in a general sense, signifies the defense or preservation of anything; the act of observing what passes, in order to prevent surprise; or the care, precaution, and attention, we make use of to prevent anything from happening contrary to our intentions or inclinations.

in the military art, is a duty performed by a body of men, to secure an army or place from being surprised by an enemy. In garrison the guards are relieved every day; hence it comes that every soldier mounts guard once every three or four days in time of peace, and much oftener in time of war. See Honours.

Advanced Guard, is a party of either horse or foot, that marches before a more considerable body, to give notice of any approaching danger. These guards are either made stronger or weaker, according to situation, the danger to be apprehended from the enemy, or the nature of the country.

Van Guard. See Advanced Guard.

Artillery Guard, is a detachment from the army to secure the artillery when in the field. Their corps de garde is in the front of the artillery park, and their sentries dispersed round the same. This is generally a 48-hours guard; and, upon a march, this guard marches in the front and rear of the artillery, and must be sure to leave nothing behind: if a gun or waggon breaks down, the officer that commands the guard is to leave a sufficient number of men to assist the gunners and matroffs in getting it up again.

Artillery Quarter-Guard, is frequently a non-commissioned officer's guard from the royal regiment of artillery, whose corps de garde is always in the front of their encampment.

Artillery Rear-Guard, consists in a corporal and six men, posted in the rear of the park.

Corps de Garde, are soldiers entrusted with the guard of a post, under the command of one or more officers. This word also signifies the place where the guard mounts.

Grand Guard; three or four squadrons of horse, commanded by a field-officer, posted at about a mile or a mile and a half from the camp, on the right and left wings, towards the enemy, for the better security of the camp.

Forage Guard, a detachment sent out to secure the foragers, and who are posted at all places, where either the enemy's party may come to disturb the foragers, or where they may be spread too near the enemy, so as to be in danger of being taken. This guard consists both of horse and foot, and must remain on their posts till the foragers are all come off the ground.

Main Guard, is that from which all other guards are detached. Those who are for mounting guard assemble at their respective captain's quarters, and march from thence to the parade in good order; where, after the whole guard is drawn up, the small guards are detached to their respective posts: then the subalterns throw lots for their guards, who are all under the command of the captain of the main guard. This guard mounts in garrison at different hours, according as the governor pleases.

Piquet Guard, a good number of horse and foot, always in readiness in case of an alarm: the horses are generally saddled all the time, and the riders booted.

The foot draw up at the head of the battalion, frequently at the beating of the tat-too; but afterwards return to their tents, where they hold themselves in readiness to march upon any sudden alarm. This guard is to make resistance in case of an attack, until the army can get ready.

Baggage Guard, is always an officer's guard, who has the care of the baggage on a march. The waggons should be numbered by companies, and follow one another regularly: vigilance and attention in the passage of hollow ways, woods, and thickets, must be strictly observed by this guard.

Quarter Guard, is a small guard commanded by a subaltern officer, posted in the front of each battalion, at 222 feet before the front of the regiment.

Rear Guard, that party of the army which brings up the rear on a march, generally composed of all the old grand guards of the camp. The rear-guard of a part is frequently eight or ten horse, about 500 paces behind the party. Hence the advance-guard going out upon a party, form the rear-guard in their retreat.

Rear Guard, is also a corporal's guard placed in the rear of a regiment, to keep good order in that part of the camp.

Standard Guard, a small guard under a corporal, out of each regiment of horse, who mount on foot in the front of each regiment, at the distance of 20 feet from the streets, opposite the main street.

Trench Guard, only mounts in the time of a siege, and sometimes consists of three, four, or five battalions, according to the importance of the siege. This guard must oppose the besieged when they fall out, protect the workmen, &c.

Provost Guard, is always an officer's guard that attends the provost in his rounds, either to prevent defection, marauding, rioting, &c. See Provost.

fencing, implies a posture proper to defend the body from the sword of the antagonist.

