MISSOURI TERRITORY-MITHRIDATES. founded in 1764; the principal inhabitants were from Canada. This country was settled but slowly until it was purchased by the United States; since that period, immigration has almost annually increased. In 1820, Missouri became an independent state, and it will, doubtless, become one of the most populous in the Union. For the constitution, see Constitutions of the United States. A good description of Missouri, and of all the states of the Mississippi Valley, may be obtained from Flint's Geography, &c. MISSOURI TERRITORY; a tract of country belonging to the United States, 900 miles long, and 800 broad; bounded by the British possessions on the north; the North-West Territory, Illinois and Missouri on the east ; the territories of the Mexican republic on the south and south-west; and west by the Rocky mountains. The belt of land on the west border of the Mississippi, that is wooded, is generally from two to four hundred miles broad. Then commence the immense prairies, which constitute so striking and impressive a feature in the vast country that spreads westward to the Rocky mountains. For the most part, this country is a plain, more or less covered with grass, and in many places, fertile; but other parts, of great extent, are almost a moving sand. Countless numbers of buffaloes, elks, and other wild animals, graze upon it. The principal sources of the Missouri, Arkansas, and Red river, are found in this territory, and several large branches of the Mississippi, above the Missouri, come from the north-western part of the same vast country. The Rocky mountains are yet but imperfectly known. Their bases have generally an elevation of 3 or 4000 feet above the ocean, and some of them are estimated at 12,000 feet in height. Following up the valleys of the sources of the Platte to the opposite valleys of waters that flow west, a good road is found, easily passable with loaded wagons. Thus an easy communication is provided between the navigable rivers of the Oregon territory, on the borders of the Pacific ocean, and those which flow into the gulf of Mexico. There are other ranges of mountains, which traverse different parts of this territory, as the Black hills, the Ozark mountains, the Masserne, &c. There are fertile belts of land on the margins of most of the rivers, and some of them have a great extent of rich country. Generally, as we recede from the rivers, the soil becomes poor, and very extensive deserts are found in the southern regions. There are very few settlements of whites in this vast country, and none so considerable as to have any established government. At Council Bluffs there is a military post, having one regiment of infantry. Many tribes of Indians still possess extensive tracts. The Sioux are the most Bumerous; the whole number is estimated at between 140,000 and 150,000. MISTLETOE. See Misletoe. 3 appear like moving particles of dust. They are very quick-sighted, and when once they have been touched with a pin, it is curious to observe the cunning which they display to avoid a second touch. They are extremely voracious, and will even prey on each other, and are so tenacious of life that they have been kept alive for many months between objectglasses of a microscope. The species which is found in meal occasions considerable injury. Leuwenhoek states that they may be expelled by placing a few nutmegs in the vessel or sack containing the meal. A German writer, named Funke, advises a cheaper remedy, which consists of the decorticated, thick branches of the lilac, or elder, which are to be put in the flour, and will, it is said, completely prevent their depredations. See Tick. MITE; a small coin, formerly current, equal to about one third of a farthing; it also denotes a small weight used by the moneyers. It is equal to the twentieth part of a grain, and divided into twenty-four doits. MITFORD, WILLIAM; an eminent historical and philological writer, born in London, February 10, 1734. He studied at Queen's college, Oxford, and then at the Middle Temple, but early quitted the profession of the law, and obtained a commission in the Southamptonshire militia, of which he became colonel. In 1785, he was chosen member of parliament, in which he sat till 1818. His death took place in 1827. He was professor of ancient history at the royal academy; and, besides his principal work, the History of Greece (1784-1810, 4 vols., 4to; since reprinted in 8vo), he published an Essay on the Harmony of Language (1774, 8vo); a Treatise on the Military Force, and particularly the Militia of this kingdom (8vo); Observations on the History of