BORODINO. (See Moscow, Battle of.) BOROUGH; Originally, a fortified town. In England, the term was early restricted to those towns which sent burgesses to parliament. This burden, as it was once considered, was probably imposed on the largest and wealthiest towns, or on those which had placed themselves under the protection of some baron. The number of boroughs in Great Britain, represented in parliament, is 222, sending 396 burgesses: of these, 171 are in England, and are represented by 339 burgesses. Several centuries have elapsed since the distribution of representatives among the towns was fixed. Many places, formerly populous, and entitled to be represented, now contain not more than two or three houses, and yet retain their original privilege. These are called rotten boroughs. See Parliament.)

BORROMEI ISLANDS (Isole dei Conigh, on account of the many rabbits there); four small islands in the Lago Maggiore, in Upper Italy, which is 30 miles in length and 7 or 8 in breadth. The greater part belongs to Piedmont, the rest to the kingdom of Lombardy. Its banks are formed of a beautiful Alpine country, with many villages, villas, vineyards, gardens and chestnut groves. The islands have their name from the family of Borromeo, which, for centuries, was in possession of the richest estates in the vicinity of the Lago Maggiore. Vitelliano Borromeo, in 1671, caused garden-soil to be spread over three naked rocks in this lake, and terraces to be walled up. Thus arose the Isola Bella, Isola Madre, L'Isolino and Isola dei Pescatori, the two first famous for their beautiful garden-grounds. The Isola Madre, abounding in pheasants, lies in the middle of the lake. It consists of seven terraces, with a kitchen-garden, cypresses, laurels, chestnuts and myrtles. The Isola Bella is loaded with artificial ornament. It contains a handsome palace of four stories, which lies near the shore, and is occupied, for some months in the year, by the count Borromeo. By means of the

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Grotte Terrene, it communicates with the gardens, which are laid out in the French taste, upon 10 terraces, rising above each other, and narrowing in proportion to their elevation. The whole has the appearance of a truncated pyramid, on the top of which stands a colossal unicorn, the armorial ensign of the Borromei. Orange, citron and lemon-trees, united by fine hedges, or forming arbors, breathe their fragrance; lofty laurels form a little grove; myrtles and cypresses are to be seen, together with pomegranate-trees, the fruit of which ripens here; for the mountains which crown the lake serve as a shelter against the cold winds. The climate of the Isola Madre, however, is milder than that of the Isola Bella. In the latter, the orange and citron-trees, &c. must be secured, in winter, by boards laid over them, and, in extreme cold, by applying charcoal-pans underneath. The inhabitants of the Isola dei Pescatori carry on a trade in fish to Milan and Piedmont, and are engaged in smuggling.

BORROMEO, Carlo, count, of an ancient Milanese family, born, Oct. 2, 1538, at Arona, on Lago Maggiore, the family-seat of his virtuous and pious parents, was, at the age of 12, a commendatory abbot; studied the law at Pavia; was, in 1559, made doctor, and, in 1560, was successively appointed, by his uncle, Pius IV, apostolical prothonotary, referendary, cardinal, and archbishop of Milan. From his earliest youth, grave, pious and severe towards himself, the young ecclesiastic, at the age of 22, devoted himself to the duties of government with a conscientious zeal. As legate over Romagna, the march of Ancona and Bologna, he had a great share in the civil government: as protector of Portugal, of the Netherlands, of Switzerland, of the Franciscans, Carmelites, and of the knights of Malta, he administered several important branches of the spiritual government of the pope, who created him his grand penitentiary, and did nothing of importance without his advice. The re-opening and the results of the council of Trent, so advantageous to the papal authority, were chiefly effected by the great influence of B., which was felt during the whole sitting of the council. He did much for the embellishment of the papal buildings, employing even his own fortune for that purpose, and established many good institutions, as archbishop of Milan; improved the dis· cipline of the clergy, founded schools, seminaries, a regular order of secular divines, libraries, hospitals, and was indefatigable

in doing good. All his virtues, however, could not save him from persecution and calumny; he was even severely attacked by the government, but no charge could be proved against him. He died, Nov. 3, 1584, at the age of 46, exhausted by mental sufferings, the accusations of his enemies, and his monastical penances. Miracles were immediately wrought at his tomb, and his canonization took place in 1616. Posterity will venerate the purity of his life, the energy and grandeur of his character, his exemplary administration, and the noble works which he accomplished; and, in spite of the bigotry which is to be attributed to the spirit of his age, and to his clerical relations, must acknowledge his truly Christian and apostolic character.

