a market-town of England, in the county of Hereford, on the left bank of the Wye, 14 miles S.S.E. of Hereford, and 120 W.S.W. of London. It is a pleasant-looking place, in a fine situation overlooking the river; but the streets are steep and narrow, though generally well paved. Near the centre stands an old and interesting town-hall; the parish church also is an ancient building in the perpendicular style, conspicuous for its lofty spire, which has repeatedly been struck by lightning. In the church are several ancient monuments, including one of Kyrle, the "man of Ross," eulogised by Pope. The other places of worship belong to Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, and Quakers. The town contains national and other schools, a mechanics' institution, dispensary, savings-bank, &c. Once there was here a considerable trade in iron, but cider is now the chief article of commerce. Markets are held weekly, and fairs six times a year. Pop. (1851) 2674.

Rosscarbery, a market-town of Ireland, in the county of Cork, on a rocky hill at the head of Ross Bay, 39 miles S.W. of Cork, and 197 S.W. of Dublin. It has an old cathedral, which has been several times altered, and is now surmounted by a modern spire. A Roman Catholic church, court-house, market-house, jail, and dispensary are also in the town. A weekly market and two annual fairs are held here. Pop. (1851) 1044.

Ross, New, a parliamentary and municipal borough of Ireland, in the county of Wexford, on the left bank of the Barrow, here crossed by a wooden bridge leading to the suburb Rosbercon, 13 miles N.N.E. of Waterford. It consists chiefly of a long street extending along the summit of the high river-bank, with shorter ones rising steeply to it on either side; but there is a more modern portion built along the water's edge. The town was formerly inclosed by walls, but these were demolished by Cromwell in 1649. The parish church is a neat building on the site of an ancient abbey, of which there are still some remains. Rosbercon has also a parish church, this, too, partially consisting of an older building; and there are places of worship for Roman Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Independents, and Quakers. Among the other buildings of the town are a market-house, court-house, bridewell, cavalry barracks, several hospitals, workhouse, and dispensary; and in addition to these, New Ross has a grammar school, news-room, and circulating library. The principal manufactures of the town are tanning and brewing; and the trade is very considerable,—grain, flour, wool, butter, &c., being exported. There are extensive quays, where vessels of 200 tons can lie at all tides, and those as large as 800 at spring-tides. The river is navigable for barges as far up as Athy, and from thence there is communication by canal with Dublin. The number of ships registered at the port 31st December 1857 was 14 sailing-vessels, tonnage 4219. In the year ending on that day there entered the harbour 297 sailing-vessels, tonnage 25,151; and there cleared 58, tonnage 5659; while the number of steam-vessels that entered and cleared was 324 each, tonnage 27,216. A great number of the inhabitants are employed in salmon-fishery on the river, both above and below the town. Markets are held here twice a week, and fairs monthly. During the rebellion in 1798 New Ross was attacked by the insurgents, but after ten hours' fighting, they were repulsed with great loss. The borough formerly sent two members to the Irish Parliament, and now one to that of the United Kingdom. Pop. (1851) 7941.

Sir John, the famous Arctic navigator, was a son of a minister of the Church of Scotland, and was born at Balsarroch in Wigtonshire in 1777. His nature was early inured to toil and hardship. He was no more than nine when he entered the navy. His services as a midshipman were immediately employed in the Mediterranean. So soon afterwards as 1806, he was engaged as a lieutenant in the French war, and received no less than thirteen wounds. It was in 1818 that Ross undertook to settle the disputed question about the North-West Passage. Setting sail in the Isabella, and attended by Lieutenant Parry in command of the Alexander, he left the Thames on the 25th of April. On reaching the American coast, his ships pressed on through Davis Straits and Baffin's Bay, and turned their prows into Lancaster Sound. He had not proceeded much farther before he imagined that he espied a line of high land sweeping across the breadth of the bay, and closing up the passage. Fancying that the object of his enterprise was accomplished, he immediately tacked about, and in spite of the remonstrance of Parry, sailed away homewards. His ships arrived in the Thames on the 14th December 1818, and in the following month he was rewarded with the rank of post-captain. The next expedition of Captain Ross to the same regions was undertaken in May 1829. His vessels were the steamer Victory, equipped at the expense of Felix Booth, sheriff of London, and the Krusenstern, furnished by the government. His design was to penetrate if possible through Prince Regent Inlet, recently discovered by Parry, into Barrow's Straits. Accordingly, on the 12th of August he entered into the former of these seas. He had not sailed far before he got blocked up in the ice, which detained him for many months. Year after year his course was intercepted. Towards the end of the fourth year it was found necessary to abandon the vessel and to