of sculptors, who met near St. Denys; but having DEMY, fallen into decay, in consequence of disputes between the painters and sculptors, it was revived by M. le Brun, Sarazin, Corneille, and others of the king's painters, who having presented a petition to the king, obtained an arrêt, dated January 20, 1648. In the beginning of 1655, they obtained from Cardinal Mazarine, a brevet, and letters patent, which were registered in parliament; in gratitude for which favour, they chose the cardinal for their protector, and the chancellor for their vice-protector. In 1663, by means of M. Colbert, they obtained a pension of 4,000 livres. The academy consisted of a protector, a vice-protector, a director, a chancellor, four rectors, adjuncts to the rectors, a treasurer, four professors, one of which was professor of anatomy, and another of geometry; several adjuncts and counsellors, a historiographer, a secretary, and two ushers. Ancient Music There were twelve professors, each of whom kept the school for a month: and twelve adjuncts to supply them in case of need. The academists drew after the model of a naked man, whom the professor in attendance set in two different attitudes every week. This was called setting the model. In one week of the month, he placed two models together, which was called setting the group. The paintings, and models made after this standard, were called academics, or academy figures. They had likewise a woman who stood for a model in the public school. Three prizes for design were distributed among the eléves or scholars every three months; two others for painting, and two for sculpture, every year. There was also an academy of Painting, Sculpture, &c. at Rome, established by Lewis XIV. in which those who had gained the annual prize at Paris were entitled to support for three years at the king's expence, with a view to their further improvement. Acelery of The Academy of Ancient Music was instituted at London, in 1710, by several persons of distinction, and other gentlemen, who united with the most eminent performers of the time, in order to promote the study and practice of vocal and instrumental harmony. A library was attached to this institution, consisting of the best foreign and domestic compositions, both in manuscript and print. The gentlemen of the chapel royal, and the choir of St. Paul's, with the boys belonging to each, contributed their aid to promote the general object of the society. In 1731, a charge of plagiarism brought against Bononcini, a member of the academy, threatened the existence of the institution. Dr. Green, who took part with Bononcini, withdrew from the society, taking with him the boys of St. Paul's. In 1734, Mr. Gates, another member of the society, and master of the children of the royal chapel, retired in disgust. From this period, it became a seminary for the instruction of youth in the principles of music. The activity of Dr. Pepusch, one of the founders, was of great use in accomplishing this measure; and by the expedients of educating boys for their purpose, and admitting auditor members, the academy continued to subsist. DEMY. nary degree of public attention, and flourished long: ACAthe subscription amounted to 50,000 4 The king, besides subscribing 1,000l. allowed the society to assume the title of Royal Academy, consisting of a governor, deputy governor, and twenty directors. contest between Handel and Senesino, one of the performers, in which the directors favoured the latter, occasioned its dissolution at the end of rather more than nine years. A ture. The Academy of Architecture, Paris, established by Academy of M. Colbert, in 1671, consisted of a company of skilful Architecarchitects, under the direction of the superintendant of the buildings. The Academy of Dancing, at Paris, was erected by Academies Louis XIV. with privileges above all the rest. of Dancing. ACADEMIES OF LAW. There is a celebrated one at Academies of Law. Beryta, and another of the Sitientes at Bologna. ACADEMIES OF HISTORY. The Royal Academy of Academies of History. Portuguese History, at Lisbon, was instituted by King Portugnese. John V. in 1720. It consists of a director, four censors, a secretary, and fifty members; each of whom is required to discuss in Latin or Portuguese, some part of the ecclesiastical or civil history of the nation. In the account of each diocese of the church, the prelates, synods, councils, churches, monasteries, academies, persons illustrious for sanctity or learning, places famous for miracles or relics, must be distinctly related in twelve chapters. The civil history of the kingdom comprises the government of the Romans to the present time. The members who reside in the country are obliged to make collections and extracts out of all the registers, &c. where they live. Their meetings to be once in fifteen days. This academy struck a medal in honour of their prince: the front of which had his effigy, with the inscription Johannes V. Lusitanorum Rex; and on the reverse, he was represented standing, and raising up History almost prostrate before him, with the legend Historia Resurges.' Underneath are the following words in abbreviature: REGia ACADemia HISTOriæ LUSITanæ, INSTITuta VI. Idus Decembris MDCCXX. The Academy of Suabian History, at Tubingen, was Suabian established for the purpose of publishing the best his- History, at torical writings, and the lives of the chief historians, Tubingen. and for compiling new memoirs. ACADEMIES OF ANTIQUITIES. One has been Academies formed at Cortona, in Italy, which