Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/494

AMALFI. and its eolurans from Paestum. An old Capuchin monastery, deitincr from the bej;inning of the thirteenth century, is finely situated west of Anialfi in the hollow of a rock rising about 230 feet from the sea. In December, 1899. a large portion of the rock slid into the sea, carrying along the houses in its path. The town produces paper, soap, and macaroni. It is connected by steamer with Naples and Messina. Pop., 1881, 7500. According to local tradition, Amalfi was founded by Constantine the Great. From the ninth to the eleventh century it was an independent State, and was ruled by doges. It had a large population, and enjoyed a con- siderable trade with the Orient. Amalfi carried on a long struggle with the Pisans and the neigh- boring prince's" of Salerno. Since the twelfth century the place has been on the decline. The oldest known maritime code, the Tabula Amal- pliitana, was compiled in Amalfi, and the town is otherwise famous as being the birthplace of Fla- vio Gioja — who was wrongly accredited with the invention of the mariner's compass — and of Masaniello.

AMAL'GAM (Lat. Gk. fidUyfia, malagma, ^n emollient, plaster, from //aXa/cdf, malakos, soft). An alloy of mercury with one or more other metals. An amalgam of silver crystal- lizing in the isometric system has been found native; a gold amalgam, too, has been reported from several localities, including California. Artificially, amalgams are made { 1 ) by bringing metallic inercury into contact A-ith another metal, as antimony, arsenic, bismuth, etc.; (2) by bringing mercury into contact with a satu- rated solution of a salt of the other metal, when part of the mercury goes into solution and the remainder combines with the liberated metal, which is the ease with calcium, iron, and certain other metals: (3) by placing the metal to be amalgamated in a solution of a salt of mercury, wliieh is the usual method tor amalgamating ccjpper and aluminum; finally (4) by placing the metal to be anuxlgamated in contact with mercury and dilute acids. Amalgams may be either solid or liquid. Those which are liquid are regarded as solutions in which there is an excess of mercury. The more important amalgams are as follows: Cop- per amalaam, which is made by triturating finely divided metallic copper with mercurous sulphate under hot water. This amal.tfam has the property of softening when kneaded, and be- coming quite hard after standing some hours, which has led to its use for filling teeth. Gold amalgam is formed by heating mercury with powdered gold or gold foil. The readiness with which mercury combines with gold has been made the basis of an important process for the extraction of the latter from ores. After the ore or the gold quartz has been stamped to fine powder, the powder is brought in con- tact with mercury. The gold re.adily unites with the mercury, forming an amalgam, which is then placed in a retort, from which the mercury is expelled by heating, and may be collected for further use, while the gold remains in the retort. Silver amalgam is formed by the union of mercury with finely divided si"!ver, and this fact is taken advantage of for the extraction of silver from its ores by a process analogous to that described in connec- tion with gold amalgam. An amalgam consist- ing of 8 parts of mercury to I part of silver is used for silvering metals. Jlercury readil^if combines with sodium when the tw'o elements are brought in contact with each other, yield- ing an amalgam which is largely used by chem- ists as a reducing agent. Tin amalgam is formed when mercury is brought in contact with tin in the proportions of 3 parts of the former to I part of the latter. This amalgam is the one commonly used for silvering mirrors. Zinc amalgam results when zinc filings are mixed with mercury at a heat somewhat below the boiling point of the latter. It is used for coating the rubbers of electric machines. Amal- gams of bismuth, cadmium, magnesium, potas- sium, and other metals are known, but have no important commercial uses. Consult Dudley, "An Index to the Literature of Amalgams," in Pro- ceediuys of the Antcrican Association for the Advancement of licioice (Salem, 1889).

AMAL'GAMA'TION. See.

AMALIA,, (1739-1807). The wife of Duke Ernest Augustus of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. She was born at Wolfenbüttel. On the death of her husband, in 1758, she was appointed Regent for her infant son, Karl August, whom, aided by his tutor, Wieland, she trained in the love of literature and art, also doing much to foster education and material prosperity throughout his domains. Soon after assuming the government, the Duke, with his mother's active co-operation, gathered at Weimar a galaxy of literary talent probably never equaled. Goethe, Herder, and Schiller were its brightest stars, but they shone in goodly company. Weimar continued during and beyond her life what she, more than any other, had made it, the literary centre of Germany. She died at Weimar, April 10, 1807. Consult Gerard, A Grand Duchess, The Life of Anna Amalia, and the Classical Circle of Weimar (New York, 1902).

AMALIE,, , or (1782-1866). The wife of Louis Philippe, King of the French. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand I. (IV). of the Two Sicilies. When she married Louis Philippe (then Duke of Orleans), he was a political exile, without hope of ever rising to the throne of France. Amalie never interfered in politics, and possessing all the domestic virtues, was happy with her husband. She shared his fortunes in exile, and was received in England with the respect due her.

AMALIE,, (1818-75). Queen of Greece, daughter of Grand Duke Augustus of Oldenburg. She married King Otho of Greece, November 22, 1836, and was much beloved for firmness, benevolence, and many other virtues. After her husband's deposition in 1862 she accompanied him to Bavaria, residing after his death at Bamberg.

AMALIE, (1794-1870). A German duchess and dramatist, eldest sister of King John of Saxony. In part under the pseudonym of Amalie Heiter, she published a large number of dramas, some of which have been adapted to the French and English stage. She also wrote operas and sacred music. There is a complete edition of her dramatic works by Waldmüller (6 volumes, 1873-74).

AMAL'RIC OF BENE, ban (?-1209). Also called Amaury of Chartkes. The founder of a school of Pantheists known by his name. He