BAG

BAG

lowing appellations: in Egypt, he was called Osiris ; in Mysia,l'anaces; in India , Dionysius; Liber, throughout the Roman do-minions; Adoneus, in Arabia: and Pentiums, in Lucania. My-thologists furnish reasons lor all these different names, which may-be seen in the 2d vol. of Banier’s Mythology.

BACCIO, Francisco Bartolomeo, or BartflEmi m S. Mar-, co, a celebrated history and portrait-painter, was born at Savignanonear Florence in 1-169, and was a disciple of ltoselli; but his prin-cipal knowledge in the art was derived from Da Vinci , lie under-stood the true principles of design better than most masters of histime, and also a considerable painter of perspective. He is ac-counted the first inventor of the machine, called a layman by theartists, and which is still in general use. Upon that he placed hisdraperies, to observe, with great exactness their natural and theirmost elegant folds. A capital picture of the ascension, by Baccio,is in the Florentine collection. lie died in 1517.

BACHELOR, or BATCHELOR, a man who still continuesin Ihe state of celibacy, or who was never married, and who, incertain cases, is subject to a double lax.

Bachelor, in ancient times, was a denomination given to thosewho attained to knighthood, but had not a number of vassals suf-ficient to have their banner carried before them in the field ofbattle; or if they were of the order of Bannerets, were not of ageto display their own banner, but obliged to march to battleunder another's banner. It was also a title given to young cava-liers, who, having made their first campaign, received the militarygirdle accordingly. And it served to denominate him who hadovercome another in a tournament, the first time he ever engaged.

Bachelors, in the university sense, are persons w ho have at-tained to the Baccalaureat, or taken the first degree in arts, divi-nity, law, or physic. It was lirst introduced in the 13th centuryby Pope Gregory IX. though it is still unknown in Italy .

Bachf.lors of Arts are not admitted to that degree at Ox-ford till after having studied fully four years at that university. AtCambridge nearly as long time is required.

Bachelors of Divinity, or Theology, before they can ac-quire that degree, either at Oxford or Cambridge, must spend uoless than 14 years at these universities, viz. four, as above-men-tioned, (§ t,) to qualify them for A. B. three more to becomeA. M. and seven more still to commence B. D.

Bachelors, Knights , the most ancient, but the lowest order■of knights in England; known by the name of knights only.They are styled knights bachelors, either (according to some) asdenoting their degree, quasi has chevaliers; or, according to•others, because this title, like the fortune of an unmarried man,does not descend to their posterity.

BACII1AN, one of (lie Molucca islands, situated under the•equator. Lon. 123.5. E.

BACHMUT, a fortified town of European Russia . Also, ariver of Russia , in the district of Wornonesch.

BAC HU, a city of Shirvan in Persia , and the best haven in theCaspian sea .

BAU1LLARIA, in natural history, a genus of insects of theorder infusoria. Generic character: body consisting of cylindri-cal straw-like filaments, placed parallel to each other, and fre-quently changing their position. There is one single species, B.paradoxa, found on the ulva latissima; body composed of linear,yellowish, short filaments, united together, forming themselves intoa square zigzag, or extended line, but always preserving their pa-rallelism and resting in a square.

BACK, in brewing. See Bac.

Back, in the manege, and among farriers. A horse’s backshould be straight, not hollow, which is called saddle-backed;horses of this kind are generally light, and carry their heads high,but want in strength and service. A horse with a weak back isapt to stumble.

BACK-BOARD, in maritime affairs, is of a semicircular figure,placed transversely in the after-part of the boat, like the back of achair, to recline against while silting in the stern sheets.

BACKER, or BAKKER, Jacob, painter of portrait and history,was born at Harlingen in 1609, but spent the greatest part of hislife at Amsterdam . lie executed his portraits with strength,spirit, and a graceful resemblance. He was remarkable for an un-common readiness of hand and freedom of p< ncil. His incredi-ble expedition appeared in a portrait of a lady from Haerlem,w hom lie painted at half length, and began and finished in one day;

though he adorned the figure with rich drapery and several orna-mental jewels. In the collection of the Elector Palatine there isan excellent head of Brouwer, painted by this master; and in theCarmelites, church at Antwerp , a capital picture of the Last Judg-ment. lie died in 1651.

