NO PERSON CAN BE ARRESTED IN A FAIR, EXCEPT FOR DEBTS CONTRACTED THERE, OR PROMISED THERE TO BE PAID. 50 ARS] ARSENIC IS BROUGHT CHIEFLY FROM THE COBALT WORKS OF SAXONY. The Scientific and Literary Treasury ; wounds; whence its name. It is also called aqua vulneraria and aqua sclopetaria. ARRACHE' in heraldry, a representation of a plant torn up by the roots. ARRAIGN'MENT, in law, the bringing a prisoner forth, reading the indictment to him, and putting the question of guilty or not guilty. AR'RAS HANGINGS, in commerce, tapestry made at Arras, in France. ARRAY', the drawing up of soldiers in order of battle.-In law, to challenge an array, is to make exceptions against all the persons arrayed or impanelled. ARREST, the apprehending and restraining a person, in order to oblige him to be obedient to the law; which in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, must be done by virtue of precept out of some court. Ambassadors, peers of the realm, and members of parliament, are privileged from an arrest for debt. ARREST OF JUDGMENT, is the assigning just reasons why judgment should not pass; as, want of notice of the trial; a material defect in the pleading; when the record differs from the deed pleaded; when persons are mis-namned; where more is given by the verdict than is laid in the declaration, &c. This may be done either in criminal or civil cases.ARREST, in the veterinary art, a disease seated between the ham and the pastern. ARRIE'RE BAN, the phrase for a general proclamation of the French kings, by which not only their immediate feudatories, but their vassals, were summoned to take the field of war.-An arriere vassal was the vassal of a vassal. AR'RIS, in architecture, the intersection or line formed by the meeting of the exterior surfaces of two bodies, answering to what is called the edge.-ARRIS FILLET, a small piece of timber, of a triangular section, used in raising the slates against a wall that cuts obliquely across the roof. ARRONDEE', in heraldry, a cross, consisting of sections of a circle, the whole of the curves being in the same direction. ARROW, a light shaft, or rod, pointed at one end, and feathered at the other, intended as a weapon of offence. Arrow makers were called fletchers (from fleche, the French word for arrow.) When this weapon is borne in coats of arms, it is said to be barbed and feathered. AR'ROW-GRASS, a plant so called because its leaves resemble the head of an [ART and is reduced to powder by the mixture ART, a system of rules, serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; in which sense it stands opposed to science, or a system of merely speculative principles.Terms of Art, are such words as are used in regard to any particular art, profession, or science. ART and PART, a phrase used in Scotland; when any one is charged with a crime, they say, he is art and part in committing the same, that is, he was concerned both in the contrivance and execution of it. ARTERY, a blood vessel, which proceeds from the heart, and gradually becomes less in diameter the farther it goes; but it gives out numberless ramifications in its course. Arteries carry the blood from the heart to every part of the body, for the preservation of life, for nutrition, generation of heat, and the secretion of the different fluids. The action of the arteries, called the pulse, corresponds with that of the heart. ARTEMISIA, in antiquity, a festival celebrated in honour of Diana. In the Linnæan system of botany, a genus of plants, in which southernwood, wormwood, &c. are contained. ARTE'SIAN WELLS, a subterranean fountain of pure water, which is obtained by boring vertically down through one or more of the geological strata of the earth, till the perforation reaches a porous gravel bed containing water, placed under such incumbent pressure as to cause it to ascend to the surface, or to a height convenient for the operation of a pump. It is said that they derive their name from the ancient French province of Artois, where for many centuries they have been used, although their adoption in this country is very recent. The operations employed for penetrating the soil are entirely similar to those practised by the miner, in boring to find " ARSENICUM OF THE ANCIENTS. IN SCRIPTURE, THE "ARROWS OF GOD" ARE THE APPREHENSIONS OF HIS WRATH, OR THE REPRESENTATIONS OF HIS JUDGMENTS. THE JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE IS SO CALLED FROM A CORRUPTION OF THE ITALIAN "GIARASOLE ARTICIOCCO," SUN-FLOWER ARTICHOKE. ARTIFICIAL GRASSES" ARE