Gorda, Tortola, Anegada, &c., and the Danish Isles, is attributed to muscular and nervous irritability, St. Thomas and St. John. illustrated by the researches of Galvani, Humboldt, sir Charles Bell, Marshall Hall, and others. The Tortola settled by Dutch buccaneers about 1648; expelled by the English (who have held it since) 1666 subject has been much discussed recently by Huxley St. Thomas settled by Danes 1672, and St. John a few years after; held by the British 1801-2; 1807-15; proposed sale to the United States for 1,500, 500l. to be made a "territory." Danish proclamation, 25 Oct. 1867; purchase declined by U. S. senate 23 March, May, 1870 By a dreadful hurricane off St. Thomas, the Royal Mail steamers Rhone and Wye were entirely wrecked; the Conway and Derwent, and above 50 other vessels, driven ashore; about 1000 persons said to have perished. . Nov. Much suffering occasioned in Tortola ; houses blown down or unroofed, &c. (a report reached London that the isle was submerged) 29 Oct. 1867 Earthquake at St. Thomas's and other isles; much damage; few lives lost VIRGIN MARY. The Assumption of the Virgin is a festival in the Greek and Latin churches, in honour of the miraculous ascent of Mary into heaven, according to their belief, 15 Aug. A.D. 45. The Presentation of the Virgin is a feast celebrated 21 Nov., said to have been instituted among the Greeks in the 11th century; its institution in the West is ascribed to pope Gregory XI. 1372; see Annunciation, and Conception, Immaculate. VIRTUE, LEAGUE OF, see Tugendbund. VISCONTI, the name of a noble Italian family, which ruled in Milan from about 1277 to 1447; the heiress of the family was married to Francesco Sforza, who became duke 1450. VISCOUNT (Vice Comes), anciently the name of the deputy of an earl. The first viscount in England created by patent was John, lord Beaumont, whom Henry VI. created viscount Beaumont, giving him precedence above all barons, 10 Feb. 1440. Ashmole. This title is of older date in Ireland and France. John Barry, lord Barry, was made vis: count Buttevant, in Ireland, 9 Rich. II. 1385. Beatson. VISIBLE SPEECH, a term applied by Mr. Alex. Melville Bell to his "Universal Self-Interpreting Physiological Alphabet," comprising thirty symbols representing, the conformations of the mouth when uttering sounds. He stated that about fifty different types would be required to print all known languages with these symbols. He expounded his system to the Society of Arts, London, 14 March, 1866; and published a book in 1867. VISIGOTHS, separated from the Ostrogoths about 330; see Goths. The emperor Valens, about 369, admitted them into the Roman territories upon the condition of their serving when wanted in the Roman armies; and Theodosius the Great permitted them to form distinct corps commanded by their own officers. In 400, under Alaric, they invaded Italy, and in 410 took Rome. They founded their kingdom of Toulouse, 414; conquered the Alani, and extended their rule into Spain, 414; expelled the Romans in 468; and finally were themselves conquered by the Saracens under Muza, in 711, when their last king, Roderic, was defeated and slain; see Spain for a list of the Visigothic kings. Their rule in France ended with their defeat by Clovis at Vouglé, in 507. VITAL FORCE, defined by Humboldt "as an unknown cause preventing the elements from obeying their primitive affinities." This theory is now opposed by many physiologists, and animal motion and other eminent physiologists. VITTORIA (N. Spain), the site of a victory obtained by Wellington over the French army commanded by Joseph Bonaparte, king of Spain, and marshal Jourdan, 21 June, 1813. The hostile armies were nearly equal, from 70,000 to 75,000 each. After a long and fearful battle, the French were driven, towards evening, through the town of Vittoria, and in their retreat were thrown into irretrievable confusion. The British loss was 22 officers and 479 men killed; 167 officers and 2640 men wounded. Marshal Jourdan lost 151 pieces of cannon, 451 waggons of ammunition, all his baggage, provisions, cattle, and treasure, with his bâton as a marshal of France. Continuing the pursuit on the 25th, Wellington took Jourdan's only remaining gun. VIVARIUM, see Aquavivarium. VIVISECTION. Physiological experiments upon living animals, having much increased, the societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in Dresden and Paris in 1859 requested the opinion