is designed for of Antithe study of Hetrurian antiquities: another at Upsal, quities. in Sweden, for illustrating the northern languages, and the antiquities of Sweden, which have received very important illustrations by its labours. The head of the. Hetrurian academy is called Lucomon, by which the ancient governors of the country were distinguished. Under the pontificate of Paul II. in the fifteenth century, an attempt was made in Rome, to establish an academy for antiquities; but the persecuting spirit of the pope rendered it abortive. Leo X. resumed and executed the plan; but, though the academy flourished for a considerable period, it gradually decayed: others, however, of inferior importance, sprung from its ashes. at Paris. The Academy of Inscriptions and Medals, at Paris, was Academy o begun by M. Colbert, under the patronage of Lewis XIV. Inscriptions in 1663, for the study of ancient monuments; and for perpetuating memorable events, especially those of ACA the French monarchy, by coins, relievos, inscriptions, DEMY. &c. The number of members at first was confined to four, chosen out of those of the French academy; who assembled in M. Colbert's library, generally on Wednesdays; but in 1691, the king having given the inspection of this academy to M. de Ponchartrain, comptroller-general, &c. he fixed their meetings on Tuesdays and Saturdays. From the paucity of its members, it at first acquired the name of Petite Academy, but at length it was called Academie Royale des Inscriptions et Medailles. Academies of Belles Lettres. Umidi at Florence. By a regulation of the 16th of July, 1701, the academy was composed of ten honorary members; ten associates each of whom had two declarative voices; ten pensionaries; and ten eléves, or pupils; who met every Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Louvre. Two public meetings were held yearly, the day after Martinmas, and the 16th after Easter. The class of eléves was suppressed, and united to the associates. The king annually nominated their president and vice president; but the secretary and treasurer were perpetual. The members themselves made the other elections. A connected history of the principal events of Louis XIV's reign, by means of medals, was one of the earliest considerable attempts of this institution but various difficulties impeded the progress of this design for many years; till at length it was completed as far as the period of the duke of Anjou's elevation to the crown of Spain. The academy itself was of course introduced into this history, and one of the medals represents Mercury sitting, and writing with an antique stylus upon a table of brass; he leans with his left hand upon an urn full of medals, and at his feet are several others placed upon a card: the legend, Rerum gestarum fides;' and on the exergue, Academia regia inscriptionum et numismatum, instituta M.DC.LXIII.' intimating that the Royal Academy of Medals and Inscriptions, founded in 1663, ought to give a faithful testimony of great actions to future ages. The memoirs of the academy are published in several volumes. The motto is 'Vetat mori.' ACADEMIES OF BELLES LETTRES. The Academy of Umidi, at Florence, afterwards called Academia la Florentina, or the Florentine Academy, was instituted in 1549, with the Grand Duke Cosmo I. for its protector. It has given many excellent Italian translations of the ancient Greek and Latin historians. It has paid peculiar attention to Italian poetry: its members have included most of the eminent men of Italy. Humoristi. The Academy of Humorists, originated at Rome, at the marriage of Lorenzo Marcini. On this occasion many persons of distinction were present, who, to furnish some diversion, it being the time of the Carnival, recited verses, sonnets, and speeches; at first extemporaneously, and afterwards by premeditation; which gave them the denomination of Belli Humeri. At length they resolved upon the formation of an academy of belles lettres; and changed their title for that of Humoristi: choosing for their device, a cloud, which, after being formed of exhalations from the salt waters of the ocean, returns in a gentle shower. This motto was selected from Lucretius, Redit agmine dulci. Academy The Academy of Arcadi, was instituted in the same of Arcadi. city, about the year 1690, to promote the study of poetry and the belles lettres, and comprehends princes, cardinals, and other ecclesiastics, as well as wits of ACAboth sexes. It derives its name from a regulation, DEMY which, to avoid disputes about pre-eminence, required all the members to appear masked as Arcadian shepherds. Within ten years from its establishment, the number of Academists amounted to six hundred. They held their assemblies seven times a year in a meadow or grove, or in the gardens of some nobleman. The seventh meeting is appropriated to the compositions of foreign or absent members. The government of the academy is by a custos, who represents the whole society, and is chosen every four years, with the power of electing twelve others yearly for his assistance. Under these are two sub-custodes, one vicar or pro-custos, and four deputies or superintendants, annually chosen. There are five modes of election. The first by acclamation: this is used when sovereign princes, cardinals, and ambassadors of kings are to be admitted, upon which occasion the votes are given viva voce. The second is called annumeration; which was introduced in favour of ladies and academical colonies, where the votes are taken privately. The