is a regular polygon of 11 sides. UNDECEMVIR, a magistrate among the ancient Athenians, who had 10 other colleagues or associates. Undecemviri joined with him in the same commission. The functions of the undecemviri at Athens were much the same with those of the late prévôts de marcéchausseé in France. They took care of the apprehending of criminals; secured them in the hands of justice; and when they were condemned, took them again into custody, that the sentence might be executed on them. They were chosen by the tribes, each tribe naming its own; and as the number of the tribes after Callisthenes was but 10, which made 10 members, a scribe or notary was added, which made the number 11.

**UNDERSTANDING.** See **METAPHYSICS** and **LOGIC.**

**UNDERWALDEN,** a canton of Switzerland, and the sixth in rank. It is bounded on the north by the canton of Lucern and by the lake of the Four Cantons, on the east by the high mountains which separate it from the canton of Bern, and on the west by the canton of Bern. The religion of this canton is the Roman Catholic.

**UNDULATION,** in **Physics,** a kind of tremulous motion or vibration observable in a liquid, by which it alternately rises and falls like the waves of the sea.

**UNGUENT,** or **OINTMENT,** in **Medicine** and **Surgery,** a tropical remedy or composition, chiefly used in the dressing of wounds or blisters. See **Materia Medica.**

**UNICORN,** an animal famous among the ancients, and thought to be the same with the rhinoceros.

Sparrmann informs us, that the figure of the unicorn described by the ancients has been found delineated by the Suisse Hottentots on the plain surface of a rock in Caflaria; and therefore conjectures, that such an animal either does exist at present in the internal parts of Africa, or at least once did so. Father Lobo affirms that he has seen it. Mr Barrow, in his *Travels in Southern Africa,* affords additional reason to believe in the existence of this curious animal.

**Unicorn-Fish.** See **Monodon, Cetology Index.**

**UNIFORM,** denotes a thing to be similar, or consistent either with another thing, or with itself, in respect of figure, structure, proportion, or the like; in which sense it stands opposed to disform.

**UNIFORMITY,** regularity, a similitude or resemblance between the parts of a whole. Such is that we meet with in figures of many sides, and angles respectively equal, and answerable to each other. A late ingenious author makes beauty to consist in uniformity, joined or combined with variety. Where the uniformity is equal in two objects, the beauty, he contends, is as the variety; and where the variety is equal, the beauty is as the uniformity.

**Uniformity,** is particularly used for one and the same form of public prayers, and administration of sacraments, and other rites, &c. of the church of England, prescribed by the famous stat. 1 Eliz. and 13 and 14 Car. II. cap. 4. called the Act of Uniformity. See **Liturgy.**

**UNION,** a junction, coalition, or assemblage of two or more different things in one.

**Union,** or *The Union,* by way of eminence, is more particularly used to express the act by which the two separate kingdoms of England and Scotland were incorporated into one, under the title of *The kingdom of Great Britain.* This union, in vain attempted by King James I. was at length effected in the year 1707, 6 Anne, when 25 articles were agreed to by the parliament of both nations; the purport of the most considerable being as follows:

1. That on the first of May 1707, and for ever after the kingdoms of England and Scotland shall be united into one kingdom, by the name of Great Britain.

2. The succession to the monarchy of Great Britain shall be the same as was before settled with regard to that of England.

3. The united kingdom shall be represented by one parliament.

4. There shall be a communication of all rights and privileges between the subjects of both kingdoms, except where it is otherwise agreed.

9. When England raises 2,000,000l. by a land tax, Scotland shall raise 48,000l.

16, 17. The standards of the coin, of weights, and of measures, shall be reduced to those of England throughout the united kingdoms.

18. The laws relating to trade, customs, and the excise, shall be the same in Scotland as in England. But all the other laws of Scotland shall remain in force; but alterable by the parliament of Great Britain. Yet with this caution, that laws relating to public policy are alterable at the discretion of the parliament; laws relating to private right are not to be altered but for the evident utility of the people of Scotland.

22. Sixteen peers are to be chosen to represent the peerage of Scotland in parliament, and 45 members to sit in the house of commons.

23. The 16 peers of Scotland shall have all privileges of parliament; and all peers of Scotland shall be peers of Great Britain, and rank next after those of the same degree at the time of the union, and shall have all privileges of peers, except sitting in the house of lords, and voting on the trial of a peer.

These are the principal of the 25 articles of union, which are ratified and confirmed by statute 5 Ann. c. 8. in which statute there are also two acts of parliament recited; the one of Scotland, whereby the church of Scotland, and also the four universities of that kingdom, are established for ever, and all succeeding sovereigns are to take an oath inviolably to maintain the same; the other of England, 5 Anne, c. 6. whereby the acts of uniformity of 13 Eliz. and 13 Car. II. (except as the same had been altered by parliament at that time), and all other acts then in force for the preservation of the church of England, are declared perpetual; and it is stipulated, that every subsequent king and queen shall take an oath inviolably to maintain the same within England, Ireland, Wales, and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. And it is enacted, that these two acts "shall for ever be observed as fundamental and essential conditions for the union."

Upon these articles and act of union, it is to be observed, 1. That the two kingdoms are so inseparably united, that nothing can ever disunite them; except the mutual consent of both, or the successful resistance of either, upon apprehending an infringement of those points which, when they were separate and independent nations, it was mutually stipulated should be "fundamental and essential conditions of the union." 2. That whatever else may be deemed "fundamental and essential conditions," the preservation of the two churches of England and Scotland, in the same state that they were in at the time of the union, and the maintenance of of the acts of uniformity which established the liturgy, are expressly declared so to be. 3. That therefore any alteration in the constitution of either of these churches, or in the liturgy of the church of England (unless with the consent of the respective churches, collectively or representatively given), would be an infringement of these "fundamental and essential conditions," and greatly endanger the union. 4. That the municipal laws of Scotland are ordained to be still observed in that part of the island, unless altered by parliament; and as the parliament has not yet thought proper, except in a few instances, to alter them, they still, with regard to the particulars unaltered, continue in full force.

For an account of the union of Ireland with Great Britain, thus forming the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, see IRELAND, No. 120.