CHARGE, in a general sense, is that which is enjoyed, committed, intrusted or delivered to another, implying care, cus tody, oversight, or duty to be performed by the party intrusted. Charge. in civil law, the instructions given by the judge to the grand jury.—In ecclesiastical law, the instructions given by a bishop to the clergy of his diocese.
in antiquity, a ear or ve hicle used formerly in war, and called by tire several names of ()ism, triga, qua driga, &c., according to the number of horses which drew them. When the war riors came to encounter in close fight, they alighted and fought on foot ; but when they were weary they retired into their chariot, and thence annoyed their enemies with darts and missive weapons Besides this sort, we find frequent men tion of the currus falcati, or chariots armed with hooks or scythes, with which whole ranks of soldiers were cut off to gether : these were not only used by the Persians, Syrians, Egyptians, &c., but
we find them among our British anus tors.—The Roman triumphal chariot was generally made of ivory, round like a tower, or rather of a cylindrical figure ; sometimes gilt at the top and ornamented with crowns; and, to represent a victory more naturally, they used to stain it with blood. It was usually drawn by four white horses, hut oftentimes by lions, ele phants, tigers, bears, leopards, &c.
Cl[ARIS'IA, a Roman nocturnal festi val and dance kept in honor of the Graces, when sweetmeats, called charisia, were distributed among the guests.
CHARIS'IlA, a soleum festival among the Romans kept in the month of Febru ary. It was well worthy the imitation of Christians ; for at this time the rela tions of each family compromised any differences that had arisen between them, and renewed their former friendships upon the principles of pure benevolence and good-will.