BALLAMONO, a village in the Isle of Man, near Castletown.

BALLAN, a town of France, in the department of the Sarte, seated on the Orne. Long. 20' E., lat. 48° 10' N.

BALLANDEN. See BALLEnden. BALLANI, a species of shell-fish, about a finger's length, which abound in the harbour of Ancona, and lodge among the stones. They are much valued at Rome, whither great quantities

are sent.

BALLANTRAE, a small post-town and parish of Scotland, in the county of Ayr. The village stands at the mouth of the Stinchar. It carries on a salmon-fishing and some cotton manufactures. Distant twenty-eight miles S. S. W. of Ayr.

BALLAPATTY, a town of the Carnatic, in Hindostan, twelve miles west of Vencatigherry. BALLA PILLY, a town of Hindostan, in the ceded Balaghaut district of Commim. Long. 78° 38′ E., lat. 15° N.

BAL'LARAG, v. a. A ludicrous and low word, purporting to overpower by word or act; to bully; to threaten. It is still used in the north, and pronounced bullyrag.

On Minden's plains, ye meek mounseers; Remember Kingsley's grenadiers.

You vainly thought to ballyrag us,

With your fine squadron off Cape Lagos.

Warton.

Lord

BALLARD (George), one of those occasional geniuses in lower life which shoot up without culture, was born at Campden, in Gloucestershire. Being of a weakly constitution, his parents put him to a habit-maker; and in this situation he mastered the Saxon language. The time he employed in learning it was stolen from sleep, after the labor of the day was over. Chedworth, and the gentlemen of his hunt, who used to spend about a month of the season at Campden, heard of his fame, and generously offered him an annuity of £100, but he modestly told them that £60 was fully sufficient to satisfy both his wants and his wishes. Upon this he retired to Oxford, for the benefit of the Bodleian library; and Dr. Jenner, president, made him one of the eight clerks of Magdalen College. He was afterwards one of the University beadles, but died in June, 1755, rather young; which is supposed to have been owing to too intense application. He left large collections behind him, but published only Memoirs of British Ladies, who have been celebrated for their Writings or Skill in the learned Languages, Arts, and Sciences, 1752. 4to. He drew up an account of Campden church, which was read at the Society of Antiquarics, November 21, 1771. BALLARD, CAPE, a cape of Newfoundland. Long. 52° 26′ W., lat. 46° 55′ N'.

BALLARD'S-POINT, a cape on the west coast of Ireland, in the county of Clare. Longitude 9° 32′ W., lat. 52° 42′ Ñ.

BALLARE, in middle-age authors, to dance. BALLARINA, in ornithology, a name under which Olina describes the white-wagtail, mota

cilla alba.

BALLAS, a trading place on the left bank of the Nile, Upper Egypt, where a great quantity

Why should he sink where nothing seem'd to pres His lading Attle, and his ballast less. Swift. Those men have not ballast enough of humility and Hammond's Sermons. fear.

BALLAST, in navigation. The principal ob ject is to make a vessel sink to a proper depth in the water, that she may steadily carry a suthcient quantity of sail. There is often great di-, ference in the proportion of ballast required to prepare ships of equal burthen for a voyage, the quantity being more or less according to the sharpness or flatness of the ship's bottom, which seamen call the floor.

The properly ballasting of a ship is amongst the most important duties of the skilful mariner; for, although it is known that ships in general will not carry a sufficient quantity of sail, t they are laden so deep that the surface of the water will nearly glance on the extreme breath amidships, yet there is more than this generai knowledge required; since, if she has a great weight of heavy ballast, as lead, iron, &c. in the bottom, it will place the centre of gravity too low in the hold; and, although this will enabe her to carry a great sail, she will nevertheless sail heavily, and run, in rolling, the risk of being dismasted.

The ballast, therefore, should be so disposed that she may be duly poised, and maintain a proper equilibrium on the water, so as neither to be too stiff nor too crank: in the first, aithough the ship may be fitted to carry a great sail, her velocity will not be proportionably increased; whilst her masts are endang d by ter sudden jerks and laboring: and, in the last, sla

will be incapable of carrying sail without the risk of upsetting. The former is occasioned by disposing too great a quantity of heavy ballast in the bottom, which brings the centre of gravity near the keel; and, that being the centre about which the vibrations are made, the lower it is placed, the more violent will be the motion of rolling. Crankness, on the other hand, is occasioned by disposing the ship's lading so as to raise the centre of gravity too high, which endangers the mast in carrying sail when it blows hard: for when the masts lose their perpendicular, they strain in the nature of a lever on the shrouds, which increases as the sine of their obliquity.

