nia.

nia

Pensilvania, though it has but one considerable port Pensiiva(Philadelphia) carries on a very extensive commerce. The whole exports in 1817 amounted to 8,735,592 dollars, of which 5,538,003 consisted of domestic produce, and 3,197,589 of foreign. The domestic articles of export consist chiefly of wheat and flour, beef and pork, flax seed, iron utensils, lumber, soap and candles; the imports, of British manufactures, wine, gin, rum, sugar, teas, nankeens, and silk. There were nine banks in the state in 1816, whose capitals together amounted to 10,534,130 dollars; the deposits including those due to other banks, to 8,449,474 dollars; and the notes discounted to 13,329,091 dollars.

Pensilva- merous, and remarkably well conducted. Schools are also numerous, and it has been resolved to establish an academy in each county. The university of Pensilvania is in a flourishing condition, and has received various grants from the legislature. There are six professors in the medical school, four in that of philosophy and languages, and five in that of natural science. The number of students in 1811 was 500. The professors have each a salary of 500 dollars. Dickinson College has professors of logic, metaphysics, mathematics, the learned languages, modern languages, philosophy and chemistry, with a considerable library. Franklin college, established in 1783, by some Germans, has not flourished. Washington college, near Pittsburg, was established in 1802.

The eastern districts of Pensilvania are among the most improved parts of North America. The business of farming is carried on with spirit and skill, the soil being good, and many of the farmers wealthy and interprising. Besides the usual kinds of manure applied to the ground, gypsum is used for this purpose in great quantities, and is reckoned extremely beneficial; the rotation of crops is well understood; artificial grasses have been introduced; and excellent crops of hay are raised from meadow land. Besides the usual species of corn, buck wheat is much cultivated. Hemp and flax succeed well. Vines have been found to thrive, and all the fruits of France are produced here. The breed of horses and black cattle is among the best in the United States. The common and Merino sheep thrive and have multiplied amazingly. The number of sheep in 1810 was 618,280, of black cattle 61 2,990, of horses 225,640. The value of the land increases as we approach the capital. The average value per acre was estimated by a committee in 1815, to be for Philadelphia county 120 dollars; for the other counties, from 52 down to 1 dollars; and for the whole state, was about 29 dollars. But this last estimate does not include the unoccupied lands. The total value of houses and lands in this state was found, from valuations made in 1799, to be 102,145,900, and from valuations in 1815, 346,633,889 dollars; having increased about 240 per cent in 15 years.

The manufactures of this state, according to the returns for 1810, were much greater than those of any other state in the Union. The most considerable are those of iron, flax, hemp, wool, cotton, leather, hats, paper, spirits, maple sugar. Many of the manufactures are domestic, and of course upon a small scale, but there are also extensive establishments in some of them. During the late war with Britain, the manufactures increased with extraordinary rapidity, but the influx of foreign goods since the peace has caused many of them to be abandoned, and depressed those that still exist. Pittsburg, in the western part of this state, is the most considerable manufacturing town in the United States. It is situated on a navigable river, in a healthy situation, and its neighbourhood abounds with wood, coal, lime, and iron. The manufactures of this town in 1814 were estimated at 2,000,000 dollars. The whole amount of manufactures in this state in 1810 was estimated, from the returns of the marshal, at 33,691,111 dollars, exclusive of what were considered doubtful articles.

There are three handsome bridges over the Schuylkil in this state. One of these consists of a single wooden arch of 343 feet span, and 42 feet in breadth. The Leheigh chain bridge is 475 feet long, in two whole, and two balf spans. The wire bridge near Philadelphia is 400 feet long. The whole weight is only 4700 pounds. There are many other bridges deserving of notice, though generally of wood: one at Columbia, over the Susquehanna, is above a mile in length; another at Harrisburgh, about three fourths of a mile. There are at other places steam ferry boats, for the conveyance of passengers across the rivers. There are also a considerable number of steam passage boats which ply on the Delaware.

