Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 19.djvu/940

* VALLANDIGHAM. 804 VALLEY FORGE. part ill the Democratic convention of 1864. In June, 1871, while acting as counsel in a murder trial, lie attempted to illustrate his theory of liow the shooting had been done, and was killed by the accidental discharge of the pistol. Consult J. L. Vallandigham, Life of CUiiunt L. Vallandigham (Baltimore, 1872). VALLE, val'la, Pietro dei.la ( 1.5S6-10.r2). An Italian traveler, born in Rome. He received a good education in the arts and sciences and became a member of the Roman Academy of the Umoristi. In 1611 he took service against the Moors of Barbary. He traveled extensively in the Orient during the years 1614-2G, "going to Turkey, Egypt, Palestine, Persia, and India, studying the languages and the customs of these countries. In 1621 he started from Ispalian and visited the ruins of Persepolis. He saw the cuneiform inscriptions there and copied several of the characters. He went to India in 1623, where he remained, chiefly at Surat and Goa, for more than a year. He first drew attention to the existence of the ancient Sanskrit language. He died in Rome. Of his works, which are all marked by clearness and exact knowledge, but also betray the desire to relate miraculous things, the most fanx>us is the Viaggi in Turchia. Persia ed India descritti in 5-J let- tere faniigliari (1050-58), translated into French (1661-U4K German ( 1674) . and English (1664), while a new translation in the latter language was made by Grey, Trarcls of Pietro della Valle in India (1892).' VALLE DE SANTIAGO, viil'ya da san'- te-ii'go. A town in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico, situated in a fertile valley. 45 miles Bouth of the city of Guanajuato (Map: Mexico, H 7). It has a celebrated parish church, built during the early years of the eighteenth century. Municijial population, in 1895, 12,671. VALLEJO, val-ya'ho. A city in Solano County. C'al., 30 miles north by east of San Francisco ; on San Pablo Bay, and on the South- ern Pacific Railroad (Map: California, B 2). It has Saint Vincent's Convent School and a public (Carnegie) library. Other features include the city hall, the buildings of the various fraternal organizations, the Home for Orphans, and the Sailors' Club House, projected in 1903. Vallejo is surrounded by a ricli fanning section and is of considerable industrial importance. The lead- ing establisliment is the Mare Island Navy Yard, which gives employment to nearly 2000 men. There are also a cement plant, a fish cannery, flour and planing mills, and a tannery. A quick- silver mine is operated near the city. The gov- ernment is vested in a mayor, elected every tAvo years, a board of public works, and a board of •city trustees. The water-works are owned and operated by the municipality. Vallejo was found- ed in 1851 to be the capital of the State, and the Legislature met here in 1851. in 1852. and for a time in 1853. It was chartered in 1866, and in 1871 ranked as the third city in size in the State. Population, in 1890, 6.343; in 1900, 7965. VAL'LENTINE, Benjamin Bennaton (1843 — ). All English journalist and author, born in London. He was educated at King Edward 'I.'s school at Birmingham. Abandoning study for the English bar, he came to the United States and wrote for various New York papers, becom- ing dramatic critic for the New York Herald. He was one of the founders of Puck in 1877, and was its editor down to 1884. To this periodical he contributed a series of humorous observations on current events under the titles "Fitznoodle in New York," "Fitznoodle in America," and "Fitznoodle at Home" (1877-84). Besides these papers, by which he is best known, are stories such as "The Lost Train" and "The Last Circle" — and successful plays, Fitznoodle ; A Southern Romance; In Paradise: Fritz in Neir York: and Madame Saccard (adapted from Zola's drama Renie). He advocated a national American en- dowed theatre. VALLEY. A depression in the land surface usually occupied by a river. The chief agency in the formation of a valley is erosion carried on by the running streams and assisted by the natural decay or weathering of the rocks in whieli the channels lie. The relative rapidity with which the two agencies of erosion and weathering perform their work determines to some extent the form of the valley. In dry regions where erosion along the river bed pro- ceeds at a rapid rate compared to the weathering of the rocks on the sides the valley may be narrow and bordered by steep walls. With the lapse of time, however, erosion alone will widen the valley as the stream tends more and more to cut away the walls in proportion as the channel is lowered to base-level, and when this stage is reached the course of the stream wanders from one side to the other, forming a flood- plain by deposition of the silt that has been brought down from above. See River. VAL'LEYFIELD. A port of entry in Beau- harnois County, uebec. Canada : on the Saint Lawrence River, the Beauharnois Canal, Lake Saint Francis, and the Grand Trunk, the Canada Atlantic, and the Adirondack and Saint Law- rence railroads; 30 miles southwest of Montreal (Map: Quebec, B 5). It has a cathedral, a col- lege, and a hospital; cotton, paper, and flour mills, electric lights, water-works, and excellent water power. Population, in 1891. 5515; in 1901, 11.055. VALLEY FORGE. A small village on the Schuylkill Pviver, in Cliester County, Pa.; on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, 24 miles west-northwest of Philadelphia. Here on De- cember 17, 1777, after the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and the occupation of Pliiladel- phia by the British, the American army, of about 11.000. encamped for the winter. Washing- ton chose this place partly for its defensibility and ])artly to protect Congress, then in session at York. Pa., from a sudden British attack. Owing largely to the incapacity of the quartermaster- general and of the Commissary Department, the men were left without adequate shelter, food, or clothing, and in consequence suffered terrible hardships, many dying of starvation and cold. At no time were more than half of their number fit for active service. It was here, however, that Baron Steuben (q.v. ) trained, disciplined, and re- organized the army, and thus enabled it to fight with greater efficiency in subsequent campaigns, and it was here (May 1. 1778) that news reached Washington and his troops of the consummation of the French alliance. On June 18, 1778, Wash-