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 ...

BURKE -BURMANN. 335
published by his executors, in 5 vols., 4to., are, a president, a professor of mathematandt 10 vols., 8vo. (See Miemoir of Burke, ics and natural philosophy, a professor of
iy J. Prior, 2d edition, 2 vols., London, the learned languages, a tutor, and four
1826.) medical professors.
B(uRLEIGH, Lord. (See Cecil.) BURMAtNEMPIRE. (See BirmanEmpire.)
BURLESqUE signifies the low comic BURMANN; the name of a family of
arising from a ludicrots mixture of things learned men, originally from Colognehigh and low. High thoughts, for in- Francis B., born in 1632, was professor at
stance, are clothed in low expressions, or Leyden and Utrecht, where he died in
noble subjects described in a familiar 1769, and author of several theological
manner, or vice versa. The burlesque writings.-His son Peter, born at Utrecht,
style allows of the mixture of foreign and in 1668, studied there and at Leyden. He
domltestic words. the introduction of pro- became doctor of law in 1688. After travvincialisms, colloquial phrases, &c. Its elling in Germany and Switzerland, he
object may be, simply, to excite laughter, began the practice of the law, without,
or to provoke derision and ridicule. however, deserting the study of the anBURLETTA; a light, comic species of cients, as is proved by his treatise De
nmusical drarna, which derives its name Vectigalibus Pop. Rom. In 1696, he was
firom the Italian burlare, to jest. It origi- made professor of history and rhetoric at
nated in Italy, from whence it passed to the university of Utrecht. At a later pe-,the Transalpine countries, riod, he became professor of the Greek
BURLINGTON; a post-town of Vermont, language and politics. From this time,
and capital of Chittenden county, situated he published, annually, either some classic
on a bay, to which it gives name, on the author, with notes, or masterly Latin
south side of the entrance of Onion river verses, or some pamphlet against his adinto lake Champlain; 38 miles WV. by N. versaries, of whom he had made many
of TMontpelier, 100 S. of Montreal. Lat. by his intolerant vehemence. His edi440 27' N.; lon. 730 15' W.. Population tions of the classics are not so much disin 1820, 2,111. B. is the mostconsidera- tinguished for taste, as for learning and
ble commercial town in Vermont. Its accuracy. He became professor of elotrade is principally with the city of New quence, history, and the Greek language,
York, with which it has a water commu- in Leyden, 1715, and died in 1741. IHis
nication by means of lake Chamnplain, younger brother, Francis, died in 1719,
the Champlain canal, and the river Hud- while professor of theology at Utrecbt,
son. The village is very finely situated, and was the author of several theological
lying in the form of a parallelogram, with writings. He left four sons, distinguishits shortest side on the lake, and extend- ed likewise as scholars.-John, born in
ng, back, up a gradual ascent, to the dis- 1706, died 1780, at Amsterdam, was a
tance of a n,'le from the water. It con- physician, and professor of botany. Lintains a court-house, a jail, a bank, 3 houses neeus makes honorable mention of his
of public worship, an academy, and a writings.-Peter, born in 1713, devoted
un~iversity.-The university of Vermont himrnself, like his uncle, to philological
was incorporated and established at B. pursuits. In 1734, he was made doctor
in 1791, but it did not go into operation of law at Utrecht. In the following year,
till 1800. It is finely situated on the east he became professor of eloquence and
side of the village, a mile distant from history at the university of Franeker.
lake Champlain, on ground elevated 245 In 1742, he went to Amsterdam, as profeet above the surface of the water, and fessor of history and ancient languages,
commands an extensive and delightful where lie became, in succession, professor
prospect, embracing a view of the lake, of poetry, librarian, and inspector of the
with the high mountains beyond on the gymnasiuml. Like his uncle, he has pubwest, and the Green mountains on the lished many good editions, particularly
east. A large college edifice of brick, of the Latin classics; like him, he was
which was completed in 1801, was con- distinguished by learning, by his talent
sulned by fire in 1824; since which time for Latin poetry, and by his hasty dispothree brick edifices have been erected, two sition. lie died in 1778.-Nicolaus Lauof them containing rooms for students, rentius B. succeeded, in 1781, his ft4the other containing a chapel, and other ther, John B., as professor of botany.
public rooms. The university posses- -for which science he did much by his
ses considerable endowments, consisting own writings, and by aiding the unchiefly of lands; but the number of stu- dertakings of others. In particular, lihe
dents has never oeen large. Its officers encouraged Thunberg to visit the cape