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MATANZAS-MATTHEWS.

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of sugar, and 174,800 arrobas of coffee, to literary pursuits. Royer Collard, who were exported from Matanzas.

MATARO; a sea-port town of Spain in Catalonia, 20 miles N. E. of Barcelona, with 13,000 inhabitants. It is celebrated for its red wine and brandy, much of which is exported to the United States.

MATE, YERBA, or PARAGUAY TEA; the leaves of an evergreen, shrubby plant, (Ilex Paraguayensis), largely consumed in the manner of tea in many parts of S. America, where it is the subject of an extensive commerce. The plant grows wild in all the woods bordering the affluents of the Uruguay and the Parana, as well as those of the Paraguay from the E., from lat. 24° 30′ northward. The leaves are first slightly scorched, by drawing the branch itself through fire; they are then roasted, broken down, and packed under strong pressure. The custom of using this herb was derived by the Spaniards from the Indians of Maracaya; and it is now general in Paraguay, and even in Chile, Peru, and elsewhere. A pinch of the leaves is put into warm water, and the infusion is imbibed through a little tube pierced with small holes in the lower part, which only allow the passage of the water, and keep back the leaves. The same leaves serve for three infusions. Some drink it with sugar or lemon-juice, and it is taken at all times. MATHIAS* died in 1837, while on a visit to Italy.

was then president of the Committee of Public Instruction, gave him, in 1819, the choice of a professorship in the colleges at Strasburg, Toulouse, or Douai. He chose the first-mentioned of these; but, two years afterwards, he accepted the offer made to him to become the rector of the gymnasium of which he had formerly been a pupil, uniting with this office the professorship of history in the Protestant Academy. Subsequently, he became "Inspector" of the Academy, and was at length, in October 1832, transferred by Guizot from Strasburg to Paris, as “Inspector-General" of the University.-M. Matter, besides the essay above referred to, is the author of a number of very valuable works, such as the "Histoire générale du christianisme et de la société chrétienne, considérée dans ses institutions et ses doctrines" (4 vols. 2d ed. 1838); “Histoire critique du gnostécisme et de son influence sur les sectes religieuses et philosophiques des six premiers siècles de l'ère chrétienne" (3 vols. 1828); "De l'influence des mœurs sur les lois, et de l'influence des lois sur les mœurs" (1832), a prize essay, which was adjudged to possess so great a degree of merit as to obtain for him an extraordinary prize of 10,000 francs; and the "Histoire des doctrines morales et politiques des trois derniers siècles" (3 vols. 1837). He has written MATLOCK; a village in the county of several elementary school-books, and has Derby in England, celebrated for its mine- contributed articles to the "Dictionnaire ral waters, which are considered beneficial de la conversation et de la lecture," and in cases of glandular affections, scrofula, the "Encyclopédie des gens du monde." bilious disorders, pulmonary complaints, and In addition also to all this, he is the author diabetes. The waters have a temperature of an essay entitled "Des principes de of 66° or 67° Fahr., in other respects re- philosophie qui sont communs à Pythasembling the Buxton and Bristol waters. gore, à Platon et à Plotin," and of transMATTER (Jacques) was born at Old-lations into French of Cicero's "QuesEckendorf in Alsace, in May 1791. His tiones tusculanae" and "De naturâ deoparents placed him, when 15 years of age, rum;" and he was the editor, at the reas a pupil in the gymnasium at Strasburg, quest of Benjamin Constant, of the latter's then under the direction of Oberlin. In posthumous treatise, “Le polythéisme Rothe following year, however, he attended main." -In his philosophical opinions, lectures on philological and philosophical Matter, notwithstanding his German edusubjects in the Protestant Academy, and cation, coincides essentially with those enon history, modern literature, &c., in the tertained by his friend Royer Collard, or newly established Imperial Academy of with the Scottish school of Reid and Stewthat city. He next went to the university | art, who, disdaining to acquire the credit of Göttingen, where his studies embraced of being profound by becoming obscure, jurisprudence, and other branches of a na- mystical, or transcendental, confined themture to qualify him for a civil or diploma- selves in their inquiries to a record of the tic career. From Göttingen he proceeded | mental phenomena, and the deducing from to Paris, and there, in 1816, a prize was these, by a legitimate induction, of the awarded to him for his "Essai historique | laws by which they are regulated. sur l'école d'Alexandrie," which was published in 1820. His success in this instance determined him to devote himself

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MATTHEWS* (Charles) died in 1835, after his return to his own country trom a second visit to America,

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MATTHIE-MAVROCORDATO.

