, a French female wit, the daughter of William de Jars, lord of Neufoi and Gournay, was born either in Paris, or in Gascony, about 1565. From her infancy
, a French female
wit, the daughter of William de Jars, lord of Neufoi and
Gournay, was born either in Paris, or in Gascony, about
1565. From her infancy she had a strong turn to literature; and Montagne publishing his first essays about this
time, she conceived an enthusiastic veneration for the
author. These declarations soon reached the ears of Montagne, who returned her compliments by corresponding
regard for her talents. Her esteem by degrees growing
into a kind of filial affection for Montagne, when her father
died she adopted him in his stead, even before she had
seen him; and, when he was at Paris in 1588, she paid
him a visit, and prevailed upon him to accompany her and
her mother the lady Gournay, to their country mansion,
where he passed two or three months. In short, our
young devotee to the muses was so wedded to books of
polite literature in general, and Montague’s Essays in particular, that she resolved never to have any other associate
to her happiness. Nor was Montagne sparing to pay the
just tribute of his gratitude, and foretold, in the second
book of his Essays, that she would be capable of great
eminence in the republic of letters. Their affectionate
i-egard extended through the family; Montagne’s daughter,
the viscountess de Jamaches, always claimed mademoiselle
de Jars as a sister; and the latter dedicated her piece, “Le
Bouquet de Pinde,
” to this sister. Thus she passed many
years, happy in her new alliance, until she received the
melancholy news of Montagne’s death, whet) she crossed
almost the whole kingdom of France to mingle her tears
and lamentations, which were excessive, with those of his
widow and daughter. Nor did her filial regard stop here.
She revised, corrected, and reprinted an edition of his
“Essays
” in
, a French politician, was born at Rochefoucauld in 1625, and was taken by the celebrated
, a French politician,
was born at Rochefoucauld in 1625, and was taken by the
celebrated duke of that name into his service as valet de
chambre, from which situation he rose to be his confidential
friend. He was also equally honoured by the great Conde,
and was employed by the superintendant Fouquet, in public business, and was involved in his disgrace. But such
was the value put upon his political talents and integrity,
that he was at one time proposed to the king as successor
to. Colbert in the ministry. He died in 1705, leaving
“Memoirs of his Life from 1642 to 1698,
” 2 vols. 12mo,
written with frankness and simplicity and containing very
lively characters of the ministers and principal persons of
his time, of which, it is said, Voltaire made much use in
his “Siecle de Louis XIV.
”
, an eminent protestant divine, was born Oct. 7, 1635, of a good family at Blois, and was cousin-german
, an eminent protestant divine, was
born Oct. 7, 1635, of a good family at Blois, and was
cousin-german to the celebrated Isaac Papin. He was
appointed minister at Poitiers in 1662, and remained there
till the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685. He then
went to England, and afterwards to Holland, where he was
chosen minister of the Walloon church at Dort. Five years
after he was appointed professor of Greek and divinity at
Groningen, where he died Nov. 4, 1704, leaving a great
number of works, both printed and in ms.: the principal
are, a Hebrew dictionary, or “Commentarii Lingua? Hebraicce
” a valuable work, the best edition of which is that
of Leipsic, 1743, 4to a refutation, in Latin, of rabbi
Isaac’s “Chizzouck Emounak,
” or Shield of Faith, Dort,
Tela ignea Satanaj.
” He also published “Considerations theologiques et critiques centre le Projet
d'une nouvelle Version de la Bible,
”
, a learned French physician, professor of mathematics, and a member of several learned societies, was born at Paris March 7, 1722. His first public services in the
, a learned French physician,
professor of mathematics, and a member of several learned
societies, was born at Paris March 7, 1722. His first public services in the literary world were the arrangement and
preparation for the press of M. la Condamiue’s memoir
on the measure of the first three degrees of the meridian
in the Southern hemisphere. In the Encyclopaedia he was
chosen for the department of the mechanic arts, and his
numerous articles are remarkable for accuracy and perspicuity. He had a great turn for mechanics, and invented
several machines still employed in agriculture and chemistry, c. in France. In connexion with the unfortunate
baron de Marivetz, he published a learned and elaborate
work entitled “Physique du monde,
” five volumes of
which he published during the life of his colleague, and
afterwards three others. The whole was to have been
comprized in 14 vols. 4to, but of these eight only have
appeared. In 1779 he published “Prospectus d'un traite
de geometric physique particuliere du royaume de France,
”
4to. He died at Paris in
, in Latin Gutheriusi, a learned and judicious antiquary, and lawyer, was born at Chaumont in Bassigny, and was admitted advocate to the
, in Latin Gutheriusi, a learned and judicious antiquary, and lawyer,
was born at Chaumont in Bassigny, and was admitted advocate to the parliament of Paris. After having attended
the bar with honour for forty years, he retired into the
country, and devoted himself wholly to study. He died
in 1638. His principal works are, 1. “De vetere Jure
Pontificio urbis Romae,
” De Officiis
domtis Augustae, publicse et privates,
” De jure Manium,
” Leipsic, De
Orbitate toleranda
” the other, < Laus caecitatis," &c.
These works are all esteemed, and some Latin verses which
he wrote have been admired for their elegance.
a celebrated traveller in the 17th century, was the son of a gentleman of Bauge*, in Anjou, where he was born about 16 1Q. How, or for what profession he was educated,
de La Boulaye, a celebrated traveller in the 17th century, was the son of a gentleman of Bauge*, in Anjou, where he was born about 16 1Q. How, or for what profession he was educated, does not appear, but he seems to have been of a rambling disposition, and spent ten years in visiting most parts of the world. He published an account of his travels, 1653, 4to, which contain some particulars that are not uninteresting. When he returned from his first voyage, he was so altered, that his mother would not own him, and he was obliged to commence a suit against her to recover his right of eldership. Being sent ambassador to the Turks, and the great mogul, in 1668, he died in Persia during his journey.
, a French mathematician, was born Sept. 18, 1650, at Dieppe, and entered among the Jesuits
, a French mathematician, was born
Sept. 18, 1650, at Dieppe, and entered among the Jesuits
in 1667. He early acquired reputation for his skill in mathematics, and was admitted into the academy of sciences
in 1699. He assisted constantly at the meetings of that
academy, whose members entertained a high opinion of
his genius. He died at Paris, in the professed house of
the Jesuits, March 24, 1725, aged seventy-five. His principal work is entitled, “Observations Physiques et Mathematiques pour servir a la perfection de TAstronomie, et de
la geographic, envoyees de Siam, a Pacademie des sciences
de Paris, par ies P. P. Jesuites missionaires;
” with notes
and remarks, in 2 vols. the first, 8vo, the second, 4to.
These remarks may also be found in torn. 7. of the “Memoires
” of the above academy.
, in Latin Goveanus, a learned Portuguese, of the fourteenth century, was born at Beja, and appointed principal of the college of St.
, in Latin Goveanus, a learned
Portuguese, of the fourteenth century, was born at Beja,
and appointed principal of the college of St. Barbe at Paris,
where he educated three nephews, who became celebrated
for their learning. Martial Govea, the eldest, was a
good Latin poet, and published a “Latin Grammar
” at
Paris. Andrew, his next brother, a priest, born in 1498,
succeeded his uncle as principal of St. Barbe, and gained
so great a reputation there, that he was invited to accept
the same office in the college of Guienne, at Bourdeaux.
This invitation he accepted in 1534, and continued at
Bourdeaux till 1547, when John III. king of Portugal, recalled him to his dominions, to establish a college at Coimbra, similar to that of Guienne; and Govea took with him
into Portugal the celebrated Buchanan, Grouchi, Guerenti,
Fabricius, la Costa, and other men of learning, well qualified to instruct youth. He died June 1S48, at Coimbra,
leaving no printed work. Anthony Govea, the youngest
of these three brothers, and the most eminent of all, wrote
several pieces on philosophy and law, and is mentioned
with great encomiums by Thuanus, Ronsard, and all the
learned. He taught with reputation at Bourdeaux, afterwards at Cahors, and Valence in Dauphiny, and died in
1565, aged sixty, at Turin, to which place Philibert had
invited him. His principal works are, an “Apologetical
Discourse
” against Calvin, who had accused him of atheism
in his treatise on scandal; some works on law, fol.; “
Variarum lectionum Libri duo,
” fol. editions of Virgil and
Terence, with notes “Epigrammatum Libri duo,
” and
“Epistolee.
” The whole was printed at Rotterdam, Consilia;
” “Notes
on Julius Florus;
” some “Poetry,
” and a funeral oration
on the death of Philip II. king of Spain.
, a celebrated physician, was born at Schoonhaven, in Holland, where his father was an eminent
, a celebrated physician, was born
at Schoonhaven, in Holland, where his father was an
eminent architect, July 30, 1641. After having laid a
proper foundation for classical learning, he went to study
physic at Leydtfn; in which science he made so great progress, that in 1663 he published a treatise “De Succo
Pancreatico,
” which did him the highest honour. Two
years after he went to France, and was made M. D. at
Angers; but returned to Holland the year after, and settled
at Delft, where he had very extensive practice, tie married in 1672, and died Aug. 17, 1673, when he was only
thirty-two years of age. He published three pieces upon
the organs of generation both in men and women, upon
which subject he had a very warm controversy with Swammerdam. His works, with his life prefixed, were published in 8vo, at Leyden, in 1677 and 1705; and were
translated into Flemish, and published at Amsterdam in
1686.
ose imitation of the works of Bamboccio, and of his having founded an academy at Amsterdam, where he was born. The best artists of his time resorted here to study after
,or Graet Barent, was an historical painter, whose name is remembered principally upon account of his close imitation of the works of Bamboccio, and of his having founded an academy at Amsterdam, where he was born. The best artists of his time resorted here to study after living models; by which means much improvement was obtained by those who cultivated taste and science in the arts. He died in 1709, aged eighty-one.
, a celebrated Spanish Jesuit, was born at Catalaiud, formerly Bilbilis. He taught the belles-lettres,
, a celebrated Spanish Jesuit,
was born at Catalaiud, formerly Bilbilis. He taught the
belles-lettres, philosophy, and theology, in his society,
preached during some years, and was rector of the college
at Tarragona, where he died December 6, 1658, leaving a
considerable number of works in Spanish, published at
Madrid in 1664, but which are not much suited to the present taste, 2 vols. 4to. The chief of those that have been
translated into French are, “Le Heros,
” by P. de Courbeville, a Jesuit, Rotterdam, Reflexions
politiques sur les plus grands princes, et particulierement
sur Ferdinand le Catholique,
” by M. de Silhouette, Amsterdam, Le Politique Dom. Ferdinand le Catholique,
” Paris, L'Homme
Universel,
” by P. de Courbeville, 12 mo. “L'Homme
detrompe, ou le Criticon,
” by Maunoy, 3 vols. 12mo.
“L'Hornme de Cour,
” by Amelot de la H^oussaye, with
notes, 12mo. P. de Courbeville has likewise translated it,
with the title of “Maximes de Balthasar Gracian, avee
des Reponsesaux Critiques de L'Homme Universe!,
” Paris,
Manual on the Art of Prudence,
” was
published in English, in
, a young man of Scotland whose genius and learning have been most injudiciously heightened, was born at Carnwarth, in Lanarkshire, in 1748. He was the youngest
, a young man of Scotland whose genius and learning have been most injudiciously heightened, was born at Carnwarth, in Lanarkshire, in 1748. He was the youngest of the four sons of a poor farmer, and having discovered an uncommon proficiency in the learning taught at the school of the village, it was resolved to educate him for the church. At the age of fourteen he was placed at the school of Lanark, where his progress in grammatical learning is said to have been rapid, and, considering his early disadvantages, incredible. In 1766 he was removed to the university of Edinburgh, where, we are likewise told that in classical learning he surpassed the most industrious and accomplished students of his standing, and spoke and composed in Latin with a fluency and elegance that had few examples. And, of mathematics, natural philosophy, and metaphysics, his knowledge was considerable. To this was owing a certain proneness to disputation and metaphysical refinement, for which he was remarkable, and which he often indulged to a degree that subjected him to the imputation of imprudence, and of free-thinking. His turn for elegant composition first appeared in the solution of a philosophic question, proposed as a college-exercise, which he chose to exemplify in the form of a tale, conceived and executed with all the fire and invention of eastern imagination. This happened in 1769; and his first attempts in poetry are of no earlier date.
, a cele-. brated Latin critic, was born January 29, 1632, at Naumbourg, in Saxony; and, having
, a cele-.
brated Latin critic, was born January 29, 1632, at Naumbourg, in Saxony; and, having laid a good foundation of
classical learning in his own cpuntry, was sent to finish his
education at Leipsic, under the professors Eivinus and
Strauchius. This last was his relation by the mother’s side,
and sat opponent in the professor’s chair, when our author
performed his exercise for his degree on which occasion
he maintained a thesis, “De Moribus Germanorum.
” - As
his father designed to breed him to the law, he applied
himself a while to that study, but not without devoting
much of his time to polite literature, to which he was early
attached, and which he afterwards made the sole object of
his application. With this view he removed to Deventer
in Holland, attended the lectures of John Francis Gronovius, whose frequent conversations and advice entirely
fixed him in his resolution. He was indeed so much pleased
with this professor, that he spent two years in these studies
under his direction^, and frequently used to ascribe all his
knowledge to his instructions. Being desirous in the mean
time of every opportunity of enlarging his acquaintance
with the ablest men of his time, he went from Deventer,
first to Leyden to hear Daniel Heinsius, and next to Amsterdam; where, attending the lectures of Alexander Morus
and David Blondel, this last persuaded him to renounce
the Lutheran religion, in which he had been bred, and to
embrace Calvinism.
, clock and watch maker, the most ingenious and accurate artist in his time, was born at Horsgills, in the parish of Kirklinton in Cumberland,
, clock and watch maker, the most ingenious and accurate artist in his time, was born at Horsgills, in the parish of Kirklinton in Cumberland, in 1675. In 1688 he came up to London, and was put apprentice to a person in that profession; but after being some time with his master, he was received, purely on account of his merit, into the family of the celebrated Mr. Tompion, who treated him with a kind of parental affection as long as he lived. That Mr. Graham was/ without competition, the most eminent of his profession, is but a small part of his character he was the best general mechanic of his time, and had a complete knowledge of practical astronomy so that he not only gave to various movements for measuring time a degree of perfection which had never before been attained, but invented several astronomical instruments, by which considerable advances have been made in that science he also made great improvements in those which had before been in use and, by a wonderful manual dexterity, constructed them with greater precision and accuracy than any other person in the world.
, a French historian, was born in 1565, and, after a liberal education, became counsellor
, a French historian, was
born in 1565, and, after a liberal education, became counsellor and master of the requests to Mary de Medicis, queen
of France. He frequented the court in his youth, and devoted himself to the service of Henry IV. by whom he was
much esteemed and trusted. Being a man of probity, and
void of ambition, he did not employ his interest with
Henry to obtain dignities, but spent the greatest part of
his life -in literary retirement. Among other works which
he composed, are “The History of Henry IV.
” and “The
History of Lewis XIII. to the death of the Marshal d'Ancre,
” in 1617; both which were published in /olio, under
the title of “Decades.
” The former he presented to
Lewis XIII. who read it over, and was infinitely charmed
with the frankness of the author: but the Jesuits, who
never were friendly to liberality of sentiment, found means
to have this work castrated in several places. They served
“The History of Lewis XIII.
” worse; for, Le Grain having in that performance spoken advantageously of the
prince of Conde, his protector, they had the cunning and
malice to suppress those passages, and to insert others,
where they made him speak of the prince in very indecorous terms. Conde was a dupe to this piece of knavery,
till Le Grain had time to vindicate himself, by restoring
this as well as his former works to their original purity.
He died at Paris in 1643, and ordered in his will, that
none of his descendants should ever trust the education of
their children to the Jesuits; which clause, it is said, has
been punctually observed by his family.
, an English poet and physician, was born at Dunse, a small town in the southern part of Scotland,
, an English poet and physician, was born at Dunse, a small town in the southern part of Scotland, about 1723. His father, a native of Cumberland, and once a man of considerable property, had removed to Dunse, on the failure of some speculations in mining, and there filled a post in the excise. His son, after receiving such education as his native place afforded, went to Edinburgh, where he was apprenticed to Mr. Lawder, a surgeon, and had an opportunity of studying the various branches of medical science, which were then begun to be taught by the justly celebrated founders of the school of medicine in that city. Having qualified himself for such situations as are attainable by young men whose circumstances do not permit them to wait the slow returns of medical practice at home, he first served as surgeon to lieut.-general Pulteney’s regiment of foot, during the rebellion (of 1745) in Scotland, and afterwards went in the same capacity to Germany, where that regiment composed part of the army under the earl of Stair. With the reputation and interest which his skill and learning procured abroad, he came over to England at the peace of Aix-laChapelle, sold his commission, and entered upon practice as a physician in London.
, a learned philologist, antiquary, and historian of Copenhagen, was born at Aalburg in Jutland, Oct. 28, 1685. His father, who was
, a learned philologist, antiquary, and
historian of Copenhagen, was born at Aalburg in Jutland,
Oct. 28, 1685. His father, who was a clergyman, carefully
superintended his education until he was fit to go to the
university. He went accordingly in 1703 to Copenhagen,
where he very soon distinguished himself as a classical
scholar and critic. In 1705 he took his bachelor’s degree
with great credit, and in 1707 published the first specimen of his learned researches, entitled “Archytce Tarentini fragmentum ntp vw pafapalucw, cum disquisitione chronologica de aetate Archytse.
” This was followed by other
dissertations, which raised his fame so highly that he was
made professor of Greek at Copenhagen, and was also
appointed counsellor of justice, archivist, historiographer,
and librarian, to the king, whom he had taught when a
youth. In 1745, he was made counsellor of state, and
died March 19, 1748, leaving an elaborate work, “Corpus
diplomatum ad res Danicas facientium.
” This work, which
he undertook by order of Christian VI. is still in ms. and
probably consists of several folio volumes. Gramm laid
the first foundation of the academy at Copenhagen, and
contributed very frequently to the literary journals of his
time. He was a man of very extensive learning, but particularly skilled in Greek and Latin, and in history, and
of such ready memory that he was never consulted on
books or matters of literature without giving immediate
information. He corresponded with many of the literati of
Germany, England, Italy, and France, but was most admired by those who were witnesses of his amiable private
character, his love of literature, and his generous patronage
of young students.
, a Franciscan friar, was born at Douay, in the early part of the seventeenth century,
, a Franciscan friar, was born
at Douay, in the early part of the seventeenth century,
and has been styled the abbreviator of Descartes. He was
an eminent professor both of philosophy and divinity in the
university of Douay, where he associated much' with the
English, and was sent by them as a missionary into England. His residence was chiefly in Oxfordshire, where he
led a retired life. He is said to have been the first who
reduced the Cartesian system to the method of the schools,
and his work on this subject, which was frequently printed
in England, first in 1671, 12mo, and afterwards, much
enlarged in 4to, was also translated and published in folio.
He carried on a controversy for some time with a Mr. John
Serjeant on metaphysical subjects. He was alive in Oxfordshire in 1695, but no farther particulars of his history
are now known. Among his works we find the following
mentioned: 1. “L'homme sans passions, selon les sentimens de Seneque,
” Hague,
Scydromedia, seu Sermo quern Alphonsus de la Vida habtiit, coram Comite de Falmouth, de monarchia,
” 1669, 16mo.
3. “Apologia Renati des Cartes contra Sam. Parkerum,
”
London, Historia naturee variis expe*rimentis elucidata,
” ibid. Compendium rerum
jucundarum, et memorabilium naturae,
” Norimb. Dissertatio de carentia sensus et cognitionis in
Brutis,
” Ley den, L'Epicure Spiritual, ou,
Pempire de la volupte sur les vertus,
” Paris, 8vo, 8. “Historia sacra a mundo condito ad Constantinum magnum,
”
which is said to be his best performance.
, a French historical writer, was born Feb. 6, 1653, at St. Lo, in Normandy. After studying philosophy
, a French historical writer, was
born Feb. 6, 1653, at St. Lo, in Normandy. After studying philosophy at Caen, he entered into the congregation
of the oratory in 1671, where he applied to the belles lettres
and theology, but quitted it in 1676, and went to Paris,
where he engaged in the education of two young men of
rank, the marquis de Vins, and the duke cTEstrees, and
at the same time applied himself to the study of history
under the direction of father Le Cointe, who formed a very
high opinion of him. He first appeared as a writer in 1688,
in “A History of the Divorce of Henry VIII. and Catharine of Arragon,
” in three vols. 12mo. The main object
of this work is to refute certain facts and arguments contained in the first two books of Burnet’s History of the Reformation. In 1685, when Burnet was at Paris, he had an
interview with Le Grand in the presence of Messrs. Thevenot and Auzout, in which the latter proposed his doubts,
and the former answered them, both preserving a tone of
elegance and mutual respect. The publication of the
above work, however, produced a controversy, in the
course of which, in 1691, Le Grand addressed three letters
to the bishop, to which he replied. How long the controversy might have continued is uncertain, as Le Grand was
necessarily diverted from it in 1692, when he received the
appointment of secretary to the abbe d'Estrees, in his embassy to Portugal. In this situation he continued till 1697.
The leisure which his diplomatic functions allowed was
employed in translations of voyages and travels from the
Portuguese. In 1702 he accompanied the same minister
in Spain, where he remained about two years as secretary.
Soon after this, the marquis de Torci, minister of state, took
him into his service, and employed his pen in drawing up
several memorials concerning the Spanish monarchy, and
other political topics, in which he acquitted himself with
great ability, but most of them were printed without his
name. He employed much of his time in writing a life of
Louis XL; but, although this was quite finished in 1728, it
still remains in manuscript. In that year, however, hepublished his translation of Lobo’s History of Abyssinia, with
many additions; and about the same time his treatise “De
la succession a la Couroune de France.
” He died of an
apoplectic stroke, April 30, 1733. He had been possessed
of church preferment, and had held, for a time, the office
of censor royal of books.
, was born at Amiens, June 3, 1737, and was surnamed d'Aussy, because
, was born at Amiens, June
3, 1737, and was surnamed d'Aussy, because his father
was a native of Auxy-le-Chateau, in the department of
Pas-de-Calais. He received his education in the college
of the Jesuits at Amiens at the age of eighteen entered
into the society of his preceptors and, a few years afterxvards, had the honour of being elected to the rhetorical
chair at Caen. At the age of twenty-six he was thrown on
the world by the dissolution of the order, and was soon
employed in the elaborate work of the French Glossary,
projected by Lacurne de Sainte-Palaye, and in an examination of the very rich library of the marquis de Paulmy.
In 1770 he was appointed secretary in the direction of the
studies of the military school. He afterwards co-operated,
under the marquis de Paulmy, and again with the count
de Tressan, in the “Bibliotheque des Romans;
” after
which he became still deeper engaged in collecting, translating, extracting, and commenting upon the “Fabliaux,
”
or tales of the old French poets of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In 1782 he published, in three volumes,
8vo, his “Histoire de la Vie privee des Frangais;
” and in
Tour to Auvergne,
” which
province he visited the preceding year, at the entreaty of
his Jesuit brother Peter Theodore Lewis Augustin, who
was then prior of the abbey of Saint Andre, in the town of
Clermont. This Tour he first published in one volume,
ivo; but he afterwards enlarged and republished it in
1795, in three volumes of the same size. His contributions
to the Institute were numerous, and, for the most part,
possessed of merit. For some years before his death, he
had conceived the plan of a complete history of French
poetry, and had even begun to carry it into execution; and
as he stood in need of all the treasures of the national library, he was fortunately nominated, in 1796, conservator
of the French Mss. of this library and he now not only
renewed his intention, but enlarged his scheme he included in it the history of the French tongue that of literature in all its extent, and all its various ramifications as
well as that of science, of arts, and their utility in different
applications a monument too vast for the life and power
of an individual to be able to construct. He had, however,
accomplished some part of his design, when, after a slight
indisposition which caused no alarm, he died suddenly in
1801. He was upon the whole a retired and taciturn scholar. “His life,
” says his biographer, “like that of most
other men of letters, may be comprized in two lines What
were his places of resort The libraries. Among whom did
he live His books. What did he ever produce Books.
What did he ever say? That which appears in his books.
”
, a learned French divine, was born at St, Quentin, Nov. 11, 1604, and was educated ia classic.il
, a learned French divine, was
born at St, Quentin, Nov. 11, 1604, and was educated ia
classic.il learning at Noyon and Amiens. At the age of
seventeen he came to Paris, where he studied divinity
under the Jesuit Mairat, and afterwards taught a course of
philosophy in the college of cardinal Le Moine. He was
then admitted a doctor of the Sorbonne, and in 1638
appointed professor of divinity, which office he retained
until his death, Nov. 16, 1691. He was a man of piety
and talents, and an elegant and correct speaker. His
course of theological lectures was published by M. du
Plessis d'Argemre, 1710—1712, in 6 vols. 4to, under the
title of “Opera Theoiogica.
”
, a philosopher and mathematician, was born Oct. 1, 1671, at Cremona, where his father, a branch of
, a philosopher and
mathematician, was born Oct. 1, 1671, at Cremona, where
his father, a branch of a decayed family, carried on the
business of ai> embroiderer. His mother, a woman of considerable talents, taught him Latin, and gave him some
taste for poetry. Being disposed to a studious life, he
cliose the profession of theology, that he might freely indulge his inclination. He entered into the religious order
of Camaldolitesj at Raverrna, in 1687, where he was distinguished for his proficiency in the different branches of
literature and science, but was much dissatisfied with the
Peripatetic philosophy of the schools. He had not been
here long before he established an academy of students of
his own age, which he called the Certanti, in opposition
to another juvenile society called the Concordi. To his
philosophical studies he added those of the belles lettres,
music, and history. It appears to have been his early ambition to introduce a new system in education, and with
that view he obtained the professorship of philosophy at Florence, by the influence of father Caramelli, although not
without some opposition from the adherents to the old
opinions. He now applied himself to the introduction of
the Cartesian philosophy, while, at the same time, he became zealously attached to mathematical studies. The
works of the great Torricelli, of our countryman Wallis,
and of other celebrated mathematicians, were his favourite
companions, and the objects of his familiar intercourse.
His first publication was a treatise to resolve the problems
of Viviani on the construction of arcs, entitled “Geometrica Demonstnuio Vivianeorum problematum,
” Florence,
Geometrica
dernonslratio theorematum Hugenianorum circa logisticam,
seu Logarithmicam lineatn,
” Quadratura
circuii et hyperbola3 per infinitas hyperbolas et parabolas
geometrice exhibita,
” Pisa, Sejani et Rufini dialogus de Laderchiana historia S.
Petri Damiani,
” Paris, Dissertationes Camaldu lenses,
” embracing inquiries into the history of the Camaldolites, both which gave so much offence to the community, that he was deposed from the dignity of abbot of
St. Michael at Pisa; but the grand duke immediately appointed him his professor of mathematics in the university.
He now resolved some curious and difficult problems for
the improvement of acoustics, which had been presented
to the royal society in Dublin, and having accomplished
his objecvt, he transmitted the solutions, by means of the
British minister at the court of Florence, to the Royal
Society at London. This was published under the title of
“Disquisitio geometrica in systema sonorum D. Narcissi
(Marsh) archiepiscopi Armachani,
” in De infinitis infinitorum, et infinite parvorum ordinibus disquisitio geometrica,
” Pisa,
, deacon of the church of Aix, was born in 1692, at Brignolles in Provence, of a mercantile family.
, deacon of the church of Aix, was
born in 1692, at Brignolles in Provence, of a mercantile
family. He was educated in his own country, but came
young to Paris, where his literary taste and talents procured him many friends, by whose assistance he increased
his stores of knowledge, and as his income was very
limited, entered upon a course of literary labours. He
was a contributor, as far as vol. XIX. to the “Bibliotheque
frangotse,
” a well-known journal printed in Holland; and
when Desfontaines was obliged to discontinue his “Nouvelliste du Parnasse,
” (in which Granet had written) and
obtained permission to carry it on again under another
title, he engaged Granet' s services in this new undertaking
called “Observations sur les ecrits modernes.
” It began in
Reflexions sur les ouvrages de
litterature.
” This he extended as far as twelve volumes.
It contains many extracts and remarks given with taste
and judgment, but others that are merely repetitions of
what he had written for the “Observations sur les ecrits
modernes,
” He had also a trick of inserting letters to
himself, when he wished to publish satire without being
accountable for it, but it is not thought that this disguise
was of much avail. It was perhaps his misfortune that he
was. obliged by the narrowness of his circumstances to employ himself thus on the labours of others, and in preparing
new editions, when he might have executed original works
that would have done him credit. Indeed a few months
before his death he hinted to his friends that necessity
only had forced him to this drudgery, and that he had no
consolation but in the hope that he should one clay or othet
be at liberty to employ his talents in a more creditable
way. He had learned English, and in order to make that
a source of profit, translated sir Isaac Newton’s “Chronology,
” which he published at Paris in Bibliotheque Francoise,
”
and, probably by way of blind, speaks very differently
there of some of his contemporaries, from what he had
advanced in his preface. In short he appears to have perfectly understood the trade of reviewing. One of his best
editions is that of the works of M, de Launoy, which was
published at Geneva, 10 vols. fol. with a valuable preface,
a life, and a “Launoiana,
” consisting of very curious articles. Moreri gives a numerous list of other editions and
publications to which he wrote prefaces and notes. He
died at Paris April 2, 1741, and a spirited eloge was written on him by the abbe Desfontaines.
, a French satirist and dramatic poet, was born 1676, in Perigord. He wrote a little comedy in three acts,
, a French satirist and dramatic poet, was born 1676, in Perigord. He
wrote a little comedy in three acts, when but nine years old,
which was performed several days successively in the college of Bourdeaux, where he was a scholar; and at sixteen, produced his tragedy of “Jugurtha;
” but the work
which has made him most known, is a satire against the
duke of Orleans, then regent, entitled, “The Philippicks,
” in which he accused that nobleman of the most
atrocious crimes. To avoid the punishment this work deserved, he fled to Avignon, in which city was a French
officer, who had taken refuge there in consequence of
having committed a murder, and received a promise of
pardon if he could entice the author of the “Philippicks
”
into the French dominions. His attempt succeeded, and
La Grange was conducted to the isle of St. Margaret; but
6nding means to make friends of his keepers, escaped in a
boat to Villa Franca, notwithstanding a violent storm.
The king of Sardinia gave him a considerable sum of money, and he went from thence into Spain; afterwards into
Holland, where he remained till the duke of Orleans was
dead. He was then permitted to end his days in France,where he died in 1758, at the castle of Antoniat, his family
seat. His works have been collected in 5 vols. small 12mo,
and his tragedies have been as much admired, as his lyric
efforts have been depreciated.
being sir John Grant, of Grant, who married lady Margaret Stuart, daughter of the earl of Athol. He was born about 1660, and received the first part of his education
, lord Cullen, an eminent lawyer ind judge in Scotland, was descended from a younger >ranch of the ancient family of the Grants, of Grant, in iat kingdom; his ancestor in a direct line, being sir John Grant, of Grant, who married lady Margaret Stuart, daughter of the earl of Athol. He was born about 1660, and received the first part of his education at Aberdeen; but, being intended for the profession of the law, was sent to finish his studies at Leyden, under the celebrated Voet, with whom he became so great a favourite by his singular application, that many years afterwards the professor mentioned him to his pupils, as one that had done honour to the university, and recommended his example to them. On his return to Scotland, he passed through the examination requisite to his being admitted advocate, with such abilities as to attract the particular notice of sir George Mackenzie, then king’s advocate, one of the most ingenious men, as well as one of the ablest and most eminent lawyers, of that age. Being-thus 'qualified for practice, he soon got into full employ, by the distinguishing figure which he made at the Revolution in 1688. He was then only twenty-eight years of age; but, as the measures of the preceding reign had led him to study the constitutional points of law, he discovered a masterly knowledge, when the convention of estates met to debate that important affair concerning the vacancy of the throne, upon the departure of king James to France. Some of the old lawyers, in pursuance of the principles in which they had been bred, argued warmly against those upon which the Revolution, which had taken place in England, was founded; and particularly insisted on the inability of the convention of estates to make any disposition of the crown. Grant opposed these notions with great strength and spirit, and about that time published a treatise, in which he undertook, by the principles of law, to prove that a king might forfeit his crown for himself and his descendants -, and that in such a case the states had a power to dispose of it, and to establish and limit a legal succession, concluding with the warmest recommendations of the prince of Orange to the regal dignity.
of the loyal sir Bevil Greenvile, who lost his life fighting for Charles I. at Lansdowne in 1643. He was born in 1667, and in his infancy was sent to France, under the
, viscount Lansdowne, an English poet, was descended of a family distinguished for their loyalty; being second son of Barnard Granville, esq. brother to the first earl of Bath of this name, who had a principal share in bringing about the restoration of Charles II. and son of the loyal sir Bevil Greenvile, who lost his life fighting for Charles I. at Lansdowne in 1643. He was born in 1667, and in his infancy was sent to France, under the tuition of sir William Ellys, a gentleman bred up under Dr. Busby, and who was afterwards eminent in many public stations. From this excellent tutor he not only imbibed a taste for classical learning, but was also instructed in all other accomplishments suitable to his birth, in which he made so quick a proficiency, that after he had distinguished himself above all the youths of France in martial exercises, he was sent to Trinity-college, Cambridge, in 1677, at ten years of age; and before he was twelve, spoke some verses of his own composing to the duchess of York, afterwards queen-consort to James II. at her visit to that university in 1679. On account of his extraordinary merit, he was created M. A. at the age of thirteen, and left the college soon after.
, a learned lawyer, was born at Delft in 1600. He wrote various works upon legal and
, a learned
lawyer, was born at Delft in 1600. He wrote various
works upon legal and political subjects, by which he acquired a considerable reputation. Among these are “Libertas Veneta, seu Venetorurn in se et suos imperandi
Jus.
” This was published in De
Jure Majestatis,
” in a work dedicated to Christina, queen
of Sweden, who was known to be a great assertor of regal
privileges. Grasswinkel defended the liberty of the seas
against Selden, and Burgus, a native of Genoa, in his work
“Maris Liberi Vindiciae,
” and with so much judgment, in
their opinion, that the States of Holland gave him a pension of 500 florins, with the title of Advocate-general of
the marine, until an opportunity offered of rewarding his
merit with a more honourable employment; which was
afterwards that of advocate of the exchequer, and register
and secretary of the chambre-mi-partie. He was author,
likewise, of a treatise in two volumes, 4to, “On the Sovereignty of the States of Holland.
” He died of an apoplexy at Mechlin, Oct. 12, 1666.
, a learned physician of the sixteenth century, was born at Bergamo in Italy in 1510, and was educated at Padua,
, a learned physician of the
sixteenth century, was born at Bergamo in Italy in 1510,
and was educated at Padua, where he took his degrees
with great reputation; but having embraced the doctrines
of the reformers, with which Peter Martyr made him
acquainted, he was obliged to make his escape, and
went into Germany, that he might live undisturbed in the
protestant religion. After some stay at Basil, he was invited to Marpurg to be physic-professor; but in a short
time returned to Basil, and died there in 1562, or as some
think in 1666, or 1668, which last seems most correct.
He wrote a great many books, as, “De Memoria reparanua, augenda, conservanda, ac Reminiscentia. De
Prsedictione Morum, Naturarumque Hominum facili, &
Inspectione parti am corporis. Prognostica Naturalia de
Temporum mutatione perpetua, ordine Literarnm. De
Lite>atorum & eorum qui Magistratibus funguntur, conservanda, preservandaque valetudine. De Vim Natura,
artiiicio & usu Deque omni Re Potabili. De Regimine
iter Agentium, vel Equitum, vel Peditum, vel Navi, vel
Curru viatoribus quibusque Utilissimi Libri duo.
” He
likewise made a collection of several tracts touching the
sweating-sickness in England. Some of these works are
honourable to his talents, and evince a large share of
knowledge; but in others he shews an attachment to the
absurdities of alchemy, much superstition, and opinions
which do not imply a sound judgment.
, a celebrated Benedictine of the twelfth century, was born at Chiusi, and spent near twenty-four years at the monastery
, a celebrated Benedictine of the twelfth
century, was born at Chiusi, and spent near twenty-four
years at the monastery of Bologna in composing a work
which has gained him great fame, and which he published
about 1151, under the title of “Decretal,
” or “Concordantia discordantium Canon um,
” in which he endeavours
to reconcile those canons which seem to contradict each
other; but as this author has been guilty of some errors,
by mistaking a canon of one council, or a passage of one
father, for another, and has frequentlyfquoted spurious decretals, several writers have endeavoured to correct these
faults, particularly Anthony Augustine in his valuable
work entitled “De emendatione Gratiani,
” an excellent
edition of which was published by Baluze. The popes
are indebted principally to Gratian’s Decretal for the high
authority they exercised in the thirteenth and following
centuries; but all their pretensions are supported in this
work upon suppositious canons, which that age was too
ignorant to suspect. This work forms one of the principal
parts of the canon law. The editions of Rome, 1582, 4
vols. folio, and of Lyons, 1671, 3 vols. folio, are the best.
There is a separate edition of this Decretal, Mentz, 1472,
folio.
, a learned bishop of Amelia, was born in 1536 in the little city called Borgodi-san-Sepulcro
, a learned bishop of
Amelia, was born in 1536 in the little city called Borgodi-san-Sepulcro in Tuscany. He was educated by cardinal Commendo, who trusted him with the most important
affairs, and gave him a rich abbey. After this cardinal’s
death, Gratiaiii was secretary to pope Sixtus V. then to
cardinal Montalto and Clement VIII. who was partly indebted to him for his elevation to the papal chair, made
him bishop of Amelia, sent him to Venice as nuncio, and
would have even created him cardinal, but was dissuaded
from it by cardinal Aldobraudino, because Gratiani was
the duke of Florence’s subject. The air of Venice not
agreeing with his health, he retired to Amelia, devoted
himself to the duties of a holy bishop, and died there,
1611. He left “Synodal Ordinances;
” “The Life of
Cardinal Commendo,
” 4to, which has been translated into
French by M. Flechier; “De Bello Cyprio,
” 4to; “De
Casibus adversis illustrium virorum sui oevi,
” 4to, translated into French by le Pelletier. In De Scriptis invita Minerva ad Aloysium fratrem libri viginti,
” 4to.
, a French artist, well known in this as well as his own country, was born at Paris March 26, 1699. He does not appear to have had
, a French artist, well known in this as well as his own country, was born at Paris March 26, 1699. He does not appear to have had much education in his profession, but soon made some figure as a draughtsman. He accompanied La Rochalard, who was appointed governor-general of St. Domingo, and meeting in that island with the artist Frezier, was employed by him on a map of the country. Gravelot returned to France in 1745, where he applied principally to drawing; but finding himself in the midst of a number of eminent artists, among whom he despaired of distinguishing himself, he came over to London, where he lived thirteen years. He possessed great fertility of invention, and composed, with much judgment, small subjects for vignettes and other book ornaments; he drew also admirably ancient buildings, tombs, and prospects, and was much employed in all these branches by the artists of London. He drew the monuments of the kings for Vertue, and gave the designs, where invention was necessary, for Pine’s plates of the tapestry in the house of lords. He was also for some time employed in Gloucestershire, drawing churches and antiquities. Vertue compares his neat manner to Picart, and owns that in composition and design, he even excelled his favourite Hollar. He sometimes attempted painting small histories and conversations, and he designed as well as engraved some of the prints to sir The* mas Hanmer’s edition of Shakspeare, and those belonging to Theobald’s edition: but the finest specimen of his abilities as an engraver, is his large print of Kirkstall abbey. He returned to France about the beginning of the present reign, and executed for the booksellers of Paris, the beautiful designs with which they ornamented the works of Corneille, Racine, Voltaire, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Marmontel, &c. He died at Paris in 1773. He is said to have been a man of wit and talents, and perfectly acquainted with the history and theory of his art.
, a very eminent French antiquary and lawyer, was born at Nismes in the beginning of 1635, and being educated
, a very eminent French antiquary and lawyer, was born at Nismes in the beginning of
1635, and being educated for the profession of the law,
became an advocate of the parliament of Toulouse, and of
the presidial court of Nismes, and director and secretary of
the academy of that place. During his researches into
matters of history and antiquities, he made a very fine collection of medals and manuscripts, among which were the
originals of the proceedings of the popish inquisitors
against the Albigenses. So highly was Graverol esteemed
for learning, that no strangers of distinction visited Nismes
without paying their respects to him, and such was his reputation in Italy that, in 1691, he was elected an associate
of the Ricovrati of Padua; and when the states of Languedoc formed the plan of collecting their records respecting
their fiefs and seignories, they considered Graverol as the
only person fit to execute the work, which he was earnestly
requested to undertake by the cardinal Bonzi. But his
adherence to the protestant religion impeded his advancement in life, and involved him in serious troubles. He
retired first to Orange in 1685, where he was very favourably received, but not thinking that a place of safety, left
it for Swisserland or Holland. During this journey he
was arrested and confined at Montpellier for about two
months. After this he must have been released, and permitted to go home, as we find he died at Nismes Sept. 10,
1694. Among the works which contributed most to his
reputation, are, 1. “Observations sur les arrets du parlement de Toulouse recueillespar la Rochefiavin,
” Toulouse,
Notice ou abrege historique des vingt-deux
villes chefs des dioceses de la province de Languecloc,
” 1
posthumous work published in 1696. 3. “Sorberiana,
sive excerpta ex ore Samuelis Sorbiere,
” Toulouse, Sorberiana.
” In the Journal des Savans
for March Bibliotheque du Languedoc,
” a kind of literary journal, in.
which he was to give the lives of the eminent men of that
province, and particulars of its history, &c.
, a learned protestant divine, brother to the preceding, was born at Nismes, September 11, 1636. He was minister at Lyons,
, a learned protestant divine, brother to the preceding, was born at Nismes, September 11,
1636. He was minister at Lyons, but left that place on
the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and went to Amsterdam, and afterwards to London, where he exercised the
ministerial office, and died in 1718. His works are numerous; the principal one is, “Ivloses vindicatus,
” Amsterdam, Archaeologia Philosophical
”
laneous writer, was a younger son of Richard Graves, esq. of Mickleton, in Gloucestershire, where he was born in 1715. His father, who was an able antiquary, died in
, an English divine and miscellaneous writer, was a younger son of Richard Graves, esq. of Mickleton, in Gloucestershire, where he was born in 1715. His father, who was an able antiquary, died in 1729. His son, Richard, was educated partly at home, under the rev. Mr.Smith, curate of the parish in which his father resided, and partly at a public school at Abingdon, in Berkshire, whence, at the age of sixteen, he was chosen a scholar of Pembroke college, Oxford. Soon after his arrival he joined a party of young men who met in the evening to read Epictetus, Theophrastus, and other Greek authors, seldom read at schools; and a short time after became the associate of his contemporaries, Shenstone the poet, and Anthony Whistler, who used to meet to read poetry, plays, and other light works. In 1736 he was elected a fellow of All Souls college, where he acquired the particular intimacy of sir William Blackstone; but instead of pursuing the study of divinity, according to his original intention, he now devoted his attention to physic, and attended in London two courses of anatomy. A severe illness, however, induced him to resume the study of divinity, and in 1740, after taking his master’s degree, he entered into holy orders. About the same time he removed with Mr. Fitzherbert, fatlier of lord St. Helen’s, to the estate of that gentleman at Tissington, in Derbyshire, where he remained three years enjoying in his house the highest pleasures of refined society. At the end of that period, he set off‘ to make the tour of the north, and while at Scarborough, accidentally met with a distant relation, Dr. Samuel Knight, archdeacon of Berkshire, and the author of the Lives of Colet and Erasmus, by whose recommendation he obtained a curacy near Oxford. This was particularly gratifying to Mr. Graves, who was then coming, by turn, into office in the college, and had been for some time desirous of procuring such a situation. He immediately took possession of his curacy, but as the parsonage-house was out of repair, he took a lodging with a gentleman -farmer in the neighbourhood. The attractions of the farmer’s youngest daughter made such a powerful impression on the heart of Mr. Graves that he resigned his fellowship and married her. After residing about two years on his curacy, he was presented by Mr. Skrine to the rectory of Claverton, where he went to reside in 1750, and till his death, was never absent from it a month at a time. As the narrowness of his circumstances obliged him to superintend in person the education of his children, he likewise -resolved to take other pupils under his tuition; and this practice he continued, with great credit to himself, upwards of thirty years. In 1763, through the interest of Ralph Allen, esq. of Prior-Park, he was presented to the living of Kilmersdon, in addition to tbat of Claverton, and that gentleman likewise procured him the appointment of chaplain to lady Chatham. His conversation was rendered highly agreeable by that epigrammatic turn which points his writings of the lighter kind. His constant good humour rendered him an acceptable companion in every society, his colloquial impromptus being frequently as happy as the jeux d’e^prit of his pen, while both were invariably the unmeditated effusions of a sportive fancy and guileless heart. He died at Claverton, Nov. 23, 1804, at the advanced age of ninety.
, an eminent Dutch philosopher, was born Sept. 26, 1688, at Bois-le-duc, in Holland, of an ancient
, an eminent Dutch
philosopher, was born Sept. 26, 1688, at Bois-le-duc, in
Holland, of an ancient and honourable family. He was
educated with the greatest care, and very early discovered
an extraordinary genius for mathematical learning. He
was sent to the university of Leyden, in 1704, with an intention to study the civil law; but at the same time he
cultivated with the greatest assiduity his favourite science.
Before he was nineteen, he composed his treatise on perspective, which gained him great credit among the most
eminent mathematicians of his time. When he had taken
his doctor’s degree in 1707, he quitted the college, and
settled at the Hague, where he practised at the bar. In
this situation he contracted and cultivated an acquaintance
with learned men; and made one of the principal members
of the society that composed a periodical review, entitled
“Le Journal LitteVaire.
” This journal began in May
Remarks on the construction of
Pneumatical Engines;
” A moral Essay on Lying;“and a celebrated Essay on the Collision of Bodies;
”
which, as it opposed the Newtonian philosophy, was attacked by Dr. Clarke, and many other learned men.
, an eminent scholar, and illustrious lawyer of Italy, was born of genteel parents at Roggiano, February 18, 1664; and
, an eminent scholar, and
illustrious lawyer of Italy, was born of genteel parents at
Roggiano, February 18, 1664; and educated under Gregory Caloprese, a famous philosopher of that time, and
his cousin-german. He went to Naples at sixteen, and
there applied himself to the Latin and Greek languages,
and to civil law; which application, however, did not
make him neglect to cultivate, with the utmost exactness,
his own native tongue. He was so fond of stu<jy, that he
pursued it ten or twelve hours a day, to the very last years
of his life; and, when his friends remonstrated agakist this
unnecessary labour, he used to tell them that he knew of
nothing which could afford him more pleasure. He went
to Rome in 1689, and some years after was made professor
of canon law, in the college of Sapieozia, by Innocent
XL who esteemed him much; which employment he held
as long as he lived. He does not, however, seem to have
been of an amiable cast; at least he had not the art of
making himself beloved. The free manner in which he
spoke of all mankind, and the contempt with which he
treated the greatest part of the learned, raised him up many
enemies; and among others the famous Settano, who has
made him the subject of some of his satires. It is said that
he missed a cardinal’s hat because of his satirical turn of
mind. When at Rome he used to bow to coach-horses,
“because,
” said he, “were it not for these poor beasts,
these great people would have men, and even philosophers, to draw their coaches.
” There were at one time
doubts of his religious principles, and his pupil Metastasio
seems inclined to justify these, by sinking this part of his
history. Many universities of Germany would have drawn
Gravina to them, and made proposals to him for that purpose; but nothing was able to seduce him from Rome.
That of Turin offered him the first professorship of law, at
the very time that he was attacked by the distemper of
which he died, and which seems to have been a mortification in his bowels. He was troubled with pains in those
parts for many years before; but they did not prove fatal
to him till Jan. 6, 1718. He had made his will in April
1715, in which he ordered his body to be opened and
embalmed.
, an excellent Latin poet, was born at Palermo, in Sicily, of a family originally of Gravina,
, an excellent Latin poet, was born
at Palermo, in Sicily, of a family originally of Gravina, a
city in the kingdom of Naples. He was canon of Naples,
and died at Rome of the plague, in 1528. It is thought
that the greater part of his works were lost when the
French went to Naples under Louis XII. in 1501, but a
collection of what remained was published therein 1532,
4to; a few of them are also inserted in the “Carm. Illust.
Poet. Ital.
” His epigrams are preferred by Sannazarius
to those of all his contemporaries. Paul Jovius and others
also bestow high encomiums on his poetry.
robus) was obliged in 1735 to apply to an eminent civilian for his advice as to a separation. Thomas was born in Cornhill, Dec. 20, 1716, and was the only one of many
, an eminent English poet, was the
fifth child of Mr. Philip Gray, a citizen and money-scrivener of London, and a man of such brutal manners, that
his wife (whose maiden name was Dorothy Antrobus) was
obliged in 1735 to apply to an eminent civilian for his advice as to a separation. Thomas was born in Cornhill,
Dec. 20, 1716, and was the only one of many children who
survived. The rest died in their infancy, from suffocation, produced by a fulness of blood; and he owed his life
to a memorable instance of the love and courage of his
mother, who removed the paroxysm which attacked him,
by opening a vein with her own hand an instance of affection which he long rememhered with filial rev erence.
Indeed it was to her exertions when her home was rendered
unhappy by the cruelty of her husband, that our poet was
indebted for his education, and consequently for the happiness of his life. We may readily, therefore, believe
what Mason has told us, that “Gray seldom mentioned his
mother without a sigh.
”
, an Italian scholar and poet of considerable eminence, was born at Florence March 22, 1503, of a noble family, which can
, an Italian scholar and
poet of considerable eminence, was born at Florence
March 22, 1503, of a noble family, which can be traced as
far as the thirteenth century, but was now decayed, as we
find that Grazzini in his youth was brought up as an apothecary. He had, however, studied philosophy and the
belles lettres, and from the timetliathe acquired some reputation in the literary world, gave up his medical business. In 1540 he became one of the founders of the
academy of Florence, which was first called the academy
of the Humides, and each member distinguishing himself
by some appellation relative to the water, Grazzini adopting that of Lasca, which signifies a roach. From the first
establishment of this academy, he was appointed chancellor,
and when, some months after, the grand duke changed its
name to that of the academy of Florence, he was chosen
overseer, or superintendant, an office which he afterwards
filled three times. As the number of members, however,
increased, the juniors began to make new regulations without consulting the founders, and a schism broke out, attended with so many unpleasant circumstances, that Grazzini withdrew, and became the founder of a new academy,
known still by the name of La Crusca. The object of this
society was to polish the Italian language, to fix a standard
for it, to point out such authors as might be always models
for those who chose to improve their style, to oppose the
progress of false taste; and to sift the flour from the bran
of literature, crusca signifying bran. Grazzini was well
qualified to assist an academy instituted for these purposes.
He hail enriched the language with several choice phrases
and new modes of expression, and the academicians have
very justly ranked him among those authors to whom they
have been obliged for examples, in correcting their great
vocabulary. In the mean time his growing fame induced
his friend Leonard Salviati to endeavour his re-introduction
into the academy of Florence, which was successfully accomplished in 1566, twenty years after he had left it; in
return for which he procured admission for Salviati among
the Cruscanti. Grazzini died at Florence in February
1583. He was a man of unquestionable genius, spirit, and
humour, and wrote with great elegance, and although
there are some indelicate passages in his poems, which
was the vice of the times, he was a man of strict morals,
and even, says his biographer, very religious. Many of
his works are lost, and among these some prose tales, and
many pieces of poetry. There remain, however, twentyone tales, six comedies, a great number of capitoli, or
satirical chapters, and various poems, of which the best
edition is that of Florence, 1741, 2 vols. 8vo. His Tales
or Novels were printed at Paris, 1756, 8vo, from which
some copies have been printed in 4to, under the title of
London. An excellent French translation of them appeared
in 1775, 2 vols. 8vo, in which nine histories wanting in the
third evening are said to be inserted from an old French
translation in ms. He wrote also “La guerra di Mostri,
Poema giocoso,
” Florence, Tutti i trionfi, carri, mascherate o canti carnasciaj^schi
dal tempo di Lorenzo de Medici a questoanno 1559,
” 8vo;
ary, was eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colmore, near Alresford, in Hampshire, where, his son was born in 1602, and probably instructed in grammar learning by
, an eminent mathematician and antiquary, was eldest son of John Greaves, rector of Colmore, near Alresford, in Hampshire, where, his son was born in 1602, and probably instructed in grammar learning by his father, who was the most celebrated school-master in that country. At fi/teen years of age he was sent to Baliol college, in Oxford, where he proceeded B. A. July 6, 1621. -Three years after, his superiority in classical learning procured him the first place of five in an election to a fellowship of Merton-college. On June 25, 1628, he commenced M. A. and, having completed his fellowship, was more at liberty to pursue the bent of his inclination, which leading him chiefly to oriental learning and the mathematics, he quickly distinguished himself in each of these studies; and his eminent skill in the latter procured him the professorship of geometry in Gresham college, which he obtained February 22^ 1630.
ke, the Arabic professor at Cambridge. Dr. Edward Greaves, the youngest brother of Mr. John Greaves, was born at or near Croydon in Surrey, and admitted probationer
Mr. Greaves had three brothers, Nicholas, Thomas,
and Edward, all men of distinguished learning. Dr. Nicholas Greaves was a commoner of St. Mary’s Hall, in
Oxford, whence in 1627 he was elected fellow of All-Souls
college. In 1640 he was proctor of that university. November 1st 1642 he took the degree of B. D. and July 6th
the year following, that of D. D. He was dean of Dromore in Ireland. Dr. Thomas Greaves was admitted a
scholar of Corpus Christi college in Oxford March 15th,
1627, and chosen fellow thereof in 1636, and deputy
reader of the Arabic during the absence of Mr. Edward Pocock in 1637. He took the degree of B. D. October 22,
1641, and was rector of Dunsby in Lincolnshire during the
times preceding the Restoration, and of another living near
London. October I Oth, 1661, he had the degree of D. D.
conferred upon him, and a prebend in the church of
Peterborough in 1666, being then rector of Benefield in Northamptonshire, “which benefice he resigned some years
before his death through trouble from his parishioners, who,
because of his slowness of speech and bad utterance, held
him insufficient for it, notwithstanding he was a man of
great learning.
” In the latter part of his life he retired to
Weldon in Northamptonshire, where he had purchased an
estate, and died there May 22, 1676, in the sixty-fifth
year of his age, and was interred in the chancel of the
church there. His writings are, “De Linguae Arabicae
militate et proestantia, oratio Oxonii habita 19 Julii 1637,
”
Oxford, Observationes qusedam in Persicam
Pentateuchi versionem,
” printed in the sixth volume of the
Polyglot Bible; “Annotationes quaedam in Persicatn interpretationem Evangeliorum,
” printed in the same volume. These annotations were translated into Latin by
Mr. Samuel Clarke. It appears likewise, by a letter of his
to the celebrated nonconformist Baxter, that he had made
considerable progress in a refutation of Mahometanism
from the Alcoran, upon a plan that was likely to have been
useful in opening the eyes of the Mahometans to the impostures of their founder. He corresponded much with
the learned men of his time, particularly Selden, and
Wheelocke, the Arabic professor at Cambridge. Dr. Edward Greaves, the youngest brother of Mr. John Greaves,
was born at or near Croydon in Surrey, and admitted probationer fellow of All-Souls college in Oxford in 1634;
and studying physic, took the degree of doctor of that
faculty July 8, 1641, in which year and afterwards he practised with good success about Oxford. In 1643 he was
elected superior lecturer of physic in Merton college, a
chair founded by Dr. Thomas Linacre. Upon the declining of the king’s cause he retired to London, and practised there, and sometimes at Bath. In March 1652 he
was examined for the first time before the college of physicians at London, and October 1, 1657, was elected
fellow. After the Restoration he was appointed physician
in ordinary to king Charles II. and was created a baronet.
Mr. Wood styles him a pretended baronet; but we find
that he takes this title in his oration before the college of
physicians; and in the sixth edition of Guillim’s Heraldry
are his arms in that rank. He died at his house in Covent
Garden, November 11, 1680, and was interred in the parish church there. He wrote and published Morbus
Epideiw'cus, ann. 1643; or, the New Disease, with signs,
causes, remedies,“&c. Oxford, 1643, 4to, written upon
occasion of a disease called
” Morbus Campestris,“which
raged in Oxford while the king and court were there.
” Oratio habita in >dibus Collegii Medicorum Londinensium, 25 July, 1661, die Hurveii memoriae dicato," Lond.
1667, 4to.
, an English prelate, was born about 1706, at Beverly, in Yorkshire, and received the
, an English prelate, was born about
1706, at Beverly, in Yorkshire, and received the rudiments of his education at a private school. From this he
was admitted a sizar in St. John’s college, Cambridge;
and after taking his degrees in arts, with great credit as a
classical scholar, engaged himself as usher to a school at
Lichfield, before Dr. Johnson and Mr. Garrick had left
that city, with both of whom he was of course acquainted,
but he continued here only one year. In 1730 he was
elected fellow of St. John’s, and soon after the bishop of
Ely procured him the vicarage of Hingeston from Jesus
college, which was tenable with a fellowship of St. John’s,
but could not be held by any fellow of Jesus. In 1744,
Charles duke of Somerset, chancellor of the university,
appointed Mr. Green (then B. D.) his domestic chaplain.
In January 1747, Green was presented by his noble patron
to the rectory of Borough-green, near New-market, which
he held with his fellowship. He then returned to college,
and was appointed bursar. In December 1748, on the
death of Dr. Whalley, he was elected regius professor of
divinity, with which office he held the living of Barrow in
Suffolk, and sodn after was appointed one of his majesty’s
chaplains. In June 170, on the death of dean Castle,
master of Bene't college, a majority of the fellows (after the headship had been declined by their president, Mr. Scottowe) agreed to apply to archbishop Herring for his
recommendation; and his grace, at the particular request
of the duke of Newcastle, recommended professor Green,
who was immediately elected. Among the writers on the
subject of the new regulations proposed by the chancellor,
and established by the senate, Dr. Green took an active
part, in a pamphlet published in the following winter, 1750,
without his name, entitled “The Academic, or a disputation on the state of the university of Cambridge.
” On
March 22, 1751, whenhis friend Dr. Keene, master of
St. Peter’s college, was promoted to the bishopric of Chester, Dr. Green preached the consecration -sermon in Elyhouse chapel, which, by order of the archbishop of York,
was soon after published. In October 1756, on the death
of Dr. George, he was preferred to the deanery of Lincoln,
and resigned his professorship. Being then eligible to the
office of vice-chancellor, he was chosen in November following. In June 1761, the dean exerted his polemical
talents in two letters (published without his name) “on the
principles and practices of the Methodists,
” the first addressed to Mr. Berridge, and the second to Mr. Whitfield.
On the translation of bishop Thomas to the bishopric of
Salisbury, Green was promoted to the see of Lincoln, the
last mark of favour which the duke of Newcastle had it in
his power to shew him. In 1762, archbishop Seeker (who had always a just esteem for his talents and abilities) being indisposed, the bishop of Lincoln visited as his proxy
the diocese of Canterbury. In 1763 he preached the 30th
of January sermon before the house of lords, which was
printed.
a worthy English prelate, was the son of Thomas Greene of St. Peter’s Mancroft in Norwich, where he was born in 1658, He was educated in the freeschool of that city,
, a worthy English prelate, was the son of Thomas Greene of St. Peter’s Mancroft in Norwich, where he was born in 1658, He was educated in the freeschool of that city, and in July 1674, admitted of Bene't college, Cambridge, of which he obtained a scholarship, and in 1680 a fellowship, and became tutor. He took his degree of A. B. in 1679, and that of A. M. in 1682. His first step from the university was into the family of sir Stephen Fox, grandfather of the late hon. Charles Fox, to whom he was made domestic chaplain through the interest of archbishop Tenison, who soon after his promotion to the see of Canterbury, took him under the same relation into his own palace; and collated him April 2, 1695, to the vicarage of Minster in the isle of Thanet; he being, since 1690, D. D. by the archbishop’s faculty. To the same patron he was likewise obliged for a prebend in the cathedral of Canterbury, into which he was installed in May 1702; for the rectory of Adisham cum Staple in Kent, to which he was collated Oct. 2, 1708, and for the archdeaconry of Canterbury, into which he was installed the next month, having been chosen before one of the proctors of the clergy in convocation for that diocese. Upon these preferments he quitted the vicarage of Minster, as he did the rectory of Adisham upon his institution (in Feb. 1716) to the vicarage of St. Martin’s in the Fields, Westminster; to which he was presented by the trustees of archbishop Tenison, for the disposal of his options, of whom he himself was one. This he held in commendam with the bishopric of Norwich, to which he was consecrated Oct. 8, 1721, but was thence translated to Ely, Sept 24, 1723.
, a puritan divine of considerable talents and popularity, was born about 1631, and educated at Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, where
, a puritan divine of considerable talents and popularity, was born about 1631, and educated at Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, where he took his degrees in arts, and became a fellow. Quitting the university, he was appointed to the living of Dry Drayton near Cambridge, where he continued about twenty-one years, after which he removed to London, and died two years after, in 1591, of the plague, according to Fuller, who, as well as Strype, bishop Wilkins, and others, give him a high character for piety, usefulness, and moderation of sentiment, although a nonconformist in some points. His works, consisting of sermons, treatises, and a commentary on Psalm cxix. were collected into one volume, folio, and published in 1601, and again in 1612.
, a very ingenious English painter, was descended from a good family in Salisbury, where he was born. He was the most successful of all the disciples of sir
, a very ingenious English painter, was descended from a good family in Salisbury, where he was born. He was the most successful of all the disciples of sir Peter Lely, who is said to have considered him so much as a rival, that he never suffered him to see him paint. Greenhill, however, prevailed with sir Peter to draw his wife’s picture, and took the opportunity of observing how he managed his pencil; which was the great point aimed at. He is said to have been equally qualified by nature for the sister-arts of painting and poetry; but his loose and unguarded manner of living was probably the occasion of his early death; and only suffered him just to leave enough of his hand, to make us wish he had been more careful of a life so likely to do honour to his country. Mrs. Behn, with whom he was a great favourite, endeavoured to perpetuate his memory by an elegy, to be found among her works. He painted a portrait of bishop Ward, which is now in the town-hall of Salisbury. He died May 19, 1676.
a gallant naval officer, was the son of sir Roger, of an ancient family, in the west of England, and was born about 1540. At the age of sixteen, by the permission of
, a gallant naval officer, was the son of sir Roger, of an ancient family, in the west of England, and was born about 1540. At the age of sixteen, by the permission of queen Elizabeth, he served in the imperial army in Hungary, against the Turks. Upon his return, he engaged with the troops employed for the reduction of Ireland, and obtained so much reputation as to be appointed sheriff of the city of Cork, and in 1571, he represented the county of Cornwall in parliament. He was afterwards high sheriff of the county, and received the honour of knighthood; but the bias of his mind was chiefly fixed upon plans of foreign discovery and settlement, proposed by his relation sir Walter Raleigh, and when the patents were made out, he obtained the command of a squadron fitted out for the purpose, consisting of seven small vessels. With these he sailed in the spring of 1585, and reaching the coast of Florida in June, he left there a colony of one hundred men, and then sailed homewards. He made other voyages, and on occasion of the Spanish invasion, was appointed one of a council of war, to concert means of defence, and received the queen’s commands not to quit the county of Cornwall. In 1591 he was appointed vice-admiral of a squadron, fitted out for the purpose of intercepting a rich Spanish fleet from the West Indies. This fleet, when it appeared, was convoyed by a very superior force, and Greenville was urged to tack about; but he preferred, and no doubt his sailors agreed with him, taking chance of breaking through the enemy’s fleet, which almost immediately surrounded him. The Spanish admiral, with four other ships, began a clos? attack at three in the afternoon the engagement lasted till break of day next morning, during which the Spaniards, notwithstanding their vast superiority, were driven off fifteen times. At length the greater part of the English crew being either killed or wounded, and the ship reduced to a wreck, no hope of escape remained. The brave commander had been wounded at the beginning of the action, but he caused his wounds to be dressed on deck, and refused to go down into the hold, and in that state he was shot through the body. He was now taken to the cabin, and while in the act of being dressed, the surgeon was killed by his side. The admiral still determined to hold out, wishing rather to sink the ship than surrender, but the offers of quarter from the Spaniards induced the men to yield. Sir Richard was taken on board the Spanish ship, and honourably treated, but died of his wounds in about three days. He has sometimes been blamed for rashness, but of this his censurers appear to be very imperfect judges.
, a brave and loyal officer, grandson of the preceding, was born in 1596. He was educated at Exeter college, Oxford, where
, a brave and loyal officer,
grandson of the preceding, was born in 1596. He was
educated at Exeter college, Oxford, where his accomplishments were acknowledged, and his principles of loyalty
and religion indelibly fixed, under the care of Dr. Prideaux.
After taking possession of his estate he sat in parliament;
and in 1638 attended the king with a troop of horse, raised
at his own expence, in an expedition to Scotland, on which
occasion he received the honour of knighthood. Abhorring
the principles which then broke out in open rebellion, he
joined the royal army, and had a command at the battle of
Stratton, in 1643, when the parliamentary forces were defeated, and greatly distinguished himself in other engagements, particularly that at Lansdown, near Bath, fought
successfully against sir William Waller, July 5, 1643, but
received a fatal blow with a pole-axe. Many of his brother officers fell with him, and their bodies were found
surrounding his. Lord Clarendon says, “That which
would have clouded any victory, was the death of sir Bevil Greenville. He was, indeed, an excellent person, whose
activity, interest, and reputation was the foundation of
what had been done in Cornwall, and his temper and affection so public, that no accident which happened could
make any impression on him; and his example kept others
from taking any thing ill, or at least seeming to do so; in
ft word, a brighter courage and gentler disposition were
never married together, to make the most cheerful and
innocent conversation.
” His descendant, lord Lansdowne,
erected a monument on the spot where he was killed.
a younger son of the preceding, and brother to sir John Greenville first eari of Bath, of his name, was born in Cornwall, admitted gentleman commoner of Exeter college,
, a younger son of the preceding, and brother to sir John Greenville first eari of Bath,
of his name, was born in Cornwall, admitted gentleman
commoner of Exeter college, Sept. 22, 1657, actually
created in convocation master of arts Sept. 28, 1660.
About this time he married Anne, the daughter of Dr.
Cosin, bishop of Durham, who conferred several preferments on him, as the rectories of Easington and Elwick in.
the county palatine of Durham; the archdeaconry of Durham, to which he was collated on the death of Dr. Gabriel
Clarke, Sept. 16, 1662, and to the first stall of prebendaries of the church of Durham, Sept. 24, 1662, from
whence he was removed to the second, April 16, 1668.
On December 20, 1670, he was created doctor of divinity,
being then one of the chaplains in ordinary to Charles II.;
and on the 14th of December, 1684, he was installed dean
of Durham in the place of Dr. John Sudbury deceased. In
the register of Eton college we find that immediately
after the restoration, Dr. Greenville was recommended in
very strong terms to the master and fellows for a fellowship, by three several letters from the king, but for what
reason this recommendation did not take effect, does not
appear; probably he might wave his interest on account
of other preferment which was more acceptable to him.
On the 1st of February 1690, he was deprived of all his
>referments upon his refusal to comply with the new oaths
>f allegiance and supremacy to the prince of Orange then
in possession of the throne, a change which he utterly abhorred, always considering the revolution as a rebellion
and usurpation. Soon after the prince of Orange’s landing,
he left Durham in order to retire into France; and sometimes lived at Corbeil (from whence it is supposed his family originally sprung), but more frequently at Paris and
St. Germain’s, where he was very civilly treated and much
countenanced by the queen-mother, as we find in several
of his own letters, notwithstanding what has been falsely
asserted by Mackay in an account of the court of St. Germain’s. He owns he _was sometimes attacked by the
priests, but with much good manners and civility. Mr*
Wood says, that during his retirement, he was, on the
death of Dr. Lamplugh, nominated to the see of York, by
king James II. though never consecrated; but this seems
rery doubtful. In April 1695 he came incognito into EngJand; but soon returned. For some time before his death
he enjoyed but a very indifferent state of health, having
been much troubled with a sciatica, and other infirmities.
He died at Paris, after a series of many sufferings, on
April 7, 1703, N. S. and was buried at the lower end of
the Holy Innocents’ church in that city. Lord Lansdowne
in a letter to a nephew of his, who was going to enter into
holy orders, says of him, “You had an uncle whose mejnory I shall ever revere: make him your example. Sanctity sate so easy, so unaffected, and so graceful upon him,
that in him we beheld the very beauty of holiness. He
was as cheerful, as familiar, as condescending in his conversation, as he was strict, regular, and exemplary in his
piety; as well bred and accomplished as a courtier, and
as reverend and venerable as an apostle. He was indeed
apostolical in every thing, for he abandoned all to follow
his Lord and Master.
” There seems little reason to doubt
this character, as far as it respects Dr. Greenville’s private
character, but in bigotry for restoration of James II. he
probably excelled all his contemporaries, and from some
correspondence lately published in the Life of Dr. Comber,
his successor in the deanery of Durham, there is reason tp
doubt whether in his latter days his mind was not unsound.
He published, 1. “The Complete Conformist, or seasonable advice concerning strict conformity and frequent
celebration of the Holy Communion,
” preached on the 7th
of January, being the first Sunday after the Epiphany,
1682, in the cathedral church of Durham, on John i. 29,
Loud. 1684, 4to. To which is added “Advice or a letter
written to the clergy of the archdeaconry of Durham,
” to
the same purpose. 2. “A Sermon preached in the cathedral church of Durham, upon the revival of the ancient
and laudable practice of that and some other cathedrals, in
having sermons on Wednesdays and Fridays during Advent
and Lent,
” on Rom. xiii. 11, Loud. 1686, 4to. 3. “Counsels and Directions divine and moral: in plain and familiar
letters of advice to a young gentleman his nephew, soon
after his admission into a college in Oxford,
” Lond. The resigned and resolved Christian and faithfull
and undaunted loyalist: in two plaine farewell sermons,
and a loyal farewell visitation speech. Both delivered
amidst the lamentable confusions occasioned by the late
foreign invasion and home-defection of his majestie’s subjects in England. By Denis Granville, D. D. deane and
archdeacon of Durham, now in exile, chaplaine in ordinary
to his majestic. .Whereunto are added certaine Letters to
his relations and friends in England, shewing the reasons
and manner of his withdrawing out of the kingdom.
” “A
Letter to his brother the earl of Bathe.
” “A Letter to
his bishop the bishop of Durham.
” “A Letter to his brethren the prebendaries
” “A Letter to the clergy of his
archdeaconry.
” “A Letter to his curates, at Easington
and Sedgefield,
” printed at Rouen, The
chiefest matters contained in sundry Discourses made to
the clergy of the archdeaconry of Durham, since his majestic‘ s coming to the crown. Summed up and seasonably
brought again to their view in a loyal farewell visitation
speech on the 13th of November last, 88, being ten days
after the landing of the prince of Orange.*’ This is dated
from his study at Rouen Nov. 15, 1689. With a preface
to the reader and an advertisement. 6.
” A copy of a
paper penned at Durham, by the author, Aug. 27, 1688,
by way of reflection on the then dismal prognostics of the
time.“7.
” Directions which Dr. Granville, archdeacon
of Durham, rector of Sedgefield and Easington, enjoins to
be observed by the curates of those his parishes, given
them in charge at Easter-visitation held at Sedgefield, in
the year 1669."
, surnamed the Great, was born of a patrician family, equally conspicuous for its virtue
, surnamed the Great, was born of a patrician family, equally conspicuous for its virtue and nobility at Rome, where his father Gordian was a senator, and extremely rich; and, marrying a lady of distinction, called Sylvia, had by her this son, about the year 544. From his earliest years he discovered genius and judgment; and, applying himself particularly to the apophthegms of th ancients, he fixed every thing worth notice in his memory, where it was faithfully preserved as in a store-house; he also improved himself by the conversation of old men, in which he took great delight. By these methods he made a great progress in the sciences, and there was not a man. in Rome, who surpassed him in grammar, logic, and rhetoric; nor can it be doubted but he had early instructions in the civil law, in which his letters prove him to have been well versed: he was nevertheless entirely ignorant of the Greek language. These accomplishments in a young nobleman procured him senatorial dignities, which he filled with great reputation and he was afterwards appointed praefect of the city by the emperor Justin the Younger but, being much inclined to a monastic life, he quitted that post, and retired to the monastery of St. Andrew, which he himself had founded at Rome in his father’s house, and put it under the government of an abbot, called Valentius. Besides this, he founded six other convents in Sicily; and, selling all the rest of his possessions, he gave the purchase-money to the poor.
, the principal event in whose life is the reformation he introduced in the Roman calendar, was born at Bologna in 1502. His name before his promotion was Hugh
, the principal event in whose life is the reformation he introduced in the Roman calendar, was born at Bologna in 1502. His name before his promotion was Hugh Buoncompagno. He was brought up to the study of the civil and canon law, which he taught in his native city with uncommon reputation. He was afterwards appointed judge of the court of commerce at Bologna. From this city he removed to Rome, where, after various preferments, he was on the death of Pius V. in 1572, unanimously elected his successor, and at his consecration he took the name of Gregory XIII. His reformation of the calendar, was according to a method suggested by Lewis Lilio, a Calabrian astronomer, which after his death was presented to the pope by his brother. This method, which was immediately adopted in all catholic countries, but was rejected by the protestants and by the Greeks, was intended to reform the old or Julian year, established by Julius Caesar, which consisted of'365 days 6 hours, or 365 difys and a quarter, that is three years of 365 days each, and the fourth year of 366 days. But as the mean tropical year consists only of 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 57 seconds, the former lost 11 minutes 3 seconds every year, which in the time of pope Gregory had amounted to 10 <lays, and who, by adding these 10 days, brought the account of time to its proper day again, and at the same time appointed that every century after, a day more should be added, thereby making the years of the complete centuries, viz. 1600, 1700, 1800, &c. to be common years of 365 days each, instead of leap-years of 366 days, which makes the mean Gregorian year equal to 365 days 5 hours 45 minutes 36 seconds. This computation was not introduced into the account of time in England, till 1752, when the Julian account had lost 11 days, and therefore the 3d of September, was in that year by act of parliament accounted the 14th, thereby restoring the 11 days which had thus been omitted.
