Breakwaters. The first stone of the Plymouth breakwater was lowered 12 Aug. 1812. It stretches 5280 feet across the sound, is 360 feet in breadth at the bottom and more than 30 at the top, and consumed 3,660,000 tons of granite blocks, from one to five tons each, up to April, 1841, and cost a million and a half sterling. The architects were Mr. John Rennie and his son sir John. The first stone of the light-house on its western extremity was laid 1 Feb. 1841. Breakwaters have been constructed at Holyhead, Portland, Dover, etc. Breastplate. One was worn by the Jewish highpriest, 1491 B.C. (Exod. xxxix.). Goliath "was armed with a coat of mail," 1063 B.C. (1 Sam. xvii.). Breastplates dwindled to the diminutive gorgets. Ancient breastplates are mentioned as made of gold and silver. Brechin, Scotland; sustained a siege against the army of Edward III., 1333. The battle of Brechin or Huntly-hill was fought between the earls of Huntly and Crawford (the latter defeated), 18 May, 1452. The see of Brechin was founded by David I. in 1150. One of its bishops, Alexander Campbell, was made prelate when but a boy, 1556. The bishopric, discontinued soon after the revolution in 1688, was revived in 1731. Breda, Holland, was taken from the Spaniards by prince Maurice of Nassau in 1590; retaken by the Spaniards, under Spinola, June, 1625; and by the Dutch, Oct. 1637. The "Compromise of Breda" was a proposal to Philip II., deprecating his harsh measures in the Netherlands, presented and refused in 1566. Our Charles II. resided here at the time of the Restoration, and here he issued his declaration of a free general pardon, 4 April, 1660; see Restoration. Breda was taken by the French in 1793. The French garrison was expelled by the burgesses in 1813. and a vote in the college of imperial cities in 1640. In 1648 it was secularized and erected into a duchy, and held by Sweden till 1712, when it was taken possession of by Denmark, by whom it was sold to Hanover in 1731. It was taken by the French in 1757, who were expelled by the Hanoverians in 1758. Bremen was annexed by Napoleon to the French empire in 1810; but its independence was restored in 1813, and all its old franchises in 1815. It became a member of the North German Confederation in 1866. International agricultural exhibition opened 13 June, 1874. Population of the province, 1871, 122,402; see Hanse Towns. For the explosion at Bremerhaven, 11 Dec. 1875, see Dynamite. Brenneville, N.W. France. Here Henry I. of England defeated Louis VI. of France, who supported William Cliton, son of Robert, duke of Normandy, 20 Aug. 1119. mund Ironside defeated the Danes, May, 1016. Brentford, county town of Middlesex. Here EdIt was taken by Charles I., after a sharp fight, 12 Nov. 1642. Brescia, N. Italy (the ancient Brixia), became important under the Lombards, and suffered by the wars It of the Italian republics, being attached to Venice. was taken by the French under Gaston de Foix, Feb. 1512, when it is said 40,000 of the inhabitants were massacred. It was retaken 26 May, 1516. It surrendered to the Austrian gen. Haynau, 30 March, 1849, on severe terms. It was annexed to Sardinia in 1859. Breslau, in Silesia, was burned by the Mongols in 1241, and conquered by Frederick II. of Prussia, Jan. 1741. A fierce battle took place here between the Austrians and Prussians, the latter under prince Bevern, who was defeated 22 Nov. 1757. Breslau was taken; but was regained 21 Dec. the same year. It was besieged by the French, and surrendered to them, Jan. 1807, and again in 1813. Bressa Prize. Dr. Cesare Antonio Bressa, by will of 4 Sept. 1835, bequeathed property to the Royal Academy of Sciences, Turin, to give a prize every two years for some important discovery or valuable work published relating to physics, natural history, geography, history, statistics, etc. The first prize (about 12007.) to be awarded in 1879 to a foreigner; the second to an Italian, and