NYEL, Louis Isidore, French missionary, born in Alsace early in the 18th century. After studying with the Jesuits he entered their order, t18 embarked for China at Saint Malo on 26 December, 1703, but the vessel on which he sailed experienced contrary winds and was obliged to anchor in Callao, from which place the missionary went to Lima. He intended to go thence by way of Mexico, and by the Philippine islands to China, but whether he executed his project is uncertain. He wrote an account of his adventures on the coast of America to Pere la Chaise, the confessor of Louis XIV., dated Lima, 20 May, 1705. It is entitled "Traversee de Saint Malo au Perou, Detroits de Magellan et de Le Maire. ports du Chili, description de Lima: relation de deux nouvelles missions etablies depuis quelques annees dans l'Amerique mdridionale." He also wrote " Histoire de la vie et de la mort du P. Cyprien Baraze," one of the first founders of these missions. These are published in vol. ix. of the "Lettres deifiantes" (edition of 1781). His account of the voyage is full of interesting geographical details, and his description of the Moxos Indians attracted attention for its bearing on ethnographic questions. Some of Nyel's letters were translated into German, and published in the " Weltbott" of Stocklein.

OAKEN, James, soldier, born near Limestoneville, Pennsylvania, 4 April, 1826. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1846, assigned to the 2d dragoons, served in the Mexican war, and was brevetted 1st lieutenant for gallantry at Medelin, near Vera Cruz, and captain for Molino del Roy. He was then on frontier and garrison duty, being wounded, 12 August, 1850, in a skirmish with Indians, and on 3 March, 1855, was promoted captain in the 2d cavalry. After frequent service on scouting parties against Indians, he was made major on 6 April, 1861, and declined the commission of brigadier-general of volunteers on 17 May. He led a regiment in the Tennessee and Mississippi campaign of 1862, and was afterward on mustering and recruiting service, also commanding the district of Illinois in 1863-'6. He was brevetted brigadier-general, United States army, on 30 March, 1865, and commissioned colonel, 31 July, 1866. On 29 April, 1879, he was retired from active service.