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 THE 
 
 JPICTUKE 
 
 OF 
 
 LIVERPOOL; 
 
 OR 
 
 STRJNGER'S GUIDE, 
 
 A NEW EDITION, CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED. 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH 
 
 ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD 
 
 BY THE FIRST ARTISTS. 
 
 LIVERPOOL: 
 
 PRINTED BY JONES AND WRIGHT, SWIFT'S COURT; 
 
 AND SOLD BY WOODWARD AND ALDERSON,56, CASTLE STREET* 
 
 AND THE REST OF THE BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 .,.>*<.,„ 
 
 1808- 
 
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ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The flattering reception with 
 which this little Manual has been 
 honored, and which has been evinced 
 not only by the sale of several im- 
 pressions, but also by the testimonies 
 of respect which have lately, from 
 various quarters,* been bestowed up- 
 on it, has induced the compiler care- 
 fully to revise the work throughout, 
 and to introduce those alterations and 
 corrections into this description which 
 wererenderednecessaryby the changes 
 that are every year taking place in a 
 town remarkable beyond any other 
 in the Empire, or perhaps, even in 
 
 * For these the reader may consult the British 
 Critic. Review, and the seventh volume of the Beau- 
 ties of England and Wales, where the account of Li- 
 verpool is almost wholly compiled from it. 
 
Europe, for the rapidity of its im- 
 provements, and the increase of its 
 commerce. He has also been in- 
 duced, now, for the first time, to 
 accompany the work with views of 
 the principal public buildings, by 
 means of which he hopes it is ren- 
 dered less unworthy of the public no- 
 tice, and less unworthy, also, of the 
 subject it is intended to illustrate. 
 
 Hope Place, 
 
 1st Oct. 1807. 
 
THE 
 
 PICTURE 
 
 OF 
 
 LIVERPOOL, 
 
 Where Mersey's ftream, long winding o'er the plai« 3 
 Pours his full tribute to the circling imin, 
 A band of filhers chofe their humble feat ; 
 Contented labour blefs'd the far retre • , 
 Inur'dto hardfhip, patient, bold and rude, 
 They brav'd the billows for precarious food : 
 Their draggling huts were rang'd along the fliore, 
 Their nets and little boats their onh ftore. 
 
 Liverpool is situated in the county palatine 
 of Lancaster, N. W. of London, distant 204 
 measured miles, in lat. 53° 22' N. long 2° 30' 
 W. from Greenwich, on the eastern banks of 
 the river Mersey. 
 
 Several writers have attempted, but with little 
 success, to elucidate the antiquity of the place,, 
 or the etymology of its name ; but as their re- 
 searches do not afford many materials calculated 
 to entertain the curious, it is unnecessary to de- 
 tain the reader in pursuit of doubtful facts, or to 
 perplex his understanding with conjectures 
 which are ultimately involved in speculative 
 uncertainty, b 
 
4 HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 The first authentic document we find, of the 
 spot whereon the town now stands, is a record 
 of the estates in Dooms-day-book, containing 
 a survey of the lands in England, and their 
 owners, taken by order of William the Con- 
 queror, and is preserved in the exchequer. It 
 is there stated, that all the land between the 
 rivers Ribble and Mersey belonged to Rogers 
 of Poictiers ; but from this it does not appear 
 that there existed either a town or village ; the 
 record proves nothing more than that a grant 
 of land from the Conqueror was made to 
 Rogers, one of his followers, who, according 
 to Cambden, was Lord of the manor of Lan- 
 caster, and built a castle here, # the command 
 of vyhich he bestowed on Vivian de Molyneux 
 another Frenchman, in whose family it conti- 
 nued so late as the 30th year of the reign 
 of Queen Elizabeth. Cambden, Leland, and 
 Morery agree respecting the castle, but it is 
 impossible to discover when or by whom it was 
 erected, for neither history nor tradition have 
 determined it. At present Liverpool does not 
 pretend to any other building of antiquity than 
 a Tower near the lower end of Water-street, 
 the remains of which have long been used as a 
 prison. 
 
 * Morery in his Dictionary, fays that the Caftle was 
 built by King John, but he does not give his authority for 
 this aflertion. 
 
UlSTOBY OF THE TOWN* 5 
 
 , The antiquities of Liverpool are so much 
 closed with uncertainty, that it is not even 
 known when this Tower was erected. The first 
 notice we find of it is in Seacomb's Memoirs of 
 the house of Stanley, in which he states that 
 in the reign of Edward III. about the year 1360, 
 the Tower in question was the property of Sir 
 Thomas Latham) who presented it along with 
 several other houses and certain lands in the 
 town, to Sir John Stanley, Knight, who had 
 married Isabel, his only daughter, and heiress 
 of Latham. Here a chasm again occurs, for we 
 are left here to conjecture in what manner the 
 Castle and iandsdevoived on the House of Latham 
 Sir John Stanley (hiring his government in Ire- 
 land, built a spacious house and obtained leave 
 from Henry IV. to fortify it with embattled 
 walls, according to the custom of the times. — 
 The area of this fortification was 650 yards, but 
 as to the external figure of it we are vet in 
 doubt ; the only vestige remaining is the pre- 
 sent goal in Water-street, and a stone eliptic 
 arch, which forms the entrance to Tower-garden, 
 yet standing. There is scarcely any thing more 
 of antiquity relating to Liverpool known, ex- 
 cept an old cross which formerly stood at the 
 corner of Pinfold-lane, opposite the Flashes. — 
 Tradition reports it to have been placed there in 
 
 b 2 
 
6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 commemoration of St. Patrick, who it is said 
 rested here on his way to Ireland. Enfield, 
 upon what authority we know not, says, a charter 
 was granted to this town by Henry I. in 1129*. 
 It is however certain there was another granted 
 by King John in 1203, but it was a borough 
 by prescription long before the latter was grant- 
 ed, which confirms in some degree the charter 
 of Henry the 1st, Henry the 3d however con- 
 firmed the town a corporation and a free borough 
 forever, A. D. 1227, for a fine of ten marks, 
 from whence it may be inferred that about this 
 time it was beginning to emerge from obscurity. 
 The corporation have nothing on record, re- 
 lative to the antiquities of the town, prior to the 
 year 155 5, nor is there any thing worth re- 
 marking till 1571, when the inhabitants sent a 
 memorial to Queen Elizabeth, praying renef 
 under a subsidy, which they deemed hard upon 
 themselves to bear, wherein they stile them- 
 selves " her Majesty s poor decayed town of Li- 
 verpool" How the town became so decayed, 
 we are at a loss to comprehend. From the town 
 record in November 1565, which is a certain 
 criterion, it does not appear to deserve any 
 better n<>me than that of a small fishing ham- 
 let. There were in it onlv 138 householders 
 
 * Vide Enfield's effay towards a hiftory of Liverpool. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 7 
 
 and cottagers, and the following list of barks 
 and sailors belonging to it may serve to give a 
 tolerably correct idea of its commercial impor- 
 tance at that time. 
 
 1 Bark of 40 Tons 1 2 Men 
 
 1 36 10 ■ 
 
 1 r 30 8 
 
 1 23 7 ■ 
 
 1 16 6 - 
 
 l 15 6 
 
 1 15 5 
 
 1 15 5 
 
 1 12 5 
 
 1 Boat — 6 3 ■ 
 
 1 6 3 
 
 Total 1 1 214 70 
 
 Belonging to Wallasey,, on the opposite bauk 
 
 of the river j 
 
 1 Bark of 14 Tons 6 Men 
 
 1 14 5 
 
 1 Boat of 8 3 — — 
 
 Total 3 36 14 
 
 From a rate which was levied at that period 
 on the inhabitants it is evident, that no more 
 than seven streets were inhabited ; and for their 
 extent, we must again have recourse to con- 
 jecture.- But Cambden, who wrote about the 
 year 1586 ? (an authority in many instances fal- 
 ls 3 
 
8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 lacious) considered it in his time more famous 
 for its beauty and populousness than for its an- 
 tiquities. It is true a great alteration might 
 have taken place in the course of twenty one 
 years. To reconcile this, let us only extend 
 our views across the Atlantic and we shall see 
 that many of the most considerable states in 
 North America have risen in the midst of the 
 wilderness to population and wealth in a less 
 period, even beyond the most rational and ex- 
 tended foresight ; whence it is natural to infer, 
 that Liverpool began about this time, to in- 
 crease both in regard to population and wealth. 
 §ome time towards the close of Queen Eliza- 
 beth's reign, Henry, Earl of Derby ^ on his 
 way to visit the Isle of Man, waited some time 
 at his house in Liverpool, called the tower, for 
 a passage. The corporation greeted him on 
 his arrival by erecting and adorning a sump- 
 tuous stall or seat, according to the manner of 
 the times, for his reception, where, it is said by 
 Seacomb, he honored them several times with 
 his presence. From thence till the year 1644, 
 nothing is found on record worthy the atten- 
 tion of the reader* The Town and Castle were 
 then in the hands of the Common-wealth un- 
 der the command of Colonel Moore, who de- 
 fended it for the Parliament, against the army 
 Tinder the command of Prince Rupert, nephew 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN. Q 
 
 to King Charles I. The Prince, aided by the 
 Earl of Derby, took Bolton by storm, and 
 after refreshing his men there for a few days, 
 advanced to this place, where he sat down be- 
 fore it on or about the 26th June, 1644. He 
 found it fortified and secured on every side,, 
 having a high mud wall, with a ditch twelve 
 yards wide and about three yards deep, thereby 
 circumventing the town from the east end of 
 Dale-street, westward to the river. The end 
 of Dale-street on the south east side was 
 low and marshy, hence covered with water 
 from the river, which flowed in a channel where 
 Paradise-street now stands ; but, batteries were 
 erected within the channel to prevent people 
 from passing over or through it. The ends of 
 all the streets which opened towards the river 
 were shut up, and those to the land were en- 
 closed with strong gates defended by pieces of 
 ordnance. Added to this was a Castle already 
 noticed, which stood on the site where now St. 
 George's church stands, surrounded with a ditch 
 twelve yards wide and ten deep, from which to- 
 the river there was a covered way which con- 
 veyed the water to the ditch when the tide was 
 out, and admitted men, provisions, and mili- 
 tary stores as exigence required. The cannon 
 of this Castle annoyed the besiegers at some 
 distance, as well as defended the ships in the 
 
10 H1STOKV OF THE TOWN. 
 
 harbour. To secure it from the assaults of the 
 enemy, as well as to prevent all passage by the 
 river at low water,, there was a fort or battery 
 of eight guns erected. In addition to all these 
 local advantages, it so happened that there 
 was in town a considerable quantity of wool 
 brought some time before from Ireland bv 
 a few English protestants who had fortunately 
 escaped the general massacre. The inhabitants 
 covered their mud ramparts with it, to shield 
 them from the small shot of the besiegers. — 
 The garrison was numerous, and being well 
 stored with provision, arms, and ammunition, 
 was prepared to give the Prince a warm recep- 
 tion. When the siege began, which Enfield 
 says, was about the 2d June, but according to 
 Seacomb on the 26th, the Prince fixed his 
 main camp round the beacon which stood on 
 or near the spot where St. Domingo house is 
 built, and his officers in the villages near it, 
 and opened trenches and batteries chiefly in a 
 ridge of ground which runs from the upper end 
 of a street now called Shaw's Brow, to the pre^ 
 sent copperas works and mills, leading to Mount- 
 pleasant, and also opened trenches in the lower 
 grounds from whence he often attacked the 
 town, but was as often repulsed ; which, from 
 the contempt in which he first beheld them, 
 by comparing the town to a crow's nest, made 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 11 
 
 him say that it was like an eagle's nest or a den 
 of lions. For the space of a month the town 
 made a vigorous defence, repelling the besiegers 
 with great slaughter; at last, however, the 
 Prince was successful, either as some will have 
 it, because the men deserted their works on the 
 north side of the town, or as others assert, that 
 Col. Moore surrendered to save his house and 
 effects at Bank-hall. Whatever was the cause, 
 the works on that side were abandoned, and 
 the besiegers entered about three in the morn- 
 ing, putting all they met to the sword, till they 
 arrived at the high- cross, which was situated 
 wuere the Exchange now stands. Here they 
 met a regiment of soldiers from the Castle 
 drawn up, who beat a parley and demanded 
 quarter, which was granted on their submitting 
 to become prisoners of war. The soldiers and 
 the inhabitants were upon this sent prisoners to 
 the tower, St. Nicholas's church, and other 
 places of security, and the Prince himself took 
 possession of the Castle. 
 
 Some traces of this siege were discovered, 
 when the foundation of the present Infirmary 
 was sunk, in the marks of trenches, wherein were 
 found gardevin bottles, cartouches, &c. and even 
 at present, the inquisitive antiquarian may satis- 
 fy himself with traces of an entrenchment, quite 
 visible about twenty yards from the London 
 
12 HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 road, opposite to the end of St. Ann-street, on 
 the east side of a road very lately cut, which 
 leads to Rodney street. Here he will fincl the 
 rock excavated and again filled up with loose 
 earth. Indeed other traces are distinguishable 
 equally remarkable in the field above, as well as 
 on the other side of the lane near the town, par- 
 ticularly at the top of a street now planned to 
 be named Gloucester street, and also at the cor- 
 ner of another street to be named Silver-street, 
 leading to another new one called Pennington- 
 street. all immediately below the copperas works 
 and site of the old mill, which formerly stood 
 thereon, and -was blown down about 17D5. As the 
 workmen were removing the earth, ther« was 
 lately seen, the situation of a battery ; in the 
 trenches have been found many bones, broken 
 glass, old bricks^ remnants of walls, and even 
 leaden balls. The white cottage situated ex- 
 actly opposite to the Coffeehouse at Everton, 
 is the place where Prince Rupert had his head- 
 quarters. 
 
 Such appears to have been the state of the 
 town, in the year 1680, consequently 7 some idea 
 may be formed of its extent at the time of the 
 attack by Prince Rupert ; for though it is des- 
 cribed to have been fortified with a strong and 
 high mud wall, the extent of the town so inclo- 
 sed must have been but small, for in the year 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 13 
 
 1680, being thirty-six years after the siege, it 
 was extended but forty-five yards on the river, 
 from north to south, that being a distance from 
 the angle of the old church wall, or corner of 
 Chapel street, to the bottom of James-street ; 
 what might have been the extent to the east* 
 ward cannot be truly said, but it could not be 
 large, for we are expressly told in the memoirs, 
 that the town was inclosed from the end of Dale- 
 street, and the length of the town from the west 
 end of Water-street to the east end of Dale- 
 street, and comer of Byrom-street, is but nine- 
 hundred yards : had the ground been covered 
 with houses four hundred^ and fifty yards from 
 thence, southward, so as to have completed a 
 square, exactly corresponding with the north 
 and southern extremity of the western boundary, 
 the whole area would have been but 405,000 
 yards.; bujt this ground could not then have been 
 covered with houses, for in the year 1680, it ap- 
 pears that there were various interstices inclo- 
 sed and unbuilt, many of them being planted 
 with trees ; they must therefore have been much 
 more numerous thirty-six years before that time 
 and consequently the town consisted of fewer 
 houses.* These materials lead to some idea, 
 
 * Enfield, page 26, fays that the number of houfes in 
 1753, was 3700, and of inhabitants about 20,000. — In 
 1760 the number of houfes was 4200 and confequendy 
 
14 HISTORY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 though an imperfect one, of the gradual increase 
 
 of the town, its houses and inhabitants, to the 
 
 year 1 680, when we are again left in obscurity, 
 
 and receive no authentic information on that 
 
 head until the year 1765f, when a plan of the 
 
 town was made by Mr. John Eyes. This leads 
 
 to some comparative proof of the increase and 
 
 variation during that interval of eighty-five 
 
 years. It appears also from this plan, that the 
 
 town at that time extended north to the Ladies' 
 
 Walk, the top of Old Hall-street, and from 
 
 thence southward to the top of Frederick-street; 
 
 the distance of these north and south extremi* 
 
 ties is about J 600 yards; it extended from the 
 
 river eastward to Preston-street, which measures 
 
 about 740 yards ; it therefore follows, that if 
 
 the said line was perpendicular to the end of 
 
 the north and south line, it would form a square 
 
 of 1600 by 740, the area whereof would be 
 
 3,184,000 square yards, and such extent may 
 
 be justly allowed, for though some of the parts 
 
 so enclosed by the square so formed, would 
 
 contain vacant ground, ) r et more will appear to 
 
 be cut off than is included in the calculation ; 
 
 the number of inhabitants about 25,000, but this return 
 will appear to depend entirely on his method of calcula- 
 tion. 
 
 f In the year i765, Dale-ftreet did not extend beyond 
 Cheapfide and Prefton-ftreet, 
 
INCREASE OF POPULATION. 15 
 
 it is therefore to be admitted, that from the 
 year 1680 to 1765, the buildings and streets 
 increased, so as to cover 779/)GO square yards, 
 more than were covered in the year 1680. 
 
 This description of the gradual increase of 
 the town may not be unp]easing to a curious 
 reader, more especially as the information is 
 deduced from actual survey? , and allowed % 
 authorities* 
 
 GRADUAL INCREASE AND NUMBER 
 
 OF 
 
 INHABITANTS. 
 
 Liverpool being a maritime town, subject to 
 xx constant influx and reflux of people who are 
 not actual residents, the gradual increase of its 
 inhabitants is not so easily discovered as that of 
 an inland town, where; the migrations are few : 
 certainty, therefore, must in some instances, 
 yield to hypothesis. Unfortunately there are 
 no materials, nor records, nor even rational 
 tradition, whereon securely to rest calculation. 
 We have indeed authority, that in 1565, the 
 number of householders and cottagers was 138, 
 and that 89 men navigated 15 vessels; admit- 
 ting, therefore, that poverty and necessity com- 
 pelled five persons to one of those small dw r eli- 
 
16 
 
 INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
 
 mgs, the town would have contained about 30 
 houses; this leads to an idea of the town at 
 this period, which may reasonably be thought 
 proportioned to the number of inhabitants, and 
 that is positively declared by the town record 
 to be no more than 138. 
 
 From this aera there is a total paucity of every 
 
 authority, w r hitL can give the least elucidation 
 
 to the number of inhabitants until the year 
 
 1662, when the first bills of mortality appeared 
 
 in this town; which, although perhaps imperfect 
 
 in their returns, may lead to something nearly 
 
 the truth of the number of inhabitants in that 
 
 year. By the first of these bills there were 
 
 only 7 marriages, 30 christenings, and 31 
 
 burials.* Proportioning therefore the number 
 
 of inhabitants to the famous and well know r n 
 
 average of Sir Wm. Petty, (which buries every 
 
 city, town, and village once in twenty-five 
 
 years,) the number of inhabitants in 1662, must 
 
 have been 775 ; the increase therefore from 
 
 1565 to 1663, or in 97 years, was only 637. 
 
 This number however is not improbable, when 
 
 the small extent of the town during this interval 
 
 of time is considered ; for though at the attack 
 
 by Prince Rupert, ,the garrison is represented 
 
 * In the register office of Chefter, is a parish register 
 •of Liverpool for the year 1624, from which it appears 
 that there were then only 4 marriages, 35 christenings* 
 and 21 burials. 
 
INCREASE OF POPULATION. 17 
 
 .to be strong and numerous ; we are expressly 
 told, that it was principally owing to the num- 
 bei of protestants who fled from the Irish per- 
 secution, who brought not only arms and 
 ammunition, bul also large quantities of wool; 
 and contributed greatly to the assistance ancL 
 protection of the inhabitants-, f 
 
 From this period inclusive, the number of 
 burials advanced, though slowly, until the year 
 1700, as may be seen by the following extract 
 of their number, returned at the end of the 
 following year. 
 
 Marriages, Chistenlngs. Burials, 
 
 1662 7 30 31 
 
 1676 5 67 48 
 
 1680 3 108 M 
 
 1690 10 116 J58 
 
 1700 35 132 124 
 
 It appears from this extract, that the burials 
 in 1700 were 124 and, according to the before 
 mentioned method of calculation, the number 
 of inhabitants must have been 3100; and the 
 increase from 1862 to 1700, being only SS 
 years, was SJ325, a very rapid and extraordinary 
 advance ; yet, such augmentation-is not impro- 
 bable, for about this period the town seemed -to 
 feel its increase, to look forward to its own 
 advantages, and augment its condition. 
 In 1899, the 10th William III, the mhabi 
 
 f Seacombe's Memoirs. 
 c <2 
 
13 . INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
 
 tanls obtained an act of parliament for buildr 
 ing a new church, and making the town a parish 
 of itself, distinct from Walton - r for hitherto 
 the town of Liverpool was an appendage only 
 to the parish of Walton, and had only a paro- 
 chial chapel of ease # under Walton, but by 
 this act it was granted, " That from the 24th 
 June, l699j, the town and liberties of Liverpool 
 should be a distinct parish, and totally uncon- 
 nected with Walton. That the corporation 
 should have the power to build a new church, f 
 a house for the rector, and to raise c£400 by 
 assessment on the inhabitants for that purpose. 
 That two rectors should be appointed, one for 
 the new church, the other for the parochial 
 chapel, who should enjoy the same ecclesiastic 
 benefits as the rector and vicar of Walton had 
 before enjoyed; that all parish dues, &c. should 
 be equally divided- between the two rectors* 
 That the patronage and presentation to the 
 rectory should be vested in the mayor, aldermen 
 and common council, for the time being; and 
 should any dispute arise, the decision should 
 Be referred to the bishop of Chester." 
 
 The town being thus become a parish, and 
 no longer dependent upon Walton, must be 
 supposed more correct in its register than while 
 
 • The present church of St. Nicholas, 
 f St. Peter's. 
 
INCREASE OF POPULATION. 19 
 
 it was only parochial, and therefore the bills of 
 mortality at, and after the year 1700, admitted 
 to be nearly the truth. We shall therefore, 
 endeavour to estimate the progressive number 
 of people from that time, on the plan heretofore 
 mentioned to have been preferred by Sir Wm, 
 Petty, with some deviation from his prescribed 
 number of years, for reasons which immediately 
 follow; to accomplish which, -the deaths from 
 1700 to 1793 inclusive, will, from the bills of 
 rnotality, be formed into periods of nine years* 
 Should we fail in the attempt, we can at least 
 plead in extenuation that we have followed the 
 method pursued by that able and judicious 
 calculator ; repeated experiments, no doubt, 
 convinced him, that years singly and progres- 
 sively considered would not make a return so 
 conclusive on an avjra^e drawn from an agsre- 
 gate number, which number he 'fixed at nine; 
 and various trials in different parts of the con- 
 tinent proved, that every city, town, &c. buried 
 itself in about 25 years. 
 
 But although ia the calculation of the lasc 
 century 25 years are given as the expectation of 
 life, it must be supposed to have greatly in- 
 creased at the present day, by reason of the 
 various improvements and cultivations -which 
 are known to contribute to the health of man- 
 kind. Extensive forests and woddv* enclosures, 
 
20 INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
 
 which heretofore covered large tracts of land, 
 have been opened; lagoons, swamps, &c. have 
 been drained, or filled up, and in many places 
 covered with buildings; cities that heretofore 
 had narrow streets, projecting houses, signs and 
 ether impediments to that free passage of air 
 necessary to health, are now opened and greatly 
 enlarged; it may therefore be reasonably admit* 
 ted, that the prolongation of life may be greatly 
 extended since the days of Sir William Petty. 
 The return of Breslaw in the year 1770, was B6J 
 years, which is an increase of 1 \ year on his 
 calculations that are known to have been prin- 
 cipally made at Breslaw, and in his time ave- 
 raged but at 25 years. 
 
 Dr. Percival in his observations on the state 
 of Manchester, fixes the yearly mortality as 1 
 to 25. Dr. Haygarth, in his remarks on the 
 city of Chester, as 1 to 31. But these calcula- 
 tions being confined to single years, and to par- 
 ticular places, can convey no fixed rule to 
 govern general conclusions, as will appear from 
 accurate tables and observations, made public 
 by several learned and ingenious writers, who 
 make the proportion of people dying in the 
 several places under-mentioned as follows, viz. 
 * Pais deVaud, Switzerland, as 1 to 45 
 Vienna, — 1 — 19* 
 
 * Dr. Price's observations, 8tc. 
 
INCREASE OF POPULATION. 21 
 
 Edinburgh, - — 1—20 
 
 London, — 1 — 20J 
 
 Amsterdam, — 1 — ££ 
 
 Rome, — 1—22 
 
 Northampton; — 1 — 26 
 
 Breslaw, — 1 — 26^ 
 
 Holy Cross, near Shrewsbury, — 1 — 33 
 
 Berlin, — 1 — 16J 
 
 f Manchester, h* I — 25 
 
 % Chester, — 1 — 31 
 
 || Liverpool, — 1 — 27 \ 
 
 In a general § lustrum, or scrutiny, taken in 
 January 1790, a return is made of 55/732 per- 
 sons, then actually residing in the town of Li- 
 verpool, (in which scrutiny neither foreigners 
 r;cr strangers are included.) By the bills of 
 mortality it appears, that the burials in the year 
 1789, were 1 162; if the said number of inhabi- 
 tants is therefore divided by 1162, it makes the 
 proportioned duration of life, almost o2»\ years, 
 which if truly ascertained, proves that Liverpool 
 is the healthiest spot in England ; nor can there 
 be any thing to invalidate the fact, but an error 
 in the bills of mortality, for the scrutiny is known 
 to be perfect, and unless the return of the 
 
 + Dr. Percival's observations on the state of Man- 
 chester. 
 
 % Dr. Haygarth. 
 |J Enfield's history of Liverpool. 
 § By Mr. Simmons, from October .13, 1789, to Jan. 
 13, 1790. 
 
22 INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
 
 obituaries for the year 1789, can be proved 
 
 erroneous, 
 
 calculation 
 
 From 
 
 erroneous, nothing can refute the truth of the 
 
 Aggregate Average Inhabitants Gradual 
 of burials annual annual ave- increase 
 each nine burials, rage. 
 
 years. 
 
 1700 to 1709 1465 \&3 5461 236 1* 
 
 1709 — 17J8 2114 235 ?873 2412 
 
 1718 — 1727 2727. 303 10150 2277 
 
 1727 — 1736 365.3 406 13601 3451 
 
 1736 — 1745 5213 579 19396 5795 
 
 1745 — 1754 6999 778 26063 6667 
 
 1754 — 1763 7557 840 28140 £077 
 
 1763 — 1772 9947 1 105 37017 8S77 
 
 1772 — 1781 H1353 1317 44119 7102 
 
 1781 — 1790 15229 1692 56682 12563 
 
 1790 — 1793 5087 1695 567S2 WO 
 
 53,682 
 
 It appears by thrs table, that in 93 years, the 
 town had increased 53,682 persons; for the said 
 number being added to 3100, the number of in- 
 habitants in the year 1 700, it will exactly amount 
 to 5^.782, the number of people supposed to 
 be existing the latter end of the year 1798. 
 
 The boundaries of Liverpool extend beyond 
 the town in different directions. These limits 
 are prescribed in the manner of the ancient Ro- 
 
 * The number of inhabitants being si 00 in the year 
 1700, as appears in page 14, the increase in the first 
 nine years becomes 2361. 
 
INCREASE OF POPULATION. 25 
 
 man termini, by stones called by the inhabitants 
 meer stones. The ground lying within the 
 boundaries is called the liberties. The mayor 
 and corporation, attended by a great number of 
 the inhabitants, annually ride round them, which 
 is nothing more than a custom pursued in all 
 other parts of England, to remind the inhabi- 
 tants of the extent of their bounds, and that no 
 encroachments are made on their limits. These 
 liberties from east to west, measure one mile, 
 two furlongs, eighteen poles, and from north to 
 south 2 miles, 4 foriongs, twenty-two poles; the 
 longest line is from the Beacon gutter to the 
 point near Smithdown-lane, which is two miles 
 five furlongs. They contain 1104 squares of 
 ninety-six yards each side, or 2102 acres ; of 
 which nine hundred and eighty belong to the 
 corporation ; the rest are private property. 
 
 This town has lately received many alterations 
 and improvements. In the year 1790 it consisted 
 of 8865 houses, since which time it has greatly 
 increased, and at the present period may proba- 
 bly be estimated at 12,000. A very few years 
 since, it was dirty, mean, and the streets much 
 too narrow for the health, or convenience of the 
 inhabitants, in which state it still continues in 
 many parts, particularly to the north east, but 
 a plan has been determined on, and in part exe- 
 cuted, to widen some of the principal streets. — 
 
24 INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
 
 Castle-street has been on this plan completed,- 
 and Dale-street has been widened from the Town 
 Hall eastward as a specimen of what is intend- 
 ed. This when finished will form a most ele- 
 gant street about 650 yards in length, terminat- 
 ed, in part, by the eastern front of the Town 
 Hall, which will then be seen, almost immedi- 
 ately on entering the town. Water-street, which 
 faces Dale-street, and extends to the river, is also 
 opened westward, to a correspondent breadth, 
 and when finished will make one distinct point 
 of view from the entrance of Dale-street, down 
 to George's Dock. But this important and ex- 
 pensive improvement is rather to be wished than 
 expected ; should it ever be accomplished, the 
 whole arrangement will form as elegant a street 
 as in any town in England ; and had the archi- 
 tect of the Town Hall, fortunately thrown the 
 front of that building so far back, that it had 
 been on a line with the northern range of these 
 new buildings, it would greatly have improved 
 the perspective, to which the present projection 
 will be some impediment. 
 
 Castle-street is a principal and most elegant 
 improvement. It opens immediately from the 
 Town Hall to the south part of the town, having 
 on both sides handsome, well-built houses ; the 
 western side is a regular range of buildings, and 
 had the eastern side been completed on a 
 
INCREASE OF POPULATION. 25 
 
 similar plan, it would have added greatly to the 
 uniformity of the whole. The rents in this 
 street average high, and the shops are large and 
 handsome, and fitted up in such a manner as 
 would do credit to any of the principal streets 
 in London. They are also well furnished with 
 great variety of every requisite commodity for 
 the conveniency or luxury of life. It is well 
 lighted by a regular arrangement of lamps on 
 both side; and had the foot pavement been 
 flagged on both sides, would not have been 
 exceeded by any street in England, of its height 
 and length. But with all its pleasing allure- 
 ments, it appears as if placed by accident and 
 not design. The situation and line (like other 
 buildings in this town) are without meaning; it 
 has neither eye-fall nor any determined point 
 of view, unless a general prospect of cabbages 
 and potatoes at the bottom thereof can be so 
 called ; the plan tends to no future effect, nor 
 discovers any original design. Looking from the 
 Town Hall to the south, you see no thing T>ut a 
 confused groupe in the vicinity of the green 
 market, and the disagreeable, dirty winding 
 from the opening of Pool-lane to the Old Dock, 
 which exhibits an imperfect sight of the tops 
 of a few vessels. If from the bottom of the 
 street the view is taken northward, the impro- 
 priety is most glaring, it cuts off at the least, 
 
26 INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
 
 one fourth of the right wing or division of the 
 Town Hall, and thereby totally confounds and 
 mutilates all order of perspective, and destroys 
 the effect of a most elegant, magnificent, and 
 pleasing vista, which could readily have been 
 supported, had the least attention been given 
 to propriety. Indeed nothing appears more 
 easy than to have removed all these disagreeable 
 impediments, for had the street been widened to 
 the west, so as to have thrown Back Castle-street 
 into the present, the whole front of the Town 
 Hall would have been thrown open to view, 
 the elegance of St. George's church would have 
 appeared, and greatly enriched the perspective, 
 while the obelisk in the market-place, would, 
 in some small degree, have increased the em- 
 bellishment, and whenever time and wealth 
 should have enabled the corporation to have 
 carried the line on each side of the street so 
 formed through Pool-lane, down to the Old 
 Dock, it would have completed one of the 
 most noble streets in England, and perhaps equal 
 to any in Europe, commanding from the Town 
 Hall a complete view of the shipping, and 
 of the whole town south of the Old Dock, 
 which southern situation, by reason of its accli- 
 vity, and extent to the very extremity of the 
 town as far asToxteth Park, would have formed 
 a most open, cheerful, and elegant eye-fall, 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 27 
 
 while from the south side of the town a street of 
 the width., length and magnitude, would ap- 
 pear to great advantage, as such improvement 
 would have made the whole south front of the 
 Town Hall to terminate the prospect. 
 
 SURVEY OF THE TOWN, &c*. 
 
