129,184 83,695 Bills of Exchange were invented by the Jews as a means of removing their property from nations where they were persecuted, 1160.-Anderson. Bills are said to have been used in England, 1307. The only legal mode of sending money from England, 4 Richard II. 1381. Regulated, 1698; first stamped, 1782; duty advanced, 1797; again, June, 1801; and since. It was made capital to counterfeit bills of exchange in 1734. In 1825, the year of disastrous speculations in bubbles, it was computed that there were 400 millions of pounds sterling represented by bills of exchange and promissory notes. The present amount is not supposed to exceed 50 millions. The many statutes regarding bills of exchange were consolidated by act 9 Geo. IV. 1828. An act regulating bills of exchange passed 3 Vict. July, 1839. Great alterations were made in the law on the subject by 17 & 18 Vict. c. 83 (1854), and in 18 & 19 Vict. c. 67 (1855). Days of grace were abolished in the case of bills of exchange payable on sight in Aug. 1871. Forgery of bills to obtain discount was detected by the bank of England, 28 Feb., after 102,2177. had been paid. The culprits (Americans) were tried and condemned to penal servitude for life, 26 Aug. 1873; see Trials, Aug. 1873. A Bills of Exchange Act, declaring the law relating to accept ance, passed 16 April, 1878. For the various laws and regulations in force in the United States, see Harper's "Cyclopædia of Commerce," p. 167 et seq. Bills of Mortality FOR LONDON. These bills were first compiled by order of Cromwell, about 1538, 30 Hen. VIII., but in a more formal and recognized manner in 1603, after the great plague of that year. No complete series of them has been preserved. They have been superseded by the weekly returns of the registrargeneral since 1837; see Public Health. The following show the numbers for London at decennial periods: Burials. 20,507 23.524 1868 (53 weeks). 1870 1871 1872 1873 (53 weeks). 1874 1876 (Females, 62,095).. 1877 ( 1879 85,540 1878 law for preventing frauds upon creditors by secret bills Bimetallism, the system of having two standard metallic currencies in a country-gold and silver-much advocated by MM. H. Cernuschi and E. Lavellye, and others since 1867. By 56 Geo. III. c. 68 (1816), it was enacted that "gold coins only should be legal tender in all payments of more than 40s." in this country. A bimetallic currency was established in France in 1803. It was recommended for Germany in 1879, and was discussed at the Monetary Conference at Paris, April, 1881. Binary Arithmetic, that which counts by twos, for expeditiously ascertaining the property of numbers, and constructing tables, was invented by Leibnitz, of Leipsic, about 1703. For the Binary theory in chemistry, see Compound Radical. Binomial Root, in Algebra, composed of only two parts connected with the sign plus or minus; a term first used by Recorda about 1550, when he published his "Algebra." The celebrated binomial theorem of Newton is said to have been discovered in 1663. Biography (from the Greek Bioç, life, and yoάow, I write), defined as "history teaching by example." The Book of Genesis contains the biography of the patriarchs, and the Gospels that of Christ. Plutarch wrote the "Lives of Illustrious Men;" Cornelius Nepos, “Lives 23.038 of Military Commanders;" and Suetonius, "Lives of the 19.892 Twelve Cæsars" (all three in the first century after 19.348 Christ); Diogenes Laertius, "Lives of the Philosophers" (about 205).-Boswell's "Life of Johnson" (published in 1790) is the most remarkable English biography. Biology, termed the science of life and living things Deaths. by Treviranus, of Bremen, in his work on Physiology, published 1802-22. Biology includes zoology, anthro440.839 pology, and ethnology (which see). Herbert Spencer's 421,097 "Principles of Biology," published 1865-7. T. H. Hux390,506 ley, "Practical Instruction in Biology," 1875. 26.774 36,947 356.634 449,656 349,366 Birch tree. The black (Betula nigra), brought 422.721 from North America, 1736. The birch-tree known as 436,114 the Betula pumila, introduced into Kew gardens, Eng473,837 land, by Mr. James Gordon, from North America, 1762. 495,531-Hardy's Annals. 436,573 490,909 IRELAND.** Birds were divided by Linnæus into six orders (1735); Births, Deaths by Blumenbach into eight (1805); and by Cuvier into 144.970 93,154 six (1817). The most remarkable works are those pub146.237 93.598 lished by John Gould, F.R.S.; they now consist of nearly 144.318 93.911 40 folio volumes of colored plates, etc. They include 146,103 86,803 145.659 89,573 the birds of Europe, Asia, Australia, Great Britain, and 150,151 90.695 New Guinea, besides monographs of the humming-birds, etc. John Gould died 3 Feb. 1881. Dr. John Latham's 144.377 97.537 "Synopsis of Birds." 