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CHAMALARI-CIIAMBER OF COMMERCE.

CHAMALA'RI, a peak of the Himalaya between Tibet and Bhotan, in lat. 28° 4′ N., and long. 90° E., said to have an elevation of 27,200 feet, or more than 5 miles and a furlong.

used for thatching, and for making brooms, hats, which, in addition to six councillors of state, con chair-bottoms, &c. They abound in an excellent sisted of twelve merchants or traders, delegated by fibre, which the Arabs mix with camel's hair, and the principal commercial towns of the kingdom, an make into tent covers: cordage, and sometimes arrangement which led within the next few years to sailcloth, are made of it in Spain; it is imported the formation of chambers of commerce every where into France, and used for making carpets, under in France. We thus find that the chamber at Lyon the name of African Hair. The French in Algeria was instituted in 1702, those of Rouen and Toulouse make paper and pasteboard of it; and it is sup- in 1703, of Montpellier in 1704, of Bordeaux in posed that it may prove a valuable commercial 1705, &c. By an order of council of 30th August commodity, as a material for paper-making.-Other 1702, a direct relation was established between species of the genus abundant in India, China, &c., these various chambers and the central Council of serve similar purposes, and deserve attention in Commerce. They were authorised to transmit to connection with paper.-To this genus belongs also the Controller-general of Finances memoirs setting the West India palm, which yields the material for forth their views on commercial subjects, and on chip-hats (see BRAZILIAN GRASS); and the Palmetto contemplated measures of the central government (q. v.) of North America is by some botanists referred which were submitted to them for their opinion. to it. No uniform legislation regulated the election of the members of these chambers or their internal organisation, but it is certain that the agents of the central government possessed the power of entering them and taking part in their deliberations, and it is were usually numbered amongst their members. probable that municipal authorities of the place These chambers were all suppressed by a decrce of the National Assembly in 1791, but they were. re-established by a consular edict in 1802, which fixed the population of the towns in which they might be established, and the number of their members, who were to be chosen from amongst the merchants who had carried on trade in person for a period of not less than ten years. Sixty of the best known merchants, presided over by the prefect or the maire, were charged to elect the members of these new chambers. They then presented to the government two candidates for the office of member of the general council of commerce, instituted at Paris under the Minister of the Interior. This organisation was again modified in 1832, and still later by the ordonnances of September 1851 and August 1852, by which these bodies are now regulated. In accordance with that decree, the members of these bodies are now elected by the chief merchants of each town chosen for that purpose by the prefect. Their number cannot be less than 9, nor more than 21. They hold office for six years, one-third of their number being renewed every two years, but the members resigning being re-eligible. The functions now assigned to these chambers in France are-to give to the government advice and information on

CHA'MBER, of a piece of artillery, or small arm, is a contracted part of the bore, at the breech end. The C. contains the charge of powder, but is too small to contain the shot or shell. Some of these cavities are spherical, some cylindrical, some conical with a hemispherical termination, and some pear-shaped. Carronades and shell-guns are usually chambered. The charge just fits the C., and the ball or shell comes in contact with it. Chambered guns are more slow to load and fire than those which are not chambered; and therefore the adoption of this form depends very much on the kind of service in which the weapon is to be employed. Its primary use is in kinds of ordnance in which the charge is small compared with the calibre, and in which, consequently, there would be great loss of power unless the charge were confined within a comparatively limited space at the time of the explosion.

CHAMBER-COUNSEL, a barrister or advocate who gives opinions in his own chambers, but does not, or rarely does, plead in court.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, a body of merchants and traders, associated for the purpose of promoting the interests of its own members, of the town or district to which the society belongs, and of the community generally, in so far as these have reference to trade and merchandise. Of the means by which these objects are sought to be accom-industrial and commercial subjects; to suggest the plished, the following may be mentioned as the most prominent: 1. By representing and urging on the legislature the views of their members in mercantile affairs; 2 By aiding in the preparation of legislative measures having reference to trade, such, for example, as the Bankrupt Acts; 3. By collecting statistics bearing upon the staple trade of the district; 4. In some places, by acting as a sort of court of arbitration in mercantile questions; 5. By attaining by combination advantages in trade which might be beyond the reach of individual enterprise.

