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364 
'eaves lanceolate, longer than the peduncle; stem erect. 
Root annual, fibrous..—Native of Europe, Barbary, Japan, 
land North America. 
49. Veronica hederifolia, ivy-leaved speedwell, or small 
henbit.—Flowers solitary; leaves cordate, flat, five-lobed; 
calycine segments® cordate; seeds cupped. Root annual, 
small, fibrous —Native of Europe and Barbary, in gardens 
and corn-fields. 
50. Veronica filiformis, or long peduncled speedwell.— 
Flowers solitary; leaves cordate, crenate; shorter than the 
peduncle; calyx-leaves lanceolate. Root annual.-—It grows 
about hedges in Bithynia. 
51. Veronica triphyllos, trifid-leaved speedwell, or upright 
chickweed.—Flowers solitary; upper leaves digitate; pe¬ 
duncles longer than the calyx; seeds flatted. Root annual, 
fibrous.—-Common to most parts of Europe. 
52. Veronica verna, or vernal speedwell.—Flowers soli¬ 
tary, subsessile; leaves finger-parted; peduncles shorter than 
the calyx; stem stiff and straight.-—Native of many parts of 
Europe. 
53. Veronica digitata, or finger-leaved speedwell.—-Flowers 
solitary, sessile; all the leaves finger-parted; stem stiff and 
straight.—Native of the south of France about Montpellier, 
of Spain and Bohemia. 
54. Veronica acinifolia, or thyme-leaved speedwell.-— 
Flowers peduncled, solitary; leaves ovate, smooth, crenate; 
stem erect, somewhat hairy.-—Native of Germany, Switzer¬ 
land, and Piedmont. 
55. Veronica peregrina, or knotgrass-leaved speedwell.— 
Flowers solitary, sessile; leaves oblong, bluntish, toothed 
and entire; stem erect.—Native of the North of Europe, 
Germany, Dauphine and Italy. 
56. Veronica Bellardi, or linear-leaved speedwell.—Flowers 
solitary, peduncled; leaves linear, quite entire, rough-haired, 
longer than the flower; stem quite simple, erect.—Native of 
Piedmont, in pastures. 
57. Veronica Marilandica, or North American speedwell. 
—Flowers solitary, sessile; leaves linear; stems diffused.— 
Native of North America. 
Propagation and Culture .-—The perennial sorts may be 
increased by parting their roots, which may be done every 
other year; for if they are not often divided, many of them 
will grow too large for the borders of small gardens. The 
annual sorts may be propagated by seeds sown in autumn: 
and many of them will maintain their ground, if their 
seeds be permitted to scatter. If these plants are placed in 
a shady border, they will thrive much belter than when they 
are more exposed to the sun, and their flowers will con¬ 
tinue much longer in beauty. Veronica decussata is a hardy 
greenhouse plant, and may be placed with the myrtles. In 
mild winters it will even stand secure in the open air, in a 
warm soil and sheltered situation. It is usually and readily 
increased by cuttings. 
VERRAMA, a small river of Guiana, which runs north, 
and enters the Ventauri. 
VERRES, a town of Piedmont, with 800 inhabitants; 
18 miles north-north-west of Ivrea. 
VERRETZ, a settlement of the island of Hispaniola; 30 
miles north-east of St. Marc. 
VERRIERES, a small town of Switzerland, in the canton 
of Neufchatei; 22 miles west-south-west of Neui'chatel. 
VERRIO (Antonio), was born at Naples in 1634. After 
he had acquired the management of the pencil, he went to 
Toulouse, and there was engaged to paint the high altar in 
the church of the Carmelites. He was invited by Charles II. 
to England, the king intending to engage him in designs for 
tapestry, to be made here; but he changed his mind, and 
ordered him to paint most of the ceilings of Windsor Castle, 
the great hall, and the chapel; all which he loaded with 
heterogeneous compounds of gods and goddesses, vices and 
virtues, and all the emblematic imagery which scholastic 
pomposity could muster up, to. supply the place of common 
sense; and this he executed with great freedom and great 
freshness of colour, but in a manner devoid of any other 
V E R 
good quality of art. For these labours he was paid nearly 
6000/. 
