SCREW-PROPELLERS-SEA-SICKNESS.

539

proached in practice.-If no motion were ler upon a plane passing through the communicated to the water by the screw, keel of the vessel bears a strong resemit is evident that an increase of length blance to the figure of the tails of some must be accompanied by a corresponding of the fast-swimming fishes.-There are increase of propelling force; but in fact many other forms of propellers; but we the water rapidly acquires a rotary or heli- have made mention only of the best known cal motion, which prevents any farther and most approved of them. Nor can propulsive action from the screw. Hence we say anything here of the various modes it has never been found advantageous in of propulsion by jets of water, by oscilpractice to extend the length beyond that lating paddles, or horizontal wheels, exnecessary for a single turn of the thread. cept that they have all failed in prac-In Mr. Smith's original apparatus, there tice. was but a single thread, of 8 feet pitch, which was of course the length of the propeller; but the action of this having been found unsatisfactory, this length was reduced one-half, by bringing the latter portion of the thread upon the forward part of the axis, where it formed a second and opposite thread. By this means, greater velocity was obtained, and the motion rendered more steady. In a similar way, the length of the propeller may be reduced at pleasure, different portions of the thread being transferred in their proper position and direction to the part of the axis retained. Screw-propellers of this description are very numerous. of Captain Ericsson (patented in England in July 1836) consists of a short open cy-tres in Paris, for the most part with very linder or ring, secured upon the axis by two or more radial arms or spokes, and carrying upon its outer periphery the blades, which are portions of one turn of a helix. The object of this arrangement is to get rid of those portions of the thread near the axis, which are found to diminish rather than to increase the propelling effect. -The propeller of Mr. Loper, much used upon our waters, differs from the others in the form of its blades, which are not portions of a regular helix, but present warped surfaces of a peculiar form; the object being to increase the effect of the propeller, by allowing its hinder parts to act upon the water, already put in motion by the forward parts of the screw.-In 1839, Mr. Rennie proposed a new form of propeller, the chief peculiarity of which consists in the inclined plane being wound around a cone, instead of around a cylinder. In this propeller, the pitch is not uniform, but constantly increases; the object of which is to enable the propeller to exert its action upon the water for a longer time than it otherwise would. Mr. Rennie also increased the breadth of the thread from the front to the hinder part of the screw, so that the edge moving through the water presented to it an inclined plane, and thus diminished the ineffective re- SEA-SICKNESS." * The ancient writers sistance. The projection of this propel-recommend, for this disorder, acid fruits,

SCOTLAND.* See United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, (Sup.)

SCRIBE (Augustin Eugène), the most prolific of French dramatic writers, was born at Paris, in December 1791. After receiving his preparatory education at the college of Sainte-Barbe, he commenced the study of the law; from which, however, he was soon drawn aside by his literary propensities. The facility with which he could strike off, as it were at a heat, those lively dramatic pieces, so popular in France under the name of vaudevilles, was altogether extraordinary; and the number of them which he composed, durThe propeller ing a period of more than 30 years, and which were represented at various thea

brilliant success, has earned for him a reputation far surpassing that of any preceding writer in the same department. In 1836, he was admitted a member of the French Academy, in the room of Arnault. Since then, he has almost entirely abandoned the vaudeville, and applied himself to the composition of comedies of a higher order.-M. Scribe has also written several novels or tales. More than any other of his contemporaries, he may be regarded as the literary representative of the French metropolis; and he will go down, if not to a remote posterity, at least to the next generation or two, as one of the best delineators of the manners of its inhabitants.

SCUD is the name given by seamen to loose, vapoury clouds, driven swiftly along by the winds. To scud signifies to run directly before the wind in a gale.

SCULL; an oar so short that one man can work a pair. It most generally implies an oar placed over the stern of a boat, and worked from side to side; the blade, which is turned diagonally, being always in the water.

SCURVY.* Late researches have rendered the propriety of acid diet in this dis. ease somewhat doubtful.

540

SEA-SICKNESS SÉBASTIANI.

