complained of I No fault 
 in the non-attendance for upwards of twenty years I 
 No fault in receiving more than one hundred pounds 
 in that time for buying books, and almoft none pur- 
 chafed with the money I No fault in taking the full 
 falary for twenty years non-attendance 1 None in 
 the library being fliut up fo often all the day on ac 
 count of holidays, (and Mr Hurd goinix to the bridge- 
 end chapel) as to licenfe the expreffion of the libra- 
 Q^q 2 rian 
 
3^8 Jm]jnnial JDiftorp cf 
 
 rian opening it only when he pleafes I No fault in 
 the books being fo damaged diirinir the twenty 
 years fabbath of this reverend gentleman, as to. re. 
 quire Mr. Charnley's affiftance to reftore them from 
 the injuries of the dampth I No fault in the regula- 
 tions being withheld I None in the old library being 
 pofitively refufed accefs to 1 None in the compro- 
 mifed attendance of the librarian or his deputy I 
 None in that deputy receiving halt" the falary for 
 half the ftatute attendance, and the real librarian 
 curtailing the duties, and fliielding himfelf under the 
 fmalTnefs of the falary ! None in many of the books 
 entered in the catalogue being miffing I I I This gen- 
 tleman would do well to take the number of years 
 Mr. Ellifon has been librarian, which, multiplied by 
 five, gives the fum he has received for buying books. 
 How many has he purchased ? If he wiflies for con- 
 vidion," let hiai apply to Mr, Charnlej, of whom 
 they were to be bought ; but that worthy man has 
 fpoken for himfelf above. It is alfo faid that Mr. 
 Ellifon lias no right to attend, or that it would be 
 cruel to make him, when none, or only one or two, 
 come. To this only one reply is neceffary : he re- 
 ceives his falary ; by fo doing, he makes it his <luty 
 to attend ivhether any come or not : if he does not 
 attend, or fend a fubjlitute, why receive the money ? 
 As to the old hbrary room, if it was empty ^ it might 
 be open to inquirers. Bat we would afk any of the 
 truliees, Is it a criai-i to make it ufeful .'' Would it 
 be " impudence," as one of thofe gentlemen has af- 
 firmed, " in any public body putting it to a public 
 ufe," until wanted for the library, if the librarian 
 fuffers it to be wanted at all? But Mr. Hird allows 
 that there are fonie books there j the neceffity, then, 
 
 for 
 
r5ciDcatJle upon C^ne. 3©^ 
 
 for its being opened, is obvious; and yet thefe cle- 
 rical gentlemen are the fird to raifc the hue and cry 
 of innovation, direding their anathtmas at refor- 
 mations ! They ihould not vociferate the h Pdsans 
 ol: felf complacency to dun the ears of thofe who. 
 but for them, would hear the itill fmall voice that 
 reformers would ufe in their own defence. 
 
 The only effeclual cure we can point out is, to 
 have the catalogue printed, as at Bamborough Caf- 
 tle, with the above codicil and the regulations ; and 
 if any money is wanted to. defray the churge of 
 printing, fitc. Mr. Ellifon cannot better employ the 
 balance of what he has received for buying books, 
 than by aHiding inch a publication with it. 
 
 The falary is at preient paid by a Mr. Bofville, in 
 in the county of York ; and the truftees, ex officio^ 
 are : 
 
 Jofeph Forfter, Efq. mavor of this town. 
 
 Rev. J. D Carlyle, vici.r of do. 
 ♦Rev. Dr. Thorp, archaeacon of Northumberland. 
 *Rev. John Forfter, ledurer ot St. Nicholas. 
 
 SECONDARY. 
 
 *Rev. Dr. Thorp, reftor ot Ryton. 
 *Rev. Dr. P.uiLr, re.lor of G;itelhead. 
 ♦Rev. Mr. Grcviiie, Redor of Whickham. 
 
 Thofe marked thub y) were, in conjundion with 
 Mr Reed, tlie late mayor, applied to ; out have not 
 yet thougiit any leform necefl"!iry. 
 
 Dr. Tomlinfnn died ''arch 24, 1747. 
 
 Sir W. C. BUckett died February 14, 1777. 
 
 OTHER 
 
310 Slnipartial iplGorg of 
 
 OTHER LIBRARIES. 
 
 At the New Aflembly-houfe there is a fubfcrip- 
 tion news-room, upon a plan peculiarly liberal and 
 acceptable. Here, befides the public journals of 
 every kind, a confiderable number of books, parti- 
 cularly thofe illuftrative of the public tranfadions 
 and events, and of the ftate of manners and litera- 
 ture at home and abroad, are purchafed and pre- 
 ferved, and will one day form a very valuable library 
 of the mod popular productions, on all fides, upon 
 the various interefting topics of difcullion which, 
 from time to time, have agitated the public mind. 
 
 We cannot avoid mentioning the valuable circu- 
 lating libraries of Mr. Sands, in the Bigg-market, 
 and Mr. Humble, in Moflcy-ftreet ; in which, par- 
 ticularly the former, are upwards of twelve thoufand 
 books, on every branch of fcience and literature. 
 
 There is alfo a circulating-library in the Groat- 
 market, confiding chiefly of novels, belonging to 
 Mrs. Chilton. 
 
 CHA^ 
 
Jl5et)caaie upon Cgne. 311 
 
 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 The Manors, ©nee the fite of the fumptuous priory 
 of the St. Auftin friars, contain feveral charitable in- 
 ftitutions, among which is 
 
 JESUS HOSPITAL. 
 
 This well endowed afylum had originally the name 
 as above, but it is now called the Town's Hofpital, 
 or General Hofpital, for the reception of the poor of 
 the feveral pariflies of the town. You afcend to it 
 by (lairs from the ftreet, and then enter into a plea- 
 fant field, on the north lide of which is the faid hof- 
 pital. It is three ftories high, and the under ftory 
 is adorned with piazzas, which are about fixty yards 
 in length, and make a very agreeable walk. About 
 the middle of the piazzas is the entrance into the 
 fecond and third Itories ; and over againft this en- 
 trance is a fountain (very much beautified} for the 
 ufe of the hofpital. It was founded for a mafter 
 and thirty-nine poor freemen, or freemen's widows. 
 
 A. D. 1683, it was incorporated by the name of 
 the Mafter, Brethren, and Sifters of the Hofpital of 
 the Holy Jefus, founded in the Manors, in the town 
 and county of Newcaftle upon Tyne, at the charge 
 of the mayor and burgefles of that town, for the fup- 
 port, for ever, of poor impotent people, being free- 
 men and freemen's widows, or their fons and daugh- 
 ters that had never been married. 
 
 Thomas Lewen, merchant, was appointed the firft 
 mailer, with thirty-nine others, to have power to 
 
 fue 
 
312 Impartial J!)iftorL> of 
 
 fue and be fued, implead and be impleaded, par- 
 chafe and hold lands, and have a common Tea], with 
 a crofs graven thereon, und in the circumference, 
 " Sigillum Hofpitalis SajiBi Jefu in Novo Cq/lro.^^ 
 The mayor, aldermen, and common-council of Nevv- 
 cadle for the time being, were appointed vilitors, 
 and to give rules and laws to this hoipital. 
 
 Thefe rules were drawn up and fealed in the year 
 
 1683. 
 
 So benevolent an inftitution, ferving as a calm 
 and peaceful retreat in a moll delightful fituation, 
 foon experienced that the obfervarion of St. James 
 (ch. ii. V. 15^ was inapplicable to their generous pa- 
 Irons : " If a brother or lifter be naked and deftitute 
 of daily food, and one of you fay unto them, depart 
 in peace, be ye warmed and filled ; notwithftanding 
 ye give them not thofe things which are needful 
 to the body ; what doth it profit ?" -What in- 
 deed ? 
 
 The moft fubftantial fources of fupport for the 
 Freemen's Hofpital are as follow. 
 
 A. D. 1683, a meiruage, key or quay, and gar- 
 den, in that Itreet called the Clofe, in Nevvcaftle, 
 was purchafed by the mayor and burgeffes for feven 
 hundred pounds, and fettled on the mafter, brethren 
 and fifters of this hofpital. 
 
 In the year 1683, an eftate at Edderly, in the 
 county of Durham, was purchafed as above for one 
 thoufand fix hundred and ten pounds, and fettled on 
 the above mafter, &c. 
 
 In 1685, an eftate at Whittell, in the county of 
 Northumberland, was purcahfed as above for one 
 ihoufand three hundred pounds, for the fame chari- 
 table purpofe. 
 
 In 
 
Beluc^GIe upon Cpnc. 313 
 
 In 1695* ^^- J^'"" Rumney bequeathed two hu i- 
 dred and fifty pounds ; the intereft for the behoof of 
 this hofpital. 
 
 In ijir, Mr. John Ord devifed one pound fix 
 fliillin^s and eiglit-pence annually, and alfo fix fliil- 
 lin^^s and eight-pence from another mefTuage of his, 
 for its fiipport. 
 
 In 1752, the corporation ordered forty fothers of 
 coals to be fent there annually, at tb.i feftival of 
 Ghriftaias. 
 
 In 1769, there was an order of common-council 
 for the mafter to be paid eight, and each brother 
 and filler fix pounds per annum 
 
 In 1779, the mayor, &-c. in confequence of a re- 
 folution to prefer, in future, the mofl ajred claim- 
 ants to the places that (hould fall vacant in this hof- 
 pital, made an order, that the feveral candidates 
 fhould produce certificates of their refpedlive ages, 
 to be regularly filed in the town-clerk's office. 
 
 Mrs. DAVISON'S HOSPITAL. 
 
 This laudable eredlion was for a governefs, and 
 five fillers, to be widows of proteftant clergymen, 
 merchants, and freemen of Newcaftle, endowed by 
 the charity of Mrs. Ann Davifon, widow of Mr. 
 Benjamin Davifon, merchant. It was built by the 
 corporation near that of the Holy Jefus, in the year 
 
 In the incorporation of this charity, the governefs 
 and fillers have a power to fue and be fued, &.c. and 
 to purchafe lands. The mayor and common-councilji^ 
 of Newcaftle to be vifitors on the death of Mr. Grey, 
 
 R r and 
 
3^4 Jinpartial ipiftorp of 
 
 and to appoint governefles and fillers, or on any 
 mifcondudt to remove them. 
 
 The above Mrs. Ann Davifon appointed, after 
 the payment of her debts, legacies, and funeral cx- 
 pences, that the furplus of her perfonal eftate fhould 
 be divided among the poor, at the difcretion of her 
 executors, George Grey, efq. the Rev. Robert Tom- 
 linfon, William Ellifon, efq. and John Ord, gent. 
 This furplus was nine hundred and forty pounds, 
 with which the executors agreed to build this hofpi- 
 tal, which was accordingly done; Mr. Grey being 
 the furviving truftee. 
 
 In the year 1754, the mayor and burgefles of 
 Newcallle, having been appointed the patrons of 
 this charity by the above furviving truftee, ereded 
 a handfome new fet of apartments for the governefs 
 and five fillers, on the fite of the former houfe. 
 
 A. D. 1 771, there was an order of common-coun- 
 cil for each woman in Mrs. Davifon's Hofpital to be 
 allowed eight carts of coals in every year. 
 
 Sir WALTER BLACKETT's HOSPITAL. 
 
 The intention of this foundation was for the re- 
 ception of fix unmarried men, being poor and de- 
 cayed burgefl^es of the town, in 1 754 ; the worthy 
 baronet, on the receipt of a bond given him by the 
 corporation, having depofited one thoufand two hun- 
 dred pounds for that purpofe. 
 
 In the year 1777, there was an order of common- 
 council for an allowance of eight carts of fire-coal, 
 yearly, to every man in this hofpital. 
 A ftone is put over their apartraicnts, infcribed as 
 
 follows : 
 
 Thi< 
 
ji!Jctoca(ile upon C^ne. 3^5 
 
 This Hofpital, 
 
 for fix unmarried men, 
 
 built on the ground, and at the common charge, 
 
 of the corporation of this town, 
 
 Was founded by Sir Walter Blackett, bart. 
 
 the munificent magiftrate, and reprefentative 
 
 in fevex^ ffjccefllve parliaments, of Newcaftle upon Tyne, 
 
 A.D. 1754- 
 
 Mr. DAVISON'S HOSPITAL. 
 
 This humane inftitution owed its exiftence to 
 Thomas Davifon, Efq. of Ferry-hill, in the county of 
 Durham, and his lifters. 
 
 A D. 1784, the mayor and burgeflfes of Newcaftle 
 eredted here, on their ground, and at their commop 
 expence, an elegant fet of apartments, for lix un- 
 married women, under the fame roof with thofe 
 intended for the two former hofpitals, of Mrs. Ann 
 Davifpn and Sir Walter Blackett, bart. 
 
 A.D. 1 77 1, there was an order of common-council 
 to give an allowance of eight carts of fire-coal to 
 every woman in this houfe. 
 
 The following infcription is on a ftone oyer the 
 
 door : 
 
 This Hofpital for fix unmarried women, 
 
 to be daughters and widows of burgeffes, 
 
 built on the ground, and at die common charge, 
 
 of the corporation of this town, 
 
 was founded by Thomas Davison, Efq. 
 
 of Ferry-Hill, in the county of Durham, 
 
 A. D. 1754. 
 
 As the hand of charity is never wearied witli 
 being ftretched out to relieve indigence and old 
 age, overwhelmed with all its concomitant train ; 
 fo the eye of humanity is never tired in beholding 
 
 R r 2 the 
 
3i6 Jmpartial f^iSorp of 
 
 the generous efforts of the truly virtuous and good ^ 
 to foothe and alleviate thofe evils that embitter the 
 feeble remains of declining life. In this fenfe, the 
 ufefulnefs of the feveral quiet afylums for poverty 
 and old age, in the Manors, are of more genuine 
 worth than all the ufelefs fplendor of the Spanifh 
 cfcurial, or the pompous monuments of luxury and 
 oflentation. 
 
 KEELMEN's HOSPITAL. 
 
 We have already mentioned this ufeful clafs of 
 the community of Newcailie, page 142. We have 
 now the pleaiing fatisfadlion of laying before our 
 readers the prudent precautions which they have 
 taken to fhield themfelves againil abfolute penury ; 
 as alfo to alleviate the painful days of licknefs and 
 of old age. We fhall firll defcnbe their hofpital, 
 and then the truly laudable inftitution for eflabhfh- 
 ing a permanent fund to fupport the lick and aged 
 members of the Keelmen's Society. 
 
 The Keelmen's Hofpital is lituated a little eafl. 
 ward of the Carpenter's Tower, on the Garth-heads, 
 behind Sundgate. It is a fquare building, in the 
 form of monafteries and colleges, having its low 
 walks round it, in imitation of cloifters. The area 
 within it is about eighty-three feet broad, and nine- 
 ty-feven and a half lung. It contains above fifty-two 
 chambers for the accommodation, of the aged mem- 
 bers of both fexes. One room is large and light, 
 for holding the general meetings, in which is their 
 ilrong box, weii fecured. for keeping the money, 
 books, Si-c. and in a fmall room adjacent the Rew- 
 ards and clerk meet every fix weeks, for the pur- 
 
 pofe 
 
ji5elDcamc upon C|inc. .._^ 317,. 
 
 pofe of collecling the regular contributions of the fo- 
 ciety. At their general annual meeting, they walk in 
 proceflion through the principal ftrects of the town, 
 in decent drefles, attended with mulic of different 
 kinds ; while all clafles of inhabitants take a pleafure 
 in viewing this body of men, who conftitute a great 
 proportion of the (Irength, and fource of the wealth 
 of Newcaftlc, and for many miles adjacent on both 
 (ides of the Tyne. They then lit down to a plenti- 
 ful dinner, fubftantial and IbUd, like themfelves^ 
 and in an inofFenfive, convivial manner, at lead for 
 one day in the year, do thefe hardy, induftrious fel- 
 lows throw down all burdens of concern about the 
 *' lang rack'* dark nights, fliips' hawfers, and great 
 frefhes, with a hearty Ihake- hands, and get home — 
 in the bell manner they can. 
 
 Who this hofpital was built by, may be learned 
 from the infcription on it§ fouth front. 
 
 THE KEELMEN'S HOSPITAL, BUiLT AT THEIR OWiT 
 CHARGE, ANNO DOMINI I70I. MATTHEW WHITE, ESQ, 
 GOVERNOUR; MR. EDWARD GREY, MR EDWARD CARR, 
 STEWARDS OF THE HOASTMEN's COMPANiT FOR THE 
 TIME BEING, AND TRUSTEES FOR THIS HOSPITAL. 
 
 I have been told, fays Mr. Bourne, thi^t Dr. 
 Moor, one of the late bilhops of Ely, upon faiiing 
 down the river in the Hate barjj,e, with the muor 
 and magillrates, obferved this building, and a.i^.ed 
 what it was, and who built it? liie mayor repiicd, 
 it was an hofpital for aged and decayed keelmen ; 
 and tliat it wds built by themlelvcs, each man pay- 
 ing one penny a tide. The good prelate replir.l, 
 |:hat he had heard of and fcen many hofpitals, the 
 works of rich vi^n ; but this was the ii:il he ever 
 
31 8 Impartial Diflor^ of 
 
 faw, or heard of, which had been been built by the 
 poer. It is a great pity, it has been faid. that the de- 
 fign of this building is not thoroughly anfwered ; but 
 there are fome mifcreants, who would rather ftarve in 
 ficknefs, or old age, than not guzzle a penny in their 
 health ^nd youth. 
 
 This obfervation we muft allow to be true in 
 part ; for it is generally obferved, that, in a large 
 body of men, fuch as the keelmen, whofe em- 
 ployment in life is laborious and hazardous, many 
 of them are not over much concerned for futurity. 
 But it was fhrewdly faid, that if there was though t- 
 leflhefs below Jl airs, there was artifice above; and 
 that the fitters and coal-owners dreaded the in- 
 dependency of fuch a vaft body of men, ihould they, 
 by economy, grow opulent, and fo become turbulent 
 and ungovernable ; and therefore counteraded and 
 undermined this laudable fcheme. We hope, how- 
 ever, that this infinuation againft gentlemen of fo 
 much honour and humanity, is not corred, and is 
 only founded on mifreprefentation. 
 
 We cannot omit inferting here a note refpedling 
 theKeelmen's Hofpital, left in the manufcript of our 
 deceafed friend, from whom we have derived much 
 original information. 
 
 " The late alderman Simpfon having bequeathed 
 one hundred pounds to this hofpital, the following 
 very beautiful acknowledgment of his bounty was 
 affixed on the fouth fide ot the hofpital, fronting the 
 Shields turnpike-road. 
 
 In the year 1786, 
 
 The intercft of i ool. at 5 per cent, for ever, 
 
 to be annually diftributed, 
 
 on the twenty-third day of December, 
 
 among 
 
3i5e\jJcaQlc upon C^ne. 31 g 
 
 among the ten oldeft keelmen 
 
 refident in the hofpital, 
 
 was left by 
 
 JdHH Simpson, Efq. of Bradley, 
 
 alderman of the to\vn, 
 
 and forty years governor of the hoaftmen's company. 
 
 The grateful objects of his remembrance 
 
 have caufed this ftone to be erccfled, 
 
 that pofterity may know 
 
 the donor's worth, 
 
 and be ftimulated to follow 
 
 an example fb benevolent. 
 
 Various attempts were made to reduce the pro- 
 pofed penny a tide by each keelman, to feme con- 
 fident and effedlual plan, during many years, but all 
 proved abortive ; fo that the real keelmen who be- 
 longed to that fociety, finding their number inade- 
 quate to fupply the exigencies of their fick and 
 aged members, were obliged to extend their plan, 
 and to permit landmen as well as watermen to be- 
 come members. But very few keelmen, belonging 
 to the many fitters and coal-owners on the river 
 Tyne, chuiing to join this mixed fociety, feveral of 
 the more intelligent Ikippers and keelmen fet about 
 drawing up a fcheme for a permanent relource for 
 the wants and necefFities of their members. This 
 fcheme obtaining the approbation of the magillrates 
 and fitters, an application was made to parliament ; 
 and, after due deliberation of that body, an act was 
 pafled, fandtioning the fcheme, with fome judicious 
 improvements. 
 
 Gratitude prompts us, on this occaiion, to tender 
 our acknowledgments to Mr. Tinwell, for his readi- 
 nefs in accommodating us with a copy of the ad and 
 by-laws, with whatever other information we wiflied 
 to be pofTefled of, refpeding the keelmen's fociety. 
 
 The 
 
32«^ Impartial !i)iaor|) of 
 
 The by-laws, which are fabjoined to the ad:, embrace 
 fo much wifJom and humanity, that the refources 
 for the lick and infirm of that body promife to be 
 of a duration equal to that of the coal-trade itfelf. 
 
 The law for this benevolent purpofe is intituled, 
 *' An ad for eftabliihing a permanent fund, for the 
 rehef and fupport of fliippers and keelmen employed 
 on the river Tyne, who by ficknefs, or other acci- 
 dental misfortunes, or by old age, fhall not be able 
 to maintain themfelves and their families ; and alfo 
 for the relief of the widows and children of fuch 
 ikippers and keelmen." — This act was pafTed in 
 the year 1788. 
 
 By the by-laws fubjoined to the a6t, the weekly 
 allowances to lick or fuperannuated members arc 
 follow : 
 
 To thofe who are difabled by temporary lamenefs £. s. d. 
 
 or ficknefs - - - - -- 050 
 
 To thofe who are fuperannuated or difabled by age 033 
 
 To widows without children - - - 016 
 
 To widows having two children - - - 020 
 
 To widows having more than two children - 026 
 
 Superannuated members, unable to work at the 
 keels, are allowed to obtain any other employment ; 
 but if they can thereby earn at the rate of four fliil- 
 lings per week or upwards, their allowance from the 
 fund is then reduced according to the following 
 table. 
 
 If earnings amount to To receive from the fund 
 
 4s. per v.-cek and under 5s. 2s. 6d. per week. 
 
 5s. per week and under 6s. 2S. od. per week. 
 
 6s. per week and under 7s. is. od. per week. 
 
 7s. per week and under 8s. Nothing. 
 
 If 8 s. or more, they are to contribute 6d. per week to the fund. 
 
 THE 
 
fi!5cluc6Sle upon Cjmc. 3*1 
 
 THE INFIRMARY. 
 
 Inflant a glorious angel-train defcends. 
 
 The Charities, to-wit, of rofy hue ; 
 
 S'.veet love their Ionics a gentle radiance lends. 
 
 And with feraphi • flame compafTion blends. 
 
 At once delighted to their charge tliey fly : 
 
 When, lo ! a goodly hofpital aTcends ; 
 
 In which they bade each lenient aid be nigh. 
 That con] 1 the lick-bed fmooth of tlidt fad company. 
 It was a worthv edifying fight, . 
 And p-ives to human kin! peculiar g^^ice, 
 To fee kind hands attending day and night, 
 With tender minitlry from place to place ; 
 Some pron the h'^ad ; fome from the pallid face 
 Wipe o^ the faint cold dews weak nature flieds ; 
 Some reach the healing draught ; the whilft, to chace 
 The fear fupreme, around tlieir foften'd beds 
 Some holy man, by prayer, all opening heaven difpreds. 
 
 Thomson's Castle of Indolence. 
 
 In defcribin^ this truly philanthropic and exten- 
 live inllitution, we cannot adopt a better mode than 
 copying the molt eflential parts of the account re- 
 cently publifhed by authority of the governors. 
 
 " To coi>nterbalance the various evils and miferies 
 of life," fays an elegant and humane writer, " Provi- 
 dence has planted in our natures a benevolent prin- 
 ciple, which iucimes us, by an involuntary emotion, 
 to relieve the diilrefles of our fellow-creatures, and 
 gives us the purcit and mofl fenfible pleafure for our 
 reward." From the univerfal diffufion of this ami- 
 able principle, few projefts calculated to alleviate 
 the futfcrings of the lower orders of fociety have, in 
 this age and nation, failed of meeting with effeclual 
 fupport : and, perhaps, no part of the country has 
 been more confpicuous than the town and neigh- 
 
 S 3 bour- 
 
32i Impartial il^iftorp of 
 
 bourhood of Newcaftle, in patronizing ellablilhments 
 for the relief of the poof, under the aggravated afflic- 
 tions of want and difeafe. 
 
 " A flight flcetch of the origin and ftate of the In- 
 firmary will be a ncceflary introdudion to the follow- 
 ing account of the plan lately adopted for its exten- 
 lion and internal improvement. 
 
 The origin and prefentjlate of the Infirmary. 
 
 " In the begintiing of the year I75r, the members 
 of a refpeclable fociety in Nevvcaftle refolved, on 
 account of the deaths of fome, and the advancing 
 age of others, of their body, to difcontinue their Hated 
 meetings : but, previous to their doing fo, to leave 
 fome permanent memorial of the fociety having exift- 
 cd, by the propofal of fome projedt of public utility. 
 On the day appointed for this benevolent purpofe, 
 the late eminent fnrgeon, Mr. Richard Lambert, then 
 a young man, fuggelled the eltabliQiment of an In- 
 firmary ; and this appearing more beneficial than any 
 other projedt which had been prefented, met with 
 the unanimous concurrence of the meeting.* In 
 confequence, a letter, figned K. B. was mferted in 
 the NcwcalUe papers, flrongly recommending a fub- 
 fcription for effecting fo delirable an obje(5t. A fub- 
 fcription was accordingly opened, on the 9th of Feb, 
 1 75 1, and foon attraded the notice of the following 
 dillinguiflied characters: the earl of Northumber- 
 land, the lord bilhop of Durham, lord Ravenfworth, 
 Sir Walter Blackett, bart. George Bowes, efq. the 
 mayor of Newcaftle, (Ralph Sowerby, efq.) Sir T. 
 
 Clavering, 
 
 ♦ Mr. Jofeph Airey, Mr. George and Mr. Ralph Headlam» 
 and Mr. Richard Burdus, ^Tere alfo members of diis fociety, and 
 ^c earlieft benefaaors to tlie Infirmary. 
 
jaetDcaftie upon Ci^ne. s^?i 
 
 Clavering, bart. Sir Henry Grey, bart. and Matthew 
 Ridley, elq. To introduce the names of all the 
 benefactors to this ufeful edabhlhment would far ex- 
 ceed the limits prefcribed to this (ketch : but, in 
 grateful tellimony of the benevolence of the original 
 contributors to the building, a lilt of their names and 
 donations is fubjoined. 
 
 ** On the 2iil of March, t-j^j, it was refolved to 
 carry the charity into immediate elfed ; and, in the 
 mean time, a temporary houie, capable of holding 
 twenty-three beds, was hired ; and applicatioi'i was 
 made to the corporation for a piece of ground on the 
 Forth banks, on which the infirmary now Hands. 
 
 " On the 5th of September the firft ftone of the 
 building was laid by the Right Rev. Dr. Jofeph But- 
 ler, lord bifliop of Durham ; and on the 8th of Odt. 
 1752, the edifice being completely fitfed up, was 
 opened for the reception of patients. 
 
 " The Infirmary Hands in an open, dry, elevated 
 iituation, at a Qiort diltance from the town, and from 
 the river Tyne. The out-grounds are convenient, 
 and command a pleafmg profpecl of the adjoining- 
 country. The building is of ftone, and prefents a 
 plain but elegant front to the fouth ; from the eallern 
 extremity there runs northward a fpaciovis wing front- 
 ing the eaft. The principal, or fouth front, contains 
 four itories, the bafement, the ground floor, the 
 chamber, and the attic. The wing is two (lories 
 high, with an attic ward at its northern extremity. 
 The ground floor is thirteen feet, the cha-nber twelve, 
 and the attic llory nine feet high. Tiic offices are 
 placed behind the front and the wing, with which 
 they nearly form a quadrangle, incloflng a fquare 
 
 S s 2 pavatl 
 
324 Impartial ipiHorp of 
 
 paved yard ; but the offices being low, the Infirmary, 
 from without, is capable of a complete ventilation. 
 
 '* With rerpe(5l to interior arrangements, it has hi- 
 therto had all the faults of the older hofpitals. Some 
 of the wards are too large, and all of them too much 
 crowded. The galleries in the wing, which ought 
 to have a<Sled as ventilators to the houfe, being clofed 
 up at one end, the ventilation is completely obftrud:- 
 ed ; while an ill-contrived necefTary, placed in each, 
 contaminates the air. One rocm only is fet apart 
 for the reception of a fingle patient, when affeded 
 with a dangerous difeafe : and it is allotted for thofe 
 who have undergone the operation of lithotomy. All 
 the bedlteads in the houfe are made of wood, and 
 have flock-mattraffes. 
 
 Plan for the internal iinprovement and extenjion of 
 the Infirmary. 
 
 " From this account of the interior arrangements 
 of the Infirmary, it will appear, that it has hitherto 
 been by no means fo well calculated as might have 
 been wifiied, for giving relief in thofe diieafes in 
 which quiet, relt, and pure air, are effential to reco- 
 very. In large wards, where mutual mifery and dif- 
 turbance continually prevail, the diieafes of patients 
 are often in danger of being rather aggravated, than 
 remedied or reiieyed. 
 
 '' A quellion then naturally occurs, ' Are thefe 
 evils necellunly and inseparably attached to Infirma- 
 ries? Or do they fpring from faults which are capa- 
 ble of being re<5lified ?' With a view to attract the 
 attention and known humanity of the fupporters of 
 this iud'tution to the confideration of a que-ftion fo 
 importarit, a printed paper, in the form of a letter, 
 
 was 
 
I5c\)3caftle upon C^nc 325 
 
 was tranfmltted by Dr. Clark to every governor, od 
 the nth of June, 1801, containing the ' rcfult of an 
 enquiry into the (late of various Infirmaries; a com- 
 parative view of the fuccefs of the pradtice in the 
 improved, and in the older hofpitals ; and a propofal 
 for the internal improvement and extenfion ot that 
 at Nevvcaftle.' 
 
 •• in confequence of the remarks contained in this 
 paper, the following governors, together with the 
 phyficians and furgeons of the charity, were, at a 
 Ipecial court held on Thurfday, June 25, (Sir M. W. 
 Kidley, hart. M. P. in the chair) appointed a com- 
 mittee, * for the purpofe of coulidering the expedi- 
 ency of the propofed internal government ot tiie in- 
 firmary, procuring plans of the propofed exteniioa 
 of the building, and eftimates of the expenccs at- 
 tending the fame, and cauling a report of their pro- 
 ceedings and opinion thereon to be printed and cir- 
 culated among the governors, previous to the anni- 
 yerfary meeting in Augull :" viz. 
 
 Thomas Bigge, cfq. James Lofh, cfq. 
 
 Nathaniel Clayton, efq. Charles Ogle, elq. 
 
 Thomas Gibfon, efq. Rev. Dr. i*ioirer. 
 
 Tho. E. Headlam, efq. R. H. Williamlon, efq. 
 
 Anth. Hopper, efq. Nich. Walton, elq, 
 William Lloyd, efq. Rev. Jona. Walton. 
 
 " On the 21ft of July, the above co.nuuttee, hay- 
 ing previoufly with great attention examined the in- 
 ternal ftate of the Infirmary, circulated among the 
 governors a mofl important report on the defectb of 
 the Infirmary, and the molt effcdlual means of reme- 
 dying them. 
 
 " The principal caufe of the contamination of the 
 air in the whole houfe," the committee obferve, 
 
 •• arifes 
 
326 Impartial rpiftorg of 
 
 *' arifes from the long ward on the ground floor of the 
 wing (containing twenty bedsj, and that immedi- 
 ately adjoining (containing feven beds), which from 
 their fituation will not admit of being converted into 
 well-aired lodguig rooms." They propofe *' to con- 
 vert thefe into phylicians' and furgeons' confulting 
 rooms, a waiting hail for the patients, and a difpen- 
 fary, (all of which necelTary accommodations are at 
 prefent very imperfeifl) and to remove an extremely 
 otfenfive neceflary in the paflage." The committee 
 contider the long ward on '* the fecond floor of the 
 uing (containing twenty-three beds) capable of 
 complete ventilation, by fubftituting a water-cloiet 
 for the necelTary, opening the gallery at each end, 
 and dividing the ward into three apartments, con> 
 taining fix beds each. The adjoining ward on the 
 fame floor of the wing, they would convert into a 
 dining-room for the female patients ; and that im- 
 mediately above, into a comfortable apartment for 
 three patients." 
 
 The wards m the front appeared alfo " too much 
 crowded, and in fummer to fufFer much from the 
 heat of the fun." The committee propofe, '* that 
 inftead of eleven, thefe wards Ihall contain only fe- 
 ven beds each, and that every window have fl:rong 
 Venetian blinds on the outfide. Alfo that two 
 fmall rooms, now differently occupied, be converted 
 into wards, each to contain two beds." 
 
 " To obtain a fuccellion of pure, frefli air," they 
 recommend, " that every wmdow have a portion of 
 each pane in the top of the upper fafli cut away, 
 and a fra.~ie of glafs placed on a crofs bar, moveable 
 on it by hinges, fo as to make a greater or lefs angle 
 with the window, and confequently to admit more 
 
 or 
 
jectocaftle upon C^ne. 327 
 
 or lefs air at pleafure, rifing towards the cieling.^ 
 Alfo that apertures be made through the walls into 
 the gallery, oppolite to the windows in each ward; 
 having doors turning on fwivels, which may, if ne- 
 celTary, be locked, to prerent the patients from 
 (hutting them." 
 
 " As bedfteads conftruded of wood are prolific 
 fources for the propagation of vermin, and as com- 
 plete cl'eanlincfs cannot be effected in Infirmaries 
 where fuch furniture is ufed," the committee alfo 
 propofe to have " all the bedfteads made of ham- 
 mered iron, with joints, to turn up in the day time, 
 and to ftand with their i)eads againft the wall. Some 
 of the iron bedlleads, in every ward, to hav§ a fcrew 
 to raife or lower the back, for altering the pofition of 
 patients when in a weak ftate." 
 
 *' Having pointed out thefe improvements, the 
 committee declare it to be their " decided opinion, 
 that the air can never be kept pure, if more than 
 fifty patients are admitted into the old building. Ac- 
 commodations will therefore be wanting for thirty- 
 four in-patients, according to the prefent eftablifli- 
 ment, as well as feparate rooms for patients under 
 
 dan- 
 
 f Still more cffeftually to difFufe the air equally, it is pro- 
 pofed to convey it from without, by a wooden tube placed under 
 the floor, and opening into the middle of each room, with a valve 
 to fhut at pleafure ; and to carry ofFthe vitiated air, by means of 
 a,n aperture and valve in the cieling, immediately above the open- 
 ing in the floor below, communicating wnth a fimilar tube, which 
 terminates in a brick funnel, running parallel with the chimney, 
 to tlie top of the building. In calm weather, or when the at- 
 mofphere in any of the wards becomes tainted by particular dif- 
 eafes of the patients, it is propofed to fix a ftove grate in every 
 funnel in the garret, to accelerate the motion of tlie air, and 
 carry off contagious vapours. 
 
328 3ftnpartial 5)i{!:oti? of 
 
 dangerous difeafes. and after operations of magni- 
 tude, when perfed quiet and pire air are fo eflential 
 to recovery." To embrace thefe important objeds, 
 and to place this charity on a footing with the molt 
 approved Infirmaries, the committee propofe " an 
 extenfion of the building." 
 
 In planning this extenlion, it was the leading ob- 
 jed: to effecH: complete ventilation both in the new 
 and in the old houfe. For this reafon the quadran- 
 gular form has been avoided, and the new building, 
 indead of being added as a wing correfpondent to 
 the other, is to commence immediately where the 
 front galleries of the prefent building terminate to- 
 wards the welt. Each ilory is to confill of a fmgle 
 row of v,'ards, and a gallery,! which will have a 
 fouthern afptd;, and will communicate with thofe of 
 the old houfe ; by which means a thorough ventila" 
 fion of both buildings will be fecured ; while the 
 new wards will not only enjoy the benefit of every 
 contrivance for ventilation which has already been 
 mentioned, but, havmg a northern afpedl, will be 
 protected from the inconvenience of the heat in fum. 
 mer, experienced in the old houfe. Still more eflec- 
 tually to fecure a fupply of freili, pure air, ventilat- 
 ing crofs galleries, with a fire place in each, are pro- 
 pofed to be conltruded in the fecond and third fio- 
 ries, between the new and the old building. Thefe 
 are alfo to ferve the purpofe of dining-rooms for the 
 male patients, and fuch patients as are able to fit up 
 are to remain in them fome hours daily, during 
 
 which 
 
 f Tlie new building will be one hundred and twenty-five feet 
 long, and the gallery fix feet fix inches broad ; in which the pa. 
 tients will be allowed to walk when the weather is wet. 
 
BclDcgaie upon C^ne. 3^9 
 
 which time their bedding is to be carried into the 
 open air, and the wards expofed to ventilation. 
 
 " The committee having paid fo much attention to 
 the obtaining lupplies of pure, frefli air, and alio to 
 its equal dirtribution, have further recommended 
 that a ufeful invention of Mr, Mofer's Ihould be in- 
 troduced in the conflrudiion of the new building, by 
 which atmofpheric air, palling through a Iquare 
 opening made in the wall on a level with the floor in 
 the bafement ftory, is heated by a fand-bath, and is 
 conveyed, by earthen tubes placed perpendicularly, 
 into the galleries, and thence into the wards. 
 
 *' Each ward, containing lix bedlteads, will have 
 two windows in front, and alfo two fa Hied windows in 
 the back wall, in a direct line with thofe in the front 
 and in the gallery. The wards with two beds will 
 have each a window in front, and alfo in the back 
 wall, in the fame direction. By this means the moft 
 complete thorough ventilation may be obtained at all 
 times. The bafement ftory, eleven feet high, will 
 contain hot, cold, vapour, and fhower baths, a laun- 
 dry, and other requilite offioes. The fecond and 
 third {lories, fourteen feet high, will contain four 
 wards, each twenty-five by twenty-four, capable of 
 holding fix beds each ; and the fourth (lory, five 
 rooms, each twenty-five by twelve, in which are to 
 be lodged only one patient, and a convalefccnt or a 
 nurfe. Thefe rooms are to be allotted to patients 
 in dangerous complaints, or after operations of mag- 
 nitude, and are therefore properly placed on the 
 fame floor with the operation-room. 
 
 *' To the weft end of the new building it is propofed 
 to annex two wards with fix bedfteads each, and 
 two wards with two bedfteads each, together with a 
 
 T t kitchen, 
 
33^ Jnipavtial IpiSori) of 
 
 kitchen, wafh-houfe, and vvater-clofet, for infedlious 
 fevers of accidental occurrence. There will be a 
 door at the end of the gallery, communicating with 
 the flair-cafe belonging to thefe wards, for the con- 
 venience of removing patients from the Infirmary, 
 but which, afterwards, will be kept fliut, to prevent 
 the contagion from fpreading. 
 
 " Every floor in the new houfe will have a nurfe's 
 room, fcullery, and water-clofet, conveniently fitu- 
 ated, and abundantly fupplied with water from a 
 large leaden ciftern, placed on the top of the new 
 building, where it joins the old Infirmary. From 
 this ciftern the wards in the new building, and wa- 
 ter-clofets and wards in the old houfe, are alfo to be 
 fupplied ; by which means cleanlinefs will be more 
 readily and expeditioufly efFeded. 
 
 " The committee prefented the report, of which the 
 above is an abridged account, to a fpecial court held 
 on the 4th of Auguft, i8oi, (Sir M. W. Ridley, bart. 
 M P. in the chair) when, after mature deliberation, 
 and examination of the plans and elevation of the 
 propofed new building, the following motions, among 
 feveral others, were made by Sir J. E. Swinburne, 
 bart. and unanimoufly agreed to : 
 
 •' I. That this court, being of opinion that the 
 Infirmary, in its prefent ftate, is but ill calculated to 
 anfwer the benevolent purpofes of fuch an inftitu^ 
 tion, do approve of the report of the committee, 
 dated 21ft July. 
 
 " 2. That a fubfcription be entered into, for the 
 
 purpofe of carrying into execution the plan propofed 
 
 by the faid committee, for the improvement and ex- 
 
 lenfion of the Infirmary." 
 
 " The 
 
5i3etocaGle upon €^nt- 331 
 
 *' The following gentlemen, in addition to the 
 former committee, viz. Sir M. W. Ridley, bart. M. P. 
 C. J. Brandling, eiq. M. P. the hon. C. Grey, M. P. 
 T. R. B.-aumont, elq. M. P. Sir R. Milbanke, bart. 
 M. P. Rowland Burdon, efq. M P. the mayor of 
 Newcaftle, Samuel Lawton, efq. and the rev. Fred. 
 Ekins, were appointed a committee for improvement, 
 with full powers to carry into effed the objects con- 
 tained in tile report. 
 
 " The fubfcription was opened by a draft for 500I. 
 inclofed in a letter to Mr. Ingham, from the duke of 
 Northumberland, in which his grace exprcfles, in the 
 raoft pohte terms, his high opinion of the utility of 
 the Infirmary, and his wafh that the propofed im- 
 provements might be carried into effedl. The fiims 
 fubfcribed at this court exceeded i6ool. 
 
 *' On the 23d of September the foundation-flone 
 gf the new building was laid by Sir M. W. Ridley, 
 bart. M. P. as reprefentative, upon thisoccafion, of 
 his grace the duke of Northumberland. The fub- 
 fcription, at this time, amounted to 2,8171. 3s. and it 
 is a pleafing circumflance to remark, that the repre- 
 fentatives of the molt diftinguiftied families, connedl- 
 ed \Mth the interefls of the three counties ofNew- 
 calUe, Durham, and Northumberland, have, with 
 the utmolt liberality, humanely contributed to carry 
 into perfedion this benevolent inltitution, ellabliflicd 
 by their anceilors." 
 
 It is with unmixed, cncreafing fatisfa6lion, that the 
 mind '• who fuffers in another's woe," dwells upon 
 the efibrts of the charitable, and the Ikil fully hu- 
 mane, to alleviate, if not completely remove, the 
 numerous calamities which often are the lot of fuf- 
 
 T t 2 fering 
 
332 Jmparttal ipiftory of 
 
 fering humanity ; and on that account we have been 
 rather copious in our extrads from the authentic 
 plan of the admirable inRitution of the public Infir- 
 mary of Newcaftle, both in its original jftate, and in 
 its intended improvements, which are rapidly going 
 forward. We fhall, therefore, only lay before our 
 readers a very few more interefting obfervations, fc- 
 ledled from the detailed account of this noble cha- 
 rity, pohtely communicated to us by Mr. Airey, the 
 fecretary. 
 
 In peruling the reports of the profellional gentle- 
 men, who, in order to procure every degree of ufeful 
 information, have compared the plans of Infirmaries, 
 not only in Great Britain, but of the moft eminent 
 in France, Germany, Italy, Sf-c. we cannot withhold 
 our mite of grateful acknowledgment for their laud- 
 ablCj and we hope fuccefsful, induftry, in their re- 
 ports recently publifhed. 
 
 The necellity and importance of the principal im- 
 provements of the Infirmary are comprehended un- 
 der the following regulations. 
 
 1. Accommodation for in-patients. 
 
 2. Redudion of the number of patients in the wards. 
 
 3. Regulated vcniilation. 
 
 4. CleanlineS. 
 
 5. The feparation of patients, and their divifion and ar- 
 
 rangement according to difeafe. 
 
 6. Difeafes which are proper for reception into an Infir- 
 
 mary, and thofe which ought not to be received. 
 
 7. Improvement of the medical fcience. 
 
 8. Medical library, and anatomical preparations. 
 
 Then follows a candid and plain ftatement of the 
 finances of the Infirmary, and the expence to be in- 
 curred by its improvement and extenfion. From 
 
 iega- 
 
jl3elocaftle upon C^ne. 
 
 333 
 
 legacies, benefadions, 8i.c. the prefent annual in- 
 conne amounts to one thoufand three hundred and 
 lixty-lix pounds eighteen fliilhngs. The new im- 
 provements will coll four thoufand pounds. 
 
 The following is a lift of the original fubfcribers 
 towards building the Infirmary in the year 1751, 
 
 2CO 
 100 
 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 Dr. Butler, bifhop of 
 Durham, lool. for 
 five years, and to- 
 wards the building £. 50 
 Earl of Northumberl. 200 
 SirWakerBlackett, bt. 
 Bifhop of Gloucefter 
 Lady Windfor 
 Lord Raveufworth 
 Lord Crewe's truftees 
 Mrs. Tomlinfon, reli(5t 
 of the Rev. Dr.l'om- 
 linfon, of Whickham 
 MefFrs. Davidfons and 
 
 Milbank 
 Quarterly meeting of 
 people called Qua- 
 kers, Durham 
 John Stcavenfon, efq. 
 Launcelot Allgood, efq. 50 
 Matthew Ridley, efq. 50 
 Matthew White, efq. 
 Dr. Rotheram, of Hex- 
 ham, in part of the 
 produce of a courfe 
 of experimental phi- 
 lofophy by him given 
 
 70 
 52 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 for the benefit of tliis 
 charity £. 
 
 Matthew Bell, efq. 
 Thomas Davifon, efq. 
 John Davifon, efq. 
 William Ord, efq. 
 Mr. T. Crozier, London 
 Mrs. Martha White 
 B. K. a pcrfon unknown 
 Mrs. Whitfield 
 
 Richard Wilkinfon, efq. 
 Durham 
 
 Mrs. Grace Ord 
 
 Rev. Dr. Bland 
 
 Percival Clennell, efq. 
 
 Mifs Clennell 
 
 Richard Grieve, efq. of 
 Alnwick 
 
 Mr. S Handcock 
 
 Mrs. Ltddell, of Newton 
 
 Mr. Daniel Hodgfon 
 
 Sir Hugh Lawfon, bart. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Eden 
 
 John Airey, efq. 
 
 Hen. Tho. Carr, efq. 
 
 Chrift. Fawcett, efq. 
 
 John Williams, efq. 
 
 42 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 IQ 
 
 3^ 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 O- 
 
 21 
 
 
 
 2( 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 0. 
 
 »> 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 lO 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 lO 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 \o 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 Id 
 
 Sub^ 
 
334 
 
 Jnipnrtial fMovji of 
 
 Subfcribers towards the prefent extenjion and im- 
 provement of the Infmnary^ up to Nov. 6, i8oi. 
 
 D. of Northumberl. £. 500 
 Sir J. E. Sw'mbume, bt. 100 
 Sir M. W. Ridley, bart. 100 
 Lady Ridley lod 
 
 Sir C. Monck, bart. 100 
 SirT.H.Liddell, bart. 100 
 C. J. Brandling, efq. 100 
 William Ord, efq. 100 
 
 Matthew Bell, efq. 100 
 
 T. R. Beaumont, efq. 100 
 The Corporation of 
 
 Newcaftle 100 
 
 Lord biftiop of Durham 100 
 Lord Delaval 
 Earl of Tankerville 
 Earl of Strathmore 
 Admiral Roddam 
 Alex. Davifon, efq. 
 Earl Cowper 
 William Peareth, efq. 
 Hon. C. Grey, M. P. 
 Mrs. Harrifon 
 H. U. Reay, efq. 
 C W. Bigge, efq- 
 William Hargrave, efq, 
 Rowland Burdon, efq. 
 M. W. Ridley, efq. 
 William Surtees, efq. 
 Sir R. Milbanke, bait. 
 John Silvertop, efq. 
 William Ruffell, efq. 
 Calverley Bewicke, efq. 
 John Graham Clarke, efq. 25 
 Ifaac Cookfon, efq. 25 
 
 John Walker, efq. 25 
 
 Charles Ogle, efq. 21 
 
 Nicholas Walton, efq. 21 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 52 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 • 50 
 
 50 
 
 5" 
 50 
 
 5" 
 50 
 
 50 
 50 
 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 
 Dr. Clar!:e 
 
 William Ingham, efq. 
 
 James Scott, cCq. 
 
 Nathaniel Clayton, efq. 
 
 Rev. John Fawcett 
 
 Thomas Simpfon, efq. 
 
 Alexander Adams, efq. 21 
 21 
 21 
 21 
 20 
 10 
 10 
 10 
 
 Jofeph Forfter, efq, 
 John T. Bigge, efq. 
 R. H. Williamfon, efq. 
 Mr. Robert Ormfton 
 Mr. John Barras 
 Thomas Maude, efq. 
 T. E. Headlam, efq. 
 
 Rev. F. Ekins 10 
 
 Thomas Bigge, efq. 10 
 
 H. Ibbetfon, efq. 10 
 
 Mrs. Jbbetfon 10 
 
 George Lake, efq. 10 
 
 Rev, Dr. Proifer 10 
 
 Anthony Hopper, efq, 10 
 
 Mr. Edward Walker 10 
 
 Samuel Lawton, efq. 5 
 
 Mr. Smith 5 
 
 James Lofh, efq. 5 
 
 W. O. W. Ogle, efq. 5 
 
 Mr Thomas Waters 5 
 
 Mr William Lloyd 5 
 
 Rev. J. Walton 5 
 
 Job Bulman, efq. 5 
 
 Mr. F. 'Horn 5 
 
 Mr. Caleb Angas 5 
 
 Mrs. Jobling 5 
 Barber-Surgeons* Comp. 5 
 
 Mr. John Patterfon 2 
 
 Mr. John Airey 2 
 
 Mr. H.. Johnfon 1 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 10 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 o 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 I 
 
 Then 
 
Be^Dcaaie upon €:|?ne. 
 
 3.^5 
 
 Then follow the ftatutes and rules for the go- 
 vernment of this charity. Thefe regulations, one 
 hundred and twenty in all, do great credit to the 
 judgment and humanity of the governors, and of the 
 medical and furgical members. 
 
 Upon the whole, when the new erections Hiall be 
 completed, if not the largelt, we have no doubt it 
 will be one of the moll ufeful and befl regulated ia 
 Europe. 
 
 The prefent eftablifliment of the Infirmary is as 
 follows. 
 
 Grand Visitor, 
 
 THE LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. 
 
 Presidents, 
 
 Duke of Northumberland, 
 Earl of Tankerville, 
 Earl of Darlington, 
 
 Duke of Portland, 
 Duke of Richmond, 
 Mayor of Newcallle. 
 
 Vice Presidents, 
 
 Sir Henry Grey, bart. 
 
 Sir Mat. White Ridley, bart. 
 
 Sir Tho. Hen. Liddell, bart. 
 
 Eatl of Strathmore, 
 Charles Brandling, efq. 
 Thomas Richard Beaumont, efij. 
 
 Treasurir, Thomas Maude, Efq, 
 
 Physicians. 
 John Clark, M. D 
 James Wood, M. D. 
 John Ramfey, M. D. 
 Robert Steavenfon, M. D. 
 
 Apothecary, 
 Mr. William Jackfon. 
 
 Chaplain, 
 Rev. John Ellifon. 
 
 SORGEONS. 
 
 Mr. Richard Bryan Abbs, 
 Mr. William Ingham, 
 Mr. Richard Keenlyfide, 
 Mr. Frederick Horn. 
 
 Secretary, 
 Mr. John Airey. 
 
 Matron, 
 Mrs. Mary Jackfon. 
 
 The total number of patients cured fince the 
 commencement of the Infirmary was, on the 2d of 
 April, i8or, thirty-three thoufand and twenty /even ; 
 befides a great number annually difcharged relieved. 
 
 THE 
 
3^^ Jmpartial .ft)i(lor|) of 
 
 THE DISPENSARY. 
 
 This very humane inftitution was firfl opened on 
 Odlober 2, 1777, in a houfe in Pilgrim-ilreet. But, 
 upon the funds for fupporting this laudable charity 
 accumulating,, the governors were enabled to make 
 a purchaie of the Mafon's Lodge, in Low Friar-ftreet. 
 This is an elegant and well-finiflied ftrucfture, and 
 perfeclly adapted for a Difpenfary. It is adorned 
 with a fine front, on which is cut out the date of the 
 commencement of the inflitution. 
 
 We will not enter tediouQy into an enumeration 
 of the regulations of this charity, but curforily note 
 fome of the moil important to be known by the in- 
 habitants. 
 
 In general, " the defign of this inflitution is to ad- 
 minifter advice and medicines to the poor confined 
 to their own habitations by ficknefs." The limits 
 for vifiting the patients are Shields road bridge to 
 the eaftward, and the utmoll extent of the town to 
 the well, north, and fouth, including the borough of 
 Gatefiiead. 
 
 The objecfls of this Difpenfary are to be fuch poor 
 inhabitantii as cannot receive proper relief from the 
 Neucaftle Infirmary, either on account of the nature 
 of their dileafe, or when unfafe for them to wait till 
 the day of admiffion. 
 
 Tlie apothecary is to refide at the Difpenfary, to 
 receive letters of recommendation, and to keep a re- 
 gilter of the patients ; but is not to pradtife out of 
 the Dilpenfary on his own account. 
 
 The mayor, or any of the aldermen, are to recom- 
 mend for the corporation, and the ftewards for the 
 members of their company. 
 
 Each 
 
ii5e\ycaaie upon HZyyaz. 
 
 337 
 
 r 
 
 E.ich fubfcriber of a guinea has a po.ver oF reco'n- 
 menJing four patients annually; t'vo guineas, eight ; 
 and, when p-ii'l annually, conflitutes the fub'criber 
 a governor. Ten guineas at on- pavment conl^itute 
 a governor for lite, with a right to reconimend eight 
 patients. 
 
 Such was the original plan of this adaiirable cha- 
 rity, a? indifurcd, 1777- It, no doubt, will afford, 
 the compaflio tate and humane lingalar pleaiun' to 
 fee, bv the fubfeqaent abllradl from the account 
 recently publifhed, the gradual and encreafing fuc- 
 cefs of this Difpenfary, from its inllitution to Mi- 
 chadmas 1801. 
 
 Its prefent elfablifliment is as follows ; 
 
 Patron, 
 
 THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 
 
 Presidents, 
 
 Marquis of Bute, 
 
 Sir Mat. White Ridley, bart 
 
 Sir The. Hen. Liddell, bart 
 
 Ralph Carr, efq. 
 Rowland Burdon, efq. 
 
 TrE VSURER, 
 
 Matthew Liddell, efq. 
 
 Dr. Clark, 
 Dr. Young, 
 Dr. Ramfay, 
 
 SURGEOM. 
 
 Mr. Anderfon. 
 
 Charles Brandling, efq. 
 George Baker, efq. 
 Jofeph Foriter, efq. mayor. 
 
 Vice Presidents, 
 
 Ralph Atkinfon, efq. 
 Rev. Dr. Profl'er. 
 
 Secretart, 
 Mr. Robert Doubleday. 
 
 Physicians. 
 
 Dr. Wood, 
 Dr. Steavenlbn, 
 Dr. Pearfon. 
 
 Visiting Surgeon. 
 Mr. Murray. 
 
 Apothecary, Mr. Wilkie. 
 
 The report obferves, that this charity embraces 
 
 three important objeds, viz. relieving difcafis in ge^ 
 
 U u neral^ 
 
338 Jmpartfal fpidor^ of 
 
 neral, promoting inoculation, and rejloring fufpended 
 animation by drownings St-c, Thefe are divided into 
 three departments. 
 
 " The number of patients admitted in the courfe 
 of the prefent year (i8oi), and the fuccefs of the 
 praclice in their feveral difeafes, are exhibited in an 
 annexed table ; and when it is compared with thofe 
 formerly publiflied, it will appear that, fince the 
 commencement of the charity, thirty fix thoujand 
 [even hundred and Jixty-feven patients have been ad- 
 mitted, of whom thirty. three thouf and f even hundred 
 and forty-two have been cured, 
 
 " From this table it alfo appears, \\\2Xfour hundred 
 and twenty-five patients, labouring under fevers, 
 were admitted during the courfe of the year. The 
 unufual prevalence of this difeafe, not in Newcaflle, 
 but in moil of the large towns in the kingdom, can 
 only be imputed to the fcarcity, the bad quality, 
 and the high price, of provifions. The harveft in 
 iSoo was late; the grain and potatoes damaged; 
 and therefore the food of the poor has not only been 
 icanty, but afforded little nutriment. It has, how- 
 ever, fortunately happened, that the fever was tradl- 
 able ; and, from the exertions of this charity, few 
 died. But the good effedls of this department of the 
 Difpenfary have not been confined to the poor alone, 
 who are its immediate objecfts ; for in fevers, and 
 other iifeElious difeafes, rules of prevention are car- 
 ried into execution ; by which means contagion has 
 often been entirely fuppreffcd, and its propagation, 
 if not always prevented, kept within narrow limits. 
 Hence Nevvcaftle, for many years pad, has been, in 
 a great meafure, exempted from epidemic difeafes." 
 
 In 
 
Ji^elDcaGlc upon Cpne. 3^9 
 
 In even the moll fatal of all difeafes, fuch as drop- 
 fies, pallies, and other diforders proceeding from 
 worn-out conditutions, or the decays of old age, 
 where, though death is inevitable, yet humanity will 
 prompt the phylicians, furgeons, and apothecary, to 
 contribute every aid from medicine, to foften and 
 alleviate painful iymptoms. In doing fo, thefe (kil- 
 ful profeffional men will have their reward in their 
 own breads ! 
 
 Inoculation. — Since the commencement of the 
 Difpenfary, three thoufand and forty-four have been 
 inoculated, of which only fix died. The natural 
 fmall-pox ufually carries off one infix. " Therefore, 
 had the number above inoculated taken the natural 
 d'i£tc\(t,five hundred and f even would have died; and 
 if the fix patients who died under the different ino- 
 culations be deducted from the laft numbers, five 
 hundred and one will remain, as the lives faved by 
 inoculation." 
 
 " A moll providential difcovery having been made, 
 that the cow-pox, a dileafe to which that animal is 
 fubjedl in fome of the fouthern counties of this 
 iliand, when taken by perfons who milked the cow, 
 rendered them ever afterwards unfufceptible of re- 
 ceiving the infedion ; which being eftablifhed by 
 various and numerous inoculations of the matter 
 from the cow-pock ; it alfo appearing that the tiac- 
 cine was attended with much lefs rilk than the va- 
 riolous inoculation, and that patients under the 
 cow-pox did not propagate contagion; it was judged 
 an indifpenlible duty to adopt this pradlice at the 
 Difpenfary." 
 
 The firll vaccine inoculation was performed in the 
 
 fpring of this prefent year ; the fuccefs of which has 
 
 U u 2 proved 
 
34^ Jmpeitial fpiftorp of 
 
 proved greater than even the mod fanouine mind 
 exneded ; tor, of two hundred and fifteen children 
 inoculated, only two failed in taking the difeafe, and 
 all of them happily recovered. 
 
 " It was purpjfed to fubjecl u fufficient number of 
 the children, who had undergone the vaccine pox, 
 to variolous inoculation, in order to confirm, by 
 ocular evidence, the certainty of the former being 
 an antidote to the latter difeafe. But fuch was the 
 prejudice __of the parents, that only two of the chil- 
 dren who had paffed thn^ugh the cow pox were al- 
 lowed to be inoculateil for the fmalUpox, and it pro- 
 duced no dil'eafe. But we are happy in adding, that 
 the fafety and fecurity of vaccine inoculation now 
 ftands upon a very broad bails of experimerjt ; for it 
 appears, frorii the report of the Vaccine Society, in- 
 flituted in London, which has been lately publilhed, 
 that oi'Jixty tboiifand perfons who have been already' 
 inoculated, it is doubtful whether four have died ; 
 and that o^ ten thoufand who have been re-inoculated 
 "with the, fmall-pox, not afingle well-attefled cafe has 
 been produced of the patient having taken the dif- 
 temper." 
 
 We fliall clofe our account of the Difpenfary by 
 obferving, that in the prefervative department the 
 governors have alfo difplayed their philanthropy, in 
 pri^iding and placm>^ in proper houfes the ncceflary 
 inflruriients and medicines for relloring fulpended 
 animation. The faculty in Newcaftle, Shields, How- 
 den-pans. Winlaton, Swalvvell, and Newburn, are 
 medical aflif^ants ; and inch plain dircdliuns have 
 been puliilhed, that any fpeclator may render aflift- 
 ance to a leiluw- creature on tlie firit emergency. 
 
 LYING- 
 
ji^JctDcallle upon ^jinc. 341 
 
 LYING-IN HOSPITAL, 
 
 For poor Man'ied fVomen. 
 
 This companionate inftitution was firft opened in 
 Rofemary-lane, Odober f, 1760. The hofpital is. 
 fituated in a retired ipot, healthy and airy, and very 
 fuitable for the purpofe. The accommodations, at- 
 tention, and delicacy towards the patients, are, like 
 the other humane inftitutions of Newcaftle, laudable 
 and exemplary. 
 
 This is over the front door :-'Licenfed for the 
 public reception of pregnant women, purfuant to an 
 acl of parliament pa (fed in the i^tb year of the reign 
 of George the third. 
 
 On the inner iide of the main door there is an in- 
 fcription over a charity-box, tru'y appoiite : 
 
 ''BECAUSE THERE WAS KO ROOM FOR HIR IN THE INJT.*' 
 
 The following is the eftabLlhment. 
 
 President, ^ 
 
 THE DUK£ OF PORTLAND. ♦ 
 
 Vice Presidents. 
 Sir Matt. W. Ridley, bart. I Ralph Carr, efq. 
 Charles Brandling, efq. | Matter of the Trinity-hoafc. 
 
 Treasurer, | Chaplain, 
 
 Mr. James Atkihfon. | Rev. M. Manners. 
 
 Physician, | Surged:*, a 
 
 I^r. Wood. j Mr. Bowes F;i wick. 
 
 Matron and Midwife, J For OuT-r'AnE.NTs, 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Reed. | Twelve Midlives. 
 
 Tue rules in general are fimiiur to thole of the 
 other charitable inftitutions, but upon a f jailer I'cale. 
 Women are to be recommendeii by iublcribers, and 
 muft produce certificates of their marriage, if fud- 
 denly taken ill, the matron nuift attend them at 
 
 their 
 
342 Jmpartial ipiGori) of 
 
 their own habitations, or there is a chair provided 
 by the chanty to convey them to the hofpital. 
 
 The piiyfician and iurgeon, botli ikilled in mid- 
 wifery, are to deliver the women in all difficult cafes, 
 inftrud the midwives, and ad in their refpeclive ca- 
 pacities. 
 
 The matron mufl: be a midvi^ife, and deliver in or- 
 dinary cafes. 
 
 The number admitted fince the firft opening to 
 the prefent time amounts to upwards of 2,000. 
 
 In the year 1761, a fimilar charity was inftituted 
 for poor lying-in women at their own houfes in New- 
 caftle and Gatefliead. They enjoy the aid of the 
 midwife in ordinary cafes ; and in cafes difficult and 
 dangerous, two furgeons attend. They have every 
 receflary fupport during the month, with fome pecu- 
 niary gratuity to aid the family while the mother is 
 thus incapacitated. 
 
 It pains humanity to be informed, that, owing to 
 the death of feveral of the principal fubfcribers, &c. 
 and the late heavy preflures, the funds are in a lan- 
 guifhing flate. Ye bounteous and liberal-minded 
 fair ones, remember " your Ji/lers of low degree ."* 
 and relieve the wants of their poor, helplefs, young 
 families, when in a flate, which, however painful, 
 it is the \\\{i\ and pnde of every female to be. 
 " Give me childrefi^ or I die .'" faid one of your fex 
 in ancient times. She obtained her wifh, and died 
 in confequence I 
 
 ;Jf he greateft of the patriarchs entertained angels 
 unawares. You, by kmd relief, may be the means 
 of Dimming a future Newton or a Locke into the 
 world, to be the ornaments of their admiring coun- 
 try. 
 
 FRIEND- 
 
BetocaGle upon Cpne. 34^ 
 
 FRIENDLESS POOR SOCIETY. 
 
 A benevolent inftitution was formed in this town in 
 the year 1797, the object of which is to afford relief 
 to the friendlefs poor, and to diffeminate the princi- 
 ples of virtue and religion among the lower orders of 
 the people. It is chiefly patronized by the diffenting 
 minifters ; but we are forry to fay, that its funds are 
 not in fo flourifhing a Hate, as fuch a truly laudable 
 fociety merits. Their place of meeting is at the 
 Baptift chapel, Tuthil-ftairs. 
 
 LUNATIC ASYLUMS. 
 
 From the hofpitals of thofe labouring under the 
 afEidlions of the body, we come to the defcription of 
 thofe appropriated to fuch as are overwhelmed with 
 the infinitely worfe diforder of the mind. Babylon, 
 Perfepolis, Palmyra, in ruins; their palaces, temples, 
 ilately columns, overthrown in dull, are not, to xht 
 fympathiling eye, a fight fo afflicting, as the ruins of 
 the human intellecl !\ 
 
 Oclober 7, 1765, it having been reprefented to the 
 corporation of Newcaille upon Tyne, that a piece of 
 
 ground 
 
 f Dr. Charteris, in his admirable fermon on Alms, obferves, 
 that Dean Swift, feeling in himfelf fymptoms of approaching 
 lunacy, laid out twelve thoufand pounds, which he had faved, 
 on endowing an hofpital for fuch as Ihould be afflifted with this 
 frightful calamity. The celebrated Dr. Young tells us, in his 
 Conjeffuret on Original Compofition, that Addifon, Pope, and him- 
 felf, being in Ireland, on a vifit to the dean, and taking a walk 
 out with him to a field, they obferved him fall behind them for 
 an unufual time, and " 1 going back," lays Dr. Young, " found 
 him like a (latue with his eyes fixed upon a tree blaftcd at the 
 
 top." 
 
344 Jlnipartial fMov^ of 
 
 ground was wanted for the fite of an hofpital, in- 
 tended to be ereclcd in or near to that town, for lu- 
 natics belonging to the counties of Northumberland, 
 Durham, and Newcaftle, the Warden's Clofe, a field 
 without the walls of the town, between Newgate 
 and Weftgate, having been judged the mod proper 
 fituation for it, a committee of the common-council 
 was appointed to portion off a purt thereof for that 
 purp'jfe ; upon whofe report that they had meafured 
 and naked out a plot of ground for the fite of the 
 intended hofpital, the corporation ordered a leafe to 
 be granted in truft from the Chrifimas-day following, 
 for the term of ninety-nine years, under an annual 
 rent of two fhillings and fixpence : as alfo leave for 
 a paflage into Gallowgate for the convenience of the 
 faid hofpital. — Common-council books. 
 
 This building is in a retired fituation, airy and 
 healthful. The conveniences are numerous ; the 
 treatment of the unhappy patients humane, and fuit- 
 able to their fituations ; from whence many have re- 
 turned perfectly recovered. It is under the direction 
 of Robert Wood, M. D. 
 
 Another, named Belgrove, (formerly St. Luke's) 
 upon a fmaller fcale, is eredled on the Leazes, and is 
 under the management of J. Steavenfon, M. D. 
 
 A third 
 
 toj)." " I (hall be like that tree," faid he, with great emotion ; 
 •* I ftiall die at top !" And focn after, he was removed, for in- 
 curable lunacy, to that very hofpital, which he had humanelj 
 founded for others !-where, painful to relate ! he was ftiewn to the 
 gazing fpe(5^ators for fixpence a-piece ! The monfter of a keeper, 
 pointing at him, who was perhaps the moft brilHant wit. and, in 
 ferious fubjedls, the molt corr.dl writer of his aqe, now ftaring 
 at the beholders with a hideous afpecft ; '* That maniac>'* faid 
 he, «*is Dean Swift r* 
 
i^clcc«ftlr upon Cpue. 345 
 
 A third hofpital of the Ikme kind is built on the 
 edge of Gatefljead conimon, at JBenfliam, and is <Ji- 
 rected by Robert Wood, M. D. 
 
 z\t all tiiefc hofpitals the patients are treated wiiii 
 ikill and humanity. 
 
 Without meaning the leall offence to the gentle- 
 men who condn6lthe houfes of this defcription here, 
 <)f whom we have a very high opinion, we cannot 
 help obferviiig, in this place, that the plan adopted 
 by Dr. Hunter, of York, in riie treatment of maniacs, 
 which has been fo eminently luccdsful, is well worthy 
 attention, and, we will venture to add, imitation, as it 
 appears to be founded on an intimate acquaintance 
 with the nature of the human mind. His method, 
 we believe, dilL-rs effentially from tiiat of mod others. 
 Relinquiihing ail coercive meafures, and carefully re- 
 moving from the unhappy jiatient all appearance of 
 conllraint, he afTids their return to reafon bv a mild 
 and gentle treatment. So numerous are the flages, 
 and fo highly diverfilied the appearances of this me- 
 lancholy ddbrder, that to attempt a definition or de- 
 fcription of it would include a vafl portion of the hu- 
 man race, — {\\\r, very few of whom have the benefit 
 of medical aid ; but, were this mode of tr;:atment 
 generally adopted by thofe conneded with them, 
 might we not cxped that their number would be 
 greatly reduced "i that the Lift fad ilage, when the 
 patient is become totally unfit fi)r commerce with his 
 Ipecies, might be frequently averted; and medical 
 affiftance, in u great meafure, rendered unneceffary ? 
 
 THE BATHS. 
 
 Man is not an aquatic animal : and yet, to have 
 
 accompanied captain Cook, in his voyages in the 
 
 X X fouth'ern 
 
!4f^ Impartial fDiftory of 
 
 fouthern ocean, and to have obferved the natives, of 
 both fexes, of the Friendly and Sandwich iQands, &.c. 
 aln^.oft inccirantly fwimming in the neighbouring 
 ocean, and braving the waves when running fright- 
 fully high, either fkimming over the hquid piecipices,- 
 with all the facility of the finny race, or (hooting 
 through the bafis of watery mountains, and re-appear- 
 ing on the fummit of the waves, not only without 
 difmay, but enjoying the daring exertion with ftrong 
 cxprelTions of fatisfadion, and that too for many hours 
 together, would almoft induce us to believe, that man 
 is more nearly allied to the fcaly tribe than is gene- 
 rally imagined. 
 
 The celebrated Dr. Franklin, that friend of philo- 
 fophy and of man, obierves, that the whole human 
 frame is fpecificaJly lighter than water, the head only 
 excepted, which ccinfifting principally of bone, ftrong 
 niid conipaLted, for the defence of the brain, is con- 
 ft-quently heavier than its cubical fize of water ; and 
 lie adds, were it not from tiiriidity, we cannot fiatu- 
 rally fmk. He bids us look lo the African, or the 
 liidi'in, who can lit, lie, and ftand, almolt on the fur- 
 face of the Gceii3i, in its calm ov perturbed ftate ; or 
 darting along, with a Ih nip- pointed knife in his hand, 
 can engage, in mortal combat, the voracious fliark, 
 and vanquidi the fcaly monfter in his own element I 
 >^o that, if in this refpecl, it is not " confciencc," it is 
 ;ia;idity, that " makes cowards of us all." 
 
 Bathing, therefore, mu(t prove highly conducive to 
 health ; and medical men aflure us, that, in many- 
 cafes, arifing from a relaxed iiate of the nervous fyf- 
 tem, fea-bathing is, in general, a fovereign remedy. 
 Swimming, however, mud be the molt certain mode 
 af deriving advantage from bathing; as, by ilretch- 
 
 ing 
 
jT^elDcaaic upon ^i^nc 34: 
 
 ing the limbs in the briny flaid, the whole fvllem of 
 nerves, arteries, and veins, receive a new and invigo- 
 rating tone, and the mod plealing ienlations pervade 
 the whole iVame. 
 
 This is the purefl exeicife of licalth ; 
 
 And that fanie Roman arm, 
 
 Which rofe vi<florious o'er the conquer'd eartli, 
 Firft learn'd, when lender, to fubdiie the wave. 
 
 Thomson's Summer. 
 
 The public baths of this town are very pleafantly 
 lUuated without the Weft-gate. They were builr, a 
 few years ago, by the late eminent phyfician. Dr. 
 Hall. Tiiey are now the property of Edw. Kentiili, 
 i\l. D. who has made many necedary improvements, 
 in refpecft both to particuljr conveniences, as alio in 
 the general appearance of the place. He has alio 
 ■added an apparatus for giving the gafeous fluids, in 
 difeafes for which their ufe experience has found fa- 
 lutary : and, in order to extend the benefits of the 
 inftitution, he has lately reduced the terms of bath- 
 ing. 
 
 They coniifl; of medicated vapour baths, h.ct, tepid, 
 or of Buxton temperature ; together with enclofed 
 cold baths for ladies and gentlemen ; alfo a large 
 open, or fwimming bath, where young gentlemen 
 acquire this neceflary and ufeful art, free from the 
 danger of thofe fatal accidents which too frequently 
 happen in large rivers, or deej) ponds. 
 
 The fituation is peculiarly inviting ; it enclofes a 
 large area, elegantly laid out with gravel- walks, bor- 
 dered with a variety of fragrant flowers : the whole 
 being furrounded and interfedcd v»ith liiics of orna- 
 mental fhrubbery. 
 
 X X 2 bi:ni:- 
 
i4« Jmpartial iDiftorp of 
 
 BENEFIT SOCIETIES. 
 
 Societies, of voluntary nflociation, liave been 
 found, by experience, to nnfwer the moft valuable 
 purpofes. They tend greatly to leflen the poor-rate, 
 whicii haS been, in many tov\ns and counties, during 
 the late preflures, an intolerable burden upon the in- 
 duftrious and noddling clafTes of the community.— 
 Thev are alfo highly favourable in their moral influ- 
 ences upon the characters of their members. By 
 operating as a ilimulus to frugality and indullry, tlicy 
 counteracl ihe pernicious tendency of parochial relief, 
 which manifellly encourages idlenefs and diflipation. 
 The lower clafs have little profpcQ of being able, in- 
 dividually, to lay up a comfortable provilion for old. 
 age ; but by entering fuch focieties, they may fccure 
 thefe ineftimable advantages, without being too much 
 degraded.-'' With thefe views, many a poor mem- 
 ber depofits here his fliilling, when he has not another 
 in the world. Indeed it is evident, that there are 
 ■lany, even in ihc lowed ftations, who would prefer 
 fupport erned by their own exertion, however 
 painful or laborious, to that received from a parilh. 
 
 They likewife actuate the members of which they 
 
 are 
 
 * The benevolent Howard, count Rumford, iidcn, Wood, 
 Ruggles, &c. &c. in defcriblng the hiftory and llatc of the poor, 
 have Ihewn pretty clearly, that much oF the wretchednefs, and 
 many of the vices of the lower clafTes, in moft of the civilized 
 countries in Europe, may be attributed to their extreme poverty 
 and confequent degradation. The due de Liancourt, in fpeaking 
 of the ftate of morals in Pennfylvania, alfo fays, " Criminal of- 
 fences are rare, fome thefts excepted, which are generally commit- 
 ted by people lately arrived from Europe, brought up in ignorance 
 and penury, and whofe morals generally improve as they acquire 
 a fmall property of their own." 
 
j3r\Mcaaie upon &nt. ' u) 
 
 are compoled, with fraternal afTeclion ; and their 
 wife and laudable regulations againll vice attd pro- 
 fanenefs have tended to polifh and civilize their man- 
 ners, with more eftedl than even the ftatute-laivs of 
 the realm. While their lick and aged members are, 
 in general, provided for with humanity and attention. 
 