SO CALLED FROM NOT GROWING SPONTANEOUSLY. ART] A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres. metallic veins; but the excavator of Artesian wells must resort to peculiar expedients to prevent the purer water, which comes from deep strata, mingling with the cruder waters of the alluvial beds near the surface of the ground, &c. In London and its vicinity there are now a great many of these wells, which have been perforated through the immensely thick bed of London clay, and even through some portions of the subjacent chalk. If we admit that the numerous springs which issue from the ground proceed from the infiltration of the waters progressively condensed in rain, dew, &c. the theory of these interior streamlets is sufficiently obvious; for as soon as the upper stratum is perforated, the waters may rise, in consequence of the hydrostatic pressure upon the lower strata, and even overflow the surface in a constant stream, provided the level from which they proceed be proportionally higher. In the progress of the boring, frequent veins of water are passed through; but as these are small streams, and perhaps impregnated with mineral substances, the operation is carried on until an aperture is made into a main spring, which will flow up to the surface of the earth. If this has its source in a neighbouring hill, the water will frequently rise up, and produce a continued fountain; but if the spring happens to be below the level of the surface of the ground where the boring is effected, it may be necessary to dig a well of considerable size down to that level, in order to form a reservoir into which the water may flow, and whence it must be raised by a pump. ARTHRITIS, the Gour, in medicine. [See the article Gour.] ARTHRITICA, in botany, a name used for the primrose. ARTHRO DIA, in natural history, a genus of imperfect crystals, found always in complex masses, and forming long, single pyramids, with very short and slender columns. In anatomy, a species of articulation, wherein a flat head of one bone is received into a shallow socket of another. ARTICHOKE, a plant very like the thistle, with scaly heads similar to the cone of the pine tree. At the bottom of each scale, as also at the bottom of each floret, is the well known fleshy edible substance. The Jerusalem Artichoke is a plant, the root of which resembles a potato, having the taste of the artichoke. ARTICLE, in grammar, a particle in most languages, that serves to express the several cases and genders of nouns, when the languages have not different terminations to denote the different states and circumstances of nouns. ARTICLE, in law, the clause or condition in a covenant. ARTICULATION, in anatomy, the junction of two bones intended for motion. There are two kinds; the diarthrosis, which has a manifest motion, and synarthrosis, which has only an obscure motion. Also, the distinct utterance of every letter, syllable, or word, so as to make one's-self intelligible. [ARV ARTIFICER, one who works with the hands, and manufactures any kind of commodity in metal, wood, &c.; a mechanic. ARTIFICIAL DAY, in astronomy, that space of time which intervenes between the rising and setting of the sun. ARTIFICIAL LINES, in geometry, lines so contrived on a sector as to represent logarithmal lines and tangents. ARTILLERY, a collective name denoting engines of war, but particularly cannon, mortars, and other large pieces, for the discharge of shot and shells. It is also employed to denote the science which teaches all things relating to the artillery, as the construction of all engines of war, the arrangement, movement, and management of cannon and all sorts of ordnance, used either in the field, or the camp, or at sieges, &c The same name is also given to the troops by whom these arms are served, the men being, in fact, subsidiary to the instruments. Park of artillery, a place set apart in a camp for the artillery and large fire-arms.Train of artillery, a set or number of pieces of ordnance mounted on carriages. Flying artillery, a sort of artillery, so called from the celerity with which it can be moved. Seats are contrived for the men who work it, and a sufficient force of horses is applied to enable them to proceed at a gallop; each horse being rode by a separate driver. ARTIMOURAN'TICO, in metallurgy, a recently discovered compound of tin, bismuth, sulphur, and copper, having greatly the appearance of gold. ARTIST, a proficient in the liberal arts, in distinction from ARTIZAN, or one who follows one of the