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BURGUNDY, a late province of France , which con tuned,“besides (he government of Burgundy, Bresse, Bugey , and the dis-trict of Gex. There are some noted mineral springs in it, withsubterraneous lakes, and plenty of ochre. ■ The principal placesare Dijon, Auxerre, Autun , and Bourbon L’Ancy. It is now di-vided into three departments.
BURIAL, the interment of a deceased person. The rites ofburial have been, at all times, and in every civilized country,considered us a debt so sacred, that those who neglected to dis-charge it, were justly detested. It is, therefore, not a matter ofsurprize that the Greeks and* Romans were extremely solicitousabout the burial of their dead ; as, in their opinion, the souls oftheir departed friends could not gain admittance into Elysium, tilltheir bodies were committed to the earth, lienee, in ailment times,it was deemed a duty incumbent upon every traveller, who shouldhappen to meet with’a dead body in his way, to ca-t three handi'ulsofdust or mould upon it. The honour of burial was, however, deniedto tyrants, traitors, and those v ho had committed particular crimes,and" were punished with death. Among the primitive Christians , in-terment in cities was not permitted tor the first three centuries,nor in churches for many ages after, and hereditary burying-plaeeswere forbidden fill the 12th century. That the extravagant abuseof burying in churches is highly infectious, on account of the ex-halations arising from the putrid bodies, must be evident to themeanest capacity. This absurd and peruiciousV’ustom is of earlyorigin ; for tlfe honour was at firit conferred to the sacred relies ofmartvrs; and in the ninth century it was allowed also to persons ofdistinction ; the same privilege was granted to those who reveredthe shrines—the clergy and monks making the faithful believe,that to place them in’the repository of the bodies of saints, wasthe greatest mark of dignity they could receive. Although thiscustom still prevails, yet nothing can be more detrimental to thehealth of the living, even though the vaults should remain closed ;because there is a continual putrid exhalation of noxious vapours,particularly in the hot days of summer. Hence this may be con-sidered as the real cause of many disorders, which are erroneouslyattributed to the various, and often sudden changes of the atmos-phere.
Burial, Premature, a complaint which, in modern times,has excited the attention of many judicious inquirers, and becomelately the subject of public investigation, in several States of Eu-rope . It is a well attested truth, that many unfortunate personsare consigned to the grave, before they are actually dead ; andthat individuals, subject to epilepsy and apoplectic fits, have oftenbeen too hastily buried, or more properly smothered in their cof-fins. To prevent such fatal accidents, houses for the reception ofxlead bodies have, with,in these last ten years, been erected in va-rious cities of Germany, .wh».e every inhabitant has a right to de-posit the body of a deceased person, till putrefaction has actuallycommenced. We forbear to expatiate on the propriety andutility of a measure, which can he censured only by obstinate andsuperstitious Jews , who, from an old religious injunction, are en-joined to bury their departed friends on the same day, and be-fore sun-set. With respect to the method of ascertaining theprobable causes, and most evident symptoms, of actual dis-solution, we refer to the article Death ; and shall here onlyobserve, that the first stage of putrescency may be distin-guished by the oily nature of the humours exuding through thepores, and forming a perceptible clamminess on the surface of thebody. The exhaling vapour is accompanied with a faintish orslightly cadaverous odour, which marks with precision the pointof time for interment. In the second stage, the emanating vapouris sensibly alkalescent, with a strongly putrid and offensive smell,which may alone prove noxious to the attendants. On the con-trary, in cases of cancer and mortification, the putrid efihiviaproceeding from vital heat and motion, ceases after death, or assoon as the body becomes cold : hence the two cases are so dis-tinct, that they cannot be easily mistaken.
