BRITTANY-BRIVES-LA-GAILLARDE The name was chosen by Spenser to represent in the 'Faerie Queene' the personification of chastity, and thus contained an allusion to the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth. Brit'tany, or Bretagne, formerly one of the largest provinces of France, being a peninsula washed by the Atlantic on all sides except the east, where it joined Poitou, Anjou, Maine, and Normandy. It now forms five departments, Finistère, Côtes-du-Nord, Morbihan, Ille-etVilaine, Loire-Inférieure, containing, in 1896, 3,175,961 inhabitants on 13,130 square miles. It is supposed to have received its name from those Britons who were expelled from England and took refuge here at various periods between the 5th and 7th century. Before that time it bore the name of Armorica. It formed one of the duchies of France, and was held by sovereigns nearly independent and often at war with the French monarchs till it was united to the crown by the marriage of Louis XII. with Anne of Brittany, the widow of Charles VIII., in 1499. It was given by Louis XII. to Claude, Countess of Angoulême, who married Francis I., and was reunited to the crown in 1532. The province was divided into Upper and Lower Brittany. Agriculture in this territory is very backward, and it is estimated that about one half of the surface lies waste. Corn and wine are produced in small quantities. Flax and hemp, apples, and pears are abundant and of good quality. Cider is the principal drink. Salt is made on the coast, and coal, lead, and iron are found in various parts. There are manufactures of hemp, flax, and iron. The fisheries also employ many of the inhabitants. The people of Brittany still retain their ancient language, which is closely allied to Welsh, and is exclusively used by the peasantry in the western part of the province. Many Celtic remains are found throughout the country. Brittle Star, also called Snake Star, and Sand Star, a member of the order of Ophiurida, class Asteroidea, of the phylum Echinodermata (q.v.). It is characterized by the body forming a flattened disk, with cylindrical arms, the stomach not extending into the arms, and there is no intestine or anal opening. The ambulacral furrow is covered by the ventral shields of the tegument, so that the ambulacral feet project from the sides of the arm. It moves faster than the true star-fish, the arms being more slender and flexible. An ophiuran which has accidentally lost an arm can reproduce it by budding. In species of Ophiothela and Ophiactis the body divides in two spontaneously, having three arms on one side and two on the other, while the disk looks as if it had been cut in two by a knife, and three new arms had then grown out from the cut side. The ophiurans in most cases undergo a decided metamorphosis like that of the star-fish. The larva, called a "pluteus," is free-swimming, though in some species the young, in a modified larval condition, reside in a pouch situated above the mouth of the parent, finally escaping and swimming freely about. Our most common brittle star is Ophiopholis aculeata, which may be found at low-water mark, and especially among the roots of Laminaria thrown upon the beach. It is variable in color, but beautifully spotted with pale and brown, its general hue being a brick-red. Ophiurans are widely distributed, and live a depths between low-water mark and 2,000 fathoms. Fossil ophiurans do not occur in formations older than the Upper Silurian, where they are represented by the genera Protaster, Palæodiscus, Acroura, and Eucladia; generic forms closely like those now living appear in the musicelkalk beds of Europe (Middle Trias). Brit'ton, John, English archæologist: b. 7 July 1771; d. London, 1 Jan. 1857. In 1787 he came to London, and was employed for six years as cellarman in the Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell, and afterward served in the same capacity in the London Tavern. He next entered the employment of a hop merchant in Southwark, and then an attorney's office in Gray's Inn. During all this period he had sedulously cultivated his taste for reading during his leisure hours, and took part in the proceedings of several debating societies. In 1799 he accepted an engagement from a Mr. Chapman to write, sing, and recite for him at a theatre in Panton Street, Haymarket, at a salary of three guineas per week. From this period his literary career may be said to have commenced, developing itself at first in the form of pamphlets, song-books, and similar minor subjects. He soon advanced, however, to a higher grade, and in 1801 appeared the first two volumes of the 'Beauties of Wiltshire,' by J. Britton and E. W. Brayley. These collaborateurs, with others, subsequently completed a similar work