■494 DEC 
the defendant, and also compels him to 
answer to it. Such a declaration in an ac- 
'tiori real, is termed a count ; arid it is essen- 
tial that the count or declaration ought to 
contain demonstration, declaration, and con- 
clusion ; and in the conclusion the plaintiff 
ought to aver, and offer to prove, his suit, 
and shew the damages he has sustained by 
the wrong done him. Declaration must be 
certain^pontaining: 1. Such sufficient cer- 
tainty whereby the court may give a peremp- 
tory and final judgment upon the matter in 
controversy. ‘3. That the defendant maymake 
a direct answer to the matter contained 
therein. 3. That the jury, after issue joined, 
may give a complete verdict thereupon. 4. 
No blank or space to be left therein. 
Brown’s Annal. 3. By the general rules of 
law, a plaintiff must declare against a de- 
fendant within twelve months after the re- 
turn of the writ ; but by the rules of court, 
if he does not deliver 4 his declaration within 
two terms, the defendant may sign judgment 
of non pros. ; though unless he takes such ad- 
vantage of the plaintiffs neglect, the plaintiff 
may still deliver a declaration within a year. 
Declaration is also used for a confes- 
sion which the quakers are obliged to make 
and subscribe, instead of the oaths of supre- 
macy. 
Declaration of war, a public procla- 
mation made by the herald at arms to the 
members or subjects of a state, declaring 
them to be at war witli any foreign power, 
and forbidding all and every one to aid or 
assist the common enemy at their peril. 
DECLENSION, in grammar, an infection 
of nouns according to their cases, as nomi- 
native, genitive, dative, Src. It is a different 
thing in the modern languages, which have 
not properly any cases, from what it is in 
the antient Greek and Latin. With respect 
to languages where the nouns admit of 
changes either in the beginning, the middle, 
or ending, declension is properly the ex- 
pression of all those changes in a certain 
order, and by certain degrees called cases. 
With regard to languages where the nouns 
do not admit of changes in the same num- 
ber, declension is the expression of the dif- 
ferent states a noun is in, and the different 
relations it has ; which difference of relations 
is marked by particles, as of, to, from, by, 
See. 
DECLINATION, in astronomy, the dis- 
tance of any celestial object from the equi- 
noctial, either northward or southward. It 
is either true or apparent, according as the 
real or apparent place of the object is con- 
sidered. See Globes, use of. 
Declination of the sea-compass, or 
needle, is its variation from the true meri- 
dian. 
DECLINATOR, or Declinatory, an 
Instrument contrived for taking the decli- 
nations, inclinations, and redinations, of 
planes. It is constructed in the following 
manner: On a square wooden board, ABC D 
(Plate Miscel. iig. 33) describe a semicircle 
A E D ; and divide the two quadrants A E and 
E D into 90° each, beginning from E, as in 
the figure : then having fixed a pin in the cen- 
tre F, fit a ruler H I upon the same, moveable 
thereon, with a box and needle K (fig. 34). 
In order to take the declination of a plane, 
apply the side A D to the plane proposed, 
as M N (fig- 35.) ; and move the ruler F G, 
DEC 
with the compass G, about the centre F, 
till the needle rest upon the line of the mag- 
netical meridian of the place : if the ruler 
cut the quadrant in E, the plane is either 
directly northern or southern ; but if it cut 
between D and E, the plane declines to the 
west, and if between A and E, to the east, 
by the quantity of the angle G F E. 
Would you take the inclinations and re- 
clinations of planes with this instrument, 
instead of tiie ruler and needle, a thread 
with a plummet is fitted on a pin in the 
centre F; then the side BC of the decli- 
nator A 1> C D (iig. 36.) being applied to 
the proposed plane, as I L, if the phim-line 
FG cut the semicircle AED in the point 
E, the plane is horizontal ; or if it cut the 
quadrant ED, in any point at G, then will 
E FG be the angle of inclination: lastly, 
if applying the side A B to the plane, the 
plummet cut E, the plane is vertical. Hence 
if the quantity of the angle of inclination 
be compared with the elevation of the pole 
and equator, it is easily known whether the 
plane be inclined or reclined. See Incli- 
nation and Reclination. 
DECOCTION, in pharmacy, the boiling 
simples or other drugs, in order to extract 
their virtues for some medicinal purpose. 
See Pharmacy. 
