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ERMENONVILLE-ERNE.

to German poetical authorities, prepares mischief of Britain. It is in its winter dress that it is called and ruin for men, and especially for children, E., and yields a highly valued fur; more valuable, through delusive seductions. The name, not con- however, when obtained from the coldest northern nected with the root erle, is synonymous with regions than from more southern and temperate Elfen Konig. The E. was introduced into German countries. In its summer dress it is called Stoat. poetry from the Sagas of the North, through Herder's It displays indomitable perseverance in the pursuit translation of the Erlkönig's Daughter from the of its prey, which consists very much of rats, waterDanish, and has become universally known through voles, and other such small quadrupeds; with young Goethe's ballad of the Erlkönig. hares and rabbits, grouse, partridges, &c. The eggs of birds are as welcome to it as the birds themselves. The E. is a native of all the northern parts of the world. Its range extends even to the south of Europe. It delights in moorish districts, and is tolerably abundant in the north of Scotland. It is from Norway, Lapland, Siberia, and the Hudson's Bay territories that the E. skins of commerce are obtained, which are used not only for ladies' winter garments, but for the robes of kings and nobles, and for their crowns and coronets. E. has thus obtained a distinct recognition in heraldry. In making up E. fur, the tails are inserted in a regular manner, so that their rich black shall contrast with the pure white of the rest of the fur.

ERMENONVILLE, a village in the south-east of the department of Oise, in France, in the possession of the Girardin family. It is celebrated for its beautiful and extensive parks, and as being the restingplace of Rousseau, for which reason it is much visited in summer by strangers from Paris. It was also the residence of Gabrielle d'Estrées, the mistress of Henry IV., who inhabited a hunting-tower, part of which is still standing, and bears her name. It became still more celebrated after the death of Rousseau in 1778. During the revolution, his ashes were removed to the Pantheon, but conveyed back to E. after the restoration. It had nearly been purchased by the Bande Noire, but a larger sum was offered by Stanislaus de Girardin, the well known liberal deputy, and E. was preserved for the lovers of art, of nature, and of

historical monuments.

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ERMINE, or STOAT (Mustela erminea), a species of Weasel (q. v.), considerably larger than the common weasel, but much resembling it in general form and other characters, as well as in habits. The E. is almost ten inches in length, exclusive of the tail, which is fully four inches and a half long. It is of a pale reddish-brown colour in summer, the under parts yellowish-white, the tip of the tail black: in winter-in cold countries or severe seasons-the

ERNE (Haliaëtus), a genus of birds of the family Falconida, and of the eagle group; differing from the true eagles in the greater length of the bill, in the toes and lower part of the tarsi being destitute of feathers, and generally, also, in frequenting the sea-coast and the banks of lakes and rivers to feed on fish, in feeding like vultures on carrion almost as readily as on newly killed prey, and in inferior courage. The only British species is the COMMON E. (H. albicilla), also known as the Sea Eagle or

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Common Erne (Haliaeetus albicilla).

White-tailed Sea Eagle. It is much more common in Britain than the Golden Eagle, is sometimes seen even in the south of England and in inland districts, occasionally visiting deer-parks to prey on very young fawns or to devour dead deer; but is of more frequent occurrence in the north of Scotland, doing considerable injury to flocks in Sutherlandshire, particularly during the season of young lambs. Its favourite haunts, where it roosts and makes its nest, are the shelves and ledges of stupendous precipices on the coast, where its scream often mingles with the noise of the perpetual surge. It sometimes also breeds on crags beside inland lakes, as at the Lakes of Killarney, and more rarely even on trees. Fishes are certainly its favourite food, although its mode of procuring them is not well known; but water-fowl are also its very frequent prey

It is

ERNE ERNST I.

