fled to Eurystheus, with whose daughter, Erope, A. united himself, and, after the death of his father-in-law, became king of Mycene. Thyestes, yielding to an unlawful passion for the wife of his brother, dishonored his bed, and had two sons by her. A., after the discovery of this injury, banished Thyestes with his sons. Thirsting for revenge, Thyestes conveyed away secretly a son of his brother, and instigated him to murder his own father. This design was discovered, and the youth, whom A. thought to be the son of his brother, was put to death. Too late did the unhappy father perceive his mistake. A horrible revenge was necessary to give him consolation. He pretended to be reconciled to Thyestes, and invited him, with his two sons, to a feast, and, after he had caused the latter to be secretly slain, he placed a dish made of their flesh before Thyestes, and, when he had finished eating, brought the bones of his sons, and showed him, with a scornful smile, the dreadful revenge which he had taken. At this spectacle, the poets say, the sun turned back in his course, in order not to throw light upon such a horrible deed.

ATRIDES. (See Agamemnon.)

ATRIP (trepor, Fr.; trippen, Dutch) is applied indifferently to the anchor or to the sails. The anchor is atrip (derangée), when it is drawn out of the ground in a perpendicular direction, either by the cable or buoy-rope. The top-sails are said to be atrip, when they are hoisted up to the mast-head, or to their utmost extent.

ATROPHY is a deficient nourishment of the body. There are many diseases in which the body becomes daily more lean and emaciated, appears deprived of its common nourishment, and, for that reason, of its common strength. It is only, therefore, in those cases in which the emaciation constantly increases, that it constitutes a peculiar disease; for when it is merely a symptom of other common diseases, it ceases with the disease, as being merely a consequence of great evacuations, or of the diminished usefulness or imperfect digestion of the nourishment received. But, when emaciation or atrophy constitutes a disease by itself, it depends upon causes peculiar to this state of the system. These causes are, permanent, oppressive and exhausting passions, organic disease, a want of proper food or of pure air, exhausting diseases, as nervous or malignant fevers, suppurations in important organs, as the lungs, the liver, &c. Copious evacuations of

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blood, saliva, semen, &c., are also apt to produce this disease, and, on this account, lying-in women, and nurses who are of slender constitution, and those who are too much addicted to venery, are often the subjects of this complaint. This state of the system is also sometimes produced by poisons, e. g., arsenic, mercury, lead, in miners, painters, gilders, &c. A species of atrophy takes place in old people, in whoin an entire loss of strength and flesh brings on a termination of life without the occurrence of any positive disorder. It is known as the marasmus senilis, or atrophy of old people. Atrophy is of frequent occurrence, in infancy, as a consequence of improper, unwholesome food, exposure to cold, damp or impure air, &c., producing a superabundance of mucus in the bowels, worms, obstructions of the mesenteric glands, followed by extreme emaciation, which state of things is often fatal, although the efforts of the physician are sometimes successful, when all the causes of the disease have been previously removed. A local state of the same kind is sometimes produced in single limbs, by palsies, or the pressure of tumors upon the nerves of the limb, &c., and is generally curable by removing the cause.

ATROPOS; one of the Fates. (q. v.)

ATTACCA, Italian (attach), signifies, in music, that a passage is to follow another immediately; e. g., attacca allegro.

ATTACHMENT denotes the apprehending a person, or seizing a thing, in virtue of a writ issuing from a court. An attachment of the person is more usually called an arrest. In respect to property, the word attachment more frequently refers to an arrest of it on mesne process, or before a judgment of court. In some of the U. States, a creditor may previously attach another person's property, real or personal, to satisfy the judgment he may recover: in other states, no such previous attachment can ordinarily be made, and is

permitted only in case of absconding debtors, or other particularly excepted cases. And the more general and prevailing rule throughout the world is, that the property of a person can be seized only in pursuance of a judicial order or decree, made upon testimony being produced, and the party heard; and between a creditor and debtor, the more general and almost universal rule is, that the creditor cannot seize the goods or property of his alleged debtor until the debt is established by the proceedings of a judicial tribunal. In regard to the per

