COLOSSUS OF RHODES. A brass statue of Apollo, seventy cubits high, erected at the port of Rhodes in honour of the sun, and esteemed one of the wonders of the world. Built by Chares of Lindus, 290 B.C. It was thrown down by an earthquake 224 B.C.; and was finally destroyed by the Saracens on their taking Rhodes in A.D. 672. The figure stood upon two moles, a leg being extended on each side of the harbour, so that a vessel in full sail could enter between. A winding staircase ran to the top, from which could be discerned the shores of Syria, and the ships that sailed on the coast of Egypt. This statue had lain in ruins for nearly nine centuries, and had never been repaired; but now the Saracens pulled it to pieces, and sold the metal, weighing 720,000 lbs. to a Jew, who is said to have loaded 900 camels in transporting it to Alexandria.-Du Fresnoy. COMBAT, SINGLE, IN ENGLAND. It commenced with the Lombards A.D. 659.Baronius. This method of trial was introduced into England and was allowed in accusations of treason, if neither the accuser nor the accused could produce evidence of the charge, or of innocence, 9 William II. 1096. The first battle by single combat was that fought before the king and the peers between Geoffry Baynard and William earl of Eu, who was accused by Baynard of high treason; and Baynard having conquered, Eu was deemed convicted. The last combat proposed was between lord Reay and David Ramsay, in 1631, but the king prevented it.-See article High Constable. Settlement, in .1622 72,932 Settlement, about 1500 60,088 Settlement, in 1787 20,930 Settlement, in 1622 102,326 Capitulated, in 1745 23,473 Settlement in 1786 no return. 1787 87 COMBAT, SINGLE, IN IRELAND. The same method of trial had also existence in Ireland. A trial was appointed between the prior of Kilmainham and the earl of Ormond, the former having impeached the latter of high treason; but the quarrel having been taken up by the king, was decided without fighting, 1446. Remarkable combat in Dublin castle, before the lords justices and council, between Connor Mac Cormac O'Connor and Teig Mac-Gilpatrick O'Connor; in which the former had his head cut off, and presented to the lords justices, 1553. COMEDY. Thalia is the muse of comedy and lyric poetry. Susarion and Dolon were the inventors of theatrical exhibitions, 562 B.C. They performed the first comedy at Athens, on a waggon or moveable stage, on four wheels, for which they were rewarded with a basket of figs and a cask of wine.- Arundelian Marbles. Aristophanes was called the prince of ancient comedy, 434 B.C., and Menander that of new, 320 B.C. Of Plautus, 20 comedies are extant; he flourished 220 B.C. Statius Cæcilius wrote upwards of 30 comedies; he flourished at Rome 180 B.C. The comedies of Lælius and Terence were first acted 154 B.C. The first regular comedy was performed in England about A.D. 1551. It was said of Sheridan, that he wrote the best comedy (the School for Scandal), the best opera (the Duenna), and the best afterpiece (the Critic), in the English language.-See Drama. COMETS. The first that was discovered and described accurately, was by Nicephorus. At the birth of the great Mithridates two large comets appered, which were seen for seventy-two days together, and whose splendour eclipsea that of the mid-day sun, and occupied forty-five degrees, or the fourth part of the heavens, 135 B.C.— Justin. A remarkable one was seen in England, 10 Edward III. 1337.-Stowe. These phenomena were first rationally explained by Tycho Brache, about 1577. A comet, which terrified the people from its near approach to the earth, was visible from Nov. 3, 1679, to March 9, 1680. The orbits of comets were proved to be ellipses, by Newton, 1704. A most brilliant comet appeared in 1769, which passed within two millions of miles of the earth. One still more brilliant appeared in Sept., Oct., and Nov., 1811, visible all the autumn to the naked eye. Another brilliant comet appeared in 1823.-See the three next articles. : COMET, BIELA'S. This comet has been an object of fear to many on account of the nearness with which it has approached, not the earth, but a point of the earth's path it was first discovered by M. Biela, an Austrian officer, Feb. 28, 1826. It is one of the three comets whose re-appearance was predicted, its revolution being performed in six years and thirty-eight weeks. Its second appearance was in 1832, when the time of its perihelion passage was Nov. 27. Its third appearance was of course in 1839. COMET, ENCKE'S. First discovered by M. Pons, Nov. 26, 1818, but justly named by astronomers after professor Encke, from his success in detecting its orbit, motions, and perturbations; it is, like the preceding, one of the three comets which have appeared according to prediction, and its revolutions are made in 3 years and 15 weeks. COMET, HALLEY'S. This is the great and celebrated comet of the greatest astronomer of England.