The

that the government thus formed lasted "Bibliothèque des Chemins de Fer," the so long as nearly three years. This book by which he was till recently best country, however, having declared war known, "La Grèce Contemporaine," against Russia on account of the en- which met with a brilliant success. croachments of that power on Turkey, result was that the author found admis. in reference to the protectorate of the sion as a contributor to the "Revue des Greek Church, Lord Aberdeen was com- Deux Mondes," and published in that pelled to resign, owing to an adverse excellent periodical a romance entitled vote in the House of Commons, in 1855. "Tolla." In 1856 he made his début as This was occasioned by a general im- a dramatic writer, but was unsuccessful. pression that he and his colleagues did He has since written "A Journey not pursue hostile matters with the through the Paris Exhibition of 1856," vigour and energy which were required in which he criticises the works of French in so serious a matter. It was alleged artists then exhibited; a number of that both the army and navy were in a feuilletons contributed to the "Monicondition totally unfit to cope with the emergency. With respect to home matters, Lord Aberdeen was more successful, and during his tenure of office he introduced several bills which developed the resources of the country, and freed our public educational establishments from those trammels to which they had been tied for many centuries past. As a recognition of his great talent and acquirements, Lord Aberdeen has been elected Chancellor of King's College, Aberdeen, and also fills similar offices in other educational institutions. He has been twice married, and has one son living, Lord Haddo, who succeeds to the title on his father's decease. For the last few years Lord Aberdeen has taken no prominent part in public matters, and, comparatively speaking, has retired into private life.

teur," under the titles of "Les Mariages de Paris," and three novels entitled "Le Roi des Montagnes," "Germaine," and "Les Échasses de Maître Pierre." In 1857 he published his "Artistes au Salon," another criticism of the paintings of the yearly exhibition of Paris. His "Question Romaine" is the author's last important production.

ADAM, JEAN VICTOR, a French painter, was born in Paris on the 29th day of February, 1801. He was the son of Jean Adam, an eminent engraver. From 1814 to 1818 he was engaged in going through a course of professional study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. His first picture, sent in 1819 to the exhibition, was "Herminie secourant Tancrède." He continued to exhibit regularly as a painter till 1838, when he undertook a series of paintings for the Gallery of Versailles, among which may be enumerated "The Entrance of the French into Mayence," "The Battle of Montebello," and "The Capitulation. of Meiningen." Since 1846 he has confined his attention to the lithographic department of art, in which he has attained to great success, and shown great fertility

ABOUT, EDMOND FRANÇOIS VALENTIN, a French writer and publicist, was born at Dreuze, in the department of Meurthe, in 1828. He entered the College of Charlemagne, at Paris, where he gained, in 1848, the highest honours in the class of philosophy. From the Normal School of Paris, he went as a teacher or professor to Athens. While in Greece he collected materials for a as an artist. Between 1821 and 1829 he work of erudition, entitled "L'Isle d'Egine," published at Paris in 1854. He returned to France in 1853, and two years afterwards he published in the

gained several medals at Lille and Douay, and in 1826 and 1836 he obtained gold medals at Paris.

ADAMS, JOHN COUCH, an English

AGASSIZ, LOUIS JEAN RODOLPHE,

Various peers.

From Heidelberg he went to

astronomer, was born in Cornwall, in 1817. Like Ferguson, he sprang from a distinguished Swiss naturalist, now agricultural connexions, to attain a settled in America, was born in 1807, at high position in the scientific world by Moitiers, Canton of Freyburg, in Switzthe exercise of innate talent. He ex- erland. His ancestors were of French hibited a decided taste for mathematics origin, and were among the number of when very young, and fortunately was those Protestants who, on the revocation fostered in his choice, by being sent to of the Edict of Nantes, were forced to Cambridge to complete his education. fly from France. His father was a ProIn this university he was enabled to testant minister, and intended him for pursue his favourite study, in its appli- the church; but from an intuitive love cation to physical science, and paying for natural history, he preferred the great attention to astronomy, he soon dis- study of medicine as affording a fuller tinguished himself by the profundity of scope for the bent of his genius. To his researches. He is chiefly known by carry out this design he entered the his remarkable discovery, à priori, of Medical School at Zurich, and subsethe existence of a planet at the extremity quently the University of Heidelberg, of the solar system. For many years, where he devoted special attention to astronomers were at a loss to account the study of comparative anatomy, gainfor certain irregularities in the passage ing a high reputation among his comof Uranus round its orbit. theories had been proposed to explain Munich, where he remained four years. these, but Mr. Adams, having suggested the idea of another and undiscovered planet existing, put his opinions to the test of mathematical investigation, and was thus enabled to assign a possible position for the supposed planet's place; which eventually, on its actual discovery, was found to be nearly true. This result is, perhaps, one of the most noble triumphs of modern science. By one of those inexplicable occurrences, in which two minds at a distance from each other are simultaneously engaged on the same subject, M. Leverrier, of Paris, had arrived about the same time at the same conclusion. A dispute of priority of discovery arose, similar to that which occurred between Leibnitz and Newton, but without any decisive result. The Royal Astronomical Society regarded each of these gentlemen as equally entitled to honourable distinction, and Mr. Adams has since become the President of that distinguished Society, and of which he forms a brilliant ornament. He also holds the Loundean Professorship of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge.