 The stranger in viewing the town to the best 
 advantage, should begin at the Town Hall ; 
 wheie the spacious streetf* before him, perfectly 
 uniform on the right hand, and nearly so on the 
 left : the shops, in which may be found every 
 thing useful and ornamental, to indulge the 
 taste, and supply the necessities, present a 
 view not to be excelled, perhaps in the 
 metropolis. The spire of St. George's Church 
 on the right, shooting over the lofty buildings 
 near the middle of the street, which is termi- 
 nated by the beautiful eastern extremity of the 
 Church, and the perspective finished by the 
 
 * The following furvey may be made in a carriage, on 
 horfeback, or on foot, as the weather and other circum- 
 itances favor it. In wet weather, the neighbourhood of 
 the docks is too dirty, for ladies efpecially, to walk ; 
 and therefore the accompanyment of a carriage, &c. may 
 be necefTary ; but lefs fo from that caufe in dry weather. 
 The length of this firft part of the ramble, is about three 
 miles; but which the varying objects will appear to 
 fhorten. 
 
 f Caftle-ftreet ; the Cbeapfuk of Liyerpool. 
 
28 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 distant appearance of ships' masts, with the 
 extreme point of St. Thomas , spire, on the 
 left, affords a view as grand as it is novel. To 
 the right, in the middle of Castle-street, 
 Brunswick- street gives a view of the ships in 
 St. Geo?ge's Dock* 
 
 Around the Church, is the market for vegeta- 
 bles and fruit. Vegetables, the growth of the 
 open garden, are found here earlier, in greater 
 perfection and abundance, and cheaper than 
 any other part of the kingdom. Oranges, from 
 Spain, Portugal, and the western islands, in 
 the season, are commonly so plentiful, as to 
 scent the air almost as fully as in their native 
 groves. The more delicate fruits are not very 
 plentiful here ; but public gardens are form- 
 ing in the neighbourhood, for the purposes of 
 raising exotic plants, and producing the more 
 scarce fruits. The best fruit may be had in the 
 shops on the east side of Castle-street, already 
 passed. In turning about, when at the Church, 
 the reverse view of Castle-street is, of course, ob- 
 tained, and which is terminated by the front of 
 the Town-hall ; except that, at the opening on 
 the right of the Town-hall, St. Paul's mav be 
 seen, at a distance, to raise its swelling dome 
 above the interposing buildings, and to finish 
 the view. 
 
 Castle-street, so called from a Castle 
 
SURVEY OI THE TOWN. 29 
 
 which once stood here, being wider at the north 
 than the south end ; it was proposed to bring a 
 part of the east side forward, for the purpose of 
 obtaining a regular perspective, and by which 
 means the Exchange wxmid finally have termi- 
 nated the view on the east as it now does on 
 the west side of the street. Mr. Wyatt, the 
 architect, gave it as his opinion, that it would 
 be better to let it remain as it is. A little irre- 
 gularity in a view, it has been said, is often 
 more pleasing than studied uniformity. 
 
 Pursuing the course down Pool-lane, the eye 
 should not be turned to either sid«, as it would 
 be offended at the very indecorous practice of 
 exposing the shambles meat in the open street,* 
 but be directed straight forward to the ships, 
 which will be found to be in the Old Dock, at 
 the bottom of the street^ The view backward, 
 from near the bottom of this street, has a good 
 effect. 
 
 This was the first dock made in Liverpool : 
 an act of Parliament for its construction, was ob- 
 tained, in 1710. — Its scite was a Pool, that con- 
 tinued to wind round and extend the whole 
 
 * An Act of Parliament was obtained, fome years ago, 
 to fupprefs this cuflom, but it has not yet been put in- 
 force. 
 
 f The fhambles, however, are confined to the upper 
 part of the flreet, and feme good fhops 7, ill be found 
 lower down. 
 
 c 2 
 
30 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 length of the old and high part of the town, 
 ■on the east side, along Paradise-street and 
 White-chapel. Tradition says, that a singular 
 bird, called a Liver, (of -the Cormorant kind) 
 formerly frequented this pool ; hence this place 
 was called Liverpool, and the Liver adopted as 
 its Crest. 
 
 The first idea that strikes a stranger, on com- 
 ing to this dock, is the singularity of so great 
 a number of ships afloat in the heart of the town, 
 without discovering any communication with 
 the sea. He must awhile suspend his curiosity, 
 and tujrn to the left. Viewing the commodious 
 lading and unlading of the ships, as he proceeds 
 along the quay, till he has turned the first 
 comer of the dock ; he will there be presented 
 with a view of the Custom House, on the left, 
 the ships on the right, and the beautiful spire 
 of St. Thomas's Church, rising majestically be- 
 fore him over the picturesqe buildings which 
 terminate his view in front. 
 
 Chains will be found to extend along the 
 dock quays : which became necessary to pre- 
 vent strangers and others from falling into the 
 dock in the night, from missing their way, 
 through intoxication, &c. 
 
 Proceeding still along the quay, the Custom 
 House is passed ; which has nothing external 
 to recommend it to a particular notice. Its 
 
SURVEY OP THE TOWN. 31 
 
 situation is central with respect to the docks, 
 and therefore commodious ; yet it is, in every 
 other respect, unworthy the commercial cha- 
 racter of the town* Near this south east cor- 
 ner of the dock, are the Warehouses belonging 
 to the Staffordshire potteries. 
 
 Pursuing this direction, without turning the 
 next corner of the dock, which would afford 
 nothing new, # an opening presents into Cleve- 
 land square. The former obelisk in the centre, 
 the original attempt at uniformity in the build- 
 ings, with the once row of trees before the 
 houses conspired to make it an eligible resi- 
 dence. It has ceased to be so now ; as may be 
 observed from the removal of the obelisk, the 
 almost total loss of the trees, the houses being 
 made into shops, and the square converted 
 into a market for all sorts of provisions and 
 waresf. 
 
 This square terminates at the extremity with 
 a street called Pitt-street, so named after the 
 great William Pitt, afterwards created Karl of 
 Chatham. 
 
 The first turning on the left hand, after en- 
 tering Pitt-street, leads into Duke street/ In 
 
 * The dock may be pafTed round, at the pleafure and 
 convenience o£ the party. 
 
 f .St Thomas's Church, being fo near at hand, may 
 readily be viewed, by ilepping afide through an opening 
 *o the right. 
 
 c 3 
 
32 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 this avenue, called York-street, is an iron foun- 
 dry belonging to the Coalbrookdale company. 
 
 The view up Duke-street has always a pleas- 
 ing effect, even to an inhabitant who sees it 
 daily. For, notwithstanding a want of exact 
 uniformity, as the street is more than half a mile 
 long, has a gradual acclivity, increases in width 
 as it ascends, is always clean, and the houses 
 all neat, and many elegant, with scarce the 
 interruption of a shop, public house or ware- 
 house ; the effect must necessarily be engaging. 
 
 The bend in the street relieves the eye from 
 the confusion that would ensue by embracing 
 too many objects in so extended a view, and 
 leaves the imagination something to expect ; 
 and in which it will not be disappointed by 
 what succeeds. 
 
 About the middle of Duke street, upon the 
 left and opposite the end of Suffolk-street, will 
 be perceived a new erected, handsome stone 
 building, of considerable extent. This is a 
 public Coffee Room and Library, called the 
 Union, of which a more particular account will 
 be given hereafter, among the public buildings 
 of the town. 
 
 Near the top of the street, on the right hand, 
 is a new and very good street, called Great 
 George-street, from whence the spire of St, 
 George's church may be viewed to advan- 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN* 33 
 
 tage*. The vacant grounds facing Great George- 
 street, are forming into spacious streets ; with a 
 square in the centre, ornamented with a shrub- 
 bery : the streets are named after our victorious 
 Admirals and the square after his present Ma- 
 jesty, as will be perceived by a reference to the 
 map. 
 
 At the top of the street, on the left, branches 
 off Rodney-street ; so called, after the gallant 
 Admiral of that name ; it is of considerable 
 extent and one of the handsomest streets in 
 the town. 
 
 Duke-street was the first attempt at embel- 
 lished extension the town experienced ; and 
 was considered an airy retreat from the more 
 busy -and confined parts of the town. As it 
 was begun without a regular design, its archi- 
 tecture is variable. Yet from its favored access^ 
 elevation, and other natural advantages, it 
 must, especially the upper parts, when com- 
 pleted in the improving style of building, pre- 
 serve that decided superiority over every other 
 part of the town it originally possessed. 
 
 At the lop of Duke street will be observed., 
 the opening of a subterraneous passage, that 
 leads to a delf, or quarry, of considerable ex- 
 tent and depth, from whence stone is procured 
 
 * Moll of the public edifices may be viewed thus ad- 
 vantagea\ifly from different parts of the fkirtsoi the town. 
 
34 SUnVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 for the construction of the docks and public 
 edifices. The stones are cut out of the solid 
 rock, in such shapes and sizes as the purposes 
 they are adapted to require.— A mineral spring 
 formerly existed in this quarry ; but the body 
 of stone, from whence it issued, having been 
 removed, it is now totally lost. 
 
 An inclination to the right, leads to the 
 Mount, generally called Mount-Pleasant, or 
 St. James's Walk ; where we enter (on foot # ) 
 upon a gravelled terrace, 400 yards long. It 
 has been compared to the terrace at Windsor. 
 From hence we have a very extensive prospect 
 across the Mersey, of the north east part of 
 Cheshire, in front ; and the distant mountains 
 of Flintshire and Denbighshire in North Wales, 
 which finely fiil up the back ground. — The 
 view of the interior, eastward, is very limited. 
 From an elevated part of the walk, in a north- 
 east direction, the village of Edge-hill has a 
 good effect. 
 
 On facing the river, in a south-west direction, 
 on the left, at about the distance of twenty miles, 
 lies Chester, which may be discerned in clear 
 weather. 
 
 A little to the right of the direction of Ches- 
 ter, and nearly over a spire steeple (Bebbing- 
 
 * A horfe-block is placed near the entrance of the walk. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 35 
 
 ton) in Cheshire, at eleven miles, is Park Gate 
 (not seen from hence) on the east bank of the 
 Dee, from whence the Packets sail to Dublin. 
 In a yet more straight direction, a little to the 
 right of a prominent windmill in Cheshire, ap- 
 pears a beautifully indented, smooth chasm in 
 the Denbighshire mountains, which forms a 
 valley that leads to Llewenny bleach works, on 
 -the eastern confines of the delightful Vale of 
 Clwvd. Cambden fancied these mountains to 
 resemble fortifications. The breaks are not so 
 irregular as in most mountainous situations; yet 
 it requires a fanciful imagination, to admit the 
 similitude* 
 
 These beautiful passes, mountains and vales, 
 now so happy, retired and peaceful as to consti- 
 tute a (rue Arcadia, were formerly seenes of des- 
 olation, during the contests of the natives with 
 their different invaders ; so that in final! v losing 
 what they esteemed so valuable, their indepen- 
 dence as a distinct nation, they have obtained 
 a share of protection, quiet and comfort, that 
 can in no part of the world be exceeded. How 
 liable are we to be unconscious of what is to 
 promote our good! 
 
 The difficulty of access to, and language of, 
 the .country, while they still exclude, in a great 
 degree, the refinements of society from the 
 inhabitants, prevent the introduction of many 
 
36 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 of ils vices and follies; and preserve them in 
 quiet possession of their native simplicity of 
 habits and manners.* 
 
 In passing still more to the right, or north- 
 ward, the eye loses the more distant Welch 
 mountains, and becomes engaged with the 
 nearer Cheshire hills: especially that of Bidston;- 
 on which may be perceived, to the right of a 
 windmill, the Lighthouse and signal poles. 
 
 Immediately on the right of the light-house, 
 the break in the hill affords a pleasing prospect 
 of the sea, whereby ships may be seen at a great 
 distance, in the direction in which they come, 
 from and go to sea. On the low part of the 
 }and, may be seen another light-house; and near- 
 ly immediately behind the first, is the Hotel at 
 Hoyiake foot seen), distant about ten miles — a 
 favourite resort for sea bathing and sea air in the 
 summer season. 
 
 The eye being extended yet farther to the 
 right, reaches the mo^t northern extremity of 
 the Cheshire shore (a narrow point, called the 
 Rock, round which every vessel passes in com- 
 
 * The encouragement which of Jate has been given 
 to the revival of Welch poetry and mufk, has reicued 
 from obfcurity, perhaps oblivion, much of what was 
 unknown, and the reft very partially fo, in England. — 
 In their mufic, the melodies, for number, variety, rich- 
 nefs, expreffion. originality and antiquity, were, per- 
 haps, never excelled, if equalled, in any one country 
 in the world. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 37 
 
 ing into and going out of the harbour), and then 
 becomes lost in the vast expanse of the Irish sea. 
 The smoke of the town very commonly obscures 
 the view of the Rock point from hence, but 
 it may be seen very distinctly when we ar- 
 rive at the other end of the town, particularly 
 from the Fort. 
 
 The opposite shore of the Mersey, with the 
 ferry-houses on its bank; the river, with the 
 vessels sailing and riding at anchor,* and the 
 town, skirted along its margin with the masts 
 of ships in the docks; with its towers, spires, 
 and domes, all so immediately under the eye, 
 have a pleasing effect. 
 
 The interest of this engaging prospect will 
 be considerably varied, not only by the wea- 
 ther, but by the direction of the wind. The 
 .easterly winds, from blowing the smoke of the 
 town over the river, obscure the view ; while 
 the westerly winds, in clear weather, particu- 
 larly favor it. 
 
 The grove and shrubbery, behind the terrace, 
 may be entered by a wicket on the right of the 
 avenue leading to the building every day, ex- 
 cept Sunday. The building was formerly a 
 tavern, but is now converted into different pri- 
 vate dwellings. The terrace and grove are both 
 
 * Ships frequently lie at anchor under the Chefture 
 fhore, waiting for a fair wind to go to sea. 
 
o 
 
 8 SURVEY OF THE TOWN 
 
 made ground ; the soil and materials having 
 been carried thither for that purpose. The 
 construction and arrangement of the shrubbery, 
 is not more remarkable than the preservation in 
 which so public a place is kept. The whole 
 belongs to, and is supported by, the corpora- 
 tion, for public recreation : hence the public 
 seem to consider it as their own, and respect it 
 as such. 
 
 The interesting objects which present them- 
 selves, from this elevated situation, have been 
 described by a native Poet with great felicity 
 of expression and delicacy of feeling. As the 
 Poem has now for several years been scarce, and 
 is, at present, but little known, an extract from it 
 will no doubt be highly acceptable to our readers. 
 
 u Far as the eye can trace the profpect round, 
 The fplendid tracks of opulence are found : 
 Yet fcarce an hundred annual rounds have run, 
 Since firft the fabric of this power begun ; 
 His noble waves, inglorious, Mcrfey roll'd, 
 Nor felt thofe waves by labouring art controulM ; 
 Along his fide a few fmall cots were fpread, 
 His finny brood their humble tenants fed ; 
 At opening dawn, with fraudful nets fupply'd, 
 The padding ikirT would brave his fpacious tide, 
 Ply round the fhores, nor tempt the dangerous main, 
 But feek ere night the friendly port again. 
 
 Now o'er the wondering world her name refounds, 
 From northern climes to India's diftant bounds. — 
 
POETICAL DESCRIPTION. 39 
 
 Where'er his shores the broad Atlantic waves ; 
 Where'er the Baltic rolls his wintry waves ; 
 Where'er the honor'd flood extends his tide, 
 That clasps Sicilia like a favor'd bride ; 
 Whose waves in ages past so oft have bore 
 The storm of battle on the Punic fhore ; 
 Have wash'd the banks of Greece's learned bow'rs, 
 And view'd at distance, Rome's imperial tow'rs, 
 In every clime her prosperous fleets are known, 
 She makes the wealth of every clime her own : 
 Greenland for her its bulky whale resigns, 
 And temperate Gallia rears her generous vines ; 
 'Midst warm Iberia citron orchards blow, 
 And the ripe fruitage bends the labouring bough ; 
 , The Occident a richer tribute yields, 
 Far different produce swells their cultur'd fields ; — - 
 Hence the strong cordial that inflames the brain, 
 The honied sweetaess of the juicy cane. 
 The vegetative fleece, the azure dye, 
 And every product of a warmer sky. 
 
 As some industrious man, whose prudent mind 
 To business is in earlier years inclined, 
 With ceaseless steps the road of wealth pursues, 
 Bounds there his wish, and centers all his views ; 
 Till satiate with success he quits the chace, 
 And sighs for happier hours of rest and peace ; 
 Feels avarice in his softening breast decay, 
 And nobler passions in their turns bear sway ; 
 Feels genuine taste, by weeds obscur'd too long, 
 Spring in the mind, and boast a bloom more strong; 
 So rose the pride of Mersey's spacious stream — 
 Repose her scorn, and riches all her aim : 
 Till grown at length by long attention great, 
 The Arts have chosen here their blest retreat. 
 
40 TOET1CAL DESCRIPTION 
 
 At their approach, see Gothic taste retire! 
 And true proportion raise the graceful spire ; 
 Mould the proud column, swell the spacious dome. 
 To Grecia's genius give the strength of Rome 1 
 The marble, see ! with mimic nature warm, 
 Spring into life, and beam with every charm : 
 O'er the smooth canvas mingling colours flow, 
 The features open, and the landscape glow, 
 Reviving Science opes her latent mines, 
 The judgment ripens, and the thought refines. 
 And here-*****,, with genius all his own, 
 New tracks explores, and all before unknown.— 
 O formed in every varied scene to please ! 
 With manly sense endued, and native ease ; 
 With eloquence to still the listening throng, 
 Fix every eye, and silence every tongue ; 
 Save when attention overflows its bound. 
 And the still murmur of applause goes round ! 
 
 The Muses too their kindling influence bring, 
 Wake the sweet lute, and strike the sounding string 5 
 And whilst they rove on Mersey's favoured side, 
 Smooth rolls the stream, and prouder swells the tide. 
 'Tis theirs the chains of avarice to unbind, 
 Pour softer manners on th' attentive mind, 
 To bid the bosom gentler passions prove ; 
 The friends of virtue and the friends of Jove.— 
 Here safely planted, deep they strike the root, 
 And generous candour guards the infant shoot. 
 To tempt their stay, and win their lasting smile, 
 The friends of genius rais'd yon spacious pile;* 
 There, whilst cold precepts ineffectual prove, 
 The great example never fails to move. 
 
 * Theatre Royal, erected by Subscription, 
 
FROM MOUNT PLEASANT. 4i 
 
 As different feelings different scenes supply, 
 We droop in anguish, or we swell with joy : 
 Now sooth'd to love, we own the softening flame y 
 Now powerful horrors rush thro' all our frame ; 
 The strong delusions lead the struggling will, 
 The nerveless captive of the poet's skill. 
 If frowning satire opens all her rage, 
 And drags the prosperous villain on the stage ; 
 Or, if with nicer skill she aims the dart, 
 To wound the smaller foibles of the heart, 
 Bids self-applause her favorite mirror quit, 
 And wake in virtue's cause the powers of wit ; 
 If on the stage the comic muse be seen, 
 With broader smile, and more neglected mien ; 
 Thro 'every part some useful lessons shine, 
 Some latent moral lies in every, line ;- — 
 The varied scenes to one great purpose tend, 
 * To raise the genius, and the heart to mend." 
 
 Sweep the light strings, and louder swell the lyre ! 
 Far nobler themes a nobler song require ; — 
 The Heav'n-born virtues come, — a lovely train ; 
 They prompt the verse — be theirs the votive strain. 
 Not those that seek in lonely shades to dwell, 
 The selfish inmates of the hermit's cell ; 
 Like his pale lamp a partial light supply, 
 Unblest to live, and unregarded die : 
 But those design'd to sooth the labouring breast, 
 Protect the weak, and give the weary rest ; 
 Assuage the rigours of corporeal pain, 
 Supply the poor, and loose the prisoner's chain ; 
 And, like the radiance of the solar ray, 
 On all around to pour impartial day. 
 
 £2 
 
42 POETICAL DESCRIPTION" 
 
 — Known by the watry lustre of her eye, 
 Her sorrowing smile, and sympathizing sigh ; 
 See ! tender Pity comes ; at her controul 
 Drops the big tear, and melts the stubborn soul. 
 So the rude rock, by power divine impelPd, 
 Gush'd forth in streams, and cheer' d the thirsty field. 
 — Next Charity,— by no proud pageants known, 
 Nor crown, nor sweeping train, nor azure zone. 
 If chance remembrance wakes the generous deed, 
 No pride elates her, and she claims no meed ; 
 And timorous ever of the vulgar gaze, 
 She loves the action, but disclaims the praise. 
 — »Yet not of virtue's open cause afraid, 
 Where public blessings ask her public aid, 
 She shines superior to the wretch's sneer, 
 And, bold in conscious honor, knows no fear. 
 Hence rose yon pile, where sickness finds relief, 
 Where lenient care allays the weight of grief * : — 
 Yon spacious roof, where hush'd in calm repose, 
 The drooping widow half forgets her woes f : — 
 Yon calm retreat, where screen'd from every ill, 
 The helpless orphan's throbbing heart lies still J 5 
 And finds delighted, in the peaceful dome, 
 A better parent and a happier home. 
 
 Far to the right, where Mersey duteous pours 
 To the broad main its tributary stores ; 
 Ting'd with the radiance of the golden beam, 
 Sparkle die quivering waves : and 'midst the gleam, 
 In different hues, as sweeps the changeful ray, 
 Pacific fleets their guiltless pomp display ; 
 
 * The Public Infirmary. 
 
 f The Alms-Houfe adjoining the Infirmary. 
 
 J The Blue Coat Hospital. 
 
FBOM MOUNT PLEASANT. 43 
 
 Fair to the sight, they spread the floating sail, 
 Catch the light breeze, and skim before the gale ; 
 Till lessening gradual on the stretching view, 
 Obscure they mingle in the distant blue ; 
 Where in soft tints the sky with ocean blends, 
 And, on the weaken'd sight, the long, long prospect 
 ends. 
 
 Where wild tornados sweep along the sky, 
 And o'er the climate gleamy lightnings fly ; 
 Where poisonous groves exhale their noxious breath. 
 And crested serpents swell with secret death ; 
 Or where bleak hills perpetual snow sustain, 
 And the faint sun scarce liquidates the main ; 
 For these dread climes their native shore they leave, 
 And dare the secret rock and maddening wave.— 
 Those native shores, their eyes no more may view, 
 If big with horror angry fate pursue; 
 Tho' now in grim repose the tempests sleep, 
 Soon may they howl along the shivering deep ; 
 Dash the proud vessel o'er the blacken'd brine, 
 Crush the strong mast, and break the friendly line ; 
 Till on the beach an hapless wreck she lies, 
 And human savages secure the prize — 
 Stab the faint wretch, if any such remain, 
 Explore the bark, and share the glittering gain. . 
 
 But should kind Heaven her course in safety keep, 
 Calm the strong gale, and still the boiling deep, 
 Then midst the friendly port with joyful piide, 
 Laden with western riches shall she ride; 
 And Commerce smiling on the busy strand, . 
 Shall fondly hail her favorite sons to land,.. 
 
 E.2 
 
44 POETICAL DESCRIPTION 
 
 Yet lovelier scenes the varied prospect cheer, 
 Where Cestria's plains in long extent appear, 
 There shine the yellow fields with corn o'erspread ; 
 There lifts Britannia's oak its tow' ring head ; 
 Swells the brown hill, the sloping vales retire, 
 And o'er the woodland peeps the rural spire ; 
 Above the rest the Cambrian mountains rise, 
 Close the long view, and mingle with the skies. 
 
 Can Gallia's vine crown'd hills with these 
 compare ? 
 Tho' there the peasant breathes a milder air ; 
 Or can Iberia's loveliest landscapes show 
 So rich a prospect, or so bright a glow ? 
 There suns all sultry parch the cracking soil, 
 The hardening meadow mocks the peasant's toil ; 
 The spirits droop beneath the noon-tide blaze, 
 And all the roseate bloom of health decays. 
 But here she loves her choicest gifts to pour, 
 Breathes in each gale, and melts in every shower ; 
 Sheds joy and gladness o'er the temperate plain, 
 And crowns the cottage of the laboring swain : 
 Midst the throng'd vale, as she imparts her smile, 
 Care smooths her front, and labor scorns his toil ; 
 And love, his dewy locks with roses bound, 
 Trips o'er the lawn, and meditates the wound. 
 
 At distance far from frowns tyrannic fled, 
 Here sacred Freedom rears her awful head ; 
 Queen of each liberal art ! O may thy smile 
 Still bless Britannia's ever-grateful Isle ! 
 Soon shall proud Greece her envied name resign, 
 And future poets, patriots, heroes shine ; 
 Then shall the Muse expand a stronger wing, 
 And other Miltons strike the sounding string ; 
 
FROM MOUNT PLEASANT. 4 T> 
 
 To future ages give the warrior's name, 
 Whose breast expansive own'd thy generous flame* 
 Who at thy sacred shrine resigned his breath, 
 And sternly grasp'd thy lovely form in death. 
 Far on the view — at soften'd distance seen, 
 Whilst rolls the stream its copious waves between, 
 There — long deserted by the sable band — 
 A lonely abbey glooms upon the strand*; 
 Where once the towering arch in Gothic state 
 Rose high, and frown'd recluse the iron grate : 
 But shook by time, the lofty columns fall, 
 The wide roof drops, and sinks the mouldering wall ; 
 The hollow gale thro' every cavern flies, 
 And the dull Owl repeats her midnight cries. 
 
 Here superstition once assum'd her reign ; 
 Religion sicken'd in her weighty chain, 
 And all obscur'd beneath the dreary gloom, 
 The social Graces lost their lovely bloom; 
 No casual virtue marked the passing day, 
 Whilst slept the monks the circling years away ; 
 Dead to those nobler passions, whence proceed 
 The liberal sentiment and generous deed 
 That prompt to general good the selfish mind, 
 And wake the ardent wish to bless mankind; 
 The ills of life no longer claim'd a care, 
 But every virtue center'd in —a prayer. 
 
 So stands some lake amidst the sheltering vale, 
 Its wave unruffled by the rising gale ; 
 On the green surge are poisonous insects found, 
 And putrid vapours spread black mists around ; 
 
 * The Abbey or Priory of Birkenhead, or Birkett, built on 
 the opposite shore of the river Mersey, in the reign of Henry II, 
 
46 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Whilst the clear rill gives sweetness as it flows 
 To every flower that on its margin grows. 
 
 Ah ! brand them not in one promiscuous throng 
 (Thus candour would restrain the rigid song). 
 For some, perhaps, amidst the numerous crew, 
 A nobler motive to the mansion drew. 
 Long traveled thro' the stormy path of life, 
 Long labouring to maintain th* unequal strife, 
 To misery lent the little Fortune gave, 
 The storm approaching and no friend to save : — 
 Or, from each fond connection early torn, 
 Abandoned, hopeless, destitute, forlorn ; 
 To every thought of earthly pleafure dead,. 
 Some sorrower here might rest his weary head ; 
 And oft as kindred woes approach his ear, 
 Bestow the secret tribute of a tear : 
 Or, from these varying scenes avert his eyes, 
 Scorn every transient ill, and gain the skies : — 
 Till o'er his path hope beam'd her brightest ray, 
 And peace celestial strewM with flowers the way. 
 
 Now sober evening, wet with pearly dews, 
 Slow o'er the mead the lingering gleam pursues 5 
 A pleasing stillness thro' the air extends, 
 Save when the murmur from the town ascends ; 
 Or when at intervals the red breast's throat 
 Pours the clear warblings of his closing note, 
 Which, floating pensive on the breathing wind, 
 Leave soft impressions on the vacant mind. . 
 
 On leaving the walk at the extremity oppo- 
 site to where we entered, we take a direction 
 towards the river, down the road which passes 
 by St. James's Church. The load which we 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 47 
 
 then cross, leads, on the left, to Toxteth Park, 
 or High Park. The first on the right is Great 
 George street, already passed at the opposite 
 end ; and the second, St. James's-street, so 
 called from leading to the church of that name 
 Here a good perspective of the beautiful spire 
 is procured; but a lofty warehouse obscures the 
 lower or tower part. This street will be per- 
 ceived to terminate with a church at each end. 
 
 Continuing in a straight direction to the 
 river, down a road called Parliament street, we 
 have directly before us, over the river, a white 
 house — which is Birkenhead Priory— with the 
 remains of an Abbey, whose ivy-clad ruins yet 
 remain to characterise it. The chapel is per- 
 fect, and now used as a place of worship. One 
 cr two hanging villages are discovered from 
 hence. — The large building on the left of this 
 road is a colour manufactory for the use of 
 painters, which is worked by a steam engineo 
 On the right is an iron foundry. 
 
 At the bottom of this street or road (which 
 limits the boundary of Liverpool — all on the 
 left being subject to the Earl of Sefton, and 
 named Harrington) we break upon 
 
 THE QUEEN's DOCK, 
 
 The last made, largest, and best finished 
 Dock in the town, being 270 yards long, and 
 
48 SURVEY OF TBE TOWN* 
 
 130 broad; comprising an area of 35,100 square 
 yards. It was finished at the expence of about 
 £ 25,000. 
 
 Crossing the end of the Dock, to the left, 
 we turn along its west side. On the right are 
 the ships in the Dock, equipping, loading, and 
 unloading, with the greatest ease, safety, and 
 convenience; whilst on the left are other ships 
 repairing in the Graving Docks. In these lat- 
 ter highly finished Docks, the ships will be 
 found as commodiously placed for repairing or 
 altering as when first building upon the stocks. 
 The ship is floated hither by the tide at high 
 water, and left dry at low water ; the flood gates 
 are then shut, and the water afterwards ex- 
 cluded Li 11 the repairs are completed ; when, the 
 flood gates being opened at low water, the 
 Dock is filled the next tide, and the ship then 
 floated out. It will be observed that each of 
 the Graving Docks is long enough to receive 
 three or more ships at a time, lengthways; and 
 that they are not calculated to receive two 
 a-breast. 
 
 Foot passages over the gates of the two 
 Gravings Docks, afford an opportunity of going 
 upon the pier ; from the wall of which a very 
 extended and engaging view, up and down the 
 river may be obtained ; as also a pleasing land- 
 scape of the opposite shore. 
 
SUTIVEY OF THE TOWN. 49 
 
 The flood gates of the Queen's Dock are, as 
 will be observed, of the same construction with 
 those of the Graving Docks ; only, that being 
 designed to retain the water in the Dock, they 
 are hung in a contrary direction. A pleasing 
 cascade may often, during spring tides especi- 
 ally, be observed from these gates at low water. 
 The draw-bridge is a finished piece of work- 
 manship, and does great credit to the artist, 
 Mr. Morris. The gates are 25 feet high, and 
 42 feet wide; affording a foot passage when 
 the bridge is drawn up. The bridge is as firm, 
 steady, and safe for horses and carriages as a 
 stone bridge. 
 
 On looking from the bridge toward the river, 
 we see the entrance from the river into the 
 bason before us ; which latter becomes dry at 
 low water, and hence is called a dry-dock. The 
 entrance and bason serve also the purposes of 
 the adjoining King's Dock. 
 
 The narrow entrance and bason are highly 
 essential ; for, in, stormy weathy, the swell of 
 the sea would endanger the flood gates if the} T 
 were exposed to the open river ; and, in the 
 same weather, the ships could not be got safely 
 into the Dock, if opportunity was not given to 
 check their velocity before they reached the 
 gates— which, in the sea phrase, is called bring- 
 ing itp; and which could not be done if they 
 
50 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 "were left to be acted upon by the wind and 
 waves, and the current of the tides; the powers of 
 which are chiefly broken off by the piers which 
 form the narrow entrance, where ropes from 
 the ship can be made fast to check its speed. 
 Several ships can come into this outer Dock, 
 as into an anti-chamber, in quick succession; 
 and remain there in safety, to be conducted 
 through the opened gates of the interior Dock 
 at the leisure and convenience of the parties 
 concerned. The same advantages also accrue 
 in going out of the Dock into the liver. A 
 buoy is placed in the centre of the dry Dock to 
 fix ropes to, for the purpose of assisting in the 
 docking and undocking of the ships. 
 
 Homer's description of the port of Ithaca, 
 on the landing of Ulysses, is here exemplified: 
 
 " Two craggy rocks, projecting to the main, 
 " The roaring wind's tempestuous rage restrain; 
 " Within, the waves in softer murmurs glide, 
 " And ships secure without their halsers ride." 
 
