(Sortilegium) a species of divination performed by means of sortes or lots.

The sortes Prenestinae, famous in antiquity, consisted in putting a number of letters, or even whole words, into an urn; and then, after shaking them together, they were thrown on the ground; and whatever sen- tences could be made out of them, constituted the an- swer of the oracle. To this method of divination suc- ceeded that which has been called the sortes Homericæ and sortes Virgilianæ, a mode of inquiring into futurity, which undoubtedly took its rise from a general custom of the oracular priests of delivering their answers in verse; it subsisted a long time among the Greeks and Romans; and being from them adopted by the Chris- tians, it was not till after a long succession of centuries that it became exploded. Among the Romans it con- sisted in opening some celebrated poet at random, and among the Christians the Scriptures, and drawing, from the first passage which presented itself to the eye, a prognostic of what would befall one's self or others, or direction for conduct when under any exigency. There is good evidence that this was none of the vulgar errors; the greatest persons, philosophers of the best repute, admitted this superstition. Socrates, when in prison, hearing this line of Homer,

Within three days I Phthial's shore shall see, immediately said, within three days I shall be out of the world; world; gathering it from the double meaning of the word *Phthia*, which in Greek is both the name of a country and signifies corruption or death. This prediction, addressed to Æschines, was not easily forgotten, as it was verified.

When this superstition passed from Paganism into Christianity, the Christians had two methods of consulting the divine will from the Scriptures; the one, casually, to open the divine writings, and take their direction, as above mentioned; the other, to go to church with a purpose of receiving, as a declaration of the will of heaven, the words of the Scripture, which were singing at the instant of one's entrance.

This unwarrantable practice of inquiring into futurity prevailed very generally in England till the beginning of the 18th century; and sometimes the books of Scripture, and sometimes the poems of Virgil were consulted for oracular responses. One remarkable instance is that of King Charles I. who, being at Oxford during the civil wars, went one day to see the public library, where he was shown, among other books, a Virgil nobly printed and exquisitely bound. The lord Falkland, to divert the king, would have his majesty make a trial of his fortune by the *Sortes Virgilianae*. Whereupon the king opening the book, the passage which happened to come up was this:

*At, bello audacis populi vexatus et armis, Finibus extorris, complexa aculeos Ialti; Auxilium implorat; videtque indigna suorum Funera: nec, cum se sub leges pacis inique Tradiderat, regno aut optata luce fruatur; Sed cadat ante diem, mediaque inhume arena.*

Æneid, lib. iv.

Yet let a race, untamed and haughty foes, His peaceful entrance with dire arms oppose; Oppressed with numbers in the unequal field, His men discouraged, and himself expelled, Let him for succour sue from place to place, Torn from his subjects, and his soul's embrace: First let him see his friends in battle slain, And their untimely fate lament in vain; And when at length the cruel war shall cease, On hard conditions may he buy his peace. Nor let him then enjoy supreme command, But fall untimely by some hostile hand, And lie unburied on the barren sand.

Lord Falkland observing that the king was concerned at this accident, would likewise try his own fortune in the same manner, hoping he might fall upon some passage that would have no relation to his case, and thereby divert the king's thoughts from any impression which the other might have upon him; but the place he stumbled upon was as much suited to his destiny as the other had been to the king's; being the lamentation of Evander for the untimely death of his son Palas; for this lord's eldest son, a young man of an amiable character, had been slain in the first battle of Newbury.

We have ourselves known several, whose devotion has not always been regulated by judgment, pursue this method of divination; and have generally observed, that the consequence has been despair or presumption. To such we beg leave to recommend one passage in Scrip-

ture which will never disappoint them: *Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.*

*SOTERIA,* in antiquity, sacrifices offered to the gods for delivering a person from danger; as also poetical pieces composed for the same purpose.

*SOURISSE,* a town of France, in the department of Lower Charente, and late territory of Saintonge. It is seated on the river Charente, 22 miles south of Rochelle, in W. Long. 1. 2. N. Lat. 45° 57'.

*SOUADAN,* a kingdom of Africa, situated between 11° and 16° N. Lat. and 26° and 32° E. Long. See Dar Fur.

