MUT 
evidence in the West Indies; tiiis peine forte 
et dure has been called torture, but this is a 
gross perversion of language to justify cruel- 
ty and barbarity. The foiiner ceased the 
moment the person put himself on his 
country, that is, on a jury for trial, by the 
formally pronouncing the words not guilty. 
The latter is continued and increased the 
more the sufferer asserts his innocence, and 
is instituted for the purpose of extorting by 
cruelty, a confession of guilt, whether true 
or false. Perish the vyretch who in thoiight 
even endures the revival of the most odious 
of all human crimes, the application of tor- 
ture. , , t.- 
A prisoner deaf and dumb from his 
birth, may be arraigned for a capital of- 
fence, if intelligence can be conveyed to 
him by signs or symbols. 
Mute, in grammar, a letter which yields 
no sound without the addition of a vowel. 
The simple consonants are ordinarily distin- 
guished into mutes and liquids, or semi- 
vowels. 
The mutes in the Greek alphabet are 
nine, three of which, viz. r., x, t, are termed 
tenues ; three, y, termed medim ; and 
three, <p, -x, S, termed aspirates. The mutes 
of the Latin alphabet are also nine, viz. 
B, C,D,G, I, K, P, Q, T. 
MUTINY, in a military sense, to mu- 
tiny is to rise against authority. Any of- 
ficer or soldier who shall presume to use 
traitorous or disrespectful words against 
thesacied person ofliis Majesty, or any of 
the Royal Family, is guilty of mutiny. Any 
officer or soldier who shall behave himself 
with contempt or disrespect towards the 
general, or other commander in chief of our 
forces, or shall speak wor.ds tending to their 
hurt or dishonour, is guilty of mutiny. Any 
officer or soldier who shall begin, excite, 
cause, or join in any mutiny or sedition, in 
the troop, company, or regiment, to which 
he belongs, or in any other troop, or com- 
pany, in our service, or on any party, post, 
detachment, or guard, on any pretence 
whatsoever, is guilty of mutiny. Any of- 
fieer or soldier who, being present at any 
mutiny or sedition, does not use his utmost 
endeavours to suppress the same, or coming 
to the knowledge of any mutiny, or intend- 
ed mutiny, does not, without del^, give 
information to his commanding officer, is 
guilty of mutiny. Any officer or soldier, 
who shall strike his superior officer, or draw, 
or offer to draw, or shall lift up any weapon, 
or offer any violence against him, being in 
the execution of his office, on any pretence 
MYA 
whatsoever, or shall disobey any lawful 
command of his superior officer, is guilty of 
mutiny. See the Articles of War. 
MUTISIA, in botany, so named in me- 
mory of Joseph Cselestine Mutis, an Ame- 
rican botanist, a genus of the Syngenesia 
Polygamia Superffua class and order. Na- 
tural order of Discoideas. Corymbiferae, 
Jussieu. Essential character : calyx cy- 
lindric, imbricate ; corollets of the ray oval 
oblong ; of the disk trifid ; down feathered ; 
receptacle naked. There is but one species, 
viz. M. clematis, found in New Granada. 
MUTULE, in architecture, a kind of 
square modillion, set under the corniche of 
the Doric order. The only difference be- 
tween the mutule and modillion consists in 
this, that the former is used in speaking of 
the Doric order, and the latter in the Co- 
rinthian. 
MYA, in natural history, a genus of in- 
sects of the Vermes Testacea class and or- 
der. Animal ascidia ; shell bivalve, gene- 
rally gaping at one end ; hinge with broad 
thick strong teeth, seldom more than one, 
and not inserted into the opposite valve. 
The animals of this genus perforate into 
the sand and clay at the bottom of the sea, 
burying themselves and their shells wholly 
or in part. There are about twenty-five 
species. M. declivis has a brittle, semi- 
transparent shell, sloping downwards near 
the open end; the hinge slightly promi- 
nent. It is found about the Hebrides, and 
the fish is in great esteem among the inhabi- 
tants. M. margaritifera inhabits most parts 
of the arctic circle, and is generally found in 
mountainous rivers, and about cataracts. It 
is about five inches long, and half as many 
broad. The shell is often corroded with 
worms ; it is noted for producing large 
quantities of mother of pearl and pearl, the 
latter is said to be a disease of the fish ana- 
logous to the stone in the human body. The 
river Conway in Wales, was formerly fa- 
mous for producing pearl of great size and 
value. M. dubia, shell with an oval and 
large hiatus opposite the hinge, and the ru- 
diment of a tooth within one valve. It is 
found near Weymouth ; the shell is brittle, 
about tlie length of a horse-bean, and shaped 
like a pistachia-nut. 
MYAGRUM, in \sat?my,goldof pleasure, 
a genus of the Tetradynamia Siliculosa class 
and order. Natural order of Siliquosae, or 
Cruciformes. Crucifer®, Jussieu. Essen- 
tial character ; silicle terminated by a coni- 
cal style, with a cell commonly one-seeded. 
There are^tea species, of which M. perenne, 
