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DEFBETIS.
port. Isle of Wight, was educated at Worcester College, Oxford (B.A., 1844; M.A., 1848). He was or- dained in 1844 to the curacy of St. Andrew's, Bradfleld, Berkshire, and presented in 1850 to the vicar- age of St. Bartholomew, Cripple- gate, London. He published in 1861 a pamphlet On the Displace- ment of the Poor by Metropolitan Railways, which gave rise to two nights' debate in the House of Lords, and the introduction of a measure by the late Earl of Derby to investiflrate in part the acknow- ledged evu. His other works are a "Commentary on the Gospels in Communion Office," 3 vols., 8vo., 1860-63, 8rd edit., 1876-78 ; "Com- mentary on the Epistles in Commu- nion Office," 2 vols. ; " Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles," 2 vols. ; " Commentary on the Lord's Prayer," 1864; "Servia and the Servians," 1862; "The Christians of Turkey," 1863, 2nd and 3rd edit., 1877, translated into German and Servian ; " Montenegro ; its People and their History,^' 1877; "St. Giles Without, Cnpplegate, a His- tory," 1882. Mr. Denton is a Knight Commander of the Servian Order of St. Saviour of Takhova.
DEPBETIS, AoosTiNO, an Italian statesman, born at Stradella, Pied- mont, in 1811, studied law in the University of Turin, and practised as an advocate in his native town. He took an active part in all the efforts made by Italian patriots to bring about the unification of their country ; contributed to several Liberal newspapers ; and was ap- pointed in 1849 civil governor of Brescia. In the following year he sat in the Piedmontese Chamber on the Opposition Benches. In 1861, Cavour appointed him pro-dictator of Sicily , and in that capacity he there proclaimed the Italian constitution (August 3). From May 3 till the month of December 1862 he held office in the Batazzi Cabinet as Minister of Public Worlra ; and he entered the Ministry presided over
by Signer Bicasoli, in 1866, first as Minister of Marine, and then as Minister of Finance. On the fall of that Ministry he resumed his seat in the Chamber, and after the death of Batazzi became leader of the Opposition. When the Min- ghetti Cabinet resigned (March 19, 1876), in consequence of a vote of want of confidence having been carried in the Chamber, Signor Depretis was entrusted with the task of constituting a Ministry. He himself took the portfolio of Finance and the post of President of the Council. The question of the reform of the law relating to the g^t tax immediately occupied his attention, and under his Ministry the creation of free ports was adopted, and religious processions outside the churches were pro- hibited. The elections consequent upon the Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies in 1876, gave a large majority to the Government. In the following year, however, Signor Depretis was replaced as chidf of the Cabinet by Signor Cairoli. A few months later Signor Depretis was, in turn, summoned to succeed that statesman, and to form a coali- tion administration in which vari- ous groups of politicians in tiie Chamber of Deputies were repre- sented (December, 1878). This Ministry was overthrown after half a year's tenure of power, and was succeeded, in July 1879, by a new combination of the Left, under Signor Cairoli, who was compelled, in November, to reconstruct his Ministry, and to bring in Signor Depretis as Minister of the Interior. On May 16, 1881, the CairoU Ministry, wbich had become un- popular owing to the aggressive designs of the French in North Africa, resigned. The King sent for Signor I^Ua, who endeavoured, unsuccessfully, to form a Ministry which might reckon on a working majority. Signor Depretis was next entrusted with the task, which he promptly accomplished.
