thousand tons are thus manufactured annually, and are sold in the various ports of Great Britain, at the rate of from 7 to £10 per ton. One of the products of kelp we have not yet adverted to, is iodine. (q. v.) The uses of soda are, in general, the same with those of potash, but there are certain branches of manufactures to which it is indispensable, as to the making of plate and crown-glass, and all hard soaps. Both alkalies are consumed in immense quantities by soap-boilers, bleachers and glass-makers; but it is said that in France the use of potash has very much diminished since the culture of barilla has been introduced. New England, being the only part of the U. States which has a rocky coast, would seem to be the only part of our country fitted for the manufacture of kelp. The greater rise of the tides north of cape Cod, and especially in the more eastern parts, is also a favorable circumstance; indeed, this branch of business has been carried on in the state of Maine. On the other hand, the thousand sounds and estuaries of the more southern coast open an almost unlimited field for the culture of barilla. It is well known that the shores of the sea, and saltmarshes, as well as the margins of interior salt lakes and salines, and, in general, all places to which water holding muriate of soda in solution gains access, are inhabited by peculiar plants. Several entire genera are confined to such situations. In these maritime plants, soda replaces the potash, which is always present in those growing in ordinary situations, and it is even said that if they are removed to a distance from the sea-shore, they gradually lose their soda, and acquire potash in its stead. The barilla obtained in France from the salicornia annua yields 14 or 15 per cent. of soda; and that from salsola tragus, S. kali, statice limonium, atriplex portulaccoides, &c., yields only from 3 to 8 per cent. The Spanish barilla is the most esteemed, particularly that from Alicant, and is obtained from the salsola sativa, which is carefully cultivated in light, low soils, embanked on the side next the sea, and furnished with flood-gates, through which the salt water is occasionally admitted. So anxious are the Spaniards to monopolize this trade, that the exportation of the seed is prohibited under pain of death. (See Barilla.) Carbonate of soda is also found abundantly in a mineral state in many countries, as in Hungary, the southern parts of Siberia, Persia, China, North Africa, and the environs of Smyrna; but the native salt has not hitherto

become important as an article of commerce.

KEMBLE, John Philip; one of the most eminent tragedians of the British stage since the days of Garrick. He was the eldest son of Roger Kemble, manager of a company of comedians at Prescot in Lancashire, in which county he was born, February, 1757, and received the rudiments of education at the Roman Catholic seminary of Sedgeley park, Staffordshire. With the view of qualifying him for one of the learned professions, he was afterwards placed by his father at the college of Douay, where he early distinguished himself by his proficiency in elocution. On his return to England, having completed his academical pursuits, he entered immediately upon the profession of an actor, for which he had long exhibited a decided predilection. At this period, he produced a tragedy on the story of Belisarius, which was acted at Liverpool, and printed a volume of Fugitive Pieces, in verse, with which he was, however, so dissatisfied, that, on the day after their publication, he destroyed every copy he could recover. Mr. Kemble appeared, for the first time in London, on the Drury-lane boards, Sept. 30, 1783, in the part of Hamlet, and was received with great applause. It was not, however, till the retirement of Smith from the stage, in 1788, that he took a decided lead in tragedy. He afterwards obtained the management of Drury-lane theatre, which he enjoyed, with only a short interruption, till 1801. In 1794, he brought out a musical entertainment of his own, entitled Lodoiska, which had a great run, and has since been revived with benefit to the theatre. In 1802, he visited the continent, and having passed 12 months at Paris and Madrid, returned to London, when he purchased a sixth share of Covent-garden theatre, and became manager of that establishment. Here he continued his career with great success, till the destruction of the theatre by fire in 1809. In the autumn of the same year, the present edifice, being constructed, opened with an increase of prices, which, together with certain obnoxious arrangements in regard to the private boxes, created, for a series of nights, the disturbances known by the name of the OP riots. Mr. Kemble took his farewell of the stage July 23, 1817, on which occasion he was complimented with a public dinner and other honorable tokens of esteem, and shortly after retired to the continent, where he died at Lausanne, in Switzerland, Feb. 26, 1823, of a paralytic attack, after a few hours' ill