, was born A. D. 324, at Azianzum, an obscure village belonging to
, was born A. D. 324, at Azianzum, an obscure village belonging to Nazianzum, a town of the second Cappadocia, situated in a poor, barren, and unhealthy country. His parents were persons of rank, and no less eminent for their virtues: his father, whose name was also Gregory, had been educated in a religion called Hypsistarianism*, to which, being the religion of his ancestors, he was a bigot in his younger years; and the deserting it not only lost him the kindness of his friends, but estranged him from his mother, and deprived him of his estate. This, however, he bore with great cbearfulness for the sake of Christianity, to which he was converted by his wife, though not without the help of an emphatical dream; he was afterwards made bishop of Nazianzum, being the second who sat in that chair, where he behaved with great prudence and diligence. Nor was our author’s mother less eminent; descended of a pious family, sh was herself, for piety, so much the wonder of her age, that this son was said to have been the pure effect of her prayers, and of a vow to devote him to God, after the example of Hannah; and upon his birth she was careful to perform her vow.
parents eminent for their birth and fortune, at Neo-Cesarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia, where he was born. He was educated very carefully in the learning and religion
, surnamed Thaumaturgus, was descended of parents eminent for their birth and fortune, at Neo-Cesarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia, where he was born. He was educated very carefully in the learning and religion of the Gentiles by his father, who was a warm, zealot; but, losing this parent at fourteen years of age, he, enlarging his inquiries, began by degrees to perceive the vanity of that religion in which he had been bred, and turned his inclinations to Christianity. Having laid the necessary ground-work of his education at home, and studied the law for some time, to which he had no great inclination, he resolved to accomplish himself by foreign travels, to which purpose he went first to Alexandria, then become famous by the Platonic school lately erected there*. Departing from Alexandria, he came back probably through Greece, and staid awhile at Athens whence returning home, he applied himself to his old study of the law but again growing weary of it, he turned to the more agreeable speculations of philosophy.
orius, an eminent bishop and writer of the sixth century, descended from a noble family of AuTergne, was born about the year 544. He was educated by his uncle Gallus,
, St., or frequently called Geregius
Florentius Gregorius, an eminent bishop and writer of
the sixth century, descended from a noble family of AuTergne, was born about the year 544. He was educated
by his uncle Gallus, bishop of Clermont, and became so
eminent for learning and virtue, as to be appointed bishop
of Tours in the year 573. He assisted at the council held
at Paris in the year 577, respecting Pretextat, bishop of
Rouen, and strongly opposed the violence of some of the
members of that assembly, particularly Chilperic and Fredegonde. He went afterwards to visit the tomb of > the
apostles at Rome, where he formed a friendship with St.
Gregory the Great, and died Norember 27, 595. This
bishop wrote a “History of France,
” in ten books; eight
books of “The Miracles, or Lives of the Saints;
” and
other works, in the library of the fathers. The best edition-is that by Dom Ruinart, 1699, fol. His history is very
useful; for though the style is dry and coarse, and the
author extremely simple and credulous, yet an ingenious
critic may easily separate the truths contained in it from
the falsehoods. This work has been translated into French
by the abbeé de Marolles, 1668, 2 vols. 8vo.
, a Flemish geometrician, was born at Bruges in 1584, and became a Jesuit at Rome at twenty
, a Flemish geometrician, was born at Bruges in 1584, and became a Jesuit at Rome at twenty years of age. He studied mathematics under the learned Jesuit Clavius. He afterward became a reputable professor of those sciences himself, and his instructions were solicited by several princes he was called to Prague by the emperor Ferdinand II. and Philip IV. king of Spain was desirous of having him to teach the mathematics to his ion, the young prince John of Austria. He was not less estimable for his virtues than his skill in the sciences. His well-meant endeavours were very commendable, when his holy zeal, though for a false religion, led him to follow the army in Flanders one compaign, to confess the wounded and dying soldiers, in which he received several wounds himself. He died of an apoplexy at Ghent, in 1667, at eighty-three years of age.
otland, was the son of the Rev. Mr. John Gregory, minister of Drumoak in the county of Aberdeen, and was born at Aberdeen in November 1638. His mother was a daughter
, the first of an eminent family of
learned men in Scotland, was the son of the Rev. Mr. John
Gregory, minister of Drumoak in the county of Aberdeen,
and was born at Aberdeen in November 1638. His mother
was a daughter of Mr. David Anderson of Finzaugh, or
Finshaugh, a gentleman who possessed a singular turn for
mathematical and mechanical knowledge. This mathematical genius was hereditary in the family of the Andersons,
and from them it seems to have been transmitted to their
descendants of the names of Gregory, Reid, &c. Alexander Anderson, cousin -german of the said David, was
professor of mathematics at Paris in the beginning of
the seventeenth century, and published there several valuable and ingenious works; as may be seen in our vol. II.
The mother of James Gregory inherited the genius of her
family; and observing in her son, while yet a child, a
itrong propensity to mathematics, she instructed him
herself in the elements of that science. His education in the
languages he received at the grammar-school of Aberdeen,
and went through the usual course of academical studies at
Marischal college, but was chiefly delighted with philosophical researches, into which a new door had been lately
opened by the key of the mathematics. Galileo, Kepler,
and Des Cartes were the great masters of this new method;
their works, therefore, Gregory made his principal study,
and began early to make improvements upon their discoveries in optics. The first of these improvements was the
invention of the reflecting telescope, which still bears his
name; and which was so happy a thought, that it has
given occasion to the most considerable improvements
made in optics, since the invention of the telescope. He
published the construction of this instrument in his “Optica
promota,
”
, elder brother of the preceding, was born in 1627 or 1628, and although he possessed all the genius
, elder brother of the preceding, was born in 1627 or 1628, and although he possessed all the genius of the other branches of his family, was educated by his father for trade, and served an apprenticeship to a mercantile house in Holland. Having a stronger passion, however, for knowledge than for money, he abandoned trade in 1655, and returning to his own country, he succeeded, upn the death of an elder brorher, to the estate of Kinarclie, situated about forty miles north of Aberdeen, where he lived many years, and where thirty-two children were born to him by two wives. Of these, three sons made a conspicuous figure in the republic of letters, being all professors of mathematics at the same time in three of the British universities, viz. David at Oxford, James at Edinburgh, and Charles at St. Andrew’s.
, son of the preceding, and nephew to the inventor of the reflecting telescope, was born June 21, 1661, at Aberdeen; where he also received the
, son of the preceding, and nephew
to the inventor of the reflecting telescope, was born June
21, 1661, at Aberdeen; where he also received the first
grounds of his learning, but was afterwards removed to
Edinburgh, and took his degree of M. A. in that university.
The great advantage of his uncle’s papers induced his friends
to recommend the mathematics to him; and he had a natural subtilty of genius particularly fitted for that study, to
which he applied with indefatigable industry, and succeeded so well that he was advanced to the mathematical
chair, at Edinburgh, at the age of twenty-three. The
same year he published a treatise, entitled “Exercitatio
Geometrica de dimensione figurarum,
” Edinb. Principia
” was no
sooner out in
, professor of medicine in the university of Edinburgh, was born at Aberdeen in 1724. He was the third son of James Gregory,
, professor of medicine in the university of Edinburgh, was born at Aberdeen in 1724. He was the third son of James Gregory, M. D. professor of medicine in King’s college, Aberdeen, by Anne, daughter of the rev. George Chalmers, principal of King’s college there. His grandfather was David Gregory of Kinardie, and his grand-uncle the James Gregory, whose life we have first given, the inventor of the reflecting telescope. Though the father of Dr. John Gregory died when he was very young, his education was carefully superintended, and he made a rapid progress in his studies, and like the rest of his ancestors became deeply versed in mathematical knowledge. He also cultivated an elegant and just taste, clearness -and beauty of expression, with precision of judgment, and extensive knowledge. He was the early, intimate, and constant friend and associate of Drs. Gerard, Beattie, and the other eminent men who belonged to the university of Aberdeen. In 1742, he went to Edinburgh, to prosecute the study of medicine, and thence to Leyden in 1745, and to Paris in 1746, for further improvement. On his return he was appointed professor of philosophy in King’s college, Aberdeen, and had at the same time the degree of M. D. conferred upon him. He held this professorship for a few years. In 1754, he went to London, where he. cultivated the acquaintance, and fixed the esteem and friendship of' some of the most distinguished literati there. Edward Montague, esq. an eminent mathematician, maintained a firm friendship for the doctor, founded on a similarity of manners and studies. His, lady the celebrated Mrs. Montague? and George lord Lyttelton, were of the number of his friends; and it is not improbable that he would have continued in London, and practised there in his profession, if the death of his brother Dr. James Gregory, professor of physic in King’s college, Aberdeen, in 1756, had not occasioned his being recalled to his native university to fill that chair. His occupations in physic now began to be active; he gave a course of lectures in physic, and practised in his profession, with great success. In the above-mentioned year, while at London, he was elected a fellow of the royal society. In 1766, on the death of Dr. Robert Whytt, the ingenious professor of the theory of physic at Edinburgh, Dr. Gregory was called to succeed him, as his majesty’s first physician in Scotland; and about the same time he was chosen to fill the chair of professor of the practice of physic, which was just resigned by Dr. Rutherford. Dr. Gregory gave three successive courses of practical lectures. Afterwards by agreement with his ingenious colleague, Dr. Cullen, they lectured alternate sessions, on the practice and institutions of medicine, with just and universal approbation, till the time of Dr. Gregory’s death.
time of his son’s birth, the living of Edernin, and a prebend in the cathedral of Ferns. Dr. Gregory was born April 14, 1754, and after his father’s death in 1766, was
, D. D. a divine and miscellanebus writer, was descended from a family, originally from Scotland, but a branch of which was settled in Ireland. His father, who had been educated in Trinity college, Dublin, held, at the time of his son’s birth, the living of Edernin, and a prebend in the cathedral of Ferns. Dr. Gregory was born April 14, 1754, and after his father’s death in 1766, was removed to Liverpool, where his mother fixed her residence. He passed some time under the tuition of an excellent schoolmaster of the name of Holder), by whom he was much distinguished for his proficiency in learning. As it was his mother’s desire that he should be brought up to commerce, he spent some years in mercantile employments; but a taste for literature, which continued to be his ruling propensity, produced a final determination in favour of a learned profession. Although the regular process of education for this purpose had been interrupted, the intervening variety of pursuit and observation proved the foundation of a great store of information relative to the arts and sciences, to commerce, manufactures, and political institutions, that was very useful in his subsequent compilations. When his destination was fixed, he passed an interval of study at the university of Edinburgh, and in 1776 entered into holy orders. He first officiated as a curate at Liverpool, where he distinguished himself as a preacher, and wrote some occasional pieces in the periodical journals and magazines, particularly against the slave trade, which he had the spirit to attack in the principal seat of that traffic. In 1782 he removed to London, and obtained the curacy of St. Giles’s Cripplegate, in which parish he became very popular, both in that capacity and afterwards as their morningpreacher. His other London preferments, if they may be so called, were the curacy and lectureship of St. Botolph’s, the lectureship of St. Lute’s, one of the weekly lectureships of St. Antholin’s, and a small prehend in St. Paul’s, which he relinquished for the rectory of Stapleford in Hertfordshire. He was also some time one of the evening preachers at the Foundling hospital. In 1804 he was presented by Mr. Addington, now lord Sidmbuth, to the valuable living of West Ham in Essex, where in a little time the powers of his constitution, although apparently a strong one, suddenly gave way, and he died, after a short confinement, March 12, 1808.
the sixteenth century, one of the greatest masters of what Roman catholics call the spiritual life, was born in 1504, at Grenada. He was educated in the house of the
, a celebrated Dominican in the
sixteenth century, one of the greatest masters of what
Roman catholics call the spiritual life, was born in 1504, at
Grenada. He was educated in the house of the marquis
de Mondejar, and acquired great reputation by his piety,
preaching, and writings. The kings of Portugal and Castile had a particular esteem for him, and would have raised
him to the highest ecclesiastical dignities, but he persisted in refusing their offers. He died December 31,
1588. His works have been translated into French by
Mr. Girard, in 2 vols. folio, and 10 vols. 8vo. They are
said to be written with uncommon eloquence of style, and
contain solid instruction. The principal are, “The Sinner’s Guide,
” 1 vol. the “Memorial of the Christian Life,
”
with the supplement, 3 vols. a “Treatise on Prayer,
” 2
vols. an excellent “Catechism,
” 4 vols. the edition of
1709 is more complete than the preceding ones. “Instructions for Preachers,
” 8vo, a treatise on the duties of
bishops; “Sermons,
” 6 vols. 8vo, Antwerp, 1604, in
Latin the Life of the Holy Priest, Avila, &C.
overnment of it on the fishmongers’ company in London. Thomas, the son of the preceding sir Richard, was born in 1519 at London, and bound apprentice to a mercer there
, descended of an ancient
family distinguished by many honourable persons, which
took its name from a town so called in Norfolk, was the
younger son of sir Richard Gresham, knight, alderman,
sheriff, and lord mayor of London, an opulent merchant,
and a man of great public spirit, who died in February
1548. His brother, sir John Gresham, was also an opulent merchant, and had served the offices of alderman,
sheriff, and lord mayor. He died of a pestilential fever in
1556, after, among other acts of munificence, endowing the
free school of Holt in Norfolk, and bestowing the government of it on the fishmongers’ company in London. Thomas, the son of the preceding sir Richard, was born in
1519 at London, and bound apprentice to a mercer there
while he was young: but, to enlarge his mind by an education suitable to his birth and fortune, was sent to Caius
college, then Gonvil-hall, in Cambridge; where he remained a considerable time, and made such improvements
in learning, that Caius the founder of the college styles
him “doctissimus mercator,
” the very learned merchant.
However, the profits of trade were then so great, and such
large estates had been raised by it in his own family, that
he afterwards engaged in it, and was admitted a member
of the Mercers’ company in 1543. About this time he
warned Anne, the daughter of William Femley, esq. of
West Creting, in Suffolk, und widow of William Heade, of
Fulham, in Middlesex, esq., by whom he had a son named
Richard, who not long after succeeded his father in the office
of agent to king Edward for taking up money of the merchants at Antwerp, and removed to that city with his family
in 1551.
, a French poet of considerable eminence, was born 1709, at Amiens, entered among the Jesuits at 16, and quitted
, a French poet of
considerable eminence, was born 1709, at Amiens, entered among the Jesuits at 16, and quitted the society at
the age of 26, about the end of J735. It was about this
time his “Ver Vert
” first came out, which has been so
justly admired, as the production of a genius (in Rousseau’s judgment) “at once refined, embellished, ornamented;
”
appearing in short, “in all its perfection.
” This great
poet considers the author as “displaying in his familiar
style, whatever is most brilliant in poetry, and every idea
>vith which a complete knowledge of the world could furnish a man who had passed his whole life in it.
” He thought
the same of the “Chartreuse,
” another of his productions,
but accused its author of negligence in his other pieces,
being of opinion that the familiar style did not exclude the
perfection of poetry. M. Cresset was admitted into the
French academy in 1748, and gave up poetry that he
might devote himself wholly to works of piety, and died
June 16, 1777, at Amiens, after having received letters of
nobility, and been appointed historiographer of the order
of St. Lazore. He married in 1751, mademoiselle Galland, daughter of a merchant of Amiens, but had no
children. Besides the pieces above-mentioned, he wrote
“Le Lutrin vivant;
” Les Ombres;“” Epistles;“66 Odes
” a poetical translation of Virgil’s Eclogues
“Edward III.
” a tragedy “Sidney,
” and “Le Mechant,
”
comedies the latter of which is deservedly admired.
They have all been collected in 1748, 2 vols. 12mo. Two
little poems in the style of “Ver Vert
” were found among
his papers, one entitled “Le Gazetin;
” the other, “Le
Parrain Magnifique,
” but not the two cantos which he had
added to the Ver Vert. This last poem has been versified
in English by Gilbert Cooper, and by Dr. Geddes.
, a learned German, was born at Marcdorf about 1561, and entered among the society of
, a learned German, was born at Marcdorf about 1561, and entered among the society of Jesuits at the age of seventeen. When he had finished his studies, he was appointed a professor at Ingolstad, where he spent twenty-four years, teaching philosophy, morality, and school-divinity, employments which did not hinder him from, composing an unusual number of books. The catalogue of them, as given by Niceron, consists of near 153 articles; which, he tells us, were copied by him from the proposals, published in 1753, for priming an edition of all Gretser’s works at Ratisbon, in 17 vols. folio. His great erudition was equalled by his modesty, and we are told he could not bear to be commended. The inhabitants of Marcdorf were desirous of having his picture; but when informed of the earnest application they had made to his superiors for that purpose, he expressed his chagrin, and told them, that if they wanted his picture, they need but draw that of an ass. Still, however, to shew their regard, and in a way more acceptable to him, they purchased all his works, and devoted them to the use of the public. He died at Ingolstad, in 1635. He spent his whole life in writing against foreign and English protestant authors (See Thomas James), and in defending the order to which he belonged. Some authors have bestowed very great encomiums upon him, but others think his works only compilations of materials that may be useful to writers of more judgment. They were printed according to the proposals above-mentioned, at Ratisbon, 1739, 17 vols. folio.
, a French poet and physician, was born at Clermont, in Beauvoisis, in 1533. He began early to
, a French poet and physician, was
born at Clermont, in Beauvoisis, in 1533. He began early
to write, producing his tragedy of the “Death of Caesar
”
in his fifteenth year; and practised physic with success.
He was long retained in the service of Margaret of France,
duchess of Savoy, whom he followed to Piedmont. He
, a worthy parish priest, was born in November 1607, at Atherston, in the parish of Manceter,
, a worthy parish priest, was born in November 1607, at Atherston, in the parish of Manceter, Warwickshire; and, having been well grounded in grammar-learning under his uncle Mr. John Denison, was admitted a student of Baliol college, Oxford, in 1624. Here pursuing his studies carefully, he became qualified for academical honours; and, taking both his degrees in arts at the regular times, he was ordained at twenty-eight years of age by Dr. Wright, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. In the beginning of the civil wars he sided with the parliament party, took the covenant, and, at the request of the corporation of Coventry, became minister of the great parish of St. Michael in that city, in which station he was admired for his conscientious performance of all his duties. The soundness of his doctrine according to his persuasion, the prudence and sanctity of his conversation, the vigilancy and tenderness of his care, were of that constant tenor, that he seemed to do all which the best writers upon the pastoral office tell us should be done. As he sided with the presbyterians against the hierarchy, so he joined with that party also against the design of destroying the king. In this, as in other things, he acted both with integrity and courage, of which we have the following remarkable instances. In 1648, when Cromwell, then lieutenant-general, was at Coventry upon his march towards London, Mr. Grew took this opportunity to represent to him the wickedness of the design, then evidently on foot, for taking off his majesty, and the sad consequences thereof, should it take effect; earnestly pressing him to use his endeavours to prevent it, and not ceasing to solicit him till he obtained his promise for it. Nor was he satisfied with this; for afterwards, when the design became more apparent, he addressed a letter to him, reminding him of his promise, and took care to have his letter delivered into CromwelPs own hands. At another time he was required to read in the church the proclamation against sir George Booth, and threatened by Lambert’s soldiers, then in Coventry, with the loss of his place if he refused, yet he determined not to read it. Of his liberality we have this instance: When Mr. Panton, a minister of the royalist party, was obliged to sell his library, Dr. Grew bought some of the books, and being afterwards requested to return them, with an offer of the money he paid, he returned the books, but refused the money, as he knew that Mr. Panton could not yet afford the money so well as himself.
t and most universal vegetable anatomist and physiologist of this country, the son of the preceding, was born at Coventry. The year of his birth is not mentioned, but
, the first and most universal vegetable anatomist and physiologist of this country, the son of
the preceding, was born at Coventry. The year of his
birth is not mentioned, but from some circumstances appears to have been 1628. He was brought up a presbyterian, his father having taken the covenant; and on the
change of the national form of religion, at the restoration
of Charles II. he was sent to study in some foreign university, where he took his degree of doctor of physic. He
settled first at Coventry, and probably resided there in
1664, when, as he informs us in tht 1 preface to his Anatomy
of Plants, he first directed his thoughts to the subject of
that work, “upon reading some of the many and curious
inventions of learned men, in the bodies of animals. For
considering that both of them came at first out of the same
hand, and were therefore the contrivances of the same wisdom; I thence,
” says he, “fully assured myself, that it
could not be a vain design to seek it in both. That so I
might put somewhat upon that side the leaf which the best
botanicks had left bare and empty.
” Four years afterwards
he consulted his brother-in-law, Dr. Henry Sampson, who
encouraged him to go on, by pointing out a passage in
Glisson’s book “De Hepate,
” chap. 1, in which the anatomy of plants is hinted at as an unexplored, but very
promising line of study for a practical observer. For some
time he resided at Coventry, but determining to settle in
London, he came thither about 1672. Before this his first
essay on the anatomy of plants was communicated to the
royal society in 1670, by bishop Wilkins, under the title
of an “Idea of a Philosophical History of Plants.
” It was
received with the honour and attention it deserved, being ordered to be printed, and its author, in that year
also, on the recommendation of the same learned divine,
became a fellow of the royal society. He was appointed
secretary in 1677, in which capacity he published the
Philosophical Transactions from Jan. 1677-8, to Feb. in the
following year. In 1680 he was made an honorary fellovr
of the college of physicians. He is said to have attained
to considerable practice in his profession, nor did his being
a nonconformist deprive him of the credit justly due to his
piety and philosophical merit, even in the worst times. He
lived indeed to see various changes of opinions and professions, apparently with the tranquillity becoming a philosopher and a good man, and died suddenly, March
25, 1711.
, being daughter to Henry VII. queen-dowager of France, and mother of Mary queen of Scots. Lady Jane was born, 1537, at Bradgate, her father’s seat in Leicestershire,
, was an illustrious personage of the blood royal of England by both parents: her grandmother on her father’s side, Henry Grey marquis of Dorset, being queen-consort to Edward IV.; and her grandmother on her mother’s side, lady Frances Brandon, being daughter to Henry VII. queen-dowager of France, and mother of Mary queen of Scots. Lady Jane was born, 1537, at Bradgate, her father’s seat in Leicestershire, and very early gave astonishing proofs of the pregnancy of her parts; insomuch that, upon a comparison with Edward VI. who was partly of the same age, and thought a kind of miracle, the superiority has been given to her in every respect. Her genius appeared in the works of her needle, in the beautiful character in which she wrote; besides which, she played admirably on various instruments of music, and accompanied them with a voice exquisitely sweet in itself, and assisted by all the graces that art could bestow. These, however, were only inferior ornaments in her character; and, as she was far from priding herself upon them, so, through the rigour of her parents in exacting them, they became her grief more than her pleasure.
, a learned schoolmaster of the seventeenth century, was born in London in 1590, and was educated at Westminster-school,
, a learned schoolmaster
of the seventeenth century, was born in London in 1590,
and was educated at Westminster-school, whence he was
elected student of Christ-church, Oxford, in 1606. Here
he made great proficiency under the tuition of Dr. Samuel
Fell, and was considered even at this early period as eminent for his learning in the Greek and Latin languages.
Having taken his degrees in arts, he was in 1614 appointed
first master of the Charter-house, or Sutton’s new foundation of the hospital school; but some years afterwards,
having rendered himself incapable of holding that office by
marriage, the governors gave him the living of Castle
Camps in Cambridgeshire. On the 29th of January 1624,
he was admitted chief master of Merchant Taylors’ school,
on a disputed election, which, however, terminated in hw
favour, and he enjoyed the place with much reputation
until 1631, when he resigned and was elected head master
of Eton school, and a fellow. He was ejected by the
usurping powers from both his mastership and living, and
reduced to much distress. At length he obtained the
mastership of Tunbridge school, in which he continued
until the restoration, when he was re-appointed to his former preferments, but did not long live to enjoy them.
He died very poor at Eton in October 1660, and was.
buried in the choir of the chapel, near the stairs leading to
the. organ-loft. He published 1. “A Dictionary
” in Latin
and English, and English and Latin, an improvement on
Rider’s, but afterwards superseded by Holyoak’s. 2. “Luculenta e sacra scriptura testimonia, ad Hugonis Grotii
baptizatorum puerorum institutionem,
” Lond. Parabolse evangelical, Lat. redditse carmine paraphrastico
varii generis in usum scholar Tunbrigiensis,
” Lond. 8vo,
no date. Of the second article above-mentioned, we have
an edition of 1668, the title of which is, “Hugonis Grotii
Baptizatorum Puerorum Institutio, alternis interrogationibus et responsionibus.
” This contains Wase’s translation
into Greek, with grammatical notes, and other notes by
Barth. Beale, and Gouldsmith’s English version.
, an ingenious and learned English divine, the son of John Grey of Newcastle, was born there in 1694, and in 1712 was entered of Lincoln college,
, an ingenious and learned English
divine, the son of John Grey of Newcastle, was born there
in 1694, and in 1712 was entered of Lincoln college, Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. May 15, 1716,
and that of M. 4- January 16, 1718-19. May 1, he was
ordained deacon, and priest April 10, 172Q, by Crew bishop of Durham, to whom he was chaplain and secretary,
and who gave him, in 1721, the rectory of Hinton, near
Brackley, in Northamptonshire; and obtained for him, from
lord Willoughby de Broke, the rectory of Kimcote in Leicestershire. ' He was alsp a prebendary of St. Paul’s. In
1746, he was official and commissary of the archdeaconry
of Leicester. In 1730, he published at Oxford a “Visitation-Sermon
” and, the same year, '< Memoria Technica or a new Method of artificial Memory“a fourth
edition of which came out in 1756. At this time also appeared his
” System of English Ecclesiastical Law, extracted from the Codex Juris Ecclesiastic! Anglican!“of
bishop Gibson, 8vo. This was for the use of young students designed for orders; and for this the university gave
him the degree of D. D. May 28, 1731. He printed an
assize sermon in 1732, called
” The great Tribunal,“and
in 1736, was the author of a large anonymous pamphlet,
under the title of
” The miserable and distracted State of
Religion in England, upon the Downfall of the Church
established,“8vo and, the same year, printed another
Visitation- Sermon. He also published
” A new and easy
Method of learning Hebrew without points, 1738;“” Historia Josephi,“and
” Paradigmata Verborum, 1744;
” The last Words of David,“1749;
” Nova Methodus Hebraice discendi diligentius recognita & acl Usum
Scholarum accornmodata, &c.“1751;
” A Sermon at the
opening of Steane chapel, Northampt.“1752; and, lastly,
an English translation of Mr. Hawkins Browne’s poem
” De
Animi Immortalitate,“1753. He died Feb. 28, 1771, in
his 77th year. He married Joyce, youngest daughter of
the rev. John Thicknesse of Brazen-nose-college, Oxford,
and sister of the late Philip Thicknesse, esq. by whom he
left three daughters, the eldest of whom married Dr.
Philip Lloyd, dean of Norwich, and was well-known for
her genius in working in worsted, and for her painted windows in that cathedral. Dr. Grey was buried at Hinton,
as is his widow, who died Jan. 12, 1794, aged eighty-nine.
His
” Memoria Technica" was at one time a very popular
book, and the system has lately in part been revived by a
foreigner, which has been the means of again directing
the public attention to Dr. Grey’s book; but it seems
agreed that such helps are of very little substantial efficacy,
and that attention and exercise are the only means to
assist or prolong memory. Dr. Grey was a man of piety
and liberality, as appears by his frequent correspondence
with Dr. Doddndge.
. an English divine, and miscellaneous writer, was of a Yorkshire family, originally from France. He was born in 1687, and was admitted a pensioner in Jesus college,
, LL. D. an English divine, and miscellaneous writer, was of a Yorkshire family, originally
from France. He was born in 1687, and was admitted a
pensioner in Jesus college, Cambridge, April 18, 1704,
but afterwards removed to Trinity-ball, where he was admitted scholar of the house, Jan. 6, 1706-7; LL. B. 1709
LL. D. 1720; and though he was never fellow of that
college, he was elected one of the trustees for Mr. Ayloffe’s benefaction to it. He was rector of Houghton
Conquest in Bedfordshire: and vicar of St. Peter’s and St.
Giles’s parishes in Cambridge, where he usually passed
the winter, and the rest of his time at Ampthill, the neighbouring market-town to his living. He died Nov. 25, 1766,
at Ampthill, and was buried at Houghton Conquest. Very
little of his history has descended to us. How he spent
his life will appear by a list of his works. He is said to
have been of a most amiable, sweet, and communicative
disposition; most friendly to his acquaintance, and never
better pleased than when performing acts of friendship
and benevolence. Being in the commission of the peace,
and a man of reputable character, he was much courted
for his interest in elections. He was not, however, very
active on those occasions, preferring literary retirement.
His works were, 1. “A Vindication of the Church of England, in answer to Mr. Pearce’s Vindication of the Dis^
senters; by a Presbyter of the Church of England.
” Presbyterian Prejudice displayed,
” A pair of clean Shoes and Boots for a Dirty Baronet;
or an answer to Sir Richard Cox,
” The
Knight of Dumbleton foiled at his own weapons, &c. In a
Letter to Sir Richard Cocks, knt. By a Gentleman and
no Knight,
” A Century of eminent Presbyterians: or a Collection of Choice Sayings, from the public sermons before the two houses, from Nov. 1641 to Jan.
31, 1648, the day after the king was beheaded. By a
Lover of Episcopacy,
” A Letter of Thanks to
Mr. Benjamin Bennet,
” A memorial of the Reformation,
” full of gross prejudices
against the established church, and “A defence of it.
”
7. “A Caveat against Mr. Benj. Bennet, a mere pretender to history and criticism. By a lover of history,
” A Defence of our ancient and modern Historians against the frivolous cavils of a late pretender to.
Critical History, in which the false quotations smd unjust
inferences of the anonymous author are confuted and exposed in the manner they deserve, la two parts,
” A Review of Dr. Zachary Grey’s Defence
of our ancient and modern historians. Wherein, instead
of dwelling upon his frivolous cavils, false quotations, unjust inferences, &c it is proved (to his glory be it spoken)
that there is not a book in the English tongue, which contains so many falsehoods in so many pages. Nori vitiosus
homo es, Zachary, sed vitium. By the author,
” &c. y. “An
Appendix by way of Answer to the Critical Historian’s
Review,
” 1725. 11.
” The Ministry of the
Dissenters proved to be null and void from Scripture and
antiquity,“1725. 12. In 1732 he wrote a preface to his
relation dean Moss’s sermons,
” by a learned hand.“Mr.
Masters in his history of C. C. C. C. ascribes this to Dr.
Snape, who might perhaps have been editor of the sermons, but it was written by Dr. Grey. 13.
” The spirit
of Infidelity detected, in answer to Barbeyrac, with a defence of Dr. Waterland,“1735, 8vo. 14.
” English Presbyterian eloquence. By an admirer of monarchy and episcopacy,“1736, 8vo. 15.
” Examination of Dr. Chandler’s
History of Persecution,“1736, 8vo. 16.
” The true picture
of Quakerism,“1736. 17.
” Caveat against the Dissenters,“1736, 8vo. 18.
” An impartial Examination of the
second volume of Mr. Daniel Neal’s History of the Puritans,“1736, 8vo. The first volume of Neal had been examined by Dr. Madox, assisted in some degree by Dr.
Grey, who published his examination of the third volume
in 1737, and that of the fourth in 1739. J 9.
” An examination of the fourteenth chapter of Sir Isaac Newton’s
Observations upon the prophecies of Daniel,“1736, 8vo.
This is in answer to sir Isaac’s notion of the rise of Saintworship. 20.
” An attempt towards the character of the
Royal Martyr, king Charles I.; from authentic vouchers,“1738. 21.
” Schismatics delineated from authentic vouchers, in reply to Neal, with Dowsing' s Journal, &c. By
Philalethes Cantabrigiensis,“1739, 8vo. 22.
” The Quakers and Methodists compared,“&c. 1740. 23.
” A Review of Mr. Daniel Neil’s History of the Puritans, with a
Postscript. In a letter to Mr. David Jennings;“a pamphlet, Cambridge, 174-4. 24.
” Hudibras with large annotations, and a prelate,“&c. 1744, 2 vols. 8vo. 2b.
” A
serious address to Lay Methodists: by a sincere Protestant,“1745, 8vo. 27.
” Popery in its proper colours, with a list
of Saints invocated in England before the Reformation,“17, 8vo. 28,
” Remarks upon a late edition of Shakspeare, with a long string of emendations borrowed by the
celebrated editor from the Oxford edition without acknowledgement. To which is prefixed, a Defence of the late
sir Thomas Hanmer, bart. addressed to the rev. Mr. Warburton, preacher of Lincoln’s-Inn,“8vo, no date, but
about 1745. 29.
” A word or two of Advice to William
Warburton, a dealer in many words; by a friend. With
an Appendix, containing a taste of William’s Spirit of Railing,“1746, 8vo. 30.
” A free and familiar Letter to that
great refiner of Pope and Shakspeare, the rev. William
Warburton, preacher at Lincoln’s-Inn. With Remarks
upon the epistle of friend W. E. (query if not T. E. i. e. Thomas Edwards). In which his unhandsome treatment of
this celebrated writer is exposed in the manner it deserves.
By a Country Curate,“1750, 8vo, 31.
” A Supplement
to Hudibras,“1752, 8vo. 32.
” Critical, historical, and
explanatory notes on Shakspeare, with emendations on the
text and metre,“1755, 2 vols. 8vo. 33.
” Chronological
account of Earthquakes,“1757, 8vo. In 1756 he assisted
iVIr. Whalley in his edition of Shakspeare; he had also contributed to Mr. Peck’s
” Desiderata,“and
” Life of Cromwell," and collected some materials for a Life of Baker,
the Cambridge antiquary, which were afterwards enlarged
and published by the rev. Robert Masters. Dr. Grey left
some other Mss. and a collection of letters, now in Mr.
Nichols’s possession.
, an eminent professor of law, was born in 1632, at Leipsic. His father, who was minister in that
, an eminent professor of
law, was born in 1632, at Leipsic. His father, who was
minister in that city, dying in 1685, the celebrated Mencke
married the widow, and took great care of her son’s education. Gribner assisted in the “Leipsic Journal,
” was professor of law at Wittenburgh, then at Dresden, and finally
at Leipsic, where he was chosen to succeed M. Mencke.
He died in 1734. Besides several academical dissertations,
he left < Principia processes Judiciarii“” Principia Juris*
prudentite naturalis;^ a small work much esteemed;
*' Opuscula Juris public! et privatl," He was also a benefactor to the university of Letpsic, by leaving a considerable legacy co the library, a sum of money as a provision
for the widows of the professors, and an annual sum as an
exhibition >Y,r a. law student.
, a very extraordinary woman, (whose maiden name is nowhere mentioned), was born in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland, and married to Mr.
, a very extraordinary woman, (whose maiden name is nowhere mentioned), was born
in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland, and married to Mr.
George Grierson, printer in Dublin. She died in 1733,
at the age of twenty-seven; and was allowed to be an excellent scholar, not only in Greek and Roman literature,
but in history, divinity, philosophy, and mathematics. She
gave a proof of her knowledge in the Latin tongue by her
dedication of the Dublin edition of Tacitus to lord Carteret; and by that of Terence to his son, to whom she likewise wrote a Greek epigram. Dr. Harwood esteems her
Tacitus one of the best edited books ever published.
Among the editions of her husband’s press, is a very fine
one of Dupin’s Ecclesiastical History, 1724, 3 vols. folio,
a rare book in this country. Mrs. Grierson composed some
poems in English, several of which are inserted by Mrs.
Barber amongst her own. When lord Carteret was lordlieutenant of Ireland, he obtained a patent for Mr. Grierson, her husband, to be the king’s printer; and, to distinguish and reward her uncommon merit, had her life inserted in it. Besides her parts and learning, she was also
a woman of great virtue and piety. Mrs. Pilkington has
recorded some particulars of her, and tells us, that, “when
about eighteen years of age, she was brought to her father,
to be instructed in midwifery; that she was mistress of
Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French, and understood the
mathematics as well as most men: and what,
” says Mrs.
Pilkington, “made these extraordinary talents yet more
surprising was, that her parents were poor illiterate country people; so that her learning appeared like the gife
poured out on the apostles, of speaking all the languages
without the pains of study.
” Mrs. Pilkington inquired of
her, where she had gained this prodigious knowledge: to
which Mrs. Grierson sail, that “she had received some
little instruction from the minister of the parish, when she,
could spare time from her needle-work, to which she was
closely kept by her mother.
” Mrs. Pilkington adds, that
“she wrote elegantly both in verse and prose; that her
turn was chiefly to philosophical or divine subjects; that
her piety was not inferior to her learning; and that some
of the most delightful hours she herself had ever passed
were in the conversation of this female philosopher.
” Her
son, who was also his majesty’s printer at Dublin, and instructed by her, was a man of uncommon learning, great
wit, and vivacity. He died in Germany, at the age of
twenty-seven. Dr. Johnson highly respected his abilities,
and often observed, that he possessed more extensive knowledge than any man of his years he had ever known. His
industry was equal to his talents, he particularly excelled
in every species of philological learning, and was perhaps
the best critic of his time.
, a French writer of considerable reputation, was born October 9, 1698, at Moulins. He entered early among the
, a French writer of considerable
reputation, was born October 9, 1698, at Moulins. He
entered early among the Jesuits at Paris, was professor of
belles lettres in the college of Louis le Grand, and distinguished himself afterwards in the pulpit. On the dissolution of his order, he retired to Brussels, where he died of
a nephritic cholic, February 22, 1775. His works are, 1.
An edition of Daniel’s “History of France,
” Paris, Traité des differentes sortes de preuves qui servent à etablir la verite de
l'Histoire,
” Liege, Sermons,
” Liege, Anneé du Chretien,
”
Paris, Latin Poems,
” written
at college, of indifferent character. 6. An improved edition of‘ D’Avrigny’s Memoirs, 1757, 5 vols. 12mo. 7.
“Insuffisance de la religion naturelle,
” Liege, 2 vols.