As a general principle, it may, therefore, be observed, that ballast should be placed round and near the centre of gravity of the ship, because it will prevent the pitching being so violent as it

would be if it were carried much fore or aft of that point. When a vessel is passing over a wave, she will be at one time supported below the centre of gravity; and immediately after, her head will incline downwards, or, as it is termed, she will pitch; when it is evident, that the nearer the weight is to the point over which the vessel is supported, the less violent will the motion be. But this rule stands in need of frequent modifications: for which reason, a large quantity of shifting ballast is allowed in the Royal navy. Indeed, throughout the whole practice, as we are finding a remedy for one fault, we are in danger of running into another; and much of the final distribution of ballast depends upon knowing well the peculiarities of the vessel, and observing experimentally, how different winds and calms affect her.

The general practice then was, first, to stow the iron ballast fore and aft, from bulkhead to bulkhead, in the main hold, next to fir cants, nailed on the limber strakes, on each side of the kelson, five or more inches clear of the limber boards; and winged up three or four pigs above the floor-heads in the midships, or bearing part of the ship, with two tiers of pigs in the wake of the main hatchway, &c. The shingle ballast was spread and levelled over the iron ballast, on which was stowed the lower tier of water-casks, with the bungs up, and the bilge clear of the sides. The midship tiers were first laid, and the casks sunk about one quarter of their diameter into the shingle; the sides being filled in with small casks, as half-hogsheads, &c.

Since the introduction of iron tanks, shingle ballast has been altogether laid aside, and iron ballast only employed, the present proportion of which, according to the practice of the navy, is as follows:

Table of the proportion of Iron Ballast at present allowed in the navy, in proportion to their ton

nage.

Smaller vessels are not submitted to these rules; but are ballasted as circumstances may require, according to the judgment of their officers. In ships of the line, sixteen ton of the above, called shingle ballast, is moveable as circumstances require, and half that quantity to frigates.

Additional ballast, to the amount of one-third, and even one-half, of the original quantity is sometimes, however, demanded: and the table only exhibits the official and ordinary allowance.

In the merchant-service, the stowage consists, besides the other ballast, of casks, cases, bales, boxes, &c. all carefully wedged off from the bottom, sides, pump-well, &c. and great attention is paid that the most weighty materials are stowed nearest to the centre of gravity, or bearing of the ship; and higher or lower in the hold agreeably to the form of the vessel. A full lowbuilt vessel requires them to be stowed high up, that the centre of gravity may be raised, to keep her from rolling away her masts, and from being too stiff and laborsome; as, on the contrary, a narrow high-built vessel requires the most weighty materials to be stowed low down, nearest the kelson, that the centre of gravity may be kept low, to enable her to carry more sail. To yachts and other small vessels, both in the navy and merchant-service, the ballast is sometimes lead, worked between the timbers.

By the 19 Geo. II. it is enacted, that if any

naster or owner, or any person acting as master of any ship or other vessel whatsoever, shall cast, throw out, or unlade, or if there shall be thrown out, &c. of any vessel, being within any haven, port, road, channel, or navigable river within England, any ballast, rubbish, gravel, earth, stone, wreck, or filth, but only upon the land, where the tide and water never flows or runs; any one or more justices for the county or place where, or near which the offence shall be committed, upon the information thereof, shall summon or issue his warrant for bringing the master or owner of the vessel, or other person acting as such, before him; and, upon appearance or default, shall proceed to examine the matter, and upon proof made thereof, either by confession of the party, or on view of the justice, or upon the oath of one or more creditable witnesses, he shall convict the said master, &c. and fine him at his discretion for every such offence, any sum not exceeding £5, nor under 50s. &c.; and for want of sufficient distress, the justice is to commit the master, or person acting as such, and convicted as aforesaid, to the common jail or house of correction, for the space of two months, or until payment of the penalties.

Besides the above general act, there are the 6 Geo. II. c. 29, and the 32 Geo. II. which regulate the ballasting of merchant-vessels in the river Thames, placing it under the direction of the corporation of the Trinity-house.

To trench the ballast, denotes, to divide the ballast into two several parts or more, in the ship's hold, commonly done to find a leak in the bottom of a ship, or to undock her.

Shooting of the ballast is when it runs over from the one side to the other. Hence, it is that corn, and all kinds of grain, is dangerous lading, for that is apt to shoot. To prevent which, they make poucles; that is, bulkheads of boards, to secure it from moving about.

BALLATAR CRAG, a rocky hill in Aberdeenshire, whose tremendous impending rocks seem to threaten the astonished traveller with instant destruction.

