63

General

feated.

Prussia. great part of their attention, and no small part of their forces, were engaged on that side. Marshal Daun, now finding himself rendered almost incapable of undertaLaudon king any thing, detached General Laudohn, with a atterly de- force very much superior, to attack the prince of Bevern, and drive him from the advantageous post he occupied. But the prince defended himself with such resolution, that all the efforts of Laudohn could not succeed before the king had time to come to his assistance. The Austrians, being then put between two fires, were routed and pursued with terrible slaughter; after which, the king met with no more disturbance in his preparations for the siege, and the trenches were opened on the 18th of July. Marshal Daun made no attempts to relieve the place; but the garrison being very strong, it held out for near two months from the opening of the trenches. It is said that the attack was conducted, and the defence made, by two engineers who had written on the subject of the attack and defence of fortified places; and they were now practically engaged to prove the superiority of their systems. At last, however, the garrison, to the number of 8000 men, surrendered prisoners of war; and the whole body, except nine, were soon after drowned at the mouth of the Oder, on their passage to their intended confinement in Konigsberg.

69

he total

feat of

is at

The king of Prussia, now become master of Schweidnitz, turned his attention towards Saxony, where he considerably reinforced his brother's army, and made preparations for laying siege to Dresden. In this country the Austrians had lately met with some success, and e Austri- driven Prince Henry as far back as Freyberg; but on the 29th of October, they were attacked by the Pruseyberg oduces a sian army thus reinforced, and totally routed. Great numbers were slain, and near 6000 taken prisoners. This victory proved decisive: and the empress-queen, finding herself deserted by all her allies, was glad to conclude a treaty, the substance of which was, that a mutual restitution and oblivion should take place, and both parties sit down at the end of the war in the same situation in which they began it. This treaty is called the peace of Hubertsburg.

ace.

The war was no sooner concluded than the king of Prussia turned his attention to domestic policy, and the recovery of his dominions from those innumerable calamities which had befallen them during the war. He immediately distributed lands to his disbanded soldiers, and gave them the horses of his artillery to assist them in their cultivation. By his wise and prudent management, the horrors of war were soon forgotten; and the country was quickly in as flourishing a state as ever. Notwithstanding this pacific disposition, however, the king never slackened his endeavours for the defence of his country, by keeping a respectable army on foot; which might be able to act on the least emergency. In the year 1778, a new difference with the house of Austria took place, concerning the duchy of Bavaria. but But though the most enormous warlike preparations norable were made on both sides, and immense armies brought into the field, nothing of consequence was effected. What little advantage there was, seems to have been on the Prussian side, since they made themselves masters of several towns, and kept the war in the enemy's country. However, the emperor acted with so much caution, and showed so much skill in a defensive war, that all

70

new war men

duces no

nt.

Prussia.

71

the manoeuvres of his Prussian majesty could gain no material advantage; as, on the other hand, his adversary was too wise to venture an engagement. A peace therefore was very soon concluded, and since that time the history of Prussia, during the remainder of the great Frederic's reign, affords no remarkable event which we have not mentioned in the life of that hero, and the article POLAND. He left his crown to his nephew, whose The great character was not then much developed; and it was ea- Frederic sily seen that a new kingdom, which had risen suddenly by his neto such unexampled power and greatness as to excite phew. the jealousy or apprehension of all its neighbours, would require great abilities to preserve it from dismemberment.

succeeded

72

of the new

The late king had indeed bequeathed the most effec- State of the tual securities to his successor for the preservation of nation, and his dominions, that human wisdom could provide or de- behaviour vise; by leaving him a full treasury, the finest army in king. the world, and a people enthusiastically attached to his memory and government. The new monarch, with these advantages, was not wanting to himself. The late king's predilection for the French language and French literature were not grateful to his subjects. The present sovereign began his reign with declaring in council," Germans we are, and Germans I mean we shall continue;" giving directions, at the same time, that their native language should resume its natural rank and station, from which for near half a century it had been degraded by the French. This was a very popular measure, and it was followed by another still more so. Observing that he had marked with great concern the progress of impiety and profaneness on the one hand, and of enthusiasm on the other, he declared, that he would not have his subjects corrupted either by fanatics or atheists, and strictly prohibited all publications tending to excite a contempt or indifference for religion.

