the Orkney or Northern Islands. Hence the expression "Sodor and Man" originally meant "Hebrides or Southern Islands and Man." The Hebrides are now included in the ecclesiastical system of Scotland, and the true Bishop of Sodor is the Scotch Bishop of the Isles. But the full title is still retained by the Bishop of the Isle of Man. The Bishop of Sodor and Man, not being counted as one of the English bishops, has no seat in the House of Lords.

Bishops' Bible. An English revision of the Holy Scriptures, published in folio, in 1568. It was executed with great care by about 15 learned men, 8 of whom were bishops: hence the name

This

"Bishops' Bible." The revision was made under the direction of Archbishop Parker; and is, in consequence, often called "Parker's Bible." edition is adorned with 143 engravings, together with maps and portraits. It was the version authorized to be read in the parish churches; but in private use it never displaced the Geneva version. In 1569, the "Bishops' Bible" was published in octavo, the chapters being divided into verses, as in the Geneva Bible.

Black Agnes. A nickname conferred upon the Countess of Dunbar and March, on account of her swarthy complexion. This brave and intrepid woman completedly foiled the Earl of Salisbury in his attempt to capture Dunbar Castle in 1337.

Black Box. A box supposed to contain the marriage-contract of Charles II and Lucy Barlow [or Walters], the mother of the Duke of Monmouth, and said to have been stolen from her. If these papers had been found, they would have secured to Monmouth the right of succession to the throne of England, to the exclusion of the hated Duke of York, the brother of the king. The "Black Box" is referred to in Lorna Doone and is twice mentioned by Macaulay. The story never had the

slightest basis of truth, but was readily believed by the masses,—always fond of romantic adventure.

Black Death. The name given to the fearful epidemic that devastated Asia and Europe in the 14th century of the Christian era. It was so called from the black spots that appeared upon the skin at the time of death, and was probably a highly malignant form of typhus fever. It ravaged China in 1333-1347, and carried off 13,000,000 of its inhabitants, and 24,000,000 in the rest of Asia. The Black Death first appeared in Europe in 1342, but it was not until August, 1348, that it reached England, and began to rage with unparalleled fury. In London 100,000 persons died of it, and in Norwich over 60,000. It is estimated that the victims of this one visitation numbered from one-third to one-half of the entire population of England, which, at that time amounted to about 5,000,000 souls. The Black Death reappeared in Europe in 1360, 1373, and 1382. It is said to have carried off, in all its visitations, over 30,000,000 Europeans.

Black Eagle. A Prussian order instituted January 17th, 1701, by Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg, on his accession to the throne as first king of Prussia. There are thirty knights in the order, besides those belonging to the royal family. Their vows are justice and chastity, and protection to widows and children. An orange ribbon and a Maltese cross, with the legend Cuique Suum, are the insignia of the order.

Blackfriars Bridge. A famous bridge across the Thames at London. The original structure was built by Robert Mylne in 1760-1769. Owing to its piers giving way, it was replaced by an iron structure, resting on granite piers. It is 1272 feet long and 80 feet broad; was built by Cubitt, and completed in 1869. The bridge derives its name from an ancient monastery of the Black Friars, which once stood on the

bank of the river, close at hand. It dated from 1276, and was the scene of several parliaments. It was there also that Cardinals Wolsey and Campeggio pronounced sentence of divorce against Queen Catherine of Aragon, June 21st, 1529. In 1599, Shakespeare acted in a theatre that occupied part of the site of the ancient monastery.

Black Friday.

(1) December 6th, 1745. On that day news reached London that the army of Prince Charles (the "Young Pretender") had reached Derby, on its victorious march. London was in a

perfect panic; there was a run on the Bank of England; all business was suspended and the shops were closed. The king himself (George II) is said The king himself (George II) is said to have ordered his yachts to the Tower stairs, and to have embarked many of his valuables. The panic, however, was of short duration, as the invaders retreated on the following day.

(2) May 11th, 1866. A disastrous day in London, owing to the suspension of the banking house of Overend, Gurney & Company. The panic was terrible, but fortunately of brief duration.

(3) September 24th, 1869. A day of fierce excitement in New York, occasioned by a clique of speculators, who suddenly advanced the price of gold to 1624, and thus caused a disastrous panic,-sweeping hundreds of firms and individuals into bankruptcy.

Black Hawk War. A war between the United States and the North American Indian tribes of Sacs and Foxes, under the leadership of one of their chiefs, Black Hawk. It occurred in 1832, and was waged for the recovery of certain lands originally ceded by the Indians to the whites. Although the trouble commenced in 1831, the decisive battle of Bad Axe River, Wisconsin, was not fought till August 1st-2nd, 1832. This resulted in the utter defeat of the Indian tribes. Black Hawk was captured soon after by a party of

friendly Indians, and taken to the principal cities of the United States, to impress him with the greatness of the nation. He died in 1838.

