Monument, a noble fluted column, erected by order of parliament, in commemoration of the burning and rebuilding of the city, on the east side of Fish street hill, in a square open to the street.

This stately column, which is of the Doric order, was begun by Sir Christopher Wren, in the year 1671, and completed by that great architect in 1677. It much exceeds, in height, the pillars at Rome of the Emperors Trajan and Antoninus, the stately remains of Roman grandeur; or that of Theodosius at Constantinople; for the largest of the Roman columns, which was that of Antoninus, was only 172 feet and a half in height, and 12 feet 3 inches, English measure, in diameter. But the diameter of this column at the base, is 15 feet, and consequently it is 120 feet high; the height of the pedestal is 40, and the cippus or meta with the urn on the top 42, making 202 feet in the whole. On the cap of the pedestal, at the angles, are four dragons (the supporters of the city arms) and between them trophies, with symbols of regality, arts, sciences, commerce, &c.

Within is a large staircase of black marble, containing 345 steps, 10 inches and a half broad, and 6 inches in thickness, and by these there is an ascent to the iron balcony (which is the abacus of the column). Over the capital is an iron balcony, encompassing a cone 32 feet high, supporting a blazing urn of brass, gilt.

In the place of this urn, which was set up contrary to Sir Christopher’s opinion, was originally intended a colossal statue, in brass, gilt, of King Charles II. as founder of the new city, after the manner of the Roman pillars, which terminated with the statues of their CÆsars; or else a figure erect of a woman crowned with turrets, holding a sword and cap of maintenance, with other ensigns of the city’s grandeur and re-erection.

Prior to this, the same gentleman made a design of a pillar of somewhat less proportion, viz. 14 feet in diameter, and after a peculiar device: for as the Romans expressed by relievo on the pedestals, and round the shafts of their columns, the history of such actions and incidents as were intended to be thereby commemorated; so this monument of the conflagration and resurrection of the city of London was represented by a pillar in flames; the flames, blazing from the loop-holes of the shaft, intended to give light to the stairs within, were in brass work gilt, and on the top was a phoenix rising from her ashes, also of brass gilt. Parentalia.

The west side of the pedestal is adorned with curious emblems, by the masterly hand of Mr. Cibber, father to the late Poet Laureat, in which the eleven principal figures are done in alto, and the rest in basso relievo. The principal figure, to which the eye is particularly directed, is a female, representing the city of London, sitting in a languishing posture on a heap of ruins: her head droops, her hair is dishevelled, and her hand, with an air of languor, lies carelessly on her sword. Behind is Time, gradually raising her up: at her side, a woman, representing Providence, gently touches her with one hand, while with a winged scepter in the other, she directs her to regard two Goddesses in the clouds, one with a cornucopia, denoting Plenty, the other with a palm branch, the emblem of Peace. At her feet is a bee-hive, to shew that by industry and application the greatest misfortunes may be overcome. Behind Time, are citizens exulting at his endeavours to restore her; and, beneath, in the midst of the ruins, is a dragon, the supporter of the city arms, who endeavours to preserve them with his paw. Still farther, at the north end, is a view of the city in flames; the inhabitants in consternation, with their arms extended upward, and crying out for succour.

On the other side, on an elevated pavement, stands King Charles II. in a Roman habit, with his temples incircled by a wreath of laurel, and approaching the figure representing the city, with a truncheon in his hand, seems to command three of his attendants to descend to her relief: the first represents the Sciences, with wings on her head, and a circle of naked boys dancing upon it, holding in her hand Nature, with her numerous breasts ready to give assistance to all: the second is, Architecture, with a plan in one hand, and a square and pair of compasses in the other: and the third is, Liberty, waving a hat in the air, shewing her joy at the pleasing prospect of the city’s speedy recovery. Behind the King, stands his brother the Duke of York, with a garland in one hand to crown the rising city, and a sword in the other for her defence. Behind him are Justice and Fortitude, the former with a coronet, and the latter with a reined lion. In the pavement, under the Sovereign’s feet, appears Envy peeping from her cell, and gnawing a heart; and in the upper part of the back ground the re-construction of the city is represented by scaffolds, erected by the sides of unfinished houses, with builders and labourers at work upon them.

The other sides of the pedestal have, each, a Latin inscription. That on the north side may be thus rendered.