found in most parts of Europe, and even in the Tennstädt, in Thüringia, 4th August 1707. He islands of the Mediterranean, but is more abundant studied at Pforta, Wittenberg, and Leipsic; but in the north of Europe and in Siberia. It is not after having been appointed rector of the Thomas known as a native of America. In size, the E. is school in Leipsic, in 1734, turned his attention inferior to the Golden Eagle, being seldom more chiefly to the old classic literature, and the studies than 33 inches in its whole length. The general connected with it. In 1742, he became professo colour of the plumage is brown, the head having a extraordinary of ancient literature in the university paler yellowish tinge, the tail in the adult bird is of Leipsic, in 1756 professor of rhetoric, in 1759 pure white. The young, sometimes called the professor of theology, and died 11th September Cinereous Eagle, has a grayer plumage and mottled 1781. E. paved the way to theological eminence by tail.-Another notable species of this genus is the a thorough study of philology, and was thus led WHITE-HEADED E. (H. leucocephalus) of America, to a more correct exegesis of the biblical authors, also called the White-headed Eagle, Bald Eagle, and and to more liberal views of theology in general. Sea Eagle, the chosen symbol of the United States. In fact, it is mainly to him that we owe the proper It is a bird of about the same size with the Common method of theological exposition, in so far as it E., with dark-brown plumage, and--in an adult state rests upon correct grammatical elucidation. He -the head, neck, tail, and belly white. It is found shewed his ability as an accurate critic and gramin almost all parts of North America, visiting the marian, in his editions of Xenophon's Memorabilia arctic regions in summer, but abounding chiefly in of Socrates; the Clouds of Aristophanes, Homer, the southern states between the Atlantic and the Callimachus, Polybius, Suetonius, and Tacitus; but Mississippi. It frequents both the sea-coast and the above all, by his admirable edition of Cicero (5 vols., lakes and rivers, and may be often seen sailing Leip. 1737-1739), to which he added a Clavis through the column of spray at the Falls of Niagara. Ciceronia, by way of supplement. He was also the It is very fond of fish, which it procures by wading first reviver of true and manly eloquence in Gerin shallow streams, and also by compelling the many. His theological writings are numerous. The osprey to relinquish prey just taken. The soaring most remarkable are the Initia Doctrinæ Solidioris, and evolutions of the birds in the air on such occa- the Institutio Interpretis Novi Testamenti (which has sions are described as sublime. The White-headed been translated into English), the Anti-Muratorius E. feeds also on lambs, fawns, poultry, &c.; kills (1755), and the Opuscula Theologica (1792). Comswans, geese, and other water-fowl; and does not pare Bauer Formulæ ac discipline Ernestianæ indisdain to compel vultures to disgorge for its use the doles (Leip. 1782). Stallbaum Die Thomas-schule zu carrion which they have swallowed. On account of Leipsic (Leip. 1839). its habits and dispositions, Franklin expressed his regret that it had been chosen as the symbol of his country. More nearly resembling the Common E. is another North American species, the BIRD OF WASHINGTON (H. Washingtonii).-Australia produces a beautiful species (H. leucogaster), and numerous species are found in other parts of the world, amongst which are some of comparatively small size, as the PONDICHERRY KITE or BRAHMANY KITE (H. ponticerianus) of India, which is constantly to be seen fishing like a gull in the rivers of that country, and is by the Hindus considered sacred to Vishnu.

ERNE, a river and lake in the south-west of Ulster province, Ireland. The river rises in the south of Cavan county, in the small but beautiful Lough Cowna. It runs north and north-west, merging in Lough Oughter, in Cavan county, and in Lough Erne in Fermanagh county, and passes Enniskillen and Ballyshannon. It then flows through the south corner of Donegal county into Donegal Bay. It has a total course of 72 miles. On the river, at Ballyshannon, is a salmon-leap fall, over a rocky ledge 20 feet high and 150 yards broad, and the river leaps over another rocky ledge near Belleek, 24 miles below the lower end of the loch. Lough Erne, one of the finest lochs in the kingdom, is the most attractive feature of Fermanagh county, which it bisects lengthways, and almost entirely drains. It extends 40 miles from south-east to north-west, and consists of two lakes, the upper and lower, joined by a narrower part 10 miles long, and assuming in parts the character of a river, with Enniskillen midway between the two lakes. The Upper Lough is 12 by 4 miles in extent, 10 to 75 feet deep, 151 feet above the sea, and has 90 green hilly islets. The Lower Lough is 20 by 7 miles in extent, 100 to 266 feet deep, 148 feet above the sea, and has 109 similar islets. On one of the islets is a round tower. They contain salmon, trout, pike, bream, and eels. The scenery around is singularly varied and beautiful.

