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virtue ought to be commended only because it gave pleasure.

Cyrene (N.W. Africa), a Greek colony, founded by Battus about 630 B.C. Aristaus, who was chief of the colonists here, gave the city his mother's name. It was also called Pentapolis, on account of its five townsnamely, Cyrene, Ptolemais, Berenice, Apollonia, and Arsinoë. It was conquered by Ptolemy Soter I., who placed many Jews here (286 B.C.). Cyrene was left by Ptolemy Apion to the Romans, 97 B.C. It is now a Some Cyrenaic sculptures were placed in the British Museum in July, 1861.

desert.

Cyropedium, see Corus.

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Cyzicus (Asia Minor). In the Peloponnesian war, | 1879.

D.

Dacca (N.E. India), a province acquired by the East | lissier, afterwards duke of Malakoff. They had fired on India Company in 1765, and ruled under them by a nawab till its annexation in 1845.-Thornton.

Dacia, a Roman province, part of Hungary, and the adjoining provinces, after many contests, was subdued by Trajan, 106, when Decebalus, the Dacian leader, was killed. Dacia was abandoned to the Goths by Aurelian, in 270; subdued by the Huns, 376; by Scythians, 566; by Charlemagne, and by the Magyars, in the ninth century.

Dacoits, hereditary robbers of North India, formerly employed in war by native sovereigns.

It is stated that between 1818 and 1834, one tribe alone, in 118 "dacoitees," or expeditions, killed 172 persons, and obtained plunder valued at 115,000l. In 1838 lord Auckland did much to suppress the dacoits, and many settlements were broken up, but they are not quite extinct in Bengal and Burmah. Several dacoitees were suppressed in 1879. Daghistan (S.W. Asia), was conquered by the czar Peter, 1723; restored to Persia, 1735; reannexed to Russia by Alexander I., 1813.

Daguerreotype Process, invented by Daguerre, and published 1838; see Photography.

Dahlia, a flower brought from Mexico, of which it is a native, about 1787, and cultivated by the Swedish botanist, Dahl. About 1814 it was introduced into France and England; André Thouine suggested improvements in its culture, and it soon became a favorite. Georgi introduced it at St. Petersburg; hence it is known in Germany as the Georgina.

Dahomey, a negro kingdom, West Africa, became known to Europeans early in the last century, when Trudo Andati or Guadjor Trudo, a man of energy and talent, was king. He died in 1732, and was succeeded by a series of cruel tyrants, a large part of whose revenue was derived from the slave-trade. Abbeokuta, a robbers' haunt in 1825, has, since 1829, become a strong-walled town, inhabited by free blacks; and was consequently opposed by the king of Dahomey. His army has been severely defeated in its attacks on this place, and in one on 16 March, 1864, a great number of his Amazons were slain. During the last few years Dahomey has been visited by capt. Burton and other travellers, who have described the royal sanguinary customs.

a messenger bearing an offer of a truce. The massacre was condemned by marshal Soult, the minister of war, but justitied by marshal Bugeaud.

Daily News, liberal commercial newspaper, now 1d., established 21 Jan. 1846. In the number for 23 June, 1876, the letter from Mr. MacGahan, its correspondent at Constantinople, first drew attention to the atrocities in Bulgaria. The first Bulgarian parliament expressed its gratitude for this, 4 April, 1879.

Daily Telegraph, penny paper, liberal, established 29 June, 1855. It became a conservative paper, 1876. Average daily sale 242,215, May, June, 1877.

Dairy Farmers' Association, BRITISH, established 24 Oct. 1876. No. 1 of a journal published Sept. 1877. Exhibitions at Agricultural Hall, 1877-80.

Dakota (North America), organized as a territory of the United States, 2 March, 1861.

Dalecarlians (Sweden), revolted against Christian of Denmark, 1521, and placed Gustavus Vasa on the throne of Sweden.

Dalmatia, an Austrian province, N.E. of the Adriatic Sea, conquered and made a province by the Romans, 34 B.C. The emperor Diocletian erected his palace at Spalato or Spalatro, and retired there, A.D. 305. Dalmatia was held in turns by the Goths, Hungarians, and Turks, till its cession to Venice in 1699. By the treaty of Campo Formio in 1797 it was given to Austria, but in 1805 it was incorporated with Italy, and gave the title of duke to marshal Soult. In 1814 it reverted to Austria. An insurrection opposed to the new military law broke out at Bocche di Cattaro, and a conflict with the troops at Dragali took place, 10 Oct. 1869. Several regiments were sent there, but the insurgents obtained several successes during the month. A deputation offered submission, 2 Nov., and the operations against them were suspended about the end of the month.

