Part 110

NAUMACHIÆ,or sea-fights, are described as early as the time of the first Punic war, when the Romans first initiated their men in the knowlege of sea affairs. After the improvement of many years, they were designed as well for the gratifying the sight as for increasing their naval experience and discipline; and therefore composed one of the solemn shows, by which the magistrates or emperors, or any affectors of popularity, so often made their court to the people. It will be observed from this passage out of Kennett’s Roman Antiquities, page 269, that the necessity which Rome was under of fighting Carthage upon her own element, gave rise to their naval manœuvres. But the overgrown empire of the former, and the subsequent corruption of her people, soon converted these powerful auxiliaries to the legions, by whom she had conquered the universe, into instruments of pleasure and debauchery. Lampridius, in the life of the emperor Heliogabalus, relates, that, in a representation of a naval fight, he filled the channel where the vessels were to ride with wine instead of water. A story scarcely credible, though we have the highest conceptions of that wretch’s prodigious luxury and extravagance. The frequent threats which the French emperor has put forth, and the similitude which he draws between France and Great Britain to Rome and Carthage, may probably lead to great na- exertions.

NAUTICAL _planisphere_, a description of the terrestrial globe upon a plane, for the use of mariners: but more usually called _chart_.

NAVY, implies, in general, any fleet or assembly of ships. It is, however, more particularly understood of the vessels of war that belong to a kingdom or state.

NAVY DEPARTMENT of the United States, has the charge of the naval affairs, and of the military marine corps.

_Number and Kind of Ordnance for each of the Ships in the British Navy._

+------+-----++---------------------++-----------+ | | || No. of Guns || | | | No. || of each Kind. ||Carronades.| | | of ++--+--+--+--+--+--+---++--+--+--+--+ |Rates.|Guns.||42|32|24|18|12| 9| 6 ||32|24|18|12| +------+-----++--+--+--+--+--+--+---++--+--+--+--+ |1st. | 100 ||28|--|28|--|30|--|18 || 2| 6|--|--| |2d. | 98 ||--|28|--|30|40|--|--}|| 2|--| 6|--| | { | 80 ||--|26|--|26|--|24| 4}|| | | | | | { | 74 ||--|28|--|28|--|18|--}|| 2|--| 6|--| |3d. { | 70 ||--|28|--|28|--|14|-- || | | | | | { | 64 ||--|--|26|26|--|12|-- ||--| 2| 6|--| |4th. {| 60 ||--|--|24|--|26|--|10 ||--|--|--|--| | {| 50 ||--|--|22|--|22|--| 6 ||--| 6|--| 6| | { | 44 ||--|--|--|20|22|--| 6 ||--|--| 8|--| |5th.{ | 36 ||--|--|--|26| 2| 8|-- || 8|--|--|--| | { | 32 ||--|--|--|--|26|--| 6 ||--| 6|--|--| | {| 28 ||--|--|--|--|--|24| 4 ||--| 6|--|--| |6th. {| 24 ||--|--|--|--|--|22| 2 ||--| 2| 6|--| | {| 20 ||--|--|--|--|--|20|-- ||--|--|--| 8| |Sloops| 18 ||--|--|--|--|--|--|18 ||--|--|--| 8| +------+-----++--+--+--+--+--+--+---++--+--+--+--+

