Silicon, or SILICIUM (from silex, flint), a non-metallic element, next to oxygen the most abundant sub-livered at the filature. The production rapidly declined stance in the earth, as it enters into the constitution of many earths, metallic oxides, and a great number of minerals. The mode of procuring pure silicon was discovered by Berzelius in 1823.-Gmelin. See Water-glass and Ransome's Stone. 1789. SILK WORM DISEASE. In 1853 the annual produce of sericult ure in South France was estimated at about 4,680,000l. Soon after a disease broke out in the worms, which reduced the value of the silk crop to about one third that amount. In 1858 a commission was appointed to inquire into the nat ure of the disease, then termed pébrine; and M. Quatrefages, in 1869, proved that it is hereditary, contagious, and infectious. M. Filippi discovered in the blood of the deceased worms a multitude of cylindrical corpuscles, since named panhistophyton, which Pasteur, who took up the study in 1865, has demonstrated to be parasitical, and the cause of the disease. He has since devised a way by which, it is hoped, the organic germs may be got rid of, and the disease extirpated. Silesia, formerly a province of Poland, was invaded | ernment encouragement was given to the industry in by John of Bohemia, 1325, and ceded to him, 1355. It Georgia. Artisans were sent to Georgia to carry on silk was taken by the king of Hungary, 1478, and added to industries in 1732. The first export of raw silk (eight the Austrian dominion, 1526. It was conquered and lost pounds) was made in 1734. In 1749 the production at several times during the Seven Years' war by Frederick Ebenezer, on the Savannah river, amounted to 1000 lbs. of Prussia, but was retained by him at the peace in 1763. A public filature was set up in Savannah in 1751. From The emperor William was most enthusiastically received 1751 to 1754 the exports amounted to $8880, and for the during his visit, Sept. 1875. next eighteen years there was an annual export averaging 546 lbs. In 1760, 15,000 lbs. of cocoons were deunder British taxation, and was destroyed entirely by the Revolutionary war. The history of silk culture in South Carolina was almost identical with that in Georgia. In Connecticut 200 lbs. of raw silk were made in In 1790, fifty families in New Haven and thirty in Norfolk were engaged in the business. In 1839 the Silistria, a strong military town in Bulgaria, Eu- product of Mansfield, Connecticut, was about 5 tons. A ropean Turkey. It was taken by the Russians, 30 June, filature was established in Philadelphia in 1770. In 1829, and held some years by them as a pledge for the 1875, one cocoonery in San José, California, had 1,000,000 payment of a large sum by the Porte; but was eventual-silk-worms. There are now nearly 200 silk factories in ly returned. In 1854 it was again besieged by the Rus- the United States, and the cultivation of native silk sians, 30,000 strong, under prince Paskiewitch, and many seems to be reviving. The Women's Silk-culture Asassaults were made. The Russian general was com-sociation held an exhibition in Philadelphia, 1881–2. pelled to retire in consequence of a dangerous contusion. On 2 June, Mussa Pacha, the brave and skilful commander of the garrison, was killed. On 9 June, the Russians stormed two forts, which were retaken. A grand assault took place on 13 June, under prince Gortschakoff and gen. Schilders, which was vigorously repelled. On the 15th, the garrison assumed the offensive, crossed the river, defeated the Russians, and destroyed the siege works. The siege was thus raised, and the Russians commenced their retreat as Omar Pacha was drawing near. The garrison was ably assisted by two British officers, capt. Butler and lieut. Nasmyth, the former of whom, after being wounded, died of exhaustion. They were highly praised by Omar Pacha and lord Hardinge, and lieut. Nasmyth was made a major. Silk. Wrought silk was brought from Persia to Greece, 325 B.C. Known at Rome in Tiberius's time, when a law passed in the senate prohibiting the use of plate of massive gold, and also forbidding men to debase themselves by wearing silk, fit only for women. Heliogabalus first wore a garment of silk, A.D. 220. Silk was at first of the same value with gold, weight for weight, and was thought to grow in the same manner as cotton on Silk-worms were brought from India to Europe in the sixth century. Charlemagne sent Offa, king of weighing 370 lbs. was sent to Spain. From a mine in Mercia, a present of two silken vests, 780. The manufacture was encouraged by Roger, king of Sicily, at Pa- Norway, a piece of silver was dug, and sent to the Royal lermo, 1146, when the Sicilians not only bred