Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/565

This page needs to be proofread.

WEILEN oriental languages at Heidelberg. He has pub- lished a new translation of the Arabian Nights (4 vols., Stuttgart, 1837-'41 ; 2d ed., 1866) ; Die poetische Literatur der Ardber (1837) ; Moham- med der Prophet (1843); Historisch-kritische Einleitung in den Koran (Bielefeld, 1844); Geschichte der Khalifen (5 vols., Mannheim, 1846-'62); Das Leben Mohammed's nach Mo- hammed ibn Ischak bearbeitet von Abd el-Malik ibn Hischam (2 vols., Stuttgart, 1864) ; and Ge- schichte der islamitischen Volker von Moham- med bis zur Zeit des Sultans Selim (1866). WEILEN, Joseph, a German poet, whose real name is Weil, born at Tetin, Bohemia, Dec. 28, 1828. After studying at Prague and Vienna, and taking part in the Hungarian war, he was professor of history and geography in military academies from 1852 to 1861, when he became director of the court library at Vienna, and professor of German language and literature at the school of the general staff. His Phantasien und Lieder (Vienna, 1853) and Manner wm Bchwerte (3d ed., 1854-'5), and his tragedies, make him the chief representative of Halm's school of lyric and dramatic literature. His tragedies include Tristan (Breslau, 1860; 2d ed., 1872), Edda (Vienna, 1865), Rosamunde (1868), Graf Hoorn (Leipsic, 1871), Der neue Achilles (1872), and Dolores (Stuttgart, 1874). WEIMAR, a city of Germany, capital of the grand duchy of Saxe- Weimar-Eisenach, on the Ilm, 53 m. S. W. of Leipsic ; pop. in 1871, 15,- 998. It was long celebrated as the northern' Athens, on account of the residence here of Goethe, Schiller, and other authors, and still is a favorite residence of distinguished artists. The new wing of the grand ducal palace is decorated with frescoes relating to the great German poets. Connected with the palace is a fine park. There is a large public library in a small chateau formerly known as dasfranzo- sische Schlosschen, containing David's colossal bust of Goethe, Dannecker's of Schiller, and other works of art. A new museum has been provided for the art collection of the Witthum palace. The theatre, which became famous under Goethe's and Schiller's management, was rebuilt in 1825. The monuments include Riet- schel's double statue of Goethe and Schiller on the Theaterplatz, Sohaller's Herder on the Her- derplatz, Gasser's Wieland on the Wielandplatz, and those in the principal Protestant church, over the tombs of the local sovereigns and that of Herder. The same building contains one of Lucas Oranach's finest altarpieees. Promi- nent among the educational institutions are the gymnasium and the free school of design and art school. The grand duke Charles Augus- tus, the son of the famous duchess Amalia (see AMALIA, and CHARLES AUGUSTUS), and his friend Goethe, as well as Schiller, are buried in the grand ducal vault in the new cemetery. The city abounds with the memories of the most brilliant period of German literature. The centennial of Goethe's arrival at Weimar was celebrated in 1875. WEISSENBURG 545 WEIMAR, Bcrnhard, duke of. See BERNHABD. WEIR, Robert Walter, an American painter born in New Rochelle, N. Y., June 18, 1803. He studied in Italy in 1824-'7, and on his re- turn opened a studio in New York. In 1834 he was appointed instructor, and since 1846 has been professor of drawing at West Point. His best works are " Red Jacket," " The Anti- quary introducing Lovel to his Womankind " "Bourbon's Last March," "The Landing of Hendrik Hudson," "Columbus before the Coun- cil of Salamanca," "The Embarkation of the Pilgrims," in the rotunda of the capitol at Washington, and the " Indian Captives," in the Boston Athenaeum. Among noted pictures in private collections in New York are his " View of the Hudson from West Point," " The Greek Girl," " Peestum by Moonlight," " A Pier at Venice," a cabinet copy of "The Embarkation of the Pilgrims," and "Rebecca" from "Ivan- hoe." His son, JOHN FERGUSON WEIR, since 1869 professor of painting and design in the Yale college school of fine arts, has painted " The Gun Foundery," " Column of St. Mark, Venice," " Lago Maggiore," " The Confes- sional," " Christmas Bell," and " Culprit Fay." WEISBAGH, Julias, a German mathematician, born near Annaberg, Saxony, Aug. 10, 1806, died in Freiberg, Feb. 24, 1871. He studied at Freiberg, Gottingen, and Vienna, and in 1833 became professor of applied mathematics in the Freiberg academy. By his introduction of the " coefficient of resistance " into mathe- matical calculations, and his discovery of the "incomplete contraction" of water, according to the nature of the orifice whence it flows, he greatly simplified and advanced the science of hydraulics. The most important of his nu- merous works are : Lehrbuch der Ingenieur- und Maschinenmechanik (3 vols., Brunswick, 1845-'54 ; new ed., 1868-'70 ; English trans- lations of the first two volumes by L. Gordon, London, 1847-'8, and by W. R. Johnson, Phil- adelphia, 1849), and Der Ingenieur (Bruns- wick, 1848 ; 5th ed., 1869). WEISHAUPT, Adam, the founder of the or- der of the Illuminati, born in Ingolstadt, Feb. 6, 1748, died in Gotha, Nov. 18, 1830. He was educated in his native place, where he became in 1772 extraordinary professor of law, and in 1775 professor of natural and canon law. In 1776 he founded a secret society for the propa- gation of peculiar humanitarian views. (See ILLUMINATI.) In 1785 he retired to Gotha, where he was made councillor of state. His most important writings are: Apologie der Rluminaten (Frankfort and Leipsic, 1786); Das verbesserte System der Illuminaten (1787) ; Pythagoras, oder Betrachtung uber die geheime Welt- und Eegierungskunst (Frankfort, 1790) ; Materialien zur Beforderung der Welt- und Menschenkunde (3 vols., Gotha, 1810) ; Ueber Staatsausgalen (Landshut, 1820) ; and Ueber das Besteuerungssystem (1820). WEISSENBERG, a county of Hungary. See STUHL- WEISSENBURG.