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dictionary, by Sebastian Munster, 1530, at Basle. The dictionary of the Italian language, which has the highest authority, is that of the Crusca. The best French dictionary is that of the academy; but, since the revolution, the language has been increased by the addition of many new words, and has received from several of its first writers a new turn. The Spaniards have also a dictionary of the academy. The Portuguese academy has published one volume only of its dictionary. In German, no work of such authority exists. Adelung is excellent for etymology, but not of much authority as a standard of language. In this respect, Campe's Wörterbuch (Brunswick, 1813, 6 vols. 4to.) is more complete. For Latin, Forcellini is still the best, and James Bailey's edition (London, 1828, 2 vols. 4to.) is very excellent and complete. In English, Johnson's Dictionary was published in 1755, in 2 vols. fol. An Abridgment by the author appeared in 1756, in which many of the words were omitted. Mr. Todd has added, in his second edition of Johnson's Dictionary (1827), more than 15,000 words. A very useful edition of the Abridgment, containing all the words of doctor Johnson's large dictionary, with the additions of Mr. Todd, and some words which have been considered as Americanisms, was published in Boston (N. E.), in 1828. The other English dictionaries are of little comparative value, in respect to language. Walker's Critical Pronouncing Dictionary (which is incorporated with the Boston edition of the Abridgment of Todd's Johnson) is important, as affording the most general standard of polite pronunciation. The American Dictionary of the English Language, intended to exhibit the origin, affinities and primary signification of words, the genuine orthography and pronunciation of words, and accurate and discriminating definitions, by Noah Webster, 2 vols. 4to., New York, 1828, republished in London, 1829 (Abridgment, 8vo., Boston, 1829), is a work of merit, and of great labor. It contains between 60,000 and 70,000 words. (For Geographical Dictionaries, see Gazetteer.) DIDACTIC POETRY. The word didactic is derived from didaσktiv, to teach; and a didactic poem is one of some length, the object of which is to impart instruction in the form of poetry. It is a matter of question, whether didactic poetry really deserves to be classed with lyric, epic and dramatic, because either the chief object of the poem is to give instruction on a certain subject, in which case the elevation, invention and freedom of poetry are excluded;

or, if this is not the prominent object, then every poem is more or less didactic. If there are any poems really deserving the name, that ought to be called didactic, it is those which veil the purpose of instruction under the universally admitted forms of poetic composition, as in the case of Lessing's drama of Nathan the Wise; or clothe the lessons of wisdom in a symbolical or allegorical garb, as in the case of many visions, &c. Many of the early sacred poems of the different nations are, in this sense, didactic, and most, perhaps all, of these didactic poems partake of the symbolical character. Even Dante's grand poem (see Dante) would, in this point of view, be justly called didactic. Also fables, parables, poetic epistles and descriptive poems are numbered, in this sense, among those of the didactic kind.—There is hardly a subject, however prosaic, which has not, at some time, been treated in a didactic poem, so called. The writer recollects having seen a long poem on book-binding. Didactic poetry, taking the phrase in its narrower sense, will always be a meager and poor kind of composition; but, when it passes into poetic description, it may attain an animated and elevated character. Lively and beautiful descriptions, for instance, exist, of hunting, fishing, husbandry; but it is not to be denied, that they lose in didactic, as they gain in poetical character. Even the poem of Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, on the system of Epicurus, and the Georgics of Virgil, on husbandry, though containing poetical episodes and masterly passages, can hardly be regarded, on the whole, as great poems. Didactic poetry is most cultivated in periods when the nobler kinds of poetry are declining, and the want of poetical genius and noble conceptions is attempted to be supplied by an incongruous mixture of poetry and reflection. Ovid's Art of Love partakes of the comic character. The Ars poetica of Horace is of the didactic kind. Among the English didactic poets are Davies, Akenside, Dryden, Pope, Young, Cowper, Darwin; among the French, Racine, Boileau, Dorat, Lacombe, Delille; among the Germans, Opitz, Haller, Hagedorn, Cronegk, Lichtwer, Tiedge, &c. objections to didactic poetry apply to it only if it is intended to make a class separate from epic, lyric or dramatic, and has for its great object, to impart instruction on a particular subject, and not where the established forms of poetic composition are employed as vehicles of instruction.

