MEN 
Tims, in order to remember tlie years in 
wliich Cyrus, Alexander, and Julius C®sar, 
founded their respective monarchies, the 
following words may be formed; for Cy- 
rus, Cyruts; for Alexander, Alexite; for 
Julius Cesar, Julios, Uis signifies, accord- 
ing to the powers assigned to the letters be- 
fore mentioned, 636; ita is 331, and os is 
46. Hence it will be easy to remember, 
that the empire of Cyrus was founded 536 
years before Christ, that of Alexander, 331, 
and that of Julius Cassar, 46. This account 
is taken from a treatise, entitled, “ A New 
Method of Artificial Memory;” where the 
reader will find several examples in chrono- 
gsogrsphy, &c. of such artificial 
M'ords disposed in verses, which must be 
allowed to contribute much to the assis- 
tance of the memory, since, being once 
learned, they are seldom or never forgot. 
However, the author advises his reader to 
foiTn the words and verses himself, in the 
manner described above, as he will proba- 
bly remember these better than those form- 
ed by another. 
Be this as it will, we shall here give his 
table of the Kings of England since the 
Conquest; where one thousand being add- 
ed to the italics in each word, expresses 
the year when they began their reigns. TJius, 
Will-consaif, Ruffeoi, Henrng. 
Stephfiif & Hensecfcu/’, Richftein, Jam, 
Hetlidas, & Etidoid. 
Edsotyp, Edterfes, Risefoin, Hefotoua, 
Hefi/adque. 
Hensjfed, Edquar/hwz, Efi Eokt, Hensep- 
J'eil, HenocZyn. 
Edsexfos, Mary/i/f, Elsbrfc, Jamsyd, Ca- 
roprimsch 
Carsecsofe, Jamseif, Wilseik-, Anpyb, Geo- 
bo-doi-.iy. 
MENACHINITE, in mineralogy, a spe- 
cies of the Titanium genus, is of a greyish 
black colour, inclining to iron-black ; it oc- 
curs only in very small flattish angular 
grains, which have a rough, glimmering sur- 
face; internally it is glistening; specific 
gravity 4.2 to 4.6. It is attractable by the 
magnet, but in a much weaker degree than 
iron sand, or magnetic, iron-stone. With- 
out addition, it is infusible before the blow- 
pipe ; it tinges borax of a greenish colour, 
which inclines to brown : according to 
Klaproth the constituent parts are 
Magnetic oxide of iron 51 
Oxide of menachine 45.25 
Oxide of manganese 0.25 
Silica 3.,60 
100.00 
VOL, IV. 
MEN 
This mineral is found accompanied by 
fine quartz sand, in the bed of a rivulet 
which enters the valley of Manachan in 
Cornwall ; also on the shores of the island 
of Providence in America ; and at Botany 
Bay : it is distinguished from iron-sand by 
the fracture, lustre, and inferior hardness. 
MENAIS, in botany, a genus of the Pen- 
tandria Monogynia class and order. Natu- 
ral order of Borragineae, Jussieu. Essential 
character: calyx three-leaved ; corolla sal- 
ver-sliaped; berry four-celled; seeds soli- 
tary. There is but one species, uiz. M. to- 
piaria, a native of South America. 
MENILITE, in mineralogy, is of a ches- 
mit-brown colour, inclining to liver-brown : 
externally, it is marked with narrow stripes 
of reddish brown and pearl-grey, w'hicli al- 
ternate with each other. It occurs in tube- 
rose imbedded masses, the surface of which 
is smooth and ribbed, and sometimes cover- 
ed with a white crust. It is found in adhe- 
sive slate, at Mend Montagne, near Paris: 
the constituents are, 
Silica 85 50 
Alumina i 
0.xide of iron 0.50 
Calcareous earth 0.50 
Water and carbonaceous matter. il. 00 
1^0 
Loss ].5 
100 
MENISCIUM, in botany, a genus of the 
Cryptogamia Filices, or Ferns. Generic 
character: capsules heaped in crescents, 
interposed between the veins of the frond. 
There is but one species, viz. M. reticula- 
turo, a native of Martinico, Brazil, &c. 
MENISCUS, in optics, a lens convex on 
one side, and concave on the other. See 
Lens. For finding the focus of a meniscus, 
the rule is : as the difference of the semi- 
diameters of the concavity and convexity, 
to the seraidiameter of the concavity ; so is 
the diameter of the convexity to the focal 
distance. 
MENISPERMUM, in botany, moon- 
seed, a genus of the Dioecia Dodecandria 
class and order. Natural order of Sarmen- 
taceae. Menisperma, Jussieu. Essential 
character: male petals, four outer; eight 
inner ; stamina sixteen : female, corolla as 
in the male ; stamina eight, barren; berries 
two, one-seeded. There are thirteen spe- 
cies. 
MENSURATION is the art of a.scer- 
taining the contents of superficial areas, or 
D d 
