Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/567

LEFT NICOLAIEV KIEBUHR God, but was not ready at once to rank himself among His followers. In John iii: 1-20, he first appears as a timid in- quirer after the truth, learning the great doctrines of regeneration and atonement. In John v.: 45-52, we see him cautiously defending the Saviour before the San- hedrin. At last, in the trying scene of the crucifixion, he avowed himself a be- liever, and came with Joseph of Arima- thea to pay the last duties to the body of Christ, which they took down from the cross, embalmed, and laid in the sepulcher (John xix: 39). NICOLAIEV, one of the principal naval stations of Russia, on the Black Sea, in the province of Kherson, and 36 miles N. W. of the town of Kherson, at the confluence of the Ingul and Bug. It occupies a large space, is fortified and well built, with wide streets and a finely planted boulevard. It was founded in 1791, and since its connection with the Russian railway system its trade and im- portance have vastly increased. Pop. about 110,000. NICOLAY, JOHN GEOEGE, an Amer- ican author; born in Essingen, Bavaria, Feb. 26, 1832 ; was brought to the United States in 1838 by his parents, and edu- cated in the public schools. When 16 years old he became a printer in the ofiice of the "Free Press," Pittsfield, 111., where he rose to the post of publisher and editor. As proprietor of this paper he was recognized as a dominant political force in the State, During the famous campaign between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, he took sides with the former^ and when Mr. Lincoln was nominated for the presidency he appointed Mr. Nicolay his private secretary. Shortly before President Lincoln's assassination, he ap- pointed Mr. Nicolay United States Con- sul at Paris, which post he held till 1869. In 1872 he was made marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States, and occupied that post for 15 years. As an author, Mr. Nicolay is best known from "Abraham Lincoln, a History" (1890), on which he collaborated with John Hay (g. v.). He also contributed numerous magazine articles and sketches on President Lincoln. He died in Wash- ington, D. C, Sept. 26, 1901. NICOLL, WILLIAM ROBERTSON, SIR, a Scotch clergj'man and editor; bom in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scot- land, Oct. 10, 1851. He took an M. A. at Aberdeen University; was minister of the Free Church at Kelso for eight years; on account of ill-health he re- signed; in 1887 started the "British Weekly," one of the most successful re- ligious papers in England, and later be- came English editor of the "Bookman" and the "British Monthly." He also pub- lished a number of books, chiefly on re- ligious or literary subjects. NICOMEDIA, the capital of ancient Bithynia, at the N. E. angle of an inlet of the Propontis. It was built in 264 B. c. by Nicomedes I., and soon became one of the most magnificent and flourish- ing cities in the world; some of the later Roman emperors, such as Diocletian and Constantine the Great, selected it for their temporary residence. It suffered greatly from earthquakes. Hannibal committed suicide in a castle close by, and Constantine died near the city, which was the birthplace of the historian Arrian. The small town of Ismid now occupies its site. NICOPOLIS, a town of Bulgaria, on the Danube; 56 miles W. of Rustchuk. The Berlin Congress of 1878 provided for the demolition of the fortifications. Here the Hungarians were defeated by the Sultan Bajazet in 1396 ; and the place has been more than once taken by the Russians (1810, 1827, 1877). Pop. about 6,oeo. NICOTIANA, in botany, a genus of Solanaceae, commonly known as tobacco. NICOTINE, in chemistry, CioHuNj; an acrid poisonous alkaloid found in tobacco leaves to the extent of from 1 to 5 per cent. It may be prepared by passing a current of steam through a mixture of lime and powdered tobacco, neutralizing the liquid which comes over with sulphu- ric acid, adding ammonia to liberate the nicotine, and dissolving the latter in ether. The ethereal solution yields almost pure nicotine. Soluble in water, alcohol, ether, and the fat oils, its char- acteristic reaction is the formation of a kermes-brown precipitate with tincture of iodine. Nicotine forms numerous salts. NICTHEROY, former capital of state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the bay, 5 miles from city of Rio de Janeiro. Manufactures war munitions; the en- virons are beautiful. Pop. about 42,000. NIEBUHR, BARTHOLD GEORG (ne'bor), a German historian and phi- lologist; born in Copenhagen, Aug. 27, 1776. At the age of 18 he was sent to the University of Kiel, where he studied two years. After holding situations in a government oifice at Copenhagen, he was invited to Berlin in 1805, and entered the service of the King of Prussia. On the establishment of the University of Berlin, Niebuhr was chosen lecturer on