STRICKLAND. I. AGNES, an English authoress, born at Reydon hall, Suffolk, in the early part of the present century. She was carefully educated under the personal supervision of her father, and at the age of 16 produced a poem in 4 cantos entitled "Worcester Field, or the Cavalier," which Campbell pronounced the best work of its class since the appearance of Scott's metrical romances. It was followed during the next few years by "Demetrius," a novel, of which the scene is laid in modern Greece; "The Pilgrims of Walsingham," a series of tales constructed on the plan of Chaucer's "Canterbury Pilgrims;" "Alda, the British Captive;" and several popular historical and biographical works for children. In 1840, in conjunction with her sister Elizabeth, she commenced the elaborate series of the "Lives of the Queens of England," completed in 1849 in 12 vols., which was followed by "Lives of the Queens of Scotland" (8 vols., 1850-'59). Both have proved very popular, and the biography of Mary, queen of Scots, in the latter series, by Agnes Strickland, is an elaborate attempt, founded on a variety of documents not previously consulted in detail, to establish the innocence of that sovereign. In 1861 she published "Lives of the Bachelor Kings of England," completing, with her "Queens," a continuous series of English history. At various times Miss Strickland has been a contributor of prose and verse to the periodicals, and a collection of her articles has been reprinted under the title of "Historical Scenes." II. JANE MARGARET, sister of the preceding, commenced her literary career as a contributor to juvenile annuals and religious publications, to which occupation she devoted herself for several years. In 1854 she published "Rome, Regal and Republican" (2 vols. 8vo.). III. CATHARINE PARE (MRS. TRAIL), sister of the preceding, has resided for several years in Canada, where her husband, Lieut. Trail, of the 21st regiment, was quartered, and has produced "The Backwoods of America," "The Canadian Crusoes," and "A Guide to Female Emigrants." IV. SUSANNAH (MRS. MOODIE), another sister, married an officer in the same regiment with Lieut. Trail, and is also a resident in Canada. Her works comprise "Mark Hurdlestone" and "Flora Lindsay," novels, and "Roughing it in the Bush," a history of her personal adventures in the new world.

STRICKLAND, WILLIAM P., D.D., an American clergyman and author, born in Pittsburg, Penn., Aug. 17, 1809. He was educated at the Ohio university, Athens, O., entered the itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio in 1832, and was afterward for some years agent and district secretary of the American Bible society. In 1856 he removed to New York, where he has been engaged in literary labor, mostly in connection with the Methodist book concern. He is now (Jan. 1862) chaplain of the 48th New York regiment, stationed at Port Royal, S. C. His principal

publications are: "History of the American Bible Society" (New York, 1849; new ed., 1856); "History of Methodist Missions" (1850); "Genius and Mission of Methodism" (1851); "Christianity Demonstrated" (1852); "Memoir of the Rev. James B. Finley" (1853); “A Treatise on Biblical Literature" (1853); "The Light of the Temple," a masonic work (Cincinnati, 1854); "The Astrologer of Chaldea" (Cincinnati, 1856); "Pioneers of the West" (New York, 1856); "Life of the Rev. Francis Àsbury (Pioneer Bishop)" (1858); "Life of Jacob Gruber" (1859); and "Old Mackinaw" (Philadelphia, 1860).

