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 168 PATEICK or slaves. After the formation of the plebeian order, the patrician became a real aristocra- cy, which held all civil and religious offices. No matter how poor he was, a patrician could not become a plebeian unless he voluntarily left his gens and curia, and gave up its obligations and privileges ; and no matter how wealthy he was, a plebeian could not become a patrician ex- cept in accordance with the lex curiata. At the end of the republic the number of patrician families had diminished to about 50, and both Julius Csesar and Augustus and the succeed- ing emperors found it necessary to raise plebe- ians to the patrician rank. The plebeians, in a struggle of centuries, had conquered all their political rights. The formation of the new aristocracy, founded upon wealth and upon the holding of the offices of consul, prsetor, and curule aedile, rendered the old patrician fami- lies of still less account. During the empire the Roman citizens were divided into the two classes of populm and patricii. At the acces- sion of Constantino the patrician families had almost entirely died out, and that monarch made- it a personal title instead of a heredi- tary distinction. It was granted to all who had made themselves eminent by their servi- ces to the empire or the emperors. With the exception of the consuls, they constituted the highest rank in the state. Those members of the patrician body who were in actual service, as usually most of them were, went under the name of patricii prasentales ; the others were dalled patricii codicillares or Jionorarii. This distinction was conferred by most emperors with much caution, but some granted it even to eunuchs. It was also conferred at times on foreign princes. The exarch of Ravenna was sometimes styled patrician. After the loss of Italy, the Romans conferred this title on their rulers and protectors. During the middle ages families entitled patrician sprang up in many of the cities. In Venice members of the great council and their descendants bore the title. After 1297 no person was created patrician, but all descendents of those who belonged to that body became members by right at the age of 25. In Rome, Genoa, and other cities of Italy, the title of patrician is still used. PATRICK, a S. county of Virginia, bordering on North Carolina, and drained by the Dan, Smith's, and North and South Mayo rivers, all of which have their sources in the Blue Ridge, which forms its N". W. boundary ; area about 500 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 10,161, of wHom 2,325 were colored. It has a mountainous surface, and is noted for its picturesque scene- ry ; much of the soil is fertile, and iron ore is abundant. The chief productions in 1870 were 9,657 bushels of wheat, 12,984 of rye, 147,329 of Indian corn, 50,937 of oats, 17,166 of Irish and 8,205 of sweet potatoes, 85,545 Ibs. of but- ter, 8,096 of wool, 37,211 of honey, and 323,- 886 of tobacco. There were 975 horses, 2,196 milch cows, 3,279 other cattle, 5,028 sheep, and 11,560 swine. Capital, Patrick Court House. PATRICK (Lat. PATRICIUS), Saint, the apostle and patron saint of Ireland. The place of his birth is uncertain. O'Curry discovered in the British museum a manuscript tripartite life of the 6th century, which affirms that Patrick was born in 372 at Bonavens Tabernise, thought by some to be the modern Boulogne. Oth- ers maintain that he was born near Kilpatrick in Scotland, in 373. He died in Down, Ulster, March 17, 493 or 495. The name of Patricius was bestowed on him in Rome by Pope Ccles- tine, his original name having been Succath. At the age of 16 he was carried captive to Ire- land by a band of marauders, but after six months escaped to Scotland. Carried off a sec- ond time, and again escaping, he resolved to become a missionary to the Irish, was ordained in Scotland, and after a long preparation was consecrated bishop. Having previously, ac- cording to some accounts, visited Gaul and perhaps Italy, he passed over to his chosen field of labor about 432, and preached the gospel with such extraordinary effect that, although not absolutely the first to introduce Christianity into that country, he has always received the credit of its general conversion. He baptized the kings of Dublin and Munster, and the seven sons of the king of Connaught, with the greater part of their subjects, and before his death had converted almost the whole island to the faith. St. Bernard testifies that he fixed his metro- politan see at Armagh, and it appears that he appointed several other bishops, with whom he held councils to settle the discipline of the church. He is said in his old age to have writ- ten his "Confession," but its authenticity is considered doubtful by many. It may be found in Sir James "Ware's edition of the works of St. Patrick (8vo, London, 1658). The Roman Catholic church keeps his festival on March 17. Patrick devoted the lands bestowed on him to the foundation of churches, of cloisters for both sexes, and of numerous monastic schools, which flourished during the next three centu- ries. He was also zealous for the suppression of slavery, which was one of the great incen- tives to the piratical expeditions so frequent in his day. PATRICK, Simon, an English author, born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Sept. 8, 1626, died May 31, 1707. He was educated at Queen's college, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1648, and took orders in 1651. In 1658 he was presented with the living of Battersea, and from 1652 to 1704 he published more than 30 sermons and devotional treatises. In 1662 he became rector of St. Paul's, Covent Gar- den, in 1672 prebendary of Westminster, in 1679 dean of Peterborough, in 1689 bishop of Chichester, and in 1691 bishop of Ely. Be- sides his translation of Grotius De Veritate, he wrote a "Commentary and Paraphrase on the Old Testament" (10 vols. 4to, London, 1695- 1710) ; it extends to Canticles, and was com- pleted by Lowth and Whitby for the whole Bible. His autobiography was first printed in