or Lying-By, the situation of a ship, when she is retarded in her course, by arranging the sails in such a manner as to counteract each other with nearly an equal effort, and render the ship almost immoveable, with respect to her progressive motion, or head-way. A ship is usually brought-to by the main and fore-top sails, one of which is laid aback, whilst the other is full; so that the latter pushes the ship forward, whilst the former resists this impulse by forcing her astern. This is particularly practised in a general engagement, when the hostile fleets are drawn up in two lines of battle opposite each other. It is also used to wait for some other ship, either approaching or expected; or to avoid pursuing a dangerous course, especially in dark or foggy weather, &c.

LYME-REGIS a sea-port town of Dorsetshire in England, 148 miles from London. It lies near the sea, on the very borders of Devonshire, in a cavity between two rocky hills, which makes it difficult of access. It is about five furlongs long, and contains about 200 houses. As it lies on the declivity of a hill, the houses make a good show, one above another; and some of them are built of freestone, and covered with blue slate. The corporation consists of a mayor (who is justice of peace during his mayoralty and the year after, and in the third year both justice and coroner), a recorder, 15 capital burgesses, and a town-clerk. This place had formerly a very flourishing trade to France, Spain, the Straits, Newfoundland, and the West Indies; during which, the customs amounted some years to £6,000. But it stands on such a high steep rock, that the merchants are obliged to load and unload their goods at a place a quarter of a mile off, called the Cobb, originally built in the reign of Edward III., which costs a great sum to maintain, but forms such a harbour as perhaps is not to be equalled in the world, the ships being sheltered by a high thick stone wall, raised in the main sea a good way from the shore, broad enough for carriages and warehouses, and the custom-house officers have one upon it. The cellars of the low part of the town, near the sea, are however often overflowed by the spring-tides to or 12 feet. There are guns planted for defence both of the Cobb and the town, the shore here being very proper for batteries. The custom-house stands on pillars, with the corn-market under it. There is an alms-house in church-street, also Presbyterian and Anabaptist meeting-houses. The town-hall is near Broad-street. The church stands at the east end of the town on a rising ground. The market here is Friday, and there are two fairs in the year. We read, that, in 774, the Saxon King Kinwulf gave land hereabouts to the church of Sherborn, for the boiling of salt there to supply its necessities. At this place the duke of Monmouth landed in 1685. A few years ago above £2000 worth of gold and silver coin of Char. I. and II. were discovered by some labourers.