296 VENEZUELA world. Coro was founded in 1527. About 1540 indications of gold were discovered at several points along the coast range, and in 1545 Tocuyo was founded, Barquisimeto in 1552, Valencia in 1555, and Caracas in 1567. The demand for cacao, which was largely pro- duced in the Dutch settlement at Curacoa, led to the formation in 1700 of the Guipiizcoa company in Spain, which sent out emigrants to cultivate cacao and indigo. This company was dissolved in 1778. When Napoleon in 1808 made his brother Joseph king of Spain, Venezuela was among the first of the Spanish colonies to declare for the ancient dynasty ; but as early as April 19, 1810, a revolutionary rising took place in Caracas, and on July 5, 1811, Venezuela proclaimed its independence. In 1812, by the treaty of Victoria, it returned to the sway of Spain; but in 1813 it again revolt- ed under Gen. Bolivar, and, after a protracted conflict with varying success, the republic of Colombia, embracing New Granada, Venezu- ela, and Ecuador, was declared independent in 1819. (See BOUVAB T PONTE.) The contest with Spain did not entirely cease till 1823, though the Spanish force had been for some time confined to a small territory. In 1821 a congress was called, and a constitution adopted for the new republic. In 1S29-'30 the three states separated amicably, and a now constitu- tion was adopted by Venezuela. For 15 years the presidency was held successively by Gen. Paez (see PAEZ, JOSE ANTONIO), Dr. Vargas, and Gen. Soublette. From the accession of Gen. Jose Tadeo Monagas to the executive power, in March, 1846, until that of Gen. Fal- con, in June, 1803, the country was never free from civil war. Falcon, after several years of tranquil possession of power, was deposed by a revolution in which Antonio Guzman Blanco took an active part, and which only terminated on the seizure of the reins of government by the latter on April 26, 1869, after a protracted war with varied success. Guzman Blanco now proclaimed a provisional government and him- self the head thereof, with the title of "gene- ral-in-chief of the constitutional army of the confederation." He next exacted, from a con- gress convoked by himself at Valencia, in July, 1870, extraordinary powers, and the title of " provisional president of the republic." Ho was ultimately elected on Feb. 20, 1873, for four years. Guzman Blanco's administration, though republican in form, is dictatorial in fact, the president exercising supreme author- ity. Yet no abuses have been complained of, and the country is in a more prosperous condition than it ever had enjoyed since the colonial times. In the course of 1874 and 1875 a sum of $,260,858 62 was disbursed for municipal improvements and highways. The claims of the United States, upward of $450,- 000, for materials furnished at the time of the war for Colombian independence, and indem- nities for damage sustained by American citi- zens, are in course of liquidation (1876). VENICE YEW. See BENI. VENICE (It. Venezia). I. A province of It- aly, in Venetia, bordering on the Adriatic and the provinces of Udine, Treriso, Padua, and Eovigo; area, 850 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 837,- 538. The lagoons occupy half of the territory, but the tongue of land extending over 20 m. between them and the sea, and somo of the islands, have fertile spots, where agriculture is improving. The principal rivers are the Adige, Brenta, and Piave. It is divided into the dis- tricts of Chioggia, Dolo, Mestre, Mirano, Por- togruaro, San Dona, and Venice. II. A city, capital of the province, on the gulf of Venice, as the N. "W. part of the Adriatic is called, in lat. 45 26' N. and Ion. 12 20' E., 155 m. E. of Milan, and 250 m. N. by W. of Rome ; pop. in 1872, 128,094. It stands in the midst of la- goons, collectively known as the lagoon of Venice, originally formed by the retreating of the sea. At Venice they are separated from the sea by a tongue of land (lido), extending at a distance of about 4 m. from the coast, and divided by gaps or cuttings, some of which form harbors (porti), and enclose numerous small islands into which piles were driven for the construction of the city. There are more than 100 canals, provided with small quays, and communication is further kept up by small streets, lanes, alloys, and courts, which with few exceptions are ill paved and overcrowded, and by about 400 bridges, generally steep but with easy steps. A viaduct 2 m. long, with over 200 arches, connects Venice with the principal railways at the Mestre junction. The two broadest canals, Delia Giudecca and San Mar- co, divide the city proper from the island and suburb of Giudecca and from the island of San Giorgio. The so-called great canal (eanalazzo) divides the city proper into two parts, and is spanned by two iron bridges erected in 1854 and 1858, and by the Rialto bridge, built of marble by Antonio da Ponte in 1588-'91, and called after the largest island (isola del Rialto, from il rivo alto, the deep stream). The canals are protected by batteries on both sides, and connected with Malamocco, Chioggia, and oth- er harbors, and with the mainland, the former harbor (porto di Malamocco) being the deepest of all, and enabling large ships to come up to the city. The great canal is lined with magnifi- cent buildings at the water's edge, from which there is immediate access to gondolas, of which there are more than 4,000, all painted black, in accordance with an old regulation. The cir- cumference of the city is about 8 m. It seems from every direction to be floating on water, and presents a unique appearance of fairy-like picturesqueness. The finest and most animated part is St. Mark's place, about 575 ft. long and 185 to 270 ft. broad, containing the cathedral and the doge's palace, bordered by arcades, and surrounded by stately edifices. The Piazzetta or smaller square at the end of St. Mark's place extends to the principal quay (molo). At each end of the Rialto bridge are also open spaces,
