The banks with ease their humble streams contain,
Which swell in Summer, and those banks disdain.
Blackmore.
From the seak po.e no winds inclement blow,
Mold the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow.
Pope's Odyssey.
The trumpet roars, long flaky flames expire,
With sparks that seem to set the world on fire.
Pope.

Where twenty ages gather o'er a name,
"Tis as a snow-ball which derives assistance

From every flake, and yet rolls on the same, Even till an iceberg it may chance to grow, But after all 'tis nothing but cold snow. Byron. FLAKE, in the cod fishery, a sort of scaffold or platform, made of hurdles, and supported by stanchions, used for drying cod-fish in Newfoundland. These flakes are usually placed near the shores of fishing harbours.

FLAKE, in gardening, a sort of carnation, which is of two colors only, and has very large stripes, all of them going quite through the leaves.

FLAKE, WHITE, in painting, lead corroded by the pressing of grapes, or a ceruss prepared by the acid of grapes. It is brought here from Italy; and far surpasses, both with regard to the purity of its whiteness and the certainty of its standing, all the ceruss of white lead made with us. It is used in oil and varnish painting, for all purposes where a very clean white is required. It should be procured in lumps as brought over, and levigated by those who use it; as that which the colormen sell in a prepared state is levigated and mixed up with starch, and often with whitelead.

bottom. This they repeat twice. After each wick has thus got its proper cover of wax, they lay them to dry; then roll then on a table, and so join four of them together by a red-hot iron. When joined they pour on more wax till the flambeau is brought to the size required, which is usually from a pound and a half to three pounds. They then finish their form or outside, with a polishing instrument of wood, by running it along all the angles formed by the union of the branches. Flambeaux were anciently made of wood dried in furnaces or otherwise. Divers kinds of wood were used for this purpose; the most usual was pine. Pliny says that, in his time, they also used oak, elm, and hazel. the seventh book of the Æneid a flambeau of pine is mentioned; and Servius on that passage remarks, that they also made them of the cornel tree.

FLAMBEAUX are made of several thick wicks, covered with wax, serving to burn at night in the streets, at processions, illuminations, &c. They differ from links, torches, and tapers.-They are made square; sometimes of white wax and sometimes of yellow. They usually consist of four wicks or branches, nearly an inch thick and about three foot long, made of a sort of coarse hempen yarn half twisted. They are made with the ladle much as torches or tapers are; viz. by first pouring the melted wax on the top of the several suspended wicks, and letting it run down to the

In

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD, a cape on the east coast of Yorkshire, five miles east of Burlington, and 206 from London. It was the Fleamburg of the Saxons; so called from the flames or lights made on it to direct the landing of Ida, who in A. D. 547 joined his countrymen in Britain, with a large reinforcement from Germany, and founded the kingdom of Northumberland. In the time of Edward the Confessor, Flamborough was one of the manors of Harold, earl of the West Saxons, afterwards king of England. On his death William gave it to Hugh Lupus; who bestowed it in perpetual alms on the monastery of Whitby. The cliffs of this cape are of a tremendous height and amazing grandeur. Beneath are several vast caverns; some closed at the end, others pervious, formed with natural arches. In some places the rocks are insulated and of a pyramidal figure, soaring up to a vast height. The bases of most are solid, but in some pierced through and arched. The color of all these rocks is white, from the dung of the innumerable flocks of migratory birds which quite cover the face of them, filling every little projection, every hole that will give them leave to

rest.

A light-house has been erected at Flamborough Head, the height of which, from the basis to the summit, is eighty-five feet, and from the level of the sea 250 feet. The lantern con

tains three frames, with seven large lamps and reflectors in each, making in the whole twentyone. The lights revolve, and the motion is horizontal. One of the lights is red, to distinguish Flamborough lights from all others; and in a clear night they may be seen at the distance of thirty miles. The building is executed in a very superior style; and is of great advantage to navigation, in securing the property of individuals, and in preserving human life from the calamities of shipwreck.

FLAME, n. s., v. a., & v. n.\
FLAME-COLORED,
FLAME-EYED,
FLAMMATION, N. s.
FLAMMABILITY,
FLAM'MEOUS, adj.
FLAMMIFEROUS,
FLAM'Y.

