fourth part of any thing, the fractional expression for which is $\frac{1}{4}$.

weights, is generally used for the fourth part of an hundred weight avoirdupois, or 28 lb.

Used as the name of a dry measure, quarter is the fourth part of a ton in weight, or eight bushels.

term in the manage. To work from quarter to quarter, is to ride a horse three times in upon the first of the four lines of a square; then changing your hand, to ride him three times upon the second; and so to third and fourth; always changing hands, and observing the same order.

Quarters, with respect to the parts of a horse, is used in various senses: thus the shoulders and forelegs are called the fore-quarters, and the hips and hinder-legs the hind-quarters. The quarters of a horse's foot, are the sides of the coffin, comprehending between the toe and the heel: the inner quarters, are those opposite to one another, facing from one foot to the other; and these are always weaker than the outside quarters, which lie on the external sides of the coffin. False quarters, are a cleft in the horn of a horse's hoof, extending from the coronet to the shoe. A horse is said to be quarter-calf, when for any disorder in the coffin we are obliged to cut one of the quarters of the hoof.

astronomy, the fourth part of the moon's period: thus, from the new moon to the quadrature is the first quarter; from this to full moon; the second quarter, &c.

heraldry, is applied to the parts or members of the first division of a coat that is quartered, or divided into four quarters.

Franco-Quarter, in heraldry, is a quarter single or alone; which is to possess one fourth part of the field. It makes one of the honourable ordinaries of a coat.

Quarter of a Ship, that part of the ship's side which lies towards the stern; or which is comprehended between the aftmost end of the main chains and the sides of the stern, where it is terminated by the quarter-pieces.

Although the lines by which the quarter and bow of a ship, with respect to her length, are only imaginary, yet experience appears sufficiently to have ascertained their limits: so that if we were to divide the ship's sides into five equal portions, the names of each space would be readily enough expressed. Thus the first, from the stern, would be the quarter; the second, abaft the midships; the third, the midships; the fourth, before the midships; and the fifth, the bow. Whether these divisions, which in reality are somewhat arbitrary, are altogether improper, may be readily discovered by referring to the mutual situation or approach of two adjacent vessels. The enemy boarded us on the larboard side! Whereabouts? Abaft the midships, before the midships, &c.

Plate CCLIV. fig. 1. represents a geometrical elevation of a quarter of a 74 gun ship. A the keel, with a the false keel beneath it. B the stern-post. DD the quarter-gallery, with its ballustrades and windows. EE the quarter-pieces, which limit and form the outlines of the stern. F the taffrail, or upper pieces of the stern. FG the profile of the stern, with its galleries. H the gun-ports of the lower-deck; b the gun-ports of the upper and quarter deck. I the after-part of the mizen-channel. K the wing-tranform. KG the lower counter. LB the rafter of the deck-tranform. LQ the after-part of the main-wale. DR the after-part of the channel-wale, parallel to the main-wale. SU the sheer-rail, parallel to both wales. T the rudder. AF the rake of the stern. Pi the driftrails. TU the after-part of the load water-lines; kkl the curve of the several decks corresponding to those represented in the head. See the article Hsab.

As the marks, by which vessels of different con- Quarter-Netting, a sort of net-work, extended along the rails on the upper part of a ship's quarter. In a ship of war these are always double, being supported by iron cranes, placed at proper distances. The interval is sometimes filled with cork, or old sails; but chiefly with the hammocks of the sailors, so as to form a parapet to prevent the execution of the enemy's small arms in battle.

Quarter-Sessions, a general court held quarterly by the justices of peace of each county.

Quarter-Staff, a long staff borne by foresters, park-keepers, &c., as a badge of their office; and occasionally used as a weapon.

Quarters, a name given at sea to the several stations where the officers and crew of a ship of war are posted in action. See Naval Tables, p. 5325, 95.

The number of men appointed to manage the artillery is always in proportion to the nature of the guns, and the number and condition of the ship's crew. They are, in general, as follow, when the ship is well manned, so as to fight both sides at once occasionally:

| Pounder | No. of men | Pounder | No. of men | |---------|------------|---------|------------| | To 2 | 15 | To 9 | 6 | | 3 | 13 | 6 | 5 | | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | | 5 | 9 | 3 | 3 | | 7 | 7 | | |

This number, to which is often added a boy to bring powder to every gun, may be occasionally reduced, and the guns nevertheless well managed. The number of men appointed to the small arms, on board his Majesty's ships and sloops of war, by order of the admiralty, are,

| Rate of the Ship | No. of men to the small arms | |------------------|-----------------------------| | 1st | 150 | | 2nd | 120 | | 3rd of 80 guns | 100 | | — of 70 guns | 80 | | 4th of 60 guns | 70 | | 4th of 50 guns | 60 | | 5th | 50 | | 6th | 40 | | Sloops of war | 30 |

The lieutenants are usually stationed to command the different batteries, and direct their efforts against the enemy. The master superintends the movements of the ship, and whatever relates to the sails. The boatswain, and a sufficient number of men, is stationed to repair the damaged rigging; and the gunner and carpenter, wherever necessary, according to their respective offices.

The marines are generally quartered on the poop and forecastle, or gang-way, under the direction of their officers; although, on some occasions, they assist at the great guns, particularly in distant cannonading.

Quarters, at a siege, the encampment upon one of the most principal passages round a place besieged, to prevent relief and conveyance.

Head Quarters of an Army, the place where the commander-in-chief has his quarters. The quarters of generals of horse are, if possible, in villages behind the right and left wings, and the generals of foot are of... Quebec

Quarters in the same place; but the commander in chief should be near the centre of the army.

Quarters of Refreshment, the place or places where troops that have been much harassed are put to recover themselves during some part of the campaign.

Intrenched Quarters, a place fortified with a ditch and parapet to secure a body of troops.

Winter Quarters, sometimes means the space of time included between leaving the camp and taking the field; but more properly, the places where the troops are quartered during the winter.

The first business, after the army is in winter-quarters, is to form the chain of troops to cover the quarters well: which is done either behind a river, under cover of a range of strong posts, or under the protection of fortified towns. Hussars are very useful on this service.

It should be observed, as an invariable maxim, in winter-quarters, that your regiments be disposed in brigades, to be always under the eye of a general officer; and, if possible, let the regiments be so distributed, as to be each under the command of its own chief.