Coup, a sudden blow; a decisive attack. Couteau, (plural couteaux,) a knife, a hanger, a small sword. Devise, to give or bequeath by will; also, the act of bequeathing, or the property bequeathed. Douceur, a present, gift, or bribe. Drill, in husbandry, to sow grain in rows, with a machine called a drill-plough. Drought, dryness of the weather, and the effect produced by it on the soil, in preventing the growth of plants. Emancipate, to deliver and give up, from slavery; to set free. Embrasure, an opening or porthole in a parapet, through which to point a gun. Emporium, a place where trade and commerce collect; a place of gathering; a centre of business. Envoy, a public messenger, minister, or ambassador. Excise, a duty or tax laid upon goods, in the country, whether imported or raised at home. An import duty is a tax laid upon goods, on coming into the country; an export duty is a tax laid upon goods, on being taken out of the country. Executors, persons appointed to carry a will into effect. Fascine, a fagot, a bundle of rods, or sticks, or brush. Federal Union, or Federal Government, the political establishment and organization of the United States of America, under their present Constitution,-the States being considered as united into one Nation, and, at the same time, as maintaining towards each other the relations of partners to a league, or confederation, or compact. Fee-simple, an estate held by a person in his own right, he having a complete title and possession, and the estate descending to his heirs or assigns. Finesse, artifice, stratagem, cunning contrivance. Flotilla, a fleet of small vessels. Freehold, an estate held by undivided and unconditional right. Gabion, a temporary cover or barrier, raised in front of besiegers, to protect them in their approaches, or placed on the top of a parapet, as a shelter for the defendants, while firing over it. Haversack, a bag, made of strong, coarse linen, to carry bread and other provisions, on a march. Howitzer, a kind of mortar; a short cannon, with a large bore or barrel, mounted upon a field-carriage, with its trunnions in the middle, and not at the end, as in a mortar. In statu quo, the previous condition of a person, or thing. Items, particular articles in an account. Judiciary, the system of courts of justice and law, in a country. Loam, a species of earth or soil, of different colors; a mixture of sand and clay. Manumit, to give freedom to a slave; to liberate from bonds. Maritime, pertaining to the sea; a nation having a naval force and a commerce, is called a maritime nation. Marl, a species of earth, in which there is more or less lime mixed with various other ingredients, and which has a very fertilizing ef fect on the soil. Merlins, handspikes. Munitions, whatever materials are used in war; including, sometimes, the provisions and stores of an army, or navy. Negotiation, the arrangement and settlement of matters between nations, by discussion and agreement. Net. Net profit is clear and absolute profit, after all outlays, and charges of every kind, have been met and paid off; net weight is the weight of an article, exclusive of the vessel or vehicle in which it is contained, and of all other usual deductions. Neutrality, the abstaining from taking part in a contest between others; standing aloof from a contest, and being at peace with both parties; sometimes the combination of neutral nations is called a neutrality. Palladium, something that affords effectual defence, protection, and safety. Parallels, at a siege, are the trenches, or lines, made to correspond with the defences. Paramount, superior to, of higher authority. Patrole, a small party of soldiers, employed as a watch, to examine and visit the different sections, streets, and points, of a garrison, or town, or place of encampment. Pike, an offensive weapon, consisting of a wooden shaft from six to twenty feet long, with a flat and pointed steel head. Plenipotentiary, an ambassador to a foreign court, clothed with full power. Pro tempore, literally, "for a time." A person occupying an office only for a short time, in the occasional absence of its proper incumbent, is said to occupy it pro tempore. Pulverize, to reduce to the state of powder. Refugee, a person, who, in times of commotion or danger, flies to a foreign country, for safety. Revenue, the annual income of a person, a company, or a nation. Sally, to go privately and unexpectedly out of a besieged place, and fall suddenly upon the besiegers, for the purpose of checking, repelling, or otherwise damaging them. Schedule, a paper containing a list of any articles, or particulars a paper, or written instrument, attached to another. Sequestration, the act of seizing an estate from a delinquent, for the use of the State. Shells, hollow iron balls, filled with powder, and so prepared, that, after being thrown a certain distance, from howitzers or mortars they will explode. Sheriff, an officer, in each county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws. Site, situation; local position; the ground on which any structure or object is placed. Sortie, of a similar meaning with Sally. Staple, a principal commodity or production of a country; the par ticular substance or original quality of a soil. II. 2 c Suite, retinue, a train or company of followers and attendants of ar eminent person. Surplus, excess beyond what is used; what can be spared; they who are not needed at home, and go elsewhere. Tariff, the list or table of duties or customs, to be paid on goods, imported or exported. In a military sense, a classification of officers and troops, according to their rank and relative importance, so as to determine on a system of exchanges. Tautology, a needless repetition of the same thing, in different words or phrases. Testator, one who makes and leaves a will. Tillage, the preparing of land for planting and raising crops. Tussocks, tufts. Vetches, pulse, or leguminous plants, such as peas, beans, &c. Yagers, troops in German armies, corresponding to chasseurs in the INDEX TO VOLUME II. A. Academy, Alexandria, 128, 370. His an- Adjutant-general, requisites for, 279. Afflictions, remarks on, 178, 254. Agricultural Societies, commend- Agricultural Society, the Phila- Alexandria Academy, 128, 370. against, 335. 323. American army, see Army. Ames, Fisher, speech by, 250. Letter to, in anticipation of a Annals of Agriculture, 350-354. Annapolis, 115. Washington's Appalachicola River, on posting Army, American, campaign of the, in 1781,7. Views of the Ameri- lis's capitulation, 61. Detach- Artillery, French, 287, tain, selection of, for retaliation |