g r a 
linnn will admit ; and consequently as the 
angles of these columns are in general ex- 
tremely unequal, the circular edges of the 
joint are seldom coincident with more than 
two or three sides of the pentagonal, and 
from the edge of the circular part of the 
joint to the exterior sides and angles they are 
quite plain. It is still farther' very remark- 
able likewise, that the articulations of these 
joints are frequently inverted ; in some the 
concavity is upwards, in others the reverse. 
This occasions that variety and mixture of 
concavities and convexities on the tops of the 
columns, which is observable throughout the 
platform of this causeway, yet without any 
discoverable design or regularity with respect 
to the number of either. The length also of 
these particular stones, from joint to joint, is 
various: in general they are from 18 to 24 
inches long ; and, for the most part, longer 
towards the bottom ot the columns than 
nearer the top, and the articulation of the 
joints something deeper. The size cm- dia- 
meter likewise of the columns is as different 
as their length and figure ; in general they 
are from 15 to 20 inches in diameter. There 
are no traces of uniformity or design disco- 
vered throughout tiie whole combination, 
except in the form of the joint, which is in- 
variably by an articulation of the convex into 
the concave of the piece next above or be- 
low it ; nor are there any traces of a finish- 
ing in any part, either in height, length, or 
breadth, of this curious causeway. If there 
is here and there a smooth top to any of the 
columns above water, there are others just 
by, of equal height, that are more or less 
convex or concave, which show them to have 
been joined to pieces that have been washed, 
or by other means taken off. And undoubt- 
edly those parts that are always above water 
have, from time to time, been made as even 
as might be ; and the remaining surfaces of 
the joints must naturally have been worn 
smoother by the constant friction of weather 
and walking, than where the sea, at every 
tide, is beating upon it, and continually re- 
moving some of the upper stones, and ex- 
posing fresh joints. And farther, as these 
columns preserve their diameters from top to 
bottom, in all the exterior ones, which have 
two or three sides exposed to view, the same 
may with reason be inferred of the interior 
columns whose tops only are visible. Yet, 
what is very extraordinary and equally cu- 
rious in this phenomenon is, that notwith- 
standing the universal dissimilitude of the 
columns, botli as to their figure and diame- 
ter, and though perfectly distinct from top to 
bottom, yet is the whole arrangement so 
closely combined at all points, that hardly a 
knife can be introduced between them either 
upon the sides or angles. And it is a most 
curious entertainment to examine the close 
contexture and nice insertion of such an in- 
finite variety of angular figures as are exhi- 
bited on the surface of this grand parade. 
From the infinite dissimilarity of the figure 
of these columns, this will appear a most 
surprising circumstance to the curious spec- 
tator ; and would incline him to believe it a 
work of human art, was it not, on the other 
hand, inconceivable that the genius or invention 
of man should construct and combine such 
an infinite number of columns, which should 
have a general apparent likeness, and yet be 
so universally dissimilar in their figure, as 
G I A 
that, . from the minutest examination, not 
tw-> in ten or twenty thousand should be 
found whose angles and sides are equal among 
themselves, or of the one column to those of 
the other. That it is the work of nature 
there can be no doubt to an attentive spec- 
tator, who carefully surveys the general form 
and situation, with the infinitely various con- 
figuration ot the several parts of tins cause- 
way. r l here are no traces of regularity or 
design in the outlines of this curious pheno- 
menon ; which, including the broken and 
detached pieces of the same kind of work- 
manship, are extremely scattered and con- 
tused; and, whatever they might be originally, 
do not at present appear to have any con- 
nection with the grand or principal cause- 
way, as to any supposable design or use in its 
first construction, and as little design can be 
inferred from the figure or situation of the 
several constituent parts. The whole exhi- 
bition is, indeed, extremely confused, ununi- 
form, and destitute of every appearance of 
use or design in its original construction. 
