Vannes, 1343. Velez, 1487. of the hill called Criffle. On the continent it occurs in the electorate of Saxony; and in Venloo, 1702, first siege undertaken by the duke Upper Egypt at the city of Syena, in Thebaid, of Marlborough; 1794. Verceil, 1617, 1704. Verdun, 1792. Vienna, 1529, 1683. Vintimiglia, 1746. Wakefield, 1460. at the cataracts of the Nile, whence it derives its name. The Romans brought it from that place to Rome, for architectural and statuary purposes. SIENNA, TERRITORIO DI SIENNA, or SIENNESE, a province of Tuscany, bounded by the Florentine and the territory of Pisa; sixty-two Walcheren (Island of), taken by the British. miles in length, and of nearly an equal breadth; See Flushing. Woygnaff, 1676. Xativa, 1707; a most memorable defence made by the inhabitants, assisted by a garrison of 600 English troops: as a punishment, the whole town, with the exception of the principal church, was razed, and its name changed to St. Philippe. Xeres, 1262. Ypres, 1584, 1648, 1744, 1794. SIENITE or SYENITE, in mineralogy, a compound granular aggregated rock, composed of felspar and hornblende, and sometimes quartz and black mica. The hornblende is the characteristic ingredient, and distinguishes it perfectly from granite, with which it is often confounded; but the felspar, which is almost always red, and seldom inclines to green, forms the most abundant and essential ingredient of the rock. Some varieties contain a very considerable portion of quartz and mica, but little hornblende. This is particularly the case with the Egyptian varieties, and hence these are often confounded with real granite. As it has many points of agreement with greenstone, it is necessary to compare them together. In greenstone the hornblende is usually the predominating ingredient; in sienite on the contrary it is the felspar that predominates. In greenstone the felspar is almost always green or greenish; here on the contrary it is as constantly red or reddish. Quartz and mica are very rare in greenstone, and in inconsiderable quantity; whereas they are rather frequent in sienite. Lastly, greenstone commonly contains iron pyrites, which never occurs in sienite. It has either a simple granular base, or it is granular porphyritic; and then it is denominated porphyritic sienite. When the parts of the granular base are so minute as to be distinguished with difficulty, and it contains imbedded in it large crystals of felspar, the rock is termed sienite-porphyry. It is sometimes unstratified, sometimes very distinctly stratified. It sometimes shows a tendency to the columnar structure. It contains no foreign beds. It occurs in unconformable and overlying stratification, over granite, gneiss, mica-slate and clay-slate, and is pretty continuous, and covers most of the primitive rocks. It is equally metalliferous with porphyry. In the island of Cyprus it affords much copper; many of the important silver and gold mines in Hungary are situated in it. The sienite of the forest of Thuringia affords iron. In this country there is a fine example of sienite in Galloway, where it forms a considerable portion its superficial extent is about 3100 square miles. It is divided into two districts, called Upper and Lower; the former enjoying a pure and healthy atmosphere, the latter marshy, and much affected with the mal aria. This province contains level tracts of great fertility, and several of its mountains yield mineral products. Population 190,000. The SIENNA, or SIENA, an ancient and considerable city of Tuscany, the capital of the above province, situated in a pleasant and healthy district, on three eminences. Population 24,000. approach on the southern road is through a fine avenue planted with trees, and affording, from a distance, too favorable a view of the town, of which the streets are extremely uneven, winding, and narrow, so that for the chief part they are impassable for carriages. The streets are paved with brick. The only handsome square is that in which is the town-house; it contains a beautiful fountain. The piazza here is one of the principal attractions: it is a large space, well laid out with walks, and planted with statues. The esplanade is a fine shady avenue leading to the citadel, the ramparts of which, planted with trees, and laid out in the form of terraces, afford several interesting views. The cathedral of Sienna is a marble Gothic structure, accounted inferior to none in Italy, except St. Peter's. Its nave is supported by beautiful columns; its pavement embellished with mosaics, and with delineations of sacred subjects. Several of the chapels and altars are deserving of minute attention. The town-house is a large building, also in the Gothic style, and surrounded with porticoes. Adjoining is the theatre, rebuilt since 1750. There are also in Sienna several fine family mansions, or palaces, as they are termed. The manufactures include woollen, leather, paper, and hats, but all on a small scale. Some traffic is carried on in corn, and in the valuable marble of the environs. The town is the seat of a university, founded in 1321, and still reckoning so many as sixty professors; but it is of little repute. The academies of physics and natural history have acquired some note from their memoirs. The Siennese