Christianity (8vo); a work on architecture, and another on the corn-laws. MITHRA; the sun, or the genius of the sun, with the Persians, which was worshipped as a deity, at a later period, also in Greece and Rome. Mithra stands as a mediator between Ormuzd and the world. His symbols are the sun (of truth and justice) on his head, the mace (power) in his hand, or the sacrificing dagger, and the bull of the world, on whose back he lies. He is not to be confounded with the Mitra, or Anahid, the Persian Venus. Even in Germany, there are traces of his worship, in the provinces anciently under the dominion of the Romans. MITHRIDATES; the name of several kings of Pontus, among whom Mithridates the Great, or the VIth, was the most renowned. Ambition, cruelty, a spirit which nothing could bend, united with a powerful genius, were the characteristics which early developed themselves in his character. His father was murdered B. C. 124, and Mithridates ascended the throne at the age of thirteen years. His mother and instructor plotted against his life; but he caused the former to be thrown into prison MITE. Several minute species of insects are (although she had been made co-regent with him), known under the name of mites, most of which, how-where she died, according to some, of ill treatment, ever, belong to the genus acarus of Linnæus. The most of these animals are very small, or almost microscopic. They occur everywhere, some being of a wandering character and to be found under stones, leaves, the bark of trees, or in provisions, as meal, cheese, pepper, &c. ; others are stationary and parasitic, on the skin of various animals, sometimes proving of serious injury to them. It is even asserted, and with great appearance of truth, that the itch is owing to these animals. From the experiments of several inquirers, it appears they not only have been seen in the pustules of the itch, but also that they are capable of giving it to a healthy individual by being placed on his skin. This is, however, denied by other and very high authority. The mites inhabiting cheese are so minute that to the naked eye they but according to others of poison. He hardened his body against exposure, and endeavoured to render himself insensible to the effects of poison (whence the name of a supposed antidote, Mithridate). When he became of age, he travelled through Asia, partly to learn the customs, laws, manners, and languages of the inhabitants (and he is said to have spoken twentytwo languages), and partly to examine the territories of his neighbours, of which he meditated the conquest. After an absence of three years, he returned, and put to death his wife, who had been unfaithful, and had attempted to poison him. He then attacked Paphlagonia, and divided it with his ally, the king of Bithynia. The Romans, who had declared the country free, threatened him with a war; but Mithridates was so little alarmed at this threat, that he even possessed himself of Galatia, which had placed sent his son Ariarathes, with a powerful army, into itself under the protection of Rome. He next Macedonia, which, with Thrace, was speedily condirected his attention to Cappadocia; but, fearing quered. His arms were everywhere victorious, the power of Ariarathes, who was in possession of until, at length, the report that he threatened Italy this country, and his connexion with the Romans, he itself, led the Romans to adopt more decisive meashad recourse to treachery, and caused him to be ures. Sylla embarked for Greece, reduced Athens assassinated. At the same time, Nicomedes, king by famine, destroyed the army of Archelaus in a of Bithynia, entered Cappadocia, drove out the son of bloody contest at Charonea, and emancipated all the murdered king, and married Laodice, the widow Greece by two victories in Boeotia. Fimbria, with of Ariarathes and the sister of Mithridates. The no less success, reduced Asia Minor, and besieged latter then took the opportunity of re-entering Cap- Mithridates himself in the fortress of Pitane, who padocia, conquered it, and replaced his nephew on finally fled to his ships. The Pontic fleet was also the throne; but he soon compelled the young prince, twice defeated by Lucullus. Thus pressed on every by his dishonourable requisitions, to a declaration of side, Mithridates commissioned Archelaus to conclude war. They marched against each other, with about a treaty, which Sylla granted, under severe condiequal forces. Mithridates then offered terms of tions, B. C. 89. Mithridates was limited to his peace, and invited the young prince to a conference, hereditary kingdom of Pontus, and compelled to in