Imatges de pągina
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

has grown so fashionable, that a Scandinavian literary society was instituted at the commencement of the present century. The Transactions of this society amount already to 16 vols. (Copenhagen, 1819), and contain a variety of excellent treatises. The Arnäe-Magnæan commission, and the royal society for the preservation of antiquities, protect the monuments of antiquity that belong to the country; and the promotion of mental cultivation is intrusted to the northern society of science, the society for the encouragement of the fine arts and of taste, the society of medicine and rural economy. All these attempts of the Danish literati have been encouraged by the government. The measurement of a degree from Lauenburgh to Scagen has been continued without intermission, under the direction of professor Schumacher. It is conducted on strictly scientific principles, and the instruments are excellent, made by Reichenbach, and furnished by the government. This measurement will perhaps determine, at last, whether confidence ought to be placed in the French surveyors, or the English under Mudge, or in neither of them. The government assist in the publication of many excellent works, because the Danish public is so small that they would not pay the expense of printing them. In this way the Flora Danica, for example, is published; also Thorlacius and Werlauf's editions of the Norwegian History of Snorro Sturleson, and the Law of Lagaboter Gulething, by king Magnus. The inquiries into the origin of the northern languages, which Rask (q. v.), it is well known, has sought for on Caucasus itself, were encouraged by the government, which also promoted the publication of Nyerup's Catal. Librorum Samscritanorum, quos Bibl. Univ. Hafniensis vel dedit vel paravit Nath. Willich (Copenhagen, 1821). The collection of medals at Copenhagen received its present importance from the care of the reigning king. The fund ad usus publicos is applied to the support of distinguished young men on scientific journeys. In the year 1829, Mr. Bowring was in Copenhagen, collecting materials for an English translation of ancient Danish ballads, and the most celebrated lyrical pieces of modern Danish poets.

DENNER, Balthaser, a celebrated portrait painter, was born at Hamburg in 1685, and died at Rostock in 1749. He was especially distinguished for the remarkable exactness of his execution, or rather the almost microscopic accuracy of his

paintings. He learned to draw at Altona, and to paint in oil at Dantzic, and afterwards travelled. All the northern princes invited him to their courts to paint their portraits. The emperor Charles VI paid him 4700 florins for the head of an aged woman. It is now in the imperial gallery at Vienna. Denner likewise painted the head of an old man for the same prince, a pendant of the former, which is also a masterpiece. There are some beautiful portraits painted by him in Münich.

DENNER, John Christian, invented the clarinet. He was born at Leipsic in 1655, and went to Nuremberg with his parents in his eighth year, where he was employed in making wind instruments, especially fiutes. He died in 1707.

DENNEWITZ; a small town in the march of Brandenburg, famous for the battle between the French and Prussians, Sept. 6, 1813, the former commanded by Ney (under whom were Oudinot, Bertrand, Regnier and Arrighi), the latter by Tauenzien and Bülow. 40,000 Prussians maintained their ground for several hours against 80,000 French; and, on the arrival of the Russian and Swedish battalions, victory declared in favor of the allies, who, after the Russians and Swedes came up, were far superior in numbers. The French were defeated, and fled in disorder, with their auxiliaries, consisting of Bavarians, Wurtembergians, Saxons and Poles. This battle was a consequence of the battle at Grosbeeren. (q. v.)

DENNIE, Joseph, born in Boston, Aug. 30, 1768, was the son of a respectable merchant. He early evinced a decided fondness for polite literature, and entered Harvard college in 1787. He left this institution in 1790, and entered the office of a lawyer at Charleston, N. H. At the expiration of three years, he made a successful début at the bar. From Charleston he soon removed to Walpole, where he opened an office, but gained very little business, owing to his literary taste and irregular habits. For four months, he officiated as reader of prayers for an Episcopalian congregation at Claremont. In the spring of 1795, he endeavored to establish, at Boston, a weekly paper under the title of The Tablet. This, however, survived but a short time. Not long after, he returned to Walpole, to act as editor of the Farmer's Museum, a journal in which he published a series of essays, with the signature of The Lay Preacher. In 1799, he went to Philadelphia, in consequence of being appointed a clerk in the office of the secretary of state. On the

