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MAGISTEBY, in chemistry, is a name given to almost allprecipitates. Magisterv and precipitate are synonymous; butchemists chiefly use precipitates as a general term, and apply thatof magistery to some particular precipitates only which are usedin medicjne and in the arts ; as the inagisteries of bismuth, crab’s-eyes, &c. <

MAGLIABECIII, Anthony, a person of great learning, andremarkable for an amazing memory, born at Florence in 1(533.JI is father died when he was only seven years old. Ilis motherhad him taught grammar and drawing, and then put him appren-tice to one of the best goldsmiths in Florence. When about six-teen years old, his passion for learning began to shew itself; andhe laid out his money in buying books. Becoming acquaintedwith Michael Ermiiu, librarian to the cardinal de Medicis, he soonperfected himself by bis assistance in the Latin tongue, and in alittle time became master of the Hebrew . His name soon becamefamous among the learned. A prodigious memory was his distin-guishing talent; and he retained not only the sense of what lieread, but frequently the words, and the spelling, A gentleman,to prove the force ot his memory, lent him a MS. he was going toprint. Some time after it was returned, the gentleman, comingto him with a mulancholy countenance, pretended it was lost, andrequested Magliabechi to recollect what he remembered of it;upon which he wrote the whole, without missing a word. He ge-nerally shut, himself up the whole day, and opened his doors in theevening to the men of letters who came to converse with him.His attention was so absorbed by his studies, that lie often forgot themost urgent wants of nature. Cosmo III. grand duke of Flo-rence, made him his librarian ; but be still continued negligent inbis dress, and simple in his manners. An old cloak served himfor a morning gown in the day, and for bed-cloaths at night. Theduke, however, provided for him a commodious apartment in hispalace, which lie was with difficulty persuaded to take possessionof; but which he quitted four months after, and returned to hisLouse. Iiis modesty, sincerity, and beneficence, were remarkable.ITe patronized men of learning ; assisted them with his advice andinformation, and furnished them with hooks and MSS. lie de-tested every thing that looked like constraint; and therefore thegrand duke always dispensed with his personal attendance, andsent him his orders in writing. Though he lived a most seden-tary life, he reached the 81st year of his age ; and died in themidst of the public applause, enjoying, during the latter part ofIds life, such affluence as few have ever procured by their learn-ing. He left a very line library to the public, with a fund for itssupport.

MAGLTANO, a town of Italy , in the Pope’s late dominions,and district of Sabina, 30 miles N. of Rome . Lon. 12. 35. E. Lat.42. 25. N.

MAGNA ASS1SA ELIGENDA is a writ anciently directedto the sheriff for summoning four lawful knights before the justicesof assize, in order to choose twelve knights of the neighbourhood,&c. to pass upon the great assize between such a person plaintiffand such a one defendant.

MAGNA CHARTA, the great charter of the liberties of Bri-tain , and the basis of our laws and privileges. 'Fids charter may-be said to derive its origin from king Edward the Confessor , whogranted several privileges to the church and state by charter:these liberties and privileges were also granted and confirmed by-king Henry I. by a celebrated great charter now lost; butwhich was confirmed or rc-enacted by king Henry II. andking John. Henry III . the successor of this last prince, afterhaving caused twelve men to make enquiry into the liberties ofEngland in the reign of Henry 1 . granted a new charter ; whichwas the same as the present magna cliarta. This he several timesconfirmed, and as often broke ; till, in the 37th year of his reign,he went to We'tminster-hall, and tiiere, in the presence of the no-feiliiy and bishops, who held lighted candles in their hands, magnacliarta was react, the king all the time holding his hand to liisbreast, and at last solemnly swearing faithfully and inviolably toobserve all the things therein contained, &c. "Then the bishopsextinguishing the candles, and throwing them on the ground, theyall cried out, “ Thus let him be extinguished, and stink in hell,who violates this charter.” It is observed, that, notwithstandingthe solemnity of this confirmation, king Henry, , the very nextyear, again invaded the rights of his people, till the barons enler-