Daltonism, see Color, note.

Damascus (Syria), a city in the time of Abraham, 1913 B.C. (Gen. xiv.); now the capital of a Turkish pashalic.

Taken by David (1010 B. C.), but retaken shortly after; made the capital of Syria under Benhadad and his suc

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The king ordered to pay a fine (for an outrage on Mr. Turnbull at Whydah, 23 Jan.).. . March, 1876 He refuses in insulting terms, April; the coast about to be blockaded.. ....July, The king threatens massacre of Europeans if attacked, Aug. He makes concessions; blockade removed......12 May, 1877 Renewed massacres of natives (customs ") and outrages on foreigners at Whydah; reported.....26 Sept. 1878 Dahra (Algeria). On 18 June, 1845, above 500 Kabyles at war with the French were suffocated in a cave, a fire having been kindled by order of gen. Pe

Paul, converted, preaches here (Acts ix.).. Taken by the Saracens, 633; by the Turks in 1075; destroyed by Tamerlane.

Taken by Ibrahim Pacha..

Jan. 1401 1832

The disappearance of a Greek priest, named father Tommaso, from here, 1 Feb. 1840, led to the torture of a number of Jews suspected of his murder, and to a

cruel persecution of that people, which caused remonstrances from many states of Europe.. Damascus restored to Turkey..

1840

1841

seas of them. The tax was suppressed by Edward the Confessor in 1051; revived by William I. 1068; and In consequence of a dispute between the Druses and formed part of the revenue of the crown, until abolished Maronites, the Mahometans massacred above 3000 by Stephen, 1136. Every hide of land, i. e. as much as Christians and destroyed the houses, rendering vast one plough could plough, or, as Bede says, as much as numbers of persons homeless and destitute; a large number were rescued by Abd-el-Kader, who held the could maintain a family, was taxed at first 18., afterwards citadel.. .9, 10, 11 July. 1860 as much as 7s. Camden says that once 24,360l. was raised. Justice executed for these crimes by Fuad Pacha: 160 persons executed, including the Turkish governor; and Danes, or NORTHMEN; see Denmark. During their 11,000 persons made soldiers.. ..Aug.-Sept. attacks upon Britain and Ireland they made a descent on France, where in 895, under Rollo, they received Damask LINENS AND SILKS, first manufactured at Damascus, have been beautifully imitated by the Dutch presents under the walls of Paris. They returned and and Flemish. The manufacture was brought to Eng-ravaged the French territories as far as Ostend in 896. land by artisans who fled from the persecutions of Alva, the king of France to Rollo and his Normans (NorthThey attacked Italy in 903. Neustria was granted by The invasions of Engmen); hence Normandy, in 911.

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1571-3. The DAMASK ROSE was brought here from the

south of Europe by Dr. Linacre, physician to Henry VIII.,

about 1540.

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Damietta (Lower Egypt) was taken by the crusaders, 5 Nov. 1219; lost 1221; retaken by Louis IX. 5 June, 1249; surrendered as his ransom when a prisoner, 6 May, 1250. The present town was built soon after. Here, it is said, dimity was first manufactured.

Damon AND Pythias (or Phintias), Pythagorean philosophers. Damon was condemned to death by the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse, about 387 B.C. He obtained leave to go and settle some domestic affairs, promising to return at the appointed time of execution, and Pythias became his surety. When Damon did not appear, Pythias surrendered and was led to execution; but at this critical moment Damon returned. Dionysius remitted the sentence, and desired to share their friendship.

Danai: an ancient name of the Greeks derived from Danaus, king of Argos, 1474 B.C.

Dance OF DEATH. The triumph of death over all ranks of men was a favorite subject with the artists of the middle ages, and appears in rude carvings and pictures in various countries.

The Chorea Machabæorum or Danse Macabre, the first
printed representation, published by Guyot Marchand,
a bookseller of Paris..
Holbein's Dance of Death (concerning the authorship of
which there has been much controversy), printed at
Lyons in 1538, and at Basil..

1485

1594

Many editions have since appeared; one with an intro-
duction and notes published by Mr. Russell Smith.... 1849
The term Dance of Death was also applied to the frenzied
movements of the Flagellants, who had sometimes
skeletons depicted on their clothing, about the end of
the fourteenth century.

