ACTION 



and Tongerloo, 16431794, 53 volumes in folio). 

 Some imperfect notices of persons distinguished for 

 their holy lives and religious constancy, during the 

 period of the persecution of Christian believers, are 

 found as early as the second and third centuries; 

 particular narratives and biographies commenced 

 with the fourth century, and were infinitely multiplied 

 till the close of the middle ages. Since the sixth 

 century, many works have been compiled from this 

 immense mass of materials. The first critical collec- 

 tion of original legends was edited by Boninus Mom- 

 britius, in 1474. The above-mentioned collection, 

 however, surpasses all others of the kind in extent, 

 fidelity, and impartiality. It is likewise distinguished 

 for sound criticism and excellent illustrations, which 

 will make it forever a most valuable storehouse of 

 ecclesiastical history, if truth is critically separated 

 from fiction and superstition, by the historian who 

 describes the manners and the spirit of those ages. 



ACT-SON ; in fabulous history, the son of Aristasus 

 and Autonoe ; a great hunter. He was turned into 

 a stag, by Diana, for looking on her when she was 

 bathing, and was torn to pieces by his own dogs. 

 Also, a Corinthian youth, killed by Archias, one of 

 the Heraclidas, in an attempt to carry him off from 

 his father's house. 



ACTION (law) ; a term including private suits and 

 public prosecutions. Actions are, therefore, criminal 

 or civil ; criminal, for the punishment of crime ; civil, 

 for the obtainment of right. Civil actions are divid- 

 ed into real, personal, and mixed. Action real is 

 that whereby a man claims title to lands or tene- 

 ments in fee or for life. Action personal is brought 

 upon contracts, or injury to person or estate. Action 

 mixed lies for a thing and against the person who 

 has it. It seeks an object, and a penalty for its de- 

 tention. Many personal actions die with the person. 

 Real actions survive. In all actions merely personal, 

 for wrongs actually committed by the defendant, as 

 trespass, oattery, slander, the action dies with the 

 person, and never can be revived, either by or against 

 the executors or other representatives. But in ac- 

 tions on contracts, where the right descends to the 

 representatives of the plaintiff, and those of the de- 

 fendant have received effects from the deceased suf- 

 ficient to answer the demand, though the suits abate 

 by the death of the parties, yet they may be revived 

 against or by the executors. Again, actions are 

 either local or transitory. Actions, real or mixed, 

 for the recovery of the freehold, or for damage done 

 to it, are to be brought in the same county where 

 the land lies. Actions on contracts, or for personal 

 injuries, are not limited to a particular county. Ac- 

 tions are likewise joint or several ; joint, where se- 

 veral persons are equally concerned, and one cannot 

 bring the action, or be sued, without the other ; se- 

 veral, in case of trespass, &c., where persons are to 

 be severally charged. Every trespass committed by 

 many is several. 



ACTICM, a promontory on the western coast of 

 Greece, in ancient Epirus, the northern extremity of 

 Acarnania (now Albania), at the entrance of the 

 Ambracian gulf, at present called capo di Figolo, or 

 Azio, on the gulf of Arto, is memorable on account 

 of the naval battle fought here between Antony and 

 Octavius, Sept. 2, B. C. 31, in sight of their armies, 

 encamped on the opposite shores of the Ambracian 

 gulf. The forces of Octavius consisted of 80,000 

 Infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 260 ships of war ; those 

 of Antony, of 100,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 

 220 ships of war. Notwithstanding the advice of his 

 most experienced generals, to meet Octavius by land, 

 Antony, at the instigation of Cleopatra, determined 

 \ipon a naval engagement.' His vessels advanced, 

 beautifully ornamented, and remarkable for their siae; 



ACTOR. 



27 



those of Octavius, although smaller, were more skil- 

 fully managed. Both fleets were manned with the 

 soldiers of the Roman legions, who considered a sea- 

 fight like a battle on land, and the ships as forts 

 which were to be stormed. Those of Antony threw 

 fire-brands and missile weapons from catapults, whilst 

 those of Octavius applied grappling-irons to the 

 ships of the enemy, and boarded them. Soon after 

 the beginning of the battle, before any thing decisive 

 had taken place, the timid Cleopatra fled with 60 

 Egyptian ships, when she perceived the centre of 

 Antony's fleet in an unfavourable position. Antony 

 imprudently followed her. Octavius, perceiving his 

 flight, proclaimed it aloud, and the deserted fleet was 

 soon overcome, notwithstanding a brave resistance, 

 and immediately went over to the enemy. Antony's 

 troops, which were drawn up on the shore, and had 

 beheld with amazement the flight of their leader, 

 followed the example of the fleet. Antony fled with 

 Cleopatra to Egypt, where he killed himself, to avoid 

 falling into the hands of his enemies. Augustus en- 

 larged the temple of Apollo at Actium, in commemo- 

 ration of his victory, dedicated to Neptune and Mars 

 the standards which he had taken, and instituted 

 games, to be celebrated every five years, in comme- 

 moration of this battle, which made him master of 

 the world. 



ACTON, Joseph, prime minister of Naples, was born 

 hi 1737, of Irish parents, who had settled in Besan- 

 gon. After he had finished his education, he entered 

 the French navy, which he soon quitted for the Tus- 

 can, and was subsequently employed in the Spanish 

 expedition against Barbary, in which fie found an 

 opportunity to distinguish himself. This led him to 

 the Neapolitan navy, and then to the Neapolitan 

 court, where he acquired the favour of queen Caro- 

 line. He was successively appointed minister of the 

 navy, minister of war, then director of the finances, 

 and, finally, prime minister. In this office he con- 

 tracted an intimacy with the English ambassador, 

 Sir William Hamilton, and, in concert with him, 

 exercised a great, and by no means beneficial influ- 

 ence over the fortunes of Naples. His implacable 

 hatred against France led him, during the continu- 

 ance of the Italian wars, to the most extravagant 

 measures, which always turned out disadvantageous^ 

 for the royal family, and strengthened the French 

 party, from which that of the Carbonari was afterwards 

 formed. He accompanied the king, in 1798, on 

 Mack's expedition against the French army. During 

 the presence of Nelson, he had previously presided 

 over the renowned junta, which, to satisfy its hatred 

 against men of different political opinions, with un- 

 precedented cruelty, sought out victims in all ranks. 

 After the unfortunate issue of Mack's expedition, he 

 was removed from the helm of the Neapolitan go- 

 vernment. He died in 1808, hated and despised by 

 all parties. 



ACTOR, in the drama, is one who represents some 

 part or character on the stage. Among the Greeks, 

 with whom dramatic exhibitions originated, a simple 

 chorus only, who sung hymns in honour of Bacchus, 

 constituted the whole entertainments. A declaimer, 

 who recited the adventures of heroes, was introduced 

 by Thespis, for the sake of variety. ^Eschylus 

 changed the declamation into the form of a dialogue 

 between two persons, and Sophocles added a third. 

 To this number the actors in the Greek drama were 

 limited ; and the Romans adopted the same rule in 

 tragedy. In comedy, the number of actors was not 

 restricted. Jn modern times, the number is regu- 

 lated by the nature of the piece to be performed. 

 Actresses, in the drama, appear to have been 

 wholly unknown to the ancients, men or eunuchs 

 always performing the female parts. Charles "S^L is 