Fr. flamme; Belg. and Teut. vlamme; Swed. and Lat. flamma; Arm. and Welsh, flam; Gothic, liom; Saxon, leom; (Loge, or Loke, among the Goths was the god of fire, or rather of flame). Blaze; the light emitted

from fire: hence, metaphorically, ardor; passion; particularly the passion of love: to flame is to shine as fire, or flame; to burst out into passionate violence; to inflame; excite: flammation is the act of inflaming, or causing to flame: flammability, the being possible, or likely, to blaze out flammeous, consisting of, or resembling: flammiferous, bringing, or bringing forth flame.

Much was he moved at that rueful sight, And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly, He asked who had that dame so fouly dight, Or whether his own hand, or whether other wight? Spenser's Faerie Queene' Wit is brush-wood, judgment timber; the one gives the greatest flame, the other yields the durablest heat; and both meeting make the best fire. Sir T. Overbury.

Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in, with such weak breath as this? Shakspeure.

Children play

With fiery flames, and covet what is bright;
But, feeling the effects, abhor the light.

Birth of Merlin. Rowley and Shakspeare. Tis strong, and it does indifferent well in flame

colored stockings.

Shakspeare. Twelfth Night. The vital spirits of living creatures are a substance compounded of an airy and flamy matter; and though air and flame, being free, will not well mingle, yet bound in by a body they will.

Bacon.

Behold it like an ample curtain spread, Now streaked and glowing with the morning red; Anon at noon in flaming yellow bright,

And chusing sable for the peaceful night. Prior. Is not flame a vapour, fume, or exhalation heated red hot, that is, so hot as to shine? For bodies do not flame without emitting a copious fume, and this fume burns in the flame. Newton's Opticks.

Now gaudy pride corrupts the lavish age, And the streets flame witb glaring equipage. Gay. No warning of the approaching flame; Swiftly like sudden death it came

I loved the moment I beheld,

Granville.

Smit with the love of kindred arts we came, And met congenial, mingling flame with flame. Pope.

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy Mason. inflames his crimes.

You from deep cauldrons and unmeasured caves Blow flaming airs or pour vitrescent waves. Darwin. FLAME. Sir Isaac Newton considers flame as only the red-hot vapor of any substance raised from it by fire, and heated to such a degree as to emit light copiously. This definition seems to be accurate, though some allege that it contains an inaccurate comparison. Simple ignition (they argue) never exceeds in intensity of light the body by contact of which it was produced. But flame always consists of volatile inflammable matter in the act of combustion and combination with vital air. Many metallic substances are volatilised by heat, and burn with a flame by the contact of the air in this rare state, Sulphur, phosphorus, and some other bases of acids, exhibit the same phenomenon. But the flames of organised substances are in general produced by the extrication and ascension of inflammable air

with more or less charcoal. When circumstances are not favorable to the perfect combustion of these products, a portion of the coal passes through the luminous current unburnt, and forms smoke. It appears to be ascertained, however, that bodies emit flame in proportion to the quantity of vapor that rises from them. Thus wood, coals, &c., which emit a great quantity of vapor, flame violently; while lead, tin, &c., which emit but a small fume, can scarcely be perceived to flame at all. This rule, however, is not to be depended upon in all cases. Some vapors seem to be in their own nature uninflammable, and capable of extinguishing flame; as those of water, the mineral acids, sal ammoniac, arsenic, &c.; while others take fire on the slightest approach of a flaming substance; such as ether, spirit of wine, &c. These last also exhibit a remarkable phenomenon; namely, that they cannot be made to flame without the approach of some substance actually in flames. Thus spirit of wine, poured on a red-hot iron, though instantly dissipated in vapor, will not flame; but, if a burning candle touches its surface, the whole is set in a flame at once. The case is otherwise with oils, especially those of the grosser kind; for their vapors are readily changed into flame by the mere increase of heat, without the approach of any flaming substance. There is, however, no kind of vapor, perhaps, that is incapable of being converted into flame, provided it is exposed to a sufficient degree of heat. Thus the vapor of water, made to pass through burning coal, produces an exceedingly strong and bright flame. It is remarkable that this vapor seems to be more powerful than almost any other in absorbing heat, and detaining it in a latent state. It seems probable that, when smoke is converted into flame, the caloric, or latent heat with which the vapor had combined, or rather that which made an essential part of it, breaks forth, and adds to the quantity of sensible heat already present. This seems probable, from the sudden explosion with which all flames break out. If a vessel full of oil be set over the fire a smoke or vapor begins to arise from it;