STRONG, CALEB, an American statesman, born at Northampton, Mass., Jan. 9, 1745, died there, Nov. 7, 1819. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1764, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1772. During the revolution he was a member of the general court or legislature and of the Northampton committee of safety. For nearly 25 years after 1776 he was county attorney, in 1779 was a member of the state constitutional convention, and in 1780 of the state council, and several times represented his county in the state senate. In 1787 he was elected to the convention for framing a national constitution, but was obliged by sickness in his family to return home before the completion of its labors; and in 1789 he was elected one of the first U. S. senators from Massachusetts, was reelected in 1793, and resigned in 1796. From 1800 to 1807 he was governor of Massachusetts, and again from 1812 to 1816. As a federalist he was opposed to the war with England, and his conduct during the war was the subject of severe animadversion by his political opponents. When requisition was made upon him for troops, he, in common with the whole federal party of New England, denied the right of the president upon constitutional grounds, and stood aloof from the contest, until what seemed to be a retaliatory act of the administration in withdrawing nearly all the troops from the coast of Massachusetts, and the actual presence of the enemy, rendered it imperative that he should make every effort for the defence of the state. The constitution specified three cases in which the president could call upon a state for the militia, viz.: to execute the laws, to suppress insurrection, and to repel invasion. A difference of opinion arose between the president and the governor as to which was to decide that either of these exigencies existed. There had then been no judicial decision on the subject, and the opinion of the supreme court was asked on the questions whether the commanders-in-chief of the states had a right to judge of the exigency, and whether, when either of the three exigencies did exist, the militia could be lawfully commanded by any officer but of the militia. An answer to these questions was returned, signed by Theophilus Parsons, Samuel Sewall, and Isaac Parker, sustaining the governor in his interpretation of the constitution. But although Gov. Strong

so emphatically declined answering calls which he considered unconstitutional, he was ready to adopt every measure which the safety of the state demanded, and to accede to all requests which he considered within the limits of his constitutional obligations; and the state throughout the war was amply defended, so that no evil resulted from the difference between the state and national authorities.

STRONG, JAMES, an American theological writer, born in New York, Aug. 14, 1822. He was graduated at the Wesleyan university, Middletown, Conn., in 1844. In 1852 he published a "Harmony and Exposition of the Gospels," and in 1854 a "Greek Harmony of the Gospels" on a similar plan, and also an abridgment of the forms and questions upon it. He is also the author of brief manuals of Greek and Hebrew grammar, an outline of theology, and an "Appeal to Sunday School Efforts;" and of various articles, chiefly on biblical topics, in the "Methodist Quarterly Review," and a series of communications in the "Christian Advocate and Journal," on the subject of ministerial education, which elicited much controversy. He has been for several years engaged, in connection with the Rev. Dr. McClintock, on an extensive "Cyclopædia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature," which is now (Feb. 1862) nearly ready for publication. In 1856 he received, although a layman, the honorary degree of D.D. from the Wesleyan university. In 1858 he became professor of biblical literature and acting president of the Troy university, N. Y., which position he resigned in Dec. 1861.

STRONTIA, or STRONTIAN, an alkaline earth, of which strontium is the metallic base, represented by the formula SrO, chemical equivalent 52, obtained from its nitrate by ignition. It was first distinguished from barytes by Dr. Hope in 1792, and was named by him from Strontian, in Argyleshire, Scotland, where the mineral compound containing it was found. Pure strontia is prepared in the same manner as barytes from its corresponding salts. It is a grayish white, porous substance, infusible, not volatile, of alkaline reaction, and having an acrid, burning taste. It slakes like lime, and dissolves in 2 parts of boiling water or 50 parts of cold water. It resembles barytes, but its salts are not poisonous like those of the latter substance. Combined with carbonic acid, it forms the mineral strontianite, which occurs in Scotland in veins traversing gneiss along with galena and heavy spar. It consists of strontia 70.19 and carbonic acid 29.81 per cent. It is of light shades of yellow or green, gray, or white, more or less transparent; lustre vitreous; hardness 3.5 to 4; specific gravity 3.605 to 3.713. Its chief interest is in its property of communicating a reddish tinge to flame. In the United States the mineral occurs at Schoharie and at Warwick, Orange co., and at several localities in Jefferson co., N. Y. Strontia also occurs combined with sulphuric acid, forming