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son, attachments or arrests are made for a variety of causes, and, among others, for debt. But, in respect to an arrest of the person, as well as that of property, the laws of most countries do not permit the person of any citizen to be seized and imprisoned without a decree or judgment of a court directly authorizing the arrest. But in some of the U. States, any creditor to the amount of five dollars, or some other amount, greater or smaller, may arrest the person of his debtor, at the commencement of the process against him, in order that the creditor may have his body to levy execution upon, when the debt shall be established by a judicial decree or judgment. But attachment of the person for this cause is not permitted by the laws of most countries, except in cases of the apprehended absconding of the debtor; this being an exception to the rule most generally adopted, which is, that the creditor first establishes his debt, and gets judgment and execution upon it, before he can use it as an instrument for violating the personal liberty of his debtor. In cases of alleged crime, the person of the accused party is seized, and he is imprisoned, or compelled to give bail by the laws of all countries; but he is most generally first taken before a niagistrate, and permitted to show cause against being imprisoned, or required to give bail.-Another cause of attachment is, the defendant's not appearing at court, after being summoned by subpoena (an order of court prescribing a penalty in case of disobedience) out of a court of chancery. His not obeying is considered to be a contempt of the court, which thereupon orders him to be arrested, and brought into court. But attachment for this cause is not made in a court of law; for if the defendant, being summoned, does not appear, on being called in court, his default is noted, and the court proceeds to give judgment against him, upon such testimony as the plaintiff may produce. One reason of this distinction between a court of equity and a court of law is, that the presence and agency of the defendant are requisite, in many equity cases, in order to carry into effect the judgment of the court; as when the court decrees the specific execution of an agreement, or the rendering of an account, or the disclosure of facts by the defendant upon his oath. Attachments are issued by courts for various other contempts, as against an officer of a court for abusing the process of the court, e. g., if he refuse to execute it without a bribe

from a party; against a witness who refuses to appear when summoned for the purpose of giving testimony, or who refuses to testify, after he has appeared, before a court of law or a grand jury, against any person, whether an officer of the court, a party, witness, or mere bystander, for disorderly conduct in the presence of the court, whereby its proceedings are disturbed and the administration of justice interrupted; for attempting to corrupt a juryman, or forcibly detain a witness who is summoned to testify in a case; for publishing an account of the proceedings of the court while a cause is pending, in such a manner that the minds of the judges or jurors may be prejudiced by such publication; for obstructing the service of any writ or process of the court; for taking out an execution where there is no judgment; and, in general, an attachment lies against any person who directly obstructs or interferes with the regular administration of justice. It lies against the judges of an inferior court who proceed in a case con trary to the order of a superior court.

ATTACHMENT, FOREIGN, is the attachment, by a creditor, of a debt due to his debtor from a third person; called foreign attachment, from its being one mode of securing debts due from foreigners. In Scotland, it is called assisting the debt. In London, the process is called a garnishment, or warning, the person summoned being the garnishee. The same process is, in some of the U. States, called the trustee process, and the person summoned is called the trustee, on the supposition of his having in his hands and possession, or being intrusted with, the money or goods of the principal debtor.-The general rule, as to arresting debts due from third persons, by foreign attachment, is, that only absolute debts can be so attached, not the claims which the principal debtor may have against the garnishee, or supposed trustee, for damages on account of trespasses and wrongs done to him by the garnishee or supposed trustee. As the process is instituted to recover a supposed debt due to the plaintiff from the principal defendant, by obtaining satisfaction of a debtor of that defendant, he must have notice, and be made a party to the suit, and have an opportunity to dispute the demand of the plaintiff; and the law, in some instances at least, allows the garnishee or trustee, if he be really a debtor to the principal defendant, to take upon himself the defence against the plaintiff's demand.