-Lalande. Doctor Halley first proved that many of the appearances of comets were but the periodical returns of the same bodies, and he demonstrated that the comet of 1682 was the same with the comet of 1456, of 1531, and 1607, deducing this fact from a minute observation of the first mentioned comet, and being struck by its wonderful resemblance to the comets described as having appeared in those years: Halley, therefore, first fixed the identity of comets, and first predicted their periodical returns-Vince's Astronomy. The revolution of Halley's comet is performed in about seventy-six years: it appeared in 1759, and came to its perihelion on March 13; and its last appearance was in 1835. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. This rank in the British army has been very frequently vacant, and sometimes for several years consecutively. When the duke of Wellington resigned the office, on becoming minister, in 1828, his grace's successor, lord Hill, assumed the rank of commander of the forces, or general commanding-in-chief. COMMANDERS IN CHIEF. CAPTAINS GENERAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, continued Jeffrey, Lord Amherst Vacant March 29, 1782 March 19, 1778 | Duke of York again Lord Hill COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Sir David Dundas. His Royal Highness Frederick, Duke of . Feb. 25, 1828 York Feb 11, 1795 March 25, 1809, Duke of Wellington again Dee. 28, 1842 COMMERCE. Flourished in Arabia, Egypt, and among the Phoenicians in the earliest ages. In later times it was spread over Europe by a confederacy of maritime cities A.D. 1241.-See Hanse Towns. The discoveries of Columbus and the enterprises of the Dutch and Portuguese, enlarged the sphere of commerce, and led other nations, particularly England, to engage extensively in its pursuit.-See the various articles connected with this subject. COMMERCIAL TREATIES. The first treaty of commerce made by England with any foreign nation, was entered into with the Flemings, 1 Edward I. 1272. The second was with Portugal and Spain, 2 Edward II. 1308.—Anderson. See Treaties. COMMON COUNCIL OF LONDON. Its formation commenced about 1208. The charter of Henry I. mentions the folk-mote, this being a Saxon appellation, and which may fairly be rendered the court or assembly of the people. The general place of meeting of the folk-mote was in the open air at St. Paul's Cross, in St. Paul's churchyard. It was not discontinued till after Henry III.'s reign; when certain representatives were chosen out of each ward, who, being added to the lord mayor and aldermen, constituted the Court of Common Council. At first only two were returned for each ward; but it being afterwards considered that the number was insufficient, it was enlarged in 1347, and since. This council soon became the parent of other similar institutions throughout the realm. COMMON LAW OF ENGLAND. Custom, to which length of time has given the force of law, or rules generally received and held as law, called lex non scripta, in contradistinction to the written law. Common law derives its origin from Alfred's body of laws (which was lost), A.D. 890.-See Custom. Laws. COMMON PLEAS, COURt of. This court in ancient times was kept in the king's own palace, distinct from that of the King's Bench. But on the confirmation of Magna Charta by king John, in 1215, it was fixed at Westminster, where it still continues. In it are debated all controversies, in matters civil, between subject and subject, according to law. Here real actions are pleadable, and fines and recoveries suffered, and in no other court but this; it may also grant prohibitions, as the court of King's Bench doth: and in personal and mixed actions it has a concurrent jurisdiction with that court; but no cognizance of pleas of the crown.-Blackstone. In England no barrister under the degree of a sergeant can plead in this court; but in Ireland it is open to the profession at large. Barristers, however, are at liberty to move, or shew cause against rules, for new trial. COMMON PRAYER. Published in the English language by the authority of parliament in 1548. The Common Prayer was voted out of doors, by parliament, and the Directory (which see), set up in its room in 1644. A proclamation was issued against it, 1647.-See Directory. COMMONS, HOUSE OF. The great representative assembly of the people of Great Britain, and third branch of the Imperial legislature, originated with Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, who ordered returns to be made of two knights from every shire, and deputies from certain boroughs to meet the barons and clergy who were his friends, with a view thereby to strengthen his own power in opposition to that of his sovereign Henry III. This was the first confirmed outline of a house of commons; and the first commons were summoned to meet the king in parliament 42 and 43 Henry III. 1258.