Chappy

Gaping; open; full of clefts or fi ures. Chaps, n. pl. The two planes or flat parts of a vice or pair of tongs or pliers, for holding anything fast, and which are generally roughed with teeth. See CHAP. Chap'tal, JEAN ANTOINE, COMTE DE CHANTELOUP, a celebrated French chemist, B. 1756. In 1781, the States of Langue doc founded for him a chair of chemistry in the school of medicine. Having succeeded to the fortune of a rich uncle, C. instituted several establishments for the manufacture of chemical products. He improved the proce es for the production of mineral acids, alum, soda, white lead, .; discovered a new method for dyeing Turkey red, and also naturalized barilla in the S. of France. He was afterwards appointed profe or of chemistry in the school of medicine at Paris, and named by Napoleon minister of the interior. Under his administration chambers of commerce were founded, special encouragements granted to the industrial arts and manufactures, the culture of beet-root extended, and schools of trades established. On the return of Napoleon from Elba, C. accepted the direction of commerce and manufactures; and for his devotion to the imperial cause, his name was erased by Louis XVIII., from the list of peers. In 1816 he was elected member of the Institute; his declining years were marked by cruel reverses of fortune, and he D. in 1832. C. was a voluminous writer on! science and political economy, and his Chimie appliquée auz Arts may still be consulted with advantage.