_Dimensions of Ships, Number of Men, and Draught of Water._

+------+---------+--------+----------------------+---------+ | | | | | Depth | |Number| Length | | Complement of | of water| | of | on the | Extreme+--------+-------------+ required| | Guns.|Gun-deck.|Breadth.|Sailors.| Marines. |for each.| +------+---------+--------+--------+-------------+---------+ | | Ft. In. |Ft. In. | N^{o.} | Officers. | Feet. | | 110 | 190 -- | 53 -- |} 875 |} |} 24 | | 100 | 186 -- | 52 -- |} |} |} | | 98 | 180 -- | 50 -- | } 750 |} 1 Captain | } 23 | | 90 | 177 6 | 49 -- | } |} 3 Subalt’s.| } | | 80 | 182 -- | 49 6 |} |} |} | | 74 | 182 -- | 48 7 |} 650 |} |} 18 | | 74 | 169 -- | 46 11 |} |} |} | | 64 | 160 -- | 44 6 |} |1 Cap. 2 Sub.|} | | 50 | 146 -- | 40 6 | 420 |2 Lieuten’ts.| } | | 44 | 140 9 | 38 8 |} |} | } 16 | | 38 | 144 -- | 39 -- |} 300 |} | } | | 36 | 142 -- | 38 -- |} |} | } | | 32 | 126 -- | 35 4 |} |} 1 Subalt. | 15 | | 28 | 120 -- | 33 6 | } |} | | | 24 | 114 7 | 32 3 | } 200 |} | | | 20 | 108 -- | 30 -- | } |} | | | 18 | 110 -- | 29 6 |} 125 | }Serjeant. | 13 | | 16 | 106 -- | 28 -- |} | } | | +------+---------+--------+--------+-------------+---------+ | N. B. The usual complement of Marines is one for | | every Gun in a British Ship of War. | +----------------------------------------------------------+

NAVY-_board_, together with its civil and military departments, in England, consists of a lord high admiral, or lords commissioners for executing this office; one first lord commissioner, and six other lords commissioners, with a number of inferior officers, and clerks.

NAVY, is also a collective body of officers employed in the military sea-service.

NAWAUB, _Ind._ See NABOB.

NEABUT, _Ind._ a deputyship, or lieutenancy: from naib, a deputy.

NECESSARIES, in a military sense, are such articles as are ordered to be given to every soldier.

NEESHUNGPAT, _Ind._ a violent assault without bloodshed.

NEGATIVE. This term is sometimes used to express the result of measures or enterprizes, which though not entirely successful, are not productive of serious or mischievous consequences. Hence the British expeditions to Spain, and to Walcheren, may be considered as having had _negative success_.

NEGATIVE _Penalties_. Certain laws whereby persons are secluded from military rank, &c. without inflicting any positive pains.

NEGLECT _of_ DUTY. Officers or soldiers convicted of neglect of duty, are punishable at the discretion of a court-martial.

NEGROES, blacks, moors. The people brought from Guinea, and other parts of Africa, as slaves, and sent into the colonies of America, to cultivate sugar, tobacco, indigo, &c. and to dig in the mines of Peru or Mexico.

NELLI-COTAH, a fort situated about forty miles to the south of Tinivelly, in the East Indies. This fort has been rendered memorable by the manner in which it was carried by the English in 1755, and the barbarity with which a garrison was treated which had not killed a man and had called for quarter, and yet men, women, and children were massacred. The detachment consisted of 100 Europeans, and 300 sepoys, with two field pieces. These troops (to quote Mr. Orme’s words in his History of the Carnatic, page 386, book V.) set out at midnight and performed the march in 18 hours: the polygar, startled at the suddenness of their approach, sent out a deputy, who pretended he came to capitulate, and promised that his master would pay the money demanded of him in a few days; but suspicions being entertained of his veracity, it was determined to detain him as a pledge for the execution of what he had promised, and he was accordingly delivered over to the charge of a guard. The troops were so much fatigued by the excessive march they had just made, that even the advanced centinels could not keep awake; and the deputy perceiving all the soldiers who were appointed to guard him, fast asleep, made his escape out of the camp, and returned to the fort; from whence the polygar had sent him only to gain time, in order to make the necessary preparations for his defence. This being discovered early in the morning, it was determined to storm the place, of which the defences were nothing more than a mud wall with round towers. The troops had not brought any scaling ladders, but the outside of the wall was sloping, and had many clefts worn in it by the rain, so that the assault, although hazardous, was nevertheless practicable. It was made both by the Europeans and the sepoys with undaunted courage, in several parties at the same time; each of which gained the parapet without being once repulsed, when the garrison retired to the buildings of the fort, where they called out for quarter; but the soldiers, put all they met to the sword, not excepting the women and children; suffering only six persons, out of four hundred, to escape alive: shameful to relate, the troops and officers who bore the greatest part in this shocking barbarity, were the bravest of Englishmen, having most of them served under colonel Lawrence, on the plains of Tritchinopoly: but those who contemplate human nature will find many reasons, supported by examples, to dissent from the common opinion, that cruelty is incompatible with courage.

