RITSCHL, FRIEDRICH WILHELM, German philologist, born near Erfurt; became professor of Philology successively at Breslau, Bonn, and Leipzig; his influence on philological study was great, and his greatest work was an edition of Plautus (1806-1876).

RITSON, JOSEPH, a whimsical and crabbed antiquary; his industry was great, his works numerous, among them one entitled “Ancient English Metrical Romances,” containing a long and still valuable dissertation (1752-1803).

RITTER, HEINRICH, German philosopher, born in Anhalt; professor successively at Berlin, Kiel, and Goettingen; is distinguished as the author of an able “History of Philosophy” (1791-1860).

RITTER, KARL, celebrated geographer, born at Quedlinburg; the founder of comparative geography; professor of geography at Berlin; his chief works “Geography in its Relation to Nature,” and the “History of Man” (1779-1859).

RITUALISM, respect for forms in the conduct of religious worship, particularly in connection with the administration of the sacraments of the Church, under the impression or on the plea that they minister, as they were ordained in certain cases to minister, to the quickening and maintenance of the religious life.

RIVAROL, a French writer, born at Bagnols, in the department of Var; famed for his caustic wit; was a Royalist emigrant at the time of the Revolution, and aided the cause by his pamphlets; he was styled by Burke “The Tacitus of the Revolution” (1753-1801).

RIVE-DE-GIER (13), a flourishing town in the department of Loire, France, on the Gier, 13 m.  NE. of St. Etienne; is favourably situated in the heart of a rich coal district; has manufactures of silk, glass, machinery, steel, &c.

RIVERS, RICHARD WOODVILLE, EARL, a prominent figure in the reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV.; was knighted in 1425; espoused the cause of the Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses, but changed sides on the marriage of his daughter with Edward IV., who created him an earl in 1460; fell out of jealousy into disfavour with the nobility, and was beheaded in 1469; his son ANTHONY, who succeeded to the title, after acting on the Council of Regency during Edward V.’s reign, was put to death by Richard (III.), Duke of Gloucester, in 1483.

RIVIERA, an Italian term for coast-land flanked by mountains, especially applied to the strip of land lying around the Gulf of Genoa from Nice to Leghorn, which is divided by Genoa into the Western and Eastern Riviera, the former the more popular as a health resort; but the whole coast enjoys an exceptionally mild climate, and is replete with beautiful scenery.  Nice, Monaco, Mentone, and San Remo are among its most popular towns.

RIVIERE, BRITON, celebrated painter of animals, born in London; among his pictures, which are numerous, are “Daniel in the Lions’ Den,” “Ruins of Persepolis,” “Giants at Play,” and “Vae Victis”; b. 1840.

RIVOLI, 1, town (5) in North Italy, 8 m.  W. of Turin; has two royal castles, and manufactures silks, woollens, &c. 2, An Italian village, 12 m.  NW. of Verona; scene of Napoleon’s crushing victory over the Austrians in 1797.