Encyclopædia americana. A popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, a new ed.; including a copious collection of original articles in American biography; on the basis of the 7th ed. of the German Conversations-lexicon. Ed. by Francis Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth ...

286 BROWN.
published at more than one place on the powerful party in the commonwealth, and
continent. His object was to simplify were very obnoxious to the Presbyterians,
medicine, by arranging both diseases and whose successors, it is remarkable, have,
remedial powers into large and strongly- for the most part, gradually adopted
marked classes. He divided all diseases Brownist principles in relation to church
into sthenic and asthenic, or those in government.
which excitement is too great or too little, BROWN, doctor Thomas; an ingenious
and all curative means into such as in- writer on metaphysics: and morals. He
crease or diminish excitement. The sys- was born in Scotland, in 1778, and was
tem has been useful in overturning false educated at the high-school, and subseand trifling analogies, and in leading to quently at the university of Edinburgh,
a full trial of vigorous remedies; but where he obtained the professorslip of
in practice it is found impossible to act moral philosophy. He distinguished hinmon ideas so general and abstract. The self, at a very early age, by an acute rebest edition of the English translation of view of the medical and physiological
the Elementa is that revised and correct- theories of doctor Darwin, in a work ened by doctor Beddoes, with a biographi- ft'led Observations on Darwin's Zoonocal preface. mia, 8vo. This work introduced him to
BRowN, Robert, the founder of a reli- the academy of physics,. of which Macgious sect, first called Brownists, and af- kenzie, Jeffery and Brougham were memterwards Independents, was born of' an bers. It was this society which gave rise
ancient family in Rutlandshire, and studied to the Edinburgh Review, to which the
at Cambridge, where, in 1580, he began first contributors sent their -napers gratuopenly to attack the government and lit- itously. B. wrote the review of the phiurgy of the church of England as anti- losophy of Kant, in the second number,
Christian. He first ascended the pulpit but, being displeased with some liberties
at Norwich in 1581, where he succeeded taken with one of his papers intended for
in converting a number of Dutch, who the fourth number, his connexion with it
had a congregation there, to his opinions, was terminated. He also published some
for which he was brought before the ec- poems, which displayed considerable tal-b
clesiastical commissioners, to whom he ent. His principal poetical work is the
behaved so rudely, that he was sent to Paradise of Coquettes, London, 1814.
prison, but soon obtained a release. He But he chiefly deserves notice on account,
then went to Middleburg, in Zealand, of his metaphysical speculations; and his
with his followers, and wrote a book last work, on the Philosophy of the Hucalled.l Treatise of Reformation without man Mind, affords ample proof of his
tcarrying for any.Man. In 1585, he re- merit as a profound and original thinker.
turned to England, and, as he still labor- -He died at Brompton, near London, April
ed to gain converts, he was excommunni- 2, 1820.
cated by the bishop of Peterborough. BRowN, William, the celebrated admiThis censure, joined, perhaps, with the ral of Buenos Ayres, was born in Ireland,
evaporation of his zeal, induced him to from whence he emigrated to Baltimore,
submit; and, in 1590, he was presented to in the U. States, in 1793, being then about
a living in Northamptonrshire, of which] 14 years of age. He was employed in
he received the emoluments without dis- the American mercantile marine until
charging the duties. In other respects, 1796, when he was impressed bya Britishll
too, his morals were licentious, so that he man-of-war. He continued partly in the
retained little of the austerity of the English navy and partly in the nerchanlt
founder of a sect. After leading a turbu- service until 1814, when, being at Buenos
lent life, this extraordinary character died Ayres, in the command of an JEnglis:h
in 1630, in Northampton jail, where he merchant-ship, during the war of inlhad been sent for assaulting a constable and pendence, he was induced to enter into
insulting a magistrate. The sect of the naval service of the country. Being
Brownists was far from expiring with appointed to the command of the republ —
their founder, but spread so as to become lican flotilla of two brigs, three corvettes
a great object of alarm; and a bill was and a schooner, he put to sea in Ap)ril,
brought into parliament which inflicted 1814, and engaged some ships of' the
on them very severe pains and penalties. Spaniards, off the island of Iartin GCarcita.
In process of time, however, the name of In the ensuing May, a more decisive enBrownists was merged in that of Congre- gagement took place off Monte Video, in
gationalists or Independents (q. v.), under which four of the enemy's vessels were
the latter of which titles they formed a either taken or destroyed, and the rest