habit at St. Denis: but the disorders of the house soon drove him from thence. He was afterwards charged with heresy; and having endured several persecutions for his religious sentiments, he settled in a solitude in the diocese of Troyes, where he built an oratory, to which he gave the name of the Paraclete. He was afterwards chosen superior of the abbey of Ruis, in the diocese of Vannes; when the nuns being expelled from the nunnery in which Eloise had been placed, he gave her his oratory; where she settled with some of her sister nuns, and became their prioress. Abelard mixed the philosophy of Aristotle with his divinity, and in 1140 was condemned by the council of Rheims and Sens. Pope Innocent II. ordered him to be imprisoned, his books to be burnt, and forbade him ever teaching again. However, he was soon after pardoned, at the solicitation of Peter the Venerable, who received him into his abbey of Cluni, where he led an exemplary life. He died in the priory of St. Marcel, at Chalons, April 21, 1142, aged 63. His corpse was sent to Eloise, who buried it in the Paraclete. He left several works; the most celebrated of which are the letters that passed between him and Eloise, with the account of their misfortunes prefixed; which have been translated into English, and immortalised by the harmony of Mr. Pope's numbers. ABEL-BETHMAACAH, or ABEL-MAIM, a city of Judea, south of Mount Lebanon. Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, took it, and carried the inhabitants captive. It was afterwards rebuilt, and became the capital of Abilene in Syria. ABELIANS, or ABELINS, in church history, a sect of heretics mentioned by St. Austin, who pretended to regulate marriage after the example of Abel; allowing each man to marry one woman, but enjoined them to live in continence. ABELIN, a large hamlet in Palestine, containing a castle of the same name, eight miles from Acre. Some have conjectured that the ruins in the vicinity are those of the ancient Zabulon. ABELL, (John,) an English musician, and celebrated singer of the 17th century, who quitted this country, at the revolution, for his attachment to popery. Being at Warsaw, he was summoned to court to display his talents, but refused to go: the king then sent for him peremptorily; and on Abell's appearance, he was drawn up in a chair to the top of a spacious hall, at one end of which sat the king and his nobles in a gallery. Some wild bears were now turned into the apartment, and Abell was called upon to sing or be let down amongst them. He preferred, of course, the former, and said that he never made a better use of his voice. In 1701, he published a collection of songs in several languages. ABELLA, an ancient town of Campania, near the river Clanis, now called AVELLA. Its nuts, called avellana, were very famous, as also its apples. ABEL-MIZRAIM, a place between Jordan and Jericho, supposed to have been near Hebron, where the Egyptians celebrated Jacob's funeral. It was also called the threshing floor of Atad. ABEL-MOSCH, or ABEL-MUSCH, in botany, a species of the HIBISCHUS, which see. ÁBELOITES, or ABELONIANS. See ABE LIANS. ABEN-EZRA, (Abraham,) a celebrated rubbi, born at Toledo, in 1099. He was much admired for his learning, being not only skilled in philosophy, astronomy, medicine, and poetry, but a complete master of the Arabic. He was styled by his brethren, the wise and admirable Doctor. His principal works are, Commentaries on the Old Testament, which are printed in Bomberg's and Buxtorf's Hebrew Bibles, and Jesud Mora, a work (now very scarce,) intended to recommend the study of the Talmud. His style is elegant and concise. He died in 1174, aged 75. ABENRADE, or APENRADE, a jurisdiction, and town of Denmark in Sleswick. It is seated on a spacious open bay, in the Baltic, surrounded on three sides by high mountains. Just without the town stands the castle of Brunbend. Lon. 9° 24′, E. Lat. 55° 6′, N. ABENS, or ABENTZ, a river of Upper Bavaria, joining the Danube 4 mi. below Abensberg. ABENSBERG, or ABENSPURG, a district and town of Bavaria, circle of Regen, seated on the Abens, near the Danube, S. W. of Ratisbon. Lon. 11° 15', E. Lat. 48° 46′, N. ABER, an old British or Welsh word, signify ing the fall of a lesser water into a greater, as of a brook into a river, or of a river into the sea: also, the mouth of the river. In both these senses, it makes part of the names of many towns in Britain. See the following articles. ABERAVON, a borough town of Glamorganshire, governed by a port-reeve, seated on the mouth of the Avon, 19 miles W. of Cowbridge, and 195 W. from London. The iron and copper works contiguous, have given it some importance. The delightful seat of Lord Vernon stands