vessels: whence it is, that some sort of trees remain evergreen the year round, by reason their barks contain more oil than can be spent and exhaled by the sun, &c. It appears that trees stripped of their bark in the time of the sap, and suffered to die, afford heavier timber, more uniformly dense, stronger, and fitter for service, than if the trees had been cut down in their healthy state.

Bark, in medicine, see Cinchona.

BARK, a small vessel with two or three triangular sails. It carries about 200 tons.

BARLEY, a sort of grain, principally used in England in the state of malt, for brewing.

Pearl barley and French barley, barley freed from the husk by a mill; the distinction between the two being, that the pearl barley is reduced to the size of small shot, all but the very heart of the barley being ground away.

Barley-corn, the least of our long measures, being the third part of an inch.

BARM, or YEAST, used in the composition of bread, to render it light. When the art of brewing became known, this ingredient, which is much better adapt ed to the purpose than any thing previously used, was discovered. It is the spume which arises on the surface of the beer in fermentation.

BAROMETER, a measurer of weight, an instrument for measuring the weight of the atmosphere, and of use in ascertaining and anticipating the changes of the weather, and also for measuring the heights of mountains, &c. The common barometer consists of a glass tube, hermetically sealed at one end, and filled with quicksilver, well purified, and purged of its air. The finger being then placed at the open

end, in immediate contact with the mercury, so as not to admit the least particle of air, the tube is inverted, and the lower end plunged into a bason of the same prepared mercury; then, upon removing the finger, the mercury in the tube will join that in the bason, and the mercurial column will rise in the tube to the height of 29 or 30 inches, according to the state of the atmosphere at that time. This is the principle upon which all barometers are constructed. Fig. 15.

BARON, at present, a peer of the lowest degree. Baron was a territorial title; and being attached to hereditary property, in its nature hereditary. In the feudal system, which was a complete aristocracy, or at best, an assemblage of petty states under one head, the barons naturally asserted their right to a share in the deliberations of a government which they undertook to support. Hence the origin of a parliament; and thus the territorial chiefs were peers of parliament. The word buron appears to be derived from varo or baro, a stout, noble person. Modern lords of manors are the remains of the original barons.

Barons of the Exchequer, the four judges to whom the administration of justice is committed in causes between the king and his subjects in matters concerning the revenue. They are not, as barons of the exchequer, peers of parliament.

Barons of cinque-ports, members of the house of commons, elected by the five ports, two for each port.

BARONET, the lowest degree of honour that is hereditary. The order was founded by king James I. at the suggestion of sir Robert Cotton, when 200

baronets were created at once: to which number it was intended they should be always restrained: but it is now enlarged at the king's pleasure, without limitation. On their institution, they were allowed to charge their coat with the arms of Ulster in Ireland, which province they were to defend against the rebels, who then harassed it extremely: to which end they were each to raise and keep up 30 soldiers at their own expence for three years together, or to pay into the exchequer a sum sufficient to do it; which, at 8d. per day per head, was 10957. So that, including fees, the expence of this dignity may be about 1200l. sterling. The baronetcies of Scotland, or of Nova Scotia in America, and of Ireland, were instituted with similar views to the advantage of the state.

BARREL, contains the eighth part of a ton of wine: of beer it contains 36 gallons.

BARRISTER, a counsellor learned in the law, admitted to plead at the bar, and there to take upon him the protection and defence of clients. They are termed juris consulti; in some countries licentiate jure; and anciently, barristers were called apprentices of the law: in latin, apprenticii juris nobiliores. In Scotland, they are called advocates.

BARROWS, in ancient topography, artificial hillocks or mounts, met with in many parts of the world, and which, on being opened, are found to be repositories of the dead. When these mounts are composed of stones, they are usually distinguished by the name of cairns.

BARUCH, (the prophecy of,) one of the apocry phal books, subjoined to the canon of the Old Testament. Baruch was the son of Neriah, who