homo, in zoology, is justly reckoned at the head of the animal-part of the creation; making a distinct genus of that order of quadrupeds which Linnaeus calls anthropomorpha, from their resemblance to the human form.

The same author distinguishes the race of mankind, according to their different colours, into the Europeans, or white men; the Americans, or ruddy-coloured men; the Asiatics, or tawney-coloured men; and those of Africa, or blacks.

Nofce teipam, "Know thyself," is a precept worthy of the lawgiver of Athens, the ancient seat of polite literature; an important branch of knowledge, which may be reduced to the following heads. 1. In a religious view, theologice, that you were created with an immortal soul, after the image of God. 2. In a moral sense, moraliter, that you alone was blest with a rational soul, to be employed to the praise of the Creator. 3. With respect to the other works of the creation, naturaliter, that you are constituted their lord, for whose sake they were made. 4. In a physiological sense, physiologicie, the most perfect and amazing fabric of your body. 5. With regard to diet, dietetice, what things are useful, and what hurtful, in this respect. 6. In a pathological sense, pathologicie, how frail you are, and how subject to a thousand calamities.

These are the heads which, according to Linnæus, comprehend the knowledge of man, considered as an individual; a branch of knowledge so essential to the human race, that, without it, he seems to doubt whether any other characters be sufficient to entitle one to be ranked among mankind: for he adds, Hæc si non veritas, homo est, et a reliquis animalibus distinctissimum genus.

The whole of this work may, in some respect, be accounted an analysis of man; as comprehending his knowledge of God, of himself, and of natural and artificial objects.

Island of Man, an island in the Irish sea, lying about seven leagues north from Anglesey, about the same distance west from Laneshire, nearly the like distance south-east from Galloway, and nine leagues east from Ireland. Its form is long and narrow, stretching from the north-east point of Ayr to the Calf of Man, which lies south-west, at least 30 English miles. Its breadth in some places is more than nine miles, in most places eight; and in some not above five, and contains about 160 square miles.

The first author who mentions this island is Cæsar; for there can be no little doubt, that, by the Mona, of which he speaks in his Commentaries, placing it in the midst between Britain and Ireland, we are to understand Man; as that the Mona of Tacitus, which he acquaints us had a formidable freight between it and the continent, can be applied only to Anglesey. Pliny has set down both islands; Mona, by which he intends Anglesey, and Monabia, which is Man. In Ptolemy we find Monazda, or Monaida, that is, the farther or more remote Môn. Ordnos styles it Menovia; tells us, that it was not extremely fertile; and that this, as well as Ireland, was then peopled by the Scots. Beda, who distinguishes clearly two Menavian islands, names this the northern Menavia, bestowing the epithet of southern upon Anglesey. In some copies of Nennius, this isle is denominated Eubonia; in others, Menovia; but both are explained to mean Man. Alured of Beverley also speaks of it as one of the Menavian islands. The Britons, in their own language, called it Manau, more properly Main au, i.e., "a little island," which seems to be Latinized in the word Menovia. All which clearly proves, that this small isle was as early inhabited, and as well known to the rest of the world, as either Britain or Ireland.

In the close of the first century, the Druids, who were the priests, prophets, and philosophers of the old old Britons, were finally expelled by Julius Agricola from the southern Mona; and we are told, that they then took shelter in the northern. This island they found well planted with firs; so that they had, in some measure, what they delighted in most, the shelter of trees; but, however, not the shelter of those trees in which they most delighted, viz. the oaks: and therefore these they introduced. No history tells us this; but we learn it from more certain authority, great woods of fir having been discovered interred in the bowels of the earth, and here and there small groves of oaks: but as these trees are never met with intermixed, so it is plain they never grew together; and as the former are by far the most numerous, we may presume them the natural produce of the country, and that the latter were planted and preferred by the Druids. They gave the people, with whom they lived, and over whom they ruled, a gentle government, wise laws, but without a very superstitious religion. It is also very likely that they hindered them, as much as they could, from having any correspondence with their neighbours; which is the reason that, though the island is mentioned by so many writers, not one of them, before Orosius, says a word about the inhabitants. A little before his time, that is, in the beginning of the fifth century, the Scots had transported themselves thither, it is said, from Ireland. The tradition of the natives of Man (for they have a traditionary history,) begins at this period. They style this first discoverer Mannan Mac Lear; and they say that he was a magician, who kept this country covered with mists, so that the inhabitants of other places could never find it. But the ancient chronicles of Ireland inform us, that the true name of this adventurer was Orbenius, the son of Alladius, a prince in their island; and that he was named Mannanan, from his having first entered the island of Man, and Mac Lear, i.e. "the offspring of the sea," from his great skill in navigation. He promoted commerce; and is said to have given a good reception to St Patrick, by whom the natives were converted to Christianity.

