commanded 50,000 Russians, and withstood the French in the eastern part of Prussia. After the defeat of Pultusk, he was unjustly superseded by count Bennigsen. After the battles of Eylau and Friedland, he was again made commander-in-chief. In 1808, with 18,000 Russians, he conquered Finland, obliged Sweaborg to capitulate, and terminated the war at Tornea. In 1809, he resigned on account of his health, and died in 1811.

BUXTON; a market-town in the county of Derby, England, situated in a valley, celebrated for its mineral waters. The springs discharge 60 gallons a minute: the temperature of the water is 82°. It is colorless, and devoid of taste or smell. It contains calcarious earth, vitriolic selenite and sea-salt, and is an active remedy in nephritic and bilious complaints. It is used both externally and internally. The Crescent is an extensive edifice, divided into three hotels, and a private lodginghouse. The lowest story forms a colonnade, extending the whole length of the front, the span of which is 257 feet. The season for the Buxton waters is from June to the end of October. It was known to the Romans; and the unfortunate Mary Stuart, while in captivity, resided some time at the Hall. She left it with the farewell,

Buxtona,

Forte mihi posthac non adeunda, vale! B. is 159 miles N. N. W. of London. BUXTON, Jedediah, an extraordinary calculator, was born in Eberton, in Derbyshire. His education was wholly neglected: he was never taught to read or write; and how he first learned the proportions of numbers, their powers and denominations, he never could remember. His power of abstraction was so great, that no noise whatever could disturb him; and, when asked any question, he would reply, and immediately return to his calculation, without the least confusion. He was once asked this question:-In a body, whose three sides are 23,145,789 yards, 5,642,732 yards, and 54,965 yards, how many cubical eighths of an inch? He immediately set to work, though in the midst of a hundred laborers, and, in about five hours, produced the exact answer. His application to figures prevented his making the smallest progress in any other branch of knowledge; and, on other subjects, his ideas were as confined as those of a child. In 1754, he walked to London, and was introduced to the royal society. He was also taken to see Richard

III, at Drury lane, where, instead of paying attention to the entertainment, he was engaged in counting how many words Garrick uttered, and the steps of the dancers. He died at about 70 years of age.

BUXTORF, John, an eminent Calvinistic divine, was born in 1564, at Camen, in Westphalia. Being very learned in Hebrew and Chaldaic, in the acquirement of which he obtained the assistance of many learned Jews, he was engaged, by the magistrates of Basil, in the professorship of those languages, which he taught with great success. He died at Basil, in 1629, His works are, Lexicon Chaldaicum Thalmudicum et Rabbinicum; Thesaurus Lingue Hebraica; Hebrew Bible, with the Rabbinical and Chaldaic Paraphrases, the Massora, &c.; Hebrew and Chaldaic Dictionary; Hebrew Grammar; Synagoga Judaica, a Collection of Modes and Ceremonies; Bibliotheca Rabbinica; Institutio Epistolaris Hebraica; Concordantiæ Hebraicæ, &c. &c.

BUXTORF, John, son of the preceding, was born at Basil, in 1599, and was made professor of the Oriental languages there. He published a Chaldaic and Syriac Lexicon; Tractatus de Punctorum Vocalium et Accentuum in Libris veteris Testamenti Hebraicis Origine, Antiquitate et Auctoritate; and Anti-critica, seu Vindicia Veritatis Hebraica; in the two last of which he defended his father's opinions concerning the Hebrew vowel points. He was also the author of Dissertations on the Old and New Testament; Florilegium Hebraicum; Exercitationes Philologico-critica, &c. He died at Basil, in 1664. There were two other Buxtorfs-John James, and John— relations of the former, who both were professors in the same chair at Basil, and both writers on Hebrew literature.