the silk-Museum at Copenhagen, weighing 560 lbs., and worth worms, but spun and wove the silk. The manufacture spread into Italy and Spain, and also into the south of France, a little before the reign of Francis I. about 1510; and Henry IV. propagated mulberry-trees and silk-worms throughout the kingdom about 1600. In England, silk mantles were worn by some noblemen's ladies at a ball at Kenilworth castle, 1286. Silk was worn by the English clergy in 1534. Manufactured in England in 1604; and broad silk wove from raw silk in 1620. Brought to perfection by the French refugees in London at Spital trees. fields, 1688. A silk-throwing mill was made in England, and fixed up at Derby, by sir Thomas Lombe, merchant of London, modelled from the original mill then in the king of Sardinia's dominions, about 1714. He obtained a patent in 1718, and died 3 Jan. 1739. Six new species of silk-worm were rearing in France, 1861.* James I. sought to introduce silk culture into the American colonies, and himself forwarded eggs to Virginia, and offered bounties on silk grown there, but the superior profit of tobacco culture brought the experiment to naught. Silk culture was introduced in Louisiana in 1718, and gov Silures, a British tribe, occupying the counties of Monmouth and Hereford, was subdued by the Roman general Ostorius Scapula, 50; see Shropshire. From this tribe is derived the geological term "Silurian strata," among the lowest of the paleozoic, or primary series, from their occurrence in the above-mentioned counties. Murchison's "Siluria" was published 1849. found mixed with other ores in various mines in Great Silver exists in most parts of the world, and is Britain. The silver mines of South America are far the richest. A mine was discovered in the district of La Paz in 1660, which was so rich that the silver of it was often cut out with a chisel. In 1749, one mass of silver 16807. In England silver plate and vessels were first used by Wilfrid, a Northumbrian bishop, a lofty and ambitious man, 709.-Tyrrell. Silver knives, spoons, and cups were great luxuries in 1300; see Mirrors. In 1855, 561,906 oz.; in 1857, 532,866 oz.; in 1865, 724,856 oz.; in 1870, 784,562 oz.; in 1876, 483,422 oz. were obtained from mines in Britain. Pattinson's process for obtaining silver from lead ore was introduced in 1829. production of silver in the United States during the Goldsmiths, Mirrors, Plate; India, 1876; United States, fiscal year 1880, amounted to $39,200,000; see Coins, 1878. Fall in price of silver through introduction of gold coin The age in Germany, and increased produce from Ameri- The report of a commission on the subject was issued in 46 1850-72, 61d.; Dec. 1874, 59d.; June, 1875-June, 1876, about 52d.; Jan. 1877, 584d.; March, 512d.; 1878, 54d. Feb.; 527d. 21 Aug.; 491d. 31 Dec. 1879; 524d. 5 June and 20 Nov. 1880; 5211 d. 30 June; 514d. 31 Dec.; 51fd........ .18 July, 1881 Silver Book (Codex Argenteus), see under Bible. Simancas (Castile, Spain). Near it Ramirez II. of Leon, and Fernando of Castile, gained a great victory over Abderahman, the Moorish king of Cordova, 6 Aug. 938. Simla Case, see India, 1866. Simnel Conspiracy, see Rebellions, 1486. Simonians, a sect named from the founder, Simon Magus, the first heretic, about 41. A sect of social reformers called ST. SIMONIANS sprang up in France in 1819, and attracted considerable attention; the doctrines were advocated in England, particularly by Dr. Prati, who lectured upon them in London, 24 Jan. 1834. St. Simon died in 1825, and his follower, Père Enfantin, died 1 Sept. 1864. Simony (trading in church offices), derives its name from Simon desiring to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts viii. 18, 19). It is forbidden in England by the canon law, and by statute 31 Eliz. c. 6, "for the avoiding of simony and corruption in presentations, collations, and donations of and to benefices," etc., 1588-9; and by statute of 12 Anne 2, stat. 12 (1713). The rev. James John Merest was convicted of simony, 26-29 Nov. 1869, and deprived. The bishop of Peterborough (Dr. Magee) moved for a Sinai, Mount. Here the ten commandments were promulgated, 1491 B.C. (Exod. xx.) After much investigation and discussion by many persons, Dr. Beke stated that he had discovered the true Sinai, Feb. 1874. Sinalunga, or ASINALUNGA (near Sienna, Italy). Here Garibaldi, when about to enter the papal territory, was seized and conveyed to Alessandria, 23 Sept. 1867; see Italy. Sinde (N.W. India), was traversed by the Greeks under Alexander, about 326 B.C.; conquered by the Persian Mahometans in the eighth century A.D.; tributary to the Ghaznevide dynasty in the eleventh century; conquered by Nadir Shah, 