pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
MATAN, a small island amongst the Philippines, near the port of Sibu, where the celebrated Magellan was killed in 1521, in an engagement with the natives.
MATARAM, a large town of Asia, formerly the capital of an empire of that name in the island of Java. It is strong by situation, and is seated in a very fertile, pleasant, and populous country, surrounded with mountains. Long. 111. 25. E. Lat. 7. 55. S.
MATARO, a city of the province of Catalonia, in Spain. It is about four leagues from Barcelona, in a fertile district, which produces large quantities of the red wine called Bencarlo. It is also a place of considerable manufactures, and makes silks of various kinds, cotton goods, laces, and glass ware. It contains about 15,000 inhabitants, who are very industrious and rich.
MATCH, a kind of rope, slightly twisted, and prepared to retain fire for the uses of artillery, mines, fireworks, and the like.
MATE of a Ship of War, an officer under the direction of the master, by whose choice he is generally appointed, to assist him in the several branches of his duty. Accordingly, he is to be particularly attentive to the navigation in his watch, to keep the log regularly, and examine the line and glasses by which the ship’s course is measured, and to adjust the sails to the wind in the fore part of the ship. He is to have a diligent attention to the cables, seeing that they are well coiled and kept clean when laid in the tier, and sufficiently served when employed to ride the ship. Finally, he is to superintend and assistat the stowage of the hold, taking especial care that all the ballastand provisions are properly stowed therein.

Mate of a Merchant Ship, the officer who commands in the absence of the master thereof, and shares the duty with him at sea; being charged with everything that regards the internal management of the ship, the direction of her course, and the government of her crew.
MATERA, a city, the capital of a district of the same name, in the province of Basilicata, in the kingdom of Naples. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Matera and Acerenza, is well built, and contains, besides a cathedral, six monasteries, with their churches, a collegiate institution for the education of nobles, and a Latin public school. The .population amounts to 11,150.
MATERIA MEDICA. The signification given to this term by different authors has varied very much indeed, some employing it to denote the whole range, and others only a particular department, of that branch of medical science which relates to the means employed for the prevention or in the treatment of diseases. Prophylactic or preventive and remedial or curative means may be re-ferred[7:14:313] to three principal divisions; 1st, the performance of manual operations; 2d, the regulation of what have been termed the non-naturals, as of diet, exercise, temperature, clothing, &c.; and, 3d, the employment of medicinal sub- • stances. Manual operations, as far as their mode of performance is concerned, fall under the domain of surgery; the regulation of the non-naturals is the object of dietetics and hygiene. As to the third division, medicinal substances, they may be considered either in reference to the sources from which they are derived, or to the modes in which they are prepared for medical use; or they may be considered, along with the other two classes of means, in reference to the immediate purposes for which they are employed in the treatment of diseases, and the indications which they are intended to fulfil. Now, the term materia medica has by some been understood as embracing the consideration of remedies in all these respects. But by others, and, as we conceive, more correctly, it has been limited to signify the natural and commercial history of medicinal substances. Those processes by which medicinal substances are fitted for use constitute the department of pharmacy, whilst the purposes for which remedies are employed form the objects of consideration in therapeutics. Some have employed the word pharmacology as a general term, to include the whole of the knowledge that has been obtained relative to remedies.

The natural and commercial history of medicinal substances, materia medica properly so called, and the means by which they arc rendered fit for internal administration or external application in the treatment of diseases, or pharmacy, are subjects of great importance to the medical practitioner; but it would scarcely be possible to render them interesting to the general reader, and we are unwilling, therefore, to occupy our pages in their discussion. The case is different, however, in regard to the action of remedies upon the human economy, or therapeutics. It is, we think, of great importance that the public generally should understand what are the immediate objects which medical practitioners propose to themselves to effect by the administration of remedies in the treatment of diseases, or the changes in the morbid actions of the economy, by which they endeavour to restore it to a healthy condition. The want of accurate notions on this subject is the source of much of that encouragement which quackery receives, whether practised by irregular or by regular practitioners, and which unfortunately is by no means confined to the less educated classes of society. Under the article Therapeutics, therefore, we shall endeavour to give a popular view of medical indications, and of the means by which they may be fulfilled.
MATERIAL denotes something composed of matter, in which sense the word is opposed to immaterial. See Metaphysics.
MATERIALISTS, a sect in the ancient church, composed of persons who, being prepossessed with the maxim of the ancient philosophy, Ex nihilo nihil fit, out of nothing can arise nothing, had recourse to an eternal matter, upon which they supposed that God wrought in the creation, instead of admitting that God alone was the sole cause of the existence of all things. Tertullian vigorously opposes the doctrine of the materialists in his treatise against Hermogenes, who was one of their number.

