pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
POTENTIAL, in the schools, is used to denote and distinguish a kind of qualities which are supposed to exist in the body in potentia only; that is, to be capable in some measure of affecting and impressing on us the ideas of such qualities, though not actually inherent in themselves. In this sense we say, potential heat, potential cold, &c.

Potential, in Grammar, an epithet applied to one of the moods of verbs. The potential is the same in form with the subjunctive, and is, according to Ruddiman, implied in that mood, for which reason it is rejected by that grammarian; but others consider that it differs from the subjunctive by always implying in it either possum, volo, or debeo. It is also called the permissive mood, because it often implies a permission or concession to do a thing.
POTIPHAR, or Putiphar, an officer of the court of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and general of his troops, according to our translation, Le Clerc, and the version of the vulgate; but according to the Hebrew and Septuagint, the chief of his butchers or cooks. The Hebrew text, the Septuagint, and vulgate, call him Eunuch. But it is probable it in this place means only an officer of the king’s court, for he was certainly married and had children. We have no other account of him but what appears in Scripture.
POTOMAC, a large river of North America, which forms through its whole course the boundary between the states of Maryland and Virginia. It rises in the Alleghany Mountains, and flowing in a north-easterly direction towards Pennsylvania, it forms a junction with the Shenandoah at Harper’s Ferry, and then makes its celebrated passage through South Mountain. At its embouchure it is seven miles and a half in breadth; and at Alexandria, 290 miles from the occan, it is one mile and a quarter in breadth. Tide-water reaches about 300 miles from the Atlantic; and for nearly that distance the Potomac is navigable for the largest vessels. The river is seven fathoms deep at its mouth, five at St George’s Island, three at Swan’s Point, and thence to Alexandria of the same depth. The length of its course, the curvatures included, is considerably above 300 miles.
POTSDAM, one of the provinces into which the kingdom of Prussia is divided. It is bounded on the north by the duehies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz, on the north-east by Pomerania, on the east by Frankfort, on the south by Saxony, on the south-west by the duchy of Anhalt-Dessau, on the west by Prussian Saxony, and on the north-west by the kingdom of Hanover. It extends over 8272 square miles, and comprehends 67 cities, or places once fortified, 16 market-towns, and 1319 villages, besides scattered houses, and distinct agricultural establishments[7:18:500]. It is divided into thirteen circles. The population, which in 1817 consisted of 696,878 individuals, had increased in 1826 to 812,138, and has gone on augmenting up to the present time. With the exception of about 3000 Catholics, and about 2000 Jews, the whole of the inhabitants profess the Protestant religion. The land is generally level, and though tolerably cultivated, is by no means productive, though there are some local exceptions. It is provided with great natural means of access to the sea by the navigable river Havel, which falls into the Elbe, and which affords a communication between the different portions of the province. The capital of this province is the city of the same name, the first in exterior beauty in the Prussian dominions. It is situated twenty-one miles from Berlin, on an island about eighteen miles in circumference, formed by some lakes and canals, and by the river Nuthe, which here joins the Havel. Potsdam contains seven Protestant and one Catholic church, and a synagogue for the Jews. The inhabitants arc about 26,000, the dwellings 1640. The civil population does not exceed 16,000 persons. The others are either military, or those employed in the fabrication of arms. The muskets for the troops are made at Spandau, but are fitted with locks and finished at Potsdam. There are manufactories carried on of silk and cotton, of leather, of cloth, of snuff', of musical and mathematical instruments, and some large breweries and distilleries.
POTTEN, a market-town of Bedfordshire, in the hundred of Biggleswade, forty-nine miles from London. It is wellbuilt now,havingbeen burned down in 1785, after which for some time the inhabitants lived under tents. It is in a fertile district, and has a good market on Saturday. The population amounted in 1801 to 1103, in 1811 to 1154, in 1821 to 1498, and in 1831 to 1768.
POTTER, Christopher, a learned English divine, was born in 1591, and bred at Oxford. In 1633, he published his Answer to a late Popish Plot, entitled Charity Mistaken, which he wrote by special order of Charles I., whose chaplain he was. In 1634, he was promoted to the deanery of Worcester; and, in 1640, was constituted vice-chancellor of the university of Oxford, in the execution of which office he met with some trouble from the members of the Long Parliament. Upon the breaking out of the civil wars, he sent all his plate to the king, declaring that he would rather, like Diogenes, drink in the hollow of his hand, than that his majesty should want; and he afterwards suffered much for the royal cause. In consideration of this he was nominated to the deancry of Durham in 1646, but was prevented from being installed by his death, which happened about two months thereafter.

