stated at £150,000. The Underwriters establishment, Lloyd's, occupies the east end, and contains magnificent apartments.

Gray, the poet, was born December 26, 1716, in a house on the site of No. 41 Cornhill. The original house was destroyed by fire, March 25th, 1748, and immediately rebuilt by Gray.

No American tourist will fail to visit the North and South American Coffee House, in Threadneedle-street, facing the southern entrance to the Royal Exchange. This is the great focus of intelligence concerning American affairs.

In 'Change-alley is Garraway's Coffee House, which is so widely known for its connection with monetary affairs. D'Israeli thus refers to its originator:-"Thomas Garway, in Exchange-alley, tobacconist and coffee-man, was the first who sold and retailed tea, recommending it for the cure of all disorders. The following shop-bill is more curious than any historical account we have :— 'Tea in England hath been sold in the leaf for £6 and sometimes for £10 the pound weight, and in respect of its former scarceness and dearness, it hath only been used as a regalia in high treatments and entertainments, and presents made thereof to princes and grandees till the year 1357. The said Thomas Garway did purchase a quantity thereof,

and first publicly sold the said tea in leaf, and drink made according to the directions of the most knowing merchants and travellers into the Eastern countries, and upon knowledge and experience of the said Garway's continued care and industry in obtaining the best tea, and making tea thereof, very many noblemen, physicians, merchants, and gentlemen of quality have ever sent to him for the said leaf, and daily resort to his house in Exchangealley aforesaid, to drink the drink thereof; and to the end that all persons of eminence and quality, gentlemen, and others, who have occasion for tea in leaf may be supplied, these are to give notice, that the said Thomas Garway hath tea to sell from sixteen to fifty shillings the pound.""

Near the junction of Leadenhall-street and Cornhill, stood one of the most ancient taverns in London; it was called "The Pope's Head." It is stated, that in the reign of Henry the Sixth, wine was sold at one penny the pint, and bread included. It stood in what is now called Pope's Head-alley. On the south side of Cornhill, stands a church dedicated to St. Peter-remarkable for being the oldest in England. According to an inscription on a brass plate still preserved in the vestry, it was founded as early as the year of our Lord, 179. We ought to mention that little of the original building

now remains, it having been partly destroyed by the fire of 1666. One revered name at least is associated with this religious edifice: we refer to that of the excellent Dr. Beveridge, author of "Private Thoughts on Religion,"-a work fitted to the study of every devout mind.

In Threadneedle-street is the South-Sea-House -celebrated for one of the most iniquitous bubbles in the annals of gigantic roguery. In the Church of St. Catherine, Leadenhall-street, Dr. Pearson first delivered his famous lectures on the Creed: he died 1686. Aldgate, or Oldgate, was a gate in the City, and near the Church of St. Botolph Without. According to Stow, it was one of the four first gates of the City.. The old one was taken down, and rebuilt in 1017. This last was again taken down in 1761.

The East India House was founded in the year 1600, and the present building was erected in 1800. For many years this Company had the exclusive trade with China. Its first importation of tea was an order limited to one hundred pounds' weight. The government of the Company's Indian possessions is entrusted to a viceroy or governor-general, who resides in India. The home affairs of the Company are managed by a court of twenty-four directors. The collection of Indian idols, paintings

and curiosities here assembled, render this one of the most attractive places of resort in London. There are also here a collection of fossils, a very rich library of Oriental MSS., and several statues of the most eminent servants of the Company. Hoole, the translator of Tasso; Charles Lamb, the author of "Elia ;" and James Mills, the historian of British India; were clerks in the East India House. "My printed works," said Lamb, "were my recreations-my true works may be found on the shelves in Leadenhall-street, filling some hundred folios." It was here on one occasion when a complaint was made that he came late to his office in the morning, that Lamb wittily replied, "I admit it, but I leave early in the afternoon."