ed for his courage and conduct, and a nobleman not more illustrious by his titles than by his birth, was descended from a most ancient and noble farrr!“, being the son
, the first earl of Essex of this
name and family, a general equally distinguished for his
courage and conduct, and a nobleman not more illustrious
by his titles than by his birth, was descended from a most
ancient and noble farrr!“, being the son of sir Richard Devereux, knight, by Do 'thy, daughter of George earl of
Huntingdon, and gra.idson of Walter viscount of Hereford,
so created by king Edward the Sixth. He was born about
1540, at his grandfather’s castle in Carmarthenshire, and
during his education applied himself to his studies with
great diligence and success. He succeeded to the titles of
viscount Hereford and lord Ferrers of Chartley, in the
nineteenth year of his age, and being early distinguished
for his modesty, learning, and loyalty, stood in higii favour
with his sovereign, queen Elizabeth. In 1569, upon the
breaking out of the rebellion in the north, under the earls
of Northumberland and Westmoreland, he raised a considerable body of forces, which joining those belonging to
the lord admiral and the earl of Lincoln, he was declared
marshal of the army, and obliged the rebels to disperse.
This so highly recommended him to the queen, that in
1572 she honoured him with the garter, and on the 4th of
May, the same year, created him earl of Essex, as being
descended by his great grandmother from the noble
family of Bourchier, long before honoured with the same
title. In the month of January following, he was one of
the peers that sat in judgment upon the duke of Norfolk.
At this time he was such a favourite with the queen, that
some, who were for confining her good graces to themselves, endeavoured to remove him by encouraging an inclination he shewed to adventure both his person and fortune for her majesty’s service in Ireland. Accordingly, on
the 16th of August, 1573, he embarked at Liverpool, accompanied by lord Darcy, lord Rich, and many other persons of
distinction, together with a multitude of volunteers, who
were incited by the hopes of preferment, and his lordship’s
known reputation. His reception in Ireland was not very
auspicious landing at Knockfergus on the 16th of September, he found the chiefs of the rebels inclined apparently to submit; but having gained time, they broke out
again into open rebellion. Lord Rich was called away by
his own affairs, and by degrees, most of those who went
abroad with the earl, came home again upon a variety of
pretences. In this situation Essex desired the queen to
carry on the service in her own name, and by her own
command, though he should be at one half of the expence.
Afterwards he applied to the earls of Sussex and Leicester,
and the lord Burleigh, to induce the queen to pay one
hundred horse and six hundred foot; which, however, did
not take effect; but the queen, perceiving the slight
put upon him, and that the lord deputy had delayed sending him his commission, was inclined to recal him out of
Ulster, if Leicester and others, who had promoted his removal, had not dissuaded her. The lord deputy, at last,
in 1574, sent him his patent, but with positive orders to
pursue the earl of Desmond one way, while himself pressed
him another. The earl of Essex reluctantly obeyed, and
either forced or persuaded the earl of Desmond to submission; and it is highly probable, would have performed
more essential service, if he had not been thwarted. The
same misfortune attended his subsequent attempts; and,
excepting the zeal of his attendants, the affection of the
English soldiers, and the esteem of the native Irish, he
gained nothing by all his pains. Worn out at length
with these fruitless fatigues, he, the next year, desired
leave to conclude upon honourable terms an accommodation with Turlough Oneile, which was refused him. He
then surrendered the government of Ulster into the lord
deputy’s hands, believing the forces allowed him altogether insufficient for its defence; but the lord deputy
obliged him to resume it, and to majrch against Turlough,
Oneile, which he accordingly did; and his enterprize
” being in a fair way of succeeding, he was surprized to receive instructions, which peremptorily required him to
make peace. This likewise he concluded, without loss of
honour, and then turned his arms against the Scots from
the western islands, who had invaded and taken possession,
of his country. These he quickly drove out, and, by the
help of Norris, followed them into one of their islands;
and was preparing to dispossess them of other posts, when
he was required to give up his command, and afterwards
to serve at the head of a small body of three hundred men,
with no other title than their captain. All this he owed to
Leicester; but, notwithstanding his chagrin, he continued
to perform his duty, without any shew of resentment, out
of respect to the queen’s service. In the spring of the
succeeding year he came over to England, and did not hesitate to express his indignation against the all-powerful
favourite, for the usage he had met xvith. But as it was
the custom of that great man to debase his enemies by
exalting them, so he procured an order for the earl of Essex’s return into Ireland, with the sounding title of earl -marshal of that kingdom, and with promises that he should be left
more at liberty than in times past; but, upon his arrival
at Ireland, he found his situation so little altered for the
better, that he pined away with grief and sorrow, which at
length proved fatal to him, and brought him to his
end. There is nothing more certain, either from the
public histories, or private memoirs and letters of that age,
than the excellent character of this noble earl, as a
brave soldier, a loyal subject, and a disinterested patriot;
and in private life he was of a chearful temper, kind, affectionate, and beneficent to all who were about him. He
was taken ill of a flux on the 21st of August, and in great
pain and misery languished to the 22d of September,
1576, when he departed this life at Dublin, being scarcely
thirty-five years old. There was a very strong report at
the time, of his being poisoned; but for this there seems
little foundation, yet it must have been suspected, as an
inquiry was immediately made by authority, and sir Henry
Sidney, then lord deputy of Ireland, wrote very fully upon
this subject to the privy-council in England, and to one
of the members of that council in particular. The corpse
of the earl was speedily brought over to England, carried
to the place of his nativity, Carmarthen, and buried there
with great solemnity, and with most extraordinary i<
monies of the unfeigned sorrow of all the country round
about. A funeral sermon was preached on this occasion,
Nov. 26, 1576, and printed at London 1577, 4to. He
married Lettice, daughter to sir Frances Knolles, knight
of the garter, who survived him many years, and whose
speedy marriage after his death to the earl of Leicester,
upon whom common fame threw the charge of hastening
his death, perhaps might encourage that report. By this
lady he had two sons, Robert and Walter, and two daughters, Penelope, first married to Robert lord Rich, and
then to Charles Blount, earl of Devonshire; and Dorothy,
who becoming the widow of sir Thomas Perrot, knight,
espoused for her second husband Henry Percy earl of
Northumberland.
manuscript annals of queen Elizabeth’s reign, is as follows: “Anno 1574. A solemn peace and concord was made between the earl of Essex and Felim O‘Nial. However, at
One important objection only has been brought forward
against the character of the first earl of Essex, which is
mentioned by Dr. Leland, in his History of Ireland. The
story, as literally translated by Mr. O'Connor, from the
Irish manuscript annals of queen Elizabeth’s reign, is as follows: “Anno 1574. A solemn peace and concord was
made between the earl of Essex and Felim O‘Nial. However, at a feast wherein the earl entertained that chieftain,
and at the end of their good cheer, O’Nial with his wife
were seized, their friends who attended were put to the
sword before their faces. Felim, together with his wife
and brother, were conveyed to Dublin, where they were
cut up in quarters. This execution gave universal discontent and horrour.
” Considering the general character of
the earl of Essex, we cannot avoid greatly doubting of the
authenticity of this fact; and indeed, if it was founded
on truth, it must appear very extraordinary that it should
not have occurred in any other narrative of the times.
d an unhappy victim to the arts of his enemies and his own ambition, m the reign of queen Elizabeth, was son of the preceding, and born Nov. 10, 1567, at Netherwood,
, earl of Essex, memorable for having been a great favourite, and an unhappy victim to the arts of his enemies and his own ambition, m the reign of queen Elizabeth, was son of the preceding, and born Nov. 10, 1567, at Netherwood, his father’s seat in Herefordshire. His father dying when he was only in his 10th year, recommended him to the protection of William Cecil lord Burleigh, whom he appointed his guardian. Two years after, he was sent to the university of Cambridge by this lord, who placed him in Trinity college, under the care of Dr. Whitgift, then master of it, and afterwards archbishop of Canterbury. But Mr. Cole, for many reasons, is inclined to think that he was placed at Queen’s, under Dr. Chaderton. He was, however, educated with much strictness, and applied himself to learning with great diligence; though it is said that, in his tender years, there did not appear aoy pregnant signs of that extraordinary genius which shone forth in him afterwards. In 1583, he took the decree of M. A. and kept his public act, and soon after left Cambridge, and retired to his own house at Lampsie in South Wales, where he spent some time, and became so enamoured of his rural retreut, that he was with difficulty prevailed on to quit it. His first appearance at court, at least as a candidate for royal favour, was in his seventeenth year; and he brought thither a fine person, an agreeable behaviour, and an affability which procured him many friends. By degrees he so far overcame the reluctance he first shewed against the earl of Leicester, his father’s enemy, and now very strangely his father-in-law, that in 1585 he accompanied him to Holland, where we find him next year in the field, with the title of general of the horse. In this quality he gave the highest proofs of personal courage in the battle of Zutphen, fought in 1586; and, on his return to England, was made, the year after, master of the horse in the room of lord Leicester promoted. In 1588, he continued to rise, and indeed almost reached the summit of his fortune; for, when her majesty thought fit to assemble an army at Tilbury, for the defence of the kingdom against the Spanish invasion, she gave the command of it, under herself, to the earl of Leicester, and created the earl of Essex general of the horse. From this time he was considered as the favourite declared; and if there was any mark yet wanting to rix the people’s opinion in that respect, it was shewn by the queen’s conferring on him the honour of the garter.
o quick an elevation, and to so great an height, unfortunately excited an impetuosity of spirit that was natural to the earl of Essex, who, among other instances of
So quick an elevation, and to so great an height, unfortunately excited an impetuosity of spirit that was natural to the
earl of Essex, who, among other instances of uncontrouled
temper, often behaved petulantly to the queen herself t
who did not admit, while she sometimes provoked, freedoms of that kind from her subjects. His eagerness about
this time to dispute her favour with sir Charles Blunt, afterwards lord Montjoy and earl of Devonshire, ended in a
duel, in which sir Charles wounded him in the knee. The
queen, so far from being displeased with it, is said to have
sworn a good round oath, that it was fit somebody should
take him down, otherwise there would be no ruling him,
yet she assisted in reconciling the rivals; who, to their
honour, continued good friends as long as they lived. la
1589, sir John Norris and sir Francis Drake having undertaken an expedition for restoring don Antonio to the crown
of Portugal, the earl of Essex, willing to share the glory,
followed the fleet and army to Spain; which displeasing
the queen very bighty, as it was done without her consent
or knowledge, she sent him the following letter: “Essex,
your sudden and undutifnl departure from our presence
and your place of attendance, you may easily conceive
how offensive it is and ought to be unto us. Our great favours, bestowed upon you without deserts, have drawn you.
thus to neglect and forget your duty; for other construction we cannot make of these your strange actions. Not
meaning, therefore, to tolerate this your disordered part,
we gave directions to some of our privy-council, to let you
know our express pleasure for your immediate repair
hither, which you have not performed as your duty doth
bind you, increasing thereby greatly your former offence
and undutiful behaviour in departing in such sort without
our privity, having so special office of attendance and
charge near our person. We do therefore charge and
command you forthwith, upon the receipt of these our
letters, all excuses and delays set apart, to make your present and immediate repair nnto us, to understand our farther pleasure. Whereof see you fail not, as you will be
loth to incur our indignation, and will answer for the contrary at your uttermost peril. The 15th of April, 1589.
”
ded to be derogatory to the honour of the house of Essex; and, though for the present, little notice was taken of it, yet it is thought that it was not soon forgot.
At his return, however, he soon recovered her majesty’s good graces, but again irritated her by a private match \ttth Frances, only daughter of sir Francis Walsingham, and widow of sir Philip Sidney. This her majesty apprehended to be derogatory to the honour of the house of Essex; and, though for the present, little notice was taken of it, yet it is thought that it was not soon forgot. In 1591, he went abroad, at the head of some forces, to assist Henry IV. of France: which expedition was afterwards repeated, but with little or no success. In 1592-3, we find him present in the parliament at Westminster, about which time the queen made him one of her privy-council. He met, however, in this and the succeeding years, with various causes of chagrin, partly from the loftiness of his own temper, but chiefly from the artifices of those who envied his great credit with the queen, and were desirous to reduce his power within bounds. Thus a dangerous and treasonable book, written abroad by Parsons, a Jesuit, and published under the name of Doleman, with a view of creating dissension in England about the succession to the crown, was dedicated to him, on purpose to make him odious; and it had its effect. But what chiefly soured his spirit, was his perceiving plainly, that though he could in most suits prevail for himself, yet he was able to do little or nothing for his friends. This appeared remarkably in the case of sir Francis Bacon, which the earl bore with much impatience; and, resolving that his friend should not be neglected, gave him of his own a small estate in land. There are indeed few circumstances in the life of this noble person, that do greater honour to his memory, than his patronage of men of parts and learning. It was this regard for genius which induced him to bury the immortal Spenser at his own expence; and in the latter part of his life, engaged him to take the learned sir Henry Wotton, and the ingenious Mr. Cuffe, into his service: as in his earlier days he had admitted the incomparable brothers, Anthony and Francis Bacon, to share his fortunes and his cares.
nd wise lord-treasurer Burleigh and the earl of Essex, about continuing the war with Spain. The earl was for it, the treasurer against it; who at length grew into a
But whatever disadvantages the earl might labour under
from* intrigues at court, the queen had commonly recourse
to his assistance in all dangers and difficulties, and placed
him at the head of her fleets and armies, preferably to any
other person. His enemies, on the other hand, were contriving and exerting all they could against him, by insinuating to the queen, that, considering his popularity, it
would not be at all expedient for her service to receive
such as he recommended to civil employments; and they
carried this so far, as even to make his approbation a sufficient objection to men whom they had encouraged and
recommended themselves. In 1598, a warm dispute arose
in the council, between the old and wise lord-treasurer
Burleigh and the earl of Essex, about continuing the war
with Spain. The earl was for it, the treasurer against it;
who at length grew into a great heat, and told the earl that
he seemed intent upon nothing but blood and slaughter.
The earl explained himself, and said, that the blood and
slaughter of the queen’s enemies might be very lawfully
his intention; that he was not against a solid, but a specious and precarious peace; that the Spaniards were a
subtle and ambitious people, who had contrived to do England more mischief in the time of peace, than of war, &c.
The treasurer at last drew out a Prayer-book, in which he
shewed Essex this expression: “Men of blood shall not
live out half their days.
” As the earl knew that methods
would be used to prejudice him with the people of England, especially the trading part, who would easily be persuaded to think themselves oppressed by taxes levied for
the support of the war, he resolved to vindicate his proceedings, and for that purpose drew up in writing his own
arguments, which he addressed to his dear friend Anthony
Bacon. This apology stole into the world not long after it
was written; and the queen, it is said, was exceedingly
offended at it. The title of it runs thus: “To Mr. Anthony Bacon, an Apologie of the Earle of Essexe, against
those which falselie and maliciouslie take him to be the
only hindrance of the peace and quiet of his countrie.
”
This was reprinted in The Earl
of Essex’s vindication of the war with Spain,
” in 8vo.
About this time died the treasurer Burleigh, which was a great misfortune to the earl of Essex; for that lord having
About this time died the treasurer Burleigh, which was
a great misfortune to the earl of Essex; for that lord having shewn a tenderness for the earl’s person, and a concern
for his fortunes, had many a time stood between him and
his enemies. But now, this guardian being gone, they
acted without any restraint, crossed whatever he proposed,
stopped the rise of every man he loved, and treated all his
projects with an air of contempt. He succeeded lord
Burleigh as chancellor of the university of Cambridge;
and, going down, was there entertained with great magnificence*. This is reckoned one of the last instances of
this great man’s felicity, who was now advanced too high
to sit at ease; and those who longed for his honours and
employments, very closely applied themselves to bring
about his fall. The first great shock he received came
from the queen herself, and arose from a warm dispute
with her majesty about the choice of some fit and able person to superintend the affairs of Ireland. Camden tells
us, that there were only present on this remarkable occasion, the lord admiral, sir Robert Cecil, secretary; and
“Windebanke, clerk of the seal. The queen considered
sir William Knolls, uncle to Essex, as the most proper
person for that charge: Essex contended, that sir George
Carew was a much fitter man for it. When the queen
could not be persuaded to approve his choice, he so far
forgot himself and his duty, as to turn his back upon her in
a contemptuous manner; which insolence her majesty not
being able to bear, gave him a box on the ear, and, somewhat in her father’s language, bid him
” go and be hanged.“He immediately clapped his hand on his sword, and the
lord admiral stepping in between, he swore a great oath,
declaring that he neither could nor would put up an affront
of that nature; that he would not have taken it at the
hands of Henry VIII. and in a great passion immediately
withdrew from court. The lord keeper advised him to
apply himself to the queen for pardon. He sent the lord
keeper his answer in a long and passionate letter, which
his friends afterwards unadvisedly communicated; in
which he appealed from the queen to God Almighty, in
expressions to this purpose:
” That there was no tempest
so boisterous as the resentment of an angry prince; that
* When Essex was no more than cellor, supported by that of archbishop
* When Essex was no more than cellor, supported by that of archbishop
twenty-one years of age, he was com- Whitgift, carried the election against
twenty-one years of age, he was com- Whitgift, carried the election against
petitor with the lord chancellor Hatton him. He was again disappointed in
petitor with the lord chancellor Hatton him. He was again disappointed in
considered as a patron of the puritan lord Buckhurst, and he was accordingly
considered as a patron of the puritan lord Buckhurst, and he was accordingly
parly, as his deceased father-in-law chosen, had been, the interest of the lord chanthe queen was of a flinty temper; that he well enough knew what was due from
parly, as his deceased father-in-law chosen, had been, the interest of the lord chanthe queen was of a flinty temper; that he well enough knew what was due from him as a subject, an earl, and grand marshal of England, but did not understand the office of a drudge or a porter; that to own himself a criminal was to injure truth, and the author of it, God Almighty: that his body suffered in every part of it by that blow given by his prince; and that it would be a crime in him to serve a queen who had given him so great an affront." He was afterwards reconciled and restored in appearance to the queen’s favour, yet there is good reason to doubt whether he ever recovered it in reality: and his friends have generally dated his ruin from this singular dispute *.
The ear) met with nothing in Ireland but disappointments, in the midst of which, an army was suddenly raised in England, under the command of the earl of
The ear) met with nothing in Ireland but disappointments, in the midst of which, an army was suddenly raised
in England, under the command of the earl of Nottingham;
nobody well knowing why, but in reality from the suggestions of the earl’s enemies to the queen, that he rather meditated an invasion on his native country, than the reduction of the Irish rebels. This and other considerations
made him resolve to quit his post, and come over to
England; which he accordingly did, and presented himself
before the queen. He met with a tolerable reception;
but was soon after confined, examined, and dismissed from
all his offices, except that of master of the horse. In the
summer of“1600, he recovered his liberty; and in the
autumn following, he received Mr. Cuffe, who had been
his secretary in Ireland (See Cuffe), into his councils.
Cuffe, who was a man of his own disposition, laboured to
persuade him, that submission would never do him any
good; that the queen was in the hands of a faction, who
were his enemies; and that the only way to restore his
fortune was to obtain an audience, by whatever means he
could, in order to represent his case. The earl did not
consent at first to this dangerous advice; but afterwards,
giving a loose to his passion, began to declare himself
openly, and among other fatal expressions let fall this,
that
” the queen grew old and cankered; and that her
mind was become as crooked as her carcase.“His enemies, who had exact intelligence of all that he proposed,
and had provided effectually against the execution of his
designs, hurried him upon his fate by a message, sent on
the evening of Feb. 7, requiring him to attend the council,
which he declined. This appears to have unmanned him,
and in his distraction of mind, he gave out, that they sought
his life kept a watch in Essex-house all night; and summoned his friends for his defence the next morning. Many
disputes ensued, and some blood was spilt; but the earl
at last surrendered, and was carried that night to the archbishop’s palace at Lambeth, and the next day to the
Tower. On the 19th, he was arraigned before his peers,
and after a long trial was sentenced to lose his head: upon
which melancholy occasion he said nothing more than this,
viz.
” If her majesty had pleased, this body of mine might
have done her better service; however, I shall be glad if it
may prove serviceable to her any way.“He was executed
upon the 25th, in his thirty-fourth year, leaving behind
him one only son and two daughters. As to his person, he
is reported to have been tall, but not very well made; his
countenance reserved; his air rather martial than courtly;
very careless in dress, and a little addicted to trifling diversions, He was learned, and a lover of learned men,
whom he always encouraged and rewarded. He was sincere in his friendships, but not so careful as he ought to
have been in making a right choice; sound in his morals,
except in point of gallantry, and thoroughly well affected
to the protestant religion. Historians inform us, that as
to his execution, the queen remained irresolute to the very
last, and sent sir Edward Carey to countermand it but,
as Camden says, considering afterwards his obstinacy in
refusing to ask her pardon, she countermanded those orders, and directed that he should die. There is an odd
story current in the world about a ring, which the chevalier Louis Aubrey de Mourier, many years the French
minister in Holland, and a man of great parts and unsuspected credit, delivers as an undoubted truth; and that
upon the authority of an English minister, who might be
well presumed to know what he said. As the incident is
remarkable, and has made much noise, we will report it
in the words of that historian:
” It will not, I believe, be
thought either impertinent or disagreeable to add here,
what prince Maurice had from the mouth of Mr. Carleton,
ambassador of England in Holland, who died secretary of
state so well known under the name of lord Dorchester,
and who was a man of great merit. He said, that queen
Elizabeth gave the earl of Essex a ring, in the height of
her passion for him, ordering him to keep it; and that
whatever he should commit, she would pardon him when
he should return that pledge. Since that time the earl’s
enemies having prevailed with the queen, who, besides,
was exasperated against him for the contempt he had
shewed her beauty, now through age upon the decay, she
caused him to be impeached. When he was condemned,
she expected to receive from him the ring, and would have
granted him his pardon according to her promise. The
earl, finding himself in the last extremity, applied to admiral Howard’s lady, who was his relation; and desired
her, by a person she could trust, to deliver the ring into
the queen’s own hands. But her husband, who was one of
the earl’s greatest enemies, and to whom she told this imprudently, would not suffer her to acquit herself of the
commission; so that the queen consented to the earl’s
death, being full of indignation against so proud and
haughty a spirit, who chose rather to die than implore her
mercy. Some time after, the admiral’s lady fell sick;
and, being given over by her physicians, she sent word to
the queen that she had something of great consequence to
tell her before she died. The queen came to her bedBide i and having ordered all her attendants to withdraw,
the admiral’s lady returned her, but too late, that ring
from the earl of Essex, desiring to be excused for not
having returned it sooner, since her husband had prevented her. The queen retired immediately, overwhelmed
with the utmost grief; she sighed continually for a fortnight, without taking any nourishment, lying in bed entirely dressed, and getting up an hundred times a night.
At last she died with hunger and with grief, because she
had consented to the death of a lover who had applied to
her for mercy." Histoire de Hollancle, p. 215, 216.
It was as a prose-writer that the earl of Essex excelled, and not as
It was as a prose-writer that the earl of Essex excelled,
and not as a poet. He is said to have translated one of Ovid’s
Epistles; and a few of his sonnets are preserved in the
Ashmolean museum. They display, however, no marks
of poetic genius. “But if Essex,
” says Mr. Warton, “was
no poet, few noblemen of his age were more courted by
poets. From Spenser to the lowest rhymer he was the subject of numerous sonnets, or popular ballads. I will not
except Sydney. I could produce evidence to prove, that
he scarcely ever went out of England, or even left London,
on the most frivolous enterprize, without a pastoral in his
praise, or a panegyric in metre, which were sold and sung
in the streets. Having interested himself in the fashionable
poetry of the times, he was placed high in the ideal Arcadia now just established; and, among other instances
which might be brought, on his return from Portugal in
1589 he was complimented with a poem called
” An Egloge
gratulatorie entituled to the right honorable and renowned
shepherd of Albion’s Arcadia, Robert earl of Essex, and
for his returne lately into England.“This is a light in
which lord Essex is seldom viewed. I know not if the
queen’s fatal partiality, or his own inherent attractions,
his love of literature, his heroism, integrity, and generosity, qualities which abundantly overbalance his presumption, his vanity, and impetuosity, had the greater share
in dictating these praises. If adulation were any where
justifiable, it must be when paid to the man who endeavoured to save Spenser from starving in the streets of
Dublin, and who buried him in Westminster-abbey with
becoming solemnity. Spenser was persecuted by Burleigh
because he was patronised by Essex.
”
, son to the former, and third earl of Essex, was born in 1592, at Essex-house, in the Strand; and at the time
, son to the former, and third earl of Essex, was born in 1592, at Essex-house, in the Strand; and at the time of his father’s unhappy death, was under the care of his grandmother, by whom he was sent to Eton school, where he was first educated. In the month of January 1602, he was entered a gentleman-commoner of Merton- college, Oxford, where he had an apartment in the warden’s lodgings, then Mr. Savile, afterwards the celebrated sir Henry Savile, his father’s dear friend, and who, for his sake, was exceedingly careful in seeing that he was learnedly and religiously educated. The year following, he was restored to his hereditary honours; and in 1605, when king James visited the university of Oxford, our young earl of Essex was created M. A. on the 30th of August, for the first tirne, which very probably he had forgotten, or he would not have received the same honour above thirty years afterwards. He was already in possession of his father’s high spirit, of which he gave a sufficient indication in a quarrel which he had with prince Henry. Some dispute arose between them at a game at tennis; the prince called his companion the son of a traitor; who retaliated by giving him a severe blow with his racket; and the king was obliged to interfere to restore peace. At the age of fourteen, he was betrothed to lady Frances Howard, who was still younger than himself; but he immediately set out on his travels, and during his absence the affections of his young wife were estranged from him, and fixed upon the king’s favourite, Carr, afterwards earl of Somerset. The consequence was a suit instituted against the husband for impotency, in which, to the disgrace of the age, the king interfered, and which ended in a divorce. The earl of Essex, feeling himself disgraced by the sentence, retired to his country seat, and spent some years in rural sports and amusements. In 120, being wearied of a state of inaction, he joined the earl of Oxford in a military expedition to the Palatinate, where they served with companies of their own raising, under sir Horatio Vere, and in the following year they served in Holland, under prince Maurice, In the course of the winter they returned to England, and lord Essex appeared in the ranks of the opposition in parliament. On this account he was not favourably received at court, which was the mean of attaching him the more closely to foreign service. He commanded a regiment raised in England for the United States in 1624, and though nothing very important was atchieved by the English auxiliaries, yet he acquired experience, and distinguished himself among the nobility of the time. On the accession of Charles I. he was employed as vice-admiral in an expedition against Spain, which proved unsuccessful. In 1626, he made another campaign in the Low Countries, and shortly after he formed another unhappy match, by marrying the daughter of sir William Paulet, from whom, owing to her misconduct, he was divorced within two years. He now resolved to give himself up entirely to public life; he courted popularity, and made friends among the officers of the army and the puritan ministers. He was, however, employed by the king in various important services; but when the king and court left the metropolis, lord Essex pleaded in excuse his obligation to attend in his place as a peer of the realm, and was accordingly deprived of all his employments; a step which alone seemed wanting to fix him in opposition to the king; and in July 1642 he accepted the post of general of the parliamentary army. He opposed the king in person at Edge-hill, where the victory was so indecisive, that each party claimed it as his own. After this he was successful in some few instances, but in other important trusts he did little to recommend him to the persons in whose interests he was employed. He was, however, treated with external respect, until the self-denying ordinance threw him entirely out of the command: he resigned his commission, but not without visible marks of discontent. Unwilling to lose him altogether, the parliament voted that he should be raised to a dukedom, and be allowed 10,000l. per annum, to support his new dignity; but these were vented by a sudden death, which, as in the case of his grandfather, was by some attributed to unfair means. He died September 14, 1646. Parliament directed a public funeral for him, which was performed with great solemnity in the following month, at Westminster abbey. In his conduct, the particulars of which may be seen in the history of the times, a want of steadiness is to be discovered, which candour would refer to the extraordinary circumstances in which public men were then placed. Personal affronts at court, whether provoked or not, led him to go a certain length with those who, he did not perceive, wanted to go much farther, and although he appeared in arms against his sovereign, no party was pleased with his efforts to preserve a balance; yet, with all his er/ors, Hume and other historians, not friendly to the republican cause, have considered his death as a public misfortune. Hume says, that fully sensible of the excesses to which affairs had been carried, and of the worse consequences which were still to be apprehended, he had resolved to conciliate a peace, and to remedy as far as possible all those ills to which, from mistake rather than any bad intention, he had himself so much contributed. The presbyterian, or the moderate party among the commons, found themselves considerably weakened by his death; and the small remains of authority which still adhered to the house of peers, were in a manner wholly extinguished.
o the petty jury. The king granted a noli prosequi in favour of De Guerchy, and the attorney-general was ordered to prosecute De Vergy, with the result of which order
, a French
adventurer, of whose private life little is known, and
whose public history is not of the most reputable kind, requires, however, some notice, as the author of various
publications, and an agent in some political transactions
which once were deemed of importance. He styled himself
advocate in the parliament of Bourdeaux. The first notice
of him occurs about 1763, when he had a concern in the
quarrel between the count de Guerchy, ambassador extraordinary from the court of France, and the chevalier
D‘Eon, (see D’EoN). About this time D‘Eon published a
letter to the count de Guerchy, by which we learn that
De Vergy solicited his (D’Eon’s) acquaintance, which he
declined unless he* brought letters of recommendation,
and that De Vergy, piqued at the refusal, boasted of being
perfectly well known to the count de Guerchy, which
proved to be a falsehood. This produced a quarrel between D‘Eon and De Vergy, and a pamphlet in answer
to D’Eon’s letter, and another answer under the title of
“Centre Note.
” After the more celebrated quarrel between de Guerchy and D‘Eon, De Vergy published a
parcel of letters from himself to the due de Cboiseul, in
which he positively asserts that the count de Guerchy prevailed with him to come over to England to assassinate
D’Eon. He even went farther, and before the grand
jury of Middlesex, made oath to the same effect. Upon
this deposition, the grand jury found a bill of intended
murder against the count de Guerchy; which bill, however, never came to the petty jury. The king granted
a noli prosequi in favour of De Guerchy, and the attorney-general was ordered to prosecute De Vergy, with
the result of which order we are unacquainted; but it
is certain that De Vergy, in his last will, confesses his
concern in a plot against D'Eon, and intimates that he
withdrew his assistance upon finding that it was intended to affect the chevalier’s life. After the above
transaction, we find him in 1767, publishing “Lettre
centre la Raison,
” or, “A Letter against Reason, addressed to the chevalier D'Eon,
” in which he repeats some
of the hacknied doctrines of the French philosophical
school, and professes himself a free-thinker. This was
followed by a succession of novels, entitled “The Mistakes
of the Heart;
” “The Lovers
” “Nature
” “Henrietta;
” “The Scotchman;
” and “The Palinode,
” written
in remarkably good English, and with much knowledge of
human nature; but scarcely one of them is free from the
grossest indelicacies. He wrote also, in 1770, “A Defence of the duke of Cumberland,
” a wretched catchpenny.
De Vergy died Oct. 1, 1774, aged only forty-two, and
remained unburied until March, his executor waiting for
directions from his family. He had desired in his will that
his relations would remove his body to Bourdeaux, but it
was at last interred in St. Pancras church-yard.
, a learned physician, and voluminous writer on medicine and natural philosophy, was born at Meurs, in the duchy of Juliers, October 16th, 4612.
, a learned physician, and
voluminous writer on medicine and natural philosophy, was
born at Meurs, in the duchy of Juliers, October 16th,
4612. After studying the classics and the Arabic and
Persian languages, he went to Leyden, where he completed his education by taking the degree of M. D. in
1634; and three years after was appointed professor in
mathematics at Meurs. In 1639, he was called to succeed
Isaac Pontanus in the chair of natural philosophy and mathematics; and in 1642 to that of medicine, at Hardenvick,
to which was added the office of physician to the city.
From Harderwick he went to Groningen, where he was not
only professor of medicine, but rector of the university,
and ancient of the church. Amid the business which such
accumulated duties heaped upon him, he found leisure to
write a greater number of treatises on the different parts of
medicine and philosophy than have fallen from the pen.
of almost any other man. Haller and Manget have given
a list of fifty-four, but a small number of these are on practical subjects, many of them being metaphysical and
controversial. Those relating to his controversy with Silvius, are written with great acrimony; though the subjects, which are mostly physiological, do not seem calculated to excite so much rancour as we see infused into
them. Among these are, “Joannes Cloppenburgius,
Heautontimorumenos, seu retorsio injuriarum de libello
falsidico, cui titulus, Res judicata, cumulatarum,
”
ccasioned by taking a long journey, in very severe weather, to visit the count of Nassau, to whom he was physician.
“Canticum Avicennas de Medicina, ex Arab. Lat. reddit.
”
Dissertationes duae, prior de motu cordis
et sanguinis, altera de lacte ac nutrimento foetus in utero,
”
Synopsis Medicine universali?,
”
, an eminent French architect, was born at Paris, Nov. 9, 1729. He was educated by one of his uncles,
, an eminent French architect,
was born at Paris, Nov. 9, 1729. He was educated by one
of his uncles, and from his earliest infancy discovered an.
unconquerable partiality for the study and practice of architecture, in which he afterwards became a great proficient. His chief master was Lejay, who at this period
had just established a new school of the profession, and
recovered it from the contempt in which it had been held
from the age of Lewis XIV. In 1752 Dewailly obtained
the chief architectural prize, and the privilege of studying
at Rome for three years, at the expence of the nation.
Upon this success, his biographer notices an action truly
generous and laudable in the mind of an emulous young
man. The student to whom the second prize was decreed,
and whose name was Moreau, appeared extremely sorrowful. Dewailly interrogated him upon the subject of his
chagrin; and learning that it proceeded from his having
lost the opportunity of prosecuting his profession in Italy,
he flew to the president of the architectural committee, and
earnestly solicited permission that his unfortunate rival
might be allowed to travel to Rome as well as himself. On
an objection being adduced from the established rules
“Well, well,
” replied he, “I yet know a mode of reconciling every thing. I am myself allotted three years; of
these I can dispose as I like; I give eighteen months of
them to Moreau.
” This generous sacrifice was accepted;
and Dewailly was amply rewarded by the public esteem
which accompanied the transaction. In most of the modern buildings of taste and magnificence in his own country,
Dewailly was a party employed, and many of his designs
are engraven in the Encyclopedic and in Laborde’s Description of France. He was a member of the academy of
painting, as well as that of architecture; in the latter of
which he was at once admitted into the higher class, without having, as is customary, passed through the inferior.
Of the national institute he was a member from its establishment. He died in 1799, having been spared the
affliction of beholding one of his most exquisite pieces of
workmanship, the magnificent hall of the Odeon, destroyed
by fire, a catastrophe which occurred but a short time after
his demise.
D‘Ewes (Sir Symonds), an English historian and antiquary, was the son of Paul D’Eues, esq. and born in 1602, at Coxden in
D‘Ewes (Sir Symonds), an English historian and antiquary, was the son of Paul D’Eues, esq. and born in
1602, at Coxden in Dorsetshire, the seat of Richard Syxnonds, esq. his mother’s father. He was descended from
an ancient family in the Low Countries, from whence his
ancestors removed hither, and gained a considerable settlement in the county of Suffolk. In 1618, he was entered a
fellow- commoner of St. John’s college in Cambridge and
about two years after, began to collect materials for forming a correct and complete history of Great Britain. He
was no less studious in preserving the history of his own
times; setting down carefully the best accounts he was
able to obtain of every memorable transaction, at the time
it happened. This disposition in a young man of parts
recommended him to the acquaintance of persons of the
first rank in the republic of letters, such as Cotton, Selden,
Spelman, &c. In 1626, he married Anne, daughter to sir
William Clopton of Essex, an exquisite beauty, not fourteen years old, with whom he was so sincerely captivated,
that his passion for her seems to have increased almost to
a degree of extravagance, even after she was his wife. He
pursued his studies, however, as usual, with great vigour
and diligence, and when little more than thirty years of
age, finished that large and accurate work for which he is
chiefly memorable. This work he kept by him during his
life-time it being written, as he tells us, for his own private use. It was published afterwards with this title
“The Journals of all the Parliaments during the reign of
queen Elizabeth, both of the House of Lords and House
of Commons, collected by sir Symonds D'Ewes, of Stowhall in the county of Suffolk, knt. and bart. revised and
published by Paul Bowes, of the Middle Temple, esq.
1682,
” folio. In
he heaviest censures. Smith, the writer of the Latin life of Camden, assures us, that his” Britannia“ was universally approved by all proper judges, one only, sir Symonds
Though these labours of sir Symonds contributed not a
little to illustrate the general history of Great Britain, as
well as to explain the important transactions of one of the
most glorious reigns in it, yet two or three circumstances
of his life have occasioned him to have been set by writers
in perhaps a more disadvantageous light than he deserved;
not to mention that general one, common to many others,
of adhering to the parliament during the rebellion. Having occasion to write to archbishop Usher in 1639, he unfortunately let fall a hint to the prejudice of Camden’s
*' Britannia;“for, speaking of the time and pains he had
spent in collecting materials for an accurate history of
Great Britain, and of his being principally moved to this
task, by observing the many mistakes of the common
writers, he adds,
” And indeed what can be expected from
them, considering that, even in the so much admired
‘Britannia’ of Camden himself, there is not a page, at
least hardly a page, without errors?“This letter of his
afterwards coming to light, among other epistles to that
learned prelate, drew upon him the heaviest censures.
Smith, the writer of the Latin life of Camden, assures us,
that his
” Britannia“was universally approved by all
proper judges, one only, sir Symonds D'Ewes, excepted;
who,
” moved,“says he,
” by I know not what spirit of
envy, gave out that there was scarce a page,“&c. Nicolson, in his account of Camden’s work, says, that
” some
early attempts were made by an envious person, one Brook
or Brookmouth, to blast the deservedly great reputation of
this work but they perished and came to nothing; as did
likewise the terrible threats given out by sir Symonds
D'Ewes, that he would discover errors in every page.“Bishop Gibson has stated the charge against this gentleman more mildly, in his Life of Camden, prefixed to the
English translation of his Britannia.
” In the year says the bishop,
” he put the last hand to his Britannia,
which gained him the titles of the Varro, Strabo, and Pausanias of Britain, in the writings and letters of other
learned men. Nor did it ever after meet with any enemies
that I know of, only sir Symonds D‘Ewes encouraged us
to hope for animadversions upon the work, after he had
observed to a very great man, that there was not a page in
it without a fault. But it was only threatening; and neither the world was the better, nor was Mr. Camden’s reputation e’er the worse for it." Sir Symonds was certainly
not defensible for throwing out at random, as it should
seem, such a censure against a work universally well received, without ever attempting to support it; yet some
have excused him by saying that this censure was contained
in a private letter; and that sir Symonds had a high sense
of Camden’s merit, whom he mentions very respectfully in
the preface to his Journals, &c.
Another thing which hurt his character with some particular writers, was a very foolish speech he made in the long parliament, Jan. 2,
Another thing which hurt his character with some particular writers, was a very foolish speech he made in the
long parliament, Jan. 2, 1640, in support of the antiquity
of the university of Cambridge. This was afterwards published under the title of “A Speech delivered in parliament by Symonds D'Ewes, touching the antiquity of Cambridge, 1642,
” 4to, and exposed him to very severe usage
from Wood, Hearne, &c. as it still must to the contempt of
every accurate antiquary. Other writers, however, and
such as cannot be at all suspected of partiality to him, have
spoken much to his honour. Echard, in his History of
England, savs, “We shall next mention sir Symonds
D'Ewes, a gentleman educated at the university of Cambridge, celebrated for a most curious antiquary, highly esteemed by the great Selden, and particularly remarkable
for his Journals of all the parliaments in queen Elizabeth’s
reign, and for his admirable ms library he left behind him,
now in the hands of one of the greatest geniuses of the
age:
” meaning the late earl of Oxford. Some curious
extracts from the ms journal of his own life (preserved among the Harieian Mss.) are printed in the “Bibliotheca
Topographica Britannica, 1783.
” In this he has given a
minute account of his courtship and marriage. The only
love-letter he had occasion to send, and which was accompanied with a present of a diamond carcanet, was as follows:
imation of the merit of historical composition, sir Symonds displayed a far superior discernment. He was a passionate admirer of Thuanus’s History, anxiously applied
In his estimation of the merit of historical composition, sir Symonds displayed a far superior discernment. He was a passionate admirer of Thuanus’s History, anxiously applied to the younger Thuanus, to obtain copies of such parts of it as had not hitherto been published, and was successful in procuring a picture of that great author, and another of the famous admiral Coligni. Several of his ms collections and correspondence are preserved in the British Museum.
, a painter of history and portrait, was born at Amsterdam in 1695, and acquired the principles of his
, a painter of history and
portrait, was born at Amsterdam in 1695, and acquired
the principles of his art from Albert Spiers, a portrait
painter. He afterwards became a disciple of Jaques Van
Halen, an historical painter of considerable reputation;
under whose instructions he made great improvement,
particularly by copying some capital paintings of Rubens
and Vandyke. In 1713, he obtained the first prize in the
academy, for designing after a living model, and the first
prize for painting history; and he became more known by
sketching several of the ceilings in the Jesuits’ church at
Antwerp, originally painted by Rubens and Vandyke,
which had been much injured by lightning. He declined
the painting of portraits, though much solicited to engage
in this branch of his art, and chiefly restricted himself to
the painting of ceilings and grand apartments, in which he
excelled by an elegance of taste, and tolerable correctness
of design. His most noted work was for the burgo masters
of Amsterdam, in their great council-chamber; in which
he chose for his subject Moses appointing the 70 elders,
and which he executed in a manner highly honourable to
him as an artist. Without ever having seen Rome, he
acquired the style of the Italian masters, by studying after
the finest designs of the best artists of that country, which
he collected with great judgment and ex pence. The colouring of Dewit is extremely good, and his compositions
are grand and pleasing; his pencil is free, and his touch
abounds with spirit and brilliancy; and a better taste of
design would have rendered him truly eminent. But his
singular excellence consisted in his imitations of bas-relief
in stone, wood, or plaster, which he painted both in oil
and in fresco, so as to give them the appearance of real
carvings. His sketches, though slight, are much admired
for their freedom and spirit, and are purchased by persons
of the best taste. This artist, who died at Amsterdam in
1754, etched, from his own designs, a set of six small
plates, representing “groupes of boys,
” which are executed in a very spirited style; and the “Virgin and Child.
”
, the famous pensionary of Holland, was the second son of Jacob De Witt, burgomaster of Dort, and deputy
, the famous pensionary of Holland,
was the second son of Jacob De Witt, burgomaster of
Dort, and deputy to the states of Holland; and born in
1625. He was educated at Dort, and made so great a
progress in his studies, that at twenty-three he published
“Elementa Curvarum Linearum
” one of the ablest books
in mathematics that had appeared in those days. After
he had taken the degree of LL. D. he travelled for some
years; and, on his return in 1650, became a pensionary
of Dort, and distinguished himself early in the management of public affairs. He opposed with all his power the
war between the English and Dutch, representing in strong
colours the necessary ill consequences of it to the republic:
and, when the events justified his predictions, gained so
great credit, that he was unanimously chosen pensionary
of Holland; first to officiate provisionally, and afterwards
absolutely into the office. On this occasion, some of his
friends, reminding him of the fate of his predecessor Barnevelt, he replied, that “human life was liable to trouble
and danger; and that he thought it honourable to serve
his country, which he was resolved to do, whatever returns
he might meet with.
” The continuance of the war was so
visibly destructive to the commerce and interest of the
republic, that the pensionary with his friends used all their
skill to produce a negociation. Ambassadors were sent to
Cromwell, who by this time had called a new parliament. To
this assembly the Dutch ministers were directed to apply,
but quickly found them very different people from those
with whom they had been accustomed to deal; for they
entertained the ambassadors with long prayers, and discovered a total ignorance of the business, telling Cromwell, that, if he would assume the supreme authority, they
might soon come to a right understanding. This was precisely what he wanted; and though he rejected their advice in words, declaring himself an humble creature of the
parliament, yet he soon after found means to get rid of
them, and took upon him the government under the title
of protector. He then made a peace with the Dutch; the
most remarkable condition of which was, the adding a secret article for the exclusion of the house of Orange, to
which the States consented by a solemn act. But the
article of the exclusion raised a great clamour in Holland:
it was insinuated to be suggested to Cromwell by De Witt;
and the pensionary and his friends found it difficult to carry
points absolutely necessary for the service of the people.
The clergy too began to meddle with affairs of state in
their pulpits; and, instead of instructing the people how
to serve God, were for directing their superiors how to
govern their subjects. But his firmness got the better of
these difficulties; and so far overcame all prejudices, that
when the time of his high office was expired, he was unanimously continued in it, by a resolution of the States,
Sept. 15, 1663.
He seemed now to have vanquished even Envy herself. In all difficult cases, his ministry was employed: and when the prince of East-Friesland quarrelled with
He seemed now to have vanquished even Envy herself. In all difficult cases, his ministry was employed: and when the prince of East-Friesland quarrelled with his subjects, he was put at the head of the deputation to terminate the disputes. When war with England, alter the king’s restoration, became necessary, he was one of the deputies that prevailed on the states of Guelder and Overyssel to furnish their quota: he was appointed one of the commissioners for the direction of the navy, and made such vigorous dispositions, that he had a fleet in much better condition, and more ready for sea, than the admirals themselves imagined possible; though naval affairs were quite new to him. When it was thought expedient, after Opdam’s defeat and death, that some of their own deputies should command the fleet, he was one of those three that were put in commission. When he came on board, the fleet was shut up in the Texel, and, in order to secure the outward-bound East India fleet, it was necessary for it to put to sea; which, as the wind then stood, the sailors declared impossible. It was the received doctrine, that there were but 10 points of the compass from which the wind could carry ships out, and that 22 were against them. The pensionary was alone of another opinion; and, as he was a great mathematician, soon discovered the falsity of this notion: he discovered, that there were in reality no less than 28 points for them, and but four against them. He engaged to carry one of their greatest ships through the Spaniard’s-gat with the wind at S. S. W. which he performed Aug. 16, 1665; the greatest part of the fleet followed him without the least accident, and the passage has since been called Witt’s-diep. They met with a dreadful storm on the coast of Norway, which lasted two days: De Witt remained upon deck all the time, never changed his cloaths, nor took any refreshment, but in common with the men; and, when he saw a want of hands, obliged his officers to work by his own example. He wrote a plain and accurate relation of all that happened during the expedition, and at his return verified every article of this account so fully to the States, that they gave him solemn thanks for his good services, and offered him a considerable present, which, however, he declined to accept.
When the famous battle in 1666 was fought between the English and Dutch for three days, he was
When the famous battle in 1666 was fought between the English and Dutch for three days, he was sent by the States to take a full account of the affair; and he drew up one from the best authorities he could obtain, which is justly esteemed a master-piece in its kind, and a proof of his being as capable of recording great actions as of achieving them. In 1667, finding a favourable conjuncture for executing the great design of the warm republicans, he established the perpetual edict, by which the office of stacltholder was for ever abolished, and the liberty of Holland, as it was supposed, fixed on an eternal basis. In 1672, when the prince of Orange was elected captain and admiral-general, he abjured the stadtholdership. A tumult happened at Dort, and the people declared they would have the prince for stadtholder; to which place he came in person on their invitation, and accepted the office. Most of the other towns and provinces followed the example and seditions arose from these pretences, that the De Witts plundered the state, and were enemies to the house of Orange. The pensionary begged his dismission from the post; which was granted, wiih thanks for his faithful services. He did not affect business, when he saw it was no longer in his power to benefit the public; and he deplored in secret the misfortunes of his country, which, from the highest prosperity, fell, as it were, all at once to the very brink of ruin. The invasion of the French, their rapid progress, their own intestine divisions, spread every where terror and confusion; and the prince of Orange’s party heightened these confusions, in order to ruin the De Witts. The mob were encouraged to pull down a house, in which the pensionary was supposed to lie sick; an attempt was made to assassinate the two brothers on the same day, in different places; the count de Monthas, who had married their sister, was ordered to be arrested in his camp as a traitor, though he had behaved with the greatest bravery. Cornelius De Witt, on the accusation of Ticklaer, a barber, of a design of poisoning the prince, was imprisoned and condemned to exile, though his judges could not declare him guilty. The same ignominious wretch persuaded the people, that he would be rescued out of prison; upon which they instantly armed, and surrounded the place, where it unfortunately happened the pensionary was with his brother. They broke open the doors, insisted on their walking down, and barbarously murdered them. They carried their dead bodies to the gallows, where they hung the pensionary a foot higher than his brother; afterwards mangling their bodies, cut their cloaths in a thousand pieces, and sent them about the country, as trophies of conquest; and some of them, it is said, cut out large pieces of their flesh, which they broiled and ate.
is 47th year; the greatest genius of his time, and the ablest politician in war as well as peace. He was a frank sincere man, without fraud or artifice, unless his silence
Thus fell this zealous patron of the glory and liberty
of his native country, in his 47th year; the greatest genius
of his time, and the ablest politician in war as well as peace.
He was a frank sincere man, without fraud or artifice,
unless his silence might be thought so. Sir W r illiam
Temple, who was well acquainted with his character,
speaks of him, on various occasions, with the utmost esteem, and with the highest testimonies of praise and admiration. He observes, that when he was at the head of
the government, h differed nothing in his manner of living
from an ordinary citizen. When he made visits, he
was attended only by a single footman; and on common
occasions he was frequently seen in the streets without any
servant at all. His office, for the first ten years, brought
him in little more than 300l. and in the latter part of his
life not above 700l. per annum. He refused a gift of
10,000l. from the States, because he thought it a bad precedent in the government. His fortune was much inferior
to what, in our times, we see commonly raised by an underclerk in a high office. With great reason, therefore, sir
William Temple, speaking of his death, observes, that he
“deserved another fate, and a better return from his
country, after eighteen years spent in their ministry,
without any care of his entertainments or ease, and little
of his fortune. A man of unwearied industry, inflexible
constancy, sound, clear, and deep understanding, and untainted integrity; so that, whenever he was blinded, it
was by the passion he had for that which he esteemed the
good and interest of his state. This testimony is justly
due to him from all that were well acquainted with him;
and is the more willingly paid, since there can be as little
interest to flatter, as honour to reproach the dead.
” Hume,
with equal truth, describes him as “a minister equally eminent for greatness of mind, for capacity, and for integrity.
Though moderate in his private deportment, he knew how
to adopt in his public councils that magnanimity winch
suits the minister of a great state. It was ever his maxim,
that no independent government should yield to another
any evident point of reason or equity; and that all such
concessions, so far from preventing war, served no other
purpose than to provoke fresh claims and insults.
”
, a French naturalist and biographer, was born at Paris in the beginning of the last century. He was the
, a
French naturalist and biographer, was born at Paris in the
beginning of the last century. He was the son of a bookseller of Paris, and was educated in his native city, but a
considerable time after this he spent in foreign countries,
particularly in Italy, where he formed a taste for the fine
arts. He became acquainted with men of science in various parts of Europe, and was elected in 1750 member
of the royal society in London, and of the academy of
sciences at Montpelier. He wrote some considerable articles, particularly those of gardening and hydrography,
in the French Encyclopaedia; and in 1747 he published,
in quarto, “La Theorie et la Pratique du Jardinage;
”
and in Conchyliologie, ou Traite sur la nature des
Coquillages,
” 2 vols. 4to, reprinted 1757, and accounted
his most valuable work. His arrangement is made from
the external form of shells, according to which he classes
them as univalve, bivalve, and multivalve; he then divides
them again into shells of the sea, of fresh water, and of
the lands. He also gave an account of the several genera of animals that inhabit shells. He published also
“L'Orycthologie ou Traite des pierres, des mineraux,
des metaux et autres Fossiles,
” Abreg6 de la
Vie de quelques Peintres celebres,
” 3 vols. 4to, and 4 vols.
8vo, a work of great labour and taste, although not absolutely free from errors. He practised engraving sometimes
himself. He died at Paris in 1766; and his son continued
the biography began by the father by the addition of two
volumes, containing the lives of architects and sculptors.
e of the island of Melos, surnamed the Atheist, lived in the ninety-first olympiad, or 412 B. C. and was a follower of Democritus. Having been sold as a captive in his
, a native of the island of Melos, surnamed the Atheist, lived in the ninety-first olympiad, or 412 B. C. and was a follower of Democritus. Having been sold as a captive in his youth, he was redeemed by Democritus for 10,000 drachmas, and instead of being made his servant, was trained up in the study of philosophy, for which he had probably showed a capacity. At the same time he cultivated polite learning, and distinguished himself in the art of lyric poetry, which was so successfully practised about that period by Pindar, Bacchylis, and others. His name has been transmitted to posterity as an. avowed advocate for the rejection of all religious belief; and although Clemens Alexandrinus and others have taken pains to exculpate him, by pleading that his only intention was to ridicule heathen superstitions, the general voice of antiquity has so strongly asserted his atheistical principles, that we cannot refuse credit to the report without allowing too much indulgence to historical scepticism. It is easy to conceive, that one who had studied philosophy in the school of Democritus, who admitted no other principles in nature than atoms and a vacuum, would reject the whole doctrine of Deity as inconsistent with the system which he had embraced. And it is expressly asserted by ancient writers, that when, in a particular instance, he saw a perjured person escape punishment *, he publicly declared his disbelief of divine providence, and from that time not only spoke with ridicule of the gods, and of all religious ceremonies, but even attempted to lay open the sacred mysteries, and to dissuade the people from submitting to the rites of initiation. These public insults offered to religion brought upon him the general hatred of the Athenians; who, upon his refusing to obey a summons to appear in the courts of judicature, issued forth a decree, which was inscribed upon a brazen column, offering the reward of a talent to any one who should kill him, or two talents to any one who should bring him alive before the
thief; who swore he was not guilty of glory thereby, concluded that there
thief; who swore he was not guilty of glory thereby, concluded that there
the crime, and soon after he gained a was no providence, nor any gods, and
the crime, and soon after he gained a was no providence, nor any gods, and
, a distinguished Portuguese navigator, is celebrated as the discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope. He was employed by king John II. of Portugal, on a voyage of discovery
, a distinguished Portuguese navigator, is celebrated as the discoverer of the Cape of
Good Hope. He was employed by king John II. of Portugal, on a voyage of discovery on the coast of Africa, and
in 1486 he had traced nearly a thousand miles of new
country, and after encountering violent tempests, and
losing the company of the victualling vessel which attended
him, he came in sight of the cape that terminates Africa;
but the state of his ship, and the untoward disposition of
his crew, obliged him to return without going round it.
He named it, on account of the troubles which he had
undergone in the voyage, “Cabo Tormentoso,
” or the
“Stormy Cape.
” He returned to Lisbon in December
Cabo del
Bueno Esperanza,
” or the “Cape of Good Hope.
”
, one of the early martyrs to the protestant religion, was born at Cnenza, in Spain, in the beginning of the sixteenth
, one of the early martyrs
to the protestant religion, was born at Cnenza, in Spain,
in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and studied
theology at Paris, where, from reading the books of Luther
and his disciples, he soon embraced his doctrines. This
circumstance rendering it necessary to quit Paris, he went
to Calvin at Geneva, with whom, and with Budeus and
Crispinus, he studied for some time. He then went to
Strasburgh, and became known to Bucer, who, perceiving
his promising talents, obtained leave of the council of that
town to take him with him to the conference at Ratisbon.
Diaz was no sooner arrived there, than he found out Malvenda, whom he had known at Paris, who employed the
strongest arguments he could muster to induce him to return into the bosom of the church; but Diaz persevered
in his opinions. Soon after, having got\e to Nenbnrg, to
attend the correcting of a book of Bucer’s which was then
at press, he was surprised to see arrive at that place one of
his brothers named Alfonsus, an advocate at the court of
Rome, who, having heard of his apostacy, as he termed
it, immediately set out in hopes to reclaim him, but was
not more successful than Malvenda. Instead, however, of
lamenting what he might term the obduracy of his brother,
he laid a plan against his life; to execute which base purpose, he feigned to return home, and went as far as
Augsburg; but the day following he returned, accom.panied by a guide, and at break of day was again at Neuburg. His first business was to seek his brother accordingly he went straight to his lodgings with his companion,
who was disguised as a courier, and waited at the foot of
the staircase, while the accomplice went up to the apartment of Diaz, for whom he pretended he had letters to
deliver from his brother. Dia/ being roused from sleep,
the pretended messenger delivered lam the letters, and
while he read them, made a fatal stroke at his head with
an axe which he had concealed under his cloak, and fled
with his instigator Alfonsus. The report of this murder,
which happened March 27, 1546, excited great indignation at Augsburg and elsewhere; the assassins were vigorously pursued, were taken, and imprisoned atlnspruck;
but the emperor Charles V. put a stop to the proceedings
under pretext that he would take cognizance himself of the
affair at the approaching diet. This did not, however,
appease the conscience of Alfonsus, the fratricide, who
put an end to the torments of reflection by hanging himself. A particular history of the whole transaction was
published in Latin under the name of Claude Senarclaeus,
8vo, which is very scarce. Jt was addressed to Bucer,
under the title “Historia vera de morte J. Diazii.
” Diaz
was the author of a “Summary of the Christian Religion,
”
of which a French translation was published at Lyons,
1562, 8vo.
, a disciple of Aristotle, was born at Messina in Sicily. He was a philosopher, historian,
, a disciple of Aristotle, was born at
Messina in Sicily. He was a philosopher, historian, and
mathematician, and composed a great many books on various subjects, and in all sciences, which were much
esteemed. Cicero speaks frequently in the highest terms
both of the man and his works. Geography was one of
his principal studies; and we have a tieatise, or rather a
fragment of a treatise, of his still extant upon that subject. It was first published by Henry Stephens in 1589,
with a Latin version and notes; and afterwards by Hudson at Oxford in 1703, among the “Veteris geographiae
scriptures Graecos minores, &c.
” Pliny tells us that “Dicearchus, a man of extraordinary learning, had received a
commission from some princes to take the height of the
mountains, and found Pelion, the highest of them, to be
1250 paces perpendicular, from whence he concluded it
to bear no proportion which could affect the rotundity of
the globe.
” He published some good discourses upon politics and government; and the work he composed concerning the republic of Lacedaemon was thought so excellent, that it was read every year before the youth in
the assembly of the ephori. As a philosopher, his tenets
have little to recommend them* He held that there is no
such thing as mind, or soul, either in man or beast; that
the principle by which animals perceive and act, is equally
diffused throngh the body, is inseparable from it, and expires with it; that the human race always existed; that it
is impossible to foretel future events; and that the knowledge of them would be an infelicity.
, by dame Janet Dick, the only child and heiress of sir James Dick, of Prestonfield, near Edinburgh, was born Oct. 23, 1703. While his two elder brothers succeeded to
, bart. of Prestonfield, an eminent physician, the third son of sir William Cunningham,
of Caprington, by dame Janet Dick, the only child and
heiress of sir James Dick, of Prestonfield, near Edinburgh,
was born Oct. 23, 1703. While his two elder brothers
succeeded to ample fortunes, the one as heir to his father,
and the other to his mother, the provision made for a
younger son was not sufficient to enable him to live in a
manner agreeable to his wishes without the aid of his own
exertions. After, therefore, receiving a classical education at Edinburgh, he studied medicine at Leyden under
the celebrated Boerhaave, and obtained the degree of
M. D. from that univer c; Aug. 31, 1725. On this occasion he published an i“, > -,gural dissertation,
” De Epilepsia," which did him much credit. Not long after this
he returned to Scotland, and had the honour of receiving
a second diploma for the degree of M. D. conferred upon
him by the university of St. Andrew’s, Jan. 23, 1727, and
Nov. 7 of the same year, was admitted a fellow of the royal
college of physicians of Edinburgh. But after Dr. Cunningham (for at that time he bore the name of his father)
had received these distinguishing marks of attention at
home, he was still anxious to obtain farther knowledge of
his profession by the prosecution of hi-, studies abroad.
With this intention he made the tour of Europe; and although medicine was uniformly his first and principal object, yet other arts and sciences were not neglected.
the list of whose members his name had been enrolled at a very early period of his life. In 1756 he was unanimously chosen president of the college, and was afterwards
On his return to Britain, Mr. Hooke, a gentleman with
whom he had formed an intimate friendship, and who possessed a large fortune in Pembrokeshire, persuaded him
to settle as a physician in that country, where for several
years he practised with great reputation and success. But
his immediate elder brother, sir William Dick, dying without issue, he succeeded to the family estate and title, assuming from that time the name and arms of Dick; and
very soon after fixed his residence at the family-seat of
Preston-field. Although he now resolved to relinquish
medicine as a lucrative profession, yet, from inclination,
he still continued to cultivate it as an useful science. With
this view he supported a friendly and intimate correspondence with the physicians of Edinburgh, and paid particular attention to the business of the royal college, among
the list of whose members his name had been enrolled at a
very early period of his life. In 1756 he was unanimously
chosen president of the college, and was afterwards elected
to that office for seven years successively. He not only
contributed liberally towards the building of a hall for their
accommodation, but strenuously exerted himself in promoting every undertaking in which he thought the honour
or interest of the college was concerned. He was also
long distinguished as a zealous and active member of the
philosophical society of Edinburgh, and when the present
royal society of Edinburgh received its charter, the name
of sir Alexander Dick stood enrolled as one of the first in
the list. For many years he discharged the duties of a
faithful tfnd vigilant manager of die royal iniirinnrj of
Kdinburgh; and took on all occasions an active share in
promoting every public and useful undertaking. When
the seeds of the true rhubarb were first introduced into
Britain by the late Dr. Mounsey of Petersburg!), he not
only bestowed great attention on the culture of the plant,
but also on the drying of the root, and preparing it for the
market. His success in these particulars was so great,
that the society in London for the encouragement of arts
and commerce, presented him, in 1774, with a gold medal,
which is inscribed “To sir Alexander Dick, bart. for the
best specimen of British rhubarb.
” While steady in the
pursuit of every object which engaged his attention, his
conduct in every transaction through life was marked with
the strictest honour and integrity. This, disposition, and
this conduct, not only led him to be constant and warm in
his friendship to those with whom he lived in habits of
intimacy, but also procured him the love and esteem of
all who really knew him. Notwithstanding the keenness
and activity of his temper, yet its striking features were
mildness and sweetness. He was naturally disposed to put
the most favourable construction on the conduct and actions of others, which was both productive of much happiness to himself, and of general benevolence to mankind.
And that serenity and cheerfulness which accompanied his
conduct through life, were the attendants even of his last
moments for on Nov. 10, 1785, he died with a smile
upon his countenance, lamented as a great loss to society.
, a celebrated physician and chemist, was son of William Dickinson, rector of Appleton in Berkshire, and
, a celebrated physician and
chemist, was son of William Dickinson, rector of Appleton in Berkshire, and born there in 1624. He acquired
his classical learning at Eton, and from thence, in 1642,
was sent to Merton-college in Oxford. Having regularly
taken the degrees in arts, he entered on the study of medicine, and took both the degrees in that faculty. In 1655
he published his “Delphi Phcenicizantes, *kc.
” a very
learned piece, in which he attempts to prove that the
Greeks borrowed the story of the Pythian Apollo, and all
that rendered the oracle of Delphi famous, from the holy
scriptures, and the book of Joshua in particular *. His
work procured him much reputation both at home and
abroad; and Sheldon (afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) is said to have had so high a sense of its value, that
he would have persuaded the author to have applied himself to divinity, and to have taken orders; but he was
already fixed in his choice. To this treatise were added,
1. “Diatriba de Nore in Italiam adventu; ejusque nominibus ethnicis.
” 2. “De origine Druidum.
” 3. Oratiuncula pro philosophia liberanda,“which had been spoken,
by him in the hall of Merton college, July 1653, and was
the first tiling which made him known among the learned.
4.
” /acharias Bogan Edmundo Dickinson;“a letter filled
with citations from the most ancient authors in support of
his opinions, and the highest commendations of his learning, industry, and judgment. The
” Delphi Phoenicizantes,“&c. came out first at Oxford in 1655, 12mo, and was
reprinted at Francfort, 1669, 8vo, and at Rotterdam in
1691, by Crenius, in the first volume of his
” Fasciculus
dissertation uo> Historico-critico-philologicarum," 12mo.
Afterwards Dr. Dickinson applied himself to chemistry
with much assiduity; and, about 1662, received a visit
from Theodore Mundanus, an illustrious adept of France,
who encouraged him mightily to proceed in the study of
alchemy, and succeeded in persuading him of the possibility of the transmutation of metals, a credulity for which
he probably paid first in his purse, and afterwards in his
reputation. At length he left his college, and took a
house in the High-street, Oxford, for the sake of following the business of his profession more conveniently. In.
li>69 he married for the first time; but his wife dying
in child- bed, and leaving him a daughter, he some time
after married a second, who also died in a short time. His
wives were both gentlewomen of good families.
king, who made him one of his physicians in ordinary, and physician to his household. As that prince was a lover of chemistry, and a considerable proficient, Dickinson
On the death of Dr. Willis, which happened in 1684,
Dickinson removed to London, and took his house in St.
Martin’s- lane where, soon after recovering Henry Bennet, earl of Arlington, lord chamberlain to Charles II.
when all hopes of recovery were past, that nobleman
introcluced him to the king, who made him one of his physicians
in ordinary, and physician to his household. As that
prince was a lover of chemistry, and a considerable proficient, Dickinson grew into great favour at court; which
favour lasted to the end of Charles’s reign, and that of his
successor James, who continued him in both his places.
In 1636 he published in Latin his epistle to Theodore
Mundanus, and also his answer, translated from the French
into Latin: for, in 1679, this chemist had paid him a
second visit, and renewed his acquaintance. The title of
it in English is, “An Epistle of E. D. to T. M. an adept,
concerning the quintessence of the philosophers, and the
true system of physics, together with certain queries concerning the materials of alchemy. To which are annexed
the answers of Mundanus,
” 8vo. After the abdication of
his unfortunate master, he retired from practice, being old,
and much afflicted with the stone, but continued his studies.
He had long meditated a system of philosophy, not founded
on hypothesis, or even experiment, but, chiefly deduced
from principles collected from the Mosaic history. Part of
this laborious work, when he had almost finished it, was
burnt; but, not discouraged by this accident, he began it
a second time, and did not discontinue it, till he had completed the whole. It came out in 1702 under the title of
“Physica vetus et vera sive tractatus de naturali veritate
hexoemeri Mosaici, &c.
” In this he attempts, from the
scriptural account of the creation, to explain the manner
in which the world was formed. Assuming, as the ground
of his theory, the atomic doctrine, and the existence
of an immaterial cause of the concourse of indivisible
atoms, he supposes the particles of matter agitated by a
double motion; one gentle and transverse, of the particles
among themselves, whence elementary corpuscles are
formed; the other circular, by which the whole mass is
revolved, and the regions of heaven and earth are produced. By the motion of the elementary corpuscles of
different magnitude and form, he supposes the different
bodies of nature to have been produced, and attempts,
upon this plan, to describe the process of creation through
each of the six days. He explains at large the formation
of human nature, shewing in what manner, by means of a
plastic seminal virtue, man became an animated being.
This theory, though founded upon conjecture, and loaded
with unphilosophical fictions, the author not only pretends
to derive from the Mosaic narrative, but maintains to have
been consonant to the most ancient Hebrew traditions.
The use which this theorist makes of the doctrine of atoms,
shews him to have been wholly unacquainted with the true
notion of the ancients on this subject; and indeed the
whole work seems to have ben the offspring of a confused imagination, rather than of a sound judgment. Burnet, who attempted the same design afterwards, discovered far more learning and ability. This work, however,
was in such demand as to be printed again at Rotterdam
in 1703, in 4to, and at Leoburg, 1705, 12mo.
eti ad montem Mercurii.” He left behind him also in ms. a Latin treatise on the Grecian games, which was annexed to an account of his life and writings, published at
Besides the pieces above mentioned, he is supposed to
have been the author of “Parabola philosophica, seu iter
Philareti ad montem Mercurii.
” He left behind him also
in ms. a Latin treatise on the Grecian games, which was
annexed to an account of his life and writings, published
at London in 1739, 8vo, by the Rev. W. N. Blomberg,
rector of Fulham. He died of the stone, April 1707, being
then in his eighty-third year, and was interred in the
church of St. Martin in the Fields.
, an eminent divine of the church of Scotland, the son of John Dickson, a merchant in Glasgow, was born about 1583, and educated at the university of his native
, an eminent divine of the church of
Scotland, the son of John Dickson, a merchant in Glasgow, was born about 1583, and educated at the university
of his native city. After taking the degree of M. A. he
was admitted regent, or professor of philosophy, an office
which, at that time, somewhat after the manner of the
foreign universities, was held only for a term of years (in this case, of eight years) after which these regents received ordination. Accordingly, in 1618, Mr. Dickson
was ordained minister of the town of Irvine, which preferment he held about twenty-three years, and became a very
popular preacher. Although always inclined to the presbyterian form of church-government, he had shewn no
great reluctance to the episcopal forms until the passing of
what are known, in the ecclesiastical history of Scotland,
by the name of the Perth articles; five articles, which enjoined kneeling at the sacrament; private adtninistratioa
of it in extreme sickness; private baptism, if necessary;
episcopal confirmation; and the observation of Epiphany,
Christmas, &c. These, however harmless they may appear to an English reader, were matters not only of objection, but abhorrence to a great proportion of the Scotch
clergy; and Mr. Dickson having expressed his dislike in
strong terms, and probably in the pulpit, was suspended
from his pastoral charge, and ordered to remove to Turriff,
in the north of Scotland, within twenty days. After much
interest, however, had been employed, for he had many
friends among persons of rank, who respected his talents
and piety, he was allowed in 1623 to return to Irvine.
As during the progress of the rebellion in England, the
power of the established church decayed also in Scotland,
Dickson exerted himself with considerable effect in the
restoration of the presbyterian form of church-government,
and there being a reluctance to this change on the part
of the learned divines of Aberdeen, he went thither in
1637, and held solemn disputations with Doctors Forbes,
Barron, Sibbald, &c. of that city, which were afterwards published. In 1641 he was removed from Irvine
to be professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow;
and in 1643 he assisted in drawing up some of those
formularies which are contained in the “Confession of
Faith,
” a book which is still subscribed by the clergy of
Scotland. The “Directory for public worship,
” and
“The sum of saving knowledge,
” were from his pen, assisted, in the former, by Henderson and Calderwood and
in the latter, by Durham. Some years after, probably
about 1645, he was invited to the elmir of professor of divinity at Edinburgh, which he held until the restoration,
when he was ejected for refusing the oath of supremacy.
He did not survive this long, dying in 1662. He was esteemed one of the ablest and most useful men of his time,
in the promotion of the church of Scotland as now established, and his writings have been accounted standard
books with those who adhere to her principles as originally
laid down. His principal works are, I. “A Commentary
on the Hebrews,
” 8vo. 2. “On Matthew,
” 4to. 3. “On
the Psalms,
” On the Epistles,
”
Latin and English, folio and 4to. 5. “Therapeutica Sacra, or Cases of Conscience resolved,
” Latin 4to, English
8vo. 6. “A treatise on the Promises,
” Dublin, Confession of
Faith,
” he lectured, when professor of divinity, on that
book, the heads of which lectures were afterwards published, as he had delivered them, in Latin, under the title
“Prelectiones in Confessionem Fidei,
” folio but they
have been since translated and often reprinted, under the
title of “Truth’s Victory over Error,
” one of the most
useful, and now, we believe, the only one of his works
which continues still popular in Scotland. Prefixed is a
life of the author by Woodrow, the ecclesiastical historian, from which we have extracted the above particulars.
Dictys wrote six volumes of the Trojan war in the Phœnician characters; and in his old age, after he was returned to his own country, ordered them, a little before his
, is the supposed name of a very ancient historian, who, serving under Idomeneus, a king of Crete, in the Trojan war, wrote the history of that expeilition in nine books; and Tzetzes tells us, that Homer formed his Iliad upon his plan: but the Latin history of Dictys, which we have at present, is altogether spurious. There are two anonymous writers still extant, who pretend to have written of the Trojan war previously to Homer, one of whom goes under the name of Dictys Cretensis, the other that of Dares Phrygius, of which last we have already taken some notice. Before the history of Dictys there are two prefaces the first of which relates that Dictys wrote six volumes of the Trojan war in the Phœnician characters; and in his old age, after he was returned to his own country, ordered them, a little before his death, to be buried with him in a leaden chest or repository, which was accordingly done; that, however, after many ages, and under the reign of Nero, an earthquake happened at Cnosus, a city of Crete, which uncovered Dictys’s sepulchre, and exposed the chest; that the shepherds took it up, and expecting a treasure, opened it; and that, finding this history, they sent it to Nero, who ordered it to be translated, or rather transcharactered, from Phoenician into Greek. It has been inferred from this story that the history was forged by some of Nero’s flatterers, as he always affected a fondness for any thing relating to Trojan antiquities. The other preface to Dictys is an epistle of L. Septimius, the Latin translator, in which he inscribes it to Arcadius Kuffinus, who was consul in the reign of Constantino; and tells nearly the same story of the history we have already related. That the present Latin Dictys had a Greek original, now lost, appears from the numerous Grecisms with which it abounds; and from the literal correspondence of many passages with the Greek fragments of one Dictys cited by ancient authors. The Greek original was very probably, as we have just hinted, forged under the name of Dictys, a traditionary writer on the subject, in the reign of Nero. The best editions of Dictys and Dares Phrygius, are that of madame Dacier, Paris, 1680, 4to, and that of Smids, 4to and 8vo, Anist. 1702, 2 volumes.
, of the academy of Berlin, an eminent French writer, was the son of a cutler, and was bora at Langres, in 1713. The Jesuits,
, of the academy of Berlin, an eminent French writer, was the son of a cutler, and was bora
at Langres, in 1713. The Jesuits, with whom he went
through a course of study, were desirous of having him in
their order, and one of his uncles designing him for a canonry which he had in his gift, made him take the tonsure. But his father, seeing that he was not inclined to
be either a Jesuit or a canon, sent him to Paris to prosegute his studies. He then placed him with a lawyer, to
whose instructions young Diderot paid little attention, but
employed himself in general literature, which not coinciding with the views of his father, he stopped the remittance of his pecuniary allowance, and seemed for some
time to have abandoned him. The talents of the young
man, however, supplied him with a maintenance, and
gradually made him known. He had employed his mind
on physics, geometry, metaphysics, ethics, belles-lettres,
from the time he began to read with reflection, and although a bold and elevated imagination seemed to give him
a turn for poetry, he neglected it for the more serious
sciences. He settled at an early period at Paris, where
the natural eloquence which animated his conversation
procured him friends and patrons. What first gave him
reputation among a certain class of readers, unfortunately for France, too numerous in that country, was
a little collection of “Pensees philosophiques,
” reprinted
afterwards under the title of “Etrennes aux esprits-forts.
”
This book appeared in Pensees de Pascal.
” But
the aim of the two authors was widely different. Pascal
employed his talents, and erudition, which was profound
and various, in support of the truths of religion, which
Diderot attacked by all the arts of an unprincipled sophist.
The “Pensées philosophiques,
” however, became a toiletbook. The author was thought to be always in the right,
because he always dealt in assertions. Diderot was more
usefully employed in 1746, in publishing a “Dictionnaire
universelle de Medecine,
” with Messrs. Eidous and Toussaint, in G vols. folio. Not that this compilation, says his
biographer, is without its defects in many points of view,
or that it contains no superficial and inaccurate articles;
but it is not without examples of deep investigation; and
the work was well received. A more recent account, however, informs us that this was merely a translation of Dr.
James’s Medical Dictionary, published in this country in
1743; and that Diderot was next advised to translate
Chambers’ s Dictionary; but instead of acting so inferior a
part, he conceived the project of a more extensive undertaking, the “Dictionnaire Encyclopedique.
” So great a
monument not being to be raised by a single architect,
D'Alembert, the friend of Diderot, shared with him the
honours and the dangers of the enterprise, in which they
were promised the assistance of several literati, and a variety of artists. Diderot took upon himself alone the description of arts and trades, one of the most important
parts, and most acceptable to the public. To the particulars of the several processes of the workmen, he sometimes added reflections, speculations, and principles
adapted to their elucidation. Independently of the part
of arts and trades, this chief of the encyclopedists furnished in the different sciences a considerable number of
articles that were wanting; but even his countrymen are
inclined to wish that in a work of such a vast extent, and
of such general use, he had learned to compress his matter, and had been less verbose, less of the dissertator, and
less inclined to digressions. He has also been censured for
employing needlessly a scientific language, and for having
recourse to metaphysical doctrines, frequently unintelligible, which occasioned him to be called the Lycophron.
of philosophy; for having introduced a number of definitions incapable of enlightening the ignorant, and which
he seems to have invented for no other purpose than to
have it thought that he had great ideas, while in fact, he
had not the art of expressing perspicuously and simply
the ideas of others. As to the body of the work, Diderot
himself agreed that the edifice wanted an entire reparation; and when two booksellers intended to give a new
edition of the Encyclopedic, he thus addressed them on
the subject of the faults with which it abounds: “The
imperfection of this work originated in a great variety of
causes. We had not time to be very scrupulous in the
choice of the coadjutors. Among some excellent persons,
there were others weak, indifferent, and altogether bad.
Hence that motley appearance of the work, where we see
the rude attempt of a school-boy by the side of a piece
from the hand of a master; and a piece of nonsense next
neighbour to a sublime performance. Some working for
no pay, soon lost their first fervour; others badly recompensed, served us accordingly. The Encyclopedic was a
gulf into which all kinds of scribblers promiscuously threw
their contributions: their pieces were ill-conceived, and
worse digested; good, bad, contemptible, true, false, uncertain, and always incoherent and unequal; the references
that belonged to the very parts assigned to a person, were
never filled up by him. A refutation is often found where
we should naturally expect a proof; and there was no exact
correspondence between the letter-press and the plates.
To remedy this defect, recourse was had to long explications. But how many unintelligible machines, for want
of letters to denote the parts!
” To this sincere confession Diderot added particular details on various parts; such
as proved that there were in the Encyclopedic subjects
to be not only re-touched, but to be composed afresh;
and this was what a new company of literati and artists undertook, but have not yet completed. The first edition,
however, which had been delivering to the public from
1751 to 1767, was soon sold off, because its defects were
compensated in part by many well-executed articles, and
because uncommon pains were taken to recommend it to
the public.
tered upon this work, are now universally known. It has been completely proved, that their intention was to sap the foundation of all religion; not directly or avowedly,
The great objects which Diderot and his coadjutors had in view when they entered upon this work, are now universally known. It has been completely proved, that their intention was to sap the foundation of all religion; not directly or avowedly, for \mre-faced atheism would not then have been suffered in France. They had engaged a very worthy, though not very acute clergyman, to furnish the theological articles, and while he was supporting, by the best arguments which he could devise, the religion of his country, Diderot and D'Alembert were overturning those arguments under titles which properly allowed of no such disquisitions. This necessarily produced digressions: for the greatest genius on earth could not, when writing on the laws of motion, attack the mysteries of Christianity without wandering from his subject; but that the object of these digressions might not pass unnoticed by any class of readers, care was taken to refer to them from the articles where the question was discussed by the divine. That when employed in this way, Diderot seems to write obscurely, is indeed true; but the obscurity is not his. His atheism was so plain, that for the most part, D'Alembert or some other leader, had to retouch his articles, and throw a mist over them, to render their intention less obvious.
ed to see it, after a year or two’s payments, and the visitation could be no longer put off, Diderot was obliged to run in a hurry through all the booksellers shops
Diderot, who had been working at this dictionary for near twenty years, had not received a gratuity proportionate to his trouble and his zeal, and saw himself not long after the publication of the last volumes, reduced to the necessity of exposing his library to sale, which he pretended to be very copious and valuable. The empress of Russia ordered it to be bought for her at the price of fifty thousand livres, and left him the use of it. It is said, that when her ambassador wanted to see it, after a year or two’s payments, and the visitation could be no longer put off, Diderot was obliged to run in a hurry through all the booksellers shops in Germany, to fill his empty shelves with old volumes. He had the good fortune to save appearances; but the trick was discovered, because he had been niggardly in his attention to the ambassador’s secretary. This, however, did not hinder him from visiting the empress, where he behaved in such a manner, that her majesty thought it necessary to send him back, and he comforted himself for this disgrace, with the idea that the Russians were not yet ripe for the sublimity of his philosophy.
ere no more than two volumes of the dictionary published; and the prohibition of the succeeding ones was only taken off at the end of 1753. Five new volumes then successively
In the mean time, the “Encyclopedic,
” which had
partly procured its editor these foreign honours and remunerations, gave great offence at home. Certain positions
on government and on religion occasioned the impression
to be suspended in 1752. At that time there were no more
than two volumes of the dictionary published; and the
prohibition of the succeeding ones was only taken off at
the end of 1753. Five new volumes then successively appeared. But in 1757 a new storm arose, and the book
was suppressed. The remainder did not appear till about
ten years after; and then was only privately distributed.
Some copies were even seized, and the printers were imprisoned in the Bastille. To whatever cause all these
interruptions were imputable, Diderot did not suffer his
genius to be impeded by the difficulties that were thrown
in his way. Alternately serious and sportive, solid and
frivolous, he published at the very time he was working
on the Dictionary of Sciences, several productions which
could scarcely have been thought to proceed from an encyclopedical head. His “Bijoux indiscrets,
” 2 vols.
12mo, are of this number a disgusting work, even to
those young- people who are unhappily too eager after licentious romances. Even here a certain philosophical pedantry appears, in the very passages where it is most misplaced; and never is the author more aukvvard than when
he intends to display a graceful ease. The “Fils naturel,
”
and the “Pere de Famille,
” two comedies in prose, which
appeared in Theatre de M. Diderot,
” are dialogues containing
profound reflections and novel views of the dramatic art.
In his plays he has endeavoured to unite the characters of
Aristophanes and Plato; and in his reflections he sometimes displays the genius of Aristotle. This spirit of criticism is exhibited, but with too much licence, in two other
works, which made a great noise. The former appeared
in 1749, 12mo, under the title of “Letters on the blind,
for the use of those who sec.
” The free notions of the author
in this work cost him his liberty, and he underwent a six
months imprisonment atVincennes. Having naturally strong
passions and a haughty spirit, finding himself on].a sudden
deprived of liberty, and of all intercourse with human
beings, he had like to have lost his reason; and to prevent
this, his keepers were obliged to allow him to leave his
room, to take frequent walks, and to receive the visits of
a few literary men. J. J. Rousseau, at that time his friend,
went and administered consolation to him, which he ought
not to have forgot. The letter on the blind was followed
by another on the “deaf and dumb, for the use of those
who can hear and speak,
” 1751, 2 vols. 12mo. Under,
this title, the author delivered reflections on metaphysics,
on poetry, on eloquence, on music, &c. There are some
good things in this essay, mixed with others superficial
and absurd. Though he strives to be perspicuous, yet he
is not always understood, and indeed, of all “that he has
composed on abstract subjects, it has been said that he
presents a chaos on which the light shines only at intervals.
The other productions of Diderot betray the same defect
of clearness and precision, and the same uncouth emphasis
for which he has always been blamed. The principal of
them are: 1.
” Principles of Moral Philosophy,“1745,
12mo, of which the abbe des Fontaines speaks well, though
it met with no great success. It was our philosopher’s fate
to write a great deal, and not to leave a good book, or at
least a book well composed. 2.
” History of Greece,
translated from the English of Stanyan,“1743, 3 vols.
12mo, an indifferent translation of an indifferent book.
3.
” Pieces on several mathematical subjects,“1748, 8vo.
4.
” Reflections on the Interpretation of Nature,“1754,
12mo. This interpreter is very obscure. 5.
” The Code
of Nature,“1755, 12mo, which is certainly not the code
of Christianity. 6.
” The -Sixth Sense,“1752, 12mo.
7.
” Of Public Education,“one of that swarm of publicutio. produced by the appearance of Emilius, and the
abolition of the Jesuits but some of his ideas in this work
are very judicious, and would be highly useful in the execution. 8.
” Panegyric on Richardson,“full of nerve
and animation. 9.
” Life of Seneca.“This was his last
work; and', is one of those which may be perused with
most pleasu even while we cannot approve the judgments
be passes on beneca and other celebrated men.
The abb Barruel says that he was the author of
” Systeme de la Nature,“which is usually given to Robinet; and
it is certain that if he was not the author, he furnished
hints, and revised the whole. Naigeon, his friend and
disciple, collected and published his works in 15 vols. 8vo,
at Paris, 1797, containing some articles which we have
not noticed; and in 18 10 a small publication appeared, entitled
” Diderotiana."
on. In 1784 his health began visibly to decline; and one of his domestics, perceiving that his death was at no great distance, acquainted him with his apprehensions,
It is remarkable that there were moments in which Diderot, notwithstanding his avowed impiety, seems to have
been compelled by the force of truth, to pay homage to
the New Testament. An acquaintance found him one day
explaining it to his daughter, with all the apparent seriousness and energy of a believer. On expressing his
surprize, Diderot replied, “I understand your meaning;
but after all, where is it possible to find better lessons
for her instruction?
