or Adsidus**, among the Romans, denoted a rich or wealthy person. The word in this sense is derived from *as affect*, q.d. a monied man. Hence we meet with *affiduous fureties*, *affidui fidejussores*, answering to what the French now call city sureties or securities, *caution bourgeois*.

When Servius Tullius divided the Roman people into five classes, according as they were affixed or taxed to the public, the richer sort who contributed most were denominated *affidui*; and as these were the chief people of business who attended all the public concerns, those who were diligent in attendances came to be denominated *affidui*.

**ASIENTO**, a Spanish word signifying a farm, in Commerce, is used for a bargain between the king of Spain and other powers, for importing negroes into the Spanish dominions in America, and particularly to Buenos Ayres. The first affiento was made with the French Guinea company; and, by the treaty of Utrecht, transferred to the English, who were to furnish 4800 negroes annually.