DENNIE-DENON.

dismissal of his patron, Mr. Pickering, he left the department, and engaged in the conduct of a literary journal, the Port Folio, for which his name and talents acquired considerable patronage and celebrity. His reputation, his colloquial powers, and amiable disposition, attracted to him a large number of literary disciples and coadjutors. With industry and discretion, he might have gained independence and permanent happiness; but he was deficient in both qualities, and gradually destroyed, by his imprudence, his bodily constitution, as well as all hopes of fortune. Jan. 7, 1812, he died-a victim to anxiety and complicated disease. Mr. Dennie possessed a brilliant genius, a delicate taste, a beautiful style, a ready pen, a rich fund of elegant literature, an excellent heart, and a captivating countenance and manner, and, with a proper exercise of industry and judgment, might have acquired a lasting reputation.

DENNIS, John; an English dramatist and critic. He was the son of a citizen of London, where he was born in 1657. Having completed his studies at Cambridge, he made the tour of France and Italy, and, on his return, devoted himself to literary occupations, living upon his fortune, which had been left him by an uncle. In 1697, he produced a comedy, entitled Plot and no Plot, which was followed by several dramatic pieces and poems of little value. He also became a political writer for the whig party. The irritability of his disposition, heightened, probably, by the unprosperous state of his finances, involved him in perpetual broils, and made him a sort of standing jest with the wits of his time. Having written a tragedy entitled Liberty Asserted, which became popular during the war with Louis XIV, in consequence of the abuse of the French with which it abounded, Dennis thought that monarch would never forgive the insult: when, therefore, the treaty of Utrecht was about to be concluded, he entreated the duke of Marlborough to save him from being delivered up to the French government, as a state criminal. The duke told him that he thought he might make himself easy; for though he had, he conceived, done as much harm to the French as Mr. Dennis, he had not thought it necessary to seek for personal indemnity. When his Appius and Virginia was performed, he introduced a new method of imitating thunder, said to be still used at the theatre. The tragedy was soon set aside; but some time after, Dennis, being present at the representation of Mac

191

beth, perceived that his new invention had been adopted; on which he exclaimed, "S'death! how these rascals use me; they will not let my play run, yet they steal my thunder." He wrote some severe strictures on Addison's Cato and Pope's Rape of the Lock. Pope, in return, gave him a place in the Dunciad, and, in conjunction with Swift, produced a sarcastic tract, entitled A Narrative of the deplorable Frenzy of Mr. John Dennis. After he had dissipated his fortune, the duke of Marlborough procured him the place of land waiter at the custom-house. This he disposed of, reserving only a temporary annuity; and in his old age, his necessities were relieved by a benefit at the Haymarket theatre, to which his former antagonist, Pope, contributed a prologue. He died soon after, January 6, 1734.

DENON, Dominique Vivant, baron de, was born Feb. 4, 1747, at Chalons-surSaône, of a noble family. He was destined to study law at Paris, where he was favorably received in society; and his talent and inclination led him to devote himself to the arts. A comedy which he wrote, called the Good Father, gained him the favor of the ladies. His amiable manners made him a favorite of Louis XV, who appointed him gentilhomme ordinaire about his person. He was afterwards attached to an embassy at St. Petersburg, where Catharine, however, observed him with a jealous eye. Subsequently he was intrusted with a diplomatic mission to Switzerland. On this occasion, he drew Voltaire's likeness (engraved by St. Aubin), and the well known picture Le Dejeuner de Ferney. He then occupied, during seven years, a place in the French embassy at Naples. His residence in this city, and repeated visits to Sicily and Malta, gave him an opportunity of exercising his talent for drawing and engraving. Denon had the principal direction of the artists engaged in preparing the abbé St. Non's Voyage pittoresque de Naples et de Sicile, and the text was chiefly taken from his journal. This elegant work appeared at Paris, in 1788. The remainder of Denon's journal, relating to Sicily and Malta, appeared separately, in 1788. His career at Naples was interrupted by the death of the minister Vergennes, his patron, or, according to some, by the displeasure of the queen, Maria Caroline. But still his love for the study of the great masters detained him in Italy. He resided at Venice during several years, where he shone in the circles of the countess Albrizzi, who was distinguished for her amiable and in

