eleven feet in length, and the largest male nearly twelve. It is stated, however, on respectable authority, that they are frequently much larger; and Mr. Bruce reports, that they are occasionally found even of the length of twenty feet.

may even be employed with success in fattening them. It is said to render the tallow of those fattened with it particularly firm. The milk yielded by cows fed upon it is also said to be thicker and richer than that produced from any other food. The fruit of this tree has been likewise used as food for sheep and poultry, and as soap for washing.

HIGH WATER. That state of the tides when they have flowed to the greatest height, in which state they remain nearly stationary for about fifteen or twenty minutes, when the water begins again to ebb. The time of high water is always nearly the same in the same place at the full of the moon, and at all other times, the time of high water depends upon the age of the moon; the rule for finding which, the age of the moon being given, is as follows, viz: add four fifths of the days of the moon's age, as so many hours, to the time of high water at the full of the moon, and the sum is the time of high water, answering to that day nearly.

HISTORY. If we consider the knowledge of history with regard to its application, we shall find that it is eminently useful to us in three respects, namely, as it appears in a moral, a political, and a religious point of view.

The form of the hippopotamus is particularly awkward: its head is astonishingly large, and its body extremely fat and round; its legs are very short and thick, and its teeth are of vast strength and size, one of them is stated to weigh no less than three pounds, occasionally, each of the tusks weighs even six; the whole animal is covered with short hair; its skin is so tough, as in some parts to resist a bullet; and its color, when dry, is an obscure brown. It inhabits the warmer latitudes, and is to be found chiefly in the interior of Africa, dwelling in the largest rivers, in which it ranges at the bottom, sometimes reaching the surface for the purpose of respiration. It sometimes quits the rivers for the sea, merely, as is supposed, for the sake of expatiating with greater freedom, as it never drinks salt water, and eats no fish, and indeed takes no animal food whatever. By night it quits the water to feed, and devours a vast quantity of grass, and the tender branches of trees. Its disposition has nothing in it sanguinary or ferocious; it never attacks other animals. It frequently commits great depredations on the plantations of corn or sugar, which are within the reach of its nocturnal progresses, and by destroying with its vast teeth the In a moral point of view, it is beneficial to manroots of trees. Its motion on land is generally not kind at large, as the guide of their conduct. In a only highly inelegant, but slow; yet if surprised political, as it suggests useful expedients to those and pursued, it runs with great speed till it reaches who exercise the public offices of the state; or as the water, into which it instantly plunges; and, it enables us to form, by comparison with those though it is able to swim with great rapidity, its pro- who have gone before them, a just estimate of gress in the water is at the bottom by walking. If their merits. In a religious, as it teaches us to rewounded in the water, it sometimes is highly infuri-gard the Supreme Being as the governor of the ated, and has been known to attack the boats or universe, and sovereign disposer of all events. canoes, which it supposed to contain its enemy, and overturn them by its vast strength, or sink them by making a large hole in them with its teeth. It produces but one at a birth, generally in the little rushy isles of the rivers which it frequents, and in these islets it generally sleeps. When taken young, it is capable of being tamed. These animals are sometimes seen in considerable numbers, ranging for several miles beyond the banks of their rivers. They are often shot by the Africans, and frequently taken by the harpoon; pitfalls are also sometimes dug for them. They are valued by the natives of Africa for food, and the fat which it supplies is supposed to be equal to that of the hog. The feet are highly gelatinous, and regarded as a particular delicacy. With their skins the warriors of Africa are furnished with shields and bucklers. The grand motive to destroy these animals, how-rection of our failings by their examples. ever, is the value of their tusks, which are whiter than those of the elephant, and retain their original clearness and beauty. They are likewise of a harder consistence, and are, on both these accounts, preferred by dentists, for artificial teeth, to every other substance.

