cheeks; the trench, the cavesan, the martingal, and the chaff-halter. BRIDLES, SCOLDING. See BRANK. BRIDLE-ARM PROTECT, in the broad-sword exercise, a guard used by the cavalry, in which you raise the sword-hilt above the helmet; the blade crossing the back of the head, the point of the left shoulder, and the bridle-arm; its edge directed to the left, and turned a little upwards in order to bring the mounting in a proper direction to protect the hand. BRIDPORT, a borough town of Dorset, situated in a valley between two small rivers or branches of the river Brit, which falls into the sea about a mile south of the town. Bridport sends two members to parliament: it was incorporated by Henry III. The town is respectably built; its principal manufactures are cordage, nets, and sail-cloth. In the centre of the town is a new and handsome market-cross, which has been completed at the cost of £3000. Here also are a charity-school, three alms-houses, and other benevolent institutions. It is a very ancient corporation, having sent members to parliament ever since the 23d of Edw. I. In the reign of Henry VIII. it was enacted, that all the cordage, &c. for the navy, for a limited time, should be made here, or within five miles, and nowhere The brief stile is that which expresseth much in little. Ben Jonson. The apostolical letters are of a twofold kind and difference; viz. some are called briefs, because they are comprised in a short and compendious way of Ayliffe. writing. I doubt not but I shall make it plain, as far as a sum or brief can make a cause plain. Bacon. The harmony of science supporting each part; the other is, and ought to be, the true and brief confutation and suppression of all the smaller sort of objec They excel in grandity and gravity, in smoothness and propriety, in quickness and briefness. Camden. The brief with weighty crimes was charged, On which the pleader much enlarged. Swift. Brief, brave, and glorious, was his young career, His mourners were two hosts, his friends and foes; And fitly may the stranger lingering here, Byron's Childe Harolde. else; an Act which was renewed for nearly sixty Pray for his gallant spirit's bright repose. years. It is noted for making ropes and cables for shipping; whence arises the proverb of a man that is hanged, that he is 'stabbed with a Bridport dagger.' It is twelve miles west of Dorchester, and 135 west by south of London. Long 2° 52′ W., lat. 50° 42' N. BRIEF', n. & adj. BRIEF NESS. Lat. brevis; Fr. bref; Ital. brieve; also Goth. Sbref; Teut. brief; Sax. brave; Fr. brevet; Ital. breve. The first generally signifies short, concise: the second is applied to a short extract; a letter patent; an abbreviated document; the concise substance of something larger, or to be expanded. Brief is. technically used as a verb by those very brief gentlemen, the lawyers. For instance, to brief the pleadings. So after in breff tyme, when it was purseyvyd, That she had done a woman's dede, and had a child conseyvyd, BRIEF, in English law, an abridgment of the client's case, made out for the instruction of the party, &c. is to be briefly but fully stated: council on a trial at law; wherein the case of the proofs must be placed in due order, and Proper answers made to whatever may be objected to the client's cause by the opposite side; and herein great care is requisite, that nothing be omitted, to endanger the cause. BRIEF, in Scots law, a writ issued from the manding and authorising that judge to call a chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, comjury to enquire into the case mentioned in the brief, and upon their verdict to pronounce sen tence. BRIEFS, APOSTOLICAL, letters which the pope despatches to princes, or other magistrates, relating to any public affair. These briefs are distinguished from bulls, the latter being more ample, always written on parchment, and sealed with lead or green wax; whereas briefs are very concise, written on paper, sealed with red wax, and with the seal of a fishermen, or St. Peter in a boat. BRIEG, a principality of Lower Silesia, adjoining the principalities of Oels, Bredau, and Oppeln. The extent of this tract, which is watered by the Oder, exceeds 1000 square miles. It is peopled by about 110,000 inhabitants, most of whom are Lutherans, and the remainder Roman Catholics. Good pasturage and fine crops of corn are yielded in that part which is cleared. BRIEG, one of the circles in the above principality, contains about 200 square miles, and 30,000 inhabitants. BRIEG, the chief town of the preceding principality, stands on the Oder, over which there is a wooden bridge. The fortifications which once were considerable, have lately been demolished. But here is still a ducal castle worth the traveller's notice, and some few public buildings. The Prussians, who besieged it in 1741, threw 2172 bombs into it, and 4714 cannon bullets, which reduced a great part of