of a committee of eminent scientific men on the merits of the knowledge thus acquired. Their judgment was not unanimous. The London society took up the question in 1860; and printed a pamphlet by Mr. G. Macilwain against vivisection. In Aug. 1862 an international conferenee to discuss the question was held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. The subject was discussed in 1866, and a prize awarded by the London society. Sir Charles Bell's opinion of vivisection was, that it either obscured the subject it was meant to illustrate, or misled men into practical errors of the most serious character. Porte, first appointed about 1326. The office was VIZIER, GRAND, an officer of the Ottoman abolished in 1838; but since revived. VLADIMIR (central Russia), a city founded in the 12th century, and the capital of a grand duchy from 1157 to about 1328. VOIRON, see Veseronce. VOLCANOES. In different parts of the earth there are above 200 volcanoes which have been active in modern times; see Etna, Vesuvius, and Iceland. In Mexico, a plain was filled up into a mountain more than a thousand feet in height by the burning lava from a volcano, in 1759. A volcano in the isle of Ferro broke out 13 Sept. 1777, which threw out an immense quantity of red water, that discoloured the sea for several leagues. A new volcano appeared in one of the Azore islands, 1 May, 1808. VOLHYNIA, a Polish province, annexed to Russia 1793. VOLSCI, an ancient Latin people, frequently at war with the Romans. From their capital, Corioli, Caius Martius (who defeated them about 490 B.C.) derived his name Coriolanus. The story of his banishment by his ungrateful countrymen; of his revenge on them by bringing the Volsci to the gates of Rome, yet afterwards sparing the city at the entreaties of his mother, Volumnia (487 B.c.), is considered by many as a poetical legend. The Volsci and their allies were totally defeated at Sutrium by the consul Valerius Corvus (346), and incorporated with the Roman people about 338. VOLSINII, the inhabitants of an Etrurian city, who, after a sharp contest, were completely overcome by the Roman consul Titus Coruncanius, 280 B.C. VOLTAIC PILE or BATTERY, was constructed by Galvani; see Galvanism' in article Electricity. The principle was discovered by Alessandro Volta, of Como (born 1745), for thirty years professor of natural philosophy at Pavia, and announced by him to the Royal Society of London in 1793. The battery was first set up in 1800. Volta was made an Italian count and senator by Napoleon Bonaparte, and was otherwise greatly honoured. While young he invented the electrophorus, electric pistol, and hydrogen lamp. He died in 1826, aged 81. The form of the Voltaic battery has been greatly improved by the researches of modern philosophers. The nitric acid battery of sir W. R. Grove was constructed in 1839; Alfred Smee's battery in 1840; the carbon battery of professor Robert Bunsen in 1842. The first is very much used in this country; that of Bunsen on the continent. VOLTURNO, a river in S. Italy, near Capua, near to which Garibaldi and his followers held a strong position. This was furiously assailed by the royal troops on 1 Oct. 1860, who were finally repulsed after a desperate struggle, the fiercest in which Garibaldi had yet been engaged. He was aided greatly by a band of Piedmontese from Naples. On 2 Oct. general Bixio completed the victory by capturing 2500 fresh Neapolitan troops and dispersing others. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. Public contributions for the support of the British government against the policy and designs of France amounted to two millions and a half sterling in 1798. About 200,000l. were transmitted to England from India in 1799. Sir Robert Peel, of Bury, among other contributions of equal amount, subscribed 10,000l. Annual Register; see Patriotic Fund. In 1862 nearly a million pounds were subscribed in the British empire for the relief of the Lancashire cotton spinners; see Cotton. VOLUNTEERS were enrolled in England for the American war, 1778, and especially in consequence of the threatened invasion of revolutionary France, 1793-4· . Besides our large army, and 85,000 men voted for the sea, we subsidised 40,000 Germans, raised our militia to 100,000 men, and armed the citizens as volunteers; the yeomanry formed cavalry regiments. Between 1798 and 1804, when this force was of greatest amount, it numbered 410,000, of which 