It

means of increasing the industry and commerce of their respective districts, or of improving commercial legislation and taxation; to suggest the execution of works requisite for the public service, or which may tend to the increase of trade or commerce, such as the construction of harbours, the deepening of rivers, the formation of railways, and the like. On these and similar subjects, the advice of the chambers, when not volunteered, is demanded by the government. There exist at this moment 47 chambers of commerce in France of the kind which we have described, and in most of the other countries of continental Europe, there are similar institutions for the purpose of conveying information and advice to the central government, and making it acquainted with local feelings and interests in commercial matters.

The oldest C. of C. in Great Britain is believed

These institutions are of continental origin, and, like so many others which England has borrowed from that source, were first introduced into Scotland. The oldest C. of C. in France is that of Marseille, which dates from the end of the 14th or commencement of the 15th century. This chamber was invested with very remarkable powers. shared in the municipal jurisdiction, and in the to be that of Glasgow, which was instituted administration of justice in mercantile questions. 1st January 1783, and obtained a royal charter, It was several times suppressed and re-established, which was registered at Edinburgh on the 31st of and it was not till 1650 that its powers were fixed, the same year. That of Edinburgh was instiand that it received its ultimate organisation. The tuted in 1785, and incorporated by royal charter in second chamber in France was that of Dunkerque, 1786. The Manchester chamber, since so famous which was established in 1700. The same year a for its exertions in the cause of free-trade, was council-general of commerce was instituted at Paris, not established till 1820, and for many years it

CHAMBERLAIN-CHAMBERS.

continued to be the only institution of the kind in on her right hand. During the sitting of parliaEngland. In Hull there has been a C. of C. since ment, he has charge of the House of Lords, and 1837, but those of Liverpool, Leeds, and Bradford, issues tickets of admission on the opening or proronotwithstanding the great trading and manufac-gation of parliament. Some fees and perquisites beturing interests of these towns, were not established long to him. till 1850, in which year, strangely enough, a similar institution was established in South Australia. The annual income of the Manchester chamber is upwards of £600, that of Liverpool about £800, contributed entirely by the subscriptions of members, amounting generally to £1, 1s. a year. The Edinburgh C. of C. now consists of 300 members, comprising a large portion of the bankers, merchants, and manufacturers of Edinburgh and Leith. The

fees for admission have been commuted to an entrance fee of £5, 5s.

Lord Willoughby d'Eresby and the Marquis of Cholmondeley are joint-holders of the office, in right of their mothers, the ladies Priscilla Barbara, and Georgiana Charlotte Bertie, sisters and co-heirs of Robert, fourth Duke of Ancaster; and the representatives of the families discharge the duties alternately in each succeeding reign.

He

the compiler of the first English cyclopædia. CHAMBERS, EPHRAIM, deserves mention here as was born at Kendal in the latter part of the 17th c., and was an apprentice to a globe-maker in London, CHA'MBERLAIN, LORD, or King's C., as he when he conceived the idea of his cyclopædia. The was formerly called, has been one of the principal first edition of the work, in 2 vols., appeared in cfficers of state from very early times, and for 1728; ten years later, the 2d appeared; and in the eenturies he was an influential member of the gov-year following, the 3d. The 4th was issued in 1741, ernment. He has the function of endorsing the a year after the editor's death. A 5th appeared in king's answer on petitions presented to him, and 1746, and a 6th, with new matter, in 1750. This very often of communicating his majesty's pleasure work forms the basis of Dr. Rees's Cyclopædia in 45 to parliament and to the council. He was always quarto vols., and may be considered as the foreruna member of the council himself, ex officio. Though ner of the now countless publications of an encyclohe has long ceased to have any share in the respon-pædic character (see ENCYCLOPEDIA). C. was an insibilities of government, the C. is still an officer of defatigable worker, but a man of only very modevery high standing in the royal household. He has rate attainments. control over all the officers and servants of the

