GOVERNOR

A contrivance for regulating the speed of machinery, which has long been in use in millwork, but has of late years attracted more attention by its adaptation to the steam engine. It consists of two heavy balls B B, attached to the extremities of two rods B F, B F, which play upon a: joint at E, pa ing through a mortise in the vertical shaft D D. These are united by joints at F to the short rods F H, which again are connected by joints at H to a ring which slides on the shaft D D. A horizontal wheel, W, is attached to D D, having a groove to receive a rope or strap on its rim, by means of which the motion is communicated to D D from a corresponding wheel on some shaft of the machinery to be regulated. It is evident, from the disposition of the rods, that if the balls B B are by any means raised or drawn asunder, the extremities F F of the rods turning on the pivot E will also be separated, and their distance from the axis increased. This will draw the rods F H in the same direction, and cause the ring or collar H to descend. This ring is connected with the end I of a lever, whose fulcrum is at G, and whose other extremity K is connected by some means with the part of the machine which supplies the power. Suppose now the velocity from any cause to undergo a sudden increase; by reason of the increased centrifugal force arising from the whirling motion, the balls B B will recede from the shaft 13 D, and raise the extremity K of the lever. On the other hand, if the velocity is diminished, the centrifugal force of the balls will be diminished, and they will fall by their own weight nearer the axis, and cause the end K of the lever to descend. When the governor is applied to a steam-engine, the rod K I communicates with a flat circular valve V, placed in the principal steam-pipe, and so arranged that when K is elevated as far as the divergence of the balls will allow, the opening of the pipe will be closed by the valve V, and the pa age of steam entirely stopped. On the other hand, when the balls sub521 GRACE, DAYS OF. side to their lowest position, the valve will be entirely open. Thus, when the velocity is increased, the supply of steam is checked; and when it is diminished, the supply of steam is immediately increased; by which means a uniform proper velocity of the machinery is maintained. When the governor is applied to a water-wheel, the lever is made to act on the shuttle through which the water flows, and thereby controls its quantity. When applied to a wind-mill, it regulates the sail-cloth so as to diminish the efficacy of the power upon the arms as the force of the wind increases, or vice vers a. (Lardner's Cyclopedia, art. " Mechanics;" Gregory's Mechanics, vol. ii.) See also Regulator. GOVERNOR-GENERAL, THE, OF INDIA, is also the head of the local government of the presidency of Bengal. He exercises some of the most important rights of sovereignty; as, declaring war and making peace, framing treaties, and, to a certain extent, enacting laws. He has a council, consisting of five members; of whom three are servants of the Company; one appointed by the directors, but not a servant of the Company; and the fifth is the commander-in-chief. But the governor general is independent of his council, except in a judicial capacity. If the council di ent, its members can record their reasons; such di ent, however, only operates as a suspensive veto on the decision of the governor-general for 48 hours. He has the commi ion of captain-general, and may head military operations in any part of India. He has also the power of suspending the governors of the other presidencies. But in his disputes with his own council or other governor, he is under the supervision of the Court of Directors and Board of Control at home. Regulations pa ed by the governor-general in council become immediately effective, but are subject to reversal by the home authorities. GRACE (Lat. gratia), in the language of the New Testament, is primarily the favour and love of God towards any person: from thence it comes to be used in various derivative senses, being put generally for all the extraordinary means and a istances with which men are endowed to bring them to salvation, in all of which regard is had to the sacrifice of Christ as the ground upon which God vouchsafes them. The term is used, farther, for the good actions and dispositions of men, which may be supposed to be derived from the operation of the grace of God in the first instance. The explanation of the term "grace" has given rise to some of the most remarkable controversies in ecclesiastical history. It is evident that it borders close upon the question of free will and nece ity, and the discu ion of the one is inextricably entangled in the difficulties that beset the other. The Pelagians, holding extreme opinions on the side of the freedom of the will, conceived the idea of grace operating from without, and controlling or in any way directing men's actions, to be subversive of their fundamental principle: they contrived, therefore, to understand the words of Scripture throughout of the natural good dispositions of men, whom they supposed to find favour in the sight of God by their own merit, and by their own voluntary acceptance of his promises to inherit eternal life. St. Au^ustin, on the contrary, maintained against them that the mere desire for grace is itself a special gift of God,— a free grace independent of and antecedent to any human actions, to the exclusion of any counteracting principle; a doctrine which, if rigidly interpreted, seems certainly irreconcilable with that degree of liberty which is a nece ary element in the moral government of the world. Grace. In the Fine Arts, a quality arising from elegance of form and attitude combined. A figure may be just in its proportions, its parts and members may be all perfectly regulated, yet it may be deficient in grace. It is scarcely po ible in words to expre this quality, yet it is constantly seen in nature; and it is scarcely po ible to contemplate a picture by Raffaelle without feeling its power. GRACE AT MEALS, THE SAYING OF, is a Jewish custom, and appears to have been sanctioned by the?racticeof our Saviour. (Mark, viii. €.; Matth. xiv. 19.) t is mentioned by Jerome and Tertullian as usual among the early Christians. A custom of beginning meals by prayers was common in cla ical antiquity. {Livy, xxxix. 43.; Quiniil. Declam. 301.) GRACE, DAYS OF, in Commercial Law, are cer, tain days allowed by the custom of merchants to be added to the time requisite for presentment of a bill. Thus, if an instrument drawn in this country be payable " a certain time after date," three days of grace are added: a bill drawn on the 27th of August, payable " two months after date," is therefore due on the 30th of October. So if a foreign bill be drawn at one, two, or more " usances," the days of grace are added to the usance. The usance between London and Paris is one calendar month: a bill drawn in London on Paris, " atone usance," on the 2d January, is consequently due on the 5th February. The number of days of grace varies in diflerent countries. In France none are allowed. GRACES. [s. 534]