ness. As an actor, Kemble was distinguished for dignity, precision, and studious preparation. His merits were differently appreciated, but by all he was regarded as a highly gifted actor, and the impression which he made in characters more immediately adapted to his style of excellence, such as Cato, Coriolanus, Hamlet, John, Jaques, Penruddock, was very great. His management both of Drurylane and Covent-garden theatres, but especially of the latter, was also marked by the exhibition of much refined and accurate taste, in the rectification of scenic decoration, and the adoption of appropriate costume, adding thereby both to the splendor and illusion of the drama. The learning, elegant manners and accomplishments of Mr. Kemble introduced him into the best company, by whom he was at once courted and esteemed. (See Boaden's Life of Kemble.)

KEMPELEN, Wolfgang, baron von, famous as the inventor of the automaton chess-player, was a native of Presburg in Hungary. He displayed much talent, when young, as a mechanic; and, as early as 1769, he announced the completion of his automaton or androides, which has since attracted so much attention. In 1783, the chessplaying figure was first exhibited at Paris; and it afterwards made its appearance in London, where it surprised and puzzled those who witnessed its performance. Baron Kempelen or his assistant was always present, to direet, by some incomprehensible_method, the motions of the machine. It consists of a figure in a Turkish dress, seated at a table, the top of which is marked as a chess-board. The arm of the automaton, by means of internal machinery, is capable of executing about a dozen motions, which it appears to perform spontaneously, so as to play a game at chess with any visitor. While the movements are taking place, the noise of a fly-wheel is heard; and, after a certain time, the machinery requires winding up like a clock, before it can again be brought into action. Various conjectures have been advanced as to the means by which the action of this machine is directed. The most probable of which is, that a child or small man is concealed in a drawer under the table which supports the chess-board. It is true that the whole cavity beneath the table, as well as the body of the figure, is opened and exhibited to the spectators previously to the commencement of an exhibition; but as the inside of the automaton and the space under the table are not shown at the same

time, an individual within might move from one part to the other, so as to deceive those who witness the performance. It is easy to conceive that, by means of some audible signal, the evolutions of the automaton may be directed. This very ingenious man also constructed a speaking figure, of which he published an account in a curious work, entitled Le Mécanisme de la Parole, suivi de la Description d'une Machine parlante, et enrichi de 27 Planches (Vienne, 1791, 8vo.), also printed in German. He contrived, likewise, a printingpress, for the use of mademoiselle Paradies, a famous blind musician. He also published German poetry; a drama, called Perseus and Andromeda ; the Unknown Benefactor, a comedy, &c. He died at Vienna in 1804. The chess-player is now in the possession of Mr. Mälzel, who has himself invented several ingenious automata, which, together with the chess-player, have been exhibited for some years past in the U. States.

KEMPIS, Thomas à. (See Thomas à Kempis.)

KEN, Thomas, a learned and pious dignitary of the English church, was educated at Oxford. About 1679, he went to Holland to officiate as chaplain to the princess of Orange, and afterwards to Tangier, as chaplain to the earl of Dartmouth. In every station which he held, he exhibited a conscientious propriety of conduct and unyielding morality, which procured him the respect of the licentious court of Charles II, and, strange as it may appear, conciliated the favor of that profligate prince; for, residing at Winchester when the king, attended by his female favorites, visited that city, his house was destined by his majesty's harbinger for the lodging of Nell Gwynn; but doctor Ken, thinking such an inmate unsuitable for a man of his function, positively refused to admit her. When the king was informed of his conduct, he coolly said, "Mrs. Gwynn must find lodgings elsewhere;" and, to the surprise of his courtiers,he took the first opportunity to promote this conscientious supporter of the dignity of his character. Doctor Ken became a chaplain to Charles II, in whose reign he was made bishop of Bath and Wells. He was one of the seven bishops sent to the Tower for resisting the dispensing power claimed by king James, and for petitioning in behalf of their own and the people's rights. After the revolution, bishop Ken refused to take the oath of allegiance to king William, in consequence of which he was deprived of his preferment. He

was, however, highly respected by those of opposite sentiments, and queen Anne bestowed on him a pension. He died in 1711. His works, consisting of sermons, poeins, &c., were published in 4 vols., 8vo., 1721, with an account of his life.

