pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
SHOT, a denomination given to all sorts of balls for firearms; those for cannon being of iron, and those for guns and pistols of lead.[7:20:319] case Shot formerly consisted of all kinds of old iron, nails, musket-balls, and stones, which were used as above.

Shot of a cable, on ship-board, is the splicing of two cables together, that a ship may ride safe in deep waters and in great roads; for a ship will ride easier by one shot of a cable, than by three short cables out ahead.
SHOUMSHU or Choumchoo, one of the Kurile islands, the nearest to Asia, thirty-six miles in length and twenty in breadth. It contains mines, which yield a small quantity of silver. There are large lakes abounding with fish, and the natives have an herb from which they extract brandy. There are only forty-four male inhabitants, who pay tribute to Russia. It is ten miles south from Kamtschatka.
SHOUT, Clamour, in antiquity, was frequently used on ecclesiastical, civil, and military occasions, as a sign of approbation, and sometimes of indignation. Thus as Cicero, in an assembly of the people, was exposing the arrogance of Antony, who had had the impudence to cause himself to be inscribed the patron of the Romans, the people on hearing this raised a shout to show their indignation. In the ancientmilitary discipline, shouts were used, first, upon occasion of the general’s making a speech or harangue to the army from his tribunal. This they did in token of their approving what had been proposed. Secondly, they were used before an engagement, in order to encourage and spirit their own men, and fill the enemy with dread. This was a practice of great antiquity; but, besides, it wants not the authority of reason to support it; for as mankind are endowed with two senses, hearing and seeing, by which fear is raised in the mind, it may be proper to make use of the ear as well as the eye for that purpose. Shouts were also raised in the ancient theatre, when what was acted pleased the spectators. It was usual for those present at the burning of the dead to raise a great shout, and call the dead person by his name, before they set fire to the pile.
SHREWSBURY, a town in the liberty of the same name, and the capital of the county of Shropshire, 156 miles from London. It is situated on a peninsula formed by the river Severn, which nearly surrounds it, and over which are two stone bridges. It comprehends three parishes, with a church to each, which were formerly collegiate, namely, St. Alkmands, St. Marys, and St. Chads. The town was in ancient times well fortified, and had a strong castle towards the north, a part of which still remains, and the keep has been converted into a garden. There is a free grammar school, at present in high repute, for communicating classical instruction, which possesses some valuable exhibitions at Cambridge. It is well endowed, and has a good library and neat chapel connected with it. There is a county hall, a jail, two bridewells, and a house of industry. The streets are narrow, and some of them rather steep, and the greater part of the houses are of ancient construction and fashion. It is a borough, and the corporation has extensive judicial power within the liberty, though it is now commonly transferred to the assizes for the county, which are held here. Shrewsbury has some trade by the river Severn, and some by a canal, which connects it with Ellesmere, and other parts of the kingdom. The principal manufactory is that of flannels, many of which, indeed, are woven in Montgomeryshire, and brought to Shrewsbury to be finished, but many are made within the town, and of late years machinery has been extended for that purpose. There are likewise some linens, and some coarse woollen cloths made. The country around is highly fertile, and the two markets, on Wednesday and Saturday, are most abundantly supplied. The town returns two members to parliament, and gives the title of earl to the ancient family of Talbot. The population was, in 1801, 14,739; in 1811, 16,606; in 1821, 19,854; and in 1831, 21,227.
SHUGAWULPOOR, a large town of Hindustan, in the province of Malwah, situated on the north-east bank of the river Jummary. It consists of a fortified town or citadel, and extensive suburbs, in which are some good houses, and an extensive bazaar. It is a considerable market for shipped muslins, 65 miles E.N.E. from Oojain. Long. 76. 45. E. Lat. 23. 24. N.
SHUKASKU, a large village of Irak in Arabia, on the western bank of the Euphrates. It is a flourishing place, and carries on a brisk trade with Bussora, the Euphrates being navigable to this place by means of large boats. It[7:20:320] is surrounded by rich pastures, on which are reared numerous horses.
SHUMSABAD, a small town of the Sikh territorial province of Lahore, situated on the east side of the Jhylum river, 100 miles N.W. by W. from Lahore. Long. 72.15. E. Lat. 32. 16. N.
SHUNDRABANDY, a town of Southern India, in the district of Tinnevelly, 40 miles S.W. from Madura. Long. 77. 45. E. Lat 3. 35. N.
SHUS, a large mass of ruins in the province of Khuzis-tan, in Persia, extending twelve miles from the Kerah to the Ahzal. They occupy an immense extent of ground, and are supposed, by Major Rennel and Colonel Kinneir, to be the ancient capital of Susa.
SHROPSHIRE, or Salop, a county of England. (See Salop.) SHROVE-Tuesday, is the Tuesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, or the day immediately preceding the first of Lent, being so called from the Saxon word to shrive, which signifies to confess. Hence Shrove-Tuesday signifies Confession-Tuesday, on which day all the people in every parish throughout England, during the Catholic times, were obliged to confess their sins, one by one, to their own parish priest, in their own parish-churches; and, that this might be done the more regularly, the great bell in every parish was rung at ten o’clock, or perhaps sooner, that it might be heard by all, and that they might attend, according to the custom then in use.
SHROVE-Tuesday, is the Tuesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, or the day immediately preceding the first of Lent, being so called from the Saxon word to shrive, which signifies to confess. Hence Shrove-Tuesday signifies Confession-Tuesday, on which day all the people in every parish throughout England, during the Catholic times, were obliged to confess their sins, one by one, to their own parish priest, in their own parish-churches; and, that this might be done the more regularly, the great bell in every parish was rung at ten o’clock, or perhaps sooner, that it might be heard by all, and that they might attend, according to the custom then in use.
SHROUDS, a range of large ropes extending from the mast-heads to the right and left side of the ship, to support the masts, and enable them to carry sail.

