in Astronomy, the withdrawing of a star or planet, or its sinking below the horizon. Astronomers and poets make three different kinds of setting of the stars, viz. the Cosmical, Acronyical, and Heliacal. See these articles.

**Setting**, in the sea language. To set the land or the sun by the compass, is to observe how the land bears on any point of the compass, or on what point of the compass the sun is. Also when two ships sail in sight of one another, to mark on what point the chafed bears, is termed setting the chase by the compass.

**Setting**, among sportsmen, a term used to express the manner of taking partridges by means of a dog peculiarly trained to that purpose. See Shooting.

**Act of Settlement**, in British history, a name given to the statute 12 and 13 Will. III. cap. 2, whereby the crown was limited to his present majesty's illustrious house; and some new provisions were added, at the same fortunate era, for better securing our religion, laws, and liberties; which the statute declares to be the birthright of the people of England, according to the ancient doctrine of the common law.

**Seven Stars**, a common denomination given to the cluster of stars in the neck of the sign Taurus, the bull; properly called the Pleiades. They are so called from their number seven, which appear to the naked eye, though some eyes can discover only six of them; but by the aid of telescopes there appears to be a great multitude of them.

**Seventh**, in Music, an interval called by the Greeks heptachordon. See Interval.

**Severance**, in Law, the flinging or severing two or more that join or are joined in the same writ or action. Severance tion. As if two join in a writ, de libertate probanda, and the one be afterwards nonfitted; here severance is permitted, so as notwithstanding the nonfuit of the one, the other may severally proceed.

There is also severance of the tenants in assise; when one, two, or more diffees appear upon the writ, and not the other. And severance in debt, where two executors are named plaintiffs, and the one refuses to prosecute. We also meet with severance of fummons, severance in attaints, &c. An estate in joint tenancy may be severed and destroyed by destroying any of its unities.

1. That of time, which respects only the original commencement of the joint estate, cannot indeed (being now part) be affected by any subsequent transaction. But,

2. The joint-tenants estate may be destroyed without any alienation, by merely diluting their petition. 3. The jointure may be destroyed, by destroying the unity of title. And, 4. By destroying the unity of interest.