Riccoboni, Louis

, a comic actor and writer, born at Modena in 1674, came to France in 1716, and distinguished himself as the best actor at the Theatre Italien. Religious motives induced him to quit the stage in 1729; and he died in 1753, much esteemed for the decency of his manners, and his amiable disposition. He was the anthor of a number of comedies, which had a temporary success, and which contain much comic humour. One of them, entitled “Les Coquets,” was revived a few years since. He also wrote “Pensées sur la Declamation” “Discours sur la Reformation du Theatre” “Observations sur la Comedie et sur le Genie de Moliere” “Rer flexions Historiques et Critiques sur les Theatres de | l’jEurope;” and “Histoire du Theatre Italien,” 2 vols. 8vo, which, with his “Reflections Historical and Critical upon all the Theatres of Europe/' which appeared in 17J8, contains many judicious observations relative to the stage in general, and to the lyric theatre in particular. His second wife, Marie Laboras de Meziekes, was also an actress on the Italian theatre, which she quitted with her husband; but her writings are novels, the scenes of which sne frequently laid in England. They are all of the sentimental cast. She also translated Fielding’s” Amelia." Her works were printed collectively in 10 volumes, Neufchatel, 12mo, and Paris, 9 vols. 12 mo, and some of her novels have been translated into English. She died Dec. 6, 17,92, reduced by the troubles of the time to a state approaching to want; and soon after a new edition of her works, with a life, appeared in 18 vols. 12mo. ¹