pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
WINCHCOMBE, a market-town of the county of Gloucester, in the hundred of Kiftsgate, ninety-six miles from London and six from Cheltenham. It is situated in the Cotswold Hills. It is a place of great antiquity, and was once deemed a county of itself, having exempt jurisdiction. The church is deserving of notice, being a fine Gothic structure, and the burying-place of some of the ancient kings of Mercia, one of whom, Kenulph, founded a Benedictine monastery in the sixth century. It is still a borough, governed by two bailifs. Till the reign of Charles II., this place was the chief seat of the cultivation of tobacco in England. There is now a good market on Saturday. The population amounted in 1821 to 2240, and in 1831 to 2514.
WINCHELSEA, a town and parish of the county of Sussex, in the hundred of Guestling and rape of Hastings, sixty-seven miles from London. It stands on a rising ground, overlooking marshes which extend to the sea. The ancient town of this name was once a large city, and contained a harbour and eighteen parish churches, nearly the whole of which have been swallowed up by tempests, and by the receding of the land. The present town, which is distant from the sea a mile and a half, is built upon an eminence, and was erected in the reign of Edward I. In various parts of the town are spacious stone-vaults, and extensive ruins. An attempt was made to introduce the manufacture of cambrics into this town, but it was attended with no success. The small market is on Saturday. The population amounted in 1821 to 817, and in 1831 to 772.

Winchelsea Island, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, New Holland, near the coast of Groote Eylandt, with which it forms a bay, called by Captain Flinders North-west Bay. It is about five or six miles long. There is another island of this name in the Pacific Ocean, thirty miles south-east of Sir Charles Hardy’s Island.
WIND is a sensible agitation of the atmosphere, occasioned by a quantity of air flowing from one place to another. See Meteorology. Wind-Gage. See Physical Geography, vol. xvii. p. 338-9.
WINDLASS, a machine used for raising huge weights, as guns, stones, anchors, &c. It is very simple, consisting only of an axis or roller, supported horizontally at the two ends by two pieces of wood and a pulley: the two pieces of wood meet at top, being placed diagonally so as to prop each other; the axis or roller goes through the two pieces, and turns in them. The pulley is fastened at top where the pieces join. Lastly, there are two staves or handspikes which go through the roller, whereby it is turned, and the rope which comes over the pulley is wound off and on the same.

Windlass, in a ship, is an instrument in small ships, placed upon the deck, just abaft the fore-mast. It is made of a piece of timber six or eight feet square, in form of an axletree, whose length is placed horizontally upon two pieces of wood at the ends thereof, and upon which it is turned about by the help of handspikes put into holes made for that purpose. This instrument serves for weighing anchors, or hoisting of any weight in or out of the ship, and will purchase much more than any capstan, and that without any danger to those that heave; for if, in heaving the windlass about, any of the handspikes should happen to break, the windlass would pall of itself.
WINDOW, an aperture or open place in the wall of a house to let in the light. Before the use of glass became general, which was not till towards the end of the 12th century, the windows in Britain seem generally to have been composed of paper. Properly prepared with oil, this forms no contemptible defence against the intrusions of the weather, and makes no incompetent opening for the admission of the light. It is still used by our architects for the temporary windows of unfinished houses, and not unfrequently for the regular ones of our workshops. But some of the principal buildings we may reasonably suppose to have been windowed in a superior manner. They could however be furnished merely with lattices of wood or sheets of linen, as these two remained the only furniture of our cathedrals nearly to the eighth century; and the lattices continued in some of the meaner towns of Lancashire to the 18th, and in many districts of Wales, and many of the adjoining parts of England, are in use even to the present moment. These seem all to have been fixed in frames that were called capsamenra, or casements.