It was proposed, so far back as 1790, to extend the water communication from Philadelphia to Lake Erie, a distance of 561 miles, by joining the Susquehanna and the Delaware by a canal to extend from the Swetara to the Schuylkil. Some progress has been made in this undertaking, but the means scarcely exist yet for the completion of such an extensive scheme.

The long ascendancy of the Quakers in this state has stamped the manners of the people with a character of moderation and order. Factions are less violent here than in the other states, and personal animosities less rancorous. The Pensilvanians are less obstinate, selfish, and determined, than the people of New England, and less rash and impetuous than the inhabitants of the southern states. They are, comparatively speaking, obliging, well informed, and liberal in their opinions; but not distinguished for generosity, a high spirit, or warmth of character. They have abolished slavery, however, and have always been conspicuously active in works of humanity, and in promoting useful improvements. There is perhaps no part of the United States in which an emigrant from Europe will feel himself more comfortable than in Pensilvania, so far as depends on the character of the people.

In the Philosophical Transactions for 1757, there is an account of a spring in Pensilvania, which rises from a copper mine, and yields 800 hogsheads in twentyfour hours. The water is of a pale green colour, of an acid, sweet, austere, inky, and nauseous taste. The saline matter which it holds in solution is probably sulphate of copper; for a piece of polished iron immersed in it is soon covered with a crust of metallic copper. It contains also, it is said, copperas or sulphate of iron.

Among the other curiosities of this province may be reckoned another spring, about 14 feet deep, and about 100 square in the neighbourhood of Reading. A full

nia,

ment of each member to the houses of the inns of courts Pension, are likewise named pensions; and the yearly assembly of Pensioner. the society of Gray's Inn, to consult on the affairs of the house, is also called a pension.

PENSIONARY, or PENSIONER, a person who bas an appointment or yearly sum, payable during life, by way of acknowledgment, charged on the estate of a prince, company, or particular person.

Pensilva mill stream flows from it. The waters are clear, and full of fishes. From appearances it is probable that this Pension. spring is the opening or outlet of a very considerable river, which, a mile and a half or two miles above this place, sinks into the earth, and is conveyed to this outlet in a subterranean channel. In the northern parts of Pensilvania there is a creek, called Oil creek, which empties into the Alleghany river. It issues from a spring, on the top of which floats an oil similar to that called Barbadoes tar, and from which one man may gather several gallons in a day. The troops sent to guard the western posts halted at this spring, collected some of the oil, and bathed their joints with it. This gave them great relief from the rheumatic complaints with which they were affected. The waters, of which the troops drank freely, operated as a gentle purge.

There are three remarkable grottoes or caves in this state; one near Carlisle in Cumberland county; one in the township of Durham, in Bucks county; and the other at Swetara in Lancaster county. Of the two former there are no particular descriptions. The latter is on the east bank of Swetara river, about two miles above its confinence with the Susquehanna. Its entrance is spacious, and descends so much as that the surface of the river is rather higher than the bottom of the cave. The vault of this cave is of a solid limestone rock, perhaps 20 feet thick. It contains several apartments, some of them very high and spacious. The water is incessantly percolating through the roof, and falls in drops to the bottom of the cave. These drops petrify as they fall, and have gradually formed solid pillars, which appear as supports to the roof. Thirty years ago there were ten such pillars, each six inches in diameter, and six feet high; all so ranged that the place they enclosed resembled a sanctuary in a Roman church. No royal throne ever exhibited more grandeur than this lusus naturæ. The resemblances of several monuments are found indented in the walls on the sides of the cave, which appear like the tombs of departed heroes. Suspended from the roof is the bell (which is nothing more than a stone projected in an unusual form), so called from the sound that it occasions when struck, which is similar to that of a. bell. Some of the stalactites are of a colour like sugarcandy, and others resemble loaf sugar; but their beauty is much defaced by the country people. The water, which percolates through the roof, so much of it as is not petrified in its course, runs down the declivity, and is both pleasant and wholesome to drink. There are several holes in the bottom of the cave, descending perpendicularly, perhaps into an abyss below, which renders it dangerous to walk without a light. At the end of the cave is a pretty brook, which, after a short course, loses itself among the rocks. Beyond this brook is an outlet from the cave by a very narrow aperture. Through this the vapours continually pass outwards with a strong current of air, and ascend, resembling at night the smoke of a furnace. Part of these vapours and fogs appear on ascending to be condensed at the head of this great alembic, and the more volatile parts to be carried off, through the aperture communicating with the exterior air before mentioned, by the force of the air in its passage.

