attempts to sail, he was driven back six times by the unfavorable wind. At length the vessel was enabled to cast anchor in the port of Otranto ou the 24th of May. Here he was obliged to submit to a quarantine of three weeks, part of which, indeed, was allowed to be spent in proceeding to Ancona. Thence he passed through Germany and Holland to England in the autumn of 1795, and his few succeeding months were chiefly marked by the progress of an unconquerable disease, for which the climates of Devonshire and Bath were, as usual, resorted to in vain. He died at Bath, February 8th, 1796, in the thirty-eighth year of his age, and lies interred in the abbey church. By his will, dated Ashburton, January 12th, 1796, Dr. Sibthorp gives a freehold estate in Oxfordshire to the university of Oxford, for the purpose of first publishing his Flora Græca, in ten folio volumes, with 100 colored plates in each, and a Prodromus of the same work, in 8vo., without plates. His executors, the honorable Thomas Wenman, John Hawkins, and Thomas Platt, esqrs., were to appoint a sufficiently competent editor of these works, to whom the manuscripts, drawings, and specimens, were to be confided. The plan of the Prodromus was drawn out by Dr. Sibthorp, but nothing of the Flora except the figures was prepared, nor any botanical characters or descriptions what ever. The only work which professor John Sibthorp published in his life time is a Flóra Oxoniensis, in one volume 8vo., printed in 1794. It has the merit of being entirely founded on his own personal observation. The species enumerated amount to 1200, all gathered by himself, and disposed according to the Linnæan system, with the alterations of Thunberg, which were then new, but which are now not admitted as improvements. The adoption, though imperfect, of Hedwig's genera of inosses in this Flora, must be esteemed a more fortunate measure. SIBTHORPIA, in botany, a genus of the angiospermia ordet and didynamia class of plants; natural order doubtful: CAL. spreading, and divided into five parts almost to the base: COR. divided into five parts in the same manner, which are rounded, equal, spreading, and of the length of the calyx; the stamina grow in paiks at a distance from each other: CAPS. compressed, orbicular, bilocular, the partition being transverse. There are two species, viz. 1. S. evolvulacea; and, 2. S. Europæa, or bastard moneywort, is a native of South Britain. The stems are slender, and creeping: the leaves are small, round, and notched. The flowers grow under the wings of the leaves, are small, and of a pale red color. It blossoms from July to September, and is found in Cornwall on the banks of rivulets. SIBYLS, Lat. sibyllæ, in pagan antiquity, certain women said to have been endowed with a prophetic spirit, and to have delivered oracles, showing the fates and revolutions of kingdoms. Their number is unknown. Plato speaks of one, others of two, Pliny of three, Elian of four, and Varro of ten; which last opinion is universally adopted by the learned. These ten Sibyls generally reside in the following places, Persia, Libya, Delphi, Cumæ in Italy, Erythræa, Samos, Cun.c in Eolia, Marpessa on the Hellespont, Ancyra in Phrygia, and Tiburtis. The most celebrated of the Sibyls is that of Cumæ in Italy, whom some have called by the different names of Amalthæa, Demiphile, Herophile, Daphne, Manto, Phemonoe, and Deiphobe. It is said that Apollo became enamoured of her, and offered to give her whatever she should ask. The Sibyl demanded to live as many years as she had grains of sand in her hand, but unfortunately forgot to ask for the continuance of her beauty, health, vigor, and bloom. The god granted her request, but she refused to gratify his passion, though he offered her perpetual youth and beauty. Some time after she became old and decrepit, her form decayed, melancholy paleness and haggard looks succeeded to bloom and cheerfulness. She had already lived about 700 years when Æneas came to Italy, and had three centuries more to live before her years were as numerous as the grains of sand which she had in her hand. She gave Æneas instructions how to find his father in the infernal regions, and even conducted him to the entrance of hell. It was usual for the Sibyl to write her prophecies on leaves, which she placed at the entrance of her cave; and it required particular care in such as consulted her to take up these leaves before they were dispersed by the wind, as their meaning then became incomprehensible. According to the most authentic historians of the Roman republic, the Erythrean Sibyl came to the palace of Tarquin II., with nine volumes, which she offered to sell for a very high price. The monarch disregarded her, and she immediately disappeared, and soon after