Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.—­The well known “Cider Cellar” in this lane was opened about 1730.  There is a curious tract, entitled Adventures under Ground, 1750, which contains some strange notices of this “Midnight Concert Room.”

Salisbury Change.—­Cibber, in the amusing Apology for his Life, has the following:—­

“Taste and fashion, with us, have always had wings, and fly from one public spectacle to another so wantonly, that I have been informed by those who remember it, that a famous puppet-show in Salisbury Change (then standing where Cecil Street now is), so far distressed these two celebrated companies, that they were reduced to petition the king for relief against it.”

The New Exchange.—­A good description of this once popular mart may be found in Lodwick Rowzee’s Treatise on the Queene’s Welles, Lond. 1632.  It is as follows:—­

“We went to see the New Exchange, which is not far from the place of the Common Garden, in the great street called the Strand.  The building has a facade of stone, built after the Gothic style, which has lost its colour from age, and is becoming blackish.  It contains two long and double galleries, one above the other, in which are distributed several rows great numbers of very rich shops, of drapers and mercers, filled with goods of every kind, and with manufactures of the most beautiful description.  There are, for the most part, under the care of well-dressed women, who are busily employed in work, although many are served by young men, called apprentices.”

The Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden.—­In 1763 appeared a small volume under the title of Memoirs of the Bedford Coffee House, by Genius, dedicated to the most Impudent Man alive.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

ORIGINAL LETTER OF PETER LE NEVE.

The following was a letter from Le Neve to a Mr. Admall, a herald painter at Wakefield, found in a book of arms belonging to the latter, which came into my possession a few months ago.

E. HAILSTONE.

    “Mr. Admall,

“I understand by Mr. Mangay, my deputy at Leeds for the West Riding, that you contemn my lawfull autority of Norroy King of Arms, and have done and will doe as you say, things relating to heraldry, contrary to my prohibition, &c.; these are therefore to acquaint you, that if you continue in the same mind and will usurp on my office, I intend to make you sensible of the wrong you doe me in my office, by taking out process against you, and making you pay for your transgression.  I shall give you no hard words, but shal be as good as my word if there is law in England to restrain you; so chose whether you will due to me good or evill; you shall find me according your friend or open enemy.

    “PETER LA NEVE, Norroy.