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MINUTE, (from the Latin , minutus , small) in architecture,usually denotes the sixtieth, but sometimes only the thirtieth,part or division of a module.

MISERERE, a term applied to a seat of peculiar form,found in some of our larger churches and cathedrals. It isin shape like a bracket, and turns up on a hinge. Whendown, it forms a seat of the usual height and size, and thefront beneath the seat is usually carved into a knop of foliage,or otherwise; but when turned up, this front presents asmall high seat, which was used to recline against. It fallsback out of the perpendicular, so as to retain itself in itsposition, but will fall forward with the least motion of theoccupant.

MITCHELS, among builders, are Purbeck stones, from15 inches square to 2 feet, squared and hewed ready forbuilding.

MITRE, or Mitra, (from Mirpa, a head-dress) a pontificalornament, worn on the head by bishops, and certain abbots,on solemn occasions.

The mitre is a round cap, pointed, and cleft at top, withpendants hanging down on the shoulders, and fringed at bothends. The bishop’s is only surrounded with a fillet of gold,set with precious stones ; the archbishop’s issues out of a ducalcoronet. These are now never used otherwise than on theircoats of arms. Abbots wear the mitre turned in profile, andbear the crosier inwards, to show that they have no spiritualjurisdiction without their own cloisters.

The pope has also granted to some canons of cathedralsthe privilege of wearing the mitre. The counts of Lyonsare also said to have assisted at church in mitres.

Mitre, in joinery: when two pieces of wood contain equalangles, and one side of the one piece is joined to one side ofthe other, so that their vertices may coincide, the commonseam, or joint, is called a mitre, and the pieces themselvesare said to be mitred.

The whole angle thus joined is generally a right angle,and when this is the case, each of the pieces joined will beforty-five degrees.

Mitering is also employed in dovetail joints, in order toconceal the dovetailing.

Mitrf.-Box, a trough for cutting mitres, having threesides, open at the ends.

MIXED ANGLE, an angle of which one side is a curve,and the other a straight line.

Mixed Figure, one that is composed of straight lines andcurves, being neither entirely the sector nor the segment ofa circle ; nor the sector or segment of an ellipsis; nor aparabola, nor an hyperbola.

MOAT, (from the Latin, mota, a ditch ) in fortification,a deep trench dug round a town, or fortress, to be defendedon the outside of the wall or rampart.

The depth and breadth of a moat often depend on thenature of the soil; according as it is marshy, rocky, or thelike. The brink of the moat next the rampart, in any fortifi-cation, is called the scarp, and the opposite one the counter-scarp.

MODEL, (from the Latin , modulus, a copy) an original,or pattern, proposed for any one to copy or imitate. St.Paul’s cathedral is said to be built after the model ofSt. Peter’s at Rome .

Model is particularly used, in building, for an artificialpattern, made of wood, stone, plaster, or other matter, withall its parts and proportions ; for the better guidance of theartificers in executing some great work, and to give an ideaof the effect it will have when complete.

In all great buildings, it is much the surest way to makea model in relievo; and not to trust to a bare design, or

draught. There are also models for the building of 8 P ’&c., and for extraordinary staircases, 8cc. j,e

Model, in painting and sculpture, anything proposedimitated. # _ ,, t0 a

Hence, in the academies, they give the term moaet _

naked man, disposed in several postures, to afford an oPr^jtunity to the scholars of designing him in various viewsattitudes. ,; s t

The sculptors have little models of clay, or wax, to a ^them in their designs of others that are larger, in #&c., and to judge of the attitude and correctness 0

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Statuaries likewise give the name model to certain d 0 ^of clay, or wax, which are but just fashioned, to ser''® ^way of guide in the making of larger, whether of marb ’other matter. _ fe d

MODILLIONS, (French, ) in architecture, mutules <j a ^into consoles, placed under the soffit or bottom of the-O r^,the corona in the Corinthian and Roman orders, for sU PPjg$ing the larmier and sima, or appearing to perform the 0of support. jil-

In Grecian architecture, the Ionic order is withoutlions in the cornice, as are also the Roman examplessame order, except the temple of Concord, at Rome ,has both dentils and modillions. , put

A singular and curious example of a modillion corn> c ®’j j,icontrary to the principles of architecture, is to be 0 , U f i ie n=>the interior cornice of the Tower of the Winds , at A ,^ te -in which the projecting part is much thicker than the erior, where the stress seems to lie, and, consequently’ »the idea of weakness. - n d> e

A singular example of modillions is to be found 1 ttf ofrontispiece of Nero, at Rome , where they consist .roW |,e<1plain faces, separated by a small sima-reversa, and cwith an ovolo and bead. Another very extraordinary^ 0 fof modillions is that placed in the frieze of the fourth 0the Coliseum, cut on the outside, or projecting part, 01reversa form. -Jef-b

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In most examples of the Corinthian and Romanthe cornices have both dentils and modillions; but, » ^ sOare used together, in good proportion to the other P^iic®as to appear distinctly at a reasonable distance, the ^ tl ,cwill be overcharged, both in proportion and weigh 1 .^other principal members of the entablature, or tbeen _ , C) toto the whole order ; the one or the other ought, thebe omitted in the same cornice. j s co°'

In the general disposition of modillions, if each on plflU®ceived to be divided into two equal parts by a ve f rtl ^' c pi° 8at right angles to the surface of the frieze, one of 41 vV jll b elions is so disposed, that its dividing vertical sun® c ol 1)1,1 yentirely in a plane passing through the axis of th tl> eie / 8and in the column next the angle of the build> n r>^j C i) * 1generally only one modillion between that through ' . ce ,plane along the axis passes, and the angle of the c fn c jThe vertical sides of modillions at right angle 3 e9 ,are generally finished with volutes of diff’e rent: s iet b e "^turned on different sides of the same line ; thethat next to the vertical surface, to which they 8

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and the lesser at the extremity. foU 0 ^i'jjO

The soffits of the modillions, so constructed, }t

under line of the volutes, and the connecting un oJiwhich joins them. The upper part of each v0 gj II1 a'> I,V ^ l ji>same level, and is attached to a moulding of the ® j 3 agform, which returns round it; and this moul ' ,g; 0 a.attached to the corona, which hangs over I' 16 n 8 ® re a 1In some of the Roman buildings, the roodilplaced over the axes of the columns, neither P

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