in the neighbourhood. ABERBROTHOCK, or ARBROATH, a small neat town, on the E. coast of Scotland, in the county of Angus, 15 miles N. E. of St. Andrew's, and 56 N. N. E. from Edinburgh. It is situated on the mouth of the small river Brothock, is a royal burgh, and is well built and flourishing. The number of its inhabitants has greatly increased within these last 40 years, and they are now estimated at upwards of 9000. Their chief manufactures are brown linens or Osnaburghs, sailcloths, and white and brown thread. The foreign imports are flax, flax-seed, and timber from the Baltic. The coasting trade consists of coals from Borrowstounness, and lime from Fife. At this place, in default of a natural harbour, an artificial one of piers has been formed, where, at spring-tides, which rise here 15 feet, ships of two hundred tons can come, and of 80 at neap tides; but they must lie dry at low water. port is of great antiquity: there is an agreement yet extant, between the abbot and the burghers of Aberbrothock, in 1194, concerning the making of the harbour. Both parties were bound to contribute their proportions; but the largest fell to the share of the former, for which he was to receive an annual tax payable out of every rood of land lying within the borough. The glory of the town was the abbey, whose very ruins give The some idea of its former magnificence. It was founded by William the Lion in 1178, and dedicated to Thomas á Becket. The founder was buried here; but there are no remains of his tomb, or of any other, excepting that of a monk, of the name of Alexander Nicol. The monks were of the Tyronensian order; and were first brought from Kelso, whose abbot declared those of this place, on their first institution, to be free from his jurisdiction. The last abbot was the famous Cardinal Beaton. King John, the English monarch, granted this monastery uncommon privileges; and, by charter under the great seal, exempted it a teloniis et consuetudine in every part of England, except London. At Aberbrothock is a chalybeate water, similar to those of Peterhead and Glendy. ABERCONWAY, or CONWAY, a markettown of Carnarvon, Wales, 10 miles from Bangor, and 223 from London. It is chiefly remarkable as a fine model of ancient fortification. The castle was built by William the Conqueror. Here are also the ruins of a palace, built by the Earl of Leicester. The town is governed by a recorder, alderman, and two bailiffs, and has a small trade in lead, copper, slate, and calamine. ABERCORN, the ABERCURRING of Bede, a romantic little town of Scotland, in Linlithgow, on the Frith of Forth, 12 miles W. of Edinburgh. Antoninus's Roman wall commenced here. The Earl of Hopetoun has a magnificent seat at a small distance. ABERCROMBY, (Sir Ralph,) K. B. the son of George A. Esq. of Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, was born in 1738. In 1756 he became a cornet of the 3d Dragoon Guards. In 1781 he was colonel of the 103d, or King's Irish Infantry; and in 1783 went on half-pay. In 1787 he obtained the command of the 7th Dragoons; and acquired great experience in his profession in the seven years war, and in the war of the American revolution. That of the French revolution furnished him with an opportunity of cminently displaying his talents and experience. In two campaigns on the continent he gave distinguished proofs of his skill and intrepidity; and though the last, in the end of 1794, was singularly disastrous, his character both abroad and at home was in the highest estimation. In the autumn of 1795, he received the Order of the Bath, and succeeded Sir Charles Gray in the West Indies. In this command he was eminently successful, having carried every island and port which he attempted. Early in 1797 he took the Spanish island of Trinidad, and returned soon after to England. In November the same year he went commander-inchief to Ireland; but this situation he held not long, the civil and military command being united in the person of Marquis Cornwallis. In 1798 he was made commander of the forces in Scotland; and in the autumn of 1799 was employed under the Duke of York in the unfortunate expedition to Holland. No failure ever produced a stronger sensation in the public mind than this; but Sir R. Abercromby was always mentioned with respect, and with an undisguised confidence, that he nobly performed his duty. At the close of 1800, he took the command of the army destined to deliver Egypt from the French. He landed his troops 8th of March, 1801, in Aboukir bay, facing the French army. On the 13th he fought the battle of Alexandria, and was nearly made prisoner by the French, through a defect in his sight. The 21st was marked by a more decisive and