of his efforts, refused to perform their office; at | single consolation that he received: for he shunlength he got through the formidable gate which ned all intercourse with a new race, born since he so long ago had closed upon him. When he felt had been exiled from the world; and he passed the motion of the carriage designed to convey him his time in the midst of Paris in the same solitude to his former habitation, he screamed out, and as he had done whilst confined in a dungeon for uttered some inarticulate sounds; and as he could almost half a century. But the mortification of not bear this new movement he was obliged to de- meeting with no person who could say to him, 'we scend. Supported by a benevolent arm, he sought were formerly known to one another,' soon put an out the street where he had formerly resided:he end to his existence. found it, but no trace of his house remained: one of the public edifices occupied the spot where it had stood. He saw nothing that brought to his recollection, either that particular quarter, the city itself, or the objects with which he had formerly been acquainted. The houses of his nearest neighbors, which were fresh in his memory, had assumed a new appearance. In vain were his looks directed to all the objects around him; he could discover nothing of which he had the smallest remembrance. Terrified he stopped and fetched a deep sigh. To him what did it import that the eity was peopled with living creatures? none of them were alive to him; he was unknown to all the world, and he knew nobody: and whilst he wept, he regretted his dungeon.

The man with the mask was the most astonishing prisoner ever known to have been within the walls of the Bastile; of whom, notwithstanding all the curiosity and conjecture that have been employed to ascertain his quality and pedigree, nothing authentic has transpired to the present time. In 1698 he was brought from the island of St. Marguerite by Mons. de St. Mars, the newly appointed governor of the Bastile, was attended with the greatest respect, maintained a sumptuous table, and had every possible indulgence shown him till the time of his death in November 19, 1703. This mysterious prisoner, on his removal to the Bastile, was carried in a litter, accompanied by several men on horse back, who had orders to put him to death if he made the smallest attempt to show his face or otherwise discover himself. His face was concealed by a mask of black velvet with springs of steel, which were so constructed that he should eat without taking it off. A physician of the Bastile, who had often attended him, said he had never seen his face, though he had frequently examined his tongue and other parts of his body; but added, that he was admirably well made, that his skin was brown, his voice interesting; that he was very accomplished, read much, played on the guitar, and had an exquisite taste for lace and fine linen.

At the name of the Bastile, which he often pronounced, and even claimed as an asylum, and the sight of the clothes that marked a former age, the crowd gathered round him: curiosity blended with pity, excited their attention. The most aged asked him many questions, but had no remembrance of the circumstances he recapitulated. At length accident brought in his way an ancient domestic, now a superannuated porter, who, confined to his lodge fifteen years, had barely sufficient strength to open the gate: he did not even know the master he had served; but informed him that grief The pains taken for his concealment shows that and misfortune had brought his wife to the grave he was a person of considerable quality and imthirty years before, that his children were gone portance, and from the following circumstances it abroad to distant climes, and that of all his relations appears singular that he was never discovered. and friends none now remained. This recital was Whilst at St. Marguerite, he one day wrote somemade with the indifference which people discover thing with his knife on a silver plate, and afterfor events long passed, and almost forgotten. The wards threw the plate through the window towards miserable man groaned, and groaned alone. The a boat which lay near the tower. A fisherman crowd around, offering unknown features to his took up the plate and brought it to the governor, view, made him feel the excess of his calamities who, with great astonishment, asked the man if he even more than he would have done in the dread- had read the writing or shown it to any other perful solitude that he had lately quitted. Overcome son; and, although he answered in the negative, with sorrow, he presented himself before the min- put him into confinement till he was perfectly satister, to whose humanity he owed that liberty which isfied, after which he dismissed him, saying, 'It is was now a burden to him. Bowing down, he lucky for you that you cannot read.' The abbé said, 'restore me again to that prison from which Papon says, in the year 1778 I had the curiosity to you have taken me: I cannot survive the loss of visit the apartment of this unfortunate prisoner: my nearest relations; of my friends; and, in one it looks towards the sea. I found in the citadel an word, of a whole generation. Is it possible in the officer in the independent company there, seventysame moment to be informed of this universal de- nine years of age. He told me that his father had struction, and not to wish for death? This gen- often related to him that a young lad, a barber, eral mortality, which to the rest of mankind comes having seen one day something white floating on slowly and by degrees, has to me been instanta- the water, took it up. It was a very fine shirt, neous, the operation of a moment. Whilst seclud-written almost all over; he carried it to Mons, de ed from society, I lived with myself only; but here I can neither live with myself nor with this new race, to whom my anguish and despair appear only as a dream. There is nothing terrible in dying, but it is dreadful indeed to be the last.' The minister was melted; he caused the old domestic to attend this unfortunate person, as only he could talk to him of his family. This discourse was the

