winding alley of flowering shrubs. This house was lately in the occupation of Mrs. Fitzherbert. MARDEN, near Godstone, in Surry, the fine seat and park of the late worthy Sir Robert Clayton, Bart. MARGARETTING (pronounced Marget-End) a village in Essex, 25 miles from London, in the road to Chelmsford, on the left hand of which is Coptford Hall, the handsome seat of · Vachell, Esq. MARY BONE, or ST. MARY-LE-BONE, once a country village to the north-west of London. It was anciently called Tyburn, from its situation near a small bourn, or rivulet (formerly called Aye Brook, or Eye Brook, and now Tyburn Brook) which runs from the south side of Hampstead, by Belsyse, and, after a subterranean course through different parts of Marybone, Oxford Street, St. James's Park, &c. flows through. Tothill Fields into the Thames. Hence it is conjectured (See Lysons, Vol. III. page 242) that when the site of the church was altered to another spot near the same brook, it was called St. Mary at the bourn, now corrupted to St. Mary-le-bone, or Marybone. Here was once a royal park well stocked with game; and, in Queen Elizabeth's Progresses, it is recorded, that," on the third of February 1600, the Ambassadors from the Emperor of Russia, and other Muscovites, rode through the city of London to Marybone Park, and there hunted at their pleasure, and shortly after returned homeward." What a contrast to the present state of this parish, now containing magnificent streets and squares, which form a part of the metropolis! Of 2560 acres of land, which it contains, one third is occupied by buildings; the remainder, extending northward to Primrose Hill, and west to Kilbourn turnpike, is almost wholly grass land, with a few acres occupied by market gardeners. At the beginning of the present century, Marybone was a small village, about a mile distant from the nearest part of the metropolis. The commencement of building was before 1720, by the erection of Cavendish Square. Maitland, who published his History of London in 1739, says there were then 577 houses in the parish of Marybone, and 35 persons who kept coaches. The buildings have since proceeded progressively (though not without occasional checks by every war) and the present number of houses is computed at upwards of eight thousand! Indeed, such has been the increase of buildings, that the quota of this parish to the land-tax (5647. 5s. 1d.) is raised by a rate of only one farthing in the pound. MERTON, a village in Surry, seven miles from London, in the road to Epsom. It is seated on the river Wandle, and was once celebrated for an abbey, founded in the reign of Henry I. In 1227, Hubert de Burgh, the able and virtuous minister of Henry III. being disgraced, took shelter in the church of the abbey; whence the King ordered him to be dragged, but recalled his orders, and, in the sequel, restored him to favour. At a parliament held in this abbey, in 1236, the famous "Provisions of Merton" (the most ancient body of laws after Magna Charta) were enacted, and the Barons gave that celebrated answer to the clergy, "Nolumus leges Angliæ mutare-We will not change the laws of England." It is not less memorable for the constitutions which the clergy of England made there in 1258; which were not only calculated to promote their own grandeur, at the expence of the crown, but were so inimical also to the authority of the Pope, that, at the King's request, the Sovereign Pontiff himself thought proper to abrogate them; although some of the principal articles which they enacted were in favour of points, for which the great champion of the papal authority, the canonized Becket, had suffered assassination. At Merton Abbey also, in 1216, was concluded the peace between Henry III. and Prince Lewis, the eldest son of Philip, King of France. During the civil wars between Charles the First and the Parliament, this abbey appears to have been used as a garrison. In 1680 it was advertised to be let, and was described as containing several large rooms, and a fine chapel. This chapel, so late as the year 1733, was entire. At present, there is no other vestige of the abbey, but the east window of the chapel, which appears from the style of its architecture to have been built in the 15th century. The walls which surround the premises, including about 60 acres, are nearly entire, being built of flints. On the site of the abbey (which, after the dissolution, passed into various hands) a manufactory for printing callicoes was established in 1724; it is now occupied by Messrs. Newton, Hodgson, and Leach. Another calico manufactory, established within these walls in 1752, is now carried on by Mr. Halfhide; and, at the north-west corner of the premises, is a copper-mill, in the occupation of Mr. Thoytts. Upon a moderate computation, a thousand persons are now employed in the different manufactories within the walls; a pleasing contrast to the monastic indolence which reigued here in the gloomy ages of superstition. The parish church was built of flints, early in the 12th century, by the founder of the abbey. From the style of architecture there can be little doubt that the present church was the original structure. It has been lately neatly plastered on the outside, and beautified in other respects. The bridge over the river, built in 1633, is remarkable for its arch, which is turned with tiles, instead of brick or stone; and it is the boundary of the three parishes of Mitcham, Wimbledon, and Merton. Merton Place is the seat of the late Lord Nelson, where he meant to have ended his days full of honour and of glory. In this parish are Cannon Hill, the seat of William Molleson, Esq.; and the villa of Mr. Graves, purchased of the late Sir Richard Hotham. Farther on, in the road to Kingston, Sir