ATTACK. Every combat consists of attack and defence: the first, with few exceptions, will always be more advantageous: hence an experienced general chooses it, if possible, even in a defensive war. Nothing is more ruinous than to lose its advantage; and it is one of the most important objects to deprive an adversary of it, and to confine him to the defensive. The attack is directed according to the condition and position of the enemy, according to the purpose of the war, according to place, time and circumstances. Many modes and combinations are allowable. The simplest and most unexpected form will be the best. On the dexterity and courage of the troops, the correct and quick execution of the attack will depend. Those attacks are the best, where all the forces can be directed in concert towards that point of the enemy on which his position depends. If he be beaten at this point, the resistance at others will be without concert or energy. Sometimes it may be of advantage to attack the weakest side of the enemy, if in this way a fatal blow can be given to him; otherwise, an attack at this point is not advisable, because it leads to no decisive results, leaves the stronger points to be overcome afterwards, and divides the force of the assailant. In most cases, the enemy may be defeated, if his forces can be divided, and the several parts attacked in detail. The worst form of attack is that which extends the assailing troops in long, weak lines, or scatters them in diverging directions. It is always unfortunate to adopt half measures, and not aim to attain the object at any price. Instead of saving power, these consume it in fruitless efforts, and sacrifices are made in vain. Feeble assaults and protracted sieges are of this ruinous character. The forms of attack in a battle, which have been used from the earliest times, are divided by the tacticians into, 1, the parallel. This is the most natural form, and even the troops attacked strive as much as possible to preserve it; for as long as they can do so, they retain their connexion, and the power of applying their force as occasion may require; but, for this very reason, it is not the best form of attack, because it leaves the defensive party too long in possession of his advantages. 2. The form in which both the wings attack, and the centre is kept back. Where the front of the enemy is weak (the only case in which it is practicable), it appears, indeed, overpowering. 3. The form in which the centre

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is pushed forward, and the wings kept back, will hardly ever be chosen, on account of several evident disadvantages. 4. The famous oblique mode, where one wing advances to engage, whilst the other is kept back, and occupies the attention of the enemy by pretending an attack. Epaminondas, if not the inventor of this form, knew, at least, how to employ it to the greatest advantage. Whilst the wing which remained behind engaged the attention of the enemy, he increased, continually, the strength of the one advancing, which he led against the flank of the enemy, with a view of overpowering it by numerical superiority. The success of this mode is almost certain, provided the enemy takes no measures against it. In our times, this form of attack is executed in another way:-whilst engaging the enemy, his flank is surrounded by detached corps, which fall, at the same time, on his rear. If he suffers this quietly, he is vanquished. The enemy's attention is kept occupied, during such operations, mostly by feigned attacks or movements, which are called, in general, demonstrations, and are intended to keep him in error concerning the real object. (On the attack of fortresses, see the article Siege.) Field fortifications are attacked with columns, if possible, from several sides at the same time, and with impetuosity. Commonly, the artillery breaks a way beforehand, destroys the works, and disturbs the garrison.

ATTAINDER is, by the common law, the corruption of blood, or stain consequent upon a person's being adjudged guilty of a capital offence, in which case the law set a note of infamy upon him, and put him out of its protection, taking no further concern about him, except that he should be executed. But this attainder does not take place until judgment is pronounced against him. It might be by confession, as when the party pleaded guilty, or by verdict, when he pleaded not guilty, and was found guilty by the jury. There were, formerly, by the English law, various forfeitures incident to attainder, such as incapacity to inherit or transmit property; but attainder is scarcely known at present in the laws of the U. States; at least, the term is of very rare occurrence in their laws, though there are some disabilities consequent upon conviction of perjury, or any other crime which makes a man infamous, such as incompetency to be a witness.

