ORIENTAL RUBIES, SAPPHIRES, AND TOPAZES, ARE CUT WITH DIAMOND POWDER SOAKED WITH OLIVE OIL, ON A COPPER WHEEL.

412

LAOCOON MAY BE REGARDED AS THE TRIUMPH OF SCULPTURE.

The Scientific and Literary Treasury;

much greater pressure even than oak. The stone. The waters of many springs are

which crystalizes in the interstices, is call-majestic of the conifere of the Eastern con

THE FINEST SPECIMENS OF LAPIS LAZULI ARE FROM CHINA AND PERSIA.

THE STORY OF LAOCOON HAS FREQUENTLY FURNISHED A SUBJECT TO THE POETS; AND IT MUST EVER BE A FAVOURITE STUDY FOR TYROS IN ART.

IT FOR 1000 YEARS, OR TILL THEY RESIDED AT AVIGNON.

LAT]

THE GREATNESS OF ROME MAY BE DATED FROM THE FALL OF LATIUM.

A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres.

ders of woods, perches on trees, and sings during the night, so as to be sometimes mistaken for the nightingale. There are two or three other varieties of this genus, but they are very inferior as songsters to the before-mentioned.

LARK'SPUR, in botany, a plant of the genus Delphinium (allied to the ranunculus and columbine), of which there are numerous species. Many of them are common in our gardens, where they are cultivated for the beauty and brilliant colours of their flowers.

LA'RUS, in ornithology, the gull, a genus of birds, order Anseres. Birds of this tribe inhabit the coasts of northern countries, feed on fish and carrion, are very voracious, and when frightened discharge the contents of the maw.

LAR'VA, in entomology, the grub or caterpillar state of an insect; or first stage in the metamorphoses of insects, preceding the chrysalis.

LARYNGOTOMY, in surgery, the operation of cutting the larynx or windpipe, for assisting obstructed respiration, or removing foreign bodies.

LA'RYNX, an organ of the voice, being a cartilaginous cavity connected with the windpipe, and on the size and flexibility of which depend the powers and tones of the human voice. The superior opening of the larynx is called the glottis.

LASCAR', in the East Indies, a native seaman, or a gunner.

LASSITUDE, among physicians, physicia a morbid sensation or languor, which often precedes disease.

LAST, a measure or weight, as a last of corn, &c. equal to ten quarters, and a last of cod fish, &c. equal to from twelve to twenty-four barrels.

LATEEN' SAILS, triangular sails fre quently used by xebecs, polacres, settees, and other vessels navigated in the Medi

terranean.

LATENT HEAT, is heat in combination, in distinction from sensible heat; the portion of heat which disappears when a body changes its form from the solid to the fluid, or from the fluid to the aeriform

state.

LATERAL EQUATION, in algebra, a simple equation, whose root is only in one dimension.

LATERAN COUNCILS, those councils held in the basilica of the Latin church at Rome.

LATERIFO'LIOUS, in botany, an epithet for a flower growing on the side of a leaf at the base.

LATERITIOUS SEDIMENT, in medicine, a sediment in urine resembling brick-dust, observed after the crises of fevers, &c.

LATH, in carpentry, a long, thin piece of wood, nailed to the rafters of a wall or roof to receive the plaster or covering.

LATHE, an engine used in turning wood, ivory, and other materials. - Lathe, as used in Kent and Sussex, is part of a county, containing three or four hundreds.

[LAU

LATICLAVE, in antiquity, an ornament

of dress worn by Roman senators.

LATIN, the language spoken by the ancient Romans, or the inhabitants of Latium, from which it derives its name. The Latin tongue was for a while confined almost wholly within the walls of Rome; nor would the Romans allow the common use of it to their neighbours, or to the nations they subdued: but, by degrees they in time became sensible of the necessity of its being generally understood for the convenience of commerce; and accordingly used their endeavours that all the nations subject to their empire, should be united by one common language, so that at length they imposed the use of it by an express law.

LATITAT, in law, a writ used in personal actions, where the party is to be arrested in any other county than Middlesex.