Richard erected another villa, in a style of whimsi cality! MICKLEHAM, a village, at the foot of Box Hill, between Leatherhead and Dorking. It is 20 miles from London, and is watered by the Mole. Here Sir Charles Talbot, Bart. has a seat; and adjoining the Downs is Juniper Hill, a handsome house, with curious plantations, Jate Sir Cecil Bishop's, and Mr. Jenkinson of Charing Cross; but at present untenanted. MILL GREEN HOUSE, the property of. Mr. Smith, wine merchant, London, in the parish of Fryerning, two miles from Ingatestone, may justly be styled a palace in miniature, being fitted up with uncommon elegance. The windows of the drawing-room, which front the east, command a beautiful prospect. The extensive pleasure grounds are planted with exquisite taste; and great judg ment is visible in the garden, which has a capital greenhouse, hot-house, grapery, &c. MILL HILL, a village in Middlesex, in the parish of Hendon, 9 miles from London, has the handsome seat of Sir J. W. Anderson, which commands a beautiful prospect. MIMS, NORTH, a village in Hertfordshire, two miles from Hatfield. In its neighbourhood was the seat of Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, in right of his lady, heiress to her brother the great Lord Somers. The body of that nobleman is interred in the chancel of the church, without any inscription. Here is Mims Place, the fine seat of the Duke of Leeds. MIMS, SOUTH, a village of Middlesex, 15 miles from London, in the road to St. Alban's. The tower of the church, which stands by the road side, is so entirely mantled with ivy, as to form a very picturesque object. See Gobións. MITCHAM, a village in Surry, eight miles from London, on the road to Reigate. Mitcham Grove is the handsome seat of Henry Hoare, Esq. The river Wandle, which is an excellent trout stream, winds through the plantations, and adds greatly to their beauty. On this river is erected a small wheel, by which the water is conveyed in pipes to the highest part of the house. In this parish also are Collier's Wood House, Ravensbury, and other villas. On the river are some snuff-mills, and calico manufactories; the latter has an engine, in case of fire, the pumps of which are worked by the same wheel that is used in the business. In the chancel of the church is a monument to the memory of Sir Ambrose Crowley, an Alderman of London, who died in 1713, and is celebrated in the Tatler, No. 73, under the name of Sir Humphrey Greenhat. MOLE, a river, in Surry, which rises in the south part of the county, runs north to Dorking, and passing beneath Box Hill, is generally believed to disappear in its vicinity, and to rise again near Leatherhead. Hence Pope calls it, The sullen Mole that hides his diving flood! But the fact is, that a tract of soft ground, near two miles in length, called the Swallows, in very dry seasons, absorbs the waste water in caverns in the sides of the banks; but not so as to prevent a constant stream from taking its course in an open channel above ground, winding round in the vallies from Dorking to Leatherhead; though not of that breadth as when it crosses the road at Mickleham; beyond which, at Burford-bridge, its channel, in very hot seasons, is sometimes dry. This river, proceeding from Leatherhead to Cobham, enters the Thames at East Moulsey, on the south side of Hamptonbridge. MONKEY-ISLAND, in the centre of the Thames, between Maidenhead and Windsor, and in the parish of Bray. On this island, which contains three acres, is a neat house, with convenient offices, built by the late Duke of Marlborough. On the ceiling of the room called Monkey Hall, is painted a variety of such flowers as grow by the water-side. Here are also represented several monkies, some fishing, some shooting, and one sitting in a boat smoking, while a female is rowing him over the river! In the temple, the inside of the saloon is enriched by stucco modelling, representing mermaids, dolphins, sealions, and a variety of sea-shells richly gilt. The establishing of this delightful seat cost the Duke 10,000 guineas. The lease of it, for some years, at 257. a year, was sold by Auction, in July 1787, for 240 guineas, to Henry Townley Ward, Esq. who has a seat in the neighbourhood. See The Willows. MONTREAL, the handsome seat of Lord Amherst, situate in the valley of Holmesdale, at Riverhead, near Sevenoaks. In the park is a column erected to perpetuate the happy meeting of this noble lord and his brother, who, after having been engaged on different services, in distant parts of the globe, during the last war but one, and gained honour both to themselves and their country, were permitted, by the favour of Heaven, to embrace each other on their native spot. This instance of fraternal affection does honour not only to the individuals immediately concerned but to mankind! MOOR PARK, near Rickmansworth, in Herts, the seat of the late Lord Anson, and now of Thomas Bates Rous, Esq. The park is extensive and beautiful. The house was originally built by Cardinal Wolsey, and was afterward in the possession of the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth. Then it came into the hands of Mr. Styles, who enlarged and beautified it, under the direction of Sir James Thornhill. From the south, or principal front, he made a vista through the hill, that once obstructed its view toward Uxbridge. He erected also a north front, and cut through the hill toward Watford, for a vista. This circumstance did not escape the censure of Pope: Or cut wide views through mountains to the plain, This he thus explains in a note: "This was done in Hertfordshire, by a wealthy citizen, at the expence of above 50007, by which means (merely to overlook a dead plain) he let in the north wind upon his house and par |