ployed as a clerk, but devoted his feisure to theological studies. In 1846 he was settled over the Uni- versalist Church in Charlestown, Mass. in 1848, over the Hollis Street Church, Boston; and in 1860 he was called to California to pre- side over a church in San Fran- cisco. Here by his intrepid elo- quence and his unsparing labors he did much to awaken a wide-spread opposition to the Confederate re- bellion, and to save California to the Union. But in the midst of his heroic exertions he was stricken by death. He died of diphtheria, March 4. 1864. See p. 379. KNOWLES, JAMES SHERIDAN, drama- tist and author, was born at Cork, Ireland, in 1794. His father was a teacher of elocution, and James fol- lowed the profession for some years at Belfast. It was while thus em- ployed that most of those dramas on which his fame is built were composed. He wrote Virginius," "William Tell," "The Hunch- back," "The Wife," all of which were among the most popular dra- mas of the day, and still retain their place upon the stage. Knowles tried his fortune as an actor, but in this sphere was not successful. About the year 1836 he visited the United States, and played at the principal theatres. Returning home he turned his attention from the stage to theology and the pulpit. He became a Baptist clergyman, wrote theological works, and was highly esteemed by the members of the sect to which he attached himself. He died 1863. Extract from Alfred," 6, p. 49. Extract from Virginius, 4, p. 52. from Wm. Tell, p. 476. KO'RAN, literally, the book; appropri- ately, the Mahometan scriptures. LABOULAYE, EDOUARD, was born in France in 1811. He is the author of a political history of the United States, of some eloquent works against slavery, and was the active champion of the United States gov- ernment during the Confederate rebellion. See p. 128.
LAIGHTON, ALBERT, an American
poet of genuine taste and feeling, was born in New Hampshire, about the year 1825. See p. 214. LANGUOR (lang'gwur).
LAS CASAS, a Spanish prelate, distin-
guished as a missionary and histo- rian of South America, was born 1474, died 1566.
LEGION (le'j'un), a military force or band; a great number. LEGISLATIVE (lej'is-la-tiv). LEIBNITZ (libe'nitz), an eminent Ger- man philosopher, was born at Leip- zig, 1646, died 1716. LEONIDAS, king of Sparta, immortal- ized himself by his glorious defense of the pass of Thermopyla against Xerxes, 480 B. C.
LIMN (lim), to draw. LINGARD, DR. JOHN, the Catholic historian of England, was born in Winchester, England, 1771; died 1851, having refused a cardinal's hat.
LIVY or LIVIUS, TITUS, an illustrious Roman historian, was born at Pata- vium (now Padua), 59 B. C., died A. D. 18.
LOCHINVAR (lõk'-), p. 362. LOCKHART. JOHN GIBSON, a Scottish author, for many years editor of the London Quarterly Review, was born about the year 1790. He wrote the Life of Sir Walter Scott, whose daughter he had married. See p. 71. LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH, an American poet, was born at Portland, Maine, 1807, and gradu- ated at Bowdoin College in 1825. To qualify himself for the professor- ship of modern languages, he trav eled in Europe, returned in 1829, and entered upon his official duties. In 1835 he was invited to fill the same post in Harvard University. He again visited Europe, and re- turning settled at Cambridge, where he has since lived, but in 1854 re- signed his professorship. By his writings he has achieved a popu- larity beyond that of any American poet, not only in his own country but in England, where his works are found in all varieties of editions, from the hot-pressed superbly illus- trated drawing-room edition to the shilling volume. Most of his poems have an eclectic character, showing his thorough acquaintance with European literature, but there are not a few which are purely na- tional. His "Voices of the Night," "Evangeline," and "Golden Le- gend," are among the best speci- mens of his powers; but of his minor poems his " Launching of the Ship" is one of the most truth-
ful, picturesque, and well-con- structed. See extracts from this poem, pp. 67. 330; Seaweed, p. 349. LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL, distinguish- ed as a poet and political writer, was born in Boston, 1819. Early devot- ed to the cause of freedom, he has written much and well upon the sub- ject. For two or three years he edited the Atlantic Monthly." He succeeded Longfellow in the profes- sorship of modern languages in Har- vard University, and subsequently became one of the editors of the "North American Review." In poetry, had his range been more limited, he would perhaps have at- tained a higher reputation. His verses give unmistakable evidence of the possession of the "faculty di- vine"; and the rare beauty of such "She came and went,' poems as "A Day in June," etc., makes us regret that he has not followed out the sweet vein further. In genu- ine poetical genius he is as yet un- surpassed by any American bard. LOWERING (lou'-), frowning. LUCRECE or LUCRETIA, one of the
noblest names in Roman history, having been dishonored by Sextus Tarquinius, the king's eldest son, stabbed herself with a poniard. Her fate led to the expulsion of the Tar- quins from Rome by Junius Brutus. LUNT, WM. P., a clergyman, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, about the year 1807. He was set- tled at Quincy. Massachusetts, but visiting the Old World for his health, died abroad. 1857. LYTTON, SIR EDWARD BULWER, was born in Norfolk, England. 1805. He was the son of General Bulwer, but changed his name to Lytton on being raised to a baronetcy. Edu- cated at Cambridge, he published a volume of poems in 1826, and in 1828 put forth the novel of "Pel- ham." A number of romances of unequal merit followed from his pen, among the best of which are My Novel," ""The Caxtons," and "What will he do with it?" He also wrote two highly successful plays, "The Lady of Lyons." and "Richelieu " (reesh'loo). His most ambitious poems are "The New Timon" and "King Arthur." In 1831 he entered Parliament. In 1835 he published "The Crisis," a political pam- phlet which powerfully influenced
the elections, and won for him a baronetcy. He has exhibited throughout his career immense lit- erary industry. Few writers of the age have shown at once such fertility and versatility in composition. Ex- tracts from his latest work may be found pp. 177, 386.
