spirited petitioner, No, I wont," said Philip. Then μη Βασιλευητο. King it no more, added she. The reproof had the desired effect, for he inftantly examined the cafe with patience, and redreffed her wrongs. In the Manfion-house, such a stern reply is seldom heard, to the meanest petitioner. Indeed, as the magistrates of this town are almost all men of business, and as all classes of the inhabitants are deeply concerned in trade in its numerous ramifications, they confider (and justly too) that the interests of the governors and the governed are infeparably connected. We have rather anticipated in a former part of our work, fome observations on the furniture, regalia, old armour, rooms of state, and of convenience in the Manfion-house. We shall not therefore repeat any further details of these articles of lefs concern. We have just only to add, that for the fake of fome improvements in the front of the Manfion-house, some years ago, the corporation purchased the building eastward of it, where they erected what is now called the new room, which is very fpacious, where public entertainments at the afsizes, quarter sessions, guilds, &c. are given by the mayor. CUSTOM-HOUSE. The house which many years ago was appropriated to receiving the customs, was at the head of the quay. It appears to have been of great antiquity, and probably built almost as early as the embanking of the river. But in proportion as commerce rapidly increafed, it was found inconvenient. The corporation therefore, having procured a central situation on the middle of the quay, the workmen begun on the 20th of May 1765, to clear the ground for building a new Custom-house. This was accordingly finished. It has a handfome front towards the river, is four stories high, and contains a great many feparate and convenient apartments, for transacting the extenfive bufiness daily done. ASSEMBLY ROOMS. Trade has long been the principal pursuit of the people of this town, By the tenor of the indentures of the youth, (as we will afterwards see) by their prescribed dress, victuals, and above all, the powerful influence of example, in which they had constantly set before their eyes, the frugality, industry, charity, and fimplicity of the manners of their virtuous parents, the richness of attire, the foft and delicious Inxuries of life, and chiefly the more elegant refinements were confined to the higher ranks of fociety; and therefore balls, assemblies, masquerades, routs, &c. were kept from the eyes and ears of the youth of this town with a wary and jealous attention. So that for many years the room appropriated to dancing, affemblies, &c. was in the Groat-market, (for which fee page 120) and is far from being either very extenfive, or seemingly adapted for a concourse of polished and opulent people. It has, indeed, been converted of late, as we will fee, to a purpose truly useful. But in proportion as civilization, learning, and foreign intercourse, diffused their influence, a taste for the polite amusements of the drama, the dance, the polish of refined manners, rapidly took place in Newcastle. It It was therefore a general sentiment to have places destined to these elegant amusements. The Affembly Rooms were for those purposes agreed to be built by subscription. The situation fixed on by the committee, was on part of the garden belonging to the vicarage of this town, near the head of Westgatestreet. For this purpose an act of parliament was obtained 14 George III. to enable Doctor Fawcett, then vicar, to grant a lease of some part of the ground belonging to this vicarage for 999 years, referving to himself and successors, an annual ground-rent of twenty pounds. A. D. 1773, the subscription for building the new Affembly Rooms was opened, when the corporation of this town subscribed 200 pounds, and numbers, both in the town and neighbouring counties, came forward with their support. The building was finished and cost in all 6701 pounds. * This monument of the taste and liberality of the people of this town was built under the direction of the late Mr. William Newton of Charlotte-square, architect, and surpasses every other public building in * Monday May 16, 1774, at noon, the foundation stone was laid by William Lowes, Esq. in the presence of a great company of ladies and gentlemen. A plate with the following infcription was put under the stone. In an age When the polite arts By general encouragement and emulation, |