dient was tried to get her off, but without success; and she remained exposed for several hours to the constant fire of the enemy's gun-boats, which it was impossible to return. A council of officers was held, who being unanimously agreed that there was no longer any possible hope of saving her, her flag was struck. The Tripolitans took possession of the Philadelphia, and eventually succeeded in their efforts to bring her into the harbour of Tripoli, where she was subsequently destroyed by the officers and men who volunteered with Lieutenant Decatur (afterwards the gallant commodore) to execute this bold project; the practicableness of which was suggested to Commodore Preble in a letter to him from Captain Bainbridge, written with sympathetic ink, and forwarded to him through Mr. Nissen, the Danish consul. To the kind attentions of this gentleman, Captain Bainbridge and his officers were indebted for many alleviations of their sufferings, during their captivity of more than nineteen months.On the 3d of June 1805, a treaty of peace was concluded with the Bey, and they were set at liberty. Captain Bainbridge and his officers returned almost immediately to the United States, and landed at Hampton, in Virginia. In the different places through which they passed, on their way to the seat of government, they were most cordially welcomed by their fellowcitizens.

tain Bainbridge and his vessel under his engaged in the pursuit of a corsair belongprotection,—a mark of distinguished fa- ing to that regency, the Philadelphia vour,—and gave him passports for the fri-struck on a ledge of rocks. Every expegate, which entitled the flag, as well as the commander, to the greatest respect in all Turkish ports, but extended to his vessel a compliment never before paid to a foreign vessel of war, by directing him to be saluted from the fortress of Tapana, which commonly salutes the Capudan Pacha only. Upon his return to Algiers, the Dey insisted, for some reason, that he should go a second time to Constantinople. This, however, he positively refused to do, although completely in the Dey's power; and he would probably have lost his life, had it not been for the protection afforded him by the firman given to him by the Capudan Pacha. As soon as this document was presented, the whole manner of the Dey was changed, and his offers of service were most liberal. Of these Captain Bainbridge availed himself so far as to save from irons and slavery the French consul, and upwards of fifty men, women, and children, belonging to the French republic, all of whom he received on board of the George Washington, and conveyed to Alicant, in Spain; and this notwithstanding his own country and France were, at the time, at war with each other. For this act he received the thanks of Napoleon, then first consul; and upon his return home, he had the gratification to find his whole conduct, while in the command of the Washington, fully approved by his own government. Captain Bainbridge was next appointed to the Essex, one of the frigates destined to protect the American commerce in the Mediterranean, against the corsairs of Barbary. From the Essex, however, he was transferred to the frigate Philadelphia, and proceeded in her to the Mediterranean, with orders to seize all vessels belonging to the Bey of Tripoli, or to his subjects.-During the passage of the Philadelphia up the Mediterranean, she discovered a Moorish man-of-war, with an American merchant brig in company. Finding that the brig had been captured, he took possession of the Moorish vessel and carried her into Gibraltar, and there left her in charge of the American consul, to await the arrival of Commodore Preble. This seasonable check to Moorish rapacity prevented all further depredations upon the commerce of the United States by Morocco. For his conduct on this occasion, Commodore Bainbridge received the thanks of the President of the United States and of the Secretary of the Navy.-On the 21st of October 1803, while off Tripoli, and

After passing a few weeks with his family, he was appointed to the command of the Navy Yard at New York. Having, however, held this command for only a short time, he obtained a furlough, and sailed, in the brig Minerva, to Havana, on a trading voyage. He was induced to pursue this course from the circumstance of his pecuniary affairs having become somewhat embarrassed during his captivity. In December 1808, he took command of the frigate President; and after superintending her repairs and equipment, he sailed in her, in July 1809, on a cruise along our coast, until May 1810. He kept at sea during a long and boisterous winter, to prepare his crew for the exigency of a war, of which there were strong expectations at the time, from the state of our relations with England. These expectations not being realized, he obtained another furlough, and made two voyages to St. Petersburgh. During the first of these, his vessel was captured by a Danish privateer

