This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ...P.'s character has been defended by Madame de Genlis and Madame Roland. It appears that he was extremely virtuous in all his domestic relations; but, on the other hand, his public career shows him to have been weak, shallow, ostentatious, and vain. Les (Euvres de Pition, containing his speeches and some small political treatises, were pub. 1793. PETIT, n. pen F.: little in figure; small; diminutive; mean: see Petty. Petite Natuke, pe-tet' ntl-tdr' F. nature, nature: a term applied to such pictures as contain figures a little less in size than life, aud yet have (lie effect of life size. PETITION, n. pt-tlsh'Un F. petition--from L. pettiHdnem, a request, a petition--from peto, I beg or ask: It. petizione: an asking or seeking; a solemn or formal solicitation made by one party to another; a paper or document containing a written request or supplication; a prayer, or a part of one, addressed to God; an earnest entreaty: V. to solicit earnestly; to supplicate. PetiTioning, imp. Petitioned, pp.-imd. Peti'tioneb, n.-er, one who petitions. Petitionary, a.-er-i, containing a petition or request. Eight Of Petition, the right pertaining to the citizen of a free country to address the govt, with request for redress of any grievance. The right of the British subject to petition the sovereign or either house of parliament is a fundamental principle of the British constitution, and has been exercised from very early times. The earliest petitions were generally for redress of private wrongs, and the mode of trying them was judicial rather than legislative. Receivers and triers of petitions were appointed, and proclamation was made inviting all persons to resort to the receivers. The receivers, who were clerks or masters in chancery, transmitted the...