Airlie, Earls

OF, Barons Ogilvy of Airlie (1491), Barons Ogilvy of Alyth and Lintrathen (1639, in the Scotch peerage), a prominent family of Great Britain. The first earl of Airlie was created in 1639.-DAVID GRAHAM DRUMOND OGILVY, the tenth earl, was born May 4, 1826, and succeeded his father in 1849. Aiza'ni, an an ancient town of Asia Minor, now in ruins. Among its ruins, the theatre, with accommodations for over 12,000 spectators, is in a fine state of preservation. Ak'su (ahk-soo'), a town of Central Asia, in Chinese Turkestan, near the S. base of the Thian-Shan Mts., 260 m. N. E. of Yark and. It is a leading commercial entrepôt between Ru ia, China, and Tartary, and the headquarters of a Chinese military dept. Pop . about 30,000. Alabama Claims, (The.) ( Am . Hist .) Under this title, an international dispute involving questions of the gravest political importance sprung into existence after the close of the Civil War in 1865, between this country and Great Britain; and remained as a source of growing irritation until 1872, in which year it was satisfactorily set at rest by the decision of arbitrators a embled in conference at Geneva, as will be seen later on. The name "Alabama" was adopted to denominate certain claims advanced by the U. S. govt. against Great Britain, for inderrnification of American citizens for marine lo es caused by Confederate cruisers during the war aforesaid, several of which were built and equipped in England, including the notorious privateer Alabama , and, from the depredations committed by the latter upon American commerce having been the most serious in extent, her name became accordingly attached to the i ues which had arisen out of the proceedings of herself and consorts. The "Alabama" was a screw steam-sloop of 1,040 tons register, built by Me rs. Laird of Birken head, Eng., for the Confederate govt. Constructed of wood, and adapted more for speed than durability, she was bark-rigged, fitted with two engines of 350 horse-power each, and pierced for 12 guns, having besides carrying capacity for two heavy pivot-guns amidships. Her cost, inclusive of her equipment, was $258,580. At the time of her launching she had not been christened, (being known as "290," the builders' number,) neither was her destination known, although it was suspected by the agents of the United States in England. In June, 1862, Capt. Semmes of the Confederate navy, who had previously commanded the "Sumter," a ve el condemned at Gibraltar as an seaworthy, -arrived to take charge; and, on the 31st July, despite an effort made by the American minister to detain her, the "Alabama" put to sea. Arriving at Terceira, in the Azores, on the 13th Aug., she there was joined by Capt. Semmes and his officers, the former of whom there produced his commi ion, gave the ve el her afterwards notorious name, and hoisted the Confederate flag, after having previously received by means of a ship from London, which also joined her there, her armament, munitions of war, and stores, together with a supply of coal. Her crew consisted of 50 men, all told, and her armament of eight 32-pound | Alaiedon ( ah - la'e - don ), in Michigan , a township of ers. Proceeding to sea again, the "Alabama" made her first capture on Sept. 5th, and within the space of eleven days following, had destroyed quite a number of American merchantmen. Failing, through want of coal, to make of New York harbor a cruising-station, Semmes' next exploit was the overhauling of the mail steamer "Ariel," plying between Asp in wall and New York, on which occasion he captured a number of U.S. officers on board, along with 140 marines. Releasing the "Ariel" after exacting a heavy bond from her, payable on the conclusion of the war, the "Alabama," on Jan. 11, 1863, while cruising off Galveston, encountered and sunk the U. S. gunboat "Hatter as." After capturing in all 65 ve els, and destroying American property to the estimated amount of $4,000,000, she cruised in the Indian Ocean, and returned thence to Europe, where, on June 11, 1864, she entered the French port of Cherbourg, in order to refit. While lying there, the U. S. steam corvette "Kearsarge," Capt. Winslow, made her appearance, upon which the "Alabama" challenged her to an action in the roads. The "Kearsarge" overmatched her adversary in respect of crew, armament, speed, and general fighting condition, besides being protected amidships by chain-armor. On the 19th, the two ships met, and a naval duel immediately commenced, which, after the lapse of an hour, ended in the sinking of the "Alabama" by her antagonist, her officers and crew being rescued from drowning in part by the boats of the "Kearsarge," and the rest by an Eng. lish yacht which had witne ed the whole affair. Among the latter was Captain Semmes himself, the English yachtsman refusing to deliver up those whom he had saved, and whom he hastened to place under neutral protection. The career of the "Alabama," and of the "Florida," "Shenandoah," and other ve els, built and equipped in England, had the effect of almost annihilating the mercantile marine of the U. States, so that by the consequent transfer of the American carrying-trade to bottoms under foreign flags, and the enhanced premiums of insurance demanded on war-risks, that country's commercial lo es had been proportionably great, and the feeling of irritation