ing of spectral illusions, refers them to the following heads:-1. False perceptions, or impressions made upon the senses only, in which the mind does not participate. 2. Real dreams, though the person was not, at the time, sensible of having slept, nor, consequently, of having dreamed. A person under the influence of some strong mental impression, drops asleep for a few seconds, perhaps without being sensible of it; some scene or person connected with the impression appears in a dream, and he starts up under the conviction that it was a spectral appear ance. 3. Intense mental conceptions, so strongly impressed upon the mind as, for the moment, to be believed to have a real existence. This takes place when, along with the mental emotion, the individual is placed in circumstances in which external impressions are very slight, as solitude, faint light, and quiescence of body. It is a state bordering closely upon dreaming, though the vision occurs while the person is in the waking state. 4. Erroneous impressions, connected with bodily disease, generally disease in the brain. The illusions, in these cases, arise in a manner strictly analogous to dreaming, and consist of some former circumstances recalled to the mind, and believed, for a time, to have a real and present existence. The diseases, in connexion with which they arise, are generally of an apoplectic or inflammatory character, sometimes epileptic; and they are very frequent in the affection called delirium tremens, produced by a continued use of intoxicating liquors. Under each of these heads, the author states a number of interesting facts, illustrative of the general theory. The second species of illusions, or optical illusions, are occasioned by the state of the atmosphere, producing a reflection or unequal refraction of light, such as the famous gigantic figure called the spectre of the Brocken, aerial troops of horsemen, spectre ships, &c. (see Optics), of which phenomena the reader will find descriptions and explanations in Brewster's Natural Magic (London, 1832). Illusions are often also produced by the appearance of objects imperfectly seen in a dim light, and by electric phenomena, when the credulous and terrified observer sees, or thinks he sees," monstrous shapes flitting around and glaring upon him. For further information on this interesting chapter in the history of human weakness, see Scott's Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft; Thacher's Essay on Demonology (Boston, 1831); and

particularly Hibbert's Philosophy of Ap paritions (Edinburgh, 1824).

VISTULA (Polish, (Polish, Visla; German Weichsel), a river about 500 miles long, navigable from Cracow, which rises in the principality of Teschen, in Austrian Silesia, on the northern declivity of the Carpathian mountains, flows round the territory of Cracow and Gallicia, through the kingdom of Poland, towards the northwest, passes through West Prussia, and divides into two branches, of which the eastern, the Nogat, empties, about two and a half miles from Elbing, into the Frische Haff; the western divides again, about nine miles above Dantzic, into two branches, of which the western flows into the Baltic at Weichselmunde, near Dantzic; the eastern, by many small channels, into the Frische Haff. The Vistula contains numerous and excellent fish: its navigation is very important, as the products of Poland-wood, grain, &c.—are transported on it to Dantzic, on the Baltic. The canal of Bromberg connects the Vistula with the Oder. (q. v.) Several navigable rivers empty into the Vistula.

VITALIANS. (See Apollinarians.)

VITELLIUS, Aulus, à Roman, raised by his vices to the throne, was descended from one of the most illustrious families of Rome. The greatest part of his youth was spent at Capreæ, where he labored to gratify the vicious propensities of Tiberius. He passed through all the offices of the state, and gained the soldiery by donations and liberal promises. He was at the head of the Roman legions in Germany when Otho was proclaimed emperor, and was likewise invested with the purple by his soldiers. He accepted the office, and instantly marched against Otho. After losing three battles, he was successful in the plains between Mantua and Cremona. He now gave himself up to luxury and debauchery. He feasted four or five times a day, and was often seen to make himself vomit, to begin his repast afresh. Above thirty million dollars were spent in maintaining his table in the space of four months. This extravagance soon raised the indignation of the people. Vespasian was proclaimed emperor by the army, and his minister Primus was sent to destroy the imperial glutton. Vitellius concealed himself under the bed of the porter of his palace; but he was discovered, and dragged naked through the streets, with his hands tied behind his back. After suffering the greatest insults from the populace, his head was cut off and fixed to a pole, and

his mutilated body dragged with a hook and thrown into the Tiber, A. D. 69, after a reign of one year, except twelve days. VITERBO (anciently Volturna); a town of Italy, in the States of the Church, capital of a delegation, formerly capital of the Patrimonio; thirty-four miles northwest of Rome; lon. 12° 6' E.; lat. 42° 25′ N.; population, 12,600. This city is a bishop's see, and lies in a beautiful and fertile valley the streets, for the greater part, are broad and well paved, the houses good, but thinly peopled, though the number of churches, convents and hospitals is not less than sixty-nine. Four popes lie interred in the cathedral. Not far from the city is a warm mineral spring.