*SOUGH,* among miners, denotes a passage dug under ground, to convey off waters from mines. See Mine.

*SOVEREIGN,* in matters of government, is applied to the supreme magistrate or magistrates of an independent government or state; because their authority is only bounded by the laws of God and the laws of the state: such are kings, princes, &c. See Prerogative, &c.

*SOVEREIGN Power,* or *Sovereignty,* is the power of making laws; for wherever that power resides, all others must conform to it, and be directed by it, whatever appearance the outward form and administration of the government may put on. For it is at any time in the option of the legislature to alter that form and administration by a new edict or rule, and to put the execution of the laws into whatever hands it pleases; and all the other powers of the state must obey the legislative power in the execution of their several functions, or else the constitution is at an end. In our constitution the law ascribes to the king the attribute of sovereignty; but that is to be understood in a qualified sense, i.e., as supreme magistrate, not as sole legislator; as the legislative power is vested in the king, lords, and commons, not in any of the three estates alone.

*SOU.* See Sol.

*SOUFFRIERE,* a small town, situated at the bottom of a bay, near the leeward extremity of the island of St Lucia. Of itself it is not entitled to much notice, but the adjacent ground is very remarkable. The declivities of the surrounding hills are cultivated, and afford sugar-cane of a good quality.

The extremity of the south side of Souffriere bays runs into two steep hills of a conical shape, and nearly perpendicular, reckoned the highest on the island, and known by the appellation of the Sugar-Loaf Hills. It is impossible to ascend them; for although it was once attempted by two negroes, it is said that they never returned. Passing the hills to the windward of Souffriere, a fine level country presents itself, extending from 15 to 20 miles from the back of the Sugar-Loaf Hills along the sea coast, being wholly cultivated, and divided into rich estates. It is intersected by numerous rivers of very clear water, which, by art, are made subservient to the purpose of sugar-making. The rains here are less frequent than on any other part of the island, and the wind blows from the sea, or nearly so.

There is a volcano in the vicinity of this town. After passing one or two small hills, the smell of sulphur is sensibly felt before any vestige of the place is perceived. The first thing discerned is a rivulet of black running water, sending forth streams nearly in a state of ebullition, from which the volcano soon comes into view, situated... There are two plumbmets used for this purpose in navigation; one of which is called the hand-lead, weighing about 8 or 9 pounds; and the other the deep-sea-lead, which weighs from 25 to 30 pounds; and both are shaped like the frustum of a cone or pyramid. The former is used in shallow waters, and the latter at a great distance from the shore; particularly on approaching the land after a sea voyage. Accordingly the lines employed for this purpose are called the deep-sea lead-line, and the hand lead-line.

The hand lead-line, which is usually 20 fathoms in length, is marked at every two or three fathoms; so that the depth of the water may be ascertained either in the day or night. At the depth of two or three fathoms there are marks of black leather; at 5 fathoms, there is a white rag; at 7, a red rag; at 10, black leather; at 13, black leather; at 15, a white rag; and at 17, a red ditto.

Sounding with the hand lead, which is called hearing the lead by seamen, is generally performed by a man who stands in the main-chains to windward. Having the line quite ready to run out without interruption, he holds it nearly at the distance of a fathom from the plummet; and having swung the latter backwards and forwards three or four times, in order to acquire the greater velocity, he swings it round his head, and thence as far forward as is necessary; so that by the lead's sinking whilst the ship advances, the line may be almost perpendicular when it reaches the bottom. The person sounding then proclaims the depth of the water in a kind of song resembling the cries of hawkers in a city. Thus if the mark of five fathoms is close to the surface of the water, he calls, 'By the mark five!' and as there is no mark at four, six, eight, &c., he estimates those numbers, and calls, By the dip four,' &c. If he judges it to be a quarter or an half more than any particular number, he calls, 'And a quarter five!' and a half four,' &c. If he conceives the depth to be three quarters more than a particular number, he calls it a quarter less than the next; thus, at four fathoms and three fourths he calls, 'A quarter less five!' and so on.

