P. (continued 3)

Pontoon carriage, was made with two wheels only, and two long side pieces, whose fore-ends are supported by a limber; and served to carry the pontoon, boards, cross timbers, anchors, and every other thing necessary for making a bridge; but better experience places them on four wheels.

Pontoon bridge, is made of pontoons, slipped into the water, and placed about five or six feet asunder; each fastened with an anchor, when the river has a strong current, or to a strong rope that goes across the river, running through the rings of the pontoons. Each boat has an anchor, cable, baulks, and chests. The baulks are about 5 or 6 inches square, and 21 feet long. The chests are boards joined together by wooden bars, about 3 feet broad, and 21 feet long. The baulks are laid across the pontoons at some distance from one another, and the chests upon them joined close; which makes a bridge, in a very short time, capable of supporting any weight.

POOLBUNDY, Ind. a dam to prevent inundations; an embankment; a dyke.

POONA, Ind. a day fixed for the Zemindars to bring in their balances for the year.

POONEA, Ind. the Indian name of a month.

POOR, indigent, necessitous, oppressed with want.

Poor in resources and expedients, of a limited conception; of a narrow understanding; unequal to an arduous enterprise.

POOR or PORE, Ind. when it terminates a word, means town, or city; as Viziapore, &c.

POOSE, Ind. the name of a month following Aughun: it in some degree accords with December and January.

POOSHTAY Bundee, Ind. embankments of rivers. It likewise means bridges thrown over rivers.

POOSKUT, Ind. a small weight, measuring eight koonchys, or sixty four handfuls; one koonchy being equal to eight handfuls.

PORSTICK method, in mathematics, is that which determines when, by what means, and how many different ways, any problem may be resolved.

PORPHYRE, Fr. porphyry. A fine red marble.

PORT, Fr. a harbor.

Fermer les PORTS, Fr. to lay a general embargo upon shipping. During the French monarchy this practice frequently occurred for the purpose of securing able bodied seamen.

Port, Fr. This word is likewise used to express the tonnage of a vessel.

PORTAL, (portail, Fr.) the front or facade of a large building, where the principal gate stands.

To Port, to carry.

Port arms, a word of command which has been adopted during the present war, and is practised in the British army. It consists in bringing the firelock diagonally across the chest from the carry. This position of the musquet affords a great facility to the person who inspects the touch-hole, &c. In dismissing guards, preparing to charge, &c. soldiers are ordered to port arms. The French do not practise this method. Their word of command, haut les armes, corresponds with our recover.

PORTCLUSE, or PORT cullice, in fortification, is an assemblage of several large pieces of wood, joined across one another like a harrow, and each pointed with iron at the bottom. They are sometimes hung over the gate-way of old fortified towns, ready to let down in case of a surprise, when the gates could not be shut.

Port-fire, in artillery, a composition put in a paper case to fire guns and mortars, instead of a lint-stock and match. See Laboratory Works.

PORTGLAVE, Fr. See Porte-Epee.

Port de l’arme, Fr. the carriage of the firelock.

Porte drapeau, -

Porte enseigne,

Fr. the person who carries the colors.

Port étendard, Fr. the standard bearer.

Porte feu, Fr. a machine made of wood or copper, by which fire is communicated to gunpowder in a shell, fuse, or piece of ordnance. It is sometimes made of pasteboard. Where there is any ground to apprehend that a cannon will burst, the priming made of a certain composition is put into the pasteboard case, by which means the cannoneer has time to retire before any accident can happen.

Porte feu, Fr. is likewise used among artificers to signify all sorts of fusees or matches, by which fire is communicated to many quarters at once. They last according to the nature of the composition with which they are made up.

Porte feu brisé, Fr. in artificial fireworks, a species of carriage which is bent into a curve by means of a sloping piece of wood.

Porte voix, Fr. a speaking trumpet.

Porte mousqueton, Fr. a swivel.

Porte arquebuse, Fr. the king’s gunbearer.

Porte epée, Fr. a sword bearer; It likewise means a sword belt.

Porte, Fr. a gate. Portes d’une ville. The gates of a fortified town.

Porte d’ecluse, Fr. a flood gate.

Porte de secours, Fr. the gate in a citadel, which has an outlet towards the country, is so called. By means of this gate the garrison can always receive succors or reinforcements, in cases of civil insurrection, or under circumstances of surprise.

PORTEE du fusil, Fr. by this expression the French generally understand the distance which a musquet-shot goes to its ultimate destination. It is supposed to vary from 120 to 150 toises.

Portee des piéces, Fr. the flight, range, or reach of cannon.

Portee à toute volée. Fr. the flight of a cannon shot when it makes an angle of something under 45 degrees with the horizon, or level of the country. In this manner it completes the greatest possible range.

Portee de but en blanc, Fr. the forward direction and flight of a ball, constituting a straight line, which it describes from the mouth of the piece to its ultimate object. It has been generally found, by experience that the distance so described, could not exceed 300 toises. Beyond that, the ball has been known to deviate. According to Belidor, pieces of ordnance will carry farther in the morning and at night, when the weather is cool and rarefied, than in the middle of the day, or at noon, when the heat of the sun prevails. This circumstance is amply discussed in his Bombardier Francois; and his observations were proved to be correct by experiments made in June, 1744, at Essonne. These experiments commenced at seven o’clock in the morning, and lasted till twelve. It was remarked, that the shells, which were thrown out of three mortars, gradually fell short of their original range. Besides the portée a toute volée, and the portée de but en blanc, or the full range and the point blank shot, there is the ricochet, which marshal Vauban invented. See Ricochet.

PORTER, Fr. to carry. It is a marine term; as porter toutes ses voiles. To carry all her sails. It is likewise used as a word of command, viz. Portez vos armes. Carry arms.

Porter une botte, Fr. to make a thrust or pass.

PORTES d’une ville du guerre, Fr. openings which cross the ramparts of a fortified town or place, and are generally arched over. These openings are usually made in the middle of the curtain, between two bastions. They are from nine to ten feet broad, and from thirteen to fourteen feet high. The gates are mostly decorated with trophies of war: and in some instances a very superfluous magnificence is exhibited.

PORTEURS d’eau, Fr. Water carriers. In India they are called Beestees. Amongst the Turks the Sakkas, or water-carriers, are taken from the lowest rank of soldiers belonging to the Capikuly infantry. The number of these men depends upon the nature of the service on which the turks are employed. They are under the orders of the officers who command companies; and although their situation is not only the most degrading, but the most laborious in the army, they may nevertheless become soldiers. Their dress consists of brown leather; and from the continual fatigue which they undergo, their appearance is wretched in the extreme.

PORTFIRE, a composition of meal powder, sulphur, and saltpetre, driven into a case of paper to serve instead of a match to fire guns.

Portfire composition. Saltpetre, 60 parts; sulphur, 40 parts; mealed powder, 20 parts. Length of each, 16¹⁄₂ inches.

One will burn from 12 to 15 minutes.

Weight of one dozen, 3 lbs. 12 oz.

Portfires were made at Gibraltar in the following manner; two ounces of nitre was dissolved in a gallon of water, and sheets of soft brown paper dipped in the solution: these when dry were rolled up to about the size of common portfires. See English New Annual Register, 1807, for an article on wooden portfires.

PORT-FOLIO, in a general acceptation of the term amongst us, is a species of large leathern case, made like a pocket book, and calculated to carry papers of any size. Among the French it not only signifies the same thing, but likewise a box, made of pasteboard, in which are contained the several papers that relate to any particular department. The adjutants, quarter-masters, &c. belonging to the staff, should be provided with port folios for the purpose of keeping their reports, &c. in regular order.

PORT-GLAIVE, from the French porteur and glaive. One who carries the sword before a prince or magistrate.

PORT-HOLES, in a ship, are the embrasures or holes in the sides of a ship, through which the muzzels of cannon are run.

PORTIERES, Fr. Two pieces or folds of wood which are placed in the embrasure of a battery, and which close the instant the piece has been fired. They serve to cover the cannoneers from the aim of the enemy, and to resist the discharge of musquetry. They are, however, seldom or ever used except when the batteries stand close to the counterscarp.

PORTICO, (portique, Fr.) in architecture, a kind of ground gallery, or piazza, encompassed with arches supported by columns, without any immediate relation to doors or gates, where people walk under cover. The roof is commonly vaulted, sometimes flat. The ancients called it Lacunar.

PORTMANTEAU, (Valise, Fr.) a cloak bag to carry necessaries in a journey. It is sometimes made of leather.

PORTMOTE, a court held in port towns, as swanimote was in the forest.

PORT ropes, in a ship, such ropes as serve to haul up and let down the ports on the port holes.

POSE, (grandepose, Fr.) a French military term, signifying the extraordinary centinels or guards, which after retreat beating are posted in a fortified town or place, for the safety of certain specific quarters. The corporals who post the centinels are directed to instruct them, not to suffer any person to go upon the ramparts, unless he belong to the night patrole or rounds, &c. These extraordinary guards are relieved at daybreak.

POSER, Fr. to lay down. It is used as a word of command in the French artillery, &c. viz. Poser vos leviers; lay down your levers.

POSER une sentinelle, Fr. to post a centry.

POSES, Fr. the centries that are posted.

Priming POSITION, in the old manual exercise. In firing three deep the priming position for the front rank is the height of the waistband of the breeches; for the centre rank about the middle of the stomach; and for the rear rank close to the breast. The firelock in all the positions is kept perfectly horizontal.

But in the modern exercise, the rear rank does not fire; but loads for the centre rank, whenever they form in three ranks, the whole are quarter faced to the left, so that the firelock of each has an interval; and all the firelocks are held equally high on the right hip.