ERNE'STI, JOH. AUG., the founder of a new school of theology and philosophy, was born at

ERNST, Elector of Saxony, the founder of the Ernestinian line, or the elder branch of the princely House of Saxony, was the elder son of the Elector Friedrich the Mild, and of Margaret, Archduchess of Austria.

When only 14 years of age, he was seized and carried off from the castle of Altenburg, along with his brother Albrecht, but was speedily recaptured. This incident, known in German history as the Stealing of the Princes (Prinzenraub), Carlyle in the Westminster Review, January 1855. has been described with extraordinary vividness by He succeeded to the electoral dignity on the death of his father in 1464, but governed in common with his brother for 21 years. In 1485, however, E. and Albrecht divided the paternal possessions, when the former obtained as his share Thuringia, the half of the district then called Osterland, with Voigtland, the Franconian estates of the House, the electoral dignity, and the dukedom of Saxony. E. was a man who took a great interest in the welfare of his people. Against injustice, tyranny, and lawlessness, he was implacable. He died at Kolditz in 1486. It is next to impossible to trace the course of the Ernestinian line through the labyrinthine mazes of the endless German genealogies; it is sufficient to say that after 1638 the Ernestinian line was represented by the Dukes of Weimar, who gradually obtained the whole possessions of the House. Johann, Duke of Weimar, who died in 1605, left several sons, the eldest of whom, Wilhelm, became the founder of four different branches, all of which, however, were reunited under Ernst August, Duke of Weimar, who died in 1748. After 1815, the duchy of Weimar became the grandduchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, and its present ruler is of course the direct representative of the Ernestinian line. The other three families by which it is now also represented are those of Meiningen, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and Altenburg.

ERNST I., surnamed the Pious, Duke of SaxeGotha and Altenburg, founder of the House of Gotha, was born at the castle of Altenburg, 24th December 1601. He was the son of that Johann, Duke of Weimar, mentioned in the previous article, who died

ERNST IV.-ERRATA.

in 1605, and was thus connected with the main been carefully described. The trough was found Ernestinan line. E. was the ninth of ten brothers, to branch, when traced in the progress of mining, the youngest of whom was the famous Bernhard over a considerable area, and to assume all the (q. v.) von Weimar. He received an excellent appearances of a little stream, with small tributaries education from his mother, Dorothea Maria von falling into it. When the hollows thus abraded Anhalt. After the arrival of Gustavus Adolphus in are of considerable extent, valleys of erosion' are Germany, E. entered the Swedish service, and in produced. Many of the earlier geologists held various engagements exhibited great courage and that rivers had hollowed out their own valleys. skill, completing the victory of the Protestants at The immense amount of materials brought down Lützen, after the fall of Gustavus. After the battle by rivers, and deposited at their mouths as deltas, of Nördlingen, 26th August 1634, E. withdrew from shews without doubt that they have contributed the theatre of strife, and for the rest of his life materially to produce inequalities on the earth's devoted himself to restoring the prosperity of his surface; but the examination of the geological territories, which had been frightfully devastated structure of valleys, plainly testifies that almost during the Thirty Years' War. He died in 1675. every great hydrographical basin has derived its Of his seven sons, the eldest, Friedrich, continued the form originally from some other agency, although line of Gotha, while the third became the founder of its outline may have been subsequently altered by the House of Meiningen, and the seventh, the founder the continued action of currents within it. of the House of Saalfeld. E. is a fine type of the old German Protestant prince. Zealously attached to the doctrines and government of the Lutheran Church, he exercised a constant watch over its religious and educational interests. With the formalism, however, that often characterises 'strictly religious' people, he compelled his children to learn the whole Bible by heart. He was much interested in the cause of Christianity abroad, and invited to his court the Abbot Gregorius from Abyssinia, besides sending thither on a religious embassy Joh. Mich. Wansleb of Erfurt. He also carried on a correspondence with the king of Ethiopia and the Patriarch of Alexandria. His line became extinct by the death of Friedrich IV.

in 1825.