 However diverlified the mode of their refpedive 
 adminiftration, the manner of conducting their an- 
 nual meetings, or head-meeting days, the different 
 ages of admitting or rejeding candidates, giving 
 more or lefs to their fick and aged, a greater or ic;fs 
 fum for funeral expences of deceafed brethren or lif- 
 ters, and legacies to tlieir furviving relations or friends; 
 however various thefe regulations are, yet one genenl 
 principle pervades the W'hole, — a tendency to pro- 
 mote the general good of the fociety, and embrace in 
 its advantages all the members of which it is com- 
 pofed. 
 
 In general, a lick or difabled member is allowed 
 fix fliilhngs per week during a certain fpecified num- 
 ber of weeks ; then reduced to one half that fum, till 
 the member, by a lingering diforder, or difability to 
 work, has exhaufted all his lick-money ; he then be- 
 comes a penlioner for life, and commonly receives 
 half-a- crown or three ihiUings per week. The fune- 
 ral expences are about forty or lifty fliillings, and 
 fometimes three pounds. The legacy to the wido^v 
 is from fix to ten pounds ; with which Hie frequently 
 trades in a fmall way, and, with the parifh allowance, 
 fupports herfelf and her fatherlefs children. 
 
 There are between thirty and forty of tlieie focie- 
 ties of men in this town, which, together, conful of 
 not lefs than live thouland menabers. It is fuppofed 
 there are nearly the fame number of female benefit 
 
 focieties, 
 
350 Tnipartial !piGorL' of 
 
 focicties, which are, in general, more numerous than 
 thofe of the men. 
 
 To detail thefe circumftances is far from being 
 beneath the dignity of hiftory. '* Homo funi, et 
 nihil hum ani a me alienum puto T —\ am a man, and 
 am concerned in whatever interefts man,— -was one 
 of the fined fayings of antiquity. 
 
 schoolmaster's association. 
 
 We have already mentioned the names of the 
 fchoolmafters in Newcaflle, and have obferved how 
 greatly the rich fliops, warehoufes, and extenfive 
 compting-houfes are indebted to that ufeful clafs of 
 the community, for the accuracy and expedition with 
 which their quondam pupils are capable of tranfacling 
 bufinefs. We have only to obfcrve further, refpedl- 
 ing thsfe gentlemen, that whilft they, as clerks, direct 
 the concerns of the nuaierous benefit focieties, they 
 are not inattentive to their own. 
 
 November 19, 1774, was held (fays Mr. Brand, in 
 his 2d vol. p. 547) at Newcaille upon Tyne, the firfl: 
 meeting of the aflbciation of fchoolmafters in the north 
 of England. The object of the fociety, in this infti- 
 tution, was the relief of their diftrefled and aged bre- 
 thren, and their widows and orphans. He adds, in a 
 note, " See a pamphlet,;jintitled, ' An Addrefs to the 
 Public in behalf of the AflTociation among Proteftant 
 Schoolmallers,' &c. 
 
 The regulations obferved in conducting the con- 
 cerns of this inltitution, are fuch as became enhgh- 
 tencd men to plan, and men of integrity to execute. 
 We will not, however, trouble our readers with a de- 
 tail of th? rules of this aflociation ; only, they arc 
 
 upon 
 
ii*}elt)caftle upon Cpnc. 
 
 55^ 
 
 upon a more exteniive fcale than that of the otiier 
 focieties in Newcaflle, as they do not limit their cha. 
 rity to a trifling legacy, but they fettle upon the wi- 
 dow of a deceafcd brother ten, twelve, or fifteen, and 
 foon they expecl twenty pounds per annum for life. 
 An aged or fuperannuated member who has paid into 
 the fund for a certain number of years, enjoys a fet- 
 tlement alfo, which relieves his wants in his infirm 
 ftate. 
 
 Their annual meeting is always at Robfon's inn, 
 Pilgrim- ft reet •, where they dine, and enjoy that re- 
 fined fociality peculiar to enlightened minds. It is 
 then generally after an enlivening glafs or two, that 
 any brother who intends publifhing on any branch of 
 fcience, propofes his intended work to the fociety, 
 when thofe who approve of it generally fabfcribe their 
 names in its recommendation to the public, and adopt 
 it in their Ovvn feminaries. 
 
 His grace the duke of Northumberland is the pa. 
 tron of this fociety, and the rev. Mr. Farrer, prefident. 
 To the credit of the latter gentleman it deferves to be 
 mentioned, that to his abilities and condudl in the im- 
 portant office which he fills, the fociety is much in- 
 debted for its refpedabihty and its prefent very flou- 
 rilhing ftate. 
 
 We now conclude our account of thcfe charitable 
 inftitutions; only obferving, that they appeared to be 
 of fuch confequence as to attradl the attention of the 
 legiflature, who have, by an acT:, fanclioned the regu- 
 lations of thefe focieties, by pafling a law in their 
 favour. 
 
 CHAR^ 
 
352 Jmpartial fJ)iftori) of 
 
 CHARTERS, PRIVILEGES, ^ 
 
 -o , 
 
 P'rom the antiquity, fituation, fortifications, public 
 buildings and inftitutions of Newcaftle, we proceed 
 to give an account of its charters, privileges, civil 
 overnment, incorporated companies, trade and com- 
 
 merce. 
 
 CHARTERS of NEWCASTLE. 
 
 Exclulive charters to incorporated bodies of fub- 
 jecls, have been granted by the kings of England 
 from a very remote period, and particularly to the 
 townfmen of Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 William the Conqueror, and his fons, were, on fome 
 cccafions, munificent, and granted many privileges 
 to the town of Newcaftle ; but, although Doomfday- 
 book gives an account of the rents, property, and 
 emoluments, not only of all the individual freeholders 
 in the realm, but alfo of the more opulent boroughs 
 and towns, and of this town among others ; yet we 
 find no account of their enjoying any charter of 
 exclufive privileges, during the reigns of the Norman 
 line. 
 
 The firit hint we have of any grant of this nature, 
 is in the reign of Henry H. who, Anno Domini 1162, 
 confirmed to the townfmen of Newcaftle their eftates, 
 and exempted them from tolls and duties. It is 
 therefore a miftake in fome to fay, that this town had 
 no privileges till the reign of king John. And be- 
 fides, in the third year of king John's reign, which 
 
 was 
 
I5ctncrtfi(c upon Cpnc. s;^^ 
 
 was more than ten years before the to vn had a char- 
 ter fiom tliat king, the town had great privileges ; 
 the men of Newcaf^Ie upon Tyne (as mentioned in 
 tliat year in the great roll of Northumberland) paid 
 one hundred marks and two palfreys : fo havng the 
 town in their hands by the " old farm ;" viz. as is 
 there iVid tidy pounds and ten Ihilhngs encreafe, lor 
 confiimation of their liberties, which they h^d by 
 t!ie ciiarter of Henry II. the king's father. Bourne, 
 
 But the moft explicit cbarr^r was that which was 
 granted by king John, .\ D. izi2, in the r4th year 
 of h s reitrn. confirming to che burgeffes their rights 
 and privileges, conferred' upon them both by his 
 father Henry TI. and by himfelf. And, as Mr Gar- 
 diner, in his " England's Gr-.evances Difcovered," fays 
 that this was the firft chartf'r of Newcaflle, we fhall 
 give the following abltracV of it from that work, 
 
 " King John, by hi"; letters patent, dated the d:\j of 
 
 -, in the 14th year ot his rtign, and in the year of our Lord 
 
 1 2 1 2, granted demifed, and contirmed, to the honeft men of New- 
 cafUe upon Tyne, and to their heirs, his town of Newcadls upon 
 Tyne, with all the appurtenances, to fee-farm, for one hundred 
 pounds, to be rendered to the faid king and his heirs, at his ex- 
 chequer, ( to wit ) at the feaft of Eafter, fifty pounds, and at the 
 fcafl of St. Michael other fifty pounds ; favir.g to the faid king, 
 the rents, prizes, and afiize^ in the port of the faid town. Further 
 he grants to them, and conSrmcth one hundred and ten fliillings 
 and fixpence of rent, which they have by the gift of the faid king, 
 in the faid town, of efcheats, to be divided and affigned to them, 
 wlio loll their rents by occafion of a ditcli or trench, and ot the 
 new work made under the caftle, towards the river or water, fo 
 that thereof they mi f^ht have the more, that lolt the more, and 
 they that loft the lefs (hould have the lefs. He alfo granted to 
 them, for him and his heirs, that in nothing they fhould be an- 
 fwerable to the flierifF, nor to the conftable, for thofe things which 
 bd-ong to tlicm, as the faid charter teftifieth. Wherefore he will- 
 
 Y 7 eth 
 
354 Jinpaj^tial fMovv of 
 
 clh and firmly commandeth, that the faid men, and their heirs, 
 may have and hold the fame town, with its appurtenances, to 
 fee-farm, for the faid hundred pounds yearly to be paid, as is 
 aforefaid, well and in peac?, freely, quietly, and entirely, with al] 
 liberties and free cuftoms, which they were wont to have in the 
 time of king Henry II. father of the faid king John, as by the 
 faid letters patent appeareth." 
 
 King Henry III. by his charter, made it a •' mayor 
 town," being governed before by four bailiffs ; and 
 to his other royal favours added this gracious one, 
 (fays Wallis) a grant, during pleafure, of all the de- 
 niefne-lands belonging to the CafUe-field, containing 
 850 acres, for free palture, with liberty to dig coals 
 and ftones, and to difpofe of them for their ufe to the 
 bed advantage, upon payment of tvventy (liillings 
 into the exchequer. 
 
 His bounty did not ftop here. He gave them alfo 
 a field called the Forth, containing eleven acres, and 
 then valued at twelve pounds per annum ; for which 
 they were to pay forty fhillings. And that no few 
 A\as to refide among them. Bourne, IVallis, i^c. 
 
 King Ldward 1. direded a writ of fummons to 
 Newcaftle, in the tenth year of his reign, 1282, to 
 ft iid two members to parliament ; which is the ear- 
 Jisft record we have oF boroughs fending any ; or in- 
 deed of the commons fitting, except thofe fummoned 
 under Montfort's ufurpution, in the name of the king's 
 father, king Henry III. 
 
 King Edward 111. confirmed the franchifes of this 
 town, and granted it the perpetuity of the moor, and 
 lands called CaiHe-moorand Caftle-fieJds, for the pay- 
 ment of forty fliillings annually into the exchequer. 
 He exempted Newcallle from the jurifdidion of the 
 admiralty of England ; gave permiifion to purchafe 
 Jands to a certain value ; confirmed feveral by-laws 
 
 of 
 
3i5etocaaic upon C)>ne. 355 
 
 of the magiilrates, for well-governing and improving 
 it ; and alfo ilfued an order for the manner of elect- 
 ing the mayor, magiftrates, and other officers ; and 
 another concerning the meafure to be ufed by the 
 venders of coals. 
 
 King Richard II. coniirmcd the charters formerly 
 granted to Nevvcaitle, it'i the fir(t y-^ar of his reign, 
 1378. Pie ahb afterwards granted foine pieces of 
 ground, for the convenicncy of making high -ways 
 and a bridge : and for its greater honour, he alfo 
 granted, A. D. 13*^0, that a fvvord, the enfign of royal 
 Hate and authority, fhould be carried before the 
 mayor. 
 
 From the reign of Richard XL to the 15th century, 
 upon the moll fedulous examination of the various 
 grants, and refumptions of privileges to and from the 
 town of Newciillle, we can difcovcr nothing interell- 
 ing under thefe defpotic reigns; but that ftill the 
 corporiuion and free burgeffes were infenfibly acquir- 
 ing frefli acceflions to their privileges, from the throne, 
 while they were rapidly extending their commerce 
 and improving their refources of wealth and opulence 
 at home. But it was not till the reign of Elizabeth 
 that Newcadle obtained a charter, not only confirm- 
 ing all thofe granted in their favour in former reigns, 
 but, as that difcerning princefs, with fatisfactioii, ob- 
 ferved the vaft confequence and advantages which 
 the crown then derived, and if properly cherifhed, 
 would ftill further derive, fro;n the various branches 
 of their encreafing trade, fhe granted them a new 
 charter, comprehending and confirming all their pri- 
 vileges and immunities. 
 
 As this charter of Elizabeth, properlv fpeaking, 
 gave folidiry to the civil conftitution of this opulent 
 
 Y y 2 corpo- 
 
35^ Impartial fE)iftoi*p of 
 
 corporation, derines the jurirjiclion ot" its maj^ui rates 
 and civil officers, the extent of their authority, the 
 privileges, as u'ell as tlie limits of thofe privileges, of 
 the freemen, we have thought it proper to infert here 
 the kibitance thereof. 
 
 Aug all 30, 15S9, this queen granted a charter to 
 the burgefTes of Newcaftle, wherein fhe incorporated 
 them by the name of" The Mayor and BurgefTes of 
 the Town of Newcallle upon Tyne, in tlie County of 
 the lame ;" confirming to them the faid town, with 
 all its members and appurtenances, and the liberties 
 they formerly had, as well by charter as by profcrip- 
 tion, at one hundred pounds fee-farm, payable at 
 Michaelmas in every year; with power to the faid 
 mayor and burgt-fies, or the greater part of them, to 
 make ordinances and by-laws, for their better go- 
 vernment, enjoining the obedience of them, under 
 pain of fine or imprifonment. This charter alfo gave 
 them power to make perambulation, fet boundaries, 
 and remove encroachments on the limits of the town, 
 the extent of which, by land and by water, was to re- 
 main as before. It further comprifed a pardon of 
 purchafe made without licence, and power to retain 
 what had formerly been purchafed; and gave them 
 the fame authority and liberty in the lallle, which 
 was ftill a parcel of the county of Northumberland, 
 as m the other parts of the town. This cirarter fur- 
 ther granceth an exemption from the jurifdiclion of 
 the admiralty, with an admiralty couit of its own, to 
 be held in that town every Monday, before the re- 
 corder and aldermen, or three of them, whereof the 
 mayor or recorder to be one, makinij tbein alfo juftices 
 of the ,'^ace for the admiralty, and for confervation 
 of the liver, within the port, with a ferjeant at mace 
 
 .to 
 
jsnticaftle upon C^nc. 357 
 
 to execute the procefs. It empowered the mayor 
 alfo to make a judge, and other officers of the ad- 
 miralty ; granting alfo cogniz.mce of admiral pleas, 
 and concerning wrecks, and the coroner, with autho- 
 rity to take lecognizances for admiral caufes and 
 fines, and ilTues, with the power to levy them. Alio 
 chattels waived, deodands. goods of felons de fes ; and 
 all that belonged to the aimiralty ; prohibiting, at 
 the fame time, the lord of the admiralty from inter- 
 meddling with them. Lallly, this charter gave them 
 authority to hold gaol-delivery, and all that belongs 
 to the governor's office, witu power to erect gallows, 
 and to purchafe, notwithftanding the ftatute of mort- 
 main. 
 
 In the 88th page (fays CollierJ of the parchment 
 book, in the town-clerk's office, it fays, this charter 
 alfo grants liberty to enter and arreft any perfon in 
 the Callle- garth, the dungeon only excepted. 
 
 But as the charter of liberties granted in the 
 42d year of the reign of queen Elizabeth feems to be 
 the principal one, we fliall fubjoin a brief abllracl 
 of it. 
 
 AhJlraB of the Charter granted to the mayor and burgrffe- of Newcajlk 
 upon Tyne, in the ^zd year of the reign of queen Elizabeth, 
 
 THAT the town of Newcaftle is an ancient town, and that 
 lliey have h;id laws, jurifdi>aions, &c. and that the faid town hath 
 fufFcred ni) fmall lols, by reafon of divers ditFeicnccs, &c. concern- 
 ing the manner of loading and unloading fea-coals, at the fame 
 town, whereupon the f.iid mayor and burgclTes humbly petitioned 
 tlie laid queen, for the better maintenance and government of 
 the iHJd town, that Ihe would vouchfafcto amplifie her muniiiccnce 
 and Javonr towards tlie faid town. 
 
 'Ihe faid queen, for her and her fuccefTors, grants to the faid 
 mayor and bjrgeffes, and to their fucc< Hors, that they only of the 
 faid town with its members, fliall have ;uid enjoy, all tlie culloms, 
 
 hbcuies, 
 
35^ Jnipnrtml r;i(!cn) cf 
 
 Ijbcrlies, &c. which weie granted to their predeceiFors, by fevernl 
 charters, which the honefl men of Newcaftle upon Tyne, Sic. by 
 pretence of what corporation foever, they held and enjoyed, lo 
 have, hold, and enjoy, the faid town, and all cuftoms, &c. to the 
 fciid mayor and burgefles, and their fucceflbr*, to their ufe for 
 ever, to be holden in fee-farm ; rendering the ancient fee-farm of 
 one hundred pounds at Michaelmas only, and that they may have 
 all fach liberties, ciutoms, &c. without the let of any one, &c. 
 
 The faid queen grantelh, thrtt the mayor, ten aldermen, and 
 ftieriff of the faid town, &c. and other four and twenty ef the 
 more difcreet and honefler burgeifes of the faid town, &c. may 
 cl)ule the m;tyor, and other officers of the faid town, within five 
 days, after the choice and oath* taken by the mayor, which faid 
 mayor, and the other twenty four burgefl'es, in all thirty-fix, fhall 
 be at all times then after, the common council of the faid town ; 
 and fliall have power in making laws, &c. for the good government 
 of the faid town, &cc. and for the good government of die markets 
 nnd fairs, within the faid town and limits thereof, Sec. and for the 
 declaration by what means the minifters, officers, and artificers of 
 the iaid town, and their fadors, fervants, and apprentices in their 
 trades. Sec. and alfo for their better prefervaiion, letting and fet- 
 ling of their lands tenements, Sec. And that the mayor, and 
 common council of the faid town, or the greater part of them, 
 "'hereof we will the mayor and fix aldermen, thirteen being, feven 
 to be, Sec. as often as they ihall make fuch laws, &c. and fuch 
 pains, puniftiments, penalties, or imprifonment of bodies, or by 
 fines, &c. upon all delinquents, contrary to fuch laws, 3cc. as fhall 
 he ncceffary for keeping of the faid laws, &c. and to have and re- 
 tain the fiiid fines, &;c. to th'jir ov/n ufe, &c. fo that the f;ime laws, 
 ice. be not repugnant to the laws of the kingdom of England. 
 
 And funhtr, the faid queen granteth, that the eledion of 
 the mayor, recorder, aldermen, common- tcnncil, and all other 
 officers and minillets, to be chofen, &c. fhall in every year be up- 
 on Monday next, after Michaelmas-day, lionet men and burgcfTcs 
 of the twelve focicties, lawfully chofen in the accuftomed place, to 
 wit, drapers, mercers, &c. and that th^ name and prefent two 
 honefl men of every myftery, &c. being twenty four in number, 
 being fv.oin that they, or the grcateft part of them, Ihall chufe 
 and name the mayor, alfo to chufe theftieri/T, two coroners, one clerk 
 ol the cliamber, v.jio fnall adminifler an.oath to the mariners and 
 malicrs of fhips at the port of Newcaftle ; and in ths fame manner, 
 
 and 
 
 J 
 
5i5elDcaftle upon C|)nc. 359 
 
 and the fame day yearly, may name eight other burgeifes, ^c. to 
 be chamberlains of the fame town, and one fword-bcarer before 
 the mayor, and eight ferjeants of the mace, and one recorder ; 
 and there ihall be twenty-four ele<!lors for one year ; new elec- 
 tion of alderman, dying or being depofed, and the alder- 
 man newly chofcn, fliall be alderman during life. Officers 
 chofen by the mayor under their common feal, Oiall be admitted 
 to their places. To fine fuch as refufe to hold their places upon 
 cledion, the faid fine not to exceed 200 marks. The like for the 
 flierifF, or if any officer (fave the recorder) die within the year, then 
 to chufe another. And if the recorder die within one year next 
 after his ele(flion, or be removed from, or leave his olKcc, &.c. 
 then to chufe another fit perfon, learned in tlic laws, albeit not a 
 burgefs, in his place, &c. And if the mayor of the faid town bs 
 depofed, removed, ordie, then to chufe anotherwithin twenty days, 
 &c. The like for the (heiift, &c.- William Jennifon named firft 
 mayor. John Savel one of the barons of the exchequer, firft and 
 modern recorder. William Selby, &c and nine others are made 
 the firft and modern aldermen. James Clavering appointed firfl, 
 and the modern Iheriff, Stc. the faid William Jennifon, mayor, 
 and thirty five perfons more, are appointed to be the firft, and the 
 modern common-council men, &c. Matthew Chapman, and Row- 
 land Tempefl: are appointed to be firft, and the modern coroners, 
 &c. George Dent appointed firft clerk of the chamber. Francis 
 Burrel and feven others, appointed to be the firll: and the modern 
 chamberlains of the faid town. George Still appointed fword- 
 bearer. George Selby, and feven other perfons, appointed to be 
 the firft ferjeants at mace, &c. 
 
 The faid queen, grants to the faid mayor and burgefles, and 
 their fncce/fors, for ever, that they may hold one court of record, 
 in Guildhall, before the mayor, upon Monday in every week, 
 through the year, except in the weeks of chrirtmas, eafter, and pen- 
 tecoil:,>kc. and another couu, uponWednefdays and Fridays inevery 
 week, throughout the year, except in the feveral weeks aforefaid ; 
 and all pleas of debts, covenants, detainer, trefpafles, &c. and 
 pleas of court, of pipowder, &c. and courts of the upper-bench, 
 juftices of the bench, and juftices of affize, before the faid mayor. 
 And tliat the mayor and burgeffes in the court, to be holden be- 
 fore the mayor, and in the court, to be holden before the fherifF, 
 and their fucceifors, in all and finguLir iuits, &c. may attach the 
 
 ^ partieS^ 
 
3^o impartial iiMftatt) of 
 
 parties defendants in tlie fame fuits, &c. in thair lands and goods, 
 and commit them to their prifon, called Newgate. 
 
 The mayor, the ten aldermen, and recorder of the faid town, for 
 ever, to he jointly, and federally keepers of the peace, &c. within 
 the faid town, &c. and to challifc and piinifli malefactors, &c. 
 
 And further, that they, or any three of them, whereof tlie mayor 
 to be one, be juftices of the faid qneen, her heirs and fuccef- 
 fors, to enquire upon oath. Sec. of all murders, &:c. foreftallers, 
 regrators, Sic. and of all olher matters whatfoever done, or com- 
 mitted, &.C. fo that the keepers of rhe peace in Norrhumberland 
 and Durham, do not enter for any matter cf peace, (S^c. to be 
 ended apd determined, in the faid town of Newcaftle. 
 
 1 he queen giants to the faid mayor and burgefles, and their 
 fuccefTors, that they may, as often as .iced 1 all require, impofe, 
 &c. fines, penalties, taxations, cuftoms, &c. for the iniblic ufe of 
 the mayor and burgefies of tlie faid town, to be I- ' pt in their 
 common chamber, and to be expended for their public ufe, or by 
 their ofEcers, from time to time to be levied, fuch as before time 
 were lawfully taxed and impofed, &c. and that the faid mayor. 
 Sic. may ufe all the means they can, to levy and gathcrt he fame. 
 The queen's pleafnre fuither was, that the mayor, recoii.;er, 
 and aldermen of the faid town, or five oi- more of tliem, vi^hereof 
 the mayor to be one, be juftices for gaol-deliveries, &c. and that 
 the coroners of the faid town fliall deliver all juries, inquifitions, 
 pannel attachments. Sec. and make return of them to the mayor, 
 &c. in all their gad-deliveiies, S:c. and do execute the precepts of 
 the mayor, &c. ih fuch manner us any fherifF of England was ac- 
 cullomed to do, at the gaol-deliveries, for their feveral counties ; 
 and that the faid mayor, recorder, and aldermen, may ere<5t 
 gallows, within the liberties of the faid town, to hang felons, 6cc. 
 And that the I'aid mayor, recorder, and aldermen, or five or more 
 of them, may take and an eft what felons, thieves, and malefac- 
 tors foever, within tlie town and port of Newcaftle, and port afore- 
 faid, or the precinft or liberties of tlieni, aie found, and may- 
 bring them to prifon there. 
 
 The faid queen gives licence to William Reddel, and to fix 
 oihers, and to what iiihjcds. Or fubjecft whatfoever, of the faid 
 queen, her heirs and fuccefTors, afllgn or . afllgns, tenants, or 
 farmers, of the manor of Gates-fide and Wickham, with their 
 appurtenances, in the county of Durham, by viitue of a leafe to 
 the faid queen, made (amongft others) by Richard, late bilhop 
 
 of 
 
ii5ct3c^(Jle upon Cjnte. 361 
 
 of Durham, bv his indenture, dated the 26th of April, in thg 
 24rh year of her reio;n, 1582, for ninety-nine years from the 
 making thereof; and 'that the faid afTii^n or afljp;ns, "tenants, 
 farmers of the premifes fn demif.d, and their furvi.ors. 7'he 
 faid manors* or lordlliips of Gates-nde and Wickhim, with 
 their appurtenances, may grant and afllgn, to the fnd m lyor 
 and hurgclTes. and to their fucc-flbrs, for the refidue of the years 
 then to come ; and to the mayor and burgclfc s of the faid town, 
 and to their fucccfTors, that thj faid manors and lordships of 
 Gates- fide and Wickham aforefaid, with their appurtenances, 
 may have and hold, dnrine the refidue of the years then ro cr>me, 
 the faid queen, for her, hnr heirs and fucccffors, gave fpcci d li- 
 cence, notvvithftanding the ftatute of mortmain or any other fia- 
 tute, &.C. 
 
 The queen pardoneth and releafcth to the f lid mavnr and biir- 
 ge^fos. and to their fncrcirors, and to every fubje<Jt and fubj.'ifls 
 whaifocver, all, and all manner of pains, penalties, fojfeitures, 
 anil fuins of money, and all other charges whatfoever, to the faiJ 
 queen, or to any of lier progenitors, theretofore forfeited, by vir- 
 tue of an adl of pailiament of king Henry the fifth, at We'.tmin- 
 fter, in the ninth year of his reign, onlv publiflied for the alFure- 
 ment of keels, by parliament eommiilioners affigned, or by pre- 
 tence of another aft of Parliament, begun at Wertminfter, in the 
 one and twentieth year of king Henry the eighth, intituled, An 
 aft concerning Newcaftle, and the port there, for the loading or 
 unloading of any merchants goods within this kingdom, or elfe- 
 where, to be fold from any fliip or flnps, or other vcfTels, in or at 
 any place or places within the port and river of Tyne, between 
 Sparhawk* and Hadw-ynf (Ireams, but only at the faid town of 
 Ncwcaftle, and not elfewhere, under pains and forfeitures, in the 
 faid aft contained and fpecified. And by virtue of another aft of 
 parliament, at Weftminfter aforefaid, the 23d of January, in the 
 firft year of the late queen Elizabeth, intituled, An aft limiting 
 the times of expofing upon land-merchandifes, from parts beyond 
 
 • Sparhawk is a rock near the mouth i-f the Tyne, bearing from tl.e (liore 
 about 210 yards nearly call of the Si)anifh for,, and louth-eall from Tyne- 
 moutli-Caftlc. 
 
 f Had v^-yn. dreams, it is probable, refers either to a rapie' part of thfi r'ver 
 Tyne, or fome little rill f 'vater which m?v •all into it near 10 or beiov he 
 village of Hedilon-on-thp. Will;' bevot.l wh ■>! pl.'cc, tnoft probably, the flux 
 •f the tide never reaches, though of?n lo or very near it- 
 
 Z z the 
 
3^2 Jmpartial fMovp^ of 
 
 the fcas, and concerning cn.loms and fweet wines ; and ihere it 
 was enn<5lcd, amongft others, for and concerning the loading or 
 unloading, in or from any fhip, or other vciTcl, any, goods, wares, 
 or merchandizes, agsiml the faid &&, or to the'late queen due and 
 forfeited, by viituc of the faid a<51s ; and all the goods and chat- 
 tel, lands and tenements, of the faid mayor and burgelfcs, &c. 
 being the aforcfiiJ penalties and forfeitures. 
 
 Moreover, the queen grants to the faid mayor and burgeffes, 
 •and to every fubjeft and fubjtdts of hers, her heirs and fuccefTors, 
 inhabitants and burgeffes of die faid town, commonly called hoafl- 
 men, in every feafon fitting, and houis accullomed, the cuftoms 
 and fnbfidies, and other profits, to the faid queen, her heirs and 
 fuccefinrs, due to be paid, and lo the cuftomers and coll.-dors of 
 the fiid queen and fucceffors, agreeing thereupon to be charged 
 or difcharged, (hipped or unftiippcd, pitcoals, grindftones, rub- 
 ftones, and whet-ftones, near Newcaflle, &c. fuch fhip, ve/fel, tac. 
 was of fuch a capacity, or for any other reafonable canfe, that 
 they could not fitly apply to NewcaRle, that then, In fuch cafe, 
 the mayor and burgeiTes of the faid town, as their fervants, ^c. 
 might and may load and unload fuch Ihip and ihips, veffcl and 
 vcHels, with coals and ftones abovefaid, in thoir port, between 
 .Spaihawk. and Newcaftle, being dillant, by eftimation, not above 
 feven nsiles. And further, the queen willelh and commandeth 
 the faid mayor and buigeffes, iV.c. and their fucceflbrs, and every 
 fubje<5t and fubjefts of her, her heirs and fucceffors, inhabitants of 
 the faid town, called hoaitmen, that they, the fame ihips being of 
 fuch a capacity that they cannot fitly fail to the town of New- 
 caftle, to charge and diicharge themfelves of coals and ftones (b 
 nigh Newcaftle as conveniently may be done, without fiaud, and 
 that under the pain of one hundred (hillings, to be^ levied lor the 
 queen's nfe, her heirs and fucceflbrs, to be forfeited ior every ftiip 
 orveftel fo charged or difcharged, contrary to the true intention, 
 mentioned in the fiiid letters patent ;* and for that the queen will- 
 cth, that the mayor, burgeffes, and inhabitants of the faid town, 
 being burgeffes, may ftrve the queen and her fucceffois with more 
 commendable fervicc, and may furnilh the queen with mariners 
 more cheerfully in our greateft wars, as w^c have heard they have 
 done in times pall ; and for that the faid town hath been a faith- 
 ful fortrcfs and defence, fighting againft the rebels in times part, 
 and hath behaved itlelf moll dutifully to us and to our progeni- 
 tors. 
 
j^clocaGIc upon tUpnt. 363 
 
 tors, refifting the iUid rebels. The queen therefore giveth and 
 grauteth to die ni;iyor, burgeffcs, and their fuccelFofe, all the fe- 
 lons goods unto thcnifclves, and of fugitives convided and at- 
 tauittd, and of outlawed pcrfons, &c. 
 
 And whereas the town of Newcaille upon Tyne is a town of 
 merchants, a mart or market «f great fame, and fhiifjd wuh a 
 multitude of merchants, dwelling therei.,, and of others, as well 
 home-bred tliither flowing, and there exj tailing their trade of 
 merchanting, and thereupon it is neccif.iry lo order and eltd^lilh 
 a certain order within the faid town, and the fpeedy recovery of 
 debts to merchants, 6lc. due according to the ftatute of Atflon 
 Bumel, &c. The queen granteth lo the mayor and burgeiTcs, 
 and their fucccflbrs, that the mayor for the time, for ever there- 
 after, (hall have power, together with the clerk, to that end or- 
 dained, to take recognizances, according to the toim of thcltatute 
 of A(5lon Burnel, and of the ftatute of merchandize, made iu par- 
 liament, ia the time of king Edward the firft, and that there Ihall 
 be a clerk in the fame town, who fhall be called the clerk of the 
 queen, lier heirs and llicccfTors, to take recognizances of debts, 
 according to the faid rtatute. The queen appoints William Jack- 
 fon, gentleman, to be her firft and then modern clerk, for taking 
 recognizances of debts within the faid town, to enjoy the fame 
 during his Ufe, and after his death the mayor and burgedes, &c. 
 are empowered to prefer to the faid oflice another of the burgelles 
 of the faid town, to be the queen's cleik (as before) and to con- 
 tinue fo long as it fhould pleafe the mayor, kc. And ftiall have 
 a fcal in two pieces, for fealing the fliid recognizances, and the 
 mayor to have the cailody of the greater piece, and the clerk 
 fhali have the ctiftody of the leffer piece of the faid feal ; fo that 
 it a merchant or any other /hall be made a debtor, he may come 
 before the mayor and clerk ot recognizances, and bJore them ac- 
 knowledge his debt and day of payment. And the faid mayor 
 and cleric may do and difp itch all other things, which by the na- 
 ture atorelaid are requifiie. 1 he faid clerk is to have fuch wages, 
 fees, rewards, and emoiunicnts for the execution of the faid office, 
 as any other mayor of any other town or city in England, law- 
 fully and of right hath or receiveth, &:c. 
 
 The quten granteth, by the faid charter, to the mayor and 
 burgelfes and to their fucceifors, and to the inhabitants oi die laid. 
 tovMi, that they be quit and dilcharged of tolls, paifages, poun- 
 dage, murage, chimage, paun-ige, lallage, llallage, carriage, pi- 
 
 Z z z cage, 
 
364 3inipc!rttnT r:)iQon) of 
 
 cage, Uonage, hidage, and wharfnge, for their goods and mer- 
 chandises, as well by land as by fea, as well in fairs as in markets, 
 and all fecular cufloms, over the queen's lands, on this fide and 
 beyond the fe.is, occ. 
 
 The queen farther gran^eth to the faid mayor, biirgefles, and 
 their fucceirnrs, that they fhall have for their public ufe, all and 
 fmgular fucb like tolls, and all other cuftoms, tolls, profits, and 
 advantages, in fares and markets, holden and to be holden within 
 the f'iu town, and any other times whatfo-.-ver by themfelves, to 
 be levied and ga :h;?red, and to be expended to, and for the ufe of 
 the faid mayor and burgelTcs, and their fucceflbrs, &c. and the 
 faid queen forbiddeth, that any man difturb them, &c. 
 
 The faid qu 'cn alfo grants to the faid mayor and burgefles, 
 and their fucccfliirs, tliat no merchant ftranger, from the liberty 
 of the faid town of Newcaftle, may fell to any merchant (iranger, 
 any their merchandizes within the faid town, (except victuals, and 
 befidts in markets and fairs, to be holden within the faid town* 
 and limits thereof) nor fach merchant ftranger may buy any mer- 
 chandizes, (except and befides, as is before excepted,) of any 
 merchant ftranger within the fame town and liberty thereof, other 
 than in grofs, upon pain and forfeiture of thofc merchandizes, to 
 be had and levied for the public ufe of the faid mayor and 
 buigciTes. 
 
 The queen moreover granteth, that the faid mayor and bur- 
 geHes, and their fucceffors, may have, hold, vitc. all fuch like li- 
 berties, cuficms, fiiinchilts, 6^c. and all other prcmiles, 6^c. to 
 to the faid mayor and burgeffes, granted and confirmed, as is be- 
 fore expieiTcd, and that they may enjoy, and ufe them for ever, 
 fully, freely, &c. vilhour impeachn.ent, moleliation, 6ic. 
 
 Further, the queen pardoneth and releaiclh, to the faid mayor 
 and burgeffes, and to their fucccllbrs, all, and all manner &t ac- 
 tions, fuits, impeachments by writ of quo warranto, to be brought 
 or executed againil: the faid mayor and burgeffes, and their fuc- 
 ceiiors, by the laid late qu-tn, &c. or by any of her ofliceis, by 
 reafon ot any In'nchilc, liberty, &c. by the faid mayor and bur- 
 geffes, or their predeceffors, within the faid town, and limits 
 thereof, bf?fore times ch.i!Ier,ged or ufurped, and that the faid 
 mayor and burgeffes (hall be quit, and altogether difcharged for 
 ever. 
 
 The queen further granti-th, that every perfon or perfons, who 
 for ever hereafter fliall be aamitted to be burgeffes, &c. ihall be 
 
 adniicted 
 
jl5eVDca^le upon Cync 3^5 
 
 admitud by the mayor and burgefles, &c. for the greater part 
 
 of them. 
 
 Moreover the queen, often confidering in her mind, of how- 
 much avail it is to the commonwealth of England, to have youth 
 well educated and intruded from their tender years, fv-c. ordaineth 
 and granteth, that within the faid town of Newcaftle, and the 
 liberties thereof, tliat there be ereded, and for ever, there be one 
 free-grammar-fchool, which Ihall be ciiUed the free-grammar- 
 fchool of queen Elizabeth, in Newcaftle, and (hall confiil of one 
 mailer and fcholars, to be inflructed in the fame, and that they 
 the maftcr and fcholars, of the fame fchool, ivr ever hereafter, 
 fliall be one body corporate, in law, fad,, and name, by the name 
 of the mafter and fcholars of the Iree-grammar-fchool of queen 
 Elizabeth, in Newcallle upon Tyne, &c. and by that name may- 
 have perpetual fuccclHon, and (hall be in perpetual times to come, 
 perfons able and capable in the law, of having, purchafing, &.c. 
 lands, tenements, &c. to them and their fucceffors in fee fimpk, or 
 ^or terms of years, fo they exceed not the yearly value of lorty 
 pounds, and fo tliey be notholden of the faid queen, her heirs and 
 her fucceffors in chief, nor by knights ftrvice, &c. and that the 
 mayor and burgefles of Newcaille, and their fucceflbrs, or the 
 greater part of them, &c. Ihall have power to make an honeft, 
 learned, and difcreet man, to be the fiiil and modern ulher in 
 that fchool, there to continue, during the good pleafure ot the 
 mayor and burgefles, &c. and if it happen the mailer and uQier 
 to die, or leave the flxid fchool, &c. then tliey may chufe otlier 
 men to be mafter and ufher, Sec. 
 
 And whereas the mayor and burgefles of Nev^caflle, more deeply 
 confidering, and weighing the efFeds of divers letters patent, cs.c. 
 And whereas the faid town is an ancient town, and the mayor 
 and burgeifes of the fame, time out of mind of man, thty have 
 had a certain guild or Iraternity, commonly called the hoait-men, 
 for the diicharging and better difpofing of fea-coals, and pit-coals, 
 grind-ftones, rub-flones, and whet llones, in and upon the nver 
 anii port of Tyne, which guild or Iraternity is j^:.mieu, or e!ta- 
 bl'ilhed by none of the faid Ittteis patent : v^hcrenjon tlac iaid 
 ma> or and burgeflies have humbly fupplicateJ the faid queen, 
 that m lupply of the faid detedls, that we would exhibit viur libe- 
 rality in favour, and that we would vouchlale to make. : .duce, 
 and create the laid guild into a body corp .tate and pnltt; , Sec. 
 The faid queen therefore oidainedi, appointeth, and -i». -.'c?ii, 
 
 tiiat 
 
^66 Impartial Diftor|) of 
 
 that William Jcnnilon, the elder, and forty-four perfons more, 
 ci'nimonly called the hoaJt-nnen of the faid town of Newcaflle 
 upon Tyne, and brethren of the faid fraternity, and all others, 
 which now are, or hereafter fhall be eleifted, admitted, &.ۥ into 
 the faid guild, or fraternity, of the faid hoaft-men of Newcaftle 
 upon lyne, hereafter, and fhall, by one body corporate and po- 
 litic, in law, fatfl, and name, by the name of governor and lie- 
 wards, and brethren of the fraternity of the hoafl-men in the town 
 of Ntwcaftle upon Tyne, &c. one body corporate and politic, 
 really and at full, for us, our heirs and fuccefTors. We do ereft, 
 make, ordain, and create, &c. and that by tlie fame name, they 
 may, and fhall, have a perpetual fucceflion, and are, and fhall be 
 in perpetual times to come, perfons able and in law capable, to 
 Iiavo, purchafe, receive, and pofFefs lands, tenements liberties, 
 i:c. to them and their fucceffors, in perpetuity, and otherwife, 
 and to give, grant, demife, &c. the fame lands, tenements, and 
 hereditaments, and to do all other things by the name afortfaid, 
 and that by the fime name, they may plead, or be impleaded, Sec. 
 in what cf'urt foever, &c. 
 
 And tliat the faid governor and Rewards, and brethren of the 
 hoafl-n.cr, of tlie town of Newcaltle aforefaid, and their fuccefTors, 
 that fell ai their pie ifure, may break, alter, and make, as to them 
 fhall feem good. And the queen appointeth, that there be and 
 fhall be for ever hereafter, of the number of the hoafl-men, &c. 
 which yearly upon the 4th of January, fhall be chofen, &cc. by the 
 faid urethren of that fraternity, Sec. to be governor, &.c. And 
 likev/ife thcie Hiall he for ever hereafter, two honell and difcreet 
 mt.-i of the faid number of hoall-men, &c. who fhall be the faid 
 4th of January, chofen by the faid governor, flcward, and bre- 
 thren of the faid fraternity, S-C. And that the queen's will in the 
 pren.ifc«,hHve a more excellent effetl:, fhe afligneth, nameth, and 
 createth William Jennifon, the elder, to be the firft and modern 
 govt.-rr.or, 6ic. Moreover flje hath affigned, named, conftituttd, 
 and app(*inttd Fi.^ncis Andcrfon and John Barker to be tlie firft 
 and modern fle.vards of th it fraternity, &c. 
 
 The que;;n fart htr gi.ints to the faid governor, Rewards, and 
 brethren of the fiid I'ratcinity of hoall-men, &c. and to their fuc- 
 ceffors, that the faid governor, ileward^, ^nd brethren, Sec. and 
 th'-ir fnc-:eifor.s. Sec. Ihall have ui evoi) fit time, for ever hereafter, 
 full po\v,f of me-iting, in theli guild-hall, or in any other [-lace 
 convcnieac within the fa^d town, and there to coullituie, make 
 
 fuch 
 
5i?JeVDcaftle upon Cmie. 367 
 
 fuch laws, inilitutes, &c. which to the faid govciaor, ftev.arJs, 
 and brethren, &c. good, wholelome, profitable, &c. according to 
 as they fliall think good, for the good rule and government oldie 
 governor, Rewards and brethren of the faid fratemiiy, and for 
 declaration, by what means and order, they and their fadors, 
 fervants, and apprentices, in their office and bufinefTes, concerning 
 the faid fraternity, tJiey fliall have, carry and ufe, &c. and that 
 the governor, flewards, and brethren of that fraternity, &:c. as 
 often as they grant, make, ordain, or eftablilli fucli laws, infti- 
 tutes, inform, and they may imjiofe fuch pairis, penalties, punilli- 
 ments, and imprifonments of body, or by fines, &c. upon all delin- 
 quents againft fuch laws, inftitutes 5:c. as to them Oiall be 
 thought neceffary and requifite. and as to tlicm (hall be thought 
 befl for the obfervation of the faid laws, ordinances, &c. and the 
 faid fines and amerciaments at their difcretions, they may levy, 
 have and retain to them and their fucceifors. to the ufe of the go- 
 veTTJor, ftewards, and brethren aforcfaid, without calumny, 
 &c. all which, and fmgular laws, ordinances, &c. the faij 
 queen willeth to be obfervcd ; Co that the faid laws, ordinances, 
 &c. be not repugnant to the laws or ftatutes of the kingdom of 
 England. 
 
 And farther, the queen grantethto tliefaid governor, flewards, 
 and brethren, &c. and to their fucceHurs, that for ever hereafter, 
 they and their fuccefTors, &c. may have, and fliall have full 
 power, from time to time, at their pleafure, to chufe, name, and 
 ordain other inhabitants and burgeil'es of the faid town, &c. to 
 be, and fhall be brethren of the faid fraternity, &cc, who, fo 
 ele£led, nominated and fworn, ihall be named, and be brethren 
 of that fraternity. 
 
 Moreover, the faid queen grants licence, power, and authority 
 to the faid governor, (le'tvards, and bretVren, &c. and to their 
 fuceefTors, that they, for the time being, and their faccefiors, and 
 every of them for ever hereafter, may and fhall quietly and peace- 
 ably have, hold, ufe, and enjoy all fuch liberties, privileges, &c. 
 concerning the loading and unloading, Ihipping, or unlhipping of 
 ftone-coals, pit-coals, grind-Hones, rub-ftones, and whet-ftones. 
 And that they may for ever hereafter, load and unload, fliip and 
 unfhip, in or out of any (hips or vefTels, pit-coals, and ftones afore- 
 faid, within the faid river and port of Tyne, in any place or places, 
 as to them !hall be expedient between the faid town of Newcaftle, 
 Ice. and the aforefaid place, in the aforefaid river, called the Spar- 
 
368 Jnipartial foi^otj) of 
 
 hawlre, fo nigh to the faid town of Newcaftle, &c. as conveniently 
 may be done, according to the intention of thefe letters patents, 
 as the men and brethren of the faid fraternity, at any time have 
 ufed and accuftomed, notwiihftanding the ftatute of king Henry 
 Vlll. the third of November, in the 2ift year of his reign, and 
 from thence adjourned to Weftniinfler, holden, publiflied, 1559. 
 Inti-.idcd an aS: concerning Newcaflle and the port, &c. to the 
 fame belonging, or any other a(5t, &c. notvs^ithflanding : And 
 the faid queen alfo wilkth, &c. for that exprefs mention, &c. 
 v/itnefs the queen, at Weftminfter, the 22d of March, in the l3tli 
 year of her reign. 
 
 December 21, 1603, a decree was made by the 
 prefident and council of the north, upon fubmifiion 
 to them, for the government of the town of New- 
 caftle upon Tyne ; which ordered, that, upon the an- 
 cient day of eleftion, the twelve myfteries fliould 
 prefent twenty-four, who (liould chufe four, the then, 
 mayor, and three other burG^'jlFes, who had been 
 mayors and alder'iien; and fur want of which to 
 chufe flieriff-peers, and for want of rhefe laft, common 
 burgefTes ; which four were to eleft fiven aldermen, 
 and one that had bten flieritf, in all twelve perfons : 
 and that as to the other twelve, called the twelve of 
 the latter election, the twelve mylleries fhould each 
 fend one to be prefented to the former eleftors, who 
 w ere to chufe fix out of the faid twelve. And that 
 the following, called by-trades, viz. mafters-mariners, 
 weavers, barbers, chirurgeons, with chandlers, cutlers, 
 fhipwrights, houfe-carpenters, mafons, glovers, joiners, 
 millers, curriers, with felt-makers, and armourers, 
 colliers, with carriage- men, flaters, glaziers, with 
 plumbers, and painters ; in all, fourteen companies, 
 Ihould each fend one : and that twelve fhould be 
 chofen out of this fourteen ; out of which twelve, 
 the former eighteen Jthould take fix, making twenty- 
 four 
 
Betuc^^Qle upon Cpne. 369 
 
 four in all, who were to cle(ft the oflicets of the cor- 
 poration. And alfo twenty- four others, with the 
 mayor, aldermen, and flievitf, to make the com non- 
 council ; of whom the whole, or the greater number, 
 whereof the mayor and fix aldermen were to be fe- 
 ven, lliould difpoCe of the revenues, leafes, and offices, 
 and that nothing; fiiould pais the comaion feal with- 
 out their confent. 'I'his decree enjoined alfo. that 
 the twenty- four auditors ftiould be allowed thirteen 
 lliillings and fourpence p^r day ; that the mayor 
 and recorder fliould be of the quorum in the gao!- 
 deliveiy; and that every free-burgefs llioiild bead- 
 milted an hoaftman, on payment oF fifty-three lliil- 
 lings and fourpence ; and a freeman's Ion, or appren- 
 tice, fv>r paying thirty-three fLillings ; and that the 
 charters fliould be renewed accordingly. 
 
 Marcli 31, 1604, king James I. granted a charter 
 to the mayor and burgeiles of NewcalUe upon Tyne, 
 which confirmed the mode of eleding oflicers, as by 
 the decree dated at York, December 21, 1603 : with 
 this difference, that the by-trades, now encreafed one 
 in number, Ihould fend fifteen peifons, who were to 
 choofe twelve burgelies, as by that decree. This 
 charter further enjoined, that every ad, ordinance, 
 or conftitution which had been made or agreed upon 
 in guild, either by the mayor and burgefles, aflem- 
 bled to make up any writings, &-c. concerning the 
 pofft^ffions of the faid mayor and burgeffes ; unlefs 
 the fame were with the affent and confent, and in 
 the prefence of the mayor and common-council, or 
 the greater part of them, whereof the mayor and fix 
 aldermen were to be feven. 
 
 A. D. 1684, Charles 11. demanded the charter cf 
 the corporation of NewcalUe, along with thofe of all 
 
 2 A the 
 
37^ Impartial fpiflor)) of 
 
 the incorporated towns and cities of the kingdom ; 
 which was furrendered accordingly. A new charter 
 was granted them by that prince, but he referred to 
 himfelf the power of placing fuch as he pleafcd in 
 the magiflracy ; and accordingly, he difjilaced the 
 mayor chofen by the corporation, and filled his room 
 M'hh Sir William Creach, a violent papift. A flatter- 
 ing addrefs to the king was figned by him and other 
 aldermen, who were papifts ; but was negatived by 
 a majority of that body. This fo offended James II. 
 that, by a quo warranto, their charter was demanded 
 again ; when that piince, unworthy of a throne, ab- 
 dicated the government, and the ever-memorable re- 
 volution took place. 
 
 Thus again (fays Mr. Brand) the corporation of 
 Newcaftle upon Tyne emancipated from the fliackles 
 of a government founded on principles of the moll 
 defpotic tyranny, recovered its ancient liberty in the 
 choice of its own officers and magiftrates, and imme- 
 diately exercifed that privilege by appointing a new 
 fet of them. 
 
 By the above and other charters of lefs importance, 
 we may fee how the immunities and privileges of the 
 free burgefies of Newcaflle have been obtained and 
 fecured from a very remote period ; previous to 
 which the town appears to have been the property of 
 the crown in the time of William Rufus, the fon of 
 the conqueror ; who, after he had finiilied the caftle, 
 gave the circumjacent lands to the neighbouring in- 
 habitants, whom he invited to fettle here, and build 
 and fortify a new or more exteniive town, which, it 
 is faid, he firft converted into a borough, and de- 
 mifed to its own burgefles at a certain annual fee 
 
 farm. 
 
 David 
 
J5etrjcaftle upon Cjmc. 371 
 
 David king of Scots had his refiJence in Newcaitle 
 moft part of king Stephen's reign, and gave them 
 many hinds, fabricated borough laws for the burgeffes, 
 built churches and rehgious houfes for their worQiip. 
 Edward 1. extended thefe privileges, by granting by 
 patent, permidion to the free burgeffjs to bequeath 
 their lands and tenements to whom they pleafed ; as 
 alfo in the year 1299, by a frcili charter granted 
 to that body the lands and tenements in Pampedon, 
 or Pandon, in the manor of Byker, with all cuftoms 
 and liberties there, to conftitute henceforth one town 
 and borough. And in the reign of Henry IV. New- 
 callle was feparated from the county ot Northumber- 
 land, and made a town and county of itfelf. 
 
 CORPORATION of NEWCASTLE. 
 
 Having thus given a fuccindl account of the char- 
 ters, grants, and privileges, by which the rights and 
 municipal franchifes of the freemen of this ancient 
 town are faid to be held, we proceed to defcribe its 
 civil government. 
 
 The power of adminiflration is vefted in the mayor, 
 who is chief magiftrate ; a fheriff, a recorder, a town- 
 clerk, ten aldermen, and a coiumon- council of twen- 
 ty-four. 
 
 The gentlemen who at prefent fill thefe ftations, 
 are the following : 
 
 JOSEPH FORSTER. Efq. Mayor.. 
 Aldermen. 
 Sir M. W. Ridley, bait. Anthony Hood, efq. 
 
 John Erafmus Blackett, efq. Robert Shafto Hcdley, efq. 
 
 William Cramlington, efq. Archibald Reed, efq. 
 
 William Yielder, efq. Robert Clayton, efq. 
 
 Francis Johnfon, efq. Thomas Clennell, efq. 
 
 3 A 2 Mattlicw 
 
37^ 
 
 Jmuartinl !^iftorp of 
 
 Matthew Hedlcy, efq. Sheriff. 
 R. H. Williamlbn, efq. Recorder. 
 Mr William Potter, and Mr. Richard Chambers, Coroners. 
 H. Shadforth, efq. Clerk of the Chambers. 
 Robert Pinkney, Sword-bearer. 
 
 Jofeph Forfter, efq. mayor 
 Sir M W. Ridley, bitrt. 
 J. E. Blackett 
 R. S. Hedley 
 Francis Johnfon 
 William Crauilington 
 Anthony Hood 
 Robert Clayton 
 Archi'oalJ Reed, and 
 Thomas Clennell, efqs. 
 Mr. Thomas Smith 
 Mr. H:nry Cramlington 
 
 Electors. 
 
 Mr. B rough Pow 
 Mr. Ifaac Cookfon 
 Mr. Robert, Yellolcj 
 Mr. Robert Harrifon 
 Mr. Richard Chambers 
 Mr. Robert Widdrington 
 William Harle, efq. 
 Wr. Lionel Robfon 
 Mr. Hugh Johnfon 
 Mr. Edward Milburn 
 Mr, James Archbold 
 Mr. Thomas Coulfon. 
 
 Chamberlains. 
 
 Mr. JofhuaWardle 
 Mr. Robert Davifon 
 Mr. Robert Lake 
 Mr. William Foggin 
 
 Mr. T homas Lupton 
 Mr. Mofes Manners 
 Mr. William Story 
 Mr. Matthew Hindmar/Fi, 
 
 ■RJ 
 
 Mr. Edward Manners 
 Mr. George Dobfon 
 Mr. William Scott 
 Mr. Thomas Mewburn 
 
 Common 
 Mr. Ifaac Cookfon 
 Mr. Nicholas Hall 
 Mr. 1 homas Smith 
 Mr. William Wiight 
 Mr. Henry Cramlington 
 Mr. Henry Shadforth 
 Mr. Robert Harrifon 
 Mr. Thomas Burden 
 Mr. John Anderfon 
 
 Serteants at Mace. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Hewitfon 
 Mr. Henry Foriler 
 Mr. Robert Whitfield. 
 
 Council. 
 
 Mr. Shafto John Hedley 
 Mr. William Raifbeck 
 Mr. George Brumell 
 Mr. William Ladle 
 Mr. Jos. Pollard 
 Mr. John I/anglands 
 Mr. Matthew Hunter 
 Mr. Richard Huntley 
 Mr. Thomas Maddifon 
 
 Mr. 
 
i^rtttcaGIe upon C|?nc. 373 
 
 Mr. Edward Willbu Mr. Robert Yilloley 
 
 Mr. riiomas Robinfon Mr. William Watfon 
 
 Mr. Thomas Rutherford Mr. Richard Chambers. 
 
 Mr. John Gale, Gaoler. 
 Mr. Richard Hill, 'rovN'ii-Marflial. 
 Mr. Cuthbert Pigg» Town-Surveyor. 
 
 COURTS. 
 
 The Mayor's Court is held every Monday, in the 
 mayor's chamber, at the welt end of the Guildliall, in 
 the Exchange. It is a cnurt of record, and ot" great 
 importance. It preferves the rights, laws, francbiles, 
 and cuftoms of the corporation. In it are tried all 
 adions for debt, trefpalfv^s, accounts, covenants, bro- 
 ken attachments, fequeftrations, or other matters, 
 ariling within the town and liberties, to any v:ilue 
 whatfoever, againlt the free burgefles only. No at* 
 tornies are allowed to plead in it, but fuch as are free 
 of the courts of the corporation, who are ivvorn at 
 their admiffion. It hath eight ferjeants at mace to 
 attend it, one of which is alfo water-bailiff, or clerk 
 of the water. 
 
 Newcallle being a place of vafl bufinefs, the may- 
 or's or town-court, is commonly crowded with num- 
 bers who have complaints to make, ^c. which are 
 heard with patience and decided with equity. On 
 this account, fewer caufes arc removed to the higher 
 courts than v/ould otherwife happen, the parties com- 
 monly relling with his decilion. 
 
 The Sheriff's Cou,tT is alfo a court of" record, held 
 on VVedneldays and Fridays, in the fame chamber, 
 for trials and enterin.g proceedings, as rules, appear- 
 ances, judgments, pleas, &c. 
 
 CouKT of CoNsciENCfi. This court v.as firil: infli- 
 tuted in Newcallle, by an ad oi" Parliament, anno 
 
 1689, 
 
374 Jinpartial riGorj? of 
 
 i68>), ill tlieliiil year ot William and Marv ; and 
 confirmed by another ad, anno 1755, being the 27th 
 ot George II. 
 
 The preamble ftates, that the intention of this 
 court is to prevent vexatious faits for Imall fums in 
 courts of law, which are often hurtful and not ieldom 
 ruinous to both parties. To prevent which this 
 Court was inftituted, whereby the plaintiff, upon 
 oath, may recover any debt under forty fliillings. 
 
 It is termed a court of confcience, (not fuppofing 
 furely, that confcience is 2Ljlr anger in other courts) 
 becaufe all debts under the above fum may be reco- 
 vered in this upon the creditor making oath that the 
 fame is a jutt debt to him. The mayor and com- 
 miffioner are the judges. They adminider oaths and 
 comniit oft'enders to prifon. They proceed fiifl by 
 fummons. 1 his colls three-pence. If the defendant 
 appear, there is no further charge. If *he does not, 
 they proceed to attachment and execution. All per- 
 fons, whether freemen or not, may prefent and be 
 prefented in this court, if within the liberties of the 
 town. I'reemen may be prefented though they live 
 out of the liberty. 
 
 It ]s to be remarked however, that an attachment 
 is Icldom granted unlefs the plaintiff give fome colla- 
 teral evidence, at leall, beiidcs his limpie oath, and 
 the couiL and fpecl. tors who generally know fome- 
 thing of the pLuntiff, are afiured that the oath is 
 io»mded on uw\.\\ ; and he is alfured from the bench, 
 that wilful p..:j'uy' ihouid it be dettcled, will be at^ 
 "tended with very frrious confeqaences, and for which 
 • the robbe-ry of his iieighbuur of a few fliillings by a 
 fulle ouih, will be a poor recompence I 
 
 Court 
 
li^elocaaic upon Cgne. 375 
 
 Court of Admiralty. This is held before the 
 mayor for the prefervation of the river Tyne, at fuch 
 times as he fliall diredl. His deputy, the water- 
 baihff. gives notice of all offences committed con- 
 trary to the orders made for the prefervation of the 
 brood of fillies, and takes effedual care tiiat offenders 
 may be proceeded againfl according to law. 
 
 The Court of Common Council. This is after 
 the model of the fupreme court of the nation. It 
 confifts of two houfes ; one is for the mayor and al- 
 dermen, the other is for the commoners. They 
 make all bye-laws for the benefit of the corporation. 
 In this court are recorded all deeds and evidences. 
 The mayor can call and adj;mrn it at pleafure. 
 
 The Court of Guild is holden thrice a year, and 
 the principal bulhiefs is for the apprentices and fons 
 of freemen to petition for their freedom; they are 
 called by the ft^le of the company that their mailers 
 or fathers were : this is what is termed '■ calling their 
 guilds." The wardens and llevvards of each company 
 attend there to put a (lop to, or prevent any perfon 
 from obtaining his freedon, who they apprehend is 
 not entitled to it. An apprentice is called thrice in 
 guild, or rather at three different guild days ; the fon 
 of a freeman only once. And if an objedlion be 
 made, or a ftop put to his guild, the perfon making 
 the objedion is fummoned before the common-coun- 
 cil, to give his reafon for Hopping the guild ; and if 
 he fhew good caufe for making the objedion, then 
 the perfon applying cannot be fworn a freeman till 
 the objedion be removed. But if no flop be put, or 
 objedion made at the gtiild, then the perfon apply- 
 ing may at any time afterwards be fworn a free bur- 
 gefs before the mayor or any other magillrate. 
 
 The 
 
37^ Jnipavtial fMot^ of 
 
 The magillrates of Newcaflle being, ex officio, 
 juftices of the peace for the town and county, hold 
 feffions of the peace every quarter of, the year in the 
 guildhall. Much bufinefs, and very frequently of 
 great confequence, is tranfadted on thefe occafions. 
 The recorder always prefides. Criminal caufes, in- 
 fringements on the privileges of the burgelTes, inju- 
 ries done to the river, &-c. are all tried here ; impri- 
 fonments, corporal punilbment, tranfportation, and 
 every punifliment fiiort of life, are here awarded to 
 thofe legally convicted. 
 
 We fhall conclude this defcription of the civil go- 
 vernnient of this large and populous town, and the 
 adminiilration of its laws and cuftoms, in the warm, 
 and we hope not unmerited, eulogium upon it by 
 the learned Mr Wallis. " It mutl ever be remem- 
 bered (fays that pleaiing writer) to the hrnour of 
 the magiftiates of Newcaftle, that their attention 
 and zeal have ever been confpicuous, unremitted, and 
 ardent, in maintaining harmony and good order a- 
 mong all ranks of people withm their jurifdicT:ion, 
 and iligmatizing bold and impudent mifdemeanors. 
 Ever inclined to lenity rather than rigour, and con- 
 fcious how much fome delinquents are more affeded 
 by being expofed to public fhame and ignominy, 
 than by any other fort of punifliment, they had an 
 ancient cuftom of punifliing drunkards and brawling 
 women, by caufing them to pals in review through 
 the ilreets, each in a machine fymbolical of their no- 
 torious mifcondud. Thus diftinguifhed is Newcaftle 
 for its good government." We have only to add the 
 high authority of his majefty's judges of iiflize, that it 
 is certainly owing to the unremitted attention of the 
 magiftrates to the mild adminiilration of juftice, that 
 
 the 
 
30ctoc^(llc upon C)ine. 377 
 
 the calander of felonies, raifdemeanours, &c. of fo vafl 
 and commercial a town as Newcallle, is generally the 
 faireil, and lead faihed with crimes of almoft any- 
 other in their exfeniive circuit. 
 
 A lift of the mayors, 8tc. will be given at the 
 clofe of the work. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOWN IN 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 Even the moll arbitrary defpot cannot govern with- 
 out advice. He mull lee with the eyes and hear 
 with the ears of others. Thefe fubfidiary media, it 
 mull be owned, only multiply the evils, and heighten 
 the prefTures of the people. In the feudal times of 
 England, the prince called together and affedled to 
 be advifed by the deliberations of his chiefs or nobles. 
 Nor was it till the viclorious Saxuns held their lint- 
 tenagemots, or public afTemblies, triat the Britifh na- 
 tion had the mod diflant idea of civil liberty. Be 
 that as it will, the parliaments of England are of 
 high antiquity. But this augufl: body, during the 
 revolution of feveral centuries, were called, more ^oi 
 the purpofes of receiving royal mandates, and fanc- 
 tioning the arbitrary edids of the prince, than for 
 enacling and promulgating falutary Ifatutes, equally 
 conducive to the liability of the throne and the bell 
 intereiis of the people. This was almofl invariably 
 the cafe till the gloiious revolution, when the people 
 made a compafl with the prince, and put the fceptre 
 into his hand with wife and prudent limitations. 
 
 It is curious to obferve the averfion which the 
 knights and burgefles, who were chofen reprefenta- 
 tives, difcovered to accept of ihe nomination, in for- 
 mer times, previous to the revolution; but, as Hume 
 
 3 B juftly 
 
378 Jinpartial IMltor^? of 
 
 juftly obferves, the backwardnefs ot" our ancelt ors can 
 only be equalled by the aftonifliing avidity which is 
 now difcovered to obtain a feat in parliament. We 
 would not wifli to credit Walpole. who lirll quei- 
 tioned parliamentary integrity, and faid, that " Every 
 member had his price." 
 
 In our enumeration of the burgefles who have re- 
 prefented this very ancient town, the limits of our 
 work will not permit us to give a particular detail ; 
 nor is it psrhaps material to be known. 
 
 It is uncertain, fays Mr. Brand, whether or not 
 Ntwcaftle was among the boroughs fammoned by 
 the bsrons who took arms againft king Henry III. 
 to fend members to the great council of the nation, 
 
 anno 1264. 
 
 A. D. 1283, king Edward I. fummoned to his par- 
 liament at Shrcwfbury, two knights for each county, 
 and two reprefentatives each, for twenty-one of the 
 principal towns in England, amon^ which Newcaitle 
 upon Tyne is named; and the form of the ancient 
 writs clearly evinces, that the two perfons to be ho- 
 noured by fuch reprefentation were originally to be 
 chofen out of the number of the principal burgefles 
 of the refpeCiive towns. 
 
 The firll two burgeffes upon record who were cho- 
 fen for Newcaftle, were John Scot and Peter Graper, 
 or Draper, who reprefented this town in Parliament, 
 held at York, A. D 1297, the 26th of Edward I. 
 
 In the parliament held at London, anno 1301, 
 Newcaftle,^pon Tyne wa.; reprefented by Nicholas 
 Carliol and Thomas de Fifma —I^rynne's Parliamen- 
 tary Writs. 
 
 \\\ that held at Weftminfler, A. D. 1310, by Rich. 
 
 Emelden 
 
Ji^etornaie upon fEpnt. 379 
 
 Emelden and John de Carliol. — We omit feveral 
 others. 
 
 In that held ibidem, A. D. T386, by Laurence de 
 Aclon and Phihp Howell. Laurence de Acl:)n was 
 chofen in feveral fucceflive parhaments. 
 
 In that held ibidem, by Laurence A<5lon and Ro- 
 ger Thornton, A. D. 1399. Good Roger Thornton 
 was repeatedly eleded, nor can we wonder at the 
 choice. 
 
 A. D. 1441, Robert Rhodes and Robert He worth 
 were chofen. 
 
 A. D. is53, Sir Robert Brandling, knight, and 
 Edward Hall. 
 
 A. D. 1020, Francis Anderfon and Thomas Rid- 
 del, knights. 
 
 A. D. 1626, Henry Anderfon and Thomas Liddell, 
 knights, 
 
 A. D. 1640, Henry Anderfon, knight, and John 
 Black fton, efq. 
 
 Sir HcMiry Anderfon, knight, was difabled, Sept. 4, 
 1643, for defertiiig the fervice of the houfe, and re- 
 pairing to the king's (Charles L) army, againfl the 
 Parliament. Yet he had fubfciibed the famous fo- 
 lemn league and covenant. Parliametitary Hijlovy, 
 vol. xiii. p 9. 
 
 The regal government being overthrown, and 
 Charles L being beheaded by the parliamentary 
 army, Oliver Crcmwell, their general, convened a 
 parliament, called the Little Parliament, iiiJC no re- 
 prefentatives for any cities or borough, eNocnt Lon- 
 don, were returned. 
 
 ^y the inftrument of government, fubfcribed by 
 Oliver Cromwell, Dec. 16, 1652, when he was in- 
 augurated Lord Proteclor, for the more equal repre- 
 
 :5 B 2 fentation 
 
38o Jmpartlal fpiQorp of 
 
 fentation of the kingdoiti, tliree members were al"- 
 figneJ for the county of NorthumberlcinJ, one for 
 Newcaftle upon Tvne, and one for Berwick. 
 
 In purfuance of the above plan, in the parliament 
 that met Sept. 3, 1654, Newcallle was reprefented 
 by Sir Arthur ILililrig, bart. There is an order of 
 the common -council of Newcaftle, May 31, 1654, 
 for allowing five flnlUngs per day to fuch perfon as 
 (liould be eleded member of parliament, ordered to 
 be fummor.ed to meet at Weftmintler 3d Sept. next. 
 Bv a lilt of the names of thofe who ferved in par- 
 liament begun at Weilminfter April z^, 1660, called 
 the Healing Parliament, as they were returned into 
 the crown office, it appears that Robert EUifon and 
 William Caverley, efqs. were eleded for Newcallle 
 upon Tyne. 
 
 In the parliament held in the 13th of Charles II. 
 Francis Anderfon and John Marley, knights, repre- 
 fented this town. 
 
 A. D. 1674, Sir William Blackett and Sir Francis 
 Anderfon were the reprefentatives. 
 
 A. D. 1679, Ralph Carr, knight, and Nathaniel 
 Johnfon, efq. 
 
 In the convention parliament, in confequence of 
 the abdication of James II. Jan. 22, 1688, Ralph 
 Carr, knight, and William Blackett, knt. and bart. 
 
 In the parhament which met March 20, 1689, i(l 
 of William and Mary, Ralph Carr, knight, and Wil. 
 liam Carr, elq. 
 
 In that of Oct. 20, 1702, which was the firft par- 
 liament of queen Anne, Henry Liddell, knight, and 
 William Carr, efq. 
 
 In that which met Ocft. 25, 1705, the firll parlia- 
 ment of Great Britain conilituted by the union, 
 
 which 
 
33elocaaie upon Cpnc 381 
 
 which commenced on May-day, 1707, William 
 Blackett, knt. and bart. and William Carr, eiq 
 
 In the fiift parliament of king George i, which 
 met .March 17, 1715. William Blackett, bart. and 
 William Wrightfon, elq. 
 
 In the firfl: parliament of George 11, Nov. 2S, 
 1727, Sir William Blackett, bart. and Nicholas Fen- 
 wick, efq. The poll ended Sept. 8, 1727, when Sir 
 WilUam Blackett had 1202 votes, Mr Fen wick 1 1S9, 
 and Mr Carr 620. The uiifaccefsful candidate peti- 
 tioned, and having dilqualified above 600 of Sir Wil- 
 liam's voters for bribery, he was voted by the com- 
 mittee duly elecled.— Sir William died Sept. 29, 1728. 
 
 In the eighth parliament of Great Britain, to meet 
 June 13, 1734, Walter Blackett, efq. and Nicholas 
 Fcnwick, efq. This eleclion, the poll-book of which 
 was printed, lafted eight days. The candidates were 
 Walter Blackett, efq. who had 1354 votes ; Nicholas 
 JFenwick, efq. and alderman, had 1083 ; and William 
 Carr, efq. and alderman, 716. 1795 freemen voted 
 at this eleclion. 
 
 In the ninth parliament of Great Britain, lyar, 
 the fame.— At this elcdion, long known by the name 
 of the ^reat contefl, which laded fix days, the poll- 
 book of which was alfo printed. There were four 
 candidates, all of them aldermen of the town, viz. 
 Walter Blackett, efq. who had 1454 votes ; Nicho- 
 las Fenvvick, efq. 1231 ; Matthew Ridley, euj. 1131, 
 and Wdliam Carr, efq. 683. 2391 freenitn voted 
 upon the occafion. It is laid that a certain yellow 
 metal was, in the arduous conteft, fcatteied with a 
 hberal hand. William C^rr and Matthew Ridley, 
 efqrs. were petitioners. 
 
 Mr. 
 
3^2 Jmparttal f^tQori) of 
 
 Mr. Cdir tiled May i6, 1742 ; and Mr. Ridley re- 
 newed his petition in the Tecond feflion. Mr. Fen- 
 wick declined being a candidate, in tiie year 1747, 
 and died at Lemington 1752. 
 
 In the tenth parhament of Great Britain, 1747, 
 Walter lUackett and Matthew Ridley, efqrs. were 
 chofcn reprefentatives. Walter Biacketl, efq. fuc- 
 ceedcd to the title of baronet, October 10, 1749, on 
 the death of his father. 
 
 In the eleventh parliament, 1754, by Sir Walter 
 Blackett, bart. and Matthew Ridley, efq. 
 
 Jn the firfl parliament of George 111. by the fame. 
 
 March 21, 1768, the fame were re-eleded. 
 
 In the fourteenth parliament of Greit Britain, this 
 town was reprefented by Sir Walter Blackett, bart. 
 and Sir Matthew White Ridley, bart. of Bldgdon. 
 
 On July 2, 1774, Mr. Ridley refigned againft the 
 next general election. The contell on this occafion 
 continued eight days, ending on Wednefday, October 
 19,1774. 'I'he poll-book was printed. Sir Walter 
 Blackett had 1432 votes, Sir Matthew White Ridley 
 1411; the hon. Conltantine John Phipps, (after- 
 wards J. Old Mulgrave) 795; and Thomas Delaval, 
 efq. 677. 2162 pcifons voted on this occafion ; a 
 fmaller luimber, by 229, than at the great contell in 
 1 741, altliough 600 are faid to have been admitted to 
 their freedom at this eleftion. 
 
 Sir John Trevelyan, bart. was chofen, March 14, 
 i-yj, on a vacancy occafioned by the death or his 
 uncle, Sir Walter Blackett, at London, February if, 
 of that year. There was a hard conteft on this occa- 
 fion. It began on Thurfday, 26th February, and 
 lafted fourteen days. Sir John Trevelyan, bart. poll- 
 ed 1163; and Andrew Robinfon Bowes, efq. 10(38 
 
 votes. 
 
i^Jelncaaie upon C|)ne. 383 
 
 votes. Mr. Bowes petitioned againll Sir Jonii ; but 
 no proof of bribery being produced, his eledion was 
 declared valid. 
 
 September 21, 1780, Sir Matthew White Ridley, 
 bnrt, and Andrew Robinfon Bowes, efq. were cho- 
 fen. Sir M. W. Ridley had 1408 votes ; Mr. Bowes 
 1 1 35 ; Mr. Delaval 1085. 
 
 At this election 2245 freemen voted ; of which 
 number it is remarkable, that 862 were lingle voters, 
 ttxxntdi plumpers ; viz. 231 for Sir Matthew; 514 
 for Mr. Bowes; and 117 for Mr. Delaval. The lat- 
 ter gentleman petitioned againll Mr. Bowes, and 
 fome burgeiles again il Sir M. VV. Ridley ; but no- 
 thing was done by the committee in either petition, 
 
 A. D. 1784, Sir Matthew White Ridley, bart. and 
 Charles Brandling, of Gosforth-houfe, cfq. were elect- 
 ed to reprefent this town in parliament. 
 
 In the year 1790, t!ie fame two gentlemen were 
 re-chofcn ; as were they again at the general election 
 in 1796; but, on account of the ill Hate of Mr. 
 Brandling's health, he refigned his feat near the end 
 of the year 1 7 97, and his fon, Charles John Brandling, 
 was chofen in his (tead in January following. 
 
 MERCHANT ADVENTURERS. 
 
