Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/306

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WALAPI. 252 WALDECK. wliites. but deficient in moral stamina. Under better supervision the former dissipation has been cheeked., and the survivors bid fair to be- come successful stockmen, an occupation for which they seem to have a natural aptitude. They number now 570, but are steadily though slowly decreasing, in great part on account of diseases introduced by the whites. WALCH, viilK, CUBISTIAX WlLIIELM Fr.XZ (1721-84). A German theologian. He studied theology at Jena, traveled in Holland. France, Switzerland, and Italy; became professor of philosophy at Jena in 1750, and three years afterwards at Gottingen; and in 1754 was made professor of theology at that institution. He wrote a great number of works upon classical literature, theologj', and ecclesiastical history. Among these are: ' Entunirf einer voUstiindigen Bistorie dcr romischen Pnpste (1756; 2d ed. 1758) ; Entwurf einer voUstiindigen Eistorie der Eirchenversamnilnngrn (1750); and Eiiticurf einer voUstandigen fjistorie der Ketsereien, Spaltnngen und Religionsstreitigkeiten, bis auf die Reform<ition (1702-85). WALCHEREN, val'K6r-en. An island belong- ing to the I'rovince of Zealand, Netherlands, at the mouth of the- Scheldt (Map: Netherlands. B 3 ) . The Sloe, now bridged, passes between it and the island of South Beveland on the east. Length, 12 miles: area, SO square miles. The island is protected from the sea by dunes and dikes, and is very fertile. It contains ^liddelburg and Flush- ing. Walcheren was the scene of a British mili- tary disaster during the Napoleonic wars. In July. 1809. a British fleet comprising nearly 250 vessels of war and 400 transports carrying some 40,000 men set sail for Holland with the inten- tion of seizing Antwerp and obtaining command of the Scheldt. Criminal negligence was dis- played in the preparations for the expedition, and both Sir Richard Strachan, the naval commander, and the Earl of Chatliam, who was placed at the head of the land forces, w-ere markedly in- capable. Valuable time was wasted in the re- duction of Flushing, and not until late in Au- gust was Chatham 'prepared' to mareh on Ant- werj). By that time, however, the French forces in llolland had been greatly strengthened, and the British commander deemed it inexpedient to pur- sue tlic campaign. The French assumed the aggressive and in the first days of September the British abandoned Flushing. Chatham with part of tlio forces returned to England, leaving 15,000 men on the island of Walcheren. There the swamp fever played havoc with the men. and the medical autlioritics were utterly in- competent to combat the ravages of the disease. The island was finally abandoned in the latter part of December, the results of the expedition being a loss of 7000 dead and the permanent disaV)leinent of half of the remainder. WALCKENAER, vjirke-nar', Charlks Atiia- .NA.SK. liaron (1771-18.52). A French scientist, born in Paris. After .service in the army he devoted himself to the study of entomology, ethnography, and the history of geography. In reward for the work entitled Mi'-nioircs sur les unciennes pciiplcs d<- Gaule (1813) he was made a member of the Institute (1815) and in 1840 ho was chosen life secretary of the Academy of In- scriptions. He published Essai sur I'histoirc de Vespice huinaine (1798) ; Uistoire naturelle des araneides (1805); Le monde maritime (4 vols., 1818; 12 vols., 1819); Histoire naturelle des insectes (3 vols., 183tj-44) ; and numerous other works. A collection of his best work was pub- lished in 1802 under title of CEuvres choisies. WALCOTT, wOl'k(jt, Charles Doolittle (1850 — ). An American geologist and paleontol- ogist, born at New York ilills. He early showed a decided bent toward the study of natural his- tory. In 1876 he became one of the assistants of the Geological Survey of the State of New York, and three years afterwards entered the service of the United States Geological Survey, of which he became the director in 1894, suc- ceeding ilajor .lohn W. Powell, the former chief. His promotion to the leadership was due to the excellent work he had done as paleontologist and geologist in the past, also to his quality as an administrator. His talents led to many claims upon his time for counsel and service. After the death of Professor G. Brown Goode, he gave much attention to the United .States National iluseum. He was one of the founders of the Vashington Academy of Sciences and its presi- dent. He became secretary of the Carnegie In- stitution in 1902. He was often called irpon to advise the Ciovernment in respect to scientific projects — for example, irrigation, the survey of the Philippines, and the coordination of scientific bureaus in Washington. He w-as the author of many important geological memoirs and re- ports, the most of which are printed in the pub- lications of the Survey. WALD, viilt. A town of the Rhine Province of Prussia. 10 miles southeast of Diisseldorf. There are important manufactures of steelware, cutlerv, wire, and pottery. Population, in 189,5, 15.05-t. WALDECK. viil'dek. A principality of the German Eni|>ire, composed of two separate parts: the one, the former (I'ounty of Waldeck, bounded on the east and south by Hesse-Nassau, on the west and north by Westphalia and containing 408 square miles: the other. the former Prin- cipality of Pyrmont. situated to the north, and surrounded by Prussia, Brunswick, and Lippe, and containing 25 square miles (Map: Ger- many, C 3). The main division is a country of low mountains, with no great fertility. Its western portion, containing slate formations, is highest, reaeliing an elevation of 2750 feet. The streams belong to the Wcser basin. The cli- mate is somewhat raw. Sidcrite is mined. The town of Pyrmont is a well-known spa. Agri- culture and stock-raising are the main occupa- tions. Forests occupy over one-third of the total area. The m;inufactures and commerce are small. After the Austro-Prnssian war of 1806, the reigning Prince assigned his main rights as sov- ereign to the King of Prussia, which arrangement can be terminated on notice. The Prussian King names all public otlicials and Prussia controls the fin;uiccs. There is a Landtag of 15 incmber^. The priiuipality is represented liy one menilicr in the Bundesrat and by one in the Reichstag. Arolscn is the capital. Population, in 1000. 57.918. The Waldeck house sprang from the mcdia>val counts of Schwalcnlierg. The allilinted Pyrmont lines became extinct in 1494. Waldeck joined