NESHAUNBURDAR, _Ind._ an ensign.

NETHERLANDS, that part of modern France which lies next to the North sea; it was once called the circle of Burgundy, and sometimes the Low Countries, so called from being situated between France, Lorrain, Germany, and the ocean.

They were formerly divided into 17 provinces, four of which were dukedoms, viz. Brabant, Limburg, Luxemburg, and Guelderland; seven were earldoms, viz. Flanders, Artois, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Namur, and Zutphen; and five Baronies, viz. West Friezland, Mechlin, Utrecht, Overysell, and Groningen.

These were originally governed by distinct lords or princes, but were all united under Philip the good, duke of Burgundy, who left them to his son Charles, surnamed the Hardy, who being killed at Nancy, in 1477, the 17 provinces fell to his only daughter, Mary of Burgundy, who by marrying with Maximilian the First, of Germany, carried them into the house of Austria.

The kings of France claimed a right to Artois, Flanders, &c. In the reign of king Philip II. of Spain, William of Nassau, prince of Orange, and several other discontented noblemen, gave beginning to those disturbances which terminated in the separation of Holland, and the other countries known by the name of the _United Provinces_, occasioned by the dread of the inquisition, the insupportable rigor of the government of the Duke of Alva, and the violent encroachments of the Spaniards upon the liberties and privileges of the countries.

The Netherlands, comprehending Holland, have undergone material alterations during the progress of the French Revolution. Brabant and Flanders, which belonged to the house of Austria, have been annexed to France, and form several of its departments. Holland, upon the expulsion of the Stadtholder, was allowed to call itself an independent country, in alliance with France; but the British co-operating with the adherents of the Stadtholder, exposed it to repeated invasions, to put an end to these conspiracies, after twice expelling the English, the government was changed, and it is now distinguished by the name of the Batavian kingdom.

NETTOYER _les Magazins_, _Fr._ in artillery, signifies to remove the different pieces of ordnance, for the purpose of having them carefully examined, &c. and to have the stores and ammunition so arranged as not to receive damage. This duty is generally performed by small parties of solders, under the command of serjeants, who are detached from the different guards of a garrison town. In the old French service the _commissaire d’artillerie_ superintended the execution of this necessary duty, and the soldiers who were employed, got relieved from any further attendance as part of the guard, the instant their work was done.

NETTOYER, _ou enfiler_, _Fr._ to scour or enfilade.

NETTOYER _la courtine_, _Fr._ to scour, or fire through the whole extent of the curtain.

NETTOYER _le rampart_, _Fr._ to scour the rampart.

NETTOYER _le tranchée_, _Fr._ to scour or clear the trenches. This is effected by means of a vigorous sally which the garrison of a besieged place make upon the besiegers; when they beat in the guard, drive off the artificers and workmen, level the parapet, break up and choak the line of circumvallation, and spike or nail the cannon.

NEUTRAL, neither of the one nor the other.

NEUTRALITE, _Fr._ See NEUTRALITY.

_Garder la_ NEUTRALITE, _Fr._ To be neutral.

_Accorder la_ NEUTRALITE, _Fr._ To allow others to be neutral, or to grant neutrality.

_Observer la_ NEUTRALITE, _Fr._ To observe a strict neutrality.

_Violer la_ NEUTRALITE, _Fr._ To violate the laws of neutrality.

_Demeurer dans la_ NEUTRALITE, _Fr._ To remain in a state of neutrality.

