ed, and when, from the unsettled state of things, those of Public, who have, would be unwilling to lend them, the only Revenue, resource is in amassing a treasure. This was the policy of the sovereigns and great barons in the middle ages; and it still is that of most of the Asiatic princes. In a commercial state of society, however, sovereigns find ample means and temptation to spend the whole of their ordinary revenue in the luxuries which abound ; while, at the same time, the great accumulation of capital enables the merchants easily to advance very large sums to government. In this transaction, they of course receive advantageous terms, and by selling their share of the public debt (thus converting it into a species of commodity, called stock), they are enabled to replace their capitals, and carry on their business as before.

Ofubie only in the increased price of the goods. They are thus Reven paid gradually and piecemeal, and every one has the power of paying or not as he chooses. These advantages, especially in countries where the comfort of the subject is much attended to, lead to the very extensive adoption of such taxes. They are attended, however, with very serious drawbacks. No taxes take so much out of the pocket of individuals, in proportion to what they put into that of government. The tax being advanced by the merchant, he expects not only to have it repaid to him in the price of his goods, but to have it repaid with a profit. The commodity will therefore be raised, not merely by the amount of the tax, but by somewhat more than that amount. These taxes also require an host of collecting officers, whose salaries considerably diminish their amount. The visits which these officers must be allowed to make into the ware house, workshop, and even private house of the merchant and manufacturer, form also a very serious grievance.

Such taxes may be either on necessaries or luxuries. The former are avoided as much as possible, by all wise legislators, as oppressive, falling chiefly on the poor, and having at least an ultimate tendency to raise the wages of labour. In Great Britain, the only taxes on necessaries are those on salt, soap, leather, and candles.

It is of the utmost importance that these duties should be levied in such a manner as not to impede the free transference of commodities from one place to another. In France, before the Revolution, and in other European countries, duties were to be paid almost constantly in passing from one province to another. The alcavala of Spain, the most ruinous of all taxes, levied ten, though afterwards only six per cent. every time a commodity was sold; which amounted almost to an absolute prohibition of all trade.

SECT. VIII. Of Public Debts.

Governments are seldom economical; and besides the large expence which is regularly incurred in supporting their establishment, they are liable to great occasional demands, which their ordinary revenue is quite unable to answer. Of these demands the most frequent and pressing is war, whether offensive or defensive; nor is there any cause which so frequently deranges the finanees of a nation.

In rude times, when no great capitals are accumulat

Loans made by the government have this disadvantage, that whereas taxes are drawn from the income of the nation, these are drawn from its capital; from the fund by which its industry is supported. They have also the disadvantage, that from the facility with which money may be borrowed, they are apt to increase to an enormous and ruinous amount. To the crit of a private person, there are limits in the extent of his fortune; but these limits do not exist in the case of a government, which possesses an unlimited, or at least indefinite, power of augmenting its means. The interest of the present funded debt of Great Britain would be nearly sufficient for carrying on the most expensive war. In such a case the only remedy is by a sinking fund. A certain annual sum is appropriated to the purpose of paying off the national debt; and the interest which consequently falls in, is added to the original sum, which thus accumulating at compound interest, will increase, after a certain period, with immense rapidity. Before the time of Mr Pitt, there was always, during peace, something in the shape of a sinking fund in Great Britain. It was frequently devoted, however, to other purposes, and never paid off any considerable portion of the debt of the preceding war. He was the first who steadily set aside, in peace and war, a million for this purpose, and allowed it to accumulate at compound interest. Whenever a new loan was raised, he laid on one per cent. as a sinking fund. In consequence of a steady perseverance in this system, there is now a fair prospect of the country being gradually relieved from the burden which pressed upon it. See the Articles COMMERCE, CORN LAWS, POLITICAL ECONOMY, SUPPLEMENT.

POL

POLITICS, the first part of economy or ethics, conPolitics, Polity. sisting in the well governing and regulating the affairs of a state for the maintenance of the public safety, order, tranquillity, and morals.

Lord Bacon divides politics into three parts, viz. the preservation of the state, its happiness and flourishing, and its enlargement. Of the first two he informs us, various authors have treated, but the last has never been handled; and he has given a specimen of an essay to supply the want.

POLITY, or POLICY, denotes the peculiar form and

POL

constitution of the government of any state or nation; Polity. or the laws, orders, and regulations, relating thereto *. ~— -Polity differs only from politics, as the theory from * See Cothe practice of any art.

