a long narrow island off the E. coast of the United States of N. America, forming part of New York state, and separated from the mainland at its western extremity by two channels, called the Narrows and the East River, the former 1½ mile, the latter 3 of a mile in width. It stretches from W.S.W. to E.N.E., between N. Lat. 40° 33' and 41° 6', and W. Long. 71° 50' and 74° 4', being 115 miles long, by from 12 to 20 miles broad, and containing an area of about 1448 square miles. A low range of hills extends from one extremity of the island to the other, exhibiting on the northern slope an irregular and broken surface, while on the S. the ridge declines more gently to the Atlantic. There are no large streams, and the want of water-power is much felt in the island. The soil is of a light sandy character, generally sterile on the southern coast, but productive at the western extremity, in King's and Queen's County. The coasts are much indented, forming numerous large lagoons on the southern coast, and an extensive inlet at the eastern extremity, which almost severs the island in two. A railroad, one of the first constructed in the state, and originally intended to accelerate the traffic between New York and Boston, traverses it from W. to E. Communication is kept up with the mainland by means of steam ferries at Brooklyn, Fort Hamilton, &c. The island is divided into the three counties of King's, Queen's, and Suffolk. Pop. (1850) 212,637, (1854) about 260,000. (See NEW YORK.)
LONG ISLAND, or Yung. See BAHAMAS.
LONG, Loch, an arm of the sea on the W. coast of Scotland, stretching first N. then N.E. from the Firth of Clyde, and separating the counties of Argyll and Dumbarton. It is 20 miles long by from 1 to 2 miles broad. From its centre a branch loch stretches for 4½ miles northwards into Argyllshire, called Loch Goil. The shores of both lochs are mountainous and highly picturesque.
LONG, Roger, an astronomer, was born in Norfolk about 1680. He was educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, was created a master of arts in 1704, and a doctor of divinity in 1728. He was chosen a fellow of the Royal Society, and vice-chancellor of the university in 1729, and master of Pembroke Hall in 1733. In 1749 he was elected Lowndes professor of astronomy, and in 1751 was appointed to the rectory of Bradwell, in Essex. He was also the rector of Cherryhinton, in Huntingdonshire. At his death in 1770, he bequeathed £600 to his college. Long is best known as the inventor of a curious contrivance, at Pembroke Hall, for facilitating the study of astronomy. It is a hollow sphere 18 feet in diameter, and capable of containing thirty persons. The inner surface is covered by a map of the heavenly bodies, and represents that portion of the celestial sphere visible in Britain. The entire structure is moved by machinery. Long's chief work is a Treatise on Astronomy, Cambridge, 1742-54, 1784, 2 vols. 4to. He also wrote a Commencement Sermon, 1728; a pamphlet entitled The Rights of Churches and Colleges Defended, 1731, 8vo; an Answer to Dr Gally's Pamphlet on Greek Accents, 1755; and a Life of Mahomet, prefixed to Oakley's History of the Saracens.
LONG, St John, was born at Newcastle in Limerick, in 1798. From his father, a person of versatile ingenuity, he inherited a disposition to try his hand at whatever vocation came in his way. At the age of 25, after studying painting in Dublin, he set out for London as an artist. His merit not meeting with due appreciation, he resolved to turn his hand to medicine. In 1826 he acquired great celebrity by his specific for consumption and other diseases generally regarded as incurable. After some time, he was tried for the death of a young lady, a patient, and found guilty of manslaughter. So great was his influence that no less than sixty-three persons of rank appeared in his favour. After realising a large fortune, he fell a victim to the disease which he professed to cure at the age of 36.