City Companies.—In nothing is the past history of the metropolis, the memory of _Old_ London, kept alive in a more remarkable way than by the _City Companies_, or _Trading Guilds_, which are still very numerous. All were established with a good purpose, and all rendered service in their day; but at the present time few have any important duties to fulfil. The age for such things is nearly past; but the companies have revenues which none but themselves can touch; and out of these revenues many excellent charities are supported. Several of the companies have halls of great architectural beauty, or curious on account of their antiquity. Twelve, from their wealth and importance, are called the _Great_ Companies; and all of these have halls worthy of note. They are the _Mercers’_, _Drapers’_, _Fishmongers’_, _Goldsmiths’_, _Skinners’_, _Merchant Taylors’_, _Haberdashers’_, _Salters’_, _Ironmongers’_, _Vintners’_, _Grocers’_, and _Clothworkers’_. Every year banquets are given in the halls of these great companies—often under such circumstances as to give political importance to them. _Mercers’ Hall_, on the north side of Cheapside, has a richly ornamental entrance. _Grocers’ Hall_, in the Poultry, is remarkable rather for the age of the company (more than 500 years) than for the beauty of the building; it is interesting to note that the Long Parliament was entertained at city-dinners in this hall. _Drapers’ Hall_, in Throgmorton Street, built in 1667, replaced a structure which had belonged to Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, in the time of Henry VIII., and which was destroyed by the Great Fire. _Fishmongers’ Hall_, the most majestic of the whole, stands at the northern end of London Bridge, on the west side; it was built in 1831, as part of the improvements consequent on the opening of New London Bridge, on a site that had been occupied by an older hall since the time of the Great Fire. _Goldsmiths’ Hall_, just behind the General Post-Office, is too closely hemmed in with other buildings to be seen well; it is one of Mr. Hardwick’s best productions, and was finished by him in 1835, on the site of an older hall. _Skinners’ Hall_, Dowgate Hill, was built (like so many others of the city halls) just after the Great Fire in 1666; but was newly fronted in 1808. _Merchant Taylors’ Hall_, Threadneedle Street, is the largest of the city halls. It was rebuilt after the Great Fire, and has long been celebrated for the political banquets occasionally given there—this being considered the leading Tory Company, and the Fishmongers’ the leading Whig Company. _Haberdashers’ Hall_, near Goldsmiths’ Hall, is quite modern; the present building having been constructed in 1855. _Salters’ Hall_, St. Swithen’s Lane, was rebuilt in 1827. _Ironmongers’ Hall_, Fenchurch Street, was erected in 1748, on the site of an older structure; the banqueting-room was remodelled a few years ago with great richness. In 1861 this company