The princes who ruled after him seem to have been of the same line with the kings of Scotland, with which country they had a great intercourse, afflicting its monarchs in their wars, and having the education of their princes confided to them in time of peace.

In the beginning of the seventh century, Edwin, king of Northumberland invaded the Menavian islands, ravaged Man, and kept it for some time, when, Beda assures us, there were in it about 300 families; which was less than a third part of the people in Anglesey, though Man wants but a third of the size of that island.

The second line of their princes they derive from Orii, who, they say, was the son of the king of Norway; and that there were 12 princes of this house who governed Man. The old constitution, settled by the Druids, while they swayed the sceptre, was perfectly restored; the country was well cultivated, and well peopled; their subjects were equally versed in the exercise of arms, and in the knowledge of the arts of peace; in a word, they had a considerable naval force, an extensive commerce, and were a great nation, tho' inhabiting only a little isle. Gutted the son of Orii built the castle of Ruffyn, A.D. 960, which is a strong place, a large palace, and has subsisted now above 800 years. Macao was the ninth of these kings, and maintained an unsuccessful struggle against Edgar, who reduced all the little sovereigns of the different parts of Britain to own him for their lord; and who, upon the submission of Macao, made him his high-admiral, by which title (archipirata), in the Latin of those times, he subscribes that monarch's charter to the abbey of Glastonbury.

After the death of Edward the Confessor, when Harold, who possessed the crown of England, had defeated the Norwegians at the battle of Stamford, there was amongst the fugitives one Goddard Crownan, the son of Harold the Black, of Iceland, who took shelter in the isle of Man. This isle was then governed by another Goddard, who was a descendant from Macao, and he gave him a very kind and friendly reception. Goddard Crownan, during the short stay he made in the island, perceived that his name-fake was universally hated by his subjects; which inspired him with hopes that he might expel the king, and become master of the island. This he at last accomplished, after having defeated and killed Fingal the son of Goddard, who had succeeded his father. Upon this he assigned the north part of the island to the natives, and gave the south to his own people; becoming, in virtue of his conquest, the founder of their third race of princes. However he might acquire his kingdom, he governed it with spirit and prudence; made war with success in Ireland; gained several victories over the Scots in the Isles; and, making a tour through his new-obtained dominions, deceased in the island of Ilay. He left behind him three sons. A civil war breaking out between the two eldest, and both of them deceasing in a few years, Magnus king of Norway coming with a powerful fleet, possessed himself of Man and the isles, and held them as long as he lived; but, being slain in Ireland, the people invited home Olave, the youngest son of Goddard Crownan, who had fled to the court of England, and been very honourably treated by Henry the Second. There were in the whole nine princes of this race, who were all of them feudatories to the kings of England; and often referred to their court, were very kindly received, and had pensions bestowed upon them. Henry III. in particular, charged Olava, king of Man, with the defence of the coasts of England and Ireland; and granted him annually for that service 40 marks, 100 measures of wheat, and five pieces of wine. Upon the demise of Magnus, the last king of this isle, without heirs-male, Alexander III. king of Scots, who had conquered the other isles, seized likewise upon this; which, as parcel of that kingdom, came into the hands of Edward I. who directed William Huntercumbe, guardian or warden of that isle for him, to restore it to John Baliol, who had done homage to him for the kingdom of Scotland.

But it seems there was still remaining a lady named Austria, who claimed this sovereignty, as cousin and nearest of kin to the deceased Magnus. This claimant being able to obtain nothing from John Baliol, applied herself next to king Edward, as the superior lord. lord. He, upon this application, by his writ, which is yet extant, commanded both parties, in order to determine their right, to appear in the king's-bench. The progress of this suit does not appear; but we know farther, that this lady, by a deed of gift, conveyed her claim to Sir Simon de Montacute; and, after many disputes, invasions by the Scots, and other accidents, the title was examined in parliament, in the seventh of Edward III. and solemnly adjudged to William de Montacute; to whom, by letters-patent, dated the same year, that monarch released all claim whatsoever.