” This from him who had given so
many lessons of a different kind, and had been a more
zealous teacher of impiety and profligacy than perhaps any
man in France, appears somewhat improbable; yet it may
coincide with a report, which is more certain, that in his
latter days he shewed some signs of contrition. In 1784
his health began visibly to decline; and one of his domestics, perceiving that his death was at no great distance,
acquainted him with his apprehensions, and addressed him
on the importance of preparing for another world. He
heard the man with attention, thanked him kindly, acknowledged that his situation required seriousness, and promised
to weigh well what he had said. Some time after this
conversation he desired a priest might be brought, and
the same domestic introduced one, whom Diderot saw several times, and was preparing to make a public recantation of his errors. Condorcet, and his other philosophic
friends, now crowded about him, persuaded him that he
was cheated, that his case was not so dangerous as it was
said to be, and that he only wanted the country air to restore him to health. For some time he resisted their attempts to bring him back to atheism, but was at last prevailed upon to leave Paris; and his departure being kept
secret, he was concealed in the country till July 2, when
he died. His dead body was then secretly brought back
to Paris, and his friends eagerly spread the report that he
died suddenly on rising from the table, without the least
sign of repentance.
His character, from what has been said, is not very difficult to be understood. Some of his countrymen extol
his frankness, his candour, his disinterestedness, his integrity while others represent him as artful, interested,
and concealing iiis cunning- under a cheerful air, and sometimes >ven a rough behaviour which we confess appears
more probable, as the genuine result of his principles. Towards the laiter part of uis life he hurt himself in th.: public
opinion, by taking up too warmly the pretended ahVo-Ls he
imagined to exist against him in the “Confessions
” of
his old friend J. J. Rousseau; and by this conduct left unfavourable impressions both of his heart and his understanding. This Rousseau, whom he so much decries, praises
him in the second manuscript part of his Confessions; but
says in one of his letters, that “though naturally kind,
i of a generous disposition, Diderot had the unhappy
;>ensity to misinterpret the speeches and actions of his
:ids; and that the most ingenuous explanations only
furnished the subtilty of his invention with new interpretations against them.
” The enthusiasm Diderot displays in
some of his productions, appeared in the circle of his,
friends, on every topic of discourse. He spoke with rapidity, with vehemence, and the turns of his phrases were
often poignant and original. It has been said, that nature
by mistake made him a metaphysician, and not a poet; but
though he was often a poet in prose, he has left some verses
which prove him to have had but little talent for poetry. The
intrepid philosophy of which he boasted, affected always to
brave the shafts of criticism; and his numerous censors were
unable to cure him either of his taste for a system of metaphysics scarcely intelligible, or of his fondness for exclamations and apostrophes which prevailed in his conversation and
in his writings. He married, and we are told by his friends,
was in domestic life sensible and obliging; easily provoked,
but as easily calmed; yielding to transient ebullitions of
temper, but generally having it under command. The
goodness or badness of his temper, however, as affecting
his relatives, is a matter of little consequence, compared
to the more extensive mischief which arose from his writings
as an infidel, and his example as a profligate. Of the latter we need no more decided proof than the extract from
one of his letters to Wilkes, published by lord Teignmouth
in his “Life of Sir William Jones.
” La Harpe, to whose
“Lyceum
” we may refer for an impartial account of
Diderot, thinks very justly that the principal cause of the
success of the French infidels, in gaining readers and followers, arose from their enlisting the passions on their side.
Such, says he, is the basis of their system, the general
spirit of their sect, and the principle of their success. The
method is not very honourable, but with a little address it
is almost sure to succeed, at least for a time, for nothing
is more easy than to pass off as a theory, a corruption which
already exists as a fashion.
deserves a more satisfactory article than the French biographers have as yet enabled us to give him, was born at Paris in 1730, and was the son of a printer and bookseller,
, an eminent French printer,
who deserves a more satisfactory article than the French
biographers have as yet enabled us to give him, was born
at Paris in 1730, and was the son of a printer and bookseller, who provided him with an excellent classical education before he introduced him into business. Full of
enthusiasm for the advancement of the art of printing,
young Didot determined to rival those celebrated printers,
Joachim Ibarra of Spain, and Baskerville of England, and
lived to surpass both. He soon brought his press to a state
of excellence unattained by any of his contemporaries;
and extended his skill to every branch connected with it.
Among the number of improvements perfected by his
exertions, is the construction of mills for making fine
paper, which he assisted not only by his zeal and activity,
but by pecuniary contribution. He also invented a press
by which the workman is enabled to print, equally and at
once the whole extent of a sheet; and he was the inventor of
many other machines and instruments now commonly used
in printing offices, all which have powerfully contributed
to the modern advancement of the typographical art. The
elegant editions of the classics published by order of Louis
XIV. for the education of the Dauphin, were the production of the Didots 1 press, as well as the collection of romances called the D'Artois, in 64 vols. 18mo; the Theatrical Selections by Corneille, the works of Racine, Telemachus, Tasso’s Jerusalem, two superb Bibles, and a
multiplicity of other inestimable works, each of which, on
its publication, seemed to make nearer approaches to perfection. Didot sedulously endeavoured to unite in his
family every talent auxiliary to the printing art; one of his
sons became a celebrated type-founder; and the voice of
fame announces the superior rank which they both deservedly hold among the printers of the age. The fond
father delighted to observe that he was excelled by his
children; while they dutifully ascribed their success to the
force of his instruction, and the benefit of his example.
The life of JDidot was the life of honour; his abilities were
universally known and respected; and the following anecdote will prove the goodness of his heart: in one of his
journeys to the paper mills of Anonay, he met an artist
who had introduced in France an improvement in the application of cylinders, &c. and believing that his ingenuity
merited reward, exerted all his interest with government;
but unfortunately, when he was on the point of succeeding,
the artist died, leaving two girls in the helpless state of
infancy. Didot took the orphans in his arms, proclaimed
himself their father, and kept his word. At the age of
seventy-three, Didot read over five times, and carefully
corrected, before it was sent to the press, every sheet of
the stereotype edition of Montague, printed by his sons.
At four o'clock in the morning he was pursuing this fatiguing occupation. The correctness of the text will therefore render this work particularly valuable among the productions of the modern press. About eighteen months
previous to his death, he projected an alphabetical index
of every subject treated upon in Montague’s Essays. He
had collected all his materials, at which he laboured unceasingly; and perhaps too strict an application to this
favourite study accelerated the death of this eminent artist
and benevolent man, which took place July 10, 1804.
His business is still successfully carried on by his sons,
Peter and Firmia Didot. The reputation of the elder
Didot was much assisted by the labours of his brother,
Peter Francis, who died in 1795, and to whom we owe
the beautiful editions of Thomas a Kempis, fol. of Telemachus, 4to the “Tableau de l'empire Ottoman,
” &c.
, of Alexandria, was an ecclesiastical writer of the fourth century, who supplied
, of Alexandria, was an ecclesiastical writer
of the fourth century, who supplied a very important defect by dint of genius and application. Jerome and Ruffinus assure us that though he lost his eyes at five years of
age, when he had scarcely learned to read, yet he applied
himself so earnestly to study, that he not only attained in
a high degree grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, music,
and the other arts, but even was able to comprehend some
of the most difficult theorems in mathematics. He was
particularly attached to the study of the Scriptures; and
was selected as the most proper person to fill the chair in
the famous divinity-school at Alexandria. His high reputation drew a great number of scholars to him; among
the principal of whom were Jerome, Ruffinus, Palladius,
and Isidorus. He read lectures with wonderful facility,
answered upon the spot all questions and difficulties relating to the Holy Scriptures, and refuted the objections
which were raised against the orthodox faith. He was the
author of a great number of works of which Jerome has
preserved the titles in his catalogue of ecclesiastical writers;
and of many more whose titles are not known. We have
yet remaining a Latin translation of his book upon the Holy
Spirit, to be found in the works of Jerome, who was the
translator; and which is perhaps the best treatise the
Christian world ever saw upon the subject. Whatever has
been said since that time, in defence of the divinity and
personality of the Holy Ghost, seems, in substance, to be
foand in this book. His other works extant are, a treatise
against the Manichees, in the original Greek, and “Enarrations upon the seven catholic epistles in Latin,
” and in
the Greek Chains are fragments of some of his commentaries. J. C. Wolff, of Hamburgh, published a large collection of notes and observations of Didymus upon the Acts
of the Apostles, taken from a manuscript Greek chain, at
Oxford. See Wolfii Anecdot. Graec. 1724. Didymus
also wrote commentaries upon Origen’s books of Principles, which he defended very strenuously against all
opposers. He was a great admirer of Origen, used to consider him as his master, and adopted many of his
sentiments; on which account he was condemned by the fifth
general council. He died in the year 395, aged eightyfive years.
, another of the name, was an eminent musician of Alexandria, and, according to Suidas,
, another of the name, was an eminent musician of Alexandria, and, according to Suidas, cotemporary in the first century with the emperor Nero, by
whom he was much honoured and esteemed. This proves
him to have been younger than Aristoxenus, and more ancient than Ptolemy, though some have imagined him to
have preceded Aristoxenus. He wrote upon grammar and
medicine, as well as music; but his works are all lost, and
every thing we know at present of his barmonical doctrines
is from Ptolemy, who, by disputing, preserved them.
However, this author confesses him to have been well
versed in the canon and harmonic divisions; and if we
may judge from the testimony, even of his antagonist, he
must have been not only an able theorist in music, but a
man of considerable learning. As this musician preceded Ptolemy, and was the first who introduced the minor
tone into the scale, and, consequently, the practical major 3d -f, which harmonized the whole system, and pointed
out the road to counterpoint; an honour that most critics
have bestowed on Ptolemy, he seems to have a better title
to the invention of modern harmony, or music in parts,
than Guido, who appears to have adhered, both in theory
and practice, to the old division of the scale into major
tones and limmas. “The best species of diapason,
” says
Doni, “and that which is the most replete with fine harmony, and chiefly in use at present, was invented by Didymus. His method was this: after the major semitone E F
T-f, he placed the minor tone in the ratio of V, between
F G, and afterwards the major tone between G A; but
Ptolemy, for the sake of innovation, placed the major
tone where Didymus placed the minor.
” Ptolemy, however, in speaking of Didymus and his arrangement, objects
to it as contrary to the judgment of the ear, which requires
the major tone below the minor. The ear certainly determines so with us, and it is therefore probable, that in
Ptolemy’s time the major key was gaining ground. Upon
the whole, however, it appears that these authors only
differ in the order, not the quality of intervals.
, a Lutheran divine, was born June 30, 1647, at Stade in the duchy of Bremen, where his
, a Lutheran divine, was born June
30, 1647, at Stade in the duchy of Bremen, where his father was also a clergyman. He studied at Giessen, Jena,
and Wirtemberg, at which last university he took his master’s degree. In 1672 he finished his course of study, and
in 1675 was appointed rector of Stade. In 1683 he was
raised to the dignity of superintendant of the duchies of
Bremen and Ferden, and about that time was honoured
with the degree of doctor of divinity by the university of
Kiel. In 1712, the war obliging him to leave Stade, he
went to Bremen; but after three years returned, and was
re-instated in his office at Stade, where he died July 4,
1720. He wrote, 1. “De naturalismo cum aliorum, turn
maxime Joannis Bodini, ex opere ejus manuscripto anecdoto, de abditis rerum subliinium arcanis, schediasnaa,
”
Leipsic, Specimen
glossarii Latino-theodisci.
” 3. “Dissertationes de sparsione florum.
” 4. “De dissensu ecclesiae orientalis et
Latinae circa purgatorium.
” 5. “Enneacles animadversionum in diversa Joca annalium cardinalis Baronii,
” &c.
He wrote also various tracts in the German language, collected in a volume, Hamburgh, 1709, 4to. But he is,
perhaps, better known as the publisher of an edition of
the Stade Bible, which is a revision of Luther’s German
Bible.
, a governor of the Dutch East India settlements, was born at Kuilenburg. He went, in early life, in a low military
, a governor of the Dutch
East India settlements, was born at Kuilenburg. He went,
in early life, in a low military capacity to India, where he
was chiefly employed in writing petitions for the soldiers;
but being afterwards promoted to a post under government, which required some skill in accounts, he became a
merchant, and afterwards accountant-general of the Dutch
settlements in India. In 1625, he was appointed a member of the supreme council, and in 1631 he returned to
Holland as commander of the India fleet. He remained
but a few months in Europe, and when he went back to
India many important offices devolved on him. In 1642,
he sent out two ships to explore the unknown countries to
the south, part of which, forming the southern extremity
of New Holland, was, in honour of him, distinguished by
the appellation of “Van Diemen’s Land.
” He died in
April
, was born at Montfort, in the neighbourhood of Utrecht, Dec. 13,
, was born at Montfort, in the neighbourhood of Utrecht, Dec. 13, 1609.
After taking his degree of doctor in medicine at Angers, he
went to Nimeguen in 1636, and continued there, through
that and the following years, practising during the plague,
which all that time raged with greatviolence. This furnished him with observations on the nature and treatment
of that disease, which he published at Amsterdam, in 1644,
4to; but as he pursued the injudicious plan of keeping the
patients in close apartments, and gave them heating medicines, his practice was probably not so successful as his
book, which has passed through many editions. In 1642
he went to Utrecht, ar>d was made professor extraordinary
in medicine. His lectures in medicine, and in anatomy,
procured him great credit, and were no less useful to the
university, drawing thither a great conflux of pupils. In
1651, he was made ordinary professor; he was also twice
appointed rector of the university, and continued in high
esteem to the time of his death, which happened Nov. 17,
1674, when his funeral oration was pronounced by the
learned Graevius. Although an Arminian in his religious
tenets, the magistrates dispensed in his case with the laws
which excluded persons of that persuasion from attaining
academical honours. In 1649 he published “O ratio de
reducenda ad Medicinam Chirurgia;
” and in 12mo, in which Haller says, there
are some curious and useful observations. His
” Anatoine
Corporis Humani,“which has passed through numerous
editions, was first published in 1672, 4to, a compilation,
interspersed with some original observations; but the plates
are neither very elegant nor very correct. In 1G85, his
works were collected and published tog-ether, at Utrecht,
under the title of
” Opera Omnia,“by his son Timanis de
Diemerbroeck, in folio. This was reprinted in two volumes,
4to, and published at Geneva in 1687. It contains, besides the works above named,
” A treatise on the Measles
and Small-pox, a century of observations in medicine and
surgery, and a third part of disputations containing accounts of diseases of the lower belly."
, an artist, was born at Bois-le-Duc, in 1607, and was at first a painter on
, an artist, was born at
Bois-le-Duc, in 1607, and was at first a painter on glass,
in which he was accounted excellent, and even superior
to any of his time; yet he discontinued it, on account of
a variety of discouraging accidents that happened to him,
in his preparations for that kind of work. He studied for
some time in Italy, and found there good employment as a
glass painter; but he turned his thoughts entirely to painting in oil; and, to obtain the best knowledge of colouring,
entered himself in the school of Rubens, where he improved exceedingly, and was considered as one of the good
disciples of that great master; yet, notwithstanding the
opportunity he had of refining his national taste, during
his residence in Italy, he never altered his original style
of design; for all his subsequent compositions were too
much loaded, and not very correct. His invention was
fertile, and shewed genius, and his execution was full of
spirit; but it was no inconsiderable prejudice to him, to
have been engaged in such a number of designs as were
perpetually thrown in his way, and which he was obliged
to strike out in a hurry, without competent time allowed
for judgment to revise, digest, and correct them. Designs
for title-pages, for theses, and devotional subjects, engrossed the greatest part of his time and his labour; or
designs for the decoration of books; of which kind, that
called the “Temple of the Muses,
”
, another artist, known in this country, was born at the Hague, in 1655; but spent the greatest part of his
, another artist, known in this country, was born at the Hague, in 1655; but spent the greatest part of his life in England, to which he came in his seventeenth year, and where he gradually rose into considerable credit, having been well instructed by his father, who was a skilful painter of sea-pieces. His taste of landscape was formed almost entirely (as he often declared) by designing the lovely views in the western parts of England, and along the coasts. Some of his pictures have great clearness and transparence in the colouring, and a peculiar tenderness in the distances; they are truly fine in the skies, have an uncommon freedom in the clouds, and an agreeable harmony through the whole. But, as he was often obliged to paint for low prices, there is a great disproportion in his works. The narrowness of his circumstances depressed his talent, and rendered him inattentive to fame, being solely anxious to provide for his family. Had he been so happy as to receive a proper degree of encouragement, it is not improbable that he might have approached near to those of the first rank in his profession. The figures in his landscapes were frequently inserted by the younger Adrian Coloni, his brother-in-law. He began to engrave a set of prints, after views from his own designs, but the gout put an end to his life in 170-1, in the forty- ninth year of his age. Lord Orford, who has a portrait of him, thinks he was not much encouraged in England, except by Granville earl of Bath, for whom he drew several views and ruins in the West of England.
d afterwards superintendent of Giessen, and nephew of Conrad Dieterk, another learned German divine, was born at Butzbach, Jan. 19, 1612. After having studied at Marpurg,
, the son of John Conrad,
first minister of the church of Butzbach, and afterwards
superintendent of Giessen, and nephew of Conrad Dieterk,
another learned German divine, was born at Butzbach,
Jan. 19, 1612. After having studied at Marpurg, Jena,
and Strasburgh, he maintained a thesis, in 1635, under
professor Dilher, on the utility of profane authors in the
study of the Holy Scriptures. He then went into Holland, where he became acquainted with the learned Vossius, Boxborn, Barlaeus, Heinsius, and other eminent
scholars. Thence he travelled into Denmark and Prussia,
remaining some time at Konigsberg. On his return,
George II. landgrave of Hesse, appointed him professor of
Greek and history in 1639. From the observations which
he left on the aphorisms of Hippocrates, he appears to
have in some early part of his life studied medicine. On
certain disputes arising between the princes of the house of
Hesse, prince George invited him to his court to arrange
the papers and documents preserved in the archives. In
1647, he obtained leave to go to Hamburgh, where he
remained until these family-disputes were adjusted. In
1653, when the college of Giessen was founded, which
had brought many visitors from Marpnrg, he became one
of the professors, and remained in this office, with great
reputation, until his death in 1669. The letters which
John Christian, baron of Boinebourg, wrote to him, and
which were printed in 1703, evince the high esteem which
that nobleman entertained for him. He was editor of a
work written by Henry of Bunau, entitled “Historia
imperatorum Germanicorum familise Saxonies, Henrici I.
Ottonis magni; Ottonis II. Ottonis III. et Henrici II.
”
Giessen, 1666, 4to. His own works are, 1. “Breviarium
historicum et geographicum.
” 2. “Breviarium pontificum.
” 3. “Discursus historico-politicus de perigratione
studiorum,
” Marpurg, Graecia exulans,
seu de infelicitate superioris sseculi in Greecarum litterarum ignoratione.
” 5. “Antiquitates llomanai.
” 6.
“latraeum Hippocraticum,
” Ulm, 1661, 4to. 7. “Breviarium ha3reticorurn et conciliorum.
” 8. “Index in Hesiodum.
” 9. “Lexicon Etymologico-Graecum.
” 10.
“Antiquitates Biblicue, in quibus decreta, prophetiae, sermones, consuetudincs, ritusque ac dicta veteris Testamenti de rebus Judaeorum et Gentilium, qua sacris, qua
profanis, expenduntur; ex editione Joannis-Justi Pistorii,
”
Giessen, Antiquitates Nov. Testamenti, seu
illustramentum Nov. Test, sive Lexicon philologico-theologicum Græco-Latinum,
” Francfort, 1680, folio.
oon college of that city, a man of great abilities, and uncommonly versed in the oriental languages, was born April 7, 1590, at Flushing, where his father Daniel de
, protestant minister of Leyden, and professor in the Walloon college of that city, a man of great abilities, and uncommonly versed in the oriental languages, was born April 7, 1590, at Flushing, where his father Daniel de Dieu was minister. Daniel was a man of great merit, and a native of Brussels, where he had been a minister twenty: two years. He removed from thence in 1585, to serve the church at Flushing, after the duke of Parma had taken Brussels. He understood Greek and the oriental languages, and could preach with the applause of his auditors in German, Italian, French, and English. The churches of the Netherlands sent him, in 1588, over to queen Elizabeth, to inform her of the designs of the duke of Parma, who secretly made her proposals of peace, while the king of Spain was equipping a formidable fleet against England. Lewis, his son, studied under Daniel Colonius, his uncle by his mother’s side, who was professor at Leyden in the Walloon college. He was two years minister of the French church at Flushing; and might have been court-minister at the Hague, if his natural aversion to the manners of a court had not restrained him from accepting that place. There are some circumstances relating to that affair which deserve to be remembered. Prince Maurice, being in Zealand, heard Lewis de Dieu preach, who was yet but a student; and some time after sent for him to court. The young man modestly excused himself, declaring, that he designed to satisfy his conscience in the exercise of his ministry, and to censure freely what he should find deserved censure; a liberty, he said, which courts did not care to allow. Besides, he thought the post which was offered him more proper for a man in years than a student. The prince, conscious that he was in the right, commended his modesty and prudence. He was called to Leyden in 1619 to teach, with his uncle Colonius, in the Walloon college; and he discharged the duty of that employment with great diligence till his death, which happened in 1642. He refused the post, which was offered him, of divinity-professor in the new university of Utrecht; but, if he had lived long enough, he would have been advanced to the same post in that of Leyden. He married the daughter of a counsellor of Flushing, by whom he had eleven children.
apter of his “Critical History of the Commentators on the New Testament.” The estimation in which he was held by archbishop Usher, appears from the Letters of that excellent
Father Simon speaks advantageously of the writings of
Lewis de Dieu in the 35th chapter of his “Critical History
of the Commentators on the New Testament.
” The estimation in which he was held by archbishop Usher, appears
from the Letters of that excellent prelate, published by
Dr. Parr. The titles of his learned writings are, 1.
“Compendium Grammatica; Hebraicae,
” Leyden, Apocalypsis S. Joanna Syriace ex manuscripto
exemplari bibliothecce Jos. Scaligeri edita, &c.
” Leyden,
Grammatica trilinguis, Hebraica, Syriaca,
et Chaldaica,
” ibid. Animadversiones in
quatuor evangelia,
” ibid. Animadversiones
in Acta Apostolorum,
” ibid. Historia Christi et S. Petri Persice conscripta, &c.
” ibid.
Rudimenta linguae Persictc,
” ibid. Animadversiones in Epistolam ad Romanes et
reliquas Epistolas,
” ibid. Animadversiones
in omnes libros Veteris Testamenti,
” ibid. Critica Sacra, sive animadversiones in loca qucedam difficiliora Veteris et Novi Testamenti,
” Amst. Grammatica Linguarum Orientalium ex recensione Davidis Clodii,
” Francfort, Aphorismi Theologi,
” Utrecht, Traite
co‘ntre l’avarice, par Louis de Dieu, qui est le seul de tous
ses ouvrages Flamans qu‘il ait souhaite qu’on publiat.
” Deventer, Khetorica Sacra.
”
ish gentleman, memorable for the share he had in the powder-plot, and his suffering on that account, was descended from an ancient family, and born some time in 1581.
, an English gentleman, memorable for the share he had in the powder-plot, and his suffering on that account, was descended from an ancient
family, and born some time in 1581. His father, Everard
Digby, of Drystoke in Rutlandshire, esq. a person of great
worth and learning, was educated in St. John’s college,
Cambridge, where he took the degree of M. A. and published several treatises, some on learned, others on curious
subjects: as, 1. “Theoria analytica viam ad mouarchiam
scientiarum demonstrans,
” De duplici
methodo libri duo, Rami methodum refutantes,
” 1580,
8vo. 3. “De arte natandi, libri duo,
” A
dissuasive from taking away the goods and livings of the
church,
” 4to. His son, the subject of this article, was
educated with great care, but unfortunately under the tuition of some popish priests, who gave him those impressions which his father, if he had lived, might probably have
prevented; but he died when his son was only eleven
years of age. He was introduced very early to the court
of queen Elizabeth, where he was much noticed, and received several marks of her majesty’s favour. On the accession of king James, he went likewise to pay his duty,
as others of his religion did; was very graciously received;
and had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him,
being looked on as a man of a fair fortune, pregnant abilities, and a court-like behaviour. He married Mary,
daughter and sole heiress of William Mulsho, esq. of Gothurst, in Buckinghamshire, with whom he had a great fortune, which, with his own estate, was settled upon the
children of that marriage. One would have imagined that,
considering his mild temper and happy situation in the
world, this gentleman might have spent his days in honour
and peace, without running the smallest hazard of meeting
that disgraceful death, which has introduced his name into
all our histories: but it happened far otherwise. He was
drawn in by the artifices and persuasions of sir Thomas
Tresham, a zealous papist, and probably also by those of
the notorious Catesby, with whom he was intimate, to be
privy to the gunpowder-plot; and though he was not a
principal actor in this dreadful affair, or indeed an actor
at all, yet he offered 1500l. towards defraying the expences
of it; entertained Guy Fawkes, who was to have executed
it, in his house; and was taken in open rebellion with
other papists after the plot was detected and miscarried.
The means by which sir Everard was persuaded to engage
in this affair, according to his own account, were these:
first, he was told that king James had broke his promises
to the catholics; secondly, that severer laws against popery
would be made in the next parliament, that husbands
would be made obnoxious for their wives’ otte/iees and
that it would be made a praemunire only to be a catholic;
but the main point was, thirdly, that the restoring of the
catholic religion was the duty of every member and that,
in consideration of this, he was not to regard any favonjr*
received from the crown, the tranquillity of his country,
or the hazards that might be run in respect to his life, his
family, or his fortune. Upon his commitment to the Tower,
he persisted steadily in maintaining his own innocence as
to the powder-plot, and refused to discover any who were
concerned in it; but when he was brought to his trial at
Westminster, Jan. 27, 1606, and indicted for being acquainted with and concealing the powder-treason, taking
the double oath of secrecy and constancy, and acting
openly with other traitors in rebellion, he pleaded guilty.
After this, he endeavoured to extenuate his offence, by
explaining the motives before mentioned; and then requested that, as he had been alone in the crime, he might
alone bear the punishment, without extending it to his
family; and that his debts might be paid, and himself beheaded. When sentence of death was passed, he seemed
to be very much affected: for, making a low bow to those
on the bench, he said, “If I could hear any of your lordships say you forgave me, I should go the more cheerfully
to the gallows.
” To this all the lords answered, “God
forgive you, and we do.
” He was, with other conspirators, upon the 30th of the same month, hanged, drawn,
and quartered at the west end of St. Paul’s church in London, where he asked forgiveness of God, the king, the
queen, the prince, and all the parliament; and protested,
that if he had known this act at first to have been so foul a
treason, he would not have concealed it to have gained a
world, requiring the people to witness, that he died penitent and sorrowful for it. Wood mentions a most extraordinary circumstance at his death, as a thing generally
Itnown, or rather generally reported; namely, that when
the executioner plucked out his heart, and according to
form held it up, saying, “Here is the heart of a traitor,
”
sir Everard made answer, “Thou lyest;
” a story which
will scarcely now obtain belief; yet it is told by Bacon in
his “Historia vitae et mortis,
” although he does not mention sir Everard’s name.
e desired might be communicated to them at a fit time, *i> the last advice of their father. While he was in the Tower, he wrote, in juice of lemon, or otherwise, upon
Sir Everard left at his death two young sons, afterward*
sir Kenelm and sir John Digby, and expressed his affection
towards them by a well-written and pathetic paper, which
he desired might be communicated to them at a fit time,
*i> the last advice of their father. While he was in the
Tower, he wrote, in juice of lemon, or otherwise, upon
slips of paper, as opportunity offered; and got these conveyed to his lady, by such as had permission to see him.
These notes, or advertisements, were preserved by the
family as precious relics till, in 1675, they were found at
the house of Charles Cornwallis, esq. executor to sir
Kenelm Digby, by sir Rice Rudd, bart. and William
Wogan of Gray’s-inn, esq. They were afterwards annexed
to the proceedings against the traitors, and other pieces
relating to the popish plot, printed by the orders of secretary Coventry, dated Dec. 12, 1678. In the first of these
papers there is the following paragraph “Now for my
intention, let me tell you, that if I had thought there had
been the least sin in the plot, I would not have been of it
for all the world; and no other cause drew me to hazard
my fortune and life, but zeal to God’s religion.
” Such
was the subjugation of sir Everard Digby' s understanding
and feelings to his religious principles, and the interest of
the church to which he was devoted, that he had no conception of there being the least sin in his engaging in a
conspiracy of the most execrable nature, and which involved in it an astonishing complication of murder. It
appears, too, that he was surprised and grieved to the last
degree, that the plot should be condemned by any catholic. Nor was he singular in these sentiments. The other
persons who were concerned in the conspiracy gloried in
the design, and they were most of them men of family,
estate, and character. Mr. Hume’s observations on the
subject are worthy of being recited: “Neither,
” says he,
“had the desperate fortune of the conspirators urged them
to this enterprize, nor had the former profligacy of their
lives prepared them for so great a crime. Before that
audacious attempt, their conduct seems, in general, liable
to no reproach. Catesby’s character had entitled him to
such regard, that Rookwood and Digby were seduced by
their implicit trust in his judgment; and they declared,
that, from the motive alone of friendship to him, they were
ready, on any occasion, to have sacrificed their lives.
Digby himself was as highly esteemed and beloved as any
man in England; and he had been particularly honoured
with the good opinion of queen Elizabeth. It was bigoted
zeal alone, the most absurd of prejudices masqued with
reason, the most criminal of passions covered with the
appearance of duty, which seduced them into measures that
were fatal to themselves, and had so nearly proved fatal to
their country.
”
, who once enjoyed the reputation of a philosopher, the eldest son of sir Everard Digby, was born at Gothurst in Buckinghamshire, June 11, 1603. At the time
, who once enjoyed the reputation of a philosopher, the eldest son of sir Everard Digby,
was born at Gothurst in Buckinghamshire, June 11, 1603.
At the time of his father’s death, he was with his mother at
Gothurst, being then in the third year of his age: but he
seems to have been taken early out of her hands, since it
is certain that he renounced the errors of popery very
young, and was carefully bred up in the protestant religion,
under the direction, as it is supposed, of archbishop Laud,
then dean of Gloucester. Some have said, that king James
restored his estate to him in his infancy; but this is an
error; for it was decided by law that the king had no right
to it. About 1618 he was admitted a gentleman-commoner of Gloucester-hall, now Worcester college, in Oxford; where he soon discovered such strength of natural
abilities, and such a spirit of penetration, that his tutor,
who was a man of parts and learning, used to compare him,
probably for the universality of his genius, to the celebrated Picus de Mirandula. After having continued at
Oxford between two and three years, and having raised
the highest expectations of future eminence, he made the
tour of France, Spain, and Italy, and returned to England
in 1623; in which year he was knighted by the king, to
whom he was presented at the lord Montague’s house at
Hinchinbroke, October 23. Soon after, he rendered himself remarkable by the application of a secret he met with
in his travels, which afterwards made so much noise in
the world under the title of the “Sympathetic Powder,
”
by which wounds were to be cured, although the patient
was out of sight, a piece of quackery scarcely credible,
yet it was practised by sir Kenelm, and his patient Howell,
the letter-writer, and believed by many at that time. The
virtues of this powder, as himself assures us, were thoroughly inquired into by king James, his son the prince of
Wales, the duke of Buckingham, with other persons of
the highest distinction, and all registered among the observations of the great chancellor Bacon, to be added by
way of appendix to his lordship’s Natural History; but
this is not strictly true; for lord Bacon never published
that Appendix, although he does give a story nearly as
absurd.
After the death of James, he made as great a figure in the new court as he had done in the old; and was appointed a gentleman of the bed-chamber, a commissioner of
After the death of James, he made as great a figure in
the new court as he had done in the old; and was appointed a gentleman of the bed-chamber, a commissioner
of the navy, and a governor of the Trinity-house. Some
disputes having happened in the Mediterranean with the
Venetians, he went as adoiiral thither with a small fleet in
the summer of 1628; and gained great honour by his bravery and conduct at Algiers, in rescuing many English
slaves, and attacking the Venetian fleet in the bay of
Scanderoon. In 1632 he had an excellent library of Mss.
as well as printed books left him by Ins tutor at Oxford;
but, considering how much the Mss. were valued in that
university, and how serviceable they might be to the students there, he generously bestowed them the very next
year upon the Bodleian library. He continued to this time
a member of the church of England; but, going some time
afterwards into France, he began to have religious scruples, t-nd at length, in 1636, reconciled himself to the
church of Rome. He wrote upon this occasion to Laud an
apology for his conduct; and the archbishop returned him
an answer, full of tenderness and good advice, but, as it
seems, with very little hopes of regaining him. In his
letter to the archbishop, he took great pains to convince
him, that he had done nothing in this affair precipitately,
or without due consideration; and he was desirous that the
public should entertain the same opinion of him. As nothing also has been more common, than for persons who
have changed their system of religion, to vindicate their
conduct by setting forth their motives; so with this view
he published at Paris, in 1638, a piece, entitled “A Conference with a lady about the choice of Religion.
” It was
reprinted at London in
After a long stay in France, where he was highly caressed, he came over to England; and in 1639 was, with
After a long stay in France, where he was highly caressed, he came over to England; and in 1639 was, with
sir Walter Montague, employed by the queen to engage
the papists to a liberal contribution to the king, which
they effected; on which account some styled the forces
then raised for his majesty, the popish army. Jan. 1640,
the house of commons sent for sir Kenelm in order to know
how far, and upon what grounds, he had acted in. this
matter; which he opened to them very clearly, without
having the least recourse to subterfuges or evasions. Upon
the breaking out of the civil war, being at London, he
was by the parliament committed prisoner to Winchesterhouse; but at length, in 1643, set at liberty, her majesty
the queen dowager of France having condescended to write
a letter, with her own hand, in his favour. His liberty
was granted upon certain terms; and a very respectful
letter written in answer to that of the queen. Hearne has
preserved a copy of the letter, directed to the queen regent of France, in the language of that country; of which
the following is a translation: “Madam, the two houses
of parliament having been informed by the sieur de Gressy,
of the desire your majesty has that we should set at liberty
sir Kenelm Digby; we are commanded to make known to
your majesty, that although the religion, the past behaviour, and the abilities of this gentleman, might give some
umbrage of his practising to the prejudice of the constitutions of this realm; nevertheless, having so great a regard
to the recommendation of your majesty, they have ordered
him to be discharged, and have authorized us farther to
assure your majesty, of their being always ready to testify
to you their respects upon every occasion, as well as to
advance whatever may regard the good correspondence
between the two states. We remain your majesty’s most
humble servants, &c.
” In regard to the terms upon which
this gentleman was set at liberty, they will sufficiently appear from the following paper, entirely written, as well as
subscribed by his own hand: “Whereas, upon the mediation of her majesty the queen of France, it hath pleased
both houses of parliament to permit me to go into that
kingdom; in humble acknowledgement of their favour
therein, and to preserve and confirm a good opinion of my
zeal and honest intentions to the honour and service of my
country, I do here, upon the faith of a Christian, and the
word of a gentleman, protest and promise, that I will
neither directly nor indirectly negociate, promote, consent
unto or conceal, any practice or design prejudicial to the
honour or safety of the parliament. And, in witness of
my reality herein, I have hereunto subscribed my name,
this 3d day of August, 1643, Kenelm Digby.
” Hovfever,
before he quitted the kingdom, he was summoned by a
committee of the house of commons, in order to give an
account of any transactions he might be privy to between
archbishop Laud and the court of Rome; and particularly
as to an offer supposed to be made to that prelate from
thence of a cardinal’s hat. Sir Kenelm assured the committee that he knew nothing of any such transactions; and
that, in his judgment, the archbishop was what he seemed
to be, a very sincere and learned protestant. During his
confinement at Winchester-house, he was the author of
two pieces at the least, which were afterwards made public; namely, 1. “Observations upon Dr. Browne’s Religio
Medici,
” Observations on the 22d stanza in
the 9th canto of the 2d book of Spenser’s Fairy Queen,
”
a very deep philosophical commentary upon these most mysterious verses.
”
His appearance in France was highly agreeable to many
of the learned in that kingdom, who had a great opinion of
his abilities, and were charmed with the spirit and freedom,
of his conversation. It was probably about this time that,
having read the writings of Descartes, he resolved to go
to Holland on purpose to see him, and found him in his
retirement at Egmond. There, after conversing with him.
upon philosophical subjects some time, without making
himself known, Descartes, who had read some of his works,
told him, that “he did not doubt but he was the famous
sir Kenelm Digby!
” “And if you, sir,
” replied the
knight, “were not the illustrious M. Descartes, I should
not have come here on purpose to see you.
” Desmaizeaux,
who has preserved this anecdote in his Life of St. Evremond, tells us also of a conversation which then followed
between these great men, about lengthening out life to
the period of the patriarchs, which we have already noticed
in our account of Descartes. He is also said to have had
many conferences afterwards with Descartes at Paris, where
he spent the best part of the ensuing winter, and employed himself in digesting those philosophical treatises
which he had been long meditating; and which he published in his own language, but with a licence or privilege
from the French king the year following. Their titles are,
J. “A Treatise of the nature of Bodies.
” 2. “A Treatise
declaring the operations and nature of Man’s Soul, out of
which the immortality of reasonable Souls is evinced/'
Both printed at Paris in 1644, and often reprinted at London. He published also, 3.
” Institutionum peripateticarum libri quinque, curn appendice theologica de origine
mundi," Paris, 1651: which piece, joined to the two former, translated into Latin by J. L. together with a preface
in the same language by Thomas Albius, \hat is, Thomas
White, was printed at London in 4to, 1C69.
use first obtained, he should lose both life and estate. Upon this he went again to France, where he was very kindly received by Henrietta Maria, dowager queen of England,
After the king’s affairs were totally ruined, sir Kenelm found himself under a necessity of returning into England in order to compound for his estate. The parliament, however, did not judge it proper that he should remain here; and therefore not only ordered him to withdraw, but voted, that if he should afterwards at any time return, without leave of the house first obtained, he should lose both life and estate. Upon this he went again to France, where he was very kindly received by Henrietta Maria, dowager queen of England, to whom he had been for some time chancellor. He was sent by her not long after into Italy, and at first well received by Innocent X. but Wood says, behaved to the pope so haughtily, that he quickly lost his good opinion; and adds farther, that there was a suspicion of his being no faithful steward of the contributions raised in that part of the world for the assistance of the distressed catholics in England. After Cromwell had assumed the supreme power, sir Kenelm, who had then nothing to fear from the parliament, ventured to return home, and continued here a great part of 1655; when it has generally been supposed that he was embarked in the great design of reconciling the papists to the protector.
o any matters of this nature he received from. his friends in different parts of Europe. Among these was a relation he had obtained of a city in Barbary under the king
After some stay at Paris, he spent the summer of 1656
at Toulouse, where he conversed with several learned and
ingenious men, to whom he communicated, not only mathematical, physical, and philosophical discoveries of his
own, but also any matters of this nature he received from.
his friends in different parts of Europe. Among these was
a relation he had obtained of a city in Barbary under the
king of Tripoli, which was said to be turned into stone in
a very few hours by a petrifying vapour out of the earth;
that is, men, beasts, trees, houses, utensils, and the like,
remaining all in the same posture as when alive. He had
this account from Fitton, an Englishman residing in Flo
rence as library-keeper to the grand duke of Tuscany; and
Fitton from the grand duke, who a little before had written
to the pasha of Tripoli to know the truth. Sir Keuelm
sent it to a friend in England; and it was at length inserted in the “Mercurius Politicus.
” This drew a very
severe censure upon our author from the famous Henry
Stubbes, who called him, on that account, “The Pliny of
his age for lying.
” It has, however, been offered, in his
vindication, that accounts have been given of such a city
by modern writers; and that these accounts are in some
measure confirmed by a paper delivered to Richard Waller, esq. F. R. S. by Mr. Baker, who was the English consul at Tripoli, Nov. 12, 1713. This paper is to be found
in the “Philosophical Observations and Experiments of Dr.
Robert Hooke,
” published by Derham in About forty days journey S. E. from
Tripoli, and about seven days from the nearest sea-coast,
there is a place called Ougila, in which there are found
the bodies of men, women, and children, beasts and plants,
all petrified of hard stone, like marble.
” And we are afterwards told, in the course of the relation, that “the
figure of a man petrified was conveyed to Leghorn, and
from thence to England; and that it was carried to secretary Thurloe.
”
o- these he read, in French, his “Discourse of the Cure of Wounds by the Powder of Sympathy,” which, was translated into English, and printed at London; and afterwards
In 1657 we find him at Montpelier; whither he went,
partly for the sake of his health, which began to be impaired by severe fits of the stone, and partly for the sake
of enjoying the learned society of several ingenious persons, who had formed themselves into a kind of academy
there. To- these he read, in French, his “Discourse of
the Cure of Wounds by the Powder of Sympathy,
” which,
was translated into English, and printed at London; and
afterwards into Latin, and reprinted in 1669, with “The
Treatise of Bodies, &c.
” As to the philosophical arguments in this work, and the manner in which the author
accounts for the strange operations of this remedy, however highly admired in those days, they will not now be
thought very convincing. He spent the year 1658, and
part of 1659, in the Lower Germany; and then returned
to Paris, where we find him in 16CO. He returned the
year following to England, and was very well received at
court; although the ministers were far from being ignorant
of the irregularity of his conduct, and the attention he paid
to Cromwell while the king was in exile. It does not appear, however, that any other favour was shewn him than
seemed to be due to a man of letters. In the first
settlement of the royal society we find him appointed one of
the council, by the title of sir Kenelm Digby, knight.
