MACHINIST. n. J. [machinefle, Fr. from machiea, Lat.] A constructor of engines or machines.

MACHLEN, a town of France, in the dep. of Efcaut, and late prov. of Auftrian Flanders, 4 miles S. of Deinfe.

(1.) MACHLEN, a parish of Scotland, in Ayrfhire, about 7 miles long, and from 2 to 4 broad; containing 5400 acres. The air is mild, the furface flat, except one hill (N° 3.), and the foil moftly clayith. The population, in 1791, was 1800; increafe 631 fince 1755: number of horses, 240; and black cattle, 1080. There are feveral quarries of red and white stone, lime ftone, and iron ftone.

(2.) MACHLIN, a town in the above parish, containing 1000 inhabitants in 1791. It has fairs in Feb, May, June, July, Sept. Nov. and Dec.

(3) MACHLIN HILL, a hill chiefly in the above parish, which affords a very extenfive prospect over a great part of Ayrshire, and part of Galloway.

MACHLIS. See CERVUs, 1. N° i. r. MACHUL, an inftrument of mufic among the Hebrews. Kircher apprehends that the name was given to two kinds of inftruments, one of the ftringed and the other of the pulfatile kind. (See Plate CCV. Fig. 3 and 4.) That of the former fort had fix chords; though there is great rea fon to doubt whether an inftrument requiring the aid of the hair-bow, and fo much refembling the violin, be fo ancient. The latter was of a circular form, made of metal, and either hung round with little bells, or furnished with iron rings fufpended on a rod or bar that paffed acrofs the circle. Kircher fuppofes that it was moved to and fro by a handle fixed to it, and thus emitted a melancholy kind of murmur.

MACHYNLETH, an ancient town of N.Wales, in Montgomeryshire, 198 miles from London, and 32 from Montgomery. It has a market on Monday, and fairs on May 16, June 26, July 9, Sept. 18, and Nov. 25, for fheep, horned cattle, and horfes. It is feated on the Douay, over which there is a large ftone bridge, leading into Merionethfhire. Here Owen Glyndowr exercised the firft acts of his royalty in 1402: here he accepted the crown of Wales, and affembled a parliament; and the houfe wherein they met remains, but divided into tenements. Lon.3.45. W. Lat. 52. 24. N. * MACILENCY. n. f. [from macilent.] Lean nefs. Dia.

MACILENT. adj. [macilentus, Latin] Lean. MACKAY, Andrew, LL.D. F.R.S. Edinburgh. We feel very great regret that it is entirely out of our power to furnish a biographical article of Dr Mackay; who, if we are not much mifinformed, was in a great meafure self-taught, and yet rofe to very confiderable eminence in mathematical fcience. He was, we believe, a native of Aberdeen, where be certainly refided in 1793, and for feveral years after, when he was a confiderable contributor to the 3d edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. He afterwards became mathematical examiner to the honourable the corporation of Trinity houfe, the honourable the Eaft India Company, Chrift's .hofpital, &c. Befides the articles which he contributed to the Encyclopædia Britannica, the chief of which are enumerated in the preface to VOL. XIII. PART II.

that work, he published several treatifes, which have acquired a large portion of the public approbation, viz. 1. The Theory and Practice of finding the Longitude at fea or land; to which are added, various methods of determining the Latitude of a place, and variation of the Compais, with New Tables; in 2 vols. 8vo. 2. The complete Navigator; or, An eafy and familiar Guide to the Theory and Practice of Navigation, with all the requifite Tables, &c. ; in 1 vol. 8vo. : 3. A collection of Mathematical Tables, for the ufe of the Practical Mathematician, Navigator, Surveyors Students in Universities, and for Men of Business; in 1 vol. 8vo. We know not the date of Dr Mackay's birth, nor the precife period of his death.

MACKENZELL, a town of Germany, in the bishopric of Fulda, 9 miles NE. of Fulda.

(1.) MACKENZIE, Dr George, the learned and laborious compiler of The lives of the most eminent Writers of the Scots Nation, refided" in the parish of Rosemarkie, in Rofs-fire," in an old caftle belonging to the Earl of Seaforth, and lies interred in the tomb of that family, in the cathedral." (Sir J.Sinclair's Stat. Acc. Vol. XI. p. 348.) This is all the notice we find taken of this celebrated author, a piece of negligence which appears rather ungrateful in fucceeding" writers of the Scots nation," towards an author who exerted himself fo much to perpetuate the memory and merits of his learned countrymen.