PENSION, a sum of money paid annually for services or considerations already past. The yearly pay

Grand PENSIONARY, an appellation formerly given to the first minister of the states of Holland. The grand pensionary was chairman in the assemblies of the states of that province; he proposed the matters to be consulted on; collected the votes; formed and pronounced the resolutions of the states; opened letters; conferred with foreign ministers, &c. His business was also to inspect the finances, to maintain the authority of the states, and to see that the laws were observed; and he was perpetual deputy of the states general of the United ProvinHis commission was, however, only given him for five years; after which it was deliberated whether or not it should be renewed; but there was no instance of its being revoked; therefore death only put an end to the functions of this important minister.

ces.

PENSIONARY was also the first minister of the regen.. cy of each city in Holland. His office was to give his advice in affairs relating to the government, either of the state in general, or of the city in particular; and in assemblies of the states of the province, he was speaker in behalf of his city. The function, however, of these pensionaries was not everywhere alike; in some cities they only gave their advice, and were never found in assemblies of the magistrates, except when expressly called hither; in others they attended constantly; and in others they made the propositions on the part of the burgomasters, drew up their conclusions, &c. They were called pensionaries, because they received an appointment or pension. who re

PENSIONER, in general, denotes a person ceives a pension, yearly salary, or allowance. Hence, The Band of Gentlemen PENSIONERS, the noblest sort of guard to the king's person, consists of 40 gentlemen, who receive a yearly pension of 100l.

This honourable band was first instituted by King Henry VIII. and their office is to attend the king's person, with their battle axes, to and from bis chapel royal, and to receive him in the presence chamber, or coming out of his privy lodgings; they are also to attend at all great solemnities, as coronations, St George's feast, public audiences of ambassadors, at the sovereign's going to parliament, &c.

They are each obliged to keep three double horses and a servant, and so are properly a troop of horse.. They wait balf at a time quarterly; but on Christmasday, Easter-day, Whitsunday, &c. and on extraordinary occasions, they are all obliged to give their attendance. They have likewise the honour to carry up the sovereign's dinner on the coronation-day and St George's feast; at which times the king or queen usually confer the honour of knighthood on two such gentlemen of the band as their captain presents.

Their arms are gilt battle-axes; and their weapons, on horseback, in time of war, are cuirassiers arms, with sword and pistols. Their standard in time of war is, argent, a cross guies. Their captain is always a noble

man,,

་

Pensioner man, who has under him a lieutenant, a standard-bearer, a clerk of the check, secretary, paymaster, and harbinger.

Pentagraph.

PENSIONER, in the university of Cambridge and in that of Dublin, has a very peculiar meaning; for those students, either under graduates or bachelors of arts, are called pensioners, who live wholly at their own expence, and who receive no emolument whatever from the college of which they are members. They are divided into two kinds, the greater and the less; the former of which are generally called fellow-commoners, because they eat with the fellows of their college; the latter are always called pensioners, and eat with the scholars, who are those students of the college, either under-graduates or bachelors who are upon the foundation, who receive emoluments from the society, and who are capable of being elected fellows. See SERVITOR and SIZAR. PENSTOCK, a sluice or flood-gate, serving to retain or let go at pleasure the water of a mill-pond, or the like.