ERNST IV. (AUGUST KARL JOHANNES LEOPOLD ALEXANDER EDUARD), Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and elder brother of Prince Albert (q. v.), was born at Coburg 21st June 1818. Both brothers received an admirable literary and scientific education. The family to which he belongs is a branch of the Ernestinian line, having been founded in 1680 by Albrecht, second son of Ernst the Pious (q. v.). When E. had completed a university curriculum at Bonn, he entered tl military service of the king of Saxony, but left it on the occasion of his marriage with the daughter of the Grand-duke of Baden. In 1844, E. succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In his opinions and aspirations, imbued with the spirit of his age, he has introduced into his little dominions many beneficial reforms, and allayed not a few long standing jealousies. Yet one regrets to say, that his enlightened views of his duty as a ruler have not been generally appreciated by his subjects. During the stormy period of 1848-1849, by spontaneous concessions on the one hand, and on the other by an energetic repression of the political anarchists, he contrived to save his territories from the perils of revolution. In the Slesvig-Holstein war, E. took a prominent part, and on the 5th April 1849 won the battle of Eckenförde. E. is a great advocate for the unity of the German nation, and has taken a prominent part in most of the efforts made in that direction. His leisure hours are devoted to music and the fine arts. His operas, Zayre and Casilda, are well known in Germany, and recently (1861) he has published a pamphlet (which is virtually an autobiography) vindicating the principles on which he governs his duchy.

EROS. See CUPID.

ERO'SION, the influence of a stream or river in hollowing out its channel. Even the smallest streams, when running over soft strata, as clay or sand, cut out channels, and remove the eroded materials. Hollows thus produced have been observed among the stratified rocks. One that occurs in the coalfield of the forest of Dean has

EROTIC (from the Greek eros, love), signifying in general whatever is marked by love or passion; but the term is chiefly applied to poetical pieces of which love is the predominating subject.

EROTOMA'NIA, a species of mental alienation caused by love. See MANIA.

Soon

ERPE'NIUS (Latinised from Thomas van Erpen), one of the earliest and most eminent of European Orientalists, was born at Gorkum, in Holland, 7th September 1584. At an early age, he was sent to Leyden, where he directed his attention first to theology, but afterwards more particularly to the study of Oriental languages. Having completed his educational course, he travelled through England, France, Italy, and Germany; and in 1613, became professor of Oriental languages at Leyden. Here he erected an Arabic press in his own house, caused new types to be cut, and not only wrote but printed a great number of important works bearing on his favourite studies. The professorship of Hebrew not being vacant at the time of E.'s transla tion to the university of Leyden, a second Hebrew chair was founded expressly for him in 1619. after this he was appointed Oriental interpreter to the government, in which capacity he read and wrote replies to all official documents coming from the East. Such was the elegance and purity of his Arabic, as written at this time, that it is said to have excited the admiration of the Emperor of Morocco. Towards the close of his life, tempting offers of honours and distinction came pouring in upon him from all parts of Europe; but he was never in the midst of an eminent career, he died 13th prevailed upon to leave his native country, where, November 1624. Although the present standard of Oriental knowledge in Europe is much in advance of that of E.'s day, there is no doubt that it was through him principally that Eastern, especially Arabic studies have become what they are. hardly any better material than a few awkwardly printed Arabic alphabets, he contrived to write his famous grammar (Grammatica Aravica, quinque libris methodice explicata, Leyden, 1613; recent edition by Michaelis, Gött. 1771), which for 200 years, till the time of Silvestre de Sacy, enjoyed an undisputed supremacy; and there are many who think his Rudimenta unsurpassed, even at the present day, as a work for beginners. Among his other important works the best known is his Proverbiorum Arabicorum Centurice Dua (Leyden, 1614).

