Chapter Milesians to Mincing Lane of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Milesians to Mincing Lane

Milesians, the “ancient” Irish. The legend is that Ireland was once peopled by the Fir-bolg or Belgæ from Britain, who were subdued by Milesians from Asia Minor, called the Gaels of Ireland.

My family, by my father’s side, are all the true ould Milesians, and related to the O’Flahertys, and O’Shaughnesses, and the M’Lauchlins, the O’Dannaghans, O’Callaghans, O’Geogaghans, and all the thick blood of the nation; and I myself am an O’Brallaghan, which is the ouldest of them all.—Macklin: Love à-la-Mode (1779).

Pat’s Milesian blood being roused.
   —Very Far West Indeed.

Milford (Colonel), a friend of sir Geoffrey Peveril.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Milford (Jack), a natural son of Widow Warren’s late husband. He was the chum of Harry Dornton, with whom he ran “the road to ruin.” Jack had a fortune left him, but he soon scattered it by his extravagant living, and was imprisoned for debt. Harry then promised to marry Widow Warren if she would advance him £6000 to pay off his friend’s debts. When Harry’s father heard of this bargain, he was so moved that he advanced the money himself; and Harry, being set free from his bargain, married the widow’s daughter instead of the widow. Thus all were rescued from “the road to ruin.”—Holcroft: The Road to Ruin (1792).

Milk-Pail (The), which was to gain a fortune. (See Perrette.)

Milk Street (London), the old Milkmarket. Here sir Thomas More was born.

Mill Pond, Southwark, formerly called “Folly Ditch,” a creek or inlet from the Thames, and which can be filled at high water by opening the sluices at Mill Lane.

Mill on the Floss (The), a novel by George Eliot (Mrs. J. W. Cross) (1860). The heroine is Maggie Tulliver, the miller’s daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Tulliver, with their daughter Maggie and her brother Tom, live at the mill-house. Maggie grows up into a clever and beautiful young woman, devoted to her brother. Philip, the deformed son of lawyer Wakeham, falls in love with her, but the two fathers disagree and the lovers are parted. Maggie subsequently meets with Stephen Guest, the lover of her cousin Lucy Deane, and Maggie and Stephen fall deeply in love with each other; however, Maggie acts imprudently, and difficulties arise. To end the story, a tidal wave breaks into the mill, Maggie and Tom try to save themselves by the boat, but a part of the mill falls on them and they are both drowned.

Millamant, the prétendue of Edward Mirabell. She is a most brilliant girl, who says she “loves to give pain because cruelty is a proof of power; and when one parts with one’s cruelty, one parts with one’s power.” Millamant is far gone in poetry, and her heart is not in her own keeping. Sir Wilful Wit-would makes love to her, but she detests “the superannuated lubber.”—Congreve: The Way of the World (1700).

There never was a more perfect representation of feminine vivacity than Miss M. Tree’s “Millamant” or “lady Townly”—a vivacity flowing from the light-heartedness of an intelligent and gentle girl.—Talfourd (1821).

Miller (James), the “tiger” of the Hon. Mr. Flammer. James was brought up in the stable, educated on the turf and pavé, polished and completed in the fivescourt. He was engaged to Mary Chintz, the maid of Miss Bloomfield.—Selby: The Unfinished Gentleman.

Miller (Joe), James Ballantyne, author of Old Joe Miller, by the Editor of New J. M., three vols. (1801).

Mottley compiled a jest-book in the reign of James II., entitled Joe Miller’s Jests. The phrase, “That’s a Joe Miller,” means “That’s a stale jest” or “That’s a jest from Mottley’s book.”

Miller (Maximilian Christopher), the Saxon giant; height, eight feet. His hand measured a foot; his second finger was nine inches long; his head unusually large. He wore a rich Hungarian jacket and a huge plumed cap. This giant was exhibited in London in the year 1733. He died aged 60; was born at Leipsic (1674–1734).