which he killed him with a dagger, in the sight deliver into the hands of the Romans eighty ships of of both armies. The Cappadocians, seeing their war manned, and to pay 2000 talents. Sylla had master fall, were seized with terror, and Mithridates scarcely left Asia before Mithridates attacked Colpossessed himself of the country, almost without chis, and refused to fulfil the conditions of the peace. opposition. Nicomedes now concerted with his The Roman general, Muræna, who entered and wife the plan of suborning a young man to represent ravaged Pontus, was defeated, and many cities of the third son of Ariarathes, and caused him to send Asia had declared themselves for the victor, when to Rome to implore assistance. Laodice herself per- Aulus Gabinius, sent by the dictator Sylla, appeared. formed a journey to Rome, in order to confirm his Cappadocia was evacuated by Mithridates; but, on story. Mithridates took advantage of this fraud to the other hand, he subdued the Bosphorians (B. C. endeavour to prove to the Romans that the young | 82), and had no sooner heard of the death of Sylla prince to whom he had given up Cappadocia (who (B. C. 78), than he determined to recover the counwas his own son, to whom he had given the name of tries he had ceded, and, in order to distract the Ariarathes) was the real son of Ariarathes. The Romans, entered into a treaty with Sertorius, the Romans, having discovered this double fraud, took chief of the Marian faction in Spain. His son-in-law Cappadocia from Mithridates, and Paphlagonia from Tigranes, king of Armenia, entered into his designs, Nicomedes; and the Cappadocians elected Ariobar- and marched to Cappadocia, while Mithridates himzanes their king. Scarcely had Sylla, whose arms self, after the subjugation of Paphlagonia, conquered had elevated the latter to the throne, left Asia, when Bithynia and the provinces of Asia. A new war Mithridates, with the assistance of Tigranes, king with Rome was now unavoidable. The consuls of Armenia, replaced his son upon the Cappadocian Lucullus and Cotta went against Mithridates, the throne. He also, at the same time, took Bithynia, latter as commander of the fleet, and the former as and gave that country to his brother Socrates Chris-general of the land forces. Cotta was unsuccessful; tos. The Romans, however, soon restored things to their former condition. Mithridates then declared himself against the Romans, and, because they would not acquiesce in his demands, he suddenly fell upon Cappadocia and Bithynia at the same time. His forces amounted to 250,000 foot, 50,000 horse, 130 chariots armed with scythes, and 400 ships. Those of the Romans, with the Bithynian auxiliaries, were not much inferior, and were commanded by Cassius, Aquilius, and Oppius. Mithridates was successful at the opening of the war. He not only defeated Nicomedes, but also Aquilius, conquered Bithynia, and captured a great part of the Roman fleet. Phrygia, Caria, Mysia, Lycia, Pamphylia, Paphlagonia, and all the country as far as Ionia, fell into his hands, and hailed him as the saviour of Asia. The Roman generals Oppius and Aquilius were also given up to him as prisoners by the inhabitants of Laodicea and Lesbos; and he caused melted gold to be poured down the throat of the latter, in derision of the avarice of the Romans. The free cities of Asia, Magnesia, Mitylene, Ephesus, &c., opened their gates to the victor, who collected treasure sufficient to maintain his army five years. He caused all the Roman citizens in Asia Minor, with their wives and children, to be put to death. Dionysius and Plutarch give the number of those who perished at 150,000; Appian at 80,000. Mithridates next conquered the islands of the Egean sea. Rhodes, however, held out so firmly that he returned to Pergamus. From hence he sent his general Archelaus, with 120,000 men, to Greece. Athens fell by treachery into his hands, and various other places were taken, while another of his generals, Metrophanes, ravaged Eubœa. On the news of the defeat of the latter, Mithridates Lucullus, on the contrary, cautiously avoided a general engagement with the superior forces of the enemy, but at the same time gained so many important advantages, by sea and land, that he soon entered Pontus as a conqueror. While he was besieging Amisus, Mithridates collected an army, and gained a decided victory; yet Lucullus succeeded in regaining what he had lost, and Mithridates found himself compelled, by the revolt of his own troops, to fly to Tigranes, in Armenia, who received him, but did not make common cause with him. Lucullus, who had, in the mean time, transformed