Position, (Position, Fr.) This word is variously used in a military sense, both by the French and English. It is applicable to locality; as the army took an excellent position; or drew up upon very advantageous ground, and in a very advantageous manner. Frederic the great, of Prussia, has laid it down as a maxim, that no army should take up a position in rear of a forest, since it is thereby prevented from observing the movements of the enemy, and from counteracting their plans.

Position of the soldier without arms. The equal squareness of the shoulders and body to the front is the first and great principle of the position of the soldier: the heels must be in a line, and two inches apart; the knees straight, without stiffness; the toes turned out, so that the feet may form an angle of about 60 degrees; the arms hang near the body, but not stiff; the flat of the hand, and middle finger, touching the seams of the pantaloons; the elbows and shoulders are to be kept back: The belly rather drawn in; and the breast advanced, but without constraint; the body to be upright, but inclining rather forwards, so that the weight may not bear so much on the heels as on the fore part of the feet: the head to be erect; and neither turned to the right nor to the left; the eyes alone will be glanced to the right.

Position of the soldier with arms. The body of the soldier being in the position above described, the firelock is to be placed in his left hand, against the shoulder; the thumb alone to appear in front; the four fingers to be under the butt; and the left elbow a very little bent inwards, so as not to be separated from the body, or to be more backward or forward than the right one: the firelock must rest full on the hand, not on the end of the fingers; the knuckles of the middle finger to press so against the hip joint, as that on raising the left foot from the ground the motion of the joint be felt with the knuckles, and be carried in such manner as not to raise, advance, or keep back, one shoulder more than the other; the butt must therefore be forward, and as low as can be permitted without constraint; the fore part a very little before the front of the thigh; and the hind part of it pressed with the knuckles against the joint. It must be kept steady and firm before the hollow of the shoulder; should it be drawn back, or carried too high, the one shoulder would be advanced, the other kept back, and the upper part of the body would be distorted and not square with respect to the limbs.

The position in which a soldier should move, determines that in which he should stand still. Too many methods cannot be used to supple the recruit, and banish the air of the rustic. But that excess of setting up, which stiffens the person, and tends to throw the body backward instead of forward, is contrary to every true principle of movement, and must therefore be most carefully avoided. If the firelock be carried well in the hand, and against the hip joint, the barrel of the firelock will stand perpendicular, and this will guide the body which should be thrown against the uptight firelock, and will be found to agree with the balance of the body upon the fore part of the foot; and conduce to opening the chest and keeping an erect front.

Position in marching. In marching, the soldier must maintain, as much as possible, the same position of the body. See March.

Change of Position, the positive or relative movement of a body of troops on any given point.

New Positions that a regiment or line can take with respect to the old one, are:

Parallel Positions, or nearly so to the old one.

Intersecting Positions by themselves, or their prolongation, some part of the old line or its prolongation.

New parallel Positions being necessarily to the front, or rear of the old one, the regiment will, according to circumstances, take them up by the diagonal march; the flank match of divisions after wheeling into column; or the movement in open column to the new line, and its subsequent formation in it.

New intersecting Positions, which themselves cut the regiment, will, in cavalry movements, be taken up by the diagonal march; or the flank march ranks by three’s of divisions. All other new positions, which themselves, or their prolongation, intersect the old line, or its prolongation, will in general be taken up by the march in open column, and its subsequent formations, when it arrives at the line; some such positions will, however, allow of, and require being made by the echellon march, or by the flank march of divisions. In general the regiment will break to the hand which is nearest to the new position, be conducted to its nearest point in the new line, and form on it as directed.

Position of the officer. See Sword.

Position du soldat sans armes, Fr. position of the soldier without arms.

Position du soldat avec les armes, Fr. position of the soldier with arms.

Position de l’extension, Fr. in fencing, position of extension.

POSSEDER, Fr. to possess, to be in possession of.

POSSE, an armed power, called out on any particular emergency; as the posse comitatus; who may be called out by the sheriff, or marshal, to suppress outrages of the peace.

POSSESSION, to take possession, is the act of occupying any post, camp, fortress, &c. which might facilitate the operations of any army, or which previously belonged to the enemy.

POST, in war, a military station; any sort of ground fortified or not, where a body of men can be in a condition of resisting the enemy.

Advanced Post, a spot of ground, seized by a party to secure their front, and the post behind them.

Post of honor. The advanced guard is a post of honor: the right of the two lines is the post of honor, and is generally given to the eldest corps: the left is the next post, and is given to the next eldest, and so on. But the laws of military discipline forbid an inconvenient accordance with this practice, as the circumstances of the case may require a very different arrangement, which it would be wanton to oppose. The station of a centinel before the colors, and the door of a commanding officer, is a post of honor.

Advantageous POST. Every situation is so called which an enemy occupies in such a manner, that not only mere force of arms, but great military skill, and many stratagems, are required to dislodge him. We have various instances in history of how much may be done on both sides, when one army has taken up an advantageous post, and another finds it necessary to drive him from it. This subject has been amply discussed in a French work intituled, Stratagéms de Guerre, page 71, &c.

Posts of exercise in the rear, the relative situations which officers take in the rear; when the ranks of a battalion are opened for the purpose of going through the manual and platoon exercises. It is likewise a cautionary word of command, viz. The officers will take post in the rear.

To Post. In the disposition of troops, to place the officers, music, drummers, fifers, and pioneers, according to their several ranks and appointments, either for inspection, or exercise in the field.

To Post, to station, as, a sentry, &c.

To be POSTED, in military tactics, to be formed ready for action. Thus when troops are brought up in column, and ordered to deploy, it frequently happens, that some part of the line is refused, in order to flank an enemy, or to cover a weak position, the part that is aligned is said to be posted.

To POST up, (afficher, Fr.) To hold up to public censure or ridicule.

To be POSTED, in a familiar sense, signifies to be publicly announced as an infamous or degraded character. Hence to post a man as a coward is to stick his name up in a coffee-house or elsewhere, and to accuse him of want of spirit, &c. The French use the phrase afficher in the same sense. They likewise say figuratively afficher sa bonte; to publish or post up one’s own disgrace; meaning thereby, that some persons are so totally regardless of decency and decorum, as to express sentiments which are unbecoming the character of an officer, or a gentleman.

POSTAGE of Letters. In the British service, non-commissioned officers and private soldiers are privileged to send or receive letters, from any part of that country on payment of one penny only for the postage.

In the instructions to postmasters, (Feb. 4th, 1799,) concerning the exemptions granted to seamen in the navy, and privates in the army, in respect to the postage of their letters, it is specified, that

“No single letter, sent by the post from any seaman or private employed in his majesty’s navy, army, militia, fencible regiments, artillery, or marines, shall, whilst such seamen or private shall be employed on his majesty’s service, and not otherwise, be charged with an higher rate of postage than the sum of one penny for the conveyance of each such letter; such postage to be paid at the time of putting the same into the post office of the town, or place from whence such letter is intended to be sent by the post.

“Provided, that no such letter shall be exempted from postage, unless there shall be written thereon, in the hand-writing of, and signed by the commanding officer, for the time being, of the ship or vessel, or of the corps, regiment, or detachment to which such seamen or private shall belong, the name of such commanding officer, and of the ship, vessel, corps, regiment, or detachment commanded by him.

“No single letter, directed to any such seamen, or private, upon his own private concerns, only whilst such seaman, or private, shall be employed on his majesty’s service, and not otherwise, shall be charged with a higher rate of postage than one penny for each such letter, which penny shall be paid at the time of the delivery thereof.

“Provided, that no such letter shall be exempted from the rates of postage chargeable upon letters, unless any such letter shall be directed to such seaman, or private, specifying the ship, vessel, regiment, troop, corps, company, or detachment to which he may belong: and provided also, that it shall not be lawful for the deputy postmaster of the town or place to which such letter shall be sent to be delivered, to deliver such letter to any person except to the seamen or private to whom such letter shall be directed, or to any person appointed to receive the same by the commanding officer of the ship, &c. to which the seaman, or private to whom such letter shall be directed, shall belong.

“The exemptions do not extend to letters sent to or received from countries independent of England: they do extend to the West India Islands and British America.

“All postmasters are desired to take particular notice that double letters to and from soldiers and sailors and their families, are liable to the full double rates, the same as letters in general; and some postmasters having conceived that letters containing money orders might pass under the exemptions of the act, they are desired to understand, that such letters are chargeable with full double rates also.

“Recruiting serjeants, who may carry on a correspondence with their officers on the recruiting service, cannot send or receive their letters on that service under the exemptions granted by this act.

“The above exemptions granted by the legislature do not extend in the navy to any other than seaman, and not to officers of any description whatever; and in the army, only the privates, with serjeants and serjeant-majors are included. Many officers, both in the army and navy, having construed the act to extend to their own correspondence, it is hereby publicly stated that such a construction is altogether inapplicable.”

The act in its literal meaning includes in this indulgence all non-commissioned officers, although they are excluded by this official interpretation.

According to a letter issued from the post office, dated the 18th Sept, 1799, to all postmasters, in addition to the rates above-mentioned, these letters are chargeable with inland postage to and from London, excepting single letters to and from soldiers and sailors, and it is to be left to the opinion of the writers to pay the postage or not on putting them into any post office.

POSTE, Fr. a word generally used in the plural number to signify small shot, viz. Son fusil étoit chargé de douze ou quinze postes; his gun or musquet was loaded with twelve or fifteen shot.

Poste, Fr. This word is always used in the masculine gender when it relates to war, or to any specific appointments; as, poste avancé, an advanced post. Poste avantageux, an advantageous post. Mauvais poste, an unfavorable post. The French say figuratively, un poste est jaloux; thereby meaning, that a post is extremely open to an attack, and that the troops in it may be easily surprised.

