Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/231

 NELSON KIVER signed the declaration of July 4, 1776. In May, 1777, he was obliged by indisposition to resign his seat. In the following August, du- ring the alarm occasioned by the entry of the British fleet under Admiral Howe within the capes of Virginia, he was appointed cominand- er-in-chief of the state forces ; and soon after, in response to an appeal from congress, he raised a troop of cavalry which he led to Phila- delphia. The danger apprehended from Howe's expedition having been averted, his corps was disbanded, and he resumed his duties as a mem- ber of the legislature. He strongly opposed the proposition to sequestrate British property, on the ground that it would be an unjust re- taliation of public wrongs on private individ- uals. In February, 1779, he again took his seat in congress, but was soon obliged by ill- ness to resign. In May, however, he was sud- denly called upon to organize the militia to repel a marauding expedition which was rava- ging the Virginia coast. Congress having called for contributions to provide for the French fleet and armament, the general assembly of Virginia resolved early in June, 1780, to bor- row $2,000,000 to be deposited in the conti- nental treasury by the middle of the month. The public credit, however, was so low that there seemed little probability that the required sum could be obtained. Gen. Nelson on his personal security raised a considerable portion of the loan. About the same time he advanced money to pay two Virginia regiments ordered to the south, which had refused to march until their arrears were discharged. His ample for- tune was so seriously impaired, that he was involved in pecuniary embarrassments in the latter part of his life. In 1781 he succeeded Jefferson as governor of the state, and to repel the invasion of the enemy was compelled to assume dictatorial powers; and it was in no small degree owing to his exertions that the American army was kept together during its stay in Virginia. His extra-legal acts were subsequently approved by the Virginia legis- lature. He participated in the siege of York- town as commander of the Virginia militia, and directed that his own house, the largest and best in the place, should be bombarded. He resigned his office in November, 1781, and passed the rest of his life in retirement. NELSON RIVER, of British North America, issues from the N. extremity of Lake Winni- peg, passes through a series of lakes, and falls into Hudson bay, N. of Fort York, after a N. E. course of about 350 m. It discharges a great volume of water, but its navigation is almost impossible, owing to numerous rapids and falls. NELOIBIUM. See WATER LILT. NEMAHA. I. A S. E. county of Nebraska, separated from Missouri by the Missouri river, and intersected by the Little Nemaha; area, about 400 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 7,593. The surface is diversified by undulating prairies, bluffs, bottom lands, and groves of oak, hick- ory, walnut, &c., along the streams. The 592 VOL, xn. 15 NEMESIANUS 223 underlying rocks are limestone and sandstone, and the soil is fertile. The chief productions in 1870 were 33,790 bushels of wheat, 224,695 of Indian corn, 35,831 of oats, 16,140 of pota- toes, 49,425 Ibs. of butter, and 3,015 tons of hay. There were 728 horses, 539 milch cows, 1,587 other cattle, 454 sheep, and 1,483 swine. Capital, Brownville. II. A N. E. county of Kansas, bordering on Nebraska, and watered by numerous streams ; area, 720 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 7,339. It is traversed by the St. Jo- seph and Denver City railroad, and by the Cen- tral branch of the Union Pacific line. The surface is undulating, the soil fertile. The productions in 1870 were 112,612 bushels of wheat, 26,840 of rye, 358,871 of Indian corn, 107,737 of oats, 50,074 of potatoes, 12,018 Ibs. of wool, 28,285 of cheese, 200,460 of butter, and 17,167 tons of hay. There were 3,307 horses, 3,405 milch cows, 5,815 other cattle, 3,591 sheep, and 4,119 swine. Capital, Seneca. NEMEAN GAMES, one of the four great national festivals of the Greeks, so called from Nemea in Argolis, where they were held every second year. The first one the date of which can be fixed approximately on historical authority occurred in the 52d or 53d Olympiad (572-565 B. C.). The period from one celebration to another was called a Nemead. They were in- stituted by the seven against Thebes in com- memoration of the death of the infant Ophel- tes, which had been destroyed by a dragon while Hypsipyle its attendant had gone to show the seven a well. On their return they slew the dragon and instituted funeral games. Other legends ascribe them to Hercules in honor of his destruction of the Nemean lion. It is probable, however, that these refer to a restoration of the ancient festival, and its al- teration to a celebration in honor of Jupiter. At first they were of a warlike character, only warriors and their sons participating, but they were afterward thrown open to all the Greeks. The exercises consisted of horse racing, run- ning in armor in the stadium, wrestling, chariot racing, quoit throwing, boxing, throwing the spear, archery, and musical contests. The prize was at first a chaplet of olive branches, but afterward one of parsley. The manage- ment of these games belonged at different times to Cleonas, Corinth, and Argos. Philip of Macedon was once honored by the Argives with the presidency of the Nemean games ; and at their celebration in 195'B. C., Quintius Flamininus proclaimed the freedom of Argos. NEMESIANUS, Marcus Aurelins Olyinpins, a Latin poet of the latter half of the 3d century A. D., supposed to have been a native of Africa. He was the most successful poet at the court of the emperor Carus, and wrote on fishing, hunt- ing, and aquatics ; but all his works have per- ished except a fragment of the Cynegetica, on hunting, consisting of 325 hexameter verses, remarkable for neatness and purity of style. It was first printed at Venice in 1534; the best edition is that of Stern (Halle, 1832).