"From a search made in the official records of the City, it appears that for more than three hundred years, namely, since 1549, an alderman of London had always been elected president of St. Bartholomew's Hospital; until 1854, whenever a vacancy occurred in the presidency of the Royal Hospitals (St. Bartholomew's, Bethlehem, Bridewell, St. Thomas's, or Christ's Hospitals), it was customary to elect the Lord Mayor for the time being, or an alderman who had passed the chair. This rule was first broken when the Duke of Cambridge was chosen President of Christ's Hospital over the head of Alderman Sidney, the then Lord Mayor; and again when Mr. Cubitt, then no longer an alderman, was elected President of St. Bartholomew's in preference to the then Lord Mayor. This question is, however, contested by the foundation-governors or the Corporation, and the donation-governors."

It has been shown that King Henry VIII. in 1546 vested the Hospital of St. Bartholomew in the mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London, and their successors, for ever, in consideration of a payment by them of 500 marks a year towards its maintenance, and with it the nomination and appointment of all the officers. In September, 1557, at a general court of the Governors of all the Hospitals, it was ordered that St. Bartholomew's should henceforth be united to the rest of the Hospitals, and be made one body with them, and on the following day ordinances were made by the Corporation for the general government of all the Hospitals. The 500 marks a year have been paid by the Corporation since 1546, besides the profit of many valuable leases.

This charity has an existence of nearly seven centuries and a half. The Hospital receives, upon petition, cases of all kinds free of fees; and accidents, or cases of urgent disease, without letter, at the Surgery, at any hour of the day or night. There is also a "Samaritan Fund," for relieving distressed patients. The present buildings contain 25 wards, consisting of 650 beds, 400 being for surgical cases, and 250 for medical cases and the diseases of women. Each ward is presided over by a "sister" and nurses, to the number of nearly 180 persons. In addition to a very extensive medical staff, there are four resident surgeons and two resident apothecaries, who are always on duty, day and night, throughout the year, to attend to whatever may be brought in at any hour of the twenty-four. It further possesses a College within itself, a priceless museum ; and a first-class Medical School, conducted by thirtysix professors and assistants. The "View-day," for this and the other Royal Hospitals of the City, is a day specially set apart by the authorities to examine, in their official collective capacity, every portion of the establishment; when the public are admitted.

THE

BATHS, OLDEN.

This

HE most ancient Bath in the metropolis is "the old Roman Spring Bath" in Strand-lane; but evidently unknown to Stow, though he mentions the locality as "a lane or way down to the landing-place on the banks of the Thames." Bath is in a vaulted chamber, and is formed of thin tile-like brick, layers of cement and rubble-stones, all corresponding with the materials of the Roman wall of London; the water is beautifully clear and extremely cold. The property can be traced to the Danvers, or D'Anvers, family, of Swithland Hall, Leicestershire, whose mansion stood upon the spot.

St. Agnes-le-Clair Baths, Tabernacle-square, Finsbury, are supposed originally to have been of the above age, from finding the Roman tiles through which the water was once conveyed. Stow mentions them as "Dame Anne's the clear." The date assigned to these Baths is 1502. This famous spring was dedicated to St. Agnes; and, from the transparency and salubrity of its waters, denominated St. Agnes-leClair. It has claims to antiquity, for it appears that in the reign of Henry VIII. it was thus named :— :-" Fons voc' Dame Agnes a Clere." It is described as belonging to Charles Stuart, late king of England. This spring was said to be of great efficacy in all rheumatic and nervous cases, headache, &c.

Peerless Pool, Baldwin-street, City-road, is referred to by Stow as near St. Agnes-leClair, and " one other clear water, called Perilous Pond, because divers youths, by swimming therein, have been drowned;" but this ominous name was change to Peerless Pool; in 1743, it was enclosed, and converted into a bathing-place.