lay claim to a reputation for politeness, to a taste in learning and the arts, and in particular to speaking Italian with great purity. This town has, from first to last, supplied seven popes; it gave birth also to Socinus. Sienna was long a petty place. Augustus sent thither a colony, and Pliny mentions the town under the name of Colonia Senensis. Its prosperity was greatest during the middle ages, when it enjoyed an extensive commerce. even long maintained itself as an independent republic; but, intestine divisions favoring the It designs of foreign powers, it became successively subject to French and Spanish invaders; and, in the latter part of the sixteenth century, was ceded to Florence by Philip II. of Spain. Since then it has had no separate government. It is the see of an archbishop, and is thirty miles south by east of Florence. SIERRA LEONA, a country of western Africa, on the Atlantic, and distinguished for the colony formed there by the British nation from the most laudable motives of generosity and philanthropy It is traversed by a considerable river, derived from an unknown source in the interior, called the Mitomba or Sierra Leona. The extent to which this last name may be applied, either to the north or south of the river, or in the interior, is very indefinite. The name is derived from a long ridge of mountains rising at no great distance from the southern bank of the river. From these descend many streams or torrents, a number of which unite, in a place called the bay of France, into a large basin, which affords the best watering-place in all Guinea. This is described as a most delightful spot, shadowed by tall trees, mingled with rocks. The country consists generally of one vast, almost impenetrable forest, only particular spots of which have been cleared and cultivated. Even at a few steps from the shores and villages the ground becomes encumbered with trees and shrubs, penetrated only by narrow paths formed by the natives to their cleared fields. The houses are low, little huts, built with wooden posts fastened in the ground, of a round or square form, and thatched with straw. The villages consist of thirty or forty of such huts, and are moved without the least difficulty from place to place as convenience or fancy direct. Rice is raised wherever the ground is sufficiently watered for its production, and forms the constant food of the rich; but the poor content themselves with millet, yams, and plantains. There is great abundance of fruits. The pine-apple is pre-eminent; to which are added oranges, lemons, limes, and a fruit resembling a melon. The palm tree yields a liquor which is eagerly drank, and possesses intoxicating qualities. Elephants' teeth brought to the coast here are valued above any other on the same coast, being remarkably clean, white, and free from specks, though they occur elsewhere of larger size. A considerable quantity of civet is brought to market, the produce of a peculiar species of cat. The woods and mountains are considerably infested with wild animals, particularly lions, from the multitude of which the country appears to have derived its name. Apes, also, move about in vast bodies. The exuberance of life in a tropical climate gives rise also to numerous and troublesome swarms of insects, flies, mosquitoes, and particularly ants, the white species of which commit extraordinary devastation. The same cause multiplies the serpent species to a remarkable degree. The rivers contain large alligators, and the manatea or sea cow. The Portuguese were the first who formed settlements in the river of Sierra Leona; but afterwards all the nations of Europe found their way thither. The English established their fac tory upon Bance Island, situated in the middle of the river, being merely a rock ascended by steps, and possessing no advantage except that of security. The fort was substantially built of stone and lime, defended by ten or twelve guns, and garrisoned by about twenty whites and thirty grumettas or free negroes. The main object of this, as of every other establishment on the same coast, was that which it has since been made so active an instrument in overthrowing, the slave trade; and the supply here afforded, of these unfortunate victims of European cupidity, was very considerable. SIERRA LEONA, or LEONE, mountains of Africa, between Nigritia and Guinea, extending as far as Abyssinia. See MOUNTAIN. Sierra Leona, being thinly inhabited, appeared to some benevolent gentlemen in England a place where, without incommoding the natives, a sufficient quantity of ground might be bought, on which to settle a great number of free negroes, who, in 1786, swarmed in London in idleness and want. About 400 of these, with sixty whites, mostly women of bad character and in ill health, were accordingly sent out, at the charge of government, to Sierra Leona. Necessity, it was hoped, would make them industrious and orderly; and captain Thomson of the navy, who conducted them, obtained for their use a grant of land to his majesty from king Tom, the neighbouring chief, and afterwards from Naimbanna, the king of the country. The colony, however, soon went to ruin; but the land which they occupied, being about twenty miles square, his majesty was enabled to grant