KENAWHA, OF KENHAWA, GREAT; a river in Virginia, which has its sources in the western part of North Carolina, flows through the western part of Virginia, in a north-westerly direction, and joins the Ohio at Point Pleasant, 87 miles below Marietta, and 265 below Pittsburg. It receives Green Brier river in the western part of Monroe county, and, about 40 miles below the junction, it has a remarkable cataract, falling perpendicularly 50 feet. There are salt-works on the river, a little above the town of Charlestown. The river is navigable most of the year. KENAWHA, LITTLE; a river of Virginia, which runs west into the Ohio, 178 miles below Pittsburg.

KENILWORTH (called, by corruption, Killingworth); a town in Warwickshire, England, 5 miles N. of Warwick, 6 S. S. W. of Coventry, and 101 N. W. of London. Lon. 1° 35′ W.; lat. 52° 21′ N. Population, 2279. It consists chiefly of an irregular street nearly a mile in length, and has considerable manufactures of horn combs, and a market on Wednesday. The town is chiefly noted for its magnificent castle, which, along with its extensive chase and park, formed at one time the pride and ornament of this part of the kingdom. It was originally founded by Geoffrey de Clinton, chamberlain and treasurer to Henry I. Most of the buildings, of which remains are yet visible, were erected by John of Gaunt, father of Henry IV. It continued in the possession of the crown till the time of Elizabeth, who conferred it on Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester. He enlarged and adorned it at the expense of £60,000, and afterwards entertained the queen here for 17 days, in a style of extraordinary magnificence. The area within the walls of the castle contained 7 acres, and the circuit of the walls, manors, parks and chase, was 19 or 20 miles. The building was greatly injured during the civil wars; and the remains of the castle now present one of the most splendid and picturesque wrecks of castellated strength in England, and impart a melancholy grandeur to the town and neighborhood. The romance of sir Walter Scott has given it additional interest.

KENNEBEC; the largest river in Maine, after the Penobscot. It has two principal

branches-the eastern and the western. The former rises from Moose-head lake; and the latter, called Dead river, interlocks with the sources of the Chaudiere, with which it is connected by a portage of only five miles. The two branches unite about 20 miles below Moose-head lake, and the river afterwards pursues a southerly course. It is joined by the Androscoggin 18 miles from the sea. The tide flows up as far as Augusta, and the river is navigable for ships to Bath, 12 miles, for vessels of 150 tons to Hallowell, 40 miles, for sloops to Augusta, 2 miles farther, and for boats to Waterville, 18 miles above Augusta. There are a number of handsome and flourishing towns on the river, among which are Bath, Gardiner, Hallowell, Augusta.

KENNICOTT, doctor, and professor of theology at Oxford, born in 1718, at Totness in Devonshire, where his father was a poor shoemaker and sexton, has become known by his extensive and valuable collection of readings from about 580 manuscripts, and 12 printed editions of the Hebrew Bible, which he annexed to his edition of the Hebrew text. This work is entitled Vet. Test. Hebr., cum variis Lectionibus (2 vols., fol., Oxford, 1776-80). To the 2d volume is prefixed a Diss. gener. in V. T. Hebr. In this laborious and expensive undertaking, Mr. Kennicott wa23 assisted by a subscription of several thousand pounds, and thus enabled to send several scholars to Spain, Italy, Germany, &c., to collate manuscripts and editions. The work has many typographical errors. The author's plan, too, was defective, and he was not sufficiently acquainted with the Eastern languages and the true principles of eriticism; but he rendered great service to the cause of science and religion by opening the way in this department of biblical criticism. At the time of his death, he was employed in preparing Remarks on select Passages in the Old Testament, which were subsequently published, accompanied by eight sermons.

