BELOX, PIKRRR 



BELZONI, GIOVANNI. 



6M 



year*. HU eoodnct her* afford* a HIM lesson for the young officer, 

 wbatsvir Mrvtce h* may b ID, and to whatever country ho may belong. 

 Hi* strictly piufmslonal duties, and they were very onerous, were most 

 carefully and wdalouily performed, and he obtained, u before, the 

 warms** oommeixUtiont from hi* superior*. Bat hii own time wa* 

 carefully hasbanded and admirably employed. He not only extended 

 hi* knowledge, especially in hydrography and geography, but taught 

 hinuelf to ipeak English, Spanish, and German fluently ; and withal, 

 gave up much time and thought to what he had come to regard as an 

 important part of an officer 1 * doty the training of hi* subordinates. 

 So far indeed did he carry thi, that, both here and on the African 

 tattoo, hi* biographer inform* u, " he gare on board the vessel 

 enure* of lecture* on geometry and navigation for all those seamen 

 who, being intended for masters of trading vessels, would have to pass 

 on their return the examination in theory and practice required by the 

 rule* of the marine." 



Rellot'* thought* were now turned to a new sphere of operations. 

 The earoh after Sir John Franklin and bis gallant comrades had 

 itoatod general attention to the Polar Regions. When he found that 

 his own government would not, as he had hoped, aid in the starch, he 

 asked for and obtained permission to volunteer his services in the 

 expedition fitting out, chiefly at the expense of Lady Franklin, under 

 Mr. Kennedy. His services were gladly accepted, and he sailed in the 

 schooner ' Royal Albert' in the beginning of June 1861, holding no 

 declared rank, but really second in command, with the understanding 

 that he was to act as chief officer in case of Captain Kennedy's death. 

 Of this voyage Lieutenant Bellot left a full and very interesting 

 journal, which has been published under the editorship of M. de 1* 

 Roqnette, along with his memoirs. The ' Royal Albert* was ice-bound 

 in Fury Bay for 330 days, snd was compelled to return without having 

 obtained any tidings of Sir John Franklin ; but the expedition wu so 

 far successful as to bar* ascertained that Sir John could not bare 

 proceeded in the direction indicated for their search, and every man 

 wa brought home alive and in good health. 



Bellot had displayed in this, as on every previous service, the most 

 intelligent and devoted attention to its duties, and had secured the 

 hearty good -will of loth officer* and seamen. In England he was 

 received with an amount of enthusiasm for which he was little pre- 

 pared, and his own government marked its approbation by raising 

 him a step in rank. But he was not disposed to rest on his laurels. 

 He again obtained permission to volunteer in a new searching expe- 

 dition, and in June 1853 set oat in the 'Phoenix,' Captain Inglefield. 

 Thry anchored safely in Erebus and Terror Bay, where they found 

 lying the ' North Star,' but its commander, Captain Pullen, had been 

 for a month away from his ship on an exploratory journey. Captain 

 Inglefleld resolved to set out in search of Captain Pullen, but the 

 latter returned shortly after Inglefield's departure. It now appeared 

 very desirable at onoe to forward, if possible, the despatches, which 

 it had been a principal object of the expedition to convey, to Sir 

 Edward Belcher. In the absence of his captain, Lieutenant Bellot 

 volunteered to conduct this perilous undertaking. He accordingly 

 set oat with four sailor*, a canoe, and a sledge. A few days later, 

 on the 18th of August, while crossing the ice, about three miles from 

 MM ahore, off Cape Bowden, they were caught in a gale, became 

 separated, and Bellot, with two of bis companions, drifted on a broken 

 piece of ice towards mid-channel. After cheering bis companions as 

 well as he was able, Bellot crossed to the opposite side of the hum- 

 mock to see how the ice wa* drifting. A* he did not return, one of 

 the ilors went after him ; but he was not to be seen, and ho was 

 never **n again. His stick lay on the other side of a wide crack, 

 into which be had no doubt been driven by the violence of the wind. 

