Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/1005

CAV  of water—one of the most remarkable in history—be due to Cavendish or James Watt. The fact had to some extent been indicated by Scheele; and perhaps the truth is, that the somewhat vague presentiment, known to both these eminent men, was defined by each. It is most certain that Lavoisier accepted the investigation of Cavendish as original, and confirmed it by experiments on a larger and more adequate scale. First of all, by common consent, Cavendish detected the peculiar properties of hydrogen; and he advanced, through effect of his peculiar precision, to his memorable analysis of nitric acid—succeeding in combining oxygen and nitrogen by the electric spark. It merits to be recorded, that on his announcing this discovery to Berthollet, the eminent Frenchman replied by the same courier that he had detected the composition of ammonia. The facts referred to have now in so far lost their interest through familiarity; but in history they will be ever memorable; they are great landmarks in the progress of discovery. Perhaps, however, the name of Cavendish is now most generally known through his determination of the mean density of the earth. Availing himself of the ease with which the torsion of a thread can measure small forces—a principle brought into play first by Coulomb—he constructed the great apparatus which is now so widely known. His experiments, recalculated by Francis Baily, give us that mean density, 5·448. They have been three times repeated since—once by Baily himself, and twice by Reich—the results being 5·660, 5·440, and 5·577. The mean of the last three is 5·559, and the mean of all the four 5·531, no slight evidence of the accuracy of the original efforts of Cavendish.—As years passed on, the fortunes of this excellent person underwent a very great change—an uncle bequeathing him a fortune of £300,000. Nothing, however, was thereby changed to Cavendish, excepting that his liberality showed itself on a larger scale, and that his benefactions to science increased in proportion. He altered indeed the details of his household, but he preserved intact his primitive simplicity, his methodical habits, and the purity of his pursuits. And he was enabled to collect one of the choicest libraries ever brought together by a single man: he threw this open to all inquirers, issuing with great freedom tickets to some, that enabled them to consult and read in his magnificent hall, while others obtained the power to carry what books they desired to their homes. The liberty thus generously given was of course guarded by strict regulations, to all of which Cavendish with some whimsicality compelled himself to submit. To prevent interference with his privacy, his great library was placed several miles from his house, and it is said, that when he wished a book, he applied to the librarian exactly in the way to which the public were required to conform! Cavendish left at his death an accumulated fortune of £1,300,000, a sure evidence of the constant moderation of his life. Few names in English science remain surrounded with a higher respect.—J. P. N.  , the third son of the third duke of Devonshire, was born in 1729. He chose the military profession, and ultimately attained the rank of field-marshal. He represented first the shire, and afterwards the town of Derby in several parliaments, and was distinguished by his chivalrous sense of honour. He died in 1803.—His brother,, was one of the most prominent members of the whig party towards the close of the last century. He was one of the lords of the treasury under the marquis of Rockingham in 1765, and, on the resignation of Lord North in 1782, Lord John was made chancellor of the exchequer in Lord Rockingham's second administration. He died in 1796.—J. T.  CAVENDISH,, a distinguished English naval officer, was born in 1791. He entered the navy at an early age, and served under Nelson in the East Indies, and against the combined French and Spanish fleets, was in the expedition to Egypt in 1807, at the blockade of Toulon in 1808, and of Marseilles in 1813; served in the contest with the United States, and on the coast of South America in 1819. In 1823 he signed the capitulation granted to the dey of Algiers, and was sent to the coast of Greece and into the Archipelago to protect our commerce. Sir Robert was for some time secretary to the duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV. he returned to active service in 1828, and was appointed to the Mediterranean station. He died at Alexandria in 1830. A kind of manual or naval catechism entitled "Ninety-Nine Questions," is said to be from his pen.—J. T.  CAVENDISH or CANDISH,, born at Trimby in Suffolk, was the second Englishman who sailed round the globe He entered the naval service at an early age, and when war broke out between Spain and England, he resolved to repair his dilapidated fortune at the expense of the Spaniards. In 1585, having obtained letters of marque, he undertook an expedition to the coast of Virginia and Florida, and returned to England with considerable booty. This success encouraged him to undertake a second expedition, and next year, July 22nd, he sailed from Plymouth with three small ships. His first descent was made on Sierra Leone and the coast of Guinea, where he collected a rich booty. He then touched at the island of St. Sebastian, sailed along the coast of Patagonia, passed through the Straits of Magellan, 7th Jan., 1587, defeated the Spaniards in numerous encounters, burned and pillaged their villages and towns, and took many rich prizes along the coasts of Chili and Peru. On the 28th of July he fell in, near California, with the Santa Anna, an Acapulco ship of seven hundred tons, laden with a cargo of immense value, and in spite of the inequality of his force, captured her, after a conflict which lasted six hours. On the 12th of May, 1588, he doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and having completed the circumnavigation of the globe, he reached England again on the 9th September. His voyage gained him honour as well as immense wealth, as it contributed not a little to the progress of geographical discovery. But his hastily gotten riches were as rapidly dissipated, and he was compelled in 1591 to undertake another voyage, which was entirely unsuccessful. His ships were driven back by contrary winds, and at length shipwrecked on the coast of Brazil. He became dispirited at his reverses, and died of grief in the flower of his age.—J. T.  CAVOIE,, Marquis de, a distinguished French officer, who was born in 1640, and died in 1716. He was one of the most brilliant attendants in the court of Louis XIV., and was remarkable for his intrepidity. In 1666 he entered as a volunteer in the Dutch fleet, and served with great distinction under De Ruyter in the war with England. His conspicuous bravery gained him the friendship of Turenne, whom he accompanied in all his campaigns. He was much esteemed also by Marshal Luxembourg and Racine, and bore the highest reputation for loyalty and integrity. He was a liberal patron of literature.—J. T.  CAVOLINI,, an Italian naturalist, born at Naples in 1756, published a number of dissertations of considerable value, the principal of which are on zoophytes and marine plants. He died in 1810.  CAVOUR,, Count, the younger son of an ancient Savoyard family, was born at Turin, August 10, 1810. Cavour was sent at an early age to the military academy, where he obtained the rank of lieutenant in the corps of engineers, and shortly afterwards was appointed one of the royal pages. He resigned his commission and his position at court, however, in order to gratify his desire to travel, and proceeded to England. The power and influence of the English nation appear to have produced a great impression on his practical and positive intelligence. He attributed the supremacy of England less to the vigour and energy of the national character than to her institutions, and consequently became an earnest admirer and advocate of constitutional monarchy. He also applied himself to the study of political economy, and declared himself a believer in the principles of free trade. With these views, it is not surprising that on his return to Turin, Count Cavour should have taken part in the disturbances that compelled the king of Piedmont to grant the constitution of 1848. He was chosen with Santa Rosa, Brofferio, Durando, and others, to form a deputation to urge upon the king the danger of longer delay in yielding to the demands of his subjects. Shortly after the proclamation of the constitution, Cavour was elected deputy to the chamber by the first electoral college of Turin, but his debut in political life does not a) pear to have been very successful, and at the next election he failed to obtain a seat. He was, however, re-elected in 1850, and nominated minister of agriculture, commerce, marine, and finance. He resigned in 1852, and again visited France and England. On his return, he was commissioned by the king to form a cabinet, and, with the exception of a very brief period in 1859, he held the position of prime minister till his death. In January, 1855, through Cavour's influence, Sardinia was induced to make 