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played the chivalric valor of a knight of the olden time. Dismounted and suffering from two mortal wounds, Sir Ralph disarmed his adversary, and gave the sword into the hands of Sir Sydney Smith. He survived about a week. His memory was honored by his countrymen, and a costly monument erected in St. Paul's, a public token of the respect of England for as brave and true a soldier as ever fought beneath her banner.

ABERDEEN, the most important of the northern cities of Scotland. Its latitude is about 57 north. Population is estimated at about 40,000 It contains two universities; the cotton manufacture and salmon fisheries afford subsistence and wealth to numbers of its inhabitants. ABIPONIANS, a warlike nation of South American Indians on the banks of the Rio de la Plata, frequently engaged in war with the Spaniards. They appear to despise the arts of agriculture, and subsist by hunting and fishing. Their arms are iron-headed lances and arrows. They feed on tiger's flesh, imagining that it gives them indomitable courage and ferocity. Their women are described as pretty, and having complexions but a shade darker than those of the Spanish ladies. They are governed by Caciques, whose authority is merely nominal, since the tribes renounce it, when ever the opinions of their rulers are at variance with their own.

ABO, until 1817, the capital of Finland, the chief place of export from Finland to Sweden, and containing a population of 12,500 inhabitants. Its sugar-works, and manufactures of leather, linen, sail-cloth, cordage, &c. are successful. As a ship-building place, it possesses considerable importance. The university was liberally endowed by the Emperor Alexander, but it has since been transferred to Helsingfors. In 1827 the whole city was burnt down, but the Russian government labored to repair the loss. In history Abo is not ed for several treaties concluded within its walls.

ABOUKIR, formerly called Canopus, is an Arabian village containing but about 100 inhabitants. Its bay is spacious, and has, upon the western side, a castle of considerable strength. It is 10 miles from Alexandria, upon e coast of Egypt. In modern history, Aboukir is rendered famous by the important naval battle fought here between the French and English fleets, the latter commanded by Admiral Nelson, on the first of August, 1798. Buonaarte's army was conveyed to Egypt by the

French fleet which sailed from the harbo of Toulon, on the 19th of May, 1798. As soon as intelligence of this reached the Eng lish fleet before Cadiz, admiral St. Vincent despatched rear-admiral Nelson, with 14 ships of the line, to the Mediterranean, with orders to find and attack the French fleet. Nelson, burning for fame, and eager to meet the enemy, at length found the fleet in the road of Aboukir, August 1. The signal for battle was immediately given. The French captains, who had been assembled on board the admiral's ship, hastened to their posts, and an English ship instantly commenced the attack. The French fleet was disposed in the form of a crescent, following the curve of the bay, and anchored as close as possible to an island on which was erected a powerful battery of cannon and mortars. Nelson ordered a part of his fleet to break through between the island and the French line of battle, and to coast along until they gained the enemy's rear, while the remainder of the English fleet approached the enemy's front, and anchored within pistol-shot. These orders were executed with skill and daring, and, at half past six in the evening, the battle began, just as the setting sun threw a fiery hue upon the fearful scene. The fire of the English was well directed, and deadly. At the end of one hour, five French ships were disabled and captured. Admiral Brueys was shot as he was directing the fight from his ship L'Orient. After the admiral was shot, Capt. Casabianca and crew, determined to maintain the honor of the flag-ship, fought her with great spirit. The captain was mortally wounded and carried below, while his son, a youth of 12 years old, remained at his post, notwithstanding the vessel took fire. Although the hot flames rolled over head, and the powder-magazine was momentarily expected to take fire, the gallant boy would not leave his post, but shared the fate of the splendid vessel, which was blown to atoms. The fate of Casabianca has been made the subject of a beautiful poem by one of the most talented poetesses of the present day; Mrs. Herians. The concluding lines of 'Casabianca' are very forcible.

There came a burst of thundering sound-
The boy-oh! where was he?