ATTAINT is a writ at the common law against a jury for a false verdict. It might

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be brought by a party aggrieved, and lay where the jury found a verdict against the evidence, or found a fact foreign to the evidence, or where their verdict was against well-known and acknowledged law. It was a process for trying the jurymen for misconduct in trying a cause. The writ seems to be now obsolete in England, and it has never been adopted in practice in the U. States.

ATTERBOM, Daniel Amadeus, born, Jan. 19, 1790, at Asbo, East Gothland, in Sweden, son of a country clergyman, grew up in a retired and romantic part of the country. He early became acquainted with German literature. In 1805, he went to the university of Upsal, where, some time afterwards, he established, in connexion with several young friends, a poetical-critical society, which contributed not a little to influence the taste of Sweden. In 1817-19, A. visited Germany and Italy, and was, on his return, appointed teacher of the German language to the royal prince Ottocar. Afterwards, he lived partly in Stockholm, partly in Upsal, as magister docens of universal history. In 1812, he began his Poetisk Kalender (Poetical Almanac), which is still continued annually. He has published many poems and prose writings in his native tongue, also some German poems. His greatest merit is, that he strove with success against the constrained French style which had prevailed in the literature of Sweden since the time of Gustavus III. His chief antagonist is the librarian Wallmark in Stockholm.

ATTERBURY, Francis, a celebrated English prelate, was born in 1662, and received his education at Westminster, where he was elected a student of Christ'schurch college, Oxon. He distinguished himself at the university as a classical scholar, and gave proofs of an elegant taste for poetry. In 1687, he took his degree of M. A., and for the first time appeared as a controversialist in a defence of the character of Luther, entitled, Considerations on the Spirit of Martin Luther, &c. He was also thought to have assisted his pupil, the Hon. Mr. Boyle, in his famous controversy with Bentley on the epistles of Phalaris. He continued some time longer at college, exceedingly discontented, feeling, with truth, that he was adapted to act on a wider theatre, and possessing all the ambition and restlessness, by which his subsequent career was so much distinguished. His father advised him to marry into some family of interest, "bishop's, or archbishop's, or

some courtier's;" to which parental counsel the future bishop duly attended.— Having taken orders in 1691, he settled in London, where he became chaplain to William and Mary, preacher of Bridewell, and lecturer of St. Bride's, and soon became distinguished by the spirit and elegance of his pulpit compositions, but not without incurring opposition, on the score of their tendency and doctrine, from Hoadly and others. Controversy, however, was altogether congenial to the disposition of A., who, in 1706, commenced one with doctor Wake, which lasted four years, on the rights, privileges and powers of convocations. For this service, he received the thanks of the lower house of convocation, and the degree of doctor of divinity from Oxford.-Soon after the accession of queen Anne, he was made dean of Carlisle, and, besides his dispute with Hoadly on the subject of passive obedience, he aided in the defence of the famous Sacheverell, and wrote "A Representation of the present State of Religion," which was deemed too violent to be presented to the queen, although privately circulated. In 1712, he was made dean of Christ-church, and, in 1713, bishop of Rochester and dean of Westminster. The death of the queen, in 1714, put an end to his hopes of further advancement; for the new king treated him with great coolness, doubtless aware of either the report or the fact of his offer, on the death of Anne, to proclaim the pretender in full canonicals, if allowed a sufficient guard. A. not only refused to sign the loyal declaration of the bishops in the rebellion of 1715, but suspended a clergyman for lending his church, for the performance of divine service, to the Dutch troops brought over to act against the rebels. Not content with a constitutional opposition, he entered into a correspondence with the pretender's party, was apprehended in August, 1722, and committed to the Tower; and, in the March following, a bill was brought into the house of commons for the infliction of pains and penalties. This measure met with considerable opposition in the house of lords, and was resisted with great firmness and eloquence by the bishop, who maintained his innocence with his usual acuteness and dexterity. His guilt, however, has been tolerably well proved by documents since published. He was deprived of his dignities, and outlawed, and went to Paris, where he chiefly occupied himself in study, and in correspondence with men of letters. But, even here, in 1725, he was

actively engaged in fermenting discontent in the Highlands of Scotland. He died in 1731, and his body was privately interred in Westminster abbey. As a composer of sermons, he still retains a great portion of his original reputation. His letters, also, are extremely easy and elegant; but, as a critic and a controversialist, he is deemed rather dexterous and popular than accurate and profound. If an anecdote told by Pope to Chesterfield be correct, he was a sceptic early in life; but the same authority also states, that he ceased to be so after his mind had be

come mature.