it, by act of parliament, to another colony, founded on better principles, and for a still nobler purpose. The most intelligent members of that society, which has labored so strenuously to procure an abolition of the slave trade, justly concluding that the natives of Guinea would reap very little benefit from the attainment of their object, unless they should be taught the principles of religion and the arts of civil life, which alone can render them really free, conceived the plan of a colony at Sierra Leona, to be settled for the truly generous purpose of civilising the Africans, by maintaining with them a friendly intercourse, and a commerce in every thing but men. This plan could not be carried into effect but at a very great expense. Subscriptions were therefore opened upon rational and equitable terms, and a sum deemed sufficient was speedily raised. An act of parliament was passed in favour of the subscribers, by which they were incorporated by the denomination of the Sierra Leona Company; and in pursuance of that act they held their first meeting at London on the 19th of October, 1791, when the following gentlemen were chosen directors for that year:Henry Thornton, esq., M. P., chairman; Philip Sansom, esq., deputy chairman; Sir Charles Middleton, bart.; Sir George Young, knt.; William Wilberforce, esq., M. P.; Rev. Thomas Clarkson, A. M.; Joseph Hardcastle, esq.; John Kingston, esq.; Samuel Parker, esq.; Granville Sharp, esq.; William Sandford, esq.; Vickeris Taylor, esq.; George Wolfe, esq.' The directors having stated the natural advantages of Sierra Leona, and its present miserable condition, ob served that they had not merely to establish a commercial factory, but that, to introduce civilisation, cultivation, and a safe trade, the company must provide for the security of the persons and property of the colonists. The directors therefore resolved that three or four vessels should sail at once, with such a number of people as would be able to protect and assist each other; with goods both for trade and for the supply of the colony. Accordingly several vessels sailed, having on board a council for the government of the colony and the management of the company's affairs; a number of artificers and other servants of the company, some soldiers, and a very few English settlers. The directors were laudably cautious in the choice of colonists. They admitted into the society no white man of bad character, or who was not a declared enemy to the slave trade; and, as the chief object of their enterprise was the civilisation of the natives, it was with great propriety that they chose more than three-fourths of their settlers from the free negroes in Nova Scotia, who had borne arms for the British government during the American war. The superintendant and council were particularly instructed to secure to all blacks and people of color at Sierra Leona equal rights and equal treatment, in all respects, with whites. They were to be tried by jury, as well as others; and the council was desired to allot to the blacks, employments suited to their abilities, and to afford them every opportunity of cultivating their talents. All practicable means of maintaining subordination were directed to be used; and the council was especially instructed to promote religion and morals, by supporting public worship and the due observance of the Sabbath, and by the instruction of the people, and the education of children. But no person was to be prevented from performing or attending religious worship, in whatever place, time, or manner, he might think fit, or from peaceably inculcating his own religious opinions. Orders were given in choosing the site of a town to consider health as the first object; and the first town was directed to be called Free Town. Articles for building and cultivation were sent out, besides the cargoes for prosecuting the company's commerce; and schools for reading, writing, and accounts, were ordered to be set up for the purpose of instructing the children of such natives as should be willing to put them under the company's care. The leading object of the company was to substitute for that disgraceful traffic, which has too long subsisted, a fair commerce with Africa, and all the blessings which might be expected to attend it. Considerable advantages appeared hereby likely to result to Great Britain, not only from our obtaining several commodities cheaper, but also from opening a market for British manufactures. From this connexion Africa was likely to derive the still more important benefits of religion, morality, and civilisation. To accomplish these purposes, it was necessary for the company to possess a tract of land as a repository for their goods, and which the Africans might cultivate in peace, secure from the ravages of the slave trade. It had been ascertained, beyond a doubt, that the climate and soil of Africa were admirably suited to the growth of sugar, spices, coffee, cotton, indigo, rice, and every other species of tropical produce. The company proposed to instruct the natives to raise these articles, and to set them the example, by a spirited cultivation on its own account. Directions were given to the company's commercial agent to push forward a trade, in a mode