FARMER (Richard), an English divine and antiquary, born at Leicester in 1785. His father was a hosier in that town, and, after receiving the rudiments of his education there, he became a student at Cambridge, and pensioner of Emanuel College. Here his diligence and success in obtaining a knowledge of books, as well as the quickness of his memory, were early observed; and he was made B. A. in 1757, and M. A. in 1769, in which year also he was appointed classical tutor. After officiating some time as a curate, he, in 1767, took the degree of B. D. and became one of the preachers at Whitehall. While Mr. Farmer paid considerable attention to Grecian and Roman authors, he also applied himself particularly to old English literature; and An Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare, published in 1766, contributed principally to his literary fame. Of this performance, which was much admired for the sprightliness of its composition, three editions were sold in a very short time. Mr. Farmer was now noticed and patronised in his profession: by the influence of bishop Hurd, he was promoted to the chancellorship and a prebend in the cathedral of Litchfield; and in 1775 was chosen master of Emanuel College, and took his degree of D. D. Not long after, he was appointed principal librarian to the university, and served in turn the office of vicechancellor. Lord North, at that time primeminister, made him prebendary of Canterbury, and Mr. Pitt repeatedly offered him a bishopric; but the constraints and solemnity of the episcopal character did not suit his natural disposition, and he not only declined accepting a bishopric, but resigned his office as prebendary for a residentaryship of St. Paul's. By this it was necessary he should reside three months annually in London, and these he spent in the company of literary characters with pleasure and advantage. He was particularly instrumental in amending the police of Cambridge, with regard to the paving and lighting the streets. He had collected ample materials for a history of the town and antiquities of Leicester, which he intended to publish by subscription, but relinquished the design; and Mr. Nichols being engaged in writing a history of that county, the doctor gave what he had collected, with the plates, to him. Dr. Farmer died at Emanuel College, in 1797, in the sixtysecond year of his age. His collection of scarce and curious books, which was very extensive, was disposed of a short time after his death.

FARMINGTON, a large, pleasant, and wealthy town in Hartford county, Connecticut. The river meanders delightfully through charming intervales, which beautify and enrich this town. The houses, in the compact part of the town, stand chiefly on the street that runs north and south along the gentle declivity of a hill which ascends east of the vallies. About the centre of the street there is a large and handsome congregational church. This town was settled as early as 1645, and its boundaries were then very extensive. Several towns have been since taken from it. It lies ten miles south-west of Hartford.

FARN ISLANDS, two groups of little islands and rocks, seventeen in number, opposite to Bam

borough castle in Northumberland At low water the points of several others are visible besides the seventeen just mentioned. The nearest island to the shore is called the House Island, and lies exactly one mile and sixty-eight chains from the coast. The most distant is about seven or eight miles. Their produce is kelp, feathers, and a few seals, which the tenants watch and shoot for the sake of the oil and skins. Some of them yield a little grass that serves to feed a cow or two; which the people transport over in their little boats.

FARNABIE, or FARNABY (Thomas), an eminent grammarian, son of a London carpenter, was born in 1575. While at Oxford, being enticed to abandon his religion, he went to Spain, and was there educated in a college belonging to the Jesuits. Being weary of their severe discipline, he went with Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake in their last voyage in 1595. He was afterwards a soldier in the Low Countries: but being reduced to great want, returned to England, where after wandering about for some time, under the name of Thomas Bainrafe (the anagram of his name), he settled at Mattock in Somersetshire, and taught grammar with reputation. He removed to London, and opened a school. While here he was made M. A. at Cambridge, and incorporated into the university of Oxford. Thence he removed, in 1636, to SevenOaks in Kent; and raised a respectable school. Upon the breaking out of the civil war, in 1641, he was cast into prison. It was debated, in the house of commons, whether he should be sent to America; but, this motion being rejected, he was removed to Ely-house in Holborn, where he died, June 12th, 1647. Many writers have spoken with great approbation of his labors. M. Bayle says, his notes upon most of the ancient Latin poets have been of very great use to young beginners; being short, learned, and designed chiefly to clear up the text.'

