Deadman's Head

of the lake is about 350 fathoms, and its surface is upwards of 1,000 feet below that of the Mediterranean Sea. Its centre is in lat. 31° 30' N.; lon. 35° 30′ E. DEADMAN'S HEAD, ded-mans, a promontory on the coast of Cornwall, in the English Channel. Lat. 50° 30' N. Lon. 4° 48' W.

DEAL, deel, a maritime town on the coast of Kent, situate between the N. and S. Forelands, 8 miles from Dover, opposite the Goodwin Sands. It is a member of the Cinque Port of Sandwich, and stands on the seashore, which forms a bold beach, and is defended from the violence of the waves, by a long rampart of pebbles, thrown up by the sea. In the upper part, the streets are broad and capacious; but, in Lower Deal, they are narrow and dirty. To the S. of the town is Walmer Castle, where the first duke of Wellington died, in 1852. Besides the parish church, there are a chapel of ease, a public library and readingroom, a regular custom-house, and naval store-house. At a little distance is an extensive naval hospital, and, at the back of the town, a commodious house of industry. The Deal pilots and boatmen are intrepid and excellent seamen, and particularly active in affording assistance to vessels in distress. Pop. 14,500.-It is supposed by many, that it was on the coast between Deal and Dover that Julius Cæsar landed, on his invasion of Britain. Others, however, place the landing at Folkestone.

DEAN, deen, a name common to a large number of English parishes, with populations ranging between 300 and 30,000. The largest is in Lancashire, 130 miles from Great Bolton, with cotton-mills, coal-mines, and bleaching-works. The population of none of the rest reaches above 1,000.

DEAN, FOREST OF, a royal forest in Gloucestershire, formerly of considerable extent, but now reduced to about 11,000 acres, inclosed for growing timber for the navy. It is 5 miles from Newnham. Its orchards yield the famous styre-apple cider, and it is connected by numerous railways with the rivers Severn and Wye. The inhabitants have no county rates, and enjoy other privileges. Pop. 11,000, much employed

in coal and iron works.

DEARBORN, deer'-born, a county of Indiana, U.S., on Ohio river Area, 308 square miles. Pop. 30,000.-A river in Missouri territory, running into the Missouri, above the Falls, near the Rocky Mountains.

DEBENHAM, deb'-nam, a town and parish of Suffolk, on the Deben, 12 miles from Ipswich. Pop. 1,700. DEBIR, de'-bir, 'oracle,' or 'discourse,' a king of Eglon slain by Joshua.

DEBO, LAKE, de'-bo, is in Central Africa, about 140 miles from Timbuctoo. It is traversed by the Joliba, and has a town of the same name on its shores.

DEBORAH, deb'-o-ra, a Hebrew prophetess, who, by her exhortations, prevailed on Barak to march against Sisera, general of the troops of Jabin. Lived in the 13th century B.C.

DEBRETZIN, de-bret'-zin, a large town of Hungary, 160 miles from Vienna. It has several Catholic and Calvinist churches, monasteries, hospitals, an orphanhouse, a town-hall, and a celebrated Calvinistic college, with a large library. Manf. Furs, shoes, soap, pipebowls, tobacco, combs, and turnery wares. Pop. about 45,000, of whom 30,000 are Magyars.-This town was, in 1684, taken by the Turks, but abandoned by them in the same year.

DE CANDOLLE, Augustin Pyramus, kan'-dol, a French botanist, who, in 1807, was made professor of botany in the University of Montpellier. A chair was subsequently specially established for him in Geneva, when he designed to produce a work which should comprehend a description of all known plants. Such an undertaking was of too great magnitude for one man; consequently, he was obliged to abandon his design. He, however, wrote largely on his favourite science, besides contributing papers to the Transactions of almost every scientific society in Europe. B. at Geneva, 1778; D. 1841.