mechanic arts. ARTS, in the most general sense of the word, means any acquired skill. They are usually divided into fine and useful; comprising under the former, all those, the direct object of which is not absolute utility, as painting, sculpture, music, poetry, &c., in distinction to the arts called useful, or such as are essential to trade and com merce. ARVA'LES FRATRES, in Roman antiquity, a college of twelve priests, instituted by Romulus, who himself made one of the body: they assisted in the sacrifices of the Ambervalia, offered annually to Ceres and Bacchus, for the prosperity of the principal fruits of the earth. ARUNDE LIAN MARBLES, called also the Parian Chronicle, are ancient stones, on which is inscribed a chronicle of the city of Athens, supposed to have been engraven in capital letters, in the island of Paros, 264 years before Christ. They take their name from the earl of Arundel, who procured them from the East, or from his grandson, who presented them to the University of Oxford. ARUS'PICES, or HARUSPICES, an order of priesthood among the Romans, who pretended to foretel future events by inspecting the entrails of victims killed in sacrifice. They were introduced by Romulus, and abolished by Constantine, A.D. 337. AR'VIL, or AR'VAL, in archæology, fu IN BOTANY, THE TERM "ARTICULATE" IMPLIES THAT A PLANT IS JOINTED. IN THE ATTAINMENT OF ALL EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS, PATRONAGE AND GENIUS SHOULD EVER GO HAND IN HAND. 51 52 ASCARIDES OF DIFFERENT KINDS LIVE IN THE SKINS OF ANIMALS, AND ATTACH THEMSELVES TO THE BODIES OF BEETLES AND OTHER INSECTS. ASC] THE FIBRES OF ASBESTOS SOMETIMES APPEAR TO BE PRISMATIC CRYSTALS. The Scientific and Literary Treasury; neral rites.-ARVIL BREAD, bread given to the poor at a funeral. ARYTH'MUS, in music, the modulation of time. AS, a weight used by the ancients, consisting of 12 ounces: it was also used as a coin, and as an integer divided into 12 parts. ASAFOETIDA, a resinous gum of a very fetid smell, obtained from the ferula asafatida, a perennial plant, which is a native of Persia. It comes into this country in small grains of different colours, hard and brittle; and is considered an excellent remedy in hysterical disorders. ASAPHATUM, in medicine, a sort of serpigo, supposed to be generated in the pores like worms. A'SAPHEIS, defective utterance. ASARO'TA, in antiquity, a pavement or floor laid in dining rooms, and composed of very small tiles inlaid in different colours. ASA'SI, a tree growing on the coast of Guinea, the infusion of whose leaves cures the tooth-ache. ASBESTOS, or ASBESTUS, an inflammable mineral substance, of which amianthus is one of its principal species. This consists of elastic fibres, somewhat unctuous to the touch, and slightly translucent. The ancients manufactured cloth from the fibres of the asbestos for the purpose, as is said, of wrapping up the bodies of the dead when exposed on the funeral pile; it being incombustible in its nature. ASCAR'IDES, worms that infest the intestinum rectum, and cause a violent itching; also a kind of worms which infest the intestines of all animals. ASCEND'ANT, in law, such relations as are nearer the root of the family; as the father, grandfather, great uncle, &c. Marriage is always forbidden between the ascendants and descendants in a right line. -ASCENDANT, in astrology, that degree of the ecliptic that rises at a person's nativity; or the planet supposed to preside over the fate of an individual at his birth. -ASCENDANT, in architecture, an ornament in masonry or joiner's work, which borders the three sides of doors, windows, and chimneys. ASCEND'ING, in astronomy, an epithet applied to any star, degree, or point in the heavens, which is rising above the horizon. -ASCENDING LATITUDE, the latitude of a planet when going toward the north pole. ASCENDING NODE, that point of a planet's orbit, wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward.-ASCENDING SIGNS, those which are upon the ascent, or rising, from the nadir to the zenith. ASCEN'SION, in astronomy, that degree of the equator reckoned from the first of Aries eastward, which rises with the sun or a star. This is either right or oblique, according as it rises in a right or an oblique sphere.ASCENSIONAL DIFFERENCE, the difference between the right and the oblique ascension in any part of the heavens. ASCEN'SION DAY, a festival observed in the Christian church, ten days before LASH Whitsuntide, in memory of our Saviour ascending into Heaven. It is otherwise called Holy Thursday. ASCEN'SUS MOR'BI, in medicine, the ascent or increase of a disease. ASCENT', in a general sense, the motion of a body upwards. The ascent of light bodies is owing to the preponderancy of heavier ones, whereby they are impelled upwards. ASCENT OF FLUIDS, the rising of fluids in a glass tube or any vessel above the surface of their own level.