Ordinary Guards, such as are fixed during the campaign, and relieved daily.

Extraordinary Guards, or detachments, which are only commanded on particular occasions, either for the further security of the camp, to cover the foragers, or for convoys, escorts, or expeditions.

Guards, also imply the troops kept to guard the king's person, and consist both of horse and foot.

Horse Guards, in England, are gentlemen chosen for their bravery, to be entrusted with the guard of the king's person; and were divided into four troops, called the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th troop of horse-guards. The first troop was raised in the year 1665, and the command command given to Lord Gerard; the second in 1661, and the command given to Sir Philip Howard; the third in 1693, and the command given to Earl Feversham; the fourth in 1702, and the command given to Earl Newburgh. Each troop had one colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, one cornet and major, one guidon and major, four exempts and captains, four brigadiers and lieutenants, one adjutant, four sub-brigadiers and cornets, and 60 private men. But the four troops are now turned into two regiments of life-guards.

Horse-Grenadier Guards, are divided into two troops called the 1st and 2nd troops of horse-grenadier guards. The first troop was raised in 1693, and the command given to Lieutenant-general Cholmondeley; the second in 1702, and the command given to Lord Forbes. Each troop has one colonel, lieutenant-colonel, one guidon or major, three exempts and captains, three lieutenants, one adjutant, three cornets, and 60 private men.

Yeomen of the Guard, first raised by Henry VII. in the year 1485. They are a kind of pompous footguards to the king's person; and are generally called by a nickname the Beef-Eaters. They were anciently 250 men of the first rank under gentry; and of larger stature than ordinary, each being required to be six feet high. At present there are but 100 in constant duty, and 70 more not on duty; and when any one of the 100 dies, his place is supplied out of the 70. They go drested after the manner of King Henry VIII.'s time. Their first commander or captain was the earl of Oxford, and their pay is 2s. 6d. per day.

Foot Guards, are regiments of foot appointed for the guard of his majesty and his palace. There are three regiments of them, called the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd regiments of foot-guards. They were raised in the year 1660; and the command of the first given to Colonel Ruffell, that of the second to General Monk, and the third to the earl of Linlithgow. The first regiment is at present commanded by one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, three majors, 23 captains, one captain-lieutenant, 31 lieutenants, and 24 ensigns; and contains three battalions. The second regiment has one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, 14 captains, one captain-lieutenant, 18 lieutenants, 16 ensigns, and contains only two battalions. The third regiment is the same as the second.

The French Guards are divided into those within, and those without the palace.—The first are the gardes du corps, or body-guards; which consist of four companies, the first of which companies was anciently Scots. See Scots Guards, infra.

The guards without are the Gens d'Armes, light horse, musqueteers, and two other regiments, the one of which is French and the other Swiss.

New arrangements, however, have taken place in this department as well as others since the late revolution.

Scots Guards, a celebrated band, which formed the first company of the ancient gardes du corps of France.

It happened from the ancient intercourse between France and Scotland, that the natives of the latter kingdom had often distinguished themselves in the service of the former. On this foundation the company of Scots guards, and the company of Scots gendarmes, were instituted.—Both of them owed their institution to Charles VII. of France, by whom the first standing army in Europe was formed, anno 1454; and their fates cannot but be interesting to Scotchmen. See Gendarmes.

