ESQ 
quadruped before it could possess time for 
extrication. It is not unfrequently caught 
in the latter end of spring in the ditches 
near the Thames, while asleep, by means of 
a noosed cord dexterously slipped round it. 
The appearance of the pike is dreaded by 
the smaller fishes, as the signal of destruc- 
tion, and is observed to excite in them all 
the indications of detestation and terror. 
E. stomias, or the piper-mouthed pike, is a 
native of the Mediterranean sea, about 
eighteen inches in length, and of a greenish 
brown colour. Its lower jaw is considerably 
longer than the upper ; it has two fore 
teeth in the upper, and these with two of the 
under, project from tire mouth when shut ; 
the first ray of the dorsal fin, which is near 
the head, is very long and setacious, and its 
body, gradually tapers towards the tail, 
which is somewhat forked. It is a very cu- 
rious fish, and a specimen of it is to be seen 
in the British Museum. 
ESPALIERS, in gardening, are rows of 
trees planted about a whole garden or plan- 
tation, or in hedges, so as to inclose quarters 
or separate parts of a garden ; and are 
trained up regularly to a lattice of wood- 
work in a close hedge, for the defence of 
tender plants against the injuries of wind 
and weather. They are of admirable use 
and beauty in a kitchen-garden, serving not ( 
only to shelter the tender plants, but screen 
them from the sight of persons in the walks. 
See Gardening. 
Esplanade, in fortification, is the sloping 
of the parapet of the covered way towards 
the campaign. It is the same with glacis, 
and is more properly the empty space be- 
tween the citadel and the houses ofa town. 
ESQUIRE was anciently the person 
that attended a knight in the time of war, 
and carried his shield. This title has not, 
for a long time, had any relation to the of- 
fice of the person, as to carry arms, &c. 
Those to whom the title of esquire is now of 
right due, are all noblemens’ younger sons, 
and the eldest scm& of such younger sons ; 
the eldest sons of knights, and their eldest 
sons ; the officers of the King’s courts, and 
of his hou.hold ; counsellors at law, justices 
of the peace, &c. though those latter are 
only esquires in reputation : besides, a 
justice of the peace holds this title no 
longer than he is in commission, in case he 
is not otherwise qualified to bear it ; but a 
sheriff of a county, who is a superior officer, 
retains the title of esquire during life, in 
consequence of the trust once reposed in 
him ; the heads of some ancient families are 
said to be esquires by prescription. 
ESS 
Esquire, is a name of dignity, next 
above the common title of gentleman, and 
below a knight ; heretofore it signified one 
that was attendant, and had his employ- 
ment as a servant, waiting on such as had 
the order of knighthood, bearing their 
shields, and helping him to horse and the 
like. All Irish and foreign peers, are only 
esquires in our law, and must be so named 
in all legal proceedings. Esquires of the 
King, are such who have the title by 
creation ; these when they are created, 
have a collar of S S put about their necks, 
and a pair of silver spurs is bestowed on 
them ; and they were wont to bear before 
the prince in war, a shield or lance. There 
are four esquires of the King’s body to at- 
tend on his Majesty’s person. 
ESSAY, in metalurgy. See Assaying. 
ESSENCE, in chemistry, denotes the 
purest, most subtile, and balsamic part of a 
body; extracted cither by simple expres- 
sion, or by means of fire, from fruits, 
flowers, and the like. Of these there are a 
great variety, used on account of their 
agreeable smell and taste, by apothecaries, 
perfumers, and others. Those extracted by 
means of fire, with more propriety are to be 
counted among the essential oils. 
Essence of bergamot, is a fragrant es- 
sence, extracted from a fruit which is pro- 
duced by ingrafting a branch of lemon-tree, 
upon the stock of a 'bergamot-pear. It is 
imported from Italy and Sicily, particularly 
from Reggia and Messing. This spirit is 
extracted, by paring off the rind of the fruit 
with a broad knife, pressing the peel be- 
tween wooden pincers against a spunge, 
and as soon as the spunge is saturated, the 
volatile liquor is squeezed into a phial. 
Essence of orange, and Essence of lemon, 
are prepared in a similar manner, and come 
from the same countries. 
The essences of lavender, of thyme, of 
rosemary, of anise, of cloves, of cinnamon, 
<$sc. are obtained by means of fire. 
Essence, in philosophy, that which con- 
stitutes the particular nature of each genus 
or kind, and distinguishes it from all others; 
being nothing bqt that abstract idea to 
which this name is affixed ; so that every 
thing contained in it, is essential to that 
particular kind. 
ESSENDI quietum de theolonio, a writ 
that lies for citizens and burgesses of any 
city or town, that have a charter on pre- 
scription to exempt them from toll through 
the whole realm, if it happened to be any 
where exacted of them. 
ESSENES, or Essenians, in Jewish 