1.92

DENON-DENSITY OF THE EARTH.

telligent character, and loved to be surrounded by men of talent. Denon was not forgotten in her Rittratti, where she bestows the greatest praise on his character, his passion for the arts, his cheerfulness and amiable disposition, and excuses the raillery with which he attacked the foibles of others. The observation and restraint, to which the revolution subjected Frenchmen in foreign countries, compelled him to leave Venice. After a short stay in Florence and Switzerland, he was obliged to return to France during the reign of terror; but he made himself agreeable to Robespierre, and was, in consequence, subsequently accused of devotion, at that time, to Jacobin principles. During this period, he exercised himself in engraving. At last, he became acquainted with Bonaparte, and immediately united himself with him. He accompanied the general in his campaigns to Italy and Egypt, and Desaix to Upper Egypt. The work which was the result of this journey, was an addition to Denon's fame, particularly the engravings which ornament it (Paris, 1802, 2 vols. fol., and 3 vols. 12mo., without engravings). Denon, in this, has shown himself a very able artist. Nature, animate and inanimate, the monuments of centuries, and the Arabian flying through the Desert, are represented with great fidelity. When he returned to Paris with Bonaparte, he was appointed general director of the museums, and all the works of art executed in honor of the French successes-monuments, coins, the erection of the triumphal pillar in the Place de Vendome, &c. He accompanied Napoleon in all his campaigns, and employed himself in drawing, and in selecting those masterpieces in the conquered countries, which were taken to Paris as trophies. In 1815, he was compelled to witness the restoration of the spoils. After the abdication of the emperor, he retained his office, but was deprived of it in 1815, in consequence. of having joined Napoleon on his return from Elba. He retained, however, his place in the institute. From that time he lived retired, and the preparation of engravings and lithographs of his splendid collection of works of art, formed the occupation of his last years. He died at Paris, April, 28, 1825. His mind was active to the last. Denon much resembled Voltaire in his old age. In 1826 appeared at Paris the Description des Objets d'Art composant le Cabinet de feu M. le Bar. V. Denon, in 3 vols. (Monumens antiques, tableaux et estampes). The cabinet was sold by auction.

DENSITY, strictly speaking, denotes vicinity or closeness of particles; but in mechanical science, it is used as a term of comparison, expressing the proportion of the number of equal moleculæ, or the quantity of matter in one body to the number of equal molecule in the same bulk of another body. Density, therefore, is directly as the quantity of matter, and inversely as the magnitude of the body. Since it may be shown experimentally, that the quantities of matter, or the masses in different bodies, are proportional to their weight; of consequence, the density of any body is directly as its weight, and inversely as its magnitude; or the inverse ratio of the magnitudes of two bodies, having experimentally equal weight (in the same place), constitutes the ratio of their densities. No body is absolutely or perfectly full of matter, so as to have no vacuity or interstices: on the contrary, it is the opinion of Newton, that even the densest bodies, as gold, &c., contain but a small portion of matter, and a great portion of vacuity; or that they contain a great deal more pores or empty space than real substance.

DENSITY OF THE EARTH. The determination of the density of the earth, as compared with that of water, or any other known body, is a subject which has excited considerable interest amongst modern mathematicians; and nothing can, at first sight, seem more beyond the reach of human science, than the due solution of this problem; yet this has been determined, and on such principles, that, if it be not correctly true, it is probably an extremely near approximation. The first idea of determining the density of the earth was suggested by M. Bouguer, in consequence of the attraction of Chimborazo, which affected his plumb-line while engaged with Condamine in measuring a degree of the meridian, near Quito, in Peru. This led to the experiments on the mountain Schehallien, in Scotland, which were carried on under the direction of doctor Maskelyne, and afterwards submitted to calculation by doctor Hutton, who determined the density of the earth to be to that of water as 4 to 1. But, in consequence of the specific gravity of the mountain being assumed rather less than it ought to have been, the above result is less than the true density, as has since been shown by doctor Hutton and professor Playfair, the former of whom makes it, in his corrected paper, as 99 to 20, or nearly as 5 to 1. The same problem has been attempted on similar principles, but in a totally dif

DENSITY OF THE EARTH-DEODAND.

ferent manner, by the late Mr. Cavendish, who found the density of the earth to be to that of water, as 5.48 to 1. Taking a mean of all these, we have the density of the earth to that of water, as 5.24 to 1, and which, as we before observed, is probably an extremely near approximation.