Logroño, &c., obtain most part of their supplies of colonial and other foreign goods; and at which the greater part of the French and English manufactures destined for Madrid, and other towns in the interior, are imported. Its exports are chiefly iron and wool.

or bread and vegetables soaked in vinegar, | It is the port whence Pampeluna, Vittoria, after the stomach has been cleansed by vomiting, and not before. An old remedy, also, for sea-sickness, and a very common one among sailors, is a draught or two of sea-water, which, though disagreeable enough, generally produces the desired effect. The most effective antidote or remedy, however, consists in lying in the horizontal position. In some persons its violence is prevented by small doses of opium, or by soda-water, or saline draughts in the act of effervescence. And liniments and plasters containing opium, applied to the pit of the stomach, are also recommended, as mitigating, or even preventing, this most annoying malady.

SEAL. The seal-fishing is chiefly prosecuted from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the United States; but whalers take out seal-clubs as part of their equipment, the animal being most readily despatched by a blow on the nose; and one ship has been known to obtain a cargo of from 4000 to 5000, yielding nearly 100 tuns of oil. When taken in the spring of the year, at which time they are fattest, a fullgrown seal will yield from 8 to 12 gallons of oil, and a small one from 4 to 5 gallons.

SEBASTIANI,* while minister of Foreign Affairs during the administration of Casimir Périer, had the difficult task assigned to him of defending in the Chambers the foreign policy of the French government, which was vehemently attacked by the opposition; and on one occasion particularly, he rendered himself obnoxious to the severest animadversions on the part of his political adversaries, as well as became generally unpopular, by indiscreetly and coldly declaring that "order once more reigned in Warsaw," meaning that the Russians were again in the undisturbed occupation of that city, and that the insurrection of the Poles, for the re-establishment of their national independence, was suppressed. Partly, it is probable, on account of the disagreeable and embarrassing position in which he found himself placed, but also because of his impaired health, he resigned the department of Foreign Affairs, continuing, nevertheless, to be a member of the cabinet. In November 1832, however, he resumed the charge of that department, and retained it till the change of ministry, consequent on the death of Casimer Périer, in the following summer. But he was not, by this event, altogether deprived of the confidence of the king. He was permitted to retain the title of a minister of state, although obliged, by the condition of his health, to absent himself for a time from Paris, first at a wateringplace in France, and then in Italy. On his return, he resumed his seat in the cabinet council, which he resigned in the beginning of April 1834, when the Chamber of Deputies refused to sanction the treaty negotiated by him with the United States, by which France engaged to pay to the latter the sum of 25 millions of francs, as an indemnity for depredations committed on American commerce, during the period of her last war with England. As a compensation, in some degree, for the sacrifice SEBASTIAN* (San). This city has been which he had felt himself in honour bound almost entirely rebuilt since the year 1813; to make, M. Sébastiani was then appointed, and it is now one of the neatest and most by Louis Philippe, his ambassador to Naregularly constructed towns in the penin- ples. From Naples he was transferred to sula, presenting a favourable contrast to London, in January 1835; and remained most other Spanish cities. It has always there a little more than 5 years, constantly been a place of considerable trade, and occupied with important negotiations, rewas the seat of the Philippine Company. | lating to the settlement of the affairs o.

SEALING-WAX* was formerly made of bees-wax and resin, but since the introduction into use of shellac, the most adhesive of the gum resins, the finer kinds have been principally composed of that material, with some other substances added, to make it ignite freely, and to colour it.—The best red sealing-wax is made by | melting in a very gentle heat 48 parts of shellac, with 19 of Venice turpentine and 1 of Peruvian balsam; 32 parts of the finest cinnabar, thoroughly levigated, are then stirred in, and the whole well mixed. When it has cooled down, it is either rolled into sticks, or shaped in brass moulds. The best black sealing-wax is a mixture of 60 parts of shellac and 30 of ivory-black; t may be perfumed with a little Peru balsam or styrax. The great seals applied, in tin boxes, to certain legal documents, are made of a mixture of 15 parts of Venice turpentine, 5 of olive oil, and 8 of wax melted together, and coloured with red lead.

