Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 2.djvu/525

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make a Dot againft the Number of Degrees of the Angle at the Centre, viz. 11. Thro' this Dot, and the Centre ot the Circle, draw a Line cutting the Circumference of the Circle- To the Point of Interfeclion, from the Point where the Diameter cuts the Circumference, draw a right Line : This Line will be a Side of the Pentagon, which being taken in the Compaffes, and fet off as often as it will go, in the Circumference, will give Points, which being connected by Lines, will form the Pentagon requir'd. See Polygon.

4. -I'o defcribe any regular Polygon, c. gr. an Oftagonon a given Line. Subllratt the Angle at the Centre, which the Frotratlor gixet, 45° from ilo°, the Remainder 13s Degrees, is the Angle included between two Sides of the Octagon j one half whereof is 61 1- Applying then the Diameter of the Protractor over the given Line, With the Centre over one Extreme ; make a Dot again!! (J 7 f, to which from the Cenire draw a Line. Apply the •Protractor to the other end of iheLine, fo as theCcntre be over the Extieme, and there fet off another Angle of 57 ° i. Frorn the Point where the two Lines thus drawn interfecr, as a Centre, de- fcribe a Circle, with the interval of the given Line. The given Line will be one Side of the Octagon, which being fet off as often as it will go in the Circumference thus drawn, will give Points, which being connected, will form the Octagon required.

Protractor Improved, is a Machine like the former, only fumifh'd with a Utile more Apparatus, whereby we are enabled to let off an Angle to a Minute ; which is impracticable in the other.

The chief Addition is an Index fitted on the Centre, and movable thereon; fo as to play freely and Readily over the Limb. Beyond the Limb the Index is divided, on both Edges, into Co equal parts of the Portions of Circles, imercepted by two other right Lines drawn from the Centre, fo as each makes an Angle of one Degree with Lines drawn to the affumed Points from the Centre. — Now to fet off an Angle of any Number of Degrees and Minutes with this Protractor i move the Index fo, that one of the Lines drawn on theLimb, from one of the forementioned Points, may be upon the Number of Degrees given: And prick eff es many of the equal parts on the proper Edge of the Index, as there are Minutes given : thus, drawing a Line from the Centre to that Point fo prick'd off, you have an Angle with the Diameter of the Protractor, of the pro- posed Number of Degrees and Minutes.

Indeed, it may be of good Ufe to lay down an Angle to a Minute, when we are able to take it to a Minute : But till we have otber-guife Needles, and jufler Theodolites, than are yet made, the old Protractor may ferve very well. See Theodolite.

PROTUBEKANCE, in Anatomy, an Eminence, or Tu- mour that projects, oradvances out beyond the retl.

The Orbicular 'Protuberances of the third Ventricle of the Brain are call'd Nates ; and the Apophyfes of the Or- bicular Protuberances, "Eejles. See Nates and Testes. '

The Annular Protuberance is a procefs of the Medulla Oblongata, in form of a Ring ; whence its Name, firfl given it by Willis. See Medulla Oblongata.

PROVEDITOK, Proveditour, or Proveditore, an Officer in feveral parts of Italy, particularly at Venice.

There are various kinds o{ Proveditors in Venice: as Pro- veditcr of the Ccmmcns ; who is nearly the fame with the JEdiles among the Romans ; the Confuls in Languedoc ; and the Sheriffs in other Cities. Of thefe Proveditors there are three.

Proveditcr General of the Sea,\s an Officer whofe Autho- rity extends over the whole Fleer,when the Captain-General iiabfent. He has, particularly, the Difpofal of the Ca/li, and pays the Seamen and Soldiers. The Captain-General, and Proveditcr, arc mutually Spies over one another. Tho' rhe Proveditcr be inferior to the General 5 yet is the Power fo divided, that one has Authority without Strength, the other Strength without Authority.

The Proveditore alle Ragione veccbie, a'la Stave, alia Ciuflitia, have the Direction of Matters relating to Policy throughout rhe Signory.

PROVEN D, or Provender, is properly a fortof Bulhel,

or Veffel containing the Meafure of Grains daily given to a

Horfe or other Beaft of Labour, for his ordinary SubfUtencc.

Hence Provender is become a general Name for all Food

of Cattel.

In Monafleries, when the Religious go to Meals ; they are faid to go to Provetid.

Some derive the Word from the Latin Prtebendo Pre- bend. SeePREREND.

PROVER, in Liw,Probator, an Approver ; or a Perfon who, eonfefling Felony, appeals, or accufes another of the fame.

t He is thus call'd, becaufe he muft prove what he alledges in his Appeal ; which Proof is either by Battel, or by the Country, at his election who is appealed. SeeTaYAt. Combat, go.