DENTIFRICE; a preparation for cleaning the teeth, of which there are various kinds: generally, however, they are made of earthy substances mixed with alum. Those formed of acids are very pernicious. DEODAND (Deo dandum); a thing to be given or dedicated to God. Persons who have attended trials for homicide will have observed that the indictment, in setting forth the manner of the death, alleges it to have been occasioned by a blow with a certain weapon, &c., "of the value of," &c. This allegation of the value of the thing which caused the death, arose from the English law of deodands. It is provided in the Mosaical law, (Exod. xxi. 28), that "If an ox gore a man, that he die, the ox shall be stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten." So, by the law of Athens, whatever was the cause of a man's death, by falling upon him, was destroyed, or cast out of the territory of the republic. This, says Mr. Christian, in his notes upon Blackstone's Commentaries, was one of Draco's laws; and perhaps we may think the judgment that a statue should be thrown into the sea for having fallen upon a man, less absurd, when we reflect that there is sound policy in teaching the mind to contemplate with horror the privation of human life, and that familiarity even with an insensible object, which has been the occasion of death, may lessen that sentiment. This reflection, suggested by Mr. Christian in reference to the Athenian law, does not seen to be the motive for the rule of the common law of England, that whatever chattel causes the death of a person, shall be forfeited. It is an ancient doctrine mentioned by Bracton (Omnia quæ movent ad mortem sunt Deo danda. 1. 3. c. 5.), and its origin is attributed to the notion, that where a man was suddenly cut off in his sins, expiation ought to be made for the benefit of his soul; and, accordingly, the chattel, which occasioned his death, should be forfeited to the king, to be devoted by him to pious uses. The statute of 4 Edward I, st. 2, relating to coroners, provides that "horses, boats, carts, mills, &c., whereby any are slain, that properly are called deodands, shall be valued and 17

VOL. IV

193

delivered unto the towns," which thereupon became answerable to the king for their value; in whose behalf the sheriff might levy the amount upon the inhabitants of the town. Accordingly, in all indictments for homicide, in England, the grand jury specify the instrument that immediately caused the death, and its value, that the king may claim the deodand; for it is no deodand unless it is so found by the jury, and hence the practice of finding the instrument and its value, in indictments in the United States, or at least in some of them, although they have no deodands. Though these forfeitures were originally incurred to the king, yet he might grant them away to the lord of the manor or territory upon which the death happened, as he was accustomed to grant the right of waifs and wrecks. The deodands have been generally so granted; and these grants may probably be the reason that this ancient singularity has so long remained a part of the English law; for the right to the forfeiture has thus become a subject of private property, and so not liable to be impaired by the legislature without compensation to the parties interested. The old books contain a good deal of quaint and curious law on this subject. It will be observed, that no distinction is made, whether the death is felonious, excusable, justifiable, or purely accidental, or whether the instrument, by which it is occasioned, belongs to the person committing the homicide or to another; for, says the Doctor and Student, if a man kills another with my sword, still the sword is forfeited; but if a person be killed by falling from a thing standing still, as a cart, it is not forfeited; if, on the contrary, a horse, ox, or other animal kill a person by its own motion, by running over him or otherwise, it is a deodand. It is said, however, that if the instrument of the death is standing still, only the part which immediately occasioned the death is forfeited; as, if one attempts to climb up the wheel of a cart that is standing still, and falls, and is thereby killed, only the wheel is forfeited; but if it be in motion, the entire cart is a deodand. Only chattels are forfeited; any thing attached to the freehold, as the wheel of a mill, or a bell hanging in a steeple, is not so; and no deodand occurs, unless the death happens within a year and a day after the accident. A sale of the article does not exempt it from forfeiture; as if a horse strikes a man, and is afterwards sold, and the man dies within the year and day, the horse

