North.
Threadneedle Street.
East Country Walk
Hamburgh Walk
Irish Walk
Scotch Walk
Dutch & Jewellers
Silkmans Walk
Norway Walk
Clothiers Walk
Salters Walk
Walk
Grocers & Druggists Walk
Turkey Walk
Brokers of Stock & Walk
West. Castle Alley.
Italian Walk
East.
Sweetings Alley.
Canary Walk
East Indies Walk
Barbadoes Walk
French Walk
Portugal
Jamaica Walk
Armenian
Virginia Walk
Spanish Walk
Jews Walk
Cornhill.
South.
Front of the Royal Exchange.
S. Wale delin. J. Green sc. Oxon.
The Royal Exchange, without critical examination, has something grand in it, and the entrance would certainly appear to more advantage if it were not incumbered with a parcel of little shops. The arcade or walks within the quadrangle have something noble, but the upper part is in a very bad taste. The statue of King Charles II. in the middle of the area is a good one. The other statues in the several niches have been lately new painted and gilt in parts. The painting is no doubt very necessary for their preservation, but it were to be wished the gilding of them had been omitted, as it must give foreigners of judgment (and such sometimes frequent this place) a contemptible opinion of our taste. The two statues, one on each side the gate, of King Charles I. and II. are particularly good. The clock tower or steeple with Gothic windows is unpardonable, and the cornices at their angles are so broke, as to appear very disgustful to an architect.
Royal Exchange Assurance Office, for assuring houses and other buildings, goods, wares and merchandize from fire. This corporation was established by act of Parliament, at the same time with that of the London Assurance, when it was enacted, that such as should be admitted members of these corporations, should be each a distinct and separate body politic, for the assurance of goods, ships and merchandize at sea, or for lending money upon bottomry.
That no other society should insure ships, or lend money on bottomry for the future; though any private person might do it as usual.
And that each of these corporations, in consideration of the many benefits that might accrue to them by their charters, should pay the sum of 300,000l. into his Majesty’s Exchequer, for discharging the debts of the civil list.
These corporations however met with so little encouragement at first, that Maitland says, the crown was obliged to remit most part of the money.
By a second charter granted to this corporation, they are impowered not only to insure ships, but houses, goods and lives. Maitland.
This society therefore, by this last mentioned charter, assure all buildings, household furniture, wearing apparel by special agreement, and goods, wares, and merchandize, the property of the assured, except glass and china ware not in trade, and all manner of writings, books of accompts, notes, bills, bonds, tallies, ready money, jewels, plate, pictures, gunpowder, hay, straw, and corn unthreshed, from loss or damage by fire, upon the following conditions.