Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/511

 PIAZZI received the designation of la deliziosa. The cathedral rises on one of the two crests of the hill, and a feudal castle now used as a prison on the other. The principal products are wine and nuts. Many landed proprietors reside here. PIAZZI, Giuseppe, an Italian astronomer, born at Ponte, in the Valtellina, July 16, 1746, died in Naples, July 22, 1826. He joined the order of the Theatins at Milan, became in 1770 professor of mathematics in Malta, next taught philosophy and mathematics at Raven- na, was a preacher at Cremona, and professor of dogmatic theology in Rome, where he was a friend of Chiaramonti, afterward Pius VII. In 1780 he became professor of astronomy in Palermo, where he subsequently established an observatory, and in 1817 was appointed gene- ral director of the new observatory at Naples. On Jan. 1, 1801, he discovered Ceres, the first of the asteroids. In 1803 he published Stel- larum Inerrantium Positiones, a catalogue of 6,748 stars, the results of the observations of ten years, and in 1814 a second catalogue em- bracing 7,646 stars. Among his other works is Lezioni elementari di astronomia (2 vols., Palermo, 1817). PICARD, Jean, a French astronomer, born in La Fleche, July 21, 1620, died -in 1682. He assisted Gassendi in observing the solar eclipse of Aug. 25, 1645, was appointed in 1655 his successor in the chair of astronomy at the col- 16ge de France, and became in 1666 one of the original members of the academy of sciences. His introduction of several improvements in practical geometry greatly increased the exact- ness of scientific observations. In connection with Azout he reinvented the micrometer, was the first to apply a telescope in the measure- ment of angles, devised methods of verification in astronomical investigations, made in 1669- '71 the first exact measurement of a degree of the meridian between Amiens and Malvoisine, and pointed out the twofold phenomena of nutation and aberration, afterward explained by Bradley. He also introduced the modern method of determining the right ascension of the stars by employing a pendulum to note the instant of their meridional passages. In or- der to make the observations of Tycho Brahe more accessible to astronomers, he visited Ura- nienborg in 1671 to ascertain the latitude and longitude of the observatory at that place. He welcomed to France the celebrated Cassini; and when, through his exertions, the observa- tory of Paris was established, he saw without envy the Italian philosopher promoted to the directorship of an institution of which he him- self was the father. He wrote valuable works. PICARD, Louis Joseph Ernest, a French states- man, born in Paris, Dec. 24, 1821. He began to practise law in 1846, and acquired a for- tune. Subsequently he was prominent in jour- nalism as an opponent of Louis Napoleon. He was elected to the legislative body in 1858, 1863, and 1869. After the downfall of the empire (Sept. 4, 1870), he became a member. PICCINI 495 of the government of national defence as min- ister of finance. In January, 1871, he was as- sociated with Jules Favre in negotiating with Bismarck the terms of capitulation, after hav- ing declared prolonged resistance to be a heroic folly. On Feb. 19 Thiers appointed him min- ister of the interior, but he resigned May 31. Triers offered him the place of governor of the bank of France. He declined, but accepted the mission to Brussels, and retained it till after the retirement of Thiers, May 24, 1873. In 1874 he greatly contributed to the overthrow of De Broglie's administration, and in July he supported in the assembly Casimir-Prier's unsuccessful constitutional bill. PICARD Y, an ancient province of N. France, bounded N. by the straits of Dover and Artois, E. by Champagne, S. by lie de France, and W. by the English channel and Normandy. It was divided into Upper Picardy, in its widest sense including the districts of Amie'nois, San- terre, Vermandois, Thierache, Laonnais, Sois- sonnais, Noyonnais, Valois, and Beauvaisis, and Lower Picardy, comprising the pays re- conquis, Boulonnais, Ponthieu, and Yimeux. It was conquered by the Franks in the 5th century, formed part of the kingdoms of Sois- sons and Neustria, and afterward passed into the possession of the counts of Flanders, and was divided among several vassal counts. The province was subdued by the English under the reigns in France of Philip VI. and Charles VI., reconquered by Charles VII., who mort- gaged it to the duke of Burgundy, and restored to the crown in 1463, under Louis XL Its capital as a province was Amiens. It forms now the department of Somme and parts of Pas-de-Calais, Aisne, and Oise. PICCINI, or Piccinni, Mcolo, an Italian com- poser, born in Bari in 1728, died at Passy, near Paris, May 7, 1800. At 14 years of age he was placed in the conservatory of Sant' Ono- frio at Naples, where he studied for 12 years under Leo and Dnrante. He first wrote sev- eral comic and serious operas for the theatres of Naples, and was then called to Rome, where he produced in 1758 A lessandro nelV Indie, con- taining one of the finest overtures ever com- posed. Two years later appeared his Cecchina ossia la luona figliuola, the drama of which, by Goldoni, was founded upon Richardson's "Pamela." It obtained an almost unprece- dented popularity. It was succeeded by Olim- piade, a subject previously set by Pergolesi and other celebrated composers. In 1773 he returned to Naples in consequence of the in- trigues of his enemies at Rome, who succeeded in having him supplanted there by Anfossi. In 1776 he visited Paris for the purpose of writing for the French opera. Gluck was the favorite of the hour, and Marmontel and other partisans of Italian music, who were opposed to the new ideas of the German composer, supported Piccini, then in the zenith of his fame. The next three years are famous as the period of the war between the "Gluckists"