The gentlemen ushers of the presence chamber, are also four, who are daily-waiters in ordinary, the first of whom has the considerable office of black rod. This gentleman in time of parliament attends every day the house of Lords, and is also usher of the most noble order of the Garter. See BLACK ROD. These gentlemen ushers wait in the presence chamber, where they attend next the King’s person; these under the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain order all affairs, and all the under officers above stairs obey them. They have each 150l. per annum. There is also an assistant gentleman usher whose salary is 66l. 13s. 4d. a year.
The gentlemen ushers quarterly-waiters in ordinary, are eight in number. These also wait in the presence chamber, and give directions in the absence of the gentlemen ushers daily-waiters, to whom they are subordinate. Their salary is only 50l. a year. Chamberlain’s present state.
Usher’s court, Seething lane, Tower street.†
Uxbridge, a town in Middlesex, in the road from London to Oxford, from the first of which it is distant eighteen miles and a half. Though it is entirely independent, and is governed by two bailiffs, two constables, and four headboroughs, it is only a hamlet to Great Hillington. The river Coln runs through it in two streams, full of trout, eels, and other fish, and over the main stream is a stone bridge that leads into Buckinghamshire. The church, or rather chapel, was built in the reign of Henry VI. This town has many good inns, and is particularly distinguished by the whiteness of the bread, particularly their rolls. There are many corn-mills at a small distance, and a considerable number of waggon loads of meal are carried from thence every week to London. Uxbridge gives the title of Earl to the noble family of Paget.
W.
Wade’s rents, Gunpowder alley.†
Waite’s yard, Blackman street, Southwark.†
Wake’s court, Five Feet lane.†
Walbrook, a street which runs down from the south-west corner of the Mansion-house, towards the Thames. This street, which is chiefly inhabited by merchants and tradesmen, especially furriers, took its name from a rivulet called Walbrook, on account of its entering the city through the wall, between Bishopsgate and Moorgate, and after many turnings and windings, ran down this street, and emptied itself into the Thames near Dowgate. The loss of this rivulet was owing to the many bridges built over it, which at last increased to such a number, covered with houses, that whole streets were erected over it, and the channel of the river became a common sewer.