History. The most recent historical event of interest was the declaration of war against Germany, Aug. 4, 1914, in support of the neutrality of Belgium, through which country Germany was sending troops for an invasion of France. Shipping. In 1912 there were 11,444 vessels (over 100 tons) flying the British flag, of which total 9,279 were registered in the United Kingdom and 2,165 in other parts of the Empire. Towns.-Capital, London (England). Population (1911), 4,522,961 (with suburbs, 7,252,963). At the Census of 1911 there were 94 towns in the British Empire exceeding 100,000 inhabitants. (See Great Britain.) UNITED KINGDOM.-England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.-The inhabitants of the United Kingdom are almost entirely Christians, and mainly Protestants, the exceptions being five million Roman Catholics, 250,000 Jews, and a small number of nonChristian immigrants. The language of the people is English, with a large proportion of Welsh-speaking people in Wales. The climate of the British Isles is influenced by the prevailing southwest winds and by the existence of the Gulf Stream. The prevailing winds cause a plentiful rainfall in the western region, the average fall being highest in Ireland. The Gulf Stream, from the Gulf of Mexico, is a belt of temperate water, which divides at the southwestern extremity of Ireland and at the Land's End (Cornwall), the former current skirting the north of Scotland, and reuniting with the southern arm in the North Sea. The climate of the British Isles is thus warmer and far more equable than that of other lands between the same parallels, and its harbors are free from ice all the year round. Government.-The British Constitution is mainly unwritten and customary, but its development is marked by certain outstanding and fundamental laws, of which the principal are Magna Charta (1215), the Habeas Corpus Act (1679), the Act of Settlement (1701), the Act of Union with Scotland (1707), the Act of Union with Ireland (1800), and the Parliament Act (1911). The first secured annual parliaments and the equal administration of justice; the second established the liberty of the person; the third provided for the Protestant succession to the throne; the fourth and fifth created the United Kingdom; and the last enabled the Commons to pass certain Acts without the adherence of the other Chamber. The constituent parts of the British Constitution may be thus briefly described. The throne is hereditary in the English house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha with mixed succession, the sons of the Sovereign and their descendants having precedence of daughters, but daughters and their descendants preference over lateral lines. The Monarchy is constitutional and Ilmited. The King has a right to veto bills passed by both Houses of Parliament, but in practice his veto is almost obsolete. Parliament of the United Kingdom consists of two Houses. The House of Lords consists of Spiritual and Temporal Peers, the former by virtue of their office, the latter by hereditary right, by election or by appointment. It contains 3 Princes of the Blood, 2 Archbishops, 22 Dukes, 24 Marquesses, 123 Earls, 46 Viscounts, 24 Bishops, 344 Barons, 16 Scottish Representative Peers elected for the duration of Parliament, and 28 Irish Representative Peers elected for life-total 632. The House of Commons consists of 670 members, elected for a maximum of five years by direct vote of registered male electors, the qualification being ownership or occupation and registration. The total number of registered voters in the United Kingdom is just over 8,000,000. The laws in England and Wales are administered by judges appointed by the Crown, who hold office for life, and cannot be removed save on petition presented by both Houses of Parliament. The High Court comprises the King's Bench, Chancery, and Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Divisions. Two Courts of Appeal hear appeals from these divisions, the ultimate Court of Appeal from all the courts in the United Kingdom being the House of Lords. Scots civil law, which is entirely different from that of England, is administered by the Court of Session, which is a court of law and equity. The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. It consists of all the judges, and as a rule it is confined to the trial of serious cases. The Sheriff of each county is the proper criminal judge in all crimes occurring within the county which merit only an arbitrary punishment. (For the British Army, see Armies of the World; and for the Navy, see Navies of the World). Education.