12mo. 8. An enlarged edition of the “Delices des Pays
Bas,
” Liege,
, called Bolognese, was born at Bologna in 1606, and studied under A. Caracci, to whom
, called Bolognese, was born at Bologna in 1606, and studied under A. Caracci, to whom he was related. He was a good designer of figures, but became chiefly distinguished for his landscapes. When he arrived at Rome, Innocent X. did justice to his merit, employed him to paint in the Vatican and the Q,uirinal, and even in churches. This pope used to visit him when at work, and talk familiarly with him. His reputation reached cardinal Mazarine at Paris, who sent for him, settled a large pension on him, and employed him for three years in embellishing hi? palace and the Louvre, by the order of Lewis XIII. The troubles of the state, and the clamours raised against the cardinal, whose party he warmly espoused, put him so much in danger, that his friends advised him to retire among the Jesuits, for whom he painted a decoration for the exposition of the sacrament during the holy days, according to the custom of Rome. This piece was much relished at Paris: the king honoured it with two visits, and commanded him to paint a similar piece for his chapel at the Louvre. Grimaldi after that returned to Italy, and at his arrival at Rome found his great patron Innocent X. dead; but his two successors Alexander VII, and Clement IX. honoured him equally with their friendship, and found him variety of employment. His chief power lay in landscape, though he designed figures well, and his pencil equalled his design, light, and flowing with great depth of colour, bolder in the masses and the dash of bushy foliage than Caracci’s, but perhaps tc-o green. The gallery Colon n a, at Rome, has many of his views, which remained chiefly in Italy, less known on this side of the Alps than those of Poussin and Claude. He understood architecture, and has engraved in aqita fortis forty-two landscapes in an excellent manner, five of which are after Titian. Grimaldi was amiable in his manners, as well as skilful in his profession: he was generous without profusion, respectful to the great without meanness, and charitable to the poor. The following instance of his benevolence may serve to characterise the man. A Sicilian gentleman, who had retired from Messina with his daughter, during the troubles of that country, was reduced to the misery of wanting bread. As he lived over-against him, Grimaldi was soon informed of it; and in the dusk of the evening, knocking at the Sicilian’s door, without making himself known, tossed in money and retired. The thing happening more than once, raised the Sicilian’s curiosity to know his benefactor; who, finding him out, by hiding himself behind the door, fell down on his knees to thank the hand that had relieved him: Grimaldi remained confused, offered him his house, and continued his friend till his death. He died of a dropsy at Rome in 1G60, and left a considerable fortune among six children; of which the youngest, named Alexander, was a pretty good painter.
, a learned cardinal, was born at Venice in 1460. His father being procurator of St. Mark,
, a learned cardinal, was born at
Venice in 1460. His father being procurator of St. Mark,
and afterwards doge of the city, the son was soon brought
into public notice, and employed by the state in important
offices. In 1493 he was raised to the purple by pope
Alexander VI. having previously acquired great fame on
account of the piety which he displayed towards his father, who was commander of a fleet, and being defeated by
the Turks, was imprisoned and treated with great rigour.
The son offered to take his place, which being refused, he
attended him in prison, and rendered him all the service in
his power. Grimani was also an eminent patron of the
fine arts: he collected a choice and valuable library, consisting of eight thousand volumes in all languages, which,
at his decease, in 1523, he bequeathed to the canons regular of St. Salvadore, in Venice. It was afterwards increased by the addition of many valuable works by the cardinal patriarch Marino Grimani, and was preserved until
nearly the end of the seventeenth century, when it was
unfortunately destroyed by fire. Dominick Grimani also
made a fine collection of statues, and other remains of antiquity. In 1509, he was visited by Erasmus, who relates
the particulars of. his reception, in one of his letters, with
interesting minuteness, and afterwards dedicated to him
his “Paraphrasis in hlpistol. Pauli ad Romanes.
” On another occasion we find Erasmus soliciting cardinal Grimani
for a copy of Origen’s commentary on the Psalms, a translation of which he had been urged to undertake by
Warham, archbishop of Canterbury. Grimani is said to have
transiated irom the Greek some homilies of Chrysostom.
ed lawyer, and master of the rolls in the seventeenth century, descended from a very ancient family, was born at Brad fieldball, near Manningtree, in Essex, about 1594.
, a celebrated lawyer,
and master of the rolls in the seventeenth century, descended from a very ancient family, was born at Brad fieldball, near Manningtree, in Essex, about 1594. Where
he had his early education is not known, but he studied
law in Lincoln’s-inn, and practised with considerable success. In August 1638 he was chosen recorder of Colchester,
and representative for that place in the parliament which
met at Westminster April 13, 1640, and again in the parliament which met Nov. 3 of the same year. The measures he at first supported were those of the party which
finally overthrew the government, and although he argued
chiefly against such abuses as might have been reformed
by a better understanding between the conflicting parties,
yet his violence against the court, and particularly a bitter
speech he made against archbishop Laud, seem to prove
that he was too much swayed by the popular clamour of
the times, and too readily became one of the committees
for the redress of grievances, real or imaginary, as well as
for bringing those to punishment who were most obnoxious
to the people. In 1642 he was made one of the lieutenants
of the county of Essex, in pursuance of the parliament’s
ordinance for the militia, and in August the same year,
came down to Colchester and proclaimed sir John Lucas a
traitor, for intending to assist the king. When he came,
however, to penetrate more deeply into the designs of the
reformers, he began to withdraw his countenance from
them, and when in 1647 he was appointed one of the commissioners to treat with the king at Newport, in the isle of
Wight, his majesty had every reason to be pleased with
his candour and moderation. On his return to parliament,
he argued for accepting the king’s concessions, and being
at the same time one of the commissioners for disbanding
the army, was, among others, forcibly excluded from the
house by a party of soldiers. After the murder of the
king, he went abroad for some time, but in 1656 we find
him elected to Cromwell’s parliament as one of the sixteen,
representatives for the county of Essex, but not approved by
the council, against whose decision he signed a spirited re*
monstrance. In February 1659-60 he was chosen one of the
new council of state, in whom the executive power was lodged
by the remains of the long parliament that restored Charles
II.; and a few months after, he was also chosen speaker of
the house of commons in what was called the “Healing
parliament
” which met April 25, 1660. In May following,
he waited on the king at Breda, and on his majesty’s arrival, and the settlement of the government, was appointed
master of the roils Nov. 3, 1660, which office he filled for
nearly twenty-four years with great ability and integrity.
He was aiso appointed in the same year chief steward of
the borough or St. AlbanV, and recorder of Harwich, and
from the restoration to the time or his death, continued to
represent Colchester in parliament. For several years he
entertained Dr. Gilbert Burntt, afterwards bishop of Salisbury, as his chaplain, or preacher at the rolls; and much
assisted him in his “History of the Reformation.
” Burnet in his “Own Times
” has given an affectionate and
probably faithful character of sir Harbottle, who appears
to have been a man of real worth, piety, and moderation
in his latter days. Sir Harbottle died Dec. 31, 1683, aged
about ninety, and was buried in the chancel of St. Michael’s
church, St. Alban’s. He was twice married, first to Mary,
daughter of sir George Croke, an edition of whose “Reports
” he published, 3 vols. folio; and secondly to Anne,
daughter of sir Nathaniel Bacon, of Culford-hall, in Suffolk. Other particulars of his family may be seen in our
authorities.
, archbishop of Canterbury, was born in 15 ID, at Hinsingham, a small village in Cumberland.
, archbishop of Canterbury, was born in 15 ID, at Hinsingham, a small village in Cumberland. After a suitable inundation of learning at school, he was sent to Magdalen-college, in' Cambridge, but removed thence to Christ’s, and afterwards to Pembrokehall; where, having taken his first degree in arts, he wa chosen fellow in 1538, and commenced M. A. in 1541, having served the office of junior bursar of his college the preceding year. In 1548 he was appointed senior proctor of the university, and is said to have often sat as assessor to the vice-chancellor in his courts. In 1549 he became president [vice-master] of his college; and being now B. D. was unanimously chosen lady Margaret’s public preacher at Cambridge; as he was also one of the four disputants in a theological extraordinary act, performed that year for the entertainment of king Edward’s visitors.
, a French topographer and engraver, was born in 1689 at Sedan, and going to Paris, entered the congregation
, a French topographer and engraver, was born in 1689 at Sedan, and going to Paris,
entered the congregation of the priests of St. Lazare, and
was sent by them into Poland, to be professor of divinity
at Cracow. In a short time, however, he returned, and
afterwards quitted his congregation to devote himself entirely to mathematics and topography. He published the
“Plan of Paris/' 1723, a very good work in itself, but
the engraving was too imperfect at which the abbe de
Grive was so vexed, that he broke the plates, and determined, in future, to engrave his works himself, which resolution he executed punctually. Being appointed geographer of Paris, he drew the course of the river Seine,
from its source to its mouth. M. de la Grive assisted M.
Cassini in determining the meridian of Paris, and undertook a very particular and circumstantial account of that
capital, which work was far advanced at the time of his
death, which happened April 1757. The first two drawings
of this vast plan have been published by M. Hugnin, hi*
pupil. The other most esteemed works of the abbe de la
Grive are, his
” Environs de Paris;“Jardins de Marly
”
“Terrier du Domaine du Roi aux Environs de Paris
”
Plan de Versailles,“&c. He also left
” Le Manuel de
Trigonometric Spherique," published in 1754.
, a man eminently learned in his day> and one of the revivers of literature, was born at Bristol in 1442, and educated at Winchester-school.
, a man eminently learned in his
day> and one of the revivers of literature, was born at
Bristol in 1442, and educated at Winchester-school. He
was elected thence to New college, Oxford, in 1467; and
in 1479, presented by the warden and fellows to the rectory of Newton-Longville, in Buckinghamshire. But his
residence being mostly at Oxford, the society of Magdalen
college made him their divinity reader, about the beginning of Richard the Illd’s reign; and that king corning
soon after to Oxford, he had the honour to hold a disputation before him, with which his majesty was so
pleased, that he rewarded him graciously. In 1485 he
was made a prebendary of Lincoln, and in 1488 he quitted
his reader’s place at Magdalen college, in order to travel
into foreign countries; for though he might be reckoned a
great master of the Greek and Lati languages in England,
where the former especially was then scarcely understood
at all, yet he well knew that a more perfect knowledge of
it might be attained; and accordingly he went into Italy,
and studied there some time under Demetrius Chalcondyles
and Politian. He returned to England, and fixed himself
in Exeter college, at Oxford, in 1491, where he took the
degree of B. D. Here too he publicly taught the Greek
language, and was the first who introduced a better pronunciation of it than had been known in this island before.
But the introduction of this language alarming many, as a
most dangerous innovation, the university divided itself
into two factions/distinguished by the appellation of Greeks
and Trojans, who bore each other a violent animosity, and
proceeded to open hostilities. Anthony Wood says, “I
cannot but wonder when I think upon it, to what a strange
ignorance were the scholars arrived, when, as they would
by no means receive it, but rather scoff and laugh at it;
some against the new pronunciation of it, which was endeavoured to be settled; others at the language itself,
having not at all read any thing thereof. It is said that
there were lately a company of good fellows (Cambridge men as 'tis reported) who, either out of hatred to the
Greek tongue, or good letters, or merely to laugh and
sport, joined together and called themselves Trojans: one,
who was the senior, and wiser than the rest, called himself
Priam, another Hector, a third Parys, and the rest by
some ancient Trojan names who, after a jocular way, did
oppose aa Grecians, the students of the Greek tongue.
”
In this situation Grocyn was, when Erasmus came ta
Oxford; and if he was not this great man’s tutor, yet he
certainly assisted him in attaining a more perfect knowledge of the Greek. He was, however, very friendly toErasmus, and did him many kind offices, as introducing
him to archbishop Warham, &c. He also boarded him
gratis in his house, although he was by no means in affluent circumstances. We cannot be surprized therefore
that Erasmus speaks of him often in a strain which shews
that he entertained the most sincere regard for him, as well
as the highest opinion of his abilities, learning, and integrity. About 1590 he resigned his living, being then made
master of Allhallows college, at Maidstone,in Kent, though
he continued still to live mostly at Oxford. Grocyn had
no esteem for Plato, but applied himself intensely to Aristotle, whose whole works he had formed a design of translating, in conjunction with William Latimer, Linacre, and
More, but did not pursue it. While his friend Cotet was
dean of St. Paul’s, Grocyn gave a remarkable evidence of
the candour and ingenuousness of his temper. He read in
St. Paul’s cathedral a public lecture upon the book of
Dionysius Areopagita, commonly called “Hierarchia Ecclesiastica;
” it being customary at that time for the public lecturers, both in the universities, and in the cathedral
thurches, to read upon any book, rather than upon the
scriptures, till dean Colet reformed that practice. Grocyn,
in the preface to his lecture, declaimed with great warmth
against those who either denied or doubted of the authority of the book on which he was reading. But after he
had continued to read a few weeks, and had more thoroughly examined the matter, he entirely changed hi
sentiments; and openly and candidly declared that he had
been in an error; and that the said book, in his judgment,
was spurious, and never written by him who, in the Acts
of the Apostles, is called Dionysius the Areopagite. But
when dean Colet had introduced the custom of reading
lectures upon some part of the scriptures at his cathedral,
he engaged Grocyn, according to Dr. Knight, as one of
the most learned and able men he could meet with, in that
useful employment.
, a physician, and member of the royal college of London, in the seventeenth century, was born at Deventer, in the province of Overyssel; he studied and
, a physician, and member of the
royal college of London, in the seventeenth century, was
born at Deventer, in the province of Overyssel; he studied
and graduated at Utrecht, where he began the practice of
his profession. He likewise studied under a celebrated
lithotomist of Amsterdam, from whom he learnt that art,
and whose esteem he acquired by the dexterity with which
he performed the operation, insomuch that by his will this
master bequeathed all his instruments to Groenvelt, with a
request that he should employ them for the good of mankind. After this time he practised this art almost exclusively. He left three treatises; the first entitled “Dissertatio lithologica variis observationibus et figuris illustrata,
”
Loud. Practica qua humani morbi describtmtur,
” Francfort, Tractatus de tuto
Cantharidum in Medicina usu interne,
” Lond. 1698, &c. These
works were translated into English in 1691, 1706, 1710,
and another of his works entitled “The grounds of physic.
”
In all these the author’s name was changed to Greenfield.
None of our authorities specify the time of his death.
, an eminent patron of literature, was born at Lyons in 1479; and very early displayed a propensity
, an eminent patron of literature,
was born at Lyons in 1479; and very early displayed a
propensity towards those elegant and solid pursuits, which
afterwards secured him the admiration and esteem of his
contemporaries. His address was easy, his manners were
frank, yet polished; his demeanour was engaging, and his
liberality knew no bounds. As he advanced in years, he
advanced in reputation; enjoying a princely fortune, the
result, in some measure, of a faithful and honourable discharge of the important diplomatic situations which he
filled. He was grand treasurer to Francis I. and ambassador from that monarch to pope Clement VII. During his
abode at Rome he employed the Alduses to print for him
an edition of Terence in 1521, 8vo, and another of Budaeus’s work “De Asse,
” I dined
along with Aldus, his son Manutius, and other learned men
at Grollier’s table. After dinner, and just as the dessert
had been placed on the table, our host presented each of
his guests with a pair of gloves filled with ducats.
” De
Thou speaks very highly of his character. During his travels he had secured from Basil, Venice, and Rome, the
most precious copies of books that could be purchased,
which he bound in a peculiar style, described in our authority. Every library and every scholar has boasted of a
book from Grollier’s library since it was dispersed, and
during his life-time it was his pride to accommodate his
friends with the use of them. He died at Paris in 1565.
, an eminent civilian, historian, and critic, was born at Hamburgh in 1613. He had a strong inclination to learning,
, an eminent civilian,
historian, and critic, was born at Hamburgh in 1613. He
had a strong inclination to learning, which induced him
to apply to books with indefatigable diligence from his infancy; and, having made great progress in his studies in
his own country, he travelled into Germany, Italy, and
France, where he searched all the treasures of literature
that could be found in those countries, and was returning
fcome by the way of the United Provinces, when he was
stopt at Deventer in the province of Over-Issel, and there
made professor of polite learning. After acquiring great
reputation in this chair, he was promoted to that of Leyden in 1658, vacant by the death of Daniel Heinsius. He
died at Leyden in 1672, much regretted. By his wife,
whom he married at Deventer, he had two sons that survived him and were both eminent in the republic of letters: James, who is the subject of the ensuing article;
and Theodore Laurent, who died young, having published
“Emendationes Pandectarum, &c. Leyden, 1605,
” 8vo,
and “A Vindication of the Marble Base of the Colossus
erected in honour of Tiberius Caesar, ibid. 1697,
” folio.
, son of the preceding, was born October 20, 1645, at Deventer, and learned the elements
, son of the preceding, was born October 20, 1645, at Deventer, and learned the elements of the Latin tongue there; but, going with the family in, 1658 to Leyden, he carried on his studies in that university with incredible industry under the eye of his father, who had the greatest desire to make him a complete scholar. In this view he not only read to him the best classic authors, but instructed him in the civil law. About 1670 he made the tour of England, and visited both the universities, consulting their Mss.; and formed an acquaintance with several eminent scholars, particularly Dr. Edward Pocock, Dr. John Pearson, and Dr. Meric Casaubon, which last died in his arms. He was much pleased with the institution of the royal society, and addressed a letter to them in approbation of it. After some months’ stay in England, he returned to Ley den, where he published an edition of Macrobius that year in 8vo, and another of Polybius the same year at Amsterdam, in '2, vols. 8vo. The same year he was also offered the professorship held by Hogersius but, not having finished the plan of his travels, he declined, though the professor, to engage his acceptance, proposed to hold the place till his return.
, a physician and botanist of considerable learning, the son, we presume, of the preceding, was born in Holland, in 1690. He took his doctor’s degree at Leyden
, a physician and botanist of considerable learning, the son, we presume, of the
preceding, was born in Holland, in 1690. He took his
doctor’s degree at Leyden in 1715, on which occasion he
published a dissertation upon camphor, of the natural history and preparation of which he gives much new information. He settled at Leyden, and became one of the chief
magistrates. He adopted the prevailing taste of his coun
trymen for making collections of natural history, and in
1740 published his “Index Suppellectilis Lapideae,
” or a
scientific catalogue of his own collection of minerals, drawn
up under the inspection, and with the assistance of Linnaeus. In a letter to Haller, in 1737, Linnæus mentions
Gronovius, with Burmann and Adrian Van Royen, as principally anxious to increase their collections of dried plants,
instead of studying genera; which study Linnæus was destined to revive. Grouovius received from Clayton various
specimens of Virginian plants, which he, with the assistance of Linnæus, then resident in Holland, arranged according to the sexual system, and with proper specific characters, descriptions, and synonyms, published under the
title of “Flora Virginica,
”
, son of the preceding, was born at Ley den in 1730. He took the degree of doctor of laws,
, son of the preceding, was born at Ley den in 1730. He took the degree
of doctor of laws, and, like his father, attained to the chief
civil honours of his native place. From him he imbibed a
taste for natural history, and, as we have already mentioned, edited the latest and completest edition of the
“Flora Virginica.
” He particularly excelled in the
knowledge of fishes but most departments of systematic
zoology engaged his attention. He published in 1754, his
“Museum Ichthyologicum,
” a handsome folio, with ample
descriptions of the species. The second part appeared in
1756, accompanied by descriptions of the serpents in his
father’s museum. In 1763 appeared the “Zoophylacii
Gronoviani fasciculus primus,
” containing descriptions o
a few quadrupeds, more amphibia, and a still greater number of fishes, all from the same museum; the latter illustrated by 13 good plates, exhibiting 38 species. The second fasciculus of the same work, published in 1764, describes the insects of his collection, of which numerous
species are engraved on four copper plates. A third and
last, with three plates, came out in 1781, after the death
of the author, which happened in 1777. He published in
1760 a very valuable work in 4to, entitled “Bibliotheca
Regni Animalis atque Lapidei,
” on the plan of the “Bibliothecae Botanicse
” of Linnoeus and Seguier, with an excellent Index Rerum, highly useful in such a publication.
He furnished, moreover, an appendix of 65 quarto pages to
the said work of Seguier.
, a learned French theologian, was born in December 1675, at Rheims, of obscure and poor parents.
, a learned French theologian,
was born in December 1675, at Rheims, of obscure and
poor parents. The religious of St. Genevieve, who served
the parish of St. Denis at Rheims, undertook his education, and he was admitted doctor of divinity in that city in
1702, and became successively chaplain at Notre Dame,
canon of the collegiate church of St. Symphorien, and, in
1704, canon of the cathedral at Rheims. He was also
made governor of the little seminary of St. James by M
Le Tellier, but was deprived of that office on this gentleman’s death in 1710, and forbidden to preach or confess,
on account of his zealous opposition to the bull Unigenitus.
Being afterwards excommunicated by M. de Maille, who
succeeded M. le Tellier as archbishop of Rheims, he went
to Paris, and afterwards to Holland, where he remained
ubout a year with father Quesnel and Messrs. Petitpied
and Fouillou; but when Louis XIV. died, the proceedings
at Rheims were declared null, and M. le Gros returned
thither in 1716. He was a zealous promoter of the appeal
to a future council, and was the soul of the faculty of theoJogy; but M. de Mailli obtained a lettre dt cachet against
him in 1721, by which he was banished to St. John de Luz.
This sentence, however, he evaded, by living concealed
four or five years. In 1725, he went into Italy to observe
what passed in the council appointed by Benedict XIIL
and at length retired to Holland, and there spent the last
twenty-five years of his life, excepting a voyage he made
to England. The archbishop of Utrecht chose him professor of divinity in his seminary at Amersfort, and he
died at Rhinwick, near Utrecht, December 4, 1751, aged
76. His principal works are, 1. “Le Renversement des
Libenes de l'Eglise Gallicane dans r affaire de la Constitution Unigenitus,
” 2 vols. 12mo. 2. “La Sainte Bible traduite sur les textes originaux, avec les differences de la
Vulgate,
” Sept Lettres
Theolo^iques contre le Traite des Prets de Commerce, et
en ge‘ne’ral contre toute Usure,
” 4to. 4. “Dogma Ecclesiae circa Usurum expositum, et vindicatum;
” with several
other pieces in Latin against usury, 4to. 5. “Observations sur une Lettre attribute a ieu M. de Launoi sur
l'Usure,
” 4to. 6. “Eclaircissement historique et dogmatique sur la Contrition,
” 12mo. 7. “Motifs invincible*
d‘Attachement a l’Eglise Romaine pour les Catholiqnes,
ou de Re-union pour les pretendus Reformes,
” 12mo.
8. “Meditations sur la Concorde des Evangiles,
” 3 vols.
12mo. 9. “Sur l'EpStre aux Remains,
” 2 vols. 12mo.
10. “SurlesEpitrescanoniques,
” 2 vols. 12mo. ll.“Memoire sur les Droits du second Ordre,
” 4to. 12. “Me
”moire sur l'Appel au futur Concile,“4to; several tracts
on the Constitution, the Miracles, ascribed to M.Paris;
the Convulsions, &c. 13.
” Manuel du Chretien,“which
contains the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Imitation, 24to. A book in twelves, entitled
” Eclaircissement sur les Conciles genéraux," is also attributed to M.
le Gros.
ent English antiquary, was the son of Mr. Francis Grose, of Richmond, jeweller, who died in 1769. He was born in 1731, and having a taste for heraldry and antiquities,
, an eminent English antiquary, was the son of Mr. Francis Grose, of Richmond, jeweller, who died in 1769. He was born in 1731, and having a taste for heraldry and antiquities, his father procured him a place in the college of arms, which, however, he resigned in 1763. By his father he was left an independent fortune, which he was not of a disposition to add to, or even to -reserve. He early entered into the Surrey militia, of which he became adjutant and paymaster; but so much had dissipation taken possession of him, that in a situation which above all others required attention, he was so careless as to have for some time (as he used pleasantly to tell) only two books of accounts, viz. his right and left hand pockets. In the one he received, and from the other paid; and this too with a want of circumspection which may be readily supposed from such a mode of book keeping. His losses on this occasion roused his latent talents: with a good classical education he united a fine taste for drawing, which he now began again to cultivate; and encouraged by his friends, he undertook the work from which be derived both profit and reputation: his Views of Antiquities in England and Wales, which he first began to publish in numbers in 1773, and finished in 1776. The next year he added two more volumes to his English views, in which he included the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, which were completed in 1787. This work, which was executed with accuracy and elegance, soon became a favourite with the public at large, as well as with professed antiquaries, from the neatness of the embellishments, and the succinct manner in which he conveyed his information, and therefore answered his most sanguine expectations; and, from the time he began it to the end of his life, he continued without intermission to publish various works, generally to the advantage of his literary reputation, and almost always to the benefit of his finances. His wit and good-humour were the abundant source of satisfaction to himself and entertainment to his friends. He visited almost every part of the kingdom, and was a welcome guest wherever he went. In the summer of 1789 he set out on a tour in Scotland the result of which he began to communicate to the public in 1790, in numbers. Before he had concluded this work, he proceeded to Ireland, intending to furnish that kingdom with views and descriptions of her antiquities, in the same manner he had executed those of Great Britain; but soon after his arrival in Dublin, being at the house of Mr. Hone there, he suddenly was seized at table with an apoplecticfit, on the 6th May 1791, and died immediately. He was interred in Dublin.
, a French antiquary and polite writer, was born at Troyes Nov. 18, 1718, and was educated in the profession
, a French antiquary and polite writer, was born at Troyes Nov. 18, 1718, and was
educated in the profession of the law, but a decided turn
for literary pursuits interrupted his legal studies, and induced him, in search of knowledge, to travel twice into
Italy, twice into England, and once into Holland, besides
passing a considerable part of every year at Paris, where
he was received into the best company, but would never
settle. His disposition appears to have been amiable and
liberal, as when yet a youth he gave up a legacy of 40,000
livres in favour of his sister. At his own expence, too, he
undertook to embellish the saloon of the town house of his
native city, Troyes, with marble busts of the eminent
natives of that city, executed by Vasse, the king’s sculptor; and the first put up were those of Pithou, le Comte,
Passerat, Girardon, and Mignard. He died in that city,
Nov. 4, 1785, being then an associate of the academy of
inscriptions and belles lettres, and a member of our royal
society. His principal works are, 1. “Recherches pour
Fhistoire du Droit Francois,
” Paris, Vie de Pithou,
” ibid. Observations de deux gentil-hommes Stiedou
sur l'Italie,
” Londres,
” Essais historiques sur la
Champagne.
” 6. “Ephemerides Troyennes,
” continued
for several years, and containing papers relative to the
history of Troyes. He had also a part in the “Memoires
de Pacademie de Troyes,
” and in the last translation of
Davila; and was an useful contributor to the “Journal Encyclopedique,
” from Dictionnaire Historique.
” A Life, written by himself, and some
posthumous pieces, have been lately published,
, an English prelate, and the most learned ecclesiastic of his time, was born probably about 1175, of obscure parents at Stradbrook in
, an English prelate, and the most learned ecclesiastic of his time, was born probably about 1175, of obscure parents at Stradbrook in Suffolk. He studied at Oxford, where he laid the foundation of his skill in the Greek tongue, and was thus enabled to make himself master of Aristotle, whose works had been hitherto read only in translations: at Oxford too he acquired a knowledge of the Hebrew. He afterwards went to Paris, where he prosecuted his studies of Greek and Hebrew, and made himself master of French. Here he also studied the divinity and philosophy of the age, his proficiency in which was so remarkable as to draw upon him the suspicion of being a magician. At Oxford, on his return, he became celebrated as a divine, and was the first lecturer in the Franciscan school in that university. In 1235 he was elected, by the dean and chapter, bishop of Lincoln, which see was then, and continues still, the largest in England, although Ely, Oxford, and Peterborough have been since taken from it. Grosseteste, who was of an ardent and active spirit, immediately undertook to reform abuses, exhorting 'both clergy and people to religious observances, and perhaps would have been in a considerable degree successful, had he not confided too much in the Dominican and Franciscan friars, as his helpers in the good work. But they being appointed by him to preach to the people, hear their confessions, and enjoin penance, abused these op-portunities by exercising dominion over the superstitious minds of the laity, and enriched themselves at their expence. Although, however, the hypocrisy of the Dominicans and Franciscans in this instance escaped his penetration, he could not be deceived in the dissolute character and ignorance of the more ancient orders, and was very strict in his visitations, and very severe in his censures of their conduct. Partly through this sense of his duty, and his love of justice, and partly from his warmth of temper, he was frequently engaged in quarrels with convents, and other agents of the pope. At one time he was even excommunicated by the convent of Canterbury; but treating this with contempt, he continued to labour in promoting piety, and redressing abuses with his usual zeal, firmness, and perseverance. Although the friars continued to be his favourites, and he rebuked the rectors and vicars of his diocese, because they neglected to hear them preach, and be^ cause they discouraged the people from attending and confessing to them, in time he began to see more clearly into the character of those ecclesiastics. In 1247, two English Francisqans were sent into England with credentials to extort money for the pope; and when they applied, with some degree of insolence, to Grosseteste, for six thousand marks, as the contribution for the diocese of Lincoln, he answered them that (with submission to his holiness), the demand was as dishonourable as impracticable; that the whole body of the clergy and people were concerned in it as well as himself; and that for him to give a definitive answer in an instant to such a demand, before the sense of the kingdom was taken upon it, would be rash and absurd.
, a pious dissenting divine, was born in London Jan. J, 1675, where his father was an upholder.
, a pious
dissenting divine, was born in London Jan. J, 1675, where
his father was an upholder. In 1693 he was placed under
the tuition of the rev. Mr. Jollie, of Attercliffe, in Yorkshire, with whom he went through a course of studies preparatory to ordination among the dissenters; and afterwards
studied Hebrew under Capell, formerly professor of oriental languages at Saumur, but at this time a refugee ii>
London. In 1699 Mr. Grosvenor was admitted into the
ministry, and officiated first as assistant to Mr. Oldfield, in
Southwark, and afterwards was joint preacher of a lecture
in the Old Jewry meeting. His biographers seem all unwilling to tell us that he was at first of the baptist persua-;
sion, and having been baptised in 1689 by Mr. Benjamin
Keach, became a member of his meeting for about seven
or eight years; but in the course of his studies he changed
his opinions, and was “dismissed in a general manner
from his membership with
” the baptists. In 1703 or 1704
he was chosen to succeed Mr. Slater in the meeting in
Crosby-square, to which he was formally ordained in July
1704. In 1716 he was chosen one of the lecturers at
Salter’s-hall, which added much to his reputation, but
which he resigned in 1740. In 1730 the university of
Edinburgh conferred the degree of D. D. upon him. After
this he continued to preach until 1749, when the increasing
infirmities of age obliged him to desist from all public services. He continued, however, his private studies, and
kept up an amicable intercourse with his friends until his
death, Aug.7, 1758. Dr. Grosvenor possessed great mildness of temper, lively and brilliant wit, a candid disposition
towards those who differed from him, and an habitual
cheerfulness which rendered his visits peculiarly acceptable.
He published various single sermons preached on funeral
and other occasions an “Essay on Health,
” The Mourner,
”
which has been repeatedly printed, and still preserves his
memory.
in the country, by whom he had three sons and a daughter. His son Hugo, the subject of this article, was born at Delft on Easter-day, April I0j 1583, and came into the
, or Hugo de Groot, one of the most eminent names in literary history, was descended from a family of the greatest distinction in the Low Countries: his father^ John de Groot, was burgomaster of Delft, and curator of the university of Leyden, and in 1582, married Alida Averschie, a lady of one of the first families in the country, by whom he had three sons and a daughter. His son Hugo, the subject of this article, was born at Delft on Easter-day, April I0j 1583, and came into the world with the most happy dispositions; a profound genius, a solid judgment, and a wonderful memory. These extraordinary natural endowments had all the advantages that education could give them, and he found in his own father a pious and an able tutor, who formed his mind and his morals. He was scarce past his childhood, when he was sent to the Hague, and boarded with Mr. Utengobard, a celebrated clergyman among the Arrninians, who took great care of his trust; and, before he had completed his twelfth year, was removed to Leyden, under the learned Francis Jimiiis. He continued three years at this university, where Joseph Scaliger was so struck with his prodigious capacity, that he condescended to direct his studies; and in 1597, Grotius maintained public theses in the mathematics, philosophy, and law, with the highest applause.
Rotterdam, and, passing to Amsterdam, he was extremely well received there; and Delft also, where he was born, shewed him sincere respect.
In the mean time his heart was strongly bent upon returning to his native country; and in these wishes he sent his wife into Holland in the spring of 1627, that she might inquire how matters stood: but, as he continued in the resolution to make no solicitations for leave, all the endeavours of his friends were fruitless. However, they obtained a cause of some consequence to him; for, having reclaimed his effects which were confiscated, his demand was granted. At last, notwithstanding the inefficacy of his friends’ solicitations, he resolved, by his wife’s advice, to go thither; and accordingly set out for Holland in October 1631. The sentence passed against him being still in force, his friends advised him to conceal himself, which step appeared to him shameful and ill-timed. He went, however, first to Rotterdam, as thinking it the safest, because, having filled the place of pensionary with much honour, he was greatly beloved in the town; but the magistrates giving him to understand, that they did not approve his appearing in public, he left Rotterdam, and, passing to Amsterdam, he was extremely well received there; and Delft also, where he was born, shewed him sincere respect.
, an Italian poet, commonly called, from his misfortune, Cieco D‘Adria, was born Sept. 7, 1541, in the ancient town of Adria, which gives
, an Italian poet, commonly called, from his misfortune, Cieco D‘Adria, was born Sept. 7, 1541, in the ancient town of Adria, which gives name to the gulph called the Adriatic. His parents were of a noble but decayed family. He lost his sight a few days after his birth, and never recovered it. Yet this did not check his proficiency in learning; able masters were provided, under whom he made astonishing progress, although we may conceive with considerable difficulty to his instructors. He lays, indeed, in one of his orations, that when a new master visited him, he used to say, *’ you must teach me how I am to teach you." His talents and acquirements, however, procured him very early fame, and such was his natural eloquence, that at the age of fourteen he was chosen on two very solemn occasions, the one when the queen of Poland visited Venice, and the other on the election of the Doge Lorenzo Priuli, to give a public harangue in that city, where Casa and other orators had been so much celebrated, and acquitted himself with the greatest credit. His youth and his blindness might probably procure him favour, but according to his biographer, he was received with equal applause at other times and places, and under other circumstances. Having an early turn for poetry as well as oratory, he attempted to write for the stage, and although inferior to the other dramatic poets who then flourished at Ferrara, Rome, and Florence, he became a favourite with the people of Adria. In other cities to which he was invited as a public speaker, at Ferrara, Bologna, and Rovigo, he was received with every mark of distinction. Several princesses, as Laura of Este, and Laura Gonzaga, who patronized genius, frequently visited him, and made him rich presents. Yet he remained poor, fortune being in general more liberal of honours than of riches. Although blind, he appears to have felt the tender passion, which he has often introduced in his lyric poetry and in his dramas; in the latter, indeed, he treats of love matters in a style which gives but an unfavourable idea of his delicacy. In 1585 he acquired much reputation at Vincenza by playing the part of CEdipus when represented by the academicians in the famous Olympic theatre of Palladio. He did not, however, appear on this occasion, until the last act, when CEdipus appears blind. He was at this time in full health, but was suddenly attacked with a disorder at Venice, which proved fatal Dec. 13 of that year. His remains were carried to his own country, and interred with great funeral honours. His works consist of orations, published at Venice 1598, 4to, and tragedies, two pastorals, and other pieces of poetry, printed separately. They are distinguished rather by genius than judgment, and abound in that play of words, and those extravagant metaphors which were so much the taste of the subsequent age, and which appear most out of place in his pastorals.
rs honourably and usefully, and died universally esteemed and lamented. From such parents our author was born at Taunton, in Somersetshire, January 4, 1683, and at fourteen
, a learned divine among the disseners, was descended from the Groves of Wiltshire, and the Jlowes of Devonshire. His grandfather Grove was ejected from a living in Devonshire for nonconformity in 1662; his father suffered much in the same cause for lay-nonconformity under Charles and James II. The eminent piety of Mr. Rowe, his grandfather by the mother’s side, may be known by the account of his life by Mr. Theophilus Gale. His father, in particular, filled a life of eighty years honourably and usefully, and died universally esteemed and lamented. From such parents our author was born at Taunton, in Somersetshire, January 4, 1683, and at fourteen years of age, being possessed with a sufficient stock of classical literature, he went through a course of jacademical learning under the rev. Mr. Warren, of Taunton, who was for many years at the head of a flourishing academy. Having finished here his course of philosophy and divinity, he removed to London, and studied some time under the rev. Mr. Rowe, to whom he was nearly related. At this time he contracted a friendship with several person^ of merit, and particularly with Dr. Watts, which continued till his death, though they differed in their judgment upon several points.
, an eminent divine and critical scholar, was born at Cobourg in 1723, where his father was aulic counsellor
, an eminent divine and
critical scholar, was born at Cobourg in 1723, where his
father was aulic counsellor to the duke of Saxe-Cobourg.
He was educated in his infancy at home under private
tutors. In his thirteenth year he was sent to Weisenborn,
and placed under the care of John Faccius, an eminent
classical scholar, and after a year’s residence here went to
the university of Casimir, where he enjoyed the instructions and lectures of Berger, Albrecht, and other eminent
professors. In 1742 he removed to Jena, where he pursued his studies with great diligence and success, and took
his degrees in philosophy, In 1764 he was invited to be
professor of theology at Halle, and died there in 1778.
His talents are represented to have been very various, and
his diligence indefatigable. He published a new edition
of “Cselius Sedulius,
” with various commentaries, “An
Introduction to Roman Antiquities,
” “Miscellanea Sacra,
”
“Various critical Remarks on the Classics,
” new editions
of Eutropius, printed at Cobourg in
, a celebrated philologer, was born December 3, 1560, at Antwerp. He was the son of John Walter
, a celebrated philologer,
was born December 3, 1560, at Antwerp. He was the
son of John Walter Gruter, burgomaster of Antwerp;
who, having, among others, signed the famous petition tq
the duchess of Parma, the governess of the Netherlands,
which gave rise to the word Gueux (Beggars), was banished
his country. He crossed the sea to Norwich in England,
taking his wife (who was an English woman) and family
along with him. Young Gruter was then but an infant; he
had the peculiar felicity, like Cicero, of imbibing the elements of learning from his mother, Catharine Tishem;
who, besides French, Italian, and English, was complete
mistress of Latin, and so well skilled in Greek that she
could read Galen in the original. The family found an
hospitable asylum in England, where they resided several
years, and at a proper age sent their son to complete his
education at Cambridge. His parents, after some time,
repassing the sea to Middleburg, the son followed them to
Holland and, going to Leyden, studied the civil law, and
took his doctor’s degree there in that faculty but,
applying himself at the same time to polite literature, he became an early author, as appears by some Latin verses
which he published, under the title of “Ocelli,
” at twenty
years of age.
o was made professor of eloquence there at the age of twenty-five. He had also a nephew, Thomas, who was born in 1512. He pursued his studies under the auspices of his
He had a son, Samuel Grynaeus, born at Basil in 1539, who was made professor of eloquence there at the age of twenty-five. He had also a nephew, Thomas, who was born in 1512. He pursued his studies under the auspices of his uncle, and taught the Latin and Greek languages at Berne. He also read public lectures at Basil, and was a great supporter of the reformed religion. He left four sons, all of whom were eminent for their learning. One of them is the subject of our next article.