CHAMBERS, WILLIAM and ROBERT, the editors royal chambers, except those of the bedchamber, and publishers of this Encyclopædia and other works; over the establishment attached to the Chapel born at Peebles, W. in 1800, R. in 1802. W. C. began Royal, the physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries of business as a bookseller in Edinburgh, 1819. Between the household. The C. has further the oversight 1825 and 1830, he wrote the Gazetteer of Scotland, of the Queen's musicians, comedians, trumpeters, 1 vol.; and the Book of Scotland, 1 vol. R. C. also messengers, &c.; and all tradesmen and artificers in began business as a bookseller in Edinburgh, and her service are appointed by him. When the office of Keeper of the Great Wardrobe was abolished in from 1823 to 1830, wrote successively the Traditions 1782, the duties of providing the state-robes of the of Edinburgh, 2 vols.; Popular Rhymes of Scotland, royal family, the household, and officers of state, Rebellions in Scotland and Life of James I., 5 vols. 1 vol.; Picture of Scotland, 2 vols.; and Histories of devolved on the lord chamberlain. All theatres in Next, he edited Scottish Ballads and Songs, 3 vols.; towns in which a royal palace is situated, require to and Biography of Distinguished Scotchmen, 4 vols. be licensed by the Lord C., and no new play can be W. C. projected Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, and performed anywhere without his licence. All per- having gained the assistance of his brother, that sons desiring to be presented at levees or drawing- cheap periodical was commenced on the 4th of Febrooms, require to send their cards to the Lord C., ruary 1832, about six weeks in advance of the Penny and it is his duty to see that the persons thus apply- Magazine. United from this period in the business ing are entitled by station and character to be pre- of publishing, W. and R. C. have issued a series of sented to the Queen. The C. also issues her Majes- works designed for popular instruction, and, like ty's invitations to balls, parties, &c. In accordance the Journal (now amounting, in its different series, with ancient custom, the Lord C. is still a member to 40 vols.), free of any sectarian or political bias. of the Privy Council. His salary is £2000 a year, but his tenure of office depends on that of the political party to which he belongs.

Among these works are Chambers's Information for the People, 2 vols.; Chambers's Educational Course, about 70 vols.; Cyclopædia of English Literature, The Vice-chamberlain is the deputy and assistant | 2 vols.; Miscellany of Úseful and Entertaining Tracts, of the Lord C., and in his absence exercises the full authority which belongs to his principal. His office existed in the time of Richard II. He is also dependent on the administration, and is usually a member of the Privy Council. His salary is £924

per annum.

20 vols.; Papers for the People, 12 vols.; and the present Encyclopædia. It is proper to say that in conducting these laborious undertakings, they have necessarily depended on a number of accomplished literary assistants. The later productions of W. C. are Things as they are in America, 1 vol.; CHAMBERLAIN, THE LORD GREAT, is quite Slavery and Colour in America, 1 vol. (both works a different officer from the Lord Chamberlain the result of a visit to the United States in 1853); (q. v.) The Lord Great C. is a hereditary officer of the Youth's Companion and Counsellor, 1 vol.; and great antiquity, and formerly of great importance. pamphlets on Improved Dwellings and Co-operation He has the government of the palace at Westminster, among the Working Classes. R. C. has latterly and, upon solemn occasions, the keys of West- written a work on Ancient Sea Margins, 1 vol., and minster Hall and of the Court of Requests are edited the Life and Works of Robert Burns, 4 vols. delivered to him. At these times, the Gentleman A collection of his historical works and miscellaUsher of the Black Rod, the Yeoman Usher, and neous papers has been issued under the title of Select the door-keepers, are under his orders. At corona- Writings of Robert Chambers, 7 vols. His latest tions, state trials, banquets, and the like, the fitting-production is Domestic Annals of Scotland, 3 vols. up of the Hall devolves on him. When the Queen In 1859, William presented to Peebles the "Chambers goes to parliament, he delivers the sword of state to any member of the administration whom he chooses, to be borne before her Majesty, he himself walking

Institution." In 1865 he became Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and organized and carried out many useful measures of sanitary improvement. The crowning

CHAMBERS-CHAMBRE ARCENTE.

