ELEPHANT, in the earliest times trained to war. The history of the Maccabees informs us, that" to every elephant they appointed 1000 men armed with coats of mail, and 500 horse: and upon the elephants were strong towers of wood, &c." The elephants in the army of Antiochus were provoked to fight by showing them the "blood of grapes and mulberries." The first elephant said to have been seen in England was one of enormous size, presented by the king of France to our Henry III. in 1238. Baker's Chron. Polyænus states that Cæsar brought one to Britain 54 B.C., which terrified the inhabitants greatly. See Knighthood. ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES. The insti tution of these annual secret religious ceremonies (in honour of Ceres) at Athens, is attributed to Cadmus, 1550; to Erechtheus, 1399; or to Eumolpus, 1356 B.C. If any one revealed them, he was to be put to death. They were introduced from Eleusis into Rome; lasted about 1800 years, and were abolished by Theodosius A.D. 389. The laws were-I. To honour parents; 2. To honour the gods with the fruits of the earth; 3. Not to treat brutes with cruelty. Cicero makes the civilisation of mankind one of the beneficial effects of the Eleusinian mysteries. ELGIN MARBLES, derived chiefly from the Parthenon, a temple of Minerva, on the Acropolis at Athens, of which they formed part of the frieze and pediment, the work of Phidias, under the government of Pericles, about 440 B.C. Thomas lord Elgin began the collection of these marbles during his mission to the Ottoman Porte, in 1802; and from him they were purchased by the British government for 35,000l. and placed in the British Museum, in 1816. The ship conveying them was wrecked near Cerigo, and Mr. W. R. Hamilton, who was on board, remained several months at Cerigo, and recovered them from the sea. ELIS, a Greek state termed the "Holy Land," in the Peloponnesus, founded by the Heraclidæ, 1103 B.C. Here Iphitus revived the Olympic games, 884, which were regularly celebrated after Corobus gained the prize in 776. Elis surrendered many towns to the Spartans in war, 400. After various changes, Elis joined the Achæan league, 274; and with the rest of Greece was subjugated by the Romans in 146. ELL (so named from ulna, the arm) was fixed at 45 inches, by king Henry I. in 1101. The old French ell, or aune, was 46'790 inches. ELLISON GALLERY. In April, 1860, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellison (in conformity with the wish of her deceased husband, Richard), presented to the South Kensington Museum a series of 50 original water-colour drawings, by the first masters. ELLORA or ELORA, Central India; remarkable for its very ancient rock-cut temple; excavated according to Hindoo legends nearly 7000 years ago; but more probably about 800 A.D. The town was ceded to the British by Holkar in 1818, and transferred by them to the Nizam of the Deccan in 1822. ELMINA, and Dutch Guinea, W. Africa, were ceded by the Dutch government by treaty, signed Feb. 1872, and consolidated with the West African settlements; first governor, Mr. Pope Hennessy, April, 1872. ELOPEMENT. A wife who departs from her husband, loses her dower by the statute of Westm. 1285-unless her husband, without coercion of the church, be reconciled to her. Earlier laws punished elopement with death when adultery followed. ELPHIN (Ireland). St. Patrick founded a cathedral near Elphin, "by a river issuing from two fountains," in the 5th century, and placed over it St. Asicus, whom he created bishop, and who soon after filled it with monks. After many centuries, Roscommon, Ardcarn, Drumclive, and others of less note, were also annexed to Elphin, which became one of the richest sees in Ireland. It is valued in the king's books, by an extent returned 28 Eliz., at 1037. 188. sterling. The see was united to Kilmore in 1841, under the provisions of the Church Temporalities act, passed Aug. 1833. ELSINORE, Zealand, Denmark, the station for receiving the Sound dues (which see). ELY, an island in Cambridgeshire, on which a church was built about 673, by Etheldreda, queen of Egfrid, king of Northumberland; she also founded a religious house, filled it with virgins, and became herself first abbess. The Danes ruined the convent about 870; but a monastery was built in 879, on which king Edgar and succeeding monarchs bestowed great privileges and grants of land; whereby it became the richest in England. Richard, the eleventh abbot, wishing to free himself from the bishop of Lincoln, made great interest with Henry I. to get Ely erected into a bishopric, 1108, and his successor Hervæus was the first prelate, 1109. It is valued in the king's books at 21341. 188. 5d.; present stated income, 5500/. EMBALMING. The ancient Egyptians believing that their souls, after many thousand years, would reinhabit their bodies, if preserved entire, embalmed the dead. Some of the bodies, called mummies, buried 3000 years ago are still perfect. "The physicians embalmed Israel," 1689 B.C. Gen. 1. 2; see Mummies. Carbolic acid was successfully employed by professor Seely in America, in 1868. The most perfect specimens of modern embalming are preserved in the museum of the royal college of surgeons, one being the body of the wife of Van Butchell, preserved by John Hunter by injecting camphorated spirits of wine, &c., into the arteries and veins; and the other the body of a young woman, who died about 1780 of consumption, in the Lock hospital. The method of embalming royal personages in modern times is fully described in Hunter's Posthumous Works." He died in 1793. During the American War (1861-5), many soldiers' bodies were embalmed and sent home. EMBANKMENTS of earth were erected by the ancients for preservation from their enemies and the inundations of the tide. Those of the Egyptians and Babylonians are described by Herodotus and Strabo. To the Romans are attributed the first dykes of Holland, and the embankments of Romney Marsh, considered to be the oldest in Britain. In 1250 Henry III. issued a writ enforcing the support of these works; and his successors followed his example. James I. greatly encouraged the embankment of the Thames. Sir W. Dugdale's "History of Embanking" first appeared in 1662; see Drainage, Levels, and Thames. Since 1830, millions of pounds have been expended in embankments for railways. EMBARGO, from the Spanish embargar, to detain, applied to the restraining ships from sailing. This power is vested in the crown, but is rarely exercised except in extreme cases, and sometimes as a prelude to war. The most memorable instances of embargo were those for the prevention of corn going out of the kingdom in 1766; and for the detention of all Russian, Danish, and Swedish ships in the several ports of the kingdom, owing to the armed neutrality, 14 Jan. 1801; see Armed Neutrality. EMBER WEEKS, instituted, it is said, by pope Calixtus I. (219-223), to implore the blessing of God on the produce of the earth by prayer and fasting, in which penitents used to sprinkle the ashes (embers) of humiliation on their heads. In the English church the Ember days are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, after the following days-the first Sunday in Lent, Whit-sunday, 14 Sept. (Holy Cross), and 13 Dec. (St. Lucia). EMBROIDERY is usually ascribed to the Phrygians; but the Sidonians excelled in it, and it is mentioned in 1491 B.C. Exodus xxxv. 35 and xxxviii. 23. See Bayeux Tapestry. Embroidery is now done by machinery. The first embroidery ma chine is said to have been invented by John Duncan of Glasgow in 1804. Heilman's embroidery machine was patented by Köchlin. Berlin Wool-work has been much improved of late years by the production of more elegant patterns, first published by Mr. Wittich in Berlin, about 1810. EMERALD, a precious stone, of a green colour, found in the East and in Peru. It has been erroneously alleged that there were no true emeralds in Europe before the conquest of Peru; but there is one in the Paris Museum, taken from the mitre of Pope Julius II. who died in 1513, and Peru was not conquered till 1545. temple of the sun, the priest of which, Bassianus, EMESA, now Hems, Syria, renowned for a was proclaimed emperor with the name Heliogabalus or Elagabalus, 218. His atrocities led to his assassination, 11 March, 222. EMIGRANTS. The French aristocracy and clergy (émigrés) began to leave their country in July, 1789, at the breaking out of the revolution: their estates were confiscated in Dec. A large number returned in 1802, by an amnesty granted after the peace of Amiens. Many were indemnified after the restoration in 1815. EMIGRATION. Phoenician and Greek emigrants colonised the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea; see Magna Græcia, Marseilles, &c. The discovery of America opened a vast field for emigration, which was restrained by Charles I. in 1637. It has been greatly encouraged since 1819. Regulations for emigration were made in 1831, and in Jan. 1840, the Colonial Land and Emigration Board was established. Emigration much promoted through want of employment in London, 1869-70. Emigration from the United Kingdom, in 1815, 2081; in 1820, 25,729; in 1830, 56,907; in 1840, 90,743; in 1850, 280,843; in 1860, 128,469; in 1866, 204,882; in 1867, 195,953 in 1868, 196,325; in 1869, 258,027; in 1870, 256,940; in 1871, 252,435. 1846. 86,611 254,970 3,427 38,813 18,646 62,350 128,851 335.966 Emigration to North American colonies, West Indies, Cape of Good Hope, New South Wales, Swan River, Van Diemen's Land, &c., in 1820-30, 154,291; in 1830-40, 277,695. To North American Colonies, in 1842, 54,123; in 1847, 109,680 in 1856, 16,378; in 1861, 12,707; in 1863, 18,083; in 1864, 12,721; in 1866, 13,255; in 1867, 15,503; in 1868, 21,062; in 1869, 33.891; in 1870, 35,295. To United States, in 1842, 63,852; in 1847, 142,154; in 1857, 126,905; in 1861, 49,764; in 1863, 146,813; in 1864, 147,042; in 1866, 161,000; in 1867, 159.275; in 1868, 155,532; in 1869, 203.001; in 1870, 196,075. To Australia and New Zealand, in 1842, 8534; in 1845, 830 in 1850, 16.037; in 1852 (gold discovery), 87,881; in 1853, 61,401; in 1854, 83,237; in 1855, 52,309; in 1856, 44,584; in 1857, 61,248; in 1861, 23.738; in 1863, 53.054 in 1864, 40,942; in 1866, 24.097; in 1867, 14,466; in 1868, 12,809; in 1869, 14,901; in 1870, 17,065, To other places, in 1854, 3366; in 1859, 12,427; in 1868, 6922; in 1870, 8505. EMILY ST. PIERRE, see United States, 1862. EMINENCE, a title conferred upon cardinals by pope Urban VIII. Jan. 10, 1631, as more honourable than "Excellency." Previously cardinals had the title of Illustrissimi. Ashe. The grand-master of Malta also obtained this title. Pardon. EMIR, a title of the caliphs among the Turks and Persians, first awarded to the descendants of Mahomet's daughter Fatima, about 650. To such only was originally given the privilege of wearing the green turban. EMISSION THEORY OF LIGHT (advocated by Newton, about 1672), supposes that individual particles pass from the luminous body to the eye, and that each ray of light passes from the sun to the earth. It is opposed to the Undulatory Theory (which see) now generally received. EMLY, an Irish see, said to have been founded by St. Patrick. Emly was called Imelaca-Ibair: St. Ailbe was the first bishop in 448. In 1568, the see was united to Cashel (which see). It is now an inconsiderable village. EMMANUEL HOSPITAL, Westminster, founded in 1594 by lady Anne Dacre for aged people and children. Its original annual income had increased from 360l. to about 4000l. in 1870, when changes in the disposition of the funds were proposed by the Charity Commissioners, and opposed. EMPALEMENT. This mode of executing criminals, mentioned by Juvenal, and often inflicted in Rome, is still used in Turkey and Arabia. In England the dead bodies of murderers were sometimes staked in this manner, previously to being buried; abolished, 1823. See Suicide. 