P O I ( 652 ) p O I

is when we have the object directly be-fore us, and not more on one side thanthe other, in which case it only shewsthe foreside; and if it be below the ho-rizon, a little of the top too, but nothingof the side, unless the object be poly-gonous.

Third Point, a point taken at dis-cretion in the line of distance, whereinall the diagonals, drawn from the divi-sions of the geometrical plane, concur.

Objective Point, a point on a geome-trical plane, whose representation is re-quired on the perspective plane.

Point of concourse, in optics, is thatwherein converging rays meet; morecommonly called the focus.

Point of dispersion , is that whereinthe rays begin to diverge, usually calledthe virtual focus.

Covering Point, a point which, inchanges of position, materially concernsthe movement of one line with another.

When a chaugeof position is made ona flank or central point of the first line,the movement of its covering point , ofthe second line, determines the new re-lative situation of that second line.

Point of Honour. See Honour.

Point of Apptd, the point upon whicha line of troops is-formed. When theright stands in front, and the column isinarching to form, the first halted com-pany, division, &c. is the point of ap-pui; aud when the right is in front, thedistant point of formation is the left.

Point of Intersection , (point ^inter-section, Fr.) the point where two linesintersect each other.

Intermediate Point, (point interme-diate, Fr.) In marching forward thatis called an intermediate point whichlies between the spot marched from, andthe spot towards which you are ad-vancing. In forming line, the centerpoint between the right and left is theintermediate point. It is of the utmostconsequence to every body of troops,advancing or retreating, but especiallyin advancing towards the enemy, to findan intermediate point between twogiven, and perhaps, inaccessible objects.The line of march is preserved by thesemeans in its perpendicular direction, andevery column may be enabled to ascer-tain its relative point of entry in thesame line.

Point of alignment, (point d’aligne-ment, Fr.) the point which troops formupon, and dress by.

Point of formation , a point taken,upon which troops are formed in mili-tary order.

Point of view , specific survey of athing, intellectual or otherwise.

Military Point of view , a survey otthings or objects with reference to mili-tary operations only.

Point of view, in architecture, is apoint at a certain distance from a build-ing or other object, wherein the eye hasthe most advantageous view or prospect,of the same. This point is usually ata distance equal to the height of thebuilding.

A vague or indeterminate point has adifferent effect from the point of view, inthat, in looking at a building from anindeterminate point, the eye can onlyform an idea of the magnitude of itsmass, by comparing it with other build-ings adjacent to it.

Perpendicular Point, the point uponwhich troops march in a straight forwarddirection.

Kclative Points, the points by whichthe parallelism of a march is preserved.

Point of passing, the ground onwhich one or more bodies of armed menmarch by a reviewing general.

Point to salute at, the spot on whichthe reviewing general stands. This, how-ever, is not to be understood literally,as every infantry officer, when he ar-rives within six paces of the general,recovers his sword and drops it, keep-ing it in that situation until he shall havepassed him a prescribed number ofpaces. The cavalry salute within thebreadth of the horse’s neck, the instantthe object is uncovered.

Point of war, a loud and impressivebeat of the drum, the perfect executionof which requires great skill and ac-tivity. The point of war is beat whena battalion charges.

PorNT -blank, in gunnery, denotes theshot of a piece levelled horizontally,without either mounting or sinking themuzzle. In shooting thus, the bulletis supposed to go in a direct line, andnot to move in a curve, as bombs andhighly elevated random shots do. Wesa y supposed to go in a direct line, becauseit is certain that a shot cannot fly anypart of its range in a right line strictlytaken; but the greater the velocity, thenearer it approaches to a right line; orthe less crooked its range. The Frenchpoint blank, or but en blanc, is what the