MERNS, or KINCARDINSHIRE, a county of Scotland, stretching 27 miles in length and 20 in breadth, is bounded on the east by the German ocean, on the south by the river of North Esk, on the west by Angus, and on the north by the river Dee and Aberdeenshire. The country is pretty plain and level, fruitful in corn and pasturage, producing an infinite number of fir-trees, besides a great number of agreeable plantations; and along the sea-coasts there are many convenient creeks and harbours.—The people are Lowlanders, civil, hospitable, and industrious.—The name Merns is by some derived from that of a valiant nobleman, who, subduing the country, received it in reward from Kenneth II. Cambden supposes it to retain part of the ancient name of Vernicans. The other name is derived from Kincardin, its ancient capital, now an inconsiderable village. The stocking-trade employs the natives from the banks of the Dee to Stone-hive; from thence to the North Esk they are wholly employed in weaving.
MERODACH was an ancient king of Babylon, who was placed among the gods, and worshipped by
the Babylonians. Jeremiah (chap. I. 2.), speaking of the ruin of Babylon, says, "Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces, her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces." We find certain kings of Babylon, in whose names that of Merodach is contained: for example, Evilmerodach and Merodach-baladan. Evilmerodach was the son of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, and had for his successor the wicked Belsazzar. Merodach-baladan, son of Baladan king of Babylon, having heard that Hezekiah had been cured miraculously (Isa. xxxix.), and that the sun had gone backwards to give him an assurance of his recovery, sent him presents, and made him compliments upon the recovery of his health. Ptolemy calls him Marboempadus; and says, that he began to reign at Babylon 26 years after the beginning of the era of Nabonassar, that is, in the year of the world 2283.