FARNESE, the name of a distinguished family in Italy, of which the most remarkable were, 1. Peter Louis Farnese, the son of Alexander, afterwards pope Paul III. He was created duke of Parma and Placentia in 1545, but, becoming universally hated for his tyranny and debauchery, fell by the hands of an assassin in 1547. 2. His eldest son, Alexander, born 1520, was raised by Clement VII. to the see of Parma, and created a cardinal by his grandfather, Paul III. He was also dean of the Sacred College, and distinguished both by his learning and virtues. He was repeatedly employed as nuncio to the courts of Vienna and Paris, and died at Rome in 1589. 3. Alexander, third duke of Parma, was a nephew of his, and distinguished as a military commander under Philip II. of Spain. He succeeded Don John of Austria in the government of the Low Countries in 1578; and was designed to have commanded the Spanish army which embarked with the Armada for the conquest of England. He died in 1592 at Arras, aged fortysix.

FARNHAM, or FERNHAM, a market town of Surry, thirty-eight miles from London, and twelve west from Guildford. It is a populous place, situated on the Wey, and supposed to

have its name from the fern which abounded here. It was given by Ethelbald, king of the West Saxons, to the see of Winchester; the bishops of which have generally resided in the castle here, in summer, since the reign of king Stephen, whose brother, the then bishop, first built it. It was a magnificent structure, with deep moats, strong walls, towers, and a fine park; but it is much decayed. Adjoining the park is Jay's tower, the ascent to which is by sixty-three stone steps. This was partly beaten down by Cromwell's cannon. It now contains about forty-eight rods of land on its top, which is converted into a kitchen garden. This spot was annually visited by their late majesties durin the life of the late bishop Thomas. The town, which has many handsome houses, and well paved streets, is governed by twelve masters, of whom two are bailiffs, chosen annually. They have the profits of the fairs and markets, and the assize of bread and beer; and hold a court every three weeks, which has power of trying and determining all actions under 40s. From Michaelmas to Christmas there is a good market for oats; and a considerable wheat market between All Saint's day and Midsummer; but it is diminished since the people about Chichester and Southampton have so largely communicated with London by sea. This loss, however, is amply made up by the vast growth of hops, of which there are 700 or 800 acres of plantations about this town, said to excel the Kentish grounds both in quantity and quality. This town sent members to parliament in the reign of Edward II, but never since. The market is on Thursday; fairs on Holy Thursday, June 24th, and Nov. 2nd. There is also a market for Welsh hose.

FARNOVIUS (Stanislaus), a dissenter from the other Unitarians in 1568, who was followed by several persons eminent for their learning. He was induced by Gonesius to prefer the Arian system to that of the Socinians, and consequently asserted, that Christ had been produced out of nothing by the Supreme Being before the creation. He warned his disciples against paying religious worship to the Divine Spirit. He died

in 1615.

FARO, an island of Sweden, to the north-east of Gothland, in the Baltic. It is about thirty miles in circumference; and has a chief town of the same name on the east coast. Long. 19° 32′ 55′′ E., lat. 57° 56′ N.

FARO, a sea-port and bishop's see of Portugal, in Algarve, near Cape Santa Maria. It stands in a fertile plain; fortified, and tolerably well built. Population 7000. The harbour is almost blocked up, but the roadstead has good anchorage; and a considerable export trade is carried on with England and other countries in sumach, wine, and cork. There are packet boats between this place and Gibraltar. It suffered severely from the earthquake of 1755; and is eighteen miles south-west of Tavira, and 130 south-east of Lisbon.

FARO OF MESSINA, a strait of the Mediterranean, between Sicily and Calabria, about seven miles across; so named from Cape Faro; remarkable for its tide ebbing and flowing with great rapidity every six hours. In this strait

the French obtained a naval victory over the Spaniards in 1675.

FAROE ISLANDS. See FERROE ISLES.

FARON, a mountain of France, in the department of Var, near Toulon, with a fort and redoubt on its top, which is 1718 feet above the sea level, and almost inaccessible, being nearly perpendicular. The British troops, under lord Mulgrave, were in possession of the fort, on the 30th September, 1793, when the French, by a very daring manoeuvre, seized the redoubt, but were driven from it on the 1st October, by the combined forces, with the loss of 2000 men.