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ed into a war against him ; when, after various success, he con-firmed this charter, and the charter of the forest, in the 52d yearof his reign. This charter confirmed many liberties of the church*and redressed many grievances incident to feodal tenures, ofsmall moment at the time ; though now, unless considered atten-tively and with this retrospect, they seem but of trilling concern.But, besides these feodal provisions, care was also taken therein toprotect the subject against other oppressions, then frequently aris-ing from unreasonable amercements, horn illegal distresses cl 'other process for debts or services due to the crown, and from tin’tyrannical abuse of the prerogative of purveyance and pre-emp-tion. It fixed the forfeiture of lands for felony in the same man-ner as it still remains; prohibited for the future the grants of ex-clusive fisheries; and the erection of new bridges so as to oppressthe neighbourhood. With respect to private rights, it establishedthe testamentary power of the subject over part of his personalestate, the rest being distributed among his wife and children ; '*•laid down the law of dower, as it hath continued ever since ; andprohibited the appeals of women, unless after the death of then'husbands. In matters of public police and national concern, >'enjoined an uniformity of weights and measures ; gave new en-couragements to commerce, by the protection of merchaatstrangers; and forbade the alienation of lands in mortmain. Vv itl>regard to the administration of justice : besides prohibiting all ih”nials or delays of it, it fixed the court of common pleas at Westmin-ster, that the suitors might no longer be harrassed with following th?king’s person in all his progresses ; and at the same time brouflldthe trial of issues home to the very doors of the freeholders, b. vdirecting assizes to lie taken in the proper counties, and establish'mg annual circuits : it also corrected some abuses then incidentto the trials by wager of law and of battle ; directed the reguj ;l1awarding of inquest for life or member; prohibited the king’s in-ferior ministers from holding pleas of (he crown, or trying any cr ‘~minal charge, whereby many forfeitures might otherwise have m 1 'justly accrued to the exchequer; and regulated the time and pla‘' cof holding the inferior tribunals of justice, the county-court, she*riff’s torn, and court-loot. It confirmed and established the libel'"ties of the city of London , and all other cities, boroughs, towns,and ports, of the kingdom. And lastly, (which alone would ha'’®merited the title that it hears, of the great charter,) it prolecte 1 *every individual of the nation in the free enjoyment of his Id 1 ’-’his liberty, and his property, unless declared to be forfeited b/the judgement of his peers or the law of the land. This e.\ccll flltcharter, so equitable, and beneficial to tin: subject, is the most ai'"cient written law in the kingdom. By the 25th Edward l. Rordained, that it shall be taken as the common law ; and by o'U43d Edward III . all statutes made against it are declared to b cvoid. ,

MAGNANIMITY, a greatness of mind which appears m 05conspicuous in circumstances of trial and adversity. Mr. Strctriwell observes of it, in his Beauties of History, that “ it is thesense of pride, and the noblest way of acquiring applause.’ .renders the soul superior to trouble, disorder, and emotion, wh |c .the appearance of great danger might excite ; and it is by o’ 1 ',quality, that heroes maintain their tranquillity, and preserve u’.’jfree use of tiieir reason in the most surprising and dreadful & c *'\dents. It admires the same quality in an enemy ; and fame, gl” r .'’conquests, desire of opportunities to pardon and oblige their °lposers, are what glow in the minds ot the brave. Mngnanui' 11 !and courage are inseparable. Instances need not be quoFTThe histories of Greece, Rome, Great Britain , &c. aboundthem. .

MAGNESA, or MAGNESIA, in ancient geography, at°"or district of Thessaly, at the foot of mount Rebus . , ..

Magnesia, in ancient geography, a maritime district of 1 b?"salv, lying between the S. part of the Sinus Thernuiicus andPegasa-us on the S. ami to the E. of the Rchogiotis. ,^

M agnesia, a town of Asia Minor on the Maiaudcr, aboutmiles from Ephesus .

Magnesia, in chemistry, an earth discovered about the b e S

ning of the 18th century. J)r. Black first gave a complete i»' , .|' vtigation of its nature. Magnesia, before Lis time, was g' ,|u;l A ( i.confounded with lime; he, however, by the most accurate e> Lj-laments shewed that it possessed properties different from all the*" „earths. This earth exists under the form of a white spongy