Valour, honour, and fidelity, must have been very conspicuous features of the national character of the Scots, when so great and civilized a people as the French could be induced to choose a body of them, foreigners as they were, for guarding the persons of their sovereigns.—Of the particular occasion and reasons of this predilection we have a recital by Louis XII., a succeeding monarch. After setting forth the services which the Scots had performed for Charles VII. in expelling the English out of France, and reducing the kingdom to his obedience, he adds—"Since which His Majesty, for reduction, and for the service of the Scots upon that occasion, and for the great loyalty and virtue which he found in them, he selected 200 of them for the guard after the manner of his person, of whom he made an hundred men at quarters, and an hundred life-guards: And the hundred that princes men at arms are the hundred lances of our ancient ordinances; and the life-guard men are those of our guard who still are near and about our person."—As to their fidelity in this honourable station, the historian speaking of Scotland says, "The French have to ancient a friendship and alliance with the Scots, that of 400 men appointed for the king's life-guard, there are an hundred of the said nation who are the nearest to his person, and in the night keep the keys of the apartment where he sleeps. There are, moreover, an hundred complete lances and two hundred yeomen of the said nation, besides several that are dispersed through the companies: And for so long a time as they have served in France, never hath there been one of them found that hath committed or done any fault against the kings or their state; and they make use of them as of their own subjects."

The ancient rights and privileges of the Scottish life-guards were very honourable; especially of the twenty-four first. The author of the Ancient Alliance says, "On high holidays, at the ceremony of the royal touch, the election of knights of the king's order, the reception of extraordinary ambassadors, and the public entries of cities, there must be six of their number next to the king's person, three on each side; and the body of the king must be carried by these only, wherefoeever ceremony requires. They have the keeping of the keys of the king's lodging at night, the keeping of the chair of the chapel, the keeping the boats where the king passes the rivers; and they have the honour of bearing the white silk fringe in their arms, which in France is the coronation colour. The keys of all the cities where the king makes his entry are given to their captain in waiting or out of waiting.—He has the privilege, in waiting or out of waiting, at ceremonies, such as coronations, marriages, and funerals of the kings, and at the baptism and marriage of their children, to take duty upon him. The coronation robe belongs to him; and this company, by the death or change of a captain, never changes its rank, as do the three others."

This company's first commander, who is recorded as a person of great valour and military accomplishments, was Robert Patilloch, a native of Dundee. and the band, ever ardent to distinguish itself, continued in great reputation till the year 1578. From that period, the Scots guards were let's attended to, and their privileges came to be invaded. In the year 1612, they remonstrated to Louis XIII. on the subject of the injustice they had suffered, and set before him the services they had rendered to the crown of France. Attempts were made to re-establish them on their ancient foundation; but no negotiation for this purpose was effectual. The troops of France grew jealous of the honours paid them: the death of Francis II., and the return of Mary to Scotland, at a time when they had much to hope, were unfortunate circumstances to them: the change of religion in Scotland was an additional blow; and the accession of James VI. to the throne of England diminished altogether the interests of France and Scotland. The Scots guards of France had therefore, latterly, no connection with Scotland but the name.

**Guard-Boat**, a boat appointed to row the rounds amongst the ships of war which are laid up in any harbour, &c. to observe that their officers keep a good looking-out, calling to the guard-boat as she passes, and not suffering her crew to come on board, without having previously communicated the watch-word of the night.

**Guard-Ship**, a vessel of war appointed to superintend the marine affairs in a harbour or river, and to see that the ships which are not commissioned have their proper watchword kept duly, by sending her guard-boats around them every night. She is also to receive seamen who are impressed in the time of war.

**Guardian**, in Law, a person who has the charge of any thing; but more commonly it signifies one who has the custody and education of such persons as have not sufficient discretion to take care of themselves and their own affairs, as children and idiots.

Their business is to take the profits of the minor's lands to his use, and to account for the same: they ought to sell all moveables within a reasonable time, and to convert them into land or money, except the minor is near of age, and may want such things himself; and they are to pay interest for the money in their hands that might have been so placed out; in which case it will be presumed that the guardians made use of it themselves. They are to sustain the lands of the heir, without making destruction of any thing thereon, and to keep it safely for him: if they commit waste on the lands, it is a forfeiture of the guardianship, 3 Edw. I. And where persons, as guardians, hold over any land, without the consent of the person who is next entitled, they shall be adjudged trespassers, and shall be accountable; 6 Ann. cap. xviii.

**Guardian, or Warden, of the Cinque ports**, is an officer who has the jurisdiction of the cinque-ports, with all the power that the admiral of England has in other places.