Deddington

DECCAN, dek'-kan, or the Country of the South, an extensive region of India, bounded N. by the Nerbudda, S. by the Krishna or Kistna river, E. by the Bay of Bengal, and W. by the Arabian Sea. Ext. 900 miles long, and 490 at its greatest breadth. It comprises the provinces of Candeish, Gundwana, Berar, Orissa, the Northern Circars, Arungabad, Beeder, Bejapore, Hyderabad, and the dominions of the Nizam, the rajahs of Berar and Sattara, the Guicowar and Gwalior sovereigns.-BRITISH DECCAN comprises the electorates of Poona, Ahmednuggur, Dharwar, and Candeish. Some of the mountains of this country attain an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet above the level of the sea. This immense territory formed, for a long period, a state of itself. In the seventeenth century it was conquered by Aurungzebe, and, after his death, was split up into a number of petty principalities. The British now possess a large portion of the Deccan, the remainder being tributary to them.

DECCAN ISLAND is in the Bay of Bengal, at the mouth of the Brahmapootra. Ext. 30 miles long, by 12 broad. It lies very low, and at spring tides is nearly submerged.

DECEBALUS, de-seb'-a-lus, a warlike king of the Daci, who was successful in a war against the emperor Domitian, but was conquered by Trajan. In despair at his reverses, he destroyed himself, and Dacia became a Roman province. This was in 105.

DECEMVIRI, de-sem'-vi-ri, magistrates, who were created at Rome, 451 B.C., to compile a code of laws, and were ten in number,-whence their name. All other magistrates were suspended, and their power was absolute. At first, the decemvirs used their authority with considerable moderation, reduced the laws under twelve heads, and caused them to be engraved on twelve tables of brass. In the third year of their creation, however, the decemvirs became odious on account of their tyranny; and the attempt of Appius Claudius to gain possession of Virginia, caused the total abolition of their office. The people were so exasperated against them, that they demanded them from the senate, to burn them alive. Consuls were again appointed, and tranquillity re-established in the state. (See CLAUDIUS, Appius.)

DECEPTION ISLAND, de-scp'-shun, a volcanic island in the Antarctic Ocean, consisting of layers of ashes and ice.

DECIUS MUS, de'-she-us mus, a celebrated Roman consul, who, after many glorious exploits, devoted himself to the gods' manes for the safety of his country, in a battle against the Latins, throwing himself into the midst of the ranks of the enemy, and dying, covered with wounds, 338 B.C. His son and grandson also imitated his devotedness in the same manner; the first in a battle with the Gauls and Samnites, 295 B.C.; the second, in the war against Pyrrhus, 279 B.C.

DECIUS, a Roman emperor, who distinguished himself by an expedition against the Persians, and by persecuting the Christians. In his march against the Goths, he entered a morass, where he and his army, attacked by the enemy, perished, 251 A.D.

DECIZE, de-seez', a town of France, in the department of the Nièvre, 18 miles from Nevers. It stands on a rock in the middle of an island formed by the Loire, and has extensive coal and iron works in the vicinity. Pop. 3,000.

DECKER, Thomas, dek'-ker, an English dramatist, cotemporary with Ben Jonson, who satirized him in his "Poetaster," under the name of Crispanus, Decker retorting in his "Satyromastix; or, Untrussing of a Humorous Poet." He wrote several plays, some of which possess merit. D. about 1638.-The bestknown drama of Decker is "Fortunatus, or the Wishing-cap;" and his best-known tract is "The Gull's Horn-book." From this, Sir Walter Scott, in his "Fortunes of Nigel," draws largely for his description of London life. It was first printed in 1609, and gives a very minute and curious picture of the manners and customs of the middle classes of society in the seventeenth century.

DECURIO, de-ku'-re-o, the title of a subaltern officer in the Roman armies, who commanded a decuria, which consisted of ten men. (See CENTURIA.)

DEDDINGTON, ded'-ding-ton, a parish and town of Oxfordshire, 15 miles from Oxford. It consists of one

No man has tasted differing fortunes more; And thirteen times, I have been rich and poor. In the school of affliction I have learned more philosophy than at the academy, and more divinity than from the pulpit. In prison, I have learned that liberty does not consist in open doors and the egress and ingress of locomotion. I have seen the rough side of the world as well as the smooth, and have, in less than half a year, tasted the difference between the closet of a king and the dungeon of Newgate. I have suffered deeply for cleaving to principles." Such is the experience of the author of "Robinson Crusoe," one of the most delightful romances that ever emanated from a human brain. "Was there ever anything written by mere man," asks Dr. Johnson, "that the reader wished longer, except Robinson Crusoe,' 'Don Quixote, and the Pilgrim's Progress' ?"