LATITUDE, in geography, is the distance of any place from the equator, measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds, upon the meridian of that place; and is either north or south, according as the place is situated either on the north or south side of the equator. In astronomy, it is the distance of a star north or south of the ecliptic.

LATITUDINA'RIAN, in theology, one who indulges a latitude of thinking and interpretation of the scriptures. In a general sense, it denotes one who is not restrained by precise settled limits in opinion, but is governed by a sense of moderation.

LATRIA, the highest kind of worship, or that paid to God: distinguished by the Catholics from dulia, or the inferior worship paid to saints.

LATROBITE, a mineral of a pale red colour, massive or crystalized, from an island near the Labrador coast.

LATTEN-BRASS, plates of milled brass reduced to different thicknesses, according to the uses they are intended for.

LAUD'ANUM, in medicine, a soporific tincture, containing the finer and purer parts of opium, drawn in water and spirits of wine and then reduced to its due consistence.

LAUNCE FISH, or SAND LAUNCE, in ichthyology, a fish which buries itself on the recess of the tide a foot deep in the sand. It is generally used for baits.

LAUNCH, a particular kind of flat boat used in underrunning the cables of different ships.

LAU'REATE. In England the poet laureate was formerly an officer of the royal household, whose business it was to compose a birth-day ode for the monarch, and another for the new year. These obligations have been dispensed with; and the honour of the laureateship, with the salary, is now given as the reward of high poetic genius.

LAUREATION, in the Scotch universities, signifies the act of taking the degree of master of arts, which the students are permitted to do after four years' study.

CALORIC IN A "LATENT" STATE EXISTS IN ALL KINDS OF SUBSTANCES.

THE "GEOCENTRIC LATITUDE" OF A PLANET, IS ITS LATITUDE AS SEEN FROM THE EARTH; ITS

"HELIOCENTRIC LATITUDE," AS SEEN FROM THE SUN

[N N 3 WHATEVER BE THE STRUCTURE OF A PLANT, THE OFFICE OF ABSORPTION IS CARRIED ON BY THE EXTREMITIES ALONE.

414

ALL CREATED BEINGS ARE GOVERNED BY INVARIABLE PHYSICAL LAWS.

The Scientific and Literary Treasury;

LAVANDULA, in botany, a genus of each other. This is founded upon the law

HUMAN LEGISLATION IS GOVERNED BY THE FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION.

PROPERTY, BY THE ENGLISH LAW, IS DIVIDED INTO REAL AND PERSONAL; LAND AND TITHES BEING REAL; MONEY AND EFFECTS, PERSONAL.

LEA]

PLANTS WITH POINTED LEAVES AND SPINES ATTRACT THE LIGHTNING.

A New Dictionary of the Belles Lettres.

LAY, an epithet in ecclesiastical law for what belongs to the people, in distinction from those who are in orders. Layman, one who follows secular employments.Lay Brothers, and Lay Sisters, in the Romish church, are such as perform the secular and servile offices in a monastery or convent.-Lay Fee, lands held in fee of a lay lord, as distinguished from those lands which belong to the church. Lay Impropriation, the impropriating or employing the revenues of the church to the use layman.--Lay Corporation, any corporation or body which consists of laymen, created for some temporal purpose, as charitable corporations, who are constituted for the perpetual distribution of the free

alns of the founder.

of a

LAY'ER, in horticulture, a young shoot or twig bent down and covered with mould

for growth or propagation. This operation

is performed by slitting the branches a lit

tle way, and laying them about half a foot

under der the mould; the ground being first
made very light, and after they are laid, a
water being given them.-Layer,

little
among fishermen, a channel or bed in a

[LEA

Though these several substances have nothing of the appearance of the metal they are produced from, yet if a little iron-filings be added to them over the fire, or only some

pieces of charcoal, or any other oily inflammable matter be thrown in, they become

lead again. The greater part of the acids act upon it. Acetic acid dissolves it. When

combined with mercury, it forms a crystalizable alloy which becomes fluid when triturated with bismuth. Lead, while in the earth, enters into the substance of crystal. This is frequently the case with that crystal which is found about lead-mines, the

