a I. , and the third vowel. Its sound varies ; in some words it is long, as high, mind: in some it is short, as bid, kid, and in others it is pronounced like y, as collier, onion, &c. in a few words its sound approaches to the double e e, as in machine. I, used as a numeral, signifies no more than one, and it stands for as many units as it is repeated times, thus II. IJI stands for 2 and 3. When put before a higher numeral it subtracts itself, as IV, four, and when set after it, the effect is addition, XII, twelve. See ARITHMETIC. IACINTH, see HYACINTH. Ice, water in a solid state. When water is exposed to a temperature below 32° of Fahrenheit, (see THERMOMETER,) it assumes a solid state by shooting into crystals, which cross each other in angles of 60 degrees. Ice is always found at the same temperature or 32° ; it is lighter than water, of course its bulk is larger than that of water of which it is formed, and this increase of dimensions is acquired with prodigious force, sufficient to burst the strongest vessels. There is a grotto in France, about seven leagues from Besançon, distinguished from all others by a very singular phenomenon: in summer, ice is constantly formed in it, in large quantities, and this ice diminishes at the approach of winter. The roek forming the roof of this cavern is lower than the neighbouring plains, and the grotto itself is covered with bushy trees, from the |