Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/713

 THAMES THANKSGIVING DAY 683 river, Oct. 5, 1813, the battle of the Thames was fought between the British under Gen. Proctor, with an auxiliary force of 2,000 In- dians led by Tecumseh, and the Americans under Gen. W. H. Harrison. The American cavalry, commanded by Col. Eichard M. John- son, opened the battle, and defeated the enemy. Tecumseh was 'killed, and 600 prisoners, six pieces of cannon, and large quantities of stores were taken by the Americans. THAMES, or Isls (anc. Tamesis or Tamesa), the largest and most important river of Eng- land. Its source, called Thames Head, is in the Cotswold hills, about 3 m. S. W. of Ciren- cester, 376 ft. above the sea level. In the first 30 m. of its course it receives the Churnet, the Coin, and the Lech, and below Lechlade becomes navigable for barges ; from Lechlade its course is first E. and then N. N. E. and S. S. E. to Oxford, through a level country, the river receiving on its way the Windrush and the Cherwell. Flowing generally S. S. E. from Oxford to Reading, it receives the Thame and the Kennet ; thence making a considerable cir- cuit to the north by Henley, Great Marlow, and Maidenhead, it turns eastward to Wind- sor, then makes a detour southeastward by Staines and Chertsey to Kingston, where it turns' N., and, passing Richmond, reaches Brentford, whence its course is nearly due E. to its mouth. Erom Brentford it passes by Putney, Hammersmith, and Chelsea to London, receiving in its course the Loddon, Colne, Mole, Cran, Brent, and Wandle, all small streams. From London to its mouth, nearly 60 m., the Thames is navigable for vessels of TOO or 800 tons, and for vessels of any burden to Dept- ford, 3 m. S. E. of London bridge. It is about 300 yards wide at London bridge; at Wool- wich, 9 m. below, 500 yards; at Coalhouse point, 20 m. further down, 1,300 yards ; at the Nore, 6 m. ; and at its mouth, 18 m. Below London it receives the Ravensbourne, Roding, Darent, and Medway. Its tide is perceptible as far as Teddington, 72 m. above its mouth. The Thames and Severn canal connects it with the Severn ; the Oxford canal with the grand canal system of the central counties ; the Wilts and Berks and the Kennet and Avon canals with the Avon and the Severn ; the Wey and Arun and the Basingstoke canals with the Sus- sex coast; the Grand Junction, the Regent's, and the Paddington canals connect the Brent with the Oxford canal, and encircle the N. and E. sides of the metropolis. The whole course of the Thames is about 220 m. Its commerce is surpassed probably by that of no river in the world. Its docks are described in the article BOCK. It is crossed at and above London by numerous bridges, and several tunnels pass under it. For a description of the bridges, the tunnels, and the new Thames embankments, see LONDON, vol. x., pp. 592 and 617. THAN, Moricz, a Hungarian painter, born at Old Becse in 1828. After studying law at Pesth, he devoted himself to painting at the academy of Vienna, and spent some time in Paris, where in 1855 he painted the battle of Mohacs. He resided for a time at Rome, re- ceiving instruction from Cornelius and Over- beck, and then settled in Pesth. His works include "Angelica and Medor," "The Tragedy of Mankind," fine altarpieces and frescoes, and the "Love of Fata Morgana," which figured at the Paris exhibition of 1867. THANET, Isle of, an island of England, on the N. coast of Kent, separated from the mainland by branches of the river Stour called the Stour- wantsome, the Mele-stream, and the Nether- gong-wantsome ; length 10 m., breadth 5 m. ; area, about 40 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 30,134. The most important towns are the watering places Ramsgate, Margate, and Broadstairs. The N. E. point of the island is called the North Foreland, and has a lighthouse. The surface, elevated and nearly level, is cultivated with great care. In the time of the Romans the channel on the N. W. side, now almost closed, was from 1 to 4 m. wide, and was used as the main passage for vessels going toward London ; and it continued to be navi- gable for vessels of considerable size till the time of the Norman conquest. The island was then nearly circular, but it is now an irregular oval. The washing away is still going on, and the average annual loss is estimated at 2 ft. on the N. side, and 3 ft. on the S. side between Ramsgate and Pegwell bay. THANKSGIVING DAY, an annual religious fes- tival, observed in the United States, and par- ticularly in New England, suggested by the Hebrew feast of tabernacles, or " feast of in- gathering at the end of the year." The occa- sional observance of a day of thanksgiving, formally recommended by the civil authorities, was not unusual in Europe, and such a day was observed in Leyden, Holland, Oct. 3, 1575, the first anniversary of the deliverance of that city from siege. In 1608 the Pilgrim church, ex- iled from England, went to Holland, and re- mained there till 1620, when it sent off the Mayflower colony to New England. After the first harvest of the colonists at Plymouth in 1621, Gov. Bradford sent four men out fowl- ing, that they "might after a more special manner rejoice together." In July, 1623, a day of fasting and prayer was appointed on account of drought. Rain came abundantly while they were praying, and the governor appointed a day of thanksgiving, which was observed with religious services. The Charles- town records show a similar change of fast day into thanksgiving in 1631 on account of the arrival of supplies from Ireland. In June, 1632, Gov. Winthrop, of the Massachusetts Bay colony, recommended a day of thanks- giving on account of action of the British privy council favorable to the colonies, and invited the governor of Plymouth colony to unite with him. There is record of the official appointment of days of thanksgiving in Massa- chusetts Bay in 1633, 1634, 1637, 1638, and