 The Phenicians were among the moft early of the 
 nations who turned their attention folely to trade. 
 That enterprizing people demonllrated to mankind 
 that commercial intercourfe was the molt powerful 
 cement of fociety ; and that, while it rendered the 
 various produdions of different climes, and of the 
 moll remote nations, one common fund anfwering 
 all the wants of man ; it at the fame time foftened 
 
 the 
 
3^4 Impartial Diflorp of 
 
 the manners of the moft uncultivated, and difarmed 
 the hand of the violent and the rapacious. To the 
 afliftance of commerce, fociety will be found in- 
 debted for the greater part of whatever contri- 
 butes to the eafe, convenience, or elegance of life. 
 But an infular fjtuation has ever been found moft. 
 friendly to trade, and indeed (fays a modern hifto- 
 lian) every acknov\ Icdgment is due to it from the 
 inhabitants of iflands ; and we of Britain, with our 
 very exillence, perhaps owe to trade all that gives 
 value to our prefent being, our progrefs in fcience, 
 our improvement in every art, our perfonal fecurity, 
 our national opulence and grandeur, and, probably, 
 what ought to be of the highefl concern to us, our 
 fuperior knowledge of religious truth. 
 
 Mercantile focieties, anciently called guilds, or 
 fraternities, are thought to have been firll founded in 
 Europe near the latter end of the feventh century. 
 The borough of Newcaftle itood much indebted to 
 the patronage of king jolm, and was honoured very 
 early in his reig» with exteniive and new franchifes. 
 And it was in the feventeenth year of his reign that 
 he conftituted in it a fociety of free merchants. This 
 fraternity he exempted from pleading any where 
 without its walls to any plea but that concerning fo- 
 reign trade. He releafed them from the duty of 
 'loll, laftage, pontage, and pafTige .in the feaports of 
 his dominions at home and abroad, empowering the 
 mayor of Newcaflle, or Hieriff'of Northumberland, 
 to give them reparation for whatever injury they 
 might fuftain. 
 
 Anciently Englifli merchants were prohibited from 
 carrying ftaple commodities out of the realm ; but 
 Newcaftle, by a charter of king Edward III. in the 
 
 yeas 
 
5I5e\ocaftle upon €)m. 385 
 
 year 1353, was made a itaple town in common with 
 nine others, whither the merchants of England were 
 by ad of parliament to carry their wool, cloth, lead, 
 tin, &-C. 
 
 December 4th, 1504, a licence was granted by 
 king Henry Vll. to the governors and merchants of 
 the merchants' guild, of Newcallle upon Tyne, em- 
 powering them, till the firll of Auguft next, to buy 
 any wools or woolfels, of the growth of Northumber- 
 land, Cumberland, Weftmorcland, Durham, Allerton 
 and Richmondfliires, and fliip them from Newcaftle 
 to any part of Flanders, Brabant, Holland, Zealand, 
 or any foreign parts, at two fhippings, paying for 
 every Tack of flour ten fliillings, and the like fum for 
 every two hundred and forty woolfels. 
 
 December 11, 1^09, king Henry VIII. renewed 
 the above grant; and, in 1517. he made an exempli- 
 fication of former grants to the merchants of New- 
 callle. 
 
 The exports of this fociety, about the year 1520, 
 appear to have been canvas, Ilieep-fliins, lamb-fels, 
 lead, grindftones, coals, and rough-tanned leather. 
 
 Edward VI. 1546, granted a charter to the mer- 
 chants of Newcaftle, by the title of Merchant Ven- 
 turers, in the ports of Brabanr, beyond the feas ; to 
 confift of a governor, twelve affiftants, and two war- 
 dens ; to be eleded and fworn on the ninth of Odo- 
 ber in every year ; to have perpetual fucceflion, 
 power to fue and to be fued, &tc. a clerk, a feal, and 
 beadle ; power to purchafe lands, to make by-laws, 
 to buy and fhip to foreign parts wool and woolfels of 
 the growth of Northumberland, &-c. as before by 
 Henry VII. 
 
 3 C A 
 
386 impartial !!)iflorp of 
 
 A by-law of this ibciety, dated 1554, concerning 
 the apprentices of the fellowfliip, exhibits an intereft- 
 ing pidure of the then drefs and manners ; it is enti- 
 tled an ad for the apparel of apprentices, November 
 1, 1554. After inveighing againlf the vices and ex- 
 ceHes of the times, it adds, " What dyfeng, carding, 
 and mumming, what typling, dauncing, and brafenge 
 of harlots I what gariled coats, jagged hofe Ivned 
 with lilk and cut (lioes I what ufe of gitterns by night, 
 what wereing of herds I what daggers is by them 
 worn croffe over thwarte their backs that this theire 
 doings are more cumlye and decent for rngeng ruf- 
 fians than feemlie for honelt apprentizes I" We won- 
 der what our beaux efprits, our bloods would fay to- 
 all this. 
 
 Anno 1603, it was alfo ordered by a by-law of this 
 fraternity, that *' their apprentices fliould beforbidden 
 to daunce, dice, card, mum, or ufe any mufic, either by 
 nvQjht or by day in the ftreets. They are not to wear 
 any velvat or lace on their apparell, neither any filk 
 garters, lilk or velvat girdles, lilk points, worded or 
 jerfey (lockings, llioe Strings of lilk, pumps, pantofles, 
 or cork flioes, hats lyned with velvat, nor clukes and 
 daggers,- neither Ihall they wear their haire longe, nor 
 locks at their ears like ruffians !" 
 
 Anno 1649, a by-law of this fociety ordered ,, that 
 every apprentice Ihould cutt his haire from the crown 
 of his head, keep his foreheade bare, his lockes, if any, 
 Ihall not reatch below the lap of his eare, and the 
 fame length to be obferved behind. And if in cafe 
 any be licke, he fhall weare a linnen cap and no 
 other, and that without lace. And they iliall weare 
 no beaver hatts, nor caftors, if their liatts be blacke, 
 they ihall have blacke bands, if grey hatts, their bands 
 
 fuitable. 
 
i;5ctoc?!GIc upon Cpne. 3S7 
 
 fuitable. They fliall weare no lilke, ftufte, or camell 
 haire, &c." 
 
 In the year 1056, refpecling apprentices, there is 
 this curious preamble, '' Whereas in thefe late times, 
 wherein iniquity abounds, we find, by woeful expe- 
 rience, a great apotlacy and falling oft'iTom the truth 
 to popery, quukerifm, and all manner of herel'y, and 
 and unheard-of blafphemy and protanenefs. Enaci- 
 ed, that no popidi recufaut, quaker, or any who Ihall 
 not attend duly on his malter at the public ordi- 
 nances ; or any who is bafe_begotten, crook-backed, 
 or lame, or any other way deformed, be taken an ap- 
 prentice, on pain of being fined one hundred marks. 
 And every apprentice convicted of fornication fhould 
 pay a fine of one hundred pounds." 
 
 This fociety agreed, 167 i, to pay the duty of pri. 
 mage, for goods imported within the port of Tyne. 
 The imports are wainfcots, great balks, boom fpars, 
 
 &.C. &.C. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Davifon, merchant-adventurer, dc- 
 vifed to this fociety certain lands in the Leazes, of the 
 yearly value often pounds. 
 
 The fociety, anno 1 6S1, fold ninety-four ridges of 
 land in the Leazes, devifed to them by Thomas 
 Davifon, to the corporation for ever, at the annual 
 rent of thirteen pounds. 
 
 Mr John Rumney bequeathed, 1694, ^^ ^^^^^ frater- 
 nity of merchants, the fum of one hundred pounds, to 
 be lent out to a yo ung brother, without intereft, for 
 three years. 
 
 Mr. Timothy Davidfon; merchant-adventurer and 
 boothman, by his will, dated February 7, i6g4, gave 
 the fum of three hundred pounds to this fraternity, 
 on condition that two-thirds of the intereft thereof 
 
 3 G 2 fliovild 
 
388 Impartial iptftotL' of 
 
 fliould be paid to the poor brethren and widows of 
 the company, in the month of December every year, 
 and the remaining third part to the four churches of 
 NewcalUe. 
 
 Jofeph Atkinfon, merchant-adventurer and booth- 
 man, bequeathed to this fociety one hundred pounds, 
 to be lent to a young trading brother for five years ; 
 dated March 13, 1712. 
 
 Thomas Davifon, cfq. of Feiry-hill, in the county 
 of Durham, by his declaration of trult, dated Augull 
 19, 1755, acknowledged his having funk five hundred 
 pounds in the corporation of Newcallle, upon truft, 
 that they fliould pay the yearly intereft of the laid 
 fum, at four per cent, whenever it fliould amount to 
 fifty pounds, to a fon of a merchant of this fociety, or 
 to any young man who, by fervitude, fhould obtain 
 his franchife thereof, to afl^ft him in beginning bufi- 
 nefs for himfelf ; deputing firft Sir Walter Blackett, 
 bart. Morton and Thomas Davifon, efqrs. to appoint 
 fuch young merchants : and, after the refpeclive 
 deaths of thefe gentlemen, the mayor, aldermen, flie- 
 riff, and common-council of Nevircaftle, for the time 
 being, in common council aflembled. 
 
 With feveral other bequefts, which our limits will 
 not allow us to infert. 
 
 Thus it appears, that the merchants' company is of 
 very high antiquity ; as they themfelves fet forth, in 
 an application to parliament, 1644, that they have 
 been a coinpany of merchants ever fince king John's 
 time, and have been confirmed in their privileges by 
 many royal grants and charters ; and that they have 
 been a guild of merchants ever fince the 17th year of 
 king John, (they add) which is a year before the 
 grant to the merchants of London. 
 
 They 
 
j^clncalllc upon Cpne. 
 
 3S9 
 
 They poffefs, by charter, feveral excliiiive privi- 
 leges, and are regulated by a code of by-laws, judicious 
 and falutary, for promoting the co;nmon interell of 
 this opulent fraternity, and of the town. 
 
 The hall in which they hold their public meetings 
 is in the eaft end of the town-court ; an elegant and 
 fpacious room, commanding a fine view of the river. 
 
 The particulars of a fubjed: (fays Brand, with great 
 propriety) which is found of fuch moment in the 
 general confideration, cannot be thouglit trivial; nor 
 will that labour feem uniaip(H-tant which had collect- 
 ed the fcattered memorials of thofe inhabitants of this 
 place, who, devoting themfelves to the profeiliau of 
 merchandize, have, in a long and uninterrupted fuc- 
 ceflion, with the gradual improvement of their town, 
 aggrandized their refpeclive families, and contributed 
 in no fmall degree, to the advancement of the ilate. 
 
 Governors of the Merchants' Company. 
 
 1480 March 23, Thomas Pen- 
 reth, clerk 
 
 1490 October 15, Peter Be- 
 wick, mafter 
 
 1513 John Blaxton, mafter 
 
 15 1 6 John Brandling 
 
 1517 Edward Baxter 
 
 1518 The fame 
 
 15 1 9 Thomas Ilorllcy 
 1519 The fame 
 
 1528 Edward Swinburn 
 1533 Thomas HorOey 
 1536 Robert Brandling 
 
 1546 Henry Anderlon 
 
 1547 Robert Brandling 
 
 1548 Mark Shaftoc 
 J549 Cuthbert Ellifon 
 1350 Robert Briham 
 
 1 55 1 Bertram Anderfon 
 
 1552 Robert Lewen 
 
 1553 Cuthbert Blunt 
 
 1554 Cuthbert Ellifon 
 
 1555 Robert Hodgfon 
 
 1556 Chriftopher Maford 
 
 1557 Bertram AVnderfon 
 J 558 OlWald Cliapman 
 
 1559 Robert Ellifon 
 
 1560 Chrirtophdr Mufgrave 
 
 1 56 1 John Wilkinfon 
 1564 Robert Brandling 
 1569 Chriftopher MitforJ 
 X573 William Selby 
 
 1575 Henry Anderfon 
 
 1576 Henry Br.indling 
 1578 Mark Shaftoc 
 1580 Richard Hodgibn 
 
 1 58 7 Edward 
 
39- 
 
 Jmpariial iptftorj) of 
 
 5R7 Edward Lewen m 
 
 588 Roger Nicholfon 
 
 589 William Selby 
 
 590 Robert Atkinfon 
 
 591 George Farnebjr 
 
 592 Roger Raw 
 
 593 Lionel Maddifon 
 
 594 Henry Andcrfon 
 
 595 William Riddle 
 
 596 Ralph Jennifon 
 
 597 Henry Chapman 
 
 598 George Farneby 
 
 599 William Jennifon 
 
 600 Sir George Selby, knt. 
 
 601 Francis Anderfou 
 
 602 Robert Dudley 
 
 603 "William Warmouth 
 604. Thomas Riddle 
 1^05 Lionel Maddifon 
 
 6c6 Sir George Selby, knt. 
 
 607 James Clavering 
 
 608 Henry Chapman 
 
 609 Thomas Liddel 
 
 610 William Jennifon 
 
 611 Sir George Selby, knt. 
 
 612 William Warmouth 
 
 1622 Sir George Selby, knt. 
 
 1623 Henry Maddifon 
 
 1624 William Hall 
 
 1625 Thomas Liddle 
 
 J 626 Alexander Davtfon 
 
 1628 Robert Bewick 
 
 1629 John Clavering 
 
 1630 William Warmouth 
 
 1639 "^^^ fame 
 
 1640 Alexander Davifon 
 
 1 64 1 Leonard Carr 
 
 1646 Ralph Grey 
 
 1647 The fame 
 
 1648 Chriflopher Nicholfon 
 The fame till 1670 
 
 1670 Thomas Davifon 
 
 The fame till 1675 
 1676 Robert EUifon 
 1678 Timothy Daivfon 
 1696 Nicholas Fenwick 
 1704 Nicholas Ridley 
 
 1 7 1 1 Robert Fenwick 
 
 1 7 1 2 Matthew White] 
 1739 Matthew Ridley 
 
 Sir Mathew White Ridley, 
 bart. the prefent governor. 
 
 SOCIETY OF HOASTMEN. 
 
 The coal-trade being, of all other branches of com- 
 merce, of the greatefl confequence, not only to the 
 inhabitants of Newcaftle, but, as it extends its influ- 
 ence to the nation at large, conftituting one of the 
 principal conveniences of life, opulence to the mer- 
 cantile branches, and fecurity and dignity to the ftate, 
 whatever, therefore, refpeds this fource of national 
 greatnefs claims, in a particular manner, our atten- 
 tion. We will not, however, in the prefent ftage of 
 our hiftory, when defcribing the conftitution and re- 
 gulations 
 
jectacaliic upon C^ne. 391 
 
 gulations of the fociety of hoaftAen or titters, con- 
 found this with an account of the coal-trade, as we 
 referve this important department for a place appro- 
 priated to itfelf : and therefore we fhall not enter in- 
 to all the minutice, or every lefler circumftance, re-, 
 fpeding this opulent and very confequential fociety, 
 feleding only the mod informing and important. 
 
 It appears that a fociety of hoallmen had exifted as 
 a guild or fraternity in the town of Newcaille upon 
 1 yne from time immemorial, before their incorpora- 
 tion by royal charter, which is faid to have been 
 granted on the following occalion : About the year 
 1599 queen Klizabeth requiring of the mayor and 
 burgelfes of that town th? great arrears of a duty 
 payable to the crown, of two-pence per chaldron on 
 coals fold to non freetnen in rlie port of Tyne, (the 
 date of which dtlicicncy is not ai'cerrained) it ap- 
 peared that the payment of this import had been fo 
 long neglected, that they found themfelves unable to 
 comply with the royat demand ; on which they be- 
 fought her majefty to remit them the fum, and to in- 
 corporate the old guild of hoaflmen, who, on their 
 incorporation, fliould, by a grant to the queen, her 
 heirs and fucceflbrs, for ever, pay one fliilling for every 
 chalder of coals exported from thence to the free 
 people of England. Thefe are the obfervations of 
 Mr Gardiner in his England's Grievances ; but the 
 hoaflmen fay, they made this grant to her majefty out 
 of pure loyalty and goodwill, and to enable her to 
 fupport the realm againft its foreign enemies. The 
 queen feems indeed to countenance this patriotic 
 motive of the hollmen, as ilie obferves *' that the 
 fliilling per chaldron was granted to her by the hoft- 
 men." 
 
 What 
 
39^ Impartial fnftor^ of 
 
 What is jullly called the great charter to the town 
 of Newcallle, granted by this fovereign in the 42d 
 year of her reign, includes a claufe whereby this fra- 
 ternity is incorporated, and in which forty-eight per- 
 fons are named therein for the better loading and dif- 
 poling of pit-coal and (tones upon theTyne; and for 
 their own better fupport as a fociety, with the title 
 of governor, ftewards, and brethren of the fraternity 
 of hoailmen in the town of Newcaille upon Tyne, a 
 common feal is granted them. I'he governor and 
 ilewards are to be annully eleded on the fourth of 
 January. Power is given them to load and unload 
 any where on the river Tyne between Newcaflle and 
 Sparhawk, 3 et as near NewcalUe as they can, not- 
 withftanding the flatute of the twentv-firll of Henry 
 
 the eiglit. See the ahjlraci of this charter in the 
 
 preceding pages. 
 
 The term Oft, or Hoftman, feems to have taken 
 its origin from a paffage in a ftatute of Henry IV. in 
 the year 1404, cap. 9. Merchants Aliens. " And 
 alio it is ordained and itablifhed, that in every city, 
 town, and port of the fea in England, where the laid 
 merchants aliens or lirangeisbe or fhall be repairing, 
 fulRcient hoojlcs Tiiall be affigned to the fame mer- 
 chants by the mayor, flierifles, or bailiffes of the faid 
 cities, townes and portes of the fea. And that the 
 faid merchants, &.c. fhall dwell in no other plafe, 
 but with their (aid hoftes lb to be affigned ; and that 
 the fame holies (hall take for their travaile in the 
 manner as was accullomed in old time." Statutes by 
 Barker. 
 
 The fubfequent regulations refpcdting the mea- 
 fure, the loading, and the duties on coals, we refer 
 to the article coal-trade, digging, vending, &.c. of 
 coals. Governors 
 
J!!3ctoc^flle upon €i»nc. 
 
 393 
 
 Governors of the Hoqftmcris Company, 
 Chofen annually, June 4ih. 
 
 1600 Mr William Jennifon 
 
 1601 Mr George Selbie 
 
 1602 Mr Francis Anderfon 
 
 1603 Mr Robert Dudley 
 
 1604 Mr Thoni.is Riddcll 
 
 1 605 Mr William Jennilbn 
 
 1606 The fame 
 
 1607 Mr George Selbie 
 
 1608 Mr James Clavering 
 
 1609 Mr Henry Chapman 
 
 1 6 10 Mr Thomas Liddell 
 
 161 1 Mr Francis Anderfon 
 
 1612 Mr George Selbie 
 I (5 1 3 Mr Francis Anderfon 
 
 1 614 Mr Thomas Riddell 
 
 1615 Ihe fame 
 ifii6 Mr George Selbie 
 161 7 Mr James Clavering 
 1627 Mr Peter Riddell 
 
 1636 Mr Thomas Liddell 
 
 1637 The fame 
 
 1638 Mr Thomas Marley 
 
 1639 Sir Lyonel Maddifon 
 
 1640 Mr Robert Anderfon 
 
 1 641 Mr Nicholas Cole 
 
 1642 Mr Leonard Carr 
 
 1643 '^^^ fame 
 
 1644 Sir John Marley, mayor 
 
 1645 Sir Lyonel Maddifon 
 
 1646 Mr Ralph Grey 
 
 1647 The fame 
 
 1 648 The fame 
 1649-50-51-52 The fame 
 1653 Mr Leonard Carr 
 t 654 Tlie fame 
 1655 Mr Robert Shafto 
 
 3 D 
 
 656-7-8-9 The fame 
 
 660 Mr John Emerfon 
 
 661 The fame 
 
 662 Mr William Blackett 
 
 663 The fame 
 
 664 Sir Jas. Clavering, bart. 
 6(S^ Sir Francis Liddell, knt. 
 666 Mr Henry Maddifon 
 667-8 William Blackett, efq. 
 
 669 Ralph Jennifon, efq. 
 
 670 till 1674 The fame 
 
 675 Thomas Jennifon, efq. 
 
 676 Sir Francis /ftiderfon, knt* 
 
 677 Sir Ralph Carr, knt. 
 
 678 till 1683 The fame 
 
 684 Sir William Blackett 
 
 685 Wm Aubone, efq. mayor 
 
 686 Sir Henry Brabant, knt. 
 
 687 Nich. Cole, efq. mayor 
 
 688 Sir Wm. Creak, knt. 
 
 689 Mr Thomas Bewick 
 
 690 Wm Carr, efq. mayor 
 091 Sir Wm Blackett, knt. 
 
 692 The fame 
 
 693 Mr George Harrifon 
 
 694 Nicholas Fenwick, efq< 
 
 695 William Aubone, efq. 
 696-7-8 9-1700 The fame 
 701 Matthew White, efq. 
 702-3-4 The fame 
 
 705 Sir Ralph Carr, knt. 
 
 706-7 The fame 
 
 7c8 Mr Henry Riddell 
 
 709 Rob. Fenwick, efq. mayor 
 
 7 10- 1 1 The fame 
 
 7 1 2 Matthew White, efq. 
 
394 Impartial Difiorg of 
 
 171 3- 1 4-1 5 M;Ut. White, efq. 
 1 7 16 Richard Ridley, efq. 
 1725 Sir WiUiam Elackelt 
 
 1728 George Liddell, efq. 
 1740 John Ord, efq. 
 ^1745 J<^hn Simpfon, efq. 
 
 ^ John Simpjon, efq. was fucceeded by J. E. Blackett, efq. 
 who is the prefcnt gevernor. 
 
 The society of MASTi:RS and MAPJNERS. 
 Generally named The Trinity- House. 
 
 It is certainly an important part of the political wif- 
 dom of a nation to know where principally " its 
 llrength lies." And by experience, and never more 
 fo than durijig the late arduous conteft with almofl 
 all the maritime powers of Europe, we find, that the 
 chief fouBde of our power lies in our naval force, — 
 our wooden walls. In tracin,!^, therefore, the origin 
 of a fociety, to whofe gcod fervices not only the port 
 ofTyne, but aUb our national commerce in general, 
 owes very conilderable obligations, require that we 
 give to its hillory a more particular attention, 
 
 So remote as A. D. 1335, the mariners of Newcaf-. 
 tic upon Tyne are diilmguiftied in our annals for their 
 bravery oy fea, and their gallant behaviour in the 
 national fervice. 
 
 This fociety was firft denominated an ancient reli- 
 gious or fecular guild, with the title of the " Guild or 
 Fraternity of the Blelied Trinity." confifting of both 
 fexes, and founded by fome ancient royal authority. 
 
 In the year 1^92, this fociety appears to have been 
 an incorporated body, purchafing by the feoffees, the 
 fite of their prefent houfe ; for which a red rofe was 
 to be prefented yearly, at midfummer, if demanded. 
 A pottle of wine, for fome additional grant, continued 
 to be paid annually, above a century after. 
 
 Anno 
 
30elDcaaic upon Cjnic 395 
 
 Anno 1505, the I'ociety ordered, that a hal!, cha- 
 pel, and lodgings, iliould be erected on the fite of the 
 prcl'ent Tnnjtj-houfe, at their common expence, foi' 
 their poor brethren. 
 
 O6lober 5, 1530, king Henry VIII. granted a char- 
 ter of new incorporation to this guild or fraternity, 
 confiding, at that time, both of men and women, out 
 of love to the Trinity, and to encourage the art of 
 navigation ; which fociety, in future, was to be go- 
 verned by a mailer and four wardens, and by the 
 name of" The Mailer and Wardens of the Holy and 
 Indivifible Trinity ;" to have a common feal, implead 
 and be impleaded, S^-c. with licence to build and cm- 
 battle two towers, the one at the entrances the ha- 
 ven of Tyne, and thej^ther on the hill adjoining ; in 
 each of which lights were to be maintained every 
 night ; for the fupport of which they were empower- 
 ed to receive fourpence for every foreign iliip, and 
 twopence for every EngliOi one, arriving at the port 
 of Tyne, The fucceeding fovereigns, Edward Vi. 
 and Mary, confirmed the above charters. 
 
 A. D. 1584, queen Elizabeth granted to this fo- 
 ciety a new charter, founsiihg them anew, by the 
 name of " The Mafter, Pilots, and Seamen of the Tri- 
 nity-houfe of Newcallle upon Tyne ;" to be a perpe- 
 tual brotherhood, coufifting of nineteen elder bre- 
 thren, who with the red, llyled younger brethren, 
 fliould yearly, on the Sunday next after (Candlemas, 
 choofe a mailer, two elder wardens, and two younger 
 ones; as alfo four allidants out of the elder brethren, 
 with as many out of the younger, for the government 
 of the fraternity, and fafe culb^ly of the pofiefiions 
 thereof: they were aUb to plead and be impleaded, 
 &CC. &c. 
 
 3 D 2 January 
 
39^ Impartial 5|)illorj) of 
 
 January 18, 1606, king James I. granted a new 
 charter to this fociety, conftituting them a body po- 
 litic, by the name of-' Mafter, Pilots, and Seamen, of 
 the Trinity-houfe of Newcaflle upon Tyne," to be a 
 perpetual brotherhood, and appointing a mailer, 
 twelve elder brethren, two elder wardens, with their 
 two allillants, and two younger wardens, with the like 
 number of affiftants. They were to have a common 
 feal. Their jurifdiclion was extended to Blithe, Sun- 
 derland, Hartlepool, Whitby, and Staithes. Power 
 is given them to impofe fines on their offending bre- 
 thren, and to appoint pilots for the river Tyne, with 
 its creeks and members; who are to have, for condud;- 
 jng everjfUaden vefTel, twelvepence for every foot of 
 water Hie IhaU draw ; and for every light Ihip fliall 
 have eightpence The duty of primage was confirm- 
 ed to them for veffels from beyond the feas coming 
 into the river, or its creeks and members. Twopence 
 per ton for wine, ©il, and other things fold by the ton, 
 (fifli killed and brought in by Engliihmen excepted) 
 and thrt-epence per laft of flax, hemp, pitch, tar, or 
 other things fold by the laft. Aliens are to pay the 
 duty before they leave the port ; and free merchants 
 and inhabitants of Newcaftle, within ten days after 
 their loading. All this to go to the fupport of twelve 
 poor brethren, or their wives, or fliipwrecked ma- 
 riners 
 
 Lightage was alfo confirmed to them, of every own- 
 er's Ihin, Englilh born, tourpence each time ; and of 
 every owner's (hip that is an alien, twelvepence. The 
 buoving, canning, maikinT, and beaconing of the ri- 
 ver T) ne^ was alfo confirmed to them, for which 
 they are to receive from each fhip, whofe owner is 
 Enghih, and burden above twenty chaldrons of coals, 
 
 four- 
 
3i3etocaQle upon C|nic. -397 
 
 foLirpence ; of the lame when under twenty chal- 
 drons, twopence ; and of every alien lixpence. They 
 were alfo empowered to hold lands and tenements 
 under thirty pounds per annum, clear value. 
 
 Anno 1607, the lords of the privy-council direded 
 by warrant the officers of the ports of Newcaftle, 
 Yarmouth, Hull, Bodon and Lynn, the payment of 
 lightage and buoyage to this fociety. 
 
 In a conference with the Trinity -houfe of Dept- 
 ford Strand it was agreed to make the duty on each 
 Englifli Ihip 6d. and an additional duty of 4d. mak- 
 ing in all one (hilling and fourpence on each foreign 
 veirel. This was confirmed by the privy-council 
 anno 1613. 
 October 16, 1634, the fociety purchafed a piece of 
 wafte ground at Pow-PanS, nearV North Shields, thirty 
 ells in length and fixty in breadth, as a fituatiDn for 
 the low iighthoufe. 
 
 Anno 1634 the chapel of the Trinity-houfe was 
 built and beautified, and fome new rooms in the 
 fquare were ordered to be finiihed. The Scots had 
 poiTeffion of this houfe when they took Newcallle in 
 the year 1740, but general Lefiy granted a warrant 
 for the fafeguard of their lights at the entrance of 
 their river Tyne. 
 
 Anno 1665, the council of trade under Oliver 
 Cromwell, ];.rd protedor, granted this fociety to eredl 
 two lighthoufes on the Fern iilmds 
 
 July I, 16B7, a new charter was grant-^d to this 
 fociety, with an additional duty to the pilotage, viz. 
 for every foot a vefTel fliould draw, 6d. for every 
 ftranger's laden, and 4d. for every ftranger'i light 
 veflel ; fo that an Englifliinan's velTel iliould pay one 
 ihilUng, and a ftranger's one'lhilhng and fixpsnce per 
 
 foot ; 
 
398 Impartial !piOori) of 
 
 foot ; and tor every Englidiman's light veflel eight- 
 pence, and for every (tranger's one (liilhng. Lightage 
 to be for every Enghflj man's veffel eightpence, and for 
 every ftranger's one Ihilling and fourpence. Buoy- 
 age for every Eughfli man's veflel fixpence above 
 twenty chaldrons, and fourpence under twenty ; 
 eightptnce for every alien's. 
 
 John Bee, niafter and mariner, bequeathed lool. 
 to be put out for the ufe of two younger brethren, 
 and to two others, for other two years fucceflively 
 for ever. 
 
 M^y 9, ^7^2,, the fraternity ordered a free fchool 
 to be ereded in the Trinity- houfe, for the inftruclion 
 of the children of brethren, in wiiting, arithmetic, 
 and mathematics. 
 
 January 20, 1716, ordered that prayers (hould be 
 read every inenth-day in their chapel. The chap- 
 lain's falary eight pounds per annum, with tvfo 
 guineas for a fermon annually on Handfel-monday, 
 the firit Monday in the year. 
 
 In the year 1 721 the great hall of the Trinity-houfe 
 was built ; and the widow's apartments in*i724, with 
 infcriptions, mentioning under what mafter, wardens, 
 6tc. they were erected. 
 
 In 1 753 the fchool was rebuilt, Francis Pemberton, 
 mafter. Mr. Robert Harrifon, one of the firft mathe- 
 maticians in the age, taught in this fchool ; and alio 
 Mr Fryer, a principal land-furveyor, and who pub- 
 liflied a map of the Tyne. 
 
 A. D. T746, when his royal highnefs the duke of 
 Cumberland returned from Scotland, after having 
 defeated the rebels at Culloden, on his way through 
 Newcaftle, was prefented with the freedom of this 
 fociety in a gold box. 
 
 An 
 
3i5clDcalile upon Cyne. 309 
 
 An addrefs was prefented by Sir William iitephen- 
 fon in 1 771, to BrafsCrolby, el'q. lord mayor ot Lon- 
 don, for his patriotic defence of the laws and liberties 
 of Englifhmen, &cc. by this fraternity. 
 
 Another addrefs was prefented to admiral Keppel 
 in 1779, from this fraternity, accompanied with a 
 gold box. 
 
 Since the above period this very refpedable body 
 have addreffed his Majefty on ditTereni occafions, ex- 
 prellive of their firm attachment to his perfon and 
 government. 
 
 The buildings of the Trinity-houfe are not fliawy, 
 but exceedingly well adapted for the various purpofes 
 of buiinefs, of devotion, and of charity ; for al! 
 which they have long been employed. As trade en- 
 creafes, which, for many years, it has rapidly done, 
 the funds of the Trinity-houfe muit encreafe in pro- 
 portion. 
 
 From a calculation made by Mr Aubone, fecretaiy, 
 the fociety allows each widow twelve fliillings per 
 month, a gown and petticoat every two years, and 
 provide them with coals, and the advice of a furgeon 
 when neceflffry. Their rents in the Broad-chare and 
 Trinity-lane amount to about lool. per annum. 
 
 Upon the whole, this refpedable and very ancient 
 fraternity, whofc revenue, on an average, amounts 
 to about 800I. per annum, fupport within their 
 houfe at prefent eight men and twelve women, being 
 their full number : they have alio upon their lill 
 about twenty extra poor, fome of whom have five 
 fliillings per month, others twenty fliillings per quar- 
 ter, according to their feveral neceflities. 
 
 Majlers 
 
400 
 
 Jmpattial il;illor|) of 
 
 Majlers of the Trinhy-Houfe, compiled from the dor- 
 mant Book and other Records of this Society. 
 
 '* A. D. i55j^ Mafter Thomas 
 Shaldfourthc,hcedof the howls 
 theis yer" 
 
 1588 Robert Johnfon, mafter 
 
 1589 JoJin Dobfon, mafter 
 
 1590 James Nicolfon, mafter 
 J 5 92 Roger Rawe, mafter 
 
 1593 P2dward Johnfon, mafter 
 
 1594 Thomas Tucker, mailer 
 
 1595 Johne Johnfon, maifter 
 1597 William Eadone, maifter 
 1598' James Nycolfon, mafter 
 i6oo Edward Barde, mafter 
 1602 Mr Errington, mafter 
 1605 Martin Errington 
 
 i<^o6 Robert Chambers 
 
 1607 Bartram Simpfon 
 
 1608 Edward Brown 
 
 1609 Edward Bard 
 
 1610 Robert Chambers 
 ifin Martin Errington 
 
 1612 William Mawe 
 
 1 61 3 Robert Chambers 
 
 1614 The fame 
 
 1615 William Cook 
 x6i6 John Johnfon 
 
 1617 Martin Errington 
 
 1618 John Ilolborn 
 
 1619 Thomas Simpfon 
 
 1620 W^illiam Cook 
 
 1621 Edward Johnfon 
 
 1622 John Johnfon 
 
 1623 Ofwald Nixon 
 1624. Robert Holborn 
 
 1625 Robert Harrigat 
 
 1626 Edward Bowmer 
 
 1627 Thomas Holboura 
 
 1628 William Carr 
 
 1629 Phineas Allen 
 
 1630 George Cooke 
 
 1 63 1 Thomas Lamb 
 
 1632 John Harrifon 
 i^>33 George Errington 
 
 1634 Thomas Dixon 
 
 1635 Robert Brown 
 
 1636 Thomas Sharp 
 
 1637 Edward Bulmcr 
 
 1638 Humphry Blunt 
 
 1639 Thomas Stobbs 
 
 1640 Thonras Dixon 
 
 1641 Robert Blytl-man 
 
 1642 James Denton 
 
 1643 Phineas Allen 
 
 1644 William Parker 
 
 1645 Thomas Stobbs 
 
 1646 Phineas Allen 
 
 1647 Ralph Fell 
 
 1648 Richard Elbrough 
 
 1649 Robert Catr 
 
 1650 Henry Biid 
 
 1651 Edward Rand 
 
 1652 Phineas Allen 
 
 1653 Thomas Stobbs 
 
 1 654 John Simpfon 
 
 1655 Thomas Dixon 
 
 1656 Thomas Auboue 
 
 1657 Thomas Stobbs 
 
 1658 Richard Elbrough 
 
 1659 Cuthbcrt Atkinfon 
 
 1660 Rowland Pithy 
 
 1 661 Henry Bird 
 
 1662 Henry Kirkhoufe 
 
 1663 John Simpfon 
 
 1664 Edward Nixon 
 
 1664 
 
iI3cVDC?.(lIe upon Cpnc. 
 
 401 
 
 1665 George Shadwell 
 
 1666 Thomas Aubone 
 
 1667 Thomas Dixon 
 166S Cuihbert Atkinfon 
 
 1669 Robert Cooke 
 
 1670 James Rand 
 
 1671 Henry Kirkhoufe 
 
 1672 Abraham Redhead 
 
 1673 Abraham Dixon 
 
 J 674 Richard Elbrough 
 
 1675 Edward Nixon 
 
 1676 Richard Righe 
 
 1677 John Wetwang 
 
 1678 Thomas Aubone 
 
 1679 Edward Carr 
 
 1680 Edward Atkinfon 
 
 1 68 1 Anthony White 
 
 1682 William Leak 
 
 1683 John Wetwang 
 
 1684 Thomas RicharJfon 
 
 1685 John Bee 
 
 1686 William Hyndmer 
 
 1687 Richard Hutton 
 
 1688 Thomas Rewcaftle 
 
 1689 Jofeph Swaddell 
 
 1690 John Wilklnfon 
 
 1691 John Vaughan 
 
 1692 Thomas Watfon 
 
 1693 Thomas Brown 
 
 1694 Edward Carr 
 
 1695 Francis Partis 
 
 1696 John Bee 
 
 1697 Abraham Dixon 
 
 1698 Charles Newton 
 
 1699 Robert Reed 
 
 1700 Nicholas Burdon 
 
 1701 WilliaAi Hyndmer 
 
 1702 Robert Proder 
 
 1703 John Hyndmer 
 
 1 704 Henry bhadforth 
 
 1705 Jonathan Fifher 
 
 1706 John Coatfwortli 
 
 1707 Matthew Newton 
 
 1708 Abraham Bosfield 
 
 1709 Thomas Rewcafllc 
 
 1710 Thomas Browne 
 1 7 II I Robert Reed 
 
 1712 Robert Bailiff 
 
 1 7 1 3 John Welford 
 
 1 7 14 Jofeph Milburn 
 
 1 7 15 John Binks 
 
 1716 John Hewbank 
 
 1717 James Liddell 
 
 1718 Nicholas Burden 
 
 1719 Henry Shadforth 
 4720 Robert Bailiff 
 
 1721 John We] ford 
 
 1722 Jofeph Milburn 
 
 1723 Thomas Simpfon 
 
 1724 Thomas Peighin 
 
 1725 James Carr 
 
 1726 Sir Chaloner Ogle 
 
 1727 Peregrine Henzell 
 
 1728 Jofeph Marftiall 
 
 1729 Henry Towart 
 
 1730 Matthew Prodor 
 
 1731 Henry Firtier 
 
 1732 Matthias Giles 
 '733 John Thompfon 
 1734. Francis Pemberton 
 '735 William Errington 
 1736 Richard Baxter 
 '737 VVilliam Harrifon 
 1738 Charles Liddell 
 1739-40 William Errington 
 1 74 1 Matthew Harrifon 
 1^42 Thomas Profler 
 
 1743 Nicholas Burdon 
 
 1 744 James Carr 
 
 1745 Robert Hudfon . 
 
 3 E »74<5 
 
40Z 
 
 Impartial IMot^ of 
 
 1746 Francis Heath 
 
 1774 Jolin Marfliall 
 
 1747 George Stcphenfon 
 
 1775 Cuthbcrt Adamfon 
 
 1 748 John Cole 
 
 1776 Richard Armftrong 
 
 1749 Charles Liddell 
 
 1777 George Stcphenfon 
 
 1750 William Errington 
 
 1778 Henry Stodart 
 
 1 75 1 Henty Shadforth 
 
 1779 James Hume 
 
 1752 Matthias Giles 
 
 1780 Purvis SifTon 
 
 1753 Francis Pemberton 
 
 1 781 James Hume 
 
 1754 William Harrilbn 
 
 1782 George Robinfon 
 
 1755 Jonathan Blagdon 
 
 1783 John Hawks 
 
 1756 Thomas Prodter ' 
 
 1784 Thomas Shadforth 
 
 1757 Robert Hudfon 
 
 1785 William Sparke 
 
 1758 Francis Heath 
 
 1786 Jofeph Airey 
 
 1759 George Stephenlbn 
 
 1787 Themas Hogg 
 
 1760 John Cole 
 
 1788 Ifaac Nicholfon 
 
 1761 Richard Armftrong 
 
 I 789 Matthew Hedley 
 
 1762 Purvis 3iffon 
 
 1790 Jon. Airey 
 
 1763 John Scaife 
 
 1791 John Atkinfon 
 
 1764 Thomas Southan 
 
 1 792 John Anderfon 
 
 J 765 Jonathan Airey 
 
 1793 John Cram 
 
 1766 Thomas Maude 
 
 1 794 Henry Shadforth 
 
 1767 William H-"dley 
 
 1795 Cuthbert Adamfon 
 
 1768 Henry Shadforth 
 
 1796 John Reay 
 
 1769 Robert Hedley 
 
 1797 Thompfon Chapman 
 
 1770 Chriftopher Ord 
 
 1798 William Brown 
 
 1771 Jonathan Blagdon 
 
 1799 John Oftle 
 
 1772 Matthew Hunter 
 
 1 800 Thomas Shadforth 
 
 1773 Henry Shadforth, jun. 
 
 1801 William Harle 
 
 We have given an account of the three great trad- 
 ing companies, viz. merchant-adventurers, the hoaft- 
 men's company, and the mailer and mariner's com- 
 pany, or the Tiinity-houfe. We fliall now proceed 
 to the 
 
 TWELVE 
 
S^jawRT 
 
 i^Jetocaftle upon Cgnc 403 
 
 TWELVE COMPANIES, called Mysteries. 
 
 Before we mention thele in order, we would fliortly 
 obferve, that the word myftery does not imply intri- 
 cacy, or any thing involved in obfcurity, difficult to 
 be comprehended ; but is an old French word, ine^ 
 Jliere, for metier, a trade or bufuiefs. 
 
 " In the fweat of thy face flialt thou eat bread, till 
 thou return into the ground," was the doom pro- 
 nounced upon the firft man, for the violation of the 
 law of his nature. And yet labour, with moderation, 
 is certainly, in the prefent ftate of fociety, not only 
 his duty, but agreeable to his nature, and the fource 
 of his happinefs. " All is the gift of induilry ; what- 
 ever exalts, embellilhes, or renders life delightful,'* 
 fays the poet of the feafons ; the truth of which may 
 be amply illullrated from the objecls which furround 
 us. To the induftry of her inhabitants is our ifland, 
 in a peculiar manner, indebted for her opulence and 
 confequence among the nations of Europe. Hence 
 IHe commands " the exalted llores of every brighter 
 clime ;" and hence Britain has long been the feat of 
 commerce, fcience, and the arts. Indeed, wherever 
 focial man is found, induftry, in fome degree, muft be 
 his duty and his interelt ; for no where does nature 
 amply provide for her children independently of their 
 exertions. 
 
 But the Supreme Being has wifely implanted in 
 the minds of men a vaft diverfity of propenfities, in 
 the various purfuits of life, inclining fome to cultivate 
 the earth, others to ply the mechanic tool, " to hew 
 the wood, to chip the (lone, till by degrees the finifh- 
 ed fibrics rofe ;" while others purfue trade, in all its 
 various branches and ramifications. Nor has any 
 
 3 E 2 municipal 
 
404 Jmpartial fpiQorj? of 
 
 municipal town in the kin^^Jom, of its dimenfions, 
 reared a greater number oF adlive and ingenious ar- 
 tifts, laborious and ufeful tradefmen, than Newcaftle, 
 the fubjecl of our prefent hiftory. We (hall, there- 
 fore, give a fuccindl account of the twelve incorpo- 
 rated companies, in their order, according to the 
 dates of their refpecflive charters. 
 
 I. Merchants of Woollen Cloth, otherwife called 
 Drapers. 
 
 The firfl notices which we have of this fociety are 
 fo very ancient, as in the reign of king Edward 111. 
 in the ordinances for the gorernment of NewcalUe 
 upon Tyne, Odober 20, 1342. 
 
 The oldeft ordinary of this fociety, the original of 
 which having affixed to it many feals, Ikin-marks, 
 &c. with names of the brethren, dated June ift, 
 151 2, is flill preferved in their archives. It ena(fls, 
 that two men fliould be chofen annually, by mod 
 voices of the fociety, for the election of the mayor 
 and officers of the town, at the Spital; i. e. St. Mary's 
 hofpital; that no apprentice fhall be taken under the 
 termoffeven years; that, on the Wednefday after 
 the eledion of the mayor, they fhould meet at the 
 Maifon-Dieu, on the Sandhill, to choofe their Stew- 
 ards, two auditors, and for the eledion of the mayor 
 for the enfuing year ; and that whofoever of the feU 
 lowffiip ffiould be chofen mayor, ffieriff, chamberlain, 
 or clerk of the chamber, fhould be exempted that 
 year from the office of auditor. 
 
 About 1650, a violent dilTenfion took place be- 
 tween fome of the merchant-adventurers of Newcaf- 
 tle and this fraternity ; the former claiming the fole 
 privilege of being ftyled merchant-drapers, and of 
 
 fending 
 
3i5Etacaftle upon tiz^m. 405 
 
 fending tw'O members to the eleclion of the mayor 
 and other of^cers. This feems to have ended in the 
 cxclulion of the true ibciety, or at Icaft of that part 
 of them by whom the unqaeftionable records of that 
 fraternity have been tranfmitted. 
 
 A. D. 1652, an ordinary was granted to this fociety 
 by the mayor, aldermen, and Iheritf of this town, 
 under the feal of the corporation, prefcribing an oath 
 on admiflion : that they ftiould meet at their ancient 
 meeting-houfe, called the Maifon de Dieu, every 
 Wednefday before Michaelmas, to choofe new war- 
 dens and pafs their accounts; to choofe two new 
 auditors on the Monday after St. Bartholomew's day, 
 in St. George's porch, in St. Nicholas' church ; that 
 vvhofoever of the fraternity ihould be chofen to the 
 iiril eledlion, or ftanding eledion of the mayor, &.c. 
 fhould preferve the dignity and priority of the com- 
 pany, as being firlt named in the charter, claiming 
 their meeting-place for the company in the fouth 
 corner at the eaft end of the eleclion-houfc ; and 
 their chairs for the former eledlion next to the 
 mayor's chair and on the right hand ; as alfo their 
 place in St. Nicholas' church, which was the north 
 fide of St. George's porch, under a penalty of forty 
 fhillings. That thofe of the company who were al- 
 dermen fhould have priority of place at their meet- 
 ings, and be received as juilices of the peace. That 
 apprentices (hould ferve eight years, and that no fe- 
 cond one fliould be taken till the firll had ferved four 
 years ; and that none fhould be taken whofe father 
 was not a freeholder, to the value of forty {hillings 
 a-year. 
 
 Records of the Draper's Company. 
 
 II. Mercers. 
 
4o6 Jmpattial ipiUori) of 
 
 II. Mercers. 
 
 After every refearch, no record of this fociety can 
 now be found. A copy, however, of their oath on 
 admiffion is preferved in the books of the merchant- 
 adventurers, of which this fociety is one of the three 
 members. 
 
 It appears, anno 1668, that the company of mer- 
 cers and boothmen were at that time united. 
 
 In the reign of James II. the mercers, drapers, and 
 boothmen, though diftincl companies, appear to have 
 had their meetings and aflembhes as if they had been 
 but one fraternity. This hint is found in the records 
 of the company of butchers. 
 
 III. Skinners. 
 
 This fraternity have their meeting-houfe in the 
 Black-Friars. The ordinary, or record of this com- 
 pany, is fo remote as the year 1437. They met an- 
 nually on the Tuefday after Michaelmas, to choofe 
 their ftewards and pafs their accounts. One rule 
 obferved at their meetings was, that if any member 
 fmoaked tobacco, he was to be fined threepence. 
 
 They feem to have incorporated themfelves with 
 the fraternity of glovers, anno 1703. They ftill keep 
 feparate books, thougli they have but one meeting- 
 houfe. 
 
 IV. Taylors. 
 
 Whence it happens that this ufeful clafs of men 
 fhould have been, almoft in all ages, the butt of the 
 fliafts of ridicule, is not eafy to account for ; as, next 
 to food, cloaths are a chief neceffary in human life. 
 And yet we find the immortal Shakfpeare, nay, even 
 
 the 
 
j^etocaGle upon C^ne. 4^7 
 
 the mighty queen Befs, employing their fatirical wit 
 upon " the knights of the thimble." Poffibly their 
 domefticated fituation in life gives them a kind of 
 afluming petulance, nearly aflbciated to that of the 
 fair fex, which may excite a degree of contempt from 
 the more manly and robuft bufinelTes of life. 
 
 This fociety meet in their hall in the Black-Friars. 
 The oldeft record of this fraternity is dated 1536. — 
 Every brother, upon his fetting up fhop, fhould pay 
 a pot of oil to the fellowrtiip, as alfo thirteenpence a 
 year, for our Lady-light ; and that each apprentice, 
 or perfon hired by the week, fliould pay fourpence 
 per annum, and each hireling threepence a year, to 
 their play, when it fhould be performed : Alfo, that 
 any perfon born a fubjecfl of the king, and free of 
 Newcaflle, might fet up ihop, on payment of forty 
 pounds, with a pound of wax and a pot of oil, at his 
 admittance ; as alfo thirteenpence to our Lady-light, 
 and 8d. to the play. That no taylor fhould work on Sa- 
 turdays after eight o'clock in the evening, and fhould 
 keep holy the Sunday, vigils, and feftival days, on 
 pain of fix pounds of wax, for every default. That 
 the fociety fliould pafs their accounts on St. John's 
 day, in every May ; and having chofen twelve elec- 
 tors, the faid twelve fliould choofe the four ilewards, 
 the fearchers, and auditors. It further ordered, that 
 every brother fhould be at the proceffion on Corpus 
 Chrifti day, before it palTed the New-gate, on pain of 
 forfeiting a pound of wax ; and that each brother 
 fhould attend in his livery. And that the common 
 light of the fraternity fhould go before the corpfe of 
 every brother when it was carried to the church for 
 interment, and continue there lighted during mafs- 
 timc, and till the body was interred. 
 
 This 
 
4o3 Jnipartial tiftorp of 
 
 In the archives of the fociety is another ordinary, 
 dated Augiift 12, 1624, confirmed March 2, 1679 ; 
 alio September 15, 1707; January 17, 1731 ; and 
 October 17, 1737 
 
 This body of mechanics, both free and non-free, 
 is very numerous in Newcaftle. 
 
 V. Sadlers. 
 
 The records of this fociety are very ancient, being 
 dated March 6, 1459, wliic^i. they ftill have in their 
 poflcflion. In thofe popilh times, the fadlers were 
 enjoined to walk together in proceflion, in a livery, 
 at the feaft of Corpus Chrilli, and perform their play, 
 at their own coft : and th|tt each brother, when his 
 hour was afligned, to attend, under pain of forty- 
 pence. That no ocoifman born fliiuld be taken ap- 
 prentice, or fufFered to work within the town, under 
 a penalty of twenty Ihillings. It farther ordered, that 
 no apprentice fhould be taken under the term of fe- 
 ven years, on pain of fix fliillings and eightpence. 
 It enjoined civil behaviour to each other, at their 
 meetings, the due obfervance of holidays, &.c. 
 
 Another ordinary, or record of the fociety, comes 
 down to the year 1532. 
 
 VI. Merchants of Corn, or Boothmen. 
 
 No determinate record is handed down of this fo- 
 ciety, confidered as a feparate myltery. But among 
 fome loofe hints, preferved in the books of the mer- 
 chant adventurers, there is one, however, dated in 
 the year 1566, myflerious and of dark import, and 
 which gives fcope for the talents of the curious and 
 inquifitive. It is called, ** the fcyens of boothmen." 
 
 To 
 
f^eVocaiile upon C]i>ne. 409 
 
 To which of all the branches oi fcicnce this Ot'i dealing 
 in corn belongs, ue candidly confels our ignorance. 
 We are far from infiniiating, that importation of 
 corn in cafes of real fcarcitv, and pubhcly fold at 
 a reafonable profit, is not laudable ; but its aug- 
 menting almoft daily in price, notwithftanding 
 the immenfe quantities imported from the four 
 quarters of the globe, " was ibange, it was palling 
 ftrange." 
 
 Vil. Bakers and Brewers. 
 
 Thefe employments, exercifed as myfleries in 
 Newcallle, arc of very ancient mftitution. Nor is it 
 furpriling.---To eat and drink arc the calls of nature, 
 co-eval with hurnan exillence. Anno 1342 the cor- 
 poration in full guild, held in St Mary's Hofpital, 
 agreed and enaded, that the affixes of bread and 
 bear fliould be held according to law. The mailer- 
 bakers, and not their fervants, to fufler the penalties 
 ordained by the ftatutes. Thefe regulations were 
 fandiuned by royal authority. Meafures, ells, and 
 weights, to be proved twice a year, or at leait once. 
 
 Irv the following century, 1446, we find an exclu- 
 five privilege granted to the bakers and brewers of 
 Newcaftle, whereby baking and brewing for fale 
 were refl:ricT:ed to that town, and no where elfe with- 
 in the port of Tyne. 
 
 In the year i66i we find a record of this fociety 
 fetting forth, that their original ordinary, or record, 
 had been long loll ; and in this they ena6l regulations 
 for choofing twelve of their fociety and four wardens, 
 whom they empowered by the name of wardens of 
 the art and myflery of bakers and brewers, to profe- 
 cute, fue, or implead, and be fued, &c. only within 
 
 3 F the 
 
4'o Impartial ipiGoii? of 
 
 the courts of Newcartle upon Tyne ; to make laws 
 for the government of the fociety, impofe fines, for- 
 bidding any brother to flrike another at any meeting 
 with fift, hand, elbow, dagger, ftaff, ftick, rod, or 
 otherwife, on pain of twenty fhiiUngs. Ordering, 
 that no apprentice fhould be taken under feven years, 
 nor a fecond till the firft had ferved fix years. That 
 the fociety fliould attend the burials of their bre- 
 thren, on pain of a penalty of three fliillings and 
 fourpence for every omillion. 
 
 Vni. Tanners. 
 
 Tanners were anciently called barkers. Their 
 ordinary is dated in the year 1532. They were en- 
 joined by their regulations to come yearly, in their 
 belt array and apparel, at the feaft of Corpus Chrifti, 
 and go in proceilion, fet forth their pageants, &c. on 
 pain of forfeiting one pound of wax. Not to take 
 any Scot by birth for an apprentice, under a penalty 
 of twenty Ihillings. That each brother fliould have 
 but one butcher to buy flaughter of, on pain of ten 
 pounds, and not to buy above eight fothers of bark, 
 or forty trees, on pain of fix fliillings and eightpence. 
 Aifo to fupply each other with bark, 
 
 JX. GORDWAINERS. 
 
 The original inftitution of this myftery is dated 
 Dec. 17, 1556. Their meeting-houfe was in the 
 Black-Friars. Their regulations refpeding appren- 
 tices is, that no brother fliall take an apprentice for 
 a term lefs than ten years ; five of which to be ex- 
 pired before a fecond be taken. That foreigners 
 might be admitted into the company on payment of 
 
 five 
 
j!5etDcatlle upon C^nc 4x1 
 
 five pounds ; one half whereof to go to the fellow- 
 fliip, the other to the reparation of Tyne- Bridge. 
 From the original in pojfejjhn of the company. 
 
 X. Butchers. 
 
 Anno 1 62 1, this fociety was aflociated into a myf- 
 tery or trade, as we find by an inrohnent in the ar- 
 chives of the corporation of Newcaftle. Annually 
 on Afh-Wednefday they were to choofe their two 
 wardens. Tiiat apprentices fliould ferve at lead 
 eight years, five of which to expire before a fecond 
 could be taken. That no brother Ihould be partner 
 with any foreigners called crokers, on pain of forfeit- 
 ing five pounds. That none fhould kill after nine 
 o'clock on Saturday night, nor keep open fliop after 
 eight o'clock on Sunday morning. That no brother 
 fiiould buy, or feek any licence to kill flefh in New- 
 caftle during Lent, without the general confent of 
 the fellowfliip, on pain of forfeiting five pounds. 
 That none fliould kill either at Lent or any other 
 time, within the liberties of the High Caftle, being in 
 the county of Northumberland, on the like pain for 
 each oifence. But that any butcher, though not a 
 brother, might expofe good meat to fale in the mar- 
 ket, from the hours of eight in the morning till four 
 in the afternoon. There is a curious order or regu- 
 lation among " thefe men of death :" it is, that no 
 free brother fliould blow a calf's pluck, or any part 
 of a calf, except calf's clofe-enr, nor any other goods 
 but a cow's udder, under a penalty of fix fliillings 
 and eightpence, unforgiven. 
 
 XL 
 
412 3[!tipartial il)tQor)) of 
 
 XI. Smiths. 
 
 There are fome curious regulatioils refpeding the 
 religious deportment oF thefe men of the hammer.— 
 Their ordinary, or record of affociation, is to be found 
 in the book of enrohnents in the archives of the cor- 
 poration of Nevvcartle ; and they themfelves have 
 preferved the original deed in the ftrong box of the 
 fociety, bearing date anno 1436. This brotherhood 
 were enjoined to go together in proceffion on the 
 feaft of Corpus Chrifti, and perform their play, at 
 their own expence, attending at the hour appointed, 
 or forfeit one pound of wax. That every brother 
 lliould affemble at St. Nicholas' church, at the fetting 
 forth of the proceffion, on St. Loy-day, on the like 
 penalty. That no Scotfraan born lliould be taken 
 apprentice, or fuffered to work, on pain of the for- 
 feiture of forty fhiliings ; half whereof to go to the 
 chamber of the town, the other half to the fellowfhip. 
 That no brother Ihould fell feyme a?id roffe by weight, 
 under three fhiliings and fourpence a hundred, on 
 pain of forfeiting lix (hiUings and eightpence for each 
 offence.* 
 
 Another regulation exhibits the fociety as confid- 
 ing of different branches of blackfmiths and farriers, 
 blackfmiths or anchorfmiths, and lockfmiths or white- 
 fmiths. 
 
 Another, dated Augufl. 17, 1677, empowered the 
 fraternity to be a body politic in law ; enjoined them 
 to meet yearly, on St. Loy-day, to choofe four war- 
 dens, 
 
 * The following curious entiies occur in their old books : — Feb. 
 10, 1668, John Bolam for not carrying Clem. Browne to church, 
 giving the ftang to another, fined 13 s. 4d. — 1682, paid for making 
 the feat in the Frith, is.4d. — 1685, fpent in the Forth-houfe with 
 the twelve, the raine caufeing them in, 2s. 
 
3i5etocaftlc upon Ci^ne. 4r3 ' 
 
 dens, of which one at lead was to be an anchor-fmith. 
 That the twelve of the company fhoulJ confift of four 
 anchorfraiths, four blackfmiths and farriers, and four 
 lockfmiths : to choofe four fearchers ; that appren- 
 tices iliould ferve feven years : that no brother iliould 
 come to meetings, or attend the public guild of the 
 town, with his apron on, but with a decent cloak, or 
 coat, on pain of forfeiting lix pence for each default. 
 
 George Whinfield, efq"! mayor, and Margaret Ste. 
 phenfon, of Newcaftle, left twenty pounds each, da- 
 ted Dec. 1 8, 1 718. and 1725 ; to be put to intcreft, 
 to affill two poor brethren, for three years, to begin 
 bufinefs. 
 
 Their meeting-houfe is adjacent to the Black-Friars, 
 the ground-floor of which, once that of the chapel of 
 that opulent fraternity, was the fcene of a remarkable 
 ilate.tranfadion, being the room in which homage 
 was done by the Scottiili king, to the king of Eng- 
 land, for the kingdom of Scotland. 
 
 XII. Fullers or. Dyers. 
 
 To invent the manufadure of cloth was the fruit 
 of neceility ; to purify and (lain with various colours, 
 were the offspring of vanity and a love of diilinclion. 
 Jofeph's coat of many colours, with his magnificent 
 portentous dreams, nigh coll him his life. And as a 
 defire oi moiijirari dijito, to be pointed out by the 
 finger, has long influenced hunaii-kind, we are not 
 to wonder that the myftery of fulling and dyeing is 
 of very ancient date. This of Newcallle is that of 
 1477. As there have been foir.e men but middling 
 honeji, in all ages, lb the regulations of t'le fuller's 
 company fecure the brethren again \ thcM. It is 
 therefore enaded, that no brother fliould rtain cloth 
 
 upon 
 
414 Impartial fpiftorp of 
 
 upon the tenter, to deliver it with thejhort-wand, on 
 pain of forfeiting four pounds of wax : nor tenter 
 cloth on a Sunday, nor " wend to the v/alk mylne" 
 with any raw cloth on that day, on pain of forfeiting 
 two pounds of wax. That they fhould take no Scotf- 
 man born to apprentice, nor fet any fuch to work, 
 under a penalty of twenty (hillings, half whereof to 
 go to the fociety, and half to fupport the Tyne-bridge. 
 That no apprentice fhould be taken under feven 
 years ; that no brother fhould w^ork kerfey under 
 twopence the yard; that they fhould attend the wed- 
 dings and burials of brethren in their livery ; that 
 they fhould meet in their livery in Carliol-croft, on 
 St. John's day, in May, at fix o'clock in the morning; 
 and upon St. John's-day at Chriflmas, at one o'clock 
 in the afternoon : that none of the company fliould 
 fail being at the fetting forth of the procelfion of 
 Corpus Chrifti day, on pain of forfeiting one pound 
 of wax ; and that each brother fhould pay fixpence 
 to the proceflion and the play yearly : to choofe 
 twelve, who were to be fworn and ele6t wardens, au- 
 ditors, fearchers, and the two to attend the mayor 
 and chamber for the year : to meet on the eve of 
 Corpus Chrifti day, in the morning, at fix o'clock, 
 under the penalty of one pound of wax : to walk no 
 broad cloth of colour, under fourpence a yard; nor 
 any wadded blue under twopence the yard, nor any 
 frize under three-halfpence the yard ; to •' dight," 
 /. e. clean no gown under fourpence, on pain of half 
 a pound of wax ; nor to fiieer a dozen yards of tilted 
 cloth under threepence, on pain of forfeiting two 
 pounds of wax ; or furtian under one penny a yard, 
 or broad-cloth under threepence for the like quan- 
 tity, under the penalty of one pound of wax for each. 
 
 FIFTEEN 
 
3!5etocaftle upon C^ne. 4^5 
 
 FIFTEEN COMPANIES, called By-trades. 
 
 The firft of thefe is the refpedable and opulent 
 company of Mafters and Mariners, called alio the 
 Trinity-Houfe, of which we have already given an 
 account along with thofe of the Merchant-adven- 
 turers and Hoallmen. 
 
 2. Weavers. 
 
 This very ingenious profeflion is of great antiquity 
 among civilized nations, and is almolt co-eval with 
 human nature itfelf ; and in proportion as it arrives 
 among a people from rudenefs to elegance in texture, 
 in the various fabrications in which this art is exer- 
 cifed, the degree of their civilization is, in a great 
 meafure, charadlerifed. 
 
 The ordinary of this fociety in Newcaftle, and 
 which they ftill have in their pnlTeffion. is of the 
 date of 1527. By the authority of the mayor, (lierifF, 
 and aldermen, jullices of the peace, with the confent 
 of their own body, it enjoins them to alTemble yearly 
 at the feall of Corpus Chrilii, go together in procef- 
 fion, and play their play of pageant of " The Bearing 
 of the Crofs," at their own expence ; each brother 
 to be at the proceflion when his hour is afligned, on 
 pain of forfeiting lixpence. To take no Scotfman 
 born to apprentice, nor fet any to work under a pe- 
 nalty of forty (hillings for each default, whereof half 
 to goto the fellovvfiiip, and half to the work of Tyne- 
 bridge, without "tbrgivenefs ; to admit any perfon 
 who had ferved an apprenticefhip with a brother of 
 the fociety, a member thereof, on the payment of 
 thirteen fhillings and fourpence, and twelvepence 
 for a pot of ale ; as alfo any man of that craft, being 
 
 the 
 
4i6 Jmpavttal JpiSor)) of 
 
 the king's liege man, and defirous to be of the fel- 
 lowfliip, a brother thereof, with power to fet up fhop 
 on the payment of twenty pounds, and twelvepence 
 for a pot of ale. The fearcheis to fearch fout times 
 a year at leaft. That any brother falling into poverty 
 fhould be fupplied out of the common box, at the 
 difcretion of the ftewards and twelve ; and that any 
 brother milbehaving at meetings, fhould forfeit fix 
 pounds of wax for every default ; and that any 
 brother lying in wait to beat, flay or murder any of 
 his brethren, Ihould be put out of the fociety for 
 ever ; that any brother calling another Scot, or 7?ian- 
 fworn, in malice, fliould forfeit fix fliillings and eight- 
 pence without forgivenefs : that every apprentice 
 fliould ferve feven years, and pay at his entrance a 
 pound of wax ; that they ftiould fettle their accounts 
 every year, on Monday after Corpus Chrifti day, and 
 choofe ttieir ftevvards, &.c. that every brother take 
 for the working of a dozen broad cloth four fliillings j 
 for a dozen ftrates wollene twentypence, to be mea- 
 fured by the long wand ; for a dozen lyn-cloth, yard 
 broad, bleeched, twelvepence ; alfo fife and brood- 
 lynn and hardone, tenpence a dozen ; a dozen fan- 
 clothe twelvepence ; a dozen karfais eighteenpence ; 
 for a dozen lyn-cloth, five quarters broad, eighteen- 
 pence, &c. 
 
 Another ordinary, having the fandion of the mayor 
 and burgefles of Newcaftle, in guild-hall aflTembled, 
 dated Auguil 12, ir.cB, and enrolled in the books of 
 the corporation, confirmed to them 4.hat no foreigner 
 or perfon not free of the feliowfliip, living in or about 
 the High-Callle, near the liberties of that town, ftiould 
 take any work in prejudice of this fociety, on pain of 
 forfeiting five pounds for each default. And that 
 
 none 
 
Bt\xitdMz upon ^imz. 417 
 
 none lliould buy any linen or hardane yarn, to carry 
 out of tlie precincls ot" the faid town, under a penalty 
 of forty fliillings. 
 
 This fociety has a warrant from the mayor of 
 Newcadle, renewed yearly, to fcize bad yarn, &c. 
 and flill continue to receive annual contributions 
 from the pedlars who keep booths on the Sandhill. 
 
 3. Barber-Cbirurjeons^ with Chandlers. 
 
 This company is of great antiquity, their ordinary 
 being dated October lo, 1442. 
 
 On a petition from this fociety, dated 1648, to the 
 mayor and corporation, for a place in the Manors, on 
 which to build a meeting houfe, a leafe was granted 
 them for that purpofe, for fixty-one years, at the 
 annual rent of fix fliillings and eightpence ; with a 
 certain number of yards of land, for a garden of 
 herbs. This leafe expiring, a new one was granted, 
 for the like term of fixty-one years from the expira- 
 tion of the old one. 
 
 Their regulations, which are curious and moral, 
 are as follow : That, at the procelFion of Corpus 
 Chrirti, their fociety was to play the '* Baptizing of 
 Chrill," at their own expence. Every man to be at 
 the procelfion when his hour is affigned him, at the 
 Newgate, on pain of forfeiting a pound of wax : to 
 go alfo with their pageant, when it ihould be played, 
 in a livery, on the like pain: that no alien born fhould 
 be taken apprentice, or allowed to work within the 
 town, or without, under a penalty of twenty fliillings: 
 that the fociety fliould uphold the light of St. John 
 Baptift, in St. Nicholas' church, as long as they were 
 of ability : that no barber, apprentice, nor fervant, 
 
 ^ F fliould 
 
41 3 Impartial fMov]) of 
 
 fhoLild fliave on Sunday, neither within the town, nor 
 without, by a mile's fpace. 
 
 There is another ordinary of this fociety, dated 
 Sept. 25, 1671, confirming the former, and making 
 them a body poHtic, by the name of " The Barber- 
 Chirurgeons and Wax andTallow-Chandlers," order- 
 ing them to meet yearly, and choofe two wardens, 
 who were to be fworn : that apprentices fliould ferve 
 feven years : and that when any brother had taken 
 a cure in hand, no other fhould meddle with it till it 
 was completed, on pain of forfeiting twenty fliillings 
 for the firft, thirty ihUhngs for the fecond, and forty 
 fhillings for the third default ; half of which to go to 
 the brother who firfl: drefled the patient. It further 
 enjoined, that none fliould wafh, drefs, or trim on a 
 Sunday, on pain of forfeiting two fhiliings for each 
 offence ; giving the company power to make by-laws, 
 and to choofe annually t\vo fearchers, who were to 
 be fworn.* 
 
 4. Cutlers, 
 
 Although no ordinary or record of this company 
 has been preferved; yet fome mention is made of 
 them as a fociety, anno 1579, in the ordinary of ar- 
 mourers. In the year 1688, they appear to have 
 pretented to the eledlion of the mayor, as one of the 
 fifteen by-trades. 
 
 Their, hail, anciently called " Cutler's Tower," in 
 the Carliol-Croft, was rebuilt by the fraternity of 
 iiiafons, and is now their meeting-houfe. 
 5- SJJJP' 
 
 * Extracts from their old books. Dec. 11, 171 1, it was 
 
 ordered, by a full vote of the company, that *' perriwig-making 
 be from thenceforth accounted as a part and branch of the com- 
 pany." — June 14, 1742, ordered, "that no brother fliave John 
 Robfon, till he pays what he owes to Robert Shafto." 
 
I5elncaaie upon Cjme. 419 
 
 5. Shipwrights^ or Ship- Carpenters. 
 
 This art, fo ufeful for navigation, and for convey- 
 ing the proJudlions of every clime over the whole 
 world, and which has arrived at Inch perfection in 
 Britain, is not of very ancient date in Newcaftle, as 
 the ordinary of this fociety is only of Augull 8, 163$. 
 The deed being perufed by the judges of aflize the 
 day following, they certified their having done fo 
 and ratified the fame. The fociety are enjoined t<) 
 meet yearly on the 27th day of December, tt) choofe 
 two wardens, and the like number of overleers ; pro- 
 hibiting them from working on Sundays and holidays 
 obferved by the church, giving them power to make 
 by_la\vs, and reftriding apprentices from working 
 tide- work, till they had ferved three years. 
 
 Another order of this fociet)', dated Auguft 26th, 
 1674, was alfo confirmed by the judges; as u as alio 
 another, dated July 26th, 1689. Betides the above, 
 this fraternity have fince made many additional or- 
 ders, by their own authority. f 
 
 ■j- In their old books are the following curious entries ; ■ 
 1613, Robart Harrigad, for a carvell, is. — William Keifley, for 
 working on a ketch on a holiday, 7d. — Of two for working on a 
 Jlebote, on a holiday, yd. — 1624, received for a pott " fower heates 
 on a keele, 2 id." — 1651, About tliis time the company appear 
 to have had ways at the Clofe-gate, where large fliips were built. 
 
 Their meeting-houfe occurs 1622. — 27 December, 1622, pd. 
 for bretedging the towre 24s. 2d. — 1630, mention occurs of Skis- 
 Thurfday being our Lady-day in Lent. — 1656, mention occurs of 
 new ways about St, Lawrence, for building Oiips. 
 
 June 24th, 167^, a brother fined for chwiUenging another to 
 'tight, and giving him his glove. — Ten brethren fined tor working 
 on January 30th, 1651, being a thankfgivinge-daye. — December 
 27th, 1672, a brother fined for telling one of the tv.elve "he 
 turned his cloake on the other Iljoulder." 
 
 3 F 2 They 
 
420 Impartial il)iGotp of 
 
 They have their meeting-houfe in Carpenter's- 
 Tower, Sallyport-gate, which is the mod beautiful 
 of all the other meeting-houfes on the town-walls. 
 
 6. Coopers. 
 
 This very ancient fociety has an ordinary, dated 
 January 22, 1426, They were enjoined to go toge- 
 ther yearly, at the feaft of Corpus Chrifti, in procef- 
 fion, as other crafts did, and perform their play, at 
 their ov.'n charge ; each brother to attend at the hour 
 alTigned him at the proceffion, or forfeit a pound of 
 wax ; that none Ihould take a Scotfrnan born to ap- 
 prentice, nor fet any fuch to work, under the penalty 
 of forty fnillings, whereof twenty-fix fliillings and 
 eightpence to go to the fratt^rnity, and thirteen lliil- 
 lings and fourpence to " Sente Nicholas kyrkwarke," 
 No brother to take any more than one apprentice in 
 feven years. All turners and pulley-makers coming 
 to Newcaftle to be bound by the fame ordinary. 
 
 An after claufe forbade the employing of any 
 Dutchman ; and, by another after claufe, the com- 
 pany of ropers were united with this fociety. 
 
 By an ordinance of the corporation of Newcaftle 
 (17th of Ehzabeth) which confohdates the compa- 
 nies of coopers, pulley-makers, turners, and rope- 
 makers, it is ordained, " That none of thefe compa- 
 nies fhall take any apprentice but one in four years, 
 except the children of brethren ;" and by a by-law 
 of this confolidated company in the year 1786, it 
 was enabled, " that for the enrolment of every ap- 
 prentice fo taktn, a brother fliall pay ten pounds, 
 or any apprentice at all during the fervitude of ano- 
 ther, five pounds. But by a mandamus (Goates v. 
 the Cooper's Company in 1797) ^^ was fully deter- 
 mined, 
 
30clocaftlc upon CL>nc. 4^^ 
 
 mined " that corporations h.ive no riglit to make by- 
 laws in reftraint of trade, and that a prohibition not 
 to take more than a certain number of apprentices 
 is a by-law in rejlraint of trade J^' 
 
 yaniL^rv 
 
 * The learned judges prefcnt delivered their opinions refpec- 
 tively on this important cafe as follow : 
 
 LORD KENYOM, Chief Juftice —I believe that this writ 
 is draw^n in the ufual form, and I fee no ol)jeclion to it. If the 
 defendants fhould have retmned any reafon to fhew that this party- 
 is not intitled to have Indentures enrolled, they flionld have (hewn 
 it. But this return is bad from the beginning to the end. T<> 
 one objedtion the defendant's counfel has not even attempted to 
 give ;uiy anfwer, namely, that it is not alledged that the appren- 
 tice was not the fon of a freeman. Thefc two companies have 
 cxilled immemorially, but how tliey could be confolidaLed toge- 
 tlier I cannot conjcdure. However, as they have affumcd that 
 character, we are to take it as againft themfelves that they are 
 confolidated. There is a cafe in Salkeld where it is faid, that a 
 corporation may make a fraternity, but no notice is taken of that 
 point in the other reports of that cafe ; and I cannot conceive tliat 
 they have fuch a power ; it can only be eifeJled by the legillature 
 or by the crown. Here, however, it is fufficient to fay, that 
 thefe defendants have a/Tumed that character, and arc now bound 
 by it. But when the corporation of Newcalile chofe to confoli- 
 date thefe two companies, they certainly had no right to fuper- 
 add by-laws in reftraint of trade ; and a prohibition not to take 
 more than a certain number of apprentices is a by-law in reftraint 
 of trade. By-laws have been feveral times brought to me as chief 
 juftice for confirmation under the ftatutes, and not long ago 1 rc- 
 fufed to allow fome, becaufc I thought them illegal in reftraining 
 inafters from taking beyond a certain number of apprentices. On 
 the act of parliament alfo I think the laft by-law is void. That 
 lUtute fays tliat only a fmall fum (2s. 6d.) (hall be taken for the 
 enrolment of indentures of apprenticelhip, wlicrea- the defendants 
 inlift, that under this by-law lol. (hall be taken for it. But even 
 if the company had a right to demand that fum of the mafter, 
 tliat is no reafon why the indentures fhould not be enrolled. If 
 they think they can fupport this by-law, they m ;y ftill bring their 
 ^Sixow againft the mafter to recover the penalty. But I am clear- 
 ly 
 
422 3:nipartial fi)iftori? of 
 
 JaiiLiaiv 30, 1650, the corporation ordered them 
 a leale for i'evcn years of a place in the Manors, to 
 be a me^^ting-houfe. The company of plaifterers ap- 
 pear to have met with this fociety foon after the re- 
 ftoration. 
 
