virgin queen, that she issued a proclamation in 1580, forbidding the erection of any but houses of the highest class within three miles of the city. James was not even satisfied with this precaution, but added (1617) a proclamation commanding all noblemen, knights, and gentlemen, who had mansions in the country, to depart within twenty days, with their wives and families, during the summer vacation. As to Charles, he, in the very year that the Earl commenced operations, strained the restrictive virtue of proclamations so far as to forbid the entertainment of additional inmates in houses already existing, "which would multiply the inhabitants to such an excessive number that they could neither be governed nor fed." This, we repeat, was the precise time the Earl of Bedford began. His first step was to call to his assistance Inigo Jones, who had already commenced at Lincoln's Inn Fields the erection of that class of houses, and in that disposition, which gave such novel features to London, and forms to this day, in the different squares, one of its principal charms. The old buildings of the locality having been removed, a large oblong space, 500 feet long by 400 broad, was laid out in the centre, around which were to be stately buildings, with arcades after the Italian manner, for persons of rank and fashion, then fast migrating westward from Aldersgate Street and the different parts of the city. The north and a part of the east sides only were erected, however, by Jones, or after his designs, and the latter was burnt down in the fire that injured the church in 1795. The remainder of the space was laid out in streets, which still bear in their names a reference to the period, as King Street, Charles Street, and Henrietta Street. The impulse, thus given, spread; noble mansions shot up with surprising rapidity, in Drury Lane, in Queen Street, and generally through the neighbourhood, where we may still trace Jones's handiwork, as in the building in the street last mentioned, which is here shown. This fine artist, indeed, it seems to us, ought to be looked upon as the true founder of the modern domestic architecture of the metropolis. It was not till after he had laid out Lincoln's Inn Square and Covent Garden, and built the palatial mansions that adorned both, that

Soho Square and Golden Square arose; to be followed still later by Hanover and Cavendish Squares, and a host of others. Of the minor streets that sprung up subsequent to and in consequence of the erection of the buildings of Covent Garden, in the same century, we may mention Catherine Street, so designated from the wife of Charles II.; Duke Street and York Street from his brother; also Bloomsbury, and the streets of Seven Dials; and, lastly, in the reigns of William and Anne, the remaining unbuilt sides of Covent Garden. As to the fines for such labours, which we before referred to, it appears that during the Protectorate, in the year 1657, William, the fifth Earl, and his brothers John and Edward Russell, were abated 70001. from the amount of their fines for violating the proclamation, in consideration of the great expense which the family had incurred in the erection of the chapel, and the improvement of the neighbourhood.

As houses accumulated, the parish church of St. Martin became insufficient for the accommodation of the parishioners; so the Earl one day sent for his architect, and "told him," says Walpole, who had the anecdote from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Onslow, "that he wanted a chapel for the parishioners of Covent Garden, but added, he would not go to any considerable expense; in short,' says he, I would not have it much better than a barn.' 'Well, then,' replied Jones, you shall have the handsomest barn in England.'" This story, so far from appearing to us as "somewhat questionable," as Mr. Brayley esteems it, or to have arisen from a mere "expression of pleasantry on the part of the Earl," as suggested by a writer in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' is so exactly illustrated by the building, that were there no truth in it, we should be half inclined to agree with the opinion of him who said the most remarkable thing about the structure is the reputation it enjoys, so exceedingly naked is it as regards all decorative details, so destitute, in short, of any qualities that can command admiration except the air of grandeur thrown over the whole by the masterly combinations of form and the powerful lights and shadows which they bring into play: the very quality, in short, that the anecdote shows us was alone at the architect's disposal. Some time after the erection of the chapel, a dispute occurred between the Earl and the vicar of St. Martin's as to the right of patronage or appointment of curates to the former, in consequence of which the Earl used all his influence to get the district formed into a separate parish, and successfully; in 1645 his wishes were finally accomplished, and the chapel became the church of St. Paul-Covent Garden a parish. The cost of the former was 4500l., a sum that contrasts very oddly with the charges for repairing the structure only about fifty years later, namely, 11,000l.; but the Vandals who had the management of the repair appear to have gone out of their way to increase the expense by altering the portico-Inigo Jones's portico; for we learn from a newspaper of 1727 that "the right honourable the Earl of Burlington, out of regard to the memory of the celebrated Inigo Jones, and to prevent our countrymen being exposed for their ignorance, has very generously been at the expense of 3007. or 400l. to restore the portico of Covent Garden Church, now one of the finest in the world, to its primitive form it is said it once cost the inhabitants about twice as much to spoil it." * Would it were always so; it is impossible to desire a better argument for the conviction of such persons, and

