to change them for licences as they are now altered."

The card-players and venders of cards were desired to take notice in 1684, "That for the better encouragement of the manufacture of making of playing cards in England (wherein many hundred poor people are employed) by direction of his Majesty's letters patent (pursuant to charters and directions of the late King James and King Charles), an office is erected in Silver-street, in Bloomsbury, for sealing all playing cards of English make (which will be there first surveyed), that the frauds practised in the making of English cards may be prevented, and the foreign cards (which are brought in contrary to law) may be discovered.

"The price of all cards will be put upon each pack, to the end that none under pretence of sealing the cards may sell the same at dearer rates; and it will thereby appear, that the very best cards shall be sold in London by the last retailer at four pence the pack, and others at cheaper

rates."

Thomas Neale, Esq. groom-porter to the King, received authority by letters patent, a short time after, to license, regulate, or suppress, any gaminghouse; and to prosecute all those who permitted rafflings, ordinaries, or other public games, with out first obtaining his licence.

In the year 1687, a person who called himself an Engineer, exhibited a model of Versailles, made of copper, and gilt with silver and gold, and the gardens and water-works. The dimensions were twenty-four feet by eighteen, and it was to be seen at Exeter 'Change.

Mr. Killigrew published a notice in the London Gazette of February 2, 1687, in these words: "Whereas his late Majesty, of blessed memory, by his letters patent, dated the 6th of May, in the 20th year of his reign, did grant unto Charles Killigrew, Esq. the office of master of the revels and masques, with power and authority to license all stage-plays, dancers of the ropes, and other public shews, &c.

"And whereas Mr. Symms, comptroller of the revels, hath pretended to do the same, by giving of licences, which hath lately been adjudged against Mr. Symms to be the sole right of Mr. Killigrew to grant such licences; of all which it is thought fit to give public notice, to prevent the abuses which have been formerly committed through mistake of the person to whom they might address for licences."

Mr. Abel the celebrated musician, and one of the Royal band, entertained the publick, and demonstrated his loyalty on the evening of June 18, 1688, by the performance of an aquatic con

cert.

E 2

The

The barge prepared for this purpose was richly decorated, and illuminated by numerous torches. The musick was composed expressly for the occasion by Signior Fede, master of the Chapel Royal, and the performers, vocal and instrumental, amounted to one hundred and thirty, selected as the greatest proficients in the science.

"All ambitious," says the author of Public Occurrences, "hereby to express their loyalty and hearty joy for her Majesty's safe deliverance, and the birth of the Prince of Wales."

The first performance took place facing Whitehall, and the second opposite Somerset-house, where the 'Queen Dowager then resided. Great numbers of barges and boats were assembled, and each having flambeaux on board, the scene was extremely brilliant and pleasing.

"The musick being ended, all the nobility and company that were upon the water gave three shouts to express their joy and satisfaction; and all the gentlemen of the musick went to Mr. Abel's house, which was nobly illuminated, and honoured with the presence of a great many of the nobility; out of whose window there hung a fine machine full of lights, which drew thither a vast concourse of people.

"The entertainment lasted till three of the clock the next morning, the musick playing and the trumpets sounding all the while: the whole con

cluding

cluding with the healths of their Majesties, the Prince of Wales, and the Royal family."

The harmony and serenity of the above innocent amusement originated from the same cause, which, in more unenlightened minds, produced very opposite passions.

On the evening of the 30th of June, the publick thought proper to celebrate the discharge of the seven Bishops by making of bonfires in the streets. We have already seen that Government wished to prevent this method of rejoicing; and, on this occasion, a constable, and Madson, the head beadle of St. Clements, attended a fire in Beaufort-street to prevent disorders, when the mob thinking proper to command a coachman passing to take off his hat, and cry "God bless the Bishops!" the constable bade him go on.

This opposition to their pleasure was immediately resented by the populace, and a contest ensued, in which the guardians of the night were successful; but some villains returned to the charge with half-pikes and pistols: a shot from one of the latter was fired with so good an aim, that Madson received it in his back, whence it passed upwards, and was extracted under his left breast. He died on the 4th of July,

The Thames seems to have been the favourite theatre for the exhibition of the usual testimonies of loyalty in the reign of James II. The middle

of

of July, 1688, was appointed for the celebration of the Queen's recovery from her accouchement, when a magnificent display of fire-works were prepared on the river; "there being," says Larkin in his Public Occurrences, " amongst other things two female figures, one with a coronet on her head, representing Firmness, or Stability of Empire, the other Plenty, and a third male one betokening Bacchus.-Vast preparations are made, and great sums of money given, for conveniences to see the fire-works to-morrow night (July 18th), which, for cost, quantity, and art, are perhaps the most magnificent that ever were shewn in the world."

The impartial Account of remarkable Accidents, &c. mentions, that the explosion of the fire-works gave great satisfaction to the thousands who witnessed it; and asserts, that the numerous sky and ground rockets or water lances, balloons, fire-boxes, &c. were directed with such skill, that no kind of injury occurred to the spectators.

The whole was concluded by repeated discharges of cannon, which were answered by others. from the ships below London bridge.

We are informed, that Charles II. often amused himself during his leisure hours with feeding and observing his aquatic and other birds kept in St. James's Park; and the London Gazette of October 30, 1690, gives a farther illustration of the

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