DEGNEZLI, de-neez'-le, a city of Asia Minor, 52 miles from Allah Shehr. In 1715, 12,000 of its inhabitants were destroyed by an earthquake. From that time it has never regained its former importance.

DEHRA DOON, de'-ra doon, a district of the N. W. Provinces in British India, consisting mostly of a fertile valley, 50 miles long, by 15 broad. Pop. 35,000. Lat. between 30° and 30° 32′ N. Lon. between 77° 43' and 78° 24′ E.-The tea-plant has been introduced and successfully cultivated in this district.

DEIOPEIA, de'-i-o-pe'-ya, a nymph, the fairest of all the fourteen nymphs that attended upon Juno, who promised her in marriage to Eolus, the god of the winds, if he would destroy the fleet of Eneas, which was sailing for Italy.

DEIR, dair, the name of many places in the East, the principal being 10 miles from Beyrout, in Syria. It is the chief town of the Druses, whose emir lives in its citadel.

DEJANIRA, dej'-a-ni-ra, a daughter of Eneus, king of Ætolia. Her father promised to give her in marriage to him only who proved to be the strongest of all his competitors. Hercules obtained the prize, and married Dejanira, by whom he had three children. When Nessus, a centaur, who had offered violence to Dejanira, was dying by a poisoned arrow shot from the bow of Hercules, she accepted from him the present of his tunic, which Nessus said had the power of reclaiming a husband from unlawful loves. Accordingly, when Hercules became enamoured of Iola, daughter of the king of Echalia, she sent him the centaur's tunic, which instantly caused his death. Dejanira was so disconsolate at this event, that she destroyed herself. (See HERCULES.)

DEJOTARUS, de-jot'-a-rus, a tetrarch of Galatia, who was created, by the Romans, king of that country, with the addition of Lesser Armenia. He joined the party of Pompey, but, on the defeat of that general, submitted himself to Cæsar, who dethroned him, but soon afterwards restored his estates. Lived in the 1st century B.C.

DE KALB, kalb, the name of several counties in the United States, with populations ranging between 8,000 and 15,000. They are situate in Georgia, Alabama, Tenessee, Indiana, and Illinois.

Wales, and other parts; and was, by his map of Cornwall, the cause of suggesting to the government the geological survey. He founded the Museum of Practical Geology, and succeeded in establishing the School of Mines. His mind was of an eminently prac tical character. In 1819 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1848 was knighted. In 1853 he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences at Paris; but, by this time, his career was drawing to a close. B. near London, 1796; D. 1855.— Sir Henry wrote largely on geology, and published several excellent manuals for the young student. His "How to Observe," first published in 1835, has been pronounced a truly Baconian volume,-a sort of Novum Organum of geology.

DELACROIX, Ferdinand Vietor Eugène, del-a-krwaw, a distinguished French painter. His father passed through the sternest scenes of the great revolution, and, in 1805, died prefect of the Mouths of the Rhone and the Gironde. Young Delacroix was well educated, and entered the Academy of Arts in his 18th year. His first exhibited picture represented "Dante and Virgil sailing round the Infernal City," and excited a great deal of controversy; which may be taken as a sign of its being differently executed from the style of French art then in vogue, as well as of its indicating proofs of genius. It was succeeded by the "Massacre of Scio," which placed him at the head of a school designated the "Romantic." Both of these pictures now belong to the national collection, and hang on the walls of the Luxembourg. His position was now in a measure fixed, and he continued to work with unremitting assiduity. Among his earlier performances, we may notice his "Christ in the Garden," "Milton dictating Paradise Lost' to his Daughters," and "Mephistopheles appearing to Faust." The revolution of 1830 supplied him with other themes; having become an attaché of the government mission to Morocco, the scenes of the East suggested new subjects. On his return, he exhibited, in 1834, "Women of Algiers;" a work which Parisian judges declared placed him on a parity with Rubens as a colorist. M. Thiers, who had from the first been his admirer, being now minister of the interior, gave him the walls of the Salon du Roi, at the Palais Bourbon, to paint; which he accomplished by symbollically illustrating the arts, winning for himself still greater fame. He was now called upon to adorn other public buildings, at which he laboured, whilst, at intervals, he produced other important gallery and cabinet paintings. Among these may be named "Hamlet with the Skull of Yorick, "Medea," "Cleopatra," "Christ at the Tomb," and the "Resurrection of Lazarus." His works, as a whole, are numerous, and marked by great energy of style and originality of invention. His admirers place him on the same pedestal with Paul Veronese. B. at Charenton-Saint-Maurice, near Paris, 1799.