-Goldsmith. Stowe. According to other authorities, the first parliament formally convened was the one summoned 49 Henry III. Jan. 23, 1265; and writs of the latter date are the earliest extant. Some historians date the first regularly constituted parliament from the 22d of Edward I. 1294. The first recorded speaker, duly chosen, was Petre de Montfort in 1260; he was killed at the battle of Evesham in 1265. The city of London first sent members to L parliament in the reign of Henry III., while Westminster was not represented in that assembly until the latter end of Henry VIII.'s life, or rather in the first House of Commons of Edward VI. The following is the constitution of the House of Commons since the passing of the Reform Bills (which see) in 1832 :— COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND. This was the interregnum between the decol- 21. Tallow-chandlers A.D. 1463 | 40. Blacksmiths LONDON CITY COMPANIES. 1. Mercers A.D. 1577 . 1564 91. Watermen. . 1550 1638 81. Gold and silver wire 71. Soap-makers COMPANIES, BUBBLE. Ruinous speculations coming under this name have been formed, commonly by designing persons. Law's Bubble, in 1720-1, was perhaps the most extraordinary of its kind, and the South Sea Bubble, in the same year, was scarcely less memorable for its ruin of thousands of families. Many companies were established in these countries in 1824 and 1825, and most of them turned out to be bubbles; and owing to the rage for taking shares in each scheme as it was projected, immense losses were incurred by individuals, and the families of thousands of speculators were totally ruined.-See Law's Bubble, and Bankrupts. COMPASS, THE MARINER'S. It is said to have been known to the Chinese, 1115 B.C.; but this seems to be a mistake. They had a machine which self-moved, pointed towards the south, and safely guided travellers by land or water; and some authors have mistaken it for the mariner's compass, the invention of which is by some ascribed to Marcus Paulus, a Venetian, A.D. 1260; while others, with more seeming justice, assign it to Flavio Gioja, of Pasitano, a navigator of Naples. Until his time the needle was laid upon a couple of pieces of straw, or small split sticks, in a vessel of water; Gioja introduced the suspension of the needle as we have it now, 1302. Its variation was discovered by Columbus, in 1492. The compass-box and hanging compass used by navigators were invented by William Barlowe, an English divine and natural philosopher, in 1608.-Biog. Dict. The measuring compass was invented by Jost Byng, of Hesse, in 1602. CONCEPTION OF THE VIRGIN. This is a feast in the Romish church in honour of the Virgin Mary having been conceived and born immaculate, or without original sin. The festival was appointed to be held on the 8th of Dec. by the church, in 1389.-CONCEPTIONISTS, an order of nuns, established 1488. CONCERT. The first public subscription concert was performed at Oxford, in 1665, when it was attended by a great number of personages of rank and talent from every part of England. The first concert of a like kind performed in London was in 1678. Concerts afterwards became fashionable and frequent. CONCHOLOGY. This branch of natural history is mentioned by Aristotle and Pliny, and was a favourite with the most intellectual and illustrious men. It was first reduced to a system by John Daniel Major of Kiel, who published his classification of the Testacea in 1675. Lister's system was published in 1685; and that of Largius in 1722. CONCLAVE FOR THE ELECTION OF POPES. The conclave is a range of small cells in the hall of the Vatican, or palace of the pope at Rome, where the cardinals usually hold their meetings to elect a pope. The word is also used for the assembly, or meeting of the cardinals shut up for the election of a pope. The conclave had its rise in A.D. 1271. Clement IV. being dead at Viterbo in 1268, the cardinals were nearly three years unable to agree in the choice of a successor, and were on the point of breaking up, when the magistrates, by the advice of St. Bonaventure, then at Viterbo, shut the gates of their city, and locked up the cardinals in the pontifical palace till they agreed. Hence the present custom of shutting up the cardinals while they elect a pope. CONCORDANCE TO THE BIBLE. An index or alphabetical catalogue of all the words in the Bible, and also a chronological account of all the transactions of that sacred volume. The first concordance to the Bible was made under the direction of Hugo de St. Charo, who employed as many as 500 monks upon it, AD. 1247.Abbé Lenglet. CONCORDAT. The name given to an instrument of agreement between a prince and the pope, usually concerning benefices. The celebrated concordat between Napoleon |