B- A L 
A balance belonging to Mr. Alcbornc of the Mint, in 
London, is mentioned, vol. lxxvii.'p. 205, of the Pliilof. 
Tranf. It is true to 3 grains with 1 ^lb. an end. If thefe 
were avoirdupois pounds, the weight is known to the 
part, or to four places of figures, or barely five. A 
balance made by Mr. Ramfden, and turning on points in- 
fiead of edges, is mentioned in vol. Ixxv, of the Pliilof. 
Tranf. With a load of four or five ounces, a difference 
of one divifion in the index was made by the -^00 a 
grain. This is the rg ^ m 7 S part of the weight, and con- ' 
fequently this beam will afcertain fuch weights to five pla¬ 
ces of figures, befides an efiimate figure. A balance in 
the pofiefiion of Mr. Magellan, of the kind mentioned in 
rule 15, would bear feveral pounds, and (hewed the ^-of 
a grain, with one pound an end. This is the ot the 
weight, and anfwers to five figures. The Royal Society’s 
balance, which was lately made by Mr. Ramfden, turns 
011 fteel edges, upon planes of polifhed cryftal; and it af- 
certains a weight to the feven-millionth part. From this 
account of balances, ,the (Indent may form a proper efti- 
mate of the value of thofe tabies of fpecific gravities, 
which are carried to five, lix, and even (even, places o( fi¬ 
gures, and likewife of the theoretical deductions that de¬ 
pend on a fuppofed accuracy in weighing, which practice 
dhes not aiithorife. In general, where weights are given 
to five places of- figures, the lad figure is an efiimate or 
guefs figure j and, where they are carried farther, it may 
be taken for granted that the author deceives either inten¬ 
tionally, or from want of (kill in reducing his weights to 
fractional expreflions, or otherwife. See Weight. 
Hydrojlalical Balance. This is an inftrument for deter¬ 
mining the fpecific gravity of bodies, both folid and fluid. 
See Hydrostatics. 
Balance of a Watch, is that part which, by its mo¬ 
tion, regulates and determines the beats. The circular 
part of it is called the rim, and its fpindle the verge ; there 
belong to it alfo two pallets, that play in the teeth of the 
balance-wheel: in pocket watches, that firong fiud in 
which the lower pivot of the verge plays, and in the mid¬ 
dle of which one pivot of the balance-wheel runs, is called 
the potence ; the wrought piece which covers the balance, 
and in which the upper pivot of the verge plays, is called 
the cock ; and the fmall fpring is called the balance-fpring, 
or regulating-Jpring. 
Balance of Trade denotes an equality between the 
value of commodities bought of foreigners, and the value 
of the native productions tranfpovted into other nations. 
It is necellary that this balance be kept in trading nations; 
and, if it cannot be made in commodities, it tmift in fpe- 
cie. By this it is, that we know whether a nation gains- 
or lofes by foreign trade, or any branch thereof; and con- 
fequently, whether that nation grows richer or poorer. 
There are various methods of arriving at this knowledge: 
x. By taking a driCt furvey of what proportion the va¬ 
lue of the commodities exported bears to thofe imported. If 
the exports exceed the imports, it is concluded that nation 
is in a gaining way; it being fuppofed that the overplus vs 
imported in bullion, and fo increafes the treafure of the 
nation. But this method is very uncertain, on account of 
the difficulty of obtaining a true ftatement either of the 
exports or imports. For, in the firft place, cuflom-houfe 
books are no rule in this cafe ; becaufe of the Imuggling 
of goods, efpecially many fine commodities of fmall bulk, 
but great value; as point-lace, ribbands, filk, jewels, fine 
linens, &c. alfo wines, brandies, teas, &c. To this may 
be added, various accidents which affeCt the value of the 
fiock either fent out or brought in ; as lodes at fea, mar¬ 
kets, bankrupts, feizures, &c. Then, as to particular 
trades, there are feveral countries to which the manufac¬ 
tures we fend out are inconfiderable, yet the goods we im¬ 
port are neceflary to the carrying on our trade in general; 
as the trade to Norway, See. for timber and naval (lores. 
