ADM 
adipocire, or ammoniacal soap ; it appears 
probable, however, that it is in the former 
state ; where nitrous acid is the menstruum 
employed, it is obviously impossible that the 
adipocire should be combined with an alkali. 
ADIT of a mine, the hole or aperture 
whereby it is entered and dug, and by which 
the water and ores are carried away : it is 
distinguished from the air-shaft. The adit 
is usually made on the side of a hill, towards 
the bottom, about four or six feet high, and 
eight wide, in form of an arch ; sometimes 
cut into the rock, and sometimes supported 
with timber, so conducted, as that the sole 
or bottom of the adit may answer to the 
bottom of the shaft, only somewhat lower, 
that the water may have a sufficient current 
to pass away without the use of the pump. 
ADJUTAGE, or Ajutage, in hydrau- 
lics, the tube fitted to the mouth of a pipe 
through which a fountain plays. See Hy- 
draulics. 
ADJUTANT, in the military art, an of- 
ficer whose business it is to assist the major, 
and therefore sometimes called the aid 
major. 
ADJUTANT-geaeral, an officer of distinc- 
tion, who assists the general in his labo- 
rious duty : he forms the several details of 
duty of the army, with the brigade majors, 
and keeps an account of the state of each 
brigade and regiment. In the day of battle 
he sees the infantry drawn up, after which 
he places himself by the side of the general 
to receive orders. In a siege he visits the 
several posts, gives and signs all orders, and 
has a serjeant from each brigade to carry 
any orders which he may have to send. 
ADMEASUREMENT, in law, a writ 
for adjusting the shares of something to be 
divided. Thus, admeasurement of dower 
takes place, when the widow of the deceased 
claims more as her dower than what of right 
belongs to her. And, admeasurement of 
pasture may be obtained, when any of the 
persons who have right in a common pasture 
puts more cattle to feed on it than he ought. 
ADMINISTRATOR, in law, the person 
to whom the goods, effects, or estate of one 
who died intestate are entrusted ; for which 
he is to be accountable, when required. 
The bishop of the diocese where the party 
dies, is regularly to grant administration; 
but if the intestate has goods in several dio- 
ceses, administration must be granted by the 
archbishop in the prerogative court. The 
persons to whom administration is granted 
are, a husband, wife, children, whether sons 
pr daughters, the father or mother, brother 
ADO 
or sister, and, in general, to the next of kin, 
as uncle, aunt, cousin ; then to a creditor. 
An action lies for and against an adminis- 
trator, as for and against an executor ; only 
that he is accountable no farther, than to 
the value of the goods. 
ADMIRAL, in maritime affairs, a great 
officer, who commands the naval forces of a 
kingdom or state, and decides all maritime 
causes. For the latter purposes a commis- 
sion has been instituted in England, who, by 
a statute of W. and M. have the same au- 
thority as the Lord High Admiral. The 
admirals of England are merely naval com- 
manders. Every other business relative to 
the navy at large is directed by the Lords 
Commissioners of the Admiralty. See Pre- 
cedence, Admiralty Court, &c. 
ADMIRALTY, properly signifies the of- 
fice of Lord High Admiral, whether dis- 
charged by one or several joint commis- 
sioners, called Lords of the Admiralty. 
ADMIRALTY-Courf, or Court of Admi- 
ralty, in the British polity, a sovereign court, 
held by the Lord High Admiral, or the 
Commissioners of the Admiralty. 
This court has cognizance in all maritime 
affairs, civil as well as criminal. All crimes 
committed on the high-seas, or in great 
rivers, beneath the bridge next the sea, are 
cognizable only in this court; which, by 
statute, is obliged to try the same by judge 
and jury. But in civil causes it is other- 
wise, these being all determined according 
to the civil law ; the reason whereof is, be- 
cause the sea is without the jurisdiction of 
the common law. 
In case any person be sued in the ad- 
miralty-court, contrary to the statutes, he 
may have the writ of supesedeas to stop 
farther proceedings, and also an action for 
double damages against the person suing. 
Subordinate to this court, there is another 
of equity, called Court-merchant; wherein 
all causes between merchants are decided, 
agreeable to the rules of the civil law. 
ADOLIA, in botany, a genus of plants 
found among the trees at Malabar, which 
bear a near relation to the rhamnus. There 
are two species, viz. A. alba, with white’ 
flowers, which grows to the height of seven 
or eight feet, and bears fruit twice a year : 
the berries when ripe are of a purplish black 
colour : and A. rubra, with red flowers ; but 
the berries when ripe are of an orange co- 
lour, and of an acid taste. 
ADONIS, Pheasant’s Eye, or Red Maiths, 
in botany, a genus of the Polyandria 
Polygynia class of plants, the calyx of 