Materialists is also a name given to those who maintain that the soul of man is material; or that the principle of perception and thought is not a substance distinct from the body, but merely a result of corporeal organization. (See Metaphysics.) There are others called by this name, who, like Spinoza, have maintained that there is nothing but matter in the universe, and that the Deity himself is material.
MATLOCK, a town and parish of the county of Derby and hundred of Wirksworth, 144 miles from London. It is situated on the river Derwent, in a most picturesque situation, and is chiefly remarkable for its warm springs, celebrated for the cure of incipient consumptions, for which they are very much resorted to. The scenery around is highly picturesque; and the air, though warmed by the springs, remarkably pure, so that even in winter the atmosphere is genial. The accommodations for visitors are good and economical, and the objects of attraction are numerous, especially a cavern and the petrifying spring. Near to the village are the extensive cotton-works constructed by the late Sir Richard Arkwright, and now conducted by his family. Many of the inhabitants of Matlock are employed in converting the spars found here into ornamental articles of various kinds. The population amounted in 1801 to 2354, in 1811 to 2490, in 1821 to 2920, and in 1831 to 3262.
MATRICE, or Matrix, in dyeing, is applied to the five simple colours, from which all the rest are derived. These are, the black, white, blue, red, and yellow or root colour.

Matrices used by the letter-founders, are those little pieces of copper or brass, at one end of which are engraven, dentwise, or en creux, the several characters used in the composing of books. Each character, each virgula, and even each point in a discourse, has its respective matrix, and consequently its puncheon to strike it.

Matrices, used in coining, are pieces of steel in the form of dies, on which are engraven the several figures, arms, characters, and legends, wherewith the species are to be stamped. The engraving is performed with several puncheons, which, being formed in relievo, or prominent, when struck on the metal, make an indented impression, which the French call en creux.
MATRICULA, a register kept of the admission of officers and persons entered into any body or society of which a list is made. Hence those who are admitted into our universities are said to be matriculated. Amongst ecclesiastical authors, we find mention made of two kinds of matricule; the one containing a list of the ecclesiastics, called matricula clericoum, and the other of the poor subsisted at the expense of the church, called matricula pauperum. Matricula was also applied to a kind of alms-house, where the poor were provided for. It had certain revenues appropriated to it, and was usually built near the church, whence also the name was frequently given to the church itself.
MATRONALIA, a Roman festival instituted by Romulus, and celebrated on the kalends of March, in honour of Mars. It was particularly observed by matrons, and bachelors were entirely excluded from any share in the solemnity. During this festival the men sent presents to the women, for which a return was made by .them at the Saturnalia, and the women now gave the same indulgence to their servants which the men gave to theirs at the feast of Saturn, serving them at table, and treating them as superiors.
MATROSSES are soldiers in the train of artillery, who are next to the gunners, and assist them in loading, firing, and sponging the great guns. They carry firelocks, and march along with the store waggons, both as a guard, and also to afford assistance in case a waggon should break down.
MATSMAI, a large town, the capital of the island of Japan, at the southern extremity of the island. Golownin, who was taken prisoner by the Japanese, and here confined, supposes its population to amount to 50,000.
MATT, in a ship, is a name given to rope-yarn, junk, or the like, beaten flat, interwoven, and used to preserve the yards from galling or rubbing, in hoisting or lowering them.
MATTER, in common language, is a word of the same import with body, and denotes that which is tangible, visible, and extended; but amongst philosophers it signifies that substance of which all bodies are composed, and in this sense it is synonymous with element.

It is only by the senses that we have any communication with the external world; but the immediate objects of sense philosophers have in general agreed to term qualities, which they conceive as inhering in something that is called their subject or substratum. It is this substratum of sensible qualities which, in the language of philosophy, is denominated matter; so that matter is not that which we immediately see or handle, but the concealed subject or support of visible and tangible qualities. What the moderns term qualities, was by Aristotle and his followers called form; but, as far as the two doctrines are intelligible, there appears to be no essential difference between them. From the moderns we learn that body consists of matter and qualities; and the Peripatetics taught the same thing when they said that body is composed of matter and form.

How philosophers were led to analyse body into matter and form, or, to use modern language, into matter and qualities; what kind of existence they attributed to each; and whether matter must be conceived as self-existent or created; these arc questions which will be considered afterwards. (See Metaphysics.) It is sufficient here to have defined the term.
MATTHEW, or Gospel of St Mαττhεw, a canonical book of the New Testament. St Matthew wrote his gospel [7:14:325]in Judaea, at the request of those whom he had converted; and it is thought he began in the year forty-one, eight years after Christ’s resurrection. It was written, according to the testimony of all the ancients, in the Hebrew or Syriac language; but the Greek version, which now passes for the original, is as old as the apostolical times.