Postes de campagne, Fr. Every construction or groupe of buildings that will admit of being defended, and is consequently tenable, is called a poste de campagne, or field work. Of this description are churches, houses, country houses, farm houses, villages, redoubts, &c. in which a sufficient number of men may be stationed for the purpose of holding out against an enemy, until succours can arrive. Chevalier Folard has written upon this subject; and since him, F. Gaudi, with comments and illustrations by A. P. J. Belair, chief of brigade in the French army. We recommend the latter production, which appeared in 1793, to the perusal of every officer. The work is intituled, Instruction addressée aux officiers d’Infanterie pour tracer et construire toutes sortes d’ouvrages de Campagne. See likewise, Aide Mémoire pour les officiers d’artillerie. A late work, intituled, Duties of an Officer in the Field, &c. by Baron Gross, of the Dutch brigade, is very useful; the whole of this tract is incorporated in the American Military Library.

Post avantageux, Fr. See Advantageous Post.

Petits POSTES separés, Fr. small detached posts.

Postes intermédiaires, Fr. intermediate posts, or men so stationed between different corps, that, in case of urgency, they may with ease advance to the support of that which is more immediately threatened by the enemy.

POSTERN, more frequent a sally-port, is a small door in the flank of a bastion, or other part of a garrison, to march in and out unperceived by an enemy, either to relieve the works, or make sallies.

POSTICHE, Fr. any thing fictitious put in room of something that has been real and natural. In military matters, among the French, it serves to distinguish supernumerary or auxiliary soldiers that are taken from one, or more companies; to strengthen any particular body of men.

POSTILION, Fr. an express boat which is kept in French seaports for the purpose of carrying and bringing intelligence.

POT, Fr. a vessel used in the making of artificial fireworks, &c.

Stink Pot, a vessel filled with combustible matter, which is thrown on various occasions, when men come into close action. The consequences of its explosion are sometimes fatal, and always dangerous.

Pot à brai, Fr. an iron pot in which pitch or tar is melted.

Pot d’une fusée volante, Fr. the carcase of a fusee.

Pot à feu, Fr. a fire pot; a hand grenado.

Pot à aigrette, Fr. an artificial firework, the centre of which contains a certain quantity of powder, which upon being inflamed, communicates itself to several other branches, and exhibits the appearance of an aigrette, or cluster of rays, such as issue from diamonds arranged in a particular manner. The aigrette takes its name from a bird so called, whose feathers serve to make up an ornament for the head.

Pot en téte, Fr. a headpiece made of iron, which is proof against musquet shot. This headpiece is sometimes placed in the crown of the hat, and is otherwise used by sappers.

POTEAU, Fr. a stake, post.

POTEE, Fr. Putty.

POTENCE, Fr. Troops are ranged en potence by breaking a straight line, and throwing a certain proportion of it, either forward or backward, from the right or left, according to circumstances, for the purpose of securing that line. An army may be posted en potence by means of a village, a river, or a wood. The derivation of the word may be variously explained, viz. From Potence, a gibbet. Potences, crutches or supports. Potence likewise means a piece of wood which is thrown across two uprights; also a cross table, as table en potence; and a measure to ascertain the height of a horse or man.

POTENTAT, Fr. See Potentate.

POTENTATE, a sovereign prince, whose power is rendered formidable by the various means of authority which are vested in him.

POTERNE, Fr. a postern gate, a sally port.

Poterne, Fr. Likewise signifies a secret gate. Gates of this description are made behind the orillons at the extremities of the curtain, in the angle of the flank, and in the middle of those curtains where there are no gates. The sewers generally run under the poternes. Belidor, in his Art of Engineering, recommends small arched magazines to be constructed on the right and left of the paths that lead to these gates.

POUCH, a case of black stout leather with a flap over it, worn by the infantry for the purpose of carrying their ammunition. The pouches in use among the cavalry are smaller.

Pouch flap, the outside covering of the pouch. It is made of the stoutest blackened leather and ought always to be substantial enough to turn the severest weather.

POUCE, Fr. An inch.

POUDRE, Fr. See Gunpowder.

Poudre muette, poudre sourde, Fr. A species of gunpowder which is free from noise or detonation.

Poudre fulminante, Fr. A species of gunpowder which makes a greater noise than the common sort.

Poudre à gros grains, Fr. Gunpowder which is used for artillery pieces. It is likewise called Poudre à Canon.

Poudre à musquet, Fr. Gunpowder used for musquets, and other firearms.

POUDRIER, Fr. a gunpowder maker. It also signifies an hour glass.

POVERTY, a goddess adored by the Pagans, and familiar to Christians. She was reverenced, as a deity, by the heathens, because they feared her, and was very justly considered as the mother of industry and the fine arts. Among military men, poverty is seldom felt whilst the active duties of the profession are executed with zeal and good sense, and the individuals entrusted with them, are not only paid with punctuality, but are secured in their honest hopes of promotion. Economy is the basis on which every soldier should build his views of personal comfort and security; and if he attend to the perpetual calls of service, he will not fail to realise them. For a life of real service affords no scope for extravagance; and when a good soldier becomes unequal to the hardships it imposes, the nation should provide for him.

POUF, Ind. a word used among the blacks to describe the explosion of firearms.

POULEVRIN, Fr. Pounded gunpowder.

POULIE, Fr. A pulley.

A POUND sterling, a money in account, value 20s. in England, marked £.

POUNDAGE, a rate which is allowed for collecting money. Army agents, &c. are entitled to poundage, which consists in a certain deduction from the pay of officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers. Agents are not allowed any poundage on the pay of the privates in the militia.

POUNDER, a great gun or piece of ordnance, denominated according to the weight of the ball it carries, as a 6, 12, 24 pounder.

POWDER Horn, a horn flask, in which powder is kept for priming guns. Light infantry and riflemen have frequently a powder horn for carrying spare powder.

POURIE, Ind. a wooden sandal which is used in India during the wet season.

POURSUITE, Fr. Pursuit.

Poursuivans d’armes, Fr. See Pursuivants at arms.

POURSUIVRE, Fr. to pursue.

Poursuivre l’épée dans les reins, Fr. To pursue with unrelenting activity.

POURTOUR, Fr. in architecture, the circumference of any place.

POURVOIR, Fr. to provide, to lay in store, &c.

POURVEYEURS des vivres, Fr. Purveyors.

POUSSER, Fr. to push, to press upon, to drive before you, viz. Pousser aux ennemis; to advance rapidly against the enemy. This expression is used in a neutral sense, and relates chiefly to the operations of cavalry.

Pousser un cheval, Fr. To make a horse go full speed.

POUSSIER, Fr. the dust which remains after the formation of gunpowder into grains.

POUTRE, Fr. a beam.

POUTRELLE, Fr. a small beam.

POWDER. See Gunpowder.

Powder-magazine, a bomb-proof arched building to hold the powder in fortified places, &c. containing several rows of barrels laid one over another. See Magazine.

Powder-cart, a two wheeled carriage, covered with an angular roof of boards. To prevent the powder from getting damp, a tarred canvas is put over the roof; and on each side are lockers to hold shot, in proportion to the quantity of powder, which is generally four barrels.

Powder-mill, a building in which the materials are beat, mixed together, and grained: they are placed near rivers, and as far from any house as can be, for fear of accidents, which often happen. See Mill.

POWER, a natural faculty of doing or suffering any thing. Mr. Locke, in his Essay on the Human Understanding, considers power under two heads. One he calls active and the other passive power.

Power, in military affairs as well as in all others, is knowlege—of human passions—of arms—of distances—of the skill and numbers of an enemy.

To be in the POWER of any body, in a figurative sense, to have committed yourself in such a manner, as to be under the necessity of keeping upon good terms with a person who might injure you by a disclosure of your secrets. To avoid putting yourself in the power of any man, hear much, say little, and write less. These are maxims which every public character ought to attend to; and every general should cautiously follow during an active campaign, when there are frequent occasions to communicate with spies, &c. and he is not unfrequently obliged to hold intercourse with suspected persons.

To be in the POWER of an enemy. To have taken up, injudiciously, such a position as to expose you to a defeat whenever the enemy may think proper to attack you.

Powers of lines and quantities, are their squares, cubes, &c. or other multiplications of the parts into the whole, or of one part into another.

Small POX. A disease to which most infants, adults, &c. are exposed; and which has been rendered less malignant by inoculation. The introduction of a humor, called the Cow Pox, or Vaccine Matter, into the human system, has lately been found extremely beneficial. When recruits join a regiment they should be examined respecting this disease; and no time should be lost to vaccinate them.

Great Pox, commonly called the venereal disease. Few men are more likely to catch this cruel disorder than soldiers; and in no case ought the attention of the regimental surgeon to be more imperiously engaged than in the speedy cure of it. In the navy, where the disease is often prevalent, the surgeons are entitled to receive a certain sum of money, which is stopped out of the pay of their venereal patients, for extraordinary trouble and attendance. In the army of the U. States the soldiers are treated in this as in all other diseases. The soldier should be liable to stoppages. Every officer of a company, who has the welfare of his soldiers at heart, should examine their linen at the weekly inspections, as the disorder generally manifests itself, particularly in its first stages, in stains upon the shirt.

PRACTICABLE. A word frequently used in military matters to express the possible accomplishment of any object. Hence, “a practicable breach.”