Chancellor to our dear mother queen Mary. As long as
his health permitted, he attended the meetings of this society; and assisted in the improvements that were then
made in natural knowledge. One of his discourses, “Concerning the Vegetation of Plants,
” was printed in A treatise of adhering to God,
” which was printed at London in
He spent the remainder of his days at his house in Covent Garden, where he was much visited by the lovers of philosophical and mathematical
He spent the remainder of his days at his house in Covent Garden, where he was much visited by the lovers of philosophical and mathematical learning, and according to a custom which then prevailed much in France, he had a kind of academy, or literary assembly, in his own dwelling. In 1665 his old distemper the stone increased upon him much, and brought him very low; which made him desirous, as it is said, of going to France. This, however, he did not live to accomplish, but died on his birth-day, June 11th, that year; and was interred in a vault built at his own charge in Christ-church within Newgate, London. His library, which was justly esteemed a most valuable collection, had been transported into France at the first breaking out of the troubles, and improved there at a very considerable expense; but, as he was no subject of his most Christian majesty, it became, according to that branch of the prerogative which the French style DroilcTAubain, the property of the crown upon his decease. He left an only son, John Digby, esq. who succeeded to the family estate. He had an elder son, Kenelm Digby, esq. of great abilities and virtues; but this gentleman appearing in arms for Charles I. after that monarch was utterly incapable of making the least resistance, was killed at the battle of St. Neot’s in Huntingdonshire, July 7, 1648.
ritannica, that sir Kenelm Digby seems to have obtained a reputation beyond his merit; yet his merit was great, and his personal character has been admirably drawn by
It has been justly observed by the editors of the last
edition of the Biog. Britannica, that sir Kenelm Digby
seems to have obtained a reputation beyond his merit; yet
his merit was great, and his personal character has been
admirably drawn by lord Clarendon: “He was,
” says
that historian, “a person very eminent and notorious
throughout the whole course of his life, from his cradle to
his grave; of an ancient family and noble extraction; and
inherited a fair and plentiful fortune, notwithstanding the
attainder of his father. He was a man of a very extraordinary person and presence, which drew the eyes of all
men upon him, which were more fixed by a wonderful
graceful behaviour, a flowing courtesy and civility, and
such a volubility of language, as surprised and delighted;
and though in another man it might have appeared to have
somewhat of affectation, it was marvellous graceful in.
him, and seemed natural to his size, and mould of his
person, to the gravity of his motion, and the tune of his
voice and delivery. He had a fair reputation in arms, of
which he gave an early testimony in his youth, in some
encounters in Spain and Italy, and afterwards in an action
in the Mediterranean sea, where he had the command of
a squadron of ships of war set out at his own charge, under
the king’s commission; with which, upon an injury received or apprehended from the Venetians, he encountered
their whole fleet, killed many of their men, and sunk one
of their galeasses; which in that drowsy and unactive time
was looked upon with a general estimation, though the
crown disavowed it. In a word, he had all the advantages
that nature and art, and an excellent education could give
him, which, with a great confidence and presentness of
mind, buoyed him up against all those prejudices and disadvantages (as the attainder and execution of his father for a crime of the highest nature; his own marriage with a lady, though of an extraordinary beauty, of as extraordinary a fame; his changing and rechanging his religion; and some personal vices and licences in his life) which
would have suppressed and sunk any other man, but never
clouded or eclipsed him from appearing in the best places,
and the best company, and with the best estimation and
satisfaction.
” We cati entertain no doubt, therefore, of
the estimation in which he was held", and of the merit
which deserved it; but on the other hand it is impossible
to acquit him of excessive credulity, or of deliberate imposture. His sympathetic powder, and his belief, or his
assertion of the power of transmuting metals, will not now
bear examination, without affecting his character in one or
other of these respects.
, earl of Bristol, and father of lord George Digby, was by no means an inconsiderable man, though checked by the circumstances
, earl of Bristol, and father of lord George Digby, was by no means an inconsiderable man, though checked by the circumstances of his times from making so great a figure as his son. He was descended from an ancient family at Coleshill, in Warwickshire, and born in 1580. He was entered a commoner of Magdalen-college, Oxford, in 1595; and the year following distinguished himself as a poet by a copy of verses made upon the death of sir Henry Union of Wadley, in Berks. Afterwards he travelled into France and Italy, and returned from thence perfectly accomplished; so that soon falling under the notice of king James, he was admitted gentleman of the privy-chamber, and one of his majesty’s carvers, in 1605. February following he received the honour of knighthood; and in April 1611, was sent ambassador into Spain, as he was afterwards again in 1614. April 1616 he was admitted one of the king’s privy-council, and vicechamberlain of his majesty’s household; and in 1618 was advanced to the dignity of a baron, by the title of the lord Digby of Sherbourne, in Dorsetshire. In 1620 he was sent ambassador to the archduke Albert, and the year following to Ferdinand the emperor; as also to the duke of Bavaria. In 1622 he was sent ambassador extraordinary to Spain, concerning the marriage between prince Charles and Maria daughter of Philip III. and the same year was created earl of Bristol. Being censured by the duke of Buckingham, on his return from the Spanish court in 1624, he was for a short time sent to the Tower but after an examination by a committee of lords, we do not find that any thing important resulted from this inquiry. After the accession of Charles I. the tide of resentment ran strong against the earl, who observing that the king was entirely governed by Buckingham, resolved no longer to keep any measures with the court. In consequence of this, the king, by a stretch of prerogative, gave orders that the customary writ for his parliamentary attendance should not; be sent to him, and on May 1, 1626, he was charged with high treason and other offences. Lord Bristol recriminated, by preparing articles of impeachment against the duke; but the king, resolving to protect Buckingham, dissolved the parliament. The earl now sided with the leaders of opposition in the long parliament. But the violences of that assembly soon disgusting him, he left them, and became a zealous adherent to the king and his cause; for which at length he suffered exile, and the loss of his estate. He died at Paris, Jan. 21, 1653.
He was the author of several works. Besides the verses above-mentioned,
He was the author of several works. Besides the verses
above-mentioned, he composed other poems; one of
which, an air for three voices, was set by H. Lawes, and
published in his “Airs and Dialogues,
” at London, in
A Defence of the
Catholic Faith, contained in the book of king James, against
the answer of N. Coeffeteau, 1610, &c.
” He probably
undertook this laborious task at the request of that monarch. The dedication, however, to the king, is not in
his own, but in the name of J. Sandford, his chaplain.
, an English nobleman of great parts, was son of the preceding, and born at Madrid, in October, 1612.
, an English nobleman of great
parts, was son of the preceding, and born at Madrid, in
October, 1612. In 1626 he was entered of Magdalencollege, in Oxford, where he lived in great familiarity
with the well-known Peter Heylin, and gave manifest
proofs of those great endowments for which he was afterwards so distinguished. In 1636 he was created M. A.
there, just after Charles 1. had left Oxford; where he had
been spendidly entertained by the university, and particularly at St. John’s college, by Dr. Laud, afterwards
archbishop of Canterbury. In the beginning of the long
parliament he was disaffected to the court, and appointed
one of the committee to prepare a charge against the earl
of Strafford, in 1640 but afterwards would not consent to
the bill, “not only,
” as he said, “because he was unsatisfied in the matter of law, but for that he was more unsatisfied in the matter of fact.
” From that time he
became a declared enemy to the parliament, and shewed his
dislike of their proceedings in a warm speech against them,
which he made at the passing' of the bill of attainder against
the said earl, in April 1641. This speech was condemned
to be burnt, and himself in June following, expelled the
house of commons. In Jan. 1642, he went on a message
from his majesty to Kingston-upon-Thames, to certain
gentlemen there, with a coach and six horses. This they
improved into a warlike appearance; and accordingly he
was accused of high treason in parliament, upon pretence
of his levying war at Kingston-upon-Thames. Clarendon
mentions “this severe prosecution of a young nobleman of
admirable parts and eminent hopes, in so implacable a
manner, as a most pertinent instance of the tyranny and
injustice of those times.
” Finding what umbrage he had
given to the parliament, and how odious they had made
him to the people, he obtained leave, and a licence from
his majesty, to transport himself into Holland; whence he
wrote several letters to his friends, and one to the queen,
which was carried by a perfidious confidant to the parliament, and opened. In a secret expedition afterwards to
the king, he was taken by one of the parliament’s ships,
and carried to Hull; but being in such a disguise that not
his nearest relation could have known him, he brought
himself off very dextrously by his artful management of
the governor, sir John Hotham. In 1643 he was made
one of the secretaries of state to the king, and high steward
of the university of Oxford, in the room of William lord
Say. In the latter end of 1645 he went into Ireland, and
exposed himself to great hazards of his life, for the service of the king; from thence he passed over to Jersey,
where the prince of Wales was, and after that into France,
in order to transact some important matters with the queen
and cardinal Mazarin. Upon the death of the king, he was
exempted from pardon by the parliament, and obliged to
live in exile till the restoration of Charles II. when he was
restored to all he had lost, and made knight of the garter.
He became very active in public affairs, spoke frequently in
parliament, and distinguished himself by his enmity to
Clarendon while chancellor. He died at Chelsea, March
20, 1676, after succeeding his father as earl of Bristol.
Many of his speeches and letters are still extant, to he
found in our historical collections and he wrote “Elvira,
”
a comedy, &c. There are also letters of his cousin
sir Kenelm Digby, against popery, mentioned in our account of sir Kenelm yet afterwards he became a papist
himself; which inconsistencies in his character have been
neatly depicted by lord Orford. “He was,
” says he, “a
singular person, whose life was one contradiction. He
wrote against popery, and embraced it; he was a zealous
opposer of the court, and a sacrifice for it; was conscientiously converted in the midst of his prosecution of lord
Strafford, and was most unconscientiously a prosecutor of
lord Clarendon. With great parts he always hurt himself
and his friends; with romantic bravery, he was always an
unsuccessful commander. He spoke for the test act,
though a Roman catholic, and addicted himself to astrology on the birth-day of true philosophy.
”
, an able mathematician, was descended from an ancient family, and born at Digges-court,
, an able mathematician, was descended from an ancient family, and born at Digges-court,
in the parish of Barham, in Kent, in the early part of the
sixteenth century. He was sent, as Wood conjectures,
(for he is doubtful as to the place), to University-college,
Oxford, where he laid a good foundation of learning; and
retiring from thence without a degree, prosecuted his
studies, and composed the following works: 1. “Tectonicum; briefly shewing the exact measuring, and speedy
reckoning of all manner of lands, squares, timber, stones,
steeples,
” &c. A geometrical practical treatise, named Pantometria, in three books,
” left imperfect in ms. at his
death; but his son supplying such parts of it as were obscure and imperfect, published it in 1591, folio; subjoining, “A discourse geometrical of the five regular and
Platonical bodies, containing sundry theoretical and practical propositions, arising by mutual conference of these
solids, inscription, circumscription, and transformation.
”
3. “Prognostication everlasting of right good effect; or,
choice rules to judge the weather by the sun, moon, and
stars,
” &c. 1555, 1556, and 1564, 4to, corrected and
augmented by his son; with general tables, and many
compendious rules, 1592, 4to. He died not later than
1573.
hat when queen Elizabeth sent some forces to assist the oppressed inhabitants of the Netherlands, he was appointed muster-master general, by which he hud an opportunity
, only son of the preceding Leonard Digges, after a liberal education at home, studied for
some time at Oxford; and partly by the improvements he
made there, and the previous instructions of his learned
father, became one of the greatest mathematicians of his
age. Of his history, however, we only know that when
queen Elizabeth sent some forces to assist the oppressed
inhabitants of the Netherlands, he was appointed muster-master general, by which he hud an opportunity of becoming skilled in military affairs. The greater part of his
life must have been spent in his favourite studies, as besides the revising, correcting, and enlarging some pieces
of his father’s, already mentioned, he wrote and published
the following learned works himself: 1. “Alæ sive scalæ
mathematicæ; or mathematical wings or ladders,
” An arithmetical military treatise, containing so much of arithmetic as is necessary towards military discipline,
” A geometrical treatise,
named Stratioticos, requisite for the perfection of soldiers,
”
An
arithmetical warlike treatise, named Stratioticos; compendiously teaching the science of numbers, as well in
fractions as integers, and so much of the rules and equations algebraical, and art of numbers cossical, as are requisite for the profession of a souldier. Together with the
moderne militaire discipline, offices, lawes, and orders in
every well-governed campe and armie, inviolably to be
observed.
” At the end of this work there are two pieces;
the first entitled “A briefe and true report of the proceedings of the earle of Leycester, for the reliefe of the
towne of Sluce, from his arrival at Vlishing, about the end
of June 1587, untill the surrendrie thereof, 26 Julii next
ensuing. Whereby it shall plainlie appear his excellencie
was not in anie fault for the losse of that towne;
” the second, “A briefe discourse what orders were best for repulsing of foraine forces, if at any time they should invade
us by sea in Kent, or elsesvhere.
” 4. “A perfect description of the celestial orbs, according to the most ancient
doctrine of the Pythagoreans,
” &c. This was placed at
the end of his father’s “Prognostication everlasting, &c.
”
printed in Humble motives for association to maintain the religion established,
” Letter to the same purpose to the
archbishops and bishops of England.
” 6. “England’s
Defence; or a treatise concerning invasion.
” This is a
tract of the same nature with that printed at the end of his
Stratioticos, and called, “A briefe discourse,
” &c. It
was written in Parallaticce commentationis praxeosque nucleus quidam,
” Nova Corpora,
” he had by him several mathematical treatises ready for the press; but lawsuits, which probably descended upon him with his patrimony, and were productive of pecuniary embarrassments,
broke in upon his studies, and embittered his days. He
died Aug. 24, 1595, and was buried in the chancel of the
church of Aldermanbury, London. Among his unpublished works, was a Plan for the improvement of the Haven
and Mole of Dover, in 1582, which was communicated to
the Society of Antiquaries, and is printed in the “Archaeologia,
” vol. XI. He married Agnes, daughter of sir William St. Leger, knt.
, eldest son of Thomas Digges, just mentioned, was born in 1583, and entered a gentleman-commoner of University-college,
, eldest son of Thomas Digges,
just mentioned, was born in 1583, and entered a gentleman-commoner of University-college, in Oxford, 1598.
Having taken the degree of B. A. in 1601, he studied for
some time at the inns of court; and then travelled beyond
sea, having before received the honour of knighthood. On
his return he led a retired life till 1618, when he was sent
by James I. ambassador to the tzar, or emperor of Russia.
Two years after he was commissioned with sir Maurice Abbot to go to Holland, in order to obtain the restitution of
goods taken by the Dutch from some Englishmen in the
East Indies. He was a member of the third parliament of
James I. which met at Westminster, Jan. 30, 1621; but
was so rule compliant with the court measures, as to be
ranked among those whom the king called ill-tempered
spirits. he was likewise a member of the first parliament
of Charles 1. in 1626; and not only joined with those eminent patriots, who were for bringing Villiers duke of
Buckingham to an account, but was indeed one of the
most active managers in that affair, for which he was committed to the Tower, though soon released. He was again
member of the third parliament of Charles I. in 1628,
being one of the knights of the shire for Kent; but seemed
to be more moderate in his opposition to the court than
he was in the two last, and voted for the dispatch of the
subsidies, yet opposed all attempts which he conceived to
be hostile to the liberties of his country, or the constitution of parliament. Thus, when sir John Finch, speaker
of the house of commons, on June 5, 1628, interrupted
sir John Elliot in the house, saying, “There is a command
laid upon me, that I must command you not to proceed;”
sir Dudley Digges vented his uneasiness in these words:
“I am as much grieved as ever. Must we not proceed?
Let us sit in silence: we are miserable: we know not what
to do.
” In April of the same year, he opened the grand
conference between the commons and lords, “concerning
the liberty of the person of every freeman,
” with a speech,
in which he made many excellent observations, tending to
establish the liberties of the subject. In all his parliamentary proceedings, he appeared of such consequence, that
the court thought it worth their while to gain him over;
and accordingly they tempted him with the advantageous
and honourable office of master of the rolls, of which he
had a reversionary grant Nov. 29, 1630, and became possessed of it April 20, 1636, upon the death of sir Julius
Cæsar. But he did not enjoy it quite three years; for he
died March 8, 1639, and his death was reckoned among
the public calamities of those times. He was buried at
Chilham church, in Kent, in which parish he had a good
estate, and built a noble house.
He was a worthy good man, and, as Philipot says, “a great assertor
He was a worthy good man, and, as Philipot says, “a
great assertor of his country’s liberty in the worst of times,
when the sluices of prerogative were opened, and the
banks of the law were almost overwhelmed with the inundations of it.
” He is now chiefly known as the author of
several literary performances, He published, 1. “A Defence of Trade in a letter to sir Thomas Smith, knt. governor of the East India company,
” A Discourse concerning the Rights and Privilege’s of the Subject
in a conference desired by the lords, and had by a committee of both houses April 3, 1628,
” Ephemeris Parliamentarian.
”
4. He collected the letters that passed between the lord
Burleigh, sir Francis Waisingham, and others, about the
intended marriages of queen Elizabeth with the duke of
Anjou, in 1570, and with the duke of Alencon in 1581,
which were published in 1655, under the title of “The
Complete Ambassador, &c.
”
Learning was long hereditary in this family. Sir Dudley had a brother, Leonard,
Learning was long hereditary in this family. Sir Dudley
had a brother, Leonard, and a son Dudley, who were both
learned men and authors. His brother Leonard, born in
1588, was educated in University-college, Oxford, took
the degree of B. A. in 1606, removed to London and then
travelling beyond sea, studied in foreign universities: i'rcm
whence returning a good scholar, and an accomplished
person, he was created M. A. in 1626. His commendatory
verses to Shakspeare are prefixed to that poet’s works. He
also translated from Spanish into English “Gerardo the
unfortunate Spaniard, 1622,
” 4to, written by Goncalo de
Cespades and from Latin into English verse, “Clauclian’s Rape of Proserpine, 1617,
” 4to. He died April
7, 1635, being accounted a good poet and orator; and a
great master of the English, French, and Spanish languages.
His son Dudley, who was his third son, was born about 1612, and educated at Oxford,
His son Dudley, who was his third son, was born about
1612, and educated at Oxford, where he took the degree
of B. A. in 1632; and the year after was elected a fellow
of All-souls’ college. He took a master’s degree in 1635;
and became a good poet and linguist, and a general
scholar. He died October 1, 1643; having distinguished
himself only by the two following productions: 1. “An
answer to a printed book entitled * Observations upon some
of his majesty’s late answers and expresses, 1
” Oxon. The unlawfulness of subjects taking up arms against
their sovereign in what case soever; with answers to all
objections,
” Lond. 1643, 4to.
, an eminent botanist, who settled in England, was born at Darmstadt, in Germany, in 1681. He was early intended
, an eminent botanist, who
settled in England, was born at Darmstadt, in Germany,
in 1681. He was early intended for the study of physic,
and had the principal part of his education at the university
of Giessen, a city of Upper Hesse. Of all the parts of
science connected with the medical profession, he was
most attached to the cultivation of botany; by which he
soon obtained so much reputation, that early in life he was
chosen a member of the Academia Curiosorum Germanise.
How well he deserved this honour, was apparent in his
papers published in the “Miscellanea Curiosa.
” The
first of his communications that we are acquainted with,
and which could not have been written later than 1715,
was a dissertation concerning the plants of America that
are naturalized in Europe. The subject is curious, and is
still capable of much farther illustration. A diligent inquiry into it would unquestionably prove that a far greater
number of plants than is usually imagined, and which are
now thought to be indigenous in Europe, were of foreign
origin. Besides the most obvious increase of them, owing
to their passage from the garden to the dunghill, and
thence to the field, they have been augmented in consequence of various other causes, no small number of them
having been introduced and dispersed by the importation
of grain, the package of merchandise, and the clearing
out of ships. The English Flora of this kind, in its present state, cannot perhaps contain fewer than sixty acknowledged species; and a critical examination would
probably add greatly to the catalogue. Another paper of
Diiienius’s, published in the “Miscellanea Curiosa,
” was
a critical dissertation on the coffee of the Arabians, and on
European coffee, or such as may be prepared from grain
or pulse. In this dissertation he gives the result of his
own preparations made with pease, beans, and kidneybeans; but says, that from rye is produced what comes
the nearest to true coffee. In another paper he relates the
experiment which he made concerning some opium which
he had prepared himself from the poppy of Europe
growth. In the same collection he shews himself as a /
logist, in a paper on leeches, and in a description of t
species of the Papilio genus. In 1719, Dillenius excited
the notice of naturalists by the publication of his Catalogue
of plants growing in the neighbourhood of Giesseu. Nothing can more strongly display the early skill and indefatigable industry of Dillenius, than his being able to
produce so great a number of plants in so small a time
He enumerates not fewer than 980 species of what were
then called the more perfect plants; that is, exclusive
of the mushroom class, and all the mosses. By the [news]
of this performance, the character of Dillenius, as a truly
scientific botanist, was fixed; and henceforward he attracted the notice of all the eminent professors and admirers of the science. To this science no one was more
ardently devoted at that time in England, than William
Sherard, esq. who had been British consul at Smyrna, from
which place he had returned to his own country in 1718;
and who, soon after, had the honorary degree of LL. D.
conferred on him by the university of Oxford. Being particularly enamoured with Dillenius’s discoveries in the
cryptogamia class, he entered into a correspondence with
him, which ripened into a close friendship. In 1721, Dr.
Sherard, in the pursuit of his botanical researches, made
the tour of Holland, France, and Italy, much to the advantage of the science; but what in an especial manner
rendered his travels of consequence to the study of nature
in our own country, was, that on his return he brought
Dillenius with him to England. It was in the month of
August in the same year that this event took place; and
Dillenius had not long resided in England before he undertook a work that was much desired, a new edition of
the “Synopsis stirpium Britannicarum
” of Ray, which
was become scarce. This edition of the “Synopsis
” seems
to have been the most popular of all his publications.
own; and his own lodgings, which in 1728 were in Barking-alley. At the latter end of 1727, Dillenius was so doubtful concerning what might be the state of his future
During the former years of Dillenius in England, his
time appears to have been divided between the country
residence of Mr, James Sherard, at Eltham, in Kent; the
consul’s house in town; and his own lodgings, which in
1728 were in Barking-alley. At the latter end of 1727,
Dillenius was so doubtful concerning what might be the
state of his future circumstances, that he entertained 4
design of residing in Yorkshire. This scheme did not take
effect; and on Aug. 12, 1728, Dr. William Sherard died,
and by his will gave 3000l. to provide a salary for a professor of botany at Oxford, on condition that Dillenius
should be chosen the first professor; and he bequeathed
to the establishment his botanical library, his herbarium,
and his pinax. The university of Oxford having waved
the right of nomination, in consequence of Dr. Sherard’s
benefaction, Dillenius now arrived at that situation which
had probably been the chief object of his wishes, the
asylum, against future disappointments, and the field of
all that gratification which his taste and pursuits prompted
him to desire, and qualified him to enjoy. He was placed
likewise in the society of the learned, and at the fountain
of every information which the stores of both ancient and
modern erudition could display to an inquisitive mind.
One of the principal employments of Dr. William Sherard
was the compilation of a pinax, or collection of all the
names which had been given by botanical writers to each
plant. After the death of Sherard, our professor zealously
fulfilled the will of his benefactor, in the care he took of
his collection, which he greatly augmented. But he was
not a little chagrined at the want of books, and the means
of purchasing them. Another undertaking in which our
author was engaged, was the “Hortus Elthamensis.
” In
this elegant and elaborate work, of which Linnæus says,
“Est opus botanicum quo absolutius mundus non vidit,
”
Hortus
Elthamensis
” found but few purchasers. Dillenius cut up
a considerable number of copies, as papers to hold his
Hortus Siccus; and in despair of selling the remainder,
through the recommendation of his friend Gronovius, disposed of them, together with the plates, to a Dutch bookseller, who broke; so that our author lost the whole
of the little profit he had expected to derive from the sale.
April 3, 1735, he was admitted to the degree of M. D. in
the university of Oxford. His former degree of the same
kind had probably been taken at Giessen. In the summer
of 1736 he had the honour of a visit at Oxford from the
celebrated Linnæus, who returned with the highest opinion
of his merit and from this period a correspondence was
carried on between them. After the publication of the
Hortus Elthamensis, Billenius pursued his “History of
Mosses
” with great application; in the prosecution of
which he enjoyed every desirable assistance. There is the
utmost reason to believe that Dillenius intended to have
undertaken the funguses as well as the mosses; which design he appears to have had in contemplation not long
after his settlement in this country. Dillenius is said to
have been of a corpulent habit of body; which circumstance, united to his close application to study, might
probably contribute to shorten his days. In the last week
of March, 1747, he was seized with an apoplexy, and died
on the 2d of April, in the sixtieth year of his age. Concerning Dillenius’s domestic character, habits, temper,
and dispositions, there is but slender information. The
account of his contemporaries was, that he was moderate,
temperate, and gentle in all his conduct; that he was
known to few who did not seek him and, as might he
expected from the bent of his studies, and the close application he gave to them, that his habits were of the recluse
kind. From the perusal of some of his letters it may he
collected that he was naturally endowed with a placid disposition, improved by a philosophical calmness of mind,
which secured him in a considerable degree from the effects of the evils incident to life. In one of these he expresses himself as follows: “For my little time, 1 have
met with as man*-* adversities and misfortunes as any body;
which, by the help of exercise, amusement, and reading
some of the stoic philosophers, I have overcome; and am
resolved that nothing shall afflict me more. Many things
here, as well as at my home, that have happened to me, would
cut down almost any body. But two days ago I had a letter, acquainting me with a very near relation’s death,
whom I was obliged to assist with money in his calamities,
in order to set him up again in business and now this is
all gone, and there is something more for me to pay, which
is not a little for me; but it does not at all affect me. I
rather thank God that it is not worse. This is only one,
and I have had harder strokes than this and there lie still
some upon me.
” His drawings, dried plants, printed
books, and manuscripts, &c. were left by our author to
Dr. Seidel, his executor by whom they were sold to Dr.
Sibthorpe, his ingenious and learned successor in the botanical professorship. They have been frequently studied
by succeeding botanists, as may be found recorded in the
works of Lightfoot, Dickson, Turner, Smith, and others;
the present amiable professor, Dr. George Williams, being
happy at all times to render them useful, and to forward
the views of the truly excellent founder.
, an English poet, was born in Ireland about 1633, while the government of that kingdom
, an English poet, was born in Ireland about 1633, while the government of that kingdom was under the first earl of Strafford, to whom he was nephew; his father, sir James Dillon, third earl of Roscommon, having married Elizabeth the youngest daughter of sir William Wentworth, of Wentworth-Woodhouse, in the county of York, sister to the earl of Stratford. Hence lord Roscommon was christened Wentworth. He was educated in the protestant religion, his father (who died at Limerick in 1619) having been converted by archbishop Usher from the communion of the church of Rome; and passed the years of his infancy in Ireland. He was brought over to England by his uncle, on his return from the government of Ireland*, and placed at that nobleman’s seat in Yorkshire, under the tuition of Dr. Hall, erroneously* said to have been afterwards bishop of Norwich. The celebrated Hall was at this time a bishop, and far advanced in years. By this Dr. Hall, whoever he was, he was instructed in Latin; and, without learning the common rules of grammar, which he could never remember, attained to write that language with classical elegance and propriety. When the cloud began to gather over England, and the earl of Strafford was singled out for an impeachment, he was, by the advice of Usher, sent to finish his education at Caen in Normandy, where the protestants had then an university, and studied under the direction of the learned Bochart; but at this time he could not have been more than nine years old. After some years he travelled to Rome, where he grew familiar with the most valuable remains of antiquity, applying himself particularly to the knowledge of medals, which he gained to perfection; and he spoke Italian with so much grace and fluency, that he was frequently mistaken there for a native.
Soon after the restoration, he returned to England,* where he was graciously received by Charles II. and made captain of the band
Soon after the restoration, he returned to England,*
where he was graciously received by Charles II. and made
captain of the band of pensioners. In the gaieties of that
age, he was tempted to indulge a violent passion for
gaming; by which he frequently hazarded his life in duels,
and exceeded the bounds of a moderate fortune. A
dispute with the lord privy seal, about part of his estate,
obliging him to revisit his native country, he resigned his
post in the English court; and, soon after his arrival at
Dublin, the duke of Ormond appointed him to be captain
of the guards. Mrs. Catharine Phillips, in a letter to sir
Charles Cotterel, Dublin, Oct. 19, 1662, styles him “a
very ingenious person, of excellent natural parts, and certainly the most hopeful young nobleman in Ireland.
” However, he still retained the same fatal affection for gaming;
and, this engaging him in adventures, he was near being
assassinated one night by three ruffians, who attacked him
in the dark; but defended himself with so much resolution, that he dispatched one of them, while a gentleman
coming up, disarmed another; and the third secured himself by flight. This generous assistant w r as a disbanded
officer, of a good family and fair reputation, but whose
circumstances were such, that he wanted even cloaths to
appear decently at the castle. Lord Roscommon, on this
occasion, presenting him to the duke of Ormond, obtained
his grace’s leave to resign to him his post of captain of the
guards: which for about three years the gentleman enjoyed; and upon his death the duke returned the commission to his generous benefactor.
hips he had there contracted, were powerful motives for his return to London. Soon after he came, he was made master of the horse to the duchess of York; and married
The pleasures of the English court, and the friendships
he had there contracted, were powerful motives for his return to London. Soon after he came, he was made master of the horse to the duchess of York; and married the
lady Frances, eldest daughter of the earl of Burlington,
and widow of colonel Courtney. He began now to distinguish himself by his poetry; and about this time projected
a design, in conjunction with his friend Dryden, for refining and fixing the standard of our language. But this
was entirely defeated by the religious commotions that
were then increasing daily; at which time the earl took a
resolution to pass the remainder of his life at Rome, telling
his friends, “it would be best to sit next to the chimney
when the chamber smoked,
” a sentence of which, Dr.
Johnson says, the application seems not very clear.
Amidst these reflections, being seized with the gout, he
was so impatient either of hindrance or of pain, that he
submitted himself to a French empiric, who is said to have
repelled the disease into his bowels. At the moment in
which he expired he uttered, with an energy of voice that
expressed the most fervent devotion, two lines of his own
version of “Dies Iræ:
”
He died Jan. 17, 1684; and was buried with great pomp in Westminster-abbey.
He died Jan. 17, 1684; and was buried with great pomp in Westminster-abbey.
s Art of Poetry,” have great merit. Waller addressed a poem to his lordship upon the latter, when he was 75 years of age. *' In the writings of this nobleman we view,“says
His poems, which are not numerous, are in the body of
English poetry collected by Dr. Johnson. His “Essay on
Translated Verse,
” and his translation of “Horace’s Art of
Poetry,
” have great merit. Waller addressed a poem to
his lordship upon the latter, when he was 75 years of age.
*' In the writings of this nobleman we view,“says Fenton,
” the image of a mind naturally serious and solid; richly
furnished and adorned with all the ornaments of art and
science; and those ornaments unaffectedly disposed in the
most regular and elegant order. His imagination might
probably have been more fruitful and sprightly, if his
judgment had been less severe but that severity (delivered in a masculine, clear, succinct style) contributed
to make him so eminent in the didactical manner, that no
man, with justice, can affirm he was ever equalled by any
of our nation, without confessing at the same time that he
is inferior to none. In some other kinds of writing his genius seems to have wanted fire to attain the point of perfection; but who can attain it? He was a man of an
amiable composition, as well as a good poet; as Pope, in
his ‘Essay on Criticism,’ had testified in the following lines:
To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
and may be numbered among the benefactors to English literature.” Nor ought it to be forgot, that he was the first critic who had the taste and spirit publicly to praise
“Of Roscommon’s works,
” says Dr. Johnson, “the
judgment of the public seems to be right. He is elegant,
but not great; he never labours after exquisite beavities,
and he seldom falls into gross faults. His versification is
smooth, but rarely vigorous, and his rhymes are remarkably exact. He improved taste, if he did not enlarge
knowledge, and may be numbered among the benefactors
to English literature.
” Nor ought it to be forgot, that he
was the first critic who had the taste and spirit publicly to
praise the “Paradise Lost
” with a noble encomium on
which, and a rational recommendation of blank verse, he
concludes his “Essay on Translated Verse,
” though this
passage was not in the first edition.
, a diligent schoolmaster, was many years settled in Wapping, and is known by an useful “Spelling
, a diligent schoolmaster, was
many years settled in Wapping, and is known by an useful “Spelling Book,
” where, in imitation of his predecessors, he has favoured the public with a print of himself.
He wrote besides, “The young Book-keeper’s Assistant,
”
8vo. “The Schoolmaster’s Assistant,
” 12mo; and
3. “Miscellaneous Arithmetic,
” 12mo, all of them manytimes printed. He died Jan. 17, 1780. To this brief notice, from the last edition of this Dictionary, perhaps of
little importance, we may add, that there was, about fifty
or sixty years ago, a W. H. Dilworth, M. A. the author of
many abridged Lives and Histories, price one shilling
each, “adorned with cuts,
” such as “The Life of Alexander Pope, esq. with the Secret History of Himself and
the Noble Lords his patrons;
” “The Life of Dean Swift,
with a thousand agreeable incidents,
” &c. &c. He appears
to have been the legitimate successor of Robert Burton,
and probably, like him, may one day be elevated from the
hawker’s stall to the collector’s library.
, a celebrated inoculator for the small pox, was the son of John Dimsdale of Theydon Gernon, near Epping in Essex,
, a celebrated inoculator for the small pox, was the son of John Dimsdale of Theydon Gernon, near Epping in Essex, a surgeon and apothecary, by Susan, daughter of Thomas Bowyer of Alburyhall, in the parish of Albury, near Hertford. He was born in 1712, and received his first medical knowledge from his father, and at St. Thomas’s hospital. He commenced practice at Hertford about 1734, where he married the only daughter of Nathaniel Brassey, esq. of Roxford, an eminent banker in London. This lady died in 1744, leaving no children and to relieve his mind under this loss, Mr. Dimsdale joined the medical staff of the duke of Cumberland’s army, then on its way to suppress the rebellion in Scotland. In this situation he remained until the surrender of Carlisle to the king’s forces, when he received the duke’s thanks, and returned to Hertford. In 1746 he married Anne lies, a relation of his first wife, and by her fortune, and that which he acquired by the death of the widow of sir John Dimsdale of Hertford, he was enabled to retire from practice; but his family becoming numerous, he resumed it, and took the degree of M. D. in 1761.
persons under inoculation for the small-pox, he published his treatise on the subject in 1766, which was soon circulated over the continent, and translated into all
Having fully satisfied himself about the new method of
treating persons under inoculation for the small-pox, he
published his treatise on the subject in 1766, which was
soon circulated over the continent, and translated into all
languages. His particular opinion may be learned from
the conclusion, in which he says that, “although the whole
process may have some share in the success, it consists
chiefly in the method of inoculating with recent fluid matter, and the management of the patients at the time of
eruption.
” This proof of his professional knowledge occasioned his being invited to inoculate the empress Catherine of Russia, and her son, in 1768, of which he gives a
very particular and interesting account in his “Tracts on
Inoculation,
” printed in Thoughts on general and partial Inoculation,
” 8vo;
and two years after, “Observations on the Introduction to
the plan of the Dispensary for general Inoculation,
” 8vo.
This involved him in a controversy with Dr. Lettsom, in
which he opposed the above plan for inoculating the poor
at their own houses; and opened an inoculation-house,
under his own direction, for persons of all ranks in the
neighbourhood of Hertford, which was resorted to with
success. His controversy with Dr. Lettsom was carried on
in the following pamphlets “Dr. Lettsom’s letter on General Inoculation
” “Remarks on Ditto,
” 8vo; “Review
of Dr. Lettsom’s observations on the Baron’s Remarks
”
“Letter to Dr. Lettsom on his Remarks, &c.
” “Answer to
Baron Dimsdale’s Review,
” and “Considerations on the
plan, &c.
” In Tracts on Inoculation,
” already mentioned, which were liberally distributed,
but not sold.
married Elizabeth, daughter of William Dimsdale of Bishops- Stortford, who survived him. In 1780 he was elected representative for the borough of Hertford, and declined
Bar.on Dimsdale afterwards opened a banking-house in Cornhill, in partnership with his sons, and the Barnards, which still flourishes under the firm of Barnard, Dimsdale, and Dimsdale. In 1779 he lost his second wife, by whom he had seven children, and afterwards married Elizabeth, daughter of William Dimsdale of Bishops- Stortford, who survived him. In 1780 he was elected representative for the borough of Hertford, and declined all practice, except for the relief of the poor. He went, however, once more to Russia, in 1781, where he inoculated the present emperor and his brother Constantino; and as he passed through Brussels, the late emperor of Germany, Joseph, received him with great condescension. In 1790 he resigned his seat in parliament, and passed some winters at Bath; but at length fixed altogether at Hertford, where he died Dec. 30, 1800. His remains were interred in the Quakers’ burying-ground at Bishops- Stortford. His family were originally quakers.
, an heretic of the thirteenth century, was a disciple of Amauri or Almaric, who imbibed many errors from
, an heretic of the thirteenth
century, was a disciple of Amauri or Almaric, who imbibed many errors from the study of Aristotle, and fell
under the ecclesiastical censure of the second council of
Paris. (See Amauri). The writings both of Amauri and
Dinanto were condemned to be burned, which sentence
was followed by a general prohibition of the use of the
physical and metaphysical writings of Aristotle in the
schools, by the synod of Paris, and afterwards, under pope
Innocent III. by the council of the Laternu. Dinanto expressed the fundamental principle of his master in the following proposition, “God is the primary matter and substance of all things.
” He composed a work entitled
“Quaternarii,
” with several other productions, which were
chiefly designed to atfect and gain the multitude, in which
he partly succeeded until he was obliged to save himself
by flight.
, an orator of Greece, the son of Sostratus, and a disciple of Thcophrastus, was a native of Attica, or of Corinth, and earned a great deal of
, an orator of Greece, the son of Sostratus, and a disciple of Thcophrastus, was a native of Attica, or of Corinth, and earned a great deal of money by composing harangues, at a time when the city of Athens was without orators. Being accused of receiving bribes from the enemies of the republic, he took to flight, and did not return till fifteen years afterwards, about the year 340 before Christ. Of 64 harangues which, according to Plutarch, he composed, and which Photins says he read, only three have come down to us, in the collection of Stephens, 1575, folio, or in that of Venice, 1513, 3 vols. folio. His oration against Demosthenes is the most remarkable of these, and abounds in personal invective of the grossest kind. Dionysias cf Halicarnassus used to call him Demosthenes the savage, meaning probably that he had some of his eloquence deformed bv his own malice and temper.
, second son of sir John Dingley, knt. by a sister of Dr. Henry Hammond, was born in Surrey in 1619, and educated at Magdalen college, Oxford;
, second son of sir John Dingley,
knt. by a sister of Dr. Henry Hammond, was born in Surrey
in 1619, and educated at Magdalen college, Oxford;
where he was a strict observer of all church ceremonies.
He afterwards became a zealous puritan; and was remarkably active in ejecting such as were, by that party, styled
ignorant and scandalous ministers and school-masters. He
was rector of Brighton, in the Isle of Wight, when his
kinsman colonel Hammond was governor there. The Oxford antiquary has given us a catalogue of his works, the
most extraordinary of which is “The Deputation of Angels, or the Angel Guardian 1. proved by the divine
light of nature, &c. 2. from many rubs and mistakes, &c.
3. applied and improved for our information, &c. chiefly
grounded on Acts xii. 15.
” London, 1654, 8vo. He died
in 1659, and was buried in the chancel of Brighton church.
oulder, and put a club into his right hand. Thus accoutred, he appeared in the court, where the king was administering justice. The eyes of the people being naturally
, a celebrated ancient architect of
Macedonia, of whom several extraordinary things are
related, lived in the 112th olympiad, or 332 B. C.
Vitruvius tells us, that, when Alexander the Great had
conquered all his enemies, Dinocrates, full of great conceptions, and relying upon them, went from Macedonia
to the army, with a view of acquiring his notice and favour. He carried letters recommendatory to the nobles
about him, who received him very graciously, and promised
to introduce him to the king; but suspecting, from some
delays, that they were not serious, he resolved at length
to introduce himself; and for this purpose conceived the
following project. He anointed his body all over with oil,
and crowned his temples with poplar; then he flung a lion’s
skin over his left shoulder, and put a club into his right
hand. Thus accoutred, he appeared in the court, where
the king was administering justice. The eyes of the people being naturally turned upon so striking a spectacle,
for, in addition to his singular garb, he was tall, well proportioned, and very handsome; the king asked him, who
he was? “I am,
” says he, “Dinocrates the Macedonian
architect, and bring to your majesty thoughts and designs
that are worthy of your greatness: for I have laid out the
mount Athos into the form of a man, in whose left hand I
have designed the walls of a great city, and all the rivers
of the mount to flow into his right, and from thence into
the sea.
” Alexander seemed amused with this vast project,
but very wisely declined putting it in execution. He kept
the architect, however, and took him into Egypt, where
he employed him in marking out and building the city of
Alexandria. Another memorable instance of Dinocrates’s
architectonic skill is his restoring and building, in a more
august and magnificent manner than before, the celebrated
temple of Diana at Ephesus, after Herostratus, for the sake
of immortalizing his name, had destroyed it by fire. A
third instance, more extraordinary and wonderful than
either of the former, is related by Pliny in his Natural
History; who tells us, that he had formed a scheme, by
building the dome of the temple of Arsinoe at Alexandria
of loadstone, to make her image all of iron hang in the
middle of it, as if it were in the air. Dinocrates probably
deserves great credit as an architect, but such foolish stories as this last must be placed to the account of the credulity of the times in which Pliny wrote, and of which he
largely partook.
was an ancient geometrician, whom some authors have erroneously
was an ancient geometrician, whom some authors have erroneously represented as a disciple of Pythagoras, but who, according to Proclus, lived in the time of Plato, about 360 B. C. and was a disciple of the latter in philosophy. He was chiefly distinguished for his knowledge of geometry, and was the brother of Menechmus, who amplified the theory of the conic sections. Dinostrates also is said to have made many geometrical discoveries; but he is particularly distinguished as the inventor of the quadratrix, by which the quadrature of the circle is effected, though isot geometrically, but only mechanically. Montucla, howev-. T, observes that there is some reason for ascribing the original invention of this curve to Hippias of Elaea, an ingemous philosopher and geometer, contemporary with Socrates.
, canon of the chapter of St. Bennet at Paris, and member of the academy of the Arcades at Rome, was born of a reputable family at Amiens, Nov. 1, 1715, and died
, canon of
the chapter of St. Bennet at Paris, and member of the
academy of the Arcades at Rome, was born of a reputable
family at Amiens, Nov. 1, 1715, and died at Paris April 23,
1786. After exercising the ministerial functions in the
place of his nativity, he repaired to the capital to engage
in literary pursuits. M. Joly le Fleuri, at that time avocat-génral, gave him his esteem, his confidence, and his
patronage. He was first employed on the “Journal Chretien,
” under the abbe Joannetj and the zeal with which
he attacked certain authors, and especially M. de SaintFoix, involved him in some unpleasant controversy. He had
represented this latter as an infidel seeking every occasion
for mixing pestilential notions in whatever he wrote. SaintFoix took up the affair with warmth, and brought an action
against both him and abbe Joannet, which terminated in a
sort of reparation made him by the two journalists, in their
periodical publication. After this the abbe Dinouart began to write on his own account, and in October 1760, set
up his “Journal Ecclesiastique,
” or, Library of ecclesiastical knowledge, which he continued till his death. He
established a very extensive correspondence with the provincial clergy, who consulted him on the difficulties of their
ministration. This correspondence contributed greatly to
the recommendation of his journal, which contained instructions in all matters of church discipline, morality, and
ecclesiastical history. The editor indeed made no scruple
of drawing almost all his materials from well-known books,
without altering a word; he inserted, for example, in his
journal, all the ecclesiastical part of Hardion’s Universal
History; but it was useful to the inferior provincial
clergy, who were deficient in libraries, and not sorry to
have their loss in some shape made up by the periodical
compilation of abbe Dinouart. Other critics censured him
for giving an incoherent assortment of articles; for advertising, for instance, in the same leaf, “Balm of Genevieve,
”
and “Sermons to be sold
” for the use of young orators
who would not take the trouble to compose them; imitating in this a quack of our own nation, who used to advertise sermons, marmalade, and rules for carving. Dinouart, however, bears a reputable personal character. He
was naturally of a kind disposition and a sensible heart.