Pontus into a Roman province, demanded the surrender of Mithridates, which Tigranes refused, because, as he said, although he disapproved the conduct of Mithridates, he nevertheless esteemed it dishonourable to deliver up so near a connexion to his enemies; but, as he foresaw that the Romans would not be contented with this answer, he agreed with Mithridates that he should return to Pontus with 10,000 men, collect an army, and return with it before Lucullus, who was besieging Sinope, should come into Armenia, Sinope, however, surrendered sooner than they expected, and Lucullus defeated Tigranes before his junction with Mithridates. Tigranes, nevertheless, collected a new army, which Mithridates led into Pontus. Lucullus, however, checked his progress by a vietory; but, during the winter, Mithridates strengthened his forces, and soon entirely defeated the lieutenants of Lucullus, and then directed his march towards Armenia Minor, to form a junction with Tigranes. In the mean time, the consul Manius Acilius Glabrio had taken the chief command, in the place of Lucullus. The allied kings took advantage of the confusion incidental to this change, and MITHRIDATES-MNEMONICS. reconquered the greatest part of Pontus, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Armenia Minor. Pompey then appeared at the head of the Roman army. After he had in vain offered him peace, and sought a decisive battle, he besieged Mithridates in his camp, not far from the Euphrates. The king thence retreated, but was pursued, attacked in a defile, and totally routed at Nicopolis (B. C. 66); he escaped with only 800 horse. Tigranes would not receive him, and he fled to Colchis. Pompey followed him, and he took refuge in the dominions of a Scythian prince. He was now thought to be dead, until he suddenly reappeared in Pontus, collected troops, and, at the same time, offered terms of peace to Pompey; they could not, however, agree, and the war broke out afresh. The force of the Romans in Pontus was small, and Mithridates made some progress. The inhabitants, however, soon revolted from him, and his neighbours refused him their assistance; nevertheless, his unbending spirit rejected the proposals of peace made by Pompey. He put to death his son Machares, made himself king in Bosphorus, and formed the bold project of penetrating into Gaul (where he had sent ambassadors) at the head of his army, and marching, with the inhabitants, into Italy; but, having encamped at the Cimmerian Bosphorus, an insurrection broke out in his army, at the head of which was his son Pharnazes. Unable to reduce the rebels to their duty, and having taken poison without effect, Mithridates threw himself upon his sword, that he might not fall alive into the hands of the Romans (B. C. 64.) This celebrated monarch ruled Pontus fifty-nine years. MITHRIDATES; the title given to the Allgemeine Sprachenkunde of Adelung and Vater, in which the Lord's prayer is exhibited in nearly five hundred languages and dialects. See Vater. MITRA; a head-dress of the ancient Persian kings. See Infula. 5 this head-dress on a gem published by Natter, and subsequently by Winckelmann, in his Monumenti Inediti (No. 112). Priam, and the Amazons, upon the Homeric monuments, and the Parthian kings, upon several medals, have a similar mitre. The mitre is very frequently met with in early Christian manuscripts, in illuminated missals, and upon the oldest ecclesiastical monuments; this, however, might be expected, since its usage has always been principally ecclesiastical. A statue of St Peter, erected in the seventh century, bears this mark of distinction, in the shape of a round, high, and pyramidal mitre, such as those worn by each of the popes since. Perhaps this statue offers one of the earliest instances of its usage in the Christian churches. See Infula, and Tiara. MITTAU (in Lettonian, Jelgava); a city of Russia; chief city of the government of Mittau (see Courland), lat. 56° 39' N.; lon. 23° 43′ E. It is situated in a low and marshy country, about nine leagues from Riga. The population is 12,000, composed of Russians, Germans, Lettonians, and Jews. The old ramparts have been destroyed. It contains numerous charitable and literary institutions. The old castle, founded by the duke Ernest John, was occupied by Louis XVIII. for several years. Mittau, the ancient residence of the dukes of Courland, was captured by the Swedes in 1701, and recovered by the Russians in 1706. MITTIMUS; a writ by which records are transferred from one court to another. The precept directed to a gaoler, under the hand and seal of a justice of the peace, for the receiving