her mother bore her, that the must first go and qualify, before she could be admitted; fo the reverend hittorian probably meant, that a Scotch virgin must ceafe to be one before she can become a faint. But we will let this passage remain as we found it, and refume our fubject.

At the head of Manor-chare, but a little lower down, on the opposite fide, is what is called Lowbridge, or Nether-dean-bridge. It was formerly a conveyance to St. Nicholas' church-yard, over the Dean. The bridge was strongly cramped with iron, and was evidently of Roman work, as the wall extended at this place, by St. Nicholas' church-yard.--This narrow street confifts principally of shops for old cloaths, &c.

A little lower down, on the same fide, the Painter-Hugh, or Heugh, by a steep descent, conducts us to nearly the foot of Dean-street. There is a flight of stone steps on one fide, for the accommodation of foot paffengers. Mr. Bourne derives this fingular name from painter, a rope by which boats are moored or made faft; and hugh, or heugh, a steep hill or bank. This indeed may have been the occasion of this compound name, in old times; as it is well known that, before the river was embanked by the Quay, and adjacent buildings, the tide flowed up the Dean to the High-bridge.

On the oppofite fide, lower down, is Silver-ftreet, which leads down a very steep hill, from Pilgrimftreet to Pandon, which was anciently called AllHallow-gate; it was likewife called Temple-gate. No doubt it had these names from its vicinity to AllSaints' church, The late Mr. Stokoe, attorney, who lived in Silver-street, had a title-deed, in which it is

there called "Jew-gate, on the north fide of the same street." It is probable that this street was called Jew-gate, from its being the residence of Jews, in former times: and dealing, as that people still do, in filver ware, or plate, gave it the name of Silver-street.

At the very fouthern extremity of Pilgrim-ftreet, to the right hand, is another steep street, called the Dog-bank: it joins Cow-gate, which runs into the Broad-chare. Here old cloaths, kitchen utenfils, furniture, &c. are fold.

On the right hand, at the foot of Pilgrim-ftreet, is the Butcher-bank. It is fo named from numbers of that profeffion dwelling here, and having their stalls and flaughter-houses in it. There is a daily fleshmarket kept in this place; which is found neceffary, as there is no butcher-meat fold in the great Fleshmarket but on Saturdays; and from the number and opulence of the inhabitants, the demand for this necessary article is very great.

But before we quit describing the public streets, and proceed to the ancient town of Pandon, and its vicinity, we, with high fatisfaction, come to delineate the new ones of

MOSLEY-STREET AND DEAN-STREET.

In no instance of improvement, in this increafing town, have the magistrates been more fuccessful, than in this alteration made on the public passages. It is in the recollection of almost every one, what miferable communications there were, in former times, between Pilgrim-treet and the Flesh-market. The alleys were all narrow, dark, and terminated, mid-way between these two principal streets, by a steep, fright

ful

ful descent, called a Dean, a receptacle of all the filth, butcher's offals, &c. of the neighbourhood; offenfive to all the fenfes, and highly injurious to health, especially in fummer, when the air wascharged with the putrid effluvia steaming from this fink of filthiness!

For above forty years back, (as we are informed by an intelligent friend) the magiftrates had it in contemplation to remedy this intolerable grievance, and rid the town of so great a nuisance. For this purpose, they made several purchases of houses, which they meant to pull down, and form a communication between the extremities of the town, from the town-wall above Sandgate, (which they have now actually begun in that quarter) to Weftgate-street. The execution of this design was retarded by the unforeseen catastrophe of the falling of the old bridge over the Tyne; and urgent neceffity requiring a new one, near thirty thousand pounds of the public revenue were expended in finishing that extenfive undertaking.

However, in the year 1789, the corporation fet ferioufly about profecuting the intended improvements. For this purpose, an act of parliament was obtained. The design was committed to Mr. David Stephenson, architect; who, in the execution of it, has done much honour to himself, and the most fubstantial service to the public at large: and it is on this occafion we take an opportunity of returning that gentleman our fincere thanks for his many informing communications, with which we mean to enrich our work. This truly excellent improvement was finished to the highest fatisfaction, both of strangers and of the inhabitants.

This ftreet, extending from Pilgrim-ftreet to the foot of the Flesh-market, is handsome and well-built, of great width, with a foot-way of flag-ftones on each fide, which perfectly secures passengers against danger from the numerous waggons, coaches, and car. riages, which are incessantly paffing and repaffing.

It is called Mosley-ftreet in compliment to the late very worthy alderman of that name; who, though he did not shine as a speaker, in the magisterial body, yet having an ample fortune, and no direct heirs, he advanced large sums to defray the expences attend. ing these useful works.

On both fides of Mosley-street, is one continued row of elegant shops and warehouses. About the middle of the north fide of this street is a neat Theatre. Separated from it by a large area for the conveniencies of the mail coaches, is the Post-office. See Public Buildings.

To complete the design, the Dean was arched over, and the valley filled up, upon which was formed a convenient and beautiful street, wide, airy, and well paved with a broad foot_way of fine flagstones on each fide. What a transformation! formerly a horrid, vast, nauseous hollow, changed as by magic, into a fair row of magnificent houses, shops, and depofitaries of rich and valuable commodities, the productions of every region of the globe ! " All is the gift of industry," says the Poet, which is wonderfully realized in the construction of these two streets.

The south-end, or foot of Dean-street, falls into the street called the Side. It is so named from its floping situation down from the castle, with which the upper part of the houses and narrow dark lanes are joined.

S

joined There is a steep descent from the head of the Side to about the middle of it. About half-way down, it becomes more than double the width of the higher part. There was a postern, called the Eastern-postern of the castle, that communicated by a very narrow and steep flight of steps with the Side, a little above the middle of that street. It is vulgarly called the Dog-loup, or leap. At the Foot of the Side in the middle of the street, is Cale-cross. See Public Buildings.

From the foot of Dean-ftreet, to the foot of the Butcher-bank, the Side is large and extensive, abounding with shops, warehouses, compting-houses, &c. it is one of the most public streets of the

town.

At the lower end of Manor_chare, there is a large area, nigh to which, says Bourne, was a place called the Island in former times, and in times of that historian it was called Alvey's Island, from the proprie tor's name, Alvey. It was so named, because upon the return of the tide, which regularly flowed here, it left a hill of fand which it first surrounded, and then overflowed. The fish-market was held here, and the gate adjoining was called Fishergate, Before the alterations made about Stock-bridge, there were several streets, which do not now exift; particularly one named Cross-well-gate. It is reported, says Bourne, that the dwelling-house of the famous Roger Thornton was between Stock-bridge and Blyth's Nook. And incredible as it may appear, that incomparably the greatest man in Newcastle should live in such an obscure spot, yet he seems to prove the fact, by observing that in his own days, Lord Scar