holder a

Such, on his immediate accession to the throne, was the pacific conduct of the monarch, which endeared him to his subjects, and commanded the approbation 73 of all good men. An opportunity soon occurred, in He assists which he was thought to have displayed such talents in the stadtnegociation and in military arrangements, as proclaim- gainst the ed him in every respect a worthy successor of his uncle. states of The states of Holland, who had long been jealous of Holland: the power of the stadtholder, and inclined to a republican government without any permanent chief, had gained such an ascendency in the states general, that in 1786 and 1787 they in effect divested the Prince of Orange of all his prerogatives, (see UNITED Provinces). They proceeded even to the seizure and imprisonment of the princess, sister to the king of Prussia; and depending upon support from France, treated with insolence every power connected with them in Europe. The court of Berlin did not witness these proceedings without indignation; and the king formed his plan for restoring the power of the stadtholder with such secrecy and prudence, that perhaps nothing could surpass it but the bravery and military skill of the duke of Brunswick, by whom it was carried into execution. In the short space of one month, that accomplished general led 18,000 Prussians to Amsterdam, and restored the just prerogatives of the prince of Orange.

The affairs of Prussia during the early period of the French revolution, and the active but unsuccessful part which that monarch took against it, are interwoven with

the

contributions exacted from him, or to crave that pay- Prussia. ments might be accepted of by instalments; and, in the mean time, the troops belonging to France were not to be withdrawn from the impoverished kingdom of PrusEvery decree issued in Holland against the commerce of Great Britain, this humbled monarch was obliged to adopt, and to order the publication of them in every part of his mutilated dominions.

sia.

Prussia. the historical details of that period under the articles FRANCE and BRITAIN, to which we refer our readers. For a number of years he acted the prudent part of standing clear of hostilities as much as possible; and when he did at last interfere, we find little in his conduct which is intitled to the praise either of consistency or honour. Indeed it may perhaps be admitted, that on many occasions he acted rather from necessity than choice ; and finding that a contest with France was both absurd and ruinous, he chose to sacrifice a less evil to a greater good. Whether by consent or compulsion is not certainly known, the king of Prussia ceded to France the duchies of Cleves and Berg, March 1806, which were to be governed by Prince Murat, the brother-in-law of Bonaparte, under the title of Joachim, duke of Cleves and Berg.

The king of Prussia likewise took possession of the Hanoverian states 30th October 1806, at the time when Great Britain had no reason to apprehend any such mysterious conduct from that quarter. He entered into a secret treaty with France for the purpose of shutting the northern ports; a measure which gave such offence to this country, that the British minister thought proper to take his leave of Berlin. At one period he came to a final determination to make no separate treaty with the French government, and proposed a treaty of peace and alliance between his court and that of Britain. To give this as much effect as possible, the Prussian princes of the blood began to raise volunteer regiments in Poland and Silesia, the loyalty of the peasantry in these countries far exceeding the most sanguine expectations.

He was

So low, however, were the king of Prussia's finances at the time of Lord Hutchinson's arrival at Memel, March 1807, that his lordship found it necessary to advance 80,000l. for the support of his family and domestic household. This being intimated to the British ministers, his majesty recommended it to parliament to enable him to implement the agreement. Yet not long after this period he actually entered into a treaty of peace with the emperor of France, by virtue of which his territories were so dreadfully mutilated, as to leave him little more of a sovereign than the name. required to renounce the whole of his dominions situated between the Rhine and the Elbe; the circle of Cotbus in Lower Lusatia; nearly all the provinces which formerly constituted part of the kingdom of Poland; the city of Dantzic; and he was laid under the necessity of shutting all the ports and harbours of his whole dominions against the trade and navigation of Great Britain. Not above 18 months prior to this treaty, the king of Prussia might have been said to hold the fate of Europe in his hands; but by means of it he was reduced to the very lowest rank among the powers of Europe. Had he taken a decided part against France before the battle of Austerlitz, he might have been able to secure the independence of Europe; but, having suffered this auspicious moment to pass unimproved, the consequences were exactly such as might have been predicted, without any pretensions to uncommon sagacity.

