Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/343

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BARNI BARNUM 323 burgh, Penn., Dec. 1, 1818. When the war of the revolution began he was appointed mas- ter's mate in the sloop of war Hornet, and in 1776, when scarce 17 years of age, was made lieutenant for his gallant conduct in the schooner Wasp, which captured the British brig Tender in Delaware bay. Soon after this he embarked in the Sachem, and was placed on board a cap- tured vessel as prize master, but was captured by the Perseus of 20 guns, and exchanged. In 1 777 he joined the Virginia frigate, which was taken by the British, having run aground in getting to sea. He was again exchanged, and joined a privateer which sailed in November, 1778, for France, and on her return took a valuable prize, arriving at Philadelphia in 1779. He subsequently sailed in the Saratoga, of 16 guns, Capt. Young, which fell in with the ship Charming Molly and two brigs, and took them. Barney headed the boarders thrown aboard the Molly, and was placed in one of the prizes, but on the following day all three were retaken by the Intrepid, 74. Barney remained a pris- oner in England for some time, but at length escaped, and arrived in Philadelphia in March, 1782. He was appointed to the command of the Hyder Ali, a small vessel of 16 guns, and encountering off the capes of the Delaware the Gen. Monk, of 20 guns, took her after a hot fight of less than half an hour. For this the legislature of Pennsylvania presented him a sword, and he was appointed to the com- mand of the Gen. Monk, and sailed for France in November, 1782. He returned to Philadel- phia with a large sum of money lent by the French government, and the information that preliminaries of peace had been signed. In 1795 he was commissioned as captain in the French service, but gave up his command in 1800, and returned home. On the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812, he was appointed by congress to the command of the flotilla which defended Chesapeake bay. He also took part in the battle of Bladensburg, and was severely wounded. A sword was voted to him by the corporation of Washington, and thanks by the legislature of Georgia. In 1818 he determined to emigrate to Kentucky, but on his way was taken ill and died. BIKM, Jules Romain, a French author, born in Lille, June 1, 1818. He was for some time secretary of Victor Cousin, and since 1861 he has been professor of philosophy at the acad- emy of Geneva. He translated the principal works of Kant into French, with critical com- ments and explanations (183G-'55) ; published several academic discourses under the title of Les martyres de la libre pensee (1862); and wrote Hwtoire des idees morales et politiques en France au XVIII* siecle (2 vols., 1866). BARNSLEY, a market town and municipal borough of Yorkshire, England, 12 m. N. of Sheffield, and 17 m. S. by E. of Leeds; pop. in 1871, 23,021. It has a spacious market place, extensive manufactures of linen, yarn, and drills, a glass factory, iron foundery, needle and wire works, dyeing and coal works. Barnsley communicates with Wakefield and Leeds by the Barnsley canal, which connects the Cal- der and Don. Near it are the remains of Monk Briton priory. BARNSTABLE. I. A S.E. county of Massa- chusetts, consisting of the peninsula of Cape Cod and several small islands, joining Plymouth county on the N.W., bounded E. and S. by the Atlantic ocean, and S. W. by Buzzard's bay, and including Cape Cod bay ; area, 290 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 32,774. The surface is generally low and level, and there are numerous clear sandy-bottomed ponds without outlet. The soil is light, and the lower portion of the cape sandy, and in great part covered with beach grass. Cranberries are extensively cultivated in the swamp lands. The forests are chiefly of pine. Seafaring is the principal occupation of the inhabitants. The county communicates with Boston and other cities by the Cape Cod railway and its branches. It has 4 or 5 banks, 5 weekly newspapers, 184 public schools, 2 woollen mills, 2 glass works, 3 tanneries, 1 saw mill, &c. In 1865 there were 28 vessels en- gaged in the whale fishery, 314 in the mack- erel and cod fishery, and 313 in the coastwise or carrying trade. In 1870 the county pro- duced 2,648 bushels of rye, 12,069 of corn, 4,019 of oats, 2,065 of barley, 11,246 of pota- toes, and 3,872 tons of hay. II. A town, port of entry, and capital of the preceding county, situated on the S. side of Barnstable bay, on the Cape Cod railroad, 65 m. S. E. of Boston ; pop. in 1870, 4,793. It has a bank, a savings institution, an insurance company, a weekly newspaper, and several churches and good schools. The inhabitants are mostly employed in fisheries or in coasting. BARNSTAPLE, a parliamentary and municipal borough, seaport, market town, and parish of Devonshire, England, on the Taw, 6 m. from its mouth in Barnstaple or Bideford harbor, on the N. W. coast, and 34 m. N. W. of Exeter; pop. of the town in 1871, 11,250. It is believed to have been founded by King Athelstan. It is well built, has an ancient church, a grammar school, where Bishop Jewell and the poet Gay were taught, a mechanics' institute, tanneries, potteries, iron founderies, paper mills, and man- ufactories of woollen cloths, cotton lace, and nets. The streets are well paved and lighted with gas. The weekly market held here is the principal one of North Devon, and there is also a celebrated cattle fair in September. BARNUM, Phincas Taylor, an American specu- lator, born at Bethel, Conn., July 5, 1810. His father was an innkeeper and country merchant, and from the age of 13 to 18 the son was in business in various parts of Connecticut, and also in Brooklyn, N. Y. Having accumulated a small sum of money, he returned to Bethel and opened a small store. Here he was very successful, especially after adding several lot- tery schemes to his other sources of income. After his marriage in 1829 he became editor of