MACAULAY, THOMAS BABINGTON, was born in Leicestershire, England, 1800, and educated at Trinity Col- lege, Cambridge. Throughout his entire university career he was not- ed as an omnivorous devourer of literature, fortunate in a memory surprisingly retentive of words and things. He was only twenty-five when his brilliant essay on Milton appeared in the " Edinburgh Re- This was the starting-point of his literary fame. In 1830 he entered Parliament. In 1834 he accepted a lucrative post in India, but returned home in 1838. In 1847 he withdrew from political life, and devoted himself to historical and literary studies. In 1849 he com- menced the publication of his ad- mirable history of England, a work which attained an instant and wide popularity, both at home and in America. He gives us such a pic- ture of Old England in the days of the Stuarts as no writer had ever given us before. From novels, plays, pictures, maps, poems, diaries, let- ters, and a hundred other such sources, he collected, with patient industry, his materials. As a de- scriptive poet, in his "Lays of An- cient Rome." his "Battle of Ivry," &c., Macaulay has shown transcen- dent genius. These lays have never been surpassed by any poems of their kind. In 1857 Macaulay was raised to the peerage as a tribute to his eminent literary merit. See Thackeray's account of him, p. 351. See also pp. 158, 266, 442. MACE, originally a club of metal; now an ensign of authority, frequently borne before magistrates. MACHINATION (mak-i-na′-). MADDEN, DANIEL O., an English bar.
rister, editor of the select speeches of Henry Grattan. See p. 277. MANUFACTURER (-yur-er). MARIUS, CAIUS, one of the greatest
soldiers and dictators of the Roman republic, was born about 157 B. C. In 101 he obtained a great victory over the Cimbri, and was hailed
the third founder of Rome." He' was the avowed chief of the plebeian party.
MARSEILLES (mär-sālz).
MARSHALED or MARSHALLed. MARS, in the solar system the fourth planet in the order of distance from the sun. A ruddy, fiery color char- acterizes its light.
MARSTON. The battle of Marston Moor, England, in which Cromwell defeated the royalists under Prince Rupert, took place July 3, 1644. MARVELOUS or MARVELLOUS. MAUSOLEUM (mau-so-le'uin). MI'DAS, a king of ancient Phrygia, of whom it is fabled that everything he touched turned to gold. MIGNONETTE (min-yun-et'). MILTON, JOHN, the second great poet of England, was born in London, Dec. 9, 1608, and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge. He has himself related that the love of letters was deeply rooted before he was twelve years old. He studied languages, ancient and modern, de- lighted especially in poetical read- ing, and cultivated music. In 1637 he visited Italy, and made the ac- quaintance of Galileo. He returned home to devote himself to the cause of movement and of freedom. The next twenty years were the times of the Civil War, the Common- wealth, and the Protectorate. Dur- ing this stormy period the poet's lyre was mute; but his political and controversial writings made him renowned over Europe. He was a zealous republican; and his eccle- siastical opinions, adverse to epis- copacy from his youth, were ma tured by the conflict around him till he attached himself to the In- dependents. His literary services procured him, in 1649, the office of Latin secretary to the council of state under Cromwell; but in 1652 he had become totally blind. The distractions that followed the death of Cromwell were finally terminated by the restoration of the profligate King Charles II. And now the poet, blind yet bold, sat down in poverty, affliction, and obscurity, to work out the immortality which had been the object of his earliest aspirations. His later years were employed in the composition of Paradise Lost; Paradise Regained; Samson Agonistes; and in the re- publication of his minor poems, 22 *
among which are some noble son- nets. His life was pure and spirit- ual; his sympathies and best efforts were freely given to all the noblest interests of humanity; he acted from his youth "as under his great Taskmaster's eye." He hated every form of oppression, was the elo- quent advocate of the freedom of the press, and the consistent cham- pion of human rights. His poetry, in its diction and its sentiments, reaches the highest flights of sub- limity and power. Milton died in 1674. A tomb was erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey, in 1737. See pp. 55, 136, 232, 238, 416, 430.
