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THE LIFE OF
terest to prolong the finishing of the Fabrick, for the Continuance of this sup-posed Emolument; which, it would seem, occasioned that Clause. 1
The Surveyor’s Salary for building St. Paul's, from the Foundation to theFinishing thereof, (as appears from the publick Accounts) was not more thin200 /. per Annum. This, in Truth, was his own Choice, but' what reji gsthe Commissioners , on the Commencement of the Works, judged unreasonablysmall, considering the extensive Charge; the Pains and Skill in the Contrivance jin preparing Draughts, Models, and instructions for the Artificers, in their se-veral Stations and Allotments' in alnriost dally overseeing and directing in Person;in making Estimates and Contracts; in examining and adjusting all Bills and Ac-counts, &c. Nevertheless, he was content with this imall Allowance, nor co-veted any additional Profit, always preferring the publick Service to any privateEnds.
Anno nono Upon the cvmpleating this great Fabrick , a Clause passed in the AAr ofAnna Rtg. pdrliament of the ninth Tear of the Reign of Queen Anne declaring the Churchsniffed, to impower the Commissioners to pay the Surveyor the Arrears ofthis Moiety of his Salary.
His Allowance for building all the parochial Churches of the City of Londonwas about lOo I. per Annum, and the fame for the Repairs of Westminster-abbey.
In the Year 1685, Sir Chri/lopher Wren was elected and returned a Burgessfor the Borough of Plympton in the County of Devon , and served in that Par-liament which began at Westminster, 29 Mail, \mo. Jacobi II. 1685.
In the Parliament which met at Westminster, 22 fan. 1689, he was electedand returned a Burgess for the Borough of New-ivindsor, in the County of Berks,6 Aug. by the Inhabitants paying Scot and Lot ; but, upon a Petition, the Resolution ofthe House was, That the Right of Election was in the Mayor, Bailiffs, and fe -le A Number of BurgeJ/bs only.
In the Year 1690, 2 do. Crulielmi £? Marine R.R. be was elected and returned
for the fame Borough, by the Mayor, Bailiffs , and file A Number of Burgesses17 Maii. on fy. On Report of the Merits of this Election, the Question being put, “ Thatthe House do agree with the Committee, that the Right of Election is in theMayor , Bailiffs, and fe le A Number of Burgesses only. It passed in the Negative,viz. Yeas 138, Noes 144.”
In the Year 1700, he was elected and returned a Burgess for the Borough ofWeymouth and Melcomb-regis, in the County of Dorset, and served in that Par-liament which began at Westminster, 10 Feb. 12 mo. Gulielmi R. lists.
Quarto Geor- In the Year 1718, Sir Christopher Wren’s Patent for the Office of Surveyor ofgii R. prinu. r 0 y a l Works was superseded, in the fourscore and sixth Tear of his Age, andafter more than fifty Years spent in a continued active and laborious Service tothe Croivii and Publick ; at which Time his Merit and Labours were not re-membered by some.
r j t Hamp- He then betook himself to a Country Retirement *, saying only with theton-court. Stoick,—Nwic me jubet fortuna expeditius philofophari. — In which Recess, freefrom worldly Affairs, he passed the greatest Part of th a five last following Yearsof his Life in Contemplation and Studies, and principally in the Consolation ofthe holy Scriptures ; chearful in Solitude, and as well pleased to die in the Shadeas in the Light.
Ex MS. D,Sprat.
" Heroick Souls a nobler Lustre find" Even from those Griefs which break a vulgar Mind;" That Frost which cracks the brittle common Glass,
" Makes Crystal into stronger Brightness pass.
It
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