The Cold Bath, Clerkenwell, was originally the property of one Walter Baynes, who purchased a moiety of the estate, in 1696; when it comprised Windmill-hill, or Sir John Oldcastle's Field, extending westward from Sir John Oldcastle's to the River

Fleet, or, as it was then called, Turumill-brook; and southward, by Coppice-row, to the same brook, near the Clerks' Wells: while Gardiner's Farm was the plot on which stands the Middlesex House of Correction. Baynes's attention was first directed to the Cold Spring, which, in 1697, he converted into a Bath, spoken of, eleven years afterwards, in Hatton's New View, as "the most noted and first about London," which assertion, written so near the time at which it states the origin of our Cold Bath, disproves the story of its having been the bath of Nell Gwynn, whom a nude figure, on porcelain, preserved by the proprietor, is said to represent. In Mr. Baynes's time, the charge for bathing was 2s.: or, in the case of patients who, from weakness, required the "chair," 2s. 6d. The chair was suspended from the ceiling, in such a manner that a person placed in it could be thereby lowered into the water, and drawn up again in the same way. The spring was at the acmé of its reputation in 1700. Of its utility, in cases of weakness more especially, there can be no question. Besides which, its efficacy is stated in the cure of scorbutic complaints, nervous affections, rheumatism, chronic disorders, &c. It is a chalybeate, and deposits a saline incrustation. The spring is said to supply 20,000 gallons daily. The height to which it rises in the marble receptacles prepared for it, is four feet seven inches. Until the sale of the estate in 1811, the Bath House, with the garden in which it stood, comprised an area of 103 feet by 60, enclosed by a brick wall, with a summerhouse (resembling a little tower) at each angle: the house had several gables. The garden was let on building-leases, and the whole is now covered with houses, the Bath remaining in the midst. In 1815, the exterior of the Bath House was nearly all taken down, leaving only a small portion of its frontage, which it still retains.

The Duke's Bath, or Bagnio, is minutely described by Samuel Haworth, in 1683, as "erected near the west end of Long Acre, in that spot of ground called Salisbury Stables." Here dwelt Sir William Jennings, who obtained the royal patent for making all public bagnios or baths, either for sweating, bathing, or washing. "In one of the ante-rooms hangs a pair of scales, to weigh such as out of curiosity would know how much they lose in weight while they are in the bagnio. The bagnio itself is a stately oval edifice, with a cupola roof, in which are round glasses to let in light. The cupola is supported by eight columns, between which and the sides is a sumptuous walk,' arched over with brick. The bagnio is paved with marble, and has a marble table; the sides are covered with white gully-tiles, and within the wall were ten seats, such as are in the baths at Bath. There are also fourteen niches in the walls, in which are placed so many fonts or basins, with cocks over them of hot or cold water. On one side of the bagnio hangs a very handsome pendulum-clock, which is kept to give an exact account how time passeth away. Adjoining to the bagnio there are four little round rooms, about eight feet over, which are made for degrees of heat, some being hotter, others colder, as persons can best bear and are pleased to use. These rooms are also covered with cupolas, and their walls with gully-tiles." We refer the reader to Haworth's account for the details of "the entertainment," as the bath is termed. On the east side of the Bagnio fronting the street, is "The Duke's Bagnio Coffeehouse." A great gate opens into a courtyard, for coaches. In this courtyard is visible the front of the Bagnio, having this inscription upon it in golden letters, upon a carved stone:"The Duke's Bagnio." On the left of the yard is a building for the accommodation required for the bath, on the outside of which is inscribed in like manner— "The Duke's Bath." The building is about 42 feet broad, 21 feet deep, and three stories high. There is on the lower story a room for a laboratory, in which are chemic furnaces, glasses, and other instruments necessary for making the bath waters. the accession of the Duke of York to the throne, the Baths were improved, and reopened, under the name of the "King's Bagnio," in 1686, by Leonard Cunditt, who, in his advertisement, says "There is no other Bagnio in or about London besides this and the Royal Bagnio in the City." This, Malcolm supposes, was in allusion to the Bagnio we shall next describe, which seems to have been the first we had in the capital.

