M E R 
160 M E n 
the kind relative to this country, and doubtlefs was in- 
ftrumental in promoting the ftudy of natural hiltoryhere. 
The botanical part, which is the fulleH, is an alphabetical 
lift according to the Latin names, with few fynonyms ; 
and is followed by a rude arrangement of plants into 
clafles. The author’s profeflional engagements did not 
permit him to inveftigate many plants perl'onally, but 
he employed feveral perfons in the talk ; and in particular 
procured Thomas Willifel, a noted lierbalift, to travel 
through the kingdom for him during five' fummers. By 
thefe means he formed an ample catalogue of Englifh 
plants with their places of growth ; but he was not fufii- 
ciently {killed in botany to diftinguifh accurately the 
fpecies from the varieties, or the native from the exotic. 
The zoological and mineral parts of his pinax are very 
meagre. 
In 1662 Merret tranflated into Englifh Neri’s Ars Vi- 
triaria ; and in 1686 an edition of the fame work was pub- 
lillied in Latin with Merret’s obfervations and notes, 
equalling in bulk the work itfelf. We are not told how 
he came to acquire the knowledge of an art fo little con¬ 
nected with his profelTioa. He contributed feveral papers 
to the PhiJofophical Tranfa&ions, which are printed in 
the earlier volumes. Among thefe are experiments on 
vegetation; an account of the tin-mines of Cornwall, 
✓ and on the art of refining; and fome curious obierva- 
tions on the fens of Lincolnfhire. Wood's Athen. Oxon. 
Pulleney's Sketches of Botany in England. 
MER'RILY, adv. [from merry.] Gaily; airily; cheer¬ 
fully; with mirth ; with gaiety ; with laughter.—A pai- 
fan of France thinks of no more than his coarfe bread and 
his onions, his canvafs clothes and wooden fhoes, labours 
contentedly on working days, and dances or plays merrily 
on holidays. Temple's Mifcel. 
Merrily fing, and fport, and play, 
For ’tis Oriana’s nuptial day. Granville. 
MER'RIMACK, a river of New Hampfhire, which 
runs into the fea at Newbury-port. A chain-bridge has 
been call over the river Merrimack, three miles above 
Newbury-port, in the Hate of Maflachufetts. It confifls 
of a fmgle arch 244 feet in length. The abutments are 
of Hone, 47 feet long and 37 high ; the uprights, or 
framed work which Hands on the abutments, are 35 feet 
high, over which are fufpended ten diflinbt chains, the 
ends of which, on both Tides of the river, are buried in 
deep-pits, and fecured by large Hones : each chain is 
546 feet long; and, where they pafs over the uprights, 
and, where the greatell Hrain relts, they are treble, and 
made in fhort links. The four rniddle joiHs reH on the 
chains ; all the others are fufpended to the main chains, 
to equalile the floor. This bridge has two paffage-ways 
©f 15 feet in width each, and the floor is fo folid as to 
admit of horfes, carriages, &c. travelling at any fpeed, 
with very little perceptible motion of the floors. Monthly 
Slag. May 1811. 
MER'RIMACK, a town of New Hampfhire, on the 
above river forty miles eafl of Clieflerrield. 
MER'RIMAKE, J'. A feflival; a meeting for mirth 5 
merry pranks : 
The knight did not forbear, 
Her honefl mirth and pleafure to partake, 
But when he faw her gibe, andj.oy, and geare, 
And pafs the bounds of modefl in&'rimake, 
Her- dglliance he.defpis’d. * SpcnjcK, 
To MER'RIMAKE, v. a. To feaft ; to be jovial. 
■With thee ’twas Marian’s dear delight 
To moil all day, and merrimake at night. Gay. 
MER'RIMENT, f. Mirth; gaiety; clieerfulnefs.; 
laughter.-—A number of merriments and jefls, wherewith 
they have moved much laughter at our manner of leaving 
God. Hooker. 
Methought it was the found 
*pf riot and.ill-managed merriment. Slillon. 