VITRIOL, GREEN. (See Copperas.) VITRIOL, OIL OF; the old name for sulphuric acid. (See Sulphur.)

VITRUVIUS POLLIO, Marcus; a celebrated writer on architecture, who is supposed to have flourished in the time of Julius Cæsar and Augustus, and of whose parentage and place of nativity no certain knowledge can be obtained. The most probable opinion is, that he was born at Formia, a city of Campania, now called Mola di Gaeta. He plainly appears to have been liberally educated; and that he travelled for information and improvement, we learn from his writings. The only public edifice which he mentions as being constructed from his designs, is a basilica at Fano. He wrote, at an advanced age, his work De Architectura Lib. X, which he dedicated to Augustus, under whose reign he had held the of fice of inspector of the military machines. This treatise was first printed at Venice, 1497, folio; and, among modern editions, the most valuable are those of Schneider (Leipsic, 1808, 4 vols., 8vo.), and of Stratico (Ettingen, 1828, 4 vols.). An English translation of the work of Vitruvius, with a commentary, by William Newton, appeared in 1771, folio, republished 1791, 2 vols., folio; and a new translation, by W. Wilkins, with an Introduction, containing an Historical View of the Rise and Progress of Architecture among the Greeks, was published in 1812, folio.

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VITTORIA, or VICTORIA, Fernandez Guadalupe, late president of the Mexican republic, was born at Durango, where his father was a considerable land-holder, in 1790, and had just finished his studies for the bar, in the capital, when the revolution broke out (1810). He immediately espoused the cause of his native land against the Spaniards, and entered the

service under Morelos as a volunteer. In 1814, he was appointed captain-general in the province of Vera Cruz-a very important post, as the whole communication with Europe was through the ports of that province. Here Vittoria distinguished himself by his activity and energy, and soon became the terror of the Spanish troops, maintaining an incessant and destructive guerilla war. Notwithstanding the great efforts of the royal commanders, and their great numerical superiority, he sustained a struggle for two years, at the end of which time, his successive losses, and the disastrous state of the revolutionary party in the country, left him without a single follower. Determined not to yield to the Spaniards, and refusing their offers of pardon, promotion and reward, he retired alone into the mountains of the province, with nothing but his sword. For upwards of six months, he was pursued by 1000 men, in small detachments, with such ardor and vigilance that his escapes were often almost miraculous; and wherever it was found that his wants had been relieved, the whole village was immediately burnt to the ground. In this way he was reduced to such extremities, that he often went four or five days without taking any thing but water: for thirty months, he never tasted bread, nor saw a human being. When Mr. Ward, author of Mexico (2d ed., London, 1829), from which we have taken this account, first saw him, in 1823, he was unable to eat above once in twenty-four or even thirty-six hours. On the breaking out of the revolution of 1821, he was found, by a former follower, who came in search of him, but who, far from recognising his commander in the naked phantom, emaciated, and covered with hair, which stood before him, took to flight, and was recalled only by the sounds of his voice. Vittoria, on receiving intelligence of the new state of things, descended to the low country, and immediately found himself at the head of a body of republican troops, attracted by his old reputation. He now joined Iturbide; but, as his wishes were set on the establishment of a liberal government, and not on a change of masters, he was again forced to retire to the mountains, when that general carried into successful execution his ambitious projects, and only reappeared again to give the signal for the overthrow of the emperor. (See Iturbide, and Santa Aña.) On the expulsion of the emperor, and the establishment of the new constitution, in 1824, Vittoria was chosen

the first president of the new republic, and continued to administer the executive government during the term of four years, when Pedraza was chosen his successor. (See Mexico, and Pedraza.)