Ask of the winds that far around
With fragments strewed the sea.—
With mast, and helm, and pennon fair,
That well had borne their part-
But the noblest thing that perished there,
Was that young and faithful heart

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L Orient blew up after having been fought for four hours. She was a superb vessel-a 120 gun ship, with a crew of 1000 men, out of whom but 80 or 90 were saved from destruction. The scene of the combat must have been awfully sublime, for the cannonading continued all night, and day dawned upon a scene of destruction and dismay. The French suffered severely, and their naval power was annihilated. Only two ships of the line, and two frigates got off clear. Nine ships of the line were taken, one blown up, and one frigate sunk. The French themselves set fire to and burned a ship of the line and a frigate. The success of the British was a severe blow to Buonaparte, as it cut off his communication with France, and inspired his enemies with fresh hope and resolution, giving spirit to the coalition formed against the power which had so suddenly attained a giant strength.

ABRADATES, a king of Susa. His wife, Panthea, having been taken prisoner by Cyrus, was well treated, in consequence of which her husband joined the troops of the conqueror, but was killed in the very first battle which he fought for him. His wife, in despair at his death, killed herself upon his corpse. They were both honored and lamented by Cyrus.

ABRAHAM, the Patriarch of the Jews, was born at Ur, in Chaldæa, 2000 years before the birth of Christ. He was descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah, but was kept from idolatry, and passed the early part of his life in the house of his father Terah. Abraham found favor in the eyes of the Lord who revealed to him the good fortunes for which he was destined, and commanded him, with his wife Sarah, his father, and his nephew, to leave his early abode, and settle in Haran, in Mesopotamia. Following in all things the direct commands of God, Abraham, after the death of his father, led a wandering life, visiting a variety of places. While he remained at Mamre, Lot, between whom and Abraham there was a rupture, settled at Gomorrah. In spite of this separation, the heart of Abraham was not estranged from his nephew, for when he learned that Gomorrah had been entered by the Arabs, who carried off Lot, his family, and property, he pursued the robbers and succeeded in rescuing his nephew and all that was his. The Lord displayed to Abraham the blessings which he designed for him, and assured him of the birth of a son. This event, however ardently desired, appeared unlikely to take place, on account of the years of Abraham and Sarah.

The enormous crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah, having excited the indignation of God, he sent three angels to destroy the rebellious cities. They visited Abraham and his wife, and assured them that the promise made by the Lord would be fulfilled, and that, upon their return, they would be parents. At the time decreed by the Lord, Sarah, then ninety years old, became the mother of a son whom she called Isaac After the birth of Isaac, Abraham drove out to the wilderness Hagar, a bond-woman, who was the mother of one of his sons. Their miraculous preservation is one of the most affecting incidents recorded in scripture. When Isaac had reached the age of twenty-five years, and was dearly beloved by his father, God, wishing to make a trial of his faith, commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, saying; "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." The command of the Lord was listened to with meek obedience: Abraham made immediate preparations for departure, and arrived at the appointed place with his dearly beloved son. Without faltering, the man of God built the altar of the wood which he had provided, and bound Isaac, and laid him upon the pile. It was a fiery ordeal, but the faith of Abraham was unshaken. "And Abrahain stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son, from me."

At the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years, Sarah died at Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Abraliam again married, and became, by Keturah, father of six children; viz. Zimran, Jokshan, and Medan; Midian, Ishbah, and Shuah. The age and death of the patriarch are thus recorded in the Bible. "And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, a hundred three score and fifteen years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people." His body was interred near that of his wife Sarah, in a sepulchre wrought in a cave purchased of the sons of Seth. The Arabians as well as the Jews, derive their origin from Abraham, and the name of the patriarch is in

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terwoven with the legends of the Romish and Greek churches. In the tales of the Arabians, many fabulous adventures are attributed to Abraham, and the truth is obscured by the narrators of his history. The Koran makes mention of the patriarch's name, and, according to many Mahometan writers, he went to Mecca and there commenced the building of the temple. The tomb of Abraham is still an object of veneration to many sects.

