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BAYREUTH (N. Germany), a margraviate, held formerly by a branch of the Brandenburg family, was with that of Anspach abdicated by the reigning prince in favour of the king of Prussia, 1790. The archives were brought (in 1783) from Plassenburg to the city of Bayreuth, which was incorporated with Bavaria by Napoleon in 1806.

The

BAZAAR, or covered market, a word of Arabic origin. The magnificent bazaar of Ispahan was excelled by that of Tauris, which has held 30,000 men in order of battle. In London the Soho-square bazaar was opened by Mr. Trotter in 1816 to relieve the relatives of persons killed in the war. Queen's Bazaar, Oxford-street, a very extensive one, was (with the Diorama) burnt down, and the loss estimated at 50,000l., 27 May, 1829. It was rebuilt, and converted into the Princess's Theatre, opened 30 Sept. 1841. The St. James's bazaar (built by Mr. Crockford) in 1832. The Pantheon, made a bazaar in 1834; see Pantheon. The London Crystalpalace bazaar, 1858. The most imposing sale termed a bazaar was opened for the benefit of the AntiCorn-Law League, in Covent-garden theatre, 5 May, 1845; in six weeks 25,000l. were obtained, mostly by admission money. The Corinthian bazaar, Argyll-street, Oxford-street (to replace the bazaar at the Pantheon) opened 30 July, 1867; closed in 1868.

BAZEILLES, a village in the Ardennes, N.E. France. During the dreadful battle of Sedan, 1 Sept. 1870, Bazeilles was burnt by the Bavarians, and atrocious outrages are said to have been committed. Of nearly 2000 inhabitants scarcely fifty remained alive, and these indignantly denied having given provocation. Much controversy ensued, and in July, 1871, gen. Von der Tann asserted that the number of deaths had been exaggerated, that there had been much provocation, and denied the alleged

cruelties.

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BEACHY HEAD, a promontory, S. E. Sussex, near which the British and Dutch fleet, commanded by the earl of Torrington, was defeated by a superior French force under admiral Tourville, 30 June, 1690; the allies suffered very severely. The Dutch lost two admirals, 500 men, and several shipssunk to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy; the English lost two ships and 400 The admirals on both sides were blamed; ours, for not fighting; the French for not pursuing the victory.

men.

BEACONS, see Lighthouses.

BEADS were early used in the east for reckoning prayers. St. Augustin mentions them 366. About 1090, Peter the Hermit is said to have made a series of 55 beads. To Dominic de Guzman is ascribed the invention of the Rosary (a series of 15 large and 150 small beads), in honour of the Blessed Virgin, about 1202. Beads soon after were in general use. The Bead-roll was a list of deceased persons, for the repose of whose souls a certain number of prayers was recited. Beads have been found in British barrows.

BEAM AND SCALES. The apparatus for weighing goods was so called, "as it weighs so much at the king's beam." A public beam was set

up in London, and all commodities ordered to be weighed by the city officer, called the weighmaster, who was to do justice between buyer and seller, stat. 3 Edw. II. 1309. Stow. Beams and scales, with weights and measures, were ordered to be examined by the justices at quarter sessions, 35 Geo. III. 1794; see Weights and Measures.

BEANS, BLACK AND WHITE, were used by the ancients in gathering the votes of the people for the election of magistrates. A white bean signified absolution, and a black one condemnation. The precept of Pythagoras to abstain from beans, abstine a fabis, has been variously interpreted. "Beans do not favour mental tranquillity." Cicero. The finer kinds of beans were brought here with other vegetables, in Henry VIII.'s reign.

BEAR-BAITING, an ancient popular English sport, prohibited by parliament in 1835.

BEARDS.* The Egyptians did not wear beards; the Assyrians did. They have been worn for centuries by the Jews, who were forbidden to mar their beards, 1490 B.C. Lev. xix. 27. The Tartars waged a long war with the Persians, declaring them infidels, because they would not cut their beards, after the custom of Tartary. The Greeks wore their beards till the time of Alexander, who ordered the Macedonians to be shaved, lest the beard should give a handle to their enemies, 330 B.C. Beards were worn by the Romans, 390 B.C. The emperor Julian wrote a diatribe (entitled "Misopogon") against wearing beards, A.D. 362.— In England, they were not fashionable after the conquest, 1066, until the 13th century, and were discontinued at the Restoration. Peter the Great enjoined the Russians, even of rank, to shave, but was obliged to keep officers on foot to cut off the beard by force. Since 1851 the custom of wearing the beard gradually increased in Great Britain.