MATTHIE.* This celebrated philologer died on the 6th of January 1835.

MATTING is a texture formed of rushes or the bark of trees interwoven, and used for covering floors, for packages, and other purposes. Mats are imported from various countries, but chiefly from Russia, where a kind called bast mats are manufactured on a large scale from the inner bark of the linden tree. The matting bags, in which sugar is exported from Mauritius, are made of the leaves of a tree called in that island the racoa. Floor and table mats, made from rattans and rushes, are brought from China.

MAURITIUS. The population of this island in 1839 consisted of Europeans and Africans 109,740, of whom 69,800 were were males, and 39,940 females; Indians 23,800, of whom as many as 23,490 were males, and only 419 females; and aliens and strangers 1548;-making a total of 135,197.-The emancipation of the slaves in the Mauritius, we are told, does not appear to have been so prejudicial to agriculture as in the British West India Islands. A number of Hill Coolies were brought from Hindostan, but on account of their becoming little else than slaves, their introduction was afterwards stopped. Chinese settlers have also been introduced, though not in any considerable numbers. Owing to the admission into Great Britain, since 1825, of the sugar of the island on the same footing with that procured from the West Indies, the inhabitants have devoted themselves almost exclusively to sugar-planting. The exports of sugar, which in 1825 amounted to 21,793,766 lbs., in 1842 had augmented to 75,738,144 lbs. France still retains a great part of her trading connexion with Mauritius, oneeighth part in value of the total imports into the colony being from that country.The government is vested in a governor and legislative council. The former is aided in his duties by an executive council, composed of the military officer second in command, the colonial secretary, and the advocate-general. The legislative council is composed of 15 members, 7 of whom hold no official station.

MAUGUIN (François), born at Dijon on the 28th of February 1785, was the son of a French lawyer, who destined him at an early age for the legal profession, and directed his education with this object constantly in view. After finishing his preparatory studies, he attended the course of instruction in the "Académie de législation" till 1804, in which year he was admitted to the bar. He did not, however, commence the practice of his profession until 9 years afterwards, devoting himself in the mean time to severe and persevering study. Scarcely had he entered upon his career as an advocate, when he attracted general notice by his attainments and eloquence. He distinguished himself especially in the defence of individuals accused of political offences; among whom were Labédoyère in 1815, Col. Fabvier in 1820, and Mignet in 1825.-From 1827 down to the present time, M. Mauguin has been a member of the chamber of deputies. Be- MAVROCORDATO.* From the period of fore and at the revolution of July 1830, he his exclusion from the administration of took an active and energetic part in oppo- the government of Greece, after the fall sition to the government of Charles X. of Navarino, Mavrocordato, dissatisfied and He was among the foremost of those who, disgusted, retired almost entirely from pubduring the "three days," urged the mea- lic life; only performing occasionally a few sure of a provisionary government; and he minor services to his countrymen. He was conspicuous at that period, as a mem- united with Miaulis, Conduriottis, and ber of the municipal commission which held others of the Greek leaders, for the purits sittings at the "Hotel de Ville." But pose of extorting from count Capo d'Ishe did not long give his support to the new trias, on the latter being invested with the monarchy. Finding that Louis Philippe office of president, a convocation of a naand his ministers were unwilling to carry tional assembly. Their efforts to accomout the principles of the revolution to its plish this were unavailing; and a revolt legitimate consequences, he placed him- of the Ionian islands seemed to be the self, with Odilon Barrot and other disap- signal for a general civil war, when the pointed liberals, at the head of the "move- assassination of Capo d'Istrias, in October inent party." More lately, he has adopted 1831, and the appointment of prince Otho a more independent position in politics. of Bavaria to be king of Greece, in FebWhile still classed in the ranks of opposi-ruary 1833, gave a new aspect to the contion, his attacks or criticisms on the mea-dition of affairs. Mavrocordato was selectsures of the government have become less indiscriminate than heretofore; and he has not hesitated at times to speak and to vote against his political friends.

