a salt water, which, being boiled, turns into salt. See SALT.

Brine taken out of brine-pits, or brine-pans, used by some for curing or pickling of fish, without boiling the same into salt; and rock-salt, without refining it into white salt; are prohibited by 1 Ann. cap. xx.

BRINE-Springs, are fountains which flow with salt-water instead of fresh. Of these there are a good number in South Britain, but though not peculiar to this island, are far from being common in the countries on the continent. There are some of them in several different counties; and perhaps, on a due search, others might be discovered*. The most remarkable of these already known are, one at East-Chemnock in Somersetshire, about 20 miles from the sea. Another at Leamington in Warwickshire, very near the river Lurn; which, however, is but weak. Such a spring likewise runs into the river Cherwell in Oxfordshire, and several more in Westmoreland and Yorkshire; but as they are but poor, and the fuel in most of those countries scarce and dear, no salt is prepared from them. At Barrowdale near Grange, three miles from Keswick in Cumberland, a pretty strong spring rises in a level near a moss, 16 gallons of the water of which yield one of pure salt; which is the more remarkable, when it is considered that the same quantity of salt cannot be obtained from less than 22 gallons of the waters of the German ocean. At a place called Salt-water Haugh near Butterby in the bishopric of Durham there are a multitude of salt springs which rise in the middle of the river Wear, for the space of about 40 yards in length, and 10 in breadth; but particularly one out of a rock, which is so strong that in a hot summer's day the surface will be covered with a pure white salt. At Welton, in Staffordshire, there are brine pits which afford about a ninth part of very fine white salt. There are others at Enfon, St Thomas, and in the parish of Ingletre, but so weak that they are not wrought; though it is believed, that by boring stronger springs might be found in the neighbourhood. In Lancashire there are several salt springs, but (if we except that at Barton, which is as rich as the spring at Norwich) by no means so famous as those of Cheshire, called in general by the name of the wicker. Nampt- wich on the river Weever, has a noble spring not far from the river, which is so rich as to yield one fifth part of pure white salt. At six miles distance stands Northwich, at the confluence of the Weever and the Dan; where the brine is still richer, since they obtain five ounces of salt from 16 of water. There are, even at this day, some visible remains of a Roman causeway between these two towns. The inhabitants of Wales, who, before that country was incorporated into England, were supplied chiefly, if not solely, with that necessary commodity from these two towns, called the former Hellath Wen, and the latter Hellath Du; i.e., the white and black salt pit. In 1670, a rock of salt was discovered at a small distance from Northwich, which has been brought to a great depth, and to a vast extent, so as to be justly deemed one of the greatest curiosities in England; and it is highly probable, that there is an immense body of fossil salt in the bowels of the earth, under this whole county; since, upon boring, brine-pits have been found in many places on both sides the river Weever. This is the more likely, since, at Middlewich, which stands at the confluence of the Croke and the Dan, there are salt-springs with a fresh brook running between them. The brines from these pits are of unequal strength; but, when mixed, they commonly obtain four ounces of salt from a pound of brine. Experience shows, that in these springs the water is strongest nearest the bottom, richer in dry weather than in wet, and when long drawn than when first wrought. But there are no rules in respect to other salt-springs, since in those of Franche Comte the brine is strongest in wet weather. There are several other bodies dissolved in these brines besides salt; in some a sulphurous substance, which sublimes as the brine heats; a sort of dirty ochre which discolors the brine, but, if suffered to stand, speedily subsides; and in most brines a calcareous, or rather felsic earth, which settles to the bottom of the pans.

To BRING-TO, in navigation, to check the course of a ship when she is advancing, by arranging the sails in such a manner, that they shall counteract each other, and prevent her either from retreating or moving forward. In this situation the ship is said to lie by, or lie to; having, according to the sea-phrase, some of her sails aback, to oppose the force of those which are full; or having them otherwise shortened by being furled, or hauled up in the brails.