St Matthew the Evangelist ’ s Day, a festival of the Christian church, observed on the 21st of September.

St Matthew, the son of Alpheus, was also called Levi. He was of Jewish origin, as both his names discover, and probably a Galilean. Before his call to the apostleship, he was a publican or toll-gatherer to the Romans, an office of bad repute amongst the Jews, on account of the covetousness and exaction of those who managed it. St Matthew’s office particularly consisted in collecting the customs of all merchandise that came by the Sea of Galilee, and the tribute payable by passengers who went by water; and here it was that he sat at the receipt of custom when our Saviour called him to be a disciple. It is probable that, living at Capernaum, Christ’s usual place of residence, he might have some knowledge of him before he was called. St Matthew immediately expressed his satisfaction in being called to this high dignity, by entertaining our Saviour and his disciples at a great dinner at his house, whither he invited all his friends, especially those of his own profession, hoping probably that they might be influenced by the company and conversation of Christ. St Matthew continued with the rest of the apostles till after our Lord’s ascension. For the first eight years afterwards he preached in Judaea. Then he betook himself to propagating the gospel amongst the Gentiles, and chose Ethiopia as the scene of his apostolical ministry, where, it is said, he suffered martyrdom, but by what kind of death is altogether uncertain. It is pretended, but without any foundation, that Hyrtacus, king of Ethiopia, desiring to marry Iphigenia, the daughter of his brother and predecessor Aeglippus, and the apostle having represented to him that he could not lawfully do it, the enraged prince ordered his head to be immediately cut off. Baronius tells us, the body of St Matthew was transported from Ethiopia to Bithynia, and was thence carried to Salernum in the kingdom of Naples, where it was found in 1080, and where Duke Robert built a church bearing his name.

Matthew of Paris. See Paris. Matthew of Westminster, a Benedictine monk and accomplished scholar, who wrote a history from the beginning of the world to the end of the reign of Edward I. under the title of Elores Historiarum, which was afterwards continued by other hands. He died in 1380.

Matthew, St, an uninhabited island, situated off the western coast of Lower Siam, belonging to the Burmans. Long. 97. 30. E. Lat. 9. 35. N.
MATTHIAS, St, an apostle, was chosen instead of Judas. He preached in Judaea and part of Ethiopia, and suffered martyrdom. (See the Acts of the Apostles, chap, i.) There was a gospel published under Matthias’s name, but it was rejected as spurious; there were likewise some traditions, which met with the same fate.

St Matthias’s Day, a festival of the Christian church, observed on the 24th of February. St Matthias was an apostle of Jesus Christ, but not of the number of the twelve chosen by Christ himself. He obtained this high honour upon a vacancy in the college of the apostles, occasioned by the treason and death of Judas Iscariot. The choice fell on Matthias by lot; his competitor being Joseph called Barsabas, and surnamed Justus. Matthias was qualified for the apostleship by having been a constant attendant upon our Saviour during all the time of his ministry. He was probably one of the seventy disciples. After our Lord’s resurrection, he preached the gospel, first in Judaea, and afterwards, it appears, travelled eastward, his residence being principally near the junction of the river Apsarus and the haven of Hyssus. The barbarous people treated him with great rudeness and inhumanity; and, after many labours and sufferings in converting great numbers to Christianity, he obtained the crown of martyrdom, but by what kind of death is uncertain. There existed a gospel ascribed to St Matthias, but it was universally rejected as spurious.
MATURA, a town and fortress situated near the southern extremity of Ceylon. The surrounding country is covered with long grass and wood, and is the resort of savages and wild animals; but it is valuable from the abundance of elephants which are found here, and which are esteemed equal, if not superior, to any in India. In the vicinity of the town is a celebrated temple of Buddh.
MATVIEIEF, an island lying off the coast of Asiatic Russia, near the Straits of Waigatz, and included in the government of Archangel.