the town to ashes, so that it was obliged to surrender, after sustaining a continual fire for seven days. When it was ceded to Prussia by the peace, Frederic augmented the fortifications, and built a new suburb. Since 1728 a manufacture of fine cloth has been established. It is twenty-four miles north-east of Breslaw. Inhabitants about 9000. BRIEL, or BRILL, a maritime town of the Netherlands, and capital of the island of Voorn, is one of the cautionary towns which was delivered into the hands of queen Elizabeth, and garrisoned by the English during her reign and part of the next. The Dutch took it from the Spaniards in 1572, and laid here the foundation of their republic. It is seated at the mouth of the Meuse, thirteen miles south-west of Rotterdam. The harbour is large and convenient, and the town well built. It was the birth place of the celebrated Van Tromp. In 1813 the inhabitants rose upon the French garrison, and drove them from the town. Here are some good fisheries, and the inhabitants are much engaged as pilots up the river. BRIENNE, a town of Upper Champagne, France, the head of a canton in the department of the Aube. It has a considerable stocking manufacture, and stands about twenty-two miles east of Troyes. At the military school here Buonaparte received his education; and here a desperate battle was fought in 1814. Population 3,191. BRIER, Goth. bry; Ang.-Sax. brær; BRIERY. Irish, brier; Welsh, brath. A prickly bush; a bramble; a wild rose tree. Briery, rough, thorny; full of briers or prickles. Greatly aghast with this piteous plea, What subtle hole is this, Whose mouth is covered with rude growing briers? Shakspeare. Then thrice under a brier doth creep, Which at both ends was rooted deep, And over it three times doth leap; Her magick much availing. Drayton's Nymphid. BRIET (Phillp), a learned French geographer, born at Abbeville in 1601. He became a Jesuit in 1619, and died librarian of their college at Paris in 1668. His Parallella Geographia Veteris et Novæ, published in 3 vols. 4to. 1648-9, is a very exact work. He published also Annales Mundi, in 7 vols. 12mo. from the creation to A. D. 1663 and Theatrum Geographicum, Europa Veteris, in 1653, fol. He was likewise concerned in a chronological work with Labbé. BRIETKOPF (John Gottlieb Immanuel), an ingenious printer and letter-founder, was born at Leipsic, in 1712. Albert Durer's work in which the shape of the letters is deduced from mathematical principles, suggested to him some valuable improvements in the art of casting types, and he became the first who cast musical types, now so VOL. IV. common; and applied the same method to maps and even portraits. He proved still more for tunate in his endeavours to print the Chinese characters on movable types, and produced some specimens which are much admired. He also made improvements in the composition of typemetal, but these he concealed. His works are, 1. A Treatise upon the Origin of Printing, 1774. 2. An Attempt to illustrate the Origin of Playing Cards, and 3. A small treatise on Bibliography. published in 1793. He died in 1794. BRIEUC, or BRIEUX (ST.), a town of France, the capital of the department the Côtes du Nord, stands on a bay, on the north coast of Upper Brittany, called Anse de St. Brieux. It is well built, and, at the village of Legné, has a small secure harbour. The inhabitants are engaged in fisheries, and a small trade in the produce and manufactures of the country. Population 8090; distance west of Paris 200 miles. BRIG, and possibly also brix, is derived from the Saxon bricg, a bridge; which, to this day, in the northern counties, is called a brigg, and not a bridge. Brig, a ship with two masts. BRIG, OF BRIGANTINE, a merchant ship with two masts. This term is not universally confined to vessels of a particular construction, or which are masted and rigged in a manner different from all others. It is variously applied, by the mariners of different European nations, to a peculiar sort of vessel of their own marine. Amongst British seamen, this vessel is distinguished by having her main-sails set nearly in the plane of her keel; whereas the main-sails of larger ships are hung athwart, or at right angles with the ship's length, and fastened to a yard which hangs parallel with the deck: but in a brig, the foremost edge of the main-sail is fastened in different places to hoops which encircle the main-mast, and slide up and down it as the sail is hoisted or lowered. It is extended by a gaff above and a boom below. BRIGADE, v. & n. I Fr. brigade; Ital. BRIGADIER. brigata; Span. brigada. The idea is detached, broken away; and is applied to a party or division of soldiers separated from the main body. Cotgrave says, it means to troop or keep company together. Milton. Or fronted brigades form. Here the Bavarian duke his brigades leads, Gallant in arms, and gaudy to behold. Philips. BRIGADE, a division of forces; consisting of several squadrons of horse, or battalions of foot. A brigade of the army is either foot or dragoons, whose exact number is not fixed, but generally consists of three regiments, or six battalions: a brigade of horse may consist of eight, ten, or twelve squadrons; and that of artillery, of five guns and one howitzer, with their appurtenances. The eldest brigade has the right of the first line, and the second the right of the second; the two next take the left of the two lines, and the youngest stands in the centre. BRIGADE MAJOR.