that the powdered root is more certainly fatal, when applied to a wound, than when swallowed; that the white hellebore is more active than the black; and that the alkaline extract, which forms a part of the tonic pills of Bacher, is also very powerful. Vomiting is the only antidote.

H. niger orientalis is a species discovered in the eastern countries, which Tournefort distinguishes thus amplissimo folio, caule præalto, flore purpurescente, and he supposes it to be the true ancient hellebore, from its growing in plenty about mount Olympus, and in the island of Anticyra, celebrated of old for the production of this antimaniacal drug: he relates, that a scruple of this sort, given for a dose, occasioned convulsions.

HELLEN, the son of Deucalion, who is said to have given the name of Hellenus to the Greeks A A. C. 1521.

HEL'LENISM, n. s. 'EXŋvioμòs. A Greek

idiom.

HELLENISM is only used when speaking of the authors who, writing in a different language, express themselves in a phraseology peculiar to the Greek.

HELLENISTIC LANGUAGE, that used by the Grecian Jews who lived in Egypt and other parts where the Greek tongue prevailed. In this language it is said the Septuagint was written, and also the books of the New Testament; and that it was thus denominated to show that it was Greek filled with Hebraisms and Syriacisms.

HELLENISTS, HELLENISTE, a term occurring in the Greek text of the New Testament, and which in the English version is rendered Grecians. The critics are divided as to the signification of the word. Ecumenius, in his Scholia on Acts vi. 1, observes, that it is not to be understood as signifying those of the religion of the Greeks, but those who spoke Greek, reg eXqvisi poeyžaμeves. The authors of the Vulgate version, indeed, render it like ours, Græci ; but Messieurs Du Port Royal more accurately Juifs Grecs, Greek or Grecian Jews; the Jews who spoke Greek being here treated of, and hereby distinguished from the Jews called Hebrews, that is, who spoke the Hebrew tongue of that time. These Hellenists, or Grecian Jews, were those who lived in Egypt and other parts where the Greek tongue prevailed. It is to them we owe the Greek version of the Old Testament commonly called the Septuagint, or that of the LXX. Salmasius and Vossius, however, are of a different opinion, with regard to the Hellenists. The latter will only have them to be those who adhered to the Grecian interests. Scaliger is represented, in the Scaligerana, as asserting the Hellenists to be the Jews who lived in Greece and other places, and who read the Greek Bible in their synagogues, and used the Greek language in sacris; and thus they were opposed to the Hebrew Jews, who performed their public worship in the Hebrew tongue. In this sense St. Paul speaks of himself as a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Phil. iii. 5.), i. e. a Hebrew both by nation and language. The Hellenists are thus properly distinguished from the Hellenes or Greeks, mentioned John xii. 20, who were Greeks by birth and nation, and yet proselytes to the Jewish religion.

HELLENODICE, 'EXŋvodikai, in antiquity the directors of the Olympian games. At first there was only one, afterwards the number increased to two and three, and at length to nine. They assembled in a place called 'EXλŋvodizaiov, in the Elean forum, where they were obliged to reside ten months before the celebration of the games, to take care that such as offered themselves to contend, performed their apoyvμvaoμata, or preparatory exercises; and to be instructed in all the laws of the games by certain men called voμopvλarɛg, i. e. keepers of the laws. To prevent all unjust practices, they were obliged to take an oath, that they would act impartially, would take no bribes, nor discover the reason for which they disliked or approved of any of the contenders. At the solemnity they sat naked, having before them the victorial crown till the exercises were finished, and then it was presented to whomsoever they adjudged it. Nevertheless, there lay an appeal from the hellenodica to the Olympian senate.

HELLESPONT, a narrow strait between Asia and Europe, near the Propontis, so named from Helle. It is celebrated for the love and death of Leander, and for the bridge of boats which Xerxes built over it when he invaded Greece. It is now called the Dardanelles. It is about thirty-three miles long, and in the broadest parts the Asiatic coast is about one mile and a half distant from the European, and only half a mile in the narrowest, according to modern investiga

tion.

