Part 13

It is a spacious and massy stone building; plain, and yet well ornamented. The corners have rustic quoins, and the body is enlightened by tall arched windows, over each of which is a cornice supported by scrolls, and between these is a cherub over the center of each window. At the west end coupled pilasters rise on each side the door, from a plain course, and support a pediment. The door on the north side is also placed under a pediment, but without the particular decorations of the other. Over each door is an oval window, and this last is decorated with festoons. The roof is hid by a kind of Attic course, from which the tower rises square and plain; and from this the dial, which is very richly ornamented, projects over the street. The course above this is adorned at the corners with coupled pilasters of the Ionic order, supporting an open work in the place of a balustrade, with large urns at the corners, of an uncommon shape. From within this open work rises the lanthorn, which has also Ionic pilasters, and arched windows in all the intercolumniations. The dome rests upon these pilasters, and on its crown is placed a piece of open work like that which surrounds the base of the lanthorn. On this is raised the turret which supports the fane.

This church is a rectory, and to this parish that of St. Margaret’s, New Fish street, is united. The Rector, besides glebes, casualties, &c. receives 170l. a year in lieu of tithes.

MAGNUS _court_, Butcher row.

MAGPYE _alley_. 1. Aldersgate street.* 2. Ashentree court.* 3. Bishopsgate street without.* 4. Crutched-friars.* 5. Fenchurch street.* 6. Fetter lane.* 7. Gray’s Inn lane.* 8. Phœnix street.* 9. Wheeler street.* 10. White-friars.*

MAGPYE _court_, Great Old Bailey.*

MAID _court_, Maiden lane, Bow lane.

MAID _lane_, Gravel lane.

MAIDEN _lane_, 1. Church street, Lambeth.* 2. Extending from Deadman’s Place to Gravel lane; a long stragling place with ditches on each side; the passages to the houses being over little bridges.* 3. Halfmoon street, Covent Garden.* 4. Long Ditch.* 5. Queen street, Cheapside.* 6. Wood street, Cheapside.*

MAIDENHEAD _alley_, 1. Ratcliff.* 2. Wapping.*

MAIDENHEAD _court_, 1. Aldersgate street.* 2. Cartwright street.* 3. St. Catharine’s.* 4. Chiswell street, Moorfields.* 5. Church lane, Whitechapel.* 6. St. Ermin’s hill. 7. Great Eastcheap.* 8. Great Gardens, St. Catharine’s lane.* 9. Grub street, by Fore street, Cripplegate.* 10. London Wall.* 11. Maiden lane.* 12. Moor lane.* 13. Saltpetre bank.* 14. St. Thomas Apostle’s.* 15. Wheeler street.* 16. Wood street, Cheapside.*

MAIDENHEAD _passage_, Berwick street.*

MAIDENHEAD _street_, Dyot street.*

MAIDENHEAD _yard_, Dyot street.*

MAINHARD’S _court_, Anchor and Hope alley, Green Bank, near Wapping.†

MAINHARD’S _street_, Bembridge street, St. Giles’s pound.†

MAIN’S _yard_, Castle lane, Southwark.†

MALAGA _court_, Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.

MALDEN, a village in Surry, about three miles from Kingston, has a powder mill on a stream that runs from Ewel to Kingston.

MALLET’S _court_, 1. Blackboy alley, Chick lane.† 2. Buckeridge street.†

MALLMILL _court_, Whitecross street.†

MANBY _court_, Montague street.†

MANCHESTER _court_, Canon row, Westminster; so called from the house of the Earls of Manchester adjoining.

MANCHESTER _stairs_, Canon row, Westminster.

MAN-IN-THE-MOON _yard_, Chiswell street.*

MANLEY’S _wharf_, Mill bank, Westminster.†

MANNACK’S _alley_, Shoreditch.†

MANOR’S _street_, St. Giles’s.†

MANSEL _street_, Goodman’s fields.†

MANSION HOUSE of the Lord Mayor, a very noble edifice erected in the place where Stocks market was formerly held. As the private houses of the citizens advanced to the dignity of Lord Mayor, were generally improper places, as well as too small, for transacting the great business belonging to this important office, it was customary for the chief magistrate of the city to hold his mayoralty at one or other of the halls belonging to the twelve principal companies. This however was long perceived very inconvenient; and therefore it was at last found expedient for the honour of the city, and the more regular discharge of that high office, to erect a house, as the mansion of the Lord Mayor for the time being.

