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544 DOC 
ng or playing a passage of this kind is called 
running a division. 
Division, in the sea language, the third 
part of a fleet of men of war, and sometimes 
the ninth part ; which last happens when the 
fleet is divided into three squadrons: for 
then each squadron is distributed into three 
divisions. 
DIVORCE, a separation of two de facto 
married together, of which there are two 
kinds; one a vinculo matrimonii, from the 
very bond of marriage ; the other a mensa 
et thora, from bed and board. 
Causes for separation a vinculo are con- 
sanguinity or affinity within the degrees pro- 
hibited, also impuberty or frigidity ; where 
the marriage was actually void ab initio, and 
the sentence ot divorce only declaratory of 
its being so. This divorce enables the par- 
ties to marry again ; but in the other case 
a power for so doing must be obtained by act 
ol parliament. The woman divorced a vin- 
culo matrimonii receives all again she brought 
with her. 
Di vorce a mensa et thora is where the use 
of matrimony, as the use of cohabitation of 
the married persons, or their mutual con- 
versation, is prohibited for a time, or without 
limitation of time. And this is in cases of 
adultery, cruelty, or the like ; in which case 
the marriage having been originally good is 
not dissolved or affected as to the vinculum 
or bond. The woman under separation by 
this divorce may sue by her next friend ; and 
she may sue her husband in her own name 
for alimony. Wood’s Inst. 62. But the 
children which she has after her divorce shall 
be deemed bastards; for a due obedience to 
the sentence w ill be intended, unless the con- 
trary be shewn. Walk. 123. 
DIURETICS, in pharmacy, such medi- 
cines as increase the discharge of urine ; or 
which are supposed to have a power of re- 
moving obstructions in the urinary passages. 
See Materia Medica. 
DIURNAL, in astronomy, something re- 
lating to the day, in opposition to nocturnal, 
which regards the night. 
Diurnal arch, the arch or number of 
degrees that the sun, moon, or stars, describe 
between their rising and setting. 
Diurnal motion of a planet, is so many 
degrees and minutes as any planet moves in 
24 hours. Hence the motion of the earth 
about its axis is called its diurnal motion. 
See Astronomy. 
DIURN ARY, diurnarius, an officer in 
the Greek empire, who wrote down in a 
book, kept for that purpose, whatever the 
prince did, or ordered, &c. every day. 
DIVOTO, in music, a term signifying 
that the piece before which it is w'ritten is to 
be performed in a grave, solemn style, pro- 
per to inspire devotion. 
DIVUb and DIVA, in antiquity, appella- 
tions given to men and women as had been 
deified. We find this title on medals struck 
for the consecration of an emperor or em- 
press: thus, DIVVS IVLIVS, DIVA FAVSTI- 
NA AVG. & C. 
DO, in music, a monosyllable long since 
substituted by the Italians for that of ut, 
which Guido applied to the first note of the 
natural major, diatonic scale. Guido’s mo- 
nosyllable was rejected as too hard and 
rough. 
DQCIMASIA, in Greek antiquity, a pro- 
bation of the magistrates and persons em- 
ployed in public business at Athens. It was 
performed publicly in the forum, w'here they 
were obliged to give account of themselves 
and their past life before certain judges. 
Among several questions proposed to them 
we find the following : Whether they had 
been dutiful to their parents, had served in 
the wars, and had a competent estate. 
DOCIMASTIC ART, a name given to 
the art of assaying by operations on a small 
scale, the nature and quantity of metallic or 
other matters which are obtained from mine- 
rals, &c. 
DOCK, or Docking, in law, an expe- 
dient for cutting off an estate-tail in lands or 
tenements, that the owner may be enabled 
to sell, give, or bequeath the same. 
DOCK, in maritime affairs, is an artificial 
bason, by the side of an harbour, made con- 
venient either for the building or repairing of 
ships. It is of two sorts, 1. Dry-dock, where 
the water is kept out by great flood-gates, till 
the ship is built or repaired, when the gates 
are opened, and the water let in to float and 
launch her. 2. Wet-dock, a place where the 
ship may be hauled into, out of the tide’s 
way, and so dock herself, or sink herself a 
place to lie in. 
The West India docks, in the isle of Dogs. 
These?' immense works are intended to re- 
ceive the whole of the ships in the West 
India trade ; and may be accounted 
among the prominent curiosities of British 
commerce. They were undertaken accord- 
ing to an act of parliament, passed in 1799, 
entitled “the West India Dock Act.” The 
entrances into them are at Blackwall and 
Limehouse-hole ; their site is wholly on the 
isle of Dogs ; and upon the wharfs and quays 
adjoining them, all West India ships are to un- 
load and load their cargoes. 
