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a native of several parts of the East Indies. It has a woody stem, branching to a great height and vast extent, with heart-shaped entire leaves ending in acute points. Of this tree Milton has given a description equally beautiful and just, in his Paradise Lost, b. ix. The Banian tree is perhaps the most beautiful of nature's productions in that genial climate, where she sports with the greatest profusion and variety. Some of these trees are of amazing size and great extent; as they are continually increasing, and seem to be exempted from decay. Every branch from the main body throws out its own roots; at first, in small tender fibres, several yards from the ground: these continually grow thicker until they reach the surface; and there striking in, they increase to large trunks, and become parent trees, shooting out new branches from the top: these in time suspend their roots, which, swelling into trunks, produce other branches; thus continuing in a state of progression as long as the earth, the first parent of them all, contributes her sustenance. The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of the Banian tree; they look upon it as an emblem of the deity, from its long duration, its outstretching arms, and overshadowing beneficence. Near these trees the most esteemed pagodas are generally erected; under their shade the Brahmins spend their lives in religious solitude; and the natives of all casts and tribes are fond of recreating in the cool recesses, beautiful walks, and lovely vistas of this umbrageous canopy, impervious to the hottest beams of a tropical sun. The largest known Banian tree grows on an island in the Nerbedda, ten miles from the city of Baroche in the province of Guzerat. It is distinguished by the name of Cubbeer Burr, which was given it in honor of a famous saint. It was once much larger, but high floods have carried away the banks of the island where it grows, and with them such parts of the tree as had thus far extended their roots: yet what remains is about 2000 feet in circumference, measured round the principal stems; the over-hanging branches, not yet struck down, over a much larger space. The chief trunks of this single tree (which in size greatly exceed our English elms and oaks), amount to 350; the smaller stems, forming into stronger supporters, are more than 3000; and every one of these is casting out new branches, and hanging roots, in time to form trunks, and become the parents of a future progeny. Cubbeer Burr is famed throughout Hindostan for its great extent and surprising beauty: armies have encamped around it; and, at stated seasons, solemn jatarras, or Hindoo festivals, are held here, to which thousands of votaries repair from various parts. It is said that 7000 persons find ample room to repose under its shade. The English gentlemen, on their hunting and shooting parties, used to form extensive encampments, and spend weeks together under this delightful pavilion, which is generally filled with green wood pigeons, doves, peacocks, and a variety of feathered songsters; crowded with families of monkeys performing their antic tricks; and shaded by bats of a large size. This tree not only affords shelter, but sustenance to all its inhabitants, being covered

gust. The black Ischia fig; a middle sized, sh, flat-crowned, blackish fruit, having a pulp; ripening in the middle of August. Teen Ischia fig; a large, oblong, globularaded, greenish fruit, slightly stained by the to a reddish-brown color; ripens in the end Angust. The brown Ischia fig; a small, pyradal, brownish-yellow fruit, having a purp in very rich pulp; ripening in August and tember. The Malta fig; a small flat-topped sa fruit, ripening in the middle of August or aning of September. The round brown Naafg; a globular, middle-sized, light brown and brownish pulp; ripe in the end of The long, brown, Naples fig; a long `rown fruit, having a reddish pulp; ripe in ember. The great blue fig; a large blue aving a fine red pulp. The black Genoa a large, pear-shaped, black-colored fruit, a bright red pulp; ripe in August. The is frequently cultivated in this country, Is the only species which does not require to kept in a stove. It may be propagated either suckers arising from roots, by layers, or by The suckers are to be taken off as low as possible; trim off any ragged part at , leaving the tops entire, especially if for ards; and plant them in nursery lines at > or three feet distance, or they may at once planted where they are to remain; observing, if they are designed for walls or espaliers, may be headed to six or eight inches in 4th, the more effectually to force out lateral near the bottom; but, if intended for dards, they must not be topped, but trained a stem, not less than fifteen or eighteen inches dwarf standards, a yard for half-standards, ¿four, five, or six feet for full standards. Then must be suffered to branch out to form a d; observing, that, whether against walls, mahers, or standards, the branches or shoots Est never be shortened unless to procure a neSary supply of wood: for the fruit is always ced on the upper parts of the young shoots; ** if these are cut off, no fruit can be expected.best season for propagating these trees by is in autumn; but it may be also done any Se from October to March or April. Choose young pliable lower shoots from the fruitful thes; lay them in the usual way, covering body of the layers three or four inches deep the ground, keeping the top entire, and as ht as possible; and they will be rooted and to separate from the parent in autumn; when may be planted either in the nursery, or they are to remain. The time for propang by cuttings is either at the fall of the leaf, In March: choose well ripened shoots of the eding summer; short, and of robust growth, about twelve to fifteen inches long; having ne or two of the two years wood at their the tops left entire; and plant them six or at inches deep, in a bed or border of good arth, in rows two feet asunder. When planted attumn, it will be eligible to protect their tops time of hard frost, the first winter, with any d of long loose litter. For an account of the CAPRIFICATION of the fig tree, see that article. F. religiosa, the Banian tree, or Indian fig, is

