Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/130

I'lo] SPE ■wasgranteiltoMr, John Ricii.vRn- soN ; for his invention of a ma- chine that may be applit'd to spec- tacles or glasses, and jM^ibles of every kind. As, however, no dis- lin^St idea can be formed of his don- trivance, without a proper delinea- tion, we refer the reader to the 10*. h volume of the Report or ii of ulrlf, Sec. where it is described, and illustrated with an engraved figure. Hence, we shnll only observe, that the chief obje6t of the patentee's invention, appears to be that of pre- venting the necessity of ernpioying tv^-o ])air of bpectacles, where these are (xicasionally required j as two distincl sights may thus be ob- tained, for any purpose, according to the desire of the wearer. , SPEECH, in general, denotes the faculty of expressing thoughts, by means of articulate sounds ; though it is likewise employed by grammarians, to signify a series of words properly arranged. The power of speech distmguishes roan from all the inferior animals : for, though the latter are enabled to express the sensations of pain or pleasure by their cries, yet the former only is possessed of that ad- mirable combination of sounds, the origin of which will probably ever remain concealed. — Indeed, the parrot, cuckow, and a few other birds, can utter certain notes, which may be divided into syl- lables 5 but these are imitative, ra- ther than natural, and serve to convey no original information j for it iias been observed, that such creatures, when provoked to anger, utter only inarticulate cries. On the other hand, the speech of man may be improved by art, and mo- dulated by pradice, so as to ex- press, with wonderful accurac}', the diifereut emotions and passioDs SPE of the mind : nay, his voice, in rousing the social affeftions, is far superior to music. — For the im- provement of that valuable faculty, the reader will consult the heads of Articulation, Pkonunciation, and Heading, where we have given a few concise rules, and pointed out the best writers oq each subjeft. SPEEDWELL, or Feronira, L. a genus of plants comprehending 54 species, 17 of which are indige- nous : the principal of these are the following: 1 . The Bcccal'unga: See Brook- lime. 2.1116 Chamcedrys : SeeGER- MANDEK, the Wild, 3. The nfflcinalis, Commox SrEEnwELL, Male Speedwell, or Fluellin, is perennial, grows on heaths, and in barren grounds ; flowers from May till August. — The leaves of this vegetable arc slightly bitter and astringent : for- merly, an infusion of them was highly prized, as a domestic remedy in coughs and asthmatic com- plaints. — In a decodion wiih iron- iilings, these leaves yield a black dye for leather, — The plant is eaten by cows, sheep, goats, and horses : but refused by hogs. 4. The scutcl lata, or Narrow- leaved Speedwell, thrives on poor swampy soils, and flowers from June to August. — It afl'ords grateful food to geese and ducks. 5. The AvagaUis, or Nar- row-lkavedPimpernell-Speed- v/ELL, grows in slow streams and shallow ponds, where it flowers in July and August.— -This species may be eaten both as salad, and among other culinaiy vegetables. Spelter : See Zinc. Sperage : See Asparagus. SPERMACETI, a flaky, whit- ish.