The great vivacity of his temper, which hurried him sometimes into transient extravagancies, which he was the first
to condemn in himself, prompted also his activity to
oblige, for which he never let any opportunities escape him.
He generally wrote in a loose, negligent, and incorrect
manner, both in verse and prose, and even aspired to be
thought a French and Latin poet; but still the usefulness
of the greater part of his works recommended them.
Among them, we find, 1. “Embriologie sacre'e, traduite
du Latin de Cangiamila,
” 12mo. 2. “Hymnes Latines.
”
3. “Manuel des pasteurs,
” 3 vols. 12mo. 4. “La llhetorique du predicateur, ou Traite de l'eloquence du corps,
”
12mo. 5. A new edition of the “Abrege
” chronologique
de Phistoire ecclesiastique de Pabbe Macquer,“Paris,
1768, 3 vols. 3vo. 6.
” Anecdotes ecclesjastiques," ibid.
1772, 2 vols. 8vo, in which he was assisted by the abbd
Jaubert.
, or Ding, a native of Mugello in Tuscany, was a very learned lawyer and professor of law at Bologna, in the
, or Ding, a native of Mugello in Tuscany,
was a very learned lawyer and professor of law at Bologna,
in the thirteenth century, and indeed accounted the first
man of his time for knowledge, eloquence, and style both
of speaking and writing. Pope Boniface VIII. employed
him in compiling the fourth book of the Decretals,
called the Sextus. He died at Bologna in 1303, as it is
said, of chagrin. He had entered into the church, and
been disappointed of rising according to what he thought
his deserts. Of his works, his “Commentarium in regulas
juris Pontificii,
” 8vo, was so valuable that Alciat reckoned
it one of those books which a student ought to get by
heart, a character which it ceased to support when Charles
du Moulin pointed out a great many errors in it. His
other publication is entitled “De glossis contrariis,
” 2
vols. fol.
or Dion Cassius, an ancient historian, known also by the surnames of Cocceius or Cocceianus, was born at Nicsea, a city of Bithyuia, and flourished in the third
or Dion Cassius, an ancient historian, known also by the surnames of Cocceius or Cocceianus, was born at Nicsea, a city of Bithyuia, and flourished in the third century. His father Aproniatius, a man of consular dignity, was governor of Dalmatia, and some time after proconsul of Cilicia, under the emperors Trajan and Adrian. Dio was with his father in Cilicia; and from thence went to Rome, where he distinguished himself by public pleadings. From the reign of Commodus he was a senator of Rome; was made prtetor of the city under Pertinax; and raised at length to the consulship, which he held twice, and exercised the second time, jointly with the emperor Alexander Severus. He had passed through several great employments under the preceding emperors. Macrinus had made him governor of Pergamus and Smyrna; he commanded some time in Africa; and afterwards had the administration of Austria and Hungary, then called Pannonia, committed to him. He undertook the task of writing history, as he informs us himself, because he was admonished and commanded to do it by a vision from heaven; and he tells us also, that he spent ten years in collecting materials for it, and twelve more in composing it. His history began from the building of Rome, and proceeded to the reign of Alexander Severus. It was divided into So books, or eight decades; many of which are not now extant. The first 34 books are lost, with part of the 35th. The 25 following are preserved intire; but instead of the last 20, of which nothing more than fragments remain, we have only the epitome, which Xiphtliuus, a monk of Coustantinople, has given of them. Photius observes, that he wrote his Roman history, as others had also done, not from the foundation of Rome only, but from the descent of Æneas into Italy; which he continued to the year of Home 982, and of Christ 228, when, as we have observed, he was consul a second time with the emperor Alexander Severus. What we now have of it, begins with the expedition of Lucullus against Mithridates king of Pontus, about the year of Rome 684, and ends with the death of the emperor Claudius about the year 806.
d, yet that is most so which contains the history of the forty last years; for within this period he was an eyewitness of all that passed, and a principal actor in a
Though all that is lost of this historian is much to be regretted, yet that is most so which contains the history of
the forty last years; for within this period he was an eyewitness of all that passed, and a principal actor in a great
part. Before the reign of Commodus, he could relate
nothing but what he had from the testimony of others;
after that, every thing fell under his own cognizance; and
a man of his quality, who had spent his life in the management of great affairs, and had read men as well as books,
must have had many advantages in delineating the history
of his own times; and it is even now allowed, that no man
has revealed more of those state-secrets, which Tacitus
styles arcana imperii, and of which he makes so high a
mystery. He is also very exact and full in his descriptions,
in describing the order of the comitia, the establishing of
magistrates, &c. and, as to what relates to the apotheosis,
or consecration of emperors, perhaps he is the only writer
who has given us a good account of it, if we except Ilerodian, who yet seemh to have been greatly indebted to him.
Besides his descriptions, there are several of his speeches,
which have been highly admired; those particularly of
Maecenas and Agrippa, upon the question, whether Augustus should resign the empire or no. Yet he has been
exceedingly blamed for his partiality, which to some has
appeared so great, as almost to invalidate the credit of
his whole history; of those parts at least, where he can be
supposed to have been the least interested. The instances
alleged are his partiality for Ciesar against Pompey, for
Antony against Cicero, and his strong prejudices against
Seneca. “The obvious cause of the prejudice which Dio
had conceived against Cicero,
” Dr. Middleton supposes
“to have been his envy to a man who for arts and eloquence was thought to eclipse the fame of Greece-; 11 but
he adds another reason, not less probable, deducible from
Dio’s character and principles, which were wholly opposite to those of Cicero.
” For Dio,“as he says,
” flourished under the most tyrannical of the emperors, by whom
he was advanced to great dignity; and, being the creature
of despotic power, thought it a proper compliment to it,
to depreciate a name so highly revered for its patriotism,
and whose writings tended to revive that ancient zeal and
spirit of liberty for which the people of Rome were once
so celebrated: for we find him taking all occasions in his
history, to prefer an absolute and monarchical government to a free and democratical one, as the most beneficial to the Roman state."
t seventy years old when he died; although the year of his death is not certainly known. His History was first printed at Paris, 1548, fol. by Robert Stephens, with
Dio obtained leave of the emperor Severus to retire to
Nicaea, where he spent the latter part of his life. He is
supposed to have been about seventy years old when he
died; although the year of his death is not certainly known.
His History was first printed at Paris, 1548, fol. by Robert
Stephens, with only the Greek; but has been reprinted
since with a Latin translation by Leunclavius, Hanov. 1592,
fol. The best edition, however, is that of Reimarus, Hamburgh, 1750, 2 vols. fol. which was begun by Fabricius.
Photius ranks the style of Dio Cassius amongst the most
elevated. Dio seems, he says, to have imitated Thucyclicles, whom he follows, especially in his narratives and
orations; but he has this advantage over him, that he cannot be reproached with obscurity. Besides his History,
Suidas ascribes to him some other compositions; as, 1.
“The Life of the Philosopher Arrianus.
” 2. “The Actions of Trajan
” and 3. certain “Itineraries.
” Raphael Volaterranus makes him also the author of three
books, entitled “De Principe,
” and some small treatises
of morality. His History, as abridged by Xiphilinus, was
translated into English by Manning, and published at
London, 1704, 2 vols. 8vo.
, the son of Pasicrates, was born at Prusa in Bithynia. We have just seen that Dio Cassius
, the son of Pasicrates, was born
at Prusa in Bithynia. We have just seen that Dio Cassius had the name of Cocceius or Cocceianus, and according to Mr. Wakefield, Dio Chrysostom had the same name'
from his patron Cocceius; but as an entire century intervened between these two Dio’s, it is impossible that Cassius could have derived that name from the same cause.
It is more certain, however, that the subject of the present
article was called Chrysostom, or golden mouthed, from
the elegance and purity of his compositions. This name
has occasioned a frequent confusion of our Dio Chrysostom
with John Chrysostom, the Christian preacher, so denominated for the same solid and splendid excellencies of his
style. Dio Chrysostom, under Nero and Vespasian, maintained the profession of a sophist: and frequently inveighed, in a declamatory and luxuriant style, against the
most illustrious poets and philosophers of antiquity; which
obliged him to leave Rome, and withdraw to Egypt. He
then assumed the character of a stoic philosopher; embellishing, however, his philosophical discourses that treated
of moral topics, with the graces of eloquence. As his
character corresponded to his principles of virtue, he was
a bold censor of vice, and spared no individual on account
of his rank. By his freedom of speech he offended Domitian, and being obliged to become a voluntary exile irr
Thrace, he lived in great poverty, and supported himself
by private labour. After the death of this emperor, he
returned to Rome, and for some time remained concealed;
but when he found the soldiers inclined to sedition, he
brought to their recollection Dio the orator and philosopher, by haranguing them in a strain of manly eloquence,
which soon subdued the tumult. He was admitted into the
confidence of Nerva and Trajan, and distinguished by the
former with tokens of favour. He lived to old acre, but
the time of his death cannot be ascertained. His “Orations
” are still extant, from which we may infer that he
was a man of sound judgment and lively fancy, and that
he blended in his style the qualities of animation and sweetness. The first edition of his works was published at Milan, 1476, 4to. The principal subsequent editions are,
Venice, 15.51, 8vo; Paris, 1604, fol. and Paris, 1533, 4to,
In 1800 the late Rev. Gilbert Wakefield published “Select Essays of Dio Chrysostom, translated into English,
from the Greek, with notes critical and illustrative,
” 8vo,
a work, however,- rather calculated for political allusion,
to which the translator was unhappily addicted, than for
classical illustration.
, a very eminent divine, descended of a noble family of Lucca, was born June 6, 1576; but of his early years we have no information.
, a very eminent divine, descended
of a noble family of Lucca, was born June 6, 1576; but
of his early years we have no information. When, however, he was only nineteen years of age, we find him appointed professor of Hebrew at Geneva. In 1619 the
church of Geneva sent him to the synod of Dort, with his
colleague Theodore Tronchin. Diodati gained so much
reputation in this synod, that he was chosen, with five
other divines, to prepare the Belgic confession of faith.
He was esteemed an excellent divine, and a good preacher.
His death happened at Geneva, Oct. 3, 1649, in his seventy-third year, and was considered as a public loss. He
has rendered himself noticed by some works which he
published, but particularly by his translation of the whole
Bible into Italian, the first edition of which he published,
with notes, in 1607, at Geneva, and reprinted in 16 n.
The New Testament was printed separately at Geneva in
1608, and at Amsterdam and Haerlem in 1665. M. Simon
observes, that his method is rather that of a divine and a
preacher, than of a critic, by which he means only, that
his work is more of a practical than a critical kind. He
translated the Bible also into French, but not being so intimate with that language, he is not thought to have succeeded so well as in the Italian. This translation was
printed in folio, at Geneva, in 1664. He was also the
first who translated into French father Paul’s “History of
the Council of Trent,
” and many have esteemed this a
more faithful translation than de la Houssaye’s, although
less elegant in language. He also is said to have translated sir Edwin Sandys’ book on the “State of Religion in
the West.
” But the work by which he is best known in
this country is his Annotations on the Bible, translated into
English, of which the third and best edition was published
in 1651, fol. He is said to have begun writing these annotations in 1606, at which time it was expected that
Venice would have shaken off the popish yoke, a measure to which he was favourable; and he went on improving them in his editions of the Italian and French
translations. This work was at one time time very popular
in England, and many of the notes of the Bible, called the
“Assembly of Divines’ Annotations,
” were taken from Diodati literally. Diodati was at onetime in England, as we
learn from the life of bishop Bedell, whom he was desirous
to become acquainted with, and introduced him to Dr. Morton, bishop of Durham. From Morrice’s “State Letters
of the right hon. the earl of Orrery,
” we learn that when
invited to preach at Venice, he was obliged to equip himself in a trooper’s habit, a scarlet cloak with a sword, and
in that garb he mounted the pulpit; but was obliged to
escape again to Geneva, from the wrath of a Venetian
nobleman, whose mistress, affected by one of Diqdati'a
sermons, had refused to continue her connection with her
keeper. The celebrated Milton, also, contracted a friendship for Diodati, when on his travels; and some of his
Latin elegies are addressed to Charles Diodati, the nepheiv
of the divine. This diaries was one of Milton’s most intimate friends, and was the son of Theodore Diodati, who,
although originally of Lucca, as well as his brother, married an English lady, and his son in every respect became
an Englishman. He was also an excellent scholar, and
being educated to his father’s profession, practised physic
in Cheshire. He was at St. Paul’s school, with Milton,
and afterwards, in 1621, entered of Trinity-college, Oxford. He died in 1638.
, an ancient historian, was born, at Agyrium, in Sicily, and nourished in the times of Julius
, an ancient historian, was born,
at Agyrium, in Sicily, and nourished in the times of Julius
Caesar and Augustus, in the first century. He informs us
that he was no less than thirty years in writing his history,
in the capital of the world, viz. Rome; where he collected
materials which he could not have procured elsewhere.
Nevertheless, he did not fail to travel through the greatest
part of the provinces of Europe and Asia, as well as to
Egypt, that he might not commit the usual faults of those
who had ventured to treat particularly of places which they
had never visited. He calls his work, not a history, but an
Historical Library; and with some reason; since, when it
was intire, it contained, according to the order of time,
all which other historians had written separately. He had
comprized in forty books the most remarkable events which
had happened in the world during the space of 1138 years;
without reckoning what was comprehended in his six first
books of the more fabulous times, viz. of all which happened before the Trojan war. But of these forty, only
fifteen books are now extant. The first five are intire,
and give us an account of the fabulous times, explaining
the antiquities and transactions of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Libyans, Grecians, and other nations,
before the Trojan war. The five next are wanting. The
llth begins at Xerxes’s expedition into Greece; from
whence, to the end of the 20th, which brings the history
down to the year of the world 3650, the work is intire;
but the latter twenty are quite lost. Henry Stephens asserts, from a letter communicated to him by Lazarus Baif,
that the Historical Library of Diodorus remains intire in
some corner of Sicily upon which, says la Mothe le
Vayer, “I confess I would willingly go almost to the end
of the world, in hopes to find so great a treasure. And
I shall envy posterity this important discovery, if it be to
be made when we are no more; when, instead of fifteen
books only, which we now enjoy, they shall possess the
whole forty.
”
“Animadversions upon Eusebius,” that Diodorus must needs have lived to a very great age; and that he was alive at least half the reign of Augustus, since he mentions
The contents of this whole work are thus explained in
the preface by Diodorus himself; “Our six first books,
”
says he, “comprehend all that happened before the war
of Troy, together with many fabulous matters here and
there interspersed. Of these, the three former relate the
antiquities of the barbarians, and the three latter those of
the Greeks. The eleven next include all remarkable
events in the world, from the destruction of Troy to the
death of Alexander the Great. And lastly, the other twentythree extend to the conquest of Julius Caesar over the Gauls,
when he made the British ocean the northern bounds of the
Roman empire.
” Since Diodorus speaks of Julius Caesar,
as he does in more places than one, and always according
to the pagan custom, with an attribute of some divinity,
he cannot be more ancient than he. When Eusebius writes
in his Chronicon, that Diodorus lived under this emperor,
he seems to limit the life of the former by the reign of the
latter; yet Suidas prolongs his days even to Augustus;
and Scaliger observes in his “Animadversions upon Eusebius,
” that Diodorus must needs have lived to a very great
age; and that he was alive at least half the reign of Augustus, since he mentions on the subject of the olympiads,
the Roman bissextile year: now this name was not used
before the fasti and calendar were corrected; which was
done by Augustus, to make the work of his predecessor
more perfect.
Diodorus has met with a different reception from the
learned. Pliny affirms him to have been the first of the
Greeks who wrote seriously, and avoided trifles: “primus
apud Graccos desiit nugari,
” are his words. Bishop Montague, in his preface to his “Apparatus,
” gives him the
praise of being an excellent author; who, with great fidelity, immense labour, and uncommon ingenuity, has collected an “Historical Library,
” in which he has exhibited
his own and the studies of other men. This history, without which we should have been ignorant of the antiquities
and many other particulars of the little town of Agyrium,
or even of Sicily, presents us occasionally with sensible
and judicious reflections. Diodorus takes particular care
to refer the successes of war and of other enterprises, not
to chance or to a blind fortune, with the generality of historians; but to a wise and kind providence, which presides
over all events. Yet he exhibits proofs of extraordinary
credulity, as in his description of the Isle of Panchaia,
with its walks beyond the reach of sight of odoriferous
trees; its fountains, which form an infinite number of
canals bordered with flowers; its birds, unknown in any
other part of the world, which warble their enchanting
notes in groves of uninterrupted verdure; its temple of
marble, 4000 feet in length, &c. The first Latin edition
of Diodorus is that of Milan, 1472, folio. The first of the
text was that of Henry Stephens, in Greek, 1559, finely
printed: Wesseling’s, Amsterdam, Gr. and Lat. with the
remarks of different authors, various lections, and all the
fragments of this historian, 1745, 2 vols, folio, was long
accounted the best, but is not so correct as was supposed.
Poggius translated it into Latin, the abbe Terasson into
French, and Booth into English, 1700, fol. Count Caylus
has an ingenious essay on this historian in vol. XXVIL of
the “Hist. de l'academie des Belles Lettres,
” and professor Heyne has a still more learned and elaborate memoir in
“The Transactions of the Royal Society of Gottingen,
”
vol. V. on the sources of information from which Diodorus
composed his history. This was afterwards inserted among
the valuable prolegomena to Heyne’s edition of Diodorus,
1798, &c. 10 vols. 8vo, which is now reckoned the best.
, of Antioch, priest of that church, and afterwards bishop of Tarsus in the fourth century, was disciple of Sylvanus, and master of St. John Chrysostom, of
, of Antioch, priest of that church, and
afterwards bishop of Tarsus in the fourth century, was
disciple of Sylvanus, and master of St. John Chrysostom, of
St. Basil, and of St. Athanasius, who all bestow great
praises on his virtues and his zeal for the faith: praises
which were confirmed by the first council of Constantinople. St. Cyril, on the contrary, calls him the enemy of
the glory of Jesus Christ, and regards him as the fore-runner
of Nestorins. Diodorus was one of the first commentators
who adhered to the literal sense of Scripture, without expatiating in the fields of allegory; but only some fragments
of his writings are come down to us, in the “Catena patrum Grrccorum.
” His contemporaries and immediate successors differ very essentially as to his real character, as
may be seen in our authorities.
, of Caria, a philosopher of the Megaric school, flourished about 2SO years B. C. and was a famous adept in the verbal quibbles so common at that time,
, of Caria, a philosopher of the Megaric
school, flourished about 2SO years B. C. and was a famous
adept in the verbal quibbles so common at that time, and
which Aristotle called Kristic syllogisms. A dialectic
question was proposed to him in the presence of Ptolemy
Soter, at whose court he was, by Stilpo, another quibbler
like himself; and Diodorus acknowledging himself incapable of giving an immediate answer, requested time for
the solution; on which the king himself, we presume a
wit, ridiculed his want of ingenuity, and gave him the
surname of Chronus. Mortified at this defeat, he retired
from the court, wrote a book upon the question, and at
last, foolishly enough, died of vexation. He is said to
have invented the famous argument against motion: “if any
body be moved, it is either moved in the place where it is,
or in a place where it is not; but it is not moved in the
place where it is, for where it is, it remains; nor is it moved
in a place where it is not, for nothing can either act or suffer
where it is not; therefore there is no such thing as motion.
”
Diodorus, after the invention of this wonderful argument,
was very properly repaid for his ingenuity. Having had
the misfortune to dislocate his shoulder, the surgeon whom
he sent for to replace it, kept him for some time in torture,
whilst he proved to him, from his own method of reasoning,
that the bone could not have moved out of its place. Diodorus has been ranked among the atomic philosophers,
because he held the doctrine of small indivisible bodies,
infinite in number, but finite in magnitude; but it does
not appear that he conceived the idea which distinguishes
the atomic doctrine, as it was taught by Democritus and
others, that the first atoms are destitute of all properties
except extension and figures.
, a celebrated Cynic philosopher, was born in the third year of the ninety-first olympiad, or 413
, a celebrated Cynic philosopher, was born
in the third year of the ninety-first olympiad, or 413 B.C.
at Sinope, a city of Pont us. His father, who was a banker,
was convicted of debasing the public coin, and was obliged
to leave his country. This circumstance gave the sou
an opportunity of visiting Athens, where he offered himself as a pupil of Aniisthenes; but that philosopher happening to be in a peevish humour, refused to receive him.
Diogenes still importuning him for admission, Antistheues
lifted up his staff to drive him away; upon which Diogenes
said, “Beat me as you please; I will be your scholar.
”
Antisthenes, overcome by his perseverance, received him,
and afterwards made him his intimate companion and
friend. Diogenes perfectly adopted the principles and
character of his master, and renouncing every other object
of ambition, he determined to distinguish himself by his
contempt of riches and honours, and by his indignation
against luxury. He wore a coarse cloak; carried a wallet
and a staff; made the porticoes and other public places
his habitation; and depended upon casual contributions
for his daily bread. A friend, whom he had desired to
procure him a cell, not executing his order so soon as he
expected, he took up his abode in a tub, or large open
vessel, in the Metro urn. It is probable, however, Brucker
thinks, that this was only a temporary expression of indignation and contempt, and that he did not make a tub
the settled place of residence, although it is mentioned
by Juvenal and Seneca. Whether true or not, there is
no doubt of his practising rigid abstinence,and depending
upon casual charity nor is it less certain that he reproved
the luxurious manners of the Athenians with great freedom; and yet his reproofs, though very pungent, manifested so much ingenuity, as to excite even the admiration
of those against whom they were directed. He uniformly
inculcated patience of labour and pain, frugality, temperance, and an entire contempt of pleasure; and whether praised or blamed, appeared equally indifferent, and
preserved on all occasions a perfect self-command.
enes, in his old age, is said to have sailed to the island of Ægina; and having met with pirates, he was carried into Crete, and exposed to public sale. Being asked
Diogenes, in his old age, is said to have sailed to the
island of Ægina; and having met with pirates, he was
carried into Crete, and exposed to public sale. Being asked
what he could do? he replied, “I can govern men, and
therefore sell me to one who wants a master:
” Xeniades, a
wealthy Corinthian, being struck by this singular reply,
purchased him; upon which Diogenes told him, “I shall
be more useful to you as your physician, than as your
slave.
” Upon their arrival at Corinth, Xeniades gave him
his liberty, and committed to his direction the education
of his children, and the management of his domestic concerns. Xeniades had so much reason to be satisfied with
his judgment and fidelity, that he used to say the gods
had sent a good genius to his house. He accustomed his
pupils to the discipline of the Cynic sect, and took greater
pains to inure them to habits of self-command, than to
instruct them in the elements of science. However, he
was not negligent in teaching them lessons of moral wisdom, which he inculcated by sententious maxims; and he
allowed them the moderate use of athletic exercises and
hunting. During his residence at Corinth, he frequently
attended the assemblies of the people at the Crancum, a
place in its vicinity; and at the Isthmian games, where he
appeared under the character of a censor, severely lashing
the follies of the times, and inculcating rigid lessons of
sobriety and virtue. At one of these assemblies the conference between Alexander the Great and Diogenes is
said to have happened. Plutarch relates the story thus:
Alexander received the congratulations of all ranks on his
being appointed, after the death of his father, to the command of the Grecian army in their projected expedition
against the Persians. Diogenes was absent on this occasion, and Alexander expressed his surprise at this circumstance. Wishing to gratify his curiosity by the sight of
such a philosopher as Diogenes, he visited the Craneum,
where he found the philosopher sitting in his tub in th
sun. The king came up to him in the crowd, and said,
“I am Alexander the Great;
” to which Diogenes replied,
in a surly tone, “and I am Diogenes the Cynic.
” Alexander, requesting to know if he could render him any service, received for answer, “Yes,
” says he, “do not stand
between me and the sun.
” Alexander surprised at the
magnanimity of this reply, said to his friends, “If I were
not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.
” There are several
circumstances in this narrative which suggest some doubts
as to its truth yet, from the character of Diogenes, it is
not very improbable.
th the wise men of his age. If we can pay any credit to the representation of the ancients, Diogenes was a philosopher of a penetrating genius, not unacquainted with
Some writers assert, that after the death of Antisthenes, Diogenes passed his summers in Corinth, and his winters in Athens, for which there seems to be no better foundation than for the whole detail of small anecdotes and jests which have been ascribed to him, and which are entirely contrary to the general scope of his philosophy, and to that authority and respect which he enjoyed with the wise men of his age. If we can pay any credit to the representation of the ancients, Diogenes was a philosopher of a penetrating genius, not unacquainted with learning, and deeply read in the knowledge of mankind. He moreover possessed a firm and lofty mind, superior to the injuries of fortune, hardy in suffering, and incapable of fear. Contented with a little, and possessing within himself treasures, sufficient for his own happiness, he despised the luxuries of the age. From an earnest desire to correct and improve the public manners, he censured reigning follies and vices with a steady confidence which sometimes degenerated into severity. He spared neither the rich nor the powerful; and even ventured to ridicule the religious superstitions of the age. This freedom gave great offence to multitudes, who could not endure such harsh and reproachful lectures from the mouth of a mendicant philosopher. The consequence was, that he suffered much obloquy, and was made the subject of ludicrous and disgraceful calumny. It is wholly incredible, that a man universally celebrated for his sobriety, contempt of pleasure, and indignation against vice, should have been guilty of the grossest indecencies. Brucker has amply refuted the story of his amour with Lais, the celebrated courtesan, by proving that at the time this intrigue is said to have taken place, Lais must have been eighty years old, and Diogenes seventy. Of philosophical pride, however, it is less easy to acquit him; and it was probably to his haughty temper, his coarse invectives, and scurrilous replies, that he owed the hostility which broke out in misrepresentations of his real character. Various accounts are given, concerning the time and manner of his death. It seems most probable that he died at Corinth, of mere decay, in the ninetieth year of his age, and in the hundred and fourteenth olympiad. His friends contended for the honour of defraying the expences of his funeral but the magistrates of Athens settled the dispute, by ordering him an honourable interment at the public expence. A column of Parian marble, terminated by the figure of a dog, was raised over his tomb; and his friends erected many brazen statues from respect to his memory.
Diogenes left behind him no system of philosophy. After the example of his master, he was more attentive to practical, than theoretical wisdom. The chief
Diogenes left behind him no system of philosophy. After the example of his master, he was more attentive to practical, than theoretical wisdom. The chief heads of his moral doctrine may be thus briefly stated: Virtue of mind, as well as strength of body, is chiefly to be acquired by exercise and habit. Nothing can be accomplished without labour, and every thing may be accomplished with it. Even the contempt of pleasure may, by the force of habit, become pleasant. All things belong to wise men, to whom the gods are friends. The ranks of society originate from the vices and follies of mankind, and are therefore to be despised. Laws are necessary in a civilized state; but the happiest condition of human life is that which approaches the nearest to a state of nature, in which all are equal, and virtue is the only ground of distinction. The end of philosophy is to subdue the passions, and prepare men for every condition of life.
ou have eyes, but no intellect.” His answer to an invitation from Craterus to come and live with him was, “I had rather lick salt at Athens, than sit down to the richest
From the numerous maxims and apothegms which have
been ascribed to Diogenes, we shall select the following,
without staying to inquire what right he has to the credit
of them: Diogenes treading upon Plato’s robe, said, “I
trample under foot the pride of Plato.
” “Yes,
” said
Plato, “with greater pride of your own.
” Being asked
in what part of Greece he had seen good men, he answered, “No-where; at Sparta I have seen good boys.
”
To a friend who advised him in his old age to indulge himself, he said, “Would you have me quit the race when
J have almost reached the goal?
” Observing a boy drink
water out of the hollow of his hand, he took his cup out of
his wallet, and threw it away, saying that he would carry
no superfluities about him. Plato having defined man to
be a two-legged animal without wings, Diogenes plucked
off the feathers from a cock, and turned him into the academy, crying out, “See Plato’s man.
” In reply to one
who asked him at what time he ought to dine he said,
“If you are a rich man, when you will; if you are poor,
when you can.
” “How happy,
” said one, “is Callisthenes, in living with Alexander!
” “No,
” said Diogenes,
“he is not happy; for he must dine and sup when
Alexander pleases.
” Plato, discoursing concerning ideas,
spoke of the abstract idea of a table and a cup; Diogenes
said, “I see the table and the cup, but not the idea of the
table and the cup.
” Plato replied, “No wonder, for you
have eyes, but no intellect.
” His answer to an invitation
from Craterus to come and live with him was, “I had rather lick salt at Athens, than sit down to the richest feast
with Craterus.
” Being asked what countryman he was, he
answered, “A citizen of the world.
” To one that reviled
him he said, “No one will believe you, when you speak
ill of me, any more than they would me, if I were to speak
well of you.
” Hearing one of his friends lament that he
should not die in his own country, he said, “Be not uneasy; from every place there is a passage to the regions
below.
” “Would you be revenged upon your enemy,
”
said Diogenes, “be virtuous, that he may have nothing
to say against you.
”
, or of Apollonia, in the island of Crete, was a disciple of Anaximenes, and the successor of Anaxagoras in
, or of Apollonia, in the island of Crete, was a disciple of Anaximenes, and the successor of Anaxagoras in the Ionic school. Following the steps of his master, he devoted himself to the contemplation of nature; not, however, without mingling with the severer pursuits of philosophy the study of eloquence. This qualified him to execute the office of preceptor with great reputation, both at Miletus and at Athens. But his success, and perhaps his opinions, excited so much jealousy and aversion among the Athenians, that, like Anaxagoras, he was obliged to provide for his safety by flight. What befel him afterwards, or what was the exact time of his birth or death, is unknown. With Anaximenes, he taught that air, or a subtle ether, is the first material principle in nature, but that it partakes of a divine intelligence, without which nothing could be produced. From comparing the imperfect accounts of his doctrine which remain, with the opinions of his predecessors, it appeals probable that he conceived the infinite ether to be animated by a divine mind, and all things to be formed from this compound principle.
e Babylonian, from his birthplace, Seleucia, near Babylon, flourished in the second century B. C. He was the disciple of Chrysippus, and the successor of Zeno of Tarsus,
, called the Babylonian, from his birthplace, Seleucia, near Babylon, flourished in the second
century B. C. He was the disciple of Chrysippus, and
the successor of Zeno of Tarsus, where he taught the
principles of his sect with unwearied diligence, and a high
reputation. He was the author of several works on divination, the laws, learning, &c. which have been quoted
with respect by Cicero and others. He is said to have
lived to the age of eighty-eight years, and philosophized
to the last. That he was highly esteemed by his contemporaries, is evident from his being appointed in conjunction with Carneades, the head of the academies, and Critolaus, the chief of the peripatetic school, to the embassy
to Home and as a proof how well his practice conformed
to his principles, we are told, that when he was once discoursing against anger, an insolent young man, with the
hope of exposing him to the ridicule of his audience, spat
upon him, and otherwise contumeliously treated him,
upon which the philosopher observed with meekness, “I
am not angry, but I am doubtful whether I ought not to
be so.
”
e bestows upon Epicurus will not suffer us to believe this, but incline us rather to suppose that he was an Epicurean. He divided his Lives into books, and inscribed
, so called from Laerta, or
Laertes, a town of Cilicia, where he is supposed to have
been born, is an ancient Greek author, who wrote ten books
of the Lives of the Philosophers, still extant. In what age
he flourished, is not easy to determine. The oldest writers
who mention him are Sopater Alexandrinus, who lived
in the time of Constantine the Great, and Hesychius Milesius, who lived under Justinian. Diogenes often speaks in
terms of approbation of Plutarch and Phavorinus; and therefore, as Plutarch lived under Trajan, and Phavorinus under
Hadrian, it is certain that he could not flourish before the
reigns of those emperors. Menage has fixed him to the time
of Severus; that is, about the year of Christ 200; and
from certain expressions in his works, some have fancied
him to have been a Christian; however, as Menage observes, the immoderate praises he bestows upon Epicurus
will not suffer us to believe this, but incline us rather to
suppose that he was an Epicurean. He divided his Lives
into books, and inscribed them to a learned lady of the
Platonic school, as he himself intimates in his life of Plato.
Montaigne was so fond of this author, that, instead of one
Laertius, he wishes we had a dozen; and Vossius says, that
his work is as precious as old gold. Without doubt we are
greatly obliged to him for what we know of the ancient
philosophers; and if he had been as exact in the execution, as he was judicious in the choice of his subject, we
had been more obliged to him still. Bishop Burnet, in the
preface to his Life of sir Matthew Hale, justly speaks of
him in the following manner: “There is no hook the ancients have left us,
” says he, “which might have informed
us more than Diogenes Laertius’s Lives of the Philosophers,
if he had had the art of writing equal to that great subject
which he undertook: for if he had given the world such an
account of them, as Gassendus has done of Peiresc, how
great a stock of knowledge might we have had, which by
his unskilfulness is in a great measure lost! since we must
now depend only on him, because we have no other and
better author who has written on that argument.
” He is
no where observed to be a rigid affecter or favourer of any
sect; which makes it somewhat probable, that he was a
follower of Potomon of Alexandria, who, after all the rest,
and a little before his time, established a sect which were
called Eclectics, from their choosing out of every sect what
they thought the best. His books shew him to have been
a man of universal reading; but as a writer he is very exceptionable, both as to the disposal and the defect of his
materials. Brucker, whose opinion must be of sterling
value, in estimating the merits of Diogenes Laertius, says,
that “he has collected from the ancients with little judgment, patched together contradictory accounts, relied
upon doubtful authorities, admitted as facts many tales
which were produced in the schools of the sophists, and
has been inattentive to methodical arrangement.
” Diogenes also composed a book of epigrams, to which he refers. The best edition is that of Meibomius, Amst. 1692,
2 vols. 4to; yet Rossius, in his “Commentationes Laertianae,
” has convicted Meibomius of innumerable errors.
, an eminent French surgeon and writer, was born at Paris, and became surgeon in ordinary to Maria Teresa
, an eminent French surgeon and writer, was born at Paris, and became surgeon in ordinary to
Maria Teresa of Austria, queen of France, and to the
dauphinesses and the royal family. These honours were
bestowed in consequence of the fame which he acquired as
lecturer in surgery and anatomy in the royal gardens at
Paris, an office founded by Louis XIV. He retained this
and his other offices with increasing reputation, until his
death, Dec. 11, 1718. His first publication was “Histoire
anatomique d'une matrice extraordinaire,
” Anatomic de l'homme suivant la circulation
du sang, et les nouvelles decouvertes,
” 8vo, an useful epitome, containing all that was then known on the subject.
It was well received, frequently reprinted, and was translated in 1718, into the Tartar language, by order of
Cam-hi, the emperor of China, for the benefit of his subjects. His next work, which first appeared in 1707, was
“Cours d'Operations de Chirurgie demontree, au Jardin
Royal de Paris,
” 8vo. This has been reprinted still more
frequently than the former work, and has been translated
into nearly all the modern languages. Heister gave an
edition of it in Latin, with notes, and it still retains a certain degree of credit. In 1709, he gave “Dissertation sur
la mort subite, avec l‘histoire d’une fille cataleptique,
”
12mo; and in Traite general des Accouchmens,
”
8vo. This also has been translated into most modern languages, though it contains little more than an abridgment
of the practice of Mauriceau, and is now almost entirely
unnoticed.
, one of the first French astronomers of the last century, was born at Paris Jan. 11, 1734, and appears to have been educated
, one of the
first French astronomers of the last century, was born at
Paris Jan. 11, 1734, and appears to have been educated to
the profession of the law, as he became a counsellor of
parliament; but his fame is more solidly“established on his
astronomical pursuits. In the former capacity, however,
he was appointed a deputy from the noblesse of Paris as
one of their representatives in the constituent assembly.
His conduct here appears to have been moderate, and even
praiseworthy, as he incurred the displeasure of the succession of tyrants who ruined their country, and was obliged
to escape to some secure place of retirement, where he
died in August 1794. During his more prosperous career, he was chosen a member of the royal societies of
London (in 1775) and of Stockholm and Gottingen, and
contributed many papers to Memoirs of the academy of
sciences at Paris, of which he was also a member. His
principal works, all of high value, are, 1.
” Traite des
courbes algebraiques,“1756, 12mo. 2.
” Methode
generale et directe pour resoudre les problemes relatifs aux
eclipses,“read in the academy. 3.
” Recherches sur la
gnomonique et les retrogradations des Planetes,“1761,
8vo. 4.
” Traite“analytique des mouvemens apparens des
corps celestes,
” Essai sur les
Cometes en general, et en particulier sur celles qui peuvent approcher de l'orbite de la terre,
” 17“-
”, svo; a work,
says its reviewer, which deserves undoubtedly to be placed
among astronomical productions of the first rank, and in
which the learned author has omitted nothing that has the
least relation towards the general theory of comets. Accordingly the commissaries, who were appointed by the
royal academy of sciences at Paris to examine this work,
declared that it contained the most complete theory of
comets hitherto given. 6. “Essai sur les phenomenes relatifs aux disparitions periodiques del'anneaude Saturne,
”
, was an ancient poet and geographer, concerning whom we have no certain
, was an ancient poet and
geographer, concerning whom we have no certain information but what we derive from the elder Pliny. Pliny,
speaking of the Persian Alexandria, afterwards called Antioch, and at last Charrax, could not miss the opportunity
of paying his respects to a person who had so much obliged him, and whom he professes to follow above all men
in the geographical part of his work. He tells us, that
*' Dionysius was a native of this Alexandria, and that he
had the honour to be sent by Augustus to survey the
eastern part of the world, and to make reports and observations about its state and condition, for the use of the
emperor’s eldest son, who was at that time preparing an
expedition into Armenia, Parthia, and Arabia.“This passage, though seemingly explicit enough, has not been
thought sufficient by the critics to determine the time
when Dionysius lived, whether under the first Augustus
Caesar, or under some of the later emperors, who assumed
his name: Vossius and others are of opinion, that the former is the emperor meant by Pliny; but Scaliger and
Salmasius think he lived under Severus, or Marcus
Aurelias, about A. D. 130 or 150. Dionysius wrote a great
number of pieces, enumerated by Suidas and his commentator Eustathius: but his
” Periegesis," or survey of the
world, is the only one we have remaining; and it would
be superfluous to say, that this is one of the most exact
systems of ancient geography, when it has been already
observed, that Pliny himself proposed it for his pattern.
It is written in Greek hexameters; but some think that
Dionysius is no more to be reckoned a poet, than any of
those authors who have included precepts in numbers, for
the sake of assisting the memory. Yet, although his book
is more valuable for matter than manner, it has been
thought that he had a genius capable of more sublime
undertakings, and that he constantly made the Muses the
companions, though not the guides, of his travels. As
proofs of this, we are referred to his descriptions of the
island of Lucca, inhabited by departed heroes; of the
monstrous and terrible whales in Taprobana; of the poor
Scythians that dwelt by the Meotic lake; to the account
of himself, when he comes to describe the Caspian sea,
and of the swans and bacchanals on the banks of Cayster,
which shew him to have possessed no small share of poetic
spirit.
, a historian and critic of antiquity, was born at Halicarnassus, a town in Caria; which is also memorable
, a historian and critic of antiquity, was born at Halicarnassus, a town in Caria;
which is also memorable for having before produced Herodotus. He came to Rome soon after Augustus had put an
end to the civil wars, which was about 30 years before
Christ; and continued there, as he himself relates, twentytwo years, learning the Latin tongue, and making all necessary provision for the design he had conceived of writing the Roman history. To this purpose he read over, as
he tells us, all the commentaries and annals of those Romans who had written with any reputation about the antiquities and transactions of their state; of such as old Cato,
Fabius Maximus, Valerius Antias, Licinius Macer, and
others; but owns, after all, that the conferences he had
with the great and learned men at Rome upon this subject,
were almost as serviceable to him as any thing he had read.
His history is entitled “Of the Roman antiquities,
” and
was comprised in twenty books, of which only the first
eleven are now extant. They conclude with the time
when the consuls resumed the chief authority of the republic, after the government of the decemviri; which happened 312 years after the foundation of Rome. The entire work extended to the beginning of the first Punic war,
ending where Polybius begins his history, which is about
200 years later. Some have imagined that Dionysius never
ended his work, but was prevented by death from composing any more than eleven books out of the twenty
which he had promised the public; but this is contrary to
the express testimony of Stepbanus, a Greek author, who
quotes the 16th and 17th books of Dionysius’ s Roman
antiquities; and Photius, in his Bibliotheca, says, that
he had read all the twenty, and had seen the compendium
or abridgment which Dionysius made of his own history
into five books, but which is now lost. The reputation of
this historian stands very high on many accounts, notwithstanding the severe attacks made on him by Mr. Hooke, in
his “Observations, &c.
” on Middleton and Chapman, &c.
tionable in that letter, or in the other critical and rhetorical pieces of Dionysius, it is, that he was too rigorous in his criticisms, and contended too obstinately
Besides the Roman Antiquities, there are other writings
of his extant, critical and rhetorical. His most admired
piece in this way is “De structura Orationis,
” first printed
by Aldus at Venice in Vita
Isa^i et Dinarchi
” “Judicium de Lysia
” “Homeri
vita;
” “De Priscis Scriptoribus
” “De antiquis Oratoribus,
” of which Rowe Mores published an edition in
formers on the flute and cithara, but those who had risen to eminence by every species of poetry. He was, likewise, author of five books, written in defence of music,
, junior, flourished,
according to Suidas, under the emperor Adrian, and wrote
twenty-six books of the “History of Musicians,
” in which
he celebrated not only the great performers on the flute
and cithara, but those who had risen to eminence by every
species of poetry. He was, likewise, author of five books,
written in defence of music, and chiefly in refutation of
what is alleged against it in Plato’s Republic. Aristides
Quintilianus has also endeavoured to soften the severity
of some animadversions against music in the writings of
Cicero; but though time has spared the defence of this
author, yet it does not indemnify us for the loss of that
which Dionysius junior left behind him; as testimonies are
still remaining or his having been a much more able writer
than Aristides Quintilianus.
was born at Athens, and educated there. He went afterwards to Heliopolis
was born at Athens, and
educated there. He went afterwards to Heliopolis in
Ægypt where, if we may believe some writers of his life,
he saw that wonderful eclipse which happened at our Saviour’s passion, and was urged by some extraordinary impulse to cry out, “Ant Deus patitur, aut cum patiente
dolet;
” Either God himself suffers, or condoles with him
who does. At his return to Athens he was elected into
the court of Areopagus, from whence he derived his name
of Areopagite. About the year 50 he embraced Christianity, and, as some say, was appointed first bishop of
Athens by St. Paul, and consecrated by his hands. Of his
conversion we have this account in Acts xvii.: Paul,
preaching at Athens, was brought before the Areopagus,
to give account of himself and his doctrine. He harangued
in that court, taking occasion to speak against the prevailing idolatry of the place, from an altar which he found
with this inscription, “To the unknown God.