and safe keeping of a felon, or other offender, by him committed to gaol, is also called a mittimus. MIZZEN; the aftermost or hindermost of the fixed sails of a ship. MIZZEN MAST; the mast which supports all the after sails. See Ship. MNEMONICS (from the Greek μνημονεύω, to reMitra; the ancient Persian goddess of love. member); the art of assisting the memory. In the MITRE (Greek Tga), in costume; a sacerdotal article Memory, the liveliness with which ideas are ornament, worn on the head by bishops and certain often recalled by accidental associations, has been abbots on solemn occasions, being a sort of cap, spoken of. This very naturally led men to attach pointed and cleft at top. The high priest among ideas, words, &c., purposely, to certain things familiar the Jews wore a mitre, or bonnet, on his head. The to the mind, in order to be assisted by the latter in reinferior priests of that nation had likewise their mitres, membering the former. One kind of mnemonics, and but in what particulars they differed from that worn perhaps the earliest, is to attach the idea to be rememby the high priest, is not now certain. Some writers bered to some impression of the senses, such as the contend that the earlier bishops wore mitres; but this external objects which are most familiar to our eyes circumstance is also enveloped in a good deal of (topology, from rores, place): some persons make doubt. Among the primitive followers of Christianity, use of a picture, arbitrarily drawn, to which they there was a class of young women who professed a attach the subjects to be remembered, in a certain state of virginity, and were solemnly consecrated order (symbolics, from cvμboλov, mark); others make thereto. These wore a purple and golden mitre, as use of numbers. There are certain natural aids to a badge of distinction. His holiness the pope uses the memory, which we all employ; for instance, if four different mitres, which are more or less rich, we put a piece of paper in a conspicuous spot of our adorned according to the nature of the festivals on room, or make a knot in a handkerchief, in order to which they are assumed. The cardinals formerly be reminded of certain things at particular times. wore mitres, and some canons of cathedrals in Roman As to topology, an orator who intends to deliver a Catholic countries have the privilege of wearing the long speech without notes, may derive assistance mitre, which is also borne by several families of dis- from previously entering the room where he is to tinction in Germany as their crest. But we must speak, and attaching in his mind to certain prominent look back into remoter ages, in order to find the objects in the room the chief heads of his speech. origin of the use of the mitre. It would seem to have To remember dates, several methods have been deobtained primarily in India. According to several vised. The one proposed in Gray's Memoria Techauthors, it was first a part of female costume, and nica is to make certain changes in the names of when worn by a man was considered as indicative of persons, places, &c., in such a way that the words effeminacy. The fillet, with which Bacchus is often shall signify also certain numbers, according to a represented as having his head bound, has been de- | plan previously adopted. A table must be drawn nominated mitrephora. A peculiar kind of head-up, similar to the following::dress, covering the whole head, is often found depicted on ancient coins, &c., with pendents, or pointed dewlaps, by means of which, perhaps, this kind of mitre was tied under the chin. This was probably the Phrygiar mitre; for we find Paris with If we now wish to impress in our memory that Julius 26 α e i 0 n b d t Cæsar arrived at the supreme power 46 B. C., we may change the Julius into Julios, which will be easily remembered whenever we think of Julius, and os signifies, according to the above plan, 46. If we wish to remember that Alexander the Great founded his empire 331 B. C., we change Alexander into Alexita, ita signifying 331, according to the above. In the same way Cyrus, changed into Cyruts, gives the year of the foundation of his great empire. This method may much facilitate the retaining of facts to a certain extent; but it would seem as if the changes themselves might become too numerous to be easily remembered. mere force of memory, to perform arithmetical operations, as multiplication, division, extraction of roots, &c., to forty places. It is said of Magliabecchi, that a gentleman, having lent him a manuscript which he was going to print, came to him soon after it was returned, and, pretending that