which grows gradually thicker, and at last begins to shine in some places very near the surface of the oil, like an electrical light, or sulphur just kindled. At this time the oil is very hot, as well as the steam which issues from it. But this last is continually giving off its sensible heat into the atmosphere; so that, at an inch or two from the surface of the oil, the heat of the steam will not exceed 400° of Fahrenheit; but, if a burning candle be held in the steam for a moment, the whole is immediately converted into flame, with something like an explosion; after which the oil burns quietly until it is all consumed. The flame, as soon as it appears, is not only much hotter than the steam whence it was produced, but even than the oil which lies below it. Whence, then, has this sudden and great increase of heat arisen? It could not be the sensible heat of the vapor, for that was greatly inferior; nor could it be communicated from the oil, for that could communicate no more than it had itself. The candle indeed would communicate a quantity of heat to the vapor which touched its flame; but it is impossible that this quantity should extend permanently over a surface perhaps 100 times larger than the flame of the candle, in such a manner as to make every part of that surface equally hot with the flame of the candle itself; for this would be to suppose it to communicate 100 times more heat than really was in it. The heat therefore must have originally resided in the vapor itself: and as, in the freezing of water, its latent heat is extricated and becomes sensible, and the water thereupon loses its fluidity; so, in the accession of vapor, the latent heat breaks forth with a bright flash, and the vapor is then totally decomposed, and converted into soot, ashes, or water, according to the different nature of the substances which produce it, or according to the intensity of the heat. Several other hypotheses have been offered, to solve the phenomena of burning and flaming bodies. See CHEMISTRY, COMBUSTION, FIRE, HEAT, IGNITION, &C. The colors of flames differ according to the substances from which they are produced. Thus, the flame of sulphur and spirit of wine is blue; the flame of nitre and zinc, of a bright white; that of copper, of a greenish-blue, &c. These varieties afford an opportunity of making a number of agreeable representations in fireworks, which could not be done if the flame produced from every different substance was of the same color. See PYROTECHNY.

FLAMEEL, or FLEMEAL (Bertholet), a celebrated Flemish painter, was born at Liege, in 1614. He improved himself at Rome by copying the best masters; and in 1647 returned to his native place, but afterwards went to Paris and became a professor in the Academy of Painting. He died in 1675. His architectural representations are in fine style.

FLAMEL (Nicholas), a notary and alleged alchemist of Paris, in the fourteenth century, suddenly became possessed of so much wealth as induced a suspicion that he was indebted for it to the philosopher's stone: while others affirmed that he obtained it by extortion from the Jews, when they were exiled. The truth seems to be, that he acquired it by commercial specu

lations. He at any rate applied it to benevolent purposes, in building extensive hospitals—that of the Quinze Vingt, for instance-and places of worship. He died in 1418. Several books on alchemy have been published with his name Paul Lucas, a French physician employed by the court, about the commencement of the last century, to collect rare coins and antiquities in the Levant, furnishes an amusing sequel to this man's history. He tells us, in his second voyage, that on the 9th of July, 1705, at Burnus Baschi, near Brussa, in Natolia, he fell in with an Usbec dervise who spoke a variety of languages, and who was not only perfectly well acquainted with the story of Flamel as related above, but who affirmed that both he and his wife were yet alive, having gained over their physician and the curate of S. S. Innocens to report their death, and to bury two logs of wood in their stead. They were now, he added, about 400 years old each, and belonged to a society, consisting in all of seven adepts, who travelled about the world, meeting at some appointed spot every twenty years!

FLAʼMEN. Lat. A Roman priest; one that officiated in solemn or sacrificial rites. A drear and dying sound Affrights the flamen.

Milton.

Then first the flamen tasted living food; Next his grim idol smeared with human blood.

Pope.

FLAMEN, in Roman antiquity, an order of priests, instituted by Romulus or Numa. They were originally only three; viz. the Flamen Dialis, Martialis, and Quirinalis. The last two, though of high authority, were much inferior to the Flamen Dialis. They were all chosen by the people, and consecrated by the pontifex maximus. In latter times several priests of the same order were added to them, but inferior in power. The whole number at last amounted to fifteen : the first three of whom were senators, and called Flamines majores; the other twelve, taken from among the people, being denominated Flamines minores. Some authors tell us the Romans had a flamen for every deity they worshipped. The greater flamines wore the robe edged with purple, like the magistrates; had an ivory chair, and a seat in the senate. They wore a little band of thread about their heads, whence their name is said to be derived, quasi filamines. They also wore a hat or cap, called apex or flam

meum.