Of the nature of our social duties, both private and political, we have already spoken at some length (ce MORAL Philosophy, Part II. chap. iii. and particularly sect. vii.); and we shall have occasion to take a view of the origin and nature of the several political establishments of Europe, &c. hereafter. (See Civil SOCIETY). We shall only further remark in this place upon the ne

Q 2

cessity

vernment.

ness. Examined by the microscope, they are generally Pollen found to assume some determinate form, which often pre- # dominates, not only through all the species of a particu- Pollio. lar genus, but also through the genera of a natural family or order. The powder in question being triturated, and otherwise prepared in the stomach of bees, by whom great quantities are collected in the hairy brushes with which their legs are covered, is supposed by some authors to produce the substance known by the name of war; a species of vegetable oil, rendered concrete by the presence of an acid, which must be removed before the substance can be rendered fluid.

Polity cessity of always joining politics and morality together. This view of the subject is indeed antiquated and neglectPolen. ed; but the connection has always been externally respected, even by those who have separated them the most widely. Politics and morality, far from standing in opposition to each other, have the most intimate connection, and exhibit the relation which the part bears to the whole; that is to say, that politics are only a part or a branch of morality. No truth can be more evident than this; for as morality is the guide of human life, the principle of order, and the universal source of real improvement and genuine happiness to all mankind, every thing relative to the direction of individuals, or the government of nations, must be comprehended within its sphere, and must be subservient to its laws. All the schemes and projects of pretended political wisdom, that deviate from or violate the rules of this master-science, turn out in the issue often to the detriment of their contrivers, always to that of the nation; and it is a palpable and absurd error to think of advancing the happiness of one country at the expence of the general good of mankind. The experience of ages, and the history of the world, confirm these assertions; from which, and from daily observation, we obtain a convincing proof of the wisdom of the good old maxim, both in its application to individuals and to nations, that "honesty is the best policy." See Baron Dahlberg's Considerations on the Connection between Morality and Politics, read by himself to the Academy of Sciences at Erfurt.

POLL, a word used in ancient writings for the head: hence to poll, is either to vote, or to enter down the names of those persons who give their votes at an election.

POLL-Evil, a troublesome ulcer on the back of the horse's neck, usually the consequence of external injury. See FARRIERY, Νο 395.

POLL Moncy, or Capitation, a tax imposed by authority of parliament on the person or head; either on all indifferently, or according to some known mark or distinction, as quality, calling, &c.

Thus, by the statute 18 Car. II. every subject in the kingdom was assessed by the head, or poll, according to his degree; every duke 100l. marquis 8ol. baronet 30l, knight 201. esquire 10l. &c. and every single private person 12d.

This was no new tax, as appears by former acts of parliament.

POLLACHIUS, or POLLACK. See GADUS, ICHTHYOLOGY Index.

POLLARD, or CROCARD, the name of a sort of base money current in Ireland in the time of Edward I. See Simon's History of Irish Coins, p. 15.

POLLARDS, a kind of coarse flour. When wheat is ground to meal, and divided into three kinds, according to the degree of fineness, the third or coarsest kind comes under the denomination of pollards.

POLLEN, the fecundating or fertilizing dust contained within the antheræ or tops of the stamina, and dispersed upon the female organ when ripe for the purposes of impregnation. See BOTANY.

This dust, corresponding to the semigal fluid in animals, is commonly of a yellow colour; and is very conspicuous in the summits of some flowers, as the tulip and lily. Its particles are very minute, and of extreme hard

POLLENTIA, a town or colony of Roman citizens in the Balearis Major. It is now said to be Alcudia, situated on the north-east side of the island Majorca. There was another Pollentia of the Picenum, likewise a colony. It is thought to be either the same with or near to the Urbs Salvia, but is now extinct. There was a third of Liguria, situated at the confluence of the Stura and Tanarus. Suetonius calls it a municipium, and the people Polentina Plebs. It was famous for its abundance of black fleeces; but was afterwards, under Arcadius, stained with a defeat rather of the Romans under Stilico than of the Goths under Alaricus, though palliated by Claudian the poet; after which Rome was taken and set on fire. It is now called Solenza, a small town of Piedmont, not far from Asti.

POLLEX, in Anatomy, denotes either the thumb or great toe, according as manus or pedis is added to it. POLLICHIA, a genus of plants belonging to the monandria class, and in the natural method ranking with those that are doubtful. See BOTANY Index.

