pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
BRANDENBURG, one of the larger provinces into which the kingdom of Prussia is divided, and the division from which that powerful monarchy originally sprung. It was at first denominated a marquisate; then the electoral dignity was added to the reigning family; and afterwards, by the acquisition of Prussia, Brandenburg became a portion of the kingdom so called. It is bounded on the north by Mecklenburg, Pomerania, and West Prussia; on the east by Posen and Silesia; on the south by the kingdom of Saxony and the Saxon duchies; and on the west by Anhalt-Dessau, the province of Saxony, and Hanover. The extent is about 15,360 square miles, or near 10,000,000 English acres. It is divided into two circles, Potsdam and Frankfort, which are of nearly equal extent. The civil inhabitants, by the census of 1817, were 1,266,765; but, like those of all the other parts of Prussia, they have rapidly increased, and at the end of 1826 they were 1,479,482. The far greater part of the people are of the Lutheran church, but mixed with Catholics, Calvinists, and other sects, all of which are entitled to equal rights. The whole of the Catholics and smaller sects, including the Jews, do not exceed 30,000 persons. The entire province is nearly a sandy plain, but interspersed with a few fertile spots; and a considerable portion of it is covered with woods. It is generally well watered by streams, most of which empty themselves into the Elbe or the Oder. The chief agricultural product is rye, with some w heat, barley, oats, and buck-wheat. Fruit of all kinds is abundant, as well as culinary vegetables; and considerable quantities of hemp, flax, and hops are raised. The climate is cold and raw in w inter, and excessively hot in summer. The manufactures are chiefly confined to Berlin and the other cities; but the rural inhabitants are employed in spinning or weaving, and produce much linen cloth.

Brandenburg, a city of Prussia, chief of the circle of the West Havell, in the province of its own name. It is an old place, on the banks of the Havell, by which it is divided into the new and the old tow n. It contains an ancient cathedral, six other churches, some charitable institutions, 1320 houses, and (in 1817) 12,004 inhabitants, occupied in making various goods of cotton, woollen, linen, and leather, and in breweries and distilleries. Long. 12. 8. 10. E. Lat 54. 52. 45. N.
BRANDEUM, in ecclesiastical writers, a linen cloth or veil put over the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul, and left there for some time, by which it is supposed to acquire a degree of sanctity, entitling it to be worshipped as a relic; and as such it was frequently sent by the pope as a present to some prince. In this sense Brandeum is the same with what was otherwise called sanctuarium, sudarium, orarium, and velum. The use of brandea was introduced as a means of diffusing and propagating the virtues and influences of relics, without moving, or in any way impairing, the substance of them; the translation of relics in early days being strictly forbidden.
BRANDING, on the face or hand, denotes a punishment inflicted by law for various offences, by burning with a hot iron, after the offender has been admitted to benefit of clergy.
BRANDON, a town in the hundred of Lachford, in the county of Suffolk, 78 miles from London, on the river Little Ouse, by which there is a communication with the sea at Lynn, and much corn is forwarded. The inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 1148, in 1811 to 1360, and in 1821 to 1770.
BRANDRITH denotes a trevet or other iron stand, whereon to set a vessel over the fire.