HELM, n. s. & v. a. ̈ HELM'ED, adj.

Helm denotes defence: as, Eadhelm happy deHELMET, n. s. fence; Sighelm victorious defence; Berthelm eminent defence; like Amyntas and Boetius among the Greeks.-Gibson's Camden. A covering for the head in war; a helmet; the part of a coat of arms that bears the crest; the upper part of the retort; the rudder of a vessel; the station of government; a steersman; to helm, to steer, guide, or conduct.

Of which every-first on a short truncheon
His lordes helmet bore so richly dight,
That the worst of hem was worth the ransoune
Of any king.

Chaucer. The Floure and the Leafe.
What so I spake, I ment it nought but wele,
By Mars the god that helmed is of stele.

Id. Troilus and Creseide. More might be added of helms, crests, mantles, and supporters. Camden's Remains. The very stream of his life, and the business he hath helmed, must give him a better proclamation.

Shakspeare.

Prior. I may be wrong in the means; but that is no obection against the design : let those at the helm conSwift. Where my wrecked desponding thought From wave to wave of fancied misery At random drove, her helm of reason lost. Young's Night Thoughts.

Id.

Sense is our helmet, wit is but a plume, The plume exposes, 'tis our helmet saves. The HELM, in nautical affairs, is a long and flat piece of timber, or an assemblage of several pieces, suspended along the hind part of a ship's stern-post, where it turns upon hinges to the right or left, serving to direct the course of the vessel, as the tail of a fish guides the body. The helm is usually composed of three parts, viz. the rudder, the tiller, and the wheel, except in small vessels, where the wheel is unnecessary. As to the form of the rudder, it becomes gradually broader in proportion to its distance from the top, or to its depth under the water. The back, or inner part of it, which joins to the stern-post, is diminished into the form of a wedge throughout its whole length, so as that the rudder may be more easily turned from one side to the other, where it makes an obtuse angle with the keel. It is supported upon hinges; of which those that are bolted round the stern-post to the after extremity of the ship, are called googings, and are furnished with a large hole in the after-part of the stern-post. The other parts of the hinges, which are bolted to the back of the rudder, are called pintles, being strong cylindrical pins, which enter into the googings, and rest upon them. The length and thickness of the rudder is nearly equal to that of the stern-post. The rudder is turned upon its hinges by means of a long bar of timber, called the tiller, which is fixed horizontally in its upper end within the vessel. The movements of the tiller to the right and left, accordingly, direct the efforts of the rudder to the government of the ship's course as she advances; which, in the sea language, is called steering. The operations of the tiller are guided and assisted by a sort of tackle, communicating with the ship's side, called the tillerrope, which is usually composed of untarred rope-yarns, for the purpose of traversing more readily through the blocks or pulleys.

To facilitate the management of the helm, the tiller-rope, in all large vessels, is wound about a wheel, which acts upon it with the powers of a ctane or windlass. The rope employed in this