third, representation, was established in favour of universities, where the young gentry are educated, who have each a privilege of recommending one or two members to be ballotted for privately. The fourth surrogation; whereby new members are subsituted in the room of those dead or expelled. The last, destination; whereby, when there is no vacancy of mem ber persons of poetical merit have the title of Arcadis, conferred upon them till a vacancy shall happen. All the members of this body, at their admission, assume new pastoral names, in imitation of the shepherds of Arcadia. There are several branches of this institution in different cities of Italy, all of which are under similar regulations. Della ACADEMIES OF LANGUAGES. The Academia della Academies Crusca, at Florence, or Academia Furfuratorum, was of Lanformed in 1582, but obtained no celebrity till 1584, guages. when a dispute arose between Tasso and several of its Crusca. members, which attracted considerable notice. It has produced an Italian dictionary of great merit, and in this academy Torricelli, the disciple of Galileo, delivered his discourses on the wind, the power of percussion, mathematics, and military architecture. It has been sometimes called the Bran Academy, on account of its employment in sifting out words and rejecting barbarisms, with a view to the improvement of the Italian language. It is now united with two others, viz. the Fiorentina and Apatista, or under the name of Reali Academia Fiorentina. The Academy of Fructiferi arose in 1617, at an assem- Fructiferi, bly of princes and nobility, who met with a view to refine and perfect the German langauge. It flourished long under the direction of princes of the empire, who were uniformly chosen presidents. In 1668, the number of members "amounted to upwards of 900. Its history is written in German, by George Neumarck. The Academia Françoise, or the French Academy, took French its rise from a private meeting of literary men in the Academy. house of M. Conrart, in 1629. Six years afterwards it was formed into an academy by Cardinal Richelieu, at the suggestion of M. Chapelain, chiefly for refining the French language and style, although it comprehended in its plan, grammar, poetry, and eloquence. The number of members was limited to forty; out of whom ACA a director, chancellor, and secretary, were to be DEMY chosen the two former held their posts for two months; the latter was perpetual. The members had several privileges and immunities, particularly that of not being obliged to answer before any court but that of the king's household, called Droit de Committimus.' At first they met in the cardinal Richlieu's apartment; then in that of the chancellor Seguier; and at last three times a week in the Louvre. At breaking up, forty silver medals were distributed among them, having on one side the king of France's head, and on the reverse, Protector de l'Academie,' with laurel, and this motto, 'A l'Immortalité.' The attendance of the academists was thus secured, as those who were present received the surplus otherwise intended for the absent. Eighteen at least were required to elect or expel a member, and no one could be chosen unless he petitioned for it. The religious orders were deemed inadmissible. Base and dishonest practices constituted the sole ground of expulsion, of which only two instances occurred: the first of M. Granier for refusing to return a deposit; the other of the Abbé Furetiere for plagiarism. This academy aimed not only to give rules, but examples of good writing. About twenty of their speeches have been printed. The style of the members has been ridiculed, as enervating instead of refining the French language; and they are charged with surfeiting the world with flattery, particularly of their founder. Every member, at his admission, was required to make a speech in praise of the king, the cardinal, the chancellor, and the person in whose place he was selected. This academy has produced a variety of valuable publications, but it is chiefly celebrated for a dictionary of the French language; which, after the labour of fifty years, in settling words and phrases, was published in 1694. The history of this academy has been written by M. Pelisson and M. l'Abbé d'Olivet. A similar academy was founded at Petersburg, in 1783, on a plan suggested by the learned Princess Dashkof; consisting of sixty members. The late empress provided a fund for its support and establish ment. Royal SpaThe Royal Spanish Academy at Madrid, was founded Aca by the Duke d'Escalona. The first meeting, which demy. consisted of eight academists, including the duke, was held in his palace, in July 1713. Fourteen were afterwards added, and the founder was chosen president. In 1714, the king granted them his confirmation and protection. Their device is a crucible in the middle of the fire, with this motto: Limpia, Fya, da Esplendor;' "It purifies, fixes, and gives brightness." The number of members is limited to twenty-four, and their object is the cultivation and improvement of the language, by carefully selecting such words and phrases as have been used by the best Spanish writers: rejecting all low, barbarous, or obsolete terms, in order to form a dictionary wherein these may be distinguished from the former. The academy was to have its own printer, but not to put any thing to press without an order of council. As a further encouragement, the academicians have all the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the domestic officers in the king's