‘In the year of Christ 1666, the second day of September, eastward from hence, at the distance of 202 feet, (the height of this column) about midnight, a most terrible fire broke out, which, driven by a high wind, not only laid waste the adjacent parts, but also places very remote, with incredible noise and fury: it consumed 89 churches, the city gates, Guildhall, many public structures, hospitals, schools, libraries, a vast number of stately edifices, 13,200 dwelling houses, 400 streets: of twenty-six wards it utterly destroyed fifteen, and left eight others shattered and half burnt. The ruins of the city were 436 acres, from the Tower by the Thames side to the Temple church, and from the north east, along the city wall, to Holborn bridge. To the estates and fortunes of the citizens it was merciless, but to their lives very favourable. That it might, in all things, resemble the last conflagration of the world, the destruction was sudden; for in a small space of time, the same city was seen most flourishing, and reduced to nothing. Three days after, when this fatal fire had, in the opinion of all, baffled all human counsels and endeavours, it stopped, as it were, by a command from heaven, and was on every side extinguished.’

The inscription on the south side is translated thus:

‘Charles the Second, son of Charles the Martyr, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, a most gracious Prince, commiserating the deplorable state of things, whilst the ruins were yet smoaking, provided for the comfort of his citizens, and ornament of his city, remitted their taxes, and referred the petition of the magistrates and inhabitants to parliament; who immediately passed an act, that public works should be restored to greater beauty, with public money, to be raised by an impost on coals; that the churches, and the cathedral of St. Paul’s, should be rebuilt from their foundations, with the utmost magnificence: that bridges, gates, and prisons should be new erected, the sewers cleansed, the streets made straight and regular, such as were steep levelled, and those too narrow to be made wider. Markets and shambles removed to separate places. They also enabled, that every house should be built with party walls, and all in front raised of equal height; that those walls should be of square stone or brick; and that no man should delay building beyond the space of seven years. Moreover, care was taken by law to prevent all suits about their bounds. Anniversary prayers were also enjoined; and to perpetuate the memory thereof to posterity, they caused this column to be erected. The work was carried on with diligence, and London is restored; but whether with greater speed or beauty, may be made a question. In three years time the world saw that finished, which was supposed to be the work of an age.’

The inscription on the east side contains the names of the Lord Mayors from the time of its being begun, till its being compleated; and round the upper part of the pedestal is the following inscription in English.

‘This pillar was set up in perpetual remembrance of the most dreadful burning of this protestant city, begun and carried on by the treachery and malice of the popish faction in the beginning of September, in the year of our Lord 1666, in order to the carrying on their horrid plot for extirpating the protestant religion, and Old English Liberty, and introducing popery and slavery.’

This inscription, upon the Duke of York’s accession to the crown, was immediately erased; but soon after the revolution it was restored again.

This monument, says the author of The Review of our public buildings, “is undoubtedly the noblest modern column in the world; nay, in some respects, it may justly vie with those celebrated ones of antiquity, which are consecrated to the names of Trajan and Antonine. Nothing can be more bold and surprizing, nothing more beautiful and harmonious: the bas relief at the base, allowing for some few defects, is finely imagined, and executed as well: and nothing material can be cavilled with but the inscriptions round about it.” These, however, Sir Christopher Wren had prepared in a more elegant and masculine style, as appears by the Parentalia; but he was over-ruled.

Monument yard, New Fish street hill, so called from the Monument placed in it.

Moor court, 1. Fore street, Cripplegate, so called from its vicinity to Moorfields. 2. Miles lane, near Crooked lane.

Moorfields, a large piece of ground to the north of London wall, lying between the east end of Fore street, and the west end of New Broad street, and extending as far as Hoxton. These fields originally took their name from their being one continued marsh or moor; so that Roger Achiley, Lord Mayor, in 1521, caused the ground to be levelled, and bridges and causeways to be erected over these fields, in order to render them passable: but since that time the ground has been raised and drained, and the whole encompassed with houses.

Moorfields being a very extensive piece of ground, is now divided into Lower Moorfields, Middle Moorfields, and Upper Moorfields. The first of these divisions has the hospital of Bethlem, a noble building, extending along the whole south side: and here the fields are divided into four different squares, by very strong, but clumsey, wooden rails, each containing a large grass plat, surrounded on each side by a row of trees. Between these squares, which are generally denominated the quarters, are gravel walks; and one extending from east to west, with a row of trees on each side, forming a tolerable vista, is usually denominated the City Mall; a great concourse of well-dressed citizens of both sexes walking there, particularly every Sunday noon in fine weather, and on evenings.

The east side of this part of Moorfields is taken up by shops, where old books are sold at the south east corner, and second-hand goods of all sorts along that side.