PRACTICE, or gun-practice. In the spring, as soon as the weather permits, the exercise of the great guns begins, for the purpose of shewing the gentlemen cadets at the British military academy at Woolwich, and the private men, the manner of laying, loading, pointing, and firing the guns. Sometimes instruments are used to find the centre line, or two points, one at the breech, the other at the muzzle, which are marked with chalk, and whereby the piece is directed to the target: then a quadrant is put into the mouth, to give the gun the required elevation, which at first is guessed at, according to the distance the target is from the piece. When the piece has been fired, it is sponged, to clear it from any dust or sparks of fire that may remain in the bore, and loaded: then the centre line is found, as before; and if the shot went too high or too low, to the right or to the left, the elevation and trail are altered accordingly. This practice continues morning and evening for about six weeks, more or less, according as there are a greater or less number of recruits. In the mean time others are shown the motions of quick firing with field-pieces. There is no practice in the army of the U. States, in which there are officers of ten or twelve years standing who never saw a mortar loaded; but this is the effect of a total want of system.

Mortar Practice, generally thus: a line of 1500 or 2000 yards is measured in an open spot of ground, from the place where the mortars stand, and a flag fixed at about 300 or 500 yards: this being done, the ground where the mortars are to be placed is prepared and levelled with sand, so that they may lie at an elevation of 45, or any required number of degrees; then they are loaded with a small quantity of powder at first, which is increased afterwards, by an ounce every time, till they are loaded with a full charge: the times of the flights of the shells are observed, to determine the length of the fuzes. The intention of this practice is, when a mortar-battery is raised in a siege, to know what quantity of powder is required to throw the shells in to the works at a given distance, and at what elevation, and to cut the fuzes of a just length, that the shell may burst as soon as it touches the ground.

PRACTICE-Book. See Book.

To PRACTICE. In a military sense, to go through the manual and platoon exercises, or through the various manœuvres, &c. for the purpose of becoming thoroughly master of military movements. Practice is likewise used, in imitation of the French, to signify the act of effecting or executing any military operation, viz. to practise a mine beneath the covert way, &c.

PRAME, Fr. A sort of boat or barge which is used on the canals in France.

PRAME, in military history, a kind of floating battery, being a flat bottomed vessel, which draws little water, mounts several guns, and is very useful in covering the disembarkation of troops. They are generally made use of in transporting the troops over the lakes in America. These vessels are well calculated for the defence of large havens and seaports. Belair, in his Elements de Fortification, page 397, strongly recommends the use of Prames in cases of inundation, &c. See the improvements proposed by him in page 316, where he speaks of “Bateaux insubmersibles.”

Di PRATICA, Ital. Free intercourse; admitted to pratique. Persons who, having performed quarantine, are permitted to land in Italy, and mix with the inhabitants.

PRACTICABLE, Fr. See Practicable. This word is in general use among the French, viz.

Les chemins ne sont pas Practicables. The roads are not passable.

Le gué n’est pas Practicable dans se moment-ci. The river is not fordable at this moment; verbatim, the ford is not practicable at this moment.

PRATIQUE, Fr. Practice. The term likewise signifies, among the French, commerce, intercourse, traffic, &c.

Avoir Pratique avec des insulaires, Fr. To trade, or have intercourse with the inhabitants of islands.

Une Pratique eclairée, Fr. A project undertaken and put into execution upon solid principles.

Une Pratique aveugle, Fr. A plan ill digested, and executed without discernment or ability.

Pratiques, Fr. In the plural, this term signifies the same as mal-practices, or secret intelligence with an enemy, viz.

Entrétenir des Pratiques avec le commandant d’une place. To hold communication, or keep up a secret correspondence with the commandant of a fortified place.

Pratiquer des intelligences, Fr. To collect, to gather useful information.

Il avoit Pratique dans cette place des intelligences qui lui ont donné le moyen de la surprendre, Fr. He had gathered such information, by holding secret intelligence with the inhabitants, as to be able to surprise the place.

Pratiquer, Fr. In architecture, to contrive, to make, to render convenient.

Donner Pratique à un vaisseau, Fr. To allow a vessel to enter into port and unload. This expression is used in the Mediterranean under circumstances of quarantine, and comes from Pratica.

Pratiquer, Fr. To practice. Pratiquer une homme; to try a man; to put his abilities to the test. It likewise signifies to gain over, to suborn.

PRECEDENCE. Priority. Priority in rank or precedence in military life, arises from rank, or the date of an officer’s commission.

PRECEDENT. Any act which can be interpreted into an example for future times, is called a precedent. Persons in high official situations are extremely scrupulous with respect to precedence, especially in military matters.

PRECIPITER, Fr. To precipitate; to urge or hasten on; to do every thing prematurely. This word appears to be used by the French in almost all the senses to which we attach it, especially in military matters.

Precipiter sa retraite, Fr. Literally signifies, to precipitate one’s retreat. It may be taken in a good or bad sense, to signify the act of flying away blindly or rashly, without judgment or discretion; or of urging your retreat under circumstances of imperious necessity, yet with proper caution and foresight. So that to precipitate, both in French and English, signifies, Faire trés promptement ou trop promptement; to do any thing very promptly, or too promptly.

PRECISION, exact limitation, scrupulous observance of certain given rules.

Precision of march. On the leading platoon officer of the column, much of the precision of march depends; he must lead at an equal, steady pace; he must lead on two objects either given to him, or which he himself takes up on every alteration of position; this demands his utmost attention; nor must he allow it to be diverted by looking at his platoon, the care of whose regularity depends on the other officers and non-commissioned officers, belonging to it. The second platoon officer must also be shewn, and be made acquainted with the points on which the first leads; he is always to keep the first officer and those points in a line, and those two officers, together with the guide mounted officers, thus become a direction for the other pivot officers to cover. In marching in open column, the covering serjeants or guides are placed behind the second file from the pivot officers, that the officers may the more correctly see and cover each other in column.

PREDAL, or, -

PREDATORY,

War, a war carried on by plunder and rapine; such as the British navy and the Algerines; the Buccaneers, also carried on a predal war, against all persons on the high seas.

PREDESTINARIAN. A person who believes in predestination. Every Turk, may be considered as a predestinarian. A Turkish soldier is taught to believe that it he falls in battle he will instantly go to heaven. This is a comfortable idea even for christian soldiers. How far it ought to be encouraged, doctors and able casuists must agree.

PREFECT, (Préfet, Fr.) a governor or commander of any place or body of men. Among the Romans this was a title of great importance, both in civil and military situations. During the existence of the republic the Præfectus Legio has had a considerable command. The two Alæ, wings, or great divisions of the allies, had each a præfect appointed them by the Roman consul, who governed in the same manner as the legionary tribunes. For a specific account see pages 193, 194, 195, of Kennett’s Roman Antiquities. There was likewise, during the time of the Roman emperors, an officer called the præfect of the pretorian band, or body guards. The French have adopted the word in their government. The functions of a modern French prefect correspond almost wholly with those of a governor of a province under the old regime or system.

PREFERMENT, the state of being advanced to a higher post.

PREJUDICE, PREJUGE, Fr. Prepossession, judgment formed beforehand, without examination. A celebrated French writer calls it an opinion taken up without judgment, Le préjuge est une opinion sans jugement. Voltaire. It is used in two instances, viz. for and against a person.

PRELIMINARY, (Préliminaire, Fr.) Previous, introductory, &c. Preliminary, as a substantive, signifies an introductory measure, a previous arrangement. Hence the “preliminaries of peace.”

PRENDRE, Fr. A French military term. It is variously used, and accords generally with our word to take, viz.

Prendre une ville d’assaut; par famine, &c. To take a town by assault; by famine, &c.

Prendre à droite, ou à gauche, Fr. To go to the right or left.

Prendre à travers, Fr. To run across.

Prendre les devants, Fr. To anticipate, to get the start of any body.

Prendre le pas, Fr. To take precedence.

Prendre la droite, Fr. To take the right.

Prendre terre, Fr. To land.

Prendre le large, Fr. A term used figuratively to signify the act of running away.

Prendre la clef des champs, Fr. Literally, to take the key of the country, or to run over it.

Prendre son êlan, Fr. To dart forth, to spring forward.

Prendre un rat, Fr. A figurative expression used among the French when a musquet or pistol misses fire, Il voulut tirer, mais son pistolet ne prit qu’un rat. Literally, he would have fired, but his pistol only caught a rat.

Prendre langue, Fr. To seek for information, to obtain intelligence.

Prendre du temps, Fr. To take time in executing a thing.

Prendre son temps, Fr. To do a thing with perfect convenience to one’s self.

Prendre la parole, Fr. To speak first.

Prendre sa revanche, Fr. To make up for any past loss or disadvantage. We familiarly say, to take one’s revenge.

Prendre à partie, Fr. An expression peculiar to the French, in judicial matters, which signifies to attack a judge, for having prevaricated and taken the part of one side against another, without any regard to justice. It likewise means to impute misconduct or criminality, and to make a person responsible for it.

Se Prendre de vin, Fr. To get drunk. Excess of drinking was so little known among the French officers and soldiers, that the greatest disgrace was affixed to the habit. It is recorded, that when marshal Richelieu had determined to storm a place in the Mediterranean, he gave out the following order—“any soldier who shall appear the least intoxicated, shall be excluded from the honor and glory of mounting the assault to-morrow morning.” Every man was at his post, and not a single instance of intoxication occurred. Such was the esprit de corps and the amour propre which prevailed in all ranks, that the dread of corporeal punishment had less effect than the being deprived of an opportunity to shew courage and resolution.

Vaisseau PRENEUR, Fr. A term peculiarly applicable to a ship that has taken a prize.

PREPARATIFS de guerre, Fr. Warlike preparations. A French writer, under this article, very judiciously observes, that the necessary arrangements which must be made before an army takes the field, and sometimes before an open declaration of war takes place, ought to be managed with extreme caution and great secrecy; although it is impossible to prevent the neighboring powers from being totally ignorant of what is going forward. It is recorded that Henry the IVth of France, having conceived a vast military project, kept it a profound secret for several years, and made the necessary preparations with extreme caution, before he put it into execution.

