The following show the numbers for London at decennial periods : 1780 1790 1800 Christenings. 16,634 18,980 19,176 19,930 26,158 27,028 30,387 IN ENGLAND AND WALES. Births. BIRCH TREE. The black (Betula nigra), brought from North America, 1736. The birch tree known as the Betula pumila, introduced into Kew 20,507 gardens, England, by Mr. James Gordon, from 18,038 North America, 1762. Hardy's Annals. Burials. 23,068 Deaths. 349.366 421,097. 449,656 BIRDS were divided by Linnæus into six orders (1735); by Blumenbach into eight (1805); and by Cuvier, into six (1817). The most remarkable works are those published by John Gould, F.R.S.; they are to consist of about 31 folio volumes of coloured plates, &c. They now include the birds of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Great Britain, besides monographs of the humming-birds, &c. BIRKENHEAD (Cheshire), a modern town on the Mersey, opposite to Liverpool. The great dock here was projected by Mr. John Laird, constructed by Mr. Rendell, and opened in Aug. 1847 422,721 by lord Morpeth. In 1861 Birkenhead was made a 436,114 parliamentary borough, and Mr. Laird was elected first representative. Population in 1831, 200; in 1861, 51,649; in 1871, 65,971. See Wrecks, 1852. 436,573 495,531 ENGLAND AND WALES. IRELAND.* Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. 1865, 748,069 490,909 113,126 70,821 144,970 93,154 1866, 753,870 500,689 113,639 71,273 146,237 93.598 1867, 768,349 471,073 114,115 69,024 144,318 93.911 1868, 786,858 480,622 115,673 69,386 | 146,108 86,803 1869, 773.381 494,828 113,395 75,789 | 145,659 89,573 1870, 792,129 515,544 115,423 74,067 150,151 90,695 1871, 797,143 515,096 116,127 74,644 151,665 88,720 1872, 824,646 492,065 UNITED KINGDOM, 1872: Births, 1,092,616; Deaths, 665,208 66,950 77.723 70,588 73,798 More commotions BINARY ARITHMETIC, that which counts by twos, for expeditiously ascertaining the property of numbers, and constructing tables, was invented by Leibnitz of Leipsic, about 1703. For the Binary theory in chemistry, see Compound Radical. BINOMIAL ROOT, in Algebra, composed of only two parts connected with the signs plus or minus; a term first used by Recorda, about 1550, when he published his Algebra. The celebrated binomial theorem of Newton was first mentioned in 1688. Hutton. BIOGRAPHY (from the Greek bios, life, and grupho, I write), defined as "history teaching by example." The book of Genesis contains the biography of the patriarchs; and the Gospels that of Christ. Plutarch wrote the Lives of Illustrious Men; Cornelius Nepos, Lives of Military Commanders; and Suetonius, Lives of the Twelve Caesars (all three in the first century after Christ); Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Philosophers (about 205).--Boswell's Life of Johnson (published in 1790) is the most remarkable English biography. BIOLOGY, termed the science of life and living things, by Treviranus, of Bremen, in his work on Physiology, published 1802-22. Biology includes zoology, anthropology, and ethnology (which see). Herbert Spencer's Principles of Biology," published 1865-67. 66 * Approximative: registration defective. Theatre destroyed by fire 14 July, 1791 7 Aug. 1792 Nov. 1800 7 Jan. 1820 Feb. 1831 Political Union, T. Attwood, formed by Political Union dissolved itself 1832 1833 10 May, 1834 Birmingham and Liverpool railway opened as the London and Birmingham railway opened Great Chartist riot; houses burnt New music-hall opened 4 July, 1837 its entire 17 Sept. 1838 15 July, 1839 29 Aug. 1843 27 Oct. 1847 12 Sept. 1849 . Jan. 1853 given by 3 Aug. 1856 3 Sept. Another park opened by the duke of Cambridge, The Free Library opened People's park purchased by corporation The bank of Attwoods and Spooner stops Meeting of British Association (3rd) Great Reform meeting. 