BEARN, S. France, the ancient Benecharnum, was held successively by the Romans, Franks, Goths, and Gascons, and became a hereditary viscounty in 819, under Centule I., son of Loup, duke of GasGabaret, 1134; of Moncade, 1170; of Foix, 1290; cony. From his family it passed to the houses-of and of Bourbon, 1550. Its annexation to France was decreed by Henry IV., 1594; affirmed by Louis XIII., 1620.

BEAUGÉ, see Anjou.

BEAULIEU, ABBEY OF, (reformed Benedictines) founded by king John, in the New Forest, Hampshire, in 1204, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, had the privilege of sanctuary. It afforded an asylum to Margaret, queen of Henry VI., after the defeat of the earl of Warwick at Barnet, 14 April, 1471; and also to Perkin Warbeck, Sept. 1497.

BEAUMONT, a village near Sedan, department of Ardennes, N.E. France. Near here a part of the army of marshal MacMahon under De Failly,

A bearded woman was taken by the Russians at the battle of Pultowa, and presented to the Czar, Peter I. 1724: her beard measured 1 yard. A woman is said to have been seen at Paris with a bushy beard, and her whole body covered with hair. Dict. de Trevour. The great Margaret, governess of the Netherlands, had a very long stiff beard. In Bavaria, in the time of Wolfius, a virgin had a long black beard. Mille. Bois de Chêne, born at Geneva (it was said) in 1834, was exhibited in London, in 1852-3, when, consequently, eighteen years of age; she had a profuse head of hair, a strong black beard, large whiskers, and thick hair on her arms and down from her neck on her back, and masculine features.

which, after vainly endeavouring to reach Metz, was retreating before the Germans under the crown prince of Prussia, was surprised, defeated, and driven across the Meuse at Mouzon, 30 Aug. 1870. The French loss included about 7000 prisoners, many guns, and much camp equipage. The victory was chiefly gained by the Bavarians.

BEAUNE-LA-ROLLANDE, a village in the Loiret, France. Here the French army of the Loire, under general D'Aurelle de Paladines, was defeated by the Germans, under prince Frederick Charles, in an attempt to march in the direction of Fontainebleau to relieve Paris, 28 Nov. 1870. The French loss was reported by the Germans to be 1000 dead, 4000 wounded; above 1700 prisoners. Their own loss was heavy.

BEDER (Arabia). Here Mahomet gained his first victory (over the Koreish of Mecca), 623. It was considered to be miraculous.

BEDFORD, a town, N.N.W. London, renowned for its many free educational establishments, endowed in 1561 by sir Wm. Harpur, a London alderman. Here John Bunyan preached, and wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress.'

BEDFORD LEVEL, a portion of the great fen districts in the eastern counties, drained in the early part of the 17th century by the earl of Bedford, aided by the celebrated Dutch engineer, sir Cornelius Vermuyden, amid great opposition; see Levels.

BEDLAM, see Bethlehem.

BEAUVAIS (N. France) the ancient Bellovaci, formerly capital of Picardy. When besieged BEDOUINS, wandering tribes of Arabs, living by Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, with on the plunder of travellers, &c. They profess a 80,000 men, the women under Jeanne Fourquet or form of Mahomedanism, and are governed by Lainé, also de la Hachette, from her using that sheikhs. They are said to be descendants of Ishweapon, particularly distinguished themselves, and mael, and appear to fulfil the prophecy respecting the duke raised the siege, 10 July, 1472. In him, Gen. xvi. 12, 1911 B.C. memory of this the women of Beauvais walk first in the procession on the anniversary of their deliverance.

BECKET'S MURDER. Thomas Becket, archishop of Canterbury, was murdered at the altar, 29 Dec. 1170. The king was absolved of guilty knowledge of the crime in 1172, and did penance at the tomb in 1174. The bones of Becket were enshrined in gold and jewels in 1220; but were burned in the reign of Henry VIII. 1539. The Merchant Adventurers were at one time termed

"the Brotherhood of St. Thomas à Becket."

