THOMAS, the author of that well-known and important work the Federer, was born in the north of England, and educated at the grammar-school of Northallerton. He was admitted a scholar at Cambridge, then became a member of Gray's Inn, and at length was appointed historiographer to King William in place of Mr Shadwell. He wrote a View of the Tragedies of the last Age, and afterwards published a tragedy named Edgar. For a critic he was certainly not well qualified, for he wanted candour; nor is his judgment much to be relied on, who could condemn Shakspeare with such rigid severity. His tragedy will show that his talents for poetry were by no means equal to those whose poems he has publicly censured. But though he has no title to the appellation of poet or critic, as an antiquarian and historian his memory will long be preserved. His Federer, which is a collection of all public documents of the kings of England with foreign princes, is esteemed one of our most authentic and valuable records, and is oftener referred to by the best English historians than any other book in the language. It was published at London in the beginning of the eighteenth century, in se- S, or s, the eighteenth letter and fourteenth consonant of our alphabet. The sound of it is formed by driving the breath through a narrow passage between the palate and the tongue elevated near it, together with a motion of the lower jaw and teeth towards the upper, the lips being a little way open, with such a configuration of every part of the mouth and larynx as renders the voice somewhat sibilous and hissing. Its sound, however, varies; being strong in some words, as this, thus, and soft in words which have a final e, as muse, wise. It is generally doubled at the end of words, by which they become hard and harsh, as in kiss, loss. In some words it is silent, as isle, island, viscount.

In abbreviation, S. stands for societas or socius; as R.S.S. for regiae societatis socius, fellow of the royal society. In medicinal prescriptions, S.A. signifies secundum artem, according to the rules of art. And in the notes of the ancients, S. stands for Sextus; S.P. for Spurius; S.C. for senatus consultum; S.P.Q.R. for senatus populusque Romanus; S.S.S. for stratum superstratum, one layer above another alternately; S.V.B.E.E.Q.V. for si valeas bene est, ego quoque valeo, a form used in Cicero's time in the beginning of letters. Used as a numeral, S. anciently denoted seven; in the Italian music, S. signifies solo; and in books of navigation, S. stands for south, S.E. for south-east, S.W. for south-west, S.S.E. for south-south-east, S.S.W. for south-south-west, &c.