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taken into account, especially as some houses in the Parish
are not assessed, but simply marked "poore."
But the principle of a pound rate was adopted at a very
early period, for a resolution, dated the 22nd April, 1690,
directed that all future rates and assessments should be made
at a pound rate, all appeals and complaints of being overcharged
being first set right in the books, and shortly afterwards
a rental column was introduced. On the 10th April,
1694, it was ordered—
That the Poores Bookes be rated at 6d. in the pound.
That the Scavengers Bookes be rated at 3d. in the pound.
That the Preacher Assistants Bookes be rated at 1d. in the pound.
That the High Way Bookes be rated according to the Order of Session.
The rateable value is not given, but as the sum of only
£100 was required to be raised for the Preacher Assistant,
the rateable value of the Parish at that period may be
estimated at something like £24,000 or £25,000.
It need scarcely be said that a great number of historic
names appear in the early rate-books. For instance, in 1685,
''Madam Gwinn" was assessed for her house in Pall Mall in
the sum of £4, which was duly paid, while her neighbour,
the Countess of Portland, allowed her rates, amounting to
£6, to remain in arrear at the end of the year. It may
not be out of place to remark here that another residence
occupied by Nell Gwynne, in Jermyn Street, still exists in
a good state of preservation. Among other names of note
appear those of Sir Wm. Temple, Mr. Boyle, Lord Ossulston,
the Duchess of Cleveland, Sir Richard Sutton, Sir Thomas
Bond, Dr. Sydenham, all in Pall Mall; Sir William Poultney,
in St. James Street; Lord Clifford and Lord Burlington in
Park Place; Lord Kingssale in Bury Street; Lady
Dorchester, Sir Peter Apsley, Earl of Essex, Marquis of
Halifax, Lady Yarmouth, the Earl of Devonshire, Duke
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