"Out of Russia, an already extended list of revolutionary spirits in this land has attracted the attention and kept curiosity on the alert. We call them Nihilists,—of which the Russian pronunciation is neegilist, which, however, is now obsolete. Confined to the terrorist group in Europe, the number of these persons is certainly very small. Perhaps, as is thought in Russia, there are 500 in all, who busy themselves, even if reluctantly, with thoughts of resorting to bombs and murderous weapons to inspire terror. But it is not exactly this group that is meant when we speak of that nihilistic force in society which extends everywhere, into all circles, and finds support and strongholds at widely spread points. It is indeed not very different from what elsewhere in Europe is regarded as culture, advanced culture: the profound scepticism in regard to our existing institutions in their present form, what we call royal prerogative, church, marriage, property." _Georg Brandes, Impressions of Russia, chapter 4._ "The genuine Nihilism was a philosophical and literary movement, which flourished in the first decade after the Emancipation of the Serfs, that is to say, between 1860 and 1870. It is now (1883] absolutely extinct, and only a few traces are left of it, which are rapidly disappearing. … Nihilism was a struggle for the emancipation of intelligence from every kind of dependence, and it advanced side by side with that for the emancipation of the labouring classes from serfdom. The fundamental principle of Nihilism, properly so-called, was absolute individualism. It was the negation, in the name of individual liberty of all the obligations imposed upon the individual by society, by family life, and by religion. Nihilism was a passionate and powerful reaction, not against political despotism, but against the moral despotism that weighs upon the private and inner life of the individual. But it must be confessed that our predecessors, at least in the earlier days, introduced into this highly pacific struggle the same spirit of rebellion and almost the same fanaticism that characterises the present movement." _Stepniak, Underground Russia, introduction._ ALSO IN: _Stepniak, The Russian Storm-Cloud._ _L. Tikhomirov, Russia, Political and Social, books 6-7 (volume 2)._ _E. Noble, The Russian Revolt._ _A. Leroy-Beaulieu, The Empire of the Tsars, part 1, book 3, chapter 4._ See, also, RUSSIA: A. D. 1879-1881; and ANARCHISTS. NIKA SEDITION, The. See CIRCUS, FACTIONS OF THE ROMAN. NIKIAS. See NICIAS. NILE, Naval Battle of the. See FRANCE: A. D. 1798 (MAY-AUGUST). NIMEGUEN: Origin. See BATAVIANS. NIMEGUEN: A. D. 1591. Siege and capture by Prince Maurice. See NETHERLANDS: A. D. 1588-1593.