same with a sailor or seaman. See these articles.

Method of Preserving the Health of Mariners. See Seamen.

Mariner's Compass. See Compass.

The invention of the compass is usually ascribed to Flavio da Melis, or Flavio Gioia, a Neapolitan, about the year 1302; and hence it is, that the territory of Principato, which makes part of the kingdom of Naples, where he was born, has a compass for its arms. Others say that Marcus Paulus, a Venetian, making a journey to China, brought back the invention with him in 1260. What confirms this conjecture is, that at first they used the compass in the same manner as the Chinese still do; i.e., they let it float on a little piece of cork, instead of suspending it on a pivot. It is added, that their emperor Chiningus, a celebrated astrologer, had a knowledge of it 1120 years before Christ. The Chinese only divide their compass into 24 points. Fauchette relates some verses of Guyot de Provence, who lived in France about the year 1200, which seem to make mention of the compass under the name of marinette, or mariner's stone; which shew it to have been used in France near 100 years before either the Melisite or Venetian. The French even lay claim to the invention, from the fleur de lys wherewith all nations still distinguish the north point of the card. With as much reason Dr Wallis ascribes it to the English, from its name compass, by which name most nations call it, and which he observes is used in many parts of England to signify a circle.

The compass hath sometimes been observed to be disturbed by the electricity of its glass-cover; and this from so slight an application of the finger as was barely necessary to wipe off a little dust. The same glass, rubbed a little more with the finger, a bit of muslin, or paper, would attract either end of the needle, so as to hold it to the glass for several minutes, far out of the due direction, according to that part of the glass which was most excited. And when the needle, after adhering to the glass, has dropped loose, and made vibrations, those would not be affected as usual by that point where the needle should rest; but would either be made all on one side, or be very unequally divided, by means of some remains of electrical virtue in that part of the glass which had attracted the needle, until at length, after 15 minutes or more, all the electricity being discharged, the magnetic power took place. The remedy for this inconvenience is to moisten the surface of the glass: a wet finger will do it immediately and effectually. The mariner's compass with a chart is much less dangerously moved than the common compass with a bare needle: and the deeper, or farther distant, the needle hangs below the glass, the less disturbance it is likely to receive.

St Marino, a small town and republic of Italy, situated in E. Long. 13° 44'. N. Lat. 42° 21'. This small republic consists only of a mountain, and a few hillocks, that lie scattered about the bottom of it. The number of the inhabitants is about 5000. The mountain yields good wine, but they have no other than rain or snow water. The founder of the republic was a Dalmatian, and a mason, who upwards of 1300 years ago turned hermit, and retired to this mountain. Here his devotion and austerity, and, in consequence of that, his reputation for sanctity, were such, that the princes of the country made him a present of the mountain, on which many, out of veneration for the saint, soon after took up their abode. Thus was the foundation laid of the town and republic, which still bears the name of the saint. The town stands on the top of the mountain, and there is only one way by which it can be come at. In the whole territory are only three castles, three convents, and five churches. The largest of the churches is dedicated to the saint, and contains his ashes and his statue. He is looked upon as the greatest saint, next to the blessed Virgin; and to speak disrespectfully of him is accounted blasphemy, and punished. nished as such. The republic is under the protection of the pope. All that are capable of bearing arms are exercised, and ready at a minute's call. In the ordinary course of government, the administration is in the hands of the council of 60; which, notwithstanding its name, consists only of 40; one half of the members of which are of the noble families, and the other of the plebeian: on extraordinary occasions, however, the arengo, in which every house has its representative, is called together. The two principal officers are the capitaneos, who are chosen every half year; and next to them is the commissary, who judges in civil and criminal matters, and is joined in commission with the capitaneos; both he and the physician must be foreigners, and both have their salaries out of the public stock. When any person, after due summons, neglects to attend at the council according to their statute-book, he is to be fined in about a penny English; and when an ambassador is to be sent to any foreign state, he is to be allowed about 1s. a day.