1781-90. John James Audubon's 141,288 91,961 Birds of America," 1826-40; see Wild Birds. 151.665 88,720 138,320 98,114 * Approximative; registration defective. "British Ornithologists' Union" founded 1858; published the Ibis, 1859 et seq. A morphological classification of birds (based on Huxley's), put forth by professors Parker and Newton; Encyclopedia Britannica; 9th ed... 1875 The Wild Birds Protection Act, 43 & 44 Vict. c. 35, passed..... .7 Sept. 1880 self and Mr. Bright.. .3 Nov. 1874 ..23 Feb. 1875 .March, 1876 17-24 July, .28 Sept. Birkbeck LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION, | Visit of the prince and princess of Wales.. Southampton buildings, W. C., the present name of the Foundation of sir Josiah Mason's college laid by him mechanics' institution founded by Dr. Birkbeck in 1823. Wm. Dudley bequeaths 100,000l. for charitable purposes in Birmingham... Birkenhead (Cheshire), a modern town on the Annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, Mersey, opposite to Liverpool. The great dock here was projected by Mr. John Laird, constructed by Mr. Great Western Arcade opened........ Rendell, and opened in Aug. 1847 by lord Morpeth. In Mr. W. E. Gladstone addresses about 30,000 persons in .31 May, 1877 1861 Birkenhead was made a parliamentary borough, Birmingham Liberal Federation formed......May, June, and Mr. Laird was elected first representative. He died Fire at Mr. Denison's, confectioner; Mrs. Denison and 3 others perish, 26 Aug.; verdict at inquest, arson, crim29 Oct. 1874. Birkenhead received a charter of incorinal unknown. poration in 1878. Population in 1831, 200; in 1861, 51649; in 1871, 65,971; see Wrecks, 1852. Birman Empire, or EMPIRE OF AVA, see Burmese Empire and India. Birmingham, formerly Bromwicham and Brummegem (Warwickshire), existed in the reign of Alfred, 872; and belonged to the Bermengehams, at Domesday Survey, 1086. There were "many smythes" here in the time of Henry VIII. (Leland), but its great importance commenced in the reign of William III. Bingley hall.... ..30 Sept. 1878 Central Library, comprising the chief free reference library, and the Shakespeare Library, Cervantes Collection, etc., with priceless treasures, destroyed by fire, Death of sir Josiah Mason... 11 Jan. 1879 ..16 June, 1881 Births. The births of children were taxed in England, viz.: birth of a duke, 307.; of a common person, 2s., 7 Will. III. 1695. Taxed again, 1783. The instances of four children at a birth are numerous; but it is recorded that a woman of Königsberg (3 Sept. 1784), and the wife of Nelson, a tailor, of Oxford Market, London (Oct. 1800), had five children at a birth. The queen usually presents a small sum of money to a poor woman giving birth to three or more living children at one 1774 time; see Bills of Mortality and Registers. 1552 1643 1689 1767 1768 14 July, 1791 ...7 Aug. 1792 ...7 Jan. 1820 ..Feb. 1831 Birmingham made a borough by Reform Act (2 mem 1832 bers). Town-hall built.... Political Union dissolved itself.. .10 May, 1834 Birmingham and Liverpool railway opened as the Grand Junction... ..4 July, 1837 London and Birmingham railway opened its entire length, Great Chartist riot; houses burned.. 17 Sept. 1838 .15 July, 1839 Town incorporated, and Police Act passed. Meeting of British Association.... 29 Aug. 66 1843 27 Oct. 1847 .12 Sept. 1849 ..Jan. 1853 Bishop (Greek ¿ñíσкожоç, overseer), a name given by the Athenians to those who had the inspection of the city. The Jews and Romans had also like officers. St. Peter, styled the first bishop of Rome, was martyred 65. The presbyter was the same as a bishop.-Jerome. The episcopate became an object of contention about 144. The title of pope was anciently assumed by all bishops, and was exclusively claimed by Gregory VII. (1073-85). Bishop of London's Fund, see under Church of England 1864, et seq.; amount received up to 31 Dec. 1878, 603,7187. Bishops IN ENGLAND* were coeval with the introduction of Christianity. The see of London is mythically said to have been founded by Lucius, king of Britain, 179. 