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affirmed that an endowment with a religious test at (1.) On 27 July, 1778, after an indecisive action of three hours, Hertford College, Oxford, was valid.

Unknown Tongues, see Irvingites, note. Unlearned Parliament, see Parliament, 1404. Unseaworthy Ships Commission, see Seamen and Merchant Shipping Act.

Upsal (Sweden). The Swedish rulers were kings of Upsal till 1001. The university was founded in 1476, by Sten Sture, the "protector," and opened 21 Sept. 1477. Celebration of foundation of university, Sept. 1877.

Uranium, a brittle gray metal discovered by Klaproth in 1789, in the mineral pitchblende. It has lately been employed in the manufacture of glass for certain philosophical purposes.

Uranus, a planet with eight satellites, was discovered by William Herschel, 13 March, 1781; first called Georgium Sidus, after George III.; next Herschel; and finally Uranus. It is about twice as distant from the sun as the planet Saturn. The anniversary of its first revolution (in 84 years 7 days) since its discovery, was celebrated on 20 March, 1865. Its perturbations led to the discovery of Neptune in 1846. Uranus has 8 satellites; 6 discovered by Herschel, 2 in 1787, 2 in 1790, 2 in 1794; 1 by Lassell, and 1 by Struve, in 1847.

It was

Urbanists, see Clementines and Clare.
Urbino, the ancient Urbinum Hortense, central Italy,
capital of a duchy created for Malatesta, 1474.
treacherously seized by Cæsar Borgia, 1502; captured by
Julius II., 1503, and given to Borgia, 1504; given to
Lorenzo de' Medici by Leo X., 1516; after many vicissi-
tudes recovered by the duke Francesco, 1522; on the
duke's resignation annexed to the Papal States, 1631;
annexed to Italy, 1860.

Urgency, see Parliament, 1881.
Uriconium, see Wroxeter.

Urim and Thummim, LIight and PERFECTION, (Exod. xxviii. 30), words connected with the breastplate worn by the high-priest when he entered into the holy place, with the view of obtaining an answer from God (1490 B.C.).

Ursuline Nuns (so called from St. Ursula), founded originally by St. Angela of Brescia, about 1537. Several communities existed in England, and some still exist

in Ireland.

Uruguay, BANDA ORIENTALE, a republic in South America, formerly part of the viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres; declared its independence, 25 Aug. 1825; recognized, 4 Oct. 1828; constitution proclaimed, 18 July, 1830. Population about 450,000.

1860

The president of the executive, G. A. Pereyra, elected in
1856; succeeded by B. P. Berro....
Civil war broke out in consequence of the invasion of
the ex-president, gen. Venancio Florès.......26 June, 1863
The vice president Aguirre became president,

1 March, 1864
He refused to modify his ministry according to the de-
sire of gen. Florès, who marched towards the capital,

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June,
Feb. 1865
..1 March, 1866

Flores became provisional president...
F. A. Vidal elected president..
During an insurrection of the Blanco party (headed by
Berro) at Montevideo, gen. Flores was assassinated;
the troops remained faithful; insurrection soon sup-
pressed, and Berro shot.
...19 Feb. 186S
Gen. Lorenzo Battle elected president... ...1 March,
Blanco insurrection repressed, July, 1871; ended...Jan. 1872
Revolution at Montevideo; Ellazio's government over-
thrown; Pedro Varela provisional president,

Col. J. Latorre, president

Dr. F. A. Vidal, president...

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about 15 Jan. 1875
11 March, 1876
.17 March, 1880

Useful Knowledge Society, see Diffusion. Uses, STATUTE OF, 27 Hen. VIII. c. 10 (1535-6); see Charitable Uses.

the French, under cover of the night, withdrew into the harbor of Brest. Admiral Keppel commanded the English fleet; the count d'Orvilliers the French. The failure of a complete victory was attributed to admiral sir Hugh Palliser's non-compliance with the admiral's signals. Palliser preferred articles of accusation against his commander, who was tried and acquitted, and the charge against him declared to be "malicious and ill-founded."

