MAT 



MAT 



advantage, that they occasion no disputes 

 among wrangling disputants, as in other 

 brandies of knowledge ; and the reason 

 is, because the definitions of the terms 

 are premised, and every body that reads 

 a proposition has the same idea of every 

 part of it. Hence it is easy to put an end 

 to all mathematical controversies, by 

 shewing 1 either that our adversary has not 

 stuck to his definitions, or has not laid 

 down true premises, or else that he has 

 drawn false conclusions from true princi- 

 ples ; and in case we are able to do neither 

 of these, we must acknowledge the truth of 

 what he has proved. 



It is true, that in mixed mathematics, 

 where we reason mathematically upon 

 physical subjects, we cannot give such 

 just definitions as the geometricians : we 

 must, therefore, rest content with de- 

 scriptions ; and they will be of the same 

 use as definitions, provided we are con- 

 sistent with ourselves, and always mean 

 the same thing by those terms we have 

 once explained. Dr. Barrow gives a most 

 elegant description of the excellence and 

 usefulness of mathematical knowledge, 

 in his inaugural oration, upon being ap- 

 pointed Professor of Mathematics at 

 Cambridge. 



The mathematics, he observes, effec- 

 tually exercise, not vainly delude, nor 

 vexatiously torment, studious minds with 

 obscure subtilties ; but plainly demon- 

 strate every thing within their reach, 

 draw certain conclusions, instruct by pro- 

 fitable rules, and unfold pleasant ques- 

 tions. These disciplines likewise enure 

 and corroborate the mind to a constant 

 diligence in study ; they wholly deliver us 

 from a credulous simplicity, most strongly 

 fortify us against the vanity of scepticism, 

 effectually restrain ms from a rash pre- 

 sumption, most easily incline us to a due 

 assent, perfectly subject us to the govern- 

 ment of right reason. While the mind 

 is abstracted and elevated from sensi- 

 ble matter, distinctly views pure forms, 

 conceives the beauty of ideas, and in- 

 vestigates the harmony of proportions ; 

 the manners themselves are sensibly 

 corrected and improved, the affections 

 composed and rectified, the fancy calm- 

 ed and settled, and the understanding 

 raised and excited to more divine con- 

 templations. 



MATRASS, CUCURBIT, or BOI/THEAD, 

 amongst chemists. See LABORATORY. 



MATRICARIA, in botany, feverfew, a 

 genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia Su- 

 perflua class and order. Natural order of 

 Composite Discoidese. Cory nib iferae, Jus- 

 sieu. Essential character : calyx, hemis- 



pherical, imbricate ; the marginal scales 

 solid, sharpish ; down none ; receptacle 

 naked. There are eight species. These 

 are herbaceous plants, with leaves mostly 

 piiinate, in some few simple ; flowers 

 terminating either in corymbs, or al- 

 most solitary ; florets in the ray com- 

 monly white. M. Parthenium, common 

 feverfew, is a native of many parts 

 of Europe, in waste places, in hedges 

 and walls, sometimes in cornfields and 

 gardens, where it is also cultivated in a 

 double state. 



MATRIX, in anatomy, the same with 

 uterus. 



MATRIX, in letter-foundery. See Foux- 

 DBRY. 



MATROSSES, are soldiers in the train 

 of artillery, who are next to the gunners, 

 and assist them in loading, firing, and 

 spunging the great guns. They carry 

 fire-locks, and march along with the store 

 waggons, both as a guard, and to give 

 their assistance in case a waggon should 

 break down. 



MATT, in a ship, rope-yarn, junk, 

 8cc. beat flat and interwoven ; used 

 in order to preserve the yards from 

 galling or rubbing in hoisting or lower- 

 ing them. 



MATTER, in physiology, whatever is 

 extended and capable of making resist- 

 ance : hence, because all bodies, whether 

 solid or fluid, are extended, and do re- 

 sist, we conclude that they are material, 

 or made up of matter. That matter is 

 one and the same thing in all bodies, and 

 that all the variety we observe arises 

 from the various forms and shapes it puts 

 on, seems very probable, and may be 

 concluded from a general observation of 

 the procedure of nature in the generation 

 and destruction of bodies. Thus, for in- 

 stance, water, rarified by heat, becomes 

 vapour ; great collections of vapours form 

 clouds ; these condensed descend in the 

 form of hail or rain ; part of this collect- 

 ed on the earth constitutes rivers ; ano- 

 ther part mixing with the earth enters 

 into the roots of plants, and supplies mat- 

 ter to, and expands itself into various spe- 

 cies of vegetables. In each vegetable it 

 appears in one shape in the root, another 

 in the stalk, another in the flowers, ano- 

 ther in the seeds, &c. From hence va- 

 rious bodies proceed; from the oak, 

 houses, ships, &c. from hemp and flax 

 we have thread; from thence our various 

 kinds of linen ; from thence garments ; 

 these degenerate into rags, which receive 

 from the mill the various forms of paper; 

 hence our books. 



According to Sir Isaac Newton, it 