MINE. When this word (says Smart) is used adjectively before a word beginning with a vowel or h mute, as in saying "On mine honor," the absence of accentual force will per- mit the shortening of the sound into min.
MIRABEAU (mir'ră-bo), Honore Ga- briel Raquetti, Comte de, the great- est orator of France, was born of a noble family at Bignon, near Ne- mours, 1749. At the commence- ment of the national troubles in 1789, being rejected by his own order, the noblesse, as a deputy, he threw himself into the arms of the popular party and was elected. He was a man of splendid genius, but in the early part of his life licen- tious and unprincipled. It is prob- able, however, that his patriotism was sincere, and that he meant the honor and welfare of France. died suddenly, April 2, 1791. See pp. 40, 41, 397. MIRAGE (me-räzh'). MIS-E-RE'RE, the name of a Latin chant, beginning Miserere me'i, Dom'i-ne, Have mercy on me, O Lord.
of volunteers. He showed great | celerity and energy in all his iniltary operations. Sent to South Carolina, in 1862, he died there, Oct. 30th of that year, regretted by the whole loyal people of the United States, who confided in his unconditional patriotism, and had formed high hopes of his military skill. See pp. 251, 483. MITFORD, MARY RUSSELL, born in Hampshire, England, in 1786, died 1855. She wrote Our Village," a series of charming sketches of rural life; also the successful tragedy of "Rienzi," from which see an extract. 7, p. 50.
MOLECULE (mol'c-kule). MOORE, THOMAS, celebrated as a song-writer, was born in Dublin, 1779. The works for which he is chiefly remembered are his "Irish Melodies," exquisite specimens of polished and most musical verse; and his " Lalla Rookh" (Tulipcheek), a glittering picture of Eastern life and scenery. He has also written lives of Sheridan and Byron. See p. 422.
MOULD or MOLD (Webster). MOULDER OF MOLDER. MOZART, JOHANN WOLFGANG, the great musical genius of his age, was born in Salzburg, in Austria, 1756; died 1792, before he had reached his 36th year. His works are in all styles of musical art, and all great.
MUSEUM (mu-ze'um). MY. They in this word when used without emphasis, takes its regular short sound, as "I took down my hat"; "my lords and gentlemen," &c.
NAPOLEON, LOUIS (loo') BONAPARTE, proclaimed Emperor of the French, 1852, is a nephew of the great Napoleon, and was born in Paris, April 20, 1808. NATURE (nate'yur).
NE'ER (nare), a contraction of never. NEITHER (ne'thur or i'thur; the former is the preferred mode). NEWMAN, REV. JOHN HENRY, D. D., was born in London, 1801, and educated at Oxford. In 1845 he was admitted into the Catholic Church, and, in 1852, became Principal of the Catholic university in Dublin. See p. 229.
NICHOL, J. P., LL. D., Professor of Astronomy in the University of Glas
gow, was born in Montrose, Scot
land, 1804. He lectured in the United States some years since, and has written much and well on his favorite science.
NILE. The battle of the Nile between the British and French fleets, in which the former, under Nelson, were victorious, took place August 1, 1798.
NINE. By "the nine is meant, in ancient poetry, the nine Muses. personifications imagined to preside over poetry, science,the fine arts, &c. NI'O-BE, in ancient mythology, a queen of Thebes, who, proud of her numerous offspring, provoked the anger of Apollo and Diana, who slew them all. She was changed into a rock from which a rivulet, fed by her tears, continually flows. NONE (nŭn).
NORTON, CAROLINE E. S., the second daughter of Thomas, and the granddaughter of the celebrated R. B. Sheridan, was born in London, about 1812. Her marriage with Mr. Norton was not a happy one. She has published two volumes of poetry,
The Sorrows of Rosalie." and the "Undying One." Some of her shorter pieces show genuine poetical ability and exquisite taste in expression. See p. 462. NOTHING (nuth'ing).
Nu'BI-A, the name of countries on and around the valley of the Nile. NYMPH (nimf).
OB'DU-RATE or OB-DU'RATE. O-BE DI-ENCE.
OBEISANCE (-bā'- or -bē′-). OBLIGE (o-blīje').