KENSINGTON; a large and populous village of England, in the county of Middlesex, nearly two miles from Hyde-park corner, and chiefly distinguished for its royal palace and gardens. In former times, Kensington palace was a favorite royal residence; and king William III, queen Mary, queen Anne and George II, died here. Kensington gardens, attached to the palace, are well known, and much frequented as a fashionable promenade in summer. They form a great ornament to the metropolis. These gardens contained

pal rivers of Kentucky are the Ohio, which flows along the state 637 miles, following its windings; the Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, Kentucky, Green, Licking, Big Sandy, Salt and Rolling. The Cumberland mountains form the southeast boundary of this state. The eastern counties, bordering on Virginia, are mountainous and broken. A tract from 5 to 20 miles wide, along the banks of the Ohio, is hilly and broken land, interspersed with many fertile valleys. Between this strip, Green river, and the eastern counties, lies what has been called the garden of the state. This is the most populous part, and is about 150 miles long, and from 50 to 100 wide. The soil is excellent, and the surface is agreeably diversified, gently rising and descending. These lands produce black-walnut, black-cherry, honeylocust, buckeye, pawpaw, sugar-maple, mulberry, elm, ash, cottonwood, whitethorn, with an abundance of grape-vines, There is a tract of country in the southwestern part of the state, east and north of Cumberland river, and watered by Green and Barren rivers, about 100 miles in extent, called the barrens, which, a few years since, was a beautiful prairie, destitute of timber. It is now covered with a young growth of various kinds of trees. These, however, do not prevent the growth of grass, and an almost endless variety of plants, which are in bloom during the whole of the spring and summer, when the whole region is a wilderness of the most beautiful flowers. The soil is of an excellent quality, being a mixture of clay, loam and sand. Through this country there runs a chain of conical hills, called knobs. It is also distinguished for some stupendous caves. Ancient fortifications and mounds of earth are found in almost all parts of Kentucky. The caves in the south-western part of the state are great curiosities. One, styled Mammoth cave, 130 miles from Lexington, on the road leading to Nashville, is said to be 8 or 10 miles in length, with a great number of avenues and windings. Earth strongly impregnated with nitre is found in most of these caves, and there are many establishments for manufacturing it. From 100 pounds of earth, 50 pounds of nitre have frequently been obtained. A number of the rivers in this state have excavated the earth, so as to form abrupt precipices, deep glens, and frightful gulfs. The precipices formed by Kentucky river are, in many places, awfully sublime, presenting perpendicular banks of 300 feet, of solid limestone, surmounted with a steep

and difficult ascent, four times as high. The banks of Cumberland river are less precipitous, but equally depressed below the surface of the surrounding country.

Wheat, tobacco and hemp are the staple productions. Indian corn is, however, the principal grain raised for home consumption. Rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, flax, potatoes, &c., are cultivated. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries and plums are the most common fruits. The domestic animals are large and beautiful, particularly the horse. Great numbers of swine, horned .cattle, horses and mules are annually driven to the neighboring states for a market, and large quantities of pork, bacon and lard are exported. The fattening of animals is the chief mode of consuming the surplus grain, on account of the expense of conveying it to market. Considerable quantities of whiskey are made. Marble, of excellent quality, abounds, and the whole state may be said to repose on a bed of limestone. Salt and iron are among the minerals of this state. The most extensive works for the manufacture of salt established west of the Alleghany mountains, are on the waters of Kentucky. These supply not only this state, but a great part of Ohio and Tennessee. Kentucky, from its position, has become a manufacturing state. (See United States.)

Kentucky; a river in Kentucky, which rises in the south-east part of the state, and runs north-west into the Ohio, 77 miles above the rapids at Louisville. It is navigable, in the winter, for small boats, about 180 miles. The current is rapid, and the banks are high and rocky.

KEPLER, John, a great mathematician and astronomer, to whom astronomy is indebted for much of its present perfection, was born in 1571, at Weil, in Würtemberg, and was descended from a noble family. Poverty, and the vicissitudes of his father's fortune (who was an inn-keeper), were the causes of the neglect of his education, and of the unhappiness of his youthful days. But, in his 18th year, after the death of his father, he left the monastic school of Maulbrunn, and succeeded in entering the university of Tübingen. Here he studied the course then prescribed-first philosophy and mathematics, and then theology. At the same time, he indulged his inclination for astronomy, and devoted himself especially to the investigation of the physical causes of the motion of the celestial bodies. From Tübingen, he was invited, in 1593, to become professor of mathematics and morals at Grätz, in Stiria, where he pursued his