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 ALAVA in consequence of the abuses which had grown up. The company, however, continued in con- trol by permission of the home authorities. In 1865-'7 the territory was explored by a scien- tific corps sent out from the United States to select a route for the Russo- American telegraph line, a project which was abandoned in conse- quence of the successful laying of the Atlantic cables. Negotiations were begun in 1867 for the purchase of the country by the United States ; $7,200,000 was the price agreed to be paid, and the treaty was ratified by the senate on May 20 of the same year. On Oct. 18 Brig. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau of the United States army, having been appointed commis- sioner for that purpose, formally took posses- sion of the territory in the name of the United States. Alaska constitutes a military and col- lection district, with headquarters at Sitka. See "Travels and Adventures in Alaska," by Frederick Whymper (London, 1869), and "Alaska and its Resources," by W. H. Dall (Boston, 1870). ALAVA, one of the Basque provinces of Spain, separated from Old Castile on the S. W. by the Ebro, and from Biscay and Guipuzcoa on the N. by mountain ranges ; area, 1,203 sq. m. ; pop. in 1867 (estimated), 102,000. The mountains ramify over the whole province, and yield a great variety of minerals, stone, and timber. There are numerous mineral springs. The soil is most fertile along the Ebro, in the Rioja Alavesa, where chiefly wine and fruits are produced ; and in the other valleys abundance of maize, hemp, and garden fruits are raised. The inhabitants are almost exclusively Basques. (See BASQUES.) The chief towns are Vitoria, the capital, Ordufia, Trevifio, and Salvatierra. ALB, a vestment of white linen or linen and lace, reaching to the feet, and bound around the waist by a cincture, worn by sub-deacons and all the superior orders of the clergy in the Roman Catholic church, while officiating in the more solemn functions of divine service. ALBA, a city of Italy, province of Cuneo, on the Tanaro, 33 m. S. S. E. of Turin; pop. about 10,000. It is a bishop's see, and has an ancient cathedral. There is a large trade in cattle. ALBACETE. I. A S. E. province of Spain, forming a part of the old kingdom of Murcia ; area, 5,965 sq. m. ; pop. in 1867 (estimated), 221,000. Large portions of the province are level, and the soil is in general very fertile; but the surface is varied, and in the west moun- tainous. The principal rivers are the Segura, Mundo, and Jucar. The chief towns are Alba- cete, Almansa, Villarobledo, Caudete, Alcaraz, Tobarra, Hellin, and Segura. II. A city, capi- tal of the preceding province, situated in a fer- tile plain on the highway and railroad between Madrid and Cartagena, 135 m. (direct) S. E. of Madrid; pop. in 1860, 17,088. The town is well built, and has been called the Sheffield of Spain from its former large business in cut- lery ; but the manufacture has greatly declined, and the chief productions now are coarse dag- ALBANIA 243 gers and sword knives (puHales). There is a large general trade with other towns. ALBA LONGA, one of the most ancient cities of Latium, and the mother of Rome, was, ac- cording to the Roman legends, built by As- canius or lulus, the son of JSneas. It is said to have been called Alba from a white sow found hi its vicinity by JSneas, and Longa from its form. Its last kings of the Ascanian line were Numitor, the grandfather of Romulus, and Amulius. The Curiatii fought for its in- dependence and supremacy against the Horatii of Rome. It was destroyed by Tullus Hostilius, except the temples, and its inhabitants were removed to Rome about 650 B. C. Strabo says it stood on the declivity of Mount Albanus, east of the lake of the same name. ALBAN, Saint, said to have been the first mar- tyr for Christianity in Britain. He was bora in the town of Verulamium, went to Rome in company with Amphibalus, a monk of Caer- leon, became a Christian, and returned after serving seven years in the Roman army. It is generally believed that he suffered martyrdom at the time of the persecution of Diocletian, but authorities differ as to the precise date. Bede fixes it at 286; Usher reckons it among the events of 303. About 400 or 500 years after his martyrdom, Offa, king of the Mercians, built a large monastery in honor of him. Around this monastery grew up the present town of St. Albans in Hertfordshire. ALBANENSES, the name given by some writers to that division of the Catharists who believed in an absolute dualism, in opposition to the Concorrezenses and Bagnolenses, who believed in one supreme principle. The name is derived from the town of Alba, on the Tanaro, in Pied- mont, where the sect had one of its chief com- munities. Another community was at Don- nezachum (probably Donzenac) in southern France ; after which place it was also some- times called. (See CATHARISTS.) ALBANI, or Albano, Francesco, an Italian painter, born in Bologna, March 17, 1578, died Oct. 4, 1660. He studied under Denis Calvaert and Ludovico Carracci. His frescos in the national church of the Spaniards in Rome brought him into notice. His fame is chief- ly founded upon his smaller paintings. He loved to paint pleasant landscapes, Venus and Cupid, young girls and children, his own 12 children by his beautiful second wife serving him as models for his finest figures. ALBANIA, in ancient geography, a country of Asia, bordering on the Caspian sea, and bound- ed W. by Iberia, N. by the Ceraunian branch of the Caucasus, and S. by the Cyrus (Kur) and the Araxes (Aras). It comprised por- tions of modern Daghestan, Lesghistan, and Shirvan. Its inhabitants were a handsome and warlike people, of Scythic race, probably identical with the Alani. They brought a formidable army into the field against Pompey. Though often defeated, they were never sub- dued by the Romans.