Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/578

BARCELONA. ing, commerce, agriculture, war, theology, pedagogy, etc. The elementary education is under the control of the municipality, and is compulsory — but only in theory. The Provincial and the University libraries have together over 154,000 volumes, and the general archives of the Kings of Aragon number nearly 4,000,000 documents. The Palacio de Bellas Artes, situated in the park, is used for exhibitions of paintings and sculptures. Barcelona has a considerable number of theatres, among which the Gran Teatro de Liceo is the largest, with a seating capacity of 4000. There is also a bull-ring, with a seating capacity of 14,500.

Barcelona is one of the largest cotton-manufacturing centres of Spain. Its other important manufactures are woolen and silk fabrics, metal articles, paper, glass, leather, and chemicals. Barcelona's commercial importance dates from the Middle Ages. The shipping, including the coast traffic, exceeds 3,000,000 tons per annum. The total commerce of the port amounted in 1898 to 361,000.000 pesetas (over $69,000,000), of which 220,000,000 pesetas (more than $42,000,000) represented imports.

The exports consist chiefly of wine, southern fruits, and manufactures. The imports are mostly grain from Russia and the United States, cotton from the United States, hemp, metal products, and foodstuffs. Barcelona has direct communication with Germany, Morocco, Great Britain, and the West Indies. It is the seat of a United States consulate, and has consular representatives from every country of importance. Municipal enterprise has improved the harbor considerably since 1880 by means of extensive moles and lighthouses.

In its administration Barcelona is the most autonomous municipality in Spain. It is governed by a council, elected by all citizens above the age of 25, who have resided not less than 2 years in the commune. The term of office is 4 years, and the council is presided over by an alcalde, chosen by the members from their midst. The council has charge of all the departments of municipal administration, and even exercises supervision over private charitable institutions. The death-rate of Barcelona is below the average for the entire country, and its sanitary conditions are improving rapidly. The city is lighted by gas and electricity, supplied by private companies. The general progress of Barcelona was accompanied by a corresponding increase of population during the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Population, in 1877, 249,000; in 1887, 272,481; in 1897 (after large annexation of suburbs and manufacturing quarters), 510,000. Consult Montpalais, Memorias Históricas de Barcelona (Madrid, 1779-92).

Barcelona was founded by the Phœnicians, and is said to have derived its early name of Barcino from Hamilcar Barca, who made it one of the centres of Carthaginian power in the Peninsula. An important city under the Romans, Goths, and Saracens, Barcelona in the latter half of the Ninth Century became an independent sovereignty, under a Christian chief of its own, whose descendants continued to govern it (being known as the Counts of Barcelona) until 1137, when Catalonia, by the marriage of its prince, Raymond Berengar, with the heiress to the crown of Aragon, became a part of that kingdom. During the Middle Ages, Barcelona became a flourishing seaport, rivaled in the Mediterranean by Genoa only. To its commercial code, framed in the Thirteenth Century, much deference was paid by the whole of Europe. In 1640 Barcelona revolted from Philip IV., but in spite of the support of the French arms, it was forced to resume its allegiance in 1652. In 1705 the fortress of Monjuich was surprised and captured by Lord Peterborough (q.v.), and the city surrendered shortly afterwards. In 1714, after a most heroic defense, it was stormed by the Duke of Berwick, and given over to fire and sword. The French held it from 1808 to 1814. During the Nineteenth Century Barcelona took an active share in the political dissensions of the Spanish nation. It was the centre both of reactionary and radical agitations, the scene of socialist and Carlist uprisings and of anarchist activity, and the stronghold of Separatism.

BARCELONA. The capital of the State of Barcelona, Venezuela, on the Neveri River, 3 miles from the Atlantic coast; 150 miles east of Carácas (Map: Venezuela, E 1). It is connected with the port of Guanta by a railroad. The city is at the northern limits of the fertile llanos, and is regularly laid out, but is rather poorly built and unhealthful. There are, however, a few fine buildings, such as the Government House, the Masonic Temple, and the theatre, market, hospitals, churches, and educational institutions. The city has coal and salt mines in the vicinity, and is the seat of an extensive commerce. Barcelona was settled in 1638 at the foot of the Cerro Santo, but in 1671 the settlement was removed to the present site of the city. It was the capital of the former State of Barcelona until 1881, when it became the capital of the State of Bermúdez, which was subsequently divided into the States of Barcelona and Sucre. The city formerly had a much larger population than at present, but suffered severely in the War of Independence. Population, in 1891, 12,785; in 1899, about 9000.

BAR'CLAY, (c. 1475-1552). A poet and satirist. He was born about 1475, but whether in England or Scotland is not certain. He studied at one or both of the English universities, and then obtained, through his patron, Bishop Cornish, an appointment as priest in the College of Saint Mary Ottery, in Devonshire. He afterwards became a monk of the Benedictine Monastery of Ely, where he remained until its suppression in 1539. He died in June, 1552, six weeks after he had been presented to the rectory of All-Hallows, London. His claim to notice rests chiefly upon his famous poem, The Shyp of Folys of the Worlde — partly a translation, and partly an imitation, of the German Narrenschiff, originally by Sebastian Brandt — printed by Pynson in 1509, and since often reprinted. Barclay, however, knew nothing of the original, but founded his translation on a Latin version by Jacob Locher, entitled Stultifera Navis. The poem is interesting as showing the manners and customs of the times satirized. He published several works besides; among others, The Myrrour of Good Maners, The Castell of Laboure, The Egloges, the first eclogues that appeared in the English language; and also made a translation of Sallust's History of the Jugurthine War. In his lifetime he was admired for his wit and eloquence, and his writings exhibit a refinement not common in that