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amidst its bright foliage with small figs of a rich scarlet color.

F. sycamorus, the sycamore tree, is very common in Lower Egypt. It buds in the end of March, and the fruit ripens in the beginning of June. It is cut by the inhabitants at the time it buds; for without this precaution they say it would not bear fruit. The wood of the sycamore tree is not subject to rot; and has therefore been used for making coffins, in which embalmed bodies were put. Hasselquist affirms, that he saw in Egypt coffins made of this kind of wood, which had been preserved sound for 2000 years.

FID, n. s. Ital. fitta. A pointed iron with which seamen untwist their cords.-Skinner.

FIDS or FIDDS, are likewise used at sea to splice or fasten ropes together. There are also fids of wood, made tapering at one end, but much larger than the iron ones.-The pin in the heel of the topmast, which bears it upon the chess tree, is likewise called a fid.

FIDDLE, n. s. & v. a.~ Sax. Fidel; Goth. FIDDLER, n. s. fidla; Swed, fidla; FIDDLESTICK, Belg. vedel; Lat. fidiFIDDLESTRING. cula. A stringed musical instrument; a violin: to fiddle is to play upon this instrument; also to shift the hands often and do nothing like a fellow that plays upon a fiddle,' as Dr. Johnson says: the fiddlestick is otherwise called the bow, and the fiddlestring a portion of the stringed part of this in

strument.

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FIDELITY, n.s. Fr. fidelité; Lat. fidelitas, Ital. fedelita; Span. fidelidud, faithfulness. Honesty; veracity.

The church, by her publick reading of the book of God, preached only as a witness; now the principal thing required in a witness is fidelity. Hooker.

He, that after the misuse of the one talent, would not trust the evil servant with a second, because he saw a wilful neglect; will trust Moses with his second law, because he saw fidelity in the worst error of his zeal. Bp. Hall's Contemplations.

They mistake credulity for fidelity. Clarke. Having taken leave of my friends, and interchanged promises of fidelity with Miss Read, I quitted Philadelphia. Franklin.

As good subjects of God's kingdom, we are bound to pay a due regard and reverence to his ministers; especially if they discover an uncorrupted fidelity to

his cause.

Mason.

But nothing unpleasant, or sad, or severe, Or that indicates life in its winter is here. Yet all is expressed with fidelity due, Nor a pimple or freckle concealed from the view. Согорет.

FIDES, Faith or Fidelity, one of the virtues deified by the Romans, had a temple near the capitol, founded by Numa Pompilius; but no animals were offered, or blood spilt, in her sacrifices. During the performance of her rites, her priests appeared in white vestments, with

har heads and hands covered with linen, to w that fidelity ought to be sacred. The matest oaths were taken in her name. Horace thes her in white, places her in the retinue of rune, and makes her the sister of Justice, Od. 1. Public faith is represented on a 4 number of ancient medals; sometimes with asket of fruit in one hand, and some ears of in the other; and sometimes holding a te dove. But the most usual symbol is two ads joined together. The inscriptions are geally, Fides Augusti, Fides exercitus, or Fides tam, &c.

