503 



GOLDEN FLEECE GOLDONI. 



Africa, near the Atlantic, about 120 leagues in 

 length from E. to \V., between the rivers Ancobar 

 niui Volta. It contains a variety of different states 

 and kingdoms, and received its name from tho im- 

 mense quantity of gold which it produces. Several 

 of the European nations have settlements here the 

 Dutch at Minima, and the British at Cape Coast 

 Castle. The climate is exceedingly hot from October 

 to March ; the rest of the months are tolerable. 

 The principal countries on the Gold Coast are Anco- 

 bar, Axciu. Anta, Commenda, Fetu, Sabi, Adorn, 

 Agouna, Acra, Acambou, Labadde, Fantin, Incas- 

 san, Ningo, Sabu, and Soko. 



GOLDEN FLEECE. See Jason, and Argonauts. 



GOLDEN FLEECE, ORDER OF THE, and THE 

 THREE GOLDEN FLEECES. See Fleece, Golden. 



GOLDEN NUMBER, in chronology, a number 

 showing what year of the Metonic, or lunar cycle, 

 nny given year is. To find the golden number, add 

 1 to the given year, and divide the sum by 19 ; what 

 remains will be the golden number, unless remain, 

 for then 19 is the golden number. The discovery of 

 the Metonic cycle exhibited such extensive astrono- 

 mical knowledge, that it obtained great success and 

 reputation in Greece, insomuch that the order of the 

 period was engraved in letters of gold ; whence it 

 acquired the name of golden number. See Epoch. 



GOLDEN-ROD (solidago) is a genus of plants, 

 belonging to the natural order composites, containing 

 a great number of species, most of them natives of 

 North America, where their brilliant yellow flowers 

 are very conspicuous in the autumnal months, espe- 

 cially in the north-eastern part of the Union. They 

 are perennial, chiefly herbaceous, with simple, undi- 

 vided leaves, and bear numerous small flowers, dis- 

 posed in spikes or panicles. The florets of the ray 

 are about five in number, and yellow, the S. bicolor 

 excepted, which has white rays. The dried flowei-s 

 of the S. odara, or sweet-scented golden-rod, form an 

 agreeable substitute for tea. In Europe, the different 

 species are cultivated in gardens for ornament. The 

 island of St Helena contains two species, which attain 

 the stature of trees, and an arborescent one grows 

 also in New Zealand. 



GOLDEN RULE ; the name usually given by 

 arithmeticians to the rule of proportion, or rule of 

 three, on account of its extensive usefulness. 



GOLD-FINCH. See Finch. 



GOLD-FISH; the trivial name of a beautiful 

 species of cyprinus, found in the fresh waters of 

 China, and distinguished for the splendid golden co- 

 lour of the membrane lying immediately beneath the 

 scales. The cyprinus aureus of naturalists is subject 

 to the most singular variations in colour, being at 

 certain times bright golden orange, and at others 

 bronze-black or silver ; in the latter stage of colour 

 it is known as the silver-fish. A species called the 

 telescope carp, from its singular form, is distinguished 

 for the broad, expanded, and foliate tail, which gives 

 it a very peculiar appearance. This species are 

 preserved in large ponds, where they breed, and ac- 

 quire a size far greater than those introduced into this 

 country. As an article of food, they are not used, 

 and are only valued for their beauty and gentleness. 

 They are said to be very prolific, and are easily bred, 

 requiring scarcely any further attention than that of 

 changing the water frequently. Individuals are 

 sometimes met with, which want the dorsal fin, and 

 others, which, by the uncommon dilatation of the 

 eyes, appear very much deformed. The cyprinus 

 auratus has been said to inhabit the fresh waters of 

 North America ; but, in every instance where speci- 

 mens of this fish have been found in our rivers, they 

 have been traced from the fish-ponds of the neigh- 

 bourhood, where numbers of them were kept. In 



length they rarely exceed nine inches ; tho body is 

 full, and siibfusiforni ; the scales large ; and, as in all 

 the species of this division, the fins are without spin- 

 ous rays. 



GOLDONI, CHARLES, the most celebrated Italian 

 writer of comedies of the eighteenth century, was 

 born at Venice in 1707, where his grandfather, a 

 Modenese, was a kind of farmer-general of the es- 

 tates of the duke of Massa and Carrara, lying within 

 the Venetian jurisdiction. The death of the old man, 

 who was inclined to extravagance, involved the fami- 

 ly in pecuniary embarrassments. Julius Goldoni, 

 our poet's father, left Venice, therefore, and went to 

 Rome. His wife, a woman of great vivacity and 

 talent, remained with their children, two boys, and 

 devoted herself exclusively to the education of the 

 eldest, whose early display of intelligence made him 

 her favourite. The lively Charles early showed a 

 taste for theatrical representations. He read every 

 dramatical production of which he could obtain pos- 

 session, especially the works of the popular comic- 

 poet Cicognini, and, when scarcely eight years ot 

 age, ventured to sketch a comedy, which excited the 

 wonder of his relatives. They sent a copy of it to 

 his father, who, in the mean time, had become a phy- 

 sician, and practised his profession at Perugia. He 

 was delighted with the genius displayed by his eldest 

 son, and felt anxious to have him with himself. The 

 molher was obliged to consent. Father and son 

 now erected a little social theatre. But, as is well 

 known, women were not permitted to appear on the 

 stage in the papal states. On this account, our 

 young Goldoni generally represented some "female 

 character. His fair complexion and beauty render- 

 ed him very suitable for these parts, and in Gigli's 

 celebrated Sorellina di Don Pilone, for instance, he 

 obtained great applause. He then enjoyed the in- 

 struction of the Jesuits, and afterwards pursued his 

 studies at Rimini with the Dominicans. The severity 

 and strictness of his instructor induced him to leave 

 the place. A troop of strolling comedians was more 

 attractive. He saw females on the stage, and was 

 delighted. The comedians, also, won his affections. 

 He resolved, therefore, to follow them secretly to 

 Chiozza, where his parents then resided. They par- 

 doned his foolish conduct. His father now destined 

 him for the medical profession, and took him occa- 

 sionally to visit his patients. But Goldoni, dissatis- 

 fied with this study, obtained permission to study 

 law in Venice. Soon after, however, a relative pro- 

 cured for him a place in the papal college at the 

 university of Pavia. Here, therefore, Goldoni again 

 found himself transferred to a new world. His com- 

 peers in the college were principally young and dis- 

 sipated abbes. Goldoni followed their example. 

 Jurisprudence was treated as a secondary object, 

 while dancing, horsemanship, fencing, music, and 

 gambling were zealously pursued. Still the youth, 

 eager for knowledge, did not neglect to enrich his 

 mind with useful information. His poetical and 

 rhetorical powers continued to unfold, and procured 

 him many friends ; his satirical wit, however, made 

 him disagreeable to many people. On a certain oc- 

 casion, at the instigation of some persons who after- 

 wards betrayed him, he wrote a satirical piece, in 

 which many individuals of respectable families in 

 Pavia were ridiculed. He was, in consequence, 

 expelled from the college and the city, and lie went 

 to Chiozza, to ask pardon of his parents. His father 

 now took him to Udina (in Friuli), where Goldoni ap- 

 plied himself more earnestly than in Pavia to study. 

 He, however, committed many youthful follies, and 

 on this account was several times obliged to change 

 his residence, until he became secretary to the vice 

 chancellor of the criminal court in Chiozza, and after- 