4 April, 1861 23 June, 1862 Sept. 1864 2 Jan. 1865 payment 10 March, 6 Sept. 13 July, 1866 25 June, 1872 East Anglia (afterwards Bath 1088 Norwich, 1091) 1873 Lindisfarne, or Holy Island (afterwards Durham, 995). Prince Arthur opens Royal Horticultural Exhibi tion Mr. Josiah Mason endows a college for the study of practical science BIRTHS. The births of children were taxed in England, viz.: birth of a duke, 30l.; of a common person, 28., 7 Will. III. 1695. Taxed again, 1783. The instances of four children at a birth are numerous; but it is recorded that a woman of Königsberg (3 Sept. 1784), and the wife of Nelson, a tailor, of Oxford-market, London (Oct. 1800), had five children at a birth. The queen usually presents a small sum of money to a poor woman giving birth to three or more children at one time. See Bills of Mortality and Registers. BISHOP (Greek episcopos, overseer), a name given by the Athenians to those who had the inspection of the city. The Jews and Romans had also like officers. St. Peter, styled the first bishop of Rome, was martyred 65. The presbyter was the same as a bishop. Jerome. The episcopate became an object of contention about 144. The title of pope was anciently assumed by all bishops, and was exclusively claimed by Gregory VII. (1073-85). BISHOPS IN ENGLAND were coeval with the introduction of Christianity. The see of London is mythically said to have been founded by Lucius, king of Britain, 179. Bishops made barons The Congé d'Elire of the king to choose a bishop originated in an arrangement by king John. Bishops were elected by the king's Congé d'Elire, 25 Henry VIII. Bishops to rank as barons by stat. Hen. VIII. 1072 1534 West Saxons, (after- (afterwards Ripon " 1836 1847 . 1540 Emly about 448 Derry before 618 1554 Elphin Ardagh 450 Kilmacduach 454 Lismore 1555-6 Clogher before 493 Leighlin Down 1641 Ardfert and Aghadoe 30 Dec. 1641 Connor about 501; abpc. 9 Oct. 1646 Nov. 1661 Dromore Kildare Meath. Achonry Louth. Clonmacnois Clonfert Bishops excluded from voting in the house of peers Bishops regain their seats 1690 1856 * Bishops have the titles of Lord and Right Rev. Father in God. The archbishops of Canterbury and York, taking place of all dukes, have the title of Grace. The bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester have precedence of all bishops; the others rank according to seniority of consecration. Ross before 500 Cashel, . 1152 about 510 before before 519 Kilmore 520 Dublin, abpc.. 530 Kilfenora (For the new combinations, see the sepa rate articles.) 1561 21 Oct. 1610 Dec. 1638 defeated the queen-mother, Mary of Guise, called a parliament, which set up a new form of church polity on the Genevese model, in which bishops were replaced by "superintendents" Three prelates for Scottish sees consecrated at Lambeth (John Spottiswood, Gawin Hamilton, and Andrew Lamb) for Glasgow, Galloway, and Brechin Episcopacy abolished, the bishops in a body deposed, and four excommunicated, by a parliament, elected by the people (covenanters), which met at Glasgow Episcopacy restored; an archbishop (James Sharp) and three bishops consecrated by Sheldon, bishop of London The Scottish convention expelled the bishops; abolished episcopacy; declared the throne vacant; drew up a claim of right; and proclaimed William and Mary. Episcopacy formally abolished, and the bishops' revenues sequestrated. The Episcopal church was thus reduced to the condition of a Non-conformist body, at first barely tolerated. 15 Dec. 1661 11 April, 1689 19 Sept. Bishop Rose connected the established episcopal church of Scotland with that form of it which is now merely tolerated, he having been bishop of Edinburgh from 1687 till 1720, when, on his death, Dr. Fullarton became the first post-revolution Fife (now St. Andrews, so bishop of that see. called in 1844) now unites the bishopric of Dunkeld (re-instituted in 1727) and that of DunRoss (of uncerblane (re-instituted in 1731). tain date) was united to Moray (re-instituted in 1727) in 1838. Argyll and the Isles never existed independently until 1847, having been conjoined to Moray and Ross, or to Ross alone, previously to that year. Galloway has been added to the see of Glasgow. Fredericton, N. Bruns. Bloemfontain, Orange Free State . Norfolk, Huron. 1871 Zululand Trinidad 1872 Ballarat . tralia), N. S. W. Rupert's Land 1849 Jerusalem, estab Victoria, Hong Kong. lished. 1841 Melanesia 1860 1854 1855 Niger Territory 1864 1856 Falkland Isles 1869 Madagascar. 