in the animal economy, is the repairing the continual loss which the different parts of the body undergo. The motion of the parts of the body, the friction of these parts against each other, and especially the action of the air, would destroy the body entirely, if the loss was not repaired by a proper diet containing nutritive juices, which being digested in the stomach, and afterwards converted into chyle, mix with the blood, and are distributed throughout the whole body for its nutrition.

Buffon, in order to account for nutrition, supposes the body of an animal or vegetable to be a kind of mould, in which the matter necessary to its nutrition is modelled and assimilated to the whole. But of what nature is this matter which an animal or a vegetable assimilates to its own substance? What power is it that communicates to this matter the activity and motion necessary to penetrate this mould? and, if such a force exist, would it not be by a similar force that the internal mould itself might be reproduced?

As to the first question, he supposes that there exists in nature an infinite number of living organic parts, and that all organized bodies consist of such organic parts; that their production costs nature nothing, since their existence is constant and invariable; so that the matter which the animal or vegetable assimilates to its substance is an organic matter of the same nature with that of the animal or vegetable, which consequently may augment its volume without changing its form or altering the quality of the substance in the mould.

As to the second, there exist in nature certain powers, as that of gravity, which have no affinity with the external qualities of the body, but act upon the most intimate parts, and penetrate them throughout, and which can never fall under the observation of our senses.

And as to the third, he conceives that the internal mould itself is reproduced, not only by a similar power, but by the very same power which causes the unfolding and reproducing... For it is sufficient, he thinks, that, in an organized body which unfolds itself, there should be some part similar to the whole, in order that this part may one day become itself an organized body, altogether like that of which it is actually a part.

**Nux Vomica**, a flat, compressed, round fruit, about the breadth of a shilling, brought from the East Indies. It is found to be a certain poison for dogs, cats, and other animals, and it is not to be doubted that it would also prove fatal to man. Its surface is not much corrugated, and its texture is firm like horn, and of a pale grayish-brown colour. It is said to be used as a specific against the bite of a species of water-snake. It is considerably bitter and deleterious; but has been used in doses of from five to ten grains twice a day or so, in intermittents, particularly obstinate quartans, and in contagious dysentery. The *strychnus Ignatii* is a tree of the same kind producing gourd-like fruit, the seeds of which are improperly called St. Ignatius's beans. These, as also the woods or roots of some such trees, called *lignum colubrinum*, or snakewood, are very narcotic bitters, like the nux vomica.

**Nuyts**, Peter, a native of Holland, and a leading character in that extraordinary transaction which happened between the Japanese and the Dutch about the year 1628. In 1627 Nuyts arrived in Batavia from Holland, and was in the same year appointed ambassador to the emperor of Japan, by the governor and council of Batavia. He repaired to that empire in 1628; and being a man of a haughty disposition, and extremely vain, he believed it practicable to pass upon the natives for an ambassador from the king of Holland. Upon his assuming this title and rank, he was much more honourably received, caressed, and respected than former ministers had been. But he was soon detected, reprimanded, and reproached in the severest manner, sent back to the port, and ordered to return to Batavia with all the circumstances of disgrace imaginable; notwithstanding which, his interest was so great, that, instead of being punished as he deserved, he was immediately afterwards promoted to the government of the island of Formosa, of which he took possession in the following year. He entered upon the administration of affairs in that island with the same disposition that he had shown whilst ambassador, and with the most implacable resentment against the Japanese; neither was it long before an opportunity offered, as he thought, of revenging himself on them to the full. Two large Japanese ships, with upwards of five hundred men on board, came into the port, upon which he took it into his head to disarm and unrig them, in the same manner as the Dutch vessels are treated at Japan. The Japanese did all they could to defend themselves from this ill usage; but at last, for want of water, they were forced to submit. Governor Nuyts went still farther. When they had finished their affairs at Formosa, and were desirous of proceeding, according to their instructions, to China, he put them off with fair words and fine promises, till the monsoon was over. They then began to be very impatient, and desired to have their cannon and sails restored, that they might return home; but the governor had recourse to new artifices, and, by a series of false promises, endeavoured to prevent them from making use of the season most proper for that voyage. The Japanese, however, soon perceived his design, and at length, by a bold attempt, accomplished what, by fair means and humble entreaty, they could not obtain; for, by a daring and well concerted effort, they took him prisoner, and compelled him and one of the council to sign a treaty for securing their liberty, free departure, and indemnity, which was afterwards ratified by the whole council. Nuyts was first confined in Batavia, and afterwards delivered up to the Japanese, notwithstanding the most earnest entreaties on his part to be tried, and even to suffer any kind of death, where he was, rather than to be sent to Japan. Thither, however, he was sent in 1634, when he was submitted to the mercy or discretion of the emperor; and the consequence was, that, though imprisoned, he was well used, and could go anywhere, provided his guards were with him, which was more than he could possibly have expected. He now looked for nothing but the continuance of his confinement for life. On a particular occasion, however, namely, the funeral of the emperor's father, he was, at the request of the Dutch, set free, and returned again to Batavia, to the surprise of the people of that settlement, who adopted ever afterwards a very different conduct with respect to the Japanese.

