ROBERT, an old English poet of the 14th century, and one of the first disciples of Wickliffe the reformer. He is said to have been born in Shropshire. He wrote The visions of Pierce Plowman; a piece which abounds with imagination and humour, though dressed to great disadvantage in very uncouth verifications. LANGTON, Stephen, was born in England, but educated at Paris, and was greatly esteemed for his learning by the king and nobility of France. He was chancellor of Paris, a cardinal of Rome, and in the reign of King John was made archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Innocent III., in opposition both to the monks of Canterbury and to the king. Langton was one of the most illustrious men of his age for learning; and continued archbishop 22 years, dying in 1228. A catalogue of his books is given by Bale and Tanner.

LANGUAGE, in the proper sense of the word, signifies the expression of our ideas and their various relations by certain articulate sounds, which are used as the signs of those ideas and relations. By articulate sounds are meant those modulations of simple voice, or of sound emitted from the thorax, which are formed by means of the mouth and its several organs—the teeth, the tongue, the lips and the palate. In a more general sense of the word, language is sometimes used to denote all sounds by which animals of any kind express their particular feelings and impulses in a manner that is intelligible to their own species.

Nature has endowed every animal with powers sufficient to make known all those of its sensations and desires, with which it is necessary, for the preservation of the individual or the continuance of the kind, that others of the same species should be acquainted. For this purpose, the organs of all vocal animals are so formed, as, upon any particular impulse, to utter sounds, of which those of the same species intuitively know the meaning. The hummings of the hen is instantly obeyed by the whole brood of chickens; and in many others of the irrational tribes a similar mode of communication may be observed between the parents and the offspring, and between one animal and its customary associate. But it is not among animals of the same species only that these instinctive sounds are mutually understood. It is as necessary for animals to know the Language voices of their enemies as the voice of their friends; and in what regard that, being encompassed by many and powerful nations, they preferred themselves, not so much by submission, as by dint of arms and encountering dangers, (Tacitus).

LANGPORT, a town in Somersetshire, 132 miles from London, is a well frequented town on the Parrot, between Bridgewater and Crewkerne. Here are lighters which are constantly employed in carrying coals, &c., from Bridgewater. Eels are taken in vast plenty out of the holes of the banks of the river in frothy weather.

LANGREL SHOT, at sea; that consisting of two bars of iron joined by a chain or flackle, and having half a ball of iron fixed on each end; by means of which apparatus it does great execution among the enemy's rigging.

LANGRES, an ancient and considerable town of France, in Champagne, with a bishop's see. The cutlery wares made here are in high esteem. It is seated on a mountain near the river Marne, in E. Long. 4° 24'. N. Lat. 47° 52'.

an island of Denmark in the Baltic sea, in the strait called the great belt, and between Zealand, Seland, and Fynia. It produces plenty of corn, and the principal town is Rucopping. E. Long. 11° 10'. N. Lat. 55° 0'.