ABRAHAM, heights of. See Quebec. ABRANTES, a city of Portugal, in the province of Estremadura, and situated on the right bank of the Tagus, has a population of 3,500. The abruptness of its hills, the strength of its castle, and the state of its river, render it a place of great importance in a military point of view. In 1762 the Portuguese defended it against the Spaniards, and in 1808 it was garrisoned by Junot, one of Napoleon's generals, who from the perseverance with which he marched to this place, in spite of many obstacles, and the gallantry with which he made himself master of Lisbon with 1,500 grenadiers, was named duke of Abrantes. When the place was surrendered to the English they strengthened it to such a degree, that it was believed to be almost impregnable.

ABRUZZO, a country in the northern part of Italy, is divided into Ulterior, and Citerior, which are the northwestern and southeastern portions. It is the northern extremity of the Neapolitan kingdom, and bounded on the north and west by the territories of the church, on the south by Puglia, and Terra di Lavoro, and on the east by the Adriatic. Its population is estimated at 628,500. The country is crossed by the lofty Apennines, and its climate is severe. The spring rains and thaws often swell the streams to such an extent, that bridges are swept away, and all communication broken up. The inhabitants of the valleys, which are fertile, are generally shepherds, and fine herds feed upon the eminences and pasturage spots of the valleys. It has been regarded, from the nature of the ground, and the circumstance of but one military road leading into the king dom, a place of immense importance in war, and a sure defence to Naples. In the hands of a patriotic and resolute population, it might be all this, but the past has shown how much a resolute enemy can accomplish against indolent or dispirited defenders. The Austrians, French and Spaniards, have found it but a frail barrier against the march of conquest. The ravines, the mountain fastnesses, the tan

gled woods, localities which might have made it the theatre of a famous struggle, are only infamous and terrible, as the retreat of the lurking bandit, and the midnight murderer. The Neapolitan territories, and those of the church suffer severely from the predatory spirit of the lawless peasants, who are agriculturists and brigands, and support their families by an union of both characters. They frequently exchange shots with the guards of travellers, when these worthies are steady enough to stand to their arms, although not infrequently policy and cowardice induce these gentlemen to make off with all possible speed, leaving the unfortunate strangers to the tender mercies of a rapacious and case-hardened banditti.

ABSALOM, in Scripture, the rebellious son of King David, noted for the beauty of hisluxu riant tresses, which caused his death by getting entangled in the boughs of a tree from which he hung suspended until slain, contrary to the orders of his fond father. The grief of King David for his loss is touchingly expressed in the sacred writings, where his history may be perused at length.

ABSALOM, bishop of Rothschild, archbish op of Denmark, and counsellor of Waldemar I, a distinguished divine, statesman, general, navigator, and author of celebrity, died A. D 1201.

ABU-BEKR, founder of the empire of the Almoravides, Morocco, in 1050. His conquests in Spain, in 1091, gained him great renown.

ABUDA, an Italian town, famous for the defeat of Odoacer in 490, by Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths.

ABU-OBEDIAH, who died of pestilence A. D. 639, was a companion of Mohammed, and conquered Syria, together with a large portion of Palestine.

ABULFEDA, or Ishmael, prince of Hamah in Syria, an Arabian, famous for his historical and geographical writings, and surnamed the pillar of religion, and the prince of victory. He was a native of Damascus, and born A. Ď. 1273. Although inheriting the throne of Hamah from his uncle, he was debarred for a long time from the enjoyment of his rights, but when gained, the kingdom remained undisturbed under his sway, until the time of his death, which took place, A. D. 1333.

ABYDOS, a city on the Asiatic side of the Dardanelles, of Milesian origin, famed for the bridge of boats constructed by order of Xerxes, and familiar to all readers as the residence of Hero, the mistress of Leander, who swam the

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Hellespont to meet her, until

"that night of stormy water, When Lore-who sent-forgot to save The lone, the beautiful, the brave,

The only hope of Sestos' daughter." Lord Byron, whose lines we have just quoted, performed Leander's feat in company with Mr. Ekenhead, an Englishman. The turbulence of the currents renders the passage a critical undertaking. The inhabitants of Abydos gallantly defended their city against Philip of Macedon.

