[Brèche-de-Roland], a gorge in the dep. of the Haute-Pyrénées, which, according to tradition, Charlemagne's Paladin of the name of Roland cleft with one stroke of his sword when he was beset by the Gascons.
[Brechin], a town in Forfarshire, W. of Montrose, on the S. Esk, with a cathedral and an old round tower near it, 85 ft. high, the only one of the kind in Scotland besides being at Abernethy.
[Breda] (23), fortified town, the capital of N. Brabant; a place of historical interest; Charles II. resided here for a time during his exile, and issued hence his declaration prior to his restoration.
[Breeches Bible], the Geneva Bible, so called from its rendering in Gen. iii. 7, in which "aprons" is rendered "breeches."
[Breeches Review], the Westminster, so called at one time, from one Place, an authority in it, who had been a leather-breeches maker at Charing Cross.
[Brégnet], a French chronometer-maker, born at Neuchâtel; a famous inventor of astronomical instruments (1747-1823).
[Brehm, Alfred Edmund], German naturalist; his chief work "Illustrirtes Thierleben" (1829-1884).
[Brehon Laws], a body of judge-created laws that for long formed the common law of Ireland, existed from prehistoric times till Cromwell's conquest. The origin of the code is unknown, and whether it was at first traditional; many manuscript redactions of portions exist still.
[Bremen] (126), the chief seaport of Germany, after Hamburg; is on the Weser, 50 m. from its mouth, and is a free city, with a territory less than Rutlandshire. Its export and import trade is very varied; half the total of emigrants sail from its docks; it is the head-quarters of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company. Textiles, tobacco, and paper industries add to its prosperity; was one of the principal cities of the Hanseatic League.
[Bremer, Fredrika], a highly popular Swedish novelist, born in Finland; "The Neighbours," "The President's Daughter," and "Strife and Peace," are perhaps her best stories; has been called the Jane Austen of Sweden.