labour of the brothers Chambers in cheap literature | surmounted by a vast number of turrets, minarets, is their Encyclopædia. R. C. died March 17, 1871. CHAMBERS, PRACTICE BEFORE a Judge or VICECHANCELLOR AT. It is to applications to the court in banc alone that the name of motions is properly given. But there are certain matters of subordinate importance, regarding which applications are made to a single judge at chambers. Pratice at C. is of a more summary nature than that in court; but its importance has been increased by the Common-law Procedure Acts, and particularly by 15 and 16 Vict. c. 76, s. 52, authorising a judge at C. to decide upon the sufficiency of pleadings in certain

cases.

and cones; its most prominent features, however, being six enormous round towers, each 60 feet in diameter. The double spiral staircase in the central tower is of great architectural interest, being so contrived that parties pass up and down without meeting each other. The castle has no less than 440 chambers C. was the scene of the gallantries of Francis I. Here Henri II., Louis XIII., and Louis XIV. resided; and at one of the brilliant fêtes given at the castle by the latter, Molière performed, for the first time, his play of the Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Among the other occupants of C. were Marshal Saxe, Stanislaus, king of Poland, and Marshal Berthier,

After

In the Courts of Equity, incidental matters requir-upon whom it was bestowed by Napoleon I. ing to be cleared up in order to the completion of decrees, are investigated either by the Master of the Rolls, or by one of the vice-chancellors, sitting at C., or by their clerks as their representatives. By 15 and 16 Vict. c. 18, ss. 26-30, it is provided that this course may be adopted with all such matters as may be more conveniently disposed of at C. than in open court.

his death, it was purchased from his widow by a number of legitimists, and presented to the Duc de Bordeaux.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE. The benefits derived from the Chambers of Commerce (q. v.) in France has led to the establishment in that country of similar institutions for the promotion of agriculture. By a law of 20th March, 1851, they were placed in most respects on the same footing as the Chambers of Commerce, but a subsequent decree (25th March, 1852,) deprived them of many of their privileges. At present, each arrondissement has a chamber of agriculture, of which the members are named by the prefect, who alone can convoke them, and determine the sphere of their labours. The government is no longer bound, as formerly, to consult them; and having lost the right of communicating directly with the ministry, they stand, for the present, at a great disadvantage as compared with the chambers of commerce. No such institutions exist in this country, though in some respects their functions are performed, in an irregular manner, by our agricultural societies.

CHAMBERY, a town of Savoy, of which it is the capital, beautifully situated in a rich vine-clad valley, between two ridges of hills, about 45 miles westsouth-west of Geneva. Though situated at an elevation of nearly 1000 feet above the sea, the climate of C. is mild; the scenery around, with the river Leysse flowing through the valley, is exceedingly fine. The town itself, however, is dull and uninteresting. Some towers and other fragments of the old castle of the Dukes of Savoy, which dates from the 13th c., still remain. C. is celebrated for its manufacture of silk-gauze. It has also manufactures of soap, leather, hats, lace, and a trade in metals and wines. Pop. about 20,000. St. Réal and Comte Xavier le Maistre were natives of Chambery. From the middle of the 16th c. to the peace of Utrecht, 1713, C. was under the dominion of France; and again from the Revolution to the Congress of Vienna, 1815, when it was restored to the House of Savoy; but in 1860, by the cession of Savoy, it has again come under the rule of France.