Potter, John, D.D., Archbishop of Canterbury, was the son of a linen-draper at Wakefield in Yorkshire, where he was born about the year 1674. He studied at University College, Oxford; and at the age of nineteen he published, Variantes Lectiones et Notae ad Plutarcìù librum ad audiendis poetis; et ad Basilii Magni orationem ad juvenes, quomodo cum fractu legere possint Graecorum libros, 1693, 8vo. In 1697, came out his edition of Lycophron, in folio, which is reckoned the best of that obscure writer; and soon after, he published his antiquities of Greece, in two vols. 8vo. These works established his literary reputation, and engaged him in a correspondence with Graevius and other learned foreigners. In 1706, he was made chaplain to the queen; in 1715, bishop of Oxford; and in 1737, he succeeded Archbishop Wake in thesec of Canterbury, which high station he supported with much dignity until his death in 1747. He was a learned and exemplary churchman; but not of an amiable disposition, being too strongly tinctured with the pride of office. Nor is it to his credit that he disinherited his eldest son for marrying below his rank in life. His theological works, containing sermons, charges, discourses on church government, and divinity lectures, were printed at Oxford in 3 vols. 8vo, 1753.
POULTON, a market-town in the county of Lancaster, and hundred of Amounderness, 235 miles from London. It is on the sea-shore, near the mouth of the river Wye, and communicates by a canal with most of the rivers of the county. It has a market on Monday. The population of the town was, in 1801, 769; in 1810, 926; in 1821, 1011; and in 1831, 1025; but the whole parish contains five townships, and at the last census 4080 inhabitants.
POULTRY, all kinds of domestic fowls brought up in yards, as cocks, hens, and the like. See Agriculture.
POUND, a standard weight, for the proportion and subdivisions of which, see the article Weights and Measures. Pound also denotes a money of account, so called because the ancient pound of silver weighed a pound troy.
POUNDAGE, a subsidy of twelve pence in the pound, granted to the crown on all goods and merchandises exported or imported; and if by aliens, one penny more.
POUSSIN, Nicholas, an eminent French painter, born in lo94, at Andel, a little city in Normandy, where his father was of noble extraction, but born to a small estate. Being invited to Paris by Louis XIII., who assigned him a pension and lodgings in the Tnilleries, he painted for Prince Justiniani an historical picture representing Herod’s cruelty; an admirable composition, in which he gave such expression to every character, as could not fail to strike the beholder with terror and pity. He then laboured for several years on the celebrated pictures of the seven sacraments of the Catholic church. But none of Poussin’s designs have been more generally admired than that of the death of Germanicus, which would have gained him immortal honour if he had never painted another picture. He began the labours of Hercules in the gallery of the Louvre; but the faction of Vouet’s school railing at him and his performances, put him so out of humour with his own country, that he returned to Rome, where he died in 1665. He never went beyond easel-pieces, for which he had a perpetual demand; and his method was to fix the price he expected on the back of the canvass, which was readily paid.

