Part 126

PREDESTINARIAN. A person who believes in predestination. Every Turk, may be considered as a predestinarian. A Turkish soldier is taught to believe that it he falls in battle he will instantly go to heaven. This is a comfortable idea even for christian soldiers. How far it ought to be encouraged, doctors and able casuists must agree.

PREFECT, (_Préfet_, _Fr._) a governor or commander of any place or body of men. Among the Romans this was a title of great importance, both in civil and military situations. During the existence of the republic the Præfectus Legio has had a considerable command. The two Alæ, wings, or great divisions of the allies, had each a præfect appointed them by the Roman consul, who governed in the same manner as the legionary tribunes. For a specific account see pages 193, 194, 195, of Kennett’s Roman Antiquities. There was likewise, during the time of the Roman emperors, an officer called the præfect of the pretorian band, or body guards. The French have adopted the word in their government. The functions of a modern French prefect correspond almost wholly with those of a governor of a province under the old regime or system.

PREFERMENT, the state of being advanced to a higher post.

PREJUDICE, PREJUGE, _Fr._ Prepossession, judgment formed beforehand, without examination. A celebrated French writer calls it an opinion taken up without judgment, _Le préjuge est une opinion sans jugement_. _Voltaire._ It is used in two instances, viz. for and against a person.

PRELIMINARY, (_Préliminaire_, _Fr._) Previous, introductory, &c. Preliminary, as a substantive, signifies an introductory measure, a previous arrangement. Hence the “preliminaries of peace.”

PRENDRE, _Fr._ A French military term. It is variously used, and accords generally with our word _to take_, viz.

PRENDRE _une ville d’assaut_; _par famine_, &c. To take a town by assault; by famine, &c.

PRENDRE _à droite, ou à gauche_, _Fr._ To go to the right or left.

PRENDRE _à travers_, _Fr._ To run across.

PRENDRE _les devants_, _Fr._ To anticipate, to get the start of any body.

PRENDRE _le pas_, _Fr._ To take precedence.

PRENDRE _la droite_, _Fr._ To take the right.

PRENDRE _terre_, _Fr._ To land.

PRENDRE _le large_, _Fr._ A term used figuratively to signify the act of running away.

PRENDRE _la clef des champs_, _Fr._ Literally, to take the key of the country, or to run over it.

PRENDRE _son êlan_, _Fr._ To dart forth, to spring forward.

PRENDRE _un rat_, _Fr._ A figurative expression used among the French when a musquet or pistol misses fire, _Il voulut tirer, mais son pistolet ne prit qu’un rat_. Literally, he would have fired, but his pistol only caught a rat.

PRENDRE _langue_, _Fr._ To seek for information, to obtain intelligence.

PRENDRE _du temps_, _Fr._ To take time in executing a thing.

PRENDRE _son temps_, _Fr._ To do a thing with perfect convenience to one’s self.

PRENDRE _la parole_, _Fr._ To speak first.

PRENDRE _sa revanche_, _Fr._ To make up for any past loss or disadvantage. We familiarly say, to take one’s revenge.

PRENDRE _à partie_, _Fr._ An expression peculiar to the French, in judicial matters, which signifies to attack a judge, for having prevaricated and taken the part of one side against another, without any regard to justice. It likewise means to impute misconduct or criminality, and to make a person responsible for it.

_Se_ PRENDRE _de vin_, _Fr._ To get drunk. Excess of drinking was so little known among the French officers and soldiers, that the greatest disgrace was affixed to the habit. It is recorded, that when marshal Richelieu had determined to storm a place in the Mediterranean, he gave out the following order--“any soldier who shall appear the least intoxicated, shall be excluded from the honor and glory of mounting the assault to-morrow morning.” Every man was at his post, and not a single instance of intoxication occurred. Such was the _esprit de corps_ and the _amour propre_ which prevailed in all ranks, that the dread of corporeal punishment had less effect than the being deprived of an opportunity to shew courage and resolution.

_Vaisseau_ PRENEUR, _Fr._ A term peculiarly applicable to a ship that has taken a prize.