DECOMPOSITION, in chemistry. Ca- 
loric not only increases the bulk of bodies, 
and changes their state from solids to liquids, 
and from liquids to elastic fluids, but its ac- 
tion decomposes a number of bodies. Thus 
when ammonia is heated to redness, it is re- 
solved into azotic and hydrogen gases.. Al- 
cohol, by the same heat, is converted into 
carbureted hydrogen and water. 
1. This decomposition is in many cases 
owing to the difference between the volatility 
of the ingredients of a compound. Thus 
when weak spirits, or a combination of alco- 
hol and water, are heated, the alcohol sepa- 
rates, because it is more volatile than the 
water. 
2. In general, the compounds which are 
but little or not at all affected by heat, are 
those bodies which have been formed by 
combustion. Thus water is not decomposed 
by any heat which can be applied to it; 
neither are sulphuric, phosphoric, or canon- 
ic acids. 
3. Almost all the combinations into which 
oxygen enters without having occasioned 
combustion, are decomposable by heat. 
This is the case with nitric acid, hyperoxy- 
muriatic acid, and many of the metallic ox- 
ides. 
4. All bodies that contain combustibles as 
component parts are decomposed by heat. 
Perhaps the metallic alloys are exceptions 
to this rule ; at least it is not in our power 
to apply a temperature high enough to pro- 
duce their decomposition, except in a few 
cases. 
5. When two combustible ingredients and 
likewise oxygen occur together in bodies, 
they are always very easily decomposed by 
heat. This is the case with the greater num- 
ber of animal and vegetable substances. But 
it is unnecessary to enlarge any farther on 
this subject, as no satisfactory theory can be 
given. 
DECOUPLE/, in heraldry, the same as 
uncoupled : thus a ghevron decouple, is a 
D EC 
chevron, wanting so much of it towards the 
point, that the two ends stand at a distance 
from one another, being parted and tm-j 
coupled. 
DECREE, in civil law, is a determina- 
tion that the emperor pronounces upon hear- 
ing a particular cause between plaintiff and 
defendant. 
Decrees of councils, are the laws made! 
by them, to regulate the doctrine and policy] 
of the church. 
Decree is a sentence pronounced by the] 
lord chancellor in the court of chancery, and] 
it is equally binding upon the parties as u| 
judgment in a court of law. 
By the laws of England, a decree (notwith- 
standing any contempts thereof) shall not 
bind the goods or moveables, but only 
charge the persons. Chan. Rep. 193. 
If a decree is obtained and inrolled, so 
that the cause cannot be reheard, then there 
is no remedy but by bill of review ; which 
must be on error appearing on the face of 
the decree, or on matters subsequent thereto, 
as a release or a receipt discovered since. 3 
M'm’s. Rep. 371. 
DECOY, in naval affairs, a stratagem em- 
ployed by a ship of war to betray a vessel of 
inferior force into an incautious pursuit, till 
she has drawn her within the range of her 
cannon, or what is called within gunshot] 
It is usually performed by painting the stern 
and sides in such a manner as to disguise the 
ship, and represent her either much smaller 
and of inferior force, or as a friend to the 
hostile vessel, which she endeavours to en- 
snare, by assuming the emblems and orna- 
ments of the nation to which the stranger 
is supposed to belong. When she has 
provoked the adversary to chase, in hopes 
of acquiring a prize, she continues the de- 
coy, by spreading a great sail, as endeavour-, 
ing to escape ; at the same time that her 
course is considerably retarded by an artful 
alteration of her trim till the enemy ap- 
proaches. Decoying is also performed to 
elude the chase of a ship of a superior force] 
in a dark night, by throwing out a lighted; 
cask of pitch into the sea, which will bum 
for a considerable time and misguide the- 
> enemy. Immediately after the cask i| 
: thrown out, the ship changes her course, and 
may easily escape, if at any tolerable distuned 
from the foe. 
Decoy, in military affairs, a stratagem to 
carry off the enemy’s horses in a foraging 
party, or from the pasture ; to execute which! 
you must be disguised, and mix on horse-3 
back in the pasture, or amongst the foragers 
on that side on which you propose to tly : 
you must then begin by firing a few shots, 
which are to be answered by such of your 
party as are appointed to drive up the rear, 
and are posted at the opposite extremity of 
the pasture or foraging-ground ; after which 
they are to gallop from their different sta- 
tions towards the side fixed for the flight, 
shouting and firing all the way : the horses, 
being thus alarmed and provoked by the 
example of others, will break loose from 
their pickets, throw down their riders and 
the trusses, and setting up a gallop, will 
naturally direct their course to the same 
side ; insomuch, that if the number of them 
was ever so great, you might lead them in 
that manner for several leagues together: 
