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these substances, to render them more soft and pliant. Whenhemp has been swingled a second time, and the nurds laid by,they take the strikes, and, dividing them into dozens and halfdozens, make them up into large thick rolls, w hich being broach-ed on long strikes, are set in the chimney-corner to dry ; afterwhich they lay them in a round trough made for the purpose, andthere with beetles beat them well till they handle both withoutand within as pliant as possible, without any hardness or roughnessto be felt: that done, they take them from the trough, open anddivide the strikes as before ; and if any be found not suflicientlybeaten, they roll them up and heat them over as before. Beatinghemp is a punishment indicted ©n loose or disorderly persons inBridewell and other houses of correction.

Beating in the Fi.anks, a distemper to which black cattleare subject, and which is an indication of a great inflammation inthe bowels.

Beating the Wind was a practice in use in the ancient me-thod of trial by combat. If eitiier of the combatants did notap-pear in the field at the time appointed, the other was to beat thewind, or make so many flourishes with his weapon ; by which hewas intitled to all the advantages of a conqueror.

Beating Time, in music, a method of measuring and mark-ing the time for performers in concert, by a motion of the handand foot up or down successively, and in equal times.

BEATITUDE, the supreme good , or the highest degree ofhappiness human nature is susceptible of; or the most perfectstate of a rational being, wherein the soul has attained to the ut-.most excellency and dignity it is framed for. In this sense itamounts to the same with what is otherwise called blessednessand sovereign felicity ; by the Greeks, ; and by the

Latins, summum bonum, beatitudn, and bcatitas„

Beatitude, in divinity, denotes the fruition of God in a futurelife to all eternity. Beatitude is also used in speaking of thetheses contained in Christ’s sermon on the mount, whereby herenounces the poor in spirit, those that mourn, the meek, &c.lessed.

BEATTIE, Dr. James, a distinguished writer , was born inKincardineshire in Scotland , in 1735. His father was a farmer,who sent him to the university of Aberdeen , where he pursuedbis studies in such a manner as to gain the esteem of his superiors,and he became a bursar, that is, obtained w hat in the English universities is called an exhibition or scholarship. lie was after-wards a schoolmaster at Alloa in Fifeshire , from w hence he re-moved to Aberdeen, where he became assistant in the grammar-school, and married the master’s daughter. In 1760 he publisheda small volume of original poems and translations. In 1705 ap-peared his Judgement of Paris . But his greatest performancewas a prose work, published in 1770, entitled, An Essay on theNature and Immutability of Truth, in opposition to Sophistry andScepticism. This v r as an attack upon the philosophy of Ilmhe,who was so much affected by it, as never to hear the name ofBeattie mentioned without betraying emotions of uneasiness. In1771 our author brought out the first book of his beautiful poem,the Minstrel, which was completed in 1774, and soon ran throughseveral editions. This production recommended him to thefriendship of the earl of Errol, by whose interest he was electedprofessor of moral philosophy and logic in the Marischal collegeof Aberdeen , which situation he filled with reputation till hisdeath. He also obtained a pension from the king of 200/. perannum. About this time lie was created LL. 1). and visitedLondon , where he was kindly received by the most eminent lite-rary characters, particularly Dr. Johnson and Dr. I’orteus, latebishop of London . In 1783, he published Dissertations moraland critical, 4to. fn 178ti, at the recommendation of the bishopaf London , he printed two small volumes on the Evidences ofthe Christian Religion. Besides these works he published theElements of Moral Science, being a summary of his lectures.Dr. Beattie died in October 1803.