Our

DIDASCALIA, among the Greeks; some

times the exhibition of a play itself, and sometimes a written addition, in which information is given of the authors and contents of the plays, of the time, place and success of the representation; whether the pieces were exhibited or not; whether they were the work of the poet to whom they were attributed, &c. Many old authors have written didascalia; and these contain, not merely theatrical information, but also dramatic criticisms, the analysis of the plan, developement of the beauties and faults, &c. (See Drama.)

DIDEROT, Denis; born 1713, at Langres, in Champagne, and educated in the school of the Jesuits, who designed to make him one of their order. His father intended that he should pursue the profession of law, and committed him to the instruction of a Paris attorney; but the youth found greater attractions in literature. Neither the indignation of his father, nor his consequent want of means, could deter him from his favorite pursuit; and he found resources in his own talents. He applied himself zealously to mathematics, physics, metaphysics and the belles-lettres, and soon became distinguished among the wits of the capital. He laid the foundation of his fame by his Pensées Philosophiques (1746)-a pamphlet against the Christian religion, which found many readers, and in consequence of which he was imprisoned at Vincennes: the parliament caused it to be burned by the public executioner. The applause which this pamphlet received encouraged him to continue in the same course; he was not bold enough, however, to continue this particular work. His Lettres sur les Aveugles, à l'Usage de ceux qui voyent (London, 1749), contain attacks upon the Christian religion. In his Lettres sur Sourds et Muets, à l'Usage de ceux qui entendent et qui parlent, he treats of the origin of our perceptions. In conjunction with Eidous and Toussaint, he published the Dictionnaire universel de Médecine (6 vols. folio). The success of this work, notwithstanding its deficiencies, determined him to undertake an encyclopædia. He prepared the plan, and was assisted in the execution by D'Aubenton, Rousseau, Marmontel, Le Blond, Le Monnier, and particularly D'Alembert, who, next to him, had the largest share in this great undertaking. Diderot took upon himself the preparation of the articles relating to the arts and trades, and, by his care as editor, supplied many of the deficiencies of his coadjutors. (See Encyclopædia.) The profit of his 20 years' labor, owing to his bad management, was so trifling, that he

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found himself compelled to sacrifice his library. The empress of Russia purchased it for 50,000 livres, and allowed him the use of it for life. After this, Diderot visited Petersburg; but, having offended the empress by an equivocal quatrain, he soon returned to France. While engaged in the encyclopædia, and obliged to encounter many obstacles, which delayed the printing for several years, he published a lively but licentious romance, Les Bijoux in fiscrets; and two sentimental comedies, Le Fils naturel and Le Père de Famille. They are often printed under the title Theatre de Diderot, and accompanied with a treatise on the dramatic art, which contains many ingenious observations. Diderot died in 1784. His character has been very differently represented. His friends describe him as open, disinterested and honest; his enemies, on the contrary, accuse him of cunning and selfshiness. Towards the end of his life, he had a quarrel with Rousseau, by whom he thought himself calumniated, in which much weakness was displayed on both sides. Several excellent productions of his have been published since his death. Among them are his Essai sur la Peinture ; likewise a dithyrambic poem, written in 1772, Abdication d'un Roi de la Fève, which contains democratical opinions; and two lively tales, La Religieuse (Paris, 1796), and Jacques le Fataliste et son Maitre (Paris). Of Diderot was first said, what has been often repeated, that he had written some fine pages, but had never made a good book. Diderot was a man of brilliant talent and warm imagination, but has not established a lasting reputation, either as a writer or as a philosopher. His works are deficient in plan and connexion, and disfigured with pretension, obscurity and arrogance, but, nevertheless, are characterized by energy, and sometimes even by eloquence. They contain many happy passages, and truths which would be more effectual if more simply stated. As a philosopher, he followed the dictates of an intemperate imagination, rather than those of a sound reason. He is always enthusiastic, and oversteps the bounds of discretion. The general opinion entertained respecting him at present is, that he had much talent, and was capable of warmth and elevation of feeling, but that he was deficient in judgment and in taste. He adopted a desolating system of philosophy, and dishonored his cause by the excess to which he carried some of his principles, and by the licentiousness of his productions. He

was distinguished for fluency and richness of conversation. A complete edition of his works appeared at London, 1773, 5 parts; in 6 vols., Paris, 1819.

