PEPPER, piper, in natural history, an aromatic berry of a hot dry quality, chiefly used in seasoning. Pepper is principally used by us in food, to assist digestion: but the people in the East Indies esteem it as a stomachic, and drink a strong infusion of it in water by way of giving them an appetite; they have also a way of making a fiery spirit of fermented fresh pepper with water, which they use for the same purposes. They have also a way of preserving the common and long pepper in vinegar, and eating them afterwards at meals. There are three kinds of pepper at present used in the shops, the black, the white, and the long pepper.

I. PEPPER, BLACK, is the fruit of the piper, and is brought from the Dutch settlements in the East Indies.

II. PEPPER, LONG, is a dried fruit, of an inch or an inch and a half in length, and about the thickness of a large goose quill: it is of a brownish gray color, cylindrical in figure, and produced on a plant of the same genus.

III. PEPPER, WHITE, is factitious, being prepared from the black in the following manner: -they steep this in sea-water, exposed to the heat of the sun for several days, till the rind or outer bark loosens; they then take it out, and, when it is half dry, rub it till the rind falls off; then they dry the white fruit, and the remains of the rind blow away like chaff. A great deal of the heat of the pepper is taken off by this process, so that the white kind is more fit for many purposes than the black. However, there is a sort of native white pepper produced on a species of the same plant; which is much better than the factitious, and indeed little inferior to the black. PEPPER, BARBARY. See CAPSICUM. PEPPER, GUINEA. See CAPSICUM.

PEPPER, JAMAICA. See MYRTUS and PI

MENTO.

PEPPER, POOR MAN'S. See LEpidium.

PEPPER, WATER, a liquor prepared by putting common black pepper, grossly powdered, into an open vessel of water. In a few days it acquires a pellicle or thin surface, which is composed entirely of animalcules excellently adapted for microscopical observation.

PEPPER GRASS. See PILULARIA. PEPPER-MINT. See MENTHA. PEPPER-MINT TREE, in botany, the eucalyptus piperita. In a journal of a voyage to New South Wales, by John White, esq., we have a plate of this tree, with the following account of it:"This tree grows to the height of more than 100 feet, and is above thirty feet in circumference. The bark is very smooth, like that of the poplar. The younger branches are long and slender, angulated near the top; but as they grow older the angles disappear. Their bark is smooth, and of a reddish brown. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, pointed, very entire, smooth on both sides, and remarkably unequal or oblique at their base; the veins alternate, and not very con

spicuous. The whole surface of both sides of the leaves is marked with numerous minute resinous spots, in which the essential oil resides. The foot-stalks are about half an inch in length, round on the under side, angular above, quite smooth. The flowers we have not seen. What Mr. White has sent as the ripe capsules of this tree (although not attached to the specimens of the leaves) grow in clusters, from six to eight in each, sessile and conglomerated. These clusters are supported on angular alternate footstalks, which form a kind of panicle. Each capsule is about the size of a hawthorn berry, globular, but as it were cut off at the top, rugged on the outside, hard and woody, and of a dark brown color. At the top is a large orifice, which shows the internal part of the capsule divided into four cells, and having a square column in the centre, from which the partitions of the cell arise. These partitions extend to the rim of the capsule, and terminate in four small projections, which look like the teeth of a calyx. The seeds are numerous, small, and angular. The name of pepper-mint tree has been given to this plant by Mr. White, on account of the very great resemblance between the essential oil drawn from its leaves and that obtained from the pepper-mint (mentha piperita) which grows in England. This oil was found by Mr. White to be much more efficacious in removing all cholicky complaints than that of the English peppermint, which he attributes to its being less pungent and more aromatic. A quart of the oil had been sent by him to Mr. Wilson. The tree appears to be undoubtedly of the same genus with that cultivated in some greenhouses in England, which M. L'Heritier has described in his Sertum Anglicum by the name of eucalyptus obliqua, though it is commonly called in the gardens metrosideros obliqua; but we dare not assert it to be the same species, nor can this point be determined till the flowers and every part of both be seen and compared: we have compared the best specimens we could procure of each, and find no specific difference. The eucalyptus obliqua has, when dried, an aromatic flavor, somewhat similar to our plant. We have remarked, indeed, innumerable minute white spots, besides the resinous ones, on both surfaces of the leaves in some specimens of the garden plant, which are not to be seen in ours; and the branches of the former are rough, with small scaly tubercles. But how far these are constant we cannot tell. The obliquity in the leaves, one side being shorter at the base than the other, as well as somewhat narrower all the way up, as in the Begonia nitida of the Hortus Kewensis, is remarkable in both plants. Mr. White's figure represents a branch of the pepper-mint tree in leaf: on one side of it part of a leaf separate, bearing the gall of some insect; on the other the fruit above described.' PEPPER-POT. See CAPSICUM. PEPPER-WORT. See LEpidium.