Brandrith, among builders, denotes a fence or rail about the mouth of a well.
BRANDT, Gerard, a learned divine of the reformed religion, was born at Amsterdam in 1626, and was successively minister in several places of the Netherlands. He wrote some works, particularly A History of the Reformation of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1671-74, in 2 vols. 4to; The Life of Admiral Ruyter; An Account of the Trial of Barneveld, Hoogerbeets, and Grotius, in 16I⅛ [7:5:185]Rotter dam 1619, 4to; and Oratio Funebris Cornelii Hoof-tii, Satrapes Mudani, Amsterdam, 1648; all, except the last, in the Flemish language. He died at Rotterdam in 1685.
BRANDY, a spirituous and inflammable liquor, extracted from wine and other liquors by distillation. The wine-brandy of France is esteemed the best in Europe. It is distilled wherever wine is made, and for this purpose pricked rather than good wine is employed. The chief brandies for foreign trade, and those accounted best, are the brandies of Bourdeaux, Rochelle, Cognac, Charenton, the Isle of Rhé, Orleans, the county of Blasois, Poictou, Touraine, Anjou, Nantes, Burgundy, and Champaigne.
BRANK, an instrument formerly used in some parts of Scotland, and in Staffordshire, for correcting scolding women. It was a sort of head-piece, which opened and inclosed the head of the shrew, while an iron, sharp as a chisel, entered the mouth, and subdued the unruly member within. Thus harnessed, the offender was led in triumph through the streets. Dr Plott, in his History of Staffordshire, has favoured the world with a minute description and figure of the instrument, which is there called a scolding-bridle; and he assures us that he looks upon it “as much to be preferred to the ducking-stool, which not only endangers the health of the party, but also gives the tongue liberty betwixt every dip; to neither of which (he adds) this is at all liable.”
BRASIDA, an anniversary solemnity at Sparta, in memory of Brasidas, a Lacedemonian captain, famous for his achievements at Methone, Pylos, and Amphipolis. It was celebrated with sacrifices and games, in which none were permitted to attend but free-born Spartans. Whosoever neglected to be present at the solemnity was fined.
BRASIDAS, a celebrated general of the Lacedemonians about 424 years before the birth of Christ. He defeated the Athenians by land and sea, took many places, and rendered his native country formidable to all the neighbouring states. He repulsed the Athenians in their attempted surprise of Amphipolis, but died of the wounds he received in that battle. See Attica.
BRASSICA Cabbage. See Horticulture.
BRASSICAVIT, or Braciiicavit, in the manege, means a horse whose fore legs are naturally bent archwise, and who is so called by way of distinction from an arched horse, whose legs are bowed by hard labour.
BRAULS, Indian cloths with blue and white stripes. They are otherwise called turbans, because they serve to cover those ornaments of the head, particularly on the coast of Africa.
BRAUNFELS, a town in the Prussian province of Coblentz, in the circle of Wetzlar-Braunfels. It belongs to t ae duke of that name, formerly a prince, but now mediatised. The castle, on the top of a sugar-loaf hill overlooking the city, is one of the most picturesque objects in Germany. The foot is washed by the Iserbach, and the town is on the side of the hill, so that every part of it is commanded by the castle or ducal residence. It contains about 1500 inhabitants.
BRAUNSBERG, a circle in the Prussian government of Königsberg and province of East Prussia. It extends over 392 square miles, and contains three cities and seventeen parishes,with30,863inhabitants. Though very woody, it produces much good corn and flax. The city, whose name it bears, stands near the Frisehe Haff, which communicates with the Baltie Sea at Pillau. It contains four Catholic churches and one Lutheran, with 645 houses and 6194 inhabitants. Long. 9. 44. 35. E. Lat. 54. 19. 25. N.
BRAURONIA, in Grecian Antiquity, a festival in honour of Diana, surnamed Brauronia, from its having been observed at Brauron, an Athenian borough. This festival was celebrated once in five years, under the management of ten men, called in Greek kοοπο∣ο∣. The victim offered in sacrifice was a goat, and it was customary for certain men to sing portions of Homer’s Iliad. The most remarkable persons at this solemnity were young virgins, habited in yellow gowns, and consecrated to Diana. It was unlawful for any of them to be above ten or under five years of age.
BRAWN, the flesh of a boar soused or pickled. For this end the boar should be old, because the older he is the more horny will the brawn be. The method of preparing brawn is as follows: The boar being killed, it is the flitches only, without the legs, that are made brawn; the bones of these are to be taken out, and the flesh sprinkled with salt and laid in a tray, that the blood may drain off; then it is to be salted a little, and rolled up as hard as possible. The length of the collar of brawn should be as much as one side of the boar will bear, so that when rolled up it may be nine or ten inches in diameter. The collar being thus rolled up, it is to be boiled in a copper or large kettle till it become so tender that a straw may be run through it, and then set by till it is thoroughly cold, and put into a pickle prepared in the following manner: For every gallon of water add a handful or two of salt and as much wheat-bran; boil them together, then drain the bran clear off from the liquor, and when it is quite cold put the brawn into it.
BRAY, Sir Reginald, an architect and politician, was the second son of Sir Richard Bray, one of the privy council to King Henry VI. Sir Reginald was instrumental in the advancement of King Henry VII. to the throne of England, and was greatly in favour with that prince, who bestowed honours and wealth upon him. His skill in architecture appears from Henry VII.'s chapel at Westminster, and the chapel of St George at Windsor; he had a principal concern and direction in building the former, and in finishing and bringing to perfection the latter, to which he was also a liberal benefactor. He died in 1501, and was interred in the above chapel, probably under the stone where Dr Waterland lies; for, on opening the vault to admit the body of that gentleman, who died in 1740, a leaden coffin of ancient form was found, which, by other appearances, was judged to be that of Sir Reginald, and was, by order of the dean, immediately arched over.