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CHAMBORD (HENRI CHARLES FERDINAND MARIE DIEUDONNÉ D'ARTOIS, DUC DE BORDEAUX), COMTE DE, the representative of the elder branch of the House of Bourbon, and of its claims to the French throne, was born in Paris, September 29, 1820. | He is the grandson of Charles X., and the son of the Duke of Berri, who was murdered by Louvel, February 14, 1820. The Duke of Angoulême, Charles X.'s eldest son, being childless, the Duke of Berri was heir presumptive; and as, at his death, he left only a daughter, the joy was great when, seven months after, his widow gave birth to a prince, who received the title of Duke of Bordeaux-that of Comte de C., by which he has latterly been known, being derived from the Castle of C. (q. v.), presented to him at his baptism. He was baptized amid circumstances of great pomp with water brought by M. de Châteaubriand from the river Jordan, and received the appellation of l'Enfant du Miracle (the Miraculous Child'). at the When Charles X. abdicated the crown revolution in 1830, he did so in favour of his The people, grandson, the Duke of Bordeaux. however, insisted on the Citizen King,' and the elder Bourbons were banished. On the death of Charles X., the Duke of Angoulême assumed the title of Louis XIX., and another party proclaimed the Duke of Bordeaux king; but at last a reconciliation was brought about by Prince Metternich. In 1839, the prince visited Italy, accompanied by his mother, and was received by the petty courts with great distinction. After the death of the Duke of Angoulême in 1844, the heads of the different fractions of legitimists met to pay their united homage, and the Duke of Bordeaux made a pilgrimage to Belgrave Square' to receive it. In 1846, he married the eldest daughter of the Duke of Modena, who had never acknowledged the monarchy of July. After the revolution of 1848, many legitimists were returned to the National Assembly.

In 1850, the Duke of Bordeaux, or Count of C. as he now styles himself, appeared at Wiesbaden, where a congress of his adherents assembled to consult as to their future policy. Here the prince still declared for peace. In truth, all his 'appearances' in public have been weak and effeminate, consisting wholly of pompous drawingroom levees, where those present attempt to forget the logic of facts,' and persuade themselves that the Count of C. is a king, and themselves the ornaments of a resuscitated court. As the Count of C. is without heirs, a union, or 'fusion,' as it is called, of the partisans of the elder Bourbons with the Orleanists, came to be much talked of, and was

CHAMBORD, a celebrated royal castle of France, in the department of Loir-et-Cher, situated in the midst of a vast walled park 21 miles in circumference, about 12 miles east of Blois. Its foundation was laid in 1526, by Francis I., who employed 1,800 men constantly in its erection until his death. The work was continued with less zeal by his successors, Henri II., Henri III., Charles IX.; and Louis XIV. and Louis XV. also made some additions to it. The building, which marks the transition CHAMBRE ARDENTE ('the Fiery Chamber'), between the fortified castle and Italian palace, is a name given at different times in France to an

at last effected.

749

CHAMELEON-CHAMISSO.

extraordinary court of justice, probably on account | fable, current among the ancients and until recent of the severity of the punishments which it times, of their living on air. Their celebrated awarded, the most common being that of death power of changing colour is not equally fabulous, by fire. In the year 1535, Francis I. established and perhaps it would be rash in the present state an Inquisitorial Tribunal, and a Chambre Ardente. of knowledge on the subject to assert how far Both were intended for the extirpation of heresy. it has been exaggerated. It is probably in part The former, of which the pope was a corresponding under the control of volition, and may be used, as member, searched out, by means of spies, cases

of heresy, and instructed the

processes; while the latter both pronounced and executed the final judgment. Under Henri II., the activity of the C. A. received a new impulse, the entrance of that monarch into Paris on the 4th July 1549, being signalised by the burning of several heretics. But Francis himself, gallant and gay, as courtly history represents him, also seemed to relish a spectacle of this kind, for on various occasions he and his mistress presided at a burning. By and by, the C. A. relaxed in its penalties, and a cry was got up among the more bigoted Roman Catholics that it was conniving at heresy. This seems to have roused the 'lurking devil' in its members, and in order to wipe away the reproach, they commenced a series of unheard-of cruelties, which, along with other events, contributed to originate the religious war of 1560. In 1679, Louis XIV. employed it for a new and more praiseworthy purpose—viz., to investigate the numerous reports of poisoning cases which the trial of the Marchioness Brinvilliers (q. v.) caused to be circulated. Many persons of the first rank, such as the Maréchal de Luxembourg, and the Princess Louise of Savoy, were examined on suspicion, but no one was executed except the pretend ed sorcerer, Voisin (1686), after whose time the C. A. ended its activity.

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Britain, they soon die, apparently because of the

coldness of the climate.

The fables which, in former times, were current regarding the C., were extremely numerous and ridiculous. It supplied not a few of those medicines to which absurd credulity ascribed the most marvellous powers.

