Ballay, on a commercial exploration of the Ogowe River, West Africa

Ballay by the river, and Brazza overland, explored the whole Ogowe basin, discovered the Alima and Likuala rivers, and returned to Gabun in 1878. In 1879 Brazza was sent by the French government on a political expedition. He founded Franceville on the Upper Ogowe; opened roads between the coast and the Kongo; secured the kingdom of Makoko to France; founded Brazzaville; met Stanley on the Kongo; and explored the Lalli and Niadi rivers. In 1880 he made more explorations and political extension in the Ogowe basin and on the coast. In 1883 he was appointed commi ioner (governor) of the French Kongo, and established government posts all over this vast domain, exploring at the same time the Nkoni River. In 1891 he led an expedition up the Sanga River, thus opening the way for an expedition to Lake Chad. Brazza, Slav. Brac. An island in the Adriatic Sea, in lat. 43° 18' N., long. 16° 40′ E., in the crownland of Dalmatia, Austria-Hungary: the ancient Brattia (Pliny). Length, 25 miles. Area, 153 square miles. Breadalbane (bred-al'ban), or Albany (al'bani). A former district in the western part of Perth shire, Scotland. Bread and Cheese Folk. The insurgent party in Haarlem, Netherlands, in 1492, who held temporary po e ion of the city. Breakfast-Table, Autocrat of the, Profe or at the, Poet at the. A series of works by Oliver Wendell Holmes. See Holmes . Break spear (brāk spēr), Nicholas. See Adrian IV . Brébeuf (brā-bef'), Jean de. Born at Bayeux, France, March 25, 1593: killed in the Huron country, March 16, 1649. A noted French Jesuit, mi ionary among the Huron Indians in Canada. In a combat between the Hurons and Iroquois, he fell into the hands of the latter and was put to death by them. He translated the catechism into the Huron language. Brechin (brech'n). A town in For far shire, Scotland, situated on the South Esk 23 miles northeast of Dundee. It has a cathedral, an ancient round tower, and a castle. Population (1891), 8,955. Breckenridge (brek'en-rij), or Breckinridge (brek'in-rij), John. Born in August a County, Va., Dec. 2, 1760: died at Lexington, Ky., Dec. 14, 1806. An American politician. He was admitted to the bar in 1785; became attorney-general of Kentucky in 1795; served in the State legislature 17971800; drafted, in a meeting with Jefferson and Nicholas at Monticello in 1798, the Kentucky Resolutions, which were adopted on his motion by the Kentucky legislature, Nov. 10, 1798; was United States senator from Kentucky 1801-05, and was attorney-general in President Jefferson's cabinet from Aug. 7, 1805, until his death. Breckenridge, or Breckinridge, John Cabell. Born near Lexington, Ky., Jan. 21, 1821: died at Lexington, Ky., May 17, 1875. An American politician and general, grandson of John Breckenridge. He was a member of Congre 18511855; Vice-President of the United States 1857-61; candidate of the Southern Democrats for President in 1860; United States senator from Kentucky 1861; joined the Confederate army; was promoted major-general Aug. 5, 1862; commanded the reserve at Shiloh April 6-7, 1862; made an unsucce ful attack on Baton Rouge in Aug., 1862; commanded the right wing of Bragg's army at Murfreesboro Dec. 31, 1862; was at Chick am aug a Sept. 19-20, 1863, and at Chattanooga Nov. 23-25, 1863; defeated General Sigel near Newmarket May 15, 1864; was with General Lee at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864; was defeated by Gen Breckenridge, John Cabell eral Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley in Sept., 1864; defeated General Gillem in East Tenne ee Nov. 12, 1864; was in the battle near Nashville Dec. 15, 1864; and was Confederate secretary of war from Jan. until April, 1865. Brecknock (brek'nok) Beacons. The highest peaks of South Wales, 5 miles south of Brecon. Height, 2,910 feet. Brecon (brek'on). The capital of Brecknockshire, Wales, situated at the junction