against Great Britain for having afforded such succors to the South, accordingly became deep and universal, Then followed a diplomatic correspondence between the American and British govts., introductory to negotiations entered into for a settlement of the claims preferred by the former, and resulting in a treaty formed in 1868, by the U. S' minister at St. James', Hon. Reverdy Johnson, for the adjustment of outstanding differences. This treaty, however, proved entirely unsatisfactory to the govt. of the U. States, and it was ultimately rejected by the Senate. After this, the "Alabama Question" remained in abeyance till 1871, when, on Feb. 27, a Joint High Commi ion, composed of an equal number of members, representing the two countries at i ue, met at Washington, with the object of agreeing upon and establishing a basis for the complete adjustment of these international differences. On the 8th of May following, a treaty was signed, by the tenor of which Eng Ingham co. Alamos it a ( al - ah -mo-se'tah), in New Mexico , a town- ship of Soccorro co. Alba ( al'bah ), [anc. Alba Pompeia ], an ancient city of N. Italy, prov. Cuneo, on the Tanaro, 31 m. N. E. of Turin. It has an extensive trade in agricultural products and cattle. Pop . (1895) about 9,000, Albacete ( al - bah - sa'ta ), a S. E. Prov. of Spain, in Mur- cia, Area , 5,966 sq. m. Its surface is generally moun- tainous, but is diversified with fine plains and fertile valleys, highly productive of grain, wine, hemp, to- bacco, saffron, and fruits. Cattle-rearing is largely en- gaged in. Cap . Albacete. Pop . 221,444.-ALBACETE, а manuf, town, cap. of above prov., 138 m. S. E. of Madrid, is a well built place, and carries on a considerable trade. Pop . (1895) 12,531. Alban'i, the stage name of Marie Emma La June e, a famous soprano singer, b. at Chambly, near Montreal, in 1851, removed to Albany in 1864, and made her début as an opera singer at Me ina in 1870 under a pseudonym taken from the name of Albany. She made a great succe in the character of Mignon at Florence in 1872, sang throughout Europe, and made a tour of the U. S. in 1883. Married Ernest Gye, the operatic manager, in 1878. One of her favorite rôle is Senta in "The Flying Dutchman." Albany, in Minnesota , a township of Stearns co. Al'bee, in Michigan , a township of Saginaw co. Albert, FRIED RICH RODOLPH, ARCHDUKE OF AUSTRIA, b. Aug. 3, 1817, was the son of the late Archduke Charles by his wife, Prince Henrietta of Na au-Weilburg. He married in 1844, and was the father of two daughters. At an early age he entered the army, commanded a division in Italy in 1840, took an important part in the battle of Novara, received at the end of the campaign the command of the 3d corps d'armée , and was afterwards appointed Governor-General of Hungary. During a leave of absence awarded to Field Marshal Benedek, in 1851, he was appointed to the command of the Austrian troops in Lombardy and Venetia. In the campaign of 1866, he gained a victory over the Italian army at Custozza, and, after the battle of Sadowa, was made (July 13, 1866), Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian army, which office he retained till March, 1869, when he exchanged it for that of Inspector-General of the Army. He published, in 1869, a work on "Responsibility in War." D. Feb. 18, 1895. Alberta, one of the four districts into which the British N. W. Territory of Canada was divided in 1882. It lies E. of the Rocky Mountains and N. of the U. S. boundary, and is bounded E. by A in i boi a and Saskatchewan, N. by Athabasca, and W. by British Columbia. Area , 106,500 sq. m. Pop . (1891)25,277. A. consists of great plains, which gradually rise westward to the elevation of 2,000 to 4,000 feet, and culminate in the Rocky Mountain ridge-here not very high. The country is very cold in winter, and is subject to blizzard and chinook winds. Its principal industry is grazing, the stock needing to be fed and housed in winter. Chief towns: Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Banff. The last named is a health resort at the foot of the mountains. land admitted her liability to a certain extent, leaving Albert Edward Nyanza, an African lake, one only the amount of damages to be arrived at, and which it was agreed to refer for settlement to arbitra tors respectively appointed by the Brazilian, Italian, Swi , American, and British governments, their award to be final. Accordingly, this court of arbitration commenced its sittings at Geneva early in 1872, and continued its se ions, with occasional intermi ions, until September, on the 14th of which month the Tribunal of Arbitration published its award, an abstract of which is as follows: That in the case of the "Alabama," Great Britain failed to use due diligence in the fulfilment of her duties of neutrality. Ayes, 4; Noes, 1. That with respect to the "Oreto," or "Florida," the same decision applied. Ayes, 4; Noes, 1. That Great Britain had not failed in her international obligations as regarded the "Shenandoah" prior to her entry into the port of Melbourne. Unanimous. But that she had made herself responsible for the ves sel's acts after her departure from that port on Feb. 18th, 1865. Ayes, 3; Noes, 2. That in the cases of the "Tuscaloosa," the "Clarence," and the "Tacony," aiders or tenders to the "Alabama" and "Florida," the same decision is