Benignity

[Fr. bénignité; from Lat. benign it as. See BENIGN.] Quality of being benign, or benignant; goodne of heart or disposition; kindne of nature; graciousne ; actual goodne ; beneficence. "The king was desirous to establish peace rather by benignity than blood." - Sir J. Hayward. -Wholesome quality; salubrity; geniality to vital nature. "By reason of the benignity of the serum." - Wiseman. Benignly, ( bē -nin'li,) adv . Favorably; kindly; gra ciously. Benin, (ben'in,) a country of Africa, near the E. extremity of the Gulf of Guinea, between 40 and 9° N. Lat., and 40 and 8o E. Lon. It has S. the Gulf; W. Da homey; N.W. Yariba; and N.E. and E., the lower Niger. On the coast, the country is level, but it rises gradually, till, in the central parts, the continuation of the Kong Mountains attains an elevation of 2,500 ft. It is well watered, for the continuation of the Niger comprises more than 140 m., that is, more than 7-10ths of the whole sea-board. The W. branch of this delta is the stream which has always been called the river of B .; the one farther E. is the main limb, formerly called the Nun, but demonstrated by Lander to be the Niger. The productions, climate, animals, and habits and customs of the people are similar to those of ASHANTEE, q. Since the abolition of slavery in civilized countries. v. B. has lost its principal trade. Slaves are now sold only to native masters. B. exports salt, palm-oil, and blue coral. The country is well peopled. Without speaking of the cap. BENIN, q . v., the town of Warre has 5,000 inhabitants. BENIN, the capital of the above country, Lat. 6o 15' N., Lon. 5° 53′ E., on the right bank, and 110 m. from the mouth, of a large stream hitherto called the River of B. , but now known to be one of the numerous mouths of the Niger. There is an almost continual market for indigenous products and European wares. Pup . about 16,000. Gatto, or Agatton, is the port of Benin; it lies about 40 m. down the river, is acce ible to craft of 60 tons, and is said to be larger and more populous than B. itself. BENIN, (BIGHT OF.) The name given to the coast of B. It has no ports, except at the entrance of unnavigable rivers, and scarcely there, if the ve els be of large burden. BENIN, (RIVER OF,) called also the Formosa , falls into the Gulf of Guinea, in Lat. 5o 40 N., Lon. 5° E. It is a deltoid branch of the Niger, commencing at Kirree, about 100 m. above Benin, and its whole course, inclusive of windings, may be stated at about 210 m. Ben'is on, n. A benediction; a ble ing. (R.) Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, ( Gen. xxxv. 16-18.) Rachel died immediately after he was born, and with her last breath named him Ben - oni , the "son of my sorrow;" but Jacob called him B. , "son of my right hand." He was a great comfort to his father, who saw in him the image of the beloved wife he had buried, and of Joseph, whose lo he also mourned. He could hardly be persuaded to let him go with his brethren to Egypt. The tribe of B. , small at first, was almost exterminated in the days of the Judges, but afterwards it greatly increased. On the revolt of the 10 tribes, B. adhered to the camp of Judah; and the two tribes ever afterwards closely united. King Saul and Saul of Tarsus were both Benj a mites.