Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/340

MEMPHIS. charter was secured. On June 6, 1862, a Confederate fleet under Commodore Montgomery was defeated near Memphis by a Federal fleet under Commodore Davis, and Memphis was thereafter until the close of the war held by the Federal forces, though in August, 1864, the Confederate General Forrest raided it and carried off several hundred prisoners. In 1879, on account of the city's inability to meet its financial obligations, its charter was revoked, and until 1891, when it was reincorporated, Memphis was merely the ‘Taxing District of Shelby County,’ governed by three commissioners and a board of public works. Yellow fever epidemics occurred in 1855, 1867, 1873, 1878, and 1879, those in 1873 and 1878 being especially disastrous. Since 1880, however, the city has built 210 miles of Waring sewers; and this improvement in the sewerage system, together with the discovery of pure artesian water, has resulted materially in improving the healthfulness of the city. Consult: Keating and Vedder, History of the City of Memphis (Syracuse, N. Y., 1888); Davis, History of the City of Memphis (Memphis, 1873).  MEMPHIS,. See.  MEM′PHREMAGOG. A lake situated in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and extending a short distance into Vermont (Map:, D 5). It has an elongated, irregular shape, is 35 miles long by from two to five miles wide, and discharges its waters northeastward through the Magog River into the Saint Francis. Along the west shore is a range of mountains reaching a height of 3500 feet; the lake is noted for its picturesque scenery. It is a favorite summer resort; numerous handsome villas dot its shores, and in summer a line of steamers runs from Newport, Vt., at the south end, to the Canadian village of Magog at the northern extremity.  MENA,, (c.1411-56). A Spanish poet, born at Cordova. He studied at Salamanca and afterwards went to Rome. Here he became an admirer of the works of Dante and Petrarch, and from then continued to be influenced by them. He was secretary to King John II. of Castile, and Court historian. His principal work is El laberinto (1496), a poem modeled on the Divine Comedy, which is also called Las tres cientas, from the original number of its verses—300. It is an elaborate, tedious allegory.  MENABREA,, , Count (1809-96). An Italian general and statesman. He was born at Chambéry, in Savoy, September 4, 1809, and was educated for an engineer. On completing his studies he entered the Sardinian army as lieutenant in the engineer corps, but was soon called to a professorship of applied mathematics in the military academy and at the University of Turin. In 1848 he was promoted to the rank of captain, served in the war against Austria, and was then employed on diplomatic business. As a member of the Chamber, he inclined to believe in the possibility of an accord of the Papacy with Italian unity; but, influenced by Cavour, he soon abandoned that hope and ranged himself with the radical Unionists. During the war of 1859, Menabrea acted as chief of staff in the Sardinian army. After the defeat of the Austrians by the French and the handing over of Savoy to France, he left the province to retain his Italian citizenship, and was created a Senator by Victor Emmanuel, and made chief of the Department of Engineers. In 1860 he became a lieutenant-general, and was director of the siege operations against Gaeta, where the King of Naples had taken refuge. It surrendered after a three months' siege, for which success he was made a count. In 1861 he succeeded Ricasoli as Minister of Marine, to which he added in 1862 the duties of Minister of Public Works. He assisted in framing the Treaty of Prague in 1866, which gave Venice to Italy. He was called in 1867, on the retirement of Rattazzi, to form a new Cabinet. He continued to carry on the Government until near the close of 1869, and in the two years of his Premiership did much for Italian stability, both at home and abroad. After resigning, Menabrea was appointed Italian Ambassador to London (1876) and Paris (1882). He remained at Paris for ten years. He died at Chambéry, May 25, 1896. Among the works he wrote are: Etudes sur la série de Lagrange (Turin, 1844-47); Le génie italien dans la campagne d'Ancône et de la Basse-Italie (Paris, 1866); République et monarchie dans l'état actuel de la France (ib., 1871).  MENAC′CANITE. See.  MENADO,. The capital of the Dutch Residency of Menado, in Northern Celebes. It is situated near the extremity of the northeastern peninsula of the island, on both sides of the river Tondano (Map:, F 4). It has an ethnological museum and is defended by the old Fort Amsterdam. Its unsafe roadstead detracts greatly from its commercial importance. Population, in 1895, 8996, including over 500 Europeans.  MENÆCHMI,. One of the best comedies of Plautus, so called from the twin brothers whose resemblance to each other and the amusing situations arising from their confusion form the plot of the play. The comedy is one of the earliest preserved plays of Plautus. It suggested in part the plot of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. William Warner translated the comedy into English in 1595. <section end="Menæchmi" /> <section begin="Ménage, Gilles de" />MÉNAGE,,  (1613-92). A French lexicographer and linguist, born at Angers. Disliking the profession of an advocate, he renounced it, entered the Church, and fixed his residence in the Convent of Notre Dame. His Dictionnaire etymologique, ou Origines de la langue française (Paris, 1650-94; best ed. by Jault. 2 vols., Paris, 1750), and his Origini della lingua italiana (1669) are erudite and valuable works. <section end="Ménage, Gilles de" /> <section begin="Menagerie" />MENAGERIE. See. <section end="Menagerie" /> <section begin="Menai Strait" />MENAI STRAIT. The channel which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales (Map:, B 3). It is 13 miles long and varies in width from about 250 yards to two miles, widening out north of Bangor into Beaumaris Bay. Navigation of it is hazardous, but the strait is nevertheless much used by vessels under 100 tons in order to save time. At the entrance of the strait the tides sometimes rise to a height of 30 feet, and the ordinary neap-tide rises from 10 to 12 feet. The strait is spanned by a suspension bridge, built in 1819-26, and by the Britannia Bridge. <section end="Menai Strait" />