, was born at Bern in 1540, was educated at Basil, and m 1551 was
, was born at Bern in 1540,
was educated at Basil, and m 1551 was admitted into the
university. In 1559 he was ordained deacon, and began
to preach the doctrines of the reformers. In 1563 he went
to Tubingen, and the year following was created doctor in
divinity, and soon after succeeded his father, as pastor of
Rotelen, where, besides his more public services, he lectured twice a week to the deacons. About this time the
“Form of Concord' 7 between the Lutheran and Zuingtiaft
parties, respecting the corporal presence of Christ’s body
in the Lord’s Supper^ was a matter of deep controversy.
Grynasus, who had hitherto been a Lutheran, now studied
the controversy more closely, the result of which was his
declaring his opinion in favour of Zuinglius, and this lost
him many friends of. the contrary party. In 1575 he was
invited to Basil, to lecture upon the Old Testament, in
the course of which employment he was happily instrumental in healing the differences between the Lutheran
and Zuinglian churches; and his instructions were so much
approved, that many noblemen and gentlemen came from
other countries, and boarded with him for the sake of
tuition and conversation. After the death of Lewis, the
elector palatine, prince Casimir invited him to Heidelberg, where he read divinity and history almost two years^
but was then recalled to Basil to succeed Sulcer in his
pastoral office and professorship; both which offices he
discharged with faithfulness and success for the remainder
of his life, In the latter part of it he became very infirm
and blind, and outlived all his children, except one
daughter. These calamities he bore with pious resignation, and expired Aug. 30, 1617. He was a man of extensive learning, and highly respected by his conteai<poraries. Among his writings are, 1.
” A Summary of the
Old Testament.“2. An Outline of Divinity.
” 3* “The
Character of Christians.
” 4. Expositions on the Psalms,
and other parts of Scripture; and various theological theses,
and disputations. 5. “A Commentary upon Irenaeus.
” 6.
“An Ecclesiastical History.
” 7. “Chronology of the
Gospel History.
” His “Letters
” to his friends are highly
praised by Melchior Adam.
, was born at Glogaw in 1616, and died in 1664. He was called the
, was born at Glogaw in 1616,
and died in 1664. He was called the Corneille of Germany, and acquired considerable reputation by his. compositions for the theatre, and is among the very first writers
of tragedy in the catalogue of German writers. He also
wrote, in a fine vein of irony, a “Critique on the ancient
Comedies of the Germans.
”
, son of the preceding, and one of the greatest geniuses that Germany has produced, was born September 29, 1649, at Fraustadt. Having acquired great
, son of the preceding, and
one of the greatest geniuses that Germany has produced,
was born September 29, 1649, at Fraustadt. Having acquired great skill in the languages and belles lettres, he
was appointed professor of rhetoric at Breslau, afterwards
principal of Magdalen college in that city, and, at length,
librarian. Gryphins was a good orator and historian, a
man of extensive learning, and an excellent German poet,
which language he considerably improved. He was also
a contributor to the Leipsic Journal. He died March 6,
1706, having just before his death heard a beautiful poem
of his own writing, which had been set to music, performed
in his chamber. The piece is said to have been admirably
expressive of the consolations derived from our Saviour’s
death to a dying man. His works arc, “A History of. the
Orders of Knighthood,
” in German, Poems,
”
in German among them, “Pastorals,
” 8vo; “The German Language formed by degrees, or, a treatise on the
origin and progress of it,
” 8vo, in German, and a valuable
posthumous work, entitled “Apparatus, s?ive Dissertatio
Isagogica de Scriptoribus Historiam Seculi XVII illustrantibus,
” Leipsic, 1710, 8vo.
orge de Vigou, a member of the royal society of London (1742) and of the French academy of sciences, was born in Languedoc, in 1712, and was the son of John de Gua,
, a learned French abbé, prior of
St. George de Vigou, a member of the royal society of
London (1742) and of the French academy of sciences, was
born in Languedoc, in 1712, and was the son of John de
Gua, baron of Halves, whose property was swallowed up
in the unfortunate Missisippi Scheme. He was educated
for the church, but appears to have had less ambition for
promotion in that, than to render himself distinguished for
scientific knowledge. When admitted into the academy
of sciences in 1741, he gave a specimen of his skill in
mathematics by publishing “Usages de l'analyse de Descartes,
” and was the author of other papers on mathematical subjects in the Memoirs of the Academy, in one of
which he endeavours to vindicate Descartes against our
Wallis, who, in the abbe’s opinion, wrote his history of
algebra for no other purpose than to bestow upon his coun tryman Hariot, the discoveries that belong to Viete and
Descartes. (See Hariot.) The abbe* was, however, chiefly
distinguished in France for having first given the plan of
the Encyclopedic, although he wrote very little in it. In
1764 he presented a plan for exploring the mines of Languedoc, and was the author of some other projects whick
bad little success. His necessities sometimes drove him to
the business of translating for the booksellers. Amonothese publications we find bishop Berkeley’s “Hylas and
Philonous,
” “Locke’s Essay,
” Anson’s Voyage, and Decker
on trade. He died at Paris, June 2, 1735, leaving the
character of a man of considerable learning and industry,
but not very happy in his temper, and often pursuing
trifling difficulties, which he made a great merit in surmounting, such as complicated anagrams; and on one occasion, in consequence of a sort of challenge, he perplexed
himself in writing a very long poem, in which words only
of one syllable were admitted.
, an eminent Orientalist of Italy, was born about 1596, at Magliano. After going through his studies,
, an eminent Orientalist of
Italy, was born about 1596, at Magliano. After going
through his studies, he entered among the regular minor
clerks, and made his profession at Rome in 1612. His
genius prompted him to the study of languages, to which
he devoted himself entirely; so that he acquired the Greek,
Hebrew, Chaldean, Syriac, Persian, and Arabic languages,
but excelled chiefly in the Arabic. He spent the greatest
part of his life in translating books from that language,
and in writing books in it, to facilitate the learning of it to
others. He taught it many years in the college della Sapienza at Rome; and was indeed so perfect a master of
it, that he spoke an oration in it before Christina, queen
of Sweden, in 1656. The eastern prelates presented a
petition to Urban VIII. to have the Bible translated into
Arabic; and, the congregation “de propaganda fide
” complying with their desires, Guadagnolo was immediately
selected as the person best qualified to undertake this great
work. He began it in 1622, and finished it in 1649;
having, however, assistants under him, and sometimes only
acting the part of a corrector. During the time that he
was employed in it, he gave an account twice a week of
?vhat progress he had made to a congregation assembled
for that purpose. It was published ai Home, 1671, in 3
vols. folio, with this title, “Biblia Sacra Arabica Sacra?
Congregationis de propaganda fide jussu edita ad usuia
ecclesiarum orientalium. Additis c regione Bibliis Vulgatis Latinis.
” In Apologia pro Christiana Religione, qua responde*
tur ad objectiones Ahmed filii Zin Alabedin Persoe
Asphaensis contetitas in Ifbro inscripto, Politor Speculi,
” 4to.
The history of this work was as follows: A Spaniard had
published a religious book entitled “The true Lookingglass;
” which falling into the hands of a learned Persian,
he wrote an answer to it in his native tongue, entitled
‘.’ The Polisher of the Looking-glass“and added these
words at the end of it
” Let the pope answer it.“This
book being brought to Rome in 1625, Urban VIII. ordered
Guadagnolo to refute it; which he did so effectually, that
the Persian, to whom it was sent, renounced the Mahometan faith, and became as zealous a defender of Christianity as he had before been an opposer of it. Guadagnolo published his apology in Arabic, in 1637, 4to. He
wrote another work in Arabic and Latin, entitled
” Considerations against the Mahometan Religion;“in which he
shews, that the Koran is a mere rhapsody of falsehood and
imposture. He published also at Rome, in 1642,
” Breves
Institutiones Linguae Arabicae," folio; a very methodical
grammar. He had also compiled a dictionary in that language, but the publication of it was prevented by his death,
which happened in 1656. The ms. is preserved in the
convent of San Lorenzo in Lucina.
, a native of Verona, where he was born in 1538, was naturalized in Poland, and made himself famous
, a native of Verona, where
he was born in 1538, was naturalized in Poland, and made
himself famous both by his sword and pen. He had considerable employments in the Polish armies; and having
displayed his valour in the wars of Livonia and Moldavia,
as well as those of Muscovy, was not only honoured with
the indiginate, by which he ranked as a nobleman, in the
reign of Sigismund Augustus, but also made governor of
the fortress of Witehsk, where he commanded fourteen
years. He at last devoted himself to literature, and drew
up a history of Poland, under the title “Rerum Polonicarum Tomi Tres,
” Francfort, Sarmatiae European Descriptio,
” Spires,
, an Italian historian, was born 1606, of a noble family at Vincenza. He was historiographer
, an Italian historian, was born 1606, of a noble family at Vincenza. He
was historiographer to the emperor, and distinguished himself in the seventeenth century by his historical works,
written, in a very pleasing style, in Italian; the principal
are, “History of the Wars of Ferdinand II. and Ferdinand
III.
” from 1630 to 1640, fol. “History of Leopold,
” from
from 1648 to 1654. The authors of the
” Journal des
Savans,“March 16, 1665, said they had found as many
errors as words in this work. But Gualdo, not discouraged
by that censure, continued his History to the peace of the
Pyrenees, and reprinted it with that addition at Cologn,
1670. His
” History of cardinal Mazarine’s Administration“is much esteemed, and has been translated into
French, 1671, 3 vols. 12mo;
” The Life and Qualities“of
the same cardinal, a valuable work, which appeared in
French, 1662, 4to
” An account of the Peace of the
Pyrenees" the most ample edition is, Cologn, 1667, 12mo.
This work is likewise much esteemed, and has been translated into Latin, and inserted in the fourth volume of the
Public Law of the Empire, published at Francfort, 1710.
It has been also translated into French. Gualdo died at
Vincenza in 1678.
, an eminent Swiss divine, and one of the first reformers, was born at Zurich in 1529. In his youth he attained an accurate
, an eminent Swiss divine, and one of the first reformers, was born at Zurich in 1529. In his youth he attained an accurate knowledge of Greek and Latin, and acquired much fame as an orator and Latin poet. He married the daughter of Zuinglius, and being admitted into orders, preached at Zurich from 1542 to 1575, when he was chosen to succeed Bullinger, as first minister of the protestant church there. His writings also, which consisted of homilies, or sermons on the prophets, evangelists, and apostles, procured him great fame both at home and abroad, and were long regarded as standard books among the protestant churches. He died Nov. 25, 1586. In the early part of queen Elizabeth’s reign we find him corresponding with the English divines who had been exiles in the preceding reign, and brought over an attachment to the simple forms of the Genevan church, which Elizabeth wished to discourage. His works, as enumerated by Verheiden, consist of Latin poems, commentaries on various books of the Scripture, works on grammar and history, and some translations. His son, of the same names, spent some years in Merton college, Oxford, where he took his degree of M. A. in 1573, and returning to Zurich, became minister of St. Peter’s church there. Wood attributes several Latin poems to him, some of which we suspect were the production of his father: but this young man died in 1577, when oniy twenty five years of age.
rst branch of a family celebrated in the republic of letters, and one of the revivers of literature, was born at Verona in 1370. After being taught Latin by John of
, surnamed Veronese, the first
branch of a family celebrated in the republic of letters,
and one of the revivers of literature, was born at Verona
in 1370. After being taught Latin by John of Ravenna,
he went to Constantinople, with the sole view of learning
Greek in the school of Emanuel Chrysoloras, who had not
then come to Italy. Pontico Virunio, in his life of Chrysoloras, says that Guarino was of an advanced age when he
set out for Constantinople, and that he returned to Italy
with a large collection of Greek manuscripts, the loss of
which by shipwreck so affected him, that his hair turned
white in one night; but Maffei and Apostolo Zeno have
justly considered this as a fable. It appears, on the other
hand, on comparing various circumstances, that Guarino
was very young when he went into Greece, and was only
twenty years of age when he returned. After this return
he first kept school at Florence, and afterwards successively at Verona, Padua, Bologna, Venice, and Ferrara, in
which last city he resided longest. Nicolas III. of Este
had invited him thither in 1429 to superintend the education of his son Lionel. Six or seven years after, he was
appointed professor of Greek and Latin in the university of
Ferrara. This office he filled until the assembling of the
grand council, to which the emperor John Paleologus came,
accompanied with several Greeks, who found Guarino. sufficient employment, as he mentions in his letters, and on
the council being removed to Florence, he accompanied
them thither as interpreter between the Latins and Greeks.
He returned again to Ferrara, where he held his professorship until his death in 1460. His principal works consist
of Latin translations from Greek authors; particularly of
many of Plutarch’s lives, part of Plutarch’s morals, and
Strabo’s geography. Of this author he at first translated
only ten books, by order of pope Nicholas V.; the other
seven were translated by Gregory of Typhernuin, and in
this state the work was first printed at Rome in 1470, folio.
But, at the request of the Venetian senator Marcello,
Guarino made a translation of these seven books, of which
there are manuscript copies at Venice, Modena, &c. Maffei, in his “Verona Illustrata,
” mentions also a translation
of the whole seventeen in the hand-writing of Guarino,
which was at one time in the library of the senator Soranzo
at Venice. To his translation of Plutarch’s lives, he added
those of Aristotle and Plato. He also compiled a Greek
grammar, “Em. Chrysolorae erotemata lingusc Graecse, in
compendium redacta, a Guarino Veronesi,
” Ferrar. Grammatical institutiones,
”
without date or place, but printed at Verona, Carmina ditiferentialia,
” “Liber de Diphtongis,
”
&c. Guarino also wrote commentaries or notes on various
authors, both Greek and Latin, among the latter on Cicero’s
orations and Persius’s satires, and was the author of various
Latin orations delivered at Verona, Ferrara, and other
places, and of some Latin poems, and a great number of
letters which have not been printed. He was the first who
recovered the poems of Catullus, a manuscript which was
mouldering in a garret, and almost destroyed, and rendered
the whole legible, with the exception of a very few verses.
If it be thought that even all this is insufficient to justify
the high reputation which Guarino enjoyed in his lifetime, and for ages afterwards, we must add that, independently of rendering these services to the cause of learning,
which were of great importance at its revival, Guarino derived no small share of fame from the vast number of scholars whom he formed, with a like taste for classical literature, which they dispersed throughout all Europe. Guarino, likewise, was one of the most indefatigable student*
of his time. Even in old age his memory was
extraordinary, and his application incessant. He took little nourishment and little sleep, and rarely went abroad, yet he preserved his strength and faculties to the last. By his wife he
had at least twelve children, two of whom followed his steps
Jerome became secretary to Alphonso, king of Naples
and Baptist, or Battista, rather better known, was professor of Greek and Latin at Ferrara, like his fathev, and
like him educated some eminent scholars, among whom
were Giraldi and Aldus Manutius. He left a collection of
Latin poetry, “Baptists Guarini Veronensis poemata Latina,
” Modena, De ordine
docendi ac studendi,
” without place or date; but there is
a subsequent edition of Heidelberg, 1489. He wrote also
other treatises, translations from the Greek, discourses,
and letters, which latter remain in manuscript. It is to
him we owe the first edition of the Commentaries of Servius on Virgil; and he assisted his father in recovering and
making legible the manuscript of Catullus above mentioned.
Guarini (Battista), an eminent pastoral poet, descended in the fourth degree from Guarino Veronese, was born at Ferrara in 1537. We know but little of his early years
, or more commonly Guarini (Battista), an eminent pastoral poet, descended in the fourth degree from Guarino Veronese, was born at Ferrara in 1537. We know but little of his early years and studies; but it is said that in the course of his education he spent some time at Pisa, and at Padua, where he was much esteemed by the rector of the university; but at an early age he went to Rome, and was still young when, on his return to Ferrara, he lectured for about a year with great reputation, on Aristotle’s Morals, in the same university in which the memory of his ancestors continued to be highly venerated. He was professor of belles lettres there in 1563, when he sent one of his sonnets to Annibal Caro, who in his answer complimented him as a young man of the greatest hopes. In his twenty-eighth year he was admitted into the academy of the Eterei of Padua, founded by the young prince Scipio of Gonzaga, afterwards cardinal. Tasso was at the same time admitted, and between him and Guarino a friendship commenced, which was afterwards disturbed by rivalship.
, a French writer who attained some share of reputation among the encyclopedists, was born at Paris June 6, 1738, in which city he died Feb. 26, 1812.
, a French
writer who attained some share of reputation among the
encyclopedists, was born at Paris June 6, 1738, in which
city he died Feb. 26, 1812. His countrymen have as yels
given us very little of his history, except that he was,
either by talents or interest, advanced to be a member of
the academies of Marseilles and Lyons, an associate of
the Frencij institute, and a member of that of Auxerre.
He was intimately connected with Beaumarehais, whom
he often assisted with his pen, and passed for his secretary.
In political sentiments he was a disciple of Rousseau, and
eagerly promoted those opinions which led to the revolution. Besides three tragedies of no great merit, he published, i. “Graves observations stir les bonnes moeurs,
”
in poetical tales, published under the name of Frere Prul,
Paris> 1777. 2. “Discours,
” likewise in verse, o h
abolition of slavery, Paris, 1781, in which he compli acnti
Henry IV. as
learned critic, was of Hoistein, in Germany, but we know nothing of his parents, nor in what year he was born. He laid the foundation of his studies at Rensburg, under
, a learned critic, was of Hoistein, in Germany, but we know nothing of his parents,
nor in what year he was born. He laid the foundation of
his studies at Rensburg, under Jonsius, and went afterwards to Jena, where he was in 1654. He continued some
years in this city, manifesting a strong inclination for letters, and making diligent search after ancient inscriptions.
He was at Francfort in July 1658, when the emperor Leopold was crowned; and went thence to Holland, where
John Frederic Gronovius recommended him to Nicolas
Heinsius, as a young man of uncommon parts and learning,
who had already distinguished himself by some publications, and from whom greater things were to be expected.
His parents in the mean time wanted to have him at home,
and offered at any price to procure him a place at court,
if he WQuld but abandon letters, which they considered as
a frivolous and unprofitable employment. But he remained
inexorable preferring a competency with books to any
fortune without them and above all, was particularly
averse from a court, where “he should,
” he said, “be
constantly obliged to keep the very worst of company.
”
, a learned Benedictine, was born in 1641, at Rouen. While he was assisting Delfau in the
, a learned Benedictine, was born
in 1641, at Rouen. While he was assisting Delfau in the
revisal of St. Augustine’s works, he was accused of being
concerned in a book entitled “L'abbé Commandataire,
”
and confined at Ambournay in Bugey. He took advantage
of this exile to make a diligent search for ancient Mss. and
discovered a great number; among others, St. Augustine’s
book against Julian, entitled “Opus imperfectum,
” of
which only two copies were at that time known, and sent
an exact copy of it to his brethren at Paris. Guerard was
afterwards sent to Fescamp, and then to Rouen, where he
died, Jan. 2, 1715. He left “Abrege* de la Bible, en
forme de Questions et de Re*ponses familieres,
” 2 vols.
If mo. This work is esteemed, and has gone through several editions.
, whose proper name was John Francis Barbieri, an eminent artist, was born at Cento, a village subject to Ferrara, in 1590, and learnt
, whose proper name was John Francis Barbieri, an eminent artist, was born at Cento, a village subject to Ferrara, in 1590, and learnt the principles of the art from his countrymen Cremonirii and Benedetto Gennari. Tradition classes him with the disciples of the Carracci but neither his age, his habits, nor his style, make it probable that he ever belonged to that school for of three manners which he successively adopted, it is difficult to say which differs most from its precepts. The first, and least known, is an imitation of Caravagio, abrupt with vivid lights, and deep shades, without much study in faces or extremities; flesh of a yellow cast, and little amenity of colour. From this he passed to the second, his best and most valued manner, gradually improving it by observation, and the help of the Venetian, Bolognese, and Roman schools, by connexion with the best scholars of the Carracci, and the friendship of Caravagio, whose style still forms its basis in bold contrasts of light and shade, but sweetly united, and magically relieved; like Caravagio, he obliterates the outline, but leaves him far behind in elegance and dignity of feature. His females, insidiously charming, dart a sting from their veiled eyes, though his men generally exhibit little more than what the model could afford; youthful vulgarity, emaciated age.
, an elegant French writer, was born in 1641, at Paris, and admitted advocate to the parliament
, an elegant French writer, was
born in 1641, at Paris, and admitted advocate to the parliament in that city, and although he seldom pleaded, was
much consulted as a chamber counsel, in which rank he
met with great success. He died April 22, 1688, at Paris.
His principal works are, 1. “Les sept Sages de la Grcce.
”
2. “Entretiens sur l'Eloquence de la Chaire et du Barreau.
” 3. “Le Parnassus reforme.
” 4. “La Guerre des
Auteurs.
” 5. “Le Journal du Palais,
” a well-digested
collection of the decrees of parliament, in the compilation
of which he was assisted by Claude Blondeau, 1755, 2 vols.
folio. 6. La Carte de'la Cour.“7.
” La Promenade
de St. Cloud, ou Dialogues sur les Auteurs,“a small work,
but elegantly written, and full of wit; which the abbe
”
Joly, chanter of the chapel aux Riches at Dijon, having
copied at the abbe L'Avocat’s house from the original
ms. published without the abbe’s knowledge in the “Mcnioires historiques de Bruys.
” M. Gueret published an
edition of “Le Prester,
” “Arrets notable du parlement,
”
with learned notes and additions, Memoire sur l'Immunite du
Clerge*,
” Sur les Refus des Sacremens,
”
Sur le Droit qu'ont les Cures de commettre leur Vicaires, et les Confesseurs, dans leur Paroisses,
”
, counsellor to the elector of Brandenbourg, and burgomaster of Magdebourg, was born in 1602, and died in 1686 at Hambourg. He was oae of the
, counsellor to the elector
of Brandenbourg, and burgomaster of Magdebourg, was
born in 1602, and died in 1686 at Hambourg. He was
oae of the greatest philosophers of his time. It was Guericke that invented the air-pump; the two brass hemispheres, which being applied to each other, and the air
exhausted, sixteen horses were not able to draw them
asunder; the marrnouset of glass which descended in a
tube in rainy weather, and rose again on the return of
serene weather. This last machine fell into disuse on the
invention of the barometer, especially after Huygens and
Amontous gave theirs to the world. Guericke made use
of his marmouset to foretell storms from whence he was
looked upon as a sorcerer by the people and the thunder
having one day fallen upon his house, and shivered to pieces
several machines which he had employed in his
exporixnents, they asserted that it was a punishment from heaven.
Guericke was author of several works in natural philosophy, the principal of which was his “Experimenta Magdeburgica,
”
, a French physician and botanist, was born at Estampes, September 22, 1715, and was admitted a doctor
, a French physician
and botanist, was born at Estampes, September 22, 1715,
and was admitted a doctor of the faculty of medicine of
Paris in 1742. He distinguished himself in the study of
botany and mineralogy, and his reputation procured for
him admission into the academies of science of Paris,
Stockholm, Florence, and Rochelle, as well as the situations of censor royal, and of keeper of the cabinet of natural history belonging to the duke of Orleans. He travelled much in quest of knowledge, and he published in
the collection of the academy of sciences, and printed in
two quarto volumes, nearly two hundred memoirs, on different parts of natural history. He likewise published
some “Observations on Plants,
” Paris,
, a Spanish writer, was born in the province of Alaba, towards the end of the fifteenth
, a Spanish writer, was born
in the province of Alaba, towards the end of the fifteenth
century, and was brought up at court. After the death
of Isabella, queen of Castile, he turned Franciscan monk,
but afterwards having made himself known at court, became preacher and historiographer to Charles V. He was
much admired for his politeness, eloquence, and great parts,
but his preaching and conversation proved very superior to
his writing. His style was found to be extravagantly figurative, and full of antitheses, but this was trifling, compared
with his notions of writing history, and the liberty he took to,
falsify whatever he pleased, and to advance as matter of fact
the inventions of his own brain, and when censured for it,
alleged by way of excuse, that no history, excepting the
Holy Scripture, is certain enough to be credited. Being
in the emperor’s retinue he had an opportunity of visiting a
great part of Europe, an4 was made bishop of Guadix, in
the kingdom of Granada, and then bishop of Mondonedo,
in Galicia. He died in 1544, or 1548. He was the author
of several works in Spanish, the most famous of which is
his “Dial of Princes, or Life of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus,
” which has been translated into all the languages of
Europe. Vossius says it “has nothing in it of Antoninus,
but is all a fiction, and the genuine offspring of Guevara
himself, who scandalously imposes upon the reader, plainly
against the duty of an honest man, but especially of a
bishop. In the mean time he has many things not unuseful nor unpleasant, especially to a prince, whence it is
entitled The Dial of Princes’.
” Those who may be supposed to have spoken of Guevara in the most indulgent
manner, have yet been forced to set him in a most scandalous light. “It deserves our pity rather than our censure,
” says Nicolas Antonio, “that a writer of such fame
should think himself at liberty to forge ancient facts, and
to play with the history of the world, as with Æsop’s Fables or Lucian’s Monstrous Stories.
” Among Guevara’s
works must be ranked his “Epistles,
” with which some
have been so charmed, that they have not scrupled to call
them Golden Epistles; but Montaigne says, “Whoever
gave them this title, had a very different opinion of them
from what I have, and perhaps saw more in them than I
do.
” Bayle had such a contempt for Guevara as an author, as to speak with surprize of “the eagerness of
foreigners in translating some of his works into several languages.
” Mr. Hay ley, however, remarks, that if we may
judge of his personal character from his “Letters,
” he appears to have been an amiable man. In one he reproves
a female relation, with good nature, for intemperate sorrow on the death of a little dog and in another he draws
the character of a true friend, with great energy of sentiment and expression. One of Guevara’s sayings, that
heaven is filled with those that have done good works, and
hell with those that have resolved to do them," has been,
under a different form of expression, ascribed to other
writers.
, an eminent Italian mathematician, was born at Bologna, September 27, 1655. The great progress which
, an eminent Italian mathematician, was born at Bologna, September 27, 1655.
The great progress which he had made in mathematics,
was evinced by his publications at the age of twenty-one
years, immediately after which he was admitted doctor of
medicine, and was permitted to teach the mathematics, although he did not obtain the title of professor until 1694.
In 1696 he was elected a member of the principal learned
societies of Europe; and in 1702 the university of Padua
offered him the professorship of the theory of medicine, an
office which he filled with great reputation. He died July
12, 1710. His numerous publications were collected and
edited by Morgagni, under the title of “Opera omnia
Mathematica, Hydraulica, Medica, et Physica. Accessit
vita auctoris a J. B. Morgagni,
” Geneva, Delia Natura de
Fiumi,
” which is esteemed his master-piece a dissertation “de Sanguinis Natura et Constitutione
” a treatise
on comets, written on the appearance of the comet in 1681,
and two Letters on Hydrostatics, occasioned by a dispute
which he had with M. Papin, respecting his work on that
subject.
, abbot, a French historian, was born of a rich and powerful family in a village of the diocese
, abbot, a French historian, was born of a
rich and powerful family in a village of the diocese of
Beauvais, in 1053. He took the religious habit at the abbey of St. Germer, and was elected abbot of Nogent-sousCoucy, in 1104. Dom. Luke d'Achery published his
works, 1651, fol. which consist of an excellent “Traite
de la Predication;
” a history of the first Crusades, entitled “Gesta Dei per Francos;
” a singular treatise " on
the Relics of the Saints, 1 * occasioned by the monks of St.
Medard, at Soissons, pretending they had a tooth of our
Lord’s in their possession, which Guibert, though very
credulous, rejected as contrary to the faith of Christ’s resurrection, which teaches us that he re-assumed his body
entire. He died in the abbey of Nogent-sous-Coucy, in
J 124. In his history of the Crusades, he is to be considered as a collector of facts from others, as he does not
pretend to have been an eye-witness of any part which he
relates.
, a French writer on military affairs, was born at Montauban, Nov. 12, 1743. His father, who was a very
, a French
writer on military affairs, was born at Montauban, Nov.
12, 1743. His father, who was a very intelligent officer,
ook great pains in forming his son for the army, in which,
Design he so perfectly succeeded, that at the school at
which young Guibert was placed, his name was honourably quoted as an example to others, long after he left it.
At the age of thirteen he followed his father to the field,
and served six campaigns in the German war; three as a
captain in the regiment d'Auvergne, and the three other
upon the staff, where he gave frequent proofs of his judgment and spirit. After the peace in 1763, he assiduously
devoted himself to the study of the theory of his profession
till the expedition to Corsica took place, where he obtained
the rank of colonel for his services in the action of Ponte
Nuovo, and at the end of the campaign was rewarded with
the cross of St. Louis. In 1770, two years after his return to France, he published his celebrated “Essai general de Tactique,
” a work which though known and admired over all Europe, drew upon its author the envy too
often attendant on merit, which embittered a great part
of his days. But his pride disdaining to answer his enemies, as much as his mild spirit disliked controversy, he
therefore determined to travel, and leave his work to answer
for itself. So says his panegyrist, without informing us
that his unsparing censures and conceited style had proyoked the hostilities of those enemies.
he celebrated historian of Italy, was descended of an ancient and noble family at Florence, where he was born March 6, 1482. His father, Peter Guicciardini, an eminent
, the celebrated historian of Italy, was descended of an ancient and noble family at Florence, where he was born March 6, 1482. His father, Peter Guicciardini, an eminent lawyer, bred up his son in his own profession; in which design he sent him, in 1498, to attend the lectures of M. Jacobo Modesti, of Carmignano, who read upon Justinian’s Institutes at Florence, but his son submitted to this resolution with some reluctance. He had an uncle who was archdeacon of the metropolitan church of Florence, and bishop of Cortona; and the prospect of succeeding to these benefices, which yielded near 1500 ducats a year, had Bred the ambition of the nephew. He had hopes of rising from such a foundation through richer preferments by degrees to the highest, that of a cardinal; and the reversion of the uncle’s places might have been easily obtained. But, though his father had five sons, he could not think of placing any of them in the church, where he thought there was great neglect in the discipline. Francis proceeded therefore with vigour in the study of the law, and took his degrees at Pisa, in 1505; but, looking upon the canon law as of little importance, he chose to be doctor of the civil law only. The same year he was appointed a professor of the institutes at Florence, with a competent salary for those times. He was now no more than twenty-three years of age, yet soon established a reputation superior to all the lawyers his contemporaries, and had more business than any of them. In 1506 he married Maria, daughter of Everardo Salviati, by far the greatest man in Florence; and, in 1507, was chosen standing counsellor to several cities of the republic. Two years after he was appointed advocate of the Florentine chapter, a post of great honour and dignity, which had been always filled with the most learned counsellors in the city; and, in 1509, he was elected advocate of the order of Calmaldoli.
, nephew of the preceding, was born at Florence in 1521, and was educated with a view to general
, nephew of the preceding,
was born at Florence in 1521, and was educated with a
view to general science, in the pursuit of which he gave
the preference to mathematics, geography, and history.
About 1550 he took up his residence in the Low Countries,
where he continued till his death, March 22, 1589. He
was author of many works, of which the principal is “A
Description of the Low Countries,
” which is in great
esteem for the accuracy of its relations. His other works
are “Commentaries on the Affairs of Europe, particularly
in the Low Countries, from 1529 to 1560.
” “Remarkable words and actions of Princes,
” &c. “Hours of Amusement;
” and a collection of the precepts and maxims of his
illustrious relation. He was buried in the cathedral of
Antwerp, where an honourable inscription is placed to hi*
memory.
, an Italian poet, was born at Pavia^ in Milan, 1650, and sent to Parma at sixteen
, an Italian poet, was born at Pavia^ in Milan, 1650, and sent to Parma at sixteen years of age. His uncommon talents for poetry recommended him so powerfully at court, that he received great encouragement from the duke. He composed some pieces at that time, which, though they savoured of the bad taste thei> prevailing, yet shewed genius, and a capacity for better things. He had afterwards a desire to see Rome, and, in 1683, going thither by the permission of the duke of Parma, and being already known by his poems y found no difficulty in being introduced to persons of the first distinctiort. Among others, Christina queen of Sweden wished to see him; and was so pleased with a poem, which he composed at her request, that she had a great desire to retain him at her court. The term allowed him by the duke being expired, he returned to Parma; but the queen having signified her desire to that prince’s resident at Rome, and the duke being acquainted with it, Guidi was sent back to Rome in May 1685.
, an Italian poet, was born at Lucca in 1550. Having received an excellent education,
, an Italian poet, was born at Lucca in 1550. Having received an excellent education, he was introduced to the service of cardinal Alexander Farnese, afterwards pope Paul III. He became very intimate with Annibal Caro, and with many other men of letters at Rome. When his patron was elevated to the popedom, he was made governor of the city, and bishop of Fossombrone. In 1535 he was sent nuncio to the emperor Charles V. whom he accompanied in his expedition to Tunis, and on other journeys. He was, about 1539, made president of Romagna, and afterwards commissary-general of the pontifical army, and governor of the Marche. So well did he act his part in all these employments, that he would have been raised to the dignity of cardinal had he not been carried off by a disease in 1541. He was author of an oration to the republic of Lucca, of many letters, and of a number of poems which gave him a high reputation. His works ka*e been several times printed. The best edition is that of 1749—50, 2 vols. 4to.
, a very celebrated artist, was born at Bologna in 1574, and early in life became the pupil
, a very celebrated artist, was born at Bologna in 1574, and early in life became the pupil of Denis Calvert, a Fleming; but he afterwards entered the school of the Carracci at Bologna, and is by many considered as their principal pupil, and none but Domenichino would have been entitled to dispute that praise with him, if his astonishing work of the communion of St. Jerome had been equally supported by his other labours, The Carracci, however, were too jealous to rejoice in the extraordinary progress of Guido, who threatened to rival at least, if not surpass, their own claims to public applause, and Ludovico disgracefully attempted to depreciate his pupil by opposing Guercino to him, while Annihal himself js said to have censured Albani for having conducted Guido. thither, alarmed at his aspiring talents, his graceful man-, ner, and ambitious desire to excel.
, an eminent oriental scholar in France, was born at Pointoise, Oct. 19, 1721. He studied the oriental languages
, an eminent oriental scholar in
France, was born at Pointoise, Oct. 19, 1721. He studied
the oriental languages under the celebrated Stephen Fourinont, and was appointed king’s interpreter in 1741, and a
member of the academy of belles lettres in 1753. Having
minutely investigated the Chinese characters, and compared them with those of other languages, he fancied he
had discovered that they were only monograms formed of
three Egyptian letters, and deduced from this that China
had been originally peopled by an Egyptian colony. The
same notion had been adopted before his time by Huet,
Kircher, and Moiran; but other learned men, Deshauteraies, Paw, and the Chinese missionaries, have fully refuted it. De Guignes was for thirty-five years engaged in
the “Journal des Sgavans,
” which, as well as the Memoirs
of the academy of belles lettres, he enriched with a great
number of learned papers on the religion, history, and philosophy, of the Egyptians and Chinese Indians, &c. One
very important service he rendered his country by discovering the punches and matrices of the oriental types which
Savary de Breves, ambassador from Henry IV. at Constantinople, had brought into France, but which were now in
such a state that Guignes was the only person who could
put them in order, and give instructions for using them.
From them he was enabled to cast fonts of the Arabic,
Turkish, Persian, Syriac, Armenian, Hebrew, and Chinese,
acquisitions of great consequence to his inquiries. With
their aid he passed the greater part of his life among his
books, without ambition for more than a competence suited
to his literary wants. In his old age, however, the revolution deprived him even of this, but he still preserved his
cheerful temper and independent spirit. Some help he
derived from a legacy of 3000 livres, which Grosley, his
fellow academician, and a distant relation, bequeathed to
him. He died at Paris March 22, 1800, and was said at
that time to be the only person in Europe perfectly acquainted with the Chinese language. His publications
are, 1. “Abrege de la vie d'Etienne Fourmont,
” Paris,
Histoire generale des Huns, des Turcs,
des Mogols, et des antres Tartares occidentaux,
” Memoire,
” already noticed, in which
he attempts to prove that the Chinese were a colony from
Egypt, 1759, 12mo. 4. “Chou-King,
” 4to. 6.
” Essai historiquf*
sur la typographic orientate et Grecque,“1787, 4to. 7.
” Principes de composition typographique," 1790, 4to, for
the use of the compositors who were employed on the oriental types. He wrote also many notices of Arabian manuscripts for the catalogue preserved in the royal library.
, an eminent Scotch divine, the son of an opulent tradesman in Aberdeen, was born in that city in 1586, and received *a liberal education
, an eminent Scotch divine, the son
of an opulent tradesman in Aberdeen, was born in that
city in 1586, and received *a liberal education at Marischal
college, then recently founded, with a view to the church.
