Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 19, Scripture-SUG

SOM
| ftice trance into capricorn makes the fummer folftice, and
II that into cancer the winter folftice. The two points
T”ers' , of the ecliptic, wherein the fun’s greateft rafcent above
v the equator, and his defcent below it, are terminated,
are called the foljlitialpoints; and a circle, fuppofed to
pafs through the poles of the Avorld and thefe points, is
called the folJHtial colure. The fummer folftitial point
is in the beginning of the firft degree of cancer j and is
called the cejlival or fwnmer point ; and the winter fol¬
ftitial point is in the beginning of the firft degree of ca¬
pricorn, and is called the winter point. Thefe two points
are diametrically oppofite to each other.
SOLUTION, in Chemi/iry, denotes an intimate
union of folid with fluid bodies, fo as to form a tranfpa-
rent liquor. See Chemistry paffim.
SOLVENT, that which diitolves a folid body into a
tranfparent fluid.
SOLWAY moss. See Moving Moss.
SOMBRERO, the name of an uninhabited ifland in
the Weft Indies in the form of a hat, whence the name
is derived. It is alfo the name of one of the Nicobar
iflands in the Eaft Indies.
Wonderful Plant of SOMBRERO, is a ftrange kind of
fenfitive plant growing in the Eaft Indies, in fandy bays
and in fhalloiv water. It appears like a Render ftraight
ftick ; but when you attempt to touch it, immediately
withdraws itfelf into the fand. Mr Miller gives an ac-
PhSophi- count ^ defcription of Sumatra. He fays,
tahanf- the Malays call it lolan lout, that is, fea grafs. He ne-
tttt. ver could obferve any tentacula ; but, after many un-
voLmii. fuccefsful attempts, drew out a broken piece about a
p'1 ' foot long. It was perfectly ftraight and uniform, and
refembled a worm drawn over a knitting needle. When
dry it appears like a coral.
SOMERS, John, lord high chancellor of England,
was born at Worcefter in 1652. He was educated at
Oxford, and afterwards entered himfelf at the Middle-
Temple, where he ftudied the law with great vigour. In
1688 he was one of the counfel for the feven biihops at
their trial, and argued with great learning and eloquence
againft the difpenfing power. In the convention which
met by the prince of Orange’s fummons, January 22.
1689, he reprefented Worcefter j and was one of the
managers for the Houfe of Commons, at a conference
with the Houfe of Lords upon the word abdicated.
Soon after the acceflion of King William and Queen
Mary to the throne, he was appointed folicitor-general,
and received the honour of knighthood. In 1692 he
was made attorney general, and in 1693 advanced to
the poft of lord keeper of the great feal of England. In
1693 he propofed an expedient to prevent the practice
of clipping the coin. In 1697 he was created Lord
Somers, baron of Evelham, and made lord high chan¬
cellor of England. In the beginning of 1700 he was
removed from his poft of lord chancellor, and the year
after was impeached of high crimes and mifdemeanors
by the Houfe of Commons, of which he was acquitted
upon trial by the Houfe of Lords. He then retired
to a studious courfe of lile, and was chofen prefident of
the Royal Society. In 1706 he propofed a bill for the
regulation of the law' j and the fame year was one of
the principal managers for the union between England
and Scotland. In 1708 he was made lord prefident of
the council ; from which poft he was removed in 1710,
upon the change of the miniftry. In the latter end of
SOM
Queen Anne’s reign his lordlhip grew very infirm in Somers
his health 5 which is fuppofed to be the reafon that he II
held no other poft than a feat at the council-table, after , orn<'lto'‘J
the acceffion of King George I. He died of an apo¬
plectic fit in 1716. Mr Addifon has drawn his cha¬
racter very beautifully in the Freeholder.
SOMERSETSHIRE, a county of England, taking
its name from Somerton, once the capital, between 50°
and 510 27' north latitude, and between i° 25' and 2° 59'
weft longitude. It is bounded on the weft by Devon-
ftiire, on the fouth by Dorfetfhire, on the north by
Eriftol channel or the Severn fea, on the north-eaft by
a Imail part of Gloucefterlhire, and on the eaft by Wilt-
fhire. It is one of the largeft counties in England, ex¬
tending in length from eaft to weft about 68 miles ; in
breadth, where broadeft, from fouth to north, about
47 ; and 240 in circumference. It is divided into 42
hundreds, in which are 3 cities, 32 market-towns, 1700
villages,385 pariflies,ofAvhich 13 2 are vicarages, contain¬
ing more than 1,000,000 of acres, and about 273,750
fouls. It fends 18 members to parliament, viz. two for
the county, two for Briftol, two for Bath, two for Wells,
twm for Taunton, two for Bridgewater, two for Ilchefter,
two for Milbourn-port, and two for Minehead.
The air of this county is very mild and wholefome,
efpecially that of the hilly part. The foil in general is
exceeding rich, fo that Angle acres very commonly
produce forty or fifty buihels of wheat, and there have
been inftances of feme producing fixty of barley. As
there is very fine pafture both for Iheep and black cat¬
tle, it abounds in both, which are as large as thofe of
Lincolnfhire, and their flefh of a finer grain. In confe-
quence of this abundance of black cattle, great quanti¬
ties of cheefe are made in it, of which that of Cheddar
is thought equal to Parmefan. In the hilly parts are
found coal, lead, copper, and lapis calaminaris. Wood
thrives in it as well as in any county of the kingdom.
It abounds alfo in peafe, beans, beer, cyder, fruit, wild¬
fowl, and falmori 5 and its mineral waters are celebrated
all over the world.
The riches of this county, both natural and acqui¬
red, exceed thofe of any other in the kingdom, Middle-
fex and Yorkftiire excepted. The woollen manufac¬
ture in all its branches is carried on to a very great ex¬
tent ; and in feme parts of the county great quantities
of linen are made. If to thefe the produce of various
other commodities in which it abounds is added, the
amount of the whole muft undoubtedly be very great.
Its foreign trade muft alfo be allowed to be very exten-
five, when it. is confidered that it has a large trade for
fea-coal, and poiTeffes, befides other ports, that of Brif¬
tol, a town of the greateft trade in England, next to
London.
Befides fmall ftreams, it is well watered and fupplied
with fifh by the rivers Severn, Avon, Parrel, Froome
Ax, Torre, and Tone. Its greateft hills are Mendip’
Pouldon, and Quantock, of which the firft abounds in
coal, lead, &c. The rivers Severn and Parrel breed
very fine falmon. The chief town is Briftol.
SOMERTON, an ancient town in Somerfetftiire,
from whence the county derives its name. It is 123
miles from London ; it has five ftreets, containing 251
houfes, which are moftly built of the blue ftone from
the quarries in the neighbourhood. It is governed by
conftables, and has a hall for petty feflions. The mar¬
ket
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