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 POGGENDORFF printing La bibliotheque positimste, exposition du positivisme. POGGENDORFF, Johann Christian, a German natural philosopher, born in Hamburg, Dec. 29, 1796. Devoting his attention to pharmacy, chemistry, and natural philosophy, he went to Berlin in 1820, and in 1821 published in the Isis a treatise " On the Magnetism of the Voltaic Pile," developing the principles of the applica- tion of the multiplicator. From 1824 to 1874, when he resigned, he was editor of the An- nalen der PhysiTc und C/iemie, which became one of the first scientific journals of Germany. In 1834 he was made professor of natural phi- losophy in the university of Berlin, and in 1838 member of the academy of sciences. He was engaged with Liebig in editing a "Dictionary of Chemistry. 1 " He wrote Mographisch-lite- rarisches Handworterbuch zur Geschichte der exacten Wissenschaften (2 vols., Leipsic, 1863). POGGIO BRACCIOLIM, Giovanni Francesco, an Italian scholar, born at Terra Nuova, near Arezzo, about 1380, died in Florence, Oct. 30, 1459. In 1414 he attended Pope John XXIII. at the council of Constance, as apostolic sec- retary. In 1416 he engaged in searching the ancient monasteries for manuscripts, and re- covered seven orations of Cicero, and a great number of other classical writings. He ac- companied Cardinal Beaufort to England, re- turned to Italy in 1421, became apostolic sec- retary to Martin V., and served several popes in the same capacity. On the appearance of the plague at Rome in 1450 he withdrew to Florence, where he was chosen chancellor in 1453.' His "History of Florence" (translated by his son Jacopo from Latin into Italian) com- ' prises the period from 1350 to 1455. Among his most finished productions is his " Dialogue on Nobility." His works have not yet been properly collected, the Basel edition of 1538 being imperfect. His biography, by the Rev. William Shepherd (Liverpool, 1802), was trans- lated into Italian, German, and French. POGGY ISLANDS. See NASSAU ISLANDS. POGODIN, Mikhail Petrovitch, a Russian histo- rian, born in Moscow in 1800. Pie became professor at the university of Moscow in 1833, translated foreign historical works into Russian, edited learned periodicals, and wrote novels, a tragedy, and a dramatized history of the Pseudo-Demetrius. He resigned his pro- fessorship about 1844 to devote himself to archaeological explorations, and collected relics of Russian and Slavic antiquity, purchased by the government in 1852. His principal work relating to Russian history is Isledovaniya, zamietchaniya i leJctzie (7 vols., St. Petersburg, 1846-'54). He advocated Panslavism in his famous " Political Letters " (German transla- tion, Berlin, 1860). In 1867 he established a weekly political and literary journal, Russki. POINDEXTER, George, an American politician, born in Louisa co., Va., in 1779, died in Jack- son, Miss., Sept. 5, 1853. He began to prac- tise law in Milton, Va., but in 1802 removed 671 VOL. xiii. 41 POINT COMFORT 637 to Mississippi territory, where he was com- missioned by Gov. Claiborne as attorney gen- eral. He was involved in many personal and political quarrels, and from one of these re- sulted a duel in which he killed Abijah Hunt, then the principal merchant of the southwest. He was territorial delegate to congress from 1807 to 1813, when he was appointed United States judge for his district. After the admis- sion of Mississippi as a state in 1817 he was elected its first representative in congress, where in 1819 he effectively defended Gen. Jackson for his conduct in the Seminole war. From 1819 to 1821 he was governor of Missis- sippi, and from 1831 to 1835 a member of the United States senate, where he gradually be- came an opponent of Jackson, and was sus- pected by him of complicity in the attempt made upon his life at the capitol. In 1835 he removed to Louisville, but soon returned to Mississippi. He published a " Revised Code of the Laws of Mississippi " (1824). P01KSETT, a N. E. county of Arkansas, bor- dered E. by the St. Francis river and Lake St. Francis, and drained by L'Anguille and several other rivers; area, about 750 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 1,720, of whom 225 were col- ored. It has a level surface and fertile soil. The chief productions in 1870 were 36,670 bushels of Indian corn, and 892 bales of cot- ton. There were 301 horses, 733 cattle, and 3,379 swine. Capital, Harrisburgh. POINSETT, Joel Roberts, an American states- man, born in Charleston, S. C., March 2, 1779, died in Statesburg, S. C., in December, 1851. He studied medicine and the natural sciences at the university of Edinburgh, and afterward entered the military academy at Woolwich. He returned to Charleston in 1800 and studied law, but in 1801 again went to Europe. Re- turning in 1809, he was sent by President Madison to South America to ascertain the political condition of the country. On his re- turn he became a member of the South Caro- lina legislature, and from 1821 to 1825 was a member of congress. In 1822 he visited Mexico in a semi-diplomatic capacity to report upon the condition of the country and the policy of opening diplomatic relations with the emperor Iturbide ; and on the accession of Mr. Adams to the presidency he was appointed minister to Mexico. He held the office for 18 months, ne- gotiating during that period a treaty of limits and one of commerce. Returning to Charles- ton in the midst of the nullification excitement, he became the leader of the Union party. In 1837-'41, under Van Buren's administration, he was secretary of war. He published " Notes on Mexico" (Philadelphia and London, 1824). POINT COMFORT, Old, a post village and wa- tering place of Elizabeth City co., Va., situa- ted on James river, at the entrance of Hamp- ton roads, 12 m. N. of Norfolk. It is much re- sorted to in summer for sea bathing, and has commodious hotels. The point is a low, nar- row, sandy neck of land, on the extremity of