PENTACHORD (compounded of Ts, five, and Koda, string), an ancient musical instrument with five strings. The invention of the pentachord is referred to the Scythians; the strings were of bullocks leather, and they were struck with a plectrum made of goats horn.

PENTACROSTIC, in Poetry, a set of verses so disposed, as that there are always five acrostics of the same name, in five divisions of each verse. See A

CROSTIC.

PENTADACTYLON, FIVE FINGERS, in Botany, a name given by some authors to the ricinus or palma Christi, from the figure of its leaf.

PENTADACTYLOS PISCIS, the five-fingered fish, the trivial name of a fish common in all the seas of the East Indies, and called by the Dutch there viif vinger visch.

PENTAGON, in Geometry, a figure of five sides and five angles. See GEOMETRY.

In fortification, pentagon denotes a fort with five

- bastions.

PENTAGRAPH, PANTOGRAPH, or PANTOGRAPHER, an instrument designed for drawing figures in what proportion you please, without any skill in the

: art.

The instrument is otherwise called a parallelogram. Geomet. The following is the description of this instrument by and Gra- Mr Adams. phic Essays, p. 374.

"It is an instrument (says Mr Adams) as useful to the experienced draftsman, as to those who have made but little progress in the art. It saves a great deal of time, either in reducing, enlarging, or copying of the same size, giving the outlines of any drawing, however crooked or complex, with the utmost exactness; nor is it confined to any particular kind, but may with equal facility be used for copying figures, plans, sea-charts, maps, profiles, landscapes, &c.

"Description and use of the Pantographer.-I have not been able to ascertain who was the inventor of this useful instrument. The earliest account I find is that of the Jesuit Scheiner, about the year 1631, in a small tract entitled Pantographice, sive ars nova delineandi. The principles are self-evident to every geometrician; the mechanical construction was first improved and

brought to its present state of perfection by my father, Pentaabout the year 1750. It is one, among many other graph. scientific improvements and inventions completed by him, that others have ingloriously, and many years after, assumed to themselves.

"The pantographer is usually made of wood, or brass, and consists of four flat rules, two of them long, and two short. The two longest are joined at the end A, by a double pivot, which is fixed to one of the rules, and works in two small holes placed at the end of the other. Under the joint is an ivory castor, to support this end of the instrument. The two smaller rules are fixed by pivots at E and H, near the middle of the larger rules, and are also joined together at their other end, G.

"By the construction of this instrument, the four rules always form a parallelogram. There is a sliding box on the longer arm, and another on the shorter arm. These boxes may be fixed at any part of the rules by means of their milled nuts; each of these boxes is furnished with a cylindric tube, to carry either the tracing point or crayon or fulcrum.

"The fulcrum or support K, is a leaden weight inclosed in a mahogany box, on this the instrument moves when in use; there are two moveable rollers, to support and facilitate the motions of the pantographer; their situation may be varied as occasion requires.

"The graduations are placed on two of the rules: on each of them are two scales, the fiducial edges of the boxes are to be set to these, according to the work to be performed by the instrument.

"The crayon, the tracer, and fulcrum, must in all cases be in a right line, so that when they are set, if a string be stretched over them, and they do not coincide with it, there is an error either in the setting or graduations.

"The long tube which carries the pencil or crayon, moves easily up or down another tube; there is a string affixed to the long or inner tube, passing afterwards through the holes in the three small knobs to the tracing point, where it may, if necessary, be fastened. By pulling this string, the pencil is lifted up occasionally, and thus prevented from making false or improper marks upon the copy.

"To use this instrument when the copy is to be of the same size as the original.-Place the instrument upon a large table, and set the sliding boxes B and D, to the divisions marked 12. Put the crayon into the box B, place the box D upon the fulcrum or leaden foot; the tracing point at C. Then lay a piece of paper under the crayon, and the original drawing under the tracer, and move the tracing point over the principal strokes of the original, and the crayon will form the required copy.

