Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/592

BER suggesting important experiments. His discoveries—the result of half a century of uninterrupted and successful labour—are too many to be here enumerated. He it was who first gave modern analytical chemistry that exactness on which its value depends. He co-operated with Dalton in establishing the atomic theory, and determined the equivalents of the elements with an exactness which his successors have rarely surpassed. His electrochemical theory, though now generally abandoned, was in its time highly serviceable, and manifestly proves the genius of its author. The blow-pipe, first introduced by Bergmann and Gahn, became in his hands an instrument of almost magic power. He discovered and examined more bodies, simple and compound, than any other chemist, and very rarely indeed have his results been found erroneous. Accuracy being his first and last consideration, he examined the pretensions of every new theory with severe inflexibility. Some have even hinted that he played the part of a scientific conservative, and opposed the views of others merely on the score of their novelty. But even if some such f eeling existed in his mind, it was surely no disadvantage to science if the hypotheses, which emanated in such abundance from France and Germany, were narrowly scrutinized before receiving recognition. He supported the view of dualistic combination, and the doctrine of organic copulæ, but was strenuously opposed to the theory of types and substitution. His great "Manual of Chemistry," extending in the last edition to 14 vols., is a splendid monument of industry and research, having been rewritten more than ten times, to keep pace with the progress of the science. His private memoirs, containing among other things his opinions on his contemporaries (especially, it is believed, a rather sarcastic critique on Sir H. Davy), are prevented from publication by an absurd Swedish law.—J. W. S.  BERZSENYI,, Hungarian poet, was born in 1776. He was the son of a country gentleman, and lived almost uninterruptedly on his country-seat, Hetény, in the county of Vas, occupied with superintending the management of his property, and writing poetry in his leisure hours, without attaching any great value to it. A collection of his verses, circulated in manuscript among his friends, was published without his knowledge by Helmeczy in 1813, exciting at once the greatest admiration for the poet, who, unexpectedly, found himself a great man in his country. His odes, mostly in classical metre, made him extremely popular, inspired as they are by lofty patriotism, and the keenest feelings of right and justice. Their moral effect on the Hungarian nation can scarcely be overrated. He died in 1836.—F. P., L.  BESANCON,, born at Lavotte, near Beaune, in 1730; died at Fessivilliers, near Montbelliard, in 1816. He was educated at the seminary of Besançon for the ecclesiastical profession, and in due time had his share in the fruits of the vineyard. Our young abbé, however, amused himself and others by writing verse. A poet has less chance of being regularly paid than another man; it is not, however, less necessary for him to live, and Etienne, the modest, found himself forced to use, in vindicating his rights of property, the only weapon he could command. The canons of St. Hyppolite were his adversaries at law, and found themselves the sad burthen of many a merry song. The canons complained to the archbishop, and the poet was inhibited from writing verse. The "irritable race" is not easily prevented from the exercise of such gifts as indignation is said to supply—still less will a good-humoured rhymer give up a joke, felt by its effects to be successful; and so our abbé continued rhyming on in spite of archbishop and canons, ay, and the muses themselves. The Revolution came to quiet the disputants, and Besançon hid among the mountains of Jura while "the Terror" was dealing with the church. In 1802 a benefice was found for him at Fessivilliers, where he died at the age of eighty-six. His works are "Le Vieux Bourg," 1779; "Blanc-blanc ou le Chat de Mademoiselle Clitan," 1780; "Le Curé Savoyard," 1782; and "Dictionnaire Portatif de la Campagne," 1786.—J. A., D.  BESANTIN , a Greek writer, known solely by two epigrams attributed to him by the MSS. of the Greek Anthology in the Vatican.  