BUYUKDERE (i, e., great valley, from buyuk, great, and dere, valley); a charming little town on the western side of the Bosphorus, not far from Constantinople and the Black sea, so called from the great valley in which it lies, whence also the stream passing through it is called B. The valley, as well as the river, is called Baukonos, i. e., the deep-bosomed. It was formerly called the fair land (kados aɣpos). This splendid walk is now called the meadows (Libadia, la prairie). In the lower part of this meadow is one of the most splendid groups of trees on the Bosphorus, consisting of seven plane-trees, which are called, together, Jedi Kardasch, i. e., the seven brothers. According to a tradition not well substantiated, Godfrey

of Bouillon encamped in these meadows, in 1096, with an army of crusaders. The place consists of the lower and the upper town. In the former are the houses of the Greeks, Armenians, and some Turks. In the upper part are the summer-houses and gardens of the European ambassadors, besides which, many also have houses in Belgrade. Among these houses, the most splendid is the palace of the Russian ambassador, with its gardens. This and several other palaces lie together on the beautiful quay, which is one of the most frequented walks of the people of B. A long and handsome street, running through the place, consists of two rows of houses, built, for the most part, in the European fashion. Foreigners often pass the winter here, on account of the beauty of the country. B. is also the general resort of the higher classes, if a contagious disease prevails in Constantinople, Galata or Pera, as well as when an insurrection of the people is apprehended. (See Frankland's Journey to and from Constantinople, London, 1829.) BUZZARD (vullur aura, Wils.; cathartes aura, Illig.; commonly called turkeybuzzard, or turkey-vulture). This bird is found over a vast extent of territory on the American continent, in the West India islands, and in the southern parts of Europe and Asia. In the U. States, they are most numerous in the southern parts, and appear in the Northern States only during the summer.-The turkey-buzzard is a perfectly harmless creature, and derives its food exclusively from the putrid carcasses which are to be found within its range. It is, therefore, seldom disturbed by man, and does not exhibit much timidity, though by no means in the habit of frequenting the immediate vicinity of human dwellings, like its allied species, the black vulture, or carrion crow of the south. The turkey-buzzard is gregarious, and flocks of considerable size are always found to feed and roost together. For the latter purpose, they generally choose the limbs of dead trees, upon which they may be seen sitting, with both wings outspread, in the morning, as if for the purpose of giving the fresh air free access to their bodies.-When their favorite carrion is to be obtained, they are very voracious, gorging themselves until actually unable to contain more, and even, for a time, rendering themselves unable to fly. Under such circumstances, it is unadvisable to approach them, as they are sure to be revenged upon their disturbers by vomiting over them a torrent

of horribly disgusting filth. This is the only mode in which they attempt to defend themselves; and they especially resort to it when any one interferes with their nests.-The turkey-buzzard flies in a very beautiful manner, rarely flapping the wings, except in rising from the earth, but sailing and dipping in beautiful curved lines, traversing a vast space with wonderful celerity and ease, or soaring to the higher regions of the atmosphere, until entirely lost to sight. Like all the birds of their class, the buzzards possess strong powers of vision; but the sense of smelling is that by which they are principally guided to their food. This they are capable of thus discovering from inmense distances, and the most striking facts illustrative of the acuteness of their olfactory organs are on record. Notwithstanding these, and the obvious evidence afforded by the structure of their smelling apparatus, a recent writer has undertaken to assert that they are possessed of little or no power of smelling. The places chosen by the turkey-buzzard for laying are generally in remote and solitary swamps, or dense forests, where a hollow stump or rotten log serves for a nest. The eggs are from two to four, of a dullwhite or cream color, splashed with chocolate and black, the patches of this being largest and thickest towards the larger end. The egg resembles that of a goose, but is blunter at the small end: it is two inches and three fourths long by two broad. The young are covered by a whitish down, somewhat similar to that upon a young gosling. Some years since, we obtained a young buzzard while stil covered with long, white down, with the exception of the wings, which were partly feathered. It was unable to fly, and had advanced to a party of wood-cutters, while at work, having apparently wandered too far from the nest to retrace its steps. As it seemed hungry, one of them gave it some meat, which it greedily swallowed, and afterwards remained with them until they returned home, and brought it with them. This young buzzard speedily became domesticated, and as importunately demanded food as any of the regular tenants of the poultry-yard. It ate all sorts of meat and garbage, unformly preferring the most filthy. As it acquired full plumage, it began to kill and devour the young ducks and chickens, placing one foot upon the victim, ani leisurely tearing it to pieces with the bi As this buzzard learned to fly, he fre quently made excursions, and returned to