The Revolution was not to his mind : he declined to serve 
king William, and went to the earl of Exeter at Burleigh, 
where he painted several apartments, which are esteemed his 
best works. He afterwards painted at Chatsworth, and at 
Lowther: at length he was persuaded by the earl of Exeter 
to engage to paint for the king the great staircase at Hamp- 
ton-Court; and Walpole observes, “ he painted it as ill as 
if he had spoiled it out of principle.” His eyes failing him, 
Queen Anne gave him a pension of 200/. per annum for life; 
but he did not long enjoy it, dying at Hampton-Court in 
1707. . “ 
VERROCHIO (Andrea), was among the early Floren- 
tine artists who prepared the way for the greater talents of 
subsequent painters. He was bom at Florence, in 1432, 
and distinguished himself both as a sculptor and painter. 
He had the honour to be the instructor of P. Perugino and 
Lionardo da Vinci, and was much employed; till, as Vasari 
reports, being engaged by the monks of St. Salvi, at Valom- 
brosa, to paint a picture of the Baptism of Christ, he set 
Lionardo da Vinci, then his pupil, to put in the figure of 
an angel from his design, and he executed his task in a 
manner so superior to the work of his master, that Verrochio, 
in disgust, resolved to paint no more, but apply himself en¬ 
tirely to sculpture and drawing. His style of design was 
grand and free, and Lionardo took great pleasure in copying 
his drawings, particularly a battle-piece, on account of the 
peculiar airs of the heads, the disposition of the hair, and the 
actions of the figures. He died in 1488, aged 56. 
VERRUCHIO, a small town in the east of Italy, in the 
States of the Church. 
VERS, a town in the south of France, on the river Lot, 
with 800 inhabitants. 
VERSA, or Vehza, a small river of Austrian Italy, 
which falls into the Po. 
VE'RSABLE, adj. [ycrsabilis, Lat.] -That may be 
turned. Cockeram. 
VERSABI'LITY, or Ve'rsablrness, s. [yersabilis, 
Lat.] Aptness to be turned or wound any way. Diet. 
VERSAILLES, a well-known town of France, situated 
12 miles west-bv-south of Paris, and long the residence of 
the court. In 1666 it was little more than a village, with a 
hunting-lodge for the royal family, when Louis XIV. pleased 
with the situation, and desirous of residing out of Paris, 
began to erect a splendid palace, which it required twelve 
years to build. No expence was spared by him or his suc¬ 
cessors, to render it the most magnificent royal residence in 
Europe; and though uninhabited since 1789, it retains al¬ 
most all its beauty. The situation of the palace is on a 
gradually rising ground. Its front and wings are built of 
polished stone, ornamented with statues, and a colonade of 
the Doric order in the centre. The interior is equally grand 
and beautiful, the great hall being above 220 feet in length, 
with costly decorations in marble, painting, and gilding. 
The other apartments are of corresponding size and elegance. 
This beautiful structure is approached by three great avenues, 
each lined with a double row of trees, and leading respec¬ 
tively from Paris, St. Cloud, and Sceaux. 
The town contains about 30,000 inhabitants. It is the 
see of a bishop. 
VERSAILLES, a town of the United States, and capital 
of Woodford county, Kentucky, situated on a creek running 
into Kentucky river; 12 miles south-west of Lexington. 
VE'RSAL, adj. [A cant word for universal.'] Total; whole. 
Some for brevity, 
Have cast the versal world’s nativity. Hudibras. 
VE'RSATILE, ado. [versatilis, Latin.] That may be 
turned round. 
Th’ advent’rous pilot in a single year 
Learn’d his state cock-boat dext’rously to steer; 
Versatile, and sharp-piercing like a screw, 
Made good th’ old passage, and still forc’d a new. Harte. 
Changeable; variable.—One colour to us standing in one' 
place. 
