wafer meet in n solutiDii. they must immeiliatoly eomhiiic to form uiuiiss<niiited nmleiiilcs of water. Now, while the solution of an acid
+ contains electropositive hydrogen ions, H, the solution of a metallic liyilroxide contains electro- ncfiative hydroxyl ions, OH. When the solutions are mixed, these ions combine into neutral molecules of water, according to the following equation: + — H + OH = H,0 Water
The disappearance of free hydroxyl and hydro- yen ions as sudi causes the simultaneous disap- pearance of the |)ropertics both of the basic liydroxide and of the acid; and the acid and base are said to have neutralized each other.
ACIBEALE, a'chfrft-ii'Ift (Sicil. laci) . A
city in Sicily, r)2.5 feet above the sea, at the
mouth of tlic River Aci, which descends from
^tount Etna to form a small harbor here, 9
miles northeast of Catania (Map: Italy, K 10).
The broad streets, spacious houses, and high
towers rest on beds of lava, from which many
of them were constructed. The climate is con-
sidered very healthful, and in summer the Terme
di Santa cncrc oilers baths of tc])i(l mineral
water containing sulphur, salt, and iodine. There
are pleasant walks and drives to neighboring
villages on the slopes iif ilount Ktna, and the
grotto of (Jalatea iind the cave of I'olyphemus
are in the neighborhood. The coast south of
Acireale is stec|), and has risen more than 40
feet during the historical period. In the sea
near by rise the Scogli de' Ciclopi. the rocks
which according to tra<liti(in were luulcil after
the wily LHysses by the ))linded Pi>Iy]>lfinus.
The most beautiful of them is about 2:!0 feet
high and 2300 feet in circuTuference, and consists
of biisalt containing wonderful crystals and cov-
ered with hard limestone that carries fossil
shells. The city has a gymnasium and a techni-
cal school, and one of the old families possesses
a splendid collection of Sicilian coins. The man-
ufactures are silk, linen, and cotton goods, knives
and shears, and there is an important commerce
in Max and grain. Pop., 1881, 39,000.
A'CIS (Gk. "A/cif, Akis). A small stream
flowing from the foot of Mount Etna in Sicily.
Legend derived the name from Acis, son of
I'aunus and Sym;rtliis. beloved by the nymph
(ialalea. The Cyclops Polyphemus, jealous of
the boy, crushed him under a rock, and his
blood, gushing forth, was changed into the river.
See Galatea.
A'CIS AND GAL'ATE'A. The title of a pastoral seren;itii or cantata composed by Handel and produced about 1720. The words are by Gay, Pope, and Hughes. It was acted as an opera at the Hayniarket Theatre, London, in 1732, without the consent of the composer, and
has Ix'cn since repeated at Drury Lane.
ACKERMANN, ak'erinan, KoKRAD Ernst
(1712-71). One of tlic founders of 'icrman dram-
atic art. He lieg:in his career as an actor with
the famous Schrnicmann company at Liincburg in
Jantiary, 1740. Upon the outbreak of the disastrous Seven Years' War he sold a theatre he
h:id erected in Kiinigsberg. and the loss thus entailed compelled him thenceforth to lead a wandering life with his troupe. t)u July 31, 17(1.5,
he opened ii new theatre at Hamburg, which,
according to Lessing, eventually set the standard
for theatrical performances in Germany. He-
sides the members of his own family, the com-
panies organized by .ckerman included some
of the ablest talent in (iermany. The theatre
was conducted by him initil 17(17. when it passed
into the hands of twelve citizens of Hamburg,
and was thereafter known as the Deutschcs A'a-
tionnltliriitcr. Ackerman's representations were
models of freshness and vigor, and although he
lacked qualifications requisite for heroic and
emotional parts, his acting of many character
roles was remarkable.
ACKERMANN, Rinoi.pn (1704-1834). A
(icrmiin-lMiglisIi inventor and publisher. He was
born at Schnceberg. Saxony, and followed the
occupation of coach builder and saddler in vari-
ous German cities, as well as in Paris and Lon-
don. He established an art scluxd in London in
179,5. In 1801 he patented a method of render-
ing paper, cloth, and other fabrics waterproof,
and for this purpose erected a factory at Chelsea,
Lngland. He also contributed greatly to the de-
velopment of lithography. It is, however, as a
l)utilishcr of fine art subjects that Ackermann
is best known. His greatest achievement in this
field was the llcixtxilortj of Artx, Literature,
Fdfihiaiif:, Mfiinifactiircn, etc., a publication which
was continued regularly until 1S28, when forty
volumes had appeared. Many of the plates were
supplied by Kowlandson and other eminent art-
ists. Among his other numerous illustrative
works is The M'orld in Miniature (43 volumes,
12mo. (i:!7 (ilatcs. 1821-2(11.
ACKNOWL'EDGMENT. (1.) An admission
by a person that he is owing a debt or is subject
to a liability, which, but for such acknowledg-
ment, would be barred by the statute of limita-
tions. It need not be in any set form of
words, but it must be a clear admission of an
identified liability, and modern statutes often re-
quire it to be in writing. (2.) The term is also
a|)plied to the formal act of declaring, before a
notary public or other proper ofiicer. that a writ-
ten instrument executed by the declarant is his
act and deed. It is applied also to the certificate
of the ofiicer setting forth the facts connected
with such declaration. An acknowledgment is not essential to the valiility of ;ni instrument, unless made .so by statute, although by recording acts (q.v.) it is generally required in order that the instnnncnt may be lawfully recorded. In England and in many of our States, a deed of conveyance or release of dower by a married woman is declared invalid by statute, unless, upon an examination apart from her husband, she acknowledges that she executed the deed of her own free will. Such a conveyance has taken the place of the conveyance by fictititnis siiit. known as a fine (q.v.). The object of this legislation has been declared by the United States Supreme Court to be twofold: not only to protect the wife by making it the duty of the officer taking the acknowledgment to certify that she has not acted under compulsion of her husband, or in ignorance of the contents of the deed, but also to facilitate the conveyance of the estates of married women, and to secure and perpetuate evidence upon which innocent grantees as well as subsequent purchasers may rely that the requirements of the statute necessary to give