*Weekly Journal,' April 22, 1727.

where that fails nothing could succeed. In 1795 the fire took place which burnt the arcade on the east side of the square, and did terrible damage to the church; Malcolm says, not a particle of woodwork escaped (the wondrous architectural roof of timber of course early disappeared); and describes the flames at their height as making "a grand scene, the portico and massy pillars projected before a background of liquid fire." The church had been insured for 10,000l., but the insurance having been allowed to expire about a twelvemonth before, the entire expense of the rebuilding fell on the inhabitants in the shape of an accumulation of rent to the amount, it is said, of at least 25 per cent. The essential parts of Inigo Jones's structure, that is, the portico, with the walls, resisted the fire and were preserved. There were some interesting things in the building thus destroyed, and which shared the same fate; such as the monument by Gibbon of Sir P. Lely, who

and who was buried in the church; the painted-glass portraits of St. Paul, of which Bagford speaks; and the picture of Charles I., by Lely, which shows how the painter's zealous political views had got the better of his common sense, not to say of his religious perceptions: the king was painted kneeling, with a crown of thorns in his hand, his sceptre and coronet lying by. We do not find it stated that this picture was burnt, but such was no doubt the case, as it is not now in the church. Many of our readers may be aware that St. Paul's, Covent Garden, derives some reputation from the eminent men who have been buried within its walls or churchyard; but they will hardly be aware how very rich it is in such associations. Beneath the vestry-room, where is a fine portrait by Vandyke of the first Earl of Bedford, lie Wolcot, the scourge alike of Academicians, and of the royalty who conferred on them the honours they so delighted in, and Johnstone, the best Irish gentleman of our stage. In other parts of the church are the remains of Wycherley, the author of the 'Plain Dealer,' and the worthy precursor of the Congreves, Vanbrughs, and Farquhars; Macklin, who, as his inscription informs us, was

and Dr. Arne, the great English musician (without stone or memorial). In that part of the churchyard which lies on the northern side of the walk, against the back of the houses of King Street, and called King Street Plat, reposes the author of Hudibras ;' and in another corner of the same plat, appropriately designated the Theatrical corner, Michael Kelly, Edwin, King, and Estcourt, the founder of the first Beef Steak Club, of which Mrs. Woffington was president, and which is mentioned in the Spectator.' Two other names yet occur to the memory in connexion with St. Paul's, Carr Earl of Somerset, and Sir Robert Strange, the founder of the English school of engraving, and who enjoys the peculiar honour of having had his portrait introduced into the picture of the 'Progress of Engraving,' in the Vatican-the only one of our countrymen so distinguished.

Nor are the interesting recollections of the locality confined to the church. In

Rose Street, now Rose Alley, Covent Garden, was Dryden waylaid and beaten by ruffians hired by the Earl of Rochester, in revenge for an attack upon himself in the Essay on Satire,' a production attributed to Dryden, but really written by Lord Mulgrave, afterwards Duke of Buckinghamshire. The poet was at the time returning from his favourite haunt at the western corner of Bow Street, the far-famed Will's Coffee House. Dryden was also concerned in another act of violence in Covent Garden, and which ended fatally, but in which he was less personally interested: we allude to the duel, so dramatically described by Pepys, between "Sir H. Bellasses and Tom Porter," and which, he justly observes, is worth remembering as a "kind of emblem of the general complexion of this whole kingdom at present." He then continues, "They two dined yesterday at Sir Robert Carr's, where, it seems, people do drink high, all that come. It happened that these two, the greatest friends in the world, were talking together, and Sir H. Bellasses talked a little louder than ordinary to Tom Porter, giving of him some advice. Some of the company standing by said, 'What, are they quarrelling, that they talk so high? Sir H. Bellasses, hearing it, said, 'No,' says he, I would have you know I never quarrel but I strike; and take that as a rule of mine!' 'How,' says Tom Porter, 'strike? I would I could see the man in England that durst give me a blow.' With that Sir H. Bellasses did give him a box of the ear; and so they were going to fight there, but were hindered. And by-and-by Tom Porter went out, and, meeting Dryden the poet, told him of the business, and that he was resolved to fight Sir H. Bellasses presently; for he knew that, if he did not, they should be friends to-morrow, and then the blow would rest upon him, which he would prevent; and desired Dryden to let him have his boy to bring him notice which way Sir H. Bellasses goes. By-and-by he is informed that Sir H. Bellasses' coach was coming so Tom Porter went down out of the coffee-house, where he stayed for the tidings, and stopped the coach, and bade Sir H. Bellasses come out. Why,' says H. Bellasses, you will not hurt me coming out, will you?' 'No,' says Tom Porter. So, out he went, and both drew; and H. Bellasses having drawn, and flung away his scabbard, Tom Porter asked him whether he was ready. The other answering him he was, they fell to fight, some of their acquaintance by. They wounded one another, and Bellasses so much, that it is feared he will die: and, finding himself severely wounded, he called to Tom Porter, and kissed him, and bade him shift for himself; for, says he, Tom, thou hast hurt me, but I will make shift to stand upon my legs till thou mayst withdraw, and the world will not take notice of you, for I would not have thee troubled for what thou hast done.' And so, whether he did fly or not I cannot tell; but Tom Porter showed H. Bellasses that he was wounded too: and they are both ill, but H. Bellasses to fear of life."* Bellasses died ten days afterwards.