the mineral celestine or sulphate of strontia, which consists of strontia 56.4 and sulphuric acid 43.6 per cent. This is of vitreous lustre, white or faintly bluish or reddish, and more or less transparent; hardness 3 to 33; specific gravity 3.95. Its crystals are modified forms of the right rhombic prism, and are found in great perfection and of large size on Drummond's island, Lake Huron.-The nitrate is the only strontia compound of importance. It is the ingredient used in fireworks for giving a crimson color to the flames, and is prepared by converting the native sulphate into the sulphuret by heating it mixed with charcoal in a crucible, and decomposing the sulphuret, dissolved in water, with dilute nitric acid. Colorless transparent crystals of slender octahedral form separate on the evaporation of the neutral or acid solution. The salt is insoluble in alcohol, but dissolves in 5 parts of cold and one half part of boiling water. A beautiful exhibition of red fire is prepared by treating bibulous paper with nitric and sulphuric acids, and, after washing out all the free acid and drying, saturating it with a solution of the nitrate of strontia or chloride of strontium. The chloride is prepared by using hydrochloric instead of nitric acid in decomposing the sulphuret. A mixture that deflagrates with a magnificent red color, but which is very dangerous to make and to keep, is prepared of 40 parts of nitrate of strontia, 5 of chlorate of potash, 13 of sulphur, and 4 of sulphuret of antimony. Its spontaneous explosion has been the cause of some frightful accidents.-Strontium, the metallic base, was first isolated by Davy in 1807, but was first obtained in a pure state by Bunsen and Matthiessen in 1855. It is a malleable metal, of pale yellow color, and burns in the air with a yellowish flame emitting sparks.

STROPHE (Gr., from σrpepw, to turn round), a division of the Greek choral ode, much the same as a stanza. Opposed to it is the antistrophe. The chorus recited these various parts of the poem with their faces toward the different sides of the theatre, and turned to the one or the other side as they began the respective divisions; hence the name.

STRUENSEE, KARL AUGUST VON, a German statesman and author, born in Halle, Aug. 18, 1735, died in Berlin, Oct. 17, 1804. He was educated at the orphan house and the university of Halle, and in 1756 was appointed a lecturer on mathematics and Hebrew at Halle, and the next year professor at the military academy of Liegnitz. In 1769 he was called by his brother Count Struensee to Copenhagen to take charge of the finances of the Danish kingdom, and on his brother's downfall was imprisoned for a short time, but was soon released, returned to Prussia, and retired to his country seat at Alzenau in Silesia. In 1782 he was made councillor of finances and director of maritime trade at Berlin, and distinguished himself by measures which greatly increased the trade of Prussia. In 1789 he was ennobled

under the name of Von Karlsbach, and in 1791 appointed minister of state, and president of the board of excise, which office he held till his death. He published several valuable works on military science, political economy, and commerce. JOHANN FRIEDRICH, count, a Danish statesman, brother of the preceding, born in Halle, Aug. 5, 1737, executed at Copenhagen, April 28, 1772. His early education was acquired in Francke's orphan house, and he studied medicine at the university of Halle, receiving his diploma in 1757. He was soon after appointed public physician at Altona, and in 1768 was employed to attend Christian VII. of Denmark in his tour through Germany, France, and England. His agreeable and insinuating manners won the confidence of the king, and he was a ready companion in his profligacy. With consummate address, he gained the good will of the queen (Caroline Matilda, sister of George III. of England), who was at first prejudiced against him, and for nearly 3 years he was the actual ruler of Denmark. In 1770 he was intrusted with the physical education of the crown prince, afterward Frederic VI., and soon after caused the king to deprive Count Bernstorff of his seat in the council of state, and appoint Count RantzauAschbach in his place. He obtained the recall from France of his profligate friend Enewold von Brandt, who had been banished some years before, and through him he accomplished many of his purposes. The king gave himself up to vicious indulgence, and two parties strove to obtain the power, the party of the queen dowager led by Count Bernstorff, and the party of the queen led by Struensee. The latter triumphed, and Struensee was appointed prime minister with almost unlimited powers. He soon persuaded the king to dissolve the council of state, and to institute in its place the commission of conference, composed of his own creatures. This measure, though confirming his power at the time, brought great odium on Struensee, as subverting, through the influence of a foreigner, the Danish constitution, and depriving the nobility of their hereditary power. Count Rantzau, who had been promoted by his influence, being deprived by this act of office, went over to the party of the queen dowager, and became one of his bitterest enemies. The finances of the country were in a bad condition, and by injudicious measures of taxation he increased the public hostility to his administration. Scandals were circulated in regard to his relations with the queen, and he suppressed them by silencing the press. The party of the queen dowager, bitterly hostile to him, sought an opportunity of destroying him, and the partial failure of his intellectual powers, overtasked by his labors and his licentiousness, soon furnished it. The king was forced by the queen dowager and her partisans to sign an order for the arrest of Struensee and his brother, whom he had made councillor of justice, Brandt, Queen Caroline