PREPARATIFS _de guerre_, _Fr._ Warlike preparations. A French writer, under this article, very judiciously observes, that the necessary arrangements which must be made before an army takes the field, and sometimes before an open declaration of war takes place, ought to be managed with extreme caution and great secrecy; although it is impossible to prevent the neighboring powers from being totally ignorant of what is going forward. It is recorded that Henry the IVth of France, having conceived a vast military project, kept it a profound secret for several years, and made the necessary preparations with extreme caution, before he put it into execution.

When Louis the XIVth resolved to invade Italy, in 1663, he dispatched commissaries, purveyors, &c. the preceding year, under various pretences, to buy up corn, to secure forage for his cavalry, and to provide every thing that might be wanted in the train of artillery; and in 1667, when he formed the plan of entering Belgium in person, he arranged all matters relative to the interior government of France during his absence, examined into the state of the finances, filled his treasury with money, augmented, by insensible degrees, the different regiments of his army, and by means of these and other sage precautions, secured the conquest of his object. In fact, well digested plans and cautious arrangements previous to the execution of a military project, however apparently tedious, are the sure forerunners of a prompt and decisive victory. It was a maxim among the Romans, and it is still one among the Turks, _De faire de grosses et courtes guerres_. To make war upon a scale previously vast and heavy, that its issue may be ultimately short and effectual.

PREPARATIVE, having the power of preparing, qualifying, or fitting. This word is used in a military sense to give notice of any thing about to be done. Hence

PREPARATIVE. A beat of the drum by which officers are warned to step out of the ranks when the firings are to commence.

When the preparative is beat, for the firings, the officers in the front rank step out nimbly two paces from the vacancies between the divisions, platoons, companies, or sub divisions, face to the left without word of command, and look right of companies, &c. When the preparative has ceased, they severally commence the firing. When the general is beat they fall back into the front rank.

_To_ PREPARE. To take previous measures.

PREPARE _for action_. A word of command used in the artillery. _To battery_, is a command of the same import.

PREPARATORY, antecedently necessary; giving that knowlege in any art or science which is necessary to qualify individuals for a superior class or branch. Hence _preparatory_ schools.

PREPARATORY _Academies_. The junior department of the British military college, is _preparatory_ to the senior. The first elements of military science are taught in the former, and officers get qualified in the higher branches of the profession when they enter the latter.

PRESENCE _of mind_. Ready conception of expedients, producing promptitude of action under difficult and alarming circumstances.

There is a very remarkable instance of that species of presence of mind which gives a sudden turn to public opinion, and, as it were, electrifies the human mind. When a dangerous mutiny broke out among the Roman legions, on a proposed expedition against the Germans, Cæsar suddenly exclaimed, “Let the whole army return ignominiously home if it think proper, the tenth legion and myself will remain and combat for the republic.” Having, as Plutarch observes, excited his troops to fresh ardor, he led them against the Germans; and being informed that the enemy had been warned by their soothsayers not to engage before the next moon, he took an immediate occasion to force them to battle, in which he as usual obtained victory. On a subsequent occasion this great man discovered a promptitude of conception and a presence of mind which have since been imitated on various occasions by a modern general, but have never been surpassed in ancient or modern history.

Having led his army against the Nervii, the most uncivilized, and the most fierce of all the nations bordering upon the Roman territory, he met a resistance, which as it was not expected, somewhat shook the firmness of his troops. The Nervii, by a sudden onset, at first routed his cavalry, but perceiving the danger to which his army was exposed, Cæsar himself snatched up a buckler, and forcing his way through his own men, he, with the assistance of his tenth legion, changed the fortune of the day, and cut the enemy almost entirely off. For, as Plutarch states, out of 60,000 soldiers, not above 500 survived the battle. The instances of presence of mind in modern wars are numerous, for several see Memoirs of Bonaparte’s first campaign: and several subsequent occasions.

_En_ PRESENCE, _Fr._ In sight.

_All_ PRESENT. A term used when an officer takes his serjeant’s report, and makes the necessary enquiry respecting the state of his troops or company.

_To_ PRESENT, PRESENTER, _Fr._ This word is used in various senses. Those which are more immediately applicable to military usage are as follow:

_To_ PRESENT. To offer openly. To exhibit. To give in ceremony; as to present the colors.

_To_ PRESENT _arms_. To bring the firelock to a certain prescribed position, for the purpose of paying a military compliment. See MANUAL.