he had lost it, desired him to repeat as much of it as he could; on which Magliabecchi wrote down the whole, without missing a word or varying the spelling. MNEMOSÝNĚ (Greek, Memory), in the Grecian mythology; daughter of Uranus (Calus, Heaven), and Gaia (Terra, Earth), and by Jupiter the mother of the nine Muses. (q. v.) Systems of mnemonics of a more general character have been proposed; few, however, or none, have remained in vogue for any length of time. Generally speaking, mnemonics ought to be individual; each individual ought to find out that method of assisting his memory which is most convenient to himself; and this will vary, of course, with his habitual associations. The only true basis of a philosophic memory, however, is just classification. (See Memory.) Considerable aid to the memory may be derived from the use of rhymes, or a rhythmical arrangement of words. Remote antiquity made use of rhythm to preserve the memory of historical facts before the invention of writing. The ancients were well acquainted with mnemonics; according to some, the science came from the east to the Greeks; others consider the poet Simonides as the inventor of them; but such inventions cannot be properly assigned to any particular individual. In the time of Cicero it was known among the Romans (see Cicero De Oratore ii. 86 et seq.; Auct. ad Herenn. iii. 16 seq.; Quinctil. x, 1, 11 seq. After Quinctilian's time, mnemonics again declined. In considering the use of mnemonics by the ancient orators, we should remember that they delivered long orations indeed, but had nothing like our debates, in which a member of a deliberative body sometimes rises, and speaks for hours in succession, recapitulating all which has been said before him on the question, and therefore, to a considerable degree, without premeditation. Most of the systems of mnemonics devised for the ancients, would be useless for a parliamentary orator of the present day. In the place of the ancient mnemonics, the schoolmen used the tabellary method. Conrad Celtes, in the fifteenth century, and Schenkel, in the sixteenth, re-established the ancient system. In modern times, several scholars have given much attention to this subject. Some of the best works are Kastner's Mnemonik, oder die Gedichtnisskunst der Alten (Leipsic, 1805); Systematische Anleitung zur Theorie und Praxis der Mnemonik, by Aretin (Sulzbach, 1810); Feinagle's New Art of Memory, to which is prefixed some Account of the Prin-rushes, to make a sure and firm passage. cipal Systems of Artificial Memory (London, 1812); Gray's Memoria Technica (1730). The degree to which the power of memory has been sometimes carried, is almost incredible. Thus Seneca states, that, by the mere effort of his natural memory, he was able to repeat 2000 words upon once hearing them, each in its order, though they had no dependence or connexion on each other. He also mentions Cyneas, ambassador to the Romans from king Pyrrhus, who in one day so well learned the names of the people whom he saw, that the next day he saluted all the senators, and all of the populace assembled, each by his proper name. Pliny says that Cyrus knew every soldier in his army by name, and L. Scipio all the people of Rome. Charmipas, or rather Carneades, when required, it is said, would repeat any volume found in the libraries as readily as if he were reading. Doctor Wallis tells us, that, without the assistance of pen and ink, or any thing equivalent, he was able in the dark, by the Mo signifies tribe, nation, in many idioms of Southern Africa. MOAB; the land of the Moabites, an Arabian tribe, dwelling in the mountainous region east of the Dead sea, from Zoar to the river Arnon, between the Midianites, Edomites, and Amorites. According to the Mosaic account (Gen. xix. 30), the Moabites were descended from Moab, the son of Lot by his eldest daughter. In the time of the judges, they were for eighteen years masters of the Hebrews, but in the time of David, were rendered tributaries to them. After the Babylonish captivity, they lost their separate national existence. Their principal leaders mentioned in scripture, are Balak and Eglon; their idols were Peor and Chemosh. MOALLAKAT (i. e. the hung up); seven Arabian poems of the time immediately preceding Mohammed, which, on account of their excellence, were suspended in public, on the temple at Mecca. An English translation with arguments, and the Arabic text, was published by Sir W. Jones (London, 1783.) See Arabian Literature. MOAT, or DITCH, in fortification, a deep trench dug round the rampart of a fortified place, to prevent surprises. The brink of