The Nuttall Encyclopaedia Part 95

BUDE-LIGHT, a very brilliant light produced by introducing oxygen into the centre of an Argand burner, so called from the place of the inventor's abode.

BUDWEIS (28), a Bohemian trading town on the Moldau, 133 m. NW. of Vienna.

BUENOS AYRES (543), capital of the Argentine Republic, stands on the right bank of the broad but shallow river Plate, 150 m. from the Atlantic; it is a progressing city, improving in appearance, with a cathedral, several Protestant churches, a university and military school, libraries and hospitals; printing, cigar-making, cloth and boot manufacture are the leading industries; it is the princ.i.p.al Argentine port, and the centre of export and import trade; the climate does not correspond with the name it bears; a great deal of the foreign trade is conducted through Monte Video, but it monopolises all the inland trade.

BUFFALO (256), a city of New York State, at the E. end of Lake Erie, 300 m. due NW. of New York; is a well-built, handsome, and healthy city; the railways and the Erie Ca.n.a.l are channels of extensive commerce in grain, cattle, and coal; while immense iron-works, tanneries, breweries, and flour-mills represent the industries; electric power for lighting, traction, &c., is supplied from Niagara.

BUFFON, GEORGE LOUIS LECLERC, COMTE DE, a great French naturalist, born at Montbard, in Burgundy; his father one of the _n.o.blesse de robe_; studied law at Dijon; spent some time in England, studying the English language; devoted from early years to science, though more to the display of it, and to natural science for life on being appointed intendant of the Jardin du Roi; a.s.sisted, and more than a.s.sisted, by Daubenton and others, produced 15 vols. of his world-famous "Histoire Naturelle"

between the years 1749 and 1767. The saying "Style is the man" is ascribed to him, and he has been measured by some according to his own standard. Neither his style nor his science is rated of any high value now: "Buffon was as pompous and inflated as his style" (1707-1780).

BUGEAUD, THOMAS, marshal of France, born at Limoges; served under Napoleon; retired from service till 1830; served under Louis Philippe; contributed to the conquest of Algiers; was made governor, and created duke for his victory over the forces of the emperor of Morocco at the battle of Isly in 1844; his motto was _Ense et aratro_, "By sword and plough" (1784-1849).

BUGENHAGEN, JOHANN, a German Reformer, a convert of Luther's and coadjutor; helpful to the cause as an organiser of churches and schools (1485-1558).

BUGGE, Norwegian philologist, professor at Christiania; _b_. 1833.

BUHL, ornamental work for furniture, which takes its name from the inventor (see INFRA), consisted in piercing or inlaying metal with tortoise-sh.e.l.l or enamel, or with metals of another colour; much in fas.h.i.+on in Louis XIV.'s reign.

BUHL, CHARLES ANDRe, an Italian cabinet-maker, inventor of the work which bears his name (1642-1732).

BUKOWINA (640), a small prov. and duchy in the E. of Austria-Hungary; rich in minerals, breeds cattle and horses.

BULGARIA, with Eastern Roumelia (3,154), const.i.tutes a Balkan princ.i.p.ality larger than Ireland, with hills and fertile plains in the N., mountains and forests in the S.; Turkey is the southern boundary, Servia the western, the Danube the northern, while the Black Sea washes the eastern sh.o.r.es. The climate is mild, the people industrious; the chief export is cereals; manufactures of woollens, attar of roses, wine and tobacco, are staple industries; the chief import is live stock.

SOFIA (50), the capital, is the seat of a university. VARNA (28), on the Black Sea, is the princ.i.p.al port. Bulgaria was cut out of Turkey and made independent in 1878, and Eastern Roumelia incorporated with it in 1885.

BULL, an edict of the Pope, so called from a leaden seal attached to it.

BULL, GEORGE, bishop of St. Davids, born at Wells; a stanch Churchman; wrote "Harmonia Apostolica" in reconciliation of the teachings of Paul and James on the matter of justification, and "Defensio Fidei Nicenae," in vindication of the Trinity as enunciated in the ATHANASIAN CREED (q. v.), and denied or modified by Arians, Socinians, and Sabellians (1634-1709).

BULL, JOHN, a humorous impersonation of the collective English people, conceived of as well-fed, good-natured, honest-hearted, justice-loving, and plain-spoken; the designation is derived from Arbuthnot's satire, "The History of John Bull," in which the Church of England figures as his mother.

BULL, OLE BORNEMANN, a celebrated violinist, born in Bergen, Norway, pupil of Paganini; was a wise man at making money, but a fool in spending it (1810-1880).

BULL RUN, a stream in Virginia, U.S., 25 m. from Was.h.i.+ngton, where the Union army was twice defeated by the Confederate, July 1861 and August 1862.

BULLANT, a French architect and sculptor; built the tombs of Montmorency, Henry II., and Catherine de Medicis, as well as wrought at the Tuileries and the Louvre (1510-1578).

BULLER, CHARLES, a politician, born in Calcutta, pupil of Thomas Carlyle; entered Parliament at 24, a Liberal in politics; held distinguished State appointments; died in his prime, universally beloved and respected (1806-1848).

BULLER, GENERAL SIR REDVERS HENRY, served in China, Ashanti, South Africa, Egypt, and the Soudan, with marked distinction in the 60th King's Royal Rifles; has held staff appointments, and was for a short time Under-Secretary for Ireland; _b_. 1839.

BULLINGER, HEINRICH, a Swiss Reformer, born in Aargau; friend and successor of Zwingli; a.s.sisted in drawing up the Helvetic Confession; was a correspondent of Lady Jane Grey (1504-1575).

BULLS AND BEARS, in the Stock Exchange, the bull being one who buys in the hope that the value may rise, and the bear one who sells in the hope that it may fall. See BEAR.

BuLOW, BERNARD VON, Foreign Secretary of the German empire; early entered the Foreign Office, and has done important diplomatic work in connection with it, having been secretary to several emba.s.sies and charge d'affaires to Greece during the Russo-Turkish war; _b_. 1850.

BuLOW, FRIEDRICH WILHELM, BARON VON, a Prussian general; served his country in the war with Revolutionary France; defeated the French under the Empire in several engagements, and contributed to the victory at Waterloo, heading the column that first came to Wellington's aid at the decisive moment (1755-1816).

BuLOW, GUIDO VON, a famous pianist, pupil of Liszt (1830-1894).

BULOZ, a French litterateur, born near Geneva; originator of the _Revue des Deux Mondes_ (1803-1877).

BULWER, HENRY LYTTON, an experienced and successful diplomatist, served the Liberal interest; was party to the conclusion of several important treaties; wrote several works, "An Autumn in Greece," a "Life of Byron," &c. (1801-1872).

b.u.mBLE, MR., a beadle in "Oliver Twist."

BUNAU, a German historian, author of a "History of the Seven Years'

War" (1697-1762).

BUNCOMBE, a district in N. Carolina, for the ears of the const.i.tuency of which a dull speech was some years ago delivered in the U.S. Congress, whence the phrase to "talk Buncombe," i. e. to please one's const.i.tuency.

BUNDELKHAND (2,000), a territory in NW. Provinces, India, between the Chambal and the Jumna; has been extensively irrigated at great labour and expense.

BUNKER HILL, an eminence 112 ft., now included in Boston, the scene on 19th June 1775 of the first great battle in the American War of Independence.