1739; reverted to the empire of Delhi after his death, 1747; after various changes of rulers, Sinde was conquered by the English, and annexed, March, 1843. Singapore, see Strait Settlements. Sinking Fund. First projected by sir Robert Walpole to redeem the debt to the Bank of England; act passed in 1716. The act establishing the sinking fund of Mr. Pitt, devised by Dr. Price, was passed in March, 1786. A then estimated surplus of 900,0007. in the revenue was augmented by new taxes to make up the sum of 1,000,000l., which was to be invariably applied to the reduction of the national debt. The fallacy of the scheme was shown by Dr. Hamilton in 1813. In July, 1828, the sinking fund was limited to one fourth of the actual surplus of revenue. A new sinking fund was established by act passed 2 Aug. 1875. The annual charge of the national debt of the year ending 31 March, 1877, to be 27,700,000l.; subsequent years to be 28,000,0002. Sinope, an important Greek colony on the Euxine, after resisting several attacks was conquered by Mithridates IV., king of Pontus, and made his capital. It was the birthplace of Diogenes, the cynic philosopher. On 30 Nov. 1853, a Turkish fleet of seven frigates, three corvettes, and two smaller vessels was attacked by a Russian fleet of six sail of the line, two sailing-vessels, and three steamers, under admiral Nachimoff, and totally destroyed, except one vessel, which conveyed the tidings to Constantinople. Four thousand lives were lost by fire or drowning, and Osman Pacha, the Turkish admiral, died at Sebastopol of his wounds. In consequence of this act (considered treacherous) the Anglo-French fleet entered the Black Sea, 3 Jan. 1854. Sion College and Hospital, situated on the site chased by William Elsynge, a citizen and mercer, and of a nunnery, which, having fallen to decay, was purconverted into a college and hospital, called from his name Elsynge Spital. In 1340 he changed it to an Austin priory, which was afterwards granted by Henry VIII. to sir John Williams, master of the jewel-office, who, with sir Roland Hayward, inhabited it till its destruction by fire. In 1623, Dr. Thomas White having bequeathed 30007. towards purchasing and building a college and almshouse on the ancient site, his executors erected the present college. It is held by two charters of incorporation, 6 Chas. I. 1630 and 16 Chas. II. 1664. It contains a valuable library (easily accessible to the public), and an almshouse for ten men and women. Sirene, an instrument for determining the velocity of aerial vibrations corresponding to the different pitches of musical sounds, was invented by baron Cagniard de la Tour of Paris in 1819. The principle was shown in an apparatus exhibited by Robert Hooke before the Royal Society, 27 July, 1681. Sisterhoods in the English church were begun by Lydia Priscilla Sellon about 1846, in Devonshire; she died Nov. 1876. Sisters of Charity, an order for the service of the sick poor, was founded by Vincent de Paul, in 1634. Their establishment in London began in 1834. Six Acts, a term given to certain acts, also named "Gagging Acts," 60 Geo. III. and 1 Geo. IV. cc. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, passed in 1819 to suppress seditious meetings and publications. Six Articles, see Articles. Six Clerks, officers of the Court of Chancery, who were anciently clerici or clergy. They were to conform to the laws of celibacy, and forfeit their places if they married; but when the constitution of the court began to alter, a law was made to permit them to marry; statute 24 & 25 Hen. VIII. 1533. The six clerks continued for many years officers of the Chancery Court, and held their offices in Chancery lane, London, where proceedings by bill and answer were transacted and filed, and certain patents issued.-Law Dict. The six clerks were discontinued by 5 & 6 Vict. c. 103, 1841. Sixteen (seize), a large French political club, in the reigns of Henry III. and IV., sixteen members of which took charge of the sixteen quarters of Paris. They at first supported the Catholic League, and attempted to overthrow Henry III. in 1587, but vacillating in their policy, and committing many crimes, their power was annihilated by Mayenne in 1591, and several of them were executed. Skalitz (Bohemia) was stormed by the Prussian general Steinmetz, 28 June, 1866; whereby the junction of the divisions of the Prussians was greatly facilitated. Skating (with blunt skates) is said to have been practised in prehistoric times by northern nations. Mentioned by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, about 1134 William Fitz Stephens speaks of it in London....about 1180 ..1 Dec. 1662 Figures of skates in Olaus Magnus's history..... printed 1555 1772 1744 ..... 