pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
VESPUCCI, AMERIGO, was born at Florence, 9th March, 1451, of a distinguished family, and was educated by his uncle, a man of great scientific reputation, and made great proficiency, especially in astronomy and geography, and the sciences connected with navigation. He was destined by his family to commercial pursuits, which had at this time contributed so greatly to the prosperity of the republic. In 1493 he left Florence, and arrived at Seville at the time that Columbus was preparing to set out on his first voyage of discovery; the success of which awakened the emulation of Amerigo, and determined him to exchange the pursuits of commerce for the fascinating prospects of discoveries in the New World.

On the 10th of May, 1497, (according to the account of Bandini, but Spanish writers place the date two years later, he commenced his first voyage, and left Cadiz with five vessels under the orders of D’Ojead. He reached America after thirty-seven days’ sailing, and coasted along the continent more than 400 leagues. After a voyage of thirteen [7:21:612]months, he returned to Spain, and anchored at Cadiz the 15th October 1498.

The year following he revisited America, and after sailing along the coast under the tropics, be returned by the island of St. Domingo, where Ojeda had some encounters with the Europeans who six years before had come to the island with Columbus. The fleet then steered northwards and discovered several islands, which Amerigo, by a poetical exaggeration, raised to the number of a thousand. In 1501 he entered the service of Emmanuel, king of Portugal, and again visited America, sailing along the coast of Brazil to Patagonia. He made a fourth voyage to America in 1503, with the view of attempting the discovery of a western passage to Malacca; in this, however, he was unsuccessful, and returned with the loss of one of his ships. About this time the vast continent discovered by Columbus began to be called America, from his Latinized name Americus; and he lived to enjoy the usurped honour for several years. His death took place in 1516, while he was in the service of Emmanuel, king of Portugal, who caused the remains of his vessels to be preserved in the cathedral of Lisbon, and heaped honours on his family. He left a journal of four of his voyages, which was printed at Paris in Latin, in 1552, and from which translations were afterwards published in the Italian and French languages.
VESTA, in pagan worship, the same with Cybele. See Cybele. Vesta the Younger, in pagan worship, the goddess of fire, was the daughter of Saturn and Cybele, and the sister of Ceres. She was so much in love with chastity, that on Jupiter’s ascending the throne, and offering to grant whatever she asked, she only desired the preservation of her virginity, which she obtained. Vesta was not represented in her temple by any image.

Vesta, one of the lately discovered planets. See Astronomy .
VESTALIA, in Roman antiquity, a festival celebrated in honour of the goddess Vesta, on the 5th of the ides of June; that is, on the 9th of the month.
VESTALS, among the ancient Romans, were priestesses of the goddess Vesta, and had the perpetual fire committed to their charge. They were at first only four in number, but afterwards increased to six; and it does not appear that their number ever exceeded six, among whom was one superior to the rest, and called vestalis maxima. The vestals were chosen from six to ten years of age, and obliged to strict continency for thirty years; the first ten of which were employed in learning the ceremonies of religion, the next ten in the performance of them, and the last ten in teaching them to the younger vestals. The habit of the vestals consisted of a head-dress, called injula, which sat close to the head, and from whence hung certain laces called vitta; a kind of surplice made of white linen, and over it a purple mantle with a long train to it.
VESTIBULE, in Architecture, a kind of entrance into a large building; being an open place before the hall, or at the bottom of the staircase.
VESTRY, a place adjoining to a church, where the vestments of the minister are kept; and also a meeting at such place, consisting of the minister, church-wardens, and chief men of most parishes, who make a parish vestry or meeting. By custom there are select vestries, being a certain number of persons chosen to have the government of the parish, make rates, and take the account of churchwardens, &c.
VESUVIUS, a celebrated volcano of Italy, six miles east from the city of Naples. This mountain has two tops; one of which only goes by the name of Vesuvius, the other being now called Somma; but Sir William Hamilton is of opinion, that the latter is what the ancients called Vesuvius. The perpendicular height of Vesuvius is only 3700 feet, though the ascent from the foot to the top is three Italian miles. One side of the mountain is well cultivated and fertile, producing great plenty of vines, but the south and west sides are entirely covered with cinders and ashes; while a sulphureous smoke constantly issues from the top, sometimes attended with the most violent explosions of stones, the emission of great streams of lava, and all the other attendants of a most formidable volcano. The first of these eruptions recorded in history took place in the year 79; at which time the two cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were entirely buried under the stones and ashes thrown out. Incredible mischief was also done to the neighbouring country, and numbers of people lost their lives, among whom was the elder Pliny.