BED. The ancients slept on skins. Beds were afterwards made of loose rushes, heather, or straw. The Romans are said to have first used feathers. An air-cushion is said to have been used by Heliogabalus, 218-222; air-beds were in use in the 16th century. Feather-beds were in use in England in the reign of Henry VIII. The bedsteads of the Egyptians and later Greeks, like modern couches, became common among the Roman upper classes. The ancient great bed at Ware, Herts, capable of holding twelve persons, was sold, it is said, to Charles Dickens, 6 Sept. 1864.

A bedstead of gold was presented to the queen on 2 Nov. 1859, by the Maharajah of Cashmere.

Air-beds and water-beds have been made since the manufacture of india-rubber cloth by Clark in 1813; and by Macintosh in 1823.

Dr. Arnott's hydrostatic bed invented in 1830.

BED OF JUSTICE, a French court presided over by the king, whose seat was termed a "bed." It controlled the ordinances of the parliament. The last was held by Louis XVI. at Versailles, 19 Nov. 1787, to raise a loan.

* Thomas Becket was born in 1119. His father Gilbert

was a London trader, and his mother is stated to have been a convert from Mahomedanism. He was educated at Oxford, and made archdeacon by Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, who introduced him to the king, Henry II. He became chancellor in 1155, but on being elected archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, he resigned the chancellorship, to the great offence of the king. He opposed strenuously the constitutions of Clarendon in 1164, and fled the country; and in 1166, excommunicated all the clergy who agreed to abide by them. He and the king met at Fretville, in Touraine, on 22 July, 1170, and were formally reconciled. On his return he re-commenced his struggle with the king, which led to his tragical

death.

BEEF-EATERS, see Battle-axe.

"BEEF STEAKS, the Sublime Society of," was established in 1735 by Rich, an actor at Covent Garden Theatre, in the painting-room of which the members dined upon beef-steaks. The society became fashionable, and long included among its members the prince of Wales, royal dukes, and other eminent persons, who submitted to its somewhat ludicrous regulations. It became extinct in 1867, its last place of meeting being a room in the Lyceum theatre. Its history was published by Brother Arnold in 1871.

BEER, see Ale, Porter, Victuallers.

BEER-HOUSES. Law respecting (11 Geo. IV. and I Will. IV., c. 64, 1830), &c., amended in 1869.

Hy

BEES. Mount Hybla, on account of its odoriferous flowers, thyme, and abundance of honey, has been poetically called the "empire of bees." mettus, in Attica, was also famous for its bees and honey. The economy of bees was admired in the earliest ages; and Eumelus, of Corinth, wrote a poem on bees, 741 B.C. Bees were introduced into Boston, New England, in 1670, and have since spread over the continent. Mandeville's satirical" Fable of the Bees" appeared in 1723. Huber published his observations on bees in 1792. The Apiarian Society had an establishment at Muswell Hill, near London (1860-2). The Ligurian variety of the honey-bee was successfully introduced into England in 1860.

BEES', ST., Cumberland. A monastery was founded here by St. Bega, 650; a grammar school by abp. Grindall, 1583; a clerical training college by bp. Law, 1817.

BEET-ROOT is of recent cultivation in England. Beta vulgaris, red beet, is used for the table as a salad. Margraff first produced sugar from the white beet-root in 1747. M. Achard produced excellent sugar from it in 1799; and the chemists of France, at the instance of Bonaparte, largely extracted sugar from the beet-root in 1800. 60,000 tons of sugar, about half the consumption, are now manufactured in France from beet. It is also largely manufactured in other countries. A refinery of sugar from beet-root has been erected at the

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Thames bank, Chelsea. The cultivation of beetroot in England and Ireland much advocated, 1871. BEGGARS were tolerated in ancient times, being often musicians and ballad-singers. modern times severe laws have been passed against them. In 1572, by 14 Eliz., c. 5, sturdy beggars were ordered to be "grievously whipped and burnt through the right ear; punished capitally for the third offence. By the Vagrant Act (1824), 5 Geo. IV. c. 83, all public beggars are liable to a month's imprisonment. About 30,000 tramps in England and Wales. Judicial Statistics, 1865. See Poor Laws and Mendicity Society. The "BEGGAR'S OPERA," by John Gay, a satire against the government of sir Robert Walpole, was produced at the Lincoln'sinn-fields theatre, 1728, and had a run of 63 nights; see Gueux.