The deep-sea-lead is marked with two knots at 20 fathoms, three at 30, and 4 at 40, and so on to the end. It is also marked with a single knot in the middle of each interval, as at 25, 35, 45 fathoms, &c. To use this lead more effectually at sea, or in deep water on the sea coast, it is usual previously to bring to the ship, in order to retard her course: the lead is then thrown as far as possible from the ship on the line of her drift, so that, as it sinks, the ship drives more perpendicularly over it. The pilot, feeling the lead strike the bottom, readily discovers the depth of the water by the mark on the line nearest its surface. The bottom of the lead being also well rubbed over with tallow, retains the distinguishing marks of the bottom, as shells, ooze, gravel, &c., which naturally adhere to it.

The depth of the water, and the nature of the ground, which is called the soundings, are carefully marked in the log-book, as well to determine the distance of the place from the shore, as to correct the observations of former pilots.

A machine for the same purpose has been invented by Mr Massey, of which the following description is given:

"The importance of obtaining true soundings at sea..." Sounding, be admitted by every seaman; and it is rather singular, that no other method than the common lead has hitherto been brought into use; as its imperfections are very generally acknowledged.

Many vessels have been lost, by depending upon the soundings taken in the usual way. The difficulty of obtaining the true perpendicular, and the uncertainty as to the exact moment when the lead strikes the bottom, upon which the accuracy of the result depends, must always prevent the possibility of obtaining the true depth, while the ship has any considerable way upon her. Indeed, it has been acknowledged by experienced seamen, during some experiments, made at various times, in the river Mersey, that they could not depend upon the common lead, when going five or six knots in the hour, in ten or twelve fathoms of water. When the depth is considerable, the vessel must be hove to, which is an operation attended with great loss of time, and sometimes considerable injury to the sails; and during a chase, this inconvenience must be particularly felt.

True soundings may be taken with this machine in thirty fathoms water, without the trouble of heaving the vessel to, although she may be going at the rate of six miles in the hour. True soundings may also thus be obtained in very deep water, where it is not possible to take them by the common lead.

Fig. 1 represents the sounding machine. \(a\) is the sounding weight, containing a register, \(1, 2\), with two dials: the hand of the dial \(1\) makes one revolution when the weight has descended twenty fathoms, the other revolves once when the descent amounts to five hundred fathoms. A rotator, \(b\), similar to that attached to the log, communicates with the wheel work of the dials \(1, 2\), by means of the rod \(c\), on which there are three universal joints, \(3, 4\), and \(5\). This rod is supported during the descent of the weight, by the drop, \(d\), at the end of which is a fork, \(6\), and a friction wheel, \(7\).

When the machine is to be used, a sounding line is fastened to the ring, \(e\); and one of the vanes of the rotator is slipped into the spring \(8\): the rotator will then be in the position indicated by the dotted lines, \(x\). The indices must be set at \(c\), and the cover or lid, \(f\), be shut. The machine must then be projected perpendicularly into the sea. As soon as it reaches the surface, the resistance of the water forces the dotted rotator, \(x\), out of the spring \(8\), and it assumes its perpendicular direction as represented by the rotator \(b\). As the machine descends, it is evident the rotator will revolve, and its motion be communicated freely past the friction wheel \(7\), and the universal joint \(5\), to the wheel work of the dials \(1, 2\), and thus indicate the space passed through in fathoms. When the machine has arrived at the bottom, the rotator, as it is no longer buoyed up by the reaction of the water, will fall to the bottom, quitting the fork of the drop \(d\), which will also fall from its horizontal position, and in its descent, by means of the locking rod \(9\), prevent the rotator from revolving as the machine is drawn up. When at the bottom, the rotator will be in the position of the dotted lines \(y\).

This machine, simple in its construction, and scarcely more liable to accident than the common lead, ascertains, with the utmost precision, the perpendicular depth, by the mere act of descent through the water. No mistake can arise from that common source of error, the drift or lee-way of the ship during the time of descent; nor does an operation of such importance depend upon soundings, the uncertain sensation caused by the lead striking the bottom, on which the accuracy of the common log altogether depends, and which, it is well known, frequently and materially misleads the best seaman: for though a thousand fathoms of line were laid out, in the smallest depth of water, no inaccuracy could arise, as the perpendicular depth, at the point of heaving, would be registered on the index. The only inconvenience experienced would be the additional labour necessary for hauling in the excess of line. The most inexperienced person may use this machine, without risk of error, in the most turbulent sea, and during the night.