[blocks in formation]

is forfeited. It is not surprising that so whimsical a law should be very negligently executed; the juries are very apt to miti gate the forfeitures by finding that only some trivial thing, or only a part of an entire thing, was the occasion of the death; and the court has generally refused to interfere in behalf of the lord of the franchise, to assist him in enforcing his claim to the whole article. There are no deodands on the high seas, though it has been said, that, if a man fall overboard from a vessel in a fresh water river, and is drowned, the vessel and cargo are strictly a deodand; and the above statute of Edward I, we observe, mentions boats as one species of deodand. But in this case the jury would probably find the death to have been occasioned by the winds or the water, and would have a precedent sufficiently analogous; for the books maintain that if a man, riding over a river, is thrown off his horse by the violence of the water, and drowned, the horse is not a deodand, for the death was occasioned by the current.

D'EON (the chevalier). Eon de Beaumont, Charles Genevieve Louise Auguste André Timothée d', equerry to Louis XV, chevalier, doctor of law, parliamentary advocate, military officer, royal censor, diplomatist, &c., known until 1777 by the name of the chevalier d'Eon, was born at Tonnerre, in 1728. His brilliant qualities enabled him to act a conspicuous part in the world. He gained a greater notoriety by the mystery long kept up in regard to his sex. While an advocate, he studied, in his leisure hours, politics and belleslettres, and wrote an Essai historique sur les différentes Situations de la France, par Rapport aux Finances, followed by two volumes, entitled Considérations politiques sur l'Administration des Peuples anciens et modernes. To these works he owed the honor of being proposed, by the prince of Conti, minister of Louis XV, as envoy on a difficult mission to the Russian court. Here his insinuating manners gained him the favor of the empress Elizabeth, and for five years he was the medium of a secret correspondence between her and the king of France. In consequence of his services at this court, he was made successively lieutenant and captain of dragoons, and received a pension of 2400 livres. He returned to France in 1758, and subsequently distinguished himself in the military service. After the conclusion of peace, he went to London as secretary of legation, under the duke of Nivernois, and obtained possession of some important pa

pers.

In

On the return of the duke, he re mained as resident, and afterwards as min ister plenipotentiary in London. Every thing seemed to favor him, when secre intrigues suddenly disappointed his fair prospects. France had concluded a disadvantageous peace with England, and the negotiators of it were fearful of having their conduct exposed. The chevalier was the confidant of Louis XV, and might make the dreaded disclosures. This was reason enough for ruining him. He was dismissed from his employment, and lived 14 years at London, in a kind of banishment. Though the king had consented to his disgrace, he assigned him a pension of 1200 livres. D'Eon still remained true to his native land, and rejected several offers of the English court. The king heard of his conduct, and wished to restore him, but the chevalier insisted on having his innocence publicly acknowledged, before accepting any favors. the mean time, Louis XV died. During the residence of D'Eon in England, suspicions arose as to his sex, which led to several extraordinary wagers. In July, 1777, a curious trial took place before lord chief-justice Mansfield, on an action brought against Mr. Jaques, a broker, who had received several premiums of 15 guineas, to return 100, whenever it should be proved that the chevalier was a woman. M. Louis Legoux and M. de Morande, on the trial, deposed to this as a fact, which was supposed to be so well established, that the defendant's counsel pleaded that the plaintiff, at the time of laying the wager, knew that the court of France, relative to the grant of a pension, had treated with D'Eon as a woman; and thence inferred that the wager was unfair. This objection was not held good, and Hayes, the plaintiff, obtained a verdict. It was, however, afterwards set aside, on the ground of the illegality of the wager. After the decision of this cause, D'Eon put on female attire, and continued to wear it till his death. In 1777, he returned to France, and made his appearance at Versailles, where the minister honorably received him, but on condition that he should wear in future the female dress. D'Eon, however, went to Tonnerre, without observing the command, and did not appear as la chevalière d'Eon till his second return to Paris. His change of dress drew him into a quarrel at the opera, and, for fear of the consequences, he was sent to Dijon, where he was treated with respect. In 1783, he went to London. Meanwhile the French revolution broke

« AnteriorContinua »