"To reduce a drawing, &c. to half the size of the original.-Set the boxes B and D, to the divisions marked one-half, place the fulcrum at B, the crayon at D, and tracer at C.

“To reduce a drawing, &c. to less than one-half the original.-Suppose one-third, one-fourth, one-fifth, &c. Place the fulcrum at B, crayon at D, and tracer at C, and slide the boxes B and D, to the divisions marked one-third, one-fourth, one-fifth, &c. on the longer scales. It may be proper to observe here, that if the copy be

less

Plate

CCCCIS

Penta- less than one-half the original, or when it is required graph greater than the original, the longer scales are to be || used. Pentapolis,

"For greater than one-half the original drawing.Suppose it be required to make a drawing, two-thirds three-fourths, four-fifths, &c. Set the boxes, B and D, to corresponding divisions, as two-thirds, three-fourths, four-fifths, &c. on the shorter scales, place the fulcrum at D, the crayon at B, and tracer at C.

"When the original drawing is to be enlarged. Suppose one-eighth, one sixth, &c. set the boxes B and D, to one-eighth, one-sixth, &c. on the longer scales, place the fulcrum at D, the crayon at C, and tracer at B.

"Where the copy is required of a size differing from the fractional parts laid down on the instrument.-For this purpose there are two scales laid down, containing 100 unequal parts, one scale numbered from 10 to 80, the other from 50 to 100.

"If the copy is to be under one-half the original size, place the boxes B and D, to any two corresponding divisions under 50, the fulcrum at B, and crayon at D.

"If the copy is to be larger than one-half the original, place the boxes B and D, to corresponding divisions between 50 and 100; the fulcrum at B, and crayon at D.

"To change the situation of the pantographer.-Copy first as much as the pantographer will take in; then make three points on the original, and as many corresponding points on the copy. Then remove the fulcrum to another situation, but so, that when the tracing point is applied to the three points marked on the original, the crayon may exactly coincide with the other three points on the copy, and proceed as before; and so on for every change in the situation of your instrument, and by this means a pantographer of two feet and a half in length will copy a drawing of any size whatsoever."

PENTAMETER, in ancient poetry, a kind of verse, consisting of five feet, or metres, whence the name. The two first feet may be either dactyls or spondees at pleasure; the third is always a spondee ; and the two last anapestes: such is the following verse of Ovid.

Carminibus vives tem | pus in om ❘ne meis.

A pentameter verse subjoined to an hexameter, constitutes what is called elegiac. See ELEGIAC.

PENTANDRIA (from Ts, five, and ame, a man or husband); the name of the fifth class in Linnæus's sexual method, consisting of plants which have hermaphrodite flowers, with five stamina or male organs. See BOTANY Index.

PENTAPETALOUS, an appellation given to flowers which consist of five petals or leaves.

PENTAPETES, a genus of plants belonging to the monadelphia class, and in the natural method rank ing under the 37th order, Columniferæ. See BOTANY Index.

PENTAPOLIS. This name is given to the five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, Adamah, Zeboim, and Zoar (Wisdom x. 6.). They were all five condemned to utter destruction, but Lot inteceded for the preservation of Zoar, otherwise called Bala. Sodom, Gomor

rah, Adamah, and Zeboim, were all consumed by fire Pentapolis, from heaven, and in the place where they stood was Pentamade the lake Asphaltites, or the lake of Sodom.

PENTAPOLIS (Ptolemy), a district of Cyrenaica; situated on the Mediterranean; denominated from its five cities; namely, Berenice, Arsinoe, Ptolemais, Cyrene, and Apollonia.

PENTAPOLIS of the Philistines, (Josephus); taking name from five principal cities, Gaza, Gath, Ascalon, Azotus, and Ekron.

