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ABERDEEN ACT, introduced by the earl of Aberdeen, and passed, 1845, to enforce the observance of a convention made with Brazil in 1826 to put down the slave trade. It was repealed in April, 1869.

ABERRATION OF LIGHT, discovered by James Bradley, through his observation of an apparent motion of the fixed stars, 1727.

ABRANTES (Portugal). By a treaty between France and Portugal, signed here 29 Sept., 1801, the war was closed, and the French army withdrew; a money compensation having been agreed to, and territories in Guiana ceded to France.

ABSCONDING DEBTORS' ACT, passed 9 Aug. 1870.
ABYSSINIA (p. 4).

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The captives relieved of their chains, 29 March, 1868
Sir R. Napier arrives before Magdala. 2 April,
Theodore massacres about 300 native prisoners
9 April,
Battle of Arogee or Fahla; Theodore's troops
attack the British first brigade; defeated
with much slaughter (Good Friday), 10 April,
Theodore retires to his stronghold in Magdala,
and requests Mr. Rassam to mediate; lieut.
Prideaux sent to Sir R. Napier returns with a
letter; Theodore receives it indignantly, and
sends an insulting reply; lieut. Prideaux
returning, meets Mr. Rassam with some of
the captives proceeding to the British camp,
Theodore sends a letter of apology offering a
present of cattle; Mr. Rassam understand-
ing this present to have been accepted, tells
the king's minister; the rest of the captives,
with their property, sent to the British camp,
12 April,
Theodore rejects the terms offered; Magdala
bombarded and stormed; Theodore kills
himself
13 April,,,
["I fail to discover a single point of view from
which it is possible to regard his removal
with regret."--Sir R. Napier
18 June,]
17 April,

Magdala burnt to the ground

II April,,,

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Henry Dufton of the intelligence department"
shot by Shosho robbers
28 May,,,
Immediate return of the troops;-all had em-
barked
2 June,,,

Troops arrive at Plymouth, 21 June; sir R.
Napier at Dover
2 July,
[Cattle said to have been employed in the expe-
dition: 45 elephants, 7417 camels, 12,920
mules and ponies, 7033 bullocks, 827 donkeys.
Natives also were largely employed in the
transport service.]

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Theodore's son Alamayou, aged 7, arrives at
Plymouth, 14 July; presented to Queen
Victoria
16 July,
Pension of 350l. to col. Cameron [he died 30
May, 1870]; 5000l. given to Mr. Rassam;
2000l. to Dr. Blanc; 2000l. to lieut. Pri-
deaux announced
23 Dec.,
Prince Alamayou sailed to India for education,
26 Jan., 1869
Expenses of the war: 5,000,000l. voted 18 Dec.,
1868; 3,300,000l. more voted
4 Mar.
Report of a commission on the expenses of the
expedition disclosed much waste, attributed
to urgency and divided authority Aug. 1870

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ACACIANS. 1. Followers of Acacius, bishop of Cæsarea, in the fourth century, who held peculiar doctrines respecting the nature of Christ. 2. Partisans of Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople, promoter of the Henoticon (which see), 482–4.

ACCIDENTAL DEATHS in England and Wales; in 1856, 9176; in 1860, 9225; in 1865, 11,397; in 1869, 10,725.

ACCOUNTANTS' INSTITUTE established at a meeting 30 July, 1870. William Quilter in the chair.

B

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ADMINISTRATIONS (p. 11). In consequence of the majority of about 114 obtained by the Liberal party in the elections in Nov., 1868, the Disraeli Administration resigned, 2 Dec. and was succeeded by the Gladstone Administration (which see) 9 Dec. following.

ADMIRALTY (p. 12). Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, succeeded Henry Thomas_Corry as first lord, 9 Dec., 1868.

ADULLAM (p. 13). The Adullamites (lord Elcho and Mr. Wyld excepted) voted with Mr. Gladstone for the disestablishment of the Irish Church, 1 May, 1868.

ADULTERATION OF SEEDS ACT passed 11 Aug. 1869.

ELFRIC SOCIETY (founded 1842, stopped 1856), published homilies of Elfric, archbishop of Canterbury, and other works in Anglo-Saxon.

EDILES. Roman city officers of three degrees, said to owe their name to having had charge of the ædes or temple of Ceres. I. Two plebeian ædiles were appointed with the tribunes, to assist them in looking after buildings, weights and measures, the supply of provisions and water, &c., 494 B.C. 2. The ædiles curules, at first patricians, were appointed 365 B.C. 3. Julius Cæsar appointed ædiles cereales for watching over the supply of corn. The ædiles became a kind of police under the emperors.