14-16 June, 1858 1555-6 Bishops excluded from voting in the house of peers on temporal concerns, 16 Char. I... 1641 payment and 66 1866 66 Violent riots through the lectures of Murphy, an anti- 15 Aug. 30 Dec. The order of archbishops and bishops abolished by the parliament. ..9 Oct. 1646 Bishops regain their seats... .Nov. 1661 Seven bishops (Canterbury, Bath, Chichester, St. Asaph, Bristol, Ely, and Peterborough) sent to the Tower for not reading the king's declaration for liberty of conscience (intended to bring the Roman Catholics into ecclesiastical and civil power), 8 June; tried and acquitted.... .29-30 June, 1688 The archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Sancroft) and five bishops (Bath and Wells, Ely, Gloucester, Norwich, and Peterborough) suspended for refusing to take the oaths to William and Mary, 1689; deprived... Retirement of bishops: the bishops of London and Durham retired on annuities.. *Bishops have the titles of Lord and Right Rev. Father in God. The archbishops of Canterbury and York, taking place of all dukes, have the title of Grace. The Bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester have precedence of all bishops: the ...1 Aug. 1874 | others rank according to seniority of consecration. Speech of Mr. Bright (after re-election on resuming oflice 66 ep scopacy; declared the throne vacant; drew up a claim of right; and proclaimed William and Mary, 11 April, 1689 Episcopacy formally abolished, and the bishops' revenues sequestrated.. .19 Sept. The Episcopal church was thus reduced to the condition of a Nonconformist body, at first barely tolerated. It opened its first congress.. 19 May, 1874 Bishop Rose connected the established episcopal church of Scotland with that form of it which is now merely tolerated, he having been bishop of Edinburgh from 1687 till 1720, when, on his death, Dr. Fullarton became the first post-revolution bishop of that see. Fife (now St. Andrews, so called in 1844) now unites the bishopric of Dunkeld (reinstituted in 1727) and that of Dunblane (reinstituted in 1731). Ross (of uncertain date) was united to Moray (reinstituted in 1727) in 1838. Argyll and the Isles never existed independently until 1847, having been conjoined to Moray and Ross, or to Ross alone, previously to that year. Galloway has been added to the see of Glasgow. 1542 ham, 995).. 634 Chester. West Saxons (after Galloway.. ...before 500 .about 1066 .before 1155 Ross. 1124 Newcastle, authorized... 1878 680 Southwell Liverpool... Bishops IN IRELAND are said to have been consecrated in the second century; see Church of Ireland. Prelacies were constituted, and divisions of the bish oprics in Ireland made, by cardinal Paparo, legate from Several prelates deprived by queen Mary.. 1151 1640 Church Temporalities Act, for reducing the number of bishops in Ireland, 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 37, passed 14 Aug. 1833 [By this statute, of the four archbishoprics of Armagh, Dublin, Tuam, and Cashel, the last two were to be abolished on the decease of the then archprelates, which has since occurred; and it was enacted that eight of the then eighteen bishoprics should, as they became void, be henceforth united to other sees, which was accomplished in 1850; so that the Irish church at present consists of two archbishops and ten bishops.] Dunblane... Romanist Bishoprics revived by Pope Leo XIII...4 March, 1878 Bishops, AMERICAN. The first was Samuel Sea- Founded. about 98 .before 604 450 Kilmacduach......about 620 Quebec... Emly. ..about 448 | Derry... Elphin. Ardagh Clogher.. 454 Lismore. .before 493 Leighlin.. about 631 Calcutta... 632 Barbadoes... ..about 655 before 885 Cashel, before 901; abpc. 1152 Jamaica... Madras Australia (see Sydney).. 1836 Newfoundland... Goulbourn, N. S. W.. St. Helena.. Waiapu, N. Z. . 1839 Ontario, Canada. 1837 1858 1859 66 1019 Montreal.. 1096 Bombay... 66 before 1106 1861 1136 Toronto... Nassau, Bahamas. 520 Dublin (abpc.)....... 1152 Gibraltar. 530 Kilfenora.........before 1254 Dromore.. Kildare Meath Achonry. Louth.. 534 Bishops IN SCOTLAND were probably nominated in Tasmania.... the fourth century. The Reformers, styling themselves "the Congregation Episcopacy restored by the regent Morton (see Tulchan Colombo, Ceylon... Trinidad. 1845 Ballarat.. 66 Moosonee 1561 Rupert's Land.. 1849 Transvaal. .1572-3 Victoria, Hong Kong.. Lahore.. 1852 North Queensland Three prelates for Scottish sees consecrated at Lambeth Graham's Town... Natal, S. Africa. Mauritius....... Travancore and Cochin.. 