The shrouds as well as the sails are denominated from the masts to which they belong. Thus there are the main, fore, and mizen shrouds; the main-top-mast, fore-top-mast, and mizen-top-mast shrouds; and the main-top-gallant, fore-top-gallant, and mizen-top-gallant shrouds. The number of shrouds by which a mast is sustained, as well as the size of the rope of which they are formed, is always in proportion to the size of the mast and the weight of the sail it is intended to carry.

Bowsprit shrouds are those which support the bowsprit. Bumpkin shrouds are those which support the bumpkins. Futtuck shrouds are shrouds which connect the efforts of the topmast shrouds to the lower shrouds. Bentick shrouds are additional shrouds to support the masts in heavy gales. Preventer shrouds are similar to bentick shrouds, and are used in bad weather to ease the lower rigging.
SHRUB, frutex, a little, low, dwarfish tree, or a woody vegetable, of' a size less than a tree, and which, instead of one single stem, frequently puts forth from the same root several sets or stems.
SHUTTLE, in the manufactures, an instrument used by weavers, which guides the thread it contains, either of woollen, silk, flax, or other matter, so as to make it form the woofs of stuffs, cloths, linens, ribands, and other fabrics, by throwing the shuttle alternately from left to right, and from right to left, across between the threads of the warp, which are stretched out lengthwise on the loom.

In the middle of the shuttle is a kind of cavity, called the eye or chamber of the shuttle, in which is inclosed the spoul, which is a part of the thread destined for the woof; and this is wound on a little tube of paper, rush, or other matter.
SIAK, is a river and a large district of Sumatra. The district extends about 450 miles along the north-east coast. This district has a considerable trade, which is carried on by vessels from the coast of Coromandel, which supply cargoes of piece goods, and also raw silk, opium, and other articles, which they provide at Prince of Wales’ island or Malacca, receiving in return gold, wax, sago, salted fish and fish roes, elephants’ teeth, camphire, rattans, and other canes. Spars and masts, and large supplies of frame timber used to be imported by the Dutch East India Company for the use of Batavia. The maritime power of the kingdom of Siak has always been considerable.