The king of Prussia being thus degraded by means of his own imprudence and want of sound policy, endeavoured to ease the burdens of his remaining subjects by reducing his civil and military establishments. The army was reduced to 24,000 men, and General Knoblesdorf was sent to Paris to procure a diminution of the 3

In this state of degradation the Prussian monarchy continued till the extraordinary events of 1812. When Bonaparte made his irruption into Russia, Prussia was compelled to furnish a body of troops for the service, who formed part of the army under Macdonald. After the disastrous retreat of the French, the king made his escape from Potsdam, and retired to Silesia. He immediately called on his subjects to rise in arms for the defence of their country, without at first disclosing against whom he was to act. Great numbers of all ages joyfully obeyed the call. On the 22d February 1813, he entered into a treaty of alliance with Russia. The battle of Lutzen, however, on the 2d, and of Bautzen on the 20th May, threw discouragement on the rising hopes of the allies. But in August they were strengthened by the junction of Austria. The battle of Dresden was lost on the 26th of August; but from this time their affairs began to improve, and the victory of Leipsic, on the 16th October, turned the scale entirely in their favour. Prussia was now delivered entirely from French oppression; and her armies took a part in all the events that followed, to the peace of Paris in May 1814. When the war broke out again on Bonaparte's return, the Prussian armies performed essential services. The advance of Blucher in the afternoon gave a decisive turn to the battle of Waterloo.

By these successes Prussia not only recovered her former losses, but gained large additions of territory and population. She recovered the province of Posen in Poland, all her territories between the Elbe and the Rhine; and obtained besides, about one half of the king of Saxony's territories, and extensive districts on the south side of the Rhine. She acquired also Swedish Pomerania; and ceded East Friesland with some other districts to Hanover, and Anspach and Bayreuth to Bavaria. After these acquisitions and cessions, Prussia contained in 1819, 106,000 square English miles, and 10,065,000 inhabitants.

Air, soil,

The air of Prussia is wholesome, and the soil fruitful 74 in grain; affording, besides, plenty of pitcoal and other and popufuel. The rivers and lakes are well stored with fish; lation, of and amber is found on its coast towards the Baltic, Prussia. The principal rivers are the Vistula, Bregel, Memel, the Passarge, and the Elbe; all of which frequently do damage by their inundations.

Since the year 1719 it is computed that about 34,000 colonists have removed to Prussia from France, Switzerland, and Germany; of which number one half were Saltzburghers. These emigrants have built 400 small villages, 11 towns, 50 new churches, and founded 1000 village-schools. The manners of the people differ but little from those of the Germans. The established religions are those of Luther and Calvin, but chiefly the former; though almost all other sects are tolerated.

75

The late king of Prussia, by the assistance of an ex-Commerce cellent police, brought the commerce and manufactures and manuoffactures.

Prussia

of this country to a very flourishing state, which during his life were daily improving. The manufactures of Prynue. Prussia consist in glass, iron-work, paper, gunpowder, copper and brass-mills, manufactures of cloth, camblet, linen, silk, gold and silver lace, stockings, and other articles. The inhabitants export variety of naval stores, amber, lint-seed and hemp-seed, oat-meal, fish, mead, tallow, and caviar; and it is said that 500 ships are loaded with those commodities every year, chiefly from Koningsberg.

76 Constita

His Prussian majesty is absolute through all his dominions; but the late king was too wise to oppress his subjects, though he availed himself to the full of his power. The government of this kingdom is by a regency of four chancellors of state, viz. 1. The great-master; 2. The great-burgrave; 3. The great-chancellor; and, 4. The great-marshal. There are also some other councils, and 37 bailiwicks. The states consist, 1. Of counsellors of state; 2. Of deputies from the nobility; and, 3. From the commons. Besides these institutions, the late king erected a board for commerce and navigation.