FARQUHAR (George), an ingenious poet and dramatic writer, the son of an Irish clergyman, was born at Londonderry in 1678. He was sent to Trinity College, Dublin; but his volatile disposition soon led him to the stage; where, having dangerously wounded a brother actor in a tragic scene, by forgetting to change his sword for a foil, it affected him so much that he left the Dublin theatre and went to London. Here, by the interest of the earl of Orrery, he procured a lieutenant's commission; which he held several years, and gave many proofs both of courage and conduct. In 1698 he wrote his first comedy, called Love and a Bottle; which, for its sprightly dialogue and busy scenes, was well received. In 1700, the jubilee year at Rome, he brought out his Constant Couple, or a Trip to the Jubilee and suited Mr. Wilkes's talents so well, in the character of Sir Henry Wildair, that the player gained almost as much reputation as the poet. This induced him to continue it in another comedy called Sir Harry Wildair, or The Sequel of the Trip to the Jubilee; in which Mrs. Oldfield acquired great applause. In 1703 appeared The Inconstant, or The Way to Win him; in 1704 a farce called The Stage-coach; in 1705 The Twin Rivals; and in 1706 The Recruiting Officer, founded on his own observations while on a recruiting party at Shrewsbury. His last comedy was The Beaux Stratagem, of which he did not live to enjoy the full success. Mr. Farquhar married in 1703. Before this time his manner of life had been dissipated; and the lady, who became his wife, having fallen violently in love with him, contrived to circulate a report that she was possessed of a large fortune. Interest and vanity, therefore, got the better of Farquhar's passion for liberty, and the lady and he were united in the hymeneal band. To his honor, however, it is recorded, that though he soon found himself deceived, he was not known to upbraid his wife with it; but became a most indulgent husband. Mrs. Farquhar, however, did not long enjoy the happiness she had thus purchased by this stratagem. The involvement of her husband, and the treachery of a court patron who persuaded him to sell his commission, brought on a decline, which at length carried him off in 1707, in the twenty-ninth year of his age. His plays still continue to be represented to full houses.

He

FARR (Samuel), M. D., was a native of Taunton, Somersetshire, and born in 1741. was educated at Warrington grammar-school, and the univers ties of Edinburgh and Leyden. He afterwards established himself in his native

town, and was the author of several medical tracts of merit, as An Inquiry into the propriety of Phlebotomy in cases of Consumption, 8vo.; An Essay on Acids; The History of Epidemics, translated from the Greek of Hippocrates, 4to.; The Elements of Medical Jurisprudence, 8vo.; and Aphorismi de Marasmo, ex summis Medicis collecti, 12mo. He died in 1795.

FARRA'GO, n. s. I Lat. A mass formed FARRA GINOUS, adj. confusedly of several ingredients; a medley formed of different materials. Being a confusion of knaves and fools, and a farraginous concurrence of all conditions, tempers, sexes, and ages, it is but natural if their determinations be monstrous, and many ways inconsistent with truth. Browne's Vulgar Errours.

When we sleep, the faculty of volition ceases to act, and in consequence the uncompared trains of ideas become incongruous, and form the farrago of our dreams; in which we never experience any surprise, or sense of novelty.

at all the expense in curing the horse so lamed. Farriers are in every respect liable to be tried according to the Articles of War.

FARRIERY. The treatment of the diseases of horses we refer to the article VETERINARY ART, fully feeling the propriety of seeking that superior professional treatment for horses of value which the English gentleman no longer expects to find either with his groom or his blacksmith. But farriery (Lat. ferrarius, from ferrum, iron) may with strict propriety describe a very useful and important employment of the latter, i. e. the shoeing of horses: we therefore propose to offer our observations on that art in this place. Shoeing is a method of preserving the feet of horses. Some other auxiliary methods may first be noticed. For instance, when young horses are first taken from the field, their hoofs are obare no sooner introduced into the stable, than served to be cool, sound, and tough: but they their hoofs are greased or oiled two or three times a week: and if they are kept much in the house standing upon hot dry litter, without being frequently led abroad, and without having an opportunity of getting their hoofs cooled and moistened in wet ground, their hoofs grow so brittle, dry, and hard, that pieces frequently break off, like chips from a hard stone; and, when driving the nails in shoeing, pieces will split off, even although the nails are made very fine and even very shattered hoofs are turned out to graze in the fields, their hoofs in time will become as sound, tough, and good, as they were at first.