The river Siak is one of the largest in the island, and discharges itself into the sea opposite Malacca in N. lat. 1.40. From a survey ordered by the British government of Prince of Wales’ island, it appears that from its mouth to the town of Siak, is sixty-five miles. The width of the river is in general from about a half to three quarters of a mile, and its depth from seven to fifteen fathoms; but on the bar at low water, there is only fifteen feet of depth, and there are several shoals near its mouth.[7:20:321]
SIBYLS, in pagan antiquity, certain women said to have been endowed with a prophetical spirit, and who delivered oracles, showing the fates and revolutions of kingdoms. Their number is unknown. Plato speaks of one, others of two, Pliny of three, Aelian of four, and Varro of ten; an opinion which is universally adopted by the learned. These ten sibyls generally resided in the following places: Persia, Lybia, Delphi, Cumae in Italy, Erythraea, Samos, Cumae in Aeolia, Marpessa on the Hellespont, Ancyra in Phrygia, and Tyburtis. The most celebrated of the sibyls is that of Cumae in Italy, whom some have called by the different names of Amalthaea, Demiphile, Herophile, Daphne, Manto, Phemonoe, and Deiphobe. It is said, that Apollo became enamoured of her, and that to make her sensible of his passion he offered to give her whatever she asked. The sibyl demanded to live as many years as she had grains of sand in her hand, but unfortunately forgot to ask for the enjoyment of the health, vigour, and bloom, of which she was then in possession. She had already lived about seven hundred years when Aeneas came to Italy, and, as some have imagined, she had three centuries more to live before her years were as numerous as the grains of sand which she had had in her hand. She gave Aeneas instructions how to find his father in the infernal regions, and even conducted him to the entrance of hell. According to the most authentic historians of the Roman republic, one of the sibyls came to the palace of Tarquin the Second, with nine volumes, which she offered to sell for a very high price. The monarch disregarded her, and she immediately disappeared, but soon afterwards returned, when she had burned three of the volumes. She asked the same price for the remaining six books; and when Tarquin refused to buy them, she burnt three more, and still persisted in demanding the same sum of money for the three that were left. This extraordinary behaviour astonished Tarquin; he bought the books; and the Sibyl instantly vanished, and never afterwards appeared to the world. These books were preserved with great care by the monarch, and called the sibylline verses. A college of priests was appointed to take care of them; and such reverence did the Romans entertain for these prophetical books, that they were consulted with the greatest solemnity, when the state seemed to be in danger. When the capitol was burned in the troubles of Sylla, the sibylline verses, which were deposited there, perished in the conflagration; and to repair the loss which the republic seemed to have sustained, commissioners were immediately sent to different parts of Greece to collect whatever verses could be found of the inspired writings of the sibyls. The fate of these sibylline verses, which were collected after the conflagration of the capitol, is unknown. There are now many sibylline verses extant, but they are universally reckoned spurious; and it is evident that they were composed in the second century by some of the followers of Christianity, who wished to convince the heathens of their error, by assisting the cause of truth with the arms of pious artifice.
SICERA, a name given to any inebriating liquor by the Hellenistic Jews. St. Chrysostom, Theodoret, and Theophilus of Antioch, who were Syrians, and who therefore ought to know the signification and nature of sicera, assure us, that it properly signifies palm-wine.
