Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/175

 COMONFORT 171 dello. Here ISTapoleone della Torre, having been taken prisoner by his rival Ottone Vis- conti, Jan. 21, 1277, was shut up in an iron cage, in which he died by his own hands after 19 months of painful confinement. Pliny the Younger (and perhaps also the Elder), Volta (a square, adorned with his statue by March esi, bears his name), and Innocent XL were natives of this town. It has manufactures of silks, woollens, cotton, yarn, and soap. In former times the silk trade of Como vied with that of Lyons. After the revolution of February, 1848, the people of Como were among the first to shake off the yoke of the Austrians, and drove their troops from the city. Ill* Lake of (Ital. Lago di Como; anc. Lacus Larius), a pictur- esque and tortuous sheet of water, full of promontories, gulfs, and little bays. At its northern extremity a narrow channel unites it with a kind of distinct lake, called Laghetto, which receives the river Maira. Thence it extends S. W. and S. for about 15 m., and at Bellagio divides into two branches. The W. branch retains the name of Como, and is 18 m. long. The other is named Lago di Lecco, from the town of that name; its length is about 12 m. The river Adda, which enters the lake at its junction with the Laghetto, leaves it at Lecco. The width of the main lake in most places is not more than 1 or 2 m., but just above the separation of the two branches it is 3 m. across. The banks are formed of precipi- tous mountains from 2,000 to 3,000 ft. high. A mild and genial climate, a fertile soil, profusion of fruits and vegetables, and prosperous villages scattered over the country, combine to render its banks one of the most delightful regions of Italy. Among the handsome mansions which Como. line the shores are the villa Melzi, the villa Ciani, formerly d'Este, long the residence of Queen Caroline of England, the villa Carlotta, formerly Sommariva, which contains a fine museum, and the villa called Pliniana, on ac- count of the intermittent spring described both by the elder and younger Pliny, and still ex- hibiting the same phenomena. COMONFORT, Ygnacio, a Mexican statesman, born in Puebla, March 12, 1812, killed near San Luis Potosi, Nov. 13, 1863. He entered the Jesuit college at Puebla in 1826, became a captain of cavalry in 1832, and took part in the revolution of that year. In 1834 he was made prefect and military governor of the district of Tlapa; .in 1842 he was elected member of the national congress, but this was soon dissolved by Santa Anna, and Comonfort resumed his functions in Tlapa. In 1846 he was reflected to congress, but this congress was dissolved by Pared es, and the liberals instigated the revolu- tion of August, 1846, in which Comonfort took a conspicuous part. Appointed third alcalde of the capital, and afterward prefect of western Mexico, he relinquished these posts to engage in the war with the United States; and on Santa Anna's dissolving the army and leaving the capital open for the Americans, Comonfort commenced organizing guerillas in the west, when he was summoned to the congress of Queretaro, where a treaty of peace was con- cluded with the United States. He was now chosen senator by his native state, and served in this capacity till 1851. In 1852-'3 he was the representative in congress of the state of Guerrero, and acted as custom-house director of Acapulco and other places until Santa Anna's return to power, when he was dismissed. He now joined Alvarez, and proclaimed the plan of Ayutla, March 11, 1854. Repairing to New York, he raised funds to carry on the war, and on his return took a prominent part in the