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ABECEDARIANS ABELARD 17 t- rry year of Abdul-Medjid's reign was marked by insurrections in one province or another, the court was the theatre of incessant in- trigues, amid which the position of the sultan was scarcely more honorable or important than that of a nominally sovereign king in the East Indies. For several years he led a dissolute life, but afterward he appeared to wend his ways in some degree, and improved his education by studying French, mathemat- ics, history, and music. European customs and fashions became more and more prevalent at court, concerts and Italian opera were estab- lished permanently, and in 1854 the sultan, "the supreme father of the faithful," even went to a ball. When in 1849 the defeated Hungarian patriots sought refuge on Turkish soil, Abdul-Medjid preferred running the risk of a formidable war to betraying those who had confided in the sacredness of hospitality as taught by Mohammed. He had seven sons and two daughters, but was succeeded, accord- ing to law, by his brother Abdul- Aziz. ABECEDARIANS, a sect which appeared among the Anabaptists of Germany in the 16th century, led by one Storck, previously a disciple of Luther. They held that without the aid of study the Holy Spirit would convey directly to the understanding a knowledge of the Scriptures, and that therefore it was bet- ter not to know how to read. Carlstadt, a Wittenberg divine, and at one period of his life a bitter antagonist of Luther, is said to have countenanced the Abecedarians by tear- ing off his doctor's gown and burning it. A'BECKET, Gilbert Abbott, an English humor- ous author, born in London in 1810, died in Boulogne, April 28, 1856. He was called to the English bar in 1841. He was a contributor to both the London "Times" and "Daily News," and was special correspondent of the " Times " in a celebrated poor law inquiry, in which he displayed great judgment. He was one of the earliest contributors to "Punch," and wrote the "Comic Blackstone," comic histories of England and Kome, and a great number of burlesque plays. He was appointed one of the police magistrates of London. On his death the queen, on the recommendation of Lord Palmerston, granted his widow a pen- sion of 100 a year. ABEEL, David, D. D., an American clergy- man, born in New Brunswick, N. J., June 12, 1804, died in Albany, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1846. He studied theology at the seminary in New Brunswick, and after preaching for more than two years at the village of Athens, N. Y., his health gave way, and in October, 1829, he sailed for Canton as a chaplain of the seaman's friend society, but at the end of a year's labor placed himself under the direction of the I American board. He visited Java, Singapore, I and Siam, studying the Chinese tongue, when j his health failed him entirely, and he returned home in 1833 by way of England, visiting Holland, France, and Switzerland, and every- , 3 VOL. i. 3 where urging the claims of the heathen. He also assisted in England in forming the society for promoting female education in the East. In America he published a description of his life in China and the adjacent countries, and a work entitled " The Claims of the World to the Gospel." In 1838 he returned to Asia, and visited Malacca, Borneo, and other places, set- tling at Kolingsu. Once more his health gave way, and he returned home in 1845. ABEGG, .Julius Friedrich Hcinrieh, a German jurist, born in Erlangen, March 27, 1 796, died in Breslau, May 29, 1868. In 1818 he received his legal doctorate, and in 1820 commenced delivering lectures at Konigsberg. In 1826 he became professor of law at Breslau, and in 1846 was delegate of the legal faculty at Bres- lau to the Prussian national synod. He was a very influential writer upon criminal adminis- tration. One of his last works was Entwurf einer Strafprocessordnung fur den preussischen Staat (Leipsic, 1865). ABEL, the second son of Adam. He was a shepherd, and was slain by his brother Cain, from envy. It has been maintained by some fathers of the church that Abel never married ; hence the sect of Abelites. ABEL DE PUJOL. I. Alexandra Denis, a French painter, born in Valenciennes, Jan. 30, 1785, died in Paris, Sept. 28, 1861. He was a pupil of David, and achieved distinction as a histo- rical painter of the older classical school. Many of his works may be found in Frencli churches. II. Adrienne Marie Lonise Grandpierre Deverzy, wife of the preceding, to whom she was married in 1856, born at Tonnerre, in the department of Yonne, in 1798. She was a pupil of her future husband, and made her debut in 1836 by a picture representing a painter's stu- dio. She afterward painted portraits, a scene from Gil Bias, &c. A son of Abel de Pujol, born about 1815, is also a painter. ABELARD, or Abailard, Pierre, a French scho- lastic philosopher, born near Nantes, in Brit- tany, in 1079, died April 21, 1142. Having made early and rapid progress in the learning of the age, he relinquished his family inheritance in favor of his brothers, that he might be free from the cares of property, and have no im- pediment to the gratification of his thirst for knowledge. At the age of sixteen he betook himself to Paris, and inscribed himself among the pupils of William de Champeaux, a famous professor. In the public disputations which were the fashion of the day, Abelard had no superior. In a discussion on the origin and nature of ideas, he made such a brilliant dis- play of ability, learning, and logical acuteness, that he endangered the supremacy of De Champeaux in the seat of learning where he had so long held sway ; and his jealousy was at a high pitch when Abelard, though only 22 years old, opened a school of philosophy at Melun, near Paris, a favorite retreat of the court, which Avas well attended by students who deserted the other teachers. Ab61ard's