CREUX, a term in sculpture, much used by the French, though not yet naturalized among us; but the want of a word of equal import in English, pleads strongly for its admission into our language.

Creux originally signifies a hollow, cavity, or pit, out of which something has been scooped or dug; hence it is used to denote that kind of sculpture and graving where the lines and figures are cut and formed within the face or plane of the plate or matter engraven on. In which sense it stands opposed to relievo; where the lines and figures are embossed, and appear prominent above the face of the matter.

CREW, the company of sailors belonging to a ship, boat, or other vessel.

The sailors that are to work and manage a ship are regulated by the number of lasts it may carry; each last making two tons. The crew of a Dutch ship, from 40 to 50 lasts, is seven sailors and a swabber; from 50 to 60 lasts, the crew consists of eight men and a swabber; and thus increases at the rate of one man for every ten lasts; so that a ship of 100 lasts has 12 men, &c. English and French crews are usually stronger than Dutch; but always in about the same proportion. In a ship of war there are several particular crews, or gangs, as the boatswain's crew, the carpenter's crew, the gunner's crew, &c.