Hume says, amidst the thick cloud of bigotry and ignorance which overspread the nation during the Commonwealth and Protectorship, there was a few sedate philosophers, who in the retirement of Oxford cultivated their reason, and established conferences for the mutual communication of their discoveries in physic and geometry. Wilkins, a clergyman, who had married Cromwell's sister, and was afterwards bishop of Chester, promoted these philosophical conversations. Immediately after the Restoration these men procured a patent, and having enlarged their number, were denominated the "Royal Society." But this patent was all they obtained from the king. Though he was a lover of the sciences, particularly chemistry and mechanics, he encouraged them by his example alone, not by his bounty. The Society held its first meetings in Gresham College; and, after the great fire, in Arundel House. The Society subsequently returned to Gresham College; but in 1710 removed to Crane Court, Fleet Street, and from thence, in 1782, to its present place of meeting in Somerset House.

ST. GEORGE'S FIELDS, &c.

After the dissolution of the monasteries and other religious houses, the mayor and citizens of London, taking into their consideration how commodious and convenient it would be unto the city, to have the Borough of Southwark annexed thereunto, and that the same borough was in the king's hands wholly, they became suitors unto Henry VIII., and unto the lords of his highness' privy council, for the obtaining of the same; which suit not being granted unto them, after the decease of Henry VIII. they renewed their suit unto Edward VI., and to the lords of the privy council, for the obtaining of the same borough. At length, after long suit, it pleased King Edward VI., by his letters-patent, bearing date of Westminster there, the 23rd day of April, in the fourth year of his reign, as well in consideration of the sum of £647: 2: 1, of lawful money of England, paid to his highness's use, by the mayor and citizens of London, as for divers other considerations him thereunto moving, to give and grant unto the said mayor and citizens of London, divers messuages, lands, and tenements, lying near the Borough of Southwarke, in the said letters-patent particularly expressed, which were sometimes the land of Charles, late duke of Suffolke, and of whom Henry VIII. did buy and purchase the same. But there was excepted out of the said grant, and reserved unto Edward VI., his heirs and successors, all that, his capital messuage or mansion-house, called Southwarke Palace, late of the said Duke of Suffolke, and all gardens and land to the same adjoining; and all that, his park in Southwarke, and all that, his messuage, and all edifices and ground called the Antelope there.

ETYMONS OF SEVERAL COUNTRIES, ISLANDS, SEAS, TOWNS,

PROVINCES, REMARKABLE PLACES, &c.

ATLANTIC OCEAN.

Atlantic, or Atlantic Ocean, derives its name from Mount Atlas, in Africa, and extends between the west continents of Africa and Europe, and the east continent of America. Its least breadth, from Guinea in Africa, to Brazil in South America, is 2,300 miles. On one side the equator, it is called the North Atlantic Ocean; on the other, the South Atlantic Ocean.

AZORES, OR WESTERN ISLANDS.

Azores, or Western Islands, a group of islands in the Atlantic, between 25 and 30 west longitude, and 37 and 40 north latitude, 795 miles west of Portugal. They are nine in number, viz., St. Maria, St. Michael, Terceira, St. George, Graciosa, Fayal, Pico, Flores, and Corvo. They were discovered in 1430, by Joshua Vanderberg of Bruges, who in a voyage to Lisbon was driven thus far to the westward by stress of weather. Boasting of his discovery on his arrival at Lisbon, the Portuguese government fitted out an expedition and took possession of these Islands, and called them the Açores, from the number of hawks found among them. Açore, being the Portuguese for hawk.

ATHENS.

Minerva was worshipped by the Athenians before the age of Cecrops, in whose time Athens was founded, and its name taken from Minerva, whom the Greeks called Ann. It was proposed to call the city either by her name or that of Neptune, and as each had partisans, and the women had votes equal to the men, Cecrops called all the citizens together, both men and women; the suffrages were collected; and it was found that all the women had voted for Minerva, and all the men for Neptune; but the women exceeding the men by one voice, Athens was called after Minerva. A temple was dedicated to her in the city, with her statue in gold and ivory, thirty-nine feet high, executed by Phidias.

AMERICA.

So called from Americus Vesputius, who, having accompanied Ojeda, who in 1499 followed in the steps of Columbus, and having had a share in the direction of it himself, had published an account of it on his return. The country of which he was

supposed to be the discoverer, came gradually to be called by his name. He died 1512.

North America was first discovered by Giovanni Cabot, a Venetian in the service of England, in 1497.

ARUNDEL.

The etymology of this town has been variously conjectured by some of the first antiquaries, and many writers have entertained a difference of opinion. It has been justly observed, that names of places must have reference to peculiarity of site, or retaining the meaning of certain local particulars. However, in the uncertainty of finding the etymology correct, it is not improbable that the antiquary may meet with discoveries tending to convey amusement and instruction, and which perhaps may serve to gratify the curiosity of those who may not have the leisure for similar studies and investigations.

Camden, who was so celebrated an antiquary, patronised by Thomas, earl of Arundel, in 1630, says, that this town was a place of great name, and he derives its etymon from a valley, or dale, running along the river Arun.

