A C C A C C bility is the same in both, or (if not) that the white man possesses it in a higher degree." The observations of Dr Spruce are of themselves almost conclusive as to the possibility of Europeans becoming ac climatised in the tropics ; and if it is objected that this evidence applies only to the dark-haired southern races, we are fortunately able to point to facts, almost equally well aiithenticated and conclusive, in the case of one of the typi cal Germanic races. At the Cape of Good Hope the Dutch have been settled and nearly isolated for about 200 years, and have kept themselves almost or quite free from native intermixture. They are described as being still perfectly fair in complexion, while physically they are the finest body of men in the colony, being very tall and strong. They marry young, and have large families. The population, according to a census taken in 1798, was under 22,000. In 1865 it was near 182,000, the majority being (according to the Statesman s Year Book for 1873) of " Dutch, German, or French origin, mostly descendants of original settlers." We have here a population which has doubled itself every twenty-two years ; and the greater part of this rapid in crease must certainly be due to the old European immi grants. In the Moluccas, where the Dutch have had settle ments for nearly 250 years, some of the inhabitants trace their descent to early immigrants ; and these, as well as most of the people of Dutch descent in the East, are quite as fair as their European ancestors, enjoy excellent health, and are very prolific. But the Dutch accommodate them selves admirably to a tropical climate, doing much of their work early in the morning, dressing very lightly, and living a quiet, temperate, and cheerful life. They also pay great attention to drainage and general cleanliness. In addition to these examples, it may be maintained that the rapid in crease of English-speaking populations in the United States and in Australia, only a comparatively small portion of which can be due to direct immigration, is far from support ing the view of Dr Knox, that Europeans cannot per manently maintain themselves in those countries. Mr Brace expressly denies that the American physique has degenerated from the English type. He asserts that manu facturers and others find that " for labours requiring the utmost physical endurance and muscular power, such as iron-puddling and lumbering in the forests and on the streams, and pioneer work, foreigners are never so suitable as native Americans. The reports of the examining sur geons for volunteers such as that of Dr W. H. Thomson to the Surgeon-General in 18G2, who examined 9000 men show a far higher average of physique in the Americans examined than in the English, Germans, or Irish. It is a fact well known to our life insurance companies, that the average length of life here is greater than that of the English tables." The Races of the Old World, p. 375. Although the comparisons here instituted may not be quite fair or conclusive, they furnish good arguments against those who maintain that the Americans are physically deteriorat ing. On the whole, we seem justified in concluding that, under favourable conditions, and with a proper adaptation of means to the end in view, man may become acclimatised with at least as much certainty and rapidity (counting by generations rather than by years) as any of the lower animals. (A. E. w.) ACCOLADE (from collum, the neck), a ceremony an ciently used in conferring knighthood ; but whether it was an embrace (according to the use of the modern French word, accolade), or a slight blow on the neck or cheek, is not agreed. Both these customs appear to be of great antiquity. Gregory of Tours writes that the early kings of France, in conferring the gilt shoulder-belt, kissed the knights on the left cheek; and William the Conqueror is said to have made use of the blow in conferring the honour of knight hood on his son Henry. At first it was given with the naked fist, a veritable box on the ear, but for this was substituted a gentle stroke on the shoulder with the flat of the sword. A custom of a similar kind is still followed in bestowing the honour of knighthood. ACCOLTI, BENEDICT, was born in 1415 at Arezzo, in Tuscany, of a noble family, several members of which were distinguished like himself for their attainments in law. He was for some time professor of jurisprudence in the University of Florence, and on the death of the celebrated Poggio in 1459 became chancellor of the Florentine re public. He died in 1466. In conjunction with his brother Leonard, he wrote in Latin a history of the first crusade, entitled De Bello a Christianis contra Barbaras, pro Christi Sepulchro et Judaea recuperandis, libri tres, which, though itself of little interest, furnished Tasso with the historic basis for his Jerusalem Delivered. This work appeared at Venice in 1432, and was translated into Italian in 1543, and into French in 1620. Another work of Accolti s De Prcestantia Virorum sui JEvi was published at Parma in 1689. ACCOLTI, BERNARD (1465-1535), son of the preced ing, known in his own day as I Unico Aretino, acquired great fame as a reciter of impromptu verse. He was listened to by large crowds, composed of the most learned men and the most distinguished prelates of the age. Among others, Cardinal Bembo has left on record a testimony to his extraordinary talent. His high reputation with his contemporaries seems scarcely justified by the poems he published, though they give evidence of brilliant fancy. It is probable that he succeeded better in his extemporary productions than in those which were the fruit of deliberation. His works, under the title Virginia, Comedia, Capitoli e Strambotti di Messer Bernardo Accolti Aretino, were published at Florence in 1513, and have been several times reprinted. ACCOLTI, PIETEO, brother of the preceding, was born at Florence in 1455, and died there in 1549. He was abbreviator under Leo X., and in that capacity drew up in 1520 the famous bull against Luther. In 1527 he was made a cardinal by Clement VII., who had employed him as his secretary. ACCOMMODATION, a term used in Biblical interpre tation to denote the presentation of a truth not absolutely as it is in itself, but relatively or under some modification, with the view of suiting it either to some other truth or to the persons addressed. It is generally distinguished into formal and material, the accommodation in the one case being confined to the method of teaching, and in the other being extended to the matter taught. To the former head may be referred teaching by symbols or parables, by pro gressive stages graduated according to the capacity of the learner, by the application of prophecy to secondary fulfil ments, &c. To the latter head are to be referred the alle gations of the anti-supranaturalistic school, that Christ and the writers of Scripture modified or perverted the truth itself in order to secure wider acceptance and speedier success, by speaking in accordance with contemporary ideas rather than with absolute and eternal truth. ACCOMMODATION, in commerce, denotes generally temporary pecuniary aid given by one trader to another, or by a banker to his customers, but it is used more par ticularly to describe that class of bills of exchange which represents no actual exchange of real value between the parties. ACCORAMBONI, VITTORIA, an Italian lady remark able for her extraordinary beauty and her tragic history. Her contemporaries regarded her as the most captivating woman that had ever been seen in Italy. She was sought in marriage by Paolo Giordano Orsini, Duke of Bracciano,
who, it was generally believed, had murdered his wife,