” The event
of which preaching was, as the sacred historian tells us,
that “certain men clave unto him, and believed; among
the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named
Damaris, and others with them.
” He is supposed to have
suffered martyrdom; but whether under Domitian, Trajan,
or Adrian, is not certain.
him than what appears from some of his epistles, preserved by Eusebius: from which we learn, that he was not only very diligent in his pastoral care over the flock committed
, bishop of Corinth, flourished under the reigns of Marcus Antoninus and Commodus; and is supposed to have suffered martyrdom about the year 178. We know little more of him than what appears from some of his epistles, preserved by Eusebius: from which we learn, that he was not only very diligent in his pastoral care over the flock committed to him, but that he extended this care likewise to the inhabitants of all other countries and cities. He wrote a letter to the Lacedaemonians, in which he exhorts them to peace and concord; another to the Athenians, in which he recommends purity of faith and evangelical holiness; a third to the Nicomedians, to guard them against the heresy of Marciou; a fourth to the churches of Crete; a fifth to the churches of Pontus; a sixth to the Gnossians, in which he admonishes Pinytus, their bishop, not to impose too severely upon the brethren the heavy burden of continence, but to consider the frailties and infirmities of the flesh; a proof that monastic austerities were beginning at this early period of the church. He wrote also a seventh letter to the Romans, in which he mentions the famous epistle of Clemens to the Corinthians; which, as we learn from him, was wont at that time to be publicly read in their churches. He recommends to them also to continue a charitable custom, which, from their first plantation, they had always practised; namely, to send relief to divers churches throughout the world, and to assist particularly those who were condemned to the mines; a strong proof, says a recent historian, both that the Roman church continued opulent and numerous, and that they still partook much of the spirit of Christianity. None of these epistles are now extant, but Eusebius has preserved some fragments of them.
, bishop of Alexandria, a man of great renown in the church, was born a heathen, and of an ancient and illustrious family. He
, bishop of Alexandria, a man of great
renown in the church, was born a heathen, and of an
ancient and illustrious family. He was a diligent inquirer
after truth, which he looked for in vain among the sects of
philosophers; but at last found it in Christianity, in which
he was probably confirmed by his preceptor Origen. He
was made a presbyter of the church of Alexandria in the
year 232; and in the year 247 was raised to that see upon
the death of Heracles. When the Decian persecution arose,
he was seized by the soldiers and sent to Taposiris, a little
town between Alexandria and Canopus; but he escaped
without being hurt, of which there is an extraordinary
account in the fragments of one of his letters, which Eusebius has preserved. He was less fortunate under the Valerian persecution, which began in the year 257, being
then forcibly hurried off in the midst of a dangerous illness,
and banished to Cephrus, a most desert and uncultivated
region of Libya, in which terrible situation he remained
for three years. Afterwards, when Gallienus published
an edict of toleration to the Christians, he returned to
Alexandria, and applied himself diligently to the offices
of his function, as well by converting heathens, as by
suppressing heretics. To the Novatian heresy he laboured
to put a stop; he endeavoured to quiet the dispute, which
was risen to some height, between Stephen and Cyprian,
concerning the re-baptization of heretics: both which he
attempted with Christian moderation and candour, and it
must be acknowledged to his credit, that he seems to have
possessed more of that spirit of gentleness and meekness
than was usually to be found in those zealous times. He
does not indeed appear to have been quite so moderate in
the next congress which he had with Sabellius, who had asserted, that “the substance in the trinity was nothing more
than one person distinguished by three names;
” which
Dionysius opposed with such zeal and ardour, as to fall
into the Arian opinion, and maintain, that there was
“not only a distinction of persons, but of essence or substance also, and even an inequality of power and glory in
them.
” Cave, however, excuses this error, or “blindness,
” as he calls it, in him, because it flowed from his
intemperate zeal and hatred of heretics, and because Dionysius was in all other respects a very sound and orthodox
bishop. A little before his death he was called to a synod
at Antioch, to defend the divinity of Jesus Christ against
Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch: but he could not
appear by reason of his great age and infirmities. He
wrote a letter, however, to that church, in which he explained his own opinion of the matter, and refuted Paul,
whom he thought so very blameable for advancing such an
error, that he did not deign to salute him even by name.
He died in the year 267; and though his writings were
very numerous, yet scarce any of them are come down to
us, except some fragments preserved by Eusebius.
, surnamed Exiguus, or Little, on account of his stature, was a monk by profession, and born in Scythia, where he is supposed
, surnamed Exiguus, or Little, on account of his stature, was a monk by profession, and born in Scythia, where he is supposed to have died about the year 540, as Dupin reckons, or 556, according to Cave. He understood Greek and Latin, and was well acquainted with the holy scriptures. Cassiodorus, who was intimate with him, wrote his panegyric in the 23d chapter of his book on divine learning. At the desire of Stephen, bishop of Salone, he made a collection of canons, which contains, besides those which were in the code of the universal church, the fifty first canons of the apostles, those of the council of Sardica, and 138 canons of the council of Africa. This code of canons was approved and received by the church of Rome, and France, and by the Latin churches; and was printed by Justel in 1628, with a version of the letter of St. Cyril, and of the council of Alexandria against Nestorius, which is also the translation of Dionysius Exiguus. He afterwards joined these with the decretals of the popes from Syricius to Anastasius, to which have been, since added those of Hilary, Simplicius, and other popes, to St. Gregory. This second collection was printed by Justel in his Bibliotheca of Canon law. Dionysius was the first who introduced the way of counting the years from the birth of Jesus Christ, and who fixed it according to the epocha of the vulgar sera. He wrote also two letters upon Easter in the years 525 and 526, which were published by Petavius and Buchevius; and made a cycle of 95 years. Father Mabillon published a letter of his written to Eugippius, about the translation which he made of a work of Gregory Nyssen, concerning the creation of man. With respect to the epoch which he invented, he began his account from the conception or incarnation, usually called the Annunciation, or Lady-day which method obtained in the dominions of Great Britain till 1752, before which time the Dionysian was the same as the English epoch but in that year the Gregorian calendar having been admitted by act of parliament, they now reckon from the first of January, as in the other parts of Europe, except in the court of Rome, where the epoch of the Incarnation still obtains for the date of their bulls.
, a Greek poet and musician, was the author of the words and music of three hymns, of which the
, a Greek poet and musician, was the
author of the words and music of three hymns, of which
the first is addressed to Calliope, the second to Apollo,
and the third to Nemesis. Of these the music has been
preserved and published by Dr. Fell, bishop of Oxford, in
1672. This precious manuscript, which was found in Ireland, among the papers of the famous archbishop Usher,
was bought, after his decease, by Mr. Bernard, fellow of
St. John’s college, who communicated it to the editor,
together with remarks and illustrations by the rev. Mr.
Edmund Chilmead, of Christ church, who likewise redueed the ancient musical characters to those in common,
use. It appears by the notes, that the music of these
hymns was composed in the Lydian mode, and diatonic
genus. Vincenzo Galilei, father of the great Galileo, first
published these hymns with their Greek notes, in his
“Dialogues upon Ancient and Modern Music,
” printed at
Florence, Melone,
” printed at Ferrara, in
4to. But he derived his knowlege of these pieces only
from the Dialogues of Galilei; however, he inserted, in
the beginning of his book, some fragments of them in
common notes; but they were disfigured by a number of
typographical errors. At length, in 1720, M. Burette
published these three hymns in the “Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions,
” ton), v. from a copy found at the
end of a Greek manuscript in the king of France’s library
at Paris, No. 3221, which likewise contained the musical
treatises of Aristides Quintilianus, and of Bacchius senior'.
But though the words were confused, and confounded one
with another, they appeared much more complete in this
manuscript than elsewhere, particularly the hymn to
Apollo, which had six verses more at the beginning; and
that to Nemesis, which, though deficient at the end in all
the other editions, was here entire, having fourteen verses,
exclusive of the six first.
h century. He appears to be the same Diophantus who wrote the “Canon Astronomicus, which Suidas says was commented on by the celebrated Hypatia, daughter of Theon of
, a celebrated mathematician of Alexandria, has been reputed to be the inventor of algebra; at
least his is the earliest work extant on that science. It is
not certain when he lived. Some have placed him before
Christ, and some after, in the reigns of Nero and the Antonines; Saxius places him in the fourth century. He appears to be the same Diophantus who wrote the “Canon
Astronomicus, which Suidas says was commented on by
the celebrated Hypatia, daughter of Theon of Alexandria.
His reputation must have been very high among the ancients, since they ranked him with Pythagoras and Euclid
in mathematical learning. Bachet, in his notes upon the
5th book
” De Arithmeticis," has collected, from Diophantus’s epitaph in the Anthologia, the following circumstances of his life; namely, that he was married when he
was thirty-three years old, and had asonbornfive years after;
that this son died when he was forty-two years of age, and
that his father did not survive him above four years; from
which it appears, that Diophantus was eighty-four years
old when he died.
rs, and to right-angled triangles, have been called Diophantine problems, because the nature of them was first and chiefly treated of by him in his arithmetic, or rather
He wrote thirteen books of arithmetic, or algebra, which, Regiomontanus in his preface to Alfraganus tells us, are still preserved in manuscript in the Vatican library. Indeed Diophantus himself tells us that his work consisted of thirteen books, viz. at the end of his address to Dionysius, placed at the beginning of the work; and from hence Regiomontanus might be led to say the thirteen books were in that library. No more than six whole books, with part of a seventh, have ever been published; and it is probable there are no more in being; indeed Bombelli, in the preface to his Algebra, written in 1572, says there were but six of the books then in the library, and that he and another were about a translation of them. Those six books, with the imperfect seventh, were first published at Basil by Xylander in 1575, but in a Latin version only, with the Greek scholia of Maximus Planudes upon the two first books, and observations of his own. The same books were afterwards published in Greek and Latin at Paris in 1G2I, by Bachet, an ingenious and learned Frenchman, who made a new Latin version of the work, and enriched it with very learned commentaries. Bachet did not entirely neglect the notes of Xylander in his edition, but he treated the scholiast Planudes with the utmost contempt. He seems to intimate, in what he says upon the 28th question of the second book, that the six books which we have of Diophantus may be nothing more than a collection made by some novice, of such propositions as he judged proper, out of the whole thirteen but Fabricius thinks there is no just ground for such a supposition. From him certain questions relating to square and cubic numbers, and to right-angled triangles, have been called Diophantine problems, because the nature of them was first and chiefly treated of by him in his arithmetic, or rather algebra.
ad been written upon the subject, and it is evident that in the early stages of botanical science he was looked up to with a reverence which is no longer paid. His object
, an eminent physician of Anaxarba, since called Ceesarea, in Cilicia, flourished in the reign of Nero, in the first century, and composed five books of the Materia Medica. Fabricius is certain, that he composed these books before Pliny wrote his Natural History, although he supposes Pliny might reach the age of Dioscorides. Pliny has indeed made no mention of him, and yet relates many things of a very similar nature; which circumstances Fabricius imputes to their both having collected their materials from the same store-house, and to Pliny’s not having seen the books of Dioscorides. This physician tells us, in the preface of his first book, that he had consulted all who had written upon the Materia Medica before him; that to the information he had received from others, he had joined great application of his own; that he had travelled over many countries, for the sake of confirming by observation what he had learned from books; that he had corrected many errors of others, added many new things of his own, and digested the whole into a regular order. Salmasius considers all this as so much boasting, and treats Dioscorides as merely a laborious compiler, or pillager of others; but Galen has pronounced these books of Dioscorides to be the best that had been written upon the subject, and it is evident that in the early stages of botanical science he was looked up to with a reverence which is no longer paid. His object being solely the Materia Medica, he discusses each subject specifically, and in a separate chapter, dividing the whole into five books; in which, as far as any order takes place, they arrange into aromatic, alimentary, and medicinal plants. His descriptions are chiefly taken from colour, size, mode of growing, comparison of the leaves and roots, with other plants well known, and therefore left undescribed. In general they are short, and frequently insufficient to determine the species; and hence arise the endless and irreconcileable contentions among his commentators. In this manner, however, he has described near 700 plants; to which he subjoins the virtues and uses; and to him all posterity have appealed as decisive on the subject.
Two impressions only of these plates, as far as we can learn, have ever been taken off, as the work was not prosecuted. Of these, one was sent to Linnæus, with notes
Besides these five books, there are a sixth and a seventh
mentioned by Photius; but the genuineness of them is
justly doubted, since Galen takes no notice of them in several places where he could hardly be supposed to overlook
them. There are also two other books “upon simple and
compound medicines easy to be come at,
” which have been
attributed to Dioscorides; but these are supposed to be
spurious, though they seem to have borne his name when
Ætius read them. Several manuscripts of this author’s
works with figures are extant, which have often been cited
by his commentators. Of these the most celebrated is in
the imperial library at Vienna, the figures of which were
partly engraved in the reign of the empress Maria Theresa,
under the inspection of Jacquin. Two impressions only
of these plates, as far as we can learn, have ever been
taken off, as the work was not prosecuted. Of these, one
was sent to Linnæus, with notes by Jacquin, and is now in
the valuable library of Dr. Smith the other was given, out
of professor Jacquin’s own library, to Dr. Sibthorp, to assist his inquiries in Greece, and remains at Oxford. The
LimiEcan copy consists of 142 plates, in oblong quarto, in
alphabetical order; but nothing can be more rude than
these figures; and they scarcely afford any information
that is not familiar to botanists versed in the subject. Haller asserts, that perhaps a third part of the plants of Dioscorides is still unknown, and it is to be feared they will
never be entirely determined. The inquiry, indeed, at
present, is rather a matter of curiosity than of any considerable medical importance. Dioscorides was first published at Cologn, in a Latin translation, 1478, fol.io, and ia
the original by Aldus, 1495, folio. It was afterwards published in Latin by Hermolaus Barbartis, and Ruellius,
1516; by Vergilius, 1518; and by Cornarus, 1529, all in.
folio. There are many other editions, but the learned prefer that with a translation by Saracenus, Lyons, 1598, and
Francfort, 1620, folio.
author famous for his extravagancies, and who styled himself in his writings Christianus Democritus, was born Aug. 10, 1672, at Frankenstein, near Darmstadt, where he
, an author famous for his extravagancies, and who styled himself in his writings Christianus Democritus, was born Aug. 10, 1672, at Frankenstein, near Darmstadt, where he commenced his studies.
He afterwards studied philosophy and theology at Giessen,
where he took his master’s degree in 1693. He began his
literary career by a controversy with the pietists, a sect
against which he declaimed publicly at Strasburg. Being
obliged, for some irregularities, to quit that city, he returned to Giessen, and shewed himself as zealous in behalf of pietism as he had been before in opposition to it.
Having failed in his views of getting a wife, and a professor’s chair, he threw off the mask, and openly attacked the
reformed religion, in his “Papismus Protestantium vapulans.
” This book having incensed the protestants against
him, he abandoned theology for chemistry; and gave out,
that, after a process of eight months, he had succeeded in
making a sufficient quantity of gold to enable him to keep
a country house, which he bought for 50,000 florins; but
he was at that time actually in the utmost indigence; and
could think of no better expedient for avoiding the pursuit of his creditors than by commencing his travels. After
having run over various countries, Berlin, Copenhagen,
Francfort, Leyden, Amsterdam, Altona, Hamburgh, and
having experienced the discipline of the prison in every
one, he was invited to Stockholm in 1727 to prescribe for
the king of Sweden. The clergy of that kingdom, pleased
with the hope of the king’s recovery, but unwilling to owe
it to a man that openly derided their religion, procured an
order for the medical alchemist to quit the kingdom.
Dippel returned to Germany, without having changed
either his opinions or his conduct. The report of his death
having been several times falsely propagated, he in 1733
published a sort of certificate, in which he affirmed that he
should not die till the year 180$; a prophecy which was
not fulfilled: for he was found dead in his bed at the castle
of Witgenstein, the 25th of April, 1734, at the age of 62.
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, was at first a friend to the society of Port-royal, but afterwards
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, was at first a friend to the society of Port-royal, but afterwards disagreed with them on account of the formulary, which he defended in several of his writings. He was very intimate with Richard Simon, and died canon of Avranches at the end of the seventeenth century. Besides his works in favour of the formulary, he left a treatise, entitled *‘ Preuves et Prejuges pour la Religion Chretienne et Catholique, contre les fausses Religions, et l’Atheisme," 4to, much esteemed by his Roman catholic brethren. It was Dirois who inserted the ecclesiastical history of each century in Mezeray’s History of France.
, a learned English divine and magistrate, was born at Lincoln in 1677. At the grammar school in that city
, a learned English divine and magistrate, was born at Lincoln in 1677. At the grammar school in that city he received the early part of his education, and afterwards studied at a private academy among the dissenters, to whom his father was attached. He was next entered at the Middle Temple with a view of making himself so far acquainted with the law as to enable him to become respectable as a magistrate and an author. The former character he sustained with dignity and much reputation: he was diligent, disinterested, and impartial in his decistons: he took an active part with those who formed themselves into a society for the suppression of vice and immorality. His regard to duty gained him the respect of the wise and good, and on some occasions he was singled out as meriting the thanks of the judges of the circuit for services that he had rendered his country. As he advanced in life, and after he had acted as a magistrate more than twenty years, he conceived the design of becoming a minister in the church of England, with which he had communicated from the time that he had attained to manhood. He was accordingly first ordained a deacon, and afterwards, in 1719, a priest. In the same year he was presented with the vicarage of Croft, and to the rectory of Kirby-superBaine, both in his native county. In the year 1722, he was instituted to the vicarage of St. Mary in Nottingham, to which town he removed; and here he remained till his death, Feb. 3, 1729-30, in the 53d year of his age. He was buried, according to his own request, in the chancel of his church, near to the communion-table, having no other inscription over his grave than the initial letters of his name, and the year of his death. He left a widow, who afterwards lived at her own family-seat, Flintham-hall, in Nottinghamshire, and died there May 20, 1763, in the 86th year of her age, by whom he had five sons and three daughters.
He was a zealous advocate for, and a great friend to, the religious
He was a zealous advocate for, and a great friend to, the
religious societies (particularly that for the reformation of manners), then in their infancy. His temper was naturally
warm and impatient; but he was formed by nature also
with a generous and forgiving mind, and his warmth and
impatience were generally under the government of his
reason. His principles of religion were orthodox in regard to points of doctrine and articles of faith: in respect
to the principles of others, they were truly catholic. Mr.
Disney’s correspondence with some persons of high name
for literature in his age does honour to both parties. His
own learning was acknowledged, and the great work which
he had designed to have published, under the title of
“Corpus Legum de Moribus Reformandis,
” was greatly
approved by several judicious and learned men, and forwarded by their ready answers to queries proposed to them
by the writer, as occasion suggested them, and not unfrequently by their voluntary contributions. His own library
contained a very extensive and valuable collection of books
in all languages; but he spared not journies to the public
libraries in London, and both of our universities, for the
consultation of such scarce books and manuscripts as
were nowhere else to be met with. His manuscripts, which
are numerous, are preserved in his family, and his exactness and precision in their arrangement, and the fairness
of their transcript, are peculiar to himself.
n 1705, prefixed to Subdean Gardiner’s translation of “Rapin of Gardens,” the third edition of which was published 1728, 8vo. 3. “An Essay upon the Execution of the
He published: 1. “Primitive Sacrse, the reflections of
a devout solitude, consisting of Meditations and Poems on
divine subjects,
” London, Flora,
”
in admiration of the Gardens of Rapin, and the translation
of Mr. Gardiner, written in 1705, prefixed to Subdean
Gardiner’s translation of “Rapin of Gardens,
” the third
edition of which was published An Essay
upon the Execution of the Laws against Immorality and
Profaneness. With a Preface addressed to her Majesty’s
justices of the peace,
” London, A Second Essay upon the Execution of the Laws against
Immorality and Profaneness. Wherein the case of giving
informations to the magistrate is considered, and objections
against it answered. By John Disney, esq. With a Preface addressed to grand juries, constables, and churchwardens,
” London, Remarks upon a Sermon preached
by Dr. Henry Sacheverell, at the assizes held at Derby,
Aug. 15, 1709. In a Letter to himself. Containing a
just and modest defence of the Societies for Reformation
of Manners, against the aspersions cast upon them in that
Sermon,
” London, Corpus Legum de
Moribus Reformandis,
” dated Lincoln, View of ancient laws.
”
7. “The Genealogy of the most serene and most illustrious
House of Brunswick Lunenburgh, the present royal family of Great Britain; drawn up from the best historical
and genealogical writers,
” Acta Regia,
” Albert Great Duke of
Brunswick married Adelhard, daughter to Henry the
magnanimous duke of Brabant; whereas, Mr. Disney
makes Adelhard daughter of the marquis of Montserrat,
8.
” A Sermon, preached in the parish church of St. Botolph’s, Aldgate, London, on Sunday, Nov. 22, 1719,“London, 1720, 8vo. 9 14. Six other occasional Sermons. 15.
” A View of ancient laws against Immorality
and Profaneness, under the following heads lewdness
profane swearing, cursing, and blasphemy perjury; profanation of days devoted to religion contempt or neglect
of divine service drunkenness gaming, idleness, vagrancy, and begging; stage-plays and players; and duelling. Collected from the Jewish, Roman, Greek, Gothic,
Lombard, and other Laws, down to the middle of the
eleventh century.“Dedicated to lord King, lord high
chancellor,
” Cambridge,
, Ditmar, or Diethumar, bishop of Mersburgh, in Misuia, was the son of Sigefroy, count of Saxony, and was born in the year
, Ditmar, or Diethumar, bishop of Mersburgh, in Misuia, was the son of Sigefroy, count of Saxony, and was born in the year 976. In his eighteenth or twentieth year, he embraced the monastic life, in the convent of St. John of Magdeburgh; and after he had executed the office of prior in another religious house, the emperor Henry II. advanced him in 1018, to the bishopric of Mersburgh. In 1027 he began his Chronicle, in seven books, which includes the history of the emperors Henry I. Otto I. II. and III. and Henry II. which is thought to be very faithful and accurate. Reinar Reineccius published an edition of it at Francfort, in 1584, fol. with a life of the author; and it has been also added to the collection of the German historians. Other editions, Francfort, 1600, and Helmstadt, 1664, followed; but the best is that of Leibnitz, among his writers on the history of the house of Brunswick, Hanover, fol. It was also translated into German, and published in 1606, 4to. Dithmar, after holding his bishopric a little more than ten years, died Oct. 1, 1028, revered for his piety.
and nations, and of history, at Francfort on the Oder, and a member of the royal society of Berlin, was born March 13, 1677, at Rottenburgh, in Hesse. His father was
, professor of the law of nature and nations, and of history, at Francfort on the Oder, and a member of the royal society of Berlin, was born March 13, 1677, at Rottenburgh, in Hesse. His father was rector of that place, and became afterwards minister and dean. His son was at first educated under his care, which he amply repaid by a proficiency far beyond his years. In his seventeenth year he went to Marpurg, and studied under Otto, the celebrated orientalist, and Tilemann, professor of divinity, with whom he lodged, and who afterwards procured him the appointment of tutor to the two young barons of Morrien. Dithmar executed this office with general satisfaction, and when he went afterwards to prosecute his studies at Leyden, he was maintained at the expence of the landgrave of He^r Cusstl. He afterwards travelled over some parts of Germany and Holland, as tutor to the son of M. the great president Dancklemann. The learned Perizonius, with whom he became acquainted at Leyden, and who had a great esteem for him, procured him the offer of a professorship at Leyden, with a liberal salary but Dithmar thought himself obliged first to return M. Dancklemann’s sun to his father, who was so sensible of the value of his services, as to procure him a settlement at Francfort on the Oder. Here he was appointed professor of history, then of the law of nature and nations, and lastly, gave lectures on statistics and finance. He had been before this admitted a member of the royal society of Berlin, and was created a counsellor of the order of St. John. His situation at Francfort was in all respects so agreeable, that he refused many offers to remove, and in 1715 again declined a very honourable opportunity of settling at Leyden. He died at Francfort March 13, 1737, after a short illness; and with the reputation of one of the most learned men of his time.
ded before his death a collection of his dissertations on various subjects of law and history, which was published at Leipsic in 1737, 8vo.
His works are: I. “Maimonidis constit. de Jurejurando,
”
with notes and additions, Leyden, 4to. 2. “Gregorii
VII. pontif. Ilomani Vita,
” Francfort, 8vo. 3. “Historia
belli inter imperium et sacerdotium,
” ibid. 8vo. 4.
“Teschenmacheri Annalis divine, &c. notis, tabulis genealogicis et codice diplomatico illustrati,
” ibid. fol. 5.
“Summa Capita Antiq. Judaicarum et Romanarutn in
usum praelectionum privatarum,
” ibid. 4to. 6. “Chytraci
Marchia Brandenburgensis ad nostra tempora continuata,
”
ibid. 8vo. 7. “Delineatio historic Brandenburgensis in
privatis pnelectionibus prolixius illustranda,
” ibid. 8vo.
8. “Delineatio historise praecipuorurn juris, aut pnetensium statibus Europe competentium in collegio private
magis illustranda,
” ibid. 9. “C. Corn. Taciti Germania,
cum perpetuo et pragmatico Commentario,
” ibid. 8vo, a
very correct and valuable edition, which has been twice
reprinted since its first appearance, in 1724. 10. “
Dissertatio deabdicatione regnorum, aliarumqtie dignitatum illustrium turn secularium quamecclesiasticarum,
” ibid. 1724-,
4to; a pamphlet. 11. “Cotnmentatio de honoratissimo
ordine militari de Balneo,
” ibid.
, an eminent mathematician, was born at Salisbury, on the 29th of May, 1675, being the fourteenth
, an eminent mathematician, was born at Salisbury, on the 29th of May, 1675, being the fourteenth of that name in a direct line. His father was a gentleman possessed of a small estate in the county of Wilts. His mother was of the family of the Luttrells of Dunstercastle, near Taunton, in Somersetshire, whose fortune made a considerable increase to the family income. Mr. Ditton’s father being of the sect of nonconformists, and extremely tenacious of his opinions, entered much into the religious controversifs of those times, and in supporting such contentions impaired his fortune, almost to the ruin of his family. Mr. Humphrey Ditton was the only son; and his father, observing in him an extraordinary good capacity, was desirous that he should not want the advantage of a good education. Accordingly, he placed him in a private academy, under the direction of Dr. Olive, a clergyman of the established church, who, notwithstanding his religious sentiments were different from those of Mr. Ditton’s family, was much esteemed by them for his candour and moderation in those troublesome times. When Mr. Ditton had finished his studies under Dr. Olive, he at the desire of his father, although contrary to his own inclination, engaged in the professioa of divinity, and began to exercise his function at Tunbridge, in Kent, where he continued to preach some years during which time he married Miss Ball, a lady at that place.
He was so indefatigable and assiduous in the exercise of his calling,
He was so indefatigable and assiduous in the exercise of his calling, that he very much impaired his health; so that several of his friends foreseeing it would shorten his life, advised him to relinquish a profession which the weakness of his constitution could not support. These circumstances, together with the death of his father, which happened about the same time, determined him to quit the profession of divinity and at the persuasion of Dr. Harris and Mr. Whiston, both eminent mathematicians, he engaged in the study of mathematics, to which he had always a great propensity. In the prosecution of this science he was much encouraged by the success and applause he received. He was highly esteemed by sir Isaac Newton, by whose interest and recommendation he was elected master of the new mathematical school in Christ’s hospital, in which office he remained during his life.
se on Spherical Catoptrics, both which were published in the “Philosophical Transactions.” This last was written in the Latin language, and was so highly approved, that
Mr. Ditton published many mathematical and other
tracts. His first works were a paper on the Tangents of
Curves, and a treatise on Spherical Catoptrics, both which
were published in the “Philosophical Transactions.
” This
last was written in the Latin language, and was so highly
approved, that it was republished in a foreign periodical
work, called the “Acta Eruditortim,
” in Memoirs of the Academy of
Sciences at Paris.
” In An Institution of Fluxions, containing the first
principles, operations, and applications of that admirable
method, as invented by sir Isaac Newton.
” This work,
with additions and alterations, was again published by Mr.
John Clarke, in 1726, some years after Mr. Ditton’s death.
The same year, 1 706, Mr. Ditton also published a treatise
on the laws of nature and motion. Of this the celebrated
Wolfius makes mention, and asserts, that it illustrates and
renders easy the writings of Galileo, Huygens, and the
“Principia
” of sir Isaac Newton. It is also noticed by De la
Roche, in “The Memoiresde Literature,
” vol. VIII. p. 46.
In 1709 he published the “Synopsis Algebraicum
” of John
Alexander Bernatus Helvetius; with many additions and corrections. His treatise on Perspective was published in 1712.
In this work he explained the principles of that art mathematically; and besides teaching the methods then generally practised, gave the first hints of the new method
afterward enlarged upon and improved by Dr. Brook Taylor; and which was published in 1715. Several publications of Mr. Ditton’s appeared in 1714, one of which was
a “Discourse upon the Resurrection of Jesus Christ;
”
the truth of which he here endeavoured to demonstrate.
This work went through four editions, and was translated
into several of the modern languages. Tindal, Collins,
and some other authors, opposed it, and endeavoured to
confute the reasoning; to whom Ditton had begun an
answer, but died before it was finished; and his friends,
upon revising it, found it too incomplete to hazard its
publication. Another of his works that appeared in the
same year, was, “The new law of Fluids; or, a Discourse
concerning the ascent of liquids, in exact geometrical
figures, between two nearly contiguous surfaces.
” To
this was annexed a tract, to demonstrate the impossibility
of thinking or perception being the result of any combination of the parts of matter and motion; a subject much
agitated in those days by the free-thinkers and their opponents. There was also adjoined to this work an advertisement from him and Mr. Whiston, concerning a method
for discovering the longitude; which, it appears, they
had published about half a year before. This attempt, it is
thought, cost Mr. Ditton his life; for, although it was approved and countenanced by sir Isaac Newton, previously
to its being presented to the Board of longitude, and the
method lias been since successfully put in practice, in
finding the longitude between Paris and Vienna, yet that
board then determined against it. Such a disappointment,
together with the public ridicule incurred, is supposed to
have affected his health, but this we think unlikely, as his
death was occasioned by a putrid fever, which proved
fatal Oct. 15, 1715, in the fortieth year of his age. He
was much regretted by the philosophical literati of that
time, who expected from his assiduity, learning, and penetrating genius, many useful and ingenious discoveries.
In an account of Mr. Ditton, prefixed to the German
translation of his Discourse on the Resurrection, it is said,
that he had published, in his own name only, another method for finding the longitude; but which Mr. Whiston
denied. However, Raphael Levi, a learned Jew, who
bad studied under Leibnitz, informed the German editor
that he well knew that Ditton and Leibnitz hud corresponded upon the subject; and that Ditton had sent to
Leibnitz a delineation of a machine he had invented
that purpose; which was a piece of mechanism con
with many wheels, like a clock, and which Leibnitz highly
approved of for land use, but doubted whether it wouldanswer on ship-board, on account of the motion of the ship.
Mr. Ditton was buried in the cloisters of Christ’s-hospital, on the north side
Mr. Ditton was buried in the cloisters of Christ’s-hospital, on the north side of the quadrangle, and near the passage at its east end. A large blue grave-stone, with a Latin inscription cut in it, was laid over the grave. The stone yet remains; but the inscription is entirely effaced. From a private diary of Mr. Ditton’s, he appears to have been a man of warm piety and simplicity of heart. His son, the rev. John Ditton, was many years lecturer of St. Mary’s, Islington, where he died March 16, 1776.
, a Polish historian, was born in Ml 5, at Brzeznich, a town in Poland, of which his father
, a Polish historian, was
born in Ml 5, at Brzeznich, a town in Poland, of which
his father was governor. In his sixth year, his father
being appointed governor of Korczyn, he was removed
thither with the family, and began his education, which was
continued in the different places of which his father was
successively appointed governor, until he was sent to
Cracow. Here and at other places he pursued his studies,
with very little encouragement from his father, but found
a friend in Zbigneus, bishop of Cracow, who was a patron
of learned men. This prelate first placed him at the head
of his chancery, after that of his house, and at last made
him general manager of his affairs; and he acquitted
himself so much to the satisfaction of the bishop, that on his
death-bed he appointed him one of his executors. He
had also ordained him priest at the age of twenty-five, and
gave him some church preferment, particularly the living
of St. Martin of Klobuczk, and a canonry of Cracow. He
was afterwards promoted to be chanter, and treasurer
of the church of Vissicza, canon of Sendomir, and got
some other preferments less considerable. The only use
he made of the wealth arising from these benefices, was
to share it with poorer clergymen of talents and character;.
or to bestow it on the poor, on the repairs of churches,
and other pious purposes. Eugene IV. having appointed
Zbigneus to the dignity of cardinal, and several impediments being thrown in the way of this preferment, Dlugoss
went to Rome in 1449, and had these difficulties removed.
Pope Nicholas V. employed him to carry the cardinal’s
cap to the bishop, which he had the honour to put on his
head in the cathedral of Cracovr, in the same year. In
1450 he took a journey to the land of Palestine, where he
contemplated with veneration the places dignified by being
the site of Scripture history. On his return to Poland,
king Casimir IV. appointed him tutor to his sons, which
office he filled for many years with great reputation. On
the death of his early patron, cardinal Zbigneus, in April
1455, Dlugoss was accused by the brother of the deceased
for having abused his confidence, a charge which he had
little difficulty in repelling, but was less successful with
the king, whose displeasure he incurred by espousing the
cause of an ecclesiastic whom the pope had nominated
bishop of Cracow, while the king had nominated another;
and for this slight reason Dlugoss was exiled for the space
of three years; at the end of which, however, he was recalled, and his majesty restored him to his favour, and not
only consulted him on many public affairs of importance,
but employed him to negociate in various parts of Europe,
on matters respecting the interests of Poland. At length
he was appointed archbishop of Leopold, but died before
his consecration, May 29, 1480. His principal historical
work is entitled “Historia Polonica,
” the first volume of
which was printed in J. Dlugossi historiie
Polonicoe Hbri duodecim, &c.
” This hrings the history
down to Vita St. Stanislai episcopi et martyns,
”
Cracow, Plocensium episcoporuin
vita 1
” which is inserted in “Stanislai Lubienski opera posthum^,
” Antwerp, Vitae episcoporum Postnajiiensium,
” 1G'24, 4to and some other lives of bishops.
, an English painter, was born in London, in 1610. His father was master of the Alienation
, an English painter, was born in
London, in 1610. His father was master of the Alienation
office; but “spending his estate upon women, necessity
forced his son to be the most excellent painter that England
hath yet bred.
” He was put out early an apprentice to
one Mr. Peake, a stationer and trader in pictures, with
whom he served his time. Nature inclined him very
powerfully to the practice of painting after the life, in
which he had some instructions from Francis Cleyne; and,
by his master’s procurement, he had the advantage of
copying many excellent pictures, especially some of Titian and Van Dyck. How much he was beholden to the
latter, may easily be seen in all his works; no painter
having ever so happily imitated that excellent master, who
was so much pleased with his performances, that he presented him to Charles I. This monarch took him into
his immediate protection, kept him in Oxford all the
while his majesty continued in that city, sat several
times to him for his picture, and obliged the prince of
Wales, prince Rupert, and most of the lords of his court,
to do the like. Dobson \\as a fair, middle-sized man,
of a ready wit and pleasing conversation; but somewhat loose and irregular in his way of living; and, notwithstanding the opportunities he had of making his fortune, died poor at his house in St. Martin’s-lane, in 1647.
Although it was his misfortune to want suitable helps in
beginning to apply himself to painting, and he was much
disturbed by the commotions of the unhappy times tie nourished in, yet he shone out through all disadvantages;
and it is universally agreed, that, had his education and
encouragement been answerable to his genius, England
might justly have been as proud of her Dobson, as Venice of her Titian, or Flanders of her Van Dyck. He
was both a history and portrait painter; and there are in
the collections of the dukes of Marlborough, Devonshire,
Northumberland, and the earl of Pembroke, several of his
pictures of both kinds.
calogist, from his Commentary on the commandments, and called by Fuller, the “last of the Puritans,” was a native of Shotledge, in. Cheshire; in which county there were
, usually styled the Decalogist, from his
Commentary on the commandments, and called by Fuller,
the “last of the Puritans,
” was a native of Shotledge, in.
Cheshire; in which county there were several ancient families of the Dods; but to which of them he belonged, we
have not been able to ascertain. He was born, the youngest
of seventeen children, in 1547, and sent to school at WestChester, but Mr. Cole says he was educated at Winchester,
a name which he probably transcribed hastily for the other.
In 1561, when he was fourteen years of age, he was entered of Jesus college, Cambridge, of which he was chosen
fellow in 1585, according to a ms note of Mr. Baker;
and Mr. Cole adds, that he was junior proctor in 1614;
both which dates must belong to some other person, as it
does not appear that he remained in all more than sixteen years at college. At what time he took his master’s
degree is uncertain, but a few years after, being appointed
to oppose in the philosophy act at the commencement, he
exhibited such a display of talents, as highly gratified his
hearers, and in consequence, he had liberal offers to remove to Oxford. These he declined, but was incorporated M. A. in that university in 1585. Associating much
with Drs. Fulke, Chaclerton, and Whitaker, he imbibed
the principles and strictness for which they were famous,
and conceived an early dislike to some of the ceremonies
or discipline of the church, but to what we are not told.
After taking orders, he first preached a weekly lecture at
Ely, until invited by sir Anthony Cope to be minister of
Hanwell, in Oxfordshire, in 1577, where he became a
constant and diligent preacher, and highly popular. Nor
was his hospitality Jess conspicuous, as he kept an open
table on Sundays and Wednesdays lecture days, generally entertaining on these occasions from eight to twelve
persons at dinner. At Hanwell he remained twenty years,
in the course cf which he married, and had a large family;
but, owing to his nonconformity in some points, he was
suspended by Dr. Bridges, bishop of Oxford. After this,
he preached for some time at Fenny-Compton, in Warwickshire, and from thence was called to Cannons Ashby,
in Northamptonshire, where he was patronized by sir Erasmus Dryden but here again he was silenced, in consequence of a complaint made by bishop Neale to king
James, who commanded archbishop Abbot to pronounce
that sentence. During this suspension of his public services, he appears to have written his Commentary on the
Decalogue and Proverbs, which he published in conjunction with one Robert Cleaver, probably another silenced
puritan, of whom we can find no account. At length, by
the interest of the family of Knightley, of Northamptonshire, after the death of king James, he was presented in
1624, to the living of Fawesley, in that county. Here he
recommended himself as before, not more by his earnest
and affectionate services in the pulpit, than by his charity
and hospitality, and particularly by his frequent visits and
advice which last he delivered in a manner peculiarly
striking. A great many of his sayings became almost proverbial, and remained so for above a century, being, as
may yet be remembered, frequently printed in a small
tract, or on a broad sheet, and suspended in every cottage.
On the commencement of the rebellion he suffered considerably, his house being plundered, as the house of a
puritan, although he was a decided enemy to the proceedings of the republicans. When they were about to
abolish the order of bishops, &c. Dr. Brownrig sent to Mr.
Dod, for his opinion, who answered, that “he had been
scandalized with the proud and tyrannical practises of the
Marian bishops; but now, after more than sixty years’ experience of many protestant bishops, that had been worthy
preachers, learned and orthodox writers, great champions
for the protestant cause, he wished all his friends not to
be any impediment to them, and exhorted all men not to
take up arms against the king; which was his doctrine, he
said, upon the fifth commandment, and he would never
depart from it.
” He died in August, 1645, at the very
advanced age of ninety-seven, and was buried on the I9th
of that month, at Fawesley, in Northamptonshire. Fuller
says, “with him the Old Puritan seemed to expire, and
in his grave to be interred. Humble, meek, patient,
charitable as in his censures of, so in his alms to others.
Would I could truly say but half so much of the next generation!
” “He was,
” says the same author, “a passive
nonconformist, not loving any one the worse for difference
in judgment about ceremonies, but all the better for their
unity of affections in grace and goodness. He used to
retrench some hot spirits when inveighing against bishops,
telling them how God under that government had given a
marvellous increase to the gospel, and that godly men
might comfortably comport therewith, under which learning
and religion had so manifest an improvement.
” He was
an excellent scholar, particularly in the Hebrew language,
which he taught to the celebrated John Gregory, of Christchurch, Oxford. The no less celebrated Dr. Wilkins was
his grandson, and born in his house at Fawesley, in 1614,
a date which seems to interfere with that given above as
the date of Mr. Dod’s presentation to Fawesley, which we
have taken from the register in Bridges’s Northamptonshire, but he might probably have resided there previous
to the living becoming vacant. Of his works we know
only that which conferred on him the name of the Decalogist, “A plain and familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandments,
” London, A plain and
familiar Exposition
” of certain chapters of the Book of
Proverbs, not far off ninety-five years old,
”
which has enabled us to ascertain his age, hitherto incorrectly given by his biographers.
, doctor regent of the faculty of medicine at Paris, where he was born in 1634, was educated not only in the learned languages,
, doctor regent of the faculty of
medicine at Paris, where he was born in 1634, was educated not only in the learned languages, but in painting,
music, and other elegant accomplishments, and exhibited
early such traits of genius and learning, that Guy Patin,
not in general very lavish of praise, considered him as
one of the most learned men of his time. In a letter to a
friend, he called him “Monstrnm sine Vitio,
” a character which Adrian Turnebus applied to Scaliger; and in
another letter, Patin redoubles his praise of young Dodart,
Having in 1660 taken his degree of doctor, he soon attained to distinction in his profession, being the following
year called to attend the princess dowager of Conti, and
the princes, her children; and some time after he was appointed physician to the king, Louis XIV. In 1673 he
was made a member of the academy of sciences, and in
compliance with their wishes, he wrote a preface to the
“Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire de Flantes,
” published
by the academy, in Memoirs to serve for the History of France!
” and gravely
argues upon his fitness for the work. Dodart employed
some labour in making chemical analyses of plants, with
the view of acquiring a more intimate knowlege of their
medical virtues, agreeably to the opinions that then prevailed, but which further experience has shewn not to be
well founded. He pursued his statical experiments, to
find the proportion that perspiration bears to the other excretions, for more than thirty years. The results first appeared in 1699, in the Memoirs of the academy, and
were afterwards published separately, under the title of
“Medicina Statica Gallica.