roost upon a kitchen chimney. At length he one day joined a flock which was soaring over his residence, and never after returned. The turkey-buzzard is two feet and a half long, and his wings are six feet two inches from tip to tip. The head and neck, for an inch and a half below the ears, are furnished with a reddish, wrinkled skin, beset with short, black hairs, which also cover the bill, as far as the anterior angle of the nostrils, which are oval. The plumage is black, the neck feathered equally all round, and the wings not reaching beyond the tail. The tail is rounded. There is no obvious difference between the male and female.

BUZZARD'S BAY; a bay on the south coast of Massachusetts, opposite Barnstable bay. It runs up between Seakonnet point on the west, and Chatahunk, one of the Elizabeth islands, on the east; is 35 or 40 miles long, and 7 wide. It approaches within 3 miles of Barnstable bay. It has been contemplated to unite these bays by a canal. Lon. 70° 33′ to 71° 10 W.; lat. 41° 25′ to 41° 42′ N.

BY-LAW is a particular law made by a corporation, or by any other distinct portion of the community, for the regulation of the affairs of its members in such of their relations as are not reached by the general law of the land. Such private laws may legally be made by all incorporated bodies, as civic corporations, trading companies, &c., and even by the body of the inhabitants of a town or parish, provided they involve the infraction of no public laws, but are merely calculated to supply their want of application in the particular instance. These private laws are binding only on the members of the body for which they are framed, and will not be recognised as valid unless they appear to be intended for the general good of that body, and not for the mere furtherance of private or personal inter

ests.

BYLES, doctor Mather, was born in Boston in 1706, and educated at Cambridge. After completing his studies in theology, he was ordained the first pastor of the church in Hollis street, Boston. B. contributed many essays to the New England Weekly Journal, and several occasional poems, some of which were collected in a volume. He corresponded with Pope, Lansdowne and Watts. In 1776, his connexion with his congregation was dissolved, on account of his toryism, for any disaffection to the cause of the colonies could no longer be tolerated. In

1777, he was denounced, in town-meeting, as an enemy to his country, and afterwards was tried before a special court. The charges against him were, that he remained in the town during the siege, that he prayed for the king, and received the visits of the British officers. He was sentenced to confinement, with his family, on board a guard-ship, and to be sent to England with them. On being brought before the board of war, he was treated with respect, and was ordered to be confined to his own house for a short time. He possessed, in a remarkable degree, a ready and powerful wit, which he sometimes exerted where good nature would have refrained, and left a lasting sting by a transient jest. He exhibited this love of ridicule in various ways. On one occasion, when sentenced, under suspicion of toryism, to be confined to his own house, with a sentinel over him, he persuaded this sentinel to go on an errand for him, promising to take his place. The sentinel consented to the arrangement, and, to the great amusement of all who passed, B. was seen very gravely marching before his own door, the musket on his shoulder, keeping guard over himself. During his confinement in his own house, a guard was placed over him, and then removed. On some further complaint, a sentinel was again placed over him. He was soon freed, and no further noticed. In speaking of these transactions, he said, "he had been guarded, reguarded, and disregarded." Directly opposite to his house there was a very bad slough in wet weather. It happened one day, that two of the select-men, who had the care of the streets, stuck fast in this hole, and were obliged to get out in the mud to extricate their vehicle. B. came out, and, making them a respectful bow, said:-"Gentlemen, I have often complained to you of this nuisance, without any attention being paid to it, and I am very glad to see you stirring in this matter now." A ship from London brought out 300 street lamps for the town of Boston. It chanced that, on the same day, a female neighbor, who was a new light, with a weak mind and a whining manner, called to see him. Wishing to get rid of the visitor, he soon asked, with a tone calculated to excite curiosity, if she had heard the news. "O, no! dear doctor, what news ?" "Why, 300 new lights have come over in the ship that arrived this morning from London, and the select-men have wisely ordered them to be put in irons immediately." His

visitor at once hurried away, in great anxiety, to make further inquiries. B. lived in retirement the last 12 years of his life, and died July 5, 1788, at the age of 82.