(2.) MACKENZIE, James, M. D. author of " the Art of Preferving Health, is faid to have been for fome time employed in teaching the grammar fchool of the burgh of Rosemarkie." (Sir J. Sinclair's Stat. Acc. XI. 248.) Neither of thefe authors are taken notice of in Dr Watkins's Unive Biog. Di&.

(3.) MACKENZIE, Sir George, of Rosehaugh, an able lawyer, a polite fcholar, and a celebrated wit, born at Dundee in 1636. He studied at the univerfities of Aberdeen and St Andrew's; after which he applied himself to the civil law, travelled into France, and profecuted his study in that faculty for about three years. At his return to his native country, he became an advocate in the city of Edinburgh; and foon gained the character of an eminent pleader. He did not, however, fuffer his abilities to be confined entirely to that province. He had a good tafte for polite litera ture; and he gave the public, from time to time, inconteftible proofs of an uncommon proficiency therein. He had practifed but a few years, when, in 1674, he was made king's advocate, a lord of the privy council in Scotland, and a judge in the criminal court. He was alfo knighted. In these stations he met with a great deal of trouble, on account of the rebellions and perfecutions for religious opinions which happened in his time. His office of advocate requiring him to act with feverity, he did not escape cenfure, as having, in the profecution of many perfons who were executed, ftretched the laws too far. This rendered him so unpopular, that his monument, in the Grayfriars Churchyard at Edinburgh, is ftill called Bloody Mackenzie's Tomb. But his defenders infift, that he only did his duty, and that he acquitted himfelf like an able and upright magiftrate. Upon Uuu

the

And that no nymph her noify food should fell, Except it were new milk or mackerel. King.

Sooner thall cats difport in water clear, And fpeckled mack❜rels graze the meadows fair, Than I forget my fhepherd's wonted love. Gay. (2.) MACKEREL. See SCOMBER, N° 1. (3.) MACKERFL GALE feems to be, in Dryden's cant, a ftrong breeze: fuch, I suppose, as is defired to bring mackerel fresh to market.— They put up every fail,

abrogation of the penal laws by king James the II. though he had always been remarkable for his loyalty, and cenfured for his zeal against traitors and fanatics, he refigned his poft; being convinced, that he could not discharge the duties of it with a good confcience. But he was soon after restored, and held his offices till the revolution; an event which he did not approve. He had hoped that the prince of Orange would have returned to his own country, when matters were adjusted between the king and his fubjects; and upon its proving otherwife, he quitted all his employments in Scotland, and retired into England, refolving to spend the remainder of his days in the university of Oxford. He arrived there in Sept. 1689, and profecuted his ftudies in the Bodleian library, being admitted a student there June 2, 1690. In spring 1691 he went to London, where he fell into a diforder, of which he died in May." The politeness of his learning, and the sprightlinefs of his wit, were (lays the Rev. Mr Granger) confpicuous in all his pleadings, and fhone in his ordinary converfation." He wrote several pieces of history and antiquities; Inftitutions of the Laws of Scotland; Effays upon various fubjects, &c. His works were printed at Edinburgh in 1716, in 2 vols. folio.