” In the course of those experiments, he found that during the Lent in one year, he
had lost in weight eight pounds five ounces: returning to
his ordinary way of living, he recovered what he had lost
in a very short time. He once purposed writing a history
of music, but only finished a memoir on the voice, which
is published among the Memoirs of the Academy. He was
of a grave disposition, Fontenelle says, pious and abstemius; and his death, which happened Nov. 5th, 1707,
was much regretted.
His son, Claude- John- Baptiste Dodart, following in the steps of his father, was made M. D. in 1688, and in 1718 was appointed first physician
His son, Claude- John- Baptiste Dodart, following in
the steps of his father, was made M. D. in 1688, and in
1718 was appointed first physician to Louis XV. The
only work in which he was concerned, was an edition of
“Pomet’s History of Drugs,
” with some useful notes.
He died at Paris, in
than can now be recovered. All we know of him is derived from Mr. Berrington, who informs us that he was a clergyman of the Roman church, resided at Harvington in W
, a Roman catholic historian, deserves
a fuller memorial than can now be recovered. All we
know of him is derived from Mr. Berrington, who informs
us that he was a clergyman of the Roman church, resided
at Harvington in Worcestershire, and died there about the
year 1745. His virtues and talents were eminent, and his
labours in the range of literature were incessant and manifold. The work that has principally given celebrity to his
name is a “Church History of England,
”
, an ingenious divine, of unfortunate memory, was born in 1729, at Bourne in Lincolnshire; of which place his
, an ingenious divine, of unfortunate memory, was born in 1729, at Bourne in Lincolnshire; of which place his father, of the same names, was
many years vicar. After being educated at a private
school in classical learning, he was admitted a sizar of
Clare-hall in Cambridge in 1745, where he gave early
proofs of parts and scholarship, and so early as in 1747
began to publish little pieces of poetry. In this year he
published (without his name) “A Pastoral on the Distemper among the horned cattle;
” in 174y, “The African
prince, now in England, to Zara at his father’s court,
” and
“Zara’s answer;
” in A day in Vacation at College,
” a mock-heroic poem in blank verse abridgments of
Grotius “De jure belli et pacis,
” and of Clarke on the
being and attributes of God, with sir Jeffrey Gilbert’s Abstract of Locke on the human understanding, all inscribed
to Dr. Keene, then vice-chancellor of the university, and
afterwards bishop of Ely, under the title “Synopsis compendiaria Librorum H. Gfotii de jure belli et pacis, S.
Clarkii de Dei existentia et attributes, et J. Lockii de intellectu humano.
” He published also, while at Cambridge, “A new Book of the Dunciad, occasioned by Mr.
Warburton’s edition of the Dunciad complete,
” in which
“Warburton is made the hero. About the same time he
published proposals for a translation, by subscription, of the
Hymns of Callimaehus, the fragments of Orpheus, &c.
from the Greek; and wrote a tragedy, with choruses,
called
” The Syracusan.“He continued to make frequent
publications in this light way, in which there were always
marks of sprightliness and ingenuity; but at the same time
imbibed that taste for expence and dissipation which finally
proved his ruin. In January 1750 he took the degree of
13. A. with reputation; and that of master in 1757. Before
he was in orders he had begun and finished his selection of
4< The Beauties of Shakspeare,
” which he published soon
after in 2 vols. 12mo, and, at the conclusion of the preface, tells us, as if resigning all pursuits of the profane
kind, that “better and more important things henceforth
demanded his attention:
” nevertheless, in 1755, he published his translation of the hymns of Callimachus, in English verse; in the preface to which he was assisted by Mr.
(afterwards Dr.) Home, bishop of Norwich. Happy would
it have been, had he remained longer in the friendship of
that excellent man, whom, however, he soon disgusted by
his vanity and unbecoming conduct. His “Callimachus
”
was dedicated to the duke of Newcastle, by tile recommendation of Dr. Keene, bishop of Chester; who, having
conceived a good opinion of Dodd at the university, was
desirous of bringing him forward into the world.
ps that of West- Ham and Bow, that of St. James Garlickhithe, and that of St. Olave Hart-street; and was appointed to preach a course of lady Moyer’s lectures and he
In 1753 he received orders; and, being now settled in London, soon became a very popular and celebrated preacher. He obtained several lectureships that of West- Ham and Bow, that of St. James Garlickhithe, and that of St. Olave Hart-street; and was appointed to preach a course of lady Moyer’s lectures and he advanced his theological character greatly, by an almost uninterrupted publication of sermons and tracts of piety. And farther to keep up the profession of sanctity, and increase his popularky, he was very zealous in promoting and assisting at charitable institutions, and distinguished himself much in. regard to the Magdalen hospital, which was opened in August 1758: he became preacher at the chapel of this charity, for which he was allowed yearly I Oo/. But, notwithstanding his apparent attention to spiritual concerns, he was much more in earnest, and indeed in earnest only in cultivating his temporal interests; but all his expedients were not successful, and his subservient flattery was sometimes seen through. In 1759 he published in 2 vols. 12mo, bishop Hall’s Meditations, and dedicated them to Miss Talbot, who lived in the family of archbishop Seeker; and, on the honour the marquis of Granby acquired in Germany, addressed an ode to the marchioness. His dedication to Miss Talbot was too extravagant a piece of flattery not to miss its aim, and gave such offence to the archbishop, that, after a warm epistolary expostulation, his grace insisted on the sheet being cancelled in all the remaining copies.
Dr. Squire, who in 1760 was made bishop of St. David’s, had published the year before a
Dr. Squire, who in 1760 was made bishop of St. David’s,
had published the year before a work entitled “Indifference for Religion inexcusable:
” on the appearance of
which, Dodd wrote a sonnet, and addressed it to the
author, who was so well pleased with this mark of his attention, that in 1761 he made him his chaplain, and in
1763 procured for him a prebend of Brecon. He also
egregiously flattered this prelate in “The Public Ledger,
”
in which he then wrote: and about the same time he is
supposed to have defended the measures of administration, in some political pieces. From 1760 to 1767 he superintended and contributed largely to “The Christian’s
Magazine,
” for which he received from the proprietors
e. In order to give the greater éclat to this undertaking, and draw the public attention upon it, it was, announced, that lord Masham presented him with Mss. of Mr.
Still, however, he preserved theological appearances;
and he now meditated a design of publishing a large commentary on the Bible. In order to give the greater éclat
to this undertaking, and draw the public attention upon it,
it was, announced, that lord Masham presented him with
Mss. of Mr. Locke, found in his lordship’s library at
Oates; and that he had helps also from Mss. of lord
Clarendon, Dr. Watcrland, Gilbert West, and other celebrated men. He began to publish this commentary,
1765, in weekly and monthly numbers; and continued to
publish it regularly till it was completed in 3 vols. folio.
It was dedicated to his patron bishop Squire, who died in
May the year following, 1766; and was lamented (we believe very sincerely) by our commentator, in a funeral sermon dedicated to his widow. This year he took the degree of LL. D. at Cambridge, having been made a chaplain to the king some time before. His next publication
was a volume of his poems, in 8vo. In 1769 he published
a translation from the French, of “Sermons preached before Lewis XV. during his minority, by Massillon, bishop
of Clermont.
” They were called “Sermons on the duties
of the great,
” and inscribed to the prince of Wales. In
Sermons to Young Men,
” 3 vols.
12mo. These he dedicated to his pupils Charles Ernst
and Philip Stanhope, now earl of Chesterfield, he having
become tutor to the latter, by the recommendation of
bishop Squire.
In 1772 he was presented to the living of Hockliffe in Bedfordshire: but such
In 1772 he was presented to the living of Hockliffe in Bedfordshire: but such a preferment was of little avail in supplying his wants. The habits of expence had gained an irresistible ascendancy over him: he was vain; he was pompous; which persons emerging from low situations in life are apt to be; and thus became involved and sinking under debts. To relieve himself, he was tempted to a step which ruined him for ever with those who had not before seen through his character; and this was, to procure by indirect means the rectory of St. George’s, Hanoversquare. On the preferment of Dr. Moss to the see of Bath and Wells, in 1774, that rectory fell to the disposal of the crown; on which, Dodd caused an anonymous letter to be sent to lady Apsley, offering the sum of 3000l. if by her means he could be presented to the living: the letter was immediately communicated to the chancellor; and, after being traced to the sender, laid before the king. His name was ordered to be struck out of the list of chaplains; the press abounded with satire and invective; he was abused and ridiculed in the papers of the day; and, to crown the whole, the transaction became a subject of entertainment, in one of Foote’s performances at the Haymarket. All the answer he made was a short letter in the newspapers, requesting the public to suspend their opinions, and promising an elucidation of the affair, which never appeared.
ity and affected earnestness as formerly, particularly at the Magdalen chapel, where his last sermon was preached, Feb. 2, 1777. Two days after this, he signed a bond,
Stung with shame, if not remorse, he decamped for a season; and went to his pupil then at Geneva, who added to Hocklitfe the living of Winge in Buckinghamshire: but his extravagance continued undiminished, and drove him to schemes which covered him with infamy. He now became the editor of a newspaper, and is said to have attempted a disengagement from his debts by a commission of bankruptcy, in which, however, he failed. From this period every step led to complete his ruin. In the summer of 1776 he went to France; and, as if he had a mind to wanton in folly, paraded in a phaeton at the races on the plains of Sablons, tricked out in all the foppery of French attire. He returned in the beginning of winter, and proceeded to exercise his function with the same formality and affected earnestness as formerly, particularly at the Magdalen chapel, where his last sermon was preached, Feb. 2, 1777. Two days after this, he signed a bond, which he had forged as from his pupil lord Chesterfield, for the sum of 400l. and, upon the credit of it, obtained a considerable sum of money but detection instantly following, he was committed to prison, tried and convicted at the Old Bailey, Feb. 24, and executed at Tyburn, June 27, where he exhibited every appearance of penitence. The unusual distance between the pronouncing and executing of his sentence was owing to a doubt for some time, respecting the admissibility of an evidence, whose testimony had been made use of to convict him.
ct, public Punishment, the Trial, Futurity:” to which are added, his speech in court before sentence was pronounced on him; his last prayer, written the night before
Before concluding this part of his history, we shall enumerate such of his publications as remain unnoticed. These
were, “An Elegy on the death of the Prince of Wales
”
“The Sisters, or the History of Lucy and Caroline Sanson,
”
2 vols. 12mo, a work very unfriendly to morals; several
occasional Sermons; three on “The Wisdom and Goodness of God in the Vegetable Creation,
” preached before
the Apothecaries’ Company “Thoughts on the glorious
Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ,
” a poem, 1758;
“Sermons on the Parables and Miracles;
” “Account of
the Rise, Progress, &c. of the Magdalen Charity
” “A
Familiar Explanation of the Poetical Works of Milton,
”
Reflections on Death,
” Comfort for the
Afflicted under every affliction, with suitable devotions,
”
The Visitor,
” a collection of essays originally printed in the Public Ledger, 1766, 2 vols. 12mo
an edition of what is called “Locke’s Common- place book
to the Bible,
” 4to and in Thoughts in Prison, in five parts, viz. the
Imprisonment, the Retrospect, public Punishment, the
Trial, Futurity:
” to which are added, his speech in court
before sentence was pronounced on him; his last prayer,
written the night before his death; the convict’s address
to his unhappy brethren, and other miscellaneous pieces,
some of which were written for him by Dr. Johnson. Prefixed to the ms. is the ensuing note by himself: “April
23, 1777. I began these thoughts merely from the impression of my mind, without plan, purpose, or motive,
more than the situation and state of my soul. I continued
them on a thoughtful and regular plan: and I have been
enabled wonderfully in a state, which in better days I
should have supposed would have destroyed all power of
reflection to bring them nearly to a conclusion. I dedicate them to God, and to the reflecting serious amongst my
fellow-creatures; and I bless the Almighty for the ability to
go through them, amidst the terrors of this dire place, and
the bitter anguish of my disconsolate mind. The thinking
will easily pardon all inaccuracies, as I am neither able nor
willing to read over these melancholy lines with a curious
and critical eye. They are imperfect, but the language of
the heart and, had I time and inclination, might and
should be improved. But W. D.
”
This wretched man was married so early as April 1751, even before he was in orders,
This wretched man was married so early as April 1751,
even before he was in orders, or had any certain means of
supporting himself; but his wife, “though largely endowed with personal attractions, was certainly deficient in
those of birth and fortune.
” She survived to the year 1784.
Dr. Dodd exhibits the most awful instance known in our
days of the miserable consequences of indulging habits of
gaiety and expence in a profession to which the world looks
for a more edifying example. His life, by his own confession, was for many years fearfully erroneous. But the
most remarkable part of his history was the uncommon interest excited in the public mind, and the numerous petitions presented to the throne in his favour. Even the
talents of Dr. Johnson were engaged to give a fair colouring to his case, and to combine with public sympathy a
high opinion of the talents of which the world was about
to be deprived. For this purpose the pen of that eminent
writer was employed in writing those papers and documents which, to be any thing, ought to have been written
by Dodd himself, but which, being immediately known to
be Johnson’s, could only be considered as a part of that
literary quackery which Dodd had so often practised. Dr.
Johnson appears indeed in this instance to have been more
swayed by popular judgment, than he would perhaps have
been willing to allow. The cry was, the honour of the
clergy; but if the honour of the clergy was tarnished, it
was by Dodd’s crime, and not his punishment; for his life
had been so long a disgrace to his cloth, that he had deprived himself of the sympathy which attaches to the first
deviation from rectitude, and few criminals could have had
less claim to such a display of popular feeling.
, Lord Melcombe, the son of a gentleman of fortune in Dorsetshire, was born in 1691, and appears to have been educated at Oxford. In
, Lord Melcombe, the
son of a gentleman of fortune in Dorsetshire, was born
in 1691, and appears to have been educated at Oxford.
In 1715 he was elected member of parliament for Winchelsea, and was soon after appointed envoy-extraordinary
at the court of Spain, in which capacity he signed the
treaty of Madrid, and remained there until 1717. In
1720, by the death of his uncle George Dodington of
Eastbury in Dorsetshire, he came into possession of a very
large estate in that county, on which he built a magnificent
seat at the expence of 140,000l. which was often the residence of the first writers of the times, of Thomson, Young,
Pitt, Lyttelton, &c. and the beauties of which have been
frequently celebrated by them. On this great accession of
property, he took the surname of Dodington. In 1721 he
was appointed lord lieutenant of the county of Somerset;
in 1724 was constituted a lord of the treasury, and obtained
the lucrative o trice of clerk of the peils in Ireland. While
he was lord of the treasury, Thomson dedicated the first
edition of his “Summer
” to him, in
ly for its servility, and which he afterwards, changing the name, addressed to lord Bute. In 1734 he was elected member for Weymouth, and in 1737 he took a very decided
At this period Dodington closely connected himself with
sir Robert Walpole, and in 1726 published a poetical
epistle addressed to that minister, which is remarkable only
for its servility, and which he afterwards, changing the
name, addressed to lord Bute. In 1734 he was elected
member for Weymouth, and in 1737 he took a very decided part in the contest between George II. and the
prince of Wales, in the question about the augmentation
of his allowance, and a jointure for the princess. This
transaction forms one of the best parts of his “Diary,
”
lately published. At this time he appears to have acted
with some coolness towards sir Robert Walpole, in consequence of which he was, in 1740, dismissed from his seat
in the treasury, and joined the ranks of opposition; but
although his new friends succeeded in procuring the dismissal of the Walpole administration, Dodington was probably disappointed, since he became principally concerned
in that opposition which brought about the downfall of this
new administration. On their succession to power in 1745,
he was made treasurer of the navy, and sworn of the privycouncil, but his versatility would not permit him to remain
steady to this party. In March 1749, the prince of Wales
offered him a full return to his favour, and the principal
direction of his affairs, to which Dodington agreed, and
resigned his office of treasurer of the navy. He now fancied himself at the head of a formidable band, whom he
was about to muster and train, when almost immediately
an opposition was formed against him in the prince’s
household, and, as he informs us, he foresaw there was
no prospect of “doing any good.
” He continued, however, in the household until the prince’s death, which put
an end to the hopes of all his highness’s dependents.
For some time, Mr. Dodington, although desirous of regaining his influence at court, found all his efforts unsuccessful but at length, on the sudden change which took
place in 1755, he accepted his former post of treasurer of
the navy under the duke of Newcastle, which he retained
until, another change taking place the following year, he
was again left alone, and gave up all hopes of establishing
himself at court during that reign. On the accession of his
present majesty he was very early received into the confidence of lord Bute, and in 1761 was advanced to the
peerage by the title of lord Melcombe, yet he attained no
ostensible post, nor indeed did he long survive his baronial
honours, as he died at his house at Hammersmith, July
28, 1762.
d convivial, but more respected as a private gentleman than as a politician. In the one character he was free, easy, and engaging; in the other intriguing, close, and
Lord Melcombe is allowed to have been generous, magnificent, and convivial, but more respected as a private
gentleman than as a politician. In the one character he
was free, easy, and engaging; in the other intriguing,
close, and reserved. His reigning passion was to be well
at court, and to this object he sacrificed every circumstance
of his life. Lord Orford says of him that he was “ostentatious in his person, houses, and furniture, and wanted in
his expences the taste he never wanted in his conversation.
Pope and Churchill treated him more severely than he deserved, a fate that may attend a man of the greatest wit,
when his parts are more suited to society than to composition. The verse remains, the bon-mots and sallies are
forgotten.
” He was handsome, and of a striking figure,
but in his latter days was probably singular in his dress.
Churchill ridicules his wig, and Hogarth has introduced it
in one of his “orders of periwigs.
” His patronage of
learned men descended from Young, Thomson, and Glover,
to the meaner political hirelings who frequented the prince’s
court. And among his intimate friends, besides Young,
Thomson, and Glover, were Fielding, Bentley, Voltaire,
Lyttelton, lord Chesterfield, lord Peterborough, Dr. Gregory Sharpe, &c. and among his lower associates, Ralph,
Paul Whitehead, and a Dr. Thomson, a physician without practice or manners, served to add to the hilarity
of his table. Most of his biographers have reported that
he was a single man, but he certainly was married, as in
his letters he frequently speaks of Mrs. Dodington, whose
heart was placed in an urn at the top of an obelisk which
he erected at Hammersmith. When she died we know
not, but as she left no family, he is reported to have used
some singular expedients for procuring an heir, which were
as unsuccessful as immoral and foolish. He bequeathed
his whole property, a few legacies excepted, to the late
Thomas Wyndham, esq. of Hammersmith. The mansion
which he built at Eastbury came, as already observed in
the note, to the marquis of Buckingham, and was taken
down a few years ago. Part of the offices were left standing, and have been converted into a very convenient house
by J. Wedgewood, esq. who purchased the estate of the
marquis of Buckingham. His villa at Hammersmith became
a few years ago the property of the margrave of Anspach.
Memorials to the court of Spain may be seen in the Historical Register for 1716, p. 205 207, &c. He was concerned in writing the “Remembrancer,” an anti-ministerial
Lord Melcombe has some literary claims. Two of his
Memorials to the court of Spain may be seen in the Historical Register for 1716, p. 205 207, &c. He was concerned in writing the “Remembrancer,
” an anti-ministerial paper, published in Occasional observations on a double- titled
paper about the clear produceof the Civil List Revenue,
from Midsummer 1727 to Midsummer 1761.
” A pamphlet
on the “Expedition to Rochefort
” has also been ascribed
to him. His poetical efforts, some of which have been
admired, were, “An Epistle to sir Robert Walpole, written on his birth-day, Aug. 26,
” printed in Dodsley’s Collection, and afterwards, as we have mentioned, addressed,
mutatis mutandis, to lord Bute; “An Epistle from John
More, apothecary in Abchurch lane, to lord Carteret, upon
the treaty of Worms;
” “Verses in his eating-room at
Hammersmith;
” “Verses to Mrs. Stubbs;
” “Verses written a little before his death to Dr. Young;
” some “Love
Verses,
” and other poetry unpublished, and most of which,
it is said, is too indelicate for publication; “An Elegy on
the Death of queen Caroline
” is printed in Coxe’s Life of
Walpole. But he will long be best known by his celebrated “Diary,
” published in unveiling the mysterious intrigues of a
court, and for exposing the latent causes of opposition.
”
The whole proves, that while this publication reflects “some
degree of honour on lord Melcombe’s abilities, it shows
his political conduct to have been wholly directed by the
base motives of avarice, vanity, and selfishness.
”
, an eminent English lawyer, the son of Richard Doddridge, of a Devonshire family, was born at Barnstaple in 1555. In 1572 he was entered of Exeter
, an eminent English lawyer, the son of Richard Doddridge, of a Devonshire family, was born at Barnstaple in 1555. In 1572 he was entered of Exeter college, Oxford, where he studied four years; after which he was removed to the Middle Temple, London, where he became a great proficient in the law, and a noted counsellor. In the forty-fifth year of the reign of queen Elizabeth he was Lent reader of that house; and on the 20th of January, 1603-4, he was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, at which time he had the honour of being appointed serjeant to Henry prince of Wales. From this employment he was raised, in the succeeding year, to be solicitor-general to the king, and on the 25th of June 1607, he was constituted his majesty’s principal serjeantat-law, and was knighted on the fifth of July following. In February 1612-13, he was created M. A. at his chambers in Serjeants Inn by the vice-chancellor, the two proctors, and five other members of the university of Oxford. This peculiar honour was conferred upon him in gratitude for the great service he had done to the university in several law-suits depending between the city of Oxford and the university. On the 22d of April 1013, he was appointed one of the judges of the court of king’s bench, in which, office he continued till his death. In this station he appears to have conducted himself with great integrity as well as ability. However, in April, 162, he and the other judges of the court were called upon to assign their reasons in the house of lords, for having given judgment against admitting five gentlemen to bail, who had been imprisoned for refusing the loan which had lately been demanded by the crown. Sir Nicholas Hyde, lord chief justice, sir John Doddridge, Mr. Justice Jones, and Mr. Justice Whitlocke, each of them spoke upon the occasion, and made the best defence which the nature of the case would admit. If they were guilty of a mistake, which cannot now reasonably be doubted, they seem to have been led into it in the sincerity of their hearts, from the notions they entertained of regal power, and probably from their perceiving the drift of parliament in these proceedings. Sir John Doddridge, in his speech, asserts the,
ivinum potius est quain human um.” He died Sept. 13, 1628, in the seventy-third year of his age, and was buried in the ambulatory before the door of the library, formerly
index. Faulkner’s Hist, of Fulham. Park’s Royal and Noble Authors. Cumberland’s Life. Some account of his uncle, Knight’s Life ofColet. Hawkins’s
Life of Johnson. Dodsley’s, Pcareh’s, and NiclioU's Poems. Bowles’s edition
of Pope’s Works, Louoj^r’s Common-place li^ok, vol. 1. Cose’s Life of
purity of his own character in the following terms: “It is
no more fit for a judge to decline to give an account of his
doings than for a Christian of his faith. God knoweth I
have endeavoured always to keep a good conscience; for
a troubled one who can bear? I have now sat in this court
fifteen years, and I should know something. Surely, if I
had gone in a mill so long, dust would cleave to my clothes.
I am old, and have one foot in the grave; therefore I will
look to the better part as near as 1 can. But omnia haberc
in memoria, et in nullo errarc, divinum potius est quain
human um.
” He died Sept. 13, 1628, in the seventy-third
year of his age, and was buried in the ambulatory before
the door of the library, formerly called Lady Mary’s Chapel, in the cathedral church of Exeter. Within that
library is a very sumptuous monument erected to his memory, containing his figure and that of his wife, cut in
alabaster, under a stately arch supported by marble pillars.
This learned judge, by his happy education, accompanied
with excellent natural parts and unremitted industry, became so general a scholar, that it was said of him, that it
was difficult to determine whether he were the better
artist, divine, civil or common lawyer. Among his other
studies, he was a great lover of antiquities, and attained
to such an eminence of knowledge and skill in that department of literature, that he was regarded as one of the
ablest members of the famous society of antiquaries, which
may be said to have begun in 1571, but which more particularly flourished from 1590 to 1614. Rewrote, I. “The
Lawyer’s Light; or, due direction for the study of the
Law,
” London, A complete Parson, or a
description of advowsons and church livings, delivered in
several readings, in an inn of chancery called the New
Inn,
” printed The History
of the ancient and modern estate of the principality of
Wales, duchy of Cornwall, and earldom of Chester,
” The English Lawyer, a treatise describing a method for the managing of the Laws of this Land, and expressing the best qualities requisite in the student, practiser, judges, &c.
” London, Opinion
touching the antiquity, power, order, state, manner, persons, and proceedings, of the High Courts of Parliament
in England,
” London, A Treatise of
particular Estates,
” London, The Ground and Maxims of the Law.
” 7. “A
true representation of forepassed Parliaments to the view
of the present times and posterity.
” This still remains in
manuscript. Sir John Doddridge also enlarged a book
called “The Magazine of Honour,
” London, The Law of Nobility and Peerage,
” Lond. 16S7,
1658, 8vo. In the Collection of curious Discourses, written by eminent antiquaries, are two dissertations by our
judge; one of which is on the dimensions of the land of
England, and the other on the office and duty of heralds
in this country. Mr. Bridgman, in his “Legal Bibliography,
” informs us that many valuable works have been
attributed to sir John Doddridge, which in their title-pages
have borne the names of others. He mentions particularly
Sheppard’s “Law of Common Assurances touching Deeds
in general,
” and “Wentworth’s office and dutie of Executors;
” both which are said to have been written by
Doddridge.
, an eminent dissenting divine, great-grand-nephew to the preceding, was the son of the nonconformist rector of Shepperton in Middlesex,
, an eminent dissenting divine,
great-grand-nephew to the preceding, was the son of the
nonconformist rector of Shepperton in Middlesex, and
was born in London, June 26th, 1702. At his birth he
was so weakly that he was regarded as dead; but by attention and care he recovered some degree of strength. His
constitution, however, was always feeble, and probably
rendered more so by the assiduity with which he prosecuted
his studies and public services. To his pious parents he
was indebted for early instruction in religion, and for those
salutary impressions which were never erased from his
mind. His classical education commenced in London, but
being left an orphan in his thirteenth year, he was removed
to a private school at St. Alban’s, where he had the happiness of commencing an acquaintance with Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Samuel Clark, the dissenting minister of the place;
and having lost his whole patrimony after his father’s death,
the protection of this friend enabled him to pursue the
course of his studies. In 1715 he left St. Alban’s, and
retired to the house of his sister, the wife of Mr. John
Nettleton, a dissenting minister at Ongar, in Essex, and
while deliberating on the course of life which he should
pursue, he received offers of encouragement and support
from the duchess of Bedford, if he chose to be educated
in one of the universities for the church of England; but
could not conscientiously comply with the terms of conformity. Others advised him to devote himself to the profession of the law; but before he had finally determined,
he received a letter from Mr. Clark, with generous offers
of assistance, if he chose the ministry among the dissenters.
These offers he thankfully accepted; and after continuing
for some months at St. Alban’s in the house of his benefactor, he was placed, in October 1719, under the tuition of
the reverend John Jennings, who kept an academy for the
education of nonconformist ministers at Kibworth in Leicestershire. Here he paid particular attention to classical
literature, and cultivated an acquaintance with the Greek
writers, and also with the best authors of his own country.
In 1722, having obtained an ample testimonial from a
committee of ministers, by whom he was examined, he
became a preacher at Kibworth, which he preferred, because it was an obscure village, and the congregation was
small, so that he could pursue his studies with little interruption. During his residence at this place, from June
1723 to October 1725, he is said to have excelled as a
preacher. At first he paid particular attention to his compositions, and thus acquired a habit of delivering his sentiments usually with judgment, and always with ease and
freedom of language, when he was afterwards, by a multiplicity of engagements, reduced to the necessity of extempore speaking. In 1725, he removed to Market-Harborough, to enjoy the conversation and advice of Mr.
Some, the pastor of the congregation in that place and
after the year 1727, when he was chosen assistant to Mr.
Some, he preached alternately at Kibworth and MarketHarborough. He received several invitations from congregations much more numerous than these; but he determined to adhere to the plan, which he had adopted, of
pursuing his schemes of improvement in a more private
residence. When he left the academy, his tutor, Mr. Jennings, not long before his death, which happened in 1723,
advised him to keep in view the improvement of the course
of lectures on which he had attended; and this advice he
assiduously regarded during his retirement at Kibworth.
Mr. Jennings foresaw, that, in case of his own death, Mr.
Doddridge was the most likely of any of his pupils to
complete the schemes which he had formed, and to undertake
the conduct of a theological academy. Mr. Doddridge’s
qualifications for the office of tutor were generally known
and approved, in consequence of a plan for conducting the
preparatory studies of young persons intended for the ministry, which he had drawn up at the desire of a friend,
whose death prevented his carrying it into effect. This
plan was shewn to Dr. Watts, who had then no personal
acquaintance with the author; but he was so much pleased
with it, that he concurred with others in the opinion, that
the person who had drawn it up was best qualified for executing it. Accordingly he was unanimously solicited to
undertake the arduous office; and after some hesitation,
and with a very great degree of diffidence, he consented
to undertake it. Availing himself of all the information
and assistance which he could obtain from conversation and
correspondence with his numerous friends, he opened his
academy at Midsummer, in 1729, at Market- Harborongh.
Having continued in this situation for a few months, he was
invited by a congregation at Northampton; and he removed
thither in December 1729; and in March of the following
year, he was ordained according to the mode usually practised among dissenters. In this place he engaged, in a
very high degree, the love and attachment of his congregation; and he observes, in his last will, “that he had
spent the most delightful hours of his life in assisting the
devotions of as seuious, as grateful, and as deserving a
people, as perhaps any minister had ever the happiness to
serve.
”
survived him. many years. At the first removal of the academy to Northampton, the number of students was small; but it increased every year; so that, in 1734, it became
In 1730, Mr. Doddridge entered into the matrimonial
relation, with a lady who possessed every qualification
that could conduce to his happiness, and who survived him.
many years. At the first removal of the academy to Northampton, the number of students was small; but it increased
every year; so that, in 1734, it became necessary to have
a stated assistant, to whom the care of some of the junior
pupils was committed. The number of students was, one
year with another, thirty-four. The system of education
being liberal, many received instruction in his academy,
who were members of the established church. And in the
course of the twenty years, during which Mr. Doddridg
presided over it, he acquired high reputation both as a
preacher, tutor, and author. Of his detached works, consisting of tracts and sermons, it would be unnecessary ta
give a particular list, as they are now published in a collection of his works. The most popular of them was his
“Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,
” which has
gone through numerous editions, and been translated into
the Dutch, German, Danish, and French languages; and
the most useful is his “Family Expositor,
” in 6 vols. 4to,
which has lately risen in reputation, and been often reprinted in 6 vols. 8vo. His “Course of Lectures,
” published after his death by the rev. Samuel Clark, 1763, 4to, is
also a work of great utility, and was republished in 1794,
2 vols. 8vo, by Dr. Kippis, with very extensive and valuable additions. Dr. Dodd ridge also wrote some hymns,
and though inferior to those of Dr. Watts, he gave at least
one evidence of his poetical taste and powers, in the excellent lines which he wrote on the motto to the arms of
his family, ll dum vivimus vivamus," which are highly
commended by Dr. Johnson, and represented as containing
one of the finest epigrams in the English language.
ication must have been incessant, and with little time for exercise and recreation. His constitution was always feeble, and his friends deprecated the injurious effects
From the course of Dr. Doddridge’s life, and the multiplicity of his labours, his application must have been incessant, and with little time for exercise and recreation.
His constitution was always feeble, and his friends deprecated the injurious effects of his unintermitting assiduity and
exertion. By degrees, however, his delicate frame was so
impaired, that it could not bear the attack of disease. In
December 1750, he went to St. Alban’s to preach the funeral sermon of his friend Dr. Clark, and in the course of
his journey he caught a cold, which brought on a pulmonary complaint, that resisted every remedy. But notwithstanding the advice and remonstrances of those who
apprehended his death, and wished to prolong his usefulness, he would not decline or diminish the employments
in the academy, and with his congregation, in which he*
took great delight. At length he was obliged to submit;
and to withdraw from all public services to the house of
his friend Mr. Orton, at Shrewsbury. Notwithstanding
some relief which his recess from business afforded him,
his disorder gained ground; and his medical friends
advised him to make trial of the Bristol waters. The physicians of this place afforded him little hope of lasting
benefit; and he received their report of his case with
Christian fortitude and resignation. As the last resort in
his case, he was advised to pass the winter in a warmer
climate; and at length he was prevailed upon to go to
Lisbon, where he met with every attention which friendship and medical skill could afford him. But his case was
hopeless. Arriving at Lisbon on the 13th of October, the
rainy season came on, and prevented his deriving any benefit from air and exercise, and in a few days he was seized
with a colliquative diarrhoea, which rapidly exhausted his
remaining strength. He preserved, however, to the last
the same calmness, vigour, and joy of mind, which he
had felt and expressed through the whole of his disease. The only anxiety he seemed to feel was occasioned
by the situation in which Mrs. Doddridge would be left
upon his removal. To his children, his congregation, and
his friends in general, he desired to be remembered in the
most affectionate manner; nor did he forget a single person, not even his servant, in the effusions of his benevolence. Many devout sentiments and aspirations were
uttered by him on the last day but one preceding that of
his death. At length, his release took place on the 26th
of October, O. S. about 3 o'clock in the morning; and
though he died in a foreign land, and in a certain sense
among strangers, his decease was embalmed with many
tears, nor was he molested, in his last moments, by the
officious zeal of any of the priests of the church of Rome.
His body was opened, and his lungs were found to be in
a very ulcerated state. His remains were deposited in the
most respectful manner in the burying-ground belonging
to the British factory at Lisbon. His congregation erected
in his meeting-house a handsome monument to his memory, on which is an inscription drawn up by his much
esteemed and ingenious friend, Gilbert West, esq. Dr.
Doddridge left four children, one son and three daughters,
and his widow survived him more than forty years. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Orton from I Cor. xv. 54;
and it was extensively circulated under the title of “The
Christian’s triumph over death.
” His character stands high
among the dissenters, no man with equal powers and equal
popularity having appeared among them in the course of
last century, Dr. Watts excepied. Dr. Doddridge was
an indefatigable student, and his mind was furnished with
a rich stock of various learning. His acquaintance with
books, ancient and modern, was very extensive and if
not a profound scholar, he was sufficiently acquainted with
the learned languages to make a considerable figure as a
critic and commentator. To history, ecclesiastical as well
as civil, he had paid no small degree of attention; and
while from his disposition he was led to cultivate a taste
for polite literature in general, more than for the abstruser
parts of science, he was far from being a stranger to mathematical and philosophical studies. But the favourite
object of his pursuit, and that in which his chief excellence lay, was divinity, taking that word in its largest
sense. As a preacher. Dr. Doddridge was much esteemed
and very popular. But his biographers have had some
difficulty in vindicating him from the charge of being what
is called a trimmer^ that is, accommodating his discourses
to congregations of different sentiments nor do we think
they have succeeded in proving him exempt from the appearance at least of inconsistency, or obsequious timidity.
We are informed, however, that his piety was ardent, unaffected, and cheerful, and particularly displayed in the
resignation and serenity with which he bore his affliction.
His moral conduct was not only irreproachable, but in
every respect exemplary. To his piety he joined the
warmest benevolence towards his fellow- creatures, which
was manifested in the most active exertions for their welfare within the compass of his abilities or influence. His
private manners were polite, affable, and engaging; which
rendered him the delight of those who had the happii.
of his acquaintance. No man exercised more candour and
moderation towards those who differed from him in religious opinions. Of these qualities there are abundant
proofs in the extensive correspondence he carried on with
many eminent divines in the establishment, and of other
persuasions.
His reputation was such, and the respect of persons of all parties and denominations
His reputation was such, and the respect of persons of all parties and denominations for his various excellent qualities was so great, that in the close of his life, and in the scene of his last decline, all seemed to vie in testifying their solicitude for his recovery, and their wishes for his obtaining every accommodation that would render his mind and his circumstances easy. During his stay at Bristol, previously to his voyage to Lisbon, he received very particular expressions of regard from a clergyman of the established church. When Dr. Doddridge undesignedly threw out a hint of the principal reason which caused him to demur about the voyage, and that was the expence of it, this gentleman was both generous and active in promoting a subscription to defray the charges of his voyage. Nathaniel Neal, esq. an eminent Solicitor in London, was also very zealous in the management of this business, which he conducted with such success as to be able to inform the doctor, that instead of selling what our author had in the funds, he should be able through the benevolence of friends, to add something to it, after the expence of the voyage was defrayed. As Mrs. Doddridge forfeited a considerable annuity, to which as a widow she would have been entitled, by her husband’s dying abroad, a subscription was opened for her, chiefly in London, and in a great measure under the direction of Mr. Neal, by means of which a sum was raised, which was more than equal to the annuity that had been forfeited.
, a learned physician and botanist, of a West Friesland family of good repute, was born at Mechlin, in 1517. He studied medicine at Louvaine, and
, a learned
physician and botanist, of a West Friesland family of good
repute, was born at Mechlin, in 1517. He studied medicine at Louvaine, and afterwards visited the celebrated
universities of France and Italy, and to his medical knowledge added an acquaintance with the classics and polite
literature. On his return from Italy, his reputation procured him the honour of being appointed physician to the
emperors Maximilian II. and Rodolph II. Having been
obliged during the civil wars of his time to quit the imperial court, in order to take care of his property at Mechlin and Antwerp, he resided awhile at Cologne, from
whence he was persuaded to return to Antwerp but soon
afterwards he became professor of physic in the newlyfounded university of Leyden, with an ample stipend.
This took place in 1582, and he sustained the credit of his
appointment by his lectures and various writings, till death
put a period to his labours in March 1585, in the sixtyeighth year of his age. It appears by his epitaph at Leyden, that he left a son of his own name behind him.
Dodoens is recorded to have excelled in a knowledge
of the history of his own country, and especially in genealogical inquiries, as well as in medicine. His chief fame
at present rests on his botanical publications, particularly
his “Pemptades,
” or 30 books of the history of plants, in
1 vol. folio, published at Antwerp in 1583, and again in
1612 and 1616. This is still a book of general reference
on account of the wooden cuts, which are numerous and
expressive. Hailer reckons it “a good and useful work,
though not of the first rate.
” The author had previously
published some lesser works in 8vo, as “Frugum Histona,
”
printed at Antwerp, in Herbarium Belgicum
” first appeared in the German language
in Henry Lyte,
esquyer
” composed his Herbrl, which is pretty nearly a
translation of the whole. It was published in 1578, and
went through several subsequent editions. This work, in
its various languages and editions, is accompanied by
wooden cuts, very inferior, for the most part, to those in
the above-mentioned “Pemptades.
” Halier records an
epitome of Dodoens by William Kam, printed at London, in 1606, 4to, under the title of “Little Dodoen.
”
This we have never seen.
, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, in 1703. His father is
, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, in 1703. His father is said to have kept the tree-school at Mansfield, a situation in which it is natural to suppose he could have bestowed some education on his children, yet it is not easy to reconcile this with the servile track of life into which they were obliged to enter. He is described as a little deformed man, who, after having a large family by his first wife, married at the age of seventy-five a young girl of only seventeen years, by whom he had a child. Of his sons, A Ivory lived many years, and died in the service of the late sir George Saville; Isaac was for some time gardener to Mr. Allen, of Prior-park, and afterwards to lord Weymouth, at Long-leat. In these two families he spent fifty-two years of his life; and has the credit of being the projector of some of the beautiful plantations at both those seats. He retired from Long-leat at the age of seventy-eight, and died about three years after. There was a third, John, whose name with that of Alvory, and of the father, is among the subscribers to our poet’s first publication. James, who was twenty-two years younger than Robert, will come to be mentioned hereafter; when he was taken into partnership. How he passed the preceding part of his time is not known. Of Robert, nothing is now remembered in his native town, but a traditional story, that he was put apprentice to a stocking-weaver of that place, and that, being almost starved, he ran away, and was hired by a lady as her footman: this lady, it is added, observing that he employed his leisure hours in reading, gave him every encouragement; and soon after he wrote an entertainment, which was shewn to Pope and others. Part of this story is probable, but too much of his history is crowded into it. His first service was not that of a lady, nor was the entertainment (The Toy-shop) his first production.
Although he was probably not in many stations of the menial kind, it is certain
Although he was probably not in many stations of the menial kind, it is certain that he was once footman to Charles Dartiquenave, (or, as spelt by Swift, Dartineuf,) esq. paymaster of the works, and the Darty who is noticed by Pope,
His gluttony, which was long proverbial, suggested to lord Lyttelton to introduce him,
His gluttony, which was long proverbial, suggested to
lord Lyttelton to introduce him, in his Dialogues of the
Pead, holding a conversation with Apicius. The story of
the Ham-pye, Dr. Wartoii assures us, was confirmed by
Dodsley, who knew Dartineuf, and, as he candidly owned,
had waited on him at dinner; or, as he said more explicitly
to Dr. Johnson, “v*as his footman.
” He served afterxvards, in the same humble station, in the family of the hon.
Mrs. Lowther, where his conduct procured him respect,
and his abilities, distinction. Several of his smaller poems
were written while in this family, and being shewn to his
mistress and her visitors, he was encouraged to publish
them by a very liberal subscription, including about two
hundred names of considerable note. His volume had the
very appropriate title of “The Muse in Livery; or, The
Footman’s Miscellany,
” a thin 8vo, published in
His next attempt was more successful than the publication or' his poems, and, considering
His next attempt was more successful than the publication or' his poems, and, considering the disadvantages of a
life of servitude, more extraordinary; he wrote a dramatic
piece, entitled “The Toy-shop,
” the style of which discovers an improvement which to those who had just read
“The Muse in Livery,
” must have appeared wonderful.
This the author determined to submit to Pope in manuscript. He tells us he had a great regard for that poet, before he had the honour of being known to him, and “it
was a great mortification to him that he used to think himself too inconsiderable ever to merit his notice or esteem,.
However, some time after I had wrote the Toy-shop,
hoping there was something in it which might recommend
me to him in a moral capacity, at least, though not in a
poetical one, I sent it to him, and desired his opinion of
it; expressing some doubt, that though I designed it for the
stage, yet, unless its novelty would recommend it, I was
afraid it would not bear a public representation, and therefore had not offered it to the actors.
”
I was very willing to read your piece, and do freely tell you, I like
I was very willing to read your piece, and do freely tell you, I like it, as far as my particular judgment goes. Whether it has action enough to please the stage, I doubt butthe morality and satire ought to be relished by the reader. I will do more than you ask me I will recommend it to Mr. Rich. If he can join it to any play, with suitable representations, to make it an entertainment, I believe he will give you a benefit night; and I sincerely wish it may be turned any way to your advantage, or that I could show you my friendship in any instance. I am, &c."
tance” on the author. The hint of this excellent satire, for it scarcely deserves the name of drama, was taken from Randolph’s “M use’s Looking-glass.” It was acted
Pope accordingly recommended it to Mr. Rich, and
ever after bestowed his “favour and acquaintance
” on the
author. The hint of this excellent satire, for it scarcely
deserves the name of drama, was taken from Randolph’s
“M use’s Looking-glass.