 A warrant was granted to this fociety in the year 
 1699 ^y ^^^^ mayor of Newcaftle. to fearch all her- 
 ring, &c. a power which is ftill continued in their 
 hands. 
 J In 
 
 ly of opinion that this return cannot be fiipported, and that a 
 peremptory mandamus ought to go. 
 
 ASHURST, Judge. — Even if thefe companies were properly 
 conftituted, and had a power to make by-laws, which queltions 
 it is unnecefTary to difcufs in this cafe, the by-laws are already 
 bad, as being made in reftraint of trade. 
 
 GROSE, Judge. — This mandamus is drawn in the ufual form. 
 The defendants do not controvert any of the fa6ls ftated in the 
 writ, but they rely on certain pretended by-laws. Now without 
 enquiring whetlier one corporation can make another, or whether 
 theie by-laws are good, it is clear that this apprentice is not 
 brought within the laR of diem, that fays that every brodier for 
 each apprentice he fhould take Hiould pay lol. &c. the meaning 
 of wliich evidently is, that the brother (liall pay that fum; but 
 this is not an application by a brother but by an apprentice ; but 
 the by-law does not fay that the indentures of apprenticefliip.fljall 
 not be enrolled unlefs the money is paid. Therefore on this fhort 
 ground 1 am of opinion that the return is bad. 
 
 LAWRENCE, Judge. — I alfo think that this writ is in the 
 ufual form. As to the argument of the defendants, that the party 
 applying to be admitted into this company ought not to be per- 
 mitted to make the firit objedion to the return, becaufe it is con- 
 trary to tlie conftitution of the corporation, that confequence by 
 no mear- follows; for even though the corporation of Newcaftle 
 could muke an ordinance for the purpofe of uniting thcfc two 
 companies, it does not follow that they could make a by-law in 
 reftraint. of trade ; that ordinance might be good,' though the reft 
 were bad. Return quajhed. 
 
Bclocaftle upon Cpne. 4^3 
 
 In the year 1725, Mrs Margaret Stephenlbn left a 
 legacy of twenty pounds to this fuciety, to be di- 
 vided, and let out to two brethren for a certain num- 
 ber of years without intereft. 
 
 7. Houfe-Carpenters, anciently called Wrights, 
 
 This fociety, by an ordinary dated July 3, 1579, 
 including joiners, was conllituted a body corporate 
 of themfelvcs, with perpetual fuccellion, to fue and 
 be fued, &c. in the courts of Newcallle ; that they 
 {liould meet yearly and choofe their wardens, &-c. 
 alfo to obferve the plays which anciently belonged to 
 their fellowfliip : that no apprentice fliould ferve lefs 
 than feven years ; no Scotfrnan to be taken as fucli 
 under a penalty of forty fliillings, nor to be made 
 free on any account. It further enads, that the 
 joiners lliould work at the feaUng of houfes within, 
 the making " dorments and windows, drawn tables 
 of frame- vsork, and tables with turnpofts, ' bufFet- 
 ftools, forms, cupboards, almeries, prellers, chairs, 
 and fconces of frame- work, caiements, trellifmg of 
 windows, buttries of framed work, framed chefts, and 
 all others pinned with wood, as alfo every other kind 
 of joiner's work." That the two trades ihould occu- 
 py in common the making of buttries, or any other 
 kind of work with " fealing linck, /. e. one board 
 growen in another, and nailed with iron nails ; chefls 
 for corpfes, and other chells not pinned with wood ; 
 removing of beds, cupboards, and draw-tables, toge- 
 ther, with making of doors and windows mulder 
 ■work." And that half of their fines fliould ?o to the 
 
 o 
 
 maintenance of the great bridge, and the other half 
 to the fellowfhip. 
 
 Tcieir meeting_houfe was over the water-gate on 
 the Sand-Hill, in which was a table of fn-_wood, 
 
 formed 
 
424 3mpartial Jpifioi-y of 
 
 formed of one plank, all of one piece, being 22 feet 
 and a lialf long, and 22 and a half inches broad. 
 Their prelent nieeting-houie is at the Well gate. 
 
 George Collingwood, houfe.carpenter, left two 
 pounds for ever to put out an apprentice to one of 
 the fociety. 
 
 8. Mafons. 
 
 Tills truly refpedable Ibciety was conflituted 
 an incorporated body of themfelves, by an ordi- 
 nary, dated September i, 1581, enjoining them 
 to meet yearly ; to make by-laws, &-c. to obierve 
 their play at the feftival of Corpus Chrifti : that 
 no Scotfman fhould be taken apprentice ; that ap. 
 prentices fliould ferve feven years, &c. In 1674 this 
 fociety met in the White. Friar-Tower, with the wall- 
 ers, or bricklayers and metters. They have their 
 beautiful meeting-houfe in the Carliol-Croft. 
 
 On a monument in their meeting-houfe, eredled in 
 1^76: " To the memory of Mr. George Maxwell, 
 malon, who died September 14th, 1732, and be- 
 queathed to the company of mafons ofNewcaftle, the 
 rentals of mefluages and their appurtenances, to be 
 Jij"!plied to the relief of fuch brethren as are fick, or 
 "incapable of working, and to fuch of their widows as 
 are needful." 
 
 9. Glovers. 
 
 The ordinary of this fociety, dated January 2Cth, 
 1436, enjoined them to go together in procelfion at 
 the feall of Corpus Chrilii in a livery, and play at 
 their own charge ; to choofe annually three ftew- 
 ards ; that apprentices fliould ferve feven years, on 
 pain of forfeiting fix ihillings and eightpence ' to the 
 light of the faid craft j' that no Scotfman born fliould 
 
 be 
 
Bclijcaaic upon tUmt. r-s 
 
 be taken apprentice, nor allowed to work in tlie town, 
 under a penalty of forty Hiiliings. 
 
 10. yoiners. 
 
 In the ordinary winch united the houfe-carpenters 
 with the joiners into one fraternity, we found the 
 date was anno 1579, but by a fubfequent date of 
 J 5 89 we find that the joiners were incorporated by 
 themfelves into a diftinfl company, with perpetual 
 iucceirion. It enjoined them to eled two war- 
 dens, make by-laws, pcrfoini their parts in the plays ; 
 that apprentices fliould ferve feven years ; and that 
 no Scotchman fhould be taken apprentice. 
 
 Their meetinpj-houfe is over Filgrim-flreet gate, in 
 which is an efcutcheon with the following infers ption : 
 " Mrs. Margaret Stephenfon, relidl of Mr. John Ste- 
 phenfon, merchant of Newcaftle, departed this life 
 Auguft 23d, 1629, and, by her iall will and tella- 
 ment, gave to the company of joiners of Newcaftle 
 aforefaid, twenty pounds, to be lent to two fuch bre- 
 thren of the Aiid fellowlliip, as fliall want (lock to fet 
 up with for fuur years without interell, and fo to be 
 transferred to other two fuch brethren of the faid 
 joiners at the end of every four years for ever." 
 
 On another we find " Barbara Farbridge, relid: of* 
 Charles Farbridge, a brother of the company, died 
 April 13th, 1743, aged 60, bequeathed to the poor 
 widows of deceafed brethren twenty pounds, the ufe 
 of which to be paid by the ftewards on St. Peter's 
 day yearly for ever." 
 
 n. Milners, or Millers. 
 This fociety was, by date of September 20, 1578, 
 conftituted a fellowfhip, conlilling of twenty millers, 
 3 HL with 
 
4^6 ^nipartial i;)iftor|i of 
 
 with perpetual fucceflion, and enjoined them to 
 
 choofe two wardens every year, who mipht fue and 
 be i'ued, Sj-c. and that when the general plays fliould 
 be performed, they fliould play the ancient one of 
 the fociety, called " the Deliverance of the Children 
 of Ifrael out of the Thraldom, Bondage, and Servi- 
 tude of Kipg Pharoh," on pain of forfeiting twenty 
 fhillings for abfence : that no ft ranger or alien born 
 fhould be taken apprentice, or fct to work, on pain 
 of fix fliillings and eightpence ; and that apprentices 
 fliould ferve feven years ; that no corn fliould be 
 ground on Sundays ; that each miller in the counties 
 of Northumberland, or Durham, who brought corn 
 from Newcaftle market, fliould pay them an ac- 
 knowledgment of fixpence per annum, and two 
 fliillings and fixpence every time he fliould be found 
 in the wheat or malt market before two o'clock in 
 the afternoon on market days, unlefs to fetch away 
 the corn which his cullomers had bought there ; and 
 that no fuch foreign millers fliould buy corn there, 
 under a pen-iltv of two fhillings and fixpence for each 
 default. 
 
 April 8th, 1672, a fingular order occurs in the 
 books of this fraternity, " that if any brother fliould 
 attend the burial of another with a black hat, he 
 Ibould be fined fixpence for every fuch default." 
 
 12. Curriers, Fe/tmakers, and Armourers. 
 The afTociation of thefe three branches of bufinefs, 
 was confl:ituted by an ordinary dated September 20, 
 1546. They were enjoined to go together in procef- 
 fion at the feaft of Corpus Chrift:i, bear the charges of 
 the lights, pageants, and play, and be there at the 
 hour afilgned them, on pain of forfeiting a pound of 
 
 ■ wax. 
 
ii^etDcaGle upon Cj)ne. 427 
 
 wax. It further enjoined that none born out of the 
 king's dominion fliould work with them, unlefs he 
 were denizen, or for urgent caufes to be admitted by 
 the mayor and juilices of peace, on pain of paving 
 forty pounds Iterling ; that they fliould not work on 
 hohdays, or on Saturdays longer than live o'clock oi 
 the afternoon, on pain of forfeiting a pound of wax; 
 that each brother fliould be fworn on adniiffion ; and 
 that the armourers, curriers, and hatters, lliould not 
 interfere in each other's occupations. 
 
 A. D. 1 719, this fociety ma.le a fingularand very 
 ridiculous order, " that no quaker lliould be take i ap- 
 prentice, on pain of forfeiting one hundred pounds." 
 
 13. Colliers, Parlors^ and c-irruige men. 
 
 The ordinary of this united fraternity dated 
 July 30, 1656, appears to have been a mutual a- 
 greement figned and fealcd by themfelves, to 
 remain in force till they fhould obtain one under the 
 authority of the aiagiilrates of Newcaftle. It ordered 
 that no ftranger, not having duly ferved an appren- 
 ticefliip to their calling, fliould be fet to work, on 
 pain of forfeiting the fum of forty fliiilings ; that any 
 brother working a day's work privately, fliould forfeit 
 fix fhtlUngs and eightpence for each default ; and 
 that they Ihould choofe a warden yearly, on the feaft 
 of St. Mark, wlio (hould keep the books of the frater- 
 nity, and do all other offices belonging to a ilevvard, 
 as in oth:;r companies. 
 
 14 Slaters. 
 
 The records of this fociety inform us that their an- 
 cient ordinary was dated March 12, 1451. By this 
 they were enjoined to go together in a livery, yearly, 
 
 3 H 2 ' at 
 
4^8 Jmpartial DiGorp of 
 
 at the fealt of Corpus Chrlfli. and play their parts at 
 their own expe nee ; that no apprentice fhould ferve 
 lefs than feven 3'ears, nor a fecond to be taken till the 
 firft hadferved fix ; that no brother fiiould take aScotf- 
 man apprentice: that if any brother had taken a 
 Hate quarry, or any places to cover with Hates, none 
 fliould undermine him, under a penalty of thirteen 
 fhillings and fourpence ; that none (hould work upon 
 St. Catherine's day, on pain of forfeiting a pound of 
 wax. An order was added December 28, 1460, that 
 no brother fhould take lefs than fix fhillrngs and 
 eightpence, for handling a rood of date coverings. 
 
 Another ordinary, dated September 28, 1579, cited 
 an agreement between the Haters and bricklayers, 
 and incorporated the focieties with perpetual fuc- 
 ceflion, enjoined them to choofe two wardens an- 
 nually, who might fue and be faed, make by-laws, 
 ■£tc. that at the general Corpus Ghrifti plays, they 
 fliould perform '' the Offering of Ifaac by Abra- 
 ham :" that they fhould make ovens, chimney-tops, 
 funnels, and all works of tile or brick, which was 
 claimed by the wallers, to whom they were to pay 
 an annual acknowledgment of three fhillings and 
 fourpence. It further ordered, that the Haters fhould 
 do no kind of work with black mortar or clay, on 
 pain of ten fhillings for each default. By mutual 
 agreement, the annual acknowledgment of three 
 Ihiihngs and fourpence was afterwards given up 
 February 23, 1597. 
 
 Another ordinary of this fociety, dated March 16, 
 16-7, feparated them from the company of wallers, 
 bricklayers, and dawbers, alias plaifterers ; and made 
 them in deed and name a fellowHiip, by the name of 
 flaters and tilers ; ordering them to meet yearly on 
 
 St, 
 
BclDcaftlc upon K))nz, 429 
 
 St. Catherine's day, and choofe two wardens, who 
 might fue and be fued, &c. to p;iy to the wallers 
 three (hillings and fonrpence yearly on St. Cathe- 
 rine's day ; to work no kind of- black mortar or clay, 
 but to make ovens and chimneys, or funnels. 
 
 November ii, 1654, this fraternity agreed to meet 
 with the coopers in the Manors ; they aflemble with 
 them at prefent on the Sand-hill. 
 
 15. Glaziers J Plumbers, Pewterers, i^ Painters. 
 
 By the firll ordinary anno 1536, goldfniiths were 
 incorporated with the glaziers, &-c. as above. The 
 goldfmiths were feparated from them anno 1717- 
 Their ordinary required them to go together on the 
 feaft of Corpus Chrifti, and maintain their play of 
 *' the three Kings of Coleyn i" to have four wardens, 
 one goldfmith, one plumber, one glazier, and one 
 pewterer or painter; to be fvvorn on admillion ; not 
 to interfere with each other's occupations : that no 
 Scotfman born fliould be taken apprentice, or fuf- 
 fered to work in Newcadle. 
 
 They had their hall in Morden-Tower granted 
 them in the mayoralty of Sir Peter Riddell, anno 
 1619. 
 
 Among other regulations it was enaded that none 
 of the fellowfliip fliould lend his diamond, except to 
 a free-brother, a glazier, on pain of forfeiting fix Ihil- 
 lings and eightpence. 
 
 OTHER COMPANIES not of the FIFTEEN 
 BY-TRADES. 
 
 We fliall only notice the mod material circum- 
 ftances refpeding thefe. 
 
 Goldfmiths, 
 
4o^ Impartial JDiftorp of 
 
 Goldfmiths. 
 
 They were formerly incorporated anno 1536 by 
 an oidicary with the glaziers, &cc. as rrentioned be- 
 fore, i hey were feparated from them anno 1717. 
 At fo remote a period as A. D. 1249, the reigning 
 kiiip; Henry 111 commended the bailiffs and good men 
 of Newcallle to clioofe four of the mol\ prudent and 
 trufty men of their town for the office of money ers 
 there ; and other four like perfons for keeping the 
 king's mints in that town ; alfo two fit and prudent 
 goldfmiths to be affayers of the money to be made 
 there. 
 
 An aflay mafter w^as appointed to this fociety in 
 the year 1 702, which office is now held by Mr. Ro- 
 bert Pinkney. 
 
 Waits^ or Mujicians, 
 
 This fociety feems, by quotations from their 
 original charter, which is loit, to have been in 
 greater reputation, than in more modern times. The 
 exilling ordinary, dated September 18, 1677, ap- 
 pointed them a fellowniip with perpetual fucceffion ; 
 that none ihould teach mufic without licence from 
 the mayor ; thai no ftranger fhould be fuftVred to 
 play at weddings or fearts, unlefs allowed by the 
 mayor, under a penalty ot fix fhillings and eight- 
 pence \ that no fiddler, piper, dancer upon ropes, or 
 others that pretended to Ikill in mufic, or that went 
 about with " motions or fliowes," fhould pradile in 
 Newcallle, without licence from tlie niayor, on pain 
 of forfeiting ten fliiliings ; that at marriages where 
 mulic fhould be chofen, the waits fhould be prefer- 
 red ; and if any other muficiaus, who had the may- 
 or's 
 
Betocaftlc upon Cpnc. 43^ 
 
 or's licence, were called, their fee fliould not exceed 
 three {hillings and fourpence, under a penalty of ten 
 fliillings. 
 
 In 1646 the waits were commanded, by an order of 
 common -council, to go about morning and evening, 
 according to an ancient cuftom ; and again, in 1675, 
 they were enjoined to ga about the town in the win- 
 ter feafon ; but the corporation having, a few years' 
 ago, difcontinued their lalaries, this lilly practice has 
 in confequence been given up. 
 Scriveners. 
 
 The ordinary of this fociety, dated Sept. 13, 1675, 
 appointed eight fcriveners a fellowlhip ; that appren- 
 tices fhould ferve feven years, and that all the bro- 
 therhood ibould dwell in the town of Newcaftle. 
 Bricklayers. 
 
 This ufeful fociety is very numerous in Newcaftle, 
 They were, by their ordinary dated Jan. 19, 1660, 
 called " wallers, bricklayers, and dawbers, alias plaif- 
 terers," and conftituted a fellowfhip with perpetual 
 fucceffion, meeting on the 24th of February, and 
 choofmg lie wards. Sec that they fliould not bemolefled 
 by the company of mafons or flaters ; that no foreign- 
 er Ibould work in the town, under penalty of fix 
 Ibillings and eightpence ; that none fliould employ 
 an alien born under the like penalty ; that appren- 
 tices fliould ferve feven years, and that no fecond 
 fliould be taken till the firll had ferved three. 
 
 An order was made by the corporation in 169 r, 
 that the flaters and tilers fliould not exercile the trade 
 of bricklaying or plaiilering, otherwife than in mak- 
 ing and mending of chimney-tops above the flates, 
 and plaiftering them. Their hall is in Nevil-Tower, 
 which was fitted up for their public meetings in 1 yn. 
 
 Rope- 
 
432 impartial ipiUoii) of 
 
 Rope-makers* 
 
 Tins focicty's ordinary, bearing date April 14, iG^'i, 
 (citing one of more ancient date) made them a fel- 
 lowfliip with perpetual fuccelTion, to meet on the 
 6th of ]une every year, and choofe wardens, &-c. it 
 ordered that they fliould not be molefted by the com- 
 pany of coopers, pulley-makers, and turneis ; that 
 no brother Ihould fet an alien to work, under a pe- 
 nalty of forty {hillings ; that they ihould take ap- 
 prentices only once in four years, but put their own 
 children to the bufinefs at their pleafure ; and far- 
 ther enjoined that they fliould not impofe upon the 
 public by cxcejGive prices. Their hall is a tower 
 near the bottom of Carliol-Croft. 
 
 Upholjlerers, Tin-plate Workers and Stationers. 
 
 The ordinary of this fociety, dated July 22, 1675, 
 conftituted lix upholfterers, three tin plate workers, 
 and two ftationers, a fellowfliip, with perpetual fac- 
 ceffion, and ordered them to meet annually on the 
 2:^th day of July^ and choofe four ftewards, tW3» 
 upholfterers, and one of each of the other branches, 
 who with the fociety fliould have power to make by- 
 laws, ^Q.. that apprentices fliould ferve leven years, 
 and no fecond be taken till the firft had ferved three ; 
 that they fliould not interfere with each other's call- 
 ings, and that no perfon not free of the town and 
 this fociety fliould exercife their trade in Newcaflle. 
 The meeting-houfe of this fraternity is an apartment 
 of the town. court. 
 
 Sail-makers. 
 The ordinary of this fociety, dated Dec. 18, 1663, 
 conftituted five perfons of the occupation a fellow- 
 fliip. 
 
iBtXot^Mz upon Ci>ne. 43^ 
 
 fhip, with perpetual fuccellion ; enjoined them to 
 meet yearly on the lOth of Augufi, to appoint two 
 wardens, to have power to make by-laws, &cc. that 
 apprentices fhould lerve feven years ; and that none 
 but thofe who were free of the town and this fellow- 
 fhip fhould exercife their trade. They had their 
 raeeting-houfe at the Clof(-gate. 
 Metters. 
 
 After Newcaftle became a large commercial town, 
 and importations of grain, fruits, &c were progref- 
 fively encreafing, the municipal duties impofed by 
 the corporation needed the regulating hand of the 
 legiflature. Accordingly we find, by an ordinary 
 dated Auguft 3, 1611, this fociety enjoined to -neet 
 on the 20th day of September in every year, and 
 choofe four wardens, who were to pafs accounts, and 
 mike an equal divilion of their money on the day 
 following. There was a card or table of rates and 
 duties of the fame date. 
 
 Upon the alteration of meafures, another ordinary 
 was granted to this fociety, Oct. 18, 1670. And in 
 the year 1726 a new card or table of rates and duties 
 was appointed by an ad of common council. 
 
 Their claims however were difputcd about four 
 years ago by the non-freemen, and an aflize trial was 
 the tonfcquence. The metters, by the inconfiftency 
 of one of their evidences, were nonfuited. At a fub- 
 fequent appeal to the law, the metters attempted to 
 fubftantiate their privileges, by alledging that none 
 but fuch as belonged to their fociety, (bemg forty in 
 number) or were duly authorifed by them, had a 
 right to meafure out imported grain, Stc. Both par- 
 ties however, by their counfel, compromifed the 
 matter before it came to a final decifion. 
 
 3 I Porters. 
 
434 Jnipartial Jpiftot)) of 
 
 Porters. 
 
 The ordinary of this fociety is dated in tlie year 
 1528. The common-council, in 1648, made an or- 
 der to revoke their ordinary for refufing to go down 
 and lend their afliftance on the revolt of Tynmouth 
 Caftle. 
 
 A fecond ordinary was granted to this fraternity 
 in the year 1607, which conftituted them a body po- 
 litic, fixteen in number, (vacancies in which, by 
 death or removal, were to be filled up by the mayor 
 of Newcaftle) and ordered them to meet on Michael- 
 mas-day, and choofe two ftewards, with power to 
 make by.lavvs, fue, &c. in the courts of Newcaftle; 
 accompanied with a table of wages. 
 4> In the year i6jo another ordinary was granted to 
 this fociety ; and in 1 704 a new table of wages was 
 appointed them by the common-council. 
 
 Companies Exiincl. 
 Asthefe, fuch as cooks, fpicers, furbifhers, &-c. fitc. 
 which in former times feem to have been very nume- 
 rous, do not now exift, and as ourlimits confine us to 
 matters of much greater confequence, we will not 
 troubh our readers with an enumeration of them. 
 
 Free Cujlovis of the Corporation of Newcaftle. 
 
 As theie are of very great importance to be known 
 by almoft every clafs of the inhabitants in this com- 
 mercial town, we Iball here give a fuccindt, yet 
 clear, reprefentation of them. 
 
 All the ions of a free burgefs claim the franchife 
 of their father by patrimony : there is a kind of 
 double franchife ; the fellowfliip with the general 
 body, called the freedom of the town, and that of 
 fome particular companv, ufuallv ftyled the freedom 
 
 of 
 
3i5clDcaftle upon €p\z. 43.=;"^ 
 
 of a trade ; and the perfon whb enjoys both is Md to 
 be free of town and trade. 
 
 If a father, poflcired of a rl,s;ht of franchife, die be- 
 fore adrailTion, all his fons forfeit their claiai. No na- 
 tural fon can inherit the franchife. 
 
 With a right to vote for tuo reprefentatives in par- 
 liament, every burgefs, and a widow of a burgeis, 
 may claim two ftints on the common and common- 
 palture of the town. Every freeman is alfo exempt 
 from the payment of tolls, quay duties, river dues, 
 &.C. Franchife is alfo obtained by fervitude. Anci- 
 ently this fervitude was in fonie companies for ten 
 years ; it cannot at prefent be for lefs than feven. A 
 mafter, being free of the town only, cannot make his 
 apprentice free ; for, in order to this, the franchife of 
 fome company is indifpenfable. 
 
 Some privileges are obtained by marriage : if a 
 perfon who has a right to the franchife of Newcaflle, 
 marry a freeman's daughter before his admiffion, he 
 pays on fuch admillion fix fhillings and eightpence 
 lefs than thofe who claim the fame freedom either by 
 patrimony or fervitude. 
 
 The franchife devolves on a freeman's widow ; fhe 
 can enfranchife the apprentices of her hufband, if he 
 had been free of any company, and ilie continues to 
 carry on his bufinefs; flie inherits alfo her huf- 
 band s exemption from toils, quay duties, &-c. all 
 which are loft if ilie afterwards marry a non-free- 
 man. 
 
 The franchife of Ncwcaftle, it is faid, cannot be 
 fold, but may be prefented as a gift, when it is ufual- 
 ly ftyled an honorary or perlbnal freedom. 
 
 3I 2 
 
-^3^ aimpatttal fpiflot^ of 
 
 It has been generally fnppofed, that an honorary 
 freeman can neither tranfmit his franchife tq his fons, 
 nor confer it upon his apprentices. 
 
 The form of the oath, on the admiflion of a free- 
 man of Newcaftle, concludes with an expreffion that 
 feems to imply that every burgefs is bound to a per- 
 fonal defence of the town. 
 
 It is ufual, on admiflion, to prefent the mayor or 
 alderman who admits, with a filver penny. 
 
 By the charter of the 42d of Elizabeth, March 22, 
 1600, it was ordered that burgefl'es fliould be admit' 
 ted by the mayor and burgefles, or common-council, 
 whereof the mayor and lix aldermen were to be 
 feven. 
 
 By the charter of King James I. 1604, all cufloms, 
 rights, and liberties of the town of Newcaftle, held 
 by former charter or prefcription, were confirmed 
 to it. 
 
 The following paflage occurs in the ordinary of the 
 bakers and brewers, dated September 28, 1579. 
 Every brother was enjoined to live in the town of 
 Newcaflle, and " continue therein as a burgefle of 
 the fame towne, to watch and ward, and beare fcott 
 and lott as other burgefles of the fame towne ought 
 to doe." 
 
 No freeholder in Newcaflle has a right to vote for 
 a member of parliament for that town, as fuch, unlefs 
 he be alfo a free burgefs thereof; neither have they 
 votes for reprefentatives for the county of Northum- 
 berland ; fo that by far the greater number of the 
 inhabitants cannot be faid to be reprefented in par- 
 liament. 
 
 The odium anciently entertained againft the Scot- 
 tifti nation, and which hardly yet has fubfided among 
 
 the 
 
3!5etocaGle upon C^ne. 437 
 
 the vulgar, muft be referred to as one of the leading 
 reafons, why fo few of 'the prefent inhabitants of 
 Newcaftle enjoy the franchife of that town. There 
 is a claufe in the ordinary of alniofl every company, 
 that no Scotfman born fliould be taken apprentice ; 
 and it is highly improbable that any of that once 
 hoftile people would, at lead before the time of King 
 James I. be admitted to a freedom of the town, either 
 after refiding any time in it, or on the payment of a 
 fine : which feetn to tiave been the ancient terms of 
 ad million. 
 
 Form of a Freeman's Oath-— from an old copy. 
 
 " Newcaftle upon Tyne---You fwear that you 
 fhall from henceforth hold with our fovereign Lady 
 the Queen's Majefty that now is, and with her heirs 
 and fucceflbrs, kings and queens of England, againft 
 all perfons to live and to dye and maintain the peace 
 and all the franchifes of this town of Newcaftle upon 
 Tyne, and be obedient to the mayor, aldern^en, fhe- 
 rift', and all other the officers of the fame. And their 
 council keep. And no man's goods avow for yours, 
 unlefs he be as free as yourfelf and of the fame fran- 
 chife : and you fliall obferve and keep to the bert 
 of your power all the lawful ordinances made by com- 
 mon confent on high court days : and all other 
 things fhall you do that belong to a freeman of the 
 faid town. So help me God. 
 
 " Nov. 13th, 1704, John Wheatley, cordvvainer, 
 was this day admitted and fworn a free burgefs of 
 this corporation, before the right worftiipful Thomas 
 Wafs, efq. mayor, and ftands charged with a muf- 
 quet in defence of the fame." 
 
 Parti" 
 
433 3ntpartial Jpiftori) of 
 
 Particulars concerning the Corpus Chrijii Plays, 
 As performed by the trading companies of Newcaftle upon Tync 
 
 Whatever relates to this fubjed (fays Warton in 
 his Hillory of Poetry) is extremely interefting, as 
 thefe miracle plays were the firft and earlieft of our 
 dramatic exhibitions. 
 
 Thefe appear to have been aded in the open air, 
 in what is called in fome places the Play-Field, or in 
 fome fpot calculated to fhew the performance to the 
 greatefl crowd of fpedators. They are reported to 
 have been many of them very indelicate and obfcene. 
 They were not without their ufe, however, not only 
 in imprefling on the rude minds of an unlettered 
 people the chief hillories of their religion, but alfo in 
 foftening their manners, at that time very grofs and 
 impure; "creating infenfibly/' fays Mr Warton, 
 *' a regard for other arts than thofe of bodily ftrength 
 and favage valour," 
 
 .In the ordinary of the coopers occurs the earlieft 
 notice of any of the Corpus Chrifti exhibitions in 
 Nev\ caftie upon Tyne. They are mentioned alfo in 
 nioft of ihe other companies, as our readers will ob- 
 ferve; it is, therefore, unneceflary to repeat here the 
 different parts they had to perform. 
 
 I know not (inys Brand) when this kind of enter- 
 tainment began. The Chefter plays appear to have 
 been wiitten in the year 1328. 
 
 Weaver, in his Funeral Monuments, informs us, 
 that ab(;ut the beginning of the reign of king James 
 thefe Cf>'pus Chriiii pl;iys were finally fuppreffed in 
 all the towns in the kmgdom. 
 
 ne 
 
BelacaGle upon Cpnc 439 
 
 The various branches of TRADE and MANUFAC- 
 TURES, carried on in Newcajilc and its extenfive 
 liberties. 
 
 This department claims a large proportion of our 
 work, and highly merits our chief regard. In gene- 
 ral, to ufe the words of Faujas Saint Fond, member 
 of the National Inftitute of France, " Newcaflle 
 is litu;ited on the beautiful river Tyne, which is fre- 
 quently covered with veflels, and bordered on the 
 right and left with manufadlures of every kind, down 
 as far as its mouth which is about ten miles from the 
 town. This charming river is rendered highly inte- 
 refting by the number and variety of theie nurferies 
 of manufadlures. On the one hand, are feen brick- 
 fields, chymical works for making red and white lead, 
 vitriol, &c. On the other, manufadories in iron, 
 lead, &c. 
 
 " This multitude of eftabliiliments, riling oppofite to 
 one another, diflules every where fo much activity 
 and life, if I may ufe the expreflion, that the age is a- 
 greeably aftonilTied, and the foul feels a lively fatis- 
 fadion in contemplating fuch a magnificent picture. 
 Humanity (continues this great philofopher,) rejoices 
 to fee fo many ufeful men finding eafe and happinefs 
 in a labour (viz. the coal trade) which fo extenfively 
 contributes at the fame time to the enjoyments and 
 comforts of others ; and in the lafl refult, to the 
 agrandizing and enriching of the government, 
 which watches over the (lifety of the whole. Com- 
 pare this honourable induflry with that difgraceful 
 indolence, and diflmguilliing mifery which are to be 
 feen in Roman Catholic countries, where pernicious 
 laws permit a great portion of the population to be 
 
 buried 
 
440 impartial foiftorj) of 
 
 buried in monadic inftitutions ; and it will foon be 
 difcovered how much government and religion inftit-* 
 ence the happinefs of mankind. 
 
 *' The numerous coal-mines," adds Saint Fond, " in 
 the neighbourhood of Newcaftle, form not only im- 
 raenfe magazines of fuel for the reft of England, but 
 are alfo the fource of an extenfive and profitable fo- 
 reign commerce. 
 
 " Veflels loaded with coal, for London and the vari- 
 ous ports of England, fail daily from hence. 
 
 *' Befides this commerce, the navigation which 
 refults from the working of the coal-mines, gives an 
 incalculable advantage to the Britifh navy. The 
 coal-trade forms a great nurfery of feamen ; and in 
 times of war, many coal vefTels have been armed as 
 letters of marque, and done much injury to the com- 
 mon enemy. In this practical fchool of feamanfliip, 
 tnen accuftomed to every kind of danger are to be 
 found. 
 
 " The celebrated Cook begun his naval career as a 
 failor in the coal trade. His enterprifing and adive 
 genius foon raifed him to the command of a veflel. 
 He afterwards purchafed a (hip on his own account, 
 and difplayed fo much fls.ill and courage in the midfl 
 of the greatefl: danger, when he as it were fubdued the 
 elements ; and although young, acquired a very high 
 reputation among his brother feamen. He after- 
 wards entered into the royal navy, when he received 
 from the Britifh government that encouragement 
 which he fo juftly merited. This aftonifhing naviga- 
 tor, failed three times round the world and en- 
 riched geography, natural hiftory, and navigation, 
 with great and valuable difcoveries. The modeft ha- 
 bitation 
 
j^e\ttc*^ft!c upon Er>ne. 44 1 
 
 bitation where this illultrious feaman was born, is pre- 
 ferveJ witli pious veneration." 
 
 Such were rhe gt-neral obiervations that this excel- 
 lent and intelligent perfoa made on the trade and ma- 
 nufactures of Newcaftle about ten years ago, while 
 refiding a fortnight in the town. When we come to 
 delineate the various branches of bufinefs carried on 
 here, we will meet with fome of his more detailed 
 and particular remarks. We lliall begin our ac- 
 count with 
 
 THE COAL-TRADE. 
 
 Plow bountiful is providence to man I The air, the 
 lea, the earth, harmoniouily contribute to his conve- 
 nience, and his comfoi ts. But this benignity of the 
 Creator is ditfufed over the univerfe, not in a blind, 
 indifcriminating diftiibution, buta beauteous arrange- 
 ment is held forth to tiie eye of contemplation, con- 
 fpicuoully marking all the works of the Creator's 
 hand I And this is in no region of the univerfe more 
 confpicuoully difplayed, than in the world which we 
 inhabit. How numerous, how various, and yet how 
 ufeful, are the produdions of nature on the lurface, 
 and in the bowels of the earth ! And if Golconda, in 
 the eaflern regions of the world, boafts of its dia- 
 monds, its emeralds, and fapphires ; if the mountain 
 Potofi pours forth its fiiining ore:i in the well the fro- 
 zen regions of the north can produce their iron, 
 their tin, their lead, and their coal ; which produdions 
 of nature, by the aid of navigation, eafily fecure the 
 poflefTion of all the otiiers. 
 
 It is remarkable, that the word " coal," fo familiar 
 
 to us, has, with little variation, been adopted, as the 
 
 name of that ufeful mineral, by the Hebrews, the 
 
 3 K Greeks, 
 
44 i Impartial fDiftorj) of 
 
 Greeks, and particularly, as exprefled in the feveral 
 dialeds of the north. This foflil, grim in its appear- 
 ance, fays the poet, 
 
 Is from its prifon brought and fent abroad 
 The frozen hours to cheer, to minifter 
 To needful fuftenance and polUhed arts. 
 Hence ate the hungry fed, the naked clothed, 
 The wintry damps difpell'd, and focial mirth 
 Exults and glows before the blazing hearth. 
 
 Of coal, that black, fulphureous, inflammable 
 matter, dug out of the earth, and at prefent the com- 
 mon fuel of moll of Europe, as well as of other parts 
 of the globe, confidered as a genus, there are various 
 fpecies : the chief of which, according to the late in- 
 genious profelTor, Dr. Black, are coaimon coal, fat, 
 or blackfmith's coal, and Kilkenny coal. 
 
 Common ccjal, fays the fame philofopher, burns 
 with a bright hot flame. 
 
 Parrot is diltinguiflied by producing a more copi- 
 ous bright flame than common coal. It has alfo a 
 clofcr texture, admitting a polifli, and is often turned 
 into punch-bowls, fvdt-iellers, toys, &.c. 
 
 Common codl has a much loofer texture, and is 
 divided into mafles by numerous cracks and flaws, fo 
 that it generally breaks intolumpsof a cubical figure. 
 
 Blackfmith's coal gives not iefs flame, but under- 
 goes a fort of fufion, and unites into maflTes, forming 
 a cinder, which is afterwards capable of producing a 
 violent heat. It is highly valued, becaufe perfectly 
 free from fulphur. 
 
 Kilkenny coals burn like charcoal, with a bright, 
 tranfparent, blue flame, like that of fpirit of wine, 
 and without any appearance of fmoke, leaving only 
 a very fmall quantity of aflies. There is, however, a 
 volatile vapour, probably fixed air, which rifes from 
 
 it, 
 
3i3e*a3caftle upon Ci^nc 443 
 
 !c, and gives a difagreeable fmell in the houfes where 
 it is ufed. Tliere are many llrata of it in the weft of 
 Scotland. 
 
 It is owing to that Providence, ever attentive 
 to the wants of man, that this mineral is found in mod 
 countries of Europe. Confiderable coal mines are 
 found in France, Liege, Germany, and Sweden. Alfo 
 on the other fide of the Atlantic ocean, coal has been 
 difcovered and wrought : in Newfoundland, Cape 
 Breton, Canada, and fome of tiie New England pro- 
 vinces. But in all thefe countries, the coal is of a 
 quality much inferior (fay the learned compilers of 
 the Encyclopaedia Britannica Edinburgenlis, Sec.) 
 to that of Britain ; and we feel fome pride in adding, 
 to thofe of NewcalUe. 
 
 " Coal (lays Mr. Brand) of whatever kind, ac- 
 cording to the hypothelis of the aboveinentioned in- 
 genious profeflbr of chymiftry, and many other re- 
 fpeclable writers and philofophers, as well of our own 
 as of foreign nations, is of vegetable origin : all the 
 flrata of which are either the great colleclions of tree? 
 compacted together, or large forells thrown down by 
 decay of time, and afterwards buried by fome of the 
 more violent changes to which the globe is liable, or 
 other inflammable fubftances charred, perhaps, by 
 the fubterraneous fires, and incorporated with iuU 
 phur and bitumen " This ingenious hypothefis we 
 do not prefume to contn-jvert ; nor d^ we forget the 
 obfervation of the Abd^-rites, who f^nt a phyfician 
 with a dofe of hellebore to Democritus the philofo- 
 pher, wlio was drawing his anagrams and geometrical 
 figures of the component parts of the umveite ;--- 
 " What art thou doing, O Democritus ; man was not 
 made to conftrucl, but to cultivate the earth."— So 
 
 3 K 2 we 
 
^44 3iinptt!al fpiftori) of 
 
 we, leaving learned difquifitions and chymical ana- 
 lyzations to others, wifli only to point out the work- 
 ing, conveying, and advantages ot' coals, and of tlie 
 coal-trade 
 
 Some of our readers might poflibly enquire how, 
 and at what period of time, huge forcfts liave been 
 thrown many hundreds of feet into the bowels of the 
 earth, and become carbonified there ; yet the hypo- 
 thefis affords fome confolation to thofe who confjder, 
 that according to the rapid manner in which the 
 coals of this neighbourhood have late'y been dug up, 
 and that, in the fame ratio, the coals will be com- 
 pletely exhaurted in lefs than two hundred years 
 hence, and fo that rich and valuable trade beat an end ; 
 but if coals vegetate, grow like plants, our poflerity 
 may have a freih harvell to commence. Yet alas, 
 we have faint hopes of fuch a refurreclion ever taking 
 place. Coals have been dug in this vicinity aboVe 
 lix hundred years ago, but no traces of new ftrata 
 have ever been difcerned. 
 
 That this valuable mineral has, for many ages, 
 been known to mankind, and, of confequence, the 
 antiquity of its ufefulnefs, appears from the exprefs 
 mention of coals ufed as a fuel by artificers about 
 two thoufand years ago, in the writings of Theophra- 
 llus, the fcho;ar of Arillotle, who, in his book on 
 Hones, gives the fubfequent very particular defcrip- 
 tion of them : " Thofe foflile fubftances, that are 
 called coals, and are broken for ufe, are earthy ; they 
 kindle, however, and burn like wood coals. Thefe 
 are found in Liguria, where there is alfo amber, arid 
 in Elis, in the \7ay to Olympias over the mountains : 
 they are ufed by the fmiths." 
 
 Though 
 
if3:cVucanir upon Cpne. 445 
 
 Though fone writers have not fciiipled to affirm 
 that coal was unknown to the ancient Britons, yet 
 othc-rs have adduced proofs to the contrary, which 
 feem to carry along with them little lefs than con- 
 viction. 
 
 Tiie Britons, as f.icwn before, had a primitive 
 name for this follll ; but farther, a flint ax, theinllra- 
 ment, fays Pennant, of the aborfgines of our ifluid, 
 •\\fis difcovered Ituck in certain veins of coal, ex poled 
 to day in Craig Pare in INIonmouthfhire, and in fuch 
 a fituation as to render it very acceflible to the unex- 
 perienced natives, who in early times were incapable 
 of purfuing the veins to any j;reat depth. 
 - There are no beds of coal in the compafs of Italy ; 
 yet the llrongeil; argument in favour of their opinion,' 
 who think that the Rom?ns, while they were here, 
 were ignorant of it, is, that there is no name for it in 
 their language, the genuine and determinate fenfe of 
 carbo benig charcoal. C^efar is filsnt concerning it 
 in his defcription of our ifland. 
 
 it feems, however, to have been proved beyond all 
 doubt, that, although it efcaped the notice of that 
 great people at firil, it was afterwards in actual ufe 
 amongfl them. 
 
 The Romans, vvhofe found policy led them to im- 
 prove, poliiTi, and enrich the countries that their 
 arms had conquered, foon after their landing in Bri- 
 tain difcovered that it was ?n ifland of vaft confc- 
 quence, and might bs made by cultivation one of the 
 mofl: important provinces in tlie empire. Accordingly 
 we find rh^t rh?v not only, along with the native^ fet 
 abou' cultivating its foil, but alio ranfacksd its vari- 
 ous ftrata of itone, &c. and, as we are afiured by the 
 
 learned 
 
44^ Jnipavtial ipiflori) of 
 
 learned Doctor Whitaker, they appear as actually 
 ulin.^ coal. 
 
 Another equally well informed author in his Bri- 
 tannia Roinana, tells us, that there was a colliery not 
 iar from Condercum, now Benwell, judged to have 
 been wrought by the Romans. 
 
 When the Saxons were mafters of Britain, it feems 
 that that people too were acquainted with this ufeful 
 fuel. By a giant of fonie lands made by the Abbey 
 of Peterborough, A. D. 852, certain boons and pay- 
 ments in kind were referved to the monaltery, as one 
 night's entertainment. Among the articles there are 
 mentioned ten veflels of Welfli, and two of common 
 ale ; fixty cart-loads of wood, and twelve of folfil, or 
 pitcor.l. 
 
 When the Danes invaded and conquered almort 
 the whole illand, they feem either to have been ig- 
 norant of the ufe of coal, or too much taken up in 
 their continual broils with the natives to dig for it, as 
 no mention is made of it during their invafiop. 
 
 When England fubmitted afrelli to foreigners, and 
 fell under the tyranny of William I. and the reigns 
 . offeveral ot his pollerity, (during all which unhappy 
 period the country feemed to be perpetually as it 
 were uiider fire and Iword) the fame filence refped:- 
 ing the ufe of tliat valuable fofFil may probably be 
 attributed to the fame caufes. 
 
 But hiiloiy affords us more certain information 
 during a fubfequent period ; and, as we noticed in 
 giving a detail of the various charters granted to 
 Newcadle, king Henry III. granted to the good 
 men of this town liberty to dig coals in the vicinity 
 of that phice. This grant is dated in the year 1239. 
 It is worthy of notice, that this fpecies of 
 
 fuel 
 
jQcUicafile upon Cgnc. 447 
 
 fuel firft obtained the name of fea-coal about fevea 
 years after the above date. 
 
 Leland, in his valuable and informing Itinerary 
 vol. 8. p. 19. lays, " the vaynes of the fe-coals \y 
 fome time upon clyves of the fe, as round about 
 Cocket Illand and other fliores ; and they, as (ome 
 will, be properly called fe-coals ; but they be not fo 
 good as the caols that are digged in the inner part of 
 the land." 
 
 This trade made r-pid progrefs during the reign of 
 king John, till the death of that unliappy prince. 
 
 But fo changeable are the fentiments of men, that 
 although coal had been found for fome centuries to 
 be the molt valuable fuel, yet, to our furprize, we 
 find the ufe of fea-coal prohibited at London in the 
 year 1306 bv proclamation I Brewers, dyers, and 
 other artificers, who had occalion for great fires, had 
 found their account in fubftituting this hot and lad- 
 ing follil for dry wood and charcoal ; yet the preju- 
 dice was fo general, and the oppofition to it fo power- 
 ful, that the two houfes afiembled in parliament 
 complained againll: the ufe thereof as ^public niii- 
 fance, as it was thought to corrupt the air with its 
 liink and fmoke. 
 
 Private intereft, however, was deaf to the royal 
 proclamation, and it was foon difregarded ; but this 
 gave offence to the legifijture, and, on a fecond 
 complaint, the king iffued a coaimiflion of oyer and 
 terminer, with Uriel: orders to punifii the delinquents 
 by fines, and the demolition of their furnaces and 
 kilns. Succeeding parliaments have thought very 
 differently of this valuable article of commerce. 
 
 But a few years after this period, this fpecies of fuel^ 
 fo offenfive to the nofes of thefe faltidious lords, 
 
 wai 
 
44S Jnipartial fMftorp of 
 
 w as not only ufed in the fliops of dyers and brewers, 
 but blazed in the palaces of royalty itfelf, where it 
 flill has a molt welcome reception. Irt the petitions 
 to parliament, A. D. 1321, 1322 we find, that ten 
 iliiilings worth of that fuel had been ufed at the king's 
 coronation ! 
 
 Omitting other inflances of a private nature, in 
 v/hith fea-coal was in general ufed, we find A. D. 
 1327, the meafure of fea-coals having become an ob- 
 ject of conlideration, and of confequence a great 
 
 and important article of commerce. Bourne s 
 
 Hifiory,p. 158. ^^ 
 
 Three years after this period, we find a colliery at 
 Elfwick, a village near Newcaflle, demifed to Adam 
 de Colewell, at the yearly rent of five pounds. 
 
 Edward III. A. D. 1351, granted a hcence to the 
 burgeffes of Newcaftle, to dig coals and ftones in a 
 place called the Caftle-Fields without the walls of 
 that tov.n. This grant was confirmed A, D. 1358 
 by the fame prince. 
 
 A. D. 1365, the king ifilied an order concerning 
 the meafure to be ufed by the venders of coals. 
 
 A licence was granted A. D. 1368 to Roger de 
 Fulthorp, John Plomer, John de Britley, and Walter 
 de Hefildon, to bring their coals dug out of their 
 mines in Gatefiiead fields, acrufs the river Tyne in 
 boats to Newcaflle, on paying the king's ufual cuf- 
 toms in that port. This grant was extended to two 
 of the above merchants, to fend their coals from 
 Ni-'wcaftle to any part of thekingdoir., but to no port 
 in foreign parts, but to Calais. 
 
 In the year 1379 axluty of fixpence per ton every 
 quarter of a year was impofed upon fhips coming 
 from Newcaflle upon Tvne with coals. 
 
 In 
 
jf5elucf?Glc upon Cpnc. 449 
 
 In theye^r 142 1, the vart confequence oF the coal- 
 trade, even at that remote period, appears by an a<^ 
 of p irliaineiit made that year, which dired^ed '' that 
 whereas there is a callo;n payable to the king of two- 
 pence per chaldron on all coals fold to perfons not 
 franchifed, in t!ie port of Newcaitle, and whereas the 
 keels which carry the coals from t!ie land to the fliips 
 in that port, ought to be oii the jjlt portage of twenty 
 chaldron, according to which burden the cuftoni 
 nforefaid is paid j yet many now m^jkiiig their keels 
 to hold twenty -two, or twenty-three ciialdrons, the 
 king is hereby defrauded of his due : wherefore, it is 
 now enacted, that all keels be meafured by commif- 
 fioners to be appointed by the king, and to be 
 marked of what portage they be, under pain of for- 
 feiting all the faid keels* which fhall be found not 
 marked. 
 
 October i, 15:9 The haughty and magnificent 
 Cardinal Wolfey, then bifhop of Durhiim, granted a 
 patent, wherein he appointed William Thomlyngfon, 
 keeper of Gatefide paik, and his fon Thomas jointly 
 to the office of clerk of all his mines, as well as thofe 
 of lead and iron, as of coals, within his faid demefne 
 lands of Durham, to receive daily one chaldron of 
 coals out of each coal-mine within the demefnes of 
 Gatefide, Whickham, and Lynn-Dean. 
 
 December 30, 1530. The Rev. Father in God 
 
 Thomas Gardiner, prior of the monaflery of Tin- 
 
 3 L ' mouth, 
 
 * Keel, (Tays Brand) is a very ancient name, of Saxon origin, 
 for fliip or ve/Fel. On die firft arrival of die Saxons in this ifland, 
 they came over in tliree long (hips ft vied by themfelvcs, keels. In 
 the Channlary of Tinmoutli monaRery, the fervants of the prior 
 who wrought in the birgea, are called, in the year 1378 kelers, 
 an appellaiioQ pl^iialy fynonimous with our prefent keelmen. 
 
45^ Jnipaitia! r3iQ:oui) of 
 
 mouth, and the convent of the fame, granted a leafe 
 from Whitfunday next enfahig, to the end of 
 twenty-five years, of all the coals and coal-mines in 
 the fields and bounds of Ell\vick, in the county of 
 Northumberland, to Chriflopher Mitford, of New- 
 caftle upon Tyne, gentleman, at the annual rent of 
 twenty pounds, upon condition that not above twenty 
 chaldcr (fix bowls to the chaider) fliould be drawn 
 in a day. 
 
 In the year 1536 coals were fold at Newcaftle 
 upon Tyne for two fliillings and fixpence the chal- 
 dron, and at London for about four fliillings the 
 chaldron. 
 
 September 2b, 1538, the Rev. Father in God Ro- 
 bert Blakeney, prior, and the convent of Tinmouth, 
 occur as granting a leafe of two coal-pits in Elfvvick, 
 to the above Chriflopher Mitford, for eight years, at 
 the annual rent of fifty pounds. 
 
 There is a curious paflage from Harrifon's dcfcrip- 
 tion of England printed A. D. 1577, refpecling the 
 coal-trade of Newcaftle and vicinity, which is as fol- 
 lows :— '' Of coal-mines we have fuch plenty in the 
 north and weftern parts of our ifland, as may fuffice 
 for all the realme ot Englande. And foe much they 
 doe hereafter indeede, if woode be not bettev- 
 cheriflied than it is at prefent : and to fay the truth, 
 notwithftanding that very many of them are carryed 
 into other countryes of the maine, yet their greateft 
 trade beginneth to growe from the fore into the 
 kitchen and halle, as may appeare already . in mod 
 cities and townes that Jye about the coil, where they 
 have little other fewell, except it be turfe and haf. 
 focke. I marvayle not a little that there is no trade 
 of thefe into SulTex and Southamptonfhire, for want 
 
 wliereof 
 
BtW^mt upon Cpne. 451 
 
 whereof the fniiths doe worke their yron with charre- 
 co:iL 
 
 " I thiiike that farre carriage be the only caufe, 
 which is but a flender excufe to inforce us to carye 
 them into the mayne from hence." 
 
 This plain but ienfible writer obferves farther, 
 " I might here take occafion to fp?ak of the great 
 fales yerly made of wood, whereby iiifinite deale hath 
 been deftroyed within thefe few yeres, but I give 
 over to deale in this behalfe, howbeit, this I dare af- 
 firm, that if woodes doe goe fo fall to decay in the 
 next hundred yeare of grace, as they have done, and 
 are like to do in this (fometymes for increafe of 
 fliepewalkes, and fome niayntaynaunce of prodigalitie 
 and pompe, for 1 have knowne a gentleman that 
 hath borne three-fcore atorice in one paire of galigaf- 
 cons, to {\\d\v his (trength and bravery) it is to be 
 feared that brome, turfe, gal, lieth, brakes, whinnes, 
 ling, dies, haflbcks, fiaggs, llraw, fedge, reedee, rufli, 
 and fea-cole, will be good merchandize, even in the 
 citie of London, whereunto fome of them aheadie 
 have gotten readie paflage, and taken up their innes 
 in the greateft marchaunt's parlers. 
 
 This quaint writer goes on to contrail the manners 
 of former times with thofe of his own : " Now we 
 have manye chimnyt^s, and yet our tenderlings com- 
 plaine of rewmes, catarres, and pofes ; then had we 
 none but reredoift-s, and our heacles did never ake. 
 For as the fmoke in thofe days was fuppofed to be a 
 fufficient hardning for the timber of the houfe, fo it 
 was reputed a far better medicine to keep the good 
 man and his family from the quacke or poie, where- 
 with as then very few were acquainted." 
 
 Ouv 
 
^52 
 
 3iinp?.rtial 5)tSorp of 
 
 Our hiftorian proceeds : " There are old men yet 
 dwelling in the village where I remain, which have 
 noted the niultituds of chimnies lately eredled, 
 whereas in their yoong dayes there were not above 
 two or three, if fo many, in moil uplandifh townes of 
 the ri-'alme (the religious houfes and mannour places 
 of tlieir lordes alwayes excepted, and peradventure 
 fome great perfonages) but each one made his fire 
 againlt a reredofle in the halle v/here he dined and 
 drefled his meate :" and, in all the bitrernefs of Ho- 
 race's Laudator Tempnris adi, adds, " when ourc 
 houfes were buylded of willowe then had we oken 
 men, but now that our houfes are come to be made of 
 eke, our men are not only become willow, but a great 
 many altogether of ftraw, which is a fjre alteration.'* 
 
 April z6, 1582, Queen Elizabeth obtained a leafe 
 o/"the manors of Gateihead and Whickham, with the 
 coal-mines, common wartes, and parks, in both, of 
 the bidiop of Durham, for ninety -nine years, at the 
 annual rent of ninety pounds. 
 
 This, commonly cal'led the grand leafe, occafioned 
 an advance in the price of coals. 
 
 This leafe appears to have been procured after- 
 wards of the queen by the earl of Leicefter. 
 
 It was afterwards affigned to the famous Sutton, 
 who founded the Charter-houfe in London : and the 
 price of coals raifed to fix fhillings per chaldron. 
 
 Thomas Sutton, efq. for the fum of i2,oool. made 
 an aflignment of the above grand leafe to Sir Wm. 
 Riddell. and others. fv)r the ufe of the mayor and 
 burgefles of NewcalUe upon Tyne : coals are faid to 
 have been advanced on this occalion to fev«in, and 
 afterwards to eight fliiUings per chaldron. 
 
 A. 
 
Jl^ctocal^le upon Cyne. 453 
 
 A. D. 1590, the price of coals appears to have been 
 advanced to nine fhilhngs per chaldron : upon which 
 the lord mayor of London complained to lord trea- 
 furer Burleigh, againit the town of Nevvcaftle upon 
 Tyne, fetting forth, that the lociety there called free- 
 holls, to whom the grand leafe was fird: affigned, for 
 the ufe of the town, confided of about fixty peribns, 
 who had made over their right to about eighteen or 
 twenty, who engroffcd all other collieries, viz. Stella, 
 the bilhop's colliery, Ravenfworth colliery, the mine 
 of Mr. Gafcoign, the colliery of Newburn, &.c. re- 
 quefting that all the collieries might be opened and 
 wrought, and that the price flioald not exceed ievea 
 (hillings a chaldron. 
 
 In the latter end of the reign of queen Elizabeth, 
 the duty of the town of Newcallle upon Tyne on 
 coals, at fourpence per chaldron, appears to have 
 brought in io,oool. per annum to that corporation. 
 
 A fociety of oilmen or hodmen had exilled as a 
 guild or fraternity in the town of Newcallle upon 
 Tyne, from time immemorial, before their incorpo- 
 ration by royal charter, which is faid to have been 
 granted on the following occalion : About the year 
 1599, queen Elizabeth requiring of the mayor and 
 burgelTes of tliat town the great arrears of a duty 
 payable to the crown, of twopence per chaldron on 
 coals fold to non-freemen, in the port of Tyne, the 
 date of the origin of which can only be conjetlared, 
 but of which there is exprefs mention in a printed 
 ftatute. A, D ^4:0, it appeared tliat the payment of 
 this impoll had been io long neglecled, that they 
 found themfelves unable to comply with her requell ; 
 on which they befought her majefty to reuit ttiem 
 the fum, and to incorporate the old guild of hodmen ; 
 
 who, 
 
454 Impartial !|)illory of 
 
 who, on their incorporation, flioukl, by a grant to the 
 <^ueen, her heirs and fucceflbrs, oblige themfelves and 
 their luccefTors, for ever, to pay one fhilHng for every 
 chalder of coais exported from thence to the free peo- 
 ple of England. So writes Gardiner ; but they them- 
 felves, in their own grant, affirm, that they were in- 
 fluenced by more generous motives, and that what 
 they did arofe fiom their gratitude to her majelly for 
 incorporating them by charter, as alfo to affill her, 
 then labouring under exceffive charges, in fupportof 
 the realm againfl: its foreign enemies. 
 
 The agreement between the queen and this frater- 
 nity, concerning the impoft of a fliilling per chal- 
 dron, had been made, or at lead agreed upon before 
 January 1600, for in the royal patent, dated at Weft- 
 minfter, January 3, 160Q, for the appointmg of com- 
 miifioners to meafure keels at Newcallle, fhe includes 
 in that number, •' the .coUedor of the fhilling per 
 chaldron granted her by the hoftmen." 
 
 Queen Elizabeth's great charter to the town of 
 Newcaftle upon Tyne, by a claufe whereof this fra- 
 ternity is incorporated, we find dated March 22, 
 i6co, forty-eight perfons are named therein for the 
 better loading and difpofing of pit coals and ilones 
 upon the Tyne, and for their own better fupport as a 
 fociety, with the title of governor, Rewards, and bre- 
 thren of the fraternity of hoftmen in the town of 
 Newcaftle upon Tyne ; a common feal is granted 
 them. The governor and Rewards are to be annual- 
 ly eieded on the 4th of January. Power is given 
 to load and unload any where on the Tyne between 
 Newcaftle and Sparhawk,yet as near to ISJewcaftle as 
 they can, notwithftanding the flatute of the 21ft of 
 Henry VIII. &c. 
 
 April 
 
3!35ctDcattIe upon Ci?nc. 455 
 
 April 8, 1600, the fraternity of hoftmen of Mew- 
 caftle upon Tyne, for themfelves and fuccelT^rs, 
 granted to queen Elizabeth^ her heirs and faccelfors 
 for ever, twelvepence for every chaldron of fea-coal, 
 ftone-coal, or pit-coal, of the water meafure of New- 
 caftle, Ihipped in the port of Tyne, to be fpent within 
 the kingdom, and not fent beyond the Teas (coals fold 
 and carried from Newcaftle to Hartlepool for the 
 fait-pans at that place, belonging to lord Luruley, 
 his heirs and ailigns, or to any of the burgefles of Nc w- 
 callle excepted ) This impoft to be paid to fuch of- 
 ficer or colledor as the queen fliould appoint, and 
 that before the clearing of the fliip at the cullom- 
 houfe. 
 
 It appears by the order ot the hollmen's company, 
 dated A. D. 1600, that waggons and waggon-ways 
 had not been invented, but th;it the coals were at 
 that time brought down from the pits in wains (hold- 
 ing eight bowls each, all meafured and marked), to 
 the ftaiths by the lide of the river Tyne. 
 
 An interefting account of the Hate of the coal- 
 trade at Newcaftle upon Tyne, dated February 26, 
 1662, is preferved in the books of the above fraterni- 
 ty : there appear to have been at that time twenty- 
 eight ading fitters, or hoaftmen, who were to vend 
 by the year 9080 tons of coals, and find eighty-five 
 keels for that purpofe : the prices ordered were, for 
 the bell fort not above ten fliillings the chaldron ; 
 for the fecond beft fort not above nine fhillings ; and 
 for the kind called there '• the meane coles," not 
 above eight Ihillings for the fame quantity. 
 
 In the year 161 5 there appear to have been em- 
 ployed in the coal-trade of Newcaftle, four hundred 
 
 fail 
 
45^ Jnumrttal fMSorj) of 
 
 fail of fliips, one half of which fupplied London, as 
 the other did the reft of England with that fuel. 
 
 By this time the ufe of fea-coal bad become gene- 
 ral, occafioned, as it is ailerred, by a great fcarcity of 
 wood, which of late years they had negleded to 
 plant throughout the whole kingdom. 
 
 In the year 1622 there were vended by the fociety 
 of hotbnen of NewcalUe 14.4:0 tons of coals. 
 
 April 20, 1622, there was an order made by the 
 above fraternity againft the fecret and diforderly 
 loading of coals. They had received feveral letters 
 from the King and Privy-Council concerning this 
 abufe. 
 
 They were fummoned to anfwer again by procefs 
 from the exchequer chamber againft the governor, 
 ftewards, and fome of the company, for the above de- 
 faults, returnable in the fubfequent Eafter term. 
 
 By a claufe in an aft of parliament made in the 
 year 1623, the duty of twopence per chaldron, men- 
 tioned A. D. 1421, was faved to the crown. 
 
 February i6th, 1624, a proclamation was made for 
 furveying fea-coals at Nevvcaftle uponTyne, Sunder- 
 land and Blyth : his majefty, by letters patent, made 
 September 2 2d, 1623, to Mellls. Sharpy and Hedley, 
 for twenty-one years, had eredled an oiRce for the 
 furveying of coals to be brought to London and other 
 places, uith a grant of fourpence per chaldron for 
 furveying them : by which they raifed 3,20ol. per 
 annum. 
 
 In the year 162'^, king Charles L gave his royal 
 confent, that a contribution of fix pence fhould be 
 laid on every chaldron of coals that iliould be tranf- 
 ported from Newcaftle upon Tyne to any of his do- 
 minions, or beyond the feas into foreign parts. Alex. 
 
 BavifoD, 
 
30e\\)C(iftle upon Cpne. 457 
 
 Davifon, merchcint of that town, (afterwards knight- 
 ed) was appointed to colled: the fame. Coals appear 
 to have fold this year at that place for ftven ihillings 
 and fixpence per chaldron. 
 
 November i3lh, 1626, the hoftmen of Newcaftle 
 deputed fome of their brethren to London, to attend 
 the lord chief juftice and others of the judges ap. 
 pointed to make report to his majefty the patent of 
 farvey of coals, and Hate to them the objedions of 
 this fociety againfl it. 
 
 April 22, 1630, the king let to farm, under the 
 great feal of England, to Sir Thos. Lake, Sir Jchii 
 Trevor, Sir Marmaduke Darell, and Sir Thos. Blad- 
 der, an impoft on coals of five (liillings per chaldron^ 
 for thofe tranfportcd out of England, Wales, and 
 Berwick upon Tweed, to any part beyond the feas, 
 except Guernfey, Jerfey, and the We of Man — of 
 one Ibilling and eightpence over and above the five 
 fliillings on thofe to be exported as above by any 
 Englilhman or denifon ; and alfo of three flidlings 
 and fourpence for every chaldron to be exported, or 
 fliipped to be exported, except for Ireland or Scot- 
 land. 
 
 In the year 16^1, an information was made in the 
 ftar-chamber by Heath, attorney-general, againil the 
 hoftmen of Newcaftle upon Tyne, for mixing 40,000 
 chaldron of coals. 
 
 In the year 1633 coals appear to have been fold at 
 Newcaftle for nine fliillings per chaldron. 
 
 A. D. 1634, the king, folely by his own authority, 
 impofed a duty of four fhillings per chaldron on all 
 fea.coal, ftone-coal, or pit-coal, exported from Eng- 
 land to foreign parts. 
 
 In the month of Odtober, 1635, coals fold at New- 
 3 M caltie 
 
45^ impartial Diftorj) of 
 
 caflle for ten Hiillings the chaldron. — They occur at 
 the fame price, water meafure, as fold there in the 
 fame month, 1637. 
 
 A. D. 1637, one (hilling per chaldron appears to 
 have been paid on the foreign vent of coals to the 
 mayor of NewcalUe upon Tyne. The fume year 
 the king granted, as Gardiner informs us, to Sir 
 Thomas Tempell and others (notwithfiandingthe 
 farmer exclufive and perpetual right by charter of 
 the hoftmen of Newcadle) the fule power of felling 
 all coals exported out of the port of Tyne for twenty- 
 one years. 
 
 In the year following, as the fame authority ob- 
 ferves, the king incorporated a company of coal mo- 
 nopolizers, Thomas Horth, and other mafters of fliips, 
 impowering them to buy all the co?ls that fhould be 
 exported from Sunderland, NewcalUe, Blyth, and 
 Berwick, paying to the king one fliilling cuflom for 
 every chalder. They were to fell thefe coals again to 
 the city of London, at a price not exceeding feven- 
 teen iliiliings the chalder in fummer, and nineteen in 
 winter, &c. 
 
 The king, in the July following, adds the fame au- 
 thority, granted another patent to Mr. Sands, with 
 others, for the farming of the above cuflom of one 
 fhilling on every chalder, at the yearly rent of ten 
 thoufand pounds. 
 
 MonopoUes contributed greatly, among other 
 grievances, to hurt the intereft of the unfortunate 
 Charles with the people of Great Britain. 
 
 The granting of thefe in tlie coal-trade, as dated 
 above, appears to have compofed no inconliderable 
 part of that unhappy monarch's political fins. 
 
 When Newcaflle was taken by the covenanters in 
 the year 1640, the coal-trade, which before that 
 
 event 
 
Betocaftle upon Cjjnc 459 
 
 event is faid to have employed ten thoufand people, 
 fuftained an immenfe lot's : every one fled, tliinking 
 the Scots would give no quarter, and more than one 
 hundred velfels that arrived ofl' Tmmouth-bar the 
 day after the fight, liearing that the vScots were in 
 polTeflion of the town, returned eaipty. 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1642, an ordinance 
 both of lords and commons was publiihed, prohibit- 
 ing fhips from bringing coals or fait from Newcaftle, 
 Sunderland, or Blyth. 
 
 About this time there was an impofition of three- 
 pence laid upon every chaldron of coals, for main- 
 taining the garrifon of Newcallle. 
 
 In the fame year the king ordered that the cullom 
 of coals tranfported into foreign parts, fliould be ta- 
 ken according to the old and not the new book of 
 rates. 
 
 In 1643 the commons pafled feveral ordinances for 
 raifing monies out of delinquents' ellates and New- 
 caftle coals, to fatisfy thole who had lent money for 
 the advance of the Scottifli army into England. 
 
 The fame year, when the Scots befieged Newcaftle, 
 the marquis of Nevv'caftle ordered all the coal-mines 
 to be fired. This was prevented by general Lefley's 
 furpriling all the boats and veffels. 
 
 April I, 1643, about tiiis time there appears to 
 have been a very great fcarcity of coal in the city of 
 London. 
 
 April 15, 1643, tlie Commons made an order to 
 reftrain the impofitions of wharfingers, chandlers, and 
 coal-fellers, who appear to have added to the general 
 calamity of London, in violen-tly opprefling tlie poor 
 by extortionable prices. 
 
 June 8, 1643, the Commons made an order to re- 
 3 M 2 ftrain 
 
4^0 Jitipnrtial fptaorp of 
 
 drain the prices oF coals to twenty Ihillings, or not 
 above twenty three fliiUings the chalder, 
 
 June 25, 1643, t!ie gun-niakcrs of London peti- 
 tioned the houfe of commons for fea-coal to carry on 
 their trade, which had unfortunately by this time be- 
 come a very important one. 
 
 July 20, 1643, ^^ ^^'^^ earneflly recommended by 
 the houfe of lords to the commons, to fend fhips to 
 procure coal, at that time a very fcarce commodity, 
 from Newcaftle. 
 
 Oclober 2, 1643, an ordinance was made by the 
 lords and commons to fupply the poor and others 
 with wood, in default of coal, as Newcaftle was at 
 that time furprifed, as it is exprefTed, by the " papal 
 and malignant forces." 
 
 There is preferved in Rufh worth's very valuable 
 colledlions, a curious letter from the king to the mar- 
 quis of Newcaftle, written in figure cyphers from 
 Oxford, dated Nov. 2, 1643, concerning the pro- 
 curing of arms from Holland in exchange for our 
 coals. 
 
 [an. 8, 1644, at a court of the hoftmen of New- 
 caftle, it was ordered that iix brethren of that fociety 
 (hould attend the mayor, to adjuft fuch quantities of 
 coals as fhould be lent to his majefty to procure corn, 
 powder, and ammunition, for the king's fcrvice, and 
 in defence of the country, purfuant to a commiffion 
 from the marquis of Newcaft:le. 
 
 July 20, 1644, the parliament made an ordinance 
 to provide peat and turf fur the city of London; the 
 marquis of Newcaftle, then in poffeffion of that 
 town, having, as Rufhworth informs us, prohibited 
 the exportacion of coals to that city, on accotmt of 
 the citizens' difobedience to his majefty. 
 
 After 
 
j0eit3ca{llc upon Cgnc. 461 
 
 After the town of Newcal'tle upon Tyne had been 
 taken by the ScottiHi army, the hoiife of comnion.s 
 took the niauagement of the coal-trade, as well as 
 the government of that town, into their own hands. 
 
 The coiniTiittee of the parliament at Newcaillc 
 fent up on this occafion a great quantity of coals for 
 the relief of the p::)or of London, of which the com- 
 mons gave notice to the lord mayor, with orders for 
 the diltribution of them. Coals had before this tiraa 
 been raifed in London to the enormous price of four 
 pounds per chaldron. 
 
 November 14th, 1644, an ordinance was publidied 
 by both houfes of parliament, tor opening the trade 
 to Newcaftle upon Tynt;, and for annulling the for- 
 mer ordinance that prohibited the trade to that town. 
 
 On the i8th following, the commiilioners of the 
 parliament at Newcal\le, with the concurrence of 
 the hodmen of that town, made many regulations 
 concerning the coal- trade. 
 
 On the 2 ill of December following, the commons 
 in parliament made an order, that it fliould be re- 
 ferred to the conlideration of the committee at gold- 
 fmiths's hall, whether any proportion might be raifed 
 out of the revenue of the coals, towards the monthly 
 pay afligned to the Scottifh army, without violating 
 or weakening the engjgeaient already raifed upon 
 the credit of that commodity ; as alfo how that fuel 
 might be bed man:iged to the public advantage. 
 
 January 4, 1645, there was an order of parliament, 
 that the coairaittee of goldfmith's hall Aiould ap- 
 point agents at Newcaftle, Sunderland, &c. to !na- 
 iiage the coals and collieries of the delinquents, &oc. 
 and pay over fuch monies as fliould arife froai thence 
 to the treaiurer of the Scottifh army, for the fpace of 
 four months or longer, ii^neceffiry. 
 
 March 
 
4^2 Impartial Ipiftorj) of 
 
 March 20, 1645, it was refolved in parliament, 
 that the five (hillings impofed upon every ciialdron 
 of coals, by the commillioners ot" both kingdoms, at 
 Newcaltle upon Tyne and Sunderland, Ihould be 
 taken off. 
 
 April 3, 1645, the hoftmen of Newcaftle petition- 
 ed the above commillioners to take ofl' the threepence 
 paid by them out of every chaldron of coals they fold, 
 as they had done the lait-mentioned five fhillings. 
 
 June Q, 1645, there was an order of parliament for 
 the fpeedy granting of five hundred tons of the coals 
 of delinquents, to the mayor and town of Newcaftle 
 upon Tyne, for the ufe of the poor and infeded of 
 that place, and among other purpofes to repair the 
 wails thereof. 
 
 Sept. 29, 1645, it ivas ordered by the parliament 
 that Sir John I'revor, &c. fhould be put into the col- 
 ledlion of the twelvepence per chaldron upon coals at 
 Newcaftle, payable to the king, according to their 
 leafe from his majefty of that duty. 
 
 January 4th, 1646, the hoftmen of Newcaftle fet 
 afide their orders ot the 7th of Sept. 1643, and the 
 20th of Auguft, 1644, for the payment of threepence 
 per chaldron on coals. 
 
 Whitelock, under the date of February 8, 1646, 
 informs us, that four llnllings per chaldron upon 
 Newcaftle coals were continued for the maintenance 
 of that garrifon. 
 
 November 4th, 1646, the mayor and burgeflfes of 
 Newcaftle had an opportunity (and embraced it) of 
 teftifyirg their loyalty, as it were in kind, to their 
 unfortunate fovereign, at that time a prifoner within 
 their walls, by defraying one half of the expence of 
 the coals ufed by his majefty and his retinue. 
 
 Feb- 
 
5l5ctocaGle upon Cjinc. 465 
 
 February 8th, 1647, there was an order of parlia- 
 ment to continue the impolition of four fnillings per 
 chaldron on coals fhipped coaftways, till the 2:;thof 
 March following ; this was entirely taken off on the 
 13th of April that fame year. 
 
 There was an order of the common council of 
 Newcaftle, dated January 27th, 1648, that the coal- 
 cuflom of ftrangers Ihould be fo reduced that they 
 might be induced to trade thither as for;nerly. 
 
 July 17, 1748, the commons in parliament confirm- 
 ed an impoft of four fliillings per chaldron on coals 
 and grindflones, and on every weigh of fait from 
 Newciiftle, Sunderland, and Blyth. 
 
 In the winter of 1648, coals were fo exceffively 
 dear in London, that many of the poor died for want 
 of firing. Sir Arthur Hafilrigge, the governor of 
 Newcaltle, was blamed on this occafion, for laying a 
 tax of four fliillings per chaldron on the coals at that 
 towm, eftimated, fays Walker, at 50,0001. per annum. 
 May 16, 1649, the houfe of commons referred an in- 
 quiry into this matter to the council of date ; re- 
 commending it at the fame time to a committee of 
 the navy, to inquire into the twelvepence per chal- 
 dron on coals, and how it might be taken off. 
 