of the Honddu and Usk 30 miles west by south of Here ford. It was the birthplace of Mrs. Siddons. Population (1891), 5,794. Brecon, or Brecknock. A county in South Wales, lying between Radnor on the north, Radnor and Here ford on the east, Mon mouth and Glam organ on the south, and Cardigan and Caermarthen on the west. Area, 719 square miles. Population (1891), 57,031. Breda (bra-dä'). A town and fortre in the province of North Brabant, Netherlands, 26 mathematics at Ragusa, and then at the Collegio Nazareno at Rome, and later was one of the consuls of the Roman Republic. His chief works are "Topografia fisica dell a Camp an i a" (1798), "Instituzioni geologic he" (1818), etc. Breitenfeld, Battles of, or Leipsic, Battles of. 1. A victory gained by 40,000 Swedes and Saxons under Gustavus Adolphus over 40,000 Imperialists under Tilly, Sept. 17, 1631, at Breitenfeld, a small place near Leipsic.-2. A victory of the Swedes under Tors tenson over the Imperialists under Piccolo mini, Nov.2 (N.S.), 1642. Breithaupt (brīt'houpt), Joachim Justus. Born at Nordheim, Hannover, Germany, 1658: died at Klosterberg, near Magdeburg, Germany, March 16, 1732. A German pietistic theologian. He became court preacher and consistorial councilor at Me in in gen, 1685; pastor and profe or of theology at Erfurt, 1687; and profe or of theology at Halle, 1691. Breithorn (brit hôrn). A mountain of the Valais Alps, on the border of Italy, south of Zermatt. Height, 13,685 feet. miles southeast of Rotter dam. It was taken by Breitmann (brit'män), Hans. A pseudonym Maurice of Na au in 1590, by Spinola in 1625 by Henry of Orange in 1637, and by Dumouriez 1793. The French were expelled in 1813. Population (1889), commune, 22,549. Breda, Compromise of. In the history of the Netherlands, a league between the Protestants and the Catholics, composed chiefly of the le er nobility, organized by Philip Marnix of St. Aldegonde and others in 1566 for the purpose of opposing the Inquisition and protecting the political liberties of the country against the encroachments of Philip II. A deputation of three hundred nobles, headed by Count Brederode, presented to the duche regent, Margaret of Parma, April 5, 1566, at Bru els, a petition which requested the abolition of the royal edicts pertaining to the Inquisition. See Gueux. Breda, Declaration of. A manifesto by Charles II. of England, i ued from Breda, April 4, 1660. He proclaimed a general amnesty. Breda, Treaty of. A treaty concluded at Breda July 31, 1667, between England, Holland, France, and Denmark. New York and New Jersey were confirmed to England, Acadia to France, Surinam to Holland. Brederoo (bra'de-rō), Gerbrand Adriaanzoon. Born at Amsterdam in 1585: died there, 1618. An early Dutch dramatist. His work, mostly dramatic, includes the tragicomedies "Rodderijk ende Alphonsus (1611) and "Griane" (1612), and several comedies, among them "Het Moortje" (1615), after the "Eunuch us" of Terence, and "Spaansche Bra bander Jerolimo" (1618), the last considered his principal work. Bredow (bra'dō), Gabriel Gottfried. Born at Berlin, Dec. 14, 1773: died at Breslau, Pru ia, Sept. 5, 1814. A German historian, profe or of history in Helmstedt (1804). He wrote "Merkwürdige Begebenheiten aus der allgemeinen Weltgeschichte" (1810), "Lehrbuch der Weltgeschichte" (1810), Breed's Hill. An eminence in Charles town, Ma ., connected with Bunker Hill, and fortified by Pre scott on the occasion of the battle of June 17, 1775. Bregaglia (bra-gälyä), Val. A valley in northem Italy and the canton of Grisons, Switzer land. It is traversed by the upper course of the Mera. Bregenz (bra-ghents'). [L. Brigantium .] The capital of Vorarlberg, Austria-Hungary, situated at the eastern end of Lake Con stance, in lat. 47° 30′ N., long. 9° 45′ E.: the Roman Brigantium. It is on the site of a Roman camp. Population (1890), commune, 6,739. Bregenzerwald (brā-gen'tsėr-väld). [G., 'forest of Bregenz.'] A mountainous