PRESENTER _les armes_, _Fr._ To present arms, to bring the firelock to any position that may be prescribed in military exercise. In the firings it signifies _make ready_, viz. _Presentez les armes_, make ready; _Joue_, aim; _feu_, fire. In the manual and other exercises of the piece, it corresponds with our term.

PRESENTER _la baïonette_, _Fr._ To charge bayonet.

PRESIDENCY. The seat of government, so distinguished in India. There are four presidencies, viz. Bombay, Calcutta, Fort St. David, and Madras.

PRESIDENT _of the United States_.

PRESIDENT _of the old congress_.

PRESIDENT _of a general or regimental court martial_. The officer, oldest in rank, who sits in conjunction with other officers, for the trial of military offences is so called. The court, consisting of an odd number of members, when their opinions are equal, the president has the casting vote.

PRESIDIAL, relating to a garrison or fortress.

PRESS-_money_, money given to the soldier when taken or pressed into the service: but as the entrance into the American army is a voluntary act, it is more properly called bounty or enlisting money.

PRESTATION _de serment_, _Fr._ The taking an oath.

PRET, _Fr._ The subsistence or daily pay which is given to soldiers. The French say,

_Payer le_ PRET. To pay subsistence.

_Recevoir le_ PRET. To receive subsistence.

_Toucher le_ PRET. To touch subsistence or daily pay.

PRETENDER, one who pretends to any thing whether it be his own or the property of another.

PRETER, _Fr._ In military tactics, to expose, as

PRETER _son flanc à l’ennemi_. To expose one’s flank to the enemy; to march in so unguarded a manner, or to take up one’s ground so disadvantageously as to stand in continual danger of being outflanked.

The French likewise say, figuratively,

PRETER _le flanc_. To put one’s self in the power of another.

PRETOR, (_Préteur_, _Fr._) Among the Romans, the governor of a province, who had served the office of pretor, or chief minister of justice in ancient Rome. The provinces so governed were called pretorian.

PRETORIAN, (_Pretorien_, _ne_, _Fr._) appertaining to pretor; as _Pretorian Band_, the general’s guard among the ancient Romans.

PRETORIUM, (_Prétoire_, _Fr._) The hall or court wherein the pretor lived and administered justice. It also denoted the tent of the Roman general, in which councils of war were held. The place where the pretorian guards were quartered or lodged, was likewise called pretorium.

PREVARICATION. According to the laws of England is, where a lawyer pleads booty, or acts by collusion, &c. It also denotes a secret abuse committed in the exercise of a public office, or of a commission given by a private person. The word is unknown in military phraseology, and is only explained in this place to stand as a land mark to the open ingenuous character of a soldier.

PREVOST, _Fr._ Provost.

PREVOST _d’une armée_, _Fr._ Provost-marshal belonging to an army.

PRICES _of commissions_. See REGULATIONS.

PRICKER. A light horseman was formerly so called.

_To_ PRICK _out_. An expression used among engineers, &c. signifying to mark out the ground where a camp, &c. is to be formed.

_To_ PRICK _out the line of circumvallation_. This is done by the chief engineer and chief of the staff, whenever an army entrenches itself before a town, or takes possession of any given lot of ground, and begins to hut.

PRICKING. Among marines, to make a point on the plan or chart, near about where the ship then is, or is to be at such a time, in order to find the course they are to steer.

PRIEST’s-_cap_. See FORTIFICATION and BONNET.

PRIME, a word of command used in the platoon exercise. See MANUAL.

PRIME _and load_, a word of command used in the exercise of a battalion, company, or squad. See MANUAL.

PRIME _parade_, in fencing, is formed by dropping the point of your sword to the right, bending your elbow, and drawing the back of your sword hand to within a foot of your forehead, in a line with your left temple, so that your blade shall carry the thrust of your antagonist clear of the inside or left of your position.

PRIME _thrust_, a thrust applicable after forming the above parade, and delivered at the inside of the antagonist. To obtain an opening for this thrust, it is necessary to step out of the line to the right as you parry, or else to oppose the sword of your antagonist with your left hand. The first method is most eligible.

PRIME _Hanging Guard_, with the broadsword, a position in which the hand is brought somewhat to the left, in order to secure that side of the face and body. See BROADSWORD.