(2.) Lord Howe with 25 ships signally defeated the French fleet (26 ships, under Villaret-Joyeuse), taking six ships of the line, and sinking one (the Vengeur *), 1 June, 1794. While the two fleets were engaged in this action, a large fleet of merchantmen, on the safety of which the French nation depended for its means of prosecuting the war, got safely into Brest harbor, which gave occasion to the enemy to claim the laurels of the day, notwithstanding their loss in ships and in killed and wounded, which was very great. The day was long termed in England "the glorious first of June."

Usury from a stranger was permitted to the Jews, but forbidden from their brethren, 1491 B.C. (Exod. xxii. 25; Deut. xxiii. 13). This law was enforced by Nehemiah, 445 B.C. (Neh. v.). Usury was prohibited by the English parliament, 1341. Until the fifteenth century, no Christians were allowed to receive interest of money, and Jews were the only usurers, and therefore often banished and persecuted; see Jews. By 37 Hen. VIII. the rate of interest was fixed at 10 per cent., 1545. This statute was repealed by Edward VI., but re-enacted 13 Eliz. 1570. For later legislation, see Interest.

ganized 9 Sept. 1850; the capital, Great Salt Lake City, Utah, a western territory of North America, was oris the chief seat of the Mormons (which see).

Utica (N. Africa), an ancient Tyrian colony, an ally of Carthage, named in the treaty with the Romans, 348 B.C. Here Cato the Younger, after the defeat of the partisans of Pompey at Thapsus, committed suicide, 46 Utica flourished greatly after the fall of Carthage, and was made a Roman city by Augustus on account of its favoring Julius Cæsar. It suffered by the invasion of the Vandals, 439, and of the Saracens, about 700.

B.C.

Utilitarianism, termed the "greatest happiness principle," the philosophy which proposes the attainment of the greatest happiness of the greatest number; a doctrine ascribed to Priestley by Bentham. The doctrine is found in the writings of Locke, Hartley, Hume, and Paley; but was chiefly propounded by Jeremy Bentham in his "Introduction to the Principles of Morals died 9 May, 1873. Mill founded a small "utilitarian soand Legislation," 1780-9, and by John Stuart Mill, who ciety" in 1822. He took the name from an expression in Galt's "Annals of the Parish."

Utraquists, see Calixtins.

the seat of an independent bishopric about 695. The Utrecht (the Roman Trajectum ad Rhenum) became last prelate, Henry of Bavaria, weary of his turbulent subjects, sold his temporal government to the emperor Charles V. in 1528. The union of the seven united provinces began here (see United Provinces), signed 23 Jan. 1579; 300th anniversary celebrated 23 Jan. 1879. The treaty of Utrecht, which terminated the wars of queen Anne, was signed by the ministers of Great Britain and France, and all the other allies, except the ministers of the empire, 11 April, 1713. This treaty secured the Protestant succession in England, the separation of the French and Spanish crowns, the destruction of the works of Dunkirk, the enlargement of the British colonies and plantations in America, and a full satisfaction for the claims of the allies. Utrecht surrendered to the Prussians, 9 May, 1787; was acquired by the French, 18 Jan. 1795; and restored at the peace, 1814.

Uxbridge (W. Middlesex). On 30 Jan. 1645, com

*Various French histories, on the authority of the French demagogue Barrère, state that the English bad 36 ships of the line, and the French only 26; and that the crew of the Vengeur sang the Marseillaise while the ship sank, displaying the tricolor flag. All this was denied in 1802, and disproved

Ushant, an island near Brest, N.W. France, nearby rear-admiral Griffith in Nov. 1838. The Vengeur surren

which two naval battles were fought between the British and French fleets.

dered to the British, who exerted themselves to save the crew.

The French statement was accepted by Alison, and at first by
Carlyle, but afterwards contradicted by both.

missioners met here to discuss terms of peace between Charles I. and the parliament; they separated without

effect, 22 Feb. The latter required absolute control of the army and navy, the abolition of the episcopacy, liturgy, etc.

Vacations, see Terms.

V.

