Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/792

 774 HOLYHEAD HOLYOAKE that France in 1823 restored absolutism in Spain. After Alexander's death the compact lost authority, and the French revolution of 1830 may be said to have ended it. HOLYHEAD (Welsh, Goer Gyli, fort of Gybi), a parliamentary borough, market town, and seaport of N. Wales, on a small island of the same name at the W. extremity of the county of Anglesea, 67 m. W. of Liverpool ; pop. in 1871, 6,193. An embankment three fourths of a mile in length, 16 ft. high, with a bridge mid- way, under which the tide rushes with great violence, connects the island across a sandy shallow with the island of Anglesea. The island of Holyhead is mostly a barren rock, ending in a huge headland of serpentine, and is noted for its magnificent caverns excavated by the sea. The town is irregularly built, but the housea are massively constructed of stone. A harbor of refuge has been formed by a north breakwater 7,860 ft. long and an east break- water 2,000 ft. long, the completion and for- mal opening of which, after 25 years' labor, was celebrated Aug. 2.3, 1873. The north breakwater is terminated by a head on which is erected a lighthouse. The harbor and road- stead cover about 667 acres. The founda- tion of the work is a great mound of rub- ble stone, 400 ft. wide at the base, and no- where less than 250 ft. in width at low- water level. It contains altogether about 7,000,000 tons of stone. The superstructure is a solid central wall of masonry built of stone from the Holyhead mountain quarries. The inhabi- tants are mostly engaged in rope making, ship building, and the coasting trade. The parish church is an ancient structure, dedicated to St. Gybi, with some rude but curious carving New Harbor of Refuge at Holyhead. on its walls, and situated in a churchyard sur- rounded by a stone fence which appears to have been a Roman fortress. Holyhead is a terminus of the Chester and Holyhead rail- way. A submarine telegraph extends across the channel from Holyhead to Howth, and on account of its advantageous situation Holy- head has been made the principal station of the post-office packets to Dublin. HOLYOAKE, George Jacob, an English reform- er, born in Birmingham, April 13, 1817. He studied and afterward taught mathematics in the mechanics 1 institute of that city, and be- came known as an advocate of political and religious radicalism. Among his numerous publications is a "History of Cooperation in Rochdale," describing the benefits of the pioneer society founded in that town in 1844, which has been translated into many languages. He has edited for many years "The Reasoner," an organ of secularism, as he calls the system of civilization based upon secular and not upon theological ideas. This system is defined by its advocates as the religion of the present life, not in opposition to theology, but apart from it. It teaches that intelligent sincerity is sinless ; that we should believe nothing until compelled to believe it by positive demonstration ; that the performance of duty, not the pursuit of happiness, is the end of life ; and that utility, broadly and unselfishly considered, is the test of right. It advocates free thought and free criticism, and makes the quality of thought, not its motive, the subject of discussion. It avoids theology on the ground that its truth or falsity can only be demonstrated after death. In its practical bearing it seeks for " that mate- rial condition in which it shall be impossible