BURIDAN, John, a native of Bethune, in Artois, was pne of the most celebrated philosophers of the 14th century, lietaught in the university of Paris, about A. D. 1320, w it'll greatreputation; and wrote commentaries on logic, morality,’andAristotle ’s metaphysics. Aventinus relates, that he was a discipleofOckam; and that, being expelled Paris by the power of theRealists, which was superior to that of the IS ominafists, he wentinto Germany, where he founded tire university of Vienna . From
him came llie proverb of the ass of Burldan, so famous in theschools. Buruian supposed an hungry ass fixed at an exactlyequal distance between two bushels ot oats : or an ass, as liiucnpressed by third: as hunger, between a bushel of oats and a pail ofwater, each of them acting equally on his senses. Having madethis supposition, he desired to know what the ass would do ? Ifhe was answered, that he would remain immoveable, then he con-cluded he would die of hunger between two bushels of oats, or ofboth hunger and thirst, with both corn and water within hisreach. T his appeared absurd, and brought the laughter on hisside ; but if it was replied, that the ass would not be so stupid asto die of hunger or thirst in such a situation, Then, (said lie,) theass lias free-will, or is it possible that of two equal weights oneshould outweigh the other ? These two consequences appearedequally absurd; and thus Buridan , by this sophism, perplexedthe philosophers, and his ass became famous in the schools.
BUKKITT, “William, a celebrated commentator outlie NewTestament, was born at Ilitcham in Northamptonshire , July 25,1650, and educated at Cambridge. He entered young upon theministry, at Milden in Suffolk , where he continued 2L years, firstas curate, anil afterw ards as rector of that church. In 1692, hehad a call to the vicarage of Dedham in Essex , where he con-tinued till his death, Oct. 1703. He was pious and charitable.He madd great collections for the French Protestants in the years1686, See. procured a worthy minister to go and settle in Carolina.Among other charities, by his last will he bequeathed the housewherein he lived, with the lands belonging to it, in perpetuity, tothe lecturer at Dedham . Besides his Commentary, he wrote awork intitled, The Poor Man’s Help, and Rich Mail’s Guide.
BURLAMAQUI, John James, an illustrious civilian, born atGeneva, and professor of civil law there. Prince Frederick ofllesse-Casse), being his pupil, took him with him in 1734, and de-tained him several years. On his return to Geneva, he was namedCounsellor of State, and died there in 1748. His Principles ofNatural Law, first raised his fame ; and are said to contain the es-sence of Puffendorf, Grotius , and Barbcyrac. He wrote also ThePrinciples of Political Law. Both are in French .
BURLESQUE , ludicrous language, or ideas; ridicule.
Burlesque, in composition, is distinguishable into burlesquethat excites laughter merely, and burlesque that excites derisionor ridicule. A’ grave subject, in which there is no impropriety,inav be brought down by a certain colouring to be risible, as inVirgilTravestie; the author first laughs at every turn in order to makehis readers laugh. The Lutrin is a burlesque poem of the othersort, laying hold of a low and (rifling incident to expose the luxury,indolence, and contentious spirit, ota set of monks. Boileau, theauthor, turns the subject into ridicule, by dressing it in the heroicstyle, and affecting to consider it as of the utmost dignity aiulimportance. Though ridicule is the poet’s aim, he always carriesa grave face, and never once betrays a smile. The opposition be-tween the subject and the manner of handling it, is w hat producesthe ridicule; and, therefore, in a composition of this kind, noimage professedly ludicrous ought to be admitted, because suchimages destroy the contrast. Though the burlesque that aims atridicule produces its effects by elevating the style far above thesubject; yet the poet ought to coniine himself to such images asare lively, and readily apprehended. A strai.cd elevation, soaringabove the ordinary reach of fancy, makes not a pleasant impres-sion. The mind is soon disgusted hy being kept long on thestretch. Machinery may be employed in a burlesque poem, suefias the Lutrin , the Dispensary, or Hudibras, with more success andpropriety, than in any other species ofpoetry. For burlesque poems,though they assume the air of history, give entertainment chieflyhy their pleasant and ludicrous pictures : it is not the aim of sucha poem to raise sympathy .; and tor that reason a strict imitation ofnature is not necessary. And hence, the more extravagant the mu-chinerv in a ludicrous poem, the more entertainment it affords.
BU RLINGTON, a large maritime county of the United Slatesin New-Jersev.
Burlington, an island of New Jersey .
Burlington City, the capital of the preceding county, issituated partly on an island, and partly on the S. E. side of theDelaware , and extends, according to its charter, one nirle backand three miles along the river. It is 17 miles N. E. of Philadel-phia . Lon. 75. 10. W. l.at. 40. 17. N.
Burlington, the capital ol UlnUendoncounty, Vermont .
6 BURMAJI,