Vaccination (from Variola vaccina, the cow-pox), discovered by Dr. Edward Jenner. He was born in 1749, and educated for the medical profession, partially under John Hunter. Having heard that milkmaids who had had the cow-pox never took the small-pox, he, about 1780, conceived the idea of vaccination. He made the first experiment by transferring to a healthy child on 14 May, 1796, the pus from the pustule of a milkmaid who had caught the cow-pox from the cows. He announced his success in a memoir published 1798, and vaccination, begun 21 Jan. 1799, soon became general, after much opposition. For this Dr. Jenner received 10,000l. from parliament, 2 June, 1802, and 20,000l. in 1807. The first national institution for vaccination, the Royal Jennerian Institution, was founded 19 Jan. 1803. The emperor Napoleon valued Dr. Jenner so highly that he liberated Dr. Wickham, when a prisoner of war, at Jenner's request, and subsequently whole families of English, making it a point to refuse him nothing that he asked. Vaccination, although much opposed, was practised throughout all Europe previously to 1816. Dr. Jenner died suddenly,

26 Jan. 1823.

about 66

Royal Jennerian and London Vaccine Institution, founded 1802
The Vaccination act, 3 & 4 Vict. passed... 23 July, 1840
Mr. John Badcock, of Brighton, began to inoculate cows
with small-pox to produce new lymph for vaccination,
An important blue-book, entitled "Papers on the His-
tory and Practice of Vaccination," edited by Mr. John
Simon, was published by the board of health in.
A statue, subscribed for by all nations, was erected to
Jenner's memory in Trafalgar square........30 April, 1858
It was removed to Kensington in...
Vaccination was made compulsory in England in 1853,
and in Ireland and Scotland.

1857

1862

1863 11 Sept. 1865

A statue was erected by the French at Boulogne, and inaugurated...

These laws were consolidated and amended by 30 & 31 Vict. c. 84, 12 Aug. 1867 (see Small-pox and Inoculation), and amended in..

Much opposition to vaccination; an anti-vaccination society formed, 1870-1; a parliamentary commission appointed...

1871

13 Feb. 66 Aug. 1880

A government bill respecting punishment for compulsory vaccination dropped.. Vaccination direct from the cow or calf advocated and practised in Brussels, etc.

.1879-81

Vadimonis Lacus, the Vadimonian lake, Umbria, central Italy, near which the Etruscans were totally defeated in two severe engagements by the Roman consuls-1, by Fabius Maximus, 309 B.C.; 2, by Cornelius Dolabella, 283.

Vagrants. By law, after being whipped, a vagrant was to take an oath to return to the place where he was born, or had last dwelt for three years, 1530. A vagrant a second time convicted was to lose the upper part of the gristle of his right ear, 1535; a third time convicted, death. A vagabond to be branded with a V, and be a slave for two years, 1547. If he absconded and was caught, he was to be branded with S, and be a slave for life. Vagrants were punished by whipping, jailing, boring the ears, and death for a second offence, 1572. The milder statutes were those of 17 Geo. II.; 32, 35, and 59 Geo. III. The present Vagrant act (5 Geo. IV. c. 83) was passed in 1824. There were about 33,000 tramps in England and Wales in 1865. For vagrants in London,

see under Poor.

Valdenses, see Waldenses.

Valençay, a château near Châteauroux, central France, where Napoleon I. imprisoned Ferdinand of Spain from 1808 to 1813. His kingdom was restored to Ferdinand by a treaty signed 8 Dec. 1813.

Valencia (E. Spain), the Valentia Edetanorum of

the Romans, became the capital of a Moorish kingdom, 1000; annexed to Aragon, 1238. Its university, founded, it is said, in the thirteenth century, was revived in the fifteenth. Valencia was taken by the earl of Peterborough in 1705, but submitted to the Bourbons after the unfortunate battle of Almanza, in 1707. It resisted the attempts made on it by marshal Moncey, but was taken from the Spaniards with a garrison of more than 16,000 men, and immense stores, by the French under Suchet, 9 Jan. 1812.

Valenciennes (N. France). This city (the Roman Valentiana), after many changes, was taken by Louis XIV. in 1677, and annexed 1678. It was besieged from 23 May to 28 July, 1793, when the French garrison surrendered to the allies under the duke of York. It was retaken, together with Condé, by the French, 27-30 Aug. 1794; on capitulation, the garrison and 1100 emigrants were made prisoners, with immense stores.

Valentia, a Roman province, including the country between the walls of Severus and Adrian, was reconquered from the Picts and Scots by Theodosius, and named after Valentinian I., the reigning emperor, 368.