Before he took orders, however, he appeared as an autii:>r,
by publishing, when only in his twentieth year, a treatise
entitled “The New Sacrifice of Christian Incense,
” London, The only way to Salvation,
” printed also at London. Immediately after the publication of these, he appears to have taken orders, and was
called to the pastoral charge of the parish of King EJward
in the presbytery of Turriff and synod of Aberdeen. Here
he passed some of the happiest years of his life, in high
favour with Jiis parishioners and here in 1610 he married
Katherine Rowen, daughter of Mr. Rowen or Rolland of
Disblair, by whom he had no issue. In 1617, when king
James I. visited Scotland, with a view to establish episcopacy, and brought bishop Andrews of Ely with him to assist in the management of that very delicate and ultimately
unsuccessful attempt, Dr. Andrews, among other eminent
men of the Scotch clergy whom he consulted, paid great
regard to Mr. Guild; and the following year, when Andrews
was promoted to the see of Winchester, Mr. Guild dedicated to him, one of his most useful works, entitled “Moses
unveiled,
” pointing out those fgures in the Old Testament
which allude to the Messiah. Mr. Guild became, much
about the same time, acquainted with Dr. Young, a countryman of his own, dean of Winchester, who introduced
him to the king, by whom he was appointed one of the
royal chaplains. This obligation he afterwards acknowledged in the dedication to his “Harmony of the Prophets,
” a work which he published in the beginning of the
reign of Charles I. It was afterwards printed with his
“Moses unveiled,
” in an edition now before us, dated
Edinburgh,
, a Prussian botanist, whose proper name was Wieland, was born at Koenigsberg, and after several extensive journeys into
, a Prussian botanist, whose
proper name was Wieland, was born at Koenigsberg, and
after several extensive journeys into Palestine, Egypt,
Africa, and Greece, was carried prisoner into Barbary;
but being redeemed by the celebrated Fallopius, afterwards succeeded him in the botanical chair at Padua, and
died in 1587 or 1589. Haller characterizes him as a
learned but desultory writer, an acrimonious critic, even
of the excellent Conrad Gesner, but especially of Matthiolus, whom he violently hated. He had little or no merit
as a practical botanist, nor did he scarcely attempt to describe or define any plants. He published a learned essay
on the “Papyrus,
” in quarto, at Venice, in Synonyma Piantarum,
” one of the earliest works of its kind, appeared long
after his death, in 1608, at Franc fort, in octavo.
, a French historian, was born about 1625, at Thiers in Auvergne, and became the first
, a French historian, was born about 1625, at Thiers in Auvergne, and
became the first historiographer of the academy of painting
and sculpture to which office he was elected in 1682. H&
died at Paris, April 6, 1705. He was author of many
works of considerable reputation, as “Athene Ancienne et
Nouvelle;
” “Lacedemone Ancienne et Nouvelle,
” both
printed in A History of the grand viziers’ Caprogji,
” c. “The Life of Mahomet II.;
” “The
History of Castrucio Castracani,
” translated from the Italian of Machiavel; “Les Arts de l‘homme d’Epee, ou Dietionnaire du Genlilhomme,
” Ancient and modern Athens
” involved him in a serious
dispute with Spon, in which he was said to have gained the
victory, as far as style and mannerly writing were concerned.
, a French anatomist, was born 1487, at Andermach. He was physician to Francis I. and
, a French anatomist, was born 1487, at Andermach. He was physician
to Francis I. and retired to Strasburg, to avoid the troubles
which arose about religion, and became professor of Greek
there, as he had been at Louvain; and also practised physic, but was afterwards obliged to resign his professorship.
He died Oct. 4, 1574. Guintier translated several treatises
from Galen and other authors, and published some tracts
in Latin “On the Plague,
” 8vo and “On Pregnant
Women and Children,
” 8vo. He is sard to have been
the first who gave the name of pancreas to the glandular
substance which is fixed to the peritonaeum; and made
some other discoveries, for which Winslow praises him
highly, but Vesalius speaks contemptuously of his anatomical skill.
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes, was born in that city in 1600, of protestant parents, and early
, a French antiquary, and counsellor of the presidial court of Nismes, was born in that
city in 1600, of protestant parents, and early acquired a
reputation for learning and probity. The court frequently
employed him in affairs of importance, in all which he acquitted himself with ability. Henry Frederic of Nassau,
prince of Orange, having appointed him counsellor of the
parliament of that city, Louis XIV. permitted him to retain with it his office in the presidial of Nismes, one of the
most considerable of the kind in that kingdom. He died
at Nismes, in 1680. His antiquarian pursuits produced a
dissertation entitled, 1. “Explicatio duorum vetustorum
numismatum Nemausensium ex sere,
” Thesaurus.
” 2.
“Recherches historiques et chronologiques, concernant
l'etablissement et la suite de seuechaux de Beaucaire et
de Nimes,
”
, called Quintus Icilius, an able writer on military tactics, was born at Magdeburg, and studied at the universities of Halle,
, called Quintus
Icilius, an able writer on military tactics, was born at
Magdeburg, and studied at the universities of Halle, Marpurg, and Leyden, where he applied to the classics, theology, and the oriental languages. He first carried arm*
in the service of the United Provinces, and while thus
einployed found leisure to prepare materials for his “Memoirs
Militaires sur les Grecs et les Remains,
” which induced
him to obtain permission to visit England, where he re^mained a year. The work was at length published, in two
volumes quarto, 1757, received with much approbation, and
went through five editions in France and Holland. In the
same year he entered as a volunteer in the allied army,
acquired the esteem of Ferdinand of Brunswick, and was
recommended to the notice of Frederic II. of Prussia, who
kept him near his person, often conversed with him on the
art of war, and on account of his great knowledge on this
subject, gave him the name of Quintus Icilius, the com*
mander of Caesar’s tenth legion, when he appointed him
to the command of a regiment formed out of the refuse of
all nations, during the heat of the war. At the general
peace he was one of the few persons whom his majesty admitted into his convivial parties at Potsdam, and to whom
he gave the freest access to his library and coins, which
latter Guise-hard increased so much, that he valued both
at the sum of a hundred thousand dollars. The king, however, in his latter days, treated him with much disrespect,
and took every opportunity to mortify him in the presence
of others. Giiiscliard died May 13, 1775. Frederic purchased his library of his heirs for the sum of 12,000 dollars.
Besides the work already mentioned, he was author of a
very useful work to military or classical students, entitled
“Memoires Critiques et Historiques sur plusieurs Points
d'Antiquites Militaires,
” in 4 vols. Hvo. Gibbon, who
read his “Military Memoirs
” with great attention, bestows
high encomiums on him, and considers him as very superior
to Folard, whom however Guischard affected too much to
undervalue.
, an English divine, was born at Ablond’s or Abbey-load’s court, near Gloucester, in
, an English divine, was born at Ablond’s or Abbey-load’s court, near Gloucester, in 1653,
and entered in 1669 a commoner of Oriel-college, Oxford, which he changed for All souls, where he was chosen
fellow a little before he took his first degree in arts, April
4, 1674. He commenced M. A. in 1677, and entered into
orders; but marrying in 1680, he resigned his fellowship.
However, he still continued at Oxford, and took a house
in St. Michael’s parish, resolving not to leave the university, on account of his studies, which he prosecuted with
indefatigable industry, and soon became a great master of
the oriental learning and languages. He translated into
English, and illustrated with a commentary, Dr. Bernard’s
work entitled “Misnae pars ordinis prim
”! Zeraim Tituli
septem,“1690, 4to, and a tract
” De Victimis humanis,“8vo, and was preparing an edition of Abulfeda’s Geography, when he was seized with the small-pox, which carried him off' Sept. 3, 1684, aged only thirty-one. Thomas
Smith gives him the title of
” Vir longe eruditissimus,“and observes, that his death was a prodigious loss to the
republic of letters; and the editors of the
” Acta Eruditorum“style him a
” person of great learning, and the immortal ornament of the university of Oxford." He was
buried at St. Michael’s church in that city, where a monument was erected to his memory by his widow, with a
Latin inscription. He left issue a son John, who, being
bred to the army, raised himself to the highest posts there,
and was well known in the military world, by the title of
General Guise. He died in 1765, and bequeathed his
large collection of paintings to Christ-church Oxford,
where he was educated, and where they are now placed in
the lower library.
brated traveller, of whose various performances a list is given in “Coxe’s Travels,” vol. I. p. 162, was born at Riga, in 1745. On account of his great skill in natural
, a celebrated traveller, of whose various performances a list is given in
“Coxe’s Travels,
” vol. I. p.
, a German lawyer and historian, was born February 25, 1671, near Nuremberg, and was the son of a
, a German lawyer
and historian, was born February 25, 1671, near Nuremberg, and was the son of a clergyman, who died 1689. He
was successively professor of philosophy, rhetoric, and the
law of nature and nations, at Halle; and frequently consulted on public affairs at Berlin, where his talents were so
well known, that he obtained the title of privy-counsellor
for his services on various occasions. Gundling was indefatigable, had an excellent memory, great wit, vivacity,
and eloquence; but his warmest admirers wished that his
numerous writings had contained less satire, and more moderation and politeness. He died rector of the university
of Halle, December 16, 1729, leaving several valuable
works on literature, history, law, and politics: the principal are, 1.“Historia Philosophic moralis,
” 8vo. 2. “Otia,
”
or a collection of dissertations on various physical, moral,
political, and historical subjects, 3 vols. 8vo. 3. “De
jure oppignorati Territorii,
” 4to. 4. “Status naturalis Hobbesii in corpore juris civilis defensus et defendendus,
” 4to.
5. “De statu Reipublicae Germanicse sub Conrado I.
” 4to.
Ludwig has refuted this work in his “Germania Princeps.
”
6. “Gundlingiana,
” in German. 7. “Commentaria de
Henrico Aucupe,
” 4to. 8. “Via ad veritatem,
” or a
course of philosophy, 3 vols. 8vo. Gundling had a great
share in the “Observationes Hallenses,
” an excellent collection in 11 vols. 8vo.
, a German prelate and naturalist, was born at Christiana, in Norway, in 1718. He was educated at the
, a German prelate and naturalist, was born at Christiana, in Norway, in 1718. He
was educated at the public school of Christiana, and in
1737 removed to Copenhagen, where he pursued his studies with great success. In 1742 he began the study of
theology, philosophy, and mathematics in the university
of Halle, and in 1754 was invited to be extraordinary professor of theology at Copenhagen, preacher at Herlufsholm, and lecturer in theology and the Hebrew language
in the public school of that place. Shortly after this, he
was ordained priest at Copenhagen, and in 1758 was appointed by his majesty Frederic V. bishop of Drontheim.
He was the founder of the royal Norwegian society at
Drontheim, of which he was elected vice-president, and
in the Transactions of which, he published several curious
and useful papers on subjects of natural history. He was
a zealous student in botany, and so highly esteemed by
Linnæus, that he gave the name of Gunnera to a plant in
his system. He was enrolled among the members of the
academies of Stockholm, Copenhagen, and other learned
societies. He published “Flora Norvegica,
” in two parts,
fol.
, a learned protestant divine, was born at Basil, Dec. 8, 1654, where his father was a merchant.
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Basil, Dec. 8, 1654, where his father was a merchant. Until the fourteenth year of his age, he was instructed by private tutors, and profited so much as to be
then fit for the university of Basil, where, after studying
languages, philosophy, mathematics, and history, for three
or four years, he was on July 2, 1672, admitted to the degrees of master of arts and doctor in philosophy. He tnen
studied divinity, and had for one of his masters Peter Werenfels, father of the celebrated Samuel VVerenfels. In
about two years, he was appointed to lecture on theology
during the vacations, and acquitted himself with great credit. In March 1676, he was admitted a preacher, and the
following year passed six months at Geneva, whence he
went into France, and visited the university of Saumur,
where he heard the lectures of Henry Philiponeau de Hautecour, who was afterwards his colleague in the university
of Franeker. His reputation having by this time extended
to Germany, he was invited to Heilborn to be professor of
philosophy and rhetoric, and rector of the classes, of which
office he took possession in 1685, with a public harangue,
“de fato philosophico in ecclesia Christiana.
” As divinity
was still his favourite study, he continued improving his
knowledge of it; and having visited Heidelberg during the
third jubilee of that university, he received his degree of
D. D. with every mark of distinction, even from the learned
catholics who heard him maintain a thesis on this occasion,
the subject of which was “Christ’s kingly office.
” After
he had remained about two years at Heilborn, he was requested to accept the theological chair at Hanau, with
which he complied. In 1696 he was again removed to Bremen as professor in ordinary of divinity, moderator of the
schools, and perpetual rector magrdficus. To this place
he drew a great concourse of students; but the fatigues
attending his occupations here made him willing to accept
the less laborious professorship of divinity at Deventer in
1699. In 1705 the curators of the university of Franeker
offered him their theological chair, which he at first refused, but accepted it, on a second and more pressing invitation, in 1707. His constitution was now, however, so
much worn down by repeated attacks of the gout, that he
did not enjoy this office above four years, dying Sept. 28,
1711. Gurtler was a man of genuine piety, modesty, and
candour, and of extensive knowledge in every branch of
science, but especially in those connected with his profession. His works, which have generally received the approbation of catholics as well as protestants, are, 1. A Latin, German, Greek, and French Dictionary, published in
1682. 2. “Historia Templariorum observationibus ecclesiasticis aucta,
” Amst. Institutiones Theologies,
” ibid. Voces
Typico-propheticiT,
” Bremen, Dialogi Eucharistici,
”
Bremen, SystemaTheologise propbeticse,
”
Amst. Origines mundi, et in eo regnorum,
” &c.
Amst. Dissertationes de Jesu Christo in
gloriam evecto,
” Franeker, Forma sanorum
verborum,
” a short abridgment of divinity, which he used
as a text-book, 1709, 12mo. Gurtler wrote also a “History of the Churches of France,
” in German.
ricson, king of Sweden, was the son of Eric Vasa, and descended from the ancient kings of Sweden. He was born in 1490. His great passion was the love of glory, and this
, or more properly Gustavus Ericson, king of Sweden, was the son of Eric Vasa, and descended from the ancient kings of Sweden. He was born in 1490. His great passion was the love of glory, and this difficulties and dangers increased rather than diminished. He lived at a time when the greatest part of the wealth of Sweden was in the hands of the clergy, when every nobleman was, in his own territories, a sovereign, and, lastly, when Steeno was administrator of the realm. In the war which was originally prosecuted betwixt the Swedes and Christian king of Denmark, this last, having got Gustavus into his power, kept him a prisoner many years in Denmark. He at length made his escape, and through innumerable dangers got back to his native country, where, for a long period, he used every effort to rouse his countrymen to resist and repel their invaders and victorious enemies. In this, however, he was not successful; and Christian of Denmark having got possession of Stockholm and Coltnar, exercised the cruelest tyranny on all ranks, and in one day put to death ninety-four nobles, among whom was the father of Gustavus. Gustavus at length prevailed on the Dalecarlians to throw off the yoke; and, at the 4 head of a considerable body of forces, entered the provinces of Halsingia, Gestricia, and some others. After a series of desperate adventures, temporary successes, and frequent defeats; he recovered Upsal; for which disappointment Christian put to death the mother and sister of Gustavus in cruel torments. Having overcome East Gothland, and blockaded Stockholm, he convened the Staters-General, and was by them offered the title of King. This he refused, and was satisfied with the regal power, and title of administrator. A short time afterwards, a revolution took place in Denmark; Christian was driven from his dominions; and Frederic duke of Holstein, uncle of Christian, was made his successor. There was now nothing to oppose Gustavus; he therefore summoned the States to meet at Stregnez, filled up the vacancies of the senate, and was proclaimed king with the usual forms of election. He also prevailed on the States to render the crown hereditary to the male heirs; and, to make the life of Gustavus yet more remarkable in history, it was in his reign that Lutheranism was established as the natural religion of Sweden. The latter part of his life was spent in cultivating the arts of peace, and in decorating his metropolis with noble edifices. He died at Stockholm, of a gradual decay, on the 9th of September, 1560, in the seventieth year of his age, and was quietly succeeded in his throne by his eldest sou Eric.
ideration of the wants and infirmities of others, have any claim, he seems well to have deserved. He was born at Stockholm in 1594. His name Gustavus he inherited from
, king of Sweden, commonly called the Great, a title which, if great valour united with great wisdom, great magnanimity with regard to himself, and great consideration of the wants and infirmities of others, have any claim, he seems well to have deserved. He was born at Stockholm in 1594. His name Gustavus he inherited from his grandfather Gustavus Vasa, and he was called Adolphus from his grandmother Adolpha. His education was calculated to form a hero, and seems, in all respects, to have resembled that bestowed on Henry the Fourth of France. He had a great genius, a prodigious memory, and a docility and desire of learning almost beyond example. He ascended the throne of Sweden in 1611, being then no more than fifteen; but the choice he made of ministers and counsellors proved him fully adequate to govern. His valour in the field was tried first against Denmark, Muscovy, and Poland. He made an honourable peace with the two first, and compelled the last to evacuate Livonia. He then formed an alliance with the protestants of Germany against the emperor, and what is commonly called the league. In two years and a half he overran all the countries from the Vistula as far as the Danube and the Rhine. Every thing submitted to his power, and all the towns opened to him their gates. In 1631 he conquered Tilly, the imperial general, before Leipsic; and a second time at the passage of the Lech. In the following year, he fought the famous battle in the plains of Lutzen, where he unfortunately fell at the immature age of thirty-eight, Nov. 16, 1632. Besides his other noble qualities he loved and cultivated the sciences. He enriched the university of Upsal; he founded a royal academy at Abo, and an university at Dorp in Livonia. Before his time there were no regular troops in Sweden; but he formed and executed the project of having 80,000 men constantly well armed, disciplined, and cloathed. This he accomplished without difficulty, on account of the love and confidence which his subjects without reserve reposed in their king. Some historians have delighted to draw a parallel between Gustavus and the great Scipio, and it is certain that they had many traits of character in common. Scipio attacked the Carthaginians in their own dominions; and Gustavus undertook to curb the pride of Austria by carrying the war into the heart of her country. Here indeed the advantage is with Gustavus; for, the Carthaginian power was already debilitated; but the emperor’s had before never received any check. He died literally, as it is said of him, with the sword in his hand, the word of command on his tongue, and victory in his imagination. His life has been well written by our countryman Harte; and he appears in all respects to have deserved the high and numerous encomiums which writers of all countries have heaped upon his memory. Some have suspected this exalted character to have lost his life from the intrigues of cardinal Richelieu; others from Lawemburgh, one of his generals, whom Ferdinand the emperor is said to have corrupted. He left an only daughter, whom he had by the princess Mary of Brandenburg, and who succeeded her father at the age of five. This princess was the celebrated Christina queen of Sweden.
family, being the representative of the Guthries of Haukerton, in the county of Angus, Scotland. He was born at Brichen in that county in 1708, and educated at King’s
, a miscellaneous writer and compiler, whose name is now chiefly preserved by a geographical grammar, which it is said he did not write, was a
gentleman descended from an ancient family, being the
representative of the Guthries of Haukerton, in the county
of Angus, Scotland. He was born at Brichen in that
county in 1708, and educated at King’s college, Aberdeen,
where he took his degrees, and followed the profession of
a schoolmaster. He is said to have removed to London, in
consequence of a love-affair, which created some disturbance in his family; others report that having but a small
patrimony, and being an adherent of the unfortunate house
of Stuart, he could not accept of any office in the state;
he came therefore to London, and employed his talents
and learning as, what he himself calls, “an author by profession.
” His talents and learning were not of the inferior
kind, when he chose to employ them leisurely; but he
wrote hastily, and often in need, and seems to have cared
little for his reputation, by lending his name frequently
where he did not contribute with his pen. Among his first
employments was that of compiling the parliamentary debates for the Gentleman’s Magazine, before Dr, Johnson had
undertook that business; for this purpose Guthrie sometimes
attended the house, but more frequently had to depend on
very slight information. Connecting himself terwards
with the booksellers, he compiled a variety of work among
which are “A History of the English Peerage,
” “History of the World,
” 12 vols. 8vo, “A History of England,
”
“History of Scotland,
” 10 vols. 8vo, and the well-known
“Geographical Grammar,
” said to have been really compiled by Knox the bookseller. Besides these, he translated
“Quintilian,
” 3 vols. 8vo, “Cicero’s Offices,
” 8vo, and
“Cicero’s Epistles to Atticus,
” 2 vols. 12mo. Of his original compositions we have heard only of a beautiful poem,
“The Eagle and Robin Red-breast,
” in the collection of
poems called the “Union,
” where, however, it is said to
be written by Archibald Scott, before 1600; “The Friends,
a sentimental history,
” Remarks
on English Tragedy,
” a pamphlet. He was engaged, however, in many political papers and pamphlets, to which his
name did not appear; and in 1745-6, received a pension
of 200l. from government, for the services of his pen, which
was continued during his life. In 1762 he renewed the
offer of his services to the minister of the day, and they
probably were accepted. He had the pen of a ready writer,
and his periodical essays were perhaps his best. Much
was expected from his “Peerage,
” in which he was assisted
by Mr. Ralph Bigland, each individual article being submitted to the inspection of the representative of the noble
family treated of; yet, notwithstanding all this care, the
work abounds with errors, contradictions, and absurdities
His “History of England
” merits greater praise, and had
at least the honour of irritating Horace Wai pole to a gross
abuse of Guthrie, because he had anticipated some of
Walpole’s opinions concerning Richard III. Guthrie wrote
at that time in the Critical Review, and pointed out his
own discoveries. Boswell informs us, that Dr. Johnson
esteemed Guthrie enough to wish that his life should be
written. This, however, was neglected when the means
of information were attainable. He died March I', 177O,
and was interred in Marybone burial-ground, with a monument and inscription against the east wall.
, called also Gænsfleisch de Sulgeloch, the reputed inventor of the art of printing, was born at Mentz, of noble and wealthy parents, about 1400. In
, called
also Gænsfleisch de Sulgeloch, the reputed inventor of the
art of printing, was born at Mentz, of noble and wealthy
parents, about 1400. In 1427 he came to reside at Strasburgh a merchant, but appears to have returned to
Mentz in 1430, and to have been a man of property in
1434. Between this and the year 1439 he had conceived
and perhaps made some trials of the art of printing with
metal types. In the archives of the city of Mentz, Schoepflin discovered a document of a process carried on by Guttenberg against one George Dritzehen, from which we
learn that the former had promised to make the latter acquainted with a secret art that he had recently discovered.
In the same document mention is made of four forms kept
together by two screws, or press-spindles, and of letters
and pages being cut up and destroyed, to prevent any person from discovering the art. The ablest writers have,
however, differed upon the subject of the materials with
which Guttenberg at first printed. Schoepflin supposed
them to have been metal; Fournier, Meerman, and Fischer,
were of opinion that they were composed of wood. In the
years 1441-2 Guttenberg lived at Strasburg, as a wealthy
man, and continued in the same place till 1446, when he returned again to Mentz, and seems to have opened his mind
fully tc Fust, a goldsmith of the same place (See Fust), and
prevailed on him to advance large sums of money in order
to make more complete trials of the art. Between 1450
and 1455, the celebrated Bible of 637 leaves, the first important specimen of printing with metal types, was executed between Guttenberg and Fust. Exclusively of the
Bible, Guttenberg is supposed to have printed some other
works, but there is no book whatever extant with his name
subscribed. He died about the latter end of 1467. More
ample information and discussion on the invention of this
noble art, and the claims of Guttenberg, may be found in
Oberlin’s “Essai sur les annales de la vie de Jean Gutenberg,
” Essai sur les monumens Typographiques de Gutenberg,
” Analyse des opinions diverses sur l'origine de Plmprimerie,
”
, an eminent critic, was born of a good family at Angers, in 1575. He lost his father
, an eminent critic, was born of a good family at Angers, in 1575. He lost his father and mother when a child; and the small estate they left him was wasted by the imprudence of his guardians. He applied himself, however, intensely to books; and, with a view to improve himself by the conversation of learned men, he took a journey to Paris in 1599. The acquaintance he formed with the sons of Claudius du Puy proved very advantageous to him; for, the most learned persons in Paris frequently visited these brothers, and many of them met every day in the house of Thuanus, where Mess, du Puy received company. After the death of that president, they held those conferences in the same place; and Guyet constantly made one. He went to Rome in 1608, and applied himself to the Italian tongue with such success as to be able to write Italian verses. He was much esteemed by cardinal du Perron and several great personages. He returned to Paris by the way of Germany, and was taken into the house of the duke d'Epernon, to teach the abbot de Granselve, who was made cardinal de la V alette in 1621. His noble pupil, who conceived so great an esteem for him as always to entrust him with his most important affairs, took him to Rome, and procured him a good benefice; but Guyet, after his return to Paris, chose to live a private life rather than in the house of the cardinal, and resided in Burgundy college. Here he spent the remainder of his life, employed in his studies; and wrote a dissertation, in which he pretended to shew that the Latin tongue was derived from the Greek, and that all the primitive words of the latter consisted only of one syllable; but of this they found, after his death, only a vast compilation of Greek and Latin words, without any order or coherence, and without any preface to explain his project. But the reading of the ancient authors was his favourite employment, and the margins of his classics were full of notes, many of which have been published. Those upon Hesiod were imparted to Graevius, who inserted them in his edition of that author, 1667. The most complete collection found among his papers was his notes upon Terence; and therefore they were sent to Boeclerus, and afterwards printed. He took great liberties as a critic: for he rejected as supposititious all such verses as seemed to him not to savour of the author’s genius. Thus he struck out many verses of Virgil discarded the first ode in Horace and would not admit the secret history of Procopius. Notwithstanding the boldness of his criticisms, and his free manner of speaking in conversation, he was afraid of the public; and dreaded Salmasius in particular, who threatened to write a book against him if he published hjs thoughts about some passages in ancient authors. He was generally accounted a man of great learning, and is said to have been a sincere and honest man. He was cut for the stone in 1636; excepting which, his long life was hardly attended with any illness. He died of a catarrh, after three days illness, in the arms of James du Puy, and Menage his countryman, April 12, 1655, aged eighty. His life is written in Latin, with great judgment and politeness, by Mr. Portner, a senator of Ratisbon, who took the supposititious name of Antonius Periander Rhaetus; and is prefixed to his notes upon Terence, printed with those of Boeclerus, at Strasburg, in 1657, an edition in no great estimation.
, a French historian, was born in 1701 at Lous-le-Saunier in Fi'unche-comte, and entered
, a French historian, was born
in 1701 at Lous-le-Saunier in Fi'unche-comte, and entered
the congregation of the oratory, which he afterwards
quitted, and came to Paris, and passed his days in literary
labours. He died here in 1771. His principal works are,
1. A continuation of “Echard’s Roman History,
” from
Constantine to the taking of Constantinople by Mahomet II.
10 vols. 12mo, which Voltaire has thought proper to undervalue; but others say that in point or style and accuracy,
it may rank among the best productions of the kind from
the French press. 2. “Histoire des empires et des republiques,
” Histoire des Amazones ancienneset modernes,
” Paris, Histoire des Indes,
” 3 vols. 12mo, inferior in every respect.
5. “Oracle des nouveaux philosophes,
” not so remarkable
for style, as for an able confutation of the new philosophy
of his time, and the uneasiness it gave Voltaire. 6. “Bibliotheque ecclesiastique,
”
, an agreeable French writer, was born at Marseilles in 1720, and became a merchant of distinguished
, an agreeable French writer,
was born at Marseilles in 1720, and became a merchant of
distinguished probity. Having often had occasion to visit
Constantinople, Smyrna, &c. in the course of business, he
conceived the idea of comparing the ancient and modern
Greeks, and endeavouring to trace among the latter what
was yet to be found of the grandeur, spirit, and institutions
of their ancestors. For this purpose he made frequent excursions from Constantinople, where he lived under the
immediate protection of the king of France, into Greece,
with Homer in his hand; and how extensive and minute
his observations were, appeared in his “Voyage Litteraire
de la Grece,
” on which his fame chiefly rests, and which
was first published in 1771, 2 vols. 12mo; in 1783, 4 vols.
8vo. He was taking another voyage in order to correct
and enlarge a new edition of this work, when he died at
Zante in 1799. This work procured him a very considerable name in the literary wprld; but in whatever reputation it was held in Europe, he afforded such satisfaction to
the subjects of his inquiry) that the modern Greeks, to testify to him their gratitude for his having so well defended
them from their detractors, unanimously offered him the
diploma of citizen of Athens; reviving^ in his favour, an
ancient ceremony fallen into desuetude for a great many
centuries. Some years before, he had received a similar
compliment from a northern power. This true philosopher,
without ceasing to serve his country, knew how to extend
his beneficent views beyond the limits of his country. The
“Voyage Litteraire de la Grece,
” however, is the chief
work of C. Guys. His other pieces are, a “Relation Abrege*e de ses Voyages en Italic et dans le Nord;
” and a translation in verse of the elegies of Tibullus, an essay upon the
antiquities of Marseilles his native place, and the eloge of
Duguay-Trouin. A translation of his Journey was published
in English in 1772, 3 vols. 12mo, with the improper title
of a “Sentimental Journey.
”
, an eminent dissenting divine, of the independent persuasion, was a native of Hertford, where he was born in 1680, and having shewn a pious disposition from his
, an eminent dissenting divine, of the
independent persuasion, was a native of Hertford, where
he was born in 1680, and having shewn a pious disposition
from his youth, was admitted a member of the dissenting
congregation of that place. He afterwards pursued his
studies, with a view to the ministry, under Mr. Payne of
Saffron Walden, and being admitted to preach at the age
of twenty, became assistant to the rev. Mr. Haworth of
Hertford, whom he afterwards succeeded in that congregation. Here he continued some years, and was very successful in opposing the Arian doctrines which had crept in
among his Hock; and to strengthen his efforts he published
in 1719, a small volume on the divinity of Christ, and in
1721, another on the divinity of the Holy Ghost. In 1727
he was invited to London, and became minister to a congregation in New Broad-street. In 1732 he received the
degree of D. D. from one of the universities of Scotland.
Besides his regular duty at New Broad-street, he was for
niany years a preacher of the Tuesday’s lecture at Pinners*
Hall, and of that at St. Helen’s on a Friday. In his avowal
of his religious principles (those called Calvinistic) he was
open, steady, and consistent, and his character and conduct
were, in every point of view, uniform, and amiable. The
goodness of his natural disposition, heightened by a spirit
of real religion, exerted him to an activity which rendered
his life very important. He was a kind and useful friend
to the young, and extremely liberal to the poor, always
devoting a tenth part of his annual income to charitable
uses. After enjoying a considerable share of health for
many years, he became lame and blind, but was enabled
to continue his public services almost to the time of his
death, which took place Nov. 22, 1761. Jle published a
great variety of occasional sermons, and of pious tracts,
and had a short controversy with Dr. Chandler, in which
the latter is said to have appeared to very little advantage.
But his great work was his “Paraphrase on the New Testament,
”
, the Ovid of Wales, and one of the most famous Welsh bards, was born in 1340 at Brogydin, in the county of Cardigan. He was
, the Ovid of Wales, and one of
the most famous Welsh bards, was born in 1340 at Brogydin, in the county of Cardigan. He was brought up in the
family of Llewelyn ap Guilym Fychan, styled lord of Cardigan, at Emlyn, until he was fifteen years of age; at
which period he removed, after a short stay with his parents, and settled as steward and private tutor in the family
of Ivor Hael. Like other itinerant bards of that age, he
often visited different parts of the principality, and was so
universally admired, that he has been claimed by the men
of Anglesea as their countryman; and was generally
known by the name of David of Glamorgan, and the nightingale of Teivi vale, in Cardiganshire. He died about
1400. Excepting music and a few Latin words, which he
might pick up at mass, it cannot be ascertained from his
works, that he had any acquaintance with the sciences or
learned languages; for his poems consist chiefly of lively
descriptions of nature, written in pure unadulterated
Welsh. His “Poems
” were published in
tings of the royal society, and was one of its first fellows when established after the restoration, was born in 1605, at Newhausen, near Worms in the Palatinate, and
, who is said to have first suggested
the weekly meetings of the royal society, and was one of
its first fellows when established after the restoration, was
born in 1605, at Newhausen, near Worms in the Palatinate, and educated at home. In 1625 he came to Oxford,
and studied there about half a year, whence he went for
the same time to Cambridge. He then visited some of the
universities abroad, but returned to Oxford in 1629, and
became a commoner of Gloucester-hall (now Worcester college). Here he remained three years, but without
taking a degree, and, as Wood says, was made a deacon
by Dr. Joseph Hall, the celebrated bishop of Exeter. He
does not, however, appear to have proceeded farther in
ecclesiastical ordination, and both in his translation of the
“Dutch Annotations,
” and in the lists of the royal society,
we find him afterwards styled “Theodore Haak, Esq.
” In
the time of the German wars he was appointed one of the
procurators to receive the benevolence money, which was
raised in several dioceses in England to be transmitted to
Germany, which he used to say “was a deacon’s work.
”
When the rebellion broke out in this country, he appears
to have favoured the interests of parliament. In 1657 he
published in 2 vols, folio, what is called the “Dutch Annotations upon the whole Bible,
” which is a translation of the
Dutch Bible, ordered by the synod of Dort, and first published in 1637. Wood says that the Dutch translators
were assisted in this undertaking by bishops Carleton,
Davenant, Hall, and other English divines, who were
members of the synod of Dort; but, according to the preface, the only assistance they gave was in laying before
the synod an account of the manner in which king James’s
translation had been performed by the co-operation of a
number of the most eminent divines in England. The
synod accordingly adopted the same plan; and their annotations being considered of great value to biblical students,
the Westminster assembly of divines employed Haak in
making this English translation, and the parliament granted
him a sole right in it for fourteen years from the time of
publication. Haak also translated into Dutch several English books of practical divinity, and one half of Milton’s
“Paradise Lost.
” He left nearly ready for the press, a
translation of German proverbs, but it does not appear
that this was published. He was in 1645 one of several
ingenious men (Dr. Wilkins, Dr. Wallis, Dr. Goddard, &c.)
who agreed to meet once a week to discourse upon subjects
connected with mathematics and natural philosophy, and
it was he who first suggested this humble plan on which,
the royal society was afterwards formed. Mr. Haak died
at the house of his kinsman Dr. Slare, a physician near
Fetter-lane, London, May 9, 1690, and was buried in St.
Andrew’s church, Holborn. Dr. Horneck preached his
funeral sermon. He appears to have been the friend and
correspondent of the most learned men of his time, and
has some observations and letters in the “Philosophical
Collections,
” published in May
, a learned Lutheran divine, was born May 9, 1604, at Butzbach in Wetteraw, and descended from
, a learned Lutheran divine,
was born May 9, 1604, at Butzbach in Wetteraw, and descended from a noble and ancient family of Franconia. He,
became pastor, superintendant, and professor of divinity,
at Geissen, where he died, April 1676, having had 14
children and 46 grandchildren. He became eminent by
his writings, and appeared with great distinction at several
conferences on religious subjects. His principal works
are, “Heptas disputationum Anti-Wallemburgicarum,
”
in which he takes great pains to overthrow the principles
of Mess. de Walemburg, and in which he is esteemed verysuccessful by the Lutherans “Vindicatio Lutherans?, fidei
contra H. Ulricum Hunmum,
” 4to “Syntagma
Dissertationum Theologicarum,
” 1650 and 1652, 2 vols. 8vo;
“Anti-Valerianus,
” Relatio Actorum Colloquii Rheinfelsani,
” &c. All this author’s works are much
valued by those of his communion.
, a pious and learned doctor of the society of the Sorbonne, was born at Blois, in 1636. He was successively grand vicar of Lu^on,
, a pious and learned doctor of the
society of the Sorbonne, was born at Blois, in 1636. He
was successively grand vicar of Lu^on, Auxerre, Verdun,
and Chalons-sur-Marne; in all which dioceses he was universally esteemed for his virtue, learning, and zealous
support of ecclesiastical discipline. He afterwards retired
to the Sorbonne, and employed the rest of his life in deciding cases of conscience, and died there April 7, 1718.
M. Habert left a complete System of Divinity, 7 vols.
12mo, much valued for accuracy and solidity; but the
additions made to it since his death were not acceptable to
his church, and were complained of by Feneion, as inclining to Jansenianism. He published in his life-time a
defence of this system, and “La Pratique de la Penitence,
” 12mo, best known by the title of “Pratique de
Verdun,
” of which there have been many additions.
shire. His grandfather, John, second son of this Richard Habington, and cofferer to queen Elizabeth, was born in 1515, and died in 1581. He bought the manor of Hindlip,
, an excellent English poet, was descended from a Roman catholic family. His greatgrandfather was Richard Habington or Abington of Brockhampton, in Herefordshire. His grandfather, John, second son of this Richard Habington, and cofferer to queen Elizabeth, was born in 1515, and died in 1581. He bought the manor of Hindlip, in Worcestershire, and rebuilt the mansion about 1572. His father, Thomas Habington, was born at Thorpe, in Surrey, 1560, studied at Oxford, and afterwards travelled to Rheims and Paris. On his return he involved himself with the party who laboured to release Mary queen of Scots, and was afterwards imprisoned on a suspicion of being concerned in Babington’s conspiracy. During this imprisonment, which lasted six years, he employed his time in study. Having been at length released, and his life saved, as is supposed on account of his being queen Elizabeth’s godson, he retired to Hindlip, and married Mary, eldest daughter of Edward Parker lord Morley, by Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of sir William Stanley, lord Monteagle.
William Habington, his eldest son, was born at Hindlip, Nov. 5, 1605, and was educated in the Jesuits’
William Habington, his eldest son, was born at Hindlip,
Nov. 5, 1605, and was educated in the Jesuits’ college at
St. Omer’s, and afterwards at Paris, with a view to induce
him to take the habit of the order, which he declined. On
his return from the continent he resided principally with,
his father, who became his preceptor, and evidently sent him
into the world a man of elegant accomplishments and virtues.