But what, beyond dispute, determines its ori- 
ginal to have been from nature is, that the 
very clitfs, at a great distance from the cause- 
way, especially in the bay to the eastward, 
exhibit at many places the same kind of co- 
lumns, figured and jointed in all respects like 
t liose of the grand causeway : some of them 
are seen near to the top of the cliff, which, 
in general, in these bays to the east and west 
of the causeway, is near 300 feet in height ; 
others again are seen about midway, and at 
different elevations from the strand. A very 
considerable exposure of them is seen in the 
very bottom ot the bay to the eastward, near 
100 roods from the causeway, where the 
earth has evidently fallen away from them 
upon the strand, and exhibits a most curious 
arrangement of many of these pentagonal co- 
lumns, in a perpendicular position, support- 
ing, in appearance, a cliff of different strata 
ot earth, clay, rock, &c. to the height of 
1 50 feet or more, above. Some of these co- 
lumns are between 30 and 40 feet high, from 
the top of the sloping bank below them ; 
and being longest in the middle of the ar- 
rangement, shortening on either hand in 
view, they have obtained the appellation of 
organs, from a rude likeness in this particular 
to the exterior or frontal tubes of that instru- 
ment; and as there are few broken pieces on 
the strand near it, it is probable that the out- 
side range of columns that now appears is 
really the original exterior line, toward the 
sea, of this collection. But how far they 
extend internally into the bowels of the in- 
cumbent cliff is unknown. The very sub- 
stance, indeed, of that part of the cliff which 
projects to a point, between the two bays on 
the east and west of the causeway, seems 
composed of this kind of materials ; for, be- 
sides the many pieces that are seen on the 
sides of the cliff that circulate to the bottom 
of the bays, particularly the eastern side, 
there is, at the very point of the cliff, and 
just above the narrow and highest part of the 
causeway, a long collection of them seen, 
whose heads or tops just appearing without 
the sloping bank, plainly show them to be in 
an oblique position, and about half-way be- 
tween the perpendicular and horizontal. The 
heads of these, likewise, are of mixed sur- 
faces, convex and concave, and the columns 
evidently appear to have been removed from 
GIL 847 
their original upright, to their present inclin- 
ing or obiique position, by the sinking or 
falling of the cliff. 
GIBBOUS, in astronomy, a term used in 
reference to the enlightened parts of the 
moon, whilst she is moving from the first 
quarter to the full, and from the full to the 
last quarter : for all that time the dark part 
appears homed or falcated, and ihe light one 
convex or gibbous. 
GIBELINS, or Gibellins, a famous fic- 
tion in Italy, opposite to another, called the 
Guelphs. 
These two factions ravaged and laid waste 
Italy tor a long series of years, so that the 
history of that country, for the space of two 
centuries, is no more than a detail of their 
mutual violences and slaughters. The Gibe- 
lins adhered to the emperor against the pope : 
but concerning their origin, and the reason of 
their names, we have but a very obscure ac- 
count. According to the generality of au- 
thors, they rose about the year 1240, upon 
the emperor Frederic ll.’s being excommuni- 
cated by pope Gregory IX. Other writers 
maintain, that the two factions arose ten years 
before, though still under the same pope and 
emperor. But the most probable opinion is 
that of Maimbourg, who says, that the two 
factions of Guelphs and Gibelins arose from 
a quarrel between two antient and illustrious 
houses on the. confines of Germany, that of 
the Henries of Gibeling, and that of the 
Guelphs of Adorf. 
GIFT, a transferring the property in a 
thing from one to another without a valuable 
consideration ; for to transfer any thing upon 
a valuable consideration is a contract or sale : 
he who gives any thing is called the donor ; 
and he to whom it is given is called the donee. 
By the common law all chattels, real or 
personal, may be granted or given, without 
deed, except in some special cases ; and a 
free gift is good without a consideration, if 
not to defraud creditors. Park. 57. 
But no leases, estates, or interests, either 
of freehold, or term of years, or any uncer- 
tain interest, not being copyhold or custo- 
mary interest, of, in, to, or out of, any mes- 
suage, manors, lands, tenements, or heredi- 
taments, shall at any time be assigned, grant- 
ed, or surrendered, unless it is by deed or 
act in writing, signed by the party so assign- 
ing, granting, or surrendering the same, or 
their agents thereunto lawfully authorised by 
writing, or by act and operation of law. 29 
Car. II. c. 3. 
A gift of any thing without a considerati@n, 
is good: but it is revocable before delivery to 
the donee, of the thing given. Jenk. 109 pi. 9- 
GILBERT1NES, a religious order found- 
ed in England by St. Gilbert, in the reign of 
Henry I. The nuns followed the rule of St. 
Benedict, and the monks that of St. Augus- 
tin. There were many monasteries of this 
order in different parts of England. 
GILD. See Geld. 
Gild Merchant, was a certain privilege 
or liberty granted to merchants, whereby 
they were enabled, among other things, to 
hold certain pleas of land within their own 
precincts ; as the gild-merchant granted by- 
king John to the burgesses of Nottingham. 
GILDING, is the application of gold to 
the surfaces of bodies : it is of two principal 
kinds, according to the method of applying 
the gold. 