1870 BISHOPS, AMERICAN. The first was Samuel Seabury, consecrated bishop of Connecticut by four nonjuring prelates, at Aberdeen, in Scotland, 14 Nov. 1784. The bishops of New York and Pennsylvania were consecrated in London, by the archbishop of Canterbury, 4 Feb. 1787, and the bishop of Virginia in 1790. Several American bishops formed part of the Pan-Anglican synod, at Lambeth, 24-27 Sept. 1867. The first Roman Catholic bishop of the United States was Dr. Carroll, of Maryland, in 1780. BISHOPS, COLONIAL, &c. By 15 and 16 Vict. c. 52 (1852), and 16 and 17 Viet. c. 49 (1853); the colonial bishops may perform all episcopal *Between 1847-59, Miss (now baroness) Burdett-Coutts gave 60,000l. to endow colonial bishoprics. In 1866 she petitioned parliament, on account of some of the bishops professing independence of the church of England. Since then, colonial bishops have been appointed without intervention of the civil power. Much discussion took place in 1867, through the deposition of Dr. Colenso, bishop of Natal, by his metropolitan, Dr. Gray, bishop of Capetown, and the attempts of the latter to consecrate a new bishop, in opposition to the law; see under Africa, and Church of England. Natal, S. Africa. MISSIONARY BISHOP3. BISHOPS, SUFFRAGAN, to assist metropolitans, existed in the early church. Twenty-six, appointed by Henry VIII. 1534, were abolished by Mary, 1553, and restored by Elizabeth, 1558. The last appointed is said to have been Sterne, bishop of Colchester, 1606. The appointment of suffragan bishops was revived in 1869, and archdeacon Henry Mackenzie, suffragan bishop of Nottingham (diocese of Lincoln) was consecrated 2 Feb. 1870, and archdeacon Edward Parry, suffragan bishop of Dover (diocese of Canterbury), 23 March, 1870. BISMUTH was recognised as a distinct metal by Agricola, in 1529. It is very fusible and brittle, and of a yellowish white colour. BISSEXTILE, see Calendar and Leap Year. BITHYNIA, a province in Asia Minor, previously called Bebricia, is said to have been invaded by the Thracians under Bithynus, son of Jupiter, who gave it the name of Bithynia. It was subject successively to the Assyrians, Lydians, Persians, Most of the cities were rebuilt and Macedonians. by Grecian colonists. Dydalsus revolted and reigned, about Botyras, his son, succeeds BITONTO (Naples). Here Montemar and the Spaniards defeated the Germans, 27 May, 1734, and thereby acquired the kingdom of the Two Sicilies for Don Carlos. BLACK ACT, 9 Geo. I. c. 22 (1722), was passed to punish armed persons termed blacks, going about in disguise with their faces blacked, robbing warrens and fish-ponds, cutting down plantations, killing deer, &c. By this act, sending anonymous letters demanding money, &c., was made felony. BLACK ASSIZE, see under Oxford. BLACK BOOK* (Liber Niger), a book kept in the exchequer, which received the orders of that court. It was published by Hearn in 1728. BLACKBURN, Lancashire, so called in Domesday-book. The manufacture of a cloth called Blackburn cheque, carried on in 1650, was superseded by Blackburn greys. In 1767, James Hargreaves, of this town, invented the spinning-jenny, for which he was eventually expelled from the county. About 1810 or 1812, the townspeople availed themselves of his discoveries, and engaged largely in the cotton manufacture, now their staple trade. BLACK DEATH, see Plagues, 1340 and 1866. BLACK FRIARS, see Dominicans. BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE, London. The first stone of the late bridge was laid 31 Oct. 1760, and it was completed by Mylne, in 1770. It was frequently repaired, 1834-50, and began to sink. In 1864 it was pulled down, and a temporary bridge erected. The foundation of a new five-arched bridge, designed by Mr. Joseph Cubitt was laid by lord mayor Hale, 20 July, 1867, and the bridge was opened by the queen 6 Nov. 1869. The first railway train (London, Chatham, and Dover) entered the city of London over the new railway bridge, Blackfriars, 6 Oct. 1864. BLACK-HOLE, see Calcutta. BLACK LETTER, employed in the first printed books in the middle of the 15th century. The first printing types were Gothic; but they were Pliny's Natural History was then printed in the modified into the present Roman type about 1469: new characters. BLACK-MAIL, a compulsory payment for protection of cattle, &c., made in the border counties, was prohibited by Elizabeth in 1601. It was exacted in Scotland from the lowlanders by the highlanders, till 1745. It checked agricultural improvement. BLACK MONDAY, Easter Monday, 14 April, 1360, so full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold that many men died on their horsebacks with the cold." Stow. In Ireland, Black Monday was the day on which a number of the English were slaughtered at a village near Dublin, in 1209. BLACK MONEY, base foreign coin so termed, 1335. BLACK MONKS, see Dominicans. BLACK ROD has a gold lion at the top, and is carried by the usher of the order of the knights of the garter (instituted 1349), instead of the mace. He also keeps the door