region in northern Vorarlberg, belonging to the group of the Vorarlberg Algau Alps. Brehm (brām), Alfred Edmund. Born at Rent hend orf, near Neustadt-an-der-Orla, Germany, Feb. 2, 1829: died there, Nov. 11, 1884. A German naturalist and traveler. He established, after 1867, the Berlin Aquarium (opened 1869). His works include "Reiseskizzen aus Nordostafrika" (1855), "Das Leben der Vogel" (1860-61), "Thiorleben" (1863-69), etc. Breisach (brī zäch), or Brisach (brē'zäch), or Alt-Breisach (ält brī-zäch). A town in the cirele of Freiburg, Baden, on the Rhine, situated at the foot of the Kaiserstuhl 13 miles west of Freiburg: the Roman Mons Brisiacus, Brisaeum. It was long an important Austrian fortre , and has several times been held by the French. Breisgau (bris'gou). An old district of southern Germany, corresponding practically to the districts of Freiburg and Lörrach in southern Baden: a po e ion of the house of Hapsburg since the later middle ages. By the treaty of Lunéville it was ceded to the Duke of Modena (1801). In 1805 the greater part was ceded to Baden and a part to Würtemberg, and Baden acquired all in 1810. Breislak (bris'läk), Scipione. Born at Rome, 1748: died at Milan, Feb. 15, 1826. An Italian geologist. He was profe or of natural philosophy and of Charles Godfrey Leland. Bremen (brem'en; G. pron. bra'men), F. Brême (brām). A state of the German Empire. It comprises the city of Bremen, with a small adjoining territory, and the outlying districts of Vegesack and Bremerhaven. It is a republic, with a senate of 16 members, and a Convent of 150 burge es (Bürgerschaft). It has 1 member in the Bundesrat, and 1 in the Reichstag. The prevailing religion is Protestant. Area, 99 square miles. Population (1895), 191,624. Bremen (brem'en; G. pron. bra'men). A free city of Germany, forming with its territory a state of the German Empire: pire: next to Hamburg, the chief seaport in Germany. It is situated on the Weser, 34 miles from its mouth, in lat. 53°5′ N., long. 8° 49 E. It has a large trade in grain, tobacco, wool, cotton, oil, etc., and extensive ship-building and tobacco manufactures. Its port, Bremerhaven, is connected by the North German Lloyd with New York, South America, etc., by the Hansa Company with India, and regularly with Hull, Leith, etc. Bremen was founded as early as 788 by Charles the Great. It became the seat of a bishopric about 804; freed itself from the episcopal rule in the 14th century; and joined the Hanseatic League, but was several times expelled and readmitted. Its position as a free imperial city was finally acknowledged in 1648. In 1810 it was incorporated with France, but regained its independence in 1813, and became succe ively a member of the Germanic Confederation, the North German Confederation, and the German Empire. Its constitution dates from 1849. It joined the Zollverein in 1888. The Rathaus is for the most part of the 15th century, though the picturesque southwest façade dates from 1609. This façade is supported on 12 Doric columns, and is characterized by its very ornate oriel windows and gable. The statues of the emperor, the electors, etc., between the windows, are medieval. There is a fine great hall, with paintings and colored gla . On the west side is the Ratskeller, or municipal wine-cellar (celebrated in literature), decorated excellent frescos. Population 125,684. Bremen, Duchy of. A former duchy of Germany, which lay between the lower Elbe and lower Weser. It consisted largely of the archbishopric of Bremen and Verden, and now belongs to the province of Hannover, Pru ia. It was acquired by Sweden in 1648, and by Hannover in 1719. Bremer (bram'er), Fred erik a. Born at Tuorla, near Abo, in Finland, Aug. 17, 1801: died at Årsta, near Stockholm, Dec. 31, 1865. A noted Swedish novelist. A few years after her birth the family removed to Stockholm, and shortly afterward to an estate at Årsta near by, where, with the exception of two