For this victory, as well as for his treat-
ment of the captured, Commodore Bain-
bridge and his brave companions received
the highest commendations from their fel-
low-citizens, and from the constituted au-
thorities of their country. The gold medal
awarded to him by Congress bore the
appropriate inscription, "Patriâ victisque
laudatus."-In March 1813, Commodore
Bainbridge was again appointed to the
command of the Navy Yard at Charles-
town, and of the eastern naval stations.
At Charlestown he superintended the build-
ing of the Independence, a ship of the line,
which he afterwards commanded.-The
ports of New England being threatened
by the enemy, he proposed to the citizens
of Boston, and to the authorities of Massa-
chusetts, a plan of defence against any
attack which might be made upon the
harbour and city: the plan was adopted,
and Boston remained unmolested.

Through the kind offices of his friend Mr. | Bainbridge was dangerously wounded; yet
Nissen, who was at this time at Copenha- he continued in the command of his ship.
gen, the vessel was released, and Captain
Bainbridge was permitted to proceed on
his voyage to St. Petersburgh. From the
second voyage, made in the autumn of
1811, he returned as early as February
1812, having hastened home from the
Russian capital, by way of Sweden and
England, on hearing of the renewed pros-
pect of a war between the United States
and Great Britain. On reporting himself
at Washington as ready for duty, he was
directed to take the command of the Navy
Yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts.-On
the declaration of war against Great Brit-
ain, he solicited the command of a frigate,
and was appointed to the Constellation.
But before the necessary repairs could be
made, the Constitution arrived at Boston
after the capture of the Guerriere; and
Captain Hull having obtained leave of
absence, Captain Bainbridge requested to
be transferred to this vessel. The request
was complied with; and a small squadron, After the war, Commodore Bainbridge
comprising the Constitution, the frigate sailed twice to the Mediterranean, in
Essex, Captain David Porter, and the sloop the command of the squadrons sent to
of war Hornet, Captain James Lawrence, protect our commerce in that sea against
was placed under his command. The the depredations of the Barbary powers,
Constitution and Hornet sailed from Bos- and to bring them to terms. The first of
ton on the 26th of October 1812, on their these squadrons was the largest ever sent
destined cruise; and the Essex, then lying from the United States. Among other
in the Delaware, was ordered to sail first valuable services rendered to his country
to the Cape de Verd islands, and then, if by this distinguished officer, he was the
practicable, to form a junction with the first to recommend the establishment of
other.vessels of the squadron. On the the Board of Navy Commissioners, consist
29th of December, after a remarkably well ing of the older and more experienced
fought action on both sides, the Constitu- officers of the Navy. Of this Board he
tion captured the British frigate Java, was for three years the President.-By the
commanded by Captain Lambert, a brave loss of the frigate Chesapeake, during the
and skilful officer, who was mortally wound- war, our naval signals fell into the hands
ed during the action. Among the prison- of the enemy; and Commodores Bain-
ers taken from the Java, were Lieutenant- bridge, Decatur, and Hull, were consti-
General Hislop, Governor of Bombay, and tuted a board to prepare others. The
Major Walker and Captain Wood, of his attention of the officers associated with
staff. The deportment of Commodore him being directed at the time to other
Bainbridge made a deep and abiding im- important matters, Commodore Bainbridge
pression upon the minds of these officers, prepared the signals himself, and they
who never permitted an opportunity to have been continued in use ever since.-
escape them of manifesting their respect But of the various services rendered by
and esteem for him; and as an expression him to his country, perhaps the most im-
of his feelings for the delicate and kind portant was the remonstrance which, joint-
treatment shown to himself and his com- ly with Commodore Stewart, he made
panions captured in the Java, General against the laying up of our national ves-
Hislop presented to Commodore Bainbridge sels, during the last war with England.
a splendid gold-mounted sword. Between That a letter containing such a remon-
these two distinguished officers there then strance, by whatever motives prompted,
began an intimacy, which only terminated was addressed by them to the President
with the life of the latter. At the close of the United States, admits of no doubt;
of the action, the Java was a complete the evidence as to this point being full
wreck, and the Constitution was much and positive. And there is as little reason
chattered. During the contest, Commodore to doubt that, if their letter did not prevent

BAINBRIDGE-BALANCE.

