MIMS, there are two villages of this name; North Mims, situated in Hertfordshire, on the east side of Colney, and two miles from Hatfield. In its neighbourhood is the seat of the late Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, in right of his Lady, who was heir to her late brother the great Lord Somers. It has a most delightful prospect. The body of that Nobleman lies interred in the chancel of the church, without any inscription. This seat now belongs to the Duke of Leeds, who is Lord of the manor. South Mims is situated two miles from the former, in the most northern corner of Middlesex. Here is an almshouse built and endowed for six poor people, by James Hickson, Esq; who died in 1689, when he gave by his will to fifteen poor people of this parish two shifts, one pair of hose, and a pair of shoes annually; for the payment of these, and other benefactions, he left several estates in this parish to the Brewers company in London. MINCING _lane_, on the south side of Fenchurch street, extends to Tower street, is well built, and chiefly inhabited by merchants. MINE AND BATTERY WORKS COMPANY, for the discovery of mines and minerals. In order to give a just idea of the origin of this and the following company, it is necessary to observe, that the English, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, being but little acquainted with the manner of working and discovering mines, she, by the advice of her Council, sent for several Germans, well skilled both in these works, and in smelting and refining of minerals; who on their arrival were no sooner naturalized, than they obtained a licence to search for mines. Among these, that Princess in the year 1565, impowered William Humfreys and Christopher Schutz a German, to search for all mines, minerals, and subterraneous treasure, except allum and copperas, in the several royalties throughout England, exclusive of the following eight counties, York, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Cornwall, Lancashire, Devon, Gloucester, and the principality of Wales, for their sole use and profit; her Majesty only reserving to herself a tenth part of all gold, silver, and quicksilver ores, and the pre-emption of refined gold and silver, the former at 8d. and the latter at 1d. _per_ ounce lower than the current price of those metals; and 6d. for every hundred weight of copper. Afterwards her Majesty, in the year 1568, incorporated this society by the name of, _The Governors, Assistants, and Society of the Mineral and Battery Works_. The number of shares belonging to this company at first amounted to thirty-six; which being divided into half and quarter parts, they are at present increased to an hundred and forty four.