In the first column of this table is shewn the weight of each foreign coin in grains troy-weight; in the second column, the degree of fineness in carats and grains of a carat; in the third column, the contents of fine silver in grains troy-weight; and in the fourth, the intrinsic value expressed in pence sterling.
The following example will shew in what manner the value of a foreign coin in other money also foreign may be ascertained.
Example.
It is required to express the value of a Spanish hard dollar in the money of France.
As it is seen by the prefixed table that the hard dollar contains 373,03 grains of fine silver, and that the piece of 5 francs contains 347,52 grains of fine silver, I state the following equation:
MONIES, in a military sense, are such sums as are issued for public service, and are more specifically distinguished by the appellation of army estimates. It is usual for the secretary at war to move for the estimates of the army. The following sums shew the amount of the British military establishment on the 17th of February,1801:—
1,615,878l.for guards and garrisons.
1,743,773l.for maintenance of troops abroad.
17,232l.for land forces for Ireland.
355,000l.for recruiting in Great Britain.
319,479l.for ditto in Ireland.
86,523l.for generals and staff officers in Great Britain.
48,197l.for ditto in Ireland.
973,433l.for militia in Great Britain.
1,338,000l.for ditto in Ireland.
57,000l.for fencibles in Great Britain.
34,451l.for contingencies in Ireland.
25,876l.for supernumerary officers.
11,628l.for officers’ clerks, &c. in Great Britain.
6,416l.for ditto in Ireland.
255,000l.for increased rates for subsistence to inn-keepers in Great Britain.
115,384l.allowance for beer.
138,979l.for reduced officers in Great Britain.
148,382l.for the in and out pensioners of Chelsea.
35,923l.for ditto of hospital at Kilmainham, near Dublin.
455,000l.for volunteer cavalry in Great Britain.
425,139l.for ditto in Ireland.
33,394l.for foreign troops in British pay.
456,000l.for the augmentation of 10,000 in Great Britain.
21,332l.for contingencies in Ireland.
To be added, 1,033,750l.for the ordnance of the current year.
30,937l.for extraordinaries not provided for in 1799.
58,756l.for ditto not provided for in 1800.
RegimentalMonies. All sums issued to paymasters for the subsistence, &c. of the men belonging to a regiment, are so called; for the regular distribution of which the paymasters and captains of companies are responsible.La comptabilité, among the French, corresponds with this explanation.
Ley-Money. The money which is paid for recruiting the army, is so called.
SmartMoney. The money which was paid by the person who has taken the enlisting money, in order to get released from an engagement entered into previous to a regular enlistment.
BountyMoney.—SeeRecruiting.
MONOMACHY, (Monomachie,Fr.) a single combat, or the fighting of two, hand to hand. It is derived from the Greek. A duel may be properly called Monomachy.
MONSONouMOUSON,Fr.a word derived from the Arabic, signifying the wind of any particular season, or one that blows regularly. SeeMonsoons.
MONSOONS. In India the year is divided into two seasons. From the month of October to March, the winds blow from the north-western, and during the rest of the year from the south-eastern points of the compass: these seasons are by mariners called monsoons; thechange from the one to the other is generally preceded by an interval of about twenty days, in which calms, or light and uncertain winds prevail: the setting in of the northern monsoons generally falls out some time in the month of September, as that of the southern in the month of April. On the coast of Coromandel the northern monsoon sometimes begins with a violent tempest or hurricane; and if the monsoon sets in with moderation, it is often productive of tempestuous weather at different intervals, until the middle of December, and sometimes later; so that it is held dangerous for any vessels to remain on the coast after the 15th of October, or to return to it before the 20th of December.
