OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Ewald, Alexander Charles

​EWALD, ALEXANDER CHARLES (1842–1891), historical writer, was born at Jerusalem in 1842.
His father, Christian Ferdinand Ewald (1802–1874), was born of Jewish parentage near Bamberg, joined the Christian church in 1822, connected himself with the London Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Jews, was ordained by the bishop of London in 1836 (having previously been in Lutheran orders), laboured assiduously among the Jews in North Africa, and in 1841 left Tunis as chaplain to Dr. Alexander, the first Anglican bishop of Jerusalem. An account of his work is given in his ‘Missionary Labours in Jerusalem’ (London, 1846). The archbishop of Canterbury conferred upon him in 1872 the degree of bachelor of divinity, and he died at Norwood two years later (9 Aug. 1874).
Alexander was educated abroad and was appointed to a clerkship in the public record office in 1861, rising to be senior clerk by 1890. While there he was mainly responsible for the completion of the work begun by Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy in 1835, namely, a full calendar and précis of the ‘Norman Rolls-Henry V.’ This was printed in vols. xli. and xlii. of the ‘Deputy-keeper's Reports’ (1880 and 1881), and was supplemented by a glossary of obsolete French words, also prepared by Ewald. He gained the ear of a wider public by a popular sketch of the ‘Life’ of the young pretender, and he followed this up by a series of pleasantly written volumes upon the lighter side of historical research, until his premature death at 31 Victoria Road, Upper Norwood, on 20 June 1891. His numerous compilations include:
* ‘A Reference Book of English History,’ 1866 and 1867.
* ‘Our Constitution: an Epitome of our Chief Laws and System of Government,’ 1867.
* ‘The Last Century of Universal History (1767–1867),’ 1868.
* ‘Our Public Records: a Brief Handbook to the National Archives,’ 1873.
* ‘Life and Times of Algernon Sydney,’ 1873, 2 vols.
* ‘Life and Times of Prince Charles Stuart, Count of Albany,’ 1875 and 1883, 2 vols.
* ‘Sir Robert Walpole: a Political Biography,’ 1877.
* ‘Representative Statesmen,’ 1879, 2 vols. 9. ‘Stories from the State Papers,’ 1881, 2 vols.
* ‘The Rt. Hon. Benjamin Disraeli and his Times,’ 1883, 2 vols.
* ‘Leaders of the Senate: a Biographical History of the Rise and Development of the British Constitution,’ 1884–5, 2 vols.
* ‘Studies Re-studied: Historical Sketches from Original Sources,’ 1885, 8vo.
* ‘The Life of Sir Joseph Napier, Bart.,’ 1887.
* ‘Paper and Parchment’ (Record Office Studies), 1890.
[Times 22 and 25 June 1891; Athenæum, 1891, i. 831; M'Clintock and Strong's Encyclopædia of Bibl. Lit. Suppl. 1887, ii. 365; Ewald's Missionary Labours, 1846; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
T. S.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Hazlitt, William Carew

​HAZLITT, WILLIAM CAREW (1834–1913), bibliographer and man of letters, was born in London 22 August 1834. He was the eldest son of William Hazlitt, registrar of the court of bankruptcy, by his wife, Catherine Reynell, and a grandson of William Hazlitt [q.v.], the essayist. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School from 1842 to 1850, and after experimenting in journalism, in civil engineering, and, during the Crimean War, as a supernumerary clerk at the War Office, he published in 1858 The History of the Origin and Rise of the Republic of Venice, which in revised and extended forms reappeared in 1860 as a History of the Venetian Republic, and in 1900 and 1915 as The Venetian Republic, its Rise, its Growth, its Fall.
​Hazlitt's chief editorial undertakings were new editions of Robert Dodsley's Select Collection of Old Plays in fifteen volumes (1874–1876) and of Thomas Warton's History of English Poetry (1871); Shakespeare's Library in six volumes (1875), Old English Jest Books in three volumes (1863–1864), and the Poems and Plays of Thomas Randolph (1875). He also wrote Shakespeare, the Man and his Work (1902), Coinage of the European Continent (1893–1897), two volumes of poems (1877, 1897), and Man considered in relation to God and a Church (1905, 5th edition 1912). The record of Hazlitt's publications extends to over sixty items and is good evidence of a busy life. He died at Richmond, Surrey, 8 September 1913.
Hazlitt married in 1863 Henrietta, daughter of John Foulkes, of Ashfield House, Denbighshire, and had one son and one daughter.
[W. C. Hazlitt, Four Generations of a Literary Family, 1897; The Hazlitts; The Later Hazlitts; Confessions of a Collector; private information.]
A. W. R.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Head, Barclay Vincent