prescribed, in the present produce of Africa. Measures were taken for cultivating, on the company's account, the most profitable tropical pro duce; and, in particular, a person of long experience in the West Indies was ordered to begin a sugar plantation. A mineralogist and botanist were likewise engaged to go out and explore the country for new articles of commerce. Every thing being thus settled, upon the most equitable and benevolent principles, the ships sailed with the British colonists, to whom, in March 1792, were added 1131 blacks from Nova Scotia. The native chiefs being reconciled to the plan, and made to understand its beneficent tendency towards their people, the colony proceeded to build Free Town, on a dry and rather elevated spot on the south banks of the river. It occupied between seventy and eighty acres, its length being about one-third of a mile, and its breadth nearly the same; and it contained nearly 400 houses, each having one-twelfth of an acre annexed, on which a few vegetables were raised. There were nine streets running from north-west to south-east, and three cross streets, all eighty feet wide, except one of 160 feet, in the middle of which were all the public buildings. These consisted of a governor's house and offices; a large storehouse; a large hospital; six or eight other houses, offices, and shops, occupied by the company's servants; and a church capable of containing 800 people. The colonists at first suffered much from the rainy season, against which it was not in their power to provide sufficient protection; but at the end of it they reco vered in a great measure their health and spirits, and proceeded with alacrity to execute the various purposes of their settlement. To excite emulation in culture, the government gave premiums to those colonists who raised the greatest quantities of rice, yams, eddoes, cabbages, Indian corn, and cotton, respectively. To limit the excesses of the slave trade, and gain the favor of the neighbouring chiefs, the directors instructed the governor and council to redeem any native from the neighbourhood, who should be unjustly sold either to or by a British subject. The servants of the company conducted themselves with the utmost propriety, being sober, moral, and exemplary; and from the labors of the clergymen were derived services highly important in every point of view. Before the end of two years from the institution of the colony, order and industry had begun to show their effects in an increasing prosperity. The woods had been cut down to the distance of about three English miles all round the town. By these means the climate had become healthier, and sickness had greatly abated. The fame of the colony had spread not only along the whole western coast of Africa, but also to parts far distant from the coast; embassies had been received of the most friendly nature from kings and princes several hundred miles distant; and the native chiefs had begun to send their children to the colony, with full confidence, to be taught reading, writing, and accounts, and to be brought up in the Christian religion. In a word, it was not without grounds that the directors looked forward to that joyful period when, by the influence of the company's measures, the continent of Africa should be rescued from her present state of darkness and misery, and exhibit a delightful scene of light and knowledge, of civilisation and order, of peaceful industry and domestic comfort. On their beneficent exertions they hoped with confidence for the blessing of providence; they were countenanced and supported by the British government; and, upon the breaking out of the present war, the French Convention authorised one of their agents to write to the directors, requesting a full account of the design of the institution, and the names of the ships employed in the service, and assuring them of the good wishes of the French government to so noble an undertaking. How completely that government fulfilled its promise is very generally known. Having vindicated the rights of man in Europe by the violation of every principle of truth and justice, they determined by the same means to give light and liberty to the Africans; and that they have fully carried their determination into effect will be seen by the following extract of a letter from Mr. Afzelius, the company's botanist, dated Sierra Leona, 15th of November, 1794:The French have been here and ruined us. They arrived on the 28th of September last, early in the morning, with a fleet consisting of one large ship, two frigates, two armed brigs, and one cutter, together with two large armed merchant ships, taken by them at the Isle de Los, an English slave factory to the north of our colony, and which they have also destroyed and burnt. So well had they concealed their nation, that we took them at first for English. They had English-built vessels, which were rigged in the English way. They showed the English flag, and had their sailors, at least those we saw on deck, dressed like English. In short, we did not perceive our mistake till we observed them pointing their guns. We had not strength sufficient to resist, and therefore our governor gave orders that, as soon as they should begin to fire, the British flag should