 Odys. — Book xiii. 
 
 Also in the harbour of the Lestrigons, the 
 allusions, excepting the latter part of the second 
 line, are not less striking : 
 
 4< Within a long recess a bay there lies, 
 " Edg'd round with cliffs, high pointing to the skies; 
 u The jutting shores that swell on either side, 
 u Contract its mouth and break the rushing tide. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 51 
 
 a Our eager sailors seize the fair retreat, 
 " And bound within the port their crowded fleet; 
 " For here, retir'd, the sinking billows sleep, 
 " And smiling calmness silvers o'er the deep," 
 
 Odys. — Book x. 
 
 What the poet's imagination feigned, is here 
 chiefly realized by art. 
 
 The walls of the docks and piers, are of stone, 
 dug out of the quarry above; and all the ground 
 about us is artificial, being an iacroachrnent 
 upon the river, and filled up with the earth and 
 other materials from the river, the quarry, and 
 the higher ground. Passing on, we immedi- 
 ately come to 
 
 THE KING'S DOCK; 
 
 Made a few years before the Queen's; not 
 so large as the latter; being £90 yards long, 
 and 90 wide,* comprising an area of 26,100 
 square yards ; and finished at the expence of 
 d£20,000. A very considerable improvement 
 of this Dock is begun, it is intended to make it 
 150 yards wide, by carrying out the west wall 
 so as it may line with that of the Queen's 
 Dock. The gates are 25 feet high, and 42 
 feet wide. A very commodious swivel foot- 
 bridge, gives a passage over the gut to the pier, 
 when the dock-gates are open. 
 
 Continuing along the east side of the King's 
 v 
 
o2 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Dock, we approach a long, low building, on 
 the right; which is the Tobacco Warehouse ; 
 for the lodgment of all the tobacco imported. 
 It was erected by the Corporation of Liverpool, 
 and is rented at the annual sum of £500 by 
 Government, for the purpose of storing or 
 lodging all the tobacco imported here, until 
 the duties are paid. For this purpose, the 
 extent of quay opposite this warehouse, is the 
 only place in the port where tobacco can be 
 landed. By this means the tobacco is immedi- 
 ately rolled into the warehouse on landing ; is 
 there examined, weighed, and secured ; and 
 thus preserved from that smuggling and pilfer- 
 ing so much complained of in the London 
 river; and to prevent which, the wet docks 
 there have been recently constructed. When 
 the manufacturer wants a hogshead or more, of 
 his tobacco, he sends the duty, and the tobacco 
 is delivered accordingly. 
 
 This may, of the kind, be deemed an elegant 
 building. It is 210 feet long, and 180 broad ; 
 and will contain 7000 hogsheads. The area 
 covers a statute acre of land. 
 
 The King's Dock is frequented by ships from 
 the Greenland fishery, and from America. Also 
 by our own, and those of the northern states, 
 from the Baltic, &c. with timber and naval 
 stores, the spacious, contiguous yards and 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 53 
 
 warheoiises being well adapted to their re- 
 ception. 
 
 A singularity attended the opening of the 
 king's dock. One of the three ships that are 
 recorded in history to have carried troops from 
 hence to Ireland, to raise the siege of London- 
 derry, in 1088,, entered this dock on the first 
 day of its being opened in 1788; just 100 years 
 afterward. The coincidence of circumstances 
 is not less surprising than the extraordinary age 
 of the vessel, a brig, which still continues to 
 trade between Ireland and Liverpool, and is 
 called the Portia-Ferry, It is supposed, from 
 the numerous repairs the vessel must necessa- 
 rily have undergone, that very few of the ori- 
 ginal materials of which it was composed, are 
 now remaining in it; 
 
 The interposing ground beiweea these docks 
 and the river, is chiefly employed for timber 
 yards and ship building. 
 
 Turning the corner of the tobacco warehouse, 
 we obtain a view of its other fronts. The street 
 into which we then enter, is called Wapping ; 
 named after the same in London ; but much su- 
 perior, being 6'0 feet wide. Thelarge warehouses 
 here are chiefly for the storing of corn. In 
 this neighbourhood we shall find roperies, an- 
 chor smithies, with block-makers, sail makers 
 
 and every business connected with the naval 
 
 f 2 
 
34 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 department, in great abundance ; together with 
 a number of public houses,, for the cooking and 
 accommodation of the shipping ; for, as fires 
 and candles are not allowed on board the ships 
 in the docks, for obvious reasons, public houses 
 become more necessary. 
 
 Directing our course northward, we soon 
 reach two smalldocks, which belong to theDuke 
 of Bridgewater, for the use of his flats (nearly 
 100 in number, of fifty tons each) which convey 
 goods by the communication of the Runcorn 
 canal, sixteen miles up the river, to all the in- 
 terior manufacturing towns and neighbourhoods 
 of Manchester, the Staffordshire potteries, &c. 
 &e. # to an amazing extent. The adjoining 
 warehouse is for the security of the goods be- 
 
 *vl- — ~j ~*v, o.r.^M^-^ «"M ctitci inry are un- 
 shipped ; to which purpose the adjoining yard 
 is also applied. Proceeding a little farther, 
 we approach 
 
 THE SALTHOUSE DOCK ; 
 
 So called from former Salt- works on the right, 
 where the common salt we use was made from 
 the native rock. This manufactory is removed 
 many miles higher up the river, to a place 
 
 * One hundred and ten vessels of this description are 
 alfo employed upon the river, chiefly in conveying salt 
 down from Nantwich, &c. As also a good many other?, 
 in bringing down coals from the Sankey canal. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 55 
 
 called Garston, to the great relief of the town ; 
 as the vast quantity of coal smoke emitted from 
 it, rendered it a nuisance. — This was the second 
 made dock. The upper end, on which we 
 enter, is chiefly employed as a receptacle for 
 ships that are laid ■ up. The lower parts are 
 mostly for corn and timber ship. The form is 
 irregular. It comprizes an area of 2 1 ,Q2S square 
 yards ; and has a length of quay of 640 yards. 
 
 The space between the docks and the river, 
 behind the buildings, is chiefly occupied as ship- 
 builders' yards ; and some of the finest ships of 
 their size, in the British navy, have been bui-h; 
 there ; as the Adamant, Assistance, &c. of fifty 
 guns ; and the Phaeton, Nemesis, Success, and 
 other fine frigates. These yards are open to, and 
 may be viewed by any person. 
 
 ..Tracing the quay till we come to the flood- 
 gates, which are 23 feet high, and 34 feet wide ; 
 and which, with the draw bridge, are of .simi- 
 lar construction with those at the Queen's 
 Dock, we open upon a very large bason, which 
 is dry at low water, and hence called a dry 
 dock, as we observe at the Queen's Dock — ■ 
 Keeping to the right, we presently reach 
 
 THE OLD DOCK ; 
 
 The first dock we met with on the outset of 
 our ramble. From the dock gates or draw- 
 bridge, we see, towards the river, the que or 
 
5(5 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 entrance into the bason from the river ; and that 
 the gut and bason accommodate both this and 
 the Salt-house Dock. Looking up the dock, 
 we observe the Custom House (if not inter- 
 cepted by the ships,) we before passed, facing 
 us at the other end. The walls of this dock 
 were originally of brick. It is 200 yards long ^ 
 of irregular breadth, but which may average 80 
 yards; with an area of 1 6,832 square yards. — 
 The gates are 23 feet high, and 34 feet wide*. 
 
 * A modern traveller, Mr Joseph Mawman, booksel- 
 ler of the Poultry, London, has given the public some 
 curious articles of information respecting Liverpool. He 
 tells us that " the town did not possess a dock till the 
 year 1750." But this is so far from being correct, that 
 the town had two docks nearly a century ago ! Again, 
 in enumerating what he calls u the subordinate and tribu- 
 tary streams of affluence' 5 which the town possesses, he 
 particularizes the manufactories of watches and stockings^ 
 its glass and j&rg-tfr-houses, its salty and iron 9 and copper 
 works, &c. These are some of Joseph's dreams* at which 
 the intelligent reader cannot fail to smile. Liverpool has 
 no stocking manufactory.— The glass-house has for many 
 years been totally given up. —What little of the " salt- 
 works" the p*ace once possessed is now completely re- 
 moved. — And as to the" iron and copper works" fpoken 
 of, they are no more indigenous to the place than the 
 articles of rum and sugar. So much for the accuracy of 
 Mr Joseph Mawman ! ! 
 
 The same observant traveller, speaking of Chester, says, 
 u the Rows extend the whole length of the (four) prin- 
 cipal streets," &c. Unfortunately, however, this is false 
 of every one of them ; and should lead the reader to re- 
 ceive with extreme caution what this writer has said con- 
 cerning other places. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 57 
 
 The draw-bridge is like those already passed, 
 and is equally commodious. 
 
 This dock is a convenient receptable of West 
 India ships, being contiguous to the ware- 
 houses of the merchants concerned in that 
 branch of commerce ; also of Irish traders> and 
 vessels from Portugal, Spain, and the Mediter- 
 ranean. The surrounding houses are altogether 
 public houses, or shops with such articles of 
 wearing apparel, &c. as are most commonly 
 wanted by seamen. Adjoining the outside of 
 the gates of this dock, is a slip where fish is 
 most generally landed from the different fish- 
 ing boats from Ireland, Scotland, and the more 
 adjacent neighbouring coasts. 
 
 As we proceed along this side of the dry dock, 
 (of about 1250 yards extent of quay) we observe 
 a great many small vessels, chiefly sloops ; and 
 which are coasting traders, mostly from Scot- 
 land, Ireland and Wales; as may be observed by 
 painted boards,hungupon the most conspicuous- 
 parts of their rigging, denoting the places they 
 are bound to. This trade is very extensive* 
 consisting of the importation of corn and other 
 provisions, slates and the different natural pro- 
 ductions of the country ; and of the exportation, 
 coastways, of every article of our West India 
 produce, the Mediterranean, Portugal, Spanish 
 and Baltic imports. This is generally a busy, 
 crowded place, Coasting along this dry dock, 
 
5S SURVEY OF THE TOWxV. 
 
 we at length arrive at the south gates and draw- 
 bridges of 
 
 ST. GEORGE'S DOCK. 
 
 Here are two bridges over this long entrance, 
 at the opposite extremities; for as the ground 
 on the other side is insulated at high water and 
 when the flood-gates are open, it is necessary 
 the communication should not be interrupted ; 
 hence by the act of Parliament procured for 
 making St. George's Dock, it is so provided 
 that one of the bridges shall always be down, 
 under a penalty if otherwise. — Ships, small craft 
 excepted, rarely enter George's Dock from the 
 river, by this passage ; as it is chiefly designed 
 as a communication between this and the other 
 docks, and the Graving Docks. 
 
 Grossing one of the bridges, we are upon 
 Man's island ; # all artificial ground, raised from 
 the sea. The left direction leads qs to the quay 
 where the Dublin Packets lie, with their offices 
 facing them, which buildings are called Nova 
 Scotia. A little further leads us to two graving- 
 docks ; another being on the opposhe side of 
 the dock gut, or entrance into the dry dock ; 
 all smaller to those we viewed at the Queen's 
 Dock. 
 
 * So named from being firft inhabited by a perfcn of 
 the name of Man. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN, 59 
 
 Returning the way we came, we reach the 
 south end of St. George's Dock ; but instead 
 of passing in a direction along its quay, we keep 
 on toward the river. A circumstance occurred 
 on this spot, which cannot be passed over. — * 
 The docility of the cart-horses of Liverpool, 
 perhaps exceeds that of any in the kingdom, or 
 even in the world ; nor are they deficient in 
 strength and figure. The carters usually direct 
 their horses' motions by word only, without 
 touching the reins ; and can make them go to 
 the right or left, backward or forward, by the 
 word of command, with asmuch precision as a 
 company of soldiers. A parrot, of no mean 
 parts, as it appears, by frequently hanging out 
 from one of the houses facing the dock, had 
 acquired a variety of human language ; and 
 more especially that particular part which so 
 frequently requires the horse to back his load, 
 to discharge it into the ship in the dock. A 
 carter having unfortunately left his cart with 
 the back to the dock, Poll, in a garrulous 
 mood, unluckily happened to cry, back — back 
 —back — several times, so distinctly and loudly 
 that the well tutored animal, obeying the word 
 of command, actually backed the cart, so as to 
 precipitate it and himself into the dock. The 
 horse. was preserved. 
 
 That two brute animals, of totally different 
 
60 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 species, . perfect strangers to each other, should 
 be capable, without any assistance, of directing 
 and executing a regular action by means of 
 the human language ; is a curiosity perhaps un- 
 paralleled in the history of the world. 
 
 On the left, as we advance, lies the Man- 
 chester old quay, the resort of that company's 
 flats, 40 in number, which convey goods to and 
 from Manchester, daily, partly by the river, 
 and partly by a canal, as is done by those of the 
 Duke of Bridgewater. 
 
 We now arrive at the river, and have, on 
 the right, a terrace 230 yards long; which is 
 purposely designed for a public walk, as horses 
 and carnages are not suffered to come upon it j 
 and is called 
 
 THE PARADE. 
 
 The view from hence can perhaps be no 
 where excelled, especially at or- a little before 
 high water, and particularly at spring tides ; 
 then a number of vessels, of all descriptions, 
 moving in all directions, so near at hand, form 
 a moving picture, highly engaging and inter- 
 esting ; and which, from the variety it always 
 affords, is entertaining even to those who see it 
 most frequently. At all times, the view up and 
 down the river is fine. At the other end of the 
 Parade, is a pier that projects farther into the 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. Ci 
 
 river, from whence a more extended a prospect 
 can be obtained. 
 
 The houses on the opposite shore, are the 
 ferry houses. And on looking onwards, down 
 the river, we observe, also on the opposite 
 shore, the rock point, with a guide-post upon 
 its extremity ; round which the ships pass and 
 repass to and from sea. A little on this side 
 the rock, may be seen the gun powder maga- 
 zines; where all the gun-powder for the use of 
 the ships, and other purposes, is kept. They 
 are placed at that distance (about three miles) 
 to prevent bad consequences to the town in case 
 of accidents ; they are also there much out of 
 the way of accident from fire. Ships often lie 
 off there at anchor, sheltered from the westerly 
 winds, under the high land, waiting for a fair 
 wind to proceed to sea. Man} 7 years ago, a 
 ship, at anchor there, blew up. The concussion 
 was considerable in the town. Ships in the 
 docks are not permitted to have gun-powder 
 on board. 
 
 A little down the river, on this side, will be 
 observed the Fort; and, at a great distance 
 father down, two lofty pillars, which are the 
 Formby land-marks. 
 
 On the left of this pier, is a sloping road or 
 slip, which gradually descends to low water 
 mark, where a number of boats are constantly 
 
62 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 lying for the purpose of being hired to convey 
 passengers, horses, &c. to the different ferries 
 ( on the opposite shore ; as also for pleasure, up 
 and down the river, as the wind and tide will 
 permit. Although there are many conveniences 
 for taking the water at the other docks, similar 
 to this; yet this is much the most commodious, 
 cleanest and safest. The others are mostly 
 within the dry docks; so that the gut or entrance 
 to the dock must be passed through, which is 
 often very tedious, and even unsafe, from the 
 number of vessels generally passing in and out 
 about high water, as the following melancholy 
 instance will explain. 
 
 Several large Ferry-boats, filled with passen- 
 gers to Chester fair, were hauling out of the 
 Old Dock gut along the north wall, the wind 
 blowing fresh from the south-west ; when sud- 
 denly a very large ship, hitherto unnoticed, 
 was coming full upon them, from the river, 
 with considerable velocity, and in such a man- 
 ner and direction as no human efforts could 
 avert; as the boats were too numerous to have 
 them all got out of the way, and no time to get 
 the passengers out of the boats upon the quay. 
 In this terrifying situation, as the ship — with a 
 sea monster's head, as if to aggravate the hor- 
 ror — approached very near the boats ; the cries 
 of distress from the passengers who seemed but 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 63 
 
 too sensible of their situation, were painful in- 
 deed. Too soon the ship, without any decrease 
 of its speed, struck one of the boats in the middle 
 with its stern. The boat, although a large and 
 very strong one, being close to the wall, was in- 
 stantly shivered to pieces. The shriek of dis- 
 tress now ceased ; as every appearance of the 
 boat and its luckless passengers was lost, and, 
 
 " Like the baseless fabric of a vision, 
 " Left not a wreck behind." 
 
 In a few moments, however, baskets, hats, 
 fragments of the boat, and immediately alter, 
 the bodies of the unfortunate people, had 
 emerged and were floating upon the surface of 
 the water. Every assistance being given, the 
 people, about twenty in number, men, women, 
 and children, were all, as then understood, got 
 out of the water, many of them unhurt. Those 
 who were lowest in the boat escaped the best, 
 as on the complete destruction of the boat, they 
 sunk in the water under the ship's bottom ; while 
 some of those who were attempting to save 
 themselves by climbing up the wall, were so very 
 severely crushed by the ship, as not to survive 
 it ; which was the case with one or two active 
 young men. The rest of the boats escaped 
 uninjured. — Although it is some years since the 
 above accident happened, it made too strong 
 an impression upon the mind of the narrator, 
 
 G 
 
04. SURVEY OF THE TOWN, 
 
 who beheld it, to be yet effaced. This landing 
 place is out of a possibility of any similar acci- 
 dent ever happening here; and therefore is, on 
 all accounts to be preferred. 
 
 The right wall of this pier, will be found to 
 form one side of the gut or entrance into the 
 bason, or dry dock, which leads to the north 
 entrance of St. George's Dock. The opposite 
 side of this bason is generally occupied by 
 Welch traders. — Floating in the river, immedi- 
 ately without the piers, will be discovered two 
 large buoys ; which are there placed for the 
 purpose of making ropes fast to them, to assist 
 in hauling ships out of the dock, when the 
 wind blows into the dock. A capstan will be 
 observed on the pier, to assist likewise in haul- 
 ing ships into and out of the dock, as necessity 
 may require. — Several strong posts, are also 
 placed in different situations, for similar pur- 
 poses. A long flag staff, or pole, is placed 
 here, on which, when a flag is hoisted, it denotes 
 that the dock- gates are open to receive any 
 ships that may be coming in : when lowered, it 
 apprizes those ships in the river, that the gates 
 are shut so as exclude their entrance that tide. 
 A double lamp is placed upon the top of this 
 pole, (hung upon swivels, to accommodate the 
 raising and lowering of the pole) to direct any 
 vessel that may have occasion to come into the 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. &0 
 
 dock in the dark. It is to be observed,, that 
 the same accommodations, for assisting the 
 ships into and out of the dock, prevail at the 
 entrance of the other docks we have passed. 
 
 From this pier and the parade, may now 
 more distinctly be seen the light-house and 
 signal poles, mentioned page 36. The river is 
 here, (its narrowest part) at high water, about 
 one mile over ; and the distance from the 
 opposite shore to the light-house, about three 
 miles. It is very usual, in summer and fine 
 weather, for parties to cross the river, and walk 
 to the light-house. The road is good, and the 
 walk, if a trouble, is amply repaid by the charm- 
 ing and extensive prospect which is there dis- 
 played.* To those who have not examined a 
 light-house, it will, of course, prove a curiosity. 
 It is lighted by a lamp of cotton wick and oil, 
 which is reflected by a great number of glass 
 mirrors, through a window of plate glass, facing 
 the sea. 
 
 On examining a printed description of the 
 light-house, it may be noticed that the three 
 adjoining poles on the left, or south side, are 
 for public signals, disclosing the number and 
 description of approaching homeward-bound 
 vessels. A single board placed across the pole, 
 
 * A chaife may be had at the oppofite ferry- houses of 
 Tranmere and Woodside. 
 
 G 2 
 
66 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 number 1, denotes the approach of one ship ; 
 two boards, two ships; and so on to four; after 
 which, when a flag is put over the four boards, 
 it indicates five or more ships, which constitute 
 a fleet of ships. The pole, number 2, describes 
 brigs, and number 3, snows, in the same man- 
 ner as that of the ships. The flag, No. 4, on the 
 top of the light-house, is the signal for an 
 enemy; which, fortunately, has never yet been 
 displayed on that occasion. The numerous 
 detached poles on each side, are for the separate 
 purposes of the merchants, as the ships of 
 different owners have private distinct signals, 
 which they communicate, on their approach 
 from sea, to a person always stationed at the 
 light-house, who repeats them upon the various 
 adjoining poles, so as to be understood here > 
 whereby the distant approach of a particular 
 ship may often be known some hours before it 
 can be seen from the town. Would a telegraph 
 answer a better purpose ? 
 
 The idea of a bridge across the river may 
 strike the stranger's mind ; but that, if practi- 
 cable, is inadmissible near the town, as it would 
 be greatly injurious to the navigation of the 
 river. It would be a difficult undertaking, from 
 the depth of water and rapidity of the tides. 
 The river is ten fathoms (twenty yards deep) at 
 low water, opposite and a considerable way 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 6? 
 
 above and below the town ; and the tides 
 frequently run at the rate of six miles an hour, 
 so that it is often difficult to sail against tide, 
 even with a fair and strong breeze, and still 
 more so to row a boat directly against it — as 
 
 Scarce the boat's brawny crew the current stem, 
 And, slow advancing, struggle with the stream ; 
 But if they flack their oars, or cease to strive, 
 Then down the stream with headlong haste they 
 drive. Vir Gil's Ge orgies . 
 
 The tide in the river rises about 30 ket at spring 
 tides, and 21 at neap tides, 
 
 A road or tunnel under the river has never 
 hitherto been considered otherwise than as a 
 fanciful project; yet thei;e do not appear more 
 obstacles to it here than to that attempted un- 
 der the Thames. It is extremely probable that 
 the strata which would be passed through^ 
 would be chiefly, or altogether rock. 
 
 In contemplating the harbor, it will be found 
 that it contains an extent of about a mile and a 
 half broad, by seven miles long, for the naviga- 
 tion and mooring of ships at high water, and net 
 much less at low water, as the shores on each 
 side are steep ; which, aided by good anchorage, 
 afford an ample scope for the accommodation of 
 a very large number and variety of ships. 
 
 It has already been observed, that the time 
 
 of high water at spring tides, is most favourable 
 
 g S 
 
68 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 far the river prospect from this, the most eligi- 
 ble situation on the shore. Accordingly, when 
 high water happens any time from eleven till 
 two o clock, it will be proper to be here an hour 
 or more before the time of high water, (which 
 may be known by a reference to any of the Li 
 verpool newspapers), when a westerly wind sel- 
 dom fails to bring in more or less sail. Armed 
 ships formerly saluted the town with their can- 
 non ; which was answered by the bells of the 
 adjoining church. These signals generally in- 
 vited a number from the town to behold the 
 pleasing spectacle; and the solicitude of the re- 
 latives of those on board frequently formed an 
 interesting scene. The ringing of bells is con- 
 tinued ; but the firing of ships' cannon is prohi- 
 bited by a severe penalty, occasioned by some 
 s.erious accidents having happened from shotted 
 guns. 
 
 The ship having entered the dry dock (now 
 filled with water) in the manner described at 
 the Queen's Dock, is conducted into the inner 
 wet dock, and there lies afloat, in the most per- 
 fect security from every assailment of wind and 
 sea. 
 
 A little before high water, the ships that are 
 to come out of the dock the present tide, are 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 69 
 
 hauled* into the outer bason, then into the gut, 
 where the sails are filled, the fastenings loosen- 
 ed, and, amid the usual parting salute of three 
 cheers, which is returned from the shore, the 
 stately vessel is sent to explore her way over 
 the dreary bosom of the trackless ocean, 
 under the well-founded hope of giving wealth 
 to the individual, and of adding honour and 
 prosperity to the British Empire. 
 
 Spectators, while the ship departs the land ; 
 On shore with admiration gazing stand. 
 Britannia, riding awful on the prow, 
 Surveys the vassal waves that roll below * 
 Where'er she moves, the vassal waves are seen 
 To yield obsequious, and confess their queen* 
 Such is the fculptur'd prow — from van to rear 
 Th' artillery frowns, a black tremendous tier. 
 High o'er the poop, the flattering winds difplay 
 Th' imperial flag that rules the wat'ry fway. 
 Then tow'r the mails ; the canvas fwells on high 9 
 And waving flreamers flutter in the Iky. 
 
 With winning poftures, now the wanton sails 
 Spread all their fnares to charm th' inconflant gales ; 
 While all to court the wandering breeze are plac'd ; 
 With yards now thwarting, now. obliquely brac'd. 
 Majeflically flow before the breeze, 
 In filent pomp fhe marches on the leas. 
 Her copper'd bottom calls a fofter gleam, 
 While trembling thro' the green tranflucent ilream, 
 
 % The frequent repetition of the nautical term, haul, 
 cannot well be avoided, as none of the synonima of draw* 
 pull, drag, &c. are sufficiently expressive, or proper. 
 
70 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Along the glafTy plane ferene fhe glides, 
 While azure radiance fparkles on her fides,— • 
 Thus the rich vefTel moves in trim array, 
 Like fome fair virgin on her bridal day. 
 Thus, like a fwan, (lie cleaves the wat'ry plain ; 
 The pride and wonder of the liquid main.* 
 
 Falconer* s Shipwreck, Canto 1. 
 
 This charming little poem has a great deal 
 of beauty and novelty to recommend it. It 
 certainly excels the productions of the best 
 poets of antiquity on the subject, as much as the 
 present naval improvements have exceeded 
 theirs, or the Albert of the Shipwreck, the 
 Palinurus of the iEnead. 
 
 O'er the gay vefTel and her daring band, 
 Experienc'd Albert held the chief command. 
 Tho' train'd in boift'rous elements, his mind 
 Was yet by foft humanity refin'd. 
 Each joy of wedded love at home he knew 5 
 Abroad, confeft, the father of his crew ! 
 Brave, lib'ral, juft ! the calm domeflic fcene, 
 Had o'er his temper breath'd a gay ferene ; 
 •Him fcience taught by myftic lore to trace 
 The planets wheeling in eternal race ; 
 To mark the (hip in floating balance held, 
 s By earth attracted and by feas repel I'd : 
 
 Or point her devious track, through climes unknown, 
 That leads to every more in every zone. 
 
 , * Deviation of arrangement, and verbal alterations, 
 were necefikry to adapt this extract to the prefect 
 occaiion. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 71 
 
 Inur'd to peril, with unconquer'd foul, 
 The chief beheld tempeftuous oceans roll ; 
 His genius, ever forth' event prepar'd, 
 Rofe with the ftorm, and all its dangers fhar'd. 
 
 The author's description of his own situation, 
 is particularly impressive : 
 
 In order of command, 
 
 Succeeds the younger! of our naval band. 
 But what avails it to record a name, 
 That courts no rank among the fons of fame ; 
 While yet a {tripling, oft with fond alarms, 
 His bofom danc'd to nature's bound lefs charms. 
 On him fair science dawn'd in happier hours, 
 Awakening into bloom young fancy's flowers ; 
 But frowning fortune, with untimely blaft, 
 TheblofTom whither'd, and the dawn o'ercaft. 
 Forlorn of heart, and by fevere decree, 
 Condemned reluctant to the faithless sea, 
 With long farewel he left the laurel grove, 
 Wht-re fcience and the tuneful filters rove. — 
 Hither* he wander'd, anxious to explore 
 iniquities of nations now no more : 
 To penetrate each diflant realm unknown, 
 And range excursive o'er th' untravel'd zone. 
 In vain ! — for rude adverfity's command, 
 Still on the margin of each famous land, 
 W T ith unrelenting ire his Heps oppos'd ; 
 And every gate of hope againfb him clos'd ! 
 Permit my verie, ye blefl Pierian train, 
 To call Arion, this ill-fated fwain ! 
 
 * The Archipelago, 
 
72 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 For, like that bard unhappy, on his head 
 Malignant ftars their hoftile influence med. 
 Both, in lamenting numbers, o'er the deep, 
 With confcious anguim taught the harp to weep ; 
 And both, the raging furge in fafety bore, 
 Amid deflrudtion* panting to the fhore. 
 This lafl our tragic ilory from the wave 
 Of dark oblivion haply yet may fave : 
 With genuine fympathy may yet complain, 
 While fad remembrance bleeds at every vein.f 
 
 The descriptions are given with great force 
 and beauty, and it is said, with technical 
 chastity and correctness ; — hence they require 
 less aid from poetical fiction, appearing as 
 i( a plain, unvarnished tale/' founded upon re- 
 alities that occurred under the author's imme- 
 diate observation. A sea education being deem- 
 ed so unfavorable to literary pursuits, and, as 
 our author observes, " new to epic lore," a 
 finished poem from an inhabitant of that ele- 
 ment, became still the greater novelty. 
 
 While it gives pleasure to every friend to his 
 country, that the .education and manners of the 
 British naval officer keep pace with those of her 
 sons on shore ; how must the heart dilate and 
 beat high with the idea of his preserving, and 
 if possible, extending that marked valour, ho- 
 nor and humanity, which have been so sa 
 
 * The unfortunate author perifhed on a fiibfequent 
 voyage to the Eaft Indies. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 73 
 
 credly handed down to him from his ances- 
 tors : and which her enemies so freely confess 
 to be her due ! — May they never be separated ; 
 for while they remain united, the nation's secu- 
 rity from without must continue unshaken un- 
 der the protection of her native bulwark ! 
 
 One or more ships of war lie in the River, as 
 guard-ships, in time of war. The Princess, of 
 of) guns, at anqhor opposite the Parade, has 
 been stationary here for some time. 
 
 St. George's dock was the third made. It is 
 250 yards long, and 100 broad; comprising an 
 area of 25,300 square yards. It was constructed 
 at an expence of 2,000l. It is chiefly the re- 
 sort of West India ships, and is esteemed very 
 commodious. 
 
 In passing along the Docks, the ships of dif- 
 ferent nations will be discovered by their differ-; 
 ent construction, both in the hulls and rigging. 
 The Dutch ships are strong, square built, and 
 clumsy; nor, has any attempt at alteration 
 ever been made either in their ornaments or 
 equipment. They are distinguished by a con- 
 siderable hollowness in the middle, and the 
 sudden elevation of two square ends ; and have 
 generally a figure head placed, in contradiction 
 to the custom of other nations, on the stern, 
 upon the top of the rudder, with an aspect to- 
 wards the crew. A clumsy mast rises, from. 
 
74 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 about the middle of the ship, and a smaller one 
 near the stern ; which altogether completes a 
 Dutch dogger, Swedish and Danish ships 
 have often the same construction and equipment. 
 French ships are every way in the opposite ex- 
 treme ; being slightly built ; the ornaments 
 tawdry; and rigging and masts so light and 
 lofty, as to give the idea of a flying Mercury. 
 
 The English ships possess a medium between 
 the former; combining strength with beauty 
 and ornament — the utile et duke — upon the 
 present improved plan of the British frigates. 
 
 The American ships resemble those of the 
 mother country more than any other ; they are 
 extremely well calculated for burden, and are 
 in creneral handsome fast sailing vessels. 
 
 It may be entertaining to the stranger to ex- 
 amine the construction of 
 
 THE DOCK GATES. 
 
 Turning- along the north end of St. George's 
 Dock, we come to the gates of that entrance. 
 At, or soon after high water the gates are shut, 
 and remain so till opened by the next flood tide. 
 
 In each gate will be perceived an opening, 
 which, at high tid^s, is intended to evacuate the 
 water in the dock to a certain quantity necessa- 
 ry for floating the ships, thereby avoiding risk 
 from any unnecessary pressure of water upon 
 
SURVEY OI THE TOWN. 75 
 
 the gates. For better security* two pair of gates 
 were at first thought necessary here* although 
 one pair is now found sufficient^ and the other 
 is accordingly taken away. At very high tides, 
 when these openings are not sufficient, other 
 sluices can he opened below, by machinery 
 contrived for that purpose. There is yet another 
 intention these openings answer — which is, that 
 after spring tides, when the tides begin regular- 
 ly to fall each flood, if the water left within the 
 Dock were at any time above the level of the 
 succeeding tide, at high ^vater* the gates could 
 not be got open. The dock gate-men are fur- 
 nished witii a table descriptive of every succeed- 
 ing height of tide, and regulate that of the dock 
 accordingly. An annual tide-table is published 
 by Mr. Holden, which ascertains the times of 
 high water, and the heights the tides iiow, with 
 an accuracy before unknown, and in a methodyet 
 a secret with his family. There is much reason 
 to suppose that it will not apply to any other 
 part cf the kingdom. A simitar table has lately 
 been published by Mr. Elliott, which promises 
 correctness. The management of the dock 
 gates is submitted to the care of four men, tw r o 
 on each side, called dock gate-men ; whose 
 employment is to direct the opening and clos- 
 ing of the gates in the manner that may be ob- 
 served ; and who, with the dock-master* also 
 assist in directing the ships through the gates. 
 