HIPPOCASTANUM. The common horsechestnut. It may be here added, that, from several experiments in the French Memoires d'Agriculture, it appears that the fruit of the horse-chestnut af fords a wholesome nourishment for cattle, and

The faculties of the soul are improved by exercise; and nothing is more proper to enlarge, to quicken, and to refine them, than a survey of the conduct of mankind. History supplies us with a detail of facts, and submits them to examination before we are called into active life. By observation and reflection upon others we begin an early acquaintance with human nature, extend our views of the moral world, and are enabled to acquire such a habit of discernment, and correctness of judgment, as others obtain only by experience. By meditating on the lives of sages and heroes, we exercise our virtues in a review, and prepare them for approaching action. We learn the motives, the opinions, and the passions of the men who lived before us; and the fruit of that study is a more perfect knowledge of ourselves, and a cor

Experience and the knowledge of history reflect mutual light, and afford mutual assistance. Without the former no one can act with address and dexterity. Without the latter no one can add to the natural resources of his own mind a knowledge of those precepts and examples, which have tended to form the character and promote the glory of eminent men. History contributes to divest us of many illiberal prejudices, by enlarging our acquaintance with the world. It sets us at liberty from that blind partiality to our native country, which is a sure mark of a contracted

mind, when due merit is not allowed to any other. | The common hog, in a tame state, is almost This study likewise tends to strengthen our abhor- universal, except in very high latitudes. In the rence of vice; and creates a relish for true great- forests of South America, it is found in vast droves, ness and solid glory. We see the hero and the derived from the European varieties again relapsed philosopher represented in their proper colors; and into a state of nature. The common hog appears as magnanimity, honor, integrity, and generosity, to enjoy none of the senses in perfection except when displayed in illustrious instances, naturally that of smell. In their taste they discover a strange make a favorable impression on our minds, our degree of caprice; for while they are singularly attachment to them is gradually formed. The fire delicate in their choice of herbs, they will devour of enthusiasm and of virtuous emulation is lighted, with voracity the most nauseous and putrid and we long to practise what we have been in- carrion. structed to approve.

The love of our country naturally awakens in us a spirit of curiosity to inquire into the conduct of our ancestors, and to learn the memorable events of their history. Nothing that happened to them can be a matter of indifference to us. We are their descendants, we reap the fruits of their public and private labors, and we not only share the inheritance of their property, but derive reputation from their noble actions.

HOLLYHOCK. A malvaceous plant, a native of the East, and very frequently cultivated in gardens for the sake of its ornamental spikes of large and beautiful flowers. The root is biennial, and shoots up one or several very upright, hairy stems, which attain the height of from five to eight feet. The leaves are cordate at base, and divided into from five to seven lobes. The flowers are subsessile, rose-colored, and situated in the axils of the superior leaves, thus forming a long terminal spike. From cultivation, many varieties have arisen, bearing flowers, single or double, white, yellow, red, or even almost black. It is a hardy plant, and easily reproduced from seed.

History, considered with respect to the nature of its subjects, may be divided into general and particular; and with respect to time, into ancient and modern. Ancient history commences with the creation, and extends to the reign of Charlemagne, in the year of our Lord eight hundred. Modern history, beginning with that period, reaches HOMOLOGOUS. In Geometry, an appelladown to the present times. General history re-tion given to the corresponding sides and angles lates to nations and public affairs, and may be sub- of similar figures, as being proportional to each divided into ecclesiastical and civil, or according other.

to some writers, into sacred and profane. Biog- All similar figures have their like sides homoloraphy, memoirs, and letters, constitute particular gous, or proportional to one another: their areas history. Statistics refer to the present condition also are homologous, or proportional to the squares of nations. Geography and chronology are im- of the like sides, and their solid contents are hoportant aids, and give order, regularity, and clear-mologous or proportional to the cubes of the same. ness to all. HOMICIDE. In Law, the causing the death HOBSON'S CHOICE. A by-word, signifying of a human creature, which is justifiable, if justithat or none, taken from one Hobson, a livery-fied by unavoidable necessity; excusable if it hapstable keeper at Cambridge, England, who obliged pens by misadventure; and felonious if done withhis customers either to take the horse that stood next the stable door, or to go without.

