AUGSBURG, DIET OF 340 AUGUSTA AUGSBURG, DIET OF, the most cele- brated of the numerous diets, or par- liaments, held at Augsburg, convened in 1530. Pope Clement VII. refusing to call a general council for the settlement of all religious disputes, the Emperor Charles V. summoned another diet at Augsburg, which met on June 20, 1530, On the 25th the famous "Confession" was read, and on Aug. 3 an answer was made by the Roman Catholics, whereupon it was proclaimed that the Protestants must conform in all points to the Church of Rome. Charles V. soon after delivered his decision, in which he gave the Protes- tants till April 15, 1531, to reunite them- selves to the Mother Church. The Em- peror engaged to induce the Pope to sum- mon a national or general council and later announced his intention to execute the edict of Worms, made some severe enactments against the Protestants, and reconstituted the Imperial Chamber. AUGSBURG, LEAGUE OF, a league entered into and concluded at Augsburg, July 9, 1686, for the maintenance of the treaties of Munster and Nimeguen, and the truce of Ratisbon. It was negotiated by William, Prince of Orange, on June 21, in the above year, for the purpose of resisting the encroachments of France. The contracting parties were the Empe- ror Leopold I., the Kings of Spain and Sweden, the Electors of Saxony and Bavaria, and the Circles of Suabia, Fran- conia, Upper Saxony and Bavaria. The league was to be in force for three years, and might then be renewed. England acceded to it in 1689. AUGUST, the name given to the eighth month of our year. It was named B. c. 30, by the Roman Emperor Augus- tus, after himself, as he regarded it as a fortunate month for him, being that in which he had gained several important victories. Before this time it was called Sextilis, or the sixth month, the year beginning with March. The name of July had, in like manner, been Quintilis, before it was changed by Julius Cjesar; and as it contained 31 days, the Senate, in order that Augustus might not be be- hind Csesar, decreed that August also should have 31 days, and that^, for this purpose^ a day should be taken away from February. AUGUSTA, or AGOSTO, a fortified city of Sicily, 11 miles N. of Syracuse by rail. It stands on a rocky islet joined by a bridge to a peninsula projecting into the Mediterranean, and is near the site of the Megara Hyblaea of the ancients. The port is spacious, but of rather diffi- cult access. Salt, oil, wine, cheese, fruit, honey, grain, and sardines are exported. Pop. about 16,000. Near it was fought in 1676 a great naval battle between the French under Duquesne, and a Spanish and Dutch fleet under the famous Ad- miral De Ruyter. The latter was defeat- ed, and received a v/ound of which he died at Syracuse. AUGUSTA, city, and county-seat of Richmond co., Ga.; on the Savannah river, and numerous railroads; 120 miles N. W. of Savannah. The site is about 700 feet above sea-level, and the city has an even temperature and a dry, invigo- rating atmosphere. The city is laid out with broad streets which intersect at right angles, and many of them are beau- tifully shaded with trees. The city hall is in a park which also contains a granite monument in memory of the Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence, and an imposing monument to the Confederate dead of the State has been erected on Broad street, the principal thoroughfare of the city. The city has several parks, and a United States arse- nal;, and in the suburbs are Summerville, a noted health resort, the principal ceme- tery, and attractive fair grounds. Au- gusta has a large trade in cotton, lum- ber, fruit and vegetables, but its main importance is in its manufacturing en- terprises. The principal industrial plants are cotton mills. The city is the seat of the Medical College of Geoi'gia, and has an orphan asylum, public hospitals, the Louise King Home, a juvenile refor- matory, several National and State banks, and several daily and weekly periodicals. Pop. (1910) 41,040; (1920) 52,548. AUGUSTA, city, capital of the State of Maine, and county-seat of Kennebec CO.; on the Kennebec river, and the Maine Central railroad; 63 miles N. E. of Portland. The city is built on both sides of the river on a series of terraces, the principal part being on the W. bank. It was first permanently settled by trad- ers from Massachusetts in 1754; was incorporated under the name of Hallo- well, in 1771 ; was reduced by the setting- off of Hallowell in 1797 ; became the cap- ital of the State in 1831; and received a city charter in 1849. In the State House is the State library, a notable collection of portraits of American states- men, and, in the rotunda, an impressive array of the Civil War battle flags of the Maine Volunteers. In the principal park is a Soldiers' and Sailors' monu- ment. On the E. side of the river are the State Asylum for the Insane, and United States arsenal. Four miles from Augusta is a National Soldiers*
