BALBO BALBUS Maximin a third emperor, the young Gordia- nus, being adjoined to them by the clamors of the people and the soldiery. Maximin being killed by his own mutinous soldiers at the siege of Aquileia, Maximus was triumphantly receiv- ed in Rome ; but soon falling out with Balbi- nus, he depended only for his support upon a body of Germanic barbarians against the prre- torians, who disliked both emperors. While the citizens were witnessing the Capitoline games, the two rulers were put to death by the prsetorians, who proclaimed the boy Gordianus sole emperor. BALBO, Cesare, count, an Italian statesman and author, born in Turin, Nov. 21, 1789, died there, June 3, 1853. Through the favor of Na- poleon, he was appointed auditor to the French privy council in 1807, afterward secretary to the French commissioners in Tuscany and the Papal States, and in 1812 commissioner of II- lyria. After the downfall of Napoleon he was secretary of legation in London until the out- break of the Sardinian revolution in 1821, when he returned to Turin. He translated Leo's work on the municipal institutions of Lombar- dy from German into Italian, under the title of Communi Italiani. His reputation was firmly established by his Speranze d'ltalia (1843), in favor of national independence. His Delia storia d'ltalia, dalV origine fino al 1814 (5th edition, Bastia, 1849) was distinguished by the same patriotic spirit and by historical merit. In 1848 he formed the first constitu- tional cabinet of Charles Albert, which, how- ever, lasted but a few months, and after the Sardinian reverses in the field he exerted great influence as a leader of the moderate party and supporter of D'Azeglio. His biography was published by Ricotti (Florence, 1856), and a monument by Vela has been erected in his honor in Turin. BALBOA, Vaseo Nnfiez de, a Spanish American discoverer, born at Xeres de los Caballeros, Es- tremadura, in 1475, beheaded at Castilla de Oro, Darien, in 1517. He was a nobleman who escaped from his creditors to Hispaniola, and subsequently joined Enciso's Darien expedition. Quarrels between rival commanders made him chief of the new settlement. His humane pol- icy reconciled the Indians, and while engaged in exploring the isthmus he reached the sum- mit of a mountain from which he discovered the Pacific, Sept. 26, 1513. He erected a cross on the spot, and took possession of the whole region for Spain. But before the news of this important discovery reached Madrid Enciso's intrigues had resulted in Balboa's displacement by Davila, who soon lost the advantages gained by his predecessor. The Spanish government, at length enlightened in regard to the great achievements of Balboa, named him deputy governor; but Davila opposing his installation, he went in search of new settlements. This exasperated Davila still more, but his wrath was for a time appeased by the intercession of influential personages, and he even gave his daughter in marriage to Balboa. The contin- ued success of the latter, however, revived his jealousy, and he seized a pretext for charging him with treason, and subjecting him to a mock trial. Balboa and four of his friends were exe- cuted, he protesting to the last his innocence and his loyalty. BALBRIGGAJV, a town of Ireland in the county and 18 m. N. N. E. of Dublin; pop. about 2,500. It is the seat of thriving manufactures of cotton goods and hosiery. The cotton stock- ings made here are remarkable for the fineness of their texture ; many females are also employ- ed in embroidering muslins. In 1780 Baron Hamilton, with the help of the Irish parlia- ment, established cotton works here, and built a pier, to which an inner dock was afterward added by a member of the same family. The railroad crosses the harbor by a viaduct of 11 arches of 30 ft. span. Balbriggan is a favorite watering place. BALBl'ENA, Bernardo de, a Spanish poet and prelate, born at Val de Pefias in 1568, died in Porto Rico in 1627. He was educated in Mex- ico, became provost in Jamaica, and in 1620 bishop of Porto Rico. He wrote El siglo de oro (" The Age of Gold "), a pastoral romance, the scene of which is laid in the new world ; La grandeza Mejicana (new edition, 1821) ; and El Bernardo (3 vols., Madrid, 1 624 ; new ed., 3 vols. 8vo, 1808), an epic which is among his most finished productions. BALBUS. I. Lncins Cornelius (Major), a Roman consul, born in Gades (Cadiz) in the 1st century B. C. He served in the Sertorian war, after which Roman citizenship was conferred on his family. Shortly afterward he removed to Rome. He accompanied Csesar into Spain in 61, and into Gaul in 58, and was appointed prtefectus fabrum to his legions. During the Gallic wars he spent much time at Rome, where he managed Csesar's private property, and acted as agent for the sale of spoils taken from the enemy. In 56 his foes and those of the tri- umvirs charged him with having assumed ille- gally the privileges of a Roman citizen ; but he won the trial, owing to his defence by Pompey, Crassus, and especially by Cicero. Balbus did not bear arms against the Pompeians in the civil wars, but remained at Rome working in the interest of Caesar, and finally succeeding in gaining Cicero for the dictator's cause. On the assassination of Cfflsar Balbus retired to his country seat, where he remained until the arrival of Octavius in Italy. He then has- tened to Naples to meet the latter, whom he accompanied to Rome, and who appointed him sedile, prator, and in 40 consul, he being supposed to have been the first adopted citi- zen who filled that office. In his will he bequeathed 20 denarii to every Roman citi- zen. - He wrote a diary of the most eventful occurrences in his own and Csesar's life, and provided for the continuation of the " Com- mentaries on the Gallic War." Four of his let- ters to Cicero are extant. II. Lneins Cornelius