figure of which it renders a cube. It often

does this without altering the colour: but

when it tinges likewise, the tint it gives is

yellow. The topaz, among the gems,

owes its yellow colour to this metal; and,

in the factitious gems, the tint it gives to

the composition is always a yellow approach

ing to that of the topaz. Various prepa

rations of lead are used medicinally; but when injudiciously administered, or taken

tions of the limbs; and as they generally

come on gradually, the cause is often overlooked till it be too late. Poisoning from

accidentally into the body, they cause violent colics, paralyses, tremors, and contrac

creek, where small oysters are thrown for

breeding.

LAY FIGURE, among painters, a small

statue either of wax or wood, whose joints

are so formed, that it may be put into any

attitude or posture. Its principal use is for

adjusting the drapery or clothing.

LAZARETTO, a public building, hospi

tal, or pest-house, for the reception of those

afflicted with contagious diseases.

LAZULITE, a mineral of a slight indigo

blue colour, generally granular or occurring

in small pieces not exceeding the size of a

hazel-nut. It is found in narrow veins,

traversing clay-slate, with quartz, in Saltz

burg.

LEAD, in mineralogy, Plumbum, a metal

found in considerable quantity in many

parts of the earth, but seldom, if at all, in

the pure metallic state. Lead is of a bluish

gray colour, and very brilliant when fresh

the air. It is the softest and least elastic

of all the metals; easily flattened under the

lead arises either from liquors becoming

impregnated with lead, by being improperly

who work much with lead, as plumbers,

painters, &c. The presence of lead in any

suspected liquor, is detected by the hydro

sulphuret of potash, which forms with it a

dark brown precipitate, not soluble in di

luted muriatic acid; and still more certainly

by evaporating a portion of the liquor to

dryness, and exposing the extract to a heat

sufficient to reduce the lead.

LEAF (folium), in the natural history of

plants, a very essential and ornamental part

of them; for, by its numerous pores, the

leaf absorbs the gases which are adapted

for the nutrition of the plant, or exhales

trees, their peculiar properties and appear

cut, but soon tarnishes from exposure to

those which have become useless for that

purpose. The variation of the leafing of

hammer, and ductile in a very great degree,

ances, their exhilarating effects when burst

though much less so than gold. It may

ing forth in spring, and the fall of "the

sere and yellow leaf" at the approach

tingers bluish-gray when rubbed. It fuses

winter, furnish the mind with matter for

easily be cut with a knife, and stains the

at 612° Fahr. and renders other more re

fractory metals fusible, but requires the

to put it in fusion. It acquires this fluid

whereas the other metals, except tin, all

of

continual reflection, in a moral point of

view, as furnishing most striking emblems

least degree of fire of all metals, except tin,

of the successive periods of human life.

Light and air, which so essentially influ

state long before it changes its colour;

ence the vegetable kingdom, act chiefly on

the leaves; and they have not unaptly been

become red-hot before they run: after melt

compared to the animal organs of respira

tion. The leaf changes whatever passes

powder, which, if the fire be increased and

through it into the plant from without:

the matter often stirred, becomes yellow,

sound and green leaves, in the sun, exhale

ing, it very readily calcines into a gray

and afterwards of a fine florid red: this is

the minium, or common red lead of the

ment, it runs into an oleaginous matter,

oxygen and absorb carbonic acid gas; but

by night, or in the dark, they give out car

bonic acid gas, and absorb oxygen from

shops. If the fire be made yet more vehe

the air. The importance of leaves to

or reddish colour, and is composed of a

which, as it cools, becomes of a yellowish

number of thin laminæ: this is litharge.

plants is shown by the fact that no plant

can grow, or form blossoms, or fruits, if

deprived of leaves. They also form an im

NO PLANT WILL VEGETATE WITHOUT A SUPPLY OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR.