66

81

in 1815, extraordinary professor, and in 1817 ordinary professor of Greek and Roman literature, in the university of his native city. Besides various articles of a philological character, published in the Bibliotheca critica nova," and in the "Annales acad. Lugd. Bat.," he is the author of a valuable work entitled "Scholica hypomnemata," in 2 volumes (1837-39), and consisting of a number of philological essays, especially in relation to the works of Cicero, evincive of the greatest acuteness and erudition. His last work was an edition of "Cicero de Legibus" (1842).

BAKEWELL (Robert), an eminent English agriculturist, was born at Dishley, in Leicestershire, in 1725, and died there in 1795. He rendered a great service to his countrymen by improving the breeds of cattle and sheep. In this he proceeded on the principle that the physical qualities of the offspring were a mean between those of the parent animals, and, consequently, that it was possible, by a proper crossing of the breeds, to modify the forms of the race, within certain limits, at pleasure. Accordingly, the famous Dishley breed of sheep, which has since obtained so high a reputation, has been formed in this artificial manner. The model which Bakewell proposed to himself for his sheep was, "fine forms, small bones, and a true disposition to make readily fat;" and he succeeded in his object. In the latter years of his life, his sheep were in such repute as to command enormous prices; which gave occasion to the saying, that

the measure which they feared and opposed, it at least served to satisfy the President and the Secretary of the Navy, as to the entire inexpediency of the measure against which they entered their protest. -Commodore Bainbridge died on the 28th of July 1838, in the 60th year of his age. BAIRD (Sir David), a distinguished British general, was born at Newbyth, in Aberdeenshire, in December 1757, and entered the army as an ensign in 1772. He served in the East Indies for a considerable period, where he had the misfortune, after being severely wounded, to be taken prisoner by the ferocious Hyder Ally, and retained in captivity for three years and a half, under circumstances of great suffering, and in daily apprehension of being put to death. He was present at the storming of the important fortress of Nundydroog, and at the capture also of Savendroog, where he rendered himself conspicuous by his conduct and bravery. In 1793, he commanded the European brigade in the force to which Pondicherry surrendered. And at the capture of Seringapatam, May 4th 1799, he led the storming party. In 1801, he was sent with a large body of troops to co-operate with the British army in Egypt, and reached Alexandria just after the articles for the capitulation of the town had been signed, and, of course, too late to be of any actual service in the expulsion of the French. In 1802, he returned with his troops to India; and, obtaining permission to embark for England, he arrived there in 1804, having, on his passage, been captured in the Bay of Bis-"they were too dear to purchase, and too cay by a French privateer, but retaken by an English man-of-war. He commanded the expedition which took possession of the Cape of Good Hope in 1805; and he was at the attack on Copenhagen in 1807. He was second in command under Sir John Moore in Spain, and, on the death of the last-mentioned officer at the battle of Corunna (January 16th 1809), assumed the command; which, however, on being severely wounded, he was obliged to transfer to Sir John Hope. Returning to England, he was made a baronet, and subsequently held several military appointments. He died on the 18th of August 1829.

BAIZE; a coarse, open woollen fabric, with a long nap, sometimes friezed on one side, and without wale, being manufactured on a loom with two treddles, like flannel.

BAKE (John), an eminent Dutch philologer, and an able writer in the Latin language, was born at Leyden, on the 1st of September 1787. He was appointed, VOL. XIV.-11

fat to eat." His long-horned oxen, and his horses, which were large and powerful, also obtained a very high reputation.

BAKU; a town of Russia, on the W. shore of the Caspian. Its harbour is an excellent one, and, next to that of Astrakhan, is more frequented than any other by the vessels which navigate that sea. The exports amounted, in 1831, to 1,702,460 roubles, the principal article being naphtha, of which there are numerous wells or springs in the peninsula of Abscharon, where the town is situated. It is used as a substitute for lamp oil, and, when ignited, emits a clear light, with much smoke, and a disagreeable smell. To the E. of the naphtha springs, there is a temple of the ancient Ghebers or fire-worshippers; a remarkable spot, something less than a mile in circumference, from the centre of which a bluish flame is seen to rise.

BALANCE is a term which is used to denote various modifications of the lever employed to ascertain the weights of bodies.