years spent in the United States, whither she went in 1849, a short time in England on her return, and a subsequent sojourn of five years on the Continent and in Palestine, she subsequently lived. She was a prolific writer. Her first novel, "Teckningar ur Hvardagslifvet" ("Sketches of Every-day Life," 1828), is a description of middle-cla life in Sweden. It was followed by others in the same vein, notably "Familjen H." ("The H. Family"), "President ens Döttrar" ("The President's Daughters"), "Grannarna" ("The Neighbors"), " Axel och Anna"("Axel and Anna"), "Hemmet" ("The Home"), "Nina." She was the author, besides, of several books of travel: among them "Hem men i nya Verlden" ("Homes in the New World," 1853), which contains her impre ions of America. Her later works, like "Hertha" and "Syskonlif," embody her opin ions on philanthropy, religion, and the equal rights of women. Several of her works appeared simultaneously in Swedish and English, and numerous others have been translated. IMG:content-0220.png:[blocks in formation] to have seen at Brendan's death open of angels descending" to meet his soul. He is commemorated on Nov. 29. Brescia Brendan, or Brenainn, Saint. Born at Tralee, County Kerry, in 484: died in 577. An Irish monk, a contemporary of St. Brendan of Birr, and called "Son of Finnloga" or St. Brendan of Clonfert to distinguish him. After completing his studies at Tuam set forth on the expedition known as the "Navigation of St. Brendan." According to the legendary account of his travels, he set sail with others to seek the terrestrial paradise which was supposed to exist in an island of the Atlantic. Various miracles are related of the voyage, but they are always connected with the great island where the monks are said to have landed. The legend was current in the time of Columbus and long after, and many connected St. Brendan's island with the newly discovered America. His name is variously spelled Brandon , Borondon, etc. He is commemorated on May 16. Brendel (bren'del), Franz. Born at Stolberg, in the Harz, Pru ia, Nov. 26, 1811: died at Leipsic, Nov. 25, 1868. Α German musical critic. He wrote "Geschichte der Musik in It alien, Frankreich und Deutschland" (1852), "Musik der Gegen wart" (1854), articles in the "Neue Zeitschrift," etc. Brenets (bre-na'), Lac des. A small lake in the Jura, formed by the Doubs in its upper course, near Le Locle, Switzerland. Brenner (bren'ner). The lowest pa over the main chain of the Alps. It is situated in Tyrol about 25 miles south of Innsbruck; has been used since Roman times; is traversed by a railway (since 1867); and is the main line of travel between Italy and Germany. Height, 4,485 feet. Brenneville (bren-vēl') (Normandy), Battle of. A battle, Aug. 20, 1119, in which Henry I. of England defeated Louis VI. of France. Brennoralt, or The Discontented Colonel. A tragedy by Sir John Suckling, written in 1639, printed in 1646. Brennus (bren'us). [L. Brennus, Gr. Βρέννος, repr. an Old Celtic name which has been identified with the W. Bran (W. and Ir. bran = E. raven).] In legendary history, a leader of the Senonian Gauls who overran Italy and captured Rome 390 (1) в. с. With an army of about 70,000 men he defeated a Roman army of about 40,000 in the battle of the Allia, and plundered and burnt Rome, which had been abandoned by its inhabitants, with the exception of eighty priests and old patricians, whom the Gauls ma acred. After an unsucce ful night attack, repulsed by the valor of Manlius Capitol in us, who was awakened by the geese of Juno, he besieged the Capitol six months, till bought off by the garrison with 1,000 pounds of gold. According to a late legend, when the gold was being weighed a Roman tribune remonstrated against the use of false weights by the Gauls. Brennus threw his sword into the scale, with the famous exclamation, "vae victis!" ("woe to the conquered!"). His real name was probably Brenhin , Cymrian for 'king,' or