from tlie chambered barrows of prehistoric times, modified in construction according to the advancement of architec tural art at the period of their erection. There is no country in Europe destitute of more or less abundant proofs of the almost universal prevalence of barrow-burial in early times. It can be traced on both sides of the basin of the Mediterranean, in Northern Africa, and in Asia Minor, across the plains of Mesopotamia, in the valley of Cabul, and throughout Western India. But more extended research in the archaeology of these vast regions is needed to enable us to correlate their ancient remains with those of the
European continent.In the New World as well as in the Old, the same customs prevailed over vast areas from a very remote period. In the great plains of North America the dead were buried in barrows of enormous magnitude, which occasionally present a remarkable similarity to the long barrows of Great Britain. In these mounds cremation appears more frequently than inhumation ; and both are accompanied by implements, weapons, and ornaments of stone and bone. The pottery accompanying the remains is often elaborately ornamented, and the mound builders were evidently possessed of a higher development of taste and skill than is evinced by any of the modern aboriginal races, by whom the mounds and their contents are regarded as utterly mysterious.
It is not to be wondered at that customs so widely spread and so deeply rooted as those connected with barrow-burial should have been difficult to eradicate. In fact, compliance with the Christian practice of inhumation in the cemeteries sanctioned by the church, was only enforced in Europe by capitularies denouncing the punishment of death on those who persisted in burying their dead after the Pagan fashion or in the Pagan mounds. Yet even in the Middle Ages kings were buried with their swords and spears, and queens with their spindles and ornaments ; the bishop was laid in his grave with his crosier and comb, his chalice and vestments ; and clay vessels filled with charcoal (answering to the urns of heathen times) are found with the interments in the churches of France and Denmark.
See Bateman, Ten Years Diggings ; Davis and Tlmrnam, Crania Britannica ; Thurnam, "Aiicient British Barrows," in Archccologia; Canon Greenwell, Dr Angus Smith, and J. Anderson, "On Cairns in Argyle and Caithness," in Proceedings of the Society of Anti- guaricS of Scotland ; Petrie, Histories and Antiquities of Tara, and Round Towers of Ireland; Worsaae's Antiquities of Denmark, translated by Thoms; Nicolaysen, Norske Fornlctningcr ; Montelius, La Suede Prlhistorigue; Cochet, La Normandic Soutcrraine; Squier and Davis, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley ; Stevens, Flint Chips ; Ferguson, Stone Monuments of all Countries.
BARROW'S STRAITS, a portion of the channel which runs W. from Baffin s Bay through the islands of the Arctic archipelago to Melville Sound. It lies between 73 45 and 74 40 N. lat., is about 200 miles in length, and has nn average breadth of 60 or 70 miles. In many places it is upwards of 200 fathoms in depth. The coasts on both sides are generally steep and rugged, with numerous bays and inlets, the most important of which is the Prince Regent Inlet, which runs S. into the Gulf of Boothia.
BARRY, Sir Charles, a distinguished English architect, was born at Westminster, May 23, 1795. After pursuing his elementary professional studies for six years as apprentice to a firm of architects at Lambeth, he set out, in 1817, on the customary foreign tour, visiting Greece and Italy, Egypt and Palestine, and enriching his memory and imagination by the study of the great buildings and remains of former ages. On his return to England in 1820 he settled in London, and was not slow in attaining distinction. One of the first works by which his abilities as an architect -became generally known was the church of St Peto? at Brighton ., an attempt in Perpendicular Gothic completed in 1S2G. He built many other churches; but the marked preference for Italian architecture, which he acquired during his travels, showed itself in various impor tant undertakings of his earlier years. In 1831 he erected the Travellers. Club in Pall Mail, a splendid work in tho Italian style, and the firgt of its kind built in London. In. the same style and on a grander scale, lie? erected, some years later, the Reform Club, It is, unnecessary to par ticularize the numerous, private mansions on which he was engaged, one of the latest and most magnificent of which was Bridgewater House, the town residence; of the earl of Ellesmere. Birmingham possesses one of his best works in the buildings of King Edward s grammar school, in the. Tudor style. For Manchester he designed the Athenasuin, in the Italian style ; and for Halifax, the town-hall. He was engaged for some years in reconstructing the Treasury buildings, Whitehall. But his masterpiece, and perhaps, notwithstanding all unfavourable criticism, the masterpiece of English architecture of the 19th century, is the new palace at Westminster. After the destruction of the old houses of parliament by fire in October 1834, Barry was the successful competitor for erecting the new palace. The first stone wag laid in the spring of 1840; the york was steadily carried on in the face of many difficulties, "and through a maze of private dissensions and public cpmplaints, and it was at length completed in 1860, Twenty years seemed long in passing, but once past the time assuredly will no more seem too loeg to have been employed in the erection, or, we might say, allowed for the growth of this stately and beautiful pile, one of the truest glories of the banks of the Thames. Barry was elected A.R.A. in 1840, and R.A. in the following year. His genius and achieve ments were recognized by the representative artistic bodies of the principal European nations ; and his name was enrolled as a member of the academies of art at Rome, Berlin, St Petersburg, Brussels, and Stockholm. He was chosen F.R.S. in 1849, and was knighted by the Queen in 1852. He died suddenly at Clapham, near London, May 12, 1860, and his remains were interred in Westminster Abbey. In 1867 appeared a life of Sir Charles Barry by his son, Dr Alfred Barry, principal of King s College, London. A claim was thereupon set up on behalf of Mr A. Welby Pugin deceased, who had been Barry s assistant, to a much larger share in the work of designing the West minster Palace than was admitted in Dr Barry s narrative. The controversy raged for a time, but without substantiating Mr Pugin s claim.
on the 11th October 1741. His father had been a builder, and, at one time of his life, a coasting trader between the two countries of England and Ireland. To this business of trader James was destined, and he actually made, when a boy, several voyages"; but these being forced upon him, he on one occasion ran away from the ship, and on all others manifested such an aversion to the life and habits of a sailor, as to induce his father to relinquish all hopes of him in this line, and to suffer him to pursue his inclinations, which led strongly towards drawing and study. At the schools in Cork to which he was sent, he was distinguished above his school-fellows by his talents and industry ; his habits differed from those of ordinary boys ; he seldom mixed in their games or amusements, but during play-hours stole off to his own room, where he worked at his pencil, or studied some book that he had borrowed or bought. As his industry was excessive, his advances in the acquisition of knowledge were rapid, and he was regarded as a prodigy by his school-fellows. About the age of seventeen he first attempted oil painting, and between that and the age of twenty-two, when he first went to Dublin, he produced
several large pictures, which decorated his father s house,
