It is plain from what has been observed, that the _Chalcopratia_, or Places where they work’d their Brass, stood near the _Basilica_. _Cedrinus_ reports, That _Theodosius the Less_ built the Church of the _Chalcopratia_, and dedicated it to the Virgin _Mary_. Others say, that the _Jews_, who had lived there from the Time of _Constantine the Great_, had obliged _Theodosius the Less_ to retire from thence, and built that Church; and that afterwards, when it had been shatter’d by an Earthquake, it was rebuilt by _Justin Curopalatos_, tho’ _Zonaras_ is of another Opinion. _Theodosius the Great_, says he, _marching into the Western Parts, the_ Jews _took the Opportunity, and made_ Honoratus _the Prefect of the City, their Friend, and obtain’d of him the Freedom to build a Synagogue in the_ Chalcopratia: _The People being enraged at this, set it on fire, and burnt it down. When_ Theodosius _was made acquainted with the Fact, he lay’d a Fine upon those who were concern’d in it, and gave them a fresh Licence to build another. St._ Ambrose, _who was then Bishop of_ Milan, _being inform’d of the Matter, lay’d before_ Theodosius _the Greatness of the Crime, in suffering the_ Jews _to build a Synagogue in the very Centre of the Queen of Cities, upon which he remitted the Fine, and stopp’d their Proceedings_. There are no Braziers Shops in this Place at present, they being removed into another part of the City, tho’ I was inform’d by some of the Inhabitants, that not many Years since they follow’d their Trade near the _Chalcopratia_. The _unknown Author_ of the History of _Constantinople_, describing the Boundaries of _Old Byzantium_, tells us, _That the_ Chalcopratia _were not far from the_ Miliarium. Others say, that they were near the Church of St. _Sophia_. _Strabo_ speaking of the Palace of _Alexandria_, relates, that in Conformity to this at _Constantinople_, it had a Library, a _Portico_, a Convocation-House, or Place of Assembly upon publick Affairs, and a large publick Foundation for the Encouragement of Persons of Literature and Science. CHAP. XXII. _Of the_ Portico’s _situate between the Palace, and the_ Forum _of_ Constantine.