NEUTRALITY. The state or condition of one who is neuter, a middle condition between a friend and an enemy. In a military sense, remaining strictly indifferent, whilst other powers are at war, without assisting any party with arms, ammunition, or men. When a country, calling itself neutral, furnishes a quota or contingent to any nation that is at war with another, it cannot be said to observe the strict laws of neutrality. Of all precarious and difficult situations that perhaps is the most so, in which a weak nation is placed when two powerful nations wage war on each side, and the exact laws of neutrality are expected to be observed by the intermediate country. Bayle speaking of neutrality, humorously exclaims, _heureux les pacifiques quant a l’autre monde, mais dans celui-ci, ils sont misérables_: happy are the peaceable with respect to the next world, but they are miserable in this! in trying to derive advantages from the dissensions and broils of others, they insensibly become the victims of both parties. The French writer humorously says, _Ils veulent être marteaux, cela fait que continuellement ils sont enclumes à droite et à gauche_: they would fain be hammers, instead of which they become anvils, and get beaten both right and left. This happened to the Venetians in 1701, who endeavored to remain neutral during the campaigns that took place between the French and the Imperialists. The Danes afford another illustration of the inefficacy of a neutrality without power to resist, the destruction of Copenhagen, and the plunder of their navy, is an atrocity unparalleled. The treatment experienced by the United States, is only inferior to the barbarity exercised against Denmark. Genoa, Florence, Holland, and Switzerland were all forced from their neutrality by England, and fell victims. The observance of a strict neutrality is unquestionably a matter of extreme difficulty, and requires uncommon ability. Few princes possess those qualities of the head and heart that distinguished Hieron king of Syracuse, who so dexterously managed his neutrality in the war between Rome and Carthage. His subjects were considerably benefited by the conduct he observed, whilst his own reputation was not a little increased by the sound policy that dictated it.

_Armed_ NEUTRALITY. The depredations committed by the naval force of Great Britain, during the first years of the American revolution, excited a general indignation among the maritime powers of the north of Europe. A project said to be devised by Dr. Franklin, and suggested to the count de Vergennes, was communicated to the courts of Russia and Prussia, and taken up with the zeal of a patron by the empress Katherine of Russia, the result was, that in the year 1780, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark, had entered into engagements to arm their fleets, in order to support the neutrality of their commerce; Holland was invited, and consented to engage, but was attacked by Great Britain by surprize before she had ratified the agreement; the other neutral nations were brought to engage in it, and Great Britain was under the necessity of recognizing the principles of the armed confederacy. This event, novel in history, was productive of signal advantages to neutral nations; it formed a new epocha in maritime history, and wrested from England the audacious usurpation of the sovereignty of the seas.

The principles of the armed neutrality were again resumed during the French revolution; but the British, by employing corruption in the northern cabinets, procured the assassination of the emperor Paul of Russia, and at the same time brought a large fleet before Copenhagen which they bombarded, in consequence of which Russia was brought into the war, and Denmark obliged to bend to circumstances. Sweden was already a party in the war.

During the progress of the French revolution, instances have occurred in which a wise neutrality might have been made productive of great national good. But, alas! there are few statesmen, who have ability or political virtue enough, to resist the intrigues or views of those cabinets, who being themselves involved in war, leave nothing untried to drag their neighbors into the same troubled state. Montesquieu has observed, with his usual good sense, that nations seldom know how to avail themselves of natural advantages. What becomes a matter of hard necessity in one country, is frequently found to exist in another, from crooked and interested policy, or from ignorance in administration. Some countries are calculated to be neutral; some to avail themselves of insular situations; and to impose by maritime operations; and others, to make up for the natural disadvantages of continental position, by means of standing armies.

It has been remarked, (with what justice we leave politicians to determine) that no power, being or affecting to be neuter, should be allowed to arm itself, because it is impossible to have perfect confidence in a quarter from whence hostilities may commence according to the exigency of circumstances, (so properly called by the French, _la force des circonstances_;) or the alluring prospects of ambition.

It is more than probable, that the armed confederacy of the north sprung originally from a secret understanding with the agents of France, and manifested itself more strongly on the declaration of Russia. Great Britain of course took the alarm; and, as a French writer very justly observes on the subject of armed neutrality, has sent her fleets, to ascertain the point at the gates of Copenhagen.

The second expedition of the British against Copenhagen is one of the most extraordinary in the annals of the world. The pretence set up is best expressed in the language of _Jackson_, the agent of England in this unprecedented outrage--these are his words. “In the present disturbed state of the continent of Europe it was impossible to distinguish any longer between a _neutral and an enemy_, but by her becoming an ally or an open foe. That something therefore was required beyond an ordinary presumption of the real disposition of every state; and that whilst the influence of an implacable enemy predominated over every power within his reach, (France is alluded to) and either checked or converted into immediate hostility every engagement or inclination unfavorable to his interest, it was impossible to consider the _ordinary covenants_ (that is the law of nations and treaties,) _of any neutral nation_ either as a sufficient security for her own independence, or of those who confide in her neutrality. It becomes the duty of England, therefore, to discriminate in these circumstances between rights paramount and invariable, binding upon all states, and rights which might be suffered to relax and yield to that state of expediency in which a certain course of measures might involve the existence of a nation.”