SICILIANA, the name of an ancient dance in 6 / 8 time, slow in movement, and simple and touching in its melody.
SICILY, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, adjoining to the southern extremity of Italy, and extending from latitude 36° 25' to latitude 38° 25', and from longitude 12° 50' to longitude 15° 40' east from London. Its greatest length is 210 miles, its breadth 133, its circumference 600. For a description of the island, see Naples.
SIDMOUTH, a town of the hundred of East Budleigh, in the county of Devon, 159 miles from London, The population was, in 1821, 2747; and in 1831, 3126.
SIDON, in Ancient Geography a city of Phoenicia in Asia, famous in Scripture for its riches, arising from the extensive commerce carried on by its inhabitants. Heavy judgments were denounced against the Sidonianson account of their wickedness, which were accomplished in the time[7:20:330] of Ochus king of Persia. That monarch having come against them with an army on account of their rebellion, the city was betrayed by its king; upon which the wretched inhabitants, seized with despair, set fire to their houses, and forty thousand, with their wives and children, perished in the flames. It is forty-five miles west from Damascus. E. long. 36. 5. N. lat. 37.
SIDUS,Georgium, in Astronomy, a new primary planet, discovered by Dr. Herschel in the year 1781. By most foreign, and even by some British philosophers, it is known by the name of Herschel, in honour of the discoverer. As the other planets are distinguished by marks or characters, the planet Herschel is distinguished by an H, the initial letter of the discoverer’s name, and a cross to shew that it is a Christian planet.
SIEBENBURGEN. See Transylvania.
SIENNA or Siena, a district of Italy, still called a duchy, though now a part of the grand duchy of Tuscany. It is mostly situated on the Apennines, and was an independent state, till it was subdued and united with Tuscany in 1557. The capital is the city of that name, on the great road from Florence to Rome. It is surrounded with walls, and, when approached from Rome, has a magnificent appearance, but, on the side towards Florence, the view of it is hidden by woods and gardens. The city is old and rather ill built, but it contains many fine palaces belonging to noble families. It is the see of an archbishop, the cathedral, 330 feet in length, is celebrated for its fine cupola. There is a spacious market-place, with a council house and theatre, that are ornamental. It contains twenty-three churches, several of which are adorned with the finest paintings in fresco. The university, founded in 1321, once enjoyed the greatest fame of any in Italy, but at present has not more than two hundred and sixty students, though it still retains its museum, an anatomical theatre, a library, and other similar institutions. Its manufactures are a few woollen cloths, hats, strings for musical instruments, paper, and objects formed of marble or of ivory. Its population is 24,500 persons. Lat. 43. 22. Long. 11. 5. E.
SIERRA-MORENA, a range of remarkable mountains in the south of Spain. These mountains begin in the vicinity of Alcaraz, on the eastern borders of La Mancha, and extend between that province, Estremadura, and Alentejo, which it leaves to the north, and enters the kingdoms of Jaen, Cordova, Seville, and Algarve, and terminates at the sea shore at Cape St. Vincent. In its course through Cordova, it is called the Sierra de Cordova. On the south of Estremadura, and the north of Seville, it bears the name of the Guadalcanal mountains; it then trends to the southwest, where the northern side is called the Sierra of Cal-derion; on the south, in the Portuguese province of Algarve, it is called the Sierre de Monchique.

