Part 111 (2/2)

CASTAnOS, a Spanish general; distinguished for his victory over the French under Dupont, whom he compelled to surrender and sign the capitulation of Baylen, in 1808; after this he served under Wellington in several engagements, and was commander of the Spanish army, ready, if required, to invade France in 1815 (1758-1852).

CASTE, rank in society of an exclusive nature due to birth or origin, such as prevails among the Hindus especially. Among them there are originally two great cla.s.ses, the twice-born and the once-born, _i.

e_. those who have pa.s.sed through a second birth, and those who have not; of the former there are three grades, Brahmans, or the priestly caste, from the mouth of Brahma; Kshatriyas, or the soldier caste, from the hands of Brahma; and Vaisyas, or the agricultural caste, from the feet of Brahma; while the latter are of one rank and are menial to the other, called Sudras, earth-born all; notwithstanding which distinction often members of the highest cla.s.s sink socially to the lowest level, and members of the lowest rise socially to the highest.

CASTEL, RENe-RICHARD, French poet and naturalist (1758-1832).

CASTELAR, EMILIO, a Spanish republican, born in Cadiz; an eloquent man and a literary; appointed dictator of Spain in 1873, but not being equal to the exigency in the affairs of the State, resigned, and made way for the return of monarchy, though under protest; wrote a history of the ”Republican Movement in Europe” among other works of political interest; _b_. 1832.

CASTELLAMARE (15), a port on the coast of Italy, 115 m. SE. of Naples, the scene of Pliny's death from the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D.

79. It takes its name from a castle built on it by the Emperor Frederick II.; has a cathedral, a.r.s.enal, and manufactures.

CASTELLIO, Protestant theologian, a protege of Calvin's for a time, till he gave expression to some heretical views, which led to a rupture; he ventured to p.r.o.nounce the Song of Solomon a mere erotic poem (1515-1563).

CASTIGLIONE, a town of Sicily, on N. slope of Etna, 35 m. SW. of Messina; famed for hazel nuts.

CASTIGLIONE, COUNT, an accomplished Italian, born in Mantua; author of ”II Cortegiano,” a manual for courtiers, called by the Italians in admiration of it ”The Golden Book”; had spent much of his time in courts in England and Spain, as well as Rome, and was a courtly man (1478-1529).

CASTILE, a central district of Spain, divided by the mountains of Castile into Old Castile (1,800) in the N., and New Castile (3,500) in the S.: the former consisting of a high bare plateau, bounded by mountains on the N. and on the S., with a variable climate, yields wheat and good pasturage, and is rich in minerals; the latter, also tableland, has a richer soil, and yields richer produce, breeds horses and cattle, and contains besides the quicksilver mines of Almaden. Both were at one time occupied by the Moors, and were created into a kingdom in the 11th century, and united to the crown of Spain in 1469 by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella.

CASTLE GARDEN, the immigration depot of New York where immigrants land, report themselves, and are advised where to settle or find work.

CASTLE OF INDOLENCE, a poem of Thomson's, a place in which the dwellers live amid luxurious delights, to the enervation of soul and body.

CASTLEFORD (14), a town 10 m. SE. of Leeds, with extensive gla.s.s-works, especially bottles.

CASTLEREAGH, LORD, entered political life as a member of the Irish Parliament, co-operated with Pitt in securing the Union, after which he entered the Imperial Parliament, became War Minister (1805), till the ill-fated Walcheren expedition and a duel with Canning obliged him to resign; became Foreign Secretary in 1812, and the soul of the coalition against Napoleon; represented the country in a congress after Napoleon's fall; succeeded his father as Marquis of Londonderry in 1821, and committed suicide the year following; his name has been unduly defamed, and his services to the country as a diplomatist have been entirely overlooked (1769-1822).

CASTLES IN SPAIN, visionary projects.

CASTLETOWN, a seaport in the Isle of Man, 11 m. SW. of Douglas, and the former capital.

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