ed to be the minister of foreign affairs under the new government, to which he gave his zealous support. In 1834, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Mu

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MAVROCORDATO-MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.

nich, Berlin, and London. Returning to Greece from the last-mentioned capital in 1841, he became, for a short time, president of the council of ministers. He proceeded then as Greek ambassador to Constantinople, to negotiate anew with the Porte a treaty of commerce in place of that which had before been concluded by his predecessor Mr. Zographos, and which his own government had refused to ratify; a circumstance which rendered his office one of peculiar importance and difficulty. MAVROMICHALIS.* The disputes of this chief with the Greek government, relative to the revenues of the Mainote district, led to the arrest of Mavromichalis, and to the assassination, in 1831, of the president Capo d'Istrias, by the brother and son of the former. Mavromichalis was subsequently set at liberty by king Otho, and appointed one of the council of state.

MAY-DAY. The first of May is usually so called, in commemoration of the festivities which, from a very early period, were observed on that day. The earliest notice of the celebration of May-day in England may be traced to the Druids, who, on Mayeve were accustomed to light large fires on eminences, in gratitude and joy for the return of spring. Under the Romans, certain heathen observances were intro· duced in honour of the goddess Flora, which, in a modified form, and without any reference to the source in which they had their origin, were subsequently continued for many ages. The may-pole, which is still visible in many of the English villages, and Jock-in-the-green, are relics of this custom. The celebration of May-day consists at present, where it subsists at all, simply in an excursion to the fields, in larger or smaller parties, for the gathering of flowers, accompanied by such merry-making and other entertainments, as the occasion naturally suggests.

MAYER* (Simon) died December 2d 1845.

MAYNOOTH; a small town in Ireland, 14 miles W. of Dublin, of no importance excepting on account of the contiguous college, on which chiefly it depends for its support. This institution, destined for the education of the Catholic clergy of the island, is placed under the direction of a board of trustees, of whom the Roman Catholic archbishops are members ex officio, the remainder being selected from the Catholic hierarchy and nobility, in the proportion of 7 of the former to 6 of the lat

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An additional board of control was appointed by parliament in 1800, consisting of the lord-chancellor of Ireland, the

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justices of the, Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, the 4 Roman Catholic archbishops, and the Earl of Fingall. This board holds triennial, or, if necessary, more frequent visitations, and has power to examine into all matters connected with the college. The chief functionaries of the establishment are the president, vicepresident, and 2 deans; besides whom, there are 3 professors of Divinity, and 5 others giving instruction in various branches of literature and science. The number of students is 450, at which it is limited by the inadequacy of the funds to admit of farther augmentation. The funds consist principally of an annual parliamentary grant of £8923, and £2000 a year are derived from donations and bequests. —The library of the college contains about 10,000 volumes, for the most part on theological subjects.

MEAD OF METHEGLIN; a liquor made by dissolving one part of honey in three parts of boiling water, flavouring it with spices, and adding a portion of ground malt and a piece of toast dipped in yeast, and suffering the whole to ferment. The Scandinavian mead is flavoured with primrose blossoms. Mead formed the ancient, and for centuries the favourite, beverage of the northern nations.

MEADOW is a flat surface under grass, generally on the banks of a river or lake, but so far above the surface of the water as to be considerably drier than marsh land, and, therefore, to produce grass and herbage of a superior quality. The soil of meadow lands is generally alluvial, and more or less mixed with sand; and is kept in a state of fertility by the depositions made on its surface, in consequence of being occasionally overflowed by the adjoining river or lake. The produce of meadows is commonly made into hay, which, though not equal in quality to that produced on drier grass lands, is yet superior to what is obtained from marshes.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTES. This is the name given in Great Britain to the means by which instruction is communicated to tradesmen and mechanics in large towns. These institutes are said to have owed their origin to Dr. Birkbeck, who, in 1800, delivered a course of lectures on natural philosophy, and its application to the arts, to an audience composed entirely of the mechanics of Glasgow; though it was not till after the lapse of 20 years that his idea was followed up. Institutions of this sort are at present established in almost every town in England whose population amounts to 10,000, and in some of much

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MECHANICS' INSTITUTES-MERLIN.

smaller number. They are supported | together, also, once a year, alternately at partly by contributions, and partly by the subscriptions of the members. Short courses of lectures, illustrated by experiments, are given on the most interesting and popular branches of natural philosophy; and lectures are also occasionally given on literature, moral philosophy, political economy, &c. Reading-rooms are attached to the greater number of these institutions, which, speaking generally, are well attended.