(4.) MACKENZIE, Sir George, of Royftoun, F.R.S. firft Earl of Cromarty, and eldeft fon of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, by Margaret, daughter of Sir George Erskine, lord Innerteil, was born in 1630. His father dying in 1654, he raised some troops and joined lord Middleton, to attempt the reftoration of K. Charles II. but being defeated by Col. Morgan, he made an honourable capitulation. After the restoration he was employed by Middleton in feveral public offices. In 1678, he was appointed Lord Juftice General; in 1681, he was made a Lord of Seffion, and Lord Regifter. He now purchased Royftoun, and continued to have the chief rule in Scotland, during the reigns of Charles II. and James II. by whom, in 1685, he was created lord Vifc. Tarbat; but, by his arbitrary proceedings, rendered himfelf very unpopular; notwithstanding which, he was, in 1692, reftored by William III. to his office of Lord Regifter; wherein he acted a very double part, as appears from Pr. Carstairs's State Papers. In 1695, he refigned upon a penfion of 400l. a-year; but upon Q. Anne's acceffion he was appointed Secretary of State; and, in 1703, created Earl of Cromarty. In 1704 he refigned, and was made Lord Juftice General, which he held till 1710. He promoted the Union by his vote, fpeeches, and publications. He died at New Tarbat on the 17th Aug. 1714. He was an original and ufeful member of the Royal Society, and wrote many valuable papers in the Philof. Tranf. He alfo publithed, 1. A vindication of K. Robert III. Edinburgh, 4to. 1695: 2. and 3. Two Letters on the Union: 4. A fhort explication of Daniel's proph.cy, and St John's Revelation, Edin. 1706, 4to. 5. Hiftorical Account of the confpiracy of the E. of Gowrie, and R. Logan of Reftalrig, against James VI. Edin. 1713, 8vo; and fome other

tracts.

MACKERAN, a town and prov. of Perfia. (1.) * MACKEREL. n. f. [mackereel, Dutch;

The wind was fair, but blew a mack’rel gale,, Dryden. MACKERMORE, one of the Western Hands of Scotland, 5 miles E. of Jura.

MACKEY, John, an Englishman employed by the government as a spy upon James II. after the revolution, was author of Memoirs of James's court at St Germaine, and of the court of England in the reigns of William III. and queen Anne'; in which are many curious anecdotes not to be met with in any other work. He died in 1726.

MACKINTOSH, a county of Georgia, between Liberty and Glynn counties, on the Altamaha.

MACKLIN, Charles, a late celebrated actor and dramatic writer, born in the N. of Ireland, in 1698. His original name Maclaughlin. He became a performer in Lincoln's Inn Company, in 1725; and not long after was tried for killing a brother comedian in a quarrel, and found guilty of manslaughter. His features were fo extremely harfh, that Quin rather profanely faid of him, "If God writes a legible hand, that fellow's a villain." He was, notwithstanding this, a man of humanity and extenfive liberality. He wrote two plays, which are esteemed, viz. Love a-la-mode, and The Man of the World. He died in 1797. His principal character was Shylock, which he acted to fo much perfection, that Pope faid of him,

"This is the Jew-that Shakespeare drew.” MACKNIGHT, James, D. D. a late eminent and learned clergyman of the church of Scotland, one of the minifters of Edinburgh, and author of several valuable works on theology. In 1772, he was appointed minifter of Lady Yefter's Church; and in 1779, one of the minifters of the Old Church, Edinburgh. He published, 1. The Harmony of the Four Gofpels, in 4to, 1756: 2. The Truth of Gofpel Hiftory, 1764: 3. Tranflation of, and Commentary on, the Epiftles to the Theffalonians, 1787. He died Jan. 13th, 1800.

MACKUM, a town of Holland, in the dep. of the Eems, and late prov. of E. Friesland, 5 miles W. of Bollwaert.

MACLAS, a town of France, in the dep. of the Rhone and Loire, 15 miles E. of St Etienne.

(1.) MACLAURIN, Colin, F. R. S. a moft eminent mathematician and philofopher, was the fon of a clergyman, and born at Kilmoddan in Scotland, in 1698. He was fent to the university of Glasgow in 1709, where he ftudied five years. His great genius for mathematics appeared fo early as at 12 years of age; when, having accidentally