 His companions happily escaped. 



Thof, at the age of twenty-six, was lost one of the most promising 

 MB who have adorned the French navy. The news of bis sad end 

 wa* received with general sorrow in both countries. Here a meeting 

 was held, at which resolution*, expressive of admiration and regret, 

 were moved and supported bv the First Lord of the Admiralty, the 

 President of the Geographical Society, and various eminent naval 

 oAe*T* and scientific men; and a subscription was authorised for 

 raising a testimonial to his memory. The testimonial took the form 

 best calculated to do him honour. Out of the funds a handsome 

 irraniu obelisk, bearing bis name, was placed in front of the gates of 

 Greenwich Hospital ; and to each of his five sisters a sum of about 

 WOl WM appropriated. The French government provided for Lis 

 two brothers. 



(LetMT. tftmoh- tf Lifutexmt JtttfK Kat4 BeUot, Ae.) 



MKI.o.v, PIERRR, on* of the fathers of natural history on the 

 revival of letters, was bora at Souletiore, a village In the French pro- 

 vince of Main* (now the department of Sarthe), somewhere about the 

 year 1518. Dewrvedly great a* is to* fame which h* acquired, nothing 

 rein* to be known concerning his family. Medicine and botany were 

 bis .todies at a very early period of hi* life ; and the bishops of Mans 

 ol of Clermont, and afterward* the cardinal* of Tournon snd of 

 Ixrreine, were bis patrons. To them he owed his education, the mean* 

 of trarellinir, and the opportunities of publishing the observation* 

 which be so well knew how to make. 



He visited Germany, Bohemis, Italy, Ore**, Egypt, Palestine, and 

 Asia Minor, snd appeared in Paris, after tbre* year* of absence, In 



1560, with a fine and extensive collection, which he arranged: he 

 then proceeded to publish his work*. In 1567 he traversed Italy, 

 Savoy, Daaphine 1 , and Auvergne. In 16<J4, when he wa* about forty- 

 five yean old, he was cut off in the midst of his useful career by the 

 arm of an assassin as be was returning to Paris. The Hois de Boulogne 

 was the scene of this murder. 



It would be out of place in a work of tills description to give a cata- 

 logue of hi* various and excellent publications. The sciences of 

 botany, zoology, geography, and antiquity, were all enriched by his 

 labours. Henry II. and Charles IX. of France reflected honour on 

 themselves by the esteem which they showed for this celebrated, man, 

 who was far in advance of the age in which he lived. 



BELSHAM, THOMAS, a dissenting minister of the Unitarian per- 

 suasion, was bom at Bedford in April 1750. On his mother's side he 

 was descended from the Earl of Anglesey : bis father, the Kev. James 

 Reli-ham, was a man of classical attainments. After studying for five 

 years at the Dissenters' Academy at Daventry, then under l>r. Ash- 

 worth, Mr. Belsham was appointed assistant tutor in that academy, an 

 office which he held for seven years. He was then chosen pastor of a 

 church at Worcester, where lie remained for three years, when he 

 returned to Daventry Academy as theological tutor and head of the 

 institution. This office he continued to fill from 1781 to 1789, ami at 

 the same time was minister of the Society of Protestant Diwienters at 

 Daventry. His views had hitherto been Calvinistic, but be now 

 embraced Cnitarianism, and in consequence resigned his connection 

 both with the academy and with his congregation. About thi< time, 

 a new college bring established at Hackney, it was placed under the 

 direction of Mr. Belsharo, but in n few years it sunk for want of funds 

 to support it. Before this event took place he was chosen to the vacant 

 pulpit of Dr. Priestley by the Gravel Pit congregation, where he again 

 entered upon those exertions which were most congenial to his tastes. 