1838 ..Jan. 1880 Skins. The raw skins of cattle were usually suspended on stakes, and made use of instead of kettles to boil meat, in the north of England and in Scotland, 1 Edw. III. 1327.-Leland. In 1857, 4,489,163 skins of oxen, lambs, kid, etc., dressed and undressed; in 1867, 9,593,798; in 1875, 19,479,490; in 1877, 21,892,847; in 1879, 19,491,388, were imported into Great Britain. Skuptschina, the Servian legislative assembly. Slade Professorship OF FINE ART, Cambridge, established in pursuance of the will of Felix Slade, 24 June, 1869; sir Matthew Digby Myall, the first professor, 1869-73; Sidney Colvin, 1873; re-elected since. Slate. Fifteen persons were killed by the fall of a mass of rock and rubble at the Delaboll slate quarries, Slavery terminated in the British possessions; 770,280 Cornwall, 21 April, 1869. the Court of King's Bench in favor of Somerset, that slavery could not exist in Great Britain......22 June, 1772 Act for the abolition of slavery throughout the British colonies, and for the promotion of industry among the manumitted slaves, and for compensation to the persons hitherto entitled to the services of such slaves by the grant from parliament of 20,000,000l. sterling, passed... ..28 Aug. 1833 B.C. Slavery. The traffic in men came from Chaldæa into Egypt, Arabia, and all over the East. In Greece, in the time of Homer, all prisoners of war were treated as slaves. The Lacedæmonian youths, trained up in the practice of deceiving and butchering slaves, were from time to time let loose upon them to show their proficiency; and once, for amusement only, murdered, it is said, 3000 in one night; see Helots. Alexander, when he razed Thebes, sold the whole people for slaves, 335 There were 400,000 slaves in Attica, 317 B.C. In Rome slaves were often chained to the gate of a great man's house, to give admittance to the guests invited to the feast. By one of the laws of the XII. Tables, creditors could seize their insolvent debtors, and keep them in their houses, till by their services or labor they had discharged the sum they owed. C. Pollio threw such slaves as gave him the slightest offence into his fishponds, to fatten his lampreys, 42 B.C. Cæcilius Isidorus left to his heir 4116 slaves, 12 B.C. The first Janissaries ⚫ were Christian slaves, 1329. Serfdom was abolished by Frederick I. of Prussia in 1702; by Christian VII. of Denmark in 1766; by Joseph II., emperor of Germany, in his hereditary states, in 1781; by Nicholas I. of Russia, in the imperial do mains, in 1842; and by his successor, Alexander II., throughout his empire.. .3 March, 1861 Slavery ceased in the Dutch West Indies on......1 July, 1863 It was decreed in Brazil, in 1867, that all children born to slaves henceforth were to be free, and all slaves were to be free in twenty years from that time. In Nov. slaves of the state became free when made soldiers. Slavery was ordered to be abolished gradually, 27 Sept. 1871 Slavery abolished in Porto Rico.... .23 March, 1873 Immediate suppression of slavery in the colonies of St. Thomas, etc., by Portugal, announced Feb. 1876 Gradual emancipation in Cuba; bill passed in Spanish senate, 24 Dec. 1879; by deputies, 21 Jan.; promulgated... .18 Feb. 1880 Slavery to be abolished in Egypt.. ..end of July, 1881 Slavery IN ENGLAND. Laws respecting the sale of slaves were made by Alfred. The English peasantry were commonly sold for slaves in Saxon and Norman times; children were sold in Bristol market like cattle for exportation. Many were sent to Ireland and to Scotland. Under the Normans, the vassals (termed villeins, of and pertaining to the vill) were devisable as chattels during the feudal times. Severe statutes were passed in the reign of Richard II., 1377 and 1385; the rebellion of Wat Tyler, 1381, arose partly out of the evils of serfdom. A statute was enacted by Edward VI., that a runaway, or any one who lived idly for three days, should be brought before two justices of the peace, and marked V with a hot iron on the breast, and adjudged the slave of him who bought him for two years. He was to take the slave and give him bread, water, or small drink, and refuse meat, and cause him to work by beating, chaining, or otherwise; and if, within that space, he absented himself fourteen days, he was to be marked on the forehead or cheek by a hot iron, with an S, and be his master's slave forever; second desertion was made felony. It was lawful to put a ring of iron round his neck, arm, or leg. A child might be put apprentice, and, on running away, become a slave to his master.. 