His Prussian majesty, by means of the happy situation of his country, its inland navigation, and the excellent regulations of his predecessor, derives an amazing revenue from this country, which, about a century and a half ago, was the seat of boors and barbarism. It is said, that amber alone brings him in 26,000 dollars annually. His other revenues arise from his demesnes, his duties of customs and tolls, and the subsidies yearly granted by the several states. In 1815 the whole revenues of Prussia were estimated at seven millions sterling. See EUROPE, SUPPLEMENT.

The military regulations introduced by the late king had a wonderfully quick operation in forming his troops and recruiting his armies. Every regiment has a particular district assigned it, where the young men proper for bearing arms are registered; and when occasion offers, they join their regiment, and being incorporated with veterans they soon become well disciplined troops. The Prussian army, in the time of peace, consists of 250,000 of the best disciplined troops in the world; and during the last war, that force was augmented to 300,000 men.

The royal arms of Prussia are argent, an eagle displayed sable, crowned, or, for Prussia: azure, the Imperial sceptre, or, for Courland: argent, an eagle displayed, gules, with semicircular wreaths, for the marquisate of Brandenburg: to these are added the respective arms of the several provinces subject to the Prussian

crown.

There are two orders of knighthood; the first, that of the Black Eagle, instituted by Frederic I. on the day of his coronation at Koningsberg, with this motto, Suum cuique. The sovereign is always grand-master; and the number of knights, exclusive of the royal family, is limited to 30. Next to this is the order of Merit, instituted by his late majesty; the motto is, Pour le merite.

PRUSSIAN BLUE. See PRUSSIATE OF IRON, CHEMISTRY Index.

PRUSSIC ACID. See CHEMISTRY Inder. PRYNNE, WILLIAM, an English lawyer, much distinguished in the civil commotions under Charles I. was born at Swainswick in Somersetshire in 1600. His

Histriomastia, written against stage-plays in 1632, containing some reflections that offended the court, he was sentenced by the star-chamber to pay a fine of 5000l. to stand in the pillory, to lose his ears, and to perpetual imprisonment. During his confinement, he wrote several more books; particularly, in 1637, one entitled News from Ipswich, which reflecting severely on the bishops, he was again sentenced by the star-chamber to another fine of 5cool. to lose the remainder of his ears in the pillory, to be branded on both cheeks with S. L. for seditious libeller, and to be perpetually imprisoned in Caernarvon castle. Nothing but cutting off his hands could have prevented Prynne from writing: he wrote still; and in 1640, being set at liberty by the house of commons, he entered London in a kind of triumpb, was elected into parliament for Newport in Cornwall, and opposed the bishops with great vigour, being the chief manager of Archbishop Laud's trial. In the long parliament he was zealous in the Presbyterian cause; but when the Independents gained the ascendency, he opposed them warmly, and promoted an agreement with the king. When the army garbled the house and refused him entrance, he became a bitter enemy to them and their leader Cromwell, and attacked them with his pen so severely, that he was again imprisoned: but he pleaded the liberty of the subject so successfully, that he was enlarged, to write more controversial books. Being restored to his seat after Cromwell's death, with the other secluded members, he assisted in promoting the restoration, and was appointed keeper of the Tower records; a place excellently well calculated for him, and where he was very useful by the collections he published from them. He presented 40 volumes of his works, in folio and 4to, to Lincoln's-inn library, of which society he was a member; and, dying in 1669, was buried under the chapel.

PRYTANES, in Grecian antiquity, were the presidents of the senate, whose authority consisted chiefly in assembling the senate; which, for the most part, was done once every day.