BEGUINES, a congregation of nuns first established at Liège, and afterwards at Nivelle, in 1207, some say, 1226. The "Grand Beguinage" of Bruges was the most extensive. Some of these nuns imagined that they could become sinless. The council of Vienne condemned this error, and abolished a branch of the order in 1311. They still exist in Germany and Belgium, acting as nurses to the sick and wounded, &c.

BEHEADING, the Decollatio of the Romans, introduced into England from Normandy (as a less ignominious mode of putting high criminals to death), by William the Conqueror, 1076, when Waltheof, earl of Huntingdon, Northampton, and Northumberland, was first so executed. Since then this mode of execution became frequent, particularly in the reigns of Henry VIII., Mary, and Elizabeth, when even women of the noblest blood thus perished.*

BEHISTUN, in Persia. At this place is a rock containing important inscriptions in three languages, in cuneiform (or wedge-shaped) characters, which were deciphered and translated by sir H. Rawlinson in 1844-6, and published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Each paragraph commences with "I am Darius the Great King."

BEHRING'S STRAIT, discovered by captain Vitus Behring, a Danish navigator in the service of Russia. He thus proved that the continents of Asia and America are distant from each other about thirty-nine miles, 1728. He died at Behring's island in 1741. In 1778 captain James Cook surveyed the coasts of both continents.

BELFAST, capital of Ulster, N. Ireland. Its castle, supposed to have been built by John de Courcy, was destroyed by the Scots under Edward Bruce, 1315; see Orange.

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BELGIUM, the southern portion of the Netherlands, and anciently the territory of the Belga, who were finally conquered by Julius Cæsar, 51 B.C. Its size is about one-eighth of Great Britain. Its government is a liberal constitutional monarchy, founded in 1831. For previous history, see Flanders, Netherlands, and Holland. The population (31 Dec.) 1862, 4,836,566; 1865, 4,984,451; 1866, 4,829,320; 1870, 5,087,105.

The revolution commences at Brussels 25 Aug, 1830 The provisional government declares Belgium independent

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4 Oct. Antwerp taken (except the citadel). 23 Dec. Belgian independence acknowledged by the allied powers 26 Dec. father, the 3 Feb. 1831 24 Feb.

Duke de Nemours elected king (his
French king, refused his consent)
Surlet de Chokier is elected regent
Leopold, prince of Saxe-Coburg, elected king, 12 July,
enters Brussels

19 July,
War with the Netherlands commences
3 Aug.
France sends 50,000 troops to assist Belgium, and
an armistice ensues
Aug.

Conference of ministers of the five great powers held
in London: acceptance of 24 articles of pacification
15 Nov.

Convention between England and France against
Holland

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22 Oct. 1832 Antwerp besieged, 30 Nov.; the citadel taken by the French

The French army returns to France
Treaty between Holland and Belgium
Riot at Brussels (see Brussels).

London

23 Dec. "

. 27 Dec.
6 April, 1834

signed in
19 April, 1839
. Aug. 1852
Oct.

Queen of England visits Belgium
The king and his son visit England
Increase of army to 100,000 men voted
Opposition to religious charities' bill
A new ministry under M. Charles Rogier
The chambers dissolved; re-assembled
The king proclaims Belgium neutral in the Italian

war

Birth of prince Leopold Ferdinand

Death of M. Potter

The king visits England.

Vague rumours of annexation to France warm loyal addresses to the king The octrois abolished

Successful military volunteer movement. Commercial treaty with France signed.

10 May, 1853 June, 1857 9 Nov. 10 Dec.

May, 1859 12 June, 22 July,

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This treaty arose out of the conference held in London on the Belgian question; by the decision of which, the treaty of 15 Nov. 1831, was maintained, and the peeuniary compensation of sixty millions of franes offered by Belgium for the territories adjudged to Holland was declared inadmissible.

At the revolution in 1830, the Roman Catholic clergy lost the administration of the public charities, which they have struggled to recover ever since. In April. 1857, M. Decker, the head of the ministry, brought in a bill for this purpose, the principle of which was carried. This led, however, to so much agitation, that the ministry were compelled to withdraw the bill, and eventually to resign.