AERO-STEAM-ENGINE. The invention of George Warson, a mechanic of Nottingham, who, by employing compressed air united with steam, is said to have effected the saving of 47 per cent. of fuel. The plan was reported to the British Association, at Exeter, in Aug. 1869, and was said to act successfully in a tug-steamer (for China) in the Thames, 26 March, 1870.

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AID TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED, NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR. On 4 Aug. 1870 soon after the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian war, a meeting was held in London, which established this society, for immediate communication with the international society established at Geneva, see Geneva Convention. The queen became patron and the prince of Wales president; the duke of Manchester, the earl of Shaftesbury, lords Overstone and Bury, sir John Burgoyne, and col. Loyd Lindsay being very energetic supporters. The operations have been directed chiefly by capt. H. Brackenbury and sir Vincent Eyre. Capt. Douglas Galton and Mr. Henry Bonham Carter went to the seat of war as commissioners, in Sept. Col. Loyd Lindsay conveyed to Versailles and Paris from the society 40,000l., equally divided between the Germans and French (gratefully acknowledged) about 11 Oct. 1870 The crown-prince of Prussia wrote to colonel Loyd Lindsay:-"In this, as on other occa

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sions of distress, the help of the English public has been poured out with a liberal and an impartial hand. The gifts which have been offered in a truly Christian spirit have excited a feeling of heartfelt gratitude among those on whose behalf I speak"

2 Nov. 1870

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ALBERT MEDAL (Gold), awarded by the Society of Arts to sir Rowland Hill, 1864; Napoleon III. 1865; Michael Faraday, 1866; Charles Wheatstone and William Fothergill Cooke, 1867; Joseph Whitworth, 1868; Justus Liebig, 1869; Ferdinand de Lesseps, 1870.

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ALCOLEA (Andalusia, S. Spain). Near the bridge a sharp engagement took place between the royalists under general Pavia y Lacy, marquis de Novaliches, and the insurgents under marshal Serrano, 27 Sept. 1868. The former was defeated, and, being severely wounded, surrendered 28 Sept. About 600 were killed on both sides.

ALEXANDRA PARK (p. 22).

Horse races held here, 30 June, 1 July, 1868. ALGIERS (p. 24). Insurrection of the Arabs; 4000 defeated by col. Sounis, 2 Feb. 1869; a state of siege was proclaimed 15 Aug. 1870.

ALIENS (p. 24). Their status in the United Kingdom was again defined in the Naturalization Act, passed 12 May, 1870.

ALIZARINE, a crystalline body, the colouring principle of madder, discovered in it by Robiquet and Colin in 1831. Schunck showed that all the finest madder colours contained only alizarine combined with alkalies and fatty acids. Graebe and Liebermann obtained anthracene from alizarine in 1868, and alizarine from anthracene in 1869. The crystalline body anthracene was discovered in coal oils by Dumas and Laurent in 1832. See Madder. ALMONER (p. 26). The Rev. Dr. Wellesley, dean of Windsor, was appointed queen's almoner 28 May, 1870, succeeding the present bishop of Winchester.

ALPS: CENIS TUNNEL: 8498 metres excavated 1 July, 1868; completed, 4.15 P.M., 25 Dec. 1870.

ALSACE (p. 28) was nearly all conquered by the Germans in the war, Aug.-Sept., 1870; and its acquisition made a condition of peace by them.

ALSEN (Denmark). Besieged by the Prussians and heroically defended by the Danes, 26 June; captured 29 June, 1864.

ALTENKIRCHEN (Prussia). The French, who had defeated the Austrians here, 4 June, 1796, were themselves defeated, and their general, Marceau killed, 19 Sept., following.

ALTONA (Holstein, N. Germany), acquired by the Danes, 1660, and made a city, 1664. It was occupied first by the German federal troops, 24 Dec. 1863, and then by the Prussians the federal diet protesting, 12 Feb. 1864.

AMIENS (p. 31), after a battle in which the French were defeated, 27 Nov., surrendered to the Germans, under Von Goeben, 28 Nov. 1870.

AMYL, an alcohol radicle, first isolated by Professor Edward Frankland in 1849.

ANNUITY TAX (Edinburgh), (p. 36). Its abolition was provided for in an act passed 9 Aug., 1870.