met

Thet with an Euclid, he became in a few days mafter of the first fix books without affiftance: and in his 16th year he had invented many of the propofitions, afterwards published under the title of Geometria Organica. In his 15th year he took the degree of M. A. when he composed and defended a thefis on the power of Gravity, with great ap plaufe. After this he retired to a country feat of his uncle, where he spent 2 or 3 years, as his parents were dead. In 1717, he ftood candidate for the profefforship of mathematics in the Marifchal college of Aberdeen, and obtained it after a ten days trial with a very able competitor. In 1719, he went to London, where he became acquainted with Dr Hoadly, then Bp. of Bangor, Dr Clarke, Sir Ifaac Newton, and other eminent men, and was admitted F. R. S. In another journey in 1721, he contracted an intimacy with Martin Folkes, Efq. P. R. S. which lafted to his death. In 1722, lord Polwarth, plenipotentiary to the congrefs of Cambray, engaged him to go as a tutor and companion to his eldeft fon, on his travels. After a short stay at Paris, and vifiting other towns in France, they fixed in Lorrain; where Maclaurin wrote his piece On the Percuffion of Bodies, which gained the prize of the royal academy of sciences for 1724. But his pupil dying foon after at Montpelier, he returned immediately to Aberdeen, where he was hardly fettled, when he received an invitation to Edinburgh, to fupply the place of Mr James Gregory. He had fome difficulties to encounter, arifing from competitors, which, however, were all furmounted, principally by Sir Ifaac Newton; and in Nov. 1725, he was introduced into the univerfity. In 1733, he married Anne, daughter of folicitor Stewart, by whom he had feven children, of whom five and his wife furvived him. In 1734, Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne, publifhed a piece called The Analyft; in which he took occafion, from fome difputes that had arifen concerning the grounds of the fluxionary method, to explode the method itself, and to charge mathematicians in general with infidelity in religion. Maclaurin thought himfeit included in this charge, and began an answer to Berkeley's book; but, as he proceeded, fo many new theories and problems occurred to him, that instead of a vindicatory pamphlet, he published A complete fyftem of Fluxions, with their application to the most confiderable problems in geometry and natural philofophy; at Edinburgh, in 1742, 2 vols. 4to. He alfo published many useful tracts in the 5th and 6th vols. of the Medical Effays, at Edinburgh; as well as in the Philof. Tranf.; as, 1. Of the conftruction and meafure of curves, N° 356. 2. A new method of defcribing all kinds of curves, N°3 359. 3. On equations with impoflible roots, May 1726, N° 394; 4. On ditto, March 1729, N° 408. 5. On the defcription of curves, with farther improvements, Dec. 1732; N° 439. 6. A rule for finding the meridional parts of a spheroid, with the fame exactness as of a sphere, Aug. 1741, N° 461. 7. and 8. Account of the treatife of fluxions, Jan. 27, and March 10, 1742; N° 467, and 469. 9. Of the balls of the cells wherein the bees depofit their honey; Nov. 3. 1734, No 471. In the midft of these studies, he was ready to lend his afliftance in promoting any fcheme for the fervice of his

country. Under his direction the geography of the Orkney and Shetland islands was firft accurately afcertained in 1739. He had another scheme for the improvement of geography and navigation, of a more extenfive nature; which was the opening a paffage from Greenland to the South Sea by the north pole. That fuch a paffage might be found, he was fo fully perfuaded, that he used to fay, if his fituation could admit of fuch adventures, he would undertake the voyage at his own charge. In 1745, having been very active in fortifying the city of Edinburgh against the rebel army, he was obliged to fly to the north of England; where he was invited by Abp. Herring, to refide with him during his ftay; but being in this expedition expofed to cold and hardships, he contracted an illnefs which put an end to his life, in June 1746, at the age of 48. Mr Maclaurin was not only a great but a good man. His peculiar merit as a philofopher was, that all his ftudies were accommodated to general utility; and we find, in many places of his works, an application even of the most abftruse theories, to the perfecting of mechanical arts. He revised Dr David Gregory's Practical Geometry, and published it with additions, in 1745. On various occafions he ferved his friends and his country by his great skill. Frequent difputes having arifen concerning the gauging of veffels, he presented to the commiffioners of excife two elaborate memorials, with their demonftrations, containing rules by which the officers now act. He made alfo calculations relating to the provifion established by law for the children and widows of the Scots clergy, and of the profeffors of the universities, entitling them to certain annuities, upon the voluntary annual payment of a certain fum by the incumbent. He gained the prize of the royal academy of sciences in 1724; and in 1740, the academy adjudged him a prize, for folving the motion of the tides from the theory of gravity; a queftion which had been given out the former year without receiving any folution. He had only ten days to draw up this paper. He afterwards revised the whole, and inferted it in his Treatife of Fluxions; as he did also the fubftance of the former piece. Since his death, two vols. more have appeared; his Algebra, and his Account of Sir Ifaac Newton's Philofophical Discoveries.