It is the opinion of the best judges, however, that this eruption was by no means the first that had ever happened. The very streets of those cities which were at that time overwhelmed, are said to be partly paved with lava. Since that time thirty different eruptions have been recorded, some of which have been extremely violent. In the year 1538, a mountain, three miles in circumference, and a quarter of a mile in perpendicular height, was thrown up in the course of one night.

The first great eruption taken notice of by Sir William Hamilton was that of 1767, which, though very violent, was mild in comparison with that of 1538. From this time Vesuvius never ceased for ten years to send forth smoke, nor were there many months in which it did not throw out stones, scoriae, and cinders; which, increasing to a certain degree, were usually followed by lava; so that from the year 1767 to 1779 there were nine eruptions, some of them very considerable. In the month of August that year, an eruption took place, which, for its extraordinary and terrible appearance, has been generally reckoned among the most remarkable of any recorded concerning this or any other volcano. We cannot, however, afford room for any description of it here, or of the various eruptions which have since taken place. See Geology.
VEVAY, a town of Switzerland, the capital of a bailiwick of the same name in the canton of Vaud. It is finely situated on the lake of Geneva, where the climate is mild, and the prospects around are of the most exciting description. In this town many English families find a retreat. There is a college, an hospital, and other benevolent institutions. Vevay has little trade, and that mostly in native productions. It contains 430 houses, with 4500 inhabitants. There are two churches, in one of which, St Martin’s, are monuments to two Englishmen, Ludlow and Broughton, who had sat as judges at the trial of Charles I. and found refuge here.
VIALES, in mythology, a name given among the Romans to the gods who had the care and guard of the roads and highways.
VIANA, a department or corregimento of the province Entre Duro e Minho in Portugal, extending along the seashore to the northward of the river Minho. It comprehends seven towns, 291 villages or parishes, 30,980 dwellings, with about 170,000 inhabitants. The capital is a city of the same name, situated at the mouth of the Minho, a river nearly choked up with sand, and only admitting vessels with a light draught of water to approach the wharfs at the highest tides. From this circumstance the trade of the city has, of late years, been transferred to Oporto. The chief traffic is in fruits and in some light wines. Viana has an extensive sea fishery, which gives occupation to 300 boats. The city is surrounded with walls defended by bastions, and the entrance from the sea is protected by two forts, St. Jago and Cao. The public buildings are two parochial churches, or religious houses, an hospital, a poor house, and a military school or college. It contains about 2000 houses and 9500 inhabitants. There is a light-house at the entrance of the river Lerna, whose latitude is in 41° 39' north.

There is another place in Portugal of this name, the town of Viana in the province of Alentejo, which contains 450 houses and 1850 inhabitants.

In the province of Navarre in Spain, is also a Viana, a city near to Estella. It stands on a hill about three miles from the river Ebro. It is surrounded with walls, and is [7:21:642]defended by an ancient castle, and contains 3,500 inhabitants, who are chiefly employed in rearing black cattle, sheep, horses, and mules.
VIBEX is sometimes used by physicians, for a black and blue spot on the skin occasioned by an efflux or extravasation of blood.
VICAR, a person appointed as deputy to another, to perform his functions in his absence, and under his authority.

