section, the art or act of cutting solids, or making sec- Stereotoniy tions thereof; as walls and other membranes in the pro- # files of architecture. Stereome- compressed than before, the increase of its volume being ter equal to the whole capacity of the tube from C to D, indicated by the second scale. Stereotomy. It is therefore known that the pressures are in proportion to the barometrical column, and to the same column-DE. The bulks of the air in these two states are inversely in the same proportion; and the difference between these bulks is the absolute quantity left void in the tube by the fall of the mercury; from which data the following rule is deduced. Multiply the number expressing the less pressure by that which denotes the augmentation of capacity, and divide the product by the number which denotes the difference of the pressures. The quotient is the bulk of the air when subject to the greater pressure. Fig. 3. Suppose the height of the mercury in the barometer to be 78 centimetres, and the instrument being empty to be plunged into the mercury to the point C. It is then covered and raised till the small column of mercury DE is suspended, say at the height of six centimetres. The internal air at first compressed by a force represented by 78 centimetres, is now only compressed by a force 72 centimetres, or 78—6—72. Then 7727 Suppose that the capacity of the part CD of the tube which the mercury has quitted is two cubic centimetres. X2=24 cubical centimetres, the volume of the air included in the instrument when the mercury rose as high as C in the tube. The body of which the volume is to be ascertained must then be placed in the capsule, and the operation repeated. Let the column of mercury suspended be 8 centimetres, when the capacity of the part CD of the tube is = 2 centimetres cubic. Then the greatest pressure being denoted by 78 centimetres, the least will be 70 centimetres, the difference of pressure being 8, and difference of the volumes two cubic centimetres. 70 Hence the greatest pressure 17.5 cubic centimetres. Then 24-17.5 6.5 the volume of the body introduced. If the absolute weight of the body be multiplied by its bulk in centimetres, and divided by the absolute weight of one cubic centimetre of distilled water, the quotient will be the specific gravity of the body in the common form of the tables, where distilled water is taken as unity, or the term of comparison. X 2 gives the bulk of the included air under Mr Nicholson supposes that the author of the invention had not finished his meditations on the subject. If he had, it is probable that he would have determined bis pressures, as well as the measures of bulks, by weight. For if the whole instrument were set to its positions by suspending it from one arm of a balance at H (fig. 3.) the quantity of counterpoise, when in equilibrio, might be applied to determine the pressures to a degree of accuracy much greater than can be obtained by linear STEREOTYPE PRINTING, a method of printing, which was introduced into this country by William Ged of Edinburgh before the middle of the 18th century, and which has been revived of late, and greatly improved by the French. It has also been brought into practice in Britain by Earl Stanhope, who has produced some beautiful specimens of it. Some persons seem disposed to dispute the invention of Ged, seeing that the same method of printing by wooden blocks was practised by the Chinese and Japanese many hundred years ago. See GED, life of, and PRINTING. STERILITY, barreness, in opposition to fertility. It has been asserted by many authors, that all monsters produced by a mixture of different species of animals, such as mules, are barren; but this does not hold universally, even with the mule, which is the instance most generally adduced. Sterility in women sometimes happens from a miscarriage, or violent labour injuring some of the genital parts; but one of the most frequent causes is the suppression of the menstrual flux.-There are other causes arising from various diseases incident to those parts, by male seed ;-from the tubæ fallopiane being too short, which the uterus may be unfit to receive or retain the or having lost their erective power; in either of which cases no conception can take place;-from universal debility and relaxation; or a local debility of the genital system; by which means, the parts having lost their tone or contractile power, the semen is thrown off immediately post coitum ;-from imperforation of the vagina, the uterus, or the tube, or from diseased ova, &c. Hence medical treatment can only avail in cases arising from topical or universal debility; in correcting irregularities of the menstrual flux, or in removing tumors, cicatrices, or constrictions of the passage, by the art of surgery. STERIS, a genus of plants belonging to the class pentandria. See BOTANY Index. Stern-most. Great Bri STERLING, an