PEPUSCH (John Christopher), Mus. D., and F. R. S., one of the greatest theoretic or scientific musicians of modern times, was born at Berlin in 1667. In 1680, when not fifteen, he had made such proficiency on the harpsichord that he was appointed to teach music to the prince royal of

Prussia. About 1700 he came over to England, and was engaged at Drury Lane. The popularity of Handel kept him in the secondary rank; but Pepusch chose a new track for himself, and taught music in the full sense of the word; i. e. the principles of harmony and the science of composition, -not to children or novices, but to professors of music themselves, who attended him; so much were his talents and judgment respected. In 1713 the University of Oxford admitted him Doctor of Music. In 1724 he accepted an offer from Dr. Berkeley to go with him to Bermudas, as professor of music in his intended college; but the ship being wrecked he returned to London, and married Frances Margaret De L'Epine, who had made a fortune of 10,000 guineas by her voice. His fortune and reputation were now at their height. At the desire of Messrs. Gay and Rich he composed the music for the Beggar's Opera. In 1737 he was chosen organist for the Charter House. In 1740 his wife died, and a short time after their only son. He wrote An Account of the Ancient Genera of Music, which was read before the Royal Society, and published in the Phil. Trans. for October, November, and December, 1736; and was soon after chosen F. R. S. He died July 20th, 1752, aged eighty-five.

PEPYS (Samuel), F. R. S., secretary to the admiralty in the reigns of Charles II. and James II., was born at Brampton in Huntingdonshire, of an ancient family of the same name, of Cottenham in Cambridgeshire, and educated at St. Paul's school, London, whence he was removed to Magdalen College, Cambridge. He early acquired the patronage of the earl of Sandwich, who employed him as secretary in the expedition for bringing Charles II. from Holland. On his return he was appointed one of the principal officers of the navy, which post he maintained during the plague, the fire of London, and the Dutch war. In 1673, when the king took the admiralty into his own hands, he appointed Mr. Pepys secretary. In 1684 he was accused of being a papist, without a shadow of proof; and soon after, the admiralty being put into commission, he lost his place. He was still, however, employed under lord Dartmouth, in the expedition against Tangier, and often accompanied the duke of York to Scotland, and in his cruises. When Charles II. resumed the office of lord high admiral he was once more appointed secretary, and held the office until the Revolution. On the accession of William and Mary he resigned, and published his Memoirs,' relating to the navy. He led a very retired life from this time; and, having survived his lady, retired for two years before his death to the seat of a naval friend at Clapham, where he died May 26th, 1703. Such indeed was his literary and scientific reputation that in 1684 he was elected president of the Royal Society, which office he held for ten years. He left a large collection of MSS. to Magdalen College, Oxford, and five large folio volumes of ancient English poetry, begun by Selden, and carried down to 1700, from which the Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, by Dr. Percy, are chiefly selected. Mr. Pepys has lately become more known by the publica

PERAMBAUCAM, a town of the south of India, Carnatic. This, though a small place, is memorable for the defeat and destruction of a fine British army, commanded by the gallant colonel Bailie, in the month of September 1780, by Hyder Aly. Of eighty-six British officers present, thirty-six were killed, thirty-four wounded, and the remaining sixteen taken prisoners; the greater part of them dying in captivity. In August 1781 a second battle was fought here be tween Hyder and the army commanded by Sir Eyre Coote. On this occasion the British were victorious. It is situated on the south side of the Coortelier, fourteen miles north-east of Conieveram.

