PAUSE, in music, a character of silence, or rest, called also by some a mute figure, because it spews that some part or per son is to be silent, while the rest con tinue the song. Pauses are used either for the sake of some fugue, or imitation, or to give a breathing time ; or to give room for another voice, &c. to answer what this part sung, as in dialogues, echoes, &c. In military affairs it is es sentially necessary for all officers to ac custom themselves to a most minute ob servance of the several pauses which are prescribed during the firings. According to the regulations, the pause between each of the firing words, " make ready, present, fire," is the same as the ordina ry time, ^viz. the seventy-fifth part of a minute, and no 'other pause is to be made between the words. In firing by compa nies, by wings, each wing carries on its fire independently, without regard to the other wing, whether it fires from the centre to the flanks, or from the flanks to the centre. If there are five companies in the wing, two pauses will be made be tween the fire of each, and the make ready of the succeeding one. If there
are four companies in the wing, three pauses will be made betwixt the fire of each, and the make ready of the succeed ing one. This will allow sufficient time for the first company to have again load ed, and shouldered at the time the last company fires, and will establish proper intervals between each. In firing by grand divisions, three pauses will be made between the fire of cads division, and the make ready of the succeeding one. In firing by wings, one wing will make ready the instant the other is shouldering. The commanding officer of the battalion fires the wings. In firing companies by files, each company fires independently. When the right file pre-. Bents, the next makes ready, and so on.
After the first fire, each man as be loads comes to the recover, and the file again fires without waiting for any other ; the rear rank men are to have their eyes on their front rank men, and be guided by, and present with them.