so on alternately. Brest, a seaport, N.W. France, was besieged by Julius Cæsar, 54 B.C.; possessed by the English, A.D. 1378; given up to the duke of Brittany, 1390. Lord Berkeley and a British fleet and army were repulsed here with dreadful loss in 1694. The magazine burned, to the Breeches. Among the Greeks, this garment indi-marine hospitals, with fifty galley slaves, burned, 1766. value of some millions of pounds sterling, 1744. The cated slavery. It was worn by the Dacians, Parthians, The magazine again destroyed by fire, 10 July, 1784. and other northern nations; and in Italy, it is said, was From this great depot of the French navy, numerous worn in the time of Augustus Cæsar. In the reign of squadrons were equipped against England during the Honorius, about 394, the braccarii, or breeches-makers, late war, among them the fleet which lord Howe defeatwere expelled from Rome. The "Geneva Bible," termed ed on June, 1794. England maintained a large blockthe "Breeches Bible" (from the rendering in Gen. iii. 7), ading squadron off the harbor from 1793 to 1815, but published 1560. with little injury to France. It is now a chief naval station, and is considered impregnable. The British fleet visited Brest, Aug. 1865. Breech-loaders, see under Cannon and Fire-arms. Brehons, ancient judges in Ireland, are said to have administered justice with religious impartiality, but in later times with a tendency to love of country. It was enacted by the statute of Kilkenny that no English subject should submit to the Brehon laws, 40 Edw. III. 1365. These laws, however, were recognized by the native Irish till 1650. A translation of them was proposed in 1852, and a commission appointed. The publication of the "Ancient Laws of Ireland," by the government, began 1865. Breitenfeld, see Leipsic. Bremen (N. Germany), said to have been founded in 788, and long an archbishopric, and one of the leading towns of the Hanseatic League, was allowed a seat Bretagne, see Brittany. Brethren, see Bohemian and Plymouth Brethren. Bretigny, PEACE OF, concluded with France, 8 May, 1360, by which England retained Gascony and Guienne, and acquired other provinces; renounced her pretensions to Maine, Anjou, Touraine, and Normandy; was to receive 3,000,000 crowns, and to release king John, long a prisoner. The treaty not being carried out, the king remained and died in England. Breton, see Cape Breton. Bretwalda (wide-ruling chief), one of the kings of the Saxon heptarchy, chosen by the others as a leader in war against their common enemies. The following are mentioned by Bede (492 to 642): Ella, king of Sus sex; Ceawlin of Wessex; Ethelbert of Kent: Redwald | Beverly, Bridgewater, Sligo, and Cashel disfranchised for of East Anglia; Edwin, Oswald, and Oswy of Northum- Much corruption during the elections of April; members bribery and corruption. berland. The title was bestowed upon Egbert, 828; see Britain. Breviary (so called as being an abridgment of the offices used in the Roman Catholic service) contains the seven canonical hours, viz., matins about midnight; lauds (when not joined to matins, about 3 A.M.), primes (about 6), tierce (about 9), sexts (about 12), nones (about 3 P.M.), vespers (4 or 6), complines (about 9). Lord Bute published a translation of the breviary, 1879. The breviary is ascribed to pope Gelasius I. about 492. It was first called the custos, and afterwards the breviary; came into use among the ecclesiastical orders about 1080; and was reformed by the councils of Trent and Cologne, and by Pius V., Urban VIII., and other popes. The quality of type in which the breviary was first printed gave the name to the printing-type called brevier. Brewers are traced to Egypt. Brewing was known to our Anglo-Saxon ancestors.-Tindal. "One William Murle, a rich maltman or bruer, of Dunstable, had two horses all trapped with gold, 1414."-Stow. In Oct. 1851, there were 2305 licensed brewers in England, 146 in Scotland, and 97 in Ireland; total, 2548: these are exclusive of retail and intermediate brewers. There were 40,418 licensed brewers in the United Kingdom in 1858; the revenue from whom to the state was in that year 81,030. In 1858 in England there were 205 great brewers; see Ale, Porter. In 1880 the brewers' license (for sale) was made 11.; not for sale, 68.; a duty was laid upon beer calculated upon the specific gravity of the wort (43 & 44 Vict. c. 20). Briar's Creek (N. America), near which the Americans, 2000 strong, under gen. Ashe, were totally defeated by the English under gen. Prevost, 3 March, 1779. Bribery forbidden (Deut. xvi. 19). Samuel's sons were guilty of it, 1112 B.C. (1 Sam. viii. 8). Thos. de Weyland, a judge, was banished for bribery in 1288; he was chief-justice of the common pleas. William de Thorpe, chief-justice of the king's bench, was convicted of bribery in 1351. Another judge was fined 20,000/. for the like offence, 1616. Mr. Walpole, secretary-atwar, was sent to the Tower for bribery in 1712. Lord Strangford was suspended from voting in the Irish house of lords for soliciting a bribe, Jan. 1784. Bribery AT ELECTIONS. In 1854 an important act was passed consolidating and amending previous acts relating to this offence, from 7 Will. III. (1695) to 5 & 6 Vict. c. 184. 1870 for Oxford, Chester, Boston, and other places, unseated 1880 Stringent bill against it brought in by sir H. James, attorney-general.... ......7 Jan. 1881 Made Bric-à-Bracs (French), old curiosities; such as cabinets, pieces of ironwork, etc. The collecting began about the time of queen Anne, 1702-14. The publication of Bric-à-Brac, a monthly price list, began in 1869. Bricks were used in Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome; in England by the Romans about 44. under the direction of Alfred the Great, about 886.Saxon Chron. The size regulated by order of Charles I., 1625. Taxed, 1784. The number of bricks which paid duty in England in 1820 was 949,000,000; in 1830, above 1,100,000,000; in 1840, 1,400,000,000; and in 1850, 1,700,000,000. The duties and drawbacks of excise on bricks were repealed in 1850. In 1839 Messrs. Cooke and Cunningham brought out their machinery by which, it is said, 18,000 bricks may be made in ten hours. Messrs. Dixon and Corbett, near Newcastle, in 1861, were making bricks by steam at the rate of 1500 per hour. The machinery is the invention of Clayton & Co., London. Bridewell, once a palace of king John, near Fleetditch, London, 1210, was given to the city for a workhouse by Edward VI., 1553.* The New Bridewell prison, erected in 1829, was pulled down in 1864; that of Tothill-fields was rebuilt in 1831. Bridges were first of wood. There are ancient stone bridges in China. Abydos is famous for the bridge of boats which Xerxes built across the Hellespont, 480 B.C. Trajan's magnificent stone bridge over the Danube, 4770 feet in length, was built in A.D. 105. Brotherhoods for building bridges existed in S. France about 1180. The Devil's bridge in the canton of Uri was built on two high rocks; and many stories have At Schaffhausen an been invented to account for it. extraordinary bridge was built over the Rhine, 400 feet wide: there was a pier in the middle of the river, but it is doubtful whether the bridge rested upon it; a man of the lightest weight felt the bridge totter under him, yet wagons heavily laden passed over without danger. The bridge was destroyed by the French in 1799; see London, Waterloo, Blackfriars, Southwark, and other bridges, from toll 24 May, 1879, and 26 June, 1880. in separate articles. The chief Thames bridges were freed charter dated... 943 Triangular bridge at Croyland abbey referred to in a Bishop's bridge, Norwich. 1295 London bridge: one existed about 978; one built of wood, 1014; one by Peter of Colechurch, 1176, 1209; new bridge finished. 1831 The first large iron bridge erected over the Severn, Shropshire. 1777 Oct. 1819 1796 1825 Messrs. Sykes and Rumbold fined and imprisoned for Corrupt Practices Act passed.. 1840 1853 In the case of Cooper v. Slade, it was ruled that the pay- Sunderland bridge by Wilson, 100 feet high, an arch, with A slight suspension bridge was built at Niagara Falls in A railway bridge 24 miles long projected over the Firth of 1869 et seq. ..1871-7 *Of the old buildings little remains: merely offices and a few cells for refractory city apprentices. By the Charity Commissioners' scheme (1860) the annual income (14,682. in 1876) is devoted to the maintenance of two industrial schools: for boys, at Witley, Surrey; for girls, at St. George's fields. Bridgewater, Somersetshire, was incorporated by king John, in 1200. In the war between Charles I. and the parliament, the king's forces burned part of the town, 1643. Here stood an ancient castle in which the ill-advised duke of Monmouth lodged when proclaimed king in 1685. The town was disfranchised for bribery, 1870. Bridgewater Canal, the first great work of the kind in England, was begun by the duke of Bridgewater, the father of canal navigation in this country, in 1759, and opened 17 July, 1761. James Brindley was the engineer. It commences at Worsley, seven miles from Manchester; and at Barton Bridge is an aqueduct which, for upwards of 200 yards, conveys the canal across the river Irwell. The length of the canal is about twenty-nine miles. Bridgewater Treatises. The rev. Francis, earl of Bridgewater, died in April, 1829, leaving by will 80007. to be given to the author or authors, appointed by the president of the Royal Society, who should write an essay "on the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as manifested in the creation." The essays (by sir Charles Bell, Drs. T. Chalmers, John Kidd, William Buckland, William Prout, Peter M. Roget, and the revs. William Whewell and William Kirby) were published 1833-35. "Brief," a weekly newspaper, began Nov. 1877. Briefs are the letters of the pope despatched to princes and others on public affairs, and usually written short, without preface or preamble, and on paper; in which particulars they are distinguished from bulls. The latter are ample, and written on parchment. Briefs are sealed with red wax and the seal of the fisherman, or St. Peter in a boat, and always in the presence of the pope. The queen's letters, called "briefs," authorizing collections in churches for charitable purposes are now discontinued. A lawyer's brief is an abridgment of his client's case. made a bishopric in 1859, when the colony was constituted. Brissotins, see Girondists. Bristol (W. England), built by Brennus, a British prince, 380 B.C., is mentioned in A.D. 430 as a fortified city. It was called Caer Oder, a city in the valley of Bath; and sometimes Caer Brito, the British city, and by the Saxons Brightstowe, pleasant place. Gildas and Nennius speak of Bristol in the fifth and seventh centuries. From the twelfth to the eighteenth century it was, next to London, the most flourishing port in England; it has since been surpassed by Liverpool; see under Orphan-houses. Taken by the earl of Gloucester, in his defence of his sister Maud, the empress, against king Stephen...... 1138 Eleanor of Brittany (daughter of Geoffrey, son of Henry St. Mary's church built.. II.) dies in the castle after 39 years' imprisonment. 1241 1292 1373 1542 10 Sept. 1645 Bristol made a distinct county by Edward III. 1710 1741 1753 ..May, 1760 .22 Jan. 1777 Riot on account of a toll; the troops fire on the populace, Attempt to set the shipping on fire.. and many are wounded... Docks built..... 25 Oct. 1793 1804-9 Riot on the entrance of sir Charles Wetherell, the recorder, into the city, he being opposed to the reform bill; the mansion house, the bishop's palace, several merchants' stores, some of the prisons (the inmates liberated), nearly 100 houses burned, and above 500 persons killed by the military or perished..29-31 Oct. 1831 Trial of rioters (4 executed; 22 transported), 2 Jan.; suicide of col. Brereton, during trial by court-martial, 9 Jan. 1832 Aug. 1836 .30 June, 1841 ...8 Dec. 1864 .19 Sept. 1865 1875 Meeting of British Association. Railway to London completed.. Clifton suspension-bridge opened. Industrial Exhibition opened... British Association, 2d meeting.. Proposed foundation of a college for science and literature here for the south and west of England; meeting, 13 June, 1874; opened as University College..10 Sept. 1876 Great fire; Clutterbucks, dry salters, etc., loss between 80,000l. and 100,000... Avonmouth dock opened....... .24, 25 May, ....24 Feb. 1877 Bristol, SEE OF, one of the six bishoprics erected by Henry VIII. out of the spoils of the dissolved monThe cathedral was the church of the asteries, 1542. abbey of St. Austin, founded here by Robert Fitz-Harding, son to a king of Denmark, and a citizen of Bristol, 1148. The see is valued in the king's books at 3381. 88. 4. Paul Bushe, provincial of the Bons-hommes, was the first bishop, in 1542-deprived for being married, 1554. The see of Bristol was united by an order in council with that of Gloucester, in 1836. The cathedral (under repair since 1844) was reopened in 1861; a new nave opened 23 Oct. 1877. BISHOPS OF BRISTOL. 1803. Hon. G. Pelham, translated to Exeter, 1807. 1807. John Luxmore, translated to Hereford, 1808. 1808. Wm. Lort Mansell, died, 27 June, 1820. 1820. John Kaye, translated to Lincoln, 1827. 1827. Robert Gray, died 28 Sept. 1834. 1834. Joseph Allen, the last bishop, translated to Ely in June, 1836. (In October the diocese was united with Gloucester.) Britain (called by the Romans Britannia,* from its Celtic name Prydhain, Camden). The earliest records of the history of this island are the manuscripts and poetry of the Cambrians. The Celts, the ancestors of the Britons and modern Welsh, were the first inhabitants of Britain. It is referred to as the Cassiterides or tin-islands by Herodotus, 450 B.C.; as Albion and Ierne (England and Ireland) by Aristotle, 350 B.C., and Polyb Prima (country south of the Thames and Severn); Britannia *The Romans eventually divided Britain into Britannia Secunda (Wales); Flavia Cæsariensis (between the Thames, Humber and Tyne); and Valentia (between the Tyne and Severn, and Humber); Maxima Cæsariensis (between the Firth of Forth). ius, 260 B.C. Britain, including England, Scotland, and | WEST SAXONS. [Berks, Hampshire. Wilts, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and part of Cornwall.] Wales, was anciently called Albion, the name of Britain 519. Cerdic. being applied to all the islands collectively-Albion to only one.-Pliny. (See Albion, England, Scotland, and Wales.) Divitiacus, king of the Suessones, in Gaul, said to have First invasion of Britain by the Romans, under Julius 534. Cynric, or Kenric, son of Cerdic. 560. Ceawlin, son of Cynric; banished; dies in 593. .B.C. 57 614. Cymbeline (Cunobelin), king of Britain, Second invasion; he defeats Cassivelaunus, British general..... .26 Aug. Caractacus defeated by Ostorius, 50; carried in chains to Rome.. 51 84 Romans defeated by Boadicea, queen of the Iceni; 70,000 slain, and London burned: she is defeated by Suetonius; 80,000 slain.. 47 61 Agricola, governor, conquers Anglesey, and overruns Brit- Constantius, emperor of Rome, dies at York. .....25 July, Scots and Picts invade Britain, 360; routed by Theodosius 688. Ina or Inas, a brave and wise ruler; journeyed to Rome; left an excellent code of laws. 728. Ethelheard, or Etheiard related to Ina. 740. Cuthred, brother to Ethelheard. 754. Sigebright, or Sigebert, having murdered his friend Cumbran, governor of Hampshire, was slain by one of his victim's retainers. 755. Cynewulf, or Kenwulf, or Cenulpe, a noble youth of the line of Cerdic; murdered. Bertric, or Beorhtric; poisoned by drinking of a cup his queen had prepared for another. 