Poussin, Gaspar. This painter, whose real name was Dughet, was born at Paris in 1600, and was induced to travel to Rome, not only from a love of the art of painting, but also to visit his sister, who was married to Nicholas Poussin. Sandrat says that Gaspar was employed at first only to prepare the pallet, pencils, and colours for Nicholas; but by the precepts and example of that excellent master, he gradually rose to the highest reputation, and is undoubtedly one of the best landscape painters that ever appeared. Whilst he continued at Rome he dropped his own name, and assumed that of his brother-in-law and benefactor, by which only he is now known. He died in 1662.
POUTEOU, or Pooroo, a small island off the coast of China, a little to the east of Tehnsan. It is represented as a beautiful spot, containing numerous temples.
POVERTY Bay, on the east coast of New Holland, in the South Pacific Ocean, discovered by Captain Cook in 1769. Long. 181. 36. W. Lat. 38. 42. S.
POWALLY, a town of Hindustan, in the province of Tinnevelly, twenty miles south-west from Madura. Long. 77. 59. E. Lat. 9. 39. N.
POWANGHUR, a celebrated hill-fort of Hindustan, province of Gujerat. It rises nearly perpendicular to the immense height of six hundred yards, and is inaccessible except on the north side, which is fortified with fine walls. A small rock rises on the summit, on which stands a Hindu temple. It was taken by the British, after a very slight resistance, in 1803. Long. 73. 39. E. Lat. 22. 31. N.
PRACELS, a range of small islands and rocks in the Chinese Sea, about sixty miles to the east of Cochin-China. They are of dangerous navigation, from the currents that run between them. Length, 300 miles; breadth, 60; from long. 110. to 111. E. and lat. 11. 40. to 16. 10. N.
PRAEMUNIRE, in English Law, a writ of citation.
PRAENESTE, in Ancient Geography, a town of Latium, to the south-east of Rome, towards the territory of the Aequi. It is a place of great strength, and famous for the temple and oracle of Fortune, called Sortes Praenestinae.
PRAGMATIC SANCTION, in the civil law, is defined by Hottoman to be a rescript or answer of the sovereign, delivered by advice of his council, to some college, order, or body of people, upon consulting him on some case of their community. The like answer given to any particular person is called simply rescript.

The term pragmatic sanction is chiefly applied to a settlement of Charles VI. emperor of Germany, who, in the year 1722, having no sons, settled his hereditary dominions on his eldest daughter, the archduchess Maria Theresa, which was confirmed by the diet of the empire, and guaranteed by Great Britain, France, the States-General, and most of the powers in Europe.
PRAGUE, a city, the capital of the Austrian kingdom of Bohemia. It is nearly in the centre of the kingdom, on the river Moldau, which runs to the Elbe on its way to the ocean, and divides the city into two parts. There is over the river one of the finest ancient bridges in Europe, 1800 feet in length, consisting of sixteen arches, and adorned with twenty-eight statues of saints and martyrs.

The city is built on seven hills, and the streets are consequently irregular; the houses are very antique and large, and the compass of the whole is said to be nine miles. It [7:18:503]contains numerous public buildings, amongst others the metropolitan cathedral, dedicated to St. Beit, with twelve highly-decorated side chapels, besides which, are no less than forty-six other Catholic churches, and several monasteries and nunneries. The palace of the ancient kings of Bohemia has been converted into a citadel; but a more modern one, now used as a Stadthouse, is of vast extent, containing 150 apartments, with a hall near equal in size to that of Westminster. There is a university, one of the oldest in Germany, in which degrees are obtained in the four faculties of law, medicine, theology, and philosophy. It has connected with it a library of 100,000 volumes; a botanic garden, an astronomical observatory, and collections of natural history. There are forty-four professors, and the students, which were in 1816, only 8798, had increased, and in 1823, were 1348. This seminary may be considered the birthplace of the reformation of religion, as John Huss and Jerome exercised in it the right of free inquiry, and became victims to it nearly one hundred years before the appearance of Luther. There are also several societies for the promotion of learning, of the sciences, and of the fine arts. The institutions for the maintenance of the poor, for affording medical aid, and for other benevolent purposes, are numerous and well conducted. The inhabitants, like those of all Europe, have greatly increased since the treaty of Vienna in 1815. In that year they were 67,730 Christians, and 6,783 Jews; in 1817, they were 79,606, from which, by regular increase, they had grown up, in 1827, to 107,325.