FIDGE, or Fidgʻet, v. n. & n. s. Goth, fika, ka; Dan. fikke (to move briskly). To move a hurried restless manner : restless agitation. Why what can the viscountess mean?

Ched the square hoods in woful fidget.
Tim, thou'rt the Punch to stir up trouble;

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Gray.

Swift.

Cowper. Lat. fiducia. ConFIDUCIARY, 1.5. & adj. } fident; undoubting. Futh is cordial, and such as God will accept of, it affords fiducial reliance on the promises, and dential submission to the commands.

Hammond's Practical Catechism.

The second obstructive is that of the fiduciary, that 22 is the only instrument of his justification; and ades good works from contributing any thing to

Hammond.

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As they were honoured by great privileges, so their ands were in the nature of fiefs, for which the poswere obliged to do personal service at sea. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, this monarch (Edward I. of England) called in question independence of Scotland; pretending that the ungdom was held as a fief of the crown of England, and subjected to all the conditions of a feudal tenure. Robertson's History of Scotland.

among whom the customs and laws relating to fiefs seem very early to have made rapid advances. See Giannone, History of Naples. They were introduced into Spain before the invasion of the Moors, A. D. 710. Lands were granted for service and attachment among the Goths; among whom also the person who received the gift was the retainer of him who granted it. If he refused his service, the grant was forfeited, and he was said to receive it in patrocinio: he also swore fealty to his lord; and on this footing the national militia was regulated. Leg. Wisigoth, lib. v. tit. 7. There can be little doubt that the feudal law was known in England in the Saxon times. See Whitaker's History of Manchester. In Scotland the history of fiefs is more uncertain; which has been ascribed partly to the mutilated state of the Scottish records, and partly to the want of able antiquaries in the nation. But Dr. Stuart, in Observations on the Law and Constitution of Scotland, insists, that allodiality and feudality have existed ever since the foundation of the Scottish monarchy. It has indeed been supposed, that these customs were introduced from some foreign model by Malcolm

FIEF. See FEE, FEOD, and FEUDAL SYSTEM. It has been an object of enquiry among the arned, in what nation of barbarians fiefs had er origin? It is probable, that they took place a the different nations of Europe, nearly about same time, on the same principles, and were atiaued by similarity of manners, conquests, ; so that we cannot ascribe the prevalence of Sem to imitation. In France, we find fiefs men ned as early as the age of Childebert I. They ere introduced into Italy by the Lombards;

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Some say they were introduced directly from England; and the policy of Malcolm in establishing them has been highly extolled: but, according to our author, there is no foundation for this notion. Both these opinions either asgert or imply, that the feudal maxims were introduced into this country upon the principle of imitation: but it is very improbable that they could be imported from one people to another, on account of their excessive contrariety to the common usages and precepts of government among mankind. It must undoubtedly have been very absurd, if not altogether impracticable, to transplant the feudal tenures when the grants of land were precarious, or depending entirely on the will of the prince, to a country which had never known superiority or vassalage. This would have required an alteration of all the orders of society from the king to the peasant; while the whole chain of customs, as well as the jurisdiction of the kingdom, both high and low, must have sustained a corresponding alteration, to conform them to the new system. It is likewise obvious, that no conquest could be made on purpose to obtain a settlement by any nation who had already received the knowledge of fiefs. The establishment of them implied, that the people had already a fixed and settled residence; and accordingly history does not furnish us with any account of a nation among whom fiefs were known, who ever migrated from the country they already possessed, to seek for one in which they might settle. Feudal institutions must have originated wherever they have been observed to flourish. Scotland was formerly a feudal kingdom, and we know pretty nearly the time when the fiefs were hereditary in it; but in that form they could not be introduced by the sovereign; and there was no nation among whom fiefs were already known, who conquered, or made an establishment by conquest, in Scotland. Fiefs therefore must have gradually advanced to sucl. a state of perfection. The progress they made may be likewise pointed out. At first they were

precarious, or at the pleasure of the lord; afterwards they were granted for life; then for a course of years longer than the natural life of a man; and, lastly, they became hereditary, which was their most perfect stage. This progress has been observed in every country where feudal tenures exist; and the same must have been known in Scotland, though in considering it we are necessarily carried back to periods of remote antiquity; for as fiefs were hereditary as early as the time of Malcolm II. they must have been in their precarious state several centuries before. See FEUDAL SYSTEM.