Valentine's Day (14 Feb.). Valentine is said to have been a bishop, who suffered martyrdom under Claudius II. at Rome; others say under Aurelian, in 271. 618,000 letters passed through the post-office on 14 Feb. 1856. 530,300 was the estimated number of valentines delivered in 1864; in 1870, 1,545,755. The origin of the ancient custom of "choosing a valentine" has been much controverted; see Post.

Valentinians, followers of Valentine, a priest, who, on being disappointed of a bishopric, forsook the Christian faith, declaring there were thirty gods and goddesses, fifteen of each sex, which he called ones, or Ages. He taught in the second century, and published a gospel and psalms: his followers added other errors. Valladolid (Spain), the Roman Pintia and the Moorish Belad Walid; was recovered for the Christians by Ordoño II., the first king of Leon, 914-23. It became the capital of Castile in the fifteenth century. It was taken by the French, Jan. 1808; and captured by the English, 4 June, 1813. Here died Christopher Columbus, 20 May, 1506.

Vallambrosa (central Italy). A Benedictine abbey was founded here by John Gualbert, about 1038.

The monks were termed Vallambrosians.

Valmy (N.E. France). Here the French, commanded by Kellermann, defeated the Prussians, commanded by the duke of Brunswick, 20 Sept. 1792. The victory was of immense moral advantage to the republicans; and Kellermann was made duke of Valmy in

1808.

Valois, a county (N. France) given by Philip III. to his younger son Charles, whose son Philip became king as Philip IV. in 1328; see France.

Valor Ecclesiasticus, a report of the annual value of church property, made by order in 1534, was published by the Record Commission in 1810-34.

was bombarded by the Spanish admiral Mendez Nuñez, Valparaiso, principal port of Chili, South America, on 31 March, 1866, when much property was destroyed. It suffered by earthquakes in 1822, 1829, and 1851.

Valtelline (N. Italy), a district near the Rhætian Alps, seized by the Grison league, 1512, and ceded to it, 1530. At the instigation of Spain, the Catholics rose and massacred the Protestants, 19-21 July, 1620. After much contention between the French and Austrians, the

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neutrality of the Valtelline was assured in 1639. It was annexed to the Cisalpine Republic in 1797; to Italy, 1807; to Austria, 1814; to Italy, 1860.

Valuation of Property Act, to provide for the uniform assessment of ratable property in the metropolis, was passed 9 Aug. 1869.

Valvasor, or VAVASSOR. The first dignity beneath a peer was anciently that of vidames, vice-domini, or valvasors. Valvasors are mentioned by our ancient lawyers as viri magnæ dignitatis, and sir Edward Coke speaks highly of them. Now, the first personal dignity after the nobility is a knight of the Garter.-Blackstone. Vanadium (from Vanadis, the Scandinavian Venus), metal discovered by Sefström, in 1830, combined with iron ore. A similar metal, discovered in lead ore by Del Rio in 1801, and named Erythronium, was proved by Wöhler to be vanadium. Vanadium was discovered in the copper-bearing beds in Cheshire, in 1865, by H. E. Roscoe, by whom its peculiarities were further studied, and published in 1867-8. It is likely to be useful in photography and dyeing.

Vancouver's Island, North Pacific Ocean, near the mainland. Settlements were made here by the English in 1781, which were seized by the Spaniards in 1789, but restored. By a treaty between the British government and that of the United States, in 1846, this island was secured to the former. It has become of much greater importance since the discovery of gold in the neighboring mainland in 1858, and the consequent establishment of the colony of British Columbia (which see). Victoria, the capital, was founded in 1857. The island was united with British Columbia by act passed in Aug. 1866; and on 24 May, 1868, Victoria was declared the capital. Lord Dufferin, governor-general of Canada, was warmly received here, 15 Aug. 1876; see Juan, San. Chinese immigrants are virtually excluded by a poll-tax, 1878.

Vancouver's Voyage. Capt. Vancouver served as a midshipman under capt. Cook, and was appointed to command during a voyage of discovery, to ascertain the existence of any navigable communication between the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans. He sailed 7 Jan. 1791, and returned 24 Sept. 1795. He compiled an account of this voyage of survey of the northwest coast of America, and died in 1798.