Dancing mania, accompanied by aberration of mind and
distortions of the body, was very prevalent in Germany
in 1374, and in the sixteenth century in Italy, where it
was termed Tarantism, and erroneously supposed to be
caused by the bite of the Tarantula spider.
The mu-
sic and songs employed for its cure are still preserved.
Dancing was invented by the Curetes, 1534 B.C.—
Eusebius. The Greeks combined the dance with their
dramas, and pantomimic dances were introduced on the
Roman stage 22 B.C.-Usher. Dancing by cinque paces
was introduced into England from Italy, A.D. 1541.
Dancing was the principal amusement of the North
American Indians. They had religious, martial, and so-
cial dances. In modern times the French introduced
ballets analogues in their musical dramas. The country
dance (contre-danse) is of French origin, but its date is
not precisely known.-Spelman. See Morice Dance,
Quadrille, and Waltz.

Establishment of a national training-school for dancing,
by Mr. Mapleson; second annual distribution of prizes,
...21 Sept. 1878

etc.....

Dane-geld, or DANEGELT, a tribute paid to the Danes to stop their ravages in England; first raised by Ethelred II. in 991, and again in 1003; and levied after the expulsion of the Danes to pay fleets for clearing the

land and Ireland were as follows:
They land near Purbeck, Dorset..
First hostile appearance of the Danes.
Descend in Northumberland: destroy the church at Lin-
disfarne; are repelled, and perish by shipwreck, 8 Jan.
They invade Scotland and Ireland....

783 787

794

.795, 796

They enter Dublin with a fleet of 60 sail, and possess

themselves of Dublin, Fingal, etc..
They take the Isle of Sheppey.

Defeated at Hengeston, in Cornwall, by Egbert..
They land in Kent from 350 vessels, and take Canterbury

and London...

wrecked..

They descend on the north, and take York..
They defeat the Saxons at Merton...
They take Wareham and Exeter..
They take Chippenham; but 120 of their ships are
Defeated: Guthrum, their leader, becomes Christian, and
many settle in England...
Alfred enters into a treaty with them..
Their fleet destroyed by Alfred at Appledore..
Defeated near Isle of Wight....
They invade and waste Wales..
Defeated by Edward the Elder..
They defeat the people of Leinster..
And ravage Essex and Suffolk..
Ravage Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset..

Said to assume the title lord dane..

by money..

798

832

835

851

867

871

876

877

878

882

894

897

900

522

956

982

990

about 991

Their fleet defeated after a breach of treaty, purchased
Anlaf and Sweyn ravage Kent and the south (erroneous-
A general massacre of the Danes, by order of Ethelred II.
ly said to have been paid 16,000l. for peace).

992

994

13 Nov. 1002

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Dangerous Associations (Ireland) Bill, see Roman Catholic Association.

Dangerous Goods: act regulating their deposit and carriage passed 6 Aug. 1866.

Dangerous Performances, see Children. Dannewerke, or DANNAWIRKE, a series of earthworks, considered almost impregnable, stretching across the long narrow peninsula of Schleswig, Holstein, and Jutland-said to have been constructed during the "stone age," long before the art of metal-working. It was rebuilt in 937 by Thyra, queen of Gormo the Old, for which she was named "Dannabod," the pride of the Danes. It was repaired by Olaf Tryggveson between 995 and 1000. Near here the Prussians, helping the duchies, defeated the Danes, 23 April, 1848. The retreat of the Danes from it, 5 Feb. 1864, occasioned much dissatisfaction at Copenhagen.

Dante's Divina Commedia was first printed in 1472. He was born 14 May, 1265; died at Ravenna, 14 Sept. 1321. A festival in his honor, at Florence, was opened by the king, 14 May, 1865, when a large statue of Dante by Pazzi of Ravenna was uncovered.

Dantzic (N. Germany), a commercial city in 997; according to some authorities, built by Waldemar I. in 1165. Poland obtained the sovereignty of it in 1454. It was seized by the king of Prussia, and annexed in 1793. It surrendered to the French, May, 1807; and by the treaty of Tilsit was restored to independence, under the protection of Prussia and Saxony, July, 1807. Dantzic was besieged by the allies in 1812; and surrendered 1 Jan. 1814. By the treaty of Paris it reverted to the king of Prussia. By the Vistula breaking through its dykes, 10,000 head of cattle and 4000 houses were destroyed, and many lives lost, 9 April, 1829.