-ASCENT, in logic, a sort of reasoning by which one ascends from particulars to universals. ASCETICS, in ecclesiastical history, such Christians in the primitive church as inured themselves to great degrees of abstinence and fasting, in order to subdue their passions. In short, every kind of uncommon piety laid claim to the name ascetic. ASCII, in geography, inhabitants of the globe having no shadow, such as those in the torrid zone, who twice a year have their Isun at noon in the zenith.ASCIA, in surgery, a bandage in the form of an axe. ASCID'IA, in entomology, a genus of animals of the mollusca species, found principally in the sea, adhering to rocks, shells, and other submarine substances. ASCITES, in medicine, dropsy in the region of the abdomen. ASCLEPI'A, a Grecian festival, held in honour of Esculapius. It was also called the sacred contest, because poets and musicians contended for victory there. ASCLEPIADE'AN VERSE, a kind of poetic measure, so called from Asclepias, the inventor of it. ASCLEPIAS, in botany, a genus of plants, of which the species are mostly perennials and shrubs. Class 5, Pentandria; Order 2, Digynia. ASCO'LIA, in Grecian antiquity, a festival celebrated by the Athenian husbandmen, in honour of Bacchus, to whom they sacrificed a he-goat, because that animal destroys the vines. AS CYRUM, in botany, a genus of plants with a rosaceous flower, and an oblong capsular fruit, formed of two valves, and containing a number of small, roundish seeds. It belongs to the polyadelphia polyandria class of Linnæus. ASE, in medicine, a term formerly used to denote a loathing of food arising from a diseased stomach. ASH, a well-known English tree, whose wood is much used by wheelwrights, turners, &c. There are several kinds, the common, flowering, mountain ash, &c. ASH ES, the remains of any vegetable, animal, or mineral substance that has been burned; and when of metals, called dross, calces, or oxydes. ASCRIPTI TII, in ancient history, supernumerary soldiers, who served to supply the losses in the legions. Also, in later times, foreigners or aliens newly admitted to the freedom of a city. ASH'LAR, free-stone as it comes from the quarry. IN SCRIPTURE, ASHES" IS USED TO DENOTE VILENESS, OR HUMILIATION. "ASCENDING VESSELS IN ANATOMY, ARE THOSE WHICH CARRY THE BLOOD TOWARDS THE UPPER OR SUPERIOR PARTS OF THE BODY. THE DEAD SEA IS FREQUENTLY TERMED THE ASPHALTIC LAKE, FROM THE LIQUID ASPHALTUM WHICH FLOATS ON ITS SURFACE. ASP] ASSAYING IS VERY GENERALLY TERMED THE DOCIMASTIC ART A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres. ASHO'RE, a term for on the shore or land, as opposed to aboard; but a ship is said to be ashore when she has run aground. ASH-WEDNESDAY, the first day in Lent, so called from the ancient custom of fasting in sackcloth and ashes. A'SIARCH, in Grecian antiquity, a governor of the provinces, who used to preside over the public games. ASI'DE, a term in plays for what is to be said on the stage without being heard by the other performers. ASILUS, in entomology, a genus of insects in the Linnæan system, of the order diptera. ASINA'RIA, a festival anciently held in Sicily, in commemoration of the victory obtained over the Athenians, when Demosthenes and Nicias were taken prisoners; and was so called from the river Asinarius, near which it was fought. ASP, in zoology, a very small kind of serpent, (the Coluber aspis of Linnæus), peculiar to Lybia and Egypt. Its bite is so fatal, and its effects so quick, that death ensues without the possibility of applying a remedy. ASPARAGUS, a valuable esculent plant, which requires three years at least to bring it to maturity from the time of sowing the seed, and will not yield vigorously without a continual supply of manure. ASPEN-TREE, a kind of white poplar, the leaves of which are perpetually in a tremulous motion. ASPERIFOLIATE, or ASPERIFO'LIOUS, among botanists, such plants as are rough leaved, having their leaves placed alternately on their stalks, and a monopetalous flower divided into five parts. LASS the tombs, that there might be food in the regions below for the departed spirits. ASPHYXIA, in medicine, the state of a