SÉBASTIANI-SENEGAL.

of whom 10,269 were slaves. They are exceedingly unhealthful; but a considerable trade is carried on in gum senegal, raw hides, gold, wax, elephants' teeth, &c., which are exchanged for linen and cotton fabrics, brandy, wines, liqueurs, and other provisions. The total value of the exports, in 1836, was 4,051,263 francs, and of the imports 6,961,894 francs.-Senegal is governed by a superior_naval officer, who resides at St. Louis: Goree is the seat of a lieutenant-governor. There appears to be neither a representative assembly, nor a colonial council.

SENNAAR.* The negro kingdom of Sennaar has been subjected by the viceroy of Egypt, and is ruled by a governor of his appointment residing at Kartoum, a town containing about 15,000 inhabitants. Sennaar, the former capital, has very much declined from its former importance.

complied with, on occasion of the formal constitution of Prince Milosch as the delegated sovereign over his countrymen. It was then settled that the Servians should, in future, pay to the Porte an annual tribute of 2,300,000 Turkish piastres. They were to be independent in all other respects; and nowhere else but in Belgrade were the Turks to enjoy equal privileges with them. After organizing the different departments of the public administration, Prince Milosch founded, in 1835, a gymnasium at Kragujewacz, and employed properly qualified persons to explore the country, with a view to ascertain its mineral resources. A constitution was adopted by a popular assembly, convened for the purpose, on the 10th of February of the same year, which proved to be of so liberal a character as to meet with the disapprobation of the Russian and Austrian goSENNA; a well-known medicine, com- vernments, as well as of the sultan. Anposed of the leaflets, and occasionally of other and more aristocratical one was, in the leaf-stalks and pods, of several species consequence, substituted for it in 1838. of cassia. It is cultivated chiefly in Ara- The popular representative bodies, which bia, Upper Egypt, and Syria; and is often had been originally proposed, were relargely mixed with the leaves of the Cy-placed by a senate, on which was conferred nanchum oleafolium, or Argel, which are thick, and not ribbed like the genuine senna leaves. They have a nauseous, mucilaginous, bitter taste, and yield a pale brownish-green infusion. The true senna leaves are distinctly ribbed, thin, generally pointed, and when chewed have a peculiar nauseous flavour, and yield a dark-brown infusion.

SENNEFELDER* died at Munich, in February 1834.

SERF, derived from the Latin servus, is the French name for the lowest class of slaves in the dark ages; those who were incapable of holding property were attached to the land, and liable to feudal services of the lowest description. They were, in short, the same class of persons who, in England, were styled villains.

SERVIA. In the war between Russia and Turkey, in the years 1828 and 1829, both of the belligerents summoned the Servians to arm in their cause. Prince Milosch, however, observed a strict neutrality between them, during the whole of the contest; and in the treaty of Adrianople, it was stipulated in favour of the Servians, that certain districts which had been separated from the province in 1813, should be reannexed to it, and the various privileges bestowed upon them by the treaties of Bucharest and Ackerman were confirmed to them. The Porte hesitated for some ime to fulfil these conditions. It was, ineed, only in 1834 that they were fully

the right of voting the taxes, of fixing the pay of the troops and the salaries of all persons in the employment of the government, of discussing and giving or refusing their sanction to the measures brought forward by the executive branch of the government, and of preferring articles of accusation against the ministers. It was easy to foresee that, in the event of any collision between the prince and a body invested with all these powers, the latter, though appointed (for life) by the former, would almost of necessity triumph. This was what accordingly happened in 1839. Prince Milosch was forced to abdicate. The senate permitted him to retire into Wallachia, and proclaimed, in his stead, his son Milan Obrenowitsch. But this prince dying a few weeks afterwards, a younger son, Michael Obrenowich, who had accompanied his father in his exile, was appointed to succeed him. Milosch, who had protested against the force that had been practised against him by the senate, at first_refused to allow his son to depart from Bucharest, where he was residing, but was at length obliged to yield to the positive commands of the Porte. Michael proceeded first to Constantinople, and thence to Belgrade, where he arrived in March 1840. In the mean time, the leaders of the party who had deposed Prince Milosch, and who had hoped to govern in the name of his son, had found their mistake, and set about plotting an

SERVIA-SHEERNESS.