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SMITH

1771

SMOKE

London Quarterly Review, was born at London in 1812 and died on Oct. 7, 1893. His name will be familiar to most students by his many compilations — chiefly by; his Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities; Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology; Greek and Roman Geography; Latin-English Dictionary; Dictionary of the Bible; Dictionary of Christian Biography; and Dictionary of Christian Antiquities. Smith, William Robertson, a distinguished Scottish divine, biblical scholar and """                    orientalist, was born

at Keig, Aberdeen-shire, Nov. 8, 1846, and died at Cambridge, England, March 31, 1894. Educated at Aberdeen University, he studied theology at Edinburgh, at Bonn and Gottingen, and (was elected to the : chair of Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis at the Free Church College, Aberdeen. While here, he contributed articles of an advanced character on the Bible for the Encyclopedia Britannica adverse to the "standards" of the Free Church, which provoked much controversy and led to a prosecution for heresy. Owing to a skillful and powerful defense and to the spiead of broader views of biblical criticism and of the latitude allowed a writer on questions of interpretation, the trial was inconclusive, though subsequently (in 1881) he was removed from his chair, but left with its emoluments. This occurred in consequence of Professor Smith's later articles for the Britannica on the Hebrew language and literature. During his suspension he traveled in Egypt and Arabia, and on his return he became associated with Prof. T. Spencer Baynes in the editorship of the Britannica. In 1883 he became lecturer on Arabic at Cambridge and subsequently professor at that university. The works of this fearless investigator and writer embrace The Old Testament in the Jewish Church, The Prophets of Israel, The Religion of the Semites, Fundamental Institutions, Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia and Isaiah for Professor Perowne's Cambridge Bible for Schools.

Smith, Sir Will'iam Sid'ney, the hero of Acre, was born at Westminster, England, July 21, 1764. He entered the navy at n, and was made lieutenant when only 16 for his courage at Cape St. Vincent. From Constantinople in 1798, learning that Bonaparte was about to attack St. Jean D'Acre, Syria, he hastened there in command of a squadron. He captured the enemy's vessels

in March, 1799, and held the town until Napoleon raised the siege, leaving his guns behind. His death occurred at Paris, May 26, 1840. See Life by Barrow.

Smith'field or Smooth'field, is an open space of nearly six acres in London, England, and has for centuries been used as a market for sheep, horses, cattle and hay. It was outside the city-walls, and could be used for jousts, tournaments and executions. The well-known Bartholomew fair was held here; Wallace the noble Scotch patriot was executed here by Edward I; Wat Tyler, with 30,000 peasants, here met Richard II and was stabbed by the mayor of London. It is best known, however, as the place of execution of the long line of English martyrs from 1401 to 1612. The cattle-market, well-described in Oliver Twist, was closed in 1855. The hay-market still occupies part of the space, but the center is laid out as a garden with fountains.

Smithso'nian Institution, a scientific establishment, which was organized by Congress in 1846 to carry into effect the will of James Smithson, an Englishman, born in 1765, who devoted his life to scientific pursuits and bequeathed his estate of $515,169 to the United States, to found "at Washington an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge." The original bequest has, through subsequent additions, reached the amount of $900,000, to the interest upon which Congress adds an annual appropriation of about $20,000. The institution is governed by a board of regents appointed by the government. It has large and beautiful buildings, filled mainly with the national collections. The principal work of the institution is in the direction of original research, Professor Henry, the first secretary, making the rule that nothing should be undertaken by it which could be done as well somewhere else. Its library of 100,000 volumes has been united with that of Congress, and its art-collection was transferred to Corcoran Art-Gallery. In its buildings are the national museum, a bureau of ethnology and a bureau of international exchange; and connected with it are a national park and an observatory. It publishes Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Miscellaneous Collections and an annual report. It carries on communication between the library and scientific associations in Europe and America, and has a vast correspondence with all parts of the world.

Smoke, the vapor produced by burning any substance, usually wood or coal. The smoke from burning wood is almost colorless, and consists mainly of carbonic acid and water, while that from burning bituminous coal is darker, being mixed with an oily vapor and soot or finely divided carbon. The more perfect the combustion, the less smoke; and the great eftort in large

WILLIAM ROBERTSON SMITH