VITTORIA, BATTLE OF, was fought on June 21, 1813. In the middle of February, 1813, the disastrous state of the French army in Russia was made known to the French troops in Spain, with orders to send whatever forces could be spared to Germany. 30,000 troops set off immediately for that country. Their departure, and Marmont's defeat in the year previous, obliged the French to give up Madrid, and to retire behind the Ebro. Wellington followed, and passed the Ebro, June 15. At last, the two armies met on the great plain of Vittoria (a town in Alava, lon. 2° 41′ W., lat. 42° 47' N., with a population of 6500, much occupied in the manufacture of sword-blades). The French were commanded by king Joseph and Jourdan. They had on their left a chain of gentle hills, on their right Vittoria, in front the rivulet of Zadora. On the 20th, Wellington united all his columns, and ordered general Hill, on the 21st, to pass over the Zadora at daybreak, and to attack the centre of the French. He was repulsed, but the struggle was obstinate; and general Graham, in the mean time, turned the right wing of the French, and came upon their rear, so that they were cut off from the road to Bilboa, and forced to retreat towards Pampeluna, which they did in the greatest disorder. They had been so certain of victory, that little provision had been made for the case of defeat; and many of the wives of the officers, the whole of Joseph's baggage, &c., fell into the hands of the English. 15,000 dead and wounded lay on the field of battle; 3000 French were taken prisoners. The English took 151 cannons, and 400 wagons with military stores, and the military chest. Their booty was immense. General Clauzel arrived the day after the battle, with two divisions, at Vittoria, and, with great skill, retreated towards Saragossa, so that the pursuit was less destructive than it would otherwise have been, and the remains of the French army were enabled to rally at the foot of the Pyrenees, where Soult put them again in order, and strove to oppose Wellington, who was prevented also, by other circumstances, from following up his victory as he could have wished; since Suchet, after the unsuccessful attempt of general Murray on Tarragona, kept possession of Valencia, and

general Maurice Matthieu of Barcelona.

VITUS'S DANCE, St., or CHOREA SancTI VITI (from Xooɛa, a dance), is a spasmodic or convulsive disease, in which the muscles of the extremities and other parts are thrown into various involuntary motions, and perform, in an irregular manner, those motions which are dictated by the will. The approach of the disease is commonly slow, and is indicated by a loss of the usual vivacity, by a variable and often ravenous appetite, a swelling and hardness in the lower belly, in most cases, but, in some, a lank and soft belly, and, in general, a constipated state of the bowels. Slight, irregular, involuntary motions are soon observed, especially of the muscles of the face, which after a while become more violent. These convulsive motions vary considerably. The muscles of the extremities, and of the face, those moving the lower jaw, the head and the trunk of the body, are, at different times and in different instances, affected by it. In this state, the patient does not walk steadily: his gait resembles jumping or starting: he sometimes cannot walk, and seems palsied; nor can he perform the common motions with the arms. In a word, when he wishes to be at rest, the muscles are perpetually moving, and distorting the limbs, face and trunk; and when any motion is attempted by the will, it is performed irregularly and with difficulty, after several efforts. The convulsive motions sometimes continue even in sleep. In the progress of the disease, articulation becomes impeded, and is frequently completely suspended. Deglutition is also occasionally performed with difficulty. The eye loses its lustre and intelligence; the countenance is pale and expressive of languor. This disease attacks both sexes, but chiefly those who are of a weak constitution, or whose health and vigor have been impaired by confinement, or by the want of sufficient or proper nourishment. It appears most commonly from the eighth to the fourteenth year. Many causes have been assigned for this disorder, such as worms in the alimentary canal, and the repulsion or drying up of cutaneous eruptions; also rheumatisms, acute fevers, diseases of the stomach, the use of mercury, terror, and other strong mental impres'sions. The remedies which have been adopted belong to the two classes of tonics and evacuants. The connexion of the name of St. Vitus with this disease seems to have originated, during the days of fanaticism and superstition, in the sev