St. Mars, who, having looked at some parts of the writing, asked the lad, with an appearance of anxiety, if he had not had the curiosity to read it. He assured him he had not, but two days afterwards the boy was found dead in his bed.

Immediately after the prisoner's death his apparel, linen, clothes, mattrasses, and every thing that had been used by him, were burnt; the walls

of his room were scraped, the floor was taken up, and every precaution used that no trace of him might be left behind; and yet there are traces. When he was on the road from St. Marguerite to his last residence, Mons. de St. Mars was overheard to reply to a question of the prisoner, relative to any design against his life. No, prince, your life is in safety; you must only allow yourself to be conducted.' A prisoner told Mons. la Grange Chancel that he was lodged, with other prisoners, in the room immediately over this celebrated prisoner, and found means of speaking to him by the vents of the chimney; but he refused to inform them who he was, alleging, that it would cost his own life, as well as the lives of those to whom the secret might be revealed. Various have been the individuals supposed to be the masked prisoner; particularly the Duke de Beaufort, the Count de Vermandois, a foreign minister, and the Duke of Monmouth, have been conjectured in turn. Col-received the full number; for the punishment is lateral facts, nevertheless, demonstrate that neither of these could have been the person. Voltaire, who has expressly written on this mysterious affair, says, that the secret was known to Mons. de Chamillard, and that the son-in-law of that minister conjured him on his death bed to tell him the name of the man with the mask; but he replied it was a secret of state which he had sworn never to divulge.

BASTINADO, BASTONADO, or BASTONADE. A kind of punishment inflicted with a rod or staff. This mode of punishment was common among most of the ancient countries, and is still practised in many of the eastern nations. In all the provinces of the Ottoman empire, the bastinado is the common punishment for theft, and other delinquencies of a more trivial nature. The criminal is stretched on his back upon a board, with his hands tied, and his ancles confined by a wooden machine. The legs are then raised, while two men, one placed on each side, alternately beat the bare soles of the feet, with a rod about the size of a small walking stick. The bastinado is sometimes a very slight punishinent, but is inflicted at other times with barbarous cruelty. The number of strokes is specified in the sentence, amounting sometimes to 400 or 500; but it is usual for some person present to intercede in favor of the offender, before he has inflicted, if not in the judge's presence, at least within his hearing. This punishment is accompanied likewise with a kind of fine; for the person on whom it is inflicted pays so much for every blow, both to him who gives and to him who counts them. In China, the bastinado, though sometimes very smartly applied, is the slightest kind of punishment, used only in case of very trivial crimes. It is often inflicted, by the empeThe most satisfactory information relating to the ror's direction, on his courtiers, who receive it as a prisoner in the iron inask, who was confined in particular mark of his gracious and paternal care, this wretched dungeon for many years, and con- and are afterwards received into authority, and cerning whom many conjectures had been made, treated with distinguished respect. Every mandais communicated to the public in a work published rin has the privilege of inflicting this punishment at Paris in 1790. The secret is said to have been at pleasure, either when he administers public jusextorted from the regent by his daughter, who dis- tice, or when any person neglects to greet him with closed it to the Duke de Richelieu. From the the accustomed salutation. When he sits in judgaccount given in this work it appears that this ment, or gives a public audience, a bag, filled with unfortunate person was the twin brother of Louis small sticks, lies on a table before him, and he is XIV., born eight hours after this monarch, and surrounded by a number of petty officers, provided who was the unhappy victim of superstition and with the baton, or pan-tree, employed in bastinadcruelty. His father Louis XIII., being weak ing. Taking from his bag one of the little sticks enough to give credit to a prediction of some im- which it contains, he throws it down on the hall, postors, that if the queen should be delivered of towards the culprit, whom he wishes to be chastistwins, the kingdom would be involved in civil war, ed. His officers seize the criminal, and stretch ordered the birth of this prince to be kept a pro-him at full length, with his belly towards the found secret; and had him privately educated in ground; he is stripped bare to the heels, and rethe country as the illegitimate son of a nobleman: ceives five smart blows from the most athletic of but on the accession of Louis XIV. the young man the attendants; another succeeds, and bestows an gave indications of having discovered his parent-equal number, if the mandarin pulls forth another age, of which his brother being informed, ordered small stick from the bag, which is the signal when him to be imprisoned for life, and to wear a mask he wishes the punishment to be continued. The in order to prevent his being recognised. person thus chastised then throws himself upon his Upon the whole after a long series of oppres-knees before the judge, inclines his body three sions, the horrors of the Bastile became so notorious that in July, 1789, the people made an attack upon the building, which held out a few hours and afterwards surrendered. The governor was seized, carried through the streets, and afterwards beheaded. The major, aid-major, and lieutenant of the invalids, were killed in the streets. One soldier was killed and four wounded in the defence; but numbers were wounded, another killed, and two hanged at the Grêve, by the populace as soon as they gained possession; the prisoners were feasted and made public spectacles in Paris, the governor's house and adjacent buildings were levelled, and the mayor afterwards decreed that the whole edifice should be demolished.

times towards the ground, and thanks him for the fatherly charge which he takes of his education.

BASTION. In modern fortification, a huge mass of earth, usually faced with sods, but sometimes with brick, and, in a few instances, with stone, standing out from a rampart, whereof it is a principal part, and what, in ancient fortification, was called a bulwark.

BAT. Though many naturalists have classed the bat as a bird, they are no longer allowed to belong to that tribe; for their hair, their teeth, and bringing forth their young alive, entitle them to a place in the quadruped class.

The bat most common in England is about the size of a mouse; and those membranes that are usually denominated wings, is an extension of the skin round the body, stretched out like a sail, and supported by the toes; this skin, which sustains it in the air, when expanded, bears a strong resemblance to the wings of a bird. The body is covered with a short fur, of a mouse color, tinged with red; the eyes are very small, and the ears are exactly like those of a mouse. In the dusk of the evening, at the approach of summer, this little animal seems to rouse from its torpid state, and flies about in pursuit of different insects, though it does not reject either bacon or meat. Even in summer, the bat passes the greatest part of its time in sleep; and in winter, wholly confines itself either to some damp or dreary abode. Decayed castles, or mouldering caves, are the cheerless dwellings which this animal prefers; where, sticking its hooked claws into the sides of their walls, it hangs suspended till the approach of spring, when the power of the sun renovates its faculties, and in some degree restores it to activity and life.

enter, and if they happen to find a person sleeping, with any part of their body uncovered, they instantly fasten upon them, and begin sucking their blood, which they have the power of doing without inflicting any acute pain; and if they should not providentially happen to awake, their slumbers assuredly would terminate in death.

BATHING. Bathing undoubtedly took place first in rivers and in the sea, but men soon learned to enjoy this pleasure in their own houses. Even Homer mentions the use of the bath as an old custom. When Ulysses enters the palace of Circe, a bath is prepared for him, after which he is anointed with costly perfumes, and dressed in rich garments. The bath, at this period, was the first refreshment offered to the guest. In later times, rooms, both public and private, were built expressly for the purpose of bathing. The public baths of the Greeks were mostly connected with the gymnasia, because they were taken immediately after the athletic exercises. The Romans in the period of their luxury, imitated the Greeks in this point, and built magnificent baths.

In this country, there are some varieties of For undressing, for receiving the garments, and this animal, which are distinguished by the fol- for anointing after bathing, there were different lowing names; the long-eared bat, the horse-rooms; and connected with the bath were walks, shoe bat, and the rhinoceros bat; which are all covered race-grounds, tennis courts and gardens. perfectly inoffensive, and incapable of doing any These buildings, together with a number of bathinjury to mankind; but in the East and West ing-rooms, were necessary for a public bath, which Indies, the bats are considered as formidable was adorned with splendid furniture, and all the foes, and individually, from their size, are capa-requisites for recreation; and resembled, in its exble of much harm; but when they unite in flocks, terior appearance, an extensive palace. Roman they then become dreadful, and, like locusts, luxury, always in search of means for rendering seem to overspread the land.