Danube (German, Donau; anciently Ister, in its lower part), the largest river in Europe, except the Wolga, rises in the Black Forest and falls into the Black Sea. Trajan's bridge at Gladova was destroyed by Adrian, to prevent the barbarians entering Dacia. Steam naviga

tion was projected on this river, by count Szechenyi, in 1830; and in that year the first steamboat was launched at Vienna, and the Austrian company was formed shortly after. The Bavarian company was formed 1836. A canal between the Danube and the Maine was completed by Louis I. of Bavaria. Charlemagne, in the eighth century, contemplated uniting the Danube and Rhine by a canal. At the peace of 30 March, 1856, the free navigation of the Danube was secured, and an independent European commission appointed to make it navigable from Isaktchi to the sea, which has worked with good effect. The British government, in 1868, lent 135,000. to complete the works. The treaty respecting the navigation of the Danube renewed for twelve years, 13 March, 1871. The river suddenly took possession of a new bed, near Vienna, 17 April, which was formally opened 30 May, 1875.

In the Russo-Turkish war the Russians crossed the Danube and entered Bulgaria (see Russo-Turkish War, II.), June, 1877 The navigation of the Danube was regulated by Articles 50-54 of Berlin treaty.... 13 July, 1878

Danubian Principalities. WALLACHIA and MOLDAVIA (capitals, Bucharest and Jassy) were united and named ROUMANIA, 1859. Population of the two, 1860, 3,864,848; 1866, 4,424,961; 1873, 5,073,000. These provinces formed part of the ancient Dacia (which see). Part of Moldavia ceded to Russia. The provinces having participated in the Greek insurrection in 1821, were severely treated by the Turks; but by the treaty of Adrianople were placed under the protection of Russia..

1812

1829

The Porte appointed as hospodars prince Stirbey for Wallachia, and prince Ghika for Moldavia.. ...June, 1849 They retire from their governments when the Russians

enter Moldavia (see Russo-Turkish War).......2 July, 1853 The Russians quit the provinces and the Austrians enter, Sept. 1854; retire....

March, 1857

The government of the principalities finally settled at the Paris conference (there were to be two hospodars, elected by elective assemblages, and the suzerainty of Turkey was to be preserved)... Alexander Couza elected hospodar of Moldavia, 17 Jan.; of Wallachia...

.19 Aug. 1858 ...5 Feb. 1859 .6 Sept. 66

The election acknowledged by the allies.
The definitive union of the provinces (under the name
of Roumania) proclaimed and acknowledged by the
Porte....

.Dec. 1861

Darien, ISTHMUS OF (Central America), discovered by Columbus, 1494. In 1694 William Paterson, founder of the Bank of England, published his plan for colonizing Darien. A company was formed in 1695, and in 1698-9 three expeditions sailed thither from Scotland, where 400,000l. had been raised. The first consisted of 1200 young men of all classes, besides women and children. The enterprise not having been recognized by the English government, the settlements were threatened by the Spaniards, to whom they were finally surrendered, 30 March, 1700. Paterson and a few survivors from famine and disease had set off shortly before the arrival of the second expedition. Several years after, 398,0851. were "equivalent voted by parliament to the survivors as money." 18,000l. were also voted to Paterson; but the bill was rejected in the house of lords; see Panama. The average breadth 40 miles; least breadth 30 miles.

Dark Ages, a term applied to the Middle Ages; according to Hallam, comprising about 1000 years-from the invasion of France by Clovis, 486, to that of Naples by Charles VIII., 1495. During this time learning was at a low ebb.

Darlington, see under Railways, 1825 and 1875. Darmstadt, see Hesse Darmstadt.

Dartford (Kent). Here commenced the insurrection of Wat Tyler, 1381. A convent of nuns, of the order of St. Augustin, endowed here by Edward III., 1355, was converted by Henry VIII. into a royal palace. The first paper-mill in England was erected at Dartford by sir John Spielman, a German, in 1590 (Stow), and about the same period was erected here the first mill for splitting iron bars. The powder-mills here were blown up four times between 1730 and 1738. Various explosions have since occurred, in some cases with loss of life to many persons: 12 Oct. 1790; 1 Jan. 1795; and others recently.