 The impofition of four fliillings per chaldron was 
 entirely fet afide by a refolution of the houfe of com- 
 mons, made on the i ith of September following 
 
 Grey's account, in his Chorographia, of the coal- 
 trade of Newcallle, about A. D. 1649, is well worth 
 tranfcribing : 
 
 " There come fometimes into this river for coales, 
 three hundred fayles of fliips. 
 
 '' iVIany thoufand people are imployed in this trade 
 of coales : many live by working of them in the pits : 
 
 manv 
 
464 Impartial Dtftorp of 
 
 many live by conveying them in waggons and waiiies 
 to the river Tyne : many men are employed in con- 
 veying the coales in keeles from the rtathes aboard 
 the fliips : one coal merchant imployeth five hundred 
 or a thoufand in his uorks of coals : yet, for all of 
 his labour, care, and coft, can fcarce live of his 
 trade : nay, many of them hath confumed and fpent 
 great eftates, and dyed beggars. I can remember 
 one of many that rayfed his eftate by coale trade : 
 many I remember that hath wafted great ertates. 
 
 " Some fouth gentlemen have upon great hope of 
 benefit come into this country to hazard their mo- 
 nies in coale-pits.— Mailer Beaumont, a gentleman 
 of great ingenuity and rare parts, adventured into 
 our mines with his thirty thoufand pounds ; who 
 brought with him many rare engines not known 
 then in thefe parts ; as the art to boore with iron 
 rodds, to try the deepneffe and thicknelfe of the 
 coale; rare engines to draw water out of the pits; 
 waggons with one horfe to carry down coales from 
 the pits to the ftathes to the river, &c. Within few 
 years he confumed all his money, and rode home 
 upon his light horfe." 
 
 " The coale trade began not pad four-fcore years 
 fmce : coales in former times was only ufcd by 
 fmiths, and for burning of lime : woods in the fouth 
 parts of England decaying, and the city of London, 
 and other cities and townes growing populous, made 
 the trade for increafe yearely, and many great fhips 
 of burthen built, fo that there was more coales vented 
 in one yeare, then was in feven yeares, forty yeares 
 by part : This great trade hath made tb'S towne to 
 flourifh in all trades." 
 
 February 
 
l^elxicnCtle upon Cinic. 4^5 
 
 February 12, 165O, there was an order of the com- 
 nion-councii of NewcalUe to enforce the payment of 
 an inipoil of threepence per chaldron received on all 
 coals in the cliamber of that tov\'n, 
 
 March jd following, the Trinity-houfe of New- 
 caiUe made a refolution to maintain their claim to 
 threepence per chaldron, received by them from time 
 immemorial, of the hodmen, for their free parts of 
 fliips; and which the mayor and common-council, 
 by the above order, were for taking away from them, 
 to adU to the revenue ot the corporation. 
 
 In the year 1653, the coal-trade appears to have 
 been greatly annoyed by the Dutch men of war. 
 
 November 14, 1653, articles appear to have been 
 exiubitcd againll the town of NewcalUe concerning 
 the coal-trade. 
 
 Auguit 25, 1554, mention occurs of a mutiny 
 among the keelmen at NewcalUe, for the increafe of 
 wages. 
 
 The port of Sunderland by the fea occurs at this 
 time as beginning to be of great importance. 
 
 In the year 1655, coals are faid to have been fold 
 at London for ab jve twenty fhillings per chaldron. — 
 About three hundred and twenty keels appear to 
 have been employed at this time in the coal-trade 
 upon the river Tyne, each of which carried eight 
 hundred chaldrons, NewcalUe meafure, on board the 
 ihips. To adjuft the difference of meafures, it mult 
 be noted, that one hundred and thirty-fix chaldrons, 
 NewcalUe meafure, are equal to two hundred and 
 feventeen, London meafure. 
 
 March 27th of the. fame year, the hoflmen made 
 an a(fl for taking one fliilling lighterage for every 
 chalder of coals put on board of any (hip below a 
 
 3 N place 
 
466 Jnipaitial Diftorp of 
 
 place called the Javil-tree, in the river Tyne ; but 
 in April the year following the lord protedor Oliver, 
 and the council, ordered the hodmen of Newcaflle to 
 permit the fliips that traded thither for coals, to lade 
 at the ufual rates. 
 
 At tljis time coals, which two years before had 
 been vended on the river Tyne at ten fliillings, were 
 fold at twelve fliillings the chaldtr. 
 
 Feb, 23, 1658, occurs a petition oi the merchant- 
 adventurers of Newcaftle to, parliament, againft-the 
 cuftom of all coals trani'ported, having been let to 
 Mr. Martin Nowel, whom they charged therein with 
 great a<5ls of injiiftice and dilhonelty. 
 
 This appears to have been let to the above Nowel 
 at 22,oool. a year, of which fum 19,783!. 14s. 8d. 
 were for the coals of ilngland, and 2,2 j 61. 5s. 4d. 
 lor thofe of Scotland. 
 
 In July of the fame year, commifiioners were ap- 
 pointed by the lord protector under the great leal of 
 England, for the meafaring of keels ; which they 
 appear to have done in a new and better manner 
 than had been ufed before that time. 
 
 June 21, 1659, the hoftmen of Newcaflle upon 
 Tyne were called upon, by order of tlie committee 
 for preventing abufes in monopolies, to anfwer the 
 complaints exhibited againft them by Ralph Gardi- 
 ner, Eiq. 
 
 In December the year following a warrant was 
 granted from the lord treafurer, for the payment of 
 the Qiilling per chaldron on coals that had been 
 granted to queen Elizabeth by the hoftmen, to lord 
 Mordaunt, Sir Thomas Peyton, and Sir Jeremiah 
 Whichcott, baronets, or their deputies ; and the 
 next day a warrant was (igned by the above lord 
 
 Mor- 
 
Ji3etoca(llc upon €i)ne. 467 
 
 Mordaunc, Sue. to Wil]iai;n Johrifon, Elq. alderman 
 of Newcaftle. 
 
 January 4, j66i, the hodmen of Newcaftle appear 
 to have had intentions of balancing the coal-trade of 
 Newcaftle with that of Sunderland, by procuring a 
 fliilling per chaldron to be laid alfj upon coals ex- 
 ported from Sunderland. 
 
 January 20. 1662, an order was made by the hod- 
 men of Newcaftle, to oppofe the laying on of three- 
 pence per chaldron on coals, having received infor- 
 mation that endeavours were uling to confirm their 
 payment thereof by ad of parliame^it. 
 
 The 2c:th of Auguft in the fame year, a petition, 
 figned by two thoufand colliers, in order to be pre- 
 fented to his majefty, occurs ; in which they com- 
 plained of the wrongs done them by the coal-owners 
 and overmen ; a redrefs of grievances however pre- 
 vented it from being font. 
 
 It was provided by the ad for trade, 1663, that 
 coals tranfported in Englilh fliipping and navigation 
 for his majefty's plantations, in lieu of all cuftom, 
 ihal.l iTiay only for one chaldron of Ne\.vcaftie mea- 
 fure one fliilling and eight-pence ; for one chaldron 
 of London meafure one fliilling, provided good fecu- 
 rity be given for landing the faid coals accordingly. 
 
 In the journ;ds of the houfe of commons, 1663, 
 Newcaftle coals at tvvelvepence per chaldron for the 
 inland vent only, then at leafe for 1836I, 12s. 6d. 
 per annum, are reported to be worth 8000I. full value. 
 
 By an act made the two following years the weight 
 and meafure of coals were adjufted in London, where 
 juftices of peace were iaipowered to fet a price on 
 them. 
 
 In the year 1666 the hodmen of Newcaftle upon 
 3 N 2 Tyne 
 
4^8 3inipartial rpiftov)) of 
 
 Tyne laid an impoft of one penny a chaldron upon 
 coals cleared at the cuftoni-houfe of that town, for 
 the fupport of workmen laid off work ; the collieries 
 being all laid in, great quantities of coals being al- 
 ready wrought, and not fold by reafou of the war. 
 
 In January the year following, conls appear to 
 have been fold at an excellive price, for want of con- 
 voys to London. 
 
 By an acl of parliament made in 1667, after the 
 great fire of London, a duty of twelvepence per 
 chaldron was granted to the lord mayor, &.c. of that 
 city to enable them to rebuild it, and which was to 
 continue ten years ; but this not being found fuffi- 
 cient, it was made three fliillings a chaldron, and to 
 continue ten years longer. 
 
 By an a6l of parhament in 1672, a wife regula- 
 tion was made for the encouragement of the expor- 
 tation of our own produdl and manufactures, viz. 
 the taking off" aliens duty upon all the native com- 
 modities, coals only excepted, and manufudtures of 
 England, exported by foreigners; thereby putting 
 them on a level with Englilh fubjects. 
 
 In the year 1675, Charles the fecond let to farm 
 to vifcountefs Mordaunt, a third part of the (hilling 
 per chaldron upon coals, for thirty-one years, at the 
 annual rent of 61 2I. 17s. 6d. to commence at the 
 expiration of the term granted tovifcount Mordaunt, 
 Sir Thomas Peyton, and Sir Jeremiah Whichcott. 
 
 Dec. 18, 1677, the king grunted to bis natural 
 fon, Charles, duke of Richmond and Lenox, and 
 failing him and his heirs, to Louife, duchefs of Portf- 
 mouth, and the heirs of her body, the reverfion of 
 the twelvepence per chaldron on coals, the faid 
 twelvepence pv^r chaldron, the rent of 1836I. 12s. 
 
 6d. 
 
s^etocaftle upon C^ne. 469 
 
 6d. as alfo the above rent of 612I. 17s. 6d. yet fubjedl 
 to an annuity of five hundred pounds, to Sir Thomas 
 Clarges, his heirs and alligns, at a yearly referved 
 rent of li. 6s. 8d. 
 
 January 4th, 1683, ^^^ hoftmen of Ncwcaftle or- 
 dered a Vi-arrant to be procured from the mayor and 
 burgeffes of that town, to feize coals that came into 
 that port for Color-coats, or otherwife, contrary to 
 the ad: 21 Henry VIII. or upon the cuftom foreign 
 bought or fold. 
 
 A. D. 1685, there were fo many foreign-built (hips 
 ufed in the coal-trade, and ihip-building was reduced 
 to fo low an ebb at Newcaflle upon Tyne, and other 
 ports of the kingdom, that it was thought necefiary 
 that a duty of five fiiillings per ton Ihould be laid this 
 year upon all foreign-built ftiipping. 
 
 May 6, 1686, a petition was prefented to the houfc 
 of commons by the owners of fhips, and traders in 
 coals to and from Newcaille, Sunderland, &.c. againll 
 a farther impofition on coals. It was referred to a 
 committee of the whole houfe. 
 
 April 23, 16(^0, a i:)etition was prefented to parlia- 
 ment from the hoftmen of Newcaftle, for leave to 
 bring in a bill for fetting reafonable prices on ftaith- 
 rooms, and way-leaves, which was granted them. 
 
 December this year great complaints were made in 
 the houfe of commons concerning the high price of 
 coals, fetting forth that the poor were in danger of 
 perifhing for want of firing; on which a petition was 
 prefented by fome perfons, for leave to make a bank 
 of coals within London and \Ve(lmin[^er, and to en- 
 fure the traders to Newcaille againlt pirates, and the 
 dangers of the feas. 
 
 December 
 
47^ Impartial M^ot^ of 
 
 December 20, 1690, mention of his majefty's royal 
 afTcnt occurs to an acft for reviving a former acl for 
 regulating the meafures and prices of coals. 
 
 A. D. 1693, the coal-trade of Nevvcallle fuffercd 
 great interruption, the keelmen there being afraid to 
 work, on account of an imprefs for feamen, concern- 
 ing which the hollmen complained to the members 
 of parliament for that town, 
 
 February 5th, 1694, a bill was brought into parlia- 
 ment for meafuring the keels and bouts at Newcaftle 
 by a dead weight ; which was oppofed by a petition 
 of feveral owners and mafters of ihips in the coal- 
 trade. 
 
 March 6, 1695, ^'^ave was granted to bring a bill 
 into parliament for the better meaiurement of keels 
 and keel-boats at Newcaftle ; it was ordered to be 
 eiigroffed 21 ft March following. 
 
 March 12th, fame year, five fliilhngs per chaldron 
 were ordered by parliament to be laid on cDals, thirty- 
 fix bufliels to the chaldron, Winchefler meafure ; and 
 alfo five fhilhngs per ton on all coals exported from 
 Scotland, over and above the then duties, 
 
 January 9, 1696, a petition of owners of fhips was 
 brought into parliament againft the above bill, where- 
 in they fet forth, that, by a ftorm in September laft, 
 they loll: near two hundred fail of Ihips, worth up- 
 wards of two hundred thoufand pounds. 
 
 February 19th, fame year, leave was granted to 
 bring a bill into parliament, to fettle the rents of 
 way-leaves and coal-wharfs ; w'hich, however, was 
 not prefentcd till December. 
 
 An engrofled bill for taking off the duties of ton- 
 nage upon fliips and coalb., was read the third time 
 before the houfe of commons, April 24, fame year. 
 
 February 
 
Ji3c\ncafile upon C^nc. 471 
 
 February 6th, 1697, the hoftmen of Ncacallle pe- 
 titioned parhament againll an intended duty upon 
 coals, &-C. imported from Newcaltle, tor the repara- 
 tion of Whitby Piers ; which they ulledged was inju- 
 rious to the coal-trade, and a difcouragement to na- 
 vigation. 
 
 In the year 1699, one thoufand four hundred fliips 
 are faid to have been employed in the coal-trade, ex- 
 porting yeaily from Newcallle two hundred thou- 
 fand chaldrons of coals, Newcaftle meafare, in time 
 of peace. NewcalHe had at that time two-thirds of 
 the coal-trade ; three hundred thouf.uid chaldrons in 
 all coming annually to London. The over-fea trade 
 in this article at the fame time is faid to have em- 
 ployed nine hundred thoufand tons of (hipping ; fa 
 that the coal-trade made, at that period, the greiteft 
 body of Englilh (hipping. 
 
 In this year petitions were prefented in the houfe 
 of commons againll the lute impofition of five fliil- 
 lings per chaldron on coals, from Scarborough, Sun- 
 derland, ipfwich, and King's Lynn in Norfolk. 
 
 It appears from an account of the coal-trade, 
 printed in 1701, that at that time the befl coals in the 
 pool of London fold for eighteen fliillings, or eighteen 
 Ihillings and threepence per chaldron ; out of which, 
 eight fliillings were to be dedudted, i. c. five niillings 
 to the king, one fliilling and fixpence to St. Paul's, 
 and one ihilhng and fixpence nveiage ; and that at 
 Newcaftle good coals fold at four pounds, or four 
 guineas the keel, which keel made fifteen chaldron 
 in the pool of London. 
 
 Februcuy 27, 1702, a petition from the coal- 
 owners in t;ie norih of England concerning the de, 
 cay of the fait trade, by which, to their great detri- 
 ment, 
 
47i Impartial !piaor|i of 
 
 nent, they loft the means of difpofing of their fmall 
 coals, was prefented to parliament. This was 
 backed by another of fimilar import from the fait" 
 makers. 
 
 November 7, 1702, on an inquiry in the houfe of 
 commons concerning the exceflive price of coals 
 within the bills of mortality, it appeared to have 
 been occafioned by the high wages paid to failors. 
 
 A. D. J '^03, upon an inquiry of a coinmittee of 
 the houfe of commons appointed to receive propofals, 
 and prepare heads of a bill for the increafe of feamen, 
 and the fpeedy manning of the royal navy, fent ta 
 the mailers of the Trinity- Houfe of Neucallle, con- 
 cerning the number of fliips, &.c. necelTary for the 
 coal-trade : they were anfvvered by the fraternity, 
 that iix hundred lliips one with another, each of 
 eighty Newcaftle chaldron, with four thoufand five 
 hundred men, were requilite for carrying on that 
 great branch of commerce. " A number," they 
 added, " both of Hiips and men, that had been en- 
 gaged therein for three years lall part." Coals occur 
 at this time as fold at eleven fliiliings per chaldron at 
 Newcaftle. 
 
 In the following year mention occurs in the jour- 
 nals of the houfe of commons, of the lords having 
 given their affent to an aft for the increafe of fea- 
 men, and fecurity of the coal-trade. 
 
 In appears that at that time there had been em- 
 ployed tour hundred keels in the river Tyne, and 
 between fifteen and iixteen hundred keelmen. 
 
 From Chriftmas i;o^, to the year 1710, there ap- 
 pear to have been exported from Newcaftle, commu- 
 nibus annis, 178,143 chaldron of coals ; and from 
 the port of Sunderland in the fame time, 65,760 
 chaldron and a half. 
 
 In 
 
Bcloc^ftle upon Cvne. 473 
 
 In the year 1764, there were exported from the 
 river Tyne for London and coaflvvays, twenty thou- 
 fand clialdrons of coals, London meafure"; and forty 
 thoufand chaldrons, like menfiue, for foreign parts; 
 more than had been exported before in any one year. 
 
 The fame year, 3,727 veflels were cleared out of 
 that river for the coart, loaden with coals, and 365 
 for foreign parts; a greater number than ever was 
 known before. 
 
 A. D. 1765, 5 Geo. in. c. :^^^ fee. i, an additional 
 duty was laid on exported coal. 
 
 In the year following, there was an ad of parlia. 
 nient made to regulate the loading of fliips with coals 
 in the ports of Newcaftle and Sunderland, to take 
 place after the ill of June, for feven years. 
 
 The fubfequent is an accurate account of the flate 
 of the coal trade about the year 1772. 
 
 5,585 (hips, 689,090 tons, 330,200 chaldrons of 
 coals, with 123 370 hundred weight of lead, for the 
 coalling-trade. And 363 lliips, 49,124 tons, 21,690 
 chaldrons of coals, with 30.064 hundred weight of 
 lead, to foreign parts. 
 
 An act of parliament pafled in the year 1773, to 
 continue an ad: made in the 6th of George theThird, 
 intitled, An ad to regulate the loading of fhips with 
 coals in the ports of Newcuftle and Sunderland, for a 
 further term of feven years, and from thence to the 
 end of the next feflion of parliament. 
 
 The following is an account of the coal- trade for 
 fix years, on an average, to the Chriltmas of 1776. 
 
 To London, and other ports of Great Britain, 
 35i,o-:o chaldrons of coals (of which 260,000 to Lon- 
 don) ; to the Britifli colonies and plantations 2,000 ; 
 to foreign parts 27,000. In all 380,000 chaldrons, 
 Nevvcaftle meafure, per annum. 
 
 3 O A. 
 
474 Impartial JiMfiori) of 
 
 A. D. 1777, the wages for each able-bodied fea_ 
 man for a voyage in a coal-fliip to London, were 
 fixed at 31 los. 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1780, it was propofed 
 to lay an additional duty of four ihilHngs per chaldron 
 on exported coals. 
 
 This year died at Gatefliead, Baron van Haake, a 
 native of Silefia, who had come thither for the pur- 
 pofc of extrafting tar from coal. 
 
 July 7, 17(3 1, mention occurs of a machine to 
 draw coals, as then invented by Mr Jof Oxley. 
 
 May 17, 1782, the royal aflent was given by com- 
 miflion to an act to revive and continue an ad palTed 
 in the 6th of Geo. III. intitied " x\n acf to regulate 
 the loading of fhips with coals, in the ports of Nevv- 
 caftle and Sunderland." 
 
 Thus have we given a general account of this 
 rich fource of wealth to Newcallle, the coal- 
 trade, and ot the vart confequence to which it has 
 raifed this town. This important fubject having 
 employed the refearches of fome of the moll philofo- 
 phicai and inge^iious men of modern times, we fliall 
 prclent our readers with fome of their moll ufeful 
 oblVrvations. 
 
 Mr Charles Btaumont, in his treatile on this fub- 
 jecl, tells us that he has explored coal in its original 
 llate, and by attentive refearches followed it through 
 the various and amazing operations of whicli it is the 
 foundation. " The mines of coal (fays that fenlible 
 writer) may juilly and emphatically be llilcd the 
 golden ones of Britain, and not only by that means 
 the finews of her defence and welfare, but alfo, by 
 manning her lieets, defending her from all foreign 
 tjnenue.s, and proteding her colonies abroad. 
 
3l5etocaaic upon tizpnt- 4 
 
 /:> 
 
 " The coal-mines in Great Britain is the fource from 
 which the nation derives its fuperiority in its valuable 
 manufaclories. All thofe numerous operations de- 
 pendent upon fire, whether in engines of various 
 constructions, or in the great proceffes- of brewery 
 or dirtillery, and all that relates to the extenfivc 
 manufacfture from grain or fugar, molaifcs and fweets, 
 are the elfeds of this trade. . All the manu- 
 fadlurcs of metals of every kind, from the mofl pure 
 to the bafeft, are carried on by coal fires ; and all 
 the great manufaduring towns^ wherever fitnatcd, 
 (London excepted) are edabliihed in the vicinity of 
 inexhauftible coal-mines. 
 
 " I need only enumer^ate (fays the ingenious author) 
 Newcaftle, Leeds, Mancheftcr, Birmingham, and 
 Sheffield, to illuftrate thefe truths. Carron and Cole- 
 brooke Dale, fo filmed for their iron works, and 
 many other important places in England, Scotland, 
 and Wales, entirely owe their fir ft ellabliiliment, 
 their population, their wealth and importance, to 
 their lying adjacent to coal mines, 
 
 " The increafed value of land in all parts where coal 
 is found is wonderful ; which, before the difcovery, 
 was deemed barren, as the country lay wafte and 
 unpeopled. The nuaierous canals and conveyances 
 from the mod diilant parts of the kingdom, owe 
 their exiilence to the wealth acquired by this in- 
 valuable mineral. 
 
 " From the anchor to the needle (adds Mr. Beau- 
 mont) and from the heavieil piece of ordnance 
 to the piilol of the fmallell: calibre, depends upon 
 the operation of coal-fires. All manufadures what- 
 ever owe their importance to the facility with which 
 they procure the article of coal. In fliorr, it is the 
 
 3 O 2 fouM- 
 
47^ Jmpaitlal M^ov^ of 
 
 foundation of all the valuable maiiufadovies in Great 
 Britain, and indifputably the fource of all her wealth, 
 greatnefs, and fafety. 
 
 " To thefe we may add, the national confumption, 
 fo great and fo important, from the greatell cities to 
 the fmalleft hamlets. Population ever increating 
 where fire is to be had with facility and cheapnefs. 
 Here indaftry, ingenuity, and labour of every 
 kind, form fettlements and ellablifli manufacftories, 
 which countries dependent for their fuel cannot pof- 
 iibly efTecl. 
 
 " Even the diftant Britifli fugar colonies are obliged 
 to have recourie to Britain for coals to manufadure 
 their produce ; and the exportation from Britain to 
 the continent of Europe is extenfive. The reve- 
 nue ariling from it to the nation is immenfe, and her 
 nurfery for feamen by that article invaluable to her 
 navy." 
 
 The author fubjoins, " that the prefervation and 
 extenfion of this article muft therefore be of the firft 
 confequence to this country, and confequently the 
 protedion and encouragement of government ought 
 to be expeded to what can be demonftrably pointed 
 out of advantage to the coal trade " 
 
 Mr Beaumont very feelingly points out the pre- 
 fent embarralTmcnt in this valuable traffic ; " the bfles 
 to the coal-owners on the river Tyne and Wear, for 
 ieveral years pall, (many of whom are of the firfl 
 rank and diilindion in the kingdom) whofe influ- 
 ence in benefiting their country will be defeated, if 
 tliev find uniformly a certain lofs by working or 
 opening new mines of coal. 
 
 " The primary caufc of any lofs to the coal trade, 
 arifes from too many mines being open at the fame 
 
 time. 
 
5Se\Kcamc upon ^^nc. 477 
 
 time, and conlequently the receipts cannot anfwer 
 the expences of the works of each. 
 
 " The co.il in the counties of XorthunberlanJ and 
 Bifhoprick lies horizontal in general with a gentle 
 dip and rife, and very free from dykes, or troubles in 
 the metal, but fubject to fire and water, the latter of- 
 ten proving very expenlive. This coal is mixed with 
 a kind of bituminous matter, and impregnated in ge- 
 neral with particles of fulphur ; the former caufing a 
 ftrong adhefion and llrength, the latter giving ad- 
 ditional heat and fpirit to the natural good quality of 
 the coal. Hence the generality of it is excellent for 
 every manufadure and houfe ufe, from its great heat 
 and laft ; and after the coal is burnt, the calcined 
 parts will renew into a Itrong hot fecond fire ; and 
 from thence fome of it into a third : and it is pecu- 
 liarly adapted to the working of metals, by fpeedily 
 lluxing them, which thereby prevents much walle, 
 and, from its heat and (Irength, greatly facilitates 
 the diflillation and liquifying all fubftances requiring 
 that operation ; with the further great advantages of 
 faving time and much wear in the materials : nor in 
 the world is there yet any coal difcovered that will 
 work metals to perfedion, equal with the Britiih.--- 
 Hence the inflruments of war are purchafed from 
 Britain by all nations, and her coal to raanufaclure a 
 part by fome. This quality in the coal, and the dif- 
 ference in the price, with the ingenuity and vvork- 
 manlhip of che artilt, gives their goods the preference 
 at all foreign markets. 
 
 *' The coal in Scotland lies in a very different manner 
 to that in England ; the metals and minerals being 
 in a Hate of confufion unknown to the fout'i of the 
 ifland : it is found and wrougiit in all diredtions, 
 
 from 
 
473 impartial !l)iGor]) of 
 
 from the horizontal to near the perpendicular. From 
 thefe caufes are produced great and unavoidable trou- 
 ble and expence, from the dikes, &.c. which intercept 
 the coal and make it frequently equally difficult as 
 expenfive to regain. 
 
 " The bell Scotch coal, in general, is a ftrong fplint, 
 without much bitumen, and is in part worked in large 
 pieces, that are fold by weight : the round made in 
 the working is fold by meafure, and the fmall, or 
 panwood, is chiefly ufed for falt-pans. They are fe- 
 parated by the collier before he fends them to the 
 furface, into large malTes, and chous, or round and 
 fmall, or panwood. The fineft fplint is a clear burn- 
 ing coal, but confumes faft, from its drynefs, and lay- 
 ing open, from its fize ; which, with the draft of the 
 large chimneys, adds to its fpeedy confumption'' and, 
 as Count Rumford very truly obferves, devours the 
 heat. 
 
 " Yet this clean Scotch coal has come much into ufe 
 in the more opulent families in Scotland ; as alfo at 
 Amfterdam, where they generally lay on one piece at 
 a time, with frugal care. 
 
 " The inferior kinds of Scotch coals make but poor 
 fires ; and even the common people rather buy the 
 larger kinds, than the chous, as they give more lad- 
 ing heat, and fupply for light, in domellic purpofes, 
 inftead of candles. The round fells for feven (hil- 
 lings per ton, and the chous for five Hiillings. 
 
 " The French work coal in different provinces, and 
 in the Netherlands, but the coal of the bed quality 
 France produces is like a mixture of Scotch and 
 Welch coal, burning quick, without any great heat, 
 and foon confumed. Some of it is tranfported down 
 the Scheldt into Holland, and fells, on an average, at 
 
 fifteen 
 
Betocaflle upon Ci)ne. 479 
 
 fifteen fliillings per Nevvcaftle chaldron, under the 
 Englifli coals, and, in times of fcarcity, at more than 
 double that difference. France, with her Nether- 
 lands, receives from England annually twenty thou- 
 fand Newcaftle chaldrons, for the ufe of fmiths and 
 diililleries. 
 
 " The annual demand tranfported into the port of 
 London is found, on an average, to be 760,000 Lon- 
 don chaldrons; and' it is computed that one million 
 is received into the whole of the coalfing ports to- 
 gether." 
 
 Mr Beaumont then propofes a method of working 
 coal fo as to gain many thoufand chaldrons of round 
 or large coal, of which it would be too tedious to 
 give an account. 
 
 It has already been obfervcd, that the annual va- 
 lue of coal carried coaftwife is nearly a million of 
 Newcaftle chaldrons. 
 
 " The different foreign ports receive annually from 
 Britain nearly (fays Mr Beaumont in his excellent 
 Treutife on the Coal-trade publiflied in the year 
 lyyz) the following quantities. 
 
 To the Dutch United Provinces 50,000 
 
 France and Flanders - - 20,000 
 
 Denmark ... - 10,000 
 
 Hamburgh - _ - 10,000 
 
 Sweden and Portugal - - 5 000 
 
 Ruffia, Norway, and other parts 5,000 
 
 100,000 Newcaftle chulds." 
 The fame ingenious author obferves, " that the 
 exportation of coals from Scotland is not at prefent 
 very confiderable ; but by the cutting of an intended 
 canal may be carried round the different fifliing fta- 
 tions in the Weft Highlands, which I can venture to 
 
 fay 
 
48o 3;mpartial fMov}} of 
 
 Cay (he adds) will prove a fource of inexhauftibie 
 wealth to Scotland, and change an uncultivated and 
 xilniofl uninhabited country into a populous, trading, 
 •lucrative and beautiful lituation, formed for it by 
 nature ; art only is wanted to be judicioufly applied. 
 
 " The iron manufadtories at this time eftabhfhed, 
 and by the eafy conveyance of Englifh coal, now 
 duty free, would enrich that country ; and, by mak- 
 ing a new llation for fhips of war at Oban, might be 
 of great fafety and advantage to the Britilh navy. 
 
 " The lands in Xhe Highlands abound in limeflone, 
 which are in great part now lying uncultivated, and 
 apparently, to Urangers, barren, (as obferved in 
 other countries, until coal has been obtained on cafy 
 terms) giving a fcanty meal and cold bed to the 
 quadruped, would foon produce the necelTaries of life, 
 to all the inhabitants, cauiing fuch an intimacy with 
 England -as fhould unite the people by friendship 
 and commercial connections, fo as to make every dif- 
 tinclion ceafe. 
 
 '* It would make Glafgow the great market of Scot- 
 land, and of conicquence one of the richert cities in 
 Britain. The lands around it would greatly increafe 
 in value, and through all the country, by difl'ufmg 
 advantages into every part of the kingdom ; and all 
 tins amazing improvement, wealth, and power may 
 be eflbded by chcrifliing and cultivating the coal- 
 trade. By preventing the wafte in injudiciouHy 
 working this mofl: valuable article, its quantity 
 would be vaflly incrcafed ; as (Mr Beaumont adds 
 with honed exultation) it greatly exceeds in 
 value all mines of gold or precious (tones : thefe 
 create luxury, indolence, effeminacy, and weaknefs 
 of mind and body ; while the former, by their vari- 
 ous 
 
Ji^clDcnClIc upon Cphp. 481 
 
 ous operations immenf;ly exceeding in produd, the 
 Value of fuch mines, by being fundamentally the 
 fource from wliich fprings Britain's wealth, vvi'-h giv- 
 ing employment, and confequently fupport to many 
 millions of people with the bleffings of health and 
 ftrengtii, by induitry and profit to crown their en- 
 deavours." 
 
 This gentleman glances at the impropriety of con- 
 tinuing the tax of one fhilling per chaldron on coals 
 exported from the Tyne, (till of late) veiled in the 
 family of Richmond, now made part of the national 
 revenue, and of not extending it to ail coals fliipped 
 trom thfe other rivers in England, We will fee, how- 
 ever, that as coals is a nccejfary of life, that this im- 
 poll, with the other heavy duties on coals, are impo- 
 litic and opprelfive, and may ultim<ttely deter coal- 
 owners from rifking their capital in digging for this 
 valuable mineral altogether. 
 
 Mr. Beaumont mentions another difcouraging cir-^ 
 cumilance to the coal- owners, which is, that the coal- 
 buyers at London have, by a combination, been able 
 to burden the trade with demanding and obtaining 
 a premium of one fhilling per chaldron. He there- 
 fore concludes, that although the coal-owners on the 
 Tvne and the Wear have formerly made, many of 
 them, fortunes ; yet for a conftant feries of years 
 paft they have been lofers, invariably, by their coals ; 
 adding that it cannot be fuppofed that the owners 
 of the mines, and of the lliipping, will continue to 
 ri(k their capitals for nothing ; and that \\ithouta 
 fpeedy regulation the annual lofs to the coal and 
 (hip owners mull produce a decline of the trade, by 
 the lofs of the owners' properties to fupport it, both 
 in the raifing and tranfporting, and that inevitably 
 
 2 P followed 
 
4B2 Jtnprtial Tptftorj) of 
 
 followed with confequences lerioufly alarming. In-- 
 judicious impolls, and of no confideration in compa- 
 rifon to the advantages that would refult to the na- 
 tion by cherirtiing the coal-trade, are accounted the 
 bane, and will if continued prove the ruin, of this 
 inelVimable branch of commerce, and with it that of 
 all others in this flouriOiing nation. 
 
 We fliall here fubjoin fome remarks of a well-in- 
 formed gentleman on this miportant branch of trade, 
 contained in a fcries of letters addreffed to Mr. Pitt, 
 anno 1793 ; in which the author fubftantiates the 
 inequality, opprellion, and impolicy of the taxes on 
 coals, as alfo of the grant of one Ihilling per chaldron 
 to the duke of Richmond, now made a revenue-tax. 
 
 This author fets out with obferving, that, in no 
 part of the world does this ufeful article conllitute a 
 formidable trade, excepting in Britain, and is inferior 
 to no trade whatever on the fcale of national im- 
 portance. 
 
 To corroborate thefe a&rtions, he gives a detailed 
 enumeration of the perions employed in the diiferent 
 branches of the coal-trade, as exiibng and immediate- 
 ly depending upon the mines of the rivers Tyne and 
 Wear. It will be proper, he adds, to recoiled: that 
 this trade divides itfelf into three leading branches— 
 coal-mining, coal-carrying, and the b u tin efs of un- 
 loading, buying, felling, and dehvering the article in 
 the different fea-ports, coallwife, and particularly in 
 the port of London. We will not follow the author 
 in thefe details; but to fliew the prodigious confe- 
 quence of this fpecies of commerce, he obferves, that 
 the fums expended in materials for boring and link- 
 ing, fuch as wood, iron, ropes, &tc. independent of 
 the money paid for the exclufive privilege of work- 
 ing 
 
BetncaCtie upon ^^m- 48; 
 
 ing collieries, and way-leave rent, amount, in win- 
 ning fome collieries, to upwards of tiiirty thoufand 
 pounds. 
 
 The following ftatement of the number of perfons 
 employed and dependent on the coal- trade, on the 
 rivers Tyne and Wear, in the year 1792, may be de- 
 pended on : 
 
 Upon the Tyne arc employed, under and above 
 ground. 
 
 Men and boys . . . . 6,704 
 
 Fitters, their clerks and runners . . ic;^ 
 Keel-men and boys, coal-boatmen, &c. Ij547 
 Trimmers, ballall-hcavers, &c . i,coo 
 
 Pilots and foymen . . . ,500 
 
 ■ 9'854 
 
 It will require 150,000 tons of (hipping to c;irry 
 500,000 chaldrons of coals to market, which 
 will employ men and boys, including fupernu- 
 merary leameu ..... 8,coo 
 
 Carpenters, ropers, fmiths, Sec. to uphold the keels . too 
 Carpenters, ropers, fmiths, fiiil-makers, mad and 
 block-makeis, bcat-biiilders, &c. to repair the 
 {hipping ■ . . . . . . . 846 
 
 Purveyors neceflJH-y to fupply the keels and {Tiips 
 
 with provifions, and their families with provifions 1,100 
 Coal-fadors, merchants, cl'erks» lightermen, met- 
 ters, bargemen, coal-heavers, cartmen, aftd 
 porters . . . . . . . 2,000 
 
 21,900 
 N. B» Many of thole perlbns liave families de-. . 
 pending on the coal-trade for their Aippurt ; — 
 fuppole them one-fourth part of this number, 
 (and 3 to a family unemployed) will come to' ' 1^,575 
 
 Total on the river Tyne 3 ^'47 5 
 
 A ftatement of the number of perfons employed in 
 the coal-trade upon the river Wear. 
 
 3 P 2 In 
 
484 Impartial 5)iftorp of 
 
 In the feveral collieries above ground, men and beys 3tOOo 
 Above ground, bankmen and carriers, 50 each 100 
 
 Hcap-fhovcllers and wallers .... 2CO 
 
 Above giound — blackfmichs 60, engine and gin- 
 
 wrights 60 . . . ... 120 
 
 Waggon-fmiths 40, waggon and waggon-way- 
 
 Wrights 100 . . . . . . 140 
 
 Viewers 20, overmen and deputies 80 . . 100 
 Agents 30, clerks 20 .... . 40 
 
 Gin-drivers 80, horfe-keepers 40 . . . 120 
 
 Engine-men, brake-men (f©r machines) . . 60 
 Waggon-men 500, creafers for the ways 80 . 580 
 Staithmen 20, off-putters 40 . . . . 60 
 
 Leaders at the feveral flaiths . . . .100 
 
 Total employed above and under ground . .4,620 
 Keelmcn, boys, &c. . . . . . 1,000 
 
 Fitters 60, Clerks J 00 . , . . .160 
 
 Carters, trimmers, ballaftmen, coal-boatmen, &c. 1,200 
 Pilots and foymen . . . . . .100 
 
 Carpenters, fmiths, fail-makers, for 6co keels . 100 
 It will require 106,200 tens of (hipping to carry 
 
 340,000 chaldrons ; which will employ, men 
 
 and boys 5>ioo 
 
 Supernumerary feamen . • . . . 400 
 To uphold and keep the fhipping in repair . 500 
 
 Purveyors, to fupply the keels and ftiips with pro- 
 
 vifions ....... 600 
 
 Coal-merchants, clerks, lightermen, bargemen, &c. 600 
 Total in a(5tual employment . 15,000 
 Many have families depending upon the trade ; — 
 
 fuppofe one-fourth of the above number, viz. 
 
 3,750, and 3 in each family unemployed, in all 1 1,25» 
 
 Total on the river Wear . 26,250 
 Total of tJie number employed and depending") /c^ «2C 
 on the collieries upon the Tyne and Wear j 
 
 This very intelligent writer afllires us that, hap- 
 pily tor niankiod, it is not for want of workable coal 
 that the greateft part of the northern nations fliiver 
 through the long ricjorous feafon of the year. The 
 
 all- 
 
Jl^e^caGlc upon C^ne. 4B5 
 
 all-prolific bowels of the earth teem with inexhauf- 
 tible llores of that valuable fpecies of fuel. He takes 
 a wide range in this inveiligation ; but priacipally 
 confines his obtiervations to our own vicinity, and 
 fays, " I (hall not attempt to give a ftatement of the 
 numerous and extenlive ftrata of coal difcovered in 
 different parts of England, Sea-borne coal is more 
 immediately the fubje(i:t ofthefe letters. To give, 
 therefore, fuch a view as will enable the pubhc to 
 judge, with fome decree of certainty, of the number 
 of years which Great Britain may be in all probability 
 fupplied with coal from the ba^^cs of tlie rivers Tync 
 and Wear, is fufficient for the prefent purpofe. To 
 do this, I lliall, (fays he) firit defcribe the extent of 
 the feamsofcoal, which are worked at prefent ; and 
 next thofe feams which may be worked hereafter. 
 
 *' I fliall make my calculation on general princi- 
 ples, and appeal to the experience and good fenfe of 
 thofe acquainted with thefe mines, on the jullntfs of 
 the following data. 
 
 I. That the feams of coal which are now worked 
 at Newcaftle and Sunderland, are equal to a feam or 
 bed of fifteen miles by twenty miles. 
 
 II. That this feam is at leall four fttt and a half 
 in thicknefs. 
 
 III. One fixth of the above mentioned extent is 
 fufficient for pillars, &c. in the mines. 
 
 IV. It appears by trials made by Dr. Watfon, 
 bifhop of Llandaff, that a cubic yard of coal weighs 
 one ton, or 20 cwts. 
 
 Note, the Newcaflle chaldron fliould be according 
 to a6t of parliament, fifty three hundred weight ; and 
 the London chaldron, may be Hated at twenty-feven 
 hundred weight. 
 
 1 
 
486 Impartial }J)iGorL) of 
 
 I Ihdll next give the annual account of the con- 
 fumprion of coals from the Tyne and the Wear, 
 which may be as follows : 
 
 Chalders. 
 
 The ccnfumption of fea-borne coal in London 1 
 
 1, f 90o,coo 
 
 IS geneially - - - . j 
 
 Coaft-ways at - - - - - 700,000 
 
 The export foreign ccnfumption at - 250,000 
 
 Confumed at Newcaftle, Shields, & Sunderland 4.50,000 
 
 Total of the annual confumption of coals 1 
 ,- , - . *^ }■ 2,300,000 
 
 trom thefe two nvers - - 3 
 
 The number of tons in the above quantity, taking 
 the chalder at 27 c\vt.4s 3,100,000. 
 
 1 have already ftated the authority of Dr. Watfou:, 
 that a ton weight of coals occupies in the earth the 
 fpace of o?ie cubic ya:d. The number therefore of 
 cubic yards of coals confumed annually is 3,100,000, 
 
 The iurfaces of fo many cubic yards in the fquare 
 mile, are 3,007,600. 
 
 Thtte beds or feams of coal are, on an average four 
 feet and a half in thicknefs, which encreafes the 
 above uumber of cubic yards in the fquare mile by 
 one half of the number of fquare yards, to 1,548,000. 
 
 And hence the iquare mile of the bed or feam of 
 coal, I am dcfcribing, contains 
 
 Cubic yards and tons of coal - - 4,645,000 
 
 A dcdudion of one fixth for pillars, &c. 8oo,©oo 
 
 The number of tons in the fquare mile is 3,845,000 
 
 I have, already Rated, that the annual confump- 
 tion of ro^Ls from thefe rivers is 3,100,000 tons. 
 
 It therefore appears that u fquare mile is a fufficient 
 fource of confumption for a year and a quarter. I 
 have already deicribed the length and breadth of 
 thefe feams of coal, as confilling of twenty miles. by- 
 fifteen ; 
 
r5etoca(lle upon Cpnc _ 4^7 
 
 fifteen ; making an area of three hundred fqnare 
 miles, and confequently a fource of confumption for 
 three hundred and feventy five years ; but we ihall 
 ftate it as low as three hundred years. 
 
 The diftricft which I fliall next dcfcribe as a fource 
 of confumption of coals, is that from Shields to 
 Whitehaven, a diftance of fully eighty milps. That 
 all the fpace between thefe towns is full of coal 
 equally gOod, and three times more plentiful than 
 that I have already defcribed, are facls well authen- 
 ticated. 
 
 After a train of curious calculation, the author 
 afferts, that in this new diftrid: there is a flock which 
 will employ the carriers in the coal-trade, and the 
 confumers of fea-borne coal, at the rate of the quan- 
 tity now ufed. and a fourth more, 
 
 During at lead . .... 600 year3 
 
 The diftridl 1 formerly defcribed, at . 300 years 
 
 Thefe two Jidridls . . , 900 years 
 The Irifh fait opening their mines, they may leave 
 at lead one half of the fpace laft-mentioned to be 
 carried along with the Shields and Wearmouth coals ; 
 fo that altogether the fupply of coals from thefe two 
 diftrids, may continue fully Twelve Hundred Tears'* 
 He need fcarcely have added, " Since this is demon- 
 ftrably true, t^he fears of a fcarcity of workable coal 
 are without foundation." 
 
 The gentleman adds, that " cruel would that go- 
 vernment be, that would, with intolerable impotls, 
 deprive mankind of fo rich a fupply of an eiVential 
 neceflury of life, which is prepared for them by the 
 liberal hand of a kind Providence." 
 
 To the obfervations of Mr. Beaumont and of thofa 
 contained in the letters addrefled to Mr. Pitt, we 
 
 (liall 
 
4S3 Jn^patrttal \Mot^ of 
 
 fhall very fhortly lay before our readers the very in- 
 forming remarks on the coaLtrade by Dr. Macnab, 
 and with thefe we fliall conclude our account of this 
 important branch of commerce, which has enriched 
 Newcaftle, and raifed it to that condition of increaf- 
 ing conlequence which it now enjoys. 
 
 The learned reviewers juftiy obferve in the intro- 
 dudion to their ftridlures on Dr. Macnab's pamph- 
 let, " that, in the opinion of that enlightened 
 writer, Dr. Adam Smith, in his Wealth of Nations, 
 foUil coal being a moll eflential article of domeftic 
 commerce, and even a necejfary of life, it is important 
 to have all the circumftances relative to it well un- 
 derftood ; and the writer who ably difcufles this 
 branch of internal trade, may be pronounced to be a 
 contributor to the public we:il." " Dr. Macnab, 
 (they add) appears to us in this light ; and though he 
 may be fufpec^ed of leaning fomewhat to the fide of 
 the coal-owners, he manifefts fuch a real knowledge 
 of the fubjed, that he mud be pcrufed with fatisfac- 
 tion and advantage." The doctor takes a view 
 of both ends of the coal trade, although his prin- 
 cipal objed in view is to reiift, as dangerous, the 
 opening of coal mines in the interior parts of the 
 kingdom for the fupply of the London market; and 
 this he does in a fpacious train of reafoning ; which, 
 however, will not fatisfy every reader's judgment to 
 convidion, of the truth of his pofitions. 
 
 It may not be generally underftood, that the New- 
 caftle chaldron fhould weigh, by ad of parliament, 
 53 cwt. and that 8 of the fe chaldrons are equal to 15 
 London pool chaldrons ; but it is likewife true, that 
 the chaldron ultimately delivered to the confumer is 
 ftill lefs than the chaldron in the pool ; and that this 
 
 confufion 
 
HclDCftflle upon C^>nc. 489 
 
 cnnfiilion in the Life of the term mail open a door to 
 deception and fraud. 
 
 The coal-trade, fays our author, divides itfelFinto 
 three leading branches, viz. coal-mininfr, the crinyino- 
 trade, and the bufinefs of unloading, buying, ielling, 
 and delivering. 
 
 On the fir!l branch he gives this general informa- 
 tion. The fu'nr. expended in boring, finking, drift- 
 ing, purchafrng materials, furh a«. iron, ropes, &c. 
 amount, in common, from fix thoufand to forty thou- 
 fand |X)unds, and upwards, on each colliery. 
 
 Tiiis flatement muft imprefs an idea of the mag- 
 nitude of this trade, which the fubfequent details will 
 confirm. 
 
 By Dr. Macnab's calculations, the number of per- 
 fons employed in, and dependent oji the coal- trade, 
 on the 
 
 River Tyne is " - - - - 38,475 
 
 On die Wear - . - . - 26,250 
 
 64,725 
 There are, fays this author, upwards of fifty col- 
 lieries in the neighbourhood of Newcaftle and Sun- 
 derland, 
 
 The capital employed in which he ftates at 1,030,000 
 In fliipping on the two rivers - - 1,400,000 
 
 The capital employed by the London buyers 700,000 
 
 Total of capital employed - - ;^.3, 130,000 
 
 He boldly aflerts, that the coal -trade alone ex- 
 ceeds the foreign commerce, and in the number of 
 fhips annually difcharged, requires double the num- 
 ber of craft which is found neceiTiry for the whole 
 import and export trade of the river. Two tluAifand 
 one hundred and ninety fix barges, averaging about 
 3 Q^ thirty 
 
49^ Jmpavtial ipiftorj) of 
 
 thirty thrSe tons (amounting in the whole to 72,468 
 tons) are chiefly employed in the coal importation. 
 
 Some times, he adds, about ninety colliers, (coal 
 fhips) each requiring on an average chirteen barges, 
 are difcharged at once ; 1170 coal craft will then be 
 laden with coals in difTerent parts of the pool at the 
 fiime time, while the chief part of the remaining 
 craft, above, and below the bridge, are ufed as floating 
 warehoufes, until the coals can be difpoied of. 
 
 The monthly fupply of coals for the metropolis, is 
 eflimated at 300 cargoes, of 220 chaldrons each, or 
 66,000 chaldrons. It is tiierefore, not unlikely that 
 50,000 chaldrons remain expofed to depredations in 
 open craft in the river, all the year round. 
 
 The defence of the conduct of the coal-owners in 
 entering into a fort of combination, employs a princi- 
 pal (liare of Dr. Macnab's pamphlet, and which he 
 maintains to be as much for the public benefit, as for 
 that of the individuals concerned. It is acknow- 
 .ledged, fays he, that a general agreement had been 
 entered into by the coal-owners to vend only a pro- 
 pijrtionable quantity of coal in a given time, for each 
 colliery ; and the do(5lor contends that it was necef- 
 fary to prop up the coal-trade by fuch a regulation, 
 which though in its complexion it be contrary to 
 law, is good in fpirit, and beneficial in itseffedls. 
 
 To fupport this aflTertion, he quotes the evidence of 
 Nathaniel Clayton, efq. given before the coal commit- 
 tee of the houfe of commons, whofe evidence, he 
 adds, was the mofl; informing, convincing, and clear 
 of all that were given on that momentous bufinefs : 
 For thus Mr. Clayton ftrongly expreflTes himfelf : " I 
 have no doubt that one of the motives which led to 
 this agreement, was the fecuring to the mine adven- 
 turer, 
 
3!3clocaftIc upon €pm. 491 
 
 turer, an adequate profit upon that adventure ; and 
 I am equally clear that the public have been, in 
 the final refult, materially benefited by the operation 
 of the agreement." By this lalt aflertion, Mr. Clay- 
 ton means that collieries have thus been worked, and 
 made to yield a regular fupply, at a legitimate price, 
 which, otherwife mult have been abandoned ; and 
 which, if once loll, could never be relumed. It 
 is indeed obferved by all writers on the fubjed, upon 
 the evidence of the mofl intelligent viewers of collie- 
 ries, that when they are once loft, or abandoned, they 
 feldom or ever are regained. 
 
 ^Having in a fecond pamphlet, refumed this fub- 
 jecfl, he llill maintains, that although there are abun- 
 dance of mines of coal in the internal parts of the 
 country, yet the doctor refills the idea of opening a 
 fupply for London from thefe fources. Nor does he 
 forget the powerful argurnent in favour of the north 
 country coal trade, that it is the great nurfery of the 
 Britifii navy — a confideration which will ever have 
 its weight with the legiflators of theBritifli nation. 
 
 Having now attempted a full and didmcl account 
 of the origin, progreilive improvement, and impor- 
 tance of commerce in coal, we (hall finifh this depart- 
 ment of our hiltory with pointing out the manner of 
 attaining this valuable folTil. And as this has been de- 
 fcribed with great accuracy by the compilers of the 
 Edinburgh Encyclopedia, in their article " Collieries," 
 we fiiall give it in the words of thefe ingenious gen- 
 tlemen. 
 
 Borhij and Jinking. 
 
 The tools of borers are of the fimpleft kind, and 
 
 confill of iron rods, each between three and four feet 
 
 3 0^2 long 
 
492 . 3lnipe?rt!al fpiftorp of 
 
 long, aud about an inch and a half fquare, with a 
 fcrew (a bed and what fits into it) at each end, by 
 which they are united, and lengthened out as the 
 hole increafes in its depth. Tlie chilel is about eigh- 
 teen inches long, and two and a half broad at the end, 
 and is fixed to the loivell of the rods. The upper- 
 mod rod is furniflied with an eye, wherein to infert 
 a piece of timber for an handle for two or more work- 
 men to take hold of at once. Their mode of opera- 
 tion is to lift up the rods a little, and then let them 
 fall again, turning them at the fa ne time gently 
 round : by a continuance of this morion a round hole 
 is fretted and worn by degrees through the hardeft 
 flrata. 
 
 When the chifel is quite blunted, or has cut down 
 four or fix inches, the rods are lifted up, either alto- 
 gether, if theie be convenience, or by pieces, when a 
 key is ufed to keep the rods from dropping down into 
 the hole, they then being either loft, or recoverable 
 only with great labour. Ihe chifel is fcrewed oflf, 
 and the wimple or fcoop put on. This being put 
 down brings up afterwards the duft or pulverifed 
 matter of the Itratum, through which the chifel has 
 cut, and Ihews as well what kind of matter they are 
 boring in as the exadl depth thereof. 
 
 The Ikilful workmen, however, feel eafily, and 
 diftinguifli the forts of Itrata they are upon by the 
 difficulty or facility with which they advance down- 
 wards. The principal part of the borer's art depends 
 on keeping the hole clean, and obferving eveiy varia- 
 tion of the Itrata with care and attention. 
 
 By the witnefs of the rods they know when any 
 feeder of water is pricked, and by their falling down 
 
 as 
 
3i5cb3caGle upon tH^nt. 493 
 
 as it were without any labour, wiien thej are upon 
 an old wafle or colliery that has been wrought before. 
 
 This is an art of the utmoft ufe and impoi,"tance to 
 collieries ; for by boring previouily to the finking of 
 a pit, the owner procures moil eflL-ntial data where- 
 on to proceed, being informed before hand of the 
 nature of the earth, minerals and waters through 
 which he has to pafs, and knowing to an inch or fo 
 how deep his coal lies, as well as its quality, and the 
 thicknefs of the ftratum or bed. The boring notes 
 of collieries are the grand arcana of the coal-trade, 
 and fecrets which the owncis by no means chufe to 
 difcover to the piying eyes o-f the curious phiiofopher. 
 
 No leafe is taken of any ground which has not 
 previouily been explored by boring. The boring be- 
 ing completed, in order to win the coals, they after- 
 wards fink what is called the fliaft of the pit, i. e. 
 the narrow, round, perpendicular pafTage into the 
 mine. 
 
 The inclination or dip of the ftrata is found to hold 
 every where. In fome places it varies very httle 
 from the level ; in others very confiderably ; and in 
 fome fo much as to be nearly in a perpendicular di- 
 redion : but whatever degree of inclination the ftra- 
 ta have to the horizon, if not interrupted by dikes, 
 hitches, or troubles, they are always found to lie in 
 the firlt regular manner mentioned. They generally 
 continue upon one uniform dip until they are broken 
 or difordered by a dike, hitch, or trouble, by which 
 the dip is often altered, fometimes to a different part 
 of the horizon, and often to an oppofirs point; fo 
 that on the fide of a dike, hitch, or trouble, if the 
 ftrata have an eaft dip on the other fide they may 
 have an eafl: rife, whicn is a weft dip ; and in general 
 
 any 
 
494 Jtnpartial ipiftort) of 
 
 any conliderable alteration in the dip is never met 
 with, but whar is occalioned by the circumrtances 
 laft mentioned. 
 
 It is very obfervable, that in fome places near 
 Newcadle upon Tyne there are four different ftrata 
 or feams of coals, one above another, at conliderable 
 diftances. 
 
 The following occurs in the affidavits of viewers 
 1722, Sir Robert Raymond's Report, Walker manor, 
 
 " In Benwell, Elfu ick, and Fenham collieries, there 
 have been before the working thereof certain fcams 
 of coals, called . the upper main coal, the metal coal, 
 the flone coal, and the main coal." 
 
 He win J coal in the pit. 
 
 In the progrefs of hewing the coal from its bed, 
 the hewer firfl; digs as far as he can into the bottom 
 of the ftratum ; then he nooks or corners off the part 
 meafured out, and afterwards the great coals come 
 away by a wedge or mallet. 
 
 The wages of hewers two fhilhngs and eightpence 
 for hewing every fcore or twenty corves of coals. 
 This a good workman can do in one da3\ 
 
 In itiigh feams or ftrata the coals are drawn by 
 horfes from the hewers to the fliaft in the fledges ; in 
 low feams, on trams, pulled by two fmall cords called 
 foams by a boy before, and puflied on at the fame 
 tmie by another boy from behind. The wages of 
 horfe drivers a fliilling per day. 
 
 The overman's office is to go through the pit to 
 view the places where the men have wrought, to 
 fee that the pit is clear of fulphur, &c. His ufual 
 wages ten fliilhngs per week, whether the pits work 
 or not. The 
 
i5etocaSlc upon Cync 495 
 
 The deputy overman fuperintends the pillars of 
 coaTthat are left to fupport the roof of the pit, to fet 
 up props where it is loofe, and threatens 'a fall. His 
 ufual pay nine fliillings per week, whether the pit 
 works or not. 
 
 It is the onfetters bufineis to hang on the corves 
 upon tlie rope to be drawn up the fhaft. Wages 
 one lliilling and two^ience per day. 
 
 Ofhlajls andf^ul ah in coal mines* 
 
 Of the foul or adulterated air, fo often troublefome 
 in colUeries, there are two kinds, the black damp or 
 ftyth, which is of a fufibcating nature; and the. in- 
 flammable or combuftible damp. In whatever part 
 of any colliery a conftant fupply or circulation of 
 frefli air is wanting, there fome of thele damps exift 
 accumulating in a body, and become noxious or fa- 
 tal; and wherever there is a good circulation of frefli 
 air, they cannot accumulate, being mixed with and 
 carried away by the ftream of air as fall as they gene- 
 rate, or exhale from the flrata. Upon thefe princi- 
 ples are founded the ft-veral methods of ventilating- a 
 colliery. If at any time the circulation of the frefli 
 air is not briflc enough, then a large lamp of fire may 
 be placed at the bottom of the pit, which, by rarefy- 
 ing the air there, will make a quicker circulation. 
 
 The following account of the damps is preferved 
 in the Life of Lord Keeper North, and is dated 
 1676 : " Damps or foul air kill infenfibly ; finking 
 another pit, that the air may not ftagnate, is an infal- 
 lible remedy. They are moft in very hot weather. 
 An infalli ble trial is by a dog, and the candles fliew 
 it. They fcem to be heavy fulphureous air, not fit 
 for breath ; and I have heard fome fay, that they 
 
 would 
 
4q6 Impartial iridoii) of 
 
 would fometimes lie in the niidft of a fhaft, and the 
 bottom be clear. The flame of a candle will not 
 kindle them fo foon as the InuiT; but they have been 
 kindled by the linking fire with a tool. 
 
 " The blafl: is mighty violent, but men have been 
 fared by lying flat on their bellies." 
 
 Curious engines and machines for raifmg the coals. ■ 
 
 To prevent the colliery from being overflowed « 
 with water, and confequently loft, large engines, 
 which are worked by the force of fleam upon the 
 trueft principles of pneumatics, are employed. And 
 it is ftjiking to obferve how many tons of water are 
 drawn to the mouth of the pit in a few minutes. 
 The mod ingenious of thefe fleam engines are thofe 
 of an improved conftruction, invented by MeflT. Bol- 
 ton and Watt. 
 
 The machine called a Gin, which raifeth the coals 
 from the pit, is very convenient, and is worked with 
 ftout horfes. The buckets are of ofiers, flrongly 
 bound with iron They contain at leaft twelve hun- 
 dred weight of coal each; and as the one afcends 
 while the other defcends, one of them arrives at the 
 mouth of the ftiaft, or pit. every four minutes. When 
 tlie bucket comes up a Angle man receives it ; and 
 while it is yet fufpended, be places it upon a dray . 
 drawn by one horfe. He then unhooks the bucket, 
 puts an empty one in its place, and conducts the 
 dray to a fpot fomewhat elevated, at a Ihort diflance, 
 and where fome boards are ereded in the form of a 
 ilied. The dufl paflTes through holes while the larger 
 pieces of coal rolling down the inclined plane, fails 
 upon the ground in heaps, on the outflde of it. 
 
 It 
 
JiiJelDcafile upon C]tme. 497 
 
 It might be expeded that it would require a great 
 number of horfes and men to tranl'port the va(t quan- 
 tity of coals dedined for embarkation, and that this 
 toperation would requ're immenfe expence. Bjt art 
 has fupplied the place of horfes, and even rendered 
 them almoll unneccfTary. The following is the fim. 
 pie and ingenious manner in which this ufeful im- 
 provement is effecled. 
 
 Roads, which have nearly an infenfible inclination, 
 are formed with the greaieft cars, and contiiued to 
 the place where the vcft^^^ls are loaded. The length 
 of thefe rords is frequently leveral miles. 
 
 This firft operation being conipleted, two lines ex- 
 actly panillt:^! are traced along the road or way, at the 
 exad: dillance which feparates the wheels of the wag- 
 gon dellined to convey the coal ; logs of hard wood 
 are laid along thefe two parallel lines, firmly fixed 
 in the earth with pins, and their fui face covered, in 
 many places, with plates of iron. The fuperior parts 
 of thefe planks are carefully cut into a kind of mould- 
 ing, which is well rounded, and projeds upwards. 
 The thicknefs of thefe elevated ledges mull: corref- 
 pond with the width of the groove in the waggon- 
 wheels, which are made of catt iron, and hollowed in 
 the manner of a metal pulley. The wheels are com- 
 pletely cafl in one piece, in a mould from which the 
 rim comes out hollowed. 
 
 The moulding is well greafed, and poliflied by 
 continual fri(5lion. Large four-wheeled waggons, 
 containing eighty hundred weightof coal each, move 
 along the inclined plane, by the laws of gravity, 
 fometimes without the help of a fingle horfe, and 
 proceed, in the -rear of each other, until they reach 
 the river. A perfon fits on the fore-part of the wag-- 
 
 3 R goa 
 
49S Impartial pftorp of 
 
 gon, with his foot upon a rtrong piece of wood, called 
 the convoy, and that moves on a piviot, wliich rub- 
 bing on one of tlie wheels, he can encreafe or dimi- 
 nifh the velocity at pleafure, while the horfe dertined 
 to draw back the empty waggon for a frefli cargo, 
 walks behind. When the waggon comes to the trap 
 in the platform of the ftaith, its bottom, by a flroke 
 or two, is opened, when by a funnel it difcharges its 
 contents with great noife and dull into the fliip's 
 hold or keel, placed below to receive their loading. 
 This ingenious contrivance is as expeditious as it is 
 economical, and foon indemnifies the proprietors for 
 money advanced in conftructing thefe ways, over 
 df;ep hollows, levelling heights, and forming them for 
 miles together into an inclined plane. 
 
 In fome other ways no horfes are employed at all, 
 as the declenfion of the loaded waggon towards the 
 river draws up a light one on another direction. This 
 economy and expedition enable the Englifli (fays 
 St. Fond) to export their rich and valuable coals to 
 all the ports ot France and the Mediterranean cheap- 
 er than they can their own coals, three or four mil6$ 
 by land carriage. 
 
 Coke. 
 
 The immenfe quantities of fmall coal, which 
 would prove a nuifance in other countries, is con- 
 verted, by the adive ingenuity of the people of New- 
 caftle, to a valuable purpofe ; and this unfightly 
 mafs of diift is rendered by the adlion of fire into a 
 fubflance refembling charcoal. 
 
 The procefs is fimply this. The coal duft is put 
 into a kind of kiln, which is firft well heated with 
 large pieces of coal. This duft then coagulates and 
 
 rums 
 
J!5elDca(lIc upon Cjtjne. 499 
 
 runs into a mafs, without lofing any thing except its 
 bitumen. When the ignited mafs is completely red, 
 large pieces of it are pulled out with iron rakes and 
 laid on the ground, which they Tcarcely reach before 
 they are cooled and extinguiflied. Thefe pieces are 
 firm, though porous, and are exceedingly well adapt- 
 ed not only fur chamber fires, but, what in this com- 
 mercial country is much more important, for fmelt- 
 ing iron ore in liigh furnaces. This ingenious con- 
 trivance has given birth to feveral new branches of 
 induliry and commerce. 
 
 The coal thus prepared is called in England, Coke; 
 and is ufed in great numbers of manufa(3:ories as a 
 fubftitute for charcoal, to which it is in mort infl inces 
 much fuperior, producmg a ftronger, more equal, 
 and longer continued heat. It faves timber, oak, 
 and other valuable wood. Foreign nations are fup- 
 plied with grindftones, cinders, or coke, all from be- 
 low bridge. 
 
 The induliry of the inhabitants of NewcalUe (fays 
 St. Fond) is lb active, that they turn into fome ufe 
 every object that prefents itfelf. They have even 
 turned into profit the pyrites, or bralles, which injure 
 the quahties of the coal ; and by a lirnple procefs 
 make from them large quantities of vitriol for home 
 and foreign confumption ; but the mode of conduct- 
 ing the procefs is too tedious to detail here ; betides, 
 it is well known to mod of our readers. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES 
 
 In Neivcajlle, and on the banks of the river Tync. 
 
 To a lover of mankind, no object is more pleafing 
 than to behold the induftry of man exercifed in ma- 
 
 nufadories 
 
50O 3:nipertial ipiftorp of 
 
 nufadtories of various kinds. Thefe operations pro- 
 vide for our wants and conveniences, and fupply us 
 with the elegancies ot hfe. Such prodigies of in- 
 duftry, are owing to the united eflforts of men ; they 
 have alfo highly contributed to the expaniion of the 
 powers of the human mind. But before they have 
 arrived at that pitch of perfection to which they have 
 attained, they niuft have palVed through a thoufand 
 effays, and a thoufand obfcurities, which announced, 
 that their progrefs is the fame with that of the hu- 
 man mind, which proceeds by fmall fteps, in the path 
 of difcovery. We likewife fee the manner in which 
 different nations cxercife the fame art, by various 
 proceffes in various operations. But fcarcely any 
 where can the ufeful arts of hfe be feen with more 
 interell, than in the fubjeft of our prefent hiftory. 
 And all this in a great meafure, depending upon the 
 great abundance of excellent coal with which the 
 adjacent country abounds. And although it may be 
 deemed a litrle extraneous, yet as it is a remark from 
 Dr. Franklin, that friend of the whole human race, 
 "we Ihall here infert it. 
 
 That learned man, in a converfation with fome in- 
 telligent Americans, obferved, *' It cannot be 
 doubced that it is owing to the coal-mmes that fuch 
 fcenes of activity and bufinefs every where prefent 
 themfelves to our plealing al\onifhment in Britain. 
 I have travelled mucii in Italy and France ; and 
 when I pafled through the latter country, in the 
 n?.idft of wmter, I oblerved with forrow, that the in- 
 habitants of feveral piovmces were in the greateft 
 dillrefs, on account of the want of fuel. The ef- 
 fedt of cold was fuch, that whole families were obliged 
 to retire to their beds, where they remained in a hate 
 
 of 
 
3l5c\i3came upon ^^m^ 501 
 
 of torpor, unable to labour, and confumed in a few 
 days all their little earnings. 1 need not add that 
 their manufactories languilhed, and the ftrcets were 
 crowded with Ihivering beggars I" 
 
 How dift'crent in England, where their winters are 
 much longer, though lels fevere, than in the north of 
 . France. 
 
 The Englifh peafant, placed befide a good fire, 
 which at once lights and warms his cottage, finds 
 himfelf happy and comfortable. The father prepares 
 his inftruments of hulLandry, for the enfuing fpring ; 
 his fons affid him ; his daughters fpin wool or cotton ; 
 the mother manages the allairs of the family ; and as 
 the blazing fire is kept up during the whole night, 
 their labour is prolonged in defiance of the climate. 
 In their manufadories, whether in town, or in the 
 country, the fame alacrity prevails. The artizan 
 • never fuffers from cold, and is exempt from all the 
 rigours and difeafes of the winter. Thus that feafon, 
 which in other countries is, in gei>€ral, fo fatal to in- 
 duftry, does not diminjlh the labojr of the people of 
 England ; and the neceflliry confequence of a great 
 mafs of population, conftantly employed in purfuits 
 of commerce, and of manufaclures, is an encreafe of 
 wealth, equally advantageous to the ftate, and to in- 
 dividuals. 
 
 Iron manufaclories. 
 Iron, fays Abbe Raynal, is the moll ufeful of all 
 metals. Gold and filver are valuable as a circulating 
 medium, and reprefent the imaginary value of the 
 neceflaries of life ; but iron cultivates the ground, and 
 arms the hand of the artift to procure the n for the 
 ufe of man. Our furpiize will therefore be ie(lI:.iL^d, 
 
 when 
 
502 Impartial Ipiftory of 
 
 when Cook, and other voyagers, inform us, of the 
 avidity with which the illandeis of Otaheite, and 
 others in the Soutl ern Ocean, purchafed a knife, and 
 chiefly an axe, at tlie expence of many hogs, after 
 they became acquainted with the various ufes of that 
 implement. Numerous are the iron woiks in New- 
 callle and its vicinity. We ftiall begin with the iron 
 and ftetl manufactory in Swalwell, about four miles 
 above that town. 
 
 This is the greateft on the whole extent of the 
 Tyne, and is a ftriking proof of what the genius of 
 of one man can effect in a free country. The name 
 of this wonderful character, was Ambrofe Crowley. 
 From the condition of a common blackfmith, he, by 
 the vigour of his mind, planned and executed the 
 moft furprizing inventions for hammering, flitting, 
 and in a word converting iron and fteel into all forms, 
 and uteful implements, whether for the field or the ' 
 manufadury. In Swalwell, Winlaton, and feveral 
 towns, all reared by Mr. Crowley, are made by many 
 hundreds of Imiths, all the tools for hulbandry for our 
 Welt Indies, mattocks,, admirable ipades, hoes, &c. 
 Here, in huge furnaces, are formed anchors of vafl 
 fize, chains of prodigious magnitude for our fliips of 
 war, Eafl Indiamen, and all Europe ; while ufeful 
 impienients of houfehold furniture are here glancing 
 to the adoniflied fight of the curious Itranger, who 
 TiCvcr fails to vilit thofe vaft and furprizing works of 
 invtntion and uiefulnels. 
 
 But the genius of Mr. Crowley extended to the 
 knowledge of man as well as to that of metals, and of 
 the mechanic powers to transform the lafl ; he well 
 knew, that a number of men, working over fierce, 
 huge fires, which naturally inflame their blood, and 
 
 occafion 
 
55claca!ile upon Cinie. 50; 
 
 occafion a kind of impatience, and ferocity of tem- 
 per, upon little provocation would be inclined to dif- 
 cord, and quarrels. To prevent which this difcern- 
 ing man drew up himfelf a code of regulations for the 
 conduct of all his people, planned with fuch wifdom, 
 as would do honour to the mod enlightened iegifla- 
 tors, and, which he rigouroufly made to beobferved. 
 He knew that religion of all other means is the bell 
 calculated to civilize the mind, and upon the bell 
 principles to be obedient and fubmiilive to their fu- 
 periors, who wifli to promote their befl: interefts. He 
 therefore built a handfome chapel, and gave a clergy- 
 man a decent fallary for performing the facred duties 
 of religion among his numerous and ingenious artifts. 
 To this he endowed a free fchool for the education of 
 their children. He likewife built an aflylum in the 
 form of a fquare to ferve as a quiet retreat for his 
 aged fervants, with an allowance to make their lives 
 eafy, when not able to ply the thundering hammer, 
 or to turn the hiffing brand no more. 
 
 Thefe admirable regulations, which ftill exift, are 
 attended with the moft falutary effecfls. Every man, 
 (or at lead: many) has a fliop and tools allowed him, 
 by himfelf, as he works fo he gains ; and as the 
 rules hang over him, if he wilfully tranfgrefles them, 
 every thing is concluded with fuch order and regula- 
 rity that is feldom to be found among fuch a vail 
 body of adtive and vigorous men. Their earnings, are 
 various ; but as every man is confined to one branch, 
 they, in general, acquire fuch a facility and expedi- 
 tion in their relpedive departments, that, it is faid, 
 they can, with eafe, earn from one to two guineas, 
 and fome three a-week ; befides which, they all have 
 a convenient houfe, plenty of fire-coal, and a fmall 
 
 plot 
 
504 Jinpt^i'f^a^ r;lfiorp of 
 
 plot of ground for a garden^ which they cultivate 
 with Angular neatnefs; 
 
 The iron imported from Sweden, America, Sf-c. is 
 faid, by the fingular addrefs of the great founder of 
 thefe works, to come to Swalwell free of water and 
 other corpjoration dues, as Mr. Crowley was not a 
 freemen, and fo was liable to pay them. However 
 that be, we find in the common-council books of 
 Neu'callle, dated July 23, 1G94, mention made of 
 Crowley's factory, in Swalwell ; in which Mr Am- 
 brofe Crowley agreed to pay the corporation of New- 
 c.iftle fix pounds thirteen ihillings and fourpence per 
 annum, for his exemption from toll, and other privi- 
 leges, concerning the management of that factory. 
 
 The goods manufactured at Swalwell are conveyed 
 to London in ihips belonging to the company, and 
 are depofited in large warehouies, from whence thofe 
 for the ufe of government s.re conveyed to the dock- 
 yards, others to the Ealt and Weft-Indies, and to 
 moft parts of the world. The time of war is the 
 golden feafon to this opulent manufactory ; and in 
 no former war did the proprietors reap more advan- 
 tage than in that now terminated. During the late 
 years of real, and not a little of artificial fcarcity, the 
 proprietors allowed their fervants rye meal, flour, &c. 
 at a very reduced price. 
 
 We have been the more full in our account of 
 this important manufatftory, as it is ingenious m the 
 contrivance of all its parts, highly favoured by its 
 local fituation for water to drive the huge wheels, and 
 abundance of cheap coals to fupply their numerous 
 furnaces. 
 
 Nearly oppofits to Swalwell, is the pleafant vil-' 
 • lagc of Lemniington. It is fituated in a peninfula, 
 
 the 
 
Bclncnillc tipon E).m. 505 
 
 the river from Newburn taking firlt a diredion ibuth- 
 eaft, returns again, after pafliiig Stella, nearly north- 
 weft, forming the peninfula we now mentioned. It 
 is here that laft year was ereded a foundery for caft- 
 iron, and extrading it, by the adion of fire, in 
 large furnaces, from iron-ftone. 
 
 The company are of the lirft refpedability, and it 
 is faid have embarked in the enterpri/.e above an 
 hundred thoufand pounds. To fecure ut all times a 
 fufficient quantity of iron-ftone, they -have not only 
 engaged ground in various parts which abound with 
 it, but they have alfo purcbaled, it is faid, an ellate 
 in Yorkfhire, near Robinhood's Bay, which contains 
 vaft quantities of iron-ftone of the very beft quality, 
 from which they exped to extrad: iron and fteel per- 
 fedly malleable and dudile ; fo as not only to ferve 
 all the iron forges and manut'adories in that valuable 
 metal at Swahvell, New Greenwich, and all others 
 on the river, but to export large quantities. 
 
 It is faid tliat the proprietors intend, upon the 
 plan of the Carron manufadory, to extend theirs 
 to every branch of hammered work, from an an- 
 chor to a needle, as they find the fmelted metal fa- 
 vourable for their undertaking. Nor would we at 
 all wonder if gentlemen, fuch as MefPrs Fiftiwick, 
 Giblbn, &-c. of fo much profeffional knowledge, 
 fhould fucceed in a defign fo extenfive, and we hope 
 fo beneficial to themfelves and the country at 
 large. Every circumftance is inviting, and the fitu- 
 ation is particularly friendly to fuccefs. A.bundance 
 of coal, a fine navigable river, the Tyne, wafliing 
 the walls of the works, which not only ferves now at 
 fmall expence to tranfport their ftone from York- 
 
 2 S O^ire 
 
5c6 Impartial 5)iftorp of 
 
 fhire in a floop, but will, at an eafy rate carry their 
 manufactured goods to London, And fhould the in- 
 tended canal (which with joy we hear is in agitation 
 afrefh fince the peace) be etTecled, Lemmington may 
 prove one of the mod lively and wealtliy manufafta- 
 ring towns in the north of England. 
 