415

SELF-SOWN SEEDS RESIST THE COLD OF WINTER, AND THE RETURNING WARMTH OF SPRING CAUSES THEM TO GERMINATE. ETHOD OF MAKING LEAVEN, AS PRACTISED BY THE ANCIENTS, WAS TO LET SOME DOUGH STAND IN A WARM PLACK 36 HOURS.

THE MET

416

LEE]

ABOUT 8,000,000l. ARE ANNUALLY EXPENDED IN ENGLAND FOR SHOES.

The Scientific and Literary Treasury;

portant characteristic in the subdivision of

plants, and are divided into simple and

compound; the latter class consisting of

those in which several leaves are supported

on one footstalk. The lobe of a leaf is

the segment around the apex. A leaflet

is one e of the divisions of a compound leaf.

-A leaf-stalk is the petiole or stalk

which supports a leaf.

length, containing a certain number of geo

[LEG

defended from the wind. Under the lee

which the wind blows. Under the lee of

force of the wind.Lee-side, the side of a

wind blows. Lee tide, a tide running in

Lee-lurch, a sudden and violent roll of a ship

to leeward in a high sea. Leeward, per

taining to the part towards which the wind

of a ship, on the side opposite to that on

the land, near the shore which breaks the

vessel farthest from the point whence the

the same direction that the wind blows.

LEAGUE, in geography, a measure of

blows.

LEECH (the Hirudo of naturalists), a

well known insect that lives in the water,

and is commonly used in bleeding. The

two principal species are the medicinal

leech, which is employed to draw blood

where the lancet is less safe; and the horse

graphical paces, according to the usage or

computation of different countries. A

league at sea, where it is mostly used by

us, is equal to three English miles, or 3000

geometrical paces: the league in France

contains 3500 paces: the Dutch or German

league, four geographical miles. League,

in politics, a treaty of alliance between dif

ferent states or parties. It may be offen

sive or defensive, or both. It is offensive,

when the contracting parties agree to unite

in attacking a common enemy; defensive,

when the parties agree to act in concert in

defending each other against an enemy.

LEAKAGE, in commerce, an allowance

or the waste of liquors by leaking.

LEASE, in law, a demise of lands or te

nements, or a conveyance of them, gene

rally in consideration of rent or other an

nual recompense, for term of years, for

leech, which is larger, and applied to horses

makes three wounds, through which it

sucks blood, and is, therefore, very useful

in topical inflammations. The leech has

upon it. As it generally happens that

leeches have to be applied in the absence

observations may be of service: Previous to

carefully cleansed from any foulness, and

no intestinal canal, but retains the blood

for a considerable time, appearing to thrive

made to merchants for the leaking of casks,

LEAP YEAR. [See BISSEXTILE.]

of the medical practitioner, the following

their application the skin should be very

moistened with a little milk, and if retained

by a small wine-glass, or the bottom of a

pill-box, they will generally in a little time

fasten themselves to the skin. On their

life, or at will, provided it be for a shorter

term than the lessor has in the premises.

The party letting the lands, &c. is called

the lessor, and the party to whom they are

let, the lessee. Any one of the conditions

of a lease not being complied with, the pro

prietor may resume possession. Lease

and Release, as used in our law, signifies a

certain instrument in writing, for the con

veyance of a right or interest in lands and

tenements in fee to another.

LEASH, in sporting, the number three,

as a leash of birds, a leash of greyhounds,

&c. Also, a leather thong by which a fal

coner holds his hawk.

removal, the rejection of the blood they

will of any personal effects; the person be

queathing is called the testator, and he to

whom it is bequeathed the legatee. There

is also a residuary legatee, or one to whom,

after the several devises or bequests made by

will, the residue of the testator's estate and

LEATHER, the skin of animals, pre- effects are given. If a legacy is bequeathed, pared by the fellmonger, tanner, and dyer, and no certain time of payment mentioned, and furniture. The first takes off the hair,

OUR CONSUMPTION OF LEATHER AMOUNTS Tο 12,500,000€. Α YEAR.

OF ALL ASTRINGENT SUBSTANCES, CATECHU CONTAINS THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF TANNIN, SO INDISPENSABLE IN PRODUCING LEATHER.