wears the medallion that was originally presented to Mr. Wade, which is also of fine gold, enamelled blue, and elegantly enriched with brilliants. On one side, is a raised figure of Venus, with a golden apple in one hand, and a rudder in the other: the motto, Venus decens. The reverse is a wreath of laurel; the motto Arbiter Elegantic Commune Consensu.

The office of Master of the Ceremonies, has, since the days of Mr. Nash, been an office of profit as well as honour. Each Master has a ball in the winter and spring seasons, and subscription-books are also laid down at the Rooms, that such of the company who are not present at the balls, may have an opportunity of shewing those gentlemen marks of their respect.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Civil Government, Corporation, Courts, Representation, Lighting, Paving, Bath Society of Guardians, &c.

TH

HE government of this city is administered by a Mayor, (whose person and office is much respected), a Recorder (Earl Camden), eight Justices, and Aldermen, (which are not to be more than ten, nor less than four), and a TownClerk, besides twenty Common Council. The present Town Clerk is Philip George, Esq. and Henry Edward House, Esq. the Chamberlain. Two Sheriffs, and two Constables are yearly chosen from among the Common Council.

His late Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales, for the respect shewn him when at Bath, presented to the Corporation a magnificent wrought gilt cup and salver, which are used at all their public entertainments.

The Corporation of Bath acted under the authority of Queen Elizabeth's charter until the year 1794; at that period they obtained a renewal of it, together with two additional grants: first, that the number of Justices, limited by the old charter to two, should be increased to nine: secondly, that in case of the mayor's absence, from whatever cause, two aldermen should be empowered to appoint a brother alderman to be sworn in mayor, during the absence of the mayor for the

Ꮐ

time being. These grants constitute the authority, power, and particular rights of the Corporation of Bath.

The judicial concerns of the city, as well as the affairs of the corporation, are determined in the Guildhall; where Sessions are held four times every year; which take cognizance of misdemeanors committed within the limits of the corporation Jiberties a Court of Record sits at the same place every Monday, which determines in all personal actions within the same jurisdiction, in case the debt or damage exceed, or amount to forty shillings. Of this Court the Town-Clerk is the Prothonotary; and the sergeants at mace, for the time being, the Attornies. There is also a Court of Requests held every We Wednesday, for the more easy and speedy recovery of small debts, under ten pounds, within the city and liberties.*

The income of the Corporation springs from different sources; the private baths in Stall-street, the rent of the Pumproom, amounting to 480l. per annum, taxes, water-rents for supplying the inhabitants with plenty of water from the neighbouring hills, ground rents, fines on the renewal of their houses, and the weighing machine in the Saw-Close.

The mayor for the time being, is allowed four hundred guineas to defray the expences of his year's mayoralty.

From time to time several public Acts have been obtained, empowering the corporation to widen and enlarge the old streets, and to open and lay out new ones; to regulate the markets, to purchase lands and buildings for improvements, to appoint four of the body corporate, who, with four of the inhabitants of each of the different parishes of Bath, chosen at their respective vestries, shall form a body of Commissioners, for paving, cleansing and lighting the city, and liberties thereof. These Commissioners shall cause the streets, lanes, &c. to be swept and cleaned daily, and levy penalties on any person who shall lay filth in the streets and also cause the amending, repairing, and enlarging the principal roads leading to Bath.

The Representatives in Parliament for the city are elected

For particulars of this Court, we refer our readers to that useful pubfication, Mr. Randolph's abridgment of the Act for the more speedy and easy recovery of Small Debts, &c. to be had of every Bookseller in Bath.

by the body corporate. The present members are Lord John Thynne, and Charles Palmer, Esq.

The Act of Parliament for paving, cleansing, and lighting the city is strictly adhered to; and a regular night-watch patroles the streets every half hour, to preserve the public peace. The commissioners are empowered to assess the inhabitants Occupying any house, shop, &c. to defray the expences thereof. The city of Bath gives the title of Marquis at present to the noble family of Thynne. In former times it conferred the ti

tle of Earl on several personages.

BATH SOCIETY OF GUARDIANS.

About eighteen years ago there was established in this city a society for the protection of persons and property from felons, forgers, receiver of stolen goods, cheats, swindlers, highwaymen, &c. and is denominated The Bath Society of Guar dians. It is supported by a voluntary subscription of the inhabitants of 5s. each member annually, and from those in the suburbs of Bath, of 7s. 6d. each, which entitles every subscriber to his expences in advertising, apprehending, and prosecuting, offenders. Mr. Meyler, bookseller, in the Abbey Church-yard, is the Secretary.