when a chapter of the order is sitting, and during the sessions of parliament attends the house of lords and acts as their messenger to the commons. BLACK SEA, THE EUXINE (Pontus Euxinus of the ancients), a large internal sea between the S. W. provinces of Russia and Asia Minor, connected with the sea of Azoff by the straits of Yenikalé, and with the sea of Marmora by the channel of Constantinople. This sea was much frequented by the Greeks and It was partially opened to British and other traders, Entered by the British and French fleets, at the requisition of the Porte, after the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Sinope by the Russians, 30 Nov. 1853 - 1779 3 Jan. 1854 BLACK FRIDAY, 11 May, 1866, the height of the commercial panic in London, through the stoppage of Overend, Gurney, & Co. (limited), on 10 May. Messrs. John Henry and Edmund Gurney, and their partners, committed for trial for conspiracy The Black Sea was opened to the commerce of all to defraud, 21 Jan. 1869, were tried and acquitted, 1323 Dec. 1869. A dreadful storm in this sea raged, and caused BLACKHEATH, Kent, near London. Here Wat Tyler and his followers assembled 12 June, 1381; and here also Jack Cade and his 20.000 Kentish men encamped, 1 June, 1450; see Tyler and Cade. Here the Cornish rebels were defeated and Flammock's insurrection quelled, 22 June, 1497. The ancient cavern, on the ascent to Black A book was kept in the English monasteries, wherein details of the scandalous enormities practised in religious houses were entered for the inspection of visitors, under Hen. VIII. 1535, in order to blacken them and hasten their dissolution; hence possibly the phrase, "I'll set you down in the black book." nations by the treaty of 1856. The article of the treaty of Paris, 30 March, 1856, by which the sea was opened to the commerce of all nations, and interdicted to any ships of war; and the erection of military maritime arsenals forbidden, was repudiated by a Russian circular, dated 31 (19) Oct. 1870 After some correspondence, the meeting of a conference on the subject, in London, was agreed to by all the powers concerned in the treaty. The conference met in London 17 Jan. 1871, and a treaty was signed by which the neutralization of the sea was abrogated: but it was agreed by a special protocol, that no nation shall liberate itself from the obligations of a treaty without the consent of the others who signed it 13 March, 1871 BLACKS or Neri; see Bianchi. BLACKWALL (London), the site of fine commercial docks and warehouses. See Docks. The Blackwall railway was opened to the public, 4 July, 1840; the eastern terminus being at Blackwall wharf, and the western in Fenchurch street. BLACK WATCH, armed companies of the loyal clans (Campbells, Monros, &c.) employed to watch the Highlands from about 1725 to 1739, when they were formed into the celebrated 42nd regiment, enrolled as "The Royal Highland Black Watch." Their removal for foreign service probably facilitated the outbreak in 1745. They wore dark tartans, and hence were called Black Watch. BLACKWATER, BATTLE OF, in Ireland, 14 Aug. 1598, when the Irish chief O'Neil defeated the English under sir Henry Bagnall. Pope Clement VIII. sent O'Neil a consecrated plume, and granted to his followers the same indulgence as to crusaders. BLACKWOOD'S Edinburgh Magazine established, 1817. BLADENSBURG, see Washington, 1814. BLANDFORD'S ACT, 19 and 20 Vict. c. 104, for augmentation of benefices, &c. passed, 1856. BLANK VERSE, see Verse. BLANKETEERS. A number of operatives who on 10 March, 1817, met in St. Peter's field, near Manchester, many of them having blankets, rugs, or great coats rolled up and fastened to their backs. This was termed the Blanket meeting. They proceeded to march towards London, but were dispersed by the magistracy. It is stated that their object was to commence a general insurrection. See Derby. Eventually the ringleaders had an interview with the cabinet ministers, and a better understanding between the working classes and the government ensued. BLANKETS are said to have been first made at Bristol by Thos. Blanket, in the 14th century. BLASPHEMY was punished with death by the law of Moses (Lev. xxiv.) 1491 B.C.; and by the code of Justinian, A. D. 529. It is punishable by the civil and canon law of England, regulated by 60 Geo. III. c. 8 (1819). Daniel Isaac Eaton was tried and convicted in London of blasphemy, 6 March, 1812. Robert Taylor, a protestant clergyman, was tried twice for the same crime. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and largely fined, July, 1831. In Dec. 1840, two publishers of blasphemous writings were convicted. BLAZONRY. Bearing coats-of-arms was introduced and became hereditary in France and England about 1192, owing to the knights painting their banners with different figures, thereby to distinguish them in the crusades. Dugdale. BLEACHING was known in Egypt, Syria, India, and Gaul. Pliny. An improved chemical system was adopted by the Dutch, who introduced it into England and Scotland in 1768. There were large bleach-fields in Lancashire, Fife, Forfar, and Renfrew, and in the vale of the Leven, in Dumbarton. The application of the gas chlorine to bleaching is due to Berthollet's discovery about 1785. Its combination with lime (as chloride of lime) was devised by Mr. Tennant, of Glasgow, who took out a patent for the process in 1798, and by his firm it is still extensively manufactured. In 1822 Dr. Ure published an elaborate series of experiments on this substance. In 1860 bleaching and dyeing works were placed under the regulations of the Factories Act. BLENHEIM (or Plintheim) a village in Bavaria on the left bank of the Danube, near the town of Hochstett, the site of a battle fought 2 Aug. (new style, 13), 1704, between the English and confederates, commanded by the duke of Marlborough, and the French and Bavarians, under marshal Tallard and the elector of Bavaria. The latter were defeated with the loss of about 12,000 killed, and 13,000 prisoners (including Tallard). Bavaria became the prize of the conquerors. The British parliament gave Marlborough the honour of Woodstock and hundred of Wotton, and erected for him the house of Blenheim.* BLIND. The first public school for the blind was established by Valentine Haüy, at Paris in 1784. The first in England was at Liverpool, in 1791; in Scotland, at Edinburgh, in 1792; and the first in London in 1799. Printing in raised or embossed characters for the use of the blind was begun at Paris by Haüy in 1786. The whole Bible was printed at Glasgow in raised Roman characters about 1848. A sixpenny magazine for the blind, edited by the late rev. W. Taylor, F.R.S., so eminent for his forty years' exertions on behalf of these sufferers, was published in 1855-6. He aided the establishment of a college for the blind of the upper classes at Worcester, in 1866. There is hardly any department of human knowledge in which blind persons have not obtained distinction.+ Laura Bridginan, born in 1829, became dumb and blind two years after; she was so well taught by Dr. Howe, of Boston, U.S., as to become an able instructor of blind and dumb persons. By the census of 1851, there were in Great Britain, 21,487 blind persons; 11,273 males, 10,214 females; about one in 975 blind. BLINDING by consuming the eyeballs with lime or scalding vinegar, was a punishment inflicted anciently on adulterers, perjurers, and thieves. In the middle ages the penalty was frequently changed from total blindness to a diminution of sight. A whole army of Bulgarians was deprived of sight by the emperor Basil, 104. Several of the eastern emperors had their eyes torn from their heads. BLISTERS, used by Hippocrates (460-357 B.C.), made, it is said, of cantharides, (which see). BLOCKADE is the closing an enemy's ports to all commerce; a practice introduced by the Dutch about 1584. The principle recognized by the European powers is that every blockade, in order to be binding, must be effective. The Elbe was blockaded by Great Britain, 1803; the Baltic, by Denmark, 1848-49 and 1864; the gulf of Finland by the Allies, 1854; and the ports of the Southern * On 5 Feb. 1861, a fire broke out at this place, which destroyed the "Titian Gallery" and the pictures; the latter, a present from Victor Amadeus, king of Sardinia, to John, the great duke of Marlborough. James Holman, the "blind traveller" (born 1786, died 1857), visited almost every place of note in the world. His travels were published in 1825. In April, 1858, a blind clergyman, rev. J. Sparrow, was elected chaplain to the Mercers' Company, London, and read the service, &c., from embossed books. Viscount Cranborne (blind) was the author of many interesting historical essays. He died in June, 1865. On 13 July, 1865, Henry Fawcett, the blind professor of political economy at Cainbridge, was elected M.P. for Brighton. |