HOEING. In the new husbandry, is the breaking or dividing the soil by tillage while the corn or other plants are growing thereon. It differs from common tillage in the time of performing it; and it is much more beneficial to the crops than any other tillage. This sort of tillage is performed various ways, and by means of different instruments.

out excuse.

HOMILY. Is a sermon upon some point of religion, delivered in a plain manner, so as to be The Greek easily understood by the people. homily, says M. Fleury, signifies a familiar dislivered in the church were so named, to intimate course, like the Latin sermo; and discourses dethat they were not harangues or matters of ostentation and flourish, like that of profane orators, but familiar and useful discourses, as of a master HOG. In grossness of manners, the hog tribe to his disciples, or a father to his children. All the stand unrivalled among quadrupeds; and their homilies of the Greek and Latin fathers were general appearance corresponds, in a great meas-composed by bishops. The privilege was not orure, with their habits. The natural term of the dinarily allowed to priests till towards the fifth life of this animal is from fifteen to thirty years; century. St. Chrysostom was the first presbyter and it increases in size and strength until four or that preached statedly. Origen and St. Augustine five years of age. In Minorca, it is said, that the also preached; but it was by a peculiar license. hog is used as a beast of draught. The wild boar, Photius distinguishes homily from sermon, in that from which most of our domesticated varieties are the homily was performed in a more familiar derived, is found in most parts of Europe and Asia, and is by no means so stupid or filthy an animal as the tame hog. Hunting the wild boar has always been a favorite amusement. When roused, he goes slowly and uniformly forward, frequently stopping and facing his pursuers, often inflicting severe and even mortal wounds.

manner; the prelate interrogating and talking to the people, and they in their turn answering and interrogating him, so that it was properly a conversation; whereas the sermon was delivered with more form, and in the pulpit, after the manner of the orators.

The practice of compiling homilies, to be com

mmitted to memory, and recited by ignorant or indolent priests, commenced towards the close of the eighth century; when Charlemagne ordered Paul Deacon and Alcuin to form homilies or discourses upon the Gospels and Epistles, from the ancient doctors of the church. This give rise to that famous collection entitled the Homiliarium of Charlemagne,' which being followed as a model by many productions of the same kind, composed by private persons, from a principle of pious zeal, contributed much, says Mosheim, to nourish the indolence, and perpetuate the ignorance of a worthless clergy. There are still extant several fine homilies, composed by the ancient fathers, particularly St. Chrysostom and St. Gregory. The Clementine homilies are nineteen homilies in Greek, published by Cotelerius, with two letters prefixed; one of them written, in the name of Peter, the other in the name of Clement, to James bishop of Jerusalem; in which last letter they are entitled 'Clement's Epitome of the Preaching and Travels of Peter.' According to Le Clerc, these homilies were composed by an Ebionite in the second century; but Montfaucon supposes that they were forged long after the age of St. Athanasius. Dr. Lardner apprehends, that they were the original or first edition of the Recognitions; and that they are the same with the work censured by Eusebius under the title of 'Dialogues of Peter and Appion.'

HOMILIES, Two Books oг. In the Church of England, are two books of plain sermons, set out by public authority, and ordered to be read in churches on Sundays and holydays, when there was no sermon. The first book was compiled and published in the beginning of Edward the VI's reign; and the second in queen Elizabeth's time, by order of convocation, 1563.