 H 
 
l6 SURVEY OF THE TOWN* 
 
 The arched construction and position of the 
 gates are well calculated to resist the pressure 
 of water which they have to sustain. The 
 butments are formed of stones of large dimen- 
 sions, and so bound together, or cramped with 
 iron, as to form a body sufficiently compact and 
 heavy to support the lateral pressure of the 
 gates ; which latter are proportionally strong, 
 without being heavy or clumsy.— The gates 
 move backward and forward upon iron rollers, 
 upon a sill at the bottom ; and have no perpen- 
 dicular pressure to bear, except their own weight 
 and that of foot passengers over the bridge 
 which they have to support. These gates are 
 25 feet high, and 38 feet wide. The average 
 rise of the water at these gates, at spring tides, 
 is about 21 feet, and 12 feet at neap tides. 
 The highest rise of the tide at the Dublin dock 
 does not exceed 13 feet. 
 
 The collected statement of the dimensions of 
 the gates of the different docks are — 
 
 Feet high. Feet wide. 
 
 Queen's Dock . . , 
 
 25 
 
 42 
 
 King's ditto . . 
 
 . 25 
 
 42 
 
 Salthouse ditto . . 
 
 , 23 
 
 34 
 
 Old ditto . . 
 
 23 
 
 34 
 
 George's ditto . . . 
 
 25 
 
 38 
 
 Observations on the Docks. 
 
 The rapidity of the tides in the River, and 
 exposure to the strong westerly winds, must 
 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS. TT 
 
 have been very unfavourable to the accommo- 
 dation of shipping, both in the River and the 
 more interior harbour or pool, as it was then 
 named; so that as early as in 1561, attempts 
 were made at something like a dock, as a shelter 
 from storms ; but it was not till 17 10 that Par- 
 liament was applied to for an acttobuiicl a regular 
 dock. Since that time the docks have increased 
 in number, with the increase and population of 
 the town, and are now augmented to thirteen* — 
 five wet docks, five graving docks, and three 
 dry docks (independent of the Duke of Bridge* 
 water's dock,) occupying a space of about three 
 miles in circumference — the whole constructed, 
 formed, and built upon the bed of the river. It 
 is to be observed, that George's, the Old, and 
 Salthouse docks communicate, so that ships can 
 pass from one to the other, and into the grav- 
 ing docks, without going into the river, where 
 their being unmanned or unrigged might ex- 
 pose them to injury from the wind and tide ill 
 so doing. The King and Queen's docks com- 
 municate together in the same manner, and 
 with their own graving docks. 
 
 There are perfect communications under 
 ground between all the wet docks, by large tun- 
 
 * An act of Parliament has been obtained for the 
 construction of two more wet docks. 
 
 H2 
 
78 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS. 
 
 nels, for the purpose of one dock cleaning or 
 washing another ; so that when a clock is to be 
 cleaned (as they are all verv subject to accumulate 
 mud, brought in with the tides), which is gene- 
 rally done once a year, it is left dry at low water, 
 by keeping the gates open ; the sluices are open- 
 ed into it in different directions, and a great 
 number of men enter it, who, with spades, shovel 
 the mud into the cunents made by the sluices, 
 till the dock becomes sufficiently cleared, which 
 is usually done in ten or fourteen days. Flat- 
 bottomed boats are also employed at these 
 times for loading and carrying out the mud, 
 which they discharge into the river. The dry 
 docks are cleared from mudjn the same man- 
 ner, by sluices opened from their respective wet 
 docks. . This ready and effectual mode of clean- 
 ing the docks by sluices, is rather of late inven- 
 tion and adoption : as, before that time, it was 
 chiefly clone by means of the flat bottomed 
 boats, a method tedious and imperfect. The 
 expedition attending this method is extra- 
 ordinary. 
 
 Each wet dock has a dock master, with an 
 annual salary of 1051. whose office is to regu- 
 late the internal decorum of the dock, by al- 
 lotting the positions of the ships in their load- 
 ing and unloading ; to direct the management 
 of the flood gates, and to attend to the deck 
 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS. 79 
 
 ing and undocking of the ships at the times of 
 the tide, when the gates are open, so that ships 
 can come in and go out ; as, without such a 
 regulator, who is obliged to act with impar- 
 tiality, according to existing circumstances, 
 confusion and consequent injury would ensue. 
 
 The docks have watch, scavengers, and lamps, 
 distinct from those of the town. Fires are not 
 suffered ; and even candles are not permitted 
 to be lighted on board the ships, except secured 
 in lanthorns ; nor tobacco smoaked, under a 
 penalty of 40s. ; nor any combustible matters 
 left on the decks, or on the adjoining quays, 
 in the night, under a fine of iOl. By these 
 precautions, strictly attended to, an accident 
 from fire (so much to be dreaded) has only 
 happened once ; yet scarce a day passes without 
 fines being incurred for these practices. The 
 penalty for having gunpowder in the docks 
 is 40s. 
 
 Large ships, when loaded, cannot pass the 
 dock gates at neap tides, for want of a suffi- 
 cient depth of water there ; so that, when a ship 
 of that description, in the dock, is ready for sea 
 during the spring tides, and the wind unfair, it 
 is conveyed into the river, and there remains at 
 anchor, to take the advantage of a favourable 
 wind. If a large ship arrive from sea during 
 neap tides, it continues in the same situation* 
 
 n 3 
 
SO OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS. 
 
 till the next spring tides rise high enough to 
 float it into the dock. * 
 
 The construction of the docks is not only la- 
 borious and expensive, but tedious; arising 
 from the magnitude and weight of the materials 
 of which they are formed, and the interruption 
 given by the returns of the tides, their currents, 
 and the swell of the sea in stormy weather. — 
 The quality of the stone used in the structure 
 of the docks, contributes essentially in their 
 formation, as no other materials could so se- 
 curely bind, connect, support, and mound the 
 whole. 
 
 The excavation of the docks has lately been 
 effected by the use of the wheel-barrow, run- 
 ning upon boarded stages, in different direc- 
 tions, and often to a considerable extent, and. 
 of such acclivities as to permit a loaded barrow to 
 be pushed before a man, upwards. The la- 
 bourers employed are chiefly from North 
 Wales ; who, having been early accustomed to 
 work in the mines of that country, discover an 
 alertness at this exercise, that is not equalled 
 by any other class of labourers. The quays, 
 piers, &c. are formed from the earth and rock 
 dug out of the dock ; the sand, gravel, &c. of 
 the shore ; and the waste materials of the quarry 
 above. The walls are of stone from the quarry. 
 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS 
 
 31 
 
 The following 
 
 Table exhibits the progressive 
 increase of Dock Duties, at Liverpool, from the 
 year 1752, ending the 24th June, each year: — 
 
 No 
 
 Tear 
 
 1752 
 
 1753 
 
 1754 
 
 1755 
 
 1756 
 
 1757 
 
 1758 
 
 1759 
 
 1760 
 
 1761 
 
 1762 
 
 1763 
 
 1764 
 
 1765 
 
 .1766 
 
 1767 
 
 1768 
 
 1769 
 
 1770 
 
 1771 
 
 1772 
 
 1773 
 
 1774 
 
 1775 
 
 1752, 
 
 No. 
 Ships 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 1371 
 1453 
 1281 
 1245 
 1319 
 1307 
 1752 
 1625 
 1930 
 1908 
 1704 
 1808 
 2054 
 2073 
 2087 
 2259 
 2214 
 2258 
 2291 
 
 Tear. 
 1800 
 3801 
 1802 
 IS03 
 3 804 
 1805 
 1806 
 1807 
 
 1776 
 2034 
 2095 
 24i7 
 2187 
 2336 
 2403 
 2372 
 2330 
 2382 
 2526 
 3141 
 2780 
 3455 
 3653 
 3615 
 S566 
 4004 
 4142 
 4203 
 4552 
 4725 
 4580 
 5384 
 
 Ships 
 4746 
 5060 
 4781 
 4791 
 4291 
 4618 
 4676 
 5791 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 11 
 
 16 
 
 9 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 2 
 
 19 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 Year Tbips £ - s - d - 
 
 1776 22i6 5064 10 10 
 
 1777 2361 46iO 
 i778 2292 4649 
 
 4 9 
 
 7 7 
 
 1779 2374 4957 17 10 
 
 1780 2261 3528 7 9 
 
 1781 2512 3915 4 1 I 
 
 1782 2496 4249 6 3 
 
 1783 28 16 4840 8 3 
 
 1784 3098 6597 11 1 
 
 1785 3429 8411 5 3 
 
 1786 3228 7508 Q 1 
 
 1787 3567 9|99 18 8 
 
 1788 3677 9206 13 JO 
 
 1789 3619 8901 10 10 
 
 1790 4223 10037 6 
 
 1791 4045 11645 6 
 
 1792 4483 13243 17 
 
 1793 4129 12480 5 
 
 1794 4265 10678 7 
 
 1795 3948 9368 16 
 
 1796 3738 12377 7 
 
 1797 4528 13319 12 8 
 
 1798 4478 12057 18 3 
 
 1799 4518 14049 15 1 
 
 Tonnage 
 450,060 
 489,719 
 510,691 
 494,521 
 448,761 
 463,482 
 507,825 
 662,309 
 
 s. 
 
 J. 
 
 6i 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 28027 13 7 
 26157 11 
 33364^ 13 1 
 
 22379 13 
 28365 8 
 28192 9 
 
 44560 
 
 62831 
 
 34 
 10 
 
 H 
 
 6 
 
 si 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 4 
 7 
 
 In 1 724, the Dock Duty amounted to only £8 1 0. l is* 6d, 
 
82 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS. 
 
 The account of the expences attending the 
 docks,, from the 23d of June 1806, to the 23d 
 of June 1807, is as follows— 
 
 Dock gate-men's wages 
 
 Dock watchmen's wages 
 
 Labourer's wages, &c. 
 
 Stone and getting for the year 
 
 Masons' wages - 
 
 Carpenters', Smiths', and Sawyers' 
 wages, &c. 
 
 Cartage of stone and materials 
 
 Cleaning the docks 
 
 Lime stone and tarras 
 
 Paving the dock quays 
 
 Repairs, &c. at lighthouses 
 
 Lighthouse men's salaries 
 
 Oil for lighthouses, ropes and cordage 
 
 Buoys, landmarks, Sec. 
 
 Officers' salaries and clerks wages, &c 2383 
 
 Oak, fir, and other timber, wheel- 
 barrows, &c. 
 
 Iron, lead and copper work - 
 
 Brick work, slating, painting, Sec. 
 
 Rents, coals, candles, chandlery wares, 
 and taxes - 
 
 On account for lighting lamps 
 
 Horses for a team, hay, straw, proven 
 der and sundries for horses, &c. 
 
 Stationery, advertising and maps 
 
 Miscellaneous expences and disburse- 
 ments - 
 
 £ s 
 
 d 
 
 748 16 
 
 
 
 1785 12 
 
 
 
 8085 13 
 
 1 
 
 5847 7 
 
 
 
 3315 10 
 
 2 
 
 1434 11 
 
 6 
 
 1893 8 
 
 11 
 
 3009 6 
 
 6 
 
 699 12 
 
 11 
 
 644 12 
 
 1 
 
 70 12 
 
 8 
 
 198 8 
 
 2 
 
 497 8 
 
 
 
 268 5 
 
 5 
 
 2383 7 
 
 5 
 
 3104 19 
 
 
 
 1438 11 
 
 11 
 
 1172 19 
 
 3 
 
 1266 
 
 10 
 
 300 
 
 
 
 271 11 
 
 3 
 
 40 1 
 
 
 
 676 5 
 
 H 
 
 £39,153 91 
 
 Thus the annual income and expenditure^ of 
 
O^SEIt^ATlONS ON THE DOCKS. 83 
 
 the docks may be nearly ascertained. The 
 original and present constructions of the docks 
 and piers have incurred a debt of, at present, 
 c£ 110,079 19s 4d, by money borrowed upon 
 them under different acts of Parliament. To 
 which may be added d£ 67,406 18s Id due to 
 the Corporation for the scite of the southernmost 
 of the two intended north docks. The direction, 
 &c. of the docks is vested in the Corporation, 
 as trustees; whose accounts are annually exa- 
 mined and settled by seven commissioners, not 
 of the body corporate, appointed for the purpose. 
 
 The Liverpool Docks possess magnitude, con- 
 venience, and a harmony of parts, unrivalled 
 throughout the world. Necessity first prompt- 
 ed the measure, and the spirit of the town lias, 
 by no very small degrees, brought them to their 
 present state of perfection, and induced the 
 metropolis to copy after them. 
 
 So novel a scene as the docks present, must 
 greatly interest the attention of the contempla- 
 tive stranger, and fill the mind with a degree 
 of pleasure and astonishment, he has not before 
 experienced from a similar cause ; and which 
 even anticipation does not much abate. While 
 the general observer contemplates the whole 
 with amazement, the more discriminating mer- 
 chant regards it with an additional gratification. 
 
84 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOCKS. 
 
 derived from the great advantages resulting to 
 commerce from it. 
 
 The surprize of the stranger on first crossing 
 any of the dock-gates at low water, and with- 
 out having passed them at high water, will be 
 not a little excited by observing so large a 
 number of ships afloat, so far removed from the 
 river, and so much elevated above its surface: 
 the mind, if unprepared for it, will for a moment 
 discredit the external sense, and fluctuate be- 
 tween deception and reality. At all times of 
 the tide, it is interesting to observe, that such 
 a number of ships should be so regularly and 
 orderly disposed, surrounded by houses in the 
 heart of the town, and there as securely placed 
 as property in a storehouse. The seaman here 
 can step into and out of his ship with as much 
 ease as he passes the threshold of the door of 
 his house ; and can pass from one to the other 
 with as much facility as he can visit his next 
 door neighbour. That valuable character, the 
 British sailor, is little observed in time of war; 
 as when in port, he is under the necessity of 
 secreting himself from the impress. — Much to 
 the credit of those who have had the direction 
 of that service here, during the late and present 
 wars, this painful, yet indispensible task, has 
 been conducted with a decorum unusual in 
 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE POCKS. 85 
 
 former wais, except in two or three instances, 
 which were attended with fatal effects 
 
 The advantages a wet dock possesses over 
 every other kind of port or harbour, are very 
 great. The ships cannot possibly be affected 
 by the tides or weather; they always are afloat; 
 can load and unload, at all times, without any 
 obstacle or risk of injury to the cargoes. The 
 docks here are so compacted, and contiguous 
 to every requisite for the equipment of the ships, 
 that every possible delay is prevented; and from 
 their contiguity with the warehouses, extent of 
 quay (about three miles) &c. the ships can be 
 loaded and discharged with dispatch, and at a 
 comparatively trifling expence, under the imme- 
 diate eye of the merchant. 
 
 Finally, it is worthy of remark, that whatever 
 relates to the design, construction, regulations 
 4ind improvements of the wet docks, are native, 
 and originated here; that all others are, hithe ;o, 
 copies of them ; and that these stupendous 
 monuments of art, will deservedly, remain the 
 pride and boast of the town of Liverpopi. 
 
 Crossing the dock-gates (after high water) 
 we proceed along to the east side of George'? 
 Dock. Passing to die arcade of the hand- 
 some and convenient warehouses which now 
 appear, we discover, behind them, the traces 
 of a most tremendous lire, which, about six 
 
83 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 years ago, destroyed a range of warehouses 
 remarkable for their height, being twelve or 
 fourteen stories high. They are now rebuilt, 
 but upon a very reduced scale, as to elevation. 
 At the other (north) end of these buildings, is 
 the town prison, of very ancient date, and 
 which belonged formerly to the Earls of Derby, 
 and used by them as residences — what a scope 
 for reflection ! Looking up the street on the 
 right (Water-street) we discover the Town Hall 
 from whence we commenced our ramble. 
 
 The line, from hence, in the direction of 
 north and south, was originally the boundary 
 of the river. 
 
 The passage on the right of the prison (through 
 a stone gateway, the arch of which remains yet 
 entire) leads to 
 
 THE OLD CHURCH-YARD, 
 
 The lower part of which affords a pleasant 
 and airy walk, as it presents a desireable open- 
 ing into the river, through the gut of St. 
 George's dock bason At the south end of this 
 walk, is the merchant's Coffee House, where 
 the newspapers are read; and where lodgings 
 may be had by those who prefer the situation. 
 Cannon were formerly planted here, for the de- 
 fence of the harbour. The lower part of the 
 Church yard was raised from the shore, in \7o0: 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 87 
 
 as originally the base of the tower of the church 
 was washed by the river. 
 
 Going off, at the opposite end of the church 
 yard,, we pass between a boat builder's yard, on 
 the right, and a ship-builder's yard on the left; 
 either of which may be viewed. 
 
 The turn to the left, past a small glass-house, 
 leads to the public Baths. They are distinct 
 for ladies and gentlemen, are esteemed com- 
 modious and elegant, and may be viewed. — 
 They belong to the Corporation, and were con- 
 structed by them at the expence of about 5000.L 
 
 The road farther on, presents the Fort, 
 which, with its formidable artillery, promise aa 
 ample security against any enemy's ships that 
 may attempt an entrance into the harbour, but 
 the numerous extended shoals without the har- 
 bour, have always been considered its best de- 
 fence ; as scarcely any thing larger than a fri- 
 gate would venture in, even with the best pi- 
 lotage ; and its ready retreat would be rendered 
 next to impossible, by the uncertainty of the 
 winds, neap tides, and the removal of the buoy, 
 and landmarks, hence, no hostile attempts have 
 been made by an enemy, in any war. A strong 
 guard of soldiers is always kept here. It is 
 open for public recreation. The soldiers are 
 commonly exercised and the guard relieved, 
 every evening. 
 
 I 
 
88 SURVEY OF THE TOWN". 
 
 A very advantageous view down the river is 
 obtained here, and from whence the rock point 
 may be very distinctly observed. The ride 
 along this shore, for some miles, is very plea- 
 sant, especially in warm weather, as it will be 
 found very cool and refreshing, with a westerly 
 wind particular. Two roads branch off, inland, 
 at one and three miles distance, along the 
 shore ; the first at Sand-hills, and the second at 
 Bootle Mills ; at the latter, accommodations 
 for bathing, lodging, &c. as at other watering 
 places, may be had at two good Inns. 
 
 Turning up Benison-street, behind the Fort, 
 will be discovered, from the top of the street, 
 on the left, the New Prison ; so immensely 
 large that, for the sake of suffering humanity, 
 it is to be hoped it will never be filled. 
 
 The situation of this prison is healthful, and 
 it has many conveniences ; yet, on examination, 
 it will be observed, that the debtor, whatever 
 his constitution, habits, and health may be, 
 cannot be accommodated with a more favour- 
 able cell to sleep in, than the hardiest and most 
 abandoned felon. Such, at least, seems to be 
 the original intention ; if so, 'tis " devoutly to 
 be wished" that it may be varied. It is capable 
 of lodging the inhabitants of all the prisons in 
 the kingdom, northward. It has contained 
 2000 prisoners of war at one time. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 89 
 
 Close by the prison, are a steam-mill for 
 rolling and slitting of iron, and a white lead 
 work. Brick-kilns are numerous around it. 
 
 Returning the way we came, the head of the 
 Leeds and Wigan canals presents, on which an 
 elegant Packet Boat passes from hence to 
 Wigan every morning (except Sunday) at eight, 
 and arrives there at six o'clock ; and another 
 from thence sets off at six, and arrives here at 
 four. The fare is 3s. 6d. in the first cabin, and 
 2s. Od. iii the second. The right bank of the 
 Canal affords a very pleasant walk in fine 
 weather, but there is no carriage way. — The 
 quantity of coal imported by this canal, from 
 Wigan, &c. for the supply of the town, and 
 the export to the different parts of Europe, 
 America, and the West Indies, is considerable: 
 hence Liverpool may be called a coal port. 
 About 100 flats, of 42 tons each, are employed 
 for the purpose, each drawn by one horse, and 
 make three passages in two weeks. A variety 
 of other boats are employed for commercial 
 purposes. A coal flat, with a full load of lime- 
 stones, &c. in return, will drag after it, afloat 
 in the canal, a raft containing 9000 feet of fir 
 timber, weighing 180 tons, which, altogether, 
 makes a weight of 222 tons, exclusive of the 
 flat, drawn by one horse. 
 
 l 2 
 
90 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Around the basons of the canal will be 
 observed several large store yards for coals. An 
 adjoining warehouse, is for the lodgment of 
 grain, or merchandise, &c. transmitted up and 
 down the canal. That peculiar kind of coal, 
 of excellent quality, called Cannel, may be 
 had here in any quantity. It generally sells at 
 about 9d. per cwt. It has a bright polish, will 
 not soil the fingers when handled ; and burns 
 readily with a bright flame, and with little 
 smoke. 
 
 From the head of the canal, is an opening 
 to St. Paul's Church. Although the church 
 yard and body of the church may pass for a 
 miniature of the original, the dome and cupola 
 serve but to remind us of their inferiority, — 
 Being on elevated ground, the dome has a good 
 effect at a distance ; but there is no station near 
 from whence the whole can be viewed to any 
 advantage, the square being too confined. It 
 was intended to form a joint copy of St. Paul's 
 and St. Stephen's, Walbroke, London. 
 
 Turning towards the river, we come to a 
 narrow and very dirty street, called Old Hall- 
 street ; in the narrowest and dirtiest part of 
 which, four streets meet, and which once formed 
 one of the markets of the town, in its primitive 
 state. In this market-place stood a Cross, (as 
 is still usual in many market towns) which was 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 91 
 
 called the White Cross. This narrow street 
 and the adjoining ones, formed what was con 
 sidered the more genteel part of the town, fifty 
 years ago. 
 
 Before quitting this part of the subject, it is 
 proper to remark that a pian has been projected 
 for improving, in a most important degree, this 
 part of the town. It is proposed to take down 
 the houses on the west- side of High-street and 
 Old Hall-street, to form a new street 18 or 20 
 yards wide in a direct line from the Exchange 
 buildings, and terminating with the canal bridge: 
 this would be an excellent improvement, but 
 will not probably take place for some years to 
 come. 
 
 SURVEY OF THE TOWN 
 
 CONTINUED. 
 The Hotel, at the bottom of Lord -street,* 
 from its central situation, will now be the best 
 station from which the stranger can recommence 
 his ramble. Going up Church-street, oppo- 
 site St. Peter's Church, we turn into Tarleton- 
 
 * Lord-street affords the most general communication 
 between the east and west sides of the town. It is to be 
 regretted that the street is so narrow and incommodious, 
 and more especially so, as there is little prospect of ics 
 being v/idened, unless the exertions of individuals by 
 throwing back the fronts of their houses will effect it in 
 length of: time* 
 
 i 3 
 
92 SURVEY OF THE TOWtf. 
 
 street, which leads to Williamson's Square, 
 wherein will be observed, by the King's Arms 
 in front, at the farther side, the Theatre- Royal, 
 which may always be entered behind, and 
 viewed from a door under the stage. The front 
 has been recently taken down and rebuilt with 
 stone, in a very handsome style, forming a 
 semicircular projection. The external front of 
 the Theatre is brought considerably more into 
 the square, and the interior of the house greatly 
 enlarged by it. 
 
 At the upper end, Houghton-street leads into 
 Clayton Square, which presents a regularity 
 not to be found in the squares we have already 
 passed. It was the last built, and may afford 
 a specimen of the improving taste of the town. 
 Passing through the opposite opening, we are 
 in Ranelagh-street ; and turning up, we pass a 
 ropery, where ropes, cables, and the various 
 rigging of a ship, are made. To the left of the 
 top of this street, in Bolton -street, were former- 
 ly fresh water baths, for ladies and gentlemen, 
 distinctly, now converted into a school ; and a 
 cotton manufactory, now converted into shops 
 and dwelling-houses. 
 
 Retracing our steps, we cross Ranelagh-place, 
 and proceed up Mount Pleasant,* till we come 
 
 * In rising this street, the dome of St. Paul's, in a 
 backward direction, appears to great advantage. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN, 93 
 
 to Clarence-street, (so named after the present 
 royal Duke) on the left, which leads to a spa- 
 cious road that directs us farther up the hill to 
 the Poor House ; the front of which is chiefly 
 applied to working and eating rooms, and the 
 two extended back wings to dwelling apartments 
 for the poor. 
 
 Continuing the direction,, we perceive the 
 buildings before, on the right, called Edge- hill. 
 Ascending the summit of the rising ground, 
 the road on the right leads to the very pleasant 
 villages of Wavertree, Child wall, and Wool ton. 
 
 Keeping upon the same summit of the hill to 
 the left, we pass the remains of Vernon hall; 
 not the less diitinguished by the stately firs ; and 
 immediately cross the great south road at the 
 village of Low-hill; which formerly was a fashi- 
 onable, and the only, retreat x)f the town inha- 
 bitants for recreation. Crossing another road, 
 in the same direction, at a pleasant villa, we ap- 
 proach the village of Everton ; which passing 
 through, we yet cross another road, and arrive 
 finally at St. Domingo. — A house was built 
 here, and the adjoining grounds purchased, 
 with the product of a French prize ship from 
 St. Domingo, in a former war, and hence so 
 called. A new house has been lately erected, 
 which for two years was honored as the resi- 
 dence of his Royal Highness Prince William 
 
94 STJEVEY OF THE TOWN.-. 
 
 now Duke of Gloucester, the nephew of his 
 Majesty, while Commander in Chief of the 
 military forces in this district. It possesses 
 much elegance, and ranks with the first build- 
 ings of the county. 
 
 As this situation terminates the ridge of the 
 hill, it presents a fine extended prospect of the 
 country before us, to the north and east. The 
 sudden breaking in upon the sea, has a wonder- 
 ful effect at high water. The whole line of the 
 summit we have traced, affords good and varied 
 views of the town, river and sea. 
 
 Performing a retrograde motion, at the first 
 turn to the right, we desend towards the lower 
 part of Ever ton. This descent offers a very 
 charming display of the river and sea, with the 
 town below ; which would afford a subject for 
 the pencil of an artist, in the manner of a Pano- 
 rama, that could scarcely be exceeded in beauty, 
 variety, and extension. A position, on the first 
 turn to the left, facing a large stone coloured 
 house, seems the most eligible station for the 
 purpose. Passing several elegant houses, we 
 arrive at the road which leads down toward the 
 town, and where an advantageous view of its 
 east side is obtained* Descending, we come to 
 "Richmond, where a woollen hall (of no great 
 celebrity) is occasionally open. The back view 
 to Everton, during this descent, is not unworthy 
 of notice. 
 
SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 93 
 
 Such has been of late the spirit of laying out 
 new streets, that the proprietors have been at a 
 loss for names by which to distinguish them 
 Many of those before us,, on the right, are called 
 after the poets ; but without proper discrimina- 
 tion, as, from the inferior situation and quality, 
 where Homer, Milton, Pope, and others of rank 
 are placed, they might have been suspected of 
 being minor poets. 
 
 St. Ann's-street, facing St. Ann's Church, is 
 a street of much elegance ; which is not dimi- 
 nished by Trinity Church towards the south 
 end. St. Ann's Church has a good effect from 
 hence. The first turn on the right out of St. 
 Ann's- street, leads to the Circus, where are com- 
 modious livery stables,- and which is opened 
 for equestrian exercises on the closing of the 
 Theatre. The next turn to the left into Chris- 
 tian-street, discloses the cupola of Christ Church. 
 A little farther, we discover, on the right, an 
 uniform row of houses, called Islington ; # facing 
 which is the Infirmary, which, with its side 
 colonades, has somewhat the form of the 
 Queen's Palace. The next buildings on each 
 side of the Infirmary, in front, are dwellings 
 for the widows of seamen. 
 
 * The stranger will have discovered a tendency here 
 to ape the London names of places ; but which is to be fear- 
 ed will, on comparison, lessen in his estimation what he 
 might otherwise have considered as neat or commodious. 
 
90 SURVEY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Passing the front of the Infirmary, down 
 Shaw's Brow ; and turning into the Hay-mar- 
 ket, from whence will be seen St. John's Church ; 
 we pass along White chapel to the Hotel, at 
 the bottom of Lord-street, where we com- 
 menced this latter part of our tour. 
 
 It will be perceived, that the street we last 
 passed^ with Paradise street in the same conti- 
 nued direction, is nearly on a level, and lies 
 low. It was in this direction, as mentioned 
 before, that the tide formerly flowed round this 
 side of the town from the original pool where 
 the Old Dock now is ; which added consiclera- 
 ably to its defence, and rendered it only acces- 
 sible at the north end — hence its obstinate re- 
 sistance to Prince Rupert. A walk through 
 Paradise-street,, which will afford a view of an 
 elegant Dissenting Chapel, will best explain 
 the course of the pool. At the other end of 
 Paradise-street (formerly Common-shore) on 
 the left, is Hanover street; the more straight 
 direction is the bottom of Duke-street, formerly 
 passed, and the turn on the right leads to the 
 Old Dock. The common sewer runs under 
 Paradise-street, White-chapel, and even higher 
 up ; so that in sudden and heavy rains, the in- 
 undation is such as to flood these streets ; and 
 to fill the cellars, to the great terror and distress 
 uf their inhabitants. 
 

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 (X 
 
07 
 
 PLACES of PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 I.\ pool, then- are at | en 
 
 placi ; for public Worship^ belc 
 
 to I tablisbmeiit — one of the Church 
 
 Scotland — four Baptist Chapels — three Indepen- 
 dent Chapels — one Quakers' Meeting-house — 
 six I list Chapels — two Presbyterian 
 
 e properly Unitarian^ Chapels — four Roman 
 Catholic Chapels — and one Jew's Synagogue. 
 
 ST. NICHOLAS, tn-ih* OLD CHURCH, 
 
 jmrnonly so called from being the first 
 of very ancient date; but there are no 
 antiquity farther back than 
 when it is recorded that the Earl of Derby coin- 
 to his reside tied page 1), and 
 waiting for a pa Lo the Isle of Man, the 
 Corporation erected and adorned a sumptuous 
 stall in the church for his reception. There 
 formerly was a statue of St. Nicholas in the 
 church-yard ; to which the sailors presented 
 offering- on their going to sea, to induce the 
 :nt to grant them a prosperous voyage. 
 This church was a parochial chapel under 
 Walton, a neighbouring parish ; till, by act of 
 
9S PLACES OF PUfcLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 Parliament in 1699, Liverpool became a distinct 
 parish. The grave-stones of the Church yard 
 form a concise biographical history of the place. 
 One of these records informs us, that 
 
 Here lyeth the Body of 
 TIMOTHY HOIiSFIELD, 
 
 First Pari j h Clark of Liverpool; 
 
 departed this life 
 
 ye 13th of October, 
 
 1709. 
 
 This church contains some monuments of an- 
 cient and modern sculpture, but not interesting 
 enough to engage the stranger's particular atten- 
 tion : — a female figure inclining over an urn, 
 is most worthy his notice. Here is a peal of six 
 bells, whose welcome notes announce the arri- 
 val of our ships from foreign voyages, chiefly 
 the West Indies. There is a good, but badly 
 placed, organ here. — A spire was added to the 
 tower in 1750 ; and the walls of the church were 
 re-built a few years as;o. It is intended to re- 
 build the pews and galleries. The church no 
 doubt, originally, was sufficiently sequestered ; 
 yet from the present, perhaps unavoidable, tho- 
 roughfares, in every direction, through the 
 church-yard, but ill accords with the primi- 
 tive intention of 
 
 — — The church-yard's lonely mound, 
 Where melancholy with (till filence reigus. 
 
X 
 
 P 
 
 X 
 
 w 
 
 H 
 
PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 99 
 
 A considerable portion of the lower part of 
 this church is set apart for the public ; and, as 
 in most country churches, the men and women 
 have different allotments. As these public 
 seats are generally well filled with very decent 
 and orderly persons, devotion is better assisted 
 than where the whole is a glare of dress and fa- 
 shion ; it induces a due sense of humility ; and 
 properly reminds us of the indistinction that is 
 soon to take place in that state which awaits 
 us all. 
 
 ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 
 
 Was the next built, and finished in 3 704.— This 
 iand St. Nicholas' are the parish churches, over 
 which two rectors preside. It is plain within ; 
 lias a good organ; and a peal of eight bells, of 
 good tone, and well tuned. There are no sculp- 
 ture or monuments worth particular notice.— 
 The carvings of the altar and the pedestals of 
 the galleries in oak, are much esteemed; and are 
 free from gildings and other improper orna- 
 ments. Regular oratorios, the first that were 
 attempted in the north of England, were per- 
 formed here, in 1766. The principal perform- 
 ers were from London, who were not less sur- 
 prised than gratified with the chorusses, which 
 were of this neighbourhood ; — the Lancashire 
 chorus being still esteemed the best in the king- 
 
 Lp r* ic 
 
100 PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 dom. The public are accommodated as at St. 
 Nicholas'. 
 
 ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH 
 Was consecrated in 1744. It will be found as 
 elegant and well finished within as it is without. 
 The altar, pulpit, organ-loft, and the front of 
 the galleries are, characteristically enough, of 
 mahogany ; which, from time, has acquired a 
 richness of shade that adds greatly to the solem- 
 nity of the whole, but which the partial gild- 
 ings at the altar certainly detract from. It is 
 the Mayor's chapel, where he attends every 
 Sunday, aiad where pews are appropriated for 
 the gentlemen, including strangers, who choose 
 to accompany him. A very good organ. No 
 monumental inscriptions. The church is com- 
 pletely vaulted, for the purpose of a cemetery. 
 On each side of the church is a terrace, with 
 recesses underneath for the convenience of the 
 market people. The octangular buildings at 
 each end of the church, are offices for the clerk 
 of the market and the night watch. In the re- 
 cesses on each of the octangular parts of the 
 steeple, is the painting of a saint; but, as this 
 unsheltered situation is so destructive to paint- 
 ings, they may be said to be exposed to ano- 
 ther martyrdom. The spire may be perceived 
 to have a considerable bend, or inclination to 
 the west, and yet is deemed sufficiently secure. 
 
PLACES OF PUBLIC WOR&I11P. 101 
 
 ST. THOMAS' "CHURCH 
 
 Was consecrated in 1 750 ; the whole of which, 
 without and within, can no where, perhaps, be 
 excelled in simple elegance. In its very con- 
 fined situation, it cannot be advantageously 
 viewed in any direction : the south end of the 
 church-yard, and the bottom of Liver-street, 
 afford the best views. Its beautiful and lofty 
 spire, however, has a pleasing effect from every 
 part of the town and the environs where it can. 
 be seen. The steeple and spire are 216 feet 
 high, of which the spire forms the greater part* 
 A good organ. No monuments. Among other 
 improvements wanted in this town, if the build- 
 ings north of this church spire, were taken 
 down, and the whole laid open to the Dock, it 
 would have a most noble effect. 
 
 ST. PAUUs CHURCH 
 
 Was built at the public expence, and conse- 
 crated in 1769. Its internal construction is so 
 unfavorable to hearing, notwithstanding the 
 attempts that have been made to render it less 
 so, that it is but very thinly attended. The 
 bottom of the church is appropriated to the 
 public. No organ or monuments. The altar 
 is plain and neat. The whole of the inside of 
 the church is handsome ; and it receives a de- 
 
 K 2 
 
102 PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 gree of grandeur from: the large pillars that sup- 
 port the dome* 
 
 WELCH CHURCH, 
 
 For the accommodation of the lower order of 
 the natives of North Wales, who are very nu- 
 merous here, and who speak and understand 
 English very imperfectly ; the Corporation has 
 very laudably given an additional salary of 60l. 
 to the Rev. Mr. Pughe, a clergyman of the 
 town, for performing the Church service in the 
 Welch language ; and which is done every 
 Sunday evening in St. Paul's church, and the 
 Sacrament administered once a month, under 
 the sanction of the Bishop of the Diocese. — 
 The Service is regularly attended by five or six 
 hundred persons. It is the first instance of the 
 kind that has occurred in England. 
 
 ST. ANN's CHURCH, 
 
 Built in H70 by two proprietors, is a neat, 
 commodious church ; has a painted window ; is 
 remarkable for being placed in a north and 
 south direction ; and is viewed to advantage 
 jrotn the north road, and also from St. Ann- 
 street. No monuments nor organ. The slender 
 iron pillars which support the galleries of this 
 and the other churches since built, afford consi- 
 derable accommodation. 
 
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PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 103 
 
 ST. JOHN's CHURCH, 
 
 Was finished at the public expence in 1784. — 
 It is plain within ; and the lower part is lauda- 
 bly appropriated to the public, The church- 
 yard is also a public burial-ground. 
 
 TRINITY CHURCH/ 
 
 Can boast a peculiar neatness, both externally 
 and internally ; and is extremely commodious ; 
 the form and dimensions being such as are well 
 adapted to an auditory. — An organ ; but no 
 monuments. It was consecrated in .1792 ; and 
 built by private proprietors. 
 
 ST. JAMES's CHURCH, 
 
 Not directly in the parish, was built in the year 
 1774; is neat, commodious, and retired. An 
 organ; but no monuments. Was built by pri- 
 vate proprietors. 
 
 St. Catharine's, in Temple-court; St. 
 Stephen's, in Byrom-street ; St. Matthew's 
 in Kaye-street ; and St. Andrew's in Cockspur- 
 street, were formerly dissenting Chapels. # — 
 They have nothing to recommend them to the 
 
 * Thefe chapels were, at different times, purchased 
 (being freeholds) by private proprietors ; on the refufal 
 of the Corporation to grant freeholds in other parts of 
 the town, where fituation and elegance might have been 
 better conftited. 
 
 K.S 
 
104 PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP 
 
 attention of strangers, except neatness ; but 
 which surely must be a powerful recommenda- 
 tion to a congregation. 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH 
 
 In Hunter-street, is a handsome, spacious, com- 
 modious erection; singular in having two 
 heights of galleries, and a double organ. Each 
 of the parts of the instrument appears as a dis- 
 tinct complete organ, externally. They are in 
 handsome mahogany cases, and are fourteen 
 feet asunder ; the whole extent of front being- 
 thirty feet : the intermediate space corresponds 
 with the front of the upper gallery, on the level 
 of which it is placed. The Organ is well toned, 
 powerful, and of good compass. The Organist 
 is placed in the centre, with his face towards 
 the congregation, but without being seen : the 
 Swell is behind him on the floor ; and the 
 movements go underneath his feet. This form 
 was adopted to obtain light from the great 
 south window (the church being placed in a 
 north and south direction) to the upper gallery. 
 This organ is the only one of the kind in Eng- 
 land, and was wholiy designed and constructed 
 by an artist of the town, Mr. Collins. The 
 church was built and endowed at an expence of 
 about 15,0001. by a single proprietor, and was 
 opened in 1798. It was not then consecrated, 
 
PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 105 
 
 although the service of the Church of England 
 was performed in it, with such deviations from 
 the prescribed forms, as the Proprietor con- 
 ceived might contribute to its amendment. The 
 attempt not succeeding, an act of Parliament 
 was obtained to put it on the Establishment ; 
 and it was consecrated irv 1800. 
 
 ST. MARK'S CHURCH, 
 
 Situate near the top of Duke-street, on the left, 
 is a structure not undeserving the stranger's at- 
 tention. It is a large, commodious, and ele- 
 gant place — built by subscription, upon the 
 plan, and under the inspection, of the late Mr. 
 Thomas Jones. A. M. at the expence of c£ 16,000 
 — will seat 2500 hearers, and was finished in 
 the year 1803. The pulpit, the organ, the 
 communion table, 8cc. are executed, as indeed 
 is the whole of the interior, in a stile which en- 
 titles it to be pointed out as a model for future 
 structures of this description. The present Mi- 
 nister, Mr. R. Blacowe. 
 
 ALL-SAINTS CHURCH, 
 Near Scotland Road, was originally a tennis 
 court, but falling into disuse, has been, success- 
 fully enough for the present incumbent, con- 
 verted into a place of worship. It has not been 
 consecrated, and of course is not upon the es- 
 tablishment, but the Liturgy of the Church of 
 
10.6 PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 England is regularly recited. It has an organ ; 
 but possesses no decorations either external or 
 internal. Mr. Robert Bannister, Minister. 
 
 The SCOTCH CHURCH or KIRK, 
 
 Is situated in Oldham-street, near the top of Ren- 
 shaw-sfcreet, at the south end of the town. It has 
 been built about a dozen years, and is a plain, 
 neat and spacious place, with a gallery of con- 
 siderable extent. The congregation, which is 
 very respectable, consists almost wholly of 
 merchants who have come from North Britain 
 to take up their residence here, and their fami- 
 lies. Mr. W. Kirkpatrick Minister, 
 
 INDEPENDENT CHAPELS. 
 
 The first erected of these is in Renshaw-street, 
 a plain, neat, decent place, and of some consi- 
 derable extent, being galleried on three sides. It 
 has probably been built 20 or £5 years, during 
 which time Mr. D. Bruce has been the Pastor. 
 
 A second chapel of this denomination has 
 lately been erected at Islington, a little behind 
 the school for the blind. The founders of it 
 have thought proper to give it the name of Be- 
 th esd a, with what propriety it seems difficult 
 to divine. It is a light, pleasant and airy place, 
 galleried on three sides, and capable of holding 
 6 or 700 hearers. Present Minister, Mr. John 
 Ralph. 
 
PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 107 
 
 UNITARIAN CHAPELS. 
 
 The first of them- we shall notrce, has probably 
 been built half a centurv, and is situated in 
 Benn's Garden, leading out of Redcross-street. 
 It has but little claim for attention on the 
 traveller's notice, being unfavorably constructed 
 as to light. The pews, as is the case with most 
 of the old chapels, are too deep, and the en- 
 trance to it, also, from the streets is unfavora- 
 ble. — The congregation is of the genteeler sort 
 and tolerably numerous. It formerly had two 
 ministers, Mr. Joseph Smith and Mr. R. Lewin ; 
 but the former gentleman having, through in- 
 disposition, been obliged to decline public 
 speaking, the latter gentleman is at present 
 sole pastor. A charity school is supported by 
 this congregation. 
 
 The Paradise-street Chapel, claims 
 particular regard as a public edifice. It is cer- 
 tainly a very handsome structure of the octago- 
 nal form, and differs considerably from all the 
 places we have yet mentioned, in regard to sim- 
 plicity and neatness. The inlaid work round 
 the galleries, in the manner of light cabinet 
 work — the airy pulpit, with a double flight of 
 steps — the organ, &c. will not fail to strike the 
 attention of the traveller, as peculiarities in a 
 place of this description. The pews are most 
 conveniently disposed, and great attention is 
 
108 PLAGES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 paid to their cleanliness. Behind the Chapel is 
 a Charity School, supported chiefly by the con- 
 gregation. Present minister, Mr. John Yates. 
 
 THE SANDEMANIAN CHAPEL, 
 
 Was formerly a Jew's Synagogue, but has 
 now been in the possession of its present occu- 
 pants more than SO years. It is but a small 
 place, nor has there been much judgment dis- 
 played in the structure or disposition of the 
 seats ; but it has an advantage over many other 
 of the dissenting chapels in point of quiet and 
 retirement. The worshippers are neither dis- 
 turbed by the noise of rattling carriages nor 
 the clangor of bells, which, in the neighbour- 
 hood of some of the chapels, is a great nui- 
 sance. It is situated at the back of the Baptist 
 Chapel at the foot of Matthew street. 
 
 BAPTIST CHAPELS. 
 
 The first erected Chapel belonging to this 
 denomination of dissenters, is at the bottom of 
 Matthew-street and Stanley-street. It was built 
 nearly a century ago, and has little to recom- 
 mend it except its centrical situation. It has 
 no gallery, but would seem, from its height 
 and double row of windows, to have been ori- 
 ginally constructed with the design of having 
 one. Present minister, Mr. Abraham Webster 
 
PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 109 
 
 The second Baptist Chapel is in Byroui- 
 street, and has been built about 20 years. It 
 is a large, convenient and handsome place, ca- 
 pable of holding a thousand people, being gal- 
 leried all round. Its site is raised above the 
 level of the street, which gives it a great ad- 
 vantage over the one before-mentioned in point 
 of warmth and dryness. The congregation 
 which assemble here, formerly met in what is 
 now called St. Stephens, but that place, under 
 the popular talents of the late Mr. S. Medley, 
 becoming too small for them, the present house 
 was erected. There is a burying ground ad- 
 joining it, and a charity school supported chiefly 
 by the members of it. Present minister, Mr. 
 Richard Davies. 
 
 A third Baptist Chapel was erected about 
 seven years ago in Comus-street, not far from 
 St. Ann's Church. The congregation was for- 
 merly under the pastoral care of Mr. John 
 Johnson, a name not unknown in the religious 
 world, by reason of the singularity of his senti- 
 ments, which were of the Supralapsarian cast. 
 He was the author of two volumes of Discourses 
 and several smaller tracts, among which may be 
 mentioned a little piece entitled a the Advan- 
 tages and Disadvantages of the Married State," 
 which has obtained a very extensive circulation. 
 During the life of Mr. Johnson, this congrega- 
 
110 PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 tion met in the chapel at the bottom of Mat- 
 thew-street, already mentioned. Their new 
 place in Comus street is light, airy, retired and 
 pleasant, and indeed may be considered as a 
 model of neatness for dissenting places of wor- 
 ship. Present minister Mr. Stevenson. 
 
 The fourth and last erected chapel belonging 
 to this class t)f dissenters, is in Lime-street, a 
 little behind the Infirmary. It is considerably 
 larger than the one in Comus-street, though less 
 than that in Byrom-street, having a gallery on 
 three sides and being capable of seating about 
 500 persons. It was built about five years 
 ago, by a party that withdrew from the society 
 in Byrom- street, and cost about £2500. Pre- 
 sent Minister, Mr. James Lister. 
 
 METHODIST CHAPELS. 
 
 The first, or oldest of these, is in Mount 
 Pleasant; a plain, decent place, with galleries, 
 and capable of holding about 500 hearers. The 
 second is a newly erected house in Leeds-street, 
 near the canal, considerably larger than the 
 former, The third in Pitt- street, a still more 
 recent structure, and of increased dimensions, 
 is said to be capable of holding from three to 
 four thousand people. Besides these, there is 
 a fourth called Zion Chapel behind the Theatre, 
 Williamson-square, and one for the Welch Me- 
 
PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. ill 
 
 thodists in Edmund-street, and another in Blun- 
 dell-streel. None of these, however, possess 
 any decorations either external or internal, 
 entitling them to particular notice. 
 
 BEDFORD-STREET CHAPEL, 
 
 Tn the neighbourhood of St. James's, is a 
 newly-erected structure of considerable extent, 
 capable of holding 6 or 100 people. The con- 
 gregation which assembles here are denominated 
 Welch Methodists, by which is meant the 
 followers of Mr. Geo. Whitfield; and the wor- 
 ship is carried on in the language of the Princi- 
 pality. The building is of brick, and its interior 
 is simple and unadorned. 
 
 The FRIEND'S ofe QUAKER'S MEETING, 
 
 A place of worship of this description was 
 formerly on the west side of Hacken's-hey, but 
 though it still exists, it has been made no use 
 of for several years. Being found too small to 
 accommodate the increased society, a new 
 building has been erected on the north side of 
 Hunter's-street. The stranger who is disposed 
 to visit it, will find it correspond with the well 
 known peculiarities of the Sect. It will be in 
 vain for him to look for the steeple, the bells, 
 the Communion table, or even the pulpit and 
 desk. All is correspondent to the primitive 
 
112 PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 simplicity of the body, even the accommodat- 
 ing pew is prohibited, and the serviceable 
 bench or form is all it has to boast. — The place 
 is roomy, and the congregation large and 
 respectable. 
 
 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPELS. 
 
 The oldest of these is in Edmund street. It 
 was burnt down by the populace in 1746, but 
 was immediately after rebuilt. Has two Incum- 
 bents, Mr. N. Fisher, and Mr. W. Tarleton. 
 
 The second is in Seel-street, and is consider- 
 ably the largest. It was built in the year 1787, 
 by the present Incumbent, Mr. Archibald 
 M'Donald. Assistant Minister, Mr. W. Digby. 
 
 The third, is in Sir Thomas's buildings, was 
 built by Mr. Price, the present Minister, who is 
 assisted by Mr. Orre, a French Emigrant Priest. 
 
 The fourth is a small, neat Chapel, lately 
 erected, at St. Anthony's Place, Scotland Road. 
 Minister's name, J. B. A. Gerardot, A. M. 
 
 THE JEW's SYNAGOGUE 
 
 Was a small, obscure, upper room in Frede- 
 rick-street ; difficult of access, gloomy, and no 
 ways remarkable for its cleanliness: this place 
 formed a striking contrast to most of the Christi- 
 an places of worship, not to say the grandeur 
 which once adorned the Jewish Temple. A 
 
< 
 
 OS 
 
 M 
 
 S5 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 113 
 
 new and handsome Synagogue, fronted with 
 stone, is now built, near the upper end of 
 Seel-street : it is of the Ionic Order, and does 
 credit to that Sect. 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS 
 
 THE PUBLIC INFIRMARY. 
 
 This building is situate at Islington, on a 
 healthy, open, and pleasant spot, th€ top of 
 Shaw's Brow : it is a neat, brick building, orna- 
 mented with stone, and consists of three stories, 
 with large wards for the reception of patients, 
 and other necessary apartments. This burl ding,-- 
 by means of handsome colonades, connects 
 with two large wings, inclosing a spacious area, 
 by means of an elegant iron gate and railing, 
 with which they unite. On the top of the 
 building is a large, well finished turret, and in 
 the middle of the pediment a good clock. A 
 large useful garden, walled round, and kept in 
 good order, supplies the patients with esculent 
 and physical plants. The whole fabric has some 
 pretentions to external magnificence, extending 
 in front about 120 yards, and in depth 190, 
 inclosing about 2280 square yards. 
 
 v 2 
 
114 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 The design of this Infirmary was first formed 
 in 1745, when a subscription was opened by the 
 principal inhabitants of Liverpool, and some 
 neighbouring gentlemen, for erecting a building 
 for this purpose; and a well situated field was 
 given by Uie corporation for 999 years. The 
 building was completed the latter end of the 
 year 1748; and, on the 15th of March, 1749, 
 the house was opened for the admission of 
 patients. The first president was the Earl of 
 .Derby. The in patients amounted to 122, the 
 out patients to 72, and the expenses for the first 
 year to £o\9 15s 3 J. 
 
 In the year 1806 there were 1045 inpatients, 
 and 709 out-patients; but since the opening 
 of the house in 1749, till the 1st of January 
 1807, there have been admitted, 
 
 In patients . . . 36,856 
 Out ditto . . . 35,009 
 
 Total . 11,865 
 
 The whole expense, during the year 1806, 
 amounted to o£5000 1 4s 4d ; and the bene- 
 factions, added to a former balance in the 
 treasurer's hands, to <£9139 10s lid. 
 
 This establishment not only extends to all 
 proper objects in the town of Liverpool, but 
 to all manner of persons whom sickness or mis- 
 fortune may lead to apply for assistance, provkl- 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, H5 
 
 cd their cases be such as come within the 
 nature and meaning of the Institution, and are 
 recommended by a subscriber. It contains 
 about 200 beds, and receives about 1500 pati- 
 ents yearly ; in addition to which a great num- 
 ber of out patients are constantly relieved. It 
 is supported by an annual subscription of the 
 inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood. 
 Subscribers of two guineas recommend patients, 
 
 SEAMEN's HOSPITAL. 
 
 This Hospital forms part of the externa! 
 appearance of the Infirmary, the two wings of 
 which are applied to this purpose. The charity 
 is intended for the maintenance of decayed 
 seamen of the port of Liverpool, their wives 
 and children. It is principally supported by a 
 monthly allowance of sixpence, which every 
 seaman, sailing from the port, is, by act of 
 Parliament, to pay out of his wages. 
 
 The design of this Hospital was first formed 
 in the year 1747, but not carried into execution 
 till five years afterwards, when the commissio- 
 ners agreed with the trustees of the Infirmary 
 for the ground lying on the north side, on a 
 lease for 999 years, at the yearly rent of 20* 
 pounds; and built the preserit premises at the 
 expense of about £ 1500. Tins Hospital is 
 attached to the Infirmary by a handsome cola— 
 
 l 3 
 
116 FUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 nade, whereby the two charities are united, and 
 together compose a handsome building, which 
 cannot fail to attract the notice of the traveller 
 on his entrance into the town. 
 
 LUNATIC HOSPITAL. 
 
 This is behind, and contiguous to, the Infir- 
 mary. It is to be regretted that this, like other 
 public institutions, is not a complete charity, 
 to admit patients free of expense. This per- 
 haps will no where be fully obtained, till an 
 asylum is constructed upon a more extended 
 plan, fixed in a central part of the country, and 
 made an open general concern. As it is, the 
 affluent are conducted to private asylums; the 
 parish poor are sent hither at the parish ex- 
 pense ; whilst many of the middle rank are 
 deprived of proper assistance, in the most 
 dreadful malady human nature can suffer under 
 (and which admits of no domestic alleviation, 
 however affectionatly exerted) from an inability 
 to purchase it. Have the objects of these 
 institutions been properly considered? 
 
 BLUE COAT HOSPITAL. 
 
 This Hospital is situate on the south side of 
 St. Peter's church-yard, in an airy spot. It 
 made its first appearance in the year 1709, 
 under the name of a Charity School, for pro- 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 1 17 
 
 viding 40 boys and 10 girls with cloaths and 
 learning : it was then a small building, erected 
 by subscription,, and now forms a part of the 
 present Free School. The house is large and 
 handsome, built of brick, ornamented with 
 stone, enclosed with an iron gate and railing 
 that unites with two large and deep wings — the 
 whole forming a spacious area, which leads to 
 the front, in the pediment of which is a good 
 clock. On the entrance is a hall or vestibule, 
 and a large stair-case, leading to a convenient 
 room, which is used as a chapel, and sometimes 
 for other purposes. The apartments, are nume- 
 rous, convenient, and well-designed. Behind 
 the building is a large, commodious yard. 
 
 There are in this School 79 orphan children, 
 143 fatherless children, and 58 whose parents 
 are in indigent circumstances, making in the 
 whole 280; of which number 230 are boys, and 
 the remaining 50 are girls. They are com- 
 pletely clothed, lodged, and dieted.. The boys 
 are taught readings writing, and arithmetic, 
 and those intended for the sea are instructed in 
 navigation : the girls are taught reading, writings 
 sewing, spinning, knitting, and housewifery. All 
 the children are at school one half the day, and 
 at work the other half; the boys are principally 
 employed in making pins. Children are admit- 
 ted to this Hospital at eidit years of a^e, and 
 
118 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 put out apprentices at fourteen. Fifty trustees 
 are appointed to this charity, twelve of whom 
 make a board. They meet every quarter, viz, 
 the first Monday after Lady-day, Midsummer- 
 day, Michaelmas-day, and Christmas-day. 
 
 The expence of this Institution, during the 
 year 1806, amounted to ^2171. 17s. 5d. ex- 
 clusive of the sum of £989. 13s. 7d. expended 
 this year upon the repairs of the building, &c. 
 &c. — and the benefactiov s, annual subscrip- 
 tions, &c. only to d£2177. 1 3s. 
 
 THE POOR-HOUSE, 
 
 Is a handsome edifice, but built in a plain 
 stile, suitable to its use. The principal body 
 of the building consists of four stories in the 
 front; below is a hall, 90 feet long, and 24 
 wide, containing three ranges of tables, capable 
 of dining 400 persons at one time. Over this 
 are two heights of rooms for spinning and other 
 kind -of work. In the left wing is a spacious 
 well-finished room for the committee, proper 
 apartments for overseers, and other persons 
 employed to superintend the affairs of the house. 
 Behind, and a little detached from the main 
 body of the building, are two large wings, con- 
 sisting each of three covered ways, le, ding to 
 24 apartments, each of which has three rooms 
 that conveniently hold eight persons: in addition 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 119 
 
 to which is a spacious area, which lies open to 
 the west. The whole is neatly and convenient- 
 ly finished, at the expense of about o£8000. 
 
 THE RECOVERY WARD. 
 
 This is a newly erected, handsome stone build- 
 ing, on the east side of the Poor-house, built at 
 the expence of the parish, and with the humane 
 intention of receiving into it such persons, infect- 
 ed with fever, as may come under the cognizance 
 of the physicians and surgeons of the Dispensa- 
 ry, but who, from the unfavourableness of their 
 places of residence, are precluded the indispen- 
 sable advantages of a pure air and cleanliness. 
 Patients of this description are but too frequent- 
 ly found in the cellars, and other confined parts 
 of the town ; and for their relief the present 
 establishment has been devised. It is admirably 
 situated for the purpose, on a rising ground, 
 unconnected with dwelling houses, where the 
 purest air may be inhaled, and every succour 
 afforded which the hand of charity can extend, 
 or the indigent and friendless sufferer desire. 
 
 THE ALMS-HOUSES. 
 
 Almost adjoining the poor-house, have a veiy 
 neat appearance, terminating at each extremity 
 by two wings. In the front is a neat area.™ 
 
120 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 
 
 The whole is a very comfortable receptacle for 
 such indigent persons whose condition of life 
 may compel them to the necessity of partaking 
 of its benefits. 
 
 These asylums of poverty and old age were 
 formerly distributed in different parts of the 
 town, but becoming in a state of decay, they 
 were all pulled down, and these very commodi- 
 ous ones erected in their stead, where the poor 
 inhabitants have the benefit of pure air. 
 
 THE DISPENSARY. 
 
 The building erected for this laudable pur- 
 pose is in Church street, and is a decent, eli- 
 gible brick building, with a convenient circular 
 portico. In the front is a small bas-relief of the 
 good Samaritan, well exeeuted> but placed too 
 high to gratify the inspecting eye of the obser- 
 ver. 
 
 This charity is conducted by a president, two 
 auditors, seven physicians, three surgeons, and 
 one apothecary who officiates as secretary. — 
 The proper objects of the Dispensary are such 
 poor as are admitted on the recommendation of 
 the magistrates, the clergy,.the church-wardens, 
 the parish committee, or on that of any sub- 
 scriber. 
 
 The directors of this charity judiciously dis- 
 criminate the objects recommended for relief* 
 
TUBLIC BUILDINGS. 121 
 
 and therefore never admit any person who is 
 able to pay for medicines, nor are domestic ser- 
 vants v sited at the houses of their masters or 
 mistresses. 
 
 Two physicians attend every day, Sunday 
 excepted, one at nine, and another at eleven ; 
 a surgeon also attends at ten in the morning. — 
 One of these, or the apothecary, regularly vi- 
 sits such sick poor at their own dwellings as 
 cannot come to the dispensary ; and one of the 
 surgeons occasionally assists the parish mid- 
 wives when requested. 
 
 There is no charity in Liverpool that does 
 greater honour to the feelings of the inhabitants, 
 than the dispensary. There are 500 subcnbers, 
 whose annual contributions amount to about 
 7001. ; in addition to which it receives the col- 
 lections of several societies, and frequent bene- 
 factions and legacies, whereby it is enabled not 
 only to" support the necessary demands of the 
 charity, but also to have a yearly balance in the 
 hands of the treasurer. 
 
 The total expenditure of this institution, in 
 the year 1806, was c£.929. 7s. while the in- 
 come by subscriptions, benefactions, legacies, 
 &c. amounted to £ 1751. £s. leaving a balance, 
 in favor of this excellent institution, of £s 2 1 15s. 
 
 There cannot be a greater proof of the utility 
 of this establishment to the town, and the relief 
 
122 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 it has given, and still continues to give to the 
 afflicted indigent, than the number which have 
 been annually benefited since its institution in 
 the year i 778, amounting, on an average, to 
 nearly 10,000 diseased and afflicted objects 
 every year. In the year 1806, the number of 
 persons relieved of various diseases amounted 
 to 10,242. 
 
 SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY 
 
 FOR. 
 
 THE INDIGENT BLIND. 
 
 There is, perhaps, no class of human beings 
 whose situation appears, at first view, more de- 
 plorable and irremediable than that of the Blind 
 Poor. Cut off from every means of occupation 
 and amusement, their faculties become torpid 
 and inactive. Those with whom they are com- 
 pelled to associate, are unable to supply their 
 minds with sources either of information or 
 comfort; and during that portion of their time 
 which they are condemned to pass in solitude, 
 they are left to dwell upon the reflection, that, 
 through the whole of their existence, they must 
 remain in their present helpless state — a burden 
 to themselves and to their relations. Ii remain- 
 ed for the present period to discover a remedy 
 for this evil. The hand of benevolence, guided 
 by the suggestions of ingenuity, has at length 
 
o 
 
 H 
 
 e 
 
 w 
 
 s 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 123 
 
 succeeded in rendering these unfortunate objects 
 no longer burdensome to society — has enabled 
 them to become useful and happy — and has, in 
 short, opened the eyes of the blind. 
 
 About sixteen years have now elapsed since 
 an attempt was made to afford relief to those 
 persons who were labouring under the compli- 
 cated misfortunes of poverty and blindness, by 
 forming an institution where they might be 
 cheered by conversation, and where, by bein^ 
 engaged in different occupations, their minds 
 misdit be relieved from the fatigue of inactivity. 
 This object was attained without difficulty ; but 
 after die experience of a few years, and when 
 the establishment had in a greater degree en- 
 gaged the public attention, the committee 
 gradually extended their views with respect to 
 the objects under their care, and endeavoured 
 to convert the institution from an asylum, where 
 the present ease and comfort of the blind were 
 principally considered, into a school, where 
 they might be instructed in some useful art or 
 trade ; by which they might be enabled, alto- 
 gether or in part, to procure for themselves a 
 comfortable livelihood. 
 
 It has been for some time a matter of dispute, 
 to whom the honor of originally projecting this 
 beneficent Institution really belongs. Nor will 
 the reader wonder at this, for when its utility 
 
124 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 is duly appreciated, what was the birth place of 
 Homer, for which the seven cities of Greece 
 contended in comparison of it? The question 
 is, we believe, now at issue between two indivi- 
 duals, viz, Mr. Henry Darmett, a clergyman of 
 the Episcopal Church, and Mr. John Christie, 
 a music master. We have seen and considered 
 the evidence on both sides this question, and 
 are decidedly of opinion the claims of the latter 
 are best supported. We shall, therefore, state 
 the grounds on which they are founded. 
 
 Mr. John Christie, at the age of nineteen, 
 had the misfortune to be totally deprived of his 
 sight; a circumstance which obliged him to 
 turn his attention to the study of music, of 
 which he soon became an eminent teacher. 
 Impressed with a due sense of the salutary 
 advantages he himself derived from a profes- 
 sion, which enabled him to support, with com- 
 fort, the dreary hours of dark existence, he was 
 induced to promulgate a plan he had devised 
 for instructing those who laboured under the 
 same melancholy circumstance. On the 22d 
 September, 1790, he communicated his plan 
 by letter, of which the following is a copy, 
 addressed to Mr. Alanson, a gentleman not 
 less celebrated for his surgical skill than for 
 his active benevolence and urbanity. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 125 
 
 Liverpool, 22d Sept. 1790. 
 Sir, 
 
 The loss of sight, particularly to those who 
 well remember its enjoyment, is perhaps the most severe 
 calamity that can befal a human being ! But if, to this 
 calamity, be added pecuniary distress ; and to both, the 
 consciousness of being burdensome to parents, to relatives, 
 or to friends : these? united, are liich a load of woe as 
 cannot be borne by an ingenuous mind, without those 
 painful fenfations of which words are inadequate to con- 
 vey a competent idea. To alleviate those painful sensa- 
 tions, to lighten that burden under which, I am persuaded, 
 many of my fellow unfortunates at this moment labour, 
 has lately employed my attention ; and, with aii due de- 
 ference to better judgment, I humbly imagine I have hit 
 upon an expedient, which, by enabling the indigent 
 blind to procure a comfortable maintenance by their own 
 exertions, would, in a great measure, produce the above 
 desirable effect. 
 
 The profession of music is almost the only 
 one in which the blind have any tolerable probability of 
 succeeding ; but as penury is too often concomitant on 
 blindness, it has happened, not unfrequentlv* that people, 
 in this unfortunate situation, have been prevented from 
 acquiring a knowledge of music by the inability of them- 
 selves or their connexions, to defray even the, necessary 
 expense of instruction. This, you know, was exactly 
 our case,* till the kind hand of benevolence enabled us to 
 proceed. To afford, therefore, a gratuitous instruction 
 on the harpsichord, violin, &c. to the indigent blind of 
 both sexes, in and about Liverpool, is, in a few words, 
 the outline of my plan. Let a few leading gentlemen 
 give a fanclion to the undertaking, for, without that, I 
 fear nothing can be done, — let a room be appropriated 
 to this use in some of our public buildings, — let a small 
 subscription be obtained for the purpose of procuring a 
 few necessary instruments ; and the blessings alluded to 
 would in a great measure be effected. 
 