Vicar, in the canon-law, denotes a priest of a parish, the predial tithes of which are impropriated or appropriated; that is, belong either to a chapter, religious house, &c. or to a layman who receives them, and only allows the vicar the small tithes, or a convenient salary,.
VICENZA, a delegation or province of Austrian Lombardy, within the government of Venice. It is bounded on the north-west by the Tyrol, on the north-east by Belluno, on the east by Treviso, on the south-east by Padua, and on the south-west by Verona. It extends over 836 square miles, is divided into thirteen districts or circles, and these into 113 communes, containing 297,547 inhabitants, who are all of the Italian race, except those who live in seven of the Alpine districts, who are Germans; but all adhere to the Catholic religion. The land is generally level, but some spurs of the western Alps project themselves into the plain on the northern side. It is watered by several streams, which unite near the capital, and there assume the name of Bachiglione. This river is then navigable to the Brenta below Padua, and with it enters the Adriatic sea. The soil is generally good, and for the most part well cultivated, and the face of the country excites the highest gratification to one who travels through it with an agricultural eye. Maize is the chief corn crop. Wheat and rye are likewise cultivated, but are far less productive than maize, which forms almost exclusively the food of the peasantry. Flax and hemp are grown, but not extensively. The chief object of the farmers is the mulberry tree, whose number is rapidly increasing, as well as that of the silk worms that are fed with the leaves. The vines are mixed with the trees, and trained in festoons from one to the other. This has a most charming effect, but is said not to be favourable to the produce of wine, which article is in general of bad quality. A great number of sheep and oxen is fed near the streams or meadows, which are mowed three or four times in the year. The wool is fine, and that, with the cheese, forms a valuable portion of rural wealth.
VICENZA, a city, the capital of the delegation of that name in Italy. It is built on two streams, the Bachiglione, and the Recone, which divides it into two parts connected together by four bridges. It is surrounded with walls, having six gates, one of which, leading to the Field of Mars, is considered the master-piece of the celebrated Palladio. Vicenza contains an ancient castle, twenty-two churches, and thirty-three chapels or oratories, with several hospitals. The inhabitants within the walls amount to 20,478, but including the suburbs, are 33,000. These chiefly find occupation in the various stages of preparing silk. The winding and throwing it, to furnish distant markets, is the chief pursuit, and one which of late has vastly increased, and promises in future a still more rapid increase from the great number of mulberry trees that have been reared. Although some of the streets are narrow, and some few of them crooked, yet no place exhibits such specimens of architectural art as this city and its environs. The most distinguished of the edifices were built by Palladio, who was born here in 1518. The cathedral is a noble Gothic building; but the church of Santa Corona is most admired, especially as it is ornamented with some fine mosaic work and several exquisite paintings. The townhouse is the finest specimen of the taste and skill of Palladio, and next to it the palazzo capitanali, besides which, the palaces of Triffino, of Volpi, of Dornieri, and the opera-house, are beautiful piles of building. The environs are also distinguished by beautiful villas from the same master, the finest of which is that of Balmarana without the gate. Vicenza, like Verona in the middle ages, became an independent state, and like it, was, in 1405, subdued by the Venetians.
VICRAVANDY, a town in the province of the Carnatic, twenty-two miles west-north-west from Pondicherry. Long. 79. 43. E. Lat. 12. 5. N.
VICTOIRE ISLE, a small island in the eastern seas, covered with wood. Long. 106. 30. E. Lat. 1. 39. N.
VICTOR, Sextus Aurelius, a Latin historian, lived in the age of Constantius and Julian. From the terms in which he speaks of Africa, describing it as “decus terrarum,” it has been conjectured that he was a native of that region. According to his own account, he was born in the country, and was the son of a poor and unlettered father. We learn from Ammianus Marcellinus that the emperor Constantius having seen Victor the historian at Sirmium, afterwards appointed him prefect of Pannonia Secunda, and honoured him with a brazen statue. At a subsequent period, as we learn from the same authority, the office of prefect of the city was likewise conferred upon him. He is supposed to have been the same individual who in 369 was consul along with Valentinian.^[1. Relandi Fasti Consulares, p. 486. Traject. Batav. 1715, 8vo. ] It has been inferred that he was not a Christian.

Aurelius Victor appears to have been the author of a work “De Viris Illustribus Urbis Romae,” which has repeatedly been printed under the names of Cornelius Nepos, Suetonius, and the younger Pliny. The first of his illustrious men is Procas king of the Albani, the last Sextus Pompeius. Of this work, his tract “De Caesaribus” is to be regarded as a continuation. It commences with Augustus, and terminates with Julian. This tract first appeared in an edition of the author’s works published by Andreas Schottus, Antverp. 1579, 8vo. Here we likewise find the earliest impression of the tract entitled “Origo Gentis Romanae but whether it is a genuine production of the same author, has been considered as extremely doubtful. Another work commonly ascribed to him bears the title, “De Vita et Moribus Imperatorum Romanorum; excerpta ex libris Sexti Aurelii Victoris, a Caesare Augusto usque ad Theodosium Imperatorem." This title is not applicable to a work composed by Victor, but to one compiled from his writings. The materials appear to be borrowed from Suetonius, Eutropius, Ammianus, and Victor.^[2. Vossius de Historicis Latinis, p. 195, 221. Fabricii Bibliotheca Latina, tom. iii. p. 123. ]