PENTATEUCH. This word, which is derived from the Greek Пarvxos, from Tiri, five, and teʊxos, an instrument or volume, signifies the collection of the five instruments or books of Moses, which are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy: each of which books we have given an account of under their several names.

There are some modern critics who have disputed Moses's right to the Pentateuch. They observe that the author speaks always in the third person. "Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, &c. Moses said to Pharaoh, &c." Thus they think he would never have spoken of himself; but would at least sometimes have mentioned himself in the first person. Besides this, say they, the author of the Pentateuch sometimes abridges his narration like a writer who collected from some ancient memoirs. Sometimes he interrupts the thread of his discourse; for example, he makes Lamech the bigamist to say (Gen. iv. 23.), "Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech; for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt," without informing us before-hand to whom this is related. These observations, for example (Gen. xii. 6.), " And the Canaanite was then in the land," cannot be reconciled to the age of Moses, since the Canaanites continued to be the masters of Palestine all the time of Moses. The passage out of the book of the wars of the Lord, quoted in the book of Numbers (xxi. 14.) seems to have been clapped in afterwards, as also the first verses of Deuteronomy. The account of the death of Moses, which is at the end of the same book, cannot certainly belong to this legislator; and the same judgment may be made of other passages, wherein it is said, that the places mentioned lay beyond Jordan; that the bed of Og was at Ramah to this day that the havoth of Jair, or the cities of Jair, were known to the author, though probably they had not that name till after Moses's time (Numb. xxxii. 41. Deut. iii. 14.).

:

It is observed also in the text of the Pentateuch, that there are some places that are defective; for example, in Exodus (xii. 8.), we see Moses speaking to Pharaoh, where the author omits the beginning of his discourse. The Samaritan inserts in the same place what is wanting in the Hebrew. In other places, the same Samaritan copy adds what is deficient in the Hebrew text; and what it contains more than the Hebrew seems so well connected with the rest of the discourse, that it would be difficult to separate them. Lastly, they believe that they observe certain strokes in the Pentateuch which can hardly agree with Moses, who was born and bred in Egypt; as what he says of the earthly paradise; of the rivers that watered it, and ran through it; of the cities of Babylon, Erech, Resen, and Calneh; of the gold

teuch.

Reasona

bleness of

gynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants. Pentho The calyx is quinquefid; there are either five petals or none; the capsule is five-pointed and quinquelocular.

PENTLAND, or PICTLAND FRITH, is a narrow strait of six miles between the mainland of Scotland and the Orkney isles. This strait is the great thoroughfare of shipping between the eastern and western seas, the terror of mariners, and has been the grave of thousands. The navigation of this frith was formerly extremely dangerous by the island of Stroma, and two rocks called the Skerries, lying near the middle of it; but it is now greatly improved, and comparatively safe, in consequence of a lighthouse erected on the Skerries.

Pentateuch gold of Pison, of the bdellium, of the stone of Sohem, or onyx-stone, which was to be found in that country. Penthorum. These particulars, observed with such curiosity, seem to prove, that the author of the Pentateuch lived beyond the Euphrates. Add what he says concerning the ark of Noah, of its construction, of the place where it rested, of the wood wherewith it was built, of the bitumen of Babylon, &c. But in answer to all these objections, * Jenkin's we may observe in general, from an eminent writer* of our own country, that these books are by the most ancient writers ascribed to Moses; and it is confirmed by the authority of heathen writers themselves, that they are of his writing: besides this, we have the unanimous testimony of the whole Jewish nation, ever since Moses's time, from the first writing of them. Divers texts of the Pentateuch imply that it was written by Moses; and the book of Joshua, and other parts of scripture, import as much; and though some passages have been thought to imply the contrary, yet this is but a late opinion, and has been sufficiently confuted by several learned men. The Samaritans receive no other scriptures but the Pentateuch, rejecting all the other books which are still in the Jewish canon.

Christia nity.