BORSTELL, Louis George Leopold von; lieutenant-general in the Prussian service, born in 1773. In the campaign against the French, in 1813, he commanded two brigades, and decided the battles of Grossbeeren and of Dennewitz; the latter, by hastening from Kropstädt to the field of battle, and, in opposition to the orders of the crown-prince of Sweden, joining the left wing of Bülow, in order to take Gehlsdorf, the key of the enemy's position. General B. was very active through the whole war, and, in 1815, had the command of the 2d Prussian corps. While he was occupied with its organization in Namur, some battalions of Saxon guards and grenadiers in Liege, excited by the news of the partition of their country, and by some incautious expressions, as well as by the measures which had been taken to gain over the Saxon officers and soldiers, broke the windows in the lodgings of prince Blücher, and committed other excesses. It was necessary that they should be punished in the most severe manner, as many thousand soldiers, formerly in the French and Westphalian service, but now united under Prussian, English, Belgian and other colors (many of them yet attached to Napoleon), were on the French borders, almost in sight of the enemy, and there was danger of a repetition of these scenes, if they were treated with clemency. Blücher therefore sent the guilty battalions to Namur, with orders to B. to disarm them, to burn their colors, and to shoot the ring-leaders. B. considered the order too severe accustomed to expose his person and life for his own colors, he felt that such a disgrace must be worse than death; and he adopted the determination of not obeying the command, although pronounced in

the most decided manner, and confirmed by a refusal to listen to his remonstrances. Blücher felt obliged to suspend him, from his command, and to report his behavior to the king. Borstell returned into his country, and a court-martial condemned him to several years' confinement in a fortress. In the year 1815, he was pardoned and reinstated in his command by the king.

BORY-DE-SAINT-VINCENT, J. B. G. M., born at Agen, 1772, displayed, from his earliest youth, an excessive ardor both on literary and political subjects. As a youth, he was full of zeal for natural history, and, as a man, his political views, though often erroneous, were always marked with genius. This is the character of the essays which he wrote in the Nain Jaune, and Aristarque, and of the defence of his principles, published in Aix-la-Chapelle. His Essai sur les Isles Fortunés de l'Antique Atlantide ou Précis de l'Histoire générale de l'Archipel des Canaries, and his treatise on the cryptogamic plants, are full of original views. He accompanied captain Baudin, in 1798, in his voyage round the coasts of New Holland, examined closely the volcanoes of the island of Bourbon, and was led to form many geological hypotheses. When military intendant of the general staff of marshal Soult, he showed much severity towards the commissaries. In 1815, he served as colonel in the campaign under Napoleon. After the battle of Waterloo, he proposed, July 1, to his colleagues of the chamber of representatives, not to submit voluntarily to the Bourbons. In consequence of the royal decree of Jan. 17, 1816, he emigrated, and lived in Aix-la-Chapelle and Halberstadt, and, afterwards, in Brussels, where, with van Mons, he edited a journal dedicated to natural science, which is at present continued in Paris. He wrote, also, an excellent work on the subterranean quarries in the lime mountains near Maestricht. After his return, in 1820, he was engaged in many of the journals of the liberal party. He reported the sittings of the deputies in the. Courier Français, and assisted in Courtin's Encyclopédie.

Bos, Lambert, a profound philologist, was born at Worcum, in Friesland, 1670, and died in 1717. He studied in the university at Franeker, where his rapid and brilliant progress obtained for him the Greek professorship in 1704. His Ellipses Græcæ is a standard work, and has been often printed. The edition of Schäffer (Leipsic, 1808) is the best. The Antiquit. Græc. Descriptio has also passed through

àumerous editions. His Vet. Test. ex Versione LXX is highly esteemed. He was also the author of several other valuable philological works.