This being determined by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, several places were proposed, as the end of Pater noster row fronting Cheapside, Moorfields, and Stocks market, and the latter was chosen, from its being situated nearly in the center of the city; at a small distance from the Royal Exchange, and in the heart of business: Stocks market was therefore removed to Fleet ditch, and the earth dug up for laying the foundation, when the ground was found so full of springs, that it became necessary to erect this spacious edifice upon piles. Meanwhile many plans and designs were drawn and examined, and that from which this edifice was erected, had the preference.

In short, a vast number of strong piles being driven close together, the first stone of the foundation was laid upon them, by the Right Honourable Micajah Perry, Esq; Lord Mayor, on the 25th of October 1739, in the presence of several of the Aldermen and Common Council, and this great work was finished in 1753, Sir Crisp Gascoigne being the first Lord Mayor who resided in it.

This edifice is very substantially built of Portland stone, and has a portico of six lofty fluted columns of the Corinthian order in the front; the same order being continued in pilasters both under the pediment, and on each side. The basement story is very massy and built in rustic. In the center of this story is the door which leads to the kitchens, cellars, and other offices; and on each side rises a flight of steps of very considerable extent, leading up to the portico, in the middle of which is the door which leads to the apartments and offices where business is transacted. The stone balustrade of the stairs is continued along the front of the portico, and the columns, which are wrought in the proportions of Palladio, support a large angular pediment, adorned with a very noble piece in bas relief, representing the dignity and opulence of the city of London, by Mr. Taylor.

In the center stands a very graceful woman crowned with turrets, representing the city, her left foot placed upon the figure of Envy, who lies on her back, and seems endeavouring to rise. Her left arm rests upon a large shield, which has the city arms, and in her right hand she holds a wand. This being the principal figure, is done in alto relievo: she seems ready to step forwards, her head and right arm, which are completely finished, project forward from the back ground, and her wand extends beyond the cornice of the pediment. Near her, on her right side, stands a Cupid holding the cap of Liberty over his shoulder at the end of a short staff, in the manner of a mace; and a little farther, a river God, representing the Thames, lies reclined, pouring a stream of water from a large vase; and near him an anchor fastened to its cable, with shells lying on the shore. On the left hand of London is Plenty, kneeling and holding out her hand in a supplicating posture, as if beseeching her to accept of the fruits she is pouring from her cornucopia; and behind her are two naked boys with bales of goods, as emblems of commerce.

It is, however, very obvious, that the principal figures in this pediment are too large, which obliges London to stand, and Plenty to kneel, in a less graceful manner than they might otherwise do; and, besides their extraordinary size, renders them too crouded.

Beneath this portico are two series of windows, which extend along the whole front, and above these is an Attic story with square windows crowned with a balustrade.

The building is an oblong, and its depth is the long side; it has an area in the middle, and the farthest end is an Egyptian hall, which is the length of the front, very high and designed for public entertainments. To make it regular in flank, the architect has raised a similar building on the front, which is the upper part of a dancing gallery. This rather hurts than adorns the face of the building.

Near the ends at each side is a window of extraordinary height, placed between coupled Corinthian pilasters, and extending to the top of the Attic story.

The apartments are extremely noble; but this edifice has the misfortune to be so crouded with houses, especially on the sides, that the rooms are dark, and even in the front there is not a sufficient area to enlighten the building; nor can it ever be viewed to advantage, unless in some future time the heavy load at the top should be taken off, and a broad street, as wide as the edifice itself, opened before it into Lothbury.

MARE _street_, Hackney.

MARGARET’S _alley_, Margaret street.