Such was the detestable and odious sophistry which might be as well applied to cover and excuse any other species of atrocity, and which was followed by the bombardment and conflagration of Copenhagen, the murder of its citizens, and the seizure and plunder of its fleet and naval arsenal. _La loi des plus forts_, or the law of the strongest, so often tramples down national rights, that necessity drives those to the adoption of questionable measures, who would otherwise remain strictly neutral; whilst others again, from being contiguous to contending armies, resort to various pretences, in order to remain in an armed condition for the purpose of taking advantage at a critical moment. Of this description was the system of armed neutrality which Pope Leo X. is recorded to have pursued. When Francis I. king of France, was engaged in a war with the Swiss Cantons, respecting the Milanese, his holiness resolved to remain neuter, or at least affected to be so, although he was strongly invited by both parties to take an active and decisive part. He drew his troops towards the frontiers of the Milanese, under a pretext of covering the ecclesiastical states, but in reality for the purpose of being at hand when the two armies should come to a decisive engagement, of unexpectedly falling upon the victorious army at the close of an obstinate and bloody battle, of driving it out of Italy, becoming master of Lombardy, and finally establishing himself as the arbiter of the country. But all these imaginary triumphs of the Pope soon disappeared. His troops, which had already reached the frontiers of the Milanese, no sooner learned, that the Swiss had been totally routed by the French, than they were panic-struck, and dispersed in the greatest disorder, as if they were conscious of being engaged in a crooked and illegal cause.

Ancient history affords us several examples of this species of neutrality. During the civil wars between the adherents of Vespasian and those of Otho and Vitellius, various means of duplicity were resorted to. We likewise read of the same sort of conduct having been observed by the inhabitants of Corcyrus when they went to war with the Corinthians; and modern history is full of similar instances of specious neutrality. For further particulars on this interesting subject, especially on the conduct to be observed by neuters in war, see from Page 531 to 533, of the English Translation of Hugo Grotius.

NICK-NAME, (_Sobriquet_, _Fr._) A surname, which is used in ridicule or good humor, to distinguish an individual. Nicknames among military men are familiarly used in a collective sense. Thus the light infantry are called _Light Bobs_, the grenadiers _Tow Rows_, and the battalion-men _Flat Foots_; and in many instances whole corps have been particularized in this manner. The 28th of foot were familiarly called the _Slashers_; and a general Sir C. Grey, an officer in the British service, used to be nicknamed General _No-Flint_, from a circumstance which occurred during the American war, when he commanded a party which stole into an American camp at night, and instead of fighting like a soldier, assassinated the Americans while asleep. During the campaigns of 1793 and 1794, in Flanders, &c. the 15th regiment of light dragoons were called _Young Eyes_ by the guards, who received or rather gave themselves the nick-name of _Old Eyes_.

NIGHER, _Ind._ any fortified city, measuring at least eight coss, or eight English miles, in length and breadth.

NIQUIBS, _Ind._ men whose military functions among the sepoys, correspond with those of corporals in the king’s service.

NITHING, a coward, or poltroon.

NITRE, See _Salt Petre_, _Gunpowder_.

NIVEAU, _Fr._ A level.

NIVEAU _de la campagne_, _Fr._ the level surface of a country is so called, in contradistinction to the talus or slope of any rising ground.

_De_ NIVEAU, _Fr._ level, even.

NIVEAU _d’eau_, _Fr._ a water level. This instrument is extremely simple, and of great use to engineers in the construction of works.

NIVEAU _de charpentier_, _Fr._ a carpenter’s rule or level.

NIVEAU _de paveur_, _Fr._ a pavior’s level.

NIVELER, _Fr._ to level.

NIVELER _les eaux_, _Fr._ to find the true level for conveying water.

NIVELER _le terrein_, _Fr._ to find the true level of ground, and to ascertain the relative elevations of places.