returned, when she had burned three of the volumes. She asked the same price for the remaining six books; and, when Tarquin refused to buy them, she burned three more, and still persisted in demanding the same sum of money for the three that were left. This extraordinary behaviour astonished Tarquin; he bought the books, and the Sibyl instantly vanished, and never after appeared to the world. These books were preserved with great care by the monarch, and called the Sibylline verses. A college of priests was appointed to have the care of them; and such reverence did the Romans entertain for these prophetic books that they were consulted with the greatest solemnity, and only when the state seemed to be in danger. When the capitol was burnt, in the troubles of Sylla, the Sibylline verses, which were deposited there, perished in the conflagration; and, to repair the loss which the republic seemed to have sustained, commissioners were immediately sent to different parts of Greece to collect whatever verses could be found of the inspired writings of the Sibyls. The fate of these Sibylline verses which were collected after the conflagration of the capitol is unknown. There are now many Sibylline verses extant, but they are universally reckoned spurious; and it is said that they were composed in the second century by some of the followers of Christianity, who wished to convince the heathens of their error, by assisting the cause of truth with the arms of pious artifice. SICAMBRI, or SYGAMBRI, an ancient nation of Germany, who were conquered by the Romans. They revolted under Augustus, who marched against them, but did not entirely subdue them. Drusus, however, conquered them, and they were carried away from their native country to inhabit some of the more western provinces of Gaul. (Dio. 54. Strabo, 4. Tac. ii. Ann. 26). See SAXONS. SICAMBRAI, the country of the Sicambri, on the banks of the Rhine. It now forms the ci-devant province of Guelderland. SIC'AMORE, n. s. Lat. sicamorus. A tree. SICANA. See SICANIA. Sicania. See SICILY. SICANIA, or SICANA, an ancient name of Sicily, from the Sicani, or their king Sicanus. SICELIDES; 1. the inhabitants of Sicily :2. A name given to the Muses, by Virgil, because Theocritus, whose Bucolic poetry he professed to imitate, was a native of Sicily.Virg. Ecl. 4. SICARD (Roch Ambrose Cucurron), successor of the abbé l'Epée at the Parisian institution for the education of the deaf and dumb, was born September 20th, 1742, at Fousseret, near SICERA, a name given to any inebriating Toulouse, in which city he completed his studies for holy orders. He, however, devoted himself liquor by the Hellenistic Jews. St. Chrysostom, to the instruction of persons born deaf and dumb, Theodoret, and Theophilus of Antioch, who were and became director of a school established for Syrians, and who therefore ought to know the that purpose by the archbishop of Bourdeaux; signification and nature of sicera, assure us that whence in 1789 he removed to Paris, and was it properly signifies palm-wine. Pliny acknowchosen successor to the abbé l'Epée. On the ledges that the wine of the palm tree was very 26th of August 1792 he was arrested in the well known through all the east, and that it was midst of his pupils, by order of the commune of `made by taking a bushel of the dates of the Paris and, notwithstanding various efforts of palm-tree, and throwing them into three gallons his friends, was on the 2nd of September trans- of water; then squeezing out the juice, it would ferred to the prison of the abbey of St. Germain, intoxicate like wine. The wine of the palm-tree where he narrowly escaped being a victim in the is white: when it is drunk new, it has the taste ensuing massacres. After a few days' imprison- of the cocoa, and is sweet as honey, When it is ment he was set at liberty. On the foundation kept longer, it grows strong and intoxicates. of the normal school, in 1795, he was appointed After long keeping, it becomes vinegar. professor of grammar; and about the same time was made a member of the Institute. He now became one of the conductors of a periodical work entitled Annales Religieuses, Politiques, et Littéraires, on account of which he was inIcluded by the directory in the number of the journalists exiled to Synamari. This persecution obliged him to conceal himself, and it was not till after the overthrow of the directory that he was able to return to his situation. The old age of Sicard was clouded with misfortunes arising from his own improvidence, and Buonaparte, to whom he applied in his difficulties, treated him with neglect. After the restoration he was more fortunate, being successively made a knight of the legion of honor, administrator of the hospital of Quinze Vingts, administrator