600. They were also feasts celebrated by the Jews on the 25th of the ninth month, in commemoration of the Maccabees cleansing the temple, which had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes, 131 B.C. ENCAUSTIC PAINTING, enamelling by fire. Painting with burnt wax is said to have been known to Praxiteles about 360 B.C. This art was revived by M. Bachelier, 1749, by count Caylus, 1765, and by Miss Greenland, 1785 and 1792. ENCRATITES, followers of Tatian, about 170, denounced marriage, and abstained from flesh, and from wine even at the Lord's supper. ENCUMBERED ESTATES ACT, passed Ireland, subject to encumbrance, to apply to comJuly 1849, to enable owners of land or leases in missioners appointed under it to direct a sale of such These commissioners held their first property. 1858, a new court being established under the court in Dublin, 24 Oct. 1849, and their last 28 July, Landed Estates act. The number of estates sold up to 1858 was 2380, producing twenty-two millions of pounds. In 1854 a similar act was passed for the West Indies. a ENCYCLICAL LETTER, see Rome, 1864. ENCYCLOPEDIA or CYCLOPEDIA, general dictionary of art, science, and literature. EMPEROR, from Imperator (ruler), a title This name has been given to a work by Abulpharagius in the 13th century. conferred on victorious Roman generals. Augustus Cæsar the first Roman emperor Valentinian I. first emperor of the west, and Valens, first emperor of the east Charlemagne first emperor of Germany, crowned by Leo. III. Alsted's Encyclopædia B. C. 27 A. D. 364 Louis Moreri's Dictionnaire Historique Hofmann's Lexicon Universale. Othman I. founder of the Turkish empire, the first emperor of Turkey. The Czar the first emperor of Russia . 1299 22 Oct. 1721 Napoleon Bonaparte first emperor of the French 1804 4 Sept. 1870 1822; shot 19 July, 1824 Dom Pedro IV. of Portugal the first Brazil. emperor of 1825 1859 Faustin L. the first emperor of Hayti, in 1849; deposed. Maximilian I. emperor of Mexico, 10 April, 1864; 19 June, 1867 EMPIRICS, a sect of physicians, formed in the 3rd century before Christ, who contended that all reasoning respecting the animal economy was useless, and that experience and observation were the only foundations of medicine. The sect adopted the principles of Acron of Agrigentum, who flourished about 430 B.C. ENAMELLING was practised by the Egyptians, Chinese, and other nations, and was known in England in the time of the Saxons. At Oxford is an enamelled jewel, which belonged to Alfred, and which, as appears by the inscription, was made by his order, in his reign, about 887. Limoges enamelled ware was popular in the 16th century. Magnificent specimens by Lepec, Elkington, Emanuel, and others, appeared at the exhibition at Paris, 1867. See Mosaic. On 19 June, 1862, madame Rachel sued captain Carnegie for 9287. for enamelling his wife's face and was nonsuited; see Trials, 1868. ENCENIA. Greek festivals kept on days on which cities were built and temples consecrated; and in later times, as at Oxford, at the celebration of founders and benefactors. Oldisworth. They were the origin of church-wakes in England, about Lexicon Technicum of John Harris (earliest English Ephraim Chambers' Cyclopædia. Encyclopédie (by Diderot and D'Alembert) 1732-50 . 1751-80 [The contributors were termed ENCYCLOPEDISTES, and their daring writings are believed to have hastened the French revolution in 1789.] Encyclopædia Britannica (1st edition by William Smellie] [The 8th completed, 1861.] Encyclopédie Méthodique (by Pancoucke) Rees' Cyclopædia Brockhaus's Conversations Lexicon, 1st edition [New editions frequent.] Encyclopædia Metropolitana Cabinet Cyclopædia (a collection of treatises) . . 1778 1782-1832 1785 1802-19 1818 1817-45 1829-46 1833-46 1853-61-70 1859-63 Knight's English Cyclopædia (4 divisions). 