were subsequently filled in, and now are
brewers' vaults, with only the high-vaulted roadway left open to form a
passage for the drays and vans. Beneath the terrace is a curious little
strip of land cut off from the Embankment garden by high wooden pales.
This is practically useless, as it can only be reached through the
arches. On it is an old dilapidated shed, once a much-frequented tavern,
called the Fox under the Hill, a curious feature on land which is of so
much value.

There are several interesting houses in the Adelphi precinct. In the
centre of the terrace is the Savage Club, and there are many other
societies and institutions on the terrace. In John Street is the
building expressly designed for the Society of Arts.

The work of the Society is brought before the notice of the public by
circular tablets, which are affixed to houses in London which have
formerly been the homes of men eminent in literature, science, or art.
Close at hand is the bank of Messrs. Coutts, on the site of the New
Exchange. This important bank deserves some special notice. It was
established by a goldsmith of the name of Middleton, who kept a shop
near St. Martin's Church about 1692. The name of Coutts first appears in
1755. Many interesting stories are told in connection with this famous
house. The Mr. Coutts who was head of the firm at the beginning of the
present century was twice married. By his first wife he had three
daughters, who married respectively the third Earl of Guilford, the
first Marquess of Bute, and Sir Francis Burdett. His second wife was
Miss Mellon, an actress, to whom he left the whole of his vast fortune.
She afterwards married the Duke of St. Albans, but left the whole of her
great wealth to Miss Angela Burdett, grand-daughter of Mr. Coutts. This
lady assumed the additional name of Coutts, and was raised to the
peerage on account of her munificent charities.

The Adelphi Theatre stands on the north side of the Strand, but is
identified by name with this district; it was originally called the Sans
Pareil. Charles Mathews gave many of his celebrated "at homes" here. A
few doors west is the Vaudeville.

Ivy Bridge Lane, now closed, runs to the west of Salisbury Street. It is
a narrow, dirty passage, and was named from a bridge in the Strand which
crossed one of the numerous rivulets running down to the Thames. Pennant
mentions a house of the Earl of Rutland's near this bridge. The Cecil
Hotel is built over Salisb