1879 Between 1847-59, Miss (now baroness) Burdett-Coutts gave 60,000l. to endow colonial bishoprics. In 1866 she petitioned parliament, on account of some of the bishops professing independence of the church of England. Since then, colonial bishops have been appointed without intervention of the civil power. Much discussion took place in 1867. through the deposition of Dr. Colenso, bishop of Natal, by his metropolitan. Dr. Gray, bishop of Cape Town, and the attempts of the latter to consecrate a new bishop, in opposition to the law; see un der Africa and Church of England. Bishops, SUFFRAGAN, to assist metropolitans, existed in the early church. Twenty-six, appointed by Henry VIII. 1534, were abolished by Mary, 1553, and restored by Elizabeth, 1558. The last appointed is said to have been Sterne, bishop of Colchester, 1606. The appointment of suffragan bishops was revived in 1869, and archdeacon Henry Mackenzie, suffragan bishop of Nottingham (diocese of Lincoln) was consecrated 2 Feb. 1870, and archdeacon Edward Parry, suffragan bishop of Dover (diocese of Canterbury), 23 March, 1870. Others have been appointed since: Guildford, 1874; Bedford, 1879. Bismuth was recognized as a distinct metal by Agricola in 1529. It is very fusible and brittle, and of a yellowish white color. Bissextile, see Calendar and Leap-year. Bithynia, a province in Asia Minor, previously called Bebricia, is said to have been invaded by the Thracians under Bithynus, son of Jupiter, who gave it the name of Bithynia. It was subject successively to the Assyrians, Lydians, Persians, and Macedonians. Most of the cities were rebuilt by Grecian colonists. Dydalsus revolted and reigned, about..... Botyras, his son, succeeds... ..B.C. 440-430 Bas, or Bias, son of Botyras, 376; repulses the Greeks... Zipates, son of Bias, resists Lysimachus. ....about He dies, leaving four sons, of whom the eldest, Nicomedes 378 328 326 278 264 250 228 223 Black Act, 9 Geo. I. c. 22 (1722), was passed to punish armed persons termed blacks, going about in disguise with their faces blacked, robbing warrens and fishponds, cutting down plantations, killing deer, etc. By this act, sending anonymous letters demanding money, etc., was made felony. Black Art, see Alchemy, Witchcraft. Black Book (Liber Niger), a book kept in the exchequer, which received the orders of that court. It was published by Hearne in 1728. A book doubtfully said to have been kept in monasteries, wherein details of the enormities practised in religious houses were entered for the inspection of visitors, under Hen. VIII. 1535. The name was given to the list of pensioners, printed 1831; and to other books. See Italy, 1876. The title Black Book was given to a list of Habitual Criminals, 1869-76; pub lished by lieut. col. Du Cane of Brixton, March, 1877. Black Death, see Plagues, 1340 and 1866. Black Friday, 11 May, 1866, the height of the commercial panic in London, through the stoppage of Overend, Gurney, & Co. (limited), on 10 May. Messrs. John Henry and Edmund Gurney and their partners, Black Monday, Easter-Monday, 14 April, 1360, "so full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold that many men died on their horsebacks with the cold.”— Stow. In Ireland, Black Monday was the day on which a number of the English were slaughtered at a village near Dublin, in 1209. Black Money, base foreign coin so termed, 1335. Black Monks, see Dominicans. Black Museum, at Scotland Yard, is a collection of relics connected with crime, begun in 1874. Black Prince, EDWARD, eldest son of king Edward III., born 15 June, 1330; victor at Poitiers, 19 Sept. 1356; at Najara, 3 April, 1367; died 8 June, 1376. Black Rock. The vicinity of Black Rock, a short distance below Buffalo, was the scene of stirring events during the war of 1812-15. An American expedition opposite that place destroyed the enemy's boats and batteries, 29 Nov. 1812. On 11 July, 1813, gen. Peter B. Porter, with a considerable force, defended it against a British force 340 strong under lieut.-col. Bisshopp. The Americans lost 9 men, the British 23. On 30 Dec. 1813, col. Hall, of New York, was at Black Rock with 1200 militia. They were attacked on that day by a British and Indian force 1000 strong. The Americans had 50 killed and 52 wounded; the British, 25 killed and 50 wounded. Again, on 3 Aug., 1200 British troops were repulsed in this vicinity by a rifle corps of 240 men, under major Lodowick. The Americans lost 2 killed and 8 wounded. The British lost 50. Black Rod has a gold lion at the top, and is carried by the usher of the order of the Knights of the Garter He also keeps (instituted 1349), instead of the mace. the door when a chapter of the order is sitting, and during the sessions of parliament attends the house of lords and acts as their messenger to the commons. Black Sea, THE EUXINE (Pontus Euxinus of the ancients), a large internal