∷ is the mark of geometrical proportion disjunct, and is usually placed between two pair of equal ratio’s; as 3 : 6 ∷ 4 : 8, shews, that 3 is to 6, as 4 is to 8. Or _a_ : _b_ ∷ _d_ : _e_, and are thus read, as _a_ is to _b_, so is _d_ to _e_, &c. > or ⫍ are signs of majority; thus _a_ > _b_ expresses that _a_ is greater than _b_. < or ⫎ are signs of minority; and when we would denote that _a_ is less than _b_, we write _a_ < _b_, or _a_ ⫎ _b_, &c. ± signifies _more_, or _less such a quantity_, and is used often in the extraction of roots, completing of squares, &c. _Artillery_-CHARACTERS, most generally used, are as follow: _C. qr. lb._ which signifies centners, or hundreds of 112 pounds, _qr._ quarters of 28 pounds, _lb._ pounds of 16 ounces avoirdupois. Thus a piece of artillery with 14 _c._ 3 _q._ 16 _lb._, is 14 hundred, 3 quarters, and 16 pounds. _Pr._ signifies pounder. Thus 24 _pr._ is a 24 pounder. _T. C. qr. lb._ signifies tons, hundreds, quarters, pounds; and 28 _lb._ is one quarter: 4 _qr._ is one centner, or 112 pounds; and 20 _C._ or _cwt._ is one ton. _lb. oz. dr._ means, pounds, ounces and drams: 16 _dr._ is one ounce, and 16 _oz._ is one pound avoirdupois. _lb. oz. dwts. gr._ is pounds, ounces, penny-weights, and grains; of which 24 _gr._ make one penny-weight, 20 _dwt._ make one ounce, and 12 _oz._ one pound of troy-weight. CHARACTERS in fire-works, are the following. _M_ Meal-powder. Э Corned powder. Ө Saltpetre. _Z_ Brimstone. _C Z_ Crude Sulphur. _C_ + Carbon or charcoal. _C S_ Sea-Coal. _B R_ Beech raspings. _S_ X Steel or iron filings. _B_ X Brass-dust. _G_ X Glass-dust. _T_ X Tanners dust. _C I_ Cast-iron. _C A_ Crude antimony. ♓ Camphor. _A Y_ Yellow amber. _L S_ Lapis calaminaris. ᘏ Gum. _B L_ Lamp-black. _G I_ Ising-glass. _W_ Spirit of wine. _S T_ Spirit of turpentine. _P O_ Oil of spike. CHARACTERS, used in the arithmetic of infinites, are dots over letters, denoting the character of an infinitesimal, or fluxion. Thus the first fluxions of _x_, _y_, _z_, being marked thus, _ẋ_, _ẏ_, _ż_; the second are _ẍ_, _ÿ_, _z̈_, and the third .: :. :. _x_, _y_, _z_. _Geographical_ CHARACTERS, are °, ′, ″, ‴ &c. which signify degrees, minutes, seconds, thirds. Thus 40°, 55′, 18″, 55‴, is read 40 degrees, 35 minutes, 18 seconds, 55 thirds. It is also used in the elevation of pieces of artillery. _Characters._ See GUNPOWDER. CHARBON, See AIGREMORE. CHARGE, _Fr._ The French technically use this term in two different senses, viz. _charge precipitée_ and _charge à volonté_. _Charge precipitée_ is given when the four times are expressly marked, as _chargez vos armes_, _un_, _deux_, _trois_, _quatre_; and applies chiefly to the drill. _Charge à volonté_ is executed in the same manner as the _charge precipitée_, with this difference, that the soldiers do not wait for the specific words. CHARGES for field guns.