MECHLIN.* Population in 1836, 22,896. It is the seat of a tribunal of primary jurisdiction, and has an ecclesiastical seminary, a college, an academy of painting, a society of the fine arts, and a mont de piété. The lace manufacture, for which it was celebrated, has very much declined. Among its other fabrics are those of cashmere shawls, and gilt leather chairs: the latter were at one time an article of export; and it is said that upwards of 400 workmen are still engaged in making them.-Mechlin is accessible to vessels of considerable burden from the Scheldt; and is the central depôt of the Belgian railways.-The archbishop of Mechlin is primate of Belgium, and has a revenue of about £4000 a year. MECKEL* died at Halle in October 1833.

Mecklenburg-SCHWERIN.* The population of this duchy has increased very rapidly during the last 25 or 30 years, partly, it is said, in consequence of the breaking up of the old feudal system, and partly also of the introduction of the potato. The number of inhabitants, in 1818, was 377,954; they amounted, in 1843, to about 505,000. Mecklenburg is still, however, the least populous portion of Germany, there being only 99 inhabitants to the English square mile. Till within the last 25 years the peasants were in a state of mitigated slavery. They could acquire, enjoy, and transmit property, but they were adscripti glebæ, and bound to the soil, so as to be sold or let with it. About 1820, all the peasants who still remained in the condition of serfs (for many of the proprietors had already, since the peace, emancipated those on their estates) were declared free, though their actual manumission did not take effect till about 1825. At present, they are quite free, and may labour where, and under whatever conditions, they please to stipulate with their employer. The government is intimately connected with that of Mecklenburg-Stre- | litz. Each grand duchy has its separate states, which meet separately; but the states of both grand duchies assemble

Sternberg and Malchin. The joint assembly has the right, in conjunction with the grand duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, to make laws for, and impose taxes on, the whole of Mecklenburg. It consists of the landed proprietors among the nobility, and of deputies from towns, &c., in all amounting to between 500 and 600 members. The initiative in all legislation belongs to the grand duke; and every measure must be proposed to the states in writing.

MEMBRANE, in anatomy; a broad, nervous, and fibrous substance, which serves as a covering for different parts of the body, particularly the brain and the viscera.

MÉRIMÉE (Prosper) was born and educated in Paris, in 1800. He studied the law, and was admitted an advocate, but never practised as one. Till the revolu tion of July his attention was divided between the politics of the day and literature; he wrote for the journals, and published, likewise, without disclosing the name of the author, several works of imagination, as, for example, "Le Théâtre de Clara Gazul, comédienne espagnole, traduit de Joseph L'Estrange" (1825), “La Guzla, ou choix de poésies illyriennes," professing to be a translation of pieces col|lected in Dalmatia, Bosnia, &c. (1827), "La Jacquerie" (1828), and the "Chronique du regne de Charles IX." (1829), in which he represented the famous massacre of St. Bartholomew's eve as the consequence of a sudden excitement against the Protestants, and not, as it is commonly understood to have been, a premeditated event. Count d'Argout, of whom he was a connexion, appointed him, on becoming minister of Marine, after the accession of Louis Philippe, to be his private secretary. He was subsequently chief clerk (chef de bureau) in the department of the Marine. In 1835, he quitted this office to become the "inspector of the monuments of France;" which appointment he, however, resigned in 1837, to hold once more the office of chief clerk in one of the departments of the administration.-His official duties did not withdraw M. Mérimée altogether from the prosecution of his literary career. Besides contributing to the "Revue de Paris” and the "Revue des deux mondes," he has produced a number of novels, all of them tending, in a greater or less degree, to enhance his reputation as an author.- In 1844, he was chosen a member of the French Academy, in the room of Charles Nodier.