sea between the S. W. provinces of Russia and Asia Minor, connected with the sea of Azoff by the straits of Yenikalé, and with the sea of Marmora by the channel of Constantinople. This sea was much frequented by the Greeks and Ital'ans, till closed to all nations by the Turks after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Russians obtained admission by the treaty of Kainardji...... ...10 July, 1774 It was partially opened to British and other traders (since which time the Russians gradually obtained the preponderance). Entered by the British and French fleets, at the requisi 1779 tion of the Porte, after the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Sinope by the Russians, 30 Nov. 1853....3 Jan. 1854 A dreadful storm in this sea raged, and caused great loss of life and shipping, and valuable stores for the allied armies. See Russo-Turkish War........ 13 to 16 Nov. The Black Sea was opened to the commerce of all nations by the treaty of 1856. The article of the treaty of Paris, 30 March, 1856, by which the sea was opened to the commerce of all nations, and interdicted to any ships of war; and the erection of military maritime arsenals forbidden, was repudiated by a Russian circular, dated... ......31 (19) Oct. 1870 After some correspondence, the meeting of a conference on the subject, in London, was agreed to by all the powers concerned in the treaty. The conference met in London 17 Jan. 1871, and a treaty was signed by which the neutralization of the sea was abrogated: but it was agreed by a special protocol that no nation shall liberate itself from the obligations of a treaty without the consent of the others who signed it, 13 March, 1871 Blockade of the Black Sea declared by Turkey during the war...... ......about 3 May, 1877 Black Watch, armed companies of the loyal clans (Campbells, Monros, etc.) employed to watch the Highlands from about 1725 to 1739, when they were formed into the celebrated 42d regiment, enrolled as "The Royal Highland Black Watch." Their removal for foreign service probably facilitated the outbreak in 1745. They wore dark tartans, and hence were called Black Watch. They distinguished themselves in the Ashantee war, Jan., Feb. 1874. Blackburn, Lancashire, so called in Domesdaybook. The manufacture of a cloth called Blackburn check, carried on in 1650, was superseded by Blackburn grays. In 1767, James Hargreaves, of this town, invented the spinning-jenny, for which he was eventually expelled from the county. About 1810 or 1812, the townspeople availed themselves of his discoveries, and engaged largely in the cotton manufacture, now their staple trade. Blackburn murder, see Trials, July, 1876. Blackfriars Bridge, London. The first stone of the late bridge was laid 31 Oct. 1760, and it was completed by Mylne in 1770. It was frequently repaired, 1834-50, and began to sink. In 1864 it was pulled down, and a temporary bridge erected. The foundation of a new five-arched bridge, designed by Mr. Joseph Cubitt, was laid by lord mayor Hale, 20 July, 1865, and the bridge was opened by the queen 6 Nov. 1869. The first railway train (London, Chatham, and Dover) entered the city of London over the new railway bridge, Blackfriars, 6 Oct. 1864. It is Blanketeers. A number of operatives who, on 10 March, 1817, met in St. Peter's field, near Manchester, many of them having blankets, rugs, or great-coats rolled up and fastened to their backs. This was termed the Blanket meeting. They proceeded to march towards London, but were dispersed by the magistracy. stated that their object was to commence a great insurrection; see Derby. Eventually the ringleaders had an interview with the cabinet ministers, and a better understanding between the working classes and the government ensued. Blankets are said to have been first made at Bristol by Thos. Blanket, in the fourteenth century. This is doubtful. Blasphemy was punished with death by the law of Moses (Lev. xxiv.), 1491 B.C.; and by the code of Justinian, a.d. 529. It is punishable by the civil and canon law of England, regulated by 60 Geo. III. c. 8 (1819). Daniel Isaac Eaton was tried and convicted in London of blasphemy, 6 March, 1812. Robert Taylor, a protestant clergyman, was tried twice for the same crime. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and largely fined, July, 1831. In Dec. 1840, two publishers of blasphemous writings were convicted. Blasting Gelatine (a mixture of nitro-glycerine and gun-cotton), a violent explosive prepared by Alfred Nobel, and modified by professor Abel, 1879. Blackheath, Kent, near London. Here Wat Tyler and his followers assembled, 12 June, 1381; and here also Jack Cade and his 20,000 Kentish men encamped, 1 June, Blazonry. Bearing coats-of-arms was introduced 1450; see Tyler and Cade. Here the Cornish rebels and became hereditary in France and England about were defeated and Flammock's insurrection quelled, 22 June, 1497. The ancient cavern, on the ascent to Black-1192, owing to the knights painting their banners with heath, popularly termed "the retreat of Cade," and of different figures, thereby to distinguish them in the crusades.-Dugdale. banditti in the time of Cromwell, was rediscovered in 1780. Several daring highway robberies were committed near the heath, and the youthful culprits punished, in 1877; see Trials. Black-hole, see Calcutta. Black-lead, see Graphite. Bleaching was known in Egypt, Syria, India, and Gaul.-Pliny. An improved chemical system was adopted by the Dutch, who introduced it into England and Scotland in 1768. There were large bleach-fields in Lancashire, Fife, Forfar, and Renfrew, and in the vale of the Leven, in Dumbarton. The application of the gas chlorine to bleaching is due to Berthollet's discov Black-letter, employed in the first printed books in the middle of the fifteenth century. The first print-ery, about 1785. Its combination with lime (as chloride ing-types were Gothic; but they were modified into the present Roman type about 1469: Pliny's "Natural History" was then printed in the new characters. Black-mail, a compulsory payment for protection of cattle, etc., made in the border counties, was prohibited by Elizabeth in 1601. It was exacted in Scotland from the lowlanders by the highlanders till 1745. It checked agricultural improvement. Blacks, or NERI, see Bianchi. Blackstocks, BATTLE AT. On 20 Nov. 1780, Americans under gen. Sumter, and British cavalry under col. Tarleton, had an engagement at Blackstock's plantation, on the Tyger river, Union District, S. C. After a sharp engagement, Tarleton fled, leaving nearly 200 men dead or wounded upon the field. Sumter lost only 3 killed and 5 wounded. of lime) was devised by Mr. Tennant, of Glasgow, who took out a patent for the process in 1798, and by his firm it is still extensively manufactured. In 1822 Dr. Ure published an elaborate series of experiments on this substance. In 1860 bleaching and dyeing works were placed under the regulations of the Factories Act. Blenheim (or PLINTHEIM) a village in Bavaria on the left bank of the Danube, near the town of Hochstett, the site of a battle fought 2 Aug. (N. s., 13) 1704, the duke of Marlborough, and the French and Bavabetween the English and confederates, commanded by rians, under marshal Tallard and the elector of Bavaria. The latter were defeated with the loss of about 12,000 killed, and 13,000 prisoners (including Tallard). Bavaria became the prize of the conquerors. The British parliament gave Marlborough the honor of Woodstock and hundred of Wotton, and erected for him the house of Blenheim.* Blackwall (London), the site of fine commercial docks and warehouses; see Docks. The Blackwall railBlind. The first public school for the blind was way was opened to the public, 4 July, 1840; the east-established by Valentine Hay, at Paris in 1784. The ern terminus being at Blackwall wharf, and the western in Fenchurch street. Blackwater, BATTLE OF, in Ireland, 14 Aug. 1598, when the Irish chief O'Neil defeated the English under sir Henry Bagnall. Pope Clement VIII. sent O'Neil a consecrated plume, and granted to his followers the same indulgence as to crusaders. Blackwood's EDINBURGH MAGAZINE established, 1817. Bladensburg, see Washington, 1814. Blandford's Act, 19 & 20 Vict. c. 104, for augmentation of benefices, etc., passed 1856. Blank Verse, sce Verse. first in England was at Liverpool, in 1791; in Scotland, at Edinburgh, in 1792; and the first in London in 1799. Printing in raised or embossed characters for the use of the blind was begun at Paris by Haly in 1786. The whole Bible was printed at Glasgow in raised Roman characters about 1848. A sixpenny magazine for the blind, edited by the late rev. W. Taylor, F.R.S., so eminent for his forty years' exertions on behalf of these sufferers, was published in 1855-6. He aided the establishment of a college for the blind of the upper classes at Worcester, in 1866. There is hardly any department * On 5 Feb. 1861, a fire broke out at this place, which destroyed the "Titian Gallery" and the pictures: the latter, a present from Victor Amadeus, king of Sardinia, to John, the great duke of Marlborough. |