BESARD,, a French physician, born at Besançon about the year 1576, appears to have practised his profession at Cologne. He published several works, of which the best known is entitled, "Antrum Philosophicum, in quo pleraque physica quæ ad vulgariores humani corporis affectus attinent, sine multo verborum apparatu," Augsburg, 1617—a rare book, consisting of two parts; the first containing a popular system of medicine, which is very good for the time of its publication, whilst the second is filled with insignificant matters or absurd nonsense, including a description of a machine, by which the author asserted that the perpetual motion would be attained. Besard is also the author of a "Thesaurus Harmonious," published at Cologne in 1615, and of some of the volumes of the Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus, especially the fifth, which bears his name, and appeared at Cologne in 1604.—W. S. D.  * BESCHERELLE,, a distinguished lexicographer, was born at Paris on the 10th of June, 1802, where he completed his studies, and has since continued to live. A man of letters and study, his life affords few incidents for the biographer, and has its manifestation only in his works. These are numerous, and are principally on grammar; in some of which he was aided by his son. Amongst them we may mention the "Grammaire de l'Academie," brought out in conjunction with Lamotte, and the "Dictionnaire National," in two vols., 4to. Sir W. P. Wood, V.C., pronounced a deserved eulogy on this work. M. Bescherelle is at present engaged in an important work on grammar. He has also for many years been a contributor to the periodical La France Litteraire, and to the Revue Encyclopedique. He was appointed librarian to the Louvre in the year 1828.—J. F. W.  BESCHI,, an Italian jesuit, who, after acquiring a singular mastery over several Eastern dialects, established himself in the town of Goa about the year 1700, and, adopting the dress of a Hindoo doctor, wrought artfully and successfully in the interest of his order. Founding a church in honour of the Virgin at Konangouppan and another at Vadougapit, he celebrated both occasions in thousands of verses. His principal work is entitled "Grammatica Latino-Tamulica, ubi de vulgari Tamulicæ linguæ idiomate Kotum-Tamil dicto," &c., a revised edition of which was translated into English by B. G. Babington, under the title, "A Grammar of the high dialect of the Tamil language, termed Sheu-Tamil; with an introduction to Tamil poetry," &c.—J. S., G.  * BESECKE, J., born at Mittau in 1746, was distinguished alike for his philanthropy and his learning. The poor-house at Mittau is a monument of the former quality. The latter is evidenced by many works on a variety of subjects,—natural history, chemistry, political jurisprudence, and philosophy. He filled the chair of law in his native town, and died in 1802.—J. F. W. <section end="592H" /> <section begin="592I" />* BESELER,, brother of Wilhelm Hartwig, a German political character, and distinguished writer on jurisprudence, was born at Rödenitz, near Husum, 2nd November, 1809. Not being admitted either to the bar, or as a lecturer in Holstein, he settled at Göttingen, where he enjoyed the friendship of the brothers Grimm, of Dahlmann, and other distinguished members of the so-called German historical school. He then became professor at various universities, until he was called to a chair at Greifswald, 1842. In 1848 he was elected a member of the Frankfort national assembly, from which he seceded 20th May, 1849. In the same year he was chosen deputy to the Prussian diet, where he sided with the Left or constitutional party. His chief productions are:—"Lehre von den Erbverträgen," 1835-38, 3 vols.; "Volksrecht und Juristenrecht," 1843; "System des gemeinen deutschen Privatrechts;" "Commentar über die Strafgesetzgebung für die Preussischen Staaten," &c.—K. E. <section end="592I" /> <section begin="592Zcontin" />* BESELER,, a German political character, was born at the castle of Marienhausen, near Jever, March 3, 1806. He completed his education at the cathedral school of Schleswig, and the universities of Kiel and Heidelberg, where he devoted himself to the study of law. He then settled at Schleswig, and soon became one of the leading advocates of the country, in the political affairs of which he was to take so prominent a part. He was elected a member, and afterwards president, of the Schleswig diet, and as such, firmly withstood all the attempts of the Danish government to incorporate the duchies into the Danish monarchy; the only means of permanently settling all dissensions and feuds, in his opinion, being the annexation of the German portion of Schleswig to the German confederation, without infringing, however, in any way upon the rights of the Danish crown. In 1848 he was chosen a member of the provisional government, and afterwards of the regency of <section end="592Zcontin" />