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suggestion of a hub’s conscience, contrary to which if any actionis performed, it is properly termed a bad one, even if the conse-quences should prove otherwise. See Conscience.

Dictate, [ dictata , Lat.] is also used in the schools for thelecture of a master, vwiich the scholars take down in writing;whence this act ofthemusler is termed dictating.

DICTATOR, in the polity, of the-ancient Romans, a magis-trate invested with sovereign and even arbitrary power. He hadpower of life and dealn : also to raise or disband troops-, makewar or peace, and tlial-wi'-liout the consent either of the senate-orpeople, or .being-accountable -for ids proceedings-. Me was electedbv one of the consuls in the night-time on the frontiers of the-commonwealth, and no where else ; and the ordinary duration-ofIlls otbee was only for six months, during v hic.i time all other ma-gistracies cea-ed, the tribunesiiip e-xcepti d. Whenever he ap-peared in public, tie was attended by twenty-four l-clors, or doubletin;, number allowed a consul. However, notwithstanding all this

tower, lie could not go-out of Italy , or even ride-on" horse-

tack during a march; without leave from-the people. This-officewas. accounted the -afeguard of the commonwealth for four hun-dred vents together, till S\lla and Cirsar, by assuming the titleof perpetual dictators, converted it into tyranny, and rendered thevery, name odious.

DICTION, the .phrase, elocution, or style, of-a writer, orspeaker, it is required that the diction, or language, of an orator;should be-pure, proper to the subject, rich without affectation,strong-tnd dose without dryness, and suitable to the person, time,.placcj and audience.

DICTIONARY, a collection , or catalogue, of all the wordsofn language, art, science, &c. with (heir explanations, ranged inalphabetical order. A : performance of this kind lining a digest-ofthe.bod; of learning, or, rather, of general knowledge, is thoughtcapable of being made universally useful and instructive ; and asthe. objects of'our knowledge grow daily more numerous, and im-provements in arts and sciences are contimudlv made, a work otthis kind is‘continually capable-of new improvements. It is far-ther advanced, that besides preventing, in some measure, the ne-cessity .and expence of a multitude of books, which loo frequentlyretard rather than promote, and-bewilder rather than guide in thepursuit oflonowledge, there is no form or method of writing so ad-vantageously disposed to propagate knowledge through the bodyof a people, or that can be made to comprehend so great a part ofthe circle of learning, and so well answer the purposes of a library,as a dictionary of this nature. The writers of a dictionary of artsand sciences, are exempted from the observation of certain lawsconcerning property ; never pretending- to build entirely upontheir own foundation, or treat at their own expence, being privi-leged to raise contributions for the public service w herever theycan do it to the best-advantage. In effect, their quality as dic-tionarists, or collectors, give them a title to every thing that maysuit their purpose, without-rendering them liable to the imputationof plagiarism. Their merit, therefore, chiefly consists in select-ing, abridging, and disposing, their materials, in the most advan-tageous manner for public utility.

D1CTYMNIA, or DICTYNNIA, in antiquity, feasts cele-brated at Lacedaunon and in Crete , in honour oi Diana, or of anymph taken for her, who, having plunged herself into the sea, toescape the passion of Minos, was caught in a fisherman's net orinfluoy, whence the name.

DIDAC TIC, or DIDACTICAL, [LWkxSqj in the schools,signifies the manner of speaking, or writing, adapted to teach orexplain the nature of tilings. ’1 here are many works, ancient andnioderh; both in prose and verse, written after this method : suchare Horace “ De Arte Poetica,” Lucretius ’s poem “ De ReturnNaturft,” Pope ’s “ Essays on Criticism and on Min,” &c. &c.

D1DELPHIS, the Opossum, in zoology, a genus of the classmammalia, and order fenr. 'Teeth small and rounded ; upper,ten; intermediate two, longer; lower eight; intermediate two,broader and very short; "tusks long; grinders denticulated;tongue fringed with papilla:; abdominal pouch, in most species,containing the teats. 'There are SI species first known since thediscovery of America. The female has a ling or pouch in thelower part of the abdomen, which is opened and closed at plea-sure, and to which her young resort for shelter and security in avariety of dangers. Some females possess, according to Gindin,

two or three of these pouches, and the male is stated also, in the-same author, occasionally to huvq one. 'These animals live in tlis-woods, burrowing in-the earth, and, by means of a prehensile tail,are alert in climbing trees. 'Their general motion is slow, andtheir food consists ot insects, worms, and vegetables, young birds,and particularly poultry. They are by no means peculiar to theWestern continent, but are to be found in various other parts oftlie world.