​HEAD, BARCLAY VINCENT (1844–1914), Greek numismatist, the second son of John Head, of Ipswich, of a quaker family descended from the quaker apologist, Robert Barclay [q.v.], by his wife, Elizabeth Bailey, was born at Ipswich 2 January 1844. Educated at the local grammar school under Hubert Holden [q.v.], he left it at the age of seventeen, and entered the department of coins at the British Museum 12 February 1864. In 1869 he married Mary Harley (died 1911), daughter of John Frazer Corkran, of Dublin, author and journalist, by whom he had one daughter. In 1893 he succeeded Reginald Stuart Poole [q.v.] as keeper of his department, a post which he held until 30 June 1906. His first contributions to numismatic literature were on Anglo-Saxon coins, but by 1868 he had settled down to his life's task. The department of coins began about 1870 to work on the great series of Greek catalogues; with Poole and Percy Gardner he produced the first volume, Italy, in 1873; he was to write two more volumes in collaboration, and eight alone. To these official publications must be added his useful illustrated Guide to the Coins of the Ancients (1881), which it has been found unnecessary to modify through six editions. Meanwhile his unofficial activity included the part editorship of the Numismatic Chronicle (1869–1910) and a number of remarkable monographs. As early as 1874 his History of the Coinage of Syracuse laid the foundations of the modern historical method in Greek numismatics. All further advance on the historical side of that subject has been upon the main lines which he there laid down. But the work by which he will be generally remembered is the Historia Numorum (1887), a system of Greek numismatics, which at once became the leading work of reference; a second edition appeared in 1911. Recognition of Head's work, not too ample in this country—though he received degrees from Durham in 1887 and Oxford in 1905—was ungrudging abroad, where Heidelberg University and both French and Prussian Academies, and numerous specialist societies, honoured him. The finest tribute, however, to a gentle and amiable scholar was the dedication to him, on his retirement, of Corolla Numismatica, written by thirty scholars of six nations. He died in London 12 June 1914. The Barclay Head prize for numismatics at Oxford commemorates him. Head's work should rank as classic in the annals of numismatics; severely as he limited his scope, he was no narrow specialist, and his judgement, though deliberate, was yet instinctively so sound that even his few mistakes are illuminating.
[The Athenæum, 20 June 1914; Numismatic Chronicle, 1914, pp. 249–55; private information; personal knowledge.]
G. F. H.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Spleen

Edition of 1802.
​SPLEEN, is a spongy viscus, situated in the left side near the lower part of the stomach, under the ribs. This organ is supposed to be designed by Nature to prepare the blood for the secretion of bile in the liver. Its purpose, though inaccurately known, must be important to the animal economy; as indigestion, and a variety of other complaints, have resulted ffom splenetic affedions.—It deserves to be remarked, that the term Spleen is frequently used to denote a disorder, which is more strictly, by physicians, called hypochondriasis.
The principal diseases of the spleen are inflammations, obstructions, and indurations. In the first case, the causes and symptoms are similar to those described under inflammatory fever (volume iii. p. 12): at the same time, a tumor and pain are felt in the left side; the latter increasing on pressure.—Chronic inflammations of the spleen, however, may also be consequent on diseases of the liver, such as the jaundice, piles, &c. The treatment will, therefore, chiefly consist in the application of the same remedies as are mentioned in the page above quoted; but, where the patient is of a plethoric habit, or was previously subject to the piles, leeches applied to the anus have proved of great service.—Calomel and antimony, taken internally, under judicious management, have likewise been attended with good effects.
If the spleen be obstructed or indurated, a pain and tumor will also be felt on the left side, bearing downward like a weight; the patient finding it difficult to lie down on that side: the bowels are generally costive; and respiration is impeded.—The cure of this affection requires the same method as is recommended for obstructions and scirrhosity of the liver.—See Scirrhus.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Spleenwort