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22 Aug. Great distress through decay of trade Aug. Fierce dissensions through Roman Catholics, Jan.;. the ministry resigns, but resumes office, 4 Feb. ; dissolution of the chambers, 17 July; the Protestants superior in the election. Death of Leopold I.

Aug. 1864

July, 1866 12-16 Oct.

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10 Dec. 1865 The new king and queen visit England, 5 July; and Ghent and other Belgian cities. National rifle meeting (tir) Mr. Phillips, lord mayor of London, and 1100 English volunteers visit Belgium under col. Loyd Lindsay; other foreigners attend; grand banquet given by the king at Brussels . 20 Oct. Opening of the chambers, with a re-assuring speech from the king. 13 Nov. Violent rioting in mining districts (Marchienne-auPont) on account of reduction in wages; suppressed by the military 1-2 Feb. 1867 About 2400 Belgians (of the garde civique and volunteers) visit England; arrive, 10 July; received by lord mayor, 12 July; by prince of Wales at Wimbledon, 13 July; dine at Windsor, 16 July; at a hall at Agricultural Hall, 18 July; received by Miss Burdett-Coutts, 19 July; attend the review at Wimbledon, 20 July; leave London 22 July, New ministry (under M. Frère-Orban); liberal; Serious riots in the mining districts; put down by the military; 10 lives lost 25-29 March, Monument to Charlemagne at Liège, inaugurated 26 July, International congress of workmen at Brussels 6-13 Nov. The crown prince Leopold Ferdinand, duke of Brabant, died 22 Jan. 1869 Concession of a Luxembourg railway to a French railway company, without the assent of the state, prohibited by the assembly, 13 Feb.; dispute with the French government arranged International rifle meeting held at Liège Resignation of the Frère-Örban ministry,

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3 Jan. 1868

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May, 1869

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19 Sept. about 19 June, 1870 M. D'Anethan's ministry announced 3 July, Treaty for the neutrality of Belgium between Great Britain and Prussia, signed 9 Aug.; and France, signed 11 Aug. Warm gratitude to Great Britain expressed by the king and people 8 Aug. After the surrender of Sedan many French soldiers enter Belgium, and are disarmed and interned, 1-2 Sept. Strong opposition to the ministry by M. Barra and others; riots at Brussels 22-25 Nov. Resignation of D'Anethan; M. de Theux de Meylandt (a moderate) forms a ministry 7 Dec. 1871 The comte de Chambord arrives at Antwerp, 17 Feb.; compelled to quit Belgium through popular demonstrations

KINGS.

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27 Feb. 1872 The French government denounce the treaty of commerce with Belgium 29 March, 1831. Leopold," first king of the Belgians; born 16 Dec. 1790; inaugurated 21 July, 1831, at Brussels; inarried, 9 Aug. 1832, Louise, eldest daughter of Louis Philippe, king of the French (she died 11 Oct. 1850). He died 10 Dec. 1865. 1865. Leopold II., son; born 9 April, 1835: married archduchess Maria of Austria, 22 Aug. 1853. Heir. Princess Louise, born 18 Feb. 1858.

BELGRADE, an ancient city in Servia, on the right bank of the Danube. It was taken from the Greek emperor by Solomon, king of Hungary, in 1086; gallantly defended by John Huniades against the Turks, under Mahomet II., July to Sept. 1456, when the latter was defeated, with the loss of 40,000 men. Belgrade was taken by sultan Solyman, Aug. 1521, and retaken by the Imperialists in 1688, from whom it was again taken by

* Leopold married, in May, 1816, the princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of the prince regent, afterwards George IV. of England; she died in childbed, 6 Nov. 1817.

the Turks, 1690. It was besieged in May, 1716, by prince Eugene. In that year the Turkish army, 200,000 strong, approached to relieve it, and on 5 Aug. a sanguinary battle was fought at Peterwaradein, in which the Turks lost 20,000 men. Eugene defeated the Turks here, 16 Aug. 1717, and Belgrade surrendered 18 Aug. In 1739 it was ceded to the Turks, after its fine fortifications had been demolished. It was retaken in 1789, and restored at the peace of Reichenbach, in 1790. The Servian insurgents had possession of it, 1806-13. In 1815 it was placed under prince Milosch, subject to Turkey. The fortifications were restored in 1820. On 19 June, 1862, the Turkish pasha was dismissed for firing on the town during a riot. The university was established by private munificence, 1863. The fortress was surrendered by the Turks to the Servians, 18 April, 1867; see Servia.