MERRIMI'CKI, a river of America, which falls into 
the head ot a bay ot that name on the north-eafl coafl of 
the province of New Brunfwick. From this river there is 
a communication with St. John’s, partly by land, but 
principally by water-carriage in canoes. The falmon- 
liihery is carried on with luccefs, and the cod-filhery 
is improving near the entrance of the bay. 
MER'RINESS,^; Mirth ; merry difpofltion.—The flile 
fliall give us caule to climb in the merrinefs. Shakcfpeare. 
MER'RITCH, Meritch, or Merrick, a town of 
Hindooflan, in the country of Vifiapour ; iituated on the 
north fide of the Kiflnah. This is an important fortrel’s, 
and was the capital of the Mahratta prince Purferam 
Bhow, from whom it was taken by Hyder Ali in the year 
1778 : fifty miles fouth-wefl of Vifiapour. Lat. 16. 58. N. 
Ion. 74. 47. E. 
MER'ROW, a village in Surry, between Guildford and 
Clandon : on its down are annual horfe-races. 
MER'RY, adj. Laughing; loudly cheerful; gay of 
heart.—Some that are of an ill and melancholy nature, 
incline the company into which they come to be fad and 
ill-difpofed ; and others that are of a jovial nature, to 
dilpofe the company to be merry and cheerful. Bacon's 
Natural Hijiory. —Man is the rne.rrieft fpecies of the crea¬ 
tion ; all above and below him are ferious. Addijbn .— • 
Cauling laughter; 
You killed her lmfband; and for that vile fault 
Two of her brothers were condemn’d to death ; 
My hand cut off, and made a memy jefl. Shahfpeurft 
Profperous : 
In my-fmall pinnace I can fail, 
Contemning all the blufl’ring roar; 
And running with a merry gale. 
With friendly liars my fafety feek, 
Within fome little winding creek. 
And fee the fiorm afhore. Drydcn. 
To make merry. To junket; to be jovial.—They trod 
the grapes and made merry, and went into the houle cf 
their God. Judg. ix. 27. 
MER'RY (Robert), a pleafing mifcellaneous writer, 
was born in London, April 1755, and was delcended in 
a right line from fir Henry Merry, who was knighted by 
James I. at Whitehall. Mr. Merry’s father was governor 
of the Hudlon’s Bay Company. His grandfather was a 
captain in the roj’al navy, and one of the elder brethren 
of the Trinity Houle : lie eflablifhed the commerce of 
the Hudfon’s Bay Company upon the plan which it now 
purfues. He made a voyage himfelf to Hudfon’s Bay, 
and difeovered the illand in the North Seas which Hill 
bears the name of Merry’s Ifland. He alfo made a voyage 
to the Eafl Indies, and was perhaps the firfl Engliflunan 
who returned home over land ; in which expedition he 
encountered inconceivable hardfhips. Mr. Merry’s mo¬ 
ther was the elded daughter of lord chief juHice Willes, 
who prefided for many years with great ability in the 
court of Common Pleas, and was for fome time HrH lord 
commiflioner of the great feal. Mr. Merry was educated 
at Harrow (with the late lamented R. B. Sheridan), under 
Dr. Sumner ; and the celebrated Dr. Parr was his private 
tutor. From Harrow he went to Cambridge, and was 
entered of Chrifl’s College. He was afterwards entered 
of Lincoln’s Inn, but was never called to the bar. Upon 
the death of his father he bought a commiflion in the 
horfe-guards; but afterwards quitted the lervice, and 
went abroad, where he remained nearly eight years ; dur¬ 
ing which time he vifited moH of the principal towns of 
France, Swiflerland, Italy, Germany, and Holland. At 
Florence h‘e Hayed a confiderable time, Hudied the Ita¬ 
lian language, encouraged his favourite purfuit, poetry, 
and was eledled a member of the celebrated academy 
Della Crufca; the name of which academy he after¬ 
wards ufed as a fignature to many poems which were fa¬ 
vourably received by the public, and which excited a 
great number of imitators. When Mr. Merry obferved 
" this,, 