Edition of 1802.
​SPLEENWORT, or Hart's-Tongue, Asplenium scolopendrium, L. a native perennial, growing in the fissures of moist shady rocks, old walla, and at the mouths of wells; where it flowers in the months of August and September. ​—The medicinal powers of this vegetable are highly praised for curing the bites of venomous serpents; in hypochondriasis; palpitations of the heart, &c.; of which, however, we have had no experience.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Splents

Edition of 1802.
​SPLENTS, in farriery, denote hard excrescences of various shape and size, appearing on the shank-bone of a horse.—Unless they arise from blows, or other accidents, few horses put out splents, after they are seven or eight years old; and, when occurring in young horses, they frequently wear off, and spontaneously vanish.
Splents, on their first appearance, should be well bathed with vinegar, or old verjuice; which often checks their farther progress: in some animals, purgatives and diet-drinks will contribute to remove watery swellings about the limbs, which frequently induce such malady.
According to Mr. Taplin, a radical cure may, in general, be effected by rubbing the excrescences, for a considerable time, twice every day, with the utmost force of the operator's hand; well moistening the part after each friction, with a little of the following liniment:—Take of camphorated spirit of wine, and spirit of turpentine, each 4 oz.; to be uniformly incorporated. Or, oil of origanum, and spirit of turpentine, each half an ounce; and camphorated spirit of wine 2 oz. to be duly mixed.—A pledget of tow, wetted with either of these preparations, ought to be fastened round the splent, with a proper bandage.
Should those powerful discutients fail of success, recourse must be had to the strongest mercurial ointment: a portion of the size of a hazel-nut, ought to be chafed into the part affected, every night and morning, till two oz. of it have been used; applying the roller or bandage, as before directed.
But, if these various remedies be insufficient to procure relief, the best and most speedy method, will be that of extirpating the excrescence by the knife.—This operation may be performed by a longitudinal incision through the integuments (without bruising, hammering, &c.), then dissecting, and extracting the substance: thus, the cure may be completed by taking up a couple of stitches, and treating the part like a superficial wound.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Sponge

Edition of 1802.
​SPONGE, or Spongia, L. a genus of animal plants, comprehending 50 species, the principal of which is the officinalis, or Common Sponge. It is imported from the Levant; being a soft, porous, light, substance, which easily imbibes water.
Sponge is of extensive utility in domestic economy, medicine, and surgery. If it be cut in small pieces, fried or dipped in honey, and given to vermin, it distends their intestines, and effectually destroys them (see vol. iii. p. 476). As it strongly adheres to the orifices of wounded vessels, it is advantageously employed as a styptic; often preventing the effusion of blood more effectually than the puff-ball or agaric.—When burnt and pulverized, it has been successfully administered internally, in scrophulous complaints, and cutaneous diseases, in doses of one scruple and upwards: it is also considered as a specific, on account of its efficacy in removing the glandular swelling of the neck, ​known under the name of bronchocele.—See Wen.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Sprain

Edition of 1802.
​SPRAIN, denotes an extension of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, without dislocation: it generally proceeds from external injury; and is attended with pain, swelling, and inflammation. In treating this local affection, the first object should be, to check the swelling, and prevent the inflammatory symptoms. For this purpose, cold, astringent fomentations with water, ice, vinegar, &c. or, in a very recent case, camphorated spirit of wine, must be applied as speedily as possible: to relieve pain, where it is considerable, a few drops of laudanum may be added to the lotion.—The regimen recommended under the article inflammation, will here likewise be proper.—During, and for some time after, this treatment, the sprained part should be kept in a state of rest and relaxation.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Spitting of Blood

Edition of 1802.
​Spitting, of Blood. See vol. i. p. 283.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Spoon-wort

Edition of 1802.
​Spoon-wort. See Scurvy-grass, the English.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Spots