1547 Queen Elizabeth ordered her bondsmen in the western counties to be made free at easy rates Serfdom was finally extinguished in 1660, when tenures in capite, knights' service, etc., were abolished. A slave named Somerset, brought to England, was, because of his ill state, turned adrift by his master. By the charity of Mr. Granville Sharp, he was restored to health, when his master again claimed him. A suit was the consequence, which established, by decision of 1574 slaves became free.... ..1 Aug. 1834 Slavery was abolished in the East Indies.. ......1 Aug. 1838 In 1853, John Anderson, a runaway slave, killed Septi mus Digges, a planter of Missouri, who attempted to arrest him, and escaped to Canada. The American government claimed him as a murderer. The Canadian judges deciding that the law required his surrender, Mr. Edwin James, Q. C. (15 Jan.), obtained a writ of habeas corpus for his appearance before the Court of Queen's Bench. Anderson was discharged on technical grounds.. 16 Feb. 1861 Circular from the Admiralty concerning the surrendering fugitive slaves on board British ships to their owners, dated 31 July; much censured by the public, Sept., Oct.; withdrawn.. .Nov. 1875 A revised circular issued near end of Dec., 1875; met with much adverse criticism.. .Jan. 1876 Government commission appointed (the duke of Somerset, chief-justice Cockburn, sir Henry S. Maine, and others), Feb.; report unfavorable to the circulars; pub lished .13 June, New admiralty instructions: fugitive slaves to be received and not given up; action left to captain's discretion; breach of international faith and comity to be avoided; issued... 10 Aug. Slavery IN UNITED STATES. Before the war of independence all the states contained slaves. In 1783, the statement in the Massachusetts Bill of Rights, " All men are born free and equal," was declared in the Supreme Court, at Boston, to bar slaveholding in that state. Slaves in the United States in 1790, 697,897; in 1810, 1,191,364; in 1820, 2,009,031; in 1850, 3,204,313; in 1860, 4,002,996. In 1870, 4,889,193 free colored persons; in 1880, 6,577,151. Congress passes unanimously the celebrated ordinance "for the government of the territory to the N. W. of the Ohio," which contained an "unalterable" article, forbidding slavery or involuntary servitude in the said territory, 13 July, 1787; after 1800, several of the northwestern territories prayed, without effect, to be relieved from this prohibition. Louisiana purchased, which was considered by many as fatal to the constitution 1803 The enormous increase in the growth of cotton in the southern states (see Cotton) led to a corresponding increase in the demand for slave labor. The Missouri Compromise (drawn up by Henry Clay, by which slavery was permitted in that state, but was prohibited in all states thereafter to be created west of the Mississippi and north of 36° 30′ N. lat) carried.....3 March, 1820 Another compromise effected; California admitted as a The Missouri compromise was abrogated by the passage free state; but the fugitive slave act passed (which see), 1850 of the Kansas- Nebraska bill, which left to the people of those territories the question whether or not they should be organized as slave states; civil war ensued (see Kansas). Dred Scott's case (see United States). 1854 1857 ...Oct. 1859 John Brown's attempt to create a slave rebellion in Virginia failed (see United States)... Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, elected president of the United States.. ..4 Nov. 1860 Secession of South Carolina (see United States).....Dec. Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia..16 April, 1862 President Lincoln proclaims the abolition of slavery in the southern states, if they have not returned to the Union on 1 Jan. 1863.. 22 Sept. Slavery practically abolished by the submission of the southern armies.. ...April, 1865 The total abolition of slavery in the United States offcially announced.. 18 Dec. Mr. William Lloyd Garrison, a fervent champion for emancipation, entertained at St. James Hall, London (he started the Liberator in 1831, and had suffered much for his zeal).. .29 June, 1867 A negro judge present in a court at New Orleans, 18 Sept. 66 (See United States, 1860–5.) Slave-trade. The slave-trade from Congou and Angola was begun by the Portuguese in 1481. The commerce in man has brutalized a tract fifteen degrees on each side of the equator, and forty degrees wide, or of 4,000,000 square miles; and men and women have been bred for sale to the Christian nations during the last 250 years, and war carried on to make prisoners for the Christian market. The Abbé Raynal computed (1777) that, at the time of his writing, 9,000,000 of slaves had been consumed by the Europeans. The slavetrade is now approaching extinction. In 