staircases of some of them I saw were inlaid, and perfect cabinet-
work, and the paintings on the roof and sides by the best hands.
The apartments usually consist of a long range of fine rooms,
equally commodious and beautiful; none of the houses are without two
or three staircases for the convenience of the family. The grand
staircase is generally in the hall or saloon at the entrance. In
short, this square may well be looked upon as the beauty of the
town, and those who have not seen it cannot have an adequate idea of
the place.

The city of Westminster at this day consists of the parishes of St.
Margaret and St. John the Evangelist, and the liberties of
Westminster, viz., St. Martin's-in-the-Fields; St. Mary le Savoy;
St. Mary le Strand; St. Clement's Danes; St. Paul's, Covent Garden;
St. James's, Westminster; St. George's, Hanover Square; and St.
Anne's, Westminster; all under the government of the dean and
chapter of Westminster, and their subordinate officers; or rather,
of a high steward, and such other officers as are appointed by them;
for since the Reformation, the dean and chapter seem to have
delegated their civil power to such officers as they elect for life,
who are not accountable to, or liable to be displaced by them, nor
are they liable to forfeit their offices, but for such offences as a
private man may lose his estate, namely, for high treason, felony,
&c., as happened in the case of their high steward, the Duke of
Ormond, upon whose attainder the dean and chapter proceeded to a new
election.

The next officer to the high steward is the deputy steward,
appointed by the high steward, and confirmed by the dean and
chapter, who is usually a gentleman learned in the law, being judge