LAR 
LAP 
i'h c is a deep convex glass placed in the 
other end of the prominent tube, the only 
use of which is to cast the, light of the 
flame, «, strongly on the picture, de, painted 
on tlie plain thin glass. Hence, if the object, 
de, be placed further from thp glass, k l, 
than its focus, it is nianifest that the distinct 
image of the object will be projected by the 
glass, kl, on the opposite white wall, FH, 
at/g; and that in an erect posture: so 
that, in effect, this appearance of the magic 
lantern is the same with tliat of the camera 
obscura, or darkened room; since here the 
chamber, E F G H, is supposed quite dark, 
excepting the light in the lantern A B C D. 
And here we may observe, that if the tube 
bnklmc, be contracted, and thereby the 
glass, k I, brought nearer the object, d e, the 
representation, /"g, will be projected so 
much the larger, and so much the more dis- 
tant from the glass kl ; so that the smallest 
picture at d emay be projected Atfg in any 
greater proportion required, within due 
limits : whence it is, that this lantern got 
the name of lanterna megalographica. On 
the other hand, protracting the tube will 
diminish the object. 
Instead of the convex glass to heighten 
the light, some prefer a concave speculum, 
its focus being nearer than that of a lens ; 
and in this focus they place the candle. 
LAPIDARY style denotes the style pro- 
per for monumental or other inscriptions ; 
being a sort of medium between prose and 
verse. The jejune and brilliant are here 
equally to be avoided. Cicero has pre- 
scribed the rules of this style. “Accedat, 
oportet oratio varia, veheraens, plena spi- 
riths. Omnium sententiarum gravitate, 
omnium verborum ponderibus, est uten- 
dum.” The lapidary style, which was lost 
with the ancient monuments, is now used in 
various ways,’^t the beginning of books ; 
and even epistles dedicatory are composed 
in it, whereof we have no example among 
the ancients. 
LAPIS lazuli. See Lazurstein. 
Lapis infernalis. See Lunar caustic, 
LAPLISIA, in natural history, sea-hare, 
a genus of the Vermes Mollusca class and 
order. Body creeping, covered with re- 
flected membranes, with a membranaceous 
shield on the back, covering the lungs ; 
aperture placed on tlie right side, vent above 
the extremity of the back ; fotir feelers, re- 
sembling cars. There are two species, viz. 
L. depilans ; body pale-lead colour, imma- 
culate, it inhabits the European seas ; from 
two to five inches long ; is extremely nau- 
VOL. IV. 
seous and fetid, and is said to cause the 
hair to fall off from the hands of those who 
touch it. 
L. fasciata, black ; tlie edges of the mem- 
branaceous covering, and of the feelers 
scarlet ; it inhabits the shores of Barbary, 
among rocks ; when touched it discharges 
a black and red sanies, which, however, is 
neither fetid nor depilatory like the last. It 
is frequently to be met with off Anglesea. 
LAPPAGO, in botany, a genus of the 
Triandria Digynia class and order. Natu- 
ral order of Gramina. There is but one 
species. 
LAPSANA, in botany, a genus of the 
Syngenesia Polygamia iEquatis class and 
order. Natpral order of Compositae, Se- 
miflosculosi. Cichoraceae, Jussieu. Essen- 
tial character : calyx calycled ; each of the 
inner scales channelled ; receptacle naked. 
There are five species, of which L. com- 
munis, common nipple-wort, is very abun- 
dant all over Europe in hedges, shady, and 
waste places and cultivated ground ; flow- 
ering in the summer mouths. Nature has 
amply supplied the want of that down to the 
seed with which most of this class are fur- 
nished, by the great abundance which every 
plant produces. 
LAPSED legacy, is where the legatee 
dies before the testator, or where a legacy 
is given upon a future contingency, and 
the legatee dies before the contingency hap- 
pens. As if a legacy is given to a person 
when he attains the age of twenty-one 
years, and the legatee dies before that age ; 
in this case, the legacy is a lost or lapsed 
legacy, and shall sink into the residuum of 
the personal estate. 
I.ARCENY is the felonious and fraudu- 
lent taking away of the personal goods of 
another, against his will, with intent to 
steal them. If the goods are above the va- 
lue of 12d., it is called grand larceny ; if of 
that value, or under, it is petit larceny : 
which two species are distinguished in their 
punishment, but not otherwise. The mind, 
or intention, of the act alone makes the 
taking of another’s goods felony, or a bare 
trespass only; but as the variety of circum- 
stances is so great, and the complications 
thereof are so mingled, it is impossible to 
prescribe all the circumstances evidencing 
a felonious intent, or the contrary. 
As all felony includes trespass, every in- 
dictment must have the words feloniously 
took, as well as carried away ; whence it 
follows, that if the party be guilty of no 
trespass in taking the goods, he cannot be 
F 