 Myself, my brother, and, I have no doubt, 
 many more who follow the profession, would, with plea- 
 sure, attend at certain stated periods, in order to instruct 
 
 * Mr. Christie's brother was also deprived of sight, 
 
 M 2 
 
126 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 
 
 those pupils only whom the voice of the subscribers should 
 have regularly admitted, f. 
 
 Thus, Sir, at a moderate expense, the helpless 
 and broken spirited would be enabled to struggle through 
 a dark existence, with some degree of comfort to them- 
 selves, and with satisfaction to the benevolent. Liverpool 
 is already remarkable for the number of its humane insti- 
 tutions ; and as it is the intention of such institutions to 
 assist, protect, and cheer the wretched, surely something 
 v i this nature might be established for an unfortunate 
 description of people, who, with a will to be industrious, 
 are, by bodily misfortunes, and the chilling hand of 
 poverty, too often prevented from being so, 
 
 I am, with great respect, 
 
 JOHN CHRISTIE. 
 To Mr. Alans on, Surgeon , Evert on. 
 
 The result of this letter was a consultation 
 among a few gentlemen of benevolent disposi- 
 tions^ and, in a short time, a house was occupied 
 for the purpose, inCommutation-row ; Islington, 
 where the design, which was progressively 
 improved, was carried into effect. Besides the 
 science of music, it was proposed that attempts 
 should be made to instruct this unfortunate class 
 of persons in various other arts and manufac- 
 tures. In so novel an undertaking, however, 
 it might naturally be expected, that a consider- 
 able period of time must elapse before the plan 
 could arrive at maturity. Many unsuccessful 
 experiments would necessarily be made, and 
 both time and expense would, not improbably, 
 
 f Mr. Christie was mistaken in this instance, for all the 
 muiical teachers then in Liverpool refused their assistance. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 127 
 
 be lost in the attempt to accomplish objects, 
 which were after all found to be unattainable. 
 Some manufactures that were conceived to be 
 particularly adapted to the management of per- 
 sons deprived of sight, were, upon trial, found 
 to be less advantageous than was expected, and 
 were at length abandoned. It also happened, 
 in a few cases, that persons who have been 
 admitted into the school, have, in consequence 
 of bodily or mental incapacity, depending pro- 
 bably upon the same cause which produced 
 their blindness, been unable to receive any use- 
 ful instruction, and were under the necessity of 
 returning to their friends. Notwithstanding, 
 however, the occurrence of some circumstances 
 of this nature, it may be confidently asserted, 
 that the present state of the Institution is highly 
 gratifying to the friends of humanity, and that 
 it has produced more real service to those per- 
 sons who have been the objects of its care, 
 than <;ouid reasonably have been predicted. 
 
 The number of blind persons who have been 
 received into the charity, since its institution in 
 1 79 1^ is 20,3; of which number only about one 
 third have belonged to Liverpool, Of 75 pupils 
 now in the school, 23 only belong to the parish 
 of Liverpool; and of the remaining 32, 22 only 
 belong to the county of Lancaster. 
 
 The success which attended this Institution, 
 
 M o 
 
128 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 even in its infancy, stimulated its friends to 
 still greater exertions in the cause of humanity, 
 and it was accordingly resolved to erect a new 
 building, which has happily been accomplished. 
 At the entrance into the town, on the road 
 leading from Prescot, on the left, and a little 
 10 the east of the Infirmary, a piece of ground 
 was purchased, and a handsome stone building 
 erected, which obtained the name of The 
 School for the Blind. Upon the ground 
 floor, on the right hand of the entrance, is a shop 
 or ware room, where the articles manufactured 
 by the pupils are stored and offered for sale, 
 with apartments also for the master or steward. 
 On the opposite side is a large room, in which 
 the male pupils are instructed in the different 
 articles of manufacture: over it is the apartment 
 of the females, and adjoining to it a furnished 
 room, in which is a handsome and well-toned 
 organ, the gift of the Rev. John Yates to the 
 Institution. Of the hapless inhabitants of this 
 Institution, several, both male and female, pos* 
 sess considerable command of voice, and many a 
 sympathetic tear is excited by the vocal chorusses 
 which are daily performed, the effect of which 
 is not a little heightened by the accompani- 
 ment of the organ. The following stanzas were 
 composed by Mr. W. Smythe, a native of the 
 town, and deserve a place in this publication. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 129 
 
 Stranger, pause — for thee the day 
 Smiling pours its cheerful ray, 
 Spreads the lawn and rears the bower, 
 Lights the stream, and paints the flower. 
 
 Stranger, pause — with soften'd mind 
 Learn the sorrows of the blind ; 
 Earth, and seas, and varying skies, 
 Visit not their cheerless eyes. 
 
 Not for them the bliss to trace 
 The chissel's animating grace ; 
 Nor on the glowing canvas find 
 The poet's soul, the sage's mind. 
 
 Not for them the heart is seen 
 Speaking thro' th' expressive mien ;.. 
 Not for them are pictured there 
 Friendship, pity, love sincere. 
 
 Helpless as they slowly stray, 
 Childhood points their cheerless way % 
 Or the wand exploring guides 
 Falt'ring steps, where fear presides. 
 
 Yet for them has genius kind 
 Humble pleasures here assigned \ 
 Here with unexpected ray, 
 Reach' d the soul that felt no day. 
 
 Lonely blindness here can meet 
 Kindred woes, and converse sweet \ 
 Torpid once, can learn to smile 
 Proudly o'er its useful toil.. 
 
 He who deign'd for man to die, 
 Op'd on day the darken'd eye ; 
 Humbly copy — thou canst feel— 
 Give thine alms — thouj:anst not heaL 
 
130 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 The reader, probably, will not be displeased 
 at being here presented with the following sim- 
 ple and beautiful stanzas, which have been still 
 more recently composed, by another of our 
 townsmen, who took a lively interest in this 
 Institution at its outset, and whose best wishes 
 have always attended it. At the time they 
 were written the author was personally labouring 
 under the total loss of sight, a blessing of which 
 he had been almost thirty years deprived; but 
 which, with great pleasure we add, has been 
 partly restored to him through the skilful opera- 
 tion of Mr. Gibson, of Manchester. 
 
 THE SORROWS OF BLINDNESS. 
 
 (By Mr. Edw. Rushton 9 bookseller*) 
 
 Ah, think, if June's delicious rays 
 
 The eye of sorrow can illume, 
 Or wild December's beamless days, 
 
 Can fling o'er all a transient gloom ; 
 Ah, think, if skies obscure or bright, 
 
 Can thus depress or chear the mind ; 
 Ah, think, mid clouds of utter night 
 
 What mournful moments wait the blind. 
 
 And who can tell his cause for woe ? 
 
 To love the wife he ne'er must see — 
 To be a sire yet not to know 
 
 The silent babe that climbs his knee — 
 To have his feelings daily torn, 
 
 With pain the passing meal to find- 
 To live distressed, and die forlorn, 
 
 Are ills that oft await the blind. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 131 
 
 If to the breezy uplands Jed, 
 
 At noon, or blushing eve, or morn, 
 He hears the red-bfeast o'er his head, 
 
 While round hirn breathes the scented thorn; 
 But, ah! instead of nature's face, 
 
 Hills, dales, and woods, and streams combin'd, 
 Instead of tints, and forms, and grace, 
 
 .Night's blackest mantle shrouds the blind. 
 
 If rosy youth bereft of sight. 
 
 Midst countless thousands pines unblest> 
 As the gay fiow'r withdrawn from light 
 
 Bows to that earth where all must rest ; 
 Ah ! think, when life's declining hours 
 
 To chilling pen'ry are consign'd, 
 And pain has palsied all his pow'rs, 
 
 Ah ! think, what woes await the blind 1 
 
 The principal occupations of the pupils, at 
 present, are spinning, hamper and basket 
 making, the plaiting of sashline, the weaving of 
 floor cloth and sacking, the making of sacks 
 and list shoes, the manufacturing of foot-bears, 
 points, and gaskets from c!d ropes, and the 
 learning of music. In this last department, the 
 attention of the committee is principally directed 
 to qualify the pupils for the office of organists, 
 and they have so far succeeded, as to have 
 already procured appointments of this kind for 
 six of the youn<£ men who have been educated 
 at the school. Four of these are fixed at dif- 
 ferent cli inches in Liverpool; one has been 
 
132. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 appointed organist at HalsaH, near Ormskirk, 
 since the year 1797 ; and "another, since the 
 year 1793, at Garstang, in this county. One 
 of the four above-mentioned was settled at 
 Sedgefield, in Durham, but has since removed 
 to Liverpool. The pupils are also instructed in 
 the method of teaching music to others, and in 
 tuning, quiiling, and stringing musical instru- 
 ments — by these means four young men, besides 
 the six who are organists, are enabled to procure 
 for themselves a comfortable livelihood, and 
 have met with very considerable encouragement. 
 Hitherto the sole object of the governors has 
 been to provide the pupils with a school, where 
 they might spend a certain number of hours 
 daily, and receive instruction in their several 
 trades. A further extension of the scheme has, 
 however, been some time in contemplation, and 
 every year brings fresh proofs of the importance 
 of carrying it into execution. The pupils are 
 at present lodged in different houses near the 
 school, and although every care is taken to pro- 
 vide them with suitable accommodations, yet 
 it is found, on many accounts, desirable to have 
 them more under the immediate inspection of 
 the governors. — A plan has been accordingly 
 formed for erecting additional buildings con- 
 nected with the present school, in which those 
 pupils whose friends do not reside in Liverpool 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 133 
 
 shall be lodged. The reasons for adopting this 
 measure will, upon a little reflection, be suffi- 
 ciently obvious; and it will be also evident, 
 that the projected improvement is particularly 
 desirable for the younger part of the scholars, 
 who are in every respect the most eligible 
 objects of the Institution. 
 
 At present, after the hours of working are 
 concluded, the pupils leave the school, and, 
 during the remainder of the evening, they are 
 entirely removed from the iuspection of the 
 superintendant. Such a freedom from restraint 
 must be dangerous to the morals of young 
 persons, separated from their friends and natural 
 connexions, and placed in the middle of a large 
 and populous town. The friends of the Insti- 
 tution, indeed, have to regret that, in a few 
 instances, they are but too well convinced of 
 the evils which have arisen from the present 
 imperfect system, and, on this account, feel 
 particularly anxious that no time be lost in 
 carrying into effect those measures which can 
 alone prevent the repetition of such evils. 
 
 With the view of counteracting this evil, and 
 of giving to so excellent an Institution all those 
 salutary effects of which it is capable, a large 
 lot of ground has been purchased contiguous 
 to the present school, and additional buildings 
 are now erecting and in a state of forwardness. 
 
134 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 One wing, fronting Duncan-street, 172 feet in 
 length, and two heights of flooring, besides 
 the ground floor, are now nearly compleated. 
 The whole is divided into separate apartments, 
 suitable for the purposes of both working, eating, 
 and sleeping, and are expected to be tenantable 
 by the close of the present year. The building 
 now erecting, however, is only a part of the 
 plan which the friends of the Institution have 
 in contemplation. An additional wing running 
 from east to west, and fronting Great Nelson- 
 street, will immediately succeed, which will be 
 appropriated to purposes similar to the former, 
 and the plan is to be completed by accommo- 
 dations for a rope-walk on the west side of the 
 square, over which will be erected warehouse 
 rooms, &c. equal in extent to the wing fronting 
 Duncan street. The centre of the whole wilt 
 be an open area of considerable extent calcu- 
 lated to afford the pupils the means of exercise 
 and health. When finished, the Institution 
 will admit a much greater number of pupils 
 than heretofore, which, as we have already said, 
 has been limited to 75 in number. It is obvious, 
 that buildings of this extent require ample funds 
 to carry them into effect; but it must give plea^ 
 sure to every benevolent mind to find from the 
 following statement, which is copied from the 
 printed report of the school, on the 31st Dec. 
 Lso6 : , thai the means are also ample. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS* 135 
 
 Before, however, we proceed to state the 
 receipt and expenditure of this truly laudable 
 institution, so honorable to its patrons and sup- 
 porters, it may not be amiss to mention, as a 
 circumstance highly creditable to our benevo- 
 lent townsman, Mr. John Christie, the projector 
 of the Charity, an admirable contrivance for 
 instructing the Blind in the science of music. 
 He has given it the name of a Thcograph, by 
 means of which they are enabled not only to, 
 read, but, if they have a taste for composition, 
 to set their own music in tangible characters. 
 In form it resembles a music-book, and is to the 
 Blind what a book is to those who have sight, 
 The first side consists of a cushion, on which 
 the music is to be set. It is divided by eighteen 
 parallel lines, each line being represented by 
 two brass strings, between which the pin should 
 pass when a note is to be placed on a line, to 
 prevent mistakes, which would frequently hap- 
 pen if the lines were single. Some of these 
 lines are plain, others twisted. — The second 
 side represents a cushion, divided into sixteen 
 squares, in which are placed the characters; six 
 made of cork or leather, six of card- paper a 
 little smaller, and four pins headed with sealing 
 wax. The notes are represented by characters 
 made of cork; the marks chiefly by wax-headed 
 pins, and their combinations with corks; and the 
 
 N 
 
136 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 terms by the card-paper characters, and their 
 combinations with wax-headed pins. 
 
 To enter into a more particular description 
 of this ingenious invention would exceed our 
 present limits ; but the reader who wishes a 
 more detailed account of it, we beg leave to refer 
 to the article Blind, in the Encyclopaedia 
 Londinensis, where he will also find an engrav- 
 ing giving an exact representation of it, accom- 
 panied by an explanation furnished to that 
 work by the inventor. 
 
 State of the School for the Blind, on the 
 
 31st December, 1806. 
 
 £• s. a* 
 
 By Balance of Stock Account, - - 652 2 5 
 Sundry Debtors for Goods delivered and 
 
 owing for, - - - . 2S9 15 of 
 
 soool. 3 per cent, consols — cost - 1178 14 o 
 Balance of Cash in the hands of Wm. 
 
 Coupland* Esq Treasurer, - 2247 7 11 
 
 Ditto ditto of Joseph Brand, Clerk, 155 10 il£ 
 
 £4493 JO 4{ 
 
 The annual subscriptions for the year lbo6 
 were — 
 
 £• s, d. 
 
 In Liverpool, 596 14 6 
 
 the Country, 448 5 6 
 
 e£l045 
 To many readers the following article, which 
 exhibits a view of the Stock account for the 
 year 1806, will be interesting — 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
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338 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 
 
 INSTITUTION 
 
 FOR 
 
 RESTORING DROWNED PERSONS. 
 
 Drowning is an accident so frequent here, as to 
 render this Institution very necessary. Above 
 500 persons have become objects of it since its 
 institution, in 1775; more than one half of 
 whom have been restored. This extraordinary 
 success has happened from the ready assistance 
 which is always at hand about the docks and on 
 the river. A guinea is given to those who lake 
 up a body, if it be afterwards restored to life; 
 if not restored, half-a-guinea. It is at the 
 Corporation's expence. Long poles, with hooks 
 at the ends, are dispersed in different places 
 about the docks, for the purpose of dragging 
 for those persons who fall in. 
 
 THE LADIES' CHARITY. 
 
 This last, although not least valuable, of the 
 public charities which adorn the town, was long 
 in contemplation, but was only effected in 1796. 
 Its intention is the delivery and relief of poor 
 married women, in child-bed, at their own 
 homes; a mode that proves to have many 
 advantages over a public hospital. — Proper 
 assistants, male and female, are appointed ; the 
 former affording their services without gratuity; 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 189 
 
 as also a matron, to provide every necessary of 
 food, &e. that may be wanted; by which means 
 the poor and their offspring are rescued from 
 the injuries arising from improper treatment; 
 and are restored and preserved, with comfort to 
 themselves, to that society from which many in 
 this trying situation, have been severed by 
 ignorance and want. The charity is under the 
 patronage and chief support of ladies of the 
 first respectability, with a lady patroness at their 
 head; and the accounts necessarily conducted 
 by a committee of gentlemen. It is supported 
 by annual subscription, and by other gratuitous 
 benefactions and contributions; and its various 
 comforts have already been sensibly felt. 
 
 In the year 1806,, ending 3 1st December, 1025 
 poor women had been delivered and comfort- 
 ably relieved, and their infant children partially 
 clothed, at the expence of only £94:6 12s 5d; 
 (in one instance only, in which the poor creature 
 had been previously subjected to fits, professio- 
 nal knowledge and tender assiduity were exerted 
 in vain,) which best explains the comforts and 
 extent, independent of the benefit to society, 
 with which the Institution is fraught ; and far 
 exceed that of any of the public charities in 
 the kingdom, in proportion to the expence 
 attending them; circumstances that gradually* 
 continue to add to its extension and support. 
 
 N 3 
 
140 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 
 
 Most medical charities would admit of consi- 
 derable curtailments in their expences, without 
 a diminution of their benefits, were a proper 
 regard to economy attended to; which, while 
 it would relieve the public burden, would tend 
 to embrace a greater number of objects; as is 
 fully evinced in the present instance. 
 
 The following table exhibits a succinct view of 
 the state of this Charity for eleven years past : 
 
 
 Amount 
 
 of 
 
 
 
 
 
 Number 
 
 
 Annual Sub' 
 
 Legacies 
 
 and 
 
 Produce 
 
 of 
 
 ef Objects 
 
 Tear. 
 
 scriptions. 
 
 
 Benefactions* 
 
 Ladies Ball. 
 
 relieved* 
 
 
 Z. S. 
 
 D 
 
 Z. S. 
 
 Z>. 
 
 Z. S. 
 
 D. 
 
 
 1796 
 
 205 5 
 
 6 
 
 209 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 126 
 
 1797 
 
 218 18 
 
 6 
 
 27 16 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 411 
 
 1798 
 
 256 14 
 
 6 
 
 48 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 483 
 
 1799 
 
 290 17 
 
 
 
 101 19 
 
 6 
 
 61 13 
 
 6 
 
 621 
 
 J 800 
 
 385 17 
 
 6 
 
 537 10 
 
 
 
 230 4 
 
 6 
 
 954 
 
 1801 
 
 442 1 
 
 
 
 6i 3 
 
 10 
 
 187 16 
 
 6 
 
 864 
 
 1802 
 
 508 14 
 
 6 
 
 132 9 
 
 
 
 238 16 
 
 6 
 
 1040 
 
 J 803 
 
 520 5 
 
 6 
 
 145 1 
 
 
 
 183 16 
 
 6 
 
 996 
 
 1804 j 508 1 
 
 6 
 
 198 12 
 
 6 
 
 161 15 
 
 6 
 
 968 
 
 3 805 540 4 
 
 6 
 
 80 17 
 
 6 
 
 141 9 
 
 6 
 
 952 
 
 1806 ! 509 13 
 
 6 
 
 87 12 
 
 
 
 166 7 
 
 
 
 1025 
 
 Total 4386 13 
 
 6 | 1630 11 
 
 10 
 
 1374 19 
 
 6f 
 
 8440 
 
 We perceive, with regret, from the last 
 printed annual report of this invaluable Insti- 
 tution, that its funds are by no means in so 
 flourishing a state as could be wished, and shall 
 be happy if this notice tends, in any small 
 degree, to improve them. 
 
-&■ + 
 
 
 yi^jtyLi* 
 
 J^C Sa&. /ffuA*^ /<PJ6 - 
 
 / 
 
o 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 141 
 
 THE EXCHANGE, or TOWN-HALL. 
 
 This large and elegant pile of building is 
 situated at the head of Castle-street, on an 
 elevated and convenient part of the town, and 
 is insulated by wide handsome streets on the 
 south, east, and west points, and by a spacious 
 quadrangle, forming the Exchange buildings, 
 on the north. 
 
 It was erected by the Corporation of Liver- 
 pool, about the year 1750, from designs of the 
 late Mr. Wood, of Bath, in a rich style of 
 architecture. The ground floor was intended 
 as an Exchange, for the accommodation of the 
 merchants, with insurance offices adjoining, 
 tut was not used for this purpose, the merchants 
 prefer ing to meet in the open street opposite 
 the building; the principal story contained a 
 Sessions Room, Rotation Office, and a suite of 
 small Assembly Rooms. 
 
 A considerable addition was made to this 
 building, on the north side, some years ago, 
 and great progress was made in extending and 
 improving the rooms and offices within the 
 building, when the whole of the interior was 
 destroyed by fire in the year 179o. 
 
 In consequence of this destructive accident, 
 the Corporation determined to rebuild the inte- 
 rior upon a new and extended plan, and to 
 appropriate the whole of the building to the 
 
142 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 purpose of judicial and other offices for the 
 police of the town, for a mansion for the Mayor, 
 a suite of public Assembly Rooms, and for 
 offices for the general Corporation business. — 
 All the offices, rooms, and passages, on the 
 basement and ground stories are arched with 
 brick, as a security against any future fire, and 
 the whole is now nearly finished. 
 
 The Basement contains a spacious kitchen, 
 with every other requisite and appropriate of- 
 fice — the ground story, on the south side, con- 
 sists of a handsome entrance hall leading to a 
 noble flight of stairs, a Committee room, and 
 a private room for the Mayor, on the east side, 
 a, vestibule, rooms for the magistrates and juries, 
 and the town- clerk's offices — on the south side, 
 an entrance hall, leading to the Town-Hall, or 
 general Sessions room and to the Rotation of- 
 fice, and on the east side the Treasurer's and 
 Surveyor's offices, &c. 
 
 The principal story contains a grand suite of 
 rooms communicating with each other, and 
 consists of a Saloon, 30 feet by 26 — a drawing 
 room 33 feet by 28 — a bail room 90 feet by 42 
 — a second ball room 68 feet by 30 — a card 
 room 32 feet by 26, a tea room 35 by 22 — and 
 eating room 50 by 30. — All of these rooms 
 are of proportional heights, and are now finish- 
 ing in the highest style of elegance. 
 
1 
 
 K 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 143 
 
 EXCHANGE BUILDINGS. 
 
 This extensive range of buildings, erecting 
 by subscription, under the authority of an act of 
 Parliament obtained for the purpose, forms 
 three sides of a quadrangle 194 feet by 180 in 
 the clear space, with Arcades or Piazzas in 
 front, and is in a style of architecture, corres- 
 ponding with the north front of the Town Hall, 
 which forms the fourth side of the square. — 
 The east side of these buildings on the ground 
 floor contains a Coffee room 94 feet by 52, with 
 appropriate rooms and offices for the keeper, 
 &c. On the second story over the Coffee room 
 is intended a room for the Underwriters (upon 
 the principle of Lloyd's in London) 72 feet by 
 36 — a second room 69 feet by 29, with several 
 other rooms attached to them. The north and 
 west sides of these buildings were intended for 
 Brokers and Merchant's offices and Accompt- 
 ■ing houses. The subscription shares to these 
 buildings were 800 of 100 pounds each. ISo 
 subscriber being allowed to have more than ten 
 shares in one name. The elegant magnificence 
 of these buildings will be allowed by every be- 
 holder to be very creditable to the town, and 
 corresponding with its opulence and commercial 
 importance. 
 
 It has been regretted by many, that the Old 
 Exchange was net taken down immediately 
 
Liiverj? o. ©x» ISjbtw ^^C:HJssGsaBfvnnaN&9 . 
 
144 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 after the late Fire., and that a New Exchange 
 and Buildings were not built on one side of 
 the main street near the present sate, or per- 
 haps better on the scite of the Old Dock, being 
 a much more central situation for the whole 
 town. From the great extent of this town 
 southwardly., and the many large streets termin- 
 ating in the Old Dock, which occasions a very 
 circuitous intercourse to foot passengers, and 
 great interruption to Commerce by Carting, 
 &c, added to the many accidents happening by 
 drowning, &c. and above all, the annoyance 
 of bad air caused by so much stagnant and fil- 
 thy water lying in the very centre of the town, 
 s& highly prejudicial to the inhabitants in ge- 
 neral and particularly so to them inhabiting the 
 -vicinity, — it has been represented by the Phy- 
 sicians to the Body Corporate, and they have 
 it in contemplation, and it is said to be deter- 
 mined upon that, as soon as they have enlarged 
 and widened the Kings' and Queens' Dock, 
 now in hand, so as to obtain sufficient accommo- 
 dation for shipping; this Old Dock shall be 
 filled up and laid open for Market places and 
 other public accommodations. On this plan a 
 grand street of 60 to 100 feet wide, and two 
 miles long could be run the whole length of 
 the town from north to south nearly in a straight 
 line, which would greatly add to the beauty 
 and also contribute to the health of the inha- 
 
5Z, 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 145 
 
 bitants, by promoting a ventilation through the 
 whole length of it. 
 
 ATHENiEUM. 
 
 This institution, which comprises a News- 
 Room and Library, was projected in the year 
 
 1798, and the building finished before the close 
 of the year. It is situated on the south side of 
 Church-street, a few yards above the Post-of- 
 fice and the Dispensary, and is a handsome 
 stone building. The Coffee Room which com- 
 prises the ground floor to which you ascend by 
 a flight of about half a dozen steps, is about 
 1200 square feet in extent. Here the subscri- 
 bers, about 450 in number, are supplied with 
 the London and Provincial newspapers, the 
 shipping and trade lists, and the various peri- 
 odical publications. The room is also furnish- 
 ed with maps, charts, 8cc. &c. for the conve- 
 nient reference of the merchants. The Coffee 
 Room was first opened on the first January, 
 
 1799, and the Library on the first July follow- 
 ing. This latter is over the Coffee Room, of a 
 narrower base but greater elevation. It is 
 lighted from above, but, as some think, very 
 injudiciously — The sky-light is raised above the 
 roof of the building and covered at the top, so 
 that the light, which is admitted only at the sides 
 ©f the windows, is by no means adequate to the 
 
146 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 size of the rooms, and necessarily occasions a 
 gloom even at mid-day. The object intended in 
 thus constructing the sky-light, was, no doubt/ 
 to prevent the frequenters of the Library from 
 being disturbed by the battering of hall or rain 
 upon its summit, but this advantage is ill com- 
 pensated by the gloom which is necessarily 
 imposed upon the reader's spirits by the want 
 of light. The collection of books, which 
 hitherto have not been allowed to circulate, 
 will be found very extensive, but a considerable 
 proportion can only be regarded as books of 
 reference which, though not adapted to the use 
 of the generality of readers, it is very proper 
 should make a part of one public Library in 
 such an opulent and extensive town as Liverpool. 
 
 There is a Committee Room adjoining the 
 Library and apartments for the accommodation 
 of the Librarian, The building was erected at 
 the expense of 44001 The original price of 
 the shares was ten guineas each, but after 300 
 subscribers had been obtained, the price of the 
 shares was raised to 20 guineas, and afterwards 
 to 30, at which the subscription closed. Each 
 subscriber pays annually the sum of two 
 guineas, making an annual income of nine 
 hundred guineas. 
 
 Every subscriber is allowed the privilege of 
 introducing his friend, provided ha be a non- 
 
s 
 
 o 
 © 
 
 % 
 
 53 
 53 
 
 O 
 
 I— i 
 
 55 
 P 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 147 
 
 resident of the town, on entering his name in a 
 book which is kept for that purpose, and gentle- 
 men may be accommodated by the master of 
 the room with coffee and tea, or soup in the 
 winter season. 
 
 THE UNION NEWS ROOM. 
 
 So named from its being instituted on the 
 1st of January, 1 801, the day on which the union 
 of the two kingdoms of England and Ireland 
 took place, was built by public subscription, at 
 an expence of between five and six thousand 
 pounds. 
 
 It is situated about the middle of Duke-street, 
 on the east side, is a neat, plain, stone building, 
 and consists of a coffee room 46 feet wide by 
 49 feet deep, including the two recesses, which 
 are 1 7 feet square, and from floor to ceiling it 
 is 18 feet high ; at the front of each recess are 
 two large columns and two pilasters, with the 
 entablature of the Ionic order. These columns 
 have a very grand appearance from the front 
 entrance, opposite to which, and betwixt the 
 recesses, is a neat front to the bar, correspondent 
 with the columns on each side; over the 
 entrance in the bar, in a segment arch, is placed 
 an excellent picture executed in chiaro scuro 
 by Henry Fuseli, Esq. R. A. Professor of paint- 
 ing to the Royal Academy ; this piece, which 
 
143 Public buildings. 
 
 fronts the entrance into the room, is an alle^o- 
 rical representation of the union of these king- 
 doms, in which England appears at the altar of 
 union, extending her arms and receiving Scot- 
 land and Ireland into her embrace ; in the fore 
 ground, the composition is enriched by emble- 
 matical figures of the Thames and Shannon; 
 and in the distance on the right, the goddess of 
 ^wisdom is seen putting to flight the demons of 
 envy and discord. In the distance on the left 
 is a representation of fame sounding a trumpet. 
 From the great merit of the design and execu- 
 tion, and the advantageous situation in which 
 this picture is placed, it produces, on entering 
 the rooms, a grand and striking effect. At 
 each end of the room, there is a very handsome 
 black chimney piece of British marble, procured 
 near Kendal in Westmoreland, and executed 
 by Mr. Webster of that place. 
 
 All the London and provincial papers of any 
 note, as well as commercial lists, magazines, 
 reviews and other publications relative to com- 
 merce and literature are taken here ; there is 
 also a capital collection of maps and charts, 
 the expence of which is defrayed by 258 pro- 
 prietors, at an annual subscription of two guineas 
 each. 
 
 Above stairs is a large and commodious room 
 of the dimensions of the coffee-room below, 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 149 
 
 occupied as a circulating library for the use of 
 the proprietors only, with a committee-room, 
 and other offices adjoining. 
 
 The library, at present, is but in its infancy; 
 but the books are selected with taste and judg- 
 ment, and are bound in a style of uniformity 
 and elegance greatly superior to any other pub- 
 lic library that we have hitherto seen. 
 
 This room is lighted by a circular dome of 
 about 16 feet diameter, so constructed that the 
 rays of light fall in an oblique direction, and 
 by that means enlighten every part of the room 
 alike. 
 
 On the front at the top is placed the Union 
 Arms, finely executed in stone, perhaps on a 
 scale rather too large for the size of the place. 
 On the back part of the building it is in con- 
 templation to erect an Observatory, which from 
 its commanding a full view of Bidston Light- 
 house and signals, as well as the country around^ 
 and a considerable distance at sea, will be a 
 most advantageous acquisition to this Institu- 
 tion, and must be highly gratifying to its mer- 
 cantile proprietors. 
 
 o 2 
 
350 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 THE LYCEUM, 
 
 At the bottom of Bold- street, another instance 
 ©f the munificence and public spirit of Liver- 
 pool, was built from the designs of Mr. Harri- 
 son, architect, of Chester, by Mr. William 
 Slater, under the superintendance of a com- 
 mittee of the proprietors, at the expense of 
 upwards of 1 1,0001. 
 
 This building consists of a coffee-room, 68 
 feet long and 48 broad, with a coved ceiling 
 31 feet high from the room floor, fitted up in 
 a manner correspondent to the magnificence of 
 the structure; and furnished with a great variety 
 of London, provincial, continental, and other 
 foreign papers; besides reviews, magazines, and 
 an excellent collection of maps. 
 
 The income of this establishment arises from 
 the annual subscription of one guinea each, by 
 800 proprietors. 
 
 There is also a very handsome circular library, 
 of 135 feet in circumference, lighted from the 
 top by a donie-light, with convenient reading 
 and committee-rooms. — The books from the 
 Liverpool library, in Lord street, have been 
 removed to this, and are constantly receiving 
 augmentations, by publications of merit in the 
 various departments of literature and science, 
 which circulate among the proprietors, of whom 
 
5 
 
 w 
 
 G 
 
 3 
 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 151 
 
 there are 893, whose annual subscription is 
 10s. 6d. each. 
 
 We ought not to omit noticing the numerous 
 and excellent busts which adorn the library, and 
 evince a disposition to encourage the arts,, highly 
 honourable to the town. 
 
 The business of the library is conducted by a 
 president,, vice-president, and a committee of 
 24 proprietors. There is also a superintending 
 committee, composed of the president, vice- 
 president, and four proprietors. 
 