 Eleven years afterwards, in 1805, on the death of Dr. Disney, the col- 

 league and successor of Mr. Lindsey, Mr. Belsham removed to Kwx- 

 street chapel, London, of which he continued the pastor during the 

 rest of his life. 



From the time that Mr. Belsham avowed his conversion to the doc- 

 trines held by the Unitarians he espoused their cause with great zeal, 

 and applied his talents and learning to its defence. One of his earliest 

 publications was ' A Review of Mr. Wilberforce's Treatise, entitled A 

 Practical View of the prevailing Religious System of Professed Chris- 

 tians,' Ac., 1798, in which it was the writer's design to place the theo- 

 logical doctrines maintained by the author of the ' Practical View ' in 

 contrast with those professed by Unitarians. In 1811 he published a 

 work entitled ' A Calm Inquiry into the Scripture Doctrine concerning 

 the Person of Christ.' His single sermons, on subjects chiefly sug- 

 gested by public events, would make up several volumes, and his con- 

 troversial writings are numerous. There is hardly any branch of 

 theology, or of the doctrines or evidences of revelation, on which Mr. 

 Belsham has not published his thoughts. His ' Kvidences of the 

 Christian Revelation ' is a powerfully argumentative and sometimes 

 eloquent work, which had a largo sale, and was perhaps the most 

 popular of his performances. His last work, and that perhaps on 

 which his reputation must rest, was ' A Translation of the Kp istles of 

 Paul the Apostle, with an Exposition and Notes.' He had been pre- 

 viously employed on a work of which he is now known to havi- 

 the editor, 'The Improved Version of the New Testament.' Hut Mr. 

 Belsham's literary works were not exclusively theological. In 1 M>1 ho 

 published ' Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind and of 

 Moral Philosophy.' As a follower of Hartley, he resolved all mental 

 phenomena into the association of ideas. Besides his numerous 

 obituary sermons, he published 'Memoirs of the late Rev. Theophilus 

 Lindsey, M.A., including a Brief Analysis of his works,' Ac., IM'J. 

 Mr. BelxLam died at Hampstead on November llth, 1829. (Memoirt 

 of the late Rtv. Tliomat Beldam, by John AVilliams, 8vo, 1883.) 



BELSHAM, WILLIAM, an active writer on politics and history, 

 brother of Thomas Belsbam, was born in 1752, and died Nov. 17th, 

 127 at Hammersmith. He resided at one period at Bedford, and was 

 intimately acquainted with several of the most celebrated public men 

 belonging to the Whig party, to whose politics he was strongly 

 attached. His literary career commenced in 1789, by the publication 

 of a series of ' Essays, Historical, Political, and Literary,' in 2 vols. 

 8vo. These were followed by ' Letters and Essavs,' publihed at 

 various periods, on the ' Test Laws,' the ' French Revolution,' the 

 ' 1 li^tinction between the Old and New Whigs,' 'Parliamentary Reform,' 

 and the 'Poor Laws.' In 1793 he published, in 2 vols. 8vo, ' JI< 

 of the Kings of Great Britain of the House of Brunswick-I.uncn 

 In 1795 he again appeared as an historical writer, by the publication 

 of ' Memoirs of the lUign of George III., to the Session of Parliament 

 ending 1793,' in 4 vols. 8vo. To these were added the fifth and Bixtli 

 volumes in 1801. In 1708 ho published, in 2 vols. 8vo, a ' History 

 of Great Britain from the Revolution to the Accession of the House 

 of Hanover;' and in 1S06 his historical works were published in a 

 uniform edition in twelve 8vo volume*, under the title of ' 1 1 

 of Great Britain to the Conclusion of the IVaci of Amiens in 1802.' 

 He was also the author of numerous other productions of an historical 

 and political character, none of which are now often referred to. 



(Watt, Hibliotheca Rritannica.) 

 BELZO'NI, GIOVA'NNI, \ 



wan a native of Padua, but "f a family 