70,000 were Irish. On 26 Oct. 1803, king George III. reviewed in Hyde Park 12,401 London volunteers, and on 28 Oct. 14,676 more. The English volunteers were, accord * The first regiment of Irish volunteers was formed at Dublin, under command of the duke of Leinster, 12 Oct. 1779. They armed generally to the amount of 20,000 men, and received the unanimous thanks of the houses of lords and commons in Ireland, for their patriotism and spirit, for coming forward and defending their country. At the period when the force appeared, Irish affairs bore a serious aspect; manufactures had decreased, and foreign trade had been hurt by a prohibition of the export of salted provisions and butter. No notice of the complaints of the people had been taken in the English parliament, when, owing to the alarm of an invasion, ministers allowed the nation to arm, and an immense force was soon raised. The Irish took this occasion to demand a free trade, and government saw there was no trifling with a country with arms in its hands. The Irish parliament unanimously addressed the king for a free trade, and it was granted, 1779. ing to official accounts, 341,600 on 1 Jan. 1804; see Naval Volunteers. In May, 1859, in consequence of the prevalence of the fear of a French invasion, the formation of volunteer corps of riflemen commenced under the auspices of the government, and by the end of the year many thousands were enrolled in all parts of the kingdom. The volunteers were said to be "a force potentially the strongest defence of England," 19 April, 1870; see Artillery Association. YEOMANRY were enrolled by lord Chatham in 1761. The present 49 regiments of cavalry (about 300 each), cost 80,000l. [The first Middlesex volunteers were formed in 1803 as the duke of Cumberland's sharpshooters. They retained their organisation as a rifle club, when other volunteers were disbanded. In 1835 they were permitted by the duchess of Kent to take the name of the Royal Victoria Rifle Club.] National Volunteer Association for promoting the practice of Rifle-shooting, was established in London, under the patronage of the queen and prince consort, Mr. Sidney (afterwards lord) Herbert, secretary at war, president, and the earl of Derby and other noblemen vice-presidents. (Annual subscription one guinea, or a composition for life of ten guineas). 1870 16 Nov. 1859 2500 volunteer officers presented to the queen; a First meeting of the National Association for rifle- Lord Herbert stated that the association had a capital of 3000l. and an annual income of 1500?., 16 Feb. 1861 Volunteers in Britain estimated at about 160,000, Review of 11,504 volunteers at Wimbledon, 13 July of 9000 at Warwick Registered number of volunteers, 162,681 1 April, 1862 20,000 volunteers reviewed by lord Clyde at Brighton Third meeting at Wimbledon; Mr. Pixley (S. Vic21 April, toria) gains the queen's prize, &c. 1-14 July, A commission recommends that an annual grant of either 20s., 308., or 348., be given to each volunteer according to circumstances Oct. Fourth meeting at Wimbledon, 7 July, &c.: queen's prize, &c., won by sergeant Roberts (12th Shropshire) 14 July, 1863 An act to amend and consolidate the acts relating to the volunteer force of Great Britain was passed, 21 July, 22,000 volunteers reviewed by the prince of Wales in Hyde-park (great improvement noticed), 28 May, 1864 Fifth meeeing at Wimbledon, 11 July, &c.; the queen's prize, &c., won by private John Wyatt (London rifle brigade) 23 July, Volunteers estimated at 165,000 in 1864. Sixth meeting at Wimbledon, began in July; the queen's prize was won by private Sharman (4th West York), 18 July: the meeting ended with a review by the duke of Cambridge 22 July, 1865 Seventh meeting at Wimbledon began 9 July; queen's prize won by Angus Cameron (6th Inverness), 17 July; the value of about 7000l. distributed in prizes; and review by duke of Cambridge 21 July, 1866 11-22 Oct. 33 Parliamentary vote for volunteers, 361,009l. 6 June, 1867 Metropolitan and Berkshire volunteers reviewed in Windsor Great park 10 June, Eighth meeting at Wimbledon, began 8 July; Belgian Garde civique and volunteers (above 2000) received by prince of Wales, 13 July; resignation of lord Elcho, chairman of the council; succeeded by earl Spencer, 18 July; grand review by prince of Wales, the sultan, &c.; the queen's prize given to sergeant Lane (Bristol) by the princess of Teck, 20 July, Grand review in New Sefton park, Liverpool, 5 Oct. About 28,000 volunteers reviewed by the queen at Windsor. 