pristine state of beauty and magnificence. The work of restoration commenced on the 27th of June, 1836. Besides Crosby Place, Bishopsgate Street, in the olden time, could boast more than one magnificent mansion. On the west side stood Gresham House, the princely palace of Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of the Royal Exchange and of Gresham College. His vast wealth, his munificent charities, the pleasure which Queen Elizabeth took in his society, and his being constantly employed in transacting the commercial affairs of the court, obtained for him the name of "the Royal Merchant." Not only was he the greatest merchant of his age; not only were his energies employed in extending our trade over the world, and in extricating the crown from its pecuniary trammels; but he has also the merit of having introduced into the kingdom the manufacture of small wares, such as pins, knives, hats, ribands, and other articles. Queen Elizabeth was frequently his guest, both at his country-seat, Osterly, near Brentford, and in Bishopsgate Street; and more than once we read, in the parish annals, of the "ringing of the bells," on the occasion of the Virgin Queen having been entertained under his hospitable roof. By his will, dated in 1579, the year of his death, Sir Thomas Gresham bequeathed his house in Bishopsgate Street, to be converted into a college, comprising habitations and lecture-rooms for seven professors, who were required to lecture on divinity, astronomy, music, geometry, civil law, physic, and rhetoric. Here in 1658, was founded the Royal Society, of which the great philosopher Robert Boyle, and Sir Christopher Wren, were among the original members. When Sir Kenelm Digby lost his beautiful wife, Venetia Stanley, it was in Gresham College that he excluded himself from the world, amusing himself with the study of chemistry, and with the conversation of the professors. Here this extraordinary man was daily to be seen pacing the secluded court of the College; his dress consisting of a long mourning cloak and a high-crowned hat; and his beard, which he had allowed to grow in testimony of his grief, flowing at full length on his breast. Let us not omit to mention, that at his apartments in Gresham College the celebrated mathematician and philosopher, Robert Hooke, breathed his last, in March 1702-3. Another stately mansion, which stood in Bishopsgate Street, was that of the eminent merchant, Sir Paul Pindar. Like Sir Thomas Gresham, he was distinguished alike by his vast wealth, his splendid charities, and literary taste. He is said, at one period of his life, to have been worth no less a sum than £236,000, exclusive of bad debts; and, as an instance of his munificence, it may be mentioned that he gave £19,000, in one gift, towards the repair of St. Paul's Cathedral. He appears to have originally owed his rise to his knowledge of languages; an accomplishment which, two centuries ago, was certain to lead to preferment. In the reign of James the First, he was appointed ambassador to the Grand Seignior, on which occasion he successfully exerted his talents and sound sense in extending British commerce in Turkey. At his return he brought with him a diamond valued at £30,000. The arrival of this costly bauble in England created an extraordinary sensation; and King James the First, eager to place it in the regal coronet, offered to purchase it on credit. This overture, from prudential motives, was rejected by its owner, though he allowed his sovereign the loan of it, and accordingly it was worn by him on more than one occasion of state and ceremony. It was afterwards purchased by Charles the First, and probably shared the fate of the other crown jewels, which Henrietta Maria carried with her to Holland, in 1642, for the purpose of purchasing arms and ammunition to enable her husband to carry on the war with his subjects. Probably no individual ever lent such vast sums to his sovereign as Sir Paul Pindar. Charles the First was his debtor to a vast amount, and involved Sir Paul in his own ruin. So great indeed is said to have been the revolution in his fortunes, that for a short time he was a prisoner for debt. When he died, so bewildered was his executor, William Toomes, at the confused state in which he found his friend's affairs, added to the multiplicity of his engagements and responsibilities, that it is said to have been the cause of his putting an end to his existence. A part of the princely residence of Sir Paul Pindar (No. 169), though strangely metamorphosed by time, stucco, and paint, may still be seen opposite to Widegate Street. Close by, in Half-Moon Street, running from Bishopsgate Street into Long Alley, may be traced a singular Gothic tenement, which, according to tradition, was the residence either of the gardener, or lodge-keeper, of Sir Paul Pindar. In the immediate neighbourhood is the church of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, in which may be seen the monument of the princely merchant. It is sufficiently simple, and bears the following inscription. Sir Paul Pindar, Kt., His Majesty's Ambassador to the Turkish Emperor, He died the 22nd of August 1650, ING'S, SIR THOMAS GRESHAM'S,-RICHARD BANCROFT's.—HOUNS SHOREDITCH. CHURCH.-PERSIAN'S TOMB.— CURTAIN THEATRE. ARTILLERY GROUND. To the East of Crosby Square is an insignificant thoroughfare, which leads us at once from the noise and turmoil of Bishopsgate Street into an area of considerable size, in which stands the ancient and interesting church of St Helen's the Great. Were it from no other circumstance than that it contains the mouldering remains and costly monuments of more than one princely possessor of Crosby Place, St. Helen's would be well worthy of a visit. But it has other and far more interesting associations. It was probably not long after the conversion of Constantine the Great to Christianity,-when that unlooked-for event burst the fetters of the primitive Christians, and drew them from their caves and hiding-places to adore their Redeemer in the |