navigation, the general arrange- ment or trim of a ship's sails when she endeavours to make a progress in the nearest direction possible to-

wards that point of the compass from which the wind blows. In this manner of sailing, the keel commonly makes an angle of six points with the line of the wind; but flops and some other small vessels are said to sail almost a point nearer. All vessels, however, are sup- posed to make nearly a point of lee-way when close- hauled, even when they have the advantage of a good falling breeze and smooth water. The angle of lee- way, however, increases in proportion to the increase of the wind and sea. In this disposition of the sails, they are all extended sideways on the ship, so that the wind, as it crosses the ship obliquely toward the stern from forwards, may fill their cavities. But as the current of winds also enters the sails in an oblique direction, the effort of it to make the ship advance is considerably diminished: she will therefore make the least progress when sailing in this manner. The ship is said to be close-hauled, because at this time her tack, or lower corners of the principal sails, are drawn close down to her side to windward, the sheets hauled close-aft, and all the bow-lines drawn to their greatest extension to keep the sails steady.

Close-Quarters, certain strong barriers of wood, stretching across a merchant-ship in several places. They are used as places of retreat when a ship is boarded by her adversary, and are therefore fitted with several small loop-holes through which to fire the small arms, and thereby annoy the enemy and defend themselves. They are likewise furnished with several caissons called powder-chests, which are fixed upon the deck, and filled with powder, old-nails, &c. and may be fired at any time from the close-quarters upon the boarders.

We have known an English merchant-ship of 16 Falconer's guns, and properly fitted with close-quarters, defeat Dist. of the the united efforts of three French privateers who boarded her in the last war, after having engaged at some distance nearly a day and a half, with very few intervals of rest. Two of the cruisers were equipped with twelve guns each, and the other with eight. The French sailors were, after boarding, so much exposed to continued fire of musquetry and coehorns charged with grenades, that a dreadful scene of carnage en- fused, in which the decks were soon covered with the dead bodies of the enemy, several of which the board- ers, in their hurry to escape, had left behind.