Optous (o'di-us or ōd'yus). OFFENSE OF OFFENCE. OLIGARCHY (ol'e-gark'y), a govern- ment by an exclusive few. O-LYM'PI-AN, pertaining to Olympus, in Greek mythology, the chief seat of the gods of whom Jupiter was the principal.
ORMUS, an island in the Persian Gulf, once the emporium of all the riches of India.
OSSA, one of the highest mountains of Greece, connected with Pelion on the southeast. It is mentioned by Homer in the legend of the war of the giants.
OS'SIAN, the name of a supposed Scottish bard, who lived in the third century. His productions were first given to the world in an English version by James M'Pherson, in 1760, with the assurance that these
were translations made by himself from ancient Erse manuscripts. There was a long controversy as to the genuineness of these poems, which was finally settled by the decision of the Highland Society, in 1805, that they had not been able to obtain any one poem the same in title and tenor with the poems of Ossian. Wordsworth says of them: Having had the good fortune to be born and reared in a mountain- ous country, from my very child- hood I have felt the falsehood of the volumes imposed upon the world under the name of Ossian. From what I saw with my own eyes I knew that the imagery was spuri- ous.' See an extract from Ossian, p. 65.
OUNCE, a carnivorous quadruped, a native of India. PAGEANT (paj'- or pā'-). PARCELED or PARCELLED. PARENT (pare'rent).
PARLIAMENT (pur'li-ment). PARTHE-NON, the celebrated Gre- cian temple of Minerva in ancient Athens.
PARTHIAN. See p. 339. PASCAL, BLASE, a native of Clermont, in France, was born June 19, 1623. As a boy he exhibited an astonish- ing geuius for mathematics; but his intellect in other departments of thought was equally colossal. Re- nouncing the positive sciences for theology, he wrote works which show wonderful mental activity and power. He died young, in 1662. PATRIOT (pa'tri-ot or pat'ri-ot). PEEL, SIR ROBERT, an eminent Eng- lish statesman, was born in Lan- cashire. 1788. He studied at Oxford, entered Parliament at twenty-one years of age, became prime minister in 1841, and died of a fall from a horse, 1859.
PEGASUS, in Greek mythology, a winged horse, regarded as the horse of the Muses, and as having pro- duced by a stroke of his hoof the inspiring fountain Hippocrene. PERCIVAL, JAMES GATES. an Ameri-
can poet, was born in Berlin, Conn., Sept. 15, 1795, and died at Haze Green, Wisconsin, 1857. He grad- uated at Yale College, in 1815, stud- ied medicine, and in 1820 published a volume of poetry. He was dis- tinguished as a linguist; and in geog- raphy, botany, and natural history was an accomplished scholar. His
poetry, though exhibiting fine pow- ers, was never a source of profit to himi. In 1854 he was appointed State Geologist of Wisconsin. He was a man of rather eccentric habits, fond of seclusion, studious, and ir- reproachable in all his dealings. See p. 426.
PEREMPTORY (pèr'em-tor-e). PETRARCH (pe'trark) or PETRARCA, FRANCESCO, one of the greatest Italian poets, was born in Tuscany, 1304, died 1374. Much of his poetry consists of sonnets, to which he gave an admirable polish of diction and melody.
PHALANX (fal'angks or fa'-). PHARAOH (fa'ro or fare'o). PHILIPPIC. See Demosthenes. PHILISTINE (fil-is'tin). PHIL-O-ME'LA, in ancient Grecian story, a king's daughter who was metamorphosed into a nightingale. PICTURE (pikt'yur). PLACABLE (pla- or plăc'-). PLA'TO, the great Greek philosopher, was born at Athens, about 430 B. C.; died in his 80th year. His is still the greatest name in speculative philosophy, as Shakespeare's is in poetry. He taught the immortality of the soul and the beauty of good-
PLOW or PLOUGH. PLUTUS, in ancient mythology, the personification of wealth. Jupiter is said to have deprived him of sight, that he might bestow his gifts blindly, not favoring the deserving. POE, EDGAR A., was born in Balti- more, 1811. His parents belonged to the theatrical profession, and he was left an orphan at an early age. He was adopted by John Allan, a wealthy Virginian, and taken to England; but in his 11th year he returned and entered the University at Charlottesville. Being expelled from the college, and getting into a quarrel with his benefactor, he went abroad and passed a year in Europe. At St. Petersburg he got into some difficulty and sought relief from the American minister, Mr. Middleton, who provided for him the means of returning home. Mr. Allan now got for him an entrance as a cadet at West Point, but Poe threw away this like other opportunities, and left before he had been in the place a year. Being now thrown on his own resources, he tried literature, and became editor of the Southern
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