cesilaos, and Carneades. The
_French Academy_, of forty members, was founded by Richelieu in 1635,
and is charged with the interests of the French language and literature,
and in particular with the duty of compiling an authoritative dictionary
of the French language. Besides these, there are in France other four
with a like limited membership in the interest of other departments of
science and art, all now associated in the _Institute of France_, which
consists in all of 229 members. There are similar institutions in other
states of Europe, all of greater or less note.

ACADIA, the French name for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

ACANTHUS, a leaf-like ornament on the capitals of the columns of
certain orders of architecture.

ACAPUL`CO, a Mexican port in the Pacific, harbour commodious, but
climate unhealthy.

ACARNA`NIA, a province of Greece N. of Gulf of Corinth; its pop.
once addicted to piracy.

ACCA`DIANS, a dark, thick-lipped, short-statured Mongol race in
Central Asia, displaced by the Babylonians and Assyrians, who were
Semitic.

ACCA-LAURENTIA, the wife of Faustulus, shepherd of Numitor, who
saved the lives of Romulus and Remus.

ACCIAIOLI, a Florentine family of 15th century, illustrious in
scholarship and war.

ACCOLADE, a gentle blow with a sword on the shoulder in conferring
knighthood.

ACCOL`TI, a Tuscan family, of 15th century, famous for their
learning.

ACCOR`SO, the name of a Florentine family, of 12th and 13th
centuries, great in jurisprudence.

ACCRA (16), capital and chief port in British Gold Coast colony.

ACCRINGTON (39), a manufacturing town 22 m. N. of Manchester.

ACCUM, FRIEDRICH, a German chemist, the first promoter of
gas-lighting (1769-1838).

ACCUMULATOR, a hydraulic press for storing up water at a high
pressure; also a device for storing up electric energy.

ACERRA (14), an ancient city 9 m. NE. of Naples; is in an unhealthy
district.

ACETIC ACID, the pure acid of vinegar; the salts are called
_acetates_.

ACETONE, a highly inflammable liquid obtained generally by the dry
distillation of acetates.

ACET`YLENE, a malodorous gaseous substance from the incomplete
combustion of hydro-carbons.

ACHAEAN LEAGUE, a confederation of 12 towns in the Peloponnesus,
formed especially against the influence of the Macedonians.

ACHAE`ANS, the common name of the Greeks in the heroic or Homeric
period.

ACHAI`A, the N. district of