Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/729

 BLENHEIM BLENNERHASSETT 709 blende, both in Europe and the United States. Calamine is preferred, but where this cannot be had, the blende is no- longer thrown away. By oxidation blende sometimes changes to zinc vitriol, and in the Ilartz much zinc is re- claimed in this way. In 1863 Professors Keich and Richter of Freiberg discovered a new metal associated with zinc in blende, to which they gave the name indium, from the blue lines it produced on the spectrum. The word blende is used to designate sulphur ores in general; for example, copper blende, manga- nese blende, and silver blende are the sulphur compounds of those metals. BLENHEIM, or IWndhfim, a village of Bavaria, on the Danube, 23 m. N. N. W. of Augsburg. It was the scene of a battle on Aug. 13, 1704, between the English and Austrians, under the duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, and the French and Bavarians, commanded by Tal- lard, Marsin, and the elector of Bavaria. The Anglo-Austrian army numbered about 52,000 men, while that of the French and Bavarians was 56,000 strong. After a fierce contest the duke of Marlborongh forced Marshal Tallard to surrender with about 18,000 men, while Eu- Blenheim House. gene utterly rented the Bavarians. There were upward of 10,000 men killed and wounded on the French and Bavarian side, while hundreds were drowned in the Danube. The English lost 5, 000 killed and 8,000 'wounded. On the European continent this is generally called the battle of Iloehstudt, from a small town near the scene. The battle decided the campaign ; Ba- varia fell into the hands of the Austrians, and the prestige of Louis XIV. was gone. In re- Wara for this victory Queen Anne bestowed upon Marlborough a tract of land since called Blenheim park, containing 2,940 acres, near Woodstock, Oxfordshire ; and upon this was erected, with a parliamentary grant of 500,000, a magnificent residence called Blenheim house, after a design by Sir John Vanbrugh. It was completed in 1715. Another notable battle occurred near Blenheim in 1800, when the French defeated the Austrians. BLEMERHASSETT, Barman, a victim of Aaron Burr's conspiracy, born in Hampshire, Eng- land, Oct. 8, 1764 or '65, died in the island of Guernsey, Feb. 1, 1831. He was of Irish de- scent, and was educated in the university of Dublin and called to the bar; but becoming discontented with the condition of Ireland, he sold his Irish estates for more than $100,000 and sailed for New York in 1797. After spend- ing some time in studying the country, he purchased an island of 170 acres in the Ohio river, two miles below Parkersburg, on which he built a fine mansion and made all the em- bellishments which wealth and taste could supply. His home became widely known for its elegance and the culture which distin- guished its inmates. Among the visitors to this beautiful retreat was Aaron Burr, who went there in 1805 to make the acquaintance of Blennerhassett. By his skilful address he soon enlisted him in his Mexican schemes, in the belief that the country was likely to be involved in war with Spain, and a fortune might easily be made by enterprise. Burr was to be emperor, and Blennerhassett a duke and ambassador to England. Blennerhas- sett invested largely in boats, provisions, arms, and ammunition. He left his home and fami- ly and went to Ken- tucky, where being warned of Burr's real designs, he returned to the island greatly dis- heartened. However, through Burr's repeat- ed solicitations, and the persuasions of his wife, who had now enlisted in the under- taking with her whole soul, he persisted. A proclamation against the scheme having been published by Presi- dent Jefferson, Blennerhassett, who was in hourly expectation of being arrested, es- caped from the island Dec. 10, and, man- aging to elude pursuit, joined Burr's flotilla at the mouth of the Cumberland river. He was afterward arrested and sent to Rich- mond for trial (1807); but the case against Burr resulting in acquittal, the other conspira- tors were discharged. Bankrupt in fortune and broken down in mind, Blennerhassett re- tired to Natchez. His island had been seized by creditors, everything upon it which could be converted into money had been sold at a ruinous sacrifice, and the beautiful grounds