epithet by which genuine English money is distinguished. It is unnecessary to mention the various conjectures of antiquaries about the origin and meaning of this appellation. The most probable Henry' opinion seems to be this, that some artists from Ger- History of many, who were called Esterlings, from the situation of tain, vol. ii. their country, had been employed in fabricating our money, which consisted chiefly of silver pennies; and that from them the penny was called an esterling, and our money esterling or sterling money. STERN, the posterior face of a ship; or that part which is represented to the view of a spectator, placed on the continuation of the keel behind. The stern is terminated above by the taffarel, and below by the counters; it is limited on the sides by the quarter-pieces, and the intermediate space comprehends the galleries and windows of the different cabins. See QUARTER of a Ship, SHIP, and SHIP-BUILDING. STERN-Fast, a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or boat to any wharf or jetty head, &c. STERN-Most, in sea language, usually denotes that part of a fleet of ships which is in the rear, or farthest a-stern, as opposed to head-most. 4 T 2 STERN Stern Post Sterne. STERN-Post, a long straight piece of timber erected on the extremity of the keel, to sustain the rudder and terminate the ship behind. This piece ought to be well secured and supported; because the ends of all the lower planks of the ship's bottom are fixed in a channel, cut on its surface; and the whole weight of the rudder is sustained by it. STERN Sheets, that part of a boat which is contained between the stern and the aftmost or hindmost seat of the rowers. It is generally furnished with benches to accommodate the passengers. See BOAT. STERNA, the TERN; a genus of birds arranged under the order of palmipedes. See ORNITHOLOGY Index. STERNE, LAURENCE, an English writer of a very peculiar cast, was born at Clomwell, in the south of Ireland, on the 24th November 1713. His father Roger Sterne was the grandson of Sterne archbishop of York, who has been supposed, we know not upon what grounds, to have been the author of the excellent book entitled "The Whole Duty of Man." Laurence inherited nothing of his ancestor's manner of writing, but rather resembled Rabelais, whose wit he carried with him even into the pulpit. In 1722 he was sent to school at Halifax in Yorkshire, where he continued till 1732, when he was removed to Jesus College in Cambridge. How long he resided in college, or what progress he made in literature or science, is not known: his works display rather native genius than profound erudition. Upon quitting the university he went to York, and being in orders was presented to the living of Sutton by the interest of his uncle Dr Sterne, a prebendary of that church. In 1741 he married, and was soon afterwards made a prebendary of York, by the interest also of his uncle, who was then upon very good terms with him; but "quickly quarrelled with him (he says), and became his bitterest enemy, because he would not be a party man, and write paragraphs in the newspapers." By his wife's means he got the living of Stillington, but remained near 20 years at Sutton, doing duty at both places. He was then in very good health, which, however, soon after forsook him; and books, painting, fiddling, and shoot ing, were, as he tells us, his amusements. In 1760, he went to London to publish his two first volumes of "Tristram Shandy ;" and was that year presented to the curacy of Coxwold. In 1762 he - went to France, and two years after to Italy, for the recovery of his health; but his health never was recovered. He languished under a consumption of the lungs, without the slightest depression of spirits, till 1768, when death put a period to his terrestrial exist ence. The works of Sterne are very generally read. They consist of, 1. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy; 2. Sermons; 3. A Sentimental Journey; 4. Letters, published since his death. In every serious page, and in many of much levity, the author writes in praise of benevolence, and declares that no one who knew him could suppose him one of those wretches who heap misfortune upon misfortune: But we have heard anecdotes of him extremely well authenticated, which proved that it was easier for him to praise this virtue than to practise it. His wit is universally allowed; but many readers have persuaded themselves that they found wit in his blank pages, while it is probable that he intended Sterne nothing but to amuse himself with the idea of the sage conjectures to which these pages would give occasion. Steward Even his originality is not such as is generally supposed by those fond admirers of the Shandean manner, who have presumed to compare him with Swift, Arbuthnot, and Butler. He has borrowed both matter and manner from various authors, and in particular from an old work, "The Anatomy of Melancholy by Burton," as every reader may be convinced by the learned, elegant, and candid comments on his works published by Dr Ferriar, in the fourth volume of the Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester. STERNOCOSTALES, commonly called the musculi triangulares sterni, in Anatomy, are five pairs of fleshy planes, disposed more or less obliquely on each side the sternum, on the inside of the cartilages of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth true ribs. STERNO-HYOIDÆUS, in Anatomy. See Table of the Muscles, under the article ANATOMY. STERNOMANTIS, in antiquity, a designation given to the Delphian priestess, more usually called PrTHIA.