WINDSOR, a borough and market town of Berkshire, twenty-two miles from London, on the banks of the Thames. Old and New Windsor, the castle, and the hamlets of Clewer and Dedworth, are included in the parish. Windsor stands on the side and top of a hill sloping to the river. It is divided into two wards, and is governed by a mayor, six aldermen, and eighteen councillors, and it returns two members to the House of Commons. The parish church is a spacious building in the High-street; and near it is the town-hall, a neat structure supported by columns and arches of Portland stone. There are also many good houses belonging to individuals. The population, including that of the castle, amounted in 1821 to 5698, and in 1831 to 7103. The chief object of admiration is the castle, a royal residence, with its park, and adjoining to it a tract of land of fifty-six miles in extent, denominated Windsor Forest. The castle or palace is a beautiful pile of building, on an eminence, which makes it visible to a large extent of the surrounding country. The terrace, overlooking the Thames, is a magnificent promenade, nearly the third of a mile in length, from which the views are richly expanded. The interior consists of two courts, surrounded with apartments for the royal family and domestics. These are magnificently furnished, and adorned with pictures, statues, and other valuable curiosities. Within the castle is St George’s chapel, a most elegantly finished building, with beautifully painted glass windows; and under it are the vaults in which are deposited the remains of many of the successive monarchs of this kingdom, and of the members of their families. The recent repairs and additions have been made with great taste, and at an enormous expense.
WINDWARD, in the sea-language, denotes any thing towards that point from whence the wind blows, in respect of a ship: thus windward tide is the tide which runs against the wind.
WINKOOP’S Island, a large island on the south coast of Java. Long. 106. 36. E. Lat. 7. 28. S. There is a bay of the same name on the south coast of Java. Long 106. 38. E. Lat. 7. 5. S.
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WINGHAM, a small town of the county of Kent, in the hundred of the same name, and in the lathe of St Augustine, sixty-two miles from London. A convent was founded here in the reign of Edward I. by Archbishop Peckham. Near to it are some fine gentlemen’s seats. The population amounted in 1821 to 1085, and in 1831 to 1115.
WINSLOW, a market-town of the county of Buckingham and hundred of Cotslow, fifty miles from London. It is neat and well built, has a market on Tuesday, and its population amounted in 1821 to 1221, and in 1831 to 1290.
WINTER, one of the four seasons or quarters of the year. Winter commences on the day when the sun’s distance from the zenith of the place is greatest, and ends on the day when its distance is at a mean between the greatest and least. Under the equator, the winter, as well as other seasons, returns twice every year, but all other places have only one annual winter; which in the northern hemisphere begins when the sun is in the tropic of Capricon, and in the southern hemisphere when in the tropic of Cancer; so that all places in the same hemisphere have their winter at the same time.
WIRE, a piece of metal drawn through the hole of an iron into a thread of a fineness answering to the hole it passed through. Wires are frequently drawn so fine as to be wrought along with other threads of silk, wool, flax, &c. The metals most commonly drawn into wire are gold, silver, copper, and iron. Gold wire is made of cylindrical ingots of silver, covered over with a skin of gold, and thus drawn successively through a vast number of holes, each smaller and smaller, till at last it is brought to a fineness exceeding that of a hair. That admirable ductility which makes one of the distinguishing characters of gold, is nowhere more conspicuous than in this gilt wire. A cylinder of forty-eight ounces of silver, covered with a coat of gold only weighing one ounce, as Dr Halley informs us, is usually drawn into a wire, two yards of which weigh no more than one grain; whence ninety-eight yards of the wire weigh no more than forty-nine grains, and one single grain of gold covers the ninety-eight yards; so that the ten thousandth part of a grain is above one eighth of an inch long.
WIRSWORTH, a market-town of the county of Derby, in the hundred of its own name, 139 miles from London and twelve from the town of Derby. It is situated in a mining district, where it is the chief object to procure lead ore, and the silver frequently combined with it. The principal occupation is connected with the various processes of preparing these metals for use. There are laws regulating the mining, which are here administered by a court consisting of a steward and bar-mast, which has two sessions annually. In the neighbourhood, many millstones and grindstones are drawn from the quarries. Here are two springs, one hot, the other cold, so near together that a man may put a hand in each at the same time. There is a good market on Tuesday, and two fairs yearly. The population amounted in 1821 to 3787, and in 1831 to 4082; but the parish comprehends ten hamlets and townships besides, whose inhabitants amounted in 1831 to 7754.