PERAM'BULATE, v. a. Į Lat. perambulo. PERAMBULATION, n. s. To walk, or pass through; survey by passing through: perambulation is, the act of passing through; survey made, or districts perambulated.

The duke looked still for the coming back of the Armada, even when they were wandering and making their perambulation of the northern seas.

Bacon.

Persons the lord deputy should nominate to view and perambulate Irish territories, and thereupon to divide and limit the same. Davies on Ireland.

It might in point of conscience be demanded, by what authority a private person can extend a personal correction beyond the persons and bounds of his own perambulation? Holyday.

France is a square of five hundred and fifty miles traverse, thronging with such multitudes that the general calcul, made in the last perambulation, exceeded eighteen millions.. Howel.

PERAMBULATOR, in surveying, an instrument for measuring distances, called also pedometer, way-wiser, and surveying-wheel. It consists of a wheel AA two feet seven inches and a

B

half in diameter; consequently half a pole, or eight feet three inches, in circumference. On one end of the axis is a nut, three quarters of an inch in diameter, and divided into eight teeth; which, upon moving the wheel round, fall into the eight teeth of another nut c, fixed on one end of an iron rod Q, and thus turn the rod once round in the time the wheel makes one revolution. This rod, laying along a groove in the side of the carriage of the instrument, has at its other end a square hole, into which is fitted the end 6 of a small cylinder P. This cylinder is disposed under the dial-plate of a movement, at the end of the carriage B, in such a manner as to be moveable about its axis; its end a is cut into a perpetual screw, which falling into the thirty-two teeth of a wheel perpendicular to it, upon driving the instrument forward, that wheel makes a revolution each sixteenth pole. On the axis of this wheel is a pinion with six teeth, which, falling into the teeth of another wheel of sixty teeth, carries it round every 160th pole, or half a mile. This last wheel, carrying a hand or index round with it over the divisions of a dial-plate, whose outer limb is divided into 160 parts, corresponding to the 160 poles, points out the number of poles passed over. Again, on the axis of this last wheel is a pinion, containing twenty teeth, which, falling into the teeth of a third wheel which has forty teeth, drives it once round in 320 poles, or a mile. On the axis of this wheel is a pinion of twelve teeth, which, falling into the teeth of a fourth wheel having seventy-two teeth, drives it once round in twelve miles. This fourth wheel, carrying another index over the inner limb of the dial-plate, divided into twelve for miles, and each mile subdivided into halves, quarters, and furlongs, serves to register the revolutions of the other hand, and to keep account of the miles and half miles

passed over, as far as twelve miles. The use of this instrument is obvious from its construction. Its proper office is the surveying of roads and large distances, where a great deal of expedition, and not much accuracy, is required. It is evident that driving it along and observing the hands has the same effect as dragging the chain advantages are its hardness and expedition: its and taking account of the chains and links. Its contrivance is such that it may be fitted to the wheel of a coach, in which state it performs its office, and measures the road without any trouble.

PERAMES, in geography, a town of America, in Bergen county, New Jersey, lying on the point of land formed by the branches of Saddle River, a north branch of the Passaick; about eighteen miles north of Bergen.