FIELD, n. s. Sax. Feld; Goth. field; FIELDED, adj. Teut. feld; Belg. velt; FIELD-BASIL, N. S. all from Goth. fa, level, FIELD-BED, flat, as Mr. Thomson FIELDFARE, suggests. Champaign; FIELD-MARSHAL, open ground; meadow; FIELD-MOUSE, any wide space or exFIELD-OFFICER, panse; the ground of a FIELD-PIECE, picture or drawing; the FIELD-PREACHING, ground of a battle; the FIELD-ROOM, action or exploits of an FIELD-SPORT, army in the field: fielded FIELDY, adj. is used by Shakspeare for, being in a field of battle: field-basil is a plant: a field-bed, one contrived for ready use in the field: fieldfare, the bird turdus pilaris: fieldmarshal is, strictly, the commander of a whole army in the field: as a field-officer is one associated in the command of a whole regiment: a field-piece is a piece of ordnance used in fields of battle as distinct from sieges: a field-mouse, the NITEDUIA, which see: field-preaching, fieldroom, and field-sports, are sufficiently plain: fieldy, is an excellent old adjective, meaning roomy; open as a field.

Beholde ye the lilies of the feeld! Wiclif. Luk. xi. Jhesus cam down fro the hil with hem, and stood in a feeldy place, and the cumpany of hise disciples. Id. Luk. vi. I was borne free; and because I might live freely I made election of the solitude of the fields. The trees of these mountaines are my companions: the cleare water of these streams my mirrours. With the trees and waters I communicate my thoughtes and beautie. Skelton.

The bassa planting his fieldpieces upon the hills, did from thence grievously annoy the defendants.

Knolles.

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Raleigh.

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All field-sports I look upon as frivolous. Lord Chesterfield. The tumults of field-preaching and the freaks of the new birth. Warburton.

Let us venture into this large field, and take a view of the political, of the moral, of the religious, and of the domestic state of the world. Robertson's Sermon.

Not yet the hawthorn bore her berries red, With which the fieldfare, wintry guest, is fed: Nor Autumn yet had brushed from every spray, With her chill band the mellow leaves away.

Cowper.

First with fond gaze blue fields of air they sweep, Or pierce the briny chambers of the deep; Earth's burning line, and icy poles explore, Her fertile surface, and her caves of ore. Darwin. Field-marshal is a modern military rank in England, but superior to all others (except the captain-general), having the chief command of the whole army in the field. James.

When there is a field-officer of the day, it is his duty to visit all guards frequently during the day and night. In the morning, on the dismounting of the guards, he will collect the reports, and carry them to the governor or commandant.

Id.

FIELD, in heraldry, is so called, because it contains those achievements anciently acquired

Winter birds, as woodcocks and fieldfares, if they in the field of battle. It is the ground on which

come early out of the northern countries, with us shew cold winters. Bacon.

the colors, bearing, metals, furs, charges, &c., are represented. Among the modern heralds, field