800. EGBERT, afterwards sole monarch of England, and Bretwalda. EAST SAXONS. [Essex, Middlesex, and part of Herts.] 526, 527, or 530, Erchenwin, or Erchwine. 597. St. Sebert, or Sabert; son; first Christian king. 623. Sigebert II. surnamed the little; son of Seward. Swithelm (or Suidhelm), son of Sexbald. Sigher, or Sigeric, jointly with Sebbi, or Sebba, who became a monk. 693. Sigenard, or Sigehard, and Suenfrid. 784. 587. Sledda; his son. 655. 661. 663. Reign of Vortigern.. The Saxons and Angles aid in expelling the Picts and 738. Swithred, or Swithed; a long reign. 823. Kingdom seized by EGBERT of Wessex. NORTHUMBRIA. [Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Durham, and Northumberland.] Northumbria was at first divided into two governments, Tweed to the Tyne, and the latter from the Tyne to the Ida, a valiant Saxon. Adda, his eldest son; king of Bernicia. Ella, king of Deira; afterwards the sole king of Northumbria (to 587). 794 567. Glappa, Clappa, or Elapea; Bernicia. 572. Heodwulf; Bernicia. 580. Theodoric; Bernicia. 588. Ethelric; Bernicia. 593. Ethelfrith, surnamed the Fierce. 617. Edwin, son of Ella, king of Deira in 590; a great prince. Slain in battle with Penda, of Mercia. 634. Eanfrid rules in Bernicia, and Osric in Deira; both put to death. 635. Oswald slain in battle. 560. St. Ethelbert; first Christian king (styled Rex Anglorum). 642. Osweo, or Oswy; a reign of great renown. 616. Eadbald, son of Ethelbert. 670. Ecfrid, or Egfrid, king of Northumbria. 705. Osred, or Ealdferth. 716. Cenric; sprung from Ida. 718. Osric, son of Alefrid. 729. Ceolwulf; died a monk. 737. Eadbert, or Egbert; retired to a monastery. 757. Oswulf, or Osulf; slain in a sedition. 759. Edilwald, or Mollo; slain by Alred. 765. Alred, Ailred, or Alured; deposed. 774. Ethelred, son of Mollo; expelled. 778. Elwald, or Celwold; deposed and slain. 789. Osred, son of Alred; fled. 790. Ethelred restored; afterwards slain. 806. Alfwold. 808. Erdulf restored. 809. Eanred. 841. Kingdom annexed by EGBERT. EAST ANGLES. [Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Ely.] 526. Uffa lands. 571 or 575. Uffa, a German, said to be first king. 599. Redwald, son of Titilus; the greatest prince of the East 624. Erpwald, Eorpwald, or Eordwald. MERCIA. [Gloucester, Hereford, Chester, Stafford, Worcester, Oxford, Salop, Warwick, Derby, Leicester, Bucks, Northamp ton, Notts, Lincoln, Bedford, Rutland, Huntingdon, and part of Herts.] 586. Crida, or Cridda, a noble chieftain. 593. [Interregnum-Ceolric.] 597. Wibba, a valiant prince, his son. 615. Ceorl, or Cheorl; nephew of Wibba. 626. Penda; fierce and cruel; killed in battle. 655. Peada, son of Penda; killed to make way for 704. Cenred, or Cendred; became a monk at Rome. 66 Offa; formed the great dyke near Wales. 794. Egfrid, or Egferth, son of Offa; died suddenly. Cenulph, Cenwulf, or Kenulph; slain. 10. Glasgow. 22. Belfast. 23. Hull.... 24. Liverpool (2d).. 1850 1847 43. Bradford. 1856 ......... PRESIDENTS.-1. Viscount Milton; 2. Dr. Buckland; 3. Prof. Sedgwick; 4. Sir Thos. Brisbane; 5. Provost Bartholomew Lloyd; 6. Marquess of Lansdowne; 7. Earl of Burlington; 8. Duke of Northumberland; 9. Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt; 10. Marquess of Breadalbane; 11. Prof. Whewell; 12. Lord Francis Egerton; 13. Earl of Rosse; 14. Dean Peacock; 15. Sir J. F. W. 819. Kenelm, or Cenelm, a minor; reigned five months; killed Herschel; 16. Sir R. I. Murchison; 17. Sir R. H. Inglis; 18. by his sister Quendreda. Ceolwulf, uncle to Kenelm; expelled. 821. Beornwulf; killed by his own subjects. 823. Ludecan; a valiant ruler; slain. 825. Withlafe, or Wiglaf. 838. Berthulf, or Bertulf. 852. Burhred, or Burdred. 