650 G I 'N 
Provide a saturated -solution of gold, anil 
having evaporated it to the consistence of 
bi!, suffer it to shoot into crystals. These 
_ciystals must t lien be dissolved in pure wa- 
tei’, and the articles to lie gilded being im- 
mersed in it, are then to be washed in pure 
vater, and afterwards burnished. This pro 
re-s may be repeated several times, till the 
at tides have been well gilt. A solution of 
gold crystals is preferred to a mere’ solution 
of gold, because in the latter there is always 
a portion of free acid, which will not fail 
to exercise more or less action on the sur- 
face of the brass or copper, and injure its 
polish. 
Grecian gilding. Dissolve some mercury 
in muriatic acid (spirit of salt), which will 
give a muriate of mercury 7 ., Mix equal parts 
of this and sai ammoniac,' and dissolve them 
in aquafortis. Put some gold into this, and 
it will dissolve. When this is applied to 
silver, it becomes black; but by heating, it 
assumes the appearance of gilding. 
7b make shell-gold. Grind up gold-leaf 
with honey in a mortar; then wash away the 
honey with water, and mix the gold powder 
"'ith gum water. This may be applied to 
any article with a camel’ s-hair pencil, in the 
same way as any other colour. 
GU.l -HEAD. See Sparus. 
GIMBALS, a contrivance by means of 
which barometers, vessels of oil, mariner’s 
compasses, &c. may be suspended so as to 
arrange* their upper parts horizontally. The 
nature of this contrivance will he at once un- 
derstood by shewing its application to a ma- 
nner s compass. It consists of a hoop or 
: mg supported upon two pins diametrically 
opposite each other, and issuing from the c-x- 
'vrnal surface of the ring in such a direction 
that both lie in the same diametrical line. 
When the hoop is suspended on these pins, 
it is at liberty to turn freely about the dia- 
meter, oi^ which they constitute the prolon- 
gation. The notches or holes of support are 
disposed horizontally. The compass-box jt- 
(Hi Is placed in a similar ring with tfvmpre- 
ccting pivots; and these pivots am inserted 
in holes made in the former ring at equal dis- 
mnees from earn of its pivots. If therefore 
die whole is left at liberty, the compass-box 
may vibrate upon the diametral line of the 
outer ringyas well as upon a line formed by 
its own pivots, at right angles to that diame- 
tral line. The consequence of this arrange- 
ment is, that the centre of gravity of the 
<ompass-box will dispose itself immediately 
beneath the-intersection of both lines on which 
itjs at liberty to move: that is, if the weight 
of the box and its component parts are pro- 
perly disposed, the compass will assume a 
position in which the surface shall be hori- 
zontal. 
GIN. See Distillation. 
Gin, in mechanics, a machine for driving 
piles, fitted with a wipdlass and winches at 
each end, where eight or nine men heave, 
and round which a rope is reeved, that goes 
over the wheel at the top: one end of this 
rope is seized to an iron monkey, that hooks 
to a beetle of different w eights, according to 
the piles they are to drive, being from eight 
to thirteen hundred weight; and when hove 
up to a cross-piece near the wheel it un- 
hooks the monkey, and lets the beetle fall 
the upper end of the pile, and forces the 
G t A 
same into the ground; then the monkey’s 
o\\ ii w eight overhauls the windlass, in order 
for its being hooked again to the beetle. 
GiN'ANNIA, a genus of the class and 
order enneandria munogynia. T he calvx is 
double, both one-leaved -'petals three-fringed 
a,| d spreading; germ pedicelled, with a mem- 
branaceous wing at top. Legume. There 
is one species, a shrub of Guiana. 
GjN'KGO, or maidenhair-tree, of the dio- 
ecia class (order and character unknown), a 
large tree ot Japan, with leaves resembling 
the adiantum, whence its popular name. 
G I NO HA, a genus of the dodecandria mo- 
nogyuia class and order. ’1 he calyx is six- 
clelted ; petals six ; capsules one-seeded, 
four-celled, four-valved, coloured, many 
seeds. There is one species, an elegant 
shrub of Cuba, bearing handsome large red 
flowers. ° 
G 1 N G E R . See Amomum. 
Gl NS ENG. See Pan ax. 
GIRDERS, in architecture, some of the 
largest pieces of timber in a floor. 
By the building act, no girder is to lie less 
than 10. inches into the wall, and the ends 
to be laid in loam. 
G ! i\ DING-GIRT, in the sea language. 
A ship is girt, or has a girding-girt, when 
ner cable is so tight or strained, upon the 
turning of the tide, that she cannot get over 
it, but lies across the tide. 
GIRONNE', or Gironny, in heraldry, 
a coat ot arms, divided into girons or trian- 
gular figures, meeting in the centre of the 
shield, and alternately colour and metal. 