Although allied to some noble families, and occasionally
mixing in the gaieties of high life, his natural disposition
inclined him to the purer pleasures of rural life. He wa
probably very early a poet and' a lover, and in both successful. He married Lucy, daughter of William Herbert,
first lord Powis, by Eleanor, daughter of Henry Percy,
eighth earl of Northumberland, by Katharine, daughter
and coheir of John Neville, lord Latimer. It is to this
lady that we are indebted for his poems, most of which were
written in allusion to his courtship and marriage. Sha>
was the Castara who animated his imagination with tenderness and elegance, and purified it from the grosser
opprobria of the amatory poets. His poems, as was not
unusual in that age, were written occasionally, and dispersed confidentially. In 1635 they appear to have been
first collected into a volume, which Oidys calls the second
edition, under the title of “Castara.
” Another edition
was published in Censura Literaria.
” His other works are, the
“Queen of Arragon,
” a tragi-comedy, which was acted
at court, and at Black-friars, and printed in 1640. It has
since been reprinted among Dodsley’s Old Plays. The
author having communicated the manuscript to Philip earl
of Pembroke, lord chamberlain of the household to king
Charles I. he caused it to be acted, and afterwards published against the author’s consent. It was revived, with
the revival of the stage, at the restoration, about 1666,
when a new prologue and epilogue were furnished by the
author of Hudibras.
, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, descended from an ancient family in Scotland, was born near Exeter-house in the Strand, London, September 1, 1592.
, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry,
descended from an ancient family in Scotland, was born
near Exeter-house in the Strand, London, September 1,
1592. He was admitted very young into Westminsterschool, where, on account of his proficiency, he was much
noticed by Dr. (afterwards bishop) Andrews, but then dean
of Westminster. In 1608, along with Herbert the poet,
he was elected to Trinity-college, Cambridge. His uncommon parts and learning recommended him to particular notice; so that, after taking the proper degrees, he
was chosen fellow of his college, and became a tutor of
great repute. One month in the long vacation, retiring
with his pupil, afterwards lord Byron, to Newstede abbey,
Nottinghamshire, he composed a Latin comedy entitled
“Loyola,
” which was twice acted before James I. and
printed in 1648. He took orders in 1618, and was collated to the rectory of Stoke Hamon, in Buckinghamshire,
and had singular kindness shewn him by bishop Andrews
and several great men. But above all others, he was regarded by Dr. Williams, dean of Westminster and bishop
of Lincoln, who, being appointed lord-keeper of the great
seal in 1621, chose Hacket for his chaplain, and ever preserved a high esteem for him. In 1623, he was made
chaplain to Jame$ I. with whom he became a favourite
preacher, and was also made a prebendary of Lincoln; and
the year following, upon the lord-keeper’s recommendation,
rector of St. Andrew’s, Holborn, in London. His patron
also procured him the same year the rectory of Cheam, in.
Surrey; telling him that he intended Holborn for wealth,
and Cheam for health.
, a Lutheran divine, and eminent oriental scholar, was born in 1607, at Weimar. Becoming early attached to the study
, a Lutheran divine, and eminent oriental scholar, was born in 1607, at Weimar. Becoming early attached to the study of sacred philology, he endeavoured to acquire a knowledge of the Oriental languages as necessarily connected with it, and therefore, after attending the philosophical and theological schools of Jena for seven years, he went to Altdorf, to profit hy the instructions of Schwenter, who was then esteemed one of the ablest Orientalists. From Altdorf he removed to Helmstadt, where he applied to his theological studies under Calixtus, Horneius, and others, and on his return to Altdorf in 1636 was the first who gave lessons in public on the Oriental languages in that place. In 1654 he became professor of theology, and in both situations evinced great talents and persevering industry. No man in his time was better skilled in the Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldean, and Arabic, and being the first who attempted to teach these languages, he wished to assist his students by proper elementary books, but the German press at that time was so deficient in the requisite types, that he must have abandoned his design if Jodocus Schmidmaier, an advocate at Nuremberg, had not established a printing-office properly supplied with Oriental characters; and at this place Hackspan was enabled to print his valuable works. He died of a decline in 1659. His principal writings are,
, professor of medicine in the university of Vienna, was born at Leyden in 1704, and educated under the celebrated Boerhaave.
, professor of medicine in the university of Vienna, was born at Leyden in 1704, and educated under the celebrated Boerhaave. After having received the degree of M. D. at his native place, he settled
at the Hague, where he practised with success for nearly
twenty years. Baron Van Swieten being acquainted with
the extent of his talents, invited him to remove to Vienna,
with the view of uniting with him in the proposed plan of
reform, which he had prevailed on the empress to support,
in the medical faculty of that capital. De Haen accordingly repaired to that city in 1754; and his merits were
found fully equal to the expectations that had been formed
of them. At the express command of Maria Theresa, he
undertook a system of clinical education, in the hospital
which he superintended, as the most advantageous method
of forming good physicians: the result of this duty was the
collection of a great number of valuable observations, which
were published in the successive volumes of the work entitled “Ratio Medendi in Nosocomio Practico,
” Vienna,
, a celebrated German poet of the last century, was born at Hamburgh in 1708. His father was minister from the king
, a celebrated German poet
of the last century, was born at Hamburgh in 1708. His
father was minister from the king of Denmark to the circles
of Lower Saxony, a well informed man, who associated
with men of letters, and was capable of giving a direction
to his son’s studies suitable to his genius. By various misfortunes, however, he lost his property, and died when our
poet was only fourteen, and very ill provided for the liberal
education which his father intended. His mother endeavoured to make up this loss by placing him at a college at
Hamburgh, where, having previously imbibed a taste for
poetry, he read the ancient as well a* the modern poets
with eagerness and assiduity. Without the help of a master, or the salutary aid of criticism, he endeavoured to
draw from his own stock the power of dissipating the fogs
of dulness in the north, as Haller had done in the south of
Germany. In 1728 or 1729, he published a small collection of poems, which have many marks of youth, and
though his versification is free, and his language often very
pure, the thoughts are frequently cold, and the expression
too concise. In subjects which require little taste and
philosophy, he has succeeded better than in works of sentiment and imagination. Of his taste at this time, he has
given a bad specimen in his satire entitled “The Poet,
” in
which he puts Pietsch by the side of Virgil.
placing him among the standard poets of his country. He had a brother, Christian Lewis Hagedorn, who was born at Hamburgh in 1717, and died at Dresden in 1780, counsellor
The second edition of his “Moral Poems
” appeared in
Meditations on Painting,
” one of the few which the Germans think have not been equalled by their neighbours
“Lettre a un Amateur de Peinture,
” The Library of the
Fine Arts,
” to the progress of which arts in Saxony he contributed greatly.
, ayoungrnan of extraordinary talents, was born at Bergen, in the duchy of Hanover, in 1692. He soon acquired
, ayoungrnan of extraordinary
talents, was born at Bergen, in the duchy of Hanover, in
1692. He soon acquired an extensive knowledge of the
learned languages, and when he was only fourteen years
of age, he pronounced, at the university of Halle, a Latin
harangue on the origin of the monastery of Bergen, which
was printed with some other pieces. In 1703, he published
a continuation of the “Chronicon Bergense
” of Meibomius; and, in Dissertations;
” one on
“Henry the Fowler,
” the other on the kingdom of Aries,
which do him great honour. After giving public lectures
for some years at Halle, he was appointed professor of history at Helmstadt, though but twenty-four years old, and
afterwards was made counsellor, historiographer, and librarian to his Britannic majesty at Hanover. He died in 1729,
leaving the first four volumes of a “History of the Empire; 17
and
” Collectio Monumentorum veterum et recentium ineditorum," 2 vols. 8vo, &C.
, a French historian, of an ancient family, was born at Bourdeaux about 1535. He went to court at twenty years
, a French
historian, of an ancient family, was born at Bourdeaux about
1535. He went to court at twenty years of age, and in
1556 and 1557 was secretary to Francis de Noailles, bishop
of Acqs, in his embassies to England and Venice. After
that, his first appearance in the republic of letters was in
the quality of a poet and translator. In 1559, he published
a poem, entitled “The Union of the Princes, by the Marriages of Philip King of Spain and the Lady Elizabeth of
France, and of Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy, and the
Lady Margaret of France;
” and another entitled “The
Tomb of the most Christian King Henry II.
” In 1560 he
published an abridged translation of “Tully’s Offices, 7 '
and of
” Eutropius’s Roman History;“and, in 1568, of
” The Life of JEmilius Probus.“He applied himself
afterwards to the writing of history, and succeeded so well,
that by his first performances of this nature, he obtained
of Charles IX. the title of Historiographer of France 1571.
He had published the year before at Paris a book entitled
” Of the State and Success of the Affairs of France;“which
was reckoned very curious, and was often reprinted. He
augmented it in several successive editions, and dedicated it
to Henry IV. in 1594: the best editions of it are those of
Paris 1609 and 1613, in 8vo. He had published also the
same year a work entitled
” Of the Fortune and Power of
France, with a Summary Discourse on the Design of a History of France:“though Niceron suspects that this may be
the same with
” The Promise and Design of the History of
France," which he published in 1571, in order to let
Charles IX. see what he might expect from him in support
of the great honour he had conferred of historiographer of
France. In 1576, he published a history, which reaches
from Phararnond to the death of Charles VII. and was the
first who composed a body of the French history in French.
Henry III. shewed his satisfaction with this by the advantageous and honourable gratifications he made the author.
The reasons which induced de Haillan to conclude his
work with Charles Vllth’s death were, that the event beingrecent, he must eitlier conceal the truth, or provoke the
resentment of men in power, but he afterwards promised
Henry IV. to continue this history to his time, as may be
seen in his dedication to him of this work in 1594; nothing
however of this kind was found among his papers after his
death: the booksellers, who added a continuation to his
work as far as to 1615, and afterwards as far as to 1627,
took it from Paulus Æmilius, de Comines, Arnoul Ferron,
du Bellay, &c.
the historian of China, was born at Paris, Feb. 1, 1674, and entered into the society of
the historian of China, was
born at Paris, Feb. 1, 1674, and entered into the society
of the Jesuits. In 1708 he was removed to one of their
houses in Paris, where he was employed in collecting and
publishing the letters received from their missionaries
abroad. He was also secretary to father Tellier, the king’s
confessor, and director of the corporation of artisans. In
the latter part of his life he was much afflicted with the
ague, but bore it with great resignation. He was a man of
an amiable temper, and of great zeal in his profession.
He died at Paris, Aug. 18, 1743. He published various
complimentary Latin poems, and some pious works; but
was principally known for his share in the *' Lettres edifiantes et curieuses,“or correspondence from the Jesuit
missionaries, which he published from collection 9th to
the 26th; and for his
” Description geographique, historiqae, chronologique, et physique de Tempire de la Chine,
et de la Tartarie Chinoise," Paris, 1735, 4 vols. fol. which
has been often reprinted, and considered as the most ample history we have of the Chinese empire. It was translated into English soon after its appearance, by persons
employed by Cave, the printer, and another translation
having been attempted at the same time, occasioned a
controversy, the particulars of which may amuse the reader.
, a most learned lawyer, an$ upright judge, was born at Alderley, in Gloucestershire, November J, 1609. His
, a most learned lawyer, an$ upright judge, was born at Alderley, in Gloucestershire, November J, 1609. His father was a barrister of Lincoln’s Inn, a man of such tenderness of conscience, as to withdraw from his profession because unwilling to tamper with truth in giving that colour to pleadings which barristers call doing their best for their client;" and this, with some other practices, customary in those days, appearing unworthy of his character, he retired to his estate in the country, where he died in 1614, at which time his son was but five years old. His wife having died two years before, their son was committed to the guardianship of Anthony Kingscot, esq. to whom he was related, and by whom, for grammatical learning, he was placed under the care of Mr. Staunton, vicar of Wotton-under-Edge, a noted puritan. In 1626 he was admitted of Magdalen-hall, Oxford, under the* tuition of Obadiah Sedgwick, another puritan, where he laid the foundation of that learning and knowledge, on which he afterwards raised so vast a superstructure. Here, however, he fell into many levitres and exr travagances, and was preparing to go along with his tutor, who went chaplain to lord Vere into the Low Countries, with a resolution of entering himself into the prince of Orange’s army, when he was diverted from this design by being engaged in a law-suit with sir William Whitmore, who laid claim to part of his estate. Afterwards, by the persuasions of Serjeant Glanville, who happened to be his counsel in this case, and had an opportunity of observing his capacity, he resolved upon the study of the law, and was admitted of Lincoln’s Inn, November 8, 1629. Sensible of the time he had lost in frivolous pursuits, he nowstudied at the rate of sixteen hours a day, and threw aside all appearance of vanity in his apparel. He is said, indeed, to have neglected his dress so much, that, being a strong and well-built man, he was once taken by a pressgang, as a person very fit for sea-service; which pleasant mistake made him regard more decency in his cloaths for the future, though never to any degree of extravagant finery. What confirmed him still more in a serious and regular way of life, was an accident, which is related to have befallen one of his companions. Hale, with other young students of the inn, being invited out of town, one of the company called for so much wine, that, notwithstanding all Hale could do to prevent it, he went on in his excess till he fell down in a fit, seemingly dead, and was with some difficulty recovered. This particularly affected Hale, in whom the principles of religion had been early implanted, and therefore retiring into another room, and, falling down upon his knees, he prayed earnestly to God, both for his friend, that he might be restored to life again, and for himself, that he might be forgiven for being present and countenancing so much excess: and he vowed to God, that he would never again keep company in that manner, nor drink a health while he lived. His friend recovered; and from this time Mr. Hale forsook all his gay acquaintance, and divided his whole time between the duties of religion and the studies of his profession. Noy, the attorney-general, who was one of the most eminent men of his profession, took early notice of him, directed him in his studies, and discovered so much friendship for him, that Mr. Hale was sometimes called Young Noy.
ear Bath, in Somersetshire, by Bridget his wife, one of the Goldsburghs of Knahill, in Wiltshire. He was born April 19, 1584, at Bath, where his father then resided,
, an eminent divine and critic, usually
distinguished by the appellation of The Ever Memorable,
was the fourth son of John Hales, of High Church, near
Bath, in Somersetshire, by Bridget his wife, one of the
Goldsburghs of Knahill, in Wiltshire. He was born April
19, 1584, at Bath, where his father then resided, but according to his register at Corpus college, Oxford, at Highchurch. His parents, who are stated to have been of
“genteel quality,
” placed him to school at Mells and Killmaston,'in Somersetshire, until fit for the university, in
which he was entered of Corpus college April 16, 1597,
but being then under age, was not sworn till April 17>
1599. He continued at this college until he toolc his bachelor’s degree in arts July 9, 1603, and had distinguished
himself in the interval by equal diligence and proficiency
in his studies. The reputation he thus acquired engaged
the attention of sir Henry Savile, then warden of Mertoncollege, who being always desirous of increasing the number of its learned members, persuaded him to remove;
and accordingly he was chosen probationer of Merton in
September, and admitted fellow Oct. 13, 1606. He proceeded to his master’s degree in 1609. He had not been
long in this station before the warden availed himself of
his assistance in preparing his edition of St. Chrysostom’s
works, and found him a very able coadjutor, as he was an
excellent Greek scholar. His reputation indeed for skill
in this language was such as to procure him the place of
lecturer in Greek in the college.
of Beakeborn, or Beckesbourn, Kent, and grandson of sir Robert Hales, bart. of Beckesbourn, where he was born, Sept. 17, 1677, and was admitted a pensioner of Bene't
, an eminent natural philosopher, particularly distinguished by his experiments on the physiology of plants, was the sixth son of Thomas Hales, esq. of Beakeborn, or Beckesbourn, Kent, and grandson of sir Robert Hales, bart. of Beckesbourn, where he was born, Sept. 17, 1677, and was admitted a pensioner of Bene't college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr. Moss, June 19, 1696, where, after taking his first degree in arts, he was admitted a fellow, Fob. 25, 1702-3. He proceeded M. A. at the next commencement, and was admitted B. D. in 1711. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by the university of Oxford in 1733. Botany and anatomy formed his studies of relaxation while at Cambridge, his companion in which was the celebrated antiquary Dr. Stukeley. He was advanced successively to the perpetual curacy of Teddington, Middlesex, and to the livings of Portlock, Somersetshire, and Farringdon, Hampshire. He married Mary, the daughter and heiress of Dr. Henry Newce of Much-Hadham, in the county of Hertford, and rector of Halisham in Sussex. This lady died at the end of two years, leaving no issue, nor did he ever marry strain. He resided to the end of his life at Teddington, wliere he was visited by persons of rank and taste, amongst others by Frederick late prince of Wales, after whose death Dr. Hales was made clerk of the closet to the princess dowager, who always entertained a high respect for him, and after his decease erected a handsome monument to his memory in Westminster-abbey, near that of Handel. On this is liis bust in a large medallion, supported by a female figure representing Botany, accompanied by Religion. The epitaph is in Latin. He refused a canonry 01 Windsor, that he migbt continue to devote himself to his parochial duties, and his favourite scientific pursuits; and as piety, truth, and virtue were the principles of his character, he lived in universal esteem to the age of eighty-four, dying at Teddington, January 4, 1761, where he was buried, under the church tower, which he had rebuilt at his own expence.
, a Polander, of the seventeenth century, whose original name was Albert Bobowski, was born a Christian;but, being taken by the Tartars while a child,
, a Polander, of the seventeenth century,
whose original name was Albert Bobowski, was born a
Christian;but, being taken by the Tartars while a child,
was sold to the Turks, who educated him in their religion.
He acquired the knowledge of seventeen languages, among
the rest, of the French, English, and German, having had
part of his education in these countries; and became interpreter to the grand seignior. He translated into the
Turkish language the catechism of the church of England,
and all the Bible. He composed a Turkish grammar and
dictionary, and other things which were never printed.
His principal work is, “A Treatise upon the Liturgy of
the Turks, their pilgrimages to Mecca, their circumcision,
and manner of visiting the sick,
” which he was induced to
write by Dr. Smith, chaplain to the English embassy at the
Porte, and who gave the ms. to Dr. Hyde, by whom it was
published in Latin, in the appendix of the “Itinera muncli ab Abrahamo Peritsol,
” Oxford, The State of the Ottoman Empire.
”
of Mr. Robert Murray of the Tullibardin family, and allied by the mother’s side to the Perth family, was born in London, Jan. 4, 1622. Her father was preceptor to Charles
, a learned English lady, the
daughter of Mr. Robert Murray of the Tullibardin family,
and allied by the mother’s side to the Perth family, was
born in London, Jan. 4, 1622. Her father was preceptor
to Charles I. and afterwards provost of Eton college, and
her mother was subgoverness to the duke of Gloucester
and the princess Elizabeth. Anne was instructed by her
parents in every polite and liberal science; but theology
and physic were her favourite studies. She became so
particularly versed in the latter art, and in the practice of
surgery, that she was consulted by the first personages in
the kingdom: and the reputation of her skill was also diffused over Holland, whence many persons came for her
advice. She was a faithful royalist, and a sufferer in the
cause of Charles. On March 2, 1656, she was married to
sir James Halket, a worthy and amiable man, to whom she
bore four children, one of which, Robert, her eldest son,
only survived. During her first pregnancy she wrote,
mder the apprehension that she should not survive her
delivery, a tract, containing excellent instructions, entitled
“The Mother’s Will to the Unborn Child.
” She was
fourteen years a wife, and twenty-eight a widow. She was
an acute theologian and a profound student. Her learning,
simplicity, unaffected piety, exemplary conduct, and sweetness of manners, conciliated universal respect and esteem.
She left twenty-one volumes, principally on religious subjects, some in folio, and others in quarto, from which a
volume of “Meditations
” was printed at Edinburgh in
not very accurate editor, was the son of the rev. Henry Hall, of Kirkbridge in Cumberland, where he was born in 1679. He received the rudiments of learning at Carlisle,
, a learned, but not very accurate editor, was the son of the rev. Henry Hall, of Kirkbridge in Cumberland, where he was born in 1679. He received the rudiments of learning at Carlisle, whence he was removed to Queen’s college, Oxford, and admitted battiler July 7, 1696, but for some reason was not matriculated till Nov. 18, 1698. He took his bachelor’s degree in 1701, and that of master in 1704, having just entered into holy orders; and was elected fellow of his college, April 18, 1706. In 1719, upon the death of Dr. Hudson, keeper of the Bodleian library, he became a candidate for that office, and it appears that Dr. Hudson, a little time before his death, expressed a wish that Mr. Hall should be his successor; but his endeavours failed. Dr. Hudson, at the time of his death, had nearly finished his edition of Josephus; and by Mr. Hall’s exertions it was soon published. Shortly after, he married Dr. Hudson’s widow. On April 8, 1720, he was instituted to the rectory of Hampton Poyle, in Oxfordshire, at the presentation of his college; and in the following year took his degrees in divinity. He died at Garford, in Berkshire, and was buried at Kingston, in that county, April 6, 1723.
alle, of the Tyrol, in Germany, natural son of Albert king of the Romans and archduke of Austria. He was born, probably about the last year of the fifteenth century,
, an English lawyer and historiographer, was the son of John Halle of Northall in Shropshire, by Catherine his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Gedding, and was descended from sir Francis Van Halle, knight of the garter in the time of Edward III. who was the son of Frederic Van Halle, of the Tyrol, in Germany, natural son of Albert king of the Romans and archduke of Austria. He was born, probably about the last year of the fifteenth century, in the parish of St. Mildred’s, London. He was educated at Eton, whence in 1544 he was sent to King’s college, Cambridge, where he continued until he became a junior fellow. He afterwards studied at Gray’s-inn, and resided there until he was made a judge in the sheriffs’ court. Wood, however, says that he went to Oxford about 1518, when cardinal Wolsey founded certain lectures there; and adds that, that being the common mart of learning, no person of ingenuity or curiosity thought themselves complete until they had been there. But Mr. Baker of St. John’s, in a letter to Hearne, seems to think this doubtful, as he is not to be traced from Gray’s-inn to Oxford.
, a learned English divine, was born in London in 1716. Of his parents little is known. His
, a learned English divine, was born in
London in 1716. Of his parents little is known. His father is said to have occasionally resided at an old house at
Poplar, which had a large hanging garden and a building
at the bottom, and this, tradition reported, had been the
laboratory of sir Richard Steele. The subject of this memoir
was sent early to Eton, admitted on the foundation in 1729;
and elected to King’s college, Cambridge, in 1735, where
of course he became a fellow in 1738, and took the degrees
in arts. Being recommended by Dr. Chapman to archbishop Potter, his grace appointed him his librarian at
Lambeth in 1748, on the resignation of Mr. Jones. In
that station he continued till the death of his patron in
1749; when archbishop Herring, who succeeded to the
primacy, being sensible of his merit, not only continued
him in that office, but, on his taking orders, appointed
him one of his chaplains; and, in April 1750, collated him
to the rectory of Harbledown (vacant by the promotion of Mr, Thomas Herring to the rectory of Chevening); in
November 1752, the archbishop collated him also to the
vicarage of Herne, which he held by dispensation; to
which his grace afterwards added the sinecure rectory of
Orpington, in the deanery of Shoreham, one of his peculiars. In 1756, Mr. Hall vacated Herne, on being presented to the vicarage of East Peckham by the dean and
chapter of Canterbury, by whom he was much esteemed,
having greatly assisted their auditor in digesting many of
the records, charters, &c. preserved in their registry. In
return, the late Dr. Walwyn (one of the prebendaries, who vacated that vicarage) was called by the archbishop to the
rectory of Great Mongeham, void by the death of Mr.
Byrch. On the death of archbishop Herring in 1757, he
resigned the librarianship of Lambeth, and from that time
resided chiefly at Harbledown, in a large house, which he
hired, afterwards the seat of Robert Mead Wilmot, esq.
Soon after the death of archbishop Herring, Mr. Hall was
presented by his executors to the treasurership of the cathedral of Wells, one of his grace’s options. He was also at
first a competitor for the precentorship of Lincoln, an option of archbishop Potter (which Dr. Richardson gained in 1760 by a decree of the house of lords); but soon withdrew
his claim, well grounded as it seemed. His learning and
abilities were great, but not superior to his modesty; and
by his singular affability he obtained the love and esteem
of all who knew him. His charitable attention to his poor
parishioners, especially when they were ill, was constant
and exemplary. At archbishop Seeker’s primary visitation
at Canterbury, in 1758, Mr. Hall was “pitched upon
” (his grace’s official expression) to preach before him at St.
Margaret’s church, which he did from Acts xvii. 21. He
died a bachelor, at Harbledown, Nov. 2, 1763, in the fortyseventh year of his age, after a short illness, occasioned by
a violent swelling in the neck, which could not be accounted for by the eminent physicians who attended him.
He was buried under the communion-table, at Harbledown -church, without any epitaph.
, an English poet of some note, was born at Durham, August 1627, and after one year spent at St.
, an English poet of some note, was born
at Durham, August 1627, and after one year spent at St.
John’s college, Cambridge, removed to Gray’s-inn, London, where he was called to the bar; but entering into
the politics of the times, and writing on subjects favourable to the rebellion, he attracted the notice of parliament,
who sent him into Scotland to attend Oliver Cromwell,
and afterwards distinguished him by other marks of favour:
but, being too much addicted to pleasure, he fell a sacrifice to its indulgence; and returning to his native city of
Durham, died there, August 1, 1656. In 1646 (during his short residence at Cambridge), being then but nineteen
years of age, he published “Horas Vacivse, or Essayes,
” a
sufficient proof of his abilities. His poems came out the
same year. He published the first English version of Longinus, which he entitled “The Height of Eloquence,
”
Lond. Hierocles upon the Golden Verses of Pythagoras;
” before which is an account of the ingenious translator and his works, by John Davis of Kidwelly, by whom
it was published in 1657, 8vo. Several of his poems are
preserved in Nichols’s “Select Collection,
” reprinted from
a little volume, entitled “Poems by John Hall, Cambridge,
printed by Roger Daniel, printer to the universitie, 1646,
for J. Rothwell at the Sun in St. Paul’s Churchyard,
” to
which in The Second Booke of Divine
Poems by J. H.
” which is now become exceedingly scarce.
Recommendatory verses are prefixed to it by Jo. Pawson
(his tutor), H. More, W. Dillingham, W. Harrington, Ja.
Windet, R. Marshall, T. Smithsby, and Edw. Holland.
, a very eminent, pious, and learned English prelate, was born July 1, 1574, in Bristow-park, within the parish of Ashby
, a very eminent, pious, and learned English prelate, was born July 1, 1574, in Bristow-park, within the parish of Ashby de la Zouch, in Leicestershire. His father was an officer to Henry earl of Huntingdon, then president of the North, and under him had the government of that town, which was the chief seat of the earldom. His mother was of the family of the Bembridge’s, and according to his own account, a woman of great piety. His parents had twelve children, and therefore, although disposed to bring up Joseph for the church, were inclined from motives of oeconomy to confine his education to the care of a private tutor. But Mr. Gilby, fellow of Emanuel college, hearing of this design, represented its disadvantages in such a manner to Mr. Hall’s eldest son, that the latter importuned his father that Joseph might be sent to the university, and generously offered to sacrifice part of his inheritance, rather than prevent his brother from enjoying the advantages of academical education. His father, struck with this mark of brotherly affection, declared that, whatever it might cost him, Joseph should be sent to the university.
, son of the preceding, was born at Waltham Holy Cross in 1612, while his father was rector
, son of the preceding, was born at
Waltham Holy Cross in 1612, while his father was rector
there, and was admitted commoner of Exeter college, Oxford, in 1628. After taking his degrees and obtaining a
fellowship, he was in 1639 collated to a prebend of Exeter.
In 1641 he was made archdeacon of Cornwall on the resignation of his brother Robert, and had also the rectory
of Minhinnet in that county, but was sequestered by the
usurping powers, and although he would have kept a
school for his subsistence, was not suffered even that resource. On the restoration, he was first made canon of
Windsor, and afterwards bishop of Chester, with which he
held Wigan in Lancashire, a living that was for several
turns presented to the bishops of Chester. His death, on
Aug. 23, 1668, was occasioned by a wound received by a
knife, which happened to be in his pocket, when he fell
from the mount in his garden at Wigan. He published
some sermons, and a treatise entitled “The Triumphs of
Rome over despised Protestancy,
” Lond.
, a learned nonconformist, was born at Worcester July 22, 1610, and after being educated in
, a learned nonconformist, was born at
Worcester July 22, 1610, and after being educated in
grammar at the king’s school there, under Mr. Henry
Bright, was entered at Baliol-college in 1624, whence he
soon removed to Pembroke, and had for his tutor a Mr.
Thomas Lushington, a man eminent for learning. After
taking his first degree in arts, he returned home, and for
a while taught a private school, and preached at King’sNortou. About this time Wood says he began to adhere
to the puritans, but he adds, “was so rigid in his persuasion that he was disliked by the brethren.
” This perhaps
may he gathered from his works, some of which were written in opposition to unlicensed preachers, fifth-monarchy
men, and other extravagancies of the times. He was afterwards master of the free-school at KingVNorton, and curate of the place, the only preferments he had. He appears to have been a man of retired and studious habits,
and although averse to episcopacy and the ceremonies, free
from turbulence or open interference in the commotions of
the times. He died April 13, 1665, and was buried at
KingVNorton, to the school of which he was a bountiful
benefactor in the establishment of a library there, as well
as to the library of Birmingham school. Among his works
are many controversial tracts enumerated by Wood, commentaries on some parts of the Scriptures, and some translations, adapted apparently for the use of schools, from
Ovid.
, professor of canon law in the university of Paris, was born at Bayeux in Normandy, September 8, 1611. He studied philosophy,
, professor of canon law in the university of Paris, was born at Bayeux in Normandy, September 8, 1611. He studied philosophy, law, and divinity,
for five years in the university of Caen; and also applied
himself to poetry, under the direction of his uncle Anthony
Halle, who was a Latin poet of some note, with such success, that he gained the prizes in the poetical exercises
that are performed every year in these two cities, “to the
honour of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.
”
This procured him so much reputation, that, though he
was still very young, he was chosen professor of rhetoric
in the university of Caen. Some time afier, being rector
of the university, he made an oration to M. Seguier, chancellor of France, then in Normandy, to -suppress some
popular insurrections; which was so much approved by
that head of the law, that he received a doctor of law’s degree from him in 1640. He attended M. Seguier to Paris,
and gained such reputation by some pieces he published,
that they offered him the mastership of five different colleges; and he was incorporated in his absence (a very unusual thing) into the body of the university in 1641. He
was made king’s poet, and reader of the Latin and Greek
tongues in the royal college in 1646. His assiduous application to study having ruined his health, he was obliged to
rest for two years, in order to recover it. He afterwards
resolved to raise the glory of the faculty of the law, which
was miserably sunk; and in 1655 he obtained the post
of regius professor of the canon law, when he vigorously
began, and, though he met with great difficulties, successfully executed what he had resolved. Besides “Canonical Institutions,
” which he published in A Collection of Latin Poems and Orations.
” He died December 27, 1689.
, one of the most eminent physicians and philosophers of the eighteenth century, was born at Berne, Oct. 16, 1708. He was the son of Nicholas de
, one of the most eminent physicians and philosophers of the eighteenth century, was born at Berne, Oct. 16, 1708. He was the son of Nicholas de Haller, an advocate of considerable distinction in his profession, who had a numerous family. Albert was the youngest of five sons. From the commencement of his education, he discovered a great capacity for literature of every kind; to forward the progress of his studies, his father took into his family a private tutor, named Abraham Billodz; but such was the discipline employed by this pedagogue, that the accidental sight of him at any subsequent period of life, excited in Haller those painful recollections, of which all may have some idea who have been tutored with rigid severity. The progress of Haller’s studies, however, at the earliest periods of life, was rapid almost beyond belief. When other children were beginning only to read, he was studying Bayle and Moreri, and at nine years of age he was able to translate Greek, and was beginning to learn Hebrew. Not long after this, however, the course of his education was somewhat interrupted by the death of his father, which happened when he was in the thirteenth year of his age. After this he was sent to the public school at Berne, where he exhibited many specimens of early and uncommon genius. He was distinguished for his knowledge in the Greek and Latin languages, but principally for his poetical genius; and his essays of this kind, which were published in the German language, were read and admired throughout the whole empire.
s and four daughters, all of whom he lived to see established. His eldest son, Gotlieb Emmanuel, who was born in 1735, followed his father’s example in dedicating himself
Haller was three times married first to Marianne Wytsen, in 1731, who died in 1736; secondly to Elizabeth
Buchers, in 1738, who died in childbed the same or the
following year; both natives of Berne; and lastly in 1739,
to Amelia Frederica Teichmeyer, a German lady, who survived him. He left eight children, four sons and four
daughters, all of whom he lived to see established. His
eldest son, Gotlieb Emmanuel, who was born in 1735,
followed his father’s example in dedicating himself to the
service of his country, and to the pursuits of literature,
He was elected member of the great council, and obtained
various employments under government, particularly the
baillage of Nyon, in which situation he died in 1786. He
distinguished himself as an author by various publications
tending to illustrate the history and literature of Swisserland, and particularly by his “Swiss Library,
” in 6 vols.
8vo, of which he lived to publish only the first Another
valuable work of his was entitled " Cabinet of Swiss Coins
and Medals.
, a dissenting clergyman, was born at Exeter in 1692, and educated under the care of Mr. Pierce,
, a dissenting clergyman, was born
at Exeter in 1692, and educated under the care of Mr.
Pierce, who was assistant to his father Mr. Hallet, minister
of a congregation of protestant dissentars in that city. Joseph was ordained in 1713, and in 1722 he succeeded his
father as joint-minister with Mdf. Pierce. Prior to this
event he had engaged in the controversy, then warmly
carried on in the west of England, concerning the Trinity;
and in 1720, adopted the principles of Dr. Clarke, which
he demonstrated in a treatise entitled “The Unity of God
not inconsistent with the Divinity of Christ; being remarks
upon Dr. Waterland’s Vindication, relating to the Unity of
God, and the Object of Worship.
” He published other
pieces on the same subject; but his reputation is chiefly
founded on his work entitled “A free and impartial Study
of the Holy Scriptures recommended, being notes on some
peculiar texts, with discourses and observations,
” Discourse of the nature, kinds, and numbers of our Saviour’s Miracles
” his
“Immorality of the Moral Philosopher,
” and his “Consistent Christian,
” against the infidel writers, Woolston,
Morgan, and Chubb. Mr. Hallet died in 1744.
, an eminent English philosopher and astronomer, was born at Haggerston, in the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch,
, an eminent English philosopher and astronomer, was born at Haggerston, in the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, near London, October 29, 1656. His father, a wealthy soap-boiler in Winchester-street, put him to St. Paul’s school, under the learned Dr. Thomas Gale, but his h'rst tutor is said to have been his father’s apprentice, who taught him writing and arithmetic at nine years old. At school he not only excelled in all parts of classical learning, but made such uncommon progress in mathematics, that, as Wood says, he had perfectly learnt the use of the celestial globe, and could make a complete dial; and we are informed by Halley himself, that he observed the change of the variation of the magnetic needle at London, in 1672, that is, one year before he left school. In 1673 he was entered a commoner of Queers-college, in Oxford, where he applied himself to practical and geometrical astronomy, in which he was greatly assisted by a curious apparatus of instruments which his father, willing to encourage his son’s genius, had purchased for him. At nineteen he began to publish new observations and discoveries, and continued to do so to the end of a very long life; nor did he distinguish himself less in the practical part of the science. Several observations made by him concerning a spot in the sun, seen at Oxford in July and August 1676, were published, with others by Flamsteed upon the same subject, in the Philosophical Transactions. By these the motion of the sun round its own axis, a phenomenon till then not well ascertained, was finally determined. The same year he likewise observed there, on Aug. 21, a.n occultation of Mars by the Moon, which he made use of afterwards, with others, in settling the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope against the objections of the French astronomers.
, a celebrated French bishop, was born in 1595. He rose to be doctor and professor of the Sorboune,
, a celebrated French bishop, was
born in 1595. He rose to be doctor and professor of the
Sorboune, archdeacon of Dinan, prebendary of Chartres,
syndic of the faculty of divinity at Paris, and, at length,
bishop of Cavaillon in 1656. He travelled into Greece,
Italy, and England. Urban VIII. had so great a value for
him, that he twice nominated him to the bishopric of Toul;
and wishing to create two cardinals, one of which should
be a Frenchman, the other a Spaniard, proposed him, with
father de Lugo, for that dignity; but a strong faction, and
some reasons of state, placed the hat designed for M. Hallier on the head of the commander of Valencey. M. Hallier appeared with great distinction, as proctor, at the
assembly of the French clergy, 1645, in which the rules
concerning the regulars were revived, which he explained
by a learned “Commentary.
” On his second visit to
Kome in Cum occasione
” against them. He died in Defence of a censure of the faculty of theology at
Paris respecting the Bishops of England against the Jesuits;
” “Treatise on the Hierarchy;
” and a “Treatise
on Elections and Ordinations,
”
, a learned English prelate, was born at Mansfield in Derbyshire, Jan. 18, 1733. He was the eldest
, a learned English prelate, was born at Mansfield in Derbyshire, Jan. 18, 1733. He was the eldest son of Mr. Samuel Hallifax, apothecary, by Hannah, daughter of Mr. Jebb, of Mansfield, by which alliance our author became first cousin of the late sir Richard, and Dr. John Jebb. He was admitted of Jesus college, Cambridge, where he distinguished himself in his academical exercises, and he was in the list of wranglers, as they are called, and obtained the chancellor’s gold medal forclassical learning, and some prize dissertations. He proceeded A. B. in 1744, and A.M. in 1747, and afterwards removed to Trinity Hall (where are only two fellowships in divinity), and proceeded LL.D. in 1761. In Nov. 1765 he was presented to the rectory of Chaddington, in Buckinghamshire, and in 1768 was elected professor of Arabic in the university of Cambridge, which he resigned in 1770 on being made regius professor of civil law. In February 1774 he was appointed chaplain in ordinary to his majesty; in 1775 was created D. D. by royal mandate, and on the death of Dr. Topham succeeded him as master of the faculties in Doctors Commons. From Mrs. Galley, relict of Dr. Galley, prebendary of Gloucester, he received, without any solicitation on his part, but merely as a reward for his eminent services in the cause of religion, the valuable rectory of Warsop, in Nottinghamshire, in 1778. In 1781 he was advanced to the see of Gloucester, and thence was translated to the see of St. Asaph in 1787, being the first English bishop that was translated to that see, and the second that was translated to a bishopric in North Wales. He died of the stone, March 4, 1790, when only fifty-seven years of age. He married one of the daughters of Dr. Cooke, provost of King’s college, Cambridge, who wrote the elegant epitaph on his monument in the church of Warsop, where bishop Hallifax was buried at his own desire, near a favourite son who was interred there. By his wife he left another son and six daughters.