service, and in the royal palace. Tenu ACADEMY is also a term for schools and other semiapplied to naries of learning among the Jews, where their rabbins seminaries. and doctors instructed their youth in the Hebrew lan VOL. XVII. guage, and explained to them the Talmud, and the secrets of the Cabbala: those of Tiberias and Babylon have been the most celebrated. one ACADEMY is a term expressive also of a public or private collegiate seminary or school, where youth are instructed in general literature and science. The Romans had two institutions of this nature: at Rome, founded by Adrian; and the other at Brytus, in Phoenicia. In the former, the sciences were taught; the latter restricted its attention chiefly to law. Military schools were also common among the Greeks and Romans. The sixteenth century is celebrated for the origination of literary establishments of this description, in various parts of Europe; of which, that formed at Paris, was the most considerable; and on account of its comprehensive plan of education, obtained the distinguishing appellation of University. Frederic I. of Prussia, founded an academy in Berlin, in 1703, designed for the instruction of the young nobility of the court; whence it obtained the name of the Academy of Princes: but it soon decayed. The chief cities of Italy contained them under the name of Campi Martii, the Greek professors were called Tactici, whose business was to teach the art of war. ACADEMY. In England we have a royal academy at Portsmouth, Academy at in which navigation, drawing, &c. are taught. It was Portsmouth. established in 1722, by George I. and is under the direction of the Board of Admiralty, which gives salaries to the masters. The students board themselves, the government only bestowing upon them education. Another institution founded by George II. in 1741, under the direction of the Master General and Board of Ordnance, subsists at Woolwich, called the Royal Military Woolwich. Academy. Young men are here instructed in the various branches of mathematics, which are essential to form them for engineers. The sons of noblemen and military officers alone have now access to this institution, where they are termed gentlemen cadets, and are under the superintendence of a lieutenant-governor, and a captain, with two subalterns to each company, and an inspector of their studies. There are at present twenty masters, nine of which, including a professor, are mathematical; the rest are for fortification, drawing French, chemistry, fencing, and dancing. ings have been recently erected by government for this institution, in an elegant gothic style, immediately under Shooter's Hill, the duke of York laying the foundation stone, on the twenty-seventh of May, 1803: they were occupied on the twelfth of August, 1806. The dissenters of England, in consequence of the introduction of certain oaths after the restoration of Charles II. as pre-requisites to admission into the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, deemed it necessary to form establishments for education among themselves to which they gave the name of Academies. Their success has been very considerable, and many of their students have obtained both theological and litetary eminence. Some of these institutions have fallen to decay, others have arisen, and at present the most promising are those of Homerton, Hoxton, Rotherham, and York, amongst the Independents and Presbyterians; and Bristol, Stepney and Bradford, amongst the Baptists. The importance of these seminaries to so large a class of the religious and literary part of the community, as the Protestant Dissenters of these kingdoms, and I ACA the absence of any detailed account of them in any DEMY. general compendium of knowledge, may justify a brief historical sketch of the most celebrated of them in this place. The oldest of the dissenting academies, now in a flourishing state, is that which is established at Homerton. HOMERTON, near London. Two foundations are united in this institution, one of which is nearly as old as the Restoration; the other was established in the year 1730. It was removed from Mile-end, in 1772, and had three professorships, filled at that time by Dr. Daniel Fisher, as classical tutor; Dr. Conder, as divinity tutor; and Dr. T. Gibbons, the biographer of Dr. Watts, as professor of rhetoric and belles lettres. The classical chair of this institution has always ranked high amongst dissenters. The establishment accommodates twenty young men, and has furnished the Independents with some of their most valuable pastors. Its principles are decidedly Calvinistic. Hoxton. Hackney. Rotherham. York. The Evangelical Academy, as it was originally called, now subsisting at HoxTON, is perhaps the next in importance among dissenters. It was founded in 1783, and removed to its present situation in 1791. It has a classical and a divinity tutor, and a lecturer in logic, rhetoric, and mathematics. The institution is calculated for thirty students, and the plan of education has of late years been much improved. The late Dr. Simpson presided over the institution generally, and in the office of divinity tutor, from the time of its removal, with considerable success. This is also a Calvinistic establishment. At HACKNEY, in 1786, the New College, as it was then called, was formed on Arian and Unitarian principles. From the names attached to its foundation, high hopes of literary eminence were entertained by its friends. Dr. Kippis, editor of the Biographia Britannica; Gilbert Wakefield, then