The Welsh language is still that of the peasantry and middle class, and the members of the Church of England are largely out-numbered by the Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Independents.
Brecknockshire formed part of the territory of the Silures, and its occupation by the Romans could never have been very complete. After their expulsion the district (Brycheiniog) was ruled by native princes and was the scene of many a border struggle. Many of the castles which are scattered over its eastern border had their origin at this period ; and some of them may be regarded as advanced posts erected by the English during the wars which preceded the formation of Offa s Dyke. Subse quently, when Bernard de Newmarch and his Norman followers obtained possession of the country, they were converted into regular fortresses, by which the neighbour hood was kept in awe, and the mountain passes defended. The district between Brecon and Builth was the scene of the last struggle between the English and Llewelyn in 1282, when the Welsh chieftain was defeated and slain. Since that date Breconshire has not been associated with any important historical events, unless we include among them the raids of Owen Glyndwr. It formed part of the Welsh Marches until their union with England in 1532. Among the eminent natives of the county may be mentioned Sir David Gam (Shakspeare s Fluellen), who lost his life at Agincourt while defending Henry V. ; the ill-fated Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham; John Penry ("Martin Marprelate "); Henry Vaughan, the poet; Dr Ilugh Price, founder of Jesus College, Oxford ; Thomas Hovvel, bishop of Bristol (less known than his brother, the letter writer) ; Theo. Jones, historian of the county; and Mrs Siddons.
Brecon, or Brecknock, the capital of the county of the same name, a market and borough town, 145 miles N. by W. from London, picturesquely situated in a fine open valley, at the confluence of the Honddu and Tarell with the Usk, and nearly in the centre of the county. It is sup posed to occupy the site of the Roman station Sannium, but it is more probable that it was partly constructed with materials drawn from that spot, which lies to the W. of the present town, on the Via Julia Montana. There are three main streets, with several smaller ones. The houses are for the most part constructed of stone, and are gene rally well built. Brecon has a fine cruciform church (Early English in style), which has been restored by Sir Gilbert Scott. There are two other churches, and two Indepen dent, two Baptist, and one Calvinistic Methodist chapel. The corporation consists of a mayor, recorder, four alder men, and twelve councillors. The borough has returned one member to parliament since 1536. Constituency in 1875, 813. The assessed taxes yield annually 1259, and the annual value of real property paying income-tax is 24,941. There are weekly markets, and several fairs in the course of the year. The quarter sessions and assizes are held here. Brecon has a foundation called the College of Christ Church, of which the bishop of St David s is ex ojjkio dean, but after the death of its present officers its revenues will devolve to the ecclesiastical commissioners and be appropriated to ecclesiastical uses. The ruins of the ancient castle are enclosed in the beautiful grounds of the Castle Hotel, and though unimportant in them selves, derive an interest from their connection with the Fitzwalters, de Braoses, de Bohuns, and Stafforcls, successive lords of Brecon. The principal fragment now remaining is Ely Tower, so called from its having formed the prison of Morton, bishop of Ely, where he concerted with his custodian, Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, the dethronement of Richard III., and the union of the houses of York and Lancaster. There are some fine Roman and other remains in the immediate vicinity. Population of municipality in 1871, 5845; inhabited houses, 1172.
BREDA, a town of Holland in the province of North Brabant, and capital of a circle, is situated in a marshy plain on the Merck, 24 miles S.W. of Bois-le-Duc, and 30 N.N.E. of Antwerp. It is strongly fortified and defended by a citadel (rebuilt by William III. of England), and the surrounding district may be laid under water when required. The town is well built, with wide and well-paved streets, is intersected by several canals, and has a fine quay, a town- hall, an arsenal, an observatory, an orphan asylum, a cathedral, and several Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, one of the latter having a spire 362 feet in height. It has also a Latin school and a military academy, and manufactures of linen and woollen goods, carpets, hats, beer, and musical instruments. Population (1869), 14,172.
Breda obtained municipal rights in 1252 from Henry, but was not surrounded with walls till 1534. The old castle, which had been built in 1350 by Jan Van Polanen, was restored about the same time. In 1696 William Prince of Orange and king of England caused the erection of the new castle, which was regarded as one of the finest buildings of the period. It was afterwards the residence of Charles 1 1 . in his exile, and is now the scat of the military academy. The town was captured by the Spaniards in 1581, by Maurice of Orange in 1590 ; again by the Spaniards, under Spinola, in 1G25 ; and by Henry of Orange in 1637. It was finally ceded to Holland by the treaty of AVestphalia in 1618. During the wars of the French Revolution it was taken by Dumouricz in 1793, and again by Pichegru in 1795. Much of its celebrity is due to the various political congresses of which it has been the scene. In 1566 the nobles of the Netherlands formed there the league known as the Com promise ; in 1575 a conference was held between the ambassadors of Spain and those of the United Provinces ; in 1667 a peace was signed between England, Holland, Franco, and Denmark ; and in 1746-7 the representatives of the same powers met in the town to discuss thJ terms of another treaty.
BREDA, Jan Van, a Dutch painter, was the son cf Alexander Van Breda, an artist of considerable merit, and was born at Antwerp in 1683. He imitated the style of Wouvermans and Breughel with such dexterity, that even connoisseurs are often unable to distinguish his copies of their pictures from the originals. He visited England, where he was so well employed, that in a few years he was able to retire to his native country with a competency. The earl of Derwentwater was one of his chief patrons. He died at Antwerp in 1750.
BREDOW, Gabriel Gottfried, a German historian and professor in the university of Breslau, was born at Berlin in 1773. He is known in England by his Manual of Ancient History, which was translated into English in 1827 ; Researches on History, Geography, and Chronology ; and his valuable Historical Tables, which come down to 1811. This last work was translated into English by Major J. Bell, who continued the tables down to 1820, and produced a popular and very useful work. Bredow died in 1814.
usually applied to the varieties of domesticated animals only, but since the phenomena presented under cultiva tion by all classes of organisms are entirely similar in character, and since, moreover, much of our knowledge on the subject has been gained from botany and horticulture, we shall include, under the one term breeds, the varieties of domestic animals and of cultivated plants. The natural and simple definition of breeding would be the art by which breeds are produced. But here the objection arises, that in this definition too much is assumed. It may be
argued that our domesticated animals and plants are each- ↑ Many of the facts and arguments contained in the present article are taken from Mr Darwin s work, The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication, 1868, and 2d. ed. 1876 ; and in most instances it has not been considered necessary to give the references