(2.) MACLAURIN, John, Efq. of Dreghorn, one of the Senators of the College of Juftice, and F. R. S. E. was the eldest fon of the Profeffor, N° 1. He was born at Edinburgh in 1734; and was educated firft at the high school, and afterwards at the univerfity there. In 1756 he was admitted a member of the faculty of Advocates, and in 1788 was promoted to the bench, by the title of Lord Dreghorn. His works were collected and published in 2 vols. 8vo, 1798, and confift of Mifcellanies in profe and verfe.

MACMILLANITES, a name given to the CAMERONIANS, from Mr John Macmillan, minister of Balmaghie, who, though he was deposed for adhering to their tenets, was fo popular, that he retained poffeffion of the church, manfe, and con gregation for 12 years; after which he retired voluntarily, and became an itinerant preacher, and founder of the fect of Macmillanites, or Modern Vuu 2 Cameronians,

Cameranians, who affume the title of the Reformed Prefbytery. (Sir J. Sinclair's Stat. Acc. Vol. xiii. 648, 9.) See CAMERONIANS and CARGIL

LITES.

MACOIG, or MACCOIG, Malcolm, an ingenious young botanift,, who, with great labour and perfonal exertion, compofed a work of confiderable merit, entitled Flora Edinburgenfis, the MS. of which is ftill unpublished, in the hands of Mr Andrew Fife, anatomift, Edinburgh. (See FLORA, 2.) Mr Maccoig was born in Argylethire in. 1764, and at 16 years of age hardly knew a word of English. He foon, however, made himself master of it, and having been bred to garden ing, he was employed by Dr Hope and his fucceffor Dr Rutherford to fuperintend the botanic garden-between Edinburgh and Leith; and under thefe celebrated profeffors became fo complete a botanift, that he attempted and accomplished the arduous task of compiling the above work. But the uncommon exertions he made, and the fatigue he underwent, in traverfing and traveling over a circuit of 15 miles round the metropolis in all directions, and in all weathers, to discover every genus and species of plants that grow fpontaneouf ly within that circumference, and his total neglect of diet during these fatiguing excurfions, together eith a cold caught in confequence of them, brought on a phthins pulmonalis, which cut him off in Dec. 1788, juit when his favourite work was compirted and tranfcribed for the prefs. So great was his botanical enthusiaim, that he affured the writer of this article, a fhort time before he died, that he had often walked 12 or 15 miles from Edinburgh and back again, between 4 in the morning and to at night, clambering over hills, rocks, and precipices, in fearch of rare plants, without taking any aliment whatever. As the work contains the most particular directions where to find a number of very rare plants, which are hardly known to exist in Scotland, it would certainly, if published, be an acceptable prefent to every lover of botany, as well as a moft ufeful af fiftant to students in that feience. He was married in 1786, but left no children.

MACON, a town of France, in the dep. of Saone and Loire; on the Saone, 35 miles N. of Lyons. MACONNOIS, a ci-devant county of France, now included in the dep. of Saone and Loire, Macon was the capital.

MACPHERSON, James, Efq. M. P. a Scot. tish writer of confiderable celebrity, born in 1737. His first and most celebrated work was his tranf Jation of Offian's Poems; the authenticity of which was attacked by Dr Johnfon and others, and their merit, of confequence, afcribed to Mac. pherion himself; who, inftead of taking this as a compliment, wrote a threatening letter to the Doctor, which he answered in terms equally in dignant. See OSSIAN. In 1773, he published a tranflation of the Iliad into heroic profe. He also wrote A Hiftory of Great Britain from 1660 to the acceffion of the House of Hanover, in 2 vols, ato; and an Introduction to the hiftory of Great Britain and Ireland. He also published fome pamphlets in defence of Lord North's adminiftration, on which fide he voted in the houfe of Commons. He died in Feb. 1796, aged 59.