WISBEACH, a town of the county of Cambridge, in the Isle of Ely, eighty-nine miles from London. It is a port, standing on a branch of the Ouse communicating with Lynn. The country around is rich, producing much corn, a great part of which is sold at the market, and afterwards shipped to other parts of the kingdom. The sessions for the Isle of Ely, which is an exempt jurisdiction, are held at this place. It is deemed unhealthy. The population amounted in 1821 to 6515, and in 1831 to 7253.
WISBY, a city of Sweden, the capital of the province and island of that name, or, as it is sometimes called, Gottland. It is situated on the western side of the island, was formerly a Hanse town, and a place of great trade. It is fortified, is rather irregularly built, but of stone, and in the style of the ancient German seaports. The harbour is not [7:21:905]deep, and is very small; but it still has some ships belonging to it. It contains 700 houses, with 3880 inhabitants. Near to it are some quarries of marble. Long. 18. 2. 29. E. Lat. 57. 38. 30. N.
WISDOM usually denotes a higher and more refined notion of things or qualities immediately presented to the mind, as it were, by intuition, without the assistance of ratiocination. Sometimes the word is used, in a moral sense, for what we call prudence or discretion, which consists in the soundness of the judgment, and a conduct answerable to it.
WISMAR, one of the provinces into which the grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin is divided. It belonged to Mecklenburg till 1648, when it was delivered over to the Swedes, who possessed it till 1803, when it was transferred for a sum of money to the present sovereign. It is situated on the Baltic Sea, and, including the island of Poël, extends over thirty-eight square miles, or about 25,000 acres, and comprehends one city and thirty-seven villages, with 15,419 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name, situated on a bay of the Baltic. It is surrounded with walls and ditches, contains four Lutheran churches, three hospitals, an orphan-house, and several schools, 1350 houses, and 10,070 inhabitants. It has some foreign commerce, especially in the export of wheat and other grain; and has several ships annually equipped for the whale-fishery. There are manufactures of linen goods, especially of sailcloth, with several breweries and distilleries.
WITEBSK, a government or stadtholderate of the Russian dominions in Europe, formerly a portion of what was denominated White Russia, but now bearing the name of the largest city within it. It extends in north latitude from 54° 42' to 57° 21', and in east longitude from 15° 35' to 21° 39'. It is bounded on the north-west by Livonia, on the north and north-east by Pfkow, on the east by Smolensko, on the south-east by Mohilew, on the south-west by Minsk, and on the west by Wilna and Courland. It is divided into twelve circles, with a capital to each; besides which there are twenty-three other cities or towns, and 12,185 villages. It is 14,690 square miles in extent, and contains 934,900 inhabitants.

The whole is a level plain, without hills; and even hillocks are rare, so that nothing is to be seen but sandy fields, with here and there the banks of the rivers, and occasionally a few small lakes. The soil is poor, of sand or sandy loam, with a thin covering of vegetable mould. The chief river is the Duna, which receives and carries to the sea the waters of the Mesha, the Kasplia, the Ula, the Polota, the Drissa, the Druja, the Saryja,,the Feananka, and the Ewest. Among the lakes, the most extensive are the Usmyn, the Usmiat, the Osweja, and the Lubahu, which last indeed belongs in part to Livonia.

The greater part of the inhabitants adhere to the Catholic church, or to the Greek united. The former has an archbishop at Mohilew, with sixty-three parishes and forty monasteries; the second has a bishop at Polozk, with 135 parishes and thirty-three monasteries. The orthodox Greeks have sixty-five parishes. Among the Lithuanians, the Livonians, and the Germans, the Protestants are the most numerous. The Jews are numerous, but chiefly in the cities and towns.