service being conveyed from the fore-end of the tiller to a single block on each side of the ship, is farther communicated to the wheel, by two blocks suspended near the mizen-mast, and two holes immediately above, leading up to the wheel, which is fixed upon an axis on the quarter-deck, almost perpendicularly over the foreend of the tiller. Five turns of the tiller-rope are usually wound about the barrel of the wheel; and, when the helm is amidship, the middle turn is nailed to the top of the barrel, with a mark by which the helmsman readily discovers the situation of the helm, as the wheel turns it from the starboard to the larboard side. The spokes of the wheel generally reach about eight inches beyond the rim or circumference, serving as handles to the person who steers the vessel. As the effect of a lever increases in proportion to the length of its arm, it is evident that the power of the helmsman to turn the wheel will be increased according to the length of the spokes beyond the circumference of the barrel. When the helm, instead of lying in a right line with the keel, is turned to one side or the other, it receives an immediate shock from the water, which glides along the ship's bottom in running aft, and this fluid pushes it towards the opposite side, whilst it is retained in this position: so that the stern, to which the rudder is confined, receives the same impression, and accordingly turns about whilst the head of the ship passes in the opposite direction. It must be observed, that the current of water falls upon the rudder obliquely, and only strikes it with that part of its motion which acts according to the sine of incidence, pushing it with a force which not only depends on the velocity of the ship's course, by which this current of water is produced, but also upon the extent of the sine of incidence. This force is by consequence composed of the square of the velocity with which the ship advances, and the square of the sine of incidence, which will necessarily be greater or smaller according to circumstances; so that if the vessel runs three or four times more swiftly, the absolute shock of the water upon the rudder will be nine or sixteen times stronger under the same incidence and if the incidence is increased, it will yet be augmented in a greater proportion, because the square of the sine of incidence is more enlarged. This impression, or power of the helm, is always very feeble, when compared with the weight of the vessel; but, as it operates with the force of a long lever, its efforts to turn the ship are extremely advantageous. For the helm being applied to a great distance from the centre of gravity, or from the point about which the vessel turns horizontally, if the direction of the impression of the water upon the rudder be prolonged, it is evident that it will pass widely distant from the centre of gravity: thus the absolute effort of the water is very powerful. It is not therefore surprising, that this machine impresses the ship with a considerable circular movement; and even much farther whilst she sails with rapidity, because the effect of the helm always keeps pace with the velocity with which the vessel advances. Amongst the several angles that the rudder makes with the keel, there is always one position more

favorable than any of the others, as it more readily produces the desired effect of turning the ship, in order to change her course.

Geometricians have determined the most advantageous angle made by the helm with the line prolonged from the keel, and fixed it at 54° 44', presuming that the ship is as narrow at her floating line, or at the line described by the surface of the water round her bottom, as at the keel. But as this supposition is absolutely false, inasmuch as all vessels augment their breadth from the keel upward to the extreme breadth, where the floating-line or the highest water-line is terminated; it follows, that this angle is too large by a certain number of degrees. For the rudder is impressed by the water, at the height of the floating-line, more directly than at the keel, because the fluid exactly follows the horizontal outlines of the bottom; so that a particular position of the helm might be supposed necessary for each different incidence which it encounters from the keel upwards. But, as a middle position may be between all these points, it will be sufficient to consider the angle formed by the sides of the ship, and her axis, or the iniddle line of her length, at the surface of the water, in order to determine afterwards the mean point, and the mean angle of incidence. It is evident that the angle 54° 44′ is too open, and very unfavorable to the ship's headway, because the water acts upon the rudder there with too great a sine of incidence, as being equal to that of the angle which it makes with the line prolonged from the keel below: but above, the shock of the water is almost perpendicular to the rudder, because of the breadth of the bottom, as we have already remarked. If then the rudder is only opposed to the fluid, by making an angle of 45° with the line prolonged from the keel, the impression, by becoming weaker, will be less opposed to the ship's head-way; and the direction of the absolute effort of the water upon the helm, drawing nearer to the lateral perpendicular, will be placed more advantageously, for the reasons above mentioned. On the other hand, experience daily testifies, that a ship steers well when the rudder makes the angle equal to 35° only. It has been already remarked, that the effect of moving the wheel to govern the helm increases in proportion to the length of the spokes; and so great is the power of the wheel, that, if the helmsman employs a force upon its spokes equivalent to thirty pounds, it will produce an effect of ninety or 120 lbs. upon the tiller. On the contrary, the action of the water is collected into the middle of the breadth of the rudder, which is very narrow in comparison with the length of the tiller; so the effort of the water is very little removed from the fulcrum upon which it turns; whereas the tiller forms the arm of a lever ten or fifteen times longer, which also increases the power of the helmsman in the same proportion that the tiller bears to the lever upon which the impulse of the water is directed. This force then is by consequence ten or fifteen times stronger; and the effort of 30 lbs., which at first gave the helmsman a power equal to 90 lbs. or 120 lbs. becomes accumulated to one of 900 lbs. or 1800 lbs. upon the rudder. This disadvantage