(1.) MACQUER, Peter Jofeph, was born at Paris, 9th Oct. 1718. He was defcended of a refpectable family, and was a member of the acade. my of sciences, and professor of pharmacy. He was engaged in the Journal des Savans for the articles MEDICINE and CHEMISTRY, and had a fhare in the Pharmacopaia Parifienfis, published in 1758, in 4to. His other works are,.1. Elemens de Chimie theorique; Paris, 1749, 1753, 12mo; which have been tranflated into English and German. 2. Elemens de Chimie pratique, 1751, 2 vols. 12mo, These two works were re-published together, in 1756, in 3 vols. 12mo. 3. Plan d'un cours de Chimie experimentale et raisonnée, 1757, 12mo; in which he was affociated with M. Beaumé. 4. Formula Medicamentorum Magiflralium, 1763. 5. L'Art de la Teinture en Soie, 1763. 6. Dictionnaire de Chimie, contenant la theorie et la pratique de cet art, 1766, 2 vols. 8vo; which has been translated into Ger. man with notes, and into English with notes by Mr Keir. Macquer, by his labours and wri tings, contributed very much to the improvement of chemistry. He died at Paris, Feb. 16, 1784.

(2.) MACQUER, Philip, brother to the above (N° 1.), was born at Paris, 1720, and became ad vocate of the Parliament of Paris, A weakness in his lungs having prevented him from pleading, he dedicated himself to literary pursuits. His works are, 1. L'Abregé Chronologique de l'Hiftoire Ecclef aftique, 3 vols. 8vo. 2. Les Annales Romaines, 1756, 8vo; a very judicious compilation. 3. 4bregé Chronologique de l'Hiftoire d'Espagne et de Portugal, 1765; 2 vols. 8vo. He died on the 27th Jan. 1770, aged 50. He had a correct taste, and an eager thirst for knowledge. He had a share in the Dictionary of Arts and Profeffions, in 2 vols, 8vo, and in the Tranflation of the Syphilis of Fra caftor, published by Lacombe.

(1.) MACRINUS, one of the best Latin poets of the 16th century, was born at Loudon. His real name was John Salmon ; but he took that of Macrin, from his being frequently so called in ridicule by Francis I. on account of his extraordi. nary leannefs. He was preceptor to Claudius of Savoy, count Tende; and to Honorius the count's brother; and wrote feveral pieces of poetry in lyric verfe, which were so admired, that he was called the Horace of his time. He died of old age, at Loudon, in 1555.

(2.) MACRINUS, Charles, fon to the above, or his brother according to Dr Watkins, was not inferior to him as a poet, and surpassed him in his knowledge of the Greek tongue, He was precep tor to Catherine of Navarre, the fifter of Henry the Great; and perished in the massacre on St Bartholomew's day, in 1572,

MACRIS. See CHIO, N° 1.

MACROBII, [from anges free, long life.] 1. A people of Ethiopia, celebrated for their justice and the innocence of their manners, as well as for their uncommon longevity. See ETHIOPIA, § 3. 2. A people in the island of Meroe. 3, The Hyperbore. ans were also called Macrobii.

MACROBIUS, Ambrofius Aurelius Theodofius, an ancient Latin writer, who flourished about the end of the 4th century. His country and religion are uncertain. Erafmus, in his Ciceronianus, feems to think he was a Greek; and he himself tells us,

violently between two planks that they become quite fharp at the top, and flat before and behind. They lay they do this to give their heads a greater refemblance to the moon.

MACROCERCI, a clafs of animalcules which have tails longer than their bodies.

MACROCNEMUM, in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandria clafs of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 30th order,. Contorta.

in the preface to his Saturnalia, that he was not a Roman, but laboured under the inconvenience of writing in a language which was not natural to him. Barthius reckons him a Chriftian; but Spanheim and Fabricius fuppofe him to have been a Pagan. It is however certain, that he was a man of confular dignity, and one of the chamberlains to Theodofius. He wrote a Commentary upon Cicero's Somnium Scipionis, and 7 books of Saturnalia, which treat of various fubjects, and are an agreeable mixture of criticism and antiquity. He made great use of other people's works, borrowing not only their materials, but even their language, for which he makes an apology, at the entrance of his work. "I fhall here (fays he) imitate the bees, who fuck the best juices from ali forts of flowers, and afterwards work them up into various forms and orders, with fome mixture of their own proper fpirit." The Somnium Scipionis and Saturnalia have been often printed; to which has been added, in the later editions, a piece entitled, De Differentiis et Societatibus Græci Verbi.

