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 ...

50 BENDA-BENEDICT.
B kNDA, George, director of the chalpel 1727, bishop of Ancona; in 1728, cardinal,
at Gotha, born at Jungbuntzlau, in Bo- and in 1732, archbishop of Bologna. In
hernia, 1721, received fiom Frederic II every station, he displayed great talents,
the place of the second violinist in the and fulfilled his duties with the most
chapel at Berlin, but, in 1748, entered the conscientious zeal. He opposed fanatiservice of the duke of Gotha, as chapel- cism even at the risk of his own safety,
master, where he constantly cultivated defended the oppressed, and expressed
his talents for composition, particularly himself with the greatest frankness to
of sacred music. His Ariadne, an opera, Clement XII, without losing his favor.
was received with enthusiastic applause When, after the death of Clement XII,
in Germany, and afterwards in all Europe, in 1740, the election of a new pope in
being distinguished for originality, sweet- the conclave was retarded by the inness and ingenious execution. His corn- trigues of cardinal Tencin, and the carp)ositions are numerous; but his Ariadne dinals could not agree, Lambertini, with
is his best work. He died in the neigh- his usual good nature, said to them, " If
borhood of Gotha, 1795. His absence of you want a saint, take Gotti; if a politimind has given rise to many amusing cian, Aldobrandi; if a good old man,
anecdotes. His elder brother, Francis, myself." These words, thrown out in a
was a distinguished violinist. Their fa- humorous manner, operated on the conther was a poor linen-weaver. clave like inspiration, and Lambertini,
BENDER (in the Moldau language, Ti- under the name of Benedict XIV, ascendgino); the chief city of a district in the ed the papal throne. His choice of the
Russian province Bessarabia, on the ministers and friends, whom he assembled
Dniester; ion. 24~46' E.; ]at. 46~ 51' N.; around him, does the greatest honor to
population, 10,000. It is built in the his judgment. The condition of the
shape of a crescent, is well fortified, has church, and of the Roman court, had not
12 mosques and 1 Armenian church. escaped his penetration. Since the refThe streets are narrow and dark. Its ormation, princes no longer trembled at
commerce is important, and it carries on the thunders of the Vatican. The pop0 s
some branches of manufacture. Here had renounced their pretensions to worldresided Charles XII. (q. v.) In 1771, the ly authority, and Lamnbertini knew that
Russians took the place, and killed most of respect for the papal authority could be
the troops and citizens, amounting to maintained only by a wise moderation.
nearly 30,000 persons. The peace of He constantly regulated his measures by
Cainardshi, in 1774, restored it to Turkey. this principle, and thus succeeded, even
In 1809, it was conquered by the Rus- in difficult circumstances, in satisfying,
sians, but again restored to the Turks by not only the Catholic, but even the Protthe peace of Jassy. Since the peace of estant princes. The sciences were a
Bucharest, in 1812, it has belonged to special object of his care. He established
Russia. academies at Rome; promoted the prosBENEDICT XIV (Prosper Lambertini), perity of the academy at Bologna; caused
born at Bologna, in 1675, of a very respect- a degree of the meridian to be measured;
able family, distinguished himself, in his the obelisk to be erected in the Campus
youth, by a rapid progress in all the Martius; the church of St. Marcellino to
sciences. His favorite author was St. be built after a plan projected by himThomas. He applied himself with suc- self; the beautiful pictures in St. Peter's
cess to the canon and civil law, and be- to be executed in mosaic; the best Engcame advocate to the consistory at Rome. lish and French works to be translated
Afterwardcs, he was appointed pro1motor into Italian; and commanded a catalogue
fidei, and wrote a valuable work on the of the manuscripts contained in the VatiCeremonies used in Beatifications (Bolog- can library (the number of which he had
na, 1734, 4 vols. fol.) He was passionately enlarged to 3300) to be printed. His govfond of learning, of historical researches ernment of the papal states did equal
and monuments of art, and also associated honor to his wisdom. He enacted severe
with the distinguished men of his time; laws against usury, favored commercial
among others, with father Montfaucon, liberty, and diminished the number of
who said of him, "Benedict has two holydays. His piety was sincere, yet
souls; one for science, and the other for enlightened and forbearing. He strove
society." He also made himself familiar to maintain purity of doctrine and of
with the best poetical works, whereby morals, giving, in his own character, the
his mind became elevated and his style most praiseworthy example. He died,
animated. Benedict XIII made him, in after a painfill sickness, during which his