The highest point of these mountains does not exceed 2700 feet above the level of the sea; but from their summits being barren, and the lower parts mere morasses, they were long deemed impassable, and were so deemed at the period when the author of Don Quixote chose them for the scene of the exploits of his hero.

In the late war with France, a pass through them was deemed by the Spaniards to be impregnable, but the French troops were adroit enough to turn them, and thus were enabled to pour their armies into Andalusia, and besiege Cadiz.

After the peace of 1763, king Charles the III. entertained the project of cultivating this district; and Olavide, a benevolent and enterprising capitalist, transported thither a number of Germans, who were formed into colonies, and built several villages, and the town of Carolina. The face of the country was changed, and the soil found productive; the progress was advancing, when Olavide was involved in difficulties with the lnquisition, which gave a check to the operations, which the hostile operations carried on at subsequent periods have continued.
SIEUR, a title of respect amongst the French, like that of master amongst us. It is much used by lawyers, as also by superiors in their letters to inferiors.
SIFANTO, or Siphanto, an island of the Archipelago, west of Paros, north-east of Milo, and south-west of Ser-phanto. The air is so good here, that many of the inhabitants live to the age of a hundred and twenty; and their water, fruits, wild fowl, and poultry, are excellent, but more especially the grapes. It abounds with marble and granite, and is one of the most fertile and best cultivated of these islands. The inhabitants employ themselves in cultivating olive-trees and capers; and they have very good silk. They trade in figs, onions, wax, honey, and straw-hats, and may be about eight thousand in all. E. Long. 25. 15. N. Lat. 37. 9.
SIGHING, an effort of nature, by which the lungs are put into greater motion, and more dilated, so that the blood passes more freely, and in greater quantity, to the left auricle, and thence to the ventricle. Hence we learn how sighing increases the force of the blood, and proportionally cheers and relieves nature, when oppressed by its too slow motion, which is the case of those who are dejected and sad.
SIGNATURE, in Printing, is a letter put at the bottom of the first page at least, in each sheet, as a direction to the binder in folding, gathering, and collating them. The signatures consist of the capital letters of the alphabet, which change in every sheet; and if there be more sheets than letters in the alphabet,a figure is placed before the signature, as 2 A, 2 B, &c., which are repeated as often as necessary.
SIGNET, one of the king’s seals, made use of in sealing his private letters, and all grants that pass by bill signed under his Majesty’s hand. It is always in the custody of the Secretaries of State.
SILBERBERG, a town of the Prussian province of Silesia, in the circle of Frankenstein. It is an open town in a mining district in a narrow valley, surrounded with hills, on whose sides the streets are built, but the valley is 1350 feet above the level of the sea. The inhabitants are occupied in making cloth, and in exploring the mines. It is chiefly remarkable from fortified points on five hills, which overlook the town, and which are so connected with each other by works, as to form a most complete citadel, which is surrounded by a ditch seventy feet in depth, and which has within its barracks a natural cavern, sufficiently commodious to lodge securely a garrison of 5000 men. When, in the campaigns of 1806 and 1807, the whole of Prussia was subdued by the French, this place alone defended itself up to the conclusion of the peace of Tilsit.
SILICERNIUM, amongst the Romans, was a feast of a private nature, provided for the dead some time after the funeral. It consisted of beans, lettuces, bread, eggs, and other things. These were laid upon the tomb, as a repast for the dead.
SILIUS Italicus, Caius, a celebrated Roman poet, and author of an epic poem in seventeen books, which contains a history of the second Punic war, was born in the reign of Tiberius, and is supposed to have derived the name of Italicus from the place of his birth; but whether he was born at Italica in Spain, or at Corfinium in Italy, which, according to Strabo, had the name of Italica given it during the Social war, is a point which is unascertained. When he came to Rome, he applied himself to the bar; and, by a close imitation of Cicero; succeeded so well, that he became a celebrated advocate, and a most accomplished orator. His merit and character recommended him to the highest offices in the republic, even to the consulship, of which he was possessed when Nero died. He is said to have lent his assistance in accusing persons of high rank and fortune, whom that wicked emperor had devoted to destruction: but he retrieved his character afterwards by a long and uniform course of virtuous behaviour. Vespasian sent him as proconsul into Asia, where he behaved with clean hands and unblemished reputation. After having thus spent the best part of his life in the service of his country, he resolved to consecrate the remainder to retirement and the muses. He had several fine villas in the country; one at Tusculum celebrated for having been Cicero’s, and a farm near Naples, said to have been Virgil’s, at which was his tomb, which Silius often visited.

He has imitated Virgil, and though he falls infinitely short of him, yet he has discovered a great and universal genius; which would have enabled him to succeed in some degree in whatever he undertook. Having been for some time afflicted with an imposthume, which was deemed incurable, he grew weary of life, to which, in the language of Pliny, he put an end with determined courage. There have been many editions of Silius Italicus. A neat and correct one was published at Leipsic in 1696, in 8vo, with short and useful notes by Cellarius; but the best are those cum notis integris Variorum er Arnoldi Drakenborch. Tra-ject. ad Rhenum, 1717, in 4to.; and cum notis Ruperti, 2 vols. 8vo. Gott. 1795.
SILLA, a large town on the Niger, by which the travels of Mr. Park were bounded towards the east. He gives no particular description of the place, which his health and spirits permitted him not to survey, but assigns the reasons by which he was induced to proceed no farther. On his arrival, he was allowed to remain under a tree, till it was quite dark, surrounded by hundreds of people. But their language was extremely different from the other parts of Bambarra; and he was given to understand, that in his progress eastward, the Bambarra tongue was very little understood, and that, on his reaching Jenné, he would find the greater part of the inhabitants accustomed to speak a different language. He had now become the prey of sickness, exhausted with hunger and fatigue, half naked, and without any article of value to procure for himself provisions, clothes, or lodging, on which account he resolved to return, finding that to prosecute his journey further in that direction was wholly impracticable. Siila, according to the latest map pf Africa, is in 14. 48. N. lat. and 1. 24. W. long.