The ministry of the Tiers Parti in France, under the Duc de Bassano, in 1834. It held office for three days only. Ministry of All the Talents. A ministry under Lord Grenville, with Fox as Foreign Secretary, formed on the death of Pitt in 1806. It is so called because it was not formed exclusively from Grenville’s supporters, but was an attempt to bring together the best men of various political shades. Thus Earl Spencer and Mr. Windham, who had been members of Pitt’s first administration, held office in it. Mints, Indian. These were closed to the free coinage of silver in 1893, and the value of the rupee for exchange purposes fixed at 1s. 4d. Minute Men. A militia of 12,000 men enrolled during the American Civil War by the State of Massachusetts. They bound themselves to be ready for service at a moment’s notice. Mir. The Russian village commune, holding and tilling land in common. The land is divided into plots, of which a certain number are allotted to each family, in proportion to its size. These plots are farmed by the family in common, and they pay into the coffers of the Mir a certain fixed sum, retaining the rest for the general use of the family. The Mir is responsible to the Government for the payment of the taxes of the community, which are in the nature of a poll-tax on the adult males. The division of the land is periodically revised, to meet changes in the circumstances of the different families. The affairs of the Mir are controlled by the village Elder, or Selski Starosta, who is elected by the heads of families. Mirabeau of the Mob. A sobriquet of Danton, the French revolutionary leader. Miracle of Nature. Christina, Queen of Sweden (1632-1654), was so called. Mise of Amiens. _See_ Amiens. Mise of Lewes. _See_ Lewes. Mississippi Scheme. A wild scheme, not unlike the South Sea Bubble, propounded by John Law in Paris in 1718. A company was formed, which was permitted to establish a Bank of Issue, the shares of which were offered to the national creditors in exchange for their stock. The company was also granted a monopoly of the trade with Canada and the Mississippi. The usual inflation of values followed, and subsequently the inevitable collapse, which almost amounted to national bankruptcy. It is also called “Law’s Bubble.” Missouri Compromise. An agreement between the slavery and anti-slavery parties of the United States in 1821, arising out of the admission of Missouri to the Union as a free-labour State. It was determined that slavery should only be lawful south of 36° 30´ north latitude. This arrangement was maintained until 1854, when it was violated by the admission of Kansas and Nebraska as territories, with the right to decide the slavery question for themselves. Mitad.