When Louis the XIVth resolved to invade Italy, in 1663, he dispatched commissaries, purveyors, &c. the preceding year, under various pretences, to buy up corn, to secure forage for his cavalry, and to provide every thing that might be wanted in the train of artillery; and in 1667, when he formed the plan of entering Belgium in person, he arranged all matters relative to the interior government of France during his absence, examined into the state of the finances, filled his treasury with money, augmented, by insensible degrees, the different regiments of his army, and by means of these and other sage precautions, secured the conquest of his object. In fact, well digested plans and cautious arrangements previous to the execution of a military project, however apparently tedious, are the sure forerunners of a prompt and decisive victory. It was a maxim among the Romans, and it is still one among the Turks, De faire de grosses et courtes guerres. To make war upon a scale previously vast and heavy, that its issue may be ultimately short and effectual.

PREPARATIVE, having the power of preparing, qualifying, or fitting. This word is used in a military sense to give notice of any thing about to be done. Hence

PREPARATIVE. A beat of the drum by which officers are warned to step out of the ranks when the firings are to commence.

When the preparative is beat, for the firings, the officers in the front rank step out nimbly two paces from the vacancies between the divisions, platoons, companies, or sub divisions, face to the left without word of command, and look right of companies, &c. When the preparative has ceased, they severally commence the firing. When the general is beat they fall back into the front rank.

To PREPARE. To take previous measures.

Prepare for action. A word of command used in the artillery. To battery, is a command of the same import.

PREPARATORY, antecedently necessary; giving that knowlege in any art or science which is necessary to qualify individuals for a superior class or branch. Hence preparatory schools.

Preparatory Academies. The junior department of the British military college, is preparatory to the senior. The first elements of military science are taught in the former, and officers get qualified in the higher branches of the profession when they enter the latter.

PRESENCE of mind. Ready conception of expedients, producing promptitude of action under difficult and alarming circumstances.

There is a very remarkable instance of that species of presence of mind which gives a sudden turn to public opinion, and, as it were, electrifies the human mind. When a dangerous mutiny broke out among the Roman legions, on a proposed expedition against the Germans, Cæsar suddenly exclaimed, “Let the whole army return ignominiously home if it think proper, the tenth legion and myself will remain and combat for the republic.” Having, as Plutarch observes, excited his troops to fresh ardor, he led them against the Germans; and being informed that the enemy had been warned by their soothsayers not to engage before the next moon, he took an immediate occasion to force them to battle, in which he as usual obtained victory. On a subsequent occasion this great man discovered a promptitude of conception and a presence of mind which have since been imitated on various occasions by a modern general, but have never been surpassed in ancient or modern history.

Having led his army against the Nervii, the most uncivilized, and the most fierce of all the nations bordering upon the Roman territory, he met a resistance, which as it was not expected, somewhat shook the firmness of his troops. The Nervii, by a sudden onset, at first routed his cavalry, but perceiving the danger to which his army was exposed, Cæsar himself snatched up a buckler, and forcing his way through his own men, he, with the assistance of his tenth legion, changed the fortune of the day, and cut the enemy almost entirely off. For, as Plutarch states, out of 60,000 soldiers, not above 500 survived the battle. The instances of presence of mind in modern wars are numerous, for several see Memoirs of Bonaparte’s first campaign: and several subsequent occasions.

En Presence, Fr. In sight.

All PRESENT. A term used when an officer takes his serjeant’s report, and makes the necessary enquiry respecting the state of his troops or company.

To Present, Presenter, Fr. This word is used in various senses. Those which are more immediately applicable to military usage are as follow:

To Present. To offer openly. To exhibit. To give in ceremony; as to present the colors.

To Present arms. To bring the firelock to a certain prescribed position, for the purpose of paying a military compliment. See Manual.

Presenter les armes, Fr. To present arms, to bring the firelock to any position that may be prescribed in military exercise. In the firings it signifies make ready, viz. Presentez les armes, make ready; Joue, aim; feu, fire. In the manual and other exercises of the piece, it corresponds with our term.

Presenter la baïonette, Fr. To charge bayonet.

PRESIDENCY. The seat of government, so distinguished in India. There are four presidencies, viz. Bombay, Calcutta, Fort St. David, and Madras.

PRESIDENT of the United States.

President of the old congress.

President of a general or regimental court martial. The officer, oldest in rank, who sits in conjunction with other officers, for the trial of military offences is so called. The court, consisting of an odd number of members, when their opinions are equal, the president has the casting vote.

PRESIDIAL, relating to a garrison or fortress.

PRESS-money, money given to the soldier when taken or pressed into the service: but as the entrance into the American army is a voluntary act, it is more properly called bounty or enlisting money.

PRESTATION de serment, Fr. The taking an oath.

PRET, Fr. The subsistence or daily pay which is given to soldiers. The French say,

Payer le Pret. To pay subsistence.

Recevoir le Pret. To receive subsistence.

Toucher le Pret. To touch subsistence or daily pay.

PRETENDER, one who pretends to any thing whether it be his own or the property of another.

PRETER, Fr. In military tactics, to expose, as

Preter son flanc à l’ennemi. To expose one’s flank to the enemy; to march in so unguarded a manner, or to take up one’s ground so disadvantageously as to stand in continual danger of being outflanked.

The French likewise say, figuratively,

Preter le flanc. To put one’s self in the power of another.

PRETOR, (Préteur, Fr.) Among the Romans, the governor of a province, who had served the office of pretor, or chief minister of justice in ancient Rome. The provinces so governed were called pretorian.

PRETORIAN, (Pretorien, ne, Fr.) appertaining to pretor; as Pretorian Band, the general’s guard among the ancient Romans.

PRETORIUM, (Prétoire, Fr.) The hall or court wherein the pretor lived and administered justice. It also denoted the tent of the Roman general, in which councils of war were held. The place where the pretorian guards were quartered or lodged, was likewise called pretorium.

PREVARICATION. According to the laws of England is, where a lawyer pleads booty, or acts by collusion, &c. It also denotes a secret abuse committed in the exercise of a public office, or of a commission given by a private person. The word is unknown in military phraseology, and is only explained in this place to stand as a land mark to the open ingenuous character of a soldier.

PREVOST, Fr. Provost.

Prevost d’une armée, Fr. Provost-marshal belonging to an army.

PRICES of commissions. See Regulations.

PRICKER. A light horseman was formerly so called.

To PRICK out. An expression used among engineers, &c. signifying to mark out the ground where a camp, &c. is to be formed.

To Prick out the line of circumvallation. This is done by the chief engineer and chief of the staff, whenever an army entrenches itself before a town, or takes possession of any given lot of ground, and begins to hut.

PRICKING. Among marines, to make a point on the plan or chart, near about where the ship then is, or is to be at such a time, in order to find the course they are to steer.

PRIEST’s-cap. See Fortification and Bonnet.

PRIME, a word of command used in the platoon exercise. See Manual.

Prime and load, a word of command used in the exercise of a battalion, company, or squad. See Manual.

PRIME parade, in fencing, is formed by dropping the point of your sword to the right, bending your elbow, and drawing the back of your sword hand to within a foot of your forehead, in a line with your left temple, so that your blade shall carry the thrust of your antagonist clear of the inside or left of your position.

Prime thrust, a thrust applicable after forming the above parade, and delivered at the inside of the antagonist. To obtain an opening for this thrust, it is necessary to step out of the line to the right as you parry, or else to oppose the sword of your antagonist with your left hand. The first method is most eligible.

Prime Hanging Guard, with the broadsword, a position in which the hand is brought somewhat to the left, in order to secure that side of the face and body. See Broadsword.

PRIMING, in Gunnery, the train of powder that is laid, from the opening of the vent, along the gutter or channel, on the upper part of the breech of the gun, which, when fired, conveys the flame to the vent, by which it is further communicated to the charge, in order to discharge the piece. This operation is only used on ship-board, at the proof, and sometimes in garrison; for on all other occasions, tubes are used for that purpose.

Priming, or prime of a gun, is the gunpowder put in the pan or touch-hole of a piece, to give it fire thereby.

Priming-case, a small tin case, about the size and shape of a cartridge, for the purpose of keeping a certain quantity of gunpowder, for priming, constantly ready and dry. This rational and econonomical invention, should be universally adopted.

Priming position. See Platoon exercise under Manual.

Priming-wire, in gunnery, a sort of iron needle employed to penetrate the vent or touch-hole of a piece of ordnance, when it is loaded, in order to discover whether the powder contained therein is thoroughly dry, and fit for immediate service; as likewise to search the vent and penetrate the cartridge, when the guns are not loaded with loose powder.

PRIMIPILARII, PRIMOPILARII, or PRIMIPILARES, among the Romans were such as had formerly borne the office of primipulus of a legion. The banner was entrusted to his care. Among other privileges which the primipilarii enjoyed, they became heirs to what little property was left by the soldiers who died in the campaign.

Primipilaire, Fr. See Primipilarii.

PRIMIPULUS, the centurion belonging to the first cohort of a legion. He had charge of the Roman eagle.

PRIMITIVES, Fr. Primitive colors are distinguished by this term among the French. They are, the yellow, the red, and the blue; white and black being the extremes.

PRINCIPES, (Princes, Fr.) Roman soldiers. They consisted of the strongest and most active men in the infantry, and were armed like the Hastati, with this difference, that the former had half-pikes instead of whole ones.

PRINCIPLE, according to the schools, is that from which any thing is done or known.

Principle also denotes the foundations of arts and sciences.

Military Principles, the basis or ground work upon which every military movement is made, and by which every operation is conducted.

PRISAGE, that share which belongs to the king or admiral out of such merchandises, &c. as are lawfully taken at sea.

PRIS, Fr. This word is variously used by the French, in a figurative and proverbial sense. C’est autant de pris sur l’ennemi. An expression signifying that some advantage, at least, has been gained.

