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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

and translated "Froissart's Cronycles out of Frenche into our maternale Englysshe tongue."

BALTIMORE.

This capital, as it may be termed, of the province of Maryland, in North America, derives its name from Lord Baltimore, who colonized the said province in 1633. The town was first laid out in 1729, and in 1765 contained only thirty houses. It received a charter as a city in 1797, and since that period its extension has been very rapid. The population is now upwards of 103,000.

BERMUDAS.

Bermudas, or Sommer's Islands, four islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 100 miles east of Carolina, and surrounded by rocks. They were discovered by Juan Bermudas, a Spaniard, in 1522; but not inhabited till 1609, when Sir George Sommers was cast away upon them; and they have belonged to Britain ever since. They contain 9000 inhabitants, who carry on some trade with America and the West Indies. Three of them are small, and the principal one is called St. George.

BRAZILS.

Brazil, a country of South America, which gives the title of Prince to the heir-apparent of the crown of Portugal. It extends from North to South about 2600 miles, and from East to West about 2400. It was discovered in 1500 by Alvarez Cabral, a Portuguese, who was forced upon it by a tempest; and it derived its name from the abundance of Brazil, or Brasil, wood found here.

CAMBRIDGE.

Cambridge (Cantabrigia, Latin), a country town of England, situated on the river Cam, eleven miles east of Ely, and fifty-one north of London. It was the Camboritum, or Granta, of the Romans, and a well-known station of that people, as the numerous urns, coins, and other antiquities dug up here attest. The modern town is of small consideration, except for its connection with the University, being only about a mile in length, and half a mile broad; the best streets are Trumpington Street, and St. Andrew's Street, united with Regent Street towards Gogmagog hills; but the whole is well paved.

CANTERBURY.

Canterbury is called, by Bede and others, Dorobernia; by the Saxons, "the city of the people of Kent;" by the Britons, Caer Kent, or the city of Kent; and by the Latins, Cantuaria. This place is generally agreed to have been the Roman Durovernum

and it is famous for being the archiepiscopal seat of the Primate of England. The Saxon kings of Kent had their residence here from the arrival of Hengist to the sixth century.

COLOMBIA.

This name, borne by a portion of South America, is derived from Christopher Columbus, a Genoese, famous for his being the discoverer of this vast continent, although its general appellation of America was given it from an after discoverer. Columbus was born in 1442, and made his celebrated discovery October 12, 1492.

Colombia is now divided into the three republics of Venezuela, New Granada, and Ecuador.

CONSTANTINOPLE.

This capital of the modern Turkish empire derives its name from Constantine the Great, who founded the eastern empire of Rome. Prior to his conquest of it, it was called Byzantium, famed in history as a bone of contention between the Tamerlanes and Badjazets. One part of the city is called Pera, and is inhabited by the Franks, a name given by the Turks to all European Christians. It was taken in 1453 by the Turks, who have kept possession of it ever since.

CORSICA.

The ancient Greeks gave this island the name of Cyrnus; and to the Romans it was known by its present appellation. By the French it is called Corse. Inhabited at first by a colony of Phœnicians, it was afterwards occupied successively by the Phoceans, and Etruscans, and the Carthaginians. The Romans succeeded to the latter, and settled two colonies here, which was the place of exile for the Roman courtiers when they became obnoxious to the Emperors. On the destruction of the Roman empire, Corsica fell successively under the dominion of the Goths, the Greek Emperors, the Lombards, and the Saracens; the latter, it is supposed, first gave it the title of a kingdom.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born at Ajaccio, in this island, 15th August 1769.

CANONBURY.

A manor in the village of Islington, given to the Prior and Convent of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield, by Ralph de Berners. The date of the gift is unknown, but the estate is enumerated among the possessions of the priory, in a confirmation granted by Henry III., bearing date 1253; and when the religious houses were dissolved, Henry VIII. gave the manor to Thomas, Lord Cromwell; it was afterwards a hunting-seat of Queen Elizabeth's, and ultimately passed through other hands till it was possessed

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