” It was acted at Covent-garden
theatre in Toy-shop;
”
but when he asserted his claim, he became more noticed,
and the theatre more easily accessible to his future dramatic attempts. The profits of his volume of poems, and
the Toy-shop, enabled him to set up in business, and
with much judgment he chose that of a bookseller, which
liis friends might promote, and which might afford him
leisure and opportunity to cultivate his talents. At what
time he quitted service is not known, but he commenced
the bookselling trade at a shop in Pall Mall, in 1735, and
by Pope’s friendly interest, and his own humble and prudent behaviour, soon drew into his little premises such a
society of men of genius, taste, and rank, as have seldom
met. Many of these he afterwards had the honour to
unite together in more than one scheme of literary partnership.
ss of his first dramatic piece encouraged him to attempt another better adapted to stage rules. This was his farce of “The King and the Miller of Mansfield,” the plot
In the mean time, the success of his first dramatic piece
encouraged him to attempt another better adapted to stage
rules. This was his farce of “The King and the Miller of
Mansfield,
” the plot of which is founded on a traditional
story in the reign of Henry II. It was performed in
1736-7, and with applause scarcely inferior to that of the
“Toy-shop.
” In Sir John Cockle
at Court,
” intended as a sequel to the King and the Miller,
but it had the usual fate of sequels, to suffer by comparison. His next dramatic performance was “The Blind
Beggar of Bethnal-green,
” a ballad farce, acted in
Dodsley became a speculator in various literary undertakings, either original or compiled. So rapid was his success, that before he had been three years in business,
Almost from the commencement of trade, Dodsley became a speculator in various literary undertakings, either
original or compiled. So rapid was his success, that before he had been three years in business, he became a
purchaser of copyrights; and it is among the most striking
of those occurrences which diversify the lives of men of
literary eminence, that, in 1738, the truly illustrious Dr.
Samuel Johnson was glad to sell his first original publication to humble Robert Dodsley, for the small sum of ten
guineas. We find by Mr. Boswell’s very interesting account of this transaction, that Dodsley was the first to discover the merits of Johnson’s “London,
” and was desirous
to purchase an article of which as a tradesman he had not
miscalculated the value. But before this time Dodsley’s
shop must have been in considerable reputation, as in
April 1737 he published Pope’s “Second Epistle of the
Second Book of Horace,
” and in the following month
Pope assigned over to him the sole property of his “Letters,
” and afterwards that of vols. V. and VI. of his Works,
and some of his detached pieces. Not long after, Young and
Akenside published their works at his shop, and as early as
March 1738-9, he became a partner with some of his
brethren in the copyright of established authors.
The first of his literary schemes was a periodical journal,
which appears to have escaped the researches of his biographers, entitled “The Public Register, or Weekly
Magazine,
” begun Jan. 3, 1741, each number of which
consisted of sixteen 4to pages, handsomely printed, and
was sold for three-pence. Although Dodsley appears to
have lived on friendly terms with Cave, the printer, who
referred Johnson to him as a lit publisher of the “London,
” yet this Register was undoubtedly one of the many
attempts made at that time to rival me uncommon and
much envied success of the Gentleman’s Magazine, and
like them was soon obliged to yield to the superior popularity of that valuable miscellany. Dodsley and Cave
abused one another a little, as rival projectors, but were
probably reconciled when the cause was removed. The
contents of Dodsley’s “Public Register
” were original
letters and essays in prose and verse records of literature;
the substance of the parliamentary debates, with news foreign and domestic, and advertisements relating to books.
The original essays were contributed by his mends, and
many of them probably by himself. It proceeded as far
as the twenty-fourth number, when the editor thought
proper to stop. He urges in his farewell address, “the
additional expense he was at in stamping it, and the ungenerous usage he met with from one of the proprietors of
u certain monthly pamphlet, who prevailed with most of the
common newspapers not to advertise it.
” In Rex et Pontifcx,
”
which he meant as an attempt to introduce a new species
of ^pantomime upon the stage. It was not, however, received by any of the theatres, and probably was considered only as a political effusion for a temporary purpose.
In 1746, he projected another periodical work, entitled
“The Museum, or the Literary and Historical Register,
”
published every fortnight, in an 8vo size. Of this concern he had only a fourth share, the rest being the property of Mess. Longman, Shewell, Hitch, and Rivington.
It extended to three volumes, and contains a greater
variety of original essays of real merit than any similar undertaking within our memory, nor will this be doubted,
when it is added that among the contributors were Spence,
Horace Walpole, the two Wartons, Akenside, Lowth,
Smart, Gilbert Cooper, William Whitehead, Merrick, and
Campbell. This last wrote those political papers which he
afterwards collected, enlarged, and published under the
title of “The Present State of Europe.
”
ved the right of printing one edition. It is a better proof of Dodsley’s enterprising Spirit that he was the first who suggested the scheme of the English Dictionary,
In 1748 our author published a work of yet greater popularity and acknowledged value in the instruction of youth,
feis “Preceptor,
” to which some of the parties just mentioned contributed. Dr. Johnson furnished the Preface,
and “The Vision of Theodore the Hermit.
” In the be
ginning of the following year, Dodsley purchased Johnson’s “Vanity of Human Wishes,
” for the small sum of
fifteen guineas, but Johnson reserved the right of printing
one edition. It is a better proof of Dodsley’s enterprising
Spirit that he was the first who suggested the scheme of
the English Dictionary, upon which Dr. Johnson was at
this time employed; and is supposed to have procured
some hints from Pope, among whose friends a scheme of
this kind had been long entertained. Pope, however, did
not live to see the excellent Prospectus which Johnson
published in 1747. In 1748, Dodsley collected together
in one volume his dramatic pieces, under the modest title
of “Trifles.
” On the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, he wrote
the “Triumph of Peace,
” a masque, which was set to
music by Dr. Arne, and performed at Drury-lane in
1748-9. In 1750 he published a small volume, unlike
any of his former attempts, entitled “The Œconomy of
Human Life, translated from an Indian manuscript, written by an ancient Bramin; to which is prefixed, an account of the manner in which the said manuscript was
discovered. In a letter from an English Gentleman, now
residing in China, to the earl of *****.
” Whether from
modesty, fear, or merely a trick of trade, Dodsley affected
to be only the publisher of this work, and persisted in his disguise for some time. Conjecture gave it to the earl of
Chesterfield, and not quite so absurdly as Mrs. Teresa
Constantia Phillips complimented that nobleman on being
author of the “Whole Duty of Man.
” Chesterfield had
a friendship for Dodsley, and would not contradict a report
which rendered the sale of the “Œconomy
” both rapid.
and extensive. The critics, however, in the Monthly
Keview, and Gentleman’s Magazine, were not to be deceived.
f lord Chesterfield. The real author, although he might secretly appropriate this praise to himself, was perhaps not very well pleased to find that he seldom was suspected
It would be unnecessary to say much on the merit of a
piece which is so well known. During its early popularity,
it occasioned many imitations, the principal of which were,
“The Second part of the Œconomy of Human Life;
”
“The Œconomy of Female Life
” “The Œconomy of
the Sexes
” and “The Œconomy of a Winter’s Day,
” an
humourous burlesque. Dodsley’s “Œconomy,
” however,
outlived these temporary efforts, and continued to be
praised and read as the production of lord Chesterfield.
The real author, although he might secretly appropriate
this praise to himself, was perhaps not very well pleased to
find that he seldom was suspected to have deserved it.
His next production appears to have occupied his thoughts
and leisure hours for a considerable time. This was a
poem, intended to be comprized in three books, treating
of agriculture, commerce, and arts. Of these, by way of
experiment, he published the first, under the general titld
of “Public Virtue,
” in Public
Virtue was not a subject to interest the age.
”
er contributed by that writer, or sent by volunteers, J)odsley secured to himself the copyright, and was amply repaid not only by its sale in. single numbers, but by
About this time, he established, in conjunction with
Moore, a periodical paper, entitled “The World,
” a name
which Dodsley is allowed to have suggested after the other
partners had perplexed themselves in vain for a proper one.
Lord Lyttelton, although no contributor himself, used his
influence with his friends for that purpose, and Dodsley
procured papers from many of his friends and customers.
One paper only, No. 32, is acknowledged to come from
his own pen. By undertaking to pay Moore a stipulated
sum for each paper, whether contributed by that writer,
or sent by volunteers, J)odsley secured to himself the
copyright, and was amply repaid not only by its sale in.
single numbers, but by the many editions printed in volumes. When it was concluded in 1756, he obtained permission of the principal writers to insert their names, which
gave it an additional interest with the public. A few chose,
at that time, to remain concealed, who have since been
discovered, and some are yet unknown. Chesterfield and
Horace Walpole were known at the time of publication.
ode, but concealed his being the author, and employed Mrs. Cooper as his publisher. The consequence was that this ode, in which it is universally acknowledged that
In 1758, Dodsiey wrote “Melpomene, or the Regions
of Terror and Pity,
” an ode, but concealed his being the
author, and employed Mrs. Cooper as his publisher. The
consequence was that this ode, in which it is universally
acknowledged that there are many sublime passages, was
attributed to some promising young man, whom years and
cultivation would lead to a high rank among poets. Mary
Cooper, who was also the publisher of the World, lived
in Paternoster- row, and appears to have been frequently
employed in this capacity by Dodsiey and others, when
they did not choose that their names should appear to the
first edition of any work.
his is said to have been rejected by Garrick with some degree of contempt, principally because there was not a character in it adapted to the display of his talents;
In the same year, Dodsley produced his tragedy of
“Cleone,
” at Covent-garden theatre. This is said to have
been rejected by Garrick with some degree of contempt,
principally because there was not a character in it adapted
to the display of his talents; and when it was performed
for the first time at the rival theatre, he endeavoured to
diminish its attraction by appearing the same night in a
new character at Drury-lane. The efforts of jealousy are
sometimes so ridiculous, as to make it difficult to be believed that they are seriously intended. But notwithstanding this malicious opposition, Cleone was played with
great success for numv nights, although the company at
Covent- garden, with the exception of Mrs. Bellamy, were
in no reputation as tragedians. How powerfully the author
has contrived to excite the passions of terror and pity, was
lately seen, when this tragedy was revived by Mrs. Siddons.
Its effect was so painful, and indignation at the villainy of
Glanville and Ragozin approached so near to abhorrence,
that the play could not be endured. There are, indeed,
in this piece, many highly-wrought scenes, and the madness of Cleone deserves to rank ^mong the most pathetic
attempts to convey an idea of the ruins of an amiable and
innocent mind. For Garrick’s opinion we can have little
respect, and perhaps he was not sincere in Diving it. The
prologue to Cleone was written by MehnoUi, and the
epilogue by Shenstone. Dodsley omitted about thirty lines
of the latter, and substituted twelve or fourteen of his own,
but restored the epilogue as originally written, in the
fourth edition, at which it arrived in less than a year.
Such was the avidity of the public, occasioned probably in
a great measure by the opposition given to the performance of the play, that two thousand copies were sold on
the first day of publication. Pope, when very young, had
attempted a tragedy on the same subject, which he afterwards burnt, as he informed Dodsley, when the latter sent
him his Cleone, in its first state, requesting his advice.
Pope encouraged him to bring it out, but wished he would
extend the plan to the accustomed number of five acts.
Dodsley acted with su r iicient caution in keeping his piece
rather more than “ni:ie years,
” and then submitted it to
lord Chesterfield and other friends, who encouraged him to
offer it to the sta^e, and supported it when produced.
Dr. Johnson was likewise among those who praised its
pathetic effect, and declared that “if Otway had written
it, no other of his pieces would have been remembered.
”
Dodsley, to whom this was told, said very justly, that “it
was too much.
”
This was an important year (176S) to our author in another respect. He
This was an important year (176S) to our author in another respect. He now published the first volume of the *' Annual Register," projected in concert with the illustrious Edmund Burke, who is supposed to have contributed very liberally to its success. This work was in all its departments so ably conducted, that although he printed a large impression, he and his successor were frequently obliged to reprint the early volumes. Its value as an useful and convenient record of public affairs was so universally felt, that every inquirer into the history of his country must wish it had been begun sooner. Dodsley, however, did not live to enjoy its highest state of popularity; but some years after his death it became irregular in i,ts times of publication, and the general disappointment which such neglect occasioned, gave rise, in 17 Ho, to another work of the same kind, under the name of the New Annual Register. This for many years was a powerful rival, until the unhappy sera of the French revolution, when the principles adopted in the New Register gave disgust to those who had been accustomed to the Old, and the mind, if not the hand of Burke appearing again in the latter, it resumed and still maintains its former reputation, under the managemerit of Messrs. Rivington, who succeeded the late James Dodsley in the property.
p and other Fabulists,” in three books, which added very considerably to his reputation, although he was more indebted than has been generally supposed to his learned
In 1760, our author published his “Select Fables of Esop
and other Fabulists,
” in three books, which added very
considerably to his reputation, although he was more indebted than has been generally supposed to his learned
customers, many of whom seem to have taken a pleasure
in promoting all his schemes. The Essay on Fable, prefixed to this collection, is ascribed to Dodsley by the author
of his life in the Biographia. Dodsley probably drew the
outline of the essay, but Shenstone produced it in the shape
we now find it.
When, after selling two thousand copies of this excellent collection, within a few months, Dodsiey was preparing a new edition, Shenstone informs us that Mr. Spence
When, after selling two thousand copies of this excellent collection, within a few months, Dodsiey was preparing a new edition, Shenstone informs us that Mr. Spence offered to write the life afresh; and Spence, Burke, Lowth, and Melmoth, advised him to discard Italics. Such particulars may appear so uninteresting as to require an apology, but they add something to the history of books, which, is a study of importance as well as of pleasure, and they show the very high respect in which our author was held. Here we have Shenstone, Spence, Burke, Lowth, and Melmoth clubbing their opinions to promote his interest, by improving the merit of a work, which, however unjustly, many persons of their established character would have thought beneath their notice.
He had now retired from the active part of his business, having realized a considerable fortune, and was succeeded by his brother James, whom he had previously admitted
On the death of Shenstone, in the beginning of the year 1763, Dodsley endeavoured to repay the debt of gratitude, by publishing a very beautiful edition of the works of that poet, to which he prefixed a short account of his life and writings, a character written with much affection, a description of the Leasowes, &c. He had now retired from the active part of his business, having realized a considerable fortune, and was succeeded by his brother James, whom he had previously admitted into partnership, and who continued the business until hi’s death in 1797, but without his brother’s spirit or intelligence.
During the latter years of our author’s life, he was much afflicted with the gout, and at length fell a martyr to
During the latter years of our author’s life, he was much afflicted with the gout, and at length fell a martyr to it, while upon a visit to his learned and useful friend the rev. Joseph Spence at Durham. This event happened September 25, 1764, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was interred in the abbey church-yard of that city, with a homely tribute to his memory on his tomb-stone.
In 1772, a second volume of his works was published, under the title of “Miscellanies,” viz. Cleone, Melpomene,
In 1772, a second volume of his works was published,
under the title of “Miscellanies,
” viz. Cleone, Melpomene, Agriculture, and the Œconomy of Human Life.
Two of his prose pieces, yet unnoticed, were inserted in
the later editions of his first volume; the “Chronicle of
the Kings of England,
” in imitation of the language of
Scripture, and an ironical Sermon, in which the right of
mankind to do what they will is asserted. Neither of these
has contributed much to his reputation.
sed by rigorous examination, he will not be able to maintain a very elevated rank. His “Agriculture” was probably intended as the concentration of his powers, but the
After the incidental notices taken of his different writings
in this sketch of his life, little remains to be added as to
their general character. As a poet, if poets are classed by
rigorous examination, he will not be able to maintain a
very elevated rank. His “Agriculture
” was probably intended as the concentration of his powers, but the subject
had not been for many years of town-life very familiar to
him, and had he been more conversant in rural œconomy,
he could not give dignity to terms and precepts which are
neither intelligible nor just when translated from the
homely language of the farm and the cottage. Commerce
and the Arts, had he pursued his plan, were more capable
of poetical illustration, but it may be doubted whether they
were not as much above his powers, as the other is beneath
the flights of the heroic muse. The “Art of Preaching
”
shows that he had not studied Pope’s versification in vain.
It is not, however, so strictly an imitation of Horace’s Art
of Poetry, which probably he could not read, as of Pope’s
manner of modernizing satire. It teaches no art, but that
which is despicable, the art of casting unmerited obloquy
on the clergy.
of his time, have given a considerable popularity to the name of Dodsley; and his personal character was excellent. Although flattered for his early productions, and
Upon the whole, the general merit of his productions, and the connexions he formed with many of the most eminent literary characters of his time, have given a considerable popularity to the name of Dodsley; and his personal character was excellent. Although flattered for his early productions, and in a situation where flattery is most dangerous, he did not yield to the suggestions of vanity, nor considered his patrons as bound to raise him to independence, or as deserving to be insulted, if they refused to arrogant indolence what they willingly granted to honest industry. With the fair profits of his first pieces, he entered into business, and while he sought only such encouragement as his assiduity might merit, he endeavoured to cultivate his mind by useful, if not profound erudition. His whole life, indeed, affords an important lesson. Without exemption from some of the more harmless artifices of trade, he preserved the strictest integrity in all his dealings, both with his brethren, and with such authors as confided to him the publication of their works; and he became a very considerable partner in those large undertakings which have done so much credit to the booksellers of London.
In his more private character, Dodsley was a pleasing and intelligent companion. Few men had lived on more
In his more private character, Dodsley was a pleasing and intelligent companion. Few men had lived on more easy terms with authors of high rank, as well as genius; and his conversation abounded in that species of information which, unfortunately for biographers, is generally lost with those by whom it has been communicated. By his letters, some of which we have seen, he appears to have written with ease and familiar pleasantry, and the general style of his writings affords no reason to remember that he was deprived of the advantages of educatios. So much may application, even with limited powers, effect, while those who trust to inspiration only, too frequently are content to excite wonder, and dispense with industry, mis-, taking the bounty-money of fame for its regular pay.
, an English barrister, was the son of the Rev. John Dodson, M. A. a dissenting minister
, an English barrister, was the
son of the Rev. John Dodson, M. A. a dissenting minister
of Marlborough, in Wiltshire, and of Elizabeth, one of
the daughters of Mr. Foster, an attorney-at-law of the
same place. He was born at Marlborough on the 20th or
21st Sept. 1732, and educated partly under the care of his
father, and partly at the grammar-school of that town; and
under the direction of his maternal uncle, sir Michael
Foster, he was brought up to the profession of the law.
After being admitted of the Middle Temple, London, August 31, 1754, he practised many years with considerable
reputation, as a special pleader. His natural modesty and
cliffiJence discouraged him from attending the courts, and
therefore he did not proceed to be called to the bar till
July 4, 1783. This measure contributed, as was intended,
more to the diminution than to the increase of professional
business. He was appointed one of the commissioners of
bankrupts in 1770, during the chancellorship of lord Camden, and was continued in that situation till the time of
his death. On December 31, 1778, Mr. Dodson married
miss Elizabeth Hawkes, his cousin-german, and eldest
daughter of Mr. Hawkes, of Marlborough. He enjoyed a
life of uninterrupted good health, and indeed little alteration was observeable in his strength or general habits till
nearly the last year of his life. It was not till the month
of October 1799, that he began more sensibly to feel the
effect of disease; and, after a confinement to his room of
about a fortnight, he died of a dropsy in his chest, at his
house in Boswell-court, Carey-street, London, on the 13th
of November of that year; and was buried in Bunhillfields the 21st of the same month. Mr. Dodson’s legal
knowledge and discrimination were deservedly estimated
by those to whom he was known, and who had occasion to
confer with him upon questions of law. He was deliberate
in forming his opinion, and diffident in delivering it, but
always clear in the principles and reasons on which it was
founded. His general acquaintance with the laws, and
veneration for the constitution of his country, evinced his
extensive acquaintance with the principles of jurisprudence, and his regard for the permanence of the liberties
of Britain. In 1762, Mr. Justice Foster published his
book, entitled, “A Report of some proceedings on the
commission for the trial of the Rebels in the year 1746, in
the county of Surrey; and of other crown cases; to which
are added, Discourses upon a few branches of the Crown
Law.
” This work will be to him, said Mr. Dodson, “monumeutum aere perennius.
” The impression being large,
and a pirated edition being made in Ireland, a new edition,
was not soon wanted in England; but in 1776 Mr. Dodson
published a second edition with some improvements, and
with remarks in his preface on some objections made by
Mr. Barrington in his “Observations on the more ancient
Statutes.
” In Commentaries and Essays,
” written by the members of a small “Society for promoting the knowledge of
the Scriptures.
” Mr. Dodson was a very early member of
this society, not only communicating some papers of his
own, but conducting through the press some of the contributions of others. In 1790 he laid before the public, as
the result of many years’ study, “New translation of Isaiah,
with notes supplementary to those of Dr. Lowth, late
bishop of London, and containing remarks on many parts
of his Translation and Notes, by a Layman.
” In this he
has taken more freedoms than can be justified by the principles of sound criticism; which drew forth an able answer
from the pen of Dr. Sturges, in “Short remarks on a new
Translation of Isaiah,
” 8vo. To this Mr. Dodson replied,
with urbanity and candour, in “A Letter to the Rev. Dr.
Sturges, &c.
” 8vo,
y, the son of Matthew Dodsworth, registrar of York cathedral, and chancellor to archbishop Matthews, was born July 24, 1585, at Newton Grange, in the parish of St. Oswald,
, an eminent antiquary, the
son of Matthew Dodsworth, registrar of York cathedral,
and chancellor to archbishop Matthews, was born July
24, 1585, at Newton Grange, in the parish of St. Oswald,
in Rydale, Yorkshire. He died in August 1654; and was
buried at Rufrord, Lancashire. He was a man “of wonderful industry, but less judgment; always collecting and
transcribing, but never published any thing.
” Such is
the report of him by Wood; who in the first part of it,
Mr. Gough observes, drew his own character. “One cannot approach the borders of this county,
” adds this topographer, in his account of Yorkshire, “without paying
tribute to the memory of that indefatigable collector of its
antiquities, Roger Dodsworth, who undertook and executed a work, which, to the antiquaries of the present
age, would have been the stone of Tydides.
” One hundred and twenty-two volumes of his own writing, besides
original Mss. which he had obtained from several hands,
making all together 162 volumes folio, now lodged in
the Bodleian library, are lasting memorials what this county
owes to him, as the two volumes of the Monasticon
(which, though published under his and Dugdale’s names conjointly, were both collected and written totally by him)
will immortalize that extensive industry which has laid the
whole kingdom under obligation. The patronage of general Fairfax (whose regard to our antiquities, which the rage of his party was so bitter against, should cover his faults from the eyes of antiquaries) preserved this treasure,
and bequeathed it to the library where it is now lodged.
Fairfax preserved also the fine windows of York cathedral;
and when St. Mary’s tower, in which were lodged innumerable records, both public and private, relating to the
northern parts, was blown up during the siege of York,
he gave money to the soldiers who could save any scattered
papers, many of which are now at Oxford; though Dodsworth had transcribed and abridged the greatest part before. Thomas Tomson, at the hazard of his life, saved
out of the rubbish such as were legible; which, after passing through several hands, became the property of Dr.
John Burton, of York, being 1868, in thirty bundles.
Wallis says they are in the cathedral library. Fairfax
allowed Dodsworth a yearly salary to preserve the inscriptions in churches.
ned leave of the vice-chancellor to have them brought into the munimentroom in the school-tower, and was a month drying them on the leads. Many transcripts from them
Fairfax died in 1671 his nephew, Henry Fairfax, dean
of Norwich, gave Roger Dodsworth’s 162 volumes of collections to the university of Oxford but the Mss. were
not brought thither till 1673, and then in wet weather,
when Wood with much difficulty obtained leave of the
vice-chancellor to have them brought into the munimentroom in the school-tower, and was a month drying them
on the leads. Many transcripts from them are in various
collections, particularly the British museum, where are
also many of Dodsworth’s letters. Hearne, in a transport
of antiquarian enthusiasm, “blesses God that he was
pleased, out of his infinite goodness and mercy, to raise
up so pious and diligent a person, that should, by his
blessing, so effectually discover and preserve such a noble
treasure of antiquities as is contained in these volumes:
most of them written with his own hand, and the genealogical tables, and the notes on them, done with that exquisite care and judgment, that I cannot but think otherwise
of this eminent person than the author of the ‘ Athenae
Oxonienses.’ For it plainly appears to me, that his
judgment and sagacity were equal to his diligence; and I
see no reason to doubt, but that if he had lived to write
the Antiquities of Yorkshire (as he once designed), it would
have appeared in a very pleasing and entertaining method,
and in a proper and elegant style, and set out with all other
becoming advantages.
”
, a very learned writer, was born in the parish of St. Warburgh in Dublin, towards the latter
, a very learned writer, was born in the parish of St. Warburgh in Dublin, towards the latter end of October 1641, and baptized November 4th. His father, who was in the army, had an estate at Connaught, but it being seized by the Irish rebels, he came, with his wife and child, to England in 1648, to obtain some assistance among their relations. After some stay in London, they went to York, and placed their son in the free-school of that city, where he continued five years, and laid the foundation of his extensive learning. His father, after having settled him with his mother at York, went to Ireland, to look after his estate, but died of the plague at Waterford: and his mother, going thither for the same purpose, fell into a consumption, of which she died, in her brother sir Henry Slingsby’s house. Being thus deprived of his parents, Mr. Doduell was reduced to such streights that he had not money enough to buy pen, ink, and paper; and suffered very much for want of his board being regularly paid*. Thus he continued till 1654, when his uncle, Mr. Henry Dodvvell, rector of Newbourn
nd assisted him in his studies. With him he remained about a year, and then went to Dublin, where he was at school for a year longer. In 1656 he was admitted into T
* In this more liberal age it will iise of charcoal, instead of pen and
Scarcely be credited that this youth ink, which he had not money to purwas forced to use such pape< as yeung chase; and then, when h^ came to
gentlewomen had covered their work school, to borrow pen and ink of his
with, and thrown away as no longer fit school-fellows to tit his exercises for
for their use, he having no other to his master’s sight.
write his exercises on and to make
and Hemley in Suffolk, sent for him, discharged his debts,
and assisted him in his studies. With him he remained
about a year, and then went to Dublin, where he was at
school for a year longer. In 1656 he was admitted into
Trinity-college in that city, of which he was successively
chosen scholar and fellow. But in 1666 he quitted his fellowship, in order to avoid going into holy orders, for by
the statutes of that college, the fellows are obliged to take
orders when they are masters of arts of three years standing. The learned bishop Jer. Taylor offered to use his interest to procure a dispensation of the statute, but Mr,
Dodwell refused to accept of it, lest it should be construed
into a precedent injurious afterwards to the college. The
reasons given for his declining the ministerial function
were, 1. The great weight of that office, and the severe
account which the ministers of Christ have to give to their
Lord and Master. 2. His natural bashfulness, and humble
opinion, and diffidence of himself; though he was, unquestionably, very well qualified in point of learning.
3. That he thought he could do more service to religion,
and the church, by his writings, whilst he continued a layman, than if he took orders; for then the usual objections
made against clergymen’s writings on those subjects, viz.
“That they plead their own cause, and are biassed by
self-interest,
” would be entirely removed.
e great mysteries of Christianity, which are discoverable only by divine revelation. His second work was, “Two letters of advice. 1. For the Susception of Holy Orders.
Mr. Dodwell came the same year to England, and resjded at Oxford for the sake of the public library. Thence
he returned to his native country, and in 1672 published,
at Dublin, in 8vo, a posthumous treatise of his late learned
tutor John Steam, M. D. to which he put a preface of his
own. He entitled this book, “De Obstinatione: Opus
posthumum Pietatem Chrisdano-Stoicam scholastico more
suadens:
” and his own preface, “prolegomena Apologetica, de usu Dogmatum Philosophicorum,
” &c. in which
he apologizes for his tutor; who, by quoting so often and
setting a high value upon the writings and maxims of
the heathen philosophers, might seem to depreciate the
Holy Scriptures. Mr. Dodwell therefore premises first,
that the author’s design in that work is only to recommend
moral duties, and enforce the practice of them by the authority of the ancient philosophers; and that he does not
meddle with the great mysteries of Christianity, which are
discoverable only by divine revelation. His second work
was, “Two letters of advice. 1. For the Susception of
Holy Orders. 2. For Studies Theological, especially such
as are rational.
” To the second edition of which, in
1681, was added, “A Discourse concerning the Phoenician History of Sanchoniathon,
” in which he considers
Philo-Byblius as the author of that history. In 1673, he
wrote a preface, without his name, to “An introduction
to a Devout Life,
” by Francis de Sales, the last bishop
and prince of Geneva; which was published at Dublin, in
English, this same year, in 12mo. He came over again
to England in 1674, and settled in London; where he became acquainted with several learned men; particularly,
in 1675, with Dr. William Lloyd, afterwards successively
bishop of St. Asaph, Litchfield and Coventry, and Worcester . With that eminent divine he contracted so great
a friendship and intimacy, that he attended him to Holland,
when he was appointed chaplain to the princess of Orange.
He was also with him at Salisbury, when he kept his residence there as canon of that church; and spent afterwards
a good deal of time with him at St. Asaph. In 1675 he published “Some Considerations of present Concernment;
how far the Romanists may be trusted by princes of another persuasion,
” in 8vo, levelled against the persons concerned in the Irish remonstrance, which occasioned a kind
of schism among the Irish Roman catholics. The year
following he published “Two short Discourses against the
Romanists. 1. An Account of the fundamental Principle
of Popery, and of the insufficiency of the proofs which
they have for it. 2. An Answer to six Queries proposed
to a gentlewoman of the Church of England, by an emissary of the Church of Rome,
” 12mo, but reprinted in
A new preface relating to the bishop of
Meaux, and other modern complainers of misrepresentation.
” In Separation of
Churches from episcopal government, as practised by the
present non-conformists, proved schismatical, from such
principles as are least controverted, and do withal most
popularly explain the sinfulness and mischief of schism.
”
This, being animadverted upon by R. Baxter, was vindicated, in 1681, by Mr. Dodwell, in “A Reply to Mr.
Baxter’s pretended confutation of a book, entitled,
Sepafration of Churches,
” &c. To which were added, “Three
Letters to Mr. Baxter, written in 1673, concerning the
Possibility of Discipline under a Diocesan Government,
”
&c. 8vo. In Dissertations on St. Cyprian,
” composed at the reqviest of Dr. Fell, bishop of Oxford, when he was about to publish his edition of that
father. They were printed in the same size, but reprinted
at Oxford in 1684, 8vo, under the title “Dissertationes
Cyprianse.
” The eleventh dissertation, in which he endeavours to lessen the number of the early Christian martyrs, brought upon him the censure of bishop Burnet, and
not altogether unjustly. The year following, he published
“A Discovirse concerning the One Altar, and the One
Priesthood, insisted on by the ancients in the disputes
against Schism ,
” Lond. 8vo. In 1684, a dissertation of
his on a passage of Lactantius, was inserted in the new
edition of that author at Oxford, by Thomas Spark, in
8vo. His treatise “Of the Priesthood of Laicks,
” appeared in De jure Laicorum,
” &c. It was written in answer to a book published
by William Baxter, the antiquary, and entitled “AntiDodwellism, being two curious tracts formerly written by
H. Grotius, concerning a solution of the question, whether
the eucharist may be administered in the absence of, or
want of pastors.
” About the same time he was preparing
for the press the posthumous works of the learned Dr. John
Pearson, bishop of Chester, Lond. 1688, 4to. He published also,“Dissertations on Irenseus,
” A cautionary discourse of Schism, with a
particular regard to the case of the bishops, who are suspended for refusing to take the new oath,
” London, 8vo.
And when those bishops were actually deprived, and others
put in their sees, he joined the former, looking upon the
new bishops, and their adherents, as schismatics. He
wrote likewise “A Vindication of the deprived Bishops:
”
and “A Defence of the same,
” Unreasonableness of Separation,
” &c.
After having lost his professorship, he continued for some
time in Oxford, and then retired to Cookham, a village
near Maidenhead, about an equal distance between Oxford and London; and therefore convenient to maintain a
correspondence in each place, and to consult friends and
books, as he should have occasion. While he lived there,
he became acquainted with Mr. Francis Cherry of Shottesbrooke, a person of great learning and virtue, for the sake
of whose conversation he removed to Shottesbrooke, where
he chiefly spent the remainder of his days. In 1692, he
published his Camdenian lectures read at Oxford; and, in
1694, “An Invitation to Gentlemen to acquaint themselves
with ancient History
” being a preface to Degory Whear’s
“Method of reading history,
” translated into English by
Mr. Bohun. About this time having lost one or more of
the Dodwells, his kinsmen, whom he designed for his
heirs, he married on the 24th of June, 1694, in the 52d
year of his age, a person, in whose father’s house at Cookham he had boarded several times, and by her had ten
children . In 1696 he drew up the annals of Thucydides
and Xenophon, to accompany the editions of those two
authors by Dr. John Hudson and Mr. Edward Wells. Having likewise compiled the annals of Velleius Paterculus,
and of Quintilian, and Statius, he published them altogether in 1698, in one volume, 8vo. About the same time
he wrote an account of tUe lesser Geographers, published
by Dr. Hudson; and “A Treatise concerning the lawfulness of instrumental music in holy offices:
” occasioned by
an organ being set up at Tiverton in 1696: with some other
things on chronology, inserted in “Grabe’s Spicilegium.
”
In Canon of the New Testament,
” &c.
concerning Mr. Toland’s disingenuous treatment of him.
The year following appeared “A Discourse [of his] concerning the obligation to marry within the true communion, following from their style of being called a Holy
Seed;
” and “An Apology for the philosophical writings
of Cicero,
” against the objections of Mr. Petit; prefixed
to Tally’s five books De Finibus, or, of Moral Ends, translated into English by Samuel Parker, gent, as also the
annals of Thucydides and Xenophon, Oxoa. 4to. In 1703
he published “A Letter concerning the Immortality of the
Soul, against Mr. Henry Layton’s Hypothesis,
” 4to and,
“A Letter to Dr. Tillotson about Schism,
” 8vo, written
in Chronology
of DionX'Sius Halicarnasseus,
” in the Oxford edition of
that historian by Dr. Hudson, folio; his “Two Dissertations on the age of Phalaris and Pythagoras,
” occasioned
by the dispute between Bentley and Boyle; and his “Admonition to Foreigners, concerning the late Schism in
England.
” This, which was written in Latin, regarded
the deprivation of the nonjuring bishops. When the bill
for preventing occasional conformity was depending in
parliament, he wrote a treatise, entitled, “Occasional
Communion fundamentally destructive of the discipline of
the primitive catholic Church, and contrary to the doctrine of the latest Scriptures concerning Church Communion;
” London, A Case in View considered in a
Discourse, proving that (in case our present invalidly deprived fathers shall leave all their sees vacant, either by death or resignation) we shall not then be obliged to keep
up our separation from those bishops, who are as yet involved in the guilt of the present unhappy schism,
” Lond.
1705, 8vo. Some time after, he published “A farther
prospect of the Case in View, in answer to some new objections not then considered,
” Lond. An Epistolary Discourse, proving, from the scriptures and the first fathers,
that the soul is a principle naturally mortal; but immortalized actually by the pleasure of God, to punishment, or
to reward, by its union with the divine baptismal spirit.
Wherein is proved, that none have the power of giving
this divine immortalizing spirit, since the apostles, but
only the bishops,
” Lond. that
Sacerdotal Absolution is necessary for the Remission of
Sins, even of those who are truly penitent.
” This discourse being attacked by several persons, particularly Chishull, Clarke, Norris, and Mills afterwards bishop of Waterford, our author endeavoured to vindicate himself in the
three following pieces: 1. “A Preliminary Defence of the
Epistolary Discourse, concerning the distinction between
Soul and Spirit: in two parts. I. Against the charge of
favouring Impiety. II. Against the charge of favouring
Heresy,
” Lond. 1707, 8vo. 2. “The Scripture account
of the Eternal Rewards or Punishments of all that hear of
the Gospel, without an immortality necessarily resulting
from the nature of the souls themselves that are concerned in those rewards or punishments. Shewing particularly, I. How much of this account was discovered by the
best philosophers. II. How far the accounts of those philosophers were corrected, and improved, by the Hellenistical Jews, assisted by the Revelations of the Old
Testament. III. How far the discoveries fore-mentioned were
improved by the revelations of the Gospel. Wherein the
testimonies also of S. Irenaens and Tertullian are occasionally considered,
” Lond. 1708, 8vo. And, 3. “An
Explication of a famous passage in the Dialogue of S.
Justin Martyr with Tryphon, concerning the immortality
of human souls. With an Appendix, consisting of a letter to the rev. Mr. John Norris, of Bemerton; and an expostulation relating to the late insults of Mr. Clarke and
Mr. Chishull,
” Lond. The case in view
now in fact. Proving, that the continuance of a separate
communion, without substitutes in any of the late invalidlydeprived sees, since the death of William late lord bishop
of Norwich, is schismatical. With an Appendix, proving,
that our late invalidly-deprived fathers had no right to substitute successors, who might legitimate the separation,
after that the schism had been concluded by the decease
of the last survivor of those same fathers,
” Lond.
At the request of a gentleman in was found at Bath, and published by
At the request of a gentleman in was found at Bath, and published by
ust reasons, 8vo. The letter lo Mr. Goetz, profeswhen she reformed, to lay aside the Sot at Leipsic, was written by Mr.
church of England had just reasons, 8vo. The letter lo Mr. Goetz, profeswhen she reformed, to lay aside the Sot at Leipsic, was written by Mr.
se of incense, which was practised in Dodwell in Itoo, beinj an explanation
se of incense, which was practised in Dodwell in Itoo, beinj an explanation
ourse of life, he died at Shottesbrooke the 7th of June 1711, in the seventieth year of his age; and was buried in the chancel of the church there, where a monument
V*e of Incense in Dirine Offices,“Lon- Dionysii Periejetas. Priuted hi the
very studious and ascetic course of life, he died at Shottesbrooke the 7th of June 1711, in the seventieth year of
his age; and was buried in the chancel of the church there,
where a monument is erected to him. Mr. Dodwell, as to
his person, was of a small but well-proportioned stature,
of a sanguine and fair complexion, of a grave and serious,
but a comely, pleasant countenance: of a piercing eye, of
a solid judgment, and ready apprehension. He naturally
enjoyed so strong and vigorous a constitution of body, that
he knew not, by his own experience, what the head-ach
was. His industry was prodigious, as appears by the many
books he published. He was extremely frugal of his time,
and indefatigable in his studies, by which means he became acquainted with almost all authors, both sacred and
profane, ancient and modern. He studied, not for his own
benefit only, but also for that of others: for he was generously communicative, and always ready to assist others in
worthy undertakings; very zealous to promote learning,
and though learned almost beyond any one o.f his age, yet
(what is very uncommon) of singular humility and modesty.
Accordingly he was courted and admired by the most eminent men abroad, who bestow the highest encomiums upon
him, on all occasions. It must, however, be owned, that,
as he conversed more with books than men, his style is,
for that reason, obscure and intricate, and full of digresOxford edition of that author in 1710, wherein he showed, that airtiyj-arro does
8vo. 5.
” De Parma Equestri Wood- not signify his being strangled with
wardiana Disserta'.io,“&c. on the grief, as Grotius and Dr. Hammond
ancient Roman shield, formerly in Dr. understood it, but that he hanged himWoodward’s possession, whereon was self. It was never printed: nor the
represented the sacking of Rome by following, which was left unfinished,
the Gauls. This dissertation, which 8.
” A Dissertation concerning the Time
Mr. Dodwell was prevented by death of the Greek translation of the Old
from finishing, was published by Hearne Testament by the LXX.“9.
” ADisin 8vo, Oxon 17 13, but brought Hearne sertstioa concerning the Laws of Nainto a dispute with the university, ow- hire and Nations“in which the author
i:ig to some supposed reflections on proposed to shew, that these lows w< re
the jurors, and he was ordered to sup- not the result of reason, but laws depress the work. After, however, he livered by God to Adam, or Noah, and
had cancelled the preliminary niafer, were transmitted to us by tradition.
the publicatiou was suffered to go on. 10. He designed to publish
” The
Mr. Dodwell supposes this Roman Epistle of St. Barnabas,“with a liteshield to have been made about the ral translation, and notes; having ever
time of Nero. 6. Four letters, which since the year 1691, wrote
” Prolegopassed between the right reverend the mena" to it; but it was left, imperfect.
lord bishop of Sarum, and Mr. Henry 11. Lastly, He began to s. tile theDodwell, were printed from the origi- time and order in which Tertullion
nals, Lond. 1713, 12mo. v^ro'e each of his books, on which he
rogress. Tract concerning the Death of Judas, sions: for he often complained to his friends, that he was not able to comprise his thoughts in few words. With regard
Mr. Dodwell wrote likewise, “A made but very little progress.
Tract concerning the Death of Judas,
sions: for he often complained to his friends, that he was
not able to comprise his thoughts in few words. With regard to his moral character, he was a person of great
sobriety and temperance; of exemplary charity, notwithstanding the narrowness of his fortune; of strict piety; a
great lover of the clergy, and a zealous member of the
church of England. His failings may be discovered even
from the titles of his works. His judgment bore very little
proportion to his learning, and for want of this very necessary ingredient in controversy, he often unintentionally
injured the cause he meant to support. But while his
theological paradoxes are forgot, his critical works will still
support his reputation. Speaking of his
” Annales Quintilianse,“Gibbon says, Dodwell’s learning was immense
” in this part of history especially (that of the upper empire) the most minute fact or passage could not escape
him; and his skill in employing them is equal to his learning.“Gibbon adds the general opinion that
” the worst
of this author is his method and style; the one perplexed
beyond imagination, the other negligent to a degree of
barbarism."
r. Dodwell’s ten children, six survived him; four daughters, and two sons, Henry and William. Heniiy was brought up to the law, and became sceptical in his principles.
Of Mr. Dodwell’s ten children, six survived him; four
daughters, and two sons, Henry and William. Heniiy was
brought up to the law, and became sceptical in his principles. In 1742, he published a pamphlet, entitled “Christianity not founded upon Argument,
” which, under the
cover of zeal for religion, was an attack upon revelation.
It was written with ingenuity and subtlety; excited great
attention for a time; and was answered effectually by Dr.
Doddridge, Leland, and other able and learned men. This
Mr. Henry Dodwell took a very active part in the society
for the encouragement of arts, manufactures, and commerce, during the early period of that society; and is said
to have been a polite, humane, and benevolent man. Mr,
Dodwell’s son William will require a separate article.