 It has been in contemplation to raise the 
 annual subscription to the library to one guinea, 
 a measure which the late enormous advance in 
 the price of books imperiously calls for, and 
 which can alone enable the committee to keep 
 up the respectability of the Institution, and 
 make those annual additions to the library which 
 the size of the place, and the vacuity of the 
 shelves would seem to demand. The designs 
 and execution of both these buildings do the 
 utmost credit to the artists employed about 
 them. They surpass greatly any thing of f jie 
 kind that is to be found in the metropolis, and 
 it has been frequently said that Europe has 
 nothing of the kind superior to them. — It is 
 with pleasure we add, that the spirit of emula- 
 tion has at length been extended to Manchester, 
 and even to Chester, at both which places, Bed 
 
 o 3 
 
152 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 non pari passu, similar institutions have been 
 set on foot* 
 
 THE COMMERCIAL NEWS-ROOM 
 
 Is situated in Statham's buildings, Lord-street. 
 The Institution is upon a plan somewhat akin to 
 the preceding, but upon a much inferior scale. 
 The London and provincial papers are provided 
 for the accommodation of about 100 subscribers, 
 who pay annually one guinea. It was instituted 
 in 1803. 
 
 THE MINERVA NEWS-ROOMS, 
 
 In Upper Dawson-street, Williamsons-square, 
 was founded in 1796, upon the plan of the 
 foregoing, and terms nearly alike. 
 
 THE MERCHANT'S COFFEE-HOUSE, 
 
 In the Old Church-yard, is much smaller than 
 the other ; and its accommodations are propor- 
 tionate. Commanding a view of the river and 
 signal poles, it is conveniently situated for 
 attending to the movements of the shipping. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 153 
 
 THE UNDERWRITER'S ROOM, 
 
 In Exchange-Alley, on the west side of the 
 Exchange, is chiefly, though not exclusively, 
 appropriated to the use of gentlemen concerned 
 in the business of the insurance of ships. It is 
 a very neat, airy, and comfortable room. — 
 Underwriters pay an annual subscription of five 
 guineas, and others of two. A correspondence 
 is held by the master of the rooms with all the 
 sea port towns in the empire, from whence 
 articles of naval intelligence are regularly 
 received, and books kept for registering them 
 for the use of the subscribers. The newspapers 
 are taken as in the other coffee-rooms. 
 
 THE PANORAMA, 
 
 In Bold street, adjoining the Lyceum, is a 
 newly-erected brick-building, of a circular form, 
 adapted solely to the purpose of exhibiting a 
 succession of interesting paintings of this de- 
 scription. The one now showing is a View of 
 Constantinople; which will be followed at 
 proper intervals by various others — admittance, 
 one shilling. 
 
154 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 THE WELCH CHARITY SCHOOL/ 
 
 Is a newly erected edifice, situate in Russell- 
 street, leading from Brownlow-hill to St. Ann's- 
 street. It was built by subscriptions and volun- 
 tary contributions, chiefly from gentlemen who 
 are natives of the principality, and has for its ob- 
 ject the gratuitous education (in English) of the 
 children of such poor Welsh families as have 
 taken up their residence in Liverpool, of whom 
 the number is very considerable, and annually 
 increasing. The school is spacious, being ca- 
 pable of holding 600 children, and cost the sum 
 of l,200l. besides 4561. paid for the purchase of 
 the land. The proprietors have it in contem- 
 plation to erect an additional school-room for 
 150 female children, which, it is estimated, will 
 cost 5001.; but the building already erected, 
 and other expences, having exceeded the funds 
 in the treasurer's hands upwards of 5001. this 
 part of the plan is necessarily suspended for the 
 present. The system of education adopted at 
 this seminary is that of the celebrated Lam cas- 
 ter's, which is now sufficiently understood to 
 preclude the necessity of explaining. The num- 
 ber of pupils hitherto admitted has not exceeded 
 200, and the expences attending the institution 
 for the year 1806, about 1501. The friends of 
 the charity calculate that it will be in their 
 power to educate 700 children for 2501. per 
 annum. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 133 
 
 THE CATHOLIC CHARITY SCHOOL. 
 
 Situate upon Elliott Hill (or as it is sometimes 
 called, Copperas Hill) is at a short distance 
 only from the Welch Charity School. The 
 building is recently erected, and, as an edifice, 
 is very creditable to the Religious Denomina- 
 tion, at whose expence it was raised. It con- 
 sists of a very spacious school-room upon the 
 ground floor, in which are educated generally 
 about 300 boys,with a room of equal dimensions 
 over it, adapted to the purpose of female in- 
 struction, and of which sex the present number 
 is about 200. — A flight of stone steps leads up 
 to the latter school, and the regulations both 
 for order, air, and cleanliness are very judicious. 
 The boys and girls enter to their respective 
 apartments at opposite sides of the building, 
 and have no intercourse with each other. We 
 are of opinion that the plan on which, this 
 school is built, is superior to most others in the 
 town, and not undeserving the attention of those 
 who may be engaged in establishing similar 
 institutions. The size of the building is 75 feet 
 long by 27 feet broad. It cost about two 
 thousand pounds, and is supported by annual 
 and voluntary donations. Some objections have 
 been raised against this Charity, on the ground 
 that it is restricted to the education of the chil- 
 
156 rUBLIC JaUILBINGS. 
 
 dren of Roman Catholic Parents; and,- as such 
 made subservient to party purposes. We wish 
 it were the only establishment among us which 
 was liable to this imputation. The principle is 
 certainly pernicious, but a new order of things 
 must arise before we can reasonably hope to see 
 it abandoned, 
 
 THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF 
 ST. PATRICK. 
 
 From the number of Irish poor in this town, 
 and their incessant increase, combined with the 
 local disabilities under which all strangers are 
 unavoidably doomed to suffer, the establish- 
 ment of a School, for the instruction of the 
 children of the indigent Irish, has long been 
 looked to, as an object of pressing exigence, 
 and of extensive utility. 
 
 A numerous and, respectable meeting of Irish 
 Gentlemen having been summoned to celebrate 
 the anniversary of their patron Saint on the 17th 
 of March, 1807, and a motion having been 
 made, that the said meeting should form itself 
 into a body, under the title of €€ The Benevo- 
 lent Society of St. Patrick," and that donations 
 and subscriptions should be collected for the 
 purpose of establishing a School, at which the 
 children of the poor and distressed Irish might 
 be gratuitously instructed, the motion was se- 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 157 
 
 conded, and carried without one dissenting 
 voice. 
 
 It was at the same time resolved, that a fu- 
 ture meeting should be fixed upon, to which 
 the whole of the Irish gentlemen, and those 
 connected with Ireland, residing in and about 
 this town, should be summoned, in order that 
 their association with this benevolent society 
 might be solicited, and their assistance ob- 
 tained. In obedience to this summons, a meet- 
 ing was held on the 3d of April, at the Royal 
 Hotel, when the object of the institution was 
 declared to be, — The instruction, in reading, 
 writing, and Arithmetic ; the cloathingand ap- 
 prenticing of poor children descended from 
 Irish parents, or according to the 13th article of 
 the code of resolutions then adopted, — That the 
 blessings of this institution shall be dispensed, 
 without any regard to the religious tenets or 
 the mode of worship, which may be preferred 
 by the objects of the Charity, or by their con- 
 nexions. 
 
 We have the pleasure to add, that this re- 
 spectable institution is most liberally supported. 
 Mr. Grattan and Mr. Roscoe applied, in behalf 
 of the committee, to Lord Fitzwilliam to be- 
 come the patron, an honor which his lordship 
 accepted in the most handsome manner, and has 
 since presented the charity with the munificent 
 donation of 2001. 
 
158 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 THE NEW CORN EXCHANGE, 
 
 BRUNSWICK-STREET. 
 
 In addition to the many recent public struc- 
 tures erected in this town, we have the pleasure 
 to add this building to the number, (which is 
 now carrying on by Mr. John Foster, and from 
 his designs). The very great increase of the 
 corn trade made it much to be lamented that 
 there was no convenient place to exhibit sam- 
 ples, and that persons who had occasion to pur- 
 chase grain, were obliged to lose a considerable 
 portion of their time in visiting the different 
 warehouses, which are scattered in ever}' direc- 
 tion over the town. To obviate this inconveni- 
 ence, this building was suggested ; and it was 
 proposed, that it should be erected and regulated 
 upon the same principle as the Corn Exchange 
 in Mark-lane, London. After some difficulty 
 in establishing and procuring an eligible situa- 
 tion, the present site was procured, and the 
 building is now in a state of finishing. It con- 
 tains, in surface, 8,134 superficial feet; in front, 
 74 feet 4 inches, and in depth, 121 feet. Its 
 elevation in the center of the front is 39 feet 4 
 inches. The front, which is built with a very 
 handsome free stone, procured from the quarries 
 in this town, is supported by eight Doric co- 
 lumns, consisting of one stone each, 14 feet 
 high, and 2 feet 2 inches in diameter, with enta- 
 blature over, the proportions of which are 
 
o 
 
 w 
 
PUBLIC BUILD1NG3. 159 
 
 faken from the Doric portico at Athens. Above 
 are four neat architrave windows, 10 feet by 5, 
 with pediments There is a large room over 
 the front part 50 feet long by '24 feet wide, and 
 a committee-room adjoining, 15 feet by 1 i feet 
 3 inches. The roof is supported by fourteen 
 iron columns with a Ian thorn light (32 feet long 
 by 16 feet 6 inches wide, and the sides lighted 
 by six round sky-lights. It is certainly among 
 the neatest of our public buildings, and reflects 
 great credit on the gentleman under whose cor- 
 rect taste and judgment it has been executed. — 
 It was built by subscription, consisting of 100 
 shares of c£l00 each, and the cost of the whole, 
 including land and building, was about ,£9,000. 
 
 THE THEATRE, 
 
 The present house was opened in 1772, and the 
 following prologue, written by Dr. Aikin, was 
 spoken oh the occasion. 
 
 Where Mersey's stream long winding o'er the plain, 
 Pours his full tribute to the circling main, 
 A band of fishers chofe their humble seat ; 
 Contented labour bless'd the far retreat : 
 Inur'd to hardship, patient, bold, and rude, 
 They brav'd the billows for precarious food : 
 Their straggling huts were ranged along the shore, 
 Their nets and little boats their only store. 
 
 At length fair Commerce found the chosen place, 
 Andsmil'd approving on th' industrious race. 
 Lo ! as she waves her hand, what wonders rise, 
 Stupendous buildings strike the astonish'd eyes : 
 
 P 
 
160 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 The hollow *d rock receives the briny tide, 
 And the huge ships secure from Neptune ride ; 
 With busy toil the crouded streets resound, 
 And wealth, and arts, and plenty spread around. 
 
 The Muses next a willing visit paid ; 
 They came to pleasure's and to virtue's aid ; 
 A grateful ease and polish to impart, 
 Refine the taste and humanize the heart. 
 Their fair attempts obtain'dakind applause, 
 And brightest forms appear'd to grace their cause, 
 In whom each charming lesson shone confest, 
 The polished manners and the feeling breast. 
 
 This night the Muses' messenger I come, 
 To bid you welcome to their new-rais'd dome : 
 Well pleas'd the stately building they survey, 
 And here their annual summer visit pay ; 
 Where art, where knowledge reign, they love the soil 5 
 And the free spirit of commercial toil 5 
 Where the quick sense of graceful, just and fit, 
 Awakes the chastened smile of decent wit ;> 
 Where foft urbanity the breaft infpires, 
 And soothing pity lights her social fires. 
 
 G kindly cherish still their generous arts, 
 And shew their noblest praises in your hearts. 
 
 The house is spacious and commodious, much 
 more so than any theatre was, at that time, out 
 of London, as it had a greater width of stage 
 than Coven t-Garden house. Liverpool for- 
 merly boasted the first set of performers out of 
 London ; which it obtained by the great en- 
 couragement to theatrical performances that it 
 always afforded. The house was open only in 
 the summer months, when the London theatres 
 were shut, and the best of the performers were 
 .selected for the season ; when no performer, of 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 161 
 
 whatever rank, could be admitted to perform* 
 ■without being engaged for the whole of the sea- 
 son ! during which regulation the performances 
 were supported by a regular succession of the 
 first performers of the London stages. Of late, 
 however, from the increase of theatrical rage, 
 the number of provincial theatres have so much 
 increased as to divide the London performers ; 
 nay, they are mostly turned strollers; exhibit- 
 ing themselves for a few nights, separately, in 
 all parts of the united kingdom. The house 
 still regularly opens about the close of the Lon- 
 don theatres in May, and shuts about the middle 
 of March* 
 
 The town made a successful resistance to the 
 first introduction of provincial performers in the 
 summer season, of whom Mrs. Siddons and Mr. 
 John Eemble formed a part. The latter was 
 hissed off the stage ; and Mrs. Siddons, who 
 had played here in former winter seasons, and 
 was favourably received in both the walks of tra- 
 gedy and comedy, was, fortunately for herself, 
 as it has since turned out, compelled to quit the 
 town. So versatile is public opinion, that, on her 
 first re-appearance here, after having received 
 the stamp of approbation from a London audi- 
 ence,they who had been so desirous to banish her 
 from the theatre, were now so eager to see her 
 perform, that many injuries, both of body and 
 
*62 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 dress,, were sustained, so great was the pressure 
 of the crowd to get admittance into the play- 
 house. Since that time the group has become 
 more motley — a a thing of shreds and patches!' 
 The house was built by thirty proprietors, at 
 the ex pence of 60G01. but was considerably en- 
 larged, and its external appearance very much 
 improved about four years ago, in consequence 
 of the front of it being rebuilt with handsome 
 stone, in a semi-circular form, and brought se- 
 veral yards more into the square. 
 
 An incident, not less singular than solemn, 
 occurred here. In the summer of 1798, as Mr. 
 John Palmer, of the Drury-lane Theatre, was 
 performing in Kotzebue's play of The Stranger; 
 after repeating the words, " There is another 
 and a better world," he sunk down, and imme- 
 diately expired upon the stage, apparently with- 
 out a struggle. The King of Terrors, so often 
 invoked, and whose powers had been long and 
 variably counterfeited here, now, scarce half- 
 bidden, obtrudes his viewless and mystic pre- 
 sence ; and, assuming his prerogative, becomes 
 a real and prominent character of the drama. 
 Happy for its object and the feelings of the spec- 
 tators, that his shaft was of the more mild and 
 gentle kind. 
 
 The audience, at the time, were generally 
 nnconcious of the fatal catastrophe; as, from 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, iC3 
 
 the play being new, they were uninformed of 
 the plot, and considered the circumstance as 
 fictitious and incidental to the performance; 
 under which delusion they remained some time 
 and until after removing the body off the stage, 
 and some attempts to restore animation, they 
 were informed of the event, when they imme- 
 diately separated, under lively sensations of dis- 
 tress and dismay. He was buried at Walton, 
 in the neighbourhood, near to the grave of Mr, 
 Gibson, the father of the Liverpool theatre. 
 
 A benefit play w r as given for Mr. Palmer's 
 orphan family, the amount of which was greater 
 than had ever been received at this theatre on 
 any occasion. After defraying the funeral ex- 
 pences the sum remitted was 412L 
 
 THE MUSIC IL4LL 
 
 Is in Bold-street, and was opened in 1785. It 
 is large, and finished with great elegance ; qua- 
 lities which it is said to possess, superior to any 
 other room, merely as a concert- room, in the 
 kingdom. The seats below and in the gallery 
 are well disposed for a number of auditors ; yet 
 the amphitheatre form is ? no doubt, better 
 adapted for a concert-room ; not only for hear- 
 ing the tpusic, but for viewing the company. It 
 seems, the present form, of a large secluded gal- 
 lery, was adopted to gain room for the aceom « 
 
 r 3. 
 
164 PUBLIC BUILDINGS* 
 
 modation of the musical festival, which was 
 intended to take place once in three years. It 
 will admit 1300 persons. The orchestra is well 
 formed and arranged. The organ is more pow- 
 erful than fine toned, and has a great effect in 
 chorusses and full pieces. Some gentlemen per- 
 form in the instrumental parts on public nights ; 
 but the principals are all supported by profes- 
 sional men of merit, who take frequent oppor- 
 tunities of displaying their several abilities in 
 solos, duos and other obligated parts. The vo- 
 cal department is not less ably filled by profes- 
 sional performers : so that the concerts, which 
 are miscellaneous, would go well off, if the vo- 
 cal accompaniments of what should be only the 
 auditory, would be more generally facet, or 
 even piano. 
 
 The concerts are supported by annual sub- 
 scriptions of two guineas each which admit 
 three persons to each performance, by tickets 
 in the name of a gentleman subscriber, trans- 
 ferable to ladies, and to the younger sons of 
 subscribers ; but a resident gentleman cannot 
 be admitted unless he be a subscriber. Stangers 
 are admitted by tickets at 5s. each, sanctioned 
 by a subscriber. A lady who is a stranger will 
 be admitted by the ticket of a subscriber ; or by 
 a purchased ticket, sanctioned as above. These 
 precautions are observed, to exclude, as much 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. l65 
 
 as possible, improper company. The number 
 of annual concerts is twelve; and of subscribers,, 
 about 300. 
 
 ASSEMBLY ROOMS. 
 
 The Assembly Room adjoining the Town 
 Hall, having been burnt down, a large room, 
 belonging to the Royal Hotel at the bottom of 
 Lord-street, was for several years adopted as a 
 substitute. This, however, has now given place 
 ta a handsome, spacious room, lately finished, at 
 the back of Mr. Lillyman's, the Liverpool Anns 
 Hotel in Castle- street, at which the Assemblies 
 are now held. The new room adjoining the 
 Town Hall, intended for this purpose is, also, in 
 a state of considerable forwardness. The As- 
 semblies commence in October^ and terminate 
 on the King's birth day. They are supported 
 by subscription, and strangers are admitted by 
 ticket. A iady and a gentleman preside, as is 
 customary on these occasions, over the decorum 
 of the room. 
 
 THE BATHS. 
 
 Although this subject has already been 
 glanced at (see page 87J we shall here resume 
 it for the sake of a few additional remarks. A 
 little below the Old Church-yard, and almost 
 contiguous to the Fort, are erected a set of 
 
166 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 elegant and commodious Sea Baths, divided 
 into separate baths and rooms for the use of 
 both sexes, each bath supplied with water from 
 the centre. On the outside are steps for the 
 convenience of swimmers who chuse to launch 
 into the open river, and who may be frequently 
 seen plunging among the waves of a boisterous 
 tide. Independently of these baths, however, 
 which are very much frequented, Liverpool is 
 become, during the summer months, a place 
 of great resort for the lower class of people 
 from many miles up the country, and even as 
 far as the manufacturing districts to the very 
 extremity of the county, who make an annual 
 visit for the purpose of washing away, as they 
 imagine, all the collected impurities of the 
 year. Unable to make a long stay or to avail 
 themselves of artificial conveniences, they cm- 
 ploy two or three days in strolling along shore 
 and dabbling in the salt-water for hours at each 
 tide, covering the shore with their promiscuous 
 numbers, and not much embarrassing themselves 
 about appearances. As the practice, however, 
 seems conducive to health and pleasure it is 
 perhaps not to be wished that rigid notions of 
 delicacy should interfere with this only mode 
 which the poor have of enjoying it. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 167 
 
 W. BULLOCK'S MUSEUM 
 
 In Church-street, is an object that should be 
 seen by every stranger of taste who visits the 
 town. It consists of four apartments, fitted up 
 for the purpose ; the first contains a beautiful 
 assemblage of model sculpture, carvings in 
 ivory, paintings, &c. which must claim the 
 admiration of every friend to the fine arts. 
 
 The second and third rooms are filled with 
 objects of natural history; birds, beasts, fishes, 
 reptiles, insects, shells, &c. from every part of 
 the known world; which, in point of preserva- 
 tion, are perhaps unequalled by any collection 
 in Europe. 
 
 The Gothic room, or Armoury, it is impos- 
 sible to enter, without being struck with the 
 remembrance of times long past, and the mili- 
 tary atchievements and glorious exploits of our 
 ancestors. Jt contains suits of armour and 
 warlike weapons, in use in our armies from the 
 Norman conquest to the present day; among 
 which it boasts, the famous Hauberks, or coats 
 of chain mail, figured and described by the late 
 F. Grose, Esq. in his work on ancient armour, 
 and believed to have been brought into this 
 country by the army of William the Conqueror, 
 and to be the only ones that have reached our 
 days. 
 
163 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 
 
 Nor must the progressive improvement of fire 
 arms, from their first invention, pass unnoticed, 
 as they so evidently shew, that completion in 
 every work of human art is only to be attained 
 by degrees, and through different stages of 
 elaborate pursuit. 
 
 The exotic dresses of the savage nations too, 
 with their domestic and military implements, 
 are objects which reflection loves to dwell on ; 
 and the man whose favourite study is cosmology, 
 and whose chief ambition is to explore the 
 world, may in this museum find many things 
 to gratify his inclination, and contribute to the 
 enlargement of his ideas, by setting before him 
 such productions of art and nature as are rarely 
 to be met with in a place where a trifling sum 
 commands admission. 
 
 The spirited proprietor has just finished a new 
 room, 60 feet long, superbly fitted up in the 
 Egyptian manner, and filled with various deco- 
 rative articles, on sale, of the most elaborate 
 and exquisite workmanship; consisting of the 
 most rich and costly porcelain, marble tables, 
 and consoles, glasses and mirrors, statues and 
 busts from the antique, and of celebrated living 
 characters, in bronze and marble. The various 
 fashionable articles for supporting lights, &c. 
 are here manufactured on the premises; and 
 with the magnificent and costly articles dis- 
 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 169 
 
 played in the shop, in the silversmith and jew- 
 ellery branch, form such an assemblage of the 
 works of nature and art, as is not to be excelled, 
 if equalled, in the metropolis. 
 
 In a Picture of Liverpool it would be un- 
 pardonable not to notice, with commendation, 
 the splendid 
 
 SHEW ROOMS of Mr. G. BULLOCK, 
 
 Sculptor and Modeller, No 13, Bold- street. — 
 Here the admirers of the fine arts will receive 
 much gratification. Visitors are gratuitously 
 admitted to a suite of rooms, in which a variety 
 of the most fashionable and elegant furniture, in 
 a stile of exquisite taste, is constantly displayed, 
 as well as an extensive collection of statues, 
 figures, monuments, tripods, candelabras, an- 
 tique lamps, sphinxes, griffins, 8cc. &c. in mar- 
 ble, bronze, or artificial stone ; Egyptian, Gre- 
 cian, and modern chimney-pieces, in the vari- 
 ous species of marble, in bronze, &c. ; and a 
 number of curious mosaic, inlaid, and marble 
 tables, comprising fine specimens of porphyry, 
 verd antique, and Egyptian green. Mr. G. Bul- 
 lock has also a great collection of ancient and 
 modern busts ; — among the latter are many por- 
 traits of the most distinguished characters in 
 Liverpool and its neighbourhood, modelled by 
 
170 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 himself, and exhibited at the Royal Academy 
 during the three last seasons. 
 
 It may not be improper to add, that this 
 establishment is wholly distinct from the Mu- 
 seum of Mr. W. Bullock, already mentioned. 
 
 POST OFFICE. 
 
 A new and commodious building has lately 
 been erected for this purpose, in a central situa- 
 tion, in Church-street, a little above the church. 
 A mail coach has Jately been established be- 
 tween Liverpool and Carlisle, by means of 
 which, the commercial intercourse between this 
 town and North Britain is greatly facilitated. — 
 This mail is dispatched every afternoon at five 
 o'clock, and reaches Carlisle in time to fall in 
 with the London mail coach, to Scotland. In 
 consequence of this regulation, the letters for 
 Edinburgh and Glasgow, which heretofore had 
 been sixty hours on the road, are now delivered 
 in forty. The south mail with a coach, comes 
 in every morning, except Tuesday, about three 
 o'clock (the office opens at seven), and goes 
 out, as above, every night, except Friday, and 
 is 32 hours on the road each way to and from 
 London. The York mail coach, through Man- 
 chester, goes out every morning early and comes 
 in every evening at seven. 
 
PUBLIC BUILDING^. 171 
 
 The mails for Chester, JSorth Wales, and 
 Ireland, cross the river to Tranmere ferry, 
 whence they are conveyed to Chester by a mail 
 coach. The office for these mails shuts every 
 evening at five o'clock, from the 5th April till 
 10th October; and at three o'clock from 10th 
 October till 10th February ; and at four o'clock 
 from the 10th February till 5th April. 
 
 The foreign mails are dispatched for Italy, 
 Germany, and the north of Europe, every Sun- 
 day and Wednesday. For Spain and Portugal, 
 by way of Lisbon, every Monday. For the 
 Leeward Islands, the first and third Tuesday in 
 the month — no postage required. For Jamaica, 
 the first Tuesday in the month — no postage re- 
 quired. For North America, the first Wednes- 
 day in the month. 
 
 THE FREE MASON's HALL, 
 
 Near the top of Bold-street, on the east side, 
 was built for the purpose of accommodating 
 the brotherhood, at their stated and occa- 
 sional meetings. There is upon the upper story 
 a handsome, commodious and extensive room, 
 decorated with the Insignia of the society, which 
 is often occupied as a Lecture room by Philo- 
 sophers and others, and for which it is not ill 
 adapted. 
 
172 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL, 
 
 In the structure and decorations of the build- 
 ing, it will be presumed that the utmost efforts 
 of ingenuity have been exerted to attain perfec- 
 tion, and that whatever is excellent in masonry 
 and architecture is, for the honour of the fra- 
 ternity, here concentrated. 
 
 THE BOTANIC GARDEN, 
 
 Though not within the limits of tVie town, is an 
 institution of too much importance to be wholly 
 omitted in a work of this nature. It is situated 
 on the south east side of the town, near Edge- 
 Hill, and consists of about five acres of ground 
 enclosed by a stone wall. It is supported by 
 375 proprietors, who, besides an original depo- 
 sit, pay annually a subscription of two guineas. 
 The garden is well stocked with plants and 
 shrubs, and has in the centre of it a glass house 
 of very considerable extent, probably not infe- 
 rior to any thing of the kind in Europe. — Dona- 
 tions have been made to it, of rare and choice 
 plants, from the East and West Indies, and 
 from the Cape of Good Hope. The institution 
 is highly creditable to the taste of the town, 
 and must, in a few years, furnish a luxurious 
 retreat to the lovers of Botany. It may be 
 visited by strangers, on obtaining a note from 
 any of the proprietors. 
 
f 
 
CONSERVATORY OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN 
 

PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 17 
 
 ~ €» 
 
 BAN KbRS. 
 
 Messrs. Arthur Heywood, Sons, and Co. 
 Brunswick-street — Messrs. Roscoe, Clarke, and 
 Roscoe, Dale-street^ Corner of Castle street- 
 Messrs. Leyland and Bullen, York-street — and 
 Mr. Joseph Had wen, Jun. Church-street. The 
 Banks are open from nine till three every day, 
 except Friday, when they are shut at one o'clock. 
 
 NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 Five weekly newspapers are published, on 
 different days, viz. Monday, Biliinge's Liver- 
 pool Advertise?* — Wednesday, the Liverpool 
 Chronicle — published by Jones and Wright, 
 Swift's Court, Castle-street — Thursday, Gores 
 General Advertiser — and on Saturday, The Li~ 
 verpool Herald, a paper without Advertise- 
 ments, and devoted entirely to political and 
 literary discussion, is published at the same 
 office as the Liverpool Chronicle. — There is 
 also On this day, the Liverpool Saturdays Ad- 
 vertiser. 
 
 The silversmiths and jewellers' shops in Cas- 
 tle street, Lord-street, &c. contain china, trin- 
 kets, and valuable curiosities, both natural and 
 
 Q2 
 
174 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 
 
 artificial. There are two music shops in Church- 
 street, one in Castle-street, and one in Lord- 
 street. Booksellers, linen, and woollen drapers,, 
 and most of the best shops for wearing apparel, 
 are to be found in Castle-street, Pool-lane, 
 Lord-street, Church-street, and Paradise-street. 
 
 INNS AND TAVERNS. 
 
 These are numerous, and equally variable 
 in their accommodations, adapted to all ranks 
 and descriptions of travellers. 
 
 The Liverpool Arms Hotel, kept by 
 Mr. Lillyman, in point of size and situation, 
 deserves, probably, to be placed at the head of 
 the list of houses of this description, which the 
 town affords. It stands almost in the centre 
 of Castle-street, on the east side of it, and 
 affords very ample and comfortable accommo- 
 dations for travellers of all descriptions. The 
 whole of the extensive range of premises is 
 newly built, and the house is, in all respects, 
 suitably furnished. 
 
 Riddiough's Royal Hotel, at the bottom 
 of Lord-street, where are accommodations for 
 families of the first rank, their retinues, carriages, 
 and horses; as also every other description of 
 travellers who wish to be well accommodated. 
 There is a public ordinary. This situation i& 
 
PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 175 
 
 deemed the most central in the town ; it is also 
 the lowest with respect to elevation. 
 
 The next, in point of magnitude, is the 
 King's Arms, in Water street, near the Ex- 
 change. It furnishes accommodations nearly 
 as extensive as the former, either for parties, 
 families, or single travellers, An ordinary. It 
 was formerly the successive residence of some 
 of the most distinguished merchants in Liver- 
 pool. Considerable improvements have been 
 lately made in this house by the addition of 
 nearly a dozen bed-chambers, and the complete 
 repair of the premises throughout, which can- 
 not fail to render it in all respects a most eligi- 
 ble house. — A daily coach sets off from hence, 
 by Tranmere Ferry, for Parkgate, Chester, 
 Shrewsbury, Holyhead, &c, at eight every 
 morning, and returns about six every afternoon. 
 
 Immediately adjoining the King's Arms is the 
 Talbot Hotel and London Tavern, which 
 is very similar, in accommodation, to the for- 
 mer. The mail and other London coaches put 
 up here. It is much frequented by travellers to 
 and from Dublin. A public ordinary. 
 
 The Crown Inn, Redcross street ; a com- 
 modious house. London, Carlise, and other 
 stage coaches go from hence daily. 
 
 The American Hotel, at Wapping, con- 
 tiguous to the King's and Queen's docks, is a 
 
 o 3 
 
176 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 
 
 very large and handsome building, originally 
 intended for, and chiefly frequented by the 
 masters of ships in the American trade There 
 is a good coffee-room, supplied with newspapers, 
 &e. and good accommodations for strangers. 
 
 The George, top of Dale-street, a new and 
 commodious inn. London, Carlisle, and Man- 
 chester coaches from hence. 
 
 The Goldem Lion, top of Dale- street, was 
 formerly the largest and best inn in the town, 
 consequently has many accommodations for 
 travellers. Some of the Warrington, Man- 
 chester, &c. stage coaches go from hence daily, 
 A public ordinary. 
 
 The Angel Inn, a little lower down in Dale- 
 street; a commodious travellers' inn. Stage 
 coaches for Warrington, Manchester, &c. like- 
 wise go from this house daily. A public 
 ordinary. 
 
 There are other travellers' and carriers* inns 
 in Dale-street, High-street, Tythebarn- street, 
 &c. 
 
 The Star and Garter, Paradise- street, a 
 tavern, not an inn. Genteel accommodations 
 for parties, for eating or lodging, upon the 
 plan of a regular tavern. 
 
 The Globe Tavern, John-street, similar 
 to the Star and Garter. A public ordinary. 
 
PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 171 
 
 The York Tavern., Williamson-square, is 
 a comfortable house. 
 
 Houses, on the plan of taverns, are become 
 very frequent, and too numerous to be all 
 inserted. 
 
 Private lodgings may always be had, and 
 frequently ready furnished houses, by applica- 
 tion at the inns and taverns. 
 
 STAGE COACHES & WAGGONS. 
 
 These are very numerous to all parts of the 
 kingdom. They sometimes vary their stations, 
 times, and fares ; so that every information 
 respecting them, will be best obtained at the 
 several inns. 
 
 IRISH PACKETS, &c. 
 
 There are several packets to Dublin, for the 
 express purpose of conveying passengers, horses, 
 carriages, and luggage only ; ail of which are 
 very commodious, and sail almost daily, when 
 the wind permits. For particulars, the stranger 
 will be conducted to the different packet offices 
 for information. There are a number of trading 
 vessels to Dublin and all parts of Ireland, parti- 
 cularly to the northern ports. 
 
178 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 
 
 There a^e a few packets to the isle of Man, 
 of similar construction and convenience with 
 those to Dublin. 
 
