ABENCEHRAGES, aljriis. ■ra'jf-z; .S>. pron. !il)«>irtha-r;i'Hfts. Ai-cordiii'; to U'j;cnil. a nolile Moorish race whose struggles with the family of the Zegris and tragical destrurtion furni>sh the material for the historical romance Iais _</iu'»- ras civih's dc (Iraiiadd. by Gines Perez de Uita (Saragossa, 1395). From this Chatcauhriand composed the novel Lc lUrnici- dcx Alx ii(tiu(ifS. There was actually a family of Abencerrages, powerful in the lirst quarter of the fifteenth century, but their history has l>een so embel- lished by legend that it is ditlicult to say what is true and what is imaginary.
ABEN-ESRA, ji'ben ez'ra. properly Abha-
uam-bex-^Meiimux-Ksra (1002-lUi7). One of
the most learned Jews of his time, lie was born
in Toledo, Spain. He died .January 23, 1107.
He was master of the Hebrew, Arabic, and Ara-
nuiic languages; had considerable knowledge of
mathematics, astronomy, and medicine: was a
scientific observer and a poet, ami generally dis-
tinguished himself as a sagacious thinker. He
visited Lombardy. Provence, France, Egypt, and
England, and passed the later years of his life
in Koine, everywhere teaching grammar, theology,
astronomy, etc., besides writing works on He-
brew grammar and composing numerous poems.
His Commentaries on the Old Testament are the
most important- of his works, though his scientific
method occasioned opposition upon the part of
the Talnuulists. He also prodviced some treatises
on astrology, since published in Latin. The schol-
astic writers mention AbeuEsra as Auknake or
AvENAKU. An Englisli translation of his Isaiah
has been made by M. Friedliindcr ( London,
IST.'i). of his Cant'icirs by H. .J. Mathews, with
original text in Friedliindcr, Miscetlani/ of Be-
l^reir Literature, vol. ii. (London, 1877).
ABENSBEBG, li'bens-berK. A town in Low-
er Bavaria, Germany, situated IS miles south-
west of Ratisbon (Map: Germany, 1) 4). It has
warm springs and ruins of a castle. On April
20. ISOO. Xapoleon here defeated the Austrians
and opened the way for the victory of Eckmiil.
Pop., 1900. 2202.
ABEOKUTA, ii'liAA-kiio'tA. A large city in
Yoruba, on the Slave Coast, north of Lagos, with
which it is connected by rail (Map: .Xfrica.
E 4). It is situated on an elevated plain and
is surrounded by a higli mud wall. It occupies
an extensive area, but its general appearance is
that of a very large village. .Abeokuta was
founded about 182.) as a result of the shive-
luuiling expeditions of the natives of Dahomey
and lba<lon. It was founded ])rimarily on the
lines of a confederation for mutual protection,
each tribe, however, preserving its individual
rights and customs. The population is esli-
mated at from 80,000 to l.SO.OOO. and consists
of about GO difl'erent tribes. The inhabitants
are diietly artisans and traders, and show nuieh
skill in their buildings
and textiles,
ABERBROTH WICK, ab'er-brothlk. See Arbkoath.
AB'ERCARN (Celtic . aicr. conlluence of
rivers -■ tiacl. earn, a conical heap of stones).
A town in Jlonmouthsliire. Englanil, five anil one-
half miles southwest of Ponlypool. It is a pro-
gressive municipality, owning waterworks and
cemeteries. Pojiulation. mostlv engaged in coal
mining. 1891. 10,400; 1901, 12,"COO.
ABERCROMBIE, :-ib'erkrum'bI, James. See
Abercromby, James.
ABERCROMBIE, John (1780-1844). An
eminent Scotch physician. He was born at Aber-
deen, and graduali'd in medicine at Edinburgh
in 180:i. He practiced his profession in the
Scottish capital, and soon became recognized as
the first consulting physician in Scotland.
Among the honors bestowed upon him wera the
degree of M.D. from Oxford, the rectorship of
Marischal College, the vicc-|)residency of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the oOice of
physician in "or<lin;uy to His Majesty for Scot-
land. Besides his professional writings he pub-
lished huiuiries Co)ieernin(i llie InteUvetual I'ow-
ers (Edinburgh, 1830), and I'bilosophti of the
Moral FecUiiys (London, 1833), both of which
attained a remarkable |)opularily. They cham-
])ioned the views of the Scotch school as repre-
senteil by Dugald Stewart, but had no origi-
nality, and therefore have now little philosoph-
ical value.
ABERCROMBY, ab'er-krinn'bi, or Aber-
cROMBie, James (ITO(i-Sl). . British soldier,
born at Glassbangh. Scotland. He entered the
army as colonel in 1740. and was raised to
the rank of major-general and sent to Amer-
ica in 17.50, where in 17.58 he replaced Lou-
don as conimander-inchicf of the British and
colonial forces. On .luly 8, 1758, at the
head of 15,000 men, he attacked Ticonderoga
(q.v.). but was repulsed with a loss of fully
2000 men. This attack was the culmination of a
career of incapacity, and in September he was
superseded by Sir '.Jeffrey Amherst. Returning
(1759) to England, he became a member of
Parliament, and was conspicuous as an upholder
of George lll.'s colonial i)olicy. For his record
as an officer in America, consult: Parkman,
Monteuhn and Wolfe (Boston, 1884).
ABERCROMBY, Sir Ralph (1734-1801). A
distinguished British general. He was born at
Menstry. near TuUiliody, Scotland. October. 1734.
He was educated at Rugby, iind studied for the
legal profession at l'".iliMl)urgli and Leipzig, but
preferred the army, and a cornet's commission was obtained for him in 1750. In 1758 he accompanied his regiment to Germany. where he saw active warfare, and gained experience in army management. At the conclusion of peace, he was stationed in Ireland for several years. He married in 1707. and by 1773 had risen to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He entered Parliament after a bloodless duel with his defeated opponent, and strongly opposed the American war, a course particularly honorable, as he desired active service. The war with France gave him his opportunity. Family influence and
his reputation procured his promotion to be major-general of a brigade ordered to Flanders, where be distinguished himself so highly as to be publicly thanked by the Duke of York. Under him the Duke of Wellington, then Lieutenant-Colonel Wellesley. commanding the Thirty-third Regiment, received his baptism of fire. Abercromby was knighted on his return to England in 1795. and was surprised to find himself famous as his country's greatest general. The disastrous campaign, however, bad shown him the deterioration in army discipline, and his energies were devoted to the reorganization of the whole army system. In 1790 he conducted a successful expedition to the West Indies. In 1797 he went to