_St._ MARGARET’S HILL, extends from the court of justice, which faces the street thus named, to the farther corner of St. George’s church. Where this court is now kept, was anciently a church named St. Margaret’s on the hill, which gave its name to the street. The court-house has a small colonade that leads to a tavern, over which is the court-room, where the Lord Mayor of London tries causes. On the front of this edifice is the statue of King Charles II. under which is the following inscription:

_Combustum anno 1670, re-ædificatum annis 1685 & 1686._ Jacobo Smyth, _Mil. &_ Roberto Geffery, _Mil. Prætoribus. Impensis S. P. Q. L._

_St._ MARGARET’S _lane_, Old Palace yard; thus named from its situation near St. Margaret’s church, Westminster.

_St._ MARGARET’S _Lothbury_. This church received its name from its being dedicated to St. Margaret, a virgin saint of Antioch, who suffered martyrdom in the reign of the Emperor Decius; and the additional appellation of Lothbury is to point out its situation, and distinguish it from the other churches in this city of the same name.

The old church which was built in 1440, being destroyed by the general conflagration in 1666, the present stone edifice was erected in its room, and completed in 1690. It stands upon the ancient course of Wallbrook, on the north side of Lothbury, and is a plain and neat building. It is sixty-six feet in length, fifty-four in breadth, the height to the roof is thirty-six, and the height of the steeple 140 feet. The body is well enlightened by a row of lofty windows; over which the wall is terminated by a balustrade; and the principal door is ornamented with Corinthian columns which support an angular pediment. The tower has large windows in the uppermost stage, and is terminated a little above by a plain cornice, upon which is raised a small dome that supports a slender spire.

A row of despicable shops was formerly built before this church; but a few years ago they were taken down, and a neat pavement of broad stone has been lately raised the whole length of the church, to which there is an ascent of a few plain steps at each end, and to the principal door; but as this pavement is in some places upwards of two feet above the street, a regard to the safety of the passengers as well as to ornament, ought to have induced the persons who formed this pavement to have secured it by a neat balustrade.

The advowson of this rectory was anciently in the Abbess and Nuns of Barking in Essex; but at the dissolution of their convent it came to the Crown, and the church is still in his Majesty’s gift.

The Rector, besides the profits arising from casualties, &c. receives 100l. _per annum_ in lieu of tithes.

_St._ MARGARET MOSES, a church which formerly stood at the south west corner of Little Friday street, opposite Distaff lane, and was thus named from its being dedicated to St. Margaret abovementioned, and from one Moses its rebuilder: but suffering by the dreadful fire of London, and not being rebuilt, the parish has been annexed to that of St. Mildred’s Bread street.

_St._ MARGARET _New Fish street_, stood on the east side of Fish street hill, where the Monument is situated; but being burnt with the rest of the buildings in London, and not rebuilt, the parish is joined to that of St. Magnus. _Stow._

_St._ MARGARET _Pattens_, owes its additional epithet to its ancient situation among patten-makers. This church is situated in Rood lane, at the corner of Little Tower street, and in Billingsgate ward. The old church, which was built in 1538, was destroyed by the fire of London, and the present edifice raised in 1687. _Maitland._

It consists of a plain body sixty-six feet in length, fifty-two in breadth, and the height of the roof is thirty-two feet. It is well enlightened by a range of arched windows, with porthole windows over them; and over the door in the front is a large Doric window, with a cherubim’s head and a large festoon over it, above which a pediment stretches from the steeple to the end of the church. The tower rises square to a considerable height, and is terminated by four plain pinacles crowned with balls, and a balustrade, within which rises a very solid spire, terminated by a ball and fane.

This church is a rectory in the gift of the Lord Mayor, commonalty, and citizens; and the Rector, besides glebe, casualties, &c. receives 120l. _per annum_ in lieu of tithes.

_St._ MARGARET’S _street_, Cavendish square; so called in honour of the Lady Oxford.

_St._ MARGARET’S _Westminster_. King Edward the Confessor having resolved to rebuild the conventual church of St. Peter with great magnificence, imagined that it would be a dishonour to his new and stately edifice, to have the neighbouring people assemble in it as usual, for the performance of religious worship, as well as prove troublesome and inconvenient to the monks; therefore about the year 1064, he caused a church to be erected on the north side of St. Peter’s, for the use of the neighbouring inhabitants, and dedicated it to St. Margaret, the virgin and martyr of Antioch.