20 June, 1868 Review of regulars and volunteers at Edinburgh, 4 July, Ninth meeting at Wimbledon, 13 July; the queen's prize gained by lieut. Carslake (5th Somerset), 25 July, Lord Elcho re-elected chairman of the council (earl Spencer resigned) Feb. 1869 Memorial to government respecting the capitation grant; signed by noblemen and gentlemen, 19 Feb. Volunteers reported to number 170,000 Review of volunteers of southern and western counties at Portsmouth 26 April, Tenth meeting at Wimbledon, 3 July; queen's prize gained by corporal Angus Cameron (6th Inverness), 2nd time, 13 July; grand review 24 July, Volunteers' act, 1863, amended 9 Aug. "Army Service Corps" to be composed of volunteers; established by royal warrant 12 Nov. Eleventh meeting at Wimbledon, 11 July; queen's prize won by corporal Humphries (6th Surrey), 19 July, Letter from the lord mayor recommending the enlargement of the volunteer system, and its greater efficiency 22 Sept. Establishment of an extensive rifle range, drill ground, armoury, &c., for the London volunteers resolved on 3 Oct. Distribution of breech-loaders commenced Νον. Lord Elcho (chairman) resigned; succeeded by the earl of Ducie " June, 1871 queen's Twelfth meeting at Wimbledon, 8 July; prize won by ensign A. P. Humphry, undergraduate (Cambridge university), aged 19 18 July, Vote for volunteer force, 1872-3, 473,200l. 24 June, 1872 Thirteenth meeting at Wimbledon, 8 July; queen's prize won by colour-sergeant Michie (London Scottish) 16 July, The Elcho shield, the International trophy, and the Irish International trophy (all won by the English) placed in the custody of the lord mayor, 27 July, Some volunteers visit Ghent 14-21 Sept. Fourteenth meeting at Wimbledon, 7 July; queen's prize won by sergeant Robert Menzies (1st Edinburgh) 15 July, 1873 17 April, 1865; and 2 April, 1866 22 April, 1867 13 April, 1868 Portsmouth (the most successful hitherto, 29,490 volunteers present) Dover (bad weather). Brighton 29 March, 1869 Mock battle between sir Arthur Horsford (12,180 men, 22 guns) and gen. Lysons (11,082 men, 20 guns) 18 April, 1870; 10 April, 1871 1 April, 1872 Easter; small reviews at Wimbledon and other places 14 April, 1873 VOSSEM, PEACE OF, between the elector of Brandenburg and Louis XIV. of France; the latter engaged not to assist the Dutch against the elector; signed 6 June, 1673. VOTING PAPERS. See Dodson's Act. The proposal to use them was negatived in the debates on reform in 1867; adopted by the ballot act in 1873. VOUGLÉ or VOUILLE, S.W. France (near Poitiers), where Alaric II., king of the Visigoths, was defeated and slain by Clovis, king of France, 507, who subdued the whole country from the Loire to the Pyrenees. A peace followed between the Franks and Visigoths, who had been settled above one hundred years in that part of Gaul called Septimania. Clovis soon afterwards made Paris his capital. VOYAGES. By order of Pharaoh-necho, of Egypt, some Phoenician pilots sailed from Egypt down the Arabian Gulf, round what is now called the Cape of Good Hope, entered the Mediterranean by the Straits of Gibraltar, coasted along the north of Africa, and at length arrived in Egypt, after a navigation of about three years, 604 B.C. Herodotus. The first voyage round the world was made by a ship, part of a Spanish squadron which had been under the command of Magellan (who was killed at the Philippine Islands in a skirmish) in 1519-20; see Crcumnavigators, and North-West Passage. VULCAN, see Planets. VULCANITE (vulcanised india-rubber), also termed Ebonite. VULGATE (from vulgatus, published), a term applied to the Latin version of the Scriptures which is authorised by the council of Trent (1546), and which is attributed to St. Jerome, about 384. The older version, called the Italic, is said to have been made in the beginning of the 2nd century. A critical edition was printed by order of pope Sixtus V. in 1590, which being considered inaccurate, was superseded by the edition of pope Clement V. in 1592. The earliest printed vulgate is without date, by Gutenburg and Fust, probably about 1455, the first dated (Fust and Schoeffer) is 1462. W. WADHAM COLLEGE (Oxford). Founded by Nicholas Wadham, and Dorothy, his wife, in 1613. In this college, in the chambers of Dr. Wilkins (over the gateway), the founders of the Royal Society frequently met prior to 1658. WAGER OF BATTLE, see Appeal. WAGES IN ENGLAND. The wages of sundry workmen were first fixed by act of parliament 25 Edw. III. 1350. Haymakers had but one penny a day. Master carpenters, masons, tilers, and other coverers of houses, had not more than 3d. per day (about 9d. of our money); and their servants, 17. Viner's Statutes. By the 23 Henry VI. the wages of a bailiff of husbandry was 238. 