The chief trade is that which arises from its central position, and from its being the seat of the local government; but there are manufactures of gold, si!ver, jewellery, and other luxuries, as well as others, for internal consumption, of silk, cotton, linen, and woollen goods, and for cutlery and haberdashery wares; there are also large breweries and distilleries. The city is fortified; but, from being commanded by hills, is scarcely defensible; but it has been the theatre of many bloody actions. A battle was fought in 1620 on the white plains a few miles from the city, between the Elector Palatine and the Austrians, when the success of the latter caused the independence of Bohemia to expire. It was besieged by the French in 1751, and by the Prussians, who bombarded it in 1757; but in both cases the resistance was attended with success. Lat. 50. 5∙ 33. Long. 14. 49. 40.
PRAAM, a kind of lighter used in Holland and the ports of the Baltic sea, to carry the cargo of a merchant-ship alongside, in order to lade or to bring it to shore to be lodged in the storehouses after being discharged out of the vessel.
PRATINAS, a Greek poet contemporary with Aeschylus,and born at Phlius. He was the first amongst the Greeks who composed satires, which were represented as farces. Of these, thirty-two were acted, as also eighteen of his tragedies, one of which only obtained the poetical prize. Some of his verses are extant, quoted by Athenaeus.
PRATO, a city of the duchy of Tuscany, in Italy, the capital of a district called a vicarate, of the same name, in the circle of Florence. It stands on the river Bisenzeo. It is surrounded with walls and ditches. It contains some handsome plazas, a theatre, a cathedral, twelve parish and seventeen monastic churches, four hospitals, and 10,000 inhabitants, who make linen and woollen cloths, paper, copper ware, and other articles, and draw from quarries some good millstone.
PRASLIN, an island in the eastern seas, one of the group called the Sechettis. It contains an excellent harbour, well sheltered by small islands from every wind. The interior is lofty, and covered with trees. Long. 55. 47. E. Lat. 4. 19∙ S.
PRATUS ISLES, a cluster of islands, shoals, and large rocks, in the Chinese sea, about 300 miles S.S.E. of Canton. The principal island, called Prata, is surrounded by a very extensive shoal of uncertain extent. They are six leagues in extent from north to south, and stretch three or four leagues to the east. Long. 116.45. E. Lat. 23. 50. N.
PRAXAGORAS, a native of Athens, who, at nineteen years of age composed the History of the Kings of Athens, in two books; and at twenty-two wrote the Life of Constantine the Great, in which, though a pagan, he speaks very advantageously of that prince. He also wrote the History of Alexander the Great. Praxagoras lived under Constantine, about the year 345.
PRAXITELES, a very famous Greek sculptor, who lived 330 years before Christ, during the rcign of Alexander the Great. All the ancient writers mention his statues with high commendation, especially a Venus executed by him for the city of Cnidus, which was so admirable a piece, that Nicoedes offered to release the inhabitants from their tribute as the purchase of it; but they refused to part with it. The inhabitants of the isle of Cos requested of Praxiteles a statue of Vcmis; and in consequence of this application the artist gave them their choice of two, one of them representing the goddess entirely naked, and the other covered with drapery. Both of these were of exquisite workmanship. Although the former was esteemed the most beautiful, nevertheless the inhabitants of Cos had the wisdom to give the preference to the latter, from a conviction that no motive whatever could justify their introducing into their city any indecent statues or paintings, which are so likely to inflame the passions of young people, and lead them to immorality and vice.
PREADAMITE, a denomination given to the inhabitants of the earth, conceived, by some people, to have lived before Adam.

Isaac de la Pereyra, in 1G55, published a book to evince the reality of Preadamites, by which he gained a considerable number of proselytes to the opinion; but the answer of Desmarets, professor of theology at Gröningen, published the year folloAving, put a stop to its progress, though Pereyra made a reply.
PREBEND, the maintenance a prebendary receives out of the estate of a cathedral or collegiate church. Prebends are distinguished into simple and dignitary. A simple prebend has no more than the revenue for its support; but a prebend with dignity has always a jurisdiction annexed to it.
PREBENDARY, an ecclesiastic who enjoys a prebend. The difference between a prebendary and a canon is, that the former receives his prebend in consideration of his officiating in the church, but the latter merely by his being received into the cathedral or college.
PRECEDENCE, a place of honour to Avhich a person is entitled. This is either of courtesy or of right. The former is that which is due to age, estate, or the like, and is regulated by custom and civility; the latter is settled by authority, and when broken in upon, gives an action at laAV.