-Sternomantis is also used for any one that had a prophesying demon within him. STERNOMASTOIDÆUS, a muscle. See Table of the Muscles, under ANATOMY. STERNOTHYROIDEUS, a muscle. See Table of the Muscles, under ANATOMY. STERNUM. See ANATOMY Index. STERNUTATIVE, or STERNUTATORY, a medicine proper to produce sneezing. See SNEEZING. STETIN, or STETTIN, a sea-port town of Germany, belonging to Prussia, and capital of Hither Pomerania, with the title of a duchy, and a castle. It bad long a famous school, which the wars of Germany never disturbed. The ancient dukes of Pomerania resided here; and it was taken by the elector of Brandenburg in 1676, but given to Sweden by the treaty of Nimeguen. In 1713 it submitted to the allies; and then the said elector was put in possession again of this important place, which is a bulwark to the marche of Brandenburg; and the fortifications have been greatly improved. It is now a flourishing place, and carries on a considerable trade. It is seated on the river Oder, 72 miles north of Francfort, and 70 north by east of Berlin. E. Long. 14. 38. N. Lat. 53. 35. The duchy is 125 miles in length, and borders upon Mecklenburg, and partly upon Brandenburg. The breadth is from 17. to 25 miles, and it is divided by the river Oder into two parts. STEW, a small kind of fish-pond, the peculiar use of which is to maintain fish, and keep them in readiness for the daily use of the family, &c. STEWS (from the French estuves, i. e. thermæ, balneum), those places which were permitted in England to women of professed incontinency; so called, because dissolute persons are wont to prepare themselves for venereous acts by bathing; and hot baths were by Homer reckoned among the effeminate sort of pleasures. These stews were suppressed by King Henry VIII. about the year 1546. STEWARD (senescallus, compounded of the Saxon steda, i. e. "room" or "stead." and weard, “a ward” or "keeper"), an officer appointed in another's stead or place, and always taken for a principal officer within his jurisdiction. prorogue the parliament, in order to try him by a se- Steward. lect number of peers; it being doubted whether the whole house could be induced to fall in with the views of the court. But now, by statute 7 W. III. c. 3. upon all trials of peers for treason or misprison, all the peers who have a right to sit and vote in parliament shall be summoned at least 20 days before such trial, to appear and vote therein; and every lord appearing shall vote in the trial of such peer, first taking the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and subscribing the declaration against popery. Steward. jurisdiction. Of these there are various kinds. The greatest officer under the crown is the lord high-steward of England, an office that was anciently the inheritance of the earls of Leicester, till forfeited by Simon de Montfort to King Henry III. But the power of this officer is so very great, that it has not been judged safe to trust it any longer in the hands of a subject, except ing only pro hac vice, occasionally as to officiate at a coronation, at the arraignment of a nobleman for hightreason, or the like. During his office, the steward bears a white staff in his hand; and the trial, &c. ended, he, breaks the staff, and with it his commission expires. There is likewise a lord-steward of the king's household, who is the chief officer of the king's court, has the care of the king's house, and authority over all the officers and servants of the household, except such as belong to the chapel, chamber, and stable. STEWARD, an officer in a ship of war, appointed by the purser to distribute the different species of provisions to the officers and crew; for which purpose he is furnished with a mate and proper assistants. Court of the Lord High STEWARD of Great Britain, is a court instituted for the trial of peers indicted for treason or felony, or for misprison of either. The office of this great magistrate is very ancient, and was formerly hereditary, or at least held for life, or dum bene se gesserit: but now it is usually, and hath been for many centuries past, granted pro hac vice only; and it hath been the constant practice (and therefore seems now to have become necessary) to grant it to a lord of parliament, else he is incapable to try such delinquent peer. When such an indictment is therefore found by a grand jury of freeholders in the King's bench, or at the assizes before the justices of oyer and terminer, it is to be removed by a writ of certiorari into the court of the lord high-steward, which has the only power to determine it. A peer may plead a pardon before the court of King's bench, and the judges have power to allow it, in order to prevent the trouble of appointing an high-steward merely for the purpose of receiving such plea: but he may not plead in that inferior court any other plea, as guilty or not guilty of the indictment, but only in this court; because, in consequence of such plea, it is possible that judgment of death might be awarded against him. The king, therefore, in case a peer be indicted of treason, felony, or misprison, creates a lord highsteward pro hac vice by commission under the great Blackst. seal; which recites the indictment so found, and gives Comment. his Grace power to receive and try it secundum legem et consuetudinem Angliæ. Then when the indictment is regularly removed by writ of certiorari, commanding the inferior court to certify it up to him, the lord highsteward directs a precept to a serjeant at arms, to summon the lords to attend and try the indicted peer. This precept was formerly issued to summon only 18 or 20 selected from the body of the peers; then the number came to be indefinite; and the custom was for the lord high-steward to summon as many as he thought proper (but of late years not less than 23); and that those lords only should sit upon the trial; which threw a monstrous weight of power into the hands of the crown, and this its great officer, of selecting only such peers as the then predominant party should most approve of. And accordingly, when the earl of Clarendon fell into disgrace with Charles II. there was a design formed to vol. iv. During the session of parliament, the trial of an indicted peer is not properly in the court of the lord highsteward, but before the court last mentioned of our lord the king in parliament. It is true, a lord high-steward is always appointed in that case to regulate and add weight to the proceedings: but he is rather in the nature of a speaker pro tempore, or chairman of the court, than the judge of it; for the collective body of the peers are therein the judges both of law and fact, and the high-steward has a vote with the rest in right of his peerage. But in the court of the lord high-steward, which is held in the recess of parliament, he is the sole judge of matters of law, as the lords triors are in matters of fact; and as they may not interfere with him in regulating the proceedings of the court, so he has no right to intermix with them in giving any vote upon the trial. Therefore, upon the conviction and attainder of a peer for murder in full parliament, it hath been holden by the judges, that in case the day appointed in the judg ment for execution should lapse before execution done, a new time of execution may be appointed by either the high court of parliament during its sitting, though no high steward be existing, or, in the recess of parliament, by the court of King's-bench, the record being removed into that court. It has been a point of some controversy, whether the bishops have now a right to sit in the court of the lord high-steward to try indictments of treason and misprision. Some incline to imagine them included under the general words of the statute of King William " all peers who have a right to sit and vote in parliament;" but the expression had been much clearer, if it had been "all lords," and not "all peers;" for though bishops, on account of the baronies annexed to their bishoprics, are clearly lords of parliament, yet their blood not being ennobled, they are not universally allowed to be peers with the temporal nobility: and perhaps this word might be inserted purposely with a view to exclude them. However, there is no instance of their sitting on trials for capital offences, even upon impeachments or indictments in full parliament, much less in the court we are now treating of; for indeed they usually withdraw voluntarily, but enter a protest, declaring their right to stay. It is observable, that in the 11th chapter of the constitutions of Clarendon, made in parliament 11th Henry II. they are expressly excused, rather than excluded, from sitting and voting in trials, which concern life or limb: episcopi, sicut cæteri barones, debent interesse judiciis cum baronibus, quosque perveniatur ad diminutionem membrorum vel ad mortem. And Becket's quarrel with the king hereupon was not on account of the exception (which was agreeable to the canon law), ' but of the general rule, that compelled the bishops to attend at all. And the determination of the house of lords |