ANORTHOSCOPE, a new optical apparatus, described by Dr. Carpenter in 1868. In it, distorted figures lose their distortion when put into rapid motion.

APOLOGIES FOR CHRISTIANITY were addressed by Justin Martyr to the emperor Antoninus Pius about 139, and to the Roman senate about 164. Other apologies were written by the early fathers of the Church.

APPORTIONMENT ACT (for rents) passed I Aug., 1870.

ARCHEOPTERYX (ancient bird); the name given to the earliest known remains of a bird, found in the lithographic slate of Solenhofen, by Herman von Meyer, and Dr. Häberlein in 1861. Its structure approximated more to that of a reptile than that of modern birds does. It was described by Owen in 1863.

ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM, Westminster, opened 21 July, 1869.

ARGENTINE REPUBLIC (p. 45). Col. Dominique F. Sarmiento was elected president for six years, 12 Oct. 1868. Urquiza, a former president, was murdered 12 April, 1870. ARMY, BRITISH (p. 49).

Sir Henry Storks appointed Controller-in-
Chief
I Jan. 1868

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AROGEE, OR FAHLA, see Abyssinia. Here Sir Robert, since lord, Napier totally defeated the Abyssinians, who lost about 700 killed and wounded, 10 April, 1868. The British had 20 wounded.

ARTILLERY (p. 50). Royal Artillery Institution at Woolwich, established 1838; building completed 1840. The great deficiency of artillery in the British army discussed Sept. 1870. ARTIZANS' AND LABOURERS' DWELLINGS ACT, "to provide better dwellings," passed 31 July, 1868.

ASAPH, ST. Bishop T. Vowler Short resigned Feb., 1870, and was succeeded by Dr. Joshua Hughes.

ASSESSED TAXES (p. 54). An act to provide for uniformity in the assessment of rateable property in the metropolis was passed 9 Aug. 1869. The " Court of General Assessment" first met 19 May, 1870.

ASSIZE OF JERUSALEM, a code of laws compiled under the direction of Godfrey of Bouillon, king of Jerusalem, about 1100. A fine edition of these laws, edited by the comte Beugnot, was published by the French government in 1841.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL (p. 59). Sir Robert Porrett Collier succeeded sir John Karslake, 12 Dec. 1868.

ATTORNEYS' AND SOLICITORS' ACT, passed 14 July, 1870.

AUSTRIA (p. 66). The empire was named the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy by decree 14 Nov. 1868.

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New ministry under prince Auersperg, 30 Dec. 1867 | The Reichsrath opened by the emperor at Civil marriages bill (annulling clerical jurisdiction over them) passed by the upper house, after sharp resistance, 21-23 March; received the emperor's assent 25 May, 1868 German sharp-shooting match, held at Vienna, 26 July, Von Beust justifies the maintenance of an army of 800,000, 11 Oct. ; is made a count Dec. Continued opposition of the clergy to the government Jan. 1869 The crown prince of Prussia visits Vienna, 7 Oct. The emperor visits the East;-at Jerusalem, 10 Nov.; present at the opening of the Suez canal 17 Nov. Successful insurrection against the conscription in Dalmatia, Oct. ; ceased

Vienna 13 Dec. 1869 Ministerial crisis, Jan. ; the Cis-Leithan ministry resigns; Count Potocki prime minister, 4 April, 1870 Neutrality in the Franco-Prussian war announced 30 July, The concordat with Rome declared to be abolished in consequence of the promulgation of the doctrine of papal infallibility, 30 July The Reichsrath opened by the emperor; no deputies from Bohemia 17 Sept. Dissension between the federal and national parties, 29 Sept.; the Reichsrath adjourned, Oct.

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Nov.

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The ministry support Great Britain in opposing
the Russian repudiation of the treaty of Paris
(See Russia)
Nov.
Austrian army, 864,869 regulars; 187,527 land-
wehr (militia).
Dec.

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B.

BABYSM, a new Mahometan sect in Persia, founded in 1843 by Mirza Ali Mahomed, an enthusiast, at Shiraz. He termed himself the " Bâb," or "gate," of knowledge, and, giving a new exposition of the Koran, claimed to be the incarnate Holy Spirit. The destruction of himself and the greater number of his followers was due to Hossein, one of his disciples, combining political and warlike principles with their spiritual dogmas. The sect was tolerated by the shah Mohammed, but nearly exterminated by his successor in 1848-9. The Bâb himself was executed 15 July, 1849.

BACCON or BACON, see Orleans.