**Nuyts' Reefs**, several large reefs of rocks which lie off the south coast of New Holland, at Cape Nuyts. These reefs are about eight miles distant from the coast, and are eight miles in length. In some places the rocks rise above the water, and in others they are wholly concealed. Long. of Cape Nuyts, 132. 18. E. Lat. 32. 2. S.

**Nuzzer**, or Muzzerannah, a present or offering from an inferior to a superior. In Hindustan no man ever approaches his superior for the first time on business without an offering of at least a gold or silver rupee in his right hand; and if this be not taken, it is a mark of disfavour. Nuzzerannah is also used to signify the sum paid to the government as an acknowledgment for a grant of lands or any public office.

**Nychthemeron**, amongst the ancients, signified the whole natural day, or day and night, consisting of twenty-four hours, or twenty-four equal parts. This way of considering the day was particularly adopted by the Jews, and seems to have owed its origin to the expression of Moses in the first chapter of Genesis, "The evening and the morning were the first day." Before the Jews had introduced the Greek language into their discourse, they were accustomed to indicate this space of time by the simple expression of a night and a day.

It is proper here to observe, that in all the eastern countries any part of a day of twenty-four hours was reckoned for a whole day; and that a thing which was done on the third or seventh day from that last mentioned, was said to be done after three or seven days. The Hebrews having no word which exactly answered to the Greek *nepos*, signifying a natural day of twenty-four hours, used *night and day*, or *day and night*, instead of it; so that to say a thing happened after three days and three nights, was, with them, the same as to say that it happened after three days, or on the third day. This being remembered, will explain what is meant by "the Son of Man's being three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

**Nyctastrategi**, amongst the ancients, were officers appointed to prevent fires in the night, or to give alarm and call assistance when a fire broke out. At Rome they had the command of the watch, and were called *notur triaeviri*, from their office and number.

**Nyiregyhaza**, a town of the circle of Szabolcs, in the province of Farther Theiss, in Hungary. It contains a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Calvinist, and an Unitarian church, a public grammar-school, 1100 houses, and 8096 inhabitants, who are employed in cultivating the vine, and in several trades. Long. 22. 38. 10. E. Lat. 47. 56. 45. N.

**Nykoping**, a province of the west of Sweden, which extends in north latitude from 58. 36. to 59. 30., and in east longitude from 15. 28. to 17. 33., and contains 2977 square miles. It comprises seven cities or towns, and 3327 detached settlements, with 98,500 inhabitants. It is a district of mountains and lakes, intermingled with extensive woods, but barely produces corn sufficient for its scanty population. The chief occupation consists in copper and iron mines, and in the fishery. The capital is a city of the same name, situated on a bay in the Baltic Sea. It is a well-built town, and has a market-place, surrounded with houses of stone, but most of the others are of wood. It contains two churches, and 520 dwellings, with 2490 inhabitants, who make cutlery and bar iron, and export large quantities of deals and other wood. Long. 16° 57'. 10. E. Lat. 38° 45'. 30. N.