Another supposition pretends to derive some weight from two Belgic words, Eron and del, signifying a flat place covered with water, and whence also may be derived Hirundo and Hirondelle,* as the low parts adjacent was formerly a morass, or reedy place much frequented by swallows, and which bird, being in the present arms of Arundel, strengthens the argument in favour of its being built by the Belgics.

ALL THE RUSSIAS.

The term, All the Russias, is founded on the ancient division of Russia, which comprehended the provinces of Great, or Black Russia, Little, or Red Russia, and White Russia, it derives its name from Rurik, a Baltic freebooter, who in 850 made himself master of the greater part of the country, and founded a dynasty which continued to rule till 1598. St. Petersburgh took its name from having been founded by Peter the Great.

ABYSSINIA.

Abyssinia, in Africa, has been called by different names, particularly by that of Habessinia, from the Arabic word Habesh, which signifies a mixture, the country being peopled by various nations; but other inhabitants call it Itjopia, or Ethiopia. The name of Abyssinia became known in Europe from the Portuguese missionaries who penetrated there, and who often wrote the *French for Swallow.

names of the country and the people respectively in the latinized forms of Abassia and Abassinos; from which our common term Abyssinia is derived.

BATH.

This city was a Roman station, and derives its name from the celebrated Roman baths discovered there. Considerable Roman remains have been discovered in, and about its neighbourhood. Portions of a large temple were discovered, and are preserved in the Bath Institution. Towards the east of this building stood the principal baths, which were discovered in 1755.

BLENHEIM.

A small village on the Danube, in Bavaria. It was the scene of Marlborough's great victory, who in 1704 totally defeated the French and Bavarian forces under Marshal Tallard. To perpetuate the memory of the military services of this illustrious man, the royal manor of Woodstock, with the demesne, comprising the hundred of Wootton, was granted by queen Anne to him and his heirs for ever, to be held by grand sergeantry.

BATTLE BRIDGE.

West of Barnesbury Park, and close to the footpath from thence to Copenhagen House, were the supposed remains of a Roman encampment. It was a square of 120 feet, surrounded by a ditch, with a high embankment or breast-work to the west. This is presumed to have been a position occupied by Suetonius, the Roman general, when he destroyed 80,000 of the Britons under Boadicea, in a memorable engagement presumed to have been fought from this place, in the fields of Pentonville, and terminating in the plain of Battle Bridge: hence the name. The prætorium is now occupied by the house and grounds of a retired military officer, who has built a mansion in the style of an embattled dwelling.

BRIGHTON.

Brighthelmstone, or as it is now termed, Brighton, is said to have been a place of note in early times, but of this fact we have no precise record. Bailey in his Dictionary observes, that it was St. Brighthelm, a Saxon, who gave the name to the town. Skinner says, Brighton was so named from Brighthelm, a canonised bishop of Fontenoy, in France, who lived so late as the tenth century. Other testimonies state, that it was a Saxon bishop of that name, who resided here during the Heptarchy, who gave his name to the town. This supposition is more probable; for we find, that when Ella with his three sons (Cimen, Wiencing, and

Cisa) effected their landing at West Wittering, S.W. of Chichester, anno 447, and defeating the Britons, who endeavoured to oppose him, took possession of all the maritime parts of the country. Ella thus laid the foundation of the kingdom of the South Saxons, from which the country derives its name. Brighthelme accompanied this army. One of his successors resided at Aldrington, and held a considerable portion of land until the year 693, when that bishop was killed in battle. This is stated by Stillingfleet and other writers, but no mention is made of the place where the engagement was fought.

About the time of the Norman Conquest, a colony of Flemings are supposed to have established themselves for the purpose of fishing. The town was plundered and burned by the French, in 1513. During the reigns of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, fortifications were erected to protect it.

Brighton became a watering-place about the middle of the 18th century, but its progress was slow until it was rendered a place of fashionable resort by George IV., then Prince of Wales, who selected it for a summer residence.

Between Brighton and Lewes are still to be seen lines and intrenchments, apparently Roman, and some years ago an urn was dug up, containing 1000 silver denarii, on which were impressions of all the emperors.

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED.

Berwick, being a kind of Gibraltar to Scotland, was long a bone of contention between England and that country. Edward VI., and Mary, Queen of Scotland, by treaty made it a county town, and, as Rymer's Federa notes it, a free town, independent of both states. Since the reign of Queen Mary, it has sent two members to the English House of Commons.

Camden says: "At the epoch of Domesday Book, Berwica signified a village which appertained to some manor, or town: and as Tothill was called the Berewicke of Westminster, in the donation of Edward the Confessor, the town on the Tweed was called the Berewicke of Coldingham." The castle of Berwick was first ceded as part of the ransom of William the Lion, but it was restored by William Cœur de Lion, in 1189.

BARNESBURY PARK.

The row of handsome cottages called Barnesbury Park, Islington, are in the manor of Berners, or Bernersbury, otherwise Barnesbury; the name being derived from the Berners' family, of whom the most distinguished individual was John Bourchier, the last Lord Berners, and the fifth writer in order of time among the nobility. He was Governor of Calais under Henry VIII