CHAMFERING. In Architecture, an angle which is slightly pared off, is said to be chamfered. The chamfer is sometimes made slightly concave, in which case it is called a hollow chamfer. Chamfers, in Gothic architecture, have frequently ornamental terminations of various kinds. The term C. is applied to wood-work as well as stone.

CHAMELEON, a southern constellation within Chameleons are natives of the warm parts of the the antarctic polar circle, and containing nine stars. Old World, but are most abundant in Africa. CHAMELEON (Chamæleo), a genus of saurian species is found in some parts of the south of Europe, reptiles, constituting a distinct family, of very pecu-is small. When brought, as they frequently are, to as near Cadiz. The whole number of known species liar form and structure, and on various accounts highly interesting. The body is much compressed; the dorsal line sharp, in some of the species rising into an elevated crest; the back of the head is also elevated into a sort of cone. The neck is very short, and does not admit of the head being turned, for which, however, compensation is found in the remarkable powers of motion possessed by the large prominent eyes, which move independently of one another, and are covered with a membrane pierced only with a small hole for the pupil to look through. There are no external cars. The skin is not covered with scales, but, like shagreen, rough with granules. The legs raise the body rather higher than in most of the saurians; the toes, both of the fore and hind feet, are divided CHAMIER, FREDERIC, an English novelist, was into two sets, one directed forward, and the born in London, 1796. He entered the navy as other backward, so that each foot has the power a midshipman in 1809, and distinguished himself of grasping like a hand. The tail is long and in the American war. He left the service in 1833. prehensile. The lungs are very large, and are The success of Marryat in depicting sea-life led connected with air-cells that lie among the muscles C. to try the same field, in which he has not been and beneath the skin, so that the animal has a remarkable power of inflating itself with air. The without success, though in invention and humour he falls short of his model. His best romances tongue is remarkably extensile, and is the organ by which the animal seizes the insects which consti-are-Life of a Sailor (3 vols., Lond. 1834), Ben tute its food, being darted at them with unerring Lond. 1836), Trevor Hastings (3 vols., 1841), PasBrace (3 vols., Lond. 1835), The Arethusa (3 vols., aim, whilst a viscous saliva causes them to adhere to it, and they are carried with it into the mouth, sion and Principle (3 vols., 1843), Tom Bowline Chameleons are slow in their movements except his works have been translated into German. Having (3 vols., 1839), Jack Adams (3 vols., 1838), &c. All those of the eyes and tongue, and remain long fixed in one spot, awaiting the approach of insects, which they seize on their coming within reach. They all live among the branches of trees. Their power of fasting is great, and along with their gulping of air in respiration, and their habit of inflating themselves with air, gave rise to the

been in Paris in February 1848, C. wrote a Review of the French Revolution of 1848 (Lond. 1849), in which he gives a rather prejudiced view of some of the prominent actors.

CHIAMISSO, ADELBERT VON, one of the most celebrated of German lyric poets, was born in 1781

CHAMOIS-CIIAMOMILE.