then arises from the shortness of the lever upon which the action of the water is impressed, and the great comparative length of the tiller, or lever, by which the rudder is governed; together with the additional power of the wheel that directs the movements of the tiller, and still farther accumulates the power of the helmsman over it. Such a demonstration ought to remove the surprise with which the prodigious effect of the helm is sometimes considered, from an inattention to its mechanism: for we need only to observe the pressure of the water, which acts at a great distance from the centre of gravity, about which the ship is supposed to turn, and we shall easily perceive the difference there is between the effort of the water against the helmsman, and the effect of the same impulse against the vessel. With regard to the person who steers, the water acts only with the arm of a very short lever: on the contrary, with regard to the ship, the force of the water acts upon a very long lever, which renders the action of the rudder extremely powerful in turning the vessel; so that, in a large ship, the rudder receives a shock from the water of 2700 lbs. or 2800 lbs., which is frequently the case when she sails at the rate of three or four leagues by the hour; and this force, being applied perhaps 100 or 110 feet distant from the centre of gravity, will operate upon the ship to turn her about, with 270,000 lbs. or 308,000 lbs.; whilst, in the latter case, the helmsman acts with an effort which exceeds not 30 lbs. upon the spokes of the wheel. From what has been said, it is plain that the more a ship increases her velocity, with regard to the sea, the more powerful will be the effect of the rudder; because it acts against the water with a force which increases as the square of the swiftness of the fluid, whether the ship advances or retreats.

The HELMET was anciently worn by horsemen both in war and in tournaments. It covered both the head and face, only leaving an aperture in the front secured by bars, which was called the visor. See ARMOUR. In achievements it is placed above the escutcheon for the principal ornament, and is the true mark of chivalry and nobility. Helmets vary according to the different degrees of those who bear them. They are also used as a bearing in coats of arms. See HE

RALDRY.

HELMINTHIC, adj. From uros. Relating to worms.

HELMINTHOLITHUS, in natural history, a name given by Linnæus to petrified bodies resembling worms.

HELMONT (John Baptist Van), a celebrated Flemish gentleman, born at Brussels in 1577. He acquired such skill in natural philosophy, physic, and chemistry, that he was accounted a magician, and thrown into the inquisition: but, having with difficulty justified himself, as soon as he was released he retired to Holland; where he died in 1644. He published 1. De Magnetica Corporum Curatione. 2. Febrium Doctrina Inaudita. 3. Ortus Medicinæ. 4. Paradoxa de aquis Spadanis: and other works, printed together in 1 vol. folio.

HELOISE, or ELOISA, the mistress and afterwards the wife of Abelard, famous for her Latin

The God of learning and of light,
Would want a God himself to help him out.

Swift. I live in the corner of a vast unfurnished house: my family consists of a steward, a groom, a helper in the stable, a footman, and an old maid. Those few who reside among us, only because they cannot help it.

Id.

Id.

Some, wanting the talent to write, made it their care that the actors should help out where the muses failed. Rymer.

A generous present helps to persuade as well as an Garth. agreeable person.

So great is the stupidity of some of those, that they may have no sense of the help administered to them. Smalridge.

What I offer is so far from doing any diskindness to the cause these gentlemen are engaged in, that it does them a real service, and helps them out with the main thing whereat they stuck. Woodward.

Let our enemies rage and persecute the poor and the helpless; but let it be our glory to be pure and peaceable. Rogers.

He cannot help believing, that such things he saw Atterbury. and heard.

In that dread moment, how the frantic soul
Raves round the walls of her clay tenement,
Runs to each avenue and shrieks for help,
But shrieks in vain.

Blair's Grave.

In plenty starving, tantalized in state, And complaisantly helped to all I hate; Treated, caressed, and tired, I take my leave.

Pope.