the moat next the rampart, is called the scarp; and the opposite one, the counterscarp. A dry moat round a large place, with a strong garrison, is preferable to one full of water; because the passage may be disputed inch by inch, and the besiegers, when lodged in it, are continually exposed to the bombs, grenades, and other fire-works, which are thrown incessantly from the rampart into their works. In the middle of dry moats, there is sometimes another small one called lunette, which is generally dug till the water fills it. The deepest and broadest moats are accounted the best; but a deep one is preferable to a broad one; the ordinary breadth is about twenty fathoms, and the depth about sixteen. To drain a moat that is full of water, a trench is dug deeper than the level of the water, to let it run off, and then hurdles are thrown upon the mud and slime, covered with earth or bundles of MOBILE; a city, port of entry, and capital of Mobile county, Alabama, on the west side of Mobile river, at its entrance into the bay. It is thirty miles north of Mobile point, which is on the east side of the mouth of the bay; fifty-five miles west by north from Pensacola; and 160 east from New Orleans; lat. 30° 40′ N.; lon. 88° 21′ W. In 1813, this town came into the possession of the United States, and then contained about 300 inhabitants. In 1822, its population was estimated at 2800; and in 1830, it contained 3194.-Mobile is situated considerably above the overflow of the river, in a dry and pleasant place; but access to the city is rendered somewhat difficult by a swampy island opposite. It has, moreover, swampy lands and stagnant waters back of it; and near it is a sterile country of pine woods. The city has several times been ravaged by the yellow fever, and has once been almost wholly destroyed by fire. Advantage was taken of the sickliness of Mobile, a few years since, to establish | much sought for on account of its wonderful fathe town of Blakely, on the eastern and opposite culty of imitating the tone of every inhabitant of side of the bay, and ten miles distant from Mobile. the woods, from the twitter of the humming-bird to Besides being healthy, this site has many very impor- the scream of the eagle. But its notes are not entant advantages over Mobile; but the project of estab- tirely imitative; its own song is bold, full, and exlishing it as a substitute for Mobile, entirely failed. ceedingly varied, during the utterance of which it Only New Orleans and Charleston are before Mobile appears in an ecstasy of delight. In confinement, it in the cotton trade, and Charleston is declining, loses little of its power or energy. To use the while Mobile is rapidly increasing. The value of words of Wilson, "He whistles for the dog; Cæsar exports of domestic produce from Alabama in 1829, starts up, wags his tail, and runs to meet his master. was 1,679,385 dollars; and nearly the whole of this He squeaks out like a hurt chicken, and the hen must have been shipped at Mobile. This city has a hurries about, with hanging wings and bristled regular steam-boat communication with New Orleans feathers, clucking, to protect her injured brood. through lake Ponchartrain. During most of the year, The barking of the dog, the mewing of the cat, the steam-boats are constantly plying between this place creaking of the passing wheelbarrow, follow with and the towns on the river, and many vessels are great truth and rapidity. He repeats the tune taught loading at the wharves for distant ports. him by his master, though of considerable length, fully and faithfully. He runs over the quiverings of the canary, or the clear whistlings of the Virginia nightingale or red-bird, with such superior execution and effect, that the mortified songsters feel their own inferiority, and become altogether silent; while he seems to triumph in their defeat, by redoubling his exertions."-The female lays from four to five eggs, of an ash-blue colour, marked with patches of brown; she incubates fourteen days, and is extremely jealous of her nest, being very apt to desert it if much disturbed. During the period when the young are in the nest, neither cat, dog, nor man can approach it without being attacked." When intended for the cage, they are either taken from the nest when they are very young, or at a later period by trap-cages, MOBILE; a river of Alabama, formed by the union of the Alabama and the Tombeckbee. It takes the name of Mobile where these two rivers unite at fort Mimms. It enters Mobile bay by two mouths. The Alabama is the eastern branch, and rises in the Alleghany ridges of Georgia. It receives a number