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PROTESTANT, a name first given in Germany to those whoadhered to the doctrine of Luther; because, in 1529, tUvypro-tested against a decree of the emperor Charles V. and the diet ofSpires; declaring that they appealed to a general council. It liasalso been given to those of the sentiments of Galvin ; and is nowbecome a common denomination for all those of the reformedchurches. See Reformation.

PROTESTATION, a solemn declaration made by some judi-ciary act or proceeding against any oppression, violence, or injus-tice ; or against the legality of a sentence, decree, or other proce-dure; importing that the party is determined to oppose it at theproper time.

PROTEUS, in the mythology, a sea-deity, the son of Oceanus and 1 ethys, or as others say', of Neptune and' Phoenice .

PRO I HONO I’ARY, {from wjwtoj, Gr. first, and notarius,Lat.j properly signifies first notary, and was anciently the title ofthe principal notaries of the emperors of Constantinople .

Prothonotary is used in England for an officer in the courtof king’s bench and common pleas; the former of which courtshas one, and the latter three.

PROTHYRIS, in the ancient architecture, is sometimes usedfor a quoin or stone in the corner of a wall, and sometimes for across-beam or rafter. Prothyris is also used by Vignola for a par-ticular sort of key of an arch.

P ROTH Y RUM, [1150 and 3-asm,] in architecture, a porch at theouter door of a house.

PROTO, [wfnJTo;,] a Greek term, frequently used in composi-tion of priority : thus, proto-collum, in the ancient jurisprudence,signifies the, first leaf of a book; proto-martyr, the first martyr ;proto-plast, the first man formed, &c.

PROTONOTARY, or PROTHONOTARY. " See Pro-thonotary.

PROTO-TYPE, and is the original or model

after which a thing was formed ; but chiefly used for the patternsof things to be engraved, cast, &c.

PRO POTYP1ION, m grammar, sometimes denotes a primi-tive word.

PROTRACTION, in surveying, the same with plotting. SeePlotting, and Protractor.

PRO rOMAR I h R, j -r-x'and ,u«g7the first martyr. Aterm applied to Abel and St. Stephen.

PROTRACTOR, in surgery, a kind of forceps, so called fromextracting foreign bodies out of wounds. See Wound, Forceps,and Extraction.

Protractor is also the name of an instrument used for pro-tracting or laying down on paper the angles of a field, or otherfigure. See Mensuration, and Geometry . The protractoris a small semicircle, (Plate CXLV11, tig. 7,) of brass, or othersolid matter; the limb or circumference of which is nicely dividedinto 180°: it serves not only-to draw angles on paper, or anyplane, but also to examine the extent of tiiose already laid down.For this last purpose, let the small point, A, in the centre of theprotractor, be placed above the angular point, and let the sideAll coincide with one of the sides that contain the angle proposed;then the number of degrees cut off by the other side, computingon the protractor from B, will shew the quantity of the angle thatwas to be measured. But when any angle is to be made of agiven quantity, suppose 40°, on a given line AB, (fig. 8 ,) and at agiven point of that line A ; upon this point apply the centre A ofthe protractor, in such a manner, that the side AB of the protrac-tor may coincide with the given line AB ; then-let a dot or markbe made at the given number of degrees on the limb, viz, 40°, atG, and a right line drawn from G to A, will form an angle CAB==40°, as is manifest. This is the most natural and easy methodeither of examining the extent or quantity of an angle, or for de-scribing an angle of any quantity required.