$9 Edit). 3; coram Rege, iiof. 97. Stiffs A Man became an Approver, and appealed five, who all join'd Battel with him, and he overcame 'em all • four ot 'em were accor- dingly hang'd, and the fifth pleaded he was a Clerk. The Prover was pardon'd.

PROVERB, is defined by Cambdcn a concife, witty, and wife Speech ; grounded upon long Experience, and containing, for the molt part, fomegood Caveat.

We are furnifh'd with inllancesout of his own Collection: Such are, A c life Mouth catches no files. — A high Building, a low Foundation. — A carrion Kite ivill never be a good Hawk. — Afiort Horfe is foou curried. — A Man may love his Houfe well, tho' he ride not on the Ridge. — Afalfe Knave needs no "Broiler. — Setter to fpare at Srim than at 'Bottom, &c.

PROVIDENCE, ProvidentiA, the Condufl and Di- recfion of the feveral Parts of the TJniverfe, by a fuperior, intelligent Being. See Universe.

The Notion of a Providence is very antient, even in the Heathen Theology ; we find 1"hales mentions it.

It is founded on this Suppofition, That the Creator has not fo fixed, and afcertained the Laws of Nature, nof fo connected the Chain of fecond Caufes, as to leave the World to itfelf ; but that he ttill preferves the Reins in his own hands, and occafionally intervenes, alters, rellrains, infor- ces, fufpends, g?e. thole Laws by a farticil'ar Providence- See Miracle.

Indeed, fome ufe the Word Providence in a more general Senfe ; fignifying by it, that Power, or Action whereby the feveral parts of the Creation are ordinarily directed.

Thus i)amafcenus defines Providence to be the Divine Will, whereby all things are order'd, and directed to the proper End : Which Notion of Providence, fuppofes no Laws at all fixed by the Author of Nature at the Creation ; but that he teferved it at large to be govern 'd by hirhfelf occafionally. SeeNATORE.

The Antients call'd Providence by the Names of Fate, Fortune, Nature, "Deftiny, Ncceffity, &c. See Fate, For- tune, $$c.

The-antieiit Egyptians (beta to have been the firft who had the Notion of a Divine Providence : Arnobius ob- ferves they reafon'd thus, — " Provid-nce is fo eflenrial to " a Prince, that without it he cannot be, noreven be call'd, " a Prince ; and the more Augutt a Prince is, the more " perfect ought his "providence 10 be. Since, then, God is " the Greatell and molt augutt of all Princes, to him mult " belong the moll perfect. Providence."

The Epicureans deny any Divine Providence; as think- ing it inconfillent with the Eafe and Repofe of the Divine Nature to meddle withhuman Affiirs. See Epicurean.

Others deny the Exillence of a Providence, from the feemingly unjuit Distribution of Good and Evil, which feem to fall indifcriminately on the Jull and Unjult.

Simplicity argues thus for a Providence: It God don't look to the Affairs of the World, 'tis either becaufe he can- not, or will not : But the firlt is abfurd ; fince to govern can't be difficult, where to create was eafy : The latter is both abfurd and blafphemous. See God.

PROVIDENTIA, in old Law- Books, were Provisions of Eating and Drinking. See Pourveyance.

"Providentia Vini ante adventum fmim in Cellaria erat Centum Pjoliorum. Knighton, Anno 1354.

PROVINCE, Provincia, among the Romans, was a Country conquer'd by them, without the Bounds of Italy i govern'd by a Deputy, or Lieutenant ; and having peculiarXaws and Privileges.

Of thefe Countries, that part of France next the Alps was one, and ttill retains the Name Provence.

Nicod derives the Word, a frccul vivendo, living a-far off.

Among us, Provinceis ufed for the Extent of an Arch- bifhop's Jurisdiction; in which fenfe, England is divided into two 'Provinces, thofe of Canterbury and Tork.

Province is now chiefly ufed for a Canton or Diviiion of a Kingdom, or Common-wealth comprehending feveral Cities, Towns, &c. all under the fame Government, and ufually difiinguilh'd by the Extent of a Civil or Ecclciiattic Jurisdiction.

The Provinces were antiently Thttchies, Counties,, Sec. which have been fince all reunited under the fame Chief. SeeDuKE, Count, &c.

The Church diflinguifhes its Provinces by Archbifhop- ricks ; eash containing a certain Number of Bifhopticks. See Archbishop.

The Monks make particular Divifions of thtWProvinces, according to the Antiquity and Number of Convents in each. See Provincial, Order, cifc.

The United Provinces are the feven Northern "Provinces of the Low-Countries, who, revolting from the Spanijb Dominion, made a firm and perpetual Alliance, Offenlive and Defenfive, at Utrecht in the Year 1570. See States General.

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