Matilda, and all their adherents, which was accomplished Jan. 16, 1772. Struensee and Brandt were tried by a special commission, and sentenced to decapitation, their right hands to be cut off, their bodies quartered and broken on the wheel, and their heads and hands to be stuck upon a pole. This sentence was carried into effect in all its details. During his imprisonment Struensee professed penitence and conversion from scepticism to Christianity, and made a written confession of his errors and crimes.

STRUTT, JOSEPH, an English antiquary and artist, born in Springfield, Essex, Oct. 27, 1742, died in London, Oct. 16, 1802. At 14 years of age he was apprenticed to Ryland, the engraver, and he subsequently studied oil painting at the royal academy, although he never accomplished much in that line. A taste for antiquities led him to pass much time in the reading room of the British museum, and an examination of the rare manuscripts resulted in the preparation of his first work, "The Regal and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of England, containing the Representations of the English Monarchs from Edward the Confessor to Henry VIII." (4to., 1773). His remaining works comprise "Horda-Angel-Cynnan, or a Complete View of the Manners, Customs, Arins, Habits, &c., of the Inhabitants of England from the arrival of the Saxons" (3 vols. 4to., 1774-'6); "Chronicle of England" (2 vols. 4to., 1777-'8), intended to comprise 6 vols., but which from want of encouragement he terminated with the Norman conquest; "Biographical Dictionary of Engravers" (2 vols. 4to., 1785-'6); "Complete View of the Dress and Habits of the People of England, from the Establishment of the Saxons" (2 vols., 1796-'9); and "The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England" (4to., 1801), a popular work, and well known by Hone's edition (8vo., 1830). He left, beside some miscellaneous pieces, a fragment of a romance entitled "Queen Hoo Hall," which, at the request of Murray the publisher, was completed by Sir Walter Scott in 1808. Strutt also engraved a series of plates illustrating the "Pilgrim's Progress," and a number of single works. He died in poverty.

STRUVE, FRIEdrich Georg Wilhelm von, a Russian astronomer, born in Altona, April 15, 1793. He was educated at the university of Dorpat, and in 1813 was attached to the observatory of that city, of which he became director in 1817. In 1839 he was made director of the magnificent observatory of Pulkowa, which position he still retains, and was not long after made councillor of state. He has confined his labors as an astronomer principally to the observation of fixed and double stars, and has made large additions to the knowledge of these bodies. He has also been engaged in a variety of labors connected more or less intimately with astronomical science, such as the triangulation of Livonia, measuring the degrees of latitude in the Baltic provinces, meas