for all the other counties of England (1801-16, 18 vols.; 1825, 26 vols.). In 1805-14 Britton pub lished his Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain' in four volumes, supplemented in 1818-26 by another entitled 'Chronological History and Graphic Illustrations of Christian Architecture in England.' These were followed by his Cathedral Antiquities,' in 14 volumes (1814-35); and the 'Dictionary of the Architecture and Archæology of the Middle Ages' (1832-8). Britton, Nathaniel Lord, American scientist: b. New Dorp, Staten Island, N. Y., 15 Jan. 1859. He was professor of botany in Columbia School of Mines in 1888-96, and later director of the New York Botanical Garden. He has written Geology of Staten Island (1880); Catalogue of the Flora of New Jersey) (1882); and collaborated in preparing An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada.' head of which is always a movable calash, having a place in front for the driver, and a seat behind for servants. The body is so arranged that the traveler can sleep therein at night. Brit'zka, a Russian traveling carriage, the Brives-la-Gaillarde, brev-la-yärd (ancient BRIVA CURRETIA), a town in France, department of Corrèze, situated amidst vineyards and orchards, on left bank of the Corrèze, surrounded by a fine avenue of elms. The houses are substantially built of stone, but the streets are narrow, and the public squares indifferent. It contains a church of St. Martin dating from the 12th century, some ancient houses in the Gothic style, and a library. Its industries include the manufacture of leather, cotton goods, pottery, wax candles, etc., and it also carries on an active trade in truffles, wool, wine, and nuts. Pop. (1896) 18,111. BRIXHAM - BROAD SEAL WAR Brix'ham, an English town in Devonshire, situated on the English Channel, 23 miles south of Exeter. It covers the sides of two hills, and is divided into Upper and Lower Brixham. The parish church is a large ancient structure, in the Perpendicular style. The trade of Brixham is chiefly in fish, and is of considerable extent, London, Bath, and Bristol receiving supplies from this place. The port possesses also a number of vessels engaged in the coasting and foreign trade; those in the latter plying chiefly to the Mediterranean. Ship-building and the manufacture of sails, ropes, paint, etc., among the other industries. Brixham is cele are brated in history as the place where the Prince of Orange, afterward William III., landed, 4 Nov. 1688. In 1858 a cave was discovered on Windmill Hill, containing the bones of extinct mammals, some flint implements, etc. Pop. (1901) 8,090. Bri'za, a genus of grasses, commonly called quaking-grass, maiden's-hair, or lady'stresses. There are about 30 species, chiefly found in South America. B. media is a native of the United States, and is found occasionally in pastures in the eastern States. Broach, or Baroach, India, a seaport town in Guzerat, Bombay, situated on the Nerbudda, about 30 miles from its mouth. The river here is crossed by a railway bridge, and for about a mile in front of the town is lined with a massive stone wall. Broach is surrounded with streets, with ruinous walls, and has narrow houses mostly of two stories and built of brick. There are no buildings of interest. It is an ancient place, and one of the oldest seaports of western India, and was formerly famous for its cotton manufactures. The town was taken by storm by the British in 1772, and, with the district, ceded to them by treaty with Scindiah in 1803. Formerly it had a great export of cotton, and it still carries on a trade in cotton, grain, and seeds with Bombay and Surat. Pop. (1901) 42,300 (including many Parsees). The district of Broach lies on the east side of the Gulf of Cambay. Broach cotton holds the highest place in the Bombay market. Area, 1,453 square miles; pop. about 350,000. Λ Broad Arrow, a government mark placed on British stores, guns, etc., to distinguish them as public or Crown property. It was the cognizance of Henry, Viscount Sydney, Earl of Romney, master-general of the ordnance, 1693-1702, and was at first placed only on military stores. Persons in possession of goods marked with the broad arrow forfeit the goods and are subject to a penalty, and it is made felony by statute to obliterate or deface it. The mark is also used in the Ordnance Survey maps to denote points from which measurements have been made. Broad Arrow. Broad Church, a name given originally to a party in the Church of England, regarded as being midway between the Low Church or Evangelical section and the High Church or Ritualistic; now widely applied to the more tolerant and liberal section of any denomina tion. Broad-headed Snake. See DEATH-ADDER. Broad Mountain, an elevation