Une Ville PRISE, Fr. a town which has been taken.

Prise des dehors d’une place, Fr. The taking possession of an enemy’s outworks.

PRISES, Fr. Prizes.

Prises sur l’ennemi, Fr. Every thing taken from the enemy is so called.

PRISONNIERS de guerre, Fr. prisoners of war.

PRISONERS of war, those of the enemy who are taken in or after a battle, siege, &c. They are deprived of their liberty at large, until exchanged, or sent on parole.

PRIVILEGE, is any kind of right or advantage which is attached to a person or employment exclusive of others.

Privileges. Among the different privileges which prevail in the British army, the life guards receive their promotions direct from the king, without passing through the commander in chief as all other corps do. The appointment of colonel in the life guards gives the honorary title of gold stick, and the field officer of the day is the silver stick, through whom all reports, &c. are conveyed to the king. Although there is a lieutenant general of the London district, the foot guards have the privilege of reporting to head quarters direct. The foot guards enjoy the privilege of ranking, from the ensign, one step higher than the line. A lieutenant, for instance, ranks as captain, and can purchase as such into any marching regiment without having waited the regulated period; and a captain, having the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, may leap over all the majors of the line, by getting appointed to a marching regiment. The promotions of the guards, among themselves, are, however, extremely slow; and the only indemnification they have must beat the expence of the line. This preposterous pre-eminence which is not founded on any military principles or personal merit, has tended to destroy military emulation in England; and will every where when merit only is not the criterion of honor and promotion.

Privileges des régimens, Fr. Certain privileges attached to regiments, which are always abused, when not the reward of distinguished merit.

PRIVY Council, a council of state held by a king, with his counsellors, to concert matters for the public service; also called the cabinet.

PRIX des emplois ou charges militaires, Fr. The price of commissions, or military employments. During the monarchy of France, a company in the French guards sold for 80,000 livres!

A company in the six first regiments of infantry, went for 75,000 livres. The six following, exclusive of the régiment du roi, went for 55,000 livres. One in the regiment of Poitou, and as far down as the Penthievre, 40,000 livres; in the Penthievre, and from that to the last regiment inclusive, 30,000 livres!

A company in the Scotch gendarmes cost 180,000 livres; in the Irish, the Bourguignon, and Flanders, 150,000 livres. The other companies of gendarmerie went for 135,000!

The sub-lieutenants in the gendarmerie paid 100,000 livres, and those in the light horse, 95,000 livres. The ensigns and first cornets, including the guidon belonging to the Scotch gendarmes, gave 62,000 livres!

The guidons, and second cornets, 30,000 livres!

There was no specific regulation for the purchase of a regiment of heavy cavalry or dragoons. Appointments in the état major or staff belonging to the cavalry and the royal regiments (les royaux) sold for 100,000l. in the dragoons, from 100,000 to 120,000 livres.

The troops or companies in cavalry regiments, in the royal corps, and in the état major or staff, were fixed at 10,000 livres, and the rest at 8000.

A troop of dragoons sold for 7000 livres. No company or other appointment in the infantry, was allowed to be bought or sold. It will strike the military reader, that although the purchase of commissions was, in some degree, sanctioned by the old French government, it was nevertheless extremely limited, and confined to the upper ranks. The efficient part of the army, which is certainly the infantry, received its commissions gratis.

PRIZE-FIGHTER. See Gladiator.

PRIZE-money, officers and soldiers of the line doing duty on board ships of war, are entitled to prize-money as marines.

PROA, Ind. A sailing vessel is so called in India.

PROBABILITY, (Probabilité, Fr.) is nothing but the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas by the intervention of proofs, whose connection is not constant and immutable, or is not perceived to be so; but is, or appears for the most part to be so, and is sufficient to induce the mind to judge the proposition to be true or false, rather than the contrary.

PROBLEM, (Probléme, Fr.) In the general acceptation of the term, a doubtful proposition, which will admit of several solutions.

PROCEDURES militaires, Fr. Military process. It consists in the investigation of all crimes and offences committed by soldiers which come under the cognizance of a military tribunal; in contradistinction to the authority which is vested in the civil magistrates.

To PROCLAIM, (Proclamer, Fr.) to promulgate or denounce by a solemn or legal publication. Hence, to proclaim peace, which is used in contradistinction to the term to declare, which denounces war. Both French and English say, Declarer la guerre, to declare war; proclamer la paix, to proclaim peace.

PROCLAMATION. An instrument which is published by the constituted authority of government, whereby the country at large is advertised of something, and whereby the people are sometimes required to do, or not to do certain things. A proclamation has all the efficacy of law, because it must be in concord with or founded upon the law already in being.

PROCLAMATION of peace, a declaration of the cessation of war.

PROCONSUL, among the Romans, a magistrate who was sent to govern a province with consular authority.

PRODITION. See Treachery.

PRODUCE, -

PRODUCT,

(Produit, Fr.) Effect, fruit. In arithmetic it is the quantity which grows out of the multiplication of two or more numbers or lines one by another: 5 for instance multiplied by 4, will give the produce 20; and the produce of two lines, multiplied one by the other, is called the rectangle of these lines.

PROFILE, in drawing, side-ways or side-view. A picture in profile represents a head or face set side-ways.

Profiler, Fr. the act of profiling, or designing with rule and compass.

Profile, (Profil, Fr.) in architecture, the draught of a building, fortification, &c. wherein are expressed the several heights, widths, and thicknesses, such as they would appear were the building cut down perpendicularly from the roof to the foundation. It serves to show those dimensions which cannot be represented in plans, but are yet necessary in the building of a fortification: they are best constructed on a scale of 30 feet to an inch. It is also called section, orthographical section, and by Vitruvius, sciagraphy. It is sometimes used in opposition to ichnography.

PROGRAM, (Programme, Fr.) a word derived from the Greek, signifying any public edict, notice, or declaration. The French make use or the word on occasions of national ceremony.

PROJECTILES, are such bodies as, being put in motion by any great force, are then cast off, or let go from the place where they received their quantity of motion; as a shell or shot from a piece of artillery, a stone thrown from a sling, or an arrow from a bow, &c. This line is commonly taken for a parabola, and the ranges are computed from the properties of the curves. The assumption would be just, in case the ball, in its motion, met with no resistance: but, the resistance of the air to swift motions being very great, the curve described by the shot is neither a parabola, nor near it: and by reason of the resistance, the angle which gives the greatest amplitude is not 45 degrees, as commonly supposed, but something less, probably 43¹⁄₂. Hence the sublime mathematics are absolutely necessary in the investigation of the track of a shell or shot in the air, known by the name of military projectiles.

Gallileo having discovered that bodies projected in vacuo, and in an oblique direction to the horizon, do always describe a parabola, he concluded that this doctrine was not sufficient to determine the real motion of a military projectile: for, since shells and shot move with a great velocity, the resistance of the air becomes so great with respect to the weight of the projectile, that its effect turns the body very considerably from the parabolic tract; so that all calculations, grounded on the nature of this curve, are of little use on these occasions. This is not to be wondered at, since Gallileo, in his enquiry, paid no regard to any other force acting on bodies, than the force of gravity only, without considering the resistance of the air.

Every body, moving in a fluid, suffers the action of two forces: the one is the force of gravity, or the weight of the body; and it is to be observed, that this weight is less than the natural weight of the body, that being diminished by an equal bulk of the fluid in which the body moves. The other force is that of the resistance, which is known to be proportional to the squares of the velocity of the body; and when the body is a globe, as is commonly supposed, the direction of this force is diametrically opposite to that of the motion of the body. This force changes continually, both in quantity and direction; but the first force remains constantly the same. Hence, the point in question is, to determine the curve which a body projected obliquely, must describe when acted upon by the two forces just now mentioned.

Although this question is easily reduced to a problem purely analytical, the great Newton, notwithstanding his ingenious endeavors, did not arrive at a complete solution of it. He was the first who attempted it, and having succeeded so well in the supposition, that the resistance is proportional to the velocity, it is almost inconceivable that he did not succeed, when the resistance is supposed proportional to the squares of the velocity, after solving a number of questions incomparably more difficult. The late Mr. John Bernoulli gave the first solution of this problem, from which he drew a construction of the curve, by means of the quadratures of some transcendent curves, whose description is not very difficult.

This great problem was, therefore, very well solved long ago; yet the solution, however good in theory, is such as has hitherto been of no use in practice, nor in correcting the false theory grounded on the parabola, to which the artillerist is still obliged to adhere, notwithstanding he knows it to be insufficient. It is certain, that that solution has been of no real advantage towards improving the art of gunnery: it has only served to convince the student in that art, of the error of his principles, drawn from the nature of the parabola, although he is still to abide by them. It is indeed something to know, that the common rules are erroneous; but unless we know how much they err in any case, the advantage is very little.

One may think it a work of infinite labor to establish rules for the flight of cannon shot, agreeable to the real curve which a body describes in the air: for although, according to the hypothesis of Gallileo, we want only the elevation of the piece, and the initial velocity, and it is therefore not difficult to calculate tables to show the greatest height of the projectile, and the point where it must fall in any proposed case; yet in order to calculate similar tables according to the true hypothesis, care must be taken, besides the two particulars already mentioned, to have respect as well to the diameter of the projectile as to its weight: therefore the practitioner will be reduced to the necessity of calculating tables, as well for the diameter of each projectile, as for its weight; and the execution of such a work would be almost impracticable. We therefore refer the curious to Mr. Euler’s True Principles of Gunnery, translated, with many necessary explanations and remarks, by the very learned and ingenious Hugh Brown.

PROJECTION, (Projection, Fr.) in mathematics, the action of giving a projectile its motion. It is also used to signify a scheme, plan, or delineation.

