NAV 
publication was “Elements of Geometry” in 
quarto, written in German, and printed at 
Berlin for the use of the Academy of 
Princes; and some smaller pieces, which 
appeared at ditferent periods in the “ Mis- 
cellanea Berolinensia.” Among his theo- 
logical and moral productions were, “ Sa- 
cred Meditations,” 1690, Igmo; “Evan- 
gelical Morality,” 1699, in two volumes, 
12mo. ; “ The Sovereign Perfection of God 
in his Divine Attributes, and the perfect 
Integrity of the Scriptures, in the Sense 
maintained by the first Reformers,” 1708, 
in two volumes, 12mo. written against M. 
Bayle; which, being attacked in a Igmo. 
pamphlet, he defended in “ A Collection of 
Objections to the Treatise on the Sovereign 
Perfection of God, with Answers to the 
same,” 1709, 12mo. ; “ An Examination 
of two Treatises of M. de Placette,” 1713, 
in two volumes, 12mo ; “ Dialogue in Soli- 
tude,” partly translated fi om the Dutch of 
William Teclink, 1717, ISrao. ; “ A Refu- 
tation of the Philosophical Commentary,” 
1718, 12mo. &c. 
NAVEL, in anatomy, the centre of the 
lower part of the abdomen; being that part 
where the umbilical vessels passed out of the 
foetus to the placenta of the mother. See 
Anatomy, Midwifery, &c. 
NAVIGATION is the art of conduct- 
ing a vessel from one port to another by 
observation of the heavenly bodies, calcu- 
lation of the distance, or way, made daily, 
and by steering such a course, under guid- 
ance of the compass, as may lead, in the 
most direct manner, from the place quitted 
to the ship’s destination. Before we pro- 
ceed on this topic, it may be proper to 
stipulate for a competent knowledge of 
geography ; especially of the division of our 
globe by the various circles, and meridians, 
by which it is intersected in theory. The 
student must also be thoroughly acquainted 
with all relating to the needle; in par- 
ticular the dip and variation, and be able 
to take an account of the ship’s progress 
numerically, or, as it is termed in dead- 
reckoning; and if he should possess some 
skill in geometry and trigonometry, he 
will find that his task is more easily per- 
formed, and that he will, in due time, ren- 
der himself conspicuous in that branch of 
his honourable profession. 
We shall preface this subject with a few 
details that will be found useful : they will 
prepare the way for further operations ; 
and serve in addition to what has been pre- 
mised in regard to mathematical acquire- 
NAV 
ment, to give such a solid foundation iis 
will leave the reader at no loss as he pro- 
ceeds in the more intricate parts of the 
science. We shall commence with the ab- 
solute necessity of readily boxing, i. e. tell- 
ing the points of the compass. Under the 
head of Magnetism, we have slightly 
touched on this subject, but shall now ex- 
plain that each quarter of the compass card, 
or index, is divided into eight equal portions 
called points. The. four cardinal points, 
i. e. North, South, East and West, form the 
terminations of two diameters standing at 
right angles: the four points ascertained 
by dividing the several quadrants, into tw'O 
equal portions each, give compound-points; 
which are named after the two adjunct car- 
dinals respectively; observing that North 
and South have precedence in each desig- 
nation. Thus the mid-point between North 
and East is called “ North East, that be- 
tween North and West is called “ North 
West;” that between South and East is 
called “ South East;” and that between 
South and West is called “ South West.” 
By this process we have divided the cir- 
cumference into eight equal parts. Now 
let each segment between the several car- 
dinals, and their compounds, be subdivided 
into four equal portions ; so that the whole 
circle may be partitioned into thirty-two 
parts ; i. e. eight between each of the ad- 
junct cardinals : the two points adjunct to 
North will be “ North by East,” and 
“ North by West;” these adjunct to South 
will be “ South by East,” and “ South by 
West ;” those adjunct to East will be “ East 
by North,” and “ East by South;” while 
the adjuncts to West will be “ West by 
North,” and “ West by South.” The two 
adjuncts to the compounds will be as fol- 
low; to North East they will be “ North 
East by N orth,” and “ N orth East by East ;” 
to South East they will be “ South East by 
South,” and “South East by East;” to 
North West they will be “ North West by 
North,” and “ North West by West ;” and 
to South West they will be “ South West 
by South,” and “ South West by West.” 
There yet remain eight points, equidistant 
between the several cardinals and the com- 
pounds : these have their designations made 
by prefixing, to that of the adjunct com- 
pound, that of the cardinal to which it is 
nearest. Thus between North and North 
West, the point is called “ North, North 
West,” and that between North West and 
West, is called “ West, North West:” thus 
we have “ North, North East,” and “ East 
