a town of Kent, in England, 36 miles from London, seated on the river Medway, a branch of which runs through it. It is a corporation, sends two members to parliament, and in 1801 contained 8000 inhabitants. Its chief trade, besides linen-thread, which is made in great perfection, is in hops; of which there are many plantations about the town, as well as orchards of cherries. The tide flows quite up to the town, and brings up barges, &c. of 50 or 60 tons. It has a fine stone bridge. One of the public gaols for the county is kept in this town; and the custody of weights and measures, renewed by the standard of King Henry VII, was committed to it by parliament, as being in the centre of Kent: for which reason the knights of the shire are always elected, and the courts of justice always held here, and generally the affizes. The archbishop of Canterbury is constant patron of this parish, which is his peculiar, and served by his curate. Here are four charity-schools, in which are above 100 boys and girls, who are visited once a-week and catechized by the minister. This is such a plentiful country, and the lands hereabouts are so rich, that London is supplied with more commodities from hence than from any market-town in England; particularly with the large bullocks that come from the Weald of Kent, which begins but six miles off; with timber, wheat, and great quantities of hops, apples, and cherries; with a fort of paving stone, eight or ten inches square, that is exceeding durable; and with the fine white land for glass-houses and stationers. There are so many gentlemen's seats within 10 miles, that it is rare to find a town of so much trade and business, so full of gentry and good company.

MAITENNE, a considerable, handsome, and populous town in France, formerly having the title of a duchy; seated on a river of the same name, in W. Long. o. 35. N. Lat. 48. 18.

MAIGNAN, EMANUEL, a religious Minim, and a philosopher of considerable eminence, was born of an ancient and noble family at Thoulose in 1601. Like the famous Pascal, he became a complete mathematician without the assistance of a teacher; and filled the professor's chair at Rome in 1636, where, at the expence expence of Cardinal Spada, he published his book De Perspectiva Horaria. He returned to Thoulouse in 1659, and was created provincial: the king, who in 1660 entertained himself with the machines and curiosities in his cell, made him offers by Cardinal Mazarine, to draw him to Paris; but he humbly desired to spend the remainder of his days in a cloister. He published a course of philosophy, 4 vols 8vo, at Thoulouse; to the second edition of which he added two treatises, one against the vortices of Descartes, and the other on the speaking trumpet invented by Sir Samuel Morland. He is said to have studied even in his sleep, his very dreams being employed in theorems, the demonstrations of which would awaken him with joy. He died in 1676.