BYNG, John, served under his father, admiral George B., and by his merits, as well as the influence of his name, was raised to the rank of admiral. His attempts to relieve fort St. Philip, in Minorca, when blockaded by a French fleet under La Galissoniére, proved abortive; and his hesitation in engaging the enemy, when a bold attack might have perhaps gained him the victory, excited the clamor of the nation against him. The ministry, who wished to avert the public odium from their unsuccessful measures, beheld with seeming satisfaction the unpopularity of B.; and, when he was condemned by a court martial, they suffered him, though recommended to mercy, to be sacrificed to the general indignation, and he was shot at Portsmouth, March 14, 1757, meeting his death with calm resignation.

BYNKERSHOECK, Cornelius van; a Dutch lawyer, born at Middleburg in 1675. He studied at the university of Franeker, and, after practising as a barrister at the Hague, became professor of law at Leyden, and president of the council of Holland. He died in 1743. B. was one of the most learned among modern civilians. His works were published at Geneva in 1761, and at Leyden in 1766. They are written in Latin; and his treatise De Foro Legatorum competente was translated, by Barbeyrac, into French, under the title of Du Juge compétent des Ambassadeurs, 1728, 4to. B. edited a periodical publication, called The New Mercury of the Hague, which was suppressed, owing to the offence taken at the strain of satire which it exhibited.

BYRON (George Gordon) lord, an English peer and poet of elevated genius, was born at Dover, Jan. 22, 1788. He was the grandson of admiral John B. (q. v.), and succeeded his great uncle, William lord B., while at school, in 1798. His father was the admiral's only son, captain John B. of the guards, notorious for his gallantries and reckless dissipation. By the eccentricity and misconduct of the old lord B., and of the captain his nephew, the reputation of the family of B., so ancient and honorable in English history, had been considerably tarnished. The former was tried by his peers for killing his relation, Mr. Chaworth, in a combat with swords, after a tavern dispute, under

circumstances so equivocal, that he was indicted for murder, and only saved from the penalty attendant on manslaughter by pleading his peerage-an escape which did not prevent him from being consigned, by public opinion, to a life of seclusion and obscurity. Captain B., the poet's father, was so dissipated, that he obtained the name of the mad Jack Byron. He was one of the handsomest men of his day, but so immersed in all the fashionable vices, that, at length, to be seen in his company was deemed discreditable. In his 27th year, he seduced Amelia, marchioness of Carmarthen, daughter of the earl of Holdernesse, to whom, on a divorce following, he was united in marriage. This ceremony the ill-fated lady did not survive more than two years, when he took, for a second wife, Miss Gordon, whose fortune he quickly dissipated, leaving her a destitute widow, in 1791, with a son, the celebrated subject of this article, then only three years of age. Previously to the death of her husband, having been deserted by him, Mrs. B. retired, with her infant son, to Aberdeen, where she lived in narrow circumstances and great seclusion. The singular circumstances attendant upon the early childhood of B. seem to have operated very materially in the formation of his very striking character. Until seven years of age, the care of his education rested solely on his mother, to whose excusable, but injudicious indulgence, some of the waywardness, by which it was subsequently marked, was, even by himself, attributed. Being then of a weakly constitution, that disadvantage, added to a slight malconformation in one of his feet, naturally rendered him an object of peculiar solicitude; and, to invigorate his constitution, he was not sent to school, but allowed to brace his limbs upon the mountains in the neighborhood; where he early acquired associations, and encountered a mass of legendary lore, which indisputably nurtured his poetical tendeuncies. At the age of seven, he was sent to the grammar-school at Aberdeen, where he was more distinguished for great oeessional exertions, in order to make up for the intervals of absence, rendered neces sary by his delicacy of health, than by his general application. In all boyish sports, however, the ardor of his temperament enabled him to surmount his natu ral disadvantages. In 1798, the death of his great uncle, without issue, gave hits the titles and estates of the family; on which, being then ten years of age, he