Of the entire works ascribed to this author there are several editions, accompanied with the notes of various critics. Among these we may specify that of Leyden, Lugd. Bat. 1671, 8vo. An edition “in usum Delphini” was published by Madame Dacier, Paris. 1681, 4to. For another edition we are indebted to Pitiscus, Traj. ad Rhen. 1696, 8vo. But the best edition of Victor is that of Amzenius, Amst. 1733, 4to.
VICTORIA FORT, a fortified island on the coast of Concun, about seventy miles south from Bombay, which commands a harbour six miles to the north of Severndroog. Long. 72. 55. E. Lat. 17. 56. N.
VICTORY, the overthrow or defeat of an enemy in war or combat.

Victory, in Pagan worship, is represented by Hesiod as the daughter of Styx and Pallas; and Varro calls her the daughter of Heaven and Earth. The Romans erected [7:21:643]a temple to her, where they prayed the gods to give success to their arms. They painted her in the form of a woman, clad in cloth of gold. In some medals, she is represented with wings flying through the air, holding a laurel crown in one hand, and a palm in the other; but in other medals, she is seen standing upon a globe, with the same crown and branch of palm.
VIDA, Marco GeroNIMO, a very elegant Latin poet, was a native of Cremona, but the time of his birth is uncertain. Different writers have placed it in 1470, 1480, and 1490. His parents were noble, but not wealthy. He prosecuted his studies at Padua and Bologna, and at an early age was admitted into the congregation of the canons regular of St Mark at Mantua. Here however he did not long remain, but removed to Rome, where he became a canon of St John of the Lateran. His poetical talents recommended him to the favour of Leo the Tenth, who bestowed upon him the priorship of St Sylvester near Tivoli. Vida published a collection of his poems at Rome in the year 1527. This collection, a quarto of 110 leaves, contains De Arte Poetica libri iii., De Bombyce libri ii., De Ludo Scacchorum, Hymni, Bucolica. Leo recommended to him the subject of a sacred poem, which was not completed till after the death of that pontiff. Under the title of “Christiados libri sex,” it was published at Cremona in 1535. In 1532 Clement the Seventh had promoted him to the bishopric of Alba. Another pope, Paul the Third, destined him for the bishopric of Cremona, but died before he could fulfil his intentions. Vida composed several other works in verse, and some in prose. When his episcopal city was attacked by the French and the imperialists in 1542, he displayed his courage by urging the garrison to make a strenuous defence, and he afterwards contributed to the recovery of this conquest out of their hands. He accompanied the papal legates to the council of Trent; and upon that occasion composed a prose work, entitled “Dialogi de Reipublicae Dignitate,” and printed at Cremona in 1556. He died at Alba on the 27th of September 1566, and his remains were interred in the cathedral. Vida possessed a very elegant taste, and was a great master of Latin versification. The art of poetry, the operations of the silk worm, and even the game of chess, he has discussed with singular grace and harmony. The encomium of Pope rendered his name familiar to English ears:

Immortal Vida, on whose honoured brow

The poet’s bays and critic’s ivy grow.