HONE. Or polishing slate, is a fine sort of whetstone, in stripes of yellow and slate color. According to some accounts it is holly-wood petrified, or changed into stone, by lying in the water a certain time; but this does not appear probable. This stone is said to be found in Bohemia. Several kinds of petrified wood are used as whetstones, but are generally too hard and coarse for fine edges.

instances of the good effects of honey in some asthmatic cases are given by Dr. Manro, in his Medical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry:-The late Dr. John Hume, one of the commissioners of the sick and hurt of the Royal Navy, was for many years violently afflicted with an asthma. Having taken many medicines, without receiving relief, he at last resolved to try the effects of honey, having long had a great opinion of its virtues as a pectoral. For two or three years he ate some ounces of it daily, and got entirely free of his asthma, and likewise of a gravelly complaint with which he had been long afflicted. About two years after he had recovered his health, when he was sitting one day in the office for the sick and hurt, a person laboring under a great difficulty of breathing, who looked as if he could not live many days, came to him and asked him by what means he had been cured of his asthma. Dr. Hume told him the particulars of his own case, and mentioned to him the means by which he had found relief. For two years after he heard nothing of this person, who was a stranger to him, and had seemed so bad that he did not imagine that he could have lived many days, and therefore had not even asked him who he was; but, at the end of that period, a man seemingly in good health, and decently dressed, came to the sick and hurt office, and returned him thanks for his cure, which he assured him had been entirely brought about by the free use of honey.'

HONEY BEES. A species of animals remarkable for industry, economy, and ingenuity. They have all things in common, and yet live under inviolable laws. Mindful of the coming winter, they toil in summer, and lay up food in common stock. Some are employed in the fields, gathering honey and wax; some construct the combs; some fill the cells with honey; some watch at the gates to observe the weather, or receive the loads of those that return to the hive. All have one time of labor; all have one rest from work. In the morning they rush out of the gates without delay; at evening all is hushed for the night. It has been remarked, that if Newton had been a bee,' he could not have constructed the combs, or cells, with more geometrical exactness. In a hive of bees are commonly found from fifteen to eighteen thousand inhabitants; over which there is HONEY. As a medicine, is a very useful de-always a queen, that reigns absolute. The queen tergent and aperient, powerfully dissolving viscid is distinguished from the other bees, by the form juices, and promoting the expectoration of tough of her body; she is longer and larger than they phlegm. In some particular constitutions it has an are, and her wings are much shorter than theirs inconvenience of griping, or of proving purgative; in proportion to her body. Her hinder parts are which is said to be in some measure prevented by more taper than those of the other bees; her belly previously boiling the honey. This, however, with and legs are of a deep golden yellow. A hive of all constitutions, is by no means effectual; and the bees cannot subsist without a queen, as she lays all circumstance has had so much weight with the the eggs, and thus produces the whole posterity. Edinburgh College, that they do not now employ No other earthly monarch has such obedient subit in any preparation; and have entirely rejected jects. If you take the queen, wherever you put the mella medicata, substituting syrups in their her in sight, the whole hive will follow, and preplace: but honey is doubtless very useful in giving sently surround her; and when a queen happens form to different articles, although there are some to die, the bees of her hive immediately leave individuals with whom it may disagree. In order, however, to obtain the good effects of the honey itself, it must be used to a considerable extent, and as an article of diet. The following remarkable

working, consume their honey, fly about their own and other hives at unusual hours when other bees are at rest, and pine away, if not soon supplied with another sovereign.

HONEYCOMB. A waxen structure, full of cells, framed by the bees, to deposit their honey and eggs in. The construction of the honeycomb seems one of the most surprising parts of the works of insects; and the materials of which it is composed, which, though evidently collected from the flowers of plants, yet do not, that we know of, exist in them in that form, have given great cause of speculation. The wax is secreted, by the peculiar organization of the insect, in the form of small and thin oval scales, in the incisures or folds of the abdomen. The regular structure of the comb is also equally wonderful. The comb is composed of a number of cells, most of them exactly hexagonal, constructed with geometrical accuracy, and arranged in two layers, placed end to end, the openings of the different layers being in opposite directions. The comb is placed vertically; the cells, therefore, are horizontal. The distance of the different cakes of comb from each other is sufficient for two bees to pass readily between them, and they are here and there pierced with passages affording a communication between all parts of the hive. The construction of the cells is such as to afford the greatest possible number in a given space, with the least possible expenditure of material. The base of each cell is composed of three rhomboidal pieces, placed so as to form a pyramidal concavity.

