Firminy. the same. divided "the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament;" and the theory of the phenomena of rain, etc., was, that there were "windows in heaven"-i.e., in the firmament, through which, when opened, the waters that were above the firmament descended. The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened," Gen. vii. 11. The view entertained by the Greeks, and other early nations, was essentially In the progress of astronomical observations, it was found that many of the heavenly bodies had independent motions, inconsistent with the notion of their being fixed to one sphere or firmament. Then the number of crystalline spheres were indefi nitely increased, each body that was clearly independent of the rest having one assigned to it, till a complex system was introduced, capable of being fully understood only by the philosophers who formed it. See PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM. It was long before men formed the idea of the possibility of a body being maintained in motion in space without a fixed support, and considering the number of phenomena of which the hypothesis of a crystalline firmament offered an apparent explanation, we must regard it as having been in its day a curious and ingenious speculation. FIRMAN, a word of Persian origin, signifies an order, and is used by the Turks to denote any official decree emanating from the Ottoman porte. The right of signing any F. relating to affairs connected with his special department is exercised by every minister and member of the divan, but the office of placing at the head of the F. the thograi-a cipher containing the name of the sultan in interlaced letters, and which alone gives effect to the decree-is committed to the hands of a special minister, who is called nichandji-effendi. The name applied to such dccrees as have been signed by the sultan himself is hatti-sherif. The name F. may also signify a more formal kind of Turkish passport, which can only be granted by the sultan or by a pasha.-A written permission to trade is called in India a firman. FIRMINY, a t. of France, in the dep. of Loire, 6 m. s. w. from St. Etienne, with which it is connected by a branch railway. Near it are rich coal-mines. It is a place of much activity, and has manufactures of cast steel, etc. Ribbons and nails are among the articles of manufacture most largely produced. Much lamp-black is also made. Pop. '91, 14,502. |