The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-22 00:00:00

pispied, and afterwards in the army of the Florentines.,
ai.oes whom he died, in 1393. After *expiring in Italy '
she character of the beat captain of the age, Sir Rslph Back.
well, the companion in arms of Hawk wood, and who is said
p lave founded " Blackwell Hall," now the great resort of
&sews, was another early member. The name of Sir Wm.
Fitesieram, founder of the leanly of the Earls Pitzeillians,
bp already been mentioned. He was alderman of the ward
of Bread-street, and sheriff of London in 1506. His history
a courtier is teld in the life ef Hug VIII., whom
ss
be so king served. Sir William bequeathed to his brethren
hp beat standing cup," in friendly remembnume of him,
psur. The family
ir of the
m. C Earls of Craven also sprang from
am
tailor. S Wraven, son of poor parents at
Appletreewick, in Craven, Yorkshire, came to London by a
papon carrier, and entered into the service of a member of
this company. By diligence and frugality he rose to honour
sed wealth. Ho was alderman of Lime-street Ward, sheriff
p tea, and lord mayor in 1611. His son, Wm. Craven,
prime, under Gustavus Adolphus, one of the most distin-
pelted soldiers of his day. After the death of that great
commander, he served the unfortunate Queen Elisabeth of
Bohemia, sister of Charles 1., and his services are supposed
te have been privately rowerded with the hand of that
pseiu,after her return in widow hood to her native country.
ka was created E tel Craven in 1672.
The property of this company, derived mainly from Ilene.
fusions. is vo ry considerable. The school which goes by
their name is an important establishment, providing for 2.10
bosh and supported solely out of the general funds of
the company. It was originated by Sir Thomas
White, and certain other benevolent members of the COM-
pay, in the year 1561, and they purchased an estate, called
the manor of the Rose, in the parish of St. Lawrence Yount-
'try, for the purpose of establishing it. The deed of purchase
end all other doeuments retating to the foundation were
destroyed in the fire of London. The company appoint two
masters and one u•her. The school is entitled to 37 fellow-
ships, faunded by Sir Thomas White, at St. John's College,
Oxford ; one, founded by Bishop Dee, at St. John's College,
Casibridge ; two exhibitions of 261. each, one at St. John's,
Oxford, sad the other at Pembroke Hall. Cambridge ; 4i:
Kbeisedeps of 401. each at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge ;
six civil law scholarships of 501. at St. John's College, Oxford ;
end one other exhibition of uncertain value in either univer-
sity. The company administer eleven other exhibitions or
„prowl pensions to poor 'cholera at Oxford and Cam-
bridge, the amounts varying from 41. to 101. per annum.
The company formerly administered an estate for the sup-
rter the grammar school at Wolverhampton, but having
been, as they declared, " harrassed for 140 years
by 'suits by the inhabitants, and always in con-
siderable advance oa account of the charity," they
prayed the Court of Chancery, some years ago, to be relieved
boo the trust, and 40 truatees from the locality were ap-
pointed to manage the school. The company, also, admi-
nister trusts for educational purposes at Great Crosby, in
Lancashire; Audlem, in Cheshire; Ashwell, in Remised-
shire ; and Wallingford, in Berkshire. There is some doubt
whether all these charities are so well administered as they
might be. The most important clerical appointments in the
gift of the company are, the rectory of St. Martin Gatwick,
the parish in which the hall is situated, and the lectureship
of St. Michael, Crooked-lane. They have almshouses for
ee widows of decayed brethren, situated at Lee, in Kent,
which were rebuilt in 1836, at n cut of nearly 10,0001. The
OWN held by the Company fur the support of these elms-
hews produce about 7 aOl., but the expenditure exceeds this
sum, and is paid out of the general fund. The other chari-
table gifts of which the company are trustees are very nu-
merous, but the sums paid under such are small, the residue
in most caws going into the general *meta of the fraternity.
About 7001. a year is paid by the company in pensions. In
ems instances, the trust property of the company has evi-
dently been very loosely administered.
The hall of the Merchant Tailors is situate in Thread-
needle-street, and is n large but irregular brick building.
The hall itself is a line apartment, adorned with numerous
portraits of sovereigns, lord mayors, and merchant tailors.
The passed masters' arms are emhlazoned on the walls, and
behind the master's scut are inscribed the names of the
dirftreet sovereigns and distinguished personages whe have
been free of the community. The hall hu stood on its
present site since the year 1331. when the ground was pur-
chased for the company by John of Yakley, the King's
pavilion maker, of one Mr. Edmund Crepin. Previous to
this date the company hal a hall at the " trackeside of the
Red Lion, in Basinge-lane, in the ward of Cordwauyer."
When Dr. South was appointed chaplain to this company,
he took for the text of his inauguration sermon the ful
lowing:
A roomiest of all shall be sued.