In the succeeding reign, William Montacute, earl of Salisbury, sold it to Sir William Scroop, afterwards earl of Wiltshire; and, upon his losing his head, it was granted by Henry IV. to Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland; who, being attainted, had, by the grace of that king, all his lands restored, except the isle of Man, which the same monarch granted to Sir John Stanley, to be held by him of the kings his heirs and successors, by homage, and a cast of falcons to be presented at every coronation. Thus it was possessed by this noble family, who were created earls of Derby, till the reign of queen Elizabeth; when, upon the demise of earl Ferdinand, who left three daughters, it was, as lord Coke tells us, adjudged to those ladies, and from them purchased by William earl of Derby, the brother of Ferdinand, from whom it was claimed by descent, and adjudged to its present possessor, his grace the duke of Athol.

This island, from its situation directly in the mouth of the channel, is very beneficial to Britain, by lessening the force of the tides, which would otherwise break with far greater violence than they do at present. The air is sharp, but the winters are not severe; frosts seldom happen, and are of no great continuance; neither does snow lie long upon the ground. But they are frequently exposed to very high winds, and at other times to mists, which, however, are not at all unwholesome. The soil towards the north is dry and sandy, of consequence unfertile, but not unimproveable; the mountains, which may include near two-thirds of the island, are bleak and barren; yet afford excellent peat, and contain several kinds of metals. They maintain also a kind of small swine, called warrs, which are esteemed excellent pork. In the valleys there is as good pasture, hay, and corn, as in any of the northern counties; and the southern part of the island is as fine soil as can be wished. They have marl and lime-stone sufficient to render even their poorest lands fertile; excellent slate, rag-stone, black marble, and some other kinds for building. They have vegetables of all sorts, and in the utmost perfection; potatoes in immense quantities; and, where proper pains have been taken, they have tolerable fruit. They have also hemp, flax, large crops of oats and barley, and some wheat. Hogs, sheep, goats, black cattle, and horses, they have in plenty; and, though small in size, yet if the country was thoroughly and skilfully cultivated, they might improve the breed of all animals, as experience has shown. They have rabbits and hares very fat and fine; tame and wild fowl in great plenty; and in their high mountains they have one airy of eagles, and two of excellent hawks. Their rivulets furnish them with salmon, trout, eels, and other kinds of fresh-water fish; on their coasts are caught cod, turbot, ling, halibut, all sorts of shell-fish, (oysters only are scarce, but large and good), and herrings, of which they made anciently a great profit, though this fishery is of late much declined.

The commodities of this island are not many in number, nor of great value. Their slates are esteemed not inferior to any; their black marble is very hard, and bears a fine polish; and, occasionally, they export some of each, as they formerly did a little grain, and a considerable quantity of ale; but, of late years, both have been found hardly equal to the home-consumption. The rest are lambs-wool, hides, tallow, fish-oil, wax, and honey.

The inhabitants of Man, though far from being unmixed, were, perhaps, till within the course of the present century, more so than any other under the dominion of the crown of Great Britain; to which they are very proud of being subjects, though, like the inhabitants of Jersey and Guernsey, they have a constitution of their own, and a peculiarity of manners naturally resulting from a long enjoyment of it.—The Manks tongue is the only one spoken by the common people. It is the old British, mingled with Norse, or the Norwegian language, and the modern language. The clergy preach and read the common prayer in it; however, a short catechism, carefully taught in the schools, is the only printed book they have. In ancient times they were distinguished by their stature, courage, and great skill in maritime affairs. They are at this day a brisk, lively, hardy, industrious, and well-meaning people. Their frugality defends them from want; and though there are few that abound, there are as few in distress; and those that are, meet with a cheerful unconstrained relief. On the other hand, they are choleric, loquacious, and as the law till lately was cheap, and unencumbered with solicitors and attorneys, not a little litigious. The revenue, in the earl of Derby's time, amounted to about 2500l. a-year; from which, deducting his civil list, which was about 700l. the clear income amounted to 1800l. At the same time the number of his subjects was computed at 20,000.—The sovereign of Man, though he has long ago waived the title of king, was still invested with regal rights and prerogatives; but the distinct jurisdiction of this little subordinate royalty, being found inconvenient for the purposes of public justice, and for the revenue, (it affording a commodious asylum for debtors, outlaws, and smugglers), authority was given to the treasury, by stat. 12 Geo. I. c. 28. to purchase the interest of the then proprietors for the use of the crown: which purchase was at length completed in the year 1765, and confirmed by stat. 5 Geo. III. c. 26. and 39.; whereby the whole island and all its dependencies, (except the landed property of the Athol family), their manorial rights and emoluments, and the patronage of the bishopric and other ecclesiastical benefices, are unalienably vested in the crown, and subjected to the regulation of the British excise and customs.