With

ERRATA, the list of errors with their corrections placed at the end of a book. From greater carefulness in correcting the sheets of a work in passing through the press, errors in sense or typography are now much more rare than formerly; in many instances, indeed, books are now produced without a single error which needs to be pointed

ERRATICS-ERSCH.

out and corrected. On the subject of errata, some court, and to confirm or reverse the judgment. interesting particulars will be found in Disraeli's Writ of error formerly lay for every substantia Curiosities of Literature, of which the following defect appearing on the face of the record, for which may be taken as a specimen: Besides the ordinary the indictment might have been quashed; but by errata which happen in printing a work, others 7 Geo. IV. c. 64, it was provided that several techhave been purposely committed, that the errata nical defects should be cured by verdict. By 14 may contain what is not permitted to appear in the and 15 Vict. c. 100, every formal defect apparent on body of the work. Wherever the Inquisition had the face of the indictment must be objected to any power, particularly at Rome, it was not allowed before the jury is sworn, and not after, and may to employ the word fatum, or fata, in any book. then be amended. Writ of error now, therefore, An author, desirous of using the latter word, lies only for defect in substance appearing on the adroitly invented this scheme: he had printed in record, as where a man having been indicted for perhis book facta, and in the errata he put, "For facta, jury, it appears that the false statements were not read fata." made upon oath. Writ of error cannot be obtained without the fiat of the attorney-general, which is not allowed as of course, but is usually granted on due cause shewn.

ERRA'TICS, the name given to the water-worn blocks of stone that have been washed out of the boulder clay, or are still enclosed in it, because they have generally been derived from rocks at a distance. See BOULDERS and BOULDER-CLAY.

ERRHINES (Gr. en, in, and rhin, the nose), medicines administered locally to produce sneezing and discharge from the nostrils, in catarrh, and in various disorders of the head and eyes. Common snuff, and various other vegetable irritants in powder, have been used for this purpose.

ERROR, PROCEEDINGS IN, the form by which in England the unsuccessful party in an action at law brings his case for consideration before a court of review. The successful party is entitled to issue execution immediately on the (signing of) final Judgment (q. v.), unless execution be stayed by due notice of the intention of the opposite party to bring the judgment under review. Error may be in fact or in law. If the error is in fact, the case is heard before the court before which the action was originally tried; if the error is in law, proceedings must be taken before the Court of Exchequer Chamber (q. v.). Where a party objects to the ruling of the judge, the form is by Bill of Exceptions (q. v.) under statute of Westminster the second (13 Ed. I. c. 31). Accord ing to the former practice, it was necessary, in order to obtain a review on the ground of error, that an original writ, called a Writ of Error, should be issued. The writ, if the error was in fact, was styled coram nobis, where the case was in the Queen's Bench, the sovereign being presumed to preside in that court; if in the other courts, the writ was coram vobis. Writ of error is abolished by the Common Law Procedure Act; and proceedings in error now consist of a simple memorandum of error, lodged with the officer of the court, accompanied, if the error be in fact, with an affidavit of the matter constituting the error. The effect of proceedings in error is to stay immediate execution; but the plaintiff in error must proceed within a certain number of days. From judgment in error in the Exchequer Chamber, an appeal lies to the House of Lords. Proceedings in error from the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster, and from the

Court of Pleas of Durham, and generally from all inferior courts of record, are brought before the Court of Queen's Bench, from which appeal lies to the Exchequer Chamber, and thence to the House of Lords. The courts of the city of London, of the Cinque Ports, and of the Stannaries of Cornwall, are exceptions to this rule. In criminal cases, proceedings are still by Writ of Error (q. v.).

ERROR, WRIT OF, in civil causes. See ERROR, PROCEEDINGS IN. In criminal causes, is an original writ from the common law side of the Court of Chancery, addressed to the judges of a superior court, by which they are authorised to examine the record on which judgment was given in the inferior

