W R E 



not larger than peas. This bird has been obferved fuf- 

 pended in the air for a confiderable time over a bufh in 

 flower, whilft it fung very melodioufly. The note does 

 not much differ from that of the common wren, but is very- 

 weak. Ray and Pennant. See Motacilla Regulm. 



Wren, Tcllow. See Luteqla, and Motacilla 

 Trochilus. 



WRENCH. See Strain; 



WRENTHAM, in Geography, a town of the ftate of 

 MaiTachufetts, in the county of Norfolk, containing 2478 

 inhabitants ; 23 miles S.W. of Bofton. 



WRESTBALKING, in Agriculture, the operation of 

 turning over upon or covering a balk or rib of whole un- 

 moved ground, by a broad furrow-flice, in the view of 

 rendering the land more mellow and porous. The term is 

 chiefly ufed in the eaftern dillrifts of the country. 



WRESTLING, a kind of combat or engagement be- 

 tween two perfons unarmed, body to body, to prove their 

 ftrength and dexterity, and try which can throw his op- 

 ponent to the ground. 



Wreftling, paUJlra, is an exercife of very great antiquity 

 and fame. It was in ufe in the heroic age ; witnefs Her- 

 cules, who wreftled with Antaeus. 



It continued a long time in the higheft repute, and had 

 very confiderable rewards and honours afligned it at the 

 Olympic games. It was the cuftom of the athleta;, or 

 wreftlers, to anoint their bodies with oil, to give the lefs 

 hold to their antagoniil. See Pal^istra. 



Ablancourt obferves, that Lycurgus ordained the Spartan 

 maids to wreflle in pubHc, quite naked, to break them of 

 their too much delicacy and nicenefs ; to make them ap- 

 pear more robuft, and familiarize the people, &c. to fuch 

 nudities. 



A wreiUing match, or neolering, is a very common di- 

 verfion in the Mandingo countries of Africa. It is exhibited 

 at the " Bentang," which is a large ftage found in each 

 town, that anfwers the purpofe of a public hall or town- 

 houfe : it is compofed of interwoven canes, and is generally 

 Jheltered from the fun by being erefted in the (hade of fome 

 large tree. It ferves alfo for a kind of lounging place, 

 where the indolent and unemployed aflemble to fmoke their 

 pipes, and talk over the news of the day. 



At the wreftling match, the fpeftators arrange themfelves 

 in a circle, leaving the intermediate fpace for the wreftlers, 

 who are ftrong, aftive, young men, trained up from infancy 

 to this fort of exertion. Being ftripped of their clothing, 

 except a (hort pair of drawers, and having their ikin anointed 

 with oil, OT Jhea butter, they approach each other on all 

 fours, parrying with and occafionally extending a hand for 

 fome time, till at length one of them fprings forward and 

 catches his rival by the knee. Great dexterity and judgment 

 are now difplayed ; and the conteft is at length decided by 

 fuperior ftrength. The combatants are animated by the 

 mufic of a drum, which ferves alfo in fome meafure to re- 

 gulate their motions. The wreftling is fucceeded by a 

 dance, in which many performers aflift, all being provided 

 with little bells faftened to their legs and arms ; their mo- 

 tions being regulated by the drum, beaten by a crooked 

 flick, which the drummer holds in his right-hand, occa- 

 fionally ufing his left to deaden the found, and thus vary 

 the mufic. The drum is alfo ufed to keep order among the 

 fpeftators ; and when the wreftling match is about to begin, 

 the drummer ftrikes what is underftood to fignify " ali bse 

 fee," fit all down ; upon which the fpeftators immediately 

 feat themfelves ; and when the combatants begin, he ftrikes 

 " arauta, amuta," i.e. take hold, take hold. 



Vol. XXXVIII. 



W R E 



WRETESTA, in Geography, a town of Sweden, in 

 Sudermannland ; 36 miles N.W. of Nykioping. 