The rest of Moorfields, containing the two other divisions, still lie waste, though they might be converted into gardens or public walks, and thus be rendered one of the principal ornaments of this metropolis.

Moorgate, situated near the north end of Coleman street, and 1664 feet to the west of Bishopsgate, was first erected in the year 1415, and received its name from its opening into Moorfields.

The present edifice, which is one of the most magnificent gates of the city, was erected in the year 1674, and consists of a lofty arch, and two posterns for foot passengers. The arch is built higher than the common rules of proportion, for the sake of the city trained bands marching through it with their pikes erected; a weapon now laid aside. Others, however, are of opinion, that its height was intended for the better convenience of bringing carts or waggons loaded with hay into the city, it having been intended to make a market for hay in Little Moorfields; a design which did not take effect. The upper part is ornamented with Corinthian pilasters, supporting their proper entablature, and with a round pediment, in which is the city arms. The apartments over the gate are appropriated to the use of one of the Lord Mayor’s carvers.

Moor’s alley, 1. King’s street, Westminster.† 2. Norton Falgate, near Shoreditch.†

Moor Park, near Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, is at present the seat of Lord Anson. The park is not large, but is very beautiful, whether we consider it within itself or with regard to the fine and extensive prospects from it. The house was originally built by Cardinal Wolsey, and, passing through many hands, was afterwards in possession of the Duke of Monmouth. Then it came into the hands of Mr. Stiles, who enlarged, repaired, and beautified it, under the direction of Sir James Thornhill. It stands on a hill, not quite on the summit. It is of stone of the Corinthian order; and, if not in the highest stile of architecture, is yet very noble. The south, or principal front, has a portico and pediment of four columns. The offices are joined to the house by a beautiful circular colonade of the Ionic order, which terminates very elegantly with domes on each side their entrance. One cannot help wishing the house on the top of the hill, or that part of the hill were removed, for you can’t now see the principal front till you are upon it. Even in the view given in the print, part of one of the wings is hid by the rising ground.

Moor street, Hog lane, Soho.†

Moor yard, 1. Fashion street, Spitalfields.† 2. St. Martin’s lane, Charing Cross.† 3. Old Fish street.†

Moravians, a set of dissenters lately established in England. They have the following places of worship. 1. Lindsey House, Chelsea. 2. Monastery, Hatton Garden. 3. Nevill’s alley, Fetter lane.

Morden College, on the east side of Blackheath, for the support of poor decayed and honest merchants, was erected by Sir John Morden, Bart. a Turky merchant, several years before his death, which happened in the year 1708. It consists of a large brick building, with two small wings, strengthened at the corners with stone rustic. The principal entrance, which is in the center, is decorated with Doric columns, festoons, and a pediment on the top, over which rises a turret, with a dial; and from the dome, which is supported by scrolls, rises a ball and fane. To this entrance there is an ascent by a flight of circular steps; and having ascended them, and passed through this part of the building, we enter an inner square, surrounded with piazzas. The chapel is neatly wainscoted, and has a costly altar-piece.

This structure Sir John erected at a small distance from his own habitation, in a place called Great Stone Field, and endowed it, after his Lady’s decease, with his whole real, copyhold, and personal estate, to the value of about 1300l. per annum.

The founder of this noble charity placed in this hospital twelve decayed Turky merchants in his life time; but after his decease, the Lady Morden, finding that the share allotted her by Sir John’s last will was insufficient for her decent support, some parts of the estate not answering so well as was expected, she was obliged to reduce the number to four.

But upon her death the whole estate coming to the college, the number was increased, and there are at this time thirty-five poor gentlemen; and, the number not being limited, it is to be increased as the estate will afford; for the building will conveniently hold forty.

The Treasurer, who receives the rents and revenues, and keeps the books of the accounts and disbursements of the college, has 40l. a year; and the Chaplain, who reads prayers twice a day, and preaches twice every Sunday, had at first a salary of 30l. per annum, which the Lady Morden doubled at her death. She was, in other respects, a benefactress of the college, and, as she put up her husband’s statue in a niche, over the gate, the trustees put up her’s in another niche, adjoining to that of her husband. The pensioners have each 20l. a year, and at first wore gowns, with the founder’s badge; but this badge has not been worn for some years. They have a common table in the hall to eat and drink together at meals; and each has a convenient apartment, with a cellar.

The Treasurer, Chaplain, and Pensioners, are obliged to reside in the college; and, except in case of sickness, no other persons are to reside, live, or lodge there; but no person can be admitted as a pensioner, who cannot bring a certificate to prove his being upwards of sixty years of age.

