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LEFT INTRENCHMENT 181 INVERSION used in the Spanish troubles which arose when Amadeus resigned the throne in 1873. INTRENCHMENT, any work that fortifies a post against the attack of an enemy. The word is generally used to denote a ditch or trench, usually a part of a system of trenches. INTREPID, THE, the name given to the Tripolitan ketch captured by Decatur, in which he and 74 brave American tars, on the night of Feb. 16, 1804, entered the harbor of Tripoli, and boarded the Amer- ican warship "Philadelphia," which the Tripolitan pirates had captured, and after a fierce struggle with her turbaned defenders killed or drove them into the sea. INTRODUCTION, in music, a kind of ' preface or prelude to a following move- ment. Formerly the introduction was only to be found in large musical works, such as symphonies, overtures, oratorios, etc.; but now it is found in every rondo, fantasia, polonaise, waltz, etc., on the principle that it is considered abrupt to begin all at once, without preparing the audience for what is to come. In earlier operas introduction is applied to the piece of music with which they begin, and which immediately follows the over- ture. In some cases the overture and introduction are united, the composition going on without any formal pause. The introductions are also important and characteristic parts of several of the symphonies of Beethoven and Schumann. In Biblical science, a department, the objects of which are stated by Prof. K. A. Credner, D. D., to be five-fold: (1) The origin of the indiidual books re- ceived into the sacred canon; (2) the history of the canon and the origin of the collection of Scripture books; (3) the history of the several translations, etc.; (4) the history of the text, and <5) the history of interpretation. It is divided into introduction to the Old and intro- duction to the New Testament. INTRUSIVE ROCKS, in geology, rocks of igneous origin which have forced their way through crevices or rents in sedimentary strata, or have broken them up. INTUITION, in ordinary language, the act of looking on; a sight, a view; a regard, an aim. In philosophy, a term borrowed from scholastic theology, where it signifies a knowledge of God super- naturally obtained, and by consequence, superior to knowledge obtained by ordi- nary methods. In the French and Scotch schools all beliefs and judgments presenting themselves spontaneously to the mind, with irresistible evidence, but without the assistance of reasoning or reflection, are called intuitions, axioms, first principles, principles of common sense, or self-evident truths, and the rec- ognition of these intuitions is tho funda- mental doctrine of intuitionalism. In the school of Kant the word intuition is nearly synonymous with percepti<m. INUNDATION. See Floods. INVALIDES {ang-yixl-ed'), the name of a French soldiers' home. In 1G70, during the administration of Louvois, Louis XIV., by whose wars the number of invalids was greatly augmented, de- termined to found a magnificent estab- lishment to receive them. The founda- tions were laid in 1670, and the main building was finished about 1706. Sev- eral additions were made at various times to the buildings of the hotel; and the whole edifice now covers 16 acres of ground, enclosing 15 courts. The church or dome was built by Mansard, and finished in 1706. All soldiers who are actually disabled by their wounds, or who have served 30 years, and obtained a pension, are entitled to the privileges of this institution. The hotel can accom- modate 6,000 men, who all wear the same costume. INVENTORY, a list or catalogue of goods and chattels, containing a full, true, and particular description of each, with its value, made on various occa- sions, as on the sale of goods, decease of a person, storage of goods for safety, etc.; hence, generally a list, an account, a catalogue. INVERNESS, a sea-port town of Scotland; on both sides of the Ness river, at its entrance into the Moray Firth, 115 miles from Edinbui-gh. It is a fine town, with a commodious harbor, and was long considered as the metropolis of the High- lands. Tartan cloth for the Highlind markets is here manufactui'ed in con- siderable quantities. Pop., about 20,000. Also a town in Australia. Pop., about 3,000. INVERNESS-SHIRE, a county of Scotland, with an area of 4211 square miles, the largest county in the kingdom. The gi-eater part of it is heathland and deer forests. Within its borders are in- cluded several large islands. On the coast are important fisheries. Pop., about 90,000. INVERSION, the chemical change which takes place when starch, dextrin, or sugar is boiled with a dilute acid. Inversion may also take place in the