upon a more extensive scale than that of the other societies in Newcastle, as they do not limit their cha rity to a trifling legacy, but they fettle upon the widow of a deceased brother ten, twelve, or fifteen, and foon they expect twenty pounds per annum for life. An aged or fuperannuated member who has paid into the fund for a certain number of years, enjoys a fettlement also, which relieves his wants in his infirm

state.

Their annual meeting is always at Robson's inn, Pilgrim-ftreet; where they dine, and enjoy that refined sociality peculiar to enlightened minds. It is then generally after an enlivening glass or two, that any brother who intends publishing on any branch of science, proposes his intended work to the society, when those who approve of it generally subscribe their names in its recommendation to the public, and adopt it in their own feminaries.

His grace the duke of Northumberland is the pa. tron of this society, and the rev. Mr. Farrer, prefident. To the credit of the latter gentleman it deserves to be mentioned, that to his abilities and conduct in the important office which he fills, the society is much indebted for its respectability and its present very flourishing state.

We now conclude our account of these charitable inftitutions; only observing, that they appeared to be of fuch consequence as to attract the attention of the legiflature, who have, by an act, sanctioned the regulations of these societies, by paffing a law in their favour.

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CHAR

CHRTERS, PRIVILEGES, &c.

FROM the antiquity, situation, fortifications, public buildings and institutions of Newcastle, we proceed to give an account of its charters, privileges, civil government, incorporated companies, trade and com

merce.

CHARTERS OF NEWCASTLE.

Exclufive charters to incorporated bodies of fubjects, have been granted by the kings of England from a very remote period, and particularly to the townsmen of Newcastle upon Tyne.

William the Conqueror, and his fons, were, on fome occafions, munificent, and granted many privileges to the town of Newcastle; but, although Doomfdaybook gives an account of the rents, property, and emoluments, not only of all the individual freeholders in the realm, but also of the more opulent boroughs and towns, and of this town among others; yet we find no account of their enjoying any charter of exclufive privileges, during the reigns of the Norman line.

The first hint we have of any grant of this nature, is in the reign of Henry II. who, Anno Domini 1162, confirmed to the townfmen of Newcastle their estates, and exempted them from tolls and duties. It is therefore a mistake in some to say, that this town had no privileges till the reign of king John. And befides, in the third year of king John's reign, which

was

was more than ten years before the ton had a charter from that king, the town had great privileges; the men of Newcastle upon Tyne (as mentioned in that year in the great roll of Northumberland) paid one hundred marks and two palfreys: fo having the town in their hands by the "old farm;" viz. as is there faid fifty pounds and ten shillings encrease, for confirmation of their liberties, which they had by the charter of Henry II. the king's father. Bourne, p. 184.

But the most explicit charter was that which was granted by king John, A. D. 1212, in the 14th year of his reign, confirming to the burgesses their rights and privileges, conferred upon them both by his father Henry II. and by himself. And, as Mr Gardiner, in his "England's Grievances Discovered," says that this was the first charter of Newcastle, we shall give the following abstract of it from that work.

" KING JOHN, by his letters patent, dated the

一,

day of

in the 14th year of his reign, and in the year of our Lord 1212, granted, demifed, and confirmed, to the honest men of Newcastle upon Tyne, and to their heirs, his town of Newcastle upon Tyne, with all the appurtenances, to fee-farm, for one hundred pounds, to be rendered to the faid king and his heirs, at his exchequer, (to wit) at the feast of Easter, fifty pounds, and at the feast of St. Michael other fifty pounds; faving to the faid king, the rents, prizes, and affizes in the port of the faid town. Further he grants to them, and confirmeth one hundred and ten fhillings and fixpence of rent, which they have by the gift of the faid king, in the faid town, of escheats, to be divided and affigned to them, who loft their rents by occasion of a ditch or trench, and of the new work made under the castle, towards the river or water, fo that thereof they might have the more, that loft the more, and they that loft the lets should have the less. He also granted to them, for him and his heirs, that in nothing they should be anfwerable to the fheriff, nor to the conftable, for those things which belong to them, as the faid charter teftifieth. Wherefore he will

eth and firmly commandeth, that the said men, and their heirs, may have and hold the fame town, with its appurtenances, to fee-farm, for the faid hundred pounds yearly to be paid, as is aforefaid, well and in peace, freely, quietly, and entirely, with all liberties and free customs, which they were wont to have in the time of king Henry II. father of the faid king John, as by the faid letters patent appeareth."

King Henry III. by his charter, made it a " mayor town," being governed before by four bailiffs : and to his other royal favours added this gracious one, (fays Wallis) a grant, during pleasure, of all the demefne-lands belonging to the Castle-field, containing 850 acres, for free pasture, with liberty to dig coals and ftones, and to difpofe of them for their use to the best advantage, upon payment of twenty shillings into the exchequer.

His bounty did not stop here. He gave them alfo a field called the Forth, containing eleven acres, and then valued at twelve pounds per annum; for which they were to pay forty shillings. And that no Jew was to reside among them. Bourne, Wallis, &c.

King Edward I. directed a writ of fummons to Newcattle, in the tenth year of his reign, 1282, to fend two members to parliament; which is the earlieft record we have of boroughs fending any; or indeed of the commons fitting, except those summoned under Montfort's ufurpation, in the name of the king's father, king Henry III.

King Edward III. confirmed the franchises of this town, and granted it the perpetuity of the moor, and lands called Castle-moor and Castle-fields, for the payment of forty fhillings annually into the exchequer. He exempted Newcafile from the jurifdiction of the admiralty of England; gave permiffion to purchase lands to a certain value; confirmed several by-laws

of

of the magistrates, for well-governing and improving it; and also issued an order for the manner of electing the mayor, magiftrates, and other officers; and another concerning the measure to be used by the venders of coals.

King Richard II. confirmed the charters formerly granted to Newcastle, in the first year of his reign, 1378. He also afterwards granted some pieces of ground, for the conveniency of making high-ways and a bridge: and for its greater honour, he alfo granted, A. D. 1390, that a fword, the ensign of royal state and authority, should be carried before the mayor.

From the reign of Richard II. to the 15th century, upon the most sedulous examination of the various grants, and resumptions of privileges to and from the town of Newcastle, we can difcover nothing interesting under these despotic reigns; but that still the corporation and free burgesses were insensibly acquiring fresh acceffions to their privileges, from the throne, while they were rapidly extending their commerce, and improving their resources of wealth and opulence at home. But it was not till the reign of Elizabeth that Newcastle obtained a charter, not only confirming all those granted in their favour in former reigns, but, as that difcerning princess, with fatisfaction, observed the vast confequence and advantages whichthe crown then derived, and if properly cherished, would still further derive, from the various branches of their encreasing trade, she granted them a new charter, comprehending and confirming all their privileges and immunities.

As this charter of Elizabeth, properly speaking, gave folidity to the civil constitution of this opulent corpo

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