His great attainments brought him into connexion with the ichthyological department of the Natural History of Brazil, which made him known as a man of science. His parents remonstrated against this devotion to scientific study, and endeavoured by various means to cool his ardour. Fortunately, however, his indomitable perseverance and assiduity attracted the notice of the great German publisher, Cotta, who advanced him such money as he required for the successful prosecution of his researches. Having taken the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Philosophy, he repaired to Vienna, where he entered upon the study of fossil fishes. Visiting Paris in the prosecution of his studies, he gained the friendship of Cuvier and Humboldt. On returning to Switzerland he was appointed Professor of Natural History in the University of Neufchâtel, where he remained until 1846, when he embarked for America. Soon after his arrival in the United States he was appointed Professor of Zoology in the Lawrence Scientific School, and since then Pro

fessor of Comparative Anatomy in the In Dublin and Limerick he was equally University of Charleston. At the early successful. In 1835 he was appointed age of thirty Agassiz was a member of physician to Captain Chesney's Expedinearly every scientific society in Europe. tion to the Euphrates. After remaining The Glacial theory, with which his name for some time at Bombay, he went alone, is now so honourably identified, was first in 1837, to Kurdistan and Asia Minor, published by him in 1837. To collect these countries forming afterwards the the facts relating to the subject, he chief object of a second expedition, spent eight summers upon the glaciers of which continued from 1838 till 1841. the Aar, 8,000 feet above the level of His investigations were not, however, the sea. The published contributions of limited to exploration from mere love of Agassiz to the various departments of travel and adventure; he was charged science are numerous and valuable. The with missions by the Royal Geographical best known of those are his researches Society to explore the course of the on Fossil Fishes, his Natural History of Halys; and by the Society for the Prothe Fresh-water Fishes of Europe, and pagation of the Gospel to open up negothe "Principles of Zoology,” by himself ciations with the Nestorian Christians. and Dr. A. A. Gould, and an Essay In the spring of 1840, he visited the on Classification,” republished last year country of the Nestorians, and returned in this country. He is now engaged to England the following year. Among upon what promises to be his great the principal works Dr. Ainsworth has work-"The Natural History of the United States." Two volumes of this work, which is to extend to ten, have been already published. The book is executed upon a grand and comprehensive scale, and when completed will form one of the noblest tributes to science of any age or nation.

66

AINSWORTH, WILLIAM FRANCIS, an English physician and traveller, was born at Exeter, in November, 1807. He studied the natural sciences and medicine, in the usual course, with the view of becoming a Doctor of Medicine, and obtained his diploma in 1827; starting in the same year on a geological excursion to Auvergne and the Pyrenees. On his return in 1828, he accepted the editorship of the "Journal of Natural and Geographical Science," published in Edinburgh, delivering at intervals a popular course of lectures on geology. The outbreak of the cholera in 1832 called him to London, where his skill in treating the hospital cases attracted so much notice, that on the abatement of the epidemic in the capital, he was sent to Ireland to pursue his system there.

published are "Researches in Assyria," "Travels and Researches in Asia Minor," "The Claims of the Christian Aborigines in the East," and "Travels in the Track of the 10,000 Greeks," besides numerous papers contributed to scientific societies. In 1854 he became one of the Editors of "Bohn's Classical Library," to which he has rendered valuable service by his edition of Xenophon. Dr. Ainsworth is a cousin of William Harrison Ainsworth, the celebrated novelist and magazine conductor.

AINSWORTH, WILLIAM HARRISON, an English novelist, was born at Manchester, in 1805. He was destined for the legal profession, but Mr. Ainsworth preferred to devote himself almost exclusively to literary pursuits. His first attempt was a volume of poems, and after that Mr. Ainsworth published a romance called "Rookwood," which at once obtained great popularity. “Crichton" followed. In "Jack Sheppard," which next appeared, Mr. Ainsworth strove to exalt the virtues of a class of heroes who had till his time figured in the halter rather than in the pages of