Dartmoor Prison, founded March, 1806. Seven prisoners of war were shot 6 April, 1815, after an insurrection. The autumn military manoeuvres at Dartmoor, Aug. 1873, were unsuccessful through bad weather. A mutiny here was checked with loss of life of one prisoner... .....12 Nov. 1880 Dartmouth (Devon). Burned by the French in the reigns of Richard I. and Henry IV. In a third attempt (1404), the invaders were defeated by the inhabitants, assisted by the valor of the women. The French commander, Du Chastel, three lords, and thirtytwo knights, were made prisoners. In the war of the parliament, Dartmouth was taken after a siege of four weeks, by prince Maurice, who garrisoned the place for the king (1643); but it was retaken by General Fairfax by storm in 1646.

Darwinism, see Development and Species.

Dates were affixed to grants and assignments, 18 Edw. I. 1290. Before this time it was usual, at least, to pass lands without dating the deed of conveyance.— Lewis. Numerous instruments of assignment enrolled among our early records establish this fact. The date [For continuation, see Roumania.] is determined by the names of the parties, particularly Dardanelles. Two castles (Sestos, in Roumania, that of the grantor: the possession of land was proof of and Abydos, in Natolia), built by the sultan Mahomet IV. the title to it.-Hardie. A useful glossary of the dates in 1659, commanding the entrance of the strait of Gallip-given in old charters and chronicles will be found in oli, named Dardanelles from the contiguous town Dardanus. The passage of the strait was achieved by the British squadron under sir John Duckworth, 19 Feb. .1807; but he repassed them with great loss, 3 March, the castles of Sestos and Abydos hurling down stone shot upon the British ships. The allied English and French fleets passed the Dardanelles, at the sultan's request, Oct. 1853; see Hellespont and Xerxes.

Daric, a Persian gold coin, issued by Darius, hence its name, about 538 B.C. About $5.56.-Knowles. It weighed two grains more than the English guinea.Dr. Bernard.

Nicolas's "Chronology of History." J. J. Bond's "Handy-book for Verifying Dates," published 1866.

Dauphiné* (S.E. France), successively held by the Allobroges, Burgundians, and Lombards; was, about 732-4, delivered from the invading Saracens by Charles Martel. After forming part of the kingdom of Arles, it was much subdivided among counts. One of these, Humbert II., ceded Dauphiné and the Viennois to Philip VI. in 1343, for his eldest son, on the condition that the prince should be styled dauphine, which took

* One of the counts of Vienne placed a dolphin (dauphin) in his coat-of-arms, and assumed the title of dauphin.

effect in 1349, when Humbert became a monk. Louis Antoine, duke of Angoulême, son of Charles X., the last dauphin who assumed the title at his father's accession, 16 Sept. 1824, died 3 June, 1844.

Daventry, Northamptonshire. Near here Lambert, having escaped from the Tower, was defeated and retaken in his attempt to enkindle the war, by Monk, 21 April, 1660. The dissenting academy removed here from Northampton in 1752, was transferred to Wymondley in 1789, thence to London as Coward College, and finally united with Homerton and Highbury Colleges as New College, in 1850.

David's, Sr. (S.W. Wales), the ancient Menapia, now a poor decayed place, but once the metropolitan see of Wales, and archiepiscopal. When Christianity was planted in Britain, three archbishops' seats were appointed-viz., London, York, and Caerleon upon Usk, in Monmouthshire. That at Caerleon, being too near the dominions of the Saxons, was removed to Mynyw, and called St. David's, in honor of the archbishop who removed it, 522. St. Sampson was the last archbishop of the Welsh; for he, withdrawing himself on account of a pestilence to Dôle, in Brittany, carried the pall with him. In the reign of Henry I. the archbishops submitted to the see of Canterbury.-Beatson. Present income, 45007.

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David's Day, Sr., 1 March, is annually commemorated by the Welsh, in honor of St. David. Tradition states that on St. David's birthday, 540, a great victory was obtained by the Welsh over their Saxon invaders; and that the Welsh soldiers were distinguished, by order of St. David, by a leek in their caps.

Davis's Strait (North America), discovered by John Davis, 11 Aug. 1585, on his voyage to find a northwest passage, 1585-87. He made two more voyages for the same purpose, and five voyages to the East Indies. In the last he was killed by Japanese pirates, on the coast of Malacca, 27 or 29 Dec. 1605.

Davy Lamp, etc., see Safety Lamp.

