against the Saracens, who were led by Malek Al-'ádhil, the brother of Saladin. He died at Acre in 1205.—J. B.
AIMON, a Benedictine monk, pupil of Abbo, and abbot of Fleury-sur-Loire, author of a legendary work, which he entitled "History of France," was born about the middle of the tenth century, and died 1008.
AIMON or AIME´ DE VARENNE, a French poet, by birth a Greek, author of a poetic romance, entitled "Florimont and Philip of Macedon," MS. copies of which are still extant at Paris, London, and Venice.
AIMON or AYMON, Alard, Richard, Guiscard, and Roland, said to have been sons of the duke of Dordogne, personages famous in the poetic legends of chivalry, though their historical existence is very doubtful.
AINGY, Soliman, a native of Bosnia, of Christian parents, became grand vizier to Sultan Mahomet IV., displayed great vigour and capacity, was a strict disciplinarian, obtained a victory over the Poles, but was completely defeated by the dukes of Bavaria and Lorraine in 168, and finally beheaded, by order of the sultan, to gratify the mutinous Ottoman army.
AINSLIE, George Robert, a British general, some time governor of Dominica, devoted much of his leisure to the study of numismatology, made a valuable collection of Anglo-Norman coins, and published in 1830, in a handsome quarto volume, "Illustrations of the Anglo-French Coinage," &c. Born in Edinburgh, 1776; died in his native city in 1839.
AINSWORTH, Henry, an eminent biblical scholar and commentator, and one of the founders of the Independent body in England. Of the time and place of his birth, or the events of his early history, no record has been preserved. He is mentioned for the first time by Bishop Hall, as in close alliance with the church of the exiled Brownists, who had fled from the severity of Queen Elizabeth and her bishops, and were wont to assemble "in a blind lane at Amsterdam." This was in the year 1592-93. We find him still at Amsterdam in 1596, whence he wrote some letters preserved by Limborch in his "Epistolæ Viror. Eruditor.," p. 74. He appears to have been at this time in great poverty, as, in order to obtain the necessaries of life, he became porter to a bookseller, from whom he received a miserable pittance in return for his services. Whilst thus employed, he came under the notice of several eminent scholars who appreciated his learning, and encouraged him in those literary labours which have established for him a permanent reputation. Not long after his settlement in Amsterdam, he was chosen as doctor or teacher of the church there, over which Francis Johnson presided as pastor. Finding that their views were in many quarters misrepresented to their injury, Johnson had drawn up a confession of faith of the English exiles, which he published in 1596; this, after being republished in 1598, was issued a third time in an enlarged form, as the conjoint production of Johnson and Ainsworth, by the latter of whom it was translated into Latin, and sent forth in this guise in his own name. This document will be found cited in "Hanbury's Memorials relating to Independents," vol. i., p. 91. During his connection with the church at Amsterdam, Ainsworth paid a visit to Ireland, where he left some disciples, returning again to Holland. Ainsworth was frequently involved in controversy. His concluding years, however, appear to have been spent in comparative peace. He died in 1622 very suddenly, and not without suspicion of violence. Ainsworth's works consist of Annotations on the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and Solomon's Song, published first separately, between 1612 and 1623, afterwards collectively, in one vol. folio, in 1627, again in 1639, and recently in 2 vols. 8vo. His minor writings are very numerous. The most valuable are his "Controversial Tracts with Hugh Broughton," on archæological questions; his "Communion of Saints;" his Discussion with John Ainsworth on subjects connected with the Popish Controversy; his "Seasonable Discourse," in reply to a work on Predestination, "by the servants of God, grossly called Anabaptists;" and his posthumous work, entitled "The Orthodox Foundation of Religion." Ainsworth left behind him an extensive reputation as a man of profound learning, sound judgment, rare rectitude and candour, and a lovely union of firmness and boldness with "the gentleness of Christ," in the avowal and defence of his opinions.—W. L. A.
AINSWORTH, Robert, a well-known grammarian and lexicographer, was born at Woodyale in Lancashire in 1660. He received his early education at Bolton, where he afterwards resided some time as a schoolmaster. In 1698 he removed to London, opened a boarding-school in the environs, and, in course of time, acquired a competency which enabled him to retire from scholastic drudgery. In 1736 he published his English and Latin and Latin and English Dictionary. Died in 1745.—E. M.