WRETSTORP, a town of Sweden, in the province of 

 Nericia ; 16 miles S.W. of Orebro. 



WRETWEED, in Agriculture, a name fometimes given 

 to wart-weed or fun-fpurge, a troublefome weed in fields. 

 See Weed. 



WREXHAM, in Geography, a market-town in the 

 hundred of Bromefield, towards the eaft corner of the county 

 of Denbigh, North Wales, is fituated 25 miles E.S.E. from 

 Denbigh, ii\ S.S.W. from Chefter, and by the road 

 through Whitechurch 176 N.W. from London. The 

 parifh of Wrexham is extenfive and populous, and com- 

 prifes 14 townlhips. By the returns of 181 1, the popula- 

 tion of the whole amounted to 19,495, ^'^^ ^^^ houfes 

 to 4142. 



Wrexham is a place of confiderable antiquity, for it is 

 mentioned in the Saxon Chronicle by the name of Wrigb- 

 telefham. Although belonging to Cambria, yet being 

 feparated by the ancient trench called Off'a's Dyke, it came 

 to be ranked as appertaining to the great internal diftrift of 

 England, Mercia. In the reign of Edward I., the town 

 and the lordihip were granted to earl Warren ; ahd as early 

 as the reign of Henry VIII., the town was known for its 

 trade, particularly for its buckle-makers. Wrexham is 

 noted for its fairs, one of which continues for nine days, 

 for the fale of Welfti flannels, cattle, Irifh linens, Eng- 

 li(h woollens, ironmongery, &c. The weekly markets 

 are kept on Monday and Thurfday. The church of 

 Wrexham is the moft remarkable and moft ornamented 

 building of its kind in North Wales. It was erefted in 

 1472, but the tower was not finiftied till 1506. It confifts 

 c»f a nave, with fide aifles, and a chancel ; the whole length 

 being 178 feet, and the breadth 72 : the tower rifes to the 

 height of 135 feet; the aifles are feparated from the nave 

 by cluftered columns fupporting pointed arches ; the ceiling 

 is compofed of oak, in imitation of groined Hone. In the 

 town is a free-fchool for educating twelve boys. Two miles 

 weft from Wrexham is Borfliam, which is noted for the 

 great iron-furnaces of Mefl'rs. Wilkinfon. Notwithftanding 

 the difficulties in the beginning, the works are now among 

 the greateft in the kingdom. The machinery employed is 

 very ingenious ; and every article of caft-iron, from cannon 

 down to kitchen utenfils, is fabricated in great numbers. 

 Iron-ftone and coal are plentiful in the neighbourhood ; and 

 at a ftiort diftance is a produftive lead-mine. The EUef- 

 mere canal between Shrewftjury and Chefter pafles half a 

 mile to the weft of Wrexham. Two miles more to the 

 weftward is the celebrated intrenchment called Offa's 

 Dyke, which extended from the river Wye in Monmouth- 

 fliire on the fouth into Flintfhire on the north ; and is fup- 

 pofed to have been forfned by that Saxon chief of Mercia, 

 to defend his country from the native Britons, who had re- 

 tired among the mountains of Wales. On the eaft fide of 

 Wrexham is Wat's Dyke, another intrenchment of the 

 fame kind, probably intended for a fimilar purpofe, but un- 

 connefted with the work of Offa. 



About feven miles S.S.W from Wrexham is Ruabon, a 

 village with a refpeftable church, containing the monuments 

 of the ancient families of Williams and Wynn ; one in par- 

 ticular for the firft fir Watkin, who died in 1749, is a 

 diftingniflied produftion of Ryfbrack. The learned Dr. 

 David Powell, the tranflator and editor of fundry hiftorical 

 works relative to Wales, was a native and vicar of Ruabon, 

 where he died in 1 590. On the eaft fide of the village is the 

 gate leading to the park and manfion of Wynnftay, the feat 



5 F of 