MONTAGNES,Fr.Hills, mountains, &c. In a military sense, the term is peculiarly applicable to that species of warfare which is carried on in a mountainous and intersected country. We have already given a general outline of this species of warfare under the headGuerre de Montagne: nevertheless the following observations may not appear superfluous or irrelevant in this place. The chevalier Folard has written largely, and with no inconsiderable degree of method, on that part of a war among hills, &c. where an army might run the risk of being surrounded, or shut up. He observes, that a body of men may be drawn into snares by the well concerted movements of an able and active enemy, most especially in a country which is intersected by rivers, and occasionally broken with hills and eminences. Although disasters of this sort are manifest proofs of a want of ability in the person who holds the chief command, they become infinitely more disgraceful when a general runs headlong into a snare, as Euripidas did, without having sufficient courage to attempt a daring enterprize; for it certainly remains with ourselves to determine, whether we chuse to move into an impracticable country; and it equally rests with us to avoid stratagems and snares.
All this, however, depends upon a knowlege of the country into which the war is carried; and as it is impossible to be in possession of the requisite information without some extraneous means, every general ought to lay it down as a maxim, not to advance into a mountainous country without having a good number of intelligent and faithful guides. These, in addition to some able topographers, will prevent the possibility of being surprised, and make him thoroughly master of all the passes, &c.
It is not, however, sufficient to be in possession of the heights that immediately command a valley into which an army has moved; in proportion as you advance, you must be certain, that the enemy who retreats before, is not insensibly winding round a second range of hills, to get upon your flanks, or ultimately fall upon your rear.
It moreover frequently happens, that some vallies have not any outlets, and that others become so narrow, that an army is under the necessity of marching by single files, in order to reach a more open piece of ground, or to get at some important pass for the purpose of intercepting or obstructing the march of an enemy.
When it is found necessary to retreat, or to march over a country, as Hannibal did over the Alps, it is of little consequence what steps or measures you take, with regard to those parts which you are abandoning; but when you advance against an enemy, and are determined to dispute his march through a valley or hollow way, you must adopt every precaution to secure your rear and flanks, lest, as we have already observed, your antagonist should take advantage of the various passes and intricate bye-ways, which always exists in a mountainous country; and it must always be remembered, that many coups de main, and daring enterprises, may be undertaken by four or five hundred active partisans, which an army would find impracticable.
An able general cannot have a better, or more favorable field to exercise his military genius in, than that which is afforded by a mountainous country. All the chicane and stratagem of war may be resorted to; and however weak an army might be, yet such are the manifold resources of this peculiar kind of contest, that there is scarcely any thing which may not be attempted, provided the officer, who commands, has a thorough knowlege of the country, is fertile in expedients, and has a calm determined mind. Many instances might be adduced to illustrate these observations; we shall be satisfied with stating, that the prince of Conti, in the campaign of 1744, which he so ably conducted, owes a considerable part of his reputation to the scope afforded to his talents by the locality of Piedmont. This country, indeed, as well as Switzerland, seems to have been cut out as the peculiar theatre of great military talents. But neither the prince of Conti, nor the first consul of France, Bonaparte, would have succeeded in the brilliant manner, which they most unquestionably have done, had not the science of topography seconded the natural advantages of that mountainous part of Europe. Massena, Lecourbe, Ney, Lefebvre, Soult, and Macdonald have immortalized themselves in mountain warfare.
MONTE,Fr.This word is used among the French to express what we mean bycarry; as,un vaisseau monté de cinquante pièces de canon: a ship that carries fifty guns, or a fifty gun ship.
Monterla tranchée,Fr.SeeToMount the Trenches.
Monterun Vaisseau,Fr.To embark on board a ship.
Monter,Fr.This word likewise means to rise from one rank to another, in the way of promotion, as from cornet or ensign to become lieutenant, from lieutenant to become captain, or from having the command of the youngest company to be promoted to that of the oldest.
MONTH, considered as a military period, in the British service, consists alternately of 30 and 31 days, commencing on the 24th, and ending on the 25th day (inclusive) of each month, properly so called.
MonthlyAbstract. SeePay.
MonthlyReturn. SeeReturn.
MonthlyReport. SeeReport.
MonthlyInspection. SeeRegimental Inspection.
MONT-joie,Saint Denis,Fr.a national exclamation, adopted by the French in the reign of Louis, sirnamed Le Gros. SeeCri des armes.
