EXAMINATION, a scrutiny or investigation of abilities, conduct, &c. All officers of artillery and engineers should undergo an examination in mathematics, fortification, and gunnery, prior to their having commissions. Surgeons and assistant surgeons should be examined before a medical board. EXAUCTORATIO, in the Roman military discipline, differed from the missio, which was a full discharge, and took place after soldiers had served in the army 20 years; whereas the exauctoratio was only a partial discharge: they lost their pay indeed, but still kept under their colors or vexilla, though not under the aquila or eagle, which was the standard of the legion: whence instead of _legionarii_, they were called _subsignani_, and were retained till they had either served their full time, or had lands assigned them. The exauctoratio took place after they had served 17 years. EXCELLENCY, a title absurdly given to kings and emperors, in Europe, and with equal falsehood and absurdity given to governors, ambassadors, generals, and other persons. EXCHANGE, in a military sense, implies the removal of an officer from one regiment to another, or from full to half pay, and _vice versa_: It is usual on these occasions for individuals belonging to the latter class to receive a pecuniary consideration. See DIFFERENCE. EXCHANGE _of prisoners_, the act of giving up men, that have been taken in war, upon stipulated conditions which are subscribed to by contending powers. EXCHANGE, in a general sense, signifies any contract or agreement whereby persons or things are exchanged for others. EXCHEQUER. The public office from whence all monies are issued for the use of the English army. With respect to the militia, it is enacted that the money paid for that particular service, shall be kept apart from all other money. Officers belonging to the exchequer, are not to take any fees for receiving, or issuing such money. EXCITE. See ANIMATE. EXCUBIÆ, in antiquity, the watches and guards kept in the day by the Roman soldiers. They differed from the _vigiliæ_ which were kept in the night. EXECUTER, _Fr._ The French use this verb technically. They say, _exécuter et servir une piéce_. See the particular method of so doing, under TIRER _le canon_, to fire a gun or cannon. EXECUTER, _Fr._ to execute, to put to death. EXECUTION. _Military_ EXECUTION is the pillaging or plundering of a country by the enemy’s army. _Military_ EXECUTION also means every kind of punishment inflicted on the army by the sentence of a court martial; which is of various kinds. When a soldier is to be punished with death, a detachment of about 200 men from the regiment he belongs to form the parade, when a file of grenadiers shoots the prisoner to death. Every nation has different modes of military execution.