a recent seceder from the ministry of the established church, and Mr. Belsham, presided over its concerns. Dissention, however, prevailing amongst the conductors of the institution, it dwindled into obscurity. At ROTHERHAM, about five miles from Sheffield, subsists an academy of some eminence, that flourished in Yorkshire as early as the year 1756. Wm. Fuller, Esq. banker of London, was amongst its early and munificent patrons; and the late Dr. Williams, who was its chief conductor for many years, was a man whose writings have done much credit to this class of dissenters. From this academy the theological and classical chairs of Homerton were recently filled. The YORK Academy was established in 1786, on the basis of the original and celebrated seminary at Warrington, where the names of Dr. John Taylor, of Norwich, Hugh Farmer, and Job Orton, graced the literary annals of dissent. Dr. Aikin also, father of Mrs. Barbauld, Dr. Priestley and Dr. Enfield, were successively tutors at this place. Dr. Thomas Barnes presided in this establishment at its removal to Manchester in 1786, and was one of the principal founders of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. In 1803, it was removed to York: the number of students here educated is twenty; the classical and mathematical tutors have been celebrated; and the institution is the only one of the kind that subsists among what are properly called the English Presbyterians. 66 From the prospectus of the STEPNEY institution, cir- ACAculated in 1810, and written by the Rev. R. Hall, of DEMY. Leicester, we give the following extracts as illustrative of the objects which are generally proposed in these institutions. Having been supplied by the noble munificence of a worthy individual, with a house and premises at Stepney, well fitted for an academy, Stepney. we are desirous of realizing the liberal intentions of the donor, by carrying into execution the plan of public utility he has meditated. At this period, no apology can be necessary for attempting to assist young men designed for the ministry, in the acquisition of such branches of knowledge as may qualify them more completely for the successful discharge of that sacred function; since whatever prejudices unfavourable to learning may have formerly prevailed in serious minds, they appear to have subsided, and Christians in general admit the propriety of enlisting literature in the service of religion. From the recent multiplication of theological seminaries among protestant dissenters, such an inference may be fairly deduced. While we assert the absolute sufficiency of the scripture for every saving purpose, it is impossible to deny the usefulness of the knowledge derived from books in unfolding many of its obscurities, explaining many of its allusions, and producing more fully to view the inestimable treasure it contains. The primary truths of revelation, it is acknowledged, offer themselves at first view, in the sacred volume; but there are latent riches, and gems of inestimable value, which can be brought to light only by a deeper and more laborious research. There are numberless exquisite harmonies and retired beauties in the scheme of revelation, which are rarely discovered without the union of great industry with cultivated talent. A collection of writings, composed on various occasions, and at remote intervals of time, including detached portions of history the most ancient, and of poetry awfully sublime, but often obscure; a book containing continual allusions to manners unknown in this part of the world, and to institutions which have long ceased to exist, must demand all the aid ingenuity and learning can bring towards its elucidation. "The light of revelation, it should be remembered, is not opposite to the light of reason; the former presupposes the latter; they are both emanations from the same source; and the discoveries of the bible, however supernatural, are addressed to the understanding, the only medium of information whether human or divine. Revealed religion is not a cloud which overshadows reason: it is a superior illumination designed to perfect its exercise, and supply its deficiencies. Since truth is always consistent with itself, it can never suffer from the most enlarged exertion of the intellectual powers, provided those powers be regulated by a spirit of dutiful submission to the oracles of God. The evidences of Christianity challenge the most rigid examination: the more accurate and extensive the enquiry, the more convincing will they appear. Unexpected coincidences between inspired history and the most undisputed remains of antiquity will present themselves, and striking analogies be perceived between the course of providence and the superior economy of grace. The gradual developement of the plan of revelation, together with the dependance of its several parts on each other, and the perfect consistency of the whole, ACADEMY. will employ and reward the deepest investigation. In proof of the assistance religion may derive from learnACANA. ing rightly directed, we appeal to the writings of an Usher, a Newton, and a Bryant; to the ancient apologists of Christianity, who, by means of it, unmasked the deformities of polytheism; to the reformers, whom it taught to remove the sacred volume from the dust and obscurity of cloisters, and exhibit it in the dialects of Europe; and to the victorious impugners of infidelity in modern times. Such are the spoils which sanctified learning has won from superstition and impiety, the common