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MERMAID alley, in the Borough.
MERMAID court, 1. Charing Cross. 2.
Great Carter lane. 3. St. Margaret's
hill. 4. Pater noster row, Cheapside.
5. Ratcliff Cross.
MERRICK street, New Bond street.
MESSENGER'S rents, Still alley.
METCALF'S court, Jacob's street, Rother-
hith.
METHODISTS, a body of Dissenters from
the church of England, who have several
meeting houses in this metropolis: 1. At
the Foundery, Windmill hill. 2. Beech
lane. 3. Bull and Mouth street. 4. Ma-
rybon fields, which is more properly a
chapel of the church of England, the
service of the church being performed by
one of the principal founders of the sect of
Methodists. 5. St. Agnes le Clare. 6.
West street, Seven Dials.
MEWS, the stables for the King's horses near
Charing Cross, is a place of considerable
antiquity, and is thus denominated from
Mew, a term used among falconers, signi-
fying to moult or cast feathers; for this
place was used for the accommodation of
the King's falconers and hawks, so early
as the year 1377; but the King's stables
at Lomesbury, since called Bloomsbury,
being destroyed by fire in the year 1537,
King Henry VIII. caused the hawks to be
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removed, and the Mews enlarged and
fitted up for the reception of his Majesty's
horses, where they have been kept ever
since: the building going to decay, the
north side was rebuilt in a magnificent
manner by his present Majesty, in the
year 1732.
There is something in this part of the
intended building of the Mews very noble,
particularly the center, which is enriched
with columns and a pediment, and the
continuity of the architecture preserved.
The smaller pediment and rustic arch
under the cupolas or lanthorns are pro-
perly subordinate, but set so close to the
balustrade that its intent, as a gallery, is
thereby destroyed. In the view given in
the print scarce half the front is seen: and
over some old houses you see the beautiful
steeple and part of the portico of St. Mar-
tin's church, which has the general fate of
our public buildings, to be so incumbered
with houses as to have no place to view
them to advantage.
Upon viewing this edifice, it is impos-
sible not to be offended at the wretched
buildings which form the other sides of
the square. It is indeed much to be
wished that they were made to correspond
with the main building; this, if it were
done, and a suitable regular entrance
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HomeVolume IVPage Group 320 - 339