Mont-Pagnote ou Poste des invulnérables,Fr.an expression which is derived fromPagnote, a coward, a poltroon; and signifies any eminence or place from whence the operations of a siege, or the actual conflict of two armies, may be seen without personal danger to the curious observer. It is a term of reproach,C’est un Général qui voit le combat du Mont-Pagnote; he is one of those generals that look on whilst others fight. During the American war a particular body of refugees or tories who seemed to side with the British, were calledinvulnerables.
Mont-Pagnote, in fortification, an eminence where persons post themselves out of the reach of cannon, to see a camp, siege, battle, &c. without being exposed to danger. It is also called the post of the invulnerables.
MONTRE,Fr.The review, or muster of the men.Le régiment a fait montre devant le commissaire.The regiment has passed muster before the commissary.Les officiers mirent leur valets dans les rangs, et les firent passer à la montre.The officers put their servants in the ranks, and made them pass muster.
Montrelikewise signified, in the old French service, the money which was paid to soldiers every month, when they passed muster.Il a reçu sa montre; he has received his monthly pay.
Monture,Fr.The complement of men, and number of cannon, on board a French ship of war.
Montured’un fusil, d’un pistolet,Fr.the stock of a gun or pistol.
MONUMENT, (Monument,Fr.) In a military sense, any public edifice, pillar, or mark of distinction, which is exhibited to perpetuate the memory of some illustrious character.
MOOTIANA,Ind.Soldiers employed to collect the revenue.
MOQUA,MUCK, a frenzical riot of some mahomedans, who have returned from Mecca, against those who have not professed mahomedanism. This horrid custom has been lately practised by the Malays, both at the island of Ceylon, and at the Cape of Good Hope. In the latter place indeed, the fanaticism of one of these blind enthusiasts went so far, that he stabbed a soldier who stood centinel at the governor’s gate. His intention was to have destroyed the governor. He that runs themoqua, ormuck, gets intoxicated with bang, or opium, loosens his hair, (which is generally bound up under a handkerchief) then takes a dagger (called akreese) in his hand, whose blade is usually half poisoned, and in the handle of which there is some of his mother’s or father’s hair preserved, and running about the streets kills all those he meets, who are not mahomedans, till he is killed himself; pretending to believe, that he serves God and Mahomed by destroying their enemies. When one of these madmen is slain, all the mahomedan rabble run to him, and bury him like a saint, every one contributing his mite towards making a noble burial.
MORAILLE,Fr.Barnacles. An instrument made commonly of iron for the use of farriers, to hold a horse by the nose, to hinder him from struggling when an incision is made.
LeMORAL,Fr.This word is frequently used among the French, as a substantive of the masculine gender, to express the moral condition of man. It likewise means the prepossession or assurance which we feel in conscious superiority, viz.Quand les Anglois se battent sur mer, ils ont le moral pour eux, les Francois l’ont sur terre.
MORASS, inmilitary drawings, denotes moor, marshy, or fenny low grounds, on which waters are lodged.
MORATTOES,Mahrattahs, a considerable Hindoo tribe in Hindustan. Their army is chiefly composed of cavalry and they excel in the management of their horses. The weapon principally used by them in war is a sabre, extremely well tempered, and carefully chosen. Their dress, when accoutred for action, consists of a quilted jacket of cotton cloth, which descends half way down their thighs, and of a thin linen vest, which is fitted close to the body, and is always worn under the jacket. They wear upon their head a broad turban, which is made to reach the shoulders, for the double purpose of covering the neck from the heat of the sun, and of shielding it against the enemy’s sabre. Their thighs and legs are covered with a loose kind of trowsers, or cotton overhose. They are extremely temperate, and pay the most minute attention to their horses.
It is now more than a century that the Mahrattahs first made a figure, as the most enterprising soldiers of Hindustan; as the only nation of Indians, which seems to make war an occupation by choice; for the Rajpouts are Hindus,soldiers by birth. The strength of their armies consist in their numerous cavalry, which is more capable of resisting fatigue than any in India; large bodies of them having been known to march fifty miles in a day. They avoid general engagements, and seem to have no other idea in making war, but that of doing as much mischief as possible to the enemy’s country.