-Elementary Education is compulsory for all children between five and fourteen years of age, and is provided free at Public Elementary Schools maintained by Local Authorities and aided by State Grants. There are 18 Universities in the United Kingdom, of which 10 are in England, 4 in Scotland, 1 in Wales, and 3 in Ireland. These, with dates of foundation, are Oxford (1249), Cambridge (1257), Durham (1831), London (1836), Manchester (1850), Birmingham (1900), Liverpool (1903), Leeds (1904), Sheffield (1905), and Bristol (1909), in England; University of Wales (1893), in Wales; St. Andrews (1411), Glasgow (1450), Aberdeen (1494), and Edinburgh (1582), in Scotland: and Dublin (1591), National (1910), and Belfast (1909), in Ireland. Production and Industry.-In 1901 the total number of occupied persons in the United Kingdom was 15,388,501 (12,134,259 males and 3,254,242 females). Of this total the largest percentage, or 12.66, were employed in agriculture, 11,39 in commerce, 8.2 in conveyance, 5.0 in mines and quarries, 7.89 in metals and machinery, 6.77 in building and construction, 6.92 in textile fabrics, and 7.23 in dress. wick to St. Albin's Head, is 365 miles. Its breadth, between St. David's Head in South Wales and the Naze in Essex, is 280 miles. Wales was called by the early Romans Britannica Secunda. It was brought under the dominion of the English by Kings Henry II. and Edward I. The independence of Wales died with Prince Llewellyn, who was murdered in 1283. In 1284 Queen Eleanor gave birth to a son in Caernarvon Castle, whom Edward I., his father, called Prince of Wales. This title has ever since been given to the heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain. Wales was incorporated with England by an act of Parlia ment in 1536. Ireland. An island west of Great Britain, forming with it the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north, west and south and on the east by Great Britain, separated by the Irish Sea and St. George's and North Channels. It extends from lat. 51° 26' to 55° 21' north, and from long. 5° 23' to 10° 28' west. The leading occupation is agriculture, and the chief manufactures are linen, woolens, spirits, etc. Government is administered by a Lord Lieutenant appointed by the British Crown, together with a privy council at Dublin Ireand a Chief Secretary in Parliament. land is represented by 103 members in the House of Commons, and the peerage, consisting of 172 members, appoints twentyeight representative peers to sit in the House of Lords. The country is divided into four provinces, Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. By the Local Government Act of 1898 provision was made for popularly elected councils for counties and rural districts. These councils are elected for three years and take the place of the old grand juries and presentment sessions. The principal cities are Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Londonderry and Waterford. Women are These have Borough Councils. eligible for election in borough and county councils. (See Home Rule.) Trade with the United States.-The value of merchandise imported into the United Kingdom from the United States for the year of 1913 was $597,149.059, and goods to the value of $295,564,940, were sent thither a balance of $301,584,119 in favor of the United States. British Empire. (See Great Britain.) Boundary dispute between Great Brit ain and Venezuela regarding, discussed, 5204, 5471, 5616, 5873, 5958, 6064, 6087, 6154. Arbitration of, discussed, 6337,6380. Recommended by President Cleveland, 6064. Treaty for, 6154. Monroe doctrine reasserted and attitude of United States respecting, discussed by President Cleveland, 6064, 6087. Tariff laws of, evidence of modifications of, proclaimed, 5688, 6381. Discussed, 5747. British Hudsons Bay Co. (See Hudsons Bay Co.) British North America. (See British America.) British North American Fisheries. (See Fisheries.) British West Indies: Vessels from Trinidad, tonnage duty on, suspended, 4889. Broad-Seal.-The official seal of a state or nation. Broad Seal War.-The clerk of Middlesex County, N. J., threw out the vote of South Amboy in the Congressional election of 1838 on account of defects in the returns. The Democrats protested, but the Whig representatives were declared elected and given certificates under the broad seal of the state. When Congress met, Dec. 2, 1839, the House contained 119 Democrats and 118 Whigs outside of the New Jersey contestants. The Clerk of the House refused to recognize the New Jersey Whigs. Great confusion followed. Dec. 5 John Quincy Adams was elected Speaker pro tempore. Dec. 17, after much wrangling, R. M. T. Hrnter, of Virginia, was elected Speaker. The Democratic contestants were finally seated. Broadside.-1. A concerted discharge of fire-arms or cannon. 2. A speech or a communication which is presumed to have great effect on opponents. The Brooklyn (N. Y.), Battle of.