be struck, and a flag of truce hoisted. Accordingly this was done, but still they continued firing, and did much damage, both within and without the town. They killed two people and wounded three or four. But, as we did not understand the meaning of this proceeding, we asked them for an explanation; and they answered us that we should display the flag of liberty as a proof of our submission. We assured them that it should already have been done if we had had any, which terminated the hostilities from the ships. In the mean time, most of the inhabitants had fled from the town, having taken with them as much of their property as they conveniently could in such a hurry. I was with the governor, together with a number of others; but, as soon as I was certain they were enemies, I went towards my own house with a view to save as much as possible of my property and natural collections; but was received in such a manner that I could not venture to proceed. My house was situated near the shore, and unfortunately just opposite the frigate which fired. I saw the balls passing through the house, and heard them whizzing about my ears. I saw that I should lose all my property; but life was dearer to me, and I hastened to the woods. In the afternoon the enemy landed, finding the town almost destitute of people, but rich in provisions, clothing, and other stores. They began immediately to break open the houses and to plunder. What they did not want they destroyed, burnt, or threw into the river. They killed all the cattle and animals they found in the fields or streets, yards, or elsewhere, not sparing even asses, dogs, and cats. These proceedings they continued the whole succeeding week, till they had entirely ruined our beautiful and prospering colony; and, when they found nothing more worth plundering, they set fire to the public buildings and all the houses belonging to the Europeans; and burnt, as they said, by mistake nine or ten houses of the colonists. At last, after inflicting on us every hardship we could suffer, only sparing our lives and the houses of the colonists, they sailed on the 13th of October last, at noon, proceeding downwards to the Gold Coast, and left us in the most dreadful situation, without provisions, medicines, clothes, houses, or furniture, &c. &c., and I fear much that most of us should have perished had not our friends in the neighbourhood, both natives and Europeans, who were so happy as to escape the enemy, been so kind as to send us what they could spare. In the mean time most of us have either been, or still are, very sick, and many have died for want of proper food and medicine. The worst, however, is now past. At least we are not in any want of provision, although of the coarsest kind, but are destitute of the most necessary articles and utensils for the house, the table, and the kitchen.' It was thus that the French Convention executed their purpose of spreading light and liberty through the world. The Sierra Leona colony was established for no other end than to abolish the slave trade, to enlighten the Africans, and to render them virtuous, rational, free, and happy; and those powerful patrons of the rights of man destroyed that colony with many circumstances of the most wanton cruelty. Even this disaster was repaired by the active exertions of the company; the settlement resumed its prosperity, extended its survey over the neighbouring coasts, and received embassies even from remote African states. The company, however, exhausted by its losses, and by that profusion to which such establishments are liable, finally found it expedient to make an arrangement with government, by which Sierra Leona was placed under its immediate jurisdiction, like other colonies. About the same time the African Institution was set on foot by a number of excellent and distinguished individuals, for the purpose of devoting their efforts to the general improvement of this great continent. Sierra Leona appeared the most advantageous centre from which their efforts might emanate; and it was therefore placed under their entire management. The character of the members was a sufficient pledge for the purity of that zeal with which they would pursue every object tending to the improvement of the colony, and the general benefit of Africa. This is, moreover, fully evinced in the successive reports which they have published on the subject. Yet in these they candidly admit the obstacles which have obstructed the full accomplishment of the objects ir view. The volatile and turbulent disposition of the native powers renders them always prompt to take offence, and to embark in hostilities; and this unfriendly disposition is increased by the abolition of the slave trade, to which they were accustomed to look as the chief means of purchasing European luxuries. It has thus been found impossible to avoid repeated ruptures, the effects of which were always pernicious to the interests of the colony. One mode of recruiting its numbers was derived from the negroes captured on their way to the West Indies, by the vessels destined to put a stop to the slave trade; but the disposal of these was attended with considerable difficulty. The first plan was to make them purchase their liberty by a temporary bondage, under