The Middlesex Archæological Society.

THE MIDDLESEX ARCH ? OLOGICAL SOCIETY .

cnniST ' s AND ST . iuimioi . o 5 tEw ' s HOSPITALS . ON Wednesday , the 13 th instant , the Middlesex Archaeological Society held a meeting m the Court-room of Christ ' s Hospital . Some improvement is being made in the approaches to the hospital . At an enormous cost the thoroughfares in the heart of London are in course of enlargement in order to prevent the congestion of the en ormous traffic of the City bit bbit the houses in street and

y Newgate- elsewhere are being pushed back a few feet ; and in the course of time these ducts will have an increased width throughout . It is a matter of regret that the extra space gained is so small that it is evidently insufficient for the probable increase of the population and trade . A few years hence , when , if other means arc not adopted ( or the passage of wayfarers , carriages , and merchandise , another congestion will have become imminent , it will be necessary , at a vastly increased cost to march the houses and shops in the leading thoroughfares still farther to the rear .

In Newgate-street , the narrow way which formerl y led to Christ ' s Hospital has been widened considerabl y ; and now the entrance to the cloister which is surmounted by the effigy of Edward VI ., and the church , are visi-• ble from the street . It was below the recently built houses on the left of this passage that some ancient arches were discovered . Here is the churchyard onone « ide of which is a building of the old , hard , dark coloured red brick ! The workmanship of tins also of

, as some gate posts , is well worth y of attention- for although this structure has stood about tiro hundred years the surface of the bricks shows not the least sign of decay ; and the ' joints are close , and little touched by the weather . The church demands a passing glance ; so also does a little cloister which is reached after passing the porter ' s lodge . Here are several una ^ iiniiii" - monuments , chiefl y remarkable for the kindl y feeling which they « ccm to show towards some of the more humble officers of the institution There i * a stone here , for example , with the following inscription •—

Near this place lies Mr . . Robert Court , Late the wardrobe keeper ; An upright and able officer . His extensive services for thirt y-one years will endear His memory to all who are well-wishers To this house .

He died 12 December , 1787 , Aged forty-eight years , " Another stone marks the resting-place of a master of the mathematical school , who bad done duty twenty-three years ; and a third , of John Wilkinson Long who had been thirty-ei ght years carpenter to the hospital , Un another stone is a very brief inscription : —

" Hero lyes a Benefactor . Let no one move his bones . " The first feeling experienced by a visitor is that of wonder at the si / e and extent ol the various buildings which cover this ground , yet are so placed