Black Hole of Calcutta. The name given to a small dungeon or cell in Fort William, Calcutta, the scene of one of the most tragic events in the history of British India. When Calcutta was taken by Suraja Dowlah, on June 18th, 1756, he imprisoned, overnight, in this confined place, the British garrison of 146 men. The apartment was only 18 feet square, and was poorly ventilated, having only two small windows, obstructed by a verandah. In the morning 23 only were found to be alive, the remaining 123 having perished from lack of air, heat, thirst, and pressure. The

"Black Hole" was afterwards used as a warehouse. One of the survivors, narrative of his experiences. Mr. Holwell, published, in 1758, a

Black Hussar of Literature. A title conferred upon Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) by his son-in-law, Lock

Black-Letter Days. Unlucky days were marked by the Romans with a piece of charcoal, and lucky ones with a piece of white chalk. Hence the expression" Black-Letter Days"came to mean, with them, days of misfortune. In the Anglican calendar, the Black-Letter Saints' Days were so named because they were printed in black or ordinary letters, while the more important feasts were usually printed in red, and hence were called Red-Letter Days. See Red-Letter Days.

Black Monday.

(1) April 14th, 1360 (Easter Monday). On this day, while Edward III (1327-1377) of England lay encamped before Paris, the darkness was so intense and the cold so bitter that many of the men and horses perished. Hence the Monday after Easter is frequently called, in England, Black Monday, in memory of this disastrous affair. In the Merchant of Venice, Act ii, Scene 5, Launcelot says:

"-it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black Monday last, at six o'clock i' the morning..

(2) February 27th, 1865. On this day (Monday), a terrible sirocco swept over Victoria, Australia, and did fearful damage from Sandhurst to Castlemaine.

Black Prince. A sobriquet bestowed upon Edward, Prince of Wales, and son of Edward III. There is great difference of opinion as to the origin of this appellation. Froissart says that he was styled black" by terror of his arms,' while Strutt states that he was surnamed the "Black" for his warlike prowess. The commonly received notion is that he was called the "Black Prince" owing to the color of his armor; but Meyrick and Shaw both assert that his armor was anything but black.

Black Republic. A name bestowed upon Hayti, whose citizens are almost all negroes.

Black Republicans. A term of reproach bestowed by pro-slavery men upon the members of the Republican party at the time of its formation

(1856), and for some years after. The Republican party was organized to prevent the extension of slavery into any new State or Territory, and to confine it within those States in which it had a recognized legal existence.

Black Rod, Gentleman-Usher of. An officer of the House of Lords, appointed by letters-patent. He derives his title from his wand-of-office, which consists of a black rod surmounted by a gold lion. He is chief gentlemanusher to the sovereign, and usher of the Order of the Garter,-as well as doorkeeper at the meetings of the chapter. He maintains order in the House of Lords; takes into custody any peer guilty of a breach of privilege; and -either personally or by deputy-summons the House of Commons to the House of Lords whenever its presence is required. He is a member of the Order of the Garter.

Black Rood of Scotland. A piece of wood-said to be a part of the true cross-set in an ebony figure of Christ. This was enclosed in a casket of gold, elaborately wrought and shaped like a

cross.

It was brought to Scotland by Margaret, wife of Malcolm, king of that country, about 1270, and became the most venerated relic in the kingdom. Holyrood Abbey at Edinburgh was dedicated to the Holy Rood." In 1291, it was delivered to Edward I (1272-1307) of England, and in 1328 was restored to Scotland. When David II invaded England in 1346, the " Holy Rood" was carried before the army, but fell into the hands of the English at the battle of Neville's Cross. It was then placed in the shrine of St. Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral, where it remained till the time of the Reformation (1517), when it disappeared. Since then, all traces of the Holy Rood" have been lost. Black Sea. This inland sea, connected with the Mediterranean by the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmora, and the Dardanelles, is said to owe its

Blacksmith of Antwerp. A nickname conferred upon Quentin Matsys (1460-1529), the Flemish painter, in allusion to his original occupation.

Black Stone of Mecca. A darkcolored stone-apparently a meteorite -contained in the temple of the Caaba, at Mecca. It is about nine inches long, and is built into the southeast corner of the building at the proper height for kissing. The Mohammedans claim that it was given to Abraham by an angel. Pilgrims to Mecca circumambulate the Caaba seven times, and kiss the Black Stone. The Caaba was the temple of Mecca for ages before the time of Mohammed, and attracted pagan pilgrims in those days, just as now it draws thousands of Moslems. It is a legend that the "Black Stone" was at one time white; but turned black, owing to the sins of men. See Caaba.

Black Vomit. A term often applied to yellow-fever, owing to the dark matter, of the color of coffee-grounds, vomited during the last stages of the disease.

in

Blackwell's Island. A long, narrow island in the East River, included within the limits of the Borough of Manhattan, New York City. It has an area of about 120 acres, and was purchased by the city for $50,000, in 1828. It contains many of the reformatory and charitable institutions of the city, among others, the Charity Hospital, the Hospital for Incurables, the Insane Asylum, Almshouse, Penitentiary, and Workhouse, The old Blackwell homestead-130 years old is still standing, and is used by the warden of the Almshouse as his residence. The population of the island is about 7000. It is reached from foot of East 26th Street, New York, by ferry.