PRIMING, in _Gunnery_, the train of powder that is laid, from the opening of the vent, along the gutter or channel, on the upper part of the breech of the gun, which, when fired, conveys the flame to the vent, by which it is further communicated to the charge, in order to discharge the piece. This operation is only used on ship-board, at the proof, and sometimes in garrison; for on all other occasions, tubes are used for that purpose.

PRIMING, or _prime of a gun_, is the gunpowder put in the pan or touch-hole of a piece, to give it fire thereby.

PRIMING-_case_, a small tin case, about the size and shape of a cartridge, for the purpose of keeping a certain quantity of gunpowder, for priming, constantly ready and dry. This rational and econonomical invention, should be universally adopted.

PRIMING _position_. See _Platoon exercise_ under MANUAL.

PRIMING-_wire_, in _gunnery_, a sort of iron needle employed to penetrate the vent or touch-hole of a piece of ordnance, when it is loaded, in order to discover whether the powder contained therein is thoroughly dry, and fit for immediate service; as likewise to search the vent and penetrate the cartridge, when the guns are not loaded with loose powder.

PRIMIPILARII, PRIMOPILARII, _or_ PRIMIPILARES, among the Romans were such as had formerly borne the office of primipulus of a legion. The banner was entrusted to his care. Among other privileges which the primipilarii enjoyed, they became heirs to what little property was left by the soldiers who died in the campaign.

PRIMIPILAIRE, _Fr._ See PRIMIPILARII.

PRIMIPULUS, the centurion belonging to the first cohort of a legion. He had charge of the Roman eagle.

PRIMITIVES, _Fr._ Primitive colors are distinguished by this term among the French. They are, the yellow, the red, and the blue; white and black being the extremes.

PRINCIPES, (_Princes_, _Fr._) Roman soldiers. They consisted of the strongest and most active men in the infantry, and were armed like the Hastati, with this difference, that the former had half-pikes instead of whole ones.

PRINCIPLE, according to the schools, is that from which any thing is done or known.

PRINCIPLE also denotes the foundations of arts and sciences.

_Military_ PRINCIPLES, the basis or ground work upon which every military movement is made, and by which every operation is conducted.

PRISAGE, that share which belongs to the king or admiral out of such merchandises, &c. as are lawfully taken at sea.

PRIS, _Fr._ This word is variously used by the French, in a figurative and proverbial sense. _C’est autant de pris sur l’ennemi_. An expression signifying that some advantage, at least, has been gained.

_Une Ville_ PRISE, _Fr._ a town which has been taken.

PRISE _des dehors d’une place_, _Fr._ The taking possession of an enemy’s outworks.

PRISES, _Fr._ Prizes.

PRISES _sur l’ennemi_, _Fr._ Every thing taken from the enemy is so called.

PRISONNIERS _de guerre_, _Fr._ prisoners of war.

PRISONERS _of war_, those of the enemy who are taken in or after a battle, siege, &c. They are deprived of their liberty at large, until exchanged, or sent on parole.

PRIVILEGE, is any kind of right or advantage which is attached to a person or employment exclusive of others.

PRIVILEGES. Among the different privileges which prevail in the British army, the life guards receive their promotions direct from the king, without passing through the commander in chief as all other corps do. The appointment of colonel in the life guards gives the honorary title of gold stick, and the field officer of the day is the silver stick, through whom all reports, &c. are conveyed to the king. Although there is a lieutenant general of the London district, the foot guards have the privilege of reporting to head quarters direct. The foot guards enjoy the privilege of ranking, from the ensign, one step higher than the line. A lieutenant, for instance, ranks as captain, and can purchase as such into any marching regiment without having waited the regulated period; and a captain, having the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel, may leap over all the majors of the line, by getting appointed to a marching regiment. The promotions of the guards, _among themselves_, are, however, extremely slow; and the only indemnification they have must beat the expence of the line. This preposterous pre-eminence which is not founded on any military principles or personal merit, has tended to destroy military emulation in England; and will every where when merit only is not the criterion of honor and promotion.

PRIVILEGES _des régimens_, _Fr._ Certain privileges attached to regiments, which are always abused, when not the reward of distinguished merit.

PRIVY _Council_, a council of state held by a king, with his counsellors, to concert matters for the public service; also called the _cabinet_.