Bray, Br Thomas, a learned and pious divine, was born at Marton, in Shropshire, in the year 1656, and educated at Oxford. He was at length presented to the vicarage of Over-Whitacre, in Warwickshire; and in 1690 he obtained the rectory of Sheldon, where he composed his Catechetical Lectures. These procured him such reputation, that Dr Compton, bishop of London, pitched upon him as a proper person to model the infant church of Maryland, and establish it upon a solid foundation; and for that purpose he was invested with the office of commissary. He now engaged in several important undertakings. He caused sums to be raised for purchasing small libraries for the use of the poor ministers in the several parts of our plantations; and the better to promote this design, he published two books. One of these is entitled Bibliotheca Parochialis, or a scheme of such theological and other heads as seem requisite to be perused or [7:5:188]occasionally consulted by the clergy, together with a catalogue of books which may be profitably read on each of those points; the other, Apostolical Charity, its nature and excellency considered. He endeavoured to get a fund established for the propagation of the gospel, especially among the uncultivated Indians; and by his means a patent was obtained for erecting the corporation called The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. By his industry he also procured relief for prisoners, and formed the plan of the society for the reformation of manners, charity schools, and other like purposes. He wrote Martyrology, or Papal Usurpation, in one volume, folio; Directorium Missionarium; and other works. Dr Bray died in 1730, aged seventy-three.

Bray, a small sea-port town of Ireland, in the county of Wicklow, and province of Leinster, situated on the south side of the river Bray. It is ten miles distant from Dublin.
BRAZEN Sea, in Jewish Antiquity, one of the sacred utensils in the temple of Solomon. It was cast in the plain of Jordan, and removed from thence into the inner court of the temple, where it was placed upon twelve oxen, three of which looked towards each quarter of the world. It was ten cubits from the one brim to the other, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference, and contained three thousand baths. The brim of it was perfectly round, and so it continued in the two upper cubits; but below the brim, in the three lower cubits, it was square. It was a hand-breadth in thickness, and the brim was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies. About the body of this huge vessel were two borders of engravings, representing the heads of oxen in demi-relief, and out of these some suppose the water to have issued. This brazen or molten sea was designed for the priests to wash themselves in before they performed the service of the temple. Water was supplied through a pipe out of the well Etam.
BRAZIER, an artificer who makes and deals in all kinds of brass ware.
BRAZING, the soldering or joining two pieces of iron together by means of thin plates of brass, melted between the pieces that are to be joined. If the wotk be very fine, as when two leaves of a broken saw are to be brazed together, it is covered with pulverized borax, melted with water, that it may incorporate with the brass powder, which is added to it; then the piece is exposed to the fire without touching the coals, and heated till the brass is seen to run.

Brazing is also the joining of two pieces of iron together by beating them hot, the one upon the other.
BRAZLAW, a town, the capital of the circle of the same name, in the Russian government of Podolia. It stands on the river Bug, in a very fertile district, and contains about 1200 inhabitants. Long. 28. 51. E. Lat. 48. 52. N.
BREACH, in a general sense, denotes a break or rupture in some part of a fence or inclosure, whether owing to time or violence. Inundations or overflowings of lands are frequently owing to breaches in dikes or sea banks. Dagenham breach is famous; it was made in 1707, by a failure of the Thames wall in a very high tide. The force with which it burst in upon the neighbouring level tore up a large channel or passage for water a hundred yards wide, and in some places twenty feet deep, by which a multitude of subterraneous trees that had been buried many ages before were laid bare.

