BAN 



J8AP 



tier very long, linear, lanceolate; anthers 

 sessile in the cavity of the parts of the co- 

 rolla ; capsule two-seeded, one (or two) 

 celled, two-valved. There are eight spe- 

 cies. This genus is nearly allied to Pro- 

 tea and Embothrium in appearance and 

 character, but is sufficiently distinguish- 

 ed from both in the fruit. It boasts some of 

 the most specious plants that have been 

 discovered in the South Seas, and even in 

 the known world. Those with solitary 

 flowers and one-celled capsules form a 

 separate genus, which Dr. Smith names 

 Salisburia. Some of the species have 

 flowered and seeded here; they have not 

 yet been increased any other way but by 

 seeds. These, and the plants in general 

 from the South Seas, are hardy, consider- 

 ing their climate, and may be treated 

 pretty much in the same manner with the 

 Cape plants. They covet abundance of 

 air, and flourish best near the front of the 

 dry stove. 



BANN, in military affairs, a proclama- 

 tion made in the army, by beat of drum, 

 sound of trumpet, &c. requiring the strict 

 observance of discipline, either for the 

 declaring a new officer, or punishing an 

 offender. 



BAXN of the empire, an imperial pro- 

 scription, being a judicial punishment, 

 wherewith such as are accessary to dis- 

 turbing the public peace are judged un- 

 worthy of the immunities and protection 

 of the empire, and are out-lawed or ba- 

 nished, &c. 



BANNER, denotes either a square flag 

 or the principal standard belonging to a 

 prince. 



BANNERET, an ancient order of 

 knights, or feudal lords, who, possessing 

 several large fees, led their vassals to bat- 

 tle under their own flag, when summon- 

 ed thereto by the king. 



This order is certainly most honoura- 

 ble, as it never was conferred but upon 

 some heroic action performed in the field. 

 Anciently, there being but two kinds of 

 knights, great and little, the first were 

 called bannerets, the second bachelors ; 

 the first composed the upper, the second 

 the middle nobility. 



The form of the banneret's creation is 

 this; on a day of battle the candidate pre- 

 sented his flag to the king or general, 

 who, cutting off the train or skirt there- 

 of, and making it a square, returned it 

 again ; the proper banner of bannerets, 

 who, from hence, are sometimes -ialled 

 knights of the square flag. 



The late Sir William Erskine, on his re- 

 turn from thecontinent,in lT64 } was made 



a knight banneret, in Hyde Park, by his 

 present Majesty, in consequence of his 

 distinguished conduct at the battle of 

 Emsdorf. But he was not acknowledged 

 as such in this country, because the cere- 

 mony did not take place where the en- 

 gagement happened. Captain Trollope, 

 of the royal navy, is the last created 

 knight banneret. 



BANNISTERIA, in botany, a distinct 

 genus of plants, according to Linnaeus, 

 but accounted only a species of Clematis 

 by other botanists. 



It belongs to the Decandria Trigynia 

 class; its flower consists of five very 

 large, orbicular petals ; and its fruit is 

 composed of three unilocular capsules, 

 running into long alse. 



BANTAM wor&, a kind of painted OF 

 carved work, resembling that of Japan, 

 only more gaudy. 



Bantam work is of less value among 

 connoisseurs, though sometimes prefer- 

 red by the unskilful to the true Japan 

 work. Formerly it was in more use and 

 esteem than at present, and the imitation 

 of it much practised by our japanners. 



There are two sorts of Bantam, as well 

 as of Japan work ; as, in the latter, some 

 are flat, lying even with the black, and 

 others high or embossed ; so, in Bantam 

 work, some is flat, and others in-cut, or 

 carved into the wood, as we find in many 

 large screens; with this difference, that 

 the Japan artists work chiefly in gold and 

 other metals, and the Bantam generally 

 in colours, with a small sprinkling of gold 

 here and there. 



BAPTISM, in matters of religion, the 

 ceremony of washing, by which a person 

 is initiated into the Christian church. 



BAPTISM, in the sea-language, a cere- 

 mony in long voyages on board merchant 

 ships, practised both on persons and ves- 

 sels who pass the tropic or line for the 

 first time. The baptising the vessels is 

 simple, and consists only in washing them 

 throughout with sea r water ; that of the 

 passengers is more mysterious. The old- 

 est of the crew that haspassed the tropic,or 

 line, comes with his face blacked, a gro^ 

 tesque cap on his head, and some sea- 

 book in his hand, followed by the rest of 

 the seamen dressed like himself, each 

 having some kitchen utensil in his hand, 

 with drums beating. He places himself 

 on a seat on the deck, at the foot of the 

 mainmast. At the tribunal of this mockma- 

 gistrate, each passenger not yet initiated 

 swears he will take care the same ceremo- 

 ny be observed, whenever he is in the 

 like circumstances: then, by giving a little 