The senate consisted of 500, 50 senators being elected out of each tribe: after which, lots were cast to determine in what order the senators of each tribe should preside; which they did by turns, and during their presidentship were called prytanes. However, all the 50 prytanes of the tribes did not govern at once, but one at a time, viz. for seven days; and after 35 days, another tribe came into play, and presided for other five weeks; and so of the rest.

PSALM, a divine song or hymn; but chiefly appropriated to the 150 Psalms of David, a canonical book of the Old Testament.

Most of the psalms have a particular title, signifying either the name of the author, the person who was to set it to music or sing it, the instrument that was to be used, or the subject and occasion of it. Some have imagined that David was the sole author of the Book of Psalms; but the titles of many of them prove the contrary, as psalm xix. which appears to have been written by Moses. Many of the psalms are inscribed with the names Korah, Jeduthun, &c. from the persons who were to sing them.

PSALMANAZAR, GEORGE, the fictitious name of a pretended Formosan, a person of learning and ingenuity. He was born in France, and educated in a

free

zar.

zar

Psatyrians

the sceptics triumphed. Some absurdities were disco-Psalmans vered in his history, of such a nature as to discredit the whole narration, and saved him the trouble of an open declaration of his imposture; which however he owned at length to his private friends. For the remain der of his life, his learning and ingenuity enabled him to procure a comfortable support by his pen: he was concerned in several works of credit, particularly The Universal History. He lived irreproachably for many years, and died in 1763.

PSALMIST, in the church of Rome, one of the lesser ecclesiastical orders; the same with what among us is called clerk, precentor, or singer.

PSALMODY, the art or act of singing psalms. See PSALM.

Psalmody was always esteemed a considerable part of devotion, and usually performed in the standing posture: and as to the manner of pronunciation, the plain song was sometimes used, being a gentle inflexion of the voice, not much different from reading, like the chant in cathedrals; at other times more artificial compositions were used, like our anthems.

As to the persons concerned in singing, sometimes a single person sung alone; sometimes the whole assembly joined together, which was the most ancient and general practice. At other times the psalms were sung alternately, the congregation dividing themselves into two parts, and singing verse about, in their turns. There was also a fourth way of singing pretty common in the fourth century, which was, when a single person began the verse, and the people joined with him in the close: this was often used for variety, in the same service with alternate psalmody.

Psalmana- free-school, and and afterwards in a college of Jesuits, in an archiepiscopal city, the name of which, as likewise those of his birth-place and of his parents, are unknown. Upon leaving the college, he was recommended as a tutor to a young gentleman; but soon fell into a mean rambling life which involved him in disappointments and misfortunes. His first pretence was that of being a sufferer for religion. He procured a certificate that he was of Irish extraction, that he left that country for the sake of the Catholic faith, and was going on a pilgrimage to Rome. Being unable to purchase a pilgrim's garb, and observing one in a chapel, dedicated to a miraculous saint, which had been set up as a monument of gratitude by some wandering pilgrims, he contrived to take both the staff and cloak away; and, being thus accoutred, begged his way in fluent Latin, accosting only clergymen or persons of figure; whom he found so generous and credulous, that, before he had gone 20 miles, he might easily have saved money, and put himself in a much better dress: but as soon as he had got what he thought was sufficient, he begged no more; but viewed every thing worth seeing, and then retired to some inn, where he spent his money as freely as he had obtained it. Having heard the Jesuits speak much of China and Japan, he started the wild scheme, when he was in Germany, of passing for a native of the island of Formosa; and what he wanted in knowledge, he supplied by a pregnant invention. He formed a new character and language on grammatical principles, which, like other oriental languages, he wrote from right to left with great readiness; and planned a new religion, and a division of the year into 20 months, with other novelties, to credit his pretensions. He was now a Japanese convert to Christianity, travelling for instruction, with an appearance more wretched than even that of common beggars. He then entered as a soldier in the Dutch service: but, still desirous of passing for a Japanese, be altered his plan to that of being an unconverted heathen; and at Sluys, Brigadier Lauder, a Scots colonel, introduced him to the chaplain, who, with the view of recommending himself to the bishop of London, resolved to carry him over to England. At Rotterdam, some persons having put shrewd questions to him, that carried the air of doubt, he took one more whimsical step, which was to live upon raw flesh, roots, and herbs; which strange food he thought would remove all scruples. The bishop of London patronized him with credulous humanity; and Psalmanazar found a large circle of friends, who extolled him as a prodigy. Yet were there some who entertained a just opinion of him, particularly the Drs Halley, Mead, and Woodward; but their endeavours to expose him as a cheat only made others think the better of him, especially as those gentlemen were supposed to be unfriendly to revelation. But in this instance at least, easiness of belief was no great evidence of penetration. He was employed to translate the church-catechism into the Formosan language, which was examined, approved, and laid up as a valuable MS.; and the author, after writing his well-known History of Formosa, was rewarded and sent to Oxford to study what he liked, while his patrons and opponents were learnedly disputing at London on the merits of his work. The learned members of the university were no better agreed in their opinions than those at London; but at length