living body in which no pulsation can be perceived. AS PIRATE, in grammar, a character in the Greek (marked thus, ') to denote that the vowel must be sounded with a breathing. In English, the letter h is called aspirate, when it is sounded, in distinction to h mute. ASS, (equus asinus) a patient and useful quadruped, remarkable for its hardihood and length of life. Notwithstanding the dull and dogged disposition of this animal in our climate, it is a descendant of the wild ass, inhabiting the mountainous deserts of Tartary, &c.; celebrated in sacred and profane history, for the fiery activity of its disposition, and the fleetness of its course; but in consequence of ill usage and bad fare, the ass has long since become proverbial for stolid indifference to suffering, as well as for obstinancy and stupidity. Its characteristics are a long head, long ears, a round body covered with a short and coarse fur, of a pale dun colour, with a streak of black running down its back and across the shoulders, and a tail not hairy all the way, as in a horse, but only at the end. The best breed of asses is that originally derived from the hot and dry regions of Asia; but the best to be met with in Europe are the Spanish. ASSAS'SIN, one who kills another, not in open combat, but privately, or suddenly. The name is generally restrained to murderers of princes or other political characters; or, to speak perhaps more explicitly, to where the murder is committed from some sentiment of hatred, but in a private and dastardly manner. AS'SAI, a musical term, which indicates that the time must be accelerated or retarded; as allegro, quick; allegro assai, still quicker; adagio assai, still slower. ASSANE'GI, in mineralogy, the powder that falls off from the walls of salt in the AS'SANUS, an ancient weight amounting to two drams. ASPERIFOLIE, the 41st Linnæan natural order of plants, with rough leaves. ASPHALTUM, a bituminous or inflammable substance, found in abundance in different countries, especially near the Dead Sea, and in Albania; but nowhere in such quantities as in the island of Trinidad, where there is a large plain of it, called the Tar Lake, which is three miles in circum-salt mines. ference and of an unknown depth. It is also found in France, Switzerland, and some other parts of Europe. It appears in detached masses of no regular structure, breaking easily in any direction, very light, fusible, and after burning some time with a greenish white flame, leaving a residuum of white ashes. The ancients employed asphaltum in the construction of their buildings; and at the present day it is used partially in lieu of stone, in paving the streets of London. In short, several "asphalt companies" have been formed with a view of prosecuting it as a commercial speculation; and, judging by the specimens we have seen, we are induced to think it will eventually be very generally introduced. ASPER, a Turkish coin, equal to three farthings of our money. ASPHODEL, in botany, a genus of the hexandria monogynia class of plants, the flower of which is liliaceous. We are told that the ancients used to put asphodel into ASSAULT, in law, an attempt or offer, with force and violence, to do a bodily injury to another; as by striking at him either with or without a weapon.-AsSAULT, in the military art, a furious effort made to carry a fortified post, camp, or fortress, wherein the assailants do not screen themselves by any works. ASSAY'ING, in metallurgy, is used to express those chemical operations which are made in small to ascertain the quantity of metal contained in ores, or to discover the value or purity of any mass of gold, silver, or any other metal. This mode of examination differs from analysis, in being principally concerned about only one of the ingredients in the ore or alloy, whereas the object of the latter is to ascertain the quantity and proportion of every substance in the mass to which it is applied. ASSAY-MASTER, an officer, under cer THE "ASSASSINS" OF SYRIA WERE A POWERFUL AND BARBAROUS CLAN. A COMPOSITION OF ASPHALT, LAMP-BLACK, AND OIL IS USED FOR DRAWING BLACK FIGURES ON DIAL-PLATES. [F8 THE TERM "ASSIZES" WAS SOMETIMES APPLIED TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL, OR ANCIENT WITTENAGEMOTE, OF ENGLAND. 