BALLATIONES, in middle age writers, dan

cings.

BALLATOONS, large heavy luggage-boats, used for carrying wood by the river from Astrakhan and the Caspian Sea from Moscow. They will carry from 100 to 200 tons, and have from 100 to 120 men employed to row and tow them along.

BALLANTYNE (John), was a native of Kelso, in Roxburgshire; and at an early age entered into business as a printer. He, with his brother, distinguished himself by the great improvement of the art, evinced in the extensive publications which have of late years issued from their press. He was at one time a proprietor of the Kelso Mail; and subsequently ushered into the world the publications known as the Waverly novels. He was possessed of sufficient literary talents to be thought at one time to be their author. He died in 1821.

BALLEBHODAN, the original name of the parish of Ardchattan, Argyleshire.

BALLENA, PUNTA DE LA, a point of land on the east coast of the island of Margaritta:

another in Chili, on the coast of the province of Quillota: another in the kingdom of Quito, and on the shore of the South Sea.

BALLENA, a river of Florida, which falls into the Atlantic.

BALLENDEN (Sir John), a Scottish poet, in the reign of James V., descended from an ancient family in that kingdom. His father, Mr. Thomas Ballenden, of Auchinoul, was director to the chancery in 1540, and clerk register in 1541. From one of his poems we learn, that in his youth he had some employment at the court to king James V. and that he was in great favor with that prince. Having taken orders, and been created D.D. at the Sorbonne, he was made canon of Ross, archdeacon of Moray, and clerk register; but was afterwards deprived of that employment by the factions of the times. However, in the reign of Mary, he recovered that office, and was one of the lords of session. Being a zealous papist, he, in conjunction with Dr. Laing, was extremely assiduous in retarding the progress of the reformation; till at last, finding the opposition too powerful, he quitted Scot land, and went to Rome, where he died in 1550. He is generally esteemed one of the best Scot tish poets of that age. His works are, 1. The History and Chronicles of Scotland of Hector Boies (Boethius), translated by Mr. John Ballenden, Edinb. 1536. 2. Cosmography to the History of Scotland, with a Poetical Proem. 3. A Description of Albany. 4. Translation of Boethius's Description of Scotland. 5. Epistles to king James V.-Bale says he had seen these letters. 6. Several poems in Carmichael's Collection. 7. Virtue and Vyce, a poem addressed to king James V.

BALLENGARY, a town of Ireland, in the county of Kerry, on the mouth of the Shannon, near Ardfert.

BALLENSTEDT, an ancient county ard castle in the principality of Anhalt-Bernburg, Germany, on the confines of Quedlingburg. It is the ordinary residence of the prince of Anhalt, and contains a riding-house, a theatre, and beautiful gardens. At the foot of a hill on the rivulet of Getel. Population 2500. Eighteen miles south-west of Bernburg, twenty-seven north-east of Nordhausen. Long. 11 25 E, lat. 51° 45′ N.

BALLERINI (Peter and Jerome), two brothers, Italian priests, natives of Verona. Peter was born in 1698, and Jerome in 1702. They wrote in conjunction, several learned and ingenious poems, and published various editions of ecclesiastical authors.

BALLEROY, a town and castle of France. in Normandy, with 1180 inhabitants, and several iron mines, and forges. It stands on the Dromme, and is the head of a canton, in the department of Calvados, arrondissement of Bayeux. Seven miles S.S.W. of Bayeux, eighteen south of C

BALLERUS, in ichthyology, a species o fresh water fish of the leather mouthed k which appears to be the same with the carcassis, or carcassi tertium genus.

BALLERUS is also a name given by Anstotle to that species of cyprinus called blicca, and pleysta, and pallerus, by modern writers.

BALLET, a dramatic fable represented by action, music and dancing. The origin of the ballet is to be traced to the meretricious taste of the Italian courts, and succeeded the more dangerous but more manly amusement of the tournament. The interview between our Henry VIII. and Francis I. of France, in the field of the cloth of gold, presents us with an early specimen of these entertainments. In the next century they reached the summit of their glory in the splendid pomps of the courts of Tuscany and Lorraine. The genius of Ben Jonson, and even that of Shakspeare, was matured amidst the scenery connected with the Italian ballet: but it found its most zealous patron in Louis XIV.; and probably the most magnificent ballet ever performed, was that which this prince commanded and bore a part in, in the year 1664. In honor of this memorable fête, the name of the Carousel has been given to the spot of its celebration; and the theatres of England, France, and Italy, have been always striving since in amicable warfare, to sustain the public partiality for these spectacles.