DIDO; the founder of Carthage. According to some, she was the daughter of Agenor (Belus); according to others, of Carchedon of Tyre, from whom Carthage received its name. Others call her father Mutgo or Muttinus. Her brother was Pygmalion, king of Tyre. Her father married her to Sichæus or Sicharbas, one of the richest Phoenicians, who was also the priest of Hercules, and to whom she was strongly attached. He was murdered before the altar, by her brother, who was instigated by the desire of making himself master of his wealth. The spirit of her husband appeared to her in a dream, disclosed the crime, besought her to flee, and informed her where she could find his treasures, which Pygmalion had sought in vain. She therefore set sail for Africa, with all her wealth and her faithful companions, taking on board a number of young women at Cyprus, who were necessary for the establishment of a new colony. They landed on the coast of Africa, not far from Utica, a Tyrian colony, the inhabitants of which received her with the greatest kindness, and advised her to settle in the place where she first landed. She purchased of the natives a piece of land, and first built the citadel of Byrsa, and afterwards Carthage (q. v.), about 888 B. C., which soon became an important place. Iarbas, a neighboring prince, paid his addresses to her. Unwilling to accept, and unable to refuse the proposal, she sacrificed her life on the funeral pile. Virgil attributes her death to the faithlessness of Æneas; but the story of the meeting of Æneas and Dido is a poetical fiction, as she lived more than 200 years later than the hero of the Æneid.

DIDOT. This family of printers and booksellers at Paris have distinguished themselves by their liberality and skill in their art, and by their many fine works, so that they may be justly ranked with the Elzevirs.-1. François-Ambrose, son of the printer and bookseller François Didot, born in 1730, invented many of the machines and instruments now commonly used in the typographic art. From his foundery came the most beautiful types that, up to that period, had been used in France, and he was the first person in France who printed on vellum paper. He took the greatest care to have his editions correct. By the direction of Louis XVI, he printed a collecthe of the French classics, for the use of

the dauphin. The count d'Artois employed him to print a similar collection. He died in 1804.-2. Pierre-François Didot, brother of the former, succeeded his father in the bookselling business, and distinguished himself by his bibliographical knowledge. He also became printer to Monsieur, since Louis XVIII. He had a great share in the changes made in the character of types, and contributed to the advancement of his art. He published some very fine editions; among them the Voyages d'Anacharsis. He died in 1795.— 3. Pierre Didot the elder, who has carried his art to perfection, son of François-Ambrose, born in 1761, succeeded his father in the printing business in 1789. His first work was to finish the collection for the dauphin, begun by the latter. But he was not satisfied with accomplishing this. In the universal impulse which the arts received from the revolution, he aimed at becoming the Bodoni of France, and conceived the plan of a splendid edition of the classic authors in folio, which should excel, if possible, the best editions extant. He spared no expense to adorn them with all the splendor and elegance of the arts of design, and availed himself of the aid of the first masters. He even sacrificed a part of his property to this favorite object. His Virgil (1798) was worthy of these endeavors, and still more so his Racine of 1801, which the French regard as the first typographical production of any age or country. Only 250 copies of these works were struck off. Among the productions of his press, Visconti's Iconography is particularly distinguished. Didot devoted the efforts of 10 years to the improvement of the types, and caused 18 different sorts, with new proportions, to be cut, with which he printed Boileau and the Henriade in 1819. Didot paid no less attention to correctness and purity of text, and perfect consistency of orthography, than to typographical beauty. He is also known as an author. He has written prefaces, in Latin, to Virgil and Horace, and is the author of several works in French, poetry as well as prose. He has received marks of honor from the republic, from Napoleon, and from Louis XVIII; the latter conferred on him the order of St. Michael.-4. Firmin Didot, brother of the preceding, printer and type-founder. He is the inventor of a new sort of writing and of stereotype printing. (See Printing). In 1826, he published Notes d'un Voyage dans le Levant, en 1816 et 1817, of which he is the author.-5. Henry Didot, son of Pierre-François, and nephew

of the two preceding, early distinguished himself as a type-engraver. He then applied himself particularly to improve the method of founding types, in which he succeeded by the invention of a new founding apparatus. He calls his process fonderie polyamatype. It is more expeditious than the foriner mode, and the types are much cheaper.