Of all the creatures of this species which naturalists have described, the great bat of Madagascar seems to be the most destructive; for, though it resembles our bat in the form of its wings, manner of flying and internal make, it differs from it in habits, disposition, and size. When the wings of this formidable animal are extended, they are very near four feet in breadth; the body is about one foot long, and the form of its head resembles that of a fox.-When these enormous creatures are put in motion, nothing can be more formidable than the appearance they make; they are seen in clouds darkening the air, and devouring whole orchards of ripe fruit. Nothing is safe from their depredations; every species of domestic animals become their prey; and, if they cannot find sufficient to satisfy their hunger, they will even attack the human race. Their din, or howling, is both shrill and loud, and may be heard at the distance of a couple of miles; and, when echoing through the forests, during the stillness of night, impresses the mind with horror at the sound.

An animal not so formidable in size, but still mon mischievous in its pursuits, is the vampyre, which, instead of confining itself to woods and forests, prefers the cheerfulness of cities and towns, and, after sunset, appears in such immense numbers, as to form a perfect canopy over the streets. These creatures are no less a pest to the human, than to the animal race; for, as the inhabitants of tropical climes are obliged to sleep with their windows open, the vampyres

sensual enjoyments more exquisite, in later times, built particular conduits for conducting sea-water to the baths, used mountain snow, and enlarged these establishments in such a way that even their ruins excite admiration.

Among the Europeans, the Russians have peculiar establishments for bathing, which are visited by all classes of the people during the whole year. The Russian bath consists of a single hall built of wood. In the midst of it is a powerful metal oven, covered with heated stones. Round about these are broad benches. In entering this hall, you encounter such a heat, that one who is not accustomed to it can bear it but a few moments. Those, however, who can endure it for some time, undress, and stretch themselves upon a mattrass upon one of the benches. Cold water is then poured on the heated stones; a thick hot steam rises, which envelopes the bather, and heats him to such a degree, that the sweat issues from his whole body.

Among the Asiatics, baths are in general use. The Turks by their religion, are obliged to make repeated ablutions daily: besides these, men and women must bathe in particular circumstances and at certain times. For this purpose, there is, in every city, a public bath connected with a mosque; and rich private persons possess private bathhouses adorned with all the objects of Asiatic luxury. Besides these baths, the Turks have also the dry-bath of the ancients. The buildings which they use for this purpose, are built of stone, and usually contain several rooms, the floors of which are of marble. These rooms are heated by means of pipes, which pass through the walls, and con

After undres- | cessity, and columns of regiments form very heavy and awkward bodies.

duct the heated air to every part.
sing, they wrap themselves up in a cotton coverlet,
put on wooden slippers, in order to defend the feet
against the heat of the floor, and then enter the
bathing room. The hot air soon produces a pro-
fuse perspiration; upon which they are washed,
wiped dry, combed, and rubbed with a woollen
cloth. At last the whole body is covered with
soap, or some other application, which improves
the skin. After this bath, they rest upon a bed,
and drink coffee, sherbet or lemonade. The Turk-
ish ladies daily bathe in this manner; the men not
so frequently.

A peculiar kind of baths are used in the East Indies, of which Anquetil gives the following account:-An attendant stretches the bather upon a table, pours over him warm water, and begins, afterwards, with admirable skill, to press and bend his whole body. All the limbs are extended, and the joints made to crack. After he has done with one side, he goes on with the other; now kneels upon the bather; now takes hold of his shoulders; now causes his spine to crack, by moving the vertebræ; now applies gentle blows to the fleshy and muscular parts. After this, he takes a cloth of hair, and rubs the whole body, removes the hard skin from the feet with pumice-stone, anoints the bather with soap and perfumes, and finishes by shaving and cutting his hair. This treatment lasts about three quarters of an hour, and produces the greatest refreshment. An agreeable feeling pervades the whole body, and ends with a sweet slumber of several hours.