of that of blind youths, and knight of the order of St. Michael. He was also honored with attentions from the foreign princes who visited Paris in 1814 and 1815. His death took place May 10th 1822. He was the author, besides other works, of Elémens de Grammaire générale appliquée à la Langue Française, 2 vols. 8vo. ; Cours d'Instruction d'un Sourd-muet de Naissance, 8vc.; and Théorie des Signes pour l'Instruction des Sourds-muets, 2 vols. 8vo. He SICH, adj. A corruption of such. See SUCH. Spenser's Pastorals. SICHEUS, SICHARBUS, or ACHERBAS, the son of Phisthenes, uncle and husband of Eliza, or Dido, and priest of Hercules; who was murdered by Pygmalion, his wife's brother. See DIDO and PYGMALION. SICILIA (Lat.), Sicily. See SICILY. The ancient name of the three capes of Sicilia were Pelores, Pachynum, and Lilybeum. SICILIAN (from Sicilia), of, or belonging to, or produced from, or in Sicily. SICILIAN, in music, denotes a kind of gav sprightly air, or dance, probably invented in Sicily, somewhat of the nature of an English jig; 6 12 usually marked with the characters g' or -. 8 It consists of two strains; the first of four, and the second of eight, bars or measures. SICILIAN VESPERS, a horrible massacre of the French in Sicily, A. D. 1282. See NAPLES. SICILIES, KING OF THE Two, the title of the king of Naples; for Naples and Sicily are the two Sicilies meant, there being no other place of the name in Europe, or perhaps on the globe; nor is Naples itself properly so named, excepting in this political connexion. See NAPLES. SICILY, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, adjoining to the southern extremity of Italy, and extending from lat. 36° 25' to lat. 38° 25′ N., and from long. 12° 50′ to long. 16° 5' E. Anciently this island was called Sicania, Sicilia, and Trinacria, or Triquetra ; the two former from the Sicani and Siculi, who peopled a considerable part of the country; the two latter from its triangular figure. Its first inhabitants, according to the most respectable ancient authors, were the Cyclopes and Læstrigones, who are said to have settled in the countries adjoining to Mount Etna; but of their origin we know nothing, except what is related by the poets. After them came the Sicani, who called themselves the original inhabitants of the country; but several ancient historians inform us that they came from a country in Spain watered by the river Sicanus. Diodorus, however, is of opinion that the Sicani were the most ancient inhabitants of this island. He tells us that they were in possession of the whole, and applied themselves to cultivate and improve the ground in the neighbourhood of Ætna, which was the most fruitful part of the island; they built several small towns and villages, on the hills, to secure themselves against thieves and robbers; and were governed, not by one prince, but each city and district by its own king. Thus they lived till Etna began to throw out flames, and forced them to retire to the western parts of the island, which they continued to inhabit in the time of Thucydides. Some Trojans, after the destruction of their city, landed in the island, settled among the Sicani, and built the cities of Eryx and Egesta, uniting themselves with them, and taking the general name of Elymi or Elymai. They were afterwards joined by some Phocenses, who settled here on their return from the siege of Troy. After the Sicani had for many ages enjoyed an undisturbed possession of the whole of Sicily, or such parts of it as they chose to inhabit, they were visited by the Siculi, who were the ancient inhabitants of Ausonia properly so called; but, being driven out thence by the Opici, they took refuge in the island of Sicily. Not being contented with the narrow bounds allowed them by the Sicani, they began to encroach upon their neighbours; upon which a war ensuing, the Sicani were utterly defeated, and confined to a corner of the island, the name of which was now changed from Sicania into that of Sicilia. Both the ancients and moderns have supposed that Sicily was separated from the continent by an earthquake, the strait of Messina, between it and Calabria, being only a mile in breadth, from Cape Faro in Sicily, to Cape Volpe in Calabria, but widens as it proceeds, and at Messina, four leagues from cape Faro, is four miles. Pomponius Mela observes, Sicilia, ut ferunt, aliquondo agro Brutio adnexa.' To the same purpose Virgil (Æn. 1. iii. v. 414) says:: Hæc loca vi quondam, et vasta convulsa ruina Dissiluisse ferunt, cum protinus utraque Tellus Una foret. Venit medio vi pontus et undis Trinacria quondam Italiæ pars fuit. On cape Faro, the ancient Pelorium, is a lighthouse, or pharos, whence its modern name, and whence also the strait is called by seamen the Faro of Messina. Sicily is throughout intersected by ridges of hills, but none of any considerable height except Mount Etna, one of the most celebrated volcanoes of Europe (see ETNA), and Mount Eryx, on the north-west, which, like Etna, is isolated, and was anciently celebrated for a temple of Venus Erycina. The climate approaches to that of the tropics, the only appearance of winter being towards the summit of Ætna, which retains the snow throughout the year, and supplies a valuable object of commerce. The natural fertility of the island, which formerly acquired it the name of the granary of Rome, remains undiminished, but the sloth of the present inhabitants scarcely draws from the soil more than sufficient for their own nourishment. In the mineral kingdom it possesses gold, silver, lead, copper, antimony, and sulphur. The labor of the fields, and even the dragging of carts and waggons on the roads, is in Sicily generally performed by oxen. For travelling, recourse is had to mules, who here, as in other parts of the south of Europe, discover great steadiness in traversing a wretched road, and no less patience in supporting fatigue. In general the breed of cattle and horses has been much neglected, and is at present advancing very slowly towards improvement. Game is found in abundance, and most of the wild animals of the continent. The only manufacturing establishments of extent are at Palermo, Messina, and Catania: they consist of silk, cotton, and linen; in part also of woollens, though the wool of the island is of indifferent quality. If to these we add hats, cutlery, harness, carriages, and household furniture, made at Palermo and the principal towns, we have the amount of the Sicilian manufactures. A number of articles for the peasantry are in this, as in other backward countries, made at their own houses, without the benefit of machinery or division of labor. Hence comparatively few exchanges, a slow intercourse between town and country, and in general those symptoms of stagnation which strike an Englishman so forcibly on visiting a foreign country. In respect to commerce, Sicily, from the variety of its products, the excellence of several of its harbours, and the general safety of its coast for navigation, would, under an enlightened government, acquire great importance. The exports and imports are, however, comparatively small, neither exceeding £1,500,000 for the whole island. Here are no banks, no insurance companies, and very little confidence in government. The interior trade is cramped by the want of roads, the navigation by the quarantine laws, which are said to be enforced very unequally, and to be unfairly dispensed with in favor of those who are in connexion with the public officers. The occupancy of the island by the British troops, from 1806 to 1816, was a source of considerable advantage; and in the latter year a treaty was concluded between the courts of Naples and London, affording considerable privileges to the British. The chief exports of Sicily are silk, corn, salt, olive oil, sumac, wine, fruits of various kinds; also goat, kid, and other skins. The imports consist of colonial produce, hardware, jewellery, lead, and manufactured articles in great variety, but small quantity. Of the fisheries carried on along the coast the principal is the tunny fishery. Money accounts are here kept in ounces, taris, and grains. 1 grain is equal to d. sterling. 20 grains 1 tari or 5d. sterling. 30 taris 1 ounce or 12s. 6d. sterling. Of late, attempts have been made to raise the Sicilian from a provincial to a national tongue. A dictionary has been printed, and several poets have published in their native language. In ancient times Sicily produced several writers of note, as Theocritus, Empedocles, Stesichorus, and Epicarmus; also painters and sculptors not unworthy of competition with those of Greece. In modern times, or rather since the beginning of the seventeenth century, there have appeared some successful candidates in the belles lettres, poetry, and natural history; and at present Palermo, Catania, and Messina, contain individuals of distinguished attainments; but their efforts have been discouraged by the want of a free press, the inadequacy of the public libraries, and the difficulty of intercourse with the more enlightened part of Europe. Education may be said to be in almost the same incipient state: there has yet been no general establishment of elementary schools; and the colleges of Palermo, Catania, and other large towns, have been conducted on a very antiquated plan, Latin and the doctrines of the Catholic church having excluded every branch of ordinary knowledge. The schools called Scuoli Normali, established in 1789, are on a better footing, the pupils being limited in number, and the