DIDYMŒUS; a surname of Apollo, either because he was the twin-brother of Diana, or from the double light of the sun and moon, which he lends to men. Under this name, Apollo had one of the most famous of his temples and an oracle at Didyma, among the Milesians. Pindar calls Diana Didyma.

DIE. (See Architecture, page 338, right column.)

DIEBITSCH, Sabal Kanski, count. (See Turkey, and Russia, towards the end.)

DIEMEN, Anthony van; governor-general of the Dutch East Indies; born 1593, at Cuylenburg. Having been unsuccessful as a merchant, and pressed by his creditors, he went to India, where his excellent penmanship procured him the place of a clerk, and he speedily rose to the highest dignity. He administered the government with much ability, and contributed much to the establishment of the Dutch commerce in India. Abel Tasman, whom he sent with a vessel to the South seas, in 1642, gave the name of Van Diemen's Land to a country long regarded as a part of New Holland, but since found to be an island; he likewise discovered New Zealand. Another navigator, whom he sent out, made discoveries in the ocean north of Japan, which have been confirmed by voyages in our days. A part of the north-western portion of New Holland, which is also called Van Diemen's Land, was probably discovered later; perhaps, also, by Tasman. Van Diemen died in 1645.

DIEMEN'S (VAN) LAND; an island in the Southern ocean, separated from New Holland by a navigable canal called Bass's straits. The country was first discovered in 1633, by Abel Janson Tasman, a Dutch navigator, who called it Van Diemen's Land, after the governor of Batavia, Van Diemen (see Diemen). In 1773, it was visited by captain Furneaux, and by captain Cook in 1777; since which period it has been visited by different navigators. Several colonies have been sent from the original establishment made by the British at Port Jackson, to this island. In 1804, Hobart's Town was founded on this island by the English, about 9 miles up the Der

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went; and another settlement, namely, Launceston, was founded about 30 miles from the mouth of Port Dalrymple, and 130 miles, in a straight line, from Hobart's Town. Van Diemen's Land is situated between 40° 42′ and 43° S. lat., and between 145° 31' and 148° 22′ E. lon. It contains 23,437 square miles, and had, in 1829, 20,000 inhabitants. The island is divided into two counties, Cornwall and Buckingham. It has not so discouraging and repulsive an appearance from the coast as New Holland. Many fine tracts of land are found on the very borders of the sea, and the interior is almost invariably possessed of soil adapted to all the purposes of civilized man. This island is, upon the whole, mountainous, with some peaks of considerable elevation, and consequently abounds in streams. Of these, the Derwent, Huon and Tamar rank in the first class. There is, perhaps, no island in the world, of the same size, which can boast of more fine harbors: the best are the Derwent, Port Davy, Macquarie harbor, Port Dalrymple and Oyster bay. There is almost a perfect resemblance between the animals and vegetables found here and in New Holland. In the animals, in particular, there is scarcely any variation. The native dog, indeed, is unknown here; but there is an animal of the panther tribe in its stead, which, though not found in such numbers as the native dog is in New Holland, commits dreadful havoc among the flocks. Kangaroos are most abundant. In the feathered tribes of the two islands, there is scarcely any diversity; of this the wattle bird, which is about the size of a snipe, and considered a very great delicacy, is the only instance that can be cited. The climate is equally healthy, and much more congenial to the European constitution than that of Port Jackson. In this island, as in New Holland, there is every diversity of soil; but, in proportion to the surface of the two countries, this contains, comparatively, much less of an indifferent quality. Barley and oats arrive at great perfection. The wheat, too, is of a superior description, not subject to the weevil, and generally yields from 60 to 65 pounds a bushel. It is frequently exported to Sydney, Isle de France, Cape of Good Hope and Rio Janeiro. The fruits raised here are the apple, currant, gooseberry, and, indeed, all the fruits not requiring a warm climate. The settlements have been infested, for many years, by banditti composed of runaway convicts, known by the name of bush-rangers. The aborigines