ABBOT (MAURICE) youngest brother of the archbishop, was brought up to trade, and became an eminent merchant, and one of the first directors of the East India Company, in which capacity he displayed considerable talent. He was also one of the farmers of the customs, and a member of the council for settling the colony of Virginia. He served the city as sheriff, alderman, mayor, and representative in Parliament; and died in 1640.Biog. Br.

Archbishop Abbot was a firm and conscien- | plausible preacher; Robert, the greater schotious character. It may he observed, with- lar: George, the abler statesman; Robert, the out partiality to either opinion, that his Calvin- deeper divine. Fuller's Worthies. Biog. Brit. istic tendencies were by no means remarkable; for it is obvious that the first hue produced by the Reformation was of that complexion; and, that during the reign of Elizabeth, and a part of that of James, many of the prelacy favoured that more rigid view of the articles; a fact which accounts for the ardent predilection of the bulk of the people, as displayed in the ensuing civil contests. In private life, Archbishop Abbot supported the character of an upright and worthy man; and several instances of his liberality and munificence still exist, particularly an hospital at Guildford, on which he expended considerable sums during his life time. As a general politician, the wisdom of his counsels, as opposed to the headstrong measures of Laud, subsequently so fatal to the king and nation, is exceedingly obvious, and possibly forms the best reply to a recent weak attempt to depress the one and exalt the other. His works are, " Six Latin Lectures on Divinity, at Oxford," 1598, 4to.; "Exposition of the Prophet Jonah," 4to. 1600; "A Brief Description of the whole World," 12mo. 1634; "Treatise on the Perpetual Visibility and Succession of the True Church," 4to. 1624; "A Narrative of the True Cause of his Disgrace and Sequestration at Court," written in 1627. This is printed in Rushworth's collection, as is his "History of the Massacre in the Valteline," in the third volume of Fox's Book of Martyrs. A few other pieces, besides letters and speeches, are also to be found in various collections. Biog. Brit.

ABBT (THOMAS) a German writer, was born at Ulm in Swabia, in the year 1738. This extraordinary young man, when at the age of thirteen, wrote an ingenious treatise, entitled "Historia Vitæ Magistra," and studied at the University of Halle, where he applied himself chiefly to history and mathematics. From Halle, in 1760, he removed to the university of Frankfort on the Oder, and in consequence of being appointed extraordinary professor of philosophy, relinquished the study of divinity, for which he had been originally educated. At this place, the very centre of war, he wrote his treatise On Dying for our Country." The year following he repaired to Berlin, where he formed an intimacy with the Eulers, Nicolai, and Mendelsohn, and accepted the situation of professor of mathematics at Rintelen in Westphalia. At this place he wrote his treatise "On Merit," to which he owed his chief celebrity. This work procured him the friendship and patronage of the Prince of Schaumbourgh Lippe, and a lucrative and honourable employment, which unfortunately he did not long enjoy, as he died at the age of twenty-eight. He was splendidly interred by his liberal patron, who wrote himself the inscription on his tomb. The works of Abbt abound in thought, fancy, and spirit; and it is believed that, had he lived, he would have become a leading German writer. His friend Nicolai published his works in six volumes, after his death. - Appd. to Life of Mendelsohn. ABDALONYMUS, a descendant of the kings of Sidon, reduced to the condition of a husbandman at the time of the capture of that city by Alexander, who promoted him to the throne of his ancestors. A philosophical reply of this prince to his benefactor, has done much more to render him celebrated than his elevation. When Alexander asked him how he had borne his adversity, Abdalonymus answered, "Would to Heaven that I may bear my prosperity so well! I then had no cares, as my own hands supplied me with all that I wanted." This instance of equanimity and moderation increased the bounty of the conqueror, who added other provinces to his government.Quintus Curtius.

ABBOT (ROBERT) elder brother of the archbishop, shared in his good fortune. He was matriculated at the same college, and pursued the same course of education as his brother; and his talents as a popular preacher early produced him the living of Bingham in Nottinghamshire. He was also appointed one of the chaplains in ordinary to King James, who added a commentary of his own to his book "De Antichristo." In 1609, he was elected master of Baliol College, Oxford; which was favourably distinguished by his exertions. Like the archbishop, Dr Robert Abbot was a most zealous opponent of Popery; and in a sermon before the University of Oxford, at which Dr Laud was present, alluded with extreme keenness to the secret methods by which certain persons were attempting to undermine the Reformation; an allusion so personal to Laud, that he was under some doubt whether he ought not to openly resent it. Dr Robert Abbot died in the year 1617, being one of the five bishops who succeeded to the see of Salisbury in the course of six years. He wrote several commentaries on the Scriptures, which are not published; among others, a Latin commentary on the whole Epistle to the Romans, which remains in manuscript in the Bodleian Library. The published by absurd and intemperate zeal, destroyed the works of this prelate are almost altogether altar which the Persians dedicated to their re controversial. Comparing the two brothers, presentative of deity, Fire. This act of frenzy Fuller observes, that George was the more produced his own destruction and a massacre

ABDAS, a Christian pishop of Persia in the reign of Theodosius the younger, who, inflamed ABDIAS (of Babylon) a Christian writer of the first century, who pretended that he had been one of the companions of Jesus Christ. He compiled a legendary work, entitled "Historia certaminis Apostolici," which is deemed altogether spurious. It is peculiarly severe on St. Paul. Cave. Dupin.

ABDOLLATIPH, a Persian historian, born at Bagdad in the year 1167, who visited Egypt, and was honoured, rewarded, and protected by the Sultan Saladin and his successor. His writings are very numerous, but the only one known in Europe is entitled "Alsigar," or little book, being au abridgment of the history of Egypt. An edition of this treatise was, in 1800, published, with a Latin version and

notes by Professor White, from a manuscript at the university of Paris, by his rapid acpreserved in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.- quirement, he quickly excited the jealousy of Month. Review, 1802. his master. Returning to the metropolis, he

ABEILLE (LOUIS PAUL) a French writer was soon as much followed for his theology on agriculture, commerce, and manufacture, as his philosophy, and scholars repaired to who was born in 1719, and died in 1807. him, not only from the various parts of France, was soon after delivered of a son, who received the curious name of Astrolabius. On the birth of this child, Abelard proposed to Fulbert to marry his niece, provided the marriage might be kept secret. Fulbert consented; when, to his great surprise, Heloise herself objected, partly out of regard to the interest of Abelard, whose profession bound him to celibacy, and partly, it is supposed, from a romantic notion, that love is the strongest and purest when unshackled. These objections were finally removed, and they were privately married. Fulbert, however, who wished to

which was his friend. Here he remained until the anger in some degree subsided when he obtained leave to retire to some soli tary retreat, on condition that he should neve again become a member of a convent. The spot which he selected was a vale near Nogent, in the valley of Champagne, where, in 1122, he erected a small oratory, which he dedicated to the Trinity, and afterwards enlarged and consecrated to the Holy Ghost the Comforter, or Paraclete. Such was his fame, that he was quickly followed, and a rustic college gradually arose around his retreat. Jealousy was

make the affair public, became irritated at in consequence again excited to his discomfort,

their joint refusal to gratify him, and in consequence treated his niece with an asperity so opposed to his former tenderness, that it furnished Abelard with a plea for removing her to an abbey of Benedictine nuns, the same at which she had been first educated. Fulbert, of opinion, and possibly with reason, that Abelard had taken this step with a view to remove an incumbrance to his future clerical prospects, meditated a most atrocious revenge. He employed several ruffians, who broke into the chamber of Abelard in the dead of the night, and inflicted a mutilation on

and he was about to seek another asylum, when the Duke of Bretagne procured his elec. tion to the vacant abbey of St Gildas. About this time, under a claim of ancient right, the convent of Argenteuil, of which Heloise had become prioress, was united to the abbey of St Denys, a proceeding that left her and her fellow nuns destitute of an habitation. On learning this misfortune, Abelard made over to them the Paraclete, which donation was sanctioned by royal authority in 1127. It was after this removal, that the celebrated correspondence took place, which has been addi

his person, which putan effectual end to any tionally immortalised by the poetical epistle of

future hopes of conjugal felicity. For this outrage the ruffians were punished according to the ler talionis, and Fulbert endured the loss of his benefice and confiscation of his goods. On his recovery, Abelard, with somewhat ungenerous anxiety, prevailed upon Heloise to take the veil in the abbey of Argenteuil, and a few days afterwards he himself took the habit in that of St Denys. It seems that he pointedly insisted on her taking the step first; an instance of distrust for which, in her correspondence, she tenderly reproaches him. " In that

Pope. Doomed never to remain tranquil, Abelard revised his theological works at the abbey of St Gildas, by which he was quickly involved in a controversy with St Bernard, who accused him of heresy to the pope, to whom, in the coarse controversial language of the period, he describes Abelard as an infernal dragon, and one who, in the art of ensnaring souls, was more dangerous than Arius, Pelagius, or Nestorius; in a word, a persecutor of the faith and a precursor of Antichrist. Abelard, whose only fault seems to have consisted

one instance," she writes, "I confess your in a foolish attempt to explain the Trinity and mistrust of me tore my heart, Abelard; I other religious mysteries syllogistically, on blushed for you." (Epistolæ Helois. 1.) The this representation of the holy Bernard, was at romantic ardour of Heloise's affection seems once condemned by the pope, who, without indeed to have lasted with her life. After hearing any thing in the way of defence, senthese stormy exhibitions of passion and re-tenced him to perpetual silence. With his

venge, Abelard resumed his lectures, and found himself again surrounded with pupils; a popularity which so much excited the jealousy of rival teachers, that they contrived to involve him in ecclesiastical censures for certain passages in his work "On the Unity of St Bernard. In this kind office the venerable

usual tenacity however, he resolved to set out for Rome to remonstrate against this sentence, but taking Cluni in his way, he was prevailed upon by his friend Peter the abbot to abide there, while the latter tried to reconcile him to the pope and God," implying a gradation in the Trinity ap- abbot succeeded, not however until Abelard proaching to something like what is now called had made a declaration of faith, in which he Arianism. After a very partial investigation, yielded to a torrent that he found himself un in which his enemies were triumphant, his able to oppose. Allowed by the pope to re

book was condemned to be burnt with his own hand, and he was required to read a recantation, and be imprisoned in the convent of St Medard. His confinement was short; but he was soon involved in another persecution, for being so unpatriotic as to deny that St Denys of France was Dionysius the Areopagite, Abelard, for this dire offence, was accused to the king as a calumniator of his order, and an enemy to his country. The clamour was so great, that, apprehensive of danger to his person, he escaped by night, and fled to the convent of St Argent, in Champagne, the prior of

main at Cluni, he lived there for two years comparatively private, and then, for the benefi of his health, removed to the priory of St Marcellus, where this extraordinary man died in 1142. At the request of Heloise, who survived him twenty-one years, his body was removed, after interment, to the Paraclete, where the widow and abbess daily prayed over his tomb. Heloise died in 1163, and was deposited by the side of Abelard, who, in disinte restedness and devotedness of affection, had been much her inferior. In 1779, the bones of this celebrated pair were taken out of the

vault by order of the Abbess Marie de 'ajand in 1701 published a book of songs in sev

Rochefoucault, and placed in a leaden coffin, separated into two divisions, that they might not be confounded. They were then conveyed in procession, and deposited beneath the altar, where a monument of black marble, with a Latin inscription, was erected to their meruory. When all these convents were destroyed in 1792, the inhabitants of Nogent sur Seine transported the remains of Abelard and Heloise to the vaults of their own church. Thence, in the year 1800, they were brought by the government to Paris, and placed in the museum of French monuments, in a neat sepulchral chapel, built by Lenoir out of the ruins of the Paraclete. In 1817, the museum being destroyed, they were finally removed to the burying ground of Pere la Chaise, where the sepulchral chapel has been re-erected, and is now to be seen. The works of Abelard convey no correspondent idea of his genius or his taste. The greater part, consisting of sermons and theological tracts, while they occasionally display a portion of wit, learning, and imagination, are disfigured with capricious notions, barren subtilties, and gross barbarisms in regard to style. Modern critics indeed go so far as to assert, that at present the fame of this renowned scholar rests almost exclusively on the high notion formed of the beauty, genius, and devotedness of Heloise, whose letters form the principal attraction of the ponderous volume which contains the productions of her lover. Yet Abelard could not have excited so mach jealousy and admiration during a long life, unless he had been a man of extraordinary mental vigour. His works, all of which are written in Latin, are-1. "An Address to the Paraclete, on the study of the Scriptures;" 2. "Problems and Solutions;" 3. " A Treatise against Heresies;" 4. "An Exposition of the Lord's Prayer;" 5. " A Commentary on the Romans;" 6." A System of Theology;" and lastly, his "Letters to Heloise" and others, all of which are collected and edited from the Manuscripts of Francis Amboise, 4to. Paris, 1616. Various false collections of the letters have been published separately, but the best edition of those which are genuine is that of London, 2 vols. 8vo. 1716-Mareri. Bayie. Berrington's Lives of Abelard and Heloise.

ral languages. In the fourth volume of " Pills to purge Melancholy," are two songs by Abell, who is said to have possessed some secret by which he preserved the tone of his voice to an extreme old age. - Dictionary of Musicians. Hawkins' History of Music.

ABEN EZRA (ABRAHAM) a celebrated Jewish rabbi, was born at Toledo in Spain, in 1099, and died at Rhodes in 1174. He obtained considerable reputation in his own time as an able commentator on the Scriptures, and his commentaries have continued to be much esteemed. He was also the author of "Elegantiæ Grammaticæ," 8vo., Venice, 1548; and of " Jesud-Mora," an introduction to the Talmud, which is now very scarce. - Universal Biog.

ABERCROMBIE (JOHN) author of several esteemed works on gardening, was the son of a gardener near Edinburgh, who, coming young to London, obtained employment in the Royal Gardens. The "Gardeners' Calendar," published under the borrowed name of Mawe, was written by Abercrombie. The "Universal Dictionary of Gardening and Botany," and other works, are published in his own name. He died in 1801.-Gent. Mag.

ABERCROMBY (PATRICK) of a good family of Forfar, in the county of Angus, was born in 1656, and took his degrees as a physician at St Andrew's in 1685. After travelling for some time on the continent, he returned to England, and, embracing the Roman Catholic religion, was appointed physician to James II. He compiled "The Martial Achievements of the Scots Nation, and of such Scotsmen as have sigualised themselves by the Sword,” in 2 vols. fol. 1711 and 1715; "The Campaigns in Scotland in 1548 and 1549." He died, according to some accounts, in 1716, while others say 1726.-Biog. Brit.

ABERCROMBY (Sir RALPH) a distinguished British general officer, was born in 1738, at Tillibodie in Clackmannanshire. His first commission was that of cornet in the third regiment of Dragoon Guards in 1756; and he gradually passed through all the grades of the service, until he became a major-general in 1787. On the commencement of the war with France, he was employed in Flanders and Holland

ABELL (JOHN) an English musician, who, with the local rank of heutenant-general, belonged to the chapel of Charles II, and was and in that critical service displayed equal celebrated for a fine counter-tenor voice and skill and humanity. In 1795, he received the for his skil on the lute. Being dismissed as order of the Bath, and was appointed coma Papist at the Revolution, he went abroad, mander-in-chief of the forces in the West and sang in Holland and various parts of Ger- Indies. In this expedition he captured the many. Ac Warsaw, he was sent for to court islands of Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent, by the King of Poland, and refusing to go, was and Trinidad, with the settlements of Demetaken there by a guard of soldiers, seated rara and Essequibo. On his return, he was

in a chair in a spacious hall, and drawn up to a comsuderable height, while the king and his suite appeared in a gallery opposite. Several bears were then simitted into the area below ham, and he was informed that he might take ris choice, ecther to sing or be let down among the bears. He chose to sing and, according no has own account, never sang better in his ine. lie subsequently returned to England

appointed commander-in-chief in Ireland, but, for reasons very honourable to himself, was quickly removed to the correspondent command in Scotland. In the attempt upon Holland in 1799, Sir Ralph had the sole command on the first landing, and both his troops and himself greatly distinguished themselves. His royal highness the Dake of York subsequently arrived, under whom Sir Raiph Abercromby

acted. The final fate of the expedition is well known. The next and concluding service of this able and meritorious officer was in the expedition to Egypt, of which he was commander-in-chief. Landing, after a severe contest, at Aboukir, on the 8th March, 1801, on the 21st of the same month was fought the

obliged to yield to it as to quit Antrim, and accept an invitation from a society of Protestant dissenters in Dublin. He subsequently distinguished himself by strenuously joining in the efforts of the Irish dissenters, in 1731 and 1733, to obtain a repeal of the Test Act, a measure which was opposed with much zeal and asperity

battle of Alexandria, in which Sir Ralph Aber- by Swift. The judgment, temper, facility and