The Davy Medal, furnished by the sale of sir Humphry Davy's plate, was first awarded by the Royal Society to professors Bunsen and Kirchhoff for their discovery of spectrum analy sis (which see).

Davyum, a new metal, discovered by Sergius Kern, 28 June, 1877, in the residuum of platinum ore; said to be hard, infusible, and rather ductile. It has been suspected to be ruthenium.

Day. Day began at sunrise among most of the northern nations, at sunset among the Athenians and Jews; and among the Romans at midnight as with us. The Italians in some places reckon the day from sunset to sunset, making their clocks strike twenty-four hours round. The Chinese divide the day into twelve parts of two hours each. The astronomical day begins at noon, is divided into twenty-four hours (instead of two parts of twelve hours), and is the mode of reckoning used in the Nautical Almanac. Thus the astronomical day 8 Dec. begins at noon of 8 Dec. and ends at noon 9

Dec.

Deaconesses, or ministering widows, have their qualifications given in 1 Tim. v. 9, 10 (65). Their duties were to visit the poor and sick, assist at the agape or love-feasts, admonish the young women, etc. The office was discontinued in the Western church in the fifth and sixth centuries, and in the Greek church about the twelfth, but has been recently revived in Germany. The appointment of deaconesses, subject to the parochial clergy, was advocated by the bishop of Ely about 1853, and some were appointed. The Diocesan Deaconess Institution, London, was established in 1861.

Deacons (literally, servants), an order of Christian ministers, began with the Apostles, about 53. (Acts vi.) Their qualifications are given by St. Paul (65), 1 Tim.

iii. 8-14.

Dead. Prayers for their benefit were probably offered up in the second century, being referred to by Tertullian, who died 220. The practice was protested against by Aerius, and defended by Epiphanius, who died 403. It is renounced by the church of England.

Dead Weight Loan acquired its name from its locking up the capital of the Bank of England, which in 1823 advanced 11,000,000l. to the government (to construct new ordnance, etc.). The latter engaged to give an annuity of 585,740. for 44 years, which ceased in June, 1867.

Deaf and Dumb. The first systematic attempt to instruct the deaf and dumb was made by Pedro de Ponce, a Benedictine monk of Spain, on Jerome Cardan's system, about 1570.

1620

1773

Bonet, a monk, published a system at Madrid..
Dr. Wallis published a work in England on the subject.. 1650
The first regular academy for the deaf and dumb in
Britain opened in Edinburgh..
In modern times the abbé de l'Epée (1712-89), and his
friend and pupil the abbé Sicard of Paris (1742-1822);
the rev. Mr. Townsend and Mr. Baker, of London; Mr.
Thos. Braidwood of Edinburgh; and surgeon Orpen of
Dublin, have labored with much success in promoting
the instruction of the deaf and dumb.

Dr. W. Thornton, of Philadelphia, U. S., published an
essay on Teaching the Deaf to Speak
Unsuccessful attempts made by Braidwood to establish
schools for the deaf in New York and Virginia
The asylum for deaf and dumb children opened in Lon-
don through the exertions of Mr. Townsend in 1792;
one in Edinburgh by Mr. J. Braidwood, in 1810; and
one in Birmingham by Mr. T. Braidwood.
First institution for the instruction of deaf mutes in

1793

1811

1815

America, opened under the control of Dr. T. H. Gallaudet, at Hartford, Conn. ..15 April, 1817

New York institution chartered 15 April, 1817; Pennsylvania institution, 1820; Kentucky institution, 1823. Provision for the education of deaf mutes is now made in every state.

The asylum at Claremont, Dublin, opened.

third session.

1816

April, 1869

A deaf and dumb debating club (Wallis club) closed its The foundation stone of St. Saviour's church, near Oxford street, London, for the deaf and dumb, laid by the prince of Wales. .5 July, 1870 In 1851, there were in Great Britain 12,553 deaf and dumb out of a population of 20,959,477. Oral Teaching.-Mr. Wm. Van Praagh introduced the socalled German system into this country in July, 1867; published his "Plan for the Establishment of Day Schools [in preference to boarding-houses] for the Deaf and Dumb" (in which they are to be taught by speech and lip teaching only; the finger alphabet and artificial signs being rigidly excluded), in 1871. By the help of the baroness Meyer de Rothschild and others, the "Association for the Oral Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb" was founded in 1871, and a day school opened at 12 Fitzroy square... ..16 July, 1872 International congress at Milan; great majority in favor of oral teaching of deaf mutes.. .Sept. 1880

Deal, a cinque port with Sandwich, 1229; a fishing village in the reign of Henry VIII.; its strong castle built 1539 by Henry VIII. Deal was incorporated and made independent of Sandwich, 1699.

