WILHELMJ. 514 WILKES. and made a long stay in England. In 1876 he was conceitraeister of the Bayieuth orchestra during the production of Der King des ibeluiigen. Prob- ably his most successful and enthusiastic tour was that of the United States from 1878 to 1882. Other tours in European countries followed up to 1892, when he permanently settled in London as professor of violin at the Guildhall School of Music. He has been an important factor in the development of orchestral music and concerts in England, and notably in the great Wagner Fes- tival held in the Royal Albert Hall in May, 1877, for which event he was able to secure the per- sonal attendance and conduetorship of Wagner himself, and at the same time introduced Hans Richter to the British public. His only pub- lished works are: Hochzeits-Vantate, for soli, chorus, and orchestra, a violin concerto, a few instrumental pieces, and a number of transcrip- tions from Bach, Chopin, and Wagner. WILHELM MEISTEE'S LEHKJAHRE, vil'helm mi'sterz lar'yii-re ( Ger., Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship). A romance by Goethe, published in 1795-90, but planned some twenty years previously, and three-fourths drafted by 1785. It describes the development from youth to manhood of a vacillating and sen- sitive young man infatuated with the stage, and presents some personal experiences. In it appear several of Goethe's finest lyrical compositions, including Mignon's "Kennst du das Land ?" The work, from its method of construction, lacks unity, but is valuable as a picture of the times and contains splendid passages. WILHELMSHAVEN, -ll'helms-ha'fen, or WILHELMSHAFEN. The chief naval station of Germany, on the west side of the entrance of the Bay of Jade, an inlet of the Baltic Sea, 40 miles northwest of Bremen (ilap: Germany, B 2). The town, projected in 1856, is regularly laid out on a strip of land bought in 1853 by Prussia from Oldenburg. The harbor is 7050 feet long. There are three immense dry docks, and the workshops of the Imperial shipyards, which are inclosed by a lofty wall, pierced by fourteen portals. There is a torpedo-boat station, connecting with the Jade by a lock. The town is strongly fortified. It is the station of the North Sea fleet. To the west of Wilhelmshaven is the industrial settlement of Bant, where live the workers (3000 families) employed in the various shops of the shipyards. Population, in 1900, 22.571. WILHELMSHOHE, vil'helms-he'e. See Casskl. WILHELM TELL, vil'helm tel. See Schil- LEIi. WILHEM, vf'lfiN', GuitLAUME Louis (1771- 1842). A French composer, born in Paris. From 1795 to 1801 he was a student at the school of Liancourt, and later for two years at the Paris Conservatoire. He taught music at the military school of Saint-C'yr. and from ISIO until his death at the Lycec Napolron. wbicli later be- came the College Henri IV. In 1819 he was called upon to found a system of musical instruc- tion for the Paris primary schools. The follow- ing year he was appointed singing teacher at the I'olytcchnique and director of the Normal School of .Music. Ten elementary schools were under hia direction in 1830, and in 1833 he instituted regular reunions of his pupils in one large chorus, called the "Orpheon.' In 1835 he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and was appointed director-general of musical in- struction in all Paris primary schools. He also formed classes of workingmen, out of which grew numerous popular singing societies, called 'Or- pheons.' He published many songs and choruses besides an extensive collection of a cappella, choruses, 'Orpheon,' in five, and later in ten volumes. His first expose of his method, Guide de la methode clemetttaire et analytique de mu- sique et de chant (1821 to 1824), was followed by Tableaux de lecture musicale et d'exccution vocale (1827 to 1832); Nouveaux tableaux de lecture musicale et de chant ilcmentairc (.1835) ; Manuel musical a I'usage des colleges; etc. WILKES, Charles (1798-1877). An Ameri- can naval olficcr and explorer, born in New York City. He received a common school education, entered the United States Navy as a midship- man in 1818, served in the ilediterranean and the Pacific, became a lieutenant in 1820. and in 1830 was placed in charge of the United States department of charts and instruments. In 1838 he was placed in command of an expedi- tion authorized by act of Congress of May 18, 1836, for the purpo.se of exploring and surveying the Southern Ocean. This was the first expedi- tion fitted out by the National Government for scientific purposes. Between the years 1838 and 1842 the expedition visited the Madeira Isl- ands and Rio de Janeiro in 1838; Tierra del Fuego. Chile, Peru, the Paumotou group, Tahiti, Tutuila and the Samoan group, and New South Wales in 1839; the Antarctic regions. New Zealand, the Fiji group, and the Hawaiian Isl- ands in 1840; the Columbia River, of which a survey was made, Willamette Valley, and part of the California coast in 1841; and the Philippine Islands. Sulu Archipelago. Saint Helena, Singa- pore, and the Polynesian Islands in 1842. A great mass of valuable scientific information was col- lected during the voyage and afterwards published in nineteen large volumes. A very valuable part of the report was that of J. D. Dana (q.v.). A'ilkes wTote the volumes on Meteorology and Hydrugraphy, and also the flarrative of the Vnited States Exploring Expedition (6 vols., 1845: abridged cd. 1850). The claim of Wilkes to the discovery of an Antarctic continent has not always been conceded. Wilkes became a commander in 1843 and a captain in 1855, and in 1801. upon the outbreak of the Civil War. was placed in command of the frigate San Jacinto and sent to the West Indies in search of the Confcilerate cruiser Sumter. On November 8, 1861, he stopped at sea the English mail steamer Trent, and removed therefrom Mason and ,'>lidell, the Confederate commissioners to England and France respectively. (See Trent Afeair.) Wilkes commanded (he Potomac flotilla in 1862, and later commanded the (lying squadron or- dered to prevent blockade-running between the West Indies and the Confederacy, lie became
- i conunodorc in July. 1862. was placed on the
retired list in June, 1864. and became a rear- admiral on the retired list in July. .1866. Be- sides the reports mentioned above, lie published: Western .'imerica. Including California and Ore- <inn (1849); and The Thfory of the Wind (1855).