BELGRAVIA, a south-western district of the metropolis, built between 1826 and 1852 upon land belonging to the marquis of Westminster, who is also viscount Belgrave.

BELIZE, see Honduras.

BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE: in the Romish ceremony of excommunication (which see), the bell is rung, the book is closed, and candle extinguished; the effect being to exclude the excommunicated from the society of the faithful, divine service, and the sacraments. Its origin is ascribed to the 8th century.

BELL ROCK LIGHTHOUSE, nearly in front of the Frith of Tay, one of the finest in Great Britain; it is 115 feet high, is built upon a rock that measures 427 feet in length, and 200 feet in breadth, and is about 12 feet under water. It was erected in 1806-10. It is provided with two bells for hazy weather.

BELLAIR, North America. The town was attacked by the British forces under sir Peter Parker, who, after an obstinate engagement, was killed, 30 Aug. 1814.

BELLEISLE, an isle on the south coast of Brittany, France, erected into a duchy for marshal Belleisle, in 1742, in reward of his military and diplomatic services, by Louis XV. Belleisle was taken by the British forces under commodore Keppel and general Hodgson, after a desperate resistance, 7 June, 1761, but was restored to France in 1763.

BELLES-LETTRES, or POLITE LEARNING, see Academies, and Literature.

BELLEVILLE, the red republican stronghold of Paris, defended by seven barricades, was captured by L'Admirault and Vinoy, 27, 28 May, 1871, when the insurrection was suppressed.

BELLMEN, appointed in London to proclaim the hour of the night before public clocks became general, were numerous about 1556. They were to ring a bell at night, and cry, "Take care of your fire and candle, be charitable to the poor, and pray for the dead."

BELLOWS. Anacharsis, the Scythian, is said to have been the inventor of them, about 569 B.C.; and to him is ascribed the invention of tinder, the potter's wheel, anchors for ships, &c. Bellows

Upon this rock, tradition says, the abbots of the ancient monastery of Aberbrothock fixed a bell (the Inchcape bell) in such a manner that it was rung by the impulse of the sea, thus warning mariners of their impending danger. Tradition also tells us that this apparatus was carried away by a Dutchman, who was afterwards lost upon the rock, with his ship and crew.

were not used in the furnaces of the Romans. The

great bellows of our foundries must have been early used; see Blowing Machines.

BELLS were used among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. The responses of the Dodonaan oracle were in part conveyed by bells. Strabo. The monument of Porsenna was decorated with pinnacles, each surmounted by bells. Pliny. Said to have been introduced by Paulinus, bishop of Nola, in Campagna, about 400; and first known in France in 550. The army of Clothaire II., king of France, was frightened from the siege of Sens by the ringing of the bells of St. Stephen's church. The second excerption of our king Egbert commands every priest, at the proper hours, to sound the bells of his church. Bells were used in churches by order of pope John IX., about 900, as a defence, by ringing | them, against thunder and lightning. Bells are said to have been cast by Turketul, abbot of England, about 941. The celebrated "Song of the Bell," by Schiller (died 1805), has been frequently translated. The following list is that given by Mr. E. Beckett Denison in his discourse on bells at the Royal Institution, 6 March, 1857.

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Weight.

Tons Cwt. 250 ?

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Sens

Paris, 1680

Montreal, 1847

Cologne, 1448

Breslau, 1507.

York, 1845

Bruges, 1680

10

St. Peter's, Rome

Oxford, 1680

Lucerne, 1636.

7 II

Halberstadt, 1457

7 10

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7 12

7 3

5 8

5 4

4 18 4 18 4 10?

4 8

4 O

The metal has been valued at the lowest estimate, at 66,565. Gold and silver are said to have been thrown in as votive offerings.

The largest bell in England (named Big Ben, after sir Benjamin Hall, the then chief commissioner of works), cast at Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, by Messrs. Warner, under the superintendence of Mr. E. Beckett Denison, and the Rev. W. Taylor, at an expense of 3343l. 148. 9. The composition was 22 parts copper and 7 tin. The diameter was 9 ft. 5 in.; the height, 7 ft. 10 in. The clapper weighed 12 cwt. Rev. W. Taylor.