Dean (decanus), a name commonly given to the arch-presbyter, or eldest presbyter, in the twelfth century; originally a military title, an officer over ten soldiers. In the church of England, the dean and chapter of a cathedral nominally elect the bishop and form his council. By 13 & 14 Car. II. (1662), a dean must be in priest's orders; previously the office had occasionally ancient office of "rural dean" has been much revived been held by a layman, with special dispensation. The since 1850. The Deans and Canons' Resignation act The Five Deans' memorial, and passed 13 May, 1872. counter-memorial, see Church of England, 1881.

Dean, FOREST OF, Gloucestershire, anciently wooded quite through, and in the last century, though much curtailed, was twenty miles in length and ten in breadth. It was famous for its oaks, the material of our ships of

war.

Riots in this district, when more than 3000 persons assembled in the forest, and demolished upwards of fifty miles of wall and fence, throwing open 10,000 acres of plantation, took place on 8 June, 1831. The Dean Forest (mines) act passed 16 Aug. 1871.

Death, ordained as the punishment for murder, 2348 B.C. (Gen. ix. 6).

The Jews generally stoned their criminals (Lev. xx. 2),

B.C. 1490
621

594

Draco's code punished every offence with death.
It was limited to murder by Solon..
Drowning in a quagmire was a punishment among the
Britons (Stow).
about 450
Mithridates, a Persian soldier, who boasted that he had
killed Cyrus the Younger, at the battle of Cunaxa, was by

Maurice, the son of a nobleman, was hanged, drawn, and
quartered, for piracy, the first execution in that man-
ner in England, 25 Hen. III
.....A.D. 1241
Capital punishment abolished in Russia by Catherine II.,
except for treason

1767

Debusscope, an instrument of French origin, somewhat similar to the kaleidoscope, said to be useful for devising patterns for calico-printers, etc., made its appearance in 1860.

Decamerone (10 days), see Boccaccio.

Decapitation, see Beheading.

Deccan (Dekhan or Dakhan) (S. India) was invaded by the Mahometans in 1294. The first independent sultan was Alaudin. The natives revolted, and the dynasty of Bahmani was founded by Hasan Ganga in 1347. About 1686–90, Aurungzebe I. recovered the Deccan, but soon lost great part of it to the Mahrattas. The Nizam al

order of Artaxerxes exposed to the sun for eighteen days. 401 Mulk, his viceroy, became independent in 1717. A large
part of the Deccan was ceded to the English in 1818.
December (from decem, ten), the tenth month of
the year of Romulus, commencing in March. In 713
B.C. Numa introduced January and February before
March, and thenceforward December became the twelfth
of the year.
In the reign of Commodus, AD. 181–192,
December was called, by way of flattery, Amazonius, in
honor of a courtesan whom that prince had loved, and
had had painted like an Amazon. The English com-
menced their year on the 25th December, until the
reign of William I.; see Year.

The punishment of death was abolished in a great num-
ber of cases by sir Robert Peel's acts, 4 to 10 Geo. IV..1824-9
By the Criminal Law Consolidation acts, death was con-
fined to treason and wilful murder...

The commission on capital punishment (appointed 1864)
issued their report (recommending that penal servi
tude be substituted for death in some cases where mur-
der was unpremeditated, and that executions should
not be public).......

1861

Dec. 1865

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Capital punishment restricted in Italy.
.. April,
Its proposed abolition in Belgium was negatived.. 18 Jan. 1837
"Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill" passed May,
1858. First case, 13 Aug. 1868; see Executions.
Capital punishment abolished in Saxony. ...1 April, 1868
Vote for its abolition in Switzerland, 1874; for its res-
toration (191, 197-177,263)...
..May, 1879
Abolition of the punishment of death in Great Britain
proposed by Mr. Gilpin in the commons; negatived (127
to 23), 21 April, 1868; negatived (118 to 58), 29 July,
1869; negatived (167-54), 24 July, 1872; (155-50), 12
June, 1877; (263-64), 13 March, 1878; proposed by Mr.
Pease, negatived (175-79)..
22 June, 1881
Practically ceased in Belgium, Prussia, Bavaria, Den-
mark, and Sweden, though not abolished.

