The most coveted of the Prussian orders of knighthood. It was founded by Frederick I in 1701, to commemorate his assumption of the royal title. It is limited to thirty members, who must be of noble descent for four generations. Black Flags. Rebel Chinese in the service of the King of Annam, who were the most dangerous opponents of the French during the Tong-King war. Black Friday. May 11, 1866, on which day the failure of Overend and Gurney was announced. There was a terrible panic in financial circles, and, among other extraordinary measures, it was found necessary to suspend the Bank Charter. Black Hole of Calcutta. The dungeon in which some 200 English prisoners were confined when Calcutta was taken by Surabjah Dowlah, the Subahdar of Bengal, in 1756. Only twenty-three survived the night. Black Monday. The name given to an Irish rising in County Dublin in 1209, which nearly exterminated the newly-established English Colony. Black Popes. The chiefs of the Society of Jesus, during the Papacy of Pius IX, were known by this name, their power in Rome being almost as great as that of the Pope himself. Black Prince. The sobriquet of Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Edward III, from the black armour which he habitually wore. Black Rent. An annual stipend paid by the English settlers within the Pale to the Irish chieftains on their borders, in consideration of their restraining their followers from raiding the English settlements. Black Rent was first paid about 1410. Black Sea Treaty. A treaty signed in London in 1871 by the signatories of the Treaty of Paris of 1856. In 1870, Russia, taking advantage of the Franco-German war, issued a note, declaring herself no longer bound by the clause of that treaty neutralising the Black Sea. A conference was called in London to consider the situation, and by the resulting treaty the clause in question was abrogated. The conference also took the opportunity to prolong the existence of the Danubian Commission for a further period of twelve years. Black Thursday. Thursday, February 6, 1851, is so called in Victoria. A very dry summer was followed by the simultaneous outbreak on that day of numerous bush fires, which did enormous damage, and even threatened Melbourne, coming within a few miles of the town. Black Watch. A body of Highlanders, enrolled in 1725 for the purpose of maintaining order in the Highlands. They were made a regular line regiment in 1739, and numbered the 43rd. They later became the 42nd, and are now the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch). Black Wednesday. _See_ Victorian Deadlocks. Blackbirders. The name given to the vessels engaged in the Kanaka labour traffic in the Southern Seas. Blackburn Riots. A series of disturbances by the Lancashire weavers, in 1826, as a protest against the introduction of machinery. A large amount of damage was done before the rioters were dispersed by the troops. Blanche Nef.