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THE LIFE OF

of the twelve chief Companies, into one regular Square annexed to Guild-hall ;by making a commodious Key on the whole Bank of the River, from Black-friars to the Tower,

Moreover, in contriving the general Plan , the following Particulars werechiefly consider’d and propos’d.

The Streets to be of three Magnitudes ; the three principal leading straightthrough the City, and one or two Cross-streets to be at least go Feet wide;others 60 Feet; and Lanes about 30 Feet, excluding all narrow dark Alleyswithout Thorough-fares, and Courts.

The Exchange to stand free in the Middle of a Piazza, and be, as it were,the Nave or Center of the Town, from whence the 60 Feet Streets as somany Rays, should proceed to all principal Parts of the City : the Buildingto be contriv’d after the Form of the Roman Forum , with double Porticos.

Many Streets also to radiate upon the Bridge. The Streets of the first andsecond Magnitude to be carried on as straight as possible, and to center intofour or five Piazzas.

The Key or open Wharf on the Bank of the Thames, to be spacious andconvenient, without any Interruptions; with some large Docks for Bargesdeep loaden.

The Canal to be cut up Bridewell, 120 Feet wide, with Sasses at HolbornBridge, and at the Mouth to cleanse it of all Filth ; and Stores for Coal oneach Side.

The Churches to be design’d according to the best Forms for Capacity andHearing, adorn’d with useful Porticos, and lofty ornamental Towers andSteeples, in the greater Parishes. All Church-yards, Gardens, and unne-cessary Vacuities; and all Trades that use great Fires, or yield noisome Smells,to be placed out of the Town.

The Model or Plan form’d on these Principles, delineated by Dr. Wren ,was laid before the King and the honourable House of Commons ; and isthus explain’d.

From that Part of Fleet-flreet which remain’d unburnt, about St. Duns ansChurch, a straight Street of 90 Feet wide, crosses the Valley, passing by theSouth Side of Ludgate Prison, and thence in a direct Line ends gracefully ina Piazza at Tower-hill ; but before it descends into the Valley where now thegreat Sewer ( Fleet-ditch) runs, about the once Middle of Fleet-flreet, it opensinto a round Piazza, the Center of eight Ways, where at one Station are theseViews.—First, straightforward quite through the City: Second, obliquelytowards the Right Hand, to the Beginning of the Key, that runs from Bride -well Dock to the Tower. Third, obliquely on the left to Smiths eld. Fourth,straight on the Right, to the Thames. Fifth, straight on the left, to Hatton-sireet, and Clarkenwell. Sixth, straight backwards, towards Temple-barr•Seventh, obliquely on the right, to the Walks of the Temple. Eighth, ob-liquely on the left, to Curfitors Alley.

Passing forward we cross the Valley, once sullied with an offensive Sewer,now to be beautified with a useful Canal, passable by as many Bridges as Streetsthat cross it.—Leaving Ludgate Prison on the left Side of the Street, (in-stead of which Gate, was design’d a triumphal Arch to the Founder of tltfnew City, King Charles the Second .) This great Street presently divides intoanother as large, which carries the Eye and Passage to the South-front ofthe Exchange, (which we leave as yet for a second Journey) and before thesetwo Streets spreading at acute Angles, can be clear of one another, theyform a triangular Piazza, the Basis of which is sill’d by the cathedral Churchof St. Paul.