-An officer appointed by the brigadier, to assist him in the management and ordering of his brigade. According to the regulations published by authority, a brigademajor is attached to the brigade, and not to any 2 N BRIGAND, Fr. brigand; Ital. brigante; BRIGANDAGE, Fr. brigantine; Ital. briganBRIGANDER, tino. An associated robber; BRIG'ANTINE, a freebooter; a smuggler. BRIG'ANDIZE. Brigandine and brigander, armour worn by brigands. Brig and brigantine, a vessel used by brigands and pirates. Like as a warlike brigandine, applied To fight, lays forth her threatful pikes afore The engines, which in them sad death do hide. Spenser. There might be a rout of such barbarous thievish brigands in some rocks; but it was a degeneration from the nature of man, a political creature. Bramhall against Hobbes. Otway's Venice Preserved. The consul obliged him to deliver up his fleet, and restore the ships, reserving only to himself two bri. gantines. Arbuthnot. Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, Vantbrass, and greves. Milton's Samson Agonistes BRIGANDINES were a kind of ancient defensive armour, consisting of thin jointed scales of plate, pliant and easy to the body. BRIGANTES, an ancient people of Britain, who occupied the territory from sea to sea, the whole breadth of the island; now called York. shire, Lancaster, Durham, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. BRIGANTINUS LACUS, in ancient geography, a lake of Rhætia, or Vindelicia, which Tacitus includes in Rhætia. Ammianus calls it Brigantia. It took its name either from the Brigantii, or from the adjoining town. It is now called Constance or Bodenzee. BRIGANTINUS PORTUS, in ancient geography, a port of the Hither Spain; so called from Flavium Brigantium; now El Puerto de la Corunna, formerly the Groyne. BRIGANTIUM, in ancient geography, a town in the Alpes Cottiæ, now thought to be Briançon. BRIGGS (Henry), one of the greatest mathematicians of the sixteenth century, was born at Warley Wood, Yorkshire, in 1556. In 1592 he was made examiner and lecturer in mathematics, and soon after reader of the physical lecture founded by Dr. Linacre. When Gresham College was established, he was chosen the first professor of geometry there in 1596. In 1609 he contracted an intimacy with Mr. Usher, afterwards archbishop of Armagh, which continued many years. In 1619 he was made Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford; and resigned his professor ship of Gresham College on the 26th of July 1620. Soon after going to Oxford, he was made M. A. in that university; where he continued till his death on January 26th 1630. His principal works are, 1. Logarithmorum Chilius Prima. 2. Arithmetica Logarithmica. 3. Trigonometria Britannica. 4. A small tract on the north-west passage. BRIGGS (William), an eminent physician in the latter end of the seventeenth century. He studied physic at Cambridge, and afterwards travelled into France, where he attended the lectures of the famous anatomist M. Vieussens of Montpelier. After his return, he published his Ophthalmographia, in 1676. In 1677 he was created M. D. at Cambridge: and soon after was made fellow of the College of Physicians, at London. In 1682 his Theory of Vision was published by Hooke. In 1683, he sent to the Royal Society a continuation of that discourse, which was published in their transactions; and the same year he was, by king Charles II. appointed physician to St. Thomas's hospital. In 1684 he communicated to the Royal Society two remarkable cases relating to vision, which were also printed in their transactions; and, in 1685, he published a Latin version of his Theory of Vision, at the desire of Mr. afterwards Sir Isaac Newton, professor of mathematics at Cambridge, with a recommendatory epistle from him prefixed to it. He was afterwards made physician in ordinary to king William, and continued in great esteem for his skill in his profession till his death, which happened September 4th, 1704. BRIGHT', BRIGHTEN, BRIGHT'LY, BRIGHT'NESS, BRIGHT SOMENESS, BRIGHT ARMED, BRIGHT BURNING, BRIGHT EYED, BRIGHT HAIRED. Goth. biart, bart; Mod. Goth. bairt; Sax. beort, breaht, bryht; Teut. bert, brecht; Welsh, berth; Swed. bar; Goth. ber, bart; our bare. Signified not only naked, but manifest, clear, conspicuous, illustrious. The birdes that han left hir songe, Chaucer. Romaunt of the