Vandals, a Germanic race, attacked the Roman empire in the third century, and began to ravage Germany and Gaul, 406-14; their kingdom in Spain was founded in 411; under Genseric, they invaded and conquered the Roman territories in Africa, 429, and took Carthage Oct. 439. They were subdued by Belisarius in 534. They were driven out by the Saracen Moors. The dukes of Mecklenburg style themselves princes of the Vandals.

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Varangians, or VARAGIANS, a name given to northern pirates, who invaded Flanders, about 813; France, about 840; Italy, 852. Their leader, Ruric, invited by the Novgorodians to help them, founded the Russian monarchy, 862.

Varennes, a town in N.E. France, is celebrated for

the arrest of Louis XVI., his queen, sister, and two children. They fled from the Tuileries on 21 June, 1791; were taken here the next day, and conducted back to Paris, mainly through Drouet, the postmaster, who at an intermediate town recognized the king.

Variable Stars. The variation of brightness in certain stars is said to have been first observed in a small 1596. In October of same year the star had vanished. star of Cetus, or the Whale, by Daniel Fabricius, 13 Aug. Since then many similar variations have been observed by Goodricke, Herschel, and other astronomers; and Mr. Pogson has constructed a table of thirty-eight variable stars. No satisfactory explanation has yet been given of the phenomena. Engl. Cyc.

Varna, a fortified seaport in Bulgaria, formerly Euplace, 10 Nov. 1444, between the Turks under Amurath ropean Turkey. A great battle was fought near this II., and the Hungarians under their king Ladislaus and John Hunniades. The latter were defeated with great slaughter: the king was killed, and Hunniades made prisoner, who had opposed the Christians breaking the truce for ten years, recently made at Segedin. The headquarters of his army, then besieging the place, 5 emperor Nicholas of Russia arrived before Varna, the Aug. 1828. The Turkish garrison made a vigorous attack on the besiegers, 7 Aug.; and another on the 21st, but were repulsed. Varna surrendered, after a sanguiary conflict, to the Russian arms, 11 Oct. 1828. It was mantled, but have since been restored. restored at the peace in 1829; its fortifications were disThe allied armies disembarked at Varna, 29 May, 1854, and sailed for the Crimea, 3 Sept. They suffered severely from cholera. In conformity with the treaty of Berlin, Varna was evacuated by the Turks, and occupied by Russians, autumn, 1878.

Vassalage, see Feudal Laws and Slavery.

Vassar College (on the east bank of the Hudson, United States), for the higher education of women, was founded by Matthew Vassar in 1861.

Vassy (N.E. France). The massacre of the Protestants at this place by the duke of Guise, on 1 March, 1562, led to desolating civil wars.

Vatican (Rome), the ancient Mons Vaticanus, a hill of Rome. The commencement of the palace is ascribed to Constantine, Liberius, and Symmachus. It became the residence of the pope at his return from Avignon, 1377. The palace is said to contain 7000 rooms, rich in works of art, ancient and modern. The library, founded by pope Nicholas V., 1448, is exceedingly rich in printed books and MSS.-Pistolesi's description of the Vatican, with numerous plates, was published 1829-38.-The phrase "Thunders of the Vatican" was first used by Voltaire, 1748.-the ancient Vatican Codex of the Old and New Testament in Greek was published at Rome in 1857. For "Vatican Decrees," see Councils.

Vaud, a Swiss canton, after having been successfully held by the Franks, the kings of Burgundy, emperors of Germany, dukes of Zähringen, and dukes of Savoy, was conquered by the Bernese, Jan. 1536, and annexed, 1554. Vaud, made independent in 1798, joined the confederation in 1815. A new constitution was obtained in 1830 after agitation.

Vaudois, see Waldenses.

Vauxhall Bridge, constructed of iron, under the direction of Mr. Walker, at an expense of 150,000. (to be defrayed by a toll). The first stone was laid 9 May, 1811, by prince Charles, eldest son of the duke of Brunswick; and the bridge was opened on 4 June, 1816; freed from toll, 24 May, 1879.

Mr. Stanton went from London to Bath, 106 miles, on a
bicycle in 8 h. 28 min..
.17 Aug. 1874

Similar feats since performed. Ordinary speed with bi-
cycles, 8 miles an hour; with tricycles, 10 miles may
be attained.-Field..
.Oct.

