with surprizing expedition, by means of an engine, worked sometimes by
three, and sometimes by four men. The manner of making the impression on
gold, silver, and copper, is exactly the same, only a little more care
is necessary in the one, than in the other, to prevent waste.
This engine, which makes the impression on both sides of a piece of
money, in the same moment, works by a worm-screw terminating in a
spindle; just in the same manner as the letter press for printing books.
To the point of this spindle the head of the die is fastened by a small
screw, and in a little sort of a cup directly underneath it, is placed
the reverse. Between these the piece of metal already cut round, or cast
to the size, and if gold, exactly weighed, is placed; and by once
pulling down the spindle with a jerk, is completely stamped. The whole
process is performed with amazing dexterity; for as fast as the men who
work the engine can turn the spindle, so fast does another twitch out
with his middle finger that which was stamped, while with his finger and
thumb he places another that is unstamped. The silver and gold thus
stamped, are delivered to be milled round the edges, the manner of
performing which is a secret never shewn to any body.
The mint is managed by several officers formed into a corporation. These
are a Warden, a Master and Worker, a Comptroller, the King’s Assay
Master, the chief Engraver, the Surveyor of the meltings, a Clerk of the
irons, a Weigher and Teller, a Provost, Melters, Blanchers, Moneyers,
&c.
The Warden receives the silver, &c. from the goldsmiths, pays for it,
and oversees all that belong to his office. His salary amounts to 450l.
a year for himself and clerk. He has also another clerk who receives
100l. a year.
The Master and Worker receives the silver, &c. from the Warden, orders
it to be melted, delivers it to the Moniers, and receives it back from
them again. His salary is 650l. a year for himself and three clerks.
The Comptroller sees that the money be made of the just assize; oversees
the officers, and controlls them, if the money does not prove as it
ought. His salary for himself and clerk is 535l. _per annum_.
The King’s Assay Master, takes care that the bullion is according to
standard. He has a salary of 225l. a year for himself and clerk: and the
Assistant Assay Master has 100l. _per annum_.
The chief Engraver, engraves the stamps for the money. He has a salary
of 200l. a year, and his Assistant 80l.
The Surveyor of the meltings, is to see the bullion cast out, and that
the metal be not altered after the Assay Master has made trial of it,
and it is delivered to the melter.
The business of the Clerk of the irons, is to see that the working irons
are kept clean, and fit for the work. These two last offices are
frequently enjoyed by the same person, who has a salary of 130l. 10s. a
year.
The Weigher weighs the bullion.
The Teller counts the number of pieces. These two last offices are also
frequently enjoyed by the same person, who has a salary of 142l. 10s. a
year for himself and clerk.
The Provost to the company of Moneyers, provides for all the Moneyers,
and oversees them. His salary is 100l. a year.
The Moneyers cast the money, and sheer it; some beat it broad, others
round it, and others stamp or coin it. These have 40l. a year each.
Besides these there are the King’s Clerk, and Clerk of the papers, who
has 100l. a year; a Surveyor of the money presses, who has 40l. a year;
and several deputies and clerks.
MINT, opposite the west end of St. George’s church, Southwark. Here
anciently stood a magnificent structure belonging to the Duke of
Suffolk, which coming to Henry VIII. he erected a mint in it, from which
that neighbourhood is still denominated. This place was for many years a
famous asylum for debtors, who fled thither with their effects, in order
to defraud their creditors: till this was carried to such a height, that
the Parliament found it necessary to take away the privilege of
sanctuary in order to destroy this nest of spoilers.
MINT _street_, extends west from the corner of Blackman street, opposite
St. George’s church, Southwark.
MINT _square_, in the Mint, Southwark.
MITCHELL’S _court_, 1. Milk street, Cheapside† 2. Mitchell street, Old
street.†
MITCHELL’S _street_, Brick lane, Old street.†
MITRE _court_, 1. Cheapside.* 2. Cornhill.* 3. Fenchurch street.* 4.
Fish street hill.* 5. Fleet street.* 6. Friday street.* 7. Gutter lane,
Cheapside.* 8. High street, Aldgate.* 9. St. John’s street, West
Smithfield.* 10. Milk street, Cheapside.* 11. St. Paul’s Church yard.*
MITRE _court buildings_, Inner Temple.*
MITRE _yard_, Shoemaker row, Aldgate.*
MOLDSTRAND DOCK _stairs_, Willow street, Bank side.
MOLIN’S _court_, Shoe lane, Fleet street.†
MONEYBAG _alley_, Blue Anchor yard, Rosemary lane.
MONEYBAG _yard_, Anchor alley.
MONEY _court_, Mile’s lane.
MONGER’S _Almshouse_, in Well street, Hackney, was founded by Henry
Monger, Esq; in the year 1699, for six poor old men, who are allowed
forty shillings _per annum_ each. _Maitland._
MONKWELL _street_, Silver street, near Cripplegate. It took its name
from the monks lodging in it, and a well belonging to them. _Maitland._
MONMOUTH _court_, 1. Hedge lane, Charing Cross. 2. High Holborn. 3.
Monmouth street, St. Giles’s.
MONMOUTH _street_, 1. Quaker street, Spitalfields. 2. Seven Dials. This
street is famous for the sale of old cloaths. 3. Shadwell market. 4.
Spitalfields.
MONTAGUE _alley_, Clare street, Clare market.
MONTAGUE _close_, in Southwark.
MONTAGUE _court_, 1. Bishopsgate street. 2. Little Britain. 3. Montague
street, Spitalfields. 4. Petticoat lane.
MONTAGUE HOUSE, in Great Russel street, a noble building, with a very
spacious court yard before it. His Grace the late Duke of Montague
having built another house in the Privy Garden at Whitehall, this
edifice was let for the use of the King’s great wardrobe, and is since
purchased by authority of Parliament, to be a repository for the Cotton
library, and for the natural and artificial curiosities, medals, coins,
printed books, and manuscripts, bought by the public of the executors of
the late Sir Hans Sloane, the late Lord Oxford, &c. _Stowe’s Survey,
last edition._ See the article BRITISH MUSEUM.
MONTAGUE _street_, Brick lane, Spitalfields.
MONTH’S _alley_, St. Catharine’s lane.
_The End of the_ FOURTH VOLUME.
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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. P. 112, changed “pent-houses” to “pest-houses”.
2. P. 310, changed “Town Clerk, &c. their several coaches” to “Town
Clerk, &c. in their several coaches”.
3. All spelling errors were left uncorrected.
4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
5. Superscripts are denoted by a caret before a single superscript
character, e.g. M^r.