Bran , a proper name of frequent occurrence in Welsh history. Brennus. A Gallic leader who invaded Greece, in 279 B. c., with an army of 150,000 foot and 61,000 horse. Having dislodged 20,000 Greeks from the pa of Thermopylæ by the secret path over the mountains followed two hundred years before by the Persians, he advanced with 40,000 men against Delphi, where he was repulsed by about 4,000 Delphians. He is said to have put himself to death, unable to survive his defeat. Brenta (bren'tä). A river in northeastern Italy which rises in the southern part of the Tyrol, and flows into the Gulf of Venice: the ancient Medoacus Major. Length, 108 miles. Brent a no (bren-tä'no), Clemens. Born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, Sept. 8, 1778: died at Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, July 28, 1842. A German romantic poet and novelist, brother of Elizabeth (Bettina) von Arnim. From 1797 to 1800 he studied at Jena. He afterward frequently changed his abode. In Berlin, 1815 to 1818, he became a strict Catholic, and in the latter year entered the cloister at Dülmen. Subsequently he lived in various places, but led the life of a recluse. In conjunction with his brother-in-law, Achim von Arnim, he compiled the collection of folksongs published, 1806-08, under the title "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" ("The Boy's Wonder-Horn"). He was the author of a number of dramas, lyrics, and tales. Chief among the last are the "Geschichte vom braven Kasperl und schönen Annerl" ("History of the Good Kasperl and the Fair Annerl," 1817), and "Gockel, Hinkel und Gackeleia" (1838). His collected works, "Gesammelte Schriften," appeared in 9 volumes (Frankfort, 1851-55). Brent a no, Elizabeth. See Arnim , von . Brent ford (brent'ford). A town in Middle sex, England, situated on the Thames 9 miles west of London. Here Edmund "Ironside" defeated the Danes, May, 1016, and Prince Rupert defeated the Parliamentarians under Holles, Nov. 12, 1642. Population (1891), 13,736. Brent ford, Two Kings of. Two characters which always appear together and do exactly the same things, in Bucking ham's farce "The Rehearsal." It is not known what particular play, if any, suggested them, but they have pa ed into a byword. Brera (bra'rä). The name given to the "Palace of Sciences and Arts" at Milan. It contains a noted art gallery, and the Brera Library, founded in 1770, with about 175,000 volumes. Brescia (bre'shä). A province in Lombardy, Italy. Area, 1,845 square miles. Population (1891), 487,812. Brescia Brescia. [L. Brixia .] The capital of the province of Brescia, Italy, situated at the foot of the Alps, in lat. 45° 32′ N., long. 10° 13' E.: the Gallic Brixia. It has manufactures of linen, woolen, silk, weapons, etc. It was originally a Gallic and later a Roman town, and was wealthy and important till its sack by Gaston de Foix in 1512. Till 1797 it was under Venetian rule. It took part in the revolutionary movements of 1848-49, and was bombarded and taken by the Austrians in 1849. The Duomo Vecchio, or old cathedral, is a circular church with a rectangular porch, perhaps old as the 7th century, and of much architectural interest as a more probable prototype than San Vitale at Ravenna of the circular churches of northern Europe. The diameter is 125 feet; that of the nave, with its lofty dome resting on eight plain round arches, 65. There is also a Roman temple, which now serves as the Museo Antico. It is Corinthian, on a high basement, with a picturesque portico of twelve columns and four piers in front. There are three shallow cell as, side by side: that in the middle projects beyond the others, and is preceded by a hexastyle porch, while each side cella has two columns between square piers. This temple is remarkable in having the portico on one of its long sides. It was dedicated by Vespas i an in A. D. 72, and one of the cell as was sacred to Hercules. Population (commune),