"The rebels of Effex and Kent 1381 [led by Wat Tyler], fet fire on this houfe, caufing it to burn by the fpace of feven days together, not fuffering any to quench it; fince the which time the priors of that houfe have new built both the church and houfes unto appertaining; which church was finished by Thomas Docwrey [or Docwra], late Lord Prior there, about the year 1504, as appeareth by the infcription over the gateway yet remaining."-Vide Stow's "Survay of London," Thoms' edition, 1876, page 162.

remnants of Old London. It was here Dr. Johnson fucceeded Guthrie in writing the Parliamentary Reports for the Gentleman's Magazine, and the gifted Richard Savage came to Edward Cave for literary employment. David Garrick conftantly vifited the Hall over the Archway, and, by the interceffion of his friend, Dr. Johnson, with Cave, was permitted to produce the farce of The Mock Doctor; or, the Dumb Lady Cured, by Fielding, which was founded upon Molière's Malade Imaginaire. Garrick sustained the character of Gregory, and acquitted himself so well as to earn the applause of Cave and his FINE OF THE BOTTLE will prevent from being carried out. The Chair is thus an object of interest, if not of historical value. THE CHAIR FORMERLY OCCUPIED

BY DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON.

Here ponderous JOHNSON fat fome years, and ponder'd—
Giant in bulk-mighty in mental strength;

While fimple GOLDSMITH filent fat, and wonder'd

At thoughts fo ftrong-in words of fuch great length!
Dream'ft thou, thou halting Traveller at this Gate,
That thou art fit to fill this famous Chair?
Mount up to it, and thou-fhalt learn too late-
If not too foon-what thy tranfgreffions are:
What pains await the Pilgrim to this Shrine,

That takes the Chair to which no duty calls
Him, thus exempt from blame, and fhame, and fine;
But let him stand his ground, nor fly these walls,
When JOHNSON's grumbling Ghoft growls underground-
"Pardon the wretch profane that fends the bottle round.”
C. WEBBE.

Old Jerufalem Tavern, St. John's Gate,

Sept., 1856.

* Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, Vol. V., p. 13.

friends. This was his first appearance as an actor in London (1737).*

Oliver Goldsmith, Mrs. Elizabeth Carter, Richard Lauder (Milton's detractor); Dr. Hawkefworth, author of Belifarius; Jedediah Buxton, the Calculating Prodigy; and many others of the literati of that day, frequented the Old Gate. But the valuable work of the late Mr. Benjamin Fofter, on Ye Hiftory of ye Priory and Gate of St. John (Lond., 1851), has fo far exhausted the past history of the Gate, that it were but prefumption on my part to attempt the mereft defcription of that which he has fo ably accomplished.† I will, therefore, fay a few words upon the fubfequent hiftory of the Gate, in connection with the Literary Affociation already referred to. The Urban Club was firft projected by Mr. Hain Friswell, and fupported by a goodly band of Actors, Critics, Authors, and Artifts, comprifing:

* Garrick fubfequently acted at Goodman's Fields Theatre in Oct., 1741, and appeared as Richard III. This was his FIRST PUBLIC appearance. Vide Jelle's London, and a very useful epitome of Garrick's performances in Representative Actors, by W. Clark Ruffell, p. 107 et feq.

See alfo Pennant's Seme Account of London, 5th ed., 1813, p. 285, Pinks and Wood's History of Clerkenwell, Charles Knight's London, Vol. II., pp. 133-148, 1851, Walter Thornbury's Old and New London, Vol. II., Chap. on Clerkenwell, The Camden Mifcellany, Vol. IV., p. 15, and The Fourth Report Royal Com. on Hift. MSS., 1874, pp. 173, 184, 389, 463.

I take this opportunity of correcting an error that the late Mr. J. Timbs allowed to creep into his Account of London Clubs. At page 397 of his Hiftory of Clubs and Club Life in London, he speaks of the Urban Club in the PAST TENSE, which every one converfant with the fubject must know is an error.

Atkins, T. D. C.
Ball, Lewis

Belford, W. R.

Blanchard, E. L..

Coyne, J. Stirling (dec.)

Draper, E.

Hale, W. P. (dec.)
Hollingshead, J.

Izard, F. R.

Levy, Jonas, J. P.

Marston, Henry
Ray, J. W.

Reynolds, Warwick

Robinson, F.

Shinn, E. M.

Spencer, Thomas

Sullivan, Barry

Wilfon, J. Crawford.

and a few others, who formed the foundation members. In the following and fucceeding years the number increased to such an extent that the capacity of the old Hall has many a time been forely taxed.* The following are a few only of the prominent members (past and present) of the Club, in addition to thofe above mentioned:Albery, James

Bacon, Charles
Baker, Dr. E.

Banks, G. Linnæus

Barringer, Dr. T. S.

Barringer, Dr. Wright
Bennett, Dr. J. M. (dec.)
Bennett, Dr. W. C.

Bennett, Sir J., Kt.

Beffemeres, J. D.

Billington, J.

Blanchard, Valentine

Blind, Dr. Karl

Bouchette, A.

Bouchier, W.
Boys, W.
Braid, Charles
Brough, R. (dec.)
Bruton, J. (dec.)
Buchanan, Robert

Burton, Capt. R. F., F.R.G.S.

(H.M. Conful at Trieste.) Butterfield, W. H.

Canton, Dr. E.

Carpenter, Dr. J. E.

Catling, T.

Chester, J.

Church, W. E.

* The number of members is now 150.