PRIX _des emplois ou charges militaires_, _Fr._ The price of commissions, or military employments. During the monarchy of France, a company in the French guards sold for 80,000 livres!

A company in the six first regiments of infantry, went for 75,000 livres. The six following, exclusive of the _régiment du roi_, went for 55,000 livres. One in the regiment of Poitou, and as far down as the Penthievre, 40,000 livres; in the Penthievre, and from that to the last regiment inclusive, 30,000 livres!

A company in the Scotch gendarmes cost 180,000 livres; in the Irish, the Bourguignon, and Flanders, 150,000 livres. The other companies of gendarmerie went for 135,000!

The sub-lieutenants in the gendarmerie paid 100,000 livres, and those in the light horse, 95,000 livres. The ensigns and first cornets, including the guidon belonging to the Scotch gendarmes, gave 62,000 livres!

The guidons, and second cornets, 30,000 livres!

There was no specific regulation for the purchase of a regiment of heavy cavalry or dragoons. Appointments in the état major or staff belonging to the cavalry and the royal regiments (_les royaux_) sold for 100,000_l._ in the dragoons, from 100,000 to 120,000 livres.

The troops or companies in cavalry regiments, in the royal corps, and in the état major or staff, were fixed at 10,000 livres, and the rest at 8000.

A troop of dragoons sold for 7000 livres. No company or other appointment in the infantry, was allowed to be bought or sold. It will strike the military reader, that although the purchase of commissions was, in some degree, sanctioned by the old French government, it was nevertheless extremely limited, and confined to the upper ranks. The efficient part of the army, which is certainly the infantry, received its commissions gratis.

PRIZE-FIGHTER. See GLADIATOR.

PRIZE-_money_, officers and soldiers of the line doing duty on board ships of war, are entitled to prize-money as marines.

PROA, _Ind._ A sailing vessel is so called in India.

PROBABILITY, (_Probabilité_, _Fr._) is nothing but the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas by the intervention of proofs, whose connection is not constant and immutable, or is not perceived to be so; but is, or appears for the most part to be so, and is sufficient to induce the mind to judge the proposition to be true or false, rather than the contrary.

PROBLEM, (_Probléme_, _Fr._) In the general acceptation of the term, a doubtful proposition, which will admit of several solutions.

PROCEDURES _militaires_, _Fr._ Military process. It consists in the investigation of all crimes and offences committed by soldiers which come under the cognizance of a military tribunal; in contradistinction to the authority which is vested in the civil magistrates.

_To_ PROCLAIM, (_Proclamer_, _Fr._) to promulgate or denounce by a solemn or legal publication. Hence, to proclaim peace, which is used in contradistinction to the term _to declare_, which denounces war. Both French and English say, _Declarer la guerre_, to declare war; _proclamer la paix_, to proclaim peace.

PROCLAMATION. An instrument which is published by the constituted authority of government, whereby the country at large is advertised of something, and whereby the people are sometimes required to do, or not to do certain things. A proclamation has all the efficacy of law, because it must be in concord with or founded upon the law already in being.

PROCLAMATION _of peace_, a declaration of the cessation of war.

PROCONSUL, among the Romans, a magistrate who was sent to govern a province with consular authority.

PRODITION. See TREACHERY.

PRODUCE, PRODUCT, (_Produit_, _Fr._) Effect, fruit. In arithmetic it is the quantity which grows out of the multiplication of two or more numbers or lines one by another: 5 for instance multiplied by 4, will give the produce 20; and the produce of two lines, multiplied one by the other, is called the rectangle of these lines.

PROFILE, in drawing, side-ways or side-view. A picture in profile represents a head or face set side-ways.

PROFILER, _Fr._ the act of profiling, or designing with rule and compass.

PROFILE, (_Profil_, _Fr._) in architecture, the draught of a building, fortification, &c. wherein are expressed the several heights, widths, and thicknesses, such as they would appear were the building cut down perpendicularly from the roof to the foundation. It serves to show those dimensions which cannot be represented in plans, but are yet necessary in the building of a fortification: they are best constructed on a scale of 30 feet to an inch. It is also called section, orthographical section, and by Vitruvius, sciagraphy. It is sometimes used in opposition to ichnography.