This church, which is situated only thirty feet to the north of the abbey, was rebuilt in the reign of King Edward I. by the parishioners and merchants of the staple, except the chancel, which was erected at the expence of the Abbot of Westminster. At length, in the year 1735, this church was not only beautifully repaired, but the tower cased, and mostly rebuilt, at the expence of 3500l. granted by parliament, on account of its being in some measure a national church, for the use of the house of Commons. _Stow._

It is a plain, neat, and not inelegant Gothic structure, well enlightened by a series of large windows: it has two handsome galleries of considerable length, adorned in the front with carved work; these are supported by slender pillars which rise to the roof, and have four small black pillars running round each of them, adorned with gilded capitals both at the galleries and at the top, where the flat roof is neatly ornamented with stucco. The steeple consists of a tower, which rises to a considerable height, and is crowned with a turret at each corner, and a small lanthorn, much ornamented with carved work in the center, from whence rises a flag staff.

This church in 1758, underwent a thorough repair, on the inside a new vault was built through the whole body of the edifice, and the whole is ornamenting with new gilding and painting. A small view of it is in the same plate with that of Westminster ABBEY, which see.

The patronage of this church, which is a curacy, was anciently in the Abbot and Convent of Westminster, as it is at present in the Dean and Chapter.

On the south side of the altar is an ancient tomb, erected in the depth of popish ignorance and superstition, on which is the portraiture of Mary Bylling standing between the Virgin Mary and an angel, and over her is engraved the figure of an old man, to represent the omnipresent Deity, emitting rays of light upon the head of the Virgin, from whose mouth proceeds a label with these words, _Ecce ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum_. Out of Mary Bylling’s mouth issues a scroll with these words: _Blessyd Lady, for thy glorious salutacion, bryng our sowles to everlasting salvation_: and on two scrolls on each side of her, _Blessyd Triniti, on me have mercy. Blessyd Triniti, on me have mercy._ These four figures, with the several inscriptions, are engraven on small brass plates inlaid in the stone, as is also an inscription which gives the names of her three husbands, and lets us know that she died on the 14th of March 1429. _Maitland._

There is also here a whimsical inscription on the tomb of Skelton, the merry Poet Laureat to Henry VII. and VIII. who died on the 21st of June 1529.

Come, Alecto, and lend me thy torch, To find a church-yard in a church-porch. Poverty and poetry this tomb doth inclose, Therefore, gentlemen, be merry in prose.

We shall conclude these odd monumental inscriptions with the following, which as well as the former, is mentioned by Weaver in his Funeral monuments.

Sancta Maria, virgo virginum, Pray for the soul of Jone Pymichum.

MARIGOLD _alley_, Barnaby street, Southwark.*

MARIGOLD _court_, in the Strand.*

MARIGOLD _lane_, Upper Ground.*

MARIGOLD _stairs_, Upper Ground.*

MARIGOLD _street_, Rotherhith Wall.*

MARINE SOCIETY, for furnishing the navy with sea boys and landmen, in order to increase the number of our mariners. This society was founded soon after the breaking out of the present war, by a number of gentlemen animated by a generous love of their country, and an ardent desire to increase its glory, as well as from compassion for the many ragged and miserable objects seen in our streets. This noble scheme was chiefly conducted by a gentleman distinguished by those accomplishments which most adorn human nature; who, besides a generous subscription, joined his indefatigable industry in promoting this noble scheme, and even wrote a very judicious pamphlet to shew the public advantages that would result from it. He presented the first impression, consisting of a thousand copies, to the society; and by his assiduity, and that of a famous magistrate, great numbers of the lowest of the people, who would probably have ended their days ignominiously at Tyburn, have filled the court of France with terror, and revived the drooping glory of their country. From this pamphlet we shall give an account of this society.

It must be observed, that every man of war, privateer, and merchant ship, is obliged to take a certain number of boys, which are considered both as necessary to the ship, and a nursery for seamen; thus in every sixty gun ship of 400 men, the Captain and officers require thirty servants.