the name of indenture; but it was naturally objected that this was running into the very evil which the colony was established to prevent; and the practice has been properly discontinued. Still, to preserve the requisite order and propriety among such a motley population left at full liberty, has not been found an easy task. The introduction of the forms of English law, a measure in itself so salutary, seems to have produced rather injurious effects upon this African race. It has inspired them with an unbounded rage for litigation, and called forth innumerable petty suits for assault and defamation, in which it appears that the female sex are usually in the proportion of four to one. Lastly, the distance from Britain, the unhealthy nature of the settlement, and the very moderate amount of the salaries, render it very difficult to procure respectable and duly qualified persons to fill the different official situations. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, a gradual but decided improvement has taken place, and is becoming more sensible, as experience teaches the best modes of administering such an establishment. Within the last few years, both the extension and improvement of the colony have been particularly remarkable. With the efforts of the institution have been combined those of the Church Missionary Society, who have introduced, with great advantage, the British system of education. Its first establishment was in the country schools; and in Freetown, where a different method had been originally employed, there occurred 'considerable obstacles to its introduction, from the murmurs of the parents, and the disinclination of the children. At length, however, the plan was completely successful, and the schools contain now 350 boys and girls, and 180 adults. In consequence of the great increase of population from disbanded soldiers, and still more from captured negroes, a number of new towns have been founded in different parts of the territory. The principal of these is Regent's Town, which was found in 1816 by Mr. Johnson, the missionary teacher, in a state of the utmost barbarism. It contained 1100 captured negroes, belonging to twenty-two nations in all different parts of the continent, without any tie to each other, and many of them separated by deadly enmity. Some would live in the woods, apart from society; others, particularly those of the Eho nation, subsisted chiefly by thieving and plunder, stealing fowls, and eating them raw. One of them, having stolen a litter of nine pigs, was traced by the owner, who found that the animals had been all thrown alive into a pot of boiling water. Another, having lost a dog and pot, discovered the thief, and found the dog boiling in the pot for dinner. It was some time before any impression could be made on this savage population; but at length the labors of the excellent missionary, seconded by those of some intelligent negroes, produced the happiest effects. In the course of the few years which have since elapsed an entirely new scene has arisen. The town itself is laid out with regularity; nineteen new streets are formed and levelled, with good roads round the place; a large stone church rises in the midst of the habitations; a government-house, a parsonage-house, schoolhouses, store-houses, a bridge of several arches, some native dwellings, and other buildings, all of stone; are either finished, or on the point of being so. The state of cultivation farther manifests the industry of the people: all are farmers; gardens fenced in are attached to every house; all the land in the immediate neighbourhood is under cultivation; and there are fields even to the distance of three miles; vegetables and fruits are raised in abundance; and there is a good supply of domestic animals. Many of them, besides the cultivation of the ground, carry on trades; fifty are masons and bricklayers, forty carpenters, thirty sawyers, thirty shingle makers, twenty tailors, four blacksmiths, and two butchers. In these various ways upwards of 600 of the negroes provide for their own maintenance. The appearance and manners of the people have improved in an equal. degree. They are all now decently clothed: almost all the females have learned to make their own clothing; about 400 couple are married; the attendance on public worship is regular and large, comprising on an average not less than 1200 or 1300 negroes, while Mr. Johnson's first congregation amounted only to nine; and the schools, which opened with 140 children and sixty adults, now contain upwards of 500 scholars. In the more immediate vicinity of Freetown, there are also the townships of Charlotte, Leopold, Gloucester, and Wilberforce. These, with Freetown, contain upwards of 2000 scholars, adults and children, in a course of regular instruction. Within the last two years, in consequence of the accessions to the population, four new and more distant stations have been formed; Waterloo, bordering on the Timmanees, and containing already 700 inhabitants; Wellington, near to Kissey; and Hastings, not yet risen to any importance. These are on the eastern side of the colony, while on the south-western is York, bordering on the Sherbros, where a settlement called Kent had already been formed. |