BALLETS, OF BALLS, in heraldry, make a frequent bearing in coats of arms, though never so called; for, according to their several colors they have different names; as besants, when the color is or; plates when argent; hurts when azure; torteaux when gules; pomies when vert; pellets or agresses when sable; golpes when purple; ; orenges when tanne; and guzes when

sanguine.

BALLETTE, n. s.

Fr. ballette. A dance

in which some history is represented. BALLEXARD (N.), a citizen of Geneva, born in 1726. He wrote a treatise on the physical education of children, which gained the prize from a society in Holland; and a dissertation on the question, what are the principal causes of the deaths of children? He died at Geneva in 1774.

BALLI (Joseph), a scholastic divine, born at Palermo in Sicily. He was a canon of Bari, in the kingdom of Naples; and author of De Facunditate Dei, and De Morte Corporum Naturalium. He died at Padua in 1640.

BALLIACE, in ancient geography, a town of Illyria, in the vicinity of Apollonia.

BALLIAGE, a duty payable to the city of London, for the goods and merchandise of aliens, according to the charter 16 Car. II.

BALLIANI (John Baptist), a native of Geoa, born in 1586. He rose to be a member of e senate, and wrote a treatise on the Natural Motion of Heavy Bodies, 1646. He died in

1666.

BALLIARDS, n. s. From ball and yard, or tick to push it with. A play at which a ball is riven by the end of a stick; now corruptly alled billiards, Dr. Johnson says; but billiards not a corruption, being the Fr. billard, from ille, the term for the ball used in playing.

With dice, with cards, with balliards far unfit,
With shuttle-cocks misseeming manly wit.

Spenser.

BALLIBAY, a market-town of Ireland, in the county of Cavan, fifty-three miles from Dublin. BALLICORA, a borough town of Ireland, in the county of Cork.

BALLIMORE, a town of Ireland, in the county of Westmeath. It was taken in 1691 by General Gingle; and burnt by the military, in the rebellion of 1798. Distant from Athlone ten miles north, and fifty from Dublin.

BALLIN (Claude), a celebrated French artist, born in 1615. His father was a goldsmith, and under him he learned that business. When about nineteen years of age, he displayed uncommon genius, by making four silver basins, on which were represented the four ages of the world. These were purchased by Cardinal Richelieu, and he was employed to make four vases, after the antique, to match them. He afterwards executed handsome pieces for Louis XIV. and after the death of Varin, he succeeded as director of the mint, for casts and medals. He died in

1678.

BALLINA, or BELLEEK, a town of Ireland, in the county of Mayo; fourteen miles north of Castlebar, and 120 from Dublin. It has a considerable salmon fishery; and in 1798 was taken by the French troops who landed in Ireland under General Humbert.

BALLINACARGY, a town of Ireland, in West Meath, about forty-six miles from Dublin. BALLINACHORA, a town of Ireland, near Middletown, in Cork.

BALLINACOURTY, POINT, a cape on the south coast of Ireland, in the county of Waterford, on the north side of Dungarvan Bay. Distant four miles east of Dungarvan.

BALLINAGAR, a town of Ireland, in King's county, Leinster, forty-one miles from Dublin.

BALLINAKIL, a market town of Ireland, in Queen's county; a borough previously to the Union. Here are woollen manufactures, and the ruins of a castle, fourteen miles west of Carlow, fifty-eight from Dublin.

BALLINAKILL HARBOUR is on the west coast of Ireland. Forty miles north-west of Galway. Long. 9° 58′ W., lat. 53° 34' N.

BALLINALACK, a town in West Meath, Ireland, about forty-eight miles from Dublin.

BALLINAMORE, a town of Ireland, in the county of Galway, eighty-four miles from Dublin.

BALLINANAGHT, a town of Ireland, in the county of Cavan, fifty-four miles from Dublin.

BALLINASLOE, a town of Ireland, in the county of Roscommon, seventy-two miles from Dublin. It is noted for, its great fairs of cattle, wool, &c. Of sheep there will sometimes 80,000, or 90,000, be seen together here.

BALLINAVAR, a town of Ireland, in Cork. BALLINDAGGIN, a town of Ireland, in the county of Mayo, nearly 100 miles from Dublin. BALLINEKIL, a borough town of Ireland, in Queen's county.

BALLINGARRY, a town of Ireland, in the county of Limerick, 122 miles from Dublin. BALLINROBE, a town of Ireland, in Mayo, where the assizes are sometimes held. It is 112 miles from Dublin. Long. 9° 10′ W., lat.