874. Ceolwulph; deposed by the Danes, 877. [The kingdom merged into that of England.] Britannia Tubular Bridge, see Tubular Bridge. Britanny, see Brittany. British, see Architects; Antiquaries; Banks, Jointstock; Guiana, Honduras, National, Medical, Orphans, Societies. British America (see America) comprises the dominion of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, Labrador, British Columbia, and Vancouver's Island. Population about 3,686,596 (1871). Marquess of Northampton; 19. Rev. Dr. T. R. Robinson; 20. Sir D. Brewster; 21. Prof. G. B. Airy; 22. Col. E. Sabine; 23. Mr. W. Hopkins; 24. Earl of Harrowby; 25. Duke of Argyll; 26. Dr. C. G. B. Daubeny; 27. Rev. Dr. Humphry Lloyd; 28. Prof R. Owen; 29. Prince Albert; 30. Lord Wrottesley; 31. William Fairbairn; 32. Prof. R. Willis; 33. Sir William Armstrong; 34. Sir Charles Lyell; 35. Prof. John Phillips; 36. W. R. Grove; 37. Duke of Buccleuch; 38. Dr. J. D. Hooker; 39. Prof. G. G. Stokes; 40. Prof. T. H. Huxley; 41. Sir William 44. Prof. J. Tyndall; 45. Sir John Hawkshaw; 46. Prof. Thos. Thomson; 42. Dr. W. B. Carpenter; 43. Prof. A. W. Williamson; Andrews; 47. Prof. Allen Thompson; 48. Dr. William Spottiswoode; 49. Dr. G. Allman; 50. Prof. A. C. Ramsay; 51. Sir J. Lubbock. A British Columbia (N. America). In June, 1858, news came to California that in April gold had been found in abundance on the mainland of North America, a little to the north and east of Vancouver's Island. great influx of gold-diggers (in a few weeks above 50,000) from all parts was the consequence; and Mr. Douglas, governor of Vancouver's Island, evinced much ability in preserving order. The territory with adjacent Delegates from the first six provinces met at Quebec on 10 islands was made a British colony with the above title, Oct., and agreed to the basis of a Federal union, with the and placed under Mr. Douglas. The colony was nomiqueen as the executive (represented by the governor-gen-nated and the government settled by 21 & 22 Vict. c. 99 eral), a legislative council of 96 members for life, and a house of commons of 194 members, 20 Oct. 1864. The secretary for the colonies, Mr. Cardwell, expressed his approval of the plan, 3 Dec. 1864. The plan opposed by New Brunswick, 7 March, 1865. Messrs. Cartier and Galt came to England to advocate it, April, 1865. Act for the union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, under the name of "the dominion of Canada," brought into parliament by the earl of Carnarvon, 19 Feb., passed 29 March, 1867. (The British government guaranteed a subsidy of 3,000,000l. to complete the intercolonial railway.) By the British North America act, the parliament of Canada may establish new provinces, 29 June, 1871. British and Foreign-Bible Society, established 1804 (see under Bible);-School Society, 1808;-Sailors' Society, 1818. British Association for the Advancement of Science was established by sir David Brewster, sir R. I. Murchison, etc., in 1831. Prof. John Phillips was secretary till 1863. It holds annual meetings; the first of which was held at York on 27 Sept. 1831. One of its main objects is "to promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science with each other." It appoints commissions and makes pecuniary grants for scientific research; and publishes annually a volume containing Reports of the proceedings. Kew observatory presented to the association by the queen in 1842. Superintendents: Francis Ronalds, the first; John Walsh, 1852; Bal (Aug. 1858), and a bishop nominated in 1859.-For a Disputes with Canada respecting the non-construction of แ British Guiana, see Guiana. British Institution (for the encouragement of British artists, Pall Mall, founded in 1805) opened 18 Jan. 1806, on a plan formed by sir Thomas Bernard. In the gallery (erected by alderman Boydell to exhibit the paintings executed for his edition of Shakespeare) were from time to time exhibited pictures by the old masters, deceased British artists and others, till 1867, when the lease of the premises expired. British Legion, raised by lord John Hay, col. De British Medical Association, see Medical. |