These it was impossible to obtain at the breaking out of the war; the society therefore sought for them among the vagrants, the pilferers, and those whose extreme poverty and ignorance rendered them pernicious to the community; and also endeavoured to assist the Captains and officers in the sea service, by encouraging the industrious poor to send their children to sea; and by inviting all who were fit for the sea service to enter into it: stout lads who were covered with nastiness and had no means of support, were cleaned, well fed, and provided with lodgings; and if any of the men or boys were distempered, as sometimes happened, by mere wretchedness, filth, hunger, or the use of bad food, they were properly physicked and put in a condition to go on board; while those who were more happy in having friends to provide for them, were appointed to come to the office, where they were to be cloathed, and all were fitted with cloathing and bedding by the society, and sent clean, as well as properly dressed, on board his Majesty’s ships.

Of these boys they took some of thirteen years of age; but chiefly invited stout lads of sixteen and upwards, because they would soon become able seamen; and now they take none who are less than four feet four inches in height.

The greatest care imaginable is taken not to give any master, mistress, or parent, the least reason to complain. These have been always invited to see the boys when they are cloathed, on Thursday mornings at Mr. Fielding’s house; and again when they are examined and sent to their respective ships by the society, at the Seamens office over the Royal Exchange; and if any apprentice or son is required by his master or parents, he is delivered up immediately.

As to the landmen, they are required to be hardy, active, and robust; these, to prevent their being despised by the sailors, are immediately cloathed as seamen, and so divided among the messes of the mariners, as will soonest enable them to learn their language and duty, and they are completely fitted out without being obliged to expend any part of the bounty of thirty shillings, granted by his Majesty to all the landmen who enter into the service.

What gives the higher idea of this society, is, that several of its members are active, and particularly Mr. Fielding, in collecting many of the boys who are in the most abject condition: they assist and relieve each other in a task by which they are to gain nothing, but the applause of their own hearts.

To prevent imposition, the society keeps a sample of the cloathing at their office, which is sealed with the seals of several of the committee, and shewn to the men and boys when they are cloathed, that the society may be sure the slopseller keeps up to his engagement. Besides, as it is the steady purpose of the society to preserve the health of the men and boys whom they clothe, as far as it depends on such raiment, they are not contented with such manufactures as they find in the shops, but buy them of the manufacturer in Yorkshire, which being well wetted and milled on the spot, make what is called pea jackets, that last twice as long, and resist the weather four times as much as the common sort of pea jackets. And as they think the severity of the winter season renders common thin flannel waistcoats insufficient, they make waistcoats of white or other coloured kerseys, that are of the greatest service and duration. The breeches or drawers for the men and boys are made of half thicks or thin kerseys, which the society also provides from Yorkshire. In order also to make the most of the money, and provide the best things, these jackets, waistcoats, and breeches are brown instead of blue, the former being found the most durable colour; and such jackets cost ten _per cent._ less than blue, on account of the excessive price of indigo.

The cloathing and bedding given each of the boys, are a felt hat, a worsted cap, a kersey pea jacket, a kersey pair of breeches, a striped flannel or kersey waistcoat, a pair of trowsers, two pair of hose, two pair of shoes, two handkerchiefs, three shirts; a bed, pillow, blanket, and coverlet; a pair of buckles and buttons; thread, worsted, and needles; a knife, a Prayer Book and Testament to those whose Captains desire them, and a bag to put their cloaths in.

The cloathing given each of the men is, a felt seaman’s hat, a kersey pea jacket, a waistcoat and drawers of the same, a pair of drab breeches, a pair of thin trowsers, a pair of worsted hose, a pair of yarn hose, two shirts, two worsted caps, one pair of shoes, one pair of buckles, one pair of buttons, a knife, thread, worsted, and needles, with a bag for their cloaths.

A note of these cloaths is given to every man and boy, by which he may see what he has, but nothing is delivered till they are actually on board the tender in the river Thames, or in their respective ships at the ports; except to the boys, who are attended to the ships.