CHAP. XII.

Of the Guildhall, Post-Ofice, Prison, River, Quay, Bridges, Markets, Fairs, and Coals.

HE

The old Guildhall stood opposite the Christopher Inn, and was built af er a plan of the celebrated nigo Jones; but from its situat cing so very inconvenient for carriages passing throughty, and its offices being too small for public

business, the corporation came to a resolution of erecting the present elegant structure, the first stone of which was laid by the mayor, attended by the corporation, February 11th. 1766; but some interrupting occurrences retarded the building until the year 1775, when new designs were formed, and the edifice finished under the direction of Mr. Thomas Baldwin, architect. To the north and south extend two wings, each fifty-two feet long: the basement story consists of a noble kitchen, and other suitable offices, on which stands the ground floor, consisting of a vestibule, justiciary-room, a drawing-room for the Mayor, Town.clerk, deputy Town.clerk, and common clerk's offices; a withdrawing-room for the Jury, record room, and lobby, near the grand stair-case, for the Mayor's officers to wait in. The principal story rises above this, consisting of a common council-room, and a banqueting or ball-room, 80 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 31 feet high, and ornamented with many full length portraits of royal and noble personages; there is one of his late Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales, and over one of the chimney-pieces is preserved a most curious and beautiful head of Minerva (or as some think of Apollo), which was in the month of July, 1727, dug up at the depth of 16 feet from the surface of the ground, in Stall-street, and is ranked amongst the most curious remains that have ever been discovered within this ancient city. It is of brass gilt, and of excellent workmanship; being part of a mutillated statue, supposed to be still lying buried near the same spot. It originally had on it a crown, probably of the mural kind, the holes by which it was affixed being still visible. With this head were found at the same time several coins of Marcus Aurelius, Maximilian, Dioclesian, Constantine, &c.

The POST-OFFICE is situated in a convenient part of the city, Kingston-buildings, and is conducted with most admirable regularity.

The PRISON, situated a little to the left of Pulteneybridge, is a large and very commodious building; being 60 feet in front, and 80 in depth, and has a spacious court-yard belonging to it.

The RIVER AVON, though inferior to the Thames, is

one of the most notable, useful, and curious rivers in England. As the Thames hath on its banks the two first cities of the east, London and Oxford; so the river Avon hath on her's the two best and largest cities of the west: Bristol, the capital quay and mart of this country; and Bath the most elegant city in the kingdom, without exception. The river rises in the northern limits of Wiltshire, and runs on to the west of Breden Forest (according to Camden) to Malmsbury, where it receives another stream, which rises at Tetbury, in Gloucestershire, and nearly encircles the town of Malmsbury; thence to Dantsey, six miles from which it receives a stream that runs through Calne, and grows considerable on to Chippenham, where it has a bridge of sixteen arches over it; thence it flows to Melksham, and having received a river that rises near the Devizes, and a brook called Baron's Brook; thus increased, it goes through the middle of Bradford, under a bridge of eight arches. The author of a Tour through Britain, observes in vol. ii. p. 31: "The river Avon, a nodes and large fresh river, branching itself into many parts, and receiving almost all the rivers on this side of the hill, waters the whole fruitful vale: and the water of this river is particularly qualified for dying the best colours, and for fulling and dressing the cloth; so that the clothiers generally plant themselves on this river; but especially the dyers, as at Trowbridge and Bradford; which are the two most eminent clothing towns in that part of the vale, for the making Spanish cloths, and for the nicest mixtures."-From Bradford it leaves Wilts and enters Somerset; then receiving the Frome, from FromicSelwood, and another river, it runs towards Bath. Here it runs through a fruitful vale, bounded on each side by lofty and magnificent hills; whence the subjacent prospect of the country, the serpentine river, and the fair beautiful buildings of Bath are quite enchanting.

Here it also runs under two elegant Bridges; the first has three equal arches, with small shops and houses on it, handsomely constructed and built at the expence of William Pulteney, Esq. and is commonly called Pulteney-Bridge. · In cousequence of a bad foundation, about seven years ago, one of the piers of this bridge gave way; by which means some of the houses fell; and to prevent further damage, all the houses on that side were taken down; a wooden temporary bridge