CHAPMAN’S _yard_, Goodman’s fields.☐ CHAPTER HOUSE, on the north side of St. Paul’s church yard. This is a handsome building, belonging to St. Paul’s, in which the Convocation of the province of Canterbury sat to consult about ecclesiastical affairs, and to form canons for the government of the church: but tho’ the upper and lower house are called by the King’s writ at every session of parliament, they are now constantly prorogued, and dismissed by his Majesty’s authority. CHAPTER HOUSE _court_, St. Paul’s church yard.☐ CHARING CROSS, opposite the west end of the Strand, is so denominated from a village called Charing, in which Edward I. caused a magnificent cross to be erected in commemoration of his beloved Queen Eleanor, part of which continued till the civil wars in the reign of Charles I. when it was entirely destroyed by the populace, as a monument of popish superstition. _Stow._ However, after the restoration an equestrian statue of King Charles I. was erected on the spot where this cross stood, which is still, tho’ very improperly, called Charing Cross. This statue has the advantage of being well placed; the pedestal is finely elevated, and the horse full of fire and spirit; but the man is not perhaps equally well executed: so that upon the whole it can neither be generally condemned, nor universally admired.[2] Its situation is shewn in the view of Northumberland House. Footnote 2: It is said that Oliver Cromwell after King Charles I. was beheaded, ordered this statue to be taken down and sold to a founder to melt, but that a royalist contrived to get it, and kept it concealed till the restoration, when it was again set up. CHARING CROSS _court_, Charing Cross. CHARING CROSS _yard_, Forest street, Lambeth. CHARITABLE CORPORATION OFFICE, Spring Garden, Charing Cross. This Society was incorporated by Queen Anne in the year 1708, for the relief of the industrious poor, by assisting them with small sums, lent upon pledges at legal interest. For this purpose the corporation were impowered to raise a fund not less than 20, nor more than 30,000_l._ but this sum being afterwards increased by additional grants to 600,000_l._ was, instead of being employed to the mutual advantage of the poor, and of the proprietors, villainously embezzled by the company’s cashier, warehouse keeper, and others, the two former of whom fled to France to shelter themselves from justice. Upon this the proprietors applied to parliament, and had a lottery granted for their relief; while those who had fled were invited to return and produce the books and effects of the corporation; and on their not complying were declared felons.