Breach, in Fortification, is a gap or opening made in any part of the works of a fortress by the cannon or mines of the besiegers, with a view to an assault upon the place. To render the attack more difficult, the besieged sow the breach with crow-feet, stop it up with chevaux de frise, or retrench it by cutting traverses within. A practicable breach is that where men may mount and effect a lodgment, and it ought to be fifteen or twenty fathoms wide. The besiegers sometimes make their way to it by covering themselves with gabions, earth-bags, and the like; but in our army the practice has always been for storming parties to advance to the breach without any cover or protection, and to trust for success to their own daring and perseverance.
BREADALBANE, or Braidalbin, a district of Scotland, in the western part of Perthshire, about thirty-three miles in length by thirty-one in breadth. It is mountainous, and for the most part unproductive. The hills, however, afford pasture for large flocks of sheep, and some of the valleys are cultivated, though not extensively, whilst others are nothing but mosses of peat and heath. Atone extremity lies Loch Lyon, from which the river Lyon issues, and, flowing in a sinuous course, discharges itself into the Tay. In the centre of the district lies Loch Tay, which is about sixteen miles in length, and is surrounded by natural scenery of great beauty and splendour. The country abounds in limestone; and several metals, such as lead and copper, are also found. There is not a town in the district, and the only villages worthy of mention are Kenmore, Killin, and Clifton. It is now traversed by several good roads. In addition to the avocations of agriculture and the breeding of cattle, a part of the inhabitants during summer occupy themselves in collecting a species of lichen from among the rocks, which is used by dyers. The Earl of Breadalbane is the chief proprietor, whose seat is Taymouth, near Kenmore.
BREAK, in a general sense, signifies to divide a thing into several parts with violence. In the art of war, to break ground is to open the trenches before a place. Among sportsmen, to break a horse in trotting, is to make him light upon the hand in trotting, in order to make him fit for a gallop. To break a horse for hunting, is to supple him, to make him take the habit of running.
BREAKERS, a name given by sailors to those billows that break violently over rocks lying under the surface of the sea. They are distinguished both by their appearance and sound, as they cover that part of the sea with a perpetual foam, and produce a hoarse and terrible roaring, very different from the sound which the waves usually produce in a deeper bottom. When a ship is unhappily driven among breakers, it is hardly possible to save her.
BREAM. See Ichthyology, Index.
BREAST, in Anatomy, denotes the fore-parts of the thorax. Smiting the breast is one of the expressions of penitence. In the Romish church the priest beats his breast in rehearsing the general confession at the beginning of the mass.

Breast- Hooks, in Ship-Building, are thick pieces of timber ineurvated into the form of knees, and used to strengthen the fore-part of the ship, where they are placed at different heights directly across the stem, so as to unite it with the bows on each side. The breast-hooks are [7:5:224]strongly connected to the stem and hawse-pieces by treenails, and by bolts driven from without through the planks and hawse-pieces, and the whole thickness of the breasthooks, upon the inside of which these bolts are forelocked or clinched upon rings. They are usually about one third thicker than, and twice as long as, the knees of the decks they support.

BREAST-Plate, in Antiquity, a piece of armour worn to defend the breast, and believed to have been originally formed of hides or hemp, twisted into small cords, but latterly made of brass, iron, or other metals, which are sometimes hardened so as to be proof against the greatest force.

BREAST-Plate, in Jewish Antiquity, one part of the vestments anciently worn by the high-priests. It was a folded piece of the same rich embroidered stuff of which the ephod was made; and it was set with twelve precious stones, on each of which was engraven the name of one of the tribes. They were set in four rows, three in every row, and were divided from one another by little golden squares or partitions, in which they were set. The names of these stones, and those of the tribes engraven on them, as also of their disposition on the breast-plate, were as follow:
[table]