In France, 126 convictions for murder-4 executed in
one year; similar proportion in Italy.
Abolished in some of the United States. Maine, 1876;
Rhode Island, Michigan, and Wisconsin, since; in oth-
ers virtually ceased.

(See Behealing, Ravaillac, Damiens, Boiling, Burning, Hang-
ing, Forgery, and Campbell's Acts.)
Deaths, REGISTERS OF, see Bills of Mortality, Pub-
lic Health, and Registers.

Debating Societies; several formed in the last century. The celebrated Oxford Union Society was founded in 1823, and many orators have been trained by it.

Debtors have been subjected to imprisonment in almost all countries and times. In the eighteen months subsequent to the panic of Dec. 1825, as many as 101,000 writs for debt were issued in England. In the year ending 5 Jan. 1830, there were 7114 persons sent to the several prisons of London; and on that day 1547 of the number were yet confined. On 1 Jan. 1840, the number of prisoners for debt in England and Wales was 1732; in Ireland the number was under 1000; and in Scotland under 100. The operation of statutes of relief, and other causes, considerably reduced the number of imprisoned debtors. When the new Bankruptcy act (abolishing imprisonment for debt except when fraudulently contracted) came into operation in Nov. 1861, a

number of debtors who had been confined were released. "Arrest of Absconding Debtors Bill," 14 & 15 Vict. c. 52, 1852. In 1863 nearly 18,000 persons were imprisoned by order of the county courts: average time, 15 days; amount of debt, 31. 10s. By an act passed 9 Aug. 1869, the imprisonment of fraudulent debtors was abolished, with certain exceptions, and nearly a hundred debtors were released by a judge's order in Jan. 1870. An act to facilitate the arrest of absconding debtors, passed 9 Aug. 1870. Imprisonment for debt in Ireland was abolished by an act passed 6 Aug. 1872, and in Scotland (after 31 Dec.) by Dr. Cameron's act, passed 7 Sept. 1880; see Arrest, King's Bench, Bankrupts, Insolvents, and National Debt.

7978 persons were committed to jail by the county courts in 1871; 4438 in 1874.

Decemviri, or Ten Men, appointed to draw up a code of laws, to whom for a time the whole government of Rome was committed, 451 B.C. The laws they drew up were approved by the senate and general assembly of the people, written on ten metallic tables, and set up in the place where the people met (comitium). Two more tables were added, 450 B.C. The Decemviri at first ruled well, but the conduct of Appius Claudius towards Virginia occasioning an insurrection, they were forced to resign; and consuls were again appointed, 449 B.C.

Decennalia, festivals instituted by Augustus, 17 B.C., celebrated by the Roman emperors every tenth year of their reign, with sacrifices, games, and largesses. -Livy. Celebrated by Antoninus Pius, A.D. 148.

1782 Gouverneur Morris, the able assistant fiscal agent Decimal System OF COINAGE, WEIGHTS, etc. In of the continental congress (United States), reported a decimal currency system, in which he attempted to harmonize the moneys of all the states. He ascertained that the one thousand four hundred and fortieth part of a Spanish dollar was a common divisor for the various proposed the following table of moneys: Ten units to currencies. Starting with this fraction as a unit, he be equal to one penny; ten pence to one bill; ten bills one dollar (about seventy-five cents of the present currency); ten dollars one crown. as chairman of a committee of congress, proposed to In 1784 Mr. Jefferson, strike four coins upon the basis of the Spanish dollar, as follows: A golden piece of the value of ten dollars; a dollar in silver; a tenth of a dollar in silver; a hundredth of a dollar in copper. The congress adopted his proposition, and this is the origin of the cent, dime, dollar, and eagle of the United States currency; see Metric System.

in the same earth with Philippium (which see); anDecipium, a new metal found by M. Delafontaine

nounced Nov. 1878.

Declaration of Independence, UNITED STATES. On 2 July, 1776, the American congress resolved "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; and that all political connection between us and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." On the 4th a declaration, setting forth the causes which impelled the colonies to a separation, was adopted, signed by John Hancock, the president of congress, and sent forth to the world. At the beginning of August (it having been engrossed on parchment) it was signed by all the members of congress then present, and subsequently by two others, making the whole number of signers fifty-six. That parchment is preserved at Washington city.

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