Camden relates, that the Romans, after they had settled themselves and their empire in our island, appointed a magistrate, or governor, over the east parts where the Cinque-ports lie, with the title of comes littoris Saxonici per Britanniam; having another, who bore the like title, on the opposite side of the sea. Their business was to strengthen the sea coast with munition, against the outrages and robberies of the barbarians; Guardian and that antiquity takes our warden of the Cinque-ports to have been erected in imitation thereof. The wardenship is a place of value, supposed worth 7000l. per annum.

**Guardian of the Spiritualities**, the person to whom the spiritual jurisdiction of any diocese is committed, during the time the see is vacant. A guardian of the spiritualities may likewise be either such in law, as the archbishop is of any diocese within his province; or by delegation, as he whom the archbishop or vicar-general for the time appoints. Any such guardian has power to hold courts, grant licences, dispensations, probates of wills, &c.

**Guarea**, a genus of plants belonging to the octandria clas. See Botany Index.

**Guarini, Battista**, a celebrated Italian poet, born at Ferrara in 1538. He was great-grandson to Guarino of Verona, and was secretary to Alphonso duke of Ferrara, who intrusted him with several important commissions. After the death of that prince, he was successively secretary to Vincenzo de Gonzaga, to Ferdinand de Medicis grand duke of Tuscany, and to Francis Maria de Feltri duke of Urbino. But the only advantages he reaped under these various masters were great encomiums on his wit and compositions. He was well acquainted with polite literature; and acquired immortal reputation by his Italian poems, especially by his *Pafior Fido*, the most known and admired of all his works, and of which there have been innumerable editions and translations. He died in 1612.

**Guardia, or Guarda**, a town of Portugal, in the province of Beira, with a bishop's see. It contains about 2300 inhabitants, is fortified both by art and nature, and has a stately cathedral. W. Long. 6° 37'. N. Lat. 40° 20'.

**Guardia-Alferez**, a town of Italy, in the kingdom of Naples, and in the Contado di Molife, with a bishop's see. E. Long. 14° 56'. N. Lat. 41° 39'.

**Guargala, or Guerguela**, a town of Africa, and capital of a small kingdom of the same name, in Biledulgerid, to the south of Mount Atlas. E. Long. 9° 55'. N. Lat. 28° 0'.

**Guariba**, the name of a species of monkey. See Simia, Mammalia Index.

**Guastalla**, a strong town of Italy, in the duchy of Mantua, with the title of a duchy, remarkable for a battle between the French and Imperialists in 1734. It was ceded to the duke of Parma in 1748, by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. It is seated near the river Po, in E. Long. 10° 38'. N. Lat. 44° 55'.

**Guatimala**, the audience and province of, in New Spain, is above 750 miles in length, and 450 in breadth. It is bounded on the west by Soconusco, on the north by Verapax and Honduras, on the east by Nicaragua, and on the south by the South sea. It abounds in chocolate, which they make use of instead of money. It has 12 provinces under it; and the native Americans, under the dominions of Spain, profess Christianity, mixed indeed with many of their own superstitions. There is a great chain of high mountains, which runs across it from east to west, and it is subject to earthquakes and storms. It is, however, very fertile; and produces besides chocolate, great quantities Guatemala ties of cochineal and cotton, indigo, woad, balsam, and honey.

Guatemala, St Jago de, is the capital of the above audience, with a bishop's fee, and an university. It carries on a great trade, especially in chocolate. W. Long. 90° 30'. N. Lat. 14° 0'.

St Jago de Guatemala was almost ruined in 1541, by a storm and an eruption from the volcanic mountain Guatemala. It was afterwards rebuilt at a good distance from this mountain. But in 1773, it was again destroyed by a terrible earthquake. The town then contained 60,000 inhabitants; but no traces of it now remain; 8000 persons perished by this earthquake, and the loss has been estimated at 15 millions sterling.