ERRORS. In all observations, errors must be made. The best instruments have imperfections; and no man, however equable his temperament, can always rely on his making a proper use of his senses. As in astronomy numerical correctness in the results of instrumental measurements is of the first consequence, it is the constant care of the observer to detect and make allowance for errors. The three principal sources from which they may arise are1st, External or incidental causes, such as fluctua tions of weather, which disturb the amount of refraction; changes of temperature, affecting the form and position of instruments, &c.; 2d, Errors of observation, being such as arise from inexpertness, defective vision, slowness in seizing the exact instant of an occurrence, atmospheric indistinctness, &c.; and such errors as arise from slips in clamping and momentary derangements of the instrument; 3d, Instrumental defects, owing to errors in workmanship, and such as arise from the instrument not being properly placed-called errors of adjustment. The first two classes of errors, so far as they cannot be reduced to known laws, vitiate the results of observations to their full extent; but being accidental, they necessarily sometimes diminish and sometimes increase them. Hence, by taking numerous obser vations under varied circumstances, and by taking the mean or average of the results obtained, these errors may be made to destroy one another to a great extent, and so far may be subdued. With regard to the third class, it is the peculiarity of astronomical observations to be the ultimate means of detection of all defects of workmanship and adjustment in instruments, which by their minuteness elude every other mode of detection. See Sir John Herschel's Outlines of Astronomy, § 138 et seq. It may be mentioned, however, that the method of subduing errors of the first two classes by the law of average is not applicable in all cases. In certain cases, recourse must be had to what is known as the method of least squares. See SQUARES, THE LEAST; see also PROBABILITIES.

ERSCH, JOHANN SAMUEL, the founder of German

bibliography, was born at Grossglogau, in Lower Silesia, 23d June 1766; and exhibited from an early period a decided bias towards that branch of literature in which he afterwards obtained so At Halle, where he was sent high a reputation. to study theology in 1785, he devoted himself to he obtained, in 1800, the office of librarian to the historical investigations. After several vicissitudes, university of Jena. Three years later, he was called to Halle as professor of geography and statistics; and in 1808, was appointed, in addition, principal librarian. He died at Halle, 16th January 1828. E. was long engaged in miscellaneous bibliographical work for other scholars; but in 1818, along with Gruber, commenced the publication at Leipsic of

ERSE ERSKINE.

the Allgemeine Encyclopädie der Wissenschaften und Künste (Universal Encyclopædia of the Sciences and Arts), a work of immense value. By his Handbuch der Deutschen Literatur seit der Mitte des 18 Jahrh. bis auf die Neueste Zeit (Handbook of German Literature from the Middle of the 18th Century to the most recent Time, 4 vols., 1812-1814), he first established modern German bibliography in the technical sense of the word; and by its completeness, accuracy, and mode of arrangement, it is undoubtedly fitted to serve as a model for the imitation of other nations.

ERSE (a corruption of Irish), the name given by the Lowland people of Scotland to the language spoken by the inhabitants of the Western Highlands, as being of Irish origin. See BRETTS AND SCOTS. The proper name is Gaelic (q. v.).

ERSE K-UJVA'R. See NEUHAUSEL.

ERSKINE, REV. RALPH, brother of the preceding, was born at Monilaws, in Northumberland, March 18, 1685, and after completing the usual course of study incumbent on a minister, was ordained to the parish church of Dunfermline in 1711. Sympa. thising with the sentiments of his brother Ebenezer, he withdrew from the judicatures of the Established Church in 1737. In the controversy concerning the burgess-oath he also took part with his brother. E. died November 6, 1752. His fame rests chiefly on his Gospel Sonnets and other religious works, which were once highly popular.

ERSKINE, JOHN, of Carnock, and afterwards of Cardross, an eminent Scottish jurist, and Professor of Scots Law in the university of Edinburgh, was the son of the Honourable John Erskine of Carnock, third son of Lord Cardross, whose descendants have now succeeded to the earldom of Buchan. John