in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania; a plateau of conglomerate rock, about three miles wide and 2,000 feet above the sea, undulating just enough to contain three shallow coal-basins intermediate between the Pottsville and Mine Hill on the south, and the Mahoning and Shamokin coal-fields on the north. Broad Piece, a term applied to some English gold pieces broader than a guinea, particularly Caroluses and Jacobuses. Broad River, a stream of North and South Carolina, rising at the foot of the Blue Ridge, in the western part of the former State, and entering York district in South Carolina. It then takes a southerly course through a rich and highly productive tract of country covered with fields of maize and cotton, and finally unites with the Saluda to form the Congaree River. The city of Columbia is at their junction. The river is about 225 miles in length, and is navigable for shallow-draft boats for upward of 140 miles. disputedBroad Seal War, 1838-9, a election case in New Jersey and in Congress; turning in New Jersey on the power of a county official, in collusion with the State executive, to nullify the result of a State vote; in Congress on the right of the clerk to base official action on information not before Congress. New Jersey then elected her six congressmen on general ticket, and in 1838 that of the Democrats carried the State by an average of about 100; but the Whig county clerk of Middlesex County threw out the vote of South Amboy, with 252 Democratic majority, for lack of the election-clerk's signature, and for other irregularities, giving the Whigs five of the six seats. The Democrats claimed that such technicalities had been repeatedly waived, and were countervailed by like ones in Whig towns; and, even so, that by law the governor and council, as a canvassing board, must send at once for any missing return and pass on its validity. Those officials were Whigs, however, and they decided that they could not go behind the clerk's certificate, and issued credentials to the Whig candidates under the "broad seal" of the State. This would have made only the usual party_broil, but that the national House stood 119 Democrats to 118 Whigs without the New Jersey members, so that the decision carried with it control of the organization of Congress. The Democratic clerk of the House, H. A. Garland, of Virginia, on its meeting 2 Dec. 1839, omitted the New Jersey members in his roll-call, on the ostensible ground that their seats were to be contested and he must leave he decision to Congress; really because excluding them gave his party the speaker and the committees, and incidentally secured himself the clerkship however the contest was decided. This was utterly illegal, as there could be no contest till a congress was organized to bring a contest before; but he doubtless felt it as legitimate as the trick by which the Whig members were sent there, and that party could hardly complain of unfairness. For three days there was helpless rage and anarchy in the House, the clerk refusing to put the question upon any of the motions to bring order out of the chaos. Finally on the 5th the leaders of both parties called in John Quincy Adams (q.v.), the one member who had BROAD-TOP MOUNTAIN-BROADWAY no party or affiliations of any sort, and who was respected as at once immutably just, unshrinkingly courageous, and of the highest parliamentary knowledge. He called upon the meeting to organize itself, offered a resolution ordering the clerk to call the names of the New Jersey members with credentials, and on the clerk's refusal announced that he would put the question himself. He was at once elected speaker pro tem., and for six days more the fight went on to choose a permanent speaker, with both New Jersey delegations voting. On the 11th a motion was carried that neither delegation had a right to vote till the contest was decided; on the 16th a compromise was made by which R. M. T. Hunter, of Virginia, a Whig who favored the Democratic sub-treasury scheme, was chosen speaker. On 10 March 1840 the Democratic contestants were seated; on 16 July the majority report of the committee on the case, declaring them duly elected, was accepted by a vote in which all but 22 Whigs refused to take part, on the ground that the report and testimony were too long to examine. The political prize at stake had caused the parties to exchange principles, as they did earlier on the Louisiana Purchase and later on the Electoral Commission; the Democrats, though strict-constructionists, disregarded State certificates and insisted on going behind the returns; the Whigs, though upholding equity against forms, clung to the sanctity of a State certificate however obtained. Broad-top Mountain, a