30. On the death of Sir C. Barrow, Bart. John Pitt, Esq. 31. John Webb, Esq. 35. Henry Howard, Esq. John Pitt, Esq. on the death of John It 36. John Pitt, Esq. 42. The same. Henry Howard, Esq. The same. 46. On death of John Pitt, Esq. Robert Morris, Esq. 47. Henry Howard, Esq. Robert Morris, Esq. appears from the foregoing list that Gloucester sent members to Parliament at an early period. Whatever may be the honour or advantage of a seat in the House of Commons in modern days, either to the persons who are elected, or to the place where they are elected, it was certainly considered rather as a burthen than a privilege to as late period as the reign of James I. The burgesses were usually assessed for the expences of their representatives in Par liament; not less than two shillings per day being allowed them during the Sessions, with the additional pay of six days taken up in going, and six days in returning. Now (such is the change) the successful candidate is so far from wishing to be a burthen to his constituents, that he freely expends great sums to obtain their suffrages, and professes himself highly gratified with the honour, be it ever so dearly purchased. It is said (and the language of the charter of Charles II. intimates the same,) that the inhabitants of the county of the city, which then comprehended the hundreds of Dudstone and King's Barton, made an attempt in 1623 to elect a Knight for their in-shire, which was opposed by the city, and in order to settle all farther doubts upon the subject, it was declared in the charter that the Mayor and burgesses of the city shall in no wise be compelled to elect, nominate, and return more than two burgesses to serve and sit in Parliament, as burgesses of the city aforesaid, and Knights of the county of the same. The general qualifications of voters arise from birth or servitude; every son of a freeman, and every person who has been legally apprenticed to a freeman, and served the whole of his time, has, upon his attaining the age of twentyone years, a right to claim the privileges of a burgess, though not resident in the city; the Mayor and Corporation also exercise the power of granting the freedom of the city to any persons they may think proper, on payment of a sum of money; and to a certain number every year without purchase, who are called honorary freemen, but cannot vote for members of Parliament till a complete year after their admission. It appears also from the minutes of the Corporation Book, that persons marrying the daughters of freemen, have been allowed their freedom, on payment of five pounds, or other small fine; for some years however this claim has not been made, but if it were made, it is difficult to say what plea could be set up to justify a refusal.-Corporation Minutes, page 58, 248, &c. IMPROVED AND PRESENT STATE OF GLOUCESTER. PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ANCIENT AND MODERN, &c. The progress of improvement in the buildings of an ancient town depends on various circumstances, such as tenure, spirit and wealth of the inhabitants, trade, liberality of corporate bodies, &c. To which of these it is owing that Gloucester, notwithstanding the advances which have been made within the last forty years, still retains so many marks of former times, would be invidious to decide. Leasehold tenure is unquestionably unfavourable to build. ing, and the greater part of the property within the limits of the city is held either under the Bishop, Dean and Chapter, or Corporation, on lease for years, generally at a fixed chief rent, but subject to an increase in the fine for renewal, in proportion to the degree of improvement which is made, or to the refusal of any renewal at all. The latter indeed is not much to be apprehended from ecclesiastical corporations, which are fluctuating, and therefore disposed to take a reasonable advantage of the usual period of renewing the term; but it is otherwise with lay corporate bodies, who being merely trustees, and having no personal interest in the property, of course feel no personal inconvenience while the lease is running out. But that there is either less spirit, less wealth, or less proportion of trade than are found in other towns under similar circumstances, will hardly be conceded. In spite however of considerable discouragements, the external appearance of the houses has been much improved within the memory of many persons now living, and though several antient buildings of timber and plaster, projecting in the fronts, and inconvenient in the interior arrangements, still remain, yet many instances occur in every street where the modern style of architecture has been happily adopted, in place of that which characterized the reigns of Elizabeth and her successors. The principal improvements have been made in the removal of houses and other annoyances from the middle of the streets, which prevented the free current of air, and rendered travelling through them incommodious and dan gerous. The centre where the four streets meet was nearly filled up by the High Cross: the Westgate-street had a row of houses extending as far as the Upper College-court, and terminating with Trinity Church, a conduit, and statue of George the First. In the Southgate-street were a statue of Queen Anne, the Wheat Market, and Scriven's Conduit. In the Eastgate-street buildings projecting from St. Michael's Church, the Barley Market-house, the pillory and stocks, and at the end of all the streets a principal gate, besides other smaller gates in various parts of the town, all which have been taken down at different periods; of these we shall now speak more particularly, and first of the HIGH CROSS. This building is supposed to have been erected in the time of Richard III. who had been Duke of Gloucester, and a great benefactor to the city. Rudder supposes that it was in the reign of Henry VII. but as the statue of Richard II. was clearly to be distinguished in one of the niches, it is more probably assigned to his reign, since it is not likely that the citizens would have paid such a compliment to Richard's memory in the reign of his jealous rival and conqueror, or that his own statue would have been pmitted. This cross was 34 feet and a half high, of an actangular shape, divided into two compartments, with a castellated top, and crowned with a globe and cross. On the second story were eight canopied niches, occupied by as many full length royal statues. To the westward, stood those of John and Edward III. Eastward, Henry III. and Queen Eleanor. Northward, Queen Elizabeth and Charles I. Southward, Richard the Second and Third. In consequence of an act of parliament passed in 1749, for widening and improving the streets, it was taken down. A drawing of it was made in 1750, by Thomas Rickets, stone-mason, of Gloucester, and engraved by G. Vertue, for the Society of Antiquaries. A copy on a small scale, neatly engraved, is given in the first part of Britton's Architectural Antiquities. Leland takes notice of a building; and remarks" that the beauty of the town lies in two crossing streets, and at the place of the middle meeting is an aqueduct incallated." Upon this Rudder remarks, that the Grey Friars, in 1438, granted that water might be brought hither from Mattes-noll or Robin-Hood's (Robinswood) hill, for the use of the city. This grant, however, was made fifty years before the High Cross was built, and hence it should seem that there was a conduit on the same spot previous to that period. The TOLSEY, or TOLSEND, or TOLBOOTH, so called, according to Bishop Kennett, because it was the place where the Lord of the Manor received his dues, rents, and profits of the fair or market, called Toll. This building was anciently employed, as it is now, for the public affairs of the city. It then consisted only of the Councilchamber and the room under it (which were erected in 1602, upon the demolishing of a former edifice, erected in 1565) till 1648, when the north wall of All Saint's Church was taken away, and the whole church converted into a court for the Sheriffs and public purposes. On the site of the |