Lerwick

Lerwick, a town of Scotland, capital of the Shetland islands, on Bressay sound, on the E. side of Mainland, 20 m. N. E. of Sumburgh head; pop. in 1871, 3,449. The main thoroughfare is a tortuous path between the houses, which are built close to the water's edge. In the vicinity are the ruins of a castle of supposed Pictish origin. The harbor is well protected and easily accessible. The coasting trade and fisheries are active. Nearly 100 vessels belong to the port.

Lesbos

See Mytilene.

Lesghians

Lesghians, a warlike people of the Caucasus, inhabiting the western portions of the province of Daghestan and some adjacent parts. They number about 300,000, and are subdivided into a number of tribes, speaking various dialects, some of which so widely differ from each other that the Tartar language has generally become a medium of conversation between different tribes. They never formed one commonwealth until Sha-myl succeeded in uniting them against the Russians. After his submission in 1859 the Russian rule was firmly established. Accustomed to a warlike life, the Lesghians inhabit chiefly mountain villages, which are difficult of access, and can easily be converted into strong fortresses. The Christian religion has not yet gained a firm footing among them. Their present belief is a kind of Mohammedanism, which was taught by Shamyl. (See Caucasus, and Shamyl.)

Leszczynski

See Stanislas I. Leszczynski.

Letcher

Letcher, an E. county of Kentucky, bordering on Virginia, bounded S. E. by the Cumberland mountains, and drained by the head waters of the Kentucky river; area, about 300 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 4,608, of whom 129 were colored. The surface is mountainous, and the soil fertile in the valleys. The chief productions in 1870 were 4,656 bushels of wheat, 124,478 of Indian corn, 10,744 of oats, 11,167 of potatoes, 6,582 lbs. of tobacco, 10,631 of wool, 44,596 of butter, and 10,444 of flax. There were 736 horses, 1,592 milch cows, 3,102 other cattle, 6,444 sheep, and 8,844 swine. Capital, "Whitesburg.

Lethe

Lethe, in Grecian mythology, the personification of oblivion, called by Hesiod a daughter of Eris. It was also a stream of silver clearness in Hades, from which the shades drank forget-fulness of their earthly life, or at least of all their sorrows. According to Virgil, also, those souls destined to return to new bodies on earth drank of its waters, in order to forget Elysium.

Of Lethington Maitland Sir Richard

Of Lethington Maitland Sir Richard, a Scottish lawyer and poet, born in 1496, died March 20, 1586. He was educated at St. Andrews and in Paris, became an advocate, held several public offices, among others that of lord privy seal, and was knighted. He was the author of a "History and Chronicle of the House of Seaton," and of several poems, the most important of which is that on "The Creation and Paradyce Lost." A complete edition of his poems was first published by the Maitland club in 1830. He is celebrated as a collector of ancient Scottish poetry. His collections are yet extant in manuscript in the Pepysian library, Cambridge, and fill two large volumes. He became blind in 1559.