of small streams, and becomes navigable for small sea vessels at fort Claiborne. Similar vessels ascend the Tombeckbee to the mouth of the Black Warrior, eighty miles above St Stephens. At moderate stages of water it affords steam-boat navigation to Tuscaloosa, 320 miles from Mobile. Both these rivers are very favourable to boat navigation. The lands on their borders are excellent, and produce great quantities of cotton. MOBILITY; a contingent property of bodies, but most essential to their constitution. Every body at rest can be put in motion, and if no impediment intervenes, this change may be effected by the slightest external impression. Thus the largest cannon ball, suspended freely by a rod or chain from a lofty ceiling, is visibly agitated by the horizontal stroke of a swan shot which has gained some velocity in its descent through the arc of a pendulum. In like manner, a ship of any burden is, in calm weather and smooth water, gradually pulled along even by the exertions of a boy. A certain measure of force, indeed, is often required to commence or to maintain the motion; but this consideration is wholly extrinsic, and depends on the obstacles at first to be overcome, and on the resistance which is afterwards encountered. If the adhesion and intervention of other bodies were absolutely precluded, motion would be generated by the smallest pressure, and would continue with undiminished energy. MODALITY. Kant uses this word for that category (see Kant) which determines the relation of all the ideas of the judgment to our understanding. The logical modality of Kant is, therefore, the manner in which the understanding conceives the connexion and relation of ideas in a judgment; whether we leave something undecided, as in problematical judgments, or give the thing as true, as in assertory judgments, or are obliged to consider a certain connexion of ideas to be true, as in apodictical judgments. For further information, see the article Kant. MODE; a particular system, or constitution of sounds, by which the octave is divided into certain intervals according to the genus. The doctrine of the ancients respecting modes is rendered somewhat obscure, by the difference among their authors as to the definitions, divisions, and names of their modes. Some place the specific variations of tones, or modes, in the manner of division, or order of the concinnous parts; and others merely in the different tension of the whole; that is, as the whole series of notes are more acute or grave, or as they stand higher or lower in the great scale of sounds. While the ancient music was confined within the narrow bounds of the tetrachord, the heptachord, and octachord, there were only three modes admitted, whose fundamentals were one tone distant from each other. The gravest of these was called the Dorian; the Phrygian was in the middle, and the acutest was the Lydian. In dividing each of these tones into two intervals, place was given to two other modes, the Ionian and the Eolian; the first of which was inserted between the Dorian and Phrygian, and the second between the Phrygian and Lydian. The system being at length extended both upward and downMOCKING BIRD (turdus polyglottos). This ward, new modes were established, taking their capricious little mimic is of a cinereous colour; paler denomination from the five first, by joining the prebeneath. It inhabits America from New England to position hyper (over or above) for those added at the Brazil, but is rare and migratory in the Northern acute extremity, and the preposition hypo (under) for States, whilst it is common and resident in the South- those below. Thus the Lydian mode was followed by the Hyper-Dorian, the Hyper-Ionian, the HyperPhrygian, the Hyper-Eolian, and the Hyper-Lydian, MOCHA, or MOKKA; a town on the Arabian sea, in the province of Yemen, with a commodious harbour, and about 6000 inhabitants, including several hundred Jews and about 500 Banians. It is frequented by merchants from the Barbary States, Egypt, Turkey, and India, and by British, French, and North American ships. The coffee which bears the name of the town, is brought down from the interior of the country by caravans. Gum Arabic, copal, mastich, myrrh, frankincense, indigo, senna, and other articles, are exported. The imports are chiefly Indian commodities. The trade is most active between May and August, in which period about 100 ships enter the port. There are several mosques, caravansaries, and European factories here. Lon. 43° 10' E.; lat. 13° 16' N. ern. This bird, although it cannot vie with most of the American species in brilliancy of plumage, is |