Protractor, Circular, is a complete circle, and is superiorby far to either the right-angled, or semicircular, both in point ofaccuracy and dispatch, especially when several angles are to beformed at the same point. The limb of this instrument is dividedinto 360°, and each degree in some protractors is halved ; it lias asubdividing scale or vernier, by which an angle may be laid downor measured to a single minute. In the centre of the protractor isa fine mark, which, when an angle is to be protracted or measured,is to be laid upon the angular pqint, and 0, or zero, on the limb,

VOL. iv.— no, 186,

upon the given line, forming one side of the angle. Fig. 9, PlateCXLYTL represents a circular protractor whose limb is divided asabove described, and the dividing scale on the index, whichmoves round the limb of the protractor on a conical centre, givesevery minute of a degree. That part of the index beyond thelimb has a steel-point fixed at the end, in a direct line with thecentre of the protractor, and whose use is to prick off the proposedangles. Fig. 10 is another circular protractor, a little differentlyconstructed from the former. The central point is formed by theintersection of two lines crossing each other at right angles, whichare cut on a piece of glass. The limb is divided into degrees andhalf-degrees, having an index with a vernier graduated to countto a single minute, and is furnished with a tooth and pinion, bymeans of which the index is moved round by turning a small nut.It has two pointers, one at each end of the index, furnished withsprings for Keeping them suspended while they are bringing to anyangle ; and being brought, applying a finger to the top of thepointer, and pressing it down, pricks off the angle. There is thisadvantage in having two pointers, that all the bearings round a cir-cuit may be laid or pricked off, although the index traverses butone-half of the protractor. Another circular protractor, differentfrom either of the former, is represented at fig. 11 . The centre isalso formed by the intersection of two lines at right angles to eachother, which are cut on glass, that all parallax may thereby beevoided. The index is moved round by a tooth and pinion.The limb is divided into degrees and half-degrees, and subdividedto every minute by the vernier. The pointer may be set at any-convenient distance from the centre, as the socket which carries itmoves upon the bar BG, and is fixed thereto by the nut D, atright angles to the bar BG, and moveable with it. There is ano-ther bar EF: On this bar different scales of equal parts are placed ;so that by moving a square against the inner edge, thereof, anglesmay be transferred to any distance within the limits, from thecentre containing the same number of degrees marked out by theindex.

PROVEDITOR, was a late officer in several parts of Italy ,particularly at Venice , who had the direction of matters relating topolicy.

PIIOVENCE, a late province of France , bounded by Duu-phine on the N. by the late Piedmontese on the E. by the Medi-terranean on the S. and by the Rhone , which separates it fromLanguedoc , on the W. being 138 miles long, and 100 broad. Theair is cold near the Alps , hot on the coast, and temperate in themiddle. It now forms the departments of the Var, Lower Alps,and mouths of the Rhone . It was divided into the Upper andLower.

1. Provence , Lower, is not so fertile as Upper Provence; yetit produces vines, olives, figs, almonds, pomegranates, prunes, &c.

2. Provence , Upper, is exceedingly fertile in corn, wine.,pastures, and all kinds of fruits.

PROVENDER, or PROVEND, originally signified a kindof vessel containing the measure of corn daily given to a horse, orother beast of labour, for his subsistence; but is now generallyused to signify the food for cattle, whatever it is.

PROVERB, a concise maxim, grounded upon experience, andfor the most part containing some useful instruction.

PROVIDENCE , the conduct and direction of the severalparts of the universe, by a superior intelligent Being. That thereexists a divine Providence, or in other words, that the Deity at-tends to the affairs of this world, and directs their course, has beenan opinion generally received among mankind, in all ages, and inall countries of the world. It has not, however, passed withoutopposition from philosophers in various ages, as well as the present. The most ancient of these were Democritus, Leucippus ,and Epicurus . But it may he here observed that every argumentthat has been advanced in favour of the eternal self-existence, infi-nite power, wisdom, and goodness, of God , are equally decisive infavour of his superintending care over all his works. See Meta-physics, Moral Philosophy , and Natural History.

Providence, in geography, one of the Bahama islands in theAmerican ocean, 200 miles E. of Florida . It is 36 miles long,and 16 broad; and was formerly called Abaco. It produces In-dian wheat and Brazil wood. Nassau is the capital . Lon. 77 .35. W. Lat. 24. 25. N.

Providence, a maritime county of Rhode Island , . 21{- miles5 S long.