but

DELAGOA BAY, del'-a-go'-a, is situate on the E. coast of Africa, about midway between Mozambique and the Cape. Ext. 25 miles long, by 20 broad. There is a settlement supposed to be inhabited by about 10,000 natives. The bay is a good deal frequented by the South-Sea whalers, who find it safe and commodious. The most N. point of its entrance is in lat. 25° 58′ S.; lon. 33° 15′ E.

its history. Persevering by nature, and devoted to whatever he engaged in, he surmounted every obstacle that came in his way, and, in 1781, formed the tables of the motion of Herschel's newly-discovered planet,

Delia

in the rebellion of 1357, cost Great Britain so much of her best blood to recapture from the sepoys. Pop. about 160,000. Lat. 28° 39' N. Lon. 77° 18' E.-[For an account of the mutiny, see AGRA, BENGAL, CAWNPORE, and other Indian articles.]

DELIA, de'-le-a, the name of two festivals in the island of Delos, one celebrated every fifth year in honour of Apollo, the other annually. They were both instituted by Theseus. During the latter festival, it was unlawful to put to death any malefactor, and on that account the life of Socrates was prolonged for thirty days after his condemnation.

DELILLE, Jacques, de-leel', a modern French poet of considerable eminence. He translated the "Georgics" of Virgil, which obtained for him admission to the French Academy. He became professor of Latin poetry at the College of France, and of the belles-lettres in the Paris University. Having twice withdrawn from the unsettled social condition of his country, he came to London, where he translated Milton's "Paradise Lost." On his return he produced his poem entitled "Conversation;" but shortly afterwards became blind, and died. B. at Aigue Perse, in 1738; D. 1813. Besides the works already mentioned, he produced the "Three Reigns of Nature," "Misfortune and Pity," and "Imagination." The chief characteristics of his effusions are sweetness of versification, true pathos, and purity of moral sentiment.

DELISLE, Joseph Nicholas, de-leel', an eminent French mathematician and astronomer, who had for his pupil the celebrated Lalande. Being invited to Russia, he there held the appointment of astronomer-royal for upwards of twenty years. On returning to Paris, he was appointed professor in the Royal College. In 1724 he paid a visit to England, and was there acquainted with both Newton and Halley. B. 1688; D. 1768.

DELOLME, John Louis, de-lolm', a political writer, who first practised as a lawyer in his native Switzerland, and afterwards travelled to gain a knowledge of the constitutions of various countries. He fixed his abode in England, where he remained until near the close of his life, composing political essays, and writing in the journals. In spite of considerable talents, he led a miserable existence, having an unfortunate passion for gaming. B. at Geneva, 1740; D. 1806.-He is best known by his "History of the Constitution of England," written in French, but translated into English, and often reprinted. "It is the best work to consult on the government of England," says a foreign writer, "and proves its superiority over all other existing governments."

DELORME, Philibert, de-lorm', a celebrated French architect, who first studied in Italy, and was attracted to Paris by the Cardinal du Bellay, who introduced him to the court of Henry II. Delorme executed for this prince the plans of the châteaux of Anet and Meudon, and subsequently, for Catharine de Medicis, those of the Valois court at St. Denis, and of the palace of the Tuileries, of which he was created governor. B. at Lyons, 1518; D. 1577.-He left some writings on architectural art; amongst which is a treatise entitled "New Inventions, in order to build better and at small cost."