POLLICIS PRESSIO, and POLLICIS VERSIO, were used at the combats of gladiators as signals of life or death to the vanquished combatant; or to the victor to spare or take the life of his antagonist. The pollicis pressio, by which the people granted life to the prostrate gladiator, was no more than a clenching of the fingers of both hands together, and so holding the two thumbs upright close together. The pollicis versio, which authorised the victor to kill the other as a coward, was the bending back of the thumbs. Such is Dacier's opinion; but others say the pollicis pressio was when the people held up one hand with the thumb bent, and the pollicis versio when they showed the hand with the thumb raised. Authors, however, are not perfectly agreed, though the phrases pollicem premere, and pollicem vertere, frequently occur in the Latin classics as indications of the people's will that a gladiator should live or die.

POLLIO, CAIUS ASINIUS, a celebrated Latin poet and orator, was of consular dignity, and composed some tragedies which were esteemed, but are now lost. He was the first who opened at Rome a library for the use of the public. He was the friend of Mark Antony; which prevented his complying with the solicitations of Augustus, who pressed him to embrace his party. At length Augustus having wrote some verses against Pollio, he was urged to answer them: on which he said, "I shall take care of writing against a man who has the power of proscribing us. He is praised by Virgil and Horace, whose patron he was,

There was another Pollio, a friend of Augustus, who used to feed his fishes with human flesh. This cruelty was discovered when one of his servants broke a glass in the

the presence of Augustus, who had been invited to a feast. The master ordered the servant to be seized, but he threw himself at the feet of the emperor, and begged him to interfere, and not to suffer him to be devoured by fishes. Upon this the causes of his apprehension were examined; and Augustus, astonished at the barbarity of his favourite, caused the servant to be dismissed, all the fish ponds to be filled up, and the crystal glasses of Pollio to be broken to pieces.

POLLUTION, in general signifies defilement, or the rendering a person or place unclean or unholy. For the Jewish pollutions, see the article IMPURITY.

The Romanists hold a church to be polluted by the effusion of blood or of seed therein: and that it must be consecrated anew. And the Indians are so superstitious on this head, that they break all the vessels which those of another religion have drank out of, or even only touched; and drain all the water out of a pond in which a stranger has bathed.

POLLUTION, in Medicine, a disease which consists in an involuntary emission of the seed in time of sleep. This, in different persons, is very different in degree; some being affected with it only once in a week, a fortnight, three weeks, or a month, and others being subject to it almost every night. The persons most subject to it, are young men of a sanguineous temperament, who feed high and lead a sedentary life. When this happens to a person but once in a fortnight or a month, it is of no great consequence; but when it happens almost every night, it greatly injures the health; the patient looks pale and sickly; in some the eyes become weak and inflamed, are sometimes affected with violent defluxions, and are usually at last encircled with a livid appearance of the skin. This distemper is to be cured rather by a change of life than by medicines. When it has taken its rise from a high diet and a sedentary life, a coarser food and the use of exercise will generally cure it. Persons subject to this disease should never take any stimulating purges, and must avoid as much as possible all violent passions of the mind; and though exercise is recommended in moderation, yet if this be too violent, it will rather increase the disorder than contribute to its cure.

Self-POLLUTION. See ONANISM.

POLLUX, JULIUS, a Greek writer of antiquity, flourished in the reign of the emperor Commodus, and was born at Naucrates, a town in Egypt. He was educated under the sophists, and made great progress in grammatical and critical learning. He taught rhetoric at Athens, and became so famous that he was made preceptor of the emperor Commodus. He drew up for bis use, and inscribed to him, while his father Marcus Antoninus was living, an Onomasticon or Greek vocabulary, divided into ten books. It is extant, and contains a vast variety of synonymous words and phrases, agreeable to the copiousness of the Greek tongue, ranged under the general classes of things. It was intended to facilitate the knowledge of the Greek language to the young prince; and it is still very useful to all who have a mind to be perfect in it. The first edition of it was printed at Venice by Aldus in 1502, and a Latin version was afterwards made and published with it: but there was no correct and handsome edition of it till that of Amsterdam, 1706, in folio, by Lederlinus

and Hemsterhusius. Lederlinus went through the first Pollus seven books, corrected the text and version, and subjoining his own, with the notes of Salmasius, Is. Vos- Polyænus. sius, Valesius, and of Kubnius, whose scholar he had been, and whom he succeeded in the professorship of the oriental languages in the university of Strasburg. Hemsterhusius continued the same method through the three last books: this learned man has since distinguished himself by an excellent edition of Lucian, and other monuments of solid and profound literature.

Pollux wrote many other things, none of which remain. He lived to the age of 58. Philostratus and Lucian have treated bim with much contempt and ridicule. Philostrat. de vit. Sophist. lib. ii. and Lucian in Rhetorum præceptore.

POLLUX. See CASTOR and POLLUX.

POLLUX, in Astronomy, a fixed star of the second magnitude, in the constellation Gemini, or the Twins. See CASTOR.

POLLUX and Castor, a fiery meteor. See CASTOR and Pollux.

POLOCSKI, a palatinate in the duchy of Lithuania, partly in Poland, and partly in Russia, and under the government of Russia since 1773; bounded on the north by the palatinate of Weytepski, on the south by the Dwina, on the north by Muscovy, and on the west by Livonia. It is a desert country, full of wood, and had formerly its own dukes.

POLOCSKI, a town of Lithuania, and capital of a palatinate of the same name, with two castles to defend it. It was taken by the Muscovites in 1563, and retaken the same year. It is seated on the river Dwina, 50 miles south-west of Weytepski, and 80 east of Breslaw. E. Long. 29. o. N. Lat. 56. 4.

POLTROON, or POLTRON, a coward or dastard, wanting courage to perform any thing great or noble. The word is borrowed from the French, who according to Salmasius, derived it à pollice truncato; because anciently those who would avoid going to the wars cut off their thumb. But Menage, with more probability, derives it from the Italian poltrone and that from poltro a "bed;" because timorous, pusillanimous people take pleasure in lying a-bed. Others derive the word from the Italian poltro, a "colt;" because of that creature's readiness to run away.

POLVERINE, the calcined ashes of a plant; of a similar nature with our pot-ashes or pearl-ashes. It is brought from the Levant and Syria; and in the glasstrade it is always to be preferred to any other ashes. The barilla, or pot-ashes of Spain, yield more pure salt than the polverine of the Levant, but the glass made with it has always some blue tinge: that made with the polverine is perfectly white, which ought always to be used for the finest crystal.

POLYADELPHIA (from woλus, many, and adsaQia, brotherhood), many brotherhoods; the name of the 18th class of Linnæus's sexual system, consisting of plants with hermaphrodite flowers, in which several stamina or male organs are united by their filaments into three or more distinct bundles. See CLASSIFICATION under BOTANY.

POLYÆNUS, the name of many famous men recorded in ancient writers. Among them was Julius Polyænus, of whom we have some Greek epigrams ex

tant

Polynus tant in the first book of the Anthologia. The Polynus whom it most concerns us to know about, is the Poly us author of the eight books of the Stratagems of Illustrious Commanders in War. He was probably a Macedonian, and perhaps a soldier in the early part of his lite; but of this there is no certainty. He was undoubtedly

a rhetorician and a pleader of causes; and appears, from the dedication of his work to the emperors Antoninus and Verus, to have lived towards the latter part of the second century. The Stratagemata were published in Greek by Isaac Casaubon, with notes, in 1589, 12mo; but no good edition of them appeared till that of Leyden, 1690, in 8vo. The title page runs thus: Polyani Stratagematum libri octo, Justo Vulteio interprete, Pancratius Maasvicius recensuit, Isaaci Casauboni nec non suas notas adjecit.

We have in this work the various stratagems of above 300 captains and generals of armies, chiefly Greeks and barbarians; for the Romans seldom used such finesses; and Polyænus has shown further, that he was not well versed in Roman affairs. A great number of these stratagems appear to us to be ridiculous or impracticable; and neither the generals, or even common soldiers of our days, would be found simple enough to be caught by them. Few of this order are capable of reading Polyænus's Stratagems; and if they were, they would reap little benefit from it. The book is useful to such as study the Greek language and antiquity; for many things will be found in it, illustrating the customs and opinions of ancient times. The sixth and seventh books are imperfect.

Polyænus composed other works besides the Stratagemata. Stoboens has produced some passages out of a book De Republica Macedonum; and Suidas mentions a piece concerning the Thebans, and three books of Tacitus. If death had not prevented, he would have written Memorabilia of the Emperors Antoninus and Verus: for he makes a promise of this in the preface to his sixth book of Stratagems. Casaubon, in the dedication of Polyænus to Mornæus, calls him an elegant, acute, and learned writer.

