Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/820

 796. POWELL POWER Repulsive Power of Heat," " On the Disper- sion of Light," "On Elliptic Polarization, of Light," and " On Irradiation." Of the sec- ond class are " The Connection of Natural and Divine Truth, or the Study of the Inductive Philosophy considered as subservient to Theol- ogy " (London, 1838) ; " Essays on the Spirit of the Inductive Philosophy, the Unity of Worlds, and the Philosophy of Creation " (1855 ; 2d ed., 1856); "The Order of Nature considered with reference to the Claims of Revelation" (1859) ; and " On the Study of the Evidences of Christianity," in " Essays and Reviews " (I860). The purpose of the works of the lat- ter class was to maintain that the rejection of ideas generally prevalent upon theological sub- jects, which in the progress of modern sci- ence have been called in question, or at least modified, is in no way a hindrance to a sin- cere belief in the cardinal truths of religion. POWELL, John Wesley, an American geologist, born at Mt. Morris, N. Y., March 24, 1834. In 1842 the family removed to Wisconsin, where he received a common school education, and at the age of 16 became a teacher. At the age of 20 he entered Oberlin college, Ohio, which he left after two years to study geology. He spent four summers in travel through the western states, collecting plants, animals, and fossils. In 1861 he entered the army as a vol- unteer, and at the battle of Shiloh lost his right arm. He subsequently rose to the rank of major of artillery, and was actively engaged in the Vicksburg and Atlanta campaigns and in the battle of Nashville. In 1865 he became professor of geology in the Wesleyan univer- sity at Bloomington, 111. In 1867 he organ- ized a scientific expedition to Colorado terri- tory, and repeated it in 1868. Congress hav- ing authorized him to explore the Colorado river and the adjoining country, he organized a small party and navigated it through the entire length of its immense canons. Since that time Prof. Powell has been engaged in a general scientific survey of the region drained by the Colorado and its tributaries, including a topographical survey by triangulation, its geology, zoology, botany, and ethnology. His researches into the languages, habits, and tra- ditions of the Indians of Utah have been es- pecially important. He is at present (1875) chief of the second division of the geographi- cal and geological survey of the territories, under the interior department. POWER, in law, an authority by which one is enabled to exercise the control of an owner over the property of another. The term is important in real estate law, where powers are variously classified with reference to their origin and incidents. They may be created by deed, will, or other instrument executed by the owner of the land, as where one by will em- powers his executor to sell or mortgage lands for the purpose of raising portions for chil- dren, or by letter of attorney constitutes an- other his agent to make sales; or they may result from legal proceedings, or be conferred upon officials by statute for the purpose of en- forcing some public right or private remedy. A common instance of a statutory power is the authority to make sale of lands for the non- payment of taxes. Powers also are "naked," or disconnected from any interest in the land, or they are coupled with an interest, by which is meant that the donee of the power has an interest not in the execution of the power merely, but in the property in respect to which the power is created. Thus an attorney to sell lands has a naked power, though he may be benefited by its execution; but a mortga- gee in a mortgage which contains a power of sale has a power coupled with an interest. The distinction is important, as in general the donor of a naked power may revoke it at any time, and his death (except where it is given by will) or his bankruptcy will revoke it. Powers are again classified as those which have effect under common law rules, and those deriving their force from the statute of uses. A power of the latter class is an authority to cause a use with its accompanying estate to spring up or shift from one person to another at the will of the person invested with it. These are sometimes made use of in family settlements, as a means of providing for events and contingencies which cannot be fully fore- seen, and they may or may not indicate the beneficiary. If they do not, the donee may designate whomsoever he shall please, or ab- stain altogether ; but if they do, they are powers in trust, and equity may compel the execution. A power is to be executed as pro- vided by the instrument creating it, if pro- vision be made therein; and a common law power not coupled with an interest is to be executed in the name of the donor of the power, except when given by will. POWER, Tyrone, an Irish actor, born in county Waterford in 1795, perished at sea in 1841. His mother, left a widow during his infancy, removed to Glamorganshire, South Wales, and in the theatre of the neighboring town of Cardiff Tyrone made his debut as Romeo. For several years he performed at provincial theatres, attempting both comic and pathetic parts. In 1818 he retired from the stage, but in 1821 reappeared in London. His first decided success in the metropolis was achieved in 1824 in the part of Paddy O'Hal- loran, and thenceforth he was unrivalled in Irish characters. To a prepossessing personal appearance he united a vivacious air, a genuine appreciation of Irish humor, a rich brogue, and a fine taste for singing. His personations of the "Irish Tutor," Rory O'More, Mur- toch Delany, " Teddy the Tiler," Sir Patrick O'Plenipo, and Phelim OTlannigan, written expressly for him, were among the triumphs of the comic stage. In 1833 and in 1840 he visited the United States. He embarked for Europe, March 11, 1841, in the steamship Presi- dent, which was never heard of. He pub-