The capital of this government, the city of the same name, and the capital of a circle, stands on the river Duna or Dwina, 460 miles from St Petersburg. It is surrounded with old walls and towers, has narrow and crooked streets, and contains three Catholic and eleven Greek churches, 1940 houses, and about 14,000 inhabitants. It has six Greek and two Catholic monasteries, and three synagogues for the Jews. The city has a considerable number of tanneries, the leather made at which is sent partly to Riga and partly to St Petersburg. It has several large fairs, where much business is transacted. Long. 29. 55. E. Lat. 55. 11. N.
WITENA MOT, or Witena Gemot, among the Anglo-Saxons, was a term which literally signified the assembly of the wise men; and was applied to the great council of the nation, afterwards called the parliament.
WITHERS of a House, the juncture of the shoulder-bones at the bottom of the neck and mane, towards the upper part of the shoulder.
WITNESS, in Law, a person who gives evidence in any cause, and is sworn to speak the truth.
WITNEY, a market-town and parish of the county of Oxford, in the hundred of Bampton, sixty-nine miles from London and eleven from Oxford. It stands on the river Windrush. It consists of two streets, at the end of one of which is a fine church in the Gothic style. There is also an endowed grammar-school, with a good library. This place has long been celebrated for the manufacture of blankets, which is still carried on extensively, and they still maintain their character for superior warmth and lightness. There is a market on Thursday. The population of this town amounted in 1821 to 2827, and in 1831 to 3190; but the whole parish, comprehending also four hamlets, in 1831 had 5336 inhabitants.
WITT, JoHN DE, a celebrated Dutch statesman, was the son of Jacob de Witt, burgomaster of Dort, and was born in 1625. He became well skilled in the civil law, politics, mathematics, and other sciences, and wrote a treatise on the Elements of Curved Lines, published by Francis Schooten. Having taken his degree of doctor of laws, he travelled into foreign courts, where he became esteemed for his genius and prudence. At his return to his native country in 1650, he became pensionary of Dort,' then counsellor-pensionary of Holland and West Friesland, intendant and register of the fiefs, and keeper of the great seal. He was thus at the head of affairs in Holland; but his opposition to the re-establishment of the office of stadtholder, which he thought a violation of the freedom and independence of the republic, cost him his life when the prince of Orange’s party prevailed. He and his brother Cornelius were assassinated by the populace at the Hague in 1674. He was only forty-seven years of age.
WITTENBERG, a circle of the Prussian province of Saxony, and of the government of Merseburg, extending over 330 square miles, and comprehending five cities and towns, 104 villages, and 28,700 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name on the river Elbe, over which is a wooden bridge of about 1000 feet in length. It is a place endeared to the Protestants of Germany, as the cradle of the reformed religion, where Luther first preached, and where he and Melanchthon were buried. It now contains five churches, 320 houses, and 6500 inhabitants, including the military and their families. The university has been removed, but the city still retains an ecclesiastical seminary. Wittenberg has suffered from the hostilities of 1813 and 1814. There is but little commerce, although some linen and woollen cloths are made, and there are several distilleries and breweries. Long. 12. 39. 39. E. Lat. 51. 52. 45. N.
WIVELSCOMBE, a market-town of the county of Somerset, in the hundred of West Kingsbury, ten miles from Taunton and 156 from London. It stands on the river Tone. It formerly had considerable manufactories of coarse woollen goods, which have nearly disappeared by the rivalry of the northern counties. The town has a corporation, and is governed by a portreeve. It has a good market on Tuesday, and two annual fairs. The population amounted in 1821 to 2791, and in 1831 to 3047.
WIVENHOE, a small town of the county of Essex, in the hundred of Lexden, fifty-four miles from London. It stands on the navigable river Colne, and is the place where the Colchester oysters are shipped for the London market. It has a regular custom-house and convenient quay. The population amounted in 1821 to 1287, and in 1831 to 1714.
WLODZIMIRZ, a circle of the Russian government of Volhynia. It extends in north latitude from 50° 22' to 50° 57', and in east longitude from 24° 8' to 24° 58'. The river Bug drains it, and forms the boundary towards Poland. The soil is good, and yields abundant crops of wheat, rye, barley, pease, flax, hops, and tobacco. The woods and meadows are extensive and profitable. The capital is the city of the same name on the river Lug. It contains several Greek and Catholic churches, with Jewish synagogues, a monastery, 540 houses, and 3400 inhabitants, mostly Jews. It is 1070 miles from St Petersburg. Long. 24. 15. E. Lat. 50. 44. 30. N.
