SHERIFF (ante) in the United States, is an officer of the state and county, and not of the general government; lie has no judicial functions unless power to assess damages in certain cases with the aid of a jury is considered as such; and be is almost invariably elected by popular vote. The deputies of a sheriff are responsible to him only while he remains responsible to the executive and the public (see PUBLIC OFFICERS). The ditties and function of the sheriff are in general much .the same in this country as in England.
in Scotland, is the registrar of the sheriff's court, and as such has charge of the records of the court. He registers, and, when required by the proper party, issues the sheriff's judgments. He also conducts what correspondence may be required. He has important perform in regulating the summary execution which is issued in Scotland against the debtors in bills of exchange, promissory notes, and bonds, without the necessity of any judicial suit.
a name given to several moors in Scotland on account of the " wapinschaws" which used to be there held, under the superintendence of the sheriff. The only moor of this name which appears prominently in Scottish history is situated in Perthshire, on the northern slope of the Ochils, 2 m. n.e. of Dunblane, and was the site of the great battle between the adherents of the houses of Stuart and Hanover, hove 13, 1715. The former, who consisted of the northern clans under the earl of Seaford',
and the western clans under gen. Gordon, numbering about 9,000 in all, were on their march southward, under the leadership of the earl of Mar, to join the Jacobites who had risen in the n.w..of England, when they were met by the duke of Argyle at the head of 3,500 disciplined troops. After lying under arms all night, the Macdonalds, who formed the center and right of the Highland army,•ittacked the left of their opponents, and routed it so completely that the fugitives fled with all speed to Stirling, carrying the news that Argyle had been totally defeated. Argyle, however,-with his dragoons had meantime driven the left of the Highlanders back for 2 rn., when the right and center returned from the pursuit, and took him in rear; he then skillfully withdrew-liis men to a place of shelter, and remained facing his opponents till the evening, Shen ho retired to Dunblane. and next day to Stirling. About 500 were slain on each side. As a mere battle, the victory lay with the Highlanders; but it was so little decisive, that :it paralyzed the action of the Jacobites almost as effectually as a defeat would have done.