174

1) I V

DOB

but wlirn the fourth is below, it is called arithmetical. To run adivision, is to play, or sing, after the manner above-mentioned ;that is, to divide the intervals of an octave, fifth, fourth, &c. intoas many part-, and as agreeably as possible, which depends en-tirely upon taste and fancy.

Division 1 , in rhetoric, the arrangement of a discourse un-der several herds, each of which is to be separately spo-ken to.

Divisions of Proportion. If four quantities be propor-tional, as a: b : : c; d ; then the assumption of the difference be-tween the antecedents a — L, or b— a, to either the antecedent«, or consequent b, of the first ratio a to b ; and* the differencebetw een the antecedent c — d or d — c to either the antecedent6, or consequent d of the second ratio c to d ; is called division ofproportion.

Division of an Army , in the military art, the several bri-gades and squadrons into wh.ch it is cantoned.

Divisions of a Battalion are the several platoons intowhich it is divided in marching or tiring, each of which is com-manded by an officer.

DIVISOR, [ divisor , Lat.] the number which sheweth how-many parts the dividend is to be divided into. See Arith-metic.

DIUM, in ancient geography, the name of several places:viz. 1. A town of Chalcidice in Macedonia, near Mount Athos :2. A promontory of Crete , on the north side of the island : 3. Apromontory of Eubrea ; or a town of that name in Eubo-a, nearthe promontory Cena-um, on the N. W. side of tiie island, calledalso Dia: 4. A town of Macedonia, in Persia , on the VV. side ofthe SiuusThennaicus: 5. A town near Pella in the Pir&'a, beyondJordan .

DIVORCE, [divorce, Fr; from divortium, Lat.] the legalseparation of husband and wife. Divorce is a spiritual judgementand is therefore passed in the ecclesiastical court. It is of twokinds: viz.

1. Divorce a Mensa et Thoro, i.e. from bed and board.In this case the wife has a suitable separate maintenance allowedher, out of her husband’s etfects.

2. Divorce a Vinculo Matrimonii, i. c. from the bonds ofmatrimony, is strictly and properly divorce. This happens eitherin consequence of criminality, as in the case of adultery, or throughsome essential impediment, as consanguinity or affinity within thedegrees forbidden, pre-contract, inipotencv, &c. of which impe-diments the cation law allows no less than 14. In these cases thewoman receives again only w hat she brought with her. Sentenceswhich release the parties a vinculo matrimonii, on account of im-puberty, frigidity, consanguinity, within the prohibited degrees,prior marriage, or want of the requisite consent of parents or guar-dians, are not properly dissolutions of the marriage contract, butjudicial declarations tliat there never was any marriage; such im-pediment subsisting at the time as rendered the celebration of themarriage rite a mere nullity. And the rite itself contains an ex-ception of these impediments. “ The law of Moses , says Mr.Palev, for reasons of local expediency, permitted the Jewish hus-band to put away bis wife; but whether for every cause, or forvhat cause, appears to have been controverted amongst the inter-preters of those times. Christ, the precepts of whose religionwere calculated for more general use and observation, revokes thispermission, as given to the Jews “ for their hardness of heart,” andproinulges a law which was (henceforward to coniine divorces tothe single cause of adultery in the wife. (Mat. xix. 9.) Inferiorcauses may justify the separation of husband and wife, althoughthey will not authorize such a dissolution of the marriage-contractas would leave either at liberty to marry again : for it is that liber-ty in which the danger and mischief of divorces principally con-sist. The law of tips country, in conformity to our Saviour’s in-junction, confines (lie dissolution of the marriage-contract to thesingle case of adultery in the wife; and a divorce, even in that case,can only be brought about by the operation of an act of parlia-ment, founded upon a previous sentence in the spiritual court, anda \erdict against the adulterer at common law : which proceedingstaken together compose as complete an investigation of the com-plaint as a cause can receive. It has lately been proposed to thelegislature to annex a clause to these acts, restraining the offendingparty from marrying with the companion of her crime, who, bythe course of proceeding, is always known and convicted: for