BALANCE-BALLANCHE.

BALLANCHE-BALZAC.

BALLAST. The object of the ballast, placed at the bottom of a ship or vessel, is to give her stiffness; that is, to increase her tendency to return to the upright position, when inclined or heeled over by the force of the wind, or other cause. Iron ballast has the advantage, over the other kinds of ballast employed, of lying in a smaller compass; but, in consequence of its great weight, it tends to give an excess of stability, which renders the vessel uneasy from the suddenness of the motion. This defect is, however, remedied by placing the ballast higher up in the vessel. Owing to its greater cleanliness, iron ballast is more healthy for the crew than any other.

83

that it was firmly established. In 1842, constitutional government of the Cortes. he was elected a member of the French Thereupon, he was named by the king Academy. vice-president of the provisional government. For a time he exercised the whole executive power of the state, Ferdinand being, in reality, a mere prisoner in his own palace. One of the first steps which he took was to set at liberty all persons imprisoned for political offences. He removed from office all persons who had co-operated in the overthrow of the Cortes, and organized the municipality of Madrid anew, on the model of what it had been in 1812. And when, in July 1822, the royal guards rose against the existing authorities, he marched against them at the head of the militia of the city, and promptly suppressed the revolt. On the invasion of Spain by the French army, under the orders of the duke of Angoulême, in 1823, Ballesteros was appointed to the command of the force destined for the defence of Navarre and Aragon. After several unsuccessful actions, he was obliged to retire towards the southern portion of the peninsula, and, at length, to enter into a convention with the enemy, by which the troops under his command were placed in a state of inactivity, and the suppression of the resistance still made to the French, elsewhere in Spain, thereby facilitated. In this convention it was stipulated that the Spanish officers should retain the rank which they respectively held in the service. When the king, by the decree of the 1st of October, declared all the acts of the constitutional government to be invalid, Ballesteros, in a letter to the duke of Angoulême, protested against this stretch of arbitrary power, and complained especially of the violation of the military convention above mentioned. Being excepted from the benefits of the amnesty published by the government, he made his escape into France, and resided at Paris till his death, in June 1832.

BALLESTEROS (Don Francisco) was born at Saragossa, in Spain, in the year 1770. He entered at an early age into the military service of his country, and distinguished himself in the campaigns of 1793 and 1794, in the Eastern Pyrenees. In 1804, he was deprived by the then minister of war, Caballero, of his rank of captain, on a false accusation, preferred against him, of having converted to his use a sum of money, which had been intrusted to him for the purchase of provisions for the troops; but was reinstated soon afterwards, through the influence exerted in his behalf by the Prince of the Peace. On the occurrence of the war with Napoleon in 1808, he rose rapidly to the rank of a general officer, and was conspicuous on various occasions for his activity and bravery. When the duke of Wellington was appointed general-in-chief of the Spanish armies, Ballesteros, refusing to serve under his orders, on the ground of the impropriety of the appointment in question being conferred upon any foreigner, was arrested and sent as a prisoner to Ceuta. It was not long, however, before he was recalled, and appointed to the command of a body of troops in the county of Niebla, whose operations were, however, of minor importance. He was appointed minister of war on the return of Ferdinand, but was dismissed from this office through the influence at court of the absolutists and serviles, and exiled on half-pay to Valladolid. On the breaking out of the insurrection of the Isle of Leon, in 1820, he was again sent for by Ferdinand, and offered the command of the forces destined to quell the insurgents. He refused the offer, expressing it as his opinion that the only effectual mode of accomplishing this was by restoring the

BALTIC SEA. Not only its high northern latitude, but also its little depth, and the comparative freshness of its waters, subject it to being more readily frozen over. This has not unfrequently occurred. even in its widest portion; and, in 1809, the ice of the gulf of Bothnia was suf ficiently firm to afford a passage to a Russian army over it.-The increasing elevation of the coasts above the level of the sea is a phenomenon that is now fully ascertained; and is common to the Baltic with the Black and Caspian seas.

BALTIMORE. See United States, (Sup.) BALZAC (Honoré de) was born at Tours, on the 20th of May 1799. After