The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: C (91)

Each of these 9 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.

Collimation

the act of aiming or pointing toward any object. The line of Collimation of a telescope is that from the optical center of the objective to the middle wire, or to the mean of the wires of a transit, or to the zero-position of the micrometer-wires in an instrument for measuring zenith-distances. The Error of Collimation of a transit is the departure of this line from a direction at right angles to the axis. The Collimation Correction is the amount to be applied to the observed times of transit to correct them for this error.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Collimators

telescopes used for the determination of the corrections of collimation, for flexure, or for the zenithpoint of a meridian-circle or transit. They are generally fixed upon piers N. and S. of the instrument and pointed toward each other and toward the instrument itself when in a horizontal position. They are adjusted so as to be intervisible when the instrument is lifted out of its Y's, and, on looking into either, the wires of the other are seen alongside those in the field, so that they can be pointed on each other, or the instrument itself upon either in turn. Besides the above arrangement there are many others, and also other uses of Collimators. Very often a long focus lens with a distant meridian-mark takes the place of one of the Collimators, and it is then used also as a reference point for the azimuth-correction of the instrument.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Collingwood

CUTHBERT, LORD, an English naval val commander ; born in ; Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1750. He entered the royal navy in 1761, and took part as flag-captain on board the "Barfleur" in Lord Howe's victory of June 1, 1794, commanded the "Excellent" during the battle off Cape St. Vincent on Feb. 14, in that year, and was made rear-admiral of the white in 1799. His most distinguished service was at Trafalgar, where he won the praise of Nelson. On the latter's death Collingwood as senior officer took command of the fleet. For his services here he was elevated to the rank of baron. He died, while cruising off Minorca in the "Ville de Paris," on March 7, 1810. His "Memoirs and Correspondence" have been published.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Collins, William Wilkie

William Wilkie (1824-1889), a London novelist. His father was a landscape painter of good repute. The son studied law, but wrote stories. The Moonstone is perhaps the best. Armadale, A New Magdalen, The Woman in White, and The Dead Secret, are others which have been very popular. Several of these were published in American magazines before appearing in book form, and it is said brought their author immense sums of money. Few novelists have enjoyed a wider popularity in their own day than did Collins. His novels can never be regarded as great, however. He lacks the power of making fiction appear as reality. His characters are often unnatural and seem more like actors playing their parts on a stage than like live men and women. For skill in inventing and elaborating intricate plots, Collins is unequalled.

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Collinsville

a city in Illinois, in Madison co., on the Vandalia railroad. It is the center of an important coalmining region and has lead smelters and zinc works. There are also manufactures of flour and wool. The city has a hospital and a tuberculosis sanitarium. Pop. (1910) 7,478; (1920) 9,753.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Collodion-Process

a process in photography invented by Archer, in 1851. An iodized collodion is made by impregnating a solution of gun-cotton in ether, with a small quantity of iodide of potassium or cadmium. A film of the iodized collodion is spread on the glass, which is then immersed in a solution of nitrate of silver. The image is taken in the camera, developed by a weak solution of pyrogallic acid and acetic acid, or a solution of protosulphate of iron. Excess of iodide of silver is removed by hyposulphite of soda or cyanide of potassium. This gives a negative. A positive is obtained by laying the negative on prepared paper and exposing them to light. COLLOIDS. The first extensive investigation of colloids was made by Thomas Graham in the years 1860-1864. He found that certain substances formed what were, apparently, solutions, in that they would pass, unchanged, through filter-paper, but that they differed from solutions of crystalloids, such as sugar or salt, in that they would not dialyze. See DIALYSIS. These substances he called colloids. Well-known examples are starch, glue, dextrin, albumen, caramel, and tannins. All living matter is, for the most part, built up of colloids. Recent investigations have tended to show that it is possible to bring any substance into a colloidal condition, and colloidal solutions of metals and their compounds have been prepared. The word "colloid" is now used, therefore, to describe a state of matter rather than particular class of a substances.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Colloquy of the Ancients

A collection of Ossianic legends, made into one about the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries. It relates how the Fian heroes, Keelta and Oisin, each with eight warriors, met to talk over the glorious past for the last time. Then Oisin returns to the Fairy Mound of his mother, and Keelta meets with St. Patrick and his monks at Drumdreg. Keelta tells the saint many tales, interspersed with lyrics, with which he is delighted, and he eventually baptises Keelta and his warriors and grants them absolution. Commentary on the Ancient War of the Knights: (See Alchemy .)

Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism

Collusion

in law, a secret agreement between opposing litigants to obtain a particular judicial decision on a preconcerted statement of facts, whether true or false, to the injury of a third party. Collusion, when proved to exist, nullifies the judgment obtained through it.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Collyer

ROBERT, an American clergyman; born in Keighley, Yorkshire, England, Dec. 8, 1823. He came to the United States in 1849, being then a Wesleyan preacher and a blacksmith; but became a Unitarian, and preached some years in Chicago, where he founded Unity Church in 1860. He was made pastor of the Church of the Messiah, New York City, in September, 1879, 1879, and pastor emeritus in 1896. Included in his publications are: "Nature and Life" (1866); "The Life that Now Is" (1871); "Lectures to Young Men and Women" (1886); "A Man in Earnest"; "Clear 66 Grit" (1914). His "Life and Letters" edited by J. H. Holmes was published in 1917. Died in November, 1912.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia