The companies marked with an * before them have no liverymen, and
all the freemen of the rest are not upon the livery, that is,
entitled to wear the gowns belonging to the respective companies,
and vote in elections, but a select number of freemen only. Every
company is a distinct corporation, being incorporated by grants from
the crown, or acts of parliament, and having certain rules,
liberties, and privileges, for the better support and government of
their several trades and mysteries: many of them are endowed with
lands to a great value, and have their masters, wardens, assistants,
clerks, and other officers, to direct and regulate their affairs,
and to restrain and punish abuses incident to their several trades;
and when any disputes arise concerning the due execution of these
charters, the Lord Mayor has a supreme power to determine the case
and to punish the offenders.
The military government of the City of London is lodged in the
lieutenancy, consisting of the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and other
principal citizens, who receive their authority from his majesty's
commission, which he revokes and alters as often as he sees fit.
These have under their command six regiments of foot, viz.:- 1, The
White; 2, the Orange; 3, the Yellow; 4, the Blue; 5, the Green; and
6, the Red Regiment - in every one of which are eight companies,
consisting of one hundred and fifty men each; in all, seven thousand
two hundred men: besides which there is a kind of independent
company, called the artillery company, consisting of seven or eight
hundred volunteers, whose skill in military discipline is much
admired by their fellow-citizens. These exercise frequently in the
artillery ground, engage in mock fights and sieges, and storm the
dunghills with great address.
The Tower Hamlets, it has been observed already, are commanded by
the lieutenant of the Tower, and consist of two regiments of foot,
eight hundred each: so that the whole militia of London, exclusive
of Westminster and Southwark, amount to near ten thousand men.
London, like other cities of the kingdom, is, or ought to be,
governed by its bishop in spirituals, though his authority is very
little regarded at present. The justices of peace at their sessions
may empower any man to preach and administer the sacraments, let his
occupation or qualifications be never so mean; nor do they ever
refuse it to a person who is able to raise the small sum of - pence
being less a great deal than is paid for licensing a common
alehouse. A clergyman indeed cannot be entitled to a benefice
without being, in some measure, subject to his diocesan; but he may
throw off his gown, and assemble a congregation that shall be much
more beneficial to him, and propagate what doctrines he sees fit (as
is evident in the case of orator Henley): but to proceed.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 44 of 78
Words from 22638 to 23184
of 40922