POLYANDRIA (from woλve, many, andumę, a man, or husband), many husbands. The name of the 13th class in Linnæus's sexual method, consisting of plants with hermaphrodite flowers, which are furnished with several stamina, that are inserted into the common receptacle of the flower. See Classification under BOTANY.

POLYANTHEA, a collection of common-places in alphabetical order, for the use of orators, preachers, &c. The word is formed from the Greek zoλvs, much, and avtos, flower: and has much the same meaning with anthology or florilege. The first author of the polyanthea was Dominic Nanni de Mirabellio, whose labour has been improved on by Barth. Amantius, and Franc. Torsius; and since these, by Jos. Langius, under the title of Polyanthea nova, 1613.

POLYANTHUS. See PRIMULA, BOTANY Index; and for the cultivation of this early ornament of the flower-garden, see GARDENING.

POLYBIUS, a famous Greek historian, was born at Megalopolis, a city of Arcadia, 205 years before Christ, and was the son of Lycortas, chief of the republic of the Achæans. He was trained to arms under the celebrated Philopomen, and is described by Plutarch carrying the urn of that great but unfortunate general

in his funeral procession. He arose to considerable ho- Polybius, nours in his own country, but was compelled to visit Polycarp Rome with other principal Achæans, who were detained there as pledges for the submission of their state. From hence he became intimate with the second Scipio Africanus, and was present with him at the demolition of Carthage. He saw Corinth also plundered by Mummius, and thence passing through the cities of Achaia, reconciled them to Rome. He extended his travels into Egypt, France, and Spain, that he might avoid such geographical errors as he has censured in others.

It was in Rome that he composed his excellent history, for the sake of which his travels were undertaken. This history was divided into 45 books; but there only remain the five first, with extracts of some parts of the others. It has had several editions in Greek and Latin ; and there is an English translation by Mr Hampton.

He died at the age of 82.

POLYCARP, one of the most ancient fathers of the Christian church, was born towards the end of the reign of Nero, probably at Smyrna; where he was educated at the expence of Calista, a noble matron distinguished by her piety and charity. He was unquestionably a disciple of St John the Evangelist, and conversed familiarly with other of the apostles. When of a proper age, Bucolus ordained him a deacon and catechist of his church; and upon his death he succeeded him in the bishopric, to which he is said to have been consecrated by St John, who also directed his Apocalypse, among others, to him, under the title of the angel of the church of Smyrna. At length the controversy about the observation of Easter beginning to grow high between the eastern and western churches, he went to Rome to discourse with those who were of the opposite party. The see was then possessed by Anicetus, with whom he had many conferences, that were carried on in the most peaceable and amicable manner; and though neither of them could bring the other to embrace his opinion, they both retained their own sentiments without violating that charity which is the great law of their religion.

Whilst at Rome he particularly opposed the heresies of Marcian and Valentinus. His conduct on this occasion is related by Irenæus; who informs us, that when Polycarp passed Marcian in the street without speaking, Marcian said, "Polycarp, own us!" To which he replied with indignation, "I own thee to be the firstborn of Satan." Irenæus adds, that when any heretical doctrines were spoken in his presence, he would stop his ears and say, "Good God! to what times hast thou reserved me, that I should hear such things!" and immediately left the place. He was wont to tell, that St John, going into a bath at Ephesus, and finding Cerinthus the heretic in it, immediately started back without bathing, crying out, "Let us run away, lest the bath should fall upon us while Cerinthus the enemy of truth is in it." Polycarp governed the church of Smyr. na with apostolic purity, till he suffered martyrdom in the 7th year of Marcus Aurelius; the manner of which is thus related.

The persecution waxing hot at Smyrna, and many having sealed their faith with their blood, the general cry was, "Away with the impious; let Polycarp be sought for." Upon which he privately withdrew into a neighbouring village, where he continued for some time praying night and day for the peace of the church. He

a dove was seen to fly from the wound, which some sup- Polycarp pose to have been his soul, clothed in a visible shape at the time of its departure (A)." The Christians endea- Po'ycrates. voured to carry off his body entire, but were not allowed by the irenarch, who commanded it to be burnt to ashes. The bones, however, were gathered up, and decently interred by the Christians.