A gentleman said to have travelled 1000 miles in Ireland
and Wales; expenses, 25.
Bicycle clubs formed in London, etc..

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Vauxhall Gardens (London), were so denomi- | 1867 have been very common under various forms, nated from the manor of Vauxhall, Falkeshall, Fox-hall, | termed bicycles and tricycles; the chief inventor of or Faukeshall, said to have been the property of Fulke which, James Starley, an ingenious mechanic of Al ́de Breauté about 1282. The tradition that this house, bourne, Sussex, was buried at Coventry, June, 1881. or any other adjacent, was the property of Guy Fawkes Velocipede races took place at the Crystal Palace, 26 is erroneous. The premises were the property of Jane May, 1869, and frequently since. Mr. John Mayall and Vaux in 1615, and the mansion-house was then called two friends travelled to Brighton on velocipedes, 17 Feb. Stockden's. From her it passed through various hands, 1869. till it became the property of Mr. Tyers in 1732. There is no certain account of the time when these premises were first opened for the entertainment of the public; but the New Spring Gardens at Vauxhall are mentioned by Pepys 1665, Wycherley 1672, and in the Spectator 1711, as a place of great resort. The gardens were opened for a "ridotto al fresco," 7 June, 1732, by Jonathan Tyers, who spared no pains or expense to maintain his success. The greatest season was in 1823, when 133,279 persons visited the gardens, and the receipts were 29,590. The greatest number of persons in one night was 2 Aug. 1833, when 20,137 persons paid for admission. The number on the then supposed last night, 5 Sept. 1839, was 1089 persons. Vauxhall was sold by auction, 9 Sept. 1841, for 20,2007., and again 20 Aug. 1859. The last performances at Vauxhall took place on 25 July, 1859. The ground has been sold for building purposes. Six persons killed and many injured by fall of stack of wood at Buckley's saw-mills, 25 Feb. 1880.

Vedas, the sacred books of the Hindoos, in Sanscrit, were probably written about 1000 B.C. Veda means knowledge. These books comprise hymns, prayers, and liturgical formulæ. The edition by prof. Max Müller, printed under the patronage of the East India Company, appeared in 1849-74. Four volumes of a translation by H. II. Wilson appeared in 1850–67.

Bicycle Union formed; published rules...
Above 1500 velocipedes at a meeting at Hampton Court,
26 May,

1875 1877

,.31 July, 1878

Middlesex magistrates decide that a bicycle is a car
riage, and fine a rider for damage..
John Rankin went from Kilmarnock to London and back
to Glasgow, with stoppages (112 miles in one day),
23 July-10 Aug.
Six days' contest, Agricultural Hall, London; Mr. George
Waller won prize-belt (1007) and 1057., rode 1172 miles,
28 April-3 May. Mr. Waller again won, rode 1404 miles
(6 days of 18 hours)..

46

.1-6 Sept. 1879

Ivan Zmertych, Hungarian, travelled on his velocipede
from Ostend to Pesth (about 1200 miles)...10-30 June, 1880
Velvet. The manufacture, long confined to Genoa,
Lucca, and other places in Italy, was carried to France,
and thence to England, about 1685. Velvet is men-
tioned by Joinville in 1272; and our king Richard II., in
his will, directed his body to be clothed "in velveto,"
1399. Jerome Lanyer in London patented his "velvet
paper" in 1634.

Venaissin Comtat, or COMTAT (S. France), after various changes, was ceded to pope Gregory X. 1274, and Vegetables for the table were brought from Flan- retained by his successors till 1791, when, with Avignon, ders about 1520; see Gardening.

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fornia in 1880.

it was reunited to France.

Vendée, see La Vendée.

Vendôme Column (132 feet 2 inches high), erected in the Place Vendôme, Paris, by Napoleon I. in 1806 to commemorate his successful campaign in Germany in 1805. On its side were bass-reliefs by Launay. It was pulled down by the communists "in the name of international fraternity," 16 May, 1871; restored by the national assembly, 31 Aug. 1874; statue of Napoleon I. on the top replaced, 28 Dec. 1875.

Veneti, maritime Gauls inhabiting Armorica, N.W.

