(William), a protestant dissenting minister of eminent abilities and character, resided at Honiton in Devonshire. Sept. 20, 1765, the degree of D.D. was conferred on him by the university of Glasgow, by the unanimous consent of the members of that body. "He published an Historical and Critical Account of the Lives of James I., Charles I., and Oliver Cromwell, in five vols 8vo, after the manner of Mr Bayle. He was preparing a like account of James II. He also wrote the life of Hugh Peters; besides many fugitive pieces occasionally, for the public prints, in support of liberty and virtue. All his works have been well received; and those who differ from him in principle, still value him in point of industry and faithfulness." We give this character in the words of his munificent patron Mr Hollis, who had presented him with many valuable books relative to the subjects of his histories; and was at the expense of procuring his degree. But the Doctor's works were differently thought of by the authors of the Critical Review (March 1766). "Industry was their principal characteristic. They certainly have none of the vivacity which inspired Bayle; and in the judgment of dispassionate readers, impartiality is frequently violated." Dr Harris died at Honiton, Feb. 4, 1770.

(James, Esq.), an English gentleman of very uncommon parts and learning, was the son of James Harris, Esq.; by a sister of lord Shaftesbury author of The Characteristics. He was born in the Cloate at Salisbury 1709; and educated at the grammar-school there. In 1726, he was removed to Wadham-college in Oxford, but took no degree. He cultivated letters, however, most attentively; and also music, in the theory and practice of which he is said to have had few equals. He was member for Christchurch Hants, which he represented in several successive parliaments. In 1763, he was appointed one of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, and soon after removed to the board of treasury. In 1774 he was made secretary and comptroller to the queen, which post he held until his death. He died Dec. 21, 1782, in his 72nd year, after a long illness, which he bore with calmness and resignation.—He is the author of some valuable works. 1. Three Treatises: concerning Art; Music, Painting, and Poetry; and Happiness, 1745, 8vo. 2. Hermes; or, A Philosophical Enquiry concerning Universal Grammar. 3. Philosophical Arrangements. 4. Philological Inquiries, 1782, 2 vols 8vo. finished just before his death, and published since. These Inquiries show much ingenuity and learning; but being the amusement of his old age rather than an exertion of genius, they have not the philosophic tone of his former productions.

one of the Hebrides or Western Islands of Scotland. It is 20 miles in length, and 10 in breadth. Upon the east side it is mostly rock; but on the west there are some tolerable farms, and the number of people amounts to 2000. It has Lewis on the north, and North Uist on the south, from which it is separated by a channel of four miles in width, called the Sound of Harris. This channel is navigable for vessels of burden, but it requires a skilful pilot. It is the only passage between the Butt of the Lewis and Bara for vessels of burden passing to and from the west side of the Long Island. The sound is greatly encumbered with rocks and islands, some of which are considerable, as Bernera, Pabay, Ensay, Killegray. These, with Scalpay, Taransay, and Scarp, compose the inhabited islands on the coast of Harris. Some of them produce good crops of grain, and all of them good pasture. Harris and its islands fell from 400 to 500 ton of kelp annually; it abounds on the east side in excellent lochs or bays, and its shores on both sides form one continued fishery. The fish on this coast, and along the whole shores of the Long Island, are more numerous, and of larger dimensions, than those on the opposite continent; on which account, two royal fishing stations were begun in the reign of Charles I. one in Loch Maddie, and the other in the Sound of Harris.