general engagement, when after an obstinate struggle, the enemy retreated. Sir Ralph was wounded and unhorsed in one of the first charges, but wrested the sabre from his antagonist, and gave it to Sir Sidney Smith. He afterwards received a musket ball in the thigh, which proved a mortal wound, notwithstanding which, he would not suffer himself to be removed from the field until the victory was declared to be his. He died on board the Admiral's ship in the bay a week afterwards, and was interred at Malta. On the account of the victory reaching England, Lady Abercromby was immediately raised to the peerage, with reservation to the sons of the deceased general; and a noble monument was erected to his memory soon after in St. Paul's. ABERDEEN, or ABERDEN, a principal city in the north of Scotland, which comprehends two towns under that denomination, viz. OLD and NEW ABERDEEN. The Old Town is a place of great antiquity, and was of some importance so long ago as 893, when, tradition says, king Gregory conferred upon it some particular privileges. A bishopric, founded at Mortlich by Malcolm II. was translated to Aberdeen by David I, and in 1163, Malcolm IV. granted a new charter to the bishop of Aberdeen: there is still extant a charter of Alexander II, dated 1217, granting to Aberdeen the same privileges he had granted to his town of Perth. Both towns are situated on the coast of the German Ocean; 127 miles N. E. from Edinburgh. Lon. 1° 50′, W. Lat. 57° 6′, N. ་ Old Aberdeen lies about a mile N. from the new town, at the mouth of the Don, over which is a fine Gothic bridge, of a single arch, greatly admired, which rests on both sides on two rocks. This arch, said to have been built by a bishop of Aberdeen, about the year 1290, is 67 feet wide at the bottom, and 34 feet high above the surface of the river, which at ebb-tide here is 19 feet deep, The old town was formerly the seat of the bishop, and had a large cathedral commonly called St. Macher's. Two very antique spires and one aisle, which is used as a church, are now the only remains of it. The cathedral had anciently two rows of stone pillars across the church, and three turrets, the steeple which was the largest of these turrets, rested upon an arch, supported by four pillars. In this cathedral there was a fine library; but, about the year 1560, it was almost totally destroyed. On the south side of the town, is the King's college, which is a large and stately fabric. It is built round a square, with cloisters on the south side. The chapel is very ruinous within; but there still remains some exquisite workmanship. This was preserved by the spirit of the principal at the time of the reformation, who armed his people, and checked the blind zeal of the barons of the Mearns, when about to violate this seat of learning. A ship, freighted with their sacri in legious booty bound to Holland, had scarcely ABERDEEN, New, the capital of the shire of Aberdeen. It is built on a hill or rising ground, and lies on a small bay formed by the Dee, deep enough for a ship of 200 tons, and above two miles in circumference. The town is approached from the N. and S. by two elegant streets, the latter passing over an arch, the span of which is 132 feet, and its width between the parapet 40 feet. The buildings, which are of granite from the neighbouring quarries, are generally four stories high; and have, for the most part, gardens behind them, which give them a beautiful appearance. In the high street is a large church, formerly belonging to the Franciscans, which was begun by bishop William Elphinston, and finished by Gavin Dunbar, bishop of Aberdeen, about 1500. Bishop Dunbar is said likewise to have built the bridge over the Dee, which consists of seven arches. In the middle of Castlestreet is an octagon building, with neat basrelievos of the kings of Scotland, from James I. to James VII. The town-house has a handsome spire in the centre. Opposite, is the Aberdeen bank, a fine building of polished granite. The grammar-school is a low but neat building. Gordon's hospital is handsome; in front is a good statue of the founder: it maintains forty boys, who are apprenticed at proper ages. The infirmary is a large plain building, sending out between eight and nine hundred patients. But the chief public building in the new town is the Marischal college, founded by George Keith, earl of Marischal, in the year 1593; and since greatly augmented with additional buildings. There are about 150 students belonging to it. In both the Marischal and King's college, the languages, mathematics, natural philosophy, divinity, &c., are taught by able professors. In the former is a good observatory. In new Aber deen are also a lunatic