The use of musical intruments in the singing of psalms, seem to be as ancient as psalmody itself; the first psalm we read of being sung to the timbrel, viz. that of Moses and Miriam, after the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt; and afterwards, musical instruments were in constant use in the temple of Jerusalem. See ORGAN.

PSALTER, the same with the book of psalms. See the article PSALM.

Among the religious in the Popish countries, the term psalter is also given to a large chaplet or rosary, consisting of 150 beads, according to the number of psalms in the psalter.

PSALTERY, a musical instrument, much in use among the ancient Hebrews, who called it nebel.

We know little or nothing of the precise form of the ancient psaltery. That now in use is a flat instrument, in form of a trapezium or triangle truncated at top: it is strung with 13 wire-chords, set to unison or octave, and mounted on two bridges, on the two sides: it is struck with a plectrum, or little iron rod, and sometimes with a crooked stick. Its chest or body resembles that of a spinet.

PSAMMETICUS, or PSAMMITICHUS, a renown ed conqueror, who subduing II other petty kings of Egypt, became the founder of the kingdom of Egypt, about 670 B. C. He is memorable likewise for taking the city of Azot, after a siege of 29 years; and for discovering the sources of the river Nile. See EGYGT, N° 10.

PSATYRIANS, a sect of Arians, who, in the council of Antioch, held in the year 365, maintained

Psatyrians that the Son was not like the Father as to will; that ព he was taken from nothing, or made of nothing; and Pseudo. that in God, generation was not to be distinguished from creation.

Enfield's PSELLUS, MICHAEL, a learned Christian of the History of 11th century, was, by birth, a Constantinopolitan of Philosophy consular rank, and flourished under the emperor Constantine Monomachus. His genius and industry raised him far above the level of his cotemporaries; and the female historian Anna Comnena speaks of him as one who had been more indebted for his attainments to his own excellent talent than to the instructions of his preceptors; adding, that having made himself master of all the wisdom of the Greeks and the Chaldeans, he was justly esteemed the most learned man of the age. Thus furnished, he became the chief instructor of the Constantinopolitan youth. He was at the same time the companion and the preceptor of the emperor, who was so captivated by the studies and amusements in which Psellus engaged him, that, according to Zonaras, he neglected the concerns of the empire. The Byzantine historians complain, that the emperor, deluded by the head of the philosophers (the title with which Psellus was honoured), lost the world. Meeting, towards the close of this life, with some disappointment, Psellus retired into a monastery, and soon afterwards died; the time of his death is uncertain. His works, which have been much celebrated, are, Commentaries upon Aristotle's Logic and Physics; a Compendium of Questions and Answers; and an Explanation of the Chaldean Oracles. The two latter works prove him to have been conversant, not only with Grecian, but with Oriental, philosophy.

PSEUDO, from audos, a Greek term used in the composition of many words to denote false or spurious: as the pseudo-acacia, or bastard acacia; pseudo-fumaria, or bastard-fumitory; pseudo-ruta, or bastard-rue, &c. We also say, a pseudo-apostle or false apostle; a pseudo-prophet, or false prophet, &c.