E'RSKINE, REV. EBENEZER, the founder of the Erskine, the father, was a man of importance in his Secession Church in Scotland, was the son of the day, not only on account of the family to which he Rev. Henry Erskine, minister of Chirnside, in torical characters, but in consequence of his personal belonged, which even then had been prolific in hisBerwickshire, a descendant of the noble family of Mar, and was born June 22, 1680. He studied at been forced to quit Scotland, from his attachment to qualities and the positions which he held. Having Edinburgh, and after acting for some time as tutor the Presbyterian religion, he retired to Holland, and and chaplain in the family of the Earl of Rothes, he became an officer in the service of the Prince of was licensed to preach the gospel by the presbytery Orange. At the Revolution, he accompanied William' of Kirkcaldy in 1702. His abilities and excellent character soon brought him into notice, and in the to England, and, as a reward for his services, was following year he was appointed minister of Port- and lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of foot. John appointed lieutenant-governor of Stirling Castle, moak, in the shire of Kinross. Here he applied E., the younger, born 1695, became a member of himself indefatigably to the study of the Scriptures, the Faculty of Advocates in 1719, but did not and became so deeply convinced that to preach succeed as a practitioner of the law. On the death. 'Christ crucified' was his grand and constant duty of Alexander Bain in 1737, Mr E. was nominated as a minister, that after some time the earnestness, to succeed him in the chair of Scots Law, an unction, and piety which now marked his dis-office the duties of which he performed with great courses, became exceedingly attractive to the people reputation for 28 years. accustomed to the chilling legalism' which then made use of Sir George Mackenzie's (q. v.) Institu For many years Mr E. predominated in the Scottish pulpit. E.'s popularity tions of the Law of Scotland as his text-book; but was not confined to the parish of Portmoak; serious in 1754 he published his well-known Principles of Christians from all parts of the country were eager the Law of Scotland, which were thenceforth used to enjoy occasionally the benefits of his ministry, for that purpose by himself and by his various sucand on sacramental occasions, he had frequently attendants from the distance of 60 or 70 miles. In from the professorship in 1765, Mr E. occupied himcessors down to the present time. On his retirement 1731, he was translated to Stirling, after having self in preparing his more important work, The discharged the pastoral office in Portmoak for 28 Institutes of the Law of Scotland, but it was not years. Previous to this event, however, the religious peculiarities of E. had brought him into published till 1773, five years after his death. Mr E. was twice married-first to Miss Melville, of unpleasant relations with some of his brethren, by the noble family of Leven and Melville, by whom the interest which he exhibited in a book called he left the afterwards celebrated clergyman, John the Marrow of Modern Divinity, marked by its Erskine; and, second, Ann, second daughter of strong evangelicalism of doctrine and sentiment. Stirling of Keir, by whom he had four sons and two After his transference to Stirling, E. distinguished daughters. As a legal writer, Mr E. is inferior to himself by his advocacy of popular rights in the settlement of ministers; and ultimately involved none of our Scottish jurists, with the single excephimself in such antagonism to the Church of tion of Lord Stair, who had the benefit of the more Scotland, or at least to the ruling party in it of lawyers, who were educated in a continental school. learned and wider judicial training of our earlier the time, that, along with other three clergymen, In consequence of the extent to which lands changed he was deposed in 1733. (For an account of the hands in Scotland subsequent to the rebellions, circumstances which led to these depositions, see feudal conveyancing became the most prominent UNITED PRESBYTERIANS.) He was shortly after joined by his brother Ralph and several other subject of study amongst the lawyers of Mr E.'s ministers. They now virtually formed a distinct day, and the principles of commercial law, of which Stair laid the foundation, and which have become so sect, but they still continued to occupy their parish important in our own time, were somewhat thrown churches. An effort was made in 1734 to restore into the shade. The labours of Mr Bell in these them to their legal connection with the church; departments have again brought the law of Scotit was unsuccessful. In 1736, E. and his friends land into connection with the general current of formally seceded, but still it was not till 1740 that European law and mercantile practice throughout they were ejected from their churches. Shortly the world. But of all those departments which conafter this, a furious, and, as it seems to people now- stitute the law of Scotland, as developed by the a-days, a contemptible squabble broke out among usages and forms of society in the country itself, the seceders in regard to the propriety of taking there is at the present day no clearer, sounder, or the burgess-oath. The result was a division of

the sect into two bodies, the Burghers and Anti-more trustworthy expositor than Mr Erskine. burghers. See UNITED PRESBYTERIANS. E. was ERSKINE, REV. DR JOHN, son of John the leader of the Burghers. He died June 22 1756. Erskine of Carnock, the author of the Institutes

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