-July 2, 1776, Gen. Howe arrived from Halifax and took possession of Staten Island, N. Y. He was soon joined by Sir Henry Clinton from the south and Admiral Lord Howe, his brother, from England, with a fleet and a large land force. By Aug. 1, arrivals of Hessian troops had increased the force under Howe to nearly 30,000. Gen. Charles Lee entered New York the same day that Clinton arrived at Sandy Hook. Washington placed Boston in a state of security and proceeded to the Highlands of the Hudson, 50 miles above New York. combined American forces numbered about 17,000, under the immediate command of Sullivan, Stirling (Sir William Alexander) who had succeeded Lee), and Putnam. Aug. 22, 1776, 10,000 men and 40 cannon were landed by the British on Long Island between the present Fort Hamilton and Gravesend villages. American troops to the number of 5,000 under Sullivan guarded a range of hills extending from The Narrows to Jamaica village. On the morning of Aug. 27 a desperate battle was fought. Stirling was taken prisoner and Sullivan was forced to surrender. The American loss was 500 killed and wounded and 1,100 made prisoners. The British loss was 367 killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. Putnam's division of the army was silently withdrawn by Washington under cover of a fog on the night of the 29th. Brooklyn, The, mentioned, 6317. Brooklyn, N. Y., site for dry dock at, 934. Brother Jonathan.-A general name applied to the people of the United States. Its origin is said to be as follows: General Washington found soon after having taken command of the Continental army that it was sadly in need of many articles. Jonathan Trumbull, the elder, at that time Governor of Connecticut, was a friend of Washington and one in whose judgment Washington had great confidence. During a consultation on the state of the army, Washington suggested that they consult "Brother Jonathan," meaning Trumbull. This advice was followed, and Trumbull devised the means of procuring what was desired. The story was told in the army, and the reply to a demand for any article was invariably advice to ask "Brother Jonathan." The phrase became proverbial and has lived to the present time. Brown's Insurrection.-During the year 1859 John Brown, with a few companions, rented a farm in Maryland, near Harpers Ferry, Va. (now W. Va.), to which he smuggled arms. He had designed a plan for the seizure of the United States armory at Harpers Ferry in which over 100,000 stand of small arms were stored. His object was to free the negro slaves. Sunday evening, Oct. 16, 1859, Brown, with a force of 22 men, seized the armory. The telegraph wires were cut, trains were stopped, and about 60 prisoners taken. was said he intended after taking the armory to flee to the mountains, where he expected to be joined by the negroes, who were to rise and fight under his leadership. Brown abandoned this plan, however, and remained at the Ferry. The militia was summoned and surrounded him, and, together with some marines and artil lery, captured him and his party after a desperate fight, in which he was wounded. John Brown was tried, was condemned to death, and on Dec. 2 was executed by hanging. This incident created tremendous excitement and intensified the growing bitter ness It between the North and the South. President Buchanan, in his annual message, December, 1859, referred to this insurrection as "the recent sad and bloody occurrences at Harpers Ferry." (3084.) See illustration opposite 3071. Brownstown (Mich.), Battle of.-In July, 1812, Governor Meigs, of Ohio, sent Capt. Brush with men, cattle, and provisions to the relief of General Hull, who had crossed the Detroit River into Canada. Learning that a body of British and Indians were lying in wait at Brownstown, at the mouth of the Huron River, to intercept his supplies, Hull sent Major Thomas B. Van Horne with 200 men from Findlays Ohio regiment to act as an escort from the River Raisin to the destination in Canada. Van Horne's detachment had crossed the Ecorces River and was approaching Brownstown Aug. 5 when it found itself In an ambush and almost surrounded by Indians under Tecumseh. The party retreated in disorder with loss, having been pursued part of the way by the Indians. Brownsville.