Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/98

 90 FAROCHON a great extent, owing to the light sandy soil. Sand bars render the port, which is defended by a small citadel, almost inaccessible ; but tolerable anchorage is obtained in the road- stead formed by three small islands at the mouth of the river. The coasting trade is active, especially in southern fruit. Figs and oranges are the most important products. FAROCHON, Jean Baptlste Eugene, a French medallist and sculptor, born in Paris in 1807. He studied under David, early executed busts, small statues, and medallions, received a prize in 1835, studied in Italy as a pensioner of the academy, and on his return to Paris gained reputation by his medallions. Devoting him- self to statuary, he produced in 1859 his mas- terpiece, u The Mother," which was again ex- hibited in 1867. Since 1863 he has been pro- fessor at the school of fine arts. FAROE, or Faro Isles (Dan. F&rderne), a group belonging to Denmark, in the Atlantic ocean, N. of Scotland, between lat. 61 20' and 62 25' N., and Ion. 6 10' and 7 35' W. ; area, 510 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 9,992. They are 22 in number, 17 of the larger ones being inhabited. The largest of them are Stromo, the central island, 27 m. long and 7 m. broad, with about 2,600 inhabitants, and Ostero, 20 m. long and 10 m. broad, with a population of about 2,100. Next in size are Sydero, Sando, and Vaago. The interior of the islands is generally hilly, the mountains varying in height from 1,000 to 2,800 ft. The valleys are narrow, and the rivulets flowing through them are so swollen during the rainy season as to render travelling impossible. The prevailing rocks are greenstone and clay- stone of various kinds. Some of the islands contain coal mines, and fine opal and traces of iron, copper, and other metals are found. The soil seldom exceeds a foot in depth, though in some places it is 4 ft. deep. Turnips, potatoes, and a few other vegetables flourish, but barley is the only cereal that matures, and even that often fails in consequence of the sudden changes of temperature. There is no timber ; coal and turf are used for fuel. The pasture lands are luxuriant, and the wealth of the islanders con- sists chiefly in sheep, which yield a very fine wool. The horses are small, but hardy, active, and sure-footed. The cows are also small. Sea fowl valuable for their flesh and feathers abound on the coasts. Ship building is carried on with success. There are cloth and stocking manu- factories and a few tanneries. Fisheries of the whale, seal, cod, and herring, and the collect- ing of eider down, constitute a large part of the resources of the country. Bread and salt are luxuries. The population, descendants of the old Northmen, are vigorous and laborious, and of loyal and religious character. The common language is a dialect of the Norse, but the official language is Danish. The long- est day of summer, including the long twi- light, is 24 hours, and the shortest of winter 4 hours. Monks from the Scottish isles first founded in the Faroe group a few hermitages. FAPvRAGUT In the 9th century fugitive Norwegian pirates established themselves under Grimr Kamban. The islands became Danish when Norway was united with Denmark in 1380. During the 18th century they were notorious as the seat of smugglers. They were occupied by the English from 1807 to 1814. The administra- tion is composed of a Danish amtmand or bai- liff, who is commander of the armed force, and a landfoged, who is director of the police ; and they are represented in the legislature of Denmark by a deputy appointed by the king. Commerce with the Faroe islands is a monopoly of government, and Danish ships are permitted to approach them only between May and Sep- tember. Capital, Thorshavn, on the S. E. side of Stromo ; pop. about 800. FARQl'IIAR, George, a British comic drama- tist, born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1678, died in London in April, 1707. After a brief career at Trinity college, Dublin, he appeared in his 17th year as a comedian upon the Dublin stage. While performing in the " Indian Emperor " of Dryden, he accidentally inflicted a serious wound upon his antagonist in fencing, which caused him to renounce the boards for ever. He went to London in 1696, obtained a com- mission in the army, and applied himself to dramatic composition. He lived gayly and licentiously, and during the ten years before he sank a victim to anxiety and ill health he produced seven comedies, superior in vivacity and ease of style, and in clear and rapid de- velopment of intrigue, to any that had before appeared in England. The last and best of these was the "Beaux Stratagem" (1707), which still keeps the stage. He also left a volume of "Miscellanies," consisting of poems, essays, and letters. His works have much of the smartness and indelicacy fashionable in his time, but are written in better language and are less designedly vicious than the plays which preceded the revolution of 1688. He passed a troubled though merry life, and left two daughters in indigence, whom in a brief and touching note he recommended to the kindness of his friend the actor Wilks. A com- plete edition of his works appeared in 2 vols. 12mo in 1772. FARRAGIJT, David Glascoe, an American ad- miral, born at Campbell's station, near Knox- ville, Tenn., July 5, 1801, died in Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 14, 1870. He entered the navy as midshipman at the age of 11, and his first service was on board the famous Essex, in which he participated in the engagement that resulted in the capture of the British ship Alert, and also in the three hours' fight in the bay of Valparaiso, March 28, 1814, before the Essex surrendered to the Phoebe and Cherub. In his report of the battle Commodore Porter commended "the lad Farragut," and regretted that he was too young for promotion. Under the same commander Farragut took part in the attack on the rendezvous of pirates at Cape Cruz on the southern coast of Cuba in 1823.