GJSEKIA, a genus of the class and order 
pentandria pentagynia. The calyx is live- 
leaved; corolla none; capsules five, approxi- 
mating, roundish, one-seeded. There is one 
species, an annual of the East Indies. 
G LAURAS I A, a genus of the class and 
order polyadelphia polyandria. The calyx 
is live-cleft ; nectarium composed of bristles ; 
stamina 30, always in sixes; periantbium a 
drupe. There is one species, a large tree 
of tiie East Indies. 
G LAC I ES MARGE. See Mica. 
GLACIS, in fortification, that mass of 
earth which serves as a parapet to the co- 
vered way, sloping easiiy towards the cham- 
paign or field. See Fortification. 
GLADIATORS, in antiquity, persons who 
fought generally in the arena at Rome, for 
the entertainment of the people. 
The gladiators were usually slaves, and 
fought out of necessity, though sometimes 
freemen made profession of it, like our prize- 
fighters, lor a livelihood. The Romans bor- 
rowed this cruel diversion from the Asiatics. 
They were all first sworn that they would 
fight till death; and if they failed they were 
put to death either by fine, swords, clubs, 
whips, &c. It was usual with the people or 
emperor to grant them life when they shewed 
no signs of fear. Augustus decreed that it 
should always be granted them. 
After the engagement, several marks of 
favour were conferred on the victor, parti- 
cularly a branch of palm-tree; and often 
a sum of money, perhaps gathered up 
among the spectators ; but the most common 
rewards were the pileus and the rudis; the 
former being given only to such gladiators 
as were slaves, fpr a token of obtaining their 
G L A 
freedom-, but the rudis seems to have been 
bestowed both on slaves and freemen, with 
this difference, that it procured the former 
no more than a discharge from any further 
performance in public: the rudis, when given 
to such persons as, being free, had hired 
themselves out tor these shows, restored them 
to a full enjoyment of their liberty. 
h rom slaves and freedmen, the wanton 
sport spread to persons of rank, as we find 
in Nero’s time- And Domitian exhibited 
combats of women in the night-time. We 
also read that dwarfs encountered with one 
another. Constantine the Great first pro- 
hibited these combats in the East; but (he 
practice was not entirely abolished in (lie 
V\ rst before Theodoric king of the Ostro- 
goths, in the year 500. 
The dying Gladiator, is a most valuable 
monument of antient sculpture, which is 
now preserved in the palace of Chighi. This 
man, when he had received the mortal 
stroke, is particularly careful ut procumbat 
honest e, that he might fall honourably. He 
is seated in a reclining posture on the ground, 
and has just strength sufficient to support 
himself ou his right arm ; and in his expiring 
moments it is plainly seen that he does not 
abandon himself to grief and dejection, but is 
solicitous to maintain that firmness of aspect 
which the gladiators valued themselves on 
preserving in this season of distress, and that 
attitude which they had learnt of the masters 
ot defence. He fears not death, nor seems 
to betray any tokens of fear by his counte- 
nance, nor to shed one tear. We see, in 
this instance, notwithstanding his remaining 
strength, that he has but a moment to live; 
and we view him with attention, that w e may 
see him expire and fall. Thus the antients 
knew how to animate marble, and to give it 
almost every expression of life. 
GLADIOLUS, corn-flag , a genus of the 
monogynia order, in the triandria class of 
plants, and in the natural method ranking 
under (he sixth order, ensatse. The corolla 
is sexpartite and ringent, the stamina ascend- 
ing and bending upwards. There are thirty 
species, of which the most generally known 
is the communis or common gladiolus. This 
has a round, compressed, tuberous root, long 
sword-shaped leaves, an erect flower-stalk, 
two or three feet high, the lop adorned w itli 
several pretty large flowers of a red or white 
colour, having each six petals. They appear 
in May and June, and are succeeded by 
plenty of seed in August. The plants are 
very hardy, and will thrive in any soil or 
situation. They are propagated by offsets 
from the roots. The gladiolus cardinalis is 
a bulb ot the Cape, exquisitely beautiful, 
GLAMA. See Camelus. 
GLAND. See Anatomy. 
GLANDERS. See Farriery. 
GLAREQLA, in ornithology, a genus ©f 
birds of the order of gralhe. 'The generic 
character is : bill strong, short, straight, 
hooked at the tip; nostrils at the -base ot the 
bill linear, oblique ; gape of the mouth large 
feet four-toed ; toes long, slender, connected 
at the base by a membrane ; tail forked, con- 
sisting ot 12 feathers. There are three spe- 
cies. 'Hie austriaca inhabits the heaths of 
Europe near the banks of rivers, is about 
nine inches long, feeds on worms and aquatic 
insects, is very restless and clamorous. See 