D. Cancuivoka, the Craf.-eater of Buffon, or the CayenneOpossum, has a long slender face : ears erect, pointed, and short;tlie coat woolly, mixed with very coarse hairs, three inches-long; tail very long, taper, naked, and scaly. Length) 7 Frenchinches; of the tail 15-£. The subject measured was young. Itinhabits Cayenne ; is very active ill climbing trees, on which iflives the wuole day: in marshy places, it feeds on crabs, whicii,when it cannot draw out of their-holes with its feet, it hooks then;by means of its long tail. If the crab pinches its tail, the animalsets up a loud cry, resembling tiie human voice, which mav baheard afar; but its common voice is a grunt like a young "pig.It is well furnished with teetii, and will defend itself stoutly againstdogs ; brings forth four or live young, which it secures in sointf-hollow tree 'The natives eat these animals, and say their flesh re-sembles that of a hare.-

D. Caudivolvuea, or tlie Nf.w II or .land Opossum, has the'upper part ot the head, and the back and sides, covered with long,soft, glo>sy hairs, of-a dark cinereous colour at the bottoms,and ot a rusty brown towards the ends: the belly is of a dirtr"white.

D. Gio-antea, the Kanguroo. This animal has a small head,neck, ami shoulders; the body increasing in thickness to the rump.Tlie liead is oblong, formed like that of a fan, and tapering fromtire ejes to tlie nose ; end of the nose naked, black; the upper liodivided. 'Die nostrils are wide ami open ; the lower jaw is-shorterthan die upper; and the aperture of tlie mouth small : there arewhiskers on both jaws, those on the upper longest. 'The beliy isconvex and great. 'Tlie fore legs are yery short, scarcely reach-ing to the nose ; and useless for walking. The hind legs are al-most as long as the body ; ami tlie thighs are very thick : on tlie'fore feet are five toes, with long-conic and strong claws ; on tliehind feet, only three : tlie middle toe is very long and thick, likethat of an ostrich ; the two others are placed very distinct from it,and are small: the claws are short, thick, and blunt: the bottomof the feet, the hind part, black, naked, and tubercuiated, as theanimal rests often on them. 'The tail is very long, extending asfar as the ears; thick at tlie base, tapering to a point. SetPlate LXVI.

D. Macueata, the Quoi.l, or Spotted Opossum, is describ-ed as in length trom the nose to the beginning of tlie tail about 15 -indies, and tlie tail about 9 or 10. The general colour is black, in-clining to brown beneath ; tlie neck and body, spotted with irregularrouiniili patqhcs of white; the ears pretty large and erect; the visage'pointed, the muzzle furnished with long slender hairs; the legs,from tiie knees downward, always naked, and ash-coloured ; ontlie fore feet are live claws, and on the hind, four and a thumbwithout a daw ; the tail, for about an inch and an half from theroot, is covered with hairs of the same length as those on tliebody, from thence to tlie end with long ones not unlike those ofa squirrel. 'The female lias six teats placed in a circle within tiiepouch. See Plate LXY1.

D. Muhina, the Murine Opossum., has the face and upper 1parts of the body of a tawny colour ; tlie belly of a yellowishwhite: tlie tail i" slender, aiid covered with minute scales to thevery rump : the length of tlie animal from noseto tail, is about sixindies and a half; the tail of tlie same length. See Plate LX V1.

D. Opossum, tlie Sarigue of Buffon, or Molucca Opossumof Pennant, has long, oval, and naked ears: the mouth is verywide: the lower side of tin: upper jaw, throat, and belly, is of awhitish ash-colour; the rest ot the Ivan- a cinereous brown tippedwith lawny, darkest on tlie back : the tail is as long as the body ;near tlie base’covered with hair; tlie rest naked: tlie claws a"rehooked. Marcgrave found six young within the pouch of the fe-male. Over each eye is an oblong white spot. 'Tlie length of tlieanimal from nose to tail is ten inches; and the tail exceeds thelength of tlie 1 head and body. Its whole figure is of a slender andelegant make! This species is found in great numbers in A roe,