The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 380, July 11, 1829

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Various. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 380, July 11, 1829

MERCERS' HALL, AND CHEAPSIDE

THE LONE GRAVES

BAGLEY WOOD

EATING "MUTTON COLD."

POOL'S HOLE, DERBYSHIRE

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

ANCIENT STONE

THE COSMOPOLITE

DIET OF VARIOUS NATIONS

THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS

NUPTIALS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

POEMS, BY W.T. MONCRIEFF

SONG

ANECDOTE VERSIFIED

STANZAS TO THE SHADE OF –

A MODEST ODE TO FORTUNE

ANACREONTIC

THE PILGRIM PRINCE.—BALLAD

THE SKETCH-BOOK

THE SPLENDID ANNUAL

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

A CHAPTER ON HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY

"THE SEASON" IN TOWN

THE HOPKINSONIAN JOKE

THE GATHERER

SEALING WAX AND WAFERS

SHERIDAN

LINES

FRIENDSHIP

HOT TUESDAY

LIMBIRD'S EDITIONS

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The engraving is an interesting illustration of the architecture of the metropolis in the seventeenth century, independent of its local association with names illustrious in historical record.

In former times, when persons of the same trade congregated together in some particular street, the mercers principally assembled in West Cheap, now called Cheapside, near where the above hall stands, and thence called by the name of "the Mercery." In Lydgate's London Lyckpenny, are the following lines alluding to this custom:

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"The Mercers' Company is the first of the twelve. The name by no means implied, originally, a dealer in silks: for mercery included all sorts of small wares, toys, and haberdashery; but, as several of this opulent company were merchants, and imported great quantities of rich silks from Italy, the name became applied to the Company, and all dealers in silk. Not fewer than sixty-two mayors were of this Company, between the years 1214 and 1762; among which were Sir John Coventry, Sir Richard Whittington, and Sir Richard and Sir John Gresham."

The front in Cheapside, which alone can be seen, is narrow, but floridly adorned with carvings and architectural ornaments. The door is enriched with the figures of two cupids, mantling the arms, festoons, &c. and above the balcony, it is adorned with two pilasters, entablature, and pediment of the Ionic order; the intercolumns are the figures of Faith and Hope, and that of Charity, in a niche under the cornice of the pediment, with other enrichments. The interior is very handsome. The hall and great parlour are wainscoted with oak, and adorned with Ionic pilasters. The ceiling is of fret-work, and the stately piazzas are constituted by large columns, and their entablature of the Doric order.

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