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330 MEOHKLN point n in this vertical is supposed to support the load. The practical length of the arm a c is the perpendicular drawn from c to the line of draught ; thus, if the line of draught is in the direction dg, p : w :: nc : gc. The load, however, is actually supported by the axle at a, and the power is also applied at the same point, so that the analogy of the action to that of the lever is not as close as to that of the in- clined plane. For a further consideration of the science of mechanics, besides the works of Huygens, Newton, and others already men- tioned, see L. N". M. Carnot, Principe* fonda- mentaux de Tequilibre et du mouvement (Paris, 1803); James Renwick, "Elements of Me- chanics" (Philadelphia, 1832); Poisson, Traite de mecanique (Paris, 1833) ; the Rev. H. Mose- ley, " A Treatise on Mechanics " (London, 1834) ; Christopher Bernoulli, Elementarisches Handbuch der industriellen Physilc, Mechanik und Hydraulik (Stuttgart and Tubingen, 1834-'5); W. B. Carpenter, "Elements of Me- chanical Philosophy " (London, 1844) ; Arthur Morin, Lecons de mecanique pratique (Paris, 1853) ; " Appleton's Dictionary of Mechanics " (New York, 1868); W. H. C. Bartlett, "Ele- ments of Synthetic Mechanics" (New York, 1871) ; W. G. Peck, " Elements of Mechanics " (New York, 1873); and Thomson and Tait's "Natural Philosophy" (London, 1874). The reader may also consult Bibliotheca Mechanico- Technologica, by Engelmann (Leipsic, 1844). MECHELN, or Meekenen, Israel von, a German engraver and painter of the latter half of the 15th century. From the difference in the style of the Mecheln prints, of which upward of 300 are known, it is almost certain that there were two artists of the name. Their works are among the earliest specimens of the art. About the latter half of the 16th cen- tury flourished an artist of the school of Co- logne, who is generally designated as the " master of the Passion," from his chief work, a representation of the Passion on eight panels. Several other works by the same hand are ex- tant in Germany, painted in the stiff Gothic style, with something of the manner of the Van Eycks. By some this unknown artist is supposed to have been identical with Israel von Mecheln the younger. MECHERIXO. See BEOOAFTTMI, DOMENICO. MEf HI, John Joseph, an English agriculturist, born in London, May 22, 1802. His father, an Italian, was a member of the English royal household. The son became a clerk in a mer- cantile house, speculated in a small patent, and in 1827 set up in business as a cutler. By the sale of a "magic razor strop," aided by liberal advertising, he acquired a fortune ; and in 1840 he bought a farm of 170 acres at Tip- tree heath, Essex, where he made the experi- ments in scientific agriculture for which he became widely known. These experiments at first subjected him to much ridicule, but finally changed the farm from one of the most sterile into one of the most profitable. He collects MECKLENBURG the manure in a vast reservoir, liquefies it, and distributes it by a steam engine, through sub- terraneous pipes, over all parts of the farm, which it fertilizes and irrigates at the same time. Mr. Mechi has been an alderman and sheriff of London, and was a commissioner to the Paris exhibition of 1855. He has published "Letters on Agricultural Improve- ments" (1845), "Experience in Drainage" (1847), and " How to Farm Profitably " (1859 ; 4th enlarged ed., 1871), &c. MECHITAR. See MEKHITAE. MECHLIN, or Meehelen (Fr. Malines), a city of Belgium, in the province of Antwerp, on the Dyle, 13 m. N. by E. of Brussels ; pop. in 1870, 36,090. It is one of the railway centres of Belgium, four lines radiating from the town, which however presents a deserted appearance, vividly contrasting with the bustle at the sta- tion, half a mile outside the gates. Mechlin is one of the most picturesque Flemish cities. In the Grande Place are the cathedral and a statue of Margaret of Austria by Geefs. The princi- pal public edifices besides the cathedral are the churches of Notre Dame, St. Peter and St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evan- gelist, and an English church ; the archiepisco- pal palace ; the Beguinage, an asylum for aged widows ; and the college. There are manufac- tories of woollens, linens, lace, beer, &c. The lace manufacture, formerly celebrated, has greatly fallen off both in quantity and quality. Mechlin is the seat of an archbishop, who is primate of Belgium. Its churches contain some fine paintings by Rubens and Vandyke. MECHOACAN. See MICHOACAN. ^ MECKLENBURG. I. A S. E. county of Vir- ginia, bordering on North Carolina, bounded N. by the Meherrin river, intersected by the Roanoke, and drained by its tributaries ; area, 640 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 21,318, of whom 14,150 were colored. The surface is undula- ting and well timbered, and the soil generally fertile. The Roanoke Valley railroad termi- nates at Clarkesville. The chief productions in 1870 were 83,033 bushels of wheat, 243,506 of Indian corn, 123,492 of oats, 11,288 of Irish and 12,512 of sweet potatoes, 2,166,628 Ibs. of tobacco, 8,815 of wool, and 147,599 of butter. There were 1,479 horses, 767 mules and asses, 2,557 milch cows, 1,081 working, oxen, 3,367 other cattle, 5,439 sheep, and 11,108 swine. Capital, Boydton. II. A S. W. county of North Carolina, bordering on South Carolina, bounded W. by the Catawba river ; area, about 700 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 24,299, of whom 10, 721 were colored. It has an elevated surface and fertile soil, and contains several gold mines. It is intersected by the Charlotte, Columbia, and Augusta, the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line, and other railroads. The chief produc- tions in 1870 were 69,826 bushels of wheat, 454,864 of Indian corn, 75,990 of oats, 12,159 of Irish and 18,774 of sweet potatoes, 125,939 Ibs. of butter, and 6,067 bales of cotton. There were 2,017 horses, 1,822 mules and asses, 3,353