Rose. High above all a cloth of state was spred, The blazing brightness of her beauty's beam, Spenser. Faerie Queene. Hope elevates and joy Brightens his crest. Through a cloud Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, Id. Dryden. A sword, by long lying still, will contract a rust, which shall deface its brightness. South. Chapman, Bright brass, and brighter domes. Gay. Id. Id. Id. But let a lord once own the happy lines, O Liberty, thou goddess heavenly bright, From the brightest wines While the bright Seine, to' exalt the soul, With sparkling plenty crowns the bowl. Addison. Thomson. Fenton. All bright as an angel new dropped from the sky. Parnel. On extending 200 feet, in the centre of which is a Milton's Paradise Lost. circular building, having a lofty dome raised on pillars. Two wings, lately added to the fabric, render its portions complete. In the interior the style and furniture is mostly Chinese. Towards the street the front forms a square, with a colonnade in the centre, looking over a green, formerly the road. On the north side of what was called the Promenade Grove, a splendid building has been lately erected, fitted up as stabling, in the centre of which is a lofty dome; on the eastern side is a racket court, and on the west a riding-house. Here are several public libraries and reading-rooms, furnished with all the newspapers, periodical publications, &c.; they are generally well attended: the loo-tables, and singing, in the evening, afford considerable amusement; in addition to the libraries are suites of hot, cold, vapor, and salt-water baths, and air-pump water baths, for the relief of persons afflicted with the gout, or violent scorbutic affections: a swimming-bath has also been erectoften intersect each other at right angles, and ed, upon a very extensive scale. The streets are very clean, neat, and well paved. The hotels and boarding-houses are numerous, and fitted up in the most elegant manner. The parish church of Brighton stands on a hill, at a small distance from the town, and has a square tower, which may be seen a considerable way off at sea. account of the increase of population, a chapel royal has been erected, within these few years, in the centre of the town. Here are likewise a Quakers' meeting-house, a Baptists', Independents', Methodists', a Roman Catholic chapel, and a Jews' synagogue. About half a mile west of the church is a chalybeate spring, much frequented. Among recent improvements Regency Square deserves to be noticed; the houses are large and handsome; one side of the square being open to the sea, and the centre forming a well-planned garden. An extensive and commodious suspension chain-pier has been just completed, at an expense of £30,000, under the superintendence of captain Brown, R.N. It is founded on four clumps of piles, 258 feet distant, driven nearly ten feet into the rock, and rising thirteen feet above high water mark. The three first clumps contain twenty piles each, and the fourth, or outer clump, which is in the form of a T, contains 150 perpendicular and diagonal piles, strongly braced together; the cross part of which is paved with about 200 tons of Purbeck stones, and, beneath, are galleries and flights of steps, for the convenience of landing and embarkation. The pier, which is 1154 feet long and thirteen wide, with a neat cast-iron railing on each side, is supported by eight chains, each containing 117 links ten feet long, six and a quarter in circumference, and weighing 112 lbs. which is made fast to the cliff on shore. The chains, four in number, pass from the cliff, over towers of cast iron (one on each clump of piles), with a dip of eighteen feet, secured at the oater clump of piles, and from which are suspended 362 rods connected by an iron bar, on which the platforms rest. The length of the esplanade from the Steine to the commencement of the pier is 1250 feet, along which the carriages pass. Brighton sorrow, Cotton. Childe Harolde. Yon sunny sea heaves brightly, and remains Id. BRIGHTHELMSTONE, or, as it is more commonly called, BRIGHTON, a sea-port town of Sussex, situated at the bottom of a bay formed by Beachy Head and Worthing Point, in the English channel. Though a place of some antiquity, it was inhabited until very recently by only a few families of fishermen. It has now, however, increased into one of the most fashionable sea-bathing places in the kingdom. It is seated on a gently declining eminence, at whose base spreads a lawn called the Steine, now surrounded with many new streets and elegant buildings, the chief of which are lodging-houses. The Steine and Marine Parade are much frequented by fashionable visitants; the promenade commencing after the heat of the day, and continuing until dark, a choice band of music generally playing all the while. His Majesty has a palace here called the Marine Pavilion, fitted up with great magnificence and