Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 5).
- Date:
- 1830-33
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 5). Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![ference. The land lies high, and the soil is fertile in manioc, sugar-canes, rice, fruit and tobacco. The inhabitants are rude and uncivilized. Lon. 8'' 40' E.; lat. 3° 28' N. Population, 1200. Fernet ; a village famous for having been a long time the residence of Vol- taire, in the French department of the Ain, on the frontiers of Switzerland, about 5 miles from Geneva. Under Louis XIII and XIV, the inhabitants, who were mostly Protestants, were compelled to leave their country to escape religious per- secution. Voltaire purchased an estate there in 1762, and endeavored, by his ac- tivity, and the assistance of evciy kind which he extended to settlers, to increase the village, to introduce the mechanic arts, and especially the manufacture of clocks, by means of skilful workmen, whom he brought from Geneva. The numerous foreigners also who came from every part of the civilized world to see Voltaire, the man of the age, contributed to enrich tlie place. In 1775, its popula- tion amounted to 1200. After the death of Voltaire, it declined very rapidly, and con- taitis at present but fiOO inhabitants. The chateau which Voltaire occupied is kept by his heirs in the same state in which he left it, and is visited as an object of curi- osity by travellers. Fernow, Charles Louis, a distinguish- ed German writer on the fine arts, was born November 19,17G.3, at Blumenhagen, in the Uckennark, where his father was a common laborer. His early years were those of a talented youth struggling with poverty and other difficulties ; he had, besides, the misfortune to shoot an ac- quaintance by accident. After finishing his apprenticeship to an apothecary, he became acquainted with 3Ir. Carstens, to whom he was much indebted for the cul- tivation of his talents. He soon abandon- ed his business, and maintained himself by portrait painting and giving lessons in drawing. After some time, he went to Jena, where he became acquainted with many literary men ; among others, with Baggesen, who proposed to Fernow to accompany him to Switzerland and Italy. He performed part of the journey with Baggesen, and continued it by the aid of others. In 1794, he arrived in Rome, where he found Mr. Carstens, with whom he lived. He now began the study of the theory and history of the fine arts, and Italian literature, and, when he ceased to receive assistance from his friends, deliv- ered lectures. In 1803, he returned to Germany, married an Italian lady, and was ap|)ointed extraordinary professor at the imivei-sity of Jena. In 1804, he received an ap[)ointment at Weimar, where he died Dec. 4, 1808. His Roviische Studien (Roman Studies), Zurich, 180G—1808, 3 vols. ; iiis learned and tasteful edition of the Italian poets, Jena, 1807—1809, 12 vols.; and his Italienische Sprachlchrc (Italian Grammar), second edit., Tvibing.n, 1815, 2 vols., i)resen'e his name m litera- ture. We also owe to him the biography of his friend Carstens, and the commence- ment of the edition of Winckelmann'.s works. Fernow's life has Ixien written by his friend Johanne Schoppenhauer. Ferns (/dices); a family of plants, in- cluded by Linnaeus in his class crypto- gamia. They are herbaceous, or shrubby, and some tropical species are arborescent. Tlie fructification is mconspicuous, gene- rally consisting of very small capsules, ])laced on the inferior surface of the frond, but sometimes upon a distinct stem; the seeds are very numerous, and extremely minute ; the frond is simple, lobed or pal- mated, but more frequently pinnated, and involute when young. This family in- cludes many genera, and a gi-eat number of species which inhabit the whole earth, some of them being widely diffused, par- ticularly in the northern hemisphere, while othei-s are very much limited in their range. Between the tropics, several species form small trees, having some- thing of the aspect of palms, and are con- sidered one of the greatest ornaments of those regions. One climbing fern [lygo- dium palmatum) inhabits the U. States, but is rare, though it occurs as far north as Boston. Feronia ; one of the most ancient Ital- ian goddesses, who presided over woods and orchards. The ancient gi-ove, not far from Anxur (Terracina), was consecrated to her, and is very celebrated. Emanci- pated slaves received a cap in her temple as a badge of freedom. Ferrand, Anthony, count, peer of France and minister of state, was born ia 1752. He early showed himself opposed to the new political principles which were developed in 1789. He emigrated, and remained with the prince of Cond6 during the whole of his first campaign. When the first consul granted the emigrants per- mission to return, Ferrand availed himself of it, and occupied himself with literary pursuits. His Lettres politiques et mo- rales d'un Pert a son Pils were in part suppressed by order of the authorities, but obtained him a flattering letter and a ring from the emperor Alexander. When](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21136749_0094.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