asylum, erected in 1800, by subscription; three dispensaries, which in 1816, relieved 2700 patients; and a bridewell, which has been recently finished at an expense of £10,000. The convents in Aberdeen were: One of Mathurines, or of the order of the Trinity, founded by William the Lion, who died in 1214; another of Dominicans, by Alexander II. a third of Observantines, a building of great length in the middle of the city, founded by the citizens; and a fourth of Carmelites, or White Friars, founded by Philip de Arbuthnot, in 1350. Aberdeen, including the old town, is supposed to contain 40,000 people. Its trade is considerable, but might be greatly extended by an attention to the white fisheries. The ancient harbour was narrow at the mouth, having the easterly rocky point of the Grampian mountains on the south, and a flat blowing sand on the north, extending along the coast for many miles. This was driven in a long ridge across the harbour's mouth at the bar, where the depth of water at low tide was sometimes not above three feet. The town at last came to the resolution of erecting a strong pier on the north side of the harbour. This pier is 1200 feet in length, and gradually increases in thickness and height, as it approaches to the sea, where the head or rounding is 60 feet diameter at the base, and the perpendicular elevation 38 feet. The whole is built of granite, and was under the direction of Mr. Smeaton; the expense amounting to above £17,000. A little to the south of the bar, they have now a depth of 17 fathoms at low water; and, at the harbour mouth, from 8 to 9 fathoms. Two batteries defend the pier; which has lately been extended to the N. so as to form a wet dock. There is also a navigable canal from New Aberdeen to the Don at Inverney. Aberdeen once enjoyed a good tobacco trade. At present, its imports are from the Baltic, and the merchants trade to the Mediterranean, the West Indies, and North America. Its exports are stockings, thread, salmon, pickled-pork, and oat-meal. Large quantities of granite are also sent to London. The cotton manufactories of the vicinity employ nearly 1000 persons; and an extensive flax manufactory stands on the Don. Linen and woollen goods of most kinds are wrought here, as well as nails, cordage, and all shipbuilding articles. Vessels to the burthen of about 40,000 tons, belong to the port which is extensively engaged in the whale and other fisheries. The salmon exported, averages 2000 barrels annually. New Aberdeen has a provost, four bailies, a dean of guild, treasurer, town-council, and seven deacons of trades, incorporated for its civil government; and with Aberbrothock, Brechin, Montrose, and Inverbervie, returns one member to parliament. Its fairs are on the 31st of January, 3d Wednesday in June, and 18th of July. ABERDEENSHIRE, a county of Scotland, bounded on the N. W. by Banffshire, and the Deveron; on the N. and N. E. by the German Ocean; on the S. by the counties of Kincardine, Angus, and Perth; and on the W. by Invernessshire. Its length from N. E. to S.W. is about 85 miles; its breadth not quite 40. It compre`hends the districts of Mar, Garioch, Formartin, Strathbogie, and the greater part of Buchan; and sends one member to parliament. It abounds in sea ports, from whence there is a safe and ready passage to the Orkney and Shetland isles, the Greenland fisheries, Norway, and the regions round the Baltic, the German coast, Holland, Flanders, and France; and is watered by numerous streams, as the Don, the Ythan, the Ugie, &c., all of them the resort of salmon, and whose banks display the most extensive plantations, as well as natural woods Cattle are sent to the south in great numbers. In the Ythan is a pearl fishery, which has yielded single pearls of from two to three pounds value. Several beautiful lakes also diversify the face of this country; Loch Murick, Loch Kander, Loch Builg, and Callader, are the principal. The granite quarries yield the most valuable mineral of Aberdeenshire, sending annually to London upwards of 12,000 tons; mill stone, blue slate, and lime stone also abound: as well as the asbetos, talc, schistus, and mica. On the coast of Buchan amber is found in considerable quantities, and in Lesley parish a beautiful green and variegated amianthus, of which snuff boxes and ornamental articles are made. Some of the mountains (as in the district of Marr) retain evident proofs of volcanic origin; and Peterhead, Aberdeen, Pannanach, or Glendye, are celebrated mineral waters. The whole county is tolerably fertile, but ill cultivated; the improvements introducing by spirited proprietors, being but slowly adopted. Here are 87 parishes, three royal boroughs, and one city; several