I cannot help remarking the resemblance betwixt him and our author in qualities, fame, and fortune.

How shall I then your helpless fame defend?
"Twill then be infamy to seem your friend.
At evening to the setting sun he turns
A mournful eye, and down his dying heart
Sinks helpless.

Id.

Id.

Thomson's Seasons.

If they take offence when we give none, it is a thing we cannot help, and therefore the whole blame must lie upon them.

Sanders.

I mean the man who, when the distant poor Need help, denies them nothing but his name. Cowper's Task. And he had learned to love,-I know not why, For this, in such as him, seems strange of mood,The helpless looks of blooming infancy, Even in its earliest nurture. Byron. Childe Harold. HELSINGFORS, a town and naval station in the south of Finland, at the mouth of the Wanna. It has a very good harbour, and 3200 inhabitants; who carry on a trade in corn, fish, logs, and deals the latter articles being exported sometimes to the Mediterranean. It is defended by several forts, the principal of which is Sweaborg. It was built by Gustavus I., but burnt down in 1741 by the Russians: who, however, now have much encouraged it. It is 104 miles S. S. E. of Abo.

HELSINGIA, or HELSINGLAND, a province of Sweden, bounded on the north by Jempter

land and Medal padia, on the east by the Bothnian Gulf, on the south by Gestricia, and on the southwest and west by Dalecarlia. It is full of mountains and forests. The principal towns are Hudwicksvald, Alta, and Dilsbo. The rivers and lakes abound with fish. Its chief trade is in wood, flax, linen, iron, butter, tar, tallow, &c. It is 120 miles long, and ninety broad.

HELSTON, a populous borough of Cornwall, seated on the Cober, near its influx into the sea. It is one of those appointed for the coinage of tin, and the place of assembly for the west division of the shire. By a grant of Edward II. has a market on Monday, and eight fairs. It had formerly a priory and a castle, and sent members to parliament in the reign of Edward I.; but was not incorporated till the 27th of queen Elizabeth, who appointed a mayor, four aldermen, and twenty-four assistants. It was re-incorporated August 16th 1774, and still sends It has a large two members to parliament. market-house, a guild-hall, and four streets in the form of a cross, with a channel of water running through each. The steeple of the church, with its spire, is ninety feet high, and a seamark. King John exempted Helston from paying toll any where but in London; and the citizens from being impleaded any where except in their own borough. It is twelve miles east of Penzance, and 274 W. S.W. of London. In the neighbourhood was formerly one of those curiosities called rocking-stones, which was thrown down by the governor of Pendennis Castle under Oliver Cromwell. Near the town is a curious heap of stones, piled loosely up, in the form of a circle, called Earth Castle, used anciently as a fortification.

HELTER-SKELTER, adv. From Saxon beolrren sceado, as Skinner fancies, the darkness of hell; hell, says he, being a place of confusion; in a hurry; without order; tumultuously.

Sir John, I am thy Pistol, and thy friend;
And helter-skelter have I rode to England,
And tidings do I bring.

Shakspeare.

He had no sooner turned his back but they were at it helter-skelter, throwing books at one another's L'Estrange.

heads.

HELVE, n. s & v. a. Sax. þelpe, the handle of an axe to fit with a handle.

The slipping of an axe from the heloe, whereby another is slain, was the work of God himself. Raleigh's History.

HELVETIA, or CIVITAS HELVETIÆ, in ancient geography, the country of the Helvetii, which was divided into four pagi or cantons, situated to the south and west of the Rhine, by which they were divided from the Germans; and extending towards Gaul, from which they were separated by Mount Jura on the west, and by the Rhodanus and Lacus Lemanus on the south, and therefore called a Gallic nation. It was formerly a part of Celtic Gaul, but by Augustus assigned to Gallia Belgica. The modern name is Switzerland.

HELVETIC REPUBLIC. See SWITZERLAND HELVETII, a people of Gallia Belgica, near the country of the Allobroges and the Provincia Romana; famed for bravery. See GALLIA.