an appellation assumed by some nations, importing that they sprung, or were produced, from the same soil which they still inhabited. In this sense, Autochthonous amounts to the same with Aborigines. The Athenians valued themselves on their being Autochthones, self-born, or vivi, earth-born; it being the prevailing opinion among the ancients, that, in the beginning, the earth, by some prolific power, produced men, as it still does plants. The proper Autochthones were those primitive men who had no other parent beside the earth. But the name was also assumed by the descendants of these men, provided they never changed their ancient seat, nor suffered other nations to mix with them. In this sense it was that the Greeks, and especially the Athenians, pretended to be Autochthones; and, as a badge thereof, wore a golden grasshopper woven in their hair, an insect supposed to have the same origin.

AUTOCRATOR, a person vested with an absolute independent power, by which he is rendered unaccountable to any other for his actions. The power of the Athenian generals, or commanders, was usually limited; so that, at the expiration of their office, they were liable to render an account of their administration. But, on some extraordinary occasions, they were exempted from this restraint, and sent with a full and uncontrollable authority: in which case they were filled with ambition. The same people also applied the name to some of their ambassadors, who were vested with a full power of determining matters according to their own discretion. These were denominated negotiatori, and resembled our plenipotentiaries.