liva with which it had been wetted; and 3. the warmth of his mouth. These processes he set himself to imitate; and by so doing, acquired, for himself, an immense fortune, and for Lyons, its great reputation in this article of commerce. The contrivances by which May executed his idea were these: the taffety was stretched between two rollers; and the lustre was given by rubbing it gently with a ball, or a handful of lists of fine cloth, moist with a glutinous composition, as it was drawn from one roller to the other; meanwhile, a charcoal fire, in a kind of carriage, moving on trundles, and of the breadth of the taffety, was carried under it, and, by this means, the moisture dried. TALC, in natural history, a glossy species of stone, easily separated into thin and transparent scales or leaves. Tale is found in various parts of the world. In England, Northamptonshire is the district most peculiarly known for this production. The Romans used the talc brought from Russia both for window-lights, and for the pavement of magnificent buildings. The Russian tale may be used for lanterns, and for covering miniature paintings. TALES, in law, additional jurymen, when those impanelled do not appear, or, appearing, are challenged. TALLOW, animal fat, melted and clarified. Tallow is used in making soap, and in dressing leather; but chiefly for the manufacture of candles. "Tallow-tree," a tree growing in China, and remarkable for producing a substance resembling tallow, in every minute particular, and applicable to the same purposes. The tallow-tree is about the height of the cherry. Its leaves are in the form of a heart, glossy, and of a deep red colour. Its bark is very smooth. Its fruit, which is inclosed by a kind of coat resembling that of a chesnut, is composed of three grains, of the size and form of a small nut. Each grain is a body of tallow, encompassing a stone. TALLY, a word used to signify a piece of wood cut into a convenient form for receiving marks by which accounts may be kept. Tallies are still used in the Exchequer. TALMUD, OF THALMUD, a Jewish commentary on the law of Moses. The talmud, which is received as part of the rule of faith and conduct, contains many particulars upon which the law is silent. The talmud consists of two general parts; the one called the mischna, the other, the gemara: the mischna is frequently called, absolutely, the talmud. TALUS, in fortification, the slope of a work. TANGENT, See TRIGONOMETRY. TANNING, the preparation of skins, by means of which they are rendered into leather. The first part of this preparation consists in taking off the hair, which is effected by steeping in lime-water. When this is done, and every thing superfluous is removed with the knife and the pumice, as in the preparation of parchment, the skin is put into the tan; that is, being stretched in a pit, it is covered with tan, and the pit filled with water. TANTALUS, the ibis, in natural history, a genus of birds of the order Gralle, of which there are nine |