1768 the slaves taken from Africa amounted to 104,100. In 1786 the annual number was about 100,000. In 1807 it was shown by documents, produced by government, that since 1792 upwards of 3,500,000 Africans had been torn from their country, and had either perished on the passage or been sold in the West Indies. Slave-trade abolished in the United States, 1808. HIS first expedition, with the object of procuring negroes on the coast of Africa, and conveying them for sale at the West Indies, took place in Oct. 1562; see Guinea and Assiento. England employed 130 ships, and carried off 42,000 slaves, 1786. Thomas Clarkson, at a spot in Wadesmill, Hertford, devotes The question introduced under the auspices of lord Grenville An obelisk, as a memorial to Thomas Clarkson, erected by Mr. Arthur Giles Puller, at Wadesmill; inaugurated 9 Oct. 1879. FOREIGN COUNTRIES: the trade was abolished by Austria in 1782; by the French convention in 1794; by the United States in 1808. The allies at Vienna declared against it, Feb. 1815. Napoleon, in the Hundred Days, abolished the trade, 29 March, 1815. Treaty for its repression with Spain, 1817; with the Netherlands, May, 1818; with Brazil, Nov. 1826. Its revival was proposed in the congress of the United States of America, 14 Dec. 1856, and negatived by 183 votes to 58. In June, 1857, the French government gave permission to M. Regis to convey free negroes from Africa to Guadeloupe and Martinique, French colonies. This having led to abuses and consequent troubles (see Charles et Georges), was eventually given up in Jan. 1859. It is said that about 40,000 slaves were landed at Cuba in 1860. A treaty between Great Britain and the United States, for the Nov. 1865. Sir Samuel Baker headed an expedition to put down slave trading on the Nile (see Egypt), Jan. 1870; reported to be partially successful, 30 June, 1873. He published "Ismailia, a history of the expedition, 1874. He estimates that at least 50,000 are captured and sold as slaves, Nov. A species of slave-trade has lately risen in the South Seas; the natives being enticed on board certain British vessels and shipped to Queensland, Australia, and the Fiji isles; the subject was brought before parliament (see Melanesia), 1874. 1871-2. The ship Carl (owner, Dr. James P. Murray; master, Joseph Armstrong) left Melbourne for South Sea isles; it anchored off Malokolo, Solomon's, and Bougainville isles, and kidnapped many natives as laborers for the Fiji isles; while about 20 miles from land, the prisoners rose and attempted to set fire to the ship; were tired on; about 50 killed and 20 wounded were cast into the sea. At Melbourne, Murray gave evidence, and Armstrong was committed for trial, 16 Aug.; the master and mate sentenced to death, Nov. 1872. Sir Bartle Frere went to Zanzibar on a mission to suppress the East African slave-trade; see Zanzibar, 1872-3. An act of parliament, for consolidating with amendments the acts for carrying into effect treaties for the more effectual suppression of the slave-trade (36 & 37 Vict. c. 88), was passed, 5 Aug. 1873. Several African kings and chiefs, at Cape Coast Castle, agreed to give up slave-trade, at an interview with governor Stra han, 3 Nov. 1874. The slave-trade on the Gold Coast abolished, by proclamation of governor Strahan, 17 Dec. 1874. Convention with Egypt forbidding the traffic, 4 Aug. 1877; col. Gordon's efforts in the Soudan reported successful, 1879. Slavonia, or SCLAVONIA, a province of Austria, derives its name from the Slavs, a Sarmatian people who replaced the Avars in Pannonia early in the ninth century. In 864, Cyril and Methodius, Greek missionaries, preached here, and adapted the Greek alphabet to the Slavonian language, the letters of which have since been a little altered. The country, after having been held at times by the Greeks, Turks, and Hungarians, and the cause of sanguinary conflicts, was ceded finally to Hungary in 1699, at the peace of Carlowitz. Deputies from the Slavonian provinces of Austria were entertained at Moscow and St. Petersburg, May, 1867. The Croatian-Slavonian diet at Agram was dissolved, May, 1867. It protested against incorporation with Hungary. The Slavonian family of languages includes Russian, Polish, Servian, Bohemian, Bulgarian, Wendic, Slovak, and Pʊlabic. For the war, see Turkey, 1875–6. Estimated number of Slavs in Europe in 1875, 90,365,633 : Russians and Ruthenians, 66,129,590; Serbo-Croats, 5,940,539; Bulgarians, 5,123,952; Slovenes, 1,260,000; Slovaks, 2,223,830; Czechs, 4,815, 154; Poles, 9,492.162. Lord Ilchester's bequest to promote the study of Slavonian literature at Oxford; lectures first given, May, 1876. Sleswig, see Holstein. Sliding-scale, see