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.
Our author, who was one of the committee, observes, that from this
society may be seen the great business that may be done for a trifling
expence; for the Treasurer, Commissioners, Secretary, and Clerks; the
house-rent and entertainments; the fire and candle, paper, pens and ink,
do not all together cost the society an hundred pounds _per annum_; and
if, by an additional Clerk, he adds, it should happen to swell to 150l.
“greater good with less money, I will be bold to say, is not done by any
society in this kingdom: for exclusive of the charge of cloathing,
feeding, and sending boys to Portsmouth, the expence is very little more
than the rent of two rooms at about 25l. _per annum_, the salary of a
secretary, not exceeding 50l. _per annum_, and a Porter 10l. _per
annum_.”
There is a general meeting every three months, viz. the first Thursday
in January, the first in April, the first in July, and the first in
October, or oftener, if the committee desire it; when an account of
receipts and disbursements are laid before the subscribers under the
direction of the committee, which consists of a considerable number of
them. Of this committee not less than three persons act, who meet every
Thursday at eleven o’clock at the Merchants Seamens office over the
Royal Exchange; and any other day, if necessary, at the Secretary’s
house in Prince’s street, where any two of the committee may transact
the business when it is very urgent.
MARINERS _alley_, Fore street, Lambeth.
MARINERS _street_, Shadwell.
MARK _lane_, extends from Fenchurch street to Tower street, and is
chiefly inhabited by merchants. Maitland says it was originally called
Mart lane, it being once used as a public mart. On the east side of this
lane is the Corn Exchange.
MARKET _court_, 1. By Oxford market. 2. By Shepherd’s market.
MARKET _hill_, Upper Shadwell.
MARKET _lane_, Pallmall.
MARKET _passage_, 1. Lime street, leading into Leadenhall market. 2.
Oxford street, leading into Oxford market. 3. Paternoster row, leading
into Newgate market.
MARKET _street_, 1. Jermain street. 2. Newport street. 3. Millbank,
Westminster.
MARKETS. As one of the principal advantages of a city are commodious
markets, this metropolis may, in this particular, be said to exceed
most, if not all the cities in Europe: some account of these is
dispersed through this work; notwithstanding which, it may be proper,
under this article, to gratify the reader’s curiosity, by giving a list
of them, that the whole may be seen at one view.
Bear Key, the great corn market.
Billingsgate, the great fish, and coal market.
Bishopsgate street market, for hay.
Blackwell hall, the great cloth market.
Bloomsbury market, for meat, &c.
Borough market, a new market for meat and greens.
Brook’s market, for meat.
Carnaby market, for meat, &c.
Clare market, for meat, &c.
Covent Garden market, for herbs and fruit.
Fleet market, for meat, fruit, herbs, &c.
Hay market, Pallmall, for hay and straw.
Honey lane market, for meat, &c.
Hoxton market, for meat, &c.
Hungerford market, for meat, &c.
Leadenhall market, for leather, hides, and all kinds of provisions.
Mark lane market, for corn.
Newgate market, for all kinds of provisions.
Newport market, for meat, &c.
Oxford market, for meat, &c.
Queenhithe, the great meal market.
Red Lion market, for meat, &c.
St. James’s market, for meat, &c.
St. Margaret’s Hill market, for hay and straw.
Shadwell market, for meat, &c.
Smithfield market, for cattle.
Spitalfields market, for meat, greens, &c.
Westminster market, for meat, &c.
Whitechapel market, for meat by wholesale and retail.
White Horse Inn meal market, near Holborn bridge.
Wood’s Close market, for sheep skins.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _C. Grignion sculp._
_Marlborough House._
]
MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, situated behind the houses on the west side of
Pallmall, is a very large brick edifice, ornamented with stone, and
built in a peculiar taste. The front, which is very extensive, has only
two series of windows, and on each side the wings are ornamented at the
corners, with a kind of stone rustic, and the edifice is terminated by a
balustrade, in the manner it appears in the print. On the sides of the
area next the wings a small colonade extends on each side, and the side
opposite to the abovementioned area is taken up with the offices. The
late Duchess of Marlborough, when this structure was finished, intended
to have opened a way to it from Pallmall, directly in the front, as is
evident from the manner in which the court yard is finished; but Sir
Robert Walpole having purchased the house before it, and being upon no
good terms with the Duchess, she was prevented in her design. The front
towards the Park resembles this, only instead of the two middle windows
in the wings, there are niches for statues, and instead of the area in
front, you descend by a flight of steps into the garden.
This structure is, however, greatly censured by the critics in
architecture.
The apartments however are noble, and well disposed, and the furniture
is rich. In the vestibule at the entrance, is painted the battle of
Hochstet, in which the most remarkable scene is the taking Marshal
Tallard, the French General, and several other officers of great
distinction, prisoners. The figures of the great Duke of Marlborough, of
Prince Eugene of Savoy, and General Cadogan, are finely executed.
MARLBOROUGH _court_, 1. Berwick street. 2. Petticoat lane.
MARLBOROUGH, or _Carnaby market_, by Marlborough street. See CARNABY
MARKET.
MARLBOROUGH _mews_, by Oxford street; so called from the Dukes of
Marlborough formerly keeping their hawks there.
MARLBOROUGH _row_, Carnaby or Marlborough market.
MARLBOROUGH _street_, a very handsome street, extending from the end of
Argyle buildings.
MARSH _street_, Ratcliff highway.†
MARSH _yard_, Wapping.†
_Earl_ MARSHAL _of England_, the eighth great officer of the kingdom,
hereditary in the family of the Dukes of Norfolk ever since the year
1553. This officer had formerly great authority; for he took cognizance
of all matters of war and arms, determined contracts relating to deeds
of arms out of the realm upon land, and matters concerning wars within
the realm, that could not be determined by common law, in which he was
generally guided by the civil law. Indeed he had several courts, among
which was the Marshalsea court in the Borough, so called from its being
under his jurisdiction. But the house of Norfolk being of the Romish
religion, is incapable by law of performing these offices. See
MARSHALSEA PRISON. The Earl Marshal has however held several courts at
Doctors Commons, to inquire into the right several people had assumed of
bearing arms. _Chamberlain’s Present State._
_City_ MARSHAL, an officer of considerable authority, dignity, and
profit. His business is to see the laws of the city put in execution;
and in solemn processions he rides before the Lord Mayor, on a horse
richly caparisoned. The sum of fifteen hundred pounds is usually given
for this place.
MARSHAL _street_, 1. Maiden lane, Deadman’s place. 2. Silver street,
Bloomsbury.
MARSHALSEA COURT. See the following article.
MARSHALSEA PRISON, on St. Margaret’s Hill, Southwark, is a place of
confinement for persons who have committed crimes at sea, as pirates,
&c. and for debtors. In this prison is the Marshalsea court, the Judges
of which are, the Lord Steward of his Majesty’s houshold for the time
being; the Steward of the court, who must be a barrister at law; and a
Deputy Steward. In all civil actions tried in this court, both the
plaintiff and defendant must belong to his Majesty’s houshold, The
persons confined in this prison for crimes at sea, take their trials at
the Old Bailey.