PROJECT, (Projet, Fr.) a term generally used among French engineers, to express what works are required to be made for the inward or outward defence of a fortified town or place. It likewise signifies, in diplomacy, a plan or statement of terms and conditions which one country makes to another for a final adjustment of differences.

Contre-Projet, Fr. a receipt or answer to terms proposed, accompanied by a project from the other side.

PROLONGE, Fr. A long thick rope, which is used to drag artillery; but different from the bricole and drag rope; it is coiled round pins under the gun carriage travelling, it is loosed in action, and one end being attached to the limber, is of great use in moving the gun in action or in a retreat. See Am. Mil. Lib.

PROMOTION, (Promotion, Fr.) This word signifies, in military matters, the elevation of an individual to some appointment of greater rank and trust than the one he holds.

PROMOUVOIR, Fr. to promote.

PROMU, Fr. promoted.

PROOF, in arithmetic, an operation whereby the truth and justness of a calculation are examined and ascertained.

PROOF of artillery and small arms, is a trial whether they will stand the quantity of powder allotted for that purpose.

The British government allow 11 bullets of lead in the pound for the proof of musquets, and 29 in two pounds, for service; 17 in the pound for the proof of carabines, and 20 for service; 28 in the pound for the proof of pistols, and 34 for service.

When guns of a new metal, or of lighter construction, are proved, then besides the common proof, they are fired 2 or 300 times, as quick as they can be, loaded with the common charge given in actual service. British light 6 pounders were fired 300 times in three hours, 27 minutes, loaded with 1lb. 4oz. without receiving any damage.

Proof of ordnance. All natures of ordnance undergo several kinds of proof before they are received into the British service; viz. 1st, they are guaged as to their several dimensions, internal and external, as to the justness of the position of the bore, the chamber, the vent, the trunnions, &c.

2d, They are fired with a regulated charge of powder and shot, and afterwards searched to discover irregularities or holes produced by the firing.

3d, By means of engines an endeavor is made to force water through them; and,

4th, They are examined internally, by means of light reflected from a mirror.

Iron guns. The guns are first examined as to their proper dimensions, in which, in no case more than ³⁄₁₀ of an inch variation is allowed; and in the diameter of the bore only ¹⁄₃₀ from 42 to 18 pounders, and ¹⁄₄₀ from 12 to 4 pounders; but in the position of the bore ¹⁄₂ an inch out of the axis of a piece from a 42 to an 18 pounder, and ¹⁄₃ of an inch from a 12 to a 4 pounder is allowed. They are then fired twice with the charge in the following table, with one shot and two high junk wads; and examined with a searcher after each round. In this examination they must not have any hole or cavity in the bore of ²⁄₁₀ of an inch in depth, behind the first reinforce ring, or ¹⁄₄ of an inch in depth before this ring.

Nature. Proof charge.

Prs. lbs. oz.

42 25 —

32 21 8

24 18 —

18 15 —

12 12 —

9 9 —

6 6 —

4 4 —

3 3 —

2 2 —

1 ¹⁄₂ 1 8

1 1 —

Iron guns are scaled with ¹⁄₁₂ the weight of the shot.

Brass guns. From 1 pounders to 12 pounders the diameter of the bore must not vary more than ¹⁄₄₀ of an inch, and in no dimensions more than ²⁄₁₀. The following are the established charges for their proof. The heavy and medium guns with a charge equal to the weight of the shot, except the medium 12 pounder, which is proved with only 9lbs. The light guns with half the weight of the shot. The brass ordnance have not however been proved of late with such heavy charges, but with the following:

3 Prs. light, 3 times, with 1 lb. each round.

6 Prs. light, 3 times, with 2 lbs. each.

12 Prs. light, 2 times, with 4 lbs. each.

12 Prs. med., 2 times, with 5 lbs. each.

Any hole ·15 of an inch deep upwards or sideways in the bore, or ·1 in the bottom, between the breach and first reinforce; or ·2 of an inch upwards or sideways, or ·15 in the bottom of the bore, before the first reinforce ring, will be sufficient to condemn them.

Brass Mortars and Howitzers. The exterior dimensions are in no respect to deviate more than ¹⁄₁₀ of an inch in an 8 inch howitzer, and ¹⁄₂₀ in the Cohorn mortars and howitzers. Their bores and chambers not to deviate from their true diameters or positions more than ¹⁄₄₀ of an inch.

The brass mortars and howitzers are fired twice with their chambers full of powder, and an iron shell. The mortars on their own beds, at about 75 degrees elevation; and the howitzers on their carriages, at about 12 degrees. Iron mortars are proved on their iron beds, with a charge equal to the full chamber, and an iron shot equal in diameter to the shell.

Cohorn mortars, having a hole ·1 of an inch in depth in the chamber, or ·15 in the chase, are rejected: royal howitzers the same. 8 inch howitzers having a hole ·15 of an inch in depth in the chamber, or ·2 in the chase, will be rejected.

Carronades. The diameter and position of their bore and chamber must not deviate ¹⁄₂₀ of an inch. They are proved with two rounds, with their chambers full of powder and 1 shot and 1 wad. A hole of ²⁄₁₀ of an inch in depth in the bore, or ¹⁄₁₀ in the chamber condemns the piece.

Proof Charges.

68 Prs. 42 32 24 18 12

13 lbs. 9 8 6 4 3

All ordnance, after having undergone this proof, and the subsequent searching, are subject to the water proof: this is done by means of a forcing pump, having a pipe or hose fixed to the mouth of the piece: after two or three efforts to force the water through any honeycombs or flaws which may be in the bore, they are left to dry; and generally the next day examined by the reflected light from a mirror. If the bore contains any small holes or flaws which have not been discovered by the former proofs, they are very readily found by this; the water will continue to weep, or run from the holes, when the solid parts of the bore are perfectly dry. Ordnance suspected of being bad are often subject to a more severe proof: that of firing 30 rounds quick, with the service charge and a shot; and in doubtful cases, where the purity of the metal is suspected, recourse has been had to chemical trials and analysis. A quantity of clean filings taken from a part of an iron gun free from rust, are dissolved in diluted sulphuric acid, and the quantity of gas disengaged during the solution accurately ascertained. The plumbago which remains after solution is also separated by filtration, and carefully weighed. Now it is well known that the purer the iron, the greater the quantity of inflammable gas obtained, and the less the proportion of plumbago which remains after the solution; from these two parts therefore a tolerable judgment may be formed of the quality of the metal. When the plumbago exceeds 4¹⁄₂ per cent. the iron will always be found deficient in strength; and there has been no instance of a gun bursting where the plumbago did not exceed 3 per cent.; that is, where 100 grains of the metal did not leave more than 3 grains of plumbago. The color of the plumbago is also to be attended to; when it is brown or reddish, it is an indication of hard metal, and when in quantities and mixed with coals, there can be no doubt but that the iron is too soft for cannon.

Proof of Iron Shells. After the shells are guaged and examined as to their dimensions and weight, they must be well scraped out, and the iron pin at the bottom of the inside must be driven down or broken off. They are then to be hammered all over, to knock off the scales, and discover flaws, and no hole, in the large shells is allowed, of more than ³⁄₄ of an inch deep. An empty fuze is then driven into the fuze hole, and the shell is suspended in a tub of water, in such manner that the shell be covered by the water, but that it does not run into the fuze: in this situation the nose of a pair of bellows is put in at the fuze hole, and several strong puffs given with the bellows; and if no bubbles rise in the water, the shell is concluded to be serviceable.

Ordnance condemned as unserviceable for any of the foregoing reasons, are marked as follows: ╳ D, or ╳ S, or ╳ W. The first signifies that they are found to be faulty in their dimensions, by Desagulier’s instrument; the second, by the searcher; and the third, by the water proof.

Proof of powder, is in order to try its goodness and strength. There have been different inventions proposed and put in practice heretofore, for the proof of powder. See Gunpowder, and Eprouvette.

Proof of cannon, is made to ascertain their being well cast, their having no cavities in their metal, and, in a word, their being fit to resist the effort of their charge of powder. In making this proof, the piece is laid upon the ground, supported only by a piece of wood in the middle, of about five or six inches thick, to raise the muzzle a little; and then the piece is fired against a solid butt of earth.

Tools to PROVE cannon are as follow, viz. Searcher, an iron socket with branches, from four to eight in number, bending outward a little, with small points at their ends: to this socket is fixed a wooden handle, from eight to twelve feet long, and 1¹⁄₂ inch in diameter. This searcher is introduced into the gun after each firing, and turned gently round to discover the cavities within: if any are found, they are marked on the outside with chalk; and then the searcher with one point is introduced, about which point a mixture of wax and tallow is put, to take the impression of the holes; and if any are found of ¹⁄₉th of an inch deep, or of any considerable length, the gun is rejected as unserviceable to government.

Reliever, an iron ring fixed to a handle, by means of a socket, so as to be at right angles: it serves to disengage the first searcher, when any of its points are retained in a hole, and cannot otherwise be got out. When guns are rejected by the proof masters, they order them to be marked ╳ which the contractors generally alter to W P, and after such alteration, dispose of them to foreign powers for Woolwich proof.

A most curious instrument for finding the principal defects in pieces of artillery, has been invented by lieutenant general Desaguliers, of the royal regiment of artillery. This instrument, grounded on the truest mechanical principles, is no sooner introduced into the hollow cylinder of the gun, than it discovers its defects, and more particularly that of the piece not being truly bored, which is a very important one, and to which most of the disasters happening to pieces of artillery, are in a great measure to be imputed; for, when a gun is not properly bored, the most expert artillerist will not be able to make a good shot.