PERCA, the perch, a genus of fishes.belonging to the order of thoracici. The head is furnished with scaly and serrated opercula; there are seven rays in the membrane of the gills; and the fins on the back are prickly. There are thirty-eight species, principally distinguished by peculiarities in the back fin. The most re

markable are

1. P. cernua, the pope, or ruffe, is found in several English streams: it is gregarious, assembling in large shoals, and keeping in the deepest part of the water. It is of a much more slender form than the perch, and seldom exceeds six inches in length. The teeth are very small, and disposed in rows. It has only one dorsal fin, extending along the greatest part of the back; the first rays, like those of the perch, are strong, sharp, and spiny; the others soft. The body is covered with rough compact scales. The back and sides are of a dirty green, the last inclining to yellow but both spotted with black. dorsal fin is spotted with black; the tail marked with transverse bars.

The

2. P. fluviatilis, or common perch, has a deep body, very rough scales, and the back much arched. The colors are beautiful; the back and part of the sides being of a deep green, marked with five broad black bars pointing downwards; the belly is white, tinged with red; the ventral fins of a fine scarlet; the anal fins and tail of the same color, but rather paler. In a lake called Llyn Raithlyn, in Merionethshire in Wales, is a very singular variety of this fish: the back part is quite hunched, and the lower part of the back-bone next the tail strangely distorted; in color and other respects it resembles the common perch, which are as numerous in this lake as the deformed fish. They are not peculiar to this water; for Linnæus takes notice of them in a lake at Fahlun in his country. It is said that they are also met with in the Thames near Marlow. The perch was much esteemed as food by the Romans; nor is it less admired at present as a firm and delicate fish; and the Dutch are particularly fond of it when made into a dish called water-souchy. It is a gregarious fish, and loves deep holes and gentle streams; is exceedingly voracious, and an eager biter: if the angler meets with a shoal of them he is sure of taking every one. The perch is very tenacious of life, and has been known to survive a journey of sixty

miles in dry straw. It seldom grows to a large size, though Mr. Pennant mentions one that weighed nine pounds; but this is very uncom

mon.

3. P. labrax, the basse, is a very voracious, strong, and active fish. Ovid calls them rabidi lupi, a name continued to them by after writers; and they are said to grow to the weight of 15 lbs. The irides are silvery; the mouth large; the teeth are situated in the jaws, and are very small; in the roof of the mouth is a triangular rough space, and just at the gullet are two others of a roundish form. The scales are of a middling size, are very thick set, and adhere closely. The body is formed somewhat like that of a salmon. The color of the back is dusky, tinged with blue. The belly is white. In young fish the space above the side line is marked with small black spots. It is esteemed a very delicate fish.

:

4. P. marina, the sea-perch, is about a foot long the head large and deformed; eyes great; teeth small and numerous. On the head and covers of the gills are strong spines. The color red, with a black spot on the covers of the gills, and some transverse dusky lies on the sides. It is a fish held in some esteem at the table.

5, P. Nilotica, the perch of the Nile, is taken about Cairo. The flesh has a sweet and exquisite flavor, and is not hard, but very white. It

is one of the best fishes in the Nile; and, as it is of the largest size in Egypt, it adorns a table if brought upon it entire and well fried. See PILOT-FISH.

PERCA'SE, adv. Par and case. Perchance; perhaps. Not used.

A virtuous man will be virtuous in solitudine, and not only in theatro, though percase it will be more strong by glory and fame, as an heat which is doubled by reflection.

Bacon.

Wond'rous quick and perceant was his spright As eagles' eyes that can behold the sun. Spenser.

PERCEIVE', v. a. PERCEIVABLE, adj. PERCEIVABLY, adv.

Latin percipio. To discover by some effect; to PERCEPTIBLE, adj. know; be affected PERCEPTIBLY, adv. by; observe: perPERCEPTIBILITY, n.s. ceivable and perPERCEPTION, n. s. ceptible mean, disPERCEPTIVE, adj, coverable; such as PERCIPIENT, adj. & n. s. J may be observed; the adverbs corresponding: perceptibility, state of being an object of perception; power of perceiving; for which, however, perception is the better word: perceptive, having the power of perceiving perception is perceiving: percipient is perceiving, one who has the power of perception.

Id. Divine Dialogues.

J. Haddon, Printer, Finsbury.