applied as in the cases of their principals. That as related to the privateer "Retribution," England was absolved of all responsibility for that ve el's acts. Ayes, 3; Noes, 2. That in reference to the "Georgia," "Sumter," "Nashville," "Tall a has see." and "Chick am aug a," the Court was unanimously of opinion that Great Britain had not failed in her duties as prescribed by international law. Such is a resumé of the disposal of the cases brought under the jurisdiction of the Arbitrators, and it remains only to be stated that a sum in gro amounting to $15,500,000 (gold) was awarded as the indemnity to be paid by Great Britain in full satisfaction of all claims preferred by the American govt., the Arbitrators rejecting as inadmi ible certain claims for compensation for indirect damages and prospective injuries arising in connection with the matter of the "Ala bam a" and her sister privateers. Al'a baster, in Michigan, a township of Iosco coun ty. Alacul'sa, in Georgia, a district of Murray county. Aladin, ( ah -lad'in,) in Pennsylvania, a village of Armstrong co. of the sources of the Nile, discovered by Stanley in 1876. It lies in Lat. 1o S., Long. 30° E., about 100 m. N. W. of Victoria Nyanza, and is about 40 m. broad, and crescent shaped, being 50 m. from point to point. It drains, by the Semliki river into the Albert Nyanza, the Ruzenwori Mountains, 18,000 feet high, lying between. These Stanley believes to be the ancient "Mountains of the Moon." Al'bert Nyanza ( ne - ahn'zah ), a large lake of E. Central Africa, and one of the basins of the Nile, 80 m. W. of the Victoria Nyanza, was discovered by the English explorer, Sir S. W. Baker, in 1864. It lies bet. N. Lat. 45o and 2° S. Lat., and is thus cro ed by the equator. Its length is 300 m., and its maximum breadth 92 m. It stands at an elevation of 2,720 ft. above sea-level, is very deep towards the centre, and is skirted on the E. by precipitous cliffs rising into mountain peaks, varying from 5,000 to 10,000 ft. in height. The N. and W. sides of this lake are hemmed in by a high range known as the Blue Mountains, culminating in summits some 7,000 ft. in elevation. The scenery around the A. N. is of a most picturesque character, and the lake itself receives the surplus rain-fall of a great equatorial mountain by range. It connects with the Lake Victoria Nyanza Somerset river, Murchison Falls lying between the two. Albina, in Oregon , a former city of Multnomah co., on Willamette river, opposite Portland, with which it was consolidated in 1891. Pop . (1890) 5,129. Al'bine, in Minnesota , a township of Brown county. Al'bolite, n. An artificial stone, or cement, used for fireproof coating, ornamental mouldings, . Comp ., calcined magnesite mixed with infusorial earth and chloride of magnesium. mance county. Albostan ( al - bo -stahn'), a town of Turkey in Asia, pashalic, and 39 m. N.N.E. of Marash; pop . 10,000. Al'bright's, in North Carolina , a township of AlaAl'bronze, n. (Metallur.) [Contr. of Alumininium bronze.] An alloy of aluminium and copper, of very durable character, which is used for telescope bearings, . Albuminuria ( al - bu - min - ü're - ah ), [From Eng. albu min, and Gr. our on , urine. ( Path .) A disease of the urinary organs, characterized by the presence of albumen in the urine, and indicated by its coagulation on the application of adequate heat. It is generally attended with ulceration or fatty degeneration of the kidneys. It is regarded as a very dangerous disease. Alcohol. Continued from SEC. I. In addition to ordinary or ethyl alcohol there is a large cla of bodies to which the term alcohols is applied, from their resemblance, in certain chemical reactions, to ordinary A. These are all compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and bear a certain relation to ethyl alcohol in chemical composition. Many of them are produced along with ordinary A. , in the proce of fermentation. Of these may be named amylic alcohol (fusel oil) and butyric alcohol. They are chiefly characterized by producing neutral bodies, called ethers, when heated with acids, water being also produced. This numerous cla of bodies is divided into monatomic and polyatomic alcohols, which are also cla ed, in accordance with their behavior on oxidation, into primary, secondary, and tertiary. These distinctions, however, are too intricate to be dealt with here. Monatomic alcohols (which includes ordinary alcohol) are more abundant than the polyatomic, and are divided into several series, of which the most important are those whose radical is of the same type as that of ethyl or ordinary alcohol (as methyl, CH; ethyl, C2H3; propyl, C2H2, .; each increasing by the addition of CH2). Of these substances the most important commercially is methyl (or wood) alcohol, which is obtained as a by-product in the manufacture of sugar and also by the dry distillation of wood. The ordinary wood spirit is a limpid liquid, having an unpleasant smell, and not adapted to serve the purpose of a beverage, though it has a somewhat wide use in the arts. It is used by cabinet makers as a solvent for varnishes, to burn in lamps, and for various other purposes. Its comparative cheapne has caused it to replace ordinary A. in cases where the latter would be the better adapted; and it is, in consequence, manufactured at present on a large scale in the United States.