ITS ORIGIN, GOVERNMENT, &c.

THE origin of this city is to be dated from the founda

tion of its minster, or monastery, on an insulated spot, denominated Thorny Island, surrounded by a branch of the river Thames, and Long Ditch. The branch of the river, extended from the place on which is now erected Manchester Buildings, intersected King Street at Gardiner's Lane, and extended to the place, now called Long Ditch, in remembrance of its original, though at present a populous street; the ditch was thence continued along the south wall of what is now the Abbey gardens, and covered with a sewer, on which side it returned to the parent river.

The foundation of the ABBEY, in process of time, induced an increase of inhabitants, who being dependent upon the religious, by means of their influence, cleared the island of its thorny incumbrances, drained the lanu, and covered it with all the requisites of a considerable town.

Westminster, however, though afterwards graced with a palace, the assembly of the parliament, and other considerable privileges, certainly owed its most distinguishing honour to the unexpected grace, and capricious humour, of Henry VIII. That monarch, in the thirty-seventh year of his reign, by act of parliament, created the borough into an honour; and in 1541, converted the lately dissolved moVOL. IV. No. 82. nastery

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