ATTIC BASE; a peculiar kind of base, used by the ancient architects in the Ionic order, and by Palladio and some others in the Doric.-Attic Order, or Attics, in architecture; a kind of order raised upon another larger order by way of crowning, or to finish the building. Attic Salt; a delicate, poignant kind of wit, for which many Athenians were distinguished, and which, in fact, was peculiar to them. The moderns have adopted this expression from the Latin writers.-Attic Story, in architecture; a story in the upper part of a house, where the windows are usually square.

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The inhabitants, who amounted to about 20,000, he divided into four classes, compelled them to bring their habitations near to each other, and protect them with a wall against the attacks of robbers. This was the origin of Athens, which, at that time, bore the name of Cecropia. One of Cecrops' descendants, as like him in spirit as in name, founded 11 other cities, which, in after times, made war upon each other. Theseus compelled these cities to unite, and to give to Cecropia, now called Athens, as the capital city of the whole country, the supreme power over the confederacy. He founded the great feast called the panathenaa. He himself, as the head of the state, watched over the administration of the laws, and commanded the army. He divided the whole people into three classes -noblemen, husbandmen and mechanics. From the first class the magistrates were selected, who performed the duties of priests, and interpreted the laws. He embellished and enlarged Athens, and invited foreigners to people the country. After the death of Codrus, B. C. 1068, the monarchical form of government, which had continued 487 years from the time of Cecrops, was abolished. An archon, chosen for life, possessed the regal power. After 316 years, the term of office of the archons was limited to 10 years, and, 70 years later, to 1 year, and their number was increased to 9. A regular code of laws was now needed. The archon Draco was commissioned to draw one up; but his severity disgusted the minds of the people, and, B. Č. 594, Solon introduced a milder code and a better constitution. He provided that the form of government should continue democratic, and that a senate of 400 members, chosen from the people, should administer the government. He divided the people into four classes, according to their wealth. The offices of government were to be filled from the three first, but the fourth were to be admitted to the assemblies of the people, and to have an equal share, by their vote, in legislation. But this constitution was too artificial to be permanent. Pisistratus, a man of talents, boldness and ambition, put himself at the head of the poorer classes, and made himself master of the supreme power in Athens. His government was splendi and beneficent, but his two sons could not maintain it. Hipparchus was murdered, and Hippias banished. Clisthenes, a friend of the people, exerted himself to prevent future abuses, by some

ATTICA, a province of ancient Greece, the capital of which, Athens, was once, by reason of its intellectual culture and refinement, the first city in the world, is a peninsula, united, towards the north, with Boeotia, towards the west, in some degree, with Megaris, and extends far into the Egean sea at cape Sunium (now cape Colonna), where the Athenians had a fortress and a splendid temple of Minerva. The unfruitfulness of its soil protected it against foreign invaders, and the Athenians boasted of their ancient and unmingled race. They called themselves sons of the soil on which they dwelt, and pretended that they originated at the same time with the sun. The earliest inhabitants of A. lived in a savage manner, without bread, without marriage, and in scattered huts, until the time of Cecrops, who came, B. C. 1550, with a colony from Sais, at the mouth of the Nile, to A., and is acknowledged as their first real king. He softened their manners, and taught them a better mode of living; he planted the olive-tree, and instructed them in the culture of different kinds of grain; he instituted the worship of the gods, and commanded to offer them sacrifices of the fruits of the earth; he established laws of marriage, and directed the burial of the dead.