54 AN ASSUMPSIT MAY BE EITHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. ASS] The Scientific and Literary Treasury ; tain corporations, entrusted with the care of making true touch, or assay, of the gold and silver brought to him; and giving a just report of the goodness or badness thereof. ASSENT (THE ROYAL), is the approbation given by the king (or reigning monarch) in parliament to a bill which has passed both houses; after which it becomes a law. ASSETS', in law or trade, signifies goods or property enough to answer all demands made upon them. REAL ASSETS are lands in fee simple whereof a man dies possessed. PERSONAL ASSETS, any personal estate. AS'SIDENT SIGNS, in medicine, symptoms which occasionally attend any disease incident to the human frame. ASSIGNABLE MAGNITUDE, in mathematics, any finite magnitude that can be expressed or specified. ASSIGNAT, the name of the national paper currency in France during the Revolution. Four hundred millions of this paper money were first struck off by the constituent assembly, with the approbation of the king, April 19, 1790, to be redeemed with the proceeds of the sale of the confiscated goods of the church. They at length increased, by degrees, to forty thousand millions, and after a while they became of no value whatever. ASSIGNEE', in law, a person appointed by another to do an act, transact some business, or enjoy a particular privilege. The person to whom is committed the management of a bankrupt's estate. LAST ASSO'DES, in medicine, a fever with excessive inward heat, though not so great externally. ASSOILE, in our ancient law-books, to absolve, free, or deliver one from excommunication. AS'SONANCE, in rhetoric or poetry, is where the words of a phrase or verse have nearly the same sound, or termination, but make no proper rhyme. ASSUMP'SIT, in law, a voluntary promise by which a man binds himself to pay any thing to another, or to do any work. ASSUMPTION, a festival in the Romish church, in honour of the miraculous ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven.-AsSUMPTION, in logic, is the minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism. It is also used for a consequence drawn from the propositions whereof an argument is composed. ASSUMPTIVE ARMS, in heraldry, are such arms as a person has a right to assume to himself by virtue of some action, provided his right be confirmed by the approbation of his sovereign and the heralds. ASSURANCE, see INSURANCE. ASTER (Starwort), in botany, a genus of the syngenesia-polygamia class of plants, with a radiated flower, the disk of which is composed of floscules, and its border of semifloscules; the receptacle is plain and naked, and the seeds are of an oblong figure, oval at top, and winged with down. ASTE'RIAS, in ichthyology, the Star-fish, a genus of animals, class vermes, order mol lusca. ASTERISK, a little star (*) used in printing as a mark of reference. ASTERIS M, in astronomy, a constellation of fixed stars. ASSIGNMENT, in law, the act of assigning or transferring the interest or property a man has in a thing; or of appointing and setting over a right to another. ASTEROIDES, or ASTEROIDS, the ASSIMILATION, that process in the small planets that circulate between the animal economy by which the different in-orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Their names, gredients of the blood are made parts of the with those of their discoverers, and the various organs of the body. dates of their respective discoveries, are - ASSIZES, a meeting of the king's judges, the sheriff, and juries, for the purpose of making gaol deliveries, and trying causes between individuals; generally held twice in the year. The assizes are general when the justices go their circuits, with commission to take all assizes, that is, to hear all causes; and they are special when special commissions are granted to hear particu.ar causes. ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS. By this phrase is understood that connexion between certain ideas which causes them to succeed each other involuntarily in the mind. To the wrong association of ideas made in our minds by custom, Mr. Locke attributes most of the sympathies and antipathies observable in men, which work as strongly, and produce as regular effects, as if they were natural, though they at first had no other origin than the accidental connexion of two ideas, which either by the strength of the first impression, or future indulgence, are so united, that they ever after keep company together in that man's mind as if they were but one idea. IN SCOTLAND, THE ASSIZE OR JURY CONSISTS OF FIFTEEN MEN. AN ASSIGNMENT DIFFERS FROM A LEASE IN THIS, THAT THE LATTER CONVEYS ONE'S INTEREST IN PROPERTY FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY. |