 So many works of great extent and magnitude, in 
 and about Newcaftle, require machinery luitable to 
 tiieir operation whether above, or below the ground. 
 Accordingly, we find many founderies for call-iron, 
 and large manufactories for working iron witii the 
 hammer. 
 
 At Skinner-burn, below the infirmary, there is a 
 large foundery for caft.iron, principally for fupplying 
 the collieries with machines, for carrying oil the wa- 
 ter from the feams of coal, and for other important 
 purpofes in this principal branch of commerce. Can- 
 non of large calibre are call here for the ule of govern- 
 ment, and for exportation. This is the property of 
 MefTrs Whinfield and Co. 
 
 There is alfo another foundery for cafl-iron in the 
 Clofe, belonging to MelTrs Cookfon and Co. 
 
 In Sandgate, at the Swerle, is a foundery for caft- 
 iron carried on by Melius Moffat and Co. where much 
 buiinefs is done in that branch. 
 
 At Bufy Cottage, about a mile up the Oufe-bourn, 
 is a large manufactory for call and hammered iron, 
 the property of Mr. Malin Sorfbie. 
 
 In Pipewellgate are two extenfive founderies of 
 the fame kind, where cylinders, wheels. gcC and nu- 
 merous other branches of this kind of manufacture 
 are done ; the wefternmoft the property of Mr. Whin- 
 field ; that towards the bridge belongs to Mr. Har- 
 rifon. 
 
 Further 
 
Be^jocaflle upon ^pnt. 5^7 
 
 Further down, at New Greenwich, there is a very- 
 large and extenlive call-iron work, where great quan- 
 tities of cannon, mortars, balls, &c. for the ufe of go- 
 vernment are made, employing a great number of 
 hands, tiie property of MeflTis Hawkes and Co. 
 Another of the fame kind, further down the fame fide 
 ot the river, is the property of Mr. Hawkes, junior. 
 
 The manufatl(jries for hammered iron, in Newcaf- 
 tle and its vicinity, are numerous, and feme of them 
 extenfive. MelTrs Hawkes and Co. employ, next to 
 that in Swalwell the grcateil number of hands. 
 
 Numerous workmen are employed in fabricating 
 with the hammer, large anchors, chains, bolrs, fpades, 
 picks, &c. at the head of the Bottle-bank, GateQicad, 
 by MelTrs Hawkes and Co. in Hillgate by Mr William 
 Row, at the Milk market, in Sandgate, and at the 
 Oufeb-urn bridge. 
 
 The plenty and chenpnefs of fmall coal, by which 
 the furnaces are ahnoif conllantly kept heated, greatly 
 contribute to enable the nu;nerous manufacturers to 
 carry on their various branches with expedition, and 
 to great advantage, both to themfelves and to the 
 public. Should the new and exrenlive manufadlory 
 at Lemmington for extracting malleable iron from 
 iron- ore fucceed, and fupply the numerous forges on 
 the Tyne, vail funis of money will be faved, which 
 are laid out on bar iron from America, Sweden, Rul- 
 lia, and other foreign countries. 
 
 Lead JVorks. 
 
 The fubleq\ient account of the lead exported from 
 
 the port of Tyne, on an average of fix years, was 
 
 taken by the comptroller of this port, the accuracy ot 
 
 which maybe depended upon. 
 
 To 
 
5^8 7nn^;.ntial JDiftoi-p of 
 
 To London, and other ports of Great-Critain, 76,800 pieces 
 To foreign parts . . , . , 17.520 
 
 Total . . . . 94,300 pieces^ 
 
 Weight, at i cwt. 2 qrs. per piece, 7,072 tons and a half. 
 
 This valuable mineral, lead, is, by the ingenuity of 
 the people here converted into many ufetul branches 
 of trade. Weft from Skinner-bourn is a manufadory 
 for making white-lead, one of the moft: extenfive 
 north of London; and where there was not a finole 
 hut before the commencement of this rich and ad- 
 vantageous raanufaclory, by the conftant acceflion of 
 new buildings, it has now the appearance of a confi- 
 derable village. Here, by chemical procefs, vaft 
 quantities of lead are converted into white and red 
 lead, fo ufeful in forming the bafis of paints, Thefe 
 are molfly fent to London, to the great emolument of 
 the proprietors, Mcllrs. Walkers, Ward, and Co. 
 
 At the firfl: ellabliflmient of this manufaclory it 
 was faid, '' that the lead of the weft country was too 
 10ft;" but -the London manufacturers fay, that "it 
 cannot be too loft." Would it not be a curious fub- 
 jed: of enquiry, whether policy or a real want of 
 knowledge in that buftnefs, didlated the afl'ertion .^— 
 Indeed, inch an enquiry might with eafe be transfer- 
 red to many others. It might be given as a reafon 
 for the philofophic inveftigator of manufiidlories be- 
 ing io frequently infulted with " No admittance here 
 v;ithout leave," that he might alk queftions which 
 v.uuld difcover — not the knowledge, but— -the igno- 
 
 :nce of the proprieiors. 
 The procefs of making white lead, as it is little 
 
 nown, we ftiall give a flight fketch of from the memo- 
 _■ ndums ti 1 friend who vifitcd the works of Mefll's. 
 :, mcafter, Bax, and Ellil, in Southwark, about fix 
 ;^ iars ago. From 
 
jSelocaftlc upon C^nc. 509 
 
 From thele remarks we are led to believe, that the 
 firft operation is melting the blue lead into a cafe or 
 mould, nearly two feet long- and five inches broad, 
 and lb thin, that it may with convenience roll intu 
 a round roll, and thus to be placed in the pot for the 
 blue beds : near a jill of vinegar is poured into eacli 
 of theie pots ; they are made in the middle with apro- 
 jedion,on which the roll is put, and about it another 
 piece of llieet lead, near one foot acrofs ; upon this 
 boards are placed, above them horfe-dung, and this 
 is continued, layer upon layer, until they have arrived 
 at the dellincd height. (We believe a patent has 
 been obtained by one of the companies, merely for 
 mixing oak bark with the dung I) Thefe llrata con- 
 tinue covered for about three months, when the 
 boards, on being removed, have the appearance of a 
 ftrong corrofion, from the acid fleams that have 
 efcaped the lead : by this time a thick white-colour- 
 ed incrullation has taken place, when the pieces are 
 thrown together into a large receiver full of water, 
 and about two-thirds up, a partition running acrofs, 
 with holes in it : a workman then, with a large pole, 
 and a llrong head annexed to it, dirs, beats, and breaks 
 them ; by which means the corroded lead divides 
 and falls to the bottom of the receiver* : the blue lead 
 is taken away, melted, and undergoes again the above 
 operations. The white fiib. lance is now taken to the 
 mill and ground in the rough ; it is done in a horfe- 
 niill, with four horfes : (here it is done with a fire- 
 engine) : 
 
 * The introdiivflion of water here, was h very great improve- 
 ment for the health of the people employed in the works : for- 
 merly it was done dry, and the lead dull got upon their lungs. — 
 From the peculiar deleterioufnefs of this metal, in any (hape, few 
 then lived beyond forty. 
 
;to Impartial Ipidorg of 
 
 eiiginej the immediate adt of grindir.g is condudled 
 b_v eight large peftle-Iike pieces of metal rolling in 
 mortars, (as the fnuff'is ground at the Lcazes). 
 
 MelTrs Lancafter and Co. fend mod of their mann- 
 faclured lead to the Weft Indies, and their eredion 
 colt about 15,000!. 
 
 The blue beds are fo called from the lead being 
 liere put in its blue ftate. It was dried, not in ftoves, 
 but as the colour-manufaclurers dry their goods in 
 this town ; the balls or lumps are placed on flielves, 
 open to the a6lion of the air ; in which ftate it was 
 worth about eightpence per pound wholefale. 
 
 Thefe gentlemen brewed their own vinegar ; and 
 were particular in their declaration, that " the fofter 
 the lead the better.' 
 
 At the weft end of the buildings of the white lead 
 manufaclory, is a round tower, coniifting of feveral 
 ilories, and two hundred feet in height. Strangers in 
 paffing along the bridge, in viewing this lofty column 
 are puzzled in their conjectures for what purpofe it 
 has been erecfled ; and probably content themfelves 
 with thinking that it has been buik in commemora- 
 tion of fome particular perfon, or of fome Angular 
 event. But a commercial people, like thofe of New- 
 caftle, know better how to lay out their money, and 
 on foincthing that will bring it in again with advan- 
 tage. 
 
 This tower is erccled for the purpofe of making- 
 lead fhot, which, by falling from fuch a height, 
 forms it jjerfcclly globular. As it was built at the 
 expence of many hundred pounds, and anfwers the 
 expectations of the proprietors, an exclufive patent 
 was obtained, prohibiting a fimilar erection, for a li- 
 mited time. But patent rights are often eluded ; 
 
 and 
 
i^elocaftle upon Cpne. 511 
 
 and fo was the cafe here ; for it is faid that another 
 company have, at the twentieth part of the expence, 
 found a mode of cafting fliot equally good, if not by 
 a fimilar erection, yet, which anfwers equally well, 
 by dropping the melted fliot down an old coal pit, 
 fitted up for the purpofe. To decide whether this is 
 an infringement on the primary* invention, may af- 
 ford fome amufemenc, along with fame guineas, to 
 the gentlemen of the long robe. 
 
 But although this be the moil extenfive, it is not 
 the only lead work in or about Newcaftie. Meflrs 
 Hind and Co. have one of a fimilar kind on Oufe- 
 bourn ; another belongs to Mefl^. Hopper and Monk- 
 houfe ; a third to Chrillopher Blackett, efq. a fourth 
 to John Erafmus Blackett, efq. a fifth to MeflTrs 
 Eallerby, Hall, and Co. at Bill-quay. At all thefe, 
 moftly new ereclions, much bufinefs is done, where, 
 belides white and red lead being made, litharge, (that 
 holds a dillinguifhed place in the Materia Medica), is 
 alfo prepared. 
 
 Dry Colour Manufa^ories. 
 
 There are feveral of thefe in Newcaftie and on the 
 banks of the Tyne. At Paradife, Mefirs Gibfon and 
 Co. have a very extenfive one : there is one at Oufe- 
 bourn, where very large quantities of colours are ma- 
 nufadtured both for home confumption and for ex- 
 portation. 
 
 The numerous colour- works are the property of 
 Mefifi-s Walkers, Ward, and Co. of Meflrs Hind and 
 James, of Campbell and Gibfon, and of MeflT. Brown 
 and Co. 
 
 Refineries, 
 
5'2 Jmpartial fMot]) of 
 
 Reji/iefies. 
 
 There are two of thefe, for extrading gold and fil- 
 ver from the cinders ufed in furnaces of the workers 
 in thefe precious metals, and alfo from their old cru- 
 cibles ; one at the Felling-fliore, the property of Mr. 
 Crawford ; and another at Bill-quay, the property of 
 Meffrs. Surtees and Hall. 
 
 Thefe rude materials are purcliafed in England, 
 Holland, and France. It is remarkable, (fays St. 
 Fond) that the cinders brought for this purpofe from 
 France are fuch as have already pafTed through the 
 hands of the refiners in that country, who ufe only 
 waOiing, and other imperfect procelTes, by which 
 means they recover only part of the gold and filver. 
 In Newcaftle, however, he adds, the abundance and 
 cheapnefs of coal enables the manufacturer to extract 
 gold and filver by fulion, in reverberating furnaces, 
 which are very ingenioully contrived. In that of 
 Mr. D. Crawford, fays the fame ingenious philofopher, 
 I faw, with much intereft, other furnaces for the re- 
 vivification of the calx of lead and copper. He pro- 
 cures the materials for this operation from different 
 parts of Europe, by purchaiing old lead pipes, which 
 have remained long under ground, copper which has 
 been corroded, and old cannon. 
 
 Bars of gold and filver, of great weight and value, 
 have been extracted by thefe powerful furnaces, from 
 the fweepings of filver and gold manufactories in 
 Holland, France, Flanders, and Germany. 
 
 Glqfs Works. 
 Thefe, next to the coal-trade, are the richefl branch 
 of the trade of Newcaftle ; as the duty to govern- 
 ment. 
 
BeUicfiftlc upon CjLmc. 5^3 
 
 ment, from glals alone, is leckoned at 140000!. per 
 annum. As this branch is of fuch confcquence, not 
 only to this town, but to all nations, we reqiieft the 
 permiflion of our readers to lay before them a few 
 obfervations on this ing;enious uivention. 
 
 This great proof of human ingenuity feems to 
 have been impeifedly known to the ancients. 
 It is curious to obferve, in facred writ, that upon 
 condruding the various apparatus of the taber- 
 nacle, the laver, for different ablutions, was formed 
 of the brazen looking-glalfes prefented by the Ifrael- 
 itifli women for this facred purpofe. By this it is 
 evident, that, as they brought thefe with them from 
 Egypt, there were no other mirrors ufed at that re- 
 mote period, even in Egypt, the nurfery of arts to 
 the relt of the world. 
 
 Glafs takes the fmootheft polifh of all other fur- 
 faces ; of it are formed the pureft drinking glafles, 
 and, above all, it is the molt tranlparent medium by 
 which light is conveyed into our dwellings. 
 
 Glafs-makers are faid to have been firft brought 
 from France into England A. D. 674, on the build- 
 ing of the new abbey of Wearmouth, a few miles 
 diltant from the river Tyne, The hner kinds of 
 glafles were firil manufactured at Crutched-Friars, in 
 London, A. D. 1557. The fine flint- glafs, little in- 
 ferior to that of Venice, was firft: made in the Savov- 
 houfe, in the Strand, London ; and the firfl glafs. 
 plates, for looking-glaffes and coach. glalfes, were ■ 
 made at Lambeth, by the encouragement of the duke 
 of Buckingiiam, in the year 1673. 
 
 It feems probable, that glafs-works were firft 
 ered:ed upon the river Tyne about the year 161Q, 
 where they were eftabliflied by Sir Robert Manfell, 
 
 3 T knight, 
 
514 Impartial fpifiori) of 
 
 knight, vice-admiral of England. The cheapnefs of 
 coal at this place is given as the reafon that chiefly 
 induced him to ercd them at fo great a diftance from 
 London. 
 
 The furious bigotry of Philip king of Spain in the 
 15th century, by which, and by the bloody perfecu- 
 tion of the inhuman duke of Alva, the Netherlands 
 were bereft of their moft virtuous and opulent citi- 
 zens ; and multitudes of the nioit ingenious artills of 
 thefe rich and flourilhing countries tied to other do- 
 minions, carrying their curious and ufeful arts along 
 with them. Queen Elizibeth fully knew how to 
 appreciate fuch a valuable ucquilition, and not only 
 afforded thefe virtuous exiles an afylum in her do- 
 minions, but gav;e them every kind of encourage- 
 ment which could render them comfortable and 
 happy. 
 
 It is remarkable that the three leading names of 
 thefe ingenious glafsmakers are the Henzels, Tyzacks, 
 and Titcroys, the latter of which is now extiniSt ; 
 but the Henzels and Tyzacks ftill continue to pre- 
 lide over the working part. " Indeed, fays Mr. 
 Brand, they will admit none of any other name to 
 work with them." Very few of the Tyzacks are now 
 left, and almoft every name may be found in thefe 
 works at prefent. 
 
 In the regifter of baptifms of All.Saints, to which 
 parifli they belong, we frequently find them giving 
 their children the name of Peregrine; reminding 
 them that they were wanderers by violence from 
 their native land, and that now they fojourned in a 
 lU'ange country. 
 
 What is called the Mufliroom, the fite of the firft 
 glafs-houfes in Newcaftle, is (by the records of the 
 
 common- 
 
f5eVDcaaic upon Cj^nc. 515 
 
 common-council books) laid to be a parcel of ground 
 at St. Lawrence Shore, containing in length 150 
 yards, or thereabouts, and 90 yards in breadth, at the 
 yearly rent of ten pounds, and the toll of the two 
 glafs-houfes, now built on the fiitl fliore be alio let 
 unto faid Edward Harris for the term of twenty-one 
 years at the yearly rent ot" fifteen pounds for each 
 glafs.houfe. A. D. 1646. 
 
 September 21, i6;y, tiiere was an order of com- 
 mon.council to grant a Icafe to. Jacob Henzel, Wil- 
 liam Tizake, and Daniel rittery, of the wellern 
 glafs-houfes, at a fixed rent, and that faid parties bind 
 themfelves to furnifli the glaziers and inhabitants 
 with glafs at a certain rate. 
 
 A. D. 1710 mention occurs of a glafs-houfe at th*^- 
 Clofe-gate. 
 
 A. D. I 737. The following additional glafs-houfes 
 are mentioned in the common-council books. 
 " Broad glafs-houfes, called liowden and South 
 Shields glafs-houfes ; the bottle-houfes, called Clofe- 
 gate bottle-houfes, AVeflern bottle-houfe, St. Law- 
 rence bottle-houfe, Bill-quay bottle-houfe ; and the 
 flmt glafs-houfe at the Clofe-gate." 
 
 There appears to have been conflautly and fully 
 employed on the river Tyne A. D« 1772, fixreen 
 large glafs-works, viz- one for plate gla/s ; three 
 crown glafs-houfes ; live for broad or common win- 
 dow-glafs ; two for white or flint glafs, and live 
 bottle-houfes. The glafs manufactured in thefe is 
 fent to molt parts of the world. 
 
 Since their firft niltitution, thefe glafs-works have 
 been wonderfully improved. Viewing the glafs- 
 ware-houfes in the Clofe, the eye is (truck in behold- 
 ing vait piles and arrangements of beautiful vafes of 
 3 T 2 cryftal, 
 
51^ Jmparttal 5)ifl:oi*p of 
 
 cryftal, or white glafs, luftres, &c. The artifts who 
 have ferved their apprenticefhips at this bufinefs, earu 
 two or three guineas a week with eafe. 
 
 Thefe ingenious inventions, lb numerous on the 
 Tyne, from L"::mmington to South Shields, ftrike all 
 ftrangers ; and certainly the expeditious operations 
 of thefe artifts arj aniongft the moll interefting ob- 
 jects to be feen at Newcaftle. 
 
 " We faw," fays the French philofopher St. Fond, 
 " feveral glafs-houfes at this flourifliing place, where 
 window glafs, bottles, decanters, drinking glafles, &c. 
 are made. All threfe manufactories, though eflablifhed 
 in buildings of a mean appearance, are managed with 
 a limplicity and econoniy vvhich cannot be too much 
 praifed. 
 
 " This modelt fimplicity is of great advantage to the 
 country. It encourages adtive and induftrious men 
 to embark in trade, who would otherwife be unwil- 
 ling to form large eftablifliments, being alarmed by 
 the expences, which extenfive works require, when 
 conftrudted on a magnificent fcale. 
 
 " It is a tafte for pomp and grandeur which almoll 
 always rums the manufactures of France, and pre- 
 vents thefe new ones which we want from being 
 eftabliflied. Men are afraid to involve themfelves in 
 ruinous expences for mere warehoufes and work- 
 lliops. 
 
 " it muft be acknowledged that the Englifh and 
 Dutch, are more prudent, and exhibit examples this 
 way, which we ought to imitate. Splendid and 
 expenfive arc^^itefturc is the bane of eftablilhments 
 of this kind." Thus St. Fond expreffes his fenti- 
 ments on the Newcaftle glafs-houfes with vvhich we 
 Ihall conclude this branch of trade. 
 
 We 
 
i1}e\j3caGle upon C^ne. 517 
 
 We have only to add, that thefe extenfive works 
 are carried on by Sir Matthew White Ridley and 
 Co. Catherine Henzell and Co. J. Shortridge and 
 Co. Cookfon and Co. feveral houles are the property 
 of this laft opulent and long eftabliihed co.npany. 
 
 Potteries. 
 
 StafFordfhire has long carried the palm for the 
 manufadure of the mod beautiful pottery ware, forrle 
 of which arrive near the perfedtion of china, or porce- 
 lain. In the hiftory of the ufeful arts, that of the 
 potter feems of great antiquity ; and irs practice is 
 probably coeval with the ejcillence of mankind. 
 
 A very extenfive manufadory of pottery- ware is 
 carried on by Mr. Warburton, at Warburton- place, 
 two miles fouth of NewcalUe ; where large orders 
 to molt parts of the kingdom are executed, and fo- 
 reign countries fupplied with every kind ot earthen- 
 ware. 
 
 Meffrs. Head and Dalton carry on a limilar con- 
 cern, and MefTrs. Addifon and Falconar have another, 
 at Skinner-bourn. 
 
 Mr Yelloley has an extenfive manufaclory of this 
 kind at the Oufe-bourn, where vail: quantities of eve- 
 ry fpecies of pottery-work is executed. 
 
 Another pottery, fimilar to thofe mentioned, is 
 carried on by Mr. C. F. Jackfon. 
 
 Roperies. 
 
 In a trading-town, like Newcaftle, which employs 
 ^0 much {hipping, ropes, cordage, twine, &c. form a 
 material article of trade. 
 
 A ropery, for manufacturing cables for fliips, cor- 
 dage, &c. is carried on by Mr. John Walker, another 
 
 by 
 
51 s :jinpaitial M^ov]} of 
 
 by Mr. Linlkill, a third by Mr. Robert Green ; and 
 a Jarge one, at Hovvdon, by Mellrs. Hurry. But 
 that which is of the greateft extent, and does moil 
 bulinefs in rope-making, is the patent fleam-ropery, 
 by the Meflrs. Chapmans, at WilUngton, a mile above 
 Howdon-dock. 
 
 Another ropery belongs to Mr. Thomas Smith. 
 
 Anthony Hood, efq. and Co. have a large ropery, 
 where the cords for forming the cables are fpun upon 
 the new plan, much ftronger and fmoother than thofe 
 by hand. 
 
 Another ropery belongs to Mr Henry Cramlington, 
 and another to Meffrs. Atkinfon and Rutherford. 
 
 There are alfo a number of manufadurers of fliop- 
 cord, twine, &c. &.c. 
 
 There are feveral failcloth-manufadories, belong- 
 ing to Meflrs. Jvidds, Harrifon, &c. in this town. 
 
 Grindjlones. 
 
 GrincTlone-quarries are numerous in the Fell, on 
 the fouth-fide of the Tyne. Vafl: quantities are made 
 from thefe quarries : and although Swalwell great 
 ironrworks employ very many for fliarpening the 
 fpacles, hoes, pick-hacks, &:c. that are intended for 
 exportation, yet thefe bear a fmall proportion to the 
 quantity of grindltones that are fliipped for Denmark, 
 
 Norway, Sweden, and other foreign countries. 
 
 Stones of a foft texture, for the furnaces in Sweden, 
 are alfo exported from the Felling-fliore, &-c. Info- 
 itiuch that " a Newcaflle grindllone being found all 
 over the world,'' is a proverbial exprellion. 
 
 Whale- Oil ManufaSlories. 
 Of late years this lucrative branch has been on the 
 decline ; though feveral fliips, for fome feafons part, 
 
 have 
 
5i5ctocaftle upon UZvnz. 5^9 
 
 have returned full. The produce of the blubber, 
 fins, and fpermaceti, of this huge aquatic animal, by 
 the induftry of the manufadlurers in Nevvcallle, are 
 converted to many valuable purpofes, and were for- 
 merly more advantageous to the adventurers in this 
 branch of traffic than at prefent. And although the 
 operation is attended with a very rancid fmell, 
 yet the advantage attending the bufinefs has been 
 confiderable to the people employed. 
 
 Coal-Tar. 
 
 Extradling of tar from coal, for overlaying fliips, 
 in place of the Norway and other foreign tar, had 
 been in fpeculation for many years in this country ; 
 yet, we believe, the prefent ingenious Lord Dundo- 
 nald was the firfl who offered it to the public as an 
 article of traffic. It is now very much in ufe, efpe- 
 cially for fliips deflined for long voyages in warm cli- 
 mates; where the remora, or fucking-fidi, by Itrik- 
 ing the fliip, often proves fatal to both men and vef- 
 fels. It is faid, that (liips payed over with coal-tar 
 are rendered proof againft the perforations of that 
 animal. 
 
 A dillillery for coal-tar, at St. Peter's quay, is con- 
 duced by Meffrs. Row, Humble, and King. 
 
 At the fame place is a manufadory for lamp-black, 
 belonging to MefTrs. Row, Oxlcy, and Barr is. 
 
 Copperas. 
 
 On both fides of the river are large manufaftories 
 for copperas. The pyrites, or bralles, which are 
 hurtful to the fale of the coals, are carefully feparatcd 
 from them, and, by a procefs, tedious here to de- 
 tail, the copperas is formed ; and the great quan- 
 tities of the pyrites, and cheapnefs of the fmall coal, 
 
 are 
 
520 Jn^psftial Diiiorp of 
 
 , ' '' ' I ■' J mmm 
 
 are particularly favourable for making vaft quantities 
 of this article in our neighbourhood. 
 
 Refined copperas is made chiefly at Walker, by 
 by Meflrs. George Forfler and Co. This article was 
 brought to its prefent perfection by the late Mr-Tho. 
 Barnes, of thitt place ; a gentleman, vvhofe ingenuity, 
 as a viewer, is well known by many of the firfl fami- 
 lies in this and the neighbouring counties ; under 
 whofe direction the inchned plane at Benwell, and 
 many other works of public utility, were executed. 
 
 Sal jinmoniac. 
 Is likewife made in this place, for various purpofes. 
 befides forming a part of the materia medica. 
 
 Soda. 
 Lord Dundonald claims^ if not the invention, at 
 lealt the bringing to perfedtion, of Soda. This excel- 
 lent compofition has had the atteftation of the prm- 
 cipal dyers, fullers, bleachers, S^c. in Newcartle and 
 vicinity, as fcrving excellent purpofes in the various 
 branches of their ufeful and neceffary profeffions. 
 
 Glue, 
 
 So neceffary in joinery and other works, is maae 
 here in fmall quantities, and that of a very inferior 
 quality, owing to the imperfedl (late of the knowledge 
 of its ingredients in this place. 
 
 Of the mode of manufacluring this article we are 
 favoured with a few hints from the fame intelligent 
 friend who communicated to us the fket£h of the 
 white-lead manufafture. 
 
 The reafon heafllgns for the Newcaftle glue being 
 fo offenfive to the fraell, and fo foon loling its adhe- 
 fiveuefs, iSj that it is made principally of the gelati- 
 nous 
 
BeloraGIc upon Cpnc. 521 
 
 nous fiibftance oi bones. On this account, the manu- 
 fadtories here exhibit the appearance almoll of char- 
 nel-houies, being equally offenfive to the fight and 
 the fmell. The London manufaclurers allow nothing 
 of that kind to enter into the compoiition of this arti- 
 cle. The parings of hidejB, bought up in London, or 
 imported from foreign, and the pelts obtained from 
 furriers, are the materials from which the London 
 glue is extradted. Thefe, after being as well freed 
 from greafe as polTible, in that (late, are diflblved, by 
 boiling water, in a large brafs caldron, and there more 
 completely cleanfed, after being diflblved, by alum 
 or lime thrown into the kettle : during boiling it is 
 well Ikimmed, until it becomes clear, and of a hght 
 brown colour. When it is thought to be flrong 
 enough, (which is known either by the length of time 
 a certain quantity of water and fkins have boiled, or 
 by its appearance during ebullition), it is poured in- 
 to trays, or vefTels of about fix feet long, one broad, 
 and two deep, till cold ; when it is fet, i. e. alTumes a 
 jelly-like form. It is then cut out of the trays by a 
 fpade, and laid (by women) on a table ; where it is 
 cut with an inllrument, not unlike a bow, having a 
 brafs wire as its ftring. Each of the maffos cut out 
 by the fpade is feparated, by this inftrument, into 
 three pieces. When the women, by miflake, cut on- 
 ly two, that which is double the fize is called a hijhop^ 
 and doomed to be melted over again. 
 
 All glue that has got froft, or looks thick and black, 
 may be melted over again and refined ; but it is ge- 
 nerally put into the kettle, after what is in it has been 
 refined and thus melted over again, with a fufficient 
 quantity of the other to overcome every injury it may 
 have fuftained. 
 
 3 U Moveable 
 
5^2 impartial MfXovp^ of 
 
 Moveable flieds, of about four feet fquare, are 
 credled in the yard or field of each glue-maker's 
 work-fliops ; where the cakes, after being cut as be- 
 fore defcribed, are dried ; there is nothing that is 
 noxious or difagreeable in any part of the procefs. 
 
 A great deal made in the neighbourhood of Leeds, 
 is alfo fold under the name of London glue. 
 
 Quantities of this is exported ; as alfo moil of the 
 glue made here. 
 
 Lintfeed and Rapefeed Mills. 
 
 There are feveral in and about Newcaftle. Thefe 
 oils, when duly prepared, ferve many valuable pur- 
 pofes, as in mixing of white lead and other paints; 
 while the cakes from which the oil has been prelled, 
 by great force, are ufed as food for domeftic cattle, 
 and feed them in a wonderful manner. Thefe oils 
 are exported to London, and even to foreign parts. 
 
 Soaperies. 
 
 Of this valuable branch of manufaclure, fo condu- 
 cive to cleanlinefs, and, of confequcnce, to health, 
 great quantities are made in Newcaftle. 
 
 A large and extenfive foap-manufudory is carried 
 on by MelTrs. Doubleday and Eafterby, in the 
 Clofe ; who export great quantities. 
 
 Another, upon a very fmall fcale, is carried on by 
 Mr, W. Cathey, in Sandgate. 
 
 The many laborious and dirty branches of bufinefs 
 in NewcalUe, on the river, above and below ground, 
 render the conftant ufe of foap indifpenfably necef- 
 ftu-y. 
 
 Cajjdle-^, 
 
ji^elDcaftle upon Ci)ne. 523 
 
 Candles. 
 
 This rubftitinc for natural light is uled in all na- 
 tions, and in none more than in the northern parts of 
 England. But in Newcartle and its numerous works 
 candles are uied in vaft qirantities. Above ground, 
 in common with other places and below ground, in 
 a manner peculiar to the works, which, lying fix or 
 feven hundred feet below the furface, were never 
 vifited by a fingle ray of the fun. Thoufandsof men 
 working in thefe fubterrancous regions, black and 
 dark, need greatly the aid of candle-light. Of con- 
 fequence, we may fuppofe that many candles are 
 made here for this particular purpofe. But thole 
 uled in the coal-works are extremely fmdll, thirty or 
 forty in the pound, called by colliers, pit-ivinkies.—. 
 They are afraid of ufing larger, from the danger of 
 igniting the inflammable air, which is fo!neti:nes the 
 cafe, and is attended with dreadful confequences.—- 
 As a precaution, both viewers and pitmen, in pafling 
 through the walles, are fupplied with rteel-mills, 
 which, by their motion, ftrike light by flint, and is 
 not fo dangerous. 
 
 There are many candle-nianufaclories in the Clofe, 
 Denton-chare, Pilgrim-ftreet, Low Bridge, Sandgate, 
 8tc. The gentlemen of the excife inform- us, that as 
 the confumpt of this necelVary in life is fo great in 
 Newcaftle, inllead of exporting, many candles are 
 brought here from other neighbouring places. 
 
 Sugar Refineries. 
 
 In the Clofe is a fugar-houfe which was creeled by 
 the late Alderman Fofter and Co. and is flill carried 
 on with great fuccefsby MefirsE^ankins and Walton. 
 
 5 U 2 There 
 
5-4 Impartial iptftori) of 
 
 There is another exteniive one at the head of the 
 Broad-chare, by Mellrs Rudman, Clarice, and Co. 
 
 Sugars are now brought raw from the Welt Indies 
 by Graham Clarke, eiq. and boiled and refined in 
 Newcaftle. Why might not this article be imported 
 by other men of property ? 
 
 Salt Works. 
 
 This neceflary of life is not manuFaclured at New- 
 caftle, the Tyne here not being fufliciently impreg- 
 nated with faline particles ; but at Shields large 
 quantities are made, though n6t fo much as formerly. 
 
 The moit confiderable at prefent are Mr. Jofeph 
 Richardibn, South Shields, Mr, Edward Harvey, do. 
 Mr. Fairies, do. and one at Howden. 
 
 But the moft extraordinary lalt work Is that which 
 is at Birtley, about fix miles from the Tyne,. and nigh 
 as far from the Wear. It is a fait fpring in a deep 
 coal-pit ftrongly impregnated with faline particles ; 
 and from which water great quantities of fait are 
 made, and exported from Sunderland. This is cer- 
 tainly uncommon, and may be accounted a great lo- 
 cal natural curiofity, as Birtley ftands at a great ele- 
 vation above the level of the Tyne and the Wear, 
 and yet the waters of this fpring are foft as the ocean 
 itfelf, and naturalirts fay it is more fo than the fea off 
 Tynemouth. Man knows not all the fecrets of na- 
 ture — how neceflary then for him to difcover theml 
 
 Thefe fait works at Shields, Hartley, &:C. have 
 been much on the decline for years part, fince 
 the ufe of rock fait came fo much in praftice. The 
 excile duty upon this neceflary in life being fo enor- 
 mous as tenpence or more, on the fhilling, amounts 
 almoft to a prohibitian on its manufacture, which is a 
 
 great 
 
l3clocaGle upon Ci?ne. 525 
 
 great difcouragement to the fiihing trade, where cod, 
 and other large fiilies are cured for tranfportation. 
 
 It is recorded, that during the great plague which 
 fwept away foine thoniands ofpeiibns, at NevvcaiUe, 
 few died who Hved near the fait works at Shields. 
 
 Salmon. 
 
 The Tyne has long been famous for this moH: deli- 
 cious fpecies of fKli, Even the prodigious quantities 
 caught at Berwick, are denominated NewcalUe fal- 
 mon at London, ^c. ?Iere are many tilheries on the 
 Tyne, and in fome feafons very producflive. From 
 Hedwin Streams to Sparhawk, we tind hlheries for 
 falmon in feveral turns of the river. The fifh are 
 expofed for fale on the Sandhill at the Mailbn Dieu ; 
 while the greateft part are pickled, kitted, and ex- 
 ported, marry tlwufands in a i'eafon. Bat during the 
 late war, the price of this fifli has been fo exorbitant* 
 (being from one fhilling to two fliillings per pound ) 
 that like the unbelieving lord in fcripture, the people 
 of Nfewcaftleyir it with their eyes, but do not tafle it. 
 
 Corks. 
 
 Thefe are made in great quantities here. The moft 
 coniiderable of the manufadlories are Mr. Richard 
 Graham, iri the Side, &c. 
 
 The towns and villages, for fixty miles round, are 
 fupplied with corks, bungs, ^c. from this town. 
 
 Bricks and Tiles. 
 The houfes and the numerous manufadories in Eng- 
 land are built of bricks, and "covered, for the moil part, 
 with tiles. This occafions large quantities of both to 
 be made. As the grounds about NewcalUe abound 
 
 in 
 
526 Impartial Ipiftori) of 
 
 in clay on the furface, and coal below, the manufac- 
 ture of bricks and tiles is a great article of bufinefs. 
 OF confequence, vaft quantities on both fides of the 
 Tyne, are nianufadured, both for home confumption 
 and exporiaticn, but chiefly to London, 
 
 The French philofopher St. Fond, whom we have 
 fo often quoted with pleafure, fays, " Tiie beautiful 
 river the Tyne is rendered highly interefting by the 
 variety of the m^nufactuies carried on upon its 
 banks. The maniifadurers of thofe, however, com- 
 plain of the almoft intoUerable duties laid by go- 
 vernment on thefe neceffaries for building, which has 
 greatly difcouraged people of property from embark- 
 ing in this formerly flourifliing branch of bufinefs. 
 But how do complainants imagine that the intereft 
 of nigh five hundred millions of national debt can 
 be paid, but by fuch taxes, and thofe on paper, malt, 
 hops, fait, &c. ? 
 
 Boots and Shoes. 
 
 Large demands have been made for thefe ufeful 
 articles from America, and the Weft Indies, which 
 employed many workmen before the war, for making 
 boots and fiioes in Newcaftle. It is hoped peace will 
 encreafe the demand to thefe flourifhing places of the 
 new world. 
 
 Leather Breeches and Gloves. 
 
 Thefe articles of drefs are manufadured in New- 
 caftle by Mefiirs Bilton, Brunton, and others. Many 
 gloves are brought from Hexham to Newcaftle, 
 where, from their cheapnefs, they have a ready 
 market. 
 
 Tanners. 
 
j^elDcafllc upon C|)nc. 527 
 
 Tanners. 
 
 There are many of thefe in Newcaftle, who do 
 much bufinefs both for tanning and currying leather. 
 Alderman Yielder in Low Friar-chare has a large 
 yard for tanning. Meflrs Hunter, Richardfon, and 
 others carry on this lucrative branch of bufinefs; 
 fupplying, at the great fair on St. Luke's, many lea- 
 ther-fellers from dillant parts. Many mod effential 
 improvements might be made in this bufinefs, which 
 are entirely frullrated by legal interference. 
 
 Linen ManiifaHories. 
 
 There are a few of thefe in Newcaftle, where 
 not only plain linen is wrought, but diapers, &c. 
 are manufactured by Mr. Young, Low Friar- chare, 
 and a few other weavers in various parts of the 
 town. 
 
 Corn and Flrnir Mills. 
 
 The inhabitants of the tlourifliing town of Newcaf- 
 tle amounting, it is fvippofed, to near feventy thoufand, 
 and the adjacent towns and villages being fo well 
 peopled, the workmen and labourers, from their 
 hardy employments, on water, above and below 
 ground, require good food, efpecially bread and 
 flefti meat. They will have it, they get it, and 
 rhey deferve it. The ufeful and hardy keelman has 
 no notion of going on board his keel till his bafket is 
 flored with a good joint and a fubftantial well baked 
 loaf, generally of the bed flour. The fame mode of 
 living is followed by the pitman, waggonmen, gcC. 
 They live on the beft, and no one will deny that they 
 have a right to enjoy it. 
 
 This 
 
5^8 3Inipanial fi iQoug of 
 
 This creates a vafl confLi nption of flour, which is 
 generally prepared in the houfehold iiianner. 
 
 The number of wind, water, and fteam-mills, for 
 making flour, rye, oat, and barley-meal, in an<I about 
 Newcaftle, from whence the numerous flour-fliops in 
 town and country are fupplied, is probably greater 
 than that of any lingle town in the kingdom. 
 
 The windmills above Gatcfliead, on the other fide 
 of the town-moor, and indeed all over the country, 
 are numerous; and, when the wind is favourable, 
 they are all employed. 
 
 There are alfo feveval fleam- engines, for grinding 
 corn. Thefe, upon trial, have been found lb far to 
 furpafs all other kinds, for their wonderful expedition, 
 that they bid fair to fupplant wind-mills, efpecially, 
 aliogether. For, when the wind ceafes to blow, 
 (which is often the cafe,) the wind-mill (lands; and 
 when the drought in funimer dries up the (Iream, or 
 the frofl, in winter, conceals it, the water-mill is'ftop- 
 ped. The fleam-mill goes uninterrupted, by day 
 and night ; and is therefore peculiarly adapted to this 
 country, where the coals are eafily procured. 
 
 There are two fleam-mills for grinding corn, on 
 the Oufe-bourn, particularly one lately finifhed, the 
 property of Mr. Beckington, vi-hich does a great deal 
 of bufinefs. Il was conflrucled by MefTrs. Baillie 
 and Reay, millwrights and engineers, in Gateihead. 
 But there is one lately conftrucled by the fame artifls, 
 at Willington, adjacent to Mr. Chapman's grand pa- 
 tent ropery, which is alfo worked by fleam, and is, 
 perhaps, the Jargefl and mofl complete of the kind 
 north of the Albion mills, in London. The building 
 feven ftories high, and intended for feven paiis of 
 flones, four pairs of which are conftantly going. — 
 
 Ths 
 
B ctocaCIe u;jon €pnt. 529 
 
 The execution done by this ingenious and extenfive 
 piece of machinery, is truly great, as, with eafe, it 
 can grind forty Intls, or one thoufand fix hundred 
 bolls of corn, every week I Ma n u fad u ring fuch 
 quantities of flour on the Tyne, certainly prevents 
 much money being fent from this port to London, 
 Yarmouth, Lynn, and other parts m the fouth. This 
 large manufaclory is the property of MefTi'S. Oxley 
 and Co. and coft, it is faid, above 6,cool. 
 
 Hat Manufa6lories. 
 
 Of this ingenious bufinefs there are feveral in New- 
 caftle and Gatefhead. 
 
 One belongs to Mr. John Clennell, in the Side ; 
 who lately attempted to difplay the origin, progrefs, 
 and prefent flate of that manufadure, affirted by a 
 molt ingenious and intelligent friend.* The reft as 
 follows, viz. Mr. VV. Rogers, in the Flefli-market ; 
 Mr. Andrew Kay, on the Quayfide ; Mr. Smith, in 
 Dean-ftreet ; Mr Jonathan CoUings, and Mr. William 
 Thompfon, in Gatefhead ; and fome others. 
 
 Of retail hatters, not being manufadurers, there 
 are about thirty. 
 
 Spijming Manufaclory and Flax Mill. 
 There is an extenfive fpinning-fadory at Oufe- 
 bourn ; but this noble llrudure, which is faid to have 
 cod 15,000!. is at prefent unemployed. 
 
 We hope, however, that both the flax-mill there, 
 and this large manufadory for fpinning, will foon 
 again be at work. 
 
 3 X Breweries. 
 
 * Mr. William Nichollbn, of London. Vide his Journal of 
 Natural Philofophy and Chemiftry, vol. ii. & iii. and the Supple- 
 ment to the EncyclofJatdia Briunaica, article Hat-making. 
 
:^j 
 
 Impartial 5)iftorp of 
 
 Breweries. 
 
 The breweries in Newcaftle and vicinity, are nume- 
 rous, and feveral of them do much bufinefs, we fliajl, 
 hovvever, only mention a tew of tlie moll refpedable. 
 
 At Skinner- burn is a large one, the property of 
 MeflVs Potter, Langhorn, and Co. 
 
 Nigh Pilgrim-lkeet-gate is another extenfive one 
 belonging to John Graham Clarke, elq. 
 
 Another in Sandgate, called the Tyne Brewery, 
 the property of MeflVs. Bell, Brown, Reay, and Co. 
 
 Another, which for years has brewed vafl quanti- 
 ties of beer, is on the Qj.iay-fide, in the Cuflom-houfe 
 entry, the property of Meflrs Burdon and Rayne. 
 
 Another in the next entry, is the property of 
 MeiTrs Row and Richardfon, where great quantities 
 of beer and porter are brewed. 
 
 Another belongs to R. and R. S. Richardfon. 
 Another to Mr M. Plummer. 
 Another, in the Clofe, the property of Meflrs Clap- 
 Isam and Co. 
 
 In the vicinity of Newcaftle, at Sandiford, is a very 
 large brewery, and of long llanding, the property of 
 Mr. Naiters. 
 
 l\\ Gateflied, is an extenfive one, the property of 
 Me Ills Barras and Co. 
 
 But one of the largeft in the north is in Oakwell- 
 gate the property of Mr. M'Leod and Sons. Here 
 are brev»?ed great quantities of porter and beer. Mr. 
 M'Leod has lately ereded a lleam engine in his 
 brewery, by which malt and grain in large quan- 
 tities are ground. It was ereded by Meflrs Baillie 
 and Reay, engineers. 
 
 We 
 
ii!)etDca(llc upon €vm. ^s^ 
 
 Befides theie large and extenfive breweries, many 
 of the publicans brev\' for their own confumption. 
 
 We forbear to ineoLion the many breweries at 
 Newburn, Stella, lilagdon, Svvalvvell, Shields, &-c. as 
 the detail would too much fwell our woik. 
 
 Having taken a general riew of the manufacftures 
 and trade of this town, as far as our limits will admit, 
 we will now clofe this fubject with a few obfervations 
 on the national importance of exhibiting the procefs 
 of manutadures. 
 
 As the manuf^xclures of this country are the princi- 
 pal fource of its great wealth and political importance, 
 it cannot but afford matter of reafonable furprize, that 
 fo little has hitherto been afcertained and pubhdied 
 relative to the origin, progrefs, and extent of their 
 feveral branches. We have, in facl, feen no attempt 
 made towards digelling a compleat treatil'e, or even 
 compihng a (lock of materials on this fubjecil:. In- 
 deed, fcience among manufacturers has fcarce yet 
 reared her laurel'd head, and thofe who poffefs a 
 practical knowledge of any manufacture, can haidly 
 yet be expeded to write as from " the foft re. 
 celTes of retirement, or under the ihade of academic 
 bowers." Improvement muft have forerunners in the 
 march of difcovery. As yet few fads are brought in- 
 to the field of public inveltigation ; but the improve- 
 ment of a manufacture certainly- depends on its publi- 
 city. 
 
 From the firfl: appearance of manufactarin,'^ fcience 
 to the prefent dawn of difcovery, wh.it unavailing 
 toil has viyjlcry produced! what heart-appalling ac- 
 cidents have jeahiify Tkud prejudice been the parents 
 of I but, on the other hand, what improvement has 
 liberal communication effeded I An carneitnefs to cqm- 
 5 X : municate 
 
5i- Jmpartial 1l)i(!orp cf 
 
 municate ought therefore to ftand amongrt the nwll 
 prominent principles of an enlightened, benevolent 
 underftanding I The progrefs from infancy to ma- 
 turity in manufadures is too frequently, like the Itone 
 of Syliphus, laboured with an inceflant and almoll 
 hopelefs continuity of eftbrt. It is much to be re- 
 gretted, that artills in general are fo tenacious of their 
 technical fecrets, that notwithftanding the advan- 
 tages they would mutually derive from reciprocal 
 communication, they referve to themfelves, in the 
 clofefl manner, any difcoveries they may have made ; 
 and yet, as it may owe its origin to accident or 
 chance, they are perhaps incapable of improving to 
 the extent it would admit of in the hands of m.en of 
 fcience. By this conduct they do themfelves a ma. 
 terial injury, whilft by it they loudly proclaim their 
 own want of genius, and as openly acknowledge their 
 ignorance of the real principles of fcience in general; 
 for if we confider the rapid progrefs that has been 
 made of late years in every department of ufeful and 
 pracftical knowledge, we mud attribute it entirely to 
 thofe liberal communications that have been made 
 by men whofe attention has been more immediately 
 diredted to the promotion and improvement of every 
 thing valuable to the public at large, rather than to their 
 own private emolument. Dr Johnfon in the 20ifl: 
 number of his Rambler, has introduced an obferva- 
 tion of Mr. Boyle's, quite in point to the prefent fub- 
 jeft, that " the excellency of manufactures, and the 
 facility of labour, would be much promoted if the va- 
 rious expedients and contrivances which lie conceal- 
 ed in private hands, were by reciprocal communica- 
 tions made generally known ; for there are few ope- 
 rations that are not performed by one or another with 
 
 fomc 
 
i^etacaille upon Cpnc. 533 
 
 fome peculiar advantages, which, though liiigly of 
 little iinpoi-tarice, would by conjiJn(5lion and concur- 
 rence open new inlets to knowledge, and give new 
 powers to diligence." 
 
 Having thus given a general detail of the various 
 branches of trade, peculiar to this commercial town, 
 we fliall now Ihortly (late its exports and im- 
 jjorts. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 The firJl of all others is the article Goal. We have 
 been ample in our defcriptiou of this article ; and if 
 we may feem too copious in our detail, the magni- 
 tude and importance of the fubjecftare our apology. 
 
 This valuable fpecies of fuel, like its powerful 
 flame difpeUing the fmoke, foon drove away the 
 clouds of ignorance and of prejudice againft its uti- 
 lity. Of confequence it became an article of com- 
 merce at an fearly period. But it was not until after 
 the grand revolution anno. i6S8, and principally af- 
 ter the union between England and Scotland, that 
 the coal-trade from Newcaftle acquired a Hate of 
 permanency and gradual improvement. 
 
 About the beginning of the eighteenth century, no 
 lefs than 600 veffels of 80 chaldrons (ro keeh) 
 each, were employed in the coal-trade; a number, 
 which was eliimated to employ 4,500 feanien. 
 From 1704 to 17 to, there were exported every year, 
 on an average, from the port of Nevvcnftle 178,143 
 chaldrons, which at about from eight to ilfteen, make 
 near 334,018 chaldrons, London meafure. Be- 
 tween that period and the year 1776 the export jitioii 
 of coals increafed to 380,000 Newcaai^ chaldrons. 
 
 But 
 
534 Impartial Jpiftorg of 
 
 But fiiice, ot late years, eight new great collieries on 
 the Tyne have been won, the export has been prodi- 
 gioully encreafed ; and during the years 1800 and 
 1 801, it experienced an addition of 209,378 chal- 
 drons, or 548,492 tons 5 cwt. • 
 
 By this it appears that one years encreafe of tlie 
 exports was no lefs than 101,980 Newcaftle chal- 
 drons, and in the whole was 1,105,084 London chal- 
 drons, which, at an average price of fifty fliilJings a 
 chaldron, would produce 2,762,409!. 7s. 8d. 
 
 Next to coals, glafs of all kinds is exported to all 
 nations of the world ; lead alfo in great quantities, as 
 we have already mentioned ; tallow, of which there 
 is fhipped 40,000 cwt. annually ; butter, 30,000 firkins 
 at about two pounds per firkin ; falmon, in favourable 
 feaibns, many hundreds of kitts ; bacons and hams, 
 many thouiands annually ; copperas, grindftones, 
 fiagrtones, cinders or coke, cfirt and wrought iron, to 
 almoil all nations, in vlaft quantities, beer, ale, porter, 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 Wine from France, but moftly from Portugal. 
 Mountain do. from Malaga. 
 Rafins, almonds, currants, &:c, Malaga. 
 Timber, (laves in great numbers from America. 
 Raff from Norway, Wyburg. 
 Iron from Sweden, Ruflia. 
 
 Corn, lately from mofl: nations in the north, princi- 
 pally Dantzic, Konninfourgh, &c. 
 Hemp, flux, from Ruflia, Riga, Revel. 
 Brandy and fruits from France. 
 Smalts from Hamburg. 
 Pitch, tar, from Sweden, RufTia. 
 
 The 
 
l^etocaftlc upon HL^m- b^s 
 
 The Ihipping employed in all thefe various 
 branches of commerce is great. In the year 1772, 
 according to Dr. Hutton's account, the number of 
 fliips entered in the port of Tyne was as follows : 
 
 Ships 810 77,880 coaftwife. 
 
 Do. 140 18,650 forcing parts. 
 
 Total Q54 96,530 tons. 
 
 But fince that period foreign, as well as home 
 trade, has fo prodigioufly encreafed, that in the year 
 1800, no fewer than 7,969 fliips were cleared from 
 the Curtom-houfc. 
 
 The duties to government arifing from coals alone 
 at five fiiillings per chaldron, has been already men- 
 tioned as calculated by Mr. Macnab. 
 
 Excife duties from glafs ;^. 150,000 
 Do. ale, beer, &c. 80,000 
 
 Do. foap 82,000 
 
 Do. candles i,ooo 
 
 With other articles of lefs moment. 
 
 The revenues of the town are at an average 
 25,000!. per annum. 
 
 GATESHEAD. 
 
530 Jmpartial Morj) of 
 
 GATESHEAD. 
 
 JlN the preceding part of our work we have given 
 a general account of Newcallie ; and, before we take 
 a view of the Tyne, from Hadwin Streams to its fall 
 into the German ocean, we fhall firft pafs along the 
 Bridge, and give a fuccincl account of Gatefliead. 
 
 As to the etymology of its name, antiquarians are 
 divided in their opinions. 
 
 Antiquity holds out a place fnuated on the banks 
 of the Tyne, oppofite to Newcaflie, under the name 
 of Gabrocentum ; which place Dr. Stukeley, in his 
 Iter Bureale, fuppofes to be Gatefhead, where the 
 fecond cohort of the Thracians were garrifoned, as its 
 name in ancient Britifii language imports, " Goat's- 
 head ;" I fuppofe, fays he, from the fign of fome inn. 
 He adds, a goat's-head ftill ftands upon the fign of 
 the golden-lion, head of the Bottle-bank, This inn 
 is at piefent kept by iVlr, Bartram, and ftill retains 
 the fign, and is known by the name of the Goaf-Inn. 
 
 The Venerable Bede, in his church-hiftory, men_ 
 tions a place, which he calls '* Caprce Caput '^ which 
 has been generally fuppofcd to be Gateihcud ;---<^m^ 
 (as) the Goat's-head, from the Romans having an 
 inn at this place with fuch a fign, one of the great 
 military roads ending here, before the emperor Ha- 
 drian had ereded his bridge over the Tyne, and con- 
 neded it with the ftjtion of Pons 2£X\\, on the oppo- 
 fite banks of that river. 
 
 Mr Brand combats this etymology, and will have 
 it to mean Gate's Head, head or termination of ihe 
 
 military 
 
isarcafllc iiv^n ^pnc. 537 
 
 military road, whicli vulgarly is termed ^ate, or 
 road. It is not of any confequence to attend to 
 the difquilitions upon a name, very probably given 
 by accident, upon the Romans, in their encampment, 
 difcovering a goat's-head, which, a$ they were fuper- 
 flitious in their augury, might give the name Caprce 
 Caput, Goat's-head, to the place. 
 
 Gatelhead is, without doubt, a place of great anti- 
 quity ; and it is the opinion of fome, that it was a 
 place of fome ftanding before Newcaftle had exift- 
 ence. Indeed it is probable that the Romans, in 
 leading their legions northward, and encamping on 
 the banks of the Tyne, would inrtantly fet on to 
 build, for their own convenience and fecurity, till 
 they Ihould contlrucl bridges for tranfporting their 
 troops, which hiliory informs us they did, both liere 
 and alfo at Bywell, where are (till to be feen the re- 
 mains of a rtrong bridge, built by that mighty and 
 ambitious people. 
 
 Modern Gatefhead has feveral ftreets ; but the 
 principal one runs from the Bridge-end, up the Bot- 
 tle-bank, and almofl: due fouth, forming part of the 
 great public road to London. In former times this 
 ftreet was ftrongly fortified. 
 
 That part of the main ftreet which is called the 
 Bottle-bank, is very fteep, and of an afcent almoll 
 impallable, efpecially in winter, to carriages, and 
 chiefly the large and ponderous waggons, to and from 
 London, Leeds, &c. To remedy this grievous incon- 
 venience, a new ftreet was lately formed, running 
 eaft from the foot of the Bottle-bank, which, making 
 a curve, turns into the main ftreet at the head of the 
 fteep afcent, and, by eafy winding along, makes it a 
 comparatively convenient paftage for carriages of th? 
 
 3 Y heavieft 
 
53^ Jnipautial ipiftorp of 
 
 heavielt burden. This ftreet contains fome well-built 
 houfes, and feveral lliops, on both fides. And al- 
 though it has not met wiih any very general appro- 
 bation, the old ilreet being moiUy ufed by people on 
 foot, yet, it is certainly an improvement. 
 
 From the head of the Bottle-bank, llraight fouth, 
 the llrftet is wide and airy ; and ahnoll every front- 
 houfe has a garden backwards, u'hich is cultivated 
 with great care. Belides thefe, at the head of the 
 ftreet, are feveral large gardens and nurferies, belong- 
 ing feparately to Meflrs. Falla, Joyce, Leonard, &c. 
 with the valuable produclions of which both Gatef- 
 head and New'caftle are daily fupplied. 
 
 Before v^'e leave the principal itreet, we mufl not 
 omit to notice, that here (about the middle of the 
 Bottle-bank) is the " Gatcjljead Circulating^ Library,'^ 
 belonging to, and conducted under the diredion of, 
 Mr. J. Marfnall, librarian to the Literary and Philo- 
 fophical Society of Nevvcallle. Though of recent 
 clhiblifliinent, this library already contains a very good 
 collection of books in every branch of literature, and 
 is much reforted to, particularly by the principal in- 
 habitants of Gatelhcad and Irs vicinity. 
 
 From the Bridge-end, weltwaid, is a long, narrow 
 ftreet, called PipewelJgate, from a fine fpring, which 
 is conveyed here by 2. pipe ^ and is very ufeful for the 
 inhabitanls. This Ilreet is fo extremely inconvenient, 
 thut two carts meeting cannot pals each other. Yet 
 here are feveral great manufaftories ; MelTrs. Harri« 
 fun's and Wiunfield's cad-iron, with a colour and 
 a whitening, nianufacftory. 
 
 At the foot of the New-ftreet is another, called 
 Hillgate, which is very narrow and inconvenient ; 
 but, from its vicinity to the river, there are feveral 
 
 nianu- 
 
BelDcaaie upon C)jnc. 539 
 
 manufactories here alfo, viz. Mr. Row's wroaght-ir.ua 
 factory, Meflrs. Emmerfon and Waugh's ileam Hour- 
 mill, a very large and convenient granary ; and, on 
 the right-hand, going eatlwaid, is Mr. T. Taylor's 
 large rail-yard, Scc. 
 
 From what is called tlie New-ilreet, eadvvard, 
 we come to another, named Ovik well-gate. Brand 
 lays, "Mr. Hervey, fenior, informed me, that he had 
 often heard a traditionary account, that there hid 
 been anciently a well, with an orik hanging cvef it, 
 at the head of the ilreet called Oakvveligaie, in which 
 three llrata of pavement have been diicovered ; and 
 that he had often converfed with an old gentleman 
 who remembered when there were feveral pants in 
 Gate/licad " 
 
 Oakvvell-gate is no way diflinguillied ; although 
 there are lome dwellings very plealVmtiy litu.ited and 
 commodious, fuch as the reclor's, Mr. Hervey 's, and 
 particularly Mr. M'Leod's new buildings, fronting 
 his extenfive brewery, which are very elegant. 
 
 In the borough of Gatefhead are a few good fliops, 
 feveral commodious inns, &^c. 
 
 Mr Hawks's wrought iron manufadory employs 
 many hands ; nor ought we to omit mentioning the 
 manufactory in maible carried on by Msllrs. Ifaac 
 Jobhn and fon. Thefe mgenious artiils have taken, 
 upon leafe, the marble quarries in the county of Su- 
 therland, which have attracled the attention of Mr. 
 Pennant, St. Fond, and other curious travellers in 
 Scotland : from which place they have brought and 
 manufadured flabs of marble, of a rich variety in ap- 
 pearance, and a. very beautiful pohfli. 
 
 Here were formerly markets, anl ysry lately a 
 5 Y 2 u a }- 
 
540 Jnipfiitial ipiRocp of 
 
 manufiiclory tor broad woolltn cloth ; of all which 
 now, " not a wreck is left behind." 
 
 This borough contains according to the late fiirvey 
 about 8,597 inhabitants. We noticed on that occa- 
 lion, that the enumeration was altogether defedlive. 
 About two hundred years ago they were accounted 
 to be feven thoufand, making about one third of the 
 inhabitants of Newcaftle. Since that period, how- 
 ever, the proportion in favour of Newcaftle is very 
 great, fince there are there at leaft feventy thoufaad 
 inhabitants, while there does not feem to be an in- 
 creafe of a fingle family in Gatefhead, thefe two cen- 
 turies pad. What are the caufes for fuch " a falling 
 off" will probably appear when we give an account of 
 the conflitution and privileges of Gatefliead ; but 
 one caufe, if, of not its decline, at lead:, of its not in- 
 creafing, is its vicinity to the large town of New- 
 caftle, which, like Pharaoh's kine, fwallows up its 
 neighbours. 
 
 GateJJjead Church. 
 
 At fo remote a peiiod as A. D. 1080, an account of 
 a church in Gatefliead is mentioned in hiftory, where 
 Walcher, bifliop of Durham, was murdered ; but Mr. 
 Bourne fays that it ftood further down than where 
 Gatefhead church is now erected, in a field called 
 Lawlefs-clofe, and afterwards the Miller's Field. 
 
 The date when the prefent church was erected can- 
 not be afcertained. 
 
 A. D. 1291, when there was an eftimatc made of 
 the value of the church-livings in the diocefe of Dur- 
 ham, the church of Gatefliead is rated 13I. 6s. 8d. an- 
 nual value. 
 
 The 
 
BeVocaaie upon C^nc. ^\t 
 
 The prefent church is a large and well coi>(lruded 
 building. It has a commanding view of NewcalUe, 
 being nearly on a level wiLu All-Saints, is very com- 
 modious for accommodating the parifliioners, who are 
 numerous, as the diflenters in Gatelhead make but a 
 fmall proportion, to the members of the eftabliHied 
 church. 
 
 The fteeple had becoine old and ruinous ; and 
 therefore the prefent one was built about the year 
 1740. It had, at that time, four fanes mounted oil 
 fpires, on the tour corners ; thefe being judged 
 too weak for the fanes, were taken down in 1764, 
 and the roof of the rteeple altered. The bells were 
 hung upon a new frame. 
 
 The Trinity-houfeof Newcaftle, (NFicholas Ridley, 
 Robert Goatfworth, mafters.j were the principal be- 
 nefadlors towards thefe repairs. 
 
 Galleries and Pews ofGatefiead Church. 
 
 In the year 1763 a new gallery was erecfled at the 
 weft end of the church. Thomas £. Headla:n, Ro- 
 bert Carr, Taylor Anfell, Benjamin Ord, church 
 wardens. 
 
 All the pews in this church are of oak, curioufly 
 carved. The pulpit is of the fame wood. 
 
 It is obfervable, that the rofe and badge of the 
 prince of Wales is on each pew. 
 
 The organ is at the weft-end of the church ; the 
 following infcriptions on the front : Gloria in excclfis 
 BcQ-— Glory in the highejl to God, and " Let every 
 thing that hath breath praife the Lord." 
 
 'the chancel. 
 It is not diftinguiflied by circumftances of particu- 
 lar ornament ; the communion table being a lar-e 
 
 flab 
 
54:1 Jnipartial Jpiaorj) of 
 
 flab of cninmon Hone, fuppoited by two figures of 
 angCiS, holding clialices in their hands. 
 
 On tlie vvainfcot above the communion table are 
 I. H. S. J''fus Hominum Salvator, Jefus the Saviour 
 of men. 
 
 The windows on both fides feem ancient, thofe of 
 the chancel, are modern, and of a llyle no-ways 
 finking. 
 
 Benefactions to the Poor. 
 
 Thefe are numerous, and fome of them ample and 
 lubfiantial. 
 
 An efcutcheon of Dr. Aid worth, M. D who left 
 one pound annually to the poor of St. Mary's of 
 Gatefhead. 
 
 Another infcribed Ifabel formerly widow of Mr. 
 Edmund Sutton of Gatefhead, and late of George 
 Watfon of Gofu'ick, left to poor, widows in Gatefliead 
 fifty pounds to be paid by her executor to fuch a 
 number as that none of them fiiould receive lefs 
 than five fhillings, payable at midfummer yearly. 
 
 Another for Mr. Ralph Harrifon of Bryan's Leap, 
 who left one hundred pounds to the poor of Gatef- 
 head. 
 
 With many other efcutcheons announcing the be- 
 nefactions and legacies of worthy chai^adters. 
 
 It appears by a lift of legacies framed and glazed, 
 in the vefiry of Gateihead church, dated February 
 25. 1736, that Henry Smith, efq. left a legacy of five 
 pound?. That Mr. Collinfon left a piece of land with 
 a dwelling houfe at Eafingtqn, let at Ol. 5s. per an- 
 num. A legacy of 61. 13s. 4d. by Mrs. Ifabei 
 Glover. A legacy of 20I by Mrs. Margaret Ramfey. 
 One of 20I. by William Coatfvvorth, efq. 
 
 Thefe. 
 
iQctocaftle upon Ci?ne. 543 
 
 Thefe, with many more legacies to the poor in this 
 parifh, are recorded to the honour ot' the worthy and 
 virtuous donors, whofe memorial will be had in ever- 
 lafting remembrance. 
 
 Monuments and Monumental Infcriptions in Gatejljead 
 
 Church. 
 
 Among many others are the following. 
 
 In the choir Here lieth the body ofTiaiothy 
 
 Tyzacke, merchant-adventurer, and Elizabeth his 
 wife who had iflTie by him feven ciiildren. He de- 
 parted this life, February 6, 1684. Motto to the arms, 
 " Seigneur, je te prie garde ma viey--'Lord, I pray 
 keep my frAil. 
 
 Here deeps Mrs. Judith V/eld, who was to three 
 minifters a good wife, to Chrilt a faithful fervant, to 
 the church an afteclionate fiiend, for piety, prudence, 
 and patience e:ninent. She departed this life anno 
 1656. In Jefu dormio, fplendide rej'urgafn.—J' I il;;ep 
 in Jefus. and, fiiall rife glorioufly." 
 
 In the nave. — The burial-places of Francis Rud- 
 flon, Robert Akenhead ; Robert Proclor, mailer and 
 mariner, ^c. 
 
 Againft the wall, on a fquare marble compartment: 
 To die Memory of Andrew Wood, M. A. 
 Redtor of this church. 
 Born 22th May, 17 15. • 
 Induced 9th of September, 1770. 
 Interred, 
 Amidft the tears of his parilhloners, 
 15th of March, 1772. 
 This monument of their efteem, 
 afFe<aion, and gratitude. 
 Was circled by the people of Gatefliead. 
 Mr. Wood was buried in the choir, where his ati 
 chievement ftill remains. 
 
 Belides 
 
544 Jnipactial fMQor|» of 
 
 Belides his, there are alfo thofe of redors Shaftoe 
 and Lambe remaining in the choir. 
 
 In the church-yard, at the eaft end, (lands a monu- 
 ment, faid to have been built by Robert Trollop, for 
 the place of his interment. He was the architedt of 
 the Exchange and Town- court of Newcaftle. 
 
 There is a faint traditionary account, which I do 
 not much credit (fays Mr. Brand) that there flood 
 formerly a flatue of the faid Robert Trollop, on the 
 north fide of it, pointing to the town-court of New- 
 caftle, and underneath the following lines : 
 
 *' Her2 lies Robert Trollop, 
 'Who made yon flones roll up ; 
 When death took his foul up, 
 His body fill'd this hole up." 
 
 The monument is " ftrewed with many a holy 
 text."* 
 
 There were two brothers of the name of Bailey, 
 buried in this church-yard, the one a clergyman and 
 the other a painter, upon whom was put a fulfome 
 epitaph. But one Moody a quaker coming pad, is 
 faid to have, with chalk, wrote as underneath, 
 Here lie a painter and a prielt. 
 And all the reft is but a jeft. 
 
 Reclors aud Curates ofGateJ]?ead. 
 
 In the king's books this redory is valued at 27}. 
 J3S. 4d. 
 
 Yearly 
 
 ■ ' 
 
 * It is rather a curious circumflance, tJiat a rule for architeflure, 
 of folid brafs, very long, and ponderous, with many geometrical 
 lines upon it, infcribed with the name of Robert Trollop, dated 
 the very year when the Exchange was built, is at prefent in the 
 pofleffion of William Turnbull in the Cuftom-houfe. — For fur* 
 ther account of Mr. Trollop, fee pages 199 and 2CO. 
 
f5ctocnGIe upon Cyne. 545 
 
 Yearly tenths 2I. 15s. 4d. fynodals 2s. 
 A penlion of 2I. 13s. ^d. is paid yearly out of this 
 parfonage to the fchool of Houghton-le-Spring, 
 granted by J. Heath of Kepyer, efq. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Mary. Patron 
 bifhop of Durham. 
 
 The names of thefe ecclefiaftics who have prefided 
 in facris, in Gatefliead, are diftinclly recorded from a 
 very remote period. 
 
 One Robertus was recflor anno 1275. 
 Henricus Maufelot 1522. 
 
 But we will readily be excufed from giving a de- 
 tail of the names of thefe gentlemen ; and as nothing 
 lingular is recorded concerning them, we (liall come 
 down to more modern times and name a few. 
 
 William Lambe, A. M. reclor 1733, vicar of Chef- 
 ter-le-ftreet, died ac Gatefliead May 29, 1769, and 
 v/as buried in the choir. 
 
 Mr. George Stevenfon, removed to St. Andrews. 
 Mr. Bufby curate and fchool-mafter, removed to 
 Hexham. 
 
 Andrew Wood, A. M. recftor, 1769, of Baliol col- 
 lege, Oxford, reclor of Darlington, and chaplain in 
 ordinary to the king. He died of a fever March 13, 
 1772, and was buried in the choir. Mr. Wood was 
 reputed to be one of the moft learned and eloquent 
 preachers of the age in which he lived ; and left a 
 choice colledion of rare and valuable books, which 
 were eagerly purchafed by all lovers of hterature. 
 
 Richard Fawcett, D. D. redor. • Vicar of Nevv- 
 caftle, collated, in 1772 to the redory of Gateftiead. 
 He was a fine reafoner, and an able defender of the 
 tenets of Chriftianity. 
 
 John Fakor, A. B. curate and fchoolmafter. 
 
 3 ^ Auguft 
 
546 Impartial JiMftorp of 
 
 Auguft 13, 1782, Robert Thorp, A. M. was in- 
 cluded to this reclory, vacant by the death of Dr. 
 Fawcett. He was lately tranllated to the redlory of 
 Ryton, in the county of Durham. 
 
 Dr. Thorp is one of the moft learned and ingeni- 
 ous mathematicians of the age. He gave the world 
 lately, a noble tranflation of Sir Ifaac Newton's Prin- 
 cipia. and other geometrical works, written in latin. 
 This gentleman enjoys the pofleflion of two places, 
 (as archdeacon of Northumberland and redtor of Ry- 
 ton) that give him the authority of a truftee in Dr. 
 Thoralinfon's library ; (fee page 309). Why the 
 tranflator of fuch a man as Newton, who looked on 
 knowledge as the chief good, fhould negatively ap- 
 prove of the with-holding the regulations of that li- 
 brary, and allow it to be almoft inacceflible, mull 
 remain amongft the myjleries of the orthodox. 
 
 Robert ProiTer, D. D. fucceeded Dr. Thorp in the 
 redory of Gatefliead. He is a moft valuable charac- 
 ter, an excellent preacher, and a good man. He 
 preached, in the year 1801, a faft fermon, by defire, 
 it Js laid, of the prcfent chancellor of the exchequer, 
 before the houfe of commons, from Rev. iii. 19. IVboni 
 I lijve I rebuke and chajlen ; he zealous and repent.— 
 It is a beautiful piece of conipoiition, and replete with 
 temperate zeal for piety, and a reform of the diffolute 
 manners of the age. Yet this firm fupporter of or- 
 thodoxy can hold a fituation that gives him alio power 
 in fuch a noble library as that of his late worthy bro- 
 ther, Dr. Thomlinfon, and make no efforts to prove 
 the fincerity of his love for learning, and the confe- 
 quent reformation of mankind, by more regularly 
 having it open. 
 
 Charity 
 
jSetDcaftlc upon €^m. 547 
 
 Charity School. 
 This fchool was founded by Theophilus Pickering, 
 S. T. P. redor of Gatefliead, January 8, 1701. Its 
 iite is in Gatefliead church-yard, on a fpot of ground 
 called the Anchorage. This term is probably cor- 
 rupted from anchor it age, or bcnnitage, the refidence, 
 probably, ofaliennitor anchorite there. We are 
 aflured there was a hermitage upon Tyne-bridge. 
 
 This noble attention to the inftruction of future 
 generations, bv good Mr. Pickering, was founded 
 upon a deed of gift, dated January 2, 1701. By this 
 he left the fum of three hundred pounds, to purchafe 
 fome rent-charge, or to be laid out in the purchafe of 
 land, for the perpetual maintenance of a free-fchool, 
 in the padlli of Gateiliead, at the Anchorage, adjoin- 
 ing to the church. The mafter to be chofen by the 
 redor of that church, and to teach all the children 
 of the pariih of Gatefliead the latin and greek tongues, 
 as alfo to write ancf cad up accounts, and alfo the art 
 of nav^igation, or plain failing. 
 
 Thomas Stephenfon left to the ufe of the charity 
 founded by Dr. Pickering forty fhillings per annum, 
 alfo other forty fliillings per annum, both payable out 
 of a fliop on Tyne-bridge. 
 
 The prefent maff er is the Rev. John Falcon, A. B. 
 
 Mr. Woodhoufe, ulher. 
 
 There is a new chapel for diflenters in Gatefliead, 
 weft from the head of the Bottle-bank. It was 
 opened A. D. 1786. The Rev. Mr. MConnel is the 
 prefent pallor to that congregation. 
 
 St. EdmumVs Hofpital. 
 
 This laeautiful old chapel, from the ityle of its ar- 
 
 chitecfkure, cannot be older than the reign of kin; 
 
 3 Z 2 Henry 
 
54^ Impartial fMotp, of 
 
 Henry III. and it is obfeivab^k that the long flips of 
 windows are fimilar to thofc at the end of Tinmouth 
 monaflery, and thofe in the Temple church in 
 London. 
 
 It ftands on the ea(l fide of the high llreet, diftant 
 about half a mile from the bridge- end. The weft 
 end of it is handfomely ornamented with a number of 
 pointed arches, and niches, though the infide feems 
 remarkably plain. It confifts ofafingle aifle twenty 
 one paces broad by twenty fix long. Some fteps 
 at the eafl end, leading to the altar, are flill remain- 
 ing : near them is a grave ftone, on which is cut a 
 crofs fimilar to that in the jamb of the church-door at 
 Jarrow : it has alfo th« marks of an inlaid border 
 about it, bat the brafs is gone. The arches of the 
 windows, except thofe on the ealt and weft ends, 
 which are entirely painted, are round within, and 
 
 pointed on the outfide. A remarkable ornament is 
 mounted on its weft end, on a Render rod, being a 
 fmall circle chequered by feveral bars crofting each 
 
 other at right angles. 
 
 The hofpital in Gatefliead dedicated to St. Edmund 
 
 and St. Cutftbert was founded in the year 1248 by 
 
 Nicholas Farnhara, biftiop of Durham. 
 
 It was originally intended for four chaplains or 
 
 priefts, who were to eat at the fame table, and fleep 
 
 in the fame chamber, one whereof was to be mafter, 
 
 from whom the other three were to receive twenty 
 
 fhillings annually. 
 
 The biftiop gave them the whole village of Ulkif- 
 
 tan, the old lordftiip of Gatefliead, with the wood of 
 
 Beneham, and twenty nine acres of land. 
 