The northern dock for unloading inwards 
covers a space of thirty acres, and is capable 
of containing from two to three hundred sail 
of ships. The smaller dock, situated to the 
south of the other, covers an area of 24 
acres, and is devoted solely to the business 
of loading outwards. Both docks are sur- 
rounded by a series of immense warehouses. 
The proprietors of this capital improve- 
ment are styled “ the West India Dock com- 
pany:” they commenced their undertaking 
with a subscription of 500,090/. and are em- 
powered to increase it to 600,000/. if need- 
ful. They arc reimbursed by a tonnage of 
6.y. upon the burthen of every ship which 
enters the docks ; for wharfage, landing, 
housing, weighing, cooperage, and warehouse- 
room, they are entitled to certain rates upon 
all goods that are discharged, such as 8 d. per 
cwt. upon sugar ; 1 d. per gallon upon rum ; 
l.v. 6d. per cwt. upon coffee ; 2s. 6d. per 
cwt. upon cotton-wool, &c. &c. 
Notwithstanding these docks occasion a 
very important trade to be removed to a 
considerable and even inconvenient distance 
from the metropolis, yet the’ advantages to 
the port of London will, upon the whole, be 
considerable. The West India trade gene- 
rally arrives in fleets, and occasions so much 
crowding, confusion, and damage, in the 
river, that the ships being disposed of in 
these docks, the overgrown trade of the port 
may be carried on with pleasure and conve- 
nience 
Canal at the isle of Dogs. To enable 
shipping in their passage up and down the 
Thames to avoid the circuitous and inconve- 
nient course round the isle of Dogs, a canal 
is now cut across this peninsula, through 
which, upon paying certain moderate rates, 
all ships, vessels, and craft, will be permitted 
to. pass in their passage up and down the 
Thames. For three years after its comple- 
tion ships above two hundred tons will be: 
required to pay 1 d. per ton; from two hun- 
dred to one hundred tons 1 id. per ton ; from 
one hundred to 50 tons 10.y. per vessel ; from* 
lift}- to twenty tons 5s. per vessel ; and for 
boats and craft Is. each. 
The docks at Wapping. This important 
improvement is made in the angle formed by 
the Thames, between Hermitage dock and j 
Shadwell dock. One immense dock, called j 
St. George’s dock, covers the space extend- I 
mg from Virginia-street, almost to Old Gra- J 
yel-lane, in one direction, and in the other I 
from Artichoke-lane to the south side ofl 
Perinington-street. This doclUalone is capable! 
of holding two hundred ships* with room for 1 
shifting. Another dock, called Shadwell 
dock, adjoining to the other, will hold about j 
fifty ships. The entrance to the docks is from 
the Thames by three basons, capable of con- j 
taining an immense quantity ot small craft ; i| 
and the inlets from the Thames into the ba- I 
sons are at the Old Hermitage dock, at Old jl 
Wapping dock, and Old Shadwell dock. 
The capital of the company is 1,200,000/. I 
The shares bear a premium. The ultimate ]| 
profits upon the scheme are limited to It) 11 
per cent. ; an interest which it is sure to rea- ;| 
lize. 
Outlie 26th of June, 1802, the founda-J 
tion of the entrance bason was laid by the- J 
then chancellor of the exchequer, the right! 
honourable Henry Addington; and the! 
first stone of a tobacco warehouse, which is 
the largest in the world, the roof of which co- 
vered six acres of ground ; and also the first i 
stone of a range of warehouses for general j 
merchandise, were laid at the same time. 
The warehouses for the reception of to- J 
bacco are situated at the eastern extremity ; j 
they are two in number. The largest is : 
762 feet long, and 160 feet wide, equally di- ] 
vided by a strong partition-wall, w ith double j 
iron doors ; the smallest is 250 feet by 200. II 
Both of them consist ol a ground-floor and 1 1 
vaults; the first is to be wholly applied to II 
the reception of tobacco ; the cellars in the I 
smaller warehouses are appropriated to the II 
housing of wine. They are solely under the II 
care and controul of the officers of the cus- j | 
toms: the proprietors of the docks having J 
nothing more to do with them than to receive, j 
the rent. 
Dock-yards, in ship-building, are maga- I 
zinesof all sorts of naval stores. The prin- II 
eipal in England are those of Chatham, II 
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Woolwich, Dept- II 
ford, and Sheerness. In time bf peace ships I 
of war are laid up in these docks; those of II 
the first rate mostly at Chatham, where, and I 
at other yards, they receive from time to II 
time such repairs as are necessary. These 1 
yards are generally supplied from the north- I 
ern powers with hemp, pitch, tar, rosin, &e. I 
but as for masts, particularly those of the a 
larger size, they are brought from America, 
DOCKET, or Dogget, a brief in writ- j| 
ing, on a small piece of paper or parchment, 1 
containing the effect of a larger writing, and 1 
10 