Thus the base of a cell on one side of the comb is composed of part of the bases of three on the other. The angles of the base are found, by the most accurate geometrical calculation, to be those by which the least possible expense was required to produce a given degree of strength. The sides of the cells are all much thinner than the finest paper, and yet they are so strengthened by their disposition, that they are able to resist all the motions of the bee within them. The effect of their thrusting their bodies into the cells would be the bursting of those cells at the top, were not these well guarded. But, to prevent this, the creatures extend a cord, or roll of wax, round the verge of every cell, in such a manner that it is scarce possible that they should split in that particular part. This cord, or roll is, at least, three times as thick as the sides of the cell, and is even much thicker and stronger at the angles of the cells than elsewhere, so that the aperture of each cell is not regularly hexagonal, though its inner cavity be perfectly so. The cells which have served or are to serve for the habitation of the worms of the common and of the male bees, are often made also, at other times, the receptacles of honey; but, though these are indifferently made to serve either use, there are others destined only to receive honey.

HONEYDEW. A term frequently applied to a clammy saccharine substance, which is often seen covering the leaves and other parts of different kinds of trees and plants, at some particular seasons of the year. It does not appear that the cause of this extraordinary appearance is yet fully understood, as it has not by any means been well ascertained whether it derives its origin from external circumstances, or some morbid affection of the vegetables themselves. It is generally, however, supposed to be the production of insects.

HONEY FLOWER. In Botany, a plant having the appearance of a shrub, and bearing spikes of chocolate-colored flowers in May, in each of which a quantity of black sweet liquor is found.

HONEY SUCKLE. In Botany, a shrub with a climbing stalk, the flowers of which form a tube in the shape of a huntsman's horn. They are produced in clusters, and are very sweet.

HONOR. Signifies a testimony of esteem or submission, expressed by words, actions, and exterior behavior, by which we make known the veneration and respect we entertain for any one on account of his dignity or merit. The word is also used for the esteem due to virtue, glory, and reputation. It is also used for virtue and probity themselves, and for an exactness in performing whatever we have promised, in which last sense we use the term 'a man of honor.' But honor is more particularly applied to the two different kinds of virtue; bravery in men, and chastity in women.

HONORS OF WAR. Are stipulated terms which are granted to a vanquished enemy, and by which he is permitted to march out of a town, from a camp, or line of intrenchments, with all the insignia of military etiquette. In another sense, they signify the compliments which are paid to great personages, military characters, when they appear before an armed body of men, or such as are given to the remains of a deceased officer. The particular circumstances attending the latter depend greatly upon the usages of different countries.

HOOK. A bended iron to hang things upon; also a bent piece of iron or wire attached to a fishing-rod for catching fish.

HOOPINGCOUGH. A disease known by a convulsive, strangulating cough, with hooping, returning by fits, that are usually terminated by a vomiting. It is contagious. Children are most commonly the subjects of this disease, and it seems The celerity with which a swarm of bees, re- to depend on a specific contagion, which affects ceived into a hive where they find themselves them but once in their life. The disease being lodged to their minds, bring their comb to perfec-once produced, the fits of coughing are often retion is amazing. There are vast numbers at work peated without any evident cause; but, in many all at once; and, that they may not incommode cases, the contagion may be considered as only one another, they do not work upon the first comb till it is finished, but when the foundation of that is laid, they go to work upon another, so that there are often the beginnings of three or four stories made at once, and so many divisions allotted to the carrying on the work of each.

giving the predisposition, and the frequency of the fits may depend upon various exciting causes, such as violent exercise, a full meal, the having taken food of difficult digestion, and irritation of the lungs by dust, smoke, or disagreeable odors. Emotions of the mind may likewise prove an exciting cause,