trapezoidal plateau of semi-bituminous coal measures, in Hunt ingdon and Bedford counties, Pennsylvania. The highest point is about 2,600 feet above the sea. It is surrounded by a red shale valley, and an outside ring of Devonian rocks, called Terrace, Harmer, and Sidelong mountains. Through gaps in this ring flows the Raystown branch of the Juniata. The mountain contains two principal coal basins. It contains in its deepest troughs about 900 feet of coal measures, and takes in the Pittsburg coal bed, with one of the limestones above it. Coal was mined here for blacksmithing nearly 100 years ago. The coal is a semi-bituminous steam coal, containing from 12 to 18 per cent of volatile matter, and of the same qualities as Cumberland coal. Broad'bent, Sir William Henry, English physician: b. Yorkshire, 23 Jan. 1835. He was educated at the Royal School of Medicine in Manchester and at Paris. He was at first appointed physician to the Western General Dispensary; then physician to the London Fever Hospital and the Saint Mary's Hospital successively. He was physician extraordinary to Queen Victoria, 1898-1901; and in the latter year was appointed physician-in-ordinary to King Edward VII. He is a member of the Medical Society of London and was censor of the Royal College of Physicians, 1888-9, and 1895-6. He has written 'The Pulse' and 'The Heart.' Broad'casting, a mode of sowing grain by which the seed is cast or dispersed upon the ground with the hand, or with a machine devised for sowing in this manner; opposed to planting in drills or rows. Broad'head, Garland Carr, American geologist: b. Albemarle County, Va., 30 Oct. 1827. He studied at the University of Missouri and was long the State expert in geology. He was professor of geology at the University of Missouri, 1887-97, and he is considered an authority on the Missouri coal measures. His writings include Geological Survey of Missouri Iron Ores and Coal Fields'; Geological_Survey_of Missouri'; and Illinois Geological Survey Report.' Broad'hurst, Henry, English politician and labor organizer: b. Oxfordshire, 13 April 1840. As a boy he worked in a blacksmith's shop; then as a stone mason till 1872. He has been prominent in the labor movement; in 1875 he was secretary of the Labor Representative League and of the parliamentary committee of the Trades Union Congress. He has been a member of Parliament for Stoke-upon-Trent, 1880-5; for Bordesley, 1885-6; for Nottingham, 1886-92. He was under-secretary in the Home Department in 1886, and has served on several royal commissions for the investigation of the condition of the laboring class. He wrote 'Handy Book on Leasehold Enfranchisement' (with Sir R. T. Reid). Broad'mouth, or Broad’bill, one of about of the family Eurylamide, having a notable a dozen species of small lethargic, songless birds breadth of beak. Flocks of these birds are distributed through the woods from the Himalayas to the Philippines. The broadmouths are brilliant in plumage, and mainly fruit-eaters, with the exception of two species of the genus Calyp tomena, which are insectivorous. Broads, The Norfolk, England, a series of lakes, usually said to be formed by the widening or broadening out of the rivers. The broads par excellence are those of the Bure or North River (which empties into the sea at Yarmouth), and its tributaries, the Ant and the Thurne.. The broads have grown greatly in favor with holiday-makers in recent years. Broad'side, in a naval engagement, the whole discharge of the artillery on one side of a ship of war, above and below. The fighting power of a ship was formerly estimated by the weight of her broadside. The term is also applied to any large page printed on one side of a sheet of paper, and, strictly, not divided into columns. In this sense it is sometimes called a broadsheet. Broad'stairs, England, a watering-place in the Isle of Thanet, Kent, two miles northeast of Ramsgate. It is said that the name is derived from the width of the passage leading down to the sea. Pop. (1901) 6,460. Broad'sword, a sword with a broad blade, designed chiefly for cutting, formerly used by some regiments of cavalry and Highland infantry in the British service. The claymore or broadsword was formerly the national weapon of the Highlanders. principal business street of New York. StartBroad'way, the chief thoroughfare, and the ing from Bowling Green at the lower extremity of the island, it runs nearly due north to 14th Street, whence it takes a westerly diagonal course to 78th Street, at which point it again runs due north to 103d Street. Taking the westerly trend again to 108th Street, it thence runs north again, and, following the course of the old post road, is continued under the name of Broadway as far as Albany. Its continuous |