a species of simple stones, chiefly composed of siliceous earth. See MINERALOGY Index.

Breaking of FLINTS. The art of cutting, or rather breaking flint stones into uniform figures, is by some supposed to be one of the arts now lost. That it was known formerly, appears from the ancient Bridewell at Norwich, from the gate of the Augustinian friars at Canterbury, that of St John's Abbey at Colchester, and the gate near Whitehall, Westminster. But that the art is not lost, and that the French know it, appears from the platform on the top of the royal observatory at Paris; which, instead of being leaded, is paved with flint cut or broken into regular figures.

GLASS FLINTS. For the method of manufacturing, see MINERALOGY Index.