The bell "Big Ben" having been found to be cracked on 24 Oct. 1857, it was broken up and another bell cast with the same metal, in May, 1858, by Messrs. Mears, Whitechapel. It is rather different in shape from its predecessor, "Big Ben," and about 2 tons lighter. Its diameter is 9 ft. 6 in.; the height 7 ft. 10 in. It was struck for the first time, 18 Nov. 1858. The clapper weighs 6 cwt.-half that of the former bell. The note of the bell is E natural; the quarter-bells being G, B, E, F. On 1 Oct. 1859, this bell was also found to be cracked.

§ The clapper of St. Paul's bell weighs 180 lbs. ; the diameter of the bell is to feet (Mr. Walesby says 6 ft. 94 in.), and its thickness ro in. The hour strikes upon this bell, the quarters upon two smaller ones; see Clocks.

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BAPTISM OF BELLS.-They were anointed and baptized Dre in churches, it is said, from the 10th century. Fresnoy. The bells of the priory of Little Dunmow, in Essex, were baptized by the names of St. Michael, St. Weever. John, Virgin Mary, Holy Trinity, &c., in 1501. The great bell of Notre Dame, of Paris, was baptized by the name of duke of Angoulême, 1816. On the continent, in Roman Catholic states, they baptize bells as we do ships, but with religious solemnity. Ashe.

RINGING OF BELLS, in changes of regular peals, is almost peculiar to the English, who boast of having brought the practice to an art. There are societies of ringers in London. A sixth bell was added to the peal of five, in the church of St. Michael, 1430. Storr Nell Gwynne left the ringers of the bells of St. Martin's-in-thefields money for a weekly entertainment, 1687, and many others have done the same.

BELOOCHISTAN, the ancient Gedrosia (S. Asia). Kelat, the capital, was taken by the British in the Afghan war, 1839; abandoned, 1840; taken and held a short time, 1840.

BELVIDERE EXPLOSION, see Gunpowder (note).

BENARES, in India, a holy city of the Hindoos, abounding in temples. It was ceded by the nabob of Oude, Asoph-ud-Dowlah, to the English in 1775. An insurrection took place here, which had nearly proved fatal to the British interests in Hindostan, 1781. The rajah, Cheyt Sing, was deposed in consequence of it, in 1783. Mr. Cherry, capt. Conway, and others, were assassinated at Benares, by vizier Aly, 14 Jan. 1799. In June, 1857, col. Neil succeeded in suppressing attempts of the native infantry to join the mutiny; see India.

BENBURB, near Armagh (N. Ireland). Here O'Neill totally defeated the English under Monroe, 5 June, 1646. Moore says that it was "the only great victory since the days of Brian Boru, achieved by an Irish chieftain in the cause of Ireland."

BENCOOLEN (Sumatra). The English East India company made a settlement here which preserved to them the pepper trade after the Dutch had dispossessed them of Bantam, 1682. Anderson. York fort was erected by the East India company, 1690. In 1693 a dreadful mortality raged here, occasioned by the town being built on a pestilent morass; among others the governor and council perished. The French, under count D'Estaign, destroyed the English settlement, 1760. Bencoolen was reduced to a residency under the government of Bengal, in 1801, and was ceded to the Dutch, in 1824, in exchange for their possessions in Malacca; see India.

BENDER, Bessarabia, European Russia. Near it was the asylum of Charles XII. of Sweden, after his defeat at Pultowa by the czar Peter the Great, 8 July, 1709. The peace of Bender was concluded in 1711. Bender was taken by storm, by the Russians, 28 Sept. 1770; was taken by Potemkin in 1789, and again in 1809. It was restored at the peace of Jassy, but retained at the peace of 1812.

BENEDICTINES, an order of monks founded by St. Benedict (lived 480-543), who introduced the monastic life into Western Europe, in 529, when he founded the monastery on Monte Casino in Campania, and eleven others afterwards. His Regula Monachorum (rule of the monks) soon became the common rule of western monachism. No religious order has been so remarkable for extent, wealth, and men of note and learning, as the Benedictine. Among its branches the chief were the Cluniacs, founded in 912; the Cistercians, founded in 1098,

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