DELOS, OF ORTYGIA, now SAILLES, de'-los, one of the Cyclades, at the N. of Naxos, sacred to Apollo and Diana. According to fable, Neptune caused it to rise out of the waters, to save Latona and her two children, who were pursued by the jealousy of Juno. The dead were not interred, but were transported to the neighbouring island of Rhane. One of the altars of Apollo, in the island, was reckoned among the seven wonders of the world.

Demetrius

were sent to the altar of Apollo from all parts were often the object of plunder. (See CASTRI.) DELTA, del-ta, a part of Egypt, which received that name from its resemblance to the form of the fourth letter (A delta) of the Greek alphabet. It lies between the Canopian and Pelusian mouths of the Nile, and is said to have been formed by the accumulated mud and sand, washed down by the Nile from the upper parts of Egypt.-As a geographical expression," DELTA is applied to alluvial tracts, sometimes formed by, and inclosed between, the branches of a river and the sea into which it debouches. There are several deltas, the principal of which are those of the Nile and the Niger in Africa, and the Ganges in Asia.

DELUC, John Andrew, de-look', a modern philosopher, who principally devoted himself to the study of physics and geology, extending his observations to all parts of Europe, and endeavouring to make his discoveries tally with the text of the book of Genesis. He passed a portion of his life in England, and was there appointed queen's reader. His principal works are, "Theory of Barometers and Thermometers," "New Notions on Meteorology," "Letters to the Queen of England on the Mountains and History of the Earth," and " Geological Journeys." In 1811 he published "An Account of the Philosophy of Bacon," with a view of opposing Lasalle, a French infidel translator of the English philosopher; but the work was not much esteemed. B. at Geneva, 1727; D. at Windsor, 1817.-To Deluc we owe many important improvements in the barometer, thermometer, and hydrometer.

DELVINO, del-ve'-no, one of the principal towns of Lower Albania, 50 miles from Larissa. It was formerly the residence of a pasha, and is built on the side of a hill covered with orange-plantations. Pop. Unascertained.

He

DEMADES, dem'-a-dees, an Athenian, who, from being a mariner, became a distinguished orator, and rose to high service in the republic. He was made prisoner by Philip of Macedon at the battle of Cheronea, 338 B.C., and succeeded, by his frankness, in gaining the esteem of his captor, and was set at liberty. remained some time attached to Macedon, and used his influence in favour of the Macedonian party at Athens. Betraying, however, Antipater, he was put to death by Cassander, the son of the latter, about 322 B.C. An oration of his is said to be in "Rhetorum Collectio," Venice, 1513.

DEMAS, de'-mas, 'popular,' a Christian professor, corrupted by the love of riches.

DEMAVEND, MOUNT, dem'-a-vend, the highest peak in the Elburz chain, in Persia, 40 miles from Teheran. It is volcanic, and of the form of a cone. Height, nearly 15,000 feet.

DEMBIA, or TZANA, dem'-be-a, a province of Abyssinia, including all the territory surrounding the great lake which bears its name. The LAKE is 60 miles long, with an average breadth of 25, and contains several islands. Lat. 12° N. Lon. 37° 15' E.

DEMBIA, a river of Western Africa, falling into the W. Atlantic in lat. 9° 45' N.

DEMERARA, dem'-a-rair'-a, a river of British Guiana, S. America, which, after a course of 200 miles, falls into the Atlantic in lat. 6° 50' N.; lon. 58° W.-A county of this country takes its name from it. (See GUIANA, BRITISH.)

DEMETRIA, de-me'-tre-a, a festival in honour of Ceres, called by the Greeks, Demeter. During its continuance, it was customary for the votaries of the goddess to lash themselves with whips made with the bark of trees.

DEMETRIUS, de-me'-tre-us. Many of this name are mentioned in ancient history, the most celebrated of whom are the following: :