METRIC SYSTEM
to the north pole, and equivalent to 39.37 inches. From this unit all the other denom- lniti--ns of measure, as well as of weight, are derived. The metric system was first adopted in France in 1795.
METRIC SYSTEM. A system of meas- ures for leiigth. surface, wemht, and capacity. founded on the metre as a unit. It orig- ir-.i1.ed in France, has been estaluished by Luv there and in some other countries, and is l'e('\'lii]l|’iE'llded for general use by other EL-l\'l‘lJi.ilEIJ[S.
METROPOLIS. which a colony was sent out of a province. Calvin.
A mother city : one from The capital
METROPOLITAN. In English Inw. One of the titles of an arclihisliop. Derived from the circumstance that arciiliisliops were cor-secrrited at first in the metropolis of a province. 4 Inst. 9-1.
in England, the word is frequently used to designate a statute, institution, governmental agency. ei;c., relating exclusively or esnccially to the city of London; (9. 0., the metropolitan board of Works, metropolitan buildings act. etc —Metropo1itn.n board of works. A board constituted in 1:555 by St. 18 Si 19 Vict. c. 120, for the better sewering, draining. pfi\'Il]l!. cleansing, lighting, and improving the metropolis (London.) The board is elected by vestries and district boards, who in their turn are elected by the rzite-payers. Wbarton.—1V[etx-opolitiui
oliee district. A region composed of l\'(-w
or]; city and some adjacent territory, which W."iS, for police purposes, organized as one district, and provided with a police force common to the whole.
METTESHEP, or METTENSCHEP. In old records. An iicimowledgmerit paid in a certain measure of corn; or a fine or penalty imposed on tenants for default in not doing their customary service in cutting the lui-d's corn.
METIJS. Lat. Fear; terror. In a tech- nicol sense. a reasonable and well-grounded apprehension of some great evil, such as death or mayhem, and not arising out of mere timldity, but such as might fall upon 2] man of courage. Fear must lie of this description in order to amount to duress avoiding -1 contract. See Bract. lib. 2, c. 5: 1 Bl. (1('.vI.illZ‘1-3]: Calvin.
MEUBLES. In French law. The mov- aliles of English law. Things are 1ll€illlI(’S from either of two causes: (1) F1‘om their own nature. e. 0.. tables. chairs: or (2) from the determination of the law. e. 0., obligatioiis.
—Menhles menblans. In French linv. The lih‘l’lSllS and articles of ornament usutil in E dwelling-house. Brown.
Menu: est promittere. non dimittex-e. It is mine to promise, not to dischaige. 2 Rolle, 39.
777
MIDSUMME R—DAY
MICHAELMAS. The feast Of the Arch-
angel Michael. celebrated in England on the 29th of September, and one of the usual qunrter days. —Miehaelmas head court. A meeting of the lierltors of Scotland. at which the roll of free- holders used to be revised. See Beli.—Miclmelmns term. One of the four tci-_ms of the English colliis of common law. l)L'gll.iilIIl3l_ on the 2d dav of \Iorember and ending on the 2.itii 3 Stcpli. Comm. 562.
MIC]-IE, or MICK. 0. Eng. To practice crimes requiring concealment or secrecv: to pflfer articles secretly. lllicltcr, one who practices secret crime Webster
MICHEL-GEMOT. One of the names of the general council lmmeinorlally held in England. The Witcnugeinotc.
One of the great councils of king and nohiemen in Saxon times. Jncob
MICHEL-SYNOTH. Great council. One of the names of the general council of the
kingdom in the times of the Saxons. 1 Bl. Comm. 147.
MICIEERY. In old English law. Theft; cheating.
MIDDLE TERM. A phrase used in log- ic to denote the term which occurs in both of the premises in the syllogism, being the means of bri.uglng together the two terms in the conclusion.
MIDDLE THREAD. The middle thread of a stream is an imaginary line drawn lengthwise through the middle of its current.
MIDDLEMAN. An agent between two parties, an intermediary who performs the office of a broker or factor between seller and buyer, producer and consumer, land-owner and tenant. etc. Southack v Lane. 32 Misc. Rep. 141. 65 N. Y. Supp. 629; Synnott V. Shaughnessy. 2 Idaho. 122. 7 Pac. 89.
A middleman, in Ireland is 2] person who takes land in large tracts from the proprietors, and then rents it out to the peasantry in small portions at B gieiitly enhanced price. "Tliarton.
MIDDLESEX. BILL 01‘. See BILL.
MIDSI-IIPMAN. In ships of war, a kind of naval cadet, whose business is to second or transmit the orders of the superior officers and assist in the necessary business of the vessel but understand to be in training for ii commission. A zllissctl mldshlpman is one who has passed an examination and is ii candidate for promotion to the rank of lientenant. See U. S. v. Cook, 128 U. S. 254, 9 Sup. Ct. 108. 32 L. Ed. 464.
MIDSUMMER-DAY. The summer sol- stice, which is on the 24th day of June, and
