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ami the termination of the immense bed. Between Boulogne midFolkstone (about six miles from tiie latter) is another memorialof the junction of the two countries ; a narrow submarine hill,called the Rip-raps, about a quarter of a mile broad, and ten mileslong, extending eastwards towards the Goodwin Sands. Its ma-terials are boulder stones, adventitious to many strata. The depthof water on if, in very low spring tides, is only 14 feet. The fish-ermen from Folkstone have often touched it with a 15 feet oar;so that it is justly the dread of navigators. Many a tall ship hasperished on it, and sunk instantly into twenty-one fathoms cf wa-ter. In July 1782, the Belleisle of 64 guns struck, and lay on itduring three hours; but, by starting her beer and water, got clearoil'.” These celebrated straits are only 21 miles wide in the nar-rowest part. From the pier at Dover to that of Calais 24. It issaid that their breadth is diminishing, and that they are two milesnarrower than they were in ancient times.

Dove-Tajling, in carpentry, is the manner of fastening hoardstogether by fitting one piece into another, in the form ot the tailof a dove. The dove-tail is the strongest of the assemblages orjointings, because the tenon, or piece of wood which is put intothe oilier, goes widening to the extreme, so that it cannot bedrawn out again because the extreme or tip is bigger than thehole.

DOUGLAS, the capital of the Isle of Man , seated on theeastern side. Lon. 4. 25. W. Lat. 54. 7. N.

DOUGLASSIA, in botany, a genus of the pelyadelphia po-lyandria class and order. Cafyx half six-cleft, corolla none ; nec-tary six; filaments none; germ superior; stigma six-cleft; berryovate, oue-cclk-d ; seed one, with a brittle shell. It has but onespecies, viz. I). guianensis, guiana douglassia.

DOULEIA, jToiAnrc.j in antiquity, a punishment among theAthenians , by which the criminal was reduced to the condition of aslave. It was never inflicted upon any but the nripsi, sojournersand freed servants.

DOULENS, or DOUIILENS, a town of France , in the de-partment of Somme , and late province of Picardy, 15 miles N. ofAmiens . Lon. 2. 23. E. Lat. 50.10. N.

DOURAK, a town of Persia, near the confluence of the Eu-phrates and Tigris; remarkable for the reeds of which the Persians make tiieir pens. Lon, r *(i. 57. E. Lat. 32. 15. N.

DOURDAN, a town of France, in the department of Seine and Oise, and late province of the Isle of France , 85 miles S. W.of Paris ,

DOURLACH, a town of Germany, in Suabia , 12 miles S. cfPhilipsbnrgh. Lon. f). 28. E. Lat. 49. 2. N.

DOURO, or DOUERO, a river of Spain , which rises in OldCastile, in the Sierra of Urbion, and after crossing Portugal , fallsinto the Atlantic near Oporto.

DOUSE, in sea language, is to lower suddenly, or slacken ;and it is applied to a sail in a squall of wind, an extended haw-ser, &c.

130UVV, Gerhard, a celebrated painter, born at Leyden in1 /j 13. He received his first instructions from Bartholomew Do-lendo, an engraver, and Peter Kouwhoorn a painter on glass ; butat the age of 15 he became a disciple ot Rembrandt . Ilis pic-tures are usually of a small size, with figures so exquisitely tom li-ed, so transparent, so wonderfully delicate, as to excite astonish-ment as well as pleasure. He designed every object alter nature,and with an exactness so singular, that each figure appears as per-fect as nature itself, in respect to colour, freshness, and force. Itis incredible what vast sums have been and still are given for Inspaintings. He was exceedingly curious in finishing them, and pa-tiently assiduous beyond example. Of that patience Sandrart givesa strong instance. Having once, in company with Bamboccio,visited Douw, they coukl not forbear admiring the prodigiousneatness of a picture which he was liven painting, iri which theytook particular notice of a broom ; and expressing their surprise atthe excessive neatness of the finishing that minute object, Douwtold them he should spend three days more on that broom hrforelie should account it complete. In a family picture of Mrs. Spiel-ing, the same author says, that the lady had sat five days for thefinishing one of her hands that leaned on an armed-chair. Few,therefore, would sit to him for their portraits; so he indulged him-self mostly in works of fancy, in which he could introduce objectsof still life, aud employ as much time on them as suited his incli-

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nation. Ilouhraken testifies, that Ilis great patron Mr. Spieringallowed him 1000 guilders a year, and Sandrart assures ns, that thispension was paid him on no other consideration, than that heshould give his benefactor the option of every picture he painted,for which lie was immediately to receive the utmost of his de-mand. Douw died in 1674, aged 61. lie is doubtless the mostwonderful in his finishing of all the Flemish masters. His colour-ing lias exactly the true and lovely tints of nature ; and whateverpains he may have taken, there is no look of labour or stiffness.His pictures are also remarkable, not only for retaining their ori-ginal lustre, but for having the same beautiful effect at any dis-tance.

DOWAGER, is a title applied chiefly, if not solely, to thewidows of princes, dukes, earls, and persons of high rank. SeeQueen Dowager.

DOWER , [Dotarium, Doorium, or Dos,] in law, a portion oflands or tenements which a widow enjoys for term of life from herhusband, in case she survives him : and which, at her death, de-scends to their children. See Jointure.

DOWLAS HEAD, a cape of Ireland , on the coast of Kerryin Munster .

DOWLATABAD, or DOWLET-ABAD, a province in theDeccan of Hindustan, formerly called Amednagur, bounded on the

N. by Candeisli and Malwa ; on the W. by the Balagat moun-tains ; on the S. by Visiaponr and Golconda, and on the E. byBerar. It is also called Balagat. Aurundabad is the chiefcity.

Dowi.ataeap, Dowekt-Abad, or Amednagur, a town andfort in the above province, 15 miles from Aurungabad. Lon. 76.

O. E. Lat. 19. 55. N.

DOWN, in commerce, the fine feathers from the breasts ofseveral birds, particularly of the duck kind. That of the eiderduck, see Anas, is (lie most valuable. Three pounds of thisdown may be compressed into a space scarce bigger than one’sfist; vet is afterwards so dilatable as to fill a quilt five feel square.(Salern. Orn. p. 416.)

Down, in geography, a county of Ireland in the province ofUlster, hounded on the E. and 18. by the Irish sea; on the W.by the county of Armagh ; and on the N. by that of Antrim . Itlies opposite to the Isle of Man , Cumberland, and Westmore-land ; and the N. part of it fronts the Mull of Galloway in Scot-land , and is about 44 miles from it.

Down, or Down-Patrick, the capital of the above county,one of the most ancient in that kingdom. It is 74 miles N. E. ofDublin . Lon. 5. 50. W. Lat. 54. 23. N.

DO WNHA M, a town of Norfolk, 35 miles N. E. of Cambridge.

DOWNINGS, a town of Pennsylvania, in Chester county ,33 miles W. bv N. of Philadelphia .

DOWNS, [from Dane, Er, oi Dun, Celt , a mountain,] a bankor elevation of sand, which the sea gathers and forms along itsshores ; and which serves it as a barrier.

Downs, a famous road for ships, extending six miles along theE. coast of Kent, between N. and S. Foreland ; w here both theoutward and homeward-bound ships frequently make some stay ;and squadrons of men of war rendezvous in lime of war. It af-fords excellent anchorage ; and is defended by the castles of Deal,Dover, and Sandwich, as well as by Goodwin Sands.

DOWNTON. orDUNKTON, an ancient borough in Wilt-shire, 84 miles W. S. W. of London .

DOWRY , [(/«?,] is properly the money or fortune which thewife brings her husband in marriage: it is otherwise called marita-gium, niarriagc-'goodK, and differs from dower. See Dower .Among the Germans it was customary, in former times for the hus-band to bring a dowry to his wife.

Dowry is also used, in a monastic sense, for a sum of moneygiven along with a maid, upon entering her in some religiousorder.

DOXOLOGY, and xsy®e,] a form of giving glory toGod .

Doxology, a hymn used in praise of the Almighty, distin-guished by the title of greater and less. Both the doxologicshave a place in the church of England , the former being repeatedafter every psalm, and the latter used in the communion ser-vice.

1. Doxology, the Greater, or the angelic hymn, was of

great