, a portrait painter of great celebrity, was born at Mechlin in 1584. He was a pupil of C. Van Mander, and
, a portrait painter of great celebrity, was born at Mechlin in 1584. He was a pupil of C. Van Mander, and by a careful observation of nature obtained that accurate knowledge of the structure of the human frame, which is so useful in his art. No man ever set the features of a face together with more truth than Frank Hals, or with a readier pencil; and he did it with great truth and spirit also of colour, as well as of execution. He avoided the laboured mode of finish so much admired among his countrymen at the time, and gave his portraits much expression and animation of countenance, particularly of a gay and humourous nature. A decided character of individual nature is remarkable in his portraits, and is not found in an equal degree in any other painter. If he had joined to this most difficult part of the art, a patience in finishing what he had so correctly planned, he might justly have claimed the place which Vandyke, all things considered, so justly holds as the first of portrait painters. This last mentioned artist was so delighted with his works, that he went to Haerlem, where he resided, for no other purpose than to pay him a visit. He introduced himself as a gentleman on his travels, who wished in haste to have his portrait painted. Hals was hurried from the tavern, where he usually passed his leisure time, seized the first canvas he could find, and began his labour. In a short time he had proceeded so far, that he asked Vandyke to look at what he had done, who expressed himself as very well pleased with it, at the same time saying that he thought such work so easy, he was persuaded he could do it himself. Taking the palette and pencils, he desired F. Hals to sit down, and in a quarter of an hour shewed him the portrait. The moment he saw it he recognized his visitor, and embraced him with transport. Vandyke endeavoured to prevail upon Hals to accompany him to England, engaging to enrich him but he was not able to succeed Hals declaring that his happiness consisted in the enjoyment of his friends and his bottle, and while he possessed these he was satisfied with his condition. For his treatment of Brouwer, see our account of that artist. He died in 1666, at the age of eighty-two. He had a brother, Dirk Hals, a painter of animals, merry-makings, conversations, feasts, and subjects of drollery, to whom, however, as an artist, he was far superior in all the better qualities of art: yet Dirk’s works gained him much reputation, and he practised with great success till he was sixty-seven years old, when he died in 1656.
, a pious Scotch divine, and professor of divinity in the university of St. Andrew’s, was born at Duplin in the parish of Aberdalgy, near Perth, Dec.
, a pious Scotch divine, and
professor of divinity in the university of St. Andrew’s, was
born at Duplin in the parish of Aberdalgy, near Perth,
Dec. 25, 1674. His father had been minister of that
parish, from which he was ejected after the restoration, for
nonconformity. He died in 1682, and as the country was
still unsafe for those who professed the presbyterian religion, his mother went over to Holland with her son, then
about eight years old. During their stay there, he was
educated at Erasmus’s school, and made great proficiency
in classical literature. On his return to Scotland in 1687,
he resumed his studies, and was also sent to the university.
When he had finished his philosophical course there, he
entered upon the study of divinity; and being, in June
1699, licensed to preach, he was in May 1700, appointed
minister of the parish of Ceres, in which he performed the
part of a zealous and pious pastor; but his labours proving
too many for his health, the latter became gradually impaired. In April 1710, he was appointed by patent from
queen Anne, professor of divinity in the college of St.
Leonard at St. Andrew’s, through the mediation of the
synod of Fife. On this occasion he entered on his office
an inaugural oration, in qua, post exhibitam
rationem suscepti muneris, examinatur schedula nupera, cui
titulus ' Epistola Archimedis ad Regem Gelonem Albae
Graecae reperta anno serae Christianas 1688, A. Pitcarnio,
M. D. ut vulgo creditur, auctoreV Pitcairn’s reputation
as a deist was at that time very common in Scotland, however justly he may have deserved it; and Mr. Halyburton’s
attention had been much called to the subject of deism as
revived in the preceding century. He did not, however,
enjoy his professorship long, dying Sept. 23, 1712, aged
only thirty-eight. It does not appear that he published
any thing in his life-time; but soon after his death two
works were published, which still preserve his memory in
Scotland. 1. “The Great Concern of Salvation,
” Ten Sermons preached before and after the
celebration of the Lord’s Supper,
” Natural Religion insufficient; and
Revealed necessary to man’s happiness,
” Edinburgh, whosoever
carefully examines what this learned and pious author has
offered on these several heads, will find many excellent
things; though the narrowness of his notions in some points
has prejudiced some persons against his work, and hindered them from regarding and considering it so much as
it deserves.
”
, professor of chemistry and of the practice of medicine in the university of Jena, was born in that city, December 21, 1697, his father being professor
, professor of chemistry and of the practice of medicine in the university of Jena, was born in that city, December 21, 1697, his father being professor of mathematics in the same university. From his earliest years he had evinced a disposition to the study of anatomy, and was accustomed to steal from his parents, whf> destined him for the church, to attend the lectures of Slevoight on that subject. After the death of his father he relinquished even the study of the mathematics, to which he had applied himself during several years, and gave up his attention exclusively to medical pursuits. In 1721 he took the degree of M. D. and in 1726 was appointed professor; and he held the chair of the practice of medicine at the time of his death, which occurred June 22, 1755.
, a very learned French philosopher and divine, was born at Vire in Lower Normandy, 1624. He passed through his
, a very learned French
philosopher and divine, was born at Vire in Lower Normandy, 1624. He passed through his first studies at Caen,
and his course of rhetoric and philosophy at Paris. At
eighteen he wrote a treatise, in which he explained, in a,
very simple manner, and by one or two figures, Theodosius’s three books upon spherics; to which he added a tract
upon trigonometry, extremely short, yet perspicuous, and
designed as an introduction to astronomy. In one of his
latter works he observes, that he was prompted by the vanity natural to a young man to publish this book: but, as
Fontenelle remarks, there are few persons of that age
capable of such an instance of vanity. At nineteen he entered himself in the congregation of the oratory, where he
continued ten years, and left it in order to be curate of
Neuilli upon the Marne. He applied in the mean time intensely to study, and acquired much reputation' by publishing works upon astronomy and philosophy. In 1666,
Colbert proposed to Lewis XIV. a scheme, which was approved by his majesty, for establishing a royal academy of
sciences; and appointed our author secretary of it. In
1668, he attended M. Colbert de Croissy, plenipotentiary
for the peace at Aix la Chapelle; and, upon the conclusion of it, accompanied him in his embassy to England,
where he formed an acquaintance with the most eminent
persons of this nation, particularly with Boyle, Hay, and
Willis. Thence he went over to Holland, and returned to
France, having made a great number of useful observations
in his travels. In 1678 his “Philosophia Vetus etNova, ad
usum scholae aceommodatain regia Burgundia pertractata,
”
was printed at Paris in 4 vols. 12mo; and, in 1681, enlarged and reprinted there in six. This work, which was
done by the order of M. Colbert, contains a judicious collection of the ancient and modern opinions in philosophy.
Several years after its publication, the Jesuits carried it
to the East-Indies, and taught it with success; and father
Bovet, a missionary in China, wrote to Europe, that when
his brethren and himself engaged in drawing up a system of
philosophy in the Tartarian language for the emperor, one
of their chief aids was Du Hamel’s “Philosophia e't Astronomia;
” and they were then highly valued, though the
improvements in philosophy since his time have rendered
them of little use. In 1697 he resigned his place of secretary of the royal academy of sciences, which by his recommendation he procured for M. de Fontenelle. He had
some years before this devoted himself to divinity, and
published various works in that science. However, he did
not entirely resign his former studies, but published at
Paris, in 1698, “Regiae Scientiarum Academiae Historia,
”
4to, in four books; which, being much liked, he afterwards augmented with two books more. It contains an
account of the foundation of the royal academy of sciences,
and its transactions, from 1666 to 1700, and is now the
most useful of any of his works relating to philosophy; as
perhaps the most useful which he published in theology is
his last work printed at Paris, 1706, in folio, and entitled
“Biblia Sacra Vulgatae editionis, una cum selectis ex optimis quib usque interpretibus notis, prolegomenis, novis
tabulis chronologicis et geographicis.
”
, an eminent French writer on rural ceconomy and vegetable physiology, was born at Paris in 1700. Being a member of the academy of sciences,
, an eminent French writer on rural ceconomy and vegetable physiology, was born at Paris in 1700. Being a member of
the academy of sciences, he published in the memoirs of
that body in 1728, “his first ceconomical essay, on a kind of
parasitical fungus which infests the roots of the cultivated
saffron, and is fatal to them. In the same year he published in that work his first treatise on a much more important subject, the propagation of trees by grafting,
where he hazarded some physiological opinions, and entered on a course of experiment and observation, subsequently pursued to an extent which has been of great service to science, and has justly rendered his name famous.
He continued from time to time to communicate to the
academy various papers relative to these matters. In 1750
he began to publish in 12mo, his
” Traite de la Culture
des Terres,“which was continued in following years till
1761, when the sixth volume came out. Our English
writer Tull was his first guide, but he subsequently profited widely by the experience of himself and of various
other people, aided by his physiological sagacity, of which
he made a far more cautious use than is general with farming philosophers, and deserves to be reckoned the father
of intelligent agriculture in France. His
” Elements d'Agriculture," in 2 vols. 12mo, published in 1764, may be considered as a sequel to the preceding work. These two
volumes have been translated into German, Spanish, and
English. Du. Hamel wrote also on the cultivation and preparation of Madder, in 1757, 4to.
, a learned Lutheran divine, was born at Osnabrug, in 1525, and began to publish his opinions
, a learned Lutheran divine, was born at Osnabrug, in 1525, and began to publish his opinions at Camen; but being driven from thence,
was received by the canons at Bilefeldt,~ and taught the
youth there according to Luther’s catechism. His enemies
having obliged him to retire to Rostock, he took a doctor
of divinity’s degree, and attended the conference at Antwerp in 1567, by desire of the prince of Orange. He was
appointed superintendant of the churches in the duchy of
Brunswick, that they might be regulated according to the
confession of Augsburg; and at last, superintendant-general of the county of Oldenburg, 1593; where he died
June 27, 15L5. His principal works are, 4 * Commentaria
in Pentateuchum,“Dilingae, 1563, fol.; Cbronicum
Dldenburgicum,
”.&c. and “Opera Genealogico-Historica
de Westphalia et Saxonia inferiori,
”
ient family of the Hamiltons of Murdieston, originally of Fife, but now of Lanarkshire, in Scotland, was born at Lanark, and having discovered from his infancy a great
, an excellent painter, descended from the ancient family of the Hamiltons of Murdieston, originally of Fife, but now of Lanarkshire, in Scotland, was born at Lanark, and having discovered from his infancy a great predilection for historic painting, went young to Rome, where he became the scholar of Augustine Massuchi. With the exception of a few occasional visits to Britain, he resided the whole of his life at Rome, where he died in 1797. He had not perhaps the genius of an inventor; but the advantages of liberal education, and of a classic taste in the choice of his subjects, and the style at which he always, and often successfully, aimed, made him at least equal to his most celebrated contemporaries. Some of the subjects which he painted from the Iliad bear ample evidence of this. Achilles grasping the body of Patroclus, and rejecting the consolation of the Grecian chiefs, and Hector tied to his chariot, have something of Homeric sublimity and pathos; the moment chosen is the crisis of the fact, and the test of the hero’s character. But in this last he is not always happy, as in Achilles dismissing Briseis, where the gesticulation of an actor supplants the expression of the man. Of his women the Briseis in the same subject is the most attractive. Neither his Andromache mourning over Hector, nor the Helen in the same, or the scene with Paris, reach our ideas of the former’s dignity and anguish, or the form and graces of the latter. Indeed, what idea can be supposed to reach that beauty, which, in the confession of age itself, deserved the ten years’ struggle of two nations And yet, in the subject of Paris, those graces and that form are to be subordinate to the superior ones of Venus. He would rank with the first names in art, who from such a combination should escape without having provoked the indignation, contempt, or pity of disappointed expectation.
, bishop of Ossory, and an eminent mathematician, was born in the county of Dublin, March 26, 1729. He entered of
, bishop of Ossory, and an eminent mathematician, was born in the county of Dublin, March 26, 1729. He entered of Trinity-college, Dublin, Dublin, Nov. 17, 1742, and in 1751 was elected a fellow that college. In 1758 he published his treatise on conic ions, < De Sectionibus Conicis," and in 1759 was elected Erasmus Smith’s professor of natural philosophy. In 1764 he resigned his fellowship, having accepted a college living; and in 1767 obtained the living of St. Anne’s, Dublin, which in the following year he resigned at the proposal of the primate Robinson, for the deanery of Armagh. In 1772 he married an Irish lady of good family of the name of Wood. In 1796 he was consecrated 'bishop of Clonfert, having been recommended to that dignity without his solicitation or knowledge; and in 1799 was removed to the see of Ossory, where he continued till his death, Dec. 1, 1805.
bilities, was intended for the higher offices in the church, had he not become its decided enemy. He was born in 1503, and after completing the usual course of studies
, usually reckoned the first Scotch reformer, is said by all the Scotch ecclesiastical writers to have been of royal descent, as by his father, he was nephew to James Hamilton, earl of Arran, and by his mother, nephew to John Stewart, duke of Albany: Mackenzie, however, who cannot be suspected of any wish to degrade his countryman, maintains that his father was only a bastard brother of the earl of Arran, and his mother a bastard sister of the duke of Albany. Whatever truth there may be in this, it appears that he had great family interest, and being possessed of uncommon abilities, was intended for the higher offices in the church, had he not become its decided enemy. He was born in 1503, and after completing the usual course of studies at the university of St. Andrew’s, went to Germany, where he was, according to Dempster, made a professor in the university of Marpurg, which was newly erected by Philip, Landgrave of Hesse. During his residence abroad he imbibed the opinions of Luther, Melanchthon, and other reformers; and on his return to his own country, where he had been made abbot of Ferme, or Feme, in Ross-shire, he spared no pains in exposing what he considered as the corruptions of the Church of Rome, and the many errors, both in doctrine and practice, that had crept into the Christian religion.
, “a skilful physician, was born at Edinburgh, Dec. 6, 1721, and educated at the high school
, “a skilful physician, was born
at Edinburgh, Dec. 6, 1721, and educated at the high
school there. He was afterwards apprenticed to Mr. William Edmonston, a surgeon and apothecary at Leith, and
after continuing in that station three years, studied* medicine at the university of Edinburgh. In 1741, he went as
surgeon’s mate on board the Somerset, and for some time
had the care of the military hospital at Port Mahon. In
1744, he was appointed surgeon to the Wolf sloop of war.
The four following years were divided between his occupations at sea, and his attendance upon the lectures of
Drs. Hunter and Smellie in London. In 1748, he went
to Lynn in Norfolk, invited thither by his brother, a merchant in that town. He afterwards accepted an offer of
settling at Lynn; and in 1766, having received the degree
of M. D. from the university of St. Andrew’s, he succeeded
to the practice of Dr. Lidderdale, who died about that time.
In this situation he continued to the time of his death,
which happened Nov. 9, 1793. As he was of an inquisitive and industrious turn of mind, the time that could be
spared from his practice he employed in endeavouring to
make improvements in his profession, and of his success
several valuable monuments remain. He was a frequent,
correspondent of the royal societies of London and Edinburgh. In 1791, he published a
” Treatise on the Scrofula,“which has been well received. He invented a machine for reducing dislocated shoulders, and an apparatus
for keepiug the ends of fractured bones together, to prevent lameness and deformity from those accidents. In
1801, was published a posthumous work, entitled
” Observations on the marsh remittent fever; also on the water
canker, or cancer aquaticus of Van Swieten, with some remarks on the leprosy," 8vo. Prefixed to this volume is an
account of the author, from which we have extracted the
preceding sketch.
, of Bangour, an ingenious poet, was the son of a man of fortune and family in Airshire, where he was born in 1704. He received a liberal education, to which he joined
, of Bangour, an ingenious poet, was the son of a man of fortune and family in Airshire, where he was born in 1704. He received a liberal education, to which he joined the accomplishments of the man of the world, and amidst the lighter dissipations of society, cultivated a taste for poetry, of which he exhibited frequent specimens for the amusement of his friends. In 1745 he joined the unfortunate cause of the Pretender, and conceived great hopes from the temporary success of the rebels at Preston-pans; but after the battle of Culloden, which terminated the struggle, was obliged to provide for his safety in flight, and after many narrow escapes, reached the continent, where he remained until he received a pardon, and was enabled to visit his native land. To recruit his health, however, he was obliged to return to the more genial climate of France, where he died in 1754.
ession in Scotland, who after the union came to London, and was admitted to the English bar. His son was born in Lincoln’s-inn Jan. 28, 1728-9, and was educated at Winchester
, a statesman of some
note, was the only son of William Hamilton, esq. an advocate of the court of session in Scotland, who after the union
came to London, and was admitted to the English bar.
His son was born in Lincoln’s-inn Jan. 28, 1728-9, and
was educated at Winchester school, and at Oriel college,
Oxford, where he was admitted a gentleman commoner,
March 1, 1744-5. During his residence at Oxford, it is
supposed he wrote those poems which were printed in
1750, 4to> for private distribution only, but have lately
been published by Mr. Malone. On leaving Oxford, he
became a member of Lincoln’s-inn, with a view to study
the law; but on his father’s death in 1754, he betook hifnself to a political life, and in the same year was chosen,
member of parliament for Petersfield in Hampshire. His
first effort at parliamentary eloquence was made Nov. 13,
1755, when, to use the words of Waller respecting Denham, “he broke out, like the Irish rebellion, threescore
thousand strong-, when nobody was aware, or in the least
suspected it.
” Certainly no first speech in parliament
ever produced such an effect, or acquired such eulogies,
both within and without the house of commons. Of this
speech, however, no copy remains. For many years it was
supposed to have been his only attempt, and hence the
familiar name of Single-speech was fixed upon him; but he
spoke a second time, Feb. 1756, and such was the admiration which followed this display of his talents, that Mr,
P\>jc, then one of the principal secretaries of state, procured him to be appointed, in April of the same year, one
of the lords of trade. At this board he sat five years without ever exerting his oratorical talents; and in 1761 accepted the office of principal secretary to George earl of
Halifax, then appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland. In the
Irish parliament, as he filled an office of responsibility, it
was necessary for him to support the measures of administration; and accordingly in 1761 and 1762, he made five
speeches on various occasions, which fully gratified the
expectations of his auditors. Mr. Hamilton continued secretary to the succeeding lord lieutenant, Hugh earl of
Northumberland, in 1763, but it is believed his exertions
in that session were less splendid and less frequent; and
before it concluded, on some disgust he resigned his office.
On his return to England, and for a long time afterwards, he meditated taking an active part in the political
warfare of the house of commons, but he never again addressed the chair, though he was chosen into every new
parliament that was summoned from that time till May 1796,
a little before his death. In this period, the only office hg
filled was that of chancellor of the exchequer in Ireland,
which he held from Sept. 1763 to April 1784. During
this interval he was one of those on whom common rumour
bestowed the authorship of Junius’s letters, and perhaps
never was any rumour so completely devoid of a probable
foundation. He died at his house in Upper Brook-street,
July 16, 1796, and was buried in the chancel vault of the
church of St. Martin in the Fields. In 1803, Mr. Malona
published his works under the title of “Parliamentary
Logic; to which are subjoined two Speeches delivered in
the House of Commons in Ireland, and other pieces,
” 8vo f
with a life of the author prefixed. These speeches give
us but a faint idea of the splendid abilities which once so
enraptured his hearers, nor does his poetry entitle him to
rank above the elegant versifiers of his time. His Parliamentary Logic“is a performance of a more singular cast.
It consists of a string of maxims, or rules, for managing a
debate in parliament, in which the author appears serious,
else we should have supposed parliamentary logic
” to
imply a ridicule on the language of that house. These
maxims, however, seem admirably qualified to make a partizan; although we much doubt whether they have a tendency to make that more valuable character, an honest man.
, a gentleman of great eminence in the literary and political world, was born in Scotland in 1730. He was of a branch of the family of
, a gentleman of great eminence in the literary and political world, was born in Scotland in 1730. He was of a branch of the family of Hamilton, which was considerably reduced in circumstances at
the time of his birth; he himself having repeatedly declared to his friends in Naples, that “he was condemned
to make his way in the world with an illustrious name and
a thousand pounds.
” He was not, however, doomed to
spend many years of his youth in such narrow circumstances; as in 1755 he married a young lady of amiable
character, with whom he received a fortune of 5000l. a
year. The active and important part of his life began
from the moment in which he entered the diplomatic line;
and we may consider it as a circumstance peculiarly fortunate for the literary world, that he was destined to remain nearly the rest of his life in a country truly classical,
in regard to the fine arts and natural history; pursuits for
which he had early evinced the greatest predilection.
a, as deputy to Mr. Robert Adams, the celebrated architect, when clerk of the works to that college, was born in 1750, and sent to Italy, when very young, under the
, an historical painter, the son
of a Scotch gentleman who resided many years at Chelsea,
as deputy to Mr. Robert Adams, the celebrated architect,
when clerk of the works to that college, was born in 1750,
and sent to Italy, when very young, under the patronage
of Mr. Adams. He was there some time under the tuition
of Zucchi, the painter of arabesque ornaments at Rome,
and although Mr. Edwards thinks he was then too young to
receive any material benefit from this tour, it served at
least to increase his early taste for the art, and he caught
a pleasant manner of painting, much in the style of his
master. When he returned to England he became a pupil
in the royal academy, and by attention to his studies, acquired considerable employment. He practised in many
different ways, mostly history, and frequently arabesque,
of which latter kind he executed some decorations at the
seat of the late earl of Bute at High Cliff, Hampshire. He
sometimes painted portraits, but his manner was not well
adapted to that branch, yet his portrait of Mrs. Siddons in
the character of lady Randolph (now in the possession of Samuel Whitbread, esq.) was allowed to have great merit.
He was much employed by the late alderman Boydell, for
his Shakspeare, and by Macklin for his edition of the Bible
and of the Poets. In the former his “Woman of Samaria 7 '
deserves much praise. One of his most capital works was
a picture of the
” Queen of Sheba entertained at a banquet
by Solomon," a design for a window in Arundel castle.
His manner of painting was light, airy, and pleasant, and
he excelled in ornaments to which he gave a propriety,
richness, and a classic air. His coloured drawings imitate
the fulness of his oil-paintings with more freshness, and,
without much labour, are finished with taste. He was
elected associate of the royal academy Nov. 8, 1784, and
royal academician, February 10, 1789. He died in the
vigour though not in the bloom of life, Dec. 2, 1801, of a
violent fever of only three days 1 duration, deeply lamented
by his friends, and regretted by the public. He was a
man of great affability and gentle manners; his politeness
covered no insincerity, nor his emulation envy. He was
one of the few artists we have personally known who spoke
with high respect of his brethren, and was equally respected by them for his amiable temper.
, descended from a family long situated at Somersham-place, in Huntingdonshire, was born in 16u3, and educated at St. John’s college, Cambridge.
, descended from a family
long situated at Somersham-place, in Huntingdonshire,
was born in 16u3, and educated at St. John’s college,
Cambridge. He was a commissioner of the navy, a good
speaker in parliament, had the name of “silver-tongued
Hammond
” given him by lord Bolingbroke, and was a
man of note among the wits, poets, and parliamentary
writers, in the beginning of the last century. A volume of
“Miscellany Poems,
” was inscribed to him, in A new Miscellany of Original Poems,
” in which he had
himself no small share. His own pieces, he observes in
his preface, “were written at very different times, and
were owned by him, lest in a future day they should be
ascribed to other persons to their prejudice, as the ‘ Ode
on Solitude’ has been, in wrong, to the earl of Roscommon, and as some of the rest have been to others.
” He
was the intimate friend of Mr. Moyle, and wrote the “Account of his Life and Writings,
” prefixed to his works in
med and caressed by the elegant and great, was the second son of Anthony Hammond mentioned above: he was born about 1710, and educated at Westminster-school; but it
, well remembered as a man
esteemed and caressed by the elegant and great, was the
second son of Anthony Hammond mentioned above: he was
born about 1710, and educated at Westminster-school;
but it does not appear that he was of any university,
although Mr. Cole claims him for Cambridge, but without
specifying his college. When about eighteen, he was introduced to the earl of Chesterfield, and from a conformity of character, manners, and inclinations, soon became particularly attached to his lordship. He was equerry
to the prince of Wales, and seems to have come very early
into public notice, and to have been distinguished by those
whose patronage and friendship prejudiced mankind at that
time in favour of those on whom they were bestowed; for
he was the companion of Cobham, Lyttelton, and Chesterfield. He is said to have divided his life between pleasure
and books; in his retirement forgetting the town, and in
his gaiety losing the student. Of his literary hours all the
effects are exhibited in his memorable “Love Elegies,
”
which were written very early, and his “Prologue
” not
long before his death. In Elegies
” were
published after his death; and while the writer’s name was
remembered with fondness, they were read with a resolution to admire them. The recommendatory preface of the
editor, who was then believed, and is affirmed by Dr.
Maty, to be the earl of Chesterfield, raised strong prejudices in their favour; but Dr. Johnson is of opinion that
they have neither passion, nature, nor manners, and Dr.
Beattie was informed on very good authority that Hammond
was not in love when he wrote his “Elegies.
”
, a learned English divine, was born at Chertsey in Surrey, August 18, 1605; and was the youngest
, a learned English divine, was born at Chertsey in Surrey, August 18, 1605; and was the youngest son of Dr. John Hammond, physician to Henry prince of Wales, svho was his godfather, and gave him his own name. In his infancy he was remarkable for sweetness of temper, the love of privacy, and a devotional turn. He was educated at Eton-school, and sent to Magdalen-college, Oxford, in 1618; of which, after taking his degrees in a regular way, he was elected fellow in July 1625. During the whole of his residence here, he generally spent thirteen hours every day in study; in the course of which he not only went through the usual academic studies, but read almost all the classics, writing emendations, critical remarks, &c. as he proceeded. Having applied himself also with great diligence to the study of divinity, he was admitted to holy orders in 1629, and soon, after took the degree of bachelor of divinity. In 1633 he was presented to the rectory of Penshurst in Kent, by Robert Sidney earl of Leicester. That nobleman, happening to be one of his auditors while he was supplying a turn at court for Dr. Frewen, the president of his college, and one of his majesty’s chaplains, was-so deeply affected with the sermon, and conceived so high an opinion of the preacher’s merit, that he conferred on him this living, then void, and in his gift. Upon this he quitted his college, and went to his cure, where he resided as long as the times permitted him, punctually performing every branch of the ministerial function in the most diligent and exemplary manner. In 1639 he took the degree of D. D.; in 1640, was chosen one of the members of the convocation, called with the long parliament, which began that year; and, in. 1643, made archdeacon of Chichester by the unsolicited favour of Dr. Brian Duppa, then bishop of Chichester, and afterwards of Winchester. The same year also he was named one of the assembly of divines, but never sat amongst them.
, of Hamden, in Buckinghamshire, a celebrated political character in the reign of Charles I. was born at London in 1594. He was of as ancient (Whitlocke says
, of Hamden, in Buckinghamshire, a celebrated political character in the reign of Charles
I. was born at London in 1594. He was of as ancient
(Whitlocke says the ancientest) extraction as any gentleman in his county; and cousin-german to Oliver Cromwell, his father having married the protector’s aunt. In
1609 he was sent to Magdalen college in Oxford whence,
without taking any degree, be removed to the inns of
court, and made a considerable progress in the study of the
law. Sir Philip Warwick observes, that “he had great
knowledge both in scholarship and the law.
” In his entrance into the world, he is said to have indulged himself
in all the licence of sports, and exercises, and company,
such as were used by men of the most jovial conversation;
but afterwards to have retired to a more reserved and
austere society, preserving, however, his natural cheerfulness and vivacity. In the second parliament of king
Charles, which met at Westminster, February 1625-6, he
obtained a seat in the house of commons, as he also did in
two succeeding parliaments; but made no figure till 1636,
when he became universally known, by a solemn trial at
the king’s bench, on his refusing to pay the ship-money.
He carried himself, as Clarendon tells us, through this
whole suit with such singular temper and modesty, that he
obtained more credit and advantage by losing it, than the
king did service by gaining it. From this time he soon
grew to be one of the most popular men in the nation, and
a leading member in the long parliament. “The eyes of
all men,
” says the same writer, “were fixed upon him as
their pater patrite, and the pilot that must steer the vessel
through the tempests and rocks which threatened it.
”
After he had held the chief direction of his party in the
house of commons against the king, he took up arms in
the same cause, and was one of the first who opened the
war by an action at a place called Brill, a garrison of the
king’s, on the edge of Buckinghamshire, about five miles
from Oxford. He took the command of a regiment of foot
under the earl of Essex, and shewed such skill and bravery,
that, had he lived, he would; probably, soon have been
raised to the post of a general. But he was cut off early
by a mortal wound, which he received in a skirmish with
prince Rupert, at Chalgrove-field, in Oxfordshire, where,
it is generally reported, he was shot in the shoulder with a
brace of bullets, which broke the bone, June 18, 1643;
and, after suffering much pain and misery, he died the
24th, an event which affected his party nearly as much as
if their whole army had been defeated . “Many men
observed,
” says Clarendon, “that the field in which this
skirmish was, and upon which Hampden received his deathwound, namely, Chalgrove-field, was the same place in
which he had first executed the ordinance of the militia,
and engaged that county, in which his reputation was very
great, in this rebellion: and it was confessed by the prisoners that were taken that day, and acknowledged by all,
that upon the alarm that morning, after their quarters were
beaten up, he was exceeding solicitous to draw forces together to pursue the enemy; and, being a colonel of foot,
put himself amongst those horse as a volunteer, who were
first ready, and that, when the prince made a stand, all
the officers were of opinion to stay till their body came up,
and he alone persuaded and prevailed with them to advance: so violently did his fate carry him to pay the mulct
in the place where he had committed the transgression
about a year before. This was an observation made at that
time;
” but lord Clarendon does not adopt it as an opinion
of his own.
, the greatest musical composer of his time, or perhaps of any time or country, was born at Halle, in the duchy of Magdeburgh, February 4, 1684,
, the greatest musical composer of his time, or perhaps of any time or country, was born at Halle, in the duchy of Magdeburgh, February 4, 1684, by a second wife of his father, who was an eminent physician and surgeon of the same place, and then above sixty years of age. From his very childhood he discovered such a propensity to music, that his father, who always intended him for the civil law, took every method to oppose this inclination, by keeping him out of the way of, and strictly forbidding him to meddle with, musical instruments of any kind. The son, however, found means to get a little clavicord privately conveyed to a room at the top of the house; and with this he used to amuse himself when the family was asleep. While he was yet under seven years of age, he went with his father to the duke of Saxe Weisenfels, where it was impossible to keep him from harpsichords, and other musical instruments. One morning, while he was playing on the organ, after the service was over, the duke was in the church; and something in his manner of playing affected his highness so strongly, that he asked his valet-de-chambre (who was Handel’s brother-in-law) who it was that he heard at the organ? The valet replied, that it was his brother. The duke demanded to see him; and after making proper inquiries about him, expostulated very seriously with his father, who still retained his prepossessions in favour of the civil law. He allowed that every father had certainly a right to dispose of his children as he should think most expedient; but that in the present instance he could not but consider it as a sort of crime against the public and posterity to rob the world of such a rising genius. The issue of this conversation was, not only a toleration for music, but consent also that a master should be called in to forward and assist him.
, a learned German professor, was born February 16, 1633, at Breslaw. Some theses which he maintained
, a learned German professor,
was born February 16, 1633, at Breslaw. Some theses
which he maintained did him so much honour, that he
was invited to Gotha, where he was made professor of
morality, politics, and history; and appointed afterwards
professor of history, politics, and rhetoric, at Breslaw,
1661 librarian of the Elizabeth library, in the same city,
1670 - y patron of the college of Elizabeth, 1631 and in
1688, teacher and inspector of all the schools of the Augsburg confession in that country. He died at Breslaw,
April 24, 1709. He wrote many works which established
his reputation among his countrymen as an acute critic and
profound scholar. His principal performance, and that
for which he is most esteemed among scholars, is his book
“De Romanarum rerum Scriptoribus,
” 2 vols. 4to, 1669,
1675, to which was added another, “De By z an tin arum
rerum Scriptoribus Grsecis,
”
sh divine of a very mixed character, was son to Thomas Hanmer of Porkington, in Shropshire, where he was born in 1543, though Fuller says he was born in Flintshire.
, an English divine of a very
mixed character, was son to Thomas Hanmer of Porkington, in Shropshire, where he was born in 1543, though
Fuller says he was born in Flintshire. He became chaplain
of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, where he took a degree
in arts in April 1567. He afterwards was presented to the
living of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, during his holding of
which his conduct was such as to bring great odium on him.
Out of avarice he tore away the brass plates from the gravestones and monuments, and sold them; and he also appears by Fleetwood’s Diary to have paid very little regard to
his oath in a court of justice. In 1581 or 1582, betook
his degrees in divinity, and in Nov. 4th, 1583, was presented to the vicarage of Islington, which he resigned in
1590. Two or three years afterwards he resigned Shoreditch, went to Ireland, and at length became treasurer to
the church of the holy Trinity, in Dublin, which he kept
until his death in 1604. Weever says he committed suicide; and there is still a tradition to this effect among the
inhabitants of Shoreditch parish. Whatever his errors, he
was esteemed an exact disputant, and a good preacher; an
excellent Greek scholar, and well versed in ecclesiastical
and civil history. Besides some tracts against the Jesuits,
he published “A Chronography,
” &c. Lond. The
Ancient Ecclesiastical Histories of the first 600 years after
Christ, originally written by Eusebius, Socrates, and Evagrius,
” The Chronicle of Ireland, in two parts,
” the third
part of which was published in A Sermon on the Baptising of a Turk,
”
preached in the collegiate church of St. Katherine, 1586,
8vo.
, a distinguished statesman and polite writer, was born about 1676, and had his education at Westminster-school,
, a distinguished statesman and polite writer, was born about 1676, and had his education at Westminster-school, and Christ-church, Oxford. When he arrived at years of maturity, he was chosen knight of the shire for the county of Suffolk, and sat in parliament near thirty years, either as a representative for that county, or for Flintshire, or for the borough of Thetford. In this venerable assembly he was soon distinguished; and his powerful elocution and unbiassed integrity drew the attention of all parties. In 17 13 he was chosen speaker of the house of commons; which office, difficult at all times, but at that time more particularly, he discharged with becoming dignity. All other honours and emoluments he declined. Having withdrawn himself by degrees from public business, he spent the remainder of his life in an honourable retirement amongst his books and friends; and there prepared an elegant and correct edition of the works of Shakspeare. This he presented to the university of Oxford; and it was printed there 1744, in 6 vols. 4to, with elegant engravings, by Gravelot, at the expence of sir Thomas. He died at his seat in Suffolk, April 5, 1746.
, a celebrated Lutheran divine, was born March 1, 1595, at Blaxen in the county of Oldenburg, into
, a celebrated Lutheran divine,
was born March 1, 1595, at Blaxen in the county of Oldenburg, into which county, and Delmenhorst, his ancestors
had introduced Lutheranism. He was professor of morality, afterwards of divinity and oriental languages at Marpurg, and, lastly^ superintendant of the churches of Lubec, where he died February 17, 1671. His principal
works are, “Scutum Catholic veritatis,
” against the Jesuit Thomas Henrici an “Examination of the Jesuit Becan’s Manual
” a “Hebrew Grammar
” “Expositio Epistolse Pauli ad Ephesios,
” Marpurg, Synopsis
Theologiae
” “Irenicum Catholico Evangelicum
” “De
Justificatione Hominis,
” &c. His son, Philip Lewis
Hanneken, who died professor of divinity at Wittemberg,
June 16, 1706, has also left several works on the Scriptures.
, an historical and portrait painter, was born at the Hague in 1611, and as some writers report, was a
, an historical and portrait painter, was born at the Hague in 1611, and as some writers report, was a disciple of Vandyke; But with more probability, was a disciple of Hubert Kavestein. However, he formed his taste, and his manner of penciling, by studying and copying the works of Vandyke, observing particularly the airs of the heads, which he very happily imitated; and in the tints of his carnations he had somewhat so extremely soft and delicate, as to give them an appearance little inferior to those of Vandyke. Several of Hannetnan’s copies after that illustrious painter’s works shewed such exactness, and at the same time such a freedom of hand, that they are frequently mistaken for originals. Although he was usually employed in portrait-painting, yet he sometimes designed historical and allegorical subjects. Of the latter kind there is^a large picture in the hall of the States of Holland, representing Peace, under the figure of a beautiful woman seated on a throne, holding a dove on her knees, and crowned with wreaths of laurel by two genii. The composition is rich, and it is painted with a great deal of force; the carnations approaching very near to the tints of Vandyke. He came to England in the reign of Charles I. and continued here for sixteen years, and, at his return to the Hague, became the favourite painter of the princess Mary of Orange. There is a picture of her, and the prince in armour, at lord Stratford’s at Wentworth castle, painted, as lord Orford thinks, by him; there are also portraits by him at Windsor, Worksop, and other places. He died about 1680.