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FIELDFARE, in ornithology. See TURDUS. HIELDING (Henry), the son of lieutenantel Fielding who served under the duke of Mariborough, was born in 1707. On the death this mother, his father married again; and Sir in Fielding, who succeeded him in the comon of the peace for Middlesex, was his ther by this marriage. Henry was sent to y at Leyden; but a failure in his remittances ed him to return in two years, when his propensity to gaiety and profusion drove to write for the stage at twenty years of age. is first dramatic piece, Love in several Masques, Toch was well received, appeared in 1727: his plays and farces, to the amount of eighwere written before 1737; and many of are still acted with applause. While thus ployed, he married a young lady with a fore of £1500 and inherited an estate of £200 year from his mother; all which, though he red into the country, he contrived to dissipate three years; and then applied to the study of aw for a maintenance. In losing his fortune, e acquired the gout; which rendering it imble for him to attend the bar, he therefore recourse to his pen for immediate supplies; he obtained the office of acting justice for ddlesex, an employment more profitable than orable to him. Reduced at last by the faes of this office, and by a complication of Csorders, he by the advice of his physicians at to Lisbon, where he died in 1754. He wrote a number of fugitive pamphlets and pedical essays; but is chiefly distinguished by Adventures of Joseph Andrews, his Amelia, his History of Tom Jones. His works have collected and published, with his life preed, by Mr. Murphy. Besides these mentioned, published The Champion, 2 vols.; A Journey from this World to the next; The History of Joathan Wild; and after his death appeared his

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vage to Lisbon.

FIELDING (Sarah), sister of Henry Fielding, as born in 1714, and lived unmarried, and died Bath in April 1768. She was the author of The novel of David Simple; a less popular profuction of a kindred class, called The Cry, a dramatic Fable; Xenophon's Memoirs of Sorates, translated from the Greek (for which she was favored with some valuable notes by Mr. Harris of Salisbury); The Countess of Delwyn; The History of Ophelia ; The Lives of Cleopata and Octavia, &c. &c.

FIELD-STAFF, a weapon carried by the gunners, about the length of a halbert, with a spear at the end; having on each side ears screwed on like the cock of a match-lock, where the gunners screw in lighted matches when they are upon Command; and then the field-staffs are said to be armed.

FIELD-WORKS, in fortification, are those thrown up by an army in besieging a fortress, or

by the besieged to defend the place. Such are the fortifications of camps, highways, &c. FIEND, n. s. Sax. 1 Sax. fiend, Fiond, a FIEND-LIKE, adj. foe; Goth. and Teut. fiend; Dan. fiende. An enemy; the great enemy of mankind; the devil.

I nyle that ghe be maad felowis of fendis. For ghe moun not drynke the cuppe of the lord, and the cuppe of fendis; ghe moun not be parteneris of the boord of the lord, and of the boord of fendis.

Wiclif. 1 Corynth. x. Here hauntis that feend, and does his daily spoyle; Therefore henceforth be at your keeping well, And ever ready for your foeman fell.

Spenser's Faerie Queene. Tom is followed by the foul fiend. Shakspeare. -This dead butcher and his fiend-like queen. Id. Macbeth.

What now, had I a body again, I could, Coming from hell; what fiends would wish should be, And Hannibal could not have wished to see.

Ben Jonson's Cutiline. The hell-hounds, as ungorged with flesh and blood, Pursue their prey, and seek their wonted food; The fiend remounts his courser. Dryden.

O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind Is bent, all hell contains no fouler fiend. Pope. Vain wish for lo, in gay attire concealed,

Yonder she comes! the heart inflaming fiend! (Will no kind power the helpless stripling shield?) Swift to her destined prey see Passion bend.

Beattie.

FIENUS (Thomas), an ingenious and learned physician, born at Antwerp in 1566. He went into Italy to study physic under Mercurialis and Aldrovandus; and on his return distinguished himself so much in the university of Louvain, that he was chosen professor of physic, and was afterwards made physician to the duke of Bavaria. He wrote several works, among which were, De Viribus Imaginationis; and De Formatione Foetus. He died at Louvain in 1631. FIERCE, adj. Fr. fier, feroce; Ital. FIERCELY, adv. feroce; Lat. ferus; Heb. FIERCE'NESS, n. s. 15, violence.--Minsheu. Cruel; savage; ravenous; furious; violent. Therfore se the goodnesse and the fersnesse of god, ghe the fersnesse into hem that felden doun, but the

goodnesse of god into thee, if thou dwellist in goodWiclif. Rom. xi.

nessc.

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