Part 251

The whole Roman infantry, which was divided into four sorts, Velites, Hastati, Principes, and Triarii, consisted of Manipuli, Cohorts, and Legions. So that legion was considered as the largest establishment for foot soldiers. See Kennett’s Ant. of Rome, pages 190, 191.

Marshal Saxe has written at some length, respecting legion.

LEGION, in a general acceptation of the term, signifies any large body of men. In a more confined one among the moderns, it applies to a specific number of horse and foot, who are distinguished by that name, and do duty with the rest of the army. Such for instance was the British legion which served in America; and of this description were the Polish and Belgic legions, that formed part of the French army in the early part of the revolution. The French armies now form corps d’armie, which are in fact legions; and of 20 to 30,000 men each.

LEGIONARY, any thing appertaining to a legion, or containing an indefinite number.

LEGUMES, Fr. vegetables, roots, grain, &c. Every species of subsistence, which under the old government of France, was not provided for the troops by direct instructions from the war office, and at the expence of the public, was called legumes. Subsistence of this sort, however, may more properly be called that diet which soldiers got for themselves in foreign countries during actual hostilities.

Legumes, or vegetable food, &c. was classed under two specific heads. That which grew in consequence of the ground having been tilled and sowed, and that which rose spontaneously from the earth. Beans, peas, carrots, &c. may be considered as belonging to the first class, and those herbs or wild roots which have been cultivated in gardens, or are to be found in woods, &c. may come under the second. The latter sort, indeed, was frequently resorted to by the soldier in order to give a seasoning to his mess. Parties under the command of subaltern officers were permitted to accompany the foragers for the purpose of procuring this wholesome and pleasant addition to the regulated subsistence; and when there were not any foraging days, soldiers were permitted to gather roots and vegetables within the limits of the outermost house or vedette quarters, or of the regular outposts of the infantry.

To LENGTHEN out, in a military sense, means to stride out.

To LENGTHEN the step, to take more than the prescribed pace.

LESKAR, the camp of the great Mogul.

To LET in, to admit; as he let some of the enemy’s advanced parties in, or into the camp, &c.

To LET off, to discharge.

To LET off a pistol or musquet, to fire either of those fire arms.

LETTER of mark, LETTER of marque, a letter granted to a ship captain impowering him to make reprisals for what was formerly taken from him, by ships of another state, contrary to the law of mart. See MARQUE.

LETTER of mark, a commission granted the commander of a merchant ship or privateer, to cruise against, and make prizes of the enemy’s ships and vessels, either at sea, or in their harbors.

LETTER of service, a written order or authority issued by the secretary at war, empowering any officer or individual to raise a given body of men to serve as soldiers, within a certain time, and on special conditions.

LETTER, in its general acceptation, a character such as forms the alphabet, or any thing written, such as an epistle, &c.

LETTER of attorney, an instrument in writing, authorizing an attorney, or any confidential person, to take the affairs of another in trust. A letter or power of attorney is necessary to empower a person to receive the half-pay of an officer. This should be accompanied by a certificate sworn to by the officer before some magistrate or justice of the peace.

LETTER of credit, a letter which is given from one merchant or banker to another, in favor of a third person, enabling the latter to take up money to a certain amount. Sometimes a letter of credit is given without any specific limitation.

LETTER of licence, a deed signed and sealed by the creditors of a man, by which he is allowed a given period to enable him to discharge his debts by instalments, or by a certain proportion in the pound.

LETTER-men, certain pensioners belonging to Chelsea hospital, are so called.

LETTON, Fr. a metal composed of molten copper, called rosette, and of lapis calaminaris, or zinc. This is brass.

LETTON is used in cannon-foundries. The best practical mode of digesting and mixing the materials, is to put 11 or 12,000 weight of metal, 10,000 weight of rosette, or molten copper, 900 pounds of tin, and 600 pounds of letton. There are various opinions respecting the mixture of these several ingredients.

LETTRE circulaire, Fr. a circular letter.

LETTRE de cachet, Fr. an infamous state paper, which existed before the French revolution, differing in this essential point from an order of the British privy council, that the former was sealed, and the person upon whom it was served, carried into confinement without even seeing the authority by which he was hurried off in so peremptory a manner, or being tried afterwards for any specific offence; whereas the latter is an open warrant, which, (except when peculiar circumstances occasions a suspension of the habeas corpus act,) has its object closely investigated before a jury. The French lettre de cachet was written by the king, countersigned by one of his principal secretaries of state, and sealed with the royal signet.

LETTRES de service, Fr. See LETTERS of service.

LETTRES de passe, Fr. a paper signed by the kings of France, authorizing an officer to exchange from one regiment into another.

LETTRE de créance, ou qui porte crêance, Fr. A letter of credit. It likewise signifies the credentials which an ambassador presents from his government to a foreign court.

LETTRE de récréance, Fr. a letter which an ambassador receives from his government, by which he is recalled from a foreign court.