So of the Eaft-India company, whofe imports much ex¬ 
ceed their exports ; yet is their trade highly advantageous 
to the nation; as we fell many of thefe imports to foreign- 
IT A L %• 
ers, and wear others, e. g. callicoes and filks, in lien of li¬ 
nens and filks from other countries, which would coil us 
more. 2. The fecond method is, by obferving the collide 
ot exchange, which, if generally above the intrinfic va¬ 
lue or par of the coins of foreign countries, (hews that wo 
not only lofe by fuch exchanges, but that we lofe by the 
general courfe of our trade. But this method is imper- 
tedt; fmee we trade to many countries, with which there 
is no fettled courfe of exchange. 3. A third way is, by 
obferving the inereafe and diminution of our coin and bul¬ 
lion. But this is the lead obvious arid palpable of any; 
for the money feems to vulgar eyes 1110ft plentiful when 
there is the lead occalion for it; and more fcarce as the- 
oscalions for employing it are more numerous and advan¬ 
tageous: by which means v.e feem to have mod money 
when we have lead trade. Thus, e.g. when the Eaft-In¬ 
dia Company have a great fale to make, money is generally 
(ound to be fcarce in London ; becaufe the occalion enga¬ 
ges people to employ quantities which they had provided 
for that purpofe. So, a high rate of intered will make 
money feem fcarce, becaufe every man, as foon as he makes 
up a fmall fum, employs it in the purchafe of dock. 4. 
The next method (which is Sir Jof. Child’s) is derived 
from the inereafe, or the diminution, of our trade and (hip¬ 
ping in general; for, if thefe-diminifh, whatever profit 
particular men may make, the nation lofes ; and viccverfa. 
He lays it down as an infallible rule, that in all parts of ■ 
the world'wherever trade is-great, and continues fo, and 
grows daily greater, and the (hipping increafes for-a fuc- 
ceffion of ages, that trade mud be nationally profitable. 
Even in the cafe of a merchant, who, by driving- a great 
trade, ruins himfelf; though he lofe, what a multitude 
are gainers by him, as the king, and cuftom-houfe officers; 
befides (htpwrights, butchers, brewers, bakers, rope ma¬ 
kers, porters, carmen, manufacturers, mariners, &c. 
To Balance, v. a. [ balancer , Fr.] To weigh in a ba- ■ 
lance, either real or figurative; to compare by the balance. - 
—If men would but balance the good and the evil of things, • 
they would not venture foul and body for dirty intered, ■ 
L'FJlrange. —To regulate the weight in a balance; to keep . 
in a date of juft proportion: 
Heav’n that hath plac’d this iff and to give law, 
To balance Europe, and her dates to awe. Waller. 
Tocounterpoife; to weigh equal to; to be equipollent; 
to counteract.—The attraction of the glafs is balanced, and - 
rendered ineffectual, by-the contrary attraction of the li¬ 
quor. Nezuton. —To regulate an account, by dating it on 
both ddes.—Judging is balancing an account, and deter¬ 
mining on which fide the odds lie. Locke. —To pay that 
which is wanting to make the two parts of an account 
equal.—Though I am very well finished, that it is not in 
my power to balance accounts with my Maker, I am re- 
foived, how-ever, to turn all my endeavours that way. Ad- 
difon.- 
To Ba lance, v. n. To hefitate; to fluctuate between 
equal motives, as a balance plays when charged with equal - 
weights.—Were the fatisfadlion of lud, and the joys of - 
heaven, offered to any one’s prefent poifeffion, he would 
not balance, or err, in the determination of his choice. Locke 
BA'I.ANGER, J\ The perfon that weighs any thing. 
Balancer, in entymology, a ltyle, or oblong body, 
ending in a protuberance or head, found under each wing 
of the two-winged (lies; thefe ferve to poife the body of 
the fly, 
BA'LANCING, 7 ". among feamen, the contracting a 
fail into a narrower compafs, in a (torm, by retrenching or 
folding up a part of it at one corner: this method isufed 
in contradidindtion to reeling, wdiich is common to all the 
principal fails; whereas balancing is peculiar tofew, fitch 
as- the mizen of a (hip, and the main fail of thofe veffels 
wherein it is extended by a boom. See Boom and Reef. 
The balance of the mizen is thus performed: the mizen 
yard is lowered a little, then a fmall portion of the fail is... 
rolled up at the peck or upper corner, and fattened to the 
yard 