PENTECOST, a solemn festival of the Jews; so called, because it was celebrated on the 50th day after the 16th of Nisan, which was the second day of the passover. The Hebrews called it the feast of weeks, because it was kept seven weeks after the passover. They then offered the first fruits of the wheat harvest, which was then completed: besides which they presented at the temple seven lambs of that year, one calf, and two rams, for a burnt-offering; two lambs for a peace-offering; and a goat for a sin-offering (Levit. xxiii. 15, 16. Exod. xxxiv. 22. and Deut. xvi. 9, 10.). The feast of Pentecost was instituted among the Israelites, first to oblige them to repair to the temple of the Lord, there to acknowledge his absolute dominion over the whole country, and to offer him the first-fruits of their harvest; and, secondly, that they might call to mind, and give thanks to God, for the law which he had given them from Mount Sinai, on the 50th day after their coming out of Egypt.

The modern Jews celebrate the Pentecost for two days. They deck the synagogue and their own houses with garlands of flowers. They hear a sermon or oration in praise of the law, which they suppose to have been delivered on this day. The Jews of Germany make a very thick cake, consisting of seven layers of paste, which they call Sinai. The seven layers represent the seven heavens, which they think God was obliged to reascend from the top of this mountain. See Leo of Modena and Buxtorf's synag. Jud.

It was on the feast of Pentecost that the Holy Ghost miraculously descended on the apostles of our Lord, who were assembled together after his ascension in a house at Jerusalem (Acts ii.).

PENTHESILEA, queen of the Amazons, succeeded Orythia, and gave proofs of her courage at the siege of Troy, where she was killed by Achilles. Pliny says that she invented the battle-axe.

PENTHORUM, in Botany, a genus of the penta5

It

PENULA, among the ancient Romans, was a coarse garment or cloak worn in cold or rainy weather. was shorter than the lacerna, and therefore more proper for travellers. It was generally brown, and succeeded the toga after the state became monarchical. Augustus abolished the custom of wearing the penula over the toga, considering it as too effeminate for Romans; and the ædiles had orders to suffer none to appear in the circus or forum with the lacerna or penula. Writers are not agreed as to the precise difference between these two articles of dress; but we are told that they were chiefly worn by the lower orders of people. See LA

CERNA.

PENULTIMA, or PENULTIMATE Syllable, in Grammar, denotes the last syllable but one of a word; and hence the antepenultimate syllable is the last but two, or that immediately before the penultima.

PENUMBRA, in Astronomy, a partial shade observed between the perfect shadow and the full light in an eclipse. It arises from the magnitude of the sun's body for were he only a luminous point, the shadow would be all perfect; but, by reason of the diameter of the sun, it happens, that a place which is not illuminated by the whole body of the sun, does yet receive rays from a part thereof.

PEON, in the language of Hindostan, means a foot soldier, armed with sword and target. In common use it is a footman, so armed, employed to run before a palanquin. Piaaah is the proper word; from which peon is a corruption.

PEOR, a famous mountain beyond Jordan, which Eusebius places between Heshbon and Livias. The mountains Nebo, Pisgah, and Peor, were near one another, and probably made but the same chain of mountains. It is very likely that Peor took its name from some deity of the same name, which was worshipped there; for Peor, Phegor, or Baal-peor, was known in this country. See Numb. xxv. 3. Deut. iv. 3. Psal. cv. 28.

PEOR, was a city of the tribe of Judah, which is not read in the Hebrew, nor in the Vulgate, but only in the Greek of the Septuagint (Josh. xv. 60.). Eusebius says it was near Bethlehem, and Jerome adds, that in his time it was called Paora.

PEPIN DE HERISTAL, or LE GROS, mayor of the palace under Clovis III. Childebert, and Dagobert. The power of these mayors in France was so great, that they left the sovereign only the empty title, and in the end seized on the throne itself.

PEPIN BC, or le Petit, grandson to Pepin the Gros, and first king of the second race of French monarchs,

Pepin