BADEN (p. 69).

Meeting of the chambers; liberal measures promised, 24 Sept. ; universal suffrage adopted by the second chamber, 29 Oct. 1869 BALLOON (p. 71). The use of balloons Shepherd, C.E., in 1851.

J. B. Lassie's model of an "aërial ship," in
which the screw was used, was submitted to
the academy of sciences at Paris, 1859; and
exhibited at Washington, U. S.

A great balloon exhibited at Ashburnham-park,
London, escaped, and was captured at Boul-
don, Bucks
25 May, 1869
Charles Green, aëronaut, said to have made
about 600 ascents, died, aged 84 27 Mar. 1870

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BALLOT (p. 72). A ballot-box was used in the election of aldermen of London in 1526. Its use by the company of merchant adventurers, in electing an agent, was prohibited by Charles I. 17 Dec. 1637. A test-ballot was adopted at Manchester, and Ernest Jones was thus chosen as a candidate for representing the city in parliament, 22, 23 Jan. 1869. He died the next day. Mr. E. Leatham introduced a ballot bill into parliament, March, 1870, and Mr. Gladstone spoke in favour of the ballot, 27 July, 1870. The bill was withdrawn. The ballot was employed in electing the London school board in 9 districts, 29 Nov. 1870.

BANK OF ENGLAND: (p. 75).

DISCOUNT.

1868. Raised to 24 per cent. Nov. 19; to 3, Dec. 3. 1869. Raised to 4, April 1; to 44, May 6; reduced to 4, June 10; to 32, June 24; to 3, July 15; to 2, Aug. 19; raised to 3, Nov. 4.

1870. Raised to 3, July 21; to 4, July 23; to 5 (Franco-Prussian War), July 28; to 6, Aug. 4; reduced to 5, Aug. 11; to 44, Aug. 18; to 4, Aug. 25; to 3, Sept. 1; to 3, Sept. 15; to 24, Sept. 29.

BANKRUPTCY (p. 76). By the Bankruptcy Act passed 9 Aug. 1869, a new bankruptcy court was established in place of the commissioners', which sat last time 31 Dec. 1869, when above 300 petitions of bankruptcy were received. The new judge, the hon. James Bacon, sat i Jan. 1870. Justice Giffard, the judge of the Bankruptcy Appeal Court, decided (in the case of the duke of Newcastle) that a peer can be made a bankrupt, Nov. 1869, which decision was affirmed on appeal to the house of lords in the following year; other petitions against peers have been filed.

BARTHOLOMEW THE GREAT, ST. near Smithfield. The building of the church is said to have begun 1102; restored by subscription and reopened, 29 March, 1868.

BATH AND WELLS (p. 82). Lord Auckland, the bishop, resigned 6 Sept. 1869, and was succeeded by the Hon. and Rev. Arthur Charles Harvey, 10 Nov. 1869.

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An international exhibition in a crystal palace opened

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9 Dec.,,

Pont à Noyelles (French claim a victory), 23 Dec.

(For numerous skirmishes see Franco-Prussian War, and for details of important engagements see separate articles.)

The king announces his intention of joining
Prussia in the war with France, about 20 July 1870
[See Franco-Prussian war].
The king, in a letter to the king of Saxony,
proposes that the king of Prussia should be
made emperor of Germany about 5 Dec. ""

20 July 1869 The chambers dissolved, as through a party struggle no president was elected 6 Oct. Resignation of the ministry, 25 Nov.: only partially accepted by the king Vote of want of confidence in prince Hohenlohe, the president, 12 Feb.; he resigns 14 Feb. 1870 BAZEILLES, a village in the Ardennes, N.E. France. During the dreadful battle of Sedan, I Sept., 1870, Bazeilles was burnt by the Bavarians, and atrocious outrages committed. Of nearly 2000 inhabitants scarcely fifty remained alive, and these indignantly denied having given provocation. It appears that an old woman, whose husband and sons had been killed, had fired upon and killed two Bavarians. Much controversy ensued, but the above statements are generally considered authentic.

BAZOCHE-DES-HAUTES, near Orleans, central France. Here a part of the army of the Loire, under gen. D'Aurelle de Paladines, were defeated after a severe action, by the Germans under the grand-duke of Mecklenburg, 2 Dec. 1870. See Orleans.

BEAUMONT, a village near Sedan, department of Ardennes, N.E. France. Near here a part of the army of marshal MacMahon under De Failly, which, after vainly endeavouring to

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