* AINSWORTH, William Francis, a distinguished physician, geologist, and traveller, cousin of William Harrison Ainsworth, was born at Exeter in 1807. Having taken his degree of M.D. at Edinburgh in 1828, he visited Auvergne and the Pyrenees for geological purposes. Returning to Edinburgh in 1828, he became editor of the "Journal of Natural and Geographical Science," and a lecturer on Geology. In 1835 he was attached as physician and geologist to Colonel Chesney's expedition to the shores of the Euphrates, and in 1837 returned by Kurdistan, Tauras, and Asia Minor. In 1838 he was sent with Rassam and Thomas Russell, by the Geographical Society and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, to Kurdistan, &c. In 1840 he visited the Nestorians; and in 1841 published "Researches in Assyria," and "Travels and Researches in Asia Minor," &c. Besides reports and memoirs, he also published, in 1844, "The Claims of the Christian Aborigines in the East," and "Travels in the Track of the 10,000 Greeks."—E. M.
* AINSWORTH, William Harrison, a popular English author, born at Manchester in 1805. He was at first intended for the bar, but his taste led him to a literary career. Besides copiously contributing to English periodical literature, he has published the following works:—"Sir John Chiverton;" "Rookwood;" "Jack Shepherd;" "Guy Fawkes;" "Crichton;" "James II.;" "The Miser's Daughter;" "Old St. Paul's;" "St. James;" "The Tower of London;" "Windsor Castle;" "The Lancashire Witches;" "The Star Chamber;" "The Flitch of Bacon." He founded "Ainsworth's Magazine" in 1842; and in 1845 became proprietor of the "New Monthly Magazine."—E. M.
AIRAY, Christopher, an Englishman of Clifton in Westmoreland, and rector of Milford in Hampshire. Wrote a book of logical precepts. Died 1670.
* AIRD, Thomas, whose contributions have long been known to all the readers of "Blackwood's Magazine," was born at Bowden, Roxburghshire, in 1802. He was at first destined for the Scottish church, and studied at Edinburgh, where he won high distinction at college, and soon found employment as a contributor to the periodical literature of the day. After the death of Mr. James Ballantyne, Mr. Aird became editor of the "Edinburgh Weekly Journal;" thence he passed to Dumfries, where he still remains as editor of the "Dumfries Herald," having never chosen to leave his retirement to fill any wider sphere. His publications, both in prose and verse, have at various times appeared to enrich our literature. He has lately collected his poems into one volume, and his stray tales and sketches have appeared in a sort of medley, which he has named "The Old Bachelor in the Scottish Village." He has also written "Religious Characteristics" and a memoir of the author prefixed to an edition of the "Poems" of his friend Dr. Moir (Delta), the publication of which he superintended. Among Mr. Aird's poetical works, that on which his fame must rest, and which has already raised him to no mean place among the poets of our country, is the "Devil's Dream," a work combining weird power with exquisite beauty. Of his prose works, the most popular is "Buy a Broom," a pleasing little tale, to be found in "The Old Bachelor."—J. B.
* AIREY, James Talbot, lieutenant-colonel in the army, and captain in the Coldstream Guards, a C.B. and K.L.H., is brother of the quartermaster-general,—an officer who has seen much service for his years. He served under Sir R. Sale and General Elphinstone in Cabul and Afghanistan, and was in the hands of the enemy for some time, which afforded him an opportunity of writing an interesting account of his captivity. He also served under Sir J. M'Carkill, and was present at the battle of Punniar. On the commencement of the Russian war he went out to the East, and as assistant quartermaster-general to Sir George Brown's division, he was engaged in the hard work of that great campaign in the Crimea, and was present at Alma and Inkerman. As a reward for his services, he was appointed to the Guards, and he holds the honours indicated above.—W. H. R.
* AIREY, Sir Richard, K.C.B. This officer, who is now quartermaster-general of the British army, went out to Turkey in the year 1854, as colonel commanding a brigade of Sir George Brown's division. He had not seen any active service in