4. per annum, and clothing of the price of 58. with meat and drink; chief hind, carter, or shepherd, 20s., clothing, 48.; common servant of husbandry, 158., clothing, 4od.; womanservant, ros., clothing, 4s. By the 11 Henry VII., a like rate of wages with a little advance: as, for instance, a free mason, master carpenter, rough mason, bricklayer, master tiler, plumber, glazier, carver or joiner, was allowed from Easter to Michaelmas to take 6. a Year. In 1350 1460 1568 1632. 1688 WAGGONS were rare in the last century. They, with carts, &c., not excepting those used in agriculture, were taxed in 1783. The carriers' waggons are now nearly superseded by the rail ways. WAGHORN'S NEW OVERLAND ROUTE TO INDIA. Lieut. Waghorn devoted a large portion of his life to connect India with England. On 31 Oct. 1845, he arrived in London, by a new route, with the Bombay mail of the 1st of that month. His despatches reached Suez on the 19th, and Alexandria on the 20th, whence he proceeded by steamboat to a place twelve miles nearer London than Trieste. He hurried through Austria, Baden, Bavaria, Prussia, and Belgium, and reached London at half-past four on the morning of the first-mentioned day. The authorities of the different countries through which he passed eagerly facilitated his movements. The ordinary express, vid Marseilles, reached London 2 Nov. following. Mr. Waghorn subsequently addressed a letter to the Times newspaper, in which he stated that in a couple of years he would bring the Bombay mail to London in 21 days. He died 8 Jan. 1850. The Overland Mail, which had left Bombay on 1 Dec. 1845, arrived early on the 30th in London, by way of Marseilles and Paris. The speedy arrival was owing to the great exertions made by the French government to show that the route through France was shorter and better. WAGRAM, a village near Vienna, where Napoleon I. totally defeated the archduke Charles, 5, 6 July, 1809. The slaughter on both sides was dreadful; 20,000 Austrians were taken by the French, and the defeated army retired to Moravia. An armistice was signed on the 12th; and on 24 Oct., by a treaty of peace, Austria ceded all her sea-coast to France; the kingdoms of Saxony and Bavaria were enlarged at her expense; part of Poland in Galicia was ceded to Russia; and Joseph Bonaparte was recognised as king of Spain. WAHABEES OR WAHABITES, a warlike Mahometan reforming sect, considering themselves the only true followers of the prophet, established themselves in Arabia about 1750, under the rule of Abd-el-Wahab, who died 1787. His grandson, Saoud, in 1801, defeated an expedition headed by the caliph of Bagdad. In 1803 this sect seized Mecca and Medina, and continued their conquests, although their chief was assassinated in the midst of his victories. His son, Abdallah, long resisted Mahommed Ali, pacha of Egypt, but in 1818 was defeated and taken prisoner by Ibrahim Pacha, who s. d. per diem o 9 Year. In 1800 O 10 1811. I I 4 I 1850 1857 6 Since then increased - 1495 sent him to Constantinople, where he was put to death. The sect, now flourishing, is well described by Mr. W. Gifford Palgrave, in his "Journey and Residence in Arabia in 1862-3," published in 1865. It is influential in India, and is suspected of a tendency to insurrection. WAHLSTATT, see Katzbach. WAITS, the night minstrels who perform shortly before Christmas. The name was given to the musicians attached to the king's court. We find in 1400 to pipe the watch." The waits in London that a company of waits was established at Exeter and Westminster were long officially recognised by the corporation. WAKEFIELD (W. Yorkshire), an ancient town. Near it a battle was fought between the adherents of Margaret, the queeen of Henry VI., and the duke of York, in which the latter was slain, and 3000 Yorkists fell upon the field, 31 Dec. 1460. The earl of Warwick supported the cause of the duke's son, the earl of March, afterwards Edward IV., and the civil war was continued. An art and industrial exhibition was opened at Wakefield, 30 Aug. 1865. WAKES, the ancient parish festivals on the