Corn Laws. Sling. In Judg. xx. 16 is mentioned the skill of the Benjamite slingers (about 1406 B.C.), and with a sling David slew Goliath, 1065 B.C. (1 Sam. xvii.). The natives of the Balearic isles (Majorca, Minorca, and Iviça) were celebrated slingers, and served as mercenaries in the Carthaginian and Roman armies. Slings are said to have been used by the Huguenots at the siege of Sancerre, in 1672, to economize their powder. Sloane's Museum, see British Museum. Slough, near Eton, Bucks. Mrs. Ann Reville, a butcher's wife, was barbarously murdered here early in tried and acquitted, same month. the evening, 11 April, 1881. Alfred Payne, a lad, was Sluys (Holland), near which Edward III. gained a signal naval victory over the French. The English had the wind of the enemy, and the sun at their backs, and began this sanguinary action. Two hundred and thirty French ships were taken; thousands of Frenchmen were killed, with two of their admirals; the loss of the English was inconsiderable; 24 June, 1340. Smalcald (Hesse), TREATY OF, entered into be, tween the elector of Brandenburg and the other princes of Germany in favor of Protestantism, 31 Dec. 1530; see Protestants. The emperor, apprehensive that the kings of France and England would join this league, signed the treaty of Passau, 31 July, 1532, allowing liberty of conscience. Small Tenements Acts (59 Geo. III. c. 12, 1819), 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c. 99), provided for owners paying rates of houses instead of the occupiers. This was annulled by the new Reform act, 30 & 31 Vict. c. 102, s. 7 (1867). Sinall-pox, variola (diminutive of varus, a pimple), a highly contagious disease, supposed to have been introduced into Europe from the East by the Saracens Rhazes, an Arabian, described it accurately about 900. From Europe it was carried to America, soon after its discovery, and raged there with great severity, destroying the Indians by thousands. In 1694, queen Mary of England died of small-pox, as did in 1711 and 1712 the emperor of Germany, the dauphin and dauphiness of France and their son, in 1730 the emperor of Russia, in 1741 the queen of Sweden, and in 1774 Louis XV. of France. It is stated that in the middle of the last century two millions perished by it in Russia. In London, in 1723, one out of fourteen deaths was caused by smallpox, and in France, in 1754, the rate was one in ten. For the attempts to alleviate this scourge, see Inoculation, introduced into England in 1722, and Vaccination, announced by Dr. Jenner in 1798. Small-pox Hospital, established 1746. Small-pox raged in parts of London, and thousands died, 1870-1; a temporary hospital was established at Hampstead (which see). The Anti-vaccination Society has been active, and many parents have been fined for opposing the vaccination of their children, 1870-6. In Sept. and Oct. 1862, a great many sheep died of small-pox in the west of England, till successful preventive measures were resorted to. Many cases in London, 1876-8; deaths principally of unvaccinated persons. Small-pox prevalent in London: 88 deaths, 1-7 May; 103 and steamers above London Bridge. In 1856 another deaths, 15-21 May; diminishing, July, 1881. act, obtained for its further application to steamers below Deaths, June, 1880-June, 1881, 1532; 637 not vaccinated. Small-pox declared epidemic in the United States by the Na- London Bridge, and to potteries and glass-houses pretional Board of Health, Dec. 1881. viously exempted, came into operation, 1 Jan. 1858; en- Smolensko (Russia). The French in most sanguinary engagements here were three times repulsed, but ultimately succeeded in entering Smolensko, and found the city, which had been bombarded, burning and partly in ruins, 16, 17 Aug. 1812. Barclay de Tolly, the Russian commander-in-chief, incurred the displeasure of the emperor Alexander because he retreated after the battle, and Kutusoff succeeded to the command. Smithfield, West, in the heart of London, was once a favorite walk of the London citizens, outside the city walls. Sir W. Wallace was executed here, 23 Aug. 1305. On 15 June, 1381, Wat Tyler was met by Richard II. at this place, and was stabbed by Walworth the Smugglers. The customs duties, instituted to mayor. Many tournaments were also held here. In enable the king to afford protection to trade against the reign of Mary (1553-8), many persons perished by pirates, afterwards became a branch of public revenue, fire; and Bartholomew Leggatt, an Arian, was burned and gave rise to much smuggling. The Smugglers' act here, 18 March, 1612.