at the castle of Boncourt, in Champagne. His and so bent back at the tip as to form a hook. parents settling in Prussia in 1790, he became a The colour is brown, deeper in winter than in suinpage of the queen, and entered upon a military mer; the tail is black; the head is of a pale-yellow career. But when the campaign of 1806 broke out, colour, with a dark-brown 'band along each cheek. he returned to France, for though no admirer of The usual summer resort of the C. is in the Napoleon, he was unwilling to fight against his higher regions of the mountains which it inhabits, native land. At this time, he was thrown into the not far from the snow-line, and it is often to be circle of Madame de Staël at Coppet, and there seen lying on the snow. In winter, it descends to began that study of natural philosophy which he the higher forests. The aromatic and bitter plants afterwards pursued at Berlin. In 1814, Count of the mountain pastures are its favourite food. It Rumjanzow, chancellor of the Russian empire, is-like the ruminants generally-very fond of salt; prepared an exploring expedition round the world and many stones are met with in the Alps, hollowed at his own expense; C. accompanied it as naturalist. out by the continual licking of the C. on account of He embarked at Cronstadt under Captain Otto von the saltpetre with which they abound.' It is gregaKotzebue, chief of the expedition, which, however, rious: flocks of one hundred are sometimes seen; failed in its main object—that of discovering a north- | but in the Swiss Alps, where the numbers have been east passage. Subsequently, he obtained a situation much reduced by hunting, the flocks are generally in the Botanical Garden of Berlin, was made a mem- very small, and often consist only of a few indiber of the Academy of Science; and after a happy viduals. Old males often live solitary. The C. pro| domestic life, died there in 1838, universally loved duces one or two young at a birth, in the month of and honoured. He wrote several works on natural March or April. history, but his fame rests chiefly on his poetical productions. As early as 1804-1806, he, together with Varuhagen von Ense, published a Musen Almanach. In 1813, he wrote his original and amusing fiction called Peter Schlemihl, the story of the man who loses his shadow, which has been translated into almost all the languages of Europe. The character of his poetry is wild and gloomy, and he is fond of rugged and horrible subjects. In his political songs, he succeeds well in humour and irony; nor is he deficient in deep and genuine feel ing. Indeed, several of his ballads and romances are master-pieces in their way. We may instance one of his longest poems, Salas y Gomez, written in terza rima, as a proof how peculiarly German the cast of C.'s mind was, despite his French origin. His collected works, in six volumes, appeared at Leipsic in 1836-1839. He died in 1838.

CHAMOIS (Antilope rupicapra, Ger. Gemse), a species of antelope (q. v.) inhabiting the Alps and other high mountains of Central and Southern Europe, as the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, and the mountains

Chamois.

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It is an animal of extraordinary agility, and flocks may often be observed sporting in a remarkable manner among the rocky heights. It can leap over ravines of 16 to 18 feet wide; a wall of 14 feet high presents no obstacle to it; and it passes readily up or down precipices which almost no other quadruped could attempt. It is said to descend obliquely almost perpendicular precipices of more than 20 feet, striking its feet once or twice against the rock, as if to stay and guide its descent, and alighting securely, often on a very narrow ridge of rock, with its hind feet first, and bringing the fore feet almost into contact with them.

The hunting of the C. is an occupation attended with great hardships and much danger, but of which, nevertheless, some of the Swiss peasants become passionately fond. The hunter sometimes goes out on the adventurous chase alone; but more frequently several go out together, dividing into parties; and whilst the flock of C. flee from those whose approach they first desery, an opportunity of using the rifle is obtained by their comrades. The scent of the C. is extremely keen; and when by this sense it is apprised of the approach of the hunter, it becomes alarmed and restless until it sees him, upon which it rushes hastily in an opposite direction, and so falls into the ambuscade. When a flock of C. is feeding, one is always on the watch, and by a sort of whistle announces apprehended danger. -The flesh of the C. is highly esteemed. Its skin is made into leather, and from it the original shammoy or shammy leather, so much prized for softness and warmth, was obtained, although the name has now become common also to leather prepared from the skins of other animals. See SHAMMOY.-When taken young, the C. is easily tamed.-The C. of the Persian mountains is smaller and of a paler colour than the European variety, and its horns bend from the base.

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CHAMOMILE, or CA'MOMILE (Anthemis), a genus of plants of the natural order Composite, sub-order Corymbiferæ, distinguished by imbricated bracts, a scaly conical receptacle, a ray of one row of female florets, those of the disk hermaphrodite, the achænia obscurely four-cornered, and destitute of Greece: also those of some of the Mediterranean of pappus. The species are annual and perennial islands, Caucasus, Taurus, and other mountains of herbaceous plants, chiefly natives of Europe and the west of Asia. It is one of the antelopes some- other temperate parts of the world. Several are times designated capriform or goatlike, because of found in Britain, amongst which is the COMMON C. their departure from the typical or true antelope (A. nobilis), the most important species of the genus, form, and approach to that of the goats. The C. is well known for its medicinal virtues, a perennial about the size of a large goat, but the neck is plant, with a stem about a foot long, procumbent longer in proportion, and the body shorter; the and much branched, each branch terminated by horns seldom more than six or seven inches long, a flower (head of flowers) more than an inch black, rising nearly straight up from the forehead, broad, with yellow disk and white ray, the whole

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