Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/511

LEFT BAKPANT 425 RAMSAY PBBJab, on th« Chenab river, 28 miles K. W. of Gujranwala. It was a place of great importance in the 18th century, being then known as Rasulnag-ar, but was stormed by the Sikhs under Rai.jit Singh in 1795, and its name changed to Ramna- gar. The inhabitants make leathern vessels. A large fair is held here every April. _ RAMPANT, in heraldry, standing up- right on the hind legs (properly on one ioot only), as if attacking (said of a beast of prey, as the lion). Counter- rampant, said of an animal rampant to- ward the sinister. When applied to two animals the term denotes that they are rampant contrariwise in saltire, or that they are rampant face to face. _ RAMPART, in fortification, an eleva- tion or mound of earth round a place, •apable of resisting cannon shot, and on which the parapet is raised. The term in general usage includes the parapet itself. RAMPHASTOS, the generic name of the toucans. RAMPION, Campanula Rapunculus, a plant of the natural order Campanu- lacew, or bellworts, indigenous to Great Britain, as well as to various parts of the continent of Europe. Its root may be eaten in a raw state like radish. Both leaves and root may also be cut into win- ter salads. RAMPOLLA, MARIANO DEL TIN- DARO, an Italian clergyman; born in Polizzi, Sicily, Aug. 17, 1843; was a mem- ber of the Sicilian aristocracy, which en- abled him to reach a very exalted posi- tion in the Catholic hierarchy. On the decease of Cardinal Jacobini, the Papal Secretary of State, in 1887, Pope Leo XIII. created Rampolla a cardinal and also appointed him Papal Secretary of State. He at once began to make his in- fluence felt in foreign affairs. His prin- cipal object was a political alliance with France, in order to insure the support of that country in the restoration of the temporal power of the Pope. To this end he was the first to discard the French Eoyalist party. The French Republic was solemnly recognized by him, and the French clerical electorate encouraged to Tote for the Republican candidates. The Dreyfus affair, however, having given to the French policy a different turn, de- stroyed entirely the plan. Rampolla was also the prefect of severa. congregations, and Grand Prior of the Military Order of Malta. It was believed that he would he elected Pope in 1903, but Austrian interests were opposed to him, and Pius X. was raised to the Papal throne. Ram- polla resigned office. He died in 1913. RAMPTJR, the capital of a native State of India; in the Northwestern Provinces; on the Kosila river, 110 miles K. by N. of Delhi. It manufactures damask, pottery, sword-blades, and jew- elry. Pop., city about 80,000 ; state about 550,000. RAMPUR BATTLEAH, chief town of the Rajshahi district of Bengal, India; on the N. bank of tl:e Ganges; is a cen- ter of silk and indigo trade, and has an English Presbyterian mission. RAMSAY, ALLAN, a Scotch poet; born in Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Oct. 15, 1G85. In early youth, he was sent to Edinburgh, and there bound ap- prentice to a wig-maker. In 1712, he produced his first poetic effusion, and in 1716, commenced business as a bookseller in Edinburgh. In 1720, he published a collection of his fugitive poems, which realized a considerable sum; and in 1724 he issued the first volume of his well- known "Tea-Table Miscellany." His fame^ however, reached its acme on the production of "The Gentle Shepherd," one of the finest dramatic pastorals ever penned. Some of the higher class poems of Burns alone can compete with it in this respect. Ramsay died in Edin- burgh, Jan. 7, 1758. RAMSAY, ANDREW MICHAEL, known as the Chevalier Rams.a.y, a Scotch-French writer; born in Ayr, Scotland, Jan. 9, ir>86. After spending some time at the Universities of Edin- burgh and St. Andrews, he went to Ley- den. In 1710 he repaired to Cambray, where he was converted to the Roman Catholic faith by Fenelon. He procured the preceptorship to the Duke of Cha- teau-Thierry and the Prince of Turenne, and was afterward engaged to superin- tend the education of Prince Charles Ed- ward Stuart and his brother Henry, afterward Cardinal York. He acquired distinction by his writings. The chief of these are a "Life of Viscount Tu- renne," a "Life of Fenelon," the "Travels of Cyrus," a romance, and a large work on the "Principles of Natural and Re- vealed Religion." He died in St. Ger- main-en-Laye, France, May 6, 1743. RAMSAY, SIR WILLIAM, a British scientist; born in Glasgow in 1852. He received his doctor's degree at Tiibin- gen when he was but 20 years of age, and a few years later became Professor of Chemistry at the University College, Bristol. In 1887 he was appointed to the chair of chemistry in the University College, London, a position he held until he retired in 1913. He made several im- portant discoveries in chemistry, mostly in connection with air, discovering argon,