Vehmic Tribunal: Vehmgerichte, Fehmgerichte, or Femgerichte, were secret tribunals established in Westphalia to maintain religion and the public peace, had their origin in the time of Charlemagne, and rose to im-France. They rose against the Romans 57 B.C., and portance in 1182, when Westphalia became subject to the archbishop of Cologne. Persons of the most exalted were quelled by Julius Cæsar, who defeated their fleet, rank were subjected to their decisions, being frequently 56, and cruelly exterminated an active commercial race. seized, tried, and executed. The emperors endeavored to suppress them, but did not succeed till the sixteenth century. Their last court, it is said, was held in 1568. Sir W. Scott has described them in " Anne of Geierstein." A remnant of this tribunal was abolished by Jerome Bonaparte, king of Westphalia, in 1811.

B.C.

Venetia, see Venice.

Venezuela, the seat of a South American republic. When the Spaniards landed here in 1499, they observed some huts built upon piles, in an Indian village named Cora, in order to raise them above the stagnated water that covered the plain; and this induced them to give it the name of Venezuela, or Little Venice. This state, in July, 1814, declared in congressional assembly the sovereignty of its people, which was recognized in 1818. It formed part of the republic of Colombia till it separated from the federal union, Nov. 1829. Its independence was recognized by Spain. Gen. D. T. Monagas was elected president. A new constitution promulgated.

Veii, an independent Latin city near Rome. Be tween the Romans and Veientes frequent wars occurred, till Veii was utterly destroyed, after ten years' siege, 396 The Roman family, the Fabii, who had seceded from Rome for political reasons, were surprised and destroyed at the river Cremera by the Veientes, 477 B.C. Vellore (S.E. India) became the residence of the family of the dethroned sultan of Mysore, and was strongly garrisoned by English troops, 1799. The revolt of the sepoys, in which the family of the late Tip-The population about 1,565,000.. poo took an active part, took place 10 July, 1806. The insurgents were subdued by col. Gillespie, and mostly put to the sword; about 800 sepoys were killed.

Velocipedes. A machine of this kind was invented by Blanchard the aeronaut, and described in the Journal de Paris, 27 July, 1779; and one was invented by Nicéphore Niepce in 1818. The "dandy-horse," or Draisena, a machine called a velocipede," was patented

1845 1855

.Dec. 1858

A revolution; don José Castro became president, March,

1858; compelled to resign in Aug. 1859; and Dr. Pedro Gual assumed the government.

.Aug. 1859 ...8 Sept. 1861

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Gen. José Paez elected president..
He resigned; and Juan E. Falcon succeeded....17 June, 1863
Gen. Febres Cordero protested, and set up a rival govern-
ment at Porto-Cabello.
.Oct.
Marshal J. C. Falcon proclaimed president....18 March, 1865
A revolution in Caraccas; president Falcon fled,
The president Monagas dies, 18 Nov., and Pulgar be
after three
.27 April, 1870
13 July,

comes provisional president...
Caraccas captured by gen. Guzman Blanco,
days' conflict.

22-26 June,

Dec.

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for the Baron von Drais, in Paris and London, in 1818, He is made president, virtually dictator.. and described in "Ackerman's Repository," Feb. 1819. A rebel general, Salazar, tried and shot....about 17 May, 1872 These machines came again into use in 1861; and since Blanco re elected president

20 Feb. 1873

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"Vengeur Story," see Ushant, note. Veni, vidi, vici, "I came, I saw, I conquered;" see Zela.

Venice (N. Italy). The province of Venetia, held by the Veneti, of uncertain origin, was invaded by the Gauls about 350 B.C. The Veneti made an alliance with the Romans, 215 B.C., who founded Aquileia, 181, and gradually acquired the whole country. Under the empire, Venetia included Padua, Verona, and other important places. Population of the city of Venice in 1857, 118,173; in 1871, 128,094. New line of steamers for the East started from Venice by the Peninsular and Oriental Company, July, 1872.

Venice founded by families from Aquileia and Padua
fleeing from Attila..
....about A. D.

First doge (or duke) chosen, Anafesto Paululio...
Bishopric founded.

The doge Orso slain; an annual magistrate (maestro di
militi, master of the militia) appointed..
Diodato, son of Orso, made doge.