romance the English highwaymen, discrimination with which he edited whose adventurous lives and miserable Moir's poems, and the admirable Life of fate had always invested them with a the author prefixed to the poems, were certain amount of popular sympathy. the theme of general praise. Mr. Aird's This work, which fostered a sentiment-poems have passed through two editions. ality by no means calculated to benefit | With no trace of the spasmodic, and public morals, had an immense success; owing nothing to adventitious circumthe author, at the time of writing it, in stances for popularity, they have won all probability never speculated on its their way to a high place among the tendencies. He has not since written masterpieces of song. any work of the same kind. Mr. Ains- AIRY, GEORGE BIDDELL, M.A. worth's numerous historical romances (Cambridge), D.C.L. (Oxford), LL.D. possess, in a high degree, all the best (Edinburgh), the English Astronomer qualities of fictitious narratives; the Royal, was born at Alnwick, in Northplots are well constructed, the charac-umberland, on July 27th, 1801, and ters well drawn, great care being be- educated at the Grammar School of stowed on the historical accuracy of the Colchester, in Essex. He entered Trifacts, and, what is also of great impor- nity College, Cambridge, in 1819, gratance, the interest of the reader is sus-duated, and was Senior Wrangler in tained from beginning to end. The 1823; was elected Fellow of Trinity most remarkable of his romances are College in 1824; and in 1826 obtained “Rookwood," "The Tower of London," the Lucasian Professorship of Mathema"Windsor Castle," "The Admirable tics (formerly held by Newton and by Crick" "Old St. Paul's," "The Barrow), which he exchanged in 1828 Misses' Daughter," and "The Flitch of for the Plumian Professorship of AstroBacon." His latest tale is "Ovingdean nomy and Experimental Philosophy, Grange These works have been fre- which included the charge of the Camquently reprinted in America, and bridge Observatory. Besides giving translated into most of the continental great attention to the selection and languages, having met with a remark-accuracy of his observations, he has able success abroad, more especially in published their results in such a form as France.

to render them immediately useful to AIRD, THOMAS, a Scottish poet, was science, a practice which by degrees has born at Bowden, Roxburghshire, on the been followed in every important obser28th of August, 1802. After being edu- vatory. In discharge of the other duties cated in his native place, and the Uni- of the chair, he instituted a course of versity of Edinburgh, in 1835 he was experimental lectures on several subjects appointed Editor of the "Dumfries connected with applied mathematics, Herald," which he has since continued which (especially those on optics) atto conduct with much ability, taste, and tracted much attention. In October success. In addition to his poetry Mr. 1835 he was appointed Astronomer Aird has published several prose works Royal, and took charge of the Royal of superior merit. The chief of these Observatory of Greenwich. Since that is his "Religious Characteristics," and time, the Greenwich Observatory has The Old Bachelor in the Old Scottish been maintained in a state of great effiVillage." Though not attaining the ciency, and has been completely remopopularity that might have been anti- delled. Every new discovery has been cipated, they both abound in passages of at once adopted which was calculated great power and beauty. The delicate to facilitate observation. One of Mr.

correction.

Airy's most laborious works was "An ALBERT, FRANZ AUGUST KARL Abridgment of the Planetary and Lunar EMANUEL, Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha, Observations from 1750 to 1830," pub- heir presumptive to the Duke of Saxe lished in 1846, and perhaps the most Coburg, and consort of Queen Victoria, extensive individual work ever under- was born August 26th, 1819. He is taken in astronomy. Among his scien- descended from a long line of eminent tific labours, we may mention his exa- ancestry in Germany. Prince Albert mination of the cause of the disturbance was educated with his elder brother, the of the compass in iron ships, as the present Duke regnant of Saxe Coburg result of which he has given rules which Gotha, under the Consistorial Councillor, are now universally followed for its Florchutz, and at the University of He has published treatises Bonn. His studies there included anon the "Undulatory Theory of Light;" cient and modern languages, history, "The Tides on the Coast of Ireland, the physical and natural sciences, music, and in other places;" "Observations to and painting. In 1838 he visited Engestablish the Longitude of Valentia ;" land with his father, and in two years and 64 Experiments to ascertain the afterwards was married to Queen VicForce of Gravity in the Colliery of toria at St. James's Palace. Prince Harton, near South Shields;" which, by Albert has ever taken a warm interest the accuracy and care taken in the in all social questions, and has devoted experiments, have been exceedingly himself to various pursuits which have valuable in the study of physical as given him a high character amongst all tronomy. Mr. Airy has been called on parties. He has paid great attention to to assist the Government in the commis- agriculture, and has often carried off sion on the railway gauge; in the the highest prize offered for live stock. restoration of standards of length and He has a model farm near Windsor, in weight (destroyed at the fire of the the management of which he avails himHouses of Parliament); and in the self of every scientific appliance and astronomical operations for defining the improvement. As head of the Fine boundaries of our North American Arts Commission, and as chairman of provinces. His principal treatises on the Council of the Great Exhibition of scientific subjects are the article in the 1851, his services were invaluable, and Penny Cyclopædia, on "Gravitation," to his exertions the nation is indebted his "Mathematical Tracts," and "Ips- for the promised exhibition of 1862, wich Lectures," with the articles "Tri- Prince Albert having offered to guarangonometry," Figure of the Earth,' ,"tee its success to a large pecuniary and "Tides and Waves," in the "En- extent. cyclopædia Metropolitana." He is also the author of numerous papers (frequently under the signature A. B. G.) in the " Athenæum," and the "Philosophical Magazine.' Mr. Airy is a Fellow of the Royal Society, member of the Prussian Order of Merit, and a Correspondent of the French Academy, of those of St. Petersburg and Berlin, and is well known throughout Europe and America as one of the most eminent cultivators of physical science.

The Prince holds a large number of official positions. But of all his titles the one which he seems most to value is that of President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, to which he was elected in 1859. He opened the proceedings of the Association, at Aberdeen, with an address which was applauded by all parties in the empire for its earnest and graceful eloquence, as well as for its tact and knowledge. The public appearances of his Royal Highness are always