there is reason to fear, that adulterous connections are often form-ed with the prospect of bringing them to this conclusion; at least,when the seducer has once captivated the affection of a marriedwoman, he may avail himself of this tempting argument to subdueher scruples, and complete his victory ; and the legislature, as thebusiness is managed at present, assists by its interposition the cri-minal design of the offenders, and con lei’s a privilege where itought to indict a punishment. The proposal deserved an experi-ment; but something more penal, it is apprehended, would befound necessary to check the progress of this alarming depravity.Whether a law might not be framed, directing the fortune of theadulteress to descend as in case of her natural death; reserving,however, a certain proportion of the produce of it, by way of an-nuity, for her subsistence (such annuity in no case to exceed acertain sum); am! also so far suspending the estate in the hands ofthe heir, as to preserve the inheritance to any children she mightbear to a second marriage, in ca-e there was none to succeed inthe place of their mother hy the first: whether such a law wouldnot render female virtue in higher life less vincible, as well as theseducers of that virtue less urgent in their suit, I would recommendto the deliberation of those who are willing to attempt the refor-mation of this important, but most incorrigible, class of the commu-nity. A passion for splendor, for expensive amusements and dis-tinctions, i, commonly found in that description of womeu w howould become the subjects of such a law, not less inordinate thantheir other appetites. A severity of the kind proposed appliesimmediately to that passion. Ami there is no room for any com-plaint of injustice, since the provisions above-stated, with otherswhich might "be contrived, confine the punishment, so far as it ispossible, to the person of the offender; suffering the estate tore-main to the heir, or within the family of the ancestor from whomit came, or to attend the appointments of his will.” Moral andPolitical Philosophy, p. 273.

DIURETICS, [iiKjiTDc^,] a term applied to those medicineswhich increase the secretion of urine in the kidneys. Their ope-ration consists in promoting the circulation of the blood towardsthe renal arteries, rendering that vital fluid more serous, and at thesame time stimulating the secretory organs.

DIUUIS, in botany, a genus’of the gynandria diandria classand order. Nectary dependent; petals nine; the (ive outer onesvery large; of two shapes; column of the fructilication reversed,with a lid at top. One species only is known.

DIURNAL, in astronomy, something relating to the day, inopposition to nocturnal, which regards the night.

Diurnal Arch, the arch or number of degrees that the sun,moon, or stars, describe from their rising to their setting.

Diurnal Motion ok a Planet, is so many degrees and mi-nutes as any planet moves in twenty-four hours. lienee the mo-tion of the earth about its axis, is called its diurnal motion. SeeAstronomy.

DIVUS, and DIVA, in antiquity, appellations given to menand women who had been deified, or ranked among the gods.

DIVY Point, a cape of Ilindostan, in the bay of Bengal.Lon. 81. 20. E. Lat. 15. 53. N.

DIXAN, the first town of Abyssinia, on the side of Taranta.Lon. 40. 7. E. Lat. 14. 57. N.

DIXMUDE, or DYMUDE, a town of France , in the de-partment of Lys, 11 miles S. of Ostend .

DIZIER, St. a town of France , iu the department of UpperMarne. Lon. 4. 54. F.. Lat. 48. 35. N.

DMITR1EU SUOl’A, a town of Russia,in the government ofKursk , 20 miles N.N. \V. of Kursk. Lou. 53. 30. E. Lat. 52.5. N.

DNIEPER, DNF.PER, or NIEPF.R, the ancient Boris-thenes, a large river of Europe , rising in Smolenskow, running along course in a S. direction, and falling into the Black Sea , be-tween Cherson and Ockzakow.

DNIESTER, or N1F.STHR, a fine river of Europe , whichrises in Gallicia, in Austrian Poland, and falls into the Black Sea ,between the mouths of the Dnieper and the Danube .

DO, in music, a note of the Italian scale, corresponding to utof the common gamut. See Music.

DOAB, or DOOAR, a territory of Hindustan Proper, be-tween the Ganges and the Jumna .

DOBBS, a district of N. Carolina .

DOBELIN,