RAMSDEN RAN A. 



811 



of Government of the United States of America. 

 The first was publi>ned early in 18 L7, with a con- 

 tinuation to tin- treaty of Ghent, by the reverend 

 Samuel Stanhope Smith, and other literary gentle- 

 men (in '3 vols., 8vo.) The latter, which had oc- 

 cupied doctor Ramsay's leisure during more than 

 forty years, was published in 1S19 (12 vols., 8vo.) 

 He died May 8, 1815, in consequence of wounds 

 received two days previous from the pistol of a 

 inaniiic, in open day, within a few paces of his 

 dwelling. 



RAMSDEN, JESSE, an eminent mechanist and 

 optician, was born at Halifax, in Yorkshire, in 

 1738. He applied himself to engraving, and, in 

 the course of his employment, having to engrave 

 several mathematical instruments, finally con- 

 structed them himself. He married a daughter of 

 Mr Doikiiul. the celebrated optician, and opened a 

 shop in the Haymarket, whence he removed to 

 Piccadilly, where he remained until his death, in 

 1800. Ramsden obtained a premium from the 

 board of longitude, for the invention of a machine 

 for the division of mathematical instruments ; he 

 also improved the construction ot the theodolite, 

 the pyrometer for measuring the dilatation of 

 bodies by heat, the barometer for measuring the 

 height of mountains, &c. ; also the refracting 

 micrometer, and transit instrument and quadrant. 

 He made great improvements in Hadley's quadrant 

 and sextant, and procured a patent for an amended 

 equatorial. Mr Ramsden, who was chosen a fellow 

 nf the royal society in 1786, was distinguished 

 during the whole of his life by an enthusiastic 

 attention to his own profession, which formed his 

 amusement as well as his occupation ; and such 

 \vap his reputation, that his instruments were 

 bespoken !n>m every part of Europe ; and ulti- 

 mately to obtain the fulfilment of an order, was 

 deemed a high favour. 



RAMSGATE; a fashionable bathing place in 

 the isle of Thanet, five miles from Margate, and 

 seventy-two east of London. It has an excellent 

 artificial harbour, formed by immense piers, extend- 

 ing 800 feet into the sea ; more than 300 sail have 

 been sheltered in it at once. Ramsgate derives its 

 principal importance from the great resort of 

 persons hither for sea-bathing, for which purpose 

 the beach is particularly suited, in consequence of 

 the smoothness of the sands, the limpid clearness of 

 the water, and the salubrity of the air, and beauty 

 of the prospects. Here are bathing-houses, con- 

 veniently and handsomely fitted up, Where cold, 

 warm, shower, and vapour-baths are provided, 

 together with other accommodations for visitors. 

 On the west cliff are the Isabella warm sea-water 

 baths, the water for the use of which is raised 110 

 feet through an aperture in the rock, by means of 

 machinery. Here are assembly-rooms, public 

 libraries, and reading-rooms ; and the inns, 

 taverns, lodging and boarding-houses in general, 

 afford good accommodations. The erection of the 

 harlxmr tended greatly to the improvement of 

 the commerce of this port, but the trade in timber 

 from the Baltic, formerly carried on here, has been 

 discontinued. The coasting-trade is considerable, 

 much coal being imported ; and off the coast 

 the fishery is extensively prosecuted by large ves- 

 sels from the western ports, and by some snmll- 

 craft belonging to Ramsgate. In 1829, there were 

 seventy ships belonging to this port, the burden of 

 which altogether amounted to 4397 tons. Steam 

 packets pass hence to London every day during 

 the season. Here are two large yards for ship- 

 building, rope- walks, and naval store-houses. The 

 markets are often visited by persons bringing for 



sale, from France, fruit, eggs, and other articles. 

 Population of the town and parish in 1831, 7,985. 



RAM US, PETER, a philosopher of the sixteenth 

 century, was a native of France. He went to 

 Paris about 1523, when he was but eight years old, 

 and became a lackey in the college of Navarre. 

 Such was his strong inclination for learning, that 

 he not only devoted to study all the time he could 

 spare in the day, but also a part of the night. 

 After attending a course of philosophy, he was 

 admitted to the degree of M.A., on which occa- 

 sion he contested the infallibility of Aristotle. His 

 opinions excited violent opposition, and the partisans 

 of the Aristotelian philosophy had recourse, to the 

 civil power, in order to silence their adversary. 

 His publications were prohibited, and ordered to 

 be burnt before the royal college of Cambray, and 

 he was commanded to abstain from teaching his 

 doctrines, in 1543. Having obtained the patronage 

 of the cardinal De Lorraine, the prohibition of lec- 

 turing was withdrawn in 1547; and, in 1551, he 

 was appointed royal professor of rhetoric and philo- 

 sophy at Paris. His spirit of free inquiry ultimately 

 led him to become a Protestant. This change 

 obliged him to flee from Paris; but, in 1503, he 

 was restored to his chair. In the massacre of St 

 Bartholomew's, 1571, Ramus was one of the vic- 

 tims. His works, relating to grammar, logic, 

 mathematics, &c., are numerous. 



RAN A. Under this head we shall not go into 

 a description of this genus of reptiles, but shall 

 confine ourselves to an account of the frogs which 

 make so important a part of it. Toads the reader 

 will find described in a separate article. The 

 muzzle of frogs terminates more in a point than 

 that of toads. The nostrils are visible at its 

 summit. The teeth are very small ; the eyes large 

 and brilliant, and surrounded with a yellow circle ; 

 the ears are placed behind them, and covered by a 

 membrane. The muscles of frogs are considerable 

 in relation to their bulk, and peculiarly elastic, 

 strong, irritable, and sensible to the action of gal- 

 vanism. Their general sensibility does not appear 

 to be great ; they are killed with difficulty ; the 

 heart contracts and dilates a long time after the 

 death of the animal, and even when it has been 

 extracted from the body. The ordinary mode of 

 progression is by leaps. Frogs teed on the larv<e 

 of aquatic insects, on worms, small mollusca, flies, 

 &c., and always choose a prey which is living ami 

 in motion. They are useful in gardens by destroy- 

 ing great quantities of small slugs. These reptiles 

 are usually found during the summer on the ground 

 in humid places, in the grass of meadows, and on 

 the banks of streamlets, into which they continually 

 leap and dive. They swim well and without diffi- 

 culty by means of their hinder feet, the toes being 

 united by a membrane. A t the close of warm rains 

 in the fine season, they frequently spread themselves 

 through the country. To this is owing the popular 

 belief in the rains of frogs a very ancient preju- 

 dice. Frogs are distinguished by a peculiar cry, 

 termed croaking, particularly during rain and hot 

 weather, in the morning and evening. During the 

 feudal regime in France, when the castles were 

 surrounded with water, it was the occupation of 

 the slaves or villains to strike the water of the 

 dikes morning and evening to prevent the frogs 

 from disturbing the repose of their masters. Even 

 up to the period of the revolution, this custom 

 existed in many places. As soon as the summer is 

 over, and the weather begins to be a little cold, 

 the frogs lose their natural voracity, and cease 

 eating. As the cold increases, they sink into llie 

 mud of deep waters, the holes of fountains, and 