PSEUDO-China. See SMILAX. PSEUDO-Galena, or Black-Jack. See ZINC, ORES of, MINERALOGY Index.

PSEUDO-Tinea, in Natural History, the name of a very remarkable species of insect described by M Reaumur, approaching to the nature of the tinea, or clothes moth, while in the worm-state, but not making themselves coats of the substance of leaves, cloth, &c. though they form a sort of cases for their defence against a very terrible enemy.

These creatures are of the caterpillar kind, and have, in the manner of many of these insects, 16 legs. They feed on wax, and for food enter the bee-hives; where they boldly engage the bees, and are not to be prevent ed by them from feeding, though at the expence of their habitations and the cells of their reservoirs of honey: so that it is no uncommon thing for a swarm of bees to be forced to change their place of habitation, and make new combs elsewhere; leaving the old ones to this contemptible victor, whom they know not how to drive out or dispossess.

Virgil and Aristotle, and all the authors who have written on bees, have complained of this destructive animal. It never eats the honey, but feeds only on the wax; attacking principally those waxy cells where the female bee deposits her eggs for the future progeny. VOL. XVII. Part II.

:

mous.

The bees, who are a match for most other creatures Pseudo, by means of their stings, would easily destroy these Pseudony weak creatures, were it not for the impervious armour they are covered with. They form themselves a coat of armour of a double matter. The first, which immediately covers the body, is of a kind of silk of their own spinning; and the outer covering over this is of the bees-wax this is laid considerably thick; and the creature, just thrusting out its head to feed, goes on devouring the cells undisturbed, while a whole army of the inhabitants are in vain buzzing about him, and attempting to pierce him with their stings. He never forsakes his covering, but lengthens and enlarges it as he goes ; and gnawing down the sides of the cells in his march, without staying to eat them one by one, the havock and destruction he occasions are scarcely to be conceived. When the time of the change of this creature approaches, it contracts its body within its double covering, and there changes into the nympth state; whence, after a proper time, it comes forth in form of a moth, with granulated horns and a crooked proboscis.

The bees have cunning enough to know their destructive enemy in this new form; and as this is a weak and defenceless state, they attack and destroy all the moths of this species they meet with. They seldom are so fortunate, however, as to kill the whole race as soon as produced; and if only one escapes, it is able to lay a foundation of revenge for the death of its brethren. All the flies of the moth kind lay a vast number of eggs, and this is behind hand with none of them in that particular the young ones produced from the eggs of one surviving female of this species are sufficient to destroy many honey-combs; nay, many hives of them. The moth produced by this caterpillar flies but little 3 yet it is very nimble in avoiding danger, by running, which it does with great swiftness.

There is a species of these pseudo-tineæ, or wax-eating caterpillars, which infest the subterraneous hives of wasps and other creatures which make wax: the manner of living, feeding, and defending themselves from their enemies, is the same in all the species. These last, if they are at any time distressed for food, will eat their own dung; the wax having passed almost unaltered through their bodies, and being still wax, and capable of affording them more nourishment on a second digestion. These species, though they naturally live on this soft food, yet if by any accident they meet with harder only, they know how to live upon it; and can eat a way into the covers and leaves of books, and make themselves cases and coverings of the fragments of these substances. The accurate authort of these observations describes al- ↑ Reauso a kind of pseudo-tinea which feeds on wool, and ano- mur's Histher that eats leather; both making themselves houses tory of Ine also of the materials they feed on.

There is also another kind very destructive to corn: these make themselves a covering by fastening together a great number of the grains, and there living and eating in secret. All these creatures, whatever be their food or habitation, finally become phalena, or moths; and may be distinguished, even in this state, from the other species, by having granulated horns of a remarkable structure, and all of them a proboscis, or trunk, more or less incurvated.

PSEUDONYMOUS, among critics, an author who publishes a book under a false or feigned name; as cryp‐ 3 Q tonymous

sects