The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: C (88)

Each of these 11 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.

Col

in geography, a depression or pass in a mountain-range. In those parts of the Alps where the French language prevails, the passes are usually named Cols-as the Col de Balme, the Col du Géant, etc.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Col Di Lana

a pass in the Alps of Trentino captured in a forward attack on the Austrians by the Italians, on April 17, 1916. It was retaken by the Austrians during the drive down the Trentino in May, which was not stopped by the Italians till the middle of the following month at the northern edge of the Val d'Assa and the Asiago basin.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colberg

or KOLBERG, a seaport and watering-place of Prussia, in the province of Pomerania, on the Persante, near its mouth in the Baltic, 170 miles N. N. E. of Berlin. The principal church dates from 1316. In 1102 Duke Boleslaus of Poland vainly besieged Colberg, which endured long sieges in the Thirty Years' War, in the Seven Years' War, and again in 1807, when it was most gallantly defended against the French. Colberg has manufactures of woolens, agricultural machines, and spirits; and Pop. salmon and lamprey fisheries. about 25,000.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colbert

JEAN BAPTISTE (kōlbār'), Marquis de Seignelay, a French statesman; born in Rheims in 1619. He served his apprenticeship in a woolendraper's shop, and afterward went to Paris, where his talents introduced him to Mazarin, who soon employed him in most important affairs of state. On his death-bed, Mazarin warmly recommended Colbert to Louis XIV., who, in 1661, appointed him controller-general of finances. Colbert's administration became a blessing to France. Order was restored in the finances, the revenue increased. He organized anew the colonies in Canada, Martinique, and St. Domingo, and founded others at Cayenne and Madagascar. Made minister of marine in 1669, he found France with a few old rotten ships; three years later, she had a fleet of 60 ships of the line and 40 Colbert improved the civil frigates. code, introduced a marine code of laws, as well as the so-called Code Noir for the colonies. He did not neglect the arts and sciences. The Academies of Inscriptions, Science, and Architecture were founded by him. In short, Colbert was the patron of industry, commerce, art, science, and literature the founder of a new epoch in France. He died in 1683. His son, also named Jean Baptiste, born in 1651, succeeded his father as minister of marine, and minister of the kin king's household. By his capacity and energy, he raised the French navy to its highest power, and in 1684 he led in person the maritime expedition against Genoa. He died in 1690.

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Colbert, Jean Baptiste

kol-ber, Jean Baptiste (1619-1683), a noted French financier. Under Louis XIV , he was for twenty-two years minister of finance. He found an empty treasury and the public revenues spent two years in advance, with fraud, disorder, and theft rampant. He reduced the rate of interest on the public debt, cut the rate of taxation in two, weeded out incapacity and dishonesty, increased the public income by $5,000,000, paid the enormous expense of two years of foreign war, and filled up the public treasury; yet he died out of favor with the king and his spendthrift court. During his management of the public purse, Colbert was liberal and enlightened in the encouragement of the fine arts and the sciences. At his suggestion the Academies of Sciences, of Architecture, and of Painting, the Royal Library, and the Garden of Plants, were given large grants of money. See Neckar

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Colburn

ZERAH, an American mathematical prodigy; born in Cabot, Vt., Sept. 1, 1804; displayed such remarkable powers of calculation that in 1810 his father left Vermont to exhibit him. At this period he answered correctly such questions as "How many hours in 1811 years?" in 20 seconds. He was shown in Great Britain, and for some time in Paris; from 1816 to 1819 he studied at Westminster School at the expense of the Earl of Bristol. His father died in 1824, and he returned to the United States, where he served as a Methodist preacher for nine years, and from 1835 was Professor of Languages in Norwich University, Vt., where he died March 2, 1840. His remarkable faculty disappeared as he grew to manhood. an Amer-

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colby College

a coeducational institution in Waterville, Me.; founded in 1818, under the auspices of the Baptist Church; reported at the end of 1919: Professors and instructors, 25; students, 360. President, A. J. Roberts.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colchester

a borough, and seaport of England, 50 miles N. E. of London. It has a large oyster-fishing trade, and exports of corn and malt. In 1648 Colchester stood a memorable siege of 11 weeks against the Parliamentary forces, who eventually starved out the royalist garrison, and hung the leaders.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colchicum

a genus of plants, order Melanthaceæ. C. autumnale, the meadow saffron, is found in meadows and pastures of the north temperate regions. To a superficial observer the plant looks like a crocus, and in fact it has received the erroneous name of autumnal crocus; but it has six stamens, while the crocus genus has but three. The corms of the meadow saffron are poisonous, but much use has been made of them in medicine.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colchicum Corm

the fresh corm of C. autumnale, or common meadow saffron, which is collected about the end of June, and stripped of its coat, sliced transversely, and dried at 150° F. Used to make extract, an acetic extract, and Vinum colchici. According to Garrod, Colchicum increases the flow of the bile, and diminishes the heart's action; it possesses the power of controlling the and inflammatory rheumatism. The seeds, Colchici semina, are used to form a tincture which has the same medicinal properties.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colchis

or COLCHOS, a former country of Asia, to the S. of Asiatic Sarmatia, E. of the Euxine Sea, N. of Armenia, and W. of Iberia. In ancient history it is famous for the expedition of the Argonauts, and for being the birth-place of Medea. In the 15th century it was sub-divided into several principalities, and is now comprised in the Russian government of Trans-Caucasus.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia