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some idea of its former magnificence. It was founded by William the Lion in 1178, and dedicated to Thomas à 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 hose 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.

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.

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 Old Aberdeen lies about a mile N. from the American revolution. That of the French re- new town, at the mouth of the Don, over which volution furnished him with an opportunity of is a fine Gothic bridge, of a single arch, greatly eminently displaying his talents and experience. admired, which rests on both sides on two rocks. In two campaigns on the continent he gave dis- This arch, said to have been built by a bishop of tinguished proofs of his skill and intrepidity; Aberdeen, about the year 1290, is 67 feet wide at ani though the last, in the end of 1794, the bottom, and 34 feet high above the surface of was singularly disastrous, his character both the river, which at ebb-tide here is 19 feet deep. abroad and at home was in the highest es- The old town was formerly the seat of the timation. In the autumn of 1795, he received bishop, and had a large cathedral commonly the Order of the Bath, and succeeded Sir Charles called St. Macher's. Two very antique spires Gray in the West Indies. In this command he and one aisle, which is used as a church, are now was eminently successful, having carried every the only remains of it. The cathedral had anisland and port which he attempted. Early in ciently two rows of stone pillars across the 1797 he took the Spanish island of Trinidad, church, and three turrets, the steeple which was and returned soon after to England. In No- the largest of these turrets, rested upon an arch, vember the same year he went commander-in- supported by four pillars. In this cathedral chief to Ireland; but this situation he held not there was a fine library; but, about the year long, the civil and military command being 1560, it was almost totally destroyed. On the united in the person of Marquis Cornwallis. In south side of the town, is the King's college, 1798 he was made commander of the forces in which is a large and stately fabric. It is built Scotland; and in the autumn of 1799 was em- round a square, with cloisters on the south side. ployed under the Duke of York in the unfortu- The chapel is very ruinous within; but there nate expedition to Holland. No failure ever pro- still remains some exquisite workmanship. This duced a stronger sensation in the public mind was preserved by the spirit of the principal at than this; but Sir R. Abercromby was always the time of the reformation, who armed his peomentioned with respect, and with an undisguised ple, and checked the blind zeal of the barons of confidence, that he nobly performed his duty. the Mearns, when about to violate this seat At the close of 1800, he took the command of learning. A ship, freighted with their sacri

legious booty bound to Holland, had scarcely gone out of port, when it perished in a storm with all its lading. This college was founded in 1494, by William Elphinston, bishop of this place, lord chancellor of Scotland in the reign of James III, and lord privy seal in that of James IV. But James IV. claimed the patronage of it, and it has since been called the King's College. Together with the Marischal college in the new town, it forms one university, called the University of King Charles. The library is large, but not remarkable for many curiosities. Hector Boethius was the first principal; and sent for from Paris for that purpose, on an annual salary of 40 Scots marks, at 13 pence each. The square tower on the side of the college was built for the reception of students, by contributions from General Monk, and the officers under him, when quartered at Aberdeen. There are now about 150. There are several bussaries for poor students, professorships of humanity, Greek, philosophy (three) Oriental languages, civil law, divinity, and medicine; annual revenue about £700. Here is also a neat town-house; a trades' hospital for decayed freemen and their widows; and an hospital for 12 poor men. Old Aberdeen has its own government, of a provost, three bailies, a treasurer, and council, with the deacons of six incorporated trades.

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 comprehends the districts of Mar, Garioch, Formartin,

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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 Y than 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, Ab: erro, to stray or ABERRATION, wander; primarily applied ABER RING, to the errors or mistakes of the mind, and to irregularity of conduct.

So then we draw near to Ged, when, repenting us of our former aberrations from him, we renew our

covenant with him.

Bishop Hall's Works, vol. v. p. 502. Could a man be composed to such an advantage of constitution, that it should not at all adulterate the 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 Pazend; the three together including the whole system of the Ignicola, 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. It primarily signifies to enkindle or animate.

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
As wel as the, if that I should assent,
Through mine abet yt, he thine honour sent.
Chaucer's Second Book of Troilus, fol. 159, col. 4.
Then shall I soon, quoth he, so God me grace,
Abet that virgin's cause disconsolate,
And shortly back return. Spenser's F. Q. xi. 64.

A widow who by solemn vows,
Contracted to me, for my spouse,
Combin'd with him to break her word,
And has abetted ail.

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 Nuture, 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 Of our mishaps and Troye's last decay: Though to record the same my mind abhorres, And plaint eschues: yet thus will I begyn. Surrey, Chalmer's Poets. Why then these foreign thoughts of state employ

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Hudibras v. ii. c. 4. the afflicted.

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In worlds inclosed, could on his senses burst,
He would abhorrent turn. Thomson's Sum. 1. 310.
The legal, and as it should seem, injudicious pro-
fanation, so abhorrent to our stricter principles, was
received with a very faint murmur, by the easy
nature of polytheism.
Gibbon, vol. i. p. 112.

Lands intercepted by a narrow frith,
Abhor each other.

Cowper.
But peace abhorreth artificial joys,
And pleasure, leagued with pomp, the zest of both
destroys.
Lord Byron's Childe Harold.
ABHORRERS, a name which was given to
a political party in England, in distinction from
the petitioners of the same period, (1680.) The
name and the party soon ceased; but Hume gives
an account of their origin and principles. They
paid excessive court to the king, by expressing
their abhorrence against those who petitioned for
redress of grievances, or who presumed to pre-
scribe or dictate to his majesty any period for as-
sembling parliament.

ABIA, or IRE, in ancient history, a maritime town of Messinia, so called after Abia, a daughter of Hercules, and one of the seven cities promised by Agamemnon to Achilles.

ABIAD, a river of Africa, descending, according to Mr. Brown, from the Mountains of the Moon, several hundred miles south of Darfour.

ABIANS, or ABII, anciently a people of Thrace, or, according to some authors, of Scythia. They led a wandering life, living on the flesh of their herds and flocks; on milk and cheese. They cultivated little intercourse with their neighbours, but boldly maintained their own independence, and were a people of great integrity, according 10 Homer, Il. xiii. 5, 6.

ABIB, 228, Heb. i. e. a ripe ear of corn. The first month of the ecclesiastical, and the seventh of the civil year, among the Jews. It answers to our moon that begins in March and ends in April; and contains the feast of the pass

over and of unleavened bread.

ABIDE', Bidian, or abidian, Sax. To ABI DER, stay, remain, tarry, dwell or conABIDING,tinue in a place or state; also, ABO ́DE, to stay under, or support; to bear up against, or endure with fortitude, good temper, or the contrary. In the latter senses, however, the words are nearly obsolete.

The pacient abyding of the righteous shal be turned to gladnesse, but the hope of the vngodly shall perish. Bible, Lond. 1539. Pron. chap. x. DEM. Abide me, if thou dar'st: for well I wot Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place, Thou dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face.

Shakspeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. MRS. FORD. I would my husband would meet

him in this shape; he cannot abide the old woman of
Brainford; he swears she is a witch, forbad her my
house, and hath threatened to beat her.

Shakspeare's Merry Wives of Windsor
Ah me! they little know

How dearly I abide that boast so vain
Under what torments inwardly I groan,
While they adore me on the throne of Hell.-
Milton.
To remain in sin and abide in death is all one.
Bishop Taylor's Sermons
Why do we abide our thoughts and affections scat
tered from thee, from thy saints, from thine anointed.
Hall's Contemplations.

He (God) does not inflict sensible judgment upon all his enemies, lest the wicked should think there were no punishment abiding for them elsewhere. Idem.

Thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad, a bondman to my lord: and let the lad go up with his brethren. Gen. xliv. 32, 33.

The marquis Dorset, as I hear, is fled To Richmond, in the parts where he abides. Shakspeare's Richard III. Those who apply themselves to learning, are forced to acknowledge one God, incorruptible and unbegotten; who is the only true being, and abides for ever above the highest heavens, from whence He beholds all the things that are done in heaven and earth. Stillingfl. Defence of Disc. on Rom. Idolat. ABIES, in botany, the fir tree. See PINUS. ABIGA, in botany, the ground pine, or Chamapitys.

ABILA, or ABYLA, a mountain of Africa, one of the pillars of Hercules, as they were anciently, called, being directly opposite to Calpe, in Spain, from which it is only 18 miles distant.

ABILENE, a small canton in Syria, between Lebanon and Antilibanus, west of Damascus. See ABEL-MAIM.

ABINEAU POINT, a neck of land projecting into Lake Erie, Canada, and forming a fine bay on each side of the point. It runs out about 10 miles west of Fort Erie. The northern bay is most commonly called Abineau Port.

ABINGDON, the chief town of Washington county, in Virginia, North America, 310 miles S. W. of Richmond. Also a town of Maryland, North America, 20 miles N. E. of Baltimore; and a township of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, 22 S. E. of Boston.

Berks, in the hundred of Hormer, on the Isis, so ABINGDON, or ABINGTON, a market town of named from an abbey formerly built in it, six miles S. of Oxford, and 56 W. from London. The streets are well paved, and have a spacious area in the centre, where the markets are held on Monday and Friday, and where an elegant market-house is built, supported on lofty pillars, with a handsome Town-house of free-stone above

it, where the assizes, sessions, and county meetings are held. It has two churches, dedicated to St. Nicholas and St. Helena, and two hospitals, the one for 12 persons, six of each sex, the other for 26, viz. 13 of each; besides a charity and a free grammar school. This town is supposed by Bp. Gibson to be the Saxon Cloveshoo, where synods were held, in A. D. 742 and

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