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 342 VICO VICTOR assist me in keeping this obstruction to the enemy's free navigation of the Mississippi river. I still conceive it to be the most important point in the confederacy." Hoping to carry the place by a coup de main, Grant attacked Pemberton's lines on May 19, but was repulsed, and began a regular siege. He was soon re- enforced so as to have nearly 70,000 men, with whom he maintained the investment till the morning of July 3, when Pemberton sent him a note asserting that he was fully able to main- tain his position for an indefinite period, but proposing that commissioners should be named on both sides to arrange terms of capitulation. Grant consented to meet Pemberton in person to arrange the terms. The meeting took place at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the actual surrender followed next morning. The paroled prisoners numbered about 27,000, of whom about three fifths were fit for duty in the trenches, the remainder being sick or wounded. The Union loss, from the crossing at Bruins- burg, April 30, to the surrender, was 943 killed, 7,093 wounded, and 537 missing; in all, 8,575, of whom 4,236 were before Vicksburg. The confederate loss is estimated at about 10,000. VICO, Francesco de, an Italian astronomer, born in Macerata, May 19, 1805, died in London, Nov. 15, 1848. He was educated at the col- lege of Urbino, and became in 1835 assistant superintendent, and in 1839 director of the observatory of the Roman college. In 1848, when the Jesuits were driven from Rome, he came to the United States. He died while in Europe for the purpose of purchasing instru- ments for an observatory to be erected under his direction in the state of New York. His fame as an astronomer rests on his observa- tions of the ring system of Saturn and spots of Venus, and his discovery of seven or eight comets. He was also an excellent composer of church music. VICO, Giovanni Battista, an Italian author, born in Naples about 1668, died Jan. 20, 1744. He was educated by the Jesuits and studied law, but never practised. For nine years he was tutor in jurisprudence to a nephew of the bish- op of Ischia, and afterward for about 40 years professor of rhetoric at Naples. In 1735 he was appointed historiographer to the king. He wrote De Katione Studiorum (1708), De An- tiqui**ima Italorum Sapientia (1710), and De uno tfiiirerxi Juri Principio et Fine (1720), all in a manner introductory to his main work, Prineipii di una scienza nuora d'intorno alia commune natttra delle nazioni (1725), which is at once a history of civilization, a natural his- tory of mankind, and a philosophy of law. Vico may be regarded as the founder of the philosophy of history. He places Divine Prov- idence at the basis of all history, and shows its working in language, mythology, religion, law, and government. One of the best editions of his works is by Ferrari (7 vols., Madrid, 1834-'7). ' VICQ D'AZYR, Felix, a French physician, born at Valogne, Normandy, April 28, 1748, died in Paris, June 20, 1794. In 1765 he went to Paris to complete his studies, and in 17T3 he opened public courses of lectures on human and com- parative physiology ; but the jealousy of other professors finally obliged him to give private lectures. Daubenton, whose niece he had pro- fessionally attended and then married, enabled him to extend his sphere of activity. He was admitted to the academy of sciences in 1774, and Lassonne, the king's physician, employed him in official investigations of the murrain then raging in southern France, which ulti- mately led to the establishment of the royal medical society, of which he became perpetual secretary. In this capacity he delivered eulo- gies on Linnaeus, Franklin, and others. In 1788 he succeeded Buff on in the French acad- emy, the annals of which ho enriched with nu- merous contributions. In 1789 he became first physician to Marie Antoinette. His devotion to her gave umbrage to the revolutionists, and they obliged him to attend Robespierre's fes- tival of the Supreme Being (June 8, 1794), an ordeal which gave the final blow to his shat- tered health. His works include La medecine de* bftes a come (2 vola., 1781); Traite d>ana- tomie et de physiologic, and Systeme anatomique des quadrupedes (2 vols., l786-'92); and Sys- teme anatomique (4 vols., 1791-1822). Moreau (de la Sarthe) delivered a eulogy on him in 1797, and Leraontey in 1827; Moreau edited a collection of his works (6 vols., 1805). VICTOR (VICTOR-PERRIX), Chide, duke of Belluno, a French soldier, born at Lamarche, Lorraine, Dec. 7, 1764, died in Paris, March 1, 1841. lie entered the army as a private in 1781, became a major in 1791, and was made brigadier general for his efficiency in the siege of Toulon, where he was twice wounded, but was not confirmed in that grade till 1795. In 1797 ho was made general of division after brilliant services in Italy, where in 1800 he contributed largely to the victories of Monte- bello and Marengo. He was commander-in- chief of the Gallo-Batavian army in 1800-'2, was next appointed captain general of Louisi- ana, and in 1803 resumed the former office. In 1805 he went as minister to Copenhagen. In the following year he operated against the Prussians, into whose hands he fell while trav- elling in 1807, but was exchanged for Blucher. In the same year he was made marshal and duke after the battle of Friedland. In 1808 he was sent to Spain in command of the first corps, gained several victories and contributed chiefly to the capture of Madrid, shared in the defeat of Talavera, and in 1810 commenced the prolonged siege of Cadiz. In 1812 he served on the reserve in Russia, covering the retreat of the army across the Beresina. In 1813 he cooperated in the capture of Dresden and in the battles of Leipsic and Hanau. In March, 1814, he was severely wounded at Craonne. After the first restoration he adhered to the Bourbons, remained faithful during the hun- dred days, and was made a peer. Placed at