Edition of 1802.
​SPOTS, are marks or stains accidentally occurring on linen, woollen, cotton, silk, or other stuffs.—Under the head of Cloth (vol. ii. pp. 7-8) we have already communicated several methods of discharging spots from woollen-cloth: hence we shall, in this place, add another remedy which may be easily prepared; though we have had no experience of its effects:—Dissolve two ounces of pure pearl-ash in a quart of spring water, and add to this solution a lemon cut in small slices. Let the whole be properly mixed, and kept in a warm place for 24 hours; when the liquor should be strained, and the clear fluid decanted for use. It is asserted, that this compound, when poured on the stained part, instantaneously removes all spots, whether they arise from grease, pitch, or oil; and, as soon as they disappear, the cloth must be washed in pure water.—See also Portable Balls, vol. i. p. 153.
Ink-spots on woollen cloth, may be discharged by rubbing them with a composition, made of the white of a new-laid egg and a few drops of oil of vitriol, properly incorporated; afterwards washing the stain with pure water, and lastly, smoothening it with a piece of white cloth, or flannel, in the direction of the nap:—to remove ink from silk stuffs, it will be advisable to apply strong distilled vinegar, and wormwood-ashes, to the blotted part, which ought to be well rubbed with these matters, and then cleansed with soap-water.
Red-port on linen, we understand, may be almost effectually cleared, by pouring warm milk on the stained parts, while they are in a wet state:—another, and perhaps more successful, method, is that of dropping the tallow from a candle on such wine-marks before they are dry; and suffering them to remain till the cloth is sent to the laundry; because ink-spots may, in this simple manner, be removed from linen.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Sprat

Edition of 1802.
​SPRAT, or Clupea sprattus, L. a well-known diminutive fish, which is from three to six inches in length, and in shape resembles the Herring.
Sprats are caught in numerous shoals in the river Thames, which they enter early in the month of November; continuing there till March: during which period they afford a cheap, and not unwholesome nutriment, chiefly to the poorer classes in the metropolis.
​These fish are cured in the same manner as herrings, at Gravesend and Yarmouth: they are also occasionally pickled, in which state they are little inferior to anchovies, excepting that the bones of the former will not separate from the fleshy part, like those of the latter.—For an account of Mr. Batley's patent, for curing sprats, the reader will consult vol. iii. p. 463.
# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Spring

Edition of 1802.
​SPRING, a fountain, or source, whence water spontaneously rises from the bowels of the earth.
Various conjectures have been formed by naturalists, concerning the origin of springs; but, consistently with our limits, we shall only observe, that the most plausible theory appears to be that of Dr. Halley, who supposes them to originate from the rain and snow waters; which, penetrating through the soil, at length settle in the fissures of the earth, and form fountains or springs.
As water is indispensable to the health and convenience of mankind, many expedients have been devised, with a view to ascertain the particular spots, whence a supply might be obtained: we shall, therefore, state a few indications, or land-marks, by which that necessary article may be discovered.
1. As all mountains are colder in proportion to their height, the evening mist descends on them, particularly in damp situations, much sooner than on the vallies, and thus may indicate the existence of springs.
2. Another observation is suggested by Dr. Darwin, in order to determine the existence of subterraneous springs, in rimy mornings:—moist earth conducting heat better than dry soil, the rime will be dissolved more speedily on those spots which are moistened by springs under ground, than on the adjacent parts.
Lastly, the rise of these natural fountains may be discovered during the winter, in wet ditches, by the growing of brook-lime, water-cresses, or similar aquatic plants: for such vegetables do not thrive in the ditches that become dry in the summer. And Dr. Darwin remarks, that when those ditches which contain springs, are nearly dry, the direction of the current may be ascertained hy the point, to which the leaves of the aquatic plants may turn, with as great a degree of certainty as can be effected by a level.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Villiers, John (1591?-1657)

