Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/39

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GLEIM 1859 published his chief work, a life of the duke of Wellington (new ed., 1862). GLEIM, Johann Wilhelm Lndwig, a German poet, born at Ermsleben, near Halberstadt, April 2, 1719, died in the latter town, Feb. 18, 1803. He published odes, fables, tales, and songs, which obtained for him the title of the German Anacreon. His Siegeslied nach der ScJilacht bei BossbacJi is the most famous of his battle songs. Gleim was very popular in Ger- many, and exercised for about 40 years a mas- ter influence on literature. He was a bachelor, but his home, kept by his accomplished niece Sophie Dorothea Gleim (celebrated in his songs under the name of Gleminde), was a favorite resort of poets and scholars. An edition of his works (7 vols., Halberstadt, 1811-'13) was completed by an 8th volume (Leipsic, 1841). GLEIWITZ, a town of Prussian Silesia, on the Klodnitz, 40 m. S. E. of Oppeln; pop. in 1871, 12,939. It has a Catholic gymnasium, a Prot- estant and two Catholic churches, a synagogue, a convent, a hospital, and barracks, and is the centre of the mining and smelting industry of upper Silesia. GLENCOE, one of the wildest and most gloomy of the Scottish glens, in the district of Lorn, Argyleshire, about 10 m. long, and enclosed by lofty mountains. The lower part of the glen near Loch Leven is cul- tivated and wooded, but the upper part is ex- ceedingly rugged and barren, the mountains rising almost perpen- dicularly in fantastic forms, seamed with deep furrows worn by the winter torrents. A small lake, from which issues the Cona, lies in the middle of the val- ley. The path through the glen is lined by im- mense masses of rock. Near its N. W. extrem- ity is the scene of the ' ' massacre of Glencoe. ' ' After the revolution of 1688 many of the Scot- tish clans continued in arms for King James against King William. In August, 1691, the government of William issued a proclamation offering an amnesty to such in- surgents as should take the oath of allegiance on or before Dec. 31. All the chiefs sub- mitted within the prescribed time except the aged Maclan or Macdonald of Glencoe, whose tribe, a few hundred in number, inhabited this secluded valley. On Dec. 31 he went to Fort William and offered to take the oath ; but the colonel in command, not being a magistrate, could not administer the oath, and referred the chief to the sheriff at Inverary, before whom Macdonald took the oath, on Jan. 6, 1692. The 363 VOL. vin. 3 GLENDOWER 31 earls of Breadalbane and Argyll, and the mas- ter of Stair, who were then in London, deter- mined to avail themselves of this unintentional delay to effect the destruction of the tribe of Macdonald, to whom Argyll and Breadalbane were hereditary enemies. The master of Stair was secretary of state for Scotland, and by representing to William that Glencoe had not submitted, and that the dwellers in the valley, whom he described as a band of robbers, were the only remaining obstacle to the complete pacification of the highlands, he obtained an order for their extirpation. It was executed with horrible treachery and cruelty. On Feb. 1 a body of 120 soldiers, commanded by Campbell of Glenlyon, was sent to occupy Glencoe. Pro- fessing peace and friendship, they were received with the kindest hospitality, and for nearly a fortnight lived at free quarters in the utmost familiarity with the people. On the evening of Feb. 12 the officers supped at Macdonald's house. That same night the massacre was be- gun. Macdonald and two of his attendants were murdered, and his wife received such bar- barous treatment that she died the next day. About 40 persons were killed that night. De- tachments of soldiers were sent to guard the outlets of the valley ; but they arrived too late, Pass of Glencoe. and many of the inhabitants escaped half naked to the mountains, where a considerable num- ber of the women and children perished of cold and hunger. In the morning the assassins set the village on fire, and took away with them all the flocks and herds of the valley. No pun- ishment was inflicted on the authors of this crime. A graphic account of the massacre of Glencoe is given by Macaulay in his "History of England," vol. iv., exonerating King Wil- liam. Other able writers inculpate him, and the question has been very warmly debated. GLENDOWER, or Glendwr, Owen, a Welsh chief- tain, born in Merionethshire about 1349, died