Another Abydos in Upper Egypt, was famed for the magnificence of the palace of Memnon and the temple of Osiris. Some splendid ruins, manifesting its former grandeur, are to be found in the village of El-Berbi.

ABYLA, a mountain of Africa, directly opposite to Calpe, Gibraltar. These two mountains were formerly called the Pillars of Hercules, from a tradition that this gifted mortal, the Samson of the Greeks, forced them asunder to form a junction between the waters of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In this tale we perceive the reminiscence of a great convulsion of nature separating Europe and Africa.

ABYSSINIA is a country of great extent, of which the ancients possessed very little knowledge. It is sometimes called Abassia, Habesh, and Upper Ethiopia. The name is thought by most authors to be derived from the Arabic Habesh, which signifies the accidental meeting of a number of persons in one spot. The Portuguese gave this country the name of Prester or Presbyter John's empire, but it appears that there is no foundation for the supposition that any such person ever dwelt or was heard of in Abyssinia. The ancients, who were very little acquainted with the kingdom, represented its extent as far greater than the reality proved. It is at present bounded, on the northeast, by the Red Sea; on the east, and southeast, by the kingdom of Adel; on the south, by the Gingire; on the west by the Nile, and on the northwest by Sennaar. Its three grand divisions are Tigre, Amhara, and Shoa and Efat. The most ancient book of Abyssinian history is the Chronicle of Axum, from which it is understood that Abyssinia was the kingdom of Sheba or Seba, the visit of whose queen to King Solomon is spoken of in the Sacred Writings. The government of Abyssinia is an absolute monarchy, and the want of written laws has placed the persons, property, and lives of the subjects, in the hands of the sove

reign. The queen of Sheba had a son, of whom Solomon was the father. From this prince, whose name was Menileh, the sovereigns of Abyssinia claim to be descended. It is affirmed that Abyssinia was the kingdom of that queen Candace, whose minister worshipped at Jerusalem. On his return, he was baptized by Philip the deacon, from whom the Abyssinians, by their own confession, received Christianity. The last act of the queen of Sheba's reign enacted, 1. That the crown should thenceforth be hereditary in the descendants of Solomon: 2. That no females should ascend the throne: 3. That the heirs-male of the royal family should be sent prisoners to a high mountain, where they were well treated, and allowed a large revenue for their support, but where they were compelled to remain until they died, or the succession was opened to them. This fact forms the groundwork of Dr. Johnson's interesting tale, entitled 'Rasselas, or the Happy Valley.'

The Jewish religion was prevalent in Abys sinia until nearly the middle of the 4th century. Others imagine, as above stated, that the Abyssinians embraced Christianity with their queen who was converted by her prime minister or eunuch. About 1450, in the reign of Zara Jacob, an attempt was made to introduce the Romish religion. About 1560 the Portuguese priests were banished by Menas, and the Catholic religion was suppressed. In 1600 it revived. In 1632, in consequence of the unsatisfactory conduct of the Catholic clergy, their hierarchy was abolished. Since 1714, when the clergy were executed, Catholics have almost disappeared from the country. The Christian religion has since been prevalent, with a mixture of Judaical observances in public worship. Yet we can hardly term that a Christian church which permits polygamy. The saints of the Abyssinians surpass in miracles those of the Latin calendar. There is an immense number of churches in Abyssinia The paternal and sole bishop of the country is styled Abuna, which means, our Father. He is said to have been called upon to ordain, at one time 10,000 priests, and 6000 deacons. The attention of Missionary and Bible societies have been turned to this country, and the diffusion of the sacred writings among the people, is regarded as the greatest benefit which could be conferred upon them.

The punishments in Abyssinia are severe, and frequently, as well as unfeelingly inflicted. Death on the cross, hanging, stoning to death,