 Anno 1292 St. Edmund's Hofpital, after dedudion 
 
 of neceflliry expences, appears to have had a clear 
 
 yearly revenue of eighteen pounds. 
 
 A 
 
lDelt3ca(lIc upon Ci^nc. 54vj 
 
 A number of rich donations, legacies, 8tc. were 
 conferred on this hofpital of St. Edmund which we 
 have no room to record. 
 
 A. D. 1548, it fliared the fate of other reli.-ioas 
 foundations, by the all-rapacious hand of Henry VIII. 
 Since which period it gradually declined, till ar- 
 rived at the ruinous ftate in which it is at prefent. 
 King James VI. indeed attempted by letters to re- 
 found the hofpital of Gateiliead ; but it never rofe to 
 its former condition of opulence, but imperceptibly 
 decayed. 
 
 Adjoining almoft to this venerable ruin was a Ca- 
 tholic chapel, which out of a mifguided zeal, was fet 
 on fire, when the duke of Cumberland was marching 
 down Gatcfliead with his army anno 1743' againtl the 
 rebels. It is faid his royal highnefs was greatly of- 
 fended at the fight. The Catholic ckapel was in a 
 nianfion-houfe near to this, the ruins of which arc 
 feen from all diredions. The fite of this houfe, with 
 its offices and gardens, occupied about two acres and 
 a half of land. This, probably was Mr, Riddle's 
 houfe alluded to by Mr. Bourne. 
 
 Chapel of St. Edmund's Hofpital. 
 The chapel of this hofpital, fituated on the eaft 
 {ide, and almolt clofe to the road leading from Nevv- 
 caftle to Durham, a little before we arrive at the firll 
 mile (lone, was difufed as to public fervice being per- 
 formed in it while Mr. Lambe was mafler : this rec- 
 tor comprifed a matter in difpute between himfcif 
 and fome of his parifliioners, who diiapproved of this 
 ceffation of duty, by preaching a fermon in lieu 
 thereof every afternoon at the parilli church. The 
 fame reclor, after allowing a fmall yearly mcoaie to 
 
 the 
 
55^ Impartial fpiftory of 
 
 the brethren to find them lodgings, pulled down their 
 rerpcclive hoults which ftood very near the chapel. 
 
 Mr. Wood, the fucceeding reclor, obliged his pre- 
 dcceflbr's widow and adminiilratrix to pay him (it 
 would have been more charity to have paid the un- 
 houi'ed poor bedemen) 300I. for the dilapidations of 
 this hofpital, on which he executed to her a general 
 releafe. Dr. Fawcett, anno 1780, put the chapel into 
 repair and covered it with red tiles ; but it Hill is un- 
 employed for religious fervices. 
 
 On a late vilit, (fays Mr. Brand rather merrily) to 
 this defecrated place, 1 found cocks and hens rootling 
 on the fides of the pulpit 1 On the north was a board 
 put up infcribed " the fhipwrights pew in Newcatlle." 
 One of the ornaments of the altar piece has been 
 converted to a very whimfical purpofe : the prefent 
 tenant's wdfe makes ufe of this truly frightful figure 
 of a mutilated cherub, to frighten her refraclory chil- 
 dren into order and good behaviour ; the light of this 
 piece of fculpture, which (he calls " the awd angel," 
 never fails (as well it may) to procure inflantaneous 
 filence. 
 
 The little arch by way of fteeple, which dill re- 
 mi^ins upon the chapel, is of the model, and probably 
 of the fame date, with that of the prefent grammar 
 fchool of Newcaftle. 
 
 Charity Houfe. 
 
 Anno Dorairji 1731, an alms-houfe was built in 
 Catcll ?rd,opporite to the Toll-booth, (now removed) 
 by the truflees appointed in the laft will of Mt. Tho. 
 Powell, of Ncwcdllle ; w^ho bequeathed all his eftate, 
 real and perfonal, for that purpofe. 
 
 'I'he 
 
3l*5e\xicaQle upon Cyne. 551 
 
 The following infcription is cut on a ftone over the 
 doom ; *' This alms-houfe was built at the charge of 
 Mr. Thomas Powell, late of Ncvvcaftle, who by his 
 laft will andjeftament, did leave and bequeath all his 
 eftate, real and perfonal, towards the purchaling and 
 building the faid houfe, and appointing Charles Jur- 
 don, George Surtees, William Stevenfon truftees. 
 
 The poor are treated with humanity and tendernefs. 
 Lall year (1801) during the great prelTure, a part of 
 it was employed for diflributing foup, which proved 
 a great relief to many poor houfeholders. 
 
 We iliall fliortly take a general view of the borough 
 of Gatefliead, and of its prefent flate. 
 
 We have already obferved, that it bears evident 
 marks of having been a place of great antiquity ; but 
 it has been the infelicity of this place, to have been 
 a kind of property of the prelates of Durham, for 
 many centuries- And as thefe grmtlemen v.'ear this 
 " warm watch-coat" (the bilhoprick, viz.) for their 
 own natural lives only, they have (and who would 
 not?) uniformly derived as much emolument from it, 
 for their families intereft, as they poflibly could. 
 This, however advantageous to themfelves, has check- 
 ed a fpirit of induitry and adivity in thofe who hold 
 tenures of dean and chapter lands, houfes, 8tc. Hence 
 we -find that in the year 1555 Cuthbert Turnbull, 
 bilbop of Durham demifed (no body wiil doubt but 
 for a very valuable coniideration)the Salt-meadows, a 
 large tracl of fine land on the fouth bank of the Tyiie, 
 about half a mile down from Hill-gate, to the mayor 
 and burgeflesof Newcaflle uponTyne, for 453 years, 
 at an annual rent of 2I. 4s. as ailb the toll there 
 
 at 
 
5^2 Impartial fMGor^ of 
 
 at 4I. 6s. her annum- This leafe was confirmed by 
 the dean and chapter of Durham, March 22, 1555. 
 
 There is preferved in the archives of the corpora- 
 tion of Newcaftle upon Tyne, " An account of the 
 Salt Meadows in the county palatine of Durham, be- 
 longing to the mayor and burgefles of Newcaftle upon 
 Tyne," taken fo late as 1714. In all, eighty«three 
 acres and fix perches. 
 
 Anno 1582, Richard, bifliop of Durham, granted 
 a leafe of the manors ofGatefhead and Whickham 
 to queen Elizabeth, for feventy-nine years ; which 
 was, by the fame prelate, extended afterwards ta 
 ninety-nine years. 
 
 Next year, 1583, queen Elizabeth made an afiign- 
 ment to Henry Andcrfon and Wm. Selby, magiflrates 
 ofNewcaftie, of two terms of the above manors. 
 
 Strype tells us, that, upon bifhop Barnes firlt com- 
 ing to Durham, he had a great contelt with bifliop 
 Pilkington's widow for dilapidations : but being a 
 fhort time fettled, he began to plunder his fee, by 
 alienating all he could from it, and felling long leafes 
 to queen Elizabeth of feveral manors, amongft which, 
 was Gatefliead, with all the manors, coal-pits, and 
 coal-mines, in Gatefliead and Whickham, with the 
 commons, waftes. &-c. Thefe the queen gave to the 
 carl of Leiceller, who fold his right to Thos, Sutton, 
 founder of the charter-houfe, in London ; and he 
 conveyed his intereft therein to the mayor and bur- 
 gefles ofNewcaftie upon Tyne, for i2,oool. Annals^ 
 vol. ii. p. 432. 
 
 Gardiner, in his England's Grievances, gives the 
 fame account of this bafe tranfadion. 
 
 Thus we fee, that the worthy inhabitants ofGatef- 
 head have been transferred, as property, by defpots, 
 
 Foya}, 
 
BetocflGIc upon ilLmt. 553 
 
 royal, pontifical, and niagilterial, as the petty tyrants 
 of Rullia fell their valTals, who are on their lands, 
 along with the lands themfelves. How then can we 
 wonder that Gatefhead has not made an addition of 
 a lingie inhabitant to its number for two centuries 
 paft ? 
 
 Anno 1594, Toby Matthew, bifliop of Durham, 
 granted a charter, for the incorporation of feveral 
 trades in Gatertiead. 
 
 Anno i65r, John Cofins, bifliop of Durham, incor-* 
 porated, at their own requell. the drapers, taylors, 
 mercers, hardwaremen, coopers, and chandlers, of 
 Gatefliead. Their charter of incorporation obliged 
 them to fell anv perfon the freedom of their commu- 
 nity who ihould produce an indenture that he had 
 ferved an apprenticefliij) m any other part, on the 
 payment of ten pounds to this fociety ; with a like 
 fum (that mull not be omitted) to the biiliop of 
 Durham. 
 
 They were to choofe three wardens annually, keep 
 a clerk, a chefl with two keys, and a common feal, 
 called " The feal of the wardens and commonalty of 
 drapers, taylors, &c. within the borough of Gatef- 
 head." 
 
 There is an extenfive common belonging to the 
 freemen and freeholders in Gatefliead. Part of it, 
 which lies fouthward, towards Aydon-banks, is moor- 
 ifh and rocky; but lov^er down, where it borders 
 upon the confines of I.amefley parifli, and down by 
 Darvvent-crook, there is fome good and valuable land. 
 No freeholder, although he may pofTefs feveral free- 
 holds, can have more than one (lint,— one for one fa- 
 mily only,---whillt milk can fcarcely be got to feed the 
 poor I Such are the natural effeds of incorporations. 
 
 4 A Anno 
 
554 Impartial ipiftou]) of 
 
 Anno 1734, Tome difputes arofe in this borough; 
 the burgelTes and freemen whereof, by cuflom imme- 
 morial, hav^e had a right of common, of pafturage, on 
 Gatefliead-Fell ; the ftevvards, and before them the 
 churchwardens of Gatefliead, for feveral years paft, 
 granted leafes, to erect cottages on the faid Fell, re- 
 ferving to themfelvcs an annual rent for damages of 
 the foil. The lord of the manor, who claimed the 
 royalty of the faid Fell, received in right thereof, 
 from the cottagers, the fame fums as they paid to the 
 borough ; and had alfo granted fimilar leafes for the 
 eredion of the like buildings. It was agreed upon 
 by both parties, to refer the matter to council, how 
 they might beft afcertain and preferve their refpedive 
 rights for the future. 
 
 In Gatefliead-Feli are many quarries, for grind- 
 ftones, fire-ftop.es, and flags, vaft quantities of which 
 are exported. 
 
 Thus we have given a fuccincl account of the an- 
 cient borough of Gatelliead, co-eval, probablys with 
 Newcaftle itfelf. But it mull pain a feehng mind to 
 fee a large place fo delightfully and advantageoufly 
 fituated, making but little progrefs in bufinefs ; nay, 
 we are alllired that in Pipewell-gate and Hill-gate, 
 where, but a few years ago there were many tallow- 
 chandlers, a fugar-houfe, &c. nothing of the kind is 
 now to be found ! It mull mortify the worthy and 
 induflrious inhabitants, to fee their goods pafs their 
 doors in waggons to be carried over the bridge to 
 Newcaftle, unloaded, and re-loaded in carts, &c. to 
 be brought, at a frefli expence, back again to Gatef- 
 head. 
 
 It might naturally have been thought that a§.the 
 river Tyne is much deeper below the bridge on the 
 
 fouth 
 
3f3elDcaSle upon Cpe. 555 
 
 fouth fide, than at Newcallle quay, that the corpora- 
 ti'on, who in ge;ieral are pretty lynx-eyed in perceiv- 
 ing their own intereit, would iiave run a quay down, 
 by Hill-gate, with proper wharfs, which not only 
 would have enriched the inhabitants ot' Gatei- 
 head, but would have added greatly to the annual re- 
 venues of NevvcilUe. Bat a corporation, who could 
 petition parliament to prohibit the people of Sunder- 
 land from deepening and improving their own river 
 Wear, are not to furprize us if they hamper and dif- 
 trels their neighbouring people of Gatefliead, all 
 in their power. Grammarians tell us that there are 
 two adjective latin pronouns, tneum and tuum^ (mine 
 and thine) and however little the gentlemen of the 
 corporation trouble their heads with languages, yet, 
 to a man they all perfectly know the meaning of the 
 Jirjl of thefe, and fuffer the people of Gatelhcad to 
 continue the lafl — the bed way they can. 
 
 In a fine day, a walk from the bridge, to the head 
 of the high ftreet, which terminates with Mr. Falla's 
 delightful gardens, gives us the mod charming prof- 
 peel in all diredions. 
 
 We had almoil omitted mentioning, that in the 
 year 1772, a temporary poft-office (as it was origi- 
 nally intended to have been) was erected at Gatef- 
 liead till Tyne-bridge could be rebuilt ; but it was 
 found fb convenient for the borough and adjacent 
 parts of the country that it continues Hill, and likely 
 will. 
 
 THE RIVER TYNE. 
 
 This truly noble river, is ever beheld by the eye 
 of the traveller, with complacency an I delight ; bat 
 to the inhabitants of Newcaltb, it has additional 
 
 4 A 2 charms, 
 
55^ Jmpartial ipiUorp of 
 
 charms, unknown to ftrangers, as it is the grand 
 vehicle and ort^an of all their conveniences, wealth, 
 and importance. 
 
 The mafters of the world might boaft of their Ty- 
 ber, the Egyptians of their Nile, the Indians of their 
 Ganges ; but the Tyne, in point of real utility to the 
 country, yields the palm of renown to none of 
 thefe, however celebrated in ftory, or diftinguiflied in 
 fong, as it carries on its furface, daily, probably more 
 genuine riches, than almoft any other river on the 
 globe. And if it does not, like Fadolus, flow on 
 golden fands, it bears along its ftreams what produces 
 large fums of that precious metal. 
 
 About the etymology of its name of Tyne, we will 
 not occupy the attention of our readers. It is of lit- 
 tle coniequence were it even afcertained with more 
 precifion, than it has been, by antiquarians. We fhall 
 diredt their attention to its ufefulnefs, its windings, its 
 harbours, and the adjacent towns and buildings on its 
 banks and Ihores. From Sparhawk at its mouth, 
 the tide flows to Hedwin Streams, above Newburn. 
 
 This river rifes from different fources ; fome of 
 them about fixty miles to the north-weft of Newcaf- 
 tle ; and from thence, to its fall into the German 
 Ocean, about ten miles. But if we meafure by the 
 windings of the river, it will be more, in both direc- 
 tions. The channel betwixt Newcaftle and Tin- 
 mouth, is of a very different width and depth, fo that 
 the tide is more rapid in fome places than others. 
 The entrance into the harbour at the Low-lights is 
 very narrow ; but the channel forms into a fine large 
 bafon for the whole length of Shields, capable of 
 holding above 2,000 fail of large fhips. Above which, 
 the tide fpreads over the extenfive flats of Jarrovv 
 
 flake ; 
 
Belocartle upon Ci?ne. 557 
 
 flake ; and then, for a great length, forms a reaiar- 
 kably fine, broad, and deep pool called the Long- 
 reach, all which contain an iininenie qaantity of wa- 
 ter. After this, the tide is obftruded, by fevcral 
 windings and narrow places in the channel till it 
 comes within a mile of Newcaltle, where it runs in an 
 open and wide pool, till it flows about two miles 
 above the town, when it is a good deal intercepted in 
 its courfe, by a large ifland, conlilling of many acres, 
 called the King's Meadows ; after flowing round this 
 illand by two narrow channtls, and through fcverai 
 beautiful windings, it rifes a little above the village of 
 Newburn ; in all about liven or eight miles above 
 Newcaftle. 
 
 The tides commonly flow about four hours and a 
 half, and ebb about feven hours and a half at Mew- 
 caftle bridge. The perpendicular rife of the river 
 here,. in a fpring tide, will fometimes be about elevea 
 or twelve, and at Tinmouth-bir, about eighteen 
 feet : but thcfe circumflances vary greatly from the 
 different winds and different quantities of freffi water 
 in the river : in a north-wefterly wind, fometimes 
 fcarcely half fo high : and in Ibme of our great land- 
 floods, the tide has not fufficient force to item and 
 turn the current, which will fet downwards during 
 the whole fwell of the tide.— — i?9r^j'r,7/;zV PhUofopbi- 
 cal Inquiry into the nature and property of water, p. 
 
 114- 
 
 At Tinmouth-bar, fays an account in Dr. Ellifon*s 
 coUedions, given by Mr. R. Reed, one of t'le Trinity- 
 mafters about the year 1700, is a ridgc of laud which 
 lies at the mouth of the river Tyne ; ihe depth of 
 water is different, as to fpring and n^ap tides ; on 
 which there is at higneil, or fpring tides, 21, 22, and 
 
 23 
 
55^ Jmuartial Diaoi*)) of 
 
 23 ieet, at high water ; and upon low or neap tides 
 16, ly, and i 8 tcet at high water. I let thefe depths, 
 tiiey being the ufuul depths, unlefs frclhes or floods of 
 rain or change of winds will make a foot or two, more 
 or lefs. The tides rife upon a fpring 16 or 17 feet, 
 and upon a neap eight or nine feet. 
 
 The Spurhawk is at prefent a fand, though it is 
 faid to be a rock, at the depth of four feet. " i went 
 off to fea in a boat," fays Mr. Brand, anno 1780, '' to 
 found and make obfervations on this ancient bounda- 
 ry. It is about a quarter of a mile from the Spanifli 
 fort, near Tinmouth-caflle. It is nearly of the fliape 
 of a crefcent, one point of which is direded towards 
 Prior's haven, and the other towards the bar. It had 
 then four feet of water upon it, but the tide was 
 rifen conliderably. N. B, The diredtion for being 
 paft the bar into the fea is, when a full view is gained 
 
 of Cullercoats." BrancVs Hiji. vol. i.p. i6. Note, 
 
 As this noble river abounded with fiilieries, we need 
 not wonder that the lords of manors on both fides of 
 the Tyne put in claims for exclufive pofrellion of its 
 royalty. 
 
 Records of dates of William Rufus, Henry I. and 
 Henry U.'s reigns afcertain the river Tyne to have 
 been the ancient boundary between the county of 
 Northumberland, and the bifhoprick of Durham ; 
 and that from Stanly-burn to Tinmouth, a moiety 
 (or half} of the water thereof, on the fouth, belonged 
 to St. Cuthbert, and the fee of Durham ; that another 
 moiety thereof, on the north, appertained to the 
 county of Northumberland ; and that the third or 
 middle divilion was common and free : the whole is 
 to be meafured at high tide. 
 
 A. 
 
50ctocaftle upon C^ne. ^^^r^y 
 
 A. D. I3q3, the king confirmed to the bidiop of 
 Durham his moieties of the waters of the Tyne and 
 Tees, with power to unload and load coals, merchan- 
 dize, 8cc. without hindrance or moleftation from the 
 men of Newcaflle. 
 
 A. D. 1414, a third part of the river Tyne, a -id of 
 the bridge at Newcaftle, was afcertained to belong to 
 the bidiop of Durham. 
 
 But, upon an inquifition taken in the year T447^ 
 it was found that the river Tyne, and the foil thereof, 
 from the place called Sparhawk, in the fea, to Hed- 
 win Streams, belonged, under the crown, to the cor- 
 poration of Newcaftle upon Tyne, 
 
 Bourne fays, " By an inquilition, 4th of [anuary, 
 25th Henry VI. the jury, upon their onths, found 
 that, time beyond the memory of man, the town of 
 Newcartle upon Tyne had and held of our fovcreign 
 lord the king, and all his predecelTors, as burgefles of 
 the laid town, (when there was no mayor) the faid 
 town and water of Tyne, and the foil of the faid water 
 of Tyne, wherever it was covered, from a place called 
 Sparhawlv, in the fea, unto a place called Hedwin 
 Streams," &c. 
 
 A. D. 1454, the king granted the confervatorfliip 
 of the river Tyne, from Sparhawk to Hedwin Streams, 
 to the town of Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 A. D. 1530, the confervatorlhip of the river Tyne 
 was confirmed to the mayor and burgeflds of Nev/- 
 caftle, by an aft of parliament, prohibiting the (hip- 
 ping, loading, or unloading of any goods to be fold, 
 into, or from any fliip, at any place within the limits 
 of Sparhawk, and the Hedwin Streams, but only at 
 the town aforefaid ; and impovvering the mayor, bur- 
 gefles, and commonalty, of that town, and their Iuc_ 
 
 ccflbrs, 
 
s6o Jnipartial IMdV]) of 
 
 fors, to pull down all wears, gores, and engines, that 
 fliould be made in the river, to the great obftrudion 
 of the navigation thereof between the places afore- 
 faid. 
 
 A. D. 1547, all the fands called Hiores, of the river 
 Tyne» were fettled on the corporation of Newcaftle 
 upon Tyne, for the maintenance of that town, and 
 prefervation of the port of Newcaftle. 
 
 A. D. J 605, lord high admiral, Elilngham, made nn 
 sffignment to the mayor and burgf ITes of Newcaftile 
 upon Tyne, of the admiralty jurifdiclion, within the 
 port of that town, extending from Sparhavvk to 
 Hedwin Streams with power to hold a court of ad- 
 miralty. 
 
 To execute the office of confervator of the river 
 Tyne;, a court admiral was appointed to be held in 
 the town every Monday, before the recorder and al- 
 dermen, or any three of them ; alfo, they are made 
 juftices of the peace for the admiralty. 
 
 The oar that has been carried or placed before the 
 mayor, as an enfign of authority in this court of admi- 
 ralty, appears to be of the fame date with the above 
 grant. 
 
 Before this court are brought all delinquents who' 
 are found to throw out ballaft, dirt, ftones, &c. into 
 the river Tyne, and are, generally, feverely fined. 
 
 But for the conveniency of unloading fliips of their 
 ballad, feveral ballaft quays were ere6led on both 
 fides of the river ; and, anno 1653, the corporation 
 of Newcaftle, for the convenience of trade, granted 
 that a ballaft fbore fliould be ereded on the foutb 
 fide of the river Tyne, from a place called the Black- 
 points, to Jarrow Pans, capable of receiving ballaft: 
 for more than fixty years to come. 
 
 September 
 
Ji^elDcaaic upon Cinic 5^^ 
 
 September 9, 1665, a leafe For a thoufand years was 
 granted by the mayor and corporation of Nevvcnftle 
 to Sir Francis Andcifon, of a Lirge parcel of ground 
 at Willington, between high and low water murk, 
 with liberty to build quays, and call ballaft, on pay- 
 ment of twopence for every ton. 
 
 It has often jxcited the curiofity of Grangers to 
 know, why thj va l bounds of Jarrow-fl'ke have not 
 been banked in, and fo many hundreds of acres of 
 fine land won from the river. The following account 
 reiolves this queftion. About tlie year 1640, .Sir 
 Charles Adder! v, and nne Mr. Crook, tenants to the 
 dean and chapter of Durham, attempted to build a 
 ballall-ra'-ire upon Jarrow-flake, but were ob(lru6ted 
 by the corporation of NevvcalTJe, which occalioned fe- 
 veral petitions to king Ciiarles II. , 
 
 It was tried in the court of exchequer, and the 
 conclufion was, " that the court were of opinion that 
 the erefting of a ball jft-fliore at Jarrow-flake would 
 prove deftruclive to trade in general, dangerous both 
 to fliippingand men's lives, to raife the prices of coals, 
 to obftrucl and choak up the river Tyne, exceed- 
 ingly mifchievous to the bar of Tinmouth-haven. and 
 would greatly injure the town and trade of New- 
 cartle." 
 
 To keep a conllant watch over all fliips entering 
 the port, a water-bailiff was appointed. His office is 
 of great credit and trult. He is to prevent all defaults 
 againlt the haven and river Tyne ; to feize, to the ufe 
 of the mayor and burgelTes, all rncii merchandizes as 
 are conveyed on flicre m fufpecled places ; and to 
 look after, preferve, and maintain the royalties, privi- 
 leges, and liberties of tiie port of 'i'yne, and is allowed 
 a deputy to iifTill him in the execution of his very ex- 
 4 B tenliv© 
 
5^2 Impartial IpiUocp of 
 
 tenlive duty. He, like other corporation oflicers, 
 is fworn at his admiflion by \vhat he thinks and takes 
 as a mere oath of office. 
 
 Another officer, called the (]uay-mafter, is appoint- 
 ed by the corporation. His duty is to attend on the 
 quay or wharf there. He is to prevent any damage 
 being done to the quay ; to appoint the births or fl:a- 
 tions of fhips; to alTefs or rate, by the ton, fuch bal- 
 lart as fliall be caft, by warrant directed to him, into 
 any keel or boat upon the new quay, out of the fliips 
 A4ti,oned there; to indorfe, on the faid warrant, the 
 number of tons and due catling of them, without da- 
 mage to the river ; after which the faid warrant to 
 be returned into the bdllaft-office. Mr. Henry Shad- 
 forth is the prefent quay-mafter. 
 
 The places mod remarkable on the north bank of 
 the river Tyne, as accurately marked by captain G. 
 Collins, and dedicated to the Trinity-houfe, New- 
 caftle, are the following : 
 
 St. Anne's, Glafshoufe-bridge, Glafs-houfes, Red- 
 houfe, St. Peter's-fhore, Dent's-hole, St. Anthony's, 
 Bill-point, Winkomlee-key, Cofen's-houfe, Stotspow, 
 North-road, Willington Ballafl-quay, Howdon-pans, 
 High-hole, Flatwoith-nefs, Dirtwich, North Shields, 
 Salt-pans, High-light, Low-light, Cliiibrd's^fort.Tyne- 
 mouth-callle, Light-houfe, Prior's-haven, Sparhawk. 
 
 Soutii fide.- -St. Mary's, Quays, South-fliore, Cole- 
 quay, Friar's-goofe, Felling fliore. Felling-creek, Cur- 
 ton-mill, Bill-quay, Hebburn-quay, Half-way-tree, 
 Jarrow, Jarrow-flake, South-Shields, Salt-Pans, Herd- 
 end, or Herd-fand. 
 
 But although the Tyne is a fine navigable river, 
 yet it is not at all times, and in all parts, abfolutely 
 ifafe for fhirping. In many parts, there are large 
 
 beds 
 
Belac^ftle upon Cync. 563 
 
 beds of fhifcing land, which are frequently dangerous. 
 The following is a curious enutneration of thefe 
 banks of fands : " B>ker-rand, St. Anthony's.fand, 
 Frenchman-fand, Bill-fand, Elbow-fand, Jarrow-fand, 
 Dirtwich-fand, VVeltue fand, Mjid-faiid, Weft pans- 
 fl^nd, and -Prior's-huven " 
 
 But the funken reef of frightful rocks, nigh the 
 mouth of the river on the north fide, is dreadfully 
 dangerous, and prove fiequently the deftruchon of 
 many fliips, and of theftill mure valuable lives of the 
 failors. 
 
 It has been repeatedly in agitation, to blow tbeni 
 up with gun-powder, and io make it one large co;n- 
 modious bafon for the Ibipping ; but from year to 
 year, fl^ip after fliip, life after life, is lolt, and ftill the 
 laudable enterprize vanifhes in air I To leilen the 
 number at leaft of theie terrible difallers, Mr. Great- 
 head, fliip-builder in South Shields," by the orders of 
 his grace the prefent duke of Northumberland, con- 
 ftruded a Life-boat, of fuch buoyant materials, that 
 in the fierceft flornrs when the Ihip is dafliing to 
 pieces, and the wretched failors clinging to the cord- 
 age, conducted by fix or eight refolute daring fellows, 
 it generally brings them all fafe on !hjre. The Hu- 
 mane Society funt Mr. Greathead a medal, compli- 
 menting him on his admirable invention. Another 
 has been conftrufled by the fame artid, and fent to 
 Yarmouth, whete, only a few weeks ago, it faved 
 eleven fine fellows' lives. The lords of the \dmiraltv 
 have it under <:onfideration to grant Mr. Greathead 
 a reward fuitable to the utihty of the difcovery. 
 
 The following directions are given for fidling into 
 
 Tinmouth-haven. " Run along the lliore, till you 
 
 come open of the river's mouth, then bring the light- 
 
 4 B 2 houfcs 
 
5^4 JiKpnrtial Oiaorp of 
 
 houfes in a line, and lb fciil in, which will cany you 
 clear of a fand bank called the Herd-fand ; and a 
 rock called the Black-middens, on the north fide, 
 then you may open the light to the fouthward. 
 When the moon comes to the north-eaft and fouth- 
 weft, it is high water at Tinmouth-h^v. —Warburton^s 
 nianufcript colleclions. 
 
 We fliall now, in a very brief manner, mention 
 fome of the moft particular placeson the banks of the 
 Tyne. To begin at Hedwin Streams. Hedwin is a 
 village fitucited on the north lide of the river. It 
 feems to have been originally a Roman ftation, from 
 its name, and the Roman w;ill went clofe paft it. 
 
 Ryton is a delightful village with a fine church 
 fituated on an eminence, on the fouth lide of the 
 river. We fcarcely would have noticed it had it not 
 been to obferve, t^iat it had for its reclor, the cele- 
 brated and learned Cave, who wrote the lives of the 
 fathers, &.c. And a ftill greater man fuccceded him, 
 the famous Dr. Seeker, who rofe to the tirll; dignity 
 in the church of England, by being elevated to the 
 archbifhopric of Canterbury, and had the honour to 
 chrillen, marry, and crown king George lU. his 
 prefent majefty. 
 
 Newburn, about fix miles diftant from Ncw- 
 caftle, is ot great antiquity, and is famous for a pro- 
 ductive falmon-fifhery, clofe by it. It was here that 
 the fiift earl of Northumberland was affafTmated in 
 the church. 
 
 The other places on both fides of the river above 
 the bridge, we h.i .e occalion illy mentioned, Lem- 
 mington, Bell's Clofe, Stella, Blaydon, Swalwell, &-c. 
 
 At fhort intervals, on each fide of the river the eye 
 is delig^^ed in feeing fiaiths, manuf^dtories, villages, 
 and gentlemen's feats, &c. At 
 
jit?nvicanie upon Cl'hc -,6^ 
 
 At Howdon, there are dry-docks tor building 
 (hips of almoll any lize. Two very large Indiamen, 
 of near a thoufand tons each, are now on the docks. 
 At this dock, was built the Argo of 44 guns, a few 
 years ^ago, which has been extremely active in the 
 fervice. .Here is alio a large covered ropery, all be- 
 longing to the Meffis. Hurry. 
 
 On the oppofite fide, further down, is the ancient 
 nionaftery of 
 
 JARROW. 
 
 This houfe, which was of the benedicTiine order, 
 was annexed to the neighbouring nionuilery of 
 Monk-wearmouth. They were both founded towards 
 the end of the feventh century, under the aufpices of 
 Benedict Bifcop, of great eminence in his time, who 
 having been a foldier in his early youth, devoted him- 
 felf to religion at the age of twenty five ; and, having 
 taken the tonfure, became a zealous teacher, and as 
 it were, a miflionary of the mona<lic life. Benedict 
 made a voyage into France, and brought buck v/ith 
 him (kilful mafons, to build the church of that abbey, 
 after the manner of the R)man arciiitedure ; which 
 was fo fpeedily accomplilhed, tliat within a year after 
 it began to be built, it was hnilhed unno 68 r. 
 
 Anno 681, the monaftery or J.^rrow, tounded by 
 Ceolfrid, in honour ot Paul, t:ie leacher of the Gen- 
 tiles, began to be builr, under the aufpic.-^s of Bene- 
 did, and with the approbation of ':ing Ecgfrid. 
 
 The famous ecclefiaftical writer, Bede, was born 
 of obfcure parents, in the vicinity ot Jarrow, and 
 was, at the sge of feven years, lent for ijis education 
 to the monaftery of that place. 
 
 Anno 
 
^66 Jiupactial fjiaorp of 
 
 Anno /OD, muiiy privileges were granted to the 
 joint nionallcrics of St. Peter and St. Paul, at Wear- 
 mouth and jarrow, by Sergius pope of Rome. 
 
 In the } ear 735, Bede, the great boafc of the mo- 
 nailery of St. Paul, died, and was buried firft at Jar- 
 row, but his body was afterwards removed to Dur- 
 ham. Bede, for the age in which he lived, was a 
 prodigy of learning. He was very tolerably ac- 
 quainted with the Latin and Greek claflics; and to 
 his unwearied diligence we owe almoft our whole 
 knowledge of that dark and turbulent period. His 
 ecclefiaftical hiftory is replete with curious informa- 
 tion, and is wiitten in no contemptible latinity. 
 For a gravity of deportment, and the flrideft piety, 
 he got the epithet of Venerable at an early period 
 of his life ; and being canonized by the bifliop of 
 Rome, he was enrolled in the calendar of their 
 faints ; and probably as defervedly as mod of their 
 faintfliips recorded there. He was acquainted with 
 poetry, rhetoric, logic, phyfics, metaphylics, agrono- 
 my, muiic, geometry, cofmography, hiltory, phiiofo- 
 phy, and divinity. William of Malmlbury thus 
 draws his charadler : *' He was a man, that although 
 born in an extreme corner of tlie world, yet the 
 light of his learning fpread over all parts of the 
 earth. AH the hours which he had to fpare frotn 
 the monadic exercifes of prayer, and finging in the 
 choirs by day and night, (in which he was conrtant 
 and very devout) he molt diligently fpent in iludy, 
 and divided his whole time between that and his 
 devotion. He was preceptor to Alcuinus, tutor to 
 Charlemain, and Claudius and Clemens, thofe great 
 lights of the church, and the illuftrious founders of 
 the univerlities of Paris and Pavia." 
 
 Like 
 
laetucaftlc upon ts:pne. 567 
 
 Like all men of genuine worth, he was equally 
 modeft as pious and learned. Henry of Huntingdon 
 gives the following account of his works, viz. 
 
 Ah incredible number of treatifes upon all parts 
 of the old and new teftaments, many of which are 
 ftill to be found in the Bodleian library at Oxford. 
 
 His ecclehaftical hidory. 
 
 Above one hundred homilies, and many pieces of 
 divinity and devotion. 
 
 A finall book, deicriptive of the Holy Land. 
 
 A chronicle from the creation. 
 
 A book of the writers of the church. 
 
 A martyrology. 
 
 An epitome of Englifli hiftory. 
 
 On the fituation and wonderful things of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 The lives of many holy men and abbots, 
 ' He died in the yzd year of his age. 
 
 About a mile well of Jarrow, there is a well flill 
 called Bede's Well ; to whicli, as late as the year 
 1740, it was a prevailing cullom to bring difcafed 
 children ; a crooked pin was put into the well, 
 which was laved dry between each dipping of the 
 patient. But on every midfummer-eve there was a 
 great refort of neighbouring people, with bonfires, 
 mufic, and dancing, to St. Bede's Well. 
 
 In the year 870, the Danes, who were particularly 
 hoflile to all places of worfhip, deftroyed the mona- 
 Ilery of Jarrow. Two centuries after, it fullered a 
 frefli defolation by the royal barbarian, William the 
 Conqueror. 
 
 It was, after thefe difafters, repaired and partly 
 rebuilt, by grants both royal and pontifical ; but 
 with fcarcely any appearance of its former magnifi- 
 cence. 
 
56S 3iinpartial il^iftorj? of 
 
 cence. Tliis too falling into decay, the church un- 
 derwent a thorough repair in the year 1783; and in 
 1790 the following infcripticn on a ftone was re- 
 moved to the weft end of the church of Jarrow : 
 
 BASILia?^ HUSUS 
 
 VETUSTISSIMiE 
 
 PARS OCCIDENTALIS 
 
 RLSTAURATA EST. 
 
 ANNO 1783. 
 
 EngliJJjed, 
 
 •* The weftern part of this moft ancient church 
 was rebuilt in the year 1783" 
 
 In the veftry, kept with great care, is a chair of 
 oak, of an antique form, that is faid to have been 
 the identical chair in which the venerable and vir. 
 tuous Bede fate and wrote moft of liis works. If fo, 
 it muft be above one thoufand years old. 
 
 There is a lingularity in the lituation of the fteeple 
 of Jarrovi? church, which we cannot omit noticing; 
 it being placed in the eaft end of the building, in- 
 ftead of the weft, as ufual. 
 
 SHIELDS. 
 
 South and North Shields, in their rapid progrefs 
 in trade and population, are ftrong demonftrations, 
 what great things induftry and a fpirit for commerce 
 can effed. South Shields was, in former times, ce- 
 lebrated chiefly for the great quantities of fait made 
 there. Thefe have been prodigioufly leflened of late 
 }ears. 1 he flreet next the river is long, narrow, 
 and incommodious ; but within thefe few years there 
 
 have 
 
ii!3c^caftlc upon €pnc. 569 
 
 have been great improvements, particularly, a mar- 
 ket-place has been built. It is a fpacious fquare, in 
 the centre of which is a handfonie building, for 
 public purpofes. On tiie fouth fide is a large and 
 commodious church, dedicated to St. Hilda, which 
 is a cliapelry of farrow. It has a fquare Iteeple, 
 with a peal of bells. There are feveral dry docks 
 for building and repairing fliips of great burthen. 
 Here, alfo, are eight glafs-houfes, where lar-;r- quan- 
 tities of that valuable branch of manufavfl ire are 
 conftantly made ; viz. four for green glafs bottles, 
 three for crown glafs, and one for flint glafs. At 
 the fouth-eaft end, called the Law, are erected feve- 
 ral batteries of cannon for defence of the river. 
 
 Upon the late cenfus taken of the inhabitants of 
 Great Britain, South Shields was found to contain 
 nearly as great a number as any town in the county. 
 In it, befides the eflablilhed church, of which the 
 Rev. Mr. Wallace is redor, there are four diflcnting 
 meeting-houfes. One confiderably above the Mill- 
 dum is (we believe) under the patronage of Lady 
 Ann Erfkine. Another, on a ballaft-hill, of the 
 Burgher- feceder communion, Rev. J. Thorburn, 
 M. D. minifler. On the bank-head, fronting the 
 river, is a aeat chapel for diflenters. Rev. Jofepji 
 Matthews, minider. A little lower down is a large 
 one, with a numerous congregation, Rev, Charles 
 Tofliack, miniller. The methodills have alfo a place 
 of worOiip in South Shields; where there is likewife 
 a theatre. Meffrs. VVilfon, Drydeii, MafFin, Lumf- 
 den, &c. fchoolmafters, teach youth with great fuc- 
 cefs and approbation. 
 
 About a mile to the fouthward is the village of 
 Wertoe, which is perhaps one of the mofl delightful 
 
 4 C and 
 
-70 
 
 Jnipartial il^tGory of 
 
 and charming places in the north of England. From 
 it is a noble profped: of the German Ocean, and of 
 the adjacent country. The ftreet is wide and airy, 
 ihe houfes elegant, and adorned with pleafant gar- 
 dens, flower plots, &c. This place is the calm re- 
 treat of the wealthy and fucccfsful adventurers by 
 lea. 
 
 North Shields lies on the other fide of the river. 
 The low ftreet there, too, is almoft equally incom- 
 modious as that in South Shields. This place, now 
 fo rich, commercial, and important, in the reign of 
 Edward 1. contained only three or four cottages for 
 as many fifliermen. Indeed, its name imports that 
 it confided only of flieds, or fhields, for the mifer- 
 able accommodation of poor filhers I At the welt 
 end of North Shields rtands Milburn Place, contain- 
 ing two parallel flreets, running from weft to eaft, 
 while the front, which looks towards the river, is 
 adorned with a pile of beautiful buildings, on iin 
 elevated fituation, and enjoys a moll conmianding 
 profpedl for many miles round. There are feveral 
 docks for building fliips of large dimenfions, and 
 great burthen, in North Shields. The houfes on 
 both fides of the low Ib'eet are one continued range 
 of fliops, richly flored with every kind of merchan- 
 dize. Numbers of oxen are llaughtered here for the 
 fliipping, and efpeciully for thole in the coal trade, 
 which are generally well victualled. At the eaft 
 end of North Shields is a flrong fort, (called Clif- 
 ford's Fort) and an arfenal for warlike ftores. The 
 cannon on the battery are numerous and of large 
 calibre, and, lying almoft level with the river, form a 
 powerful defence againft any hollile attempt to de- 
 fliroy the fhipping in the harbour. In Clifford's Fort 
 
 is 
 
BcUicfiftlc upon Cyne. 57r 
 
 is the low light, which correfponcls with another on 
 the top of the bank, and directs Ihips to enter the 
 river by the narrows witli lafety. 
 
 On the bank-head, on a tine level Ipacious ground, 
 are many good buildings ; particuhirly Dockwray- 
 i'quare, Toll-fqiiare, &c. Some new Ibeets are alfo 
 rapidly advancing; and if the obfervation of lord 
 Kaimes be juft, that a view tjf the ocean is the moll 
 auguft in nature, tlie inhabitants in the elevated 
 parts of North Shields completely enjoy it. Tiie 
 parifh church, which was but lately rebuilt, Hands 
 about half a mile north of the town. It is a very 
 handfome edifice, with a fine peal of bells in a 
 fquare lleeple, and well adapted for the conve- 
 nience of the parilliioneis, who are very numerous. 
 There are five diffenting meeting houfes. On the 
 bank- fide is one of long llanding, and the congrega- 
 tion, which is great and refpedable, is under the 
 minillrations of the Rev. Meilrs. Kae and Knox. A 
 little farther down is another, (lately the old iheatrej 
 Rev. Mr. Colquhoun, miniller. Still farther down 
 is a large chapel. Rev. Mr. Pollock, miniftcr. Here 
 is alfe a fmall baptilt chapel, and another for the 
 people called quakers. On the top of the bank is a 
 neat meeting-houfe for feceders, Rev. Mr. Armllrong, 
 miniller. In Mdburn-place is a n)ethodiil chapel, 
 and another large one, on the bank-bead, of tiie 
 fame communion. Here is a- neat little tliear.re, 
 which in general is well attended. 
 
 But the glory of Shields is its large and commo- 
 dious harbour, where about two thouland Ibips can 
 ride fafeiy. For above a mile from the mouth of 
 the river, the eye is charmed with feeing qiiiie a io- 
 reft of mails, with ftreamers waving, and the ear is 
 4 G 2 '•^c 
 
SV" Jinpartial fpiftor)) of 
 
 delighted with the iliouts of brave and hardy feamen 
 hoilling the canvas, ready to catch the gale to con- 
 vey them to the moft diltant fhores. 
 
 On the top of the banks are large covered roperies 
 for making cables and cordage for the fhipping. 
 
 In both North and South Shields are many very 
 extenlive breweries, from whence large quantities of 
 beer, ale, and porter, are exported, and alfo ufed 
 in (loring the fliips. 
 
 Upon the whole, the inhabitants of Shields are 
 adive, enterprifing, and induftrious ; and, although 
 adding hovft; to houfe^ and pop tojhop, yet " trade is 
 very bad I — never worfe I--- nothing but loling mo- 
 ney 1" are expreflions and complaints to which they 
 are fo much habituated, that a ftranger is almoll 
 perfuaded they are in earned. 
 
 In going eallward, we afcend to 
 
 TYNEMOUTH BARRACKS. 
 
 Thefe military accommodations are of great ex- 
 tent, in the form of a fquare, handfomely built, and 
 command one of the finefl profpects in the kingdom. 
 The rooms for the foldiers are neat, convenient, and 
 airy. In the fquare the men are daily exercifed and 
 taught military manoeuvres. 
 
 A little below, on the weft fide of the barracks, 
 is a penitentiary or corredlion-houfe, ftrongly con- 
 ftruded, and is a difmal proof of moal depravity ; 
 but this depravity we find to be generally, if not 
 always, in exact proportion to the number of corn- 
 men foldiers in a town. Common gardens run along 
 the banks, and are very productive and beautiful. 
 
 TYNE- 
 
l^etocaflle upon Ci)ne. 57/t 
 
 TYNEMOUTH CASTLE. 
 
 Thefe magnificent ruins have fuch an air of gran- 
 deur, as never fails to ilrike the beholder with a kuiJ 
 of reverential awe. They recal to our minds the 
 days of ancient times, when this once grand monaU 
 tery was the occafional re'idence of royal perfonages, 
 princes, prelates, and nobles, who, when they at- 
 tended the lublime duties of devotion in this auguil 
 edifice, felt, no doubt, their minds elevated with 
 the mod exalted ideas of tlie great Creator, who 
 fpread the fkies over the pinnacles of their lofty 
 flrudture, and who poured out the adjacent ocean, 
 that with inceflant toil waflies the rocks which con. 
 ilitute the liable bafis of this majertic f<ibiic. But 
 Tynemouth (once noble) Abbey, in its origin, was 
 poffibly a rehgious houfe of rude and limple archi- 
 tedlure in the earlielt ages of Chriftianity, loon after 
 the introduction of the nionailic inftitution into thi» 
 ifland. 
 
 Edwin, king of the Northumbrians, fume time 
 between the years of Chrill 617 and 633, eredled 
 here a place of relidence, of wood, for religious of 
 both fexes, in which his own dau;;hter R')fella took 
 the veil. Ofwald, a fucceeding king of Northum- 
 berland, anno 634, pulled down this wooden reli- 
 dence for devotion, and upon its lite built another of 
 ftone. 
 
 An oratory, dedicated to St. Mary, is laid to have 
 been m this place, where a great number of peiloin 
 of diflinclion aflembled for devotional purpufcs. The 
 monaftery by this time acquired hich a reputation of 
 local fanclity, that peilbns dying in the aeighbour- 
 
 liood 
 
574 Impartial fpiUor]^ of 
 
 hood were brought to be interred in it, according to 
 the fuperltition of the times. 
 
 Hither was conveyed for that pinpofe the mur- 
 dered body of king Ofwin. This prince, afterwards 
 canonized, was born at a town that had been a Ro- 
 man llation, oppofite to Tynemouth, on the fouth 
 fide of the river Tyne, called Urfa, which was to- 
 tally defolated by the Danes. Ofwin was king of 
 Deira, one of the provinces of the kingdom of Nor- 
 thumberland, and by bafe treachery tell a facritice 
 to the ambition of Ofwy, king of Bernicia, the other 
 province of Northumberland, in the year 651. 
 
 The Danes repeatedly plundered and deflroyed 
 this (lately monalVery ; and it is faid to have been 
 completely demoliihed by Hungar and Hubba. It 
 is afferted by fome writers that it was rebuilt by 
 Tofti, earl ot Northumberland. 
 
 Anno 1094, the bodies of Malcolm, king of Scot- 
 land, and his fon, prince Edward, both flain in bat- 
 tle, were interred in this monaftery. 
 
 Earl Mowbray, having entered into a confpirRcy 
 to dethrone William Rufus, converted this place into 
 a caftle to defend his trealbn on that occalion ; but 
 Rufus, marching againft him, b.elieged the caiUe for 
 two months, and taking the place, Mowbray was 
 dragged out and put to death. 
 
 Rufus conferred many grants and privileges upon 
 the nionartery of Tynemouth; and Henry 11. gave 
 feveral valuable endowments to it ; but the moll 
 liberal royal donor to Tynemouth was king John. 
 That the reader may form fome idea of the opulence 
 of this grand religious relidence, we Ihall here enu- 
 merate what the lafl named king confirmed to the 
 
 monks 
 
l^ctocalile upon Ci)ne. 575. 
 
 monks of Tynemouth, and what he gave them of 
 his own muniticence. 
 
 The charter, dated 1204, confirmed to the church 
 of Tynemouth all their lands and polVeiFions, /. e. 
 the villages of Tynemouth, Seaton, Prellon, both the 
 Ghirtons, Millington, Whitely, Erdefdon, the two 
 Back worths, Seghill, Morton, Bebfide, the two Dif- 
 lingtons, Ulfington, Bewick, Eglingham, Lilburn, 
 Anibell, Havvkllaw, Elfwick, VVylam, Weltedon, 
 and half of Copun, Carleberry, and Morton in Bi- 
 fliopric, Hellefliaw, and the lands of Royley and 
 Denum, with the churches of Tynemouth, Wood- 
 horn, Whalton, Bolum, Bewick, arid Eglingham, 
 and of Hertburn and Connyfcliif ; alio Hereford on 
 Blyth, and the tythes of Hertnes, with thofe of 
 Middleton on Tees, of Corbridge, Rothbury, Wark- 
 worth, Wooler, and Newburn. 
 
 It appears that the priory of Tynemouth pofTefled 
 the royalties of no fewer than twenty-feven villas in 
 the county of Northumberland I But the rapacious 
 Henry VIII. dripped tiiis rich monaflery of all its 
 valuable polIefTions, anno 1539 ; and Robert Blake- 
 ney, prior, with fifteen monks and three novices, 
 furrendered the monaftery of Tynemouth. 
 
 On the fuppreflion of this priory, an annual pen- 
 sion of 80I. was alfigned to Robert Blakeney, the 
 prior, (the rich plunder could well afford it) and 
 fmaller ones to each of the above monks and no- 
 vices ; about 5I. to each. 
 
 Tynemouth Catlle, from its lofty fituation on 
 rocks of prodigious height, almoll perpendicular to 
 the fea, feems by nature to be formed for a place of 
 ftrength ; and fo we find it was, at an early period, 
 fortified againft the occafional depredations of pirates, 
 
 and 
 
57<> Jnipartial M^ot^ of 
 
 and the flill more formidable invafions of the Scots. 
 Tyneinouth, on that account, for ages became the 
 fcene of many bloody conflids. 
 
 Among the lad of the military exploits, which 
 happened at Tynemouch, were thole during the un- 
 happy civil war between Charles I. and his parlia- 
 ment ; for, anno 1642, Tynernouth Callle was put 
 in a polhire of defence by the earl of Newcaftle, 
 then governor of Newcaftle upon Tyne, who fent 
 three hundred foldiers from thence, with lix large 
 cannons. Trenches were call up, and a fort was 
 erefted at the mouth of the haven on this occafion. 
 
 Oct 27, 1644, Tynernouth Caftle, after having 
 been beiieged for fome time, furrendered to general 
 Levcn and the Scots army, when thirty-eight pieces 
 of ordnance, and great llore of arms, ammunition, 
 and provifions, fell into the hands of the enemy. 
 The garrifon were allowed to march out with their 
 baggage on this occufion. It is mentioned that on 
 the 19th preceding of that month, the garrifon hav- 
 ing fuffered feverely by the plague, the chief com- 
 manders had left the caftle. 
 
 A. D. 1648, Sir Arthur Haflerigg was governor of 
 Tynernouth Caftle. Colonel Lilburn, his deputy in 
 the command, having revolted, and declared for the 
 king, Haflerigg ftormed the calUe, and put all that 
 were in arms therein to the fword. Lilburn's head 
 was cut off, and fixed upon a pole. After the re- 
 Aoration, the common-council of Newcaflle voted 
 two hundred pounds towards the reparation of the 
 works of Tynernouth Caftle, in confequence of a 
 letter from Charles II, 
 
 The old church, within the caftle of Tynemouth, 
 was ufed fur divine fervice till the year 1668, when 
 
 a new 
 
j^etDcatilc upon C^nc 577 
 
 a new one was built and confecrated in the couri'e 
 of the fume year. 
 
 A. D. 1783, the Britilh government refumed the 
 pofTeflion ot" Tvneinouth Caltle, for a place of arms 
 and a depofitory of (tores, for the better protection 
 of the port ot" Tyne, and of the adjacent coaits of 
 Durham and Northumberland. In confequence of 
 this refolution, many fine pieces of cannon, feveral 
 of them brafs, and great quantities of military ftores, 
 arrived at Tynemouth Caltle ; fo that it is now a com- 
 plete place of arms and warlike (lores. The fine 
 and magnificent entrance into the ca(tle was entirely 
 demoliflied, and built up in a ilyle of architecture of 
 the mo;t contemptible kind, over which are fitted 
 up barracks for the foldiers. This debafing altera- 
 tion was made by the orders of his grace the duke of 
 Richmond, then matter of the ordnance. He un- 
 derltood, in pradice, this verfe in Horace better 
 than any man in the kingdom : 
 
 Defiru'it, ad'ijicat., mutat quaJrata rotundis. 
 
 He builds, deltroys, and changes Ihapes of things. 
 
 This celebrated monaftery, which was of the Be- 
 nedictine order, produced many learned men. We 
 cannot even klect a fmall enumeration of them, but 
 Ihall only mention two. John of Whethamftede, 
 33d abbot of St. Alban's, was a monk of the priory 
 of Tynemouth, and gave, after he came to be ab^ 
 hot, a chalice of pure gold, and of ureat weight, to 
 the priory of Tynemouth. Stephen's Monafticon 
 fays of him, ** Cant e^ it ijle lapis^ ^c. 
 
 ENGLISHED. 
 
 " This Jl one covers the bones of the venerable John 
 
 Whethamjiede^ who was abbot here in his time, mojl 
 
 4 D learned 
 
57^ Impartial JplGorp of 
 
 learned himfelf, a lover of learned men, and kind t9 
 tbem all. He was as zealous as Phineas againjl lewd 
 perjons and as John agairjl adulterers, and even as 
 Peter againjl Simoniacs. He was fo great a repairer 
 of decayed churches ^ that none exceeded bim in that 
 virtue, nor is there any his equal to this day.'* 
 
 John of Tvnemouth was born in that town, and is 
 faid to have been vicar of" it. He was a moll virtu- 
 ous pu-fon, and well learned, entirely addi(^ed to 
 the Ihidy of the holy fcriptares, and of fiicred hiftory. 
 He collecled the lives and ads of the faints of Eng- 
 land, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, with great judg- 
 ment and indefatigable labour ; which work he en- 
 titled Sanclilogium Servorum Dei, i. e. The Sacred 
 Hi/lory of the Servants of God. He alio wrote many 
 coaiinentaries and expolitions of the fcripture ; a 
 work called The Golden Hijlory; a martyrology, &c. 
 
 In the ruins of Tynemouth monaftery there are 
 ftill obfervable three recefll-s in the fouth wall, near 
 the entran'.e to the oratory of St. Mary ; one is fud 
 to have been the confeffional chair ; another of them 
 has evidently been the cavity for containing the 
 holy water ; and the third the clofet for the confe- 
 cratcd hoft. It is remarkable, that the capitals of 
 the columns have each of them a different kind of 
 ornament. 
 
 The little oratory of St. Mary has been cleaned 
 out, by the order of the governor, and fhut up to 
 preierve it from future defecrations. It is on the 
 caft end of the lofty ruins, and ftill entire. 
 
 In a place devoted for fo many centuries to reli- 
 gion, and where the dull of princes, prelates, chiefs, 
 and nobles, has flept for ages, the recording monu- 
 ments of tiieir high achievements, their virtues, and 
 
 their 
 
JlJcloc'^'ftlc upon Crvie. 579 
 
 their worth, mull have been nu:neroas and fplendid. 
 But, al.is ! al!-c:f vouring time, und the ruthlefs ha- 
 voc of war, have confi.:;lied ahvo;t the wh.oie lo ob- 
 livion I Some tomb-lloaes itill reaiam among the 
 mournful ruins. On two altar tombs of blue mirble, 
 in the part that h^s been the chancel, are the two 
 following infcnptions. 
 
 •' Here Iveth die body of Henry Reay, cfq. 
 merchant, alderman, an.i twice mayor 
 
 et" Newcaflle upon Tyne, 
 
 who died Oiftober i8th, 1734, aged 63- 
 
 He Wis a magiftrate, able, generous, 
 
 and of a truly public fpirit oi religion j 
 
 A zealous advocate and defender of the 
 
 Church of England, and thofe that wait at 
 
 its altar : a fincere friend and underftnnding patron. 
 
 In the various inftitutions of public charity 
 
 a prudent director, and munificent benefactor. 
 
 Of exa<ft integrity in commerce, humanity to 
 
 (IraHgcis, civility to acquaintance, 
 
 and generofity to all." 
 
 " Here lieth interred the body of 
 
 Utrick Reay, fon and heir of Henry 
 
 Reay, efq. alderman of Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 He was endowed with all tliofe 
 
 amiable and fecial qualities which caufe 
 
 men to be beloved when living, lamented 
 
 vhen dead. By hi« wife Bridget, daughter 
 
 of Henry Blencow, of Blencow-Hall, 
 
 in the county of Cumberland, cfq. 
 
 he had ijTae three children, Philadelphia, 
 
 who died before him, April 4th, 1736, in the 
 
 I ft year of her age ; Hannah and Utrick, 
 
 who furvived him: He died April loth, 1742, 
 
 in the 31 ft year of his age. Here alio lieth 
 
 buried Utrick Reay, his fon, who died 
 
 March 4th, 1744, in tlie 7th year of his ag;. 
 
 To whofe m:m>^ry this mciument w:.s 
 
 ereded, by the ferenamed Bridget Reay." 
 
 4 D 2 In 
 
fSo Jnumrtial fiiifloq^ of 
 
 In the church-yard are a great many beautiful 
 tomb-ftones, and are almoft daily encreafiiig. 
 
 In walking round the precincts of this celebrated 
 place, nothing can exceed the profpects with which 
 the eye is luxurioufly entertained. When we look 
 down from thefe tremendous rocks, " and view the 
 main that ever toils below ;" when we extend our 
 view northward, we fee the princely feat of Seaton- 
 Delaval, and are charmed with obferving, at a dif- 
 tance, Cuflevcoats, Hartley, Blyth, and the ruined 
 abbey of Holy Ifland ; — fouth and weft, groves of 
 mafts, and the flourifhing, fpreading towns of North 
 and South Shields. In a word, " take this profped 
 for all in all, we Iball not eaiily fee its like again." 
 We take our leave of thefe antique towers and hal- 
 lowed walls, with a " figh, drawn from the inmoft 
 foul," and faying, peace to the manes of the virtu- 
 ous and the good, who fleep there, till the glorious 
 rertitution of all things I 
 
 On the north-eaft fide of the caftle is a light-houfe 
 for the direction of fhips ; it is very high, and the 
 lights from it are feen many leagues at fea. Clofe 
 to it is a battery of very large cannon, pointed over 
 thefe lofty rocks, for defence of the fliipping. 
 
 The prefent governor of Tynemouth Caftle is 
 Charles Rainsford, whofe annual falary is two hun- 
 dred and eighty- four pounds; and that of the lieu- 
 tenant-governor, Charles Crawford, one hundred and 
 feventy-three pounds. 
 
 The village of Tynemouth has one very wide and 
 airy ftreet. In it are feveral taverns and inns for the 
 accommodation of thofe who come in parties of plea- 
 fure, or for bathing. It is now a place of genteel 
 refort for fea-bathing during the fummer feafon, for 
 
 which 
 
f^clucaftlc upon Cijnc 5'f 
 
 which purpole the bay, called Prior's Haven, on the 
 foLith fide of the caftle, is exceedingly well adapted. 
 The ufual morninc^ walk of the company is among 
 the extenfive and venerable rains of the calUe and 
 •monaftery, the light of which fills all vifitjut.s of 
 tafte with emotions of veneration and fy mpathy } 
 exclaiming with a figh. Sic tranjit gloria mundi — > 
 So pajfes the glory of all human things. 
 
 '^%^k^r^ 
 
 HISTORICAL EVENTS. 
 
 *i fuccind Account of the mojl remarkable Events 
 which have happened in Newcajlle. 
 
 A TOWN, which, for ages, made fo great a figure 
 for its political, and in our times for its coaimeicial 
 confequence, niuft have been fubject to various re- 
 volutions, and given birth to many very ftrikin"- 
 events. On a flight retrofpecl of its hiltorv, 
 many occurrences prefent themfelves, fingular, and 
 in a manner peculiar to itfclf. At an early period, 
 Ave have feen, that its fituation, adjoining to one of 
 the fined rivers of the ifland ioon attracted the atten- 
 tion of the Romans. The fitnefs o^' the river Tync 
 for the purpofes of navigation did not long efcapc 
 the notice of a commercial people , nof cm we 
 doubt but that the moll ancient- Briu chol'e their 
 refidence on its fertile and delightful banks. Tiie 
 mightieft and moft enterpnfing of the Ron:ian eiji.. 
 perors, upon their fubduing the fouthern parts of the 
 ifland, turned their attention to "make it a dep ' of 
 arms, and a barrier againfl the intrepi^Vaud reltlvis 
 tribes of northern barbarians. 
 
 Julius 
 
;82 Jmpnrtial riCorp of 
 
 Julius Agiicoh, j^overnor under the emperor Titus Vefpafian, 
 eftabliilied a ^arnfon here about A. D. 80 ; and made it one of 
 tlr.it chain ol military ftations which extended from the eaftem 
 to the wtflti-n K<i. 
 
 Hadrian, the Roman empcrcr, built his wall or rampart nearly 
 from t!it Irifh f.a to tie German ocean, terminating at this part 
 of the viv'cr ; over which alfo he threw a bridge, at this place : 
 a circuirllance which gave a new appellation, that of Pons ^lii, 
 (derived trom his family name JElius) to the Roman ftation, the 
 fite oi which is at pr^ieiit included within the walls of Newcaftle. 
 
 Sevcruswas here in prrfon, and began to ereft his famous wall 
 of ftone, A. D. 207. which was extended acrofs the ifland, nearly 
 fii'.ni lea to fea. This ftupendous monument of the Roman 
 people pafled through the fite of the prefent Newcaftle eaftward, 
 ending at the ftation of Segedunum, near the village of Wallfend. 
 
 This celebrated place, after hiftorical /ilence of nearly two 
 hundred years, occurs again, under the new ap[>ellation of ^J 
 Murum., (at the wall) ard tlie refidenee of a Northumbrian king. 
 l)uiing the heptarchy, which continued near three hundred years, 
 it had the name of Monkchefter, and was one of the principal 
 "Yeats of the Northumbiian princes. 
 
 The conqueror William frequently vifited this town, in his wars 
 %vith his refraftory barors, or the reftlefs Scots. His fon Rufus 
 built the rtrong fortrefs, from which it exchanged its name once 
 more to that ci Newcaflle, which it retains to the prefent times. 
 
 A. D. ic68, Northumberland was invaded and Newcaiile 
 taken by Edgar Etheling, heir to tlie crown of England, together 
 •vivh Malcolm, king of Scotland, whom the conqueror engaged 
 in perfon, and overthrew on a heath adjoining to that place, now 
 called Gatt-flif. id-fell. The enraged Norman \\x(i Newcaftle 
 almoll level with ibe grv und, to prevent its becoming, ip future, 
 an afylum to his etvjmics 
 
 A. D. 107?, William the conqueror paffed again through 
 Kewcafilc, en his -^ay to Scotland. Malcolm met him at Ber- 
 wick upon Tweed, .here- he did him homage. 
 
 x^bout the beginning of tht reign of king Stephen, the town of 
 Neuc.iftle aprtj;£ to h..vc been feiztd into the hands cf David, 
 Itmg of Scots ; in u hofe p^-iRffion, .x rather perhaps in that of 
 prince Henry his f<>n, ii ftms to have continurd for a long time. 
 
 In the year 1 173, Wiliiam, kirg cf Scots, taking advantage cA 
 the unnaturai'rcbcUion raikd agarnft Htnry II. in his family aivl 
 
 kingdom* 
 
3:5etocaGle upon Cpnc. s^3 
 
 kingdom, appears to have inraded England. After having corr- 
 micted the mod dreadful devaftation, as far as tlie banks of th- 
 T) ne, he retreated, and fat down before Alnwick Ciftle, in a i)l,ice 
 adjoining to which, amidll a iroop of bciw^ecn lixiy and fevcntv 
 horfcm:n, apprehending no danger, and diverting himillfwiih 
 tlie excrcifes of chivalry in an open plain, he was taken prifoncr b)* 
 Ranulph de Glanvillc, IherifF of Yorkfhire, with a band of horfe, 
 in which were about 400 knights. This gallant party, who had 
 fet out from NewcalUe early on the morning of the 12th of July, 
 returned the fame evening, bringing the grand enemy of tht-ir 
 
 royal mafter along with tliem This William king oi Scots, 
 
 furnamed the Lion, was afterwards confined in the callle of Rich- 
 mond, till king Henry removed him, and imprWbned him at Rouen, 
 in Noimandy. The ScottiQi king was afterwards delivered up 
 at York, for the ranfom of 4,oocl. and a drtadful rencounter took 
 place at the bridge of Newcallle, on his return to his kingdom, 
 between his own guards and the commons of tliat town, who» 
 doubtlcfs, were highly exafperated at the redemption of an enemy 
 whom they had fo great caufe beth to hate and fear. 
 
 About the year 1209, there was a conference held at NewcaAle 
 between king John and William king of Scots. 
 
 In the year 1213, king John marched through the town of 
 Newcaftle, on his route againft Scotland with his army ; but the 
 Scottish king met him on the borders, and, by the mediation of 
 common frie»d$, the quarrel was made up for fome time between 
 tlic two kingdoms. 
 
 A. D. 1234, there was a grievous plague at Newcaftle, which 
 continued for three years. 
 
 In the year 1236, king Henry HI. had a conference with Alex- 
 ander, king of Scotland, at the town of NewcalUe. 
 
 In the year 1244, the fifter kingdoms had nc*rly come to an 
 open rupture, the king of England being at Newcaftle with an 
 army, and the king of Scots with another at Ponteland ; a peace, 
 however, was agreed upon by the mediation of tlie archbifhop of 
 York, and fome of the nobility, on the eve of the AfTumption of 
 the Blefled Virgin. Rapin tells us, tliat Alexander fubmitted to 
 the fame homage that he himfelf had paid on a former occafion, 
 and which his anceftors had been accuftomed to pay. So perfe(ft 
 a reconciliation look place between the contending parties on this 
 occaGon, that, before their departure, a marriage was agreed up- 
 on 
 
5^4 Impartial flMQv^ of 
 
 on between the fon of Alexander, king of Scots, and Margaret, 
 the eldeft daughter of tlie king of England. 
 
 A ien)arkable event diftinguifhcd the feaft of St. Stephen, in 
 the year 129?, at Newcaftlc ; John Baliol, king of Scotland, hav- 
 ing, againll the will of his own nobles, if we may credit Boetliius, 
 done Ijomagtf, on that day, for his crown, to the king of England, 
 in the hall 01 liis palace, witliin the cadle of that town : the cere- 
 mony was conduvfted with much folemnity, and in the prefeuce 
 of a number of great perfonages of both nations. 
 
 In the year 1297, the Scots renewed their former hoftilities, by 
 making an inroad into Enghmd, llaying the inhabitants of Nor- 
 thumberland, and burning and laying wafte the country ; the in- 
 habitants, with their wives, children, furniture, and cattk, fled to 
 NewcalHe upon Tyne, whither alfo the enemy marched down the 
 northern bank of the liver: the townfmen having made every 
 neccflary preparation for refiHance, fallied torth in order to fight 
 them, upon wliich the Scots turned another way 
 
 In the year 1322, a general rende/.vous of the king's forces was 
 ordered to be held at Newcaftle upon Tyne, on the feaft of the 
 Holy 'JVinity. A rendezvous was alfo ordered to be at the fame 
 place on the eve of St. Luke that year, which was prevented by 
 another incurfion of the Scots into England, who penetrated as 
 far as Yorkftiire, and nearly t(K)k the king of England, then refid- 
 ing at Byland, in that county, a ptifoner. They arc faid to have 
 befieged Newcaftle on this occafion, but met with a vigorous re- 
 pulfe. 
 
 On the execution of Andrev/ de Hartcla, earl of Caiiifle, wh» 
 had fuflered death for treafon, one quarter of his body was order- 
 ed to be pnfup on jthe keep of the caftle of Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 The queen of king Edv.'ard III. having followed the king to 
 Durham, was conduced to him through the gate of the abbey to 
 the prior's lodgings ; where having fupped, and gone to bed with 
 her royal lord^ihe was foon difturbed by one of the monks, who 
 rudely intimated to the king, that St. Cuthbert by no means loved 
 the company of her fex. The queen upon this got out of bed, 
 and having haftily drefied herfclf, went to the caftle for the re- 
 maining part of the night, afking pardon for the crime flie had 
 inadvertently been guilty of againft the patron faint of their ehurch. 
 i Scon after the return of David, king of Scbts, to his own 
 country, where he arrived June 2d, 1342, he invaded England' 
 by the eaftern border with an immenfe anny, and coming to 
 
 Newcaftle 
 
Ji3e\Qc*^ftlc upon Cpnc. 585 
 
 Newcaftle upon Tyne, lay about it all night. JEarly the next 
 niotning the to'.vnlmen fallied forth to reconnoitre the enemy, of 
 whom they Hew great numbers by furprife, and brought b;ick 
 with them the earl of Murray, whom lliey took a prifoncr in his 
 tent. The next morning the Scots alfaulted the town, but Sir 
 John Nevil, then captain of the eaftle, making a mod vigorous 
 defence, they were compelled to raife the fiege, and marched on 
 towards Durlvam. 
 
 In the year 1588, while the Knglilh were unhappily occupied 
 by the civil diflcntions bet\veen the king and his parliament, the 
 Scots invaded England. All the military pcrfons of the country 
 Were ordered to aifcmlile, on this occafion, at Newcaftle upon 
 Tyne, which was l"o full of people, that, as Froiflard tells us, 
 " they wyrt not where to lodge." The enemy having, as ufual, 
 marked their way by rapine and deftruftion, as far as Durham, 
 returned and fat down two days before Newcaftle, on both of 
 wliith they had ikiimifties with the defendants within that town. 
 Sir Henry and Sir Ralph Percy, the gallant fons of the earl of 
 Northumberland, as the fame authority words it, were ever fore- 
 moft at the barriers of tlie town to ikirmilh. In one of thefe 
 rencounters. Sir Henry Percy, fighting hand in hand with the 
 earl of Douglas, loft his ftandard, which he made a vow to re- 
 cover, and for th it purpofe purfued the Scots on their return as 
 far as Otterbourn, where a moft bloody battle was fought, ia 
 whicli the Englilh army were rather unfoi innately than diflio- 
 nourably defeattd. 
 
 December 1, 14.28, king Henry VI. ifTucd an order for the 
 fafe conduct of the king of Scots, to be efcorted n.s far as New- 
 callle upon Tyne or Durham, by one tht-ufand of his own horfe, 
 to a perfonal conference with Henry Beautort, bifhop of Win- 
 chefter, in o) dor to prevent hoftilitits between the two kingdoms. 
 
 A convention for a marriage between James, then duke of 
 Rothefay, heir apparent of the king of SccnLfnd, and Ann, 
 daughter of the duke of SulFolk, and niece of the JLnglifti king, 
 us fcon within three years as the parties cime of fit age, was 
 agreed upon to be ratified December 6, 14S3, in the church of 
 St. Nicholas in .Newcaftle upon Tyne ; but it was a felicity not 
 deftined to this Ann, but referred for Margaret, daughter of 
 Henry VI. by a marriage with the king of Scotland, to lay the 
 foundation of a real, and we trull cverlafting, coalition between 
 4 D king- 
 
58(> Jmpattial Ipiftorj) of 
 
 kingdoms united by nature, but which, for a feries of ages, were 
 unnaturally and very unhappily disjoined. 
 
 ■ About the middle of Auguft, 1487, king Henry VII. arrived 
 at Newcaflle upon Tyne, on a progrcfs through the northera 
 counties, and currying on a fcvcre inquifition aguinft the perfons 
 vho had been concerned in the late rebellion. He continued to 
 refide in that town during the remainder of the fummer. 
 
 On the 24th of July, 1503, Margaret, cldeft daughter of 
 Henry Vll. then affianced to James IV. king of Scotland, ar- 
 rived at Newcaftle upon Tyne, on her way to that kingdom, 
 where flje was entertained with great ftate, and left the town or 
 the 26lh following. 
 
 The earl of Surrey, in the abfence of king Henry VIII. or- 
 dered a rendezvous of military forces at Newcaftle upon Tyne, 
 September 1,1513. He arrived at that town Auguft 30, on 
 an expedition againft Scotland, hoUilities having been renewed 
 between the two kingdoms. He had procured the banner of St. 
 Ciitlibert from the church of Durham. The earl was joined at 
 Alnwick, on the 4th of September, by his fon Thomas, lord ad- 
 miral, accompanied with a great number of forces, both foldiers 
 and mariners, wliich he had brought by fea to Newcaftle. On 
 the 9th of that month was fought the battle of Flodden-field, 
 where the king of Scotland was (lain, and from whence his body, 
 firft taken to Berwick, was afterwards feat to Newcaftle, and from- 
 thence removed to the monaftery of Shene, or Richmond, in 
 Surrey. 
 
 In the year 1541, while king Henry VIll. was at Yoik, cx- 
 pe(5ting an interview with the king of Scotland, which had been- 
 agreed upon, and would have taken place if James had not bro- 
 ken the appointment, the mayor of Newcaftle waited upon him 
 with a prefent of lool. He was complimented in the fame manner 
 by the chief magiftrates of York and Kingfton upon Hull. The 
 year following hoftilities recommenced between the two kingdoms. 
 
 In the year 1543, on the death of James V. of Scotland, king 
 Henry projeded a marriage between his fon Edward, then only 
 five years old, and Mary, the infant queen of that kingdom ; cer- 
 tain Scottifli nobles, who had been made prifoners at a late defeat 
 near Solway, were deputed into Scotland for this purpofe, where 
 they arrived about the middle of January, having firft delivered 
 hoftages to the duke of Suffolk, lieutenant of the north, at New- 
 caftle upon Tvne> for their return. Faiflion, however, prevented 
 
 alfu 
 
i^etocattlc upon tKvm. s^i 
 
 alfo this laudalils intention of extlnguifliing the inveterate hatred 
 of the two nations. 
 
 The laft day ot" Mutch, in the year 1544 a rendezvous of mili- 
 tary forces was ordered at Newcaftle : a fleet with 200 lliips and 
 5000 foldiers and mariners, arrived at Tyncmouth-haven about 
 March 2 ift, and (ailed with an army of 10,000 m^in for Scotland, 
 about the end of April following. 
 
 In tlie year 1553, Gatelhead was annexed, by a(fl of parliament, 
 to Newcalllc upon Tyne. 
 
 On the 9th ol April, 1603, kingj James I. on his way from 
 Scotland to take poile^ion of the crown of England, arrived ac 
 NewcaiUe upon Tyne. On the following day, Toby Matthew", 
 bilhop of Durham, preached before him at St. Nicholas' church 
 in Newcaftle, on the 2 Chron. xv. i, 2. On the 13th the king 
 fet forward for Durham. 
 
 April 23, 1617, king James, on his way towards Scotland, 
 came to Newcaftle upon Tyne, where he was met upon the Sand- 
 hill by the mayor, aldermen, and fherifF; and after an oration 
 made by the town-clerk, was prefcnted by the mayor, in th; 
 name of the whole corporation, with a great ftanding bowl, tw 
 tlie value of an hundred jacobufes, and an hundred marks iij 
 gold ; the mayor carrying the fword before him, accompanied 
 by his brethren on their foot- cloths. 
 