​VILLIERS, JOHN, Viscount Purbeck (1591?–1657), born about 1591, was the eldest son of Sir George Villiers of Brooksby, Leicestershire, by his second wife, Mary, afterwards Countess of Buckingham [see under Villiers, Sir Edward]. George Villiers, first duke of Buckingham [q. v.], and Christopher Villiers, earl of Anglesey [q. v.], were his younger brothers. John was knighted on 30 June 1616, and in the same year became groom of the bedchamber and master of the robes to Charles, prince of Wales. Negotiations at the same time were begun by his mother for his marriage with a rich heiress; the lady selected was Frances, daughter of Sir Edward Coke and his wife, Lady Hatton, and Coke was required to give not only his consent, but a marriage portion of 10,000l. He refused to pay more than two-thirds of that sum, and was consequently called upon to resign his seat on the bench. Lady Hatton remained obdurately opposed to the marriage, but Coke gave way, and on 29 Sept. Frances and Villiers were married at Hampton Court, James I giving away the bride (Beaumont Papers, pp. 34–5; Chester, London Marriage Licences; Gardiner, Hist. iii. 87, 98). Lady Hatton still refused to make over her Dorset property to Villiers, and as compensation he was on 19 July 1619 created Baron Villiers of Stoke, Buckinghamshire, and Viscount Purbeck of Dorset. The marriage proved a tragedy; Weldon reports Buckingham as having said that ‘his brother Purbeck had more wit and honesty than all the kindred beside’ (Court of James I, p. 44), but according to Dr. Gardiner, he was ‘weak in mind and body,’ and soon after 1620 completely lost his reason (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1619–23, p. 405). In 1621 his wife deserted him and went to live with Sir Robert Howard. In 1624 she gave birth to a son [see Danvers, Robert, called Viscount Purbeck], and in October she was convicted of adultery. Eventually she died at Oxford, and was buried in St. Mary's on 4 June 1645. Purbeck, whose insanity was intermittent, married, as his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Slingsby of Kippax, Yorkshire, and died without legitimate issue on 18 Feb. 1656–7 at Charlton, near Greenwich. The peerage became extinct, though the claim to it put forward by Robert Danvers was for many years a cause célèbre.
[Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1611–30 passim; Weldon's Court of James I; Court and Times of Charles I; Gardiner's History, iii. 87, 98, 297, viii. 144–6; Burke's Extinct and G. E. C[okayne]'s Peerages.]
A. F. P.
# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Villiers, George Bussy

​VILLIERS, GEORGE BUSSY, fourth Earl of Jersey and seventh Viscount Grandison (1735–1805), born on 9 June 1735, was the only surviving son of William, third earl, by his wife Anne, daughter of Scroop Egerton, first duke of Bridgewater, and widow of Wriothesley Russell, third duke of Bedford. Edward Villiers, first earl of Jersey [q. v.], was his great-grandfather. In boyhood his tutor was William Whitehead [q. v.], the poet laureate. Returned to parliament for Tamworth on 28 June 1756, he was appointed a lord of the admiralty in 1761, and vice-chamberlain of the household in 1765, and, having thus vacated his seat at Tamworth, was elected for Aldborough in Yorkshire. On 18 March 1768 he was returned for Dover, a seat which he retained till his succession to the earldom on 28 Aug. 1769. Jersey also held the offices of extra lord of the bedchamber (1769–77), master of the buckhounds (1782–1783), and captain of the gentlemen pensioners (1783–90). Subsequently he became lord of the bedchamber and master of the horse to the Prince of Wales. He died on 22 Aug. 1805, being chiefly noted for his courtly manners. Mrs. Montague refers to him as ‘the Prince of Maccaronies.’ In March 1770 he was married to Frances (1753–1821), only daughter of Philip Twysden, bishop of Raphoe [see under Twysden, Sir Roger]. By her he had two sons and seven daughters. His eldest son, George Child-Villiers [q. v.], fifth earl, is separately noticed.
There is a portrait of the fourth earl as a child with his mother (full-lengths) at Middleton Park, painted by Hudson; also one of him as a man (three-quarter, seated) by Dance; and a head, painted by Hoppner, of his beautiful countess, whose relations with George IV have been investigated with more industry than accuracy by Robert Huish, Hannibal Evans Lloyd, and other chroniclers of the gossip of the period. There is a beautiful mezzotint by Thomas Watson of a portrait of the countess by Daniel Gardner.
H. E. M.