saint's day to commemorate the dedication of the church; regulated in 1536, but gradually became obsolete. WALBROOK CHURCH (London), a masterpiece of sir Christopher Wren, completed in 1679. There was a church here in 1135, and a new church was erected in 1429. WALCHEREN (an island at the mouth of the Scheldt, Holland). The unfortunate expedition of the British to this isle in 1809 consisted of 35 ships of the line, and 200 smaller vessels, principally transports, and 40,000 land forces, the latter under the command of the earl of Chatham, and the fleet under sir Richard Strachan. For a long time the destination of the expedition remained secret; but before 28 July, 1809, when it set sail, the French journals had announced that Walcheren was the point of attack. Flushing was invested in August; à dreadful bombardment followed, and the place was taken 15 Aug.; but no suggestion on the part of the naval commander, nor urging on the part of the officers, could induce the earl to vigorous action, until the period of probable success was gone, and necessity obliged him to return with as many of the troops as disease and an unhealthy climate had spared. The place was evacuated, 23 Dec. 1809. The house of commons instituted an inquiry, and lord Chatham resigned his post of master-general of the ordnance, to prevent greater disgrace; but the policy of ministers in planning the expedition was, nevertheless, approved. The following epigram, of which various readings exist, appeared at the time : "Lord Chatham [or the warrior earl] with [his] sabre drawn, Stood waiting for sir Richard Strachan; WALDECK AND PYRMONT, united German principalities, established in 1682. The late reigning family claim descent from the Saxon hero, Witikind, who flourished about 772. Prince George Victor, born 14 Jan. 1831, succeeded his father, George, 15 May, 1845; abdicated; and on 22 Oct. 1867, the states approved a treaty of annexation, and the administration was transferred to Prussia, I Jan. 1868. Population in Dec. 1867, 756,807. WALDENSES (also called Valdenses, Vallenses, and Vaudois), a sect inhabiting the Cottian Alps, derives its name, according to some authors, from Peter de Waldo, of Lyons (1170). They had a translation of the Bible, and allied themselves to the Albigenses, whose persecution led to the establishment of the Holy Office or Inquisition. See Albigenses. The Waldenses settled in the valleys of Piedmont about 1375, but were frequently dreadfully persecuted, especially in the 17th century, when Charles I. of England interceded for them (1627-9) and Oliver Cromwell (1655-6) obtained them some degree of toleration. They were permitted to have a church at Turin, Dec. 1853. In March, 1868, it was stated that there were in Italy 28 ordained Waldensian ministers, and 30 other teachers. WALES, Cambria, Cymru, the land of the Cymry, called by the Romans Britannia Secunda. Welsh and Wales are corruptions of Teutonic epithets applied to foreigners, especially Gauls. After the Roman emperor Honorius gave up Britain, Vortigern was elected king of South Britain. He invited over the Saxons to defend his country against the Picts and Scots; but the Saxons perfidiously sent for reinforcements, consisting of Saxons, Danes, and Angles, by which they made themselves masters of South Britain. Many of the Britons retired to Wales, and defended themselves against the Saxons, in their inaccessible mountains, about 447: In this state Wales remained unconquered till Henry II. subdued South Wales in 1157; and in 1282 Edward I. entirely reduced the whole country, putting an end to its independence by the death of Llewelyn, the last prince. In 1284 the queen gave birth to a son at Caernarvon, whom Edward styled prince of Wales, now title of the heir to the crown of Great Britain. Wales was united and incorporated with England by act of parliament, 1536; see Britain. Ostorius Scapula, proprætor of Britain, defeats the A. D. The supreme authority in Britannica Secunda in 50 *The statute of Wales, enacted at Rhuddlan, 19 March, 1284 (or March, 1283), alleges that" Divine Providence has now removed all obstacles, and transferred wholly and entirely to the king's dominion the land of Wales and its inhabitants, heretofore subject unto him in feudal right." The ancient laws were to be preserved in civil causes; but the law of inheritance was to be changed, and the English criminal law to be put in force. Annals of Englan |