In Great Britain, the order of precedency is as follows: The king, the princes of the blood, the archbishop of Canterbury, the lord high chancellor, the archbishop of York, the lord treasurer of England, the lord president of the council, the lord privy seal, dukes, the eldest sons of dukes of the blood royal, marquises, dukes’ eldest sons, earls, marquises’ eldest sons, dukes’ younger sons, viscounts, earls’ eldest sons, marquises’ younger sons, bishops, barons, speaker of the house of commons, lord commissioner of the great seal, viscounts’ eldest sons, earls’ younger sons, barons’ eldest sons, privy counsellors not peers, chancellor of the exchequer, chancellor of the duchy, knights of the Garter not peers, lord chief justice of the king’s bench, master of the rolls, lord chief justice of the common pleas, lord chief baron of the exchequer, puisne judges and barons, knights banneret if made in the field, masters in chancery, viscounts* younger sons, barons’ younger sons, baronets, knight banneret, knights of the Bath, knights batchelors, baronets’ eldest sons, knights’ eldest sons, baronets’ younger sons, knights’ younger sons, field and flag officers, doctors graduate, serjeants at law, esquires, gentlemen bearing coat armour, yeomen, tradesmen, artificers, labourers. It is to be observed, the ladies, except those of archbishops, bishops, and judges, take place according to the degree of quality of their husbands; and unmarried ladies take place according to that of their fathers.
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PRECORDIA, in Anatomy, a general name for the parts situated about the heart, in the forepart of the thorax; as the diaphragm, pericardium, and even the heart itself, with the spleen, lungs, &c.
PREDECESSOR, properly signifies a person who has preceded or gone before another in the same office or employment; in which sense it is distinguished from ancestor.
PREDETERMINATION, in Philosophy and Theology, is that concurrence of God which makes men act, and determines them in all their actions, both good and evil, and is called by the schoolmen physical predetermination or premotion.
PREDICABLE, amongst logicians, denotes a general quality which may be predicated or asserted of several things.
PREDICAMENT, amongst logicians, is the same thing with category.
PREDICATE, in Logic, is that which, in a proposition, is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, snow is white, and ink is not white ; whiteness is the predicate which is affirmed of snow, and denied of ink.
PREETZ, a town of the Danish dimensions, in Holstein, situated on a lake connected with the Baltic sea. It has a very extensive and rich monastic institution, with some valuable estates belonging to it, though many have been secularised. It is, however, the richest Protestant institution remaining of that kind. The town, with the cloister, contains 400 houses, and 3060 inhabitants.
PREFACE, something introductory to a book, to inform the reader of the design and method observed therein, and generally whatever is necessary to the understanding of a work.
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PREFECT, in ancient Rome, one of the chief magistrates who governed in the absence of the kings, consuls, and emperors.

This power was greatest under the emperors. The chief care of the prefect was the government of the city; as taking cognizance of all crimes committed therein or within a hundred miles thereof. He judged capitally and finally, and even presided in the senate. He had also the superintendence of provisions, building, and navigation.
PREJUDICE, or Prejudgment, from prae and judicium, means a judgment formed beforehand, without examination; the preposition prae expressing an anticipation, not so much of time as of knowledge and due attention; and hence the schoolmen have called it anticipation and & preconceived opinion. See Metaphysics.
PRELATE, an ecclesiastic raised to some eminent and superior dignity in the church; as bishops, archbishops, and patriarchs.
PRELIMINARY, in general, denotes something to be examined and determined before an affair can be treated of on its own merits.
PRELUDE, in Music, is usually a flourish or irregular air,’which a musician plays offhand, to try if his instrument be in tune, and to lead him into the piece to be played.
PREMISES, in Logic, an appellation given to the two first propositions of a syllogism.
PREMIUM, or Praemium, properly signifies a reward or recompense; but it is chiefly used in a mercantile sense for the sum of money given to an insurer, whether of ships, houses, lives, or other subjects.