July 1. 1691. By virtue of a patent granted by King Charles II. for a new invention of lamps with convex glasses

DIEV ET MON DROIT

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

royal blazon or coat of arms JULY 1. 1691. By Virtue of a Patent granted by King Charles II. for a New Invention of LAMPS with Convex Glaſſes.

THE PROPRIETORS in the ſaid Patent have hitherto undertaken to Light the City of London and Suburbs, on the Terms following:

I. Each Houſe to pay Five Shillings at ſetting up the Lamps, as a Fine for Five Years (being inſtead of the Charge of providing their own Lanthorn), and the Undertakers to keep the ſaid Lamps in repair for Five Years at their own proper Coſts and Charges. II. Each Houſe to pay one Half-penny for every Dark Night the Lamps ſhall be Lighted, and the Undertakers to keep them burning from Six to Twelve at Night.

NOW, the ſaid PROPRIETORS having conſidered the taking of Five Shillings Fine in hand for Five Years, doth not ſo well anſwer their Intentions for the Good of the Inhabitants, becauſe many may die, and many others may have occaſion to remove, before the Five Years are expired, and ſo loſe the benefit of their Fines.

THEREFORE, for the greater Eaſe and Accommodation of the Inhabitants, the ſaid PROPRIETORS do Propoſe and Undertake henceforward to Light the Inhabitants of London, Middleſex and Surrey, from Michaelmas to Lady-day, every Dark Night, on the Terms following:

I. That upon ſetting up and lighting every Lamp, the Inhabitants ſhall each of them pay Six-pence as a Fine, and Two Shillings and Six-pence Rent, for Lighting the firſt Quarter, ending at Chriſtmas; and at Chriſtmas ſhall pay Six-pence for a Fine, and Two Shillings and Six-pence Rent, for Lighting the ſecond Quarter, ending at Lady day, (which is a Half-penny per Night for Lighting every Dark Night, and one Shilling Fine for that Year.) II. That for every Year of the four following Years, the Inhabitants are to pay Six-pence Fine at Michaelmas, upon the firſt Lighting, with Two Shillings and Six-pence for the Quarters Rent due at Chriſtmas following; and at Chriſtmas other Six-pence Fine, with Two Shillings and Six-pence for the ſecond Quarters Rent, due at Lady day. III. The PROPRIETORS do not require any Perſon to take Leaſes of them, but only to ſubſcribe their Names to their Propoſals.

Note, In Squares, and places where the Houſes are very large, there the PROPRIETORS are to be at liberty to agree with the Inhabitants upon reaſonable Terms, proportionable to their Houſes.

Reaſons offered to all Gentlemen and Others, for the Encouragement of this Ʋſeful Invention. I. IF the Inhabitants were to keep the Streets Light from Six to Twelve, with Candles, it would coſt each Houſe One Penny a Night, which is performed by the Undertakers for a Half-penny. II. Light is moſt wanting after Nine a Clock at Night, all Shops then are uſually ſhut up, and Candles in Lanthorns commonly are burnt out; and for want of a more durable Light, many abuſes are committed. III. Such Shops as keep open late, have moſt reaſon to comply, and pay to theſe Lights, it accommodating Trade much better than before. IV. All ſuch as do agree with the Undertakers, are freed from all trouble which they had before by Officers; and ſuch as do not, muſt put out their own Lanthorns, and be liable to the Officers as before.

All Perſons that deſire, may be accommodated with the aforeſaid Lights by the PATENTEES at Stationers-Hall within Ludgate, every Tueſday and Friday at Six a Clock in the Afternoon, and by Mr. John Stubbs their Clerk, at the Inſurance-Office, on the Weſt-ſide of the Royal-Exchange, any day at Exchange time.

The PATENTEES are Sir Charles Hara, Knight. Eſquires. Henry Criſpe, Ambroſe Iſted, John Stanion, Benjamin Rokeby, Thomas Apprice, Simon Harcourt, Clark of the Peace of Middleſex. Gent. Thomas Hobs, Hawly Biſhop, Richard Chiſwell, John Lilly, John Williams, William Harves, Edmund Hemings, Francis Geary, The Executrix of William Melliſh, Gent. &c.