Les Gens de robe, Fr. lawyers or gentlemen of the long robe.
Les Gens de finance, Fr. men concerned in the distribution of public money.
Les Gens de loi, Fr. means generally all persons who have any connection with the law in the way of profession.
Les Gens du roi, Fr. Crown lawyers.
GENTILHOMMES de la garde, commonly called Au bec de corbin, or the battle axe. This company went through many alterations during the monarchy of France. During the last years of that government, it consisted of 200 guards under the command of a captain, a lieutenant, and an ensign. The captain had the power of giving away the subaltern commissions, and had moreover the entire management of the rest; every vacancy being in his gift. They marched in file, each holding his battle-axe, before the king on days of public ceremony. These were chiefly at the coronation, and the marriage of the king, or at the reception of the knights of the Holy Ghost.
When the company was first raised, its particular duty was to attend the king’s person, and to be constantly near him on the day of battle.
GENTILHOMME à drapeau établie dans chaque compagnie des gardes Francoises, Fr. under the old French government, this person ranked as officier en second. He did duty in common with the ensigns of the French guards, and took precedence immediately under them. His name always stood upon the muster roll, but his appointment was purely honorary, as he did not receive any pay; his tour of duty in mounting guards, went with that of the ensigns, he was obliged to be present at all field days, and could not absent himself without leave.
Gentilshommes pensionnaires, Fr. Gentlemen pensioners. See [Pensioners].
GEODOESIA, GEODESIE, Fr. that part of practical geometry, which contains the doctrine or art of measuring surfaces and finding the contents of all plain figures. Among the French géodesie means likewise the division of lands. See [Surveying].
GEOGRAPHY is the doctrine or knowledge of the terrestrial globe; or the science that teaches and explains the state of the earth, and parts thereof that depend upon quantity; or it is rather that part of mixed mathematics, which explains the state of the earth, and of its parts depending on quantity, viz. its figure, magnitude, place, and motion, with the celestial appearances, &c. In consequence of this definition, geography should be divided into general and special, or universal and particular.