cromby was unhorsed and wounded in two places, notwithstanding which he disarmed his antagonist, and gave the sword to Sir Sidney Smith. The general kept the field during the day, and was then conveyed on board the admiral's ship, where he survived about a week, when he expired. His body was conveyed to Malta, and interred beneath the castle of St Elmo, and a monument was voted to him by Parliament, in St Paul's Cathedral. His widow was also created Baroness Abercromby, with remainder to the issue male of her late husband; and a pension of £2000 a

eloquence of Abernethy, gave him great weight both as a divine and a leader; which influence was still more confirmed by the steadiness and purity of his general conduct. He died in the year 1740. Besides occasional sermons and pamphlets, produced in his controversy with the synod, he composed "Discourses on the Being and Attributes of God," which are highly esteemed. His controversial tracts have also been collected since his death, and pub-. lished in London, 1751. This zealous and indefatigable minister left a diary of his life, in six MS. quarto volumes. -Biog. Brit.

year was granted in support of the dignity. ABGARUS, a prince of Edessa in Syria.

Sir Ralph Abercromby left four sons: George, a barrister at law; John, a major-general; James and Alexander. - Brit. Peerage.

ABERNETHY (JOHN) an eminent Presbyterian divine of Ireland, who distinguished himself by his zeal for religious liberty, and his resistance to what he deemed oppressive

According to Eusebius, he wrote a letter to Jesus Christ, who returned an answer, accompanied by a handkerchief on which he had impressed his portrait-a weak and now universally decried fabrication. Abgarus was a name common to a race of princes of Edessa.Eusebius. Mosheim.

authority on the part of the Irish presbytery. ABGILLUS, son of a king of Friesland, who

Mr Abernethy, himself the son of a Presbyterian mirister of Colerain, in the county of Londonderry, was born in that town on the 19th Oct. 1680. During the troubles occasioned by the insurrection of 1689, he was carried by a relation into Scotland, and finished his education, partly in Glasgow and partly in Edinburgh, with a view to engaging in the ministry. On his return to Ireland, he found the Irish synod, which was formed on the model of those of the kirk of Scotland, exceedingly arbitrary in respect to the destination of the preachers, by using its authority contrary to the wishes both of pastors and congregations, and acting very despotically in that particular. After enduring some inconvenience from its rigour, Abernethy, a close thinking man and of a determined spirit, resolved to resist this injudicious exercise of authority, and publicly declared his determination to accept an invitation from a congregation at Antrim, in opposition to the arrangement of the synod. This was a bold step, as the latter was supported by a powerful party; but Abernethy also possessed friends and adherents, and a society was soon formed to uphold the cause of religious liberty among this class of dissenters. Besides this particular subject of complaint, the new society turned its attention to the question concerning subscription to articles of faith, an attachment to which was so strong among the Irish dissenting clergy, that when, in the year 1715, the benefit of the Toleration Act was proffered them by government, they refused to accept it, unless, as a condition, it should require subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith. Abernethy, for some years, endeavoured to stem the torrent it this direction, but was at length so far

acquired the surname of Prester John, and was the reputed author of an absurd legendary history of Charlemagne's expedition into the East. -Suffred. de Script. Fris.

ABLE or ABEL (THOMAS) a divine of Oxford, who became domestic chaplain to Queen Catharine (of Arragon) on whom, it is said, he bestowed lessons in music and the languages. Able had the courage to write a tract against the legality of the divorce from his patroness so anxiously desired by Henry, entitled "De non dissolvendo Henrici et Catherinæ Matrimonio." In 1534, he was attainted of misprision of treason, for taking part in the imposture of Elizabeth Barton, the holy maid of Kent, and sentenced to close imprisonment. Finally, so abundant were the snares in the way of the opponents of Henry, that he was hanged, drawn and quartered, in 1540, for refusing the oath of supremacy.--Biog. Brit.

a

ABNEY (SIR THOMAS) an able and upright alderman of London, chosen mayor and representative in parliament for the city, in the year 1700. He had a principal share in founding the Bank of England, of which he became director. He is now, however, best known as the steady friend of Isaac Watts, who resided with him for several years at Stoke Newington. Sir Thomas died in 1722, aged 83.-Hist. of Stoke Newington.

ABRABANEL (ISAAC) a highly celebrated Jewish rabbi, was born at Lisbon, A. D. 1437, of a family which pretended to trace its descent from King David. He was in great credit at the court of Alphonso V king of Portugal, but experienced a reverse under his successor John, being accused of a plot against the state, which obliged him to take refuge in Castile. Here he commenced his commentary on the