Thus died St Polycarp, the 7th of the kalends of May, A. C. 167. The amphitheatre on which he suf fered was mostly remaining not many years ago; and his tomb, which is in a little chapel in the side of a mountain, on the south-east of the city, was solemnly visited by the Greeks on the festival day; and for the maintenance and repairing of it, travellers were wont to throw a few aspers into an earthen pot that stands there for the purpose. He wrote some homilies and epistles, which are now lost, except that to the Philippians, which is a truly pious and Christian piece, containing short and useful precepts and rules of life, which St Jerome informs us was even in his time read in the public assemblies of the Asiatic churches. It is singularly useful in proving the authenticity of the books of the New Testament; for he has several passages and expressions from Matthew, Luke, the Acts, St Paul's Epistles to the Philippians, Ephesians, Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, Thessalonians, Colossians, 1st Timothy, 1st Epistle of St John, and 1st of Peter; and makes particular mention of St Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. Indeed his whole Epistle consists of phrases and sentiments taken from the New Testament (B).

Polycarp. was thus employed, when one night he fell into a trance, and dreamed that his pillow took fire, and was burnt to ashes; which, when he awoke, he told his friends was a presage that he should be burnt alive for the cause of Christ. Three days afterwards, in order to escape the incessant search for him, he retired into another village his enemies, however, were at hand, who seized upon two youths (one of whom they forced by stripes to a confession), by whom they were conducted to his lodging. He might have saved himself by getting into another house; but he submitted, saying, “The will of the Lord be done." He therefore came down from his bed-chamber, and saluting his persecutors with a serene and cheerful countenance, he ordered a table to be set with provisions, invited them to partake of them, and only requested for himself, one hour for prayer; after which he was set upon an ass, and conducted towards Smyrna. On the road he met Herod an irenarch or justice of the province, and his father, who were the principal instigators of the persecution. Herod took him up into his chariot, and strenuously endeavoured to undermine his constancy; but having failed in the attempt, he thrust him out of the chariot with so much violence and indignation that he bruised his thigh with the fall. When at the place of execution, there came, as is said, a voice from heaven, saying, "Polycarp, be strong, and quit thyself like a man " Before the tribunal he was urged to swear by the genius of Cæsar. "Repent (says the proconsul), and say with us, take away the impious." Whereupon the martyr looking round at the crowd with a severe and angry countenance, beckoned with his hand, and looking up to heaven, said with a sigh, in a very different tone from what they meant, "Take away the impious." At last, confessing himself to be a Christian, the crier thrice proclaimed his confession, and the people shouted, "This is the great doctor of Asia, and the father of the Christians; this is the destroyer of our gods, that teaches men not to do sacrifice, or worship the deities." When the fire was prepared, Polycarp requested not to be nailed, as usual, but only tied to the stake; and after a short prayer, which he pronounced with a clear and audible voice, the executioner blew up the fire, which increasing to a mighty flame," Behold a wonder seen (says my author) by us who were purposely reserved, that we might declare it to others; the flames disposing themselves into the resemblance of an arch, like the sails of a ship swelled with the wind, gently encircled the body of the martyr, who stood all the while in the midst, not like roasted flesh, but like the gold or silver purified in the furnace, his body sending forth a delightful fragrancy, which like frankincense or some other costly spices, presented itself to our senses. The infidels, exasperated by the miracle, commanded a spearman to run him through with a sword: which he had no sooner done, but such a vast quantity of blood flowed from the wound as extinguished the fire; when

POLYCARPON, a genus of plants, belonging to the triandria class; and in the natural method ranking under the 22d order, Caryophyllei. See BOTANY Index.

POLYCHREST, in Pharmacy, signifies a medi- cine that serves many uses, or that cures many diseases. Sul POLYCHREST, a compound salt made of equal parts of saltpetre and sulphur, deflagrated in a red-hot crucible. See MATERIA MEDICA.

POLYCNEMUM, a genus of plants, belonging to the triandria class; and in the natural method ranking under the 12th order, Holoraceae. See BOTANY Index.

POLYCRATES, was a tyrant of Samos, famous for the good fortune which always attended him. He became very powerful; and got possession not only of the neighbouring islands, but also of some cities on the coast of Asia. He had a fleet of 100 ships of war, and was so universally esteemed, that Amasis the king of Egypt made a treaty of alliance with him. The Egyptian king was, however, afraid of his continued prosperity, and advised him to chequer his enjoyments, by relinquishing some of his most favourite objects. Polycrates, in compliance, threw into the sea a beautiful seal, the most valuable of his jewels. The loss of so precious a seal afflicted him for some time; but soon after he received as a present a large fish, in whose belly it was found. Amasis no sooner heard this, than he gave up

all