WOAHOO, one of the Sandwich Islands, containing, as near as can be conjectured, 60,000 inhabitants. Long, of the anchoring place, 202. 9. E. Lat. 21. 43. N.
WOBURN, a market-town of the county of Bedford, in the hundred of Manshead, forty-two miles from London. It has a market on Friday. It is tolerably well built, but the most prominent object is the magnificent seat of the duke of Bedford, erected on the site of the ancient abbey. Its façade, the interior richly ornamented with pictures and statues, the splendid and appropriate furniture, with the extensive and picturesque park, and the beautiful gardens, attract numerous visitors. The population of the town amounted in 1821 to 1656, and in 1831 to 1827.
WODEVILLE, Αντηονυ, earl of Rivers, brother to the queen of Edward IV., was born in the end of 1442, or in the beginning of 1443. Though one of the most accomplished men of his age, very little is known of his private history. He was early and constantly employed either in the tumults of those turbulent times, or in discharging the duties of some of the highest offices of the state, with which he was invested. Yet he found leisure to cultivate letters, and to be the author of works which, though of little value now, made some noise in that age, when learning was at a low ebb in England. These consisted chiefly of translations from the French; and his lordship, and his printer Caxton, were the first English writers who had the pleasure to see their works published from the press. This accomplished, brave, and amiable nobleman was treacherously imprisoned by Richard III. in Pontefract Castle, where, during his confinement, he composed a short poem, which has been preserved by John Rous of Warwick, and breathes, says Dr Henry, a noble spirit of pious resignation to his approaching fate. He was beheaded on the 23d of June 1483, in the forty-first year of his age.
WODSTOCK, amarket and borough town of the county of Oxford, in the hundred of Wootton, sixty-three miles from London. It stands on a small stream that falls into the Isis. It is pleasantly situated, and contains some good houses. There are two branches of manufacture, that of fine leather gloves, and of good steel cutlery and steel ornaments; but they are more celebrated for the finish of the work than for the extent of their productions. Wodstock returns one member to parliament. There is a good market on Tuesday. The magnificent palace of the duke of Marlborough adjoins the town. The building, the gardens, the park, with the pictures and statues that adorn it, are objects of great attraction; and the numerous visitors to it contribute in some degree to the prosperity of the town. The population in 1821 amounted to 1455, and in 1831 to 1380.
WOKINGHAM, a market-town of Berkshire, in the hundred of Sunning, thirty-two miles from London. It is within Windsor Forest, and the courts by which it is regulated are held here. It has a large market-place, which is well attended on Tuesday, an endowed school; and near it is an hospital, founded in 1663, for a master and six brethren under the direction of the company of the drapers in London. There is also a charity of L.50, to be paid to three maidens who have served the same master during three successive years. The population in 1821 amounted to 2490, and 1831 to 2692.
WOLEIN, a town of the Austrian province of Moravia, in the circle of Iglau. It contains 160 houses, with 1206 inhabitants, who are chiefly occupied in making woollen cloth.
WOLFENBUTTEL, a city of the duchy of Brunswick, in Germany. It is the capital of the province of the same name. It stands on the river Oker, and is surrounded with dilapidated walls. It was formerly the residence of the ruling family, but the palace is converted into a manufactory. There is a fine public library, with more than 200,000 volumes, in which is a statue of the poet Lessing, who was librarian. This city is the principal seat of the law courts. It has three Lutheran churches, 1100 houses, and 8300 inhabitants, who carry on fabrics of linen, silk, and leather, and some breweries and distilleries. Long. 10. 25. 49. E. Lat. 52. 8. 44. N.
WOLLAMAI Cape, the east point of Philip Island, on the south coast of New Holland. Long. 145. 25. E. Lat. 38. 38. S.