Bosc, Louis Antoine Guillaume; superintendent of the French establishments for breeding sheep; member of several learned societies in France, &c.; born at Paris, in 1759, where his father was physician to the king; made himself known, from 1784 to 1788, as editor of the Journal de Physique. Proscribed in the reign of terror, in 1793, he took refuge in the forest of Montmorency; and, though daily exposed to the danger of being taken and executed, he occupied himself with labors in natural history. In 1796, the directory sent him to the U. States, as consul at Wilmington, and afterwards at New York; but the American government doubted whether the French directory was entitled to be represented by a consul. Thus exempt from official duties, he travelled through the U. States, collecting botanical and zoological specimens, and contributing to the advancement of his favorite studies. In 1799, B. was made administrateur des hospices. From that time, he has been actively engaged in researches in natural history. His brother, Etienne Bosc, an orator and author, combines a profound knowledge of natural history with an extensive acquaintance with political economy.

BOSCAN, Almogaver, Juan, a Spanish poet, born towards the close of the 15th century, at Barcelona, died about 1540. His parents, who belonged to the most ancient nobility, gave him a careful education. He followed the court of Charles V, and, in 1526, was attached to it for some time in Grenada. His noble manners and character gained him the favor of the emperor. The education of the duke of Alva was committed to him, and his instructions developed the great qualities which the duke afterwards displayed. After his marriage, B. lived at Barcelona, occupied in publishing his works, together with those of his deceased friend Garcilaso, in which he was employed at the time of his death. B. was persuaded to attempt Italian measures in Spanish, by Antonio Navagero, an Italian scholar and ambassador of the republic of Venice at the court of the emperor. Thus he became the creator of the Spanish sonnet, and, with Garcilaso, first used the terzine in his poetical epistles and elegies. In general, he distinguished himself by introducing Italian forms into Spanish poetry, which met with great opposition, 18

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and not less applause. The poems of B are still esteemed. His other literary works, mostly translations, are forgotten.

BOSCAWEN, Hon. Edward, a British admiral of the last century, was born in 1711, and distinguished himself at Porto Bello and at Carthagena, where, he stormed a battery at the head of a part of his crew. In 1744, he was promoted to the Dreadnought, a sixty gun ship, in which he took the Media. Three years afterwards, he signalized himself under Anson, at the battle of cape Finisterre. Towards the close of this year, he was raised to the rank of rear-admiral, and despatched with a squadron to the East Indies. Though he failed in an attempt on Pondicherry, he succeeded in making himself master of Madras, and returned to England, where he obtained a seat at the admiralty board. In 1755, he again sailed for North America, and, in an action with a French squadron, two ships of the line fell into his hands. In 1758, in conjunction with lord Amherst, who commanded the land forces, he succeeded in reducing Louisbourg and cape Breton, and, the year following, having then the command in the Mediterranean, pursued the Toulon fleet, under De la Clue, through the straits of Gibraltar, and, coming up with it in Lagos bay, completely defeated it, burning two ships and taking three. For these services, he received the thanks of parliament and £3000 a year, with the rank of general of marines, in 1760. He died in the following year. He sat in the parliament of 1743, as member for Truro, in his native county.

BOSCOVICH, Roger Joseph, an astronomer and geometrician of distinguished eminence in the 18th century, was a native of Ragusa, in Dalmatia. He was educated among the Jesuits, and, entering into their order, was appointed professor of mathematics in the Roman college, before he had entirely completed the course of his studies. He was employed by pope Benedict XIV in various undertakings, and, in 1750, began the measurement of a degree of the meridian in the Ecclesiastical States, which operation occupied him for two years. He afterwards visited the Pontine marsh, to give advice respecting the draining of it. He was then intrusted, by the republic of Lucca, with the defence of its interests, in a dispute about boundaries with the government of Tuscany. This affair obliged him to go to Vienna, and, having terminated it with success, he visited Paris and London. He was elected a fellow of the

