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NASSAU— NASSER-ED-DEEN.

action. Having realised an ample fortune^ he retired in 1857 from the firm, which he had founded, of Nasmyth, Gaskell, and Co., and he has since resided at Fenshurst, in Kent. There he finds occupation in the use of powerful telescopes of his own making, chiefly in investi- gations into the structure and sur- face of the sun and moon. He is the author of "Kemarks on Tools and Machinery," in T. Baker's "Elements of Mechanism," 1858; and "The Moon considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite" (in conjunction with James Carpen- ter). NASSAU, Bishop of. {S^e

BOBBBTS.)

NASSAU (DuKi of), Apolfh William Chablbs Axtoustub Fbs- DEBICK, born July 24, 1817, assumed the sovereignty Aug. 20, 1839. The Duke married in 1844 the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the Grand Duke Michael of Bussia, who died Jan. 28, 1845 ; and took, as a secoad wife, April 23, 1851, Adelaide Marie, daughter of Prince Frederick, of Anhalt-Dessau, by whom he has two children. A constitutional go- vernment had existed for many years before his accession to the throne, the nation being repre- sented not in Chambers elected by popular suffrage, but by the States of the dukedom. In 1848, a new constitution, upon a more liberal basis, was proclaimed; the Duke declared his intention of governing in a constitutional manner, and for a time the experiment promised to succeed. The Duke was one of the sovereigns who joined the union of German States under the presidency of the king of Prussia, formed after the failure of the Frankfort consti- tution. This union was soon dis- solved, and the Duke joined the Austrian party in 1850, and voted with it in the Diet. The constitu- tion was annulled in Nov., 1851. This state was joined to Prussia by decree, Sept. 20, 1866, and the Prus- sians took possession Oct. 8.

NASSEB-ED-DEEN, Shah of Persia, son of the late Mehemet Shah, by Queen Velliat, of the Eadjar tribe, and grandson of Abbaz Mirza, born in 1829, was called to the throne in 1848. The Shah is well versed in Persian and Turkifih, is acquainted with history, and has a correct idea of the relations in which he stands to each of the European Powers. Although en- dowed with considerable energy of character, he is mild and gentle in manners, and simple in the habits of his private life. At the begin- ning of the war between Bussia and Turkey he declined his neutrality, but shortly before its dose, entered into a treaty with Bussia. In the following year, in conseqnenoe of the occupation of Herat by Persian troops, the Government of India declared war against him (Nov. 1, 1856). After a few months of hoe- tilildes, during which General Out- ram captured Kurrach, Bushire, and other places, a treaty of peace was signed at Paris by Lord Cowley and the Persian ambassador, in which ample satisfaction was g^ven to England. Subsequently fiie Shah had wars with several neighbouring States, and was successful in an expedition against the Turcomans. Of late years he has acted in the most friendly manner towards Eng- land, and in 1866 a treaty for estab- lishing telegraphic communicati(Hi between Europe and India through Persia was signed at Teheran . The Shah's visit to Europe in 1873 is a strong argument as to the modera- tion and popularity of his rule, for although he was absent &om his kingdom from May 12 till Sept. 6, not one breath of sedition disturbed the political calm that reigned there. In four months the Shah crossed the Caspian to Astrakhan, ascended the Volga, visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, crossed by rail to Ber- lin and Cologne, ascended by rail to Wiesbaden and Frankfort^ Heidel- berg, Carlsruhe, and Baden, turned noxthward to Biberidi, descended