CANCAN, the name of an ungraceful and indecent dance practised in the Paris dancing saloons.

CANDIA (12), the ancient name of Crete, now the name of the capital, in the centre of the N. coast.

CANDIDE, a philosophic romance by Voltaire, and written in ridicule of the famous maxim of Leibnitz, “All for the best in the best of all possible worlds”; it is a sweeping satire, and “religion, political government, national manners, human weakness, ambition, love, loyalty, all come in for a sneer.”

CANDLEMAS, a festival in commemoration of the purification of the Virgin, held on February 2, celebrated with lighted candles; an old Roman custom in honour of the goddess Februa.

CANDLISH, ROBERT SMITH, a Scottish ecclesiastic, born in Edinburgh; distinguished, next to Chalmers, for his services in organising the Free Church of Scotland; was an able debater and an eloquent preacher (1806-1873).

CANDOLLE.  See DE CANDOLLE.

CANDOUR, MRS., a slanderess in Sheridan’s “Rivals.”

CANEA (12), chief commercial town in Crete, on NW. coast; trades in wax, oil, fruit, wool, and silk.

CANINA, LUIGI, Italian architect; wrote on the antiquities of Rome,
Etruria, &c. (1795-1856).

CANNAE, ancient town in Apulia, near the mouth of the Aufidus, where Hannibal, in a great battle, defeated the Romans in 216 B.C., but failing to follow up his success by a march on Rome, was twitted by Maherbal, one of his officers, who addressing him said, “You know how to conquer, Hannibal, but not how to profit by your victory.”

CANNES (15), a French watering-place and health resort on the Mediterranean, in the SE. of France, where Napoleon landed on his return from Elba.

CANNING, CHARLES JOHN, EARL, grandson of the succeeding; after service in cabinet offices, was made Governor-General of India, 1856, in succession to Lord Dalhousie; held this post at the time of the Mutiny in 1857; distinguished himself during this trying crisis by his discretion, firmness, and moderation; became viceroy on the transfer of the government to the crown in 1858; died in London without issue, and the title became extinct (1812-1862).

CANNING, GEORGE, a distinguished British statesman and orator, born in London; studied for the bar; entered Parliament as a protege of Pitt, whom he strenuously supported; was rewarded by an under-secretaryship; married a lady of high rank, with a fortune; satirised the Whigs by his pen in his “Anti-Jacobin”; on the death of Pitt became minister of Foreign Affairs; under Portland distinguished himself by defeating the schemes of Napoleon; became a member of the Liverpool ministry, and once more minister of Foreign Affairs; on the death of Liverpool was made Prime Minister, and after a period of unpopularity became popular by adopting, to the disgust of his old colleagues, a liberal policy; was not equal to the opposition he provoked, and died at the age of 57 (1770-1827).