DEP 
is either voluntary, ot neceffa ary. 
is that done in cafe of hoftility, nee 
Dero osiT, Simple, 
eae 
e, 
Tnabolders are refponfible for the baggage brought to 
them. as being a xeceffary depofi 
DEPOSI TARY, in the French law, a perfon entrufted 
as keeper or guardian of any thin 
Ordinary depofitaries are not to warrant the thing left with 
them, in cafe it be loft or flolen. They are only to anfwer 
for a fraud, or breach of faith: ; not for negligence. Buta 
neceffary depofitary, as an innkeeper, is accountable for a 
thoft or robbery, if there have been any negligence in the 
‘cafe : and by the Englith law, even whether there were any 
se ALAS or Note 
“POSITIO, in Grammar, is a name 
The Greeks called it 
Hence arifeth the diftin@ion of ve i) ie 
four fpecics, viz. acataledlic, cataleGic, brachycataledic, and 
Aypercatalediic. 
DEPOSITION, Derositio, among the Aacie ents, a 
ceremony obferved immediately upon a perfon’s expiring, 
and was a folemn manner of laying the corpfe upon th 
ground. See 
ITION, in Ge nea: The phenomena of the — 
tion Soca in the crutt of the earth, can leave no m 
chanical, and the matters Fear iei only the rui e- 
tritus of former mountains or {tr t precipitations in 
confequence of recent chemical unions in the fuperincum- 
bent 
fluid; or, whether both of thefe eaufes have not oper- 
ated, and perha sat the fame period of time. It may fairly 
perhaps be obferved, that the exiftence of the primeval moun- 
tains, whofe difintegration is fuppofed above in many cafes, 
‘never has been and never can be proved, and that the phe- 
nomena of the endings of the ftrata are altogether trrecon- 
‘ciléable with mechanical deposition, the eres tifh ftrata bein "B 
found to fall fhort of each other in extent weftward, 
the feries i is afcended, are none of the ieee peculiar to an 
ore ftratum is found depofited upon the endings of the infert- 
or ftrata : the chalk ftrata for inftance, and in a certain de- 
t ar 
lea ft.) velba the vatt ieee ion of ftrata, 
wer in the {cries, and whofe lines of 
ant extraneous foflils, are plentifully diftributed on the 
ace in certain dire€tions, for a great diftance from 
chalk ftrata, indicate the exiftence 
: 3 FE 
n of the feveral fubftances themfelves in ci 
univerfal fluid or ocean, and alfo in this depofition upon 
the plane of the flratum laft depofited, in preference to any 
‘other part of the bottom of the fluid, feems very evident, 
vand it feems alfo, that thefe affinities have been further ac- 
tive in fome particular ftrata, in forming vaft accumulations 
DEP 
of particular matters, within the limits of the ftrata in 
which they are imbedded, and with which they are coeval : 
that curious affemblage of {trata, called, in our article Coat, 
the “red earth”? fort inftance, has in fome inftances vaft com 
reagan h 
by 
arey, a pial of Mr. ‘Smith’s, feem to 
than probable, that the vaft acneaGes or cryftals of 
fienite and flate, which abound in Charnwood Foreft in 
eicefterfhire, - concretions in thefe fame ftrata of red 
earth, as thofe ‘of the Malvern hills and other places alfo 
probably are. es STRATA 
oo in Law, a teftimony given in court by a 
witnefs upon 
In chance a 5 depotition is jesse fet down in writing, 
way of anfwer to the interrogatories exhibited in chan- 
cery, where fuch. witnels j is called deponen 
For the purpofe of the examination of. witneffes, inter. 
rogatories are framed, or queftions in writing 5 which, and 
which only, are to be propofed = sued witneffes in the caufe. 
me on interrogatories muft be 
ones ; (as, * 
dae) bee oe 
o 
: 
e 
there is an 
Ai coin ner’s Office” appointed ; but . fuck as live in the 
try, a commiffion (fee Commisston) to examine 
wictees is ufually granted to four commiffioners, two nam 
of eac hem, to take the ei 
if the witneffes se bey rond fea, a 
ma ree oO examine them upon thei 
own oaths, and (if foreigners) upon the eal of “fkilful inter 
preters. And it hath been eftablifhed (Atk. 21. ahs the 
depofition of an teen who ae ves In ad Supreme Being, 
taken by commiffion in the m 2 manner pee ng 
i the cuftom of his own coum ny be evidence. 
The commiffioners are fworn to take the’ caons truly 
and res partiality, and not to divulge them, till:publifhed 
in the court of chancery; and their clerks are alfo iworn 
to fecr witnefles are compellable by procefs of 
ice | as in the courts of common law, to appear an 
fubmit to examination. 
fent. When a 
are examined, then, and not before, the 
ee may be publifhed; by a rule to pafs publi« 
cation; after which they are open for the infpeétion of all 
parties, and copies may be taken of them era witnefs 
is fully examined, the X minations are read over to him, 
after which he fign 
rae ie are “comple te, a e good evidence. 
1P.W 5-) The fame praGtice prevails in the com- 
mons, in ecelefistical caufes. 
Depofitions in - the chancery, after a caufe is deter- 
it for the fame matter, between the fame parties, if 
the cate aa depofed be dead; but if he be livi was 7 
muft appear in perfon in court to be examined. (1 Lil. 
ee 
Depolitions of informers, tae _ eres oath before 
coroner, Nn inquifitio eath; or before 
juftices of peace ona pounce: or bailment of felony, 
may be given in evidence at a-trial for the fame felony ; 
if 
