Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 3.djvu/408

392 

The funds for the construction and maintenance of barracks are included in Vote 13 of the army estimates, and the average amounts so provided for them during the past three years have been as follows:—

Part 1, Works over 1000 102,198 Part 2, New works and alterations under 1000 6s ,040 Part 3, Ordinary and current repairs ,. 21o 455 380,693 The funds for the equipment of barracks are provided in Vote 12, for the departmental staff in Vote 9, and for supplies of fuel and light in Vote 10 of the army esti mates.  BARRAS, , a distinguished actor in the great French Revolution, was born in June 1755. He was a descendant of a noble family in Provence, and at an early age entered the army. He was twice in India with his regiment, but retired from the service after attaining the rank of captain. Like many others, he saw in the Revolution a good opportunity for retrieving his fortunes, which had been ruined by his extravagance and dissipation ; and his penetration enabled him to foresee the certain fall of the royalist party. He threw in his lot with the revolutionists, aud speedily distinguished himself by his vigour and hardihood. When elected a member of the National Convention, he gave au uncompromising vote for the king s death ; and at the siege of Toulon, where for the first time he met Napoleon, his energetic measures contributed much to the success of the French arms. Robespierre, who hated Barras for his dissolute habits, and feared him for his boldness, endea voured to have his name included in one of his prescription lists, but, on the 9th Thennidor 1794 Barras completely overthrew his power. His success from this period was secured; after the 13th Vinddmiaire 1795, he was nomi nated gcncral-in-chief ; and after the affair of the 18th Fructidor 1797, in which Augereau played a prominent part, he was practically dictator. Bonaparte s coup d etat of the 18th Brumaire 1799 changed the whole aspect of affairs. Barras, seeing that resistance to his powerful protege&quot; was useless, gave in his resignation, and retired to his country seat. His latter years w r ere spent in various intrigues, in which he showed a strong leaning towards the royalist party. He died in 1829. The character of Barras has little in it that is worthy of admiration. He was dissolute in private life, and can scarcely be said to have had any delinitc public policy. At the same time he was courageous, prudent, and, on occasions, an able speaker.  BARRHEAD, a town of Scotland, county of Renfrew, three miles S. of Paisley, and 8 miles S.W. of Glasgow on the Caledonian Railway line between that city and Kil- marnock. It has rapidly increased since about 1840, and formed a junction with the neighbouring villages of Dove- cothall, Cross Artherlie, and Grahamston. The principal employment is spinning, weaving, and bleaching. Popu lation in 1S71, G209.  BARRI,, commonly called Giraldiis Cambrensis, an historian and ecclesiastic of the 12th and 13th centuries, was born at the castle of Maenor Pyrr near Pembroke, probably in 1147. By his mother he was descended from the princes of South Wales, and the De Barris were one of the most powerful Welsh families. Being a younger brother, and intended for the church, he was sent to St David s, and educated in the family of his uncle, the bishop of that see. When about twenty years of age he was sent to the University of Paris, where he continued for some years, and, according to his own account, became an excellent rhetorician and lecturer. On his return in 1172 he entered holy orders, and was made archdeacon of Brecknock. Having observed with much concern that his countrymen the Welsh were very backward in paying tithes of wool and cheese, he applied to Richard, archbishop of Canterbury, and was appointed his legate in Wales for remedying this and other disorders. Barry excommunicated all, without distinction, who refused to compound matters with the church, and, in particular, delivered over bodily to the evil one those who withheld the tithes. Not satisfied with enriching, he also attempted to reform the clergy. He delated an aged archdeacon to the archbishop, for the unpardonable crime of matrimony ; 