Bladensburg. A village of Maryland, about six miles northeast of

a battle between the British and American forces, August 24th, 1814. The British army consisted of about 5000 men, under the command of General Ross and Admiral Cockburn; the American forces, of militia hastily gathered, under General Winder. The battle resulted in a defeat for the Americans, after a brief contest, with small losses on both sides. The British soon after captured Washington, and burned the Capitol and several of the other public buildings. Bladensburg was famous, in more recent times, as a duelling-ground. There was fought, March 22nd, 1820, the famous duel between Barron and Decatur, in which the former was severely, and the latter fatally, wounded.

Blarney Stone. A famous stone, among the ruins of Blarney Castle, Ireland, supposed to possess the power of imparting persuasive, but not overhonest, eloquence to every one that kisses it. The position of the stone is a matter of much dispute. Some claim that it is inserted in the wall of the castle, about twenty feet from the top, and that the person wishing to kiss it must be suspended by his heels. According to others, the stone is lying in fragments on the ground; while still others affirm that it is on the summit of the square tower, originally forming the donjon or keep of the castle. The village of Blarney is about four miles from Cork. The castle, situ

ated in the midst of beautiful groves, was built in the 15th century. Its walls are 18 feet thick. According to a legend, the "Blarney Stone" originally belonged to the inhabitants of Tyre and Carthage, to whom its miraculous powers were well known. Some Carthaginian adventurers, having carried away the stone to the island of Minorca by stealth, were afterwards driven into Cork harbor. Thereupon they hid their treasure amid "the groves of Blarney," whence it was removed for use in building the castle.

Blenheim. The residence of the Duke of Marlborough, situated at Woodstock, about nine miles from the city of Oxford, England. It was erected at public expense, during the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714), and presented by the British Parliament to the hero of Blenheim, in recognition of his distinguished services to the nation. The building was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, and has a frontage of 348 feet. Its interior is magnificent, and originally contained a priceless collection of paintings-principally by Rubens-and a valuable library; these, however, were sold at auction between the years 1875-1886. Eleven of the paintings were offered to the nation. for £350,000. Among these, the "Ansidei Madonna," by Raphael, was purchased for the National Gallery for £70,000. Blenheim Park consists of nearly 3000 acres, and contains a triumphal arch, and a column 130 feet high, surmounted by a statue of the great Duke. The total cost of the entire estate is said to have been nearly £600,000. See Blenheim, Battle of; Most Costly Painting in the World.

Blenheim, Battle of. A battle fought near Blenheim, a village in Bavaria, on August 13th, 1704, between the allies, commanded by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, and the French and Bavarians under Tallard, Marsin, and the Elector of Bavaria. The French and Bavarians were utterly routed, losing from 30,000 to 40,000 men, killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, besides 120 pieces of cannon and 130 standards. The allied loss was about 5000 killed and 8000 wounded. See Blenheim.

Blennerhassett's Island. An island in the Ohio River, near Parkersburg, West Virginia, famous as the residence of Harman Blennerhassett (17701831), a wealthy Irishman. The island was purchased by him in 1798, and a spacious mansion was erected

upon it. In 1805, he was visited by Aaron Burr, and induced to assist him in his treasonable scheme of founding an empire in the West. Blennerhassett was arrested as one of Burr's accomplices, but was finally discharged without a trial. His house and grounds were ruined by an infuriated mob. The remainder of his life was spent in an unavailing attempt to retrieve his fortunes. See Burr's Conspiracy.

Blind Harry. A sobriquet applied to Henry the Minstrel, a wandering Scotch bard who lived during the 15th century. He is said to have been blind from his infancy. He was the author of a poem, entitled Sir William Wallace, in twelve books, containing about 12,000 lines. This poem, in its modernized form, still enjoys considerable popularity.

Blind Old Man of Scio's Rocky Isle. An appellation bestowed upon Homer by Byron in The Bride of Abydos, ii, 2. claimed the honor of being the birthAlthough seven cities place of the poet, he is generally supposed to have been born at Smyrna or at Chios (Scio). Byron, from his allusion to Homer in the poem above mentioned, evidently gives the preference to the latter. The following are the names of the seven cities that are said to have disputed for the honor of having given birth to Homer: Smyrna, and Athens. Some writers substitute Chios, Colophon, Ithaca, Pylos, Argos, Salamis for Ithaca.

"Seven cities warred for Homer being dead; Who living had no roofe to shrowd his head.'

Thomas Heywood.

Blind Preacher. A sobriquet conferred upon William Henry Milburn, a blind Methodist minister, born in Philadelphia in 1823. He was for several years chaplain of the House of Representatives, at Washington, D. C., and has served the Senate in the same capacity since 1893.