handsome towns and noblemen's and gentlemen's seats. The valued rent of the county is £241,931. ABERDOUR, a town and parish in Fifeshire, Scotland, on the Frith of Forth, about 10 miles N.W. of Edinburgh, resorted to in summer as a sea bathing-place. William, lord of Liddesdale, surnamed the Flower of Chivalry, in the reign of David II. conveyed it by charter to James Douglas, ancestor of the present owner, the earl of Morton. The old castle of Aberdour stands on the bank of a rivulet, falling into the Frith. The poor Clares had a convent at this place. In the neighbourhood are found free-stone, ironstone, lime-stone, and coal of superior quality. Here is also a muslin manufactory of some repute; and a manufactory of coarse cloths. The neighbouring island of Inch Colm, belongs to the parish. ABERE-MURDER, Sax. from ebere, proved, and morth, killing. In old law, murder that has been proved by a judiciary process. It was a crime that could not be expiated by money, as most others could be. ABERFORD, or ABERFORTH. See ABBER FORD. ABERFOYLE, a parish in the county of Perth, 11 miles in length, and five in breadth, in the western extremity of which the Forth has its rise. It is remarkable for its fine lakes and numerous streams, and the marked direction taken by the Grampians through the lower part of it; as well as for producing a great variety of rare plants, and excellent pasturage. The hills abound with oak; and granite, coarse marble, limestone, and slate compose their bases. ABERFRAW, a village in the isle of Anglesey, formerly a place of note, the princes of N. Wales having had a palace in it. It has still a good harbour, navigable for vessels of 30 or 40 tons, and the Aber runs up to it. It is 20 miles W. of Holyhead. ABERGAVENNY, a well built market-town of Monmouthshire, the Gibbanium of Antoninus, 16 miles W. of Monmouth, and 142 W. by N. from London, having two churches and an old castle. It stands on the confluence of the Usk and Gavenny, having a fine bridge of 15 arches over the former; and is surrounded by a wall in ruins. The neighbourhood yields abundance of coal and iron ore. Market on Tuesday. ABERGEMENT LE DUC, a market town of Burgundy, France, in the arrondissement of Beaune, and department of the Cote d'Or, near the Saone, and eight leagues S. of Dijon. ABERGUILLY a parish of Carmarthenshire, 12 miles W. of Carmarthen, and 216 N.W. of London, and remarkable as containing the only palace belonging to the bishop of St. David's. ABERNETHY, a village in Strathern, a district of Perthshire, in Scotland, seated on the Tay, a little below its junction with the Erne. It is said to have been the seat of the Pictish kings, as well as the see of an archbishop. Here was a cathedral, which became a collegiate church in 854, an university being established in the place. This in 1273 became a priory of regular canons. Here is a good manufacture of household linen and silesias; the church has been lately re-built. In the church-yard is a tower of a circular construction, 48 feet in circumference, and 74 feet in height. Antiquarians have failed in their attempts to discover the use of this and similar buildings: some suppose them to be watch towers, or belfries for summoning the people to prayers; others, that the Picts used them as places of confinement for devotees in performing penance: and, hence they are called towers of repentance. There is only another of this description (at Brechin) in Scotland. ABERNETHY, (John,) an eminent dissenting clergyman of Dublin, born 1680, and author of sermons on the Divine Attributes, which have been much admired. ABERRATION, in astronomy, a small apparent motion of the fixed stars discovered by the late Dr. Bradley, astronomer royal. It is occasioned by the progressive motion of light, and the earth's annual motion in its orbit. For the history of its discovery, see Philosophical Trans. March, 1728, No. 406. ABER'RANCE, ABERRATION, ABER RING, Ab: erro, to stray or wander; primarily applied to the errors or mistakes of the mind, and to irregularity of conduct. So then we draw near to God, when, repenting us of our former aberrations from him, we renew our covenant with him. Bishop Hall's Works, vol. v. p. 502. constitution, that it should not at all adulterate the Could a man be composed to such an advantage of images of his mind: yet this second nature would alter the crasis of his understanding, and render it as obnoxious to aberrances as now. Glanville's Scepsis Scientifica, c. 16. They do not only swarm with errours, but vices depending thereon. Thus they commonly affect no man any farther, than he deserts his reason, or complies with their aberrancies. Brown's Vulgar Errours, I. 3. ABERRATION, in