an island in the British channel, subject to the crown of Great Britain. It is about eight miles in compass, and is separated from Cape la Hogue, in Normandy, by a narrow strait, called the Race of Alderney, which is a very dangerous passage in stormy weather when the two currents meet; otherwise it is safe, and has depth of water for the largest ships. Through this strait the French fleet made their escape after their defeat at La Hogue, in 1692. It is a healthy island, has but one church, is fruitful both in corn and pasture, and is remarkable for a fine breed of cows. The inhabitants, for their greater safety, live together in a town of the same name. The number of houses is said to be 200, and the inhabitants 1000. It has but one harbour, called Crabby, which is at a good distance from the town; and is only fit for small vessels. To the west lie the range of rocks called the Caletes, so dangerous to mariners. W. Long. 2° 17'. N. Lat. 49° 50'.

ALDHelm, or Adelm, St., bishop of Shireburn in the time of the Saxon Heptarchy. He is said to have been the son of Kenred, brother to Ina, king of the West-Saxons; but, in the opinion of William of Malmesbury, his father was no more than a distant relation to the king. Having received the first part of his education in the school which one Macduff, a learned Scot, had set up in the place where Malmesbury now stands, he travelled into France and Italy for his improvement. At his return home, he studied some time under Adrian abbot of St Augustine's in Canterbury, the most learned professor of the sciences who had ever been in England. In these different seminaries he acquired a very uncommon stock of knowledge; and became famous for his learning, not only in England, but in foreign countries: whence several learned men sent him their writings for his perusal and correction; particularly Prince Arcivill, a son of the king of Scotland, who wrote many pieces which he sent to Aldhelm, "entreating him to give them the last polish, by rubbing off their Scots ruff." He was the first Englishman who wrote in the Latin language both in prose and verse, and composed a book for the instruction of his countrymen in the profanity of that language. He Aldhelm fades this, he wrote several other treatises on various subjects; some of which are lost, and others published by Martin Delrio and Cantius. Venerable Bede, who flourished in the end of this and the beginning of the next century, gives the following character of Aldhelm:

"He was a man of universal erudition, having an elegant style, and being wonderfully well acquainted with books, both on philosophical and religious subjects."

In fact, considering the cloud of ignorance by which he was surrounded, and the great difficulty of acquiring knowledge without proper instruction, Aldhelm was a very extraordinary man. From one of his letters to Hedda bishop of Winchester, concerning the nature of his studies whilst at Canterbury, he appears to have been indefatigably determined to acquire every species of learning in his power. For a copy of this curious epistle, see Henry's History, vol. ii. p. 320. King Alfred the Great declared, that Aldhelm was the best of all the Saxon poets; and that a favourite long, which was universally sung in his time, near 200 years after its author's death, was of his composition. When he was abbot of Malmesbury, having a fine voice, and great skill in music as well as poetry, and observing the backwardness of his barbarous countrymen to listen to grave instructions, he composed a number of little poems, which he sung to them after mass in the sweetest manner; by which they were gradually instructed and civilized. After this excellent person had governed the monastery of Malmesbury, of which he was the founder, about 30 years, he was made bishop of Shireburn, where he died A.D. 799.—He wrote, 1. De cultu vitis principalibus. This treatise is extant in Bibliotheca Patronum de Canisius. 2. Enigmatum verus mille. This, with several other of his poems, was published by Martin Delrio at Mentz, 8vo, 1651. 3. A book addressed to a certain king of Northumberland, named Alfrid, on various subjects. 4. De vita monachorum. 5. De laude sanctorum. 6. De arithmetica. 7. De astrologia. 8. A book against the mistake of the Britons concerning the celebration of Easter; printed by Sonius, 1576. 9. De laude virginis Mariae; manuscript, in Bennet-college, Cambridge; published among Bede's Opuscula. Besides many sonnets, epistles, and homilies in the Saxon language.