teachers subjected to a previous examination. Girls, as in other Catholic countries, are put, at the age of eight or ten, into a convent or retiro, where, during six or eight years, they are taught little else than reading, writing, or the ceremonies of the Catholic faith. Fortunately the new plan of teaching (of Bell and Lancaster) is at present (1820) finding its way into Sicily. The religion of Sicily is the Catholic; the number of ecclesiastics in Sicily is said to amount to 70,000, exclusive of a still greater number of monks and nuns; all, or almost all, marked by the uniform character of ignorance and superstition. The Sicilian parliament is composed of three branches: the nobles to the number of 227; the prelates to the number of sixty-one; the demanial or deputies from universities, cities, and crown estates, to the number of only forty-three. Its authority is in a great measure nominal, and it has done little or nothing towards repressing the abuses which prevail notoriously in every branch of administration. The public officers are so inadequately paid as necessarily to have recourse to peculation. The hospitals and other public establishments, even when well endowed, are in a very uncomfortable state. As to the adninistration of justice, the laws, however good in the letter, are inoperative against a delinquent of influence or fortune. The judges are open to all kinds of corruption. The rarity of capital punishment would claim our praise were it not accompanied, in cases of doubtful evidence, by a recourse to torture: in short no country could be more in want of that political reform which was begun by the British government when in possession of the island, and is now (1821) likely to be carried on by the inhabitants themselves. The revenue of Sicily is computed at £1,000,000; a sum that would not be exorbitant were the taxes judicious in their nature, and equal in the mode of levying; but, until lately, the barons or landholders were to a certain degree exempt, and the burden was unmercifully imposed on the commons. The executive branch is subject to no enquiry or responsibility in regard to the application of the public funds. The Sicilian army in time of peace does not exceed 10,000 men; the pay of the soldiers, adequate only to their subsistence in a plentiful year, makes them dependent on public charity in a season of dearth and scarcity. A number of the officers are foreigners. The navy is limited to one ship of the line, two frigates, and five sloops: the gun boats are numerous; but the whole is in a poor state. Sicily has been recently divided into seven intendancies, instead of the three great provinces which before formed its component parts. These intendancies, and their population, and principal cities, are as follows: The principal promontories, most of which, as well as its rivers, are celebrated by the ancient poets, are Cape Faro, the north-east point. Cape Passaro (Pachynum), the south point, on an island, half a league from the main, and a mile in circuit, surrounded by rocks: en it is a fortified tower and light-house. On the south coast from the east are Cape Scalambri, Cape St. Marco, and Cape Sorello. Cape Bæo (Lylibeum), at the west end, is a low promontory, north of which is the island San Pantaleo (Motya). On the north coast are Cape St. Vito, the west point of the gulf of Castel-a-Mare, Cape Orlando, Cape Biancho, and others. The north coast, being bounded by mountains (Nebrodes Mons), has but few streams that deserve the name of rivers. Those of the east and south are more considerable. Amongst the former are the Alcantara (Onobala), south of Taormina, the Giaretta (Symathus), south of Catania, the largest of the island, and the Atellaro, north of Cape Passaro. On the south coast the rivers are the Salso (Himera), which empties itself at Alicata, the Platani (Camicus), and the Bellici (Hypsa). Messina (Messana), from its ancient splendor, as well as from being formerly the residence of the viceroy for six months of the year, disputes the honor of being the capital: it is situated near the north extremity of the east coast. The ravages of the plague in 1743, and other causes, have greatly reduced its population, which is thought not to exceed 25,000, though it has means of containing five times that number. Its port is entirely natural, and one of the best in Europe, being formed by a semicircular peninsula on the south-east, five miles in circuit, with an entrance threequarters of a mile wide, and capable of holding 1000 sail in thirty-five to forty fathoms depth. The largest vessels can also make fast to the quay, which lines the peninsula for a mile in length. The harbour is protected by the castle of St. Salvador, on the isthmus of the peninsula, by four forts