6

In Covent Garden, again, was Powell's Theatre, where Punch, soaring above the mere antics that regale the eyes of his street worshippers, marshalled a goodly company of puppet actors, and laid under contribution the mightiest subjects in the history of man for dramas, that might worthily exhibit their powers. Here is one of Powell's advertisements:-" At Punch's Theatre, in the Little Piazza, this present Friday being the 2nd, and to-morrow, the 3rd of May, will Pepys's Diary.

be presented an opera, called the State of Innocence, or the Fall of Man.' With variety of scenes and machines, particularly the scene of Paradise in its primitive state, with birds, beasts, and all its ancient inhabitants, the subtlety of the serpent in betraying Adam and Eve, &c., with variety of diverting interludes, too many to be inserted here. No person to be admitted in masks or riding-hoods [commonly used at the other theatres for the purposes of licentious intrigue], nor any money to be returned after the curtain is up. Boxes 2s.; pit Is. Beginning exactly at seven o'clock." It must not be supposed, however, that Punch thought there should be no more cakes and ale because his master was virtuous, or that fun was to be debarred merely because the theme might be somewhat serious: so, whether Adam and Eve were wandering handin-hand about Eden, or Noah and his daughters shut up in the ark, Punch, in his own proper character, was not long missing. Powell had constantly audiences of the most fashionable description. Lastly, in and around Covent Garden, the Beefsteak Club-not the oldest one, but by far the greatest-held its sittings, from its first formation in the dressing-room of the manager and pantomimist Rich, a man of whom Garrick says,

"He gave the power of speech to every limb,"

and who carried the pantomimic art to great perfection in his theatre at Lincoln's Inn, and subsequently at Covent Garden when he became its manager. To ensure the effect of his scenes, and the working of his ingenious mechanism he painted the one, and put in motion the other, in small pasteboard models, with his own hands. Whilst thus engaged, his room was the continual resort of men of rank and intellectual eminence, who admired the skill of the artist, and still more the conversation of the man. Hogarth, his father-in-law Sir James Thornhill, and Lord Peterborough, were among this class. The latter having been detained accidentally on one occasion, through the non-arrival of his carriage, was so delighted with the converse that passed as to overlook the lapse of time, and the necessity that his entertainer-a man of regular habits-should get his dinner. Rich, however, did not forget or postpone it, but at two o'clock commenced preparations by clearing his fire, placing a gridiron with a steak on it, and spreading his cloth. When ready, Rich invited his lordship to join him, who did so, and enjoyed his repast so much that further supplies, with wine, were sent for; and thus was the evening spent. On leaving, Lord Peterborough proposed a renewal of the feast on the Saturday following, when three or four friends came with him, and the club was finally determined upon, with "Beef and Liberty" for its motto, and beefsteaks, port wine, and punch for its regular fare. This took place in 1735, and from that to the present time there are few persons of very high personal, political, or intellectual distinction who have not been among its members. In the notices of the proceedings of different periods the most prominent names are Bubb Doddington, Aaron Hill, Hoadley, the author of the Suspicious Husband,' Glover the poet, Lord Sandwich, Wilkes, Bonnel Thornton, Arthur Murphy, Churchill, Tickell, the Prince of Wales afterwards George IV., the late Duke of Norfolk, the late Charles Morris, &c. &c. Here, indeed, were met the fellows of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy, with their gibes, their gambols, their songs, their flashes of merriment that were wont to