The advantages already enumerated would render the sounding machine of great importance; but there are other properties of still more consequence.

To heave a ship to, in order to obtain soundings, on a lee shore, in stormy weather, is a very disagreeable operation, attended with much trouble, and loss of way; also with considerable danger to the ship's sails; indeed, it would often, under such circumstances, be attended with great hazard to the safety of the ship. To avoid these unpleasant consequences, the master sometimes adopts a measure, which he conceives to be the less exceptionable alternative, by running on without sounding at all.

To prove how much inconvenience and danger are avoided by Massey's lead, it is enough to state, that soundings may be taken in depth from 60 to 80 fathoms, while the ship is under way, at the rate of three miles an hour; and as the rate of sailing may be still materially reduced, without entirely stopping the vessel, or altering her course, so may soundings be had, to any depth required, while she is under way.

In order more clearly to show the superiority of this machine, and make it apparent, that the quantity of stray-line veered out does not at all affect the truth of the result: suppose the common lead thrown from the mizen chains of the ship, which may be represented by the point \(a\) of the triangle \(a b c\), (fig. 2); and that the ship Fig. 2 has moved forwards through the space equal to the line \(b c\), while the lead has descended through the line \(a c\); it is evident, that it is impossible, in this case, to ascertain the exact depth, as a quantity of line, equal to \(a b\), would be paid out, whereas the true depth is equal only to the line \(a c\), which is much less. But the case is very different when the patent sounding machine is used, as the operation ceases when it has reached the bottom; nor is the stray-line, \(a b\), whatever its length, at all taken into the account.

It has been extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to obtain soundings in very deep water with the common lead, which may perhaps be thus accounted for. The common line which is used for soundings, though, if left to itself, it would sink in water, yet its descent would be much slower than that of the lead, separately; it consequently follows, that the lead must be so much impeded by carrying the line with it, that when it does reach the bottom, there will be scarcely any sensible check to enable the seaman to know the precise moment. Indeed, if he can ascertain even this to a certainty, he still cannot depend upon the truth of his soundings; for if there be the least drift or current, the line itself will assume a curve, similar to that of the line of a kite in the air. These two causes will always operate rate against the perfection of the common mode of sounding.

"After so fully describing the principle of the patent sounding machine, it is scarcely necessary to prove that it is liable to neither of the foregoing objections; and it may be sufficient to say, that, as it will certainly find its way to the bottom, if a sufficient portion of stray-line be allowed to guard against its being checked in its progress, and the certainty of its having reached the bottom may be ascertained by the arming, there can be no doubt of the practicability of its obtaining soundings, in any depth, and no reasonable doubt of their correctness when obtained.

"From the construction of this machine, it might be imagined, that the rotator would impede its motion through the water, and that it could not descend so rapidly as the common lead; but during repeated trials, in thirteen fathoms water, in which the rotator was frequently detached, and the lead suffered to descend alone, there was no difference perceptible in the time of their descent, though an excellent quarter-second stop watch was used during the experiment, to detect any change. The following table shows how very uniformly the times of descent corresponded with the depths in fathoms, during a series of trials made on the river Mersey, with the patent lead, weighing 14 pounds.

| Time of descent. | Fathoms. | |------------------|---------| | 2 seconds | 2½ | | 2½ | 3 | | 3 | 4 | | 5 | 8 | | 5½ | 8½ | | 6 | 10 | | 6 | 10 | | 7 | 11½ |

| Time of descent. | Fathoms. | |------------------|---------| | 7½ seconds | 11½ | | 7½ | 11½ | | 7½ | 11½ | | 7½ | 12 | | 7½ | 12½ | | 8 | 13 | | 8 | 13 | | 6 | 10 |

"Taken when under sail, at upwards of five knots in the hour.

"Several captains and masters in the navy have made trial of the log and sounding machine, and given very favourable reports of their performance; and it has been adopted by order of the Navy Board in the British navy."