Beattie, James Hay, A. M. son of the celebrated Dr. Beattie ,was born at Aberdeen in 1768. IIis mildness and docility weresuch, that his father never had occasion to reprove him abovethree or four times in his life. The first rules of morality taughthim by this affectionate parent were to “ speak truth and keepa secret and “ I never found,’’ says he, “ that in a singleinstance he transgressed either.” At the age of 13 he was entereda student of the Marischal college, and in 1786 took the degree

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of M. A. To a young man so qualified and educated in a greatmeasure within its walls, the university of Aberdeen was eagerto exhibit some mark of its regard, and accordingly recom-mended him to his Majesty as a proper person to lie assistantprofessor of moral philosophy and logic to his father, which wasgranted when he was not quite nineteen. He was so impressedwith the importance of religion as always to carry about with hima pocket Bible and a Greek New Testament ; he studied musicas a science, and performed well upon the organ and violin ; andcontrived to build an organ for himself. 'This amiable and pro-mising young man died of a nervous atrophy, Nov. 19, 1790.Ilis father published a small volume of his son’s poetical perform-ances in 1799, with the life of the author.

BEAL’CAIRE, a town of France , 10 miles E. ofNismes.

BEAUCE, a late province of France , between the Isle ofFrance , Blasois, and Orieanois.

BEAVER, [ bievre , F'rench; fiber,'] an animal, otherwisenamed the castor, amphibious, and remarkable for his art inbuilding his habitation. See Castor.

Beaver Skins are in commerce, a prodigious article of trade :merchants distinguish three sorts of beaver skins; viz. the New,tiie Dry, and the Fat.

Beaver , Dry, which is sometimes called lean heaver, comesfrom the summer hunting, which is the time when these animalslose part of their hair. Though this sort of beaver be much in-ferior to the new beaver, yet it may also be employed in furs :but it is chiefly used in the manufacture of hats. The French call it summer castor or beaver.

Beaver , Fat, is that which has contracted a certain gross andoily humour, from the sweat which exhales from the bodies of thasavages, who wear it for some time. Though this sort be betterthan the dry beaver, yet it is used only in the making of hats.

Beaver , New, or Beaver, White, also called MuscovyBeaver, because it is commonly kept to be sent into Muscovy,is that which the savages catch in their winter hunting. It is thebest, and the most proper for pinking fine furs, because it has lostnone of its hair by shedding.

BEAUFORT, a county of the United States of America in thedistrict of Newbern, North-Carolina .

Beaufort, a maritime district of South-Carolina , bounded osthe N. E. by Cambahee river.

Beaufort, a strong town ©f France , in the late duchy ofSavoy. Lon. 6. 28. E. Lat. 45. 50. N.

Beaufort, a town of France , in the department of Maineand Loire, and late province of Anjou. Lon. 0. 9. W. Lat.47. 20. N. Beaufort gives title of Duke in England to the noblefamily of Somerset, who are lineally descended from John ofGaunt, duke of Lancaster, whose duchess resided in this town.

BEAUMARIS, or BEAUMARSII, the county-town of An-glesey, in North Wales .

BEAUMON T, a town of France , in the department of theNorth , 12 miles S. of Charleroy. Lon. 4. 19 . E. Lat. 50. 12. N.

Beaumont, sided formerly Beaumont le Yicompte, a townof France in the department of Sarte. Lon. 0. 10. E. Lat. 18.42. N.

BEAUNE, a town of France , in the department of Coled’Or, and late province of Burgundy. Lon. 4. 50. E. Lat. 47.2. N.

BEAU-PLEADER, or IIFAV-P LEADER, a writ on thestatute of Marlbridge, whereby it is provided that no fine shallbe taken of any man in any court, for fair pleading, i. e. for notpleading apt! v, and to the purpose.

BEAlPREAL T , a town of France in the department of Maineand Loire.

BEAUSOBllE, Isaac de, a very learned Protestant writer, ofFrench original, was born at N’iort, in 1659. He went to Berlin in 1694; was made chaplain to the king of Prussia, and counsellorof the royal consistory. Jle died in 1738, aged 79, after havingpublished several works: as, 1. Defense de la Doctrine des Re-formes. 2. A Translation of the New Testament and Notes,jointly with M. Lonfant, much esteemed by the Reformed. 3.Dissertation sur les Adamites de Bohme; a curious work. 4.11 istoire Critique de Manichees, et du Manicheisme, 2 tom. in4to. This has been deemed by philosophers an interesting sub-ject, ami nobody has developed it better than this author. 5.Several dissertations in the Bibliotbeque Britannique. -Mr. Beau-

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