1861 ENDERBY LAND, see Southern Continent. ENDOSMOSIS. M. Dutrochet, about 1826, found that if two fluids, gases or vapours, of unequal density, are separated by an animal or vegetable membrane, the denser will attract the less dense through the medium. This property he called endosmose, when the attraction is from the outside to the inside, and erosmose when it operates from the inside to the outside. Many natural phenomena are thus more clearly understood. Brande. ENDOWED SCHOOLS ACT, containing the "Conscience Clause," passed 1860; another similar act passed 2 Aug. 1869. ENFIELD MUSKET, see Fire-arms. ENGEN, Baden. Here Moreau defeated the Austrians, 3 May, 1800. ENGHIEN or STEENKIRK (S. W. Belgium). Here the British under William III. were defeated by the French under marshal Luxemburg, 24 July, 1692. The duc d'Enghien, a descendant of the great Condé, was seized in Baden by order of Bonaparte, conveyed to Vincennes, and, after a hasty trial, shot by torch-light. immediately after condemnation, 21 March, 1804. The body was exhumed, 20 March, 1816. ENGINEERS, Military, formerly called Trench-masters. Sir William Pelham officiated as trench-master in 1622; the chief engineer was called camp-master-general in 1634. Capt. Thomas Rudd had the rank of chief engineer to the king about 1650. The corps of engineers was formerly a civil corps, but was made a military force, and directed to rank with the artillery, 25 April, 1787. It has a colonel-in-chief, 16 colonels-commandant, and 16 colonels. Civil Engineering became important in the middle of the last century, when Smeaton began the Eddystone lighthouse, and Brindley the Bridgewater canal. Since then the Rennies, Telford, the Stephensons and Brunels, Locke, and others have constructed breakwaters, docks, bridges, railways, tunnels, &c., which are the marvel of our age. ENGLAND (from Angles and lond, land), so named, it is said, by Egbert, first king of the English in a general council held at Winchester, 829; or by Athelstan, 925. See Anglo-Saxons. England was united to Wales, 1283; to Scotland in 1603; they have had the same legislature since 1707, when the three were styled Great Britain. Ireland was incorporated with them, by the act of legislative union, 1 Jan. 1801, and the whole was called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The British empire is computed to contain about 7,000,000 square miles of territory, with 200,000,000 inhabitants. Statistical details are given under the respective headings; Army, Navy, Revenue, &c. For previous history, see Britain. Histories of England, by Rapin (in English), 1725-31; Thomas Carte, 1747-55; David Hume, 1755-62; Tobias Smollett, 1757-65; John Lingard, 1819-30; Charles Knight, 1856-62. See Chronicles. 1181 3 Sept. 1189 1191 England divided into six circuits for the administration of justice. English laws digested by Glanville, about He joins the crusades Made prisoner by Henry VI. of Germany JOHN Crowned Normandy lost to England England put under an interdict HENRY III. crowned The Barons' war (which see) EDWARD I. crowned Wales united to England Death of Roger Bacon Scotland subdued, 1296; revolts. EDWARD II. crowned. Defeated by Bruce at Bannockburn Insurrection of the barons against his EDWARD III. crowned Order of the Garter instituted. Law pleadings in English . 1192 Dec. 1192 1194 27 May, 1199 RICHARD II. crowned. Insurrection of Wat Tyler suppressed. Death of Wickliffe 1308 HENRY IV. crowned Order of the Bath instituted by Henry IV. Insurrection of the Percies and the Welsh . 1402-5 France invaded by Henry V. who gains the battle of 21 March, 1413 HENRY V. crowned Agincourt Treaty of Troyes; the French crown gained 25 Oct. 1415 HENRY VI. crowned at Paris Appearance of the maid of Orleans; the French conquests lost, except Calais Cade's insurrection War of the Roses (see Roses and Battles) EDWARD IV. deposes Henry VI. EDWARD V. accession. . 1429-31 June, 1450 1455-71 March, 1461 Printing introduced by Caxton' Murdered in the Tower (soon after) RICHARD III. deposes Edward V. Valuable statutes enacted 25 June, 1484 937 Predominance of Dunstan'; he promotes monachisin HENRY VII. accession; Richard slain at Bosworth Field. defeated and 22 Aug. 1485 Henry marries Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV.. 1486 1486-7 1485 1003 |
