eſtabliſh a belief in its being actually reverſed: If his teſtimony be confirmed by a few others of the ſame character, we cannot with-hold our aſſent to the truth of it. Now, though the operations of nature are governed by uniform laws, and though we have not the teſtimony of our ſenſes in favour of any violation of them, ſtill, if, in particular inſtances, we have the teſtimony of thouſands of our fellow-creatures, and thoſe too men of ſtrict integrity, ſwayed by no motives of ambition or intereſt, and governed by the principles of common ſenſe, That they were actually eye-witneſſes of these violations, the conſtitution of our nature obliges us to believe them."
Theſe two examples contain the ſubſtance of about 400 pages.—Making private abridgements of this kind has many advantages; it engages us to read with accuracy and attention; it fixes the ſubject in our minds; and, if we ſhould happen to forget, inſtead of reading the books again, by glancing a few lines, we are not only in poſſeſſion of the chief arguments, but recall in a good meaſure the author's method and manner.
Abridging is peculiarly uſeful in taking the ſubſtance of what is delivered by Profeſſors, &c. It is impoſſible, even with the aſſiſtance of ſhort-hand, to take down, verbatim, what is ſaid by a public ſpeaker. Besſides, although it were practicable, ſuch a talent would be of little uſe. Every public ſpeaker has circumlocutions, redundancies, lumber, which deſerve not to be copied. All that is really uſeful may be comprehended in a ſhort compaſs. If the plan of the diſcourſe, and arguments employed in ſupport of the different branches be taken down, you have the whole. Theſe you may afterwards extend in the form of a diſcourse dreſſed in your own language. This would not only be a more rational employment, but would likewiſe be an excellent method of improving young men in compoſition, an object too little attended to in all our univerſities. Beſides, it would be more for the honour of profeſſors; as it would prevent at leaſt ſuch immenſe loads of diſjointed and unintelligible rubbiſh from being handed about by the name of ſuch a man's lectures.
Abridgement, in law, ſignifies the making a declaration or plaint ſhorter by leaving out ſomething
Abridgement, in arithmetic. See Arithmetic, Of vulgar fractions
Abridgement, in algebra. See Algebra, Of equations.
ABROBANIA, a town and diſtrict in Tranſylvania.
ABROCHMENT, an old law term which ſignifies foreſtalling. See Forestalling.
ABROGATION, ſignifies annulling, making void, or repealing a law.
ABROLKOS, the name of certain ſhelves, or banks of ſand, about 20 leagues from the coaſt of Brazil.
ABRON, a river of France which falls into the Loire not far from Nevers.
ABRONO. See Abrugi.
ABROTANOIDES, the name of a ſpecies of coral called porus. It is alſo a ſynonime of the artemiſia. See Artemisia.
ABROTANOIDES, a wine mentioned by Dioſcorides, impregnated with suthernwood.
ABROTANUM, in botany, a ſynonime of several ſlants. See Artemisia, Filago, Santolina.
ABRUPTION, in ſurgery. See Abduction.
ABRUS, in botany, the trivial name of the glycine. See Glycine.
ABRUZZO, in geography, the name of two provinces belonging to the K. of Naples, on the gulph of Venice, diſtinguished by Nearer and Farther Abruzzo, from their poſition with reſpect to Naples.
ABSCEDENTIA, in ſurgery, a term applied to decayed parts of the body, which, in a morbid ſtate, are ſeparated from the ſound, or loſe that union which was preſerved in a natural ſtate.
ABSCESS, in medicine and ſurgery, an impoſthume, or any tumor or cavity containing purulent matter. See Surgery, title, Of tumours or abſceſſes.
ABSCHARON, a town in Aſia, situated on the weſtern ſhore of the Caſpian sea.
ABSCISSE, in mathematics. See Conic Sections.
ABSCISSION, a figure in rhetoric, whereby the ſpeaker ſtops ſhort in the middle of his diſcourſe, leaving the audience to make the inference.
Abscission, in ſurgery, the ſame with amputation.
ABSCONSA, a dark lanthorn uſed by the monks at the ceremony of burying their dead.
ABSENCE, in Scots law: When a perſon cited before a court does not appear, and judgment is pronounced, that judgment is ſaid to be in abſence No perſon can be tried criminally in abſence. See Law, title, Sentences and their execution.
ABSINTHIATED medicines, ſuch as are impregnated with abſinthium or wormwood.
ABSINTHIUM, in botany, the trivial name of the common wormwood or artemiſia. It is alſo a ſynonime of the tanacetum incanum, the ſenecio incanum, the anthemis montana, the achillæa egyptiaca, and of the parthenium hyſterophorus. See Artemisia, &c.
ABSIS, in aſtronomy, the ſame with Apsis, which ſee.
ABSOLUTE, in a general ſense, denotes a thing's being independent of, or unconnected with, any other; it is alſo uſed to expreſs freedom from all limitation.
Absolute government, is that wherein the prince, unlimited by the laws, is left ſolely to his own will. See Government.
Absolute gravity in phyſics, is the whole force by which a body is urged downwards. See Mechanics.
Absolute, in metaphysics, denotes a being that poſſeſſes independent exiſtence.
ABSOLUTION, in general, is the pardoning or forgiving a guilty person.
Absolution, in civil law, is a ſentence whereby the party accuſed is declared innocent of the crime laid to his charge.
Absolution, in the canon law, is a juridical act whereby the eccleſiaſtical officers remit or forgive the penitent offender, or declare him reſtored to the privileges of innocence in conſideration of his repentance.