enemies of God and man. Nor must we forget to notice, among the most precious fruits of cultivated reason, that consciousness of its own deficiencies and sense of its own weakness, which prompts it to bow to the authority of revelation, and depose its honours at the cross, since its incapacity to solve the most important questions, and to satisfy the most distressing doubts, will be felt with the truest conviction, and attested with the best grace, by such as have made the largest essay of its powers. An unconverted ministry we look upon as the greatest calamity that can befal the church; nor would we be supposed to insinuate, by the preceding observations, that education can ever be a proper substitute for native talent, much less for real piety: all we mean to assert is, that the union of both will much enlarge the capacity of doing good. Without descending to particulars, we must be allowed to remark, for example, that the art of arranging ideas in their proper order, and of investigating the nature of different sorts of evidence, as well as an acquaintance with the fundamental rules of composition and rhetoric, are of essential service to a public speaker. "The existing state of society supplies additional reasons for extending the advantages of academical education. If former periods have given birth to more renowned scholars, none ever produced so many men of reading and reflection as the present; never was there a time when books were so multiplied, knowledge so diffused, and when, consequently, the exercise of cultivated talents in all departments was in such demand. When the general level of mental improvement is so much raised, it becomes necessary for the teachers of religion to possess their full share of these advantages, if they would secure from neglect the exercise of a function, the most important to the interests of mankind. If in the days of inspiration there were schools of the prophets, and miraculous effusions of wisdom did not supersede human means of instruction, much less are they to be neglected in the present times, when no such communications are expected. To this we must add, that perverted literature is one of the most powerful weapons in the hands of the enemies of divine truth, who leave no effort untried to recommend their cause by the lustre of superior acquisitions, and to form in the public mind the dangerous association between irreligion and talents, weakness and piety." ACADEMY Figure, an outline or drawing of a naked man or woman, from the life; it is usually taken on paper with red or black chalk, and sometimes with pastils or crayons. ACENA, a ten-feet rod, used by the Grecians in measuring their lands. ACENA, in Botany, a genus of plants of the class Tetrandria, order Monogynia, comprising only one ACÆNA ACALYPHA, a genus of plants of the order Mona- ACANTHABOLUS, called also volsella, an instrument for extracting thorns out of the flesh and bones from the œsophagus. ACANTHOPTERYGIOUS Fishes, a term used by Linnæus and others, for those fishes whose back fins are hard, osseous, and prickly. ACANTHOS, ACANTHUS, or ACHANTUS, a town of Egypt, near Memphis, the present Bisalta, or according to Savary, Dachhour, whither the waters of the Nile are conducted by a canal, and near which is the ruin of the temple of Osiris, and a pyramid. ACANTHUS, an ancient town of Caria, in Asia Minor, mentioned by Mela Pomponius. ACANTHUS, an ancient maritime town near Mount Athos, in Macedonia. When Xerxes invaded Greece he cut a trench from this place to Sane, about a mile and a-half to the south, round the foot of the mountain, and conveyed his fleet through it into the Singitic bay, by which he avoided the danger of sailing round the promontory. It is now called Erisso. ACANTHUS, BEAR'S BREECH, a genus of plants of the order Angiospermia, class Didynamia. ACANTHUS, in Architecture, an ornament representing the leaves of the acanthus, used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders. ACANZI, the name of the Turkish light horse, which form the vanguard of the Grand Signior's army when on a march. ACAPALA, or ACAPULA, a town in the province of Chiapa, in New Spain, situated on the Tabasco river, five leagues north-west from Chiapa. ACAPULCO, called also Los REGES, a sea-port town of Mexico, and the capital of New Spain. Its harbour, formed out of the granite mountains, under a chain of which it stands, is one of the most commodious in South America. To the north-west ships may ride out in safety to two cables' length, and there are 10 or 12 fathoms water close up to the rocks. At the entrance is the little island of Roqueta. The vessel which it annually sends to Manilla has been long celebrated in the history of this part of the world: it is a galleon of about 1400 tons burden, which sails in the early part of the spring, and returns in autumn. Its cargo is valued at 600,000 7. to 700,000 7., of which the precious metals (chiefly silver) amount to 200,000l. or 250,0007. Wool, wines, oil, cocoa and cochineal, are the other chief exports. From Manilla and the Phillipine Islands generally this vessel brings back silks, jewellery, muslins, calico, articles of jewellery and the finer earthen ware, and spices. Its arrival on the coast is the commencement of a kind of annual fair at Acapulco. The population is more than doubled; so that the merchants and others erect tents in the neighbourhood until the completion of their exchanges with the supercargoes. The town is at other times dull; and the population does not exceed ACA |