a province (Landrostheizirk) of Hanover, situated on the North Sea, between Oldenburg and Holland. It comprises the old province of East Friesland. Its area is 870 geographical square miles, and it is divided into 12 amts. Pop. in 1848, 174,355, of whom 118,394 were Lutherans, 50,007 Reformers, 3249 Roman Catholics, and 2254 Jews. See HANOVER. Aurich, its capital, is 12 miles N.E. of Emden, with which it is connected by the canal of Trecktief. The town is well built and has an ancient princely castle, in which the provincial courts now sit; several handsome churches, cavalry barracks, gymnasium, and public library. It is noted for its horse and corn markets, and has a considerable general trade. Pop. 4500.

AURICULAR Confession, in the Roman Catholic Church, is a declaration of sins made in private to a priest, for the purpose of obtaining absolution. The scriptural authority for this practice is supposed to be found in Matthew xxviii. 18; Acts xix. 18; James v. 16; 1 John i. 9.