-Bartholomew fair was held here till 1853. This place is mentioned as the site of a cattle-1781 and 1784. A revision of these statutes took place, was passed in 1736, and its severity was mitigated in market as far back as 1150. The space devoted to this 1826 and 1835. purpose was enlarged from about three acres to four and a half, and in 1834 to six and a quarter. The ancient regulations were called the "statutes of Smithfield." In one day there were sometimes assembled 4000 beasts and 30,000 sheep. The annual amount of the sales was about 7,000,0002. 1846 Sold here 226,132 beasts, 1,593,270 sheep and lambs, 26,- 1855 1861 A dead-meat and poultry market ordered to be erected New central fruit and vegetable market determined on, members established an annual cattle-show, held first in The show, suspended in Dec. 1866 on account of the plague, was partially resumed Dec. 1867; wholly, Dec. 1868. Smith's Charity (FOR POOR KIN). Alderman Henry Smith, by will dated 26 April, 1647, left 1000, for relief of captives held by Turkish pirates, and 1000%. for his poor kinsmen. The former object having become obsolete, an act was passed in 1772 to divert all the property to the poor kinsmen. In 1868 these were 412 in number. The value of the property is now about 11,000l. a year, and still increasing. The mas ter of the rolls decided in Dec. 1877 that the funds should be applied to general charitable purposes. On appeal. the decision was in favor of the "poor Smiths," 12 Feb. 1878. Smyrna, see Seven Churches. Sneezing. The custom of saying "God bless you" to the sneezer originated, according to Strada, among the ancients, who, through an opinion of the danger attending it, after sneezing made a short prayer to the gods, as "Jupiter, help me." The custom is mentioned by Homer, the Jewish rabbis, and others, and is found among savages. Polydore Vergil says it took its rise at the time of the plague, 558, when the infected fell down dead sneezing, though seemingly in good health. Snider Gun, see under Fire-arms. Snuff-taking took its rise in England from the captures made of vast quantities of snuff by sir George Rooke's expedition to Vigo in 1702, and the practice soon became general. In 1839 there were imported 1,622,493 lbs. of snuff, of which 196,305 lbs. were entered for home consumption; the duty was 88,2637., see Tobacco. In 1858, 2,573,925 lbs, of snuff and cigars, 1861, 2,110,430 lbs. 1871, 3,852,236 lbs.; 1877, 3,762,831 lbs. were imported. Soane Museum, etc., No. 13 Lincoln's-inn fields, was gradually formed by sir John Soane, the architect, who died in 1837, after making arrangements for its being open to the public by an act passed in 1833. It contains Egyptian and other antiquities, valuable paintings, rare books, etc. 150%. are distributed annually to distressed architects or their widows and children. Soap is a salt, a compound of a fatty acid with an alkali, soda or potash. The Hebrew bôrith, translated soap, is merely a general term for cleansing substances (Job ix. 30; Jer. ii. 22). Pliny declares soap to be an invention of the Gauls, though he prefers the German to the Gallic soap. Nausicaa and her attendants, Homer tells us, washed clothes by treading upon them with their feet in pits of water.-Odyssey, book vi. The Romans used fuller's earth. Savon, the French word for soap, is ascribed to its having been manufactured at Savona, near Genoa. The manufacture of soap began in London in 1524, before which time it was supplied by Bristol at one penny per pound. The duty upon soap, imposed in 1711, after several reductions from 3d. per pound, was totally Smithsonian Institution, "for the increase and repealed in 1853. It then produced, according to the diffusion of knowledge among men," a handsome build-chancellor of the exchequer, Mr. Gladstone, about 1,126,ing at Washington, U. S., was founded in 1846 by means of a legacy of above 100,0007, bequeathed for the purpose to the United States government by James Smithson, illegitimate son of sir Hugh Smithson, who became duke of Northumberland in 1766. It publishes and freely distributes scientific memoirs and reports. The library was burned on 25 Jan. 1865. Prof. Joseph Henry, the first secretary, died 13 May, 1878; succeeded by Mr. Baird. Smoke Nuisance. An act was passed in 1853 to abate this nuisance, proceeding from chimney-shafts 000l. annually. Sobraon (N.W. India). The British army, 35,000 strong, under sir Hugh (afterwards viscount) Gough, attacked the Sikh force on the Sutlej, 10 Feb. 1846. The enemy was dislodged after a dreadful contest, and all their batteries taken; and in attempting the passage of the river by a floating bridge in their rear, the weight of the masses that crowded upon it caused it to break down, and thousands of Sikhs were killed, wounded, or drowned. The British loss was 2338 men. |