MACROCEPHALUS, [from xp, great, and xpain, head,] denotes a person with a head larger or longer than the common fize. Macrocephali, or Long-heads, is a name given to a certain people, who, according to the accounts of authors, were famous for the unfeemly length of their heads: yet custom fo far habituated them to it, that inftead of looking on it as a deformity, they efteemed it a beauty, and, as foon as the child was born, moulded and fafltioned its head to as great a length as poffible, and afterwards ufed all fuch tollers and bandages as might feem'moft likely to determine its growing long. The greater part of the islanders in the Archipelago, fome of the people of Afia, and even fome of Europe, fill prefs their children's heads out lengthwife. The Epirots, many people of America, &c. are all born with fome fingularity in the conformation of their heads: either a flatnefs on the top, two extraordinary protuberances behind, or one on each fide; fingularities which are the effects of an ancient and ftrange mode, which at length is become he. reditary in the nation. According to the report of many travellers, the operation of compreffing the head of a child lengthwife, while it is yet foft, is with a view infenfibly to enlarge the interval between the two eyes, fo that the vifual rays' turning more to the right and left, the fight would embrace a much larger portion of the horizon; the advantages of which they are well acquainted with, in hunting, and on a thousand other occafions. Ever fince the 16th century, the miffionaries established in the countries inhabited by the favages of America, have endeavoured to abolish this cuftom grand we find in the feffions of the 3d council of Lima, held in 1585, a canon which exprefsly prohibits it. But if it has been repreffed one way, the free negroes and Maroons, although Africans, have adopted it, fince they have been eftablithed among the Caribs, folely with the view of diftinguishing their children, which are born free, from thofe who are born in flavery. The Omaquas, a people of South America, according to P. Veigh, prefs the heads of their children fo

MACROCOLLUM, or {[trom μangos, large, MACROCOLUM,

among the Romans, the largest kind of paper then in ufe. It meafured 16 inches, and often 24.

* MACROCOSM. n. f. {macrocofme, French;" axgostand xμos.] The whole world, or visible fyftem, in oppofition to the microcofm, or world of man.

MACRONISI, an island in the Archipelago, near Livadia, anciently called Helena, from Queen Helen. MACROOM, or a town of Ireland, in the MACROOMP, barony of Mufkerry, and county of Cork, 142 miles from Dublin; fituated amongft hills, in a dry gravelly limestone foil. It has its name from an old crooked oak, fo called in Irish, which grew here. The caftle was firft built in King John's time, foon after the English conqueft, (according to Sir Richard Cox) by the Carews or the Daltons. It was repaired and beautified by Teague Macarty, who died in 1565, and was father to the celebrated Sir Cormac MacTeague, mentioned by Cambden as an active perfon in Q. Elizabeth's time. It was burnt down in the wars of 1641, but rebuilt by Earl Glancarty. Oppofite to the bridge is the parish church, dedicated to St Colman. Here is a barrack for a foot company, a market-house, and handfome Roman Catholic chapel. A confiderable number of perfons have been employed in combing wool and spinning yarn, and fome faltworks have been erected here. Half a mile diftant is a spa, that rifes on the brink of a bog; its waters are a mild chalybeate, useful in hypochondriacal cafes, and in cutaneous eruptions. There are 4 fairs.

MACROPYRENIUM, in natural history, a genus of foffils confifting of cruftated septariæ, with a long nucleus standing out at each end of the mafs.

MACROTELOSTYLA, in natural history, a genus of cryftals, composed of two pyramids joined to the end of a column; both pyramids and column being hexangular, and the whole body confequently compofed of 18 planes.

(1.) * MACTATION. n. f. {ma&atus, Latin.Į The act of killing for facrifice.

(2.) MACTATION {MACTATIO, Lat.], was performed either by the priest himself, or fome of his inferior officers, called pope, agones, cultrarii, and viimarii; but, before the beaft was killed, the priest turning himself to the E. drew a crooked lime with his knife, from the forehead to the tail, Among the Greeks, this ceremony was performed. molt commonly by the prieft, or in his abfence by the most honourable perfon prefent. If the facrifice was offered to the celestial gods, the victim's throat was bent up towards heaven; if to

the