On

The Bagnio, in Bagnio-court (altered to Bath-street in 1843), Newgate-street, was built by Turkish merchants, and first opened in December, 1679, for sweating, hot bathing, and cupping. It has a cupola roof, marble steps, and Dutch tile walls, and was latterly used as a cold Bath.

Queen Anne's Bath was at the back of the house No. 3, Endell-street, Long-acre, on the west side of the street. It has been converted into a wareroom by an ironmonger whose shop is in the front of the premises. The part occupied by the water has been boarded over, leaving some of the Dutch tiles which line the sides of the Bath visible. The water, which flows from a copious spring, is a powerful tonic, and contains a considerable trace of iron. Thirty years ago it was much used in the neighbourhood, when it was considered good for rheumatism and other disorders. The house in which the Bath is situate was formerly No. 3, Old Belton-street: it was newly-fronted in 1845; the exterior had originally red brick pilasters, and a cornice, in the style of Inigo Jones. It does not seem clear how this place obtained the name of Queen Anne's Bath. It might be supposed that this had been a portion of the King's Bagnio. Old maps of London, however, show this could scarcely be correct, for the Duke's, afterwards the King's Bagnio was on the south side of Long-acre, and the above Bath is about a hundred yards to the north of that thoroughfare. Queen Anne's Bath" is engraved from a recent sketch in the Builder, Oct. 12, 1861; whence the preceding details of the three Baths are abridged.

66

The Hummums, in Covent-garden, now an hotel, with baths, was formerly "a Bagnio, or Place for Sweating;" in Arabic "Hammam." Malcolm says: "The Arabic root hama,, signifies calescere, to grow warm: hence by the usual process of deriving nouns from verbs in that language, hummum, +, a warm bath. They are known by that name all over the East." The Bagnio at the hot Baths at Sophia, in Turkey, is thus described by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, in her Letters, vol. i., and probably her description suggested the name of the Old and New Hummums :"

"It is built of stone, in the shape of a dome, with no window but in the roof, which gives light enough. There are five of these domes joined together; the outermost being less than the rest, and serving as a hall, where the portress stood at the door. Ladies of quality generally gave this woman a crown or ten shillings. The next room was a large one, paved with marble, and all round it are two raised sofas of marble, one above the other. There were four fountains of cold water in this room, falling first into marbie basins, and then running on the floor in little channels cut for that purpose, which carried the streams into the next room, which is something less, and fitted with the same sort of marble sofas; but from the streams of sulphur proceeding from the bath adjoining to it, it is impossible to stay with one's clothes on. Through the other two doors were the hot baths; one of which had cocks of cold water turned into it-tempering it to what degree of warmth the bather please to have."

Queen Elizabeth's Bath formerly stood among a cluster of old buildings adjoining the King's Mews, at Charing Cross, and was removed in 1831. Of this Bath a plan and view were presented to the Society of Antiquaries, Feb. 9, 1832, and are engraved in the Archæologia, XXV. 588-90. The building was nearly square on the plan, and was constructed of fine red brick. Its chief merit consisted in its groined roof, which was of very neat workmanship, and formed by angular ribs springing from corbels. The form of the arch denoted the date of this building to be the fifteenth century.

The Floating Baths (of which there were two in our day) upon the Thames, in plan remind one of the Folly described by Tom Brown as a "musical summer-house," usually anchored opposite Somerset House Gardens. The Queen of William III. and her court once visited it; but it became a scene of low debauchery, and the bath building was left to decay, and be taken away for firewood.

The Turkish Bath, which closely resembles the Bath of the old Romans, was introduced into Ireland and England in 1856: and in London handsome baths were erected in Victoria-street, Westminster; these were taken down in 1855-6. The most extensive establishment of this class in London is the Hammam, or hot-air Bath, opened in 1862, No. 76, Jermyn-street, St. James's, and formed under the superintendence of Mr. David Urquhart; its cost is stated at 60007.; the architecture is from Eastern sources.

BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES, for the working classes, originated in 1314, with an "Association for Promoting Cleanliness among the Poor," who fitted up a Bath-house and a Laundry in Glass-house Yard, East Smithfield; where, in the year ending June 1847, the bathers, washers, and ironers amounted to 84,584; the bathers and washers costing about one penny each, and the ironers about one farthing. The Association also gave whitewash, and lent pails and brushes, to those willing to cleanse their own wretched dwellings. And so strong was the love of cleanliness thus encouraged, that

women often toiled to wash their own and their children's clothing, who had been com. pelled to sell their hair to purchase food to satisfy the cravings of hunger. This successful experiment led to the passing of an Act of Parliament (9 and 10 Vict. c. 74), "To Encourage the Establishment of Baths and Wash-houses." A Committee sat at Exeter Hall for the same object; a Model Establishment was built in Goulston-square, Whitechapel; and Baths and Wash-houses were established in St. Pancras, Marylebone, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and other large metropolitan parishes.

A

BAYNARD'S CASTLE.

STRONGHOLD, "built with walls and rampires," on the banks of the Thames below St. Paul's, by Bainiardus, a follower of William the Conqueror. In 1111 it was forfeited, and granted by Henry I. to Robert Fitzgerald, son of Gilbert, Earl of Clare; from whom it passed, by several descents, to the Fitzwalters (the chief bannerets of London, probably in fee for this castle), one of whom, at the commencement of a war, was bound to appear at the west door of St. Paul's, armed and mounted, with twenty attendants, and there receive from the Mayor the banner of the City, a horse worth 207., and 207. in money. In 1428, the castle became, probably by another forfeiture, crown property; it was almost entirely burnt, but was granted to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, by whom it was rebuilt; upon his attainder, it again reverted to the Crown. Here Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, presented to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a parchment purporting to be a declaration of the three estates in favour of Richard; and in the "Court of Baynard's Castle" Shakspeare has laid scenes 3 and 7, act iii., of King Richard III.; the latter between Buckingham, the Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens, and Gloucester. Baynard's Castle was repaired by Henry VII., and used as a royal palace until the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when it was let to the Earls of Pembroke; and here, in 1553, the Privy Council, "changing their mind from Lady Jane," proclaimed Queen Mary. The castle subsequently became the residence of the Earls of Shrewsbury. Pepys records King Charles II. supping here, 19th June, 1660; and six years after the castle was destroyed in the Great Fire. The buildings surrounded two court-yards, with the south front to the Thames, and the north in Thames-street, where was the principal entrance. Two of the towers, incorporated with other buildings, remained till the present century, when they were pulled down to make way for the Carron Iron Company's premises. The ward in which stood the fortress-palace is named Castle-Baynard, as is also a wharf upon the site; and a public-house in the neighbourhood long bore the sigu of “ Duke Humphrey's Head."

"near

In Notes and Queries, No. 11, it is shown that Bainiardus, who gave his name to Baynard's Castle, held land here of the Abbot of Westminster; and in a grant of 1653 is described "the common field at Paddington" (now Bayswater Field), as being to a place commonly called Baynard's Watering." Hence it is concluded that this portion of ground, always remarkable for its springs of excellent water, once supplied water to Baynard, his household, or his castle; that the memory of his name was preserved in the neighbourhood for six centuries;" and that this watering-place is now Bayswater.

BAZAARS.

THE HE Bazaar is an adaptation from the East, the true principle of which is the classification of trades. Thus, Paternoster-row, with its books; Newport Market, with its butchers' shops; and Monmouth-street with its shoes; are more properly Bazaars than the miscellaneous stalls assembled under cover, which are in London designated by this name. Exeter 'Change was a great cutlery bazaar; and the row of attorneys' shops in the Lord Mayor's Court Office, in the second Royal Exchange, were a kind of legal Bazaar, the name of each attorney being inscribed upon a projecting signboard. The Crystal Palace of 1851, and the Great Exhibition of 1862, were vast assemblages of Bazaars. The Crystal Palace at Sydenham partakes of this character.

The introduction of the Bazaar into the metropolis dates from 1816, when was opened the SOHO BAZAAR, at 4, 5, and 6, Soho-square. It was planned solely by Mr.

