DEM 
a tempest. It not only pursues and attacks 
small fish, on which, indeed, it subsists, but 
assails the whale itself, and is stated to have 
been seen firmly adhering to whales as they 
have leaped from the water. The ancients 
appear to have had almost a superstitious 
attachment to Iliis animal, and relate vari- 
ous anecdotes of it, implying a peculiar sus- 
ceptibility of gratitude and affection, a 
sti'ong attachment to mankind, and a raptur- 
ous fondness for music. In natural history, 
however, the ancients were more fanciful 
than accurate, and compared with the mo- 
derns were as dwarfs to giants. The por- 
pesse, though na'uraHy straight, swims in a 
crooked form ; and the dolphin is said, by 
Liinnmus, to be crooked only when it leaps : 
Shaw thinks it assumes this form also in 
swimming. See Pisces, Plate III. fig. 5. 
D. orca, grampus. This is one of the 
most ravenous and formidable inhabitants 
of the ocean. It is found both in the At- 
lantic and the Mediterranean, in the north- 
ern and the southern seas, and is about 12 
feet broad, and 24 in length. It preys both 
upon the porpesse and dolphin, as well as 
upon smaller fish. It frequently attacks 
seals, even on the uncovered rocks, dislodg- 
ing and often destroyin^j them by its dorsal 
fin. But it is particularly and iiTeconcile- 
ably hostile to whales, which it attacks 
without the slightest hesitation, and often 
fastens on with the most persevering and 
destiuctive tenacity. 
DELUGE, an inundation, or overflow- 
ing of the earth, either wholly or in part, 
by water. 
We have several deluges recorded in his- 
tory, as that of Ogyges, which overflowed 
almost all Attica; and that of Deucalion, 
which drowned all Thessaly in Greece ; but 
the most memorable was that called the 
universal deluge, or Noali’s flood, which 
overflowed and destroyed the whole earth, 
and out of which only Noah, and those with 
him in the ark, escaped. 
DEMAIN, or Demesne, signifies the 
king’s lands appertaining to him in property. 
No common person hath any demains sim- 
ply understood, for we have no land (that 
of the crown only excepted) which is not 
holden of a superior, for all depends either 
mediately, or immediately of the crown : 
thus, when a man in pleading would signify 
his land to be his own, he says that he is or 
was seized thereof in his demain as of fee ; 
whereby he means, that although his land 
be to him and his heirs for ever, yet it is not 
true demain, but depending upon a superior 
VOL, II. 
DEM 
lord, and holding by service, or rent in lien 
of service, or by both service and rent. 
DEMAND, calling upon a man for any 
sum or sums of money, or any other thing 
due. By the several statutes of limitation, 
debts, claims, &c. are to be demanded and 
made in time, or they will be lost by law. 
There are two manner of demands, the one 
in deed, the other in law; in deed, as in 
every precepe there is an express demand ; 
in law, as in every entry in land, distress for 
rent, taking or seizing of goods, and such 
like acts, which may be done without any 
words, are demands in law. 
Where there is a duty which the law 
makes payable on demand, no demand need 
be made ; but if there be no duty till de- 
mand, in such case there must be a demand 
to make the duty. 
DEMOCRACY, the same with a popular 
government, wherein the supreme power is 
lodged in the hands of the people. 
The advantages of a democracy where 
the people at large, either collectively, or 
by representation, constitute the legislature, 
are, liberty or exemption fi-om needless re- 
strictions, equal laws, regulations adapted 
to the wants and circumstances of the peo- 
ple, public spirit, frugality, averseness from 
war, the opportunities which democratic as- 
semblies afford to men of every description, 
of producing their abilities and councils to 
public observation, and the exciting thereby, 
and calling fortli to the service of the com- 
monwealth, the faculties of the best citizens. 
The evils attendant upon this form of 
government are, dissension, tumults, fac- 
tion, the attempts of powerful citizens to 
possess themselves of empire, the confu- 
sion and clamour which are the inevitable 
consequences of assembling multitudes, and 
of propounding questions of state to tlie 
discussion of the people ; the delay and 
disclosure of public councils and designs ; 
and tlie imbecility of measures retarded by 
the necessity of obtaining the consent of 
numbers ; lastly, the oppression of the pro- 
vinces which are not admitted to a par- 
ticipation in the legislative power. The 
late excellent Dr. Paley mentions other ad- 
vantages of a democratic constitution which, 
he says, ought not be forgotten; viz, tlie 
direction which it gives to the education, 
studies, and pursuits of the superior orders 
of the community. The share which this 
has in forming the public manners and na- 
tional character is very important. Po- 
pular elections procure to the common peo- 
ple courtesy from their superiors. The 
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