 FERRY BOATS. 
 
 The ferry-houses on the opposite shore in 
 Cheshire, are (beginning with the lowest down 
 the river, northward, and continuing in succes- 
 sion southward up the river) Seacomb, Wood- 
 side, Tranmere ferry, Rock-house, New- Ferry, 
 Eastham, Ellesmere or Chester canal, and Run- 
 corn. The first five are navigated by boats, of 
 different sizes, for the conveyance of passengers, 
 horses, carriages, cattle, &c- — All, except the 
 first and seventh, communicate with Chester by 
 good roads, post chaises, &c. The first has a 
 chaise to the hotel at Hoylake; and the last but 
 one communicates with Chester by an elegant 
 packet on the canal. Two boats go daily about 
 three hours before high water, up to the Elles- 
 mere canal ; one from George's Dock Bason, 
 and one from the Queen's Dock Bason. Beside 
 post chaises, there is a large double stage coach 
 from Eastham to Chester. Passengers to East- 
 ham and the Chester Canal are conveyed daily, 
 two or three hours before high water, in large 
 covered boats, which are very commodious, as 
 they each contain two distinct cabins, and do 
 
% 
 
 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL* V 179 
 
 not carry horses. Two commodious covered 
 boats to Runcorn have lately been established, 
 as a ferry for passengers, which go daily. — The 
 fare in the first cabin is 2s. in the second Is, 
 Runcorn communicates with Warrington and 
 Manchester, bv two packets on the two diffe- 
 rent canals and river. There are also two 
 coaches which run from Tranmere ferry to 
 Chester, one every evening, viz. one at five 
 o'clock in summer and four in winter, and one 
 every morning at eight o'clock. 
 
 The fare from hence to Eastham and Chester 
 in the first apartment is 3s. — in the second 2s. ; 
 without any other expence. From hence to 
 Chester by the canal, in the first cabin, 2s. 6d. — 
 in the second, Is. fid. The distance to Chester, 
 by Tranmere Ferry, is 15 miles ; from the rest 
 15 to 20 miles. These conveyances by water 
 are rendered so safe, that a serious accident is 
 scarcely on record. One of these (Tranmere 
 Ferry) conveys the Irish mail, and runs through 
 Neston, which is not more than a mile from 
 Parkgate. Great improvements have been late- 
 ly made at this ferry, in the construction of a 
 quay down to low-water mark, for landing the 
 passengers, &c. and there is no doubt, but the 
 numerous advantages which this ferry possesses, 
 will render it henceforward a much frequented 
 medium of intercourse with Cheshire. The 
 
ISO PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 
 
 fare, boat and coach included, to Chester, is 
 4s. 6d. and 3s. 6d. 
 
 The fare to the first five ferries is 3d. for mar- 
 ket people and common passengers — 6d. is ge- 
 nerally expected from the upper order of pas- 
 sengers. A boat for one person across the river 
 is commonly Is. ; and two or more may often 
 be conveyed for the same price. A party of 
 more than two may hire a boat for 2s. 6d. to 
 take them over and bring them back at any 
 lime they please, that the wind and weather 
 permit; being careful to make an. agreement 
 before-hand, otherwise imposition will be the 
 certain consequence. The smaller boats, with 
 one mast each, are to be preferred, in moderate 
 weather, to the larger with two; as they are 
 handier, can land in shallow w r ater, are capable 
 of being rowed in calms or contrary winds, and 
 are equally safe. 
 
 For Ormskirk, Wigan, &c. a daily Packet 
 Boat sets out from the Canal Bason, north end 
 of the town, every morning at eight of the 
 clock; and one starts from Wigan to Liverpool 
 every morning at the same hour. 
 
 HACKNEY COACHES. 
 Hackney Coaches are numerous, and may 
 be had at any time^ to any part of the town and 
 
PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 181 
 
 ■country. The fares and regulations, very simi- 
 lar to those in London, are as follow : — 
 
 $. D. 
 For carrying four paflengers not exceeding a mile 1 
 For carrying four paffengers above a mile, and not 
 
 exceeding a mile and a half, ... 1 6 
 And in like proportion for a greater distance. 
 If required to go out of the direct way to fet down 
 
 any perfon, the further fum of . • 6 
 
 And if required to take in other passengers before 
 
 the end of the fare (the whole not exceeding 
 
 four), for each such detention the further sum of 6 
 For a coach and pair carrying four passengers per 
 
 day • . - . * . . . . 12 6 
 For the same per hour, the first . ; .16 
 
 Each successive one 3 
 
 Note. — It shall be at the coachman's option 
 to go by time or distance. 
 If he go by distance and be required to stop and 
 
 wait, he is to have, for every quarter of an 
 
 hour's waiting . . - * . . € 
 
 When called from home after twelve at night, 
 
 double fare, except on assembly, play, or public 
 
 concert nights, when double fare shall not be paid 
 
 till one in the morning . 
 Distances to be measured the nearest carriage way 
 from the place the person is taken up at. 
 
 RULES FOR THE REGULATIONS OF 
 COACHMEN. 
 
 1. — Every coach shall be numbered and enter- 
 ed at the town clerk's office. — Penalty 10s. 
 
182 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 
 
 2.— No coachman shall demand more than the 
 rates before allowed, or refuse or delay to drive 
 a fare for the same when called, by day or night, 
 fair or foul weather. — Penalty 10s. 
 
 3. — No coachman shall refuse the first fare 
 that offers, unless really pre-engaged. — Penal- 
 ty 10s. 
 
 4. — Everv coachman shall have a check-string 
 from the inside of his carriage, fastened round 
 his hand or arm, when driving a fare. — Penal- 
 ty 5s. 
 
 5. — No coachman shall leave his carriage, or 
 suffer it to stand in any street or thoroughfare 
 b}r night. — Penalty 10s. 
 
 G. — No coachman shall drive his carriage 
 upon the foot way in any street or high-road. — 
 Penalty 10s. ' 
 
 7. — Every person calling a coach, and not 
 employing it according to the call, shall pay the 
 coachman half (and if kept waiting fifteen mi- 
 nutes or more, the whole) of the intended fare. 
 —Penalty 10s. 
 
 S. No person shall blot out, deface, or alter 
 the number of any coach. — Penalty 10s. 
 
 HACKNEY CHAIRMEN. 
 
 The rates and fares of the hackney chairmen 
 are 6d. for 800 yards, and Is. for any distance 
 
PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL. 183 
 
 more than thai within the town. The regula- 
 tions as to entering chairs, taking out a licence, 
 refusing to take a fare, demanding more than 
 the above rates, misbehaviour, &c. are similar 
 to those of the hackney coachmen, except that 
 the fines are only 5s. for every offence. 
 
 To prevent, as much as possible, improper be- 
 haviour in hackney coachmen and chairmen, it 
 is ordered, that every one, when on duty, shall 
 have a copy of the rules and regulations, and 
 produce the same to any passenger requiring it, 
 under the penalty of 10s. for every offence. 
 
 Complaints are to be preferred to the Mayor, 
 or other Magistrates of the town, within six 
 days. The fines to be divided between the in- 
 former and the poor. 
 
 MARKETS. 
 
 The Liverpool, like the London, markets, 
 are supplied from a very extended circuit. 
 Northward, as far as Scotland, furnishes cattle 
 and sheep ; of the latter to the amount of 3000 
 v/eekly ; Ireland a great quantity of cattie and 
 pigs ; and the Isle of Man and Wales, poultry, 
 eggs, &c. The fertile Cheshire neighbourhood 
 
IS4 PICTURE OF LIVERPOOL 
 
 affords great quantities of vegetables and provi- 
 sions of all kinds, which are brought over the 
 river daily, in the different ferry-boats, particu- 
 larly ori the principal market-days, which are 
 Wednesday and Saturday. The debarkation 
 and embarkation of the different articles, at St. 
 George's dock slip, often present a busy and en- 
 tertaining spectacle. The great extent of the 
 sea-coast pours in various articles of consump- 
 tion, particularly fish. Salmon is brought fiesh 
 from Scotland and Ireland ; but that taken in 
 the adjoining river, Dee, is most esteemed, and 
 is here called Cheshire salmon. 
 
 The fish-market is occasionally pretty well 
 supplied j in the different seasons, with salmon, 
 cod,and flatfish (except turbot); crabs, shrimps, 
 prawns, oysters, and other shell fish (except 
 lobsters, which are always scarce and dear) very 
 plentifully; smelts, mackarel, and fresh water 
 are scarce, but herrings are mostly abundant. 
 This market, which is near the west end of St. 
 George's church, is very commodious. Turtle, 
 on the arrival of West India ships, may gene- 
 rally be purchased. It is commonly dressed at 
 the inns for distant conveyance. 
 
 COMMERCE, 
 
COMMERCE, 
 
 AN extended detail of Commerce would ex- 
 ceed the intention of this publication The 
 trade of the port extends to every trading part 
 of the world, the East Indies excepted; parti- 
 cularly to the West Indies, Africa, the Baltic, 
 America, Spain, Portugal, the ports of the 
 Mediterranean, and the north and south whale 
 fisheries. 
 
 In the year 1792, an effort was made by the 
 merchants to obtain a share of the East India 
 trade, by an application to Parliament. The 
 situation of this country, with France, becom- 
 ing more critical, and the derangement which 
 goon took place in the commercial part of the 
 
 R 2 
 
186 COMMERCE. 
 
 kingdom., arid of which Liverpool fully partici- 
 pated, suppressed the attempt. 
 
 The numerous advantages which the port 
 possesses, originally conspired to the promotion 
 of its commerce, and will always support and 
 extend it. The staple commodities of coal and 
 salt, lead, ch&ese, Lancashire and Yorkshire 
 manufactories, Staffordshire earthen-ware, &c. 
 &c. are great inducements for ships of all na- 
 tions to prefer a freight to Liverpool, as ano- 
 ther is secured in return, (partly or wholly, as 
 other wares may offer) of these articles, so va- 
 luable and acceptable in every part of the 
 world. The unrivalled cotton manufactures 
 of this country, and the earthen-ware of Staf- 
 fordshire, can no where be shipped abroad to sa 
 great advantage as from hence. The same may 
 be said of the hardwares of Sheffield. America 
 takes off large quantities of all the above arti- 
 cles, and which are chiefly paid for with the 
 money received for goods disposed of in the 
 different parts of Europe. The ready couimu- 
 incatiGn with Dublin and the different coasts of 
 Ireland, must always ensure a considerable 
 source of trade. The corn trade is very exten- 
 sive ; to which many of the largest and loftiest 
 warehouses are chiefly appropriated, which 
 renders Liverpool the granary of the interior 
 country. 
 
COMMERCE. 187 
 
 The town records state, that, in 1565, no 
 more than 12 vessels belonged to this port, the 
 whole of which amounted only to 175 tons, 
 and manned by 75 men ; the largest not ex- 
 ceeding 40 tons. The number of ships has 
 always been in an annual progressive increase ; 
 so that in 1793 the number had increased to 
 606, of 96,694 tons. 
 
 It appears that on the 24th June, 1797, 4528 
 vessels had arrived in the course of the preced- 
 ing twelve months; of which 680 were never 
 here before; and the number continues regularly 
 increasing. 
 
 In the levy of seamen for the navy, the 
 numbers were fixed upon the tonnage of the 
 shipping in the different ports of the kingdom, 
 and were as follows : 
 
 London, - - 5,725 
 
 Sunderland, 
 
 - 696 
 
 Liverpool, - 1,7 11 
 
 Bristol, 
 
 - 666 
 
 Newcastle, - 1,240 
 
 Whitby, - - 
 
 - 573 
 
 Hull, 731 
 
 Yarmouth, - 
 
 - 506 
 
 Whitehaven, 700 
 
 
 
 By estimates which have been made, assisted 
 by Edward's History of the Colonies, and 
 Chalmer's estimate of the comparative strength 
 of Great Britain, it pretty conclusively appears, 
 that Liverpool navigates one twelfth part of all 
 the shipping of Great Britain: that it has one 
 fourth part of the foreign trade of Great Bri- 
 
 B 3 
 
3 88 COMMERCE. 
 
 tain : that it has one half of the trade of the 
 city of London : and that it has one sixth p$rt 
 of the general commerce of Great Britain. 
 
 The commercial spirit of the town may be 
 estimated, by a comparison of the number of 
 armed ships that have obtained licences to sail 
 without convoy, from the different ports of the 
 kingdom. From July 1789, till the 31st De- 
 cember 1799, 396 ships of that description, 
 sailed from Liverpool : 32 from London : 50 
 from Lancaster: and 19^ from all other ports ; 
 exclusive of vessels to the Baltic and the other 
 northern ports; leaving Liverpool a balance, of 
 more than one third, over the whole of the 
 kingdom, it cannot be passed unnoticed^ that 
 the Liverpool ships Jiave in this, as well as in 
 former wars, been distinguished by skill and 
 bravery in defending themselves against their 
 enemies. It is farther to be remarked, that to 
 this spirit of enterprize, the town is chiefly 
 indebted for its present prosperity. At and 
 toward the close of the American war, the 
 merchants here, from the circumstances of the 
 times, were reduced to the utmost distress; 
 when on the commencement of the war with 
 France, the armed ships of the port captured 
 the enemy's ships, from the East and West 
 ladies, in such numbers, and of such immense 
 value, as enabled them not only to restore their 
 
COMMERCE. 189 
 
 credit and commerce, but farthermore to trade 
 upon real capital ; which had not been so gene- 
 rally the case before. Considerable acquisitions 
 have been made in the same manner, in the 
 present war : so that Liverpool, from being a 
 place of artificial credit in its commerce, now 
 possesses substantial property, without produc- 
 ing any abatement of the spirit of commercial 
 enterprize — hence its rapidly flourishing state. 
 
 The African slave trade had too long consti- 
 tuted a very considerable part of the commerce 
 of Liverpool, but the " wrongs of Africa" 
 are at length redressed. Through the virtuous 
 efforts of an administration (alas ! too short 
 lived for the interests of our country) which 
 could boast the names of Fox, Grenville, 
 Howick, and Erskine, that inhuman traffic 
 is now abolished, and the town of Liverpool 
 exonerated from the reproach of subsisting by 
 the tears and blood of the injured and oppressed 
 Africans. What effect the abolition may have 
 upon the commercial importance of the place 
 is a matter of conjecture, and different persons 
 will no doubt form very different conclusions 
 concerning it. Deeply it is to be regretted that 
 a trade, so repugnant to every principle of 
 humanity, should have been permitted, not only 
 to exist, but toencrease and ramify — to employ 
 a capital of such extent and magnitude as to 
 
190 COMMERCE. 
 
 occasion its becoming an object of such national 
 concern, as lo render its abolition a question of 
 state policy. Had our national affairs been 
 directed by wisdom, this evil would have been 
 checked in its infancy. But its continuance, 
 even against the general voice of the country so 
 plainly and loudly expressed, will remain to 
 future generations a memorial of the duplicity 
 and impolicy of the Son of the great Chatham. 
 That Liverpool will, for a while, feel the effects 
 of this abolition is obvious; but Were the conse- 
 quences of the measure to be much more cala- 
 mitous to the town than they are likely to be, 
 it would argue nothing against its wisdom and 
 propriety. That which is morally wrong can 
 never be politically right, and though a few 
 individuals or even the whole town of Liverpool 
 should suffer, millions will have cause to rejoice. 
 We, however, are not of the number of those 
 who are disposed to join in the clamorous cry 
 of ruin to the place, merely because it is depriv- 
 ed of a branch of commerce which ought never 
 to have existed. We know too well the enter- 
 prising spirit of the merchants of this port to 
 despond We look forwards with confidence 
 to the time, and are persuaded it is not far dis- 
 tant, when the port of Liverpool Will participate, 
 not only in the East India trade, but also in 
 that to Hudson's Bay and the Levant — branches 
 
INLAND NAVIGATION. 191 
 
 of commerce which have hitherto been unfairly 
 monopolized by the port of London. 
 
 INLAND NAVIGATION. 
 
 This is a subject of considerable importance 
 and intimately connected with the commerce of 
 the town. The rivers Mersey an&Irwell connect 
 the two great towns, Liverpool and Manchester, 
 by a conveyance so easy, expeditious and cheap, 
 as to subserve the interests of both, in an incal- 
 culable decree. The river Weaver connects the 
 trade of the town with the heart of Cheshire, 
 particularly with the salt works of Northwich, 
 Middlewich, Winsford, &c. The tonnage on 
 this single article, at Is. per ton, amounts to 
 16,0001. per annum. — The Sankty Canal facili- 
 tates the conveyance of coal from Ravennead, 
 &c &c. — The Duke of Briclgewaters Canal, 
 communicates with the Birmingham, Worces- 
 ter, Staffordshire, and grand trunk to London. 
 The Leeds Canal not only unites Liverpool with 
 Hull, but opens a communication between the 
 Atlantic and German Oceans, through the 
 manufacturing county of Yorkshire.— Thelioch- 
 dale Canal, lately completed, connects Hull, 
 Leeds, Wakefield, Manchester, and Liverpool, 
 and opens an intercourse between Liverpool 
 
192 LIVERPOOL, A POEM. 
 
 and the German Ocean. — The Ellesmere Canul 
 has not only opened a communication with the 
 Dee, but will also, in a very little time, do the 
 same with the Severn. These hints are suffi- 
 cient to suggest to the intelligent reader, the 
 incalculable advantages which this town derives 
 by means of its inland navigation. 
 
 The following lines originally appeared in the 
 Liverpool Chronicle of the 24th August, 
 1803. Their own merit, and the connection of 
 the subject with the contents of this little 
 volume, have induced the compiler to add them 
 to it. They may be considered an epitome of 
 the foregoing pages, as well as a compliment 
 to the town : — 
 
 JLITJEJRFOOJL, 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 On Mersey's banks, where triFo' the cultur'd plain 
 He rolls his stream contiguous to the main, 
 See Liverpool, with spiry grandeur crown'd, 
 Rise from the wave, and spread her structures round. 
 
 How different from the scene of former days ! 
 What pleasing wonder rises as we gaze I 
 Were some few years recalPd — some few short years f 
 A straggling village to the eye appears ; 
 No sculptur'd domes the rock lined margin grace, 
 Ho blooming landscape brightens round the- place*. - 
 
LIVERPOOL, A POEM. 193 
 
 No vessels crowd the unfrequented port, 
 Here only a few fishermen resort ; 
 Here only a few huts, that scarce repell'd 
 The wintry storm, the shiv'ring tenants held. 
 
 How alter 'd now, what different scenes arise ! 
 A new creation charms our wond'ring eyes. 
 Where Mersey late o'erspread his barren sands — 
 The pier projects, the tow'ring warehouse stands ; 
 The skilful artist scoops the massy rock, 
 Along the shore extends the spacious dock, 
 Fast spread the rising domes on either hand, 
 A glitt'ring city shines along the strand. 
 
 Remembrance ling'ring still delights to trace 
 Each various change that marks the alter'd place ; 
 Here, where the team now drags the lab'ring wheel, 
 Smooth o'er the current skimm'd the gliding keel ; 
 There, where the garden bloom'd, the ash tree grew, 
 Thick crowding mansions brighten to the view ; 
 Where the deep pool with idle cresses spread, 
 The sailing gull or screeching curlew fed, 
 Runs the long street, where thro' the crowded mart, 
 With deaPning thunder, rolls the. pond 'rous cart; 
 The frowning fort erects its awful pride, 
 And points its deathful engines o'er the tide; 
 Where'er the eye amid the prospect strays, 
 Some gay disguise the once known spot displays. 
 
 Nor yet the town alone the change confines, 
 With new-born charms the neighb'ring landfcape mines; 
 Increasing wealth a wider sway extends, 
 Amid the lawn the rural dome ascends ; 
 The grove, the garden, deck the gay domain, 
 The smiling hedgerow intersects the plain, 
 The cultur'd meads disclose a livelier green, 
 And every rural grace adorns the scene. 
 
194 LIVERPOOL., A POEM. 
 
 Propitious commerce hail ! thy offspring these* 
 Thine each gay charm the eye delighted sees ; 
 From thee the town in all its splendour rose; 
 From thee the plain with new-born lustre glows. 
 Those tap'ring spires that glitter from the fane, 
 Those branching oaks that intersperse the plain, 
 Those leafy arbours waving in the breeze, 
 Those splendid mansions shining thro' the trees, 
 Yon peasant's cot that lends an humble charm, 
 The waving mill, the cultivated farm, 
 The slowly gliding bark, the long canal — 
 Thine, Commerce, thine the gay creation all ; 
 'Twas thou that cloth'd with domes the barren strand* 
 And shed luxuriance round the smiling land. 
 
 Allur'd by thee, a bosom- cheering train, 
 The peaceful arts here fix'd their genial reign ; 
 Thy fost'ring care their useful labours crown'd, 
 And riches came, and plenty bloom'd around. 
 In vain the earth her embryo treasures bore, 
 In vain the cavern teem'd with richest ore; 
 'Till thy demands the wish'd-for market brought, 
 No plastic art the rude materals wrought. 
 'Till thy rewards enhanced the peasant's toil, 
 Scant and unsure the produce of the soil; 
 Flocks, herds, and forests drain'd the sallow plain, 
 Desponding labour sought employ in vain; 
 In theft experienc'd or in rapine bold, 
 Wretched and poor the idle vagrants stroll'd : 
 But into action rous'd at thy command, 
 See busy life all motion round the land; — 
 Rejoicing peasants tend their teeming farms, 
 The peopled town with warping myriads swarms ; 
 Industrious toil lays bare the pregnant mine, 
 Lash'd into form the polish'd metals shine. 
 
LIVERPOOL, A POEM. 195 
 
 To foreign ftiores the labour'd products fly, 
 Thofe foreign fliores the wifiYd exchange fupply ; 
 Some kind return the homeward veffel brings, 
 And mutual wealth from mutual traffic fprings. 
 
 Hence focial life her polifh'd manners drew, 
 Hence every art and every fcience grew ; 
 For fcience ftill on cultur'd life attends, 
 And art improves where opulence befriends. 
 Each want removed, each bufy care at reft, 
 Now other wifhes ftimulate the breaft ; 
 The thirft of knowledge thirft of wealth fucceeds, 
 Repofing eafe to contemplation leads ; 
 Surrounding objects feize the vacant mind, — 
 Earth how created, for what end defign'd ; 
 Of matter what the effence or the caufe, 
 How nature works, her principles and laws ; 
 What hidden powers the known effect perform ; 
 How fwells the tide, or what awakes the ftorm ; 
 Whence rolls the thunder, whence defcends the fho w'r : 
 How vegetation feeds each plant or flower, 
 Or what gives all creation to the fight ; 
 What the myfterious qualities of light ; 
 How objects through the eye a pafTage find, 
 And carry in their likenefs to the mind. 
 A bolder effort next the ftudent tries, 
 And aims to trace the fcience of the fkies ; 
 Thro' fpace fublime with daring Newton ibars, 
 The vaft expanfe, the boundleis plan explores ; 
 Marks by what laws the complex fyftem rolls, 
 What myftic force the circling orb controls. 
 Or turns, perhaps, his ftudies to his kind, d 
 And fcans the darker mazes of the mind ; 
 With Locke unfolds the intellectual plan, 
 The human foul, the myflery of man. 
 
 APPEJND1X 
 -s 
 
vtlRPEJVBIX. 
 
 GO REE WAREHOUSES. 
 
 There are few of the inhabitants of this coun- 
 try who have not heard of the great fire which 
 happened on the Goree, on the quay of George's 
 Dock, on the 14th of September, 1302. This 
 conflagration was by far the most tremendous 
 in its appearance, and the most extensive in its 
 devastation, which Liverpool had ever known; 
 and in respect to waste of property, one of the 
 most destructive which had happened in the 
 British dominions since the great fire of London 
 in 1666. 
 
 The scite'of these extensive piles of building, 
 after the fire had ceased, presented to the e} T e a 
 huge and shapeless mass of ruins, which seemed 
 almost to exclude the hope or possibility of re- 
 pairing the mischief, at least in any moderate 
 number of years. Every stranger who visited 
 Liverpool soon after this event, seemed convin- 
 ced that the prosperity of the town had received 
 a blow from which it could not, but at a very 
 distant period, be expected to recover. The im- 
 mense piles of warehouses then destroyed, had 
 
 s 2 
 
IDS GOREE WAREHOUSES. 
 
 for several years been the admiration of all Eu- 
 rope; and at that time were scarcely to be 
 matched in the whole world. 
 
 This extensive ruin is now not only complete- 
 ly repaired, but the whole of these ranges of 
 Luilding have risen from their ashes with im- 
 proved magnificence, and greatly augmented 
 extent. The whole of this task has been com- 
 pleted in less than four years ; and of all the 
 various proofs which have been held forth to 
 the world, of the spirit and resources of the 
 town of Liverpool, we consider this as one of 
 the most decisive and unequivocal. 
 
 At the time of the conflagration, the stone 
 basement of the whole of that beautiful range 
 which fronts George's Dock, had been erected, 
 but the superincumbent warehouses had only 
 been built on that division which reaches from 
 the bottom of Brunswick street to Water street, 
 and on about one fourth part of the other di- 
 vision. The whole of this, except the small 
 part last mentioned, was entirely demolished. 
 But the entire range from Water street to 
 Brunswick street, and from Brunswick street 
 io Moore street, is now completed, and for 
 elegance, convenience, and situation, there cer- 
 tainly is not such another range of warehouses 
 in Europe, The enormous piles which have 
 been lately erected on the West India and 
 
G0HEE WAREHOUSES. 199 
 
 Wapping Docks, in London, are indeed vastly 
 superior in size and extent, but in beauty and 
 convenience they are not to be compared. The 
 new row on the Goree is, including two divi- 
 sions, in length nearly tw T o hundred yards, of 
 a proportionable depth, and in height six sto- 
 ries, exclusive of the cellars and garrets. It is 
 built with exact uniformity, on a rustic base- 
 ment, which incloses to the front a fine flagged 
 arcade of 13 feet in width, very convenient as 
 a promenade for the merchants in wet weather. 
 This piazza is formed by alternate great and 
 small arches, the former ten feet nine inches in 
 breadth ; the latter five feet eight inches. This 
 intermixture has a pleasing appearance to the 
 eye, and detracts much from the heaviness of 
 that species of architecture. The whole pile 
 has the convenience of being open to a wide 
 pavement both in front and rear ; and the front 
 rooms of the lower story are used as counting 
 houses by the merchants who occupy the ware- 
 houses. 
 
 The noble range of buildings belonging to 
 Mr. Fiance, Mr. Dawson, and others, which 
 stood behind the pile we have just described, 
 was also entirely consumed, and the whole of 
 this ground, except a few yards, has likewise 
 been completely rebuilt. The new buildings, 
 
 it is true, do not reach the enormous elevation 
 
 S3 
 
200 GOREE WAREHOUSES. 
 
 which in the old was so much admired, but this 
 deficiency may justly be reckoned an improve- 
 ment. The extreme height of the former ware- 
 houses was not only beyond the bounds of just 
 proportion, but occasoned a variety of incon- 
 veniences ; and particularly rendered the dan- 
 ger and mischiefs of a fire much more alarming 
 and imminent. 
 
 On the whole, we cannot but repeat that we 
 consider these buildings as a most extraordinary 
 monument of the opulence and enterprize of 
 the town of Liverpool, and entitled to the 
 highest attention, both as a public ornament 
 and a commercial establishment. 
 
 INDEX, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page 
 History of the Town ..♦.,. 3 
 Increase of Population . ... # . .15 
 Survey of the Town 27 
 
 DOCKS. 
 
 the Queen's . . . , * 47 
 
 the King's ....•, 51 
 
 the Salthoufe ...... 54 
 
 the Old Dock * 55 
 
 St. George's Dock . . . . 5% 
 
 the Dock Gates 74 
 
 Observations on the Docks . . , • , 76 
 
 The Parade 60 
 
 The Old Church Yard 85 
 
 PLACES OF WORSHIP. 
 
 St. Nicholas's, or the Old Church . . . . 97 
 
 St. Peter's Church .... * 99 
 
 St. George's Church ... ... 100 
 
 St. Thomas's Church id 
 
 St. Paul's Church ... ... ib. 
 
 St. Ann's Church ....... 102 
 
 St. John's Church ... ... 103 
 
 Trinity Church i .... U t 
 
202 INDEX. 
 
 St. James's Church ' . . . , . . 103 
 
 v St. Catharine's Church • . . • . . . ib, 
 
 St. Stephen's Church . . . . . . ib, 
 
 St, Matthew's Church . , . ib, 
 
 St. Andrew's Church . . ib. 
 
 Chrift Church ....... 104 
 
 St. Mark's Church . .... 105 
 
 All Saints Church . . ib. 
 
 The Scotch Church, or Kirk . . . . • 106 
 
 Independent Chapels . . . . . . ib. 
 
 Unitarian Chapels . . . . . . .107 
 
 Sandemanian Chapel 108 
 
 Baptist Chapels . ... . . . . . ih* 
 
 Methodist Chapels . . . • . . no 
 
 Welch Methodist Chapel . . , .. • in 
 
 The Friends, or Quaker's Meeting .... ib, 
 
 Roman Catholic Chapels , . . . . \\% 
 
 Jew's Synagogue . . . . . . - . ib* 
 
 'public CHARITIES, 
 
 The Infirmary . *. . . . . . 113 
 
 Seamen's Hospital . ; . . . .115 
 
 Lunatic Hospital .. . . . . _ 116 
 
 Blue Coat Hospital ib. 
 
 Poor, or Work House . ... . . 118 
 
 Recovery Ward • ^, . , *; . • 119 
 
 Alms Houses ... . . . • , ib. 
 
 Dispensary . . . . . . . 120 
 
 School for the Blind . . . . . lzz 
 
 Institution for restoring Drowned Persons . , 138 
 
 Ladies' Charity .... ib. 
 
 Welch Charity School 154 
 
 Catholic Charity School , 155 
 
 Benevolent Society of St. Patrick . • . Ij6 
 
INDEX. £0 9 - 
 
 o 
 
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
 
 The Exchange, or Town riall i . • . 141 
 
 Exchange Buildings • ♦ • 143 
 
 Athenaeum . . . 145 
 
 Union News Room . . *47 
 
 Lyceum , ... 150 
 
 Commercial News Room • . • « . 15 * 
 
 Minerva News Room ...•••• ib» 
 
 Merchants Coffee Houfe .•••.. ib. 
 
 Underwriters Room ....*.. 153 
 
 The Panorama * ♦ • • • 1 • ib* 
 
 Corn Exchange • • • . • • • • 158 
 
 Theatre, 159 
 
 Mulic Hall . : . . . . \ 163 
 
 Affembly Rooms ...... l6$ 
 
 Baths . • . . • • . . . ib, 
 
 Mr W. Bullock's Mufeum , 167 
 
 Mr G. Bullock's Show Rooms . . . . 169 
 
 Pod Office, . . . . - . . . 170 
 
 Freetnafon's Hall . . • . . . .171 
 
 Botanic Garden 17a 
 
 Bankers . • • . ... . 173 
 
 Newfpapers . . . . . . • .173 
 
 Inns and Taverns 174 
 
 Stage Coaches and Waggons . . • • • 177 
 
 Irilh Packets ....... & 
 
 Ferry Boats . . : 1 78 
 
 Hackney Coaches . . . . • . 180 
 
 Hackney Chairmen 182 
 
 Markets . . ...... 183 
 
 Commerce 185 
 
 Inland Navigation . . . . • • 191 
 
 Goree Warehoufes , * 396 
 
 list 
 
LIST OF THE PLATES 
 
 WHICH EMBELLISH THIS WORK, 
 With Directions to the Binder for placing them, 
 
 I The Plan of the Town, to face the title 
 
 FAGE 
 
 % View of the Old Church from the Parade, 
 
 97 
 
 3 St. Peter's Church 
 
 99 
 
 4 the Infirmary and Seaman's Hofpital 
 
 113 
 
 5 the Recovery Ward, 
 
 119 
 
 6 the School for the Blind, 
 
 1%7, 
 
 7 the Town Hall, 
 
 141 
 
 8 the Athenaeum and Difpenfary, 
 
 145 
 
 9 the Union News Room, 
 
 147 
 
 lo the Lyceum, 
 
 I50 
 
 II the Welch Charity Scho©l, 
 
 154 
 
 1 2 the Theatre, 
 
 159 
 
 13 the Botanic Garden, 
 
 173. u ' 
 
Library of Congress 
 Branch Bindery, 1902 
 
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