-On the night of Aug. 13-14, 1906, a riot occurred in Brownsville, Texas, in which one citizen was killed and another wounded and the chief of police seriously injured. (Page 7338.) Bitter feelings had for some time existed between the townspeople and the soldiers of the Twenty-fifth infantry (colored), who were stationed at Fort Brown. According to the theory of the Secretary of War, from nine to twenty men from a battalion of 170 formed a plan of revenge upon some of the people of the town for some real or fancied slight. About midnight they secretly left the barracks and fired through certain houses of the town, with the result noted above. An investigation was at once begun by the inspector-general, who reported that he was unable to obtain any evidence from the troops that they had any knowledge of the affair. On receiving this report President Roosevelt issued an order dismissing "without honor" the entire battalion, on the ground that there had been formed a "conspiracy of silence" to protect the offenders. (Page 7329.) He assumed that it was impossible that such an affray should have happened without the knowledge of a part or all of the battalion. This action of the President was severely criticised by his opponents, and the Senate passed resolutions calling for all the facts in the case. Senator Lodge defended the President. Feb. 25, 1908, a committee of the Senate, after investigation, reported that the "shooting up" of Brownsville was done by "some of the soldiers of the Twenty-fifth infantry." (Page 7347.) The action of the President was not passed upon. Two resolutions were introduced in the Senate -one to restore the discharged soldiers with back pay, and the other, authorized by the President, permitting the re-enlistment of such as could satisfactorily show the President that they had not participated in, and had no guilty knowledge of, the shooting in Brownsville. President Roosevelt recommended that the Secretary of War be allowed to reinstate any soldiers found innocent within a fixed time. (Page 7348.) Senator Lodge denounced a bill to compel the President to reinstate the discharged soldiers as an unconstitutional usurpation of executive authority. Judge Hough, of the United States Circuit Court for New York, on May 15, 1908, decided in the case of Oscar M. Reid, one of the discharged soldiers, that the President's action was legal, and that the authority therefor was found in the articles of war. The action was brought under an act which allows the Government to be sued in certain cases, and was to recover the pay and emoluments accruing from the date of his discharge to the end of his enlistment. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court. Brownsville, Tex., blockade of port of, removed by proclamation, 3417. Brunswick Harbor, Ga., improvement of, referred to, 1496. Brussels, Belgium: International congress at, for abolition of African slave trade, 5471, 5543. International Exhibition of Sciences and Industry at, 5187, 5399. Report of Commissioners to, referred to, 5400. International Monetary Conference at, in 1892, 5752. Postponement of, discussed, 5876. Reports of, transmitted, 5784. Universal Exposition at, American exhibits at, discussed, 6324. Bryce Report on Belgian Atrocities.-A report of an English committee headed by Viscount Bryce, formerly ambassador to the United States from Great Britain, investigating and confirming reports that the German troops in their invasion of Belgium, and afterwards during their_occupation of that country during the European (q. v.), had committed wide-spread and horrible atrocities upon male and female noncombatants. Buchanan, James.-1857-1861. War Eighteenth Administration-Democratic. Vice-President-John C. Breckinridge. Secretary of State Lewis Cass. Jeremiah S. Black. Secretary of the Treasury— Philip F. Thomas. Secretary of War John B. Floyd. Secretary of the Navy- Secretary of the Interior- Aaron V. Brown. Jeremiah S. Black. Buchanan was elected by the Democratic party, Nov. 4, 1856. The National Convention, at Cincinnati, June 2-6, 1856, nominated him for President and John C. Breckinridge for Vice-President. Plerce, Douglas, and Cass were the other possibilities for candidates, but In the seventeen ballots taken, Buchanan always led. Platform.-The platform reiterated many of the elements of the platforms of 1840 and 1844, including such topics as the public lands; opposing the national bank; advocating the sub-treasury system; supporting the veto power; and objecting to further restrictions upon naturalization. To these were added, in 1856, sections denouncing opposition to Catholics; contending for State authority only on the slavery question and non-interference by Congress in this matter; supporting the compromises of 1850; giving emphatic announcement to States Rights; supporting the Monroe Doctrine; advocating the establishment, by government aid, of good communication between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts; and endorsing the administration of President Pierce. Opposition.The American (Know Nothing) National Convention, held at Philadelphia, Feb. 22-25, 1856, nominated Millard Fillmore for President and Andrew Jackson Donelson for Vice-President, on a platform advocating the government of America by American-born citizens; refusal to accord office-holding rights to any who recognized allegiance to foreign potentates; raising the period of residence qualification for naturallzation to twenty-one years; opposing any union between Church and States; enforcement of all