This breast-plate was fastened at the four corners, those above to each shoulder by a golden hook or ring at the end of a wreathed chain; and those below to the girdle of the ephod, by two strings or ribbons, which had likewise two rings and hooks. This ornament was never to be severed from the priestly garment; and it was called the Memorial, to remind the high-priest how dear those tribes ought to be to him, whose names he wore on his breast. It is also called the Breast-plate of Judgment, because it had the divine oracle of Urim and Thummim annexed to it.
BRECON, or Breknock, a market and borough town, the capital of the county of the same name, in South Wales, 168 miles from London, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Hondey and Uske. Its ancient castle, an object of great curiosity to the antiquarian, is said to have been built in the reign of William Rufus. There are several traces of Roman encampments in the vicinity. Its present state is not flourishing, as the manufactures of cloth and of stockings which once existed have been removed to more favourable spots. It contains three churches, and is governed by a corporation, which, with the freemen, returns one member to parliament under the influence of Sir Charles Morgan. There are markets on each Wednesday and Saturday. The inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 2576, in 1811 to 3196, in 1821 to 4193, and in 1831 to 5026.
BREDA, a city, the chief of a circle of the same name, in the province of South Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is well built and strongly fortified, and the country around can be flooded for defence in case of necessity. It is connected with the sea by a navigable canal, which communicates with the mouth of the Maas. It is celebrated for the peace concluded here in 1667. It contains about 1000 houses and 10,500 inhabitants. Long 4. 40. 19. E. Lat. 51. 25. 29. N.

Breda, John Van, an historical and landscape painter, was born at Antwerp in 1683. He was the son of Alexander Van Breda, an artist much esteemed for landscapes, views of particular scenes in Italy, fairs, and markets, with a variety of animals and figures.
BREDSTEDT, a town, the capital of a bailiwick, containing one town and nine parishes, in the duchy of Sleswick and kingdom of Denmark. It stands on the seashore, and contains 309 houses, with 1590 inhabitants. Long. 8. 53. E. Lat. 54. 38. N.
BREECHES, a garment worn by males, reaching from the girdle to the knees, and serving to cover the hips, thighs, and knees. The ancient Romans had nothing in their dress answering to our breeches and stockings; instead of which, under their lower tunics and waistcoats, they sometimes bound their thighs and legs round with silken scarfs or fasciae, which were called tibialia and femoralia. Breeches appear to be a habit peculiar to the barbarous nations, especially those inhabiting the colder countries of the north; and hence Tacitus calls them barbarum tegmen. We find mention made of them among the ancient Getae, Sarmatae, Gauls, Germans, and Britons; they also obtained amongst the Medes and Persians, who were of Scythian origin; and they afterwards got footing in Italy, some say as early as the time of Augustus, but without much foundation, since the breeches of that emperor, mentioned by Suetonius, were apparently only swaths tied round his thighs. But however this be, breeches were at last received into Italy, and became so much in fashion, that it was judged necessary, under Arcadius and Honorius, to restrain them by law, and expel the bracarii or brecches-makers out of the city, it being thought unworthy of a nation which commanded the world to wear the apparel of barbarians.
BREENBERG, Bartholomew, a painter, was born in 1620. He is best known by the name of Bartolomeo, an appellation bestowed upon him, for the sake of distinction, by the society of Flemish painters at Rome called Bentvogels∙ He was born at Utrecht, but in the early part of his life went to Rome. His studies in the art of painting were attended with success, and his pictures were held in much estimation. He particularly excelled in landscapes, which he enriched with historical subjects. The figures and animals which he introduced were very spirited, and drawn in a masterly manner; especially when they were not larger than the size in which he usually painted them. He died in 1660, at the age of forty. He also etched from his own designs a set of twenty-four Views and Landscapes, ornamented with Ruins.
BREEZE, a shifting wind that blows from sea or land during certain hours in the day or night. It is common in Africa and some parts of the East and West Indies. Breezes differ from ctesioe or trade-winds, inasmuch as the former arc diurnal, or have their periods each day, whilst the latter are annual, and blow at a distance from land. The sea-breezes prevail by day and the land-breezes by night, so that they remain as constant as the seasons of the year, or the course of the sun, on which they seem to depend, although they come on sooner or later, stronger or weaker, in some places than in others, and vary according to latitude and other circumstances.
BREGENTZ, the capital of the circle of Voralberg, in the Austrian province of Tyrol, stands on a hill at the south-east end of the lake of Constance. It has three churches, a Dominican monastery, and about 2200 inhabitants, occupied in silk and cotton manufactures, and in making various iron wares.