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cliairman. In England this is n6t generally 
the case by law, but barristers are chiefly 
preferred, and the duty to be performed is 
so multifarious, that it requires no small 
skill in law, accompanied with much acti- 
vity and industry, to execute it justly. 
Quarter of a ship, is that part of a 
ship’s hold which lies between the steerage 
room and the transom. 
Quarters, close, in a ship, those places 
where the seamen quarter themselves in 
case of boarding, for their own defence, 
and for clearing the decks, &c. 
Quarter masters, or Quarteers, in a 
man of war, are officers whose business it 
is to rummage, stow, and trim the ship in 
the hold; to overlook the steward in his 
delivery of victuals to the cook, and in 
pumping or drawing out beer, or the like. 
They are also to keep their watch duly, in 
conning the ship, or any other duty. 
Quarter is also used for a division of a 
city, consisting of several ranges of build- 
ings, &c. separated from some other quarter 
by a river, great street, &c. Such were for- 
merly the twenty quarters of the city of 
Paris. 
Quarter, in war, is used in various 
senses, as for the place allotted to a body 
of troops to encamp upon ; thus they say, 
the general has extended his quarters a 
great way, &c. Quarter also signifies the 
sparing men’s lives: thus, it is said, the 
enemy asked quarter ; we gave no quarter. 
Quarter of an assembly, is the place of 
rendezvous, where the troops are to meet, 
and draw up in a body. 
Quarters, head, is the place where 
the general of an army has his quarters, 
which is generally near the centre of the 
amry. 
Quarter master, an officer in the array, 
whose business is to look after the quarters 
of the soldiers ; of which there are several 
kinds, viz. the quarter-master general, whose 
business is to provide good quarters for 
the whole army. Quarter-master of horse, 
he who is to provide quarters for a troop 
of horse. Quarter-master of foot, he who is 
to provide quarters for a regiment of foot. 
Quarters, in a clock, are the little bells 
that sound the quarters in an hour. ^ 
Quarters, in building, are those slight 
upright pieces of timber placed between 
the puncheons and posts, used to lath upon. 
These are of two sorts, single and double ; 
-the single quarters are sawed to two inches 
thick, and four inches broad ; the double 
quarters are sawed to four inches square. 
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It is a rule in carpentry, that no quarters 
be placed at a greater distance than four- 
teen inches. 
QUARTERING, in the sea-language, 
is disposing the ship’s company at an en- 
gagement, in such a manner as that each 
may readily know where his station is, and 
what he is to do. As some to the master, 
for the management of the sails ; some to 
assist the gunners in traversing the ord- 
nance ; some for plying of the small shot ; 
some to fill powder in the powder-room ; 
others to carry it from thence to the gun- 
ners, in cartridges, &c. 
Tile number of men appointed to manage 
the artillery is in proportion to the nature 
of the guns, number and condition of the 
ship's crew. AThen a ship is well manned so 
as to fight both sides occasionally ; then 
Poui^er. 
Men. 
To a 42 there 
are. 15 
32 
24 
18 
This number may be reduced, if neces- 
sary, and j'et the guns be well managed. 
The number of men appointed to the 
small arms, on board his Majesty’s ships, 
will be as follows, viz. 
To a First rate 
150 
Second ditto 
120 
Third of 80 guns ... 
100 
of 70 
80 
Fourth of 60 
70 
of 50 
60 
Fifth 
50 
Sixth 
40 
Sloops of war 
30 
Lieutenants command the different bat- 
teries ; the master superintends the move- 
ments of the ship ; and the boatswain and a 
number of men, have charge of the rio-- 
ging, &c. 
AFhen a ship under sail goes at large, nei- 
ther by wind, nor before a ivind, but as 
it were between both, she is 
quartering. 
said to go 
Quartering, in gunnery. 
is when a 
piece of ordnance is so traversed that it 
wili shoot on the same line, or on the same 
point of the compass as the ship’s quarter 
bears. 
Quartering, in heraldry, is dividing a 
coat into four or more quarters, or quarter- 
ings, by parting, couping, &c. that is by 
perpendicular and horizontal lines, &c. 
Quartering is also applied to the pa; ti- 