Darwin.

FARRANT (Richard), an English musical composer of eminence, held situations in the Chapel Royal and St. George's chapel at Windsor, from 1564 to 1580, and was remarkable for the devout and solemn style of his church music, much of which is found in the collections of Boyce and Barnard. His full anthem, 'Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake,' is still in use. FARʼRIER, n. s. & v. n. Fr. ferrier; Ital. FARRIERY. } ferrard, Lat, ferrarius, of ferrum, iron. A shoer of horses; a horsedoctor: to farrier is to practice either or both of these callings: farriery is the art or calling thus practised. Which see below.

men.

Bat the utmost exactness in these particulars belongs to farriers, saddlers, smiths, and other tradesDigby. There are many pretenders to the art of farriering and cowleeching, yet many of them are very ignorant. Mortimer.

If you are a piece of a farrier, as every groom eught to be, get sack, or strong-beer, to rub your horses. Swift.

Most satirists are indeed a public scourge Their mildest physic is a farrier's purge; Their acrid temper turns, as soon as stirred, The milk of their good purpose all to curd.

Cowper. FARRIER, MILITARY, is a man appointed to do the duty of farriery in a troop of horse. These troop farriers are under the immediate superintendence of a veterinary surgeon, to whom they must apply whenever a horse is ill or lame, that he may report the same to the officer commanding the troop. When the farrier goes round, after riding out, or exercise on horseback, he must carry his hammer, pincers, and some nails, to fasten any shoe that may be loose. When horses at out-quarters fall particularly ill, or contract an obstinate lameness, the case must be reported to the head-quarters of the regiment; and the veterinary surgeon must, if time and distance will permit, be sent to examine the horse. No farrier must presume to make up any medicine, or any external application, without, or contrary to, the receipt given him by the veterinary surgeon. If any farrier, through carelessness or inattention, lames a borse belonging to another troop, he ought to be

Mr. Clarke of Edinburgh.ascribes this change to the wet and moisture which the hoofs are exposed to in the fields, of which water is the principal ingredient; and it is a certain fact, of which we have daily proofs, that, when all other means fail, horses, turned out to grass, will recover their decayed brittle hoofs. It is known, he observes, that the hoofs of horses are porous; and that insensible perspiration is carried on through these pores, in the same manner, and according to the same laws as take place in other parts of the body. Now every body knows, that greasy or oily medicines applied to the skin of the human body prevent perspiration, which is frequently attended with the worst consequences. The same reasoning will hold with respect to the hoofs of horses; for greasy applications close the pores of the hoof, by being absorbed into its inner substance. Hence the natural moisture, which should nourish the hoof, is prevented from arriving at its surface; which, on that account, becomes as it were dead, and consequently dry, brittle, and hard. The original practice of greasing horses' hoofs has probably taken its rise from observing, that grease or oil softens dead substances, such as leather, &c. But this will by no means apply to the hoofs of horses, as there is a very great difference between the living and dead parts of animals; the former having juices, &c., necessary for their own nourishment and support, whilst the latter require such applications as will preserve them only from dec yin and rotting.

Another practice, equally pernicious, is the stuffing up (as it is called) horses' hoofs with hot

resinous and greasy mixtures, under the notion of cooling and softening them. Various are the prescriptions recommended for this purpose, many of which are of a quite opposite nature to the purpose intended. There is likewise a great impropriety in stuffing up the hoofs with rotten dung and stale urine: this, it is true, is moisture; but of the very worst kind, on account of the salts contained in the urine, which of itself greatly contributes towards hardening and drying their hoofs, in place of softening them; besides the other bad effects which may arise to the frog, &c., from the rottenness of the dung.