of these acids. After the infusion is concentrated, the salt is decomposed by adding lime, and the strychnia falls with the excess of lime and impurities. These being separated, boiling alcohol dissolves the strychnia, and by evaporation this is obtained in crystals, which may be purified and decolored by redissolving and crystallizing several times, or by converting into a sulphate with sulphuric acid, then decolorizing with animal charcoal, and recovering the strychnia by decomposing the salt with ammonia. The alkali brucia accompanies the strychnia, and may be almost entirely removed in the repeated treatment with alcohol, in which when cold brucia is much more soluble than strychnia. Their medicinal properties are very similar, but much less strongly marked in brucia. When strychnia is rapidly crystallized from its solution, it is a white granular powder; but if time be given it crystallizes in octahedrons or quadrilateral prisms. Microscopic crystals were observed by Dr. J. J. Reese of Philadelphia on evaporating single drops of water upon a slip of glass, when the quantity present could not exceed of a grain in weight. Some of the crystals appeared circular, others stellate and scalloped, intermingled with dentated crosslets. His paper upon strychnia in the "American Journal of the Medical Sciences," for Oct. 1861, presents much valuable information upon this substance and the means of detecting its presence, and is the authority for what follows respecting the methods of detecting it. Strychnia is an intensely bitter substance, one grain, according to Dr. Reese, dissolved in 25 gallons of water, communicating a perceptible taste when the mouth is forcibly rinsed with the water. It is without odor, and undergoes no change in the air. Exposed to heat, it is not volatile, but melts like a resin, and is soon decomposed. It dissolves in the volatile oils and in boiling alcohol, but scarcely at all in water, ether, or absolute alcohol. Its composition, according to Liebig, is represented by the formula N2 CH23 O, but other authorities give very different proportions of these elements. The salts of strychnia when in solution are decomposed by the alkalies and their carbonates and by tannic acid.-The effects of strychnia upon the animal system are very remarkable. It is one of the most active and deadly poisons known. One sixth of a grain of the pure alkali has been known to kill a dog in half a minute, and less than a grain would probably destroy human life. The strength of the commercial article is, however, very variable. The poison acts alike whether applied externally to a fresh wound or injected into the veins, and its effects are communicated by injecting the blood of an animal under its influence into the veins of another; they are exhibited by convulsions soon terminating in death. Various antidotes have been proposed, but in cases of poisoning there can rarely be time for their exhibition. Camphor taken internally is said to correct the

poisonous effects, and chloroform is probably still more efficacious. Conium is the most exact antidotal or antagonistic remedy. A case is reported of a boy in Cortland co., N. Y., who took about two grains of strychnia in mistake for morphia, and was soon after seized with violent tetanic spasms, locked jaw, &c. Chloroform was administered freely, by inhalation and application along the spine, and in 10 minutes the patient became perfectly quiet under its influence. On withdrawing it the spasms returned; but by keeping him under the effects of the anaesthetic 4 hours, the poison was absorbed and the boy recovered. As a medicine strychnia is employed for the same purposes as nux vomica, and is introduced into the system either by application to a fresh wound, injection into the veins, or by taking it internally in pills or in solution in acidulated water. The pills commonly contain from to of a grain each, and after the first dose the others are regulated according to the observed effects, the strength of the medicine being always uncertain. Strychnia is the most useful remedy against muscular debility and simple paralysis, and for constipation arising from debility of the muscular coat of the bowels.-The presence of strychnia, even in inconceivably small quantities, is indicated by several curious and most satisfactory tests. The chief of these, called the color test, depends on the property, peculiar to strychnia, of exhibiting a beautiful play of colors when, in the presence of sulphuric acid, it is brought in contact with certain oxidizing bodies, such as the peroxides of lead and manganese, bichromate of potash, ferrideyanide of potassium (red prussiate), and permanganate of potash. When a small fragment of strychnia on a white plate is moistened with a drop of strong sulphuric acid, and either one of these bodies is stirred in contact with it, a rich violet blue color appears, which very soon changes to a mulberry purple, and afterward to light red. Dr. Reese is positive that the reactions of some other substances cited as resembling those of strychnia under these circumstances are in reality different when the experiment is carefully made. So delicate is this test, that he succeeded in detecting by it the presence of strychnia in pure solutions containing only 200 of the alkaloid. In mixtures, such as the contents of the stomach, containing organic substances, it is readily discovered when present in proportion equal to of a grain to a pint of the mixture, this being first reduced to a small bulk by evaporation. A drop of the matter to be tested is very carefully evaporated to dryness at a temperature too low for the strychnia to be decomposed, upon a clean white porcelain surface. A drop of pure and strong sulphuric acid, taken out of the bottle on the end of a finely pointed glass rod, is then placed near to the dry spot on the porcelain, and a little of it is to be drawn along in contact with the spot. Then a very small crystal of the bichromate of