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■were formerly the principal manufacturers in Europe ) and eitherinvented or improved several important arts; particularly weav-ing figured, linens; dyeing cloths; painting in oil colours ; cur-ing herrings, &c. Silk cotton and woollen stud's, camblets, bro-cades, linens, laces, and tapestry, are still manufactured in greatquantities. The. laces are reckoned superior to all others. Thechief rivers are the Scheldt and the Lys. Before the French re-volution it was divided into French, Austrian, and Dutch Fian-clers,

.FLANK, [jlanc, Fr] in the manege, the side of a horse be-tween the ribs and haunches. A well hanked horse, is one thathas wide and well made ribs, and agood bodv.

Flanks of an Army, are the troops encamped on the rightand left, as the flanks of a battalion are the tiles on the right andleft.

Flank of a Bastion , in fortification, that part which joins theface to the curtin. See Bastion and Fortification .

Flank, Obli«.ue, or Second Flank, that part of the curtin,from whence the face of the opposite bastion may be disco-vered.

Flank, Retired, Low Flank, or Covered Flank, oneof the platforms of the cazemate. These retired flanks are a greatdefence to the opposite bastion, and to the passage of the moat,be-cause the besiegers cannot see nor easily dismount their guns.See Fortification .

FLANKED, [ jlanqute,~\ in heraldry, is used by the French toexpress our parti per saltier. Coats , however, makes it to he thesame witli flanch. See the article Flancii.

Flanked Angle , in fortification, that formed by the two facesof a bastion.

Flanking Angle , or Angle of the Tenaille, that com-posed of the two lines of defence, and pointing towards the cur-tin. See Tenaili.e and Fortification .

FLANNAN ISLANDS, or SEVEN HUNTERS, a groupof small islands, in the North sea , about 17 miles N. W. of theisle of Lewis.

FLANNEL, or FLAN EL, \_gzvlanen, Welsh ; from gzvl/m,wool, Davies,] a kind of light, porous, woollen stuff, woven on aloom with two treddles, in a manner similar to blaze. This is un-questionably one of the most useful articles of wearing apparel ;and it is much to be regretted, that it is not more generallyworn, as we are fully per uaded, that it would be the means ofpreventing many diseases. The principal objection to the wear-ing of flannel appears to be, that it irritates the skin, and occasionsdisagreeable sensations: these, however, continue only fora fewdays, and the subsequent advantages, thence re-nlting, amply com-pensate for such temporary uneasiness. Both young and aged,would derive from it equal advantages. We do not, however,mean to insinuate, that flannel next the skin should be universallyand indiscriminately worn by infants and young persons ; thoughit is an ill-founded assertion of its adversaries, that it has a ten-dency to produce eruptions ; as it evidently opens the pores, pro-motes perspiration, and llitis removes the principal cause of cu-taneous diseases that originate from an obstructed and irregtiiarstate of the skin. But we are fully warranted to assert, from dailyexperience, that the habitual use of tins beneficent texture, has es-sentially contributed to tiie recovery of numberless ricketty chil-dren, not less than to the saving of others who were born of feebleand enervated parents. In short, there is every reason to believe,that a mflre general adoption ot tins salutiferous cloth might pre-vent many fatal inflammations of the throat, breast, lungs, &c. towhich the pooier class of people are remarkably liable ; and thuspreserve the lives of multitudes who now become a prey to ourdamp and variable climate.

FLA P, in the sea-language. To flat in the fore-sail, is to hailit in by the sheet, near the ship’s side as possible ; which is donewhen a ship will not fall oil’from the wind.

FLA PS, in music, a kind of additional notes, which, togetherwith sharp;, serve to remedy the delects of music.,1 instruments,wherein temperament is required.

FLAT-POINT, acapeoi Borneo , on the S. coast. Lon. 112.0. E. Lat. 2. 4 '. S.

Flat-Point, a cape of Sumatra , at the S. extremity of theisland. Lon. 102. 38. E. Lat. 0. >0. S.

FLAT PA, a small island of Scotland, one of the Hebrides ;two miles E. of Barra .

FLATTERY, CAPE, a cape on the W. coast of NorthAmerica . Lon. 135. 30. E. Lat. 48. 15. N.

FLATULENCY, a very common disorder, arising from va-pours generated in the stomach and intestines. It occasions dis-tensions, disagreeable sensations, and frequently a considerabledegree of pain. Sedentary persons, and those who are of a deli-cate constitution, especially women, are very liable to attacks ofthis complaint, which is generally induced by the eating of peas,beans, and other leguminous food. Animal fats, especially thoseof mutton and veal, if moderately used, with large draughts of li-quor immediately after eating them, are apt to turn rancid on thestomach, and to be accompanied with flatulency. The drinkingof turbid or feculent liquors, whether new or old, as well as exces-sive potations of hot tea, produce a similar effect. The habit ofthe patient likewise contributes towards the generation of thesecauses; so that in phlegmatic constitutions, where the bowels areot a dry and costive disposition, this complaint is most frequentand painful. See Medicine.

Flatus. See Medicine.

FLAVEL, John, an eminent nonconformist minister, was edu-cated at University college, Oxford ; and became minister ofDeptford, and afterwards of Dartmouth in Devonshire , w here heresided the greater part of his life, and was much admired.Though he was generally respected at Dartmouth ; yet, in 1085,the aldermen ot that town, attended by the. rabble, carriedabout a ridiculous effigy of him, to which were affixed the Bill ofExclusion and the Covenant, lie therefore thought it prudent towithdraw from the town; not knowing what treatment he mightmeet with from a riotous mob, headed by magistrates who w erethemselves' among the lowest of mankind. Part of his Diary,printed withhis Remains, give a high idea of his piety, lie diedin 1691, aged 61; and after his death, his works, consisting ofmany pieces of practical divinity, were printed in two vols. folib.Among these, the most famous are, 1. Navigation Spiritualized.;2. Divine Conduct, or the Mysteries of Providence; and, 3.Husbandry Spiritualized; of all which there have been many edi-tions in 8vo.

FLAX, in botany, [ flear , flex, Saxon ; vlas, Dutch, ] the fi-brous plant of which the finest thread is made. The fibres of flaxcleansed and combed for the spinner. See Linum. This valua-ble plant thrives most luxuriantly on ground newly broken up ;which it ameliorates, if it be sown only every sixth year. Thebest preparatory crops for flax are those of hemp and potatoes. Inthe fens of Lincolnshire, hemp is sown the first year, on a goodfree open loam, that has been well tilled, the soil being properlymanured with pigeon’s dung ; the second year again hemp is cul-tivatecl without any manure ; and, in the succeeding year follow-ed by Flax . With respect to the quality of linseed, from winchflax is pro|«igated, that imported from Riga is generally supposedto be the best, and is sown broad-cast with clover, in the propor-tion of 2, or 24 bushels per acre. Experience, however, hasevinced, that any other seed would be equally successful, if itwere properly kept for six or seven years, before it is sown ; forthe merchants of Riga frequently import linseed from Germany and other countries, which, alter several years, they again furnishthe same seed, but at an advanced price. It would farther he anuseless practice, to exchange linseed among farmers living at somedistance ; as it has been observed that it improves, when cultivat-ed in a different soil and climate. See also Linseed. In orderto prevent the depredations of birds on this valuable seed, cir-cumspect farmers sow it after sun-set on land well pulverized, andharrow it in early the next morning, before the sun rises. Thusthe seed, being moistened by the night’s dew, is easily envelopedwith earth, and rendered invisible to birds. Another great enemyto t!,e prosperity of the flax-plant, is the parasitical weed calledthe Great Dodder (which see), or Cuscuta Kuropaia, L. Becb-tein communicates the tollowing remedy, by which it nu.y beeasily and completely extirpated. To ever) bu-liel oI linseed,taketwo drachms of-camphor reduced to powder, by adding fifteendrops of spirit of wine ; and mix it well with the seed on the even-ing when it i; to be sown. As soon as the crop attains tin heightof lour inches, it will be requisite to weed it ; an operat'on whichought to he performed with the greatest care, that the flax maynot be trodden down. It it be allowed to grow lunger, the stalkswill be so much bent and hroken^that they never regain theirformer straightness. When the weeds are carefully eradicated