Of his poems there are several collective editions. A collection, exclusive of his sacred poems, was published by Thomas Tristram, A.M. Oxon., 1722-3, 2 part. 8vo. But the best edition, containing all the poems which he acknowledged as his, together with the Dialogi, appeared soon afterwards, “curantibus J. Ant. et Cajetano Vulpiis. Patav. 1731, 2 tom. 4to. Some of Vida’s poems have been translated into various languages. Of the Poetics an English translation was published by Pitt in 1725, and another by Hampson in 1793. Of the poem on Chess an English version is said to have been published by Erskine in 1736. A translation of another work, accompanying the original, appeared under the title of “The Christiad, a Poem in six books: translated from the Latin of Marcus Hieronimus Vida, by J. Cranwell, M.A., Rector of Abbots Ripton in Huntingdonshire." Cambridge, 1768, 8vo.
VIELLE. (Fr.) a very old stringed instrument, played by means of finger-keys, and the friction of a wheel instead of a bow. It is much used by wandering Savoyards. In Britain it is called a hurdy-gurdy.
VIERLANDS, four small islands in the river Elbe, a little above the city of Hamburg, and under the joint government of that city and of Lübec. The inhabitants are a colony of Dutch who came to these spots on a religious account, and who still retain their ancient language, religion, dress, and manners. They are, in fact, the market gardeners of the city of Hamburg, and supply its inhabitants with the best of culinary vegetables and fruits. The names of the islands are, Old Gamme, New Gamme, Kirkwarden, and Kosslacke. They form four parishes, and contain a population of more than 7000 persons.
VIERZON, a city of France, in the department of the Cher, and the arrondissement of Bourges. It stands at the point where the rivers Eure and Eber unite, and contained in 1836, 4706 inhabitants, employed in making hosiery, woollen goods, and leather. Lat. 47. 12. Long. 1. 58. E.
VIGER, Francois, more generally known by the name of Franciscus Vigerus, a learned Jesuit, was a native of Rouen, and died there in the year 1647. His treatise entitled "De praecipuis Graecae Dictionis Idiotismis liber,” is said to have been originally published in 1632. The subsequent editions are very numerous, and some of them are enriched by the emendations and additions of Hoogeveen, Zeunius, and Hermann. An edition, including the annotations of all the three, has been printed in our own country. Glasg. 1823, 8vo. In this improved form, the work possesses great value. Viger published an edition of Eusebius, “De Preparatione Evangelica,” accompanied with notes and a new Latin version. Paris. 1628, fol.
VIGEVANO, a province of the kingdom of Sardinia in Italy, in the principality of Piedmont, on the frontier towards Milan. It is a level and rich, though small district, producing wine, silk, and some rice. The capital is of the same name, is the seat of a bishop, and is situated about two miles from the river Tessin. It is surrounded with walls, has an old castle, and contains besides a beautiful cathedral, two parish churches, seven monasteries, and three nunneries, to each of which there is attached a church. The inhabitants are 15,200, very industriously occupied in [7:21:648]raising silk, and in making silk goods, especially stockings and handkerchiefs. Lat. 45. 18. 54. Long. 8. 46. 56. E.
VIGIL, in church history, is the eve or next day before any solemn feast; because then Christians were wont to watch, fast, and pray, in their churches.

Vigils of Plants, a term under which botanists comprehend the precise time of the day in which the flowers of different plants open, expand, and shut.
VIGO, a sea-port of Spain, in the province of Galicia, more remarkable for the excellence of the bay on which it stands. Vigo bay is entirely enclosed with high mountainous land, broken by cultivated valleys, which form a pleasing landscape. It is entered by a long channel, in which there are from twenty-seven to thirty-two feet of water. The beach is clear, the holding ground good, and there a ship is well sheltered from the sea by the Bayona islands. The town is surrounded by an ancient wall, and is defended by a citadel. The harbour, though so well situated, is little frequented by any but coasting vessels. Vigo contains not more than 2500 inhabitants. It is remarkable as the place where a Spanish plate-fleet took refuge in the year 1702, and was attacked by a combined fleet of the British and Dutch ships, then at war with Spain. The victory was complete, but the Spaniards set fire to the richest of the treasure-ships, which were burnt and sunk. It was to this place that General Crawford led the light division of Sir John Moore’s army, on its retreat from Spain, and embarked it with despatch and without loss. The latitude is 42. 13. 20. N. Long. 8. 33. 30. W.
[7:21:650]
VIJANAGRAM, a considerable town of Hindustan, in the Northern Arcons, twenty-five miles north by west from Vizapatam. Long. 83. 30. E. Lat. 18. 4. N.
VILLAFRANCA, a small town in the delegation of Verona in Venetian Lombardy, with a population of 2000. It is nine miles distant from Verona.

Villafranca, a town of Spain, in the province of Estremadura, distant from Madrid about 200 miles. It is a place of but little importance, and has a population of about 2500.