a large village in Holland, seated between the Hague and Delft, where the prince of Orange has a palace, which stands about a quarter of a mile farther. It is a very noble structure, all of hewn stone, of great extent in front, but perhaps not proportionally high. It is adorned with a marble staircase, marble floors, and a magnificent terrace. There is a good prospect of it from the canal between Delft and the Hague. This place is remarkable for a treaty concluded here in 1697 between England, Germany, Holland, France, and Spain. E. Long. 4° 20'. N. Lat. 52° 8'.
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S.
S, f, or s, the 18th letter and 14th consonant of our alphabet; the sound of which is formed by driving the breath through a narrow passage between the palate and the tongue elevated near it, together with a motion of the lower jaw and teeth towards the upper, the lips being a little way open; with such a configuration of every part of the mouth and larynx, as renders the voice somewhat fibulous and hissing. Its sound, however, varies; being strong in some words, as this, thus, &c. and soft in words which have a final e, as muse, wise, &c. It is generally doubled at the end of words, whereby they become hard and harsh, as in kife, lofe, &c. In some words it is silent, as yle, ylland, ylfcount, &c. In writing or printing, the long character f is generally used at the beginning and middle of words, but the short s at the end.
In abbreviation, S stands for *societas* or *socius*; as,
R. S. S. for *regiae societatis socius*, i.e. fellow of the royal society. In medicinal prescriptions, S. A. signifies *secundum artem*, i.e. according to the rules of art:
And in the notes of the ancients, S stands for Sextus; S. P. for *Spurius*; S. C. for *senatus consultum*; S. P. Q. R. for *senatus populi Romani*; S. S. S. for *fratum super fratum*, i.e. one layer above another alternately; S. V. B. E. E. Q. V. for *si voles bene est, ego quoque valeo*, a form used in Cicero's time, in the beginning of letters. Used as a numeral, S anciently denoted seven; in the Italian music, S signifies *falso*. And in books of navigation, S stands for south; S. E. for south-east; S. W. for south-west; S. S. E. for south-south-east; S. S. W. for south-south-west, &c.