characteristic taste. It is situate on the north-west of the Steine, and was erected in 1784, with a handsome sea-front is scarcely observable at sea, and ir. several bombardments the balls have gone over it without doing any damage. Since the peace it has been considerably benefitted by travellers to France, embarking hence, by the steam-packets, to Dieppe, and through Rouen to Paris. The only manufacture is the making of nets for the use of the fishery, which employs about 100 boats. The mackarel season commences in April, and the herring-fishery in October. The principal market is on Thursday, but it is open every day except Sunday, and is well and reasonably supplied with provisions. The South Down mutton is particularly admired. The downs around afford the invalid delightful rides, and a pleasing landscape. The race-ground is also admired; the race-week, which is the last in July, is esteemed the fullest part of the season. Near to Brighton, on the road to Rottingdean, is Kemp Town, a modern erection, which derives its name from its founder, T. R. Kemp, Esq. and which for magnificence, extent, and the rapidity with which it has been erected, is one of the most splendid wonders of the age. Brighton is fifty-two miles south of London. BRIGITTINS, or BRIDGETINS, a religious order, denominated from their founder St. Bridget. The Brigittins are sometimes also called the Order of Our Saviour; it being preter.ded that Christ himself dictated their rules and constitutions to St. Bridget. In the main, the rule is that of St. Augustine; only with additions, pretended to have been revealed by Christ. The first monastery of the Brigittin order was erected by the foundress, A. Ď. 1344, in the diocese of Lincopen; on the model of which all the rest were formed. The constitution of these houses is very singular; though the order was principally intended for nuns, who were to pay a special homage to the Holy Virgin, there are also many friars of it, to minister to them spiritual assistance. The number of nuns is fixed at sixty in each monastery, and that of friars to thirteen, answerable to the number of apostles, of whom St. Paul made the thirteenth; besides which there are four deacons to represent the four doctors of the church, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Gregory, and St. Jerome; and eight lay brothers; making, together with the nuns, the number of the seventy-two disciples. The order being instituted in honor of the Virgin, the direction is committed to an abbess, who is superior both of the nuns and of the friars. Each house consists of two convents or monasteries, separately enclosed, but having one church in common; the nuns being placed above, and the friars on the ground. The Brigittins profess great mortification, poverty, and self-denial, as well as devotion; and they are not to possess any thing they can call their own; nor even to touch money on any account. This order spread much through Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, &c. In England we read of but one monastery of Brigittins, built by Henry V. in 1415, opposite to Richmond, now called Sion House; the ancient inhabitants of which, after the dissolution, settled at Lisbon. The revenues were reckoned at £1495 per annum. BRIGNOLLES, a town of France, in Lower Provence, department of the Var, celebrated for BRIHUEGA, a fortified town of New Cas- BRIL (Matthew), a native of Antwerp, and a good painter, born in 1550, and educated at Rome. He was eminent for his performances in history and landscape, in the galleries of the Vatican; where he was employed by pope Gregory XIII. He died in 1584, aged only thirtyfour. BRIL (Paul), was born in 1554; followed his brother Matthew to Rome; painted several things in conjunction with him; and after his decease, raised his own fame by his landscapes, owing to his having studied the manner of Annibal Caracci, and copied some of Titian's works of the same kind. He was much in favor with pope Sixtus V. and painted for his successor Clement VIII. the famous piece about sixtyeight feet long, wherein St. Clement is represented cast into the sea with an anchor about his neck. He died at Rome in 1526, aged seventy two. BRILLIANCY, Fr. brillant; Ital. brillante; Teut. and Dan. brille; a magnifying glass; supposed to be from beryl, which anciently was greatly esteemed and used in sorcery. A fine diamond. Shining; sparkling; resplendent. To So have I seen in larder dark Replete with many a brilliant spark, At once both stink and shine. Dorset. shew you what the rest in orders were; When the ornaments, applied to a style, are too rich and gaudy in proportion to the subject; when they return upon us too fast, and strike us either with a dazzling lustre or a false brilliancy; this forms what is called a florid style, a term commonly used to sigBlair's Lectures. nify the excess of ornament. -Beneath the glittering morn |