Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/561

 ANNALS ANNAPOLIS 529 to be an important centre for the manufacture of lace and fringes, which latter industry was introduced about 1590 by Protestant refugees from Spanish oppression in Flanders. Crino- lines are also made here to the extent of over 100,000 dozens annually. The town was found- ed in 1496. ANNALS (Lat. annales, that is, libri annales, year books), a concise and unadorned narrative of events, written in the order of time. In the early days of Rome the pontifex maximus kept a record of state affairs, prodigies, and the markets, which, written upon a white tablet, was displayed in some convenient por- tion of his house to the public inspection. These records were called annales maximi, and were written down to the pontificate of Publius Mucius Scavola, 131 B. C. When the Gauls burned the city, 390 B. 0., the greater portion of those previously written were de- stroyed. Subsequently, other individuals com- posed portions of Roman history, imitating in style the pontifical annals. The first of these works, which was written by Quintus Fabius Pictor, commenced with the founding of Rome, and came down to the author's own time, dur- ing the second Punic war. ANNAPOLIS, a city of Anne Arundel county, Md., capital of the county and of the state, 28 m. S. by E. of Baltimore, and 40 m. E. by N. of Washington ; lat. of the state house, 38 58' N., Ion. 76 29' W. ; pop. in 1860, 3,228 whites and 1,301 colored ; in 1870, 5,744, of whom 1,682 were colored. It is beautifully situated on the Severn river, about 2 m. from its junction with the waters of Chesapeake bay. For a long period before Baltimore was at all noted, Annapolis was the seat of wealth, refinement, and extensive trade. It was for- merly a port of entry, but has lost its commer- TJnited States Naval Academy, Annapolis. cial importance, and is now chiefly distinguished as the seat of the state government and of the United States naval academy. The city is con- nected with Baltimore and Washington by rail- road, and with the former also by regular lines of steamers. The plan of the city bears some resemblance to that of the national capital, all the streets radiating from two points, the state house and the Episcopal church. Its appear- ance is interesting from its air of quiet seclu- sion; and the antique look of many of the houses, with their peculiar style of architec- ture, gives the stranger an impression of some old European town, rather than that of an American city. The state house, standing on an eminence, is a noble and massive structure of brick, with a lofty dome and cupola. It con- tains the halls of the legislative assembly, as well as the state library and records. St. John's college, founded in 1784, is a state institution. In 1868 there were 10 instructors, 433 'gradu- 85 VOL. i. 35 ates, and about 3,500 volumes in the library. St. Mary's seminary, a Roman Catholic insti- tution, is also situated here. Three weekly papers are published in the city. The naval academy was established in 1845 by the Hon. George Bancroft, then secretary of the navy. Candidates (who must be over 15 and under 18 years of age) are admitted to the institution after passing a thorough physical examination, as well as an examination in the elements of an English education. They remain in the institution four years, under strict discipline and instruction in all the branches of the naval profession, before they are examined for ad- mission into the navy as midshipmen. The academic board is composed of the superin- tendent of the institution, who must be an officer of the navy, not below the rank of com- mander ; the executive officer, or commandant of midshipmen, with four assistants, who must be either commanders or lieutenants in the