PERCEPTION is a word which is so well understood that it is difficult for the lexicographer to give any explanation of it. It has been called the first and most simple act of the mind, by which it is conscious of its own ideas. This definition, however, is improper, as it confounds perception with consciousness; although the objects of the former faculty are things without us, those of the latter the energies of our own minds. Perception is that power or faculty, by which, through the medium of the senses, we have the cognizance of objects distinct and apart from ourselves, and learn that we are but a small part in the system of nature. By what process the senses give us this information is one of the most interesting enquiries in metaphysics. See META

PHYSICS,

PERCEVAL (Spencer), second son of John, second earl of Egmont, was born in 1762, and received his education at Harrow, and Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he became a member about the year 1775. On quitting the university he entered of Lincoln's Inn, with the view of following the profession of the law at the Chancery bar. In this pursuit he soon distinguished himself, and obtained a silk gown. In 1796 he represented Northampton in parliament, and, five years after, his legal abilities and family influence raised him to the office of solicitorgeneral. In 1802 he was made attorney-general, and filled that situation till 1807, when, on the death of Mr. Fox, he was appointed chancellor of the exchequer. In this high post he continued till the 11th of May, 1812, when, while approaching the door of the house of commons, a person named Bellingham discharged a pistol at him in the lobby, the bullet of which, entering his breast, deprived him almost instantly of life. The assassin avowed that he had been waiting with the view of destroying lord Leveson Gower, late ambassador to the court of St. Petersburgh, for some alleged negligence of his mercantile interests, and was brought to trial on the 15th. Although a plea of insanity was set up by his counsel, he was found guilty, and executed on the 18th of the same month.

PERCH, n. s., v. n., & v.a. Fr. perche, percher; Lat. pertica. A rod; measure; that on which birds sit and roost: to sit or roost; place on a perch.

He percheth on some branch thereby, To weather him and his moist wings to dry. Spenser.

The world is grown so bad, That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. Shakspeare.

The morning muses perch like birds and sing Among his branches.

An evening dragon came,

Assailant on the perched roosts,

VOL. XVII-PART 1.

Crashaw.

For the narrow perch I cannot ride. Dryden. Perched on the double tree, that bears the golden They winged their flight aloft, then, stooping low, bough.

Id.

Let owls keep close within the tree, and not perch upon the upper boughs. South.

PERCH, N.S. Fr. perche; Lat. perca. A fish.

the pike and trout, carries his teeth in his mouth: he The perch is one of the fishes of prey, that, like dare venture to kill and destroy several other kinds of fish he has a hooked or hog-back, which is armed with stiff bristles, and all his skin armed with thick hard scales, and hath two fins on his back: he spawns but once a year, and is held very nutritive. Walton's Angler.

PERCH, in ichthyology. See PERCA. PERCHANCE', adv. Per and chance. Perhaps; peradventure.

How long within this wood intend you stay? -Perchance till after Theseus' wedding day. Shakspeare.

Finding him by nature little studious, she chose rather to endue him with ornaments of youth; as dancing and fencing, not without aim then perchance at a courtier's life. Wotton.

Only Smithfield ballad perchance to embalm the memory of the other. L'Estrange. Stranger, I sent for thee, for that I deemed Some wound was thine, that yon free band might chafe,Perchance thy worldly wealth sunk with yon wreckSuch wound my gold can heal.

Maturin.

PERCIVAL (Thomas), M. D., a physician, born at Warrington, Lancashire, in 1740, studied medicine at the universities of Edinburgh and Leyden, and returning to England, in 1765, settled at Manchester. He was the author of a variety of numerous able tracts on scientific subjects, especially Observations on the Deleterious Qualities of Lead and Medical Ethics; A Father's Instructions to his Children; Moral and Literary Dissertations, &c.; and papers in the Transactions of the Manchester Philosophical Society, of which he was the founder and first president. He also attempted to establish public lectures on mather aatics, the fine arts, and commerce, in that town; and sought to obtain support for dissenting academies at Warrington and Manchester, but was in both these last attempts unsuccessful. Dr. Percival died, highly respected both for talents and conduct, on the 30th of August, 1804. His works were published in 1807, in 4 vols. 8vo. by his son.

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