452

697 733

737

742

Two doges reign: Maurizio Galbaio and his son Giovanni, 777

811

The Rialto made the seat of government ... Venice becomes independent of the Eastern empire, and acquires the maritime cities of Dalmatia and Istria... 997 Its navy and commerce increase The Venetians aid at the capture of Tyre and acquire the third part, 1124; and ravage the Greek archipelago, 1125

Bank of Venice established..

Ceremony of wedding the Adriatic instituted

Zara captured by the Venetians..

1000-1100

1157 about 1177 .24 Nov. 1202

The Venetians aid the crusaders with men, horses, and ships...

Crete purchased..

Venice helps in the Latin conquest of Constantinople, and obtains power in the East.

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1204-5

The four bronze horses by Lysippus, brought from Constantinople, placed at St. Mark's by the doge Pietro Ziani, who died....

The Venetians defeat the Genoese near Negropont...
War with Genoa....

1229

1263

1293

The Venetian fleet severely defeated by the Genoese in the Adriatic, 8 Sept. 1298; peace between them.. 1299 Louis of Hungary defeated at Zara.. .1 July, 1346 Severe contest with Genoa.. 1350-81

The doge Marino Faliero, to avenge an insult, conspires against the republic; beheaded.

..17 April, 1355

The Venetians lose Istria and Dalmatia..

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1358

1377

1380 1381

.1382-1400

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Venloo (Holland) surrendered to the allies under Marlborough, 23 Sept. 1702; and to the French under Pichegru, 26 Oct. 1794.

Venner's Insurrection, see Anabaptists, 1661. Ventilators were invented by the rev. Dr. Hales, and described to the Royal Society of London, May, 1741; and the ventilator for the use of ships was announced by Mr. Triewald in Nov. same year. The marquess of Chabannes's plan for warming and ventilating theatres and houses for audiences was applied to those of London about 1819. The systems of Dr. Reid (about 1834) and others followed, with much controversy. Dr. Arnott's work on this subject was published in 1838. A commission on warming and ventilation issued a report in 1859.

New air- machine in the house of commons started, 5 June, 1874 Mr. Tobin's plan, a horizontal tube from without communicating with vertical tube inside; successful at Leeds; described (in Times).. .......12 April, 1875

Ventriloquism (speaking from the belly) is evidently described in Isa. xxix. 4 (about 712 B.C.). Among eminent ventriloquists were baron Mengen and M. Saint Gille, about 1772 (whose experiments were examined by a commission of the French Academy); Thomas King (about 1716), Charles Mathews (1824), and M. Alexandre (1822).

Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty (the Greek Aphrodité). The transit of the planet Venus over the sun was predicted by Kepler, but not observed. The first transit observed was by the rev. Jeremiah Horrox, or Horrocks, and his friend William Crabtree, on 24 Nov. 1639, as predicted by Horrox in 1633. The astronomer-royal Maskelyne observed the transit at St. Helena, 6 June, 1761. Capt. Cook made his first voyage in the Endeavor to Otaheite to observe a transit of Venus, 3 June, 1769; see Cook's Voyages. The diurnal rotation of Venus was discovered by Cassini in 1667. The transit, 6 Dec. 1882, may be observed in Eastern Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, the Mauritius, etc.; see Sun, note.

Halley suggested the observation of the transit as a

1716

means of estimating the distance of the earth from the sun, and devised a method for this purpose Another method was invented by Delisle ........about 1743 Both plans were used in.... ...Dec. 1874

Expeditions for the accurate observation of the phenomena on 8 Dec. astronomical day (ordinary day, 9 Dec.), 1874, were sent to different parts of the globe by all the great powers, and favorable results have been reported.... .1875-6

Vera Cruz (Mexico), built about 1600, was taken by the Americans in 1847, and by the allies on 17 Dec. 1861, during the intervention; retaken by the liberals under Juarez, 27 June, 1867.

Vercelli (the ancient Vercella), Piedmont, near which Marius defeated the Cimbri, 101 B.C. It was the seat of a republic in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It was taken by the Spaniards, 1630; French, 1704; and allies, 1706; and afterwards partook of the fortunes of Piedmont.

Verden (Hanover). Here Charlemagne massacred about 4500 Saxons, who had rebelled and relapsed into idolatry, 782.

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