Renaudot, Eusebius

, a French writer, very learned in Oriental history and languages, was born at Paris in 1646; and, being taught classical literature by the Jesuits, and philosophy in the college of Harcourt, afterwards entered into the congregation of the oratory, where he did not continue long. His father being first physician to the dauphin, he was early introdued to scenes, where his parts, his learning, and his politeness, made him admired. His reputation was afterwards advanced and established by several learned works, which he published. In 1700, heattended cardinal de Noailles to Rome; and received great honours, together with the priory of Frossey in Bretagne, from pope Clement V. Returning by Florence he was honoured in the same manner by the great duke; and was also made a member of the academy de la Crusca. On his return to France he devoted himself entirely to letters, and composed a great number of learned dissertations, which are printed in the “Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions,” of which he was a member, as well as of the French academy. He died in 1720. Voltaire blames him for having prevented Bayle’s dictionary from being printed in France. This is very natural in Voltaire and Voltaire’s followers; but it is a more serious objection to Renaudot, that, while his love of learning made him glad to correspond with learned Protestants, his cowardly bigotry | prevented him from avowing the connection. Not long before Dr. Pocock’s death that eminent orientalist received a letter from Renaudot, in which he professes a very high esteem for the doctor, desires the liberty of consulting him in all the doubts that should occur in preparing his “Collection of Liturgies,” &c. and promises, in return for this favour, to make a public acknowledgment of it, and preserve a perpetual memory of the obligation; yet, when the above work appeared, he travelled out of his way to reproach Dr. Pocock with a mistake, which was perhaps the only one that could be discovered in his writings.

Renaudot bequeathed his extensive library to the abbey of St. Germain des Pres. His works are, a collection of controversial pieces on the celebrated work respecting “the perpetuity of the Faith” “Historia Patriarcharum Alexandrinorum Jacobitarum,” 1713, 4to, &c. “A Collection of ancient Greek and Oriental Liturgies,” 1716, 2 vols. 4to. “Two ancient Accounts of the Indies and China, with learned remarks,” 1718, 8vo. “A Defence of the Perpetuity of the Faith,” 8vo, against Aymon’s Book. Several Dissertations in the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions. “Defense de l‘Histoire des Patriarches d’Alexandria,” 12mo. A Latin translation of “The Life of St. Athanasius,” written originally in Arabic, and inserted in the edition of this Father’s works by Montfaucon, &c. ¹