Μ AT WAR, a district of Hindustan, in the Mahratta territories, province of Khandesh, situated between the twenty-first and twenty-second degrees of north latitude. The Tuptee, which is the principal river, bounds it on the south-west, and the chief towns are Sultanpore and Akrauny.
MAUBEUGE, a city of the department of the North, and in the arrondissement of Avesnes, in France. It is strongly fortified, and stands on the river Sambre. It is a well-built place, containing 600 houses, with 5000 inhabitants, many of whom are occupied in making nails, articles of jewellery, and ornaments of marble; but the principal occupation of the inhabitants is the making of firearms, both for the cavalry and the infantry, and elegant fowling-pieces, which employ also many workmen in the adjoining villages.
MAULEON, an arrondissement of the department of the Lower Pyrenees, in France, 511 square miles in extent. It comprehends six cantons, divided into 147 communes, and contains 66,400 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name situated on the Gave de Saizan. It contains only 1130 inhabitants, who chiefly depend on the cultivation of vineyards. Long. 0. 59. W. Lat. 43. 12. N.
MAUNCH, in Heraldry, the figure of an ancient coat sleeve, borne in many gentlemen’s escutcheons.
MAUNDY Thursday is the Thursday in passion week, which was called Maunday or Mandate Thursday, from the command which our Saviour gave his apostles to commemorate him in the Lord’s Supper, which he instituted on that day; or from the new commandment which he gave them to love one another, after he had washed their feet as a token of his love, and also as a lesson of humility to them.
MAUR, St, was a celebrated disciple of St Benedict. If we can believe a life of St Maur ascribed to Faustus his companion, he was sent by Benedict on a mission to France. But this life is considered as apocryphal. In rejecting it, however, as well as the circumstances of the mission, we must beware of denying the mission itself. It is certain that it was believed in France as early as the ninth century; and notwithstanding the silence of Bede, Gregory of Tours, and others, there are several documents which prove this, or at least render it extremely probable. A celebrated society of Benedictines took the name of St Maur in the beginning of the seventeenth century, and received the sanction of Pope Gregory XV. in 1621. This society was early distinguished by the virtue and the learning of its members, and has produced many works which are deservedly held in high estimation for their great and varied erudition. See L’ Histoire Littéraire de lα Congregation de St Maur, published by Dorn Tassin at Paris under the name of Brussels, 1770, in 4to.
MAURA, or Mobidie, one of the smallest of the Society Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean, being about fifteen miles in circuit, and surrounded by a coral reef of rocks.
MAURIAC, an arrondissement of the department of Cantal, in France, extending over 500 square miles. It comprehends six cantons, which are divided into sixty-three communes, and contains 62,400 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name, which is built of a aasalt on a basaltic rock, and contains 360 houses, with a ιopulation, including the parish, of 3450. Its chief trade consists in the sale of horses and cows reared in the neigh- )ourhood, and which are of great repute. Long. 2. 14. E. Lat. 45. 10. N.
MAUSOLEUM, a magnificent tombor sepulchral monument. The word is derived from Mausolus king of Caria, to whom Artemisia his widow erected a stately monument, esteemed one of the wonders of the world, and called it from his own name, Mausoleum.
MAWBALLYPORE, a small town of Hindustan, in the province of Bahar, situated on the east side of the Soane river, 35 miles S. W. of Patna. Long. 84. 50. E. Lat. 25. 20. N.
MAWS, St. a small town of Cornwall, which was entitled to send two members to parliament, but has been disfranchised by the reform law. It is in the parish of St Just, and the hundred of Powden, 269 miles from London. The population of the whole parish was, in 1801,1416; in 1811, 1639; in 1821, 1648; and in 1831, 1556.
MAXIMUM, in Mathematics, denotes the greatest quantity attainable in any given case.

If a quantity conceived to be generated by motion increases or decreases till it arrives at a certain magnitude or position, and then, on the contrary, grow s greater or less, and it be required to determine the said magnitude or position, the question is called a problem de maximis et minimis.
MAXIMUS, a celebrated Cynic philosopher and magician of Ephesus. He instructed the emperor Julian in magic; and, according to the opinion of some historians, it was in the conversation and company of Maximus that the apostacy of Julian originated. The emperor not only visited the philosopher, but he even submitted his writings to his inspection and censure. Maximus refused to live in the court of Julian; and the emperor, not dissatisfied with the refusal, appointed him pontifex maximus in the province of Lydia, an office which he discharged with the greatest moderation and justice. When Julian went into the East, the philosopher promised him success, and even said that his conquests would be more numerous and extensive than those of the son of Philip. He persuaded his imperial pupil, that, [7:14:334]according to the doctrine of metempsychosis, his body was animated by the soul which had once animated the hero whose greatness and victories he was about to eclipse. After the death of Julian, Maximus was almost sacrificed to the fury of the soldiers; but the interposition of his friends saved his life, and he retired to Constantinople. He was soon afterwards accused of magical practices, before the emperor Valens, and beheaded at Ephesus in the year 366 of our era. He wrote some philosophical and rhetorical treatises, which were dedicated to Julian, but are all lost.

Maximus of Tyre, a Platonic philosopher, who went to Rome in 146, and acquired such reputation there, that the emperor Marcus Aurelius became his scholar, and gave him frequent proofs of his esteem. This philosopher is believed to have lived until the reign of the emperor Commodus. There are still extant forty-one of his dissertations; a good edition of which was printed by Daniel Heinsius in 1624, in Greek and Latin, with notes.