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MERLIN,* of Douai, returned to France

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MERLIN-MEXICO.

after the revolution of July 1830, and died at Paris in December 1836.

*

MERLIN of Thionville continued to live in retirement from public affairs till his death, in 1833.

MÉTAYER. In France and Italy, a farmer is so called who holds land on condition of yielding half the produce to the proprietor, from whom he receives tools and stock. This mode of letting land prevails also in parts of Spain, and in some parts of the East.

METHEGLIN. See Mead, (Sup.)

METTERNICH. By his prudence and discretion, this distinguished statesman contributed, in no slight degree, to the preservation of the peace of Europe after the French revolution of July 1830. It was by his advice that the emperor of Austria acknowledged Louis Philippe, on the accession of the latter as King of the French; while he immediately afterwards, by every means short of the application of force, repressed the desires which the subversion of the government of the Restoration in France had developed, among the Germans, for political change. Francis I., on dying in 1835, left behind him a letter, in which he recommended to his successor to undertake nothing without the counsel of Metternich; who has, accordingly, retained his office as the prime minister of the Austrian government, and has continued to pursue steadily his former "conservative" policy. His attention has been more especially directed to the maintenance of the Austrian ascendency in Italy, and to the avoidance of a war between the principal European powers.

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| merce of Mexico, viewed comparatively with its population and natural resources. is in considerable. This is occasioned partly by the difficult communication between the interior and the coast, but mainly to the continued dissensions which have prevailed in the country since the separation of it from Spain. The exports may be estimated at from £3,000,000 to £3,500,000 a year, and consist chiefly of silver, which, with cochineal and gold, is mostly sent to Great Britain: there are, besides, sugar, copper (sent from Gaymas to China), indigo, coffee, cotton, hides (shipped from Upper California), tobacco, jalap, sarsaparilla, vanilla, Campeachy wood, and other drugs and dye-woods. The principal article imported is quicksilver, of which about 6,000,000 lbs. are annually consumed in the mines; it is mostly brought from England, into which it is carried from Spain. Cottons, woollens, and linens, are brought from Great Britain, also iron, hardware, arms, and earthenware; glassware and linen from Germany; paper from Italy and France; olive oil from Spain; hats from France; spices from England, the E. Indies, and China; silks from China, England, and France; and cacao from Venezuela and Ecuador. The declared value of British produce and manufactures sent annually to Mexico fluctuates generally between £400,000 and £700,000. An extensive trade is carried on with the United States, where most of the Mexican products find a ready market, and are paid for in the manufactures of the states or of Europe. The shipping frequenting the Mexican ports is of inconsiderable amount, MEXICO.* The population of the Mex- owing to the staples of its trade being ican republic has been variously estimated mostly articles containing a great value at from 6,000,000 to 8,000,000; of which in a small bulk. Duties on imports are about one-half are Indian aborigines, regulated by a tariff, non-enumerated arti1,250,000 whites, and the remainder mixed cles paying a duty of 40 per cent.; quickraces. The native Spaniards, or Chape- silver, tools, and seeds, books, maps, and a tones, as they are called, never exceeded few other articles, are free. Articles, the 80,000, and now hardly amount to 24,000; produce of Mexico, may be exported duty they are, politically considered, a degrad-free, except the precious metals, which, in ed class. Notwithstanding the exertions the shape of ore, ingots, or dust, are prowhich have of late years been made, aided | hibited: gold, wrought or coined, pays 2 by no less than £3,000,000 of British capi- per cent., and silver 3 per cent. The tal, besides considerable investments by public revenue was lately stated to aveAmerican and German companies, to work rage 12,500,000 dollars, mostly derived the Mexican mines, and notwithstanding from the customs; but this is exceeded by the more improved processes which are the charges upon it, and the finances have understood to have been adopted, the silver been long in a disordered state. The debt, produced at present is not estimated to too, is considerable, both domestic and foexceed in value the sum of £2,300,000, reign, and on the latter no interest is paid. nor the gold, £100,000; the former being The army consisted, in 1839, of about only about one-half, and the latter scarcely 20,000 men, exclusive of an active militia above one-third, of the amount produced of about 30,000. There are 5 fortresses, before the revolution.-The external com--San Juan de Ulloa, Campeachy, Perote,

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