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royal society, and dedicated to this body a Latin poem on eclipses. Returning to Italy, he was appointed mathematical professor in the university of Pavia; whence, in 1770, he removed to Milan, and there erected the celebrated observatory at the college of Brera. On the suppression of the order of Jesuits, he accepted an invitation to France from Louis XV, who gave him a pension of 8000 livres, with the office of director of optics for the navy. This appointment induced him to pay particular attention to that part of optical science which treats of the theory of achromatic telescopes, on which subject he wrote a treatise of considerable extent. He was obliged to leave Paris, in 1783, on account of ill health, when he retired to Milan, where he died Feb. 12, 1787. An edition of the works of father B. was published by himself, in 5 vols., 4to., 1785. His Theoria Philosophic Naturalis reducta ad unicam Legem Virium in Natura existentium, first published in 1758, is a curious production, containing speculations of which doctor Priestley availed himself in his writings in favor of materialism.

BOSHMEN, BOSJESMEN, or BUSHMEN. (See Hottentots.)

BOSHUANAS. (See Bushwanas.)

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Bosio, N.; the most celebrated of living French sculptors. His Hercules, exhibited in 1814, has been particularly admired. - In the following year, he produced another excellent statue, his Hermaphrodite. The artist received from Napoleon the cross of the legion of honor in 1815. The royal government has since honored him with important commissions, and confirmed the choice of the academy of the fine arts, which elected him a member. Since 1823, his statue of Henry IV, as a child, met with public admiration. His statue of Louis XIV was destined for the place des victoires at Paris. The execution is excellent; but the transfer of the support of the horse to its tail might be objected to as contrary to mod

ern taste.

BOSJESMEN. (See Hottentots.) BOSNIA; a Turkish province, with the title of a kingdom, which comprehends, besides the ancient B., part of Croatia (Sanjiak Bielogrod), between the rivers Unna and Verbas, a tract of Dalmatia and Herzogovina, and is bounded N. by Sclavonia, W. by Croatia, S. by Dalmatia and the Adriatic sea, and E. by Servia. B. contains 22,500 square miles, with 850,000 inhabitants, mostly of Sclavonian origin, Bosniacs and Morlacs, among whom are 50,000 Turkish militia. The inhabitants

are two thirds Christians, mostly of the Greek church, and one third Turks, who possess nearly all the territorial_property as allodiums or feuds, besides Jews and Gipsies. The country is level towards the north; in the south, mountainous and woody. Its chief rivers are the Save, the Verbas, the Bosna, Rama and Drina. B. contains fertile fields, orchards and vineyards: the breed of cattle is excellent, and the mountains furnish good iron, of which a great part is manufactured in the country into guns and blades. The other articles manufactured are leather, morocco, and coarse woollen cloths. In the 12th and 13th centuries, B. belonged to Hungary. In 1339, it fell into the hands of Stephen, king of Servia. After his death, it remained independent, and the Ban Twartko took the title of king in 1370. In 1401, it became tributary to the Turks, and, since 1463, has been a Turkish province. It is divided into the southern and northern parts, or Upper and Lower B. The former is called sometimes Herzogovina, or the duchy of Saba, because the emperor Frederic III bestowed the title of duke on the ruler of this district in 1440. Travnik is the residence of the pacha of B. The capital of the country is Bosna-Serai, or Saraievo (in Italian, Seraglio), at the confluence of the Migliazza with the. Bosna, with 15,000 mostly miserable houses, and 60,000 inhabitants, including the garrison of 10,000 janizaries. The citadel lies at some distance from the town. The taxes of Saraievo are an appanage of the mother of the sultan. Zwornick, Banjaluka and Turkish Gradiska are also important in historical and statistical points of view. The fear of losing their property is the chief cause of the adherence of the Bosniacs to the Turkish government, since, in case of the conquest of B. by the Christians, they expect the same treatment which the Christians formerly experienced, when it was conquered by the Turks.

BOSPHORUS. The strait which leads from the Black sea into the Propontis, or sea of Marmora, was formerly so called, either because Io, after being metamorphosed into a cow, passed over at this place, or because the strait is so narrow that an ox can swim across. When other straits were afterwards called by the same name, this was called B. Thracicus. Over this channel (5 stadia, about 3300 feet wide) Darius constructed a bridge of boats. on his expedition against the Scythians. Bosphorus Cimmericus was the name given by the ancients to the strait that leads

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