Goujet, Claude Peter

, a canon of St. James de l‘Hopital, and an associated academician of Marseilles, Rouen, Angers., and Auxerre, was born at Paris, Oct. 19, 1697. His father was a taylor, with a tradesman-like aversion to learning, in the pursuit of which, however, he found it impossible to prevent his son from employing his early years. He began his studies at Paris, and carried them on principally in the Jesuits’ college, and in the congregation of the oratory. In 1720 he obtained a canonry of St. James de l’Hopital. He died at Paris, Feb. 2, 1767. His whole life appears to have been a scene of literary labour, always useful, and often conducted with great judgment. In order to pursue his studies without interruption at home, or the necessity of having recourse to foreign assistance, he accumulated a fine library of 10,000 volumes, in all branches of literature, but particularly literary history and biography. For fifty years he continued to publish one voluminous compilation after another; and by close application, so impaired his sight that he was almost blind some time before his death. The last editor of Moreri divides his publications into translations, works of piety, works of literary history, lives and eloges, papers in the literary Journals, and lastly prefaces; in all amounting to eighty-three articles. Of these the most useful appear to be, 1. “Les Vies des Saints,” Paris, 1730, 7 vols. 12 mo, often reprinted in 4to, and other forms. 2. “Bibliotheque des auteurs ecclesiastiques du XVIII. siecle, pour servir de continuation a celle de M. du Pin, c.” ibid. 1736, 3 vols. 8vo. 3. “Supplement” to Moreri’s Dictionary, ibid. 1735, 2 vols. fol. He also pointed out many hundred errors in the early editions of that work. 4. “Nouveau Supplement” to the same dictionary, ibid. 1749, fol. with a volume of “Additions,” 1750, fol. 5. “Bibliotheque Franchise, ou histoire de la | litterature Frangaise,” from the invention of printing, 21 vols. 12mo, ibid. 1740—1759. This is the most useful of all his works. It was undertaken at the request of M. D’Aro-enson, the secretary of state. It in some measure resembles Niceron, whom he also assisted in his useful “Memoires,” and wrote his life. 6. “De l‘etatdes Sciences en France, depuis la mort de Charlemagne jusqu’a cello du roi Robert,” 1737, 12mo. This learned dissertation obtained the prize of the academy of belles lettres, and the members of this academy are said to have done for Goujet what they had never done for any other man. Without any solicitation, or knowledge of the matter on his parr, they sent a deputation of six of their number to him, requesting the honour of choosing him, in the room of the deceased abbé de Vertot. 7. A new edition of Richelet’s Dictionary, Lyons, 1756, 3 vols. fol. 8. “L’Histoire du College Royal de France,” 4to. 9. “Hist, du Pontificat de Paul V.” Amsterdam (Paris) 1765, 2 vols. 12mo. This was his last work, in which he is much less favourable to the Jesuits than might have been expected from one educated among them. ¹