BACKGAMMON, [from bach gammon, Welch,! a little bat-tle , a play or game at tables, with box and dice. This game isplayed with dice, upon a table, by two persons. 'The table is di-vided into two parts, upon which there are 24 black and whitespaces, called points. Each adversary has 15 men, black andwhite, to distinguish them ; aud they are disposed of in the follow-ing manner : Supposing the game to be played into the right-handtable, two are placed upon the ace-point in the adversary’s table,five upon the six-point in the opposite table, three upon the cinquepoint in the hithermost table, and five on the six-point in the right-hand table. The grand object in this game is tor each player tobring ihe men round into his right-hand table, by throwing with apair of dice tlio-e throws that contribute towards it, and at thesame time prevent the adversary doing the like. The first bestthrow upon the dice is esteemed accs, because it stops the six- -point in the outer table, and secures the cinque in the thrower’stable ; whereby the adversary’s two men upon the thrower's ace-point cannot get out with eitiier quatre, cinque, or six. Thisthrow is an advantage often given to the antagonist by the superiorplayer. When he carries his men home in order to lose no point,lie is to carry the most distant man to his adversary’s bar-point,that being the first stage he is to place it on; the next stage is sixpoints farther, viz. in the place where the adversary’s five men arelirst placed out of his tables, lie must go on in this method tillall his men are brought home, except two, when by losing a pointhe may often save the gammon, by throwing two fours or two lives.W lien a hit is onl} played for, he should endeavour to gain eitherhis own or adversary’s’cinque-poiiit; and if that fails by his beinghit by the adversary, and he iinds him forwarder than himself, iuthat case he must throw more men into the adversary’s tables;which is done in this manner: He must put a man upon his cinqueor bar point; and if the adversary fails to hit it, he may then gain aforward game instead of a back game: but if the adversary bitshim, he should play for a back game ; and then the greater num-ber of men which are taken up makes his game the better, becauseby these means he will preserve his game at home ; and then heshould endeavour to gain both his adversary’s ace and trols points,or his ace and deuce points, and take care to keep three men uponthe adversary’s ace-point, that incase he hits him from thence, that ipoint may remain still secure to himself. A variety of instructionswith regard to this curious game are given by Mr. Hoyle, whocalculates the odds of the game with great accuracy.

BACKING-WARRANTS, in law, denotes the signing of suchas have been issued by a justice of the peace in one county, by ajustice of the peace iu another county, which is necessary beforethey can he executed there. This practice is authorized by sta-tutes 23 Geo. II. c. 26. and 24 Geo. II. c. 53.

BACK-PAINTING, the method of painting mezzotinto prints,pasted on glass, with oil-colours.

BACKS, among dealers in leather, denote the thickest and besttanned hides, used cliietly for the soles of shoes.

BACKSTAFF, Davis’s quadrant. See Quadrant.

BACON Francis, an illustrious philosopher and eminentstatesman, was the son of Sir Nicholas Bacon by his second wife,and born in London in 1561. When a child he gave such earlyindications of future eminence, that queen Elizabeth used to callhim her “ young chancellor.” He was educated at Trinity col-lege , Cambridge, and while a student discovered the futility of theperipatetic philosophy which then prevailed. At the age ot six-teen he went to France in the suite of Sir Amias Paulet, ambassa-dor to that court. During his residence there he wrote an acutepiece, on the State of Europe , which displayed great observation,though he was then but nineteen years of age. On his return toEngland he entered of Gray’s-inn, and at the age of twenty-eightwas appointed one of the queen’s counsellors. But by bis attach-ment to the earl of Essex, who was at enmity with Cecil, Bacon lost those advantages at court which lie might otherwise have ex-pected. That generous but unfortunate earl, however, feeling thevalue of his attachment, presented him with a valuable estate: anact of friendship which Bacon ill requited by appearing against himat his trial. In 15y3 he was chosen member of parliament for

Middlesex,

«