optics, is used to denote that error or deviation of the rays of light, when inflected by a lens or speculum, whereby they are hindered from meeting or uniting in the same point. There are two species of the aberrations of rays, distinguished by their different causes; one arising from the figure of the glass or speculum; the other from the unequal refrangibility of the rays of light. This last species is sometimes called the Newtonian, from the name of its discoverer. See OPTICS. ABERTIVY, a river in Wales, formerly named Tybius. ABERWINGREGIN, a town in Carnarvonshire, 250 miles distant from London. ABERYSTWITH, a town of Cardiganshire in South Wales, seated on the Ystwith, near its confluence with the Rhydol, where they fall into the sea. It lies 208 miles W. N. W. from London, and 30 N. E. from Cardigan. It was formerly fortified with a castle, built by Gilbert de Strongbow, in the reign of Henry I, and defended with walls; but both are now in ruins. It is, however, rich and populous, having a great trade in lead, and a considerable fishing of herrings, cod, and whitings. The government of the town is vested in a mayor, recorder, and common-council. The church is a gothic building, but only a curacy; the houses are principally built of black slate. The town-hall is a handsome structure, and there is a neat stone bridge of nine arches, over the Rhydol. Near Aberystwith (which has lately become a favourite resort for sea-bathing) are the ruins of Ystradfflur abbey. Market, Monday and Saturday. ABESTA, or AVESTA, the name of one of the sacred books of the Persian magi, which they ascribe to their great founder Zoroaster. It is a commentary on the Send and Pasend; the three together including the whole system of the Ignicolæ, or worshippers of fire. ABESTON. See ASBESTOS. ABESUM, in chemistry, unslacked, or quick lime. See CALX. ABET', v. n. Anglo Sax. Betan, (meliorare, ABET MENT, melius reddere, says Skinner.) ABETTER. To better, to make better. primarily signifies to enkindle or animate. It It is applied to encouraging, inciting, assisting, supporting, aiding. It was once indifferent, says Johnson, but is almost always taken by modern writers in an ill sense.' I am thine Eme, the shame were to me A widow who by solemn vows, They abetted both parties in the civil wars, and always furnished supplies to the weaker side, lest there should be an end put to those fatal divisions. Addison, Freeholder, No. 28. Yet Christian laws allow not such redress; Then let the greater supersede the less. But let th' abettors of the panther's crime, Learn to make fairer wars another time. Dryden's Hind and Panther. That which demands to be next considered is happiness; as being in itself most considerable; as abetting the cause of truth; and as being indeed so nearly allied to it, that they cannot well be parted. Woollaston's Religion of Nature, p. 31. ABEVACUATION, in medicine, a partial evacuation, either by nature or art. ABEX, a name sometimes given to that country of Africa which bounds Abyssinia on the east, and the Red Sea west. It is mountainous, and so barren as to offer little to the notice of travellers. It is 500 miles in length, and 100 in breadth. The inhabitants are Mahometans. ABEY'ANCE, n. Abaiance, or en abeiance, old Fr. Expectation.-A term of law, but sometimes of more general application. Sometimes the fee may be in abeyance, that is, as the word signifies, in expectation, remembrance, and contemplation of law; there being no person inesse, in whom it can rest and abide; though the law considers it as always potentially existing, and ready to vest, whenever a proper owner appears. Blackstone's Commentaries. ABGAR, or ABGARUS, a name given to several kings of Edessa in Syria; the most celebrated of whom is said by Eusebius to have sent a letter to Jesus Christ, requesting him to come and remove a distemper in his feet. The Saviour is stated to have returned an answer, accompanied by his portrait. Some great names in ecclesiastical history support the authenticity of these letters, as they are still extant in Eusebius; Mosheim rejects the letters, but sees "no reason of sufficient weight to destroy the credibility of the story.' The general opinion of learned men, however, is decidedly against the whole. ABHOR', v. Ab: horreo. Vossius conABHOR'RER, ceives the word, “horreo," ABHORRENCE. (to express the effect produced ABHORRENT, by the determination of the breath (or rather the blood) to the heart, occasioned by a sudden and painful emotion, which causes a general rigidity, and convulsive shuddering of the body, so that the hair is said to stand on end. But sins so great is thy delight to here Why then these foreign thoughts of state employ |