John Trotter, with a truly benevolent motive. At the termination of the War, when a great number of widows, orphans, and relatives of those who had lost their lives on foreign service were in distress and without employment, Mr. Trotter conceived that an establishment in the hands of Government would promote the views of the respectable and industrious (possessing but small means) by affording them advantages to begin business without great risk and outlay of capital. Mr. Trotter having at that time an extensive range of premises unoccupied, without any idea of personal emolument, offered them to Government, free of expense, for several years, engaging also to undertake their direction and management on the same disinterested terms. His scheme was, however, considered visionary, and his offer rejected. Mr. Trotter then undertook the responsibility himself; the Bazaar was opened 1st February, 1816, and by excellent management, the establishment has since flourished; this success being mainly attributable to the selection of persons of respectability as its inmates, for whose protection an efficient superintendence of several matrons is provided. The counters are mostly for fancy goods, and to obtain a tenancy requires a testimonial respectably signed. The success of the Soho Bazaar led to establishments formed by private individuals, but with only temporary success.

The WESTERN EXCHANGE, Old Bond-street (with an entrance from the Burlington Arcade), was burnt down, and not re-established.

The QUEEN'S BAZAAR, on the north side of Oxford-street, the rear in Castle-street, was destroyed, May 28, 1829, by a fire which commenced at a dioramic exhibition of "the Destruction of York Minster by fire." The Bazaar was rebuilt; but proving unsuccessful, was taken down, and upon the site was built the Princess' Theatre.

The PANTHEON BAZAAR, on the south side of Oxford-street, with an entrance in Great Marlborough-street, was constructed in 1834, from the designs of Sydney Smirke, A.R.A., within the walls of the Pantheon Theatre, built in 1812; the fronts to Oxfordstreet and Poland-street being the only remains of the original structure. The magnificent staircase leads to a suite of rooms, in which pictures are placed for sale; and thence to the great Basilical Hall or Bazaar, which is 116 feet long, 88 feet wide, and 60 feet high; it is mostly lighted from curved windows in the roof, which is richly decorated, as are the piers of the arcades, with arabesque scrolls of flowers, fruit, and birds; the ornaments of papier-maché by Bielefield. The style of decoration is from the loggias of the Vatican. The galleries and the floor are laid out with counters, and promenades between. From the southern end of the hall is the entrance to an elegant conservatory and aviary, mostly of glass, ornamented in Saracenic style. Here are birds of rich plumage, with luxuriant plants, which, with the profusion of marble, gilding, and colour, have a very pleasing effect in the heart of the smoky town.

The BAZAAR in Baker-street, Portman-square, was originally established for the sale of horses; but carriages, harness, furniture, stoves, and glass are the commodities now sold here. Madame Tussaud's Wax-work Exhibition occupies the greater part; and here, annually, in December, the Smithfield Club Cattle Show formerly took place. The PANTECHNICON, Halkin-street, Belgrave-square, is a Bazaar chiefly for carriages and furniture. Here, too, you may warehouse furniture, wine, pictures, and carriages, for any period, at a light charge compared with house-rent.

The LOWTHER BAZAAR, nearly opposite the Lowther Arcade, Strand, was a repository of fancy goods, besides a Magic Cave," and other exhibitions. The establishment was frequently visited by Louis Philippe from 1848 to 1850. The Magic Cave, with its cosmoramic pictures, realized 1500l. per annum, at 6d. for each admission. This and the house adjoining, eastward, have fronts of tasteful architectural design.

ST. JAMES'S BAZAAR, King-street, St. James's-street, was built for Mr. Crockford, in 1832, and has a saloon nearly 200 feet long by 40 wide. Here were exhibited, in 1841, three dioramic tableaux of the second obsequies of Napoleon, in Paris, at December, 1811. And in 1814 took place here the first exhibition of Decorative Works for the New Houses of Parliament.

The COSMORAMA, No. 207-209, Regent-street, originally an exhibition of views of