an appellation given to whatever belongs to a whole genus.

GENERAL Assembly. See Assembly.

GENERAL Charge, in Law. See Change to enter Heir.

GENERAL Terms, among logicians, those which are made the signs of general ideas. See Logic and Metaphysics.

GENERAL Warrant. See Warrant.

GENERAL of an Army, in the art of War, he who commands in chief. See the article War, where his office and duties are particularly explained.

GENERAL of the Artillery. See Ordnance.

GENERAL of Horse, and GENERAL of Foot, are posts next under the general of the army, and these have upon all occasions an absolute authority over all the horse and foot in the army.

Adjutant GENERAL, one who attends the general, assists in council, and carries the general's orders to the army. He distributes the daily orders to the majors of brigade. He is likewise charged with the general detail of the duty of the army. The majors of brigade send every morning to the adjutant general an exact return, by battalion and company, of the men of his brigade. In a day of battle the adjutant general sees the infantry drawn up; after which, he places himself by the general, to receive any orders which may regard the corps of which he has the detail. In a siege, he orders the number of workmen demanded, and signs the warrant for their payment. He receives the guards of the trenches at their rendezvous, and examines their condition; he gives and signs all orders for parties. He has an orderly sergeant from each brigade of infantry in the line, to carry such orders as he may have occasion to send from the general.

Lieutenant GENERAL, is the next in command after the general; and provided he should die or be killed, the order is, that the oldest lieutenant general shall take the command. This office is the first military dignity after that of general. One part of their function is, to assist the general with their counsel: they ought therefore, if possible, to possess the same qualities with the general himself; and the more, as they often command armies in chief.

The number of lieutenant generals has been multiplied of late in Europe, in proportion as the armies have become numerous. They serve either in the field, or in sieges, according to the dates of their commissions. In battle, the oldest commands the right wing of the army, the second the left wing, the third the centre, General, the fourth the right wing of the second line, the fifth the left wing, the sixth the centre; and so on. In sieges, the lieutenant generals always command the right of the principal attack, and order what they judge proper for the advancement of the siege during the 24 hours they are in the trenches: except the attacks, which they are not to make without an order from the general in chief.

Lieutenant General of the Ordnance. See Ordnance.

Lieutenant General of Artillery, is, or ought to be, a very great mathematician, and an able engineer; to know all the powers of artillery; to understand the attack and defence of fortified places, in all its different branches; how to dispose of the artillery in the day of battle to the best advantage; to conduct its march and retreat; as also to be well acquainted with all the numerous apparatus belonging to the train, and to the laboratory, &c.

Major General, the next officer to the lieutenant general. His chief business is to receive orders from the general, or in his absence from the lieutenant general of the day; which he is to distribute to the brigade majors, with whom he is to regulate the guards, convoys, detachments, &c. On him rests the whole fatigue and detail of duty of the army roll. It is the major general of the day who is charged with the encampment of the army, who places himself at the head of it when they march, who marks out the ground of the camp to the quartermaster general, and who places the new guards for the safety of the camp.

The day the army is to march, he dictates to the field officers the order of the march, which he has received from the general, and on other days gives them the parole.

In a fixed camp he is charged with the foraging, with reconnoitring the ground for it, and posting the escorts, &c.

In sieges, if there are two separate attacks, the second belongs to him; but if there is but one, he takes, either from the right or left of the attack, that which the lieutenant general has not chosen.

When the army is under arms, he assists the lieutenant general, whose orders he executes.

If the army marches to an engagement, his post is at the head of the guards of the army, until they are near enough to the enemy to rejoin their different corps; after which he retires to his own proper post: for the major generals are disposed on the order of battle as the lieutenant generals are; to whom, however, they are subordinate, for the command of their divisions. The major-general has one aid-de-camp, paid for executing his orders.

General is also used for a particular march, or beat of drum; being the first which gives notice, commonly in the morning early, for the infantry to be in readiness to march.

General is likewise an appellation by which officers in law, in the revenues, &c. are distinguished; as attorney general, solicitor general, &c. receiver general, comptroller general, &c. See Attorney, &c.

General is also used for the chief of an order of monks, or of all the houses and congregations established under the same rule. Thus we say, the general of the Franciscans, Cistercians, &c.