rossing
each other, and are always equal. (_See_ ANGLE OF THE VERTICAL.)

VERTICAL CIRCLES. Great circles of the sphere intercepting each other in
the zenith and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right angles.

VERTICAL FIRE. In artillery, that directed upward at such an angle as
that it will fall vertically, or nearly so, to its destination. It
includes all elevations above 30 deg., though the most usual is 45 deg.
It is very effective with shells; but with small balls, as proposed by
Carnot and others, who have ill reckoned the retardation by the
atmosphere, it is insignificant.

VERTICAL FORCE. The centre of displacement is also that of the centre of
vertical force that the water exerts to support the immersed vessel.
Also, the dip of the magnetic needle, measured by vibrations of the
dipping needle over certain arcs, and referable to some fixed position,
as Greenwich, where corresponding observations with the same needle have
been previously, as well as subsequently, made.

VERTICAL PLAN. _See_ ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION.

VERTICITY. The tendency of the loadstone to point towards the magnetic
north and south.

VESSEL. A general name for all the different sorts of ships, boats, &c.,
navigated on the ocean or on rivers and canals.

VETAYLE. An archaism for victuals.

VIA LACTEA. That well-known irregular luminous band, stretching across
the sky from horizon to horizon: it consists of myriads of small stars,
and has passed under the names of Milky Way, Galaxy, Jacob's Ladder,
Watling-strete, &c.

VICE-ADMIRAL. The rank in the fleet next to that of an admiral; he
carries his flag at the fore.

VICE-ADMIRALTY COURTS. Branches of the High Court of Admiralty,
instituted for carrying on the like duties in several of our colonies,
prize-courts, &c. (_See_ ADMIRALTY, HIGH COURT OF.)

VICE-CONSUL. An officer appointed in sea-ports to aid the consul in
affairs relating to merchant vessels. If there be a resident consul, the
vice-consul is appointed and paid by him. Vice-consuls wait on
commanders, consuls on captains, captains on consuls-general--the naval
authority providing boats.

VICE-NAIL. A screw.

VICTUALLER. A vessel which carries provisions. In the early age of the
navy, each man-of-war had a victualler especially attached to her; as,
in Henry VIII.'s reign, we find the _Nicholas Draper_, of 140 tons and
40 men, was victualler to the _Trinity Sovereign_; the _Barbara_ of
Greenwich to the _Gabriel Royal_,