Proof of mortars and howitzers, is made to ascertain their being well cast, and of strength to resist the effort of their charge. For this purpose the mortar or howitzer is placed upon the ground, with some part of their trunnions or breech sunk below the surface, and resting on wooden billets, at an elevation of about 70 degrees.

The mirror is generally the only instrument to discover the defects in mortars and howitzers. In order to use it, the sun must shine; the breech must be placed towards the sun, and the glass over against the mouth of the piece: it illuminates the bore and chamber sufficiently to discover the flaws in it.

PROOF armor, armor hardened so as to resist the force of an arrow, a sword or other weapons in use before the discovery of gunpowder.

Proof charge, the quantity of gunpowder which is used in trying the several pieces of ordnance.

PROPER, in military matters, stands as a reduplicative, serving to mark out a thing more expressly and formally, viz.

Proper front of a battalion. The usual continuity of line which is given to the formation of a battalion, and which remains unaltered by the countermarch or wheelings of its divisions; or if altered is restored by the same operation.

Proper right, the right of a battalion, company, or subdivision, when it is drawn up according to its natural formation.

Proper pivot flank in column, is that which, when wheeled up to, preserves the divisions of the line in the natural order, and to their proper front. The other may be called the reverse flank. In column, divisions cover and dress to the proper pivot flank; to the left when the right is in front; and to the right when the left is in front.

PROPLASM. See Mould.

PROPORTION, (Proportion, Fr.) The relation which parts have among themselves, and to the whole.

PROPOSER une personne pour une charge, Fr. To recommend a person for a situation.

PROPOSITION, (Proposition, Fr.) in geometry, the declaration of a truth which is proved by demonstration. Such are the propositions in Euclid’s Elements. Propositions are divided into Problems and Theorems.

PROPREFECT, among the Romans, the prefect’s lieutenant, whom he commissioned to do any part of his duty in his place.

PROPRETE des soldats, Fr. Cleanliness required in soldiers. See Serjeant.

PROPRETOR, the same in his relative capacity as proconsul among the Romans. He was a magistrate who, after having discharged the office of pretor at home, was sent into a province to act in the same capacity.

PROQUESTOR, among the Romans, the questor’s lieutenant, who discharged his office in his stead.

To PROSECUTE, to carry on. Hence to prosecute the war.

PROSPECTIVE, appertaining to viewing.

PROSTYLE, any building having pillars in the front only.

PROTECTOR. This word sometimes denotes the regent of a kingdom. Oliver Cromwell assumed this title on the death of Charles I. of England; Bonaparte exercises the power of emperor over a great part of Germany, under the title of Protector of the confederation of the Rhine.

PROTESTANT, an appellation first given in Germany to all who adhered to the doctrine published by Luther.

PROVEDITOR, (Provediteur, Fr.) The Venetians had two appointments of this description before the revolution. One gave the supreme command of the armies on shore, the other that of the fleets.

Of these proveditors, there were three who had the direction of matters relating to policy throughout the signory.

Proveditor-general of the sea, an officer in Italy, whose authority extended over the fleet, when the captain-general was absent. He had particularly the disposal of the cash.

PROVET, an artillery machine used with howitzers. See Eprouvette.

PROVISIONS, are properly those articles of food and sustenance which soldiers receive from the public, and which in the British service are payed for by deductions from their pay. There is taken a deduction of six pence a day from the full pay of every Serjeant, corporal, trumpeter, drummer, fifer, private man of the life guards, horse guards, dragoon guards, dragoons, foot guards, infantry of the line, militia, fencible infantry, and companies of invalids, when serving out of Great Britain, on stations at which provisions are supplied by the public; also when embarked in transports, or other vessels; (except while serving as marines, or during their passage to and from India at the expence of the East-India company;) also when prisoners of war, and maintained at the expence of Great Britain; and likewise when in general hospitals, either at home or abroad. A deduction of three pence halfpenny is likewise to be made from the full pay of each serjeant, &c. when stationed in Jamaica, in New South Wales, at Gibraltar, (the loss by exchange at the latter place continuing as before) and while on their passage to and from India at the expence of the East-India company.

These deductions commenced, in regard to the troops in Europe, on the 25th of February, 1799; and in regard to the troops abroad, on the 25th of April, 1799.

Provisions. See Ration.

PROVISIONAL, (Provisionel, Fr.) Temporarily established.

PROVISIONALLY, (Provisoirement, Fr.) by way of provision, or temporary arrangement. This adverb is frequently used both in French and English to distinguish the exercise of temporary functions from that of permanent appointments.

PROVOST-Marshal, of an army, is an officer appointed to secure deserters, and all other criminals: he is often to go round the army, hinder the soldiers from pillaging, indict offenders, execute the sentence pronounced, and regulate the weights and measures used in the army when in the field. He is attended by a lieutenant’s guard, has a clerk, and an executioner.

PROWESS, valor, bravery in the field, military gallantry.

PSILOI, light armed men among the Greeks, who fought with arrows and darts, or stones and slings, but were unfit for close fight. They were in honor and dignity inferior to the heavy armed. Next to these were the peltasti, a middle sort of foot soldiers between the hoplitai and the psiloi, being armed with spears, but far inferior in bigness to those of the heavy armed; their name is taken from their narrow shields, called Peltæ. Potter’s Greek Antiquities, vol. II. chap. 3.

PUBLICANS, persons who keep alehouses, &c. for the accommodation of travelers. In England, troops upon the march, or in quarters, may be billeted on them.

PUCKA fever, Ind. a putrid fever. The bilious fever of tropical climates.

PUCKALLIES, Ind. leathern bags for carrying water. They are placed on the backs of oxen. The word is also used for water-carriers.

PUDLAYS, pieces of stuff to do the office of levers or hand spikes.

PUHUR Din, Ind. Watches kept in the day; of which there are four; a similar number is kept in the night, called Puhurraat.

PUISANT, Fr. a well built of dry stones, or made in a wall to serve as a reservoir for water.

PUISSANCE, Fr. in algebra and geometry, powers of lines and quantities.

PUISOIR, Fr. a copper vessel which is used in making saltpetre.

PUITS, Fr. A well.

PUITS de mineur, Fr. a perpendicular opening, about four feet square, which is made in the earth for miners to let themselves down, as deep as may be judged expedient, in order to push the subterraneous galleries beneath the covert way, or under any other works constructed by the besieged or besieger.

PULK, a tribe, a particular body of men. This word is chiefly used in Russia; as a Pulk of cossacks.

PULVERIN, Fr. priming powder.

PULVIS fulminans, the thundering powder, a mixture of three parts of saltpetre, two of tartar, and one of brimstone; all finely powdered. A small part, even a single dram of this being put into a shovel over a gentle fire, till it melts by degrees and changes color, will go off or explode as loud as a musquet. But it will not do any injury, because its force tends chiefly downward.

PULLEY, in military mechanics. See Mechanics.

PULWAR, Ind. a light boat for dispatches.

PUMICE-stone, a spongy, light crumbling stone which is cast out of mount Ætna, and other burning mountains. It is used in graving, polishing, &c.

PUMMEL. See Pommel.

PUMP, (Pompe, Fr.) a well known engine used in the elevation of water.

PUNCH, (Poincon, Fr.) an instrument for making holes. Every serjeant of a company, at least, and indeed every corporal of a squad, should be provided with a punch, as there is frequent occasion to fit on the cross belts, &c.

PUNCTO. The point in fencing.

PUNISHMENT, in the army, in general, signifies the execution of a sentence pronounced by a court martial upon any delinquent. There are various methods in different countries which have been adopted for the punishment of officers and soldiers, without ultimately depriving the public of their services. Those in the British are simple, and in general very summary, especially with regard to officers. In some foreign services it is usual to send an officer from his regiment to do duty in a garrison town, during which period he loses all the advantages of promotion. Hence être envoyé en garnison, to be sent into garrison, implies a species of military chastisement. Perhaps the method which is adopted in the British navy, of putting an officer at the bottom of the list of his own rank, might be beneficial in the army. The barbarous and self-defeating punishment or whipping remains a disgrace to the British code, and we lament to say to the American also.

PUNITIONS corporelles, Fr. corporeal punishment. In the old French service, military punishments or chastisements, which were not of a capital nature, were of two kinds. The picket was for the cavalry, and the gauntelope, or passing through the rods, for the infantry. The rods, or baguettes, which properly means small sticks, or switches, were generally osier or willow twigs. Previous to the execution of the sentence, a corporal with two privates of the company, to which the culprit belonged, were sent to get the rods. These they brought in a bundle to the guard-house, or to any place of security which was near the spot where the punishment was to be inflicted. The criminal, under an escort of two serjeants and four grenadiers, with fixed bayonets, went for the bundle, and as he passed through the interval of the line which was faced inwards, each soldier drew out one twig. The grenadiers at the head of the line took off their slings, which they used instead of rods. When the culprit reached the end of the line, he undressed himself naked to the waist. The right and left openings of the double line faced inwards were closed by the grenadiers that had escorted the prisoner, viz. two with one serjeant at the head of the right, and two with ditto at the head of the left. It sometimes happened, that a serjeant or corporal marched backwards in ordinary time; keeping the point of his pike directed at the chest of the man who received the lashes. The culprit was, however, generally allowed to make the most of his legs. Whilst he was receiving his punishment, the drummers of the regiment, who were equally divided and stationed behind the grenadiers that had formed the escort, beat the charge. If a French soldier was convicted of theft, or any flagrant dishonorable practice that injured the military character, he not only underwent this punishment, but he was conducted in the most ignominious manner, to the outward gate of a frontier town; there expelled the country, and cautioned, never to be found within its limits under pain of suffering death. The nicety of military honor and reputation, among French soldiers, is proverbial. They never survive a blow, even among themselves, nor would a private soldier exist under the disgrace of having been struck by an officer.