Public baths are common in Europe, and there are, at present, few cities without them. Medicine has endeavored to increase the wholesome effects of baths by various compositions and methods of application. Baths are distinguished by the nature of the fluid, by the degree of heat, and by their influence upon the body. They are prepared with water, milk, wine, &c.; and are of different temperatures; and herbs, iron, soap, and other substances are mixed with them, as the purpose requires. There are, also, baths of earth, sand, air, vapor, and electric baths. They are applied either to the whole body, or only to a single part. The shower bath affords an agreeable and healthful mode of bathing, and much use is made of it in medicine. Mineral baths are those, the water of which naturally contains mineral ingredients.

BATTERING-RAM. A military engine, used before the invention of gunpowder, to beat down the walls of places besieged. It consisted of a vast beam suspended to a frame, and armed at one end with a head of iron, resembling that of a ram ; from the butting of which animal the idea was, doubtless, derived. This being equally balanced, and furnished with a number of ropes, at the extremity opposite to the ram's head, a great number of men threw it forward with violence, and thus battered in a breach.

BATTERY. In military affairs, implies any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, either to attack the forces of the enemy, or to batter a fortification: hence batteries have various names, according to the purposes they are designed for.

BATTERY, in electricity. Is a combination of coated surfaces of glass, commonly jars, so connected together, that they may be charged at once, and discharged by a common conductor. Mr. Gralath, a German electrician, was the first who contrived to increase the shock, by charging several phials at the same time. Dr. Franklin, after he had analyzed the Leyden phial, and found that it lost at one surface the electric fire which it received at the other, constructed a battery of panes of large sash glass, coated on each side, and connected in such a manner, that the whole might be charged together, and with the same labor as, one single pane; and by bringing all the giving sides into contact with one wire, and all the receiving sides with one another, he contrived to unite the force of all the plates, and to discharge them at once. Dr. Priestley describes a still more complete battery; of which he says, that, after long use, he sees no reason for wishing the least alteration in any part of it. This battery consists of sixty-four jars, each ten inches long, and two and a half inches in diameter, coated within one and a half inch of the top; forming, in the whole, thirty-two square feet of coated surface. The wire of each jar has a piece of very small wire twisted about the lower end of it, to touch the inside coating in several places; and it is put through a pretty large piece of cork, within the jar, to prevent any part of it from touching the side, which would tend to promote a BATTALION. A division of infantry, com- spontaneous discharge. Each wire is turned round, monly 600-800 men strong, in the armies of the so as to make a hole at the upper end; and through European continent. The battalion forms an in- these holes a pretty thick brass rod, with knobs, dependent body, under the orders of a staff officer, passes, each rod serving for one row of the jars. commonly a major; has its own standard, a mu- The communication between these rods is made sical band, and consists not, like the regiments, of by laying a thick chain over them, or as many of unequal companies, but of equal divisions. There-them as may be wanted. The bottom of the box, fore the strength of infantry is always given in in which the jars stand, is covered with a plate battalions. In the English army, the strength of a of tin; and a bent wire touching the plate, passes battalion varies from 600 to 1000, or even 1200 through the box, and appears on the outside. To men. Each of their battalions consists of four this wire, any conductor designed to communicate divisions, each division of two subdivisions, which with the outside of the battery, is fastened; and are again divided into sections. Battalions form the discharge is made by bringing the brass knob the most convenient and manageable columns; to any of the knobs of the battery. When a very and the columns of battalions are those which most great force is required, the quantity of coated surfrequently occur in modern battles. Squares of face may be increased, or two or more batteries companies are only formed in cases of urgent ne- I may be used. But the largest and most powerful

battery is that employed by Dr. Van Marum, to | marshal Catinat, the French are indebted for the the large electrical machine lately constructed for great superiority they possess in the management Teyler's Museum at Haarlem. This grand battery of this weapon. During the greater part of the consists of a great number of jars, coated, as above, seventeenth century, one half of a battalion was to the extent of about one hundred and thirty armed with pikes, the other carried muskets; but square feet: and the effects of it, which are truly the feeble effect of these last, and the frequent misastonishing, are related by Dr. Van Marum, in his sing fire from the awkward use of matchlocks, description of this machine, and of the experiments suggested the improvement of firelocks, with baymade with it, at Haarlem, in 1785. onets, which unite the two arms in the most effectual manner.