Flamen dialis was sacred to Jupiter, and a person of the highest consequence and authority in the state. He discharged several religious duties which properly belonged to the kings, and was honored with many eminent privileges beyond all other officers, but was obliged to observe several superstitious restraints. Flamen Martialis was sacred to Mars, and was ordained to inspect the rites of that god. Flamen Quirinalis was sacred to, and superintended the rites of, Quirinus Romulus.

FLAMINGO. See PHOENICOpterus. FLAMINIA VIA, the highway from Rome to Arminum, made by Flaminus.

FLAMINACA, the wife of the Flamen Dialis, wore a flame-colored habit, on which was painted

a thunderbolt, and above her head-dress she had green oak boughs, to indicate that she served Jupiter the thunderer, to whom the oak was sacred.

FLAMINIUS, or FLAMINIO (Mark Anthony), a Latin poet in the sixteenth century, of Imola, in Italy. The pope had chosen him secretary to the council in 1545; but he refused that employment, as he favored the new opinions, as they were called, and would not employ his pen in an assembly where he knew these opinions were to be condemned. He wrote notes on the Psalms; paraphrased thirty of them in Latin verse; and wrote letters and poems which are esteemed. He died at Rome in 1550.

FLAMSTED, a town of England, in Hertfordshire, five miles from St. Alban's and Dunstable, on the Verlam, anciently called Verlamstede. The land hereabouts is a clay so thickly mixed with flints, that, after a shower, nothing appears but a heap of stones; yet it bears good corn even in dry summers. Edward VI. when an infant, was brought hither for his health. The bedstead he lay on, which is curiously wrought, is still preserved in the manor house.

FLAMSTEED (John), an eminent English astronomer, born in Derby in 1646. He had early studied civil and ecclesiastical history; but accidentally meeting with John De Sacrobosco's book, De Sphæra, acquired a turn for astronomy, which he afterwards prosecuted with great vigor. In 1674 he wrote an ephemeris, in which he showed the falsity of astrology; and gave a table of the moon's rising and setting, with the eclipses and appulses of the moon and planets to fixed stars. This fell into the hands of Sir Jonas More; for whom he made a table of the moon's true southings. In 1674 Sir Jonas having informed him that a true account of the tides would be highly acceptable to the king, he composed a small ephemeris for his use; and, when Sir Jonas showed the king and duke of York Flamsteed's telescopes and micrometer, he procured for him a warrant to be king's astronomer, with a salary of £100 a-year. His Doctrine of the Sphere was published in 1681, in a posthumous work of Sir Jonas More, entitled, A New System of the Mathematics. In 1684 be was presented to the living of Burstow, in Surry, which he enjoyed till he died in 1719. His Historia Celestis Britannica was published

FLANDERS, a country of the Netherlands, and now chiefly incorporated in the kingdom of that name, was formerly governed by its own hereditary sovereigns. It was bounded on the north by the United Provinces; on the east by the ci-devant Austrian provinces of Brabant and Hainault; on the south by Hainault and Artois; and on the west and north-west by the German Ocean; extending sixty miles in length, and fifty in breadth. It contained thirty cities, a great number of market towns, 1154 villages, and forty-eight abbeys; besides many colleges, monasteries, &c. The towns are situated so near each other, that the Spaniards who followed Philip II, supposed the whole country to constitute but one great city. Since that period it has suffered greatly from the ravages of various wars. The climate is temperate and healthy; the soil very fertile, being watered by many rivers and canals, and producing all kinds of corn, flax, and other vegetables; and the surface perfectly level, there being not a single hill of any importance in it. The pastures are excellent, and rear great numbers of fine horses, sheep, and black cattle. The Flemings were formerly the principal manufacturers in Europe, and either invented or improved several important arts; particularly weaving figured linens, dyeing cloths, painting in oil colors, curing herrings, &c. Silk, cotton, and woollen stuffs, camblets, brocades, linens, laces, and tapestry are still manufactured in great quantities. The laces are also superior. The chief rivers are the Scheldt and the Lys.

Flanders has been divided into three parts; viz. Flemish, French, and Austrian or Imperial Flanders. It has been otherwise divided into French, Austrian, and Dutch Flanders; but, the country being so much exposed to the depredations of ambitious princes and tyrannical states, the limits of these provinces have often varied: nor is it necessary to ascertain them with much precision, now that these distinctions are abolished. French Flanders, now forming the French department of the NORTH, we shall treat of under that title, and confine the present account to those provinces of the Netherlands, which still retain the name of East and West Flanders.