on its points, and by a battery on the west shore. With these advantages, and that of being a free port, its trade is trifling. Taormina (Tauromenium), a celebrated city of antiquity, is now a poor village, on a hill two miles above the level of the sea, at the foot of which is the village and road of Giardini. At Taormina are seen the most entire remains of a Roman theatre in Italy, with other antiquities. Jaci d'Aquila is a little town at the mouth of the Fiume-Freddo, cold river, the ancient Acis, celebrated by the fable of Acis and Galatea, and whose waters, though said to be colder than ice, never freeze. They were praised by the ancients for their salubrity, but at present are thought to be poisonous from containing vitriol. Catania, the third city of Sicily, contains 40,000 inhabitants. It has several times been destroyed by earthquakes and eruptions of Etna, whose foot is but five miles distant. Since the earthquake in 1693, which totally overturned it, it has been rebuilt on a regular plan, with straight and wide streets, and the houses only one story. It has a good port, but little or no trade. Augusta, a fortified town of 9000 inhabitants, and a good port, is on the south side of an island, formerly a peninsula, but separated from the main by the earthquake of 1693. Syracuse, called by the natives Saragoza, one of the most celebrated cities of the Roman empire, whose walls had 180 stades of circuit, is now a poor town of 14,000 inhabitants. The land on which it stands was anciently a peninsula, but the isthmus has been cut through for its defence. Besides which it has a very strong citadel. Its two ancient ports still exist, the southern named Porto Maggiore (Portus Magnus), has six miles at its greatest breadth, and is entered by a strait one-third of a mile wide. In this port, twenty yards from the shore, a spring of fresh water bubbles up amidst the salt. The northern port, Porto Picolo (Portus Minor and Marmoreus), held the naval force of ancient Syracuse. The fountain of Arethusa, celebrated by poets and historians, and to which divine honors were paid, is now a brackish stream, which issues suddenly from the earth by two openings, and serves to wash the dirty rags of the modern Syra cusians. About 300 years after the arrival of the Siculi, the island first began to be known to the Greeks, who established various colonies, and built many cities in different parts of the island; and it is only from the time of their arrival that we have any history of the island. The first of the Greeks that came into Sicily were the Chalcidians of Eubœa, under the conduct of Thucles, who built Naxus, and a famous altar of Apollo, which, as Thucydides tells us, was still standing in his time without the city. The year after, which was, according to Dionysius Halicarnassensis, the third of the seventeenth Olympiad, Archias the Corinthian, one of the Heraclidæ, laid the foundations of Syracuse. Seven years after, a new colony of Chalcidians founded Leontini and Catana, after having driven out the Siculi, who inhabited that tract. About the same time, Lamas with a colony from Megara, a city of Achaia, settled on the river Pantacius, at a place called Trotilum, where his adventurers lived some time in common with the Chalcidians of Leontini; but, being driven thence by the Leontines, he built the city of Thapsus, where he died. Upon his death, the colony left Thapsus; and under the conduct of Hyblon, king of the Siculi, founded Megara Hyblæa, where they resided 245 years, till they were driven out by Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse. During their abode at Megara they sent one Pamilus, who was come from Megarian Achaia their original city, to build Selinus. This city was founded about 100 years after the foundation of Megara. Antiphemus and Entimus, the former a Rhodian, the other a Cretan, led each a colony of their countrymen, and jointly built the city of Gela on a river of the same name, establishing in their new settlement the Doric customs, about forty-five years after the founding of Syracuse. The inhabitants of Gela founded Agrigentum 108 years after their arrival in Sicily, and introduced the same customs there. A few years after, Zancle was built by the pirates of Cuma in Italy; but chiefly peopled by the Chalcidians, Samians, and Ionians, who chose rather to seek new settlements than live under the Persian yoke. Some time after Anaxales, tyrant of Rhegium, drove out the ancient proprietors; and, dividing his lands among his followers, called the city Messena, or Messene, which was the name of his native city in Peloponnesus. The city of Himera was founded by the Zancleans under the direction of Eucleides, Simus, and Sacon; but peopled by the Chalcidians and some Syracusan |