MOREAU,Fr.A species of bag which the drivers of mules use to carry their hay. It is likewise the name of a celebrated French general, who by his able retreat out of Germany, during the most disastrous period of the French revolution, acquired a reputation, as a general, superior to Xenophon.
MORGLAY, a deadly weapon.
MORTIER,Fr.SeeMortar.
MORION,Fr.Donner sur le morion.This was a species of punishment which was formerly inflicted upon French soldiers for crimes that were not capital. They were shut up in a guard-house, and received a certain number of strokes with a halbert. The gantelope was substituted in its stead; but neither one or the other are practised in the present French army.
MORISON. SeeHelmet,Casque, &c.
MORTd’Eau,Fr.Low water.
MORTARS, are a kind of short cannon, of a large bore, with chambers: they are made of stone, brass, or iron. Their use is to throw hollow shells, filled with powder; which, falling on any building, or into the works of a fortification, burst, and their fragments destroy every thing within reach. Carcasses are also thrown out of them. These are a sort of shells, with 5 holes, filled with pitch and other combustibles, in order to set buildings on fire; and sometimes baskets full of stones, the size of a man’s fist, are thrown out of them upon an enemy, placed in the covert-way during a siege. The very ingenious generalDesagulierscontrived to throw bags, filled with grape-shot, containing in each bag, from 400 to 600 shot of different dimensions, out of mortars; the effect of which is extremely awful and tremendous to troops forming the line of battle, passing a defile, or landing, &c. pouring down shot, not unlike a shower of hail, on a circumference of above 300 feet. They are distinguished chiefly by the diameter of the bore. For example, a 13-inch mortar is that, the diameter of whose bore is 13 inches. There are some of 10 and 8-inch diameters; and some of a smaller sort, as cohorns of 4.6 inches, and royals of 5.8 inches.
Weight and Dimensions of English Mortars.
[13]See the wordChambers, for experiments on the best form.
[13]See the wordChambers, for experiments on the best form.
Ranges with French Mortars, at 45 Degrees, in French Weights and Measures.
Ranges with a 10 Inch Sea Mortar, at 21 Degrees, on a Horizontal Plane.
Ranges with Sea Service, Iron Mortars, at 45 Degrees, upon a Horizontal Plane. 1798.
French Mortars, in their own Weights and Measures.
[14]Stone Mortars should not be fired at a greater distance than 250 yards.
[14]Stone Mortars should not be fired at a greater distance than 250 yards.
Medium Ranges with Land Service Iron Mortars, at 45 Degrees, 1798.
13 Inch.10 Inch.8 Inch.5¹⁄₂ Inch, Brass.Ch’ge.Flig’t.Range.Ch’ge.Flig’t.Range.Ch’ge.Flig’t.Range.Ch’ge.Flig’t.Range.lbs.oz.Sec.Yds.lb.oz.Sec.Yds.lbs.oz.Sec.Yds.oz.dr.Sec.Yds.—146¹⁄₂245—86¹⁄₂235—56225185¹⁄₂1551—7-318—108358—67¹⁄₂3281126198148-412—129464—784282—6-255189-523—1410534—89-474247-31611210-6131—10-638—9105602883802—116971211-749—10116642128-4262412-8401413873—11127623—9-47028139061613-956—1212-801341054021214105418141028—1313-8593810-5903—151132110151123—14149603121163034161244112151226—1514-10114—11-7253816-13171141613251014-111944127463121714242—16-1357111511564812-8004—171490221714801216126241213-9104417-15802417-15321316-13205—13-9354818-16562617-157114171380541410164121917442818-17001517-144658——5—19-182421019178016181530512——5419-190021219-18251718-16006—151175582019502142018801819166051220-20623—2019161919-17206—2120954—2524857—242510482625368—252706
Medium Ranges with Brass Mortars, at 45 Degrees. 1780.