struction of Westminster Bridge, which has rendered this ferry of no further utility. The sum of 3000l. was allowed and funded to the archbishop, in lieu of the property of which he was loser.

On the west side of Milbank Street, stands the parish church of

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST.

THE parish of St. Margaret being greatly increased in the number of houses and inhabitants, it was judged necessary to erect one of the fifty new churches within it. This church being finished, was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist; a parish was taken out of St. Margaret's, and the parliament granted the sum of 2500l. to be laid out in the purchase of lands, tenements, &c. for the maintenance of the rector: but besides the profits arising from this purchase, it was also enacted, that as a farther provision for the rector, the sum of 1257. should be annually raised by an equal pound-rate upon the inhabitants.

This church was begun in 1721, and finished in 1728, and is remarkable only for having sunk while it was building, which occasioned an alteration in the plan. On the north and south sides are magnificent porticos, supported by vast stone pillars, as is also the roof of the church. At each of the four corners is a beautiful stone tower and pin nacle: these additions were erected, that the whole might

sink equally, and owe their magnitude to the same cause. The parts of this building are held together by iron bars, which cross even the aisles.

"The chief aim of the architect was to give an uncommon, yet elegant outline, and to shew the orders in their greatest dignity and perfection; and indeed the outline is so variously broken, that there results a diversity of light and shadow, which is very uncommon, and very elegant. The principal objections against the structure are, that it appears encumbered with ornaments; and that the compass being too small for the design, it appears too heavy. In the front is an elegant portico, supported by Doric columns, which order is continued in pilasters round the building."

The interior is rather dark and heavy. Here is a good organ. The building has been falsely attributed to Sir John Vanbrugh; Mr. ARCHER, was the architect.

The advowson of the church is in the dean and chapter of Westminster: and to prevent the rectory being held in commendam, all licences and dispensations for holding it are, by act of parliament, declared null and void.

"To

Passing into TUFTON STREET, at the corner of Peter Street, is a house which, says Mr. Moser, according to tradition, was the residence of COLONEL BLOOD. this house, it is stated, he retired after his exploit at the Tower had procured him a pension; large indeed, if we weigh it against his merit, and the value of money at that period; and here he is, for a considerable time, believed to have resided. The house is distinguished by having a shield, from which the arms are now obliterated, upon the brick work over the first story. It overlooked the Bowling Alley, which was once what that name implies, a place wherein the residents of the Cloisters used to exercise; and it had also a view over the gardens upon which Peter, Great and Little Smith Streets, Cowley, and North Street; and, indeed, all the ground upon which the church of St. John the Evangelist, and the various streets in its vicinity, have been erected *.

* Vestiges; Europ. Mag. Aug. 1803.
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THE ABBEY CHURCH OF ST. PETER.

MANY fabulous stories have been related by Monkish plates writers respecting the foundation of this building; the only 10.48 circumstance that can be depended on is, that it was first erected by Sebert, king of the East Saxons, who died in the year 616. The church was dedicated to St. Peter, and consecrated by Melitus, bishop of London.

It was repaired and enlarged by Offa, king of Mercia; but being destroyed by the pagan Danes, was rebuilt by Edgar, who endowed it in the year 969 with many ample privileges. Having again suffered by the ravages of the Danes, Edward the Confessor pulled down the antient fabric, and erected a magnificent pile, in its place, in the form of a cross, and became, from respect to the founder, a pattern for that mode of building.

This structure was finished in the year 1065, and king Edward caused it to be consecrated with the greatest pomp and solemnity; he, also, by several charters not only confirmed all its antient rights and privileges, but endowed it with rich manors and additional immunities; and, by a bull of Pope Nicholas I. it was constituted the place for the inauguration of the kings of England.

William the Conqueror, to shew his regard to the me mory of his late patron king Edward, no sooner arrived in London, than he repaired to this church, and offered a sumptuous pall, as a covering for that monarch's tomb. He also gave fifty marks of silver, together with a very rich altar-cloth, and two caskets of gold; and the Christmas following was solemnly crowned here.

Henry III. built a chapel to the Blessed Virgin, then called the new work at Westminster, the first stone of which be laid himself on Saturday before his coronation, in 'the year 1220. About twenty years afterwards finding the walls and steeple of the old structure much decayed, he caused the whole to be pulled down, with a design to enlarge and rebuild the fabric in a more regular manner; but he did not live to accomplish his intention, which was