*WESTMINSTER, (Middlesex) which has for so many years been the seat of our monarchs, of our law tribunals, and of the high court of Pt. which boasts of a magnificent abbey, where most of our sovereigns have had their scepters and sepulchres; a hall, the most spacious in Europe, if not in the world, without one pillar to support it; of an illustrious school, which has produced men of the greatest learning, and the highest rank both in Ch. and state; of a bridge, which for its strength, elegance, and grandeur has not its equal; of noble squares and fine streets of grand buildings, many of them resembling palaces; a place of so much note and dignity merits a much more ample description than will be expected in this work; so that we can only mention these few particulars. In 1541 Hen. VIII. upon the surrender of William Benson, the last abbot, made it a see of a Bp. with a dean and 12 prebendaries, and appointed the whole Co. of Middlesex (except Fulham bel. to the Bp. of London) for its diocese. By this means Westminster became a city, as all Ts. do upon their being constituted the sees of Bps. and according to Ld.-Ch.-Just. Coke nothing else is required to make them such: But as Westminster never had more than one Bp. viz. Thomas Thurleby, because this Bpk. was soon after dissolved by Edw. VI. it could no longer be properly called a city, though by the publick complaisance it has retained that name ever since; but in acts of Pt. it is stiled the city or Bor. of Westminster. How much the present is superior to the ancient state of it, may partly appear from the following paragraphs in Mr. Norden's account of it, published in the R. of Q. Eliz. " This citie of Westminster " is knowne to have no generall trade, " whereby releefe might be administred " unto the common sort, as by " marchandize, clothing, or such like, " whereby the common wealth of a " citie is maineteined, and the inferiour " people set to worke; had they " not, therefore, some other meanes, " the common sort could not be susteined. " The first and principal meane, " whereby they are releeved, is hir " Majestie's residence at Whitehall or " S. Jeames, whence if hir grace be " long absent, the poore people forthwith " complaine of penury and want, " of a hard and miserable world. And, " therefore, doe the people in manner " generally seeme to power forth dayly " petitions, that it might please God " to draw hir Majestie to be resident " at one of these places, whereat they " rejoyce, and fare long the better. " The like desire of hir royal presence " have other places, where hir Majestie's " palaces are placed. And hir " Majestie, in gracious consideration of " theeir estates, doth visit them, as it " were alternis vicibus, by turne at " hir Highnes pleasure, more for the " comfort and releese of the poor people, " than for hir own private delight. " Therefore, ye citizens of " Westminster, and other, whatsoever, " forget not to be thankfull to " the Almightie for hir royall presence, " hartely praying the King of " Kings to mainteine hir a prospering " Queene long and many yeeres, and " every faithfull hart will joyne with " you, having also the benefite of hir " blessed inclination." As for the government of Westminster, it was before the Ref. subject, both in spirituals and temporals, to its lordly abbots; but by act of Pt. the 27th of Q. Eliz. it is now governed by a high-steward, an officer of great state and dignity, and commonly one of the prime nobility, chosen by the D. and C. for life; an under-steward, who likewise holds that honourable office for life; a high-bailiff, named by the D. and C. and confirmed by the high-steward, for life: It has also 16 burgesses and as many assistants, and a high- constable chose by the burgesses at the court-leet, which is held by the high-steward, or his deputy. Out of the 16 burgesses are chose 2 chief burgesses, viz. 1 for each of the two precincts. The D. and C. are invested with an eccleliastical and civil jurisdiction, within the liberties of Westminster, St. Martins le Grand, and some Ts. in Essex, exempted both from the jurisdiction of the Bp, of London and Abp. of Canterbury; and from the sentence of the commissary, in the case of probate of wills, &c. there is no appeal, but to the K. in his high court of chancery. Besides St. James's palace, built by Hen. VIII. here were two other beautiful palaces within the precincts of Westminster, viz. Whitehall, built by cardinal Wolsey, and burnt down all but the banquetting-house in 1697; and Somerset-House, built by the D. of Somerset, uncle to Edw. VI. protector of England, about the year 1549. In Q. Eliz's. R. it had but 4 p.-Chs. besides St. Peter's, within its liberty, viz. St. Margaret's, St. Martin's near Charing-Cross, the Savoy-Ch. and St. Clement's-Danes; but now it has two p.-Chs. in that called the city, viz. St. Margaret's and St. John's; and 7 p.-Chs. in its liberty, viz. St. Clement's-Danes, St. Paul's, Covent-Garden, St. Mary's le Strand, St. Martin's in the Fields, St. Ann's, St. James's, and St. George's, Hanover-Square. In St. Margaret's p. are 3 Mts. a hay-Mt. one for flesh, &c. and another for fish. The other remarkables in this, and all the ps. are mentioned in Vol. I. of the Compleat System of Geography; to which the curious are referred. It first returned members to Pt. in the 1st of Edw. VI. The number of its houses may be estimated, from a review of the last poll for Westminster and its liberties; by which it appears here are the greatest number of voters of any place in the Km. except the Co. of York; for, upon shutting the books, the numbers appeared for Ld. Trentham 4811, and for Sir George Vandeput 4654, which added together makes 9465. The precinct of St.Martin's le Grand, though in the city of London, is subject to the city or Bor. of Westminster; whose deputy steward holds a court of record here once a week, for the trial of capias's, attachments, and all personal actions; this precinct has therefore sometimes claimed a right to vote for its members of Pt. but it has not always been allowed. The great hall of Westminster, as to whose founder historians are not agreed, is 100 foot wide in the roof, 300 foot long, and 90 foot high. Its noble bridge, which was begun in June 1738, was first opened for foot-passengers, and for horses and carriages Nov. 17, 1750. It is 1223 foot long, 44 broad, and consists of 13 arches, of which the centre arch is 76 foot wide. It is built chiefly of stone from Portland and Purbeck, and has several watchouses on it, besides alcoves for shelter from rain, &c. 12 watchmen do duty on it (6 from each side of the water) and 32 lamps, with each 3 burners to light it.