Without commenting upon the various compositions or pompous prescriptions recommended in books, or those handed about as receipts for the softening and stuffing horses' hoofs, we would recommend one which is more natural, and ought not to be despised for its simplicity. This is only to cool and moisten the hoofs with water morning and evening: and, to those who are fond of stuffing, we would prescribe bran and water, or clay, &c. made into the consistency of a poultice; and in particular cases, where horses stand much in the stable, and the hoofs are disposed to be very hard, dry, and brittle, a poultice of this kind, or any other emollient composition in which water is a principal ingredient, may be applied all round the hoof; or, in imitation of some dealers, to keep a puddle of water at the watering place, which will answer equally well, if not better. From this manner of treatment, the hoofs will be preserved in their natural state, and a free and equal perspiration kept up, by which the nourishment natural to the hoof will have free access to its surface; as it is this only which causes that cohesion of the parts which constitutes a firm, sound, and tough hoof.

Horses are shod with iron to defend and preserve their hoofs. As feet differ, so should shoes accordingly. The only system of farriers,' lord Pembroke observes, is to shoe in general with excessive heavy and clumsy ill-shaped shoes, and very many nails, to the total destruction of the foot. The cramps they annex, tend to destroy the bullet; and the shoes made in the shape of a walnut shell prevent the horse's walking upon the firm basis which God has given him for that end, and thereby oblige him to stumble and fall. They totally pare away also and lay bare the inside of the animal's foot with their detestable butteries, and afterwards put on very long shoes, whereby the foot is hindered from having any pressure at all upon the heels; which pressure might otherwise still perchance, notwithstanding their dreadful cutting, keep the heels properly open, and the feet in good order. The frog should never be cut out; but as it will sometimes become ragged, it must be cleaned every now and then, and the ragged pieces pared off with a knife. In one kind of foot indeed a considerable cutting away must be allowed of, but not of the frog: we mean, that very high feet must be cut down to a proper height; because, if they were not, the frog. though not cut, would still be so far above the ground as not to have any bearing upon it, whereby the great tendon must inevitably be damaged, and consequently the horse would go lame.

The weight of shoes must greatly depend on the quality and hardness of the iron. If the iron be very good, it will not bend; and in this case the shoes cannot possibly be made too light: care, however, must be taken, that they be of a thickness so as not to bend; for bending would force out the nails, and ruin the hoof. That part. of the shoe which is next the horse's heel, must be narrower than any other; that stones may be thereby prevented from getting under it, and sticking there; which otherwise would be the case; because the iron, when it advances inwardly beyond the bearing of the foot, forms a cavity, wherein stones being lodged would remain, and, by pressing against the foot, lame the horse. The part of the shoe which the horse walks upon should be quite flat, and the inside of it likewise; only just space enough being left next the foot to put in a picker (which ought to be used every time the horse comes into the stable), and also to prevent the shoe's pressing upon the sole. Four nails on each side hold better than a greater number, and keep the hoof in a far better state. The toe of the horse must be cut short, and nearly square (the angles only just rounded off); nor must any nails be driven there: this method prevents much stumbling, especially in descents; and serves, by throwing nourishment on the heels, to strengthen them: on them the horse should in some measure walk, and the shoe be made of a proper length accordingly; by these means, narrow heels are prevented, and many other good effects produced. Many people drive a nail at the toe, but it is an absurd practice. Leaving room to drive one there causes the foot to be of an improper length; and moreover, that part of the hoof is naturally so brittle, that even when it is kept well greased, the nail there seldom stays in, but tears out and damages the hoof.

'In wet, spongy, and soft ground, where the foot sinks in, the pressure upon the heels is of course greater than on hard ground; and so indeed it should be upon all accounts. The hinder feet must be treated in the same manner as the fore ones, and the shoes the same; except in hilly and slippery countries, they may not improperly be turned up a little behind; but turning up the fore shoes is of no service, and is certain ruin to the fore legs, especially to the bullets. In descending hills, cramps are apt to throw horses down, by stopping the fore legs, out of their proper basis and natural bearing, when the hinder ones are rapidly pressed; which unavoidably must be the case, and consequently cannot but push the horse upon his nose. them, on a plain surface, a horse's foot is always thrown forwards on his toe, out of its proper bearing, which is very liable to make the horse stumble. The notion of their utility in going up hills is a false one. In ascending, the toe is the first part of the foot which bears on, and takes hold of the ground; and whether the horse draws or carries, consequently the business is done before the part where the cramps are comes to the ground. Ice nails are preferable to any thing to prevent slipping, as also to help horses up hill, the most forward ones taking hold of the ground early, considerably before the heels touch the

With