 In the year 1630, a moft extraordinary, and yet a feemingly 
 well-attefted account occurs of the fruitfulncfs of a Scotch wo- 
 man, wife to a weaver, who bore him, as is therein aflertcd, 
 fixty-two children, all of whom lived till they were baptized : 
 three or four of thcfe cliiUlren arc reprelcntcil as living this year 
 at Newcaftle. 
 
 The plague, which raged fo dreadfully in the year 1636 at 
 Newcaftle, is faid to have come over frtmi Holland, and other 
 parts beyond the feas There died in all, of this tremendous 
 vifitation, between the 7th of May and 31ft of December, no 
 Icfs than 5037 ptrfons at Newcaftle; and at Gaielliead, between 
 the 3Jth of May and the 17th of 0»5lober, 515 perfons. 
 
 Auguft 21, 1640, the Scottilh army, commanded by Lefley, 
 Montrofe, and others, invaded England ; and having without 
 moleftation marched through Northumbei land, came to Newbum, 
 a village fix miles above Newcaftle, where there is a ford over the 
 river Tyne. Lord Conway, with the earl of Strafford, general 
 of the king's army, then at York, with 30CO foot and ijoohorfe, 
 
 were 
 
5^^ 7m^snrtia{ DiUorp of 
 
 were ported opjKfue to iht.ni on the louth fide of that river, to 
 guard the pafs, and pi event their coming over. A melFen^er 
 deputed from the Scots to defire leave to come over the Tjnc, 
 and prcfent a petition to his majefty, was anlwercd, that a few- 
 might be alKjwed to pafs, but not the whole army : upon this, 
 Lcflcy commanded fonie of his horfe to ford the river ; in which 
 attempt they were lepulfed at firft, with difcredit, by the gallant 
 oppofition of the king^'s forces } but w^re fuceefi,ful in a fecond 
 *Ltempt, and caufed the Engliili to fufler what lord Clarendon 
 has well called " an infamous and irreparable rout." At a coun- 
 cil held by lord Conway, at midnight, after tlie defeat, it was re- 
 folved that the whole army fhould quit Newcaftle and retreat to 
 Durham ; U'hich was accordingly done at live o'clock in the 
 morning of the 2 6lh of Auguft. On that day alfo Douglas, fhs- 
 riff of Tivlot-dale, with fome troops of horfe, entered the naked 
 and almort defericelefs town, but not till after the gates had been 
 fliut upon them bj Sir Peter Riddell, and great alfurances given 
 on their part of the fincerity and pcaeeablenefs of their intentions. 
 Thus fell Newcafile as the firft vitftim in the grand rebellion. 
 
 September i, general Lefley demanded of the mayor of New- 
 caftle to bake certain quantities of bread, and brew fo many tuns 
 of beer a day ; upon the mayor's refufal, the Scots employed men 
 to do it themfclves, who were paid with money in part, and pro- 
 mi (fory notes for the remainder. 
 
 In the month of Auguft 1641, the Scottifh army, having re- 
 ceived 6o,oool. for dift)anding, quitted ISiewcaftle upon Tyne, 
 through which town the king pa/Ted on the icth of that month, 
 on his way poft to Scotland. 
 
 January 15, 1644, in a fnowy feafon the Scottifh army, con- 
 fifting of 1,800 foot, and 3,500 horfe and dragoons, crofted the 
 Tweed at Berwick. Sir Thomas Glenham, with the loyalifts, 
 retreated before them, with his forces and artillery, from Alnwick 
 to Newcaftle upon Tyne ; the Scots following them by difficult 
 and flow marclie?, fummoned that town to furrendcr, on the 3d 
 of February : after three weeks fruitlcfs ftay, and fome fltirmiftics, 
 they pafted the rJVer Tyne on the 28th of that month, and enter- 
 ed Sunderland by the fea on the 4th of March following. 
 
 The earl of Calendar, who had entered England with a referv- 
 ed army of io,oco Scots, to aftift the parliament againft the 
 king, j .ined with general Leven in the fiege of Newcaftle, which 
 commenced very clofely on the 13th of Auguft, 1644. General 
 
 LevcB, 
 
3!!)cVDcaaie upon Cj^nc. 5S9 
 
 Leven, with the force's under him, appears to have been qunrtcrcd 
 at Elfwick } while the earl of Calendar, with the divlfion of the 
 army wnJer him, was ftatloned at Gatefhead, on the bridge, and 
 at the ghifslioufcs ; below which he had thrown a bridge of boats 
 acrofs the rivtr. 
 
 September 7, a letter was fent from the general's quarters at 
 Elfwick to the mayor, aldermen, 3cc. of Newcaftle, entreating 
 them to furrender the town, and (lop the further effufion of blood. 
 Thcfe entreaties being not regarded, Odobtr 14., gent-ral Leven 
 fent a peremptory fummons to the mayor, Sec. of the town, to 
 furrender it immediately, on peril of the extremities of w ir. 
 
 On the evening of tlie 19th, the Scotch army took the town by 
 ftorm, after a long fiege ; the governor, Lodowick Lindcfcy, 
 carl Crawford, tlie lord Maxwell, do«5lor Wifliart, and otherf 
 that had been moft refolwte fur holding out die town, betook 
 themfelves to the caftle. 
 
 Oftober 20, general Leven entered the town, where he went 
 to church with his chief ofHcers, to return thanks to Ciod for tJieir 
 iucccfs. 
 
 The unfortunate king Charles, having fled from Oxford, Avhich 
 was then befieged by the parliament's forces, threw himfclfinto 
 the protection of the Scottifli army at Newark upon Trent i 
 they conducted the royal fugitive from thence to Newcallle apon 
 Tyne, into which he made a private entry on the 6th of May> 
 1646. 
 
 " A little after the king's coming to Newcadle," fays White- 
 lock, in his Memoirs, p. 234., " .1 Scotch miniller preached boldly 
 before him, and when his fermon was done, called for the 521! 
 pfalm, which begins : 
 
 «* Why doft thou, tyrant, boaft thyfelf 
 Thy wicked works to prajfe ? 
 
 *• Whereupon his majelly Ilooi up and called for the 56Lh 
 pfalm, which begins : 
 
 " Have mercy, Lorv.1, on me I pray, 
 For men would me devour." 
 
 The people waved the niiut/ter's pfalm, and fung that vhich 
 the king called for. 
 
 An agreement having been made between the parliament of 
 England and tlic Scottilh army, that the former iTionld have pof- 
 feflion of the kifig's perfon, and that the latter, on the receipt of 
 >oo,oool. (houlJ quit the kingdom of Engl.md ; commifllonew 
 
 vere 
 
595 Jmpartial f;)iGon) of 
 
 were deputed from LondoiA to receive tlie king, and convey hini 
 from Newcafllc upon Tyne, from whence he fet out on the 3d of 
 February, 16.^7, to Holmby-houfc in Northaniptonlhire. 
 
 May 15, 1648, the common-council of Newcaftle upon Tjrne 
 made an order to put the town into a pofture of defence : they 
 had before undertaken the work of Shidd-field fort, an outwork, 
 as a teftimony of their love and due refped to the parliament for 
 the great favours that had been fhewn them. 
 
 About tlie middle of Odober, 1648, Cromwell, and the army 
 tinder him, returned to Newcaftle, after the taking of Berwick 
 upon Tweed : they ftayed three days at the town, partly to give 
 the army a little reft, and alfo to give time for the train to get up 
 to them. They are faid to " have been received there with very 
 great acknowledgments of love." On the 19th, they were fump- 
 tuoufly feafted by the new mayor, and the next day reached Dur- 
 ham, but not till late in the evening. 
 
 Mention occurs of a petition in the common-council books of 
 Newcaftle, dated March 26, 1649, and figned, no doubt, by the 
 inhabitants, concerning vvitclies, the purport ot which appears, 
 from what followed, to have been to caufe all fuch pepfons as were 
 fufpeJled of that crime, to be apprehended and brought to trial. 
 In confequence of this a pei-fon was fent for fr#m Scotland, who 
 pretended to be polFefied of the knowledge of diftinguiftiing thoie 
 \vretches, who, for the fake of being able to hurl their neighbours, 
 had fold themfelves to the devil. His method of examining thofe 
 pretended witches, which was publicly performed in the town-hall, 
 was fhockingly indecent. There is no account how many were 
 committed to take their trials at the affixes ; but it is certain, 
 (J.orrefco refcreni!) that one wizard and fourteen reputed 
 witches belonging to Newcaftle, in company with nine thieves 
 and a witch of the county of Northumberland, were executed 
 upon the Town-moor, near Newcaftle upon Tyne, Auguft 21, 
 1650. 
 
 June 29, 1650, Oliver Cromwell having three days before 
 been appointed captain- general of the army, fet out from London 
 upon an expedition into Scotland : at Durham he was met by 
 Sir Arthur Haflerigg, governor of Newcaftle, with colonel Pride 
 nnd other officers, who attended him to that town on the 15 th of 
 July following. He was fumptuoufly entertained at fchat place 
 by the govcnior ; and during his ftay there was a faft kept to 
 implore God's bleffing upon the army's undertaking, and a de- 
 claration 
 
jOcVDcaltlc upon Cync 501 
 
 claration was agreed upon to be difperfed in their inarch. Five 
 companies, as a reinforcement, were drawn out of tlie garrilbn 
 of that town on this occafion. 
 
 September 2d following, which was the day preceding that of 
 the battle of Dunbar, Cromwell wrote a remarkable letter all 
 with his own hand, and fent it from Scotland to Sir Arthur Halle- 
 rigg, at Newcaftle upon Tyne. 
 
 After the fight at Dunbar, general Cromwell fent a great num- 
 ber of the prifoners taken on that occafion, to Newcaftle upon 
 Tyne, recommending them to be treated with humanity. 
 
 Auguft 29, 1657, lieutenant-colonel John I.ilburn died at El- 
 tham, and two days afterward was brought to London, and bu- 
 ried in the Quakers Yard : he was the fon of Mr Richard Lil- 
 bnrn, and was born at Bilhop-wearmouth, in the county of Dur^ 
 ham. 
 
 In the month of September, 1658, on the death of Oliver 
 Cromwell, his fon Richard Cromwell was proclaimed protecflor 
 at Newcaftle, from which town alfo he was complimented on his 
 acceffion to a dignity which proved of fhort duration. 
 
 Sunday January i, 1660, general Monk arrived at Newcaftle 
 upon Tyne, on the road to which place he was met by great mul- 
 titudes of the common people, and welcomed by loud acclama- 
 tions : General Lambert appears to have quitted Newcaftle about 
 the time that general Monk began his march from Coldftrelm. 
 
 The MS life of alderman Barnes, fo often cited, tells us, that 
 when Sir George Jeffries was on the northern circuit at Newcaftle, 
 «• he indulged himfelf in his ufual drunken exceffes. — A certain 
 gentleman invited him to a plentiful entertainment at his houfe, 
 with which he was fo taken, that he gained his gueft's wondrous 
 opinion. They tell me, fays he, fuch a man is a whig, but I 
 find it is no fuch thing, he is an honcft drunk-n fellow. They 
 told him Mr Barnes's houfe ftood in the Clofe. I even thought 
 fo, fays he, fome clofe or field, for that rebel to train and mwfter 
 his men in. There had lately bicn a meeting or conventicle 
 broken up at Mr Barnes's — a fine was levied upon the houfe ; 
 fevcral were taken and bound over to the aftizes — Barnes himfelf 
 cfcaped — Jeffries was very witty upon all the prifoners, but it 
 fretted him fiidly he ceuld not catch this Barnes.'* 
 
 It is faid that when the plague was laft at Newcaftle, the inha- 
 bitants fent for the I^e-ptnny^ and gave a bond for a large fum in 
 truft for the loan ; and they thought it did {o much good, that 
 
 thef 
 
592 Jmpaitml DiGorp of 
 
 they olTcred to p.\y the money, and keep tlie Lee-pcmiy, bin the 
 proprietor would not part witli it. A copy of this bond is vctj 
 well attefted to have been among the papers of the family of Lee. 
 This curious piece of antiquity, called the Lee-penny, is a ftone of 
 si dark red colour and triangular fhape, and its (i-ze about half an 
 inch each fide. It is fet in a piece of filver coin, which, though 
 much defaced, by f«)me letters Hill remaining, is fuppofed to be 
 a fliilling of Edward I. the crofs being very plain, as it is on his 
 JhlUings. It has been, by tradition, in the Lee family fince about 
 the year 1320 ; that is, a little after the death of king Robert 
 Bruce. This ftone is faid to have many virtues ; that it cures all 
 difeafes in cattle, and the bite of a mad dog, both in man and 
 beaft. I: is iifed by dipping the ftone in water, which is given 
 to the difeafed cattle to drink ; and the perfon who has been bit, 
 and the wound or part lnfec"ted, are waflied with the water. Many 
 cures are faid to be performed by it ; and people come from all 
 parts of Scotland, and even as far up in England as Yorklhire, 
 to get the water in which the ftone has been dipped. 
 
 In November i688, the town of Newcaftle received the lord 
 Lumley, and declared for the Prince of Orange, and a free par- 
 liament. Upon this occallon, a beautiful ftatue of king James 
 the fecond on horfeback, eredled upon a white marble bafis, be- 
 fore the exchange in the midft of the Sand-Hill, was demolifhed 
 by the mob, who dragged the ftatue and its horfe npon the quay, 
 and turned them over into the river. 
 
 In December 1700, mention occurs of a fociety eftablifheiH in 
 Sandgate, for the reformation of manners, confifting of twenty 
 keelmen, who had entered into an agreement to exert ihemfelves 
 in " preventing tiplers upoii the Lord's day, and keeping Sand- 
 gate free of inmates.'* 
 
 In the year 1705, it appears ta have been in agitation in the 
 houfe of commons to enlarge the river Wear, and the port and 
 haven of Sunderland. This was oppofed by a petition from the 
 mafter, pilots, and feamen of the Trinity-houfe of Newcaftle 
 wpon Tyne. 
 
 In the beginning of October 1715, on the burfting out of the 
 t«beUion in the county of Northumberland, the corporation of 
 Newcaftle equally difcovered their loyalty, and evinced their 
 fpirit on this trying occafion ; and, before tlie arrival of any re- 
 gular forces, put that important town into a pofture of defence. 
 
 Oiftober 13, 1727, the coronation of king George II. and 
 
 queen 
 
Ji^eVDcaflle upon Ci>nc. 593 
 
 rjueen Caroliae w.is celebrated at Newcastle with the greateft 
 iblemnity ; the d.17 was ufhered in with ringing of bells; the 
 magiftrates in tlieir fc.irlet gowns, accompanied by the common- 
 council, clergy, and gentry, v\ent from the Guild-hall to church, 
 with mufic i)Iaying, and cannons filing, and from thence pio- 
 cceded to the mayor's houfe, wjiere a Iplcndid entertainment was 
 prepared for them ; and after dinner they repaired to the market- 
 place, where a fountain was eredted which ran wine ; where the 
 magiftratcs, common-council, clergy, and gentry, drank tht 
 healths of the King, Queen, and royal iffue, with many cither 
 loyal healths, in prefence of many thoufand fpedtators ; thence 
 they went to Guild-hall, where the faid healths were repeated 
 with the like ceremony as above, and the conduit running wine 
 all the time tor the populace, whiilt a great bonefire, ereded ia 
 the marketplace, was burning, the cannons firing at each health ; 
 they afterwards returned to the mayor's houfe, where there was 
 a hall for the ladies ; and the evening was concluded with re» 
 joicings, honefires, illumiuationb, tinging of bells, and all other 
 dcmonftrations ot joy. 
 
 June 9, I739» a great riot began at Newcaftlc, on account, as 
 it was pretended, of the dearnefs and fcarcitv of corn. The mi- 
 litia of the town was inttantly raifcd, and upon promife given to 
 the rioters, that they fhould have grain at a mu:h lower rate, the 
 mob was pacified for that day. 
 
 July 26, the ri(ners aflembled in immenfe numbers on the Sand- 
 hill, the market-place of Newcaftle, where aUb the m.iyor and 
 fcveral aldermen, and fom^ other gentlemen, met at the Guild- 
 hall, to confult what was beft to be done on fo preffing an extre- 
 mity. The mob, unawed by the prefence of any military force, 
 and intent upon mifchicf, grew more and more unruly ; and a 
 gentleman venturing out to infoim them that it had been agreed 
 upon that the poor Ihould be fupplied with rye out of a Ihip at 
 the quay, was knocked down, and much wounded. Upon this 
 the rioters, with more juftice than piuJtnce, were fired upon ; 
 and one of them having been killed, and fcveral dangeroufly 
 wounded by the Ihot, the rabble inilantly fell upon the gentle- 
 men affembled in the hall, and, having wounded moft of them, 
 proceeded to outrages that threatened the deltruftion wf the whole 
 town. 
 
 They ranfacked the town-court and chamber, and having de- 
 
 ftroyed many of the public writings and accounts, earned off a 
 
 4 E very 
 
594 Impartial ipiftot)) of 
 
 very large fum of the money belonging to the corporation ; 
 fome accounts fay, 12 or 1,300!. others near i,8ocl. Af- 
 terwards they patrolled the ftretts, ^vllcre, finding all the fhops 
 (hut up, they threatened with horrid execrations to burn and dc- 
 Ilroy the wliole place. In the evening, three companies of Ho- 
 ward's regiment, under the command of captain Sowle, who 
 had marched that day from Alnwick, entered the town, and foon 
 difperfed the rioters, f )rty of whom were fcized upon, ani com- 
 mitted to prifon ; of which number, fix were afterwards convivJted 
 at the following afilzes, and tranfported each for feven years. 
 
 April 7, 17+5, U'ar was proclaimed again(l France in the 
 ufu.il places in Newcallk, the mayor and aldermen attending, 
 clothed in their fcailct gowns, and accomp.inied by their proper 
 officers. 
 
 In the beginning of October, 1745, great exertions were made 
 for the defence of Newcaftle againil the rebel army ; the news of 
 which preparations having been inJuftrioufly conveyed to them, 
 is fuppofed to have diverted their intended couife ; for they took 
 their route into England by way of the city ot Carlifle. 
 
 Great guns were placed on this occafion at " the Clofe-gate, 
 White-fiiar-tower, Poltern-gale, Hefloj)'s Houfe, Old Roper's 
 Tower, Dobifon'b Tower, Weft-gate, Hatter's Toi\er, Glazier's 
 Tower, Paviour's Tower, Si. .Andrew's Tower, New- gate, 
 Pilgrim-ltreet-gate, Weaver's Tower, Cutler's Tower, Roper's 
 Tower, Pandon-gate, Carpenter's Tower, Sand-gate, on the wall 
 'above the pant. Broad-chare, Sand-hill-corner, Bridge-end, May- 
 or's and Clofe gate." 
 
 January aSj 1746, his royal highnefs the duke of Cumberland 
 arrived at Newcaftle on his way to Scotland, to check the ^ro- 
 grefs of the Pretender and the rebel army. He was welcomed 
 at Gatefliead by a kind of illumination, which gave Iiis royal 
 highnefs great uneafmcfs to fee the mob liaving fet a popiHi cha- 
 pel on lire at that place on the occafitju : the prince, after fome 
 hours relVelliment, fet out again the fame day, and arrived at 
 Edinbuigh on tiie 30th of that month. 
 
 July 23, his royal highnefs the duke of Cunil>erland arrived at 
 Newcaftle, on his return from Scotl.md, where he was immedi- 
 ately prefented with the freedom of that corporation, as a token 
 of their high efteem for his many princely viitues, and the grate- 
 ful fenfe they entertained of his diftinguillied fervices in defence 
 of the laws and libeities of Great Britain. 
 
 September 
 
r^c\i3ca^!c upon Cpnc 595 
 
 September 22, 1761, the corniiMtion ol king G>;orgc the HI. 
 anJ qac-en Cliiiilntte, was lolomnizcd at Ne\vc.i!Ue, with ever)' 
 demonftration of public feltivity. A luuntuin ran with wine on 
 the Sand hill, &c. 
 
 Anguilzi, 1771, his roy:il hi^Iinefs the duke of Cuni!)erlanJ 
 arrived at Neu cafllt, on his war to Scaton-Dclaval, in the 
 county of Northumberland. 
 
 Auguft 30th following, his royal highncfs partook of a mo(i 
 fumptuous entertainment, at tlie manfion-houfc in Newcaftle. 
 
 In the night between Saturday th; i 6th and Sunday the 17th 
 of November, 1771, the river 1 ync, fwoln to an amazing height 
 by aland flood, which had been occafioned by an unremitted fill 
 of heavy rains in the wcfl, fwept away tlu- bridge at Newcaflle, 
 with the lofs of many lives, and imnienfe damage to the inhabi- 
 tants of that place, and its vicinity. The utility of Jarrow Slake 
 appeared in this difafter, as it took in fo immenfe a body of water, 
 ^hat at Shields the flood was no higher than a f^^ring tide : great 
 damage, however, was done in tliat placet"" the ihipping. A vef- 
 i'c\ took up at Tea near Shields, a wooden cradle, with a child 
 in it, which was alive and well. . 
 
 May 29, 1774. Chailcs Hutton, a celebrated felf-taught mathe- 
 matician of Xcwcaiile, was appointed, by the Board of Ordnance, 
 profeiFor of mathematics in the Royal Military Academy r.t 
 Woolwich, near London. 
 
 September 19, 1786, Mr. Lunardi, the famous aeronaut, made 
 an attempt to afcend in an air-balloon, from the Spital in Xew- 
 calHe : in filling it, Mr. Lunardi having introduced the remaining 
 part of the acid, and the effervefcence being at that time remar- 
 kably ftrong, forced a quantity of inflammable air through the 
 hole, which was only four inches in diameter, before llie plug 
 could be replaced : this gave fuch an alarm to thofe on that fide 
 of the balloon, who thought that it was on fire, that they Inmu;- 
 diately qaitted their held cf the net, and flew from it to the 
 other fide, alarming thr)fe llalioned there alfo. The baloon bciqg 
 liberated on one fide, mads a rapid ilretch upwards, whertby 
 a confiderable rent was made in the neck of it : tliii occafioned a 
 loud noife, and a confidtrable difcharge of inflammable air: the 
 confttrnation now became general, in fpitc of Mr. Lunardi's re- 
 monftrances, an4 the balloon being ftt at liberty, afccnded with 
 great rapidity, and dragged up with it Mi . Ralph Heron, junior, 
 fon of the under fheriff of Not thumber land, v.ho had twilled, a 
 4 E 2 ' rope, 
 
596 Imi^aitial fpittori) of 
 
 rope, faflcned to its top, round his hand and arm, to the height, 
 it is fuppofed, of five hundred feet, when the rope and netting be- 
 ing difengaged from the balloon, he fell into a gaiden adjoining, 
 and expired A)on after. 
 
 June 9, 1787, two i'pairows built their neft upon the topmaft 
 of a fliip lying at our quay, and depoAted therein fix eggs. 
 
 This year a bill received the royal alfent, to enable his majedy 
 to licenfe a playhoufe in NewcaRle. 
 
 November 5, 1788, being the hundredth annual revolution, it 
 was obferved here with great rejoicings. Many parties of gentle- 
 men met in various places of the town to celebrate the event. 
 
 Feb. 20, 1789, the joyful news of bis Majefly's rcciivcry from 
 his late mental derangement arrived ; in confequence of which, 
 a few days after, a general illumination took place, the grandeft 
 and moft brilliant ever remembered at ^vevvcaftle. 
 
 The i8th of Aug. 1791, a terrible fire broke out in the cellars 
 and warthoufes on the fouth fide of the bridge-end chapel, which 
 greatly damaged the chapel, burnt in part the rooms over the 
 water-gate, where the coopers and flaters company held their 
 jneetings, did confiderable damage to the roof of the exchange by 
 itjeltmg the lead, which damaged the pi<flures of king Charles II. 
 ;\nd James II. they were afterwards repaired by Mr William 
 Bell, portrait painter. 
 
 In the year 1795, ^ corps of volunteers were raifed here, con- 
 fifling of one grenadier, one light infantry, and two battalion 
 companies : they received their colours at the Forth from Mrs 
 Mayorefs, Auguft 25. 
 
 On Friday the 28th of Augufl:, 1795, his royal highnefs the 
 Duke of York reviewed the troops encamped on the coad of Nor- 
 thumberland, on Blyth Sands ; the whole force confided of thir- 
 leen regiments of horfe and foot, and the line extended upwards 
 of three miles. The fight being fo novel in this part of kingdom, 
 it is fuppofed near 60,000 people were prefent on the occafion. 
 His Ro^al Highnefs came to Newcaftle in the afternoon of the 
 fame day, and dined at the manfion-houfe, accompanied by prince 
 William of Gloucefler, the duke of Norfolk, earl of Scarbro', 
 lords Falconbri(dge, Dundas, &c. generals Sir William How, Bal- 
 four, Dalrymple, Smith, &c. Sec. 
 
 A fociety was formed In the year 1796, in Ncwcafllc (to cor- 
 refpond with fimilar infliiutions in other parts) to propagate the 
 Chriftian religion among pagans, &c. 
 
 The 
 
r^elucaUlc hiv^mx €pm. 597 
 
 — ■ ■ ■ ■ -^" — 
 
 The feanicn at Shields were extremely riotous in the fummer 
 of this year, frequeiuly depriving the mafters of their commaiKi, 
 and detaining vefTels under way for fea. Seventy or eigluy of 
 the mofl; audacious, however, having been taken into cuilody 
 and imprefTed, order was at length rcftnred. 
 
 In September tliis year two hundred French emigrant prieiVs 
 arrived at NewcalUe from tlie illand of Jerfcy, and a comniittee 
 was appointed to provide accommodations for them. 
 
 This fpring alTo, in confequence of the alarm of invnfion and 
 the fcarcity of fpecie, the notes in circulation poured in fo rapidly 
 upon the hanks in Xewcallle, that the proprietors, at a meeting, 
 refolved to fufpen^l payment till Ipecie could be obtained. Gen- 
 tlemen and tradcfmen, howevir. to tlie number of 689, tlgned a 
 declaration to take, as before, the notes of all the banks in this 
 town, Dirhani, and Sunderland. 
 
 January 25, 1793, a dreadful lire broke out in the (hop of Mr 
 Elliot, hatter, in Mofley-ftreet, which, from want of a timelv 
 fupply of water, burmt wiih great fury, deftroying the entire 
 houfc, the upper p?.rt whereof was occupied by Mr Matthew 
 Brown, printer, whofe property was nearly all confumed. 
 
 About this period died in this town the celebrated vender of 
 rioilrums and quack medicines, known by the name of Dr Palmer. 
 He was lO' years of age, and for the lafl thirty years of his life 
 he never went to bed fc^ber. He feived as a private T.ldicr in 
 the royal army in the year 1715. 
 
 In the year 1798, an armed aflbciaiion was formed in New. 
 calUe, command«d by Sir M. W. Ridley. Bart. M. P. Thry were 
 prefented with their colours by lady Ridley in the Nun's Field, 
 December 27th of the fame year. 
 
 In the fpring of 1799 ^'■■•J» at the Lea/.es near Xcwcsille, Mr 
 John Howard, an eminent fchnolmailci : he was the author of 
 feveral matliematical and poetical works. 
 
 A female was, in the autumn of this year, admitted iwto the 
 lunatic hofpital in Newcaftle, who has lived more than llirce years 
 among the rocks on the {c.\ (hove, nc-ar Seaham. She fpoke the 
 Scottilh diak'ift, but it is not known fiom whence (l.e c;ime. The 
 poor unhappy was drcfTcd fav.tartic-illy in rags, v hich chance ©r 
 fliipwrecks threw in her w:ty. Her beard had grown on the lower 
 part of her chin nearly an inch long, and is bu/hy like the whlf- 
 kers of a man. She is fuppofcd to have lived upon nicU-fifh, and 
 appeared about thirty-five years old. 
 
 At 
 
590 Jniparlial rpirtorj) of 
 
 A-tthe l)e^ir.nin;T of th.e year i 8oc, nokfb than fixty nine out 
 of ieveniy-one velTlfi, laJcn with coals from Shields and Sunder- 
 land, were wrecked in their palTage to London. 
 
 The harvcll in the vicinity of Newcaftlc, in the year 17^)9, 
 was fo backward, that a quantity of oats was not cut till the 28th 
 of Januaiy, 1800, at Leadgate, in the parifli of Rytpn ; and at 
 that late period oats were ftanding uncut at Hcdley and other 
 fouthern parts of Northumberland. 
 
 In coijf.qucnce of the failure of the above harveft, together 
 •u'ith the tffecls of the war, a great dearth prevailed, and wheat 
 in Newcaftle market was frequently fold at two guineas a boll, 
 two Wincheller bufliels. 
 
 May II, 1800, 14.4 vefTcls failed from Shields under convoy, 
 for the Baltic, having on board, befides other commodities, 1 1,600 
 clialdions of coals, Newcaftle mcafure. 
 
 In the autumn of this year, the foundation of the Roman wall, 
 fuppofed to have been built by Severus upwards of 15C0 years. 
 Tmce, was taken up at Byker-hill, in order to repair the high- 
 ways. 
 
 In the year 1801, two Life-boats were built by Mr. Great- 
 head, of South Shields, one of which was conveyed to the Ration 
 off Bawdfey ClilF, and the other to LoweftofFe in SuiTolk. 
 
 In the fpring of this yesr died at Walker, near NewcaRIe, Mr. 
 T. Barnes, colliery viewer ; a man of tranfcendant talents to 
 combat the diificikies cf an arduous profcflion ; to avert dangers 
 vhich an ordinary mind had not forefeen, 01 forefecing, could 
 not have prev enied ; and of induRry and probity to obtain the 
 confidence, cRccm, and refpeft of his employers, to his affiduity 
 in whofe ff.-rvicc he fell an early martyr. 
 
 June 30, 1 8c I, the alterations, for improving and widening 
 the bridge over tb.e rivci at NewcaRIe, Avcre begun, under the 
 management of Mr, D. Stephenfon, architect. 
 
 On the i5ih ol ' "dober in the fame year, on the figning of the 
 prcliminaiics of peace between Great Britain and the French 
 Republic, a general illuruination to<<k place in Newcafile ; when 
 many 1. yal and curious dcvjv;es in tranfparcncy were difplayed. 
 
 On the 7'Ji January, J 3o2, between twelve and one o'clock 
 in the morning, part of the wall, (to the length f 60 or 70 feet) 
 of All-faints church-yard, r'ext to SilverRreet, fell down with a 
 tremendous criifh, expoHng t© view feveral coflins and innume- 
 rable quantities of human bones. 
 
 A LIST 
 
jl^cUUvnCllc upon Cijnr. 5^0 
 
 A LIST OF THE MAYORS AND SHERIFFS 
 OF NEWCASTLE, . 
 
 Slncr it 'was made a Tonvn and County of itfe!f, in the yr.ir 1 400 ; — 
 previous to tuhich, from the year I25 l, the toivn ivas goverruil hj 
 a mayor an J four laiiiffs, tvho 'were annually eledeJ. 
 
 1 400- 1 Roger "i'hornton mayor, William Rcdmurfhell (lierifF 
 
 14.02 to 1408 Robert Chirdon mayoi, ]c\\n. Bywellgate Iheriff 
 
 1409 to 1413 William Aii^hton mayor, Wm MiJdleton Iheriff 
 
 1 41 4- J Robert Hi.bborn imynr, the fame (lieriff 
 
 1416 to 1420 Roprer rhornton mayor, John del Strother fherijF 
 
 1421 Wi li^m hflinj^fon mayor, Laurence A(iton Ihtriif 
 
 142^ T!.' fame mayor, John Chiidon ihciifF 
 
 1413-4 William l^Uerby mayor, the fame Ihcriff 
 
 1 42) i he ianje ma»02-, John Jay ihciitF 
 
 142 6-7 Ro;rer Thornton mayor, the fame IhcrilF 
 
 1428 John Rhodes mayor, the fame IherifF 
 
 1429-30 The fime mayor, John Clark IherifF 
 
 143 1 The fame mayor, Edward Bertram fherilF 
 
 J 43 2 Laurence Aiflon mayor, Thomas Chirdon fheriff 
 
 1433 Tlie i ime mayor, Thomas Penrith IherifF 
 
 1 434 Richard Hall mavor, Richard Brown iheri.T. 
 
 143, Robert Whelpington mayor, Thomas Wardell il;crifF. 
 
 1436 Ricliard Hall mayoi, John Chambers Iherifi' 
 
 1437 Laurence Aiflon mayor, Thomas PenJreth rhcriff 
 
 1438 Robert Whelpington mayor, John Callle fheriti' 
 •439 Jchn Clark mayor, William Harding (herifF 
 
 1440 John Chambers mayor, John Mnfgrave fherifF 
 
 1441 William Harding mayor, Simon Wtldon fheriS" 
 
 1442 Thomas Wardell mayor, William Jay fheiiff 
 
 1443 John Mufgrave mayor, Thomas Hcadlam fherifF. 
 
 1444 William Harding mayor, Thomas Bee IherifF 
 
 1 445 William J ty mayor, John Ward O'.erifF 
 
 1446 William Hardnig mayor, John Winton fherifF 
 
 1447 The fame mayor, Robert Baxter fheriiF 
 
 1448 John Ward mayor, [ohn Richardfon fherifF 
 
 1449 William Harding m.iyor, Alan Bird fheriff 
 
 1450 John Ward mayor, iJcorge Carr IherifF 
 14JI Robert Baxter ma\ (jr, John Baxter fheriff 
 1452 William Harding mnyor, John Pcnreth fheritf 
 1493 John Carliel mayor, Nicholas Wetwang fherifF 
 
 1454 John Richardfon mayor, William Roddam fiicrifF 
 
 1455 The f<me mayor, Tiiomas Cuthbert Ihcriit 
 
 1456 The fame mayor, John Nixon fi.crifF 
 
 1457 The fame mayor, Richaid Stevcnfon fherifF 
 
 1458 John Pcnrctli mayor, Henry Fo%\ler fheriff 
 
6co Impartial r;iaoii) or 
 
 459 J"^" l^'i^liardlbn mayor, Richard .Stevenfon (licriff 
 
 460 John Baxter mayor, Nicholas Hay wing ftieriflf 
 
 ,t6i John Ilichardlbn mayor, Nichohis Wetwang fhcrifF 
 462 Alan Bird mayor, Henry Forftcr IherilT 
 16a The l.mic mayor, Williaiu Blaxton ihcriff 
 
 464 John Nixoa mayor, Nicholas Haynin^ flieriff 
 
 465 Alan Bird mayor, William Thonipfon flierifF 
 
 466 John Nixnn mayor, Robert Chambers flierifF 
 .67 William Blaxton mayor, John Kfuigton iheriff 
 
 468 John Nixon mayor, John (.look flierifF 
 
 469 Richard Stephenibn mayor, John Fither fherifF. 
 
 470 William Blaxton mayor, Tiiomas Lockwood fherlff 
 A,-, 1 Jon Nixon mayor, John Carr flierifF 
 
 A-f2 William Blaxton mayor, Thomas Snow fherifF 
 
 473 The fame mayor, R>;bert Harding fherifF 
 
 474 Nicholas Haynyng mayor, William Hodflion fherifF 
 
 475 John Carliel mayor, John Semple fherifF 
 
 476 The fame mayor, Peter Bewick iherilF 
 1.77 John Cook mayor, John Heaton ilieiifF 
 
 478 Robert Chambers mayor, John Ridfdale flieriff 
 470 John Semple mayor, William Scott flierifF 
 460 John Carhfle mayor, William Bewick fnerifF 
 
 481 George Carr mayor, William Cuningham fheriff 
 
 482 John Cook mayor, Robert Harding flierifF 
 
 483 John Carlifle mayor, Robert Stockett fherifF 
 
 484 George Carr mayor, George Bird fherifF 
 
 485 Robert Chambers mayor, Thomas Haidbourn fheriff 
 
 486 Gcoige Carr mayor, Robert Brighara fherifF 
 J.87 The fame mayor, John Penreth fliciifF 
 
 488 Thomas Lockwood mayor, William Richardfon fheriff 
 
 489 George Carr mayor, William Chambers fheriff 
 400 Peter B:?wick mayor, Thomas Morpeth flierilF 
 
 491 George Carr mayor, Robert Harding fheriff 
 
 492 The fame mayor, Bartholomew Young flieriff 
 403 George Bird mayor, Thomas Hardbiead flieiiff 
 
 494 The fame mayor, '1 homas Green flieriff 
 
 495 The fame mayor, Chriffopher Brigham fheriff 
 
 496 The fame mayor, William Hayning fheriff 
 
 497 Robert Harding mayor, William Davel fheriff 
 
 498 George Carr mayor, John Penrith iheriff 
 4.99 Robert Brigham mayor, John Snow fheriff 
 
 500 George Carr mayor, William Riddell fheriff 
 
 501 Bartholomew Young mayor, William Selby fheriff 
 C02 George Carr mayor ; Ihomas Hall, or Hill, flieriff 
 1-03 John Snow mayor Robert Baxter flieriff 
 
 504 Chrirtopher Brigham mayor, John Blaxton, fiieiiff 
 50s The fame mayor, John Brandling fheriff 
 
 1506 
 
Jf5c\i3caftlc upon Ci]nc. 6or 
 
 1506 Georpje Bird mnyor, Thomas Sun Jerlbn flierifF. 
 
 1507 B.irt. Youn.i;lmfbHuJ mayor, William HarbreJ (lieriff 
 JjoJJ Robert Baxter mayor, Thomas Lei^htoii iherilF. 
 
 1509 John Brandlin;^ mayor, E Ivvard Baxter Ihcrili". 
 
 1510 Thomas Riddell mayor, R >,.c^r (or Robt'it) Uent (lierifF 
 '5*' Chril". Biigham mayor, John Pa(iop!i, or Palllay, (hcriff. 
 1512 John Rrandliiit^ mayor, i'homai Hoillcy ihcritF 
 
 15 '3 John Blaxton oiayor, Will'am Hardinir (l.eriff 
 
 15 '4 Thomas Horlley mayor, Robtrt Wation flieiilY 
 
 ')'5 R'^tT"^!" t)*^nt mayor, Robert Rulfcll (heriiF 
 
 • 516 Jchn Brandling njayor, I'cter Chairor Hirriff 
 
 15 '7 Edward Baxter mayor, Nicholis Richardlbn H-.crlfF 
 
 15 '8 The fame mayor, 'i'hom is Baxter fh rift" 
 
 *5'9 Thomas Horlley mayor, Gilbert Middleton (herifF 
 
 1 J20 John Brandling mavor, Henry Anderibn IherifF 
 
 '521 Thomas Riddell mayor, George Davell IheiifF 
 
 1522 Edward Baxter mayor, Robert BerUani (heriff 
 
 1523 Thf fame mayor, James Lawfon IherifF 
 
 1524 Thomas Horiley mayor, Robert Brandling flieriff 
 
 1525 The fime mayor, John Watfon lIv.'rifF 
 
 1526 Tiiomas Riddell mayor, Edward JSwinbnrn (lieriff 
 
 1 52 7 Jolin Blaxton mayor, William Carr flieiiff 
 
 1528 Edward S A inburn mayor, /Andrew Bewick flierili" 
 
 1529 James Lawfon mayor, Bartholomew Bee llierift' 
 153(_ Gilbert Middleton mayor, Roger Mitford fherifF 
 
 1531 Henry Anderfon mayt)r, John Anderfon IherilF 
 
 1532 Robert Brandling mayor, Ralph Carr fherifF 
 
 1533 Thomas Hoillcy mayor, William Dent fherlflf 
 
 1534 Ralph Carr mayor, Peter Bewick IheriiT 
 
 '535 Plifinias Baxter mayor, Thomas Bewick fl^erilF. 
 
 1536 Robert Brandling mayor, John Orde fherifF. 
 
 1537 John Sanderfon mayor, Jolm White flierifF 
 
 1538 Andrew Bewick mayor, George Selby llieiifF 
 
 1539 Henry Anderfon mayor, J"ha Hilton tlierifF 
 
 1540 James Lawfon mayor, Robert Biigham flierifF 
 
 1 541 James Hilton mayor, Robcit Lewin ihorift" 
 
 1542 Henry Anderfon mayor, Maik Shakoc llierifF 
 
 1543 Robert Brandling mayor, Bartholon-w Anderfon flietiff 
 
 1544 Robert I^ewln mayor, Cuthbert l'.lli(iin iherifF 
 
 1545 George Davell mayor, Ufwald C lii|)ni.in (lierifF 
 
 1546 Henry Anderfon mayor, Edv/ard Baxter IherilF 
 
 1547 Robert Brandling mayor, Thomas Scott flierifF 
 
 1548 Mark Shaftoe mayor, Cuthbert Blunt fherifF 
 
 1549 Cuthbert EUifou mayor, Richard Hodfhon fherifF 
 
 1550 Robert Brigham mayor, Cuthbert Mafgrave fherifF 
 
 1551 Bartholomew Anderfon mayor, Cuthbert Mitford fheriff 
 
 1552 Robert Lewin mavor, John Raw fhtriti" 
 
 4 F 1553 
 
6»2 
 
 Impartial f)tftor|i of 
 
 '553 
 554 
 
 555 
 5S(^ 
 
 ■551 
 5?8 
 
 559 
 
 560 
 
 56. 
 
 1562 
 
 ,56^ 
 
 ,56^ 
 
 56J 
 
 566 
 
 .567 
 
 568 
 
 569 
 
 1570 
 
 1571 
 
 572 
 
 573 
 
 574 
 
 575 
 
 576 
 
 ■577 
 1578 
 
 579 
 580 
 581 
 582 
 
 1583 
 5H 
 585 
 5^6 
 
 587 
 ,588 
 589 
 
 590 
 :59i 
 1592 
 :593 
 
 594 
 '595 
 [596 
 
 ^597 
 ;598 
 
 ^599 
 
 Cuthbert Blunt mayor, Robert Ellilbn IherifiF 
 Cuthbert Ellifon mayor, William Dixon HierifF 
 Ricliard Hodlhon mayor, John Wilkinfon iheritF 
 Chriftopher Mitford mayor, William Dent fberifF 
 Bartholomew Anderfon mayor, William Carr llieriff 
 Oiwald Chapman mayor, Andrew Surtees iherifF 
 Robert EUif n mayor, Robert Anderfon ftieriff 
 Cuthbert Mufgrave mayor, Francis Anderfon lheri£F 
 John Wilkinfon mayor, Stephen Southeren HierifF 
 William Dent mayor, George Sclby fherifF 
 Bertram Anderfon mayor, 'Ihomas Liddle fherifF 
 Robert Brandling mayor, W^illiam Selby fherifF 
 William Carr mayor, Anthony Swinburn fhcriflF 
 Richard Hodflu^n mayor, Hes ry Brandling flieiifF 
 Robert Anderfon mayor, John Watfon iherifF 
 Henry Brandling mayor, William Jennifon fherifF 
 Chriilopher Mitf.rd mayor, George Simpfon fherifF 
 Robert Ellifon mayor, George Briggs fheiifF 
 William Jennifon mayor, Henry Anderfon fherifF 
 Thomas Liddell mayor, Robert Barker fheriff 
 William Selby mayor, Mark Shaftoe fherifF 
 John Watfon mayor Roger Rawe flierifF 
 Henry Brandling mayor, William Riddle fherifF 
 The fame mayor, Chriilopher Lewin fherifF 
 Robert Barker mayor, V dward Lewin fherifF 
 Mark Shaftoe mayor, Heniy Leonard flierifi' 
 Roger Rawe mayor, James Carr fherifF 
 Richard Hodfhon mayor, Robeit Atkinfon fherifF 
 William Jennifon mayor, Henry Chapman fherilF 
 William Riddell mayor, Henry Mitford fherifF 
 Henry Anderfon mayor, Roger Nicholfon fherifF 
 Henry Mitford mayor, Lionel Maddifon fheriff 
 Robert Barker mayor, George W hitficld flierifj' 
 Henry Chapman mayor, Robert Dudley fherilF 
 Edward Lewin mayor, Robert Eden fherifF 
 Roger Nicholfon mayor, (ieorge Farnaby fherifF 
 \\ illiam Selby mayor, John Gibfon fherifF 
 William Riddell mayor, Ralph Jennifon fherifF 
 George Farnaby mayor, William Grcenwell iheriff 
 Rogtr Rawe mayor, Thomas Liddell fherifF 
 Lionel Maddifen mayor, William Jennifon flierifF 
 Henry Anderfon mayor, George Selby flierifF 
 William Riddell mayor, Francis Anderfon fheriff 
 Ralph Jennifon mayor, Adrian Hedworth fheriff 
 Thomas Liddell mayor, William Huntley ftieriff 
 George Farnaby mayor, William W'armouth ftierlff 
 William Jennifon mayor, James Clavering (heiiff 
 
 i6o« 
 
j^eUicaftle upon €mt. 603 
 
 600 Georgre Selby mayor, Robert Andcrfon iLeriff 
 
 601 Francis Anderfon mayor, Thomas Kiddell, Iheriff 
 
 602 Robert D'ldley niiyor, Francis Burrell, flieriff" 
 
 603 William Wirmoiith mayor, Matthew Ch.ipman fiieriiT 
 
 604 Thomas Riddell mayor, Piter RiJdcll, (heriff 
 
 605 Lionel Maddifou mayor, Henry Maddifon IherifF 
 
 606 Sir George Selhy mayor, Hugh Selby fheriff 
 
 607 J.imes Clavering mayor, R bert Sh iftoe (berifF 
 
 608 Henry Chapman mayor, William Hall fherifF 
 
 609 Thomas Liddell mayor, Thomas Li.i lell IherifF 
 
 610 William Jennifon mayor, Timothy Draper fht-iiff 
 
 611 Sir George Selby mayor, Alexander Davifon fherifi' 
 
 612 Francis Anderfon mayor, Rocrcr An ierfon (h.-rifF 
 
 613 Sir Henry Anderfon mayor, Henry Chapman Iheriff 
 
 614 William Wai mouth mayor, John Ci'k ibcri'J 
 
 615 Francis Barrell mayor, Robert B«wick (heriff 
 
 616 Sir Thomas RUdeU mayo'-, Nichohs Milhurn fheriiF 
 
 617 Lionel Maddifon mayor, William Bonner Iheriff 
 
 618 James Clavering mayor, John Clavering fheriff 
 
 619 Sir Peter Riddell mayor, Robert Andcrfon fheriff 
 
 620 Henry Chapman mayor, Nicholas Tempeft Hu'riff 
 
 621 William Jennifon mayor, Henry Liddell Iheriff 
 fi2 2 Sir George Selby mayor, Richard Ledger fheriff 
 
 623 Henry Maddifon mayor, Henrv Bowes fheriff 
 
 624 William H dl m^yor, Lionel Maddifon Iheriff 
 
 625 Sir Thomas Liddell mayor, Ralph Cole Iheriff 
 
 626 Alexander Davifon mayor, Ralph Cock flieriff 
 
 627 !lenry Chapman mayor, Henry Cock flieriff 
 
 628 Robert Bewick mayor, Ralph Grey fheriff 
 
 629 John Clavering mayor, Robert Shaftoe fheriff 
 
 630 Ro!)ert Anderfon mavor, James Carr fheriff 
 
 631 William Warmonth mayor, Henry Warmonth fheriff 
 
 632 Sir Lionel Maddifon mayor, Francis Bowes iheriff 
 
 633 Ralpli Cole mayor, Nicholas Cole flitrriff 
 
 634 Ralph Cock mayor, John Marley Iheriff 
 
 '^^§ Sir Peter Riddell mayor, Leonard Carr fheriff 
 ^>36 Thom-.s Liddell mayor, Henry Lawfon fheriff 
 
 637 John Marley mayfir, Peter Maddifon fheriff 
 
 638 Alexander Davifon mayor, Mark Milbank Iheriff 
 
 639 Robert Bevtick mayor, John Emmnfon fh:riff 
 
 640 Sir Nicholas Cole mayor, Francis Liddell flieriff 
 
 641 The fame mayor, Francis Andcrfm iheriff 
 
 642 Sir John Marley mayor, Henry Maddifon fheriff 
 
 643 The fame mayor, Curhbert ('arr (iicriff 
 
 644 The fime mayor, James Cole flieriff 
 
 645 John Blackllon mayor, Chrillopher Nichelfon fheriff 
 
 646 Hinry Diwfon mayor, Henry Rawling Iheriff 
 
 4 F 2 1647 
 
^^4 T^u^^r^!ai f)iaon) of 
 
 ^']-l 'J'lio-nis Le.ijrcr iDayor, Robert Young ihtrifF 
 
 6+S Thomis lionncr niay'r, Rilph J.iinifon Ihetiff 
 
 649 Willi.im Da \ fnn m lyor, Suni;el Rnviiiiir ilierifT 
 
 6jo George D.iwfon mayor, Jolin [^odj^e IlierifF 
 
 651 Thomas Bonner niavor, Peter Sanderfon flierifF 
 
 652 Henrv Da-vvfon mayor, John B'Uler fheriff 
 
 653 Wilh'am Johnibn mayor, Robert Johnlbn iheriiF 
 
 654 The fame mayor, John Rumniv 'berii' 
 
 ^»55 Robert Shaftoe mayor, Hem-y Tfiompfon Iheiiff 
 
 656 Henry RavHng mnyor, George BlakLrton iheriff 
 
 657 George D.iwfon mz.y:r, Georgt Tiiorefby fberifF 
 6^S Mark Milbank mayor, John ^V-itfon flierifF 
 
 659 Thomas Bonner m;^yor, Jimjs "'iggs, alias Bigg, flieri(F 
 
 660 John Enimerfon mayor, William Blackeit iherifF 
 
 66 1 ^ir Jon Marlcy mayor, Tinmas Jcnnifon flieriiK 
 
 662 Sir Francis Andcrfon mayoi, Henry Brabant IherifF 
 
 663 Sir James Claveiing mayor, Robert Shaitoe iLerifF 
 
 664 Sir PVancis Liddell mayor, Fran( is Liddell fheriff 
 
 665 Henry Maddifon mayor, Willian^ Carr (herifF 
 
 666 William Blackett mayor, Timothy Davifon flieriff 
 
 667 Heniy Inabant mayor, Ralph Grey iheriff 
 
 668 Ralph Jennilbn mayor, Robert Jenniion OierifF 
 
 669 Thomas Davifon mayor, John Rogers OieiifF 
 
 670 William Carr mayor, Richard V/right iheriff 
 
 671 Ralph Grey mayor Matthew Jefferlbn flieriff 
 
 672 Mark Milbank mayor, Robert Malkbar (herifF 
 
 673 Timothy Davifon mayor, George Morton fheriff 
 
 674 Thomas Jennifon miyor, Henry Jennifon fiieriff 
 
 675 Sir Fi>ancis Anderfon mayor, William ChriRian iTierifT 
 
 676 Sir Ralph Carr mayor, Michael Blackett iheriff 
 
 677 Robert Roddam mayor, Timothy Robfon fheriff 
 
 678 Matthew Jefferlbn mayor, Nicholas Fenwick llieriff 
 
 679 George Morton mayor, William A.ubone (heriff 
 
 680 Sir Nathaniel Johnibn mayor, Jofeph Bonner llieriff 
 
 681 Tim thy Robibn mayor, John Squire llieritF 
 
 682 Nicholas Fenwick mayor, Nichola', Ridley fheriff' 
 
 683 William Blackett mayor, John Riimney fheriff 
 
 684 William Aubnncma}or, Willi.im Proftor Iheriff" 
 
 685 Sir ficnry Brabant mayor, Ralph Elllob llierilF 
 
 686 Nicholas Cole mayor, Thomas Pail'e Ihtriff 
 
 687 John Squire and Sir William Creagh majors, William 
 
 Ramfay and S.imuel Gill Iheri.Ts 
 
 688 William Hutchinibn and Nicholas Ridley mayors. Mat* 
 
 thia' Partis and Matthew White flieriffs 
 
 689 William Carr mayor, William Fcatherffonhaugli flierlff 
 
 690 William Ramfey mayor, Thomas Waffe HierilJ' 
 69 X JMatlhew White mayor, Jofeph Atkinfon fheriff 
 
 169^ 
 
j^cUuaRic upon Cpne. 605 
 
 692 Thomas Wall"*: mayor, Benjamin Davifon (lieriff 
 
 693 Sir R;ilph C irr mayor, George Whinfield llierifF 
 
 694 Jofeph Alkinfon mayor, Robert Eden fherifF 
 
 695 Timothy Robfon mayor, George Henderfon fherifF 
 
 696 George VVhiafitld mayor, William Ramiey, junbr, fheriff 
 
 697 Nicholas Fenwlck mayor, George Cuthbertfon fherilF 
 
 698 Sir William Blackett mayor, Edward ilarrifon flieriff 
 
 699 Robert Eden mayor, Jonathan Hargrave (hcriff 
 
 700 George Anderfon mayor, John Bowes llieriff 
 
 701 William Ramfey mayor, \V^lliam Boiitllour fheriff 
 
 702 William Carr mayor, John Bell iheriff 
 
 703 Matthew White mayor, Allan Bateman fherifF 
 
 704 Thomas WafFe mayor, Matthew Matfin fherifF 
 
 705 Sir Ralph Carr mayor, William Ellifon fherifF 
 
 701^ Nicholas Ridley naayor, Matthew Featherflonhaugh flierlfF 
 
 707 Jofeph Atkinfon mayor, Henry Reiy fherifF 
 
 708 Robert Fenwick mayor,. Edward Johnfon fherilF 
 
 709 George Whintield and Jonathan Roddam mayors, Henry 
 
 Dalilon IherilF 
 
 710 William Ellifon mayor, Ralph Reed iherifF 
 
 711 Matthew Featherflonhaugh mayor, F. Rudfton flieiifF 
 
 712 Henry Reay may(^r, Jofeph Green l])erifF 
 
 7 I 3 Richard Ridley mayor, Nicholas Fenwick flierifF 
 
 714 Edward Johnfon mayor, Roger Matfen (herifF 
 
 715 Henry Dallloa mayor, Nathaniel Clayton flierifF 
 
 716 Ralph Reed mayor, Francis Johnfon fherifF 
 
 717 Francis Rudllon mayor, John Kelly IherifF 
 
 718 Sir William Blackett niavor, Thomas Stephenfon fhctl.T 
 
 719 Jofeph Green mayor, Cuthbert Fen vick llieriiF 
 
 720 Nicholas Fenwick mayor, Jacob Ruttet iTieriiF 
 
 721 Francis Johnfon mayor, Stephen Coulfon fherifF 
 
 722 William Ellifon mayor, Robert Sorfbie fheriflf 
 
 723 M. Featherllonhiugh mayor, Rich.ird Swinburne fheiiff 
 
 724 W^illiam Carr mayor, James -'oncafter Iht.ifF 
 
 725 Nathaniel Clayton mayor, 'Ihomas WalFc fherifF 
 
 726 Nicholas Fenwick mayor, Jofeph Lidd^U IherifF 
 
 727 Culhbert Fenwick mayor, Robert Johnfon fherifF 
 
 728 'Stephen Coulfon mayor, John Stcph?nfon flieriff 
 
 729 H^-nry Reay mayor, Ciichbtrt Sn.itli HierilF 
 
 730 Francis Rudfton mayor, William i la r hot tie fherifF 
 
 731 Robeit Sorfbie mayi r, Challoner Cooper fherifF 
 
 732 Richard RiJlry mayor, William F-r.vick fherifF 
 
 733 Matth:;w Ridl;;y mayor, John Simpfc ■. fnerifF 
 
 734 William Ellifon mayor, K.-bcrt Erifon (his fon) flieriiT 
 
 735 Walter Biackttt mayor, J-'jIai Wilkinf • fherilF 
 
 736 Nicholas Fen^^ick may;)r, Mr.;'.- w BlI: iherifF 
 
 737 William Carr mayor, Jonathan uoribic fheriff 
 
 I7;S 
 
6a6 [impartial Ipiftor)) of 
 
 738 NatlT.miel Cl;n ton mnyor, William Grcenwell OicrifF 
 
 739 Cuthheit Fcnu-ick m lyor, Cuthhert Collingwood fherifF 
 
 740 Ed\v;ird Cilliiigwnod mayor, R;il]ih Sowerby fhcriff 
 
 741 Robert Sorlbie mayor, John Ord llieiiff 
 
 742 John Simpfon mayor, William Peareth fherifF 
 
 743 Ralph J50U erby mayor, George Collpitts fheriff 
 
 744 John Ord mayor, Aubone Surtees fhcriff 
 74.5 Cuthhert Smith mayor, Henry Partis fherifF 
 
 746 Nicholas Fenwick mayor, Henry Eden fherifF 
 
 747 The lame mayor, AVilliam Watfon flierifF 
 
 748 Walter Blackett mayor, John Vonholte fherifF 
 
 749 Pvobert Sorfbie mayor, Robert Herron flierifF 
 
 750 Ralph Sowerby mayor, William Clayton fherifF 
 
 751 Matthew Ridley mayor, Matthew Scarfe, fherifF 
 
 752 Henry Partis mayor, Francis Rudfton fherifF 
 
 753 Henry Eden mayor, John Harrifon fherifF 
 
 754 Cuthbert vSmith mayor, William Rowell fheriff 
 
 755 William Clayton mayor, William Harbottle fheriff 
 
 756 Sir Walter Blackett mayor, John Erafmus Blackett, flieriff 
 
 757 Matthew Bell mayor, John Scurficld fheriff >■ 
 
 758 Ralph Sowerby mayor, Edward Mofley; (heriff 
 
 759 -V'atthew Ridley mayor, Matthew Stephenfon fheriff 
 
 760 Henry Partis mayor, John Maker fhciiff 
 
 761 Aubone Surtees mayor, Fletcht-r Partis flieriff 
 
 762 Cuthbert Smith mayor, Hugh Hornby fheriff 
 
 763 William Clayton mayor, Francis Foriter fheriff 
 
 764 Sir Walter Blackett mayor, Thomas Blackett fheriff' 
 
 765 John Erafmus Blackett mayor, Charles Atkinfon fherifF 
 
 766 Matthew Scuife mayor; John Hedley fherifF 
 
 767 Edward MoflL-y mayor, Richard Lacy fheriff 
 
 768 John Baker mayor, William Coulfbn fheriff 
 
 769 Francis Forrter mayor, William Reed fheriff 
 
 770 Aubone Surtees mayor, James Liddell fheriff 
 
 771 Sir Walter Blackett mayor, Chrilfopher Wilkinflm flieriff 
 
 772 John Erafmus Blackett mayor, James Rudman fheriff 
 
 773 Matthew Scaifc mayor, till on his death he was fucceeded 
 
 by Edward Mofley, William Yeilder fheriff' 
 
 774 Sir M. W. Ridley mayor, Francis Johnfon flieriff 
 
 775 Charles Atkinfon mayor, William Cramlington fheriff 
 
 776 John Baker mayor, 'f^homas Loraine fheriff 
 
 777 John Hedley mayor, Robert Clayton fheriff 
 
 778 Hugh Hornln' mayor, James Wilkinfbn fheriff 
 
 779 Francis Forlter mayor, Ifaac Cookfon flieriff 
 
 780 John Erafmus Blackett mayor, William Surtees fheriff 
 78 I Edw. Mofley mayor, John Wallis and Geo. Collpitts fheriffs 
 
 782 Sir Matthew White Ridley mayor, Richard Bell fheriff 
 
 783 Charles Atkinfon mayor, Chriftopher Soulfby fheriff 
 
 1784 
 
Ji^cUicaftlc upon Cj>nr. 
 
 1784 James RuJman mayor, Edward Dale (herifF 
 
 1785 William Yeilder mayor, Aubone Siirtees jun. flieriiF 
 
 1786 Francis Johnfon mayor, Richard Chaniliers IheritF 
 
 1787 William Ciamlington mayoi, Jofcpli Forller Iheiitf 
 I7«8 John riedley mayor, Robert Newton Lynn IherifF 
 
 1789 Hugh Hornby mayor, Nathaniel Hornby IheriiF 
 
 1790 John Eralmus Blackett mayor, Chas. J. Clavering fberifF 
 
 1 79 1 Sir M. White Ridley mayor, J^haftoe John Hedley, IherifF 
 
 1792 James Riulman mayor, Matthew Pringle fheri(F 
 
 1793 William Yeilder mayor, Henry John Honnfom IherifF 
 179+ Francis Johnfon mayor, Archibald Retd JlierifF 
 
 1795 Richard Chambers mayor, Aiuhony Smith ihcrifF 
 
 1796 William Cramlington mayor, Nicholas Hall (hcriiF 
 
 1797 Anthony Hood mayor, Thomas Hood HierifF 
 
 1798 John Wallis mayor, William Wright flieriff 
 
 1799 Sliaftoe John Hedley mayor, Henry Cramlington flierifF 
 
 1800 Archibald Reed mayor, Aubone Suitces jun. IheritF 
 
 1 80 1 Joieph Forfter mayor, Matth. Hedley and llaac Cookfon, 
 
 jun. flicrilFs. 
 
 Thus have we arrived at the terminating period of 
 our work. In tracing the origin of Newcadle, its 
 gradual progrels through barbarous and bleeding 
 ages, from forming only a part of a mighty barrier of 
 a powerful ambitious people, afterwards the uninter- 
 efting relidence of fwarms of religious, to its arrival 
 at that pitch of greatnefs to which it has now attain- 
 ed, we feel ourfelves affed:ed with the moft plealant 
 lenfations, while we ielpe(flfully hope that we have 
 prefented, in a fuccind: yet lucid view, an account of 
 the walls, ft-reets, churches, public buildings, the go- 
 vernment and municip li conltitution, the numerous 
 trades and incorporated companies, the commerce, 
 in its various enriching ramifications, which pervade 
 the whole mafsof a numerous and indullrious people; 
 in a word, whatever is interefting in and about Ncw- 
 caftle. Nor does a retrofpecflive view of what it has 
 been excite an apprehenlive figh, foreboding of a 
 
 fufpicioM 
 
f/ 
 
 608 impartial DiUoi'i), &c. 
 
 furpicion of its having arrived at the fummit of its 
 greatnefs : 011 the contrary, when we confider the 
 internal refources of an aclive and enterprizing peo- 
 ple, the many public improvements at prefent going 
 forward ; but, above ail, when our hopes of a Canal, 
 from the eallern to the weftern feas, to be fpeedily 
 begun, hiive almoft a certainty of being realifed, our 
 profpeds of the future grandeur of the fubje(^of our 
 hiftoiy expand to our delighted imagination. Nor 
 have w^e any doubts that the friends of the po- 
 lilhed arts of life, andof ufeful fcience, will continue 
 and increafe their eflbrts to dift'uie their benign in- 
 fluence among the inhabitants of the town ; and ar- 
 dently hope, that every barrier ereded againft the 
 interells of knowledge and virtue, by interelled and 
 dcfigning men, will fall to the ground. 
 
 In looking over our woik, we obferve many mif- 
 takes, feveral of which were pointed out to us by our 
 candid and worthy friends. A lift of the moft mate- 
 rial errata is fubjoined. And as gratitude, is one of 
 the moft amiable virtues, we cannot clofe our obfer- 
 vations without fincerely hoping that we feel its in- 
 fluence, in its full force, towards our fubfcribers, many 
 of whom are in the firft clafs for literary and fcientific 
 accompliflnnents. For their kind and ufeful obfer- 
 vations, their friendly corrections, and that partiality 
 which they have uniformly fhewn to.vards our work, 
 our beft wifhes for their profperity, in their various 
 flations in fociety, will ever attend them, and will be 
 coeval with our lives. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
A P P E N D I X. 
 
 IN our accrtunt of the gl.ils-works (p. 512) we accidentally 
 ommitted mentioning thofe at Leniington, where there are 
 two haufes for the manufadlure of crown glafs, belonging to the 
 No^riiuniberlanJ Company, undtr the firm of Waldic and Co. 
 One of thcfc' buildings h faid to be the highelt conical glafs-houfc 
 in the united kingdoms. The duties paid to government, for 
 the Leniington glafs-works, amount to about two thoufaud feven 
 hundred pounds, every fix weeks. Nearly one hundred woik- 
 men are employed in thefc two houfes. 
 
 To the niaNufa(5lorics in llie vicinity of Newcadlc may likewife 
 be added the extenfive paper-mills of Mr. Robert Rumney, at 
 Warden ; McJfrs. A. and J. Annandale, at Haughton ; and Mr. 
 John Smith, at Langley ; who make confiderable quantities of 
 all forts of paper, and have large wari-houfes in Newcaftle, cou- 
 ftantly Rored witli that article. 
 
 Three furveyors are Rationed at Shields, who, in rotation, 
 hail all ve/Tels that enter the harbour, to know their names, 
 from whence they come, and their cargoes, for the purpofe of 
 announcing their arrival, at the Exchange, in NewcalHe. 
 
 The original life-boat, we find, was built at South Shields, 
 by Mr. Greathead, about twelve years ago ; that at North Shields 
 was conftruifled by the fame gentleman, fome time afterwards, 
 under the patronage of the duke of Northumberland, who gives 
 an annual donatiim of twenty pounds towards its fupport. It 
 is about thirty feet long over all, and ten feet broad, built in a 
 flauching manner, and decked at the floor heads, rows with 
 twelve oars, fixed with grummets on iron pins, (leers at both 
 ends, and covered with cork on the outfide two or three llrokes 
 down from the gunwale, will cany thirty people well, and live 
 in a moft tremendous broken-headed fea. Li page 563 we men- 
 tion that fix or eight men arc able to manage it ; which ftate- 
 ment we find, upon minute enquiry, to be erroneous, fourteen 
 being tlic exa(5l number. 71ie fubject of the life -boat is at prefent 
 under the confideration of jinrliament, and ihe merit of Mr. 
 Greatliead, for this truly laudable invention, will doubtlefs be 
 amply rewarded. 
 
 4 G Tlicre 
 
010 APPENDIX. 
 
 There are four banks in Newcaflle, namely, Mefirs. Surteci^ 
 Burdon, and Co. in Mofley flreet ; Sir M. W. RiJlej, Bell, and ■ 
 Co. in Pilgrim-ftreet ; Sir William Loraine, Baker, and Co. in 
 Church-ftreet ; and R. J. Lambton, Bulman, and Co. in Dcan- 
 ftreejC. 
 
 Among tlie cork-cutters in Newcaftle, the mod confiderable 
 are the following : viz, — Mr. Rowley, George's-ftairs ; and Mr. 
 Brafs, fen. Pepper-corn-chare, Qnav-fide. 
 
 A mod ingenious and yet fimple combination of machinery, 
 for the purpofes of regulating the conveyance of waggons, laden 
 with coals, down an inclofed plane, from Benwell colliery, on 
 the north fide of the Tyne, to the ftaith at the border of the 
 river, and for bringing up the waggons, when unloaded, by the 
 fame power that refilled its projedtile itupetus in the defcent, was, 
 in the year 1798, perfeded and brought into ufe by the late Mr. 
 Barnes. The length of the rail-way, on which the waggon runs, 
 is 864 yards, which diftance it defcends in two minutes and a 
 half, and re-afcends in the fame fpace of time ; fo that a loaded 
 \vaggon can be let down with eafe and fafety, the coal dif- 
 charged, and the empty waggon returned to the pit, within the 
 compafs et/even minutes ! The impelling and the refilling powers 
 of motion are derived from a plummet, weighing 16^ cvvt. which 
 the waggon, in afcending and defcending, alternately raifes and 
 lowers the depth of 144 yards. The rope, by which the wag- 
 gon is impeded and accelerated, winds round the axis of a large 
 wheel, in a niche or groove in the middle, that gives the rope 
 only fpace to coil round upon itfelf, and thereby guards againft 
 all poffibility of entanglement. Near to the axis of the large 
 coiling wheel, there is an oblique indention of caft iron, which 
 correfponds with and works into a fimilar conformation on the 
 rim of a fmaller wheel, round which the plummet rope is coiled 
 or warped, and is, in confequence therefore, moved round only 
 once in fix rotations of the fufpending and retracing wheel, 
 which exatflly correfponds with the elevation of the weight and 
 the defcent of the waggoq. To preferye t^ie rope from injury, 
 by dragging on the ground, rollers with irpn pivots and biafsi 
 fpckets, for it to run upon, are elevated in the middle of the 
 rail-way, but fufficiently low to prove no obftru«5lion to the wag- 
 gpn, which pafTcs over them. 
 
 CONT£?jTS. 
 
( 6n ) 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Addrefs to the Public • - - - - 
 
 Antiquities of the Town . - - . - 
 
 SituaiioR and Extent of the Town . . - 
 
 Geogi;iphic.il Situation and Name of the Town 
 The Walls, Towers, and Gates - . - . 
 Houfes and Population - - . - - 
 Streets, Sec. ....... 
 
 Black Friars and St. Mar) 's Hofpital 
 
 The Royal Grammar School - . . - 
 
 Houfe of the Carmelites, or White Friars 
 
 The Gray Friars, or Minus 
 
 St. Bartholomew's Hofpital - . . - 
 
 St. Mary Magdalen's Hofpital . . - 
 
 The Monafteiy of the St. Aullin Friars 
 
 Priory of St. Michael de Wali-kuoU 
 
 The fuburbs of Newgate, Pandon, and Sandgate 
 
 The Means of fupplying the Town with \\ ater - 
 
 Boundaries of the Town of Newcaftle 
 
 The Forth, Warden's Clofe, and Caftle Leazes 
 
 Town Moor and Nun's Moor - - - 
 
 Public Buildings - • - - 
 
 Moothall and Newgate Gaol - - - . 
 
 Exchange and Town Court ' - - ' - 
 
 Bridge, Manfion houfe . - . . . 
 
 Cuftom-houfe, Affcnibly Rooms ... 
 
 Theatre Royal, Poll Office . - . - 
 
 Gale Crofs ------- 
 
 St. Nicholas' Church 
 
 St. John's and St. Andrew's Church - r 
 
 All Saints or All-hallow's Church 
 
 St. Ann's Chapel ------ 
 
 Dirtenting Mecting-houfes, . . - . 
 
 Ballaft-liills Burying-ground . - . - 
 
 Public Charities- Charity School of St. Nicholas 
 St. John's Chaiity School - . . - 
 
 Chari:y School of AH Saints and St. Ann's 
 Sunday Schools, Private Schools . - - 
 
 Public Inllitutions — I.iterary and Philofophical Socic 
 St. Nicholas l^ibrary . _ . . - 
 
 Charitable Inllitutions — Jefus Hofpital 
 MrsDavifon's Hofpital, Sir \\' niter Blackett' 
 Mr Davifon's iJofpital, Keclmcn's Hofpital 
 Ipfirmary, Difpenfary .... 
 
 Lying in Hofpital, I'riendlefs Poor Society 
 Liinatic Afylums, Baths, Benefit Societies 
 
 •3—7: 
 
 Hofpit 
 
 Psge. 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 27 
 
 32 
 
 ;>9— M 
 
 54 
 
 77 
 80 
 87 
 . 89 
 95 
 
 lOl 
 
 . 103 
 
 107 
 
 12.J. — 140 
 
 - 14.^ 
 
 - 157 
 159—163 
 167 — 168 
 
 . ,83 
 
 196—197 
 
 198 
 
 203 — 2 1 1 
 
 2 1 4 — 2 1 5 
 
 217 — 219 
 
 220 
 
 22 I 
 
 258 
 
 261 
 
 272 
 
 - 273 
 
 - 276 
 278 
 280 
 
 . 282 
 
 383—285 
 
 ty 2^8 
 
 - 293 
 
 - 3^^ 
 il 313-314 
 
 315—316 
 
 32 —336 
 341 — 343 
 343—348 
 
 256- 
 
612 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 Chartets, Piivil'.jres, &c. — Charters of Ncwcuftle - 352 
 
 Corp ration of Ncvvcaftle, Courts - - "37' —373 
 Reprcfcntatives of the Tow n in Parliament - - 377 
 Merchant Vd venturers, Society of Hoaflmen - 383 — 390 
 
 Society of M.illers and Mariners . . . . 39^ 
 
 Twelve Companies, called Myfteries ... ^03 
 
 Fifteen Companies, called Hy-trades - - - 415 
 
 Other Companies mt of the Fifteen Trades - - 429 
 
 7 he variuub Branches of Trades and Manufaftures - 439 
 Exports and Jmpoits - - - - - 533 — 534 
 
 Gatefhead - - - - -.- - -55^ 
 
 Hiftorical Events - 581 
 
 Lift of the Mayors and Sheriffs ... - yyg 
 
 Appendix. ........ 609 
 
 Pa^c 
 
 Line 
 
 40 
 
 22 
 
 44 
 
 19 
 
 73 
 
 II 
 
 93 
 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 For It appears to liave been uniformly twenty-two feet, or a 
 chain, in width, rend it appears to have been of an irregular 
 width, in fiome j)laccs twcuty-two feet. 
 For Troissart, read Froissard. 
 For foot of Westgate-street, read head. 
 
 Dunston is erroncuusly said to belong to Morton College: it be- 
 longs at present to the eail of Tankervillc; the tythes of corn 
 only belong to Morton College. 
 127 29 For Beverley Buffs., rc:id first battalion of the Yorkshire West 
 Riding militia. 
 For C.'iverley, read Calvcrlcy. 
 For Moilcy, read Marley. 
 For 1 7 13, read 1783. 
 
 Add, the steeple of which is 194 feet high. 
 229 lastl. For daily burial service, read daily iinJ burial service. 
 310 15 For twelve, rc:0 eight thousand. 
 .5.38 16 Rcadnot only in Newcastle. 
 
 402sec.coI. In the year 1787, for Thomas Mogg, read Joseph Hogg. 
 445 2 From the bottom, for raiisaikcd, read ransacked. 
 
 For two or three, read between one and two guineas. 
 Dele the whole of the liue. 
 
 Pvcad a distillery for coal-tar at St. Peter's quay is conduced by- 
 Mess. Redaliaw and Ridley; and the maiiufaiSlory for lamp- 
 black there, belonging to the same. 
 For Oxiey, read Oxen. 
 For peculiar to, read carried on in. 
 For Turnbull, read Tunstall. 
 20 Dele the t at probablys, and insert a comma. 
 
 130 
 
 19 
 
 213 
 
 I 
 
 220 
 
 7 
 
 226 
 
 16 
 
 51^ 
 
 3 
 
 .S18 
 
 13 
 
 519 
 
 23 
 
 K19 
 
 8 
 
 .?33 
 
 . 6 
 
 SSI 
 
 7 
 
 554 
 
 20 
 
 DIRECTIONS for the BINDER. 
 The plan of the town to face the title-page ; the lift of fub- 
 fcribers to follow the title-page ; the plate of the New Affembljr 
 Rooms to face page 215 ; that of St Nicholas' church to face 
 page 22 I ; that oi' All-Saints to face page 261; and that of the 
 Isifirmary to front page 321. 
 

 
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