laws. The Republican National Convention, held at Philadelphia, June 17, 1856, nominated John C. Fremont and Willlam L. Dayton on a platform upholding the tenets of the Declaration and the Constitution; condemning slavery; prohibition by Congress within the Territories of polygamy and slavery.; sympathy with Kansas; condemnation of the doctrine that "might makes right"; imperatively demanding a transcontinental railroad; acknowledging the constitutionality of the internal improvements policy. The Whig National Convention, held at Baltimore, Sept. 17-18, 1856, endorsed the nominations of Fillmore and Donelson, made by the American party on a platform announcing adherence to the old time Whig doctrines; denouncing sectional antagonism and the formation of geographical parties; and endorsing the administra. tion of Millard Fillmore. Vote. The popular vote cast by thirtyone States gave Buchanan 1,838,169; Fremont, 1,341.264; and Fillmore, 874,534. The electoral vote counted Feb. 11, 1857, gave Buchanan, 174; Fremont, 114; and Fillmore, 8. Party Affiliation.-In his early career, Buchanan sided with the Federalists in disapproving of the War of 1812. Yet he felt it a patriot's duty always to defend his country, and spoke of the war as "glorious in the highest degree to the American character, but disgraceful in the extreme to the administration." During the "era of good feeling," when party and sectional lines were not closely drawn, Buchanan's political views underwent a change. In Congress, during Adams' administration, he became one of the Democratic leaders against the friends of the administration who called themselves National Republicans; and he was always a zealous supporter of General Jackson. Political Complexion of Congress.-In the Thirty-fifth Congress (1857-1859) the Senate of sixty-four members was composed of thirty-nine Democrats, twenty Republicans, and five Americans; and the House of 237 members was made up of 131 Democrats, ninety-two Republicans, and fourteen Americans. In the Thirty-sixth Congress (18591861) the Senate of sixty-six members was composed of thirty-eight Democrats, twentysix Republicans, and two Americans; and the House of 237 members was made up of 101 Democrats, 113 Republicans, and twenty-three Independents. revenue Tariff. In speaking of the revenue, President Buchanan in his Inaugural Address (page 2964) said: "It is beyond all question the true principle that no more revenue ought to be collected from the people than the amount necessary to defray the expenses of a wise, economical, and efficient administration of the Government. Any discrimination against a particular branch for the purpose of benefiting favored corporations, individuals or interests would have been unjust to the rest of the community and inconsistent with that spirit of fairness and equality which ought to govern in the adjustment of a tariff." In his Second Annual Message (page 3052) in discussing the sort of duties, he said: "In regard to the mode of assessing and collecting duties under a strictly revenue tariff, I have long entertained and expressed the opinion that sound policy requires that this should be done by specific duties in cases to which these can be properly applied. The present system is a sliding scale to his (the manufacturer's) disadvantage. Under it, when prices are high and business prosperous, the duties rise in amount when he least requires their aid. On the contrary, when prices fall and he is struggling against adversity, the duties are diminished in the same proportion, greatly to his injury." In his Fourth Annual Message (page 3183) on the same subject, he said: "An impression strangely enough prevails to some extent that specific duties Nothing are necessarily protective duties. can be more fallacious. Great Britain glories in free trade, and yet her whole revenue from imports is at the present moment collected under a system of specific duties." Foreign Policy.-Domestic affairs were so disturbed during President Buchanan's administration that the foreign policy has been to some extent unappreciated. In his Inaugural Address (page 2966) the President points out that all of the acquisition of territory by the United States has been conducted by purchase or by the voluntary Impulse of the people. never by conquest,even in the case of Mexico, after the war, no advantage was taken of her conquered state, but a fair price was paid to her for the ceded territory. In his Second Annual Address (page 3037) he announces the conclusion of the Perry treaty with Japan. In the same message he discusses the differ ences with Great Britain, conditions which led to the settlement by President Buchanan of the long standing "right of search.' Internal Improvements.-In vetoing "An act making an appropriation for deepening the channel over the St. Clair flats, in the |