Seven Turky merchants have the direction of this hospital, and the nomination of the persons to be admitted into it; to them the Treasurer is accountable; and whenever any of these die, the surviving trustees chuse others in their room. Stow’s Survey. Tour through Great Britain.

Morgan’s alley, Greenwalk, Southwark.†

Morgan’s ground, Chelsea.†

Morgan’s lane, 1. Old Horselydown lane.† 2. St. Olave street, Tooley street.†

Morgan’s rents, Greenwalk, Southwark.†

Morgan’s yard, by Morgan’s rents.†

Morrell’s Almshouse, near the Nag’s head in Hackney road, was erected by the Goldsmiths company, in the year 1705, pursuant to the will of Mr. Richard Morrel, for the reception of six poor members of that company, each of whom has two neat rooms, 2s. per week, half a chaldron of coals, a quarter of a hundred of faggots, and a gown every year. Maitland.

Morrice’s Almshouse, in the Old Jewry, was erected by the company of Armourers, in the year 1551, pursuant to the will of the Lady Elizabeth Morrice, for the reception of nine poor widows, who, according to the discretion of the company, are allowed from six to twenty shillings per quarter, and nine bushels of coals each yearly. Maitland.

Morrison’s court, New lane, Shad Thames.†

Morris’s alley, New lane, Shad Thames.†

Morris’s causeway stairs, Southwark, opposite Somerset House.†

Morris’s wharf, near Thames street.†

Morse’s alley, Marshal street, Southwark.†

Mortar alley, Shoreditch.

Mortimer street, Cavendish square.

Mortimer yard, Tower Hill.†

Mortlack, in Surry, is situated on the Thames, between Putney and Richmond, about one mile west of Barnes. Here are two charity schools, and a famous manufacture for weaving tapestry hangings.

Moses alley, 1. Willow street, Bank side, Southwark.* 2. Smock alley, Spitalfields.*

Moses and Aaron alley, Whitechapel.*

Moses court, Nightingale lane.* 2. Moses alley, Willow street.*

Mosley’s court, Philpot lane.†

Mouldmakers row, St. Martin’s le Grand.

Moulsey, two towns, thus denominated from the river Mole, which runs between them into the Thames; East Moulsey is situated opposite to Hampton Court, and was granted by King Charles II. to Sir James Clarke, grandfather to the present lord of the manor, who had the ferry from thence to Hampton Court, in the room of which he has lately erected a handsome bridge, where a very high toll is taken of all passengers, carriages, &c.

West Moulsey is situated about a mile and a half west from Kingston, and here is a ferry to Hampton town, which likewise belongs to the same gentleman.

Mount court, Gravel lane, Houndsditch.

Mountford’s court, Fenchurch street.

Mountmill, at the upper end of Goswell street. Here was situated one of the forts erected by order of parliament in the year 1643; but that becoming useless at the end of the civil war, a windmill was erected upon it, from which it received its present name, which is also given to the street.

Mount passage, Mount street, near Grosvenor square.

Mount Pleasant, Little Gray’s Inn lane.

Mount row, David street, Grosvenor square.

Mount street, By Mount row.

Mourning lane, Hackney.

Mouse alley, East Smithfield.

Mudd’s court, Broad street, Ratcliff.†

Mulberry court, 1. Bermondsey.‡ 2. White’s alley.‡

Mullin’s rents, Shoe lane.†

Mumford’s court. Milk street.†

Muscovy court, Tower hill.

Museum. See the article British Museum.

Musicians, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King James I. in the year 1604.

They are governed by a Master, two Wardens, and twenty Assistants, and have a livery of thirty-one members, who on their admission pay a fine of 40s. but have no hall.

Musick House court, Upper Shadwell.

Musick House yard, Upper Shadwell.

Mustard alley, Castle alley.

Muswell Hill, in Middlesex, on the east side of Highgate, took its name from a spring or well on the hill, by a house built by Alderman Roe, which afterwards came to the present Earl of Bath. By this well, which was esteemed holy, was a chapel with an image of our Lady of Muswell, to which great numbers went in pilgrimage. Both the manor and chapel were sold in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to Mr. William Roe, in whose family they continued, till Sir Thomas Roe, the Ambassador, sold them in the last century. Some time ago the manor house was converted into a place of public entertainment.

Mutton court, Maiden lane, Wood street, Cheapside.

Mutton lane, Clerkenwell.

My Lady’s yard, Harrow alley, Whitechapel.