The French infantry marched boldly up to the enemy, received their fire, and without returning a shot, charged furiously with their bayonets. The slaughter was horrible, and the rout of the allies complete. The same method was adopted by marshal Tallard at the battle of Spires, in 1703; and by the Duc de Vendôme at the battle of Calcinato in Italy, in 1705. On both occasions success was the same as in the former instances. Of late the bayonet has come into very general use; and battles of importance have been gained by it withPrussia, although he relied greatly on the running fire which he taught his troops to practice with such terrible effect, yet highly recommended the charge with the bayonet as the most effectual means of throwing a wavering enemy into irreparable disorder.

BATTLE-AXE. A weapon much used in the The battle of Marsaglia, in 1693, was the first early part of the middle ages, particularly by the occasion on which Catinat put this improvement people who fought on foot. It was not uncom-in practice against the Spaniards and Savoyards. mon, however, ainong the knights, who used also the mace, a species of iron club or hammer. Both are to be seen in the different collections of old arms in Europe. The Greeks and Romans did not employ the battle-axe, though it was found among contemporary nations. In fact, the axe is one of the earliest weapons in use, as an instrument of domestic industry, naturally suggesting its application for purposes of offence; but, at the same time, it will always be abandoned as soon as the art of fencing, attacking and guarding is the least cultivated; because the heavier the blow giv-out the discharge of a musket. The late king of en with this instrument, the more will it expose the fighter. It is a weapon which affords hardly any guard, and it never would have remained so long in use in the middle ages, had it not been for the iron armor, which protected the body from every thing but heavy blows. In England, Ireland and Scotland, the battle-axe was much employed. At the battle of Bannockburn, King Robert Bruce clave an English champion down to the chin with one blow of his axe. A blow of equal force was given by a Suabian knight, in the Levant, in presence of the German emperor. The Lochabar axe remained a formidable implement of destruction in the hands of the Highlanders nearly to the present period, and is still used, by the city guard of Edinburgh, in quelling riots.

BAYONET. In the Military Art, signifies a short broad dagger, used by all modern armies, since the sword has been laid aside, as a necessary appendage to the infantry. The origin of the term is not correctly known; but is most probably derived from having been first manufactured at the city of Bayonne, or originally invented by an engineer of that place.

Bayonets were formerly made with a round bandle, adapted to the bore of a firelock, so as to be fixed there after the soldier had discharged his piece. They are now constructed with iron handles and rings which go over the muzzle of the firelock, and are screwed fast; thus enabling the soldier to fire and load with his bayonet fixed, and ready to act, if necessary, against horse. This is particularly of service to dragoons and fusileers, after they have expended all their powder and ball. The use of the bayonet fastened on the muzzle of the firelock was a great improvement, first introduced by the French, and to which, according to the Chevalier de Folard (Comm. sur Polyb. vol. i., p. 135, edit. Paris, 1727,) they owed in a great measure their victories obtained in the war of 1698. To its neglect in the next war, the same writer attributes most of the losses they sustained. It is to

But the French, whose natural genius seem particularly adapted to the use of this weapon, have not only invented, but have also employed it with the most astonishing success. In the last war, the favorite maxim of their generals, instead of losing time by cannonading and firing on the enemy with musketry, has been to bring the issue of the affair as early as possible to the point of the bayonet. The battles of Jemappe, Haguenau, and Etingen, in particular, not to mention many others, were almost exclusively gained by it; and the Spaniards, throughout the dreadful contests between their own and the French forces, at the conclusion of the campaign of 1794, were uniformly defeated by the use of the bayonet alone.

BAZAAR. Among the Turks and Persians, an exchange, market-place, or place where goods are exposed to sale. The word is of Arabic origin. Some bazaars are open, others are covered with lofty ceilings or domes, pierced to give light. At the bazaars, or in the neighborhood of them, are the coffee houses, so much frequented in Turkey, Persia, and other places in the East, and, as the Orientals live almost entirely out of doors, the bazaars of populous cities, besides their mercantile importance, are of consequence as places of social intercourse.

The bazaar of Ispahan is one of the finest places in Persia. That of Tauris is the largest known, and will contain 30,000 men. At Constantinople are two bazaars. In the Oriental tales; for instance, in the Arabian Nights; the bazaars occupy a conspicuous place. Since the system of credit is almost entirely unknown in Eastern trade, and all commercial transactions take place in merchandise and money, the places where this merchandise is