East Flanders is divided from West Flanders

by a line running almost due so .th from Sluys, a smai. town opposite Flushing. Its capital is Ghent; its computed extent 1080 square miles; its population fully 600,000. The surface in the northern part is level, while to the south it consists of undulating plains. The soil is in general a heavy fertile loam. The climate, though moist, is not unhealthy: the chief productions are corn, pulse, flax, madder, tobacco, fruit; most of these are in great abundance; and the pasturages excellent. The manufactures are also here considerable. This province sends ten deputies to the provincial assembly, and is divided into the four circles of Ghent, Dendermonde, Oudenarde, and Eecloo. No part of it adjoins the sea, Dutch Flanders occupying the bank of the Scheldt; but it enjoys the benefit of water communication by canals, the principal of which lead to Bruges in the west, and to Sas Van Ghent in the north.

West Flanders extends along a considerable tract of coast, in the central part of which is Ostend. This side faces the north; but the western boundary of the province adjoins the French territory. Its extent is nearly 1500 square miles, and its surface in general level, except the sand-hills on the coast. Here also the soil is fertile, and the agriculture excellent. The climate, like that of England, is humid and changeable; the products nearly the same as in East Flanders, and the language Flemish, except along the French frontier, where there is an intermixture of French. The manufactures are very considerable in lace and fine linen; cotton, stuffs, and leather; and there are extensive breweries and distilleries. The exports consist of manufactured articles, corn, pulse, rapeseed, tobacco, butter, oil, cheese, and cattle. This province sends eight deputies to the 1epresentative assembly; it is divided into four circles, that of Bruges (the capital), Furnes, Ypres, and Courtray. Ostend is its only harbour of consequence, but the province has several canals, which form a line of communication with France. Population 520,000. Wood is scarce: the common fuel is turf and coal. Both provinces are of the Catholic religion; and each has, in addition to its share in the general representative body, a local public assembly.

Great ordnance and small shot thundered and showered upon our men from the rampier in front, aud from the gallies that lay at sea in flank. Bacon's War with Spain. Gray was appointed to stand on the left side, in enemy. such sort as he might take the flank of the Hayward. The belly shall be eminent by shadowing the flank. Peacham,

Milton.

To right and left the front Divided, and to either flank retired. With fates averse against their king's command, Armed on the right, and on the left they stand, And flank the passage. Dryden's Æneid.

By the rich scent we found our perfumed prey, Which flanked with rocks did close in covert lay. Dryden

He said, and poised in air, the jav❜lin sent: Through Paris' shield the forceful weapon went, His corselet pierces, and his garment rends, And glancing downward near his flank descends. Popc.

FLANK, OF FLANC, in farriery and horsemanship. The flanks of a horse should be full, and at the top of each a feather. The distance between the last rib and haunch-bone, which is properly the flank, should be short, which they term well coupled, such horses being most hardy, and fit to endure labor A horse is said to have no flank, if the last of the short ribs be at a considerable distance from the haunchbone; or when his ribs are too much straitened in their compass.

FLANK, in military affairs, the side of a body of men. When a battalion is drawn up three deep, its flank files consist of three men. When four deep, the flank files are termed double files; so that a column formed from any of these alignements will have all its relative flank files, be the depth of formation what it will.

FLANK-COMPANY, a certain number of men drawn up on the right, or left, of a battalion. Thus the grenadiers compose the right, and the light infantry the left flank company; or, when these are detached, the two extreme battalion companies become such. The grenadiers and light infantry are generally called flank companies, whether attached, or not, to their several battalions.

from the curtain to the face. See FORTIFICATION. To flank, in a military sense is to command or attack an enemy's side, or to secure an army on the side. A flanker is, in fortification, a lateral defence of any kind: to flanker is to deferd laterally, to protect or to attack sideways.

Like storms of hail the stones fell down from high, Cast from the bulwarks, flankers, ports, and towers. Fairfax. The Turks, discouraged with the loss of their fellows, and sore beaten by the Spaniards ont of their flankers, were enforced to retire.

Knolles.

ments of the divisior from which he is detached,

but likewise to his flankers.

FLANK OF A BASTION (flanc d'une bastion, Fr.) in fortification, that part which joins the face to the curtain, comprehended between the angle of the curtain and that of the shoulder. It is the principal defence of the place. Its use is to defend the curtain, the flank, and face of the opposite bastion, as well as the passage of the ditch; and to batter the salient angles of the counterscarp and glacis, whence the besieged generally ruin the flanks with their artillery; for the flanks of a fortification are those parts which the besiegers endeavour most to destroy, in