FORTI I: 1 cA"r ION, the art or science of fortifying is place, or of putting it in such a posture of defence, that every one of its parts defends, and is defended, by some other ports, by means of ramparts, parapets, moots, and other bulwarks; so that a small number of men within may be able to defend themselves for a consid erable time against the assaults of a nu merous army fortifi cation, at first consisted of walls or de fences made of the trunks and large brunches of trees, mixed with earth, to secure them against the attacks of the enemy. This was afterwards altered to stone-walls, on which wore raised breast works, behind which they made use of their darts and arrows in seenrity.—Mod ern fortcation, is that which is flanked and defended by bastions and out-works, the ramparts of which are so solid, that they cannot be beat down but by the con tinual fire of several batteries of cannon. The principal works belonging to a forti fication are, the ditch or trench made round each work ; the rampart, or eleva tion of earth, raised along the faces of any work, to cover the inner part ; the parapet, or that part of a rampart which serves to cover the troops planted there ; the bastion, that part of the inner en closure of a fortification making an angle towards the field ; the countersearp, the slope of the ditch faring the body of the place; the covert way, the space extend ing round the countersearp; and the gilt cis. the part beyond the covert way, to
which it serves as a parapet. In recent, times, however, fortification has under gone important changes, and engineers have adopted different systems; hut those which have acquired the greatest reputa tion in Europe, are the systems of Count Pagan, the laron the Coehorn, Von Schei ter, and Marshal Vauban.
FOR'